Black Stars

English-quartet in camp

Claude Le Roy has welcomed his English-quartet to Ghana’s camp base in Abu Dhabi as the Black Stars steadily get on with preparations for the African Cup of Nations.

Michael Essien, Sulley Muntari, John Paintsil(picture) and Richard Kingson joined the team at midnight on Sunday to raise the squad number to 26.

The group of four have so far completed two training sessions with the rest of the team after taking part in both morning and the late afternoon trainings.

The only squad member yet to join in is goalkeeper, Sammy Adjei of Israeli side, Ashdod. Sammy Adjei’s arrival at the Abu Dhabi camp would hand Claude Le Roy a full house as he continues preparations ahead of the competition.

Ghana would get the tournament underway on January 20 at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra, the capital, with a game against Guinea in Group A.

The group also includes Morocco and Namibia.

Ghana squad:

Goalkeepers:

Richard Kingson (Birmingham City, England), Sammy Adjei (Ashdod, Israel), Fatau Dauda (Ashantigold, Ghana)

Defenders:

John Paintsil (West Ham, England), Dan Opare (Ashantigold, Ghana), Nana Kwasi Asare (FC Mechelon, Belgium), John Mensah (Rennes, France), Alhassan Illiasu (FC Saturn, Russia), Francis Dickoh (FC Utretcht, Holland) Hans Adu Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany), Harrison Afful (Asante Kotoko, Ghana)

Midfielders:

Anthony Annan (I.K. Start, Norway), Eric Addo (PSV Eindhoven, Holland), Michael Essien (Chelsea, England), Bernard Kumodzi (Panionios FC, Greece), Laryea Kingston (Hearts, Scotland), Haminu Draman (Locomotiv Moscow, Russia), Moussa Narry (Etoile du Sahel, Tunisia), Stephen Appiah (Fenerbahce, Turkey), Sulley Muntari (Portsmouth, England), Andre Ayew (Olympique Marseille, France), Ahmed Barruso (AS Roma, Italy)

Strikers:

Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda, Holland), Asamoah Gyan (Udinese, Italy), Baffuor Gyan (FC Saturn, Russia), Junior Agogo (Nottingham Forest, England), Quincy Owusu-Abeyie (Celta Vigo, Spain), Kwadwo Asamoah (Liberty Professionals, Ghana).

Source: Ghanafa.org

Upsurge in narcotic in Konongo

hief Superintendent Richard Baduweh, Konongo Divisional Police Commander, has expressed grave concern about the increasing use of narcotic drugs, especially among the youth, in the Konongo Municipality.

He said the practice had become so rampant that the perpetrators were being arrested virtually on daily bases and called for a concerted effort from stakeholders to halt the trend.

Chief Superintendent Baduweh was speaking at a send-off party for the Divisional Crime Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Francis Baah at Konongo at the weekend.

The party which was organised by the Municipal Assembly was in recognition of the dedicated service ASP Baah rendered to the Municipality during his two-year duty tour. The Divisional Commander observed that his outfit would, this year intensify community patrolling to flush out drug peddlers and urged parents to closely monitor their children to prevent them from falling victims to the menace.

He commended personnel of the Community Protection Unit, whose recruitment he said had augmented efforts of the Police to maintain peace in the Municipality.

Mr George Frimpong, Asante Akim North Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), commended the Divisional Command for maintaining peace and order throughout the year and called for a renewed effort to combat crime. He said the Assembly would continue to support the Police in its activities and urged the general public to collaborate with the Police to enable them to perform their duties satisfactorily. ASP Baah expressed his profound gratitude to the Assembly, Nananom, Divisional Command and the general public for the assistance offered him during his tenure.

Source:

GNA

Pan African Parliament President in Ghana

The President of the Pan African Parliament, Dr. Gertrude Mongella, on Monday said there was the need to move the continental body from its current advisory role to a legislative body to speed up the development of Africa through common laws. She said the Pan African Parliament, as it stood now, had only advisory responsibilities but could not continue with that role since the body needed legislative functions and powers to harmonise national laws across the continent by giving legal backing to decisions taken by African Heads of State, as Africa prepared to have a united continent just like the European Union.

Dr. Mongella, who was speaking during a courtesy call on the First Deputy Speaker, Mr Freddie Blay in Accra praised Ghana for entrenching democracy, saying the country was a "big brother" in democracy. She expressed the hope that Ghana would maintain its lead in ensuring a peaceful 2008 general elections.

Mr Blay, on his part, touched on the need to harmonise national laws across Africa to ensure free trade and common ties in various areas of cooperation to push the development of the continent forward. Alhaji Alhasan Malik Yakubu, Second Deputy Speaker, who is also a member of the Pan African Parliament, said a strong continental parliament was needed to deal with conflicts and bad governance across the continent.

He praised Dr. Mongella for pushing hard to make the Pan African Parliament meet its desired target of becoming a body with legislative powers to entrench democracy across Africa. Dr. Mongella is expected to call on African Union Chairmn, President John Agyekum Kufuor to brief him on developments within the organisation.

Source:

GNA

My Year of Action

I try not to make personal comments on this blog because I have dedicated it to news. I will therefore keep my New Year's Message very brief.

I wish all who have made it a habbit of reading my posts a happy New Year and one that would see them rise beyond their fears. To all those who contributed directly to the sucesses I have chalked in the year, I say God bless. Its my hope and prayer that you will find your fulfillment in 2008 and beyond.

This blog will continue to be an important hobby of mine and I promise to keep all informed on important issues as I get them. May this year see all of us taking bold and winning decisions! Goood Luck

News of Ghana captain's injury excites die-hard Nigerian fans

Some die-hard Nigerian football fans do not seem to share the disappointment in Ghana at the news that injury problems have ruled Black Stars' captain Stephen Appiah out of the forthcoming Nations Cup, to be hosted by the Ghanaians.Some of the fans interviewed by PANA here Saturday described the news that Appiah would be out of action for two months as ''sweet music'' to their ears, since Ghana is seen as one of the obstacles to Nigeria's quest for an elusive third African Nations Cup title.

Nigerian newspapers also gave a big play to the news, almost to the point of gloating about it.''Well, it is sad, but anything that will weaken the Black Stars is welcome,'' said Ojo Akinola, who described himself as an avid supporter of the Super Eagles.''We (Nigeria) didn't cause Appiah's injury, but if we can benefit from his absence (at the Nations Cup), why not,'' he added.Another fan, Johnson Ajewole, said since Nigeria and Ghana could meet as early as the quarter finals, it would be nice for the Ghanaians not to be in the best form for the competition.

''The Black Stars are a formidable team, and one of the most successful in the history of the Nations Cup. Therefore, no team can afford to underrate them,'' he said.Ghana is in group A of the 26th edition of the four-yearly competition, billed for 20 January-10 February 2008, while Nigeria is in group B.But the two age-long soccer rivals may possibly meet right after the preliminary round (quarter-finals), when the winner of group A is slated to meet the runner-up in group B.

Ghana has a formidable Nations Cup record, having won the competition four times (1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982), second only to Egypt with a record five victories.On the other hand, arch-rival Nigeria has only won it twice (1980 and 1994).

Appiah's Contract To Be Suspended?

According to the Turkish newspaper Milliyet, Fenerbahce has asked for permission from the Turkish Fotball Federation to suspend the contract of Stephen Appiah on health grounds.

The Turkish club is already planning to bring in another foreign player, for next season, to replaced the Ghana national team captain.

Appiah is expected to undergo surgery for a potentially career-threatening injury, which is expected to keep him out of action for at least 3-months.

The Black Stars ace arrived in Turin, last week, for further tests on complications from the surgery he had on his knee five months ago.

Speculation are rife that he might not participate in the African Cup of Nations next month.