Gambia’s president-elect, Adama Barrow, has hinted that he will swear himself in as substantive president when the tenure of outgoing Yahya Jammeh runs out in January. The businessman who run on the ticket of an opposition coalition won the December 1 polls beating Jammeh who has been in power since 1994.

Barrow told the BBC’s reporter who covered the elections, Umaru Fofana that Jammeh’s tenure ends on January 18 and he will declare himself president if Jammeh does not step down.

“Our position is very very clear. I’m President-elect, we advise the president to cooperate. We have a team that is working on our inauguration. We are working on it; on the 18th, I’m the legal president of this country,” Barrow said

Jammeh on December 2, a day after the polls surprisingly accepted defeat and called to congratulate Barrow on his victory with the firm promise to hand over and return to his village to farm.

A week later, Jammeh announced on the public broadcaster that he was not stepping down. According to him, the elections he lost were fraught with irregularities which his team got to know of later. He subsequently called for a rerun of the polls.

He received a lot of local and international flack for his U-turn. The regional political bloc, the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN) led in condemnation of his new position. The Gambia’s only landed neighbour Senegal also joined in the condemnation.

Back at home, the opposition parties have chided Jammeh calling for him to step down immediately. Different groups in the country have joined in, media people, health workers, teachers, lawyers and other professional groups continue to call for him to respect the will of the Gambian electorate.

Security personnel on Tuesday took over the headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) on the same day when African Heads of State were meeting with Jammeh to get him to step down. That meeting according to Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf ended in a stalemate.

That same evening, Jammeh’s party filed documents with the Supreme Court asking for the annulment of the elections of December 1 citing among others, irregularities by the IEC and intimidation of its supporters.

under Fowler, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), revealed the new plan at the 136th meeting of the Joint Tax Board in Abuja, the News Agency of Nigeria reported.

Any Nigerian who either wants to apply for a new passport or renew an old one will have to show evidence of being a tax payer, Mr Fowler said.

“We did take a position and I believe it would be implemented in the very near future that before you get any services from the immigration department: renewal of passports etc, you’d have to show that you are a tax payer,” Mr Fowler said. “These things are normal all over the world and it would help us to serve Nigerians and Nigeria better.”

He added: “People believe that payment of tax is a burden and I’ll repeat that you only pay tax on income and profits. So, if you reside in Nigeria and you are benefiting from being a Nigerian resident, it is only fair that you contribute to the system that makes you enjoy that standard of living.’’

Following complaints from Nigerians, the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Immigration Service, (NIS) Muhammad Babandede has revealed that the validity period of international passport will be extended to 10 years.

Source: http://www.afronews.de/

Gambia’s ex-ruler Yahya Jammeh stands accused of stealing more than 11 million dollars in cash from state coffers before flying into exile at the weekend.

Luxury goods including cars are also said to have been flown out of the country.
An adviser to new President Adama Barrow said that 500 million dalasis ($11.45 million) had been withdrawn by Jammeh in the past two weeks alone.

Speaking to radio station RFM in neighbouring Senegal, where he is waiting to return to Gambia, Barrow said:

“According to information we received, there is no money in the coffers.”
Barrow was sworn into office in Senegal, amid the political standoff that followed his victory in December’s election.
After more than two decades in power in Gambia, Jammeh had refused to accept defeat and only mediation by African leaders as well as the threat of force convinced him to end his iron rule in the impoverished country.

A West African regional military force has entered Gambia’s capital city of Banjul, paving the way for Barrow’s arrival – a prospect that has sparked celebrations in the streets and the return of many of those who had fled amid fears of unrest.

Thousands of Gambians have sought asylum abroad over the years, with their long-time ruler accused by rights groups of jailing, torturing and killing his political opponents while acquiring a vast fortune for himself.
euronews.com

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A working visit to Ghana Embassy Berlin: The social and economic advancement of a Diaspora community to a large extent depends on the policies, efficiency, and competence of the embassy and particularly the Ambassador in charge. The embassies have two major focuses, one is the interest of the home country, and two is the interest of the people in the Diaspora. It is no secret that the first is of paramount interest to the embassy staffs.

The complaints about the working ethics of the embassy in Berlin become a daily talked about issue. A fact finding mission to the embassy was inevitable. To avoid a long essay, let’s overlook the immediate past where the Ghana Embassies worldwide had no passport booklets, which was an extremely embarrassing development in our history.

Online Passport form
Before travelling to Berlin, I visited the Ghana Embassy Berlin website: http://berlin.ghpassportonline.com/ and filled the passport forms. As a Systems Engineer, I must admit it was not user friendly, a mixture of Postal Codes as practiced in Germany and Post office Box as done in Ghana. 
Then again, the Calendar integrated in the program could be better, though I finally found a way out. Let’s be honest we don’t apply for Passports on a daily basis. 

But one could tell that it is a one system for all countries approach. I would suggest that the forms be adjusted to suit the Ghanaian embassies in various countries. This is a matter of deactivating some of the buttons, and working on the default fields. The forms accept too many errors…

Nevertheless let’s be proud we are advancing with the technological age as a country, there is always room for improvement.

Submission of Passport forms & Processing
When, I arrived around 10.30 the passport section -/front desk was filled to capacity, I spent majority of the time there, speaking to junior staffs of the embassy, A family from Manheim, a mother and daughter from Dortmund, a man from Stuttgart, and a lot of Ghanaians from Hamburg.

Challenges noticed
My forms were full of errors, and that of a post graduate student from Hamburg as well. Some of the errors couldn’t be detected by the program, while others were man-made. The inability to complete the forms well is the main challenge and the source of delay.

Names
Most Ghanaians have multiple and compound names, for instance Beddy, John Desmond then again Beddy, Desmond John. Sadly some could not tell what their surnames was. All detected errors had to be filled manually by the workers at the counter. The allocated time of 20 minutes per person is absolutely inadequate since the error rate is about 80% per applicants.

Appointments
People coming to process their passports without appointments made up about 30 percent. Those with tangible reasons were served, the question is what tangible reason is? Kofi who comes from far away Munich has to insist on seeing the Boss, since his reason was not accepted. Funerals remain the number one reason why people insist they must be considered. 

Older citizens and mothers with babies without appointments are considered to the detriment of those already waiting impatiently and hungry. Everyone is served according to the time of appointment.

Finger print machine
Another addressable challenge is the finger print machine, I had to try several times before it succeeded, remember at any given time it was someone else’s turn.

For the first time I felt sad for the workers, the telephone was constantly ringing, picking a call means not serving the people, and then again people don’t go straight to the point. Is it about a Passport or Visa? People first begin with a very long story without coming to point.

Visa Section
The Visa section which has been separated from the Passports section was a good decision, it was quite orderly, except one could notice it was a temporary arrangement not an outstanding working environment for a staff. 
Ghanaians holding German Passports have complained bitterly about higher visa fees as compared to other European countries like France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK. Since it is a huge source of income to the government, I advise they take advantage of the RIGHT OF ABODE, which is obtainable at the Ministry of Interior for a fee.

Dialogue with Junior Staffs
It is no secret junior staffs could not say much, these days getting a job is not easy, and nobody wants to lose his or her job. At least they revealed they sometimes work on Sundays. Then again one said they come to work as early as 6.30 in the morning.

Dialogue with the Head of Consuler Section
I first congratulated Mr. Samuel Adotey Anum, Minister and Head of Consuler section about their good works and that within a short period they have introduced Visa and Passports online. Ghanaians love good news first.

I asked our senior diplomat how many times he goes downstairs to take questions. He confirmed several times a day, and added that Mondays and Thursdays are hectic. I went straight to the point, what are you people doing to address the challenges at the Passport section?

As I came to post we used to serve about 200 people per month, but as of today we are serving about 800 people per month. The concrete step is that we have acquired two capturing and processing gadgets in addition to the existing one. Soon we shall have two staffs at the front desk at a given time. One of the gadget is a mobile system, thus we will be travelling to the major cities to capture and process the passport forms. The people are then spared the stress and time of travelling to Berlin. 

We have already arranged with the community leadership in Freiburg to go and have their forms processed and Bio details captiured there. For Hamburg it is going to be easier since we already have a Consulate there.

Receiving Calls
I had difficulty asking why calls are not picked at the reception, based on what I noticed.

What could be done
A form of Ticketing System could be introduced, with first and second level support. Two or three well trained workers with adequate efficiency in English, German, and some local languages could answer calls. They can solve minor issues and forward those complicated issues to the rightful workers.

IT- Training:
The leadership should constantly be upgrading and updating their staffs with periodic training, to keep them informed since the IT world is extremely dynamic.

More Staff & System
Obviously the consular section is under staffed and needs a few more working hands. Some could be employed on four hours basis per day. From 10 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon.

Time per Applicant
Time allocated to each applicant is inadequate, it needs to increase from 20 minutes to 30 minutes or decrease the appointments per day.

Community Leadership
Community leaders like UGAG, Ghana Unions, Opinion Leaders, Chiefs and Pastors who have access to the top hierarchy should occasionally undertake familiarization tours to the Embassy, dialogue with the Embassy and propose how best their people can be served. Let us be reminded that positions goes with responsibilities.

God Bless Ghana
God Bless Germany
Desmond John Beddy

Pastor Lethebo Rabalago of the Mount Zion General Assembly (MZGA) in Limpopo posted photos on his Facebook page of him spraying congregants with Doom Super Multi Insect Killer to cure various ailments.

One of the posts attributed to a congregant said: “I came here with a pain on my back and stomach. Now, after the prophet sprayed me with Doom I am healed. My nose was blocked since last week, but after the prophet sprayed me with Doom I feel coming out of my nose. I thank God for healing me.”
Rabalago told the South African TV channel eNCA that God had told him to use Doom, and that he had healed countless people using it.

Doom manufacturer Tiger Brands condemned the practice saying it found it “alarming and extremely concerning,” Iol.co.za reported.

Tiger Brands spokesperson Nevashnee Naicker emphasised that it was “unsafe to spray Doom Super Multi-Insect Killer, or any other aerosol spray for that matter, into people’s faces”.

“Doom has been formulated to kill specific insects which are detailed on the cans, and the packaging has very clear instructions and health warnings for humans, which must be adhered to. Using this product for purposes other than what it is intended for poses health risks and is therefore dangerous,” said Naicker.

“If Doom Super Multi-Insect Killer is sprayed into your face,” she warned, “you need to wash your face and/or wash out your eyes immediately and avoid inhalation”.

Naicker added that they were contacting Rabalago to get him to stop these practices.

South Africa’s Commission for the Promotion and Protection of Cultural, Religious and Linguistic Communities (CRL) said Rabalago’s actions were both shocking but repugnant. “No one should be subjected to conditions that are detrimental to their health and wellbeing,” CRL said.

Commission chairperson Thoko Mkhwanazi-Xaluva said: “As a commission, we categorically state that no one should be subjected to conditions that are detrimental to their health and wellbeing.”

Rabalago’s actions have been strongly condemned by South Africans on the social media.

Source: http://www.afronews.de/

The Ghana Community in Hamburg is to conduct an election to elect new executive members of the Ghana Union. We are therefore asking and challenging all legible Ghanaians in Hamburg and its immediate surrounding to make themselves available. We are appealing to all community leaders; professionals, artisans, religious-Leaders, ethnic and youth leaders to help mobilize the masses for this all-important exercise.

The following Ghana Union Executive positions are to be contested for:
1. President
2. Vice President
3. General Secretary
4. Vice General Secretary
5. Welfare Secretary
6.Financial Secretary
7.Youth Organizer
8.Organizing Secretary
9.  Women Organizer

Responsibilities:
To support the social and economic welfare of Ghanaians in Hamburg
To provide the needed leadership for economic growth
To stimulate the spirit of patriotism amongst Ghanaians living in Hamburg
To encourage networking amongst Ghanaian institutions home and abroad
To serve as a mouth piece of the Ghana Community

Eligible:
Candidates interested in positions of the President and vice Presidents must belong to a Ghanaian affiliated organisation, for instance, Asanteman Union, GaDangme Union or Ewe Union and be Ghanaian irrespective of the passports they hold.

Candidates interested in the position of Youth Organizer must not be more than 35 years old before elections are conducted, and be Ghanaian irrespective of the passports they hold.

All other positions have no restrictions except attaining the voting age of 18 years.

Date and venue of ELECTIONS will be made available after contesting candidates have registered and campaigned for a stipulated period 

Please pass this vital information to all Ghanaians.

Contact:
Desmond John Beddy -/Electoral Team
Tel: 017632140550
email: 
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

COPS in Kuwaiti police have detained a woman who filmed her Ethiopian maid screaming for help before falling from a window instead of helping her.

Shocking footage emerged showing the domestic worker clinging on to a window frame by her fingertips and howling in terror.
Dangling by just one hand she hangs outside the window, begging for help as she stares seven stories down.

The terrified maid is screams “hold me, hold me”.

But instead of helping, the Kuwaiti woman – who is reportedly her employer – simply stands and films her.
The woman holding the camera is heard telling the hanging maid: “Oh crazy, come back.”

Then, in a heartstopping moment, her grip finally fails her and she plummets seven floors, smashing into a metal awning.

But her employer does not even seem to react, simply following her down with the camera before posting the footage to social media, Al-Seyassah newspaper reported.

Miraculously the African worker survived her fall, which is said to have come about as the result of a last minute change of heart during a suicide attempt.

The metal awning which she slams into with a sickening thud seems to soften her fall, as she managed to limp away.

A second video shows emergency workers helping the woman down a ladder after her death-defying fall.

Paramedics rushed her to hospital where she was found to have suffered a broken arm and bleeding from her nose and ear, it was reported.

Cops have now referred the employer to prosecutors for failing to help the victim, the newspaper said.
The reasons for the maid’s attempted suicide, meanwhile, have not been revealed.

The Kuwait Society for Human Rights on Friday called on the authorities to investigate the case and refer it to court.

The oil-rich Gulf state is home to more than 600,000 domestic helpers, largely from Asia, many of whom complain of abuse, mistreatment and non-payment of wages.

Hundreds of maids escape their employers every year over abuse, and the government has set up shelters for them. Some seek help from their embassies.

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