NDC man busted for cocaine

Officials of the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) are not forthcoming with information on the arrest of the assemblyman for Annumle electoral area in Achimota – a suburb of Accra – Kodzo Hamenya Keglo, for allegedly dealing in narcotic drugs.

Keglo is also the secretary of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Okaikoi North constituency.

Another NDC executive, David Tettey Kwame, Lower Manya Krobo constituency youth organiser, is already standing trial for narcotic-related offence.

Credible information gathered by Daily Guide indicates that policemen on visibility duty at the La Polyclinic area accosted Keglo’s vehicle Tuesday afternoon following a tip-off by an informant that a man carrying substances suspected to be Indian hemp (popularly called wee) and cocaine was driving towards their (policemen’s) direction.

Upon reaching the spot, the police were said to have stopped the vehicle and searched it, leading to the purported discovery of the narcotic drugs – some pellets of cocaine and marijuana concealed in a compartment of the car.

The police officers were subsequently said to have taken the suspect to the police headquarters and handed him over to the narcotics unit of the CID.

Daily Guide sources said on the way to the police headquarters, the suspect started making frantic calls to some key and influential persons in society and that no sooner had they arrived at the place than a senior officer of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) pulled up to intervene for his release.

This was said to have been followed by a series of calls from some government officials, demanding the immediate release of Keglo.

According to sources, the suspect was subsequently granted bail by an official (name withheld) of scandal-infested MASLOC.

The police even though are tight-lipped, and claim investigations are still ongoing, have come to the conclusion that Keglo was set up but would not disclose who set the gentleman up.

Even as the person who allegedly set the NDC secretary up had not been arrested, the police went ahead to free the suspect.

When Daily Guide visited the police CID headquarters yesterday, officers were tight-lipped.

Instead, Director of Operations of department, Chief Superintendent John Asare Naami, requested that Daily Guide discloses its source before he would give any details about the case.

That was when Narcotics Unit Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Daniel Hukporti, had taken the paper for briefing.

At the first instance he said, “We have so many of those cases, so we don’t know what you are talking about.”

Daily Guide gave the information it has for verification, but Asare Naami proved extremely hostile and not forthcoming, making the paper narrate the whole information.

When the paper declined to name its source, the police chief became insistent saying the suspected the NDC man was set up.

Even before DSP Hukporti would take Daily Guide to Chief Superintendent Asare Naami, ASP Odame Okyere and another senior officer at the department had all said the case was a frame-up.

Head of the public relations unit at the CID headquarters, ASP Benefo Darkwa, was brought into the meeting at a point but nothing good came out of it, claiming not to have any knowledge about the case.

The issue then changed from the journalist giving information to ASP Darkwa to inspecting the identity card of the reporter on the instruction of Mr Asare Naami. When the journalist pulled the ID out and showed it to him, he complained of the card fading.

Even though he took the reporter’s mobile telephone number with the promise to call back and give the full details of the case, that promise of ASP Darkwa had not been fulfilled as at press time yesterday.

NSS payroll fraud: Gov’t saves over Ghc20m- Mahama

Government has saved the state over 20 million cedis that would otherwise have lined the pockets of some officials at the National Service Secretariat.

This was disclosed by President John Mahama during his penultimate State of the Nation Address to Parliament on Wednesday.

The amount saved was a result of investigations authorised by the President into allegations of fraud at the NSS.

The Secretariat was hit with a massive payroll fraud, which saw top level management members conniving with District managers to defraud the state.

Nearly Gh?8million of public funds was paid into ghost national service accounts. In July 2014 alone, up to 7.9 million cedis was paid into ghost and duplicate accounts.

Officials indicted, include then Director of National Service, Alhaji Imoro Alhassan who was also fingered in the fraud with reports he paid 100,000 in bribes to BNI officials with the ultimate aim of concealing the facts.

It is perhaps the biggest scandal to have been unearthed within the scheme that engages graduates from the nation’s tertiary institutions.

In his address to Parliament, the President said the results of the NSS investigation “revealed an organised system of misappropriating government funds through the insertion of ghost service personnel.”

“Investigators have so far retrieved over 20million cedis. In addition, some officials of the service are currently before the court.”

To address the fraud in the system, the President said the government has introduced an electronic payment system for service personnel.

“This will help to eliminate ghosts in the national service payroll,” he said. According to him, Government has saved an estimated 26.5 million cedis.

Touching on the collapsed GYEEDA and revived Youth Employment Agency, the President said his government is proceeding with the prosecution of officials who were deemed to have defrauded the state under the GYEEDA programme.

He said monies are also being retrieved from service providers under GYEEDA while promising that steps have been taken to ensure proper checks and accountability under the new Youth Employment Agency, which replaces GYEEDA.

While the President chronicled a litany of projects Government intended to execute, the minority members, who in previous addresses had been loud with jeers, were loud in silence this time around.

The Minority members wore black, apparently to sympathise with what they claimed to be a crisis situation in Ghana’s power sector.

The Minority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu later explained that the Minority’s silence was partly to respect the House and the President stating, “Let nobody tomorrow say that the President so much mesmerized the House that we couldn’t do anything but listen to him in silence”.

Stonebwoy, MzVee together again

Following their successful collaboration on Natural Girl, dancehall artistes Stonebwoy and MzVee have released yet another single, Come Over.

In Come Over, a love song, Stonebwoy and MzVee profess their love to each other and each describes the other as the “baddest there is.” They tell each other to “come over” in order to have a good time.

Stonebwoy and MzVee take turns to rap in Patois on the song, however, MzVee is the only one who sings the chorus.

Done mainly in Patois and English, Come Over has a catchy rhythm which is sure to appeal to fans of the reggae/ dancehall music genre.

In an interview with Stonebwoy on Monday, the Bhim Nation star disclosed this new collaboration was because of the positive reception their earlier song Natural Girl, received from their fans and the public at large.

“We kept getting so many calls and messages on social media, to the point where many people thought MzVee and I were dating. We are not dating, we just have good chemistry and work well together. We decided that since the public loved our first project so much why not give them another taste of what they have been asking for. Natural Girl was MzVee’s song on which I featured but Come Over is my song which features MzVee,” he said.

Stonebwoy was excited that his personal DJ, DJ Justice was crowned the Best Artiste DJ of the Year at the recently held Ghana DJ Awards. “This award shows a recognition of how much work we put in the year under review. All the shows and events I played were successful thanks to the work of my entire team.

Speaking on the forthcoming Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, Stonebwoy was hopeful that he would sweep majority of the awards in the Reggae/ Dancehall category. “The award my DJ won at the Ghana DJ Awards is just the first of many to be won in 2015. Although the nominees are yet to be announced, I am certain that categories such as Artiste of the Year, Reggae/ Dancehall Song of the Year, Reggae/ Dancehall Artiste of the Year are definitely coming my way.”

Stonebwoy asked his fans to expect a number of new projects from him, including a collaboration with a number of internationally acclaimed artistes from Jamaica. “I have a song with one of the biggest Reggae artistes, Lazar Morgan as well as another with D’angel, former wife of Beenie Man who is considered the first lady of dancehall in Jamaica,” he said.

Joe Beecham returns with two new singles

After 17 fruitful years of ministering in word and music, Pastor Joe Beecham is set to move on to the next phase of his Ministry with the launch of Joe Beecham Ministries.

The Joe Beecham Ministries which is scheduled to be launched on Wednesday, March 4, 2015 at the Alisa Hotel in Accra will see the release of two singles from his upcoming sixth album which is due to be unveiled in May 2015.

There will also be the inauguration of the Ministry’s life changing projects which include the “Sound Mind Project” which is dedicated to raise funds and adequately cater to the needs of psychiatric patients in Ghana.

Pastor Joe Beecham entered Ghana’s music scene in 1998 with the release of his first album, ‘M’asem Bi’ which was an instant hit.

The Takoradi based Pastor and Musician subsequently released four more albums. The second album, ‘Egya Fa Kye hen’ which was released in 2000 had popular tracks such as; ‘Se Me Kae a’.

Two years later, a third album, ‘Mber Yi’ was released with popular songs such as; ‘Ao Yesu’, ‘Aseda Nyinaa Ye Wo Dze.’

His fourth album titled ‘Alone with God’ which had mainly hymns and reflections was released in 2006 and solely sold in the USA.

The fifth album ‘Preachers Voice’ which featured the song ‘Wo Ye Mi Nyame’ was borne out of his personal experience with God.

In the next couple of years, Pastor Beecham whose ministry and humble personality has inspired many young gospel musicians is seeking to build a formidable team of young people from every part of this nation to reach out to villages, towns, and cities with the Gospel through anointed music and biblical teachings.

The Joe Beecham Ministries aims to carry the message of hope and righteousness to humanity and to affect our generation positively through the medium of anointed music and worship.

Grant’s assistance won’t be conflict of interest

Vice President of the Ghana Football Association, Fred Crentsil is of the opinion that Grants decision to offer Technical Directions to Black Satellites Head Coach Sellas Tetteh won’t be a conflict of interest.

Grant will resume work as a Technical Director for the National U-20 team when they begin their campaign in Senegal for the African Youth Championship in March.

Critics have questioned the rationale behind Grant’s work with the National U-20 team as he has been tasked by the Ghana Football Association to offer Technical Directions to Sellas Tetteh.

But Coordinator for the various national teams who also doubles as the Vice President of the Ghana Football Association, Fred Crentsil thinks otherwise. “I don’t see any conflict of interest in his job; he will not interfere with Sellas Tetteh’s job he will offer Technical Directions to him when the championship starts Fred Crentsil told Sportscrusader.com.

“He is not going to take his job from Borbor, is as simple as that, we believe that he is a top class coach who wants to help the various National teams.

Postponement of Afcon 2023 agreed – Jerome Valcke

Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke says the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will be postponed from January to June to help move the 2022 World Cup. A Fifa taskforce has recommended the World Cup is played in November and December to avoid Qatar’s hot summer.

“The African confederation has automatically and nicely agreed it will not organise the Nations Cup in January 2023,” Valcke said.

“It will have to postpone the Africa Cup of Nations to June.”

The 2022 World Cup is set to finish in late December and the African Cup had been scheduled to start in mid-January 2023.

Valcke said the aim of postponing the continental event was “to avoid there being a release (from their clubs) of African players for the World Cup and again two weeks after for the Africa Cup of Nations.”

While Confederation of African Football spokesman Junior Binyam said the governing body is “100% behind the the proposals of the task force and will adjust its calendar accordingly”, he added he was not yet aware of Fifa’s decision to move the Nations Cup.

Protecting the World Cup from severe weather in Qatar may hamper the 2023 African Cup, however. The monsoonal rainy season in the West African nation of tournament hosts Guinea normally starts in June.

“We are all making a number of concessions to make sure that this World Cup can be played, for the players, for the fans, for the media, for whoever is attending the World Cup in the best conditions,” Valcke added. “`It is not perfect, we know that.”

Inter-Allies subdue B.A. United at Tema

Tema-based Inter Allies yesterday subdued B.A. United with a 2-0 victory in their league encounter at the Tema Sports Stadium, writes Benjamin Xornam Glover.

Burkinabe Niasre Benogo, opened scoring with a beautiful drive in the 38th minute which beat goalkeeper Isaac Hagan, after Inter-Allies had subjected the visitors’ 18-yard box to some severe pounding.

Striker Sheriff Deo Mohammed nodded the ball home to increase the tally in the 66th minute from a Frederick Yamoah cross.

At Obuasi, an excellent goal by AshantiGold’s dependable defender, Joshua Tijani, two minutes into injury time salvaged a home point for his side as they drew 2-2 with Heart of Lions at the Len Clay Stadium, writes Nana Yaw Barimah.

I feel Spanish not Ghanaian – Inaki Williams

Spanish-born striker of Ghanaian origin Inaki Williams has given the clearest possible hint that he could play for Spain, despite his black complexion.

The 20-year-old Atletico Bilbao striker became the first Black player to score for Bilbao in the history of the Europa League as they drew 2-2 with Torino last Thursday.

Born to a Liberian father and Ghanaian mother in Basque, Spain, people are surprised to see the ebony black player in the setup of Bilbao as it is uncommon.

“You hear people say ‘A black player at Atletico Bilbao? We’ve never seen that before.’ I just laugh. My name is Inaki and I’m from Basque,” Inaki told Thinking Football.

“My parents came here over two decades ago and I can identify with the stories because they did so much for me. I was born here, I’ve been here for 20 years and although you never forget your roots, I feel Basque.”

Inaki, who has played just four games for Bilbao this season, is yet to be capped by Spain, Ghana, or Liberia at any level.

Nkrumah’s overthrow initiated Ghana’s decline -CPP

he Eastern Regional branch of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) has indicated that, the overthrow of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah some 49-years-ago was the cause of the current high unemployment and economic problems that the country is facing.

Addressing a press conference to mark the 49th anniversary of the overthrow of the late president at Koforidua, Mr Opoku N. Amaning, New Juaben South Secretary of the CPP said if Dr. Kwame Nkrumah had continued to rule Ghana and lead the Pan African Movement, the condition of the African people would have been better than it is today.

He said the 1966 military takeover of the country robbed Ghanaians of an economic breakthrough that would have put Ghana at the same level of economic development as other developing countries that attained independence at the same time with Ghana.

Mr Amaning said the ideologies of Nkrumah and the CPP led to the establishment of the Akosombo Dam, the Tema Habour and township, free and compulsory education, Ghana Telecom, the nuclear reactor at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, which was originally designed to produce electricity.

He indicated that we must not blame only the current government for our woes, but also shift some blame to the Danquah-Busia (NPP) tradition.

The Eastern Regional First Vice Chairman, Mr Isaac Opare Addo, explained that the coup that occurred 49-years-ago put the country in the wilderness, and it was time Ghana rediscovered its right economic path.

He said the coup also led the party to lose most of its properties, placing them in a disadvantaged position as compared to its competitors in modern Ghanaian politics.

Mr Opare Addo called for the collaboration of all Nkrumaist political parties to come on deck to ensure that the challenges faced by the country were solved.

Mr Kwabena Appiah, a CPP member of Council of Elders in the Eastern Region, said the nine years rule of Dr Nkrumah brought some tremendous achievements to the country that had not been marched by any regime in the political history of the country.

He explained that though many things had gone wrong, if the country adopted the ideologies of Dr. Nkrumah and the CPP, the country would bounce back to its former glory.

IMF Bailout:: Gov’t to remove GHS50 million petroleum subsidies

Subsidies on petroleum products totaling GHS50million are expected to be scrapped off as part of an IMF bailout plan reached with government.

The scrapping of these subsidies is likely to inch up petroleum prices for 2015, irrespective of changes in the price of petroleum prices on the international market.

This was contained in a study report concluded by the IMF staff team as it heads back to its New York headquarters for a final approval of the 3-year bailout plan.

As part of an agreement with IMF for a $1billion in bailout loan, Government is expected to spend less, collect more through taxes and engage in inflation targeting for the next three years.

These necessary aims will also see Ghana’s economic growth record a historic low of 3.5%

“The program rests on three pillars – restraining and prioritizing public expenditure with a transparent budget process; increasing tax collection; and strengthening the effectiveness of the central bank monetary policy”.

The general posture of the IMF which favours public spending cuts will test President Mahama’s social infrastructure plan to build more schools, affordable housing, hospitals and roads.

President Mahama made these announcements in his 2015 State of the Nation address Wednesday.