Tuesday, July 24, 2012

John Mahama to be sworn in as President of Ghana soon

According to the constitution of the Republic of Ghana the Vice President John Dramani Mahama is to take over as interim leader as Presidential elections are set for December .
The late president had recently traveled to the United States for what had been described as a routine medical checkup.
Mills took over as Ghana’s president in January 2009. He narrowly won the vote in 2008 by a less than one percent margin against a candidate from the party of incumbent John Kufuor, widely respected for having bowed out following his two terms in office.
Atta Mills’ profile
Late President of the Republic of Ghana, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, was born at Tarkwa on July 21st, 1944. He hails from Ekumfi Otuam in the Central Region.
Prof. Mills launched a lifelong learning at Achimota Secondary School, where he completed the Advanced Level Certificate in 1963.
To further his education, he attended the University of Ghana, Legon where he received a Bachelor’s Degree and Professional Certificate in Law (1967).
While earning the PhD in Oriental and African Studies from the University of London at the age of 27, Dr. Mills was selected as a Fulbright Scholar at Stanford Law School (USA).
Prof. Mills’ first formal teaching assignment was as a Lecturer at the Faculty of Law at the University of Ghana, Legon. He spent more than twenty five years imparting acquired knowledge to students, and rose in position from Lecturer to Senior Lecturer to Associate Professor.
His contribution to the University was remarkable having served on numerous Boards, Committees, and Schemes. Also during those twenty five years, Prof. Mills travelled as a Visiting Lecturer and Professor to Temple University (USA) and Leiden University (Holland), and presented research papers at Symposiums and Conferences throughout the world.
Prof. Mills had  more than one dozen publications to his credit. These include:
Taxation of Periodical or Deferred Payments arising from the Sale of Fixed Capital (1974)
Exemption of Dividends from Income Taxation: A critical Appraisal (1977)
Report of the Tax Review Commission, Ghana, Parts 1, 2 & 3, (1977) and
Ghana’s Income Tax laws and the Investor. An inter-faculty lecture published by the University of Ghana.
His expertise goes well beyond the classroom, and is evidenced by the various examiner positions he held with finance related institutions throughout Ghana (i.e. Institute of Chartered Accountants, Institute of Bankers, Ghana Tax Review Commission). As an advocate for recreation, active sportsman and sports fan, Prof. Mills has supported the community through groups such as the Ghana Hockey Association, National Sports Council of Ghana, and Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club. The following are a few of his activities and projects:
Member of the Ghana Stock Exchange Council
Board of Trustees, Mines Trust.
Management Committee of Commonwealth Administration of Tax Experts.
United Nations Ad Hoc Group of Experts in International Cooperation in Tax Matters 7 United Nations Law and Population Project.
Study on Equipment Leasing in Ghana.
Casebook preparation on Ghana’s Income Tax.
Review of Ghana’s Double Tax Agreement with the UK.
A track record of financial knowledge and strong professional credentials led to several important appointments. In 1988, Prof. J. E. Atta Mills became the Acting Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service of Ghana and named Commissioner in September 1996. In 1997, Prof. Mills became the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana and served in that capacity with former President J. J. Rawlings till 2000.
On January 3, 2009, Prof. Mills was declared by the Electoral Commission as the President-elect of Ghana after a second presidential run-off of 2008 the Presidential Elections and was sworn into office as Executive President of the Republic of Ghana on Wednesday January 7, 2009.
In July last year, Mills was nominated to be the ruling the National Democratic Congress party’s presidential candidate for December 2012 elections. The primary represented the first time in the country’s history that a sitting president competed for his own party’s nomination.
Mills beat his only rival in the party primary, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, the wife of ex-military leader Jerry Rawlings.
Ghana recently joined the ranks of the world’s large-scale oil producers.

Ghana's President John Atta Mills dies

Ghana's President John Atta Mills, who was suffering from throat cancer, has died in hospital in the capital, Accra.
A statement from his office said the 68-year-old died a few hours after being taken ill, but did not give details.
"It is with a heavy heart... that we announce the sudden and untimely death of the president of the Republic of Ghana," the statement said.
Mr Atta Mills had ruled the West African country since 2009.
The BBC's Sammy Darko, who is at the military hospital in Accra, says Mr Atta Mills' voice has been degenerating in the last few months.
'Rumours'

Start Quote

For the past three or four years there's been news he's been unwell and rumours of his death - twice - and he appeared with grim humour to say they were exaggerated, insisting he was well”
Ghanaian President John Atta Mills President Atta Mills came to power in 2009
According to a presidential aide, the leader had complained of pains on Monday evening and died on Tuesday afternoon, Reuters reports.
He had recently returned to Ghana after visiting the US for medical checks, the news agency says.
Vice-President John Dramani Mahama was to be sworn in as president at 1800 GMT, in line with Ghana's constitution.
Journalist Elizabeth Ohene, a former BBC editor and member of Ghana's former government, said she had not believed the news at first, as there had been many false reports about his death.
"For the past three or four years there's been news he's been unwell and rumours of his death - twice - and he appeared with grim humour to say they were exaggerated, insisting he was well," she told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
Mr Atta Mills came to power after narrowly winning against a candidate from the then governing New Patriotic Party, Nana Akufo-Addo, in polls in December 2008.
His predecessor, John Kufuor, had to step down after having served the maximum permitted two four-year terms.
It was Mr Mills' third attempt to win the presidency, after defeat in 2000 and 2004 to Mr Kufuor.
He was to run for a second term in December.
What are you memories of John Atta Mills? Did you ever meet him? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Tonto Dike’s Hot New Photos


Not exactly sure what the new photo shoot is for, but check out some of these photos from a recent photo shoot with Nollywood actress, Tonto Dike.
Thoughts?

Nigerian woman killed by her partner in the UK

 
32 year old mother of one, Esther Arogundade, was found stabbed to death at her home on Cumbrae Gardens, Weaste in Salford, on Tuesday evening June 26th 2012. She died as a result of stab wounds.
The police were called to her house which she shared with her partner, 37 year old Shola Kabir Adebiyi, following reports she had suffered serious injuries. When they got there, they found Esther with multiple stab wounds. She was later pronounced dead at the hospital

Her partner, Shola Adebiyi, was arrested and has been charged to court for her murder.

Mercy Johnson is Pregnant!

Almost a year after she tied the knot with her beau, Prince Odianosen Okojie, the talented actress is expecting her first child. I confirmed this from her publicist this afternoon after my 'people' gave me the gist.

The actress who is still working, (she's currently on set of a movie) is said to be in her first trimester. Big congrats to her!

James Holmes appears in court, may face death penalty in Colorado shooting probe

AURORA, Colo. - Wearing orange-red hair and looking dazed, the man accused of going on a deadly shooting rampage at the opening of the new Batman movie appeared Monday in court for the first time.
With his eyes at times downcast, James Holmes sat in maroon jailhouse jumpsuit as the judge advised him of the case.
Holmes, 24, has been held in solitary confinement at an Arapahoe County detention facility since Friday. Holmes is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder, and he could also face additional counts of aggravated assault and weapons violations.
James Holmes appears in Arapahoe County District Court


Authorities have disclosed that he is refusing to cooperate and that it could take months to learn what prompted the horrific attack on midnight moviegoers at a Batman film premiere.
Eighteenth Judicial District Attorney Carol Chambers said Monday her office is considering pursuing the death penalty against Holmes. She said a decision will be made in consultation with victims' families.
Holmes has been assigned a public defender, and Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates said the former doctoral student has "lawyered up" since his arrest early Friday, following the shooting at an Aurora theater that left 12 dead and 58 wounded, some critically.
"He's not talking to us," the chief said.
Holmes has been held without bond at the lockup in Centennial, Colo., south of Denver and about 13 miles from the Aurora theater.
His hearing is at the same complex, and security there was tight early Monday. Uniformed sheriff's deputies were stationed outside, and deputies were positioned on the roofs of both court buildings at the Arapahoe County Justice Center.
Police have said Holmes began buying guns at Denver-area stores nearly two months before Friday's shooting and that he received at least 50 packages in four months at his home and at school.
Holmes' apartment was filled with trip wires, explosive devices and unknown liquids, requiring police, FBI officials and bomb squad technicians to evacuate surrounding buildings while spending most of Saturday disabling the booby traps.
Investigators found a Batman mask inside Holmes' apartment after they finished clearing the home, a law enforcement official close to the investigation said Sunday on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the news media.
Officials at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus were looking into whether Holmes used his position in a graduate program to collect hazardous materials, but that disclosure was one of the few it has made three days after the massacre. It remained unclear whether Holmes' professors and other students at his 35-student Ph.D. program noticed anything unusual about his behavior.
His reasons for quitting the program in June also remained a mystery. Holmes recently took an intense oral exam that marks the end of the first year. University officials would not say if he passed, citing privacy concerns.
Amid the continuing investigation of Holmes and his background, Sunday was a day for healing and remembrance in Aurora, with the community holding a prayer vigil and President Barack Obama arriving to visit with families of the victims.
Obama said he told the families that "all of America and much of the world is thinking about them." He met with them at the University of Colorado Hospital in Aurora, which treated 23 of the people injured in the mass shooting; 10 remain there, seven hurt critically.

Colo. massacre suspect mum as he heads to court

AURORA, Colo. (AP) -- Police in Aurora, Colo., say James Holmes has been silent as he prepares for his first court appearance today following the theater shootings which left 12 people dead and 58 injured.
Holmes has been held in solitary confinement at an Arapahoe County detention facility but will be moved to a next-door courtroom where the charges against him will be read. He may also learn whether he faces additional counts.
Authorities have disclosed that he is refusing to cooperate and that it could take months to learn what prompted the horrific attack on midnight moviegoers at a Batman film premiere.
James Holmes photo from University of Colorado - Denver via USA TODAY

Holmes has been assigned a public defender.
Police have said that Holmes began buying guns at Denver-area stores nearly two months before Friday's shooting and that he received at least 50 packages in four months at his home and at school.
Security tight ahead of Holmes court appearance
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) -- Security is tight outside the courthouse where the suspect in the Colorado theater shooting is set to make his first appearance.
Uniformed sheriff's deputies are stationed outside, and deputies are positioned on the roofs of both court buildings at the Arapahoe County Justice Center in Centennial, south of Denver.
James Holmes is being held in solitary confinement in jail on suspicion of first-degree murder. He'll be moved Monday to a nearby courtroom for a 9:30 a.m. MDT hearing, where he will hear the pending charges against him. Prosecutors will have 72 hours to file formal charges.
Authorities have disclosed that Holmes is refusing to cooperate and that it could take months to learn what prompted the attack that killed 12 and injured 58 moviegoers at a Batman film premiere.
CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) -- A Colorado prosecutor says the suspect in the mass shooting at a midnight Batman film screening could face the death penalty.
Eighteenth Judicial District Attorney Carol Chambers said Monday that her office is considering pursuing that punishment against James Holmes. She says a decision will be made in consultation with victims' families.
Holmes makes his first court appearance Monday. The 24-year-old former graduate student is being held on suspicion of first-degree murder.
Holmes is suspected in a shooting at a theater in a Denver suburb that killed 12 people and injured 58.
AP/KUSA