We’ll improve quality of roads in Eastern reg. – Minister designate

The Eastern Regional Minister designate, Eric Kwakye Daffour has promised the people of the region good roads under his tenure.

The Minister designate says “roads are central government’s responsibility and we are lucky the President is from the region and the roads minister is also from the region so I will ensure the region is beautiful with roads”.

Mr. Kwakye Daffour, who is also the Member of Parliament for Nkawkaw Constituency assured that “when we come together and look into the coffers, we can assure that we shall provide what is needed to the people in terms of roads”, he told Onua FM’s Yen Sempa hosted by Bright Asempa on Thursday.

He added that “feeders roads will be constructed because we share boundaries with Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Central, Western, Volta and Greater Accra regions so I will worry them very much for roads”.

One-district-one-factory

The Minister designate said the region will also benefit from the President’s one-district-one-factory but that will not be simultaneous in all metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.

He added that it will take some time to ensure that all of them have their share of the policy.

Mr. Kwakye Daffour said the region can boast of mango, ginger, tiger nut, among other raw materials which if factories are established for, can produce for commercial quantities.

He added that “the factories will be medium sizes to enable easy establishments for the people.

Illegal mining

The Minister designate explained that illegal mining (galamsey) which has been a burden in some portions of the region is a security threat but that will be addressed.

He explained that galamsey is high in the region due to unemployment rate but with the establishments of the medium factories, these people who are into the galamsey will have job to do.

Asked whether galamsey will be a thing of the past under his leadership, the MP explained that there is no way galamsey will be over but will be a policy to guide them on how to do galamsey.

He said he will bring on board all the stakeholders to sure they are registered and in this way, they can also contribute to the revenue generation of Ghana.

Source: 3news

' Vetting On Hold ' Ministers

The scheduled vetting by the Appointments Committee of Parliament of   ministers nominated by President Akufo-Addo to help him run his government which was to come off today, has temporarily been put on hold.

At the eleventh hour yesterday, a communication from the Public Affairs Department of Parliament signed by Kate Addo, acting director, indicated that the sitting of the committee today had been rescheduled but did not immediately assign any reason for the postponement.

It only said new dates would be communicated in due course.

So far, the vetting process has been criticized by concerned Ghanaians, saying that it takes too long a time to vet a minister-designate – sometimes running deep into the night.

They have therefore called on the leadership of the committee to do something about the duration of time allotted for the vetting in order not to unduly sap the energies of members of the committee themselves and those of the nominees as well as journalists covering the exercise.

Those who were scheduled to have appeared before the committee today are the Minister-designate for Evaluation and Monitoring, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei; Minister-designate for Regional Reorganisation, Dan Botwe;  Minister-designate for Works and Housing, Samuel Atta Akyea and Minister-designate for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng.

Those who were to appear tomorrow are Minister-designate for Railways, Joe Ghartey; Minister-designate for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah; Minister-designate for Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Kofi Adda and Minister-designate for Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah.

The Minister-designate for Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful; Minister-designate for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Atta; Minister-designate for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisah Djaba and the Minister-designate for Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, were to have had their share on Wednesday, February 1, 2017.

Meanwhile, parliament yesterday adopted two separate reports endorsing some selected MPs to represent Ghana in the Pan-African Parliament in South Africa and ECOWAS Parliament in Nigeria.

Those nominated for the Pan-African Parliament are First Deputy Speaker of Parliament and MP for Bekwai, Joseph Osei-Owusu; Deputy Majority Leader and MP for Dome/Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo; MP for Jaman South, Yaw Afful; Minority Chief Whip and MP for Asawase, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka and MP for Wa West, Joseph Yieleh Chireh.

Those representing Ghana in the ECOWAS Parliament are Majority Chief Whip and MP for Sunyani East, Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh; MP for Akwapim South, O.B. Amoah; MP for Effutu, Alex Afenyo-Markin; MP for Juaben, Ama Pomaah Boateng and MP for Akrofuom, Kwabena Appiah-Pinkrah.

The rest are MP for Anlo, Clement Kofi Humado; MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga and MP for Bodi, Sampson Ahi.

The MP for Evalue-Gwira, Catherine Afeku, who has represented Ghana in the ECOWAS Parliament before, asked the new colleagues who are going to represent Ghana to take advantage of the opportunity to sell the country in the area of trade and good diplomatic relations.

Source: Daily Guide 

COP Asante Apeatu can’t be IGP, for now – Law lecturer

A lecturer at the Law Faculty of the Central University College, Yaw Oppong, has maintained that Commissioner of Police (COP), David Asante Apeatu, cannot hold himself up as the new Inspector General of Police (IGP) of Ghana.

He can best be described as a caretaker of the IGP position, the lecturer pointed out, adding he is not the substantive IGP until he is confirmed as such through procedures prescribed by the constitution.

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo yesterday named the Commissioner of Police David Asante Apeatu as the new Inspector General of Police (IGP) at the Flagstaff House.
The new IGP takes over from John Kudalor, who served as the IGP under the Mahama administration for about a year.

But concerns have been raised about the legitimacy of the President to make such an appointment without recourse to the Council of State as stipulated under the constitution. The Council of State is yet to be constituted.

Speaking on the issue on Onua FM’s Yen Nsempa hosted by Bright Asempa, Yaw Oppong argued that until the Council of State is constituted and the Police Council put in place, Mr. David Apeatu can only hold himself up as a caretaker and not the substantive IGP.

Source: 3news

Funeral Arrangement: Remembering Our Hero Kwabena Boadu

His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo, President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, The New Patriotic Party, Abusuapanin Kwadwo Obeng, Kate Okyere, Akua Fokuo, Yaa Amponsaa, Akua Addai, Akua Nkrumah, Akosua Nyarko and the entire Aduana Abusua regret to announce the untimely death of 
                                                   KWABENA BOADU/30YRS

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS ARE FOLLOWS: THERE WILL BE NO WAKE-KEEPING

SATURDAY,FEBRUARY 4TH 2017 - PRE-BURIAL AND FILE-PAST (6AM-9AM) BURIAL SERVICE (9AM) at the forecourt of the state house, Burial at the Achimota Cemetery followed by final funeral rites at the State House.

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH 2017 - MEMORIAL AND THANKSGIVING SERVICE at the Bethel Methodist Church, Taifa.

ATTIRE: SATURDAY BLACK & RED SUNDAY: BLACK & WHITE

 
    ALL ARE INVITED TO HELP US MOURN OUR DEPARTED SON, BROTHER AND FRIEND

Akufo-Addo names COP Asante-Apeatu as new IGP

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has named COP David Asante-Apeatu as the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP).

The former IGP, John Kudalor earlier today (Wednesday), went to the Flagstaff House to bid the president farewell having officially retired from the service.

Mr. Kudalor was appointed by former President, John Dramani Mahama to the position in an acting capacity in November 2015.

He was later confirmed IGP in February 2016.

The appointment of  IGP has been political since independence.

A substantive IGP will named subsequently by the President in consultation with the Council of State.

Roles played by the new IGP
 * Director General Research & Planning of the Ghana Police service 

* He was once the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the service.

* In 2007 he was appointed Director of the Specialised Crime and Analysis (SCA) Unit at the INTERPOL headquarters in Lyon France.

* Internationally, he had worked at the Sarajevo Police Academy as an Instructor in Human Dignity, Police Ethics and Criminal Investigations under the auspices of the United Nations Task Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina from 1997 to 1998.

* He was the team leader in a successful homicide investigation under the request of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNAMIL).

* He was the team leader in investigations into the mass murder of more than 50 people, mostly West African nationals, in The Gambia.

* In Ghana, he was the Lead Investigator in the serial killing of more than 30 women that led to the arrest of a culprit who had been prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to death.

* Under the supervision of Mr Asante-Apeatu and based on intelligence, the CID successfully conducted an operation that resulted in the seizure of 588 kilogrammes of cocaine with the street value of about $38 million.

Source: citifmonline.com

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has named COP David Asante-Apeatu as the acting Inspector General of Police (IGP).
The former IGP, John Kudalor earlier today (Wednesday), went to the Flagstaff House to bid the president farewell having officially retired from the service.
Mr. Kudalor was appointed by former President, John Dramani Mahama to the position in an acting capacity in November 2015.
He was later confirmed IGP in February 2016.
The appointment of  IGP has been political since independence.
A substantive IGP will named subsequently by the President in consultation with the Council of State.
Roles played by the new IGP 

• Director General Research & Planning of the Ghana Police service
• He was once the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the service.
• In 2007 he was appointed Director of the Specialised Crime and Analysis (SCA) Unit at the INTERPOL headquarters in Lyon France.
• Internationally, he had worked at the Sarajevo Police Academy as an Instructor in Human Dignity, Police Ethics and Criminal Investigations under the auspices of the United Nations Task Force in Bosnia-Herzegovina from 1997 to 1998.
• He was the team leader in a successful homicide investigation under the request of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNAMIL).
• He was the team leader in investigations into the mass murder of more than 50 people, mostly West African nationals, in The Gambia.
• In Ghana, he was the Lead Investigator in the serial killing of more than 30 women that led to the arrest of a culprit who had been prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to death.
• Under the supervision of Mr Asante-Apeatu and based on intelligence, the CID successfully conducted an operation that resulted in the seizure of 588 kilogrammes of cocaine with the street value of about $38 million.

- See more at: http://citifmonline.com/2017/01/25/akufo-addo-names-cop-asante-apeatu-as-new-igp/#sthash.5urH

(SHOCK) 12-Year-Old Asked Mom, "What Is Oral Sex" I Shook Off Terror.

"Mom, what is oral sex?"

On a cold winter evening, watching a tense India vs England cricket match when your about-to-be teenager asks you these questions, you want go deep under cover inside that blanket and never come out. Not possible, of course. I see myself as the quintessential modern day mom, pal to her kids, cool, unflappable.

I have barely got a sentence out when my older son interrupts, ''Oof, Ma is making it sound like a Biology lesson, I'll explain it properly later."

Oh no you won't, buddy, and what do you mean explain properly? But it's a good escape, make it now, my pounding heart says, but I find the courage to stick it out. Many questions and answers later, the trauma ends. Note: Husband has decided to go deaf, except for some strange guttural sounds, there is nothing else.

With those 12-year-old eyes boring into me, I say it is something that two people in love do, they are both consenting adults by which I mean they are both over 18, and they both want to do. It is something that does not produce babies.

Question: But how is it different from normal sex?

Answer: Well, the method is different and when you are old enough, you will know how. Like super heroes' super powers, it's difficult to explain or describe but with time and age one comes to know.

He is almost satisfied and a super delivery from Ashwin comes to the rescue and he is distracted.

As the boys head to bed, I ask myself, do we allow too many questions, is it too early to be discussing all this, where are they picking up this stuff?

I would have never imagined asking my parents about anything of the sort. I thank my stars my mom spoke to me about menstruation, but that was it. Any difficult question when we were growing up was answered with "You are too young to know this", "It's nothing", "I will tell you later", "No, that's enough". Follow-ups were not allowed.

Perhaps that's why I have encouraged my kids to always question me about anything, everything. But were our parents smarter? Particularly in defining lines more clearly? Perhaps, but in an age of screaming, ever-at-hand devices, can a parent restrict information at all? Should I?

We gave my older son a cell phone when he turned 13, and were told we were one of the last set of parents to do so. Forget about him facing peer pressure and constantly hitting us with it, I was told by many moms, "It's so unsafe for him to not have a phone." Now we have constant arguments and negotiations about the amount of time he spends with the phone. The world of Snapchat, WhatsApp, YouTube and the 208 other apps on his phone is one that I despise. But if you want to keep up with your children's lives, one must know and comprehend the gains and pitfalls of technology that children use.

The balance between keeping the conversation going offline and knowing what they are learning from their handhelds is perhaps the only way to maintain an insight into their lives and ensure they are on the right path. Sometimes a random conversation can lead to many different questions.

Sample this.

Setting: The breakfast table

12-year-old: Mom, what's the meaning of perplexing?

Me: Very puzzling

Me: By the way, Baby, you do know that Kindle has an inbuilt dictionary and you can look up a word whenever you want?

12-year-old: Yes, I know. I looked up "whore" yesterday.

Quickly recovered and steered the conversation around the table to always respecting women and not using words that can demean them, even if we think they are in jest or just cool.

It is impossible to know what is being retained, if anything at all. Teen years are a tumultuous mix of confusion, anger, love, hope, dreams and jumping hormones, and no can understand what is going on, not the child and more than often, not the parent either.

Especially important then to not back away from any topic, no matter how embarrassing or difficult. Don't give them some dry or dismissive adult answer, tell them the facts, tell them the truth and tell them you will not judge them about anything even if you disapprove of it or don't agree with it.

Yes, there is the plague of self-doubt: what if this is more information than they need, are they too young, what if they go tell their friends who go tell their parents and I land in trouble?!

At the end of it, it comes down to this. At least they have the correct information, they know what their parents expect. At least when it rains - and it will - they know there is an umbrella for cover.

Source: ndtv.com

Google Waymo self-driving minivan tests to start

Google’s Waymo will launch the first public road tests of its self-driving minivans later this month.

The trials will take place in California and Arizona, according to Waymo chief executive John Krafcik. 

Modified Chrysler Pacificas with Waymo-designed sensors were on display at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, where Mr Krafcik spoke. 

One tech analyst said the industry would keenly watch Waymo’s performance in the coming months. Waymo plans to develop self-driving technology and provide it to established carmakers. The company was formally launched by Google in December. 

Mr Krafcik said the company had managed to reduce the cost of producing its Lidar laser-based sensor, though did not give details about how, according to Associated Press. 

He added that he expected Waymo to have completed three million miles of test-driving by May. “The Waymo self-driving program is the first true end-to-end integrated solution that we see in the market today,” said Arunprasad Nandakumar, a tech analyst with Frost & Sullivan.

 In the coming months, the Waymo minivan will give clearer indications on whether the industry will be able to meet the steep targets that have been publicly announced by various players.” Ford, for example, is developing vehicles with similar on-board technology and has said it will have fully autonomous vehicles on the road by 2021. 

Source: BBC