I’m Not A Cocaine Dealer – Otumfuo

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II     Related Stories     THE ASANTEHENE, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has asked the Almighty God to deal with his detractors, especially those who once labeled him a cocaine dealer. He expressed concern over several false reports being peddled about him by some faceless people since he became King – just to discredit him – stressing that he was leaving those people to be dealt with by God and the Golden Stool, the embodiment of the spirit of the Asante Kingdom. The Asantehene made these remarks when the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, visited him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi on Friday to offer fervent prayers for him. According to the King, even before he ascended the throne, wild rumours were abound to the effect that he was once a ‘swindler’ who duped several people in Europe – a report which he described as false. Otumfuo recounted that immediately he became the Asantehene, he was labeled a cocaine dealer, though he was an upright person who frowned on issues about narcotics. “Before I ascended the Golden Stool, they said I swindled people in Europe but I did not utter a word, because I knew that I was innocent and that my God, who created me, will exonerate me. “When I eventually became the Asantehene, these same faceless people again labeled me as a cocaine dealer which was totally false because I am a righteous person who frowns on illegalities,” he stated. Gold Ornaments As if that was not enough, the Asantehene said, he was also accused by these same faceless people of selling precious gold ornaments of the Golden Stool when he lost his ornaments through theft during a visit to Europe. He said although he was not present when the precious items were lost, people managed to accuse him of selling those gold ornaments “and I decided not to talk because my God and the Golden Stool will exonerate me.” Election Petition The Asantehene said before those rumours died down, speculation that he had bribed the Supreme Court Justices to rule the 2012 presidential election petition in favour of the NDC also emanated, generating debate across the country. In the face of those reports, which he said were meant to tarnish his image, Otumfuo Osei Tutu said he had remained quiet, reiterating his call on God and the Golden Stool to deal with detractors who always lied about him. He said he would not fight his faceless enemies because he was cock sure that God and the Golden Stool were more than able to deal with people that wanted to tarnish his image. The Asantehene stated emphatically that he was a righteous King who frowned on all illegal activities; therefore the public should treat the wild speculations about him with the contempt they deserve. He said he had realized that as the Asantehene, whether he liked it or not, people would peddle falsehood about him, so he was not perturbed about the rumours. He asserted that he was not afraid of what people would say about him, insisting that he was a King who would stand by the truth always, adding that God was the only one he feared. Death Rumour Otumfuo stated that his detractors also spread rumours that he had died whilst he was in South Africa with some of his sub chiefs holidaying. He maintained that he was not concerned about the recent wild rumours of his death, and that God and the Golden Stool were protecting him always and “only God’s wish for me will be done. Chief Imam The National Chief Imam, whose delegation included Zongo chiefs drawn from all corners of the country, was at the palace to welcome Otumfuo from his private trip to South Africa after rumours that he had kicked the bucket, was eventually proven to be false. Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu assured the Asantehene that Muslims in the country were praying for good health and long life for him, adding that all fiendish plans by people about him (Otumfuo) would not work.

Source: I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr/Daily Guide

Angry Soldiers Petition Prez Mahama

Related Stories     Ghanaian soldiers who were on peacekeeping missions in various war-torn countries have appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene and help them recover monies lost to fraudulent freight forwarding companies. According to them, hundreds of soldiers have been defrauded by these companies, which were introduced to them by the Military High Command. The soldiers alleged that the Military High Command introduced the companies to them as credible ones, and encouraged them to deal with the companies and went ahead to deduct monies from their allowances at source to pay the companies. In a petition to the President, the affected soldiers who served in countries such as Liberia, Ivory Coast, Lebanon and DR Congo, accused the Military High Command of refusing to assist them recover their monies when the companies failed to deliver the items ordered. According to the petition, several soldiers ordered household items running into thousands of US dollars since 2010 from the freight forwarding companies that do business with the Ghana Armed Forces. “These companies that received orders from us serving in Liberia, Ivory Coast, Lebanon, and DR Congo have failed to deliver our goods without the military doing anything about it,” it said. In the petition, the soldiers said: “What beats our imagination is that when it was clear that these companies were failing to deliver the items, the military still continued to introduce them to us in the mission areas and encouraged us to order from them, and our Commanding Officers deducted the costs at source to pay them". The soldiers stated that the companies have disappeared with their hard-earned money while they suffer. According to the petition, the victims were asked to submit their details to army headquarters to enable a committee that has been set up to investigate the matter. The soldiers alleged that the committee completed its work, but the Military High Command is sitting on the report because of the shocking revelations. According to the petition, some of them will soon be retiring from the service and, therefore, made a passionate appeal to the President to help them recoup their money with interest. “If you want to hear more and the truth, interview any of those soldiers at the Flagstaff House, but if you ask the big men, they’ll hide the truth from you,” the petition said. It suggested to the President to hold separate durbars with other ranks without any officer present to know the true state of affairs. “Please you are our last hope as it is clear they are waiting for our release from the service to be published, and that will be the end of our money,” it added. When contacted, Colonel Mbawine Atintande, Director of Public Affairs at the Ghana Armed Forces, confirmed the story and said the issue was of grave concern to the Military High Command. He admitted that the Military High Command introduced the Ghanaian companies to the soldiers in good faith. He explained that following complaints from the soldiers, the Military High Command set up a committee in the middle of last year to investigate the matter, and that the report is ready. Colonel Atintande said the Military High Command is studying the findings and recommendations contained in the report and would communicate to the affected soldiers at the right time. Even though Colonel Atintande would not divulge the contents of the report, he said the implementation of the recommendations would have far-reaching implications for the GAF. He appealed to the affected officers to exercise restraint as the matter was receiving the needed attention.

Source: The Finder

We live in a state of hopelessness – Minority asserts

Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Isaac Essel 

Date: 24-02-2014 Time: 08:02:16:pm

Library photo: the Minority strongly disapproves of how the country is being managed

The members of New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority in Parliament are disillusioned with the Mahama-led administration as they expressed lack of hope in the economy.

The MP for Atwima Mponua, Isaac Asiamah, who echoed the Minority’s assessment on the government, told Joy News that Ghanaians are in a “state of hopelessness”.

He recalled that most of the promises made by the government to improve the state of the nation have not been fulfilled. This, he claimed, is evident enough to prove that “there is no hope” for Ghana,

Though he was not specific, Mr. Asiamah maintained that all indicators, as well as available facts and figures support his conclusion.

The living condition of Ghanaians keeps “deteriorating”, he said, adding, the situation has been compounded by water crisis and high school fees among other issues.

President John Mahama is expected to deliver the mandatory State of the Nation Address to Parliament on Tuesday, February 25, 2014.

But judging by the present living conditions of Ghanaians, the MP doubts President Mahama would be “bold” to address the law-making body tomorrow.

In his view, John Mahama is the “worst president” Ghana has ever produced.

The MP, like his colleagues, was riled by the failure of the government to make payments to the MP’s Common Fund. The government is yet to release funds for the second quarter of 2013, he pointed out.

Mincing no words, Mr. Asiamah also described the Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, as the “most incompetent finance minister” in the history of the country.

 He said Mr. Terkper was not qualified to head that ministry, and was therefore not convinced he would be able to deliver the country from the current economic doldrums.

Adding to concerns raised by his colleague, MP for Sekondi, Papa Owusu-Ankomah told Joy FM’s Top Story that Ghana’s economy is in crisis, and challenged government to admit it.

He therefore wants the government to take a “very bold and bitter measures” to tackle the challenges facing the economy, adding that consensus building is the surest way of improving the situation,

Countering the Minority’s arguments, Deputy Information Minister, Felix Ofosu Kwakye said it is not “entirely accurate” to say it is the first time a statutory payment has been delayed in the country. He made reference to an instance where payment to the GETFund was delayed for two years, when the NPP was in power.

 He admitted that even though some payments have been made, there are some outstanding ones to be cleared.

He also mounted a strong defense on behalf of the Minister of Finance, stating that he is better than the Finance Minister, under the NPP administration, who made a “tragic error” by going to a hair dressing salon abroad to contract a loan.

The Deputy Minister chided the Minority for not being able to “rise above party politics” but constantly predicts doom for the country.

Ghana recorded 19% fall in 2013 Foreign Direct Investment

Source: Ghana | Myjoyonline.com 

Date: 24-02-2014 Time: 11:02:11:pm

Mawuena Trebarh - Acting GIPC Boss

Investments into Ghana's economy, according to the Ghana Investments Promotion Centre (GIPC), declined significantly last year.

The figure came down by  19 percent to  $3.9 billion in 2013 compared to almost $5 billion recorded in 2012.

These figures were contained in the fourth quarter investment report by GIPC, which also  captured the inflows into the country.

According to GIPC it registered 417 projects for last year, compared to  399 projects in 2012.

However, monetary  value  for these projects declined  from  $5.6 billion in 2012  to   $4.2  billion last year. 

GIPC is tasked with promoting investments in the country.

The Centre also monitors and collects relevant data about foreign investments in the country.

310 of the registered projects, according to GIPC were  wholly owned by foreigners, while  107  were joint ventures between Ghanaians and their  foreign partners.

However  only $88.3 million has come in so far in terms of initial capital transferred into the country.

The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre is expecting  89,000 jobs to be created from investments that has come into the country so far.

According GIPC, a little over 75,000 of these jobs would go to Ghanaians, while foreigners  would take up the rest.

With 57 projects, India top the list of countries with registered number projects, while USA top the list of the  countries with the highest  value of FDI projects amounting to 1.2 billion dollars. 

Acting Chief Executive of the GIPC , Mawuena Trebarh, believes  the decline can be attributed to the wait and see attitude of some investors because of the uncertainties after the 2012 elections.

"I still believe I have more years to live" - Komla said in 2009

Source: Ghana|Myjoyonline.com|Edwin Appiah|edwin.appiah@myjoyonline.com
Date: 24-02-2014 Time: 01:02:04:am

The two buddies -Bola Ray and Komla Dumor - blurted out their pseudo-prophecies quite innocuously.

Somewhere during the interview, Komla would say in such a 'done-deal' manner, with a certain 'matter-of- factness'  - "I still believe I have more years to live".

 Very oblivious of what has now become obvious to us.

It was a prediction that has been vetted by fate and scrutinized by destiny because with a paltry 18 days into a new year, fate would return to Komla with a dark verdict - no you don't.

A cruel fatal news like that aimless arrow, hugging the night sky and planting itself into Achilles' heel virtually on the blind side of his colleague greek soldiers - if you have watched that award-winning movie, Troy.

Sadly. Komla was wrong. He didn't have more years to live.

But Bola Ray's prediction was right. "16th July 2009 this day will go down in history" Bola Ray gleefully blurted out to his guest on Joy FM's Personality Profile, Komla Dumor.

Careless that fate had planted very single syllable of his sentence into his own mouth - sealed in destiny, done and dusted.

Because nearly five years later, Bola Ray would be sitting lonely, disinterested in talking on his own talk show as he replayed that interview beginning with an unusual signature tune - R.Kelly's The World's Greatest - a tribute to the Boss Player, Komla Afeke Dumor

" I am a mountain..I am a tall tree..

Oh, I am a swift wind...Sweepin' the country...

I am a river..Down in the valley..

Oh, I am a vision..And I can see clearly...

If anybody asks u who I am...

Just stand up tall look 'em in the Face and say

[Chorus]
I'm that star up in the sky
I'm that mountain peak up high
Hey, I made it
I'm the world's greatest
And I'm that little bit of hope
When my backs against the ropes
I can feel it mmm
I'm the world's greatest

A Doctor-like Journalist

Komla didn't become the doctor, he had wanted to be, he told Bola Ray on the program.

 And although he never regrets not becoming one, you couldn't help but notice how he brought a certain doctor-like mentality to his journalism - his surgical questioning prowess, his issues for discussion on the Joy FM Super Morning Show were like a stethoscope that could detect the heartbeat of the nation.

And he thought of his journalism as having healing powers too - wierd?

"I admire doctors. I have tremendous love and admiration for doctors and nurses in particular because they are the people who have an impact in people's lives by merely touching them. But radio presents an opportunity to touch people's lives as well, in that sense we do have healing qualities".

Touching, touching touching. With Komla, its always about touching. Touching something, somebody, some idea.

The making of Komla

It was as if Professor Dumor knew what he wanted his kids to be. Being an academic, his first love would be books. Reading was thus a first Dumor habit.

And Komla read -"it was mostly about books", he said.

For four years, there was no television at home – but there were newspapers. Tucked into the Professor's armpit, he would stride home looking to pour its content into the 13 year old’s head.

“My parents were academics...we valued education” he said, a testimony verified by his father as he read his attribute.

Our core values - "self denial, zeal for knowledge, ….. personal integrity “, a surprisingly well composed daddy read out during the funeral service.

So you see, Komla’s home was actually a senior secondary school already. I mean core values? So headmaster-like language, so much like a school’s motto.

And with that, the Boss Player’s flawless English pronunciation of words like ‘the world’ ‘morning’ ‘turning’ – was cemented.

“Now I look back and its [reading] a great blessing”, Komla reminisced.

It is then possible to understand the magnitude of his failure to complete medicine. "Depressing", he recollected. It was as great a taboo as being the pregnant daughter of a Presbyterian minister in the mid-50’s.

Failed in Nigeria, a start over in Ghana.

Komla said “I entered the university of Ghana with  mission get over the disappointment”.

Well for many a student like me, it was to get away from our parents.

This 'toll-boothing' University rejected his grades as unsuitable for medicine and recommended that he took A’Level exams to re-apply. He did. He passed. He came back. They told him, they didn’t even need his A’levels anymore. His previous grades are just fine – enter the University of Ghana.

So like an eager rooky determined to play his first competitive game, Komla was warming up for school. It had been a while sitting on that hard bench called home –school was the real deal- let the lectures begin.

Hold it right there, young man, fate would strike once again. The lecturers declared strike…over you know – bla, bla, bla,bla.

Komla was home again. His restlessness, one of fate’s strange leading into the arms of Joy FM because it was at home that her sister chanced on an advert for  the role of less fanciful traffic news reporter at Ghana’s first “serious private radio station”.

Sister: “ eeei Solomon parker is leaving Joy FM.They  are looking for a mobitel traffic man”

Komla, a Ghanaian returnee: “ Who is Solomon. What is Joy FM?

And after his sister explained to him, the restless Komla Dumor said “ am gonna give it a shot”

A shot? Call it anything but a shot, he gave it a bomb.

After some terrible starts, Komla Dumor seamed into the Joy FM family, working and schooling. He would move on to host the Super Morning Show. Bola Ray would join him at Joy and the two would become friends. Sometimes they would attend a programme together – Bola would play DJ, Komla would play M.C.

And he described his idea of a morning show.

“In those days we would get big names. the standard at BBC was the standard I had when I was here. We would never walk into the studio without knowing what we were going to do. We would never walk into the studio with a hand full of papers and call it a morning show.”

His best interview, he said, was here at Joy FM. It was when he spoke to Brigadier Charles Duke - an astronaut who landed on the moon.

And his most moving interview was with Azumah Nelson, when the legendary boxer had gone overseas for one of his epic fights. Azumah broke down recollecting how lonely he was in a foreign country fighting a foreigner with barely nothing more than a Ghana flag clutching the sky as his cheer leader.

"We all carry the aspirations of this country when we wake up to work", Komla said.

And he interviewed Ben Malor Dotse too. The veteran BBC broadcaster who hosted BBC Network Africa, now President Mahama's communication advisor.

Malor asked him, "Komla what are your ambitions?.

"Oh gosh Malor I hope one day I can present Network Africa" Komla said.

As fate would have it, Komla Afeke Dumor rode into Joy FM on a scooter reporting the traffic situation in Ghana, he rode out of Joy FM on an airplane “bring the world to Africa..and Africa to the world” at BBC.

At this point in the interview, calls and messages started flooding into the studio- mostly women. Bola would suggest to him, “a lot of women are calling you, Komla they like you”.

He would respond “No, that's not true. That’s because a lot of women listen to your show”.

How I met my wife

Evasive, determined to be evasive and succeeded being evasive. Komla would not give us one morsel of any romantic story about his relationship with Kwansema.

He would rather volunteer to tell you the composition of Iran’s nuclear program than get romantic.

For that part of the show, you would have to listen to his wife’s tribute five year later at the State House.

“18 years ago…Komla absolutely blew me away” she said with the passion of a sports commentator talking up a beautiful goal.

They were in a study group together doing sociology: (the things study groups do?)

She says, she “felt so intimidated” by his intellect, she decided to avoid him.

And “his velvety baritone voice”, coupled with his “supreme confidence”.

Kwasema appeared to have channeled her the passion behind her tears into an almost tangible sincerity in her testimony. She was passionate in her description – some determination to share her testimony convincingly because Komla convicted him.

“what do you see in this student boyfriend” her friends would ask back then.

“He was real. He is deep” she responded – somebody has no idea what this means.

And he painted a picture of a future so bright, she pledged her life to him, and him to hers. The result – a global fame of one of Ghanaians finest journalists and one of the 10 most influential Africans and the Springboard icon for 2013.

The only time Komla appeared unable to respond to a question posed by Bola Ray was when he was asked, “So Komla, what do you do to relax?” – Bola and relaxing?.

He paused.

“What do I do to relax?, he asked himself mulling over.

 “Do I ? I wonder sometimes? I probably just listen to music and watch movies. What I do to relax have almost become work”.

Even his entertainment was pretty serious. He told Bola Ray how much he liked Tupac because his songs were deep, solid content, sending a message coded in tunes.

Like “Me against the world”

 "Don't let the pressure make you panic when you get stranded and things don't go the way you planned" - a lyric that spoke to his story.

Tupac’s words was like a trainer psyching up his boxer in the corner, preparing to take on a sizeable opponent.

In the end, he actually conquered this world - at least BBC World, he was moving on to another feat, BBC's anchorman for the World Cup 2014 in Brazil - until death stopped him.

Apparently only death could stop this determined man but it was not until he conquered his past failures and fears, multiplied his talent, and showed the way to the top in journalism.

Always going the extra mile until perhaps, the miles got tired of getting ran out. Komla Afeka Dumor is no more.

And as he hovers into eternity, he would look back and fall on the words of Samson, the man who  defeated a 1,000 Philistines with nothing more than a jaw bow;

 "Out of a donkey's jaw I have made donkey's out of them".