STRIKER Nathaniel Asamoah was for the second time the toast of Asante Kotoko fans as he kept the club’s revival mission alive by fetching the only goal in their Glo Premier League match against Ebusua Dwarfs at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi yesterday.
The former Wa All Stars player, who now has three goals in two outings for his new club, was heavily policed in the match but anytime he disentangled himself, he was a threat to the visitors.
But it was not a vintage performance from the Porcupine Warriors as they struggled in the second half to hold the visitors.
Coach Bogdan Korak kept faith with the team that beat All Stars 2-0 last Sunday, save returnee Ivorian Ahmed Toure who formed the twinstrike force with Nathaniel Asamoah.
The game was cagey in the early part and it was not until the ninth minute when Dwarfs’ George Appiah made the first serious attempt at goal, missing closely.
Kotoko appeared strong at the back with Yaw Frimpong, Umar Gariba, Ohene Brenya and Awal Mohammed providing a tall barrier for the Dwarfs attack.
Toure kept the stadium alive with a superb volley from 25 metres on the 23rd minute which brought the best out of Dwarfs keeper, Adade Foli, as he stretched to his elastic limit to direct the ball over the bar.
steel play resulting in Referee Yaw Ametepe booking Kofi Mawuli on
the 25th minute.
With just a minute left on the clock to end the first half, Nathaniel
Asamoah set the impressive home crowd roaring when he found a pace on the
left to deliver a left-footed shot which deflected off an opponent
past keeper Adade. And what a way to celebrate the goal as he ran to the touch line to receive cheers from the roaring crowd.
Both sides made changes in the second half in a bid to strengthen
their game but they both failed to score. Following the replacement of Toure, Asamoah became the lone ranger upfront and the fight became tough for the striker who still showed promise.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
NPP ASKED TO SUPPORT 'BETTER GHANA AGENDA' (PAGE 12, JAN 12, 2011)
A GROUP in Kumasi calling itself the Movement for a Better Ghana (MBG), has called on the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the Alliance For Accountable Governance (AFAG) to stop “their hypocrisy” and join forces with the NDC government to create a ‘Better Ghana’ for all.
It said “the noise and threats” being made by the NPP and AFAG about the recent price increases in petroleum products were anti-development and threatened to embark on a counter demonstration
against AFAG if it went ahead with its intended threat to embark on a demonstration.
At a news conference in Kumasi to react to some comments by the NPP, AFAG and other followers of the main opposition party, the leader of MBG, Mr Aubrey Mends, observed that the NPP’s inability to deal realistically with oil prices had resulted in the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR in curring) huge debts , which almost collapsed the Ghana Commercial Bank.
He said within two years, the NDC government had been able to clear a good part of the debt but with the price of crude oil on the international market hitting $93 per barrel, the MBG believed every person who wanted to live a meaningful life must learn how to live with the current increases.
He said the argument that the NDC in opposition promised a drastic reduction of petroleum prices only to do the opposite when it won power must be put in its right perspective.
“In August 2008, when prices of crude soared on the international market to $140 per barrel, the then government was actually buying crude at $114 per barrel and sold petrol at GH¢5.3p per gallon.
“By November 2008, the price of crude had come down below $59 per barrel on the international market so the then candidate Mills and NDC’s argument was that given the prevailing market conditions at the time, “we were going to reduce prices of petroleum products,” Mr Mends said.
He said it was therefore unfortunate that the NPP and its appendages such as AFAG would want to take the situation out of context to suit their cheap political aspirations.
According to him, President Mills and his government had shown so much commitment by subsidising kerosene and pre-mix fuel, adding that this underlined the social democratic credentials of the NDC government.
He noted that had the government subsidised all petroleum products, development of key areas of the nation would suffer greatly.
“The government has got to complete the roads that are ongoing, continue to provide quality educational infrastructure, eliminate schools under trees and pay rewarding wages and salaries,” he said and therefore called on Ghanaians to bear with the government on the hike in petroleum prices.
It said “the noise and threats” being made by the NPP and AFAG about the recent price increases in petroleum products were anti-development and threatened to embark on a counter demonstration
against AFAG if it went ahead with its intended threat to embark on a demonstration.
At a news conference in Kumasi to react to some comments by the NPP, AFAG and other followers of the main opposition party, the leader of MBG, Mr Aubrey Mends, observed that the NPP’s inability to deal realistically with oil prices had resulted in the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR in curring) huge debts , which almost collapsed the Ghana Commercial Bank.
He said within two years, the NDC government had been able to clear a good part of the debt but with the price of crude oil on the international market hitting $93 per barrel, the MBG believed every person who wanted to live a meaningful life must learn how to live with the current increases.
He said the argument that the NDC in opposition promised a drastic reduction of petroleum prices only to do the opposite when it won power must be put in its right perspective.
“In August 2008, when prices of crude soared on the international market to $140 per barrel, the then government was actually buying crude at $114 per barrel and sold petrol at GH¢5.3p per gallon.
“By November 2008, the price of crude had come down below $59 per barrel on the international market so the then candidate Mills and NDC’s argument was that given the prevailing market conditions at the time, “we were going to reduce prices of petroleum products,” Mr Mends said.
He said it was therefore unfortunate that the NPP and its appendages such as AFAG would want to take the situation out of context to suit their cheap political aspirations.
According to him, President Mills and his government had shown so much commitment by subsidising kerosene and pre-mix fuel, adding that this underlined the social democratic credentials of the NDC government.
He noted that had the government subsidised all petroleum products, development of key areas of the nation would suffer greatly.
“The government has got to complete the roads that are ongoing, continue to provide quality educational infrastructure, eliminate schools under trees and pay rewarding wages and salaries,” he said and therefore called on Ghanaians to bear with the government on the hike in petroleum prices.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
AMANTIN BANK SUPPORTS COMMUNITIES (PAGE 22, JAN 11, 2011)
THE Amantin and Kasei Community Bank in the Brong Ahafo Region is supporting a number of communities in the four districts in which it operates with development projects and programmes to better the lot of the people.
The support is in the areas of educational infrastructure, water and sanitation, and scholarships, among others.
Disclosing this at the annual general meeting of the bank at Amantin, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, Dr John Oduro Boateng, said in pursuit of the development of education, the bank had awarded bursaries to students, donated 40 double-decker beds and 20 mono desks worth GHҐ3,000 to the Yeji Senior High School, and 140 mono desks to the Kwame Danso SHS.
He said the bank had also spent GHҐ11,000 on the provision of portable water for Amantin, Kasei, Nkwanta and Hiawoanwu and was currently constructing a kitchen for the Amantin SHS at a cost of GHҐ10,300.
Dr Boateng mentioned areas that were supported with loans totalling GHҐ1,986,589 as agriculture, cottage industry, transport, trading and workers advances, among others.
He stated that the bank made significant strides in its operation in 2009, raking a profit of GHҐ211,553, an increase of 73 per cent over the previous year’s figure of GHҐ122,514.
The board chairman stressed that the achievements of the Amantin and Kasei Community Bank had resulted in its selection for all government and non-governmental poverty reduction interventions in its operational communities.
The interventions included Community-Based Rural Development Programme, Rural Enterprises Project, Millennium Development Authority, MASLOC, Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Project, Technoserve Rural Poverty Reduction Project and the Ghana Energy Development and Access Project.
Dr Boateng said 14 years into the bank’s operation, it had established branches in four districts — Atebubu-Amantin, Ejura-Sekyedumase, Sene and Pru.
He said the share capital of the bank stood at GHҐ182,340, but stressed the need for it to be increased to enable the bank to meet the Bank of Ghana’s requirements.
Dr Boateng stated that the bank made significant strides in its core business of mobilising funds and channelling them into credit, despite the challenges the banking industry faced.
He said deposits, which stood at GHҐ2,289,862 in 2008, increased to GHҐ2,581,786 in 2009 while advances and investments also jumped from GHҐ1,663,155 to GHҐ1,997,158, and GHҐ776,590 to GHҐ1,176,590 within the same period.
The board chairman gave the assurance that the bank would continue to be alive with its social responsibility to its operational communities.
The President of Ashanti Regional Chapter of the Association of Rural Banks, Mr K. Dapaah-Siakwan, challenged the shareholders and other people to purchase shares in the bank.
He said t he performance of the bank was worthy of commendation.
The support is in the areas of educational infrastructure, water and sanitation, and scholarships, among others.
Disclosing this at the annual general meeting of the bank at Amantin, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the bank, Dr John Oduro Boateng, said in pursuit of the development of education, the bank had awarded bursaries to students, donated 40 double-decker beds and 20 mono desks worth GHҐ3,000 to the Yeji Senior High School, and 140 mono desks to the Kwame Danso SHS.
He said the bank had also spent GHҐ11,000 on the provision of portable water for Amantin, Kasei, Nkwanta and Hiawoanwu and was currently constructing a kitchen for the Amantin SHS at a cost of GHҐ10,300.
Dr Boateng mentioned areas that were supported with loans totalling GHҐ1,986,589 as agriculture, cottage industry, transport, trading and workers advances, among others.
He stated that the bank made significant strides in its operation in 2009, raking a profit of GHҐ211,553, an increase of 73 per cent over the previous year’s figure of GHҐ122,514.
The board chairman stressed that the achievements of the Amantin and Kasei Community Bank had resulted in its selection for all government and non-governmental poverty reduction interventions in its operational communities.
The interventions included Community-Based Rural Development Programme, Rural Enterprises Project, Millennium Development Authority, MASLOC, Root and Tuber Improvement and Marketing Project, Technoserve Rural Poverty Reduction Project and the Ghana Energy Development and Access Project.
Dr Boateng said 14 years into the bank’s operation, it had established branches in four districts — Atebubu-Amantin, Ejura-Sekyedumase, Sene and Pru.
He said the share capital of the bank stood at GHҐ182,340, but stressed the need for it to be increased to enable the bank to meet the Bank of Ghana’s requirements.
Dr Boateng stated that the bank made significant strides in its core business of mobilising funds and channelling them into credit, despite the challenges the banking industry faced.
He said deposits, which stood at GHҐ2,289,862 in 2008, increased to GHҐ2,581,786 in 2009 while advances and investments also jumped from GHҐ1,663,155 to GHҐ1,997,158, and GHҐ776,590 to GHҐ1,176,590 within the same period.
The board chairman gave the assurance that the bank would continue to be alive with its social responsibility to its operational communities.
The President of Ashanti Regional Chapter of the Association of Rural Banks, Mr K. Dapaah-Siakwan, challenged the shareholders and other people to purchase shares in the bank.
He said t he performance of the bank was worthy of commendation.
Monday, January 10, 2011
NSEIN SHS MARKS GOLDEN JUBILEE (PAGE 22, JAN 10, 2011)
A RADIO presenter with Kumasi-based Angel FM, Mr Collins Amo-Poku, aka D.J. Tofiakwa, has presented a number of food items and drinks valued at GH¢3,000 to the Cherubs Orphanage Home at Santasi-Apre in Kumasi to mark the 10th anniversary of his marriage.
Mr Amo-Poku made the presentation with the support of his wife, Linda, and sister, Ms Ama Gyamfua, who is the current best farmer in the Berekum Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The items presented to the orphanage included a truck load of plantain, quantities of rice, cooking oil and confectioneries.
Making the presentation, Mr Amo-Poku, 36, said God had showered His blessings upon their marriage in the past 10 years.
“It is therefore important that as a couple we show gratitude to Him by giving part of the little we have to the needy,” he said.
Mr Amo-Poku said as a radio presenter, he had appreciated the situation of the needy in the society and expressed the hope that the donation would help make life move comfortable for inmates of the home.
The Director of the home, Mr Nicholas Osei Bonsu, said the orphanage, which started in 2005, had 40 inmates.
He commended the donors for the gesture and appealed to other individuals and organisations to come to the aid of the inmates.
Mr Osei Bonsu advised families not to neglect orphans but to take care of them so that they could grow to become useful citizens.
Mr Amo-Poku made the presentation with the support of his wife, Linda, and sister, Ms Ama Gyamfua, who is the current best farmer in the Berekum Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region.
The items presented to the orphanage included a truck load of plantain, quantities of rice, cooking oil and confectioneries.
Making the presentation, Mr Amo-Poku, 36, said God had showered His blessings upon their marriage in the past 10 years.
“It is therefore important that as a couple we show gratitude to Him by giving part of the little we have to the needy,” he said.
Mr Amo-Poku said as a radio presenter, he had appreciated the situation of the needy in the society and expressed the hope that the donation would help make life move comfortable for inmates of the home.
The Director of the home, Mr Nicholas Osei Bonsu, said the orphanage, which started in 2005, had 40 inmates.
He commended the donors for the gesture and appealed to other individuals and organisations to come to the aid of the inmates.
Mr Osei Bonsu advised families not to neglect orphans but to take care of them so that they could grow to become useful citizens.
DR MAHAMA CAN'T CONTEST FIFTH TIME...PNC Regional Chairmen (PAGE 12, JAN 10, 2011)
ANY intention of four-time People’s National Convention (PNC) presidential candidate, Dr Edward Nasigri Mahama, to lead the party again, in the 2012 presidential election, is bound to receive the stiffest opposition yet in his political career.
Last Saturday, Regional Chairmen of the party resolved to use all legitimate means to stop him from contesting the party’s flag bearer position again, accusing him of being the cause of the party’s non performance and inactivity.
They pointed out that Dr Mahama, backed by “some moribund party executive members,” was making all moves to lead the party in the 2012 elections against the letter and spirit of the party’s constitution.
At an emergency meeting in Kumasi, the Chairman of the committee of regional chairmen, Mr Thomas Akum-Yong, accused Dr Mahama of being the brain behind the wrangling in the party, and said, “His cup is full”.
Mr Akum-Yong, who is also the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the PNC, said per the constitution of the party, Dr Mahama was barred from re-contesting the flag bearer position, explaining that the PNC constitution was clear that one could be the party’s flag bearer only twice.
However, Dr Mahama had managed to circumvent the constitution to lead the party four times.
He, therefore, called on all true party members to join hands to put the party in shape to enable it to take part in the 2012 elections with all seriousness.
The Kumasi meeting, which was attended by some regional executive members across the country, deliberated on recent developments in the party and how to resolve them to enable the party prepare adequately for the next elections.
The Regional Chairmen, in a communiqué, proposed a meeting of the Council of Elders and the Regional Chairmen to constitute an interim management committee to run the affairs of the party and prepare it for congress.
They also called on the Council of Elders to take immediate steps to get a member of the party, Ahmed Agadi alias Jato, who was arrested in connection with the rumpus in the party, released from custody.
Again, the Regional Chairmen called on the affected national officers to submit themselves to the Council of Elders for the resolution of the crisis.
Giving a breakdown of the party’s output since the fourth Republic, he said in 1992 when Dr Hilla Limann contested the presidential elections, the PNC won 6.7 per cent of the total votes cast nation-wide.
However, when Dr Mahama took over the flag bearer position, the party receiving 3.0 per cent of the votes in 1996, 2.9 per cent in 2000, 1.9 per cent in 2004 and 0.87 per cent in 2008.
The Regional Chairmen accused some of the “former” national executive, led by the National Chairman of inactivity saying, “They are only interested in pursuing the agenda of the NDC and NPP”.
Last Saturday, Regional Chairmen of the party resolved to use all legitimate means to stop him from contesting the party’s flag bearer position again, accusing him of being the cause of the party’s non performance and inactivity.
They pointed out that Dr Mahama, backed by “some moribund party executive members,” was making all moves to lead the party in the 2012 elections against the letter and spirit of the party’s constitution.
At an emergency meeting in Kumasi, the Chairman of the committee of regional chairmen, Mr Thomas Akum-Yong, accused Dr Mahama of being the brain behind the wrangling in the party, and said, “His cup is full”.
Mr Akum-Yong, who is also the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the PNC, said per the constitution of the party, Dr Mahama was barred from re-contesting the flag bearer position, explaining that the PNC constitution was clear that one could be the party’s flag bearer only twice.
However, Dr Mahama had managed to circumvent the constitution to lead the party four times.
He, therefore, called on all true party members to join hands to put the party in shape to enable it to take part in the 2012 elections with all seriousness.
The Kumasi meeting, which was attended by some regional executive members across the country, deliberated on recent developments in the party and how to resolve them to enable the party prepare adequately for the next elections.
The Regional Chairmen, in a communiqué, proposed a meeting of the Council of Elders and the Regional Chairmen to constitute an interim management committee to run the affairs of the party and prepare it for congress.
They also called on the Council of Elders to take immediate steps to get a member of the party, Ahmed Agadi alias Jato, who was arrested in connection with the rumpus in the party, released from custody.
Again, the Regional Chairmen called on the affected national officers to submit themselves to the Council of Elders for the resolution of the crisis.
Giving a breakdown of the party’s output since the fourth Republic, he said in 1992 when Dr Hilla Limann contested the presidential elections, the PNC won 6.7 per cent of the total votes cast nation-wide.
However, when Dr Mahama took over the flag bearer position, the party receiving 3.0 per cent of the votes in 1996, 2.9 per cent in 2000, 1.9 per cent in 2004 and 0.87 per cent in 2008.
The Regional Chairmen accused some of the “former” national executive, led by the National Chairman of inactivity saying, “They are only interested in pursuing the agenda of the NDC and NPP”.
SIR JOHN SHOULD APOLOGISE TO MOTHERS OF GHANA (PAGE 12, JAN 8, 2011)
MOTHERS of Ghana (MOG), a pressure group in Kumasi, which leans towards the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), has called on the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to render an apology to Ghanaian women for the remarks he made about the former Minister of Tourism, Mrs Zita Okaikoi while sharing his thoughts on the recent ministerial reshuffle.
It said the statement by Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, alias Sir John, smacked of disrespect for women and warned that failure to apologise would result in a demonstration by the group against him.
A press statement signed by the chairperson of the group, Ms Ama Sarpomaah, said: “We are concerned about what Mr Owusu Afriyie said on Citi FM, concerning the former minister, that instead of concentrating on tourism, she went to be delivered of a baby”.
“This statement is seriously against mothers and indeed all women in the country,” the statement said.
It pointed out that delivery of babies was a natural burden given to women by God and Mr Owusu Afriyie should have respected this.
“We believe he is a family man and will not hesitate in sending his wife to give birth outside the country if he can afford.”
“MOG knows that the family of Sir John, including his wife, lives in the United Kingdom and conventional wisdom indicates that most of his children were delivered in the UK,” it said.
The statement emphasised that Mrs Okaikoi only went on maternity leave and the question of where she spent it was immaterial.
“Mothers working within almost all sectors of the economy are legally entitled to maternity leave, as such Zita cannot be an exception,” it pointed out.
The statement appealed to President Mills to consider Zita as well as other women of substance in his next reshuffle.
It said the statement by Mr Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, alias Sir John, smacked of disrespect for women and warned that failure to apologise would result in a demonstration by the group against him.
A press statement signed by the chairperson of the group, Ms Ama Sarpomaah, said: “We are concerned about what Mr Owusu Afriyie said on Citi FM, concerning the former minister, that instead of concentrating on tourism, she went to be delivered of a baby”.
“This statement is seriously against mothers and indeed all women in the country,” the statement said.
It pointed out that delivery of babies was a natural burden given to women by God and Mr Owusu Afriyie should have respected this.
“We believe he is a family man and will not hesitate in sending his wife to give birth outside the country if he can afford.”
“MOG knows that the family of Sir John, including his wife, lives in the United Kingdom and conventional wisdom indicates that most of his children were delivered in the UK,” it said.
The statement emphasised that Mrs Okaikoi only went on maternity leave and the question of where she spent it was immaterial.
“Mothers working within almost all sectors of the economy are legally entitled to maternity leave, as such Zita cannot be an exception,” it pointed out.
The statement appealed to President Mills to consider Zita as well as other women of substance in his next reshuffle.
Friday, January 7, 2011
POLITICIANS URGED TO PLACE NATIONAL INTEREST FIRST (PAGE 12, JAN 7, 2011)
AN international preacher and founder of Liberty Global Christian Church, Bishop Prince Hampel, has called on the country’s politicians to place the interest of the nation above their political parties and personal interests.
He said too much attention seemed to be focused on the work of the political parties at the neglect of the various sectors of national development.
In a New Year message, Bishop Hampel said, “Our leaders must think about the nation first before their political parties and their pockets.”
He expressed regret about the over-politicisation of every issue in the country, pointing out that the practice was counter-productive because it did not allow for objective analysis of events.
Bishop Hampel emphasised that Ghana needed faithful leaders to make the oil find benefit the entire nation.
“Ghana should therefore pray for faithful leaders to be able to convert the oil find into real development,” he said.
The Bishop, however, indicated that the oil itself should not be seen as panacea for resolving the economic challenges of the nation.
“Only God can move this nation forward so it is important that we all give our everything to Him,” he stressed.
Bishop Hampel noted that if Ghanaians depended on God, more economic resources could be discovered for the benefit of the nation.
He was confident that Ghana could enjoy a better 2011 if all did the right things.
He said too much attention seemed to be focused on the work of the political parties at the neglect of the various sectors of national development.
In a New Year message, Bishop Hampel said, “Our leaders must think about the nation first before their political parties and their pockets.”
He expressed regret about the over-politicisation of every issue in the country, pointing out that the practice was counter-productive because it did not allow for objective analysis of events.
Bishop Hampel emphasised that Ghana needed faithful leaders to make the oil find benefit the entire nation.
“Ghana should therefore pray for faithful leaders to be able to convert the oil find into real development,” he said.
The Bishop, however, indicated that the oil itself should not be seen as panacea for resolving the economic challenges of the nation.
“Only God can move this nation forward so it is important that we all give our everything to Him,” he stressed.
Bishop Hampel noted that if Ghanaians depended on God, more economic resources could be discovered for the benefit of the nation.
He was confident that Ghana could enjoy a better 2011 if all did the right things.
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