Convicted Exopa CEO, Ibrahim Sima dies

He died on Thursday night at the Police Hospital in Accra after being rushed there from Nsawam prison where he was serving a jail term for trafficking narcotics.

Chief Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Prisons Service, DSP Vitalis Aiyia explained that the convicted CEO was playing football when he collided with the goalkeeper but did not complain of injuries at the time.

Later in the evening he started complaining of pains and was rushed to the Nsawam Government Hospital where his situation deteriorated. He was sent to the Police Hospital where he died.

The PRO was unable to immediately confirm the cause of death but said investigations are still ongoing.

The EXOPA boss was arrested on September 7, 2009 at the Kotoka International Airport when a luggage search revealed tubers of yam in which were embedded narcotic substances.

Ibrahim was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in 2011 for the attempted narcotics smuggling. Sima denied the charges and told officials of the Narcotics Control Board, who interrogated him after his arrest, that the yams were given to him by one Salifu who resides in Nima, a suburb of Accra, to be given to a friend for a fee of 3,000 Euros.

'Gay doctor trial:4 lawyers 'grill' 16-year-old victim

Lawyers defending the Takoradi based doctor accused of sodomising a minor, on Wednesday subjected the victim to a grilling cross examination, Myjoyonline.com has learnt.

The cross examination was held in-camera at the Circuit Court 5 because the victim is a minor.

A close source told Myjoyjonline.com four lawyers defending Dr. Sulley Ali-Gabass were on hand to question the frail looking victim.

Dr. Sulley Ali-Gabass is facing two counts of defilement and having unnatural carnal knowledge of the alleged victim contrary to sections of the Criminal Code.

He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.The source say cross examination will continue tomorrow. The Takoradi based doctor was arrested and charged following a Joy News investigation carried out by Manasseh Azure-Awuni in which Dr. Gabass was accused of sodomising the 16-year-old victim.

The victim claimed he was sodomised on five different occasions by the man, whom he considered a mentor. His anal region was badly injured as a result of the sodomy and had to be operated upon to save his life. He has also contracted the deadly HIV, but Dr. Gabass says he is not to blame for the disease.

The court after the cross-examination of the victim is likely to invite a new witness for the prosecution.

Usurping the kings

It is for no reason that many football fans cried their hearts out including the players when ‘almighty’ Brazil fell from ‘grace’ to ‘grass’ to the German machine in the semi-final of the 2014 World Cup.

The match determined Brazil’s fate in the quest for the fifth time of lifting the most coveted trophy in world football. The match ending 7-1 led to so many speculations that the absence of Brazil’s poster boy; Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior, and captain Thiago Sylva played a major factor in their defeat.

Though the latter returned 3rd place match against Netherlands who lost against Argentina in the semis, his presence did little to restore the team’s hope. Losing to Netherlands 2-3 among other factors have led to Brazil’s coach Filepe Scolari dropped by the Brazilian Football Confederation.

One question that many people are asking is whether Brazil has its authority and respect in world football. Their question is against the backdrop of matches played and their performance prior to the semi-finals.

A GOOD FRIDAY....

It is not surprising that today is known as ‘Good Friday’ among Christians around the world. This day with its Biblical history behind had Jesus; the only son of God coming to redeem mankind.

His death in a form of crucifixion helped to bridge the gap which has been created between man and God as a result of sin by man. This period has come to be known as ‘Easter’ among some sects.

NPP sabotaged me in 2012- Moctar Bamba recalls

Aspiring National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alhaji Moctar Bamba, has accused leadership of the party of sabotaging him during the 2012 election campaign.

He said soon after his election as National Organiser, some senior people in the party including the national campaign team hijacked his position and resources allocated to his office, for the party’s Director of Operations.

“How were they expecting me to succeed if the Director of Operations at the time , Lord Commey was playing the very role I was supposed to ahead of the elections”, Bamba lamented.

Alhaji Moctar Bamba was speaking on Adom Midday News as part of the countdown to the ‘Special Delegates Congress’ which takes place on April 12, 2014.

He charged that when he attempted to protest against the treated meted out to him, some people plotted against him.

“You cannot feel happy and be part of a party in which your colleagues victimise you for expressing your views”.

He warned this time round, he will not tolerate the same attitude and frustration and will fight to protect the cause of freedom which NPP stands for.

“I want to sound a strong warning to anyone who intends relegating me to the background because I won’t tolerate it as I did in 2012.They have taken my leniency to be my weakness”, Alhaji Bamba cautioned.

He urged the party’s delegates to vote competent executives like him who will work hard for the party’s victory in 2016.

Parliament can revert UG’s powers-Deputy Minority leader

Deputy Minority leader, Dominic Nitiwul has stated that Parliament is considering reviewing the University of Ghana law to prevent what he described seeming abuse and bullying of the law by the authorities.

He argued that “If Parliament granted UG the power, then the same Parliament can review it,” he stated.

In an interview with Afia Pokua on Adom FM/Asempa FM’s Burning Issues, the Members of Parliament accused the University of creating unnecessary tension in the nation as a result of their insistent to enforce this toll and sticker rule.

The University of Ghana explains that the 2010 Act gives them the power to initiate income-generating projects and provides further asset which will be charged against the university, and not the state.

Dominic Nitiwul therefore urged UG officials to ease their demands and approach government to begin negotiations to end this impasse which he described as seriously affecting both students and parents most of whom he described gradually becoming “enemies” for the University.

He questioned why the university has not yet submitted its annual fianacial report to parliament as required by law and reminded the Ministry of Education to do so.

Meanwhile, A Political Science lecturer of UG, Dr. Evans Aggrey Darko says the University is ready to negotiate with government.

However, he maintained that UG’s decision to introduce toll, stickers among the other measures are to serve as a source of revenue generation not only for this current road project but also to maintain facilities.

“This is to leave behind a legacy for the future generation but posterity will judge us if we don’t put such measures in place”, he remarked.

He expressed worry that the hullabaloo about the toll has been misunderstand by the public adding that some of these attitude will discourage leadership of various institutions from taking initiative that will serve the future and support government.

The Member of Parliament for Abokobi-Madina MP, Alhaji Amadi Sorogho recounted his own experience with security guards of the university whiles on his way to parliament to lobby for a Fire station for the same University. He insisted that the University of Ghana is abusing its rights and cautioned them to be mindful that it could not operate as an island.

“When UG called for a Fire Service station due to population increase, I led in its establishment but I am denied entry even when I am visiting the station” he lamented.

Source:www.myjoyonline.com

Ghana underutilizing former Prez Kufuor - Spokesperson

Ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor’s spokesperson, Frank Agyekum has said the Ex-President is ever ready to serve Ghana but the country is not taking advantage of his experience like other countries are.

“As a former head of state, he is committed to the development of Ghana and is ready to serve when called upon,” he stated.

Frank Agyekum was speaking to Adom News about the former president’s recent participation in a donor’s conference in France, where he helped Senegalese President Macky Sall to raise more than nine trillion CFA Francs for Senegal.

Agyekum said the former president is ready to extend a similar gesture to Ghanaian President John Mahama, but he could only do that if he is asked.

“Although I cannot answer to why he is not being consulted on issues, he has always expressed his support for President John Dramani Mahama,” Agyekum said.

He recalled how Former President Kufuor’s defied protests from his own party members and attended the President Mahama’s swearing-in to show his support.

Frank Agyekum also wondered why successive governments in Ghana relegate former presidents to the background while other countries continue to benefit from the experiences of those former presidents.

Touching on the purpose of the money former President Kufuor helped to raise for Senegal, he said the money was to support a development plan dubbed “Emerging Senegal”, aimed at doubling Senegal’s economic growth over the next 10 years.

Various Ministers of President Sall’s government made presentations of their development plans at the conference attended by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the French government, the United States Development Agency, the Department for Foreign International Development of the UK, the African Development Bank, and the Kuwaiti Fund among others.

The "Emerging Senegal" programme aims to boost output from agriculture, fisheries and agro-industry, as well as the mining sector and tourism.

It also hopes to make Senegal a logistics hub offering access to West Africa's market of some 300 million people.