Who will be the “Women’s Commissioner?” The lamentation of Charles McCarthy BK

A woman commission is a woman of power, a woman of positive influence and a woman of meaning. To be branded and elected a woman commission is one of the greatest compliments one can give a woman that wants to be an “influential” female. Below, I have assembled some qualities a girl/woman should possess in order to attempt to become a “women’s commissioner.” Yes I am not a woman, but have interest in who becomes the next woman to commission our School, very conversant with the pressure put on women in today’s society is immense and I admire any female out there who doesn’t let the high demands and expectations get them down. In my experience, I have learned that women should not let the likes of “perfected” images or “criticism” affects them and it has come as such a relief to me to realize that being different and imperfect is far more interesting than being a “perfect” person. I believe that being yourself and feeling happy as yourself- just the way you are signifies the word “beauty.” We were all blessed with voices to use them- so use them! I’m a relatively quiet person and a man of not many words who next to never will indulge in small talk chit chat. It’s just who I am. However, on the other hand, when it comes to standing up for what I believe in or voicing my opinions on things, I never fail to make use of my voice. And neither shall you! Make use of what god has given you and say what you think, say what you believe in, and argue against what you don’t. Follow your heart…never give up…and you can do anything. We all have the ability to do whatever it is we want to do and fulfill any dream we want to fulfill; we just have to go and do it. When you find your passion in life, it creates a meaning in your life and gives you a purpose in the world: it generates happiness. Living by your morals and values in life; inspires you, motivates you and energizes you for doing something significant in the world. As children, we were always being told to be a person of moral and were educated to understand what our values are. I think, when we grow older we seem to loose or forget about those crucial qualities and in order for us to be descent human beings, we should consider re-educating ourselves on morals and values. I am looking forward apart from the above to see a woman that will be humble enough to agree she’s imperfect, a woman that is not bitter or angry—no matter her circumstances or her past, the one that is fiercely loyal to students welfare. One that will stray too far away from what she knows to be true no matter the influence or level of success and works hard to stay positive. Above all she should have a great personality/charm and maintains her character even in bad situations. You see how diabolic and mischievous you can be? Put not words in my mouth, I only meant good no harm intended. Keep your thoughts to your broad chest. I cannot conclude by not looking out a woman that will aim at changing the facade of ‘Miss Communicator’. You can disagree with me but do not strangulate me to death when you can actually engage me in a constructive discourse in pursuance of setting the new standards for mother GIJ.

Tools for a political Campaign

One of the most important parts of any campaign organization is the campaign team those individuals that the candidates relies on to carry the campaign to victory. While all campaigns are different, and thus have different needs when it comes to campaign organization, there are five positions that must be filled on any campaign, no matter how small. Some campaigns may be small enough that one person can serve in two of the positions, but each job must be done and done right. Whether the job is filled by a paid staff member or a volunteer, each of the following job descriptions is integral to the success of your campaign Campaign Manager After the candidate, the campaign manager is the most important member of the campaign team. The candidate should never, ever function as the campaign manager, no matter how small the campaign is. The candidate needs to be free to meet the voters and donors and be out on the campaign trail. The campaign manager is responsible for all aspects of the campaign.The person you choose for this job should have a basic understanding of election strategy, be comfortable delegating, have good organizational skills and be able to work well with the candidate. The campaign manager works in conjunction with the candidate and the entire team to develop the campaign strategy and coordinate all aspects of the organization, from fundraising to paid media to voter contact activities. Volunteer Coordinator Above all, the person you choose to be the volunteer coordinator must be a people person. Working with volunteers is stressful, and requires diplomacy and patience. The volunteer coordinator is responsible for recruiting, scheduling, and organizing the volunteer team. Because volunteers are not paid and are often unskilled, the coordinator needs to be able to smooth over egos and trouble spots and effectively teach the volunteers new skills. The volunteer coordinator should be comfortable delegating duties to precinct and ward captains, especially in larger election districts. Fundraising Director The fundraising director is responsible for coordinating all of the fundraising tools at the campaign's disposal to reach the fundraising goal that the team has set on the timetable on which they have set it. The fundraising director guides the campaign's major donor and direct mail fundraising programs, and oversees fundraising events.In smaller campaigns that cannot afford an accountant or election lawyer, the fundraising director must have a basic knowledge of campaign finance regulations. Finance Chairman Though they are often confused, the finance chairman fills an entirely different role than the fundraising director. The finance chairman, along with the finance committee, is responsible for bringing in major donor contributions. Generally, the finance chairman contributes a certain amount to the campaign, and pledges to raise a significant amount from other donors. While the finance chairman may be involved in fundraising planning sessions, he or she does not run the fundraising organization -- that job is left to the fundraising director, who takes care of the organization and day-to-day details of the fundraising program. Grassroots Coordinator The grassroots coordinator oversees all of the grassroots activities of the campaign, including coalitions, get out the vote, absentee voter drives, voter registration efforts, and other grassroots activities. In most larger campaigns, these activities are each assigned a staff member of their own, but in local campaigns it is generally sufficient to have one grassroots coordinator who oversees the whole operation, with volunteers filling in as needed. The grassroots coordinator must have superb organizational skills, be knowledgeable about campaign strategy, and be able to take on a lot of responsibility, especially as election day draws near.

No Manifesto No Vote

In about nine (9) months from now, Ghanaians would have yet another golden opportunity at changing the course of events in our nation. This opportunity which comes once every four years is the strongest chance we could ever get to free Ghana and its suffering people from the leadership of wickedness and oppression, ineptitude, greed, nepotism, hypocrisy, lies and half-truths, the list is endless. In deciding between Corrupt ex-leaders and government officials in Ghana still lurking around the corridors of power wishing to come back to finish up the demolition of Ghana. ALARM refuse to accept the fact that these people who should be launching and exhibiting their manifestoes and posting them on the internet for our perusal, still spending their loots at our collective expense and pelting one another at the least opportunity. We in ALARM refuse to accept that, these people, their families and cohorts do not do anything including health care, education, etc. in Nigeria when they killed our own system. And yet would not put forward programmes and policies. We are calling on all Politicians and Political parties to declare their manifesto and their clear and practical plans to solve major problems in their constituencies and Ghana as a whole. We in ALARM finds it worrying that several months after the two major political parties have elected their flag bearers and parliamentary representatives and are ready to jostle for power, they are still adamant in presenting to the good people of Ghana their working document-manifesto. What is preventing those (political parties) from launching their manifestoes so as to afford us the opportunity to hold them accountable? What do they have to hide? We are calling on them to be bold and audacious, open and transparent so as to upset the status quo. We want a political party that seeks to create the future, cause change bring ideas to life, and inspire citizens. ALARM is therefore embarking on a ‘No manifesto, no votes’ campaign. We will make sure that young people will be mobilized to vote only those politicians, who were not part of corruption, stood for integrity and clear developmental goals since this dispensation started. Any other person who was part of this old system will be shocked by the embarrassment we will churn out to them in this electioneering. We want a country where infrastructure works, where politicians are committed to the common good, where opportunities for its citizens are fair and possible. We grew up hearing ourselves addressed as the “leaders of tomorrow,” and now we have realized that it is time we rose to take our destinies into our hands, if we want to stand any chance of witnessing that much-touted “tomorrow.” ALARM say enough is enough. We have had enough! We are taking our future in our hands – and we will neither falter nor stop. We are by these calling on all Ghanaians who have the interest of the youth at heart to join us in this fight.

PRESS STATEMENT ON JUDGMENT DEBTS

The Alliance of Libraries Archives and Records Monitoring (ALARM) has observed with very keen interest the recent spate of sadism and disorder exhibited by some politicians and radio commentators purported to be the reserved for all unrestricted knowledge and its consequent implications for the peace and development of our dear country. We in the Alliance of Libraries Archives and Records Monitoring (ALARM) would want to state that, we are not enthused in anyway as to the severity of aggression mounting amongst politicians and commentators over the judgment debt phraseology. We are therefore calling on the politicians and radio commentators regardless of political, tribal and religious inclinations to exercise jingoism and demonstrate civility in their quest to register their bliss and displeasure on the Judgment debts. Although our thinking forbids children to speak when adults are speaking, scientifically and scripturally we know that intelligence, knowledge and wisdom are not the sole “province” of an adult, the only thing an adult could have over a young person is experience based on age or length of time. However we think that our so called leaders are missing the points on the judgment debt a phenomenon that has come to dwarf all the programs of the state. Our worry is the parallel and entrench positions taken by people believed to be parties in one way or the other in these whole judgment debt tale and their cohorts We are graciously gifted with everything needed to be the greatest country in the humanity and also with everything we need to fix our problems. We have both human and natural resources, we have smart people who know what to do, what we are lacking is the WILLPOWER to do what we know is right. Our leaders lack courage, the courage of leading the country into the promised land, the courage of Yaa Asantewa fighting to liberate her people, then leading it against their will, the courage of Abraham Lincoln emancipating the slaves in-spite of death threat, went to war for the same cause and was eventually killed (shot to death). It is important for us to fully understand what the problems our nation are, or else we will be providing solutions for symptoms rather than providing solutions for the disease itself. Redundancy, Judgment debts, bad roads, broken health facilities, armed robbery, schools under trees, NHIS and communal conflicts, etc are not the problems Ghana faces, they are simply symptoms of larger issues that need to be dealt with, but have defied solutions or ignored. Our summary of Ghana’s problems: A. Corruption (Institution and Individual) B. Lack of courageous leaders with vision and strategy of development based on accurate data C. Our “Thinking” as Ghanaians (religion, wealth, etc) As we seek the solutions to transform our country, we want to appeal to everyone based on our religious faith. The Bible says “except the Lord builds, they that labour do so in vain”. At the base of our problems and the oil that would grease the wheel of change is PRAYER. We are not talking about overnight vigils or enemy attacking prayer, but true believers coming out of their buildings and deliberately and specifically praying for our Ghana. Having articulated our problems and the tons of issues on its cocktail, we then need to have a sincere dialogue on how to eliminate corruption and fill the void of why leaders are corrupt, we need to have the same dialogue on how or why our system of government attract low lives and not men/women of integrity, we need to have another dialogue on how our thinking which we often call culture, is holding us back from individual growth and societal development. ALARM is of the view that once we identify what the issues are (not concentrating on symptoms), the next question then is how and why did we get here, how and why do we have leaders who are timid and visionless, how and why do we think the way we think. Why is it that after fifty five years of independence we’ve never had a leader and Government who could rally the country behind a vision that everyone would buy into, someone who would clearly articulate the vision like the Apostles (Peter and Paul) to the extent that people would freely give of themselves and their substance for that leader and his/her vision. We hold on to our view that any attempt by any political party or its activist to defend the payment and non-payment of the judgement debt as against the state is a circumvention of the political party’s act which discourage tribalism and ethnicity in the search and establishment of political parties. It is therefore our duty as voters to uphold and adhere and support to the guiding principles of leadership and integrity by voting for people base on who is Capable, God fearing, trust worthy and incorruptible. Hence the task of deciding on good leaders should be our biggest challenge as voters in the next general election. We should underline the fact that such a leader can be found in any of the several tribes and political parties of Ghana, whether small or large. This is only possible if we are going to cast our votes as nationalists and not as tribalists or believers in party colours. To be able to get the right persons to be the next President/ and Parliamentarians of the republic of Ghana to manage the state purse. By this way we can curb the menace of corruption and incessant defense approach by cohorts of people believed to have acted against the state.

THE PRIVACY & SAFETY OF GHANAIANS SHOULD NOT BE COMPROMISED FOR BIOMETRICS

Anytime a new product is coined as 'High-Tech', it also bears the weight of being 'high-burden'. The promise and determination of providing advanced technology of enrolling prospective voters via biometric comes with the disadvantage of measuring its effectiveness against the technology of old. For the tremendous leaps and bounds in security technology that comes with biometric, it should be expected that biometrics also have its fair share of uncertainties and probably a more frustrating ones that must be addressed. It has been projected in several ways that biometrics are expected to become a mainstream in some few years to come. But then the only way that should happen is when all the questions are answered and doubt cast aside, for no new technology is without obstacles. Proponents of biometrics point to a number of benefits: 1) the technology provides convenience, the hassle of having to remember or recovering lost ID cards. They argue that it makes identity fraud more difficult, thereby eliminating multiple voting at the end. The question therefore is how can one vote more than ones? The proponents of this system argue further that biometrics would save the Electoral Commission time and money in administrative cost. In fact we are yet to be told how and why, including how this technology would deal wit our existing electoral fraud, violence and ballot box snatching. Although it may make giant strides in the case of data collection, biometrics may also make mistakes. It might interest you to read that these system are better at identifying men than women and older people than younger ones, while one can also be 'outsmarted' by simple tricks such as placing a photo of an authorized individual in front of the lens. Then there stands the inevitable problem in computing, human errors in data entry, which could lead a computer to ‘correctly’ match an individual’s biometric markers to a mistyped on database. Once such errors are linked and circulated on a multiple centralized databases, the difficulties of ‘cleaning’ them might prove insurmountable. For instance, an innocent person’s iris points falsely linked to a criminal record could become the digital equivalent of a ‘scarlet letter’, subjecting an individual to unnecessary suspicion and intrusive surveillance. It’s hard enough already to correct errors on one’s voter ID, and there is no reason to think that correcting one’s identity files on biometrics would be that easier when the EC have failed to even capture valid voter ID holders on their own system dubbed ‘Gvive’, a software provided to banks particularly Ghana Commercial Bank to verify the authenticity of voters ID. In the midst of the numerous improvements of biometrics, let’s not forget that it would be based on the assumption that the person using the biometric system is able to successfully perform the biometric scan on consistent basis. It means when a user is unable to scan, it can lead to disenfranchising that person though he or she might be 18 years and above and of a sound mind as enshrined in the 1992 constitution. Why are we eager to disqualify people from exercising their right on the basis of deformities? The biggest cause of user difficulty with biometric system is a lack of proper training. Training is needed to explain possible sources of problems and the methods to prevent them. For instance, a fingerprint reader may have difficulty capturing dry or rough skin, and the user must be educated as to how to identify this condition as well as the proper method of preparing his or her finger to eliminate the problem. The correct positioning of the finger to ensure that the fingerprint is captured in its entirety is equally important, and should be demonstrated to users before they register their finger into the system. Something as basic as person’s glasses needed to be removed for an iris scanner to capture successfully. Have the EC trained the over 23,000 operators? Have they even acquired the workstations before talking about November as the starting point for enrollment? Why the November rush? Has Afari Gyan given any consideration to our privacy, safety and policy issues as a nation? Already there are problems of uneven coverage, unreliable electricity and easy access to the 23,000 polling stations across Ghana. A reason why election results are delayed for several hours after the ordeal cueing to vote in the anihilitating and debilitating sun. Civil rights advocates and IPAC should be worried including Government, that the privacy of Ghanaians would not be compromised to use biometrics. Because even when the technology works properly, personal data of citizens can be misused or abuse. There is also the existence of continued vulnerability of biometric data to theft, tampering, and unauthorized use or sale. As the deployment of biometric technologies promises to become ubiquitous over the coming years, the need for strong and explicit guidelines governing their uses also grows urgent. Let me cease this opportunity to propose to a potential national model in this regard an ct of parliament. These act should contain the following provisions: I) No person or organization shall obtain biometric identifiers for the purpose of commercial advantage without parliamentary authorization. II) A person or company shall not sell, lease or disclose biometric identifiers without individual consent and approval. III) Organizations storing biometric identifiers are responsible for preventing them unauthorized disclosure. IV) Government shall not sell or disclose biometric identifiers without individual consent except for criminal investigation. With less hypothesis and entertainment, now is the time to take the steps necessary to prevent the abuse of this seemingly inexorable technology.

ANYONE WHO LACKS MOMENTUM EVENTUALLY BECOMES A MONUMENT

‘Never leave till tomorrow that you can do today’- Benjamin Franklin. Indeed it is better to die for an idea that will live, than live for an idea that would die. You have the capacity to lead your generation. You were designed to be at the forefront of your generation. The Bible says that you are fearfully and wonderfully crafted (Psalm 139:14). This means you are distinguished and to be revered. You are a royalty and belong to the prestige class with great potential for great achievement you should therefore not demean yourself by all standards. As a young person, there is a great momentum in your life even though most people remain in a dormant mode for a great momentum for a greater part of their lives. Therefore, activate every atom of power in your life and live your dream for greater achievement. For anyone who lacks momentum eventually becomes a monument. In other not to become a laugher and a walking monument, you have to make time your best confederate. Time does not classify, and it does not favour anybody. You either work with time or it works against you. Time is essentially middle-of-the-road. It is distributed equitably to all. The opulent are not more privileged than pitiable as far as time is controlling affairs. Everybody has 24 hours. The rich have 24 hours a day and so is the poor. The Public Relation Personnel has 24 hours a day and so is the Journalist. No one has more time and opportunities than the other. Let us be guided by the fact that those we meet when ascending in life are the very ones you meet when plunging. And that what goes round comes round. The bygone is a period that will never be available to you again. It is beyond your management now. The former is history and therefore, you must learn the lessons of it. How long can you travel in reverse gear? The reverse is meant to help you adjust, turn and maneuver but ultimately you have to move forward. The past provides us with experience for present and future. The present is what really have total control over how the future you now desire is fashioned and formed. The present is a good opportunity to build a desirable future. Some have tried to jump into the future and have been frustrated by their lack of direction and focus. The future presents itself in the form of vision, goals, objectives, desires and ambitions. The future is always kneaded and baked in the present. The future is therefore not created in vacuum. It is imperative however, to note that time cannot be stored in a silo, refrigerator or room to use at some future date. Time unlike Tertially Education cannot be deferred. It expires moments after you have deferred it. This moment of time on GIJ Campus (i.e. Year, month, day, hours, minute and second will never ever be repeated in your life). And like it is said literally. ‘If you refused to be crowned a chief, be assured never to become a town crier’ ‘Opportunity comes but once’ I am of the opinion that every day presents us with great and marvelous opportunities it is what you choose to believe that will become the reality in your life. You need an eye in your mind to be able to imagine and determine whether something is a resource or not. Two people can be looking at the same thing but interpreted differently. Many of us fall into needless situations because we are not independent minded. Politicians and peers sometimes place unnecessary pressures on us to do things that will meet their aspirations and agenda. You are not a tool for any person(s) to just use to achieve their own objectives. Do not allowed yourself to be remote controlled. If an older person wants you to swallow some bitter pellets of drugs, ask why he or she is not carrying it himself. People may prophesize negatively about you and sometimes into your future. Some may come from your teachers, classmates and peers. But be resolute and determined to prove them wrong by being a leading light and achiever. You cannot be a mistake in creation and you were not born carbon copied so why die as such? Prove doom prophets wrong if you are decisive, and have something in life to die for. It is important to note that the success of every journey with good intension and energy plus the wrong direction will not lead you to your destination. Another important gem is focus which is also provided through mentoring. Great enthusiasm and ambitions can blind young people into wanting to conquer the world. They then bite more than they could chew. They’ve indeed beaten more than they can chew. Because we of Ghana Institute of Journalism were inundated with series of articles, some of which sort to educate us on SRC, its mandate and limitations. I can recall vividly in one of those fine write-ups entitled ‘NUGS IS DEAD’ calling on us not vote for the affluence and that SRC is not to be sold. Credit to the essayist (Philip Atawura). My worry however is about the sudden and abrupt U-turn? What about our vision and missions? The least said about the unsavory, slanderous and venomous attacks on their perceive contenders the better. Is this the way we have to go as up and coming leaders of our nation? Must we in pursuit of our selfish interest rundown the reputation others have built over time? Certainly not, and for that matter culprits must atone for their actions and inactions. It is a wakeup call on us as who are studying to becoming members of the fourth estate of the realm to scrutinize and reject any person(s) who per our view lack direction and focus, for those men and women it cannot be said of them of their independent mindedness and for that matter will only live to pursue their selfish ambitions and not the general interest and welfare of GIJ students and mother Ghana.

‘AYAWASO CENTRAL IS NOT A SAFE SEAT FOR THE NPP’-WILLIAM AFUM ANI-AGYEI

The Ayawaso Central Constituency’s Parliamentary Candidate of the National Democratic Congress, William Afum Ani Agyei affectionately called ‘Obama’told Peace news yesterday that Ayawaso Central Constituency is not and has never been a safe seat for the opposition New Patriotic Party. He said the NDC after 1992 have never gone into any election with a common front, and that their disgruntle members are those who have been voting for the NPP.He said the good will of IC Quaye coupled with acrimonies in the NDC is what accounted for the success of the NPP in the past. ‘Obama’, was however happy that I.C Quaye was out of the race, since his main contender is a non residence. He said unfortunately for the NPP when I, C Quaye decided not to contest, he left the constituency to Spintex Road to go and import someone to come and contest on the ticket of the NPP. A situation which he said is playing to his advantage because he was born in the constituency. On his achievement, he said though he is not in parliament on his own he has been able to create jobs such as dress making, floral decoration, hairdressing etc. He made the disclosure after he launched his nine member campaign team to spearhead and champion his parliamentary aspirations. He bemoans the deplorable state of Alajo and the constituency as a whole. He said though they are in Accra the capital of Ghana, he sometimes wonders if indeed their constituency is part of Ghana. He called on all to vote for him and the NDC to bring to the constituency the kind of change and development the constituency need.

WILLIAM AFUM ANIAGYEI PROMISES TO BRING PARLIAMENT TO HIS CONSTITUENTS .

The Parliamentary aspirant of Ayawaso Central Constituency of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has over the weekend lunch his campaign for the 2012 Presidential and Parliamentary elections slated for December, 7 at the Kotobabi Swag Park. Speaking at lunch, the parliamentary candidate, William Afum Ani agyei said he is into the race for five thematic reasons: namely infrastructure development, youth development, Women development and empowerment, sanitation matters and above all bringing parliament to the people. He said out of the five thematic, the fifth one which is bringing parliament to the people is very dear to his heart and that when he says bringing parliament to the people he meant going to parliament for the sake of his constituent and not for his personal gains. He said his interest is not to go to parliament to better him and cronies rather for the majority. He assured the irate crowed that he was not going to represent himself and his family, and so he will ensure day to day interactions with them so as to be able to articulate their concerns well on the floor of parliament. On his part, the country’s ambassador to Egypt Ambassador Saed Sinare and one of the numerous vice-chairmen of the ruling National Democratic Congress told the gathering disregard the NPP’S campaign message. He said the NPP is anti Muslims and that until the New Patriotic Party elect a flag bearer from the origin of Islam, the Muslims should never take them serious. He said the NDC government gave Muslims holiday. He queried what have the NPP done for the Muslim community?

Why you have to join me vote Nutsugah.

This is an intensely personal article. According to the Roman thinker, Plotinus (AD 204-274), “Knowledge has three degrees, opinion, science, illumination. The means of the instrument of the first is sense, of the second dialectics, of the third intuition.” I believed in the power of knowledge, both its acquisition and strict application. He is both a thinker and developmental pragmatist. I am at LEAST as patriotic and nationalistic as you are! I am sacrificing my resources to bring these humble contributions to the powers that be for possible consideration when queuing to choose the next leader, in exercising my fundamental human right inherent in the universal freedom of speech that can also be expressed in writing, as guaranteed in our constitution and UN charter to which Ghana and for that matter is a signatory G.I.J. Till date, I do NOT belong to any camp! I am for a free, united, prosperous and democratic G.I.J with a level playing ground for everyone to grow according to his/her talents and potentials without god-fatherism/motherism having any hold. My messages nay suggestions (called it epistles if you like), in form of questions and answers, are the conclusion of a prolonged analysis of the problems that have been hindering rapid and massive development all over G.I.J in our quest and desire to catch up with the modern world of communication. Development! First of all, we need to identify our ultimate institutional educational goal that need to be achieved very URGENTLY. To me, it is development that we badly need at this moment of our history. As a premier university that we claimed to be, we are too far behind in terms of development which can only be achieved through good leadership. In enumerating the candidate’s actions, I am not going to go by anything he has told me, or by anything I have read. I would like to use the personal experiences of myself and others who have talked to me about him, as I feel this is more authentic. The name Noel Nutsugah began to mean more to me at a General Assembly Meeting, when through sheer happenstance I had lunch with colleagues who happened to be members of his sports committee. This gentlemen displayed such a depth of knowledge about the problems facing their constituency that I was astounded. We were specifically discussing how they were able to revive and secure football jersey for the school team. The gentlemen pointed out that “They remember his constancy in every act which was conformable to reason, his evenness in all things, his piety, the serenity of his countenance, his sweetness, his disregard of empty fame and his efforts to understand things; how he would never let anything pass without having first most carefully examined it; how he bore with those who blamed him unjustly without blaming them in return; how he did nothing in a hurry, how he listened not to calamities and how exact an examiner of matters and actions he was; not given to reproaching people, nor timid, nor suspicious, nor a sophist; with how little he was satisfied, how laborious and patient; how sparing he was in his choice of words; his firmness and uniformity in his friendship; how he tolerated freedom of speech in those who opposed his opinions; the pleasure he had when anyone showed him anything better; and how pious he was without superstition. – ‘Carlos Slim’. Folks, I implore you not to take this as a mudslinging affair, but rather as an attempt to convey the honest opinion of GA members lead by 'Flavio Armando'. The fact is, this is not about the demigods and demagogues that have so far run this School. Rather, it’s about the student, the dues payers and owners that make the vehicle of SRC run. Their health, their comfort and welfare and educational opportunities for me matter above all else. Ask me not how? For you are not for a moment pretending to be blind about our predicaments. Oh yes! have forgotten about the unelectromotive fans hanging in the lecture hall?, what about the furniture?, Do not remind me of the evacuated ‘bush canteen’, because I may strangulate for the reason (s) for the sack. And who cares if you are in level 400 and still cannot access your level 200 result?. Please do me a great deal of favour by holding on to your answers. That reminds me of an article published by a prolific writer already endorsing candidate(s) when the ban on campaign is not yet lifted. What baffles me is the fact that those the article sort to endorse and project are the men and women of some General Assemble repute, who knows the inside- out of the SRC Constitution. Lets I forget, they are indeed the custodians of our laws. Not to re-emphasized the fact that my dearest Nana Achiaa of Diploma 2A tried to remind the student populace of the fact that those we often consider to be closer to administration and lecturers and the fact that they could capitalized on their personal rapport for the entire benefit of students has over the periods proven to be most ineffective, puddle sort of leaders in the annals of G.I.J characterized with parochialism. I know she did not mean any harm to have mentioned that her favourite is an appendage of lecturers and administration alike.Then all those tea party activists, some of which, in combating ‘who is Nutsugah, thought nothing of holding up tribal signs depicting the SRC President to be as an‘Ewe’ witch doctor. I have seen and read articles on open Salon covertly tearing down Nutsugah, SRC Presidential hopeful. He has been demonized because of his religion, his business record, his political record, his wealth of student activism. And I begin to get the impression that Nutsugah is the focus because supporters of other competitors can’t think of anything favorable to say about their own candidate. Come on, ‘Solidarity’; tell me something good about solidarity’s handling of the GA as commander in chief, his achievements as a great unifier of our divided Executive Committee and society, his shining record of candor as a SRC presidential candidate. I know you have been so busy knocking Nutsugah that you have simply forgotten to tell us what is good about solidarity or perhaps you have run out of paper space. Well, here's your chance. Use the space on my paper. Do it on my blog. Tell me something positive about solidarity; tell me some reason to vote for him/her that doesn't include the name solidarity or keteke. And spare me the accolades in your write-up. Because at the end of the day, labels like "hardworking”, ‘humble’ diligent, accessible, and God-fearing and "having first degrees" don't mean much. After all human beings are all the same. Some are raised to be tolerant of different points of view, others not so much. The more secure you are in what you believe, the less likely you are to attack someone for believing something else. Meanwhile, in this institute, You are either a racist; tribalist, if you support your tribesman or woman, his/her opponents will call you names leaving the germaine issues confronting us as a school. But it's all part of where we've arrived, and how we've changed. We wear our ideologies on our sleeves. We keep our political views, and presidential choices, close to our hearts. And so when they're challenged, we feel personally wounded. So we get angry. These days, if you challenge someone's point of view or disagree with their choice in candidates, it's as if you're directly attacking them. It used to be that GIJ Politicians could disagree over politics and still go out to the canteen and sit over a bottle cold ‘Burkina’.or coca-cola, sometimes hand in hand they walk to ‘Asibi’ for some banana and grand nuts. Not anymore. Nowadays, if you disagree, one of you isn't just wrong. One of you is a bad person. And who wants to go drinking with a bad person? Now, almost everything about politics seems less cerebral and more emotional. The business is no longer about compromising with your opponent; it's about conquering him. We don't just disagree; we're out to destroy. We don't settle for half a loaf; it's all or nothing. The goal isn't to find solutions; the objective is simply to win at all costs. We don’t need any Prophet Isaac Owusu Bempah to know that this Nutsugah method will ginger up massive and rapid development across the school within the shortest time. Nutsugah will provide direction and action plan and above all he will be accountable. In a deliberate attempt to package Noel by some GIJ writers for being too combative has backfired judging from the views of the king makers, some are delighted with Noel’s aggressive stance, and they want more of the same in the political activism of GIJ, for they have experienced one too many non-aggressive metamorphosis to non-performing,demagogues and tie- wearing Presidents.’ Enough of the diplomatic and appendage leadership’. Let me enjoined every student of this Institute to write some few honest, heartfelt words about their preferred Presidential candidate. I mean Heartfelt words. Objective words. un-tribal words.

Hi tech begging

How does one begin to understand the psyche of beggars? Not your usual street beggars who due to no fault of theirs have to brave the elements in search of their daily bread. I’m talking about your uniformed or corporate beggars, who have been hired to protect life and property or to man the front office of organisations either as security or customer service officers. I have been having a good time lately arm twisting these emergency beggars and always chuckle anytime I take them down in their own game. Now, don’t you go calling me Mr. Stingy for refusing to be shaken down by these guys because I won’t have none of it, it’s just that I have sworn that I won’t be taken for a sucker anymore. Or perhaps we shouldn’t blame them too much since Ghana at 55 is still a beggar nation or how else will you describe a country that one would have thought has learnt a lesson or two from past debt experiences, but one that still goes ahead borrowing despite the respite granted from the HIPC debt pardon and partial write-off by the Money Bag owners. Unless we all have not been reading the same papers but I still catch news stories of a loan here, and another there being taken by state governments and even the MMDA. I shudder to think what such little loan trickles will amount to in the coming years. Anyway, back to the issue of uniformed corporate beggars. I had a good laugh the other day at an ATM machine along Tesano Achimota road. By the time I arrived to pick up some cash, there were already 2 ladies and a man hovering over the cash machine. I had noticed the 6 roving eyes trailing me from the time I parked my car and alighted. On getting nearer to the cash machine, I was greeted with a disarming smile and chorus of “Boss, good afternoon sir”. I looked up in surprise and acknowledged the greeting. Next was the interrogation: “Boss, have you come to collect money?” I wondered what else I had come to do in broad daylight on the streets of Accra, rob the bank? But by the time any answer could come out of my mouth, my battle ready mindset had already triggered into action. I knew immediately the game my new found friends were playing, they were softening me up for the strike. As I eagerly waited to use the ATM machine, one of the ladies now volunteered to tell me what all three of them where actually doing peering into the ATM screen together. “Boss, we came to check and collect our salaries”. What this piece of information had to do with me was better left to the imagination. I did not utter another word, sensing that the lead was about to dry up, the leading lady now became more boisterous. “Boss, happy weekend o!”. Now irritated, I politely asked her not to call me Boss anymore, and that I was in a hurry; could she please conclude her transaction with her crew so I can do mine. Perhaps I should have kept quite, in unison, all three volunteered to interrupt their salary checking and collection transaction to make way for me. “Boss, please come and collect, anything for your children?” asked the leading lady. That was a new one. I had been used to hearing “Anything for the boys”, but children? I was almost struggling to hold back the laughter. As if on cue, and not wanting to be left or rather edged out of any potential spoils from the begging scam, the lone male in the trio quipped: “Boss, your boy dey here o”. Just as I was about to punch in my password, I felt an urge to look through my shoulders, just incase my new found friends were not what they claimed. They met my suspicious eyes with a reassuring look. As I counted my money, I was already calculating how I will make a dash for the car but I was beaten to it. How the leading lady managed to race to my car door is still a mystery to me till this day. When I saw her outstretched right hand waiting to pull open the door for me, I broke her rhythm and did not unlock the door, pretending as if the car remote control had malfunctioned. I found the whole episode amusing, I couldn’t help thinking that the art of begging has now entered another level by what I had just experienced. I used to think that if I could beat the security guards at Chicken Republic, , or even some of the guys at my office, that I was safe, I was wrong. The battle for our money has now been taken to the cash dispensing point, where it matters most. This time there won’t be any excuse anymore not to part with your cash. You can’t claim not to have any on you after being ‘caught in the act’ withdrawing your own cash. Unless the heavens favour you by rigging the ATM machine to be out of cash or to breakdown. My failure to unlock the car caught the leading lady unawares, and within that small window of lull and inactivity, as she was obviously calculating her next move, I unlocked, dived in and locked myself in, just in case she attempted to force open the door. By the time she could recover, I was already tearing into the newly laid N1 high way leaving behind the disappointed trio to re-tool their skills for the next ‘mugu’. I almost laughed myself silly on the way but still wondered why I should be the one running away. I can not say that I have not fallen at times to the many tricks of corporate and uniformed beggars, but I like to pride myself that I only fall at my own terms. Give me a good service and a smile, don’t arm twist me, just maybe and you have my tip.

MAN (31) FINED GH 10,000 FOR EXPORTING CHEMICAL

A 31-year old man has been fined in connection with the exporting of substance. The Principal State Attorney Asiama-Sampong told the Accra Fast Track High Court yesterday, that the accuse on the 4th day of January, 2013 at the Kotoka International Airport, the accuse was arrested in an attempt to export from Ghana to Thailand substance later tested to be methamphetamine without registration contrary to section 18(1) and 26 of the Food and Drug Board Act 1992 (PNDCL305 B). Asiama-Sampong said the sum of the 4,948 grams of the substance is worth six thousand Ghana Cadis. He said it was offence under our laws to export chemicals from the country without first registering with Food and Drug Board for clearance, and therefore prayed the court to surcharge the accuse person. The accuse Sandeep Grover a Turkish pleaded guilty to the charges a proffered against him. His Lordship CTS Charles Quist, in his ruling fine Sandeep Grover an amount of ten thousand Ghana Cedis and six months in prison for default The defense counsel Addo Ettuah prayed the court to hold on to the passport of the accuse until he had fully pay the amount.

FOUR HELD 3 MONTHS OVER PHONE THEFT

The Accra High Court yesterday remanded four men in prison custody for a smart phone theft.

Prosecution lawyer Winifred Sarpong told the court how had terrorised customers in Adenta on January 9, 2013 and brutally beaten a security guard, before getting away with a Samsung Galaxy 3 and unestimated amount of money purported to be the daily sales.

‘He said the four men acted with a common purpose to commit robbery contrary to section 23(1) and 149 of the criminal offences Act 1960, Act 29 as amended by criminal code 2003, Act 646’.

Before the court was Felix Congo aka red eye, aged 28, Nathaniel Addo, 25, Shaibu Haadi 23, and Lucas Anum Tawiah,19 all of whom are an unemployed from Kpeve in the Volta Region but living at Madina in the Abokobi Madina District,They denied the charge of armed robbery.

Winifred Sarpong prayed the court that he intended to call witnesses to prove that accuse were the four men involved in the armed hold-up, outside Heal the World Enterprise.

He said  they had driven a stolen Mazda 626 along the Dodowa road to the ‘Akatsi aboi’, where the gang had abandoned the car and driven away in a waiting Toyota Corola S. They were the same four men who had returned later that same day to Madina, where they had publicly boasted of what they had done and hosted a big party, he added.

Winifred Sarpong told the court that the accuse were the same four men who tried to avoid arrest by driving through a police road block and shooting at the police, although it was not suggested that who amongst them actually fired any shots at the police.

Mr Prince Kofi Frimpong, representing Red Eye and co, said that he would prove that his client were nowhere near Adenta Streets at the time of the robbery, and he would also show that the prosecution's identification of  His clients as the gang depended on an eye witness accounts.

"We shall show that this person's evidence is not reliable, because he has a grudge against the defendant," said Mr Frimpong. "We shall show that the police have been sadly deceived, and that the defendants  are  the victims of a terrible plot to have them punished for a crime which they did not commit."

The case is being heard by His Lordship Justice Alex Abban. Justice Abban in his ruling remanded the four accuse persons 3 months in prison custody to enable the prosecuting counsel to investigate and put together his evidence before the court. The court was adjourned to 17^th day of April,2013.