Ghana ready to host Miss World - Tourism Minister

This country has hosted several major world events in the past and in the eyes of the  Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts,  Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare, Ghana is ready to host the oldest surviving major international beauty pageant, Miss World.
Speaking at the final event of the  Miss Ghana 2013 pageant at the State House in Accra last Saturday, the Minister said Ghana would be honoured to host the Miss World pageant because we have the right professionals, accommodation and other facilities to efficiently do that.
The chairperson of the Miss World pageant, Julia Morley as well as the current Miss World, Yu Wenxia of China were present at the Miss Ghana event as the Minister extolled our  worthy credentials.
'We have got summer all year round, a weather which many patrons of Miss World pay lots of money to travel to enjoy.  We have got well-educated, highly trained  work-force that are eager to be part of the business,' the Minister said.
'Ghana boasts of some of the best  professionals in the creative arts business, from music to film, show production to graphic design and show hosting. We are also proud to let you know that Accra boasts  of  over 1000 rooms in 4-star rated hotels. We would be most delighted  to host Miss World.'
Since the pageant was created in the United Kingdom by Eric Morley in 1951, two African countriesNigeria and South Africa have hosted the Miss World pageant  and Communications expert,  William Asiedu  who has covered international pageants across the world, thinks Ghana can also competently  host the pageant.
According to Asiedu, one of the most important items for hosting such an event is an appropriate venue and he believes we have a couple of suitable venues.
'Since the Miss World is a respected international brand, it always moves with its own  team of experts  that supports the brand. The team only requires some amount of support from local experts to pull everything through,' Asiedu said.
In his view, the key challenge would be for the Miss Ghana Organisation to be extremelty efficient in terms of flight arrangements, ground transportation, hotel bookings and publicity.
Asiedu stated that the airline business works well in this country and  there are enough luxury cars and hotel accommodation alongside  online publicity business being  up to speed. He, therefore felt the 120 or so people that would come in for the pageant from around the world should be well-catered for.
'Do not forget that we hosted the Model of the Universe international pageant  in 2003 where about 87 contestants from around the world came to Ghana and it was a huge success. Believe me, we can easily host Miss World in this country,' Asiedu added.
Source: Daily Graphic

Blogger banned from Jackson trial

A blogger has had his camera phone confiscated after being accused of taking a picture of jurors in the Michael Jackson trial.
Baliffs also banned him from the building after he took the photo in the courthouse hallway.
William Wagener, a regular spectator at the trial, has been ordered to return to court on Thursday to hear if the ban will be permanent.
Jackson's family are seeking damages from AEG Live over the singer's death.
His mother, Katherine, is demanding $40 billion (£26bn), claiming the company did not investigate Conrad Murray, the doctor hired to be Jackson's physician, and ignored warning signs about his health.
Security around the trial, which has been running since April, has been tight, with the judge giving regular reminders about no photographs being taken that might impede the process.
Mr Wagener claims he mistakenly took the photo inside the courthouse and that any ban on him entering the courtroom would impede his covering the trial.
He previously attended the entire Michael Jackson child abuse trial in 2005 and has accused prosecutors of not telling the truth and the world's media of lying about what went on in the courtroom.
He has since launched an appeal to raise $10 million (£6.54m) to make a documentary about the trial, which eventually saw Jackson acquitted of child abuse allegations.
So far Mr Wagener has raised $10,000 (£6,540).
Source: BBC

Police Bike Patrol units to provide security in Accra’s ‘nook and cranny’

The Ghana Police Service has assured residents in the country’s capital that its newly introduced Motor Bike Patrol Unit will be deployed throughout the region to complement efforts by other units of the Service.

The Service has, therefore, appealed to members of the public to cooperate in order to rid the city of robbers.

This was made known by the Kaneshie District Commander, Chief Superintendent Fiam Sena Adika, in Accra following the arrest of two motor bike riders who attempted to rob a lady of her bag.

The incident happened Monday evening around the Old Melcolm Building in Accra.

After giving the robbers a hot chase, the motor bike patrol team managed to grab them after they had abandoned their motor bike and fallen into a gutter near Peace FM.

“If they will not stop then they should relocate from Accra because very soon all areas in Accra will be covered by motor bike patrol teams that will enter all nook and cranny,” C/Supt. Adika warned.

The two will be arraigned before court soon.

Source: TV3 News|Ghana

20-year old and beyond MDA buildings to undergo re-wiring: Statement

The Fire Service Council and the management of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) after an emergency meeting has asked for cooperation from managers of Municipal, Metropolitan and District Assemblies in ensuring safety of public buildings.

Fire safety audits by the Service in MMDAs and other public buildings are currently on-going.

A statement released after the meeting said all regional and district fire commanders have been tasked to ensure continuous and effective implementation of guidelines and strategies for increased public fire safety education.

The Service also advised that buildings of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) constructed 20 years ago and beyond should immediately undergo electrical re-wiring and an early fire detection and suppression systems within their premises be installed.

The Statement also reminds all MDA's that as required by Act 537 of 1997 (Fire Service Establishment Act) and LI 1724 of 2330 (Fire Precaution Regulations) all employees are to be trained to enhance fire prevention and safety at the workplace.

Source: tv3network.com|Ghana

‘Eco’ set to be launched in 2015

Governors of Central Banks of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are keeping the January 1, 2015 date for the launch of a common currency in the region.

Though most countries are yet to meet conditions set for the monetary union, member states believe a common currency could make the West African region financially competitive.

In his welcome address at the 29^th Meeting of the Committee of Governors of Central Banks of ECOWAS, Dr Henry Wampah, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, urged members to work tirelessly towards the achievement of that goal.

“As Governors are aware, the West African Monetary Zone members had set 1^st January, 2015 for the launch of the common currency,” Dr Wampah noted.

“I will therefore urge those of us in the WAMZ to continue to work tirelessly towards this important milestone.”

He recalled an agreement by member states in 2000 in Dakar, Senegal that macroeconomic stability should precede monetary union with further conditions set for the various stages in introducing the common currency, Eco.

“Today, the same conditions that prompted these decisions exist, providing us with even more compelling grounds to work harder at convergence,” Dr Wampah pointed out.

“It is our responsibility to give meaning to these in order to help transform the ECOWAS region into a viable and productive economic and financial space that is truly competitive and able to withstand pressures in a fiercely competitive global economic system.”

Source: tv3network.com|Ghana

Black Stars Lead The World Cup Statistics Index

Ghana tick all the right boxes going into the last match of the second round stage of the African qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup. The Black Stars sitting top in Group D lead the statistics index for the top scoring side in the continental qualifiers so far as they edge closer to the third round. 16 - The total number of goals scored by the Black Stars from the start of their qualifying campaign up to the second round stage. It's the highest by any side. 2 - Goals conceded by Ghana in the qualifiers so far. It's the least number of goals conceded [five other sides have conceded same] in the qualifiers. 3.2 - That's the goals for average by Kwesi Appiah's side as they lead Ivory Coast's average of 2.8 on the overall table. 4 - Asamoah Gyan's goal tally so far and he is just one goal behind three other players who have five apiece on the goal charts. 9 - The number of players who have scored for Ghana 1 - Jerry Akaminko is the only defender to have scored for Ghana with the rest being offensive players. 12 - Aside Gyan, eight other members of Ghana squad have scored 12 goals between them. Christian Atsu (2), Jordan Ayew (2), Dominic Adiyiah (2), Sulley Muntari (2), Jerry Akaminko (1), Majeed Warris (1), Mubarak Wakaso (1), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu (1). 1 - The Black Stars have picked up one red card - which went to Richard Kissi Boateng in Ghana's game against Sudan in Omdurman 7 - Majeed Warris, Christian Atsu, Mubarak Wakaso, Jordan Ayew, Harrison Afful, Asamoah Gyan and goalkeeper Fatau Dauda have all been booked once       Source: Ghanafa.org

49-Yr-Old Nigerian Senator Marries A 13-Year-Old Egyptian Girl

A Nigerian senator has come under fire for marrying an Egyptian girl who is alleged to be 36 years his junior. Sani Ahmed Yerima, 49, is said to have paid $100,000 as dowry for the 13-year-old girl. But he has defended his decision as the prospect for facing prosecution looms, saying he followed the teaching of the prophet Mohammed. Al Jazeera‘s Yvonne Ndege reports from Abuja, Nigeria. Omotola Against Girl Child Marriage:- African actress Omotola Ekeinde Jalade has kicked against the passing of the child marriage section of the Nigerian constitution, which is currently passing through some changes. The sexy actress vented her anger on Nigerian Senators for voting the section of the constitution. She said this at the MBGN beauty contest and emphatically made her stand known on the issue. Omosexy, as she is also called, stated in her speech that she is against child marriage. “I am today one of the most influential people in the world because I wasn’t given off to marriage before the age of 18.…It scares and totally shocks me that the Senate in Nigeria (the most populous black nation in the world and giant of Africa) would not be passing in a law ensuring that every child should compulsorily be enrolled in school,” Omotola noted. She continued: “A very alarming number of children today are on the streets hawking or have been abused, raped or are married to adults who should be protecting them. Who protects the children of Nigeria? Would we wait for another Milala before we act? Should we now remove the parental caution on movies that say ‘Not for persons below 18’? “This is a call for justice and equity for children especially the Nigerian girl child, who has the right to quality education, a childhood and the decision of whom and when to marry.”My Name is Omotola Jalade Ekeinde and I say no to phedophilia and no to the Senate bill endorsing child marriage in Nigeria.” Other reports also captured actress Stella Damasus venting her anger at the topic being discussed by Nigerian politicians.   Senator Ahmad Sani Yarima Replies His Critics ”Nigeria has many uncountable problems and none of them is early marriage. As a matter of fact, early marriage is the solution to about half of our problems. For those who wonder if I can give my daughter(s) out in marriage at the age of 9 or 13, I tell you most honestly, I can give her out at the age of 6 if I want to and its not your business. This is because I am a Muslim and I follow the example of the best of mankind, Muhammad ﺻَﻠَّﻰ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪُ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻪِ ﻭَﺳَﻠَّﻢَ . In Islam, marriage is not only about sex, it is about family and helping one another in achieving their goals, which is the attainment of Paradise. In Islam, a girl can be given out in marriage as early as 6 years old, but consummation of the marriage can only be done when the girl becomes physically mature and she gives her consent to it because unlike English law, it is not permissible for a man To Molest his wife in Shari’ah Law. So what can anybody tell me? ~ I live in a city where young girls at the age of 12 have already became serial fornicators and cannot count the number of man they’ve Were Intimate with. ~ I live in a City where primary school children disvirgin themselves behind toilets on Valentine day. ~ I live in a city where young girls flood the street at night looking for men that would give them N500 to Be Intimate with them. ~ I live in a city where parents send their daughters out overseas to prostitute and send dollars down. ~ I live in a City where Government officials pick undergraduates from University car parks with Coastal Buses to wild sex parties. ~ I live in a city where abortion is so common that even a Chemist shop owner can perform abortion with just N2,500. These are your daughters, and this should worry you and not Yerima’s private matters. So ask me again why I support early marriage and I will slap the Jinn out of your head”. – Senator Ahmad Sani Yarima     Source: africanspotlight.com