Kwakye Ofosu demands apology from Akufo-Addo over homosexual answer.

A Deputy Communications during former President John Mahama-led administration, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, says President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo must apologize to the people of Ghana for his failure to defend them during an interview on legalizing homosexuality.

Mr Kwakye Ofosu said there are overwhelming Ghanaians who are against homosexuality so for the President, who promised to hold the dignity of this country, to refuse to be emphatic on the position of the country on the matter indicates he has betrayed the nation.

President Akufo-Addo was on Al Jazeera’s Talk to Al Jazeera on Sunday to talk about a wide range of issues concerning the African continent and Ghana. Among the issues were happenings in Togo, Zimbabwe and Kenya. He was also quizzed on Donald J. Trump.

The interview, which was conducted by Al Jazeera presenter, Jane Dutton, had a question on why homosexuality is illegal in Ghana.

In an answer to the question, President Akufo-Addo said “this is the socio-cultural issue if you like…I don’t believe that in Ghana, so far, a sufficiently strong coalition has emerged which is having that impact on public opinion that will say: ‘Change it [the law], let’s then have a new paradigm in Ghana.

I grew up in England; I went to school as a young boy in England and I grew up at a time in England when homosexuality was banned there, it was illegal and I lived in the period when British politicians thought it was anathema to think about changing the law and suddenly the activities of individuals, of groups, a certain awareness, a certain development grew and grew and grew stronger and it forced a change in law.

 

I believe those are the same processes that will bring about changes in our situation.

At the moment, I don’t feel and I don’t see that in Ghana, there is that strong current of opinion that will say: ‘This is something that we need even deal with’. It’s not, so far, a matter which is on the agenda.”

But reacting to the President’s comments on TV3’s New Day hosted by Bright Nana Amfoh on Monday, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu said: “Leaders are expected to represent the people, especially when you travel outside but he did not speak well in that instance”. “He did not cover himself.

He did not defend the position of Ghanaians and what we need is an apology and not defend his position,” the National Democratic Congress (NDC) member explained.

He said “overwhelming [number of] Ghanaians have stated their position against it therefore the president is bound by the people of Ghana to defend them but he did not defend the position on the matter”.

U-turn

The former Deputy Communications Minister said “we are not barbaric like persons who go about torturing those who are involved in it but we are against it and that is why there is widespread anger against the president over the position”.

Mr. Kwakye Ofosu said the President’s position is a mark of a U-turn because some members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have openly spoken and kicked against it.

 

“It marks a sudden U-turn because some people in Parliament held press conference to kick against it. The Speaker of Parliament also spoke against it so why is the President afraid to maintain it?”

The Member of Parliament for Effutu Constituency in the Central Region, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, said the culture of Ghana forbids homosexuality but no one can victimize those who are involved.

He said “our culture does not support same-sex marriage but if someone is involved, can you report him to the police, or can you force him or antagonize him?”

The NPP MP said: “I don’t think that [the President] has introduced any controversy because we do not subscribe to same-sex relationships but if somebody has that orientation, he is a man and wants to have relationship with fellow man…what can you do to the person?”

He added that “if it gets to a stage where Ghanaians would want to discuss it whether or not the laws must be changed, that is also another matter”.

“However, if the same Ghanaians decide to think that there is nothing wrong in having open relationship, it is up to us”.

Mr. Afenyo-Markin noted that “even the Catholic Church in Europe could not sustain the same sex opposition pressure when the state imposed on them”.

“Do you deny the fact that we have a lot of same-sex relationship in Ghana?” the MP asked.

Source: Ghanaweb.com

SAD: Man, 22, gets death sentence for killing 2 Americans in Akwamufie.

A High Court in Accra has sentenced a 22-year-old man, Yaw Anokye, to death by hanging for the gruesome murder of two African-American women at Akwamufie in the Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region, in May 2015.

Yaw Anokye was found guilty by a seven-member jury after he had confessed to killing the two women in their 70s.

Delivering her judgment, the Judge, Justice Merley Afua Wood, asked God to have mercy on the soul of the accused as he was about to face death.

The two deceased persons, Mane Lena, 75, and 69-year-old Diop Nzanga, were kidnapped, murdered and buried in a shallow grave in 2015.

Police in Akosombo found the bodies of the two after they were reported to have gone missing.

Their bodies were exhumed after Acting President of the Akwamu Traditional Council dispatched over 70 people to complement a police search for the two when it became apparent they had gone missing.

About the two women

The two, who dealt in batik and tie-dye, had lived in a small settlement near Akwamufie for more than 18 years.

At the time, no reasons were assigned for the murder of the two expatriates, but some linked it to some community disagreement rooted in chieftaincy matters.

The Omanhene of the Akwamu Traditional Area, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, expressed shock at the murder of the two American women.

He said Akwamus had over the years lived with many strangers and settlers, including foreigners, on their land, without any problem.

Confession

According to the Daily Graphic, during the committal proceedings at the Accra Central District Court, Frimpong confessed to single-handedly clubbing the two women to death.

The five other accused persons were later discharged.

Frimpong repeated his confession at the Accra High Court during the trial, but stated that it was never his intention to kill them but that his intention was to steal from them.

According to him, he killed for fear of being exposed when they found him stealing in Madam Diop’s room.

Per his testimony, Frimpong went to the apartment to steal, but in the course of the act, Madam Diop returned home and caught him in the act.

Consequently, he struggled with her, overpowered her and tied her hands and also covered her mouth with a piece of cloth, after which he went home.

But out of fear of being exposed by his victim, he returned to the house with a club with the intention of killing her and met Madam Jaana in the apartment.

Frimpong told the court that he hit the two women repeatedly with the club and after killing them, and conveyed their bodies in a wheelbarrow to a nearby farm, dug a shallow grave and buried their bodies.

After the act, he stole GH¢156 from Madam Diop’s room, went to town and drunk alcohol in order to forget about what had happened.

Haunted

After the jury’s verdict last Wednesday, Frimpong was given an opportunity to make a statement before the court delivered its sentence.

He informed the court that he had committed other crimes which the police were currently investigating and said those crimes were haunting him.

“These crimes are haunting me because I know I committed them,’’ he said.

He prayed the court to have mercy on him because he had not intentionally killed the two women.

On death penalty in Ghana

The last time the Ghana recorded an execution of a convict, was in 1993, when then-president John Rawlings ordered the execution of 12 convicts via a firing squad.

According to Amnesty International Ghana, as at September 2016, there were 137 prisoners on death row, who have not been executed. As a result, many have pushed for Ghana to do away with the death penalty from Ghana’s legal system since it is not enforced.

Those opposed against the death penalty have argued that it is not the right punishment for a convicted murderer but retributive.

Death penalty has been in the country’s statute books since the application of the English common law in 1874, but in practice, no execution has been recorded since July 1993.

According to the proponents, much as the sentence may be seen in a wider sense as fairness, it doesn’t deter people from committing such crimes.

 

Source: Citifmonline.com

 

Give me a hug when you see me in town today – Naa Ashorkor Mensah-Doku

Gorgeous Ghanaian Media Personality, Naa Ashorkor Mensah-Doku has released Stunning photos of her to celebrate birthday today, announces free hugs for everyone who sees her around.

The actress took to her social media page to announce her 29th birthday and the ‘free gifts’ that come with it.

She wrote: “Give me a hug when you see me in town todayyyyy. #AyearOlder.”

She also posted another photo, praying for her fans.

She wrote: “From the bottom of my heart, I pray God blesses you like he has blessed me this year #AyearOlder”

A lot of her fans have trooped her Instagram page to wish her a happy birthday. Naa Ashorkor is one of the few Ghanaian women who have made a mark in the media. She is also an entrepreneur, a movie producer and director.

Don’t be left out. Visit her IG page and wish her well in all her endeavors. . Click on this link: Naa Ashorkor Mensah-Doku .

 

Vice President, Dr Bawumia and Family Needs Prayers – Prophet Reindolph Oduro.

 

A man of God who has been the centre of all the deadly prophecies, on Sunday, during his church service made an outrageous revelation about our very own Vice President, Dr.  Bawumia and his family and urged his congregation to intercede on their behalf. The Founder and General Overseer of God’s Crown Chapel, Prophet Bishop Randolph Oduro Gyebi revealing the prophecy during a church service asked the congregation to pray for the second gentleman of the land without given any advance reasons for it.

 

“let us pray more for Dr. Bawumia and his family”, he said in a video.

However, Eagle Prophet in some minutes video that went viral three weeks ago, preaching on Kumasi-based Abusua FM called for intense prayers for all presenters in Ghana in order not to face any misfortune. The man of God explaining further his revelation, singled out some presenters in Ghana especially; those with the Multimedia Group and appealed to pastors who preach on those networks to fervidly pray for the workers so that all the plans of the devil will not prevail.

 

“God protect our pastors. I know that Adom FM has pastors who pray for them. They should step up their pray for Adom and the workers there especially even though we will also commit it to prayer as God has directed. We commit all presenters in Ghana before God any plans by the evil one against them will not succeed”, Eagle Prophet said.

Judge permanently blocks Trump sanctuary cities order.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge on Monday permanently blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order to cut funding from cities that limit cooperation with U.S. immigration authorities.

U.S. District Court Judge William Orrick rejected the administration’s argument that the executive order applies only to a relatively small pot of money and said Trump cannot set new conditions on spending approved by Congress.

The judge had previously made the same arguments in a ruling that put a temporary hold on the executive order targeting so-called sanctuary cities. The Trump administration has appealed that decision to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

“The District Court exceeded its authority today when it barred the President from instructing his cabinet members to enforce existing law,” Department of Justice spokesman Devin O’Malley said in a statement late Monday. “The Justice Department will vindicate the President’s lawful authority to direct the executive branch.”

Orrick’s ruling came in lawsuits brought by two California counties, San Francisco and Santa Clara.

San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera said the ruling was “a victory for the American people and the rule of law.”

“President Trump might be able to tweet whatever comes to mind, but he can’t grant himself new authority because he feels like it,” he said in a statement.

A lawyer for the DOJ argued during a hearing before Orrick in April that the executive order applied to only a few grants that would affect less than $1 million for Santa Clara County and possibly no money for San Francisco.

But the judge disagreed, saying in his rulings that the order was written broadly to “reach all federal grants” and potentially jeopardized hundreds of millions of dollars in funding to San Francisco and Santa Clara.

He cited comments by the president and Attorney General Jeff Sessions as evidence that the order was intended to target a wide array of federal funding. And he said the president himself had called it a “weapon” to use against recalcitrant cities.

The Trump administration separately has also moved to withhold one particular law enforcement grant from sanctuary cities, prompting a new round of lawsuits that are pending.

 

Source: Yahoo News

Greece unveils flood relief measures as death toll hits 20.

Athens (AFP) – Greece’s government on Monday announced relief measures for areas hit by flooding as the death toll rose to 20 with two more people missing.

“All households (confirmed to) have sustained damage will receive an emergency benefit of 5,000 euros ($6,000),” government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said in a statement.

The freak flood struck early on Wednesday in the towns of Mandra, Nea Peramos and Megara, some 50 kilometres (30 miles) west of Athens.

The death toll rose to 20 on Sunday after a man’s body was recovered in Mandra.

“We are still looking for two more people,” a fire department spokeswoman said.

The waters have receded but the area is still full of debris, she added.

Most of the victims were drowned, carried away by the floodwaters and mudslides, or trapped in flooded cars or basements. Several were found at sea.

Tzanakopoulos said around 1,000 homes and properties in the area had been confirmed by inspection crews to have been damaged and their owners would be given state compensation.

He said the relief fund would also apply to other areas hit by flooding last week, including the Aegean island of Symi and parts of central and northern Greece.

Greece is also expected to request EU solidarity funds for stricken areas.

When All Hope Is Lost!

Who do you call a Friend? Who do you call unto, when all hell is breaking loose? Who responds to you when you call? Have you ever found yourself in a worst situation and the only thought that came in mind was Committing Suicide? Here, I have discovered some solutions to your problem. Enjoy Reading!!!

Your purpose for living is not determined by your failures in life. We are all unique in our own special way. No one is exempted. We were all made to use the tear ducts given to us by our Maker; you have to go through PAIN to experience PROGRESS. Such is life. Life is a journey full of uncertainties and we are all bound to go through it. And yes, some were born with a silver spoon in their mouth and others, were to suffer to gain. Regardless of your background and whatsoever situation you are going through; bear in mind that, there will always be a light at the end of every tunnel. Quit self-doubt and strive hard to achieve greatness. There came a time in my life, that I thought it was all over but with Prayer, Hardwork and Determination, I was able to achieve greatness. Remember, people for that matter, will come at you with all sort of let downs, words of discouragement just because Success isn’t reflecting in the work that you do but pay no heed to what they say; it is not necessarily about them, it is about you. The Perception some people have about you, does not make you a loser, it is you that makes you a loser; it’s a Choice. Love what you do, it will surely pay off one day. Going through Challenges/Difficulties in life is a sure thing. Below are few solutions I discovered in my quest to be successful:

1: Prayer – Prayer is and will always be the only means by which Humanity links up with Divinity. Without Prayer, our success is temporal. Whatever situation you find yourself in, just pray about it.
“Proverbs 10:22 – It is the blessings of the Lord that brings wealth, without painful toil for it”
Weeping and feeling all moody won’t solve the problems, it will make them worst. Therefore make Prayer your priority in every aspect of your life and you will see greatness happening all around you.
2: Be Optimistic – The only thing that keeps us going in life and wanting to do more is Hope. Never Lose Hope in anything you do. Being optimistic has saved lots of lives and restored lots of properties. Some people end up committing suicide when there is lack of hope. Some people lost their lives because they felt there was no need to live. And yes, it very painful to lose a loved one when all he/she did was pray and believe God for a miracle but sometimes we need to have the spirit to wait on God; I call that “Firm Faith”. Don’t give up and never give in, because you will surely make it. God’s time is the best.
Keep Praying and keep believing God for a miracle. You Can. Make it Happen.