inauguration of the Falcon 900EX presidential jet cancelled

The much-anticipated inauguration of the Falcon 900EX presidential jet in the country today has been cancelled as the military authorities have postponed the commissioning ceremony.

A statement issued by the Defence Public Relations (DPR) and signed by Flt. Lt. Francisca Aholo did not give any specific reasons why the ceremony could not be held today as promised.

The statement said the ceremony “has been postponed because the jet has not arrived.”

Attempts to get more details about the cancellation of the ceremony proved futile.

An official at the DPR told DAILY GUIDE that no reason was given and that a new date would be communicated to Ghanaians and the media later, probably when the jet finally arrives at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) where a hanger has been built for it.

The Falcon 900EX Easy aircraft was ordered by the Kufuor administration amidst scathing criticisms from the then opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

It was scheduled to be commissioned at what was expected to be a colourful ceremony at the Jubilee Lounge of the KIA at 3pm today.

When it finally arrives in the country, the Falcon 900EX presidential jet would replace the Fokker 27 aircraft ‘flying coffin’ that the Ghana Armed Forces have used for the past 37 years as a presidential jet.

By Charles Takyi-Boadu
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Pastor Cries Out: As Soldiers Shoot His House

REV JOE Badu Danquah, founder and head pastor of Megaword Chapel International at Windy Ridge, a suburb of Takoradi, is claiming that he and his family cannot live in their house located at Apremdo Race Course near Takoradi.

According to the reverend, they could not stay in the house because military men from the Second Battalion of Infantry (2BN) in the area allegedly besieged the house last Friday and riddled his building with bullets.

Disclosing this in an interview with DAILY GUIDE, the reverend minister noted that his family including wife and two kids have fled their beautiful house, since the incident, for fear of being killed and were lodging elsewhere.

Rev Danquah, who said he started living at the Race Course area barely a month ago, narrated that on Friday, September 17, 2010, at about 10:30 am while he was praying at the church, he had a call from a plumber who was working in the house that some military personnel had invaded the house and were shooting at the building.

He quickly rang the wife and informed her and after the prayers at about 1:30 pm, he, together with the wife, reported the case at Kwesimnitsim Police Station where they were given a member of the Community Police Unit (CPU) to accompany them to the house to assess the situation.

The reverend minister noted that when they got to the house, they realized that the main gate of the house was ajar, the security gate opened and bullets holes created all over the building.

“Three bullet holes were created in the sliding windows and many others in the building while my big deep freezer was also destroyed beyond repairs with gun bullets,” he lamented.

Rev. Danquah added that when he got to the house, he also realized that his generator worth over GH¢2,000.00 and abicycle had allegedly been taken away by the military personnel.

When DAILY GUIDE visited the pastor’s house at Apremdo Race Course, the bullet holes were very visible.

The reverend minister also conducted the paper round to see some of the items and gadgets that were destroyed in his house by the gunshots.

When asked whether he had legally acquired the land or had had any confrontation with the military personnel prior to the incident, the reverend minister said he had lawfully acquired the land from its owners and the proper documentations had also been done.

He explained that somewhere in November last year, some officers from 2BN came to the area and warned that any civilian who had encroached on their lands should vacate.

According to him, the distance from his house to the land area belonging to the Ministry of Defence was about 200 metres and therefore did not understand why the military took that action on that fateful Friday.

He noted that none of the children was in the house at the time of the alleged military action, but were traumatized when they heard the story and had decided not to stay in the house.

He appealed to the senior officers of the Second Battalion of Infantry to resort to dialogue in settling any misunderstanding, rather than the use of gun which frightened people living in the area.

An eyewitness and a neighbour to Rev. Danquah, who pleaded anonymity, claimed that he was in his room at about 10:30 am when he saw a vehicle approaching the area.

He said all of a sudden, he saw a number of military personnel coming from the bushes nearby with some of them shouting “come out!, come out!!” , after which he heard gunshots.

When contacted, Lt. Col. Albert Kojo Dawohoso, Commanding Officer of 2BN said what took place last Friday was a routine exercise by the military personnel at the Race Course.

According to him, the tracts of land at the Race Course belonged to the Ministry of Defence and that was where the military had their routine training, adding that the shooting exercise would continue unabated.

“It is therefore advisable for people living in the area to move away for their own safety,” he concluded.

From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi

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Vodafone Launch BlackBerry In Ghana

Vodafone Ghana and Research In Motion (RIM), on Saturday outdoor one of the world's smart-mobile-phone “BlackBerry” brand to the Ghanaian telecommunication market.

Features of the Vodafone Blackberry solution include smartphone software, sound communication, calendar portal, multimedia and other inbuilt apparatus that allow easy wireless access to the world wide web, and extra security for business and lifestyle applications.

Speaking at the launch in Accra, Mr William A. Darkah, Head of Enterprise Operations, Vodafone Ghana, said the introduction of the new product was inline with the company’s promise to its customers to provide reliable service and product as part of it forth night camping dubbed “Power to You”.

BlackBerry is a line of mobile e-mail and smartphone devices, developed and designed by Canadian company (RIM) since 1996 as a personal digital assistant with address book, calendar and to-do list capabilities.

It also functions as a portable media player with video playback and camera facilities and has the ability to send and receive (push) Internet e-mail wherever mobile network service coverage is present.

According to Mr Darkah, “BlackBerry is mainly a messaging phone with the largest array of messaging features in a smartphone, which includes auto-text, auto-correct, text prediction, support for many languages, keyboard shortcuts, text emoticons, push email, push Facebook and Myspace notifications, among others.”
Mr Marc Norris, Director, Consumer Fixed Vodafone Ghana, said users of smart-mobile-phone would enjoy the freedom and productivity benefits of staying in touch with their family and business panthers through the numerous technological offers.

“For the first time in the country, Vodafone prepaid customers can get daily unlimited browsing and electronic mails for only GH¢ 5.00; weekly unlimited browsing and e-mails for GHC 15.00 and monthly unlimited browsing, emails with 100 minutes of calls and 50 Short Messaging Service (SMS) for GHS 45.00.

“Vodafone Ghana offers the full and current range of BlackBerry devices offering our customers the mobility, convenience, security and efficiency that is necessary to run their virtual office," Mr Norris stated.

He explained that Vodafone customers on post-paid service would also enjoy 100 minutes of calls to all networks in countries including Ghana, the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom (fixed only).

Mr Norris said that the package also includes three gigabytes of data for GHC 35.00 per month.

He said that “For as little as GHC 75.00 per month, post-paid customers will receive a free BlackBerry smartphones, enjoy 400 minutes of calls to all networks in Ghana, the United States of America, Canada, the United Kingdom (fixed only), as well as three gigabytes of data, 200 free SMS and free calls among their user group.

Mr Deon Liebenberg, Regional Director of RIM for Sub-Sahara Africa, said: "Successful businesses in the 21st century would require superior technological solutions that give them the edge over their competitors.

He said, the Blackberry storm, Blackberry curve 8900, 8520, Blackberry bold 9700, smartphones are well balanced mobile phones that deliver advanced features, refined usability and stylish designs.


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McDonalds Arrives In Ghana

McDonalds, the world’s largest chain of restaurants serving more than 58 million customers daily is considering opening up branches in Ghana by early 2011. Seth El, a US-based Ghanaian businessman, who disclosed this to the Business Guide newspaper in an interview, stated that McDonalds would open its restaurant initially at some popular places in Accra such as the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), Osu, Spintex road and the Accra Mall.

More of its branches would also spring up in a lot of the country’s cities later. The largest operator of McDonalds restaurants in Chicago, USA, one Canady is spearheading the move with some Ghanaian entrepreneurs resident in USA and UK. “We are also looking for a group of Ghanaian entrepreneurs who will partner Mr. Canady to run the business in Ghana as a joint venture,” Mr. El stated. McDonalds primarily sells hamburgers, cheeseburgers, chicken products, French fries, breakfast items, soft drinks, shakes and desserts.

In response to obesity trends in Western nations and in the face of criticism over its products, the company has modified its menu to include alternatives considered healthier such as salads, wraps and fruits. The business began in 1940 with a restaurant opened by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald in San Bernardino, California.
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Rawlings didn’t speak in a vacuum - Kofi Adams

Former President Rawlings with some members of the International Catholic Union of the Press




Kofi Adams, Special Aide to ex-President Rawlings, has lashed out at media practitioners and individuals for putting a spin on statements made by the ex-president in Burkina Faso with regards to the actions of some media practitioners.

Mr. Adams explained that the remarks by Mr. Rawlings against certain Ghanaian media practitioners in relation to having compromised ethics for selfish considerations did not come out of a vacuum, noting that, the former President only amplified what was an open secret that some journalists are allegedly on the pay roll of politicians to do their bidding.

Speaking in an interview with Adakabre Frimpong Manso on Adom Dwaso Nsem on Monday, the Special Aide to ex-President Rawlings expressed surprised over the plethora of comments that have greeted the critique of the Ghanaian media. Kofi Adams added that his boss is not the only Ghanaian to come out to speak up against corrupt journalism practice in Ghana.

He cited Dr. Wereko Brobbey’s description of some Ghanaian Journalists as “Black Polythene’ journalists and the Managing Editor of the Daily Punch Newspaper, Baby Ansabah’s, open confession that during the NPP government administration journalists were put on pay roll to do the bidding of the government.

In a critique of the media across the world at the International Catholic Union of the Press in Burkina Faso, Mr. Rawlings last Friday said many journalists have compromised ethics for selfish monetary considerations much against the tenets of the journalism profession.

The former president further alleged that a Ghanaian journalist was being paid 10,000 dollars a month to do the dirty work of a corrupt government. He however did not name the journalist and the regime. “We can only institute good governance if some members of the media do not become pawns of governments and other selfish business and political groups - a disease that is not unique only to Africa but across the world.

The former president also accused the Kufuor administration of deepening poverty in Ghana because of its corrupt nature. “You come to my country, the last government in power, taking over all the lands belonging to the traditional chiefs and the government and built huge mansions all over the place… the landscape is looking beautiful with all these modern structures but at the same time you can’t believe the extent to which it has impoverished people.” He opined.

The above comments have received lots of flak in the media circles and from certain individual who have said Mr. Rawlings has no moral rights to make such statements, a position Mr. Adams disagrees.


Story by Kwadwo Addo/Adom FM/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

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Kufuor says Rawlings lied over $10k monthly 'soli' for journalist

The Office of former President John Agyekum Kufuor has described as untrue, a claim by ex-President Jerry Rawlings that the New Patriotic Party administration was paying a journalist an amount of 10,000 dollars monthly to do the government’s bidding.

A statement by Frank Agyekum, spokesperson at the Office of former President J.A. Kufuor, said it was not surprise that Jerry “Rawlings could not name the said journalist because no such person exists.”

Even though ex-President Rawlings did not mention the name of the regime or president under which the alleged “soli contract” occurred, several references and media reports linked the claims he made in the Burkinabe capital of Ouagadougou at the International Catholic Union of the Press to the Kufuor administration.

“Former President Rawlings again lied that former President Kufuor’s administration took “over all the lands belonging to the traditional chiefs and the government and built huge mansions all over the place,” the statement said, explaining that the “only intention of President Rawlings in stating such obvious untruths is to disparage the hard won image of former President Kufuor, both locally and internationally.”

Below is the full text from the Office of President Kufuor

Rawlings lied in Ouagadougou

Accra, 20 – 09 – 10:

The attention of the Office of former President John Agyekum Kufuor has been drawn to false remarks made about his administration by former President Jerry John Rawlings at a recent international forum in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso and responds as follows:
It is not true that under former President Kufuor a journalist was paid $10,000 a month to ‘corrode the sanctity of truth.’ Unsurprisingly, former President Rawlings could not name the said journalist because no such person exists.

The $350 a month former President Rawlings was receiving was what was prescribed under the Greenstreet report which he as President instituted.

Former President Kufuor as then sitting President was also receiving the same amount until 2005 when the Chinery-Hesse Committee upgraded it to Gh¢4,500 a month. That is how much both former Presidents as well as the sitting President are currently being paid. Former President Rawlings was paid all his arrears from 2001 when the new salary scheme was effected.

Former President Rawlings again lied that former President Kufuor’s administration took “over all the lands belonging to the traditional chiefs and the government and built huge mansions all over the place.”

This can never be true as no such thing happened under the administration of former President Kufuor. Former President Rawlings cannot have prove any such thing and we challenge him to come up with the evidence.

The only intention of President Rawlings in stating such obvious untruths is to disparage the hard won image of former President Kufuor, both locally and internationally.

This Office condemns the acts of former President Rawlings in no uncertain terms, especially, because he has persisted in like manner throughout the eight years of the Kufuor administration.

It is unbecoming and reckless of a former Head of State to mount international platforms only to deride his successor with baseless allegations as in the process he also taints the image of the country.
Signed: Frank Agyekum
Spokesperson, Office of former President JA Kufuor

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Five Years For Stealing Meter

Kwadwo Boakye



A 19-Year-old unemployed boy, Kwadwo Boakye, a resident of Sunyani Area One, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment in hard labour by a Fiapre Circuit Court presided over by Benjamin Yaw Osei.

He was sentenced for causing unlawful damage and stealing a Ghana Water Works reading meter gadget.

Presenting the facts of the case, the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Lydia Acheampong, said the complainant is a mason who lives at the same residence with the accused person.

On 17th July, 2010, at about 4:30am, the complainant went to his pipe stand to fetch some water but upon discovering that the taps were not flowing, decided to go back to the house to wait for the taps to flow.

Suddenly, around 5:00am, the complainant heard people shouting that his meter was damaged and the water was gushing out.

Upon hearing this, he quickly rushed out only to find out that the reading meter gadget which was connected to the standing pipe had been cut and stolen.

Upon further investigation, it came to the complainant’s notice that an eye witness had seen Kwadwo Boakye stealing the gadget at around 4am that fateful day.

The prosecutor said the accused, knowing what he had done, had gone into hiding until 10th September 2010, when he was spotted in town and was subsequently arrested and handed over to the police for further investigations.

According to the prosecutor, during police interrogation, the accused person admitted the offence and was thus sentenced.

The mother of the convict who spoke to DAILY GUIDE after the son was sentenced said her son was a psychiatric patient who was under treatment at the hospital.

By Vivianna Mensah, Fiapre

Otumfuo Angry With Proceed On Leave

THE ASANTEHENE, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is fuming with rage over tribal politics in the country, warning the ill-fate trend could jeopardize Ghana’s peace if it continues.

Calling for the immediate end to tribal politics, he disclosed that some public workers, notably Asantes, are being laid off from their work places without genuine reasons in the national capital of Accra.

Apparently gnashing his teeth over the unfortunate news, the Asante monarch condemned situations whereby a particular tribe was always being victimized, noting it could lead to mayhem.

Without mincing words, Otumfuo cited the erstwhile NPP government and the reigning NDC Administration of being culpable of the anomaly, stressing “it happened in Kufuor’s era and it is now too.”

According to him, the country was not developing properly as expected because of tribal politics.

“Those who are qualified for a job are sacked for no apparent reasons and are replaced by those who lack expertise about the particular job. How do we progress?” he asked angrily.

Politicians, Otumfuo said, should think about the interest of the country first whenever they come out with any policy so that the country could be transformed to the delight of all.

The Asantehene was addressing a mammoth durbar of Asante chiefs in commemoration of the 75th celebration of the restoration of the Asante Confederacy at the forecourt of the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Sunday.

In attendance at the diamond jubilee celebration were political big wigs including former President Agyekum Kufuor, Alan Kyeremanteng, Nana Akufo Addo, Isaac Osei, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Kofi Poku Manu and some MPs.

Otumfuo also condemned extravagant funerals in the country, noting the trend was not part of the Asante culture so the populace should desist from wasting all their resources on the dead to the detriment of the living.

The historic occasion offered the opportunity for chiefs loyal to the Golden Stool to pay homage to their overlord Otumfuo and renew their allegiance to him.

He warned chiefs to stay away from all corrupt practices which tend to demean chieftaincy as an institution and rather lead exemplary lifestyles to the admiration of their subjects, reminding chiefs that they are role models of society.

The king entreated chiefs, and for that matter parents, to invest in the education of their children to enable them become useful citizens in the near future.

He emphatically stated that gone were the days when the people used to engage their enemies at the battle fields, saying “the only weapon to conquer your enemy today is education, so send your children to school.”

Characterized by drumming and dancing amid the firing of musketry, the rich cultural event saw the appearance of the Golden Stool, believed to be the soul of Asantes, in public place.

The Asantehene charged chiefs to use monies raised from the sale of lands to develop their localities and stop enriching themselves with the resources of their stool, noting chieftaincy was a sacrificial job so chiefs should take note.

Otumfuo descended heavily on Asante chiefs who are fond of gossiping behind his back, imploring them to shun backbiting and be bold enough to confront him with their concerns so that they could solve them amicably.

He entreated chiefs to also avoid corrupt practices and rather follow his lead by being development-oriented, showing concern for their subjects and above all, using their offices to create jobs for the unemployed youth.

The ceremony was also used by fetish priests in the Asante kingdom to display their spiritual prowess.

From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi

Fatal Accident Claims 30 Lives In Tamale

About thirty people including women and children died on the spot at Zagyuri on the Tamale-Bolgatanga Highway when a Leyland passenger truck with registration number NR 1259 W fell in a gutter.

This set residents of Tamale agog as they flooded the Tamale Teaching Mortuary to identify the deceased. Eyewitnesses accounted that the accident occurred as a result of wrong overtaking by the driver though unconfirmed by the police.

While all the 30 deceased have been deposited at the Tamale Teaching Hospital Morgue, the surviving victims numbering about 80 whose bodies have been badly damaged are lying at the hospital.

The death toll could rise because there were no Doctors at the hospital when Sofo Azorka, NDC First Vice Chairman for the Northern Region brought the first batch of the deceased to the hospital after which he mobilized more vehicles to convey the rest.

University of Cape Coast expells 136 students

Authorities at the University of Cape Coast have expelled 136 students from the school for poor academic performance.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang made the announcement at this year’s matriculation ceremony to admit 5,081 fresh students into the university.

Furthermore, nine students from the university who were also found guilty of indecent conduct in recent clashes between Casely Hayford Hall and Atlantic Hall have been rusticated.

The two halls a few months ago clashed for a battle of supremacy resulting in several degrees of injuries to students and destruction to university property, which nearly destructed the institute’s academic activity.

Joy News’ Central Regional correspondent Richard Kojo Nyarko reports that the Vice-Chancellor also reminded students that officials of the school would not condone indiscipline, and noted that the University of Cape Coast has an enviable reputation that it has to protect.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, therefore, urged the matriculants not to bow to peer-pressure.

“You can listen to all suggestions but the decision would have to be yours and you must also be willing to accept the consequences.”

Story by Isaac Essel/Myjoyonline.