I'll make Ghana the Star of Africa again – Akufo-Addo promises

President-elect, Nana Akufo Addo says with the right leadership and results oriented programmes, Ghana could rise out of the shackles of poverty and under development under his reign.

Addressing members of the Catholic Bishops Conference Friday, Nana Akufo Addo says Ghana has no excuse to be poor and pledged to work to ensure vibrant businesses in Ghana and reduced unemployment.

The bishops called on him to congratulate him on his electoral victory in the December 7 general elections.

President of the conference, Most Rev. Phillip Naameh wants the incoming government to focus attention on job creation and eradication of corruption and other social vices.

"Two days ago we met the outgoing president John Mahama and we expressed our appreciation and thanks for having exhibited a great sense of statesmanship by calling you to concede defeat before the Electoral Commission officially declared you the winner of this election.

All Ghanaian have once again, through this year's election exhibited the enviable democratic credential and have proven to the whole world that we are truly a God fearing and peace loving country.

He called on the Nana Addo leadership to have an "all inclusive government" that will address issues mitigating against the country's development.

He mentioned unemployment, bribery, corruption as some of the nagging issues that need urgent attention.

President elect, Nana Akufo Addo says his government will work to fulfil all promises made to Ghanaians in the run-up to the elections.

"My mandate is to get young people jobs," he said and assured that his government will not detract from that.

"We have the human material to be able to confront the challenges facing our country. There is no reason why our country should be poor," he noted.

"I am a firm believer in the concept of Ghana as the star of Africa," he reminded, and promised of a relentless effort at putting Ghana on the map.

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Harmattan grounds flights in Ghana

The hazy harmattan weather that has engulfed Accra for the past two days has compelled international and domestic airlines to temporarily suspend their flights due to poor visibility.

Passengers who were scheduled to travel outside of Ghana were stranded at the departure terminal of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) on Wednesday.

With regards to domestic flights, while some passengers resolved to wait until the haziness cleared, others resorted to travelling by road.

The dense fog arising out of the harmattan intensified in Accra on Tuesday.

Many flights were redirected to neighbouring Abidjan in Cote d'Ivoire and Lagos in Nigeria on Wednesday.

A Delta Airlines flight which was coming to Accra Wednesday morning from JFK in New York was redirected to Lagos.

The Delta flight originally scheduled to depart from Accra at 10am was re-scheduled twice to 12pm, 1:30pm and later to Thursday at 6pm.

Some of the checked-in passengers have been put at hotels whilst others have returned home.

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Akufo-Addo’s salary pegged at GHC22,000

President-elect, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will be taking home GHC22,809 every month upon assumption of office.

This was captured in the Prof. Dora Edu-Buandoh committee report which was tasked to recommend emoluments for Article 71 office holders and sighted by citifmonline.com.

Soon to be Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will also receive GHc20,529 each month.

The report was duly approved by Parliament last week after series of closed door meetings.

The committee was set up by President John Mahama in accordance with Ghana’s constitution.

Mahama’s retirement package announced Per the committee’s report, outgoing President, John Mahama will be retiring on a salary of GH¢22,809.

He is expected to receive 40% of that amount as salary.

According to the report, the outgoing President while on retirement will also receive other benefits such as state-provided staff not exceeding four (4), a furnished and up-to-date office and communication equipment.

He will also be provided with staff consisting of a cook, steward, gardener and two security persons.

He will also have the opportunity to embark on foreign trips with his wife and would be able to use the “presidential jet where available and appropriate.”

Medical and dental services will be extended to the former president and his wife.

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Paralyzed 11-yr-old rape victim cries for justice, medical support

An Eleven-year-old girl who got paralyzed after being allegedly defiled by her school mate’s father, is seeking justice as well as medical support.

Atinka Fm’s Regina Asamoah reported on July 30, 2015 that the victim, who was then a 10-year-old was left bedridden after allegedly being defiled on two occasions by her schoolmate’s father at Anyaa, a suburb of Accra.

The class one pupil of Anyaa D/A Government School was defiled by the man in a bush on 14th and 17th July, 2015 respectively while on her way to school.

The suspect known to the victim as “Jessica Papa” (Jessica’s Father) is said to be an auto- mechanic who lives in the area.

Atinka Fm in Ghana with support from the Child Protection Unit of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital sought for medical treatment for the victim . After spending months at the hospital, she regained stamina to walk comfortably and was no longer confined to the hospital bed.

The brilliant girl with a promising future was later sponsored by the Daniel Amoateng Foundation and Joselyn Dumas Foundation to go back to school.

However, a year after she was enrolled in a new school, the 11-year-old girl got paralyzed again after falling in school.

Regina Asamoah who visited the victim at the Accident Centre at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital reported that the 11-year-old was in so much pain.

The 11-year-old girl wants the police to find “the rapist and prosecute him." She further requested to be enrolled in school after being discharged.

She was hopeful that she will leave the hospital and overcome her current predicament as she did the first time around.

Mother of the victim, Dianah Sowah, is fervently appealing to well-meaning Ghanaians to support her settled the medical bills of her daughter as the family is not financially sound to pay for the medical bills. 

She is however disappointed in the Ghana Police Service for not being able to arrest the alleged rapist.

It is her fervent hope that the doctors find a lasting solution to the pain her daughter is going through.

Police Investigations

The Anyaa District Police Command on July 20, 2015 confirmed the arrest of the man suspected to have allegedly defiled the 10-year-old class one pupil of Anyaa D/A Government School, rendering her partially paralyzed.

The District Commander, DSP Christian Kpordje in an interaction with Atinka News confirmed that the case was reported on the 20th July, 2015 and an arrest made the same day.

He hinted that that investigation was still on-going as the suspect had denied committing the crime. The police chief said the suspect claimed he was in his shop at the specific times that the alleged incident took place.

According to DSP Christian Kpordje, the victim’s statement had contradictory elements as she claimed at a point that the suspect was the real perpetrator and at another instance said he was not the one.

This he said calls for detailed investigation to establish enough evidence before the suspect is put before court.

In a telephone interaction with Atinka Fm’s Regina Asamoah on Wednesday, Decemeber 28, 2016, DSP Christian Kpordje was of the firm commitment that the rapist will be arrested and prosecuted.

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Govt urged to stop sponsoring hajj

The Chairman, Oyo State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Taofeek Akeugbagold, has urged states to stop sponsoring hajj.

Akeugbagold, who spoke to reporters in Ibadan, said Nigeria was the only country sponsoring pilgrimages.

He said: “Oyo State is the first to introduce what I can call state private system of hajj, whereby the government withdraws financial sponsorship.

“Governor Abiola Ajimobi had foreseen the recession and stopped pilgrimage sponsorship. Now, he only gives moral support and guidance.

“My advice to other states’ boards is that they should source for alternate funding and not rely on government money again. Hajj is the last pillar of Islam and Allah has made it mandatory for only those who have financial and health powers.”

Akeugbagold said about 1354 pilgrims from the state participated in this year’s pilgrimage.

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Recapturing of Sambisa Forest, a great achievement —IBB

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB), is highly delighted on the news of successful operations of our gallant military personnel in the Sambisa forest.

In a statement by the media office of the former head of state, obtained by PRNigeria, IBB said: “It is a sign of relief, that the military has finally smocked out Boko Haram terrorists from their notorious enclave of Sambisa forest.”

General Babangida also saluted the courage and determination of President Muhammadu Buhari, Army chiefs, as well as armed men and women and other security personnel for their sacrifice for the painful liberation of Sambisa Forest and adjoining abode of Boko Haram.

He said: “May I rejoice with the government and  Nigerians on the successful dislodging of Boko Haram from their base in Sambisa.

With the successful takeover of the Sambisa forest, General Babangida hoped that very soon the remaining Chibok girls would  be located and reunited with their families.

The former military president reaffirmed his earlier stance that, “President  Muhammadu Buhari and the military are capable of crushing any challenge against the territorial integrity of Nigeria.”

He paid tributes to all fallen heroes for paying the supreme sacrifice in their efforts  of keeping  the nation from aggression, saying: “’the labour of our heroes past, shall never be in vain.”

However, General Babangida urged the military to unveil a new strategy of further defeating pockets of insurgents/terrorists, armed bandits and cattle rustlers all over the country.

Meanwhile, the Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, described the capture of CAMP ZERO, Sambisa Forest, which was the last stronghold of Boko Haram, as a global achievement made possible by the political will of President Buhari  and the commitment of the Armed Forces and other security agencies.

Governor Sani Bello said the destruction of Sambisa Forest was a clear and strong message to all criminal elements in the country of the capacity and willingness of the Armed Forces and other security agencies, as well as the political will of President Buhari in securing  every inch of Nigeria.

In a congratulatory message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mallam Jibrin Baba Ndace, the governor said the destruction of CAMP ZERO was  an indication that with the right leadership, temperament, conducive environment and  political will, the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies are capable of defeating any criminal elements operating within the country.

The governor called on security agencies to work together in ensuring that all  ‘CAMP ZEROs’  are cleared in Nigeria.

Speaking during a press conference in Kaduna, the national president of Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF), Alhaji Adadu Adadu, who commended the army for its resilience and sacrifices that led to victory over the insurgents, said the defeat of the Boko Haram terrorists would revive the economy in the North-East, as investors who hitherto left would be encouraged to return.

He said the defeat of Boko Haram was an event that had brought 2016 to a close on a positive note, “Irrespective of any other unpleasant experiences we might have had as a people during the year.”

Adadu said: “The Northern Youth Leaders Forum (NYLF) heartily thank the Nigerian Army, all the other military services, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai and other military chiefs for defeating the enemies of Nigeria.

“Boko Haram killed without thoughts for their victims’ ethnicity, creed or geographical origin, it was a thorn in our flesh collectively and the Army has, therefore, brought relief to us all and not just a particular location or people. The joy from this act of valour is across board.

“It is remarkable that Boko Haram was defeated against all odds. NYLF had at some point in the past appealed to the Nigerian Army not to be distracted by those reading political meanings into its action. We had also in the past urged the COAS not to slow down in his zeal on account of propaganda mounted against him by Boko Haram sponsors and sympathisers.”

Also, the Pan Yoruba Youth organisation, the National Committee of Yoruba Youths,  lauded the landmark victory of the Nigerian Army in the battle against the Boko Haram insurgents.

Reacting, to the Nigerian Army’s capture of the once dreaded Sambisa forest, believed to be the operational headquarters of the Boko Haram terrorists in the country, president of the Yoruba youths, Comrade Odeyemi Oladimeji, in a telephone conversation, described the capture as a milestone in the war against terrorism in Nigeria.

He added that the victory also justified the earlier claims by the leadership of the Nigerian Army, that the military had since gained the upper hand against the Boko Haram.

Oladimeji said “We salute the officers of the Nigerian Army for their untiring and gallant commitment to making the Boko Haram insurgents feel the tremendous heat of our military power, which has been unleashed on them; therefore, abandoning the once dreaded Sambisa forest to the gallant troops of the Nigerian army.”

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Let's forgive each other - Nana Addo urges Ghanaians

President–elect Nana Akufo-Addo has condemned acts of violence allegedly being perpetrated by supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) following the party’s victory, and urged Ghanaians to forgive one another, and exhibit kindness.

There has been reported cases of post-election violence allegedly being perpetrated by supporters of the NPP.

There have been reports of NPP supporters arbitrarily taking over public installations across the country, reminiscent of scenes in the aftermath of the 2008 polls won by the NDC, which witnessed some of the triumphant party’s supporters take over the running of public toilets, toll booths and community centres.

Also in Kumasi, some NPP supporters stormed some public toilets seizing the keys to the facilities and assaulting some persons in the process.

The most recent disturbances were on Monday morning when some NPP youth illegally took over the Tema Motorway toll booth.

Speaking at the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) thanksgiving service held at the Accra Sports Staduim, Nana Addo condemned these acts, saying “ I do recognize that there have been some instances of misconduct and altercation that should not have happened. Such behaviour is unbecoming of us.”

He further called on Ghanaians to act with kindness and forgive each other.

“I call on all Ghanaians to act with kindness, generosity and magnanimity towards one another, and to forgive anybody who has wronged or hurt you.”

Nana Addo also extended his gratitude to Ghanaians whose hard work ensured the party’s victory.

He believes the commitment by various stakeholders including party supporters and the media, inspired the party to forge ahead.

Let’s focus on the task ahead – Nana Addo

Nana Addo was however quick to remind the teeming supporters of the daunting task ahead, saying “even as we praise God for his immense kindness and grace towards our country, we also know we have a lot of work ahead of us. It is a task that we can and will perform with your support and with your hard work, and with your increasing prayers and blessings of the Almighty God.”

“Let us then renew our faith and strength and be ready for the work ahead. I have no doubt at all that we shall succeed. This is the appointed time and I have no doubt at all that the battle is still the Lord’s,” he added.

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