iNewsGh

WE HAVE MOVED TO www.ghana-insider.com

2015-01-06T03:16:00.002-08:00

Get the best of news from www.ghana-insider.com

We have rebranded, we are now www.ghana-insider.com

US dedicates $1.7 million to support Ghana with Ebola Preparedness & Response Planning

2014-10-16T05:09:00.002-07:00

The US Ambassador to Ghana Gene A. Cretz says United States has committed more than $350 million toward fighting the outbreak in West Africa, an effort according to him involves variety of agencies, including the Department of Defense, the CDC, and USAID.

He said President Obama has made it clear that fighting Ebola is a top national security concern and in Ghana, the United States has dedicated $1.7 million to support the Government of Ghana with its Ebola Preparedness and Response Planning.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency continue to provide personnel and technical assistance here in Ghana and in support of ongoing efforts in the region.

Ambassador Gene A. Cretz made these remarks when he briefed the American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana (AmCham) in Accra.

A statement issued by the Press Attaché, of US Embassy Ghana and copied to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation,(GBC) said the meeting between the US Ambassador and the AmCham is to discuss ongoing efforts to prepare & plan for any possible outbreak of Ebola in Ghana.

Ambassador Cretz in the statement said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency continue to provide personnel and technical assistance in Ghana and in support of ongoing efforts in the region.

Adding that “members of our mission selflessly volunteering to rotate into affected areas in order to provide much needed to relief to those working day in and day out to find solutions to this unprecedented epidemic.”

“Many of you have undoubtedly heard that before. If ever there was a time to demonstrate the best that American companies can achieve, the challenge of Ebola is a clarion call. I’d like to thank the American Chamber of Commerce for convening this gathering. I know your companies are eager to make a meaningful contribution to the fight against Ebola. American companies have always been quick to respond in times of crisis, and I know this is no exception. Many of you are already involved in the response, in some remarkable and inspiring ways. I’m eager to hear more about your efforts, later in the program. While the Ebola outbreak represents a clear human tragedy, it also presents a new opportunity for the people of the world to work together, to form new partnerships, and to expand our ability to respond to crisis. I am optimistic that our cooperation in these efforts will make a substantial impact, reducing the spread of Ebola and saving countless lives.” He concluded

Full Statement Below:

Press Release

Press Attaché, US Embassy Ghana
Email: pressaccra@state.gov

Follow us on: @USEmbassyGhana
October 15, 2014

US Support to Ghana for Ebola Preparedness

As President Obama makes clear, Ebola is a top national security priority. “And so it is very important for us to make sure that we are treating this the same way that we would treat any other significant national security threat.

And that’s why we’ve got an all-hands-on-deck approach -- from DOD to public health to our development assistance, our science teams -- everybody is putting in time and effort to make sure that we are addressing this as aggressively as possible.”

In line with this directive, USAID is in the process of re-programming an estimated $1.7 million to support the Government of Ghana with Ebola Preparedness and Response Planning.

This funding will be provided in coordination with other Development Partners, but will largely focus on:

• Training of health personnel in Infection Prevention and Control at national and regional levels;

• Development of job aids for health staff;

• Revision and reproduction of standard operating procedures for various aspects of the Ebola response;

• Support to undertaking simulation exercises at health facilities in targeted regions to test skills and level of preparedness;

• Procurement of supplies for Infection Control and Prevention at health facility level including gloves, chlorine, soap, hand sanitizers, aquatabs, etc.

• Support for the development of Ebola Prevention materials in coordination with the Ministry of Health to be distributed through the Ghana Education Service's School Health and Education Program.

In addition USAID and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) were pleased to facilitate a workshop "Strengthening Detection and Response Capacity to Significant Public Health Events, including Ebola,” from October 7 – 9.

National, regional, district and facility level representatives from all over Ghana, representatives from The Gambia, several USG specialists and a delegation from Nigeria participated in this workshop. The delegation of experts from Nigeria was specifically brought in to share their recent successful experience in containing Ebola.

The CDC and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency continue to provide additional personnel and technical assistance here in Ghana and in support of ongoing efforts in the region.
The US government remains committed to supporting Ghana's preparedness plan and commends Ghana for their proactive leadership and partnership in the fight against Ebola.

Ghana beat Guinea to extend lead

2014-10-16T04:57:00.000-07:00

Ghana turned on the heat in style to beat Guinea 3-1 in the reverse qualifying fixture of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Wednesday.
Substitute Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu scored the third goal to settle the tie and ease tension at the fully-packed Tamale Stadium and ensure the Black Stars move two points clear in group E.

Captain Asamoah Gyan opened the scoring for the Black Stars after he tip-toed the ball into the net from Jordan Ayew’s cross.
DR Congo-based speedster Solomon Asante should take the credit for bursting through the defense of the visitors after which he delivered a pin-point pass to Jordan who unselfishly laid the pass to Gyan to set the home venue agog.
The opener set the tone for a free attacking style from the Black Stars but they failed to double the lead.

Guinea came into the picture and created some decent chances of their own but it was the 34th minute strike from Mohammed Yattara which provided the magic to turn the scales in their favour.
Rabiu Mohammed’s clumsy challenge earned the visitors the free kick from 20- yards with Mohammed Yattara tapping home from Ibrahima Traore poor kick to tie the score in the first half.

Ghana began the second half in blistering fashion dominating possession with Andre Ayew and Asamoah Gyan coming close.
Gyan, who plays for Al Ain, found himself in a scoring position but his deflected shot was adjudged to have hit the hands of Abdoulaye Cisse and referee Bernard Camille pointed to the penalty spot.
Andre Ayew stepped up and put the goalkeeper the wrong way to restore their lead.

Guinea pressed for the equalizer with Ghana goalkeeper Stephen Adams expected to dominate the headlines with his delayed-tactics antics.
The visitors were caught on the break in the closing stages of the match to allow the home side to steal the show.
German-based Abdul Baba Rahman sped up and after losing clumsy on the ball, he set up substitute Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu who scored by placing the ball into the net. .

Ghana will face Uganda next away before hosting Togo at home to confirm their qualification to Morocco 2015.

8 celebrities who have played the fame card - after Jay Z's stunned reaction to not being recognised

2014-10-10T02:40:00.003-07:00

The rapper was left stunned when a tourist asked who he was and he's not the only star to hit back when they're not recognised

Don't you know who I am? Shamed celebs who pull the fame card

Jay Z's hilarious reaction after not being recognised by a tourist isn't the first time a celebrity has played the fame card.
A bemused traveller was asked to put his camera away near the Louvre in Paris as Jay Z, Beyonce and little Blue Ivy walked by, so he decided to ask what all the fuss was about.
In the clip that was posted to YouTube on Tuesday, the man asks a bodyguard, "Who is he?" And the New York rapper was not impressed with his question.
He looked stunned and glanced up and down at the tourist before saying: "Who are you?!" Hilarious.
Here are eight other celebrities who have been outraged when they haven't been recognised..

Kylie Jenner

The youngest of the Kardashian/Jenner Klan reportedly had a real diva moment in a Beverly Hills hotel last year when staff refused to serve her alcohol for her friends.
The star allegedly said the classic line: "Do you know who I am?" and called the establishment as "f***ing lame" and "not worth her time".
She later said she was "sick and tired" of the rumours. Jesssh.

Shia LaBeouf

Former Transformers star, Shia, disrupted the first half of the performance of Cabaret and was arrested in New York at Studio 54.
When security confronted him about his bizarre behaviour, he shouted: "Do you know who the f**k I am".
Charming, just charming.

Rihanna

Two years ago RiRi was reportedly told to leave a nightclub in London after breaking a table when she jumped on it to have a boogie, smashing bottles and glasses in the process.
When bouncers tried to pull her down and eject her from the club, she apparently said, "Don't you know who I am?"
Oh Rihanna, get over yourself!

Reese Witherspoon

One of the most famous cases of pulling the fame card was when actress Reese was arrested for being drunk and disorderly.
She was handcuffed after her husband, Jim Toth, was stopped on suspicion of drink driving and she started kicking off BIG time.
According to a police report, she couldn't BELIEVE the cops didn't know who she was and thought she should have been be treated differently because she's famous.

Amanda Bynes

Troubled actress Amanda kicked off when she was being arrested for her bizarre behavior and smoking pot in New York last year.
She reportedly threw a bong out the window that she claimed was "just a vase." Sure.
It was reported that Amanda went "kicking and screaming during the arrest" and yelled, "Don't you know who I am?" We all do now.

Miley Cyrus

We're pretty stunned there is anyone in the world who doesn't know who Miley is. But apparently there are some people who have managed to escape her celeb status.
The singer went to grab a burger in a fast food restaurant and was stunned when the guy behind the counter asked for her name to put on the order, asking him: "Are you serious? You don't recognise me? I'm Miley Cyrus."
He still had no clue who she was, ran her credit card and shrugged, "That's nice for you. Here is your order. Have a good day." What a legend.

David Hasselhoff

The former Baywatch star apparently caused a massive fuss at Wimbledon in 2006 when he tried to enter a members only bar.

On-lookers reported that The Hoff shouted: "All I want is a drink, do you know who I am?" as he was ejected by security.
Don't Hassle The Hoff ... they should have known better.

Dina Lohan

Lindsay Lohan's momager got all stressed out when she tried to take the actress and her underage sister, Ali, to a nightclub in Hollywood.
They were turned away at the door because Ali was only 15 and Dina apparently said, "Do you know who I am?" After which Lindsay added: "You're making a huge mistake. Huge!"
Blimey, these diva stars, they all need to get some manners.

credit: mirror.co.uk

US Warns Ebola Could Become Next AIDS Amid Fears for Infected Spanish Nurse

2014-10-09T23:00:00.000-07:00

Madrid: A top US health official urged swift action on Thursday to prevent the deadly Ebola virus from becoming the next AIDS epidemic, while a Spanish nurse was at "serious risk" of dying.

Teresa Romero, 44, is "very ill and her life is at serious risk as a consequence of the virus," Madrid's regional president Ignacio Gonzalez told parliament.

She is the first person known to have been infected with Ebola outside Africa.

The United Nations chief meanwhile called for a 20-fold increase in the world's response to the spread of Ebola, which has killed nearly 3,900 people in West Africa since the beginning of the year.

Ebola's spillover into the United States and Europe has raised fears of a wider outbreak, and led the United States, Canada and Britain to start tougher airport screening of passengers arriving from West Africa.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted the number of cases could mount to 1.4 million by January unless strong measures are taken to contain the disease, which is spread though close contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person.

"We have to work now so that it is not the world's next AIDS," CDC Director Tom Frieden told the heads of the United Nations, World Bank and International Monetary Fund gathered in Washington.

"I would say that in the 30 years I've been working in public health, the only thing like this has been AIDS," he added, warning of a "long fight" ahead.

Fate of Spanish nurse

Nurse Romero had treated two elderly missionaries with Ebola.

Health officials said they would monitor about 50 other people -- mostly health staff -- who had been in contact with her for the duration of the 21-day Ebola incubation period.

Thirteen other people are in quarantine at the hospital as a precaution, including Romero's husband and several health workers, according to the latest tally from the hospital.

Among those admitted on Thursday were two hairdressers who had contact with Romero.

One of Ebola's latest victims is Thomas Eric Duncan, the first patient cared for in the United States to die of the disease.

Mr Duncan was the first person diagnosed of Ebola in the United States and the first to die in a US hospital of the hemorrhagic fever that has killed 3,900 in West Africa this year.

Just after his death was announced Wednesday, US officials ordered increased screening at five major airports in Atlanta, Chicago, New Jersey, New York and Washington.

French Health Minister Marisol Touraine said she was working with the authorities in countries badly affected by Ebola "to see in which conditions we can reinforce departure controls".

Britain said it would start "enhanced screening" of people coming from Ebola-hit parts of West Africa at Heathrow and Gatwick airports and on Eurostar trains from Belgium and France.

The European Commission was expected to meet on October 17 to discuss possible new ways to monitor passengers arriving from affected countries.

'Just take action'

Doses of a prototype Ebola vaccine developed by Canada remain in the country even though they were offered to the World Health Organization nearly two months ago, the health minister said Thursday.

"The WHO has not decided when and if it will distribute it," Health Minister Rona Ambrose said. "We hope they are able to use it."

The vaccine has not been tested on humans but has shown promise in animal research, Ambrose said in August.

It is one of two vaccines considered promising by the WHO for clinical trials ahead of commercialization.

The continuing outbreak in West Africa forced officials in Liberia -- the nation worst hit by the Ebola outbreak -- to postpone nationwide elections.

Almost three million voters had been due to go to polling stations on Tuesday, but organisers said there was no way a "mass movement, deployment and gathering of people" could go ahead without endangering lives.

In Guinea, global aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres said a surge of Ebola cases had pushed its treatment unit in the capital Conakry to its "physical limits".

Speaking to the UN, World Bank and IMF chiefs in Washington, Sierra Leone President Ernest Bai Koroma assailed the global response to the epidemic thus far, saying it was moving more slowly than the spread of the disease.

"This slower-than-the-virus response needs to change," he said.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said resources to support the fight must be increased 20-fold, and urged nations to act without delay.

"Cases are growing exponentially," Mr Ban said. "Do not wait for consultation. Just take action."

World Bank President Jim Yong Kim admitted that the world was "behind the curve" in the fight against Ebola.

Eleven people in Australia have been tested for Ebola in recent weeks, but so far no cases have been detected, officials there said on Friday.

Vodafone to release iPhone 6 in Ghana

2014-10-07T22:56:00.002-07:00

Vodafone Ghana has revealed its plans to launch the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in Ghana. The move comes two weeks after the devices global launch, which saw the masses line up in order to pick up the devices.

According to Vodafone Ghana, the network will offer 15GB of data, which will be valid for 90 days after purchase for free. Vodafone CMO, Agnes Emefa Essah, stated that: The new smartphones are full of features. Customers can get the iPhone 6 offer in Vodafone shops and Atlantic Phones at Osu. Customers should dial star 179 hash to activate the data.”

Ghana as well as other African countries have seen an influx of device launches. Recently, Nigeria was named as one of the first markets where the Gionee ELife S5.1 smartphone will launch this month. To add to the list, the Nokia Lumia 530 has made its way to Kenya. Uganda also recently received the Asus Fonepad 7 Tablet, which is essentially a smartphone/tablet hybrid device.

Will you get one? Let us know in the comment box

Ebola man’s family confined

2014-10-02T23:27:00.002-07:00

A young man retrieves food supplies left by the North Texas Food Bank and the Red Cross on the front stoop of an apartment at The Ivy Apartments complex yesterday in Dallas, where Thomas Eric Duncan, left, the Ebola patient who traveled from Liberia to Dallas last week, was staying.

Four members of a family the U.S. Ebola patient was staying with were confined to their Texas home under armed guard yesterday as the circle of people possibly exposed to the virus widened, while Liberian authorities said they would prosecute the man for allegedly lying on an airport questionnaire.
Meanwhile, NBC News reported on its website last night that an American freelance cameraman working for them in Liberia had tested positive for Ebola and would be flown back to the United States for treatment.
The unusual confinement order was imposed after the family failed to comply with a request not to leave their apartment, according to Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins.

“We didn’t have the confidence we would have been able to monitor them the way that we needed to,” Texas State Health Commissioner David Lakey said.
Elsewhere, Texas health officials expanded their efforts to contain the virus, reaching out to as many as 100 people who may have had direct contact with Thomas Eric Duncan or someone close to him.

The at-risk group includes 12 to 18 who came in direct contact with the infected man, including an ambulance crew and a handful of schoolchildren, plus others known to have had contact with them, said Erikka Neroes, a spokeswoman for the Dallas County Health and Human Services agency.

“This is a big spider web” of people involved, Neroes said.
In Liberia, authorities announced plans to prosecute Duncan, alleging that he lied on a form about not having any contact with an infected person. Duncan filled out a series of questions about his health and activities before leaving on his journey to Dallas. On a Sept. 19 form he answered no to all of them.
Among other questions, the form asked whether Duncan had cared for an Ebola patient or touched the body of anyone who had died in an area affected by Ebola.
Neighbors in the Liberian capital believe Duncan become infected when he helped bundle a sick pregnant neighbor into a taxi a few weeks ago and set off with her to find treatment. It was not clear whether he had learned of the woman’s diagnosis before traveling.

Duncan remained in a hospital isolation ward yesterday. According to health officials, he became sick and went to a Dallas hospital Sept. 25, but was released, only to return by ambulance three days later and test positive for Ebola.

Nicki Minaj Hosting 2014 EMAs

2014-10-01T23:09:00.002-07:00

Nicki Minaj, Hostess. The rapper is hosting the 2014 EMAs, which move to Scotland for their 20th anniv! Woot woot. We can't think of a better hostess for the festivities.

Her Minajesty shared a regal image of herself and captioned it: "So excited to announce that I will not only perform, but I have the honorable task of HOSTING this year's MTV European Music Awards!!!!!!! AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! The show will shoot in GLASGOW, SCOTLAND for its 20th Anniversary ON NOVEMBER 9th!!!! Find us @mtvema and vote at mtvema.com."

That's all you need to know. The photo is below. Gawk at Minaj in all of her glory.

MTN Ghana, To Reward Innovative Apps Developers

2014-10-01T23:02:00.002-07:00

MTN Ghana the leading Mobile Telecommunications Company has taking a judicious step by launching MTN Ghana Applications Challenge Version 2.0 basically to create chance for local Apps developers who could develop locally relevant mobile applications.

According to the Chief Marketing Officer of MTN Mr. Rahul De, who was speaking at MTN Apps launching ceremony in Accra, noted that mobile application development is creating employment and is generating income for estimated number of 2.3 million people across the globe. This is according to a report released by Vision Mobile in London.

“It is however sad to note that 92% of the Apps developer communities can be found in Asia, Europe and North America. The rest of the world records only 8% percent. Apps generate around €10 billion per year in revenue for the EU economy which has more than 1 million apps available”.
He said as the leading telecoms service provider, their intention of introducing the MTN Apps Challenge in Ghana was to broaden the agenda of the MTN growing Apps developer community in Africa and also to increase local content across its footprints.

He said MTN will continue to invest in the relevant telecom technologies that enrich their mobile telephony experience.
According to him, the MTN Apps Challenge which was launched a year ago saw a young Software Engineer, Setriakor K. Nyomi , as the overall winner with his Oware 3D Application.

The Mobile application has since been uploaded on the MTNPlay platform as well as the devices of their device partner , Tecno.
He said as the Smart phone market is growing rapidly in Ghana and on the MTN network, it is imperative that they have apps developed locally and tailored to their market.

“MTN Apps Challenge Version 2 .0 has one goal and that is to reward the most innovative and locally- relevant mobile apps developer.
Entries of apps Will be accepted in the following categories: Education, Lifestyle, Games and Entertainment. Entries are opened to developers till November 28th 2014.

The applications received will be judged based on their uniqueness, relevance and user-friendliness to the Ghanaian market” he explained.
This he said each category will have winner who will receive a cash prize of 15, 00 cedis .

The overall winner for the MTN Apps Challenge who will be selected from the category winners will receive a total cash prize of GHC 20, 000.
The will also be consolation prizes for runners up. This years’ Challenge is under the theme: ” Promoting Innovative Apps Development”.

School bombing kills 30 children in Syria

2014-10-01T22:45:00.001-07:00

At least 30 Syrian children were killed Wednesday in a double bombing by a lone assailant at a school in the government-controlled city of Homs, a monitor said.
They were among 39 people who died in the attack in the Akrameh neighbourhood, according to a new toll from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. “At least 30 children were among 39 people killed in the double bombing at the Akrameh al-Makhzumi school in Homs today,” said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.
One suicide attacker carried out both of the bombings. “He planted a bomb at one location at the school, and then blew himself up at another spot nearby,” Abdel Rahman told AFP.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. But Al-Qaeda’s branch in Syria, Al-Nusra Front, said it was behind a similar twin bombing in the central city that killed at least 12 people in May. Speaking to AFP on Wednesday, Homs governor Talal al-Barazi had also reported the deadly attacks, giving a toll of 31 killed and 74 wounded. The children were between six and nine years old, he added.
The toll is among the highest for children in suicide attacks across Syria since the conflict erupted in the country three years ago. Meanwhile, US-led forces carried out at least five air strikes on Wednesday against Islamic State group fighters attacking the Syrian Kurdish town of Ain al-Arab, a monitoring group said.
The strikes hit IS positions south and southeast of the town, known as Kobane by the Kurds, which the militants have been battling to take for more than two weeks, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

At least eight militants were killed in a strike on an IS tank east of the town, said the Britain-based Observatory, which relies on a wide network of sources inside Syria for its reports. “Kurdish fighters on the front lines saw the bodies literally being thrown into the air” by the force of the blast, said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman. Despite the air strikes, the militants continued to shell the town on the Turkish border from positions as little as three kilometres (two miles) away. Fierce fighting overnight killed nine Kurdish fighters and one IS militant, the Observatory said.
The group also reported that at least 10 people had been executed by the group on Tuesday, including a civilian and three Kurdish female fighters, who were beheaded.

A Kurdish male fighter was beheaded along with the women, and another five fighters were also executed in a separate incident in the area, the Observatory said. Abdel Rahman said the Kurdish fighters were vastly outnumbered and outgunned in the fight for Ain al-Arab.

“Though they are fewer in number and are militarily worse equipped, the Kurdish fighters refuse to withdraw and are fiercely defending their town,” he said. “For them, it is a matter of life or death.”
Meanwhile, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday that Turkey would fight against Islamic State and other “terrorist” groups in the region but will stick to its aim of seeing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad removed from power, .

“We will fight effectively against both (Islamic State) and all other terrorist organisations within the region; this will always be our priority,” Erdogan said in a speech at the opening of parliament.
Australian military jets are to join in the US-led air war against the Islamic State group in Iraq, conducting refuelling and support missions, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said Wednesday. Australia deployed some 600 troops and several aircraft to the United Arab Emirates in mid-September as it geared up to join the US-led international coalition.

“We have not yet made a final decision to commit our forces to combat but Australian aircraft from today will start flying over Iraq in support of allied operations,” Abbott told parliament.

Tyrese Gibson Surprises His Nanny With A New Audi

2014-10-01T06:02:00.001-07:00

Yes a new car! Luckily for us Ty recorded the entire thing and posted it on facebook. Her reaction is so sweet and absolutely priceless. (well except the actual price of the car)

Now she can drive her kids to school, drive to the grocery store, drive to the cleaners, drive to soccer practice, the list goes on and on!

Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s Made In Ghana Kantanka Cars Ready For Business

2014-10-01T04:47:00.002-07:00

News broke out today that Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Sarfo Kantanka’s made in Ghana cars named after himself “Kantanta” has acquired license and is ready for mass production for public consumption. This is by popular request as many have been asking why there are none for sale.
Kantanka has already brought out samples for show-off and testing. He even has some for the Ghana Police.

First EBOLA Case Recorded In The USA — Still None In Ghana

2014-09-30T23:32:00.001-07:00

Medical officials in the United States announced on Tuesday the first case of Ebola to be diagnosed outside Africa in the latest outbreak, which has killed more than 3,000 people this year.
The patient, who has not yet been identified, is being treated in Dallas, Texas.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said the patient left Liberia in west Africa on 19 September, but did not develop symptoms until after arriving in the US. He was admitted to the Texas Health Presbyterian hospital in Dallas on Sunday.

Thomas Frieden, the director of the CDC, said the patient was being treated in isolation. All measures would be taken to ensure that the disease would not spread in the US, he said.

“I have no doubt that we will control this case of Ebola so that it does not spread widely in this country,” he told a news conference. The disease has spread rapidly in west Africa, killing more than 3,000 people since the outbreak began in March.

Frieden said the CDC believed it was the first case of the latest variant to be diagnosed outside Africa. “This is the first patient diagnosed outside of Africa to our knowledge with this particular strain of Ebola,” he said.
A spokeswoman for Dallas County health and human services department told the Guardian that it will be “conducting a public health follow-up” on the patient which will include investigating his travel history and recent activity.
Friedman said there was “zero risk” that the patient could have transmitted the disease on the flight from Liberia to the US, because he was not infectious at the time.

Doctors were discussing with the patient’s family the possibility of treating the patient with experimental therapies, Frieden said.
Health officials in Texas attempted to reassure residents. “Dallas county residents should not have any fears at this point, there is not an Ebola outbreak in Dallas county,” Zachary S Thompson, the Dallas county director of health and human services, told the Dallas Morning News earlier on Tuesday, before the case was confirmed.
“There are great mechanisms put in place in terms of our public health infrastructure to look at these particular situations and look at the proper response.”
The Texas patient is the fifth to receive treatment for Ebola in the US, and the sixth American to contract the disease: a civil servant with dual American-Liberian citizenship died in Monrovia last month. Dr Kent Brantly of Texas and Nancy Writebol, a missionary from North Carolina, were the first Ebola patients to be treated in the US.
Brantly and Writebol were treated in a bio-containment unit at Emory University hospital in Atlanta. Both patients received doses of an experimental drug which has since been depleted.

Dr Rick Sacra, the third US aid worker to contract Ebola while working at a hospital in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, was released from Nebraska Medical Center last week. Sacra went back to Monrovia after his colleagues Brantly and Writebol were diagnosed. There he treated obstetrics patients.
A fourth unidentified patient is being treated at Emory. The patient’s identity is not being revealed for confidentiality reasons, but he is believed to be a World Health Organization doctor who was working in an Ebola treatment center in Sierra Leone.

Will Ello succeed as 'anti-Facebook'?

2014-09-30T23:14:00.000-07:00

Ello is a new social network

Editor's note: Jeff Yang is a columnist for The Wall Street Journal Online and can be heard frequently on radio as a contributor to shows such as PRI's "The Takeaway" and WNYC's "The Brian Lehrer Show." He is the author of "I Am Jackie Chan: My Life in Action" and editor of the graphic novel anthologies "Secret Identities" and "Shattered." The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.

You may have seen mentions of the mysterious new social network Ello pop up in feeds on the social networks you actually belong to such as Facebook and Twitter -- usually followed by a casual but plaintive request to join it.

Well, I've been to Ello and back, and if you haven't managed to snag an invite, you'll be relieved to know you're not missing much. At least not yet.

The site, founded by hipster toy designer and entrepreneur Paul Budnitz, has been dubbed the "anti-Facebook" by technology pundits, both for its stark, aggressively monochromatic aesthetic and for its policies. Ello promises no ads, no selling of data, no requirement that users register under their real names and no restrictions against obscene or pornographic content.

Jeff Yang

Unfortunately for Ello, the list of Facebook contrasts doesn't end there. Facebook is a bustling scrum, its virtual boulevards crowded with content and conversation. Ello is more like a gallery, austere and empty and a little bit chilly. There are things to look at, but if there are discussions taking place they're happening in hushed tones in remote corners.

Facebook can be personalized with a plethora of features and apps. Too many, actually. The carnival-style come-ons to install this or that game or social widget your friends happen to be addicted to are one of the annoying things about the service. But Ello's customization options are basically nil. You can change your pictures, sort of (there's no way to resize images on the site itself, so unless you have access to image manipulation software or your camera naturally snaps photos at 340 x 340, your page will look like mine — with a banner focused on my forehead and an avatar that's the random upper-left corner of a picture in which my face isn't even visible).

Habiba Sinare and Davido in a relationship?

2014-09-30T23:08:00.001-07:00

When pictures of Davido and Ghana’s Miss Supranational, 2014, Habiba Sinare, emerged online, a few days ago, many wondered if they were a couple.
The beauty queen has come out to clarify matters, insisting there’s nothing between them.
She had posted the denial above, along with one of the pictures on her instagram but has now deleted it.

“Why are you all doing this to me!!!…I never came on air to tell anyone I was going out with him, There are so many things am thinking about connecting to my life, NOT Davido.’…”, she wrote on twitter.

Ghana positioning as energy hub of West Africa

2014-09-30T23:06:00.000-07:00

Recent erratic power supply in Ghana has left citizens bewildered; most especially, businesses and industries that require constant and steady power supply to ensure continuous productivity.

With citizens’ complaints and frantic efforts by government to find a lasting solution to the energy situation in Ghana, President John Dramani Mahama’s declaration of a probable end to the continuous inconsistent power supply has been well received.

Most topical among his declarations was the ambitious quest for Ghana to become an energy hub in West Africa. This followed his inspection of the Atuabo Gas project which is expected to generate 550MW of power. This addition in power generation is in line with the vision of the government in positioning Ghana as a net exporter of energy.

The Ministry of Energy has revealed that Ghana’s current electricity demand stands at over 2000 megawatts (MW) and further estimates an annual capacity addition of about 200MW.

Over the years, Ghana has added about 1,000 megawatts (MW) of thermal generation capacity. As a result, Ghana’s current generation capacity of 2,125 MW is made up of about 50 percent hydro and 50 percent thermal plants. Nevertheless, inadequate and unreliable power supply remains a major constraint to future economic growth.

Current electricity demand in the country is said to be growing at about 10 percent per annum and Ghana is estimated to require additional capacity of about 200MW to match the increasing demand in the medium to long term.

Ghana’s total installed capacity is 2884.5MW but electricity supplied does not meet demand. This has resulted in the ongoing power rationing.

The Power Problem

Databank Financial Services research revealed that the power cuts in the country, compelled companies to incur unplanned operating costs of about $62 million per month or $744 million per annum due to the use of privately acquired generators.

Though the commissioning of the Bui Hydro dam, Ghana’s second largest hydro plant, by President Mahama, was believed to have set the country on its way to becoming a major producer of power in West Africa. The dam is currently producing 90MW of electricity despite its installed capacity of 400MW.

Ghana’s power sector is faced with the problem of inability of installed plants to operate at full capacity. This is due mainly to the limitations in fuel supply owing to rising fuel prices and uncertainty in rainfall and water inflows into the hydroelectric power facilities.

Atuabo Gas: Hope for Ghana?

“The important thing about this gas is that it allows us to have energy security in terms of putting in more thermal production, and it fits our programme of turning Ghana into the energy hub of West Africa. All the companies that we have signed Memorandum of Understandings with for installation of Independent Power Producers (IPP) thermal plants will feel secure to go ahead because they know that by the time they finish their thermal projects, gas will be available to power those projects”.

These were the words of President John Dramani Mahama when he visited the Atuabo gas project in the Western Region of the country.

According to him, the project, which is 99.8 percent complete, would be a game changer for the struggling Ghanaian economy, but most especially, positioning Ghana to be a net exporter of energy.

President Mahama believes that when completed, the Atuabo Gas project would drastically reduce the pressure on Ghana’s foreign exchange reserves.

He revealed that with the coming on board of the Gas plant, Ghana would save almost half a billion dollars a year in light crude purchases, and another billion dollars in foreign exchange savings for the purchase of light crude oil, and that is because the VRA [Volta River Authority] will be able to purchase the gas in Cedis.

“The multiplier effect of [gas] project will be enormous within our economy”, he added.

Ghana as energy hub in West Africa

The gas project when it comes on stream, will produce 107 million standard cubic feet of lean gas, 500 tonnes of LPG, 80 tonnes of pentane and 45 tons of condensates daily.

According to information on united world Ghana, government’s plans to build up the energy industry are still developing, but many aspects of it are already clear. The country’s electricity generating capacity of 2026 megawatts is targeted to be raised to 5000 megawatts by 2015.

The energy ministry is also studying the possibility of building up a refining and petrochemical industry, though the government is very much aware of what must be done before that process can start.

Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Minister of Energy and Petroleum explains the idea better; “We are building capacity in different sectors. We need assistance to partner with our educational institutions, improve infrastructure and improve the training of more petrochemical engineers and more people to study the oil and gas industry. We need to train more geologists and economists and legal people in the industry. We also need the capacity to strengthen our institutions.”

The information further revealed that the project to extend Ghana and West Africa’s power grid is already underway. Currently 67 percent of Ghana’s residents have access to electricity, and the network is being enlarged, with the goal of reaching 100 percent by 2020.

Power plants are being planned and built, with one at Sunon Asogli recently completed, fueled from a gas line connecting Nigeria’s oil fields to the new generating station. Transmission lines need to be built to Ghana’s eastern, western and northern neighbors, such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Nigeria, and agreements with many of the countries involved have been signed.

Inusah Abdulai Fuseini, minister for lands and natural resources also had this to say on Ghana becoming an energy hub for West Africa; “The prospects of tapping into Ghana’s resource base, in particular as regards the energy sector, are huge. We can become market players in the sector and Western Ghana will become an energy hub by producing power and selling to other landlocked countries.”

The goal, of course, is to use the country’s petroleum resources to power the planned electrical grid. The government has made great progress in extracting, selling, processing and using the oil, and is also studying closely how to minimize the environmental impact and make sure the wealth generated is put to use by improving the lives of Ghanaians.

“We have to be very focused on the things that we have to do to ensure that it will be a blessing. We do not compromise when it comes to environmental issues. We have made it very clear that there are companies that are coming to Ghana, and you have to apply the same international standards that they apply everywhere,” the energy minister further stressed.

Some have wondered why uninterrupted supply of power should be a problem when Ghana’s demand is less than installed capacity. They have also argued that Ghana is in this situation because of the inability of the power plants to operate at full capacity due to low levels of water and inadequate fuel supply.

Emmanuel Kofi Buah, has promised an increase of 1000 MW by next year when the Ghana Gas Company begins full operation.

The World Bank also believes Ghana has the right power policies but is failing to implement them and run the sector efficiently.

According to the Bank, the “solutions to the sector’s problems are well known; the challenge is to carry them out.”

“Proactive leadership of the energy sector, with a focus on efficiency and timely delivery, is crucial to Ghana’s ambitions for economic growth”, the World Bank has said.

Ebola’s arrival in U.S. was inevitable, experts say

2014-09-30T22:44:00.000-07:00

The world suddenly seemed a lot smaller when news broke Tuesday that the first person diagnosed with Ebola in the U.S. is being isolated and treated at a Dallas hospital.
While the outbreak in West Africa has sickened more than 6,000 people and killed 3,083, it was only a matter of time before the virus hit closer to home, experts said.

Dr. Edward Goodman, hospital epidemiologist at Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital, said he was not surprised that the Ebola virus came to his doorstep, given the number of cases in Africa.
There is “plenty of opportunity for people to fly over and come to any part of the United States,” he told reporters Tuesday.

Other experts agree that it was inevitable for the Ebola virus to spread beyond Africa. Given the unprecedented scale of the virus’ outbreak in West Africa, at least a handful of imported cases were expected to arrive in other countries.
But many predicted that the Ebola virus would reach another country before the U.S. Using mathematical models to predict how infectious diseases spread, experts at Northeastern University ranked the top 15 countries where Ebola could emerge next.

The United Kingdom ranked third on that list, second only to the African nations of Ghana and Gambia. The U.S. had a much lower probability of having an imported Ebola case.
Still, Dr. Gerardo Chowell, an associate professor at Arizona State University and an expert in modeling infectious diseases, wasn’t surprised. “It’s just a matter of probabilities,” he said.

Chowell has focused on predicting the spread of the epidemic in Africa, especially Nigeria.

Rate of infection
A key factor in the spread of infectious diseases is the number of people a sick person can infect.

If that number, known as the basic reproduction number, or R0, is less than one, it’s unlikely the disease will spread. If it’s greater than one, there’s potential for a large outbreak.
In the case of Ebola, R0 has been documented to range from 1.3 to 1.8, depending on factors such as population density and how quickly cases are diagnosed and isolated.

The R0 for Ebola is a lot lower than for other illnesses such as measles, whose R0 is 18. But factors such as fear, an inadequate number of health care workers and abject poverty in parts of West Africa are fueling the spread of the virus there.
That situation is different in Dallas. “This is not Africa,” Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Zachary Thompson told reporters. “We have a great public health infrastructure to deal with this type of disease.”

The opportunity for infectious diseases like Ebola to go global has increased with international air travel — and Dallas and Houston are major hubs.

There is a direct daily flight from Lagos, Nigeria, to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. More than 71,000 people have traveled nonstop from Africa to that airport in the past year, according to the Houston Airport System. Many more passengers may have traveled to and from Africa on flights that connected in Europe and the Middle East.

There is no direct flight from a city in Africa to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport. But D/FW saw nearly 7 million international passengers last year.
Quarantine facilities at these airports could be used to isolate travelers with symptoms of Ebola. But so far, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not asked airports to adopt special measures as they did with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome earlier this year.

‘We’re prepared’
Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the CDC, and other public health officials maintain that Americans should have faith in the U.S. public health system. He told reporters that spread of the disease in Dallas is not expected because of early isolation of the patient.

President Barack Obama had met with the director at CDC headquarters in Atlanta two weeks ago.
At that time, the president offered assurances that the outbreak could be contained. “In the unlikely event that someone with Ebola does reach our shores,” he said, “we’ve taken new measures so that we’re prepared here at home.

“We’re working to help flight crews identify people who are sick and more labs across our country now have the capacity to quickly test for the virus. We’re working with hospitals to make sure that they are prepared and to ensure that our doctors, our nurses and our medical staff are trained, are ready, and are able to deal with a possible case safely.”

Castro, D-Black's managements to sue Kingdom Herbal Ltd.

2014-09-28T23:03:00.000-07:00

It is sad when huge corporations try to outwit and outsmart Ghanaian musicians over their intellectual property usage for their selfish gains when the right thing could have easily been done.

Kingdom Herbal Ltd. are manufacturers of numerous herbal drugs on the market including Kingdom Tremendous Capsules, Kingdom Blood Tonic, Kingdom Ginseng Power Capsules, Kingdom Koo Capsules, Kingdom Garlic Capsules, Kingdom Garlic Bitters and more is owned by wealthy businessman, Jonathan Amofa, who also owns Kingdom International Hostel, Kingdom Transport and more.

Currently, authors of the most popular song in Ghana ‘Seihor’, an intellectual property owned by Castro, D-Black and producer, Patrick Sika Nartey (DJ Breezy) has been breached by Kingdom Herbal Ltd. as the popular herbal beverage manufacturing firm used the song for promoting its 'Don Papa' Gin Bitters TVC (Televison Commercial) without their consent.

Initially, calls made to the offices of Kingdom Herbal by the management team of the two artistes proved futile till a visit was made by Castro’s manager and biological brother ‘Kwame Tagoe’ and D-Black’s road manager, Francis Clottey.

After a face-to-face talk with the director of the firm, Mr. Jonathan Amofa, who promised to call and resolve the issue in a few days with them; instead tried to outsmart the artistes managements the next day by reediting and replacing the ‘Seihor’ with a foreign song as the background sound for the TV commercial. The outfit presented the edited commercial to all the TV stations airing the commercial.

The next phone call made to him upon seeing this had him retorting, "hey we have removed the song, what do you want from us again? You don’t have any proof."

Little did they know that the original advert had already been recorded.

The TV commercial sees the use of the ‘still missing’ Castro’s song ‘Seihor’ and the duplication of the dance moves with his crew in the ‘Seihor’ music video which was recorded and produced at D-Black’s Black Avenue Muzik studios by DJ Breezy.

Legal action is set to be taken in the coming days against the wealthy-owned company, Kingdom Herbal Ltd.

Messi reaches 400 goals as Barca rout Granada

2014-09-28T22:58:00.000-07:00

BARCELONA: Barcelona’s Lionel Messi (R) scores past Granada goalkeeper Roberto during their La Liga match at the Nou Camp.—Reuters

BARCELONA: Lionel Messi netted the 400th goal of his storied career on Saturday while Neymar smashed a hat-trick as Barcelona trounced Granada 6-0 to maintain the pace at the top of La Liga.

Messi scored twice, his 358th and 359th goals for Barca along with 42 for Argentina, while Ivan Rakitic scored the other in Barca’s rout at the Nou Camp which saw them move to 16 points from six games.

“Messi is someone who has been touched by a magic wand and he is desperate to enjoy playing football,” said Barca boss Luis Enrique.

“I was thinking about taking him off but I enjoy watching him so much that I left him on for the 90 minutes. Watching Leo press on defence and being so generous in attack is a pleasure.”

Defending champions Atletico Madrid are on Barca’s tail as they beat previously undefeated Sevilla 4-0 in the return of coach Diego Simeone that left them two points behind in second.

Simeone coached his first league match of the season after being suspended from the touchline for the first five matches and set-piece goals by Jorge ‘Koke’ Resurreccion and Saul Niguez, a Raul Garcia penalty and a late Raul Jimenez header saw them ease to victory at the Vicente Calderon.

Real Madrid are also in hot pursuit, four points behind in fifth, after Cristiano Ronaldo kept up his rich scoring form with the second goal in a 2-0 win at Villarreal where Luka Modric had put them ahead.

The trio are all in action in the Champions League in midweek with Barca heading to Paris St Germain on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Atletico host Juventus and Real travel to Bulgaria to play Ludogorets.

Spain’s fourth representative in Europe’s premier club competition, Athletic Bilbao, meanwhile drew 0-0 at home with neighboring Basque club Eibar to remain winless in five straight games ahead of their match against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday.

EU states 'can do more' to battle Ebola virus

2014-09-28T22:50:00.002-07:00

Prominent public health experts urge western governments to do more

On Friday, the death toll from the Ebola virus passed the 3,000 mark, six months after the outbreak began. Photograph: Tommy Trenchard/The New York Times

Former Irish European commissioner David Byrne has called on Ireland and other EU states to do more to fight the

outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus in west Africa.

Mr Byrne, who held the health portfolio in the European Commission from 1999 to 2004, is one of 44 prominent public health experts who signed a letter in The Lancet medical journal that urged Western governments to “mobilise all possible resources” to assist west Africa in controlling the epidemic. On Friday, the death toll from the disease passed the 3,000 mark, six months after the outbreak began.

The Irish Government could help by facilitating medical staff to take career breaks so they can volunteer to work fighting the disease, and by providing medical supplies to control the spread of infection, Mr Byrne told The Irish Times yesterday.

The EU Commission has donated more than €180 million to help fight the epidemic, he said. “It’s for the governments of the member states now to up their game. The EU doesn’t have the ability to send health personnel into west Africa in the numbers needed, but the health communities in each country can.”

Ireland is a long-standing supporter of the WHO and enjoys a good reputation internationally for its aid work, he pointed out. It is also a signatory of an international agreement that requires countries to be supportive when the WHO declares an outbreak a “public health emergency of international concern,” as it has done in the case of the current Ebola outbreak.

“We’re now dealing with an outbreak of a serious disease in developing countries that don’t have the resources to fight it. Meanwhile, the developed world hasn’t given enough attention to the problem, probably because it doesn’t think the disease will spread further,” said Byrne.

Irish Aid has made donations totalling about €460,000 in response to the Ebola outbreak.

"Out of control’

The Lancet letter said the Ebola epidemic has “spiralled completely out of control” after months of “inaction and neglect” from the international community.

“Today, the virus is a threat not only to the countries where the outbreak has overwhelmed the capacity of national health systems, but also to the entire world.

“The Ebola epidemic represents a public health imperative; unchecked, it might very well become a geopolitical one.”

source:irishtimes.com

Former rugby player guilty in ax killings

2014-09-26T23:10:00.001-07:00

DURBAN, South Africa (AP) A former professional rugby player and under-21 international in South Africa has been convicted on four counts of murder for a series of grisly ax killings.

The South African Press Association says Joseph Ntshongwana was also found guilty on Friday of two counts of attempted murder, one of assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm, one of kidnapping, and one of rape.
Ntshongwana played for the Pretoria-based Blue Bulls rugby team from 1998-2000, and was a member of South Africa's Under-21 squad in 1998 alongside Springboks greats John Smit and Victor Matfield.

Ntshongwana killed the four victims with an ax in the space of a week in and around the east coast city of Durban in 2011. Two of the victims were decapitated.

South Africa won’t beg UK over visas

2014-09-26T23:08:00.000-07:00

Tit-for-tat response ... Malusi Gigaba Add caption

SOUTH Africa is still hoping that the British government will reintroduce a visa exemption for South Africans travelling to the UK although SA is by no means on its knees over the issue, the country's Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has said.

Gigaba’s position follows the introduction of visa requirements for British government officials and diplomats in September.
The requirement is a tit-for-tat response to the introduction of visa requirements on all South Africans by the UK.

The minister told reporters in Pretoria that the South African government had tried to resolve the matter with the UK by seeking a visa-requirement exemption for South African diplomats and officials but "those efforts were in vain".
"We engaged the British government to understand the rationale and make them reconsider or at least exempt officials and diplomats. When engagements were in vain we then decided to reciprocate as an international principle but exempted ordinary citizens of the UK," Gigaba said.

Officials and diplomats of the UK would have to apply for a visa in person at the SA high commission in Britain before visiting SA, Gigaba said.
He also said SA did not understand why Britain had introduced the requirements but dismissed the argument that the South African passport was not secure.
SA would consider reviewing requirements for British officials and diplomats if the UK was prepared to review their requirements on travellers from SA, said Gigaba.

Mugabe holding Zimbabwe back

2014-09-26T23:06:00.002-07:00

While other leaders from across the political spectrum addressed relevant burning issues in detail such as, among others, terrorism and growing income inequality globally, calling for the resetting of the global economy, Mugabe spoke like a Cold War warrior from another era.
His preoccupation with the alleged victimisation of his government is increasingly having fewer and fewer takers.
It sounds oddly out of place.
It sounds oddly discordant.

Mugabe’s bloated delegation of over 100 did not help his cause either.
Year in, year out, he takes a dig at the West, but to what end? No other regional leader has been known to fulminate like that on the international stage. Clearly, regional leaders don’t go out of their way to pick fights.
Moreover, Zimbabwe has not been singled out for victimisation as the government has clearly breached universal norms like the upholding of human rights and brazenly defaulted on its financial obligations to international lenders. So, playing the victim card loudly is not helpful at all.

Whatever the West’s sins of commission or omission, both sides must meet somewhere in the middle because Mugabe himself is not stainless.
Back home, he is pushing his own wife to the political heights and not tolerating any challenge or resistance to that.

Is that the conduct of a practicing democrat? He cannot masquerade as a change agent. Zimbabweans are not fooled. Neither is the world fooled. All this hypocrisy does is to embarrass the nation to no end.
Again, the world cannot help but notice Mugabe’s age. At 90, he was clearly the oldest leader to address the UN General Assembly. CNN pointedly mentioned that he is now into his seventh term in office. His age now detracts from everything he says.

Is Mugabe the right person to call for a new world order while refusing to embrace change at home? It is so glaring.
So, Mugabe should be the last person to call for change on the global stage. He does not have the moral authority to do so. But it’s sad that he does not see this glaring contradiction. He thinks everybody is out of step except himself.
As it stands, Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa, with his newly-found diplomatic skills, could do a world of good for Zimbabwe on the international stage if he is shifted to the Foreign Affairs ministry instead of the taciturn incumbent, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi.

The country can ill-afford to have an uncommunicative, unresponsive, tight-lipped, abrupt and secretive character as Foreign Affairs minister, particularly in these times where Zimbabwe needs to engage from the East to the West, from the North to the South.
But Mugabe — as the angry, rancorous face of Zimbabwe for the past 34 years — is holding the country back.

Kasapreko Company To Sponsor Free Food

2014-09-26T22:56:00.003-07:00

The organisers of the ‘Alomo Sankwan’ have disclosed that they will be free provision of food and drinks from Kasapreko Company on Sunday, September 28 for all patrons who will attend the event to be held at Democracy Village located on Koforidua Highway.

The event is expected to attract people from all walks of life including students from Koforidua Polytechnic and All Nations University. There would be enough merry-making as patrons would be treated to splendid performances from a number of seasoned hiplife artistes like Keche.
The ‘Alomo Sankwan Campaign’ is being organised by one of the African’s leading alcoholic producers, Kasapreko Company Kasapreko. It would also be aired live on some selected radio stations.

It seeks to direct traffic to Sunday eating joints with lots of music and fun and also to promote Kasapreko products. It would be running in different eating and drinking joints in some selected parts of the country every Sunday for 13 weeks.
The event comes with loads of prizes as give away packages like electronic gadgets, mobile call credits and many more.
The ‘Alomo Sankwan’, which is expected to run from September till December, would visit cities such as Accra, Koforidua, Kumasi, Takoradi and other parts of the country.

Y-40 Deep Joy: Dare to dive into the world's deepest pool?

2014-09-26T22:56:00.000-07:00

Illaria Moliari, another Italian freediving champ, dressed as a mermaid to mark Y-40 Deep Joy. The pool is now the star attraction at the Hotel Millepini near Venice.

Yes it's a dive hotel, but not that kind of dive hotel.
An Italian spa complex has just opened a swimming pool certified by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's deepest.

Named the Y-40 Deep Joy, the pool is now the star attraction at the Hotel Millepini, located in the Montegrotto Terme resort area, near Venice.
This isn't the kind of facility aimed at jaded business travelers hoping to cram in a few laps before they head upstairs to order room service.
Deep Joy features a shaft that plunges down ...
And down ...

And down until it hits a depth of 42 meters (138 feet), a space that could easily accommodate a 13-story building.
Designed by architect Emanuele Boaretto and a year in the making, Deep Joy is expected to attract scuba enthusiasts and freedivers -- aquatic athletes whose incredible lung control allows them to spend minutes at depth on a single breath.

Thermal springs
The pool is filled with 4.3 million liters (1.1 million gallons) of thermal water from local springs, allowing divers to plunge without the skin suits they'd need in open seas or lakes.
It also contains underwater caves aimed at training scuba divers to negotiate sub-aquatic landscapes.

There's also a suspended transparent viewing tunnel that allows spectators to watch the divers in action.
Deep Joy was inaugurated earlier this year at a ceremony in which Italian world freediving champions Umberto Pelizzari and Ilaria Molinari (who dressed like a mermaid for the occasion) plumbed its depths.

The pool's creators hope it will transform Montegrotto Terme into an international diving center and raise the profile of what is said to be Europe's largest area of thermal springs.

It'll also be open to beginners who want to experience its depths under supervision.
Just don't drop your locker key.