SKY CONTENT

I will act nude for good cash - Actress

Up-and coming actress Andrea Owusu, has given strong indication that she is willing to act nude provided the money is good and she is handed a strong role in the movie at the peak of her promising career.

A vivacious, open-minded character, the 24-year-old actress, known in showbiz circles as Efia Odo, is not oblivious of the negative perception and contempt she might court in society for such a daring role, but she is nonetheless ready to give it a shot to make a strong statement.

“I am definitely willing to act nude but on the conditions that I am given a strong role in a great script in a movie which pays well and I would only do that at the point in my career where I am firmly established as an actress. Nude roles are also a part of acting and as an actress I should be able to portray any character I am given,” she told Showbiz in an exclusive interview.

A strong character who has grabbed the headlines for her somewhat provocative sense of fashion, the Royal Diadem actress admitted that her dress sense was a reflection of her personality and not a means to seek attention.

Born in Ghana, she relocated to the United States at the age of five and lived overseas until she returned to the country seven months ago to pursue her passion in acting. At the premiere of Royal Diadem at the Silverbird Cinema recently, the young actress was dressed to kill, as she turned heads in her braless dress, cleavage-revealing on the red carpet. In fact, her Instagram page is awash with photographs of Efia Odo in various trendy outfits which enhance her considerable curves and also reflects her persona.

“I dress the way I want based on how I am feeling at the moment. At certain times I feel like dressing sexy and showing some skin, other times I feel like dressing in a different way and that should not be a problem for anyone,” she said.

But the actress insists she had strong morals in spite of her free-spirited lifestyle fashion sense, questioning why some people would form preconceived notions about her when they actually have no knowledge whatsoever about her.

“People usually believe I am a party girl or someone who is promiscuous simply based on my dressing but in reality I am a free spirit, open minded person with a good heart. I am very friendly and pleasant so before anyone attempts to judge me, the person should make an effort to know me first,” she said.

Being in the public eye often comes with expectations from society but Efia would not allow herself to be bogged down by societal expectations of her. In fact, she admitted to Showbiz she was aware Ghanaians were typically conservative and expect to be a conformist, but she had closed her ears to all such negative comments.

“I am not your typical Ghanaian girl so I don’t pay any attention to what people say. I am not ready to pretend to be someone I am not so if people don’t understand that, that’s their problem,” the sexy actress said.

However, she was unwilling to open up on her relationship status, declining to admit whether she was single or not but said she was still considering her options.

Efia revealed that she currently holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the Nyack University in the United States and her ultimate goal is to take her career beyond the shores of Africa.

By: Raymond Marveric On 15:30

Migrants in 'dramatic' entry into Europe via Balkans

Long lines of migrants, many of them refugees from Syria, snaked through southern Serbia by foot on Monday before jumping on trains and buses north to Hungary and the last leg of an increasingly desperate journey to western Europe.

State authorities and aid agencies threw up tents and scrambled to supply food and water to thousands surging through the western Balkans, their numbers swelling since Greece began ferrying migrants from overwhelmed islands to the mainland.

Visiting the Macedonian-Greek border, Austrian Foreign Minister Sebastian Kurz said the situation in the Balkans was “dramatic”.

“We urgently need coordinated action across Europe,” he told ORF radio.

In Serbia, Red Cross official Ahmet Halimi said 8,000 migrants had registered in the southern town of Presevo over the past 24 hours.

Many had spent three desperate days on Greece’s northern border after Macedonia halted their passage saying it could take no more. But on Saturday, crowds braved batons and stun grenades to storm through police lines.

Helpless to stem the tide, Macedonia rushed trains and buses to the border to carry them north, where they crossed into Serbia on foot.

More arrived on Monday, walking from the border crossing of Miratovac some 5 km (3 miles) to a reception centre in Presevo, where many received medical aid, food and papers legalising their transit through the country.

Most carried their belongings in rucksacks. Men carried small children on their shoulders, hats shielding their heads from the August sun. After a chilly night, daytime temperatures were expected to near 30 degrees Celsius (86°F).

“I just want to cross to continue my journey,” said Ahmed, from Syria, on the Serbian border. “My final destination is Germany, hopefully.”

"OVERRUN, OVERWHELMED"

Not since the wars of Yugoslavia’s collapse in the 1990s has the cash-strapped western Balkans seen such large movements of people, when many Bosnians, Croats, Albanians and Serbs displaced by fighting fled for the rich countries of Europe - the likes of Germany, Austria and Sweden.

The problem threatens to get worse as EU member Hungary, part of Europe’s borderless Schengen zone, races to complete a fence along its 175-km border with Serbia to keep the migrants out, threatening to create a dangerous bottleneck.

The European Union, the migrants' only destination, has struggled to formulate and implement a common policy.

Kurz criticised the Greeks, whose borders form part of the EU’s external frontier, for failing to process asylum requests on Greek soil as per EU rules. A record 50,000 migrants, many of them Syrians crossing by boat from Turkey, hit Greek shores in July, straining the resources of a country going through one of the worst economic crises of modern times.

On Monday, two people drowned and five were believed missing when a dinghy carrying migrants capsized off the Greek island of Lesbos, where aid groups say 1,500 have been arriving daily for the past week.

The Greek government has chartered a car ferry to collect them from the islands and bring them to the mainland on a daily basis. It carried 2,500 people, mainly Syrians, on Monday to Athens, where buses awaited to take them north.

“It is not just a case of Greece not processing those (asylum) claims, but they are actively doing their very best to get the refugees to move on to central Europe as soon as possible,” Kurz said.

“The Western Balkan countries are overrun, overwhelmed and have been left to their own devices,” Austria’s APA news agency quoted Kurz as saying. “We have to help them.”

Germany says it expects a record 750,000 asylum-seekers to arrive this year, in a crisis overwhelming authorities in Europe from the Greek islands to the French port of Calais.

Fleeing war and poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia, many have undertaken dangerous journeys across sea and land in search of safety and employment in the affluent nations of western and northern Europe.

The UNHCR urged the EU to do more. The problem, said UNHCR Europe Bureau Director Vincent Cochetel, “will not go away any time soon and affects all of Europe.”

In the past two weeks, over 23,000 have entered Serbia, taking the total so far this year to some 90,000.

Asked how aid agencies and authorities were handling the influx, Ivan Miskovic of Serbia’s Commissariat for Refugees and Migration said: “They’re coping somehow so far.”

By: Raymond Marveric On 15:27

I believe Jesus Christ is black not white - Nana Aba Anamoah

Jesus Christ could be a black man, broadcaster Nana Aba Anamoah has said in an interview with KOD.

She told the host of Live360, contrary to popular belief, Christ is dark-skinned.

“What do I see when I picture God and Jesus? I see a very caring man who will do anything for mankind and willing to forgive us.

“Physical attributes? I think Jesus must be really handsome. I’ve seen a lot of pictures claiming that is Jesus Christ but when I picture Jesus, I don’t see a white man, I see a black man. I dont see a whiteman as Jesus Christ. I see Jesus as a black man, that’s how I picture him.”

Listen to the interview below:

By: Raymond Marveric On 15:21

Amissah-Arthur: Praise For A Hard Working And Focused VEEP

Society sets certain standards by which people are measured by and it is the conviction of every Ghanaian that if the nation cannot bequeath anything to Ghanaians at all, it must at least bequeath to them, a leader with a high sense of morality, uprightness and humility.

These leadership qualities the Vice President of Ghana, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, has. Amissah-Arthur's dedication to work is how he is complementing the efforts of President Mahama. Vice President Amissah-Arthur is quietly but actively complementing the efforts of the President to provide the needed pivot and respect for the nation's forward march.

In Ghana, the Vice President is the Number Two man and he is assumed to be the next most powerful government official after the President – in theory and in practice.

As such, Vice President Kwesi Amissah Arthur has been able to prove himself as a humble leader who has exhibited that his humility knows no beyond bounds. What the people of Ghana are looking for is a humble selfless, truly confident intelligent, non-corrupt, God-fearing Vice President who is working and focused. A man well recognized for his many achievements and immense contributions to the polity, communal liberalism, growth, and general welfare of the people of Ghana. Beyond these, he is a humble man, dearly loved and respected.

He has remained in the consciousness of his friends and contemporaries, as a builder of human social bridges.

He is a teacher, technocrat, a democrat, a man of transparent honesty and humility; a perfect gentleman, a loving husband and an unshakable believer in unity.

He’s someone who interacts and consults with the media extensively constantly in order to acquaint himself with issues concerning the country instead of being a talkative, as some people would want him to be.

Every nation's leadership looks for the kind of men it needs to drive policies. Some succeed and deliver on policy objectives without making noise, makes sure that the machinery of governance moves in the right direction, in order not to lose focus.

A leader succeeds in selecting the right team that buys into his visions, programmes and achieves his objectives. That is why some Presidents love to retain some elements in their Cabinet for a long time without thinking of doing away with them.

For instance, why would a President Mahama defy all maneuvers by some politicians to drop his vice, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, in his second term project? Amissah-Arthur has been loyal to the party over the years and has also conducted his office peaceably - that is why the President reciprocating his efforts in government.

Already former President Rawlings and President John Dramani Mahama keep on registering their trust and confidence in Vice President Kwesi Bekoe Amisssah-Arthur with special thanks for his huge role in a lot of activities with truthfulness.

The President, once described the work of the Vice President as exemplary.

The Veep has also played a key role in the success story of the NDC government's achievements.

The thumbs-up by the President to the Vice President is not misplaced.

He believes in the man who partnered him after the unfortunate demise of the late President Atta Mills almost two years ago to complete the first term of the Mills-Mahama Administration.

His mastery of public administration and the intricate art of balancing policy priorities and political intrigues and the economic situations in the country is superb.

Ghana’s Vice President has continuously called on Ghanaians to be patient and keep faith with the Government to enable it bring about the desired permanent change in the country.

The nation needs straightforward leaders like Kwesi Amissah-Arthur who heads government’s economic management team with courage, vision, wisdom and ability.

He’s someone who builds trust, courts alliances, build consensus and holds trust and keeps track of national issues.

Amissah-Arthur is a stickler to timelines for the presidency, ministries, departments and agencies to enable them work in line with government’s objectives, and meet with the expectation of the ruling party and the public.

Mr Amissah Arthur has demonstrated how beneficial it could be to have a trusted ally in moving policies forward. As chief supervisor of government operations, he knows the goings-on in government’s many deals with development partners locally and internationally.

He understands the goings-on at the ministries and departments and agencies, the politics in-between government programmes and opposition's behavior towards them. He is the righthand man of the President, his chief strategist, he knows better how to fault or gauge issues of friction between the executive and the legislature.

When he speaks, it is only facts.

Mr Amissah Arthur has over the years brokered truce and eased tension on a lot of national issues quietly as chairman of the Police and Armed Forces Council with trust and confidence.

Kwesi Amissah Arthur is a quiet and vibrant man whose depth of knowledge is arresting. He is a man who understands Ghana’s current economic conditions as much as the President does . He also admits that times are hard and with his team they are working tirelessly to solve the problem which is temporal.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur, who prior to his elevation to the position of the Vice President, was the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, was vetted by Parliament and safely sailed through with his approval before assuming the position.

His schedule is very demanding, at times working very late into the night, depriving himself of everyday conveniences to ensure that the NDC is retained in 2016.

Here is a Vice President who has risen through the ranks from the era of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) to when Ghana re-entered constitutional rule in 1992.

A look at his profile might bring out the competencies of the man through his days as a student and his professional life.

The Cape Coast born economist had his General Certificate of Education “O” and “A” Levels at the Mfantsipim Secondary School in Cape Coast from 1964 to 1971.

He proceeded to the University of Ghana, Legon where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1974 and subsequently his Master of Science Degree in 1976, both in economics.

He wrote his thesis on “Public Policy and economic growth, a model of economic growth-Ghana” 1956-1974.

Mr Amissah-Arthur lectured at the Department of Economics at the University of Ghana between 1980 and 1988. Prior to this, he was a research assistant at the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research between 1974 and 1975.

He later joined the Economic Department of the University of Ghana as a teaching assistant from 1977 to 1978 going on to become an assistant lecturer in 1979. He was a lecturer at the Department of Economics, Anambra State College of Education, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria between August 1981- July 1983).

Between 1983 and 1986, Amissah-Arthur served as a special assistant to the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) Secretary of Finance and Economic Planning, Dr Kwesi Botchwey. He became Deputy Secretary for Finance in the PNDC government from February 1986 until March 1993.

From April 1993, he continued as the Deputy Minister of Finance in the first NDC Government after the establishment of constitutional rule until 1997.

He was responsible for the preparation of the Annual Public Investment Programme, Management of the budget of the Government of Ghana and managing the bilateral and multilateral assistance to Ghana.

Mr Amissah-Arthur worked as a Consultant for the World Bank in the Gambia and also served as a consultant for the Netherlands government Education project in Ghana. Between 1988 and 2000, he worked as Senior Economist for the Sigma One Corporation in Ghana and between 2001 and 2002; he was on assignment for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

Mr Amissah-Arthur was appointed Governor of the Bank of Ghana in October 2009 by late President John Atta Mills, this position he held till 6 August 2012 when he became the Vice President.

It was during his tenure as the Governor of the Bank of Ghana that the country attained a middle income status.

President Mahama made no mistake in selecting Mr. Amissah-Arthur as the Vice President and he deserves commendation for his indefatigable effort to bring the economy on an even keel. Mr Kwesi Amissah Arthur has so far demonstrated good political craftsmanship as the Vice president of Ghana.

All must get on board to help the President and the Vice President to work for the good of Ghana.

By: Raymond Marveric On 14:10

Colorado gunman to be formally sentenced to death

Colorado movie massacre gunman James Holmes will be sentenced to life with no chance of parole at a three-day hearing that begins on Monday following his conviction last month for murdering 12 people and wounding 70 in his rampage.

While the murder convictions carry mandatory life sentences with no parole, Colorado law requires that Arapahoe County District Court Judge Carlos Samour formally impose the penalties. Samour must also decide the punishment for the other charges Holmes was convicted of.

A jury found Holmes guilty of 165 counts of first-degree murder, attempted murder and explosive charges stemming from the July 20, 2012, mass shooting inside a Denver-area multiplex during a midnight screening of a Batman movie.

The 27-year-old onetime neuroscience graduate student had pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity, and prosecutors had sought the death penalty.

The nine-woman, three-man jury could not unanimously agree to condemn Holmes to death during the trial's penalty phase. Under Colorado law, he must automatically serve 12 consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole.

About 100 people are set to give victim impact statements at this week's hearing, the Arapahoe County District Attorney's Office said in a statement. The victims cannot address Holmes directly.

After the testimony from victims, lead prosecutor George Brauchler will present his sentencing argument, the statement said.

Defence lawyers can present mitigation evidence on the attempted murder convictions, but it is unclear if they will do so. It is also unknown whether Holmes will make a statement before he is sentenced. He declined to speak in his own defence throughout the earlier proceedings.

The California native could ultimately be sentenced to a maximum of 3,318 years in prison, in addition to the mandatory life sentences, prosecutors said.

By: Raymond Marveric On 14:02

LG G4 Flagship Smartphone Released

LG Electronics (LG) has launched its eagerly anticipated LG G4 smartphone on the 24th of July 2015, at launch event in Accra, Ghana at the Holiday Inn Hotel.

Already available in LG’s shops across the country - with the G4, LG focused on delivering comfortable elegance, a great visual experience and a human-centric user experience.

Juno Cho, president and CEO of LG Electronics Mobile Communications Company, has said that “the LG G4 is our most ambitious smartphone yet because it is unlike any other flagship mobile phone on the market today.

”He added that their vision is “to create our own set of standards without worrying about what trend other smartphones are following.”

“We wanted to give consumers a truly human-centric device that combined the analog sensibilities with technologies that delivered real world performance. From the design to the camera to the display to the UX, this is the most ambitious phone we’ve ever created,” he noted.

The LG G4 is a smartphone which features a back cover with full grain, handcrafted leather, a 5.5-inch Quad HD display, a six core Snap Dragon 808 processor, 3GB of RAM and a 16-megapixel back camera as well as an eight-megapixel front camera.

The LG G4 camera features a rare-in-smartphones F1.8 aperture lens which allows 80 percent more light to hit the image sensor than in the LG G3. The innovative camera module is paired with the new IPS Quantum Display that is better in every way than the innovative Quad HD display introduced to the world in the LG G3. The LG G4 embodies human sensibility that is clearly visible in its Slim Arc exterior design and graphical user interface.

By: Raymond Marveric On 13:42

Why Morning Sex Will Always Be The Best

There are some small moments in life that are really great. Turning on the television at the exact moment Robin Williams is giving his moving “Dead Poet’s Society” speech.
Unexpectedly learning that your entire purchase has been discounted 30 percent at checkout.
Glancing down at your phone to see a surprising text from a potential mate. All these instances make us feel like the universe is on our side.
The same goes for sex. While getting laid is always good, there are some choice encounters that qualify as really, really great.
In the morning haze, when you’re at your most vulnerable and still easing into the day, nothing beats the feeling of having someone next to you wrap his arms around you and make you feel wanted.
Morning sex is like eating chocolate cake for breakfast — it’s decadent, indulgent and comforting. Plus, who doesn’t want to linger in bed just a little longer?
The benefits extend to more than just being uncharacteristically nice to everyone for the rest of the day. Multiple studies have shown that individuals who engage in morning sex are healthier and happier people. Your post-coital glow that others are noticing isn’t totally bogus.
Waking up to an eager partner sure as hell beats waking up to an alarm clock.
Here are all the reasons morning sex is the best sex.

1. Because you’ll actually remember it.

This is a win for you and your girlfriends, who will appreciate the fully detailed recap later.
Normally you can’t recollect anything save a few fragments, “I think it was um, good?”; “He was hot, right? You guys saw him?” But now you’ll be able to fill in all the good stuff.

2. You’re guaranteed to wake up on the right side of the bed.

Sex in the morning gets you — and the day — off right. Researchers from the University of Cincinnati found that morning sex is a natural stress-reliever and these effects can last for at least seven days, meaning your early Monday romp could ease those Sunday Blues.
Morning sex also increases levels of IgA, an antibody that helps to fight against infection, according to Dr. Debby Herbenick, an American research scientist and author of “Because It Feels Good.” It’s like taking your daily vitamins… only way more pleasurable.

3. You can skip the gym.

It’s a way better alternative to a morning workout before hopping into the shower. Scientists confirm that an hour of sex burns almost as many calories as a 30-minute jog.
After an hour, men and women burn an average of 240 calories and 180 calories, respectively.
While that length of straight thrusting might be wishful thinking (unless you’re of the jack-hammer variety), like any good exercise routine, at least you’ll have something to work up to.

4. Who doesn’t want to begin the day with an orgasm?

It’s like Christmas morning — there’s a package waiting for you to enjoy. And everyone scores.

5. Because your clothes are already off.

This does make for a speedier process, which is key for weekday mornings.
Heed the advice of great philosopher and first man to state the obvious, Aristotle, ”If everyone is naked, it only follows then that we should have sex.” Wise guy.

6. You can carpool after.

Who needs to drive to work when you’re already riding dirty?

7. It’s more intimate.

The few minutes we have to ourselves after first opening our eyes are special. Most people who you’re in regular contact with have no idea what you look, sound, smell and feel like first thing in the morning. It’s a rare moment to others that’s all to yourself.
Fill that moment in with another person and it becomes a shared secret privy to only you two. That’s what makes morning sex so intimate.
It’s stripped of everything — clothes, makeup, the weight of a day’s events, toothpaste, priorities — and somehow leaves you feeling fuller.

8. Because shower sex just doesn’t cut it.

The water in your face, the slippery surfaces (especially where feet are concerned!), the soap in places that can’t support life with soap — shower sex is like the sh*tty water park version of intercourse you indulge in when you have nothing better to do over the summer.
Morning sex is the more fun, cooler theme park. Better than Disney.

9. It affirms that you two are still interested in each other sober.

Any sex that is not drunk and sloppy means there’s hope. When the lights are on, it’s even better getting off.

10. Because you love an excuse to gloat at work.

Coworker 1: How was your night?
You: I had amazing morning sex.
Coworker 2: I’m so stressed.
You: Morning sex could fix that. I would know.
Coworker 3: Where do you want to go for lunch?
You: Some place where they sell morning sex all day.

11. It’s a better replacement for coffee.

Sex gets you going first thing in the morning. A poke in the back jolts you awake in a way that caffeine can’t.
If you become addicted, we understand.

12. You leave on a high.

Morning sex is ending the night on a good note. Especially in more “foreign” bedrooms, post-morning sex acts as an inoffensive cue to exit. We f*cked. Now SCRAM!

13. There’s nothing like a good c*ck rooster to wake you up.

Exposed early breath, post-coital glow, natural daylight to contour your face — morning sex makes waking up early totally worth it.

By: Raymond Marveric On 13:31