The Ghanaian District Chief Executive who said "Tweaaaa" has been sacked!

President John Mahama has instructed the sack of the The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ahafo Ano South in the Ashanti Region, Mr Gabriel Barima, whose conduct at a public gathering brought the 'Tweaaaaa' expression into the national discourse.

A statement signed the Executive Secretary to the President; Dr Raymond Atuguba said: 

“The president acting on the Local Government Act section 204 has dismissed the DCE for Ahafo Ano South, Gabriel Barima with immediate effect.”

The statement added that the Ashanti Regional Minister has been directed to act until a substantive DCE is appointed.

'Tweaaaaa', is an Akan interjection used mainly to express contempt for a statement made.

It became popular in January after Mr Barimah exchanged words with a health worker who hurled the word at him at a public function.

The DCE retorted: ‘Who said 'Tweaaaaa'; am I your co-equal?’ 

A video of the exchange soon went viral on social media, prompting the traditional mass media to report on it.

The government had earlier cautioned him for the conduct after he expressed remorse. 

The sack today is, however, believed to be in relation to a radio interview Mr. Barimah granted Accra-based Joy FM Wednesday, in which he is reported to have said that he did not regret the fact that someone hurled the 'Tweaaaaa' expression at him.

According to him, the development had made him popular and people had called to congratulate him. 

Courtesy: 

graphic.com.gh

Apple CFO's Departure Signals Changing of Guard - Peter Oppenheimer won't be the last Jobs-era hyper-growth author to move on

Apple will soon find itself having to replace the man who oversaw the company's finances through its most prosperous years.

Peter Oppenheimer has announced his intent to step down from the company by September, vacating his role as Chief Financial Officer to Luca Maestri and riding off into the sunset to take a board position at Goldman Sachs.

Read more in The Register

Story by Shaun Nichols, The Register

Ghana Ready for the UN Commission on Status of Women

The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is to lead Ghanaian delegates to the United Nations Session on the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW58) which will take place from March 10 to 21 in New York.

The 2014 CSW58 is on the general theme: “Challenges and achievements in the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals for women and girls”. The Ghanaian delegation would include women's rights activists, gender experts, government representatives, as well as representatives from gender based civil society organisations.

Nana Oye Lithur, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra today noted that the delegation would use the platform to showcase Ghana’s gender mainstreaming agenda.

She said Ghana would also, as part of the event, organise side events to share “our progressive success story,” whilst participating in others, hold high-level discussions with governmental and non-governmental organisations alongside the conference.

The Gender Minister who is the President of the newly composed Bureau of Ministers of Social Development for ECOWAS said: “We will not achieve gender justice unless we challenge gender stereotyping”.

She explained that real and sustained change was unlikely without a concerted effort on the part of all progressive social justice movements to leverage gender transformation in practice and in advocacy positions.

The Gender Minister said gender equality was not only a basic human right, but that its achievement also had enormous socio-economic ramifications since empowering women fueled thriving economies, spurred productivity and growth.

“Yet gender inequalities remain deeply entrenched in every society. Women lack access to decent work and face occupational segregation and gender wage gaps. They are too often denied access to basic education and health care.

“Women in all parts of the world suffer violence and discrimination. They are under-represented in political and economic decision-making processes,” Nana Oye Lithur noted.

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The main roles of UN Women include supporting inter-governmental bodies, such as the Commission on the Status of Women, in their formulation of policies, global standards and norms.

It is also meant to help Member States to implement these standards, standing ready to provide suitable technical and financial support to those countries that request it, and to forge effective partnerships with civil society.

Furthermore, it is responsible for holding the UN system accountable for its own commitments on gender equality, including regular monitoring of system-wide progress.

     

Courtesy:

Government of Ghana Official Portal

European publisher launches new Pope Francis magazine

Rome, Italy, Mar 3, 2014 / 05:24 pm (CNA).- One of the largest publishing companies in Europe is releasing a first-ever weekly magazine dedicated entirely to Pope Francis due to the impact his pontificate has had in the world over the last year.

On March 3 Mondadori, Italy's largest book and magazine publisher and the third largest in the consumer magazine segment in France, announced their new magazine “Il Mio Papa,” which is to be the world's first magazine dedicated entirely to the Bishop of Rome.

Scheduled to hit newsstands every week beginning on Wednesday March 5, an initial print run of 3 million copies will be released during the first month.

Story by 

Elise Harris - Catholic News Agency

Oscar Pistorius Murder Trial for Reeva Steenkamp's Death

The South African "Blade Runner" faces charges for fatally shooting his girlfriend on Valentine's Day 2013.

Pistorius fatally shot Steenkamp through the bathroom door of his villa Valentine's Day 2013.

The double-amputee Olympian track star, nicknamed "Blade Runner," claimed he thought Steenkamp was an intruder. After a six-month investigation, though, he was indicted by the National Prosecuting Authority in South Africa. He has been charged with murder, illegal possession of ammunition and two other counts of breaking South Africa’s firearms law.

On the first anniversary of the killing, Pistorius released a statement saying, "The pain and sadness...consumes me with sorrow."

Read more about the issue in the Daily News and to watch a live video feed of the court proceedings, click the following link:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akKZyhA6JEs

A live audio feed can be found here:http://ewn.co.za/Features/oscarpistorius/live-audio

Lady Gaga Arrives at the Oscars

According to Elle Magazine, Lady Gaga arrived at the 2014 Academy Awards looking like a Queen. She truly looked heavenly and I loved her dress.

Facebook to Buy messaging app WhatsApp for $19bn

The world's biggest social media platform, Facebook has said it will buy the popular app, WhatsApp for $19 billion (equivalent to 11.4 billion Pounds).

Ever since Facebook entered our lives, the company has not made any major buys at least not until now. Mark shared his thoughts on Facebook. Read more HERE.

WhatsApp is popular with people looking to avoid text messaging charges and has been cited as a rival to BlackBerry Messenger.

Today, WhatsApp has over 450 million monthly users.

For more information on this giant purchase, visit BBC News - Facebook to Buy WhatsApp for $19bn

Image: Screenshot from Facebook Mobile App

Sochi, Russia Hosts 2014 Winter Olympics

Today is Friday, 7th February, 2014 (MSK). 

The time is 09.29am ET in Sochi, Russia and preparations continue as the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics begin in a matter of hours. The opening ceremony is said to start at 11.00am (07.00 GMT).

USA Today said Sochi is the largest and most expensive Winter Olympic Games in the history and it will likely be remembered for palm trees, reminders of the Cold War tensions between the United States and Russia, and high-flying flips in new events that offer X Games thrills.

At the same time, there are stories about Gay Rights protests that are targeting the Games in Russia. The Russian Government has assured the world that they Sochi is safe and that the Games will be a success.

The excitement is overwhelming and I look forward to the opening ceremony.

Updates will be posted as they come.

Ghana's Illustrious Son, Mr. Komla Dumor of BBC's Focus on Africa, is Dead.

Mr Komla Dumor, of the BBC World Service also known as the presenter of BBC Africa, has passed away. 

The Ghana born Broadcaster reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest in London this morning 18th January 2014 which was followed by his untimely death.

Komla Dumor whose grandfather, Mr. Philip Gbeho, composed the Ghanaian National Anthem, was born on 3rd October 1972 in Accra the capital city of Ghana. "The Boss Player," as he was called by many, had his death announced on Facebook by one of his colleagues from BBC, Umaru Fofana, where he said:

"BBC World loses and Icon... Ghana born presenter Komla Dumor dies. "

He again added:

"What is it about life that we hate and envy others, do evil to our fellow man and wish others knelt down before us, when we will die in the next moment. What? Why?"

Since June 2012, Dumor has been the main presenter of the BBC World News program Focus on Africa. 

He joined the BBC African Service in 2006 as host of the radio show, Network Africa. From 2008 to 2012 he presented The World Today on the BBC World Service and began presenting the BBC World News and Africa Business Report in 2011. When the latter was relaunched in 2013; fellow BBC correspondent, Lerato Mbele was chosen as host.

Ealier in his past, Komla has worked for JOY FM in Accra, Ghana, and won the prestigious national award for Journalist of the Year in 2003. He was and will remain known till date as the only West African news reader on BBC World News.

Dumor graduated from the University of Ghana, Legon with BSc Honors in Sociology and Psychology. He also graduated from the Harvard University with an MA in Public Administration. 

He was a married man with three children.

This News has not yet been confirmed by his family and we await a formal statement from them soon. 

Upcoming updates will be past as they come.

Introducing the "One Good g+ Deserves Another" Campaign powered by The Dexter's Lab Project

As part of their plans for 2014, The DX Lab Foundation wants to make a difference by running the "One Good g+ Deserves Another" craze is on.

With support from Zoharous on etsy, their campaign aims at raising awareness towards the need for the introduction of mobile science labs into schools in third world countries. This act is meant to serve as an appeal to the senses and imaginations of kids in these countries. They will find it easier to grasp the "seemingly" complex and abstract concepts of science.

In the end, we'll help influence their choices for higher education and then we can raise a greater number of amazing scientists, awesome doctors, great engineers, and cool teachers... of course, towards the development of the nation.

Sounds laudable... What do you think???

Would you join the Craze!?!

g+ this post and let's help spread the word.

Don't forget to check out the campaign on indiegogo.