Maidens return home to rousing reception

Ghana’s Black Maidens arrived back home on Saturday after their U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup ended in the quarter-finals in Costa Rica.

The national side lost out 4-3 on penalties after drawing 2-2 in regulation time with Italy on Thursday, thus ending their hopes of reaching the medal zone.

The players, all dressed in official Ghana team kits, flew into Accra’s Kotoka International Airport before 8:00pm (20:00 GMT) after over 16 hours of travel. Executive Committee member of the Ghana Football Association, Linear Addy together with other GFA officials welcomed the team.

A band of supporters, drumming and singing waited outside the arrival hall to cheer on the team.


SOURCE;GHANA WEB

Superstition is a drawback to Ghana’s health care system - Prof Akosa

Professor Agyeman Badu Akosa, Executive Director of Healthy Ghana, has bemoaned the belief held by a number of Ghanaians that superstition, instead of germ, was the driver of diseases, saying it was one of the major drawbacks of the health care system in Ghana

He said it was worrying that even the highly educated in society held firmly to this belief, and would resort to prayer camps, instead of hospitals until the situation became worse, thereby endangering a sick person’s life.

Prof. Akosa was speaking on “Communication, Culture and Health,” at the third day of the first University of Cape Coast (UCC) Faculty of Arts Colloquium in Cape Coast, with the aim of providing a platform for researchers in the humanities at UCC and other avenues, to disseminate research findings on selected themes in order to inform policy briefs of the University and the nation.

Participants, drawn from various health, culture and communication disciplines, including staff and students of the Faculty of Arts, are being taken through three plenary presentations, 48 scientific research reports, a seminar as well as a round table discussion.

Prof. Akosa expressed concern that the poor and aged were invariably accused of using witchcraft to cause diseases and other predicaments, adding that many lives which have been lost to convulsion and other health conditions, could have been saved if the superstition factor had been eliminated.

He pointed out that even though prayer camps continuously abused people’s trust, patrons would always choose the camps over hospitals, and warned leaders of such camps to be careful with their activities, since they could be legally held responsible for the death of sick persons under their care.

He condemned the belief that the human urine could cure diseases, and urged the general public to be wary of the kind of medical advice they adhere to.

A Pathologist, by profession, Prof Akosa said, the superstition factor had led to the lack of trust in pathologists, since most people thought it was unnecessary or held strongly to the belief that some people, especially traditional leaders, were not supposed to be operated even in their demise.

He observed that most Ghanaians, even the well -educated, did not possess the habit of reading about their health conditions, either on line or in magazines, and therefore encouraged them to read more about health, especially the labels and briefs that come with drugs.

On herbal medicine, Prof. Akosa , noted that the mystic power of herbal medicine had eluded the herbalist's ability to identify the active ingredients in the herbs, and had therefore set the stage for criticism of herbal medicine’s ability to cure more than one disease.

Prof Akosa said the spirituality concept attached to the use of traditional medical had made most people to rather shy away in preference to western medicines, adding that if herbalists were well trained to identify active component in herbs, herbal medicine would be of great importance to healthcare.

He cited the late Professor Ewurama Addy’s study of the connection between herbal medicine and the sciences, saying allopathic and herbal medicine could pave way in health care when appropriately used.

He said the widest social determinants such as roads, water, and housing, were themselves causes of diseases, since water shortage, overcrowding in homes, and poor roads and traffic, were exposing Ghanaians to various diseases.

Prof Akosa in this regard advised the public to undergo regular health screening for early detection and treatment, explaining that, the body was dynamic, and constantly changing, and therefore periodic health screening allowed for the early detection of diseases previously unknown to individuals.

He said if he had the chance to design Ghana’s Health Care System, the building of more Community Health Planning and Services (CHPS) Compound and the appointment of competent health officers would be paramount.

He mentioned nutrition, immunization and regular exercise as other components of the health care system, explaining that balanced diet, prevention of diseases and exercises, were better than drugs as they had a better chance of safeguarding the body against diseases.

Prof. Ahmed Adu-Oppong, Lecturer at the UCC School of Medical Science, who presided, said it was important to learn about the role communication and culture played in health care delivery, and called on Ghanaians to change their superstitious beliefs in order to foster Ghana’s health care system.


SOURCE;GHANA WEB

1992 Constitution must work for all Ghanaians – Nduom writes

I will focus on the need to change the 1992 Constitution to make it work better for all Ghanaians.

I will set the stage and subsequently invite Members of Parliament, NGOs, business people and many others to use this platform to discuss the need for change.

The 1992 Constitution moved Ghana from a military dictatorship the PNDC led by its Chairman, Flt. Lt. J. J. Rawlings to a democratic form of government. Some have said that the 1992 Constitution was essentially designed and carefully chaperoned/guided to enable the replacement of the military dictatorship with dictatorship of a democratic kind, the dominance of an executive President.

Along with that, the head of the military government, became the founder of a political party who then shed his military clothes for civilian ones but retained his stranglehold on the country. A well-orchestrated Constituent Assembly with representatives from all corners of Ghanaian society sat and debated a script meant to convince the military dictator to hand over power.

Hand over he did, to himself. And Transitional Provisions inserted into the Constitution protected the usurper of the people's power and his accomplices from being held to account for their actions.

This is not unusual in Africa. Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Uganda are countries with military leaders turned civilian Presidents. The Egyptian military has ridden the back of a popular protest movement against its former President Moubarak and disenchantment with an elected civilian President Morsi to take over the country. Now the head of the army has resigned to prepare to run to become the next President of Egypt.

My opinion, formed through experience as an elected member of the KEEA District Assembly, Member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister and Entrepreneur is that until we change the constitution to remove the dictatorship of the President, our liberties will remain under threat.

The economy will continue to benefit a few with the vast majority of the people remaining very poor. Our current form and practice of democracy does not enable local initiative or enterprise. Everything revolves around the center, one person, in Accra and promotes dependency of the worst type. For this to change, the Constitution must be amended.

In January 2010, the President of Ghana, at the time the late Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, established the Constitution Review Commission as a separate entity. The Commission was formed to submit recommendations—in consultation with Ghanaian citizens—regarding amendments to the constitution.

A report has been submitted to government, a White Paper published and an Implementation Committee formed. If Ghanaians do not get involved to reverse what is going on now, we would have wasted valuable time and money (more than $6 million and counting) on this Commission, and nothing significant will change.

Get involved. Let your voices be heard. Help make Ghana Great & Strong.

Papa Kwesi Nduom
SOURCE;GHANA WEB

Education Ministry on a study tour in Germany

As part of the process of converting the Polytechnics to Technical Universities as the President John Dramani Mahama promised, a delegation of the Ministry of Education led by the Deputy Minister of Education in charge of tertiary education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, will traveled to Germany on Saturday, 29th March for a short Study Visit to selected Technical Universities in that country.

Other members of the delegation include Enoch Cobbinah, the Chief Director of the Ministry of Education, and Dr. George Afeti, the Chairman of the Technical Committee charged with the responsibility of developing a roadmap for the conversion process.

The study visit, which is under the kind sponsorship of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), will afford the delegation the opportunity to assess at firsthand the strengths of the German Technical University system for adaption to the proposed Technical Universities in Ghana.

Signed: PAUL KOFI KRAMPAH

DIRECTOR, PUBLIC RELATIONS

SOURCE;GHANA WEB

Gov’t: More jobs to be created soon

The Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations has given the assurance that thousands of jobs will be created following plans to increase trade volumes between Qingdao Municipal of China and Ghana.

The Qingdao Municipal of China is expected to increase its $110 million trade volumes with Ghana.

This comes after the signing of an economic partnership MOU with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) to explore various investment opportunities in agro business and building construction.

The Deputy Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, Antwi-Bosiako Sekyere in an interview with Citi News stated that upon careful consideration, “we saw that it was really going to be helpful to both countries.”

He pointed out that Ghana is a lower middle income country “which is emerging and developing. There are several opportunities and we have our own priority areas so when we see people who are interested in such areas, we are happy to help them to appreciate what is there and how they can engage.”

Ghana has recorded high graduate and youth unemployment over the years.

This has forced some graduates to form associations as a means of presenting a unified front to demand jobs from government.

Nevertheless, Mr. Sekyere says his Ministry is keenly interested in the provision of jobs to Ghanaians therefore, investors have to be enlightened on the labour laws of Ghana “and they need to respect our workers.”

SOURCE;GHANA WEB

'Africa’s family system under ‘satanic attack’ from gays'- Former Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mike Ocquaye

Former Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mike Ocquaye has warned that Africa’s traditional family system is under threat from gay promoters from the West.

“We consider this an abomination. We don’t want a moustache man marrying another bearded man and it is the right of the children to call a man father and a woman mother. Children brought up in the other way will become what we call miscreants,” the history professor told an antigay forum in Accra.

He said: “Indeed the family is under satanic attack and we should take great care to protect it,” adding that: “We Africans have certain values and our friends who want to remain our friends in the Western world must respect our values.”

According to him, the family system in the West is vanishing because that part of the World has allowed itself to be engulfed by homosexuality.

“At least British recognises it is in a serious crisis today because as they themselves say: ‘The family has broken down’. The family in Europe has broken down. Two years ago, the British Prime Minister himself made a public announcement of this,” the former legislator who is also a Clergyman said.


SOURCE;GHANAWEB

VRA take steps to ease traffic at Senchi-Ferry

The Volta River Authority (VRA) is to open the Kpong Hydro-electric Dam for commuters on weekends, as a means of managing the heavy traffic build up at Senchi-Ferry during such period.

Officials of the Ghana Highway Authority and the VRA are holding talks to give access to light duty and cross-country vehicles weighing not more than five tons, to use the Dam only on weekends.

Myjoyonline.com sources say commuters from Accra heading to the Volta region especially as well as other parts of the country, would be allowed to use the Kpong Hydro Dam through Akuse and connect to Juapong while those from Ho to Accra would also connect to Akuse through Fodzoku.

The development forms part of efforts by the Highway Authority to ease traffic at Senchi-Ferry which sees heavy vehicular congestion on weekends, following the closure of the Adomi Bridge.

The Adomi Bridge, the only route by which commuters can cross the Volta River to the Volta Region and beyond, has been closed to both vehicular and human movements for maintenance work that will take at least two years.

Long-winding queues of vehicles stretch over one kilometre distance right from the junction to the Ferry, off the Akosombo road.

The same is the situation for those from Juapong waiting to be ferried by pontoons across the river at Senchi.

According to Myjoyonline.com sources, an official announcement will be put out this week, indicating specific days and times that light duty vehicles can be allowed access to the Hydro-electric Dam beginning next weekend.

Security at the Kpong Dam has been tightened since the closure of the Adomi bridge early this month. Only vehicles with special permits from the VRA were allowed entry as the area is restricted to thoroughfare.

SOU

We must ensure EPA delivers prosperity for W/A – Mahama

President John Mahama has indicated that his tenure as the chairman of ECOWAS will ensure that the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the European Union (EU) delivers the best results for development and prosperity of West Africa.

“…Regarding the Economic Partnership Agreement with the European Union, everything must be done to ensure that the people of West Africa are given an agreement that delivers the best results for their upliftment and prosperity,” he said.

He made this known in his acceptance speech after he was unanimously elected as the ECOWAS chairman for a one-year term.

Addressing his colleague heads of state, President Mahama stated that he will also focus on security and peace in the sub region, economic integration and development and the expansion and rehabilitation of infrastructure in West Africa.


SOURCE;GHANAWEB

NDC begs Mahama to reinstate ‘tweaa’ DCE

The governing party has appealed to President John Mahama to re-instate sacked Ahafo Ano South District Chief Executive, Gabriel Barima, who shot to fame through his infamy.

The National Executive Committee of the Party, in a statement issued on Sunday March 30, 2014, said the president must "reconsider his decision".

Barima was first forgiven after storming out of a public event after a member of the audience pshawed and heckled him with the local swear word ‘tweaa’. He quickly shot to fame after the spectacle.

He was sacked a month later after he was heard describing his debacle as an achievement in an interview.

The National Democratic Congress' statement, signed by General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, said the apparent unremorseful interview which cost the DCE his job, was not an interview, but rather a secretly recorded conversation which was leaked to the press.

Below is the full statement

NDC APPEAL TO PRESIDENT TO REINSTATE AHAFO ANO SOUTH DCE

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) hereby appeals to His Excellency John Dramani Mahama to reconsider his decision to revoke the appointment of the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ahafo Ano South, Honorable Gabriel Barima.

Based On the investigations conducted by the party, the NEC has come to the inescapable conclusion that the decision if left to stand will not only amount to serious injustice to the DCE but will seek to dampen the enthusiasm of other DCEs in their attempt to deal with indiscipline and corruption in their various areas of jurisdiction. We strongly believe that if the President has had the full and accurate brief about the following facts of the case his decision on the matter would have been different;

A clique of the staff of Mankranso hospital has over the years been engaged in various unprofessional activities, including victimization of patients based on their ethnic and political backgrounds and, show of disrespect to political and traditional authorities in the district who dared to complain about their misconduct. This has led to a situation where many residents of the district choose to seek medical attention in the neighbouring districts.

The DCE who had himself gone through some bitter experiences with this clique had reported to the District Health Management Team (DHMT) for action to be taken without success leading to bad blood developing between his office and the health authorities.

District health authorities apparently not happy with this situation decided to use the occasion of their end of year get- together to smoke peace pipe with the political authorities. Three senior members of the district hospital were therefore sent to personally invite the DCE and to explain the rational of the meeting.

Excited about the prospects of resolving this problem, Hon. Gabriel Barima readily accepted the invitation and attended the function on the said date. In the middle of his address some of the staff whom he thought had repented from their earlier misdeeds started heckling him using unprintable words directed at him including, the word ‘tweaa’. The senior staff who had come to his office earlier on looked on helplessly and, this led to the DCE asking ‘ who said twea’ and decided to abandon the function, but was prevailed upon by some of his senior staff who were present to continue with his speech.

This matter was not considered to be so significant as to make the headlines when it happened However, several weeks later an unknown person who had filmed the function decided to put a doctored version of the clip on the internet.

Some media houses including Joy FM quickly picked this clip and succeeded in creating the impression that the DCE had insulted the chiefs who were present at the function. The DCE was reprimanded by the minister of Local Government and made to render apology to the chiefs whom he readily did.

After the President had delivered the state of the Nation’s address a young man posing as a supporter of the DCE approach the DCE at his house to show how excited he was when he heard the President using the expression ‘Twea are you my coequal’ to deal with the heckling of the NPP in parliament engaged Honourable Gabriel Barima in a lot of idle talk. Unknown to the DCE the young man was recording the conversation with a secret recorder. Some days later this secret recording was again played on the same JOY FM as if the DCE had granted another interview to the radio station after his apology.

Another point which has so far not featured in this discussion but which could never the less not be lost sight off is the anti-corruption crusade which the DCE has been embarking o n since his appointment some 20 months ago. This led to the arrest of his district co-coordinating director by EOCO for diverting over 300 bags of cement belonging to the District. So far 250 bags have been retrieved and the co-ordinating director transferred to another district. It is a known fact that in spite of the fact that Gabriel Barima had not received one cedi by way of salary payment during his 20 months stay in office he has resisted all temptations to touch the assembly’s resources.

The party wishes to reiterate the point that we are running a decentralized administration in Ghana with the district assembly headed by the DCE being the highest decision- making body in the district. We are therefore of the opinion that any suspected disrespect shown the DCE of the district that go uninvestigated and unpunished amount to condoning of indiscipline within the Ghanaian society. We also recognize the fact that fighting corruption may lead to DCEs stepping on the toes of some sensitive people within the community.

They therefore need all the support, encouragement and understanding of higher authorities if the Better Ghana Agenda of fighting corruption is to be achieved.

It is clear from the narration above that Honourable Gabriel Barima was rather the victim of insults, disrespect and misinformation. In furtherance of the nation’s interest we think that it is the perpetrators of this acts that must be sought for and punished rather than their victim.

In conclusion, the party wishes to state that in spite of these attempts to malign and destroy him Honourabe Gabriel Barima’s achievement as a DCE remains exemplary for others to emulate.

In arriving at this conclusion we have taken into consideration the views of the traditional authorities in the Ahafo Ano South District who sent an eight-man strong delegation of chiefs from the district to petition the presidency and the party head office to get Honourable Gabriel Barima reinstated as the DCE.

We hope this appeal finds favour with His Excellency the President who had demonstrated on several occasions his preparedness to change his mind when further and better particulars are provided in each of the cases.

Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary.

SOURCE;GHANAWEB

It’s Biblical to pray for our Presidents – Duncan-Williams

General Overseer of the Christian Action Faith Ministries (CAFM), Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams says it is a biblical injunction for Christians to pray for their nation’s leaders.

The Charismatic preacher has therefore urged Ghanaians to put aside their political affiliations and pray for President John Mahama and his government to succeed.

He said in Church on Sunday March 30, 2014, in a sermon monitored by XYZ News, that it is important Ghanaians prayed for the president, his family and government because: “According to Scripture, irrespective of your political persuasions or beliefs, all these mentalities we have about: ‘I belong here’; we don’t belong anywhere.”

“We are first Ghanaians. And according to Scripture, whether you are in opposition or your party is in government, He [God] said: ‘I exalt therefore that first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, giving of thanks, be made for all men, humanity. Two, for Kings, Presidents, plural, Presidents and for all that are in authority that we may live a quiet and a peaceable life in all godliness and honesty,” the presiding Bishop added.

“So quiet peaceable life, godliness, honesty [are] only guaranteed when prayers are offered for Presidents and those in authority,” Archbishop Duncan-Williams preached.

In his view, failure to do so would mean “quietness, which is a sense of tranquility and peace, and honesty and godliness, [are] denied a nation and denied a people.”

“So please put aside all your political arguments and follow Scripture if you are a believer because I have issues with all these arrogant Christians who have their commitment first to their parties than to God and their nation. It is love for nation before anything else. And if you love this country, you won’t wait for 2016 before you pray. You’ll pray now,” he admonished.

“…I want us to pray for the President. I want us to pray for his family, his government. I want us to pray that God will grant him wisdom to move this nation in the right direction. That he’ll have wisdom and courage to do what is required of him as President without fail. And thirdly that he’ll deliver his promise to the people of Ghana without fail. We need that. We can’t wait for 2016. All these things that people say [that] ‘let them fail, when a new government comes’; we don’t have time for a new government to come. We need change right now. Let the new change be determined when that time comes but right now he made a pledge to Ghanaians, he must deliver, and our prayers can compel him to deliver.”


SOURCE;GHANAWEB

Adisadel College English teacher commits suicide

A 58-year-old teacher at Adisadel College in Cape Coast in the Central Region, Appiah Menka, has allegedly committed suicide.

The body of the English Language tutor was found hanging on a rope at the bungalow he occupies on the school premises.

According to correspondent, Richard Kwadwo Nyarko, the late Appiah Menka who was said to have a large family, reportedly left a note in his pocket indicating his unending financial difficulty as well as pressure from family members.

The note which was written in red ink as reported by colleagues of the deceased teacher was titled: "No solution to my perennial financial difficulty". The content of the note is however unknown.

Police have since conveyed the body from the scene of the incident, Kwadwo Nyarko reported.


SOURCE;GHANAWEB

Russia Already Selling Crimea Annexation in School Lessons

Getty Image

MOSCOW – “History is written by the victors,” the old saying goes. And Russia, fresh off its annexation of Crimea, is wasting no time trumpeting its version of events.
 State-run media, which holds a near monopoly in Russia, relentlessly waves the flag about Russia’s reunification with Crimea, which had been gifted to Ukraine 60 years ago.

Russian news programs report on waves of refugees fleeing to Crimea to escape fascism in Kiev, a claim Western reporters and governments say is unfounded.
Now, the push is on to spread this message to the classroom.

RELATED: Russia Even Hijacks Ukraine’s Navy Dolphins
Moscow’s Department of Education and Methodological Center, the body that sets the public school curriculum, has issued guidelines for Russian teachers to lead a class entitled “We are United” about Crimea’s joining the Russian Federation.

A lawmaker from the ruling United Russia party explained the lessons as necessary to clarify for students what actually happened.
“They have to explain the position that the president took,” Nikolai Bulaev told Russia’s Interfax news agency, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia’s Deputy Minister of Education Benjamin Kaganov suggested that teachers and parents might even have conversations about the topic with students after school. “The referendum was held in full compliance with democratic procedures and rules of international law,” the Education and Methodological Center’s website reminds teachers.

RELATED:  Obama Says Russia Is ‘Regional Power,’ Not America’s Top Geopolitical Foe

Calling Crimea’s annexation “a momentous event, which opens a new page of history,” the center offers several prepared materials for the class. Among them are a history review for teachers, including a description of recent events in Ukraine and Crimea, a PowerPoint presentation for middle schoolers and a quiz for high school students, including a crossword puzzle.

Unsurprisingly, the lessons hew closely to the Kremlin’s telling of events.
The suggested  class material describes Crimea’s decision to seek a referendum on independence amid “the increasing political instability and a criminalization of the situation” in Ukraine. The lesson makes no reference to Russia’s disguised military presence and intimidation of opposition voices leading up to the snap vote.

The high school quiz reinforces the narrative of Crimea’s longstanding ties to Russia dating back to the region’s capture by Catherine the Great in 1783. The lesson includes an ode by a Russian poet, describing the taking of Crimea by Russian imperial forces that ends with the lines “Arise Crimea.

You have awoken from your dreams and now your days will be bright.”
It studies Leo Tolstoy’s writings from his time defending the Crimean city of Sevastopol, then and now home to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet, and asks students to analyze the city’s strategic importance, including its strong and weak defense points.

RELATED: Pentagon ‘Monitoring’ Russian Troop Presence Along Ukraine Border

Perhaps most importantly, it asks students to base their answers on what they’ve learned in the class.
Key to the Kremlin’s defense of annexing Crimea has been that the region’s population long desired to be part of Russia and that Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev’s giving it to Ukraine was an historical blunder.

In that vein, the high school quiz asks pointed questions about whether the opinion of Crimea’s population was taken into account back then, or in a subsequent referendum after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Kaganov, the deputy education minister, told Interfax that such lessons were important for the child becoming “aware of themselves as a citizen.”

Juju means more to us than Bible, Quran – Rawlings

Former Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings says Ghanaians and Africans have more reverence and fear for their juju shrines and gods than the Christian Bible and the Islamic Quran.

At a recent lecture outside Ghana, Mr Rawlings told an audience of Africans that the Bible and Quran do not mean anything to the Continent.

“I think yesterday I was citing an example of three people in a room. The following morning one was dead and the other two who were alive were arrested and taken to court. And as the court proceedings were going on, the case was beginning to find one of them guilty. And they were gonna make a pronouncement on him. You know what he asked? The one who is alive, he and I come from the same village. We’ve sworn on the Bible, sworn on the Quran, sworn on the sword and yet I am the one being found guilty. Please, I beg the Judge; take us to the village we come from. We have a shrine over there and let us go and swear on that shrine and see whether I am innocent or he is the culprit. Whether I am the Murderer or he is the culprit,” Mr Rawlings narrated to his audience.

“That’s all the question I asked these Catholic Priests. They could not answer me because they know, you are not gonna swallow any poison, but they know that we don’t fear that Bible, we don’t fear that Quran but when it comes to our shrine, that one we dare not joke with it. We’ll go and tell the truth,” Rawlings observed.

Mr Rawlings used the anecdote to demonstrate how much Africans revere and fear their deities despite the prevalence of Christianity and Islam

Ghana Ambassador to Japan was deceived by gamblers - Report

Emerging details suggest that Ambassador Edmond Kofi Agbenutse Deh, Ghana's envoy to Japan, was deceived into signing documents unknowingly, letting out part of a property belonging to the mission to a gang of Japanese gamblers.

The envoy is said to have believed the story of the gamblers when they told him that they were engaged in an NGO activity, something which according to them, previous envoys did not object to.

Tokyo Police are reported to have asked Ambassador Deh to consent to questioning over an illegal casino at his official residence, waiving his diplomatic immunity.

This new development may lead to the recall of the Ambassador.

The gamblers' goal, DAILY GUIDE learnt, was to operate under the cover of the diplomatic immunity the mission's property provided, concealing thereby their illegality.

Unfortunately, that was not to be as Tokyo law enforcement officers descended upon them, taking them into custody and confiscating two baccarats gambling platforms, 12 million yen ($ 118,164) in cash, according to a local broadcaster.

The NGO they claimed to be operating was particularly helpful to Ghana, given the supportive role it is playing in the drilling of boreholes - something the envoy was unable to authenticate before agreeing to append his signature to an agreement.

Ambassador Deh, totally convinced, quickly signed the accompanying tenancy agreement to let out the place to be used ostensibly as an NGO office.

It was amazing, though, how easy it was for the Tokyo crooks to hoodwink the Ghanaian envoy, considering the fact that there was no evidence of the activities the gamblers claimed to have been rendering Ghana in the area of borehole drilling.

Worsening the situation was the fact that communication ceased following the signing of the deal, letting out the office space to the gamblers.

The cat was only let out of the bag when the Tokyo cops descended on the gamblers as the news kept spreading throughout local news networks and beyond like wildfire and causing massive diplomatic embarrassment to the Ghanaian mission in Tokyo.

It would be recalled that Tokyo Metropolitan Police announced early this month about a raid they under took in a casino in the Shibuya entertainment area of the sprawling city, for operating an illegality in a premises belonging to the Ghanaian mission in Japan.

Even as they claimed to be linked to the Ghanaian Embassy, some of the Japanese casino operators expressed surprise that such a raid could take place, the diplomatic immunity they expected to enjoy, notwithstanding.

Although the Foreign Affairs Minister, Hannah Tetteh, was not available for comment when the news about the raid broke out, the details emerging from Tokyo fully covered what transpired.

She however, posted on her facebook wall that investigations had commenced over the illegal act.

Japanese investigators had earlier stated that a rental contract to the tune of a monthly payment of 500,000 Yen or $4,923.50 was entered into, using the name of the previous Ghanaian envoy to Japan, Dr. William Mensah Brandful's document which was signed at the ambassador's residence.

In March of last year the details on the contract were altered to that of the current envoy, Edmond Kofi Agbenutse Deh.

Source;Ghana web

Jake cleared; Ken Agyapong apologises for calling him a thief

The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) yesterday adopted a 16-page report of the committee set up to investigate corruption allegations levelled against the National Executives of the party by NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong.

After weeks of investigations, the Disciplinary Committee could not establish any wrongdoing against especially the National Chairman Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey neither was Mr Agyapong able to prove his allegations against the man.

A copy of the report dated March 13,2014 and stumbled upon by DAILY GUIDE, noted that Mr Agyapong, who was the respondent in the case, apologized to the Committee for calling the National Chairman a thief.

The Assin Central MP was quoted as saying he did not intend to call the National Chairman a thief.

That notwithstanding, the Committee, chaired by Most Reverend Dr Asante Antwi, said "the respondent must apologise in writing to the National Executive within 14 days from the date of the acceptance of this report."

Issues

The tough-talking MP had, among others, alleged that the National Executives had misapplied funds and other resources entrusted to them for the use of the party in the 2012 presidential and parliamentary campaign.

He also claimed that an amount of GH¢100,000 donated by one of the party's benefactors was given to the National Chairman (accompanied by Bryan Acheampong) in the presence of the Central Regional Chairman of the NPP, Ekow Danquah Smith otherwise known as Butey.

The Committee therefore set out to ascertain whether the National Chairman received the- said amount and how it was utilized, and whether the party officers hid some of the motorbikes and other resources meant for the 2012 campaign for purposes other than the benefit of the party.

They also wanted to establish whether some party executives used proceeds of the party resources to acquire hotels and whether Mr Agyapong was liable for misconduct in publishing his complains.

In all, the Committee was said to have had 20 sittings and interviewed not less than 12 persons including the party's Campaign Manager for the 2012 election, Boakye Agyarko, Bryan Acheampong, the National Chairman's chief of staff, Ato Williams, Director of Logistics of the 2012 campaign, National Chairman Jake Obestebi- Lamptey, General Secretary Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie popularly known as Sir John and Kennedy Agyapong.

The rest were National Treasurer, Esther Ofori, Oppong Bio, a member of the Finance Committee of the 2012 campaign team, Kwadwo Opare-Hammond, Head of Finance and Administration at the national headquarters, Charles Owiredu, in charge of the party's International Affairs, Lord Commey, who was Director of Operations of the 2012 campaign and Emmanuel Charles Taylor Quarshie, Person-al Assistant of the National Chairman.

Findings

Having examined the evidence brought before it, the Committee uncovered that "not all the motorbikes, T-shirts and other materials could be used for the 2012 campaign in view of their late arrival" and that "evidence shows that some of the motorbikes in particular are still un-assembled and stored by party officers in the constituencies." They therefore accepted the evidence of the party's Director of Logistics during the 2012 campaign, Ato Williams that "the campaign team had in their custody the motorbikes and T-shirts it could not distribute."

The Committee nevertheless established that "some of the motorbikes were on the open market. The Committee is, however, unable to ascertain how they got there."

Mr Agyapong was said to have shown the Committee photographs of motorbikes in some premises, but was unable to indicate whether they were houses of party officers or Bryan Acheampong, whom he accused of hiding some of the bikes in his house.

Even though National Chair-man Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey was said to have admitted receiving the said GHtfl00,000.00, "the Committee finds that the original intention was to use the money for payment of MPs' filing fees but the purpose changed and it was used for other party activities."

Apart from that, even though it was established that "Bryan Acheampong is putting up a hotel in Kwahu, there was no evidence that he is using party resources for this."

The Committee therefore came to the conclusion that "by the statements complained of and their publication on radio, the respondent (Ken Agyapong) brought the name of the party into disrepute."

Recommendations

Subsequently, the Assin-North MP was advised to address grievances he might have to the appropriate party office.

Furthermore, the Asante Antwi-led Committee expressed displeasure about the attitude of Bryan Acheampong because "he was flippant in his responses to questions and generally haughty in his disposition towards the Committee."

SOURCE;GHANA WEB

Missing Malaysian Plane Draws Comparison to Doomed Air France Flight

As ships and aircraft search thousands of square miles for a missing Malaysian Airlines jetliner, officials are trying to understand how the Boeing 777 could have apparently dropped out of the sky without warning or distress signal.

The mysterious lack of contact and the fact that the plane disappeared from radar midflight is so rare that it brings to mind only one other plane disaster in recent years, the doomed 2009 Air France flight 447.

The Air France flight, an Airbus A330, from Rio de Janeiro to Paris crashed in the Atlantic midway through the flight without sending a distress signal. All 228 aboard were killed.

 

Get the Latest News on the Missing Malaysian Flight

It took three years for investigators to piece together what led to the crash, with two years spent just trying to find the black box data recorders on board. In 2012 the French government's official accident investigators, the BEA, released their final report, which found that the flight crashed due to a combination of technical failures and pilot error.

The BEA found that a speed sensor on board the plane, called a pitot tube, stopped functioning after becoming clogged with ice at high-altitude while the plane was flying through a thunderstorm.

As a result, the auto-pilot disengaged and shifted the controls back to the pilots. As they flew in heavy turbulence the Air France pilots failed to properly diagnose the severity of the problem because the pitot tube, a critical piece of equipment to the aircraft, was sending inaccurate data to the cockpit, the report said.

"Despite these persistent symptoms, the crew never understood that they were stalling and consequently never applied a recovery maneuver," the 2012 report said.

When the auto-pilot was disengaged, a co-pilot pulled the nose of the plane, which led to aerodynamic stall. From the first stall warning at 2:10 a.m. to when the plane crashed four minutes later, the pilots never sent a distress signal as they frantically tried to save the plane.

According to the black box recordings, the pilots appeared unaware they were going to crash until the final seconds before hitting the water.

 

Find Out More About Air France Flight 447

"Our investigation is a no-blame investigation. It is just a safety investigation," Jean-Paul Troadec, the director of BEA, told ABC News in a 2012 interview. "What appears in the crew behavior is that most probably, a different crew would have done the same action. So, we cannot blame this crew. 

What we can say is that most probably this crew and most crews were not prepared to face such an event."

 
ABC News' Matt Hosford, Lauren Effron and Nikki Batiste contributed to this report

Why You Can't Get That Song From 'Frozen' Out Of Your Head

"Let it go, let it go."

It's the song that seems to be stuck in everyone's head. And Idina Menzel's (a.k.a. Adele Dazeem's) rousing Oscars performance of the hit "Frozen" tune on Sunday only fueled the internal repeat loop. But why exactly do songs get stuck in our head in the first place?

Science has labeled the stuck-song phenomenon an "earworm," which is a direct translation from the German word "ohrwurm." One University of Cincinnati study found that 98 percent of people occasionally experience a song lodged in their heads (popular earworms in that study, which was conducted more than 10 years ago, included Kit-Kat's "Gimme A Break" jingle, "Who Let The Dogs Out" and "YMCA"). In another 2010 study published in the British Journal of Psychology, researchers found that artists such as Pink Floyd and Justin Timberlake were repeat earworm offenders.

"The sorts of songs which become earworms are highly individual but they have to be very familiar and it helps if they are being played constantly across the various media," the lead author of that study, Dr. Philip Beaman, associate professor of cognitive sciences at the University of Reading, tells HuffPost in an email. "Christmas songs are reported to be more frequent earworms in December than in August, for example, which may go some way to explaining the prevalence of the Frozen song as an earworm."

And that repetition may be especially common for kids' songs. "One thing about earworms is them being repeated a lot, so I get many, many frayed parents who have listened to too many children introduction songs or learning songs, and they heard them 30, 40, 50, 100 times and they're stuck as a result," psychologist Vicky Williamson told NPR in 2012. She says simple songs seem to make up the majority of earworms, though they can also be very complicated.

The typical song snippet lasts no longer than 30 seconds, Beaman says, and if it's just one part of the song playing over and over in the head, his research shows it's typically the chorus or the refrain (though the actual part of the song that plays in your head is also likely to vary).

10 Signs You're In The Wrong Relationship

Image;Getty

Relationship Signs Relationship Red Flags Sign You're in Wrong Relationship Wrong Relationship Relationship Problems Problems in a Relationship Relationship Issues Divorce New

 Let's face it: When we're newly coupled up, we tend to look at our partner -- and the budding relationship itself -- through a pair of proverbial rose-colored glasses.
Any flaws we detect in our partner are all too easily written off: He shies away from introducing you to his immediate family? It will happen when it happens. She has a tendency to leave dirty dishes and shoes scattered around the house? You're neat and orderly enough for the both of you.
But once you get real about your relationship and consider it for all that it is -- and all that it isn't -- there are some issues that are just too serious to overlook. Below, dating and marriage experts weigh in with 10 red flags they say should be cause for concern in any relationship.

1. You feel the need to change who you are to make your partner happy.

We all change a bit when we're exposed to a new partner and their individual tastes -- you binge-watch an entire season of "House of Cards" because your boyfriend loves it or attempt to go vegetarian for a few months because your girlfriend has been one for years (keyword: attempt). It only becomes a real issue when you feel the need to change who you are at your core to satisfy your partner, says licensed marriage and family therapist Virginia Gilbert.
"It's a definite problem when you find yourself molding your values, opinions and even your clothing style to suit your partner," Gilbert says. "If you edit what you say before you say it and constantly monitor how you come across because you feel like your partner is grading you, it might be time to let the relationship go."

2. You have to defend your significant other to family and friends.

Not everyone is going to like your boyfriend or girlfriend as much as you do. But it should worry you if there's a general consensus among family and friends that your new love is entirely wrong for you, says M. Gary Neuman, a licensed psychotherapist and author of The Truth About Cheating: Why Men Stray and What You Can Do to Prevent It.
“When all your friends and family are uncomfortable with the relationship, it's time to take a good look at it," he recommends. "If you find yourself isolated from loved ones and telling yourself they just don't know your significant other the way you do, chances are this won't end well."

3. Nitpicking and criticism -- even if said in jest -- are constants in the relationship.

He finds your hourly texts really overbearing -- and tells you so repeatedly. She jokingly compares her Ivy League education to the one you received at a state school, but always in a dismissive tone. If your partner's overly critical eye is starting to affect your self-esteem, it's time to speak up or jump ship, says relationship expert Tina Swithin.
“The criticism can even be subtle comparison put-downs, which can be delivered in a casual, passive aggressive way," she says. "Those still can chip away at your confidence, and in the end, healthy relationships should lift you up, not bring you down."

4. You're always wondering what your partner is up to when you're not around. 

What Elvis sang about suspicious minds is true: You and your S.O. can't go on together as long as you have doubts about what he or she is up to when you're not there.
Dating coach Marina Sbrochi agrees, offering up an example to illustrate the point: "Maybe your new girlfriend keeps her phone on silent. All the time. Add that to the fact that she can only go out a couple of times a week and she prefers to text," she says. "Knock, knock! You aren't an investigative reporter, but you know when something smells fishy. If two plus two doesn’t add up to four, it's time to part ways and look for a relationship that doesn't seem like a game of Clue."

5. Your partner makes all of the big relationship decisions. 

You only get together when it's convenient for your boyfriend and only hang out with his family and friends. You've been to all of your girlfriend's work functions and friends' parties, but have stopped inviting her to any social gathering you attend -- she's made it crystal clear she's not interested.
Sound familiar? If your partner is calling all the shots and "you're just following their lead, desperate for a few crumbs," it might be time to reevaluate the relationship, Gilbert warns.

6. Your sex life is seriously lacking. 

A relationship shouldn't be all about the sex, but it needs to be somewhat about the sex, according to Sbrochi.
“If you feel like this person has all the other qualities you desire in a mate, see a sex therapist. Try some new tricks and see if you can make manufacture some chemistry," she suggests. "Trust me, you need a sexual connection for a long-lasting relationship. You have plenty of friends, you don't need another friend. It's time to look for love and sex in one package.”

7. You want more "me" time -- but your partner wants more "we" time.

You're dying for some time to yourself. Meanwhile, your boyfriend is complaining about how little you see of each other. "In other words, the frequency of connecting is either too high or too low, whether it be texting, calling, or seeing each other in person," marriage and family therapist Jane Greer explains. It's a problem if "an amount that is mutually comfortable for both of you is never found."

8. You feel personally responsible for your partner's happiness. 

Heed your inner red flags as soon as you start to feel like your partner relies on you -- and only you -- to keep them emotionally balanced, Gilbert says.
“Whether your partner is in a pit of despair or erupting in anger, he or she makes you feel that you are somehow to blame, and it’s your job to change whatever it is that you have done or said to make them feel bad," she says. "Whatever you do or say to remedy the situation is inevitably wrong and makes your partner feel worse, which is, of course, your fault. You are always on eggshells and you feel the walls closing in on you. This kind of relationship is poison; get out ASAP."

9. Your partner controls who you see and what you do.

This might be the biggest red flag of all, Swithin says. “If you find that your partner is controlling your time with friends or family, your finances, clothing choices or how much makeup you wear, this is something to take very seriously."

10. You find yourself wondering if you’re in the wrong relationship. 

It may sound painfully obvious, but your tendency to quiet those relationship doubts may end up being a huge regret later on, says Sbrochi. "So many times we look back on a bad relationship and only in hindsight can we really see the signs for what they really were," she says. "But if you really think about it, you knew the whole time, you just wanted to ignore it for whatever reason. ”
Instead, be more proactive about your relationship concerns and address them with your partner -- or move on before you get hurt. "Make a mental note of whatever is bothering you," Sbrochi says. "If it happens again or you feel your inner warning lights going off (even if they are going off softly), it's time to take a step back."

SOURCE;HUFFPOST

10 FOODS TO EAT EVERY DAY FOR PERFECT SKIN

Are you tired of using different expensive and ineffective beauty products? It’s time to throw away all those ineffective products and start eating foods for perfect skin. I went from terrible acne five months ago to not having acne now. It was hard, but it was possible, and less expensive than turning to pricey products. While some foods can aggravate your skin, others can enhance it. Check out a list of 10 foods to eat every day for perfect skin.

1. Red bell peppers

Red bell peppers are a tasty vegetable that can be enjoyed either cooked or raw. One red bell pepper contains more than 100% of your daily vitamin C needs. It also contains significant amounts of dietary fiber and vitamin B6. Moreover, it is rich in carotenoids that can help prevent wrinkles and increase blood circulation to your skin, helping it look more youthful. Due to their carotenoids, red bell peppers are also great to fight acne.
A red bell pepper is a perfect, low calorie snack that contains about 30 calories and has a really satisfying crunchy bite. Keep slices of red bell peppers in the fridge, so you will always have something healthy and tasty to reach for when you are having a snack attack. The fiber that a bell pepper contains will help you to feel full longer with very little calories. Plus, you will have a flawless skin!

2. Dark chocolate

This is one of my favorite foods to eat every day for perfect skin!  
Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, fatty acids and flavanols that promote glowing skin. The antioxidants in dark chocolate will help reduce roughness in your skin and protect it against sun damage. Moreover, cocoa relaxes arteries, increasing blood circulation that leads to healthier skin.
I usually buy cocoa powder or raw cacao for less fat. And if you like dark chocolate, eat your ounce of dark chocolate every day and make sure you choose at least 80% cacao content in order to avoid milk and added sugars found in a traditional chocolate bar.

3. Salmon

Salmon is an excellent food to fight stress, anxiety, and depression. Salmon also provides most of your daily vitamin D needs. And as you may already know, Vitamin D is responsible for keeping your heart, bones, colon and brain healthy. It also helps prevent colon cancer, anxiety, depression, heart disease and bone disease.
Salmon is also rich in omega-3 fatty acids that are excellent for fighting inflammation, wrinkles and acne. Its high omega-3 content also helps hydrate your skin from the inside out. Moreover, eating salmon keeps your scalp hydrated and promotes strong, healthy hair.

Posted in Beauty, Food Comments (61)

4. Coconut oil

Coconut oil is one of the richest sources of saturated fat with about 90 percent of calories as saturated fat. It contains lauric acid, a powerful antibacterial and antiviral agent that keeps away viruses, infections, inflammation and acne. Coconut oil is also rich in essential fatty acids and Vitamin E, which are perfect for keeping your skin moist, soft, and wrinkle-free.
I use coconut oil as a body cream and consume 1 tbsp. of raw coconut oil every day. Coconut oil is especially good for your thyroid. Plus, there’s considerable evidence that this oil can help lose weight. So many health benefits, don’t you think?

5. Green tea

Well, so I know green tea is actually a beverage, but tea leaves come from a plant! Even though I love black tea, I drink green tea every day because I know that it is a great source of antioxidants and a unique amino acid, L-theanine that helps relax your body and lower stress.
When the tea is hot, the bionic brew releases catechins, a kind of antioxidant with proven anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea may also reduce your risk of developing high blood pressure. Drink 3 or more cups of tea every day for better results

6. Spinach

Spinach is a healthy and nutrient-rich food you should certainly include in your everyday diet. You may hate spinach, but it is a wonderful source of iron, folate, chlorophyll, Vitamin E, magnesium, Vitamin A, fiber, plant protein, and Vitamin C. Due to their antioxidant abilities, Vitamins C, E, and A are especially great for your skin.
Spinach contains antioxidants that fight against all types of skin problems. Add it to your everyday diet and see what happens. By eating spinach, you’re just cleaning your skin from the inside out!

7. Seeds

Chia seeds, hemp seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and flax seeds are all great for your skin. Pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds are both rich in selenium, Vitamin E, magnesium and protein. Selenium and protein keep all wrinkles away, Vitamin E enhances moisture in your skin and magnesium lowers your stress levels. The healthy Omega 3 fatty acids in flax, chia and hemp seeds are perfect for fighting wrinkles and acne. Plus, these seeds are rich in protein.
Just sprinkle seeds right on top of your salad or oatmeal and enjoy the great taste as well as perfect skin. I like to add seeds to a fruit yogurt, I think it tastes even better. I also add raw pumpkin seeds in my oh-so delicious smoothies. And what are your favorite seeds? How do you eat them?

8. Celery

Another food to eat daily for perfect skin is celery. Many of us underestimate this veggie, but celery contains Vitamin K that keeps the blood circulation healthy and helps to reduce high blood pressure. This can reduce your stress level, and as you know stress can cause bad skin, migraines and even cancer.
Celery also contains natural sodium, potassium and water, and can help to prevent dehydration. I hope you know that dehydrated skin means dryness, flaking, wrinkles, and even breakouts. Make sure you consume celery every day or at least every other day. If you are counting calories, don’t worry, celery is very low in calories!

9. Papaya

Papaya is a wonderful fruit which has a rich history and numerous nutritional benefits. It is very low in calories (only 39 calories per 100 g!) and also contains no cholesterol. So if you are trying to lose weight, consider eating papaya every day to maximize its health benefits.
A great beauty food, papaya is low in fructose and is excellent for digestion! The antioxidant nutrients found in it, including Vitamins C and E and beta-carotene, are great at reducing inflammation and acne. Moreover, Vitamin C may also protect your skin against sun damage.

10. Carrots

Carrots are good not only for your eyes, but also for your skin. They are especially good for clearing up breakouts. Carrots are rich in vitamin A and they help prevent the overproduction of cells in the outer layer of the skin. That’s where excess sebum combines with dead cells and clogs pores.
Another great reason to snack on some carrots is because Vitamin A reduces the development of skin-cancer cells. So make sure you nibble on a half-cup of baby carrots every day for perfect skin. I love carrots and I think they make a great snack.
You don’t have to eat all these foods every day, but even some of them would be great! Be sure to avoid junk foods, too much sugar, trans fats and refined carbs for the best skin possible. Which of these foods do you eat every day? Share your thoughts, please, and thanks for reading!

This Year on International Women's Day Let Us Resolve to Come Together and Amplify Our Voice

When I first started Womenfound, if I ran a Google search for "women's organizations," I wouldn't get much of what I was looking for by way of aid organizations. Today if I type the same search term, Google will deliver pages and pages of relevant results for me. In fact today, in honor of International Women's Day, Google itself featured a Y-chromosome graphic with an embedded video wishing all a 'Happy International Women's Day.' So too did countless other organizations from multinational behemoths to small aid groups -- all seeming to acknowledge and offer a collective nod for #IWD. In a digital age, where a start-up can take off with a trendy hashtag , the idea of women supporting women has taken off with the intensity of a viral tweet. The idea, indeed the ideal, that women should help women has caught on.

In the US, women have started helpful ventures, both for-profit and non-profit, at a record pace. So much so that Network Solutions, a big tech company, started a blog called Women Grow Business to help women continue to navigate the business world and steer their start-ups to success. Kathy Korman Frey started 'The Hot Mammas Project,' where she aggregates success stories of women so that a sisterhood of 'mean girls,' turns into a sisterhood of supporters. Her objective is to demonstrate how much support can lend to success.

Across the Middle East and North Africa organizations founded in the US or UK work collectively to empower women. Some include Women for Afghan Women, The White Ribbon Alliance, The Hand Foundation, Journey Home Foundation, Aid Afghanistan for Education, Women Thrive and Women for Women International. The message is the same -- women, we are women too and we are here for you. Here at home, our struggles are less of life and death and more of success or greater success. Not to be forgotten are the millions of women who still struggle in lands apart from ours, for the basic rights of self determination, corporal control over their bodies, awareness in reproduction and the right to be counted as fully human and not treated as chattel.

This month, to coincide with International Women's Day, a documentary film titled Honor Diaries was released to global accolade, featuring nine women form the Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan. To be sure, each had their own stirring experience with the discrimination that comes with being a woman in many parts of this world. But what was strikingly common was the call on the part of each of the women, who themselves were activists in their own way, to become united with others in the same cause.

The issues were wide spread across the panoply of abuses that comprise the systemic dehumanization and exploitation of women around the world. They included child marriage, female genital mutilation, honor killings and gender apartheid; but their plea was uniform -- raise your voice in solidarity with women around the world and help them rise up for change.

In truth, change does not usually come in one swoop -- at least not forward change for advancement in any cause. In patriarchal societies, the top-down order is guarded fiercely by an entrenched hierarchy that disincludes women and sustains the pressure that keeps them quiet and dutiful, by sheer force of bodily harm.

 The threat of abuse or grave injury maintains the traditions that even enlist women in the generations-long customs that keep their daughters submissive and obedient. One of the most disempowering customs of traditional patriarchal societies is the ritual of giving away a daughter. While often the so-called marriage is the product of back room dealing among them men, the process itself reduces the woman to nothing more than an object of pleasure for the groom.

The traditions vary slightly from place to place, but for the most part the communal physical preparation of the woman, the dress down preparations before hand, the dress up preparations for the ceremony itself an finally the community attendance of the consummation and the blood soiled rag that is often submitted as proof a virginity freshly lost, all reduce the woman to her lowest common denominator as a gender. The ritual and its intended message serve to inhibit any voice that may be screeching from inside to stand up and be counted as a person and not as an unremarkable member of an exploited gender.

This disempowerment is amplified in the case of child marriage -- a veritable scourge of the 21st century and a travesty that we still preside over them in a modern world. As women, indeed as people, we ought to have the power to demand this lowest modicum of human decency not to marry children to the highest bidder. Still, we use the excuse of culture and the cover of tradition to infuse depraved men to perpetuate a practice that we know in our hearts to be wrong.

This year, let's stop. Let us stop turning a blind eye to acts that we know are wrong, to manifestations of customs that have no place in our world and the carrying out of traditions in the name of cultures gone-by. Awareness must replace ignorance and education must replace the folklore that keeps an entire gender crushed.

"The right of women and girls is great unfinished business of the 21st Century," said Hillary Clinton less than a year ago. She is right. From South Africa to North America, from East Asia to the Middle East, women retweeted and reposted the message that we are not just a gender, we are people with passions, plans, dreams and ambitions. We demanded that we be counted fairly in civic life, in legal code and in school houses across the globe.

For some, the struggle is for equal pay and the rights of privacy in the choices we make. For those women, an emancipated society that offers the choice to work, reproduce and speak out is the good-fortune that life has dealt. For others the struggle is to speak at all, to be knowledgeable about basic human rights and to be able to preserve the essential dignity of having control over the corporal self.

For those, life is lived in traditional lands were education is hard to come by and rarely offered to girls, basic rights are to be fought for and often withheld, and a voice or choice are the elusive struggles of a lifetime. For them, those of us who are lucky enough to have a voice and a means by which to amplify it have a duty to speak. We have a duty to raise our collective voices and bring awareness to the plight of the many who live silent lives under the brutal stare of patriarchs who expect subservience over all else. Under the guise of tradition, millions of women live a lifetime of abuse and the threat of force perpetuated by communities that either know no better or are too afraid to speak up.

Let us resolve this year to speak for them, until we can give them the strength to begin to speak for themselves.

SOURCE;huffingtonpost

U/E: YOUTH RESORT TO SNIFFING PETROL TO GET "HIGH"

Drug addicts in the Upper East Region now resort to sniffing petrol to get intoxicated.

This phenomenon, according to the Upper East Regional Health Directorate, is coupled with the use of hard drugs such as cocaine, marijuana and alcohol abuse.

Mr. Lucio Dery, Director of Health Services in the Region, who disclosed this said the incident was leading to the increase of mental cases.

This, he said, was a big problem when it comes to mental health as the youth who were supposed to be leaders and the drivers of the economy were not healthy in the head due to substance abuse.

"As a region, we are aware of the abuse of various substances that are leading to the high rise of mental cases, so we should not pretend that we do not have problems when it comes to mental health,” Mr Dery made this revelation during a dissemination workshop on Mental Health.

The workshop, organized by Basic Needs for key stakeholders in health, was on the key provisions of the mental health law (Act 846) in Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region.

Mr. Dery said there was the need to intensify concerted efforts in educating the public about the magnitude of mental health problems that confront the region, and together, chart a common way forward in dealing with the issue.

He said the mental health law had a lot of implications for the region because of its mental health status, indicating that the region had high cases of psychosis and epilepsy.

"We are to take this opportunity to educate ourselves as to our roles and responsibilities as stakeholders in health and for that matter making sure we are providing quality care services and support services as families, friends and the general public, to those who are afflicted by this unfortunate condition," he said.

The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Mental Health Authority, Dr. Akwasi Osei, said mental health which was in a silent crisis, was now screaming for considerable attention nationally and worldwide.

He said mental health care in the country was bedeviled with a lot of challenges, indicating that the three Northern Regions were the most underserved in terms of mental health care; as there was no psychiatric hospital in those areas with only one Psychiatrist serving these areas.

He said the Brong Ahafo region had one psychiatrist who is on retirement, the Volta Region; one, the Ashanti Region; three of which one was on retirement, the Central Region; three, the Greater Accra region; seven while the Eastern Region has none.

Dr. Osei said the Mental Health Act would provide remedies to challenges that bedeviled Mental Health Care in the past, indicating the Act, among others, provided the procedures for admission and treatment of mental health patients, their basic human rights, complaints about management and offences committed against them which requires prosecution.

SOURCE;GHANAWEB

ENERGY DRINKS INCREASE THE RISK OF MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS

Energy drinks can lead to mental health problems and drug and alcohol abuse in teenagers, researchers have warned.

Their findings have been published just a day after it emerged a teenager's heart stopped three times after downing 10 Jagerbombs mixed with Red Bull.

Jayde Dinsdale, 18, was drinking the Jagermeister spirit and energy drink shooter, which cost £2.20 for two, on a night out with friends, in Yeovil, Somerset.

But as the alcohol wore off, the high levels of caffeine in her system took control of her heart rate - causing it to accelerate dangerously out of control, medics have since said.

She suffered three heart attacks and temporarily 'died' on her bathroom floor after she downed ten high-caffeine Jagerbombs on a 'two-for-one' promotion night.

The new research, published in the journal Preventive Medicine, found that students prone to depression - and those who smoke marijuana or drink alcohol - are more likely to consume energy drinks.

Among the 8,210 high school students surveyed, nearly two thirds reported using energy drinks at least once in the past year, with more than one in five consuming them once or more per month.

And worryingly, it was the younger high school students who were more likely to consume energy drinks than older ones.

Last month researchers at the University of Michigan reported that teenagers who drink energy drinks are much more likely to also drink alcohol and use drugs. They are also more likely to start smoking.

They suggested this could be because teenagers who are ‘sensation-seekers’ or ‘risk orientated’ are more likely to drink energy drinks.

In turn, having these character traits means they are also more likely to experiment with other substances.

Energy drinks have been associated with a number of negative health effects, including cardiovascular symptoms, sleep impairment and nervousness and nausea. The side effects are caused by the beverages' high concentration of caffeine.

Study author Dr Sunday Azagba said: 'Marketing campaigns appear designed to entice youth and young adults. It's a dangerous combination, especially for those at an increased risk for substance abuse.'

The researchers from the University of Waterloo and Dalhousie University in Canada, are calling for limits on teens' access to the drinks and reduction in the amount of the caffeine in each can.

Dr Azagba said: 'The trends we are seeing are more than cause for concern, particularly because of the high rate of consumption among teenagers.

'These drinks appeal to young people because of their temporary benefits like increased alertness, improved mood and enhanced mental and physical energy.'

In recent years energy drink sales have skyrocketed, with sales predicted to reach $20 billion in 2013 in the United States alone.

Dr Azagba said: 'In our opinion, at the very least steps should be taken to limit teens' access to energy drinks.'

She added there was also a need to increase public awareness and education about the potential harms of these drinks and to minimise the amount of caffeine available in each drink.

'This won't eliminate the problem entirely, but steps like these can help mitigate harm that appears to be associated with consumption of these drinks.

'This is something we need to take seriously. Change won't happen without a concerted effort.

The study was based on data from the 2012 Student Drug Use Survey, consisting of a representative sample of junior and senior high school students from three provinces in Atlantic Canada.


SOURCE;GHANAWEB

Ashanti records second set of test tube babies

For the second time, the Peaceland Clinic at Suntreso in Kumasi has delivered a set of triplets, two females and a male, through In Vitro Fertilisation and Embryo Transfer (IVF-ET).

Two embryos were transferred to the mother, but one divided into two, resulting in two identical twin girls and a male.

In September 2013, the clinic recorded its first set of IVF triplets popularly referred to as test tube babies, for a couple from the Brong Ahafo Region.

Assisted reproductive services have been available in the country since the early 1990s, but couples in the Ashanti Region and other regions had to travel to Tema and Accra in the Greater Accra Region for such services.

IVF services, which are now available in Kumasi, have brought some relief to couples seeking such treatment for infertility.

The Medical Director and Fertility Specialist of the Peaceland Clinic, Dr Rudolph Kantum Adageba, who confirmed this told The Mirror that procreation for certain couples could not be possible through natural means due to some medical conditions.

Dr Adageba said he and his team of fertility specialists were overwhelmed with the successful outcome of the treatment.

The mother of the triplets, Mrs Juliana Oppong, 35, shared her ordeal of wanting to bear a child for the past seven years since she got married to her husband, Mr Oppong, 40.

She expressed her gratitude to the doctor for the advice and assistance for her successful delivery.

She appealed to the general public with similar fertility problems to seek specialised medical treatment instead of blaming witches for their inability to conceive.

Ghanaians should brace up for emergency outages - VRA

The Volta River Authority (VRA) says the emergency load management programme implemented across the country as a result of energy shortfalls will be in force a little longer.

It says Ghanaians should brace up for “some kind of emergency outages”.

These were made known by Samuel Kwesi Fletcher, the Head of Corporate Communications at VRA, in an interview with TV3’s Sandra Amarquaye on Friday, March 7.

Gas pressures are low, and the volumes are also extremely low, Mr Fletcher adduced.

He said measures have been put in place “to make sure that the volumes are increased to levels that will help run the machines”.

Last month, the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) warned of more interruptions as a result of an emergency shutdown at the Aboadze Thermal Plant in the Western Region.

The load management company, therefore, asked Ghanaians to conserve electricity “by switching off appliances and equipment which are not in use.”

Mr Fletcher noted that the situation has not changed and so Ghanaians should continue to conserve electricity.

Cwesi Oteng drops new song, calls it ‘Yesu’

                  

Cwesi Oteng has dropped a brand new joint titled: “Yesu”.

In his special way of delivery, he plays it all out beautifully.
 
I have listen to it personally and very inspirational

Scroll down to enjoy…

SOURCE;GHANAWEB

GAA TO BEGIN NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP CIRCUIT OF FOUR CITIES

As part of its medium- to long-term goals to promote Athletics in every corner of the country, the Ghana Athletics Association has designed a trailblazing athletic 4-competition circuit beginning on March 29, 2014 in Wa, Upper West Region.

Two other competitions will follow in Takoradi and Ho. Individual athletes will cumulate points from these three competitions, with the 8 highest point scorers in each event being invited for the circuit final, which in 2014 will be in Accra, at El-Wak stadium. The cities will change each year so that by the end of a three-year cycle, each region would have hosted a national-level athletics competition.

Beyond dispersing athletics across the country, this venture will also ensure that home-based athletes get four additional competitions a year. This should be a welcome addition on the athletics calendar, given that one of the most major concerns of athletes in Ghana has been that there are hardly enough competitions for the home-based athletes.

In response to a phenomenon dictated by the presence of synthetic athletic tracks in only four regions of the country—i.e., in the Greater Accra, Western, Northern, and Ashanti regions—the initiative seeks to break the monopoly of hosting national level competitions in just Accra, Takoradi, Tamale, and Kumasi, which has been predicated on the foundations that the youth in all regions of the country deserve to have access to prestigious national caliber competitions and thereby to the benefits of sports.

Also, it promises a further benefit for Ghanaian athletes in that, it would afford home-grown Ghanaian talents the opportunity to hone themselves into competitive shape and even to qualify for international competitions, including the imminent Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

The format of the circuit will comprise four competitions in four selected regions of Ghana—two with synthetic tracks and two without synthetic tracks—in which athletes cumulate points with a goal of making into the top eight of ranked athletes in their event. The fourth and culminating competition will be the circuit final, (comprising only straight finals in every event) to which only the top eight athletes in each event will be invited. The final will allow athletes to earn double the points available at the earlier competitions, and the top three in each event will be eligible for prizes.

The events at each circuit competition will be: 100m/400m/1500m/5000m/Long Jump/Discus Throw/Shot Putt – for men; and 200m/800m/3000m/ Triple Jump/High Jump/Javelin Throw – for Women. These events will rotate in the subsequent year.

The National Circuit Championship is scheduled as follows:

29th March, 2014 : Wa Sports Stadium, Upper West Region

19th April, 2014 : Essipong Stadium, Takoradi-Western Region

17th May, 2014 : Ho Sports Stadium, Volta Region

7th June, 2014 (tentative) : El-wak Stadium, Greater Accra Region

As this is purely an individual competition where (individual) athletes earn points that they can translate into prizes, the Ghana Athletics Association is extending its invitation to all athletes in Ghana to participate in the National Championship Circuit.

Interested athletes should contact their respective Regional Sports Authorities for registration and any further information.

SIGNED

Dominic Kankam

Secretary General

+233 273 202 946

SOURCE;Ghanaweb