Over 4,000 Ghanaians Migrated to Italy in 2015

More than 4,000 Ghanaians arrived on the shores of Italy between January and December this year, to seek greener pastures in Europe. This ranks Ghana as topping the 10 countries from which migrants travel to Italy by sea and the top five in Africa. The Chief of Mission of the International Organization of Migration (IOM) in Ghana, Ms. Sylvia Lopez Ekra, made this known at a meeting to commemorate the International Migrants Day in Accra.

The meeting organized by IOM under the Ghana Integrated Migration Management Approach Programme (GIMMA), brought together civil society organizations and other stakeholders to discuss issues of migration. The GIMMA project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the IOM and the Ghana Immigration Service, is aimed at contributing to the government’s efforts to manage migration more effectively. The meeting had the theme: “Addressing irregular migration in Ghana: Strategic dialogue with civil society.”

Recall

The irregular migrants, Ms Ekra said, traveled by boas to Italy.

Although there were no official and accurate data on irregular migrants from Ghana to other European countries and continents, she said the figures were quite high and indicated that most of them did not reach their destinations but ended up dead on either the desert or in the Mediterranean Sea.

In April this year, the foreign ministry confirmed that six Ghanaians were part of a team of 12 thrown overboard a boat heading to Italy following a religious row.

Between January and April this year, it was reported that 471 Ghanaians including 32 unaccompanied minors were rescued from boats in the Mediterranean Sea by Italian authorities.

 It was also reported that about 200 Ghanaians died in Libya from January to the first week on June in 2003 in their attempt to cross the 3,000km Libyan Desert to Europe in search of economic fortunes.

For countries such as Ghana, Ms Ekra said, the IOM advocated voluntary instead of forced return to ensure the migrants return home safely.

 Motivation and Inspiration

Motivated by the economic hardships, unemployment and the appreciation for migration in certain cultures, among others, Ms Ekra explained that many migrants used information in their network to move from country to country.

In Ghana, for instance, she said the irregular migrants usually started the journey from the northern part of Ghana to Burkina Faso through Niger where they move to Libya and eventually proceeded to Europe.

The total number of international migrants has increased from an estimated 175 million in 2000 to 232 million persons in 2015, the United Nations has stated.

 In a message posted on the United Nations’ website on Friday, Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General, said: “2015 will be remembered as the year of human suffering and migrant tragedies.”

He added that in total, more than 5,000 women, men and children had lost their lives this year “in search of the protection and a better life.”

International Migrants day

The International Migrants Day, which is marked every December 18, was instituted by the United Nations to recognize the efforts, contribution and rights of migrants worldwide. The day is also used to reach out to the international community, governments, organizations and other stakeholders to come together and remember the refugees and migrants who lost tier lives or disappeared while trying to reach a ‘safe haven’ after arduous journeys across seas and deserts.

As part of the celebration, a candlelight vigil was held across the world to remember migrants who had lost their lives.

CREDIT: Daily Graphic/Ghana

OKUDZETU HEADS TO PARLIAMENT FOR THE SECOND TIME

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

Incumbent Member of Parliament for the North Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has won the party’s primary overwhelming to lead the constituency in the 2016 election. The election was suspended after an aspirant, Christopher Kofi Eleblu, who was disqualified by the NDC National Petition Review Committee on October 14, on grounds that he was once prosecuted for defrauding the State to the tune of GHc646, 000.00 filed an injunction to stop the election but his suit was thrown out by the court paving the way for voting yesterday.

Although initial reports suggested that the voting which took place on a Sunday witnessed a low voter turnout, the incumbent MP managed to poll 9,855 representing 84.45% of the total votes cast while former Member of Parliament Mr. Charles Hodogbe, had 849 votes representing 7.28% of the vote and 778 representing 6.67% went to the third contender, Bennert Appleh.

Incumbent Member of Parliament for the North Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has won the party’s primary convincingly to lead the constituency in the 2016 election. Although initial reports had suggested that the voting which took place on a Sunday witnessed a low voter turnout, the incumbent MP managed to poll 9,855 representing 84.45% of the total votes cast. Mr. Charles Hodogbe, a two-term former Member of Parliament who made a return, polled a meager 849 votes representing 7.28% of the vote, whiles the third contender, Bennert Appleh, a businessman, managed 778 of the votes representing 6.67%.

There were 187 rejected votes representing 1.6%. The total votes cast stood at 11, 482. The constituency has a registered voter population of 17,070, who cast their ballot at 109 polling centres. The election in North Tongu was rescheduled from November, after an aspirant, Christopher Kofi Eleblu, who was disqualified by the NDC National Petition Review Committee on October 14, on grounds that he was once prosecuted for defrauding the State to the tune of GH¢646, 000.00, filed an injunction to stop the election. However his suit was thrown out by the court paving the way for the poll.

Suggestions were that, the disqualified Mr. Eleblu, was the Deputy Education Minister’s fiercest contender, and that he may have played a role in getting him disqualified, a claim he has denied. Mr. Ablakwa had in the previous primary beaten six people to win the bid including Mr. Eleblu who gave him a stiff competition. Mr. Ablakwa thanked his constituents including opinion leaders who supported his bid and promised more development projects in the years ahead. North Tongu is a safe seat for the NDC, and so one can say that barring any unforeseen circumstances, Mr. Ablakwa is head for Parliament in 2016.

 Other primaries 

There are still two outstanding primaries in Ketu South and Nkwanta South, which are also on hold due to disagreements spearheaded by disqualified aspirants. The Volta Regional Chairman of the NDC Mr. Kwadwo Gyapong told Citi News in an earlier interview that the two remaining primaries will come off as soon as all legal issues are cleared.

CREDIT: CITIFMONLINE

READ: FULL SPEECH OF NANA ADDO AT NPP 15TH EXTRAORDINARY DELEGATES’ CONFERENCE.

NPP FLAG-BEARER- NANA ADDO DANQUAH AKUF- ADDO 

NPP flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, delivered a speech to more than 6,500 party delegates at an extraordinary conference in Sunyani, Saturday.

The theme for the conference was “ARISE FOR VICTORY IN 2016."

ADDRESS OF NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO, 2016 NPP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, AT THE 2015 EXTRAORDINARY NATIONAL DELEGATES’ CONFERENCE OF THE NPP AT CORONATION PARK, SUNYANI, BRONG AHAFO REGION, ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2015 ON:     “NOW, THE HARD WORK”

What a wonderful turnout today. This is just great.

I paid, this morning, a courtesy call on Nana Bosome Asor Nkrawie II, Omanhene of Sunyani, and his elders, who received me very warmly and extended to all of you his best wishes for a peaceful and successful conference here on his soil of Sunyani.

Between 3rd September and 12th October, barely 3 months ago, I went around the 10 regions of the country on what I called the ‘Rise and Build Tour’. I did so to touch base with our party members soon after the parliamentary primaries were held in most of the constituencies, in order to prepare them for next year’s campaign. What I saw convinced me that our party, the NPP, was in solid shape.

Everywhere I went, I saw and met with enthusiastic and forward looking members and supporters of the party. I met and saw people who were not necessarily party members or even what you might call our traditional supporters. They were also enthusiastic and generous in their welcome.

The message I got everywhere was the same: Ghanaians are looking up to the NPP to win the 2016 elections decisively and govern this country with honesty and competence, so that we can generate prosperity for the broad masses of our people. At every opportunity, I assured the people that the NPP would work hard to make us worthy of the trust being reposed in us.

This year has been a tumultuous one for our party. We have made the front pages for all the wrong reasons; we have spent our energies fighting each other, instead of our opponents. It has been an anxious time for all who love our party and for many outside the party who see us as the best alternative to the disaster that is the current Mahama administration.

We are ending the year with three senior elected officials and a handful of other officers having been suspended from office. I can’t find an easier way to tell you that this has been a traumatic experience for me personally. And I am very much aware of the heartache many of our supporters have been enduring.

I honestly wish we had been able to find a less painful way of resolving the problems that have wracked our party. These past 12 months, I have participated in every attempt to resolve the differences at the Party HQ. It has been most frustrating that the efforts have not yielded the fruits we expected.

I have spent most of my adult life in the politics of our party and it is not surprising that those who ascribe to the same beliefs have tended to be my friends, colleagues and acquaintances.

This is not the time to try to dissect the events that have convulsed our party in the past year. It is enough to say that those who are my friends are not necessarily those who agree with my politics, and I have certainly never determined who I can or cannot work with on the basis of my politics.

I have friends whose political beliefs I do not agree with. I have worked with people whose politics I do not like. During my years as a Member of Parliament, for example, I served on committees and worked with my political opponents and produced work that we can all be proud of and which has been for the good of our country.

I have spent a lifetime trying to win over friends and foes alike with the force of argument. In my professional life as a lawyer, I earned my living employing the force of argument often in hostile atmospheres. I daresay I have no fear of argument or dissension; indeed, I thrive on healthy, vigorous debate.

I have no choice; the law and politics, the two professions that have defined my life, demand and thrive on dissension. I have no fear of competition. I need not remind everybody that in 2007, the contest to become the NPP flagbearer was between 17 of us. And as much as I hate losing, I accept that, both in the law and politics, losing is always a possibility. I accept that possibility with the only caveat being all sides should play by the rules.

I reject outright the malicious refrain that has been put about that there are people within the NPP that I cannot work with. I expect all members of the NPP to have the same goal. I expect that we all want our party to win the 2016 elections decisively; our parliamentary candidates to win the majority of seats in Parliament and our flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to become the President of Ghana.

I expect and accept arguments on how we prosecute this agenda. I do not expect my point of view to be unchallenged, but I do not expect and do not accept that party members would do anything to jeopardize the goal we have set ourselves of winning the 2016 elections. I can work with everybody who shares this goal.

I am saddened that the party has had to resort to suspensions, but I am fortified that our party structures have been shown to work. They have demonstrated that, indeed, the rule of law works in the NPP and that nobody, including myself, is above the Party or its laws. And that is how it should be. Nonetheless, it is important that the Party keeps in constant review the sanctions that have been imposed. And so, we can ask ourselves the question: can those who hold the work of the party’s organs in contempt be said to be true lovers of the party?

We should not forget one thing. We are the heirs of the noblest and most enduring political tradition in Ghanaian politics. Our tradition has survived the deaths, detentions and exiles of the First Republic. It has survived the various military takeovers of our history. Out of it all, it has emerged as the most formidable political party in our country with the clearest message of freedom, progress and prosperity. And in the 8 year government of John Agyekum Kufuor, it has given our country the best government in the Fourth Republic, if not in the entire history of Ghana. We are not about to throw away this proud heritage, and no machinations are going to weaken us.

I am saying and appealing to all of you, from the very bottom of my soul, that the time has now come to turn our united and concerted attention to the business of winning the 2016 election.

I have consulted widely and I have put a lot of thought into deciding how to prosecute the campaign. The campaign will be a fully decentralised one, with the grassroots structures of our party, at the polling station, electoral area, constituency and regional levels in the forefront. The National Campaign Co-ordinating Committee, the directing body of the campaign, will issue, shortly, directives on the full composition of these structures. It is time to set to work. But please let me emphasize that the campaign is the responsibility of all of us.

As I told a gathering of NPP members in London recently, this campaign is for all NPP members and NPP sympathizers. I told them and I know it to be true that often it is the unsung, unmentioned, unrecognized people who do the real work. I know it to be true that the real work is done by those who never sit by the flagbearer, or are photographed with the flagbearer or are said to be around the flagbearer. I know it to be true that the real campaign is done by those who do not expect to be reimbursed for bus fares or ever even wear an NPP T-shirt.

I am counting on all members and supporters of our party to work hard and help take the NPP message to every Ghanaian. To my compatriots, I say if you have had enough of being taken for granted, if you have had enough of being embarrassed and impoverished by an uncaring, incompetent and dishonest government, and if you have had all you can tolerate of broken promises, then I ask you to join us to rid our nation of this government.

We know that, despite their abject failure, the Mahama administration is counting on the shameless exploitation of ethnicity, negative propaganda, lies and outright fabrications to help them retain power, a power they, clearly, do not deserve, but need in order to continue with the policy of “create, loot and share”. It is our duty to work tirelessly next year to lay bare the facts of widespread corruption, manifest incompetence  and increased poverty before the Ghanaian people, so that they can have no doubt about the compelling necessity of saying goodbye to John Mahama and his government, no matter the juicy inducements that are going to be offered to them.

After seven years of this Mahama/NDC government, Ghana is in a sad state, and in every area of our national life, we are going backwards. But believe me; we do have the talent, the expertise and the energy to turn our country round. We have done it before. The economy the NPP inherited in the year 2001 was in a similar state. President John Agyekum Kufuor put an able team together and before very long, Ghana had become the success story of the continent. Akufo-Addo is going to do the same.

This election is for the NPP to win. This Mahama/NDC government has nothing to campaign on. They have borrowed as if there will be no tomorrow and have mortgaged our future. They have used every infrastructure project they have undertaken to enrich themselves and impoverish Ghanaians. Every classroom and hospital they have built have been at twice or three times what it should cost, every kilometre of road they have built has been at an obscene cost and our country has become a byword for corruption. 

Ghana deserves much, much better. Ghanaians are anxious for change. Ghanaians, especially the youth, need to have hope again. We of the NPP have a good story to tell. I am ready and eager to lead us for that change. Together we will bring that change to Ghana. Together, we shall bring Ghana back to the path of progress and prosperity. Together, we shall fulfil the destiny of the Black Star of Africa. I charge us all, each and every one, to put aside the past. Today is the day that we come together with renewed hope and renewed force. This is our time. Let every son and daughter of the great Elephant Party join hands and let us Arise for Change! 

Thank you, and may the Almighty God bless our enterprise.

Arise for Change. The battle is still the Lord’s.

A small package for best wishes for the Season has been prepared for all constituency and regional delegates by the Director of the Fundraising Committee, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the National Treasurer, Kwabena Abankwa Yeboah, on my behalf.

Afehyia pa, Afi oo Afi, Sanu mu da sabon sheykara, Es n mi loo

God bless the NPP, Ghana and Mother Africa.

CREDIT: myjoyonline.com

ADOMI BRIDGE RE-OPENED TO TRAFFIC

REHABILITATED ADOMI BRIDGE

President John Dramani Mahama today opened the Adomi Bridge to traffic after it was shut down close to two years now.

The Ghana Highway Authority announced the closure of the Adomi Bridge on March 10, 2014 after government secured a grant facility of €12.9 million from the bank of Austria for its rehabilitation. 

The Adomi Bridge is the only bridge linking the Volta and Eastern Regions as well other parts of the country.

The famous bridge spanning the Volta River from Atimpoku to Akrade, was designed in 1957 by William Brown, of the Engineers Fox and Partners.

Commissioning the newly rehabilitated bridge President Mahama advised motorist to adhere to road safety regulations in the use of the facilities. According to him, excess weight on the bridge is a major contributor to the weakening of the bridge.

He further said government remains resolute in ensuring development projects across the country

President Mahama indicated that four other bridges which includes the one over the River Brim Eastern Region have also been completed.

Minister of Roads and Highway, Inusah Fuseini urged managers of the bridge to device a maintenance strategies to preserve the facility. 

Commuters on the Accra-Ho route have heaved a sigh of relief as President Mahama commissioned the reconstructed Adomi Bridge this afternoon.

 

PICTORIAL VIEW OF THE COMMISSIONED ADOMI BRIDGE

 EMMANUEL DZIVENU

(RADIO UNIVERS)

SOMALIA: THREE KILLED IN CAR BLAST BOMB MOGADISHU.

Witnesses said the attackers opened fire before detonating a car bomb

Witnesses told the BBC that gunmen opened fire and detonated the bomb on a busy main road.

Many others were injured, most of them civilians.

It is not clear who was behind the blast, but the Islamist militant group al-Shabab has carried out several attacks on the same road in the past few weeks.

Witnesses said Saturday's attack began when gunmen opened fire on a Somali government official's car, sparking a gun battle with his security escort.

"There was a drive-by shooting attack... then a car loaded with explosives was detonated after police reinforcements arrived," a police official told AFP.

"The gunmen riding in a car attacked the official and there was [an] exchange of gunfire... then there was a huge blast," said Abdi Mudey, who was near the scene.

Witnesses described seeing part of a supermarket and several cars destroyed by the blast.

Husayn Ali Wehliye, a regional governor, escaped with minor injuries, local media reported.

Al-Shabab ruled much of Somalia until 2011, when it was driven out of Mogadishu by African and Somali troops.

CREDIT: BBC

GHANAIANS NEED CHANGE NOW- EX-PRESIDENT KUFOUR

FORMER PRESIDENT JOHN AGYEKUM KUFOUR

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has today appealed to members of the largest opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) as a matter of urgency stay united ahead of the next year elections.

He bemoaned the unceasing infighting and internal wrangling within the rank and file of the Party and stressed on the need for them to stay focused and resolute in their quest of wrestling power from the incompetent government lead by President Mahama.

President Kufuor made this call during his address to the leadership; members and supporters of the Party at its day’s 15th extraordinary annual Delegates Conference held at the Coronation Park in Sunyani and was on the theme: “Arise for Change 2016.”

The Former President expressed the need for reconciliation as imperative to bring every member of the NPP on board for effective electioneering.

He further said Ghanaians are craving for change of government come November 7 indicating that the onus lies in the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition to make their dreams a reality.

“It is only the NPP which has the DNA to move the country forward by spurring private sector growth,” he said.

 Mr. Kufour said the country has witnessed bad governance, poor economic management and lack of direction in the last seven years, indicating that until the NPP closes its ranks it would be difficult for it to regain power.

Former President Kufuor affirmed the defining character of the NPP as promoting human dignity, the rule of law, tolerance and good governance, and therefore asked the leadership of the Party to be more responsive in addressing the challenges within it.

Former President Kufuor entreated members and supporters of the NPP to empower and support Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his running mate Alhaji Dr Mohamadu Bawumia in the electioneering for the Party to win the 2016 general election.

He asked the leaders and chairpersons of the Party to see themselves as servants and should therefore work hard for it to win the votes of the grassroots voters.

EMMANUEL DZIVENU

(RADIO UNIVERS)

GBC OUT OF THE VOLTA REGION DUE TO POWER CUT

GHANA BROADCASTING CORPORATION 

State owned Broadcasting Corporation has stopped transmission in the Volta region of Ghana after a cut in electricity supply to two of its transmission stations in the region.

This is the second time this year the Electricity of Ghana has cut power supply to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation in the Volta Region.

The cut in electricity supply to the stations at Akatsi and Ametefe was due to a long standing debt of GH 720, 000 the corporation’s  owe the Electricity Company of Ghana.

General Manager of ECG- Volta, Mr. Joseph Mensah Forson, said the indebtedness of some public and private institutions and individuals was having a negative impact on the Company’s operations and served notice that the Company would not relent in efforts at making defaulters pay for power they have used.

This came to light when the Deputy Minister of Communications, Dr. Ato Sarpong took turn to answer questions in Parliament relating to the Communication Ministry specifically on why the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has stopped television transmission in the Volta region as well as the reduction in the hours of transmission by the National Broadcaster to the same region.

Addressing Parliament on the issue Friday on behalf of the Communication Minister, Dr. Ato Sarpong plans are far advanced in the settle the outstanding debt owed the Electricity Company of Ghana.

Emmanuel Dzivenu

(RADIO UNIVES)

BLAME UNIVERSITIES FOR GRADUATE UNEMPLOYMENT-HON HARUNA

UNIVERSITY OF GHANA- LEGON

Minister of Employment and Labor relations, Hon. Haruna Iddrissu has partly blamed Universities for the increase in graduate unemployment in the country. He was speaking at the 17^th national biennial congress of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) organized which was held at the University of Ghana. The congress was on the theme, “Graduate unemployment; a failure of tertiary education?”

The minister who touched on the theme from the perspective of government said universities have not been responsive to the demand of the labor market. According to him, some Universities which were established to train students in the areas of science and technology are now competing with other universities in training students in the Humanities; this he said is a contributory factor to the worsening graduate unemployment in the country.

Hon Iddrisu also noted there are many brilliant young Ghanaians, very capable of studying successfully and becoming medical practitioners but have been denied the opportunity simply because they were not able to make aggregate 6. He therefore challenged the Universities to review their curricula to reflect labor market trends.

“Training in our country’s universities must reflect acceptable global practices and standards and as a matter of necessity every student must know the basic skills of information technology.” he added.

The Hon. Minister of Employment and labor relations emphasized it remains a policy decision of government to replace the book and research allowance with the Tertiary Education Research Fund. Adding that even though cabinet has given policy approval to the bill which will soon be laid before parliament, UTAG is free to send memoranda on the bill since it will affect the association. The bill on the intended research when passed, the minister believes, will help deal with the frequent strike actions in the Universities.

Also speaking from the perspective of the academia was the former Provost of the University of Ghana, Professor Kwaku Osam. He blamed Government, tertiary institutions as well as Employers for the increasing rate of graduate unemployment in the country. he explained that the quality of graduates being churned out can also be attributed to the poor student lecturer ratio. This is he noted is directly as a result of the increase in yearly admissions in the universities which culminate in exerting pressure on the few lecturers in the system. He further lamented on the inability of students to develop soft skills such as communication and problem solving skills which are needed in the job market. The former Provost tasked the University Teachers Association to help develop students holistically to response to the ever changing labour market.

Professor Osam also called on government to create an enabling environment for the private sector to expand and create jobs for our teeming youth.

The occasion was also used to swear in newly elected national and local executives of the association across the country.

EMMANUEL DZIVENU

(RADIO UNIVERS)    

IS BEAUTY REALLY IN THE "EYE OF THE BEHOLDER?" YES....WILL TELL YOU WHY

BEAUTY IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

Many of us have had the experience of disagreeing with friends or family about which celebrity is more attractive. Now, researchers show in a study of twins that those differences of opinion are mostly the result of personal experiences that are unique to each individual. In other words, even identical twins don't agree.



Of course, some aspects of attractiveness are pretty universal and may even be coded into our genes, the researchers say. For example, people tend to prefer faces that are symmetric. Beyond such limited shared preferences, however, people really do have different "types."





"We estimate that an individual's aesthetic preferences for faces agree about 50 percent, and disagree about 50 percent, with others," write joint leaders of this project, Laura Germine of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard University and Jeremy Wilmer of Wellesley College. "This fits with the common intuition that on the one hand, fashion models can make a fortune with their good looks, while on the other hand, friends can endlessly debate about who is attractive and who is not."
Germine and Wilmer say that past research on the way people respond to faces has focused primarily on universal features of attraction. In the new study, however, they and their colleagues wanted to know more about where those disagreements over facial attractiveness come from.









To tackle this question, the researchers first studied the face preferences of over 35,000 volunteers who visited their science website http://www.TestMyBrain.org (http://www.testmybrain.org/setup.php?b=309); they used the insights gained to develop a highly efficient and effective test of the uniqueness of an individual's face preferences. They then tested the preferences of 547 pairs of identical twin and 214 pairs of same-sex, non-identical twins by having them rate the attractiveness of 200 faces.




Comparisons between identical and non-identical twins allowed the researchers to estimate the relative contribution of genes and environments to face preferences. Prior studies of twins and families have shown that virtually every human trait--from personality to ability to interests--is to some large degree genetically passed down from one generation to the next. Indeed, the researchers even found this in an earlier study for another aspect of face processing: the ability to recognize faces.
In contrast, they now show that the origin of the "eye of the beholder" --the uniqueness of an individual's face preferences--is mostly based on experiences, not genes. Those experiences, moreover, are highly specific to each individual.
"The types of environments that are important are not those that are shared by those who grow up in the same family, but are much more subtle and individual, potentially including things such as one's unique, highly personal experiences with friends or peers, as well as social and popular media," Germine says.



In other words, it's not about the school you went to, how much money your parents made, or who lived next door. That pretty face you see apparently has a lot more to do with those experiences that are truly unique to you: the faces you've seen in the media; the unique social interactions you have every day of your life; perhaps even the face of your first boyfriend or girlfriend.
The researchers say that the large impact of personal experience on individual face preferences "provides a novel window into the evolution and architecture of the social brain." They say that future studies could look more closely at which aspects of the environment are really most important in shaping our preferences for certain faces and for understanding where our preferences for other things--like art or music or pets--come from.

ANAS TO CHANGE THE FACE OF DEMOCRACY IN GHANA

 

ANAS AREMEYAW ANAS

Ace investigative Journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas will next month release what he calls his biggest investigative story ever.
The internationally acclaimed Ghanaian investigative journalist explained that the piece would reflect his disappointments in the last two years.
Speaking in an interview with Citi News after addressing a forum on the role of investigative journalism in promoting anti-corruption in Ghana, the world acclaimed journalist insists that the new story is guaranteed to shake the very foundations of the  nation’s democracy.
“I expect to release it one month from now. It's the biggest story I have ever done, the most expensive story and it’s very explosive. I’ve been very disappointed in the last two years and I think that in the next one month you are going to understand why I have been disappointed.”
“…In the history of this country, we’ve never had such a big story before because it’s going to shake the very foundation of Ghana’s democracy. I’m very disappointed but it’s a story that ought to be told,” he added.
Anas is famous for using his anonymity as a tool in his investigation arsenal (very few people have seen his face).
A multimedia journalist who specialises in print media and documentaries, Anas focuses on issues of human rights and anti-corruption in Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa.

CREDIT: GHANAWEB

I WILL SERVE WITH NO FEARS- NYANTAKYI

Following his re-election as FA boss for the fourth consecutive time, Kwesi Nyantakyi made salient points in his acceptance speech.
 
“I will do my utmost best to serve without fear and freak and set new milestones for Ghana football.

ADVERTISING

We can solve Ghana football together and to develop the ladies game.

“Women’s football could not have achieved its heights without the likes of Lidya Addy and Madam Habitata.

“We will continue with new measures aimed at improving colts and juvenile football across the country.

“In the coming months, we will hit the Prampram project running in order to get the best of players for our under 17 players.

“We will get a pension scheme for our local league and this will depend on the media.

“The national football teams will continue to develop on regular basis.

Kwesi further commented on the Black Stars saying; “hardly can you find a national team as stable as our Black Stars” the newly confirmed FA boss told the press assembled.


CREDIT: GHANAWEB

NPP DETECTS OVER 76000 TOGOLESE IN GHANA'S VOTER'S REGISTER

Voter rolls of Ghana and Togo in enhanced photo

New Patriotic Party's (NPP) 2016 Vice Presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has revealed that a team commissioned by the party to go into Ghana’s voter register has identified 76,286 persons with the same data in both Ghana and Togo’s voter register.
Dr. Bawumia, speaking at a widely publicized press conference in Accra on Tuesday, said the party’s team identified this suspected anomaly after comparing Ghana’s register with that of Togo.
These persons, he said, were mostly found in the Volta region with Ketu South cited as one of the constituencies where the anomalies are abound.
What made the team suspicious, he said, was the fact that pictures that accompanied the names in Ghana’s album were never taken from a ‘live environment’ but instead were scanned photographs thus suggesting the holders of the card were never present at the registration centres to register.
“What is damming is that many of the pictures were not taken from a live environment but rather scanned… we have examples from Ketu South where entire pictures were scanned and you will see staple marks depicting they were attached to documents…,” he said.
Dr. Bawumia’s presentation follows several calls from the rank and file of the opposition party for the EC to compile a new voters register ahead of the 2016 elections.
Their claim, Dr. Bawumia said, was earlier based on the conviction that the register is ‘incurably flawed’ intimating that it does not qualify to be used for next year’s crucial elections.
At the conference attended by various party bigwigs including party flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, party chairman, Paul Afoko, General Secretary, Kwabena Agyepong, former trades Minister, Alan Kyeremanteng and a host of others, Dr. Bawumia said he could not comprehend how persons with same data could get into both Ghana and Togo's voters registers.
“The question, therefore, is how these scanned pictures got into the EC register…it is not a document we can rely on for free, fair, transparent elections…,” he said.
The identification of such persons, he said, only forms ten percent of the party’s inquiry into Ghana’s voters register, promising that the NPP is scheduled to present more shocking revelations from the voters register.
Ghana’s voters register, he said, would also be compared to that of Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast.
To help tackle this problem and make the next election more credible, Dr. Bawumia suggested that the Electoral Commission of Ghana compiles a new voters register by June 2016, saying the Commission should give Ghanaians a new Permanent Voters Card (PVC) as was done in Nigeria.
He further suggested that the EC grants a period of two weeks for the registration to be carried out simultaneously across the country.
The new compiled voters register, he said, should be edited by internationally reputed audit firms and all political parties given copies.


CREDIT: GHANAWEB

NO CONDITIONS OF SERVICE, NO WORK- GMA

DR. FRANK SEREBOUR- GMA GENERAL SECRETARY

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) says it would not call off the strike until codified conditions of service is presented to them.

Doctors in government hospitals have been on strike for the past three weeks over the lack of conditions of service.

Reports suggest that government has pulled out of the negotiations with the doctors, saying it would only negotiate when doctors return to work.

Speaking to Citi News, General Secretary of the GMA, Dr Franklin Serebour said they are not perturbed by government’s position since it shows it is not ready to address their concerns.

“It is sometimes very interesting. You will recall that GMA in November last year shouted that we needed conditions of service. Unfortunately, this government didn’t do anything until this strike occurred. So this government is taking the position that they are not willing to negotiation, I believe it has always been their position.”

He argued that they “had only one caveat, that is the fact that the doctors are saying we will only come to work when we have a negotiated and signed conditions of service.”

“What it means is that now there is no conditions of service so the doctors will continue to be on strike. I believe that we should rather look at how we can resolve this matter as quickly as possible instead of adopting certain postures that may not help all of us.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health will tomorrow [Tuesday] announce an emergency plan it has put in place to mitigate the effect of the doctors’ strike.

The Finder newspaper today reported that about 500 deaths have occurred so far since the doctors announced the strike.

The Ministry last week announced a list of quasi health institutions the public can resort to during the strike.

A source at the Ministry told Citi news that the Ministry will review its measures and announce further plans to continue providing healthcare to Ghanaians despite the doctors’ strike.


CREDIT: GHANAWEB

WE WON'T PAY STRIKING DOCTORS- HARUNA

EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR RELATIONS MINISTER

Government has pulled out of conditions of service negotiations with striking members of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA).

According to government, it cannot negotiate with the doctors while they are on strike.

The GMA last month called the strike demanding that government puts in place conditions of service for its members.

The two parties have since failed to reach common grounds after they failed to agree on proposals and counter proposals relating to the conditions of service.

Employment and Labour Relations Minister, Haruna Iddrisu says until the striking doctors return to work, it will be difficult to negotiate with them.

“Government will continue negotiations with the GMA only if they call off their strike action and come back to the negotiation table for us to dialogue further on putting closure to the whole subject of getting them a codified condition of service.

“But so long as they remain on strike, boycotting work whether partial or full and not resigning puts us in a difficulty in continuing negotiations”, he added.

Mr Iddrisu, however, indicated that issues relating to the Category 2 and 3 allowances are already being negotiated at the Public Services Joint Negotiating Committee.

But “specific to their conditions of service, government will want to engage them if they call off the strike action”, he reiterated.

In response to the Minister, General Secretary of the GMA Dr Frank Serebour said they will only return to work after signing conditions of service document with government.

“The decision for us to go on strike was not taken by any individual; it was taken by the General Assembly. As we speak we don’t have any scheduled meeting so as and when it becomes necessary, and we meet with our membership we will forward the fact that government says they are not going to negotiate unless we call off the strike.

“As we speak the General Assembly is saying that they will continue with the strike because there is a conditional clause attached to it and that is until we sign we sign a negotiated conditions of service we will strike".

"So if the government is not going to negotiate with us that means we will never have the conditions of service and that means that the strike will continue”, he said.

Meanwhile, government will this week roll out an elaborate emergency plan to deal with the absence of the doctors from the country’s hospitals as part of several measures in response to the strike.

Haruna Iddrisu said the Health Minister would communicate an elaborate programme of government to deal with the situation.

Last week government issued a warning to all striking public sector workers to call off their strike or forfeit their salaries.

Government is yet to confirm if that action will be carried out as the GMA defied that notice.


CREDIT: GHANAWEB