‘Africa’s Cutest Couple’ (Elikem+Pokello) Reinforce Love, Steps Up Marriage Plans

By Stephen Kwabena Effah

It is said that opportunity comes but once, and the iron is best strike when it is hot. And that’s exactly what Big Brother Africa reality-show chase mates, Elikem Kumordzie and Pokello Nare are   doing.

The lovebirds, whose relationship was reported to have ended on the rocks early this week, have capitalised on the media fuss to solidify their love, which is now being changed to a second gear.

Following from the rumours of their breakup, which shocked thousands of Africans, Elikem has stepped up his plans to walk the sexy Zimbabwean television star down the isle.

Ghanaian Football Star K-P Boateng Releases Photos of His Pregnant Fiancée

By Stephen Kwabena Effah

K-P Boateng and Melissa on a vacation in an Italian Island

On the playing field, he’s spectacular! His attacking skill both at the club and national level is as great as the goals he occasionally scores. And it appears the German-born Ghanaian football star, Kevin-Prince Boateng, is not only making inroads on the pitch but also showing a knack for love and sex! 

His dexterity in bed with his Italian model fiancée, Melissa Satta, paid off when the Schalke 04 star revealed on micro blogging site, Twitter, in December 2013 that he was expecting his second child.

‘Pokello And I Are Still Happily Together’ – BBA Lovebirds Deny Break-Up Rumour

By: Stephen Kwabena Effah

The lovebirds have been cruising after the BBA Reality Show at Jo'burg in 2031

Big Brother Africa housemates, Elikem Kumordzie and Pokello Nare, have rubbished media reports that their eight-month old relationship has ended abruptly. 

A Monday issue of a popular Ghanaian showbiz newspaper reported that the pair, whose romance the paper described as a ‘fairy tale’, has collapsed. The report claimed Elikem confirmed the breakup Sunday, but declined to give details. 

It further said Elikem has started a new relationship with a German-based Ghanaian fashion designer, Theresa Boateng who is pregnant for him. But the couple, whose romance ignited while in the 2013 Big Brother Africa reality show in Johannesburg, took to twitter to pour out their disgust about the publication.

Nadia Buari And Jim Iyke’s ‘Romantic Affair’ - A Charade, Publicity Stunt Or The Real Deal?

By Stephen Kwabena Effah

On screen, they leap, tumble and soar together. And their undeniable chemistry off set and off screen has ignited rumours of love affair brewing between the two film stars.

For over a year, the pair has shared pictures on social media of themselves hugging, cuddling, andpartying together, along with direct and indirect love messages, fuelling gossip about their romance.

Yet, Nigeria’s bad boy movie star, Jim Iyke and Ghana’s sexy screen goddess, Nadia Buari, have played down such speculations.

Wanlov Kubolor Rejects Armed Robbery In The Murder Of Popular Ghanaian Artiste Manager

By Stephen Kwabena Effah

Controversial Afro-Gypsy artiste, Wanlov the Kubolor, has in a tweet expressed doubt over suggestions that slain Ghanaian artiste manager, Fennec Okyere, might have been a victim of an armed robbery gone haywire.

Kubolor is not ruling out foul play in the murder, still under investigation.

armed robbers hardly dey shoot RT @onli1boss: @wanlov usee what I said,now they are saying its robbers smh....
— FB @ UCC Sat. 15 Mar (@wanlov) March 13, 2014

Ghana’s Wanlov Stirs Controversy; Raises Doubts About God As The Creator Of Man

By Stephen Kwabena Effah

He has incurred the wrath of some religious sects in Ghana and Nigeria for his pointed criticism of the social norm. His often sarcastic music lyrics and social media commentary have earned this maverick the ire of many a God-fearing folk, yet Ghana’s Wanlov Kubolor appears unrepentant.

Known for his repulsive antics, eccentric behaviour and music, the Afro-Gypsy entertainer has stirred up another controversy with what could be best described as a ‘series of blasphemous comments’ in the Christian circles.

BIG BROTHER AFRICA LOVEBIRDS RESHAPING AFRICAN FASHION WITH CONTEMPORARY AFRICAN DESIGNS

By Stephen Kwabena Effah

She’s got the beauty, style, the physique, and she flaunts it big time. Yes, the Harare-born Big Brother Africa star, Pokello Nare, is causing a stir in the fashion world in Africa.

The Zimbabwean television presenter has teamed up with her Ghanaian fashion designer boyfriend-cum-BBA housemate, Elikem Kumordzie, to reshape and promote African fashion.

GHANAIAN ACTRESS SET TO BREAK ELLEN DEGENERES’ TWITTER SELFIE RECORD

By Stephen Kwabena Effah

She is not in the influential Oscars league, but the 30-year old award winning Ghanaian actress, Lydia Forson, has launched a challenge to wrestle Hollywood’s Ellen DeGeneres over her all-time twitter selfie.

The star-studded self-portrait, taken by DeGeneres at the just-ended Oscars became the most retweeted picture ever with over 3.3 million retweets and counting. It has so far clocked over 1.8 million favourites.

But Ghana’s film star, who claims to be “sexier than a confident woman,” on Ghana’s 57^th Independence Day tweeted her version of Ghana cum Nigeria star-studded selfie hoping to break the record of the American stand-up comedian.

Let see if this picture can also make a twitter record. 😂😂 @yvonneokoro @SirUTI @JuliusAgwu1 @MajidMichelMM pic.twitter.com/05HRIpGa9t
— Miss Forson (@lydiaforson) March 6, 2014

"Branch Here? " - Welcome to Ghana's World !

 By Stephen Kwabena Effah

Ghenglish is what I call it. Yes! Ghenglish, the Ghanaian version of the Queen’s English language.

To any foreigner, it may sound outlandish and difficult to comprehend but to the ordinary Ghanaian, that is what has become the everyday English used mostly in everyday conversations.

While these plethora of words, expressions and phrases are used understandably among Ghanaians and foreigners living in the country, they leave new foreigners pondering considering that the meanings are not always implicit.

After all, just as some of the Queen’s English were either derived or borrowed from French, so have Ghanaians explored their linguistic creativity to come up with these phrases.

Woyome's case back

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Friday, July 19,2013
The civil suit initiated by the State to retrieve the GH¢ 51.2 million paid to businessman, Alfred Agbesi Woyome bounced back at the Accra Commercial Court yesterday, after almost a year of suspension.

Hearing of the case was suspended in August last year to allow Mr. Woyome challenged a decision of the court that granted the State leave to amend its amended case to introduce the element of fraud.

It was also to allow the Supreme Court determine a matter brought before it by former Attorney General, Martin A. Amidu, against Waterville Holdings (BVI) and Mr. Woyome which bothered on the same issues

Following the determination of the two cases by the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal, proceedings at the Commercial Court   resumed yesterday, but with an in-camera hearing for the two parties involved.

Woman conceals Indian hemp in "banku" for suspect

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Thursday, July 18, 2013

An attempt by a-29-year old nursing mother to smuggle quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp to an accused person being tried for alleged narcotic offence was yesterday afternoon foiled by security personnel on duty at the Cocoa Affairs Courts in Accra.

Esther Adokor, who had strapped her six-month old baby at her back, had concealed the dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp, inside five of 10 balls of banku, which she attempted to deliver to the accused person who was being held in a holding cell at the Cocoa Affairs Courts.

Court threatens to strike out case agaisnt suspected arsonists

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Thursday, July 18, 2013

The Accra Circuit Court yesterday warned it will strike out the case against the two people accused of setting ablaze some markets in the country if prosecutors fail to start the case on July 23.

The court, presided over by Mr. Francis Obiri gave the warning when it refused the two accused persons bail at their second appearance.

Prosecutors yesterday told the court that they have concluded their investigations into the case and were ready to begin adducing evidence from next week.

This prompted  Carl Adongo, counsel for the two accused persons, Yakubu Tahiru also known as Rasta and Fatau Ibrahim to repeat his bail application, on grounds that there was no need for the prosecution to hold them in custody once investigations were over.

However, the court refused to grant them bail, stating that the granting of bail was at the discretion of the judge, but was not ready to exercise that discretion in favour of the accused persons.

The two have been charged with counts of conspiracy to commit crime and causing damage to markets within the Accra metropolis but they have denied the charges.

The accused persons were arrested by the police in Accra, after preliminary investigations allegedly found them responsible for some of the fires that had consumed major markets in Accra and Kumasi.

They case has been adjourned to July 23, 24 and 29.

Deeba challenges extradition order

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
Thursday, July 18, 2013

Ghanaian fugitive and hip life musician, Deeba Acheampong, has filed a formal appeal at the Accra Fast Track High Court challenging the order for his extradiction to the United Kingdom where he is wanted for prosecution.

The appeal which was filed on July 15, by his counsel, Augustine Obour, is expected to be heard on July 22 by the court presided over by Justice Edward Amoako Asante.

His lawyers had earlier filed a habeas corpus application which they argued constituted an appeal in extradition proceedings, but the court disagreed with them, describing that argument as unfounded in law.

Consequently, it gave the musician up to yesterday to file a proper appeal, setting out the grounds, and serve it on the Attorney General’s Department.

Deeba's habeas corpus motion doesn't hold- Court

By Stephen Kwabena Effah
July 12, 2013

A Fast Track High Court in Accra has ruled that the Habeas Corpus (produce in person) motion filed by popular hip-life musician, Deeba Acheampong, cannot constitute an appeal against the order for his extradition to the United Kingdom where he is wanted for prosecution.

Lawyers for the musician who is alleged to have raped his eight-year old step daughter had argued that in extradition proceedings, habeas corpus application as captured by the extradition law was an appeal.

However, the court presided over by Justice Edward Amoako Asante rejected that argument describing it as “unfounded in law”, and gave the fugitive up to July 17 to file a proper appeal setting out the grounds and serve it on the Attorney General Department.

The court held that habeas corpus application in law means to produce the body of a person in detention and justify the continuous detention of the said person, and cannot be an appeal as argued by Augustine Obour, counsel for Deeba.

Betty,Odro wrote to justify Woyome's claims

By Stephen Kwabena Effah

June 11, 2013

Lawyers for businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome, yesterday tendered in evidence, three letters written by former Attorney General, Betty Mould-Iddrisu and her Deputy, Ebo Barton-Odro, to the Ministry of Finance justifying claims made by Mr. Woyome against the State.

Per the three letters, the former Attorney General and her deputy advanced reasons for the legitimacy of Mr. Woyome’s claims against the State and accordingly requested the Minister of Finance to pay Mr.Woyome.

Two of the letters dated April 11 and April 29, 2010 were written by Mrs. Mould-Iddrisu while the other one dated March 29, 2010 was written by Mr. Barton-Odro.

The three letters were tendered through the acting Chief Director of the Ministry of Justice, Mr Suleiman Ahmed, when he mounted the witness box yesterday to continue his evidence under cross-examination by Sarfo Buabeng, counsel for Mr. Woyome.

Mr. Woyome is being tried for defrauding by false pretences and causing financial loss to the state; charges he has denied since June 5, 2012. Three other alleged accomplices who were put before court with him were discharged on June 5, 2012 following a nolle prosequi by the state.

What’s in the Phrase? The Tales of Ghana’s Trotro Drivers

They are mostly wobbly, crowded and little fun to ride. But every first-time visitor to Ghana and even Ghanaians look amazed at the taxi minibuses called trotros for their often thought-provoking inscriptions. So what’s the philosophy behind these phrases? Stephen Kwabena Effah explores the meanings.

ISOFOTON to refund US$325,472 Judgement Debt

By Stephen Kwabena Effah

June 22, 2013

The Supreme Court yesterday laid to rest, one of the country’s questionable judgement debts when it ordered Spanish energy firm, Isofoton SA, to refund to the Government of Ghana, some US$325,472 and all other monies paid to it as judgement debt in March 2011.

Bench warrant for ex-NIB Boss

By Stephen Kwabena Effah

June 21, 2013

A bench warrant has been issued for the arrest of former Managing Director of National Investment Bank, Daniel Charles Gyimah, who is standing trial for fraud in the importation of Indian rice into the country by the government in 2008.

Court summons former Attorney General

By Stephen Kwabena Effah

June 18, 2013

The Accra Commercial Court has ordered former Attorney General Joe Ghartey, to appear before it next Monday to give evidence in the case in which six Ghanaians are challenging the government’s sale of 70 per cent shares in Ghana Telecom to Vodafone.

It has accordingly directed that a hearing notice be served on him by June 20.

Mr. Ghartey who was served with a subpoena and a hearing notice on June 14 through the Clerk of Parliament, was expected to have appeared in court yesterday but when the case was called at exactly 12:45pm, he was absent; prompting the judge to give the order.

He is expected to give evidence on the Sale and Purchasing Agreement (SPA), as well as matters relating to the sale of the 70 per cent shares to Vodafone International in July 2008 for 900 million dollars.

'Refund All the Money' - Supreme Court Orders Waterville

By Stephen Kwabena Effah

     June 15, 2013

The Supreme Court yesterday ordered Waterville Holdings (BVI) Limited to refund to the State an amount of 25 million Euros paid to them in 2010.

In its judgement the nine-member panel of Justices unanimously declared as unconstitutional the basis on which the amount was paid to the construction firm.

It, however, declined to order businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome to refund the GHC 51 million paid to him by the State in judgement debt on jurisdictional grounds, since the issues relating to Mr. Woyome are matters within the purview of the High Court trying the case.

According to the court, the issue that Mr. Woyome has no contract with the government and should not have been paid any money is an issue for determination by the Commercial Division of the High Court.

The court held that the two agreements on stadia projects dated April 26, 2006 which formed the basis of the payment in 2009 was “inchoate” in view of the fact that the government on August 1, 2006, cancelled the contracts, rendering them null and void.