Academicians have failed us, they boast of titles - Adei

Former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Professor Stephen Adei has blamed members of the academia for the lack of what he calls servant leadership in Ghana.

According to him, members of the academia desire to showcase their numerous academic titles instead of providing a watchful guidance to political leaders. 

Professor Adei says many of the scholars in Ghana have failed to analyze issues in a non-partisan manner thereby contributing to the failure of the society to produce selfless leaders. 

He made these comments when he delivered the second in the series of public lectures organized in honour of the centenary of William Ofori Atta, a member of the big six. 

Professor Adei spoke to Newsmen after the lecture explaining why he has taken on members of the academia for the lack of quality leadership in Ghana.

“I think of the main agents of change is every society’s academia. The advantage they have is that they have expertise in their areas and their supposed to discuss both practical and policy issues but unfortunately they have rather adopted the style of the politicians or by sheer laziness, the normal academics only profess their titles with practically no contribution to society other than teaching” he noted.

“I think that is one of the greatest setbacks in our society because they should be intellectuals who provide intellectual leadership to society in their various fields of endeavours. I believe that if you are for the NDC or NPP, you cast your vote but you should not sell your conscience” he said. 

Professor Stephen Adei recently said Ghanaians who continue to hail Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and attack those who criticise his legacy are doing the nation a great disservice.

Professor Adei told Newsmen in an exclusive interview that Ghana’s First President, Dr. Nkrumah committed several grave mistakes when he became president of Ghana, thereby dividing the nation.

He said although Dr Nkrumah deserves to be praised for some of his sterling achievements as a leader, he failed to unite the country with some of his vindictive policies.

 

Okudjeto calls for further discussions on Wikileaks

Okudjeto Ablakwa

Mr Samuel Okudjeto Ablakwa, a Deputy Minister of Information, on Friday called for a further debate on Wikileaks' narcotic revelations that have hit the nation this week.

He said it would not be in the best interest of the nation for the issue to be brushed aside and urged the media to make discussions on the matter a major issue in the days ahead.

Mr Okudjeto Ablakwa was addressing members of the Ho Polytechnic branch of Tertiary Education Institutions Network (TEIN) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) at a day’s session dubbed: “Setting the records straight part II.”

He said the revelations gave indications of the levels of commitments of the New Patriot Party (NPP) government and the current NDC government to the fight against narcotics and needed to be discussed thoroughly and not pushed over.

Mr Okudjeto Ablakwa said the NDC government was ready to engage the NPP in detailed discussions on the issue and asked the NPP not to be “embarrassed by its narcotic records” and dart away from the issue.

He criticized the NPP for being an “irresponsible” opposition and dared it to come clear on the revelations.

On Oil, Mr Okudjeto Ablakwa said NPP was hypocritical on the collateralization of the Oil issue and said information available to government indicated that the NPP had collateralized the country’s Cocoa for the construction of the Bui Dam and also collateralized the Jubilee Oil in August 2008 before leaving power.

Dr Omane Boamah, Deputy Minister for Science and Environment, said whilst in government, the NPP people shared the best state houses among themselves and objected to housing projects for the populace.

“We will pierce through their lies and let Ghanaians know what we have done for our nation”, he said.

Mr Joseph Amenowode, Volta Regional Minister, called on people in the region especially students to discount NPP’s cry that no development was taking place in the country and that the region was having a fair share of the national cake.

“Our roads are having a major facelift and by the time NDC leaves power, there will be no un-motorable road in the region. We can also talk of educational infrastructure and our state-owned university will be fully operational next year”, he said.

Mr Hanan Gundadow, National TEIN Coordinator, urged members of TEIN to arm themselves with “knowledge” so that they could defend the government by preaching its achievements.

Mr Andrews Nettey, Ho Polytechnic TEIN President, said the forum was to “set the records straight and put a stop to NPP’s vile propaganda.”

Man to hang for beating granny to death

For beating an 80-year-old woman mercilessly to death at the Akyem-Sekyere in the Eastern Region, a 38-year-old taxi driver is to pay with his life by hanging.

Although the convict, Edward Boateng pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder, the Koforidua High Court, presided over by Mr Justice Kossi Efo Kaglo, pronounced him guilty after eight years of trial by a seven-member jury.

He was said to have gone to the family house of the deceased, Ama Kuman, at Akyem-Sekyere at about 11:30 pm on January 1, 2002 to look for his sister but ended of subjecting the deceased to severe beatings before her right ear.

The deceased who was rescued by her children was rushed to the Holy Family Hospital at Nkawkaw unconscious where she died the following day.

Prosecuting, a State Attorney, Mr Fred Tetteh, said on the fateful day, the convict had gone looking for his sister, Gladys Yaa Dansoah, who was a daughter-in-law of the deceased.

The prosecutor said when Boateng to the house where his sister lived, he knocked hard on the door several times, calling her to come out but there was no response.

The deceased who sleeping in her room came out to tell Boateng his sister had not come to the house but the convict became infuriated and pounced on her beating mercilessly until she became unconscious.

“Boateng even went to the extent biting the r8ight ear of the deceased but her daughter and Boateng’s sister who were sleeping in their separate rooms came out to rescue the old woman who had become unconscious,” Mr Tetteh stated.

The deceased was then rushed to the hospital where she died the next day.

Her family reported the incident to the police who caused the arrest of the convict on January 2, 2002.

Ghana Police Arrests A 35 Year Man

A 35 year Shaibu Jumah has been arrested by the police highway patrol team on the Motorway for attempted robbery.

The police said Shaibu is alleged to be part of a four man armed robbery gang that attacked a businessman around 7.30 Sunday evening when he had a flat tire on the motorway.

The police alleged, a team of highway patrol deployed on the Motorway, noticed an unregistered infiniti car about 200 metres away from the Ashaiman flyover, with the doors open and hazard lights on.

They explained, the team became suspicious and decided to investigate only to notice the suspect, 35 year old Shaibu Juma, running away.

The police gave him a hot chase and finally apprehended him and brought him to the car, where the driver and victim identified him as one of four persons who earlier attacked him.

A search on Shaibu revealed a knife, but he denied being part of the robbery attempt.

The police said the robbers inflicted knife wounds on the victim's back and other parts of the body.

Shaibu Juma is now assisting the police in their investigations.

"Your cries have not fallen on deaf ears", Prez assures W/R Chiefs

President John Atta Mills

The Western Region will be given pride of place in efforts to develop the nation, especially after the beginning of commercial production of oil in the Jubilee Field on Wednesday December 15, 2010, President John Evans Atta Mills has declared.

Speaking at a grand durbar at the Takoradi Airforce Base after he turned the valve to signify the official commencement of commercial oil production in Ghana, President Mills said the Region will see massive infrastructural development in the next few months, not just because the region deserves it, but a proper infrastructure base will be crucial to maximizing the benefits of the oil and gas industry.

There was major controversy in the run up to the long anticipated pumping of oil, with Chiefs in the region demanding that Parliament and the Mills government make good the Vice President’s campaign pledge that an NDC government would allocate 10% of oil revenues to the region. However, some sections of the populace as well as the Finance Committee of the House have rejected the demand, citing issues of national coherence.

In seeming response to this demand, President Mills assured the Chiefs and people of the region, “Your entreaties have not fallen on deaf ears,” and urged them to prepare themselves for the opportunities that will arise out of the project.

Acknowledging that Ghanaians “have every right to enjoy, and celebrate”, the President nevertheless charged those in leadership positions to remember that their actions and/or inactions will make the oil find a blessing or a curse.

“Those of us living now are trustees for future generations.”

He pledged his government’s commitment to using the oil revenues judiciously for the benefit of the entire nation. “We will not let you down. We will make sure that as Ghanaians, we all enjoy the benefits of this resource.”

President Mills charged the Jubilee partners to adhere strictly to the tenets of the law on local content which requires that a percentage of all employees are Ghanaian. In its turn, government will maintain a stable environment to ensure that the partners achieve a reasonable return on their investment.

President Mills paid glowing tribute to his predecessors, Presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufuor – who were both present at the ceremony – for pursuing the dream of discovering oil for the country while in office.

The Jubilee Field will produce an initial 55,000 barrels of oil per day, but with the development of more wells, production is expected to hit 120,000 barrels per day.

Aluminium and petrochemical industries are expected to develop in the wake of the oil production.
Fertilizer production, to propel the agric and agro processing subsectors, is also expected to take off. As well, an Iron and steel project is in the works.

source: citifmonline.com

Embattled NUGS President points accusing fingers at government officials

The President of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) Anthony Abotsi Afriyie has accused a Deputy Information Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Education Minister J. S. Annan and the IGP Paul Tawiah Quaye of being behind his purported removal from the Union.

According to him, these government officials are behind what he calls an illegal emergency Congress where a vote of no confidence was passed in him. 

NUGS at a contentious emergency congress held on Saturday December 4, purported to have passed a vote of no confidence and removed from office its president, Anthony Abotsi Afriyie.

The congress said Mr Afriyie was removed from office for taking decisions unilaterally contrary to the constitution of NUGS which states in Article 18 Section (a) that congress shall be the highest legislative and decision making organ. 

Anthony Abotsi Afriyie, the congress claimed, suspended two of the Union’s executives, the General Secretary Patrick Adonoo and International Relations Secretary, Benedicta Lasi without consulting congress.

At a press conference held in Accra Wednesday, Anthony Abotsi Afriyie accused the two deputy ministers of manipulating and orchestrating divisiveness on the students front instead of concentrating on their work in ensuring the better Ghana they promised.

He noted that students are encountering problems with logistics and accommodation in their various institutions, citing the current situation at the University for Development Studies (UDS) where students are using slabs to write exams.

Mr Abosti therefore called on President Mills to advise his ministers to stop interfering in student activities and concentrate on their core duties. 

The General Secretary of the Union who calls himself, an Acting President, Patrick Adonoo has meanwhile issued a statement describing Mr Abotsi as a persona non-grata.

Mr Adonoo denied claims by the NUGS President that certain persons in Government influenced the vote of no confidence against him. 

I stopped producing hiplife artistes because of their character – Bandex

Bandex

Renowned music producer, Ahmed Banda popularly known as Bandex has opened up to explain reasons why he has stopped producing hiplife artistes.

Bandex revealed that he stopped producing them because of the attitude, character and lifestyle that they exhibited whilst working with him, describing their behaviour as unacceptable.

Speaking on Day Break Hitz on Hitz FM with Lexis Bills Monday, Bandex said it is against his religious views and teachings to drink and that he found it absurd when some of the artistes he used to manage get drunk and seek refuge in his house after.

Bandex also revealed that some of the artistes had a habit of always creating the impression that all was well when things are not going on well.

Citing an example, he said, “…if you sold 2,000 in the market and you are granting an interview, let the public know the album is not moving, I sold 2000 so please people should pray for me to sell 10, 000. You can’t sell 2,000 and go on air and say [when we took the 10, 000 copies to the market, all got finished the same day].”

“You can’t leave the album in the studios or in my house [and whilst I pray for things to go on well] you are enjoying in the club…It is not ok for me to work with that kind of idea,” he added.

He said most of the artistes just quote any figure without knowing how much they have sold just because they don’t bear the cost of producing and selling.

He described gospel musicians as trustworthy, saying, “When you have a problem with a gospel musician, it is very difficult for him or her to come on air and say…you can settle [the problem easily] no matter what is,” they don’t gossip and tell lies he added. 

He has managed several artistes including Abrewa Nana, Joe Frazier and Nash Towah but now, he manages successful ‘trio’, Isaiah Kwadwo Ampong, Cynthia Appiah Kubi (Cee) and Isaac Assan (Showboy).

Bandex denied the assertions that he imposed his religious beliefs on artistes since he didn’t drink nor smoke. He said he always gave them the freedom but they have to conform to each other’s rules.

“…Your freedom is from the studio back home, you can do whatever you want if you are in your room," he stated.

Bandex is currently into movie productions and will be releasing Princess Sahara this December and Masters of the Game February 2011, featuring his son, Rahim Banda. He hinted that he will also be venturing into TV series production soon.

Expensive Funerals Any Reason for That?

By Augustina Brown

Ghanaians spend money on funeral instead of helping the poor and the needy

All over Ghana, we witness the kind of funeral and burial services that go on almost every weekend. 

This has caused most people to raise an eye-brow over this particular issue of expensive and competitive funerals in our country. Both the rich and the poor spend so much on the dead than on the living.

Burial services of late have become so fashionable that even the poor have to comb everywhere in search of money to bury their lost loved ones.


Why must this happen at the moment when everyone is trying so hard to at least have all three-squared meals? Does this mean we cherish the dead more than the living? What is the reason behind these expensive funerals in our country?

How can funeral become a competition that we have to invest so much in the dead instead of the living through expensive funerals all in the name of paying last respect to the deceased? 

There are so many poor and needy people in our country today who need money for one reason or the other to be able to survive.

We all become so interested in buying expensive cloths, coffins and keeping the dead in expensive morgues but forget about the trauma the widow and children have to go through after the burial service of their family member.

Why don’t we save that money for these people who have been left behind by the deceased instead of throwing them on the above mentioned expensive things?

The dead must be given decent burials and not expensive ones. Paying last respect doesn’t call for expensive cloths, coffins and different varieties of expensive drinks with some communities burying their dead with money, jewelry and other expensive things.

People become so concerned with very expensive funerals because they want their funeral to over-shadow that of their colleagues in the same community. 

Also, they are so much concerned with expensive funerals because they want to display their wealth and want people to know their capability of burying their family and loved ones.

We should ask ourselves, will the dead enjoy all these things in the name of paying last respect to them? Why don’t we show respect and care to them when they are alive rather than showing that respect and care to them after their death?

The most painful aspect of this is that, when the deceased was sick and suffering, getting money to cure him or herself was very difficult but money was not so scarce after the person had died. Why do we appear so wicked to the sick, poor and the needy but spend lavishly after they pass away.

We should learn to reduce huge sum of money we throw about during funerals all in the name of paying last respect to the dead. 

We should start showing respect and care for each other now that we are alive and not wait until we lose our friends, family members and neighbours before we pay our last respect to them.

We shouldn’t also use funerals to compete among ourselves to show how rich we are. 

Let us learn not to ignore the poor and the needy and spend on the dead. Like the Holy Book says, ‘Let the dead bury the dead’.