Two killed as Fulanis clash with residents in Sekyere Odumase

Two people have reportedly been killed in fresh clashes between residents of Sekyere Odumase in the Ashanti region and some Fulani herdsmen who are resident there.

The row was triggered Thursday afternoon following the killing of a commercial driver by some suspected Fulani robbers.

The driver was reportedly transporting some market women from Ejura-where he hails from- to the Sekyere Odumase market when he was accosted and killed by the bandits.

The incident is reported to have provoked the youth of the town who are currently on rampage and have sworn to kill any Fulani they spot. They have, according to Ultimate FM’s, Isaac Bediako Justice murdered one Fulani and are still searching for more to maim.

Meanwhile, Police in the area have arrested three Fulanis suspected to have shot the driver in the robbery attack.

The development comes on the back of the raging tensions between residents of Agogo in the Ashanti region and the Fulanis living there.

The nomads have been accused of perpetrating crimes including murder and rape besides the destruction of farm crops by their grazing cattle.

Source: StarrFMonline.com

90% of sachet water raw from the tap – GWCL

Sachet water sellers are visible on the streets of Accra

About 90% of sachet water on the market are raw tap water being consumed by Ghanaians, according to the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).

The Head of Communication at the GWCL, Stanley Martey, alleged most of the ‘pure water’ companies just bag the raw tap water and sell to the public.

“More than 90 percent of sachet water producers use water from the Ghana Water Company as their raw material for the production of sachet water... It is all from Ghana Water Company and not any industry trying to treat its water,” Martey said while responding to a Demographic and Health Survey report by the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana Statistical Service that revealed that 29% of Ghanaians rely on sachet water.

“They rather devalue the water because if you look at the conditions under which some of these sachet water producers produce their water, it is rather pathetic. The conditions under which they work is terrible and even with the reputable companies, all they do is to filter. It is just a matter of packaging but it doesn’t mean they add any value to the water they are producing,” Martey stressed.

“Ghanaians use sachet water not as a preference or not because it is better than the treated water from the Ghana Water Company but because it is available,” he noted.

According to the report, 43% of urban dwellers and 11 .8 % of rural dwellers respectively rely on sachet water while 23% of Ghanaians resort to public tap or stand pipe for water.

“The most notable change in access to drinking water sources between 2008 and 2014 is the increase in the proportion of households using sachet water from 8% to 29% in the past six years,” the report said.

It added: “The proportion of households that use drinking water from public taps/ stand pipe or tube well borehole has decreased from 57 % in the 2008 GDHS to 44% in the 2014 GDHS, most likely due to switching to sachet water in the latter survey.”

However, the President of the National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers, Magnus Nunoo has disputed the claim by the GWCL official.

“We test the raw water we use at the labs to determine the contaminants and then deal specifically with them,” he told Accra-based Citi FM.
Source: starrfmonline.com

Corruption ranking: Ghana has more work to do – Mahama

President John Mahama has said Ghana has more work to do to eradicate corruption despite the improvement in the latest corruption index rankings by Transparency International.

According to him, Ghana’s performance in the latest rankings is an indication that the country is on the right path in its fight against the canker.

Ghana has been ranked seventh in Africa in the latest Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for 2015 released by Ghana Integrity Initiative, the Local Chapter of Transparency International.

Ghana scored 47 out of 100 and also ranked 56 out of 168 countries but according to the report released Wednesday by the Ghana Integrity Initiative it is still a poor performance.

The report says Corruption is a serious problem in Ghana because, like two thirds of the rest of the 168 countries or territories ranked by their perceived levels of public sector corruption, Ghana scored below the 50 pass mark.

Commenting on the report, the President wrote on his Facebook wall that his government is committed towards winning the fight against corruption.

“Ghana today is perceived as less corrupt than important countries like Italy, Greece, Brazil or China. More importantly, Ghana is one of the least corrupt countries in Africa.

“Of course, we all know that we still have a lot to do when it comes to fighting corruption. All of us, not only the Government, should be more involved in this fight,” Mahama wrote.



Below are details of the comments by the President

Transparency International has released its annual Corruption Perception Index for 2015. Ghana ranked 56th out of 167 countries and territories, with an overall score of 47. Although the score is slightly lower than the one for 2014, we moved upward when it comes to ranking, from 61st place in the world in 2014, to 56th place.

Our fight against corruption is visible. In 2008, Ghana was ranked 67th in the world, and in 2012 it was ranked 64th. Since 2008, we are constantly moving upward, towards the group of less corrupt countries, and that’s a fact. From 2012 until 2015, Ghana climbed up no less than 8 places in the world hierarchy – which, no matter what others might say, is an unparalleled achievement.
Ghana today is perceived as less corrupt than important countries like Italy, Greece, Brazil or China. More importantly, Ghana is one of the least corrupt countries in Africa.

Of course, we all know that we still have a lot to do when it comes to fighting corruption. All of us, not only the Government, should be more involved in this fight.

Without a doubt, Ghana’s results clearly show that we’re on the right path. For this, I thank all of you. God bless you! God bless our Mother Ghana!

Source:StarrFMonline.com

As Zika Virus Spreads, Doctors Try to Calm Fears

As Zika Virus Spreads, Doctors Try to Calm Fears

Jan. 28, 2016 -- Public health officials said Thursday they're concerned about the fast-spreading Zika virus, and they're racing to understand its relationship to the troubling rise in birth defects seen in Brazil and other countries.
“The level of alarm is extremely high,” said Margaret Chan, MD, director-general of the World Health Organization, as she briefed the executive board.
Chan said she was worried about the rapidly evolving situation for four reasons:

• The virus has been tied to severe birth defects, including babies born with brain damage to infected mothers.

• The mosquito that carries the virus, the yellow fever mosquito, is found in nearly every country in North and South America except Canada and Chile.

• People in these countries have never been exposed to the virus before, so there’s very little natural immunity to the virus in the general population.

• There is no vaccine that can prevent the infection, very few tests available to detect it, and no treatments for it.

Chan said the WHO will meet on Monday to decide whether to declare an international public health emergency in response to Zika, a move that would step up international efforts to fight it.
Bruce Aylward, MD, assistant director-general of the WHO, said he expects there will be 3 million to 4 million Zika infections in the Americas over the next 12 months.
In a separate press briefing held by the CDC, U.S. officials admitted there were more questions than answers about the virus right now.
“We know many people are concerned or scared,” said Anne Schuchat, MD, principal deputy director of the CDC.
Schuchat stressed that most people aren’t in any serious danger from Zika, which is carried by mosquitoes.
What has health officials most worried, she said, is that “increasing lines of evidence suggest that some women infected with Zika during their pregnancies may go on to deliver a baby with a serious brain injury.”
The CDC has issued a travel warning for women who are pregnant or want to become pregnant covering 24 nations and territories in Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

Outlook for the United States

Right now, there’s no sign that mosquitos in the U.S. have the virus, said Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
The only recent cases reported in this country -- we’re up to 31 people in 11 states and the District of Columbia, according to the CDC -- have been among travelers returning from areas where the infection is being passed locally from mosquitoes to people. That hasn’t yet happened in the continental U.S. There have been 19 confirmed infections in Puerto Rico and one in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Those cases are still under investigation. Officials aren’t sure if those were locally acquired or not.
Officials expect local spread of the virus will eventually happen in the U.S., though, probably in areas that have also seen locally passed dengue fever infections, like the southern tips of Florida and Texas, Fauci said. Dengue is carried by the same species of mosquito that also carries the Zika virus.
Even if Zika does take root in the U.S., it’s not likely to cause widespread misery the way it has in Brazil, Fauci said, in part because more people use air conditioners here and use screens on their windows and doors.
Also, 4 out of 5 people who are infected won’t even have symptoms. Others have only mild symptoms, including a rash, fever, joint pain, and red eyes.
“Most of these are very mild illnesses,” Schuchat said. “For the average American who is not traveling, this is not something to worry about.”
Since late October, Brazil has seen more than 4,000 cases of microcephaly, a rare birth defect that stunts the growth of a baby’s brain and head. Many children with microcephaly have some degree of mental disability, and the condition is linked to a shorter life span.
The cause of most of those cases is still under investigation, though. Only six cases in Brazil have been definitively linked to Zika. And no one knows how the virus might be causing microcephaly or other birth defects, though other viruses -- including toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus, and rubella -- are known to cause the same problems“If you are pregnant, please take this seriously,” Schuchat said. “We recommend you consider postponing travel to a region with ongoing Zika virus transmission. If you must travel, or you live in an affected area, protect yourself against mosquito bites.”
That means you should wear long sleeves and long pants, and use a mosquito repellent like DEET, which the CDC says is safe to use during pregnancy.

© 2016 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.

Perez Chapel denies BNI invasion

The Perez Dome

Officials of Perez Chapel International have denied reports of armed police and Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) operatives’ invasion at its Dome to arrest a member.

According to a report in a local newspaper Today, armed security personnel laid ambush at the Perez Dome between January 17 and 24 during church service to “trail a church member.”

An official statement from the church headed by Bishop Charles Agyinasare said: “For the avoidance of doubt we want to state that there was no security detail at the Perez Dome to trail, harass or arrest anybody. Neither were church members alarmed because of the presence of security personnel on the premises.”

Below is the full statement:

The Editor
Today Newspaper
Accra.

REJOINDER – PURPORTED BNI OPERATIVES AT PEREZ CHAPEL
Our attention has been drawn to your publication dated 26th January 2016 in which you stated among other things that on the 17th and 24th of January 2016, armed police and BNI operatives invaded the Perez Dome church premises during church service, in trail of a church member.

The Perez Church states emphatically that the story is misleading and completely false.

It is important to point out that the Perez Dome accommodates thousands of worshipers. Consequently armed police presence has become a regular feature in recent times to assure worshipers of their security and safety.

For the avoidance of doubt we want to state that there was no security detail at the Perez Dome to trail, harass or arrest anybody. Neither were church members alarmed because of the presence of security personnel on the premises.

We would encourage the media to always clarify issues about the church with us before proceeding to publish.

We request a retraction and an apology for the false and misleading story published in your medium.

Thank you.

Pastor Raymond Acquah,
Resident Pastor and Media Laison – Perez Dome
Executive Council Member – Perez Chapel International
Source: starrfmonline.com

Fan who mimicked Stonebwoy apologises

Stonebwoy walked off stage during his performance at the launch of Ghana’s biggest youth brand Live 91.9 FM at the SilverStar Towers over the weekend.

A fan who walked on stage and mimicked the ‘Go Higher’ hitmaker led to the musician throwing his microphone into the audience, abruptly ending his performance.

The fan has apologized for his actions in an interview with Livefmghana.com.

“I would like to use your platform to apologize to every Ghanaian especially to Bhim nation and Live FM. The act I put out there looked very disrespectful and I regret my actions. But honestly what I did there,that is trying to dance and walk like Stonebwoy was not meant to mock or disrespect him.”

According to him, he did that out of excitement and his love for the musician. He however apologized to the musician and his team before they left the event venue.

“I did that out of my love for his personality and out of excitement. Am so sorry for my actions. even though am not in a very serious problem yet,would like to tell my fellow Ghanaians that it is not a good thing to do.. Nobody should do that because, Our entertainment industry is still growing and such acts is not cool for the out side world. I apologized to him and his crew right after they leaving de show so y’all cursing me should stop. I have also had an accident before. I know how it feels. Thanks.”

Officials of Live 91.9 FM apologized to the musician minutes after he walked off stage because of the unfortunate incident, and also issued a release publicly condemning the actions of the fan.

Source: livefmghana.com

KKD, Religion; The Girls We have Raped And Our Reap

  The oldest book’s first recorded case of felony aka un-bailable offense isn’t rape. It is Cain and his brother Abel’s joke gone bad . We might be wrong. #justmaybe

Richard-Agyemang-Berko

The setting of the kangaroo court presided over by God himself to adjudicate that crime as recorded in the book of Genesis is clear and gives in my opinion, enough indication that rape, at least according to religion, wasn’t a societal problem.

My fellow men of God, as we proceed, again based on scripture, we are told of how naked Adam woke up from a deep sleep and found another human being loitering in his Garden of Eden.

Upon sighting of this new game,It wont be far fetched to assume that blood immediately rushed into a certain part of his body( a reaction which will be new to him) so he calls out to his heavenly father and friend in a scene looking more like this…………….(Act 1 scene 1)

Adam: *whispering in a Ga accent* Paddy. Paddy. Paddy(Whisper turns into shout)

Oluman! Kw3 Paddy Whats up! Chale abeg I want see you right now o! Ataa Naa numor eii! Abeg make unna drop before things go go down wey u go pass top revoke ma rent!

(Loud wind and thunder precedes God’s introduction into the drama set inside Garden Of Eden)

Adam: uh huh. Welcome Egya Oyankopong,

God: Massa asem ben? Make it quick.

Adam: errmerrm (lowers voice into a whisper) who is the other person playing with the cheetah? (Adam points at naked Eve who is playing with the wild cat a few meters away)

God: ah ah ah. is this why you called me? Anyway I understand your frustration. The other human you see is a bi-product of your system; I created her using one of your ribs. I have done that to save you the trouble of boredom and also to prevent incidents where you might insert your penis into any monkey’s virgina.

Her name is Eve and in response to the question your erection is asking, she will serve as your companion .

please don’t even think of asking me directions into her vagina. You two should be able to figure that out.

And finally I must add that there is no dosage to the act of being inside her within a day or any hour or year. Good luck Adam. You are on your own with this one.

(A smiling Adam is seen kneading the fine pair of balls in his scrotum in anticipation of the sexual bout with Eve once God has finished his orientation)

Adam: (a visibly excited Adam) Safe journey back home Ts3 Ataa!

That will be all!

But I go fit give am doggy? Blow jobs be part of the package? She get say for the fuck inside? Abeg eno bi say I dey fcuk am saa den you go come vex say I over eat the cunt o……hello? U dey der?Ei God u go? Hello? Yoo. I no sen o…..(exit Act 1 scene 2)

If you take or add a little depending on your faith or moral standing or even your proficiency in mannerisms, the above dialogue might have ensued between the first mentor and protégée recorded under the sun.

Don’t forget they were real tight friends.

Re-read your Holy Bible before you come looking for me.

Humanity has since come a long way. Civilization has done same. Maybe more. The act of rape has also enjoyed some reforms for better or for worse.

According to today’s criminal code, rape or sexual assault can be leveled against any man mid-way through consensual sex. That is just the way God’s world has become,and a man’s life will never be the same.

Ask King Kwasi Kyei Darkwa .

Maybe since God created man in his own image he assumed we would attach some level of reverence to love making and even sex.

Without any proof of God handing out a sex manual to man in the beginning, the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit(DOVSU) of Ghana’s Police service labors in vain.

The fact that Moses didn’t see a reason to remind God on the need for sexual assault to have been captured in the 10 ‘DON’T’S’ spelled in our 1st constitution centuries later bothers me .

Quite clearly, the free-range system where sexual fortune favored only the physically strong could have persisted and gained roots in the character fabric of man since creation.

If today’s woman cannot conveniently report any degree of sexual assault just like she will do if she suffered a burglary, then what chance or options were available to naked Eve in the Garden of Eden if she at a certain point in her life didn’t feel like bending over for naked Adam?

If Adam ever coerced her into sex, what will God have done? Counsel them?

May be.

But will that discussion have erased the abuse already suffered and recorded by Eve? Rape is old. Might as well have been the first case of felon IF Eve had kept a diary.

The rules of engagement in sex was subject to, until civilization reared its tentacles, one party in the act succumbing to the aggressor’s demand with or without consent.

The law on sexual assault/aggression/rape as it stands today, upholds what on paper seems a fairer route into a woman’s vagina.

But it is man’s inability to walk the dictates of the law that has made most of us assailants in the dome of sex.

Show me a man and I will show you a rapist.

Fellow child of God, If you frown , yes common F-R-O-W-N at your wife’s decision that she is tired and will rather sleep than give in to your sexual advances, that reaction aka squeeze your face , could amount to torture or assault if she gives in to your demand based on ‘that assault’. Your crime statement would read something more like this;

 1. Originally she wanted to sleep or read a novel.

2. You frowned at her want to be left alone so she had to give in to your demand.

3. That is assault once a complaint has been lodged with the Police.

4. As part of Police efforts to enforce the law, you the husband turned accused, will be picked up and kept behind bars until the state is finished with its further investigations.

5. You are then arraigned before a court for the matter of sexual assault or even rape to be determined.

6. If your wife withdraws the complaint against you, the state reserves the right to, based on evidence gathered, pursue the case or discontinue it. #RapeGalore

7.  You should at this stage start reaching out to your village fetish Priest for back-up or the registrar at Edumfa Pentecostal Prayer Center before the state firms up its interest in your ‘fleecing pleasure(s) of the flesh!

As evidenced in the state’s decision to pursue KKD, the God of Job, and with the benefit of hindsight, was his fortress.

His case was an interesting one. And the fact that he won’t shut up alone makes if more interesting.

For the state to have decided to pursue the case without the complaint (Ms Efe Thompson had written to the courts sighting pressure and wise counsel among others as reasons she wasn’t interested) is a bold move in view of the public interest.

I hoped against hope that was not to waste our precious space on traditional and social media. Eventually they walked away entirely. And KKD went to church with his Dad to thank God for his near escape.

As for King Kwasi Kyei Darkwa, what do we not know of his situation?

The one that he initially saw  nothing wrong with his consensual sexual intercourse with a 19 year old in a public place of convenience? No worries.

Former Ghanaian Chronicle reporter turned Lawyer, William Nyarko, now domiciled in the USA says he killed stories of allegations of rape that came across his desk whilst working for Kofi Coomson.

Though he admits allegations alone cant be confirmation for actual crimes committed, he will make sure his daughters flee from any district or colony that KKD will mount a platform to preach or sell life. Now that is the mark of a wise man. Who says karma isn’t a female dog? Only KKD can at this stage let us in on what he has reaped from his “fleecing pleasure of the flesh”, as he aptly puts it.

The law on varying degrees of sexual assault is very stiff but I wont vote for a review. Our females have suffered enough. And still do. Just ask your mother(pls don’t Ga translate this).

For us that he and his apologist have tagged haters of his past nonsense, this tribute to the 07.01.15 Paris terrorist attack sums up my motivation.

“In 2012, in an interview with Le Monde, Stephane Charbonnier, Charlie Hebdo’s director, was asked if he was tempted to tone down the publication’s inclination towards the inflammatory; ”it may sound pompous” he replied, “but I’d rather die standing than live on my knees”. He was one of the first to be shot by during the criminal siege that ended his life.

But make no mistake; he never died on his knees.

Indeed King Kwasi Kyei Darkwa must embrace his blessings and every waking moment for i doubt God is done with him yet. Even him.

 

#stillwerise

By Kwame Agyemang Berko

Poet. Essayist. Humorist

@uhurubardman on Twitter

The Absurdity of Stonebwoy’s Imitator

A Critical Look At Security Measures At Events

On  
Friday the 22^nd of January 2016, a concert was held at the Silver Star Tower in Accra by Live 91.9 FM to officially launch the station after 9 months in existence. The concert was graced by stage performances from a host of Ghana’s mainstream artistes including Sarkodie, Stonebwoy, M.anifest, Efya, E.L, Bisa Kdei and Pappy Kojo. The concert was generally described by observers as successful. However, few days after the event, a video footage of an unfortunate incident which occurred at the event has emerged.
The content of the video footage

The footage in question, which has been widely circulated on social media platforms in the last 24 hours shows an imitator mounting the stage to imitate how Stonebwoy walks whilst Stonebwoy was on stage performing. Stonebwoy reacted angrily to the imitator’s act by ordering the instrumentalists on stage to halt playing the instruments. Stonebwoy followed up by uttering the following ; “3y3 gyimie no 3y3’’. To wit, “Enough of the fooling”.  Stonebwoy then threw the microphone into the crowd and left the stage.
The imitator’s conduct was clearly absurd and absolutely uncalled for. The act was morally improper. Whatever may have been his motive for doing that, the motive was completely wrong. This is an artiste who has been able to defy odds over the years and managed to go through the mill despite his physical challenge to become one of the biggest things to ever happen to Ghana’s music industry. The accolades he has amassed both domestically and internationally over the last 12 months alone substantiates this assertion. He is viewed as a model of inspiration to people with physical challenges or challenges in other forms to challenge conditions and aim higher. What informed this guy who has claimed to be a Stonebwoy fan to commit such an act just a little distance away from Stonebwoy? In my view, Stonebwoy’s reaction was appropriate and very understandable because as humans we can all be easily prone to such reactions especially when it dwells on such sensitivities.
Aftermath of video circulation
Following the circulation of the said video, apologies have been released into the public domain. Live FM, the media outlet which organized the aforementioned event has come out with a release to apologize to Stonebwoy and his team. In the statement, they condemned the fan’s act which they described as despicable. Earlier today, the fan also released an apology letter to Stonebwoy on behalf of all Bhimnatives. Stonebwoy is yet to officially respond to the apology letter but I believe Stonebwoy will accept it.
Going Foward

Going forward, event organizers have the ultimate responsibility to ensure that there are adequate security measures put in place to warrant a successful organization of events devoid of unfortunate incidents. Watching the said video, I spotted security personnel on the stage. As security personnel were employed for the event, I expected the organizers to barricade the crowd from the stage. The security personnel would have then been able to deal with anyone who scaled the barricade to mount or get closer to the stage. It’s important to barricade the crowd from the stage at every event, irrespective of the size of the crowd or audience. It is also necessary for artistes to employ personal security personnel who will provide security for them at such gatherings. I know some artistes have security personnel. The others who don’t have some yet should take a cue from them. Searching observers/crowd before concerts begin shouldn’t also be overruled. It was a mimicking in Stonebwoy’s case. Who knows, it can be a physical assault or a more life threatening incident another time. Surely, this incident should be a wake-up call to take a critical look into security issues at events.

Seth Mireku Jnr
mirekuseth16@gmail.com

Hurray! Nana Ama Mcbrown & Boyfriend, Maxwell to Marry this April

Screen goddess Nana Ama McBrown and her boyfriend, Maxwell, plan to tie the knot in three months’ time at a rather low-key event, the actress has revealed. She disclosed to Showbiz exclusively last week that after dating for many years, the love birds had decided to get married at a private affair, adding that 2016 would be her year of breakthrough. “Yeah, I am getting married this year and I am super excited about it. I know a lot of people have been waiting for this and the time is finally here,” she said. For an A-list celebrity, many would expect Nana Ama to have a big society wedding, but a glamorous marriage is not what the pretty actress wants. “It is going to be a very private affair because that is how I want it. I don’t want a big wedding as many would expect.” she explained to Showbiz. According to the award-winning actress, her preference for a private marriage is not due to her inability to afford a big wedding but just a matter of choice. “Being the kind of person I am, I will need a venue as big as the Accra Sports Stadium if I really want a big wedding but mine is going to be pretty much just family. That’s what we’ve decided to do.” Nana Ama who currently hosts the Aben Show, a cooking programme on UTV asked her fans to bear with her and not to be upset for not involving them in her big day because she wants a private affair, “I love my fans a lot and appreciate them but they would have to bear with me on this one.” Nana Ama and Maxwell who have dated for some years now had been rumoured to be ready to tie the knot in the past but those reports never saw the light of day. The lovebirds were in the news two years ago when they were involved in a frightening motor accident on the N1 Highway in Accra which resulted in injuries to the actress. The versatile actress, who has acted in numerous movies in both Kumawood and glamour productions, as well as a number of TV series, also hinted that she would be doing a lot of productions this year and has a lot lined up for her.

Source: Graphic Showbiz