According to the NDC, the region cannot be left without a substantive minister to steer its affairs.

[contextly_sidebar id=”iMYYuZzeiTatZWuZFDIrCb2RZX5ffmU7″]President Akudo-Addo suspended Sulemana Alhassan on February 1 , 2018, for allegedly protecting a group of New Patriotic Party youth who had attacked the regional coordinator of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO).

He was suspended pending an investigation into his conduct.

In Sulemana Alhassan’s place, the government said the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Amidu Ishaq, was to act as Regional Minister.

But addressing the media, the Upper West Regional Communications Officer of the NDC, Isaah Kantagyere, said the President needs to be decisive on the matter.

According to him, “as the youngest and least developed region in Ghana, we cannot afford to be a suspended region in Ghana.”

He said the Presidency ought to attach some urgency to the investigation, just as it has done in the case of some government officials accused of wrongdoing.

“We urge the President to take a decision on the status of our Regional Minister as soon as possible… we are convinced that the speed with which you have cleared your appointees of wrongdoing, the case of our Regional Minister will not be different,” Mr. Kantagyere said.

Calls for the sack

Some critics have said the President should have simply sacked Sulemana Alhassan.

NDC MP for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, held that the minister’s appointment should have been revoked.

Inusah Fuseini claimed that despite the other tougher sanctions that could have been handed to the Minister including dismissal and possible arrest for obstructing justice, the President chose the “milder course of action” because intentions to reinstate the Minister.

Other minority MPs argued that it was also a constitutional breach for a Deputy Minister to act as substantive Minister, a claim the government did not respond to.

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By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post U/West NDC demands action on suspended regional minister appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

While commending the decision taken by the President to suspend the Regional Minister, Haruna Iddrisu stated that, it was imperative that the President does not breach the Constitution in his effort to address the situation.

According to him, the constitution does not allow for a Deputy Regional Minister to act in the absence of the substantive Minister.

“We welcome the swiftness of the President’s action against the Regional Minister for attempting to [frustrate efforts] at getting an end to the lawlessness in the country by the masquerading NPP youth in that region and other parts of the country. But the President himself is a respected legal practitioner and must do what is appropriate legally and constitutionally within the meaning of the Supreme Court ruling on the status of deputy Ministers. It is wrong in law and constitutionally for the deputy Minister to be asked to acting in the absence of the regional Minister,” Haruna Iddrisu said on Eyewitness News.

He believes that the President could direct another Regional Minister to assume the role of acting Upper West Regional Minister until he makes a final determination on the fate of Sulemana Alhassan.

“What the President should be doing is to get any other Regional Minister to step in while the investigation continues until he decides whether he is revoking the suspension or enhancing it with a revocation of his appointment. There is a Supreme Court judgement on the status of deputy Ministers and they cannot act in the absence of Ministers. The President must get a Minister, probably a Regional Minister within the decentralization regime to act in that role. I expect the President to act within the law and within the Constitution and within the ruling of the Supreme Court. What he has done is legally untenable and inappropriate.”

The Minister was suspended after he is reported to have protected a group of angry youth believed to be members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who besieged the Upper West Regional office of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) on Wednesday evening.

The statement announcing his suspension noted that, his deputy will act pending the conclusion of an investigation into the incident.

‘Minister can’t be suspended’ – Mahama Ayariga

NDC MP for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga also believes that the President’s decision to suspend the Minister was unlawful, as the Constitution lays out the procedures for sanctioning a Minister.

According to him, the President could have either reshuffled the Minister or dismissed him, while Parliament could also tender a motion for censure against him.

“The President didn’t appoint the Minister alone and the President didn’t create the office of the Minister…The kind of public service positions where you can exercise disciplinary control such as suspension from office are different from Ministerial appointments. In the case of Ministers, there are mechanisms for dealing with them such as a vote of censurship by Parliamentarians or the President reshuffling a Minister or dismissing a Minister outright. The President cannot suspend a Minister. He has to show us specifically under which provision of the Constitution he’s exercising the power to suspend the Minister,” he said.

Mahama Ayariga hinted that, he might head to court to ensure that finality is brought to the matter, if the President does not reverse his decision.

“We can raise it on the floor of Parliament and debate it, but that doesn’t also give finality to the matter. It’s the courts that will give finality. The only way to obtain some finality is to go to the courts and test then Constitution in relation to the conduct of the President. Perhaps by [Friday] morning the President would have thought through it, realized he has done the wrong thing and reverse his decision. If he doesn’t then of course, there might be a need to challenge his actions and either myself or somebody else who has the space may decide to do that.”

Haruna Iddrisu disagrees with Ayariga’s argument

Haruna Iddrisu however appeared to disagree with this school of thought from his colleague, stating that the President deserved to be commended for taking the decision and allowing the Regional Minister to be heard before making a final decision.

He added that it was necessary for the processes initiated by the President to be allowed to proceed.

“You have to look at it within the larger context of the public service and I welcome the swiftness of the President’s action. He wants to deal with the crippling lawlessness in the country led by NPP youth and we should commend him for that. The President is allowing the Minister to be heard on the merits of the issue and is allowing, in the meantime, an investigation in the action. Probably that is why he chose the word suspension. The President can exercise the power of revocation, but has asked for an investigation into the matter, let’s allow the process to roll out,” he noted.

Chaos at U/W NADMO

At about 5:00 pm on Wednesday, the youth from the Wa East district, numbering about 30, arrived in two pickups and a minibus, and stormed the NADMO offices at the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council.

After the police got to the scene of the disturbances and effected the arrest of three persons, Alhassan Suleiman ordered the release of the suspects.

He reportedly told the police that ” This is a party matter, I will have a meeting with them and get back to you”.  After that, the attackers walked home freely.

Following the incident, workers of NADMO declared a strike today [Thursday], and demanded that until the suspects are arrested, they will not return to work.

They  slammed the Regional Minister, whose duty is to protect citizens as the Regional Chairman of the Security Council, for choosing to shield the attackers.

They said the Minister demonstrated no value of their lives, as the attack on the offices of NADMO led to an aide to the NADMO Regional Director being beaten to pulp.

The Regional NADMO Director, Isaac Seidu, who appeared to be the main target of the attack, however escaped unhurt.

Isaac Seidu told Citi News that “the police came and met the boys around my office but when they wanted to make the arrest, the Minister [Sulemana Alhassan] came down and prevented them.”

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Suspending regional minister commendable, but deputy can’t act – Haruna appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This is after he is reported to have protected a group of angry youth believed to be members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who besieged the Upper West Regional office of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) on Wednesday evening.

[contextly_sidebar id=”yqwr0RLCMj04RMqbb1Q7f8NdVMANlWlk”]The Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Amidu Ishaq, will act in the stead of the suspended Minister pending the conclusion of an investigation into the incident, according to a statement from the Presidency.

The statement added that “President Akufo-Addo reiterates his commitment to the application of the laws of the land, which must occur without fear or favour, affection or ill-will, and without recourse to the political or ethnic affiliations of any citizen of the land.”

At about 5:00 pm on Wednesday, the youth from the Wa East district, numbering about 30, arrived in two pickups and a minibus, and stormed the NADMO offices at the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council.

After the police got to the scene of the disturbances and effected the arrest of three persons, Alhassan Suleiman ordered the release of the suspects.

He reportedly told the police that ” This is a party matter, I will have a meeting with them and get back to you”.  After that, the attackers walked home freely.

Following the incident, workers of NADMO declared a strike today [Thursday], and demanded that until the suspects are arrested, they will not return to work.

They  slammed the Regional Minister, whose duty is to protect citizens as the Regional Chairman of the Security Council, for choosing to shield the attackers.

They said the Minister demonstrated no value of their lives, as the attack on the offices of NADMO led to an aide to the NADMO Regional Director being beaten to pulp.

The Regional NADMO Director, Isaac Seidu, who appeared to be the main target of the attack, however escaped unhurt.

Isaac Seidu told Citi News that “the police came and met the boys around my office but when they wanted to make the arrest, the Minister [Sulemana Alhassan] came down and prevented them.”

Find below the full statement from the Presidency

Political vigilantism in Upper West

This incident marks the third major disturbance perpetrated by youth aligned to the NPP in Upper West Region in the last few months.

On January 22, some NPP youth in the Wa municipality vandalized the residence of the Municipal Chief Executive of the area, Issahaku Moomin Tahiru.

The rampaging youth also vandalized the family house of the MCE and two other houses belonging to his supporters.

In November 2017, NPP youth in Gwollu, the capital of the Sissala West District stormed the precinct of the Assembly and locked up the District Chief Executive, Mohammed Bakor in his office.

They had accused the DCE of engaging in “divide and rule” tactics, and failing to address their concerns.

After the Wa incident, seven NPP supporters were arrested and charged with rioting, including the Sissala West Constituency Chairman of the NPP.

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

The post Nana Addo suspends U/W Regional Minister appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The School with enrollment of 220, and located in the Wa East District of the Upper West Region, was expected to have been completed in 2012, but was soon deserted after the presidential and parliamentary elections in 2012.

Mr. Yussif Moomin, Headteacher of the School, told the Ghana News Agency on Thursday that the education facility also lacked furniture for both learners and teachers.

[contextly_sidebar id=”GdlNQH0w22G1vqMoPAPUNlhB46jDDZdy”]He appealed to education authorities and duty-bearers to take swift action to revamp the ‘dumped project’ and alleviate the plight of children and staff as the psychological and health implications of learning under trees could be severe.

Information gathered by the GNA indicated that, the contract was awarded in 2011, and work started immediately, but halted soon after the 2012 polls, when the then District Chief Executive also secured a parliamentary seat.

The situation in the school environment has created overcrowding in classrooms as multiple classes have been merged and the pupils forced into the joint rooms.

According to GNA’s checks, repeated attempts by the then District Chief Executive, Abudu Abdul-Karim who took over the administration in 2014 to get the contractor back to continue the project proved futile.

Mr. Bayorn Dramani, the Assembly Member for Tousa Electoral Area said “the issue of abandoned projects has become a concern on daily basis, yet we are not seeing any positive result.”

“At the moment, the pupils are pairing classrooms, class two and three pupils are always kept in a single classroom, and some of the pupils are sitting under tress to observe classes,” he said.

“Others also sit in a shed provided by the PTA [Parent Teacher Association], but during the rainy season when it’s cloudy and ready to rain, we do allow them to run into the structure,” he added: “We complained to the Assembly but they’ve also failed us.”

However, Mr. Evans Kpebah, the Upper West Regional Education Director, who is also the Acting Wa East District Director of Education, when contacted by the GNA, confirmed the six-unit primary school project had essentially been dumped, and that he could not find the contractor responsible for the project.

“I have sketchy information about the school project, the project commenced in 2011, it is actually true that it has been abandoned,” he said: “it is roofed but the floor is not plastered, no windows and no doors put in.”

“According to sources, the contractor is one Mr. Tanko and he is from Bawku, and I don’t know who awarded the contract, that is all what I can say about the project,” he added.

The District Chief Executive for the Wa East district, Moses Jotie, said he was aware of the uncompleted school building but pleaded for more time to have a full report on it.

His plea followed weeks of contacts by the GNA to have him speak on the matter, and how the Assembly could help salvage the 220 pupils and their teachers from having regular lessons under trees and in overcrowded classrooms that expose learners and teachers to health risks.

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Source: GNA

The post Children study under trees as contractor abandons school project in U/W appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

They say the Minister demonstrated that he did not value their lives as he prevented the arrest of some angry party youth who stormed the organization’s office on Wednesday in an attempt to beat up all the staff.

[contextly_sidebar id=”lXMvodjBjcMiPXA0Rcs5IM3mIr2nqRyA”]The workers, led by the Regional NADMO Public Relations Officer, Erica Sieyi, while addressing the press on Thursday morning, vowed that they will not return to work until the youth are arrested.

The attack on the offices of NADMO led to the aide to the Regional Director being admitted at the Upper West Regional after they beat him to pulp.

The Regional NADMO Director, Isaac Seidu, who appears to be the main target of the attack, however, escaped unhurt.

Erica Sieyi, in her address, said, “our lives are not safe due to the attack yesterday [Wednesday] from a group of individuals.”

She recalled that “On the 31^st January 2018, at about 4:55pm, a group of people numbering about 30, arrived at the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) forecourt in cars. These angrily looking people besieged the regional office of NADMO seeking to beat up all NADMO staff… In an attempt to break into the Regional Director’s office, his aid prevented them for a short while, but they eventually overpowered him…The police were called to intervene in the situation. They came to arrest some of the individuals but the Regional Minister prevented their arrest.”

According to her, “this situation is worrying, annoying and unprofessional.”

She said the Minister’s conduct indicated that “he doesn’t care about our lives. It also sends us a message that the Regional Minister Alhaji Sulemana Alhassana will at any time choose the interest of some few people over the safety of his workers.”

The NADMO staff, who have effectively declared a strike from today [Thursday], said “until the people are arrested, we are not coming back to work. Our lives are not safe.”

Political vigilantism in Upper West

This incident marks the third major disturbance perpetrated by youth aligned to the NPP in Upper West Region in the last few months.

On January 22, some NPP youth in the Wa municipality vandalized the residence of the Municipal Chief Executive of the area, Issahaku Moomin Tahiru.

The rampaging youth also vandalized the family house of the MCE and two other houses belonging to his supporters.

In November 2017, NPP youth in Gwollu, the capital of the Sissala West District stormed the precinct of the Assembly and locked up the District Chief Executive, Mohammed Bakor in his office.

They had accused the DCE of engaging in “divide and rule” tactics, and failing to address their concerns.

After the Wa incident, seven NPP supporters were arrested and charged with rioting, including the Sissala West Constituency Chairman of the NPP.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Striking NADMO staff angry with Minister for shielding NPP thugs appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

“I know you can because you have demonstrated that before,” she said, adding that between 2011 and 2014, Upper West was the only region that reduced its open defecation rate by almost 22 percent, having moved from 71.10 per cent to 49.20 percent, the highest in the country.

[contextly_sidebar id=”vcUcrWLahwvnyLrq0Xb0KbqRhbmyD2r2″]Madam Halm threw the challenge during the launch of the Social Norms Campaign dubbed: “Open Defecation Free Campaign” in Wa on Tuesday.

She requested the region to put in place the necessary strategies and commit resources to achieve the target it had set itself for eliminating open defecation.

“It is indeed possible to attain the region-wide ODF with the requisite political will and resources”, she said.

She noted that with the launch of the campaign, complementing the ongoing behaviour change activities in the region, the region was on its way to making a turnaround in the sanitation statistics again, as all the districts have pledged to achieve their open defecation free targets.

The UNICEF WASH Officer congratulated government, especially the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, for taking steps to improve the sanitation situation in Ghana through the National Sanitation campaign.

“We as UNICEF support the endeavours of the government to ensure that no one is left behind in the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) not just in Ghana, but around the world,” she said.

The objective of the ODF Ghana Campaign is to create awareness that open defecation is dangerous and affects the personal and collective well-being of Ghanaians.

It is also to help change individual behaviour on negative sanitation practices at the household level.

The campaign further seeks to create a social change, specifically a social norm of using latrines instead of using the bush, which will lead to ODF communities and districts.

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Source: GNA

The post UNICEF challenges Upper West Region to end open defecation appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, Miss Dery’s crown was a major step to showcase the Upper West Region on the International map, given that the beauty queen hails from that part of the country.

Mr. Johnson, CEO of the plush resort located in the region, praised the Diamond Jubilee queen for standing tall amongst some other 19 contestants who took part in the competition.

Although a new facility in the region, the Hotel is fast gaining a lot of recognition in the tourism circles, as it was part of the companies that sponsored this year’s Miss Ghana event.

“We are happy to be part of the Jubilee celebration as launched by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and as an institution that believes in the promotion of tourism, we saw partnering this all-important event as a way to support and promote the Ghana@60 celebration,” he said.

Congratulating Miss Dery, Mr. Johnson advised youth from the area to see the beauty queen as a role model and work hard towards achieving their dreams and aspirations as she has done.

As an entrepreneur who believes strongly in developing deprived areas, Mr. Johnson said, he decided to site the Hotel in Jirapa to create employment for the youth, and also to help open the area to tourists to help boost the local economy

“Government cannot do it alone; as such private sector participation is very important for national development” he said

Youth unemployment he said, was a major challenge confronting the nation, as he promised to do more to complement government’s efforts towards addressing the challenge of youth unemployment.

Already, the Hotel, popularly referred to as ‘Jirapa Dubai’, has won an award from the Ministry of Tourism for its contribution towards the promotion of tourism in the Upper West Region.

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By: citifmonlione.com/Ghana

The post Miss Ghana 2017 urged to promote Upper West Region appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Two supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Upper West Region are feared dead after a canoe they were in capsized on the black Volta river.

The two, Abdul Aziz, and another one yet to be identified, were among some party supporters who went to Jambusi in the Wa West district on Monday to witness the commissioning of the Wa water project by President Akufo-Addo.

An eyewitness, Jalil Nasir, who confirmed the incident to Citi News said the incident happened at about 11:00 am.

He said the two were among a group of people who went sight-seeing on the river ahead of the arrival of the president.

He added that local divers were able to rescue three persons leaving the two, who are natives of Jambusi and Tanina (all in the Wa West district).

“It was not only Aziz who entered the water. There were three others who were also in the canoe. We were all waiting for the President, but when he was not coming, we decided to come to the river to have some fun. The thing just happened like magic. We can’t just explain. We have been here since Monday but no one is able to find them. It is really frustrating. The community has done several sacrifices but to no avail.”

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), has deployed a team of rescuers to the scene to augment the efforts of a local team that has been searching for the two since Monday.

The Deputy director general of NADMO in charge of technical and reforms, Seji Saji, who is leading the team told Citi News that over 15 experts drawn from Accra and other parts of the region have mounted a 24-hour search for the victims.

“Our search and rescue team, supported by our emergency operation center have been here since Monday up to today. We have been collaborating with the locals who are familiar with the terrain… unfortunately we haven’t had any results yet.”

The Deputy Director is however optimistic that the two men will be found.

“We have the men, and because of the importance we attach to this, we are not leaving until the two are found.”

He admonished residents of Jambusi to strictly adhere to safety measures in order to avoid the recurrence of such incidents.

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By: Mahama Latif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post U/West: 2 NPP supporters feared dead after drowning appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

This will follow similar tours of the Ashanti and Western Regions earlier in 2017.

[contextly_sidebar id=”r478LM2Upet4MoDBRQavIA8eZHzGVWx2″]The upcoming tour will begin with a two-day visit to the Upper West Region, where, he will on Monday, inspect and commission the Wa Water Supply Project and then meet with the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, in Wa.

The President will round off his tour of the Upper West Region with visits to Lawra, Nandom, Sissala and Tumu, where he will interact with the Chiefs and people of these towns.

On Wednesday, he will begin a two-day tour of the Upper East Region with a durbar of Chiefs in Bolgatanga, and a visit to the Bolgatanga Regional Hospital.

On Friday, 6th October, President Akufo-Addo will begin his three-day tour of the Northern Region with a courtesy call on the overlord of Mamprugu land, the Nayiri, Naa Bohigu Abdulai Mahami Sheriga. At Damongo, on the same day, the President is expected to call on the overlord of Gonjaland, the Yagbonwura, Tuntumba Boresa I.

At Yendi, on Saturday, 7th October, the President will call on the Regent of Dagbon, the Kampakuya Na, Yakubu Abdulai Andani II; and the Bolin Lana, Mahamadu Abdulai. The President will also be in the Saboba constituency to interact with residents.

President Akufo-Addo will round off his tour of the Northern Region on Sunday, 8th October, with a visit to Salaga, where he will pay a courtesy call on the Kpembewura, Babanye Ndefosu II. It will be recalled that in the run-up to the December 2016 election, on 1st September, 2016, the Kpembewura predicted a 53% margin of victory for then presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo, when the latter paid a courtesy call on him as part of his campaign tour of the Northern Region.

The President ends his tour of Northern Region with a visit to the Avnash Rice Mills in Nyankpala, in the Tolon constituency, before returning to Accra.

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

The post Nana Addo to begin 7-day tour of Northern Ghana on Monday appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to Mr. Rawlings, such practices were contrary to the values upheld by the NDC, describing them as a “betrayal of the values of June 4,” which are probity, transparency and accountability.

“Nobody is saying don’t make money, make it good and clean; but not some of the ones I know; sickening, that kind of greed and selfishness, look at where it landed us. Or is it because this government is not behaving the way Kufuor did in his time, so we think we are okay? I know what’s going on. I know some of the things they are running into,” he added.

[contextly_sidebar id=”AswKaShJXvGOCf8bWzulxbtQF0iIWnM0″]Former President Rawlings made the remark when he was addressing NDC members in Wa in the Upper West Region on Sunday to mark the 38th-anniversary of June 4 revolution.

He further lamented that, the corruption that bedeviled the NDC when it was in power was about a thousand times more than what warranted the June 4, 1979 uprising, which led to the execution of some Ghanaian leaders.

“Let me remind people that we could not have possibly forgotten that generals were executed in 1979 in the rage and anger because of corruption. The greed, corruption and injustice of today believe it or not are a thousand times more than what these generals were executed for.”

“And if we are unable to restore a fair measure of integrity into our dealings, then the blood of many would have been shared in vain. If we cannot get our cloths off and allow for fresh leadership to emerge then we shall sink even further,” he added.

Rawlings calls for complete overhaul of NDC

The NDC founder also used the opportunity to call for a complete overhaul of the party’s current crop of leaders.

This he said was the only way the party could come back strong for the next election in 2020.

“Not too long ago, I thought we heard the jockeys training the horses were responsible for this disgraceful failure while one of the horses was bold enough to lay the failure at the step of the jockey. For me we lost our masses because we betrayed the values of the June 4^th. However, if this horse jockey business cannot be resolved comprehensively allowing integrity to prevail then let both of them step aside and allow for fresh leaders with solid integrity to provide the needed leadership,” he added.

“…How we can grab so much money and now use it as political weapon to perpetuate and be kingmakers. If I was doing it this way, if any of my colleagues and I were doing it this way would any of them be where they are today? No. we believe in justice and fairness, true democracy,” he added.

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

The post Greed, corruption caused NDC’s “disgraceful” defeat – Rawlings appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.