Montie 3 case: Presidential pardon will undermine judges – Tony Lithur

 

Lawyer Tony Lithur

Lawyer for the President, Tony Lithur, has called on members of the NDC who are calling on President John Mahama to exercise his prerogative power of mercy over the jailing of the ‘Montie three’ to exercise restraint.

According to the respected lawyer, the call, although understandable has the tendency to undermine the judiciary, if the president were to heed to it.

Pressure is mounting from the leadership of the NDC for Mr. Mahama to pardon the Montie FM host and the two panelists who have been given a four-month jail term by the Supreme Court after they were found guilty of contempt.

Commenting on the development, Mr Lithur who served as lawyer for the president in the election petition trial said: “...Let us step back for a moment. What will be the effect or, at least, the perception of the grant of pardon? It would constitute a direct undermining of the judiciary in a manner that is unprecedented in recent times save for the appointment by President Kufuor of an additional justice of the Supreme Court to achieve a collateral purpose. And what happened in that instance?”.


Below are details of the statement by Tony Lithur



The feeling of anger and disgust at the sentencing of our friends by the Supreme Court is very understandable. I agree with you that whatever the wrongs the accused persons may have committed the sentencing, while it should serve as a measure of deterrent, should also have taken into consideration the constitutional requirements of freedom of speech and press freedom. In addition I think the judiciary should have borne in mind the perception that may be created of high-handed and judicial tyranny by the method of redress it had chosen and they severity of the sentences notwithstanding the real and palpable remorse publicly shown by the accused persons.

However, the answer in my very humble view, is not the resort to executive intervention by the grant of pardon. Let us step back for a moment. What will be the effect or, at least, the perception of the grant of pardon? It would constitute a direct undermining of the judiciary in a manner that is unprecedented in recent times save for the appointment by President Kufuor of an additional justice of the Supreme Court to achieve a collateral purpose. And what happened in that instance? President Kufuor was pounded by most of us including our development partners; and it is a legacy that has followed him into retirement from active politics? Is that what we want for our President?

While most people comment on the the length of the sentence, it seems to be lost on us that the four months uncannily spans the hottest period of the campaign towards the presidential and general elections. By the grant of a executive pardon would we not be falling into a trap by dashing to the opposition a crucial rallying and campaign message of undermining the judiciary?
I ask you all, very humbly and respectfully to pause for a moment and reflect on the immense pressure we are bringing to bear on the person who will lead the party into the next election to take a step that may harm the party's chances. Let's please reflect on this and reduce pressure on His Excellency the President.

What are the alternatives? There is opportunity to apply for a review, for what it is worth. In the meantime let us continue to state publicly what our views are about the sentences, choosing moderate language and still showing respect to the judiciary. After all when it came to the crunch in 2013, it is this same body that held the balance. Let that body not see NDC as the enemy. Let's accept its verdict while we take formal steps to take a second bite at the cherry.

In the meantime let's not forgot those who have been convicted. Let's visit them regularly and publicly and make sure they are as comfortable as is possible within the constraints of the prison. Let's show that we have not forgotten them. Let's make sure their families are not disadvantaged beyond their absence, and let us continue to pray for them.
God bless the NDC

Let's not forget those who have been the victims. Let's Gaisie

: To this I wish to add that as a party there is already a stigma in our history of the murder of judges under our watch. We should avoid the deepening of any perception that we are against the judiciary in such fundamental way that translates into threat of physical harm

I left my banking job to follow my passion – MzGee

I left my banking job to follow my passion – MzGee

Source: Showbiz

Host of Hitz FM’s flagship show, Daybreak Hitz has said in an interview with Showbiz that she left her banking job of two years to pursue her passion.

She said although it was a difficult decision to take because she didn’t know what the ‘new territory’ had in store for her.

“I left my job at the bank not knowing what I was going to do but I knew I was going out there to follow my passion and knew someone would notice my worth and capabilities.

“ It took a lot of sacrifice because I was not paid for a year at Hitz FM but I was determined and I am glad my sacrifice has paid off”, she revealed.

On what has being her highest moment in her career, she mentioned that her story about Yaw Siki which received massive response from the public is her biggest story yet.

She said the impact the story made was overwhelming.” I like to tell the entertainment stories that no one is telling. If I say I don’t do glamour stories, then I’m a liar but that is not my focus because I want to make an impact at the end of the day.

“The Yaw Siki story got a quick response from the public including Sonnie Badu coming in to lend a helping hand to him. That is the kind of stories I will like to be telling.

“Those that make an impact or can change someone’s life. It’s unfortunate he turned down the offer but he’s an individual and he has his personal reasons for doing that and I respect that”, she said.

In the entertainment industry, it is not rare for rumours of women sleeping their way to land jobs to crop up and one lady who has fallen victim to such rumour mongering is radio and TV personality, MzGee of Multi Media Broadcasting.

But the fast rising radio and television host debunks the stories making the rounds that she is where she is right now because she slept with her boss, Mark Okraku Mantey.

MzGee, real name, Gloria Akpe Nyarku said she’s outraged by the rumour because it is contrary to what she believes in.

“I am not a perfect person but I have a rule. My rule is I don’t give sex for jobs because I don’t want to feel like I am not good enough for the job because I got the opportunity of sleeping with the boss”, she said in a chat with Showbiz.

MzGee started as a producer for Campus on Hitz in April 2014 and later became the substantive host of the show by August that year. By February 2015, she was the bench for Hitz FM’s flagship show, Daybreak Hitz and was then put on the entertainment desk as a reporter in May that same year.

Through hardwork, she was made the entertainment news presenter on the prime time news with Isreal Laryea.

Additionally, she was given another slot to host a four-hour Saturday morning show, Showing This Week in June 2015.

Recendy, MzGee was selected by management of Multimedia Broadcasting to cover the just ended African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA) which was held in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

Probably, for a relatively new face in the entertainment industry, these developments came as a surprise to many, the pace at which she has risen in her career in two years, hence the purported rumour.

“ I learnt something early in life that if you sleep for a job, you will have to keep doing it to maintain and that is not something I will want for myself”, she added.

MzGee said she was introduced to Mark Okraku Mantey by Nathaniel Attoh and was given the opportunity like everyone else to prove her worth.

She said though she was not perturbed by the rumour, she felt insulted by it. “It was insulting because people who do not know me or what I was capable of doing decided to say things that were absolutely false”, she stated

MzGee’s career in radio started during her days as a student at Cape Coast Polytechnic with campus-based radio station, Eagle FM as a brunch time host and later Oceans TV.

MzGee’s effort also helped veteran actor, William Addo who was suffering from cataract to get funding from the public for an eye surgery earlier this year.

The native of Fodome in the Hohoe district in the Volta region said though she is not intimidated by anyone in the creative industry, there are many whose style she admires such as Caroline Sampson, Berla Murrdi, Jessica Opare-Saforo and Anita Erskine.

According to her, Nana Aba Anamoah has been her biggest inspiration. She recalled moments when Nana Aba Anamoah was one of the few people who believed she could succeed in the industry after she was ‘evicted’ from TV3’s reality show, The Hottest Host.

“I will forever be grateful to her. After the reality show, Nana Aba picked up her phone to make calls to people to help me and though it didn’t work out, I’ll always be grateful to her for that gesture because her faith in me made me believe I will make it”, she added.

She has had the opportunity of hosting events such as the Ghana DJs Awards and the red carpet of the Radio and TV personality (RTP) awards last year.

MzGee who holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from GIMPA and HND Marketing from Cape Coast Polytechnic is the first of four siblings.

The bubbly presenter who is in her early 30s advised young girls not to sleep their way to land jobs because it won’t you don’t have the talent to back it.

“I advise young ladies to work hard follow their passion and someone will notice that hard work. Follow your passion but be ready to serve and most importantly, don’t sleep for a job” she concluded.

Mystery tree that 'bears fruit like shape of women' found in Thailand

Mystery tree that 'bears fruit like shape of women' found in Thailand

Source: Mirror.co.uk
Date: 13-07-2016 Time: 06:07:04:am

A strange tree growing in Thailand appears to bear fruit in the exact shape of a young woman - and it's baffling the internet.

But while many are amazed by the shape of the green fruits , others are less convinced by the confusing footage.

In Buddhist mythology , a tree known as the Nariphon bears the fruit of young female creatures and is said to grow in the mythical forest called Himaphan.

The story goes that Buddhist God Indra a home in the forest for his wife Vessantara and his two children.

But when Vessantara went out into the forest to collect food, she was in danger of being attacked by terrifying male creatures.

Indra then created 12 special Nariphon trees which would bear fruit in his wife's image to distract the creatures while she picked her own food.

The men would take these fruits back to their homes and after making love to them would sleep for four months, and lose their powers.

According to Thai folklore, after Indra and his wife died, the trees continued to bear fruit.

There are rumoured to be two Nariphon pods in a Buddhist temple near Bangkok.

Gifts inspired by the Nariphon girls are now sold widely throughout Thailand, leading to many hoaxes.

You’ll win election 2016 – Tuobodomhene to Akufo-Addo

Nana Obeng Ameyaw Barimah II, Tuobodomhene exchanging pleasantries with Akufo-Addo

Nana Obeng Ameyaw Barimah II, Tuobodomhene and Akyempemhene of the Techiman Traditional Council, has assured the 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, of the unflinching support of the people of Tuobodom in the run-up to this year’s elections.

The Tuobodomhene, who was confident of an Akufo-Addo victory in the elections, explained that his belief is premised on the fact that “in this world, it is only those who embark on good missions who are encouraged and supported.”

Nana Obeng Ameyaw Barimah II made this known on Sunday, July 10, 2016, when Nana Akufo-Addo paid a courtesy call on him at his palace, at the commencement of day 3 of his tour of the Brong Ahafo Region.

According to the Chief, “The NPP’s parliamentary candidate for Techiman North has been entrusted in my care. He is therefore my son. Thus, I can never turn my back on my son who is bringing something good home to his people. The Chiefs and people of Tuobodom assure you, Nana (Akufo-Addo), that we are in complete support of you. We are backing you with prayers, and I am confident that you will win this year’s election.”

He urged all supporters of the NPP to avoid the use of abusive and intemperate language in the electioneering period, as this only drives away non-supporters of the party.

“Ghanaians will vote for you once you have a good message, and you present it to them in all humility and through the use of decorous language and patience. There are certain fights that can only be won with prayer. When you go to God in prayer, whatever you ask for in His name, he will do it for you,” he said.

Nana Obeng Ameyaw Barimah II had a request to make of the NPP flagbearer when he is elected President.

“When you win the election, the people of Tuobodom need a nursing training college. We know this will come to fruition because we are very confident that you will win,” he added.
 
We will help you win 2016
The Nifahene of Tuobodom, Nana Owusu Ankomah Tinten II, during a separate call by the NPP flagbearer, indicated that “the Chiefs are praying and are determined to make sure that whatever can be done to help Nana Akufo-Addo win this election is done.”

The Nifahene, who was sitting in state due to the absence of Nana Baffour Asare II, Omanhene of Tuobodom, made this known when Nana Akufo-Addo paid a courtesy call on him at the palace.

According to the Nifahene, “My Chief, Nana Baffour Asare II, has asked me to tell you that he, together with the people of Tuobodom, keenly follow the NPP and the policies you outline to the people every time.”

The Nifahene added that “all he (Nana Baffour Asare II) asks is that God be with you, protect and guide you and your entourage in every way, so that you will be able to fulfill all your promises to the Ghanaian people. We have heard Nana Akufo-Addo’s ‘1-District-1-Factory’ policy, and it is one we wholeheartedly subscribe to. We hope and pray that if it is God’s will that Nana Akufo-Addo wins this year’s election, he should give Tuobodom its own factory.”

 Dumelo to  preach Mahama to Yvonne Nelson

Popular Ghanaian actor John Dumelo has said he will try and convince his friend and colleague actor Yvonne Nelson to support President John Mahama as Ghana heads for the polls in November.

Dumelo who has not hidden his sympathies for the ruling NDC and President Mahama said even though he cannot force the political decision on the actress, it will not be out of place to preach the President to her.

“Everybody has a choice and obviously when I see Yvonne I will speak to her, but everybody deserves a fair chance to judge everything by themselves.

“I will talk to her about it (supporting Mahama) but she has a choice at the end of the day,” he told Bola Ray on Starr Chat on Starr FM.

Dumelo who is also an entrepreneur added that he does not know if the actress supports the opposition NPP’s Nana Akufo-Addo.

“I don’t know if she supports Nana Addo or not. We haven’t spoken about it”.

The two friends who fell out over the #Dumsormuststop campaign which waged by the actress have now made up, according to Dumelo.


“It did get to me and at the end of the day we still resolved it. I called her at a point asking of something...but obviously it is not like how we were before.”

  Euro 2016 final; Portugal vs France

Portugal are looking to land their first ever European Championship when they take on France this evening. Here's all the info you need to know

Party pooper? Ronaldo is looking to break French hearts

The final of Euro 2016 takes place in Paris tonight, with Portugal looking to break French hearts by winning their first European title.
The French will start as favourites following a stop-start campaign by Cristiano Ronaldo and company, who are looking to avoid a repeat of the 2004 final when they were stunned by Greece on home soil.
France have lifted the Henri Delaunay trophy twice before and will be confident of adding a third success to their 1984 and 2000 victories.
Didier Deschamps' men impressed in their semi-final win over Germany will have the overwhelming majority of the Stade de France cheering them on this evening.
But when and where can you watch the action? Here's all you need to know from the climax of Euro 2016...

What time is Portugal vs France?

The final between Portugal and France kicks off at 8pm (UK time) on Sunday evening.
The match will be played at the Stade de France in Paris.

Getty

The stage is set...

Where can I watch it?

The game will be broadcast on both BBC1 and ITV, with live coverage beginning on both channels at 7pm.
Mirror Football will be running a LIVE blog so you can still keep up with the action if you can't watch the game on TV.

Click to play

Portugal's road to the final

Group F: Portugal 1-1 Iceland
Group F: Portugal 0-0 Austria
Group F: Hungary 3-3 Portugal
Last-16: Croatia 0-1 Portugal - aet
Quarter-final: Poland 1-1 Portugal (3-5 on penalties)
Semi-final: Portugal 2-0 Wales

Reuters

Wales of a time: Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani netted in the semi-final

France's road to the final

Group A: France 2-1
Group A: France 2-0 Albania
Group A: Switzerland 0-0 France
Last-16: France 2-1 Republic of Ireland
Quarter-final: France 5-2 Iceland
Semi-final: Germany 0-2 France

Getty

Shooting the Griez: Antoine Griezmann is the tournament's leading scorer

Team news

Portugal: Pepe is expected to return to the Portugal XI after missing the semi-final win over Wales with a thigh problem. William Carvalho is available again following a suspension, so coach Fernando Santos must decide whether to recall him or keep the faith with Danilo.
France: Didier Deschamps has all 23 players fit again. The biggest selection dilemma is whether to continue with Newcastle midfielder Moussa Sissoko who impressed against Germany, or recall Leicester's N'Golo Kante.

Getty

Return? N'Golo Kante started on the bench against Germanty

What are the odds?

Portugal: 39/20
France: 11/25
Odds to lift the trophy, collected from Unibet

This is what it's all about...

Quote corner

France coach Didier Deschamps: "We don't have the power to solve the French people's problems but we can ease their worries.
"The players are well aware of that power, and what they can give to the French people by wearing these colours. When you see the passion, inside and outside the stadium, this team has everything it takes to be loved, the players are performing well on the pitch and I'm very proud."

Farmer butchered to death by crop thief

Farmer butchered to death by crop thief

Source: Ghana / Adomonline.com / Alfred Amoh, Splash FM

A 52-year old farmer, Kwame Amissah has been butchered to death by a suspected thief in Assin Kushea in the Assin North Municipality in the Central Region.

The suspected thief, Yaw Nkansah, 35, was said to have butchered the farmer to death after the later farmer caught him stealing from his farm.

"Agya Kwame Amissah always complained that someone had been stealing from his farm so he decided to go into hiding in his farm so he could arrest the culprits...it was in the process that he caught Yaw Nkansah...," an Assemblyman of Kushea said.

According to the Assemblyman, Yaw Nkansah decided to struggle with the farmer and overpowered him. He then landed several machete wounds on the farmer.

The farmer lost his life while he was being conveyed from the farm to the hospital.

Yaw Nkansah was said to have bolted from the town after the incident causing the youth of the town to go in search of him.