Hon. Collins Dauda and other officials during the visit to Kejetia

LOCAL GOVERNMENT Minister, Collins Dauda, insists the current prevailing conditions at the Kejetia Bus Terminal in Kumasi indicate that the facility is ready for the start of the construction works.

In this regard, he said President John Dramani Mahama would soon visit the place to officially cut the sod for the beginning of the proposed reconstruction of the terminal into a modern edifice.

“Clearly, we are ready for works on the Kejetia Bus Terminal to take place any moment from now,” Hon. Dauda remarked after touring the facility to ascertain the true state of the bus terminal.

He pointed out that all the preparatory works which were needed to be done to pave way for the construction works to start have been done perfectly by the Brazilian firm, ‘Contracta,’ so far.

The Local Government Minister, who looked very pleased about what he witnessed at Kejetia, stated that he would relay the positive news to President Mahama for him to visit Kumasi to cut sod for the start of the project.

The one-day visit saw the minister and his entourage visiting the project camp site, material site and project showroom where a model of the proposed Kejetia/Central Market re-development project had been placed.

Hon. Dauda lauded the KMA and the Brazilian company, Contracta, over the extensive works done at the facility, urging them to sustain their splendid works till the project is completed.

He stated emphatically that the Kejetia/Central Market project is a must-do project, stressing it would enhance the living conditions of the people when completed, so the people should rally behind it.

The Ashanti Regional Minister, Peter Anarfi Mensah, commended the people of Kumasi, particularly the affected traders, for their understanding and support so far, noting that the project would make Kumasi look modern.

Hon. Dauda was accompanied by one of his deputies, Hon. Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum and other top officials of the KMA during the inspection tour of the Kejetia Bus Terminal.

By I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi

Minister of Transport – Dzifa Attivor

Minister of Transport, Dzifa Attivor says about 75 percent of tyres imported into the country are used tyres and are also sub-standard.

According to the Transport Minister, most of the tyres have either exceeded their manufacturers’ guaranteed age threshold or have a reduced life span.

At a dialogue session to  discuss the enforcement of Regulation 62 of the Road Traffic Regulations 2012, LI 2180 with stakeholders in Accra recently, Mrs Attivor stated that the use of sub-standard ‘second hand’ tyres increase the risk of accident by 30 percent.

“The use of sub-standard tyres in Ghana increase the risk of crash occurrence by 30 percent by reducing braking capabilities of vehicles , and the probability of accidents in wet conditions. Studies also show that over 15 percent of vehicles involved in fatal crashes had some form of tyre defect prior to the crash. 3 out of 4 tyres sold in Ghana are used tyres,” she said.

She added that the responsibility of ensuring that vehicle tyres of only standard quality and safety are used in Ghana requires a concerted effort of all stakeholders including the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC), tyre dealers and vulcanizers among others.

Regulation 62 of the Road Traffic Regulations 2012, LI 2180 which is expected to be implemented by September this year would ensure that tyres imported into this country are pneumatic tyres manufactured for use in hot and normal weather areas. Under the LI, a person who drives a vehicle shall ensure that that the vehicle is fitted with tyres that meet the required standards.

Attivor said government was considering the introduction of 20 electronic scanning devices known as Shearographers at the country’s ports to assist in the detection of bad tyres imported into the country.

Ing. Mrs. May Obiri-Yeboah, Executive Director for NRSC in her address said her outfit through the Ministry of Tranport was working tirelessly to sensitize stakeholders as well as the general public on the impending ban on the importation and use of sub-standard tyres as the Road Traffic Regulations 2012, LI 2180 defines.

David Osafo Adonteng, Director of Planning and Programs at NRSC advised drivers and tyre dealers to look out for the manufactured date on tyres before they buy them because tyres –whether new or used- become unusable 4years after its manufacture.

By Nii Ogbamey Tetteh

ogbameytetteh@gmail.com

Dr. Justice Yankson

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) will soon have a splinter organisation for doctors with the formation of the Federation of Professional Doctors of Ghana (FPDG).

The new medical association is said to be a breakaway faction of the GMA.

News circulating on social media indicates that the association comprises all the 148 GMA members who voted against the ongoing strike action by doctors at the just-ended GMA general conference in Accra, as well as other doctors who are still at post despite the illegal strike.

According to an unconfirmed report, a certain Dr P.Y Danso, who claims to be an interim general secretary, said the association was putting all the necessary documents together which would be submitted to the Registrar General on Monday for proper documentations.

NDC communicators and propagandists had dropped a hint of a possible breakaway faction from the GMA, fueling the perception of government interference in the affairs of the group.

Government, through a subterraneous move, has been encouraging formation of splinter groups whenever a group goes on strike in an attempt to break their front.

Report said that the new group, after submitting the documents, would immediately call off their strike and later call their first general assembly meeting in September to elect their leaders.

However, Dr Justice Yankson, Deputy General Secretary of the GMA, commenting on the supposed development, said the news is not a surprising one, adding that this is not the first time such an issue has come up.

He said the GMA does not coerce doctors to join the association, thus members are also free to leave if they so wish since there is freedom of association in the country.

“GMA is a credible and foremost organisation so for us if people want to break away we are not worried as at now no one has submitted a letter to us and we do not work with what happens on social media,” he said.

A Daily Guide Report

Emmanuel Owusu Sarpong

MANY HIV/AIDS victims in the Brong Ahafo Region are dying on daily basis due to the influx of fake anti-retroviral drugs imported from Nigeria.

Speaking to DAILY GUIDE in an exclusive interview, Emmanuel Owusu Sarpong, an HIV/AIDS positive who is also the founder of Community Survival Foundation, an HIV/AIDS advocacy group, disclosed that unless the Ministry of Health (MoH) steps in, many more people would continue to die from the disease.

Mr Owusu told DAILY GUIDE that he detected the fake drugs when he got some complications after taking them.

He said whereas those who  contracted the disease recently are diagnosed with a CD 4, those who contracted the disease some years ago are diagnosed with a machine called viral loader, “but sadly a victim has to cough GH¢65 to go through the machine.”

He pointed out that the only option left to those who are unable to buy the drugs due to financial constraints is to stay home and die.

The HIV/AIDS advocate has appealed to the MoH to set up a committee to look into the matter so that those involved can be brought to book to save lives.

By Eric Bawah, Techiman

The participants waiting to be seen by the doctor

VODAFONE GHANA Foundation has begun its annual healthfest with a free health screening exercise for the La and Osu communities.

The event, held on separate occasions, had in attendance over 1,200 people from both communities showing up for the free medical check-up.

The participants checked their blood pressure level, body max index, eye sight, malaria, tuberculosis and oral health.

Health experts also took the participants through sexual health education, while those who had cleft diseases were selected for scheduled operations by ‘Operation Smile’, a non-governmental organisation helping people with cleft to have a normal lip.

Nana Yaa Ofori-Koree, head of Vodafone Ghana, explaining the rationale behind the event, said her outfit is tasked to give back to society.

“Vodafone has decided to provide sustainable health care service to all parts of the entire country,” she added.

Ms Ofori-Koree said Vodafone Ghana Foundation although has been tasked to engage in other sectors, increasing health concerns have necessitated the need to devote resources to ensure people who Vodafone markets its products to are healthy.

“We have contracted seasoned medical practitioners as part of the team to be on stand-by to give health advice to people who go through the process and have serious health concerns,” she added

Dr Felix Awuriki who has been onboard the initiative for the last four years said Vodafone Healthfest is a laudable event as everyone cannot afford medication.

“It provides a different health specialist to a cross section of different kinds of people,” he said.

Healthfest is the Vodafone initiative that affords community health screening initiative that provides opportunity for participants to walk to the doctor.

The screening would continue at other locations nationwide till March 2016.

By Jamila Akweley Okertchiri

MTN GHANA has awarded scholarship packages to about 20 Ghanaian teachers at the first and second cycle public schools levels.

The scholarship scheme dubbed: ‘Teachers Improvement Award Programme’, aims at enabling the awardees the opportunity to further their education in specific subject areas at the higher levels.

The courses include mathematics, science and English language, and the winners are to pursue their studies at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and University of Education, Winneba (UEW) respectively.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Ghana, Ebenezer Twum Asante, in an address at the awards ceremony held Thursday in Accra, indicated that the total cost of the project which is estimated at GH¢125,000, is expected to be implemented for an initial five years period, stressing that the scholarship would cover the cost of tuition, relevant materials, lodging and allowances for the teachers.

He disclosed that the awardees for the first edition of the award scheme are made up of five female teachers; expressing the hope that the next edition would see more women qualifying for the scholarship.

On the selection criteria, Mr Asante indicated that a total of 241 entries were received from all the 10 regions of Ghana who were subjected to a vigorous shorlisting processes, followed by an interview by their panel of judges made up of distinguished academics.

 Acting Deputy Director of Ghana Education Service (GES), Stephen Adu, expressed his gratitude to MTN for the scholarships.

Mr Adu urged the teachers to make use of the opportunity to help improve upon knowledge of their subjects in Ghana.

An awardee and a teacher of Adawomase Senior High School in the Ashanti Region, Winifred Duruyeh, told DAILY GUIDE, “I never believed it at first; I just thought I should try my luck but now I know it is true and impartial. I am going to advertise for MTN because they have really done a good job and I am very happy that I have got the opportunity to further my education which I have always wanted to do long time ago.”

In a related development, MTN has presented awards to winners of ‘M’afe Nie’ extended promotion in Accra.

The ultimate winner of the promotion, Linda Laryea, a 28-year-old hairdresser who resides at Mateheko, was given a well-furnished two bedroom house in Accra.

By Felix Akwasi Aboagye

aboagyekwasibempah@yahoo.com

THE FIRST ever children’s mentoring forum designed to groom people for responsible future leadership positions got underway in Accra on Monday.

Dubbed ‘Leadership Farm 2015’, the one-week event, being organised by Lead Afrique International, with support from corporate organisations, is being attended by about 100 school children.

Michael Ohene-Effah, co-founder of Lead Afrique International, said Ghana and many African countries were losing out on the kind of leadership need for future progress because “they are not methodically, systematically and deliberately preparing young people for leadership.”

“The full potentials of young people are rarely recognised, tapped and nurtured,” he said, adding, “The government, corporate Ghana, faith-based organisations and families must all begin to actively offer opportunities for young people to take charge, take initiative and lead in running and managing affairs.”

“How do we expect the future leaders to properly lead the next generation when there are so few opportunities for leadership development now?” Mr Ohene-Effah queried.

He contended that any effort to explore the potential of the youth for the future must be done without delay, reiterating that “young people are not the future leaders. They have the potentials to lead and actively contribute now. Saying that young people are future leaders limit their present potential and postpones their creative abilities until some future date.”

He said that there appeared to be no “deliberate and strategic national effort” to groom and prepare people for leadership roles, but many turn around to complain when these same leaders fail abysmally.

“In recent times, many well-meaning Ghanaians have been complaining about the quality of leadership in the country, managing both state and non-state sector. What has been missing in all the conversations is ‘how did we get to this stage?’ Opportunities for sharpening leadership skills are so few.”

He said Ghana needed “leadership marshall plan” which would ensure “a massive, determined effort to start preparing our next leaders otherwise our problems won’t go away.”

“American children have a very strong sense of belief, but it did not come on a silver platter. It is a culmination of the processes they go through that makes them so.”

He called for change of attitude and mindset by allowing children to participate in certain decision-making processes and get them involved in the governance of the educational institutions.

By William Yaw Owusu

A group of hiplife artistes have commended Ghana-based Nigerian artiste, Prince Nwadinobi Okezie, aka Eze, Alhaji Sidiku Buari and Hammer for their immense contribution towards the promotion of Ghanaian hiplife music in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

According to the artistes, Sidiku Buari, a former president of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA), Hammer and Eze were among those who sacrificed their time and energy to promote Ghanaian hiplife music on the international music market, including that of Nigeria with the support from Charlie Boy, former president of Nigeria Music Association.

The hiplife artistes noted that when Eze joined the Ghanaian music scene in 1999, he used his company to assist a number of Ghanaian hiplife artistes who at that time needed support and encouragement.

They also praised Hammer of the Last Two fame for his immense contribution to the growth of hiplife music in the country.

Some of the artistes who spoke to BEATWAVES said Eze, based on his commitment in the development of Ghanaian music industry, was honoured by the School of Performing Arts, University of Ghana, Legon, for his contribution towards both the music and movie fraternity in Ghana.

They also disclosed that Eze used his position as an artiste, producer and songwriter to groom a number of underground artistes who have been successful in their musical career.

According to them, Eze, who is also the originator of some major event such as ‘Loud in Accra’ and ‘Kicking in Kumasi’ in the early 2000s, is also the brain behind the popular song titled ‘Anago’ which had heavy rotation on TV.

In an interview, Nana Kwaku Duah, aka Tic Tac, yesterday told BEATWAVES that Eze is the one who introduced Ghanaian hiplife music on the Nigeria music market, adding that he has supported a number of artistes.

“He always wants to see Ghanaian music industry grow. He has been on the Ghanaian music scene for more than a decade and has financed the musical works of some of the artistes,” he mentioned.

  By George Clifford Owusu (beatwaves@yahoo.com)

Fadda Dickson (left) and Michael Annan

Following its resolution to maintain its listeners across the country, the management of Peace FM has promised more quality, exciting and educative programmes for their listeners and clients.

Having demonstrated dynamic leadership in radio industry in Ghana, Peace FM has carved a niche for being one of the most listened-to radio stations in the nation’s capital.

The station has received several awards, especially for its morning show, Kokrokoo, hosted by Kwami Sefa Kayi.

Some of its awards include CIMG Radio Programme of the Year Award (2004 and 2007) and the Radio and Television Programme Award (RTPA) for Best Morning Show, 2010.

Sefa Kayi has also scooped the Morning Show Host of the Year (Radio) Award, Arts Critics and Reviewers Association of Ghana (EGRAG) Awards in 2008.

Peace FM’s drive-time programme hosted by Mikki Darling was adjudged the CIMG Radio Programme of The Year for 2010.

Prosecutors in Nicaragua say they have charged former Nicaraguan Football Federation chief Julio Rocha with money laundering and corruption.

He was one of seven senior Fifa officials detained in Switzerland in May over corruption allegations.

Mr Rocha, who is a Nicaraguan national, last week agreed to be extradited to his home country.

He is still in detention in Switzerland and can only be extradited if the US, which has also charged him, agrees.

Swiss justice officials said that in order for Mr Rocha to be taken to Nicaragua, the US would have to waive its extradition request, which predates the Nicaraguan one.

Prosecutors in Nicaragua said they had evidence suggesting Mr Rocha received a $100,000 (£64,000) kickback from a company with which he had signed a broadcast rights agreement.

Mr Rocha is one of 14 current and former Fifa officials and associates indicted by the US authorities on charges of “rampant, systemic, and deep-rooted” corruption.

The US Department of Justice said that the corruption was planned in the US, and that American banks were used to transfer money.

The US investigation was initially sparked by the bidding process for the Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022 World Cups, but was widened to look back at the dealings of world football’s governing body over the past 20 years.

Mr Rocha was Fifa’s development officer from 2012 and before that served on Nicaragua’s Olympic Committee.

So far, only one of those arrested in Switzerland has been extradited to the US.

Fifa Vice-President Jeffrey Webb pleaded not guilty to accepting bribes worth millions of dollars in connection with the sale of marketing rights.

He was placed under house arrest on $10m (£6.4m) bail by a New York judge.

The remaining officials wanted by the US have so far not agreed to be extradited.

They are all from Latin America or from the Concacaf federation which covers North America and the Caribbean.

Sammy Awuku

THE USA branch of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has announced that it will on August 28 begin a two-day international youth conference at the Hilton New York JFK Airport Hotel, Jamaica Queens, New York, USA.

The conference is to grant youth of the NPP from across the world the platform to share ideas and mobilise resources to campaign for the party’s 2016 flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, during the upcoming general elections.

According to a statement released by the NPP-USA signed by its Head of Publicity, Amponsah Stonash and copied to the DAILY GUIDE, “The NPP youth from all over the world will converge in the USA to strategise for victory in the 2016 elections, while networking and socialising with one another.”

The 2016 Vice Presidential Candidate of the NPP, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, is billed to grace the conference expected to be held under the theme: ‘Repositioning and Energising the Youth Wing for Victory 2016’ the statement disclosed.

Economic Crisis

On the current abysmal state of the Ghanaian economy, NPP-USA lamented that the hopes of Ghanaian youth continue to dwindle due to the mismanagement of the economy by the John Mahama-led ruling NDC Government.

“Such a gathering of the ‘young Turks’ of Ghana has become necessary at this crucial time in our nation’s history: the ambition, aspirations, hopes and dreams of these young Ghanaians keep dwindling by the day.”

According to the statement, “Despondency and alienation have set in on all fronts of our society, and on countless occasions, the government of the day has proven to be very insensitive to the plight of the youth by its inactions, poor judgment, nepotism and greed.”

It said, “The hardship resulting from the government’s mismanagement of the economy is so pervasive that even suckling babies feel it. It is simply deplorable.”

It added that “in the midst of these hardships, the Mahama-led government continues to commit egregious crimes against the citizens of the nation.”

The NPP-USA branch further lamented that “unprecedented unemployment rates continue to frustrate the aspirations of the youth. We the youth wallow in poverty and hopelessness, while the president and his cronies sit on a whopper stash of public cash.”

BY Melvin Tarlue

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has been called upon to come out with a policy to address the adoption of children by gay couples.

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana Rt. Rev Professor Emmanuel Martey made the call at the opening of the 15^th General Assembly of the Church at Abetifi in the Kwahu East District of the Eastern Region.

The General Assembly, which is the highest decision-making body of the church, attracted over 300 Commissioners and Corresponding members from all the 20 presbyteries, including the newly elected Asante South Presbytery.

This year’s General Assembly which is under the theme, “Anointing of the Holy Spirit” among other things will take decisions that will guide the activities of the Church in the coming years.

Rt. Rev Prof. Martey said children adopted by gay couples would be denied the right to true parentage of a father (a man) and a mother (a woman).

“Is it not ironical and funny that gay-couples are interested in adopting children? Where do children come from? Do they come from same sex marriage or as a result of heterosexual marriage between a man and a woman?” He quizzed.

Rev Prof. Martey intimated that homosexuality undermines the stability of the family as both male and female fundamental functions are totally misplaced.

The Moderator who had been speaking passionately against the approval, endorsement and recognition given to same sex marriages by the Presbyterian Church USA, in June this year, said people should cease talking about homosexual behavior as human rights issue because there is nothing “human” about it.

He further said homosexuality is not a human rights issue neither it is a social justice issue.

He added that the social justice argument had become so effective that homosexuals often succeed in having ‘right’ legislation passed in their favour.

Rt. Rev Prof. Martey further argued that every child in this world needs parents for natural care and to grow, adding that parents in this context consist of a male and a female.

He maintained that a Bible-believing and practicing church such as  the Presbyterian Church of Ghana sees the Bible differently from the way pro-gay churches see it.

The Moderator said, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana sees same sex marriages as ungodly, sinful, unrighteous and “satanic” and therefore will not put up with such “satanic practice” in any form.

-myjoyonline.com

The point of insurance is to safeguard you when things go really, really, really wrong.

Most of us get it. Your house and possessions probably won’t be incinerated by a sudden fire but if it happens, you’ll be glad you paid a premium for the benefit of an insurance payout. Without it, you’re kinda screwed.

For better or worse, Pedro is Barcelona’s insurance policy right now. That’s why it’s not hard to understand why club president Josep Maria Bartomeu talks him up at every turn, referring to him as part of “the club’s history” and saying he believes he’ll still be around at the Camp Nou after deadline day.

And now, by all accounts, it looks as if he’s on his way out. Regardless of whether he ends up at Manchester United (who have reportedly withdrawn interest), Chelsea or some other club, at around $30 million, he’s a pretty good deal.

How we got to this situation in which it’s Pedro who can leave at a pre-set price, despite being under contract, is a long and convoluted story. Put that to one side. Focus instead on the fact that he wants playing time in a season leading up to the European championships. And he no longer wants to be the guy behind the glass you break in case of emergency.

What’s tough to understand is how Barcelona could leave themselves in this situation. Particularly when they knew that because of the FIFA transfer ban, they couldn’t buy a replacement.

Sure, Pedro was a guy off the bench, and they still have one of the greatest forward lines in history: Neymar, Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi. And then? And then you have several options. You can shift a midfielder (Andres Iniesta and his 31-year-old legs or Rafinha, who has hardly played there) into the front three. Which is fine, except it creates an imbalance elsewhere.

Or you can turn to what’s left on the bench. Like Munir El Haddadi, who is 19 and has scored all of five goals in 33 appearances (23 as a starter) for Barca and Barcelona B. Or Sandro Ramirez, 20 years of age, 42 combined appearances (30 starts) for the A and B team and 11 goals.

Or you can dig even deeper. Jean-Marie Dongou notched 11 goals last year for Barca B. There’s also Alen Halilovic, more of an attacking midfielder perhaps but signed with much hype last summer; he scored four goals and made 22 starts for Barca B. They are both 19.

The problem won’t come when one of the front three is out. Bartomeu could play himself alongside any two of Neymar, Suarez and Messi and odds are that Barca would still stomp over most of the opposition. The problem arises when two are out at the same time. Then, it becomes a stretch. It gets tricky.

This isn’t a case of dissing La Masia’s youngsters. But the fact of the matter is that Barcelona B — with Dongou and Halilovic for a whole season and Munir and Sandro for most of it — finished dead last in the Spanish second division. It’s not quite the equivalent of, say, Chelsea turning to Blackpool (last in the Championship last season) and expecting Nathan Delfouneso and Ishmael Miller to back up Diego Costa, but it’s not entirely far off, either.

The Barca B crew are hugely talented and they have a year of experience (mostly in the second division) under their belts. And yes, Barca B is a developmental team and you have to consider that when looking at their results. But they finished dead last in the second division. I know they have the La Masia tag but then so did Bojan, Jonathan Dos Santos, Isaac Cuenca, Jeffren and Nolito. And despite being talented, none of those guys stuck around long enough to make an impact in the first team, though some enjoyed success elsewhere.

OK, so you’re probably telling me to chill out. It’s highly improbable that two of Barcelona’s front three will be unavailable at any one time and even if it happens, no matter. It’s La Liga after all: cream puffs galore beyond the top half-dozen, and as for the Champions League, you have to really stink to go out in the group stage. They could make it to the knockout round with one hand tied behind their back, and by that stage the transfer embargo will be over and Arda Turan will be pacing the sidelines, ready to wreak havoc off the bench.

But that’s the whole point about insurance. It exists for unlikely and far-fetched, but potentially catastrophic, events. Like Messi doing his ACL and a week later, Suarez losing his head, biting someone again and getting a four-month ban. Improbable? Absolutely. But it could happen. And if it did, it would be catastrophic.

Having Pedro or another veteran striker around wouldn’t make up for the loss, just as the half-million dollar payout from the insurance company won’t compensate you for losing your home. But it will mitigate the damage.

Even the Champions League group stage wouldn’t be a foregone conclusion. What if two starting frontmen go down in September and Barca are drawn in a group with, say, Arsenal, Lyon and Roma? Are you sure it’s a cakewalk then? A stumble here, a bad refereeing call there and suddenly margins can get extremely tight.

Again, we’re talking about an extreme case, but one that could have been avoided. Was it really necessary to sell Gerard Deulofeu so quickly? Should they have hung on to Adama Traore at least until January? Why are they so keen to loan out Halilovic?

Maybe it was the elections, but evidently Barca woke up late to the message. Assuming Pedro goes, there is no insurance policy. And there’s not much they can do about it, other than perhaps swallowing their pride and seeing whether they can recall Cristian Tello from his loan at Porto. Or making some last-ditch effort to persuade Pedro to stick around until January when the transfer ban is lifted.

Look around Europe. Clubs pay lots of money for guys who sit on the bench “just in case,” particularly when it comes to attacking players. There’s a reason for it; the same reason we take out insurance. You may never need it. But the day you do, you’ll be glad you had it.

-espnfc.com

Sandra Don Arthur

Persons who have admired the expertly crafted makeup of some of the biggest screen stars in West Africa are most likely to have admired the works of Sandra Don Arthur of Alexandrina Makeup Artistry.

Her works on celebrities like Juliet Ibrahim, Jackie Appiah, Efya and Joselyn Dumas have made her one of the go-to makeup artists for the stars and a member of Maybelline New York Board of Influencers in Ghana.

“I love the challenge of taking the look I had in my mind and elevating it to the next level, doing something really different and special,” Sandra said, adding, “there’s nothing better than seeing your client satisfied with her image and the work you’ve done to bring out her inner beauty.”

After studying at Mink Cosmetics in London, her works have spanned across editorial shoots, advertising campaigns and primetime TV shows broadcast internationally. Her latest accomplishment was her appointment as a member of Maybelline New York’s Board of Influencers, a partnership that saw her involvement in the hosting of Africa’s first dedicated makeup TV show, “Makeup Diaries,” showing on DSTV across 46 countries.

Sandra’s main goal as a member of the Board of Influencers is to make a positive impact on what Maybelline does in Ghana by influencing what is done to tailor the products to the African market and bring something fresh to makeup artistry.

“Because of my work with Makeup Diaries, I feel like I’m part of the bigger picture of influencing the Maybelline brand and taking it to new heights in Ghana and other markets.

“It’s great to be working with a world class brand; and the partnership has been mutually beneficial, so I’m looking forward to what’s to come,” Sandra added.

Sandra’s keen eye and innate understanding of colour and technique have enabled her to work with some of the industry’s best and landed her the position of head makeup artist on hit television series such as @ Home With Joselyn Dumas, Jim Iyke Unscripted and Dzigbordi Show, which are watched daily across the African continent, Canada and Europe.

Sandra made her first big breakthrough when she was working on the set of “@ Home With…” in London. When the Managing Director of MNET Africa, Biola Alabi, came on set as a guest, the show’s lead makeup artist told Sandra to do Alabi’s makeup for the show.

Despite her nervousness, she was able to do it, pleasing the client as well as the millions of viewers who watched the episode. After that she became the lead makeup artist on the show and worked with Joselyn Dumas for five seasons.

Her impressive editorial experience includes covers for Glam Africa and Haute Canoe Magazine. For the launch of Maybelline New York earlier this year, she delivered an innovative tribute to Kofi Ansah via her Haute Avant Garde collection which featured clothes from the legendary Ghanaian designer and creative makeup to showcase the diverse range of Maybelline New York products now available in Ghana.

“I feel incredibly blessed to have been given these opportunities. I try to make the most of each opportunity presented to me and have fun always,” said Sandra, adding, “When I look to the future, I’m hoping for pan African success with global recognition.”

Kwaw Kese painting one of the prison’s headquarters

Rapper Kwaw Kese has called on Ghanaians to help his Kwaw Kese Foundation campaign to support inmates of the various prisons across the country.

The “Abodam” crooner’s foundation is on a mission to set up fifteen (15) different industries,  including exercise book printing factory, soap making factory, bead making factory, T-Roll factory, chalk making factory, cane weaving, block molding factory, uniform sewing and farming, among others, for inmates of the various prisons.

The campaign was inspired by his recent experience in a Kumasi prison where he was incarcerated for allegedly smoking a narcotic substance and later released.

Announcing the campaign at a press briefing on Tuesday at the Ghana Prison Headquarters in Accra, Kwaw called on Ghanaians to donate just one cedi each to support the cause.

He will be touring all ten regions of Ghana with different activities to raise support for the project.

According to him, “the project is to empower inmates and help them develop their skills, fend for themselves and their dependants and live meaningful lives.”

“This is about transforming the various prisons in Ghana to get inmates busy rather than sitting idle in the prisons for the years that they would be spending in there. So Kwaw Kese Foundation is trying to bring industry to the prisons. This will help and I think we should all support,” he told NEWS-ONE.

(Twitter: @fdee50    Email: fdee500@yahoo.com)

By Francis Addo

Sarah Kwabla

Drama continues to unfold over the sexual intercourse between Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan and a lady who describes herself as a 22-year-old university student, Sarah Kwabla, six months ago.

The drama generated by the sexual encounter has been handled by three different police stations, put three popular persons behind bars, caused a law court to slap a two-week remand term on popular musician Ekwo Micah, landed NEWS-ONE, the paper which first broke the story, in court, generated accusations of rape, sodomy, blackmail, defamation, extortion and a huge media attention still in full blaze.

It is not certain what the outcome of the case may be, but a police source told NEWS-ONE on Wednesday that though there is overwhelming evidence of conspiracy to extort money against Sarah Kwabla, her musician friend Ekwo Micah, journalist Osarfo Anthony and a certain Chris, the case may never be sent to court because of interventions by very influential persons who do not want Sarah Kwabla prosecuted.

“The case is ready; charge sheet and facts everything is ready but we have not fixed a court date because some big people do not want it to go to court and are lobbying we send it to the  Minister of Justice and Attorney General for further study until people forget about the whole case,” the police source disclosed.

This will not be the first time the Ghana Police Service has not pursued a case that has gained public and national attention even when the police has enough evidence.

The most recent was when police investigations proved that Ms Ada, a radio presenter, had connived with others to cook up a story that she had been kidnapped and gang raped.

Checks by NEWS-ONE showed that though Sarah Kwabla had claimed she secretly recorded the sexual intercourse and that the video contained evidence she was raped and sodomised by the footballer, she told the police the video was missing.

Even a special copy supposedly given to Sarah Kwabla’s mother for safekeeping cannot be produced. Apart from Sarah Kwabla, no other person, not even her lawyers, saw the video before it went missing.

Sarah Kwabla had also alleged that the intercourse she had with Asamoah Gyan resulted in a pregnancy but NEWS-ONE has gathered that the pregnancy has vanished.

What is not clear is whether Sarah Kwabla’s pregnancy vanished through a miscarriage or through an abortion.

A paternity test scheduled to have been conducted on Tuesday, June 23 to ascertain whether or not Asamoah Gyan was responsible for the pregnancy did not come on because Sarah Kwabla did not honour the appointment, though part-payment for the cost of the test had been deposited at the medical facility.

Sarah said she secretly recorded her sexual encounter with the Black Stars captain in her apartment but decided to make it public because her relationship with the footballer was not going as she had envisaged.

Kwasi Oppong Ababio

FOR FAILING to appear before the Sunyani Circuit Court B after he had been subpoenaed and a bench warrant issued for his arrest, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Sunyani, Kwasi Oppong Ababio, has finally submitted himself to the court and has been granted GH¢10,000.00 self-recognizance bail to re-appear on 24 August, 2015.

The registrar of the Sunyani High Court (prefers name not mentioned), who confirmed this to DAILY GUIDE in a telephone conversation, said the case for which the MCE was issued with a bench warrant involves the Sunyani Municipal Assembly and one Raphel Cugbadzi, whose vehicle was towed by the assembly’s towing outfit in April last year.

The MCE and the Municipal Coordinating Director were served with a writ to appear before the court to answer questions on the operations of the assembly’s towing outfit.

But since last year April, Mr Kwasi Oppong Ababio had failed to appear in court and so he was subpoenaed on 12 August this year, to show up but again, he failed to comply thus, the issuance of a bench warrant for his arrest.

The regional police commander was therefore served with a copy of the warrant for the MCE’s arrest on 17 August, but he willingly submitted himself to the court the following day and was granted a self-recognizance bail to reappear on the above-stated date to defend himself on the substantive case between the assembly and Ms Raphael Cugbadzi

Left: The victim and the convict

A 19-year-old boy, Eric Kwesi Ansah, has been jailed eight months for knifing her 17-year-old girlfriend, Esther Yeboah.

The victim, now nursing a baby boy aged below two years, reportedly sustained serious injuries at her back and the head.

The boyfriend and the victim were said to have travelled from Obodan in the Eastern Region to Prestea in the Western Region, ostensibly to go into hiding after the lady had given birth to the baby boy.

The nursing mother was allegedly stabbed when she purportedly called her mother to inform her of her (Esther Yeboah’s) and the boyfriend’s whereabouts.

An eyewitness, one Kobina Sika, told this paper, “The 17-year-old lady borrowed my mobile phone and called her parents to inform them of where she and the boyfriend were.”

Eric Kwesi Ansah then became very angry with her girlfriend for doing that because he said he (Ansah) feared that the girl’s parents would come for her.

Kobina Sika, who hails from Himan-Prestea, indicated that the two young lovers came to him in search of jobs.

Though he did not have any jobs for them, he agreed to house them because the lady was from his hometown in the Eastern Region.

“That is how come Esther took my phone to call her mother to inform her of her whereabouts,” he averred.

He explained that the following day Kwesi Ansah tried to force the lady to go with him to another place but she refused.

“Later in the day I heard a loud noise from Esther’s room. I went there and saw Kwesi Ansah stabbing her. Upon seeing me, he ran away but was later arrested,” Mr Kobina Sika narrated.

The victim was rushed to a nearby hospital where she was treated and discharged.

According to the father of Esther Yeboah, it had been four months since she left home and that all efforts to locate her had failed until the day she was stabbed.

The case was sent to court on Tuesday and after the trial Kwesi Ansah was jailed eight months.

From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi

Obour

There is a serious tension mounting in the music industry in Ghana over guidelines announced for the upcoming national congress of the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) to be held in October this year.

The congress which will elect a president and others to steer the affairs of the union for the next four years has attracted a lot of controversy following the decision by Obuor’s administration to make literacy a condition for eligibility to contest the presidency of MUSIGA.

These criteria have set other members of the union grumbling and have accused Obuor of trying to perpetrate his reign, knowing full well that most of the members of the union are either unlettered or impecunious.

A number of music stakeholders have also condemned Obuor’s administration for asking nominees for the MUSIGA presidency to pay a filing fee of GH¢3,000 and also a nominee for the MUSIGA presidency must be a serving member of an executive body of the union either at the district, regional or national level.

One of the musicians, Gyedu Blay-Ambolley, in a chat said he didn’t have any problem with the GH¢3,000 filing fee for the MUSIGA presidency, however, since most of the members are poor, he would be happy if something was done about it.

He expressed regret that politics has eaten deep into MUSIGA now to the extent that they are asking would-be leaders to pay GH¢3,000 as is the case in the political arena, adding, “I’m not pleased with this at all.”

“I believe they are doing this to scare others from contesting the president who has formed a mafia around him and has failed to appropriately account for an amount of GH¢2 million doled out to the union by the government.

This is a deliberate ploy to deter people from questioning how the GH¢2million budget support was squandered,” Ambolley alleged.

He argued that there are many such people who have contributed to Ghanaian highlife music and don’t deserve to be excluded on account of they not being able to read and write nor having GH¢3,000 to file nominations to contest the presidency of MUSIGA. “If someone is illiterate, it doesn’t mean he/she lacks ideas,” he said.

Amandzeba Nat Brew also said, “I have heard about the filing fees of GH¢3000 and the literacy thing but I think they ought to look at it again.”

He said there should not be any open or secret attempt to bar any member from contesting election to either affirm the current president of the union or to change him for a new face to come.

He conceded that when Obuor took office four years ago, they were all happy but it seems things are not being done right. “There’s no transparency, see, I don’t even know the vision of MUSIGA.”