PRESIDENT MAHAMA INVITES INVESTORS

President John Mahama, has invited Iranian Investors to Ghana's energy sector, describing it as a priority area. According to him, the country needs an additional two thousand megawatts to meet the demand in the medium and long term industrialisation plan for Ghana. 

President Mahama, was addressing a Trade and Investment forum in the Iranian capital, Tehran. About Twenty Iranian Companies have expressed interest in doing business in Ghana.

The Islamic Republic of Iran, has been under sanctions from the United Nations for its Nuclear activities  for  years. The sanctions were lifted mid last year when Iran signed an international agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action with five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany. Under the agreement, Iran agreed to eliminate its storage of enriched uranium among others. This opens up, the country to doing business and forming partnership.

 Iran’s Trade,Industry and Mines Minister Mohammed Reza Nematzadeh, said Iran is poised to take up any form of investment with Ghana. He stated that Iran is equally blessed with natural resources which the country is ready to explore with other countries in a win win situation.
President Mahama, expressed hope that with the removal of sanctions and implementation of the Plan of Action, Iran can partner Ghana in the areas of energy,Oil and Gas, affordable housing, mining and education. Iran has technical expertise in these fields, which President Mahama, believes can push his governments transformational agenda. 

As the Chief sales person for Ghana, President Mahama as always has the onerous responsibility of wooing investors to Ghana. He espoused how Ghana's conducive social, political and economic environment makes her the preferred choice to do business.
As part of efforts by government to diversify the energy sector, President Mahama,invited Private Sector Power Producers to invest in the production of gas and also look at some renewable sources of energy like wind and solar. The extractive sector also came up for attention.

About Twenty Iranian businesses registered to partake in the conference and network with their Ghanaian counterparts. Iran has a strong industrial base. The country also has a developed health care sector which currently manufactures anti-cancer medicines. 

All eyes are on Iran now, as business and industry giants troop there to invest in the country's formerly sanctions battered economy

THE UPPER EAST REGIONAL POLICE COMMAND WARNS TO DEAL RUTHLESSLY WITH ALL LAND LITIGANTS

The Upper East Regional Police Command has warned that it would deal ruthlessly with all land litigants who resort to violence in addressing their concerns. 

The Regional Police Command stated this on the emerging trend of  assault cases related to land in the region and advised litigants to use the laid down procedures such as the courts in settling such disputes instead of resorting to violence.  

The Police Command  warning came at the instance when the Chiefs and people of the Pwalugu Community had pleaded with the Police and the Bolgatanga circuit court to withdraw an assault case in connection with a land litigation that occurred at Pwalugu in the Talensi District of the Region.

In that case, a 76 year old man, Mr Bukari Atikemah, of the Abatanga  family, was assaulted by some youth in the area when he went with a surveyor to demarcate a land at Pwalugu.

The Police subsequently  arrested and arraigned those involved in the assault before a Bolgatanga circuit court, for allegedly causing harm and stealing the victim"s money.  

The Chief and people of the Pwalugu community, after settling  the medical bills and refunding the victim’s  money  smoked  a peace pipe with him last Sunday at the Chief’s Palace at Pwalugu,

Speaking on behalf of the Regional Police Command ,  the Regional Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD)  Commander,  Deputy  Superintendant of Police , Kwae Teye ,  who was also  the Prosecutor in  the case in the Circuit  court, warned persons who  have  disputes on lands  to resort to the courts  instead of engaging in violence.

“The Police will not countenance  anybody who would want to use brutal means in this democratic era in addressing land litigation issues and will deal ruthlessly with such persons”, he warned.

Narrating the facts of the case, the Prosecutor,  said in February last year, the victim and his nephew went to the land at Pwalugu with a Surveyor to demarcate it. 

He said  the victim was in a car and the Surveyor and his nephew were doing the demarcation when the young men disputed what they were doing pulled  the victim from a car and stoned him until he became unconscious. 

He said subsequently the Police upon their investigation arrested  four of the youth and arraigned them before the circuit court .

Caption:

Some of family members shaking hands with the victim after smoking of the peace pipe at the Chief’s Palace

UGANDA OPPOSITION CANDIDATE KIZZA BESIGYE HELD BY POLICE

One of Uganda's main opposition candidates has been briefly detained by police ahead of presidential elections on Thursday.

Kizza Besigye has been arrested on many occasions in past but this is the first time during this election campaign.

Mr Besigye has in the past lost three disputed elections against the long-time leader Yoweri Musevini.

ZIMBABWE SEIZES PLANE WITH DEAD BODY AND CASH ON BOARD

A plane with a cargo of millions of South African rand has been impounded in Zimbabwe after a dead body was found on board..

State-run media , the Herald paper reports that blood was seen dripping from the South Africa-bound cargo plane during a refuelling stop.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's Civil Aviation Authority said the matter had been handed over to the police to investigate.  Its chief, David Chawota, said the cargo on the US-owned plane belonged to the South African Reserve Bank

A senior official at the bank, Pradeep Maharaj, said: "The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is aware of an aircraft carrying a SARB consignment that stopped in Harare and was detained following the discovery of an unidentified body that is presumed to be a stowaway on the aircraft."

 Pradeep Maharaj said the bank is working with authorities to ensure that the cargo was released and transported to South Africa.

Zimbabwean officials said the plane had been travelling from Germany to South Africa and belonged to Florida-based Western Global Airlines and had made a request to land at Zimbabwe's Harare International Airport to refuel.

PRESIDENT MAHAMA AND IRANIAN PRESIDENT ADDRESS MEDIA IN IRAN

 President John Dramani Mahama and his Iranian Counterpart, Dr. Hassan Rouhani has addressed a press conference at the Sa'd Abad Palace in Tehran after a closed door meeting and bilateral talks. 

President Mahama who arrived in Tehran on Saturday was ushered into the Palace by a mounted horse squadron after which he inspected a guard of honour. 

The two sides held bilateral discussions and shared views on a number of issues before signing two Memoranda of Understanding on Cooperation on Standards and also on Agriculture. 

President Mahama is the first African Leader to visit Iran following the lifting of the UN sanctions on Iran. He is also the first sitting Ghanaian President to visit Iran since the Islamic revolution almost 4 decades ago. 

Meanwhile President John Dramani Mahama, as part of his three day State

visit to Iran,  has  met with the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. The private meeting highlighted Iran’s positive and favourable position with regard to enhanced

cooperation with African countries since the very onset of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. 

President John Mahama highlighted Iran’s rich civilisation and pioneering role in scientific spheres. Referring to the activities of terrorist groups in Africa and West Asia and appreciating Iran’s serious fight against terrorism, President Mahama commented on what he described as the complicated situation in Syria. He stated that with Iran’s foreign policy based on respect for nations right to decide their own fate,he is hopeful the issue of Syria will be settled.

2016 VALS DAY CELEBRATED IN CHURCHES

Its here again! Today is 14 February and it happens to be Valentines Day! This is the day when people show love to their love ones.

 It's common to see people buying hampers, toffee, chocolate, teddy bear to their boyfriend's, girlfriends wives and husbands. The colour for the day is red. It's common to see people in red attire. But what is the history behind valentines day? 

Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is an annual holiday celebrated on February 14. It originated as a Western Christian liturgical feast day honoring one or more early saints named Valentinus, and is recognized as a significant cultural and commercial celebration in many regions around the world, although it is not a public holiday in any country.

In Ghana, it is changed from valentines day to National chocolate Day. The day is used to promote chocolate which is made from Ghana's cocoa. Series of activities are organized to educate the public on the need to consume locally manufactured chocolate. 

This year’s festival will be held at the West Hills Mall in Accra, and is under the theme, “Chocolate: The Gift Of Love” According to a statement passed by the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) in Accra, the event of activities lined up during the current year’s occasion incorporate a visit to Tetteh Quarshie and Jubilee Cocoa Farms at the Mampong Akuapem by tourist clubs, the children of school and in addition the overall population.

An entourage of the National Chocolate Day celebration will converge at the Food Court of West Hills Mall, where the Ghana Tourist Authority hold an exhibition of cocoa-based products and subsequently, in conjunction with the Chefs’ Association of Ghana, organise a Culinary Competition of chocolate-based foods.

Aside these National chocolate day activities musical programs, love summit and beach parties are organised. Fortunately or unfortunately this year's valantines day fell on Sunday so such programs were held yesterday the 13 of February.


On my way to church today, I spotted lots of people in red. The common message which will run through sermons today will obviously be about love.

Well it's good that our Ministers of God will use the day to educate the congregation about love and how to celebrate the day wisely. Some churches are also organizing program after church service. This Ministers of God explains is to keep the youth inn church instead of going to unholy places.  Example of such program is Valentines Musical Concert organised by the Youth Fellowship of Mataheko Branch of Faith Evangelical Mission Worldwide.

Some school of thought believe that valentines day should not be celebrated since it's has nothing to do with Ghanaians, secondly its not biblical and thirdly the day has been abused with immoral activities. According to them Ghana has lots of people who have showed love one way or the other and needs to be celebrated and not one Saint Valantines. One of such person is Yaa Asantewaa. Others believe it's worth celebrating since it gives Ghana the chance to showcase and sell its cocoa products. 


Whether we like it or not valentines day has come to stay so the best way to make the day beneficial to all us to intensify the campaign against immoral activities on that day and instead join the campaign to promote cocoa products. 

Let's not wait for valentines day before we show love to people. Show love to all wherever you find yourself. Happy National chocolate Day. Long live Ghana!