An aerosol spray to help referees mark where defensive walls should line up at free-kicks is being used in a FIFA tournament for the first time at the Under-20 World Cup which kicked off in Turkey on Friday.
Referees at the event can use the spray to mark the spot where a free-kick should be taken as well as where the wall should stand 9.15 metres away to prevent encroaching.
Source: timesofmalta
Bechem United have made a quick return to the Premier League, just one season after they were relegated from the top-flight.
On the second day of the Division One play-offs, Bechem won the top of the table clash 1-0 over Guan United on Saturday at the Essipong Stadium.
The win, their second in the Zone 1 promotion campaign leaves them top of the standings with 6 points despite having a final game to come.
Irrespective of the results of the final day matches, Bechem, who were relegated from the Premier League to the lower division last season are trough via the head-to-head rule after winning against B.A. United and Guan.
In the other fixture, B.A. United defeated Yassin FC 2-0 at the Robert Mensah Stadium but their hopes of a return to the Premier League were dashed following Bechem’s victory in Sekondi.
The win was B.A.’s first in the play-offs while Yassin have lost both games.
Bechem have now joined Inter Allies as the two sides to secured qualification for next season’s Premier League with a third qualifying spot yet to be decided in Zone 2.
Zone 1 – Match-day-2 – June 22
Bechem 1-0 Guan – Essipong Stadium
B.A Utd 2-0 Yassin – Robert Mensah Stadium
Source: Ghanafa.org
Deputy information minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says the recent Supreme Court rulings concerning Waterville and Isofoton have vindicated him, contrary to attempts by “detractors” to sully him with the latter ruling, in particular.
Read the full statement below
I have become aware of the Judgment delivered by the Supreme Court today, Friday the 21st of June, 2013 on the Isofoton case and matters relating to my person that have arisen in the aftermath in media discussions.
I have also observed that despite that fact that I wasn’t mentioned anywhere in the judgment and that though I was not a party in this case neither do I have any personal interest whatsoever in this case, it has been the agenda of political detractors to make this case about me.
These political detractors failed ahead of the 2012 elections and they have failed again.
I feel vindicated by the two judgments that our Supreme Court have so far handed down in the Waterville and Isofoton cases as they have highlighted the recklessness with which contracts were entered into without Parliamentary approval as required by Article 181 (5) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and thereby rendering subsequent payments wrongful.
When we launched what became known as the sunlight campaign on judgment debts a year ago, we made the point that Ghanaians deserve to know the whole truth and that in the final analysis they will agree with us that public officials could have done better to protect scarce national resources.
It is rather ironic and indeed shameful that politicians who have been indicted in both judgments for failing to seek parliamentary approval in such international financial transactions hence actively contributing to the losses Ghana has incurred are rather seeking cheap political profit from these judgments.
One would have thought that this was a time for sober reflection amongst former and present public officials including the educated class in Ghana but it will appear that there is still a misdirected army out there determined to obfuscate and spin the obvious to achieve selfish ends.
Political opponents who seek to vilify me because I had honestly confirmed earlier that I called the former Attorney General on a specific petition brought to the Ministry of Information by Isofotun SA ought to realise that no matter how hard they try, they cannot succeed in changing the mandate of the Ministry of Information as it has always been and their mud will not stick on me no matter how many times they throw it.
As I have always maintained, I placed that call within the mandate of the Ministry of Information which is to provide information to the public and to provide feedback to Government and that such two-way communication is a very common feature within any Government communication all over the world.
People have asked if there was any additional motivation for this particular call. My answer is in the affirmative.
My additional motivation was the hope that the feedback I was providing based on the petition brought to the Ministry of Information might lead to the prosecution of political leaders whose actions and inactions had brought about the situation where all manner of claims were being made by companies and individuals against the government.
It was my considered view that those who created the conditions for these claims to be made on government by all manner of companies and individuals ought to be held accountable.
Current developments from these two Supreme Court judgments have proven that I had justification for my motivation then.
This is why I still hold the humble view that we must go beyond retrievals of wrongfully paid judgment debts which per the records available accounts for a fewer percentage of overall judgment debts paid and ensure that public officials whose conduct have brought all of us to this disgraceful juncture are held accountable.
We must not be afraid to utilize the laws on causing financial loss to the State. I have always believed that that is the only way we can stop the saga of no parliamentary approval, illegal abrogation, wrongful payments and general capriciousness.
I still hold the view that this judgment debt phenomenon is too important an issue to be left in the realm of political spin and that is why when on the 16th of July 2012 during the Sunlight Campaign press briefing at which we made public a letter NPP Flag bearer Nana Akufo-Addo had written to Government requesting that Government pays the Great Cape Company and that it will be “unconscionable” if Government did not pay, we refrained from attacking Nana Addo and calling him names such as “judgment debt engineer” as we were being tagged.
Indeed our posture was that we will not engage in naked hypocrisy and empty name calling. Indeed at that press conference, I stated that “This Judgment Debt issue presents a challenge to the nation.
It stretches from arbitrary exercise of power, illegal abrogation of contractual obligations, vindictive and petty politics, wrongful payments, weak institutional capacity and its attendant dire consequences for the Ghanaian taxpayer.”
It is amazing that principle and logic seems to have eluded those who seek to hang me because I brought a petition to the attention of the Attorney General and yet find nothing wrong with Nana Addo’s 3rd October 2011 letter to Government in which he categorically demands that the Great Cape Company of Switzerland be paid $1,117,818.45 (one million, one hundred and seventeen thousand eight hundred and eighteen dollars and forty five cents).”
I know deep down my heart that I have and continue to serve my country and the good people of North Tongu honourably. I have and do remain faithful to my oath of office as a Deputy Minister and a Member of Parliament and for which I shall keep my head up.
I have confidence in the judgment of discerning Ghanaians and most importantly I am exceedingly humbled by the fact that I have a clear conscience before my maker.
Good will triumph over evil and Ghana shall prevail.
21st June, 2013.
Source: Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa Deputy Minister of Education (Tertiary)
After the ‘’NICE ME’’ Hit Maker Atimbila, the question now is who represents B-Town at the second edition of the MTN Hit Maker? The question is yet to be answered as five finalists have been selected from the wanna-be stars who registered to selected to rep the region.
Out of nine (9) artistes consisting of Akamorige Thomas ( Tommy), Fatima, Annia ( Deezy), Martin Soore Mbabil ( Skairy Soorebia), YCD ( Duo), Hot.K, Emmanuel Aduko, Solomon Angme ( Natty Vybzs)who came forward, five (5) artistes have been shortlisted for the final stage of the competition. The final five (5) finalists include: Tommy, Skairy Soorebia, Hot.k, Fatima and Solomon Angme.
In an exclusive interview the remaining four (4) on Work and Happiness hosted by Worshipper on A1 Radio 101.1fm on Thursday, they all thanked their fans for their support though they did not make it to the next stage of the competition. They also urged their fans to vote well in other to select the right artiste amongst the five (5) finalists to represent the region. Furthermore they promised their support for whoever will emerge winner on Sunday when the results will be announced and the winner declared.
The Programmes head of the selected Radio station A1 Radio 101.1fm all stressed on the fact that fresh voting has already begun for the five (5) shortlisted artistes. He also made mention that the voting so far is tight amongst the finalists but whatever the case may be a winner will certainly emerge by Sunday the 23rd of June, 2013.
A1 Radio entertainment crew will be following on the competition and will bring to us who will represent B-Town and for that matter the whole Upper East Region at the MTN Hits Maker Season II.
By: Ibramim Aziz [DJ Lexis] | A1Radioonline.com
After sweeping seven (7) awards out of nine (9) nominations at the just ended Vodafone Ghana Music Awards (VGMA) at the Accra International Conference Centre (A.I.C.C) and their B.E.T nomination, the musical duo are embarking on a home coming concert with a live performance at their home Tamale in the north at the Tamale sports stadium dubbed ‘’R2BEES HOME COMING CONCERT LIVE IN TAMALE’’ on Saturday the 22nd of June, 2013 and with a pre party with the crew at the UNITY NITE CLUB, LAS HOTEL Tamale on Friday 21st June,2013.
In an interview with Mugeez of R2bees on the sunset drive on Friday the 21st of June 2013 with Dj Stone, Mugeez expressed his excitement beyond measure as according to him they are coming back home with seven (7) awards from the VGMA’s after a very very long time and they (Mugeez and Padaee) are expecting to see the whole of the three northern region that is Upper East, Upper West and Northern region to flood the venue on Saturday. As to what fans should expect from them, Mugeez said fans should expect the best from R2bees at the venue.
The concert is organized by Tamanaa in collaboration with Fortune Entertainment. The concert is said to feature popular Tamale artistes like KKC, Abu Sadiq, Mama Rams, Umar Janda, Abada, Fancy Gadam, Choggu Boyz, Baw Lee, S.K.Y de Tamale Boy, Mak D, Kakra J from the Garden City Kumasi and Last 2 dancers. Tickets available at Nasona Filling Station, Navrongo Goil Filling Station, Speedlink Restaurant, Total Filling Station Bawku Road for a cool Ghc 10 for regular and Ghc 20 for V.I.P. The concert will be climaxed with a special pool party and a photo session at the Discovery Hotel in Tamale on Sunday the 32rd of June, 2013. Media partners for the concert are Discovery Hotel and A1 Radio 101.1fm.
A1 Radio entertainment crew will be at the venue on the said date to bring fans update on the ‘’R2BEES HOME COMING CONCERT LIVE IN TAMALE’’.
By: Ibramim Aziz [DJ Lexis] | A1Radioonline.com
The annual ‘’GHANA MEETS NAIJA’’ event by Empire Entertainment owned by Drive time host on joy 99.7fm and Entertainment guru Bola Ray is scheduled to come off on 29th June, 2013 at the dome of the Accra International Conference Centre.
In an exclusive interview with Bola Ray on Tuesday 18th June, 2013 with Deejay Lexis on A1 Radio in Bolgatanga, he said the event has popular appeal and is a must attend show for many music lovers because of the kind of artistes that are brought together to perform on the stage. He also said most radio stations across the country are proud to be associated with the brand and hopes to extend the promotion up to the north as well.
The event is said to feature the likes of popular Ghanaian artistes likes of Ruth n Smooth, Keche, R2bees and others and all the way Nigeria we have the likes of Timaya, Wizkid, Tiwa savage and others.
This is the second edition of the concert since its inception in 2012 according to Bola Ray. He also made mention that the event has won him fame, money and now he has been nominated to win an award in Nigeria as one of this year’s best event organizer in Africa.
Conclusively, Bola Ray urged fans across the country especially from the Northern part of the country to patronize the event and he also assured entertainment lovers that the venue of the event will be changed annually from one region to the other and so entertainment fans around the region should be expecting the event at their region.
By: Ibramim Aziz [DJ Lexis] | A1Radioonline.com
The Supreme Court has handed another victory in favour of former Attorney General Martin Amidu, this time against Spanish Company Isofoton.
The company has been ordered by the court to refund monies illegally paid to it in the name of judgement debt.
Per the ruling Isofoton is expected to cough up $325,472 and the interest accrued on the amount since 2011- the year in which the monies were paid.
Isofoton were seeking in excess of 1.3 million judgement debt over claims their contract was illegally terminated by government.
They were alleged to have been contracted to execute a rural solar electrification project in 2006, but the then government upon further scrutiny re-awarded the contract to another Spanish Company Elecnor.
With the arrival of a new government, Isofoton accused the erstwhile NPP government of illegally abrogating a valid contract and demanded judgement debts to be paid to them.
In what former Deputy Information Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa described as “sunlight campaigns” on judgement debts, the government under the late President Mills paid part of the claims by Isofoton following a default judgement at the High Court.
The government accused the then government with specific reference to former Chief of Staff Kwadwo Mpiani of single-handedly abrogating a valid contract signed with Isofoton, an allegation Mpiani vehemently denied.
But Martin Amidu who was sacked as Attorney General for “misconduct” was convinced Isofoton had no legitimate basis to make any claims against the state.
Not cowed by his dismissal, Amidu who described himself as “citizen vigilante” proceeded to the Supreme Court as a concerned citizen and sought nine declarations from the Supreme Court, including the illegal payment as judgement debt to Isofoton SA.
He argued the Spanish company had no valid contract, approved by Parliament to be making such claims against the state.
In a ruling delivered Friday, the Court agreed with the arguments by the plaintiff and ordered the defendant to refund the monies paid to it.
Joy News’ Anny Osabutey reported the judges were unanimous in their decision.
The ruling comes exactly a week after Martin Amidu won a similar case against Waterville holdings in yet another judgement debt scandal.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
Six months ago, Promise Naa Okasa aka Promzy of I’m in Love with Bomaye fame could have blown off the head of her lover, Alex Biney aka Bomaye for breaking up with her on Facebook.
Without informing her, Bomaye had posted on his Facebook wall “My dear fans and friends … Promzy and I have ended our engagement, the decision was mutual, I’ll always adore her and we will remain great friends, the split marks a new chapter for both of us”.
This week, however, Promzy says she has forgiven Bomaye and is willing to give him a second chance.
The two had met on an unusual television reality show – an all-women contest whose prize was a marriage to Bomaye. Promzy won and the two began dating.
Promzy said last Monday that Bomaye has shown signs of remorse.
“He calls me daily and always does what I ask of him. Although I was very mad with him for what he did, I am giving him a second chance because I see he has changed for the better”, Promzy said.
Promzy said she was very mad at Bomaye for breaking up with her on Facebook because she truly loved him and wanted to marry him.
Asked what she was currently involved in, budding actress Promzy said she had featured in a movie called Victims which featured other stars like Jackie Appiah, Prince David Osei and Christabel Ekeh. She described herself as a good actress and asked Ghanaians to watch out for her.
Excited Bomaye who has been trying to win Promzy’s heart again for some weeks now also said he is happy she has finally accepted him.
Never will he repeat what he did, Bomaye vowed. “I truly love Promzy, I don’t know what came over me for the decision I took. Now that I have her back, I promise to do whatever she asks of me and be responsible in order not to lose her again”.
“Thank you Promzy for accepting me back, I promise to love you always and be the kind of man you want me to be,” he promised.
Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have named their baby daughter North West.
Sources close to the couple confirmed the decision, which comes five days after Kim welcomed her first child at a hospital in Los Angeles.
The revelation ends the intense speculation over the child’s name, with other rumoured options said to include Kaidence Donda, in honour of Kanye’s late mother.
And a source told UsWeekly that the couple have already given their daughter a nickname – she will be ‘Nori for short’.
They added that the child has no middle name.
TMZ witnessed a signed birth certificate with the name North West signed by Kim, 32, and Kanye, 36, at Cedars-Sinai hospital.
People magazine confirmed the news with a source close to the Kardashian family.
The name North had previously been suggested as a possibility for the child, although many Kardashian fans had dismissed the idea as a joke.
And the revelation certainly proved fruitful amongst Twitter users, as North West began trending within minutes.
It also sparked a slew of jokes from would-be comedians amused by the choice.
Back in March, Kim denied rumours that Kanye wanted to name the baby North.
‘I do like Easton, Easton West,’ she joked on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno at the time.
Indeed prior to the baby’s birth on Saturday it had been expected that the pair would continue the ‘K’ theme that runs in Kim’s family – which is something that Kim has spoken about in the past.
While North was to prove her final choice, Kim was said to be very keen on Kaidence, to match her family’s fondness of the letter ‘K’.
The reality star was reported to like the idea of calling the baby Kai for short.
And further report claimed the middle name would be Donda, in honour of Kanye’s late mother, who died in 2007 due to complications from cosmetic surgery.
Meanwhile Kim’s close friend Larsa Pippen recently revealed that she had been to visit the baby in the hospital and a decision was nearly made.
But she said Kim didn’t welcome her suggestions.
‘We kind of went back and forth and the name that I wanted, [Kim] didn’t love,’ she said.
While fans had been desperate to know the name of the baby, the child’s step uncle Brody Jenner revealed on Thursday that he didn’t want to know.
‘It’s so new, so I’m going to give her some time and then as soon as she’s ready, I’ll come see her,’ he told Ryan Seacrest.
Kim gave birth to her first child Saturday 15 June – a month ahead of her due date.
Mail Online exclusively revealed that the reality star had been admitted to hospital in Beverly Hills the night before.
Kim had taken out a birthing suite at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center – a hospital of choice among many celebrities including Britney Spears, Victoria Beckham and Jessica Simpson.
Hours later – around 1:30 a.m. – she gave birth to her baby girl, now believed to be named North.
Her partner, rapper Kanye West, and mother Kris Jenner were reportedly at her side.
Kim’s due date was reportedly July 12 – just one day after Kate Middleton.
The date would also have been Kanye’s mother Donda West’s 64th birthday.
Source: DailyMail
New Patriotic Party (NPP) 2012 Presidential candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo has asked NPP supporters to keep faith in him. He made this remark at the party’s headquarters in Accra on Thursday June 20, 2013.
In what is believed to be his first public address since the NPP filed the petition contesting the 2012 presidential elections, Nana Addo also briefed party supporters about his activities in the UK.
Nana Addo touched on issues bordering on the election petition which has been adjourned to Monday June 24.
Reports say the supporters were happy to see he was in good health.
Nana Addo’s trip to the UK had been mired in rumours suggesting he suffered a heart attack; others even circulated reports of his death subsequently on social media.
The 2012 Presidential candidate is said to be in a closed door meeting with other party executives at its headquarters.
Source: Myjoyonline
