United States Archives - Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always https://citifmonline.com/tag/united-states/ Ghana News | Ghana Politics | Ghana Soccer | Ghana Showbiz Sun, 25 Mar 2018 11:36:37 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.0.8 https://citifmonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/cropped-CITI-973-FM-32x32.jpg United States Archives - Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always https://citifmonline.com/tag/united-states/ 32 32 Ayariga offered to pay $20m to stop US ‘military base’ deal https://citifmonline.com/2018/03/ayariga-offered-to-pay-20m-to-stop-us-military-base-deal/ https://citifmonline.com/2018/03/ayariga-offered-to-pay-20m-to-stop-us-military-base-deal/#comments Sat, 24 Mar 2018 07:11:31 +0000 http://citifmonline.com/?p=412428 A former Presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Hassan Ayariga, says he offered to pay the $20 million being invested by the United State into the Ghana Armed Forces this year as part of an agreement that will allow their troops to be stationed in Ghana. According to Mr. Ayariga, the Memorandum of Understanding for […]

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A former Presidential candidate of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Hassan Ayariga, says he offered to pay the $20 million being invested by the United State into the Ghana Armed Forces this year as part of an agreement that will allow their troops to be stationed in Ghana.

According to Mr. Ayariga, the Memorandum of Understanding for defence cooperation, which was approved by Parliament on Friday, amounted to the sale of the country’s sovereignty.

[contextly_sidebar id=”16IULckSmYs95qwW5Qzvcu7AmwNAl8BA”]Speaking to Accra-based Asempa FM, Mr Ayariga said he had written a cheque for $20 million dollars, which he had taken with him to Parliament yesterday in order to prevent the deal from being approved.

“I went there to give them the cheque if they are ready. They should take the $20 million they want and leave Ghana for us. We want to buy off our sovereignty and we think that if it is the money that the military wants to take, they should come for this, we’ll give it to them for free. After all, everybody is supposed to be a stakeholder and help build Ghana,” he said.

“Nkrumah bought the sovereignty of Ghana with his life, others died to protect Ghana, military men went to war to get out freedom and a whole lot of people sacrificed their lives to make us have comfortable lives today. So we will not allow the Danquah-Busia tradition to sell our sovereignty for a mere $20 million. We will not do that. If that is what their interests are, we will allow them to have the $20 million and leave us to live in peace.”

‘Protests today, expect more Wednesday’

On Friday a number of protesters who tried to gain access to Parliament to protest the anticipated approval of the deal were prevented from entering the House.

The main entrance of the House was shut with strict access checks being conducted for members of the public and workers seeking to enter.

The protesters however chanted slogans and songs outside the House.

The leader of the protesters suspended CPP youth leader Ernesto Yeboah, who was dissatisfied with Parliament’s decision, said they posed no threat to the security of the House.

“Are we holding guns? So on what basis are we disallowed from entering Parliament to have a sight of the proceedings in Parliament? They have absolutely no basis to restrain us from entering to have a sight of the proceedings. We are going to enter, we are going to sit down, we are going to observe the rules of Parliament.

Protesters were blocked from entering the House

And according to Mr. Ayariga, another protest had been scheduled for Wednesday if Parliament fails to throw out the deal.

He suggested that the US might have ulterior motives for setting camp in Ghana, stating that they might have designs on the country’s oil reserves.

“They are going to have free access to our water bodies, our oil is there. What do we think they are going to do? Take our crude out of this country. Let us not make this a political thing. What we are doing today is not about politics. What we are doing is to defend our nation that is why our Constitution made it clear that Parliament cannot pass something if the Ghanaian people don’t want it. If the Ghanaian people oppose it, Parliament has to go back, reconvene and take another decision. On Wednesday, there’s going to be a serious demonstration, the one we have done today at the Parliament House is small,” he added.

Background

The Minister of DefenCe, Dominic Nitiwul, on Tuesday laid before Parliament the document seeking to ratify an agreement for space around the Kotoka International Airport, which will serve as a camp for some US military forces in Ghana.

The approved agreement will among other things, exempt the US government from paying taxes on equipment that is brought to Ghana.

They will also be given the chance to set up their own telecommunication system, although they will be allowed to use Ghana’s radio spectrum free of charge.

Although many Ghanaians have expressed resentment over the clauses of the agreement, government has defended it and said the agreement is in the best interest of Ghana.

But the Minority had earlier called on government to withdraw the agreement in its current form, saying it is not in the best interest of Ghana.

The deal was eventually passed late on Friday, by only Majority Members of Parliament because the Minority had staged a walkout during the debate on the Floor of the House.

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Ghanaian-born speedskater is first black woman to make US Olympic team https://citifmonline.com/2017/12/ghanaian-born-speedskater-first-black-woman-make-us-olympic-team/ Sun, 24 Dec 2017 12:58:09 +0000 http://citifmonline.com/?p=385899 A 17-year-old Virginia skater is the first black woman to qualify for the U.S. Olympic speedskating team. Maame Biney, of Reston, Virginia, secured her spot on the team after she made history winning the 500-meter races at the U.S. Olympic Short Track Trials on Dec. 16. The bubbly skater flew past the competition and then fell […]

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A 17-year-old Virginia skater is the first black woman to qualify for the U.S. Olympic speedskating team.

Maame Biney, of Reston, Virginia, secured her spot on the team after she made history winning the 500-meter races at the U.S. Olympic Short Track Trials on Dec. 16. The bubbly skater flew past the competition and then fell as she celebrated.

Of course, she got right back up.

Biney says she owes her determination to her Ghana-born father. She is grateful for how much he has sacrificed and the amount of work he put into her success, she said.

[NATL-DFW] Young Skater Wants to Follow Olympic Mother's Footsteps
Natasha Mishkutionok, an 11-year-old ice skater, shares her love of skating and her dream of being better than her mother, Natalia, who is an Olympic gold and silver medalist.

(Published Friday, Dec. 22, 2017)

The Olympian’s father, Kweku Biney, moved with her to the U.S. in 2005 in an effort to give his daughter a better future.

They had to leave behind other family members to begin their new life.

“My journey was never easy. It was hard, but I made it,” Kweku Biney said

Although Biney credits her father for her many accomplishments, he refuses to take it. “God saw me through it,” he said. “He planned it all. I was just the facilitator. That’s all I can say,” he continued.

Perhaps there was some destiny involved. During an interview with News4, Kweku held out a business card that his daughter had never seen. Maame grabbed it, looked and laughed.

It was a reminder card for her first group skating lesson, her dad said, that was scheduled for Dec. 17, 2005. Exactly 12 years and one day later, she would qualify for the Olympics.

[NATL] Check Out the New Olympic Skating Stadiums

South Korea is ahead of schedule in constructing venues for the 2018 Winter Olympics and NBC got an exclusive tour of the arenas that will host skating events. Some of the biggest events of the games will take place here.

(Published Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017)

Biney’s icy ride began at six years old. When her father saw a “learn to skate” sign at SkateQuest in Reston, he initially signed Biney up for figure skating.

A few months into the lessons, Biney’s coach noticed she skated too fast for figure skating and mentioned she should try speedskating. Her coach was onto something.

Twelve years later, the high school senior is part of history and the Olympic team

Although originally from Ghana, Biney wants to represent the U.S. because of the country’s diversity.

“This is what this country is. It’s diverse and different, and that’s exactly why I’m representing the U.S. Because we’re different.”

As Biney prepares for her first Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, she believes the sacrifices she’s made for speedskating were worth it.

As we get closer to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, here is a pronunciation guide for some of the venues at the Winter Games, as spoken by NBC Boston’s Young-Jin Kim, a Korean American journalst.

(Published Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017)

“Even with all the hard work, all the crying, all the tears, I would do it again because I had double the laughter.”

Biney is the second African-American speedskater to represent Team USA at the Olympics, following in the footsteps of Shani Davis. Davis has since made three more Olympic teams and earned four medals, including two golds.

Source: nbcwashington

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Hope Solo running for US Soccer Federation presidency https://citifmonline.com/2017/12/hope-solo-running-us-soccer-federation-presidency/ Fri, 08 Dec 2017 12:08:36 +0000 http://citifmonline.com/?p=381229 World Cup-winning goalkeeper Hope Solo has announced she is running for president of the US Soccer Federation. The 36-year-old earned 202 caps for her country and won the 2015 Women’s World Cup plus two Olympic gold medals during her 17-year international career. She has not played for the national side since the Rio Olympics, after […]

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World Cup-winning goalkeeper Hope Solo has announced she is running for president of the US Soccer Federation.

The 36-year-old earned 202 caps for her country and won the 2015 Women’s World Cup plus two Olympic gold medals during her 17-year international career.

She has not played for the national side since the Rio Olympics, after receiving a six-month ban for calling rivals Sweden “a bunch of cowards”.

Solo announced her intention to run for president on her Facebook page. 

She said the core principles of her campaign would be creating a winning culture, equality and women’s issues, making the game accessible to all and reform in the United States Soccer Federation.

“I know exactly what US Soccer needs to do, I know exactly how to do it, and I possess the fortitude to get it done,” she said.

“I have always been willing to sacrifice for what I believe in and I believe there is no greater sacrifice then fighting for equal opportunity, integrity and honesty, especially in an organisation like the USSF that could give so much more to our communities across the nation.”

Solo becomes the ninth candidate, and the second woman to voice interest in running, joining Soccer United marketing president Kathy Carter.

All candidates have until Tuesday to get the required three nominations from delegates to officially join the field.

They are running to replace current president Sunil Gulati, who announced earlier this week that he will not seek re-election for another term.

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Source: BBC Sport

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Suspected U.S. drone strikes kill 31 on Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier https://citifmonline.com/2017/10/suspected-u-s-drone-strikes-kill-31-on-pakistan-afghanistan-frontier/ Tue, 17 Oct 2017 14:51:19 +0000 http://citifmonline.com/?p=362654 Two suspected U.S. drone strikes on Tuesday killed 11 people on the mountainous Pakistan-Afghanistan border, following a strike a day earlier that killed 20, government and militant sources said. The attacks came days after a Canadian-American couple held hostage by the Taliban were freed from the area in Pakistan’s northwest, striking a rare positive note […]

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Two suspected U.S. drone strikes on Tuesday killed 11 people on the mountainous Pakistan-Afghanistan border, following a strike a day earlier that killed 20, government and militant sources said.

The attacks came days after a Canadian-American couple held hostage by the Taliban were freed from the area in Pakistan’s northwest, striking a rare positive note in the country’s often-fraught relations with the United States.

On Friday, U.S. drones were seen hovering near where American Caitlan Coleman, her Canadian husband, Joshua Boyle, and their three children, all born in captivity, were freed, after having been kidnapped by the Haqqani network while backpacking in Afghanistan in 2012.

“Four unmanned drones fired six missiles in Monday’s attack, and four more were dropped in two strikes on Tuesday,” Baseer Khan Wazir, the top administrative official in the Kurram Agency, part of Pakistan’s restive Federally Administered Tribal Areasm, told Reuters.

The drones fired missiles on Taliban hideouts, killing at least 31 people over two days, he added, with all three attacks taking place on the Afghan side.

“Twenty people were killed yesterday, mostly from the Afghan Taliban, and 11 more were killed in today’s attacks,” Wazir told Reuters.

Taliban sources said 18 members of the Pakistan-based Haqqani militants, allied to the Taliban, were killed in Monday’s strike and six in one of Tuesday’s attacks.

“There were some mud-built houses which were being used by the mujahideen (Afghan Taliban fighters),” said a member of the Afghan Taliban, who asked not to be identified.

No prominent militants were in the area when the drones targeted two or three different compounds, he added. Another Taliban source said two commanders were killed in Monday’s attack, however.

Witnesses said they heard the drones and saw plumes of smoke before seeing 20 makeshift coffins moved out of the area. Residents of the area said the strikes were no more than 300 meters (yards) from the Pakistan side of the border.

“There are always drones hovering over this border area, but this was the first time four drones were noticed at the same time,” said Kurram resident Gulab Sher.

Source: Reuters

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Las Vegas killer ‘sick, demented’ – Trump https://citifmonline.com/2017/10/las-vegas-killer-sick-demented-trump/ Tue, 03 Oct 2017 17:06:33 +0000 http://citifmonline.com/?p=358798 President Donald Trump has described the gunman who killed 59 people and injured 527 in Las Vegas on Sunday as “a sick man, a demented man”. Speaking at the White House, he said he would look at gun laws “as times goes by” but did not elaborate. Police are still trying to find out why […]

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President Donald Trump has described the gunman who killed 59 people and injured 527 in Las Vegas on Sunday as “a sick man, a demented man”.

Speaking at the White House, he said he would look at gun laws “as times goes by” but did not elaborate.

Police are still trying to find out why Stephen Paddock, 64, opened fire on an open-air concert from the 32nd floor of the nearby Mandalay Bay Hotel.

Police found 23 guns in his room and firearms and explosives at his home.

As yet, no clear reason for the killing has emerged and investigators have found no link to international terrorism. Some investigators have suggested Paddock had a history of mental illness, but this has not been confirmed.

People run from the Route 91 Harvest country music festival after apparent gun fire was heard on October 1, 2017 in Las VegasImage copyrightREUTERS

Paddock, who appears to have killed himself before police stormed his hotel room, had no criminal record and was not known to police.

Speaking to reporters as he was about to board the presidential helicopter, Mr Trump said Paddock was “a sick man, a demented man. Lot of problems, I guess, and we’re looking into him very, very seriously”.

When asked, Mr Trump declined to call the attack domestic terrorism.

On the issue of gun control, the president said: “We’ll be talking about gun laws as time goes by.”

Mr Trump, whose position on gun control has changed over the years, gave no further detail.

Stephen Paddock, a former accountant with a big gambling habit, lived in a community of senior citizens in the small town of Mesquite, north-east of Las Vegas.

He reportedly lived with a woman called Marilou Danley, who was out of the country in Japan and did not appear to be involved in the shootings, police said.

Las Vegas Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said that when police officers searched the property after the attack, they found 19 “additional firearms, some explosives and several thousand rounds of ammo, along with some electronic devices we’re evaluating at this point”.

Suspected gunman - undated imageImage copyrightPADDOCK FAMILY
Image captionSuspected gunman Stephen Paddock – undated image

Officers also found ammonium nitrate in Paddock’s car – the chemical compound used in fertilisers can be used to make bombs such as that used in the 1995 Oklahoma City attack.

David Famiglietti of the New Frontier Armory told the BBC that Paddock had purchased firearms at his store in North Las Vegas in the spring of this year, meeting all state and federal requirements, including an FBI background check.

However, the shotgun and rifle Paddock bought would not have been “capable of what we’ve seen and heard in the video without modification”, Mr Famiglietti said.

The fast shooting rate audible in recordings of Sunday night’s attack indicates that Paddock may have modified his guns with legal accessories to make them fire at speeds approaching those of automatic weapons.

Despite the large cache of weapons found in the killer’s home, his brother, Eric, is struggling to accept that he acted in this way. He said he was “in shock, horrified, completely dumbfounded”.

So-called Islamic State claimed on Monday to be behind the attack, saying Paddock had converted to Islam some months ago. But the group provided no evidence for this and has made unsubstantiated claims in the past.

The IS claim of responsibility for the Las Vegas attack is very unusual in that the perpetrator’s profile does not fit that of supporters or “soldiers” that the group has claimed in the past, writes Mina al-Lami, who monitors jihadist groups for the BBC.

The FBI said it had found “no connection to an international terrorist organisation”.

How did the attack unfold?

The final shows of the three-day Route 91 country music festival were in full swing when the gunman struck.

According to police, Paddock had booked into the hotel four days earlier, on 28 September, reportedly using some of Ms Danley’s identity documents.

layout of typical suite in Mandalay Bay hotel

Aside from the 23 guns found in the two-room hotel suite, Sheriff Lombardo said there were 10 suitcases.

Thousands were enjoying a performance by top-billing singer Jason Aldean when the first of several bursts of automatic gunfire rang out, starting at 22:08 local time (05:08 GMT on Monday).

Hundreds of shots were fired over at least 10 minutes.

Concert-goers scrambled for cover, flattening themselves against the ground, rushing for the exits or helping others to escape as Paddock sprayed the site from his high vantage point.

It is thought he moved between two windows in his suite as he carried out the attack.

A specialised Swat police team later stormed the suite to find Paddock shot dead.

Minutes before, a hotel security guard was injured when Paddock fired through the door.

Las Vegas city map showing location of hotel from where gunman shot at least 50 people dead at a country music concert, 2 October 2017

Accounts of heroism

The aftermath of the mass shooting has revealed several of those caught up in the mayhem did their utmost to help others.

Todd Blyleven, a former minor league baseball player, told the Washington Post that after helping his friends, he returned to help others get out of the venue.

The paper says he joined a “group of volunteers” and may have helped remove 30 or 40 people from the gunfire.

Twenty-nine-year-old Sonny Melton, of Tennessee, was fatally shot while helping his wife, Heather.

“He grabbed me and started running when I felt him get shot in the back,” she told WMV-TV in Nashville.

“I want everyone to know what a kind-hearted, loving man he was, but at this point, I can barely breathe.”

Others killed in the mass shooting include a Navy veteran who had just returned from a tour of Afghanistan, and an off-duty police officer who also coached youth football.

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Parliament invites US Embassy over deportation of Ghanaians https://citifmonline.com/2017/06/parliament-invites-us-embassy-over-deportation-of-ghanaians/ Thu, 22 Jun 2017 12:08:48 +0000 http://citifmonline.com/?p=330580 The Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament has invited the United States Embassy in Ghana over recent reports of deportation of some Ghanaians from the US. The two are expected to hold the meeting later today [Thursday, June 22, 2017]. It is reported that about 63 Ghanaian deportees arrived in Ghana last week from the US after […]

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The Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament has invited the United States Embassy in Ghana over recent reports of deportation of some Ghanaians from the US.

The two are expected to hold the meeting later today [Thursday, June 22, 2017].

It is reported that about 63 Ghanaian deportees arrived in Ghana last week from the US after authorities found them to be living illegally in that country.

In November 2016, another set of 108 Ghanaians were deported. It is unclear if the recent deportation is as a result of the immigration policy of current US President, Donald Trump.

The US Ambassador to Ghana, Robert Jackson, is expected to answer questions from Members of Parliament on the Committee.

US Ambassador to Ghana -Robert P. Jackson
US Ambassador to Ghana -Robert P. Jackson

Earlier in May, Mr Robert Jackson indicated that at least 100 Ghanaians had already been deported, and said many others were also expected back home.

“I would say roughly 100 have returned so far this year. More will be returning – it is a constant process. There will probably be a charter aircraft coming with some Ghanaians in the next few weeks. Almost every week we see a few leave voluntarily so it is a process that is ongoing,” he said.

He added that “A few are in jail. Most of them are at liberty, but they have been informed by the immigration service that they must leave the United States.”

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Jerry Rawlings writes: The immorality of international politics https://citifmonline.com/2017/04/jerry-rawlings-writes-the-immorality-of-international-politics/ Wed, 12 Apr 2017 11:38:24 +0000 http://citifmonline.com/?p=310137 The world has witnessed yet another display of the military might of the United States with the missile strikes on Syrian targets a few days ago. The United States justified its strikes because it believed the Assad regime was behind a chemical weapons attack on opposition strongholds in Syria last week. The action of the […]

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The world has witnessed yet another display of the military might of the United States with the missile strikes on Syrian targets a few days ago.

The United States justified its strikes because it believed the Assad regime was behind a chemical weapons attack on opposition strongholds in Syria last week.

The action of the United States raises serious questions of justification and the real motives behind the positions taken by the world’s super powers on Syria.

The pattern of behaviour only goes to perpetuate the immorality of international politics.

When these dastardly scenes of chemical warfare were being given their usual high publicity in the Western media it was quite obvious that it was designed to poison the atmosphere against the Assad regime.

In spite of all the sophisticated armed support that the rebels have enjoyed the Assad armed forces with Russian support were able to degrade and defeat so many ISIS targets and rebels. The world saw the huge blow that the Assad forces dealt the rebels.

The big question now is how an Armed Force that has virtually beaten the rebel resistance with Russian assistance and with victory on a threshold could conceive of such madness as to dump chemical weapons at innocent civilians and children. Where is the sense in this illogical accusation if it wasn’t done to create a false impression in order to justify what the USA and the West are doing?

Most world leaders have gone quiet instead of condemning this subterfuge. Who are most likely in that demented situation to do such an atrocious act of chemical weapon usage?

Not too long ago the West looked away, the media kept quiet while the Yemeni were being bombed and starved of food and water. Vessels bringing aid (food and water) were blocked and children were left looking emaciated in scenes straight out of the holocaust.

Some of these Western countries must regain or reset their own internal moral compasses before embarking on such adventures. Right from the onset, when the Assad regime and other Shia nations refused to subordinate themselves to the unipolar power of the West and some Sunni powers, Russia under Putin, was one of the powers that stood tall in defence of international freedom. Russia’s effort to assist the Syrian government set the West to attack her economy with so-called sanctions and the reduction of the price of oil in a bid to cripple her.

This act of underhand desperation should be seen and recognised for what it is. The world cannot be so naive as not to see through this kind of confidence propaganda.

The audaciousness to embark on this fraudulent behaviour (and to follow up to this extent) can only happen as a result of the extent of decline of international morality and it is a manifestation of the decay in the quality of leadership in some parts of the world.

All in all an independent body involving neutral states must be set up to investigate where these chemicals came from. This body must be free from the influence of the accusers and must carefully investigate and expose the real perpetrators. Then and only then can the world know who the real hidden perpetrators are.

Trump’s warmth or respect for Putin contained the seeds of peaceful co-existence and there were those who were so dead against it and for whatever random reason wanted to restore an antagonistic position of the old days with Russia. Looks like the negative forces who wanted to see a climate of conflict between Putin and Trump may finally have their way.

The minute Secretary of State Tillerson said enough of talking at Korea and the US ambassador at the UN staged her drama at the Security Council followed by Trump’s act it was clear a scapegoat would have to be found. What better target than Assad’s Syria on the verge of taking a military high ground and the political process kicking in with Russia’s support?

The West and their Sunni allies’ attempt to unseat the Syrian Government is what has precipitated this military and refugee crises in the region. Russia’s attempt to prevent a handful of countries in the West from constituting themselves into global governors to decide and dispense freedom and justice is partly why this war is being fought. This is nothing more than the fraud that was perpetrated at the UN prior to the ‘shock and awe’ in 2003. The world cannot be so naïve, so uninformed, so blind, so emasculated as not to see through this daylight robbery that’s going to degrade international ethics even further? The life of freedom, justice and democracy is what’s at stake. The deafening silence of most leaders around the world will lead to further degrading the already sad state of democracy.

Are these Western countries prepared to back the Iranian and Russian calls for a very competent neutral investigation? This call should have been made the first time this madness occurred. I have to repeat that a regime on the threshold of defeating its perceived enemies will not do this. A rebel group on the verge of defeat is likely to resort to this madness on the urging of its mindless backers.

The world must wake up. Leaders must wake up. Assad’s Government and Assange are not those in danger. Freedom Justice and genuine democracy is what is in danger from a unipolar ambition to rule the world!!!

This has been the most vicious and persistent cowardly act over the seven-year period. America and her allies know those behind it. Russia, Assad and Iran must know those behind it. We’ve all kept mute about the real culprit nation and the situation has now been exploited by the US in a senseless manner that insults the intelligence of human beings. And because of the seeming ineffective denial and rejection of the act by those being accused the propaganda against them has been exploited.

No matter how much we may hate or resent Assad it’s absolutely outrageous and immoral to resort to this uncivilized behaviour so as to provide the pretext to engage in military action.

Abdul Hamid who escaped the chemical weapon attack has every right to fight Assad for over drum bombs etc, for anything and everything but not for the chemical weapon attack. That comes from behind him…his own back. Point being killing the children with the gas can serve an exploitable purpose than leaving them to be killed by Assad’s bombs. Let’s wake up. Let’s wake up. This kind of evil should not be allowed to pass!!

We have been living in an age where the ability and the capacity to make an accusation more impressive than the denial by the accused and victim seemingly puts the truth on your side. The US pulled this con at the UN before invading Iraq. This time it’s Syria. Syria is politically in a very very tight spot and has conducted her war with Russian support in a fairly conventional way and dislocated and dislodged ISIS and rebels in a very impressive manner when the Russian Air Force got involved. They were left with cleaning up a few areas. So why they would do anything so stupid is a question I’d like to direct to the world and especially Mr. Trump and his allies and most of all to the Western media. This daring and dangerous fraud undermines man’s attempt to restore trust and integrity into words and actions of nations. The world watched Mr. Trump hack and brutalize the truth and noble people on his way into office. This behaviour will make the world unsafe. Let’s show a little more respect and reverence for basic truths and natural justice.

It’s unfortunate that those around Trump have taken advantage of his shortcomings. This is shameful, disgraceful and a serious indictment on the forces of good in this world. The war and its toll on human life is a painful sight for all of us. Defeat Assad if you may, but don’t resort to this deceit to justify the unjustifiable. This fraud is going to be a test on the leaders of today and the citizenry.

By: Former President Jerry John Rawlings

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Citi FM’s Richard Sky in Washington for 2017 IVLP https://citifmonline.com/2017/02/citi-fms-richard-sky-in-washington-for-2017-ivlp/ https://citifmonline.com/2017/02/citi-fms-richard-sky-in-washington-for-2017-ivlp/#comments Tue, 21 Feb 2017 14:46:13 +0000 http://citifmonline.com/?p=296101 Citi FM’s Eyewitness News Anchor and Parliamentary Correspondent, Richard Sky, is in the United States of America as one of the guests currently visiting the US State Department. Mr. Sky, who left Accra on Saturday for Washington DC, was invited to be part of the highly reputable International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP), which will take him […]

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Citi FM’s Eyewitness News Anchor and Parliamentary Correspondent, Richard Sky, is in the United States of America as one of the guests currently visiting the US State Department.

Mr. Sky, who left Accra on Saturday for Washington DC, was invited to be part of the highly reputable International Visitors Leadership Program (IVLP), which will take him to at least five different federal states in the world’s most powerful nation.

The State Department, through the US Embassy in Accra, selected Mr. Sky – who is known in Ghana for his consistent advocacy and open insistence on full-time transparency and accountability in public office – to be part of the 14 participants, attending the programme from Africa.

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As one of two youthful Ghanaians attending this year’s programme, Mr. Sky, who works as Editor for Features and Current Affairs at Accra-based Citi FM, calls his invitation by the US Government a “rare honour to learn in and about a democratic system that works.”

People’s National Convention (PNC), General Secretary, Atik Mohammed, is the second participant attending this year’s IVLP from Ghana.

The program starts in Washington DC, and ends three weeks later at Miami in the State of Florida.

About the program

The website of the US Embassy in Accra describes the IVLP as an “extremely popular and competitive program” which “enhances understanding of the United States among current and future opinion leaders and policymakers.”

Officials say the IVLP draws more than 4,400 visitors annually, including some twenty Ghanaians.

“Since its inception, 260 Ghanaians have participated, some in individual programs and others in single-country, regional, or multi-regional group projects,” says the website of the US Embassy in Accra.

The theme for this year’s programme is “Emerging Leaders: Newly Elected Officials.” It is scheduled for February 21 – March 10, 2017.

The programme will examine prevailing political, economic, and social issues at the federal, state, and local levels in the U.S. Taking place a month after the US Presidential inauguration, which saw peaceful transfer of power from the Obama Administration to the Trump Administration, the project will provide participants with insight into the historic and legal foundations of U.S. policy and democracy.

Mr. Sky will not be reporting on events and proceedings during the programme since the rules of the IVLP don’t allow same. However, he hopes to bring his new experiences to bear on his line of work and to impact colleague journalists he works with.

Sky speaks on experience at the program

On the phone from Washington DC, Mr. Sky spoke in excitement about “the positive future he hopes to over time see in Africa after the programme.”

“The lessons I hope to learn during the IVLP will be enormous. The profound impact I expect those lessons to make on me and on my country will in the end, be transformational,” Mr. Sky said.

He added: “I’ll say we are here to see and learn about what makes America – a nation so diverse and yet so integrated and fit for purpose – work seamlessly, and to study about the robust engines that keep the train of a working democracy running unobstructed in this vast country.”

“Those of us here are fortunate in many respects,” he said.

“If we truly deploy the full strength of the lessons we pick up here after returning home, with a focus on helping build a continent that works for all citizens, and not a privileged few, we can in our own little ways, and together with other progressive minds in this generation and the next – be a tiny but compelling force of change in making our countries worthy of their names in the fullness of time.”

“Through the lessons we learn here,” he said, “we can represent a glow of hope for a despondent generation facing an uncertain future on a continent blessed with so much natural and human resources, but tragically plagued with unimaginable poverty, squalor and disease. I believe the paradox of Africa can be fixed in our lifetime, and there can be no greater human satisfaction than playing our part in making this happen.”

“Humans, and indeed patriots, built and continue to build the United States of America through unbelievable sacrifices that have changed the world”, said the Eyewitness News Anchor.

“We have many of such patriots in plentiful supply in Africa, but it is the leadership at many levels that is tragically failing. Armed with the lessons we are absorbing here in the US, we can in our own little ways, help the patriots back home build the Africa we love all into an enduring and functional empire capable of attracting deserving respect from her citizens and of other nations and continents.”

During the three-week program, participants will keenly observe crucial characteristics of American social, economic, political, cultural and educational institutions and practices through meetings, workshops, seminars, site visits, and home hospitality.

Also, participants will visit historic sites and attractive areas as well as attend remarkable cultural events in the US.

“The pluralistic nature of the U.S. will be explored through the diversity of opinions and policy at all levels of the political system on key issues such as immigration, regional economic challenges, human and civil rights, law enforcement, climate change and energy,” said an official email inviting Mr. Sky to the United States.

“These viewpoints will include government officials and agencies, NGOs, academia, and the media,” it added.

Richard Sky’s brief background

Mr. Sky, son of Esther Dzaka, a petty trader based in Adafienu in the Volta Region of Ghana, describes himself on twitter as “a servant of Ghana, Africa and the world.”

From his humble beginnings as head porter at Denu, district Capital of the Ketu South Municipal Assembly, Mr. Sky has risen to be counted today among the top ranks of Ghana’s media elite in the broadcasting spectrum.

Previously a staff of The Statesman Newspaper in Accra, Mr. Sky officially joined Citi FM in January 2006 as a reporter, and climbed up the ladder to become host of the station’s flagship Eyewitness News program, which is a market leader in its segment.

Mr. Sky will be away for three weeks.

In his absence, former Eyewitness News Hostess, Shamima Muslim Alhassan, another respected broadcaster, returns as care-taker anchor of the show until the second week of March.

By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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