Duncan-Williams - 2011 will be year of unstoppable favour

Archbishop Duncan Williams says he strongly believes that “2011 will be a year of

unstoppable favour” for Ghanaians.

Speaking to Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah on the Super Morning Show, the Archbishop of Christian Action Faith Ministries (CAFM) said he had the strongest conviction that his prophesy will come to pass because according to him, Joseph was the 11th child of Jacob in the Bible and despite the challenges he encountered, he went on to become Egypt’s prime minister.

He said Joseph’s situation can be likened to the plight of many Ghanaians and thus believes that the number 11 elicits divinity.

He called on Ghanaians to believe strongly in God and accept that God’s version of time, Kairos, is the means by which God operates and thus, blessings may not come as speedily as one may want them.

He distinguished the difference between Kairos and Chronos, indicating that Chronos is the time measurement used on earth but Kairos is a divine measurement of time, thereby, hinting that Ghanaians should be patient to see divine blessings manifest in their lives.

He cited Jesus Christ and other great men of God who had been prophesied of years and millennia before their births, yet, their destinies were exactly what were prophesied.

Archbishop Duncan Williams said because we are mortal beings on earth, we tend to forget that God’s ways are purely divine and not according to nature’s laws.

Arch Bishop Duncan Williams further said that this year’s watch night dubbed Kairos Night, which is being organized by CAFM will be hosted at the El-Wak Sports Stadium because, according to him, the previous edition had thousands of crowds spilling from the church into the streets and they would want to prevent a repeat.

He indicated that security will be heightened at the venue and a large parking space made available to ensure a problem-free Kairos Night.

Ghanaians Abroad, Please Come Home

President John Evans Atta Mills on Friday appealed to Ghanaian medical professionals abroad to consider the sacrifices the nation made in traini

ng them and come back home to render their due to their countrymen.

He extended the nation’s appreciation to those serving at home and assured them of the necessary government support to effectively discharge their duties, adding that qualitative medical care was one of the priorities of government.

President Mills made the appeal when a delegation from the Foundation of Orthopaedic and Complex Spine, a non profit making medical group, led by its founder, Prof Oheneba Boachie-Adjei, paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle. The organization, which has been operating in Ghana for more than 10 years, is into the treatment of disability, trauma, injury, malformation, arthritis and problems of the spine.

President Mills underscored the need for a healthy people for sustainable development and observed as quite refreshing the sacrifices of the group.

He commended the leader as well as other Ghanaian medics who had returned home to offer their services.President Mills urged the doctors to go beyond the financial motive and return home to work in appreciation of the sacrifice of the many Ghanaians who broke their backs to see the medical professionals through school.

He said they should resolve to put their expertise at the disposal of the weak at home. The President appealed to medical professionals such as those in orthopaedics to give off their best so that physical impairment and defects could be treated at an early age.

The Foundation has so far attracted 250 medical volunteers from the United States of America and from around the world. It has treated and performed surgeries on about 600 people who are mostly Ghanaians with the others from Europe. It has so far reviewed about 17,000 patients and facilitated medical training to those from abroad to handle local cases.

According to Prof Oheneba- Boachie, there were 15 qualified orthopaedic surgeons in Ghana against 29,000 in the US. He described the disparity as wide, and said the Foundation was trying to close the gap through capacity building and infrastructural development” to provide a Centre of Excellence for orthopaedic training in Africa.”

Prof Oheneba-Boachie said about 60,000 people of the world did not have adequate access to orthopaedic service and appealed to government for the grant of tax relief for imported equipment for the Foundation.

Dr Michael Mendelow, a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon announced that the Foundation was teaming up with the US based Cure International to treat club-foot that affected about one in 2,000 new births in Ghana.

Asamoah Gyan replies secret admirer, Obaa Yaa

Some weeks ago, A Ghanaian lady residing in Madina, Accra “Obaa Yaa” requested Asamoah Gyan to marry her or else she would kill her self. To show how serious she was with her request and threat, she fixed 24th December, 2010 as an ideal day for the marriage.

You can read more about Obaa Yaa and her “love syndrome ” from Here. “BabyJet” Asamoah Gyan has used the newly packaged Dentaa Show to address Obaa Yaa. Check out the video below….

Olele voted Best Goalkeeper in the EPL

Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson has been voted the best goalkeeper in the English Premier League as the halfway stage of the competition.

He has also has been voted the best player of Blackpool’s campaign so far this season.

English newspaper Guardian made the analysis following votes cast by their readers.

Kingson has performed heroics and kept two clean sheets in the five matches he has played since taking over from Matt Gilks.

His average rating of 7.2 makes him the best goalkeeper in the league so far and, therefore, one of several Ian Holloway recruits who might be considered as rivals for Holden in the signing of the season stakes.

Four other goalkeepers were considered their club’s best players of the season so far: Birmingham’s Ben Foster (6.5), Blackburn’s Paul Robinson (6.7), Stoke’s Asmir Begovic (6.7) and Liverpool’s Pepe Reina (6.7).

This makes the Ghanaian shot-stopper the best in the Premier League so far this season.

Kingson was axed from Birmingham for being a ‘waste of space’ got the opportunity this term to prove his worth.

He joined Blackpool at the start of the season as the reserve goalkeeper and has shown his worth since Matt Gilks’ injury....

Asamoah Gyan is BBC African footballer of the year

Ghana and Sunderland star Asamoah Gyan has been crowned BBC African Footballer of the Year for 2010.

The Black Stars striker clinched the title with an overwhelming majority - receiving more than half of the vote.

He finished well ahead of fellow Ghanaian Andre 'Dede' Ayew, Ivorians Yaya Toure and Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto'o of Cameroon.

"I'm so happy, I can't believe it," he said. "I'm so thankful to all the fans who voted for me."

He added: "It was really hard to win this award, especially because of all the other players I was up against.

"So I'm so appreciative to all my fans in Africa - especially my family and fans in Ghana."

Gyan had a memorable year internationally, leading Ghana to second place at the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola, scoring three of the four goals that helped Ghana reach their first final in 18 years.

At the World Cup in South Africa, the 24-year-old grabbed the world's attention as his three goals helped the Black Stars progress from the group and into the quarter-finals.

But he shot to prominence through unfortunate circumstances as his missed penalty against Uruguay with the last kick of the game denied Africa its first semi-final berth.

He then earned widespread praise and went some way to redeeming his error when recovered his composure to score in the shoot-out following a 1-1 draw.

Despite the disappointment of the World Cup exit, the finals boosted his career as he left French side Rennes to become Sunderland's record signing at £13m.

"Asamoah has been a fantastic addition to the Sunderland squad," said Sunderland coach Steve Bruce, who presented Gyan with the African Footballer of the Year trophy.

"As our record signing, he had a lot of expectation placed on his shoulders but he has embraced the club wholeheartedly and has settled in very well.

"He's a strong, quick player and brings something different to the side.

"He has formed positive partnerships with other strikers and he's a real bright spark around the place too - always smiling and happy.

"He has an infectious joy for football, and we are reaping the rewards of that.

"I'm thrilled for Asamoah that he has been awarded this honour, it is thoroughly deserved."

The search for BBC African Footballer of the Year 2010 began on 15 November when fans were given a chance to choose their African football hero from a shortlist selected by experts from each of the continent's 52 countries.

Public voting closed on 10 December 2010 - with votes cast online at bbc.com/africanfootball or via text messages.

Ghana - Number 16 on FIFA ranking

Ghana ended the year in 16th place in the latest Fifa ranking released on Wednesday.

The Black Stars moved one place up and the ranking is a reflection of their exploits at the Africa Cup of Nations and the World Cup finals in South Africa.

The results of 111 new”A” international matches have been recognized in the current edition of the rating.

Ghana are second on the continent behind African champions Egypt who are ranked 9th in the world.

World champions Spain lead the pack and are followed by the Netherlands.

In terms of points, 14 qualifying matches for continental championships in Europe, the Caribbean and Africa were of particular importance, while the remaining 97 matches were friendlies.

With a total of 785 matches taken into account so far this year, the final tally for 2010 may well exceed the 800 mark, bringing it just above the average for a World Cup year.

The next Fifa ranking will be published on 12 January 2011.