FIFA Decides Ghana Fate

FIFA is expected to make a statement this week on the problems within the Zambian and Ghanaian FAs, the BBC has reported.

The world governing body has been investigating the two countries over alleged government interference in the administration of the game.

Officials in the two countries are bracing themselves for damning conclusions about what went wrong.

The report from Fifa could have a profound impact on the future of the two federations.

The power struggle in the Football Association of Zambian (FAZ) turned into a full blown crisis on Friday when a faction elected a new Executive Committee.

The group said the committee run by FAZ President Kalusha Bwalya is no longer in charge.

The turmoil in FAZ started last month when four officials resigned claiming they had issues with Bwalya’s leadership style.

This prompted the Sports Council of Zambia, a government body, to set up a committee to investigate FAZ.

But under Fifa rules, national football associations must not be subject to government control.

Ghana on the other hand is expected to escape with a slap on the wrist after government withdrew an order to impose Abedi Pele as a candidate for a vacant Caf post.

The Ghana FA chose its president Kwesi Nyantakyi three months ago to contest next year’s elections but sports minister wanted Abedi to vie for the post.

Sanity has now been restored after the government backed down on its request.
Similar actions by the governments in Nigeria, Chad, Niger and Kenya have resulted in bans from international football.

Fifa will examine a report from an independent investigator into issues of interference into the administration of Ghana football.

Excerpts of the report cited issues surrounding Ghana’s pre and post World Cup period where there were allegations and counter allegations over disbursement of funds.

It also cited government’s attempt to nominate former Black Stars captain Abedi Pele to the post of Caf Executive Committee member which the Ghana FA rightly declined and was later withdrawn.

Fifa normally upon awareness of internal and external wranglings in a member association, sends an independent officer to the troubled-area to get at first hand the veracity of all allegations.

He then presents a report to his superiors upon which a firm decision is taken per its recommendations.

Though it is very unlikely that Ghana would be banned by Fifa like it happened with Nigeria, there are signs that a stern warning would be issued which will lead to a subsequent ban if the matter resurfaces.
Source: BBC

"Pampers man Cleared"

Muntaka Mubarak

Former Youth and Sports Minister, Muntaka Mubarak has been exonerated of all charges levelled against him by some officials of the Ministry of Sports and the National Security.

The Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), after several months of thorough investigations into the Muntaka scandal exonerated him of all the charges levelled against him.

Citifmonline.com last week broke the news that CHRAJ had concluded its investigations into the Muntaka scandal and a report would soon be released.

The Muntaka scandal was first investigated by a National Security Committee on the orders of the President.

The findings of the National Security Committee largely exonerated the former Sports Minister although the Asawase Member of Parliament was faulted for having used his position to secure a German Visa for Edith Zunayela who was alleged to be his girl friend.

CHRAJ begun its probe after the Progressive Nationalist Forum (PNF), an Accra based non-governmental organisation (NGO) petitioned the Commission, to investigate the conduct of the former Youth and Sports Minister whilst in office.

PNF had made allegations of abuse of office and conflict of interest against the Asawase MP when he took office as Minister of Youth and Sports. The group further accused Hon. Muntaka of fraud, after he allegedly used false information to secure a German visa for his girlfriend, Ms Edith Zunayela, together with using the Ministry's resources to finance their trip to watch the CHAN tournament held in Cote d'Ivoire in 2009.

In a petition dated January 1st, 2010 and signed by its spokesperson, Richard Kwesi Nyamah, to CHRAJ, the PNF said Alhaji Muntaka had failed to produce receipt of US$10,000 he received from some government officials, upon his request to settle landing charges for the aircraft the locally based national team used for the CHAN tournament in neighbouring Ivory Coast.

However, after several months of thorough investigations and further scrutiny by the Chairman of the commission, CHRAJ came to the conclusion that there was not enough evidence to convict the former Sports Minister of any crime per the laws of the country.

Speaking to Citi News, Hon Muntaka Mubarak confirmed the news and expressed his appreciation for being exonerated after all the battering he had received.

He said a 30 paged report submitted to him by CHRAJ cleared him of all charges and allegations that were levelled against.

He however added that as a patriotic citizen, he is ready to take up any Ministerial position if considered by President Mills.

-Source Ghanaweb.com

A Founder Of A Party To Demonstrate Against H1N1

Ramon Akoto

THE FOUNDER and leader of United Love Party (ULP), Ramon Osei Akoto says he will stage a demonstration against government if it fails to withdraw the controversial H1N1 vaccines from the country.

Mr. Akoto who was speaking during a forum to educate the media about harmful effects of the vaccine was arrested a few weeks ago and granted self recognisant bail by the Central Regional police for circulating information to Cape Coast residents that the drug was poisonous.

The ULP leader who claimed to have been arrested at a market while using a Public Address System (PAS) says he is not afraid of government retaliation and will continue to tell the truth about the vaccine.

He added he would disseminate information to the public asking them to reject the vaccines which the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other developing partners are trying to use to reduce the population of Africans.

Mr. Akoto emphasised the need for government to recall vaccines in the country including TB, polio, measles, yellow fever, hepatitis, elephantiasis, malaria and heamophilus Influenza B vaccines.

He further charged government to halt the mass H1N1 vaccinations and assemble all security officers and medical personnel for lab test, adding the vaccine contained lead and other poisonous materials that could cause brain disorders.

“Are we going to sit there and see our police and military officers to go mad?” he asked.

The founder disclosed that most countries such as Japan and Holland have stopped administering the vaccine due to it poisonous nature.

He said the H1N1 vaccines together with other vaccines provided by the WHO contain thimerosal also known as mercury which causes harm to the human body.

He alleged that Bill Gates as well as other prominent people in the world are investing heavily in vaccines, food and fertilizers to reduce the world's population since they believe over population would overtake them in the years ahead.

Last week DAILY GUIDE published a report titled “Akoto blasts Mills” in which the ULP founder described President Mills as a murderer.

He claimed the president was aware of the harmful effects the H1N1 vaccines would have on Ghanaians but went ahead to approve the exercise.

He further urged people who have been vaccinated to sue government since their health is in danger. 

-Source Desmond K. Dapaah, Daily Guide Cape Coast

Fuel Shortage Bites Drivers On Rampage

Drivers queuing for fuel in Cape Coast

DRIVERS IN the country seem not to be finding things easy due to the frequent fuel shortage in the country after the assumption of office by the National Democratic Congress (NDC), notwithstanding the promises made in the 2008 general elections on fuel prices.

The fuel shortage has worsened in the Central Region as motorists, particularly commercial drivers, begun queuing at dawn at the limited filling stations with the essential commodity.

Some drivers who spoke to DAILY GUIDE yesterday said their aspiration to travel all the way from Winneba, Twifo Praso, Assin Fosu to Cape Coast to get fuel did not materialize as the situation was even worse in the metropolis.

The drivers, who did not understand why they had to go through such a hectic situation, lambasted the NDC government for failing to fulfill its campaign promises.

Some of the drivers who complained bitterly to DAILY GUIDE at the Pedu Total filling station said they had to come as early as 3:00am to queue to enable them get to work on time, while others complained bitterly about how the situation was making their businesses fall apart.

The frustrated drivers became more disappointed when their demand was not met as they were told they would be given only one gallon of fuel each, no matter the amount they wanted to buy.

This infuriated the drivers who refused to take the one gallon because they claimed they were going on long journeys, for which one gallon was not enough.

The Manager at the Total filling station at Bakaano, Richard Mensah said the station had 13,500 liters of fuel as at last Friday, but was sold out by Sunday.

From Takoradi, Emmanuel Opoku reports that commercial and private vehicle drivers in some parts of the western region and in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis in particular have since last Friday been going through stress as they search for fuel, as the fuel shortage intensifies in some parts of the region, slowing down economic activities.

Some of the filling stations DAILY GUIDE visited in the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis yesterday revealed that only diesel and kerosene were on sale as majority of the drivers. Particularly taxi drivers were seen moving from one fuel station to another in search of petrol.

The fuel stations DAILY GUIDE visited included the Total Filling station at the Takoradi Market Circle and at the Kwame Nkrumah round-about, Shell filling station near Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Takoradi, the Edzii Goil filling station, also at the Nkrumah round-about, Glory Oil at Shama and Total Filling station at Aboadze.

Some taxi drivers who spoke to DAILY GUIDE alleged that the country had been experiencing intermittent fuel shortage since the current government took over power and said the situation had brought untold hardships to them.

Unconfirmed report reaching DAILY GUIDE from Tarkwa has it that the commercial drivers in the municipality on Monday scrambled for fuel at the Total filling station, the only station that had the product in the area, while some of them also took advantage of the situation to charge abnormal fares.

At the Kwame Nkrumah round-about Goil filling station, the General Manager, Edzii confirmed the shortage of fuel in the metropolis and debunked the assertion that the fuel stations were hoarding the product in anticipation of an increase in petroleum prices by the government.

He said he did not know when the situation would be resolved and that until then, transport owners and drivers would only had to bear with the situation.

At Aboadze in the Shama District, commercial drivers and motor cycle owners were also seen moving from one fuel station to another with gallons in search of petrol.  

-Source Desmond Dapaah, Daily Guide Cape Coast