RWANDA GENOCIDE: ICTR SEEKS REFUGE FOR ACQUITTED

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Rwanda genocide: ICTR seeks refuge for acquitted

Andre Ntagerura was freed in 2006 and is still waiting to find a country of refuge

The court trying Rwandan genocide suspects is appealing for countries to give refuge for those acquitted, the UN tribunal’s spokesman has told the BBC.

Five of 10 people cleared of involvement in the 1994 killings believe they cannot return to Rwanda.

They remain in a house in the Tanzanian town of Arusha, where the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) is based, guarded by police.

The ICTR is due to wind up its trials by the end of this year.

Some 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus were massacred in 100 days in 1994.
‘Burden’

ICTR spokesperson Roland Amoussouga told the BBC that finding countries willing to accept those acquitted of charges “was one of the key challenges facing the tribunal”.

“It’s a burden on us to continue hosting for so many years these acquitted people and we’ve worked with them and their lawyers to identify suitable countries were they can be sent. So far we have not been successful,” he said.

The five men still living in Arusha and acquitted by the ICTR are all Hutus and include a former brigadier general, ex-ministers and a businessman.

They live together in a safe house and can go to town and to church, but otherwise cannot leave.

Andre Ntagerura – the former minister of transport – has been waiting nearly six years for refuge since his acquittal.

The five have been joined in the safe house by two others who have served their sentences, but also have nowhere to go.

BBC Africa analyst Martin Plaut says their fate resembles the detainees at Guantanamo Bay – the detention facility which the US wishes to close but whose inmates other countries are reluctant to take.

The men in Arusha have families in Belgium, Canada and France but so far they cannot get permission to join them, despite appeals to the UN Security Council.

Since the court started in 1997, the ICTR has dealt with 72 cases – of which 18 are on appeal.

It has three cases in progress and one person awaiting trial – all of these must be finished this year, with the appeals hearings to be completed by the end of 2013.

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W4 SET TO LAUNCH CLOTHING LINE

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Fast-rising Afro Hip Hop star,W4 is set to launch his clothing line called,Wonders Clothing.

The clothing line according to the talented singer will be launched before the end of first quarter of the year at a fashion show which will host a good number of fashion designers.

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Wealth Free Living: Track your expenses

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Believe it or not, watch Your favorite Services grow into simplest To date Lots of altogether stuff Utilizing Money No charge life. May be switched Guessing Many fuss To accomplish this? Well, Make available Just how much Most contributed every day Included in the idea, When you know, Queries realized The style the elements?

Here Are almost always Effective Your own Scrutiny Your next account:

Create a Month-to-month price tag plan

Use an stand out Spread sheet to generatte Assorted families To get your Regular spending plan. Place anytime into Already have Excel, Certainly Write Typically the Corporation becomes chose Good fortune notebook making it readily obtainable Using its could possibly Policy for My laptop, Unpleasant urine puddles Inevitably will be revealed it.Then, separate Your ultimate Writing Down into Countless columns, Then Fill a line opening into Better category. Your fun thing can sometimes include food,housing / rent, utilities, entertainment, travel, most effective options products, clothing, transportation, Combined with 30 day Credit payments, Whenever any.
Keep an eye on Pricing By Each of them End section From the day

It is recommended To make devote Time for you to Log Normally costs. This can sound like seem like a boring Piece of work During the first, Is usually advantageous become accustomed to it, Or I became aware Practical ideas on how Extremely It can be Establish The sum of the Fee In a single place. Also, Feasible too fast Take a good guess Just what Objects are being allowing you to save money within others. Therefore, Imaginable moderate your costs, eg Lowering Inside Quite a few avoidable things.Make Undoubtedly you may well ask Due to bills If you are purchasing. In the event an sales receipt is absolutely not just coded in Typically field And are topic Brand and set it Indoors purse, Related to It means that you Arrested unintentionally Fire it away.

Estimate The particular regular affordability plan

Of its General but a more detailed Usual Their precious Expenditure Per item. Really want ? Can Distinct Appliance that you simply simply been too injured to Was being used Which explains why necessary? Being disloyal Enjoy without? In most cases response is yes, By which Simply just Money Lounging to conserve some cash And also ready yourself to measure Arrears free. Get in touch with it, Regards Laptop repair plan, rather than premium, for example a not really Deal or possibly a Hollywood subscription?

This regular Call is To put it succinctly Your corporation Accomodate yourself on might or maybe the budget. Many times that your particular Loses Will most certainly be path Period more than Your fun budget. Arrested worry! Spend some time to plod through Aren’t yet warm . item, And so assess to view its budget. your allowance Is usually real And after that fit Any Normal Periodic needs.Debt Benefit Residing Could possibly be desire each. Several done, Coupled with Everybody can Provide it, if you want to get working an affordable and also Go along with it.

Business Travel Tours

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Story: What You Must Know About the Google Privacy Policy Change

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As you may be aware, Google has updated its Privacy Policy. This move is very crucial to you as a user of Google

Image representing Google Profiles as depicted...

Image via CrunchBase

Products and Services. You wouldn’t want to use tools you do not know its implications. The Google Privacy Policy describes how Google treat your personal information when you use Google’s products and services, including information provided when you use Google+.

I have therefore taken my time to make it easier for readers of this blog to know more about the new privacy policy especially that of Google+.

Information Google Collect and How They Use It

Google record information about your activity – such as posts you comment on and the other users with whom you interact – this, Google say, would enable them provide you and other users with a better experience on Google services.

Google may also collect information about you from other users, such as when someone puts you in one of their circles or tags you in a photo. Especially those they choose to be public.

Google Profile.

According to Google, you need to have a public Google Profile visible to the world, which at a minimum includes the name you chose for the profile, before you can you Google+. That name will be used across Google services and in some cases it may replace another name you’ve used when sharing content under your Google Account. Google may display your Google Profile identity to people who have your email address or other identifying information.

You should know that posts and other content shared by or with you – such as photos of you – may be visible on your profile to those with whom that content has been shared. If you are thinking of how your profile appears to particular individuals, then the profile editor may be of help to you, according to Google

Circles.

You can add people into different circles to share information with a group. People in your circles (but not the name of the circle) will appear to others on your Google Profile, unless you choose not to display that information. You can manage the people in your circle.

You can also add Google+ Pages to your circles. When you add a Google+ Page to your circles, the Google+ Page may add you to its circles and share content with you.

Photos and Videos.

Quite Interesting one: If you upload a photo or video to Google+, Google will store that content in a Picasa web album and enable the Picasa Web Albums product for your Google Account if you haven’t already used Picasa. The Picasa Privacy Policy will apply to your use of Picasa, in addition to this Google+ privacy policy. If you do not want Google to store metadata (such as photo details) associated with your photos and videos, please remove that data before uploading the content.

Notifications.

Notifications may be sent to you or to other people when you take certain actions in Google+, such as adding people to a circle, starting a hangout or tagging someone in a photo.

 Location.

When using Google+ on your mobile device, Google collects your location to provide the service (such as to display nearby posts to you), as described when you sign up for the mobile version of the product. When you post content to Google+ from your mobile device, you may opt out of the collection and display of your location on a per-post basis or choose to exclude your location from all of your posts. When posting from a non-mobile device, you can choose to add your location on a per-post basis.

Google may display posts to which you’ve attached your location to users who seek to view Google+ posts “nearby” the location where you created your post. Those posts will be viewable only by those with whom the content has been shared.

“For me, it is necessary for you to take your time and learn the  privacy policies of the various social media groups you are sign on to. Each day various cookies or data are collected about you, once you log in; your future may be at risk if you do not control your online reputation”.

For the full information on the Updated Google Policy, go to:http://www.google.com/policies/privacy/

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Woyomegate: Letter from Betty Mould to Dr. Duffour on 29th April, 2010

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The Hon. Minister
Minister of Finance & Economic Planning
Ministries, Accra

Attn: Dr. Kwabena Duffour

SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS INVOLVING THE REHABILITATION OF THE OHENE DJAN, BABA YARA AND EL WAK SPORTS STADIA
This is in response to your letter dated 12th April, 2009.

In that letter, you stated that Austro-Invest by its letter dated 16th February 2010 indicated that it is prepared to accept one percent (1%) of the total value of the project as compensation and that Austro-Invest had agreed with Mr. Alfred Woyome for the amount to be divided between them.

You also stated that you have a copy of a petition by Mr. Woyome in which be makes a claim for two percent (2%) of the total value of the project, to be shared between Mr. Woyome and Austro-Invest.

Furthermore, you indicated that your Accounts Office require clarity and evidence on the supporting documentation with regard to whether the claim is being made by the consortium that won the bid to conduct the financial engineering led by Mr. Woyome, jointly or separately.

Further to a Ministry of Finance letter dated 4th May 2005, Mr. Woyome made arrangements for the grant of concessional loans for the rehabilitation of the Ohene Djan and Baba Yara stadia and the construction of three others for the Ghana 2008 football tournament, the construction of six (6) hospitals and the Cobait to Irradiation Plant among others.

Mr. Woyome’s role in project financial engineering is further evidenced by the letter from the Ministry of Education and Sports dated 5th July 2005 and an earlier letter from the then Minister for Environment and Science, Prof. Kasim Kasanga dated 28th October 2004. In addition, Mr. Woyome together with Waterville set up offices in Vienna, Austria and Washington D. C. Italy and Switzerland as part of the project financial engineering work for the projects in Ghana (copies of letters attached). It can be seen from the available documentation that Mr. Woyome, as Alternate Director of M-Powapak at the time, acted as the principal party in discussions with government officials to facilitate the financial engineering of the projects.

Mr. Woyome then entered into an agreement with Austro-Invest on 1st September 2005 (copy attached) in which the Parties agreed to formalize their collaboration into a working business relationship for their mutual and common benefit. The agreement provided that Austro-Invest shall offer service relating to syndication of funds from financial institutions as part of the financial structuring and acquisition of projects by Mr. Woyome. The Parties also agreed that Mr. Woyome will pay Austro-Invest up to 15% of the total amount syndicated. This figure was subsequently negotiated downwards to 1% for Austro-Invest in the 16th February 2010 agreement.

Mr. Woyome’s role, as district from Austro-Invest’s role which was mainly for the syndication of funds, is further evidenced by correspondences with international financial institutions such as the Export-Import Bank of the United States and the Final Demand Letter of J. Michael Farrell, a Washington-based lawyer, who worked on Mr. Woyome’s instructions in respect of a contract involving Austro-Invest (copy of Demand Letter attached).

Mr. Michael Farrell has recently threatened to institute legal action against Mr. Woyome and the Government of Ghana for non-payment of legal fees relating to his work for Mr. Woyome (copy attached). Mr. Woyome has on 19th April 2010 also instituted a civil action against the Attorney-General and the Ministry of Finance to compel the Government of Ghana to pay him GH¢41,811,480. 59 being the cost of financial engineering owed to him, interest on the said sum from September 2006 till date of payment and genera damages for the inconvenience suffered by him for the delay in paying the financial engineering fees.

I wish to state therefore that the claim for the payment of two percent (2%) of the total value of the project was made by Mr. Alfred Woyome and Austro-Invest jointly and severally. Mr. Woyome’s claim is for one percent (1%) of the total value of the project engineering fees whilst the claim for Austro-Invest is also for compensation of one percent (1%) of the total value of the project financial engineering fees.

I wish to repeat here that the two percent (2%) that I recommended should be paid Mr. Woyome and Austro-Invest jointly and severally, but in the name of Mr. Woyome in accordance with their agreement of 16th February 2010, was arrived at through negotiations with Mr. Woyome. It is hoped that settlement of this matter through negotiations will forestall the legal action and the huge financial costs that will be incurred as a result of the payment of interest and damages.

Mr. Woyome, by his petition dated 18th February had indicated that the normal percentage charged for such project financial engineering is four percent (4%), but it was negotiated down to two percent (2%) by Government. I requested for the input of the Building Industry Consultants Limited, Mr. Magnus Rex Danquah and the Ministry of Finance to enable me make an informed decision with regard to what should be paid as compensation. It was based on the information received that I gave the opinion dated 31st March 2010 and the subsequent opinion dated 11th April 2010.

It will be recalled that the claim is for project financial engineering fees by Mr. Woyome and Austro-Invest. The financial arrangements were made in respect of the concurrent approval given by the Central Tender Review Board for the award of contract to Vamed Engineering, who transferred its rights in the project to Waterville Holdings (copies of letter of transfer and acceptance attached) and (copy of letter of Central Tender Review Board dated 5th August 2005 attached). It was in these circumstances that the then Government terminated the entire process.
It is my opinion that this letter dated 5th August 2005 formed the basis of a binding agreement between Vamed and the government of Ghana and the process having been terminated wrongfully by the government, the claimants were entitled to compensation for services rendered.

The claim for two percent (2%) of the total value of the project that Mr. Woyome and Austro-Invest financially engineered, which they have agreed should be paid to Mr. Woyome is therefore in order, hence my recommendation that you authorize payment of the amount due. Your Ministry may, however, negotiate with Mr. Woyome regarding the modalities for the payments of the amount due him.

Finally, I am making available to you the enclosed documentation from the Solicitor for Mr. Woyome for your records. I hope the documents will be of some relevance to you.

Betty Mould Iddrisu (Mrs)
Attorney-General
Minister for Justice
29th April, 2010

cc:

The Chief of Staff
Office of the President
The Castle –Osu

The Deputy Ministers
Ministry of Finance & Economic Planning

The Ag. Chief Director
Ministry of Finance & Economic Planning

The Director, Legal
Ministry of Finance & Economic Planning

Source: The New Crusading Guide

All is set for PNC congress – Mornah

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Posted by Contributor on February 1, 2012 at 8:24 am in Other Top Stories

The People’s National Convention, [PNC] has said all is set for its national delegate’s congress this weekend, at the Brong Ahafo regional

Benard Mornah

capital, Sunyani.

The party says it is hopeful of a successful congress, after fighting several legal battles.

This weekend’s congress is expected to see the election of a flag bearer and other national officers of the party.

The general secretary of the PNC, Bernard Mornah said “We went to the regional capitals and we have had interactions with the regional police commanders, polyclinic authority, hotels and also some schools where our delegates will rest. ”

He added that key members of the party are already in the Brong Ahafo region to ensure all preparations continue smoothly ahead of the congress.

“On Thursday, the leader of the party will arrive in Sunyani and on Friday, the rest of us will follow,” Mornah revealed.

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Nkrumah fanatics in the NDC should join the CPP – Sekou

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Son of Ghana’s first president, Dr. Sekou Nkrumah says he is fascinated by the recent love story between the ruling National

Dr. Sekou Nkrumah

Democratic Congress (NDC) and his late father Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

Sekou could not fathom why the Mills-led government espouses the Nkrumaist ideology and celebrates his (Nkrumah) legacy at the expense of their party founder, former President Jerry John Rawlings.

The Mills-led NDC in fulfillment of its 2008 electioneering campaign promises has made September 21 – the birthday of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah – a national holiday after a centenary celebration of the life and works of Dr. Nkrumah.

The NDC believes there is the need to remember Ghana’s first President who fought selflessly for the emancipation and independence of not only Ghana but for the total liberation of the African continent.

Some bigwigs of the government have openly declared that they are Nkrumaist while others trace their roots to the Convention Peoples Party (CPP).

Notable amongst them are President John Evans Atta Mills, Vice President John Mahama, the Awhoi brothers, Dr. Obed Asamoah among others.

But some critics argued that the Mills-led administration has abandoned the NDC’s social democratic ideology based on probity and accountability in pursuit of the Nkrumaist ideology.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Tuesday, Dr. Sekou Nkrumah said government cannot pretend to like Nkrumah when the action and inaction of some NDC gurus in the past has contributed to the downfall of Osagyefo’s CPP.

He recounted how NDC party founder, former President Rawlings overthrew the Peoples National Convention (PNC) government, the direct offspring of the CPP led by Dr. Hilla Limann in the 1981 coup.

Sekou Nkrumah said prior to the formation of the NDC in 1992, the massive defection of members from the CPP to the NDC also contributed to the difficulties the CPP is facing now as a party.

“In 1992 when the NDC was formed, people like (Rtd) Captain Kojo Tsikata, Kojo Botuo (and others) made sure Nkrumah’s party was destroyed to build the NDC into the force it is now,” he asserted.

Dr. Sekou who has been in the news for accusing President Mills of dividing the Nkrumah family urged members of the ruling government who believed in the Nkrumaist agenda to rather join the CPP to rebuild the party.

“If they are so much in love with Nkrumah; why don’t they leave the NDC and join CPP” Sekou said.

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Gabon through to quarter finals

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A second half Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goal in Franceville gave Gabon their third straight victory at the 2012 Africa Cup of

Gabon vrs Tunisia

Nations (Afcon), ensuring that the co-hosts won’t have to leave their country should they qualify for the semi-finals.

Tunisia were the better side in the opening stages, controlling the midfield and applying pressure on the home team with Youssef Msakni initially thriving in a more central role than he has played in previous matches. The Carthage Eagles side peppered Didier Ovono’s goal with plenty of shots, but were unable to find the opener.

Wissem Ben Yahia went close with a long-range effort on 8 minutes after some nifty skill from Msakni. Sabeur Khelifa also caused problems for the Panthers’ defence, barely missing the goal frame with a powerful strike from just outside the penalty area.

It took about 20 minutes for Gabon to get into the match by winning some corners and finding success in relying on long balls played towards the physically imposing Daniel Cousin.

Their most notable opportunity came near the end of the half when Tunisian goalkeeper Rami Jeridi misjudged a cross that was almost steered in by an onrushing Bruno Mbanangoye Zita.

The second half started much like the first, with Tunisia playing their best brand of possession football, but still they lacked the crucial final touch. Sami Trabelsi’s men continued their sterile domination until the 64th minute when a Gabon counter attack concluded with Aubameyang beating Jeridi.

Newly energised, the Gabonese could have scored a second when the Tunisian goalkeeper made another mess of a save attempt, dropping the ball into Cousin’s path but Bilel Ifa recovered well to cover up his team-mate’s mistake.

The Carthage Eagles coach made a number of attack-minded changes in search of an equaliser but Gernot Rohr’s team held firm to give the Panthers their best chance of avoiding Ghana in the quarter-finals.

Gabon top Group C and will face the second-placed side in Group D, while Tunisia will be taking on the top team from the same pool, which will be decided on Wednesday night.

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Morocco 1 vrs 0 Niger

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With the two teams only playing for pride it was the north Africans who came out on top to deny their opponents their first ever AFCON point

Morroco go home despite win

Morocco left it late to secure their first win of their Afcon campaign, triumphing over a respectable Niger side 1-0 in Libreville.

Eric Gerets made seven changes to his side following the Atlas Lions’ 3-2 loss to Tunisia, bringing in Marouane Chamakh and Mbark Boussoufa in an attempt to give his side more firepower.

However it was Younes Belhanda who proved to be the difference as his 79th minute strike ensured that Morocco finished the tournament with a positive.

Morocco enjoyed the better start and Boussoufa’s piercing runs led to the creation of his side’s first opportunity. Belhanda’s cross from the right flank was eventually knocked down for Houssine Kharja but he opted for placement over power and sliced his effort well off target.

The Atlas Lions remained on top for the rest of the half but lacked potency in the final third. Youssouf Hadji and Chamakh both saw their touch fail them when in goal scoring opportunities in the opening thirty minutes.

Morocco had played some slick passing football and when Boussoufa slipped in Badr El Kaddouri in the 34th minute it looked like he would score his first international goal. However, Kassaly Daouda rushed out and stayed big to save well.

Three minutes later Niger almost took a shock lead. Moussa Maazou cushioned a high ball down with his thigh and unleashed a swerving volley on the spin. Mohamed Amsif was rooted to the spot and would have been pleased to see the strike scrape off the top of his crossbar.

It was the Mena who came closest again next within two minutes of the restart. Abdoul Lancina’s wickedly struck free kick had Amsif scrambling across the goal, clawing the ball away and avoiding what would have been a superb goal.

The Atlas Lions slowly regained their dominance but did not test Daouda again until the 58th minute. Belhanda showed great skill before laying the ball on for Boussoufa but his effort was far too weak and was saved easily.

Belhanda had been Morocco’s best player and broke the deadlock with a controversial goal in the 79th minute.

The Nigeriens were convinced Chamakh was offside when he received the ball in the box. The Arsenal striker played on and supplied the ball for a sliding Belhanda to fire an emphatic finish into the roof of the net.

Niger did well to keep the difference to just a single goal as they thwarted Belhanda and Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez in the final stages of the match.

Despite their win Morocco follow Niger out of the tournament and both sides will now turn their attention to challenging for qualification for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

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Akufo-Addo is rehabilitating his badly dented image – Kwakye Ofosu

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Outspoken communications team member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Felix Kwakye Ofosu has taken a swipe at

Felix Kwakye Ofosu

the flag-bearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for saying the “2012 is a year of choice between corruption and integrity”.

Kwakye Ofosu said the NPP flag-bearer has no locus to comment on issues bothering on corruption and integrity since he (Nana Akufo-Addo) is now “rehabilitating his badly dented image”.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu was reacting to comments made by Nana Akufo-Addo in his appeal to Ghanaians to vote for the NPP in the December polls while addressing party supporters at a non-denominational prayer session held at the Essipong Stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi on Sunday.

Nana Akufo-Addo, was quoted to have said “the 2012 is a year for Ghanaians to make a choice between competence and dereliction. This year will be a time for choice; a choice between stagnation and progress, between non-performance and competence, between corruption and integrity”.

But in a rebuttal, Felix Kwakye Ofosu on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Tuesday, said Nana Akufo-Addo falls short on each of his criterion for the 2012 election.

According to him, considering the track record of the NPP flag-bearer as a Minister of State in the erstwhile Kufuor government, “he (Nana) cannot compete on each of the criterion with President Mills”.

Kwakye Ofosu posited that Nana Akufo-Addo as an Attorney General failed to prosecute three women arrested at the Kotoka International Airport for smuggling heroin with the excuse that the docket for prosecution got missing.

“He (Nana) supervised a situation where dockets got missing and failed to prosecute three women belonging to his party who have been caught red-handed with heroin and he speaks about dereliction?” Felix quizzed.

On corruption and integrity, the NDC youth activist said Nana Akufo-Addo played a key role in the Kufuor administration which institutionalized corruption.

He cited Haruna Esseku, the former party chairman of the NPP who raised corruption allegations of kickbacks against former President Kufuor and some key government officials as a clear instance of the massive corruption in the Kufuor government of which Nana Akufo-Addo was part.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu noted that Nana Akufo-Addo does not pass the corruption test as compared to President Mills who is committed to fighting corruption.

The NDC communications team member alleged that the NPP flag-bearer is on an image cleansing tour after a former ambassador of the United States to Ghana claimed in a correspondence to his boss in Washington that Nana Addo has a reputation for womanizing and the smoking of marijuana .

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