GHALCA Handing Over Today

The Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), will swear-in it’s new executive members today.

The swearing-in of the Association was tentatively scheduled for April 28, a week after the elections, but the ceremony was postponed to an indefinite date due to the body’s inability to arrange properly for the occasion.

It will be recalled that, Sportscrusader.com reported that the transition team were given two weeks to put the necessary arrangements in place for the handing over.

The transition team met on May 5, and fixed May 12 for the swearing-in ceremony. According to Sportscrusader.com sources, the transition team met yesterday at the Accra Sports Stadium and all is set for the swearing-in ceremony.

The outgoing executive council headed by Alhaji Raji, will hand over to Kudjoe Fianoo to chair the affairs of the Association for the next four years.

GHALCA Handing Over Today

Hearts Will Go Top Of GPL With Win Over Kotoko

Accra Hearts of Oak will move top of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) table if they are able to win their Match-Day 10 encounter with Kumasi Asante Kotoko today.

Leaders Wa All Stars lost 0-1 to Medeama SC on Sunday, and, the Phobians will overtake them at the top of the table should they win this afternoon’s game in Accra.

All Stars has 20 points from 10 games with Hearts two points behind them on the table.

Hearts are huge favourites going into the Super Clash with Kotoko as they have been the more impressive of the two in the GPL so far.

They have five wins from nine games, and, have lost only once. They will lead the standing by a point if they manage to claim victory over their bitter rivals in the Ghanaian game.

Kotoko have endured an indifferent start to the campaign, having managed 11 points from nine games, a run that has included three wins, two drawn games and four defeats.

They lie in 12th position on the log, but, will move to ninth should they emerge victorious in this afternoon’s game.

The Porcupines have been tagged second favourites going into this encounter and, will be out to prove skeptics wrong.

 

 

Hearts Will Go Top Of GPL With Win Over Kotoko

Soulama Yearns For Victory Over Kotoko

Accra Hearts of Oak international goalkeeper, Soulama Abdoulaye has lauded the players for the recent league victory over AshGold and is yearning for another against his former club Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

The Phobians will host the Porcupines of Monday, 2 May at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra in the top-liner of the Match-Day 10 fixtures of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) and the Burkinabe international has lauded the fighting spirit of the team.

They produced an impressive second half display to beat the Miners 2-0 at Obuasi-their first win in a league game at the Len Clay Stadium in nine years.

Prior to that game, the Phobians had gone four games without a win in all competitions, and they respond positively against AshGold, forcing them to concede their first home defeat of the season.

And Soulama said it is this same attitude they will take into the Kotoko game in Accra on Monday as he anticipates victory on the day.

“I am confident we can win this one if you look at the confidence level in our team and the spirit behind the boys, he said after their training on Tuesday.

“This is the first time I will be facing my former club in a competitive game since I joined the Phobians, and, I want to end up on the winning side,” he added.

“The three points are crucial to us and we are determined to make full use of our home advantage on Monday and make our fans happy,” he stressed.

‘When I was at Kotoko, I helped them beat Hearts of Oak, and, I think this is the right time to taste victory with Hearts over Kotoko,” noted.

Hearts are second on the league log with 18 points, seven more than their fiercest rivals in the Ghanaian game who are ninth.

Soulama Yearns For Victory Over Kotoko

Rafael Nadal Sues French Ex-Minister Over Doping Claims

World number five Rafael Nadal has filed a lawsuit against former French government minister Roselyne Bachelot, who accused him of doping.

“I intend to defend my integrity and my image as an athlete but also the values I have defended all my career,” the Spaniard, 29, said in a statement.

Last month, former Minister for Health and Sport Bachelot said Nadal’s seven-month absence in 2012 was “probably due to a positive doping test”.

He says he had tendinitis and a virus.

“I wish to avoid any public figure from making insulting or false allegations against an athlete using the media, without any evidence,” added 14-time Grand Slam winner Nadal.

He had already announced his intention to sue Bachelot, saying: “I am tired about these things. I let it go a few times in the past. Not any more.”

Bachelot, 69, served in Nicolas Sarkozy’s government from 2007 to 2010. She has since left politics.

BBC

Rafael Nadal Sues French Ex-Minister Over Doping Claims

WAFA Aim For First Ever Win Over Hearts

West Africa Football Academy (WAFA) will be seeking a first ever win over Accra Hearts of Oak when they take on the Phobians in a Ghana Premier League (GPL) Match-Day Eight encounter at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra this afternoon (Wednesday).

Since joining the Ghanaian top-flight in 2004, WAFA formerly Feyenoord Academy, they have encountered the Phobians eight times in the league, but, have yet to taste victory over the capital club.

Hearts of Oak have won six of those encounters with the other two ending in a stalemate. WAFA will therefore hope to break that jinx in this afternoon’s game.

However, this season, the Academy boys have lost all their away games by a similar result, 0-1 against Chelsea (Match-Day Two); Aduana Stars (Match-Day Four) and Dreams FC (Match-Day Six)

Beating Hearts will be a huge task as the Phobians have won two of their three home games and lost the other. They will hope to make it three wins out of four games on home soil.

Whether Hearts wins or WAFA claims a first ever win over the Phobians will be answered this afternoon at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra.

Bellow is the head-to head record of the two teams

2004             Feyenoord 0 – 1 Hearts

Hearts 3 – 0   Feyenoord

2005/6          Hearts 2 – 1 Feyenoord

Feyenoord 0 – 0 Hearts

2006/7          Hearts 2 – 1 Feyenoord

Feyenoord 0 – 2 Hearts

2014/15        Hearts 1 – 0 WAFA

WAFA 0 – 0 HEARTS

2016             Hearts? – ? WAFA

WAFA Aim For First Ever Win Over Hearts

Martin Demichelis Charged Over Betting Offences

Manchester City defender Martin Demichelis has been charged by the Football Association over alleged betting offences.

The Argentine, 35, is accused of committing 12 breaches relating to matches between 22 and 28 January 2016.

Demichelis has until 17:00 BST on 5 April to respond to the charge.

However, there is no suggestion that the charge relates to any of the 25 league and cup games in which he has featured for City this season.

New rules which came into force at the start of the 2014-15 season mean players and coaches are prevented from betting on any worldwide footballing activity.

The FA has the power to fine or suspend the player.

Credit: BBC

Martin Demichelis Charged Over Betting Offences

E /R: Over 300 Residents Sue Over Quarry Blast

Over 300 residents of Asuboi in the Ayensuano District of the Eastern region have sued two quarry companies for causing damage to their homes and properties.

 

The companies who have been sued are the China International Water & Electric Corporation – a Chinese construction and engineering company which has finished operating at the quarry site and handed over to a new one known as Anigord Famille Quarry Company.

 

The affected residents have filed a suit at the Koforidua High Court praying the court to compel the companies to pay compensation for damages and also ensure that due diligence is done during the blasting process.

 

The houses of the locals have developed deep cracks with roof damages from flying stones as a result of the blast.

According to the residents, the activities of the quarry companies apart from the health implications have also affected their properties and created a lot of inconveniences for them.

The Administrative Manager of Anigord Famille Quarry Company, Alfred Turkson, told Starr News, the company has started evaluating the damage and has reduced the magnitude of blast over the suit.

“As you can see, a week to every blasting, there is information center in town, to announce to the community that on Thursday and Saturdays normally we do blasting, the only complaint we had was excessive blasting which we have taken care of,” Turkson said.

“During the last blasting we brought the Minerals Commission who brought their machines to test the impact. We have heard of so many complaints that anytime there is blasting most houses crack, old ladies get frightened so we have reduced the blasting, there is a matter in court and we are ready to pay compensation if the court determines that our company caused it because most of the damages were caused before we took over from CWE.”

The Ayensuano Coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organization S.D Kodua after visiting the site asked the company to adhere to work safety precautions as well as obey the Environmental Protection Agency’s laid down rules in their operations.

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starrfmonline.com/103.5FM

 

 

 

 

E /R: Over 300 Residents Sue Over Quarry Blast

Ex-Soldier Arrested Over Police Recruitment Scam

An ex-soldier, Francis Kunlen, is in the grip of the law for collecting monies from prospective police recruits with the assurance to assist them to be enlisted into the Ghana Police Service.

The 58-year-old was arrested on the eve of Christmas at his hideout at a location near Sowutuom in Greater Accra.

The Brong Ahafo Regional Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Christopher Tawiah told Graphic Online that Kunlen contacted some people who were interested in being enlisted and asked them to pay GhȻ2000 to enable him assist them to realise their dreams.

He said one of the victims whose money was ready rather contacted the police headquarters in Accra through telephone to ascertain whether the police was enlisting people to join the service.

The police headquarters in turn referred the matter to the Brong Ahafo Regional Police Command for further investigations.

The police teamed up with the prospective recruit who called Kunlen to inform him that his money was ready.

When he received the information, Kunlen sent a driver, Alex Ampadu to Sunyani to collect the money on his behalf but he (Ampadu) was arrested when he showed up to collect the money.

Ampadu thereafter led the police to arrest Kunlen who is now in police custody in Sunyani.

ASP Tawiah said pictures of Kunlen would not be made public since a parade would be organised for the public, especially those who have been duped by him to identify him for further investigation.

It would be recalled that a Commissioner of Police (COP), Mr Patrick Timbillah, who was Director General in charge of Police Human Resource Development in March 2015 was indicted by the Police administration over his alleged involvement in a police recruitment scam.

He was subsequently interdicted and the matter is still pending.

They were named as Amos Brown, 40, a radio presenter; General Corporal Gideon Sarpong of the Visibility Unit, Takoradi; PW Constable Ruth Agyiri, 27, Central Police Station, Koforidua, Pastor Paul Danso from Tarkwa and Richard Harrison, 30.

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Graphiconline.com

Ex-Soldier Arrested Over Police Recruitment Scam

Transport Minister Resigns Over Bus Re-Branding Scandal

The Minister of Transport Dzifa Attivor, has resigned over the bus re-branding saga.

Government’s decision to spend a whopping GHC 3.6 million on re-branding 116 buses, has angered many Ghanaians, with the majority questioning how that outrageous expenditure could be approved under the watch of the President.

Her resignation comes barely a day after a report was presented to the Chief of Staff; Mr. Julius Debrah, following an investigation he demanded into the controversial contract.

Details of the investigative report have not been made public yet. It is thus unclear why the Minister has chosen the path of resignation even before the report is made public.

A statement signed by the Minister’s Personal Assistant, Egypt Kobla Kudoto, to confirm her resignation said “Hon. Mrs. Dzifa Attivor, Minister of Transport wishes to inform the good people of Ghana that , as the Minister with oversight responsibility for the activities of the Metro Mass Transit (MMT) she has tendered in her resignation due to the current issues surrounding the branding of the 116 buses.”

“She further wants to take the opportunity to thank her party for the opportunity offered her to serve, first as a Deputy Minister of Transport under the late John Evans Atta Mills, and later as the Substantive Minister.

Mrs. Attivor also wishes to thank the President sincerely for the honour to serve in his government. She has already communicated this decision to His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama through the Chief of Staff, Mr. Julius Debrah” the statement concluded.

The Minister’s action also comes a day after some seven Ghanaian citizens instituted a court action against government over the controversial contract.

A detailed pro-forma invoice for the re-branding of the buses has revealed that stickers on each bus cost Ghc11, 000.

The pro-forma invoice dated 17th July 2015, and signed by the Accounts Officer of Smarttys Management and Productions and copied to the Ministry of Transport, put the total cost of branding for each bus at Ghc30,420.00.

Smarttys Management and Productions is owned by Selassie Ibrahim, an actress cum entrepreneur and TV personality. Some advertisers have told Citi News the charges were inflated considering the charges that pertains in the industry for such services.

They have accused government of misplaced priority considering that the state could have raked in nearly Ghc5 million cedis a month if it had given out the spaces on the 116 buses for commercial advertisement.

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citifmonline

Transport Minister Resigns Over Bus Re-Branding Scandal