22 January 2014

Nigerian Billionaire Dangote Considers Buying of Nigerian oil fields.

 
Dangote Group, controlled by Africa’s richest man Aliko Dangote, is considering the purchase of Nigerian oil fields as international companies plan to sell onshore assets in the continent’s top crude producer.

Europe's Meat Waste On African Menu - Ghana.

 
EU Agriculture Commissioner Ciolos wants to stop subsidies for agricultural exports to Africa. But that is unlikely to diminish the flood of cheap poultry that is demolishing Africa's domestic poultry industry.
It is 30 degrees Celsius in the shade in the Ghanaian capital Accra. Traders at the Kaneshie market are all sweating profusely.

Bill Gates Tackles Prophets of Doom On Poverty and that foreign aid doesn't work.

 
The American entrepreneur and philanthropist, Bill Gates, has mounted a vigorous attack on prophets of doom who say that poor countries are destined to remain so and that foreign aid doesn't work.

Obama to Host Africa Summit in Washington.

 
President Barack Obama will host a summit with African leaders in a bid to strengthen trade and investment ties with the continent.

21 January 2014

Amid increasing persecution of gays in Africa, author Binyavanga Wainaina comes out.

 
Binyavanga Wainaina has a hangover. Last night friends gathered for his birthday party, which turned into a coming out party, because Wainaina, one of Africa’s most powerful modern literary voices, had just published an article entitled, “I am a homosexual, Mum.”

20 January 2014

Warning over race to reshape African cities as "urban fantasies"


Plans to reshape cities across Africa in the style of Dubai and Singapore threaten to deepen social inequalities and could prove costly to both investors and city authorities, according to a paper in the April 2014 edition of Environment and Urbanization.

The bigger picture: understanding anti-gay laws in Africa.

 
In the past month, both Nigeria and Uganda have come under the spotlight for their passing of severe anti-gay legislation. On Monday, Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan signed a bill that carries a sentence of up to 14 years imprisonment for same-sex marriages or civil unions. Any person who is openly gay and anyone who “registers, operates or participates in gay clubs, societies and organisations” can be sentenced for up to 10 years in prison (the law also applies to well-meaning foreigners who visit Nigeria to help promote LGBTI causes).

Africa provides a brand new opportunity.

 
For five years, consumer spending in Europe and the United States has dwindled in the aftermath of the financial crisis.

19 January 2014

Changing castle in the Coat of Arms of Ghana is needless.

 
Hon. Anthony Osei Akoto, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tafo Pankrono in the Ashanti region has stated that the debate on whether the castle in the Coat of Arms of Ghana should be changed because the seat of government is no longer at the Castle is needless.

BBC presenter Komla Dumor dies aged 41. (THE RISE AND FALL OF AN AFRICAN JOURNALIST).

 
Ghanaian BBC reporter, Komla Dumor, died of cardiac arrest Saturday morning in London. Since news of his passing broke Saturday, tributes have been pouring in torrents from all parts of the world. Those who know him well describe him as a quintessential journalist who did his best and left a legacy.

18 January 2014

Letter from Africa: Nigeria's bad luck party?

 
Being the incumbent should, ordinarily, stand President Goodluck Jonathan in good stead in the run-up to next year's presidential election but at the moment he is not even sure of having a strong, united party behind him.

Ghana Government lauded for cancelling GYEEDA contracts.

 The Centre for Policy Research (CPR) has lauded government’s cancellation of some contracts between Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship Development Agency (GYEEDA) and some service providers.

Ghana National Security clears President John Mahama from alleged Gold Scandal.

President John Mahama did not ferry 1.5 tonnes of Ghana’s gold to Tehran as payment for an alleged unknown financial commitment to the Government of Iran, the West African country’s National Security Council has said.

Jerry Rawlings sold Ghana state assets to wife, others at ‘donkomi’ prices – Arthur Kennedy


Former flagbearer aspirant Dr Arthur Kennedy has slammed former President Jerry Rawlings’ ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude with regards to corruption.

17 January 2014

7 of The Best Places for Black People to Live in Africa and Caribbean.

trasacco-valley-properties accra ghana

ACCRA, GHANA
Ghana is Africa’s fastest growing economy and has developed a remarkable degree of stability. The West African nation’s growth rate exceed 10 percent in 2012, and it’s projected to remain relatively high for the next few years. The government of Ghana has been demonstrating a commitment to investing proceeds into the country’s social and physical infrastructure, increasing the overall livability in the nation.

Ghana Government denies spending GH¢2.8 billion to project Mahama in 2012

 
Government has described as "totally false" the claim by Minority Leader to the effect that GH¢ 2.8 billion was sank into the 2012 campaign of President John Dramani Mahama.

Ghc2.8bn "embezzled" to project Mahama in 2012 - Minority Leader

 
Minority Leader Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu has said a whopping amount of Ghc2.8 billion was sank into the John Mahama campaign in 2012 in order to project him ahead of the 2012 elections.

Rawlings needs to be examined by a psychologist to determine his mental status – Gen. Afrifa’s Son

 
Okatakyie Henry Amankwaa Afrifa, son of the late General Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa has fired a salvo at former President Jerry Rawlings for justifying the killing of his father.

Japan Vies for Supremacy in Africa Against Bitter Rival China.

 
Japan is aggressively stepping onto the African continent to snatch influence and resources away from its bitter rival China, which for years has been successfully battling the United States and Europe in gaining access to Africa’s riches.

16 January 2014

President Mahama's confidence will make me do better.

 
Ghana's Minister of Finance, Seth Terkper has said attempts by some people within government to get the President to fire him would rather challenge him to do better.

State of Education in Ghana – By The Forum For Education Reform (IMANI).


INTRODUCTION
Ghana’s education system is not delivering what its citizens need or want. We of the Forum for Education Reform believe that Ghana has what it takes to devise a very good education system for itself and even for export, and we have taken the challenge to brainstorm these issues and offer our best advice to stakeholders. This statement puts out our views about the key issues.

President John Dramani Mahama reveals he is under pressure to fire Finance Minister Seth Terkpker.

 
 President Mahama with the new managing director of Barclays Bank Ghana, Patience Akyianu.

President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that there is pressure to dismiss Finance Minister, Seth Terkpker.

Boston Teacher’s Face Winds Up On a Huge Billboard In GHANA WestAfrica.

Back at home in Boston, Lillie Marshall is a mother, a teacher in the Boston Public School system, and an avid blogger.
But in Ghana, she’s kind of a local celebrity.

Prepare for tougher times - NPP tells Ghanaians

 
The opposition New Patriotic Party has advised Ghanaians to brace themselves for tougher times in 2014 regardless of President John Dramani Mahama’s indications that the year is going to be the start of good things for Ghana.

15 January 2014

Lawyer sues NDC communicator for 2bn cedis.

Private Legal Practitioner, Lawyer Maurice Ampaw, has filed a lawsuit against NDC Communicator, Alhaji Naziru Mohammed for defamation and for denting his professional career.

2014 Should be a year of solutions – Kofi Adams

 
Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Spokesperson for former President Jerry John Rawlings, Kofi Adams, has asked institutions to help government in finding solutions to the country’s challenges instead of creating more.

Corruption in Ghana: Rawlings is more guilty – Akomea

 
Former Member of Parliament for Okaikoi South, Nana Akomea has slammed former President Jerry John Rawlings over his recent remarks that his successor is an "autocratic thief."

I will decentralise NPP administration.

 
One of the aspirants contesting the position of the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr Kwabena Agyepong, has expressed his commitment to decentralise the administration of the party.

14 January 2014

Right Before Dying From A Rare Lifelong Disease, Sam Revealed His Three Secrets To Happiness.


About three months before he passed away, 17-year-old Sam Berns gave this speech explaining his dislike for obstacles and his strategies for beating them.

Prof. Ewurama Addy dies at 72.

 
Prof. Marian Ewurama Addy, the popular host of the Science and Maths quiz has died.

I don’t have any secret accounts; take me to court.

 
Mr. Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon is alleged to have, between 2002-2006, opened two cedi accounts and one US dollar account with Ecobank; one cedi account at UBA and another at First Atlantic Bank.

Mallam Issah dares Kufuor: Meet me at Antoa if you are a man.

 
A former Sports Minister under the Kufuor administration has dared his former boss to meet him at the dreaded Antoa Nyamaa shrine in the Ashanti region, to prove whether he stole the $46,000 that eventually led to his incarceration in 2001.

Minority fails to address core issues — Asiedu Nketia

 
The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has expressed disappointment at  the careful attempt made by the New Patriotic Party (NPP),  in avoiding to address  issues at the heart of the matter in the sale of Merchant Bank to Fortiz and rather concentrated on issues at the periphery at its press conference last Thursday.

Shut up! – Asiedu Nketia tells NPP

 
The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia has told the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) to hold their tongue on matters relating to the sale of Merchant Bank to Fortiz Private Equity Fund.

13 January 2014

Nigeria's Anti-Gay Bill Signed Into Law By President Goodluck Jonathan


Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan signed a bill on Monday that criminalises same-sex relationships, the presidency said, defying pressure from Western governments to respect gay and lesbian rights.

12 January 2014

Hundreds line up to pay their last respects to controversial Israeli leader Ariel Sharon as his coffin is displayed in front of the Knesset.

 
Hundreds of Israelis lined up outside the country's parliament building on Sunday to pay their last respects to the late former prime minister and army general Ariel Sharon.

11 January 2014

Former Israeli PM Ariel Sharon dies.

 
Former Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon, one of his nation's most controversial and iconic leaders for a half-century — on and off the battlefield — died Saturday at the age of 85, of complications from a stroke eight years ago.

Rawlings Supervised Murders - NPP

  
Press Release
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is disgusted at the constant insults and attacks from Former President Rawlings on the person of Former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
The New Patriotic Party agrees that former President Kufuor is not immune to criticisms.

Africa's road-building frenzy will transform continent.

 
AFRICA is embarking on a road-building spree. Ahead of the pack are mining organisations, largely funded by China, which have flooded into the continent over the last decade and need ways to transport materials. But also afoot is a larger, pan-African effort to upgrade and expand the continent's highway network, as well as building many more smaller connecting roads.

North Dakota marks 10 years of partnering with Ghana.

 
A small North Dakota delegation, led by Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley and Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, adjutant general for the North Dakota National Guard, is visiting senior government and military officials in Accra, Ghana, West Africa on a dual-purpose mission.

10 January 2014

NYPD’s Ghana and Togo language speakers add to its diversity.

 
Police Commissioner Bill Bratton talks with the press after Mayor Bill de Blasio swore in new class of police recruits at Queens College Thursday, while Chief Phillip Banks looks on.

The NYPD added a new language Thursday to its growing lexicon: Ewe, pronounced just like “away.”

09 January 2014

Mail Services Drop As Ghana Telcoms and Internet Industry Flourishes.

 
GHANA Post (GP) Company Limited reported a drop in its traditional mail service as a result of the burgeoning internet and telecommunications sectors.

Ghana Among World's 10 Biggest Contributors To UN Peace-keeping Efforts.

Ghana is currently ranked among the 10 largest contributors to United Nations peace-keeping efforts, says Defence Minister Mark Owen Wayongo.

China to work with Ghana on illegal mining.

 
China's foreign minister on Wednesday said Beijing was tackling illegal gold mining in Ghana, after hundreds of his compatriots were arrested and sent home for extracting the mineral without permission.

Ivory Coast Sees Soaring Oil Output Rivaling Ghana by 2019.

Ivory Coast Prime Minister Daniel Kablan Duncan said his nation will boost oil output within five years to 200,000 barrels a day, rivaling neighboring Ghana as stability returns to a country wracked by a decade of turmoil. 

07 January 2014

President John Mahama Marks First Year In Office by meeting Ghanaian media.

Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has now been in office for one year. To mark the occasion, he invited representatives of the Ghanaian media to question him on his performance so far.

Ghana Home for E-Waste Dump for the World.

The e-waste dump Agbogbloshie exemplifies the downside of globalization: It's the bitter end of a supply chain where children, instead of going to school, wander barefoot gathering bits of salvaged metal for pennies.

Genetically Modified Seeds and Ghana - the Debate

Ghana is at the cross roads, debating the introduction of genetically modified crops (commonly referred to as GM crops) into the country. Public debates are generally good if conducted in an atmosphere of civility and with the intention of arriving at evidence-based decisions.

06 January 2014

Ghana Speaker of Parliament throws out motion on Merchant sale.

 
The Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adjaho has thrown out a motion filed by 80 Minority Members of Parliament demanding an investigation into the controversial sale of Merchant Bank to Equity fund, Fortiz.

Africa's New Struggle Against Financial Imperialism.


ONE hundred years ago, European colonists conquered and plundered Africa because they had far superior technology. To this very day, European nations continue to plunder Africa because they possess advance weapons. This time the weapon of choice in the re-conquest of Africa is financial warfare; it is no longer military force. But the end result is the same: Western corporations profit, whilst Africa remains underdeveloped and over-exploited.

Unofficially cashing in by Former heads of States and Government after ending their tenures.

 
 Former US president Bill Clinton gives a speech at the Caijing Annual Conference in Beijing on November 18, 2013.

When heads of state and government end their tenures, some choose to become speakers, consultants or lobbyists, cashing in notable incomes that are sometimes much more than their previous salaries.