Adhere to Article 71 to avert salary discrepancies- Ayariga tells Controller

Bawku Central Member of Parliament Mahama Ayariga is asking the Controller and Accountant General Department to strictly adhere to the dictates of Article 71 in paying salaries of politicians and other public servants.

That is the only way to stop the inefficiencies in the salary administration in the public sector, he stated.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Ghana Connect programme on the double salary scandal that has rocked some former government appointees, the Bawku Central MP said if the Controller had gone strictly according to the dictates of Article 71 of the 1992 Constitution, perhaps there will not have been a problem like this.

Over nine former government appointees are being investigated for allegedly collecting double salaries as MPs and Ministers while serving under ex-president John Mahama.

Some have publicly denied the allegations while others are said to have privately made admissions to collecting same.

Since the scandal broke, many have blamed the paying authorities- the Controller and Accountant General and the Parliamentary Service Board- for not communicating before paying the past officials.

But Mahama Ayariga maintained that both the paying authorities must comply with Article 71.

Article 71 (1) and (2) of the 1992 Constitution stipulates that the determination of the salaries and allowances of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary paid from the Consolidated Fund would be determined by the President, on the recommendations of a committee of not more than five persons appointed by him and acting upon the advice of the Council of State.

In determining the salaries of the President, his Ministers and political appointees, as well as the members of the Council of State, the Constitution states that Parliament will determine that based on the advice of the same committee.

He was quick to add that many of the lapses in the payment in the previous government are administrative which could easily be resolved without the drama of criminal proceedings.

Having been written to as one of the beneficiaries of double salaries, Ayariga hinted the issue of salary discrepancy did not start under the previous government, hinting his party will sooner or later provide a list of NPP appointees who benefited from same during the Kufuor led administration.

A member of Occupy Ghana, Casely Hayford found it surprising that some of the appointees were complaining of not knowing the quantum of salaries.

He said it is the simplest information any appointee will and described it as lies.

“You can’t possibly be that naïve,” he stated.

He called for a centralized or single payroll system for all Article 71 officeholders so that everybody can tap into it.

Source: www.myjoyonline.com

Taxi driver knocks down 3 armed robbers at Osu

The driver knocked the motorbike used by the suspects leading to their arrest.

Three armed robbers are in the grips of the Osu police in the Greater Accra region after residents there effected a citizens arrest Thursday evening.

The armed robbers alleged snatched a bag belonging to a foreigner which contained an unspecified amount of money.

A taxi driver was alerted by an alarm raised by eyewitnesses while the suspects made their escape on a motorbike.

The driver rammed his vehicle into a motorbike which disoriented the suspects briefly. They took to their heels and residents took them on in a hot chase.

One of the suspects carried a cutlass but was cut down by the angry residents who arrested him and handed him over to the police.

Two others were later apprehended.

The arrests end a working week of rife robbery stories. Daring in their attempts, armed robbers stole an undisclosed amount of cash in a daylight operation Tuesday morning at the North Industrial Area.

Only 24 hours later, a Lebanese cashier was shot dead in his car as an armed gang trailed him after he had withdrawn 200,000 cedis to pay salaries.

A mother was fatally stabbed later in the evening at Obuasi in the Ashanti region.

The crimes have put the police under pressure to demonstrate to the public they are up to the task.

credit: Ghana|myjoyonline.com

Google offers free online machine learning course

Google announced the new Learn with Google AI website which provides ways for users to learn about core machine learning concepts. — AFP

There really is no escaping topics on Artificial Intelligence or machine learning in this day and age. They are used in many aspects of our lives, and Google hopes to encourage everyone to understand how these technologies can help solve challenging problems.

"AI can solve complex problems and has the potential to transform entire industries, which means it's crucial that AI reflect a diverse range of human perspectives and needs.

"That's why part of Google AI's mission is to help anyone interested in machine learning succeed – from researchers, to developers and companies, to students," said Google Technical Program Manager Zuri Kemp on the company's official blog.

She also introduced the new Learn with Google AI website which provides ways for users to learn about core machine learning concepts, develop and hone their skills in the subject, as well as apply the technology to real-world problems.

The website is catered to a wide range of users, from deep learning experts needing advanced tutorials and materials on TensorFlow, to newbies who just want to take their first steps with AI.

Learn with Google AI also offers a free online course called Machine Learning Crash Course (MLCC) which provides exercises, interactive visualisation, and instructional videos for anyone to learn and practise machine learning concepts.

"Our engineering education team originally developed this fast-paced, practical introduction to machine learning fundamentals for Googlers. So far, more than 18,000 Googlers have enrolled in MLCC, applying lessons from the course to enhance camera calibration for Daydream devices, build virtual reality for Google Earth, and improve streaming quality at YouTube. MLCC's success at Google inspired us to make it available to everyone," added Kemp.

The course's duration is estimated at 15 hours, and is designed for newcomers without any knowledge in machine learning, although the website states that intro-level of algebra and some basic programming experience would prove beneficial.

"There’s more to come from Learn with Google AI, including additional courses and documentation. We're excited to help everyone learn more about AI," said Kemp.

Credit: TheStar.com

Prince Harry: I really regret not talking about the death of my mother Princess Diana

Prince Harry said he did not speak about the impact of his mother's death until three years ago CREDIT: ANDREW PARSONS FOR THE TELEGRAPH

Prince Harry has said he regrets not opening up sooner about how his mother's death affected him.

The 31-year-old revealed he only began speaking three years ago about the sudden death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

The Prince was 12 and his brother Prince William 15 when Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris on August 31 1997.

The BBC reported that the Prince was asked by footballer Rio Ferdinand, whose wife died last year, about how it would impact his children, and replied: "I really regret not ever talking about it."

Princess Diana and Prince Harry in 1985 CREDIT: REX FEATURES

Prince Harry said that he did not speak about his loss "for the first 28 years of my life".

He added: "It's OK to suffer, as long as you talk about it.

"It's not a weakness. Weakness is having a problem and not recognising it and not solving that problem."

Prince Harry made the comments while hosting a Kensington Palace event for mental health charity Heads Together, attended by a number of high-profile sports stars who spoke about their psychological problems.

Founded by Harry with brother William and sister-in-law Kate, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Heads Together joins eight mental health charities and organisations to tackle the stigma around depression and other psychological problems.

Prince Harry was speaking at a Heads Together event at Kensington Palace, London CREDIT: PA

Former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand and Olympic gold medallists Victoria Pendleton and Dame Kelly Holmes were among the guests, and were accompanied by a partner, relative or sports psychologist who had helped them through their issues.
Prince Harry and sports stars speak openly about mental health challenges Play!02:39

Father-of-three Ferdinand said of the Prince: "He's gone through different stages in his life that my kids are going to be going towards.

"So to get some of his experiences is very rewarding for me and very educational in many ways."

Former Manchester United player Rio Ferdinand CREDIT: PA

Prince Harry added: "The key message here today is that everyone can suffer from mental health.

"Whether you're a member of the Royal Family, whether you're a soldier, whether you're a sports star, whether you're a team sport, individual sport, whether you're a white van driver, whether you're a mother, father, a child, it doesn't really matter."

Source: The Telegraph

Man Gets Life For 1984 Melanie Road Murder

After getting away with murder for almost 32 years, a father-of-four admits killing the teenager as she walked home alone.

Melanie's family said she was 'caring, kind, sensible and intelligent'

A 64-year-old father-of-four has been jailed for life after pleading guilty to the murder of 17-year-old Melanie Road in Bath 32 years ago.

Christopher Hampton will serve a minimum of 22 years after he admitted killing the teenager in the early hours of 9 June, 1984, as she made a 20-minute walk home alone following a night out with friends.

Melanie was sexually assaulted and died from multiple stab wounds to her chest and back.

Her body was discovered at 5.30am by a milkman and his son, near a block of garages a short distance from her home.

Hampton, from Staple Hill Road, Fishponds, Bristol, had been due to stand trial at Bristol Crown Court on Monday after denying the charge, but changed his plea at the last minute.

Members of Melanie's family, including her 81-year-old mother Jean, sat in the public gallery of court room one to hear Hampton admit his guilt.

Grey-haired Hampton, wearing glasses and a black suit and shirt, stood up and clearly replied "Guilty" as the murder charge was put to him.

The painter and decorator was caught only after his 41-year-old daughter was arrested over a minor incident in 2014 and her DNA profile was put on the national database.

A familial match was identified with DNA taken from Melanie's body and clothing in 1984 - prompting police to request a mouth swab from Hampton.

His DNA was found to match the sample taken from staining on Melanie's trousers.

Hampton had refused to answer questions in police interviews, referring to a statement read by his lawyer that merely said: "I did not kill or rape Melanie Road."

After Hampton's guilty plea, Melanie's mother described what it had been like to see the man who had evaded justice for her daughter's murder for so long.

She said: "When we finally went to the court in Bath and I saw this man standing there I thought 'it's not a man, he's a monster,' how could he do that?

"And then I realised that his wife and his daughter were sitting behind me - both blonde hair, the same as Melanie.

"How could he do that to somebody and then live with people like that and them not knowing?

"It hurts beyond repair. I always said if I got hold of him I'd strangle him or stick a knife into him, but I wouldn't even use my energy up on him.

"I feel he should be shut up in a dungeon...and left to rot, because he's not worth looking after."

Weeping as she read a victim impact statement in court, Melanie's sister Karen said she felt like she had been "living in a horror film" and her sister's death had affected every aspect of her life.

She said: "For me and my family, nothing has ever felt safe again. This is a nightmare I can't ever wake up from."

She said Melanie was "caring, kind, sensible and intelligent" about life and going travelling, but "her future was brutally taken".

Melanie's brother Adrian said: "I have spent the last 32 years worrying about every man that ever walked down the street, asking myself, 'did you kill our little sister Melanie?'."

Source: SKY News

Oil production: Nigeria loses top spot to Angola. Here’s what this could mean for Africa’s ‘largest economy.’

As the crash in the price of crude oil continues, data from the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries showed that Nigeria’s daily crude oil production fell by 67,000 barrels per day last month, thus making Nigeria lose its status as Africa’s top oil producer to Angola.

Pipeline vandalism and the destruction of oil and gas facilities in the Niger Delta have been causing Nigeria huge revenue losses and preventing the country from meeting its daily crude production targets.

In its Monthly Oil Market Report for April, which was released on Wednesday, OPEC reported that Nigeria produced 1.677 million barrels per day (bpd) in March, down from 1.744 million bpd in February, while the Angolan oil output rose from 1.767 million bpd to 1.782 million.

It should be noted that this is the second time in four months that Nigeria has been displaced from the top position by Angola in the production of crude oil in Africa.

In November last year, OPEC’s statistics showed that Nigeria’s production fell by 250,000, causing it to produce 1.607 million bpd, down from 1.812 million bpd in October. While Angola produced 1.722 million bpd, compared to 1.607 million bpd the previous month. Nigeria, as a major player in the global oil market, loses about 250,000 barrels daily due to this drop in production, leading to a low supply of gas and the loss in production capacity for most of the power plants in the country.

As a result of becoming Africa’s top oil producing nation, western countries may be more willing to conduct more business with Angola as it shows how reliable and secure their channels of oil production are, further reducing Nigeria’s potential revenue from oil. When this happens the following features are likely to occur:

Oil companies may lay off workers
The reduction in profits of companies like shell, chevron etc. will have severe consequences, some of which will include job cuts, layoffs and lower spending.

More debt
If oil prices keep falling and Nigeria keeps producing below its capacity due to negative externalities, given the weak level of foreign reserves, present economic pressures will remain and this may lead to government spending cuts. The government may also be forced to go to the capital market to issue bonds and borrow more money hence, increasing domestic debt.

Reduced revenue
Revenue will reduce due to the fact that Nigeria will be unable to get a substantial amount of returns from its primary export product, oil. The fall in prices coupled with a fall in oil production will massively reduce its revenue as a nation.

The post Oil production: Nigeria loses top spot to Angola. Here’s what this could mean for Africa’s ‘largest economy.’ appeared first on Ventures Africa.

source: UNCOVA

'Monster' alligator killed in Florida hunt

© Lee Lightsey/Outwest Farms, Inc./Handout via Reuters Nine-year-old Mason Lightsey is pictured with a 800-pound (363 kg) giant alligator caught at his father Lee Lightsey's farm in Venus, Florida in this April 2, 2016 handout photo released on April 6, 2016…

A 780-pound "monster" alligator slain in a Florida hunt and hauled out of the water with a farm tractor falls short of the state record for length, a wildlife official said on Wednesday.

"A big alligator nonetheless, but they are not going to have an official measurement because it's not going to beat the record," Tony Young, spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said in a phone interview.

The longest alligator caught in the wild in Florida was measured at 14 feet 3-1/2 inches, he said. The state record for the heaviest gator taken from the wild is 1,043 pounds, according to the commission's records.

The animal killed on Saturday in a hunt at Outwest Farms in Okeechobee near the Florida Everglades was estimated by farm officials to be about 15 feet long, local media reported.

Outwest Farms charges $550 to $10,000 for hunting alligators up to 13 feet and longer, according to its website.

Farm officials believe the alligator was attacking cattle, local media reported.

The gator was discovered in a pond where cattle came to drink, hunting guide Blake Godwin told local news station Fox 13. The hunters used a farm machine to pull it from the water after shooting it, he added.

Outwest Farms posted a photo of what was described as a "monster" capture on Facebook, where a photo of the large animal dangling in the air from the farm equipment prompted mixed feelings. The post later appeared to have been taken down.

"This is making me physically ill," one person said in a post.

Another poster defended the kill: "For anyone that is talking about relocating this beast ... Why not y'all mess with a 15-foot, 800-pound gator? That gator could easily take your life like he was that cattle."

Source: MSN News

3 SA ex-cops were training NPP guards for free

A counsel for three repatriated South African former cops has disclosed that the men did not charge to train bodyguards for the leadership of the New Patriotic Party.

Mr. Atta Akyea was contesting claims that three former police officers were working in Ghana.

“They were not working…that means you are talking about remuneration. This people came to help them,” he told TV3 New Day Wednesday.

Ahmed Shaik Hazis, Denver Dwayne Naidu and Mlungiseleli Jokani were arrested in the Central Region last week engaging in security activities contrary to what their visas permitted them to do in Ghana.

They were put before court for conspiracy to commit crime and unlawful training but were granted bail on Thursday. They were however deported to South Africa Tuesday morning.

Atta Akyea who is the Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South stressed, “They were not going to be paid. That is the point of the whole matter. They have not put any price on what they were doing; so why should anybody imagine… ”

He however fell short of disclosing who covered their travel cost from South Africa to Ghana

“I’m not able to divulge that because with all respect, I don’t have the full information as to the cost of their coming. But what I know is that this was for free.

“There are a lot of things that happen for free when they know that there is a good man to protect his interest.”

At the time of their arrest, the three ex-cops were training 15 men in VIP protection and other security drills for NPP’s presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo, his running mate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and their spouses.

Atta Akyea told New Day host Bridget Otoo that the party would find a way of providing security to the leadership of the party.

“We will ensure that Nana Akufo-Addo’s security is not naked,” he emphasized and assured that the party would not do anything to create unnecessary tension in the country.

Source: TV3 Network

Five Die After Car Enters Sea In County Donegal

An infant is the only one of six occupants of a vehicle that went off Buncrana pier to be recovered alive, the coastguard says.

Five people have died after a car apparently entered the water at Buncrana pier, Co. Donegal, the Irish coastguard has confirmed.

At least two children are understood to have been in the vehicle at the time the "tragic accident" occurred.

It is not clear how the car, which is believed to have a Northern Ireland registration plate, ended up in the water.

Sky's Ireland Correspondent David Blevins said: "At this stage, Malin Head coastguard is confirming that there are five fatalities.

"There are adults and children among the dead.

"An infant has been recovered from the water and taken to Letterkenny in Co. Donegal.

"A major search and rescue operation is ongoing and has been going on for a couple of hours now.

"Fishing crews that have come back are assisting with the lifeboat crews and the coastguard helicopter.

"We understand that a jeep with a family on board entered the water at the pier from Buncrana in what's being described now as a tragic accident.

"This will be an area that is very popular with families from all over Ireland - from Donegal and indeed from Northern Ireland, which is not far over the Irish border."

An Irish police spokesman said: "Gardai and emergency services are at the scene of an incident that occurred at Buncrana Pier this evening.

"A car entered the water and a search of the area is currently ongoing. No further information at present."

Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said said on Twitter: "Very sad news of fatalities in an incident at Buncrana Pier tonight.

"Thoughts are with relatives of those involved and rescue services."

Source: Sky News

Obama arrives in Cuba; hopes visit will usher in change

President Barack Obama touched down in Cuba on Sunday, definitively ending a half-century of estrangement in a dramatic personal demonstration of his core foreign policy principle of engaging America's enemies.

It's a shift that the change-minded president hopes will nudge the Communist government here to grant more freedoms to its people and open new economic channels for American businesses. The President and his allies also hope a successful détente will offer something bigger: a lasting example of diplomacy's power in dealing with longtime foes.

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