News headlines 9-1-15

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9-1-2015

PREZ MAHAMA NEXT TO DR. KWAME NKRUMAH...

Communications Consultant to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Eric Ametor Quarmyne says none of Ghana’s presidents can be compared to the first president of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah except incumbent John Dramni Mahama.

POWER MINISTRY BEGINS FULL-SCALE INVESTIGATION INTO ECG METER FIRE INCIDENT

Government has begun full-scale investigations into circumstances surrounding the burning of over 25,000 new ECG meters in the Ashanti Region

DZIDZOR MENSAH GRILLED BY POLICE FOR LYING ABOUT HIV STATUS

A former HIV/AIDS Ambassador of the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), Ms Joyce Dzidzor Mensah, has been arrested for allegedly deceiving the commission about her HIV/AIDS status.

KKD DENIED BAIL AGAIN

The Kaneshie District Magistrate's Court yesterday adjourned the hearing of the case in which the ace broadcaster, Kwesi Kyei Darkwah (KKD), has been accused allegedly raping a 19-year-old student in the washroom of a hotel.

PILOTS, MOTORISTS ASKED TO BE WARY OF SEVERE HARMATTAN

The foddy weather being experienced in the country has compelled the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMET) to advice pilots and motorists to exercise extreme caution.

SHORT-TERM PROSPECTS OF ECONOMY GLOOMY – MINORITY

The Minority in Parliament has described the short-term prospects of the economy as gloomy and urged the President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, to take all necessary steps to maximize the rate of economic development.

$23BN CASH MISSING – SAYS MINORITY

The Minority New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Parliament has taken a swipe at President John Mahama for his insatiable appetite for contracting loans, querying the government about the whereabouts of $23 billion contracted as loans In the last six years.

LIMPING KKD IN HOSPITAL

Sheffieldowbiz icon and broadcaster, Kwesi Kyei Darkwah aka KKD, who is standing trial for allegedly raping a 19-year-old student, was seen limping in court yesterday.

9-YEAR-OLDS GOING MAD DUE TO 'WEE' SMOKING

Children as young as nine years are getting addicted to narcotic substances, especially cannabis thus raising the bar on national efforts at reducing the use of narcotics in the country.

CID TO CONDUCT AIDS TEST ON JOYCE MENSAH

The Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service says it will conduct a test on infamous HIV/AIDS campaigner Joyce Dzidzor Mensah to ascertain her HIV status.

NAYELE'S MOTHER ARRESTED BUT GRANTED BAIL OVER ASSAULT

The mother of the incarcerated drug trafficker Nayele Ametefe was arrested early Thursday, Joy News can confirm.
She was invited and detained by personnel from the Airport police station over allegations of assault.
Airport District Police Commander Chief Superintendent Yao Tettegah confirmed the arrest to Joy News

NPP HAS SUNK LOW- GOVERNMENT RUBBISHES CLAIM OF PARTY CADRES ON PUBLIC PAYROLL

government NPP’s accusation that 17% of all ghost names on public sector payroll are party cadres has been rubbished by as a new low in irresponsible opposition politics.

KKD ADMITTED AT POLICE HOSPITAL

The embattled fashion Icon, Kwasi Kyei Darkwah (KKD), who is facing charges for allegedly raping a 19-year-old girl has been admitted at the Police Hospital in Accra, it has been reported

FORMER NSS BOSS’ CORRUPTION CASE ADJOURNED TO FEB 10

A Fast Track High Court (Tax and Financial) Division on Thursday adjourned the case involving Alhaji Alhassan Mohammed Imoro, a former Executive Director of the National Service Scheme (NSS), to February 10. The court adjourned the case after the State, represented by Senior State Attorney, Comfort Tasiame, prayed the court for a four-week adjournment to allow the prosecution to complete its investigations

MINORITY CAST DOUBTS ON GOVT'S 2015 PROJECTIONS

The minority in Parliament has cast doubts over the country’s economic prospects for 2015

GH¢70BN DEBT STOCK: EACH GHANAIAN OWES GH¢2,800 – MINORITY

Every Ghanaian including a child delivered today owes Gh¢2,800 due to Ghana’s public debt stock which stands at Gh¢70 billion from Gh¢9.5 bn, according to the Minority in Parliament.

DON'T SIGN PENSIONS BILL INTO LAW - TUC TO PRESIDENT

Cape Coast, Jan. 8, GNA - Ghana Trades Union Congress of Ghana, (GTUC) has again asked President John Mahama not to sign the amendment of the Pensions Act into law until the social partners and other stakeholders exhaust consultations on the proposed amendments.

FDA MOVES TO STOP UNAUTHORIZED RADIO, TV ADVERTISING

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has said it will bring sanity to bear on the unbridled advertising of questionable products and services on radio and television without the approval of the authority.

I WILL SPEAK ON ALLEGATIONS AGAINST ME NEXT WEEK TUESDAY -CHRAJ BOSS

The embattled Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mrs Lauretta Vivian Lamptey, who is being investigated over allegations of corruption and abuse of office by the Office of the Chief Justice, says she will speak on the matter next week.

T.B WILL HELP ME WIN WORLD TITLE

38-year-old Micheal Ayittey Powers says he will defy all odds to win a world title within the next two years.

TIME FOR GHANA TO GO OFF AID

Having enjoyed a life of considerable privilege complete with instruction at some of the finest instructions around the world, Bernard Olu Sawyerr returned to Ghana in the mid-1990s, full of the optimism that characterized his kind in the West and in emerging economies.

25 EX-CONS TO SUE GOVERNMENT

Imagine you can charged with a serious offence you did not commit; perhaps you are detained pending trial, or even jailed after you lose your case.

GOVERNMENT TO BORROW GHȻ25.4BN IN 6MTHS

The Bank of Ghana has served notice of government's intention to borrow GHȻ25.42 billion from the domestic market within the first six months of the year.

LABOUR UNION CALLS FOR TRUCE OVER WORKERS' PENSIONS

The local Government Workers' Union (LGWU) of the Trades Union OCngress (TUC) has said that the continued mistrust and suspicion surrounding management of the second-tier occupational pension fund does not augur well for industrial harmony, and have urged government to come to an agreement with the local unions as soon as possible.

HARMATTAN DISRUPTS FLIGHT SCHEDULES

The dry season, otherwise known as harmattan, has forced domestic operators to delay, and in some instances cancel flights from Accra to Kumasi and Tamale due to poor visibility.
   

LAURETTA LAMPTEY HAS A CHANCE TO DEFEND HERSELF – AYIKOI OTOO

When the judicial committee meets today to begin investigations into the accommodation scandal involving the Commissioner of CHRAJ, it will be looking at possible cases of misbehavior and or incompetence against Lauretta Lamptey.

ECG FIRE SCANDAL: MP CHARGES MAHAMA TO CRACK WHIP

A member of Parliament for Effutu Alexander Afenyo Markins says President John Mahama must crack the whip on officials of the Ashanti Region's Electricity Company of Ghana whose negligence led to the fire incident that burnt over 25,000 meters

ABU RAMADAN INCURS WRATH OF TAMALE YOUTH OVER AIRPORT

The Peoples National Convention (PNC) National Youth Organizer has incurred the wrath of majority of people in the Northern Region over his recent comment that residents of the north do not need an international airport

NPP OFFICIALLY DISSOLVES FACTIONS TO SUPPORT NANA ADDO

The yuletide season served as a period for members of the New Patriotic Party to unite and dispose off any faction that might hinder their electoral progress in 2016.

GHANA TO GENERATE 25,000 METRIC TONS OF WASTE

Ghana would soon generate 25,000 metric tons of waste daily as the population increases steadily says Professor Ernest Yanful of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

MOTORISTS WITH 2014 DV PLATES TO BE PROSECUTED

The Police have warned that motorists who are caught using 2014 DV plates would be prosecuted.

NIGERIANS FLEEING TO GHANA OVER IMPENDING ELECTIONS, BOKO HARAM

The heated political atmosphere in Nigeria due to the country’s upcoming general elections in February has seen an influx of Nigerians into Ghana.

STATEMENT: PER NDC’S STANDARDS, MAHAMA’S GOV’T IS COMPLICIT IN NAYELE’S COCAINE SAGA – NPP

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused the Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of being complicit in the Nayele Ametefe cocaine scandal as per the ruling party's own rod of measurement.

                                  BUSINESS HEADLINES


BOG REVIVES CEDI BOND SALES

Ghana will sell five- and seven-year bonds in the first half, after abandoning offers in 2014 to tap into investor confidence that may emerge when the nation signs an aid deal with the International Monetary Fund.

SAMSUNG FORECASTS 37% DROP IN QUARTERLY PROFITS

SAMSUNG Electronics has forecast a 37.4% fall in quarterly operating profit from a year earlier.

In its pre-earnings guidance, the firm forecast an operating profit of 5.2tn Korean won ($4.74bn; £3.14bn) for the three months to December.

YOUTH ADVISED TO INVEST IN COCONUT FARMING

The owner of Mega Farms, Mr Samuel Obuobi, has described coconut farming as very lucrative, and has, therefore, advised the Youth to invest in the sector.

TRANSPORT FARES REDUCED BY 5%

Commuters should expect 5% reduction in transport fares, from Friday, 9, 2015, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has announced.


                                    DIASPORA HEADLINES


PENN HILLS-BASED DOC RAISES MONEY TO BUILD LIBRARIES IN GHANA

Support and donations from people in the Penn Hills community will help build a library in rural Ghana this year, thanks to a local doctor.

NPP UK DESCENDS ON ALHAJI BATURE

Our attention has been drawn to a publication by the Al Hajj owned by Alhaji Idrissu Bature on the instructions of President Mahama that NPP Presidential Candidate Nana Akufo-Addo has been poisoned here in the UK.We wish to state that this publication is false, malicious and designed to cause distress to Nana Addo ,his family and the entire NPP Party.

NANA AKUFO-ADDO IS FIT AND READY TO SERVE GHANA—FONAA-USA

The United States branch of Friends of Nana Akufo-Addo (FONAA-USA) mocks and condemns the false allegations by the NDC and its rented press, The Al-Hajj, that associates of Nana Akufo-Addo suspect that he has been poisoned by his opponents in the NPP.


                                  SPORTS HEADLINES


BLACK STARS DRAW WITH SC CAMBUUR IN SECOND PRE-AFCON

The Black Stars drew 1-1 in their friendly match against SC Cambuur played on Thursday afternoon in Cartaya, Spain.

The Dutch Eredivisie side scored in the first half through forward Daniel Di Ridder before Olympique Marseille winger Andre equalized for Ghana with a fine header in the 60th minute.

YAYA TOURE IS 2014 AFRICAN BEST PLAYER

Ivory Coast's Yaya Toure made history on Thursday Night by becoming the first player to win Africa's top individual prize four times on the trot

TRANSFER UPDATE: MICHAEL ESSIEN'S FUTURE AT MILAN VERY DOUBTFUL

Ghana midfielder Michael Essien future with Italian club AC Milan is in serious doubt after the player's agent confirmed he wasn't sure if his client will stay at the Milan club past his current contract.

NEW DEAL: CARLISLE UNITED EXTEND DEREK ASAMOAH STAY

Carlisle United attacker Derek Asamoah has extended his stay at the club until 5th February.

ABEIKU AINOOSON: KOTOKO DEFENDER SIGNS ONE-YEAR CONTRACT EXTENSION
Asante Kotoko has confirmed defender Abeiku Ainooson has signed a new one-year contract extension.
The center-back's contract runs out in September this year but has decided to extend his stay by a further 12 months.

BUKOM BANKU THREATENS FREE FOR ALL FIGHT

Popular light heavyweight contender Braimah Kamoko popularly known as "Bukom Banku" has threatened to beat anyone who taunts him or his family.
The Bukom boxer was yesterday released from police custody after he was detained for vandalising property and assault in the Bukom area.

                                    INTERNATIONAL HEADLINES


U.S. WELCOMES ROBUST UN ELECTORAL OBSERVATION MISSION TO BURUNDI

The United States welcomes the start of the UN Electoral Observation Mission to Burundi (MENUB) on January 1. We look forward to continuing our relationship with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights as it once again becomes a stand-alone entity within the UN system.

TUNISIA KILLER GIVES 'POSSIBLE IS LINK' TO CHARLIE HEBDO ATTACK

Paris (AFP) - A French-Tunisian jihadist who assassinated two Tunisian politicians in 2013 provides a possible link between Charlie Hebdo suspect Cherif Kouachi and the Islamic State group based in Iraq and Syria, a researcher told AFP on Thursday.

MALI PRIME MINISTER MOUSSA MARA RESIGNS

Bamako (AFP) - Mali named a new prime minister on Thursday with Modibo Keita taking over after Moussa Mara resigned under pressure from the president of the strife-torn west African nation.

JOINT VISIT TO BURUNDI OF DEPUTY PRIME MINISTERS DIDIER REYNDERS AND ALEXANDER DE CROO

BRUSSELS, Kingdom of Belgium, January 8, 2015/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- In Bujumbura on Wednesday 7 January, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Development Cooperation Alexander De Croo jointly met with President Nkurunzize and Minister of External Relations and International Cooperation Kavakure, as well as with representatives of civil society and the business community.

BOKO HARAM KILLS DOZENS IN FRESH RAIDS IN NIGERIAN TOWN

(Reuters) - Boko Haram militants have killed dozens of people and burned down homes in the northeast Nigerian town of Baga in the past two days, in a second killing spree since seizing control there at the weekend, witnesses said on Thursday.

U.S. FORCES 'BUILDING PRESSURE' ON ISLAMIC STATE: MILITARY CHIEF

(Reuters) - U.S. efforts against Islamic State militants in Iraq are "a drumbeat, a steady building pressure" on several fronts that will ultimately enable Iraqi forces to launch a counteroffensive at a time of their choosing, the top U.S. military officer said on Thursday.


ARMED FRENCH GENDARMES SWOOP ON VILLAGES IN MANHUNT FOR NEWSPAPER ATTACKERS

(Reuters) - Armed and masked anti-terrorism police swooped on woodland villages northeast of Paris on Thursday in a manhunt for two brothers suspected of being the Islamist gunmen who killed 12 people at a French satirical weekly.