{"id":95449,"date":"2015-03-02T05:38:19","date_gmt":"2015-03-02T05:38:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=95449"},"modified":"2015-03-02T07:21:37","modified_gmt":"2015-03-02T07:21:37","slug":"here-are-the-10-most-talked-about-stories-in-february-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=95449","title":{"rendered":"Here are the 10 most talked about stories in February 2015"},"content":{"rendered":"

February had a lot of big stories and talking points in the media. citifmonline.com<\/a><\/span><\/strong>\u00a0recaps of some of these stories that made the headlines during the period.<\/p>\n

1. Ghana painfully denied another AFCON trophy by Ivory Coast<\/strong><\/h4>\n

For the second time in 5 years, Ghana\u2019s hopes of lifting the Africa Cup of Nations trophy were dashed<\/span><\/a> despite coming so close.\u00a0After 120 minutes of football, the two teams settled for the penalty shootout after which Cote D\u2019Ivoire won 9-8.<\/p>\n

\"Dede\"<\/a><\/p>\n

February 10:<\/strong> The headline sponsor of the Black Stars, Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) promised each member of the team $25,000 for the\u00a0gallant performance<\/span><\/a> at the 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Equatorial Guinea.<\/p>\n

February 11:<\/strong> Government spent about $5.717.869 on Ghana\u2019s preparation and participation<\/span><\/a> in the 2015 AFCON tournament in Equatorial Guinea. Minister of Youth & Sports, Mahama Ayariga made this known when he appeared before Parliament.<\/p>\n

February 11:<\/strong>\u00a0Mahama Ayariga revealed that government does not know<\/span><\/a> which individual or company that airlifted some Black Stars supporters from Ghana to Equatorial Guinea for the just ended AFCON.<\/p>\n

February 12:<\/strong> Outraged by unending media probing of the budget for the just ended African Cup of Nations tournament in Equatorial Guinea, Mahama Ayariga chastised Ghanaian journalists telling them to stop asking \u201cuseless questions.\u201d<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

February 14:<\/strong> Mamaha Ayariga responded to criticism over his claim that journalists ask \u201cuseless questions,\u201d saying the conduct of journalists in the interviews with government officials determines the responses<\/a><\/span> that are given\u00a0to their questions.<\/p>\n

February 18:<\/strong> Minister of Youth and Sports, Mahama Ayariga dismissed rumours<\/span><\/a> making rounds in the media that government funded the acquisition of Jeep Grand Cherokees as reward to the Black Stars players for winning silver at the just ended AFCON in Equatorial Guinea.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0Mahama fires Prosper Bani, appoints Julius Debrah as Chief of Staff<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chief of Staff Prosper Bani was relieved of his position<\/span> <\/a>by President John Mahama who has now appointed Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Julius Debrah, to replace him.\"Debrah<\/a><\/p>\n

February 16:<\/strong> Alhaji Iddrisu Bature of pro-NDC newspaper, Al-Hajj allayed fears<\/span> <\/a>that the removal of Prosper Bani as Chief of Staff will affect the party\u2019s votes in the Volta Region.<\/p>\n

February 16:<\/strong> Policy Think Tank, IMANI Ghana described the Chief of Staff office under Prosper Bani as \u201cineffective\u201d and \u201cprofusely wasteful.\u201d<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

February 16:<\/strong> Pressure group, Volta NDC Youth for Action said its members will not campaign for President Mahama in the upcoming 2016 elections<\/span> <\/a>following the replacement of their kinsman, Prosper Bani as Chief of Staff.\u00a0According to them, the President by this replacement has shown that he is on a deliberate course to rid his government of all Voltarians in higher positions.<\/p>\n

Earlier<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

February 4:<\/strong> The Presidency has confirmed the departures<\/a><\/span> of Communications Adviser to the President, Ben Dotsei Malor and Secretary to the President, Dr. Raymond Atuguba from the Flagstaff House.<\/p>\n

3. Energy Ministry blows electricity cash on luxury cars<\/strong><\/h4>\n

An Audit report presented to Parliament has shown that the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum spent $1,745, 159 on 38 luxurious \u00a0vehicles<\/a><\/span>.The\u00a0amount according to the report was meant to extend electricity to about 1200 communities in the country under the Multi-Donor Budgetary Support Programme between 2010 and 2012.<\/p>\n

The vehicles include; Ford F150 truck, Lexus LX570, Chrysler 300, Dodge Dakota SLT, and Grido Ford 5150.<\/p>\n

\"MOE\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The story so far:<\/b><\/p>\n

February 18:<\/strong>\u00a0The Energy Ministry told Citi News<\/strong>, there are no explanations yet as to why expensive luxury vehicles<\/a><\/span> were purchased for rural electrification project but indicated that cabinet approved the deal in 2007 and Parliament approved it in 2008.<\/p>\n

February 19:<\/strong> The Minority spokesperson on Energy, KT Hammond revealed that the former Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng Adjei is still using<\/a><\/span> one of the luxurious vehicles that were bought with the money meant for electricity extension project.<\/p>\n

February 24:<\/strong> Former Minister of Energy, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei admitted that he still had a state luxury<\/span> vehicle<\/span><\/a> bought with the money meant for electricity extension project, in his possession, months after he left office, although he was quick to clarify that he \u201cdid not steal it\u201d and has since returned it to the Energy Ministry.<\/p>\n

February 25:<\/strong>\u00a0K.T Hammond made another claim<\/a> <\/span>that the former Energy Minister Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei is keeping one more vehicle which belongs to the state.<\/p>\n

February 25:<\/strong>\u00a0Oteng Adjei\u00a0accused the Minority spokesperson on Energy<\/a><\/span>, KT Hammond is working to tarnish his image.<\/p>\n

4. Mahama Promises to fix dums\u0254 in 2015 State of the Nation Address<\/strong><\/p>\n

President John Mahama on Thursday, February 26 gave his State of the Nation Address in Parliament where he promised to \u2018fix the energy crisis\u2019<\/span><\/a> and transform the Electricity Company among others. Full speech here.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

The Minority in Parliament stated that they were unimpressed with the president’s address and plan to present their version of the state of the nation.<\/p>\n

\"16467146238_6e8c0f0f11_z\"<\/a><\/p>\n

February 26:<\/strong> Ghanaians\u00a0reacted to<\/span><\/a> Mahama\u2019s State of the Nation address.<\/p>\n

Mahama seems best suited to be president where there is a prime minister. He can look pretty and talk smooth and the PM can do the work.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Ekuwa (@SorayaSpeaks) February 26, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n