Now, when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia they were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia. After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; there stood a man of Macedonia and prayed him saying, come over into Macedonia and help us”.

Acts 16:6 – 10

COLONEL ADJEI YEBOAH of the 37 Military Hospital, Accra, cannot stand accused for inviting the “public sector doctors who voted last Friday to resume work at a crucial meeting of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to complement the work of medical officers at the hospital to save lives”.

The Public Relations Officer of the 37 Military Hospital, Captain Rita Anane, made the appeal on behalf of the hospital and requested the Ministry of Health to “post those 148 doctors to the security hospital to reduce the stress on medical officers there”.

The impasse between the government and the medical doctors is not pleasing to the ear of the medical doctors and not pleasing to the ear of any well – meaning Ghanaian. Prominent members of the public have expressed their concerns and appealed to the striking doctors to resume work while the negotiations over their demands went ahead. These include President John AgyekumKufour and OsagyefoAmoatia, Kyebihene.

However, in the interim, people are asking whether the appeal by the 37 Military Hospital is workable? Snippets of the report from the last doctors’ meeting reveal that not a single doctor demurred on the continuation of the strike. The voting was rather on the inclusion of the emergencies on the list of “forbidden cases”

People are asking further: “Suppose some of the ‘agreeable doctors” are in various hospitals outside Accra, what happens to those hospitals they will be deserting”? Furthermore, will a picture of ‘good’ doctors versus ‘bad’ doctors not be created; that is the ‘good’ doctors heeded the call and assisted at the 37 Military Hospital while the ‘bad’ doctors remained adamantine and continued with the strike?

The invitation is however very much like the Biblical “Macedonian call”, in which Paul saw in a vision a man inviting him to Macedonia to preach to them and save them from sin.

The ‘doctor-government tango’ has now become part of Ghana’s history. It is unfortunate that the strike action has been allowed to drag on for so many weeks, just because of the recalcitrance on the part of the parties separately. Who is not seeing reason? Words like ‘senseless’, ‘unpatriotic’ ‘illegal’, have been thrown at the doctors, and the government communicators have been strengthened in their resolve to spew invectives at the doctors.

The Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, an otherwise soft – spoken genteel and affable gentleman poses a subtle threat when he says: “Government will continue negotiations with the GMA only if they call off their strike action and come back to the negotiating table for us to dialogue further on putting closure to the whole subject of getting them a codified condition of service”.

Mr Alex Segbefia, the Minister of Health proposes the retention of 16 Cuban doctors who have completed their term and are due to return to their country. Besides, he stated that processes are ongoing for about 177 Cuban doctors to be brought into the country to assist in healthcare delivery at the time Ghanaian doctors remain on strike. MrSegbefia adds that with effect from 20^th August 2015, those Ghana Medical Association members who are not at post would be taken to be on strike and therefore, in breach of the Labour Act.

The Minister of Health states the government’s position, as he notes: “Government has indicated that it cannot negotiate with doctors while they are still embarking on an illegal strike. Government recognises the right of workers to negotiate for better conditions of service. Without prejudice to the right of the GMA to negotiate for better conditions of service, government considers the impact of the strike on the lives of Ghanaian as unacceptable”.

To say that our health delivery system is erratic is to say the obvious. There is no denying the fact that the doctor – to – patient ratio is way down the UN recommended ration. While we in Ghana are churning out many art graduates, other countries, including Cuba make sure they ‘produce’ doctors for their own nation as well as ‘producing’ doctors for ‘exports’. Doctors in Ghana are in high demand– they would be called ‘scarce commodities ‘if they had been objects and not human beings.

There will be time to talk about the processes of ‘producing’ doctors in Ghana – qualifications, the procedures, the training and other relevant connections. For now, our focus should be on the impasse that is the strike action embarked upon by the doctors.

We should be careful about being too legalistic; some doctors will see the introduction of ‘legalism’ as ‘intimidating’; some people in government will see the negotiations as pandering to the dictates of the doctors. Those doing the negotiation should aim at a win – win resolution and the atmosphere should be conducive to both parties; and if any organisation would join the government and the doctors, let it not be a case of using a calabash which is capable of breaking. The Akans have a proverb: “Twe – ma – me – ntwenaemakoraabo” (to wit, it is the pull by two contending parties that breaks the calabash.)

Even our courts of law have found it necessary to encourage ‘Alternative Dispute Resolution’ where strict interpretation of, and adherence to law is shelved and parties are encouraged to adopt other means of ‘resolving ‘ their ‘disputes.’ One would encourage the parties to stop throwing punches and think only of an amicable resolution. In the spirit of ‘give – and – take’; let the parties ‘cool down tempers’, and secure a lasting solution.

The last meeting showed all Ghanaians that the demands by doctors have not been a ‘one – man  show’ initiated by the President, Dr KwabenaOpoku – Adusei  or the General Secretary, Dr Frank  Serebour, or any other individual doctor including Dr Justice Yankson. The totality of the doctors must have been infuriated by some of the remarks by certain NDC communicators and propagandists. These included Anita de Sosoo who urged government to call the doctors’ bluff and import Cuban doctors to replace the striking doctors. Nunoo-Mensah suggested to the striking workers to go and play football, to earn as much as the footballers earned. Perhaps, what ired them most was the suggestion that their action was being spurred on by the Opposition NPP.

Thus, it meant the doctors had no minds of their own, and until someone ‘pushed’ them, they did not know what and how to demand from government to make their lives better. A crude way of politicking, some people think. The Full Gospel Men’s Fellowship urges the striking doctors to resume work, and argues: ‘’A resumption of work will not amount to recapitulation. It will rather prove the maturity of the leadership and a willingness to heed the several appeals by well-meaning Ghanaians.” The statement continues: “Our concern is the needless and avoidable deaths the hospitals are recording daily and the pile-up of corpses in the mortuaries’’.

AlhajiJawula, the Leponwura, adds his voice to the call on the doctors to end the strike. He says: “The discussions are moving towards the propaganda level and I am not comfortable with that. People know where I stand politically but issues of health do not know politics”. Need anyone say anything more?

Africanus Owusu-Ansah

africanusoa@gmail.com   

Kevin-Prince Boateng

Ghana midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng is back in talks with Saudi Arabia giants Al-Ittihad.

The frozen Schalke star recently opted against a move to the Jeddah based club in favour of a move to Portugal’s Sporting Lisbon. The move however collapsed due to differences over his image rights.

The 28-year-old who has since reportedly had two offers has now opted to return to the negotiation table and is set for medicals by Bupa Arabia, the club’s official healthcare partner at the Sanitas Hospital in Madrid on Wednesday.

Schalke expects to take a minimal fee from the Saudi side should the former Milan midfielder pass his medicals.

Ittihad had made moves to sign compatriot Mubarak Wakaso but pulled out despite passing his medical.

It emerged that the Rubin Kazan player had been involved with two separate agents. Another move for Italy-based midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu was scoffed by his club Udinese.

Despite scoring high marks with national teams in the country, Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kwesi Nyantakyi says there is still more work to be done.

In an interview shortly after being given the nod for another four-year term in Tamale last Tuesday, he said he considered any feather in his cap as no achievement, and that the real work to push Ghana football forward begins now.

Responding to how he will deal with corruption, he said, “We will fight corruption if any. So far we have demonstrated that we are open and have nothing to hide. That has strengthened us and we promise to develop the country’s football better.”

The FA chief added: “The academy system is the best way to develop football now. We will help strengthen our colts system as well, look for more sponsorship to develop and promote the sport, engage club administrators and the media more frequently than before.”

Nyantakyi continues as the country’s football governing body head after a 10-year spell.

Under his administration, Ghana qualified to three successive World Cups in 2006, 2010 and 2014; won Africa’s first ever gold at the U-20 stage, bronze also by the U-20 side at the World stage, Africa’s maiden U-17 (Ladies) bronze medal, a bronze and two silver for the Black Stars in 2008, 2010 and 2015 respectively. He also brought FIFA Goal Projects that saw the building of hostels, restaurants, and a secretariat, as well as sponsorship for the domestic league, among other achievements.

From Kofi Owusu Aduonum, Tamale

Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kwesi Nyantakyi has rubbished claims that the imminent pay cut of the Black Stars will have a telling effect on their performance.

Reacting to how the bonus slash will affect the playing body, he said in Tamale during a press conference after his re-election to another four-year term that “the Stars are very patriotic. They play for country; they don’t play for money. So I don’t know how a slash on their remuneration will affect their delivery.”

It emerged a few weeks ago that the Youth and Sports Ministry is planning to slash the Black Stars bonus from $10,000 to $5,000 beginning their next Nations Cup qualifiers against Uganda in September.

The GFA has however officially denied knowledge of the possible pay cut.

From Kofi Owusu Aduonum, Tamale

The Attorney General’s Department is praying the High court to set aside the July 28 ruling that slapped a 10-year jail term on Charles Antwi, the man convicted for attempting to assassinate President John Mahama.

The state is now seeking for an order of re-trial and a comprehensive medical review of the suspect.

An Accra circuit court passed the judgment after Charles Antwi, 36, confessed to a plot to assassinate the President and his family.

Antwi told the court that he purchased the gun he intended to use for his crime from a Burkinabe in the Brong Ahafo region.

The court, presided over by Justice Francis Obiri, ruled that the convict was sane and capable of carrying out the attack.

Background

Antwi was apprehended when a member of the congregation noticed his nervous and suspicious behaviour during the church service last Sunday.

According to the security source, a policeman and a member of the church escorted Antwi outside.

The loaded and cocked pistol was found following a search on him.

It was not immediately clear why he had carried the fully loaded gun into the church.

President John Dramani Mahama and his family worship regularly at the Ringway Gospel Centre but were not present in church last Sunday.

Credit: Starrfmonline.com

An action from the Tamale event

At least three players from this year’s Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) competition will star in the national juvenile team, according to Ghana Football Association’s Technical Director, Francis Oti Akenteng.

Tamale-based duo, Abubaker Abdul Malik and Rama Nurudeen, who emerged best player for the Boys and Girls competitions respectively, look destined to play in Ghana shirts when the next U-17 national selection is announced.

Barikisu Shaibu, a goalkeeper for the Upper West Regional Girls’ Airtel Rising Stars team in this year’s competition is also being considered strongly for the National U-17 Women’s team, the Black Princesses.

“We have seen many potential national team players,” said Francis Oti Akenteng after the ARS Zone 4 games played in Tamale over the weekend.

The competition, solely reserved for Regional U-15 teams, featured the Upper East and Northern Regions.

The honors were split equally. Northern Region’s Team A won the Boys competition while the Upper East snatched the Girls’ gold.

“The future of Ghana football is very bright and I especially want to thank Airtel for a great tournament. They have taken part of the responsibility of developing our future stars,” Oti Akenteng said.

The Northern Boys and Upper East Girls have now joined an elite cast of champions headed to Sunyani on August 29 and 30 for the Airtel Rising Stars national finals.

Others who have qualified for Sunyani are the Western Region’s male and female teams, the Eastern Region’s Boys team, the Ashanti Region’s Girls team, the Upper West’s Boys and Girls teams.

The final two tickets for the national champions will be competed for by Greater Accra Region and the Volta Region in Denu on August 22 and 23. It is a Corporate Social Responsibility project of Airtel Ghana in partnership with the Ghana Football Association.

From The Sports Desk

Azumah (L) demonstrating a point to his son 

Boxing great Azumah Nelson inspired his son Junior Nelson to triumph over Sheriff Seidu in the Lightweight contest of the Vodafone Homowo Amateur Boxing at Mantse Agbonaa in Accra on Monday.

The former world beater was in his son’s corner, issuing guidelines and tactics, which saw the latter dominating from start to finish.

The brilliance of Nelson, 19, and a key member of the Fit Square Boxing Gym, attracted the attention of the officials, as he won the boxer of the tournament prize.

The two-day boxing event produced a total of 65 bouts, under the AIBA Open Boxing competition rules, which saw 73 boxers from 22 boxing clubs engage in eight weight categories.

Azumah said in a telephone interview about his son: “He is catching up. I see in him a great potential to rule the world soon. He will get there, it’s a matter of time.”

Samuel Yaw Addo claimed the flyweight category over Ishmael Lamptey.

Wasiru Mohammed recorded a 15-seconds knockout over Ernest Kawaga, while Benjamin Kuwornu won a split decision over Okpoti Tetteh.

Jibril Mohammed beat Joseph Tagoe by a unanimous decision in the welterweight category with Ofei Dodoo defeating Delali Miledzi courtesy a split-point decision to win the middleweight category.

Issah Inusah shrugged off a stiff challenge from Ebenezer Quartey to win the light heavyweight division; and Briton, Andy Waters shocked home favourite Abraham Tabul to win their heavyweight bout also by a split decision.

Bantamweight boxer, Solomon Tetteh clinched the discovery of the tournament award despite losing to Wasiru Mohammed in the quarter-finals, while Attoh Quarshie Gym emerged the Best Boxing Club.

By Kofi Owusu Aduonum

VCRAC Crabee

A former chairman of the Electoral Commission (EC), Justice VCRAC Crabbe has charged the commission and government not to delay district level elections  ever again.

Since 2011, the district assembly elections have been dogged with many problems including inconsistent election dates, staggered elections and court battles.

In February 2015, for instance the Supreme Court directed the electoral commission to postpone the local level elections, which was scheduled for September 2015.

The EC was dragged to court by an aspiring Assembly man, Benjamin Eyi Mensah, represented by lawyer Alex Afenyo Markin. According to Eyi Mensah, a fisherman, he was denied an opportunity to file his nomination despite meeting all conditions to contest but the EC closed nominations before the maturation of the Constitutional Instrument (CI) 85.

Speaking at a forum organized by the Coalition for Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), the former supreme court judge tasked Ghanaians to prioritize the district level elections since to him any delay in that election will negatively affect the development of the country.

The co-chair of CODEO explained that the act of devolving power and authority from the central government to local levels is aimed at allowing both local representation and governmental efficiency in the planning and delivery of public services.

He further stated that it is evident that the organization of the district assembly election has not been consistent and these delays may create constitutional and administrative vacuum and affect the management of the districts.

But, the director of Public Affairs at the EC, Christian Owusu Parry believes the legal framework for the conduct of district level elections is to blame for the delays that are experienced in these election.

According to him the law does not stipulate the exact date for the conduct of the district assembly elections unlike the general elections. They will therefore be compelled only  to work within the deadlines if the law is changed to provide a fixed date.

Source: Citifmonline.com

Dr Kwabena Adusei Opoku, GMA President

The striking medical doctors will not call of their strike in spite of the directive by the National Labour Commission (NLC), a senior member of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has stated.

According to Dr. Hardi Abdullah, it will be suicidal for any executive of the GMA to ask members to call of their industrial action as directed by the NLC.

The National Labour Commission (NLC) has ordered the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) to “take steps to call off” its strike “immediately” after meeting the striking doctors and representatives of the government.

In a statement issued by the acting Executive Secretary of the NLC Dr Bernice Welbeck, the Commission also directed that “both parties, government and GMA should resume negotiations immediately and report to the Commission on Monday, 24th August 2015 at 4pm.”

The NLC met the employer of the striking doctors through the Ministries of Health, Employment and Labour Relations, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and the Ghana Health Service and the GMA Wednesday to settle the standoff between the two parties.

Reacting to the directive, Dr Abdullah told Kafui Dey on the Morning Starr Thursday that the decision to call of their strike can only be made at their general assembly meeting.

“It is impossible to just call off the strike now as the NLC is demanding. It will be suicidal to make that decision and any executive who makes that call can be impeached. The decision to call it off will be decided upon at the next general assembly meeting,” he stated.

Source: Starrfmonline.com

Charles Antwi 

The Attorney General (AG) has requested an Accra Human Rights Court to order the re-trial of Charles Antwi, 36, the man convicted over an assassination attempt on President John Mahama.

According to a notice of appeal filed by Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, the AG also asked that the judgment convicting and sentencing Charles be set aside.

Charles was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for possessing firearms without lawful authority by an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Justice Francis Obiri, on July 28, this year.

That was after he had confessed in open court that he attended the Ring Way Gospel Assemblies of God Church in Accra on Sunday, July 26, 2015, with a locally made pistol ostensibly to shoot President Mahama.

Charles stated among other things that he had to fight to eliminate President Mahama because he was not ruling the country properly.

But the A-G’s document dated August 11, 2015 further stated that the sentence of the accused was wrong in law.

It further stated that “the judge should have observed and had reason to believe from the composure, demeanor and utterances of the accused person who was unrepresented, that he was of an unsound mind and incapable of making a defence and thus the court should have caused him to be medically examined.”

Meanwhile, a Human Rights Court would today hear an appeal filed by lawyers of Charles Antwi to overturn the decision of the court.

Lawyer Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu had filed a certiorari application at the high court to quash the decision of Justice Obiri on the grounds that the convict’s right to have a counsel was breached as Charles argued the case for himself.

He claimed that hours of psychiatric evaluation conducted by a professor of psychiatry showed that Charles was not mentally sound.

The move follows the judgement that was characterized by widespread public criticisms.

The facts of the case as presented by DSP Abraham Annor were that the accused hails from Dadiesoaba in the Brong-Ahafo Region and that on the afore-stated date, he was found at the premises of the said church fidgeting in his seat.

He said a witness in the case who was in the church spotted Charles and when a search was conducted on him, the said pistol and two rounds of ammunition were found on him and he was arrested.

DSP Annor said in the course of interrogation, Charles admitted ownership of the gun, stating that he bought it from a Burkina Faso national at Nkoranza, also in the Brong-Ahafo Region.

The prosecutor stated that further investigations were underway to trace the source of the gun and the intention of the convict.

jeffdegraft44@yahoo.com

By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson

Ken Thompson

The Cedi’s continuous depreciation against major foreign currencies has negatively affected the operations of most companies in the country.

The demand for the US dollar continues to outweigh its supply.

The Central Bank, in the middle part of this year, announced that it had sufficient foreign exchange to inject into the country’s economy to stabilize the cedi against major foreign currencies.

It earlier announced plans to inject $20 million daily into the money market.

Despite the assurances and claims, the depreciation scourge has resurfaced, casting into doubt the ability of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to bring the situation under control.

As at yesterday, it was buying at GH¢3.9777 and selling at GH¢3.817.

A British Pound was buying at GH¢6.2382 and selling at GH¢6.2465. The Euro was buying at GH¢4.4540 and selling at GH¢4.576.

Government has on numerous occasions touted its ability to salvage the situation on the strength of the flotation of Eurobonds and the cocoa syndication loans but all these have not been able to correct the anomaly.By the middle of this year, the local currency had depreciated by over 25 percent.

Latest to add his voice to the cedi’s unstable performance is Ken Thompson, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dalex Financial Services.

He predicted that the local currency would fall against the major trading currencies and hit close to GH¢6 to a dollar by close of year.

In an interview with Citi Fm recently, Mr Thompson stated: “When I made my prediction in February, I remember the Finance Minister came on air the very next day and said that he agrees with me that the cedi has been overvalued but he didn’t think it will fall to 6. Till now, nothing has happened and changed for me to change my predictions.

Also the cocoa crop has failed, the amount we expect from cocoa is going to be nowhere near what we expect therefore the supply demand situation has not changed.”

By Samuel Boadi

Ekow Micah

An Accra Circuit Court has set August 24, 2015 to begin the trial of Lester Ekow Micah, a musician, who has been accused of allegedly possessing a quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp.

This was after the prosecution, led by Commissioner of Police (ACP) Moses Atibilla, told the court that the prosecution was ready for the hearing of the case.

He said the prosecution intends to call three witnesses in course of the trial.

This compelled the trial judge, Aboagye Tandoh to adjourn the case until August 24.

Charged with possession of narcotics, Micah, 43, of ‘Me Si Wu Hemaa’ fame, is said to have told the police that he smokes the supposed dried leaves in order to stimulate his music career.

Micah has, however, pleaded not guilty.

The facts of the case are that Micah is a resident of Ogbojo, near Kokrobitey in Accra and that on August 4, this year, Micah was arrested by the Airport Police over an alleged extortion case currently under investigations.

ACP Atibillah said the following day at about 11:30 hours, the Police visited the house of Micah, who wears dreadlocks to conduct a search and in the process, a quantity of dried leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp was found in Micah’s “back pack.”

The senior police officer stated that the popular reggae musician and President of the Music Council of Ghana admitted ownership of the exhibit and told the police that he smokes the substance to stimulate his music career.

Prosecution said the exhibit was being forwarded to the Police Forensic Crime laboratory for examination.

jeffdegraft44@yahoo.com

By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson

Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and Dr. Richard Amoako Baah

Head of Political Science Department of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Dr. Richard Amoako Baah has criticised the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) for opposing the compilation of new voters’ register, describing it as a paranoid move.

General Secretary of NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah on Wednesday mounted a public-spirited defence for the maintenance of the existing voters’ register.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) is demanding a fresh voters’ register since the old one has the names of non-Ghanaian voters, especially Togolese.

At a press conference in Accra, the NDC chief scribe accused the NPP of engaging in tribal politics and attempting to perpetuate fraud on Ghanaians with the claim of a bloated register, intimating that it was a gratuitous attempt by the opposition party to attack some tribes.

Mr. Asiedu Nketiah was also dismissive of evidence adduced by the NPP that more than 76,000 foreigners are on Ghana’s electoral register, for which reasons a new one must be compiled, insisting that the NPP massaged the said evidence to justify its unfounded call for fresh voters’ register.

But speaking on Kesben Fm, a Kumasi-based radio station, the political scientist said the NDC chief scribe was uneasy with the call for a new voters’ register.

“Why has this triggered the shivering reflex of Asiedu-Nketiah?  His attitude smacks of something fishy. After all, the evidence was not given to NDC rather EC of which he is not a member.  It is for the Electoral Commission (EC) to decide whether those evidences are credible or not, and not Asiedu Nketiah,” he asserted.

Dr. Baah wondered why the NDC was against the compilation of fresh voters’ register, arguing that a new electoral register would not inure to the benefit of any political party.

For him, the pontificating by Mr. Asiedu Nketiah, popularly known as General Mosquito, would lead the nation to nowhere, as the EC has the final say on the matter.

The political scientist dismissed the assertion of the NDC’ General Secretary that the NPP was plying the ethnic card in attempt to attack some tribes in the country, noting that the claim was unfounded, flimsy and preposterous.

According to him, the move was a deliberate attempt on the part of the ruling party to divert attention and possibly change the course of discussion over calls for fresh voters’ register.

He said the issue of foreigners on the electoral register, as raised by the NPP, cannot be swept under the carpet and that the NDC must be transparent for the matter to be investigated.

“If Asiedu Nketiah keeps on fighting the NPP’s call for new register, then it gives an impression that there is something fishy. I made the earlier call for fresh voters’ register before the NPP joined. The admission that minors found their way onto the register underscores this important demand,” he said.

Dr. Baah urged the NDC and other well-meaning Ghanaians not to debase the argument for fresh electoral register to ethnicity.

“He (Asiedu Nketiah) is trying to shift the goal post. Ga West, Adenta Municipality, Porne, Katamanso, Nzema East, Suaman, Amanfi East, Sekondi were mentioned in the findings and so where from this ethnic card?” he asked rhetorically.

“Is it Nana Akufo-Addo from Akyem or Bawumia from the North playing the ethnic card? It’s clear that there is something wrong. Looking at the way he is shivering. Does it mean he does not want the truth to come out?” the political scientist quizzed.

He further called on the EC to investigate the matter thoroughly.

From Ernest Kofi Adu, Kumasi

An asylum request by a female citizen of Ghana who claimed to have been persecuted for being a lesbian was rejected by an advisory committee on refugees reporting to the Israeli Interior Ministry.

The decision was informed by a conclusion that she had conducted a long-term relationship with a man and had not had any relationship with a woman in Israel.
The committee determined that Mavis Amponsah had chosen “to adopt a lesbian lifestyle,” so her claims that this is her sexual preference should be rejected.
The decision was made based on interviews conducted in English, despite Amponsah’s declarations that she doesn’t speak the language.
For the past five months she has been held in jail after not renewing her residence permit on time, due to a misunderstanding, according to her.

She was released earlier after court proceedings.

Amponsah, 41, entered Israel as a tourist in December 2013 subsequently filing a request for asylum.
She said that she had been in a relationship with another woman in Ghana for 20 years, and that her community objected to this and pressured her father, the tribe’s leader.
According to Amponsah, she and her partner were assaulted on two occasions, and there were threats to kill them.
Following the assaults she had to leave home, but the harassment continued. Her father warned her that his life was also in danger if she did not break off her relationship.
In a conversation with Haaretz, assisted by a translator to Akan, she repeated the gist of the story, saying she had maintained links with her partner but could not return to Ghana out of fear for her life.

The advisory committee doubted Amponsah’s story and rejected her request. The committee’s chairman, attorney Avi Himi, said that her statements contained many contradictions and facts that didn’t add up. He didn’t believe that she was a lesbian.

“She never said she was attracted to women but stated that she became a lesbian after being disappointed in her relationship with a previous male partner, who betrayed her for another woman,” he wrote.

“Her statements show that she consciously and rationally adopted a lesbian lifestyle. This wasn’t a preference she had had all her life, forming an integral part of her identity, so her claims of a clear sexual preference are unacceptable. Since arriving in Israel she didn’t meet women or act on her alleged preference, even though free to do so. This is contrary to what might be expected of someone fleeing persecution for a sexual preference.”

Himi related to other contradictions in her versions and said that she “couldn’t prove fear based on persecution if she returned to Ghana. While the law there forbids homosexual ties between men it is silent with regard to women.”

He noted that the gay community there is threatened and harassed, and that this could turn into persecution as the Ghanaian authorities do not provide any effective protection for the gay community.

Two months ago, after Amponsah’s interviews, attorney Yadin Elam started representing her.

He appealed to the Population, Immigration and Border Authority and protested “the absurd claims regarding her sexual inclinations,” demanding a repeat interview with a translator to Akan, a language she knows.

In a previous interview held in prison last March after she was detained, the translator determined that she “had difficulties with English.” Nevertheless, that interview as well as subsequent ones was held in English.

Contrary to procedures and court rulings, another Akan-speaking prisoner was asked to translate at another comprehensive interview held in May, but Amponsah refused.

That interview was also held in English. She asked that questions be repeated 35 times during the interview. On other occasions she answered only partially or not to the point.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees also believed that Amponsah doesn’t speak English and recommended interviewing her in a language she knows in order to arrive at a fair decision.

Following a question by Haaretz, the Israeli LGBT Association said that “the arguments appearing in the committee’s decision regarding sexual inclinations are baseless and outdated, and should no longer be used.

A lesbian’s inclination can exist even if she doesn’t act on it by living with another woman, just as a heterosexual woman maintains her sexual identity when she lives alone, or when she chooses not to act on her romantic or physical attraction to men.”

The Population and Immigration Authority responded by saying that “claims that Ms. Amponsah was interviewed in a language she supposedly doesn’t know, leading to doubts over our professionalism, are ridiculous, not fitting what really happened.

After providing you with details, these were ignored, since the examples and details that came out in the interviews contradict what you claim. The interviews were all recorded and documented.

She had several interviews lasting many hours, in the presence of her attorney.

She was repeatedly asked if the questions were clear and was told that if not they would be repeated. She agreed to not having a translator.

Regarding decisions on her sexual preference, the authority said that the “final opinion was based on all the interviews and on other parameters, some of them personal, that should not be made public for the sake of modesty and respect for her dignity.”

The deceased

A 13-year-old boy, Agyei James Binney has committed suicide at Akumsa Domase, near Nkoranza in the Brong Ahafo region

The father of the deceased, Kwaku Addo told the media that his son did that probably because he did not want to go to farm with him (father).

He said he was on his farm when he received a call that his son had been found hanging on the tree behind the family house.

The body of the boy, who is a Class 5 pupil at Akumsa Dumsa Presby Primary, was spotted by a stranger, who was walking behind the house on the tree and screamed for help.

The mother, whose name was not readily known, described James as a good and obedient boy.

According to her, she went to a different farm and was transported by a cyclist after she heard the news.

She couldn’t fathom why James could do such awful thing and burst into tears.

The police were called to remove the body from the tree.

The family and the whole village were devastated by the boy’s action.

The news astounded most people in the community, an eyewitness told DAILY GUIDE on the phone.

danielyaodayee@yahoo.com

From Daniel Y Dayee, Sunyani

Abizi Morkeh (middle) flanked by some executives of NYPD

THE YOUTH of Nzema in the Western Region are up-in-arms against the five New Patriotic Party (NPP) Members of Parliament (MPs) who are allegedly pursuing an agenda to kick against the establishment of the Atuabo Freeport in the region.

The five include Kwaku Kwarteng, Obuasi West MP; Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, Takoradi; Joseph Cudjoe, Effia; Hawa Koomson, Ewutu Senya East and Kofi Brako, Tema Central.

The MPs initially filed an application at the Sekondi High Court to have Clause 7 of the agreement establishing the port removed, claiming that the clause imposed an illegal restriction on the Takoradi port to expand its services.

The high court, presided over by Justice Peter Kwabena Ababio, dismissed the case, explaining that the court could not interfere and overturn a decision taken by parliament as an independent body, in accordance with the Standing Orders of the House.

The MPs, therefore, filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in Cape Coast, but the application was again dismissed by the court, presided over by Justice Clement Hoenyenugah, stating that the application was defective, and subsequently struck it out.

According to the Nzema youth, the persistence by the five MPs in pursuing the case from court to court to “delay or stop the establishment of the freeport is out of order.”

Addressing a press conference at Anokyie in the district, Abizi Morkeh, president of Nzema Youth for Peace and Development (NYPD), added that it was worrying when projects such as the Atuabo Freeport, with the prospects of creating jobs and give meaning to the local content policy in the oil and gas sector, is being kicked against.

“The Atuabo Freeport project will enhance our economic development therefore the agitations by the MPs tell us that their venture is just towards a destructive and bias partisan attack on the project,” he posited.

“We want to know whether the five MPs were not in parliament when the commercial agreement about the Atuabo port was approved and passed. Don’t they have the right to challenge the decision reached by the majority members?” he queried.

He stated, “The behaviour of the MPs if allowed can set a bad precedent where parliamentarians after a law is passed by the House, can turn around and go to court to challenge it.”

He challenged the assertion that the construction of the Atuabo Freeport has the potential to thwart the operations of the Takoradi port, quoting the Director General of Ghana Ports and Habours Authority, Richard Anamoo, who had once stated that the Atuabo project did not pose any threat to the viability and survival of the Takoradi habour.

 From Emmanuel Opoku, Anokyie

Green Ndume and Prince Emmanuel Okeso

HEADS OF Nigerians’ Communities (National) in Ghana have disputed claims by All Nigeria Community (ANC) President Moses Ohwaro that two of their colleagues are no longer part of the affairs of the group.

A news release issued in Accra and signed by four of the leaders of the groups making up the All Nigeria Community asked the public to disregard the ‘false’ media publications done by Mr Ohwaro against Prince Emmanuel Okeson, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of ANC and Green Ndume as ANC Secretary.

The leaders who signed the release include Alhaji Hakeem Maigida for Yoruba Community, Chief Nelson Okon for South South Community, Deacon Alex Chukwu for Igbo Community and Mallam Seidu Hamidu for Arewa Community respectively.

According to the release, the publications made against the two leading officers by Mr Ohwaro were not “factual” and added that “they were ill-conceived to tarnish the image of Messrs Okeson and Ndume.”

They release further said that “the constitution of the ANC Ghana as adopted by the national delegates conference of August 3, 2013 is the only authentic constitution recognised and in force in the community.”

 By William Yaw Owusu

One of the company’s booklets

The Accra Central District Police Command is searching for one Richard Amoako, chief executive officer of Tua Kakraa Susu Company, for alleged fraud.

Mr Amoako is alleged to have defrauded several people, mostly market women, under the pretext of making them save their monies with the company – what is known in the local parlance as susu.

Amoako has allegedly recruited about ten sales representatives who go about collecting the monies from the traders.

He was declared wanted after one of his sales representatives was apprehended by the women who suspected they had been defrauded, and handed the staff over to the Accra Central police.

Confirming the story to DAILY GUIDE, DSP Owusu Sekyere, Accra central district crime officer, said the victims, numbering about five, brought in one Madam Mari-Gold Mensah, a sales representative of Tua Kakraa Susu Company, for defrauding them.

According to the complainants, Mari-Gold came to them three months ago at the Kantamanto market and introduced herself as a sales representative of the company.

According to the victims, Mari-Gold told them her company was running a promotion for market women and customers who wanted to buy items of their choices but did not have the money readily at hand.

The police officer said some of the women who claimed they needed television sets, cement, blocks, refrigerators and other items, started depositing various amounts of money to the susu company through Madam Mari-Gold.

After completing the payment, the victims said,   Mari–Gold refused to deliver the items to them and that all efforts to get the company refund their monies proved futile.

The crime officer added that when Mari-Gold was interrogated by the police, she claimed that all the monies she collected were given to Mr Richard Amaoko, the CEO of the Tua Kakraa Susu Company.

“When I realized that some of my customers had finished paying for the items they requested, I immediately informed my boss about it but he did nothing about it.

She added that some of the clients had paid various sums of money totaling about GH¢3,000 to the company.

(lindatenyah@gmail.com)

By Linda Tenyah Ayettey

Madam Patricia Appiagyei (second from right) and other dignitaries at the Kumasi South Hospital at Atonsu Agogo

MADAM PATRICIA Appiagyei, NPP MP for Asokwa Constituency in Kumasi, has cut sod for commencement of an ultra-modern maternity block at the Kumasi South Hospital at Atonsu Agogo.

The huge edifice, estimated at a cost of GH¢650,000, would come with 40 beds, 40 babies’ courts, an ultra modern scanning and research room as well as offices for senior and junior doctors who work at the hospital.

Others include a nurses’ lounge and changing rooms, 15 washrooms, isolated mother and baby unit ward and quarantine unit for special cases, among others.

The sod-cutting ceremony was attended by chiefs, opinion leaders, medical doctors and people from all walks of life in the constituency.

Addressing the gathering, Madam Appiagyei said the project is to help boost healthcare at the hospital.

She called on NGOs, corporate entities and philanthropists in the constituency to support the project with cash.

Edmund Kyei, NPP Communications Director for Asokwa, commended Madam Appiagyei for her vision in transforming the area in order to better the lives of the people, citing the maternity block as a clear indication that the MP is development-oriented person.

He also appealed passionately to the various business entities, NGOs and other individuals in Asokwa to come on board by supporting the project so that it could be completed on time to enhance healthcare delivery at the hospital.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi

Raj Dean flanked by other personalities at the launch

Entertainment personality and CEO of Raj Multimedia, Raj Dean has said Ghana needs to take advantage of the country’s peaceful atmosphere to lead the tourism industry in Africa.

He was speaking at the launch of Ghana International Tourism Fair, an event aimed at promoting Ghana’s tourism industry last Friday at the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture, Accra.

The Ghana International Tourism Fair is a 5-day event being organized by Raj Multimedia in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture. It will take place at the International Trade Fair Centre in Accra from September 22 to September 27 amidst different activities.

Part of the activities will be the exhibition of ‘Made in Ghana’ shoes, bags, belts, arts and crafts etc. There will also be musical tourism, opening of a Tourism Village and cultural dance among others.

Participants will be coming from countries like South Africa, Nigeria, Europe and other parts of Africa.

Raj who is the Chairman of the planning committee for the fair said the event is targeted at improving Ghana’s tourism industry.

“Ghana has a unique product which is peace and this, if well packaged and promoted, would take our tourism concepts to an unprecedented level above all regions. We believe that tourism on its own through public or government initiative could support the economy by way of opening borders for new investments from abroad and other parts of Africa aside job creation among others.”

“Through the concept of tourism, we intend to bring to the fore within the next three years, a new scheme that has never been packaged in Ghana, West Africa and Africa. This concept would help to open new frontiers for our tourism industry…I can confidently say, expect the best,” he added.

Mr. Owusu Ansah who spoke on behalf of the Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture revealed, “Our major aim is to rejuvenate our tourism; in other words, recreating the concept of our culture, arts and others. We intend to bring innovation into the concept of tourism promotion. The fair is designed to create a platform that will showcase the contribution of Ghana to tourism over the years and to also make Ghana the ideal tourism destination for the whole of West Africa.”

The event is expected to enliven Ghana’s tourism potentials and encourage local tourism.

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

By Francis Addo