Black Stars enjoy audience with Nelson Mandela

Sulley and Mandela

Former South Africa President Nelson Mandela has entertained the Ghana team in his Johannesburg home the day after their dramatic 2010 FIFA World Cup™ quarter-final defeat against Uruguay.

The meeting followed an earlier one with Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and other members of the family at her Soweto house. Sowetans greeted the players with applause and cheers as they got off their bus, which bore a sign reading, “The Hope of Africa.”

Mr Mandela had sent a letter on Friday wishing the squad well for their match against Uruguay last night. The Ghanaian squad had earlier expressed the wish to visit the family to pass on their respects after the tragic passing of Madiba’s great grand-daughter, Zenani, on 11 July.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation commended the Ghana team after the visit. “They represented the continent well,” it said. “They can return home with their heads held high.”

Though suffering the pain of a penalty shoot-out defeat, the Black Stars’ run to the last eight captured the hearts of the African people in the first tournament to be held on the continent.

Source: FIFA.COM

Faulty aircraft leaves Vice-President Mahama stranded.

The Vice-President, John Dramani Mahama, was Wednesday morning left stranded and disappointed when the aircraft that was to convey him to the Northern Region for an official function was discovered with a fault at the last minute.

After Mr Mahama and his entourage boarded the aging Falker 28, the pilot discovered a fault with the aircraft.

The pilot, who said it was not safe to fly the plane, broke the news to the country’s second gentleman who disappointingly disembarked, ending the trip.

The Vice-President was billed to deliver the government’s policy statement on cotton production in the three northern regions – Northern, Upper West and East – Joy FM’s Northern Regional Correspondent, Maham Shaibu said. 

He said a gathering of farmers from the three regions with the Northern and Upper East regional ministers in attendance, was waiting for the Vice-President for the commencement of the programme, only to receive the disappointing news.

According to Mahama Shaibu, the event has been postponed but the Vice-President’s Spokesperson, John Jinapo, who confirmed the incident to Myjoyonline.com, said the programme will go on as planned with the regional ministers representing Mr John Mahama.

John Jinapo said while the Vice-President was disappointed with the abrupt cancelation of his trip, he accepted the situation as “one of the things in life.”

Meanwhile the faulty plane has been moved to the air force base hangar to be fixed.


Story by Malik Abass Daabu/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana

Glo Mobile to quit?

Major telecommunications operator, Glo Mobile, intends to pull out of Ghana, an authoritative source close to the company has disclosed.

The Daily Graphic gathered over the weekend that the telecommunications giant had decided to divest its investment in the country and exit Ghana as it faced several challenges from some interests bent on sabotaging the company's nation-wide take-off plan.

A source close to the company disclosed that some of the challenges the company had faced since it was awarded a GSM licence by the National Communications Authority (NCA) included an encroachment on the frequency allocated to it by the NCA, the repeated sabotage of its billboards and the delay in securing approval for the swift deployment of its infrastructure, such as base stations.

It said officials of the company were concerned that while the company had been working at a frenetic pace to formally roll out the network, some forces had been deliberately working around the clock to cripple its operation and prevent it from rolling out quickly, to the detriment of the Ghanaian society.

Another source close to the company said the operator’s management felt that its infrastructure in the country was not getting adequate protection from the law enforcement agencies.

Efforts to get the official reaction from the company to the development proved abortive, but it was gathered that the company would soon serve the government with its notice to quit.

The source, which was privy to the outcome of a recent meeting held by senior management staff of the company on the issues, said Glo was displeased with the various acts of vandalism and would be relieved if the law enforcement agencies apprehended the perpetrators and exposed them.

When contacted, a senior official of Glo Mobile Ghana, Mr Derek Obuobi, said he would not comment on the matter now.

Glo Mobile Ghana recently embarked on a massive deployment of outdoor advertising structures, comprising billboards, light boxes, lamp post signs and brand marks (branded lit globes), throughout Accra as part of the build-up towards the nation-wide launch of its operations in Ghana.

However, immediately after the deployment of the outdoor advertising materials, which generated a lot of positive remarks, a number of the structures were vandalised by unknown persons.

In February, about 15 light boxes mounted from the Airport Traffic Light median to the Opeibea House Traffic Light were destroyed with the flexi materials used on both sides of the units torn. One of the Glo brand marks mounted in Accra was also destroyed.

About two weeks ago, about 16 light boxes installed by Glo from the King Tackie Tawiah Overpass to Busy Internet were also vandalised.

"Every single unit, with materials made from top grade flexi was defaced with a sharp object, suspected to be a knife or a razor blade," the source said.

"It was curious that light boxes belonging to another telecom operator deployed within the same stretch continuing from Busy Internet to the Kwame Nkrumah Circle were left unscathed," it said.

In December last year, some people were apprehended and handed to the police while they were attempting to sabotage a Glo mast located at the Baatsona area of Accra.

“It is clear that these acts of lawlessness are being perpetrated to frustrate Glo's roll-out plans," the source said.

Another major area of concern for Glo is the ban on the erection of telecom masts by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The development is said to have affected Glo the most, it being the only network building a nationwide telecoms company from scratch.

"Glo is losing the opportunity to make revenue, for every day there is a delay in launching its network. I believe that is why it is worried," the source said.

Since Glo was granted a licence to operate in Ghana, it has invested huge resources to deploy a nationwide state-of-the-art infrastructure. It has also devoted millions of dollars to the sponsorship of the Ghana Premier League., the national football teams, and the Ghana National Supporters Union.

An investment expert who preferred anonymity said it would be a major setback to the efforts of the government to attract foreign direct investment, generate employment and stimulate economic growth should Glo pull out of Ghana. He urged the government to intervene on the issue.

At the recent presentation of cheques by Glo to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for the impressive performance of the Black Stars at the last edition of the African Cup of Nations, the Minister of Communications gave the assurance that the government would give Glo all the support it required to enable it to roll out its services.


Source: Daily Graphic/Ghana

Nigeria Prez picks Namadi Sambo as Vice

Vice President Namadi Sambo

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has named Kaduna state governor Namadi Sambo as his new vice-president, an official has told the BBC.


Mr Sambo, 57, must now be approved by both houses of parliament.

The move follows the death of President Umaru Yar'Adua and the swearing-in of his successor Mr Jonathan last week.

Whoever is named as vice-president is seen as a strong contender for the 2011 presidential elections in Africa's most populous nation, analysts say.

It remains unclear whether Mr Jonathan will seek to contest the elections on behalf of the governing People's Democratic Party (PDP).

Mr Jonathan is a southerner and the PDP has said its candidate will be a northerner - continuing its practice of alternating power between north and south.

Mr Sambo is from the north but there have been strong suggestions that Mr Jonathan may try to overturn the PDP tradition.

Kaduna state spokesman Saidu Adamu told the BBC's Network Africa programme that reports in local newspapers that Mr Sambo had been chosen were correct.

However, the president's office has not yet officially confirmed these reports.

The BBC's Caroline Duffield in Lagos says Mr Sambo is not a prominent politician, does not have a big power base and his name did not figure in public speculation about likely vice-presidents.

But she says he is likely to be confirmed by the Senate, which is expected to meet later on Thursday.

Married with six children, he is a qualified architect who became governor in 2007.

He is an ally of former military ruler Ibrahim Babangida, who recently said he would seek to contest the elections, our correspondent says.

She says he has taken security very seriously since becoming Kaduna governor.

Some analysts say he may have been chosen because he would not pose a threat to President Jonathan.

Source: BBC

UK's Gordon Brown to resign as prime minister

LONDON – British Prime Minister Gordon Brown made a dramatic bid to keep his beleaguered Labour Party in power after it was punished in a national election, announcing Monday he will resign by September at the latest in hopes the third-place Liberal Democrats will join his party in a coalition government.
Brown's startling news conference came as the Conservatives, who won the most seats in Thursday's election but not a majority in Parliament, were already holding talks with the Liberal Democrats.
Lawmakers said those negotiations stalled earlier Monday over differences on key issues including reform of the voting system, education, and changes to the tax system.
The Liberal Democrats want Britain's voting system to be changed so that seats in Parliament more accurately reflect a party's percentage of the vote — demand that most Conservatives adamantely reject.
Brown said the Labour Party, which came a distant second to the Conservatives, would begin a leadership contest to replace him while he focused on talks aimed at breaking Britain's election deadlock.
"As leader of my party I must accept that as a judgment on me," Brown said, referring to Labour's poor showing in the election.
In a statement outside his office at 10 Downing Street, Brown said Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg had asked to begin formal coalition talks with the Labour Party and the two could form a center-left alliance. Clegg had previously said Brown's departure would likely be a condition of any deal.
"There is a progressive majority in Britain, and I believe it could be in the interests of the whole country to form a progressive coalition government," Brown said.
Conservative leader David Cameron made no immediate comment on Brown's possibly game-changing move.
Clegg said the Liberal Democrats and Conservatives had "some very constructive talks ... and made a great deal of progress. But we haven't yet reached a comprehensive partnership agreement" after four days.
He said it was "the right thing and the responsible thing to open talks" with Labour.
Cameron's center-right Conservatives won 306 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons, 20 short of a majority. Brown's center-left Labour won 258 and the center-left Liberal Democrats took 57 seats. Other smaller parties took the rest.
Brown said he hoped a new Labour leader would be appointed at the party's annual convention in September. Foreign Secretary David Miliband and Education Secretary Ed Balls will likely be leading contenders to succeed Brown as party leader.
The pound fell nearly 1.5 cents against the dollar after Brown's statement, trading at $1.4866 late Monday, reflecting some fear of Labour's continued presence in the government.
Britain has a record 153 billion-pound ($236 billion) deficit that the Conservatives have pledged to tackle faster than Labour. But Brown said his focus during his remaining time in office would be ensuring economic recovery.
Cameron's party was to meet later Monday and the Liberal Democrats indicated they too could gather again.
Clegg clearly was facing a tough choice: Trying to overcome ideological incompatibility to broker a deal with Cameron and the Conservatives or propping up Brown's defeated Labour Party.
The Conservative Party strongly opposes voting reform, as it would likely mean fewer seats for Britain's two main parties — the Conservatives and Labour — and would banish the Conservatives to the political wilderness for years to come.
Yet in the last election, Clegg's party earned 23 percent of the vote but got only 9 percent of the seats in Parliament.
Brown's announcement signals an end to a political career marked by great promise, considerable achievement and ultimate disappointment.
He spent a decade as Prime Minister Tony Blair's right-hand money man, but craved the top job himself. When he finally got it in June 2007, Brown faced economic crisis, a divided party, public disgust with politicians — and finally defeat in last week's election.
It was Brown's fatal political misfortune to follow the charismatic Blair. Brown was brooding and awkward by comparison, and a recent run-in with a voter — whom he called a "bigoted woman" — showed how much he lacked a common touch. But behind closed doors, Brown, 59, was often described as warm and agreeable.
Friends also say the son of a Church of Scotland minister is dogged, determined and fiercely loyal to Labour — a trait that prompted him to offer his resignation Monday so that his party had a chance at staying in office.

Gordon Brown 'stepping down as Labour leader'

Gordon Brown has said he is stepping down as Labour Party leader - as his party opens formal talks with the Lib Dems about forming a government.

Mr Brown, prime minister since 2007, said he hoped a successor as Labour leader would be in place by September.

The Lib Dems have been negotiating for days with the Tories - who won the most seats and votes in the UK election.

But the Lib Dems have asked for formal talks with Labour. Mr Brown said it was in the "national interest" to respond.

Mr Brown's statement will be seen as a move to smooth the way to a deal between Labour and the Liberal Democrats to form a government.

BBC political editor Nick Robinson said it was an audacious bid by Mr Brown to keep Labour in power - and himself in power for a limited period.

Voters' judgement

It comes after further talks between the Tory and Lib Dem negotiating teams and another meeting between Tory leader David Cameron and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg.

Mr Clegg's team then talked through options with Lib Dem MPs, who urged them to continue to listen to Labour, while seeking further clarification from the Tories about key areas of policy.

Meanwhile Mr Cameron is meeting Conservative MPs and the Cabinet is meeting in Downing Street.

In his statement in Downing Street, Mr Brown said Britain had a "parliamentary and not presidential system" and said there was a "progressive majority" of voters.

He said if the national interest could be best served by a coalition between the Lib Dems and Labour - he said he would "discharge that duty to form that government".

But he added that no party had won an overall majority in the UK general election and, as Labour leader, he had to accept that as a judgement on him.

"I therefore intend to ask the Labour Party to set in train the processes needed for its own leadership election.

"I would hope that it would be completed in time for the new leader to be in post by the time of the Labour Party conference.

"I will play no part in that contest, I will back no individual candidate."

Formal process

Lib Dem leader Mr Clegg had requested formal negotiations with Labour and it was "sensible and in the national interest" to respond positively to the request, Mr Brown said.

He said a "formal policy negotiation process" would be established.

It emerged earlier that the Lib Dem negotiating team, who have held days of talks with the Conservatives, had also met senior Labour figures in private.

The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said one of the stumbling blocks to any Lib Dem-Labour deal had been Mr Brown himself.

John Mann, the first Labour MP to call for him to go after the election result, said Mr Brown had made a "wise and brave" decision.

And the SNP's Westminster leader Angus Robertson said it was "inevitable" Mr Brown would have to go and he had "done the right thing". He said he believed a "progressive alliance" involving Labour, the Lib Dems and the SNP which would "deliver the best result for the people of Scotland".

No majority

But Conservative MP Nigel Evans told the BBC: "The fact he's going in September, I think the country passed its verdict. Gordon, they want you to go now."

And fellow Conservative Richard Ottaway said the "numbers don't add up" for Labour and the Liberal Democrats to form a coalition.

"A Labour-Liberal Democrat coalition is only a handful more than the Conservative Party on its own and it would not be able to hold the line on this for very long," he told BBC Radio 4's PM programme.

The Tories secured 306 of the 649 constituencies contested on 6 May. It leaves the party short of the 326 MPs needed for an outright majority, with the Thirsk and Malton seat - where the election was postponed after the death of a candidate - still to vote.

Labour finished with 258 MPs, down 91, the Lib Dems 57, down five, and other parties 28.

If Labour and the Lib Dems joined forces, they would still not have an overall majority.

With the support of the Northern Irish SDLP, one Alliance MP, and nationalists from Scotland and Wales they would reach 328, rising to 338 if the DUP, the independent unionist and the new Green MP joined them.


Source: BBC

Nigeria: Vice President may emerge Tuesday

There are strong indications that President Goodluck Jonathan may name his vice president next week Tuesday and subsequently seek approval of the National Assembly.

Also on Friday, the United States hailed the "timely inauguration" of President Jonathan, whom it described as the "lawful successor" of late President Umaru Yar'Adua.

"The president is holding consultations as part of efforts to arrive at who will be the nominee for vice president. He will likely send the name to the National Assembly for approval, according to constitutional requirements, by Monday or Tuesday,” a presidency source was quoted to have told Reuters.

Jonathan, who was sworn in on Thursday hours after the death of Yar'Adua, spent most of Friday meeting former Nigerian heads of state, governors, and top officials from the ruling People's Democratic Party on the choice of his vice president.

Three former heads of state - Gen. Yakubu Gowon, Alhaji Shehu Shagari and Chief Ernest Shonekan as well as members of the Nigerian Governors Forum led by its chairman, Governor Bukola Saraki of Kwara State, who were at Aso Rock Villa, Abuja on Friday to commiserate with Jonathan over the death of the late Yar'Adua were also said to have been consulted on his choice for the vice presidency.

The former heads of state also congratulated Jonathan on his ascension to the office of President.

Gowon who spoke on behalf of the ex-leaders said the former leaders also used the opportunity of the visit to advise Jonathan to concentrate on electoral reforms and credible elections next year.

The governors described Yar'Adua's death as a national tragedy, adding that it was a personal tragedy for Jonathan, who they said, “has lost not only a great boss, but also a true friend and a loving brother." In an address read on their behalf by Saraki, they said: "the loss that our dear country has suffered is great. Even as we mourn, we beseech the Almighty God to turn our collective grief into a positive energy that will serve this country.

“This is the honour the country owes the late Yar'Adua. He was a great son of Nigeria who believed in Nigeria and who served Nigeria with all the force of his vision of a better way and a greater place for our country."

While congratulating the new president on his inauguration, Saraki admonished him to continue steering the affairs of the nation with "the focus; the commitment and the resourcefulness with which your Excellency has steered the affairs of this country even as the acting president."

In his response, Jonathan said Yar’Adua did his best to promote the interest of the country, and called on Nigerians to ensure the noble ideals he stood for are accomplished. The new President thanked the former heads of state and governors for the tremendous goodwill and support for the late president.

He said Yar'Adua initiated a number of programmes which could have impacted positively on the lives of the people but was slowed down by his health challenges.

The US, in the statement issued by the Secretary of State, Senator Hillary Clinton, also called on the Jonathan administration to continue the march toward next year's general election.

The statement titled: 'The passing of President Umaru Yar'Adua', reads: "United States applauds the timely inauguration of President Jonathan, the lawful successor, and efforts to unify the country at this delicate time. We encourage the Nigerian government to continue its movement toward national democratic elections in 2011 and offer our support and assistance in these efforts."

US also urged all Nigerians "to place their faith and support firmly behind orderly, democratic and constitutional mechanisms."

Meanwhile, Nigerians in the US have continued to mourn the demise of the Nigerian leader. In Washington, flags were flown at half-mast at the ambassador's residence and the chancery, where a condolence register was also opened. Thursday was also observed as work-free day by embassy staff.

In New York, UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, on Thursday night, signed the condolence register at the Nigeria House.

Yar'Adua's death however affected a number of Nigerian-related events slated for Thursday. A meeting between Ambassador Adebowale Adefuye and US Under Secretary for Political Affairs, Williams Burns, was shifted to next week.

Also affected was the award ceremony of the Certificate of Excellence for the Peace Keeping Training Centre in Kaduna billed to hold at the UN headquarters in New York. Top military brass led by Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Dambazau, had already arrived for the event.

Also, the Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper late on Thursday described Yar’Adua as a man of peace, saying "Yar’Adua’s efforts in promoting regional peace and security and his contribution to Nigeria’s leadership role within the international community will be remembered."

The Canadian prime minister in his statement specifically commended Yar’Adua’s efforts at bringing stability and security to the people of the Niger Delta. "Canada is proud of its long partnership with Nigeria, a leader, both regionally and internationally. The past ten years of democratic governance have demonstrated the strength of Nigerians, and this strength will sustain them through the mourning period and beyond.

"I would like to extend, on behalf of the Canadian people, my condolences to the family of President Yar’Adua, the government and the people of Nigeria. Canada has stood with Nigeria through the difficult period of President Yar’Adua’s illness, and Canada mourns with Nigerians his passing," said Harper in a statement issued in Canada.

More condolences also poured in yesterday from world leaders who expressed grief at the death of Yar’Adua.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, and German President Horst Koehler said they were saddened to learn of the passing of Nigerian president and joined President Obama in expressing her condolences to the late president’s family and Nigerians.

Medvedev said he mourned the death of Yar’Adua with the deepest sorrow and noted that contribution made by the late president to strengthen democratic pillars in Nigeria was "priceless." The Russian leader said Yar’Adua gave basic direction to further Nigeria’s economic development "while his balanced and constructive internal policy promoted stability and peace for the country.

"I knew President Yar’Adua as a great friend of Russia, a staunch supporter of cooperation between our nations, who did his best for broadening and deepening the Nigerian-Russian ties," Medvedev said. "President Yar’Adua always sought ways to fulfill his responsibility for peace and security in his country and in the African continent," Koehler said.

"This commitment became apparent particularly during the fourth Africa Forum held in Abuja in November 2008, which we both co-chaired. In Yar’Adua’s death, Germany has lost a partner who showed distinct interest in relation with the European nation,” Koehler added.

In a related development, Gombe State Governor, Muhammad Danjuma Goje has described the late Yar’Adua as “a good, disciplined and experienced leader who was full of vision for a better and great Nigeria but could not achieve or implement his dreams due to ill health.”

The governor stated this while speaking to newsmen at the Gombe Airport shortly before departing for Katsina State for the burial of Yar’Adua.



Source: Thisdayonline.com