Nana Aba Anamoah

I have been motivated to write this article due to the need to highlight a critical issue that has been missing in all media discussions: the issue of “PERSON BRANDS” and its relevance in specific industries.

This article will draw a parallel between Nana Aba Anamoah’s case and another case involving Fareed Zakaria.

Fareed Zakaria is a journalist at Time and CNN and holds a PhD from Harvard and a Bachelor’s from Yale. In August 2012, he was suspended for a week while Time and CNN investigated an allegation of plagiarism involving an August 20 column on gun control with similarities to a New Yorker article by Jill Lepore. Zakaria apologised and called it a mistake.

After a review of his research notes and years of his work, he was re-instated by Time and CNN.

Time described the incident as “isolated” and “unintentional”; and CNN “… found nothing that merited continuing the suspension….”

Note that Zakaria’s allegation related directly to his job for these media houses that have built their global brands on solid credibility.

Note some of the key words: “ISOLATED”, “UNINTENTIONAL”.

To effectively address this issue, we must understand that brands are context and industry-specific and that the role of “person” brands is more pronounced in certain industries. For example, in certain industries like media, fashion and entertainment the issue of person brands are more pronounced or powerful than say in the FMCG industry. For example someone might purchase Unilever’s product because they like the product but someone might tune into a particular media network just because they want to listen to a particular presenter or they have developed a certain level of affinity with the presenter.

Therefore in the media industry, there is a more pronounced individual brand which drives brand affection and affinity for both the corporate brand and the individual brand.

From a brand’s perspective, TV3’s approach is inappropriate in the sense that they smashed Nana Aba’s brand image and credibility to smithereens by ousting her out as dishonest with the use of very strong words like “online information THEFT” and then left her out to dry to become the subject of public ridicule. They also did not mention her many years of distinguished professional service to the station in the statement. Unless TV3 intends to dismiss her, that approach was not well thought through.

What happens if TV3 brings her back to represent them onscreen or even off screen? How do they cure the damage to her personal brand and reputation and its attendant effect on the corporate brand?

TV3 wanted to position itself as a serious and credible organisation that does not countenance any acts of unprofessionalism but did they necessarily have to damage Nana Aba’s brand in order to achieve that? Did they necessarily have to use those operative words in order to achieve that?

From a PR perspective, TV3 have also scored an own goal. In PR, timing and language are critical factors. You can practically say the same thing but use words more effectively to achieve a better effect.

If TV3 wanted to react, they should have released the statement much earlier to say that they were investigating a case of misrepresentation involving Nana Aba and that they would issue a statement after the investigation was completed and that the station would not countenance any activity that could have an adverse effect on the corporate brand. They didn’t do that.

However, they issued a statement at a time when the issue was almost dead and succeeded in resurrecting the issue full force. What’s worse is that they used words to practically demolish a “person brand” that’s intrinsically linked to the corporate brand.

Drawing a parallel from the Fareed Zakaria case, TIME magazine used the key words, UNINTENTIONAL and ISOLATED.

They did that because they recognised the many years of distinguished professional service and described the incident as ISOLATED. They also respected Fareed’s credibility and described his action as UNINTENTIONAL.

Assuming without admitting that it wasn’t a prank, it was still in the interest of TV3 to protect Nana Aba’s brand but still condemn any such acts that have the possibility of dragging the corporate brand into disrepute.

Such a phrase would have been appropriate;

“….Inasmuch as internal investigations reveal that Nana Aba Anamoah’s action was an innocent prank on her many twitter followers, she exercised inappropriate professional indiscretion which is at variance with the station’s highest professional standards and brand ambassadors should not be seen to be engaging in acts that can bring their personal integrity and that of TV3 into disrepute….

TV3 wishes to assure the public that it will continue to uphold the highest ethical and professional standards in line with its corporate positioning of being First in News, Best in Entertainment.”

TV3 could also have mentioned that over the years, Nana Aba Anamoah has distinguished herself as a reliable professional and this incident is isolated, etc.

There’s nothing wrong with sanctioning her if they feel the TV3 brand has suffered grave injury but it should have been done internally and on the quiet.

From both a Public Relations and a Brand’s perspective, TV3’s approach is totally inappropriate and I can only believe that probably other extraneous factors that the public is not privy to might be the underlying cause of TV3’s response.

NOTE: Nana Yaw Kesse is a Brands Enthusiast. He’s a qualified member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing, UK and a full Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG).

E-mail: yawkesse@gmail.com

By Nana Yaw Kesse

From left: Kwabena Yeboah aka Mugabe, Cosmos Akwasi Frimpong and Samuel Duah aka Sammy Tuga

KWABENA YEBOAH alias Mugabe, said to be a dangerous assassin cum hardened robber, who has been accused of killing three people and injured several others with sophisticated guns, has finally been nabbed by the police after several months of hiding.

Mugabe, described by the police as very “wicked and trigger-happy chap,” who allegedly shoots without provocation, had been accused of assassinating Samuel Frimpong, the late assemblyman of Akonfre, shot a woman dead and killing one Asaase Gyimah, on separate occasions.

He is also accused of leading a gang of fiendish-looking hoodlums who purportedly shot two farmers in their legs on their farm, when he (Mugabe) and his group were escaping from a robbery scene, among other violent crimes that the police are currently investigating.

Samuel Duah aka Sammy Tuga, who worked under Mugabe in the robbery business, was arrested by the police and he mentioned Mugabe as his boss but he (Mugabe) instantly denied knowing Sammy Tuga, let alone embarking on a robbery expedition with him (Sammy Tuga.)

But luck eluded Mugabe as one of his numerous victims during his alleged rampant robbery expeditions across several localities in the Ashanti Region, identified him at the regional police headquarters in the presence of scores of top police officers.

DCOP Kofi Boakye, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander, addressing the media Wednesday, described the arrest of Mugabe as a major breakthrough for the Command in its resolve to rid the region of criminals.

Touching on some of the violent crimes of Mugabe, he said Cosmos Akwasi Frimpong, now in police grips – a brother of the late assemblyman of Akonfre, Samuel Frimpong – engaged the services of Mugabe to assassinate his (Cosmos’) brother so that he (Cosmos) could inherit his (assemblyman’s) wealth over a year ago.

Sammy Tuga, the police chief said, during interrogation confessed that Mugabe informed him about their mission to kill the assemblyman but he (Sammy Tuga) was out of town so he could not make it; but the following day he heard about the assemblyman having been shot dead at his house at Atwima Tachiman on March 24, 2014.

DCOP Kofi Boakye noted that based on the confession statement of Sammy Tuga, Cosmos, Mugabe and one Aladago Moses, suspected to be of Fulani extraction, had been apprehended to assist the security agencies in their investigations, adding that the suspects were being trailed.

He said Sammy Tuga also confessed that Mugabe, 30, led other hoodlums – now at large – on September 22, 2015, to rob passengers on board a Nissan Urvan bus with registration number AS 8642-13 and a Sprinter bus between Kwanfenfen and Betinko along the Bibiani Nkawie road, where they shot sporadically, killing one female passenger.

The police capo said his outfit was investigating to unravel other illegal activities of Mugabe and his group and urged robbery victims at Nkawie, Abuakwa and the nearby areas that had fallen victim to Mugabe’s illegal acts to visit the police station and identify him.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi

A justice of the Supreme Court, Jones Dotse, has appealed to the public especially litigants, to stay away from seeing court staff and judges in order to prevent all forms of temptations to influence the judicial process.

He cautioned that the situation whereby litigants make attempts to discuss their cases with court staff and judges with the intention to influence judgments in their favour, is unlawful and unacceptable.

He stressed that such a conduct is prohibited and admonished court staff and judges to resist any of such temptations in order to maintain the sanctity of the judicial system.

Justice Dotse, who was speaking at the inauguration of a new high court at Sogakope in the South-Tongu District of the Volta Region this week, lamented, “The unfortunate impression has been created in the minds of everybody in Ghana that you can only have justice when you go to the judge or the court staff to at least just tell him your story before he hears it in open court.”

Jones Dotse

The Supreme Court judge’s comments came on the heels of the damning revelation by the journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas and his Tiger Eye PI investigative team.

He asserted that “Some people don’t see the judge primarily to give money or the registrar to do this or that. But they feel that if they are able to see the registrar or court clerk or the judge to tell him their story before they come to court, then they have an advantage.”

He therefore admonished, “I will urge the public to stay away from the court staff. Please stay away from the court staff and the judges. ….You should not make an attempt to even know where the judge stays.”

This, Justice Dotse said, was because, “a judge is supposed to be an impartial arbiter. Let him hear the case for the first time in court. Let him know that these are the merits of the case.”

“In any case, we have several levels of courts. If you are not satisfied with the adjudication in the lower court, you can go upstairs on appeal.”

He therefore stressed that “…So please stay away from the court and the court staff. You all know the wind that is blowing and I urge the court staff to resist any such temptations.”

The South Tongu District Chief Executive, Samuel Mawuko Eworyi, advised the court staff to ensure a strict maintenance culture to prolong the lifespan of the facility.

From Fred Duodu, Sogakofe (freduoo@gmail.com)

Bugri Naabu

The Northern Regional Secretariat of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) is shocked at President John Dramani Mahama’s call on Ghanaians to be prepared to pay more for reliable electricity supply.

Speaking to DAILY GUIDE, the Northern Regional Secretary of the NPP Sule Salifu said the party sees the call as senseless, wicked and irresponsible since it will continue to overburden the already poor Ghanaian society.

According to him, this indicates that the NDC government has failed to provide reliable power to the good people of Ghana and further demonstrates the inability and the lack of competence in putting pragmatic measures in place to bring an end to the ‘Dumsor Dumsor’ crisis.

The inability of the power Minister to confirm to the media a few days ago, the president’s statement that the energy crisis will soon end, was also a demonstration of lack of capacity to resolve the energy crisis.

The party has therefore implored the entire suffering masses to rally behind the New Patriotic Party and other civil society organizations calling on the Electoral Commission to replace the current voters’ register with a credible one which will be accepted by all political players in the country for peace to prevail before, during and after the 2016 elections.

“If the existing voters’ register is not changed with a credible one, there will be no election in Ghana in 2016 because the NPP together with other political parties and civil society organizations would not allow foreigners to choose a leader for us,” he surmised.

The Northern Regional Secretariat of the NPP is therefore calling on the National Peace Council, the National House of Chiefs, Religious Leaders and the International Community to intervene to ensure that a credible voters’ register was available for the 2016 general elections.

FROM Kombat Eric, Tamale

PRESIDENT MAHAMA has rendered unqualified apology to media practitioners in the country on behalf of Power Minister, Kwabena Donkor, for being discourteous to a journalist during a radio interview over the power crisis.

Mr. Donkor told a journalist to go and ask President Mahama about the date that the power crisis, also known as dumsor, would end. Instead of stating the date, the power minister asked the interviewer to go and ask the president.

President Mahama, without mincing words, stated that Kwabena Donkor erred by being rude to the reporter, indicating that perhaps the power minister was angry and that might have accounted for the answer he gave.

According to the president, he (Mahama) said during his recent tour of the country that very soon the power minister would officially announce the end of the dumsor, which had collapsed numerous businesses in the country.

He said the following day after his (Mahama’s) delivery, a reporter called Kwabena Donkor, demanding from him to announce the date that the dumsor would end.

He noted that Kwabena Donkor, “who I suspect was not in good mood,” replied the reporter in an impolite fashion, reiterating that media practitioners should forgive the minister who goofed badly on that day.

Headache

President Mahama, who was addressing selected business people in the Ashanti Region during his tour of the area, disclosed that he was aware of the mountainous challenges facing the business community in the country due to the dumsor.

“The dumsor is giving me headache,” the first gentleman of the land disclosed, assuring that his administration was doing everything humanly possible to bring the power crisis to an end and bring relief to Ghanaians.

No Money

President Mahama finally confirmed claims by his political opponents that the ongoing power crisis is as a result of lack of money to purchase crude to power the thermal plants.

“I must say that money and generation problems have caused the ongoing power crisis in our country,” the president replied a Kumasi-based businessman who asked him to state the exact cause of the power challenge.

President Mahama explained that monies being collected by the ECG as tariffs to pay the VRA are not enough and that had created a huge debt, adding that the power being generated too is not enough for the country’s demand.

“So many people are not paying for the power that they use in their houses and workplaces,” he claimed with a grim face, adding that “There are illegal connections all over, and these have resulted in the dumsor.”

According to him, cost of using power is expensive in the country, partly because a few people are paying the tariffs, stressing that the cost would reduce significantly if everyone was to pay for power used.

President Mahama, who was being forthright, stated that if Ghanaians really want to see the end of the dumsor, then they should be prepared to pay more for power, adding that “The days for cheap Akosombo power are over.”

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi

Rev. Dr. Yaw Frimpong Manso

The Presbyterian Church of Ghana says it still regards former Moderator, Rev. Frimpong Manso as a minister of the church despite receiving a resignation letter from him.

Speaking on Adom FM’s ‘Dwaso Nsem’, a lawyer of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana PCG, Rev. George Obeng Adjei said, “As we speak now, Rev. Frimpong Manso is still a minister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana.”

Rev. Dr. Yaw Frimpong Manso who is the immediate past Moderator of the Presby Church in Ghana had a two-year duty stay in the U.S which expired last year but he still remained in the US.

The Church in Ghana wrote a letter recalling him to Ghana to resume his duties as minister of the gospel latest by December 31, 2015.

But Rev. Dr. Yaw Frimpong Manso wrote back resigning from the Ministry of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana with effect from October 31, 2015 due to what he described as gross disrespect to his person and ministry.

According to Rev. Frimpong Manso, he was not given a hearing before the PCG took the decision to recall him.

“I think it is disrespectful to my person and ministry,” he said.

Rev. Lawyer Obeng Adjei explained that prior to the General Assembly Meeting, where the decision to call Rev Manso back home was taken, the Clerk of the General Assembly wrote to him to come.

“That was when Rev Manso replied our letter and said the Presby Church in USA want to extend his stay,” he said.

The lawyer said that the church has received a resignation letter from Rev. Manso but is yet to take a decision on it.

Rev. Obeng denied claims that the controversy in the church is due to bad blood between the two moderators because they both contested for the position in the same year.

“I do not remember them contesting for a position in the church,” he said.

The standoff between Rev. Frimpong Manso and the Presby Church in Ghana is believed to be connected to the dispute over gay rights.

The Church in the US is reported to have blessed gay marriage but the Church in Ghana is vehemently opposed to this.

The Moderator of the Presby Church Ghana, Rt. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey vowed that the Presbyterian Church in Ghana will never accept gay rights because it is a total “deviation from Bible principles.”

Recalling Rev. Frimpong Manso was said to be a form of protest but church have denied this.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

A staff bus conveying workers from the Flagstaff House was involved in an accident on the Ako Adjei Interchange in Accra.

Information available indicates that about 15 staff at the presidency who were in the bus sustained minor injuries.

An eyewitness said Cargo Truck from the Canadian Embassy portion of the road ran into the bus while the driver was attempting to manoeuvre a turn onto the Osu stretch of the interchange.

The driver of the bus lost control but managed to prevent the bus from toppling over.

The truck driver sustained minor injuries on the cheek but driver of the police bus escaped unhurt, Commander of the Cantonment Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD), ASP John Airriah.

He said both drivers have secured a police report to seek medical attention at the Police Hospital.

The 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says the most effective way the Electoral Commission can regain the confidence of Ghanaians, lost in the aftermath of the disputed elections of 2012, will be through the compilation of a new voters’ register ahead of the 2016 elections.

According to Nana Akufo-Addo, Ghanaians are no longer interested in resorting to the courts to settle electoral disputes, but, rather, prefer that the EC concentrates on reforming the country’s electoral process, so that the integrity deficit being suffered by the EC is corrected.

The NPP flagbearer made this known in separate meetings in Washington DC, with the Centre for Global Development and the National Endowment for Democracy, all leading think tanks, on Wednesday, October 22.

Quoting from the CDD’s Afrobarometer report in 2014 which reported that public trust in EC has gone down from 80%, before the 2012 elections, to 42% in 2014, Nana Akufo-Addo explained this represents a significant indicator that public confidence in the EC is at an all-time low.

Additionally, the NPP flagbearer read from the damning report by the UNDP on Ghana’s Electoral Commission (“Conduct of an Institutional Assessment and the Development a Strategic Plan for the Electoral Commission of Ghana”),  issued 2 months ago (16 August 2015) which stressed that: “the EC used to be the most trusted institution in the country; but not anymore.”

The UNDP report, according to Nana Akufo-Addo, concludes by categorically stating that “substantial amount has been invested on the biometric registration and verification; however, there is still no reliable voter register.”

Kofi Annan, the NPP flagbearer indicated, had also, in the aftermath of the 2012 election petition, urged the EC “not to be blinded to the flaws in Ghana’s electoral system,” and that “all concerned need to work energetically to ensure that these flaws are addressed through the necessary institutional reform.”

To this end, three of the five main political parties in Ghana, who accounted for nearly 50% of the presidential votes in 2012, have called for a new register and proposed measures to tackle the flaws encountered in compiling the 2012 register.

We’re awaiting the response of the Electoral Commission to the mounting pressure, which seeks to address these critical problems.
“We have presented comprehensive proposals on electoral reforms. A consensus has been built on many of them. But, the one issue that is threatening confidence in the 2016 race is the stubborn refusal of the ruling party to the compilation of a new, credible register,” he said.

Nana Akufo-Addo, however, urged the new EC boss, Mrs Charlotte Osei, “to know that she can call on such renowned organisations like The International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), National Democratic Institute (NDI), the International Republican Institute (IRI), National Endowment for Democracy (NED), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to support Ghana resolve this matter early for the budgetary considerations to be also looked at, hand in hand, timeously.”

He continued, “Other countries in the region, such as Tanzania, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Kenya, have all ditched their similarly young but defective registers for new, credible ones. Why can’t Ghana do the same?”

The NPP flagbearer was convinced that the simple explanation why the NDC government and President Mahama want the flawed register of 2012 maintained for 2016 is because “the government believes a suspect register is the only way to guarantee victory. After all, if the administration of President John Mahama was to compete based on its record alone, its re-election would be almost unconceivable.”

In concluding, Nana Akufo-Addo noted that it is time that Ghana’s friends among the world’s leading nations realized there are significant problems brewing in one of their favourite African countries, which can be avoided. All well-meaning Ghanaians are interested in maintaining the reputation of Ghana as a peaceful, stable, democratic nation.

“Serious changes must be made to the electoral infrastructure if we are to have a chance for a genuinely democratic election. And if those changes are to happen, they have to happen now. We must start today. The clock is running out. We need your concern, your support, and your vigilance. The Ghanaian people deserve a free, fair, and credible election next year,” he ended.

Credit: NPP

A Togolese who is alleged to be operating an illegal health centre in Ave-Xevi, a community in the Akatsi North District, has been arrested by the Akatsi North Police.

The Togolese, who claims he is a veterinarian, is also alleged to be assisting young ladies, especially teenagers in the area to abort pregnancies.

He was arrested last Wednesday at his facility when the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Akatsi North, James Gunu, joined a police team to clamp down on illegal operators of health facilities in the area.

Although the police have refused to give further details, DAILY GUIDE investigations reveal that Kwakuvi has been operating the illegal abortion clinic for about five years.

It has also emerged that the Togolese national has been performing abortions and other health services on market days of Ave Xevi.

A tour of the facility shows evidence of used syringes, drugs, panties, some sharp objects, among others.

The facility also looked very filthy and unhygienic. There was also evidence of some people living there.

However, three other accomplices of Kwakuvi are on the run. Although Kwakuvi refused to comment on his arrest and accusations, some sources in the area have accused Kwakuvi of using the same syringes and other sharp apparatuses during the procedures.

High Teenage Pregnancy

The Akatsi North District Health Director, Dr Anthony Ashynyo, expressed disgust about the entire environment within which Kwakuvi operates, describing it as a “horrible place”. He said abortion was becoming lucrative in the area due to the high rate of teenage pregnancy in the area.

He said during the first quarter of this year alone, there were 60 cases of teenage pregnancy recorded.

Dr Asinyo disclosed that the high rate of the menace was due to unemployment, early marriage and other cultural tendencies.

He also revealed that there has been an increase in hepatitis B and HIV, which he claimed might have resulted from the reckless activities going on at the clinic. He urged the public to report any such persons in the society to the police promptly.

By Fred Duodu

Johan Cruyff

Dutch football legend Johan Cruyff has been diagnosed as having lung cancer, his spokeswoman has confirmed.

The 68-year-old, who won three successive European Cups with Ajax before going on to play for and manage Barcelona, was diagnosed on Tuesday, it was reported on the Spanish radio station RAC1 and the Catalan newspaper Mundo Deportivo on Thursday morning.

Cruyff is said to be currently undergoing tests to try to discover the extent of the disease.

Formerly a heavy smoker, he had double heart bypass surgery in 1991 while he was still in charge of Barcelona, a role he eventually left in 1996.

Barça’s vice-president Susana Monje, who was giving a financial presentation on Thursday, sent a message of support from the club.

In his prime, Cruyff was considered one of the world’s greatest players in the world at a time when Pelé, George Best and Franz Beckenbauer could all lay claim to the title.

He was European Footballer of the Year in 1971, 1973 and 1974 and part of the mould-breaking team that won three European Cups in 1971, 1972 and 1973 – a side that provided the foundation for Holland’s Total Football revolution when their coach Rinus Michels took over the national side in 1974.

Cruyff moved to Barcelona in 1973 and won the league title the following year. That same year, 1974, Holland reached the World Cup final where they were defeated by West Germany.

Four years later Cruyff moved to the United States where he played for the Los Angeles Aztecs and the Washington Diplomats the following year. He finished his career in the Netherlands with two more seasons with Ajax and one with Feyenoord.

Cruyff took over as manager of Ajax in 1985 but it was his return to Barcelona in 1988 that brought him success as a coach, the “Dream Team” winning four league titles, the European Cup and a Copa del Rey and devising the swift passing possession that later became known as tiki-taka.

Since leaving Barça in 1996 he has had various minor roles in the game and acts as an adviser to Ajax, a spell notable for his successful attempt to block his fellow directors from appointing Louis van Gaal to the board by taking them to court.

The Ayew brothers, Dede and Jordan, will clash for the first time in the English Premier League this weekend.

The duo, former teammates at French giants Olympic Marseille, joined the premiership this season with Dede making the headlines.

And as Jordan’s Aston Villa host Dede’s Swansea tomorrow, the former appears hungrier to make a statement owing to his slow start in the league after his transfer.

The Black Stars striker is yet to open an account for Villa, and has attributed the deficiency to his failure to join the bottom-placed side in their pre-season program.

Notwithstanding that, the 24-year-old forward has announced his presence, contributing immensely to his side all the times he has donned the mauve and sea blue shirt.

The Black Stars deputy captain, Dede, on the other hand, has scored four times, with an intelligent assist; and indications are that he has regained full fitness after suffering a knock ahead of the clash.

Swansea are occupying the 14th position on the log with 10 points, while Villa are second from the bottom after recording just four points.

By Kofi Owusu Aduonum

Airtel Ghana, the telecommunication brand of the year, is embarking on a month-long campaign to create awareness about breast cancer within its own operations and the country.

Building on its foundation of supporting the breast cancer awareness creation over the last four years, the company will use this month-long commitment to drive awareness and undertake several activities to raise funds to support breast cancer awareness creation and treatment.

In this regard, management and staff of the company have designed innovative, insightful and fun ways to drum up public awareness throughout the month of October.

Last year, Airtel Ghana supported the Sweden Ghana Medical Cancer Foundation and the Judith Ellen Awuah-Darko Foundation with cash donations raised through employees.

This year, Airtel employees are embarking on a social media campaign dubbed ‘Airtel Cares’ – a call to action for employees, customers and Ghanaians in general to be assertive in the awareness and prevention of breast cancer in Ghana.

‘Airtel Cares’ will run throughout the month of October.

Hannah Agbozo, Airtel’s legal and corporate affairs director, said, “Airtel is a company devoted to the well-being of its employees and the development of meaningful initiatives around the needs of customers and the communities we operate in.

This makes our support for breast cancer awareness such a great fit for the business and we’re delighted to be building on our support from previous years, to reach our employees and customers alike with the important message of early detection.”

She continued…“This month of October, we at Airtel are making a change in the lives of many by fighting breast cancer.

We are thinking pink, buying pink, donating pink and wearing pink every Friday this October and together we will win this fight because Airtel truly cares.”

This year, all funds raised internally from the campaign will be donated to an establishment to support the course.

The company will engage and interact with its subscribers through social media in order to make its goal achievable socially and on a larger scale.

Management and staff will regularly update Airtel customers of its activities in this month of pink on the company’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages.

A 44-YEAR-OLD Pastor of the Dominion Sabbath Church at Katamanso (KKDA) a suburb of Zenu in the Kpone-Katamanso District of Accra has been arrested by the Tema Police for allegedly possessing firearms without authority.

The suspected pastor, Wiafe Kwabena Akenten a.k.a “Osofo” was arrested by a police patrol team upon a tip-off.

Investigations revealed that Pastor Wiafe who was a member of a Neighborhood Watch Committee in Katamanso disclosed to his colleague members that he has acquired locally manufactured pistols to help complement their work.

But some members of the committee would not take any of that and suggested he gets rid of the weapons.

The pastor however did not get rid of the guns but kept them in his room till he was arrested.

Suspect Pastor Wiafe Kwabena Akenten. INSET: The locally manufactured pistol retrieved

He was accordingly charged and arraigned.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Juliana Obeng, told DAILY GUIDE that on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at about 7.30pm, the patrol team on duty in the area had a tip-off that the suspect was keeping firearms and ammunitions in his room.

According to her, the team went to the pastor’s house and upon searching his room found two locally manufactured pistols, a generator, cutlass and hammer; items the accused claimed ownership of.

“Investigations further revealed that the accused purchased the locally manufactured guns in Kumasi,” she narrated.

ASP Juliana Obeng said Pastor Wiafe was subsequently apprehended while the guns were retrieved and brought to the regional headquarters for further investigations.

Consequently, the Tema Regional Command has warned members of neighborhood watch committees that they are not allowed to carry weapons during their patrols, advising them to seek clarifications from the police on issues concerning their operations.

From Vincent Kubi, Tema

Lately, allegations of corruption have become rife in our country. Evidence too. The furore surrounding the scandal that rocked the judiciary is yet to quiet. There have also been mentions of the legislature being involved in corrupt practices. No doubt, these tend to weaken our democratic structures and reduce whatever trust the citizenry may have in our governance structures. It is an undeniable fact that there is a need to drastically reduce, if not totally eradicate, the menace of corruption from the country.

The question though is how to maintain the dignity and sanctity of these key institutions in our quest to publicly name and shame individuals who occupy key positions in these institutions and who engage in such behavior.

For the past week, there have been media reports and social media have been awash with reports of corruption in Parliament. While Parliament does not seek to condone such behavior, there is a growing concern about maintaining the dignity of the institution and Members of Parliament who are of high repute.

As the legislative arm of government, Parliament makes laws. This is done by scrutinizing memoranda to bills, usually emanating from the Executive. Once the bill hits Parliament, it goes through a first reading, at which stage the bill is said to have been laid before Parliament and is then referred to the appropriate committee by the Speaker. Memos and contributions are invited from the general public to add or take away from legislation that has been referred to a committee for scrutiny. The general public and technocrats, stakeholders, experts and groups interested in contributing to the particular legislation are invited for their input at this stage.

Once the committee finishes its work, the bill is brought to plenary for a second reading during which the principles of the bill are debated.  The bill is then taken through the consideration stage where the bill is put under a microscope and dissected clause by clause. Where members are not happy with the bill, the Speaker directs for the bill to go through a second consideration stage. Once all are satisfied, the bill is read for the third time then forwarded to the executive arm of government for presidential assent which makes the bill an act, i.e. law.

Those wanting to have an input in a particular legislation are expected to respond to the invitations for memos when they are placed in the papers, come to Parliament and discourse with the relevant committees. This way their ideas could be incorporated into the new bill.

Other duties that members perform include oversight of ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). These sometimes include physical inspection of projects. Statements on the floor of the House, is another crucial duty of members. Members are able, through this channel, to bring public attention to issues and set the agenda for change through same. In other democracies, lobby agencies are known to lobby members to champion their interests. Here in Ghana, those outside Parliament could identify key members of the House and channel their concerns through these MPs. Approval of loan agreement is another crucial role that Parliament plays. There have been many discussions on these duties and how members perform these duties.

The issue here is that is it possible to influence the process? Some people have claimed that it is possible. I do not doubt this assertion. But the question is that, do members of Parliament take bribes during such processes? Again, some people have claimed that members do. This, I cannot verify.

In any case, it is not as if some members have not come under scrutiny. There have been circumstances where some members have had to answer certain queries but frankly, these have been the exception rather than the rule. Again, having to answer questions on issues does not make one culpable of anything.

In fact it will be hypocritical of anyone to say that some members have not engaged in corrupt activities. The problem here is when the entire membership of the house is lumped together and utterances, instead of aiming at improving our democracy, rather seek or are perceived to bring the name of the institution into disrepute.

Parliament’s position is that anyone who has information to that effect should come out clearly with names in order to avoid drawing innocent members and indeed, the whole Parliament into muddy waters when it can be easily avoided.

The two leaders of the house have variously condemned corruption and have gone further to insist that anyone who has evidence of any corrupt act by ay member should bring evidence of same. The Speaker of the House himself has also spoken on numerous occasions on the need to eschew corruption from our legislature.

As an institution, Parliament has measures in place that check not just corrupt, but undesirable behavior of its members, and the members have not been shy to speak up about the need to deal with corruption in the legislature. Members whose behaviors are suspected or alleged to be un-parliamentary are hauled before the privileges committee, as are members of the general public. The privileges committee is mandated to inquire into any complaint of contempt of parliament or any matter of privilege, which may be referred to it. Matters are referred to the Committee by the Speaker when a Member raises an issue.

The erroneous impression has however been created that the privileges committee seeks mainly to gag citizens who criticize parliament and its members. That is far from the case. In the event of a matter being referred to the committee, the committee invites individuals or persons who may be involved in the particular matter to answer questions regarding the matter in question. So far, individuals who have appeared before the committee, have only receive a wrist slapping from the House and have been left off the hook. This does not negate the fact that these people could actually sanctioned provisions which are made in the 1992 Constitution.

Clearly, the objective of the privileges committee is not to intimidate anyone. It is mainly a fact finding group that seeks to remedy wrongs that may bring Parliament into disrepute. Being the main fulcrum of our democracy, it is imperative that we all, collectively work towards the maintenance of a sustainable, respectable Parliament and this can be achieved by parliament itself practicing and projecting high moral standards and citizens respecting the dignity and sanctity of Parliament.

• The writer is the deputy director of public affairs of parliament.

email: kamardai123@gmail.com

By Kate Addo

THERE WAS drama at the Ashanti Regional office of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Kumasi on Wednesday when some angry party supporters stormed the place to invoke curses on some assemblymen in the city whom they claimed took bribes to betray the NPP.

Led by one Emmanuel Boadi, the group, who were mainly youth, used schnapps and eggs to invoke the spirits of three dreaded river deities in Asanteman, including the famous ‘Antoa Nyamaa’ river god, to strike dead the yet to be identified assemblymen.

From the NPP office, Boadi and his group, who were wearing red armbands to display their fury, rushed to a location at TUC, a suburb of Kumasi, where a workshop was being held for assemblymen in the city, and repeated their action with eggs and schnapps.

Boadi alleged that some of the assemblymen in the city collected bribes and voted for Nana Adjei Kesse IV, the Adumhene, who is a government appointee, at the expense of Nana Kofi Senya, the Assemblyman of Suame, who is a known NPP member, during the recent KMA Presiding Member polls.

Nana Adjei Kesse IV topped the polls ahead of Nana Kofi Senya when the assemblymen went to the polls last week, but the Adumhene failed to garner the 94 votes required to become the next Presiding Member (PM) of the assembly. The election was rescheduled to 21 days time.

Boadi claimed that 87 of the newly elected assemblymen, who form a chunk of the total population of the assembly, are known NPP members and so he didn’t understand why Nana Kofi Senya trailed the government appointee after the polls.

He alleged that these 87 assemblymen, whose names he refused to mention, campaigned in the name of the NPP and this helped them (assemblymen) to win, adding that therefore he expected them to vote for Nana Kofi Senya, who is also an NPP member.

Boadi noted that the fact that Nana Kofi Senya could not get even 60 votes after last week’s PM polls was a strong indication that some of the 87 assemblymen who campaigned in the name of the NPP received bribes to betray their party member.

He said the so-called NPP assemblymen have been forgiven for voting against Nana Kofi Senya, but was quick to caution that “if they vote against Nana Kofi Senya again during the next polls then the three river deities should strike them dead.”

Boadi said on paper the assembly election is non-partisan but in reality “the election is partisan,” warning that even Nana Kofi Senya would not be spared by the three river gods, including ‘Antoa Nyamaa’, if he decides to step down for the government appointee.

Nana Kofi Senya, reacting to the issue on Nhyira Fm, vehemently debunked rumours that he instigated Boadi and his group to invoke the curse on the assemblymen, noting that he would not step down from the PM race until the entire assemblymen in the house voted against him.

Kwame Kwakye, Assemblyman for Kwadaso, appealed to the chiefs of Asanteman to mete out a severe punishment to Boadi and his group so as to serve as a deterrent to others, noting that invocation of curses should not be allowed in assembly elections.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi

The Eastern Regional Police Command has confirmed that Elizabeth Kpodo, 22, who burnt her rival Monica Owusu, 28, to death at Akwatia, has survived the mob attack that put her in comma.

Elizabeth Kpodo is currently under a 24-hour police guard at the St Dominic Hospital at Akwatia where her rival’s lifeless body has been deposited for autopsy.  The Regional Police Director of Public Affairs, ASP Nketia-Yeboah, said medics at the facility were able to help resuscitate the suspect who would soon have to give her statement to police.

Meanwhile Corporal Hope Ahedo, who was clubbed by the town’s youth for preventing them from lynching Elizabeth Kpodo, is also recuperating at the Ghana Consolidated Diamond Hospital, also at Akwatia.

Residents of Akyem Kusi on Tuesday, October 20, 2015 woke up to a horrific incident that saw two rivals engage in fisticuffs at about 9:30am over a man who is currently believed to be on the run.

Elizabeth Kpodo, who is in an unstable condition at the St Dominic Hospital, is said to have attacked her rival Monica without provocation.
Elizabeth later doused the mattress in the room with petrol after spotting Monica nude in her lover’s bed and torched it while she still lay on the mattress, resulting in her premature death.

The screams of Monica drew the attention of the town’s youth, who attempted to lynch the suspect but were stopped by the police.

The irate mob attacked the police and succeeded in clubbing one Corporal Hope Ahedo stationed at the Akwatia district police headquarters with a bamboo pole.

The cop fell unconscious in the ensuing struggle.

The prime suspect, Elizabeth Kpodo, who was beaten to pulp, became irresponsive, prompting onlookers to assume she was dead.

However, she was sent to the St Dominic Hospital where medics have since resuscitated her.

The Oda Divisional Command has deployed officers from the Rapid Deployment Force (RDF) to beef up security and restore calm to Akwatia and its environs.

The police say they were making efforts to apprehend persons involved in the mob attack for possible prosecution.

From: Rocklyn Antonio, Koforidua

Helen Ntoso

A peace activist has sued the Volta Regional Coordinating Council for allegedly stopping efforts aimed at bringing lasting peace to Nkonya and Alavanyo – two communities where there has been a protracted conflict.

Abraham Korbla Klutse of Youth for Peace and Security Africa (YPS-Africa) has petitioned an Accra Human Rights Court to order the Volta Regional Security Council (REGSEC) to allow him to implement a peace plan he initiated to bring lasting peace to the two longstanding feuding communities.

In his motion on notice of an application for the enforcement of his fundamental human rights, the applicant says he is seeking a declaration that “the purported suspension of the applicant’s organization on December 2, 2014 by the respondent from operating in the Volta Region violated the applicant’s fundamental human rights.”

Mr Abraham Korbla Klutse is also seeking damages for violation of his fundamental human rights, especially the rights guaranteed under Article 21(1)(e) and 23 of the 1992 Constitution and any other order the court might deem fit.

The applicant said on December 4, 2014, he embarked on what he called self-funded programme titled: “Persuading a local participatory reconciliation towards facilitating a lasting peace and development to end the Alavanyo-Nkonya conflict” and succeeded in introducing the project to the various district assemblies as well as the traditional authorities, communities and the REGSEG, among others.

“I set up sub-clubs of YPS-Africa in the communities and schools of Alavanyo and Nkonya. Effective communication and control networks were built among the clubs and the people to help prevent clashes; to get everybody actively and well engaged in the peace building process; and to facilitate the healing of victims of the conflict,” the petitioner averred.

According to Mr Abraham Korbla Klutse, he also facilitated the major peace dialogue for the new Alavanyo-Nkonya negotiating teams put in place by the two respective traditional councils and the teams were inaugurated on February 26 and July 3, 2014 with approval from the communities.

The petitioner said that the Volta Regional Coordinating Council even wrote to him on May 7, 2014 acknowledging and thanking him for his commitment towards peace.

According to Korbla Klutse, a letter he wrote to the Regional Minister on July 16, 2014 requesting for a meeting among all stakeholders was replied to through the Coordinating Council. He said the Council asked him to use the newly-inaugurated peace council to summon the meeting, but it never took place.

He posited that after putting all structures in place – including securing the Kpando Municipal Assembly Hall – for the peace talks, the Regional Coordinating Council bizarrely suspended the project.

The applicant claimed that the Council said it was suspending the project because it was going to “bring embarrassment to the Volta REGSEG.”

“The suspension of the peace project which eventually blocked the peace dialogue, also automatically suspended the roles being played by the two traditional councils, the chiefs, elders, the youth and all communities involved in the peace-building process.”

Mr Korbla Klutse said that the government claimed to have brought a new team to re-start fresh peace dialogue, but it never worked saying, “From January till date, not a single step has been taken by the new peace team.”

By William Yaw Owusu

Ghanaian journalist Jefferson Sackey has been listed alongside son of Canada’s Tourism and Culture Minister as the 2015 laureates of Planet Africa.

Mr Sackey, well known for his coverage of conflicts and natural disasters in Africa, will be presented with his media excellence award at a ceremony tomorrow at the Pearson Convention Centre in Brampton, Canada.

This award is given to an innovative and creative individual who raises the bar in the media industry and uses his or her platform to increase awareness regarding issues that affect society.

Sitting in high profile diplomatic meetings, from the UN headquarters in New York to the coverage of the Ivorian crisis of 2010, Jefferson mastered the art of international reporting on the field, interviewing global figures on critical global issues. International networks like CNN and DWTV have featured some of his news stories.

From a humble beginning at TV Africa in Ghana, he has been recognised by Journalists for Human Rights in Canada for excellence in human rights reporting.

He has also received 2015 AEA Media Excellence Award. He serves as senior international correspondent for the Multimedia Group in Ghana.

In all, 16 achievers have been listed as recipients of the 2015 Planet Africa Awards. Leading the list is Dr Julius Garvey, son of the legendary social activist Marcus Garvey, who was a proponent of the Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movement.

BY Melvin Tarlue

‘Afiada Mbosuo’, one of the finest music shows on Adom 106.3 Fm hosted on every Friday between 7:00pm and 12:00pm by the young, dynamic, innovative and handsome DJ Papa Bills, is back on the airwaves after a short break.

The programme had huge following and returned to the airwaves last Friday.

The debut of the repackaged ‘Afiada Mbosuo’ was held at the Dayata Hostel atop the Macarthy Hills in Accra and had several persons turning up at the outdoor music event that was aired live on radio.

It was hosted jointly by Papa Bills and DJ Willi and had very interesting dance and music performances from Akos of Mentor 7 fame, Nii Funny, The Gentlemen and the Joy Dadi Dancers who got everyone up and standing with their wild dance moves.

‘Afiada Mbosuo’, sponsored by Joy Dadi Bitters, continues this Friday on Adom Fm same time.