The Tamale Sports Stadium was re-christened the Aliu Mahama over the weekend at a ceremony in Tamale which was attended by Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.

The late Aliu Mahama, Vice President under the Ex-President J.A. Kuffour between 2001 and 2008, was one of the founding fathers of Real Tamale United, a once powerful Ghana Premier League side now wallowing in Division II.

The decision to rename the stadium after Aliu Mahama has attracted criticism from certain quarters, with suggestions it should have been named after a sportsman and not a politician.

But Hadzide feels Mahama’s contribution to sports development in Ghana makes him deserving of the honour.

“You’d admit that his contribution to sports in Ghana is not in doubt. And if you recollect the role that he played in the formation of RTU, you’d come to the same conclusion.

“He also championed the decentralization of sporting facilities in Ghana. In times past, sports facilities could only be found in Accra and Kumasi but through the efforts of Aliu Mahama, Tamale and Sekondi now have stadia too,” he said.

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By: Fentuo Tahiru/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to him, the late vice president had Ghanaians living in the Zongos at heart, and thus suggested a social intervention programme to address their developmental needs.

Speaking at an event to mark the 5th anniversary of Aliu Mahama’s passing, Dr. Bawumia said the former vice President made the proposal as a way of defusing the propaganda being peddled at the time, that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was against people from the Northern and Zongo communities.

[contextly_sidebar id=”IGRnU69F7evnRRB6ArzALXsq7kDRW9qd”]“We see him [Aliu Mahama] as a pioneer as far as our politics is concerned. As Vice President to President Kufuor, he brought something unique to the table. He straddled the zongo and northern communities. The story of the Zongo Development fund was started with Alhaji Aliu Mahama.”

“We were talking and he said, we have to do things to let the Zongos appreciate that the NPP is not anti-Zongo as the propaganda was at the time. We said what can we do, and we started talking about specific interventions because successive governments had not paid attention to the zongos. So that is why when we brought that suggestion to Nana Akufo-Addo he immediately said that it is a good idea, let us put it in the manifesto, and today by the grace of God, we are establishing the Zongo Development Fund,” he added.

The Zongo Development Fund Bill was approved last week by Parliament.

It was approved together with the Northern Development Authority (NDA), another social intervention initiative captured in the NPP’s 2016 manifesto.

The Zongo Development Fund bill seeks to establish the legal framework for the implementation of the Zongo Development Fund.

Government has allocated $50 million dollars to the Fund for the improvement of Zongo communities in the country.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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According to Dr. Bawumia, Aliu Mahama, recommended him as running mate for Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, when he [Bawumia] knew nothing about politics.

Speaking at the 5th anniversary of the passing of the former Vice President at his Cantonments home in Accra on Thursday, Dr. Bawumia said he will forever be grateful to the late former Vice President.

[contextly_sidebar id=”9Nxj5yKK0fEkgPhs6YGyRtYrnKQKVDLl”]When Nana Akufo-Addo was considering me for the position of vice presidential candidate, all of you know [that] at that time, I was very much a novice in politics. I was not in politics so he had to do a lot of consultation on whether to select this person. I know that one of the people who really stood up and made a case that yes, Nana, go for this young man was Alhaji Aliu Mahama. He was very unflinching in his support,” he said.

Dr. Bawumia said Aliu Mahama subsequently gave him his initial political training showing him how to campaign and how to immerse himself in the political space.

“When I was selected, he knew that I was a novice in politics. And this is why I forever will be grateful to him. He told me I’m going to hold your hand and help you to become Vice President of this country. He didn’t need to do it, he had already been vice president and he could just rest and give me advise and I will go but no! It wasn’t just about advice, he put in his boots and we started going round the country. Amazingly, he was walking and going places that I never thought he would go with us. He was fully part of the campaign. And it was actually when we were going around that I began to have a deeper appreciation,” he noted.

Aliu Mahama ‘inspired’ Zongo Development Fund

Dr. Bawumia described Aliu Mahama as a kind person, adding that the idea to create the Zongo Development Fund Bill which was recently approved by Parliament, was influenced by determination of the late Vice President to improve the lives of Zongo dwellers.

This he said was to disabuse the propaganda being peddled around that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was against people from the Northern and Zongo communities.

“We see him [Aliu Mahama], as a pioneer as far as our politics is concerned. As Vice President to President Kufuor, he brought something unique to the table. He straddled the zongo community and northern community. The story of the Zongo Development fund was started with Alhaji Aliu Mahama. We were talking and he said we have to do things to let the Zongo appreciate that the NPP is not anti-Zongo as the propaganda was at the time. We said what can we do, and we started talking about specific interventions because successive governments had not paid attention to the zongos. So that is why when we brought that suggestion to Nana Akufo-Addo he immediately said that is a good idea, let us put it in the manifesto and today by the grace of God, we are establishing the Zongo Development Fund,” he added.

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By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Aliu Mahama recommended me to Akufo-Addo – Bawumia appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, the late Alhaji Aliu Mahama “had so much to do with it (Tamale Sports Stadium), and I think it will be a proper monument to him, testimony to his contribution.”

President Akufo-Addo made this known on Monday, 30th October, 2017, when the Aliu Mahama Foundation executives paid a courtesy call on him at the Presidency to inform him about series of activities being held to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the passing of the late Vice President.

[contextly_sidebar id=”rkwWXsC6JngRN3gfReczbYFGek87MtMp”]Describing the late Alhaji Aliu Mahama as a “colleague and a very valuable member of the team that worked with former President J.A. Kufuor”, President Akufo-Addo noted that, “his premature departure continues always to be a very emotional matter for us.”

Thus, on the occasion of 5th Anniversary of his death, President Akufo-Addo noted that, he was happy with the programme of activities drawn up to celebrate the life of the late Vice President.

Chairperson of the 5th Anniversary Planning Committee, Mr. Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, who led the delegation, told the President that on 16th November, 2017, the exact day five years ago when the late Vice President passed, the Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr. Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, will give special prayers at the house of the late Vice President.

This will be followed by a fundraiser at the Accra International Conference Centre, and the launch of an arts exhibition, to aid in the building of a Presidential library in memory of the late Vice President. The exhibition will run from 16th November through to 6th December, 2017.

On Saturday, 25th November, a clean-up exercise will be held in Tamale, followed by a talk on the need for greater discipline. On 6th December, 2017, the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, will deliver a lecture on the topic “Transforming Ghana beyond Aid: How to get there”.

The Minister for Youth and Sports, who was also present at the event, in his remarks, stated that the late Vice President “contributed immensely to sports development and sports promotion in the country. He was an icon for sports and youth development in Ghana. His campaign for greater discipline inspired most of us.”

On behalf of the family, Farouk Mahama, son of the late Vice President thanked President Akufo-Addo for his gesture, stressing that “we never lost a father, because we have a father in you. We know we can rely on you any time.”

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Tamale Sports Stadium to be renamed after late Aliu Mahama appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Chelsea triggered a £10.5m release clause in Remy’s contract on Saturday lunchtime and he was then left out of QPR’s squad to face Sunderland.

The Gunners made an enquiry on Saturday night but will not continue their pursuit of the France international.

Any deal for the 27-year-old has to be done before the transfer window closes at 23:00 BST on Monday.

Chelsea are looking to reinforce their attack after Fernando Torres moved to AC Milan on loan.

Arsenal will be without striker Olivier Giroud until the end of December with a broken leg but it appears they are unlikely to bring in a forward to fill the void.

The Gunners enquired about Remy when they thought one of their forwards may leave but, with that now not likely to happen, they have dropped their interest.

Remy scored 14 goals in 26 Premier League appearances for Newcastle last season

Remy was close to a move to Liverpool earlier on this summer when the Reds also met his release clause but the transfer fell through after reports of a failed medical.

It is understood he offered to play against Sunderland but QPR boss Harry Redknapp decided to leave him out.

“The deal looks like it has been done, so I had to make a change,” said Redknapp after the 1-0 victory.

“He was in the team. I just got a phone call about 12 o’clock to say it looks like he is going to be moving.

“He didn’t refuse to play, but it’s difficult to go out there to play and get your head around it.”

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Source: BBC Sport

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The France striker, 27, was nearing an £8.5million switch to Anfield before the Merseyside club pulled out – amid suggestions there were concerns over his fitness – but Redknapp admitted he is baffled by the news and suggested there were ulterior motives for Liverpool calling off the deal.

Redknapp, who is pleased at the prospect of having the former Marseille forward back with Rangers, told a press conference: “He’ll come back here. I only know what I’ve seen and heard and I don’t really know how he’s failed a medical.

“He had a stringent medical here, one at Newcastle, one with the French team before the World Cup. He’s never had a problem with his fitness – you couldn’t meet a fitter lad.

“I don’t see there could be any issue with his fitness. Their loss is our gain. I’ve got a fantastic striker.

“I said last year he’s a striker capable of getting 20 goals in the Premier League and that’s what we want him to do. I think he’s one of the best strikers in the division.

“It can’t be a medical one because he’s never been unfit. It’s not possible. It certainly didn’t make any sense – there has to be another reason. It can’t be a medical issue.

“There must have been some kind of breakdown or they’ve decided to move in another direction.

“I’m sorry for the boy that his move to Liverpool didn’t happen but from my point of view, I’ve got a great striker back here. In my opinion, he’s one of the best strikers at the Premier League. He’s a good lad and a good professional.

“Liverpool is a football club that usually handle everything fantastically. I’ve never dealt with anybody better than them over the years.

“However, all the talk of the medical doesn’t make any sense to me.”

QPR had been rumoured to be targeting Watford striker Troy Deeney but Redknapp played down the speculation.

He added when asked about the 26-year-old: “He was a player we enquired about and you make lots of enquiries but at the moment, there’s nothing happening.”

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Source: Sky Sports

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The Merseyside club are refusing to comment on the reasons behind the deal falling through but it is understood there has been an issue with the 27-year-old’s medical.

Remy flew to the United States, where Liverpool are touring, on Monday.

The Reds’ bid had activated a release clause in the contract of the player, who last year scored 14 goals on loan at Newcastle United.

They had planned to give Remy the number seven shirt and he had waited in the US for the best part of a week for the deal to be confirmed. The move will not be resurrected and Remy now faces the prospect of a return to QPR.

Remy was part of the France squad that reached the quarter-finals of the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil, appearing as a substitute against Ecuador and Germany.

He made 26 Premier League appearances for Newcastle last season but only played four of the final 11 games as he struggled with a calf injury.

Remy moved to Newcastle on loan after QPR’s relegation from the Premier League in 2013.

Remy joined QPR during their last top-flight spell, making an £8m switch from French club Marseille in January 2013.

He scored six league goals for the west London club but could not stop them being relegated that season.

QPR regained their Premier League status at the first attempt by beating Derby in the Championship play-off final in May.

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Source: BBC Sport

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