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You can’t change your posting – NSS warns personnel


NSS


The National Service Scheme has warned personnel posted for the 2015/2016 calendar year that there will be no room for them to change their allotted institutions.

In a statement Friday to announce the release of the first batch of postings who are to start September 2015, the scheme said “management will not encourage change of postings.”

It further urged “all prospective national service personnel to be prepared to accept their placements as part of their contributions towards building a prosperous nation.”

The first batch of placements for 53,604 national service personnel for the 2015/2016 service year was released Friday morning as part of what it says are “reforms of its general operations.”

Acting Executive Director, Dr. Michael Kpessa-Whyte said “the service personnel have been deployed into various service modules including Educational Support, Agribusiness, Urban Traffic Management, Urban Sanitation Management, Community Health, Rural Development, Private Sector Support, and General Administration in the various Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies, and other User Agencies across the country.”

He adds that the “modules have been developed in line with the Scheme’s objectives to meet the developmental and manpower needs of the country.”

Officials of the Scheme had announced early release of placements to afford the personnel enough time to prepare and take up their placements in September 2015.

Prospective personnel can log onto www.nss.gov.gh to check their placements


source: ghanawb.com

We have confidence in new EC chair - Political parties



Some political parties in Ghana have expressed confidence in the abilities of the newly elected chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC).They have however charged her to work within the remits of the constitution and must also undertake her duties without fear or favour.On Thursday night, the Chief of Staff in a press release announced President John Mahama’s appointment of Charlotte Osei to replace Dr. Kwadwo Afari Gyan, who recently retired after serving as EC boss since 1993.Prior to her appointment, there were calls from various quarters on the President to appoint a person with no political leanings but one with integrity to serve in that position, considering the sensitive nature of the position.

According to the governing National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) Deputy General Secretary, Koku Anyidoho, he does not know her, the important thing is that “she is a Ghanaian and she qualifies to hold that position and the President has appointed her.”On behalf of the NDC, Koku Anyidoho wished her well, adding that “Ghanaians are expecting her to take over from where Afari Gyan has left off and help us as far as our electoral processes are concerned.”“I’m sure the whole Ghana expects that she will work according to the dictates of the constitution and not allow herself to be pushed around by anybody or any political party.”The People’s National Convention (PNC) expressed confidence in Mrs Osei’s appointment, adding that her stint as boss of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE) will come in handy.The General Secretary of the PNC, Bernard Mornah explained to Citi News that, “Madam Osei has been in charge of a similar but maybe, less sensitive position at the National Commission on Civic Education that is supposed to be responsible for political and civic education of our nation.”He was of the view that her work as NCCE boss enabled her to work in close collaboration with the EC and certainly “understands the ins and outs of what needs to be done and what is not to be done.”
The Convention People’s Party (CPP) was hopeful that the new EC chair will bring her experiences to bear in making the EC a more transparent institution.The General Secretary of the party, Ivor Greenstreet in an interview with Citi News said Mrs Osei “certainly has the professional experience and capacity in the other areas that she has demonstrated so we hope these qualities will enable her to succeed in taking charge of this institution.”
According to Greenstreet, it is a collective agreement that the EC needs some substantive administrative reforms to make it an institution which is “more attractive and transparent and one in which Ghanaians have more confidence in.”This, he said will make the nation’s elections “less about the kind of issues that we have seen in the past and more about the policies and the individual parties have that will benefit Ghanaians and allow them to choose which party offers the best way forward.”Meanwhile, the main opposition, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has said the appointment of the new EC chair is worrying considering the fact that the a writ has been filed at the Supreme Court requesting an interpretation of certain provisions of the 1992 Constitution in relation to the appointment of an EC chair.Deputy General Secretary, Nana Obiri Boahen told Citi News, “my source of worry is the fact that I am painfully aware that there is a matter pending before the Supreme Court in respect of the issue of consultation…so for me, the appointment may look quite prejudicial in the sense that with this appointment, it has preempted the outcome of that civil suit pending before the Supreme Court.”He however challenged Mrs Osei to live up to expectations as she has been given the nod.But Deputy General Secretary of the NDC, Koku Anyidoho has stated that the writ filed before the Supreme Court cannot stop the President from appointing a new chair for the Electoral Commission.He argued that the constitution has been adhered to in the appointment of Charlotte Osei.“He has just followed the constitution and appointed another Electoral Commissioner. Besides, there are six other Commissioners…the work must go on. Richard Sky cannot keep this country in one place because of some writ he says he has sent to the Supreme Court.”He added that he is certain that in good time, the Supreme Court Justices “will look at whatever it is he has sent there and give their ruling but there is no law that says that because somebody has filed a case in court, the constitution must be set aside until that case is done with.”“We need to educate ourselves in this country so Richard Sky’s whatever that is at the Supreme Court does not and I repeat, does not stop the President from working especially within the remit of the constitution of the Republic of Ghana.”

source: ghanaweb.com

IMF can’t solve Ghana’s problems – Oppong-Nkrumah


Kojo Oppong Nkrumah Ghana


The newly elected NPP parliamentary candidate for the Ofoase-Ayirebi constituency Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah has stated that he does not believe Ghana’s economic and social challenges can be addressed by foreign institutions.In his view, it will take the collective will of Ghanaians to resolve their problems.

“I believe that Ghana’s problems, Africa’s problems will not be solved by the IMF or the World Bank or some Whiteman who came to town. It’s going to be solved by Africans who have a clear vision of where we want to go, who have designated each other to play various roles, who are honest and committed to each other and to the cause,” the former Joy FM presenter told Bola Ray on Starr Chat Wednesday.The Ghanaian government is currently in a financial bailout agreement with the IMF.The first tranche of $114 million (SDR 83.025 million) was paid into the Bank of Ghana’s account on April 14, 2015 and the last tranche for this year is expected to be released in November.Total disbursements for the first year is supposed to be SDR 249.075 million and an equivalent of SDR 415.125 million within the second year.


Source:ghanaweb.com;starrfmonline.com

Asamoah Gyan's sex case closed – Police




The Odorkor police have expressed surprise at reports that Sarah Kwabla has filed a report of sodomy against Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan.
The police said no one has filed any report of rape or sodomy against the footballer.There were reports that the Odokor police was investigating a complaint filed by the 22-year-old student who is accusing the Black Stars captain of sodomy.Sarah Kwabla had claimed that the player forcibly had sex with her through her anus while she bled profusely but has refused to take responsibility for his actions. She also claimed to be pregnant as a result of the sexual intercourse.
Miss Kwabla is also alleged to have asked Asamoah Gyan to get her a furnished apartment, a housemaid and a monthly stipend of $1,000 for postnatal care.But the Black Stars captain refused to accept the conditions describing the girl's actions as blackmail.In a rather shocking new twist, the Odokor police told Joy News’ Fred Smith no case of sodomy had been filed against the Ghana captain by the 22-year-old Sarah Kwabla.
On the contrary, he said the police rather received a report of blackmail filed on behalf of Asamoah Gyan, by his lawyer Kissi Agyabeng.According to Adjabeng, the 22-year-old had threatened to make public a sex tape involving the Black Stars captain, hence the report.But upon further interrogation, the woman at the centre of the controversy denied having in her possession the alleged sex tape.This prompted the police to advise both parties to resolve the issue amicably.Fred Smith reported the police as saying the case involving Asamoah Gyan was closed after both parties agreed to resolve the issue privately and a payment of GHc2,000 was made to Sarah.Maurice Ampaw, lawyer for Sarah Kwabla had told Joy News that “Asamoah Gyan met this lady not too long and then they entered into a short relationship…they had sex.”He claimed that Asamoah Gyan and his management “started doubting whether they are responsible [for the pregnancy]…” but “unfortunately for Asamoah Gyan, I think the girl had CCTV cameras in the place so their act was recorded.”Sarah Kwabla, he noted, is pursuing a case of sodomy against the Black Stars player because he failed to fully fulfil the gentleman’s agreement they had.“The girl thinks that she has been disgraced, she has been disrespected and she wants the matter to be investigated,” Maurice Ampaw added.

source: ghanaweb.com;myjoyonline.com

Another recruitment scam hits Ghana Police Service


Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan IGP 

Another recruitment scam involving a number of young men and women has hit the Ghana Police Service.

The prospective recruits carrying their trunks, mattresses and ‘chop’ boxes and holding their appointment letters converged on a house at Amamoley, near Sowutuom in Accra ready to be conveyed to the various police depots in the country for training.

Earlier reports made available to the Daily Graphic said about 500 young men and women were given the recruitment letters and asked to report at the training depots last Friday. According to the report, those who showed up were arrested by the police.

Later, communication from the police to the Daily Graphic said three persons who were alleged to have masterminded the latest recruitment scam had been arrested and were assisting the police in their investigations.

They are Yusif Fuseini, 37, leader of the group; Baba Yakubu, 27, who acted as a middleman for the prospective recruits and Yusif and Yaw Charles, 43, whose house was used as the venue for the recruits to converge.

According to Superintendent Cephas Arthur of the Police Public Affairs Directorate, intelligence picked up by the police indicated that Yusif had passed round a message that the police had started a new recruitment exercise and that he had connections to assist them.

He said Yusif managed to collect monies ranging from GH¢1,500 to GH¢2,500 from a number of people, mostly from Sunyani and its surrounding villages.

Supt Arthur said the people started arriving last Friday with offer letters purported to have been signed by DCOP Apraku directing the new recruits to converge on Accra to be conveyed to the Kumasi depot on July 3, 2015 to begin training.

He said the police managed to lure Yakubu, the middleman, to the Ofankor Barrier where he was arrested. He later led the police to arrest Yusif Fuseini and Yaw Michael at their hideout at Amamoley in Accra.

When the house was searched following their arrest, the police retrieved a number of mattresses, pillows, trunks and chop boxes belonging to the prospective recruits.

The victims together with their belongings were conveyed to the CID headquarters to assist the police in investigations. An offer letter found on one of the victims was signed by DCOP Kwaku Apraku, with the designation as the Director General in charge of Human Resource.

Supt Arthur said the offer letters were fake as nobody in the Police Service bore that name. The “recruits” were informed that the Police Administration had made many announcements in the media to the effect that the police were not embarking on any recruitment.

According to police sources, initially when the police had the hint, they thought it was an overflow from the first scam, but investigations had revealed that the scam was a new one.

In March, this year, hundreds of young men and women turned up at five police training depots in the country for enlistment into the Ghana Police Service but were disappointed.

They found that their recruitment letters were fake and that the purported enlistment was a scam. It took the police a hectic time driving away the victims, most of them university graduates, who had gone to the Kumasi, Koforidua, Pwalugu, Accra and Ho Police depots with their luggage to begin the training.

The first scam was so well organised that all the victims were given appointment letters purported to have been written and signed by the Director-General in charge of Human Resource, COP Mr Patrick Timbilla, who was later interdicted. The victims were said to have paid money ranging from GH¢2,000 to GH¢3,500 to the fraudsters.

Despite announcements on a number of radio stations and newspaper advertisements to the effect that the Police Administration has not embarked on any recruitment exercise, people still fall for fraudulent characters and are always ready to part with huge sums of money in order to be enlisted.

The Police Administration has, therefore, called the public to be wary of fraudsters, adding that the police did not contract people to recruit on their behalf.

“Anytime the police are ready to recruit, a publication will be made in the media to enable interested persons to apply,” Mr Arthur said.

source:ghanaweb.com;graphiconline.com

Energy crisis will end soon – Cretz




The US Ambassador to Ghana, Gene Cretz has expressed optimism that the ongoing energy crisis in the country will end soon.

According to Mr Cretz, the US was currently involved in several projects with the government that would produce more megawatts to address the energy crisis in future.

US envoy made this known at a roundtable with journalists in Accra to announce his departure from Ghana after three years of service.
“I think that the pieces are in place now and there are several projects that the US has been involved in. In addition, once the Millennium Challenge Compact really kicks in, you will see a revamp of ECG and its ability to generate electrical power, transmit it and get revenue to the point where it makes that particular enterprise efficient. I think it is all there in a mix; it is just taking a little bit of time.
“One has to be positive but I don’t know if we can put definite end dates to when the power situation is going to end, but I think Ghana is on the way towards really revamping its power sector for future needs,” Mr Cretz said.
The US government is expected to release over $500 million through the Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) Fund to help improve power distribution in the country under the second compact of the MCC programme.
Under the MCC, which will last for five years, Ghana has agreed to offer the management of ECG to a private company to boost efficiency.

Mr Cretz said Ghana government has made a decision with regards to the kind of concession under which ECG would be managed for a few years.“The board had been constituted on the Ghanaian side and papers had been drawn up to specify the requirement of the concession here that would guide the activities of the project for the next several years,” he said.The US Ambassador disclosed that Ghana was not out of the woods yet but was hopeful the economic situation would improve in the next couple of months.“I see a confluence of events in developments that would be taking place over the next couple of weeks and months that I think would lead the government and the country out of its current economic troubles. I’m very optimistic that over the next several months you would see a turnaround,” he added.

SOURCE:Ghanaweb.com

Brazil's Neymar banned for rest of Copa America

EPA CHILE SOCCER COPA AMERICA 2015 SPO SOCCER CHL

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Brazilian star Neymar was banned for the rest of the Copa America on Friday, stripping the tournament of one of its biggest stars.
A disciplinary panel of the South American confederation ruled that he must sit out four games for his conduct in a match against Colombia, when he was sent off after the final whistle.
The Barcelona forward was also fined $10,000.
Brazil will appeal the ruling.
Neymar picked up a red card after apparently kicking the ball toward Colombia's Pablo Armero after the referee had blown the whistle in Colombia's 1-0 victory on Wednesday. He also appeared to head-butt another player who came to confront him, and Brazilian media said he confronted the referee before going into the change-rooms.
Colombia's Carlos Bacca shoved Neymar from behind during the altercation and also was sent off after the match. He was banned for two matches on Friday.
Neymar picked up a red card after apparently kicking the ball toward Colombia's Pablo Armero after the referee had blown the whistle in Colombia's 1-0 victory on Wednesday. He also appeared to head-butt another player who came to confront him, and Brazilian media said he confronted the referee before going into the change-rooms.
Colombia's Carlos Bacca shoved Neymar from behind during the altercation and also was sent off after the match. He was banned for two matches on Friday.
Neymar had already been shown a yellow card during the game, which would've been enough to keep him from playing in the key group match against Venezuela on Sunday. He had received his first yellow card of the tournament in Brazil's opening 2-1 win over Peru. Players are automatically suspended with two yellow cards.
Brazil, which has been heavily dependent on Neymar, could still be eliminated depending on its result against Venezuela on Sunday. If it advances to the knockout round, it could play three more games. If Brazil doesn't make it to the final, Neymar's suspension will be extended into the next Copa America.
All four teams in Group C have three points each heading into the final round. The top two teams in each of the three Copa America groups advance, in addition to the two-best third-place finishers.
Neymar arrived at the South American tournament boosted by the Champions League title with Barcelona and was carrying Brazil's hopes for a title in its first official competition since the World Cup at home last year.
The 23-year-old forward also couldn't play in the decisive stages of the World Cup after injuring his back in the quarterfinal against Colombia. Without Neymar, Brazil was humiliated in a 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semifinals and lost 3-0 to the Netherlandsin the third-place game.
Neymar was key for Brazil in the opening win against Peru in this year's Copa America, scoring a goal and setting up the last-minute winner by Douglas Costa. He struggled against Colombia, though, and appeared nervous from the start. He got into several confrontations with the Colombian players and constantly complained to Chilean referee Enrique Osses.
After the match, Neymar said everything was caused by a "weak referee."
He loudly complained of the yellow card he received during the match after the ball bounced off his hand inside the area, saying the touch was involuntary.
Neymar's substitute in Brazil's squad has not been announced yet, but veteran strikerRobinho is expected to take his spot in the attack.
source: usatoday/sports.

Abby Wambach announces 2015 Women's World Cup will be her last


USP SOCCER: WOMEN'S WORLD CUP-NIGERIA AT UNITED ST S SOC CAN BR


EDMONTON, Alberta – Abby Wambach announced on Sunday that the current Women's World Cup will be the last of her glittering career.
Wambach is the United States' all-time leading scorer with 183 international goals and though it was considered unlikely that she would return to the tournament again in four years' time, she had previously refused to categorically rule out staying on until 2019.
However, that changed just 24 hours before the U.S. takes on Colombia in the round of 16 on Monday. If the South American team pulls off a major upset, it would be the end of Wambach's dream to add a World Cup to her long list of accomplishments.
"When I am on the field it is definitely all about business but this being my last World Cup I do want to stop and smell the roses at certain moments," Wambach said, admitted that following last Tuesday's victory over Nigeria she had ruefully reflected that the game would be her last ever World Cup group match. "For me that's what makes these tournament so awesome is that every continual game the stakes get higher, the pressure gets steeper.
"Whether you want to look at it as stress or pressure, however you want to put it, for me these are the moments of my life that I treasure."
Wambach is no longer the physical force of her prime, but remains a threat on aerial crosses and set plays. She captained the U.S. for its victories against Australia and Nigeria in Group D, and came on as a second half substitute in the 0-0 draw against Sweden
it is likely that Wambach will attempt to play another Olympics in Rio de Janeiro next summer, form and fitness permitting. She helped the team to gold in 2004 and 2012, missed the Games in 2008, and came desperately close to winning the World Cup in 2011.
Her remarks on Sunday reflected a sense of sadness that the end of the road is approaching, but also a realization that the end of the current campaign is the right time to end her World Cup career.
"I want to not only be able to share it with the fans and the millions of people watching and my teammates and my coaching staff, but the people who have been on my side and by my side to get me here," she added. "It hasn't always been easy. We sacrifice a lot. We are on the road for a lot of days of the year – it doesn't make it easy on any relationship whether it be a marriage or families or whatever."
Wambach married former professional player Sarah Huffman in 2013. She has spoken of her wish to become a mother and told USA TODAY Sports before the tournament that she was aware that the inevitable aging process meant retirement could be looming.
"We do live in a fixed period of time as a professional and our careers are very short," Wambach said. "You always have to be very mindful of the fact that it could be over tomorrow."
She, and the U.S.. hopes that "tomorrow" doesn't arrive for at least two more weeks.

Jun 21, 2015; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Canada

source:usatoday

Dissolve WAEC board - NAGRAT







Eric Angel Karbonu NAGRAT

The National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) wants the governing board of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) in Ghana dissolved for a new one to be constituted.
The teachers are further demanding that the head of WAEC, Rev Nii Ollennu, must be made to step aside while investigations are being carried out into the circumstances leading to the leakage and subsequent cancellation of some five papers in the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).NAGRAT is of the view that the Council has failed Ghanaian teachers and students by failing to “bring WAEC up to speed with 21st century virtual securities.”WAEC on Wednesday canceled five papers following a massive leakage on social media.The canceled papers are English Language 2, Religious and Moral Education 2, Integrated Science 2, Mathematics 2 and Social Studies 2.The examination council explained that it had to cancel the papers in order to protect the integrity of the examination.The council is presently being investigated by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and Rev. Ollenu is said to have been questioned by the security operatives.
However, an aggrieved parent has threatened to sue WAEC for the psychological trauma the cancellation is having on his son.WAEC is an untouchable bullyAddressing the media at a press conference on Thursday, NAGRAT made a strong suggestion that government should encourage and promote the creation of alternative examination bodies in order to discontinue the monopoly of WAEC as the sole examining body at the Junior and Senior High Schools.This, they say, will help promote the integrity of examinations and certificates in Ghana because it is very convinced that “WAEC is able to afford these unpardonable in inefficiencies because of the monopoly it enjoys.”
“It is clear that whether their services are good or not and whether we like them or not, they are the only one we have. WAEC has become an untouchable bully that pushes bad services down our throat while no one dare questions them.”NAGRAT admitted that “some pupils, students, teachers and indeed anybody could be culpable for leakages” but added that it is certain that “most of the leakages take their source from WAEC itself.’“It is unfortunate that WAEC staff are highly insulated and hardly suffer any serious penalties for their wrong doings.”They added that any WAEC official, teacher or pupil who is found culpable must be dealt with according to the law.
 

JHS boy gets 40 years for robbery

Daily JHS Boy 

 Two persons were yesterday sentenced to a total of 40 years by an Accra Circuit Court for robbery.They are Yaw Borloe, unemployed, and Gilbert Kwasi, a final year student of Madina No. 4 Junior High School (JHS).A businessman, Michael Ampong, is also in the dock for dishonestly receiving the proceeds of the robbery while the police have mounted a search for one Patrick who is on the run.

Charges

Yaw and Gilbert are facing charges of conspiracy and robbery.

According to the prosecution led by DSP Ernest Acheampong, the two on June 10, 2015 at Ashalley Botwe, a suburb of Accra, robbed one Hannah Smith Lawson of 60 pieces of T- shirts worth GH¢2,100, eight pieces of Lacoste shirts valued at GH¢360, 32 pieces of short sleeve shirts worth GH¢1,200, and 17 pieces of long sleeves worth GH¢1,020, all totalling GH¢ 8,305.Appearing before the court presided over by Justice Francis Obiri, the three accused persons admitted the offence.But the judge, upon interrogating Ampong and realising that the accused did not know he was buying stolen items, entered a not guilty plea for him.

Sentence

Delivering the sentence, Justice Obiri reiterated the fact that the society was no longer safe in view of the rampant spate of robberies in the country.He said the fact that the robbery was staged in broad daylight meant that the robbers were “brave and daring” and as such deserved no mercy from the court.Justice Obiri stated that the only way society could be appeased was to mete out a harsher sentence to serve as a deterrent to others.The High Court Judge accordingly handed Yaw and Kwasi 15 years each for conspiracy and 20 years each for robbery, both to run concurrently.He however remanded Ampong into police custody until June 24, 2015.

Facts

The facts of the case as presented by DSP Acheampong are that the complainant is a businesswoman resident at Ashalley Botwe.He said Michael and Patrick are businessmen and that at about 2:30pm on the said day, Yaw and Gilbert went to Hannah’s boutique and met her daughter.DSP Acheampong said the accused persons, wearing masks and armed with a cutlass, attacked the store attendant, tied her up with a rope and took away the said items.The police officer said the accused persons packed the items into two fertilizer bags and bolted in a waiting taxi.

 

source: ghanaweb

another JHS student arrested for robbery



Two suspected armed robbers, including a final year Junior High School (JHS) student have been arrested by the Madina District Police for allegedly robbing a boutique at Mad­ina Ritz Junction.
The suspects- Yaw Borkor, 21 and Gilbert Kvvesi, the 19-year-old JHS student- armed with a short machete, allegedly tied up the boutique attendant before robbing her of the items.
The suspects are now in the custody of the Madina District Police assisting with investigation.
Briefing Daily Guide, Chief Superintendent Kwesi Annor Arhin, Madi­na District Police Com­mander, said the suspects committed the act on June 10, 2015 around 2:00pm.The boutique attendant was in the shop when the two suspects then carrying a back pack, entered the shop and pre­tended to be buying some of the clothing.The suspects then pulled out a machete from the bag and threatened to butcher the victim if she makes any noise after which they tied her to a pillar with a rope.
The two then ransacked the whole boutique, taking away items, including 41 T-shirts, 13 short sleeves, 13 long sleeves, four pairs of slippers, a pair of men's shoes, 17 shorts, nine boxer shorts, three stockings, 11 singlets, all to the tune of Ȼ8,000.They then packed the items into two 'Ghana must go' bags and bolted in a waiting taxi.

On June 11, 2015 how­ever, the victim was at Madina market shopping when she spotted one of the suspects, Yaw Borkor, wearing some of the robbed items and raised an alarm.
Yaw Borkor was immediately apprehended by some of the traders and later handed over to the Madina District Police for investigations.
During interrogation, Yaw Borkor mentioned Gilbert as his accomplice and later led the police to arrest one Michael Ampong, a trader who also received part of the items to sell.
When police conducted a search, some of the stolen items were discovered.
The suspects have con­fessed to the crime and would be sent to court soon.
Meanwhile, suspect Ampong who received part of the items have provisionally been charged for dishonestly receiving stolen items while the two suspects have been charged for robbery.

source: myjoyonline

Loss of 24 NPP MPs will weaken Parliament – Dr. Dramani

New Parliament

The African Center for Parliamentary Affairs has said the experienced New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) who lost the bid for their seats in the party’s primaries on Saturday will affect the effectiveness of the legislature.The Executive Director of the Center, Dr. Rasheed Dramani said the loss is bad news for Ghana’s democracy since their experiences will be needed in the operations of the House.
Some 24 New Patriotic Party (NPP) MPs, many of whom were front benchers, were defeated in the party’s Parliamentary primaries organized over the weekend.The 24 NPP MPs made up of six women and 19 men MPs include, Dr. Richard Anane, Dr. Afriyie Akoto, Francis Addai-Nimoh, Joe Appiah, Esther Obeng Dapaah, W.O Boafo, among others.In an interview with Citi News, Dr. Dramani bemoaned the situation saying, it will worsen the already weakened legislature.
He indicated that already, Ghanaians are complaining about the quality of MPs, therefore, kicking out of these experienced legislators will exacerbate the problem.
Dr. Draman admitted that although change is necessary, the number of experienced MPs who lost is worrying.“We’ve been complaining about the fact that there is no critical mass of very qualified legislators in our Parliament…I know sometimes we need change, we need some fresh blood and fresh ideas but to see all these heavy weights lose, it’s sad,” he remarked.
Dr. Dramani recommended that political parties in Ghana must introduce special measures in place to protect seasoned legislators in Parliament.Making reference to the call made by the Minority leader ahead of the NPP primaries, Dr. Dramani however advised that the party to make sure the measures fall well within the laws of Ghana.He said: “Just like the issue of the Minority leader when it came up – yes, the party cannot legislate some of these things but they can begin to think about having some internal processes to ensure that some experiences are preserved within Parliament – you can’t just leave it open like this.”He further indicated that a careful look must be taken to assess the reasons why delegates voted out long-serving MPs.“I don’t know what was going on in the minds of people in the NPP but I think this is not good news.”


  soure:ghanaweb

MzVee nominated for BET award

MZVee Revolution

BET has announced a “BRAND NEW” fan-voted category, celebrating rising stars from across the channel’s international footprint and Ghanaian dancehall marvel, MzVee is on the list!

The star is among the nominees for the first ever Viewer's Choice "Best International" category at the #BETAwards and she comes up against, South Africa’s Cassper Nyovest, Uganda’s Eddy Kenzo, the United Kingdom’s MIC Lowry, George the Poet and Novelist.

The Entertainment Giants announced the new category on their official facebook wall on Monday June 15, 2015.

The BET Awards event is scheduled for June 27-29 in Los Angeles in the United States of America.

For more news go to Starrfmonline.com.


source:ghanaweb.com

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