EXCITING FANS MAKE FOOTBALL

Hearts of Oak welcomed Kumasi Asante Kotoko to the Accra Sports Stadium for what is termed as, the el-classico. Attendance was quite impressive and a long article cannot describe the feeling that engulfed the stadium as the two teams locked horns on the field of play. The match ended in a one all draw. Winful Cobbinah’s first half goal was cancelled by Michael Helgbe of Kotoko. Below are some pictures and a video of the fans in attendance at the Accra Sports Stadium to support their clubs.  

BEFORE KICK OFF.

BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE GAME.

SUPPORTERS GETTING READY FOR THE TWO TEAMS TO WALK UNTO THE FIELD .

DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE GAME.

AN INTENSE MOMENT IN THE GAME.

KNOW YOUR EDITORS

Do you know the names of editors of the various newspapers in Ghana. Am talking about the state and private owned newspapers. It is embarrassing if we do not know these men who bring us up to speed with information on what is happening in society. I encourage you to read and know more. You may occupy that position some day.

NAME OF NEWSPAPERS                                                         NAME OF EDITORS
1. Ghanaian Times                                                                      Mr. Dave Agbenu
2. Daily Graphic                                                                        Ransford Tetteh
3. The Spectator                                                                        Mrs. Tina Aforo Yeboah
4. Sporting times                                                                       Mr. Francis Assuah
5. The Al-Hajj                                                                          Alhaji Bature Iddrisu
6. The Daily Express                                                                 Attah- Effah Badu
7. Punch Newspaper                                                                 Ebenezer Ato Sam
8. Daily Heritage                                                                       Ag. Editor kofi Enchill
9. The Accra Mail                                                                     A.R. Harruna Attah
10. The Finder                                                                            Baba Abdulai
11. News One                                                                            Halifax Ansah-Addo
12. Daily Guide                                                                           Fortune Alimi
13. The Informer                                                                         Andy Kankam
14. The Herald                                                                            Sedi Bansah
15. Business Week                                                                      Kofi Ahovi
16. The Investor                                                                          Nana Mensah
17. Public Agenda                                                                       Steve Manteaw
18. Today Newspaper                                                                Ato Keelson
19. Economic Tribune                                                                 Felix Dela klutse
20. New Crusading Guide                                                           Abdul Malik Kweku Baako
21. Day Break                                                                             Prince Prah
22. The Insight                                                                            Kwasi Doudu
23. The Transporter                                                                     Jerry Okai
24. The Muslim News                                                                  Mohammed Frimpong
25. Gospel News                                                                     Rev. Albert Ken Dapatem
26. Business & Financial Times                                               William Selassy Adjadogo
27. Graphic Sports                                                                      Felex N. Abayateye
28. People And Places (P&P)                                                     Isaac Yeboah
29. The Mirror                                                                            Mrs. Janet Quainoo
30. Graphic Showbiz                                                                   Nanabanyin Dadson
31. The Ghanaian Lens                                                                Mr. Kobby Fiagbe
32. Graphic business                                                                    Lloyd Evans
33. Junior Graphic                                                                       Mrs. Mavis Kitcher
34. The chronicle                                                                         Emmanuel Akli
35. Ghana Sports                                                                         Dan Kwaku Yeboah
36. GFA Newspaper                                                                   Mr. Tamimu Issah
                                                                                                                         

MY IDEAL MAN AND WOMAN

It is the dream of every man or woman to find the right partner in life. Beauty they say lies in the eyes of the beholder, but many have their own way of choosing their beloved. It is important to note that, while some guys are looking out for ladies who are slim, beautiful attractive and more importantly good in bed, others are  also looking out for fat ladies who also have the physical beauty to attract them.
ladies are usually perceived to like men who are tick, tall and muscular. Obviously not all ladies like a man like that.  The current aspirant for the position women's commissioner at the Ghana Institute of journalism, Divine Esther Bedzra says, " I like a man who is taller than me, not too skinny. he must be a guy who dresses well". In her opinion when you dress good you will feel good about yourself, and the way you dress reflects the person you are". Divine was quick to add that, the guy must the be a Christian.
Moving on, I spoke to some guys and ladies about their ideal man or woman. Jesse Yirenkyi revealed that, "he likes a woman who is neither fat nor slim,caring, has an open heart and must be able to tell the truth at all times; and most importantly she must be a good cook.  

JESSE YIRENKYI

Joan Sefakor Akpkli also  expressed her opinion on her ideal man.She said," I like a guy who is tall not too skinny,not too fat and must be very very good in bed". Joan indicated that, she is not bothered when  her boy friend eats a lot since that will make her happy seeing her man eat the food she prepares.

JOAN SEFAKOR AKPAKLI

 Finally, kweku Zurek, a sports analyst says," my ideal woman must be someone I can talk to, that is someone I can relate to and  has something in common with. Am not bothered about physical appearance, though the looks are important". kweku added that the lady must be good in bed and if the sex is not good then the communication is not going on well.
There are so many guys and ladies out there. Be careful who you choose for a wife. Pray for God to direct you as you choose your ideal man or woman. He or she may have all the qualities in your check list but the inner man is important. Sometimes when you are praying to God for a wife or a husband, you already have somebody in mind. Clear your mind and he will direct your part.
Am open to any suggestions on this topic and comments.

THINK TWICE IF YOU WHATSAPP

Communication on phone started a long time ago, but with the current development in technology; phones have become of great importance and also a source of worry since it is being abused. What is whatsapp messenger? The first time I heard the name whatsapp, I asked myself,”what is this new software”. Then the unexpected happened when students started to rush in for whatsapp phones. It seems they always want to try something new. People no longer want the phones with television and application to browse, but a combination with a lot of applications that can satisfy their appetite for more.  

The whatsapp Messenger is a cross-platform mobile messaging application which allows you to exchange messages without having to pay for sms. When students press their phones as if they are behind a computer, get closer and you will see that messages are being sent to friends. In addition to basic messaging, whatsapp users can create groups, send each other unlimited images, video and audio media messages. For those who don’t use iPhones, BlackBerry, android, windows phones and some specific nokia phones, perhaps they may be missing out on a way to save credits.  

Those on the whatsapp messanger have also started missing out on something very important, and that is time. A communication student at the Ghana Institute of journalism Patrice Amegadzie says,” the whatsapp messenger enables me to get in touch to friends as soon as possible and also makes it easy to send tracks, pictures and audio messages at a lesser cost. I use whatsapp when the time is convenient for me”.

For some communication students, the situation is different since the application can be installed on a computer or a laptop with the help of the blue stack software. Another student, Nii Boye Manasseh who has installed whatsapp messenger on his laptop said,” I can decide to use two hours on whatsapp messenger. It is good to get information but is bad when you are too much into it, because it takes much of your productive time”. Manasseh revealed that, he has spent four hours on whatsapp messenger before. If a student like Manasseh can spend four hours whatsapping with friends on his laptop, then you can imagine the number of hours he will spend if he has a whatsapp phone.

Elizabeth Amoatey uses a whatsapp phone and had this to say when she was contacted,” people I met ask me if I am on whatsapp messenger, so I decided to get a whatsapp phone. It waste time and I can’t calculate the time I spend on whatsapp”. She revealed that she is addicted to whatsapp since she uses it every day.

My dear reader, technology is to make us effective and productive. The software will make or unmake you. Please use it wisely. You can share your thoughts on the subject and also follow the blog at sambarly.blogspot.com

THE LIGHTS GO OFF.

Public transport is a service we pay for since everybody cannot afford to buy a car. The problems associated to this kind of transportation in Ghana are of major concern to the public. The use of light is for a better view or vision.  

The driver of the vehicle whose service I had purchased turned off the light when I needed it so much to read a document. To my surprise, nobody complained. It seemed the rest of the passengers were comfortable with the lights off. I was then curious and started to observe things around me. On my way, I did observe that, all the drivers had their inner lights switched off. What hit me like an atomic bomb was when a passenger respectfully asked the driver to turn off the lights.

So I tried to find answers to the questions that have flooded my mind from one the passengers. Diana Odoi, a student of Ghana Telecom University said,” I don’t know why the drivers put off the light, but I know they put it on when a passenger will alight to prevent him or her from falling”. The second person who didn’t give his name had this to say,” the drivers put off the light to prevent thieves from stealing in the bus”. He also reiterated that, the lights generate heat and therefore there is the need to put it off. Reasonable as it may sound, he added that the lights are put off to avoid eye contact.

If the reasons given are true, then what about this reason from an anonymous person,” the lights go off so that drivers will see the readings and know how fast they are going. Share your thoughts with me and lets all get a clearer understanding of why the lights must or should go off in the public transport, when students can read a book before alighting at their destination.

THE POLICE AND IT'S IMAGE

Policing started in 1821 by the British Colonialists.  The Ghana Police Service is tasked to perform the following functions in Ghana. 

1. Crime detection and prevention

2. .Apprehension (arrest) and prosecution of offenders

3. Maintenance of law and order

4. Due enforcement of the law.

The Ghana police service is currently doing a great job in the country. The police must be commended for their effort in curbing crime and ensuring that the country remains peaceful during and after the 2012 elections. I like to specify that, there are good police men and there are bad ones. The bad ones are currently destroying the image of the police which has been built by hard working police personnel. 

An incident caught my attention at 5: 55 am this morning, when a well dressed police man parked in front of a car I had boarded to work. The driver stopped to pick up passengers at the metro mass transit station here in Accra. The well dressed policeman asked the driver to alight from the vehicle. He obeyed the officer and came out of the car to talk to the policeman.

Stay with me dear reader, the policeman asked the driver to follow him. Now in an attempt to escape from the law, the driver collected money from his conductor normally referred to as “driver’s mate”.

According to some information I gathered from the next car I boarded, this has been a routine of the policeman who constantly collects bribe from the drivers before day break. The mate told me that, “we don’t have anybody to talk for us, but if we do then this nonsense will stop”. Everybody in the car complained bitterly about the performance of this police man whose motor number I clearly caught in time. Who will speak for our drivers? The police indeed are our friends, but actions from some police officers are causing the police as a unit to lose its friendship with the public. I therefore call on the Ghana police service to address this problem to protect its image.

POLITICAL UNPRECEDENTED HAPPENINGS IN GHANA

Strange things happened in the year 2012 and I would like to take this opportunity to update you on some of the unprecedented things that  that occurred this year. We have been through a lot as a nation. The year carried with it a lot of good as well as bad things. My year of unprecedented happenings started with the death of a sitting president. For the first time in Ghana, a sitting president died and his vice president was sworn in on the same day. His Excellency John Evans Atta Mills passed on the baton to his vice president John Dramani Mahama, on the 24^th of July after a short illness at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra. A lot of people wish to be president of this country one day, but how many have their dreams come through. His Excellence John Dramani Mahama now president elect of Ghana, left home for the office as a vice president in the morning; and returned home as the president of Ghana. Something that was unprecedented in this country. I must commend Ghanaians for the way they came together to give the late president Mills a befitting burial.

Another unprecedented thing that happened in this country, was the visit of the presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Addo Danquah  Akuffo Addo to the residence of ex. President Rawlings. His visit to the ex. President was to discuss issues that will ensure free and fair elections in the December polls. He also discussed matters that would ensure that Ghana will remain peaceful during and after the elections. This was the first time an opposition party has held a meeting with the other party to discuss matters like this. Again, I will take this opportunity to thank Nana Addo for such an act.  Some people however found it difficult to accept such kind gestures from the opposition as politics as usual is full to tricks. This was an unprecedented thing in the year 2012.

Still on politics, the political scene was taken over by one man called Hassan Ayariga. The presidential candidate of the PNC became a popular figure due to his jovial nature. We cannot bring the curtains of 2012 down without talking about Hasaan Ayariga. Indeed he changed the face of politics in Ghana from a rigid one to a much flexible one. When politicians mount the stage, they all talked seriously on the issues at hand.

Ayariga treated matters with a lot of flexibility and still managed to send his message across to Ghanaians.  He became the talk of the day and others could not help but design a mixture called “Ayaricough” in his honor. The year 2012 will always remember you Mr. Hassan Ayariga for your immense contribution of jokes and laughter that you placed on the faces of Ghanaians. This was unprecedented.

The unprecedented year did only take away a president but also a vice president, leaving Ghana with no living vice president. Former vice president of Ghana, your Excellence Alhaji Aliu Mahama died after he was taken ill and hospitalized at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra. Another beloved son of the land is gone and we seem to have lost all our former vice presidents.

Share your thoughts with me by writing the unprecedented things that happened in the year twenty 2012 which is not stated.