Vibe Ghana - Ghana movies Nigeria movies Music videos Chat Discussion Entertainment News Ghanaweb TV

Kufuor Frees Pregnant Girls

VIBE GHANA — Fri, 09 May 2008 06:04:59 GMT

The perennial cases of detention of pregnant women receiving antenatal care at government healthcare facilities would be a thing of the past as government rolls out a new initiative to provide expectant mothers free medical services.

They will no longer pay a cedi for the services they receive during the period of pregnancy.

This was announced by President John Agyekum Kufuor at a bilateral meeting held between him and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown on Wednesday on the sidelines of the ‘Business Call To Action’ confab in London.

Under the initiative, the British government has pledged to support the health sector with £42.5m, out of which $6m would be set aside annually to implement the fee-free pregnancy care of Ghanaian women.

Yesterday, President Kufuor tasked the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to get together to implement the policy as soon as possible to bring succuor to the beneficiaries.

Reducing maternal mortality in pregnant women is one of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) developed out of the United Nations Millennium Declaration signed in September 2000, which states that maternal health must be improved and between 1990 and 2015 maternal mortality should be considerably reduced.

President Kufuor returned home last night after a 5-day trip to London at the invitation of Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

That meeting sought to galvanise support from major international industries and businesses.

The high-profile meeting was attended by such big shots as Neville Isdell, Chief Executive Officer of Coca Cola; Michael Klien, Chairman of the Institute Clients Group of CITI; Paul Walsh, CEO of DIAGEO; Graham Mackay, CEO of SAB Miller; Jean-Philippe Courtois, President of Microsoft International; Hiromasa Yonekura, President of Sumitomo Chemicals; Arun Sarin, CEO of Vodafone; Mo Ibrahim of Mo Ibrahim Foundation; Prof Jeffrey Sachs.

President Kufuor tasked the gathering to look seriously to Africa not for aid but meaningful partnerships that would catapult the continent out of its present predicament.

He said: “It is easy to make a million dollars in Ghana, and Africa for that matter, than anywhere else in the world.”

He was accompanied to the meeting by Annan-Cato, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK; Ambassador D.K. Osei and Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary to the President. source: D Guide

I will refresh national spirit and reunite Ghanaians - Atta Mills

VIBE GHANA — Fri, 09 May 2008 02:49:18 GMT

The Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), for Elections 2008, Prof John Evans Atta Mills, says the task of the Party would be to improve the economy, refresh the national spirit and reunite the people of Ghana. Prof. Mills promised Ghanaians that politics of polarization would have no place in the country and he would be a President of the whole country, devoid of marginalization if given the nod in the forthcoming elections.

"I am here to reassure Ghanaians, who are tired of politics as usual, that we are committed to a new type of politics which will foster national unity and a new sense of purpose." Prof Mills gave the assurance at the launch of the national campaign of the NDC, which was also used to introduce his running mate, John Dramani Mahama.

Prof. Mills accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of using its political power as hammer to nail the people in other political parties. The Presidential Candidate told the enthusiastic crowd that welcomed him to the National Theatre in Accra at 1454 hours with a chorus of "Atta Mills, You Are the Most High!" that the agenda of the NDC is for a better Ghana, investing in people, job creation and strong economy, expanding infrastructure and an open and transparent government.

"Our manifesto, which we will soon outdoor, will offer more specifics and Ghanaians will see for themselves how prepared the NDC is to assume the mantle of leadership to serve this country," he said. He promised to use the weapon of truth to respond to the challenges of leading the nation, adding; "I was not born with a silver spoon in my mouth. And I will not regard my election as President as some kind of coronation".

Prof Mills accused the NPP government of breaking the promise of providing jobs, reduction in the size of Government; reducing the cost of living and pursuing a zero tolerance for corruption, but rather engaging in what he called "profligate expenditure on presidential aircraft; palaces and lavish anniversary celebrations". Placing value on truth, and appropriate sanctions on errant political behaviour, the NDC Presidential Candidate said genuine and public demonstration of the trustworthiness of leaders should define Ghana's leadership in 2009 and beyond. "And should any member of the Atta Mills' Government act in ways contrary to our national purpose and character, rest assured that Atta Mills will be swift in acting."

"I will not govern according to my desires; I will govern according to the will of the people. I make a pledge to engage with opposing points of view." Prof Mills, who is a Former Vice President of Ghana from 1996 to 2000, expressed worry about Ghana's sunken image as major drug trafficking country, and promised to redeem that image and save the Ghanaian public from the "the scourge of crime and armed robbery.

The NDC Presidential Candidate, an accomplished university don; tax expert; lawyer and sportsman, paid tribute to the founding fathers; the National Executives, and foot-soldiers of the Party and expressed conviction that it would be victorious in the December elections.

Prof Mills urged Ghanaians to hold the Electoral Commission to the same standards they held it in the run-up to Election 2000. "We only ask the Electoral Commission to do its duty impartially and not to succumb to any subtle pressures. "The NDC is wide awake, and we will open our eyes much wider in the coming days and weeks especially when the voters register is re-opened and on the voting day itself."Let the ruling party be in no doubt of the NDC's strong determination to prevent a repeat of electoral abuses, including abuse of incumbency, which characterized the 2004 elections," Prof Mills said.

Prof Mills again expressed confidence in Mr Mahama, MP for Bole Bamboi as his running mate, declaring; "I have a Running Mate, John Mahama, in whom I am well pleased." source: GNA

Marcel Desailly eyes Black Stars coach vacancy

VIBE GHANA — Fri, 09 May 2008 16:37:33 GMT

World Cup winner Marcel Desailly has expressed his sadness that his friend Claude Le Roy is vacating the Black Stars job. Desailly has just returned to the French town of Aix after spending some time here in London but confirmed that he will be going to Ghana to live with his family in the next few months.

The 40 year old Desailly believes Le Roy was doing a good job and was surprised to hear that he was leaving Ghana. In wishing Le Roy the very best, Desailly also expressed his apprecaition that he is being mentioned as a possible replacement for the veteran French man. ''I am happy to learn that fans and media are thinking about me in this way. It means they must trust my football experience''

The former Olympique Marseille, AC Milan and Chelsea star is not ready to commit himself for obvious reasons and refused to be drawn on whether or not he would accept an offer from the GFA.

''I am coming to Ghana soon to be close to my charity (UNICEF) and to look after my family. You can understand that I will respect any invitation to discuss from the Ghana Federation and football people so for now officially nobody has contacted me''

So whilst Desailly has made his position somewhat clearer what about Le Roy?
The Frenchman is at pains to state exactly why he decided not to accept his contract extension by the GFA.

When asked by BBC Sport for his reasons he simply replied: "That's my problem.”
"It wasn't a problem of the terms of the new contract. I was very proud that they wanted to keep me," he added.
Le Roy's decision seems reasonable enough at a glance but there is every indication that the offer made by the GFA fell way below the 60-year-old Frenchman's expectations. He would have made things crystal clear simply by admitting that the money offered by the GFA was not good enough.

"I will see all the proposals that I receive and then I'll choose; it can be a club in Europe, it can be a national team in Asia, a national team in Africa, a club in Europe - maybe even in England," he explained to the BBC.

To be fair, the Frenchman has been powerless to stop the break up of what he described as ''a very good technical team'' Last week, Renard Herve, a member of the Stars technical team resigned his post to take up a coaching job with Zambia. Before him, long term Black Stars assistant Sellas Tetteh was given another coaching role with the junior team.

And have you noticed a strange silence from the rank and file of Ghana's faithful local coaches? There is a view that local coaches are not united enough to fight their cause.
Would anybody dare suggest that they are not good enough? What about the lack of respect syndrome that our professional players seem to have towards local coaches.......fact or myth?

This is how I see it. There is little doubt that money is both the primary method of control used by the GFA over coaches, as well as player attitudes towards Ghanaian coaches. It may sound absurd but believe me it is true.

So when Mr. Mourinho, Mr.Wenger or Mr.Desailly decides to drop, sack or discipline a player he will not be worried that he is getting the same or less cash than his player.

In football where 25% of the game is psyche it matters and moreso, in Africa where we seem to lack a basic love for our dear selves! source: joyfm

Akufo-Addo to Visit USA and Canada

VIBE GHANA — Fri, 09 May 2008 12:58:06 GMT

From May 29th to June 9th, the 2008 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ghana’s ruling political Party, will make a historic visit to five North American cities—Toronto, New York, Washington, D.C, Chicago and Los Angeles This will be Hon. Nana Akufo-Addo’s first tour of North America since he secured the Party’s nomination as its Flag Bearer on December 23, 2007 at the NPP Congress in Accra. As a founding member of the NPP, his slogan for the Party’s primary “Ye nim wo firi tete” (We have known you for a very long time) struck a cord with the voting delegates.

In addition to serving for eleven years as a Member of Ghana’s Parliament, Hon. Nana Akufo-Addo also served under Ghana’s current government for two years as Attorney-General and Minister of Justice and for four years as the Foreign Affairs Minister. He has played many leadership roles on the international stage; most recently as the Chairperson of the United Nations Security Council and Chairman of the Executive Council of the African Union.

Mr Kofi A. Boateng, the Chairman of NPP-USA describes the purpose of Hon. Nana Akufo-Addo’s trip as “ This is a golden moment for us to achieve two goals – expose the 2008 NPP Presidential Candidate to as many Ghanaians as possible who will in turn influence votes for NPP in Ghana; and raise the profile of NPP in the USA and Canada with regards to our ability to assist massively in all respects in the 2008 elections to ensure a resounding victory for NPP led by Nana Akufo- Addo”

Each of the cities Hon. Nana Akufo-Addo is scheduled to visit boasts a large population of Ghanaians. In response to the high level of excitement and anticipation, numerous public activities have been scheduled which will enable Ghanaians to meet and interact with the 2008 NPP Presidential Candidate.

TORONTO

Contact: Chairman -MacDonald Agbenyo 416-720-4104

DATE: Thurs., May 29th
TIME: 8.30 – 10.30 pm
EVENT: Community Welcome Forum Ghana Presby. Church,
VENUE: Hwy 400/ Finch Ave. Toronto, Canada

DATE: Fri., May 30th
TIME: 8.30 –10.30 am
EVENT: Meet-and-Greet Breakfast
VENUE: Days Inn 1677 Wilson Avenue Toronto, Canada

DATE: Fri. May 30th
TIME: 8.30pm –midnight
EVENT: Community Event
VENUE: Days Inn 1677 Wilson Avenue Toronto

NEW YORK

Contact: Deputy Chairman - Ben Kwasi Afrifa
646-302-4667

DATE: Sat., May 31st
TIME: 8.00 pm – 1.00 am
EVENT: Community Event
VENUE: Hotel Pennsylvania 401 7th Ave. (@ 34th Ave, Opp. Madison Square Garden New York, New York

DATE:Sun., June 1st
TIME: 12.00pm – 3.00pm
EVENT: Meeting with NPP members
VENUE: Call contact for details

DATE: Sun., June 1st
TIME: 5.00pm – 9.00pm
EVENT: Special Event
VENUE: Call contact for details

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Contact: Deputy Chairman -Nana Nti Yeboah
703-867-1915

DATE: Tues., June 3rd
TIME: 6.00pm – 11.00pm
EVENT: Special Dinner
VENUE: Call contact for details

DATE: Wed., June 4th
TIME: 6.00pm –9.00pm
EVENT: Community Forum
VENUE: Comfort Inn 6560 Loisdale Court Springfield, Virginia

CHICAGO

Contact: Chairman - Kofi Amoabin
630-805-4028

DATE: Thurs., June 5th
TIME: 6.00pm to 9.00pm
EVENT: Special Reception
VENUE: Call contact for details

DATE: Fri., June 6th
TIME: 12.00 pm –2.00 pm
EVENT: Special Luncheon
VENUE: Call contact for details

DATE: Fri., June 6th
TIME: 7.00 pm –10.00pm
EVENT: Community Forum
VENUE: Four Point Sheraton 7353 S. Cicero Ave., Chicago, Illinois

DATE: Fri., June 6th
TIME: 10.00 pm –2.00 am
EVENT: Dance
VENUE: Bolingbrook Golf Course 2001 Rodeo Drive Bolingbrook, Illinois

LOS ANGELES

Contact: Chairman -William Assibey
562-889-6613

DATE: Sat. June 7th
TIME: 8.00 pm – Midnight
EVENT: Community Event
VENUE: Hilton, Los Angeles Airport 5711 W. Century Blvd. Los Angeles, California

DATE: Sun., June 8th
TIME: 2.00 pm –5.00pm
EVENT: Special Luncheon
VENUE: Call contact for details

DATE: Mon., June 9th
TIME: 12.00 pm –3.00 pm
EVENT: Special Luncheon
VENUE: Call contact for details

Fake doctor exposed

VIBE GHANA — Fri, 09 May 2008 06:13:00 GMT

A 28-year-old man, Michael Quansah, has been arrested by officials of the Ghana Medical and Dental Council (GMDC) for allegedly holding himself out as a medical doctor and defrauding people of huge sums of money.

Quansah is also said to have, through his false pretences travelled to Italy to address a conferences on the topic: "Advancement of Medicine in Ghana in the 21st Century."

The Chief Investigator at the GMDC, Mr Ben Ameleke, told the Daily Graphic that in February this year, some victims of Quansah's fraudulent activities approached the council to report him.

He said the victims sent some of Quansah's complimentary cards, which presented him variously as an obstetrician and gynaecologist, as well as a general practitioner, at the Korle-Bu Teaching" Hospital.

He said the council checked its records but did not find Quansah's name in it and also cross-checked with the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and found that he had never been employed at the hospital.

Realising that the suspect was a threat to the public, Mr Ameleke said the council collaborated with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) and placed surveillance on him for some weeks.

He said Quansah was arrested last Monday when he went to the Dansoman Branch of ECOBANK to transact business.

During interrogation he admitted being a fake doctor.

Mr Ameleke said during a search, 11 different complimentary cards with the logo of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) and the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital were found on him.

He said a fake University of Ghana Medical School (UGMS) identity card was also found on him.

Mr Ameleke said records available at the Accra Central Police Station indicated that last year Quansah was arrested at the UGMS Library posing as a medical officer and he was arraigned before the City Engineers Court.

He added that Quansah was convicted, cautioned and discharged.

Commenting on the arrest, the Registrar of the GMDC, Dr Eli Atikpui, said the council had noted with great concern the unprecedented increase in the number of individuals posing as medical and dental practitioners in the country.

He said it had, therefore, become necessary to conduct a head count of all practitioners in the country.

Dr Atikpui said a team had been constituted by the council to visit all health institutions, both public and private, to carry out the head count.

He urged the public to report anyone they suspected as not being a qualified doctor to the council for prompt action.

Source: Daily Graphic

NPP's Response To NDC

VIBE GHANA — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:35:52 GMT

NPP’S Initial Response To Statements Made By NDC At Campaign Launch

7th May, 2008:- Today, at the launch of the NDC Campaign, John Dramani Mahama, the running mate of Professor Mills, asked Ghanaians to reject a comparison of records of the NPP and the (P)NDC in government as a basis for deciding which party to vote for. The big question is this: why is the NDC running away from its own record of performance? The NDC is rejecting comparison because they know it will show clearly that the NPP is by far the better choice.

Today, the party that former PNDC Chairman Jerry John Rawlings conceived and created in his own image, the National Democratic Congress, carried out the most impressive exercise in political cosmetics ever witnessed in our history. They asserted their ‘newness’ without saying anything new or different.

Ahead of this exercise, the NDC spokespersons worked hard to create the impression that the NDC is no longer the party of its Founder, Rawlings. That assertion flies in the face of the NDC Constitution that asserts that the NDC is founded on the values and principles of President Rawlings. We wish the party well in its ultimately futile struggle to free itself from the clutches of Mr Rawlings, who will forever embody that party. It is ironic that this meeting designed to demonstrate unity in the ranks of the NDC was missed by the party’s founder, former President Rawlings. We are all well aware that this continues the charade of Prof Mills standing up to former President Rawlings.

They introduced their Vice-Presidential nominee, John Mahama. We have previously congratulated Honourable John Mahama and welcomed him to the debate about the great issues confronting our country. He certainly has been greeted by his party with a level of enthusiasm normally reserved for the Presidential candidate. While some in his party, like the former first lady, Mrs Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings have concerns about his decisiveness as a leader, we shall focus, in this campaign, on his public roles as a Member of Parliament, Minister and member, together with Professor John Atta Mills, of our Economic Management team. Professor Mills and John Mahama were in charge when the NDC mismanaged our economy from 1997 to 2001. No amount of new packaging will change that old fact. Not even John Mahama’s claim that this period showed Prof Mills’ “sheer brilliance in finding imaginative solutions” can hide their collective incompetence and failure. In effect, he was promising Ghanaians more of the same if they were to return to power.

While, we accept that in nominal terms Ghana contracted a total international loan stock of US$10.004 billion between 1960 and 2000, the (P)NDC should also accept that US$8.108 billion of this was contracted under their rule; not to mention the amount of grants and receipts from divestiture of state-owned enterprises, including Ashanti Goldfieds.

Loans are as good as the use to which you put them to. In 2007 alone, the NPP government contracted US1.4 billion. US$750 million of this was from the international money market and US On their change in themes, it appears that the NDC is talking about newness while standing immovably by their old record of economic mismanagement and human rights abuses. They touted their left-of-centre credentials even while defending their vote against the National Health Insurance Scheme that stands between more than 9 million Ghanaians and the uncertainties of the“ CASH AND CARRY” system the NPP inherited. We were for NHIS because we are a compassionate party and they were against it because of political opportunism. Changing from “ I CARE FOR YOU” to something else will not add one more person to the rolls of the NHIS or help one more child to benefit from the SCHOOL FEEDING programme. Today Prof Mills accuses us of the politics of polarisation and of using power as a hammer when in fact; the (P) NDC has been the most polarising and vindictive administration in our history.

It was under the (P) NDC that the three judges of the High court and a retired Major were murdered and many journalists were jailed.

They promised to offer the right kind of leadership yet they failed this country with the same leadership they have repackaged and are offering to Ghanaians under the guise of newness.

They pledged to get to the bottom of chieftaincy disputes and conflicts and find lasting solutions when all they did was exacerbate these conflicts in their twenty years in government .

The party of Ms Cotton, SCANCEM and Gulfstream wondered what happened to “ zero-tolerance” when there have been the public procurement and financial management laws together with unprecedented timely, public hearings by the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament under the NPP.

They pledged themselves to a CLEAN CAMPAIGN OF ISSUES even while their trashy tabloids engage in the politics of rumours and personal destruction. It would seem the old P)NDC habits of promising Ghanaians one thing while doing something else is still alive and well.

They cannot call for a clean campaign while engaged in dirty campaigning. Let their deeds match their fine words.

They reject comparison of records in government and equate that to mediocrity while offering no basis for the people of Ghana to pick the best option available to them. If the people cannot compare the records of our two parties in government, our vision and the competence of our leaders, what can they compare? They fear this comparison because it will expose their incompetence for all to see.

In short instead of holding themselves accountable for their deeds and misdeeds, they are asking the people of Ghana and God for forgiveness while insisting that they have no need to show remorse and repentance.

It takes breathtaking audacity to present the NDC to Ghanaians as “new” even while touting the same old discredited policies and personalities of yesteryears. The apketeshie bottle may be new but it still contains the same old hard and harsh liquor.

In a direct contradiction to the image of newness the NDC is trying to project, they ended on the theme of “ SANKOFA”, urging Ghanaians to go BACK to the NDC.

As a nation, we need to go forward, not sideways or backwards. Ye ko yenim!! Finally, while looking forward to an exciting campaign, we believe that whether they are led by John Rawlings the founder, John Mills the follower or John Mahama the saviour, their value is the same. The people of Ghana know a new party when they see it. This is no new party.

JAKE OTANKA OBETSEBI-LAMPTEY (CHAIR, NPP 2008 CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE)

GFA abrogates Le Roy contract

VIBE GHANA — Thu, 08 May 2008 13:27:45 GMT

Claude Le Roy will end his two-year spell with the Black Stars on May 30 following the Ghana Football Association’s decision to abrogate the Frenchman’s contract.

A media statement was released by the Ghana Football Association today.

The decision means the Le Roy would complete his job with Ghana, a month before the stipulated date, June 30.

Claude Le Roy was named head coach of the senior national team, Black Stars in September 2006 after a the Football Association’s nine-member search committee set up to scout for a new coach settled on the 60 year-old.

From a tall list of 54 coaches who applied for the job, three applicants were short listed - Cecil Jones Attuquayefio, Claude Le Roy and Phillippe Troussier. Le Roy, a former Nations Cup winner with Cameroon in 1988 came up tops ahead of the two.

His first game for the Black Stars came on October 4 when he lead the team to play two international friendly games in four days in Asia against Japan and later with South Korea on October 8.

Claude Le Roy guided Ghana to bronze at the 2008 African Nations Cup and is also closing in on a place in the finals of the maiden African Nations Championship, a competition designed by CAF for players who play in the domestic leagues of its member associations.

Full text of the FA’s statement :

ABROGATION OF CONTRACT BETWEEN THE GHANA FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION AND MR CLAUDE LE ROY

The Ghana Football Association has agreed to abrogate its contract with Mr. Claude Le Roy on 30th May 2008 instead of 30th June 2008.

Mr Le Roy cited personal reasons for his decision not to extend his contract for a further two years.

The GFA would announce soon a replacement for Mr. Le Roy to prepare the Black Stars for the World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualifying matches. source: GFA

Rawlings’ threats forced me out

VIBE GHANA — Thu, 08 May 2008 02:35:56 GMT

A video recording of former President Jerry John Rawlings’s attack on the personality of Mr Richmond Aggrey, a businessman who has sued Scancom Limited, operators of MTN, over a shareholding dispute, was on Wednesday played at the Commercial Court in Accra.

In the recording, former President Rawlings accused Dr Aggrey of going round the world cheating people and had committed similar offences in Nigeria and was being sought for by that country's authorities.

This revelation came up when Dr Aggrey, who was continuing with his evidence-in-chief in the ongoing case, presented a recorded videotape of the 1999 Emancipation Day Celebrations to support his claim that Former President Rawlings was interfering in the affairs of the company.

Dr Aggrey said he had several calls from Mr Edward Salia, Minister of Communications, and members of the Lebanese community urging him to step down for the company to proceed because of his problem with the then Government.

He said even though most members of the Board of the company knew of his harassment they did not do anything to help.

He said though the company was awarded a certificate to roll out its products, all of a sudden it received letters from the National Communication Authority (NCA) for them to cede some of their frequencies to the Authority.

Dr Aggrey said because the former President's plan to get him out of the company was succeeding, members of the Board of the company decided that they must find a way to indicate that he (Dr Aggrey) was resigning in order to stop the Former President from interfering.

He said he was asked by the other shareholders to write his resignation letter with copies sent to his Lawyers and some leaked to the press to create the impression that he was leaving the company.

Asked by his Counsel, Mr Yonny Kulendi why they had to leak his resignation to the media, Dr Aggrey said this was to stop Former President Rawlings from interfering in the company, buy time as well as find respectable Ghanaians to talk to him.

Mr Felix Ntrakwah, Counsel for Investcom Consortium Holding, raised objection to the videotapes on the grounds that the Plaintiff only indicated that he was going to tender them in evidence and not to play them but the Court rejected his claim.

Dr Aggrey also said he did not want to leave the company because it was going to impair the company's ability to raise further money for its expansion.

Dr Aggrey has sued Scancom Limited, operators of Areeba Mobile Phone Service, now MTN, and Investcom Consortium Holdings S.A. of Beirut, Labanon, majority shareholders in Areeba as well as Grandview Management of Texas, United States, to claim 20 per cent share of the company.

The case was adjourned to May 15.

Source: GNA

NDC to Launch Campaign Thursday

VIBE GHANA — Thu, 08 May 2008 01:31:06 GMT

National Democratic Congress (NDC) party will officially launch its campaign today (Thursday) ahead of this year’s general elections. The opposition party says it is determined to win the elections after it unveils its manifesto that would dramatically transform the country and help what the party describes as the suffering masses. The NDC also dismissed as without merit speculations that its presidential candidate, John Atta-Mills, is fatally flawed and incapable of winning the general elections. Atta-Mills who is the country’s former vice president, has been accused by his critics for not being his own man after reportedly saying that if elected he would consult former President Jerry Rawlings on national issues.

Anna Tetteh is the communications director of the NDC. She tells reporter Peter Clottey from the capital, Accra that the opposition party is set to win this year’s general elections.

“The important thing is that we want to communicate to Ghanaians in very simple terms what we stand for as a party, and what we consider to be our priorities if we are going to be elected into government. And we want to create the opportunity where there is prosperity for all, and where there are real opportunities for all. And we think we will do that by investing in people, creating jobs and growing the economy. And so what we are going to do today is to explain our major theme for this election of how we want to create a Ghana in which we have opportunities for all. Where people if you like can live out the Ghanaian dream,” Tetteh pointed out.

She said the opposition NDC party would explain further how its ambitious plan could be realized.

“We think the way to do that is to make sure that where the state makes investments, we should do so in such a way that it will create employment opportunities, and we should grow our economy because we need to move out of this developing country third world status, and move into a middle income country status. And those are our goals as a government if the people of Ghana give us the mandate to rule,” She said.

Tetteh said although the NDC message did not resonate well with voters in previous elections, the party intends to embark on a different strategy that would change its fortunes in the general elections.

“The year 2000 election was a watershed election, and I think what happened was Ghanaians wanted change, and we as the NDC were not able to communicate that Professor Mills was the change that they were looking for. In 2004, what you heard everywhere was well lets give (President) Kufuor another term because he hasn’t finished and probably he has more to offer. In this election, what we are doing is that we are evaluating eight years of an NPP (ruling New Patriotic Party) government. And we have the opportunity to ask Ghanaians, you’ve had a president for two terms and we think that you can now make informed choices; this is what we are and this is what we stand for and we want you to have another look at us and decide whether you think you want another four more years of the same or whether you want to move on to better things,” Tetteh said.

She said the NDC aims to transformed the society to better the lives of ordinary Ghanaians.

“For us, it’s about thinking through real policy choices that would deliver a better Ghana to Ghanaians after we are elected into office. Unfortunately, in this part of the world people are becoming quite disillusioned with politicians because they think that we make promises in an effort to get elected, and after we get elected we forget about those promises,” she noted.

Tetteh said the party would make achievable promises to Ghanaians.

“After having been in opposition for almost eight years, we know the importance of keeping our promises and of making sure that we make the kind of commitments that we believe are deliverable so that we can rebuild the confidence and trust of the Ghanaian public in politicians because I do not think that politics, and I think, most people who are involved in politics in the NDC do not believe that politics is just a mere past time. We think it’s a very serious business and it is about delivering good governance for the benefit of the many,” Tetteh pointed out.
source: voa

NYU Medical Student Helps Create Africa's first Medical Network in Ghana

VIBE GHANA — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:28:48 GMT

Linking physicians to a single network has profound implications for a country’s health care system. With that in mind, Brian Levine, a fourth year medical student at the New York University school of medicine, decided to set up an online social networking site so doctors all over Ghana could collaborate with each other.

The network would also be available to physicians in New York who were treating West African patients. But when Levine arrived in Ghana, he found that the necessary technological infrastructure did not exist and he could not set up such a site. He says the biggest problem was a lack of access “to computers and the Internet…..” During his initial visits to local clinics, Levine realized that most doctors did not have a computer.

He set out to seek a more widely used technology and his next option made more sense -- cell phones. He says statistics show that more than 80 million Africans use cell phones and their proliferation even in rural areas makes them the most accessible technology available. So he sought out a cell phone provider in Ghana to create a cell phone network. ”I realized that for it to be successful, it had to be either cheap or free,” he says.

He approached the management of Ghana Telecom, which owns One-Touch Mobile. “We [agreed] that the only way to achieve this was to remove the barrier of cost,” Levine says. All registered doctors would be given access to the new network, known as “Medicare Line,” on which they would make free phone calls to each other.

He also worked with the Ghana Medical Association to coordinate with the more than 2000 doctors who are members. They all received the “one touch chip,” which they can use in their cell phone handsets each time they call another doctor.

Levine says the project has been very successful, with over a million phone calls made on the free network so far. Doctors are using it for referrals and consultations among themselves. Also, doctors in working in rural areas are able to keep up with their colleagues in cities. Levine says if there is a level of satisfaction among medical practitioners, fewer doctors will leave their profession “and there will be less brain drain in Africa.”

The network also supports text messaging, and the Ghana medical association can send out announcements to its members. “If a disaster like an epidemic strikes, the association can communicate for a quick response,” Levine says – and adds that this feature is the first of its kind anywhere in the world.

He says the idea can be replicated in other parts of Africa where there is a cell phone company “that has a social agenda as part of its corporate goals.”

Levine hopes to expand the project to include neighboring countries. He says it will lead to an improved health care system in a country with only 2000 doctors for a population of 22 million.

In a few months he begins his residency in the United States, where he will use the same network to monitor HIV compliance. source: voa

Mariah confirms marriage to actor

VIBE GHANA — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:10:49 GMT

Singer Mariah Carey has confirmed in a US magazine interview that she tied the knot with actor Nick Cannon.

"We really do feel we are soul mates - I never felt a love like this was in the cards for me," the 38-year-old told People magazine.

Carey confirmed the pair married on 30 April in the Bahamas following a whirlwind two-month romance.

The pop diva met Cannon, 27, while shooting the music video for her single Bye Bye.

"It was a love-at-first-sight thing. Since we've been together, we've been inseparable," Cannon told the magazine.

According to People, Cannon had proposed to the singer on the rooftop of her New York apartment building just five days before their wedding.

'Mrs Cannon'

The singer dismissed reports their marriage was as last minute as reported: "One thing [few people] knew was we got tattoos a few weeks earlier. So anyone who saw my tattoo wasn't surprised," she said.

Talk show host Oprah Winfrey also revealed on a recent programme that Carey had showed her a tattoo on her back that said "Mrs Cannon".

At the ceremony, the groom wore a white suit by designer Balenciaga, while Carey wore an off-white dress by Nile Cmylo and Christian Louboutin shoes.

"I can wear high heels with Nick because he's tall. Flats are not in my repertoire," said Carey.

The pop star and Cannon were seen together at the premiere of her film Tennessee at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York last weekend, with the singer sporting a diamond ring.

It is the second marriage for Carey, who married Columbia Records executive Tommy Mottola in 1993, which ended in 1998.

Source:BBC

IBA: Zimbabwe's Mugabe Should be Investigated for Human Rights Crimes

VIBE GHANA — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:17:58 GMT

The International Bar Association says that the U.N. Security Council should ask the International Criminal Court to investigate Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe for crimes against humanity.

International Bar Association Executive Director Mark Ellis says he has been calling for an investigation of Mr. Mugabe by the International Criminal Court for four years.

"During the past four years the atrocities that have been committed against Zimbabwean citizens have increased dramatically and so there is even more of a reason for an investigation to be started today," he said.

Ellis tells VOA that under international law, crimes against humanity are those carried out as an element of a systematic and widespread attack against a civilian population and include killings, rape, torture, displacement and the abuse of food, housing and medical care to punish opponents of a government.

He says that this is what has been happening in Zimbabwe.

"So all of these acts have been committed, I think it is quite clear that these acts have been committed," he said. "There is evidence to suggest that this has been going on for a number of years and Mr. Mugabe, at a minimum, is complicit in these acts because he is the head of state."

Zimbabwe is not a signatory to the so-called Rome Statute, the enabling international law that brought the Court into being. Consequently, the only way an investigation can be launched by the court, is for the Security Council to request it.

The International Bar Association was founded in 1947 and has 30,000 member lawyers that represent 200 bar associations and law societies from across the globe. It has conducted a number of programs to promote the rule of law and support lawyers in Zimbabwe.

Ellis was prompted to make his latest call following recent widespread violence in Zimbabwe that independent rights organizations say is being perpetrated by the ruling ZANU-PF with the support of the security forces. Those being targeted say they are suspected of voting for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change in March elections.

Mr. Mugabe rejects the allegations.

The Security Council has not asked the ICC to investigate charges against Mr. Mugabe and his government, but Ellis says members took an important first step when it added Zimbabwe to the council agenda.

Ellis says this sends a message to Zimbabweans that the international community recognizes their suffering.

Last month Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu urged Mr. Mugabe to step aside, saying it would give him an opportunity to leave office with some dignity intact and perhaps prevent international legal steps against him.
source: voa

I’m Next President - Akufo-Addo

VIBE GHANA — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:50:50 GMT

NANA ADDO Dankwa Akufo-Addo, New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate, has expressed optimism about retaining power for the ruling party.

He said from the unparalleled performance of the NPP government for the past seven years, Ghanaians would undoubtedly vote for him as next president in the December 7, 2008 general elections.

He advised the electorate not to give the National Democratic Congress (NDC) the chance to come back to power, or else they would destroy the good policies and sound economic foundations laid by the NPP.

The presidential hopeful mentioned the Capitation Grant, National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP), School Feeding Programme and the numerous infrastructural projects which had been implemented by the ruling government.

“There are more to be accomplished and I believe the electorate will give me the chance to continue from where President Kufuor will leave off; and I will ensure that the School Feeding Programme attains a hundred percent coverage of all school children in Ghana.”

Nana made these known at Enchi as part of his four-day campaign visit to the Western Region, which started on Monday.

He was accompanied by party gurus including former presidential aspirants.

Nana Addo mentioned that Ghana’s oil find was made possible by the good planning and sound policies of the ruling government, and made it clear that revenue accrued from the oil production would be judiciously used to develop the country, with particular focus on improving the standard of living of rural dwellers.

He thanked the people of Aowin constituency for electing an NPP Member of Parliament in 2004 in the person of Hon. Adu Gyamfi, and prevailed upon them to give the sitting MP the mandate for the second time on December 7.

Nana Akufo-Addo asked the people to be wary of politicians who were peddling lies about the NPP, adding that those politicians who misinformed Ghanaians that the NPP was going to deport aliens from the country during the 2004 elections had started their dirty game again.

He personally donated GH¢1,000 to the recent flood victims of Enchi, though the government, other agencies and philanthropists had gone to their aid.

Hon. Yaw Osafo Maafo, Member of Parliament for Oda and member of the campaign team, intimated that Nana Akufo-Addo was an experienced politician who had been championing freedom of speech in Ghana since 1979, and called on the people to vote massively for him in the presidential polls.

He noted that it was not surprising that Nana Akufo-Addo had emerged winner of the December 22, 2007 national congress of the NPP, and that all the defeated presidential aspirants were rallying behind him for a landside in the general elections.

The Western Regional Minister, Anthony Evans Amoah said the ruling government was the only one that had shown the greatest love to the people of Aowin, in that it had started the reconstruction of the 56-kilometre Asankragwa-Enchi road.

“Remember that all previous governments had over the years been promising to do the road, but failed. It is only the NPP government which had gone by its promise and the road, costing ¢155 billion, is in progress,” he stressed.

Hon Amoah added that Aquai-Allah, Suzan, Ankontombra Nkwanta and Adwon, all villages around Enchi, would be connected to the national grid before the end of the year.

Boakye Agyarko, a former presidential aspirant, indicated that victory was a foregone conclusion for Nana Akufo-Addo in the upcoming general elections, and advised the party’s foot-soldiers to work hard to win over most of the supporters of the NDC.

Meanwhile, there was an accident involving Stephen Ntim’s Land Cruiser with registration number GT 7479 W when it hit the rear of that of Mr. Mustapha Abdul Hamid, spokesperson of Nana Akufo-Addo.

This happened when Nana Akufo-Addo’s convoy was on the Sambreboi-Asankragwa road to other parts of the country.

Nobody was hurt, but the bonnet of Mr. Ntim’s car was dented and had been sent to the mechanical shop at Sambreboi for repairs. source: Daily Guide

Black Stars still Africa's best team

VIBE GHANA — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:21:07 GMT

Ghana maintains its position as Africa’s best football nation as the Black Stars for the fourth-month running remain at the top of the continent’s ranking table.

The May rankings released today by the sport governing body, FIFA, has Ghana clinging onto the 14th position held in April on the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking after picking up some four points from the previous month.

According to FIFA, All six confederations also have the same leading team as last month, with Argentina (1st), Italy (3rd), Ghana (14th), Mexico (17th), Japan (37th) and New Zealand (78th) all continuing to hold that particular honour.

Ghana and Cameroon are the only African presence within the top 20 as European sides dominate.

The latest rankings took into account only 20 games and it still has Argentina leading the pack with Brazil and Italy following in that order.

On the African continent, Ghana sits comfortably at the top, five points more than Cameroon, who are in second. Ivory Coast, Egypt and Nigeria chase the leading two sides. source: GFA

Is Van Vicker Africa's Best Movie Actor ?

VIBE GHANA — Fri, 09 May 2008 13:52:02 GMT

Is Van Vicker Africa's Best Movie Actor ? Post Your Response

Who Killed Owusu Ansah?

VIBE GHANA — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:45:08 GMT

A number of film actors and producers that besieged the residence of the late Kwame Owusu Ansah are suspicious that the death of their colleague may be due to supernatural means. They were of the view that someone who hated the actor because of his achievements and fame might have killed him spiritually. Kwame’s Toyota Camry with registration number GT 4665Z ran straight under a packed cargo truck with registration number AS 3246W on Thursday night and in the process he suffered multiple head and waist injuries.

The ace actor died at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital the following day while doctors were trying to save his life. The police said they were still investigating the circumstances leading to the accident.

BEATWAVES’ investigations revealed that the death of almost all prominent Ghanaian stars occurred only on Thursday nights through motor accidents.

Hiplife great, Terry Bonchaka died through a motor accident on the Legon road on October 31, 2003. Top Ghanaian actress, Suzzie Williams also died on Thursday September 8, 2005 on the La Beach road when her car was involved in an accident.

Recently an upcoming film actor also died through an accident at the Darkuma Junction in Accra. Best Supporting Actress for TV Series (2007), Dzifa Agbetepey, who survived a serious accident on the Aflao road a couple of months ago, told BEATWAVES that with the way her colleagues in the industry were dying through accidents, she was suspicious that something was wrong somewhere.

“So many people are fighting us spiritually, trying to bring us down. I do not have spiritual eyes to see what is happening in the spiritual realm, but I suspect Kwame did not die a natural death”.

Dzifa, who had broken down in uncontrollable tears when news of Kwame’s death got to her, stated that the incident was a big blow to the Ghanaian film industry.

Harry Laud, a popular film producer who did a lot of work with Kwame, when asked whether he suspected foul play, told BEATWAVES: “I do not want to pass any comment. I am not a prophet to comment on his death whether it was natural or spiritual.”

Harry Laud said Kwame was his close friend and they had done a lot of productions together and travelled on business trips together, adding that his absence would affect the film industry in Ghana.

“Kwame was energetic and outspoken and at the mention of his name one would see smiles on the faces of many people.

The aspirations of Kwame were perhaps more than one was anticipating as he hoped to reach the top of the ladder”.

The media relations officer for the funeral committee, Foster Baffoe disclosed that due to the ban on drumming by the Ga Traditional Council, the funeral of the late Kwame Owusu Ansah would take place early next month.

According to him the dates for the burial and funeral ceremonies would be announced soon. source: Daily Guide

AngloGold Raises $1.6bn

VIBE GHANA — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:45:09 GMT

AngloGold Ashanti Ltd, the world's third biggest gold producer, posted a jump in earnings and said it plans to raise around 11.9 billion rand ($1.6 billion) through a rights offer of new stock.

In a statement yesterday, the company posted 37 U.S. cents in first-quarter adjusted headline earnings per share versus 6 U.S. cents, reflecting accounting adjustments and a higher gold price, even as output fell on a power crunch.

Adjusted headline earnings for the quarter were $105 million, compared with $18 million in the previous quarter, which was distorted due to annual accounting adjustments, the company said on Tuesday.

AngloGold also said it would seek an estimated 11.9 billion rand through rights offer to improve its financial position.

The mining group noted that it would issue about 69.4 million shares and use the proceeds to restructure and reduce its hedge position and to fund development and exploration projects.

Production for the quarter to end-March reached 1.2 million ounces, 9 percent higher than a forecast issued in Feb. 2008.

Total cash costs came in at $430/oz, significantly below guidance, but 6 percent higher than the previous quarter following reduced production due to the power shortage.

South Africa's mines were hit by a power blackout as the electricity grid came to a near collapse, forcing their operations to cease for five days in January and thereafter to resume at below capacity.

Power utility Eskom increased power supply to AngloGold to 96.5 percent from 90 percent in late March 2008.

Subject to the power stability and availability at 96.5 percent level, 2008 output is expected to rise to a range of 4.9 million ounces to 5.1 million ounces.

This compares to prior guidance of 4.8 million ounces to 5 million ounces.

AngloGold also cut its hedge book, one of the biggest among its peers during the quarter. Its net delta hedge reduced by 1.13 million ounces to 9.26 million. source: Daily Guide

I Gave over 1000 Pastors Power to perform miracles - JuJu Man

VIBE GHANA — Wed, 07 May 2008 17:40:26 GMT

THE DREADED fetish Priest Nana Kwaku Bonsam has claimed that he has given over 1,000 Men of God in Ghana the power to perform miracles.

Furthermore, the fetish priest maintained that he has accepted a challenge from one of his critics who had dared him in a battle of supernatural powers.

Nana Kwaku Bonsam told DAILY GUIDE last Monday at his shrine at Sa-Peiman, a village on the outskirts of Nsawam in the Eastern Region, that his god is called ‘Kofi-Kofi’, from whom he sources powers for the pastors who come to him and are ready to pay for his services.

The fetish priest said for the past six years he has kept a low profile and not blown the cover of the pastors, but is ready to expose them now because the very pastors who had come to him for powers have started condemning him in public, with some even daring to challenge him.

When DAILY GUIDE got to Kwaku Bonsam’s shrine, hundreds of people had gathered there to secure his services. Judging by their appearance and the type of ‘posh’ cars they had parked at the premises, some were obviously in lucrative businesses.

Others appeared to be middle-class market women and young men who are eager to make it in life. The rule is that one could only enter the shrine barefooted and without a phone or a wrist watch.

The fetish priest is by no means a poor man, as anyone who enters his shrine for consultation pays an amount of GH¢10 aside the cost of the rituals.

As part of his rituals, the priest hangs a cat alive and slaughters several fowls, a white dove, pigeons and goats and then spills the blood on his god.

The inner shrine is parked with several other gods and also has many cartons of talcum powder, Holy Bibles, razor-sharp machetes hung around the room, a riffle, golden rings, money, padlocks, calabashes and many other items which were veiled.

DAILY GUIDE (DG): Who is Nana Kwaku Bonsam?

KWAKU BONSAM (K: That is my name and as you can see, I am an Ashanti fetish priest; a powerful one of course, and I use my powers to heal the sick, help people who want to travel abroad, help traders get better sales, protect people from fraudsters, dis-empower witches and wizards or help people who have one problem or the other.

And I am well-known for the wonders I perform in this country so I receive people from all parts of the country and even people from other countries.

DG: What type of ailments do you cure?

KB: Oh, I have cured and continue to cure sicknesses like lunacy, barrenness, stroke, epilepsy and any other disease you can think of, except leprosy. I have not done that before.

DG: That sounds good, but why the name “Bonsam”; it connotes something evil.

KB: I got that name due to the wonders I perform. I once took my gods, ‘Kofi-Kofi’ and ‘Chacha’ to the palace of the chief of Techiman and I was able to conjure money, a gold watch, handkerchief and other things there and that was so wonderful that the chief of Techiman, Nana Ekumfi Ameyaw IV said since I was called Kwaku and every Kwaku has ‘Bonsam’ as his nickname I must be a real Kwaku Bonsam to have performed the kind of things I did and that was it - the name just stuck.

At the palace, I was able to plant cocoa seeds and they germinated on that same day; I planted a mango seed and it germinated the same day and I killed a house-fly, resurrected it and made it fly round for all to see.

I also conjured a ‘Kente’ and a pair of royal sandals. So it is not that I kill people or I destroy things; rather I stand for good things.

DG: For how long have you been doing this?

KB: I am in my fifth year, nearing my sixth year, and I did not learn my skills or beg for it from anybody.

DG: How did you come by it?

KB: I was working at a gas station and there was this time someone was sick and I had to send him to the hospital though I did not know him.
After he was treated the man gave me his address and asked me to visit him later. I followed the address and it took me to the North, way after Navrongo.

I finally got to him at a village and after a brief stay, he gave me something and said what he was giving me would send my name very far and no one can bring me to shame in my entire lifetime and that my children would inherit the blessings of what he was giving me.

At that time I did not know what it was and I was a little disappointed because I thought he was going to give me some money for the help I gave him; rather he gave me a deity.

The next day I threw it away but it came back to me and that made me a little scared. I then threw it in a manhole but the manhole exploded and it came back to me again.

Then there was this time I went to witness a fetish dance and I got possessed and started to perform wonders for the first time.

DG: What exactly were the wonders?

KB: Anything I touched turned into money and I even stood on a fresh egg, which did not break. After that incident a lot of other deities appeared in my room on their own. So it was not as if I went to buy my powers and idols. They came on their own.

DG: Is it true some pastors come to you for powers?

KB: Yes it is true. I give powers to perform miracles to a lot of pastors. Currently I have over one thousand seven hundred and something pastors; I might need to look into my register for the figure.

DG: How do you give the powers to them?

KB: When they come to me I give golden rings to some of them after taking them through a ritual bath. I give them the ring and a Bible and the power I want them to get is what I put in the ring.

I give some the power to heal, others to see into the future and or the past, or do anything I want them to do. It helps their churches get more members who always want to see signs and wonders.

DG: Some Pastors have taken you on and dared you to mention the names of which pastors come to you. Rev. Ebenezer Adarkwa-Yiadom had even dared you to an open challenge of supernatural powers on the 15th of this month.

KB: I want to tell that Pastor in plain language that I Nana Kwaku Bonsam has not challenged any Man of God.

I am only against those false pastors who have come to me for powers and yet are not keeping their mouth shut but rather making provocative statements against me.

I am also against those who have gone for powers from other shrines yet preach against us and do not abide by our rules.

I heard Rev. Yiadom in the media saying I have gone to buy a god from somewhere and I have no powers and I should name those who come to me and all that.

This whole problem started when Pastor Collins Agyei Yeboah, that pastor from Vision Charismatic Chapel at Kato (near Berekum in the Brong Ahafo region) came for miracle powers from me and was misbehaving to an extent that my gods asked me to go and collect the power else I would pay with my life.

This was what annoyed the pastors in town and they started attacking me. Well, at least that is one clear example of a Man of God who has come to me for powers.

If my gods had not asked me to go and take back my powers I would not have spoken out because it was supposed to have been a secret.

DG: And what about the challenge?

KB: I think he is the one calling for the challenge to see what I have got. I am the defender of the title so I would determine the venue.

I want the whole world to hear me loud and clear that I proudly accept to challenge Rev. Yiadom or any other pastor but I want to do that at the forecourt of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) on the Ringway in Accra. I can kill a house-fly and bring it back to life.

I can conjure money from nowhere. I can plant a palm tree and make it grow that same day. I can pull the edge of a sharpened cutlass on my throat without it cutting me. And I can heal a lot of sicknesses.

I hear he can open the eyes of the blind so I have gone to see the authorities of the School for the Blind at Akropong in the Eastern region that I need two busloads of blind people.

I am also arranging for two busloads of the deaf and dumb plus a busload of cripples.

I want to meet that pastor and his group at the GBC forecourt for us to see who is who. Anytime he is ready I would face him live and colored, else he is not the pastor he claims to be. He threw the challenge and I have accepted it.

When we meet and I fail to do my wonders, then I should be called a liar. I would also laugh at him if he fails to do his part.

DG: Are you challenging God?

KB: No. It is not God I am challenging but this is a pastor challenging a fetish priest and I want to show him the other side of the world. I have not attacked these pastors but they are always insulting me on radio instead of preaching the word of God.

Put me on record that I am ready to face that pastor and some other pastors they call Computer man and Kum-Cha-Cha.

They should open the eyes of the blind on that day or shut up. My god ‘Kofi oooo Kofi’ says he is ready to face them before the television cameras. I would not allow them to bring anybody from somewhere to come and play some tricks on Ghanaians.

They should combine to pray for fire to drop from heaven to consume me; but if they are not able to stop me from doing the wonders I have always done, then they should burn their Bibles because they cannot use the powers in it.

DG: Are you daring all pastors?

KB: There are some few good pastors in town; Dr. Mensah Otabil is one and he has never insulted me. Madam Modicia Adomako, a pastor in Kumasi, Bishop Agyin Asare and Archbishop Duncan Williams are all good pastors.

The orthodox pastors are not insulting me but it is these ‘two-by-four’ pastors who are creating the problems. The anointed pastors are rather not talking or challenging me.

It is these false pastors who want publicity that are attacking me in the media and I am now ready to face them once and for all.

DG: What does a fetish priest know about false pastors?

KB: Why do they come to me all the time? Listen to how they preach in their churches and mention the names of their church members who have AIDS as if it is not an embarrassing disease and should be kept confidential. Such pastors preach with much arrogance and are not humble.

Why are they riding in a lot of cars when their church members are hungry? The Bible itself says we should all bring our belongings, sell and share with the poor and needy.

The necklace on the necks of some of them is longer than that on a burger who just returned from Holland. You might be too young to know what a ‘Burger Kuperlee’ is.

Some of them are using the church for fashion parade and sell their anointing oils at very high prices - some as high as five hundred thousand cedis.

Was that not why Jesus beat up the gamblers in the temple? Some pastors today are virtually being worshipped by their church members, when Jesus himself was a humble person; yet they turn round to insult Kwaku Bonsam.
Let them preach the gospel and leave me alone.

DG: I am surprised you are computer literate and you have two laptop computers.

KB: Why? Look here, I have four Laptops and not two; I use them to store data. I have been to school a little and I am still learning.

DG: What do you do with the Bibles in your shrine?

KB: I was not born a fetish priest. I was attending church when I got possessed and if I wanted to do what the others are doing I would have attached my fetish to my Bible and called myself Reverend Stephen Osei Mensah.

When I was in school my name was Stephen Osei Mensah. You cannot cheat me with the Bible; I study it a lot. If we had time we would have gone into some biblical doctrines. source: Daily Guide

R. Kelly's child Pornography Trial Begins

VIBE GHANA — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:36:42 GMT

Six years after R Kelly was slapped with child pornography charges over a homemade sex tape, the rhythm and blues superstar's long-delayed trial is set to begin on Friday.

The scandal over accusations that Kelly filmed himself having sex with a girl as young as 13 seems to have little impact on the Grammy-award winning artist's popularity.

The Chicago-based singer, songwriter and producer has pumped out an album a year since he was arrested in June 2002 and has collaborated with everyone from Celine Dion to Kid Rock.

"A hit record makes you forget about the bad stuff and he's had six years worth," said Dion Summers, director of urban programming for XM Satellite Radio.

"It's not that his fans don't recognise it or acknowledge it. It's almost as if they don't care."

That may change if prosecutors are able to convince a jury that the 26-minute videotape - which was leaked to the Chicago Sun Times and later appeared on the Internet - indeed shows Kelly, 41, engaged in a number of sex acts with a young girl.

Complicating the case is the fact that the alleged victim, now 23, refuses to admit she is the girl in the raunchy tape, even though her friends, family and teachers identified her to a grand jury.

"That's a tough river to have to cross for the prosecution," said Ronald Smith, a John Marshall Law School professor. "But it's not impossible."

Prosecutors are expected to introduce a woman who will testify that she engaged in three-way sex with Kelly and the alleged victim, and have also asked the judge to allow them to introduce what they say is evidence of the crooner's past crimes.

At least three other women have filed civil lawsuits alleging that Kelly had sex with them when they were under the legal age of consent. No criminal charges have resulted from the cases.

He was arrested in Florida in 2003 on child pornography charges after police found a camera with photographs allegedly showing Kelly having sex with an underage girl. Those charges were dropped after a judge ruled the camera was illegally seized.

Kelly was also briefly married to his protege Aaliyah, tying the knot with the teen idol in 1994 when she was just 15.

The marriage was annulled by her parents and the Brooklyn-born songstress and actress died in a plane crash in the Bahamas in 2001.

Kelly, who grew up in the projects or public housing estates on the South Side of Chicago, and scored a massive hit with his 1997 tune I Believe I Can Fly, has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

"R Kelly is looking forward to his day in court and he is confident that when all the evidence comes out, he will be shown not to have committed any crime," spokesperson Melissa Erickson said.

The long-awaited trial has faced a number of delays, including when Kelly suffered from a burst appendix, the judge broke his shoulder falling off a ladder and a lead prosecutor gave birth.

Kelly's lawyers have also filed more than 30 motions, including efforts to have the case tossed out on constitutional grounds and to prevent an expert from testifying that sex abuse victims often refuse to admit to the abuse.

Many of the documents are under seal and Judge Vincent Gaughan has imposed a gag order on all participants and imposed strict rules governing court proceedings.

When a fan snapped a photo of Kelly during a pre-trial hearing, Gaughan ordered her to spend five days in jail on contempt charges and had her cell phone destroyed.

However, the few files which are open to public scrutiny offer an inside peak into the star's life.

While Kelly was allowed to travel in the United States for work - appearing at awards shows and going on several tours - he was required to check in with pre-trial services every day that he was outside of Illinois.

He was occasionally admonished for failing to check in, and would often leave messages apologising if he forgot to call or when his tour bus broke down and he was late getting back to Chicago.

One note from April 30, 2003, reads: "Defendant is shooting video in desert about two hours from Los Angeles. All he can see is sand and helicopters."

Kelly faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted of 14 charges of child pornography.

Source:Tonight

'Africa is now opened to business'- Kufuor

VIBE GHANA — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:33:25 GMT

President John Agyekum Kufuor has encouraged the world's business giants to look more to Africa to support economic growth, create jobs and reduce poverty among its peoples. The Region is now opened to business and that the prospects of good returns on investments are high. "The next million dollar you want to make could come from Africa than anywhere else". President Kufuor said this at a gathering of Chief Executive Officers of some multinational companies, including Coca Cola, Microsoft, Diagao, SABMiller, Sumitomo and Vodafone at the Canary-Wharf, the financial district of London.

Also present at the meeting dubbed: "Business Call to Action" and jointly hosted by the United Kingdom (UK) Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are senior Government Ministers and high ranking representatives of the United Nations (UN). They are discussing concrete ideas for drawing on the power of businesses to help speed up progress on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in developing countries, particularly Africa. The MDGs, which range from halving extreme poverty to halving HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education by 2015 form a blueprint agreed on
by all countries and the world's development institutions.

There is however, growing anxiety that many African nations are off track in achieving the goals. Ghana and Rwanda are the only countries on the continent seen to be making strong showing at realising these goals.

President Kufuor said there are enormous opportunities for investment in the region, citing the raw material base and quality human resources and asked that it is time the multinationals shake themselves off whatever doubts they have about Africa. He said, under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), Ghana for example could export 6,400 duty free and quota-free commodities to the US market.

Added to this, are trade agreements with Europe, India, China and Japan, that had also opened their markets to Africa."We are waiting for you to come in", he said, while expressing concern about the low Foreign Direct Investment flow to the Continent.President Kufuor pointed out that, although the development partners have been generous with their Overseas Development Assistance (ODA), the dependence on this could not take Africans out of poverty.

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it is in the best interest of businesses to bring the poorest countries into the global economy and to create a globalisation that was all inclusive. "I am not talking about a moral imperative but about a strategic and economic one." He said there is the need to fully acknowledge the critical importance of the private sector in driving development-focusing its attention not on an old one-dimensional "welfarist approach" but on enterprise, on free and fair trade and open markets and on harnessing the power of innovation and the building blocks of growth.

Rwandan President Paul Kagame, said dignity and prosperity goes hand in hand and pledged that Africa would be a good partner.

The UNDP Administrator Kemal Dervis, said the "Business Call to Action" is not a one time event, but a commitment to speed up progress on the MDGs. source: GNA