‘Dumsor is not over' – GRIDCo Boss

The Chief Executive Officer of GRIDCo, William Amuna has stated emphatically that erratic power supply in the country is not over yet, saying the load shedding exercise has not been suspended.

‘I wouldn’t say the load shedding exercise is over but now we have enough generation to supply to the whole of Ghana, and we want to make sure that we maintain that,’ he said.

According to him, power was not shed during the yuletides, adding that there is enough power generation to man the demand.

 ‘As you may realise since the 24^th December, 2015 we have not been shedding load, this is because, we had enough generation to man the demand that we have now,’ he stated.

Mr. Amuna hinted that an additional 50megawatts of generation will be brought into the country.

‘On the 31^st December 2015 tomorrow, mid night we are bringing in additional 50megawatts and by 15^th January we will have 100 megawatts, we are building up,’ he revealed.

Touching on projection of projection of power, he further assured that Ghanaians will only sleep in darkness if generators break down.

 ‘If we don’t have any faults with any generator in the system then we are assured that it can take us to the next barge of generators that will be brought into the system,’ he said.

Asked if there are preventive mechanisms to ensure that these generators do not go off, he explained that these are machines they operate at very high temperatures 1,500 degrees, anything could happen at anytime.

‘In the mean time, we have some generators that will be coming up very soon, by mid January we expect an additional 1,50 megawatts at least to add to what we have now. If that comes off stream we are more assured of availability of power,’ he indicated.

The CEO of GRIDCo emphasised that it’s important that all the generators that have come on stream lately are always on.

Speaking on Ultimate breakfast hosted by Prince Minkah, Mr. Amuna attributed the improvement in the ‘Dumsor’ to the arrival of the various power barges.

 ‘Introduction of  Karpower shifts, commissioning of Tico steam unit, Volta River Authority (VRA) steam unit coming on that was out for some time and its back into service, with all these additions we are assured of supplying power to everybody in Ghana. So it’s very important to ensure that the generators are always on. With GRIDCO, assuming we are generating close to about 1,800 mega watts, that is the demand in Ghana. Now the generators around just match the demand, assuming one generator goes off now under fault, that means we are going to shed load,’ he said.

He anticipated that the country needs 18% of power generation reserve.

‘What we normally do is we always want you to have enough generation and an additional 18% in reserve, from our calculations we need an additional 18% in reserve to be able to confirm that if one generator goes off, then we are able to supply to everybody,’ he envisaged.

He disclosed that Akosombo power plant is running on a low level because it’s cannot meet the demand.

He encouraged Ghanaians to conserve energy, observing that people misused power during the yuletide.

‘Since 24 December, 2015 I have been  round and you could see the clear misuse of power, I couldn’t sleep in my house because people were playing music at the loudest point you can ever had. Let’s educate our people to use electricity wisely so that we can supply power to everybody,’ he urged.

Credit: Ultimate News

Ministers panic at reshuffle loom

A major ministerial reshuffle that will sweep away key ministers in the Mahama administration and bring in fresh faces as Ghana enters election year is in the offing.

The reshuffle was to take place before the Christmas but upon a second thought the President decided to allow the existing ministers to have a merry Christmas with their families.

The ministers, who have been informed about the possible reshuffle, have started lobbying, using chiefs, religious leaders and other influential members of the society who can speak the language of the president, to intercede for them.

However, sources said the President is determined to carry through the reshuffle to make his administration water-tight in view of recent string of bad media reports, occasioned by alleged corrupt practices by his appointees. It is also meant to position his administration properly for the 2016 general elections.

The proposed massive reshuffle, which insiders describe as ruthless, is expected anytime from now with the Christmas holidays over.

The resignation of the Transport Minister, Dzifa Aku Attivor, following the GH¢3.6 million bus rebranding scandal was only a dress rehearsal of the impending cabinet shake-up, as the minister was already penciled down for dismissal.

According to sources at the presidency, some key ministers, including the Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, may be affected by the reshuffle.
Mr Terkper, who has succeeded in weakening the country’s economy, was said to have been rapping the president to entrust the management of the economy to him, but all his prescriptions have not yielded any tangible fruit – including the signing up to the IMF conditionalities.

The management of the economy has been the major headache of the Mahama administration, defying all prescriptions, including the Senchi Consensus which was the brain child of Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, an economist and former Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).

With the failure of ‘Terkpernomic’ to alleviate the suffering of Ghanaians, in spite of the claims being touted by the government spokespersons, the Finance Minister, who has been using the IMF programmes to clinch on to his position, may be shown the exit route this time around, even though the IMF is due to evaluate the Ghana programme and possibly release another tranche of the bail-out in January.

Also billed to be axed from the cabinet is Nii Osah Mills, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, who joined the government barely a year ago.

A former Ghana Bar Association president, Lawyer Osah Mills is said to be encouraging Ga land owners – whose land have been taken over by the government – to file for compensation against the state to the displeasure of President Mahama.

Credit: Daily Guide

Imported cement scuttles GH¢50m revenue

The country has lost over GH¢50 million due to the importation of some 500,000 tons of bagged cement, the Cement Manufacturers Association of Ghana (CMAG) has said.

According to the association, the realistic cost and freight values of imported bagged cement from China must not be less than $80 per tonne but owing to certain ridiculous measures being employed in the calculation of the cost and freight values at the ports, between $25 and $30 per tonne was being charged for imported bagged Chinese cement at the ports.

The association said that it has on countless occasions stressed the need to stop the importation of bagged cement since local manufacturers have installed capacity of about 7.4 million tonnes per annum whereas the current consumption is 5 million tonnes per annum, thereby leaving a surplus of 2.4 million tonnes.

A statement recently issued by the association and signed by its chairman, George Dawson-Ahmoah, said: “It’s mindboggling to see the ascendancy of imports of bagged cement from China despite persistent petitions that the manufacturers have installed capacities to meet local demand.”

It said that the menace poses a setback and challenge to the operations of local manufacturers which comprise GHACEM Limited, Diamond Cement Ghana, Savanna Diamond Cement and Western Diamond Cement.
 
The association has since April 2015 petitioned the Ministry of Trade, the Tariff Advisory Board, Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, Parliamentary Select Committees on Finance and Trade/Industry, among others, on the influx of imported bagged Chinese cement and its attendant negative consequences on the economy and the local cement manufacturing industries.

“Government decided to undertake promotion of made-in-Ghana campaign to increase production and consumption of indigenous goods and services to expand the production capacities of Ghanaian companies. Yet, the expected reduction in Ghana’s imports will dramatically reduce our import bill that piles heavy amounts of pressure on the cedi to reduce its strength.

Credit: Daily Guide

I’m sorry I showed my dick -Wisa

The Ghana Police Service (GPS) has officially charged upcoming musician, Wisa Greid of ‘Ekiki Me’ fame, with sexual assault and indecent exposure.
He will be processed for court this week after he willfully showed his manhood in public and even rubbed it on the buttocks of a female dancer during his performance at the famous ‘December 2 Remember’ concert last week at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).

A video recording that captured Wisa’s exposure of his manhood has gone viral on social media and attracted several comments, with one of the most common being on the apparently small size of his organ.
The musician has issued an official statement apologising to the organisers, Citi FM, patrons of the event and his fans for his shocking behaviour on the night.

“I have disappointed myself, my family, my hardworking management team, Citi FM and the audience who paid hard-earned money to be entertained but instead went away feeling anything but entertained… Most importantly, I disappointed my God. I am exceedingly sorry for what I have done,” Wisa disclosed in his statement.
The musician insists he cannot explain why he exposed his manhood on stage on that fateful night, but vehemently denied public speculations that he might have been under the influence of hard drugs or liquor.
Wisa Greid has subsequently released an ‘apology song’ to appease the rising public anger and condemnation of his misconduct.
However, ASP Afia Tenge, spokesperson of the Greater Accra Regional Police Command, has, however, told Joy FM that what Wisa did during his performance is a misdemeanour and the Ghana Police Service will allow the courts to give its ruling on it.

The police spokesperson said Wisa admitted to the act when he was invited and he was subsequently granted bail, but asked to report to the police while investigations continue.
Wisa Greid, on Monday told the media, “My mother has been crying since that day. She didn’t watch it but she heard the news the following day. As for my grandmother, I can’t face her… It wasn’t something I had planned to do on stage, it just happened. Me myself I was surprised I did it. I wasn’t high as some people are claiming, it just happened.”
Surely, the 2015 edition of Citi FM’s ‘December 2 Remember’ concert will be remembered for a very long time, courtesy Wisa Greid’s ‘Phallic’ performance.

Credit: Daily Guide

Adebayor shows off watches

Emmanuel Adebayor seems to be in no hurry to find a new club, but time is ticking away on his collection of personalised watches.

The Togo striker left Tottenham in September, but is still picking up his £100,000-a-week wages.

And Adebayor is wasting no time spending his earnings as he showed off his luxury collection of time pieces suped-up by top jewelers, Frost of London.

His diamond encrusted collection has a combined value of £210,000 with watches by Hubolt, Jacob & Co, Audemars Piguet, deLaCour, Cvstos and Snyper.

The most expensive time pieces owned by the former Manchester City striker are the Hublot LTD Edition F1 King power and his Hublot Big Bang King Power Chrono Tourbillon, both priced at about £25,000.
Posting alongside the picture of 12 high-end watches the striker wrote: ‘SEA, haters are gonna hate. Imma do me no matter what. The SEA collection by @josephfrostoflondon.’
The jeweler in London’s west end has also designed watches for the likes of Jose Mourinho, Mesut Ozil and Justin Beiber.
It’s not just his watch collection the 31-year-old has been showing off during his sabbatical from football.
Adebayor had been pictured alongside classic cars and enjoying himself by the pool while relaxing in Ghana and Togo.
But more recently the striker has shown his desire to get back on the pitch, posting several videos and pictures of himself working out.

Follow these 6 rules for a happy family

"A lot of parents will do anything for their kids except let them be themselves”. – Banksy There’s no such thing as ‘perfect parenting’. Being a parent is a full-time job and a difficult one at that. So, it’s only human if at times most parents unwillingly slip in and out of their roles of being the guiding force.
In fact, think of all your goof-ups as a learning experience for both you and your child. Acknowledge your shortcomings and start working on them. This way, you are setting an example for your child that it’s okay to make mistakes, provided you own up to it and make amends.

During an Express Masterclass on ‘How to be a better parent’, Gloria Burrett, integrative psychotherapist, gave us some valuable inputs on how to raise a child. Here are some of the salient points.

Learn to trust your gut feeling:

Use your intuition to guide your child. If in doubt, remind yourself that there are no fixed rules in parenting. Tailor your parenting skills to suit you and your child’s needs. Maybe, this way you won’t have to wear a mask of superfluous authority at all times.
Treat your child as a friend. Start early; carve a way for yourself and your child where you can be easily approached. (Source: Thinkstock) Treat your child as a friend. Start early; carve a way for yourself and your child where you can be easily approached. (Source: Thinkstock)
If your child is stubborn, use gentle force. Bossing him/her around will not work. Instead, take the trouble to find out how to get your message across and devise your strategy accordingly. It’s all about playing smart. Keep your child’s interests in mind rather than indulging your own needs and aspirations, but stay alert and be very careful not to fall into the trap of helicopter parenting.

Don’t let your child overpower you:

Now, most parents complain about not being able to handle their child and eventually succumbing under pressure. So, the golden rule is to simply make sure your intentions and strategies are the same when it comes to delivering. For instance, if your child throws a tantrum for something he/she wants immediately, say ‘no’ if you think it’s not right. You need to understand that for a child, everything is a need.
Let him/her develop a sense of tolerance. Let him/her cry his/her heart out. It’s difficult to see your child suffer, sure, but it’s all for a greater good. Let him/her experience frustration without you hovering around the sacred space. But be there when he/she needs you.
And while you are at it, your child may feel unloved and neglected — which, in some cases, might lead to negative feelings — but don’t worry, it’s just a natural process and short-lived. You can easily break through the barrier with love and open dialogues.

Do away with stereotypes: 

The ability to command respect is something every parent yearns for. But it’s only possible if you connect with your child at a deeper level. In all humility, communication and trust is the key, but it’s also accepting the fact that your child is a unique entity with a life of his/her own.
Your child is unique. Help him/her realise his/her potential. (Source: Thinkstock) Your child is unique. Help him/her realise his/her potential.
Don’t compare your childhood to that of your child’s, and don’t keep repeating instances that involve telling him/her about how you were a much better kid in comparison.
It’s not easy to avoid deriving reference from you own childhood  or comparing him/her with his/her siblings or friends since Indian parents are wired that way, but try steering clear of it. You simply cannot expect your child to do the same things that others have done while growing up.
Take a closer look at yourself: Move away from the kids for once and take a closer look at yourself. Along with your emotional quotient (EQ), you should also focus on your playfulness quotient (PQ). Start working on it as this may change the dynamics of your relationship. You need to realise that your attitude towards life will leave a huge impact on your child. And, while this holds true, it’s vital that you maintain — or just in case you don’t have one, develop — a sense of humour.
To be a good parent, you will need humour and a never-ending supply of patience. But it’s easier said than done. Even then, try and be attentive and listen to what your child has to say. Initiate and encourage dialogues, just like you are conversing with an adult. This way you can get your child to share his/her feelings. But please refrain from being judgemental, and, that too, soon. It will simply backfire and create confusion.
Treat your child as a grown-up, but be strict when needed: First things first, start treating your child as an individual and listen to what he/she has to say. A child is always vocal and each one of them has their own unique way of expressing things. If you do so, you will immediately see results.
But at the same time, don’t be too lenient; always maintain a balance. Adopt an approach keeping in mind your child’s characteristics. If there is a problem, make sure that you address it at the earliest. Don’t procrastinate. Things will only get worse as your child might never get a clear message. Ground him/her, if needed.
Create a sense of belonging. Let your child know that his/her family is always around. (Source: Thinkstock) Create a sense of belonging. Let your child know that his/her family is always around.
This way you can get him/her thinking. But don’t leave it to your child completely to understand the logic behind your actions. Use subtle ways to discuss it. For instance, if your 5-year-old child refuses to keep his/her toys in their place every time after his/her play session, then initiate a conversation when he/she asks for the toys the next time. Let him/her know that you will get the toys provided it’s back in its place. Remember, to use a soft tone.

Teach your child to be a good human being:

A sign of a healthy tree is a strong root. Similarly, for your child to flourish, you need to imbibe the right sense of belonging in him/her. Also, the ability to be grateful, happy, adaptive, emotionally balanced, spiritually secure and financially independent does not come easy. You will have to be the guiding force.
It will also require on your part to refrain from being over protective. Never lie for your child as it will never get him/her to be a responsible person. Let him/her be accountable for his/her actions. For instance, if your child has not studied for a test, don’t bail him/her out from school with a fake sick leave note.
Also, don’t force him/her to do things if he/she says no. It’s important that your child learns to reply in the negative at times. Confused? Well, this way it will become easier for him/her to say ‘no’ to peer pressure. Self-opinion will hold an important place and there will be no fear of not being accepted in the circle.
To summarise, the future of your child is directly proportionate to your parenting abilities and like everything else in life, it will require a lot of practise on your part. You will need the patience and sharpness to be tuned into what’s happening, the humility to accept the shortcomings and a heightened ability to not impose verdicts.
Remember, you don’t have to be perfect in the eyes of your child, you just need to be humane.

Wisa charged with sexual assault, indecent exposure

Hiplife artiste Eugene Ashie popularly known as Wisa has been charged with indecent exposure and sexual assault for showing his genitals at a live event in Accra.

Wisa told Joy News he regrets his action which he describes as "childish". He said he is prepared to face any sanction for his behavior.
"It was very bad. I don't like to talk about it too much because i feel bad when i am talking about it.
"I feel ashamed and disappointed in myself," he said.

He explained he was too excited during his performance and that may have led to his childish conduct.
The artiste has already produced and released a song apologising for his action.

Commenting on the charges, he said "he is ready to face the law."
But one of the charges- Sexual Assault- may be struck out if, the lady dancer, on whose butt Wisa rubbed his sleepy little manhood, does not lodge a complaint.

A former state attorney Lawyer Augustine Obour told Joy News' Francisca Kakra Forson there has to be a complainant for the charge of sexual assault to hold in court.
On the charge of the Indecent Exposure, Obour said the artiste cannot escape from the law.

He said the video evidence and the confessions by the artiste are enough to hang him in the court of law.
He expressed regrets that the artiste may soon become an ex-convict if the police decided to go ahead with the prosecution.

Credit: Joy News

12 killed in separate road accidents this morning

JOHANNESBURG/CAPE TOWN - At least 12 people have been killed in three separate accidents around the country this morning.
In the first accident, six people were killed and 12 others injured on the N17.

It’s understood a taxi collided with a truck and BMW between Springs and Secunda.
Police are investigating the cause of the accident.

During a separate incident, five people died and a woman was critically injured after a crash in the Free State.

Paramedics say two cars collided on the N1 between Kroonstad and Ventersburg, instantly killing the five people.
Netcare 911’s Chris Botha says a woman was rushed to a nearby hospital.

“One female survived the crash, but she was in a very serious condition. Paramedics stabilised her on the scene and transported her to a local hospital for further treatment. The cause of the accident is unknown and police were on the scene. They will launch a full investigation.”

TAXI DRIVER DEAD
At the same time, a taxi driver has was killed after his vehicle collided with a Golden Arrow bus and a BMW.

The incident occurred on the Stellenbosch Arterial road in the Western Cape this morning.                        

The bus driver and a passenger sustained minor injuries.
City of Cape Town Traffic Spokesperson Richard Coleman says, “There we had Nooiensfontein Road closed between Stellenbosch Arterial and Wembley Road.

This was in both directions and we had one lane closed at the Stellenbosch Arterial westbound. There was one fatality, a male taxi driver.

Credit: Eyewitness News

Woman, 21, dies in bus accident on I-55

CHICAGO -- A 21-year-old woman has died in a charter bus accident on the inbound Stevenson Expressway Monday morning. She has been identified as Nicole M. Underwood of Des Moines, Iowa.

At about 6:45 a.m., a Burlington Trailways bus was traveling on I-55 northbound near Damen, when for unknown reasons, lost control and struck a construction arrow board sign.

 Four other passengers were sent to the hospital in stable condition with injuries that appeared not to be life-threatening.

At this time, the far right two lanes on I-55 near Damen are closed, but traffic is able to get by in the far left lane and shoulder.

No other information is available at this time. The crash is still being investigated.
Check back for updates.

At about 6:45 a.m., a Burlington Trailways bus was traveling on I-55 northbound near Damen, when for unknown reasons, lost control and struck a construction arrow board sign.

Four other passengers were sent to the hospital in stable condition with injuries that appeared not to be life-threatening.

At this time, the far right two lanes on I-55 near Damen are closed, but traffic is able to get by in the far left lane and shoulder. No other information is available at this time. The crash is still being investigated.

Credit:  wgntv

Ohio State's Ezekiel Elliott cited in Columbus car accident, will play in Fiesta Bowl vs. Notre Dame

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott was cited by Columbus police after a car accident on Sunday before the Buckeyes left for Arizona and the Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame, according to Franklin County court records.

Elliott was cited for driving under suspension, driving without a license and failure to control. According to court records, the accident occurred on northbound Route 315 near Lane Avenue, not far from Ohio State's campus.
Elliott has a preliminary court date set for Jan. 26 in Columbus.

An Ohio State spokesperson confirmed to cleveland.com that Elliott will not be suspended for the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1. The spokesperson also said that Elliott had an expired license that he had not yet renewed.

However, court records show that Elliott had his license suspended after he failed to pay the fine for a speeding ticket he received on May 15 of this year.

That case did not immediately come up in the initial search of court records because Elliott's name is spelled incorrectly in the report.
Elliott was also issued another speeding ticket in June 2014, for which the fine was paid by his mother, Dawn Elliott.

The Columbus Dispatch, citing Columbus police, reported that Elliott hit a puddle around 1:30 p.m., hydroplaned and collided with another vehicle carrying two people. One of the people in the other vehicle suffered minor injuries. Elliott, who was on the team plane to Phoenix on Sunday, did not suffer any injuries.

Ohio State is already shorthanded in the Fiesta Bowl after defensive tackle Adolphus Washington was cited for solicitation by Columbus police earlier this month. Washington was suspended for the Fiesta Bowl.

Quarterback J.T. Barrett missed one game earlier this season after a drunken driving citation in November. But Elliott, the Big Ten's Offensive Player of the Year this season, will play Friday against the Fighting Irish.

Credit: Cleveland

How fast will 5G be?

 

 Just five years after the first 4G smartphone hit the market, the wireless industry is already preparing for 5G.

Each of the four nationwide cell phone carriers, as well as smartphone chipmakers and the major network equipment companies are working on developing 5G network technology for their customers.
There are many significant hurdles that all the industry players have to clear before you'll see a little 5G symbol next to the signal bars on your smartphone screen. For example, it has yet to be determined what 5G even means, let alone what it will look like and when it will get here.

But as consumers use up rapidly growing amounts of 4G bandwidth watching streaming videos on their phones, 5G will soon become a necessity. As telecom engineers work furiously to develop 5G technology, we're getting a clearer picture of the who, what, where, when and why of 5G.

The "G" in 3G, 4G and 5G stands for "generation." So 5G will be the fifth generation of wireless network technology.

The standards for 5G have not yet been set. According to Bill Smith, president of AT&T's (T, Tech30) network operations, 5G will likely be defined in 2018, and the standards for 5G will codified sometime in 2019 by the standards-setting International Telecommunication Union, a branch of the United Nations.

The standards will determine which wireless technologies can be called "5G," as well as what its characteristics must include, such as how fast it will be.
Still, it's possible to make a very educated guess about what 5G will look like based on the emerging 5G technologies that the wireless industry is experimenting with.

Here's the elevator pitch: 5G will be faster, smarter and less power-hungry than 4G, enabling a slew of new wireless gadgets. 5G will let us have faster smartphones, more smart-home devices and longer-lasting wearable gizmos.

With all the questions surrounding 5G and all the wrinkles that need to be ironed out, it's exceedingly unlikely that anything Verizon does will be widely deployed. For example, the smartphone makers will need to develop chips that are capable of sending and receiving 5G signal without driving costs significantly higher.

Credit: CNN

China Telecom chairman Chang Xiaobing under investigation

The chairman of one of China's largest state-owned mobile operators, China Telecom, is being investigated by the country's anti-corruption watchdog.

Chang Xiaobing is "suspected of serious violation of discipline", according to a statement on the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection website.
The executive was reported missing by local media on Sunday.

He is the latest in a series of high-profile executives to become embroiled in Beijing's crackdown on corruption.
The government's ongoing anti-corruption drive resulted in more than 70 senior officials at state firms being investigated in 2014.

Top Chinese executives investigated

• Jiang Jiemin, former chairman of leading energy group China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) jailed for 16 years in October for graft
• Xu Jianyi, former chairman of top automaker China FAW Group expelled from the ruling Communist Party in August for embezzling funds and taking bribes
• Shen Hao, former president of financial media group 21st Century jailed for four years last week for extortion and blackmail
• Cheng Boming, president of China's largest brokerage, CITIC Securities, under investigation in September for alleged trading on insider information

Little information was given on the investigation involving Mr Chang, but the statement mentioned his position as the former chairman of the country's second-largest mobile operator China Unicom.
The 58-year-old became the chairman at China Telecom in August. Earlier this year, there were reports that the government was considering merging the two telecom giants.

Government scrutiny of the top firms in the world's second largest economy has spread beyond state-owned enterprises.

Earlier this month, Guo Guangchang, the chairman of one of China's largest private conglomerates Fosun International, was also reported to have gone missing, which eventually led the firm to announce that he was helping with a police investigation. He reappeared in public a few days later.

Correspondents say that Beijing's crackdown on corruption is partly about using high profile cases to prove the government is serious about tackling corruption.

But many suspect that the downfall of some executives and other investigations can also be attributed to ongoing political infighting and an attempt to pressure high profile figures to toe the party line.

Credit: BBC

Fake ECG officer jailed 24 months

A 35-year old electrician, who posed as an official of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and succeeded in duping five people of cash of GH¢1,650.00 has been sentenced to 24 months imprisonment by the Asamankese Magistrate Court.

Ofosu Agyei was additionally ordered to pay back the money collected from the victims under the pretext of supplying them with electricity meters.

He was charged with defrauding by false pretence and pleaded guilty.
Police Chief Inspector Samuel Tetteh told the court presided over by Mr. Charles Wiafe that the crime was committed at Oseanase near Asamankese.

The convict had introduced himself to the victims, who were looking for electricity meters, as a worker of the ECG and convinced them that he could get these electrically powered devices for them.

They fell for the bait and paid to him various amounts of money totaling GHȼ1,650.00.
The victims reported the matter to the Asamankese Office of the Company after attempts to get him to deliver on his promise had failed, leading to his arrest.

Credit: Joy News

Robert Spitzer, influential US psychiatrist, dies aged 83

Dr Spitzer played a leading role in the development of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
He was also lauded for pushing to remove homosexuality's classification as a mental disorder in 1973.
Dr Spitzer's wife said he died from heart problems in Seattle on Friday.

His work on several editions of the field's diagnostic manual, known as the DSM, was seen as a "major breakthrough in the profession", his wife and colleague Janet Williams told the AP news agency.
It helped to give psychiatrists definitions of all of the major disorders so that they "could agree on what they were seeing", she said.

Working from Columbia University in New York, he pioneered an approach that relied on empirical study rather than traditional theory.

Dr Spitzer was "by far the most influential psychiatrist of his time," Dr Allen Frances, editor of a later edition of the DSM manual, told the New York Times.

Homosexuality, which at the time was listed as a mental disorder, was among the behaviours Dr Spitzer analysed and later removed from the list in the 1970s.

Until that point, the DSM had classified homosexuality as an illness, designating it a "sociopathic personality disturbance."

Dr Spitzer said he pressed for the change after meeting gay rights activists and determining that homosexuality could not be a disorder if gay people were comfortable with their sexuality.
"A medical disorder either had to be associated with subjective distress, pain or general impairment in social function," he told the Washington Post.

Dr Jack Drescher, a gay psychoanalyst, described it as a major advance for gay rights.
"The fact that gay marriage is allowed today is in part owed to Bob Spitzer," he told the New York Times.

But Dr Spitzer later courted controversy after publishing a study in 2001 which purported to support reparative therapy to turn gay people straight, sparking claims of betrayal from gay rights activists.

More than 10 years later, he apologised for the study, which he said was flawed.
He said it was the only thing in his career that he regretted.

Credit: BBC

The inmates who chose to remain on prison island says they ate rats to survive

Buru Island in East Indonesia was once home to 12,000 political prisoners, suspected communist sympathisers sent to toil there during the rule of President Suharto from the late 1960s.

It became known as the prison island: it was where people were detained without charge, forced to do hard labour clearing the jungle with simple tools to make roads and farms.

They were not given adequate food or clothing. Hundreds died due to illness, worn down by the toll of physical labour. Some others committed suicide.

In the face of increasing global condemnation they were released by the end of the 1970s. They were free to leave the island but had to report regularly to the local authorities. This continued until President Suharto fell from power in 1998.

But for some of the prisoners, returning to everyday life was simply not possible because of the stigma surrounding their detention.

Diro was in his late 20s, married and with a young son when the military arrested him from his village of Boyolali in Central Java in 1968.
"I was a farmer, helping my father on the farm, nothing more," he said.

"Until now, I really don't understand why they detained me for more than 10 years; my wife never recovered from the shock and became mentally ill. She died while pregnant with my second child," he said.

"We had to eat rats, snakes, mushrooms and plants—anything we could find in the jungle to survive," he recalled.

He says he was beaten many times: "They beat my head and my legs. It hurts sometimes even now."
His family were ostracised from their community.

"My oldest child left school because he couldn't stand the stigma of being a son of an accused Communist Party member," he said.

"If I went back to my village and I married again I was worried that my new wife and children couldn't stand it when people stigmatize them for being so-called communists," said Utomo.

The Communist Party is still banned in Indonesia. When former political prisoners have tried to hold meetings in recent months they have been shut down.

After being released Diro married a local woman, Mada, and they now live with their four children in the Savana Jaya Village alongside a small community of former political prisoners.

His wife runs a food stall in front of their house and he works in their vegetable fields.

Credit: BBC

Bukom Banku knocked out Powers in Kumasi bout

Braimah Kamoko, aka Bukom Banku, has knocked out Ayittey Powers in a special bout in Kumasi on Boxing Day, December 26.

Ayittey Powers took a beating in the opening five rounds and could not regain his composure to return to the ring for round six.

Even though Powers endured the fight in this bout better than he did in a similar bout in Accra against Banku last year, he still could not withstand Banku's heavy punches.
Banku calmly controlled the exchanges and pounded on his opponent round after round.

At the end of round five, Powers did not make it back for the commencement of the next round, enabling Kamoko to pick up the technical knockout decision.

Banku remains unbeaten, improving his record to 27 wins. He said his next bout would be a world title fight against Brit Nathan Cleverly.

Banku was presented with a brand new SUV Range Rover, a ticket for a holiday trip to South Africa and a cash prize of Ghc100, 000 donated by Joy Industries, producers of Joy Dadi Bitters.

Credit: Joy News

Gonorrhoea 'could become untreatable'

Gonorrhoea could become an untreatable disease, England's chief medical officer has warned.

Dame Sally Davies has written to all GPs and pharmacies to ensure they are prescribing the correct drugs after the rise of "super-gonorrhoea" in Leeds.
Her warning comes after concerns were raised that some patients were not getting both of the antibiotics needed to clear the infection.
Sexual health doctors said gonorrhoea was "rapidly" developing resistance.
A highly drug-resistant strain of gonorrhoea was detected in the north of England in March.
That strain is able to shrug off the antibiotic azithromycin, which is normally used alongside another drug, ceftriaxone.
In her letter, the chief medical officer said: "Gonorrhoea is at risk of becoming an untreatable disease due to the continuing emergence of antimicrobial resistance."

Soaring cases

But while an injection of ceftriaxone and an azithromycin pill are supposed to be used in combination, this may not always be the case for all patients.

Earlier this year, the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) warned that some online pharmacies were offering only oral medication.
Using just one of the two drugs makes it easier for the bacterium to develop resistance.

The letter, which is also signed by chief pharmaceutical officer Dr Keith Ridge, stated: "Gonorrhoea has rapidly acquired resistance to new antibiotics, leaving few alternatives to the current recommendations.
"It is therefore extremely important that suboptimal treatment does not occur."

The disease is caused by the bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoea.
The infection is spread by unprotected vaginal, oral and anal sex.

Symptoms can include a thick green or yellow discharge from sexual organs, pain when urinating and bleeding between periods. Often the person has no symptoms, however, but can still easily spread the disease to others.

Untreated infection can lead to infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease and can be passed on to a child during pregnancy.

Gonorrhoea is the second most common sexually transmitted infection in England and cases are soaring.

The number of infections increased by 19% from 29,419 in 2013 to 34,958 the following year.

Dr Jan Clarke, the president of BASHH, told the BBC News website: "We're really pleased that the chief medical officer has stressed that gonorrhoea needs this approach to treatment due to the rapid development of resistance.

"We need to protect what we've got and we need to encourage pharmacists and general practitioners to follow first-line treatment."

Dr Andrew Lee, from Public Health England, added: "Investigations are ongoing into a number of cases of anti-microbial resistant gonorrhoea.

"Public Health England will continue to monitor, and act on, the spread of antimicrobial resistance and potential gonorrhoea treatment failures, to make sure they are identified and managed promptly."

Credit: BBC

Star Wars (The Force Awakens) becomes fastest to take $1bn

The Force Awakens has become the fastest film to take $1bn (£674m) at the global box office.
JJ Abrams' film achieved the feat in 12 days, beating the previous record of 13 days set by Jurassic World in June.

But while Jurassic World had the benefit of record takings in China over the period, The Force Awakens has yet to open there.

Star Wars also scored the biggest US Christmas Day box office takings in history with $49.3m (£33.2m).

The film took $153.5m (£103.5m) in the US in its second weekend, bringing its total domestic haul to $544.6m (£367m).

The weekend's other releases included the Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg comedy Daddy's Home, which took $35m (£23.6m).

The Jennifer Lawrence film Joy - which sees the actress reunite with Silver Linings Playbook director David O Russell for the biopic about the creator of the Miracle Mop - took $17.5m (£11.8m).

Point Break, a remake of the 1991 Kathryn Bigelow film starring Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze, flopped however with audiences.

The film, which had a reported budget of $105m (£70.8m), took just $10.2m (£6.9m) across 2.910 venues,

In limited release, Leonardo DiCaprio's film The Revenant earned $471,000 (£317,000) from four locations, averaging $117,750 (£79,000) per screen.

The actor's performance as a wilderness guide abandoned after a savage bear attack, is expected to earn him an Oscar nomination next month.

Source: BBC

Asamoah Gyan to outdoor band and launch album on Dec 29

Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan is set to unveil his music band, Asa Band, on December 29 at the Banquet Hall, State House.

The footballer, who is also a musician, will also use the occasion to launch the band’s maiden album, ‘Fly Away’.

The 12-man band, sources close to Asamoah Gyan tell the media, specializes in recording original highlife, hiplife, gospel, lovers rock and reggae songs.

Expected to attract some of the biggest names in the Ghanaian entertainment, sports and business sectors, the event will witness performances from the Asa Band led by Asamoah Gyan himself popularly known as Baby Jet.

Apart from the Asa Band, the event will also witness performances from Kwabena Kwabena, Stonebwoy, Jupitar, Steve Bedi and a host of others.

The source said Asamoah Gyan has been nursing the idea for the band “Since he started music with Castro,” and it is borne out of “His passion for music.”

The Black Stars captain, Shanghai SIPG of the Chinese Super League star, has been featured on three hit songs in recent years by Castro, known in real life as Theophilus Tagoe.

Castro and his female companion, Janet Bandu, went missing on Sunday 6, July 2014 while jet skiing in the waters of Ada in the Eastern region.

Castro and Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan were at the Peace Holiday Resort, a beach resort in Ada, together with some friends, for recreation when the unfortunate incident occurred.

Gyan first became famous for his music in the lead up to the 2010 World Cup with the release of the hit song ‘African Girls’ – a collaboration with Castro.

The duo released another hit collaboration soon after titled ‘Do the Dance’ before releasing another hit song ‘Odo Pa’ featuring Kofi Kinaata.

Janet Jackson postpones Unbreakable tour for surgery

US singer Janet Jackson has put her Unbreakable world tour on hold until spring to have surgery.

Jackson said her doctors told her she needs an operation "soon".

"Please pray for me, my family and our entire company during this difficult time," the 49-year-old asked fans. She said she would not be giving any details of her health condition.

Jackson began her tour last August in Vancouver and had dates across the US, Canada and Europe till next June.

Her next concert had been due to take place in Denver, Colorado, on 9 January.
In 2008, Jackson cancelled a string of concert dates after developing migraine-associated vertigo.

"It breaks my heart to tell you that I am forced to postpone the Unbreakable Tour," she said, adding that fans should hold on to their tickets.

"They will be honoured in a special way when the new schedule is announced."

Unbreakable is Jackson's 11th album - and the first studio album since her brother Michael died in 2009, prompting Janet to take a step back from the public eye.

Credit: BBC

Oil prices will reach $70 a barrel by 2020, says Opec

Oil producers' group Opec has said it expects oil prices to recover to $70 a barrel by 2020.

Prices have fallen from more than $110 a barrel in the summer of 2014 to less than $37 a barrel now due to oversupply and slowing demand.

But Opec said oil prices would begin to rise next year and, longer term, would rise due to higher exploration costs.

It expects the market share of Opec producers to shrink by 2020 as rivals prove more resilient than expected.

The group currently accounts for about 30% of the world's oil production, down from 50% in the 1970s.

Part of the reason for this decline is the emergence of vast quantities of shale oil produced in the US. This has also been factor in pushing down the price of oil to 11-year lows.

In its World Oil Outlook report, Opec said it expected supply growth from US shale to slow dramatically next year, as producers struggled to cope with such low prices.

Opec's strategy this year has been to allow prices to fall by maintaining production in the hope that, eventually, US shale producers will be forced out of business.Another factor in low prices, Opec said, was weaker economic growth, particularly in developing economies.

It highlighted China, where the "economy seems to be maturing and growth is decelerating faster than previously expected".

Credit: BBC

Police invite Wisa for showing his manhood on stage

The Police have invited budding rapper, Wisa, who is well known for his smash hit single ‘Ekiki Me’ for showing his genital during a performance on stage.

From information gatherings that Wisa and his management are making plans to report to the Police headquarters Saturday morning to answer questions on the incident.

It is unclear whether Citi FM lodged an official complaint with the police but the country’s Criminal Code prohibits indecent exposure.

The rapper did the unthinkable while performing at this year’s Decemba 2 Rememba organised by Accra-based Citi FM Thursday night. He decided to strip on stage and show his genitals.

Midway through his performance on stage, the musician while wriggling his waist behind a voluptuous lady drew down his white boxer shorts which was already showing in his saggy jeans and pulled out his manhood.

To the dismay of many, Wisa, who clearly did not see anything wrong with the act, continued humping behind the lady. The act by the musician has been condemned widely on social media.

Jessica Opare Saforo, Programmes Manager of Citi FM, in a tweet apologised for the unfortunate incident.

She said: “Pls accept our sincere apology about the unfortunate incident with Wisa Greid. Citi FM does not condone indecent exposure”.

Edward Nana Poku Osei (Hammer), Director of Hiplife and Hip-hop at the Musicians Union of Ghana (MUSIGA) in a statement expressed disappointment in the young musician.

According to Hammer, Wisa “disgraced this entire organization and the Ghanaian Music industry with his indecent exposure.”

The musician, reacting to the huge public uproar generated by the incident, said in statement that he has regretted his action and is ready to “avail myself to all planned disciplinary actions in the coming week.”

Credit: Joy News

Yarmouk camp evacuation 'on hold'

The expected evacuation of thousands of rebels from in and around Yarmouk refugee camp in southern Damascus has been put on hold, reports say.

Safety issues and the killing of a top rebel have been blamed for the delay.
Militants and their families were due to be bussed to areas under the control of their respective groups, under a deal between rebels and the government.

Meanwhile, a rebel coalition says it has captured a key dam from so-called Islamic State (IS) in northern Syria.
A spokesman for the Kurdish-Arab Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) said fighters backed by coalition air strikes had seized the Tishrin dam, about 14 miles (22km) north of the IS stronghold of Raqqa.

The spokesman, Col Talal Selo, said the capture of the dam would help disrupt an IS supply line across the Euphrates and isolate the group between northern Aleppo and its territory east of the river.

Earlier this month, pro-government media reported a deal between the regime, IS and the rival al-Nusra Front to allow members of both safe passage out of Yarmouk and Hajar al-Aswad to Raqqa and the northern province of Idlib.

Eighteen buses which will transport rebels and their families were reported to have arrived at the camp on Friday.

However, Lebanese Hezbollah al-Manar TV said the evacuation was held up because the convoy was due to pass through territory controlled by rebel group Jaysh al-Islam, whose leader was killed in an air strike later that day.

The UK-based monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said it was paused for "logistic reasons" in order to secure the road to IS-held Raqqa in the north-east.

About 18,000 civilians have been trapped in Yarmouk by the fighting and a government siege since 2012.
Islamic State militants took over parts of the camp earlier this year.

They were pushed back by Palestinian militias and Syrian rebels after weeks of fierce fighting, and Yarmouk has since been divided into areas controlled by IS, al-Nusra Front and pro- and anti-government Palestinian militants.

Government forces maintain checkpoints around the area, preventing civilians from leaving.
Once Yarmouk is made safe, the UN will be able to get aid to the civilians there.

Credit: BBC

‘Ekiki Me’ singer shows manhood on stage

Budding rapper, Wisa, who is well known for his smash hit single ‘Ekiki Me’ has done the unthinkable during a live performance Thursday night.
The rapper while performing at this year’s Decemba 2 Rememba by Accra-based Citi FM decide to strip on stage and show his genitals.
Midway through his performance on stage, the musician while wriggling his waist behind a voluptuous lady drew down his white boxer shorts which was already showing in his saggy jeans and pulled out his manhood.
To the dismay of many, Wisa, who clearly did not see anything wrong with the act, continued humping behind the lady.
The act by the musician has been condemned widely on social media.
Jessica Opare Saforo, Programmes Manager of Citi FM, in a tweet apologised for the unfortunate incident.
She said: “Pls accept our sincere apology about the unfortunate incident with Wisa Greid.

Credit: Citi News

Mahama's Christmas message: We thank God for his continuous blessing, favour

President John Mahama has thanked God for the blessing and favour He has showered on Ghana in a short Christmas message.
The President posted the message on his Facebook wall, Friday.
“I thank God for the gift of life, health and the opportunity to share the love of the season with the children of Bole/Bamboi,” the President said.
Some Ghanaians are joining the rest of the world to celebrate Christmas, an annual festival commemorating the birth of Jesus Christ.
Christmas is observed on December 25 as a religious and cultural celebration among billions of people around the world.
In Ghana the day is marked by Church activities and festivities.
Below is the President’s full Facebook post.
Joy to the world.

Xmas is here. It's a season of love and sharing.

"The more we share, the more we have".

I thank God for the gift of life, health and the opportunity to share the love of the season with the children of Bole/Bamboi.

We thank God for his continuous blessing and favour on our nation.

May we continue to be an oasis of tranquility in all life's storms.

Merry Christmas to all Ghanaians. May the season portend even greater success for ourselves and our country.

Hearts of Oak sack new arrivals Boadu, Abaidoo, Razak & Atiso after spending $51K on transfer market

Ghanaian giants Accra Hearts of Oak have axed four of their newly signed players for poor performance barely four weeks after announcing their signing.
The Phobians confirmed the signing of the quartet alongside new arrivals in November for the upcoming 2016 Ghana Premier League campaign.
But the club's technical team have approved the sacking of the four players following their failure to impress during their pre-season campaign in Libya last week.
While their contracts have been terminated by the 2000 African champions it is unclear whether the club will ask them to refund their signing on fees.
Hearts fans openly criticised their management for their low-profile signings on the Ghanaian transfer market.
Defender Abaidoo was signed from relegated Ghanaian Premier League side Heart of Lions while the other players joined from lower-tier sides.
However goalkeeper Ben Doe Atiso could be asked to remain at the club for further assessment by the technical team.
Hearts' management claim their spent $51,000 to sign the nine low-profile players including the four sacked players and 32-year-old former Liberty Professionals forward Mustapha Essuman who last played for Vietnamese side Cần Thơ F.C.

Parliament partly responsible for corruption – Ato Dadzie

A member of the legal team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Ato Dadzie, says Parliament’s failure to properly scrutinize projects presented for approval is partly to blame for recurrent reports of bloated expenditure.
Ato Dadzie says being a key part of government’s machinery, Parliament needs to be strengthened to appropriately check facts and figures contained in the motions presented to the House.
“We have a constitutional order, and the oversight responsibility for financial disbursement and all that is in Parliament. Parliament must do more in terms of investigating and examining documents placed before them,” Ato Dadzie said.
The NDC lawyer was speaking on a special edition of Joy FM’s Super Morning Show Thursday, hosted by New Patriotic Party (NPP) member, Gabby Otchere-Darko.
Ato Dadzie was reacting to views that corruption has steeped under the current administration.
Citing the controversial 3.6 million Ghana cedis bus branding deal and the over 500 million Ghana cedis AMERI power plant contract, Gabby Otchere-Darko suggested that the current administration has done a poor job at fighting corruption.
Some analysts say Ghana could have gotten the 235MW power plants that AMERI has provided at a lesser cost.
A Ranking Member on the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, K.T. Hammond the committee said he was misled to approve the controversial AMERI power project contract.
According to him, the Power Ministry failed to provide full details of the transaction to the Committee members.
Also, the Chief of Staff has ordered the Attorney General, to recover GHC1.9 million the company that branded the buses.
In an interview on Joy FM, Ato Dadzie said Parliament and other government institutions needs to be strengthened.
 “You shouldn’t come and tell us that you were misled. That is why we put you there. That oversight responsibility is that of Parliament.” Ato Dadzie said.
He said Parliament and state instutions that have the mandate to check graft must invest in capacity building to enable them deliver on their objectives.

Credit: Joy News

I traded education for music - Samini

Dancehall artiste Emmanuel Andrew Samini has disclosed he could not further is education due to his love for music and everything entertainment.
The artiste who turned 34 on Tuesday says although he does not regret his decision he won’t encourage anyone to do same.
“I didn’t come out as a bad student but I wasn’t staying in class and I wasn’t staying in class because I wanted to entertain and that is what I am doing today. So I don’t regret entertaining but I wouldn’t tell you don’t stay in class because I didn’t really stay in class but I didn’t ‘bomb’. So be careful if you want to stay out there and have fun, make sure you stay in class so you do not have problems with your teachers,” he told Joy News on Multi TV.
The dancehall and reggae artiste who started with artistes like Kokovelli, Tinny, K.K Fosu and others attributes his success after 11 years to dedication to the craft.
“I stick to my work and I make sure I go to work with all seriousness one hundred percent and obviously the result has to be a hundred percent, but more importantly everybody is on a mission and not everybody is going to be on top for so long and so when you are on top you have to look at maintaining and staying there because that is where the people want you,” he says.
 He said when he is approached to feature on a track, he treats it just like it was his own song.
“Once I am coming on it I do it like it is my song so then I represent myself so the result is always the best,” he said.
Samini believes the above is the reason many of his comrades yearn to have him feature on their songs.
He refuted claims he had outlived his peers. He argued that there many 34 year olds who had done enormously well than he had.
He said another thing that keeps him going is the knowledge that he made his mother proud.


Credit: Joy News

Abraham Attah wins Black Film Critics Circle’s Rising Star Award

Young Ghanaian rising actor, Abraham Attah, has received yet another award, this time the rising star award, from the Black Film Critics Circle.

The US critics' association called the Ghanaian's debut as an African child soldier was "one of the strongest and most phenomenal we have ever seen" and said he had "a very bright future ahead of him".
 Beasts of No Nation received a special mention, with young lead Abraham Attah getting the BFCC's rising star award.

 Abraham Attah is a Ghanaian actor. He made his feature film debut in Beasts of No Nation.

For his leading role of child soldier Agu, Attah was awarded the Marcello Mastroianni's Best Young Actor Award at the 72nd Venice International Film FestivalWhile most 14-year-olds are busy worrying about their adolescence, Abraham Attah has bigger fish to fry -- he's already carved a name out for himself in the international film scene.

The teenager from the Ghanaian capital of Accra won the Marcello Mastroianni's Best Young Actor Award at the 2015 Venice Film Festival on Saturday for his lead role in Netflix's first original feature movie, "Beasts of No Nation."

Former Prez Kufuor climaxes 77th birthday with Ebo Whyte’s ‘Forbidden’

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor turned 77 on December 8 and a busy schedule outside the country, even after leaving office as President, prevented him from celebrating the milestone fully.
Behind closed doors, the man popularly known as the Gentle Giant, may have marked the day in his own unique ways but none will surpass Tuesday night’s special play staged in his honour at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).
People who matter in the spheres of politics, business, religions, sports, music and even the diplomatic corps trooped to the venue in their numbers to give the former president a befitting birthday gift.
The birthday gift was a special play, ‘Forbidden’ by James Ebo Whyte of Roverman Productions.
The Conference Centre was almost filled to capacity with dignitaries that included Mrs Theresa Kufuor, former First Lady and wife of former President Kufuor; New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and his wife Rebecca Akufo-Addo; Dzifa Abla Gomashie, Deputy Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts; Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife, Samira Bawumia.
Also in attendance were Kwadwo Mpiani, former Chief of Staff; Alan Kyerematen, Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Rev Father Andrew Campbell, Bishop Charles Agyinasare, Joyce Aryee, Paul Afoko, Gifty Afenyi-Dadzie, Dr. Joyce Aryee and a host of others.
The play, ‘Forbidden’ which captivated the attention of the not-too-easy-to-please patrons tells the story of the surprising transformation of the drug-addict son of a reverend minister.
The play is filled with life’s abundant lessons laced with a good dose of humour and the high-profile patrons including former president Kufuor loved it.
The dignitaries were simply not easy to please at first. The play started off on a slow note for them. For almost 20 minutes, the Conference Centre, apart from sounds of the craft from the stage, was dead silent.
Gradually, Ebo Whyte’s theatre prowess that Ghanaians have grown to love started kicking in. The big men now got the flow and they loosened up their diplomatic swag. Laughter now filled the Conference Centre. They were enjoying it.
After patrons had enjoyed the wonderful production, a surprise was in the offing for the man of the day, John Agyekum Kufuor, who Kwadwo Mpiani described as a real gentleman and many prophesied to become a president even in Senior Secondary School.
The former president, who beamed with broad smiles, was joined by his wife, Nana Akufo-Addo, Rebecca Akufo-Addo, Kwadwo Mpiani, Rev Father Andrew Campbell and others to cut a special birthday cake.
Former president Kufuor speaking in an interview with Joy Prime on MultiTV said, “Uncle Ebo I believe is a cast in the mould of Shakespeare of our times and I always aspire to be the patron of the arts so anytime I get the opportunity, I visit.”
“I attended his show and I was just overwhelmed by the way – the concept, the theme – was put together and the presentation, the actors. What surprised me was that they are all amateurs but I don’t think they are any far removed from professionals so tonight I think it excelled,” he added.

Credit:  Joy News

Kumasi pulls Amakye Dede for Xmas

Music lovers in Kumasi can look forward to an enjoyable time with highlife maestro, Amakye Dede as he invades the Sunset Hotel at Danyame on December 25, Christmas day for a special holiday celebration.
Dubbed the MTN Sunset Xmas Ball, the 7.00pm show will also feature Kofi Nti, Kofi B, Kontihene and Bless. It is being organised by Imajin Advertising in collaboration with Maxi Entertainment.
“The event promises to treat the people of Oseikrom to some unprecedented entertainment and authentic live music performances like never before,” said Mr Fred Kyei, Chief Operations Officer at Imajin Advertising.

Amakye Dede is already well-known in the Garden City for his infectious highlife tracks. All his past appearances there have been massive events and it is expected tomorrow’s show would be another big success.
Famous for songs such as Adukro Mu Nsuo, Sufre Wo Nyame, Bebrebeyi, Broken Promise, Dabi Dabi, Odo Nfoni, Mefrewo and Iron Boy, Amakye Dede never fails to thrill when he gets onto the stage.
“It would be up to the Oseikrom people to find the energy and dance till the end of the show because I’m ready for a proper marathon session,” Amakye Dede told the media

Ghana Movie Awards: More disagree over Beast of No Nation’s nomination

Some industry persons are up in arms against organisers of the Ghana Movie Awards over the nomination of the movie, Beast of No Nation.
The movie, on Friday grabbed 15 nominations at the unveiling ceremony of the nominees for this year’s awards at the Silverbird Cinemas in Accra. It got the highest number of nominations this year.
The movie, shot in Ghana stars Hollywood actor Idris Elba, Ghana’s Abraham Attah, Ama K. Abebrese, Grace Nortey and David Dontoh.
Directed by Cary Joji Fuknaga, the movie has been described by industry persons as clearly a foreign movie and therefore ought not to have been nominated. The announcement trigged heated exchanges and disagreements between some industry persons, including actress Ama K. Abebrese and Eddie Nartey.
Eddie Nartey posted on Instagram: I can’t hold it but express my opinion. GHANA MOVIE AWARDS has done it again just like many expected. I don’t even want to talk about how long I had to wait with several of my colleagues as well as the media before the Nominees Announcement got started. Now how come BEAST OF NO NATION got 15 nominations? BEAST OF NO NATION??  this 6 million budget dollar movie is now competing with the local movies? I thought it was GHANA MOVIE AWARDS, an event to honor filmmakers locally.”
“Why don’t you put it in the African Movie of the year category since I consider it as an international movie? This is so unfair to the young ones who are on the field trying to make this industry stand with the little they have. If you want to award BEAST OF NO NATION because it was shot here in Ghana then do it in a different way but don’t let it compete with Our local movies. It’s quite unfortunate that a couple of actors and actresses have worked so hard this year and are not appreciated with even nominations. THIS IS SAD. I don’t blame the organizers that much but the very actors and actresses who will complain behind closed doors and be mute in the open about such issues. If you want a change, then be part of creating that change. It’s just a SHAME
Now let’s wait and see which film will win over BEAST OF NO NATION in the same category,” he added.
Actor Prince David Osei reacting to the nomination also said: “Open letter to the Ceo of Ghana Movie Awards…… Mr Frederick Nuamah firstly, we want to thank you for GMA, an award which is geared to honour film makers and practitioners in Ghana. Hence Ghana Movie Awards not European or Arabian or Ghana Netflix Awards….Since the inception of this prestigious awards people have always doubted the credibility of this award; whether it’s awards for friends and family of Frederick Nuamah or for Ghana Film industry??? Some of us have kept quiet because we thought it will get better over the years, for goodness sake!! this is the 6th edition and there’s still no improvement..Though am not in Ghana I have seen nomination list online with Beast of No Nation topping with 15 nominations..”
He added that, “Let us reason here Mr Ceo and your judges. .There’s no disputing the fact that Beast of No Nation is a great movie by all standards, even seen billboard all over Hollywood Boulevard promoting the movie..It starred Ghanaian actors and was shot entirely in Ghana, with stupendous performances from Abraham the new kid making Ghana proud, Ama K, David Dontoh to mention but a few..Now to the issue at hand, Mr Ceo how do u nominate a full Hollywood movie owned by Netflix for Ghana Movie Awards not even in international movie category but 15 nominations?? I remember very well when we attempted submitting the Hollywood low budget movie I did Thedead, you and your team declined it in 2012 saying it’s an international movie though shot in Africa…”
“How do you encourage young industrious film makers fighting against all odds to make an industry since we don’t have one…if you nominate our local movies against Hollywood movies with a budget of 6millions dollars how can they go wrong??With 6millions dollars they resourceful ,so obviously they will make a good film against us struggling to even have producers,actors have now turned producers!!!What a SHAME for our industry…To thyself be true and stop leaving in denial…Thanks for nominating my movie LASTNIGHT for Best Actor in Leading role….but fix it!!! we the industry players not happy with you Mr GMA….Princedavidosei and friends for positive change in our industry….God bless Ghana Movies…,” the award winning actor concluded.
Actress Yvonne Nelson prior to the unveiling of the nominations had raised reservations and said it will not be fair to the industry if the Beats of No Nation is nominated.
She also criticized organisers of the awards scheme for accepting ‘Beast of No Nation’ movie adding that it is not a Ghanaian production.
“If that movie is submitted, it is not fair because it is not a Ghanaian production, the fact that it was shot in Ghana does not make it a Ghanaian movie, if we are trying to promote our own why should we go for that?” she asked.
She maintained that, “you cannot compare a Hollywood production or a movie with big budget to a Ghanaian movie the budgets are totally different.”
Organisers of the awards has maintained that there is some level of Ghanaian collaboration in the production of the movie and therefore deserves to be nominated.
Check out the full list of nominees:
ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
1. Oris Erhuero – The cursed ones
2. Prince David Osei – Last Night
3. Adjetey Annan – Cartel
4. Abraham Attah – Beast of no nation
5. Henry Adofo – Freetown
ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
1. Yvonne Nelson – If tomorrow never comes
2. Nadia Buari – Imogen Brown
3. Lydia Forson – A letter from Adam
4. Martha Ankomah – Shattered Lives
5. Joselyn Dumas – Silver rain
ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
1. Jimmy Jean-Louis – The cursed ones
2. Idris EIba – Beast of no nation
3. Van Vicker – I do
4. Emmanuel Affadzi – Beast of no Nation
5. James Gardiner – Candle in the wind
ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
1. Rebecca Acheampong (Becca) – If tomorrow never comes
2. Sellorm Galley – The Table
3. Ama K. Abrebese – The cursed ones
4. Christabel Ekeh – Candle in the wild
5. Belinda Baidoo – Silver rain
COSTUME & WARDROBE
1. If tomorrow never comes – Clara Asantewaa
2. I do – Elikem Kumordzie
3. Beast of no nations – Jenny Eagan/Kayoa Afriyie Frimpong
4. 14:32 – Augustus Edgar Quartey
WRITING ADAPTED OR ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
1. If tomorrow never comes – Pascal Amanfo
2. Beast of no nation – Uzodinma Iweala/Cary Fukunaga
3. Freetown – Melissa Larson / Garrett batty
4. The cursed ones – Maxilian Claussen
5. Silver rain – Juliet Asante
MUSIC ORIGINAL SCORE
1. If tomorrow never comes – Berni Anti
2. Freetown – Kirk Sharpe
3. The cursed ones – Benjamin Wright
4. Beast of no nation – Dan Romer
5. Nana meansKing – Aleksander Kuzba
MUSIC ORIGINAL SONG
1. If tomorrow never comes – Berni Anti
2. I do – Kobi Rana
3. The cursed ones – Benjamin Wright
4. Coz ov mont – Emmanuel Owusu Bonsu
Mensah Ansah
5. Why should I get married 2 – D. Black
BEST EDITING
1. Freetown – Connor O’Malley
2. Beast of no nation – Mikkel E. G. Nielsen
3. The cursed ones – Josh Levinsky
4. 14:32 – Kimi Frimpong
5. Cartel – Abby Bawa
MAKEUP AND HAIRSTYLING
1. If tomorrow never comes – Jana Siidaus Nahdi
2. I do – Christabel Jones
3. The cursed ones – Araba Ansah
4. Cartel – Lydia Ashietey
5. Beast of no nation – Chris Burgoyne, Rita Parklo
VISUAL EFFECTS
1. Freetown – Davin Bekins
2. I do – Enoch Obiri Opoku
3. Beast of no nation – Kevin Bitters
4. The cursed ones – Ahmed El-Azma
5. 14:32 – Charles McCarthy
PRODUCTION DESIGN
1. Beast of no nation – Tony Tomety / Miles Kristian
2. If tomorrow never comes – D. J. Vagas
3. The cursed ones – Davide De Stefano
4. I do – Ada Chibuife
5. Freetown – Albert Aidoo / Courage Wormenor
CINEMATOGRAPHY
1. Cartel – John Passah
2. If tomorrow never comes – Rex Perbi
3. Freetown – Jeremy Prusso
4. The beast of no nations – Cary Joji Fukunaga
5. The cursed ones – Nicholas K. Lory
SOUND EDITING AND MIXING
1. Nana means king – Aleksander Kuzba
2. Freetown – George dankwa
3. Beast of no nations – Geoffrey Patterson
4. If tomorrow never comes – Berni Anti
5. The cursed ones – Gernot Fuhrmann
DIRECTING
1. Freetown – Garrett Batty
2. If tomorrow never comes – Pascal Amanfo
3. Beast of no nation – Cary Fukunago
4. The cursed ones – Nana Obiri Yeboah
5. 14:32 – Kwesi Apenteng Quartey
BEST PICTURE
1. Beast of no nation – Tony Tagoe/ Danny Damah (Producers)
2. If tomorrow never comes – Yvonne Nelson (Producer)
3. The cursed ones – Nicholas K. Lory (Producer)
4. Silver Rain – Julliet Asante (Producer)
5. I do – Kafui Danku (Producer)
6. 30 days in Atlanta – A. Y. (Producer)
7. Candle in the wind – Abdul Sallam (Producer)
8. Freetown – Mawuli Akpabi
Adam Abel
Garret Batty (Producers)
9. Cartel – Dayan Fields (Producer)
BEST ACTOR AFRICAN COLLABORATION
1. Enyimma Nwigwe – Silver Rain
2. Ramsey nouah – 30 days in Atlanta
3. De Deyemi Okanlawon – If tomorrow never comes
4. Nsikan Isaac – The corned help
BEST ACTRESS AFRICAN COLLABORATION
1. Ure Eke – Silver Rain
2. Mercy Johnson – 30 days in Atlanta
3. Patience Ozokwor – Mama Africa
4. Ini Edo – While you slept
5. Rachael Oniga – The corned help
DISCOVERY OF THE YEAR
1. Abraham Attah – Beast of no nation
2. Emmanuel Affadzi – Beast of no nation
3. Ophelia Dzidzornu – The cursed ones
4. Jessica Larnyoh – I do
5. Stonebwoy – Happy death day
6. General Ntatea – Kalybos in China
7. Deborah Vanessa – 14:32
8. Becca – If tomorrow never comes
9. Belinda Dzata – Royal Diadem
10. Princess Shingle – Why should I get married
FAVOURITE ACTOR
1. Majid Michel
2. John Dumelo
3. Kalybos
4. Bismark the Joke
5. Kwadwo Nkansah
6. Akrobeto
7. Adjetey Annan
8. Agya Koo
9. Kwaku Manu
10. Van Vicker
FAVOURITE ACTRESS
1. Kyeiwaa (Rose Mensah)
2. Mercy Asiedu –
3. Maame Serwaa –
4. Emelia Brobbey –
5. Nana Ama McBrown
6. Yvonne Nelson –
7. Jackie Appiah –
8. Ahoufe Patri –
9. Juliet Ibrahim –
10. Nadia Buari –
SHORT MOVIE
1. Gaxorzozor
2. Love at the time of Odwira
3. Date
4. Thief
5. The cry
ANIMATED SHORT MOVIE
1. Nasir (bribery gone wrong)
2. Hogan toons
3. The perculiar life of a spider
4. Agradaa
5. Nubuke
BEST DOCUMENTARY
1. Komabu – za
2. Dog tales
Credit: Joy News