Source:JOY

By: Isaac Essel

Lagos (Nigeria) –The former President of Ghana, John Kufuor, has blamed the underdevelopment of the African region on the leadership crisis bedevilling the continent.

Kufuor told journalists on Friday in Lagos that the sit tight attitude of some African leaders was “unfortunate”.

He was, however, optimistic that the leadership difficulties the continent was facing would soon be a thing of the past.

“It’s always unfortunate that there is crisis of leadership in Africa, but I will say in overall, that I believe Africa is making a head way to solve the problem.

“It will take time, it is a process. Africa is integrating from more difficult times into better times ahead,” he said.

Kufuor said that Ghana would guard against running into challenges in exploiting its petroleum resources as some African countries had experienced.

Kufuor said the discovery of oil in Ghana would be a blessing to it rather than a curse.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said it has been working with the computer giant Microsoft to crack down on the scammers.

EFCC head Farida Waziri said her agency was now using “smart technology” rather than raids on internet cafes.

Correspondents say Nigeria is seen as a centre for web scams and spam e-mails.Cyber crime has remained a big challenge to Nigeria’s security agencies despite efforts made in recent years to counter it.

The con tricks – known as “419 scams” after the penal code that outlaws them in Nigeria – are often run by well-organised gangs.

According to an EFCC statement, Ms Waziri said the new operation, called “eagle claw”, would be fully operational within six months.

“It will take Nigeria out of the top 10 list of countries with the highest incidence of fraudulent e-mails,” she said.

Source:BBC

Bosnia and Lebanon won but will be in the rare position of being subject to scrutiny by the UN’s most powerful body while serving their two-year terms because the former has never served on the council and the latter has not been a member since 1953-54.

Unlike previous Security Council elections, there were no contested seats this year. As a result, the five countries nominated by regional groups won an easy election yesterday, following voting by the 192-member General Assembly.

Assembly President, Ali Treki, announced the results – 186 votes for Nigeria, 184 for Gabon, 183 for Bosnia, 182 for Brazil and 180 for Lebanon and declared the five countries elected to terms beginning January 1, 2010.

“It’s going to be an even stronger Security Council, I think, next year,” Britain’s UN Ambassador John Sawers was quoted as saying.
“We have two large countries in Brazil and Nigeria who carry the weight of being a regional power. We have two countries in Lebanon and Bosnia that have been through conflict and can bring their own national experiences to the Security Council,” he added.

For Bosnia and Lebanon, he was quoted in the Associated Press (AP) as saying, “I think the experience of being on the council will help strengthen their national government systems to enable to take decisions, to take a view at the centre on international issues and broaden the context of those governments.”

On the eve of Nigeria’s election to the seat yesterday, Amnesty International called on the Nigerian government to strengthen its national human rights record and demonstrate the country’s commitment to promoting and protecting human rights.

“In 12 months Nigeria will celebrate 50 years of independence. Following successive military regimes, efforts have been made by the Nigerian government to improve the human rights situation in the country.

“The Constitution that came into force in 1999 recognizes the right to life; prohibits torture and other ill treatment, and guarantees a fair trial; however, economic, social and cultural rights fall under the directive principles and are not justifable. In addition, a wide range of human rights concern remain,” it said.

In a statement made available to THISDAY, the group proffered a 10-point agenda for Nigeria to fulfill as a member of the Security Council which include, complying with international and regional human rights obligations, as explicitly set out in the treaties it had ratified; preventing and prosecuting acts of extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, torture or other ill treatment; adopting a moratorium on executions, improving access to justice and protecting human rights in the Niger delta among others.

The last time Nigeria sat at the Council was 15 years ago – 1994/95. It was its third time.

The African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) supported the latest bid by endorsing Nigeria’s candidacy.

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Prof. Joy Ogwu, had said the country needed to campaign and lobby hard for the position. She explained that this would entail reaching out to friends and foes in all the world capitals.

“We expect to lobby and intensify our campaign at all levels. Nigerian representatives across the world must market the country. We must not take anything for granted or rest on our oars,” she said.
Ten of the council’s 15 seats are filled by regional groups for two-years and five non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly every year. To win, candidates must get a two-thirds majority vote of the assembly members which is usually done by secret ballot.

The five other Security Council seats are occupied by its veto-wielding permanent members: the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France.

Source: Thisdayonline.com

The deal marks the first entry by one of the world’s major oil companies into what is proving to be a significant new oil province and may pave the way for further acquisitions.

Shares in Kosmos’ partners in the blocks – Tullow Oil PLC (TLW.LN) and Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (APC) – both saw significant gains as the market priced in possible takeovers, analysts said.

At 1428 GMT Tullow was up 7.6%, or 85 pence, at 1200 pence and Anadarko was up 4.8%, or $2.97 at $64.62.

The person did not give the value of the deal. Analysts at Morgan Stanley put a value of $3.3 billion to $5 billion on Kosmos’ stake in the blocks.

ExxonMobil declined to comment. Kosmos was not immediately available to comment.

The Kosmos blocks contain the Jubilee field, which is operated by Tullow and is estimated to hold between 1.2 billion and 1.8 billion barrels of oil equivalent. A separate discovery offshore Sierra Leone last month by Anadarko, at the western extreme of the same geological formation that contains Jubilee, signaled the potential for further multi-billion barrel discoveries stretching eastward for 1,100 kilometers through the waters of the Ivory Coast and Liberia.

For this reason, ExxonMobil’s (XOM) acquisitive interest in this area is unlikely to stop at Kosmos Energy, said NCB Stockbrokers analyst Peter Hutton. “Kosmos is too small for them. The move should be seen as a precursor of wider interest,” possibly a takeover of Anadarko or Tullow Oil, both of which hold significant exploration acreage in the region, he said.

“Given the level of interest out there and the number of vultures circling,” ExxonMobil may need to act with a little more haste than normal if it wants to take a dominant position in the region, Hutton added.

The entry of a blue-chip name like ExxonMobil is a major positive for Ghana too, said Hutton.

“The Ghanaians should be very pleased. They’ve got an embryonic oil industry,” and now they have the involvement of one of the largest, most experienced and technically qualified oil companies, said the person.

A large number of major international and state-owned oil and gas companies were among potential buyers of this strategic asset. These companies have been informed by letter that Kosmos has entered into an exclusive arrangement with ExxonMobil, the person said.

Kosmos holds 30.875% of the West Cape Three Points Block and 18% of the Deepwater Tano block. Its partners are Tullow Oil PLC (TLW.LN) and Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (APC).

Jubilee field straddles both blocks and Tweneboa discovery in Deepwater Tano is thought to be another large oil reservoir.

Company Web site: http://www.kosmosenergy.com

Source:
Dow Jones

Former First Couple, Jerry Rawlings and wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings were last week honoured by the Institute of Global Understanding of the University of Monmouth in New Jersey, United States.

The former President was recognised for his ‘”valuable contributions to the promotion of democracy and development” and Nana Konadu for her “valuable contribution to the empowerment of women”.

The awards were presented to Nana Konadu after she had addressed staff and students of Monmouth last Friday.

Presenting the awards to Mrs. Rawlings, the President of Monmouth University, Admiral Paul Gaffney II praised the former first couple for their diverse contributions to humanity. He said the establishment of the Institute of Global Understanding at the University was part of a drive to expand the university’s focus to promote global understanding, diversity and leadership.

Admiral Gaffney said Nana Konadu’s visit to the university would enhance cooperation between Ghana and his university.

In her address to the University which houses 1600 students and offers 33 undergraduate and 21 graduate programmes, Nana Konadu said the establishment of the 31st December Women’s Movement had given Ghanaian women more visibility in politics as they were groomed to exhibit exemplary leadership qualities.

The address titled “Management Development for Women in Africa, the Contribution of the 31st December Women’s Movement”, Mrs. Rawlings said women were now receiving more political appointments from District Chief Executives to Ministers and their introduction to political office had contributed to the propagation of women issues.

“Other members went on to offer themselves for election and won seats and even at the national level as parliamentarians. Some are serving second and third terms. In this regard, the movement has stimulated political participation for women,” Nana Konadu said.

The former First Lady and President of the 31st December Women’s Movement said the movement imparted critical information on health, life trends, civic awareness, HIV/AIDS, legal rights and other concerns to its members who then disseminated such information to local communities.

“Our women themselves became informed and could apply this information to their lives and their families – thus enhancing human resource quality at the micro level. However, they also became sources of information to others, providing relevant knowledge in both informal and formal settings. In the process our women gained other skills such as becoming effective communicators, facilitators and resource persons for local communities.”

Nana Konadu said capacity building for women meant the movement had to sponsor district and regional level officials to various management programmes including courses organised by the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and the Management, Development and Productivity Institute (MDPI). These programmes, she stated offered the women the opportunity to exchange ideas with men and women from other associations and organisations.

Mrs. Rawlings outlined Day Care Centres, food processing plants, bead making and pottery as some of the projects her organisation had helped establish as income generators for its members and said some of these products were sold for export.

Nana Konadu was pleasantly surprised when one of the Monmouth students, Clara Abbey identified her self as having passed through the Movement’s Day Care Centre at the Ministries in Accra when she was a kid.

Concluding, the former First Lady said the Movement contributed to national economic development in many ways through it diverse activities throughout the country. It provided a forum and base for more effective lobbying, advocating and campaigning on different issues including education and training, resource mobilisation, advocacy, information sharing as well as participated in many of the United Nations processes.

While in the United States to support her husband’s participation in the fifth meeting Clinton Global Initiative Nana Konadu also visited Akers Pharmaceuticals where she signed a working agreement to introduce new technology test kits on malaria, typhoid, diabetes and a host of tropical diseases.

Nana Konadu said Akers Pharmaceuticals had introduced rapid test kits that could diagnose such diseases in five minutes or less. She was optimistic that such test kits when introduced to Ghana will help early diagnoses and help prevent fatalities associated primarily with malaria and typhoid.

Visit Former President Rawlings’ blog site – http://jjrawlings.wordpress.com/

He said his aim of going into politics was to fight corruption, but the menace appears to be painfully enduring in all regimes.

Speaking to Joy FM’s Super Morning Show host Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, Mr Appiah Ofori said people in positions of authority across the political divide continue to gleefully abuse their office and steal from the national purse.

And that since the situation does not show any signs of abeyance, he has chosen to abandon the fight having been frustrated.

He however emphasized that if by the end of his tenure in 2012, there is a shift towards a greater commitment to fighting corruption, he might change his mind.

The outspoken critic has gained notoriety for fighting corruption incurring the wrath of his party in some instances.

He has leveled serious allegations of graft against his colleagues NPP MPs, and has had to be hauled before the disciplinary committee of the party to substantiate his allegations.

It has even been suggested that his party has planned not to support his 2012 bid for the seat, and that that has influenced his decision to chicken out.

But Mr Appiah Ofori has rejected the suggestion, saying “it is only God that can prevent me from winning that seat.”

He claimed in the last primary, some party gurus paid delegates to vote against him but that failed, emphasizing that if he contests that seat any day, any time, he will “win hundred per cent.”

He also denied anointing someone for the seat because “I have no power to make someone a parliamentary candidate. It is only members of the party who can choose who should be their parliamentary candidate.”

He however admitted proposing one Nkrumah, who he thought was capable of truly representing the people of the constituency after he has exited.

Source:JOY

The woman reportedly went with her husband to the pastor at Adenta, a suburb of Accra, to seek spiritual help to overcome a suspected barrenness.

While there, the pastor, who is currently in the grips of the police, asked the husband to turn his face away while he attended to the woman.

He then stripped the woman naked and dipped his concoction-soaked-hand into the woman’s vagina and later produced some meat and claimed it came from the woman’s womb and responsible for her inability to conceive.

ASP Steven Ahiatafo told Joy FM’s Super Morning Show host, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah that the victim later suspected the meat came from an external source.

She showed the meat to another woman and while they were discussing the issue, a third woman joined them and revealed that the pastor had been duping women.

The three women, according to ASP Ahiatafo, decided to confront the self-styled spiritualist who pleaded with them not to report the matter to the police, promising to give them a GH¢150 each as compensation.

The police investigator said so far about three women have confessed to having been abused by the pastor under similar cirtumstances.

The police are still welcoming more victims and complaints against the pastor, hoping to admit him to police or prison remand Monday.

Source:JOY

It however directed the State to speed up its investigation so that hearing would commence on July 6, this year after declining the accused persons bail application for a second time.

The six, Augustina Abu, importer, Yaw Attah Nkansah, clearing agent, Alfred Amedzi, Managing Director of Sedco Agency, Kennedy Osei and Simon Bede, directors of Sedco Agency and Francis Addo, a driver, are being held for engaging in criminal conspiracy.

Abu is also being held for importing narcotic drugs, suspected to be cocaine into the country.

They have pleaded not guilty to the narcotic related charges levelled against them.

In it’s ruling, the court presided over by Mr. Justice C.J Honyenuga noted that a month’s incarceration did not constitute an unreasonable delay in the trial. A bail could only be considered if there was “unreasonable delay” in the trial.

The court said it was mindful of the prosecution’s submission on the bail application saying, “That was not binding on the court.”

It said if the prosecution did not object to the bail, they should have “stated so.”

The court pointed out the submissions by the prosecution declaring that they were collaborating with its sister agencies in the United Kingdom and the United Nations Organization for Drug and Crime for more information and asked for adjournment.

According to the court, cases of such nature take a longer time to investigate.

The court on June 8, this year dismissed a bail application put in by the defence team. This was however repeated on June 18, this year, the basis on which the court gave its ruling.

It vehemently opposed the bail application of Ms Augustina Abu, because it was alleged that she imported the said drugs into the country.

In the case of the five others, prosecution entreated the court to make the bail terms very strict to prevent them from absconding.

But the defence team on June 18, vehemently reacted to prosecution’s submission saying they were wondering when investigations would be over for the trial to start.

They contended that the prosecution had not been able to provide enough evidence before the court, to justify the continuous incarceration of the accused persons.

They pointed out the untold hardship they were encountering because of the accused persons’ incarceration, adding that the prosecution’s submission indicated that they were not ready to start the trial.

“All the adjournments are at the instance of the prosecution,” they observed, and submitted to the court to use its discretion and grant bail to the accused persons.

The facts of the case are that on May 15, this year M/V Maersk Nolanville docked at Tema Port with containers from Ecuador, Panama and Spain.

The prosecution said among the containers was one with number MSAU0118160 manifested to contain 1,880 cartons of chewing gum, imported by Ms Abu of Augustina Abu Enterprise.

The prosecutor said personnel of the Joint Port Control Unit (JPCU) made up of officers from the Narcotics Control Board; Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS); Bureau of National Investigations (BNI); Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and the Police tagged the said container, which meant that it could only be opened by JPCU officers.

At about 1530 hours on May 19, the container was scanned and the image disclosed that it had some other objects in addition to its official cargo.

During a thorough examination, two bags containing a total of 61 slabs of whitish substances suspected to be cocaine were found among the cartons of the chewing gum.

A test of the substance indicated that it was cocaine.

Source: GNA

The incident took place at about 1 a.m. Thursday.

The robbers also attacked a rural bank in the constituency and wiped it clean of all the money in the bank.

Confirming the incident to Joy FM’s Super Morning Show host Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, the Member of Parliament for the area, Prof. Mike Oquaye, said there was panic in the area.

He said the deceased “was shot at a reasonably close range.”

According to him, a few belongings of the victim were taken away by the suspected robbers.

He appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Mr Paul Quaye to act urgently to restore calm in the constituency.