Gambia to cut ties with Taiwan

Gambia’s government will cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan with immediate effect, President Yahya Jammeh’s office said, a move which could threaten warming ties between China and Taiwan, though China expressed little interest in extending recognition.

The small West African state was one of a few African countries, along with Burkina Faso and Swaziland, to recognize self-ruled Taiwan, which China regards as a renegade province to be recovered by force if necessary.

“This decision has been taken in our strategic national interest,” the president’s office said in a statement on Thursday.

“We are proud that we have been a very strong and reliable partner of the ROC (Republic of China, or Taiwan) for the past 18 years, the results of which are there for every Taiwanese to see,”

It said Gambia and Taiwan would remain friends, but Taipei expressed shock at the announcement.

“The Taiwan government expresses shock and regret toward this decision,” Deputy Foreign Minister Simon Ko told reporters on Friday.

Wang Chien-yeh, head of the ministry’s Department of West Asian and African Affairs, added that Taiwan had officially “suspended” its relations with Gambia, not terminated them.

China’s Foreign Ministry said it had had no contact with authorities in Gambia and declined to say if it had now established formal ties with the west African state.

“We … learned about this from the foreign media. China has had no contact with Gambia ahead of this,” spokesman Hong Lei told a daily news briefing.

China says Taiwan has no right to diplomatic recognition as it is part of China. The two have been governed separately since the Communists won China’s civil war in 1949. The Nationalists fled across a 180-km (110-mile)-wide strait to Taiwan.

Other countries enjoying diplomatic ties with Taiwan include the tiny Pacific island states of Nauru and Palau, as well as Vatican City, Paraguay, Panama, Haiti, Nicaragua and Belize.

“The rest of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies will be watching,” said Cheng-Yi Lin, a research fellow at Taiwan’s Academia Sinica.

The two sides have engaged in an unofficial diplomatic truce since signing a series of landmark trade and economic agreements in 2008, as China tries to convince Taiwan of its friendly intentions after decades of hostility and suspicion.

Zhang Zhexin, who studies Taiwan policy at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, said Beijing would deal with the issue in a low-key way to avoid upsetting Taiwan.

“We won’t take the initiative to spread this news around,” he said. “This has nothing to do with cross-strait ties. Gambia has its own development needs.”

Gambia is the second African state to announce a change in its diplomatic relationship with China this week.

Officials in the tiny island nation of Sao Tome and Principe said on Tuesday that China planned to open a trade mission to promote projects there.

That decision comes 16 years after China severed relations over the central African nation’s recognition of Taiwan. Sao Tome officials did not say whether the new cooperation deal with Beijing would affect diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

Kenyans out-run cheetahs

Four villagers in north-east Kenya have chased down and captured two cheetahs which were killing their goats.

The owner of the goats told the BBC that the cheetahs had been villagers captured them alive and handed them over to the Kenya Wildlife Service.

“I need compensation from them because the cheetahs killed most of my goats,” Nur Osman Hassan told the BBC’s Somali Service.

Correspondents say livestock is the backbone of the economy for the Kenyan-Somali community living in the arid north-east of Kenya.

‘Daily kills’

Mr Hassan, from a village near Wajir town, said the cheetahs were attacking his goat herd over several weeks.

“These cheetahs killed 15 of my goats – they were coming to my house daily to kill my goats,” he said.

He said he decided to return to his village to organise their capture at a time of day when cheetahs get very tired and usually rest in shade.

“I was sipping a cup of tea when I saw them killing another goat,” he said, explaining that this was early in the morning.

He said he waited until several hours later when the sun was high to go after them.

“I called some youths and we ran after them,” he said.

“We caught them and we brought them to the local authorities.”

 

What made Warren Buffet rich

1.  He bought his 1st share at age 11, and he regrets he started too late!

2.  He bought a small farm at age 14 with savings from delivering newspapers.

3.  He still lives in the same small 3-bedroom house in mid-town Omaha that he bought after he got married 50 years ago. He says that he has everything he needs in that house. His house does not have a wall or a fence.

4.  He drives his own car everywhere and does not have a driver or security people around him.

5.  He initially resisted travels by private jet; although he owns the world’s largest private jet company.

6.  His company, Berkshire Hathaway, owns 63 companies. He writes only one letter each year to the CEOs of these companies, giving them goals for the year. He never holds meetings or calls them on a regular basis.

7.  He has given the CEOs only two rules: #1 – Do not lose any of your shareholders’ money. #2 – Do not forget rule #1. (Rule #3: Fight Club is Awesome!)

8.  He does not socialize with the high society crowd. His past time after he gets home is to make himself some popcorn and watch TV.

9.  Warren Buffett does not carry a cell phone, nor does he have a computer on his desk. (WHAT? crazy!)

10.  His advice to young people: “Live your life as simply as possible.” He also had the following to add:

a) Money doesn’t create man, but it is the man who created money.

b) Don’t do what others say – listen to them, but do what you feel good doing.

c) Don’t follow brand names; just wear those things in which you feel comfortable.

d) Don’t waste your money on unnecessary things; just spend on those things you really need.

Though some may wonder if all of this is applicable to everyone, what’s important is that if you follow some simple rules, you will certainly be ahead of the pack. Live below your means, invest early, don’t listen to everyone all the time, don’t go in debt, and don’t blow your money on fancy-pants stuff (or on fancy pants).

If you can master just a few of these you’ll be a LOT better off financially. For me, I’ve been trying to uphold the “live below your means” lesson and so far so good. In fact, I’m pretty sure I have some friends who think I make minimum wage — but that’s okay! All that matters is how I feel about it, and what I want out of life (Mrs. Budgetsaresexy included, of course). It’s not always going to be easy, but I guarantee you it’ll always be financially sexy!

Reconstruction of Kantamanto: Laudable but…

ON Sunday, May 5, 2013 the nation was hit by the unfortunate news of a fire outbreak at the busy Kantamanato Market. The fire destroyed shops and wares which run into millions of Ghana cedis, and this affected traders and the nation at large.

AS usual personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS,) the National Disaster and Management Organisation (NADMO) and other relief agencies stormed the market in a desperate attempt to douse the fire and salvage the wares of the traders. Though the cause of the fire is still unknown, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Chief Executive Officer (CEO,) Dr. Alfred Okoe Vanderpuije, claims that it might have been caused deliberately by some unknown people.

CONSEQUENTLY, the AMA has announced it will rebuild the market to meet accepted standards. And sadly instead of providing solutions to fire outbreaks in the country, GNFS has been offering reasons why they could not put out one fire or the other. They have on most occasions indicated that their fire engines used in fighting fires have broken down with only turn-table ladders used by firefighters to gain access to high structures for rescue operations.

MORESO, they have been complaining of lack of access roads to fire spots, especially market centres. Yet, our governments appear not to be bothered by the cry of GNFS. Whilst I laud the AMA for taking steps to rebuild the market, we believe measures should be put in place to provide the GNFS with adequate logistics. Again, the intended reconstruction of Kantamanto must have fire hydrants and also be spacious enough to allow free movement.

I also believe that there is the need for an intensive education on fire safety measures because most of the fire outbreaks at markets have been caused by ignorance of fire safety rules. The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) should work with AMA to take a critical look at illegal electricity connections.

ABOVE all, the AMA should take systematic steps to ensure that affected traders of the fire outbreak would be the first to benefit from allocation of stalls after the reconstruction. We are also calling on the insurance companies to go to the market centers and educate traders on the need to insure their wares.

N1 Footbridges Now Refuse Dumps

Garbage under one of the footbridges

This unfortunate incident occurs mainly at night and dawn when the highway is less busy.

The habit undeniably has caused great disaffection among users of the bridges forcing them in the process to cross the busy highway from unapproved points, an example being a gentleman who was recently knocked down by a speeding vehicle when he attempted to cross the road directly under the footbridge.

Commissioned on 15th February, 2012 by the late President John Evans Atta Mills, the highway has sent many innocent citizens to their early grave with school children being the worst victims.

The dangerous nature of the George Walker Bush Highway has attracted severe criticisms from residents who believe the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) which supervised its construction should have provided more footbridges on the road.

That subsequently caused MiDA to give the assurance of construction of additional footbridges along the highway.

“When we opened the road, we realised that the crossing at Lapaz was so heavy and therefore, there will be the need for some temporal measures so we made a submission to government with respect to putting some steel bridges that we could use temporarily so that in future, when we are about to build the permanent interchange at Lapaz, we will then remove those steel bridges,” Transport and Agriculture Manager of MIDA, Dr. Bernard Koranteng Yorke, told Accra-based Citi FM in January, 2013.

And even before additional footbridges are constructed on the highway for pedestrians, the few ones are being misused.

The abuse is much severe at the Lapaz stretch of the highway where the footbridge cited between the popular Abrantie Spot and the Nyamekye Junction has not only become a dumping site for solid and liquid waste but also for selling of food to public.

“Although I do appreciate that the environment around where the food vendor sells is not healthy, I have no option as I cannot afford the food sold at the restaurants around this area,” Albert Kofi Owusu, a second-hand fridge dealer under the footbridge told this reporter.

His views was collaborated by a second-hand television dealer at the same location who said he has constantly been warning his co-workers not to eat from the vendors there.

But a vendor, Hajia Albarka, blamed the authorities at MiDA for not properly tilling the area to prevent dumping of refuse by unscrupulous residents.

According to her, the refuse was dumped at the location by drivers and passengers of salon cars who always threw them from their plush cars at the location; she also mentioned that unscrupulous passengers and pedestrians also dump refuse from their homes at the joint.

Utd in £65m Ronaldo summit

MANCHESTER UNITED met with Nike officials yesterday to plot a mega bid for Cristiano Ronaldo.

An Old Trafford return would cost at least £65million.

And it would reunite Ronaldo with Wayne Rooney, who Alex Ferguson has vowed will be a United player next season.

The Nike representatives flew in to London to also talk about the renewal of their shirt sponsorship agreement with the Red Devils.

But top of the agenda was talks about how they could help the club get Ronaldo.

Nike is desperate to get the Portuguese star back to the biggest football club that wear their logo.

They currently sponsor Ronaldo in terms of boots and sportswear but are frustrated that he runs out in an adidas shirt with Real Madrid every week.

They believe their global brand would be even stronger with him back in a Nike United shirt.

United would need to put together a deal of £65m plus a player like Nani to tempt Real to sell this summer.

But they could have to go further for a player they sold to Real for £80m almost four years ago.

Nike want to help in any way they can.

Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4832667/Cristiano-Ronaldo-eyed-by-Man-Utd-in-65m-plus-bid.html#ixzz2NWv7hZIT

Talks are being at Old Trafford on how to acquire the Real Madrid star

Lecture delivered by Dr. Bossman Asare on the importance or relevance of Centre party’s in a country’s politics

Bossman Asare is a Political Lecturer at the University of Ghana

‘LEGON STUDENTS DRIVE PARTY VEHICLES’

A Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Bossman Eric Asare has hinted that some students of the University of Ghana used vehicles provided by certain political parties during the elections.

According to Dr. Asare, some of the students which drove in political party branded vehicles told him the cars would be theirs if the party wins the elections.

“My students such as one who talked to me said they him/her to use the vehicle and that would be mine if the party wins the elections…,” Dr. Bossman said.

The Political Science lecturer who was speaking at a lecture to commemorate the first anniversary of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) said ‘that was also a bane to political parties not doing well in Ghana’s politics.’

The political lecturer and analyst, holds a Doctorate in Philosophy in Political Science (Comparative Public Policy, International Relations and Public Policy), from the West Virginia University, a Certificate in Entrepreneurship, West Liberty State College, Master of Arts in International Affairs, Ohio University and the Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Ghana.

Themed ‘the relevance of a centre-party: Challenges and Strategies for Future successes’ the lecture aimed at discussing at length the contribution of centre parties to a country’s development.

Dr. Bossman who took participants through a brief assessment of the topic also discussed with the PPP certain measures which he believes could inure to the party’s benefit when exploited.
Such measures, he indicated included the registering of new voters and getting people to understand the main arguments and policies of the party.

“Judging from what I saw during the December 2012 polls, I think the PPP can firewall certain regions which can work in their favour…however, these must be done carefully so as not to lose grasp of other regions….”

Dr. Bossman-Asare pointed out such regions can be the Western and Central Regions.
He was also hopeful that the party would do well in the near future if it organizes itself very well.

For Dr Bossman, certain political elements including party aspirants of certain parties belonged to the Presidential Debate organized by the Ghana Television other than the one organized by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA).

Chairman of the PPP, Nii-Allotey Brew-Hammond welcoming the guest to the occasion urged them not to see the PPP as a failure but one that has achieved a lot especially in the 2012 polls.

Such achievements, he said included the party gaining recognition as a perfect alternative to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He said the party was still committed to its principles of providing jobs, ensuring free, continuous and compulsory education.

We welcome nomination of Amissah-Arthur

IN accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, President John Dramani Mahama was sworn into office on Tuesday, July 24, 2012 following the sudden death of President John Evans Atta Mills. Mahama has now nominated the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Mr. Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, to be his vice and the second in command in state affairs.

The central bank governor was selected ahead of a list of other possible personalities, including renowned economist and former Minister of Finance, Dr. Kwesi Botchwey, and current Minister of Trade, Hannah Tetteh.

WITH this nomination, Mr. Amissah-Arthur would become the natural vice presidential candidate of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the December polls. He also becomes the second person in succession to have been chosen as a vice presidential candidate from the central bank, after Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP.)

THOUGH his nomination is subject to the approval of Parliament, it is widely believed that the House would approve his nomination since the legislators are not noted for disapproving the appointments of national administration. We on Today take that position because all of Ghana has ever witnessed to instances when an appointee brings to the Vetting Committee issues and cases of incompetence that must, automatically, disqualify them and yet they pass.

HIS election has aroused various public sentiments and comments as his suitability or otherwise for the high post of second gentleman of the land. As usual, the NPP has led the pack making an argument we disagree with, but in a culture of democracy and free speech, they and others who hold similar views are entitled to their point-of-view.

WE are of the opinion that it is not for nothing that political pundits of both main political parties in the country have decided to pick someone with economic know-how to be vice president or running mate for the high office of the land. For us on Today, that contemporary focus points in only one direction: The economy of Ghana is in shambles and the presidential hopefuls seek to have close, in the presidency, a technocrat to help him revamp it.

AS an expert and someone who has served in different national portfolios related to his background, it is our hope that he brings on-board his rich experiences in the various capacities he has ever worked to change the dashed hopes of Ghanaians in raising the fortunes of our economy.

IT is our hope that where he could not hold it, he now has what it takes to be the redeemer for the falling cedi, since he will soon be at the centre of where all the policies are made.

AS vice president, Mr. Amissah-Arthur becomes the automatic Chairman of the Police Council. We also expect that he could take steps to boost the efficiency of the service by raising for them equipment and logistics to help them maintain peace and order in the country before, during and after the December polls.

IT is also our hope that he rises above the partisan-political motives for his nominations to become one of the best if not the best vice presidents Ghana has ever had.

WELL SAID J.H ,MENSAH BUT……..

PREVIOUS occurrences in African states like Cote D’Ivoire, Kenya and Namibia have given cause for the global community to consider the subject of peace as an important asset for the continent, especially during elections. It is so rampantly discussed that every inch of the country is ‘dirtied’ with words of peace and good luck messages by foreign donors and citizens alike.

PEACE is a hot commodity in the political market of the country and most Ghanaians have chosen to make economic gains out of the subject. While some have become peace ambassadors and voluntarily organised conferences or groups on peace, others have chosen to compose non-existing songs which content does not deserve prominence but for the period and the sponsorship it contains.

DESPITE the various motives for such ideas, they must be commended as they help to sustain peace in Ghana. Today encourages more of such productive ideas because they achieve some effects; however, they should not be a nine day wonder, but instead a continuous one as peace is necessary not only in election years.

POLITICIANS are also part of the group that calls for peace but act opposite to the peace they preach publicly. Their utterances continuously inflame passions and incite others to violence but are quick to come out and to appeal for peace instead of abstaining from such comments.

WELL, their comments and appeals for peace are welcome, but they should first learn to abstain from making such statements and also pinch themselves by warning each other not to repeat those words. The NDC and the NPP would do Ghanaians a lot of good if they retract from the public domain comments like ‘All Die be Die’ and ‘Ghana would be like Kenya,’ etc. Politicians should learn to pinch themselves and warn their fellows before they send the country into the realms of absurdity.

IT is against this backdrop that Today welcomes the call by the former Senior Minister under the erstwhile Kufuor administration, Joseph Henry Mensah, that Ghanaians must learn to live in peace and not raise a hand against one another in this election year. It is most welcomed as it especially comes in the wake of recent violent clashes in five out of ten regions of the country.

I hold the view that the veteran politician has hit the nail right on its head and the time is up that we lived peaceably with each other. “We are one people and must not allow politics or elections to divide us. We have all seen what is happening in other countries. “The provocations and annoyances may be immense, but I suggest we all draw an ultimate line and make a vow not to raise an arm against another Ghanaian on account of electoral misdeed. Let it be a vow of Ghanaians of all faiths and all walks of life,” these were J.H Mensah advice and call for us all to be tolerate each other and yearn for peace.

HOWEVER, the astute politician could have done the nation some good if he had directly called on his fellow politicians to desist from making comments that raise the political temperature of the country. He could have urged Nana Addo to retract his ‘All die be Die’ comments because leaders ought not to make implied statements, and also condemn others who are inflaming passions in the NDC.

THE GOVERNOR will appreciate it if he can at least call on them to learn and emulate the attitude of Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom and the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) so as to maintain the peace the country is enjoying. Paapa Mensah, we are with you but please go a step further and condemn ugly statements from your fellow politicians

Let peace prevail in the North

THE Northern sector of the country is once again in the news not for any developmental progress in the region ongoing but for renewed clashes between community members. Media reports indicate that the Northern and Upper East has been the “venue of attraction” for two set of neighbours who are at each other’s throat in separate incidents of conflict.

WHILE three people have been confirmed dead following ethnic clashes in Nakpanduri between the Konkombas and Bimobas in the Northern Region, four people have also been confirmed dead in renewed clashes between residents of Namoligo and Shea-Tindongo in the Talensi-Nabdam District of the Upper East Region. Properties amounting to millions of Ghana cedis are also estimated to have been destroyed in these renewed clashes among the different ethnic groups in the regions.

THESE reports have led to a re-ignition of the argument as to whether the north is serving the country any good apart from the continual use of the State’s few resources to keep peace in the region. However, the north is larger than conflicting individuals and has more potential of contributing to the development of the country other than what is thought of by people who had never visited the north.

IS the north not a representation of multi-ethnic Ghana where different ethnic groups with diverse backgrounds and beautiful cultures occupy the Savanna or is it not the bastion of hope for food production where its vegetation can be irrigated to improve upon its yielding capacities? Most tourists who seek to have a good time in the country always move to the different tourist attraction sites in the north to have a feel of nature.

DESPITE all these qualities that the north possesses and its capacities to serve as major contributors to the country’s development, it is sad that this sector of the country is only remembered for its many conflicts. And true to this saying, conflicts in the north have affected development in the north as the few infrastructure developed there have been razed down or destroyed by the feuding factions.

THE GOVERNOR is not interested in who and what causes these conflicts but interested in the peace that should be built in this part of our country. It is time everyone here recognized his fellow as a brother/sister and not as a different person. If we are all brothers and sisters who have been brought together by chance and not through option, then we cannot fault any one for being a Konkomba or Bimoba or Mamprusi or Kusasi; what we can do is to embrace our position and live as one.

FOR what reason do we also fight over properties which we would never take along when we die? It is time we acknowledged the fact that we are birds of passage that are left here by a creator to be a custodian of His creation for a period of time after which another would take charge. Therefore, it is good that we guard what our ancestors have bequeathed to and not kill one another. Let peace prevail in the north!