The Electoral Commission, EC, has detected over four thousand deliberate entries in the Biometric Voter Register, BVR.

The Acting Public Affairs Director of the Commission, Christian Owusu Parry, who disclosed this to Radio Ghana, said the Commission will in due course publish the names of those involved.

He said those who feel aggrieved can appeal through the courts.

A Koforidua High Court has sentenced four people to death by hanging, for allegedly killing their uncle, Kwame Dartey, at Ntowkrom, a village near Nsawam, in the Eastern region.

The four are Kofi Bredu Armah, 60, Addy Armah, 40, Lartei Tetteh, 40 and Aryee Armah Bredu, 35.

They were each charged with two counts of conspiracy to commit crime.
The four were unanimously found guilty by a seven member jury.

Prosecuting, a State Attorney, Priscilla Diakro, told the court, presided over by Justice Henry Kwofie, that at about 7pm on October 12, 2003 at about 7 pm, the deceased then residing at Ntowkrom, went to see his cousin off to her house.

On his way back home, he was shot from behind from a near-by bush but was able to run for about 15 metres, fell and died.

The police heard of the incident through the reports by some people in the village and went to the scene where they found the body of the deceased.

Investigations started into and in the process, the police arrested the four who are nephews of the deceased.

Addy confessed to the police that it was upon the advice of Bredu that they killed their uncle, who was the caretaker of their large family land, so that they would have access to it.

His Excellency, Prof. Kwaku Danso-Boafo, Ghanaian's High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, while observing the one week of President John Evans Atta Mills' death last Tuesday, July 31, 2012 with hundreds of Ghanaians at his residence, has lamented the difficulties Ghanaians have gone through since 1966 and said as a people, we have fallen many times but because of the greatness in us, every time we have fallen, we have risen again.

Today, he said, as we observe a week after the passing of our dear President, it wasn't because we have nothing to do but because the country has lost an illustrious son we did not appreciate as a country.

It is not surprising as we all know that no prophet is acceptable in his own country and that the brick that was rejected was also made the corner stone he said, therefore in celebrating the life of the late President, we should keep one thing in mind that we do the kind of things that would protect the legacy of the late President, he added.

Prof. Danso-Boafo reminded his guests that no nation in the world has progressed and developed with a section of the population; nations he said, developed from all sectors of the population and therefore as a people we cannot afford a situation where we isolate some individuals just because they disagree with us politically or philosophically, it is a dangerous course.

This, the High Commissioner said, is the reason the Ghanaian community must not wait for the passing of the President or a tragedy before they recognise the value of togetherness as a people adding, “political parties are a means to an end but are not necessarily ends in themselves”.

He announced that the government has declared a programme of the late president's funeral beginning on Wednesday, August 8, 2012, during which the President would be laid in state at the Banquet Hall of the State House (Job 600) from 16.00 pm to mid-night.

On Thursday, August 9, 2012, the late President would still be laid in state at the same venue from 16.00 pm to mid-night.

Then on Friday, August 10, 2012, there will be a burial service at the Independent Square at 9.00 am.

Meanwhile, the High Commissioner has announced the setting of a committee to plan the funeral of the late President in the United Kingdom scheduled for Saturday, August 18, 2012.

XYZ News can confirm that President Mahama has summoned the Eastern Regional Minister, Victor Smith to the Castle over his comments relating to the choice of Bank of Ghana Governor as Vice President.

The Minster in an interview with XYZ News stated that although he has no issues with the candidature of Mr. Amissah-Arthur as Vice President, he will kick against any attempt to make him the running mate for the December polls because he can’t win votes for the NDC.

He said inasmuch as he believes in the competency of Mr. Amissah-Arthur in partnering the President to serve the remaining term of late President Mills’ first tenure, he does not think he is the people’s man.

According to Ambassador Smith, Mr. Amissah-Arthur won’t improve the electoral fortunes of the NDC in any way.

According to sources, Ambassador Smith will meet the President Friday morning to explain why he decided to make such comments.

Meanwhile, Ambassador Smith prior to his meeting with the President has apologized for his comments about Mr. Amissah-Arthur.

In a statement on Friday, Ambassador Smith said he only meant to state that the President’s nominee wasn’t necessarily his running mate for the 2012 elections.

“I granted a number of press interviews intending to clarify that the President’s nominee wasn’t necessarily his running mate for the 2012 elections.

“The import of my comment has been misconstrued. I wish to render unqualified apologies to the President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, Vice President nominee, Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur and all others who may have been aggrieved by my comments.

“I don’t have any ill feelings against Mr. Amissah-Arthur. He is a loyal member of the NDC and I have no question about his credentials to occupy the office for which the President has nominated him” Ambassador Smith said in his statement.

Ghana and Nigeria have pledged their commitment to deepen their political, economic and cultural relations for their mutual benefit.

President John Dramani Mahama and the visiting Nigerian Vice-President, Mr Mohammed Namadi Sambo made the commitment Thursday when the latter called on President Mahama at the Castle, Osu in Accra.

Vice-President Sambo was at the Castle at the instance of Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, to express condolence on the demise of former President John Evans Atta Mills and to congratulate President Mahama on his elevation to the office of the President.

The visit of the Nigerian Vice President followed a letter of notice on the passing on of President Mills that President Mahama sent to his Nigerian conterpart two days ago.

President Mahama expressed appreciation at the quick manner in which President Jonathan had sent Vice-President Sambo to Ghana, barely 48 hours after sending him the notice.

President Mahama said President Jonathan had already called him to express his condolence.

President Mahama eulogized the late President Mills for his perdormance while in office and said it was difficult to lose him at this stage, but indicated that “God knows best.”

President Mahama said the sincerity with which Ghanaians had come together to mourn the late President was a credit to his peaceful, tolerant and humble nature.

He said several heads of state had called him to express condolence on the demise of the former President, adding that Ghanaians were encouraged by those calls.

President Mahama said the former President had left behind a heavy responsibility for him, and said he would count on the support of President Jonathan and other heads of state to continue with the vision of the late President.

He pledged to deepen bilateral relations between Ghana and Nigerian and other ECOWAS member countries.

Besides, he said, he would continue with all the regional projects that former President Mills had committed himself to.

Earlier, Vice-President Sambo described former President Mills as a stateman and a great African leader who had championed the cause of ECOWAS.

He said President Jonathan had asked him to assure Ghana of his support to Ghana in these trying times

The Forum for Governance and Justice (FGJ) has called on the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to justify to Ghanaians, especially students and parents, why it was charging GH¢4.00 for the PIN code needed to check results online.

A statement signed by Dr Clement .A. Apaak, Convener of FGJ and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Thursday said, the issue came to the attention of the FGJ before the release of the BECE results and all attempts to get answers to the charges proved futile.

“Even a brief report on our concern by Radio XYZ did not generate any answer from WAEC, hence the need to adopt a public approach in the interest of fairness and justice.”

It said two years ago WAEC sold PIN codes inscribed on professionally produced scratch cards similar to the mobile phone unit cards to students to check their results online, “These cards were originally priced at GH¢2.50, and was later raised to GH¢4.00.”

The statement said when FGJ checked with owners of internet cafés, where most students and or their parents bought the scratch cards, “WAEC has completely done away with the scratch card and has since introduced strips of paper (one inch by three inches). The serial numbers and the PIN numbers on the strips of paper are all visible and can easily be copied without scratching. Yet, WAEC is still charging GH¢4.00 for each strip of paper with no security features.”

It said “We believe that slips of paper should not sell for more than GH¢1.00 at best.”

The statement said: “WAEC has a responsibility to explain why it is causing students and parents to spend extra amounts for an inferior product to check results online in addition to examination fees. These students and their parents also pay for the use of the internet as well as to print the provisional results.”
 

Pollster and Managing Editor of Daily Dispatch newspaper, Ben Ephson is of the belief that the nomination of Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Papa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur as the Vice President was purely based on his foundation as a technocrat.

Speaking in a phone interview on e.tv Ghana's flagship programme, Awake, Mr Ephson said he believes Mr Amissah-Arthur was selected out of the many names which popped up prior to his nomination because “the president feels he can work with him most comfortably.”

He noted that: “Basically he selected the person he feels most comfortable with. If maybe after the analysis four or five of them are on the same level maybe in terms of competence and so on, I believe the one who won was the one the president feels he can work with most comfortably.”

“I don’t think that the reason was more of economic but I think that it’s got to be of technocrat,” he added.

Mr Ephson also noted that the likelihood of nominating Mr Amissah-Arthur because of his Fante background was high.

He said: “Bear in mind that the Fante angle too was there. In 2008 Fantes were accused of voting on ethnic basis and that I think annoyed and irritated them more than anything else. Clearly the Fante factor was taken into consideration in selecting the running mate.”

Asked by host Rashida Nasamu, whether the former President and Founder of the NDC, Mr Rawlings would necessarily have to approve the nomination of Mr Amissah-Arthur, he noted that, “Jerry Rawlings has kicked himself out of the campaign and the NDC sometime ago preferred itself to be without the Rawlingses.”

“He has the choice to come on board or go with the New Democratic Party. I think it’s going to be very difficult if he comes on board the things he is going to say. He is in a pundery; like someone who has climbed a tree, the top is a snake, below is a lion. He has to decide the way to go.”

Former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan is quitting as international peace envoy for Syria in the face of an armed rebellion against President Bashar al-Assad whose violence shows no sign of abating after 17 months of strife.

As battles raged on Thursday in Syria's second city Aleppo between rebel fighters and government forces using war planes and artillery, U.N. Secretary Ban Ki-moon announced in New York that Annan had said he would go at the end of the month.

"Kofi Annan deserves our profound admiration for the selfless way in which he has put his formidable skills and prestige to this most difficult and potentially thankless of assignments," Ban said. Talks were under way to find a successor.

Annan's mission, centered on an April ceasefire that never took hold, has looked irrelevant as fighting has intensified in Damascus and Aleppo. A clearly frustrated Annan blamed "finger pointing and name calling" at the U.N. Security Council for his decision to quit.

In Syria, the fight for Aleppo, the latest battlefield, intensified. Rebels turned the gun of a captured tank against government forces on Thursday, shelling a military airbase used by war planes in the battle for Aleppo.

Abusuapanin Ato Harry Brew of the Nkumakyereba family of the late president John Evans Atta Mills, has demanded a DNA test on the mortal remains of the fallen Ghanaian leader, to determine whether or not he hails from Otuam.

Apart from the confusion over whether the late former president should be buried in Accra or his hometown, the family is also split over his original hometown. While the Nkumakyereba family in Cape Coast is demanding that the body of the late president be brought to Cape Coast, another faction at Ekumfi Otuam is saying the former leader is from Otuam.

Abusuapanin Ato Harry Brew said on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen on Thursday that the late president Mills’ mother hailed from Nkumakyereba in Cape Coast and therefore he must be buried there.

He added that, the family of Nkumakyereba practise the matrilineal system of inheritance and therefore does not have any relationship with the Otuam family, so far as the funeral arrangements of the late President is concerned.

Meanwhile the Otuam faction has threatened to place an injunction on the late President’s burial if government failed to involve them in the planning of the funeral arrangements.

But Abusuapanyin Ato Harry Brew told host of Ekosii Sen Kojo Asare Baffour Acheampong that they support any decision that the government and the Funeral Committee will take, concerning the funeral arrangements.

He denied earlier reports suggesting that government has allegedly agreed to hand over the body of the late President the family after an initial burial by the State.

Known more in the financial corridors than on party hustings, the selection of Mr Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur as Vice President caught the many factions in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) rooting for one candidate or the other by surprise.

A number of hastily formed groups surfaced shortly after the president’s passing, clamouring for candidates such as Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, president of the Dominion University College; Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, Minister of Local Government, and Mr Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Deputy Local Government Minister.

Cadres in the party made a last minute pitch for Dr Kwabena Agyei, the current chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), citing him as a unifier who could ensure a united party for Elections 2012.

Other names that had surfaced included Mr Goosie Obuadum Tanoh, the presidential candidate for the National Reform Party in the 2000 elections, who has rejoined the NDC; Dr Kwesi Botchwey, the longest serving Finance Minister in Ghana; Mr Sylvester Mensah, head of the National Health Insurance Authority, and Ms Hanna Tetteh, Trade and Industry Minister.

A number of political analysts had put up characteristics such as electability, integrity and eloquence as some of benchmarks which would be used in selecting a vice-presidential candidate. Other factors mentioned included ethnicity and gender.

Reports indicate that the immediate reaction in top party circles at the selection of Amissah-Arthur as Vice President was one of surprise. Shortly after the announcement, a supposedly pro-Spio-Garbrah group declared its disagreement with the president’s selection.

Another group claiming to be a pro-Ofosu-Ampofo group has also been heard still clamouring for their man.

Fortunately for the president, none of those sounding discordant have any recognisable names.

Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, for example, has come out to commend the president for his choice. Mr Tanoh had earlier come out against the unseemly lobbying for the position.

Veteran party man Mr E.T. Mensah, the Minister for Employment, has also come to defend the status of Mr Amissah-Arthur as a true party man. The troops are, therefore, lining up nicely behind the new kid on the block.

In addition, a number of bodies outside the party have also come to support Mr Amissah Arthur, pointing potentially to the prospective vice president’s power to attract floating voters.

The rest of the work, however, is left with the new vice president as far as bringing more voters to the NDC is concerned.

“I sat in front of my television set from 3pm on the 24th of July 2012 till the station of the nation (GTV) had nothing more to show concerning the painful breaking news of the demise of our beloved President.

I could not concentrate, I was shocked beyond words and became like a little child perhaps a baby for I could not think, I could not get meaning of what had happened. I simply could not sleep till the next morning. I was speechless.

One thing however kept me sitting, standing, walking up and down, kneeling and praying, which was the fact that I was seriously looking forward to another breaking news, that the death of our beloved President, Prof. John Fiifi Atta Mills was not true and that never came into reality.

Here on earth we are weeping, yes weeping but I know that behind the veil, a host of heavenly Angels receive you with joy and peace as you are being led to Jesus our Lord and Savior.

Fiifi, you lived like the master himself. In fact, you came really and truly close to the ideals of our Lord, our master and Savior Jesus Christ.

In all of Jesus life, he preached nothing but peace. It is Jesus who said “come unto me all you who are heavy laden and I will give you rest” rest is simply peaceful.

The very birth of our Lord Jesus Christ brought important information to all the inhabitant of the earth that “Peace on earth, for God and sinners have reconciled”. So Jesus was the “King of Peace”.

Fiifi, your whole life clearly indicated a man of peace. Indeed the whole nation referred to you as “asomdweehene” yes, you are asomdweehene because you are a true son of God, a true disciple of Jesus Christ who is not just the King of Peace but rather he is Peace.
You did not even respond when you were insulted, that is what Jesus taught us and did. You did not even fight back when you were provoked, rather you smeared the whole nation with your words of Peace.

You always referred to us, citizen of Ghana and even the entire continent as “My brothers and sisters”. In that very statement, you expressed your innermost thought. That is, for you Fiifi, the whole country is but one big family. No one is small or big but rather one big family. Equal before God our father.

Jesus Christ in that same manner saw all manner of persons as one big family. Indeed, Jesus prayed for his disciples and for the whole world “that we may be one”. John 17:21-22.

This shows clearly that the mind of Jesus Christ was in you. Evans you are a true child of God.

Everywhere you went, you were doing good. A mighty leader, you led the nation Ghana. When the nationals see you, they see humility, peace and God fearing man.

Atta, you were also very prayerful. It is for this reason that you turned the Castle into a prayer ground. Your innermost desire was to turn the whole country into a prayer ground. You were indeed a true child of God and a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Even though you were sick, you were simply selfless and put all of the issues that concern you second and God first by serving mankind and your nation first. God alone will reward you for your good work.

Your school mates say you were gentle, friendly, not troublesome and above all very intelligent and with a good sense of humour. Even the international community says you were a shining example to all.
Above it all, I simply say John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills; you are simply a true child of God.”

PAPA MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN PERFECT PEACE

A cross section of people in Cape Coast yesterday expressed their happiness about the fact that President John Dramani Mahama had nominated Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur from the Central Region, as his vice president.

According to them, they believed Mr Amissah-Arthur could team up with President Mahama to complete all projects initiated by the late president, John Evans Atta Mills.

The projects included the Kotokuraba Market and the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.

They disclosed this to DAILY GUIDE in Cape Coast in reaction to the nomination of the Governor of the Bank of Ghana as the Vice President.

Ama Mansa, a trader around the Cape Coast Castle indicated that without Mr Amissah-Arthur, President Mahama might think some of the projects in the region were not necessary.

She hoped Parliament would approve his nomination to enable the people of the region to feel that they were part of government.

A second hand clothes dealer at Kotokuraba, Kwabena Nketsiah said the region would benefit in terms of development, with the nomination of the Central Bank Governor as vice president of Ghana.

In an interview with the cousin of Mr Amissah Arthur, Kwaku Sam Amissah-Arthur, a nephew of the nominee, described his uncle as a hardworking man and very competent to partner President Mahama to grow the economy of Ghana.

He noted that all the family members were solidly behind Mr Amissah-Arthur and it was their prayer that he would get the nod from Parliament.

Meanwhile, others have said until Parliament approves his nomination, they would reserve their comments.

A CIRCUIT Court in Bekwai has handed a 12-year jail term to Kwame Buba, a man who could not control his libido. The unemployed young man at Adansi-Akuapim became a terror to a primary-three pupil of Kronom-Afrancho D/A Basic School after turning the poor girl into a sex machine.

The presiding judge, Daniel Kwaku Obeng, convicted him after confessing to the crime. Prosecuting, Detective Sergeant Stephen Ofori informed the court that the complainant, Akua Serwaa, was the mother of the victim, who lived in the same vicinity with the convict.

The complainant brought the victim to the village to live with her during vacation.

On July 20, 2012, the victim went out to play at a place near Buba’s house.The convict invited the 10-year-old to send her on an errand. The victim, who did not suspect any foul play, responded to Buba’s call.

But the man dragged the girl to a nearby house that had no occupants where he segxwally assaulted her. Kwame Buba warned the victim not to disclose her ordeal to anyone. The victim became ill a few days later, compelling the mother to conduct a body check on the girl.

The complainant found offensive discharges coming from the honeypot of her daughter and quizzed her. It was then that the victim disclosed her ordeal to her mother. A report was made to the Adansi-Anwiaso Police station which issued a medical form for the victim.

Buba was charged and later arraigned.

The Ghana Immigration Service says it won’t hesitate to deport foreigners who visit the country with the intention of engaging in sex tourism.

Tourism Minister Akua Sena Danso said the practice is endemic in the Ashanti, Eastern, Central and Northern regions.

She told Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee that her outfit is strengthening collaboration with the security services to clamp down on sex tourists.

Let me begin this solemn piece with my deepest condolences to the family of President Mills and to all Ghanaians on the President’s death.

Since the President’s death, there has been a concerted effort to move on and not to assign blame by many. Indeed, the few who have tried to assign blame have been criticized vigorously. That desire not to ask hard questions is consistent with our culture as Africans and Ghanaians.

As a Doctor, I deal with death more than most people. And I am very familiar with the argument to “Let things go, after all he/she is already dead and nothing we do will bring him/her back.”

President Mills was a teacher both in the classroom and in life. It is my carefully considered and deeply held view that we must learn important lessons from the President’s death. There will be time for tributes but today, I urge that we ask some hard questions.

At this point, I wish to apologize sincerely to all those who may be offended by my concerns and to beg their forgiveness. Since the President’s death over a week ago, I have had sleepless nights. My concerns have only increased as I have read accounts of his last hours and days.

Joy FM reports the account of Reverend Amoo Darko, a member of the Council of State and the President’s friend. Joy reports that “According to Reverend Amoo Darko, the late President complained of neck pains on Sunday and so was unable to participate in church-related activities that day. He added that on Tuesday around noon, he received a call that the President had been rushed to 37 Military hospital on an emergency.”

The BBC reported that “according to a Presidential aide, the leader had complained of pains on Monday evening and his condition had deteriorated.”

The President’s brother and wife have also weighed in. It is reported that Mrs. Mills tried to get the President to resign. If that is true, it is the most reassuring thing I have learnt in this unfortunate event. It is heart-warming that she put her husband’s health ahead of politics. Reacting to charges and/or rumours of negligence, the President’s brother, Dr. Cadman Atta Mills said, “Negligence is a very strong word to use in this context. I can guarantee you that everybody around the President did the very best that they could do and I start especially with those Doctors who have been with him ever since he became President.”

From his words and his passion, Doctor Mills’ love for his brother is obvious and his gratitude for those who cared for him is natural and understandable. However, while we must trust that those involved in the President’s care did their best, we must verify that what was done accords with the best standards all over the world. Indeed, one can do harm while acting with the best of motives. For instance, if a Diabetic were to become unconscious, either from a very, very elevated sugar or a very very low sugar level, the administration of insulin, done with the best of motives might kill the patient in one instance and be life-saving in the other instance. In either instance, the one giving the insulin would have the same motive—to save the patient’s life.

To set the standard for what we should be striving for, let me recount an incident. A few weeks before the President’s death, I was contacted by the US Embassy in Accra. They had paid a visit to Cape Coast to plan for a visit by a high ranking US government official to the city. To plan for the health of the official and his delegation, they had asked about Doctors in the city and had selected me, probably because of my US training. Before the visit, we discussed possible contingencies and I contacted officials at the Central Regional Hospital as well as the National Ambulance Service and went through a check-list of what might be needed. In the end, everything went well and no medical services were needed. But what I have just recounted is prudent planning at its best.

We are told that the President was rushed to 37 Military hospital around noon and died at about 2:15 that same day. In law, since he died within a day of his arrival at the hospital, it makes the President’s death a CORONER’S CASE that must be investigated.

To add to the confusion, a number of foreign media have reported that the President died of cancer. While this has not been confirmed by the government, the deceased President’s spiritual advisor, Prophet T.B. Joshua is reported to have confirmed that the President had cancer.

This inquiry must be broad and forward-looking. It must respect the President’s privacy and sensibilities of his family while being thorough. And it must guide our conduct in the future if we should have a President who has health problems.

It needs to address a number of important questions.
The first is what the President’s state of health was. Did the President have cancer? If yes, when did he know it?

Second, when the President was in the US for his last visit with his Doctors, what did they tell him and his handlers? Was he accompanied to that appointment by any of his Ghanaian Doctors?

Third, when the President returned from the US, was there any contingency plan for emergencies relating to his health? What was the plan and was it followed?

Fourth, the President started complaining of feeling unwell on Sunday, according to Rev. Amoo Darko.

When was he examined and what did the examiner find?
When he took sick on Tuesday and he was being rushed to 37 Military hospital, who was in the ambulance with him? What equipment was in the ambulance? Was any treatment administered en-route to the hospital?

Fifth, was the hospital called before the President’s arrival?
If yes, what preparation did the hospital make to receive the ailing President?

Sixth, when did the President leave the Castle and when did he get to the hospital?

Seventh, when he got to 37 Military hospital, was the President alive?
Eighth, if he was alive, what treatment did he get at the hospital? Did he go into cardiac arrest as has been reported? How was that treated?

Ninth, looking at how his health was managed throughout his Presidency, are there generalized shortcomings in how he was managed?

Tenth, what does this show of our healthcare system and what are the lessons? Do we need legislation and or guidelines on how we should care for our Presidents? Should a President be obligated to disclose the state of his health to the public or to some public official?

It is important that we ask these questions not because we suspect anybody of foul-play but because we need to learn the necessary lessons from this unfortunate tragedy.

Already, politics appears to be emerging in the handling of the President’s death. That is unfortunate. There have been charges that the President died from vilification as well as charges that his health was sacrificed to politics by his handlers. Both charges are unwarranted, unwise and unhelpful.

This is a time when we must come together—to comfort the President’s family and to dedicate ourselves to our nation and its best values.

Let us, even in the midst of our sorrow, move forward—together.
Arthur Kobina Kennedy, MD.

Ghana has only not lost our president and father but a man who had dedicated his life for the good of all Ghanaians irrespective of our party affiliations, tribe, religion or ages.

But it is said in the bible that in all cases gives thanks to the lord for he knows what is best. However the president’s death has a unique translation and should help us transform our thinking about life and people around us.

The death of our late President may be likened to that of our Saviour Jesus. While Jesus lived He proclaimed the gospel, healed the sick, set the captives free amongst many other miracles He performed yet people did not believe in him.

He was then falsely charged and crucified. It was on the cross after he said it is finished and bowed His head that the atmosphere immediately changed. Thick dark clouds formed, the wind blew and there was thunder and lightning. It was at this point that they believed and accepted that He was the true son of God.

A similar event has occurred in our days. Some people hated and gave all kinds of inflammatory remarks about the late president of Ghana (John Evans Atta Mills), and it was just last Tuesday afternoon after his death that they came to a realization that He was a true noble person sent to serve Ghanaians. I also believe the story of the first president of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, is a clear case in point. It was after his death that many Ghanaians finally accepted his ideologies and policies but it was too late.

My fellow Ghanaians, reason up with me! I think it’s about time we changed our attitudes and character towards our leaders. I know we are all sad and wish we could turn back the hands of time but it is late now since we will not get him with us again to tell him how sorry we are….

One thing for sure is the there will be an evolving legacy of the late president for his role in providing better signals of hopes for Ghanaians, African’s and the rest of the world.

Prof. Damirifa duee!!

The Ghana-China Friendship Union (GCFU) regrets, attempt by some un-faced persons and foreign business interests in Ghana to undermine the otherwise peaceful relations existing between the Chinese and the Ghanaian Government which dates as far back as 1960.

Whilst GCFU over the years have worked hard with the Ghana-China Business Chamber of Commerce (GCBCC) to protect Ghanaian business interest, and trade in China and that of Chinese in Ghana, other interests disguised under the mining sector, are working hard to tarnish these distinguished achievements.

It will be re-called that, barely a week ago, some newspapers reported of the involvement of Chinese, workmen in small scale mining. Whilst this is so, it is also clear that, those Chinese men like their Ghanaian counter parts, work hand-in-hand and do not remain masters as opposed to some other companies in the mining industry where by virtue the of one's skin, such persons become controlling and superior to the Ghanaian.

Indeed, the fact remains that many small scale mining companies owned by Ghanaians, use Chinese equipment and technology. It is in this regard, coupled with the low cost of Chinese labour that, even in the most remote and uninhabitable terrains in the country, Chinese workmen this time around, find themselves working for Ghanaian owners.

Over the years, the Ghana China Business Chamber of Commerce (GCBCC) have worked hard to promote the migration of Ghanaian skilled labour to very remote parts of this country to operate mining equipment’s(with Chinese technology)imported for use by small scale mining companies owned by Ghanaian businessmen. However, these efforts have been in futility as the locations of such industries are no longer attractive to identified Ghanaian skilled labour. In such difficult circumstances, the GCBCC have resolved to promote the use of cheaper alternatives such as; employing low cost Chinese skilled labour by Ghanaian business men. This is especially so in the small scale mining sector, but a great cost to dear life.

Thus, since 2005, over 87 Chinese men have been shot dead by armed robbers who attack them at their remote mining sites for gold. Hence, the resolution by such mining firms to arm their harmless Chinese nationals with licensed weapons used only for self-defence. Indeed just two days ago, another armed robbery attack for gold at a mining site employing 4 Chinese workmen at Manso Nkwanta has seen one Chinese person dead.

Last year, the GCFU attended all the business sessions held in China by the GCBCC to promote Chinese business interest in Ghana and advocated for the immediate amelioration of visa and other challenges confronting Ghanaian traders and business men to and in China. Whilst this advocacy is on-going in the best interest of the Ghanaian business man, the reverse is true for Chinese Businesses and workmen doing legal businesses in Ghana's mining sector.

Ghanaians have lived with Americans, Australians, South Africans and Brits in the mining sector (large and small scale) for several years. It is quite sad that today, the Chinese in such similar setting is being given the bad name only to be hanged. As a developing nation in need of less expensive technologies as its bedrock for rapid economic development, it is sad to note how we are struggling to contend with the reality that, Chinese technology remains the most affordable, and where leading manufacturing companies such as Apple and other western companies are producing from China (using Chinese technology), we for no apparent reason are un-prepared to accept this reality.

However, under the auspices of the Ghana China Business Chamber of Commerce, several Ghanaian owned small scale mining industries leasing Chinese technology are heavily involved in providing social support for the mining communities, including boreholes, building of school blocks, computer donations, needy student scholarships, and lately, attempts to support the school feeding program from the next academic year in those mining communities.

In the coming weeks, GCFU will invite the press to some random small scale mining sites to authenticate our position in this matter. More so, as a country much touted for being "the world’s friendliest people” we should eschew any such tendencies that welcome and embrace some foreign nationals as opposed to others.

This is very important considering that Ghanaians are well travelled, and find themselves in various countries engage in all sorts of work. We should take a cue from the past where Ghanaians even in Nigeria (a sister country) found themselves been expelled from that country on account of Ghanaians taking over all sorts of work in that country.

Never again Ghanaians!! We have been more accommodating, friendly and peaceful to each other and especially foreigners, and if this view hold same, let’s accept trade with Chinese in good faith so long as they abide with our rules of trade and forms of living.

We shall also work hard with the Ghana China Business Chamber of Commerce to streamline its actions and where culpable, discipline or deport immediately any bad nut amongst the otherwise peaceful China work force here in Ghana as and when necessary irrespective of the area of commerce they find themselves.

We shall also intensify advocacy for the GCBCC to increase its activities in the areas of land reclamation and aid to small scale mining communities.
Thanks

As it is still very difficult to come to terms with the sudden, unfortunate and untimely demise of His Excellency Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, it is my candid opinion and wish that, since the late Prof. John Evans Atta Mills’ commitment, enthusiasm, passion and allegiance to build a better Ghana for all can never be questioned/challenged by anybody within and outside Ghana as he clearly demonstrated within the three and half years under his stewardship, it will only be fair to him and the rest of us as Ghanaians to begin celebrating and HONOURING him right now.

It is also very important to appreciate the fact that, since the sudden and untimely demise of His Excellency Prof. John Evans Atta Mills (late President of the Republic of Ghana) on Tuesday 24th July 2012 at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, the general feeling and believe among larger Ghanaian society including those in the Diaspora is that, the late Prof. Mills was an extraordinary personality and President in the history of this country.

Some of his unquestionable attributes include but not limited to the following; he was very modest, honest, truthful, sincere, high moral and integrity, devoted to duty, selfless, peace loving, tactical, and calm and above all God fearing.

People from all walks of life have in one way or the other expressed these feelings or have testified genuinely and willingly to these attributes of the late President Mills even before his demise. Some who could not even do so at the time that Prof. Mills was alive for reasons best known to them have equally done so after his unfortunate and untimely demise in their tributes to President Mills. Some of these people are not just mere personalities but they are people of high standing and repute.

In view of the unprecedented, incontrovertible and incontestable legacies the late President Mills has left for this country (Ghana), I can only come to the humble conclusion that, we as a country should begin honouring and celebrating his legacies even before he is laid in his grave.

I wish therefore to use this humble opportunity to make two quick suggestions as to how to I personally think we can celebrate and honour the late President of the Republic of Ghana His Excellency Prof. John Evans Atta Mills.

1). I suggest that, government should take immediate and urgent steps to ESTABLISH A FOUNDATION IN HONOUR OF PRESIDENT MILLS perhaps after giving him a befitting state burial.

2). As practicable as possible, one of the newly established universities in the country by the late President Mills administration (University of Health and Allied Sciences – Ho and University for Energy and Natural Resource – Sunyani) should be named after him.

In conclusion, I would leave you with one of Prof. Mills’ words “ANY GOVERNMENT WHICH DOES NOT SEE THE PROVISION OF BASIC NEEDS OF ITS PEOPLE LIKE ACCESS TO PORTABLE DRINKING WATER, ELECTRICITY, HEALTHCARE, QUALITY EDUCATION AMONG ITS PRIORITIES, THEN SUCH GOVERNMENT HAS NO BUSINESS BEING IN POWER IN THE FIRST PLACE”

AGYA ATTA, REST IN PERFECT PEACE. DAMIRIFA DUE.

It took more than 20 fire tenders to put out a raging fire that gutted six warehouses, a private residence, a restuarant and parts of the Total Filling Station situated along the North Industrial Road in Accra on Wednesday.

As if that was not scary enough, the heat and the thick smoke billowing into the sky from the fire engulfed a Volta River Authority (VRA) high tension electricity pylon that was lying just above the filling station.

What further compunded the problem was the fact that Fire Service personnel at the scene searched endlessly for the location of some hydrants in the area.

Though more than 50 Fire officers were at hand to fight the raging inferno in a four hour battle, the direction of the wind as well as some chemicals stored in the warehouse aided the fire to spread which made the work of the fire service team very arduous.

The inferno was said to have started as a small spark in the former Loyalty Garment Factory.

The factory, presently houses six warehouses which include an alcohol supply warehouse, where the fire is said to have began; J. K. Industries, the warehouse of a printing press; Top Industries warehouse, KGM Industry Limited, a plastic munufacturing company warehouse and some other warehouses which had chemicals and sacks in them.

The fire which gutted the warehouses, said to belong to some Indian businessmen, one of whose name was given only as Pawan, further spread to their residence which is just behind the edifice as well as to “Di Bamboo Restuarant” which is behind the Total Filling Station.

It also gutted the roofing of a supermarket at the filling station and some parts of an office, adjacent to the mart at the filling station.

According to reports, other industries around had to safeguard their wares including Auto Parts Ghana Limited. They removed all their cars from their showrooms to safer places as they share a common wall with the warehouse.

Other companies evacuated their staff from their premises as they feared the worse.

Police drawn from Kaneshie and the Industrial area deployed to the scene, had a hectic time controlling the crowd which gathered the scene.

Two ambulances drawn from the National Ambulance Service were on stand-by for any eventuality.

As journalists pressed forward to get a better look a loud explosion from the burning warehouse was heard which sent the numerous onlookers running for their lives.

In the ensuing stampede, three people - a reporter from Peace FM and two reporters from U-TV, a television station from the stables of Despite Group of company - who were caught in the confusion suffered various degrees of injury.

One of the U-TV crew had to be rushed to the hospital following the stampede.

The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained but properties running into several millions of Ghana cedis have been lost.

Since the death of President John Evans Mills a week ago, several ‘men of God’ are claiming that they prophesied about the president’s death and happenings afterwards.

Some have claimed that the late president’s death could have been averted if specific directions and prayers had been followed while others have said it was bound to happen.

But in what can be said to be the boldest claim yet, a prophet, Segbene Xenodzi, who described himself as a servant of Yahweh, said he had received a revelation from God that would empower him to bring President Mills back to life.

In an interview with Adom News Monday, a confident Prophet Xenodzi stated that though God directed that the revelation be followed by sundown on Saturday, 28th July, there was still an opportunity for the nation to return to God and follow the directions that had been given.

He added that God had promised that if those directives were followed, He would force the four winds of the earth to blow and resurrect the late president.

He expressed worry that even though he had publicized the directive, since he received it from God, the media had failed to support his cause while government officials had refused him access to President Mills’ corpse to be able to pray for the resurrection process to begin.

Pastor Xenodzi said he had refused to sign the government’s book of condolence because of the revelation from God and called on government officials to act swiftly to the call from God while the opportunity remained.

He challenged officials and the family to allow him access to the corpse and witness the power of God as he resurrected President Mills.