TIG Post

Author: aejay_wp

  • Fining drivers for using Aayalolo bus lane backed by law – PRO

    Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Aayalolo Bus Rapid Transport system, Fred Chidi has justified why drivers are fined for using the lane meant for the buses operating under the system.

    He was reacting to growing concerns by drivers who have been fined between GHc100-GHc250 for using the bus lane. He told Kwame Tutu on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm that, law regulates the fine and the money collected goes to the various District Assemblies where the buses operate. Fred Chidi admonished drivers to abide by the regulations so they are not fined.

    He further explained the bus lane was not only developed for Ayalolo buses but other similar buses like that of Metro Mass Transit Buses, STC Buses among others. Ambulances, Fire Service Tenders and Police vehicles are also allowed to use the lane.

    The $95 million dollar project which started in 2007 is finally taking off in September with dedicated routes in Accra. For those driving their own cars, they can only benefit if they are willing to park their cars and join the bus.

    To ensure the safety of passengers, managers of the 85 buses for the first phase of the project have fitted wi-fi and USB cables in them to encourage patronage. Aayalolo buses currently run three services on the Nsawam Road corridor.

    The three services are as follows: Amasaman to Tudu, Ofankor to Tudu and Achimota to Tudu. These services are respectively run by:Ghana cooperative bus rapid transit association, Accra GPRTU rapid bus transit company limited and Amalgamated bus transit services limited.

    Mr Chidi said before the implementation of the bus system conducted massive education to inform the public on the operations of the system. The taskforce clamping on cars are legally mandated enterprise and mandated by law.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Fining drivers for using Aayalolo bus lane backed by law – PRO

    Public Relations Officer (PRO) for the Aayalolo Bus Rapid Transport system, Fred Chidi has justified why drivers are fined for using the lane meant for the buses operating under the system.

    He was reacting to growing concerns by drivers who have been fined between GHc100-GHc250 for using the bus lane. He told Kwame Tutu on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm that, law regulates the fine and the money collected goes to the various District Assemblies where the buses operate. Fred Chidi admonished drivers to abide by the regulations so they are not fined.

    He further explained the bus lane was not only developed for Ayalolo buses but other similar buses like that of Metro Mass Transit Buses, STC Buses among others. Ambulances, Fire Service Tenders and Police vehicles are also allowed to use the lane.

    The $95 million dollar project which started in 2007 is finally taking off in September with dedicated routes in Accra. For those driving their own cars, they can only benefit if they are willing to park their cars and join the bus.

    To ensure the safety of passengers, managers of the 85 buses for the first phase of the project have fitted wi-fi and USB cables in them to encourage patronage. Aayalolo buses currently run three services on the Nsawam Road corridor.

    The three services are as follows: Amasaman to Tudu, Ofankor to Tudu and Achimota to Tudu. These services are respectively run by:Ghana cooperative bus rapid transit association, Accra GPRTU rapid bus transit company limited and Amalgamated bus transit services limited.

    Mr Chidi said before the implementation of the bus system conducted massive education to inform the public on the operations of the system. The taskforce clamping on cars are legally mandated enterprise and mandated by law.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Car sales plunge as Nissan warns on Brexit

    New car sales in the UK plunged in September while a major carmaker has warned of the effects of a no-deal Brexit.

    The number of total vehicles registered was down 20.5% on the same period in 2017 at 338,834, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said.

    Carmakers had struggled with “a raft of upheavals” including adjusting to stricter emissions standards, it added.

    Meanwhile, Nissan said a no-deal Brexit would have “serious implications”.

    The Japanese firm, which employs almost 7,000 people at its Sunderland plant, urged the UK and the EU to “work towards a balanced Brexit”.

    Turbulent times

    The SMMT said it had been an “exceptional” September, following “an unusually high August and a turbulent first eight months of the year”.

    Read: Amazon raises wages for lower-paid workers

    It said the impact of the sales plunge was felt across the board, with registrations by private consumers, fleets and businesses all down.

    Sales of petrol and diesel cars fell, but those of hybrids and plug-in electric vehicles actually rose although only just 3.9%.

    Since September 1 , all cars sold in the EU have had to undergo a new test known as the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure. This has replaced all existing tests of emissions and fuel economy and has caused carmakers to struggle to cope.

    SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “With the industry given barely a year to reapprove the entire European model line-up, it’s no surprise that we’ve seen bottlenecks and a squeeze on supply.

    “These are exceptional circumstances, with similar declines seen in other major European markets. The good news is that, as backlogs ease, consumers and businesses can look forward to a raft of exciting high-tech cars and a market keen to recover lost momentum.”

    Alex Buttle, director of car-buying comparison website Motorway.co.uk, said the figures would send “shock waves” through the motor industry.

    He added: “We are now entering a crucial and unprecedented period for the car industry, as the next new number plate will be March 2019, when the UK is due to leave the EU.

    “It’s likely to be a rollercoaster ride for new car sales figures for the foreseeable future, but it feels like we have just plunged into a deep canyon.”

    Clarity needed

    The release of the figures coincided with a warning from Nissan that a no-deal Brexit would harm its business.

    The carmaker said that frictionless trade as part of the EU single market had enabled the growth that had seen its Sunderland plant become “the biggest factory in the history of the UK car industry, exporting more than half of its production to the EU”.

    It added: “Today we are among those companies with major investments in the UK who are still waiting for clarity on what the future trading relationship between the UK and the EU will look like.

    “As a sudden change from those rules to the rules of the WTO will have serious implications for British industry, we urge UK and EU negotiators to work collaboratively towards an orderly balanced Brexit that will continue to encourage mutually beneficial trade.”

    Read: Wife of Malaysian ex-PM charged with money laundering

    A government spokesperson said it was “determined to ensure that the UK continues to be one of the most competitive locations in the world for automotive and other advanced manufacturing. Our proposals make plans for a UK-EU free trade area underpinned by a common rulebook on industrial goods.

    “However, a responsible government should prepare for all potential outcomes, including the unlikely scenario in which no mutually satisfactory agreement can be reached, and that is exactly what we are doing.”

    Other carmakers have issued similar warnings and said they are making contingency plans.

    Last week, Toyota UK told the BBC a no-deal Brexit would temporarily halt output at its plant in Burnaston, near Derby, while Honda has said it is identifying components it might stockpile.

    Last month, the boss of Jaguar Land Rover, the UK’s biggest carmaker, said if the “wrong decisions” were taken, it could result in the “worst of times” for the UK and cost the company more than £1.2bn a year.

    BMW said it was looking for car parking space on either side of the Channel and has also said it will close its Mini plant for a month following Brexit.

    Source: bbc

  • Car sales plunge as Nissan warns on Brexit

    New car sales in the UK plunged in September while a major carmaker has warned of the effects of a no-deal Brexit.

    The number of total vehicles registered was down 20.5% on the same period in 2017 at 338,834, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said.

    Carmakers had struggled with “a raft of upheavals” including adjusting to stricter emissions standards, it added.

    Meanwhile, Nissan said a no-deal Brexit would have “serious implications”.

    The Japanese firm, which employs almost 7,000 people at its Sunderland plant, urged the UK and the EU to “work towards a balanced Brexit”.

    Turbulent times

    The SMMT said it had been an “exceptional” September, following “an unusually high August and a turbulent first eight months of the year”.

    Read: Amazon raises wages for lower-paid workers

    It said the impact of the sales plunge was felt across the board, with registrations by private consumers, fleets and businesses all down.

    Sales of petrol and diesel cars fell, but those of hybrids and plug-in electric vehicles actually rose although only just 3.9%.

    Since September 1 , all cars sold in the EU have had to undergo a new test known as the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure. This has replaced all existing tests of emissions and fuel economy and has caused carmakers to struggle to cope.

    SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “With the industry given barely a year to reapprove the entire European model line-up, it’s no surprise that we’ve seen bottlenecks and a squeeze on supply.

    “These are exceptional circumstances, with similar declines seen in other major European markets. The good news is that, as backlogs ease, consumers and businesses can look forward to a raft of exciting high-tech cars and a market keen to recover lost momentum.”

    Alex Buttle, director of car-buying comparison website Motorway.co.uk, said the figures would send “shock waves” through the motor industry.

    He added: “We are now entering a crucial and unprecedented period for the car industry, as the next new number plate will be March 2019, when the UK is due to leave the EU.

    “It’s likely to be a rollercoaster ride for new car sales figures for the foreseeable future, but it feels like we have just plunged into a deep canyon.”

    Clarity needed

    The release of the figures coincided with a warning from Nissan that a no-deal Brexit would harm its business.

    The carmaker said that frictionless trade as part of the EU single market had enabled the growth that had seen its Sunderland plant become “the biggest factory in the history of the UK car industry, exporting more than half of its production to the EU”.

    It added: “Today we are among those companies with major investments in the UK who are still waiting for clarity on what the future trading relationship between the UK and the EU will look like.

    “As a sudden change from those rules to the rules of the WTO will have serious implications for British industry, we urge UK and EU negotiators to work collaboratively towards an orderly balanced Brexit that will continue to encourage mutually beneficial trade.”

    Read: Wife of Malaysian ex-PM charged with money laundering

    A government spokesperson said it was “determined to ensure that the UK continues to be one of the most competitive locations in the world for automotive and other advanced manufacturing. Our proposals make plans for a UK-EU free trade area underpinned by a common rulebook on industrial goods.

    “However, a responsible government should prepare for all potential outcomes, including the unlikely scenario in which no mutually satisfactory agreement can be reached, and that is exactly what we are doing.”

    Other carmakers have issued similar warnings and said they are making contingency plans.

    Last week, Toyota UK told the BBC a no-deal Brexit would temporarily halt output at its plant in Burnaston, near Derby, while Honda has said it is identifying components it might stockpile.

    Last month, the boss of Jaguar Land Rover, the UK’s biggest carmaker, said if the “wrong decisions” were taken, it could result in the “worst of times” for the UK and cost the company more than £1.2bn a year.

    BMW said it was looking for car parking space on either side of the Channel and has also said it will close its Mini plant for a month following Brexit.

    Source: bbc

  • Why V.C.R.A.C Crabbe refused to shave for more than 60 years

    Many do not really know the story behind the legendary beard of former Supreme Court judge Former Supreme Court Justice Professor Vincent Cyril Richard Arthur Charles (V.C. R. A. C.) Crabbe who died on Friday, September 7, 2018.

    He will be laid to rest today October 4, 2018, and as a Masonry, his colleagues in the fraternity are expected to be in full attendance to perform the last rituals to bid him farewell as he embarks on the eternal journey.

    MyNewsGh.com has been reviewing his previous interviews and interactions prior to his death and found the secret behind his beard many have little or no idea about Justice VCRAC Crabbed worked with the Constitutional Review Commission of Kenya, and was Leader of the group of Draftspersons who drafted the Zambian Constitution.

    Read: 15 interesting facts about the late Justice VCRAC Crabbe

    According to him in previous interviews, he was so busy working on framing a new constitution for Kenya that he had no time to shave; when he finally made the time he realized he quite liked the new look he had acquired and so he stuck to it.

    Who is Justice V.C.R.A.C Crabbe?

    He was born on 29 October 1923 at Ussher Town in Accra, Gold Coast. He was educated at the Government Junior and Senior Boys Schools in Accra and proceeded to the Accra Academy for the Cambridge Junior and Senior School Certificates. He went to London to study Economics at the City of London College Moorgate, London 1950-1952.

    In August 1952, he was admitted to the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple to read Law. He completed the normal three-year course in two years and was called to the Bar on the 8th February, 1955 having being granted a dispensation.

    The same year he was enrolled as a member of the Gold Coast Bar in order to maintain his Seniority at the Bar. He progressed from Assistant Crown Counsel to Parliamentary Counsel, the first African to be appointed as such and ended up as a Senior Instructor at the International Law Development Centre in Rome, Italy.

    Read: Justice Crabbe was an institution Rawlings

    In between, he held the post of First Parliamentary Counsel and Constitutional Advisor to the Uganda Government, Director of the Commonwealth Secretariat Scheme for Legislative draftsmen for the West African Region, Southern Africa Region, the Caribbean Region and a Professor of Legislative drafting at the Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, and University of West Indies.

    Justice Crabbe was a Special Commissioner to the 1968 Constitutional Commission; Legislative Draftsmen to the 1969 Constituent Assembly which drafted the 1969 Constitution of Ghana. He was the Chairman of the 1979 Constituent Assembly and drafted the 1979 Constitution of Ghana.

    He worked with the Constitutional Review Commission of Kenya and was Leader of the group of Draftspersons who drafted the Kenya Constitution. He worked for the Zambian Constitutional Commission, which drafted the Zambian Constitution and also with the Fiajoe Review Commission for the review of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

    He worked with Justice P.N. Bhagwati, a former Chief Justice of India and Justice Eso of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to advise on the setting up of the Constitutional Court in South Africa.

    Source: mynewsgh.com

  • Why V.C.R.A.C Crabbe refused to shave for more than 60 years

    Many do not really know the story behind the legendary beard of former Supreme Court judge Former Supreme Court Justice Professor Vincent Cyril Richard Arthur Charles (V.C. R. A. C.) Crabbe who died on Friday, September 7, 2018.

    He will be laid to rest today October 4, 2018, and as a Masonry, his colleagues in the fraternity are expected to be in full attendance to perform the last rituals to bid him farewell as he embarks on the eternal journey.

    MyNewsGh.com has been reviewing his previous interviews and interactions prior to his death and found the secret behind his beard many have little or no idea about Justice VCRAC Crabbed worked with the Constitutional Review Commission of Kenya, and was Leader of the group of Draftspersons who drafted the Zambian Constitution.

    Read: 15 interesting facts about the late Justice VCRAC Crabbe

    According to him in previous interviews, he was so busy working on framing a new constitution for Kenya that he had no time to shave; when he finally made the time he realized he quite liked the new look he had acquired and so he stuck to it.

    Who is Justice V.C.R.A.C Crabbe?

    He was born on 29 October 1923 at Ussher Town in Accra, Gold Coast. He was educated at the Government Junior and Senior Boys Schools in Accra and proceeded to the Accra Academy for the Cambridge Junior and Senior School Certificates. He went to London to study Economics at the City of London College Moorgate, London 1950-1952.

    In August 1952, he was admitted to the Honourable Society of the Inner Temple to read Law. He completed the normal three-year course in two years and was called to the Bar on the 8th February, 1955 having being granted a dispensation.

    The same year he was enrolled as a member of the Gold Coast Bar in order to maintain his Seniority at the Bar. He progressed from Assistant Crown Counsel to Parliamentary Counsel, the first African to be appointed as such and ended up as a Senior Instructor at the International Law Development Centre in Rome, Italy.

    Read: Justice Crabbe was an institution Rawlings

    In between, he held the post of First Parliamentary Counsel and Constitutional Advisor to the Uganda Government, Director of the Commonwealth Secretariat Scheme for Legislative draftsmen for the West African Region, Southern Africa Region, the Caribbean Region and a Professor of Legislative drafting at the Cave Hill Campus, Barbados, and University of West Indies.

    Justice Crabbe was a Special Commissioner to the 1968 Constitutional Commission; Legislative Draftsmen to the 1969 Constituent Assembly which drafted the 1969 Constitution of Ghana. He was the Chairman of the 1979 Constituent Assembly and drafted the 1979 Constitution of Ghana.

    He worked with the Constitutional Review Commission of Kenya and was Leader of the group of Draftspersons who drafted the Kenya Constitution. He worked for the Zambian Constitutional Commission, which drafted the Zambian Constitution and also with the Fiajoe Review Commission for the review of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.

    He worked with Justice P.N. Bhagwati, a former Chief Justice of India and Justice Eso of the Supreme Court of Nigeria to advise on the setting up of the Constitutional Court in South Africa.

    Source: mynewsgh.com

  • Thomas Partey features as Atletico Madrid thrash Club Brugge in UCL

    Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey played a role in Atletico Madrid’s champions league home win over Belgian side Club Brugge.

    The 25-year old saw 63 minutes of action as the Europa Cup champions defeated Brugge 3-1 at the Wanda Metropolitano.

    Read: Kwadwo Asamoah happy with “great” win over PSV in UEFA Champions League

    Antoine Griezmann scored twice as Atletico Madrid made it two wins out of two in the Champions League.

    Griezmann stroked Atletico ahead in the first half but Arnaut Danjuma levelled matters before the break.

    Diego Simeone’s side pressed and were rewarded when Griezmann drilled home his second from Diego Costa’s pass. Koke then sealed the win from Griezmann’s assist in injury time.

    The Ghana international was replace in the 63 minute by Argentine midfielder Angel Corea.

    Source: ghanasoccerent.com

  • Thomas Partey features as Atletico Madrid thrash Club Brugge in UCL

    Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey played a role in Atletico Madrid’s champions league home win over Belgian side Club Brugge.

    The 25-year old saw 63 minutes of action as the Europa Cup champions defeated Brugge 3-1 at the Wanda Metropolitano.

    Read: Kwadwo Asamoah happy with “great” win over PSV in UEFA Champions League

    Antoine Griezmann scored twice as Atletico Madrid made it two wins out of two in the Champions League.

    Griezmann stroked Atletico ahead in the first half but Arnaut Danjuma levelled matters before the break.

    Diego Simeone’s side pressed and were rewarded when Griezmann drilled home his second from Diego Costa’s pass. Koke then sealed the win from Griezmann’s assist in injury time.

    The Ghana international was replace in the 63 minute by Argentine midfielder Angel Corea.

    Source: ghanasoccerent.com

  • Kwadwo Asamoah happy with “great” win over PSV in UEFA Champions League

    Ghana midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah has expressed satisfaction in Inter Milan’s away win over PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

    The midfielder was contributed largely in the game with his effort leading to Radja Niangolan’s leveler in their 2-1 win over the Dutch side.

    Asamoah posted on Twitter, “A great result for us still in the #UCL. #PSVInter #asamoah #Inter. A big result for us again in the #UCL. #PSVInter #asamoah #Inter.”

    Read: Kwadwo Asamoah stars as Inter beats Fiorentina

    Inter made it two wins from two and inflicted a second defeat on the Dutch side as Radja Nainggolan fired in an equaliser after Pablo Rosario scored his first goal in three years to give PSV the lead.

    Argentina forward Mauro Icardi took advantage of an error from PSV Eindhoven goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet to gift Inter Milan a 2-1 victory.

    PSV went in front on 27 minutes when Dutch junior international Rosario thundered his drive from 30 yards into the top corner with Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic rooted to the spot.

    Inter leveled just before the break when Zoet could only parry Kwadwo Asamoah’s shot and the ball fell for Nainggolan to smash into the net from the edge of the box.

    Read: VIDEO: Stephen Appiah honoured with special plaque at Fenerbahce

    But it was the visitors who scored next just before the hour-mark as Icardi took advantage of uncertainty in the PSV defence to latch on to a long ball and as Zoet collided with defender Daniel Schwaab, the Argentine forward side-footed into the empty net.

    Un grande risultato per noi ancora nella #UCL. #PSVInter #asamoah #Inter. A big result for us again in the #UCL. #PSVInter #asamoah #Inter pic.twitter.com/oSakj9kQhe

    — Kwadwo Asamoah (@Asabob20)

    Un grande risultato per noi ancora nella #UCL. #PSVInter #asamoah #Inter. A big result for us again in the #UCL. #PSVInter #asamoah #Inter pic.twitter.com/oSakj9kQhe

    — Kwadwo Asamoah (@Asabob20) October 3, 2018

    Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

  • Kwadwo Asamoah happy with “great” win over PSV in UEFA Champions League

    Ghana midfielder Kwadwo Asamoah has expressed satisfaction in Inter Milan’s away win over PSV Eindhoven in the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday night.

    The midfielder was contributed largely in the game with his effort leading to Radja Niangolan’s leveler in their 2-1 win over the Dutch side.

    Asamoah posted on Twitter, “A great result for us still in the #UCL. #PSVInter #asamoah #Inter. A big result for us again in the #UCL. #PSVInter #asamoah #Inter.”

    Read: Kwadwo Asamoah stars as Inter beats Fiorentina

    Inter made it two wins from two and inflicted a second defeat on the Dutch side as Radja Nainggolan fired in an equaliser after Pablo Rosario scored his first goal in three years to give PSV the lead.

    Argentina forward Mauro Icardi took advantage of an error from PSV Eindhoven goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet to gift Inter Milan a 2-1 victory.

    PSV went in front on 27 minutes when Dutch junior international Rosario thundered his drive from 30 yards into the top corner with Inter goalkeeper Samir Handanovic rooted to the spot.

    Inter leveled just before the break when Zoet could only parry Kwadwo Asamoah’s shot and the ball fell for Nainggolan to smash into the net from the edge of the box.

    Read: VIDEO: Stephen Appiah honoured with special plaque at Fenerbahce

    But it was the visitors who scored next just before the hour-mark as Icardi took advantage of uncertainty in the PSV defence to latch on to a long ball and as Zoet collided with defender Daniel Schwaab, the Argentine forward side-footed into the empty net.

    Un grande risultato per noi ancora nella #UCL. #PSVInter #asamoah #Inter. A big result for us again in the #UCL. #PSVInter #asamoah #Inter pic.twitter.com/oSakj9kQhe

    — Kwadwo Asamoah (@Asabob20)

    Un grande risultato per noi ancora nella #UCL. #PSVInter #asamoah #Inter. A big result for us again in the #UCL. #PSVInter #asamoah #Inter pic.twitter.com/oSakj9kQhe

    — Kwadwo Asamoah (@Asabob20) October 3, 2018

    Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

  • Summons issued by Ronaldo accuser in alleged rape case

    In a press conference on Wednesday night in Las Vegas, attorneys for the accuser announced that the 33-year-old will have 20 days to answer

    Attorneys for Kathryn Mayorga, the American woman who has accused Cristiano Ronaldo of rape after an encounter in 2009, have announced that a “summons has been issued and we have sent the summons and complaint for service” to the Juventus star.

    German media outlet Der Spiegel reported on Friday that Mayorga had claimed Ronaldo sexually assaulted her in a hotel room nine years ago.

    Read: Cristiano Ronaldo rape allegation: Footballer denies attack

    Police in Las Vegas have reopened the case and said in a statement reported by the BBC: “At the time the report was taken, the victim did not provide detectives with the location of the incident or suspect description.

    “As of September 2018, the case has been reopened and our detectives are following up on information being provided.”

    Ronaldo has “firmly denied” the allegations, saying in part: “Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in.

    “Keen as I may be to clear my name, I refuse to feed the media spectacle created by people seeking to promote themselves at my expense.”

    I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me. Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in. Keen as I may be to clear my name, I refuse to feed the media spectacle created by people seeking to promote themselves at my expense. — Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) October 3, 2018

    His lawyer, Christian Schertz, said: “The reporting in Spiegel is blatantly illegal.”

    He reportedly added that he had been instructed to seek compensation for “moral damages” over “probably one of the most serious violations of personal rights in recent years”.

    Read: Las Vegas woman sues Cristiano Ronaldo, accuses him of rape

    Ms Mayorga, 34, is reported to have filed a rape report with Las Vegas police after the alleged incident.

    She claims to have reached an out-of-court settlement with Ronaldo in 2010 involving a $375,000 (£288,000) payment for agreeing never to go public with the accusations. Her representatives said they would be seeking “declaratory relief that the plaintiff be excused for performance under the settlement and non-disclosure agreement due to the defendant’s breach” against the 33-year-old while laying out the charges in the lawsuit.

    According to one representative for Ms Mayorga, attorney Larissa Drohobyczer: “A summons has been issued and we have sent the summons and complaint for service upon Cristiano Ronaldo.

    “Cristiano Ronaldo will have 20 days from the date of service of the lawsuit to answer our complaint in Kathryn Mayorga’s case.”

    Source: Goal.com

  • Summons issued by Ronaldo accuser in alleged rape case

    In a press conference on Wednesday night in Las Vegas, attorneys for the accuser announced that the 33-year-old will have 20 days to answer

    Attorneys for Kathryn Mayorga, the American woman who has accused Cristiano Ronaldo of rape after an encounter in 2009, have announced that a “summons has been issued and we have sent the summons and complaint for service” to the Juventus star.

    German media outlet Der Spiegel reported on Friday that Mayorga had claimed Ronaldo sexually assaulted her in a hotel room nine years ago.

    Read: Cristiano Ronaldo rape allegation: Footballer denies attack

    Police in Las Vegas have reopened the case and said in a statement reported by the BBC: “At the time the report was taken, the victim did not provide detectives with the location of the incident or suspect description.

    “As of September 2018, the case has been reopened and our detectives are following up on information being provided.”

    Ronaldo has “firmly denied” the allegations, saying in part: “Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in.

    “Keen as I may be to clear my name, I refuse to feed the media spectacle created by people seeking to promote themselves at my expense.”

    I firmly deny the accusations being issued against me. Rape is an abominable crime that goes against everything that I am and believe in. Keen as I may be to clear my name, I refuse to feed the media spectacle created by people seeking to promote themselves at my expense. — Cristiano Ronaldo (@Cristiano) October 3, 2018

    His lawyer, Christian Schertz, said: “The reporting in Spiegel is blatantly illegal.”

    He reportedly added that he had been instructed to seek compensation for “moral damages” over “probably one of the most serious violations of personal rights in recent years”.

    Read: Las Vegas woman sues Cristiano Ronaldo, accuses him of rape

    Ms Mayorga, 34, is reported to have filed a rape report with Las Vegas police after the alleged incident.

    She claims to have reached an out-of-court settlement with Ronaldo in 2010 involving a $375,000 (£288,000) payment for agreeing never to go public with the accusations. Her representatives said they would be seeking “declaratory relief that the plaintiff be excused for performance under the settlement and non-disclosure agreement due to the defendant’s breach” against the 33-year-old while laying out the charges in the lawsuit.

    According to one representative for Ms Mayorga, attorney Larissa Drohobyczer: “A summons has been issued and we have sent the summons and complaint for service upon Cristiano Ronaldo.

    “Cristiano Ronaldo will have 20 days from the date of service of the lawsuit to answer our complaint in Kathryn Mayorga’s case.”

    Source: Goal.com

  • Free SHS: Koforidua SECTECH resort to plastic chairs in classrooms

    The desk crises in most Public Senior High Schools across the country seems to be deepening as Starr News uncovers more harrowing situations.

    Last week, Starr News reported of a severe desks deficit at the Suhum Senior High Technical School where students stand and lean against the wall to learn.

    Read: Free SHS has saved parents thousands of cedis Bawumia

    The Koforidua Senior High Technical School (SECTECH) in the Eastern Region is the latest School to be hit with the acute shortage of desks compelling management of the School to resort to plastic chairs. Some of the students also lean against the wall to learn.

    Some Students were forced under the circumstance to join some pieces of woods together as desks. The shaky desk falls apart by the little push distracting teaching and learning.

    Read: Akufo-Addo clashes with Mahama over Free SHS policy

    Students who sit in the plastic chairs write on their laps while others who do not want to distort their handwritings turn their Chairs into table and kneel to write on it when taking notes.

    Some of the students complain of back pains and neck pains.

     

    Source: starrfmonline.com 

  • Free SHS: Koforidua SECTECH resort to plastic chairs in classrooms

    The desk crises in most Public Senior High Schools across the country seems to be deepening as Starr News uncovers more harrowing situations.

    Last week, Starr News reported of a severe desks deficit at the Suhum Senior High Technical School where students stand and lean against the wall to learn.

    Read: Free SHS has saved parents thousands of cedis Bawumia

    The Koforidua Senior High Technical School (SECTECH) in the Eastern Region is the latest School to be hit with the acute shortage of desks compelling management of the School to resort to plastic chairs. Some of the students also lean against the wall to learn.

    Some Students were forced under the circumstance to join some pieces of woods together as desks. The shaky desk falls apart by the little push distracting teaching and learning.

    Read: Akufo-Addo clashes with Mahama over Free SHS policy

    Students who sit in the plastic chairs write on their laps while others who do not want to distort their handwritings turn their Chairs into table and kneel to write on it when taking notes.

    Some of the students complain of back pains and neck pains.

     

    Source: starrfmonline.com 

  • Cristiano Ronaldo rape allegation: Footballer denies attack

    Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has “firmly” denied raping a woman in a US hotel room almost a decade ago.

    The Juventus forward, 33, said he was calm over “any and all investigations” as he had a “clear” conscience over the allegation he attacked Kathryn Mayorga in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2009.

    He spoke out ahead of her lawyers giving a press conference on Wednesday.

    He had previously said the allegation, first reported in German magazine Der Spiegel, was “fake news”.

    On Wednesday, he issued a statement through his Twitter account

    Read: Las Vegas woman sues Cristiano Ronaldo, accuses him of rape

    Der Spiegel said Ms Mayorga, 34, had filed a report with Las Vegas police shortly after the alleged incident.

    But the next year, she reportedly reached an out-of-court settlement with Ronaldo involving a $375,000 (£288,000) payment for agreeing never to go public with the allegations.

    Her lawyers are now seeking to declare the non-disclosure agreement void.

    Las Vegas police confirmed on Tuesday they had initially investigated a complaint in June 2009, but added they had no suspect in the case.

    Read: Ronaldo rape allegation: Las Vegas police reopen case

    “At the time the report was taken, the victim did not provide detectives with the location of the incident or suspect description,” a statement said.

    “As of September 2018, the case has been reopened and our detectives are following up on information being provided,” it added.

    Ronaldo’s lawyers have previously said they will sue Der Spiegel magazine over its reporting.

    Source: bbc

  • Cristiano Ronaldo rape allegation: Footballer denies attack

    Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has “firmly” denied raping a woman in a US hotel room almost a decade ago.

    The Juventus forward, 33, said he was calm over “any and all investigations” as he had a “clear” conscience over the allegation he attacked Kathryn Mayorga in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2009.

    He spoke out ahead of her lawyers giving a press conference on Wednesday.

    He had previously said the allegation, first reported in German magazine Der Spiegel, was “fake news”.

    On Wednesday, he issued a statement through his Twitter account

    Read: Las Vegas woman sues Cristiano Ronaldo, accuses him of rape

    Der Spiegel said Ms Mayorga, 34, had filed a report with Las Vegas police shortly after the alleged incident.

    But the next year, she reportedly reached an out-of-court settlement with Ronaldo involving a $375,000 (£288,000) payment for agreeing never to go public with the allegations.

    Her lawyers are now seeking to declare the non-disclosure agreement void.

    Las Vegas police confirmed on Tuesday they had initially investigated a complaint in June 2009, but added they had no suspect in the case.

    Read: Ronaldo rape allegation: Las Vegas police reopen case

    “At the time the report was taken, the victim did not provide detectives with the location of the incident or suspect description,” a statement said.

    “As of September 2018, the case has been reopened and our detectives are following up on information being provided,” it added.

    Ronaldo’s lawyers have previously said they will sue Der Spiegel magazine over its reporting.

    Source: bbc

  • Directors of Dancom Microfinance arrested

    The Directors of Dancom Microfinance Ltd have been arrested and are being prosecuted for engaging in deposit-taking activities without licence contrary to section 6 (1) of the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act 930).

    Announcing the arrests in a notice today, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) said Dancom Microfinance Ltd was not licensed to engage in microfinance business.

    Read: “Arrest all Bank of Ghana officials before you attack managers of collapsed banks”- Ken Agyapong

    It added that the offices of the company have been closed down as a result.

    “Accordingly, the general public is cautioned that anyone who transacts business with Dancom Microfinance Limited does so at his or her own risk, and the Bank of Ghana WILL NOT be liable to such clients or depositors in the event of loss,” the statement signed by BoG Secretary, Mrs Frances Van-Hein Sackey said.

    Passed in July 2016, Act 930 gives the BoG overall supervisory and regulatory authority in all matters related to deposit-taking.

    It stipulates that authorised agents include an apex body, network, industrial association, self-regulatory organisation or any other person recognised by the BoG.

    Eligibility to take deposits

    The Act says a person shall not carry on a deposit-taking business in or from within the country unless that person is a body corporate formed under the laws of this country.

    Read: Two charged GH¢200,000 for stealing from Consolidated Bank

    Again, it stipulates that a person that is not a body corporate formed under the laws of the country may, with the prior written approval of the BoG, carry out a deposit-taking business in or from within the country.

    It says a person shall not propose to be a shareholder of a deposit- taking microfinance institution unless that person is a citizen.

    https://www.facebook.com/theindependentnewspaper/videos/692153597829852/



    The Act says the BoG may issue directives to govern the operations of persons exempted under subsection two.

    Licensing authority

    The Act says the BoG shall have the sole responsibility for the issuance of licences to banks and specialised deposit-taking institutions.

    The central bank also has the authority to grant approval to foreign banks with respect to the establishment of representative offices and the registration of financial holdings.

    Source: Graphic

  • Directors of Dancom Microfinance arrested

    The Directors of Dancom Microfinance Ltd have been arrested and are being prosecuted for engaging in deposit-taking activities without licence contrary to section 6 (1) of the Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act 930).

    Announcing the arrests in a notice today, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) said Dancom Microfinance Ltd was not licensed to engage in microfinance business.

    Read: “Arrest all Bank of Ghana officials before you attack managers of collapsed banks”- Ken Agyapong

    It added that the offices of the company have been closed down as a result.

    “Accordingly, the general public is cautioned that anyone who transacts business with Dancom Microfinance Limited does so at his or her own risk, and the Bank of Ghana WILL NOT be liable to such clients or depositors in the event of loss,” the statement signed by BoG Secretary, Mrs Frances Van-Hein Sackey said.

    Passed in July 2016, Act 930 gives the BoG overall supervisory and regulatory authority in all matters related to deposit-taking.

    It stipulates that authorised agents include an apex body, network, industrial association, self-regulatory organisation or any other person recognised by the BoG.

    Eligibility to take deposits

    The Act says a person shall not carry on a deposit-taking business in or from within the country unless that person is a body corporate formed under the laws of this country.

    Read: Two charged GH¢200,000 for stealing from Consolidated Bank

    Again, it stipulates that a person that is not a body corporate formed under the laws of the country may, with the prior written approval of the BoG, carry out a deposit-taking business in or from within the country.

    It says a person shall not propose to be a shareholder of a deposit- taking microfinance institution unless that person is a citizen.

    https://www.facebook.com/theindependentnewspaper/videos/692153597829852/



    The Act says the BoG may issue directives to govern the operations of persons exempted under subsection two.

    Licensing authority

    The Act says the BoG shall have the sole responsibility for the issuance of licences to banks and specialised deposit-taking institutions.

    The central bank also has the authority to grant approval to foreign banks with respect to the establishment of representative offices and the registration of financial holdings.

    Source: Graphic

  • Farmers asked to manage natural regeneration

    Mr Edward Anaba, a Project Manager at World Vision Ghana in-charge of the Ever Green Agriculture Project, urged farmers to manage natural regeneration, saying it is key to improving livelihoods of poor communities.

    He said soil and land degradation have negatively impacted on rural communities and their livelihoods with the increasing effects of climate change, and called on communities to embrace the practice to get back degraded lands and ensure that food security for people living in rural communities was guaranteed.

    The Project Manager who made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga, called on other communities to emulate the practice to improve on lives in their communities.

    Read: Government to compensate cocoa farmers

    Mr Anaba who manages the Talensi Development Area office of World Vision Ghana in Tongo said, the practice by some beneficiary communities in Talensi, Garu and Bawku West Districts over the years had changed degraded lands to more profitable ventures through the growth and management of trees and shrubs that otherwise would have been left to wither off or burnt by communities members.

    He encouraged the beneficiary communities to sustain the gains, and said “World Vision has a part to play in lifting the livelihoods of the poor, especially children, and we feel that lives of children is important and so when communities manage their natural resources well, it has impact on children who are able to explore their God given talents”.

    He said farmer managed natural regeneration was key for communities confronted with land degradation problems and indicated that some communities have seen the effects on their yields, and livelihoods because of effects of climate change.

    Read: GHC500m fund for farmers coming Akufo-Addo

    Mr Anaba said the practice involved the use of low cost natural resource to bring the needed changes to the environment and added that failure to adopt the method now could have more repercussions for the future because any other measure would come at an increasing cost considering the rate of climate change on the environment.

    He appealed to communities that continuously degraded lands to allow natural shrubs to grow without indiscriminately burning them, and to protect trees and avoid practicing other expensive interventions that could not be sustained.

    He said World Vision was passionate about improving livelihoods of people in communities and enumerated some of the gains made by the interventions such as mobilizing communities to establish woodlots which checked the time spent by women to search for fuel wood for cooking as they properly manage the woodlots.

    According to him, the other intervention World Vision prioritized was capacity building training for farmers to enable them manage the resources, and said his outfit collaborates with the Ghana National Fire Service to train communities to fight and prevent fires.

    Read: Farmers urged to embrace Biotechnology

    He said farmers were trained in conservation agriculture to enhance their skills to understand local weather dynamics to enable them to be informed on appropriate time to plant among others.

    He said farmer managed regeneration was not a practice in isolation, but came with other activities which his outfit did not renege in providing needed capacity building training for beneficiaries, adding that it inured to farmers to undertake alternative livelihood ventures in the Talensi District such as bee keeping, village savings and loans for women to carry out their ventures.

    Source: ghananewsagency.org

  • Farmers asked to manage natural regeneration

    Mr Edward Anaba, a Project Manager at World Vision Ghana in-charge of the Ever Green Agriculture Project, urged farmers to manage natural regeneration, saying it is key to improving livelihoods of poor communities.

    He said soil and land degradation have negatively impacted on rural communities and their livelihoods with the increasing effects of climate change, and called on communities to embrace the practice to get back degraded lands and ensure that food security for people living in rural communities was guaranteed.

    The Project Manager who made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga, called on other communities to emulate the practice to improve on lives in their communities.

    Read: Government to compensate cocoa farmers

    Mr Anaba who manages the Talensi Development Area office of World Vision Ghana in Tongo said, the practice by some beneficiary communities in Talensi, Garu and Bawku West Districts over the years had changed degraded lands to more profitable ventures through the growth and management of trees and shrubs that otherwise would have been left to wither off or burnt by communities members.

    He encouraged the beneficiary communities to sustain the gains, and said “World Vision has a part to play in lifting the livelihoods of the poor, especially children, and we feel that lives of children is important and so when communities manage their natural resources well, it has impact on children who are able to explore their God given talents”.

    He said farmer managed natural regeneration was key for communities confronted with land degradation problems and indicated that some communities have seen the effects on their yields, and livelihoods because of effects of climate change.

    Read: GHC500m fund for farmers coming Akufo-Addo

    Mr Anaba said the practice involved the use of low cost natural resource to bring the needed changes to the environment and added that failure to adopt the method now could have more repercussions for the future because any other measure would come at an increasing cost considering the rate of climate change on the environment.

    He appealed to communities that continuously degraded lands to allow natural shrubs to grow without indiscriminately burning them, and to protect trees and avoid practicing other expensive interventions that could not be sustained.

    He said World Vision was passionate about improving livelihoods of people in communities and enumerated some of the gains made by the interventions such as mobilizing communities to establish woodlots which checked the time spent by women to search for fuel wood for cooking as they properly manage the woodlots.

    According to him, the other intervention World Vision prioritized was capacity building training for farmers to enable them manage the resources, and said his outfit collaborates with the Ghana National Fire Service to train communities to fight and prevent fires.

    Read: Farmers urged to embrace Biotechnology

    He said farmers were trained in conservation agriculture to enhance their skills to understand local weather dynamics to enable them to be informed on appropriate time to plant among others.

    He said farmer managed regeneration was not a practice in isolation, but came with other activities which his outfit did not renege in providing needed capacity building training for beneficiaries, adding that it inured to farmers to undertake alternative livelihood ventures in the Talensi District such as bee keeping, village savings and loans for women to carry out their ventures.

    Source: ghananewsagency.org

  • Teenager charged with stealing from celebrity homes

    A teenager has been charged with allegedly stealing from the homes of celebrities in Los Angeles.

    Rihanna was among the famous famous whose properties were targeted, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney Office.

    Read: Bill Cosby sentenced to state prison for sexual assault

    Tyress Williams, 19, faces four felony counts of first-degree residential burglary, it said in a statement.

    He was due to have the charges read to him at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center court on Tuesday.

    As well as Rihanna, it’s alleged he targeted the homes of singer Matthieu Tota, aka Matt Pokora, baseball player Yasiel Puig, and American football player Robert Woods.

    It’s claimed the burglaries took place between August 24 and September 27 this year.

    Read: Ronaldo rape allegation: Las Vegas police reopen case

    Tyress Williams faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail if he’s convicted of all charges.

    Prosecutors are requesting his bail is set at $200,000 (£153,000).

    The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.

    Source: bbc

  • Teenager charged with stealing from celebrity homes

    A teenager has been charged with allegedly stealing from the homes of celebrities in Los Angeles.

    Rihanna was among the famous famous whose properties were targeted, according to the Los Angeles County District Attorney Office.

    Read: Bill Cosby sentenced to state prison for sexual assault

    Tyress Williams, 19, faces four felony counts of first-degree residential burglary, it said in a statement.

    He was due to have the charges read to him at the Foltz Criminal Justice Center court on Tuesday.

    As well as Rihanna, it’s alleged he targeted the homes of singer Matthieu Tota, aka Matt Pokora, baseball player Yasiel Puig, and American football player Robert Woods.

    It’s claimed the burglaries took place between August 24 and September 27 this year.

    Read: Ronaldo rape allegation: Las Vegas police reopen case

    Tyress Williams faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail if he’s convicted of all charges.

    Prosecutors are requesting his bail is set at $200,000 (£153,000).

    The case remains under investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department.

    Source: bbc

  • NDC is the only party that has brought development to Ghana – Mahama

    Former President John Dramani Mahama is of the view that it is only when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is in government that the country witnesses the fastest pace in terms of development at all spheres.

    He opined that the NDC as a party is development oriented and therefore not surprising from the records from 1992 to date that Ghanaians witness massive development each time NDC steering the affairs of the nation.

    Read: Mahama whines over 2016 Elections defeat

    Addressing party supporters at Savelugu as part of his campaign tour of the Northern Region, the former President appealed to Ghanaians to kick out the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2020 not because it has failed but the fact they have confidence NDC can do the job.

    https://www.facebook.com/theindependentnewspaper/videos/440019399737918/

    “If you look at NDC, NDC has always been the party that has brought development to Ghana. If you look at electricity extension, we have extended electricity to so many communities” he revealed.

    Enumerating a number of interventions to back his claim he said “If you look at the provision of water we have provided water to many communities. At the time we came into the office, the number of Ghanaians who were enjoying clean drinking water was 58% by the time we left office in 2016 the number of Ghanaians enjoying clean drinking water was 76%.

    Read: Nana Addo has abandoned all my projects John Mahama

    We built hospitals, we built CHPS compounds, we built roads …we were working on this road all the way to Tampion and then all the way to Karaga and Gushiegu. Since we left office thing road has come to a standstill. We were working on the Eastern Corridor road since we left office, the road has come to a standstill. We developed this country, if you look at the history from Ghana from 1992 you realize the fastest progress the country experiences is when NDC is in power”

    To this end, he called on branch executives to work assiduously towards the victory of the party in 2020 in order to allow the continuity of developmental projects started by the previous administration but abandoned by the current administration.

    “The party wants the strength of the party is in the branches and so everything you that see the party doing is to strengthen the branches. Because the tree or the party is as strong as the roots of the tree.  The branches of the party, the polling station branches are the roots of the tree, so if the polling station branches are strong the party is strong”, he stated.

    Read: Akufo-Addo clashes with Mahama over Free SHS policy

    “That is why the registration exercise was handled by the branches and constituency elections directorate. Now that we all registered, we held branch elections, the branch elections were very competitive and want to congratulate all of you who won positions in your branches and constituencies. You are the ones the party is counting on to do the organizational work in order that the party can come back to power to continue the good work we were doing before 2016”, he stressed.

    https://www.facebook.com/theindependentnewspaper/videos/1878296622254335/

    Source: mynewsgh.com

  • NDC is the only party that has brought development to Ghana – Mahama

    Former President John Dramani Mahama is of the view that it is only when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is in government that the country witnesses the fastest pace in terms of development at all spheres.

    He opined that the NDC as a party is development oriented and therefore not surprising from the records from 1992 to date that Ghanaians witness massive development each time NDC steering the affairs of the nation.

    Read: Mahama whines over 2016 Elections defeat

    Addressing party supporters at Savelugu as part of his campaign tour of the Northern Region, the former President appealed to Ghanaians to kick out the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2020 not because it has failed but the fact they have confidence NDC can do the job.

    https://www.facebook.com/theindependentnewspaper/videos/440019399737918/

    “If you look at NDC, NDC has always been the party that has brought development to Ghana. If you look at electricity extension, we have extended electricity to so many communities” he revealed.

    Enumerating a number of interventions to back his claim he said “If you look at the provision of water we have provided water to many communities. At the time we came into the office, the number of Ghanaians who were enjoying clean drinking water was 58% by the time we left office in 2016 the number of Ghanaians enjoying clean drinking water was 76%.

    Read: Nana Addo has abandoned all my projects John Mahama

    We built hospitals, we built CHPS compounds, we built roads …we were working on this road all the way to Tampion and then all the way to Karaga and Gushiegu. Since we left office thing road has come to a standstill. We were working on the Eastern Corridor road since we left office, the road has come to a standstill. We developed this country, if you look at the history from Ghana from 1992 you realize the fastest progress the country experiences is when NDC is in power”

    To this end, he called on branch executives to work assiduously towards the victory of the party in 2020 in order to allow the continuity of developmental projects started by the previous administration but abandoned by the current administration.

    “The party wants the strength of the party is in the branches and so everything you that see the party doing is to strengthen the branches. Because the tree or the party is as strong as the roots of the tree.  The branches of the party, the polling station branches are the roots of the tree, so if the polling station branches are strong the party is strong”, he stated.

    Read: Akufo-Addo clashes with Mahama over Free SHS policy

    “That is why the registration exercise was handled by the branches and constituency elections directorate. Now that we all registered, we held branch elections, the branch elections were very competitive and want to congratulate all of you who won positions in your branches and constituencies. You are the ones the party is counting on to do the organizational work in order that the party can come back to power to continue the good work we were doing before 2016”, he stressed.

    https://www.facebook.com/theindependentnewspaper/videos/1878296622254335/

    Source: mynewsgh.com

  • Ugandan MPs halve mobile money tax

    MPs in Uganda have once again backed a controversial tax on using mobile phone banking but have halved the levy to 0.5%.

    They have also now put it on cash withdrawals only rather than all transactions.

    But no change has been made on the 200 Uganda shilling ($0.05, £0.04) daily tax on the use of social media.

    The introduction of the taxes, to help curb a budget deficit, was met a big outcry led by the musician-turned-MP Bobi Wine.

    Read: Ugandan MP Bobi Wine shares ordeal of return day drama

    He has been tweeting about Tuesday evening’s decision.

    He said that the MPs have ignored the voice of the people.

    But MPs who have backed the measure argued that it was important to find new ways to raise revenue and reduce the amount of government borrowing.

    Read: Ugandans attack government officials at funeral of slain police chief

    Bobi Wine, who travelled to the United States recently to seek specialized treatment for injuries he suffered during military detention in Uganda, is on a mission to seek justice for the torture of opposition supporters who were caught up in election chaos in the West Nile town of Arua.

    Source: BBC

  • Ugandan MPs halve mobile money tax

    MPs in Uganda have once again backed a controversial tax on using mobile phone banking but have halved the levy to 0.5%.

    They have also now put it on cash withdrawals only rather than all transactions.

    But no change has been made on the 200 Uganda shilling ($0.05, £0.04) daily tax on the use of social media.

    The introduction of the taxes, to help curb a budget deficit, was met a big outcry led by the musician-turned-MP Bobi Wine.

    Read: Ugandan MP Bobi Wine shares ordeal of return day drama

    He has been tweeting about Tuesday evening’s decision.

    He said that the MPs have ignored the voice of the people.

    But MPs who have backed the measure argued that it was important to find new ways to raise revenue and reduce the amount of government borrowing.

    Read: Ugandans attack government officials at funeral of slain police chief

    Bobi Wine, who travelled to the United States recently to seek specialized treatment for injuries he suffered during military detention in Uganda, is on a mission to seek justice for the torture of opposition supporters who were caught up in election chaos in the West Nile town of Arua.

    Source: BBC

  • I’ve not been able to satisfy my wife in bed since Anas exposé – Referee Agyin

    Beleaguered assistant FIFA referee David Agyin has disclosed that he has unable to satisfy his wife in bed since the airing of the Anas Number 12 documentary.

    The 45-year-old match official was videoed accepting GH¢800 from Tiger EyePI agent in the Anas exposé and following the internal investigations by Referee Association of Ghana [RAG], Mr Agyin has handed a 10-year ban.

    Read: Referee Yaw Ametepe unshaken by ten-year ban by RAG

    According to him, he has slept with the wife once since the premiering of the video insisting he has been struggling to satisfied the wife in bed.

    “Since the premiering of the Anas exposé, I have slept with my wife once.,” he told Asmepa FM.

    Read: 53 more Ghanaian referees banned after bribery probe

    “I have not been able to satisfy my wife. She forced herself on me the last time but I was not in the mood to have sex with her.

    “I thank God she is still with me. She is a Christian and I thank God for that,” he added.

    He further revealed that he will challenge the RAG ruling in court because CAF has not banned him.

    Over 80 match officials were captured in the Anas Aremeyaw Anas documentary.

    Source: ghanasoccernet.com

  • I’ve not been able to satisfy my wife in bed since Anas exposé – Referee Agyin

    Beleaguered assistant FIFA referee David Agyin has disclosed that he has unable to satisfy his wife in bed since the airing of the Anas Number 12 documentary.

    The 45-year-old match official was videoed accepting GH¢800 from Tiger EyePI agent in the Anas exposé and following the internal investigations by Referee Association of Ghana [RAG], Mr Agyin has handed a 10-year ban.

    Read: Referee Yaw Ametepe unshaken by ten-year ban by RAG

    According to him, he has slept with the wife once since the premiering of the video insisting he has been struggling to satisfied the wife in bed.

    “Since the premiering of the Anas exposé, I have slept with my wife once.,” he told Asmepa FM.

    Read: 53 more Ghanaian referees banned after bribery probe

    “I have not been able to satisfy my wife. She forced herself on me the last time but I was not in the mood to have sex with her.

    “I thank God she is still with me. She is a Christian and I thank God for that,” he added.

    He further revealed that he will challenge the RAG ruling in court because CAF has not banned him.

    Over 80 match officials were captured in the Anas Aremeyaw Anas documentary.

    Source: ghanasoccernet.com

  • US ends diplomatic visas for UN same-sex partners

    The US has announced it will deny diplomatic visas to same-sex partners of foreign diplomats and United Nations employees.

    The change went into effect on Monday, giving partners currently in the US until 31 December to leave, get married or otherwise change their visa.

    It is a reversal of rules introduced in 2009.

    Currently, 25 countries have recognised same-sex marriage. Homosexuality remains illegal in 71 countries.

    Read: Nigerian police arrests 57 homosexuals

    The new Trump administration policy update was circulated in a United Nations (UN) memo.

    The memo states: “As of 1 October 2018, same-sex domestic partners accompanying or seeking to join newly arrived United Nations officials must provide proof of marriage to be eligible for a G-4 visa or to seek a change into such status.”

    G-4 visas are granted to employees of international organisations and their immediate families.

    According to the State Department, “only a relationship legally considered to be a marriage in the jurisdiction where it took place establishes eligibility as a spouse for immigration purposes”.

    In a 12 July note to the UN, the US Mission to the UN lauded the change as a step towards equality, saying “same-sex spouses of US diplomats now enjoy the same rights and benefits as opposite-sex spouses”, US media report.

    But critics have called the move unfair to homosexual partners, given a large number of countries do not recognise same-sex marriage.

    Former US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power decried the policy, calling it “needlessly cruel and bigoted”.

    The UN-Globe, advocates for LGBT equality in the UN, said the Trump administration’s new policy was “an unfortunate change in rules”.

    “Couples already inside of the United States could go to city hall and get married. But they could potentially be exposed to prosecution if they return to a country that criminalises homosexuality or same-sex marriages.”

    After the end of this year, unmarried same-sex partners of diplomats and UN employees will be expected to leave the US within 30 days if they remain unmarried and without a visa status change.

    The only exception, however, would be same-sex partners of officials coming from countries that do not recognise same-sex marriage. They will be granted a diplomatic visa if the government which sends them to work in their embassies in the US grants the same privileges to same-sex partners of US officials sent to that country.

    Read: India court legalises gay sex in landmark ruling

    A senior State Department official told the BBC that they are concerned about the human rights implications of the change and are willing to discuss individual concerns.

    The new policy is a reversal of then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s 2009 decision to allow same-sex domestic partners of foreign officials diplomatic visas.

    State Department officials say there are around 105 families total that could be affected by the policy.

    According to Foreign Policy Magazine, there are at least 10 UN employees in the US with same-sex domestic partners who will need to be married by next year in order to maintain their partner’s visa.

    Akshaya Kumar, the Deputy UN Director of Human Rights Watch, wrote that the change “will have an insidious impact on same-sex couples”.

    “The US government should recognise, as it had for almost nine years until today, that requiring a marriage as proof of bona fide partnership is a bad and cruel policy, one that replicates the terrible discrimination many LGBT people face in their own countries, and should be immediately reversed.”

    There are currently 71 countries that criminalise same-sex relations, according to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA).

    Several others have some form of legal restriction, and same-sex relationships can carry the death penalty in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, and Nigeria.

    Source: bbc

  • US ends diplomatic visas for UN same-sex partners

    The US has announced it will deny diplomatic visas to same-sex partners of foreign diplomats and United Nations employees.

    The change went into effect on Monday, giving partners currently in the US until 31 December to leave, get married or otherwise change their visa.

    It is a reversal of rules introduced in 2009.

    Currently, 25 countries have recognised same-sex marriage. Homosexuality remains illegal in 71 countries.

    Read: Nigerian police arrests 57 homosexuals

    The new Trump administration policy update was circulated in a United Nations (UN) memo.

    The memo states: “As of 1 October 2018, same-sex domestic partners accompanying or seeking to join newly arrived United Nations officials must provide proof of marriage to be eligible for a G-4 visa or to seek a change into such status.”

    G-4 visas are granted to employees of international organisations and their immediate families.

    According to the State Department, “only a relationship legally considered to be a marriage in the jurisdiction where it took place establishes eligibility as a spouse for immigration purposes”.

    In a 12 July note to the UN, the US Mission to the UN lauded the change as a step towards equality, saying “same-sex spouses of US diplomats now enjoy the same rights and benefits as opposite-sex spouses”, US media report.

    But critics have called the move unfair to homosexual partners, given a large number of countries do not recognise same-sex marriage.

    Former US Ambassador to the UN Samantha Power decried the policy, calling it “needlessly cruel and bigoted”.

    The UN-Globe, advocates for LGBT equality in the UN, said the Trump administration’s new policy was “an unfortunate change in rules”.

    “Couples already inside of the United States could go to city hall and get married. But they could potentially be exposed to prosecution if they return to a country that criminalises homosexuality or same-sex marriages.”

    After the end of this year, unmarried same-sex partners of diplomats and UN employees will be expected to leave the US within 30 days if they remain unmarried and without a visa status change.

    The only exception, however, would be same-sex partners of officials coming from countries that do not recognise same-sex marriage. They will be granted a diplomatic visa if the government which sends them to work in their embassies in the US grants the same privileges to same-sex partners of US officials sent to that country.

    Read: India court legalises gay sex in landmark ruling

    A senior State Department official told the BBC that they are concerned about the human rights implications of the change and are willing to discuss individual concerns.

    The new policy is a reversal of then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s 2009 decision to allow same-sex domestic partners of foreign officials diplomatic visas.

    State Department officials say there are around 105 families total that could be affected by the policy.

    According to Foreign Policy Magazine, there are at least 10 UN employees in the US with same-sex domestic partners who will need to be married by next year in order to maintain their partner’s visa.

    Akshaya Kumar, the Deputy UN Director of Human Rights Watch, wrote that the change “will have an insidious impact on same-sex couples”.

    “The US government should recognise, as it had for almost nine years until today, that requiring a marriage as proof of bona fide partnership is a bad and cruel policy, one that replicates the terrible discrimination many LGBT people face in their own countries, and should be immediately reversed.”

    There are currently 71 countries that criminalise same-sex relations, according to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA).

    Several others have some form of legal restriction, and same-sex relationships can carry the death penalty in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Sudan, Somalia, and Nigeria.

    Source: bbc

  • Top Chinese actress fined for tax evasion

    Chinese actress Fan Bingbing has been fined hundreds of millions of yuan for tax evasion and other offences, authorities said Wednesday.

    It comes nearly three months after the star disappeared from the public eye.

    Ms Fan, who is one of the China’s highest paid actors, will escape criminal charges if the fines are paid on time, said state news agency Xinhua.

    Read: Nicki Minaj reveals abusive relationship in documentary

    The actress had been linked to a government probe into how celebrities reported earnings in their contracts.

    Some film stars were alleged to have used so-called “yin-yang contracts” – a practice where one contract sets out an actor’s real earnings, and another details a lower figure, with the latter submitted to the tax authorities.

    Chinese authorities have now ordered Ms Fan and the companies she controls to pay around 883 million yuan ($129m) in taxes, fines and penalties.

    On Wednesday, the star posted an open apology on her Weibo account saying: “I’ve been suffering unprecedented pain recently… I’m so ashamed of what I’ve done. Here, I sincerely apologize to everyone.”

    Read: Mexico marks 50 years since student massacre

    Ms Fan’s agent has been detained by the police for further investigation. Her studio had previously said the star never signed “yin-yang” contracts.

    The 37-year-old actress, who appeared in the X-Men and Iron Man film franchises, sparked concern among her millions of fans when she disappeared from public view in June.

    Social media was awash with speculation over her whereabouts and whether she had been detained.

    She is one of China’s most influential celebrities and last year topped Forbes magazine’s list of top Chinese celebrities with income of around 300 million yuan ($43m).

    Source: bbc

  • Top Chinese actress fined for tax evasion

    Chinese actress Fan Bingbing has been fined hundreds of millions of yuan for tax evasion and other offences, authorities said Wednesday.

    It comes nearly three months after the star disappeared from the public eye.

    Ms Fan, who is one of the China’s highest paid actors, will escape criminal charges if the fines are paid on time, said state news agency Xinhua.

    Read: Nicki Minaj reveals abusive relationship in documentary

    The actress had been linked to a government probe into how celebrities reported earnings in their contracts.

    Some film stars were alleged to have used so-called “yin-yang contracts” – a practice where one contract sets out an actor’s real earnings, and another details a lower figure, with the latter submitted to the tax authorities.

    Chinese authorities have now ordered Ms Fan and the companies she controls to pay around 883 million yuan ($129m) in taxes, fines and penalties.

    On Wednesday, the star posted an open apology on her Weibo account saying: “I’ve been suffering unprecedented pain recently… I’m so ashamed of what I’ve done. Here, I sincerely apologize to everyone.”

    Read: Mexico marks 50 years since student massacre

    Ms Fan’s agent has been detained by the police for further investigation. Her studio had previously said the star never signed “yin-yang” contracts.

    The 37-year-old actress, who appeared in the X-Men and Iron Man film franchises, sparked concern among her millions of fans when she disappeared from public view in June.

    Social media was awash with speculation over her whereabouts and whether she had been detained.

    She is one of China’s most influential celebrities and last year topped Forbes magazine’s list of top Chinese celebrities with income of around 300 million yuan ($43m).

    Source: bbc

  • Mexico marks 50 years since student massacre

    Veterans of Mexico’s 1968 student movement and younger generations of activists marched Tuesday in Mexico City to remember the day 50 years ago when army troops massacred hundreds of people at a peaceful protest.

    Five decades on, it remains unclear exactly how many people were killed when the army opened fire on a rally of about 8,000 students in the Plaza of Three Cultures, in central Mexico City’s Tlatelolco neighborhood.

    The authoritarian government at the time put the death toll at 20, claiming “terrorists” attacked the troops, forcing them to defend themselves.

    Read: China condemns US for South China Sea operation

    Independent reports say anywhere from 300 to 500 people were killed.

    The massacre — which came just 10 days before Mexico City hosted the 1968 Olympics — remains one of the darkest episodes in a year of global turbulence.

    The government’s failure to bring those responsible to justice or explain what happened that day has become a rallying cry for the Mexican left and provokes annual protests that often turn violent.

    There was a heavy police presence for Tuesday’s march in central Mexico City, as thousands of people marched from the plaza where the massacre occurred to the capital’s central square, the Zocalo.

    They carried signs with messages such as “They keep killing us” and “The state kills and disappears students.”

    Those were references to both 1968 and the 2014 disappearance and suspected massacre of 43 students from the southern town of Ayotzinapa — a murky crime involving corrupt authorities and drug cartel hitmen that still haunts the country.

    But there was optimism that change was coming, with Mexico’s first-ever leftist government set to take office on December 1 after a landslide election win for President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

    “We think those responsible for 1968 might finally be punished… And if we can find out the truth about 1968, we might also find out what happened to our comrades from Ayotzinapa,” said 22-year-old student activist Pedro Santiago.

    Lopez Obrador opened the commemorations by paying tribute to the victims of October 2, 1968, and promising to bring change.

    “In this new era… we will honor the memory of the young victims of 1968. And the best way to do that is with humanism, without repression, struggling every day to make Mexico a just country,” he said at a memorial in the plaza where the massacre occurred.

    However, he declined to say whether he would reappoint a special prosecutor to investigate the killings or open the government’s archives, as protesters demand.

    – ‘Mountain of bodies’ –

    In 1968, a series of explosive protests was sweeping the globe, from Europe to the United States and beyond.

    Mexico was no exception.

    As the country prepared to host the Summer Olympics — the first time they were held in Latin America — President Gustavo Diaz Ordaz and the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) nervously eyed the student movement calling for democratic change after four decades of one-party rule.

    On the morning of October 2, student leaders held talks with authorities on suspending their protests until after the Games in return for the release of political prisoners.

    Read: 34 migrants drown in Mediterranean shipwreck, 26 survivors UN

    However, despite obtaining an agreement by the students to cancel a march later that day, the government was taking no chances.

    As student leaders held a rally to deliver a progress report on their talks with the authorities, army snipers opened fire from the buildings surrounding the plaza.

    “A helicopter flew overhead and fired a flare. At that moment, machine gun fire erupted all around… and bodies just started falling to the ground,” said Victor Perez, a student leader who was 17 at the time.

    Early the next day, he saw the aftermath from a friend’s apartment overlooking the square.

    “There was a mountain of bodies… workers, farmers, students, mothers, children, pregnant women,” he said.

    No one has ever been sentenced for the killings.

    The interior minister at the time, Luis Echeverria — who went on to become president — was charged with genocide over the massacre in 2006 and placed under house arrest.

    Three years later, the charges were dismissed.

    Source: France24

  • Mexico marks 50 years since student massacre

    Veterans of Mexico’s 1968 student movement and younger generations of activists marched Tuesday in Mexico City to remember the day 50 years ago when army troops massacred hundreds of people at a peaceful protest.

    Five decades on, it remains unclear exactly how many people were killed when the army opened fire on a rally of about 8,000 students in the Plaza of Three Cultures, in central Mexico City’s Tlatelolco neighborhood.

    The authoritarian government at the time put the death toll at 20, claiming “terrorists” attacked the troops, forcing them to defend themselves.

    Read: China condemns US for South China Sea operation

    Independent reports say anywhere from 300 to 500 people were killed.

    The massacre — which came just 10 days before Mexico City hosted the 1968 Olympics — remains one of the darkest episodes in a year of global turbulence.

    The government’s failure to bring those responsible to justice or explain what happened that day has become a rallying cry for the Mexican left and provokes annual protests that often turn violent.

    There was a heavy police presence for Tuesday’s march in central Mexico City, as thousands of people marched from the plaza where the massacre occurred to the capital’s central square, the Zocalo.

    They carried signs with messages such as “They keep killing us” and “The state kills and disappears students.”

    Those were references to both 1968 and the 2014 disappearance and suspected massacre of 43 students from the southern town of Ayotzinapa — a murky crime involving corrupt authorities and drug cartel hitmen that still haunts the country.

    But there was optimism that change was coming, with Mexico’s first-ever leftist government set to take office on December 1 after a landslide election win for President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

    “We think those responsible for 1968 might finally be punished… And if we can find out the truth about 1968, we might also find out what happened to our comrades from Ayotzinapa,” said 22-year-old student activist Pedro Santiago.

    Lopez Obrador opened the commemorations by paying tribute to the victims of October 2, 1968, and promising to bring change.

    “In this new era… we will honor the memory of the young victims of 1968. And the best way to do that is with humanism, without repression, struggling every day to make Mexico a just country,” he said at a memorial in the plaza where the massacre occurred.

    However, he declined to say whether he would reappoint a special prosecutor to investigate the killings or open the government’s archives, as protesters demand.

    – ‘Mountain of bodies’ –

    In 1968, a series of explosive protests was sweeping the globe, from Europe to the United States and beyond.

    Mexico was no exception.

    As the country prepared to host the Summer Olympics — the first time they were held in Latin America — President Gustavo Diaz Ordaz and the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) nervously eyed the student movement calling for democratic change after four decades of one-party rule.

    On the morning of October 2, student leaders held talks with authorities on suspending their protests until after the Games in return for the release of political prisoners.

    Read: 34 migrants drown in Mediterranean shipwreck, 26 survivors UN

    However, despite obtaining an agreement by the students to cancel a march later that day, the government was taking no chances.

    As student leaders held a rally to deliver a progress report on their talks with the authorities, army snipers opened fire from the buildings surrounding the plaza.

    “A helicopter flew overhead and fired a flare. At that moment, machine gun fire erupted all around… and bodies just started falling to the ground,” said Victor Perez, a student leader who was 17 at the time.

    Early the next day, he saw the aftermath from a friend’s apartment overlooking the square.

    “There was a mountain of bodies… workers, farmers, students, mothers, children, pregnant women,” he said.

    No one has ever been sentenced for the killings.

    The interior minister at the time, Luis Echeverria — who went on to become president — was charged with genocide over the massacre in 2006 and placed under house arrest.

    Three years later, the charges were dismissed.

    Source: France24

  • Black Queens under no pressure to win Women’s Afcon – Coach Hayford

    Black Queens head coach Bashir Hayford says his team is under no pressure to win the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations on home soil.

    The Queens have been tasked to take advantage of hosting the competition to win the cup for the first time.

    “Nobody is under pressure,” Hayford said. “The only thing is that we want to prepare very well. When the time comes and then we see that we are ready.”

    Read: Black Queens are not prepared for AWCON Rosalind Amoh

    “The future is unknown. We are preparing for the future. It is a progression.”

    The team ended their regional training tour last week and Hayford is looking forward to a training tour abroad where they will play a couple of international friendlies.

    “Now that we are finished with the local matches and the regional tour. We go into international.”

    “When it’s about time to start the competition, we will play one or two matches and we will pick our strength.”

    Read: Ayew brothers ready for Ghana return Fiifi Tackie

    Ghana will host the rest of Africa from November 17 to December 1 in Accra and Cape Coast.

    Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finalists:

    Ghana – hosts
    Nigeria defending champions
    Algeria
    Cameroon
    South Africa
    Equatorial Guinea
    Zambia
    Mali

    Source: JoySports

  • Black Queens under no pressure to win Women’s Afcon – Coach Hayford

    Black Queens head coach Bashir Hayford says his team is under no pressure to win the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations on home soil.

    The Queens have been tasked to take advantage of hosting the competition to win the cup for the first time.

    “Nobody is under pressure,” Hayford said. “The only thing is that we want to prepare very well. When the time comes and then we see that we are ready.”

    Read: Black Queens are not prepared for AWCON Rosalind Amoh

    “The future is unknown. We are preparing for the future. It is a progression.”

    The team ended their regional training tour last week and Hayford is looking forward to a training tour abroad where they will play a couple of international friendlies.

    “Now that we are finished with the local matches and the regional tour. We go into international.”

    “When it’s about time to start the competition, we will play one or two matches and we will pick our strength.”

    Read: Ayew brothers ready for Ghana return Fiifi Tackie

    Ghana will host the rest of Africa from November 17 to December 1 in Accra and Cape Coast.

    Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finalists:

    Ghana – hosts
    Nigeria defending champions
    Algeria
    Cameroon
    South Africa
    Equatorial Guinea
    Zambia
    Mali

    Source: JoySports

  • PLAYBACK: Who killed the judges

    June 30, 1982 is perceived to be the blackest day in the political history of Ghana. Three judges namely; Mr. Justice Fred Poku Sarkodie, Mrs. Justice Cecilia Koranteng- Addow and Mr. Justice Kwadwo Agyei Agyapong as well as a retired army officer, Major Sam Acquah were abducted from their homes and killed under strange circumstance at the Bundase Military Range in the Accra Plains. Their bodies were on July 3, 1982.

    Joy News’ Raymond Acquah embarked on a special assignment to unravel the truth on who killed the judges. The documentary was aired yesterday, October 2, 2018 and viewed by thousands of Ghanaians.

    Watch the playback of ‘Who killed the judges’;

    Source: backend.theindependentghana.com

  • PLAYBACK: Who killed the judges

    June 30, 1982 is perceived to be the blackest day in the political history of Ghana. Three judges namely; Mr. Justice Fred Poku Sarkodie, Mrs. Justice Cecilia Koranteng- Addow and Mr. Justice Kwadwo Agyei Agyapong as well as a retired army officer, Major Sam Acquah were abducted from their homes and killed under strange circumstance at the Bundase Military Range in the Accra Plains. Their bodies were on July 3, 1982.

    Joy News’ Raymond Acquah embarked on a special assignment to unravel the truth on who killed the judges. The documentary was aired yesterday, October 2, 2018 and viewed by thousands of Ghanaians.

    Watch the playback of ‘Who killed the judges’;

    Source: backend.theindependentghana.com

  • Armwrestling to hold training of the trainers in Brong Ahafo Region

    The Ghana Armwrestling Federation will continue the development expansion of Armwrestling in the Brong Ahafo Regional capital of Sunyani.

    The federation in collaboration with the Brong Ahafo Regional Armwrestling Association and the National Sports Authority will train would-be referees and coaches for the region in a programme dubbed “The Training of the Trainer”.

    The would-be referees and coaches will be drawn from the Security Services, Gyms, Tertiary Institutions, Physical Education coaches from schools and the general public for the 1-day certification program.

    The Course Director will take participants through general and competition rules, coaching and battle techniques, power drills etc.

    He will interact with the Brong Ahafo media and take them through the jargons and reporting of Armwrestling.

    The coaches after they have been trained will work with clubs and schools to enhance the steady growth of Armwrestling in Brong Ahafo Region.

    “Armwrestling is the least expensive but easy to play traditional sport and we want to make it the preferred and the most played sport in Ghana.

    Mr Norbert Kwankye of the Brong Ahafo Armwrestling Association told www.armwrestlingghana.com that the BAR Armwrestling is encouraging participation by leveraging on the brand we built when Ghana hosted the 2018 Africa Armwrestling Championships.

    The programme which is being managed by GAF is sponsored by Eagle Extra Stout and will be held on Monday, October 8 at the Sunyani Sports Stadium fro9:00 am.m.

    This is in preparation for the upcoming Eagle Extra Stout Regional Armwrestling-The BA Challenge.

    source: AdomOnline.com

  • Armwrestling to hold training of the trainers in Brong Ahafo Region

    The Ghana Armwrestling Federation will continue the development expansion of Armwrestling in the Brong Ahafo Regional capital of Sunyani.

    The federation in collaboration with the Brong Ahafo Regional Armwrestling Association and the National Sports Authority will train would-be referees and coaches for the region in a programme dubbed “The Training of the Trainer”.

    The would-be referees and coaches will be drawn from the Security Services, Gyms, Tertiary Institutions, Physical Education coaches from schools and the general public for the 1-day certification program.

    The Course Director will take participants through general and competition rules, coaching and battle techniques, power drills etc.

    He will interact with the Brong Ahafo media and take them through the jargons and reporting of Armwrestling.

    The coaches after they have been trained will work with clubs and schools to enhance the steady growth of Armwrestling in Brong Ahafo Region.

    “Armwrestling is the least expensive but easy to play traditional sport and we want to make it the preferred and the most played sport in Ghana.

    Mr Norbert Kwankye of the Brong Ahafo Armwrestling Association told www.armwrestlingghana.com that the BAR Armwrestling is encouraging participation by leveraging on the brand we built when Ghana hosted the 2018 Africa Armwrestling Championships.

    The programme which is being managed by GAF is sponsored by Eagle Extra Stout and will be held on Monday, October 8 at the Sunyani Sports Stadium fro9:00 am.m.

    This is in preparation for the upcoming Eagle Extra Stout Regional Armwrestling-The BA Challenge.

    source: AdomOnline.com

  • Can Kwesi Appiah justify change of direction on Asamoah Gyan?

    Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah is hosting a returnees party in Kumasi next week, but can he justify his change in approach?

    Rocked by defeat by Kenya last month, a loss that triggered fresh questions over his decisions in charge of the Black Stars, the Ghana boss has responded with a squad full of players returning to stake their claim in the side again.

    Of the 23 players called up by Appiah for the double-header against Sierra Leone, ten did not make the trip to Kenya and four – Bernard Mensah, Jonathan Mensah, Mubarak Wakaso and John Boye – are getting their chance again after at least a year out in the cold.

    The changes reflect Appiah‘s lingering disappointment over the outcome of the last 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Nairobi, but there will also be those convinced that those same changes are beginning to reflect his own indecision and unwillingness to make the decisive calls.

    The returning faces also bring into question the team-building agenda he has consistently discussed.

    The decision to recall Asamoah Gyan highlights both concerns.

    Read: Asamoah Gyan: When the reality hits us hard

    Gyan’s return, plus those of his teammate Bernard Mensah, Richmond Boakye and Emmanuel Boateng, Appiah hopes, will take care of the difficulty with goalscoring that was so clear against Kenya.

    Bernard Mensah, on-loan in Turkey from Atletico Madrid, is back after a three-year absence thanks largely to a good start to the season at Kayserispor, where he has played regularly as Gyan has watched on from the bench.

    Boakye has rediscovered his scoring touch with three goals in three games since he returned to Red Star Belgrade from China, while Boateng is a promising option even if he can’t match the goal return of his compatriots.

    Gyan, surely, is returning to the fold based on past successes rather than actual performance.

    The case of Ghana’s all-time leading goal scorer poses a challenge that Appiah must tackle head on.

    Ghanaian football has typically struggled to phase out big-name players.

    Read: Asamoah Gyan gets AFCON qualifier call-up

    When the system no longer had a use for former Sunderland defender John Mensah on the field, he was still kept around as general captain.

    It was the same routine with ex-Blackpool goalkeeper Richard Kingson, while Stephen Appiah also travelled to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as general captain when it was obvious from the sporting angle that his time was up.

    Gyan is in twilight zone of his career, and the lack of game time at Kayserispor is the most glaring evidence of that.

    With Baby Jet having only featured for 35 minutes so far this season, Ghana must surely begin to think beyond him and keep an eye on the future.

    It would not be disrespectful for Gyan, but Appiah is clearly having doubts about being the person to prompt that change, even if it would mean putting the Black Stars first.

    Unfortunately, results have dictated that the coach must adopt a short-term strategy, with the margins for error particularly slim after the Kenya defeat.

    He’s come to the conclusion that Gyan deserves his place, even if his club form screams otherwise.

    What’s most curious about the Gyan decision is that the coach has ignored other players who have better sporting claims.

    Both Jordan Ayew and Andre Ayew have played more this season, with the latter scoring twice for Fenerbahce. In Belgium, William Owusu has done even better for Royal Antwerp, for whom he has been involved directly in six goals this nine league games this season (five goals, one assist).

    He was given his debut call up against Kenya, didn’t get a minute, returned to score at club level and now can’t get a look-in.

    Many of the other big names returning to the side have earned their recall.

    Mensah has been overlooked for a year despite a consistent streak of games for Columbus Crew, while Boye’s return after a long spell out at international level suggests that their centre-back pairing could yet have a future.

    Lumor Agyenyenu has not played for Sporting Lisbon this season but the lack of options on the left side of defence and his strong performances in his seven caps so far backs up his case.

    Mubarak Wakaso’s energy, work rate and passion in a Ghana shirt are always advantages for the national side, and he’s also playing regularly in the Spanish top flight with Deportivo Alaves.

    Appiah will hope the shake-up of his squad leads to an improvement in performance against Sierra Leone to boost the countries hopes of qualifying for the AFCON.

    However, only tangible, on-field answers to the many legitimate questions that the many changes throw up will fully justify his change in direction.

    source: ghanasoccernet.com

  • Can Kwesi Appiah justify change of direction on Asamoah Gyan?

    Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah is hosting a returnees party in Kumasi next week, but can he justify his change in approach?

    Rocked by defeat by Kenya last month, a loss that triggered fresh questions over his decisions in charge of the Black Stars, the Ghana boss has responded with a squad full of players returning to stake their claim in the side again.

    Of the 23 players called up by Appiah for the double-header against Sierra Leone, ten did not make the trip to Kenya and four – Bernard Mensah, Jonathan Mensah, Mubarak Wakaso and John Boye – are getting their chance again after at least a year out in the cold.

    The changes reflect Appiah‘s lingering disappointment over the outcome of the last 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Nairobi, but there will also be those convinced that those same changes are beginning to reflect his own indecision and unwillingness to make the decisive calls.

    The returning faces also bring into question the team-building agenda he has consistently discussed.

    The decision to recall Asamoah Gyan highlights both concerns.

    Read: Asamoah Gyan: When the reality hits us hard

    Gyan’s return, plus those of his teammate Bernard Mensah, Richmond Boakye and Emmanuel Boateng, Appiah hopes, will take care of the difficulty with goalscoring that was so clear against Kenya.

    Bernard Mensah, on-loan in Turkey from Atletico Madrid, is back after a three-year absence thanks largely to a good start to the season at Kayserispor, where he has played regularly as Gyan has watched on from the bench.

    Boakye has rediscovered his scoring touch with three goals in three games since he returned to Red Star Belgrade from China, while Boateng is a promising option even if he can’t match the goal return of his compatriots.

    Gyan, surely, is returning to the fold based on past successes rather than actual performance.

    The case of Ghana’s all-time leading goal scorer poses a challenge that Appiah must tackle head on.

    Ghanaian football has typically struggled to phase out big-name players.

    Read: Asamoah Gyan gets AFCON qualifier call-up

    When the system no longer had a use for former Sunderland defender John Mensah on the field, he was still kept around as general captain.

    It was the same routine with ex-Blackpool goalkeeper Richard Kingson, while Stephen Appiah also travelled to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa as general captain when it was obvious from the sporting angle that his time was up.

    Gyan is in twilight zone of his career, and the lack of game time at Kayserispor is the most glaring evidence of that.

    With Baby Jet having only featured for 35 minutes so far this season, Ghana must surely begin to think beyond him and keep an eye on the future.

    It would not be disrespectful for Gyan, but Appiah is clearly having doubts about being the person to prompt that change, even if it would mean putting the Black Stars first.

    Unfortunately, results have dictated that the coach must adopt a short-term strategy, with the margins for error particularly slim after the Kenya defeat.

    He’s come to the conclusion that Gyan deserves his place, even if his club form screams otherwise.

    What’s most curious about the Gyan decision is that the coach has ignored other players who have better sporting claims.

    Both Jordan Ayew and Andre Ayew have played more this season, with the latter scoring twice for Fenerbahce. In Belgium, William Owusu has done even better for Royal Antwerp, for whom he has been involved directly in six goals this nine league games this season (five goals, one assist).

    He was given his debut call up against Kenya, didn’t get a minute, returned to score at club level and now can’t get a look-in.

    Many of the other big names returning to the side have earned their recall.

    Mensah has been overlooked for a year despite a consistent streak of games for Columbus Crew, while Boye’s return after a long spell out at international level suggests that their centre-back pairing could yet have a future.

    Lumor Agyenyenu has not played for Sporting Lisbon this season but the lack of options on the left side of defence and his strong performances in his seven caps so far backs up his case.

    Mubarak Wakaso’s energy, work rate and passion in a Ghana shirt are always advantages for the national side, and he’s also playing regularly in the Spanish top flight with Deportivo Alaves.

    Appiah will hope the shake-up of his squad leads to an improvement in performance against Sierra Leone to boost the countries hopes of qualifying for the AFCON.

    However, only tangible, on-field answers to the many legitimate questions that the many changes throw up will fully justify his change in direction.

    source: ghanasoccernet.com

  • Maintaining cocoa price will prevent cocoa smuggling – Deputy Minister

    The Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in charge of Cocoa Affairs, Kennedy Osei Nyarko has explained that the decision to peg the 2018/2019 cocoa season price with that of the neigbouring Ivory Coast is to discourage people from smuggling cocoa to and from these two countries.

    The Deputy Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Akim Swedru Constituency in the Eastern Region said, “people smuggles cocoa to Ivory Coast that affects us” but when the price in Ghana is the same as Ivory Coast, it will deter people from smuggling.

    Read: COCOBOD will collapse if price of cocoa is increased MP warns

    Mr. Osei Nyarko gave the explanations in an interview with PrimeNewsGhana on the assertions by some politicians that, the government has cheated on cocoa farmers by refusing to increase cocoa price for the 2018/2019 cocoa season.

    “Nana Addo has been transparent on this matter. The President met with Ivory Coast President to decide on the price and we announced the price concurrently”, he explained.

    The Deputy Minister added that “it is commendable and we must praise the government because for the first time in the history, Ivory Coast and Ghana have the same price for cocoa”.

    Read: COCOBOD incurred GHC2 billion debt in 2017 for cocoa price subsidy

    Mr. Osei Nyarko explained that “people will not carry bags of cocoa to and from these countries to sell because the price in one country is better than the other”.

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • Maintaining cocoa price will prevent cocoa smuggling – Deputy Minister

    The Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture in charge of Cocoa Affairs, Kennedy Osei Nyarko has explained that the decision to peg the 2018/2019 cocoa season price with that of the neigbouring Ivory Coast is to discourage people from smuggling cocoa to and from these two countries.

    The Deputy Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Akim Swedru Constituency in the Eastern Region said, “people smuggles cocoa to Ivory Coast that affects us” but when the price in Ghana is the same as Ivory Coast, it will deter people from smuggling.

    Read: COCOBOD will collapse if price of cocoa is increased MP warns

    Mr. Osei Nyarko gave the explanations in an interview with PrimeNewsGhana on the assertions by some politicians that, the government has cheated on cocoa farmers by refusing to increase cocoa price for the 2018/2019 cocoa season.

    “Nana Addo has been transparent on this matter. The President met with Ivory Coast President to decide on the price and we announced the price concurrently”, he explained.

    The Deputy Minister added that “it is commendable and we must praise the government because for the first time in the history, Ivory Coast and Ghana have the same price for cocoa”.

    Read: COCOBOD incurred GHC2 billion debt in 2017 for cocoa price subsidy

    Mr. Osei Nyarko explained that “people will not carry bags of cocoa to and from these countries to sell because the price in one country is better than the other”.

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • Dogboe signs four-yeal deal with Top Rank Boxing Promotions

    Isaac “Royal Storm” Dogboe has signed a four-year deal with Top Rank, a professional boxing promotion company owned by highly renowned promoter Bob Arum.

    The long-term co-promotional agreement would see the 23-year-old Ghanaian boxing champion feature in big-scale undercards and super fights considering the pedigree of his new promotion outfit.

    Paul Dogboe, trainer and father of Isaac Dogboe believes this partnership would help propel his son to greater heights in the international boxing circles.

    Read: Boxing: Isaac Dogboe gets brand new Mercedes Benz from Silver Star Auto

    “We have signed a new four year deal with Top Rank. They have managed and promoted the likes of Joe Fraizer, George Foreman, Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather, among many others and even with our boxing icon Azumah Nelson and we see this partnership as a step in the right direction considering how far we have come.

    “We have done our best in reviving local boxing, but now we have to go international and do more because the crowd always loves Dogboe’s style of boxing,” Snr. Dogboe told GNA Sports.

    Read: Boxing: Isaac Dogboe gets brand new Mercedes Benz from Silver Star Auto

    Dogboe after his ruthless display against Japanese boxer Hidenori Otake back in August would make a comeback into the ring on December 8, as an under-card to

    Vasiliy Lomachenko-Jose Pedraza unification bout at the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden, New York.

    source: ghananewsagency.org

  • Dogboe signs four-yeal deal with Top Rank Boxing Promotions

    Isaac “Royal Storm” Dogboe has signed a four-year deal with Top Rank, a professional boxing promotion company owned by highly renowned promoter Bob Arum.

    The long-term co-promotional agreement would see the 23-year-old Ghanaian boxing champion feature in big-scale undercards and super fights considering the pedigree of his new promotion outfit.

    Paul Dogboe, trainer and father of Isaac Dogboe believes this partnership would help propel his son to greater heights in the international boxing circles.

    Read: Boxing: Isaac Dogboe gets brand new Mercedes Benz from Silver Star Auto

    “We have signed a new four year deal with Top Rank. They have managed and promoted the likes of Joe Fraizer, George Foreman, Manny Pacquiao, Mayweather, among many others and even with our boxing icon Azumah Nelson and we see this partnership as a step in the right direction considering how far we have come.

    “We have done our best in reviving local boxing, but now we have to go international and do more because the crowd always loves Dogboe’s style of boxing,” Snr. Dogboe told GNA Sports.

    Read: Boxing: Isaac Dogboe gets brand new Mercedes Benz from Silver Star Auto

    Dogboe after his ruthless display against Japanese boxer Hidenori Otake back in August would make a comeback into the ring on December 8, as an under-card to

    Vasiliy Lomachenko-Jose Pedraza unification bout at the Hulu Theater in Madison Square Garden, New York.

    source: ghananewsagency.org

  • Resource NADMO now Agalga to Akufo-Addo

    The Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa North, Hon. James Agalga has made a passionate appeal to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to as a matter of urgency operationalize the Disaster Management Fund.

    According to the former deputy Minister of Interior, NADMO needs adequate resources to enable it execute its mandate which include disaster prevention and disaster risk reduction and therefore will be of great help of the Disaster Management Fund is operationalized.

    Read: Expired relief food: UW NADMO store manager suspended

    He said the previous administration led by John Dramani Mahama was mindful of the critical role of NADMO and therefore, took steps to re-enact the National Disaster Management Organization Act, 2016, Act 927.

    The act, in a progressive manner provided for the establishment of the National Disaster Management Fund to provide the needed financial resources for the development and operation of disaster prevention, disaster risk reduction and climate change risk reduction.

    Hon. Agalga maintained that the fund is yet to be established notwithstanding the poor state of finances of NADMO.
    In his view, it was time for Ghana and Burkina Faso to work closely to ensure that the Volta Basin Authority which was created in 2006 to manage in a holistic manner the water resources in the Volta River Basin shared by the two countries is effective in order to prevent potential conflict.

    Read: Northern Region floods kill nine NADMO

    Hon. Agalga however, convened his heartfelt condolences to all those who lost their beloved ones as a result of the massive flooding that recently occurred in parts of the three regions in the north, namely; Builsa North, Talensi, Kasena Nankani East, Binduri, Nandom, Wa West, West and East Gonja, Tolon, Kumbungu, West and East Namprusi, amongst others.

    Hon James Agalga said, aside the destruction caused by the recent floods, it was important to draw the attention to the fact that flooding in Northern Ghana has become an annual affair which results in the loss of lives, destruction of thousands of hectares of farmlands and varieties of crops and livestock in a manner that is preventable.

    Source: Kasapafmonline.com

  • Resource NADMO now Agalga to Akufo-Addo

    The Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa North, Hon. James Agalga has made a passionate appeal to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to as a matter of urgency operationalize the Disaster Management Fund.

    According to the former deputy Minister of Interior, NADMO needs adequate resources to enable it execute its mandate which include disaster prevention and disaster risk reduction and therefore will be of great help of the Disaster Management Fund is operationalized.

    Read: Expired relief food: UW NADMO store manager suspended

    He said the previous administration led by John Dramani Mahama was mindful of the critical role of NADMO and therefore, took steps to re-enact the National Disaster Management Organization Act, 2016, Act 927.

    The act, in a progressive manner provided for the establishment of the National Disaster Management Fund to provide the needed financial resources for the development and operation of disaster prevention, disaster risk reduction and climate change risk reduction.

    Hon. Agalga maintained that the fund is yet to be established notwithstanding the poor state of finances of NADMO.
    In his view, it was time for Ghana and Burkina Faso to work closely to ensure that the Volta Basin Authority which was created in 2006 to manage in a holistic manner the water resources in the Volta River Basin shared by the two countries is effective in order to prevent potential conflict.

    Read: Northern Region floods kill nine NADMO

    Hon. Agalga however, convened his heartfelt condolences to all those who lost their beloved ones as a result of the massive flooding that recently occurred in parts of the three regions in the north, namely; Builsa North, Talensi, Kasena Nankani East, Binduri, Nandom, Wa West, West and East Gonja, Tolon, Kumbungu, West and East Namprusi, amongst others.

    Hon James Agalga said, aside the destruction caused by the recent floods, it was important to draw the attention to the fact that flooding in Northern Ghana has become an annual affair which results in the loss of lives, destruction of thousands of hectares of farmlands and varieties of crops and livestock in a manner that is preventable.

    Source: Kasapafmonline.com

  • Passengers stranded as airline collapses

    A budget airline that began offering long-haul flights from UK airports earlier this year, including Stansted to the US, has collapsed.

    Primera Air said it was ceasing all operations at midnight on Monday after 14 years of operations.

    Flights to Washington and New York due to leave Stansted on Monday night were grounded and passengers have been told not to go to the airport on Tuesday.

    One flight from Birmingham to Malaga arrived on Monday evening.

    Read: Amazon raises wages for lower-paid workers

    The airline, which had 15 planes, began offering low-cost flights from Stansted and Birmingham to North America – including Washington, Newark, and Toronto – earlier this year.

    Flights from Manchester to Malaga were due to start later this month.

    Most of the airline’s business involved taking Scandinavian holidaymakers to destinations such as Spain, Greece, Italy, Egypt and Turkey.

    Canadian Angela Dorau was in a queue to board a plane from Paris to Toronto with her husband when there was an announcement saying the flight had been cancelled.

    She said: “Everybody was stranded. Currently my husband and I are in a dumpy motel by the airport trying to frantically scrounge together the funds to pay for another way home.”

    They are yet to find an alternative flight home – and she says what was supposed to be a budget trip looks like costing them an extra €2,000. The Danish-registered airline – which started in 2003 as a charter provider – is not part of the Civil Aviation Authority’s ATOL Protection scheme, which covers only passengers booked on package holidays.

    The regulator has advised passengers who have travelled on an outward Primera flight they will need to make their own arrangements to return to the UK.

    People who had booked directly with the airline on future flights will not be covered either, the CAA advises.

    Passengers who paid by credit card may be protected by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and are advised to check with card issuers. Similar cover may apply if a Visa debit card was used.

    ‘A horrible experience’

    Stranded in Malaga as our flight has now been cancelled for Monday 8 October. Will have to try and get other flights home. Sally James

    My daughter Catherine is now stuck in Spain. She flew out on Saturday and was due to come back this Thursday. Antony Meadley

    Read: Melania Trump: US first lady arrives in Ghana for solo Africa trip

    I was on a flight back to Newark (New Jersey) that was meant to depart at 5:55…an announcement went out at around 5:30. No one was given any plans, and everyone was just asked to leave…a horrible experience. Nickolaus Lachman

    The airline said it had failed to secure long-term financing, meaning it had “no choice” but to file for bankruptcy.

    Primera’s decision to start competing with other low-cost long-haul operators such as Norwegian and Wow appears to have led to its demise.

    Signs that the airline was in trouble came in August, when it said short-haul flights from Birmingham to seven European destinations would end on 3 September.

    It also blamed the late arrival of new aircraft from Airbus that forced it to cancel flights and lease planes.

    When it began long-haul operations from Stansted in May, Primera was offering flights to New York’s Newark airport, Boston, Washington DC and Toronto starting at £149 each way.

    It had planned to start flying from Madrid to New York, Boston and Toronto next month from €149 each way.

    Source: bbc

  • Passengers stranded as airline collapses

    A budget airline that began offering long-haul flights from UK airports earlier this year, including Stansted to the US, has collapsed.

    Primera Air said it was ceasing all operations at midnight on Monday after 14 years of operations.

    Flights to Washington and New York due to leave Stansted on Monday night were grounded and passengers have been told not to go to the airport on Tuesday.

    One flight from Birmingham to Malaga arrived on Monday evening.

    Read: Amazon raises wages for lower-paid workers

    The airline, which had 15 planes, began offering low-cost flights from Stansted and Birmingham to North America – including Washington, Newark, and Toronto – earlier this year.

    Flights from Manchester to Malaga were due to start later this month.

    Most of the airline’s business involved taking Scandinavian holidaymakers to destinations such as Spain, Greece, Italy, Egypt and Turkey.

    Canadian Angela Dorau was in a queue to board a plane from Paris to Toronto with her husband when there was an announcement saying the flight had been cancelled.

    She said: “Everybody was stranded. Currently my husband and I are in a dumpy motel by the airport trying to frantically scrounge together the funds to pay for another way home.”

    They are yet to find an alternative flight home – and she says what was supposed to be a budget trip looks like costing them an extra €2,000. The Danish-registered airline – which started in 2003 as a charter provider – is not part of the Civil Aviation Authority’s ATOL Protection scheme, which covers only passengers booked on package holidays.

    The regulator has advised passengers who have travelled on an outward Primera flight they will need to make their own arrangements to return to the UK.

    People who had booked directly with the airline on future flights will not be covered either, the CAA advises.

    Passengers who paid by credit card may be protected by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 and are advised to check with card issuers. Similar cover may apply if a Visa debit card was used.

    ‘A horrible experience’

    Stranded in Malaga as our flight has now been cancelled for Monday 8 October. Will have to try and get other flights home. Sally James

    My daughter Catherine is now stuck in Spain. She flew out on Saturday and was due to come back this Thursday. Antony Meadley

    Read: Melania Trump: US first lady arrives in Ghana for solo Africa trip

    I was on a flight back to Newark (New Jersey) that was meant to depart at 5:55…an announcement went out at around 5:30. No one was given any plans, and everyone was just asked to leave…a horrible experience. Nickolaus Lachman

    The airline said it had failed to secure long-term financing, meaning it had “no choice” but to file for bankruptcy.

    Primera’s decision to start competing with other low-cost long-haul operators such as Norwegian and Wow appears to have led to its demise.

    Signs that the airline was in trouble came in August, when it said short-haul flights from Birmingham to seven European destinations would end on 3 September.

    It also blamed the late arrival of new aircraft from Airbus that forced it to cancel flights and lease planes.

    When it began long-haul operations from Stansted in May, Primera was offering flights to New York’s Newark airport, Boston, Washington DC and Toronto starting at £149 each way.

    It had planned to start flying from Madrid to New York, Boston and Toronto next month from €149 each way.

    Source: bbc