Live Band & Live Kente weaver from Ghana
Chicago,July 11 2007- Chicago, the windy city of the Midwest will be buzzing and sizzling hot with the most spectacular and largest Ghanaian cultural festival in the diaspora on July 28 2007 at the historic Washington Park. The Organizers of the festival, The Ghana National Council of Metropolitan Chicago has projected a record patronage this year.

If you have not yet planned your 2007 summer vacation, start planning now; start packing your bags and get ready to head towards Chicago. Treat this day as a day of opportunity to mingle and exchange greetings with past school mates and friends you have not seen for a very, very long time.
This years' celebrations is packed with exciting activities for the family. A cultural treat your family will forever remember. It will be reminiscent to the older generation of Ghanaians and educational to the youth, especially those who have never seen Ghanaian culture live on such a grand scale. An experience that will be an everlasting memory and a connection with their roots!
Don't miss the opportunity to find out why over fifteen thousand people gather in Chicago every year to experience this phenomenon called GHANAFEST,the first and original , that keeps growing every year!
Mr. Fritz Kwabena Poku, former Ghana's Ambassador to the United States had one thing to say when he was caught in the moment at Ghanafest, "wow, this is the greatest festival I have ever seen!"
The organizers of Ghanafest, an outdoor exhibition with a makeup theme of a Cultural Exposition, are taking a different approach to the festival this year.The Ghanaian musician Union who have been missing in previous years' will perform at the festival. They Union is made up of all Ghanaian bands in the Chicago area. They are led by the talented Dan Boadi , Joe Atiso , Sam Ghansah and Nii Amanor,( The Keybard Wizard!)As usual, the top DJ's in Chicago will be there to show their spinning skills!
Lovers of Gospel Music will not be disappointed at the festival as Nat Awuni, Aziza, Diana Akiwumi, Stella Dugan and Davis Wiafe will be at Ghanafest for the first time to roar the crowd in Chicago with their marvelous dances and beautiful voices. It will be a show reserved for the early birds since their performance is scheduled to come off at the early stages of the program.
Those who have not seen live Kente weaving will have the opportunity to witness one this year at Ghanafest. The renown Ghanaian Kente weaver , Mr. Asare Kweku, will be handling the 'loom" thought by historians to have been developed around the 17th century, as usual with mastery and dexterity. You may have the chance to try your hands on the loom! You cannot miss out on this!
As Usual, the organizers have lined up a number of Dignitaries to grace to occasion. The latest includes, Honorable Dr.Paa Kwesi Nduom,member of Parliament and the outgoing Indefatigable Minister of Public Sector Reform ;and the Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Honorable Ignatius Baffour Awuah.
The keynote speaker is Chicago's own Dr.John Awah, owner of Korle-Bu Medical Center in Chicago.
Mr. CNN, will be a special Ghanaweb photo-journalist at the festival. Other media that has expressed interest in covering the festival includes, Chicago's only "mouth piece" The African Spectrum, The Africast T.V Networks, GTV, BET and other FM Radio stations in Ghana.
Members of the public who patronize Ghanafest raffle tickets will have a lot of items to try their luck on this year as the GNC has approved a polaroid TV as the first prize and many other consolation prizes that includes DVD and CD players.
Art and Craft Vendors will pay $70.00 per 10 by 10 inches booth space whilst corporate spaces will go for $500.00 .
DJ's and musicians attending the festival and want to participate should email CBOAHENE@sbcglobal.net to register ASAP.

There will be a community Church Service on Sunday, July 29 2007 at 1937 S. Michigan from 1 PM to 3 PM.
For more information about Ghanafest 2007, visit ghananationalcouncil.org.

Source: Organizers of Ghanafest, Chicago.

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Koforidua, July 20, GNA- Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda, the Minister of Energy, on Wednesday said government would pursue a policy of full cost recovery on energy used in the country.

The Minster, however, said the problem at hand was how to get along with all the stakeholders in the energy sector.

Mr. Adda was speaking at the end of a two-day extra-ordinary executive committee meeting of the Union of Producers, Transporters and Distributors of Electric Power in Africa (UPDEA) at Akosombo. He urged all agencies involved in energy generation and distribution to behave responsibly as the Government moved towards the implementation of the policy.

Mr. Adda said the Government was revamping the agencies responsible for energy generation to ensure that greater part of their resources were used on their core businesses.

The Minister said the Government had, therefore, decided to set up a company to manage a new 400-megawatt hydro electricity facility adding that workers of the Volta River Authority could be asked to work any such establishment.

Mr. Adda said the Government had diversified the source of electric power generation in the country, and would welcome private participation in the energy sector.

He said the Government had signed various agreements to enable it purchase power from private organizations that might undertake electricity generation.

Mr. Edward Njoroge, the first Vice-President of UPDEA, observed that the current energy crisis in Ghana was not unique to the country and that other African countries were going through similar experiences. He said the rapid economic development in African had resulted in high demand for energy while poor energy generation and distribution had led to a wide gab between supply and demand for electricity. Mr. Mutima Sakrini, the General Secretary of UPDEA, said access to electricity in Africa was generally very poor and worse in the rural areas, except countries in North Africa, which had about 98 per cent electricity coverage.

He stressed that access to electricity in the rural areas in Sub-Saharan Africa ranged from three to 30 per cent except South Africa, which had about 50 per cent coverage.

Mr. Sakrini noted that many African countries were undergoing load shedding because of the inability of power plants to generate enough energy due to unstable water level as a result of climatic variations. He suggested the establishment of interconnectivity at sub-regional and continental levels for the pooling of resources so that in times of difficulty, countries could help each other. Mr. Sakrini also advocated the diversification of sources of energy, introduction of pragmatic measures and the harmonization of plans for the generation and supply of electricity within countries in the sub-region.

The Deputy Chief Executive of VRA, Mr Eric Yankah, said the Authority was working to meet the energy needs of the country. Countries that participated in the meeting were; Nigeria, Cameroon, South Africa, Angola, Zambia, Ethiopia, Mali and Cote d' Ivoire.

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Ghana will meet their west African rivals Senegal in a friendly at venue in London on 21 August.

The two teams will meet at the New Den, the home ground of English League side Millwall to play the game.

Ghana are using the match as part of their build-up to the African Cup of Nations tournament which they are hosting next January.

Senegal, currently top qualifying group Group 7, will get an early taste of a side they could meet if they progress to the finals.

It follows Ghana's friendly match against Nigeria which was also played in London, this time at Brentford's Griffin Park.

The Black Stars recorded their first victory over the Super Eagles in 15 years with a 4-1 win.

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MOSCOW - Russia said Thursday it will expel four British diplomats and suspend counterterrorism cooperation with London, the latest move in a mounting confrontation over the radiation poisoning death of former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko.

Britain had announced Monday the expulsion of four Russian diplomats and restrictions on visas issued to Russian government officials after Moscow refused to extradite Andrei Lugovoi, accused of killing Litvinenko in London last November.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Gordon Brown called the Russian move "completely unjustified."

The dispute marks a new low in relations between Moscow and London, which had already been troubled by Russia's opposition to the war in Iraq, Britain's refusal to extradite exiled tycoon Boris Berezovsky to face embezzlement charges, and by Kremlin allegations last year of spying by British diplomats.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin announced the expulsions after summoning British Ambassador Anthony Brenton to the ministry and informing him.

Kamynin described Russia's response as "targeted, balanced and the minimum necessary." He contended that Russia was forced to respond, saying Britain had made a "conscious choice of worsening relations with our country."

Brown spokesman Michael Ellam said Britain viewed Russia's action as "completely unjustified, and we will continue to take this matter forward with the international community over the next weeks."

Foreign Secretary David Miliband expressed disappointment.

"We obviously believe that the decision to expel four embassy staff is completely unjustified and we will be doing everything to ensure that they and their families are properly looked after," he said.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice called on Moscow to heed British demands and extradite Lugovoi — the first time America's senior diplomat has weighed in on the dispute.

"This is an issue of rule of law to our minds, not an issue of politics," Rice said at a news conference in Portugal, where she was attending a conference on Middle East peace. "It is a matter of Russia cooperating fully in what is simply an effort to solve what was a very terrible crime committed on British soil."

Russia says such extraditions are prohibited by its constitution and characterized Britain's demand as an attempt to interfere in Moscow's internal affairs.

"We are disappointed that the Russian government should have signaled no new cooperation in the extradition of Mr. Andrei Lugovoi for the alleged murder of Alexander Litvinenko," Miliband said.

"We are, however, much heartened that over the last 36 hours across the international community, European countries, the EU as a whole and the United States should have put out such positive statements about the need to defend the integrity of the British judicial system, and that is something that we shall be taking forward with the international community over the next few days and weeks," Miliband said.

Litvinenko, a fierce Kremlin critic, died Nov. 23 after ingesting radioactive polonium-210. From his deathbed, he said Russian President Vladimir Putin was behind his poisoning.

A letter from Russia's ambassador in London denounced claims of Kremlin involvement in Litvinenko's murder.

"It is preposterous to assert that the killing of Alexander Litvinenko 'appears to have the clear backing, if not the active assistance, of the Russian government,'" Ambassador Yuri Fedotov wrote in a letter to The Times, responding to an editorial published Tuesday.

Fedotov said there is nothing sinister in Russia's refusal to hand over Lugovoi, and reaffirmed Russia's offer to put him on trial at home if British authorities provide enough evidence.

Fedotov, who has been uncharacteristically visible in British media this week, said that how far the standoff goes depends on the "political will" of the British government.

"The Russian government values its relations with the U.K. and respects its laws and constitutional arrangement," Fedotov wrote. "A close relationship, of course, requires that the British government does the same."

British police said Wednesday that it had apprehended and deported a suspected Russian assassin who was reportedly planning to murder Berezovsky in June. The tycoon accused the Kremlin of being behind that plot.

Kamynin also said Russia would stop issuing visas to British officials and seeking British visas for Russian officials until London provides more information on the restrictions it has imposed.

"Until the new procedure is explained, Russian officials will not request British visas. And analogous requests by British officials will not be considered," he said.

He also said Moscow would suspend cooperation against terror.

"To our regret, cooperation between Russia and Britain on issues of fighting terrorism becomes impossible," Kamynin said.

He did not elaborate, and the extent of current cooperation — with ties already damaged by Russian intelligence services' accusations of British spying — was unclear.

Natalia Leshchenko, an analyst at the Global Insight think tank, said on BBC TV that Britain and Russia do cooperate against terror, but suggested the suspension was mainly meant to tarnish Brown's new government in the eyes of its own people.

"The cooperation itself is there and we can also say it can be exaggerated if needed to show that Gordon Brown acts against the British people. At least that's what they are saying to the Russian public at the moment," Leshchenko said.

Kamynin said the interests of tourists and businessmen would not be hurt. He said that on visa issues, Russia would mirror Britain's actions from now on.

___

Associated Press writers Jim Heintz and Tariq Panja contributed to this report from London.

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NEW YORK - A massive geyser of steam and debris that erupted through a midtown Manhattan street left asbestos in the dust that settled, but city officials said Thursday that tests indicated the air was safe.

The city's Office of Emergency Management said in a statement that long-term health problems from the rupture of the 83-year-old steam pipe and its debris were "unlikely."

Streets were still closed Thursday morning around the crater left by the eruption near Grand Central Terminal, creating near-gridlock during the morning rush. New Yorkers streamed down Park Avenue, some wearing masks to filter the air as they weaved around utility trucks amid the sound of jackhammers. Clumps of office workers, BlackBerries in hand, huddled on corners for word on whether their offices would open.

"I'm mostly calm and collected," said Tony Vcaj, 26, who was outside his closed building at 42nd Street and Third Avenue. He was trying to reach his boss to figure out the day's game plan.

The loud, rumbling eruption began shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday, breaking windows and rattling buildings as the pipe spewed steam, dirt and debris hundreds of feet into the air. One woman died of an apparent heart attack, and about 30 people were injured, four seriously.

Officials quickly ruled out terrorism as the cause of the blast, but for some witnesses, the explosion, dust and chaos were frighteningly reminiscent of the scene on Sept. 11, 2001.

"We were scared to death. It sounded like a bomb hit or a bomb went off, just like 9/11. People were hysterical, crying, running down the street," said Karyn Easton, a customer at a salon a few blocks from the site of the blast. "It was really surreal."

City crews worked overnight to assess and repair the damage and to determine what happened. Most subway service was restored, though most of the trains were passing Grand Central.

On Thursday, asbestos contamination was the main lingering health concern, Mayor Michael Bloomberg said. Some of the pipes that pump steam beneath the city to heat and cool thousands of buildings are wrapped in asbestos, which can cause cancer and other serious illnesses with prolonged exposure.

Area residents were urged to keep windows closed, and anyone exposed to the falling debris was instructed to wash carefully and isolate the clothing they were wearing in plastic bags. Eight air samples in the area around the explosion found no sign of asbestos, but six of 10 samples of debris and dust came back positive, the emergency-management agency said Thursday.

City engineers also warned that up to six feet surrounding the giant hole might be in danger of further collapse, and officials said workers would not be allowed into office buildings in a zone that covered several blocks.

Officials said the steam pipe might have exploded under pressure caused by an infiltration of cold rainwater, or it might have been damaged by a water main break.

Con Edison head Kevin Burke said the site had been inspected hours before the blast as part of a routine response to heavy rain that flooded parts of the city. He said crews had found nothing as they searched for steam rising from manhole covers or cracks in the street — indications that pipes could be in jeopardy. The steam systems are normally inspected every six weeks.

It was rush hour Wednesday evening when the geyser erupted, generating a tremendous roar as 200-degree vapor sprayed as high as the top of the nearby Chrysler Building. Steam and dirt boiled from the ground for hours.

Several people were struck by falling chunks of asphalt or rock that had been blasted out of the ground. Mud covered others. A woman who was bleeding heavily was helped by police while a man lay on a stretcher in the street.

When the steam dispersed almost two hours later, a large crater was visible in the street and a red truck lay at the bottom of the hole. Two city buses and a small school bus sat abandoned and covered with grit in the middle of Lexington Avenue.

The steam pipes have ruptured before. In 1989, a steam pipe explosion near Gramercy Park killed three people and spewed loads of asbestos into the air — a fact that Con Ed later admitted it concealed for days while residents were exposed.

That explosion was caused by a condition known as "water hammer," in which water condenses in a closed section of pipe. The sudden mix of hot steam and cool water can cause pressure to skyrocket, bursting the pipe.

Authorities Thursday couldn't immediately account for how the most seriously wounded victims of the latest eruption were hurt. Police said the woman who died, identified as Lois Baumerich, 57, of Hawthorne, N.J., suffered cardiac arrest.

She and 15 other people were taken to Bellevue Hospital, where two seriously injured patients were being treated in a trauma unit, hospital spokesman Stephen Bohlen said. Two other people were in critical condition at New York Weill-Cornell Medical Center, said hospital spokeswoman Emily Berlanstein.

Among the injured were several firefighters and police Officer Robert Mirfield, who helped evacuate 75 people trapped in a nearby office building by cutting open a gate, authorities said.

___

Associated Press Writers Jennifer Peltz, Eric Vora, Richard Pyle, Tom Hays, Marcus Franklin, David B. Caruso and Verena Dobnik and AP National Writer Deborah Hastings contributed to this report.

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Young drivers between 15 and 24 years old are three times as likely to cause car accidents as senior citizens, U.S. researchers said on Wednesday, noting that the findings contradict policies that make it harder for older drivers to renew their licenses.

People over the age of 65 make up 15 percent of drivers but were responsible for only 7 percent of the 330,000 fatal two-car crashes in the past 25 years, researchers at the Rand Institute for Social Justice found.

Drivers up to age 24 represented 13 percent of drivers, but caused 43 percent of the accidents across the United States, they said. Senior drivers were only 16 percent more likely to cause an accident than drivers between the ages of 25 and 64.

"(There is) pretty widespread public concern about the safety of older drivers," said David Loughran, an economist at RAND who worked on the study.

"Over the past 20 years, there been a strong trend to adopt more stringent licensing policies," he added. "The fact that older drivers are not that much riskier suggests that these policies are certainly questionable."

The deterioration in vision and slower reflexes that come with age can hamper the ability to drive, while senior citizens are also more vulnerable to serious injury and nearly seven times more likely than other adult drivers to be killed if they do have an accident, the study found.

But the findings suggested that senior citizens are choosing to drive less frequently or to stop altogether. Those who still get behind the wheel often play it safe -- driving in daylight and avoiding dangerous conditions, Loughran said.

Illinois and New Hampshire require road tests for older drivers, while other states require them to take vision tests or renew their licenses in person.

"On the one hand, requiring older drivers to take road tests, for example, would certainly identify some older drivers whose driving abilities have deteriorated unacceptably," the researchers wrote.

"But our results suggest that there are relatively few older drivers who need to be legally prohibited from driving, so these drivers pose a relatively small risk to traffic safety overall."

Efforts to reduce accidents would be better focused on younger drivers, who drive more frequently and are riskier when they do so, Loughran said.

Source: news.yahoo.com

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Algiers, July 18, GNA - Ghana's medal hope, Vida Anim (Pictured)returned a time of 11.40 seconds to win one of the heats in the 100 metres women's sprint event at the All Africa Games in Algiers on Wednesday.

Running in lane one, the Ghanaian breasted the tape ahead of Cameroonian, D. B. Alaijama who finished in second place with a time of 11.49 seconds while

Selima Bouali of Algeria picked the third spot with a time of 11.79. All three runners have qualified for the semi stage to be run later this evening.

In other heats, Gifty Addy returned a time of 11.82 seconds to place fourth and make the semi final in heat one, won by Nigerian Damola Osayomi who returned 11.40 seconds, same as Anim.

 Also in line for a semi final contest in the women's class is Esther Danquah, who placed fourth in her heat won by Nigerian, Francisca Idoko, whose time of 11.38 was the fastest in the heats.

In the men's 100 metres sprint race, Ghana will parade three runners in the semi final.

Henry Adu Mfum placed second in heat one to book a place, as well as Eric Nkansah who also placed second in heat two, while Saed Justin Abu Duah placed third in the other heat. 18 July 07

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 Place      Top Division Points 
 1.	Spain	602,0 
 2.	Brasil	568,0 
 3.	England	550,0 
 4.	Argentina	548,0 
 5.	Mexico	486,5 
 6.	Italia	479,0 
 7.	France	386,5 
 8.	Colombia	364,5
 9.	Germany	361,0
 10.	Chile	342,5
 11.	Paraguay	324,0
 12.	Uruguay	310,0
 13.	Portugal	308,0
 14.         Netherlands 290,5
 15.	Tunisia	270,5
 16.	Turkey	260,5
 17.	Egypt	258,5
 18.	Belgium	256,5
 19.	Peru	245,0
 20.	Scotland	237,0
 21.	Lebanon	235,5
 22.	Algérie	228,0
 23.	Greece	221,5
 24.	Cameroun	215,5
 25.	Russia	213,5
 26.	Nigeria	211,5
 27.	S Africa	205,5
 28.	Japan	203,5
 29.	Syria	201,5
 30.	Romania	196,5
 31.	Iran	195,0
 32.	Singapore	190,5
 33.          Ukraina	190,5
 34.	Jordan	189,5
 35.	Israel	187,5
 36.	Ecuador	185,0
 37.	Bolivia	182,0
 38.          Maroc	182,0
 39.	Uzbekistan	180,5
 40.	S Arabia	179,5
 41.	UAE	177,0
 42.	Bahrain	171,0
 43.	Oman	170,0
 44.	Malaysia	167,0
 45.         Venezuela	167,0
 46.         C d'Ivoire    163,0
 47.           India	163,0
 48.	Česká Republika	162,0
 49.	Hong Kong	157,0
 50.	Korea (S)	156,0
 51.	Estonia	153,0
 52.	N Ireland	152,0
 53.	Angola	151,0
 54.	Zambia	147,5
 55.	Qatar	146,0
 56.	Yemen	144,0
 57.	China	142,5
 58.	Kuwait	141,0
 59.	Costa Rica	139,0
 60.          Zimbabwe	139,0
 61.	Albania	137,0
 62.          Switzerland	137,0
 63.	Armenia	136,0
 64.          Srbija	136,0
 65.	Georgia	131,0
 66.	Bulgaria	130,5
 67.	Poland	130,0
 68.	Indonesia	126,5
 69.	Senegal	125,5
 70.	Danmark	125,0
 71.           Honduras	125,0
 72.	Belarus	124,0
 73.          Macedonia	124,0
 74.	Österreich	123,5
 75.	Slovensko	121,5
 76.	Sudan	120,0
 77.	Vietnam	119,5
 78.	Panama	118,0
79.	Ghana	117,0
 80.          Guatemala	117,0
 81.           Lietuva	117,0
 82.	Croatia	116,0
 83.           HUngary	116,0
 84.	USA	115,0
 85.	Thailand	114,0
 86.	El Salvador	111,0
 87.	Slovenija	110,0
 88.	Australia	106,5
 89.	Éire	105,0
 90.	Moldova	104,0

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Reducing salt in the diet can have significant effects on the risk of heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular disease. A study by researchers at Harvard Medical School in the US have, for the first time, shown a long term connection between high salt intake and heart attacks and strokes.

Small reductions in salt intake can reduce the risk of fatal heart attack by as much as a quarter. The study reported in the British Medical Journal(1) included more that 3,000 volunteers with high-normal blood pressure who, over a 3 to 4 year period, reduced their salt intake by approximately one-quarter to one-third. They were then followed for up to ten years after the end of the trial.

The results showed that these individuals were 25 per cent less likely to have experienced a heart attack or stroke than those in a control group. They also reduced their chance of a premature death by 20 per cent.

The researchers found that the benefits from reducing salt intake were not limited to just those with higher than normal blood pressure but also to people with low and normal blood pressure. It is suggested that the lower the salt intake, the greater the benefits.

Adding salt increases blood pressure, one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease. It is suspected that adding salt also promotes ageing of the heart.

So how can we cut the amount of salt we consume?

Most of us eat more salt than we realise. While we may not use the salt shaker much, it is often the 'hidden' salt in processed foods, fast foods and restaurant meals that are the main source of the salt that we consume. In fact, three-quarters of the salt we eat is already in the food that we buy.

A person on an average Western diet consumes approximately three times as much salt as is healthy every day. This is the equivalent of 2 to 3 teaspoons of salt instead of just one teaspoon (2,400mg) as recommended for adults daily.

Checking labels for‘salt’, ‘sodium’, ‘soda’ and the symbol ‘Na’ and switching to lower or no salt alternatives will go some way in reducing the amount of salt you consume. Try substituting spices and herbs for salt to enhance the taste of your food. Also choosing fresh fruit, vegetables, meats and low-fat dairy foods over processed and pre-packaged foods will ensure that not only are you looking after your heart but improving your health generally

The good news is that your preference for salt can decrease after just three months. In other words, you no longer notice any difference in the taste of food with the reduction in the salt levels.

(1) BMJ, doi:10.1136/bmj.39147.604896.55 (published 20 April 2007)

Source: Healthnews.com

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Rae Wood,

Healthnews.com

Through numerous studies, research is adding weight to the old adage that laughter is the best medicine! Laughing often and heartily releases negative emotions, strengthens the immune system, reduces stress, improves digestion and can even help you to lose weight. woman laughing

Having laughter and humour in you life not only gives you pleasure and happiness but is a good aerobic exercise for the diaphragm and abdominal muscles. Laughter expands the lungs forcing more oxygen-enriched blood into the body’s cells, stimulating the heart and circulation and relaxing muscles.

A good laugh additionally promotes healing through the blocking of stress hormones such as cortisone and adrenaline. Furthermore serotonin the ‘happiness’ hormone is secreted, thus giving the brain a double pleasure boost. Laughter also improves stress coping mechanisms and increases the ability to relax through the release of tension and negative emotions. Through relaxing the body laughter reduces the risk of high blood pressure and strokes. The more often you laugh the greater the health benefits.

The use of humour to enhance the body’s immune system seems, from credible clinical evidence, to activate T-Cells which attack cancer cells and viruses in the body.

Laughter is also beneficial to your mental abilities as it stimulates both hemispheres of the brain. A good hearty laugh repairs damage done by constant stress which results in the constriction of blood flow between the two sides of the brain. In other words, laughter allows the brain to do more ‘whole’ of brain work. Taking time out for a laugh and a joke with colleagues at work is therefore not a time waster as it boosts creativity, problem-solving and information retention.

Therefore to benefit your mind and your body surround yourself with people who make you laugh and try and see the funny side of everyday challenges and situations that you face. You will then not only live longer but be happier as a result.

Did you hear the one about….

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7/18/2007


Ghana is just a win away from picking their place in the finals of the women’s football action at the 9th All Africa Games when the semi-final clashes kick off today.

The Black Princesses who are making their debut at the games will line up for the first semi-final game at the 20 Aout stadium against South Africa, who came second in Group A.

A win will bring Black Princesses closer to picking gold or silver in the finals of the competition, second time in succession that women are playing at the All Africa Games in the football after the 2003 event and the first for Ghana.

Ghana will be attempting to maintain their winning run in the competition after picking up two impressive wins during the group stages.

And team coach Mumuni Gamel remains confident that the job started four months back at the national camp in Prampram is paying off dividends.

“We are very hopeful of picking a place in the finals of the competition and I am very impressed with the team’s play.

“The attack looks good and I think all what we did four months ago when the team was assembled is working to plan,” the female Under-19 team coach said in interview.

The other semi-final fixture pairs host nation, Algeria against Nigeria.

Ghana got to this stage of the competition after topping Group B win with successive wins over Algeria and Senegal.
 

Source: Ghanafa.org

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Aviation Minister, Honorable Gloria Akuffo has described as unfortunate and mischievous a statement from Lufthansa Airlines saying they have cancelled all flights to Ghana.

The German Airline issued a statement yesterday saying that they have no option but to take Ghana off their destination map since government has indicated that it is giving them only one option of flying twice a week from Accra to Frankfurt and vice versa.

This follows the expiration of government’s certification for the airlines’ daily flights to Accra.

The directive left several passengers stranded at the Airport in Frankfurt unable to connect a flight to Accra on Saturday.

Speaking to CITI FM, Aviation Minister, Gloria Akuffo says negotiations are still on-going and government has no intention of turning its back on Lufthansa. She emphasized that the airline’s behavior is mischievous and unfortunate, insisting that under no circumstances did government send a directive to the airline canceling their relationship with them.

‘INSIDE STORY’
‘Lufthansa had an outstanding relationship with the then Ghana Airways which allowed them five additional flights from Ghana to Germany, outside their already established two flights from the country.

The arrangement was to give Lufthansa more visibility in the country as well as to afford Ghana Airways some royalties.

When the royalties were not forthcoming, Ghana Airways took the issue up after which Lufthansa agreed to pay an amount of $1.2 million dollars to settle the issue.

Lufthansa, apparently, did not take kindly to a new arrangement by the Official Liquidator of Ghana Airways, allowing Ghana International Airlines to fly to Frankfurt and giving Lufthansa only two flights to Ghana.

They therefore wrote a letter to the Official Liquidator asking them to cancel GIA’s flights to Germany and allow them that privilege’.

Honorable Gloria Akuffo said the airline cannot use this mechanism to serve as a threat to the Aviation Ministry to cow in to their demands.
Meanwhile, Travel and Tour Agencies in the country say they have still not received any official notification from Lufthansa concerning their decision to cancel their flights to Ghana.

They maintain that they are currently having problems with their clients since some of them have booked on the airline.

Mr. Johnny Nezer Moreau of Graceland Travel and Tours and former President of the Ghana Travel and Tour Agencies said the move by Lufthansa will surely tarnish the image of the airline in the country.

Lufthansa ends route to Ghana after disagreement with government

Deutsche Lufthansa AG said it will stop flying to Ghana, following a disagreement with the Ghanaian authorities.

Lufthansa said the Ghanaian government had refused to renew the licence authorising it to fly every day to Accra international airport.

'Instead, Lufthansa was only authorised to fly two flights per week between Accra and Frankfurt. Unfortunately, the company cannot accept this proposal, as it is not financially viable,' the airline said.

Lufthansa's last flight serving Accra will run on Saturday evening. The company said it 'sincerely regrets being forced to withdraw Ghana from the map of countries which we serve'.

Ghanaian Aviation Minister Gloria Akuffo said Lufthansa could still fly to the country. She told Agence France-Presse that her government had not forced the airline to halt its flights, and that Lufthansa had sent her ministry draft agreements to be signed.

Source: CitiFM

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