This follows reports of defaulting agencies resisting the AMA’s attempts to remove their billboards for non-payment.

[contextly_sidebar id=”j7GL5zcn2fQxfIij3KNgdEoweYyqxARi”]Mr. Dadzie on Eyewitness News stated that, “either they will come and pay our money to us or we will go after them.”

Most of the defaulting agencies are not members of the Advertisers Association of Ghana (AAG), as he noted that only about 10 percent of that Association’s members are yet to settle their debts.

“We have non-AAG members doing the same business and they are the ones who owe the assembly more. Some people like Tecno have so many billboards in the metropolis… we have more than 13 companies in the metropolis who are owing the assembly and the amount is not a small amount.”

The AMA had given the defaulting agencies a week’s notice and they were well aware of the assembly’s crackdown, according to Mr. Dadzie, who added that any possible lawsuits against the AMA would be futile.

“They can’t do that [sue] because a majority of them don’t have the permit from the assembly. Before you can rent a billboard, you have to pass through some processes. You have to apply to the assembly… the majority of them don’t have it [a permit].”

Advertisers Association backs AMA 

The General Secretary of the AAG, Francis Dadzie, is in full support of the AMA’s moves.

He said it was only right all advertisers played by the same rules.

“A lot of them [defaulting agencies] took advantage of the change in government and the political activities in 2016, and went to put the boards there without permits and they continued this year [2017].”

“The AMA comes to our office, they know where we are, and come to collect cheques on behalf of our members. So why should other individuals take advantage of the system and not pay for the same business? It is not fair.”

–

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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A volley from Bekim Balaj proved enough to sink the 2012 semi-finalists.

Portugal were without Cristiano Ronaldo but still fielded a strong side that included included Manchester United’s on-loan Sporting Lisbon winger Nani.

Elsewhere, Robert Lewandowski hit four goals as newcomers Gibraltar lost 7-0 to Poland in Group D.

There was to be no fairytale for the minnows in a tough group which also includes world champions Germany, the Republic of Ireland, Scotland and Georgia.

Kamil Grosicki also scored two for the Poles, while Lukasz Szukala joined them in finding the net.

Denmark had to come from behind to beat Armenia, Thomas Kahlenberg settling the Group I encounter in Copenhagen.

The Faroe Islands, ranked 183 in the world, took the lead against Finland before losing 3-1 in Group F, while Romania won 1-0 away to Greece in the same group.

–

Source: BBC Sport

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The Black Stars face Portugal on Thursday needing a win, while hoping Germany and USA do not draw in the other game, to stand any chance of progressing from the group.

Despite the fact that Ronaldo is yet to score in the tournament and has only two World Cup goals to his name, Appiah concedes that the two-time FIFA Ballon D’or winner, remains a major threat.

“He’s the best player in the whole world – everyone recognises that.” he said.

“You can only stop Cristiano Ronaldo, the best player in the world, by working as a team.

“We can’t let him show what he can do.”

He, however, maintains that the Portuguese are more than just Ronaldo and have other good players who could hurt the Stars.

“It’s about teamwork, I don’t believe in the individual,” Appiah added.

“It’s important that we don’t allow Ronaldo to play his game.

“We will study their game, but it’s not only him, it’s the whole team.

“It won’t be easy to reach the round of 16 because we’ve only got one point. It’ll be tough, it is possible.”

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Listen or download

https://t.co/xJJhKa4jBU

Show details

Special Ghana edition with 19 days to kickoff of Brazil 2014. Featuring:

– Ghana boss Kwesi Appiah gives a very, very rare exposé into the way he tactics are shaped, why he thinks the way he does and how a recent trip to Liverpool FC has altered his perceptions about player scouting and analytics (courtesy Standard Chartered Bank and Ghana National Petroleum Corporation).

– Asamoah Gyan tells of how dangerous Cristiano Ronaldo will be, importance of winning the first World Cup game vs USA and how *that* penalty misses in 2010 spurs him to redeem Ghana’s place in World Cup history (with Samuel Bartels, GH One TV)

– Algeria have named a not-to-surprising but nonetheless slightly-shocking 30-man team for the World Cup. What’s there to look out for? (with Maher Mezahi)

Who wins our Samsung Galaxy S3 mini this week?

_

Presented by Gary Al-Smith and produced by Nathan Quao/Gary Al-Smith for Citi FM & Supersport.com. Aired: May 2, 2014.

**Soundtrack details**
Song Title: Someway Bi
Artist Name: M.anifest
Produced by: Yung Fly
Singitdamnit Music/Cumbancha Music Publishing (BMI) 2013

More detail: www.facebook.com/FCAfricaRadio

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Ronaldo, who will be the team’s captain, has been joined by Manchester United’s Luis Nani and FC Monaco’s Joao Moutinho and their fans are expecting the team to progress from the group stages together with favourites Germany.

Also in the team is Sevilla’s goalkeeper Beto whose exploits in the tournament’s final against Benfica earned the Spanish team the Europa League trophy.

Miguel Veloso of Dynamo Kiev and William Carvalho of Sporting Lisbon have also made the squad but FC Porto’s Ricardo Quaresma failed to make the team together with Lyon goalie Anthony Lopes.

Portugal will face Ghana on the 26th of June in Brasilia after playing against Germany and the USA in the first two group matches.

However, they will play two friendly matches against Mexico on the 6th of June in Massachusetts and Ireland in New York on the 10th of June, 2014.

Here is the full Portugal squad:

Goalkeepers: Rui Patricio (Sporting), Beto (Sevilla/ESP), Eduardo (Braga)

Defenders: Andre Almeida (Benfica), Bruno Alves (Fenerbahce/TUR), Fabio Coentrao (Real Madrid/ESP), Joao Pereira (Valencia/ESP), Neto (Zenit St. Petersburg/RUS), Pepe (Real Madrid/ESP), Ricardo Costa (Valencia/ESP)

Midfielders: Joao Moutinho (Monaco/FRA), Miguel Veloso (Dynamo Kiev/UKR), Raul Meireles (Fenerbahce/TUR), Ruben Amorim (Benfica), William Carvalho (Sporting)

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid/ESP), Eder (Braga), Helder Postiga (Lazio/ITA), Hugo Almeida (Besiktas/TUR), Nani (Manchester United/ENG), Rafa (Braga), Varela (FC Porto), Vieirinha (Wolfsburg/GER)

By: Nathan Quao/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The midfield hard man predicts that one of the Germany and Ghana will fail to reach the knock-out stages in Brazil.

“It’s a strong group and I think that Germany and Ghana will commit mistakes. Those mistakes will be punished,” Boateng in an interview with ESPN FC at Schalke’s Veltins Arena.

“When Cristiano Ronaldo is fit, it will be very difficult to beat Portugal. Germany, Ghana and the U.S. will take the points off each other.

“I don’t think both Boatengs will make it out of the group. In the end we’ll see who that will be.”

Despite many pundits view of seeing Germany top the group, the Schalke man believes they do not have the men to make the difference.

“The German team has world class players in every position, and that is their main problem,” he said. “They have so many good players, and need to win the World Cup or at least make it to the final.

“You need characters when you go into a tournament with so much pressure. I don’t see anyone who could handle this and might be able to carry the team along. The German team has an outstanding quality, they have players who can decide a game, but I think, really, you only need to be wary of Marco Reus.”

By: Gary Al-Smith/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The row has worsened tensions between coach Carlos Queiroz and the federation over chaotic preparations for the finals, which start June 12 in Brazil.

The Portugese coach went to a training camp in Africa last month with only 12 players.

With the countdown ticking away to Iran’s first Group F game against Nigeria, Queiroz criticised the German makers of the Iran team strip Uhlsport.

“Before crucial games against Qatar and South Korea, which were played in extreme conditions of humidity, the equipment delivered was not proper,” he told reporters on Sunday, before his team headed to a new World Cup training camp in Austria.

“This could have put Iran out of the World Cup,” he said of the two qualifying games.

Queiroz went on to lambast the federation for failing to provide proper boots or enough clothing.

“If you give shoes sized 34 to somebody that wears size 44 he cannot walk five metres,” said Queiroz, only partly joking about the predicament his players find themselves in.

Iran, playing in the World Cup finals for the fourth time after 1978, 1998 and 2006, face a tough first round group against Argentina, Africa Cup of Nations champions Nigeria and debutants Bosnia.

“If you have one tracksuit per player morning and afternoon it cannot be good,” added Queiroz, former boss of Real Madrid and the Portugese and South African national sides as well as ex-assistant coach at Manchester United.

Several players joined Queiroz in grumbling about the kit.

“They give us large size socks and after two days and being washed they shrink to a small size,” said striker Karim Ansarifard at the press event.

Mohammad Reza Khalatbari, whose former club Sepahan, used Uhlsport equipment of the “best quality”, hinted he believes the Iranian side was being given inferior supplies.

“The gear that we have now, we really don’t know what it is,” said the striker.

“We are really tired of talking about this. I don’t understand why everyone is defending it. When there is something wrong, we should admit that there is a problem.”

Sports Minister Mahmoud Goudarzi downplayed the Iranian team’s equipment problems.

“The minister is not well-informed,” responded Queiroz, whose contract has yet to be renewed.

Iran Football Federation president, Ali Kafashian, also defended the quality of the team kit.

“We expect the coach not to air dirty laundry in public,” he said, describing the row as a distraction that would not help the team.

The distributor of the team kit, Dubai-based Romario Sports, did not comment when contacted by AFP. But the company’s representative in Iran, Mahmoud Piri, denied there was anything wrong with the shirts.

“This is clearly not true,” he said. “An internationally recognised company would not question its own credibility – ahead of the World Cup – by producing poor quality gear.

“Fabric experts would tell you that Polyester-made shirts do not shrink,” he said, adding that Queiroz’s personal dispute with the equipment supplier over money was the cause of the row. This left the Portugese coach visibly upset.

“I gave permission to my lawyer to release all information regarding my personal problem with Romario Sports and these documents prove how these gentlemen behaved with me these last two years,” Queiroz told reporters.

“If I owe them money then I have a problem before God and you,” he said, pointing out that Iran’s June 16 opener against Nigeria is fast approaching.

“For me, everybody who distracts the national team is a Nigerian,” he commented.

Source: AP

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Some of the best players in the world have found themselves in Ghana’s group of Brazil 2014, but Kwesi Appiah remains bullish about positive prospects.

Germany are three-time world champions and Portugal as respected in the European game. The United States of America are led by a shrewd tactician and have improving players, leaving Ghana’s chances of advancing to the next stage not too bright.

 “Now we’re looking forward to Brazil. All of my players are at very good clubs so there’s no reason to be cautious. We’re going there full of confidence,” Appiah told FIFA Weekly.

“I want us to be the best team in the World,” he added.

“At the World Cup in Brazil, we can go further than we did in South Africa four years ago. We can become greater than the sum of our parts and reach the semi-final or the final.”

Ghana open their campaign against the US, before games against Germany and Portugal.

By: Gary Al-Smith/Citifmonlinecom/Ghana

Follow @garyalsmith

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