Abeiku Santana Marries Again

Mr. Gilbert Aggrey host of Okay FM's late afternoon show Ekwanso Dwodwoo , better known as Abeiku Santana officially tied the knot  to cemented his love affair with a banker, Genevieve Ewurafua Forson Saturday, September 28, 2013 at the Emmanuel Methodist Chapel at East Airport, Accra.
 
The event was attended by dozens of media practitioners, close relations as well as some celebrities in Gh. Chief among the politicians were Kofi Wayo of the United Renaissance Party, Mr. Boakye Agyarko of the NPP and Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West-Wuogon,Mr Aquinas Quansah as well as former Chief Director at the Local Government Ministry, Nana Oduro Kwarteng.
This is the second time the ace broadcaster/presenter had to choose a life partner after his marriage to Margaret fell on the rocks. Abeiku Santana and Genevieve are said to have been pals for over 13 years.
 
The two went through a traditional marriage ceremony last February, and decided to top it with a wedding yesterday.
“Gene is a gift from God and we being together again is by the divine grace of God.I have known Gene in Kumasi since 2001 before coming to Accra where I met and married Maggie, my ex. As God’s ways are not our ways and luck being on my side, Gene was still single so I took that bold step, proposed and she accepted,” Santana told Showbiz in an interview recently.

He described her lost-and-found love as an ideal African woman who is “not artificial, someone who projects African beauty and portrays African values, a lady who knows how to appreciate her man in every way“, he said. 
 IMAGE SOURCE:www.myjoyonline.com

5 AMAZING PROPERTIES OF SUNSHINE

 Sunlight is well-known to provide us vitamin D, but did you know that it kills pain, keeps us alert at night, burns fat and more...

Five noteworthy properties of sunlight exposure:

1) Sunlight Has Pain-Killing (Analgesic) Properties:
A 2005 study published in the journal Psychosomatic Medicine titled, "The effect of sunlight on postoperative analgesic medication use: a prospective study of patients undergoing spinal surgery," analyzed patients staying on the bright side of the hospital unit who were exposed to 46% higher-intensity sunlight on average. The patients exposed to an increased intensity of sunlight experienced less perceived stress, marginally less, took 22% less analgesic medication 
  
2) Sunlight Burns Fat:
A 2011 study published in The Journal of Investigative Dermatology revealed a remarkable fact of metabolism: The exposure of human skin to UV light results in increased subcutaneous fat metabolism. While subcutaneous fat, unlike visceral fat, is not considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, it is known that a deficiency of one of sunlight's best known beneficial byproducts, vitamin D, is associated with greater visceral fat.Also, there is a solid body of research showing that vitamin D deficiency is linked to obesity, with 9 such studies on our obesity research page.

Exposure to UVB radiation, which is most abundant two hours on either side of solar noon and responsible for producing vitamin D, may be an essential strategy in burning fat, the natural way.per hour, and had 21% less pain medication costs.

 3) Sunlight via Solar Cycles May Directly Regulate Human Lifespan: 
Published in 2010 in the journal Medical Hypotheses and titled, "The effect of solar cycles on human lifespan in the 50 United states: variation in light affects the human genome," researchers review the possibility that solar cycles directly affect the human genome.
 4) Daytime Sunlight Exposure Improves Evening Alertness: 
A 2012 study published in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience titled, "Effects of prior light exposure on early evening performance, subjective sleepiness, and hormonal secretion," found that subjects felt significantly more alert at the beginning of the evening after being exposed to 6 hours of mainly daylight exposure, whereas they became sleepier at the end of the evening after artificial light exposure.

5) Sunlight May Convert To Metabolic Energy: 
If a novel hypothesis published in 2008 in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine is correct, a longstanding assumption that animals are incapable of utilizing light energy directly is now called into question.  In other words, our skin may contain the equivalent of melanin "solar-panels," and it may be possible to "ingest" energy, as plants do, directly from the Sun.

Vertebrate animals may also convert light directly into metabolic energy through the help of melanin.

[Source :  http://www.greenmedinfo.com]

Aggudey NOT BETTER than a village plantain thief.

George Aggudey, a former Presidential candidate of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), who was to serve time in prison for defaulting on the payment of Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions of his workers, was on Thursday granted bail.

This was after Aggudey, in the company of his lawyer, stormed an Accra Fast Track High Court to seek bail concerning his three-month jail-term on medical grounds.("Drama style"-in my opinion)

The presiding judge, Justice Habib Mustapaha Logoh, granted bail in the sum GH¢ 2 million with two sureties to Aggudey, who appeared in court with a walking stick.

Earlier Kwamina Baiden, counsel for Aggudey, asked the court to grant bail to the boss of Gocrest Security Company who he said had been "genuinely" unwell for some time now as a result of which he was receiving medical attention.He said his client was a responsible person and had persons ready to stand surety for him.

However, Rexford Wiredu, the principal state attorney in the case, asked the court to refuse Aggudey bail because illness should not be used as grounds for seeking bail.                                                                     Mr. Rexford said the accused person wanted to be granted bail on health grounds to avoid starting his jail term and prayed the court to deny him bail.

The trial judge subsequently granted the former presidential candidate bail on health grounds.                        Aggudey has since deposited documents on landed property worth his bail amount to the court.The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Gocrest was a few weeks ago sentenced to three months’ imprisonment by an Accra District Court. 
This many Ghanaian workers suspect a drama to prevent  "the man" from serving his jail term
Source:www.myjoyonline.com
 

IMANI President Asks Pensions Regulator: Where Is Our Pension Money?

Dear National Pensions Regulatory Authority,
I have had to cut short my self-imposed break from public advocacy to write this letter. Over the last couple of months I have become overwhelmed and increasingly worried about the number of calls I personally receive from disgruntled workers and retirees about the poor state of their pensions.
I was particularly struck with the following paragraph in one of the letters a middle-aged worker sent to me 'The state-owned pension organization 'SSNIT' was a Ponzi (419) scheme. We hoped for liberation from outright theft of worker contributions, haphazard and shady investments and sleazy financial reporting only to be in the jaws of a begotten baby crocodile (NPRA) preparing to devour our pension money nyafu nyafu'. "nyafu nyafu" is a local term for petty corruption.
My think tank, IMANI had many public and private fruitful engagements with the NPRA and we agreed on a timetable for remitting tier-two contributions to legally registered trustees. I have however sought to make this communication public to further the discourse and help Ghanaian workers with information on where we stand with part of their pension money.
It may well be that you are working under very trying conditions, but it seems we need finality to the issue of second-tier contributions three and half years after collection.
BACKGROUND
In September 2009, the Board of the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) was set up to oversee the implementation of the National Pensions Act, 2008 (Act 766). The Act seeks to create a unified pension system under a three tiered pension structure, with SSNIT as the manager of the First Tier, and Approved Trustees (Corporate & Individual Trustees) as operators of the mandatory Tier 2 and Voluntary Tier 3 schemes.
In January 2010, the Temporary Pension Fund Account (TPFA) was set up to provisionally administer Tier 2 contributions pending the licensing of Trustees and the registering of Pension Schemes. Employers, from January 2010, remitted 5% (Tier 2 contributions) of their employees' salaries to the TPFA. This continued for most employers till October 2012.

The Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) is expected to announce the 150 percent upward tariff adjustment on Wednesday.

The PURC last week served notice of its plans to adjust electricity and water tariffs after providers made a strong case for an increment.

However, uncertainties surrounding this increment would be settled today after months of speculation.

Meanwhile, a Civil Society Group, Truth and Accountability Forum trying to seek a court injunction on the move has hinted of a massive demonstration to protest the increment.

Spokesperson for the group, Saka Salia in an interview with an Accra based radio Citi 97.30fm said, their decision to go on demonstration amongst other lawful things is because “the consumer has been taken for disdain in the face of extreme poverty, unemployment, in the face of monumental corruption that has engulfed this nation.”

According to him, “it does not make sense for any well thinking Ghanaian or organization to sit down and then increase at a bulk 150% on the consumer.”

He further stated that the quantum of percentage increase would not augur well for the citizenry looking at the high rate of unemployment.
SOUCE:citifmonline.com

Wondering Why You Don’t Get Asked Out On Dates?

I recently thought through the term “Date Zero Chicks” after I had realized that,there’s a subset of women who do not stand the chance of ever being asked-out on a first date.Let me clearly distinguish between being asked-out and first date.–First date is not the first time a guy asks you out for coffee or drinks, or the first time a guys agree to hang out and watch a movie or meet out at a lounge. A date is when someone asks you directly to do something with them,“just them”and it’s a time that is set aside and made special. The reason I clarify is that many women will say they can get dates, but then their dates really go nowhere afterwards. That’s because those weren’t dates in the first place.They were exploratory moments or simply just a man thinking "what little effort can I put in to convince her that I’m putting in a whole lot of effort and get…. ‘em a**?"
How does a guy decide on the women that he wants to approach and the ones he’ll pass on?What’s keeping some women from first dates?
I find that really simple but hard to explain in the official language of the female gender(Venusivian)– no matter how men break “it” down,you’ll never understand what men mean by she has to have “it.”What I can tell you is that there are several reasons why women never make it on the first date.While many women will disagree or claim that they aren’t fair,I have to remind all of us that our goals determine our actions.We can’t expect our goals to adjust and adapt to our actions.It’s simple you must always meet the requirements for your goals, not the other way around.If your goal is to go on a date then you have to play the game, the way the game is played.                                                                                                                         With that, here’s a list of reasons why you’ll never make it on the first date:

1.You don’t know when to keep quiet :   
 A piece of advice to all, “sometimes making your point is the most irrelevant thing to do.” There’s a lot of confusion with learning when to hold the tongue and feeling like women’s thoughts shouldn’t be suppressed.Often times most women talk guys out o approaching them by simply not knowing when to stop.                                                                                                                                                                                 
2.Your relationship goals seem to require a man, not the man:
After interacting with most women,it seems they want to be in relationships,they want to be married, they want a husband and family, but it doesn’t really ever matter who that person is as long as they have the same goal. It reminds me of people who get degrees from no-name schools just to say they have the degree, instead of those people who identify the Top 25 or so schools and make it a point to go there because the school matters to them.
3.You think that everyone should appreciates your flaws and character traits,without complain:
“I want someone who is going to appreciate me for me” society has evolved and you’ve got to accept who i am. It’s okay to want someone who is going to accept that am not perfect.But note that if there’s something that has to be change,you have to make that happen.

eg.binge drinking

4.You want a clean slate but won’t offer the same to a man:
Most women are noted to have a tall list of reasons why they won’t date a guy. They will most likely not date a guy who dated one of their girlfriends, or if the guy has few skeletons in his closet from the past. However, everywomanone deserves a second, third, fourth, fifth chance.This is where the saying that “he who ask for equity must come with clean hands” apply.

5.You lack consistency:
 There are tons of women do not realize that when they are so inconsistent it cripples any man’s ability to take them seriously. They want a serious relationship but gives the “hint” that they’ve got a night-rider waiting in the depths of late night texts. They say they want to settle down and get serious about getting married and starting a family but their social media account is full of pictures of them @ various hot spots in the city. And it’s not just your social life that needs consistency but all facets. It could be your dedication to the gym and dieting ,career etc – Men (and women) appreciate consistency in the people they wanna date.
Ref:www.singleblackmale.org

Black Stars Vs. Egypt Set For Tuesday Oct. 15

The Ghana Football Association(GFA) has changed the date for next month’s World Cup playoff against Egypt in Kumasi.
The first-leg of the clash was earlier scheduled to be played on Sunday, 13th October, 2013. However, the GFA has decided to change the match to Tuesday 15th October, 2013.
The decision is meant to give Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah more training time with the team before the match in Kumasi.
It is also in line with FIFA’s decision of playing the first-leg of the playoffs between 11 and 15 October.
The Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi remains the venue for the match.
Kick off will be at 16:00GMT.
The second leg is planned for between 15 and 19 November of this year.
Two-leg ties will be played between both nations with the aggregate winner going to the finals in Brazil next year.
 SOURCE:GFA

PRAISING THE LORD "PLUS ONE"

After the earth-shattering ‘Suffering to Lose’ released about two years ago, Film Africa has bounced back with yet another movie entitled ‘Praising the Lord Plus One.’
At a press launch at Home Africa, here in Accra, the Executive Producer of Film Africa and the latest movie, Kwaw Paintsil Ansah, cautioned the public to carefully examine their worship to make sure God and their consciences approve of what they do.
The renowned Ghanaian director has set out to confront the relationship between Ghanaians and the church.
It is undisputable fact that religion plays an important role in the life of Africans and that belief is borne out by the explosion of churches on the continent.
In places like Ghana and Nigeria, the church is also big business and the wealth raked in by many pastors makes it difficult to keep opportunists away from the pulpits.
Mr Ansah in an interview expressed worries of how "men of God" have been exploiting the masses(mostly the least educated) in the name of preaching.
Nonetheless, he mentioned the possibility of having genuine preachers across the country who in diverse ways are trying to impart positively on the Ghanaian society.
It can be seen  that in recent times you could count about 25 new churches springing up and several also fading out for loosing credibility. A lot of these preachers "self acclaimed Pastors,Prophets" are usually heard on Radios,TV's,lorry stations and street corners claiming to have solutions to all plights confronting the people only to end up extorting sums of money from unsuspecting congregants.
Some section of Ghanaian youths also express worries about this trend and even suggest government should be seen acting against such miscreants or possibly ban their activities on radio which has become their predominant medium of deception.

AG-Begins Process To Retrieve Waterville, Isofoton Judgment Debts

The state has in connection with a judgement secured by the former Attorney General, Martin Amidu, filed a process to retrieve the judgement debts paid wrongly to Isofoton SA and Waterville Holdings.
The Supreme Court on 14th June unanimously ruled that Waterville Holdings should refund an amount of €47 million paid to it as judgment debt by the state.
On June 21, the Supreme Court again ruled that Isofoton SA should also refund about $325, 472 that was paid to it as judgement debt.
 Correspondent at the High Court confirmed that the Attorney General “has filed the process to the High Court” to enforce the order by the Supreme Court for the retrieval of the monies paid.
According to him, the process was filed in August “and so the High Court is yet to enforce that order…so that the state will get a refund of the said amount.
Martin Amidu has been in the forefront in retrieving various sums of monies paid in what is alleged to be "dubious judgement debts" a.k.a "create loot and share" causing the state to loose various sums of money

Dangers of eating instant noodles-The adds don't tell you!

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) calls on consumers to avoid eating instant noodles as it is harmful to health. Studies have shown that high sodium consumption is linked to a variety of diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, stroke and kidney damage.
In 2004 Malaysians consumed 870 million packets of instant noodles but by 2008 it had increased to more than 1,210 million packets. 

Instant noodle is a highly processed food that lacks nutritive value. It is a junk food. Every single serving of instant noodle is high in carbohydrates, sodium and other food additives, but low on essential elements such as fibre, vitamins and minerals.

According to the Codex Standards (FAO standards) for instant noodles, acid regulators, flavour enhancers, thickeners, humectants, colours, stabilizers, anti-oxidants, emulsifiers, flour treatment agents, preservatives and anti-caking agents are allowed to use in the making of instant noodles.
24 of the 136 listed additives in the Codex Standards are sodium salts. And the use of sodium additives is the main reason why instant noodles are high in sodium. High-sodium foods can cause hypertension, heart disease, stroke, kidney damage and other health problems.
Tests conducted by CAP on 10 samples of instant noodles found three samples to contain sodium above 1,000 mg. The average amount of sodium found in the samples was 830 mg. According to the current US Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of sodium for adults and children over 4 years old is 2,400 mg/day. Consumption of instant noodles can easily cause excessive sodium intake as sodium is commonly used in our other daily foods especially from processed and hawker foods.
Another health concern is the reported leaching of dioxin and other hormone-like substances from the plastic container of the cup noodle. As hot water is added harmful substances could seep into the soup.
One of the major concerns with instant noodle is that it can produce oxidised fat and oil if it is not managed properly during the manufacturing process. This is of concern if the cooking oil is not maintained at the proper temperature or the oil is not changed as often as necessary.
Instant noodles are coated with wax to prevent the noodles from sticking together. This can be seen when hot water is added to the noodles. After some time the wax can be seen floating in the water.
Codex Standards also allow the use of 10,000 mg/kg of the chemical propylene glycol, an anti-freeze ingredient as humectants (help to retain moisture to prevent noodles from drying) in instant noodles. Propylene glycol is readily absorbed and it accumulates in the heart, liver and kidneys causing abnormalities and damage. The chemical is also capable of weakening the immune system. 
SOURCE:www.consumer.org

 

Why the world can't keep silent on Syria

 Over the past two years, what began as a series of peaceful protests against the repressive regime of Bashar al-Assad has turned into a brutal civil war. Over 100,000 people have been killed. Millions have fled the country. In that time, America has worked with allies to provide humanitarian support, to help the moderate opposition, and to shape a political settlement. But calls for military action has been resisted by many including Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's government,with the view that the world cannot resolve someone else’s civil war through force, particularly after a decade of war in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The situation turned sour,on August 21st, when Assad’s government gassed to death over a thousand people, including hundreds of innocent children. The images from this massacre are sickening: Men, women, children lying in rows, killed by poison gas.On that terrible night, the world saw in gruesome detail the terrible nature of chemical weapons, and why the overwhelming majority of humanity has declared them off-limits -- a crime against humanity, and a violation of the laws of war.
In World War I, thousands GIs of American were killed by deadly gas in the trenches of Europe. In World War II, the Nazis used gas to inflict the horror of the Holocaust.These weapons can kill on a mass scale, with no distinction between soldier and infant, the civilized world has spent a century working to ban them. And in 1997, the United States Senate overwhelmingly approved an international agreement prohibiting the use of chemical weapons, now joined by 189 governments(U.N) that represent 98 percent of humanity.

These basic rules were violated on August 21st,along with our sense of common humanity. Evidence of the use of chemical weapons in Syria were available for everyone seeking to find one,with thousands of videos, cell phone pictures, and social media accounts of the attack, and stories told by humanitarian organizations  of hospitals packed with people who had symptoms of poison gas.
Moreover,it became so clear in the days leading up to August 21st that Assad’s chemical weapons personnel prepared for an attack near an area where they mix sarin gas. They distributed gas-masks to their troops. Then they fired rockets from a regime-controlled area into 11 neighborhoods that the regime has been trying to wipe clear of opposition forces.The gas spread, and hospitals got filled with the dying and the wounded.

When dictators commit atrocities, they depend upon the world to look the other way until those horrifying pictures fade from memory. But the U.N and the rest of the world can not that these things happened. The question now is what the United States of America, and the international community, is prepared to do about it. Because what happened to those people -- to those children -- is not only a violation of international law, it’s also a danger to world security.
If the "world" fail to act, the Assad regime will see no reason to stop using chemical weapons. As the ban against these weapons erodes, other tyrants will have no reason to think twice about acquiring poisonous gas, and using them. Over time,our wold would again face the prospect of chemical warfare on the battlefield. And it could be easier for terrorist organizations to obtain these weapons, and to use them to attack civilians.
 This is not a world we seek.This is what’s at stake. And that is why, after careful deliberation,the U.N must stop Assad regime’s use of chemical weapons by any means necessary and to make clear to the world that we will not tolerate their use.

5-foods that makes you younger than your age

Many people suffer from early ageing. However, ageing is a natural phenomenon that comes with time. But in some cases it comes before its time. Here are some effective natural foods that prevents ageing and makes you look younger :
1.Sweet Potatoes contains very high levels of Vitamin A. This antioxidant helps neutralize the damaging effects of oxidation caused by free radicals.It also contains copper which facilitates collagen production. Therefore, you will have thicker, more elastic skin. The root provides exceptional storage proteins. These proteins ward off impairment to the cells’ DNA and consequently halt the process of aging.

2. Wild Salmon:Salmon is one of the best-known sources of skin-beautifying Omega fatty acids. Salmon reduces inflammation more effectively than any other food. It enhances radiance, reduces wrinkles and puffiness. Salmon is a beauty food because it’s nutrients play a key role in keeping the skin’s outer layer soft and smooth. The Omega-3s in salmon reduce inflammation on the cellular level that can cause redness, wrinkles, and loss of firmness.
                                          

 

3. Tomatoes Lycopene, the red pigment of the fruit is a potent antioxidant that protects skin from sun damage but from the inside out. To best absorb lycopene, eat tomatoes with olive oil. 

4. Citrus Fruits
Vitamin C is essential to building collagen, a vital component of young-looking skin, which starts breaking down in your twenties. Citrus also contains bioflavonoids, which protect skin from UV rays and help prevent cell death.




 

5. Leafy Greens
Spinach, kale,cabbages, and other greens contain lutein, shields skin from sun-induced inflammation and wrinkles.


Avoid White Foods
 Need another reason to avoid white bread, pasta, rice, and other refined grain products? They're quickly broken down into the ultimate white food: sugar. Once in the bloodstream, sugar bonds with protein and creates advanced glycation end products (aptly abbreviated AGEs), which cause collagen to become inflamed and stiff, leading to wrinkles.
 [Source : http://www.details.com, simpleantiagingsecrets.com, ladonnarose.com, themedicalfacts.com]

Gh politicians line up for lashes

Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North in the Central Region, Kennedy Agyapong says President John Mahama has failed to meet all the targets set for him by Ghanaians, his employers.

According to him, the dwindling economy, the never-ending power and water crisis and labour agitations are all attestations to the fact that the President is a “failure”.

He added that such a "gargantuan failure" on the part of the Mahama-Amissah-Arthur administration, gives credence to suggestions that politicians are corrupt.

The NPP MP said it is now an established fact that politicians in the country only "fight" for power just to loot and share monies with their cronies to the detriment of Ghanaians.

"Politicians just like the police are killing this country. We are really corrupt," he stressed.

The Assin North MP noted that the only way to keep politicians on their toes is for God to give "all of us severe lashes".

"I wish God invites all politicians, first person President Mahama and give him 36 lashes, the next his vice [Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur] 30 lashes, Ministers 24 and MPs 18 lashes to keep us on our toes".

The NPP MP says he feels very guilty considering how politicians have contributed to Ghana’s under-development.

He stated that not everyone can become a good leader but “if you find yourself in a leadership position, you must ensure everyone is satisfied”.

Kennedy Agyapong said until Ghanaians put pressure on government to do the right things, they will continue to live in abject poverty.

What are your thoughts on what he said? Is he justified or not to make such pronouncements? Let's get talking!

 

Ken Dzirasah -Condems JAK's suggestion of a second chambr

A former Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Ken Dzirasah has suggested that Ghana should not consider the setting up of a second chamber in Parliament “until we grow deeper and more matured in our democratic practice.”
Former President John Kufuor has proposed the addition of a second chamber to Ghana’s Parliament as exists in the UK and other countries.
According to him, this will ensure effective checks and balances of the Executive arm of government and will also give a voice to the voiceless in the country.
Mr. Dzirasah stated that the Council of State is somehow performing the role of a second chamber and opined that there should be a “review of the advisory role of the Council being enhanced to vest it with some legislative review powers".
He noted that huge chunk of resources is being invested into building the country’s democratic institutions and structures.Therefore considering the current economic situations,it will not be prudent to have a second camber.
This view is shared by a large number of the citizenry,who holds the view that our current parliament is inefficient and state resource are being wasted in caring for their opulent life style.

Second Chamber of GH's parliamet not necessary-Rxn 2 JAK

Suggestion by John Agyekum Kuffour,an ex-president of the republic of Ghana has been described as premature if not irrelevant by some Ghanaian youths.
He was quoted to have said in an interview in the past few days,"Ghana needs a second chamber of parliament to augment to the works of the current parliament". His suggestions though carries some substance, would not be the best taking into account the current state of Ghana's economy,and the perception by various youths that the current parliament is a failure.
A section of the population  is of the view that parliamentarians are not only ineffective in their formulation of legislation,but also self-centered.
Several instances can be cited where parliamentarians either vote for legislation/bills to be pass into laws, based on their partisan interest and not a national interest.It has also been alleged on countless occasions,that parliamentarians either have to delay government business or fast-track same, for the lack motivation(kick-backs).

This has triggered reactions from various circles and media.An influential media personality and self-acclaimed president of the youth Abieku Aggrey Santana,was heard on OKAY FM a media house where he is host the drive time(Thursday 12th September),raining curses on leadership of state and particularly parliament for their inefficiency in running the state and failure to implement basic programs such provision National Identification Cards among a host others.
Ghana's current parliament is seen not punctual at sittings,carry-out debates in trivial manner that can not be seen in secondary schools.
An alternative however is to ensure efficiency of current parliament,avoid the constant partisan stands on national issues and approach issues with the future of country in mind.

Written by Gilbert McCaurey.

Online Friendships-Whats are the gains?

Which way of communication do you prefer?

□ Face-to-face

□ Phone

□ Computer

Whom do you find it easiest to communicate with?

□ Classmates

□ Family members

□ Fellow Christians

IN which environment is your communication least inhibited?

□ At school

□ At home

□ At christian meetings

 Did say that you prefer to communicate by computer rather than talk face-to-face when dealing with people? If YES, you’re not alone. Many youths use the Internet to start and maintain friendships. “The idea of being able to meet people from around the world—people you’ll never have been able to associate with —is alluring,” says a young man Romeo. Redeemer also points out an exciting angle: “You can control how people view you,” He says. “When you’re face-to-face, if you don’t fit in, there’s nothing you can do about it.” The little blunders we commit are overlooked in most online interactions

Now look at your answers to the second and third questions. Don’t be amazed if you find it easier to converse with classmates than with fellow Christians. “At school, there’s a greater chance of finding people who are going through the same things you are,” says Abigail. “That makes them a lot easier to warm up to.”

 Putting all these twists together,it may seem only natural that you would like to chat with schoolmates online. Mary admits that for a time she did that. “All my schoolmates talked online about things, and I didn’t want to be left out,” Mubarak, set up a Web page to keep in touch with peers. “Technology is advancing,” He says. “Communication is finding new forms. This is one of them, and I like it.”

What are some of the "Potential Dangers"?

Its obvious for some, making and maintaining friendships is easier online.The Internet gives you a form of confidence that you would otherwise not have. Many would agree If you’re shy,communicating online gives you a chance to plan exactly what you will say.

 But there are dangers to this communication, and we would be unwise to ignore them. To illustrate: Would you walk blindfolded through the streets of a dangerous neighborhood? Why, then, wander online without considering the dangers?

It’s way too easy to meet shady people,who at one time enjoyed casually chatting with strangers online. Sometimes it’s only a matter of minutes before someone makes lewd remarks or asks such questions as: ‘Are you a virgin? Do you do oral sex?’ Some even offer cyber-sex which we can say is not common in our cultural setting.

What if you’re just chatting with a trusted friend? Even then, you need to be careful.You could spend too much time conversing with someone of the opposite sex, even if that person is just a friend.The more time you spend sending messages to that person, the closer your friendship becomes, and conversation has the potential of becoming much more intimate.

Those Who Hide What They Are.....

 “I have not sat with men of untruth; and with those who hide what they are I do not come in.”Psalm 26:4 

 While online, do you encounter the type of people David spoke of? Under what circumstances do such people online “hide their identity?

Could it be that you hide what you are while online?Some start conversations with people and then take on a personality to fit the conversation,in a chat room.

Others also employed another form of deception.They soon start voicing feelings of love.Some of these being real expression and others being to scam you if care is not taken. Parents might not anticipate the possibility that their 13-year-old daughter was writing love poems to a 14-year-old boy.

Some end up arranging meeting strangers in clubs,beaches and many other places without thinking of their security.

PRECAUTIONS

No  doubt,there are times when online communication is appropriate. For example, many people—adults included—use the Internet to keep in touch with friends. If that’s true of you, are there any precautions you can take? Consider the following points.

● Monitor the amount of time you spend online, and don’t let it rob you of time for more important things—including sleep. .

● Communicate only with people you know or whose identity you can verify. Unsavory individuals regularly troll the Internet looking to exploit unsuspecting youths.

● When conducting a business transaction, be cautious. Be extremely careful about giving out personal information. Otherwise, you could become a victim of fraud—or worse.

● When sending photos to your friends, ask yourself, Does this truly represent who I truly am, or want to be perceived?

● As with face-to-face communication, if an online discussion becomes uncomfortable,end the conversation.

● Always be aboveboard in your use of the Internet. If you have to ‘hide what you are’ from your parents, something’s wrong. Be open to your parents.

MUST I THE AVOID ONLINE COMMUNICATIONS?

You want friends. That’s normal. Humans were created to enjoy the company of others. (Genesis 2:18) So when you feel the urge to have friends, that’s in harmony with the way you were made! Just be careful how you choose them.

Though it can be difficult be assured that you can find the best of friends if you choose them having strong moral standard.

Are You Ready To Leave Home?

A young man in Ghana named Mensah is quoted  saying,“I sometimes feel that people are looking down on me because I’m 23 and still living with my parents, like I won’t be an adult until I live on my own."

“I’m nearly 20, and I hate it that my opinions mean very little to my family.Particularly regarding how my life is run. I’ve considered leaving home.”Cathrine

LONG before you’re ready to leave home, you may begin to feel a desire for independence. That feeling is normal. After all,God’s original purpose was for youths to grow up and eventually leave their father and mother and establish their own family unit. (Genesis 2:23, 24; Mark 10:7, 8) But how can you know when you truly are prepared to leave home? Consider three important questions you need to answer. The first is . . .What Are My Motives?

Consider the list below and number in order of importance, the reasons why you want to leave home.

․․․․․ Escape problems at home

․․․․․ Gain more freedom

․․․․․ Improve my status with my friends

․․․․․ Help out a friend who needs a roommate

․․․․․ Help with volunteer work in another location

․․․․․ Gain experience

․․․․․ Ease the financial burden on my parents

․․․․․ Other ․․․․․

The reasons listed herein are not necessarily bad. The question is, What is your motive? For example, if you leave just to escape restrictions, you’re likely in for a shock!

Kafui, who left home for a while when she was 20, learned a lot the hard way. She says: “We all have to live with restrictions of some sort. When you’re on your own, your work schedule or lack of finances will restrict what you can do.” Afful,another who moved overseas for six months, says: “I enjoyed the experience, but I often felt that I had no free time! I had to keep up with the normal housework—cleaning the apartment, fixing things, pulling weeds, washing clothes, scrubbing floors, and so on.”

Don’t allow others to rush you into a decision. (Proverbs 29:20) Even if you have valid reasons to leave home, you’ll need more than good intentions. You’ll need survival skills—which leads to the second question . . .Am I Prepared?

Moving out on your own is like journeying in the wilderness. Would you trek into wild country without knowing how to set up a tent, light a fire, cook a meal, or read a map? Not likely! Yet, many young ones move away from home with few of the skills necessary to run a household.

(Proverbs 14:15) “the shrewd one considers his steps.” To help you determine whether you’re prepared to step out on your own, consider the following headings. Tick ✔ next to the skills you already have and an X next to those you need to work on.

□ Money management: “I’ve never had to make my own payments on anything until i moved says Gilbert. “I was  afraid of leaving home and having to budget my money.” How can you learn to manage money?

 “A wise person will listen and take in more instruction.” So why not ask your parents how much it’s likely to cost each week for one person to cover the rent or mortgage, buy food, and run a car or pay other transportation costs? Then have your parents assist you on  how to budget your money and pay your bills.

□ Domestic skills: How do you know if you’re ready to care for yourself? Lilian 20, offers this suggestion: “Try living for a week as if you were on your own. Eat only food that you prepare for yourself, that you buy for yourself at the store, and that you pay for with money you have earned. Wear clothes that you wash and iron. Do all your own housecleaning. And try to get where you need to go by yourself, with no one picking you up or dropping you off.” Following these suggestions will... (1) give you valuable skills and (2) increase your appreciation for the work your parents do.

Lilian went on to say "my greatest fear  about leaving home was how i could do my own laundry/washing".

□ Social skills: Do you get along so well with people around you(friends,parents and siblings? If not, you might assume that life will be easier when you move in with a friend. But consider the experience of a Canadian i met while we ferry between Kete-Krachi and Akosombo a 15hrs trip on lake Volta: “Two of my friends moved in together. They were best friends before they shared the apartment, but they just couldn’t live with each other. One was neat, the other messy. One was spiritually-minded, the other not so much. It just didn’t work!”

What’s the solution? Erin 38, says: “You can learn to relate with other people,by first getting along with people of your household. You learn how to handle problems and make compromises when the need arise.  Those who leave home to avoid disagreements with their parents learn to run away from conflicts, not to resolve them.”

□ Personal spiritual routine: There are yet others who leave home with the specifically escaping their parents’ religious routine. Others fully intend to maintain a good personal program of Bible study and worship but soon drift into bad habits. How can you avoid ‘shipwreck of your faith’?Establish a good personal routine of Bible study and worship, and then stick to it. Why not write your spiritual routine on a calendar and see if you can maintain it for a month without your parents’ having to prod you to do so?

Finally, consider where you'll be going

Where Am I Headed?

 Leaving home to get away from problems,break free from parental authority without considering what lies ahead,can be likened to driving a car with your eyes fixed on the rearview mirror—you’re so preoccupied with what you’re moving away from that you’re blinded to what lies ahead. The lesson? Don’t just concentrate on moving away from home—have your eyes fixed on a worthwhile goal.

Whatever your goal may be, think it through. “The plans of the diligent one surely make for advantage,” s“but everyone that is hasty surely heads for want.” (Proverbs 21:5) Listen to your parents’ advice. (Proverbs 23:22) Pray about the matter. And as you make up your mind, consider the Bible principles just discussed.

The real question is not Am I ready to leave home? but Am I ready to manage my own household? If the answer to that latter question is yes, then you may well be ready to strike out on your own.

Forget Paris, fall in love with Accra - Chibundu Onuzo

With only a 45 minute flight separating Lagos and Accra, you'd think I'd have been to Ghana at least once in my 22-year existence. Unfortunately until July 2013, the concepts holiday and Africa have never gone together in my head.

Holiday was Italy and structurally unsound towers; or America and discount shopping or France and baguettes. Not Ghana, longstanding "frenemy "of Nigeria, with the football team we all rooted for in the last World Cup. Yet, that's no reason to actually visit the place.

I went for a family wedding. If not for love, perhaps another 22 years would have passed before I made it to Accra. The first thing that struck me almost as soon as I stepped off the plane was the manner of the people.

Now I know it is hackneyed and passé and terribly clichéd to praise the hospitality of the locals and so I make the next statement knowing that I tread on imperial ground: Ghanaians are nice.

The friendly coconut seller in the photo above is just one of the myriad of fresh produce vendors that are dotted around the city. You spy a coconut, you pick a coconut, he splits the coconut and you drink the water out of it, right there and then on the roadside. No preservatives, no plastic bottles, just coconut.
I've often wondered why the global indexes drawn up only rank things like "Ease of Doing Business" or "Democracy," with criteria that leave African countries nearer the bottom than top. If only someone would draw up a ranking for Fresh Produce Consumption.
 This love of fresh food was on one occasion, however, taken to a rather bizarre extreme. My hotel restaurant didn't have half the dinner menu because the necessary ingredients were always bought fresh from the market and the market was closed!

Speaking of hotels, due to exceptionally bad planning, I found myself staying in three hotels over eight nights. The last, The University of Legon Guesthouse, was the best value for money. For $60 a night, I got an air-conditioned ensuite double room, beautifully landscaped grounds, the fastest internet I have used in West Africa and reasonably priced meals in the restaurant.

Now, as an original Lagosian, I haven't been to a place unless I've gone shopping in a place. I hit Oxford Street, Osu, on my second day in town. It's a roadside market that caters to the cravings of an ankara lover like myself, or 'African print' to those not quite in the know.

However, for more upmarket shoppers who want their air-conditioning and shopping trolleys, there's the Accra City Mall in East Legon where Ghanaian designers sell their work alongside international brands. In my humble opinion, local content was winning but I'm a little biased.
There are of course conventional touristy things to do in Accra. For the reasonable sum of six cedis, you can enjoy The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, final resting place of the first President of Ghana.                                                                                                              

 It's a serene venue for contemplation. The museum on site sheds some light on the man behind the leader that was a pivotal part of the independence movement in Africa. Yet I also like to see the places not fashionable enough for the beaten track, places that probably wouldn't make it into glossy tourist brochure.Ghana, beautiful as it is, is still a developing country.There are shopping malls and skyscrapers,one born every minute   but there is also Nima, where I met a lady who chops firewood every evening to cook her meals.I had open access to Nima thanks to the organization's invisible borders and their partnerships in the area. Perhaps not all the Millennium Development Goals have been met in Nima but there were other signs of development that international agencies don't often look for. I had my first private art viewing in Musa's studio in Nima. Only a stone's throw away from that was a photography exhibition in Nima roundabout. It wasn't all sightseeing and games though. I also went to Accra for the very serious business of book promoting. I've never been on radio in West Africa. It's no different from being on radio in England except the presenters on Joy and Citi FM understood my accent.I left Accra determined to go on holiday in more African countries. Forget Paris, Milan and Prague.Maputo "HERE I COME"  she says.                                         

NEGATIVE CONFLICT MANAGEMENT -TOXIC LEADERS

Conflict management is an integral part  of leadership. It is inevitable. And never is a leader's ability to lead more on trial than when he/she becomes confronted with conflict. It reveals a leader's steel(strength). Either it will demonstrate his credibility or expose his toxic deficiency. Most people get impressed by the size of a leader's organization; but in truth, it is their ability to deal with conflicts that brings out the best or the worst,in the leader
For conflict to be resolved, it requires a healthy, sensitive, selfless leader: one who can set aside his own fears, insecurities and pride, and concentrate on the needs and concerns of the people and the organization. Often an inept, insecure leader who cares only about "being right" and "looking good" before people tends to fuel conflict in an organization. Even conflict not initiated by a leader can be blown out of proportions by his fragile ego and fears of "losing face"
 CHARACTERISTICS OF TOXIC LEADERS
TOXIC LEADER'S OPINION IS ABSOLUTE :He/she  uses picth and statements that seem to suggest his way is the right and only way.Anyone who disagrees is intellectually inferior. And if his idea is not accepted, he withholds his support from any other initiative and may even attempt to undermine it. On the contrary, great leaders will promote unity and are willing to consider other opinions. They can receive criticism without becoming offended and even support programs or initiatives that they may not be personally enthusiastic about, but will participate in for the sake of supporting the people involved.
Because their opinions are absolute—or “from God,” there is no reason to try to understand any other person’s perspective. They wrongly think: “These people just need to submit.” When others try to explain another perspective, they quickly interrupt and talk over them; they don’t even listen because they’re only concerned about what they’re going to say next. Healthy leaders however are skillful listeners. Romans 12:10 says “in honor (they) give preference to one another.” They know that ,people must feel respected and valued in order to build unity,these leaders convey a sense of appreciation for the unique insights and perspectives that everyone brings to the table.

2.Abrasive tone:
His/her statements are often characterised by harsh, inflammatory words and condemning tones. It is not what he says, but how he says it. Statements are made that are provocative—even offensive. If they disagree with someone (which is typical)  their body language shouts rejection. They recoil and shake their head “disapprovingly.” They roll their eyes, and cross their arms. Everything about them says, “No way!” Of course, it is not wrong to disagree, but skillful leaders—uniting leaders—are able to disagree without being disagreeable or communicating rejection

3.“Toxic Leaders” are quick to criticize, correct and rebuke, but slow to encourage.
In fact, rarely does a “Toxic Leader” offer any hint of encouragement. They see people as things to use to accomplish a goal. They are out of touch with what people feel and need. They only care about  people doing their bidding, the way they are told to do it; and if you do it wrongly or in different way, beware the wrath of the contentious spirit. But good leaders are full of encouragement for those around  them. In fact, when they offer correction, they are able to do so in a way that affirms people and inspires them to “want” to do better.

FINAL WORDS:
Effective leadership is by nature the ability to manage and resolve conflict. It is the strength of character to rise above one's own need to be right and put the greater good of the organization first.