SKY CONTENT

Distribution of cocoa inputs transparent – COCOBOD

The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has insisted that the free supply of inputs to cocoa farmers is transparent.

The intelligence operative of the Board who spoke on behalf of Dr. Stephen Opuni, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the COCOBOD made the assertion at a press briefing organized by the Ashanti Regional Office of the Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED), at Tepa in the Ahafo-Ano North District of Ashanti Region.

The event was held to clarify allegation by Nana James Kwabena Dankwa, chief farmer at Numasua (aka Camp Two), a cocoa-growing community in the Tepa Cocoa District, in a news item, aired on Radio Gold FM on Monday, August 31, alleging that “farmers from Tepa, Nyinahini and Obuasi have been deprived of the mass cocoa spraying exercise and distribution of some farm inputs”.

Nana Dankwa further alleged that the distribution was done on partisan basis.

The operative said the process of carting, delivery and distribution of inputs like fertilizers, fungicides and pesticides and spraying machines by the COCOBOD as incentive packages to the farmers in the cocoa industry for increased yields.

He noted that when Dr. Opuni took office, he made security of the cocoa industry his main concern, due to numerous complaints he received from farmers about misdeeds in relation to the distribution of the inputs to them (farmers).

The operative who played an active role in the recent arrest of two police personnel and their accomplices at the Achirensua barrier in the Asutifi South District, concerning the diversion of 350 bags of fertilizers from Sankore in the Asunafo South District to Kumasi, stressed that there was strict but transparent system in place for the distribution of the inputs.

“Due to the strengthened security operations under Dr. Opuni’s administration, inputs from the warehouse in Tema were monitored into the region, through the district, and finally to the farm gate for the benefit of farmers”, he noted.

By: Raymond Marveric On 05:21

Adu Kofi's second league goal earns a point for Malmo

Ghana international midfielder Enock Adu Kofi scored his second goal of the season to help champions Malmo FF claimed a consolatory 1-1 stalemate with Elfsborg in the Swedish Allsvenskan on Saturday.

Malmo needed a 52nd minute equaliser from the 24-year-old former Liberty Professionals midfielder to snatch a point from the game at their own backyard.

Adam Lundqvist had fired the visitors ahead while legendary striker Markus Rosenberg had missed from the spot kick in the 30th minute, 7 minutes after Adam had opened the scoring for the visitors.

Elfsborg ended the first-half with the advantage but Adu returned from the break to score his second goal of the season and level things up for the host.

The goal marks his second in the Allsvenskan campaign for Malmo after scoring in their 3-3 draw with Falkenberg in March.

By: Raymond Marveric On 04:31

Keta Assembly allocates land for beach soccer

Top Ghana beach soccer championship club Sunset Sports Keta have announced plans to develop a beach soccer arena in Keta.

The facility, when completed, will be among the first in the country.

A club statement said Sunset Sports has secured the release of a beach land measuring 100 x 60metres from the Keta Municipal Assembly which will be used to develop an international beach soccer arena to further enhance to success chalked by keta clubs in the national championship and promote the development of the sports.

The land allocated for the arena is located outside the demarcated land space of Aborigines beach resorts.

Sunset Sports Keta will work in partnership with Aborigines beach resorts and the club's London based partners Sandlanders Football to develop the facility.

Sunset Sports Keta CEO and Ghana Beach Soccer League board Chairman Dzidodo Ruben Adjahoe disclosed that the project will begin as soon as formal documentation is completed under the public private partnership structure.

He further indicated that the arena will have all facilities for concessions and support functions that will meet international standards. He advised all beach soccer clubs in the country to initiate programs that will interest their local communities in order to draw attention to the fast growing sport.

Meanwhile, as part of the broader developmental plans of the association, a nationwide tour of selected coastal communities has been earmarked for beach soccer games.

The "Coast to Coast" tour is aimed at introducing and planting the exciting sport in as many communities as possible.

By: Raymond Marveric On 04:17

Miners threaten to bring industry to a standstill

The Ghana Mine Workers Union is threatening to bring the mining sector to a standstill if the current huge disparity between wages of locals and expatriates are not addressed.

According to the miners, they will use their right to collective bargaining to demand their due.

The union has been crying foul about the current trend, insisting most underpaid locals have better capacity and training than their foreign counterparts.

“Government used to say that the mining sector income gap may distort the economy, but the reality is that this sector employs less than one percent of the work force in the job market. So why wouldn’t we have the situation where we get people to be paid good money to pay their taxes then we grow the mining economy, “ the general secretary of the Miners Union, Prince William Ankrah lamented.

In an interview with Citi Business News, he insisted the miners would ensure the trend would be reversed.

“We have collective bargaining to correct the internal mess and we will use that muscle to deal with it. If we raise the issue and it’s not getting the right attention, we have many strategies … if they don’t come clean we will bring the mining sector to a standstill,” William Ankrah charged.

By: Raymond Marveric On 05:31

MTN FA Cup Trophy Tour continues today

The MTN FA Cup trophy tour which started yesterday in Takoradi will continue later today, Wednesday, August 26, 2015 to some selected centers across the nation.

Organisers of the 2015 FA Cup took the initiative to whip up the public’s interest in the traditional cup competition scheduled for Essipong this Sunday, August 30.

The defending FA Cup Champion’s, Kotoko will be given a firsthand feel of the Cup ahead of their dream defense.

David Duncan’s men will welcome the cup and its committee members to the premises of the club on Wednesday. The meeting scheduled for10:30am will be used to familiarize with the fans of the club before the final showdown with Tom Strand’s impressive Medeama.

The FA Cup trophy was yesterday received by the Western Regional FA President, Kojo Yankah.

The WRFA President then led the delegation to the palace of Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Omanhene of the Essikadu Traditional Area to pay a courtesy call on him.

Later in the day, the delegation paid a courtesy call on the Regional Minister Hon. Paul Evans Aidoo at the Regional Coordinating Council to present the trophy and officially invite him to Sunday’s final match.

Later today, Wednesday, the FACC delegation will be in Kumasi to pay a courtesy call on the Life Patron of Asante Kotoko Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to officially inform him about the final match.

There will be visits to other sponsors of Asante Kotoko and various media houses.

Thursday will be the turn of the people of Tarkwa as the delegation will visit Osagyefo Dr. Kwamena Enimel V, Omanhene of Wassa Fiase Traditional area. This will also include visits to sponsors of Medeama SC and various media houses.

Friday’s pre match press conference will also allow the media to interact with the two teams and to know how prepared they are for the finals.

There will be a float through the principal streets of Sekondi-Takoradi on Saturday morning.

By: Raymond Marveric On 05:26

Fred Pappoe quits GFA

Board member of Accra Great Olympics, Fred Pappoe has called time at the association, disclosing that he will not contest for an Executive Committee seat on the Ghana Football Association again.

The ex-GFA Vice president indicated he has opted not to run for the upcoming elections after serving on the committee for over a decade and has stressed he will leave all national team positions at the end of the season.

Pappoe has been serving on the Executive Committee of the football governing body since 2005 and rose to the rank of the Vice Presidential position of the association between 2005 to 2011.

But the Local Black Stars Management Committee Chairman says “enough is enough” at the helm of the GFA, as he seeks to focus on club administration.

“I am not sure to contest for the Executive Committee position again. One person can’t do one thing for ever. If anything at all, I have played my part, so what I want to do now is contribute my quota to my club (Gt. Olympics) and enjoy football as a fun.“However, I think for national team level administration or management, I have had enough,” he told Atinka FM.

By: Raymond Marveric On 05:21

We won’t allow ECOWAS choose our President in 2016 - Mac Manu

Former Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Peter Mac Manu has underscored the party's resolve to ensure a new register is used for the 2016 general elections.

According to him, Ghanaians are not ready to allow nationals of other countries determine the President of Ghana.

“A new voters register will be used for the 2016 elections because that is what the people of Ghana want,” he stressed on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Tuesday.

The NPP after painstaking investigations revealed that more than 76,000 names of Togolese nationals who are registered to vote in their country can be found in the Ghanaian electoral roll.

The Togolese nationals, according to the opposition party, have been crossing the Ghanaian border to come and register to enable them exercise their franchise in the nation's elections.

This exposé is to make a strong case for the EC to come up with a new register to avoid the problems in 2016. But the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) have described the NPP claims of a bloated register as fraudulent and frivolous.

However, Mac Manu expressed shock at the posture of the NDC as all they are seeking to do is to have a clean register. He said the bloated Ghanaian electoral roll is now an ECOWAS register because names of nationals of various countries in the sub-region are found in it.

“We are not going to sit down for ECOWAS to determine who will become Ghana’s president,” he opined. The NPP former Chairman added that the evidence presented to the EC is overwhelming, thus they have no other choice than to change the register.

Peter Mac Manu said the only motivation for the NPP‘s new voters register campaign is to have an elections with quality and integrity.

By: Raymond Marveric On 05:17