NIGERIA SECURITY FORCES 'KILLED 150 PEACEFUL PRO-BIAFRA PROTESTERS'

Nigeria's security forces have killed more than 150 peaceful protesters since August 2015, a human rights group has claimed.

Amnesty International said the military used live ammunition and deadly force against pro-Biafra protesters who were campaigning for an independent state in the south-east.

Nigeria's police denies allegations that it used unnecessary force.

The country's army said Amnesty was trying to tarnish its reputation.

Amnesty's report is based on interviews with almost 200 people alongside more than 100 photographs and 87 videos.

Among the allegations contained in the report are what Amnesty called "extrajudicial executions", when 60 people were shot and killed in south-eastern Onitsha city, in the two days surrounding Biafra Remembrance Day in May 2016.

"This reckless and trigger-happy approach to crowd control has caused at least 150 deaths, and we fear the actual total might be far higher" said Makmid Kamara, Amnesty's interim director for Nigeria.

Other victims detailed in the report include a 26-year-old man who was shot in Nkpor, but hid in a gutter, still alive. He said when soldiers found him, they poured acid over him, and told him he would die slowly.

FIRST LADY COMMISERATE WITH OTUMFUOR OSEI TUTU

The First Lady, Her Excellency Dr. Nana Lordina Mahama has called on Otumfuor Osei Tutu II at the Manhyia palace in Kumasi to commiserate with him on the passing of his mother.

The Asantehemaa, Queen mother of Asante Kingdom, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II died on November 14, 2016 at the age of 111.

The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Marietta Brew Appiah Oppong, Minister of Education, Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Tourism, Elizabeth Agyare and some National Democratic Congress party executives accompanied the First Lady.

The First Lady also signed the book of condolence that was opened at the Palace. She later went round to condole with mourners that had gathered at the Manhyia Palace.

GIVE SPECIAL FOCUS TO MARGINALISED GROUPS ...SAYS FIRST LADY

First lady Mrs. Lordina Mahama has stated that the surest way to ensure universal access to education is for parents and other stakeholders in the education sector to give a special focus to the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in the country.

This include children living in fragile and conflict-affected areas, children with disabilities, and girls who are most likely to be affected because of inadequate learning materials and unsuitable education infrastructure.

Mrs Mahama who was addressing a durbar when the Lordina foundation presented medical supplies and equipment to the Tuobodom Health Centre in the Brong Ahafo Region reminded all about the importance of education which is one of the most important investments a country can make in its people and its future to eradicate poverty, and create wealth.

The First Lady asserted "Most especially, early childhood education and development. It is a known fact that easy access to education liberates generations of any family from the shackles of poverty".

She said education is a basic right, and is enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child hence every girl and boy should have the right to a quality education so that they can have more chances in life, including employment opportunities, better health and also to participate in the political process.

According to the 2015 report of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), that sub-Saharan Africa remains the home to the largest out of school population of children in the world.

Even though Ghana has achieved universal enrolment of children in primary school, there is still a significant number of children, especially girls, in the rural areas that are not in school.

This the First Lady noted informs her call for equal opportunities to education for every child when she addressed a large gathering of chiefs and queen mothers, and other dignitaries at a colourful durbar to mark the 7th Annual Convention of the Council of Brong Ahafo Associations of North America (COBAANA) at Worcester, Massachusetts in the US.

She called parents and stakeholders in the education sector to ensure that their wards learn to read, count, and acquire the necessary life skills as Government is committed to improving education in the country.

Mrs. Mahama indicated that under education, which falls under “Putting people first is one of the four themes of the NDC manifesto, the President, among other things, has promised to establish colleges of education for the sole purpose of training teachers in early childhood care and development.

"The government is determined to eliminate all schools under trees by 2021 and to pilot the use of electronic textbooks at the JHS and secondary level. Students will receive tablets that have their core textbooks on it.  By bringing in this innovation, the government believes that education would become easier for our children" she assured the people.

This and other things show how committed government is in meeting the Sustainable Development Goal 4 which is to “Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all” by 2030.

As Ghana prepares to go to the polls on December 7, the First Lady used the opportunity to urge the people of Tuobodom to live in harmony with each other and promote unity at all time. She reminded them of the need to preach the need to maintain the peace Ghana is enjoying wherever they find themselves.

With support from its sponsors and Medshare USA, the Lordina Foundation has supported health facilities with medical supplies and equipment in all ten regions of Ghana.

DON'T ONLY PEACH PEACE BUT JUSTICE AND FAIRNESS...APOSTLE THIOMBIANO URGES

The General  Overseer of the Living Waters community Chapel International , Apostle Paul  Thiombiano has called for more emphasis  to be placed  on  Justice and Fairness in the 2016 general elections.

According to him  preaching peace and coming up with  all kinds  of peace songs, adverts among other things without  placing emphasis on  justice and fairness in the upcoming election could be a misplaced priority. 

"The peace  we seek for will elude us if we fail to emphasize on justice and fairness, he said.

In a sermon Apostle  Thiombiano noted that it is an undeniable fact that there can be no peace without justice.  Adding that it was very sad and unfortunate  that the same political  leaders  and their followers who preach peace and proclaim willingness  to ensure  a peaceful  election  are the same individuals who insult and make comments likely to cause mayhem and anarchy in this country.

He admonished the National peace council, the National  chief imam; the Christian Council of Ghana;  traditional  leaders, the Council of State; political  leaders; the clergy and all stake holders  not to only preach peace  but to also preach the need for  justice, transparency and  equity in the forthcoming elections. 

Apostle  Thiombiano  is of the view  that if all state institutions, especially the Electoral Commission will adhere to the code of ethics, the rule of law and eschew favoritism and partisanship to ensure justice and fairness, then without a shred of a doubt peace will prevail no matter which side the political pendulum lean to. He urged the Electoral Commission  to be uncapricious and in all decisions, put Ghana first.

The veteran preacher urged political leaders to move away from mere rhetorics and be realistic and sincere in their quest for peace. 

"Political leaders should condemn, unequivocally, all acts of violence and political rudeness that is likely to breach the peace of this great and noble nation of ours" he said.

He prayed for a peaceful and successful election as we all ensure justice, equity and transparency.

LET'S MAINTAIN KWAME NKRUMAH CIRCLE INTERCHANGE;THE LONGEST AND HIGHEST IN WEST AFRICA

Traffic has reduced drastically at the Kwame Nkrumah circle as a result of the completion of the three tier interchange there. 

This is the highest and longest flyover in West Africa. Prior to the construction of the interchange, people spent several hours on that stretch of road before getting to their destinations.

But today I spent few minutes to get to circle from Kaneshie. Experts estimated that the congestion that used to be created as a result of heavy traffic and lack of traffic flow resulted in an estimated loss of about $100million per annum to the national economy.

With the completion and commissioning of the 74million Euros project which has transformed Circle as it is popularly called into the three tier interchange, heavy traffic is set to be dissolved as well as   productivity will increase since time spent on  that stretch of road will be reduced.

Aside the construction of the three tier interchange, a recreational Park, a spectacular automated water light show and a magnificent Monumental structure has been constructed as well. This will not only boost the tourism sector but the economy of the country as well.

There is a Police station, Ambulance and Fire services all situated at the Kwame Nkrumah circle to check crimes and ensure the safety of Ghanaians within that area. No wonder people have started calling Kwame Nkrumah Circle “Dubai”.

The enthusiastic crowd which witnessed the commissioning yesterday is enough to tell the world that Ghanaians are happy about the project.  Past Presidents such as Kwame Nkrumah, John Jerry Rawlings John Agyekum Kufour and the Late John Evans Atta Mills have also done their part as far as development of road infrastructure is concerned and I must commend them for that.

The revolutionary piece of infrastructural architecture that has transformed Circle is a laudable one and all must put aside politics and say Ayeeko to President John Mahama led administration.

But I am very much concern about the ability of the country to maintain this laudable projects. I wish to add my voice to calls by President Mahama for the Department of Urban Roads under the Ministry of Roads and High ways to try as much as possible to maintain the project. The Accra Metropolitan Assemble must also help in ensuring that the beauty of this edifice is not compromised.

It is sad to see hawkers taking over the streets of circle again  doing their businesses just a day after the Kwame Nkrumah interchange was commissioned. I am not saying these people should not work in order to fend for themselves and their families but they must also consider the development of this country and the future generation as well.

I call on appropriate authorities to control hawkers at 'Circle' in order to ensure the beauty and maintenance of this edifice. Together we can make Ghana a better place. Long live Ghana!

MORE CHILDREN BENEFIT FROM FIRST LADY'S DONATIONS

The First Lady Mrs Lordina Mahama continues to put smiles on the faces of people especially children as she donates to orphanages across the country.

The latest to benefit from such donations is the children of Esanns Schools and Orphanage located in Fante Newtown, a suburb of Awutu Bawjiase in the Central Region.

Established in 2005 Esanns Schools and Orphanage has over 300 children under its care.  The children could not hide their joy when they saw the First Lady as smiles were written all over their faces.

Items donated to the school include sacks of rice, sugar, cartons of milo, gallons of cooking oil, boxes of tomato paste, canned fish, mixed beverages, biscuits and tolls.

The First Lady Mrs Mahama, who is a philanthropist, through her foundation, the Lordina Foundation has regularly donated items to orphanages as part of her commitment to provide them with their needs.

So far she has adopted and supports seven orphanages across the country. They are Anfani Children’s Home,Tamale Children’s Home, Frankmay Orphanage, Lets Kids Smile   orphanage, Bethesda orphanage  Osu  and Christ Faith Foster (Fafraha) Homes.

She is also facilitating accommodation for toddlers in the Osu Children’s Home and the Tamale Children’s Home. The First Lady believes that every child irrespective of where they find themselves must live a normal and comfortable live hence the donations to these orphanages.

As a philanthropic touching lives and caring for people especially the vulnerable and less privileged in society, remains the sole passion of the First Lady Mrs. Lordina Mahama.

GHANA HAS ACHIEVED MANY SUCCESSES IN ENSURING HIV FREE FUTURE......SAYS FIRST LADY

The Lordina Foundation has over the years conducted health outreach programme across the country with that aim of creating awareness about Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV, and the reproductive health of women in general.

First Lady Mrs. Lordina Mahama who is the President of the Foundation believes that prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission is important for Ghana to reduce the risk of transmitting HIV from mothers to their children.

However, only 75% of pregnant women living with HIV received Antiretrovirals for PMTCT in 2014 and only 30% of HIV positive Children received treatment.

It is against this background, the Lordina Foundation, in collaboration with the OAFLA Ghana Chapter, the Ghana AIDS Commission and partners, has been conducting advocacy on Prevention of Mother-to Child Transmission of HIV, and Keeping Mothers Alive, to support the country’s efforts to eliminate Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV.

The First Lady Mrs Lordina Mahama is excited that expectations of the foundation and other partners are likely to be realized, because their engagements with eight regions, that is, Eastern, Brong Ahafo, Northern, Western, Central, Greater Accra, Volta and Ashanti have yielded great results.

At a recently health screening held in Bawjiase in the Central Region, Mrs Lordina Mahama announced that  Ghana has achieved many successes in ensuring HIV free future. According to her with collaborative effort of the Ghana Aids Commission, Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV (OAFLA), UNAIDS and the Lordina Foundation, Ghana has been able to reduce annual AIDS deaths by 43 percent, achieved 50 percent reduction in transmission of HIV from mother-to-child, treated 66 percent of infected pregnant women to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV and prevalence of HIV among exposed babies has reduced to 8 percent at birth and 21percent after breastfeeding down from 32percent.

Mrs Mahama noted that in spite of these successes there are challenges that threatens to undermine the success if stakeholders in the health sector do not double their efforts, and work together, to address the remaining and new challenges, in Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission.

She mentioned traditions that disempower women from taking personal decisions on their health; culture of fear, discrimination and non-acceptance of HIV status by male counterparts as some of the challenges.

‘’It is for these reasons that this advocacy that I am spearheading, stresses community involvement, and the involvement of men, in supporting their partners to access HIV and reproductive health services’’ the First lady noted.

She added that adolescents continue to experience, elevated HIV vulnerability, with the greatest risk of exposure yet until recently, they have hardly been at the centre of discussions, at the global and national levels.

The surest way to move Ghana towards an HIV free future, through the Prevention of Mother-to-Child-Transmission, safe sex and reduction of stigma; and significantly reduce the number of cervical and breast cancers, that occur in society the First lady believes, is  by encouraging women to test for HIV and conduct regular breast self-examination.

She expressed the commitment of government to continue to place importance on and implement the National Strategic Plan 2016-2020 on HIV/AIDS and work towards achieving fast-track targets of 90% of People Living with HIV know their status, 90% of People Living with HIV on Antiretroviral treatment and 90% immune suppression.

Director General of the Ghana Aids Commission, Dr. Angela El Adas for her part said considering the busy schedule of women they hardly find time to visit the hospital for regular checkup hence the medical outreach to bring healthcare to the doorsteps of women. She indicated that out of every ten people, seven people made up of women and children are affected with HIV.

Dr. El Adas entreated women to be concerned about their health and find time to visit the hospital on regular basis, since their health is more important than any other thing.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hannah Tetteh, who doubles as the Member for Parliament for Awutu Senya thanked the First Lady for organizing the health screening for the people of Bawjiase who fall under her constituency. She assured the First Lady she would do her best to ensure that the people take advantage of the screening.

Queenstar Maame Pokuah Sawyerr who is the Deputy Central Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Agona urged the people to vote based on the developmental projects being undertaken by President Mahama.

The people of Bawjiase and its environs were tested for HIV, screened for Cervical and breast cancers, syphilis and other reproductive health diseases.

The First Lady Mrs Lordina Mahama will not relent in her efforts in bring healthcare to the door steps of Ghanaians as a way of ensuring universal access to healthcare.