#Accountability of Investigative Agency&039;s

[massivelyspeedyobject]

The real story of prosecution of minorities by Hitler & the resemblance

Credit: quora The prosecution of minorities under Hitler’s regime, particularly targeting Jews, is a dark chapter in history. Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party implemented policies of systematic discrimination, persecution, and ultimately extermination of various minority groups, most notably Jews, but also including Romani people, disabled individuals, homosexuals, and others. The persecution…

[jobswzayef]

Senior Design Manager Building Services MEP

Senior Design Manager Building Services MEP Faithful Gould are looking for Senior Design Manager MEP to be based in UAE and KSA. SNC Lavalin 039 s Faithful Gould business is one of the world 039 s leading integrated project and programme management consultancies with over 2 400 professionals operating worldwide. Our aim is to protect and maximise our clients 039 interests throughout the planning and delivery of projects ensuring they are delivered on time on budget. We pride ourselves on collaborating with client teams and developing long term relationships. Key services include Project management programme management project controls commercial management cost management and expert scheduling and construction planning. Our industry is going through a digital transformation and we have been investing in and pioneering digital methods to improve all aspects of our service. We have focussed our digital transformation around platform modernisation and product development and through standardisation and automation we are achieving efficiencies that are directly passed on to our clients who benefit from a consistent quality of service as well as the savings. Active in the Middle East for over 20 years we have offices in the UAE Qatar Oman and Saudi Arabia. We hire and retain only the best people in the industry. Our success is built on recruiting and then developing brilliant people from a broad range of professional and cultural backgrounds. It 039 s precisely this diversity of talent that sets us apart. Role In this role you are required to provide the interface between project ownership and delivery. You are required to act as the single focal point of contact between the Client consultants and the Construction Contractor s ensuring the desired project objectives are delivered. You must have adequate knowledge and information about the business and the project in order to make informed value add decisions for both the Client and the Company. Responsibilities You will be responsible for at least the following areas and duties in your role General Planning Implement an appropriate and effective project or programme management framework incorporating necessary review processes as required Define and implement criteria for control and management of the project Coordinate and direct end user input throughout the project lifecycle Appraise options and submit to the Client for approval Secure resources and expertise from the Client as required e.g. appoint professional advisers to support the project sponsor role Coordinate the value management strategy Manage project budget including risk allowance Monitor and control changes variations following approval by Client Risk Management Determine and manage risks that may affect the project in any way particularly schedule budget or quality specifications Facilitate effective communication and action as sole point of contact between the Client and site delivery team Assist the design team and site delivery team to identify and resolve problems Site Coordinate and foster teamwork between all project stakeholders Manage the design and site delivery team 039 s performance of delegated responsibilities Establish an effective and universal strategy to address major issues that may arise with the site delivery team Ensure the site delivery team receives the necessary stakeholder decisions in a timely fashion Establish a mechanism to ensure collaborative problem solving with the site delivery team which will involve regular dialogue with contractors team working and risk sharing People Practice sound people management principles to ensure that the team of Faithful Gould staff contractors works well and provides a supportive environment for the achievement of project and individual objectives Manage the welfare and motivation of Faithful Gould direct reports such as Assistant Project Managers and Administration Assistants and provide leadership guidance and encouragement Plan for and undertake annual performance reviews in line with Faithful Gould processes Contract Management Negotiate and convert contracts as required by the project Oversee the award of contracts and ensure the client is adequately protected Chair meetings and ensure minutes are actioned in a timely manner Provide timely regular and accurate reporting on the project progress costs and quality as determined by the Business Manager Accurately check and sign off on all payment certificates and invoices Ensure accurate finalisation of client accounts provide substantiated recommendations for variations and ensure contractors and consultants are paid in accordance with contract schedules Client Management Look for opportunities to improve the client 039 s position in regard to return and value Identify and resolve disputes quickly and reasonably Develop and maintain good relationships with client representatives consultants contractors and adjoining property owners Manage and coordinate the project handover phase with contractors client contractors tenants and building managers Reporting Receive and review detailed reports on the project from the site delivery team Establish formal reporting arrangements on project progress for the Client and Company Maintain up to date project skite sheets and resumes for the project team for use by the Company Business Development In addition to your project role as a representative of the Company you will use your best endeavours to communicate potential business development opportunities to the Company and to actively promote the interests of the Company within the industry. Specific Assist in the RFP process for prequalification of architectural engineering services and participate in the negotiation of design contracts Advise on the need to appoint consultants and in conjunction with Client develop the scope of services for each consultant. Advise the Client on the need for additional studies reviews research investigations surveys tests or the like. Prepare a list of select consulting firms with proven capabilities and resources and issue pre qualification documents to them and make a recommendation of a short list of consultants. Request Client approval to a final short list of invitees. Prepare a brief for various consultants based on the program scope budget and time objectives and requirements provided by Client. Prepare and issue invitations for Consultants to submit proposals as per Client approved procedures. Respond to questions and queries raised during the tender period and circulate the questions and answers to all the vendors. Review proposals received from the vendors evaluate content and offer prepare a detailed report and make recommendations for appointment for Client 039 s review. Monitor the performance of all architectural and engineering firms for work related to project emphasizing on time and on budget performance and monitoring compliance with Design Guidelines and contract terms. Monitor the development of the overall design process from conceptual design through schematic and detailed contract documents. Perform design reviews throughout the design process from conceptual design through schematic and detailed contract documents. Review the Design Consultants cost estimates and conduct ongoing constructability reviews to successfully meeting the schedules and program budgets. Monitor submittals by the design consultants to obtain approvals and permits necessary by all regulatory agencies and local authorities having jurisdiction. Implement Design to budget requirement in all appropriate RFP 039 s and contracts for design services. Monitor compliance with Design to Budget standards. Promptly inform in writing of any event or situation that the likely effect of which would be to vary the scope of the Program and or change its quality content or function. Schedule the submission of the design in stages if appropriate to Client and request his approval thereto. Advise Client in the event that the design indicates that compromises are necessary between particular objectives and requirements of Project. Schedule the Design activities in the Master Schedule to include reasonable periods Client approvals. Monitor the dissemination of design information among the Program Team in timely manner such that abortive work is avoided or minimized as much as practicable. Monitor the performance of the Design Consultant and other consultants in respect of the deliverables associated with the agreed Design Program and provide immediate advice to Client in the event their progress may affect the program overall completion date or milestone objectives together with recommended remedial action. Monitor statutory authority approval processes. Prepare a standard NOC no objection certificates register to be prepared and updated by all consultants and contractors. Schedule the Design to allow reasonable periods for Client approvals any Municipality Permits No objection Certificates and other statutory approvals. Competence This position requires professional ability and inherent motivation. You have the skills required to direct meetings introduce discussion to encourage thinking on the wider commercial context and be responsible for the tasks assigned to members of your project team. You are willing and able to perform duties diligently to the quality standards set by the Company and conform to the Company 039 s policies and business systems and be committed to their implementation and continuous improvement at all times. Authorities You will operate within the constraints of the particular contract for which you have been appointed. You will have financial delegations for the Company in accordance with the financial authorities established by the Company and as amended from time to time Skills and Attributes You are expected to Apply quality management principles and processes Apply risk assessment and management principles and processes Network effectively negotiate well and influence people broker relationships with stakeholders within and outside the project Be aware of the broader environmental social and economic perspectives and how they may affect the project Support and provide leadership to your project team. Experience amp Qualifications Bachelor 039 s Degree in Architecture Building Services MEP or Engineering 15 years full time paid professional experience managing the facilities design or the planning and coordination of capital projects that included the overall design contract administration cost estimating and scheduling activities Ability to build consensus among multiple stakeholders Active leadership style Middle East experience required. MEP design management bias required GCC experience required. Rewards and Benefits We offer an excellent package which includes A competitive salary Accommodation allowance Transportation allowance 22 calendar days annual leave Medical and life insurance cover Company gratuity scheme Discretionary bonus scheme Annual flight allowance to point of origin Employee Assistance Programme 24 hour free advice on financial legal and family care specialists and also access to personal health fitness and nutrition consultants Note This role is currently under bidding process * راتب مجزي جداً. * مكافأت و حوافز متنوعة. * توفير سكن مؤثث أو بدل سكن. * أنتقالات أو توفير بدل عنها. * توفير تذاكر السفر لمن يشغل الوظيفة و عائلته. * نسبة من الأرباح الربع سنوية. * أجازات سنوية مدفوعة الراتب بالكامل. * مسار وظيفي واضح للترقيات. * بيئة عمل محفزة و مناسبة لحالة الموظف. * تأمين طبي للموظيف و عائلته. * تأمينات أجتماعية. التقدم و التواصل مباشرة دون و سطاء عند توافر الألتزام و الجدية التامة و المؤهلات المطلوبة علي: jobswzayef@gmail.com

[newssplashy]

Microsoft is reportedly being investigated by US authorities for potential bribery and corruption in Hungary, leaked documents and interviews show Facebook's struggle to moderate two billions accounts, and Lisa Brennan-Jobs revealed more details from her memoir about life with her father Steve Jobs.

Good morning! This is the tech news you need to know this Friday.

1. Microsoft is reportedly being investigated by US authorities for potential bribery and corruption over software sales in Hungary. The Department of Justice and SEC are probing how the company sold software like Word and Excel to firms who then sold them on to Hungarian government agencies, the Washington Post reports.

2. Leaked documents and interviews show Facebook's struggle to moderate two billion accounts. A large-scale Motherboard investigation dove into the heart of Facebook's moderation struggles.

3. Lisa Brennan-Jobs revealed more details from her memoir about life with her father Steve Jobs. A new memoir titled "Small Fry," written by Steve Jobs' daughter, Lisa Brennan-Jobs, provides a brutal window into the Apple cofounder's relationship with his child.

4. Facebook has hired a new CMO to try and repair its image after its scandal-filled year. Facebook has hired a new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), Antonio Lucio who previously held the same role at HP, and was at Visa and Pepsi before that.

5. Sony is relaunching the "Aibo" robot dog released in 1999, and it says the new version uses 'deep learning' and has cloud-based memories. The "Aibo" was originally discontinued in 2006, this is an updated model of the robot dog companion, which saw a release in Japan last year.

6. A ton of Tesla employees are getting poached by Apple, once dubbed the "Tesla Graveyard" by Elon Musk. Tesla and Apple compete for the same talent in fields like software, batteries, supply chain, and mechanical engineering.

7. It looks like Microsoft is planning a new 'Xbox All Access' monthly subscription which includes a console. According to Windows Central and The Verge, the subscription would include an Xbox console, Xbox Live Gold and Xbox Game Pass subscriptions — and it would be cheaper than buying each item individually.

8. Russian trolls were discovered to be "spreading discord" about vaccinations online. Researchers at George Washington University discovered the Russian accounts, which disseminated both pro- and anti-vaccine content.

9. The wood pellet salesman who spent more than three years as a fugitive after being charged with trying to defraud Mark Zuckerberg out of 50% of Facebook has been arrested in Ecuador. The New York man may be extradited.

10. Apple is making a TV show out of the book that inspired Elon Musk to go to space. The series will be based on "Foundation," a classic 1951 novel by Issac Asimov, which is considered a cornerstone of science-fiction.

Have an Amazon Alexa device? Now you can hear 10 Things in Tech each morning. Just search for "Business Insider" in your Alexa's flash briefing settings.

via Nigerian News ➨☆LATEST NIGERIAN NEWS ☆➨GHANA NEWS➨☆ENTERTAINMENT ☆➨Hot Posts ➨☆World News ☆➨News Sp

[massivelyspeedyobject]

The real story of prosecution of minorities by Hitler & the resemblance

Credit: quora The prosecution of minorities under Hitler’s regime, particularly targeting Jews, is a dark chapter in history. Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party implemented policies of systematic discrimination, persecution, and ultimately extermination of various minority groups, most notably Jews, but also including Romani people, disabled individuals, homosexuals, and others. The persecution…

[massivelyspeedyobject]

What a resemblance

The rise of Hitler and the establishment of his dictatorial regime in Germany is a complex story rooted in the aftermath of World War I, economic turmoil, political instability, and societal discontent. Hitler capitalized on these factors to gain power and impose his authoritarian rule. Post-World War I Germany: After Germany’s defeat in World War I, the Treaty of Versailles imposed harsh…

[newssplashy]

Saraki: Senate President tells Buhari to set up neutral investigation of National Assembly invasion by DSS

He urged Buhari to immediately institute an independent judicial panel of inquiry to look into last week's incident.

The President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to set up an independent investigation into the recent invasion of the National Assembly by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).

DSS operatives took over the National Assembly complex early on Tuesday, August 7, 2018, and prevented lawmakers and journalists from gaining access into the premises in what many believed to be a plot to implement Saraki's impeachment.

Many Nigerians, especially in the opposition, have called on the federal government to set up an independent inquiry into the events of the invasion, and Saraki has once again called on the president to look into the "assault on our democracy".

Taking to his Twitter account (@bukolasaraki) on Tuesday, August 14, he posted, "The very serious questions about last Tuesday's siege on the National Assembly can only be answered through a thorough and neutral investigation.

"I call on Mr. President to immediately institute an independent judicial panel of inquiry to look into that assault on our democracy."

 Cabal planned NASS invasion for months - Saraki

During a world press conference addressing the invasion on Wednesday, August 8, Saraki alleged that the plan was implemented by a 'government within this government', popularly called a cabal, that doesn't have the interest of Nigerians at heart.

According to the senate president, the siege by the DSS was an attempt to illegally remove the leadership of the Senate in flagrant disregard of the law.

He disclosed that the invasion was planned for months and questioned how it was allowed to happen in a democratic government.

He said, "This is an incident concerning which we have it on good authority that it has been in the planning for months, and yet it was allowed to happen. How is it that such an atrocity was not prevented? How is it that the masterminds were not deterred? Very serious questions remain that can only be answered by a full investigation.

"We call for an investigation, and we demand that all perpetrators are brought to book. We owe it to ourselves to ensure that such a situation never occurs again. Many agencies have abused their powers and acted outside the ambit of the law on occasion. Where abuses occur, similar actions must be taken immediately and full investigation instituted."

The senate president also praised Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, for sacking the Director-General of the DSS, Lawal Daura, over the incident.

source http://www.newssplashy.com/2018/08/saraki-senate-president-tells-buhari-to.html

[newssplashy]

Ortom: Benue Governor tells EFCC to investigate Buhari, all governors over security votes spending

The governor said the EFCC is merely persecuting him for investigating only his state's spending on security.

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe President Muhammadu Buhari and all state governors in the country over the spending of security votes.

The governor's call comes just days after reports emerged that the anti-graft agency has been investigating him over how he has spent on Benue's security since 2015.

While speaking during a statewide broadcast on Wednesday, August 1, 2018, the governor said it's a case of persecution that he's the only governor being investigated over the spending on security.

According to him, the presidency itself has been secretive about how the government spends on security, leading him to direct EFCC to investigate the presidency and all state governors for a fair approach.

He said, "As I earlier alerted the people, EFCC is now probing the state security vote. So far, I am the only governor in Nigeria whose security vote is being investigated by EFCC. Recently, the presidential spokesman Mr. Femi Adesina, said on Channels Television and I quote 'I doubt, world over, if any government would come to say this is how much we have spent on security, because can you quantify the amount of one life? It is not something that any government will begin to disclose'.

"Why should Benue's case be different if not persecution? If the EFCC wanted a genuine investigation of security vote spending they should have started from the Presidency right across the 36 States. If their focus was on Benue State they should have started from 1999. But this is not the case.

"With the enormous security challenges in the state since my assumption of office, it is surprising that any one would expect me to do nothing but keep the security vote in the safe. The security vote spending being investigated spans from 2015 to 2018, a period of grave security challenges in the state.

"I reiterate that the investigation is a clear case of persecution. I have not misappropriated, diverted or stolen any money. I have nothing to hide. I assure that the investigators can find nothing incriminating against me."

Ortom's alleged mismanagement of N21.3 billion

According to a report by The Punch, the investigation into the governor's handling of N21.3 billion started in 2016, but wasn't made public until Monday, July 30, 2018, barely a week after Ortom dumped the ruling All Progressives' Congress (APC) for the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

According to the report, Ortom ordered the withdrawal of N21.3bn from four government accounts between June 30, 2015 and March 2018. Even though about N19 billion was earmarked to be paid to six security agencies that had been deployed to address the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the state, the EFCC disclosed that only N3 billion was paid with the rest unaccounted for.

The EFCC investigation also revealed that Governor Ortom failed to pay salaries despite withdrawing the sum of N1.3 billion for that purpose from the Joint State Local Government Account.

source http://www.newssplashy.com/2018/08/ortom-benue-governor-tells-efcc-to.html

[newssplashy]

The governor said the EFCC is merely persecuting him for investigating only his state's spending on security.

Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, has told the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe President Muhammadu Buhari and all state governors in the country over the spending of security votes.

The governor's call comes just days after reports emerged that the anti-graft agency has been investigating him over how he has spent on Benue's security since 2015.

While speaking during a statewide broadcast on Wednesday, August 1, 2018, the governor said it's a case of persecution that he's the only governor being investigated over the spending on security.

According to him, the presidency itself has been secretive about how the government spends on security, leading him to direct EFCC to investigate the presidency and all state governors for a fair approach.

He said, "As I earlier alerted the people, EFCC is now probing the state security vote. So far, I am the only governor in Nigeria whose security vote is being investigated by EFCC. Recently, the presidential spokesman Mr. Femi Adesina, said on Channels Television and I quote 'I doubt, world over, if any government would come to say this is how much we have spent on security, because can you quantify the amount of one life? It is not something that any government will begin to disclose'.

"Why should Benue's case be different if not persecution? If the EFCC wanted a genuine investigation of security vote spending they should have started from the Presidency right across the 36 States. If their focus was on Benue State they should have started from 1999. But this is not the case.

"With the enormous security challenges in the state since my assumption of office, it is surprising that any one would expect me to do nothing but keep the security vote in the safe. The security vote spending being investigated spans from 2015 to 2018, a period of grave security challenges in the state.

"I reiterate that the investigation is a clear case of persecution. I have not misappropriated, diverted or stolen any money. I have nothing to hide. I assure that the investigators can find nothing incriminating against me."

Ortom's alleged mismanagement of N21.3 billion

According to a report by The Punch, the investigation into the governor's handling of N21.3 billion started in 2016, but wasn't made public until Monday, July 30, 2018, barely a week after Ortom dumped the ruling All Progressives' Congress (APC) for the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

According to the report, Ortom ordered the withdrawal of N21.3bn from four government accounts between June 30, 2015 and March 2018. Even though about N19 billion was earmarked to be paid to six security agencies that had been deployed to address the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the state, the EFCC disclosed that only N3 billion was paid with the rest unaccounted for.

The EFCC investigation also revealed that Governor Ortom failed to pay salaries despite withdrawing the sum of N1.3 billion for that purpose from the Joint State Local Government Account.

via NewsSplashy - Latest Nigerian News,Ghana News ,News,Entertainment,Hot Posts,sports In a Splash.

[newssplashy]

Kemi Adeosun: SERAP asks minister to respond certificate forgery allegation

SERAP also said that the finance minister's continued silence will weaken the public trust in Buhari's government.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun to respond to the certificate forgery allegations levelled against her and settle the facts of the case once and for all.

The organization said Adeosun’s continued silence will weaken the public trust in the government’s oft-expressed commitment to transparency and accountability.

According to SERAP deputy director Timothy Adewale, “Clarifying the allegations of certificate forgery would show a commitment to doing the right thing, and a natural disposition toward openness. The continuing failure and/or refusal to speak to Nigerians on these allegations amounts to a betrayal of public trust. If she can show the courage to clear the air on the allegations, Mrs Adeosun can be a strong promoter of the values of transparency and accountability, something which the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has regularly expressed commitment to embrace and achieve.

 “The failure to address the allegations may create public anger and lead to accusation of cover-up. The public can become passive and cynical if it believes that people in position of public trust are out for themselves. It is the core responsibility of any senior public official to prevent that cynicism.

 “When those in position of public trust refuse to speak up on allegations bordering on certificate forgery, it invariably creates a psychological climate, a moral culture in which citizens are more likely to embrace illegal actions and choose to undertake them.”

Mrs. Adeosun's brief background

Kemi Adeosun who was born in England in 1967, pursued all her education career in England and graduated in 1989 at the age of 22 from the Polytechnic of East London, now University of East London.

Having graduated before the age of 30, she was by the provisions of the NYSC Act supposed to undergo a mandatory service year for her to qualify for any position, be it in public or private sector in Nigeria.

Adeosun reportedly obtained the certificate in question twenty years after her graduation in September 2009.

The certificate, according to reports was purportedly signed by a late Director General of the scheme, Yusuf Bomoi who was said to have retired from service eight months earlier than the date the minster obtained the document.

NYSC speaks

The management of NYSC admitted that the Minister had actually applied for an Exemption Certificate but was not specific whether Adeosun had been issued the certificate.

ALSO READ: Kemi Adeosun gets int'l job despite NYSC certificate scandal

 In a statement signed by the Director, Press and Publications Relations, Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi, the scheme said it would investigate the origin of the purported Exemption Certificate in question.

Also, the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung had summoned the Director General of NYSC Brigadier General Suleiman Kazaure to obtain first-hand information from the DG on what transpired and how far the scheme had gone with the investigation. 

Dalung promised that as soon as he was done getting the brief from the NYSC boss, he would brief Nigerians on the matter

Eligible Nigerians who skipped the service are liable to be sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and/or N2,000 fine, according to Section 13 of the NYSC Act. Section 13 (3) of the Act also prescribes three-year jail term or option of N5,000 fine for anyone who contravenes provision of the law.

Subsection 4 of the same section also criminalises giving false information or illegally obtaining the agency’s certificate. It provides for up to three-year jail term for such offenders.

source https://www.newssplashy.com/2018/07/kemi-adeosun-serap-asks-minister-to.html

[newssplashy]

SERAP also said that the finance minister's continued silence will weaken the public trust in Buhari's government.

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun to respond to the certificate forgery allegations levelled against her and settle the facts of the case once and for all.

The organization said Adeosun’s continued silence will weaken the public trust in the government’s oft-expressed commitment to transparency and accountability.

According to SERAP deputy director Timothy Adewale, “Clarifying the allegations of certificate forgery would show a commitment to doing the right thing, and a natural disposition toward openness. The continuing failure and/or refusal to speak to Nigerians on these allegations amounts to a betrayal of public trust. If she can show the courage to clear the air on the allegations, Mrs Adeosun can be a strong promoter of the values of transparency and accountability, something which the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has regularly expressed commitment to embrace and achieve.

 “The failure to address the allegations may create public anger and lead to accusation of cover-up. The public can become passive and cynical if it believes that people in position of public trust are out for themselves. It is the core responsibility of any senior public official to prevent that cynicism.

 “When those in position of public trust refuse to speak up on allegations bordering on certificate forgery, it invariably creates a psychological climate, a moral culture in which citizens are more likely to embrace illegal actions and choose to undertake them.”

Mrs. Adeosun's brief background

Kemi Adeosun who was born in England in 1967, pursued all her education career in England and graduated in 1989 at the age of 22 from the Polytechnic of East London, now University of East London.

Having graduated before the age of 30, she was by the provisions of the NYSC Act supposed to undergo a mandatory service year for her to qualify for any position, be it in public or private sector in Nigeria.

Adeosun reportedly obtained the certificate in question twenty years after her graduation in September 2009.

The certificate, according to reports was purportedly signed by a late Director General of the scheme, Yusuf Bomoi who was said to have retired from service eight months earlier than the date the minster obtained the document.

NYSC speaks

The management of NYSC admitted that the Minister had actually applied for an Exemption Certificate but was not specific whether Adeosun had been issued the certificate.

ALSO READ: Kemi Adeosun gets int'l job despite NYSC certificate scandal

 In a statement signed by the Director, Press and Publications Relations, Mrs. Adenike Adeyemi, the scheme said it would investigate the origin of the purported Exemption Certificate in question.

Also, the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung had summoned the Director General of NYSC Brigadier General Suleiman Kazaure to obtain first-hand information from the DG on what transpired and how far the scheme had gone with the investigation. 

Dalung promised that as soon as he was done getting the brief from the NYSC boss, he would brief Nigerians on the matter

Eligible Nigerians who skipped the service are liable to be sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and/or N2,000 fine, according to Section 13 of the NYSC Act. Section 13 (3) of the Act also prescribes three-year jail term or option of N5,000 fine for anyone who contravenes provision of the law.

Subsection 4 of the same section also criminalises giving false information or illegally obtaining the agency’s certificate. It provides for up to three-year jail term for such offenders.

via NigeriaNews | Latest News In Nigeria,GhanaNews and Latest News In Ghana In a Splash

[newssplashy]

Anas exposé: How the GFA President shot himself in the foot

Kwesi Nyantakyi's reputation has suffered a major blow following Anas exposé

Sometime last year, Kwesi Nyantakyi, in order to prove a point that the Ghana Football Association (GFA), which he heads, is an institution of integrity, made an announcement at a summit he organized to sanitize the association.

He said that to curb bribery and corruption in the game of football in the country, a sum of GHC 20, 000 will be given to people who could provide evidence to support their claims.

The GFA had also said in the past that they would be glad to hire the services of the multiple award winning investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas to investigate and expose corruption within the FA, but little did they know that Anas would spring up on the institution unannounced. The masked crusader released his latest work, dubbed Number 12, on Wednesday and Thursday at the Accra International Conference Centre, Accra.

Football has been the passion of many Ghanaians since time immemorial. Kwame Nkrumah used football as a tool in his desire to achieve a united Africa. It was through him that the first African Champions Cup, currently the champions League, was held for the first time in the 1964/65 season, with Ghana as the host and his own club, Real Republicans, who had won the Ghanaian topflight league, representing the nation.

Ghana never looked back. The domestic top flight was exciting in the 1960’s, 1970s, 1990s and early 2000s, with clubs benefitting from a strong league by excelling on the African continent. It reflected on the number of titles they won on the African continent: Asante Kotoko have two Champions league titles, while Hearts of Oak have a CAF Champions League and a Confederation Cup title to their name.

Ashanti Gold, though having never won a continental trophy, were one of the first two clubs to play in the maiden CAF Champions League final in 1997. Ghana also won all of its four Africa Cup of Nations titles during that period with about 98%  of the winning teams recruited from the domestic league: 1963, 1965, 1978 and 1982,

However, the league took a nose dive in terms of its strength and competiveness after the early 2000’s.  Many believed it was due to the GFA’s over-concentration on national team at the expense of domestic football. While the Black Stars qualified for three consecutive World Cups, the league, supposed to be the FA’s core mandate, continued to weaken in terms of quality and patronage.

Nyantakyi’s tenure has seen few successes in local football. His major critics use that against him and draw comparison with his predecessors, saying the league was way more exciting in ages past.

It is true that lovers of domestic football in recent past saw the likes of Joe Debrah for Kotoko and Shamo Quaye for Hearts of Oak, talented sportsmen who generated excitement in the league during early 1990s and early 2000s. There was also the all-conquering team of Hearts of Oak team who won the Ghana Premier League for a record six consecutive times. Interestingly, some of us don’t credit the FA Presidents of those eras for those successes.

Indeed, back then, there was the presence of great players in the league who managed to attract supporters, but that changed with the influx of agents to lure players into accepting to play in less attractive leagues in the world, resulting in a major drain that dulled the league.

The major bane of the era of domestic football decline was the exodus of players in greener pastures, so they didn’t last long enough on the domestic scene to thrill fans. It wasn’t so before then. Thus I laugh it off when people commend GFA Presidents for the attractiveness of the league during the 1990s and early 2000s. There were dark elements to our game back then - hooliganism, match fixing, bribery, injunctions et cetera - but I believe the quality of play sort of compensated for that.

Hearts of Oak, for instance, were lucky to keep the same players for a period of two to three years because the was a ban on transfer of their players by Bright Akwetey, who was then battling the management of the Phobians after he’d left office as the board secretary of the club. That continuation with regards to their squad base helped with their subsequent success.

I believe that the major challenge clubs face in Ghana is their inability to keep players due to financial limitations. Ghanaian clubs thus need to get people with sound financial backing to inject monies into the running of football in the country.

Kwesi Nyantakyi is the best GFA President in my books after the great Ohene Djan, but the recent revelation in the Anas expose has left me speechless.

I am of the opinion that Kwesi Nyantakyi could have done more to promote the development of domestic football in Ghana. Although, as I have alluded to earlier, the local league struggles with financial investment, I still believe Nyantakyi had a responsibility. I believe he could have put in place proper financial management to enhance the financial capabilities of the clubs to keep some of the quality players on the domestic scene.

The clubs didn’t see significant financial boosts from the various sponsorship they acquired for the league under Kwesi Nyantakyi. The sums of money that have gone into the payment of agency fees for league sponsorship contracts has robbed the clubs.

The Anas expose revealed that the Ghana FA President received a $15m Ghana Premier League sponsorship proposal from a Tiger Eye agent posing as an investor. Nyantakyi, rather unfortunately, suggested that 20% to 25% of the money - amounting to the region of $4.5m – be paid to an agency that he was going to form as brokers of the deal. All this, at the expense of Ghana Premier League clubs, who would have sang hosanna for landing a mega sponsorship deal.

I have heard the PRO of Zylofon Cash say that their $10m sponsorship of the Ghana Premier League, which took effect in the latter part of the first round of the ongoing season, was a walk in – meaning there was no agent or deal broker. However, there were reports that an agency facilitated the deal, and that they were going to receive 7.5% of the $10 million dollars.

The most shocking aspect of the Zylofon cash deal was that neither the GFA nor Zylofon confirmed the amount that was involved and the breakdowns, shrouding a cloak of secrecy on it all.

I can only imagine the amount of agency fees that have fallen into the pockets of wrong persons for the past years if the number 12 scenario had happened in previous transactions.

I have a lot of doubts in my mind, and I am beginning to think retrospectively about the infamous Mid-see saga, which became the talking point when GLO handed the Ghana Premier league a $1.5 sponsorship. Mid-see, all of a sudden, popped up as the agency that facilitated the deal and got away a chunk of the sponsorship money at the expense of the clubs.

A few years later the Black Stars secured a mega $3m per annum sponsorship from the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) to sponsor the senior national team of Ghana. It was understood to be a walk in sponsorship, but as usual agency fee came up, and at a point, the then board chairman of the GNPC, Atto Ahwoi, even threatened to withdraw the sponsorship. The Ghana Football Association (GFA) backtracked and went for the sponsorship without any agency fees wired into the accounts of unknown individuals.

The First Capital Plus Bank Sponsorship for the Ghana Premier League in 2014 might have suffered the same fate and the Zylofon Cash sponsorship may also be the latest casualty.

I almost forgot the ten year StarTimes sponsorship deal. The GFA president left the country with the idea that the deal was a five year, yet it ended up being a ten year deal and the Executive Committee members and the club owners were later informed of the deal. According to Cudjoe Fianoo, the erstwhile CEO of AshGold and the current Chairman of the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA), he never set his eyes on the StarTimes contract and the same goes to the other top officials of the GFA.

The 16 clubs are the losers when whopping sums are paid to mysterious individuals who for all we know may have made no efforts to ensure the sponsorship was secured. I believe that when any official of the GFA facilitates a sponsorship deal, he does it for the GFA in exercising the mandate that the so called football people have given him or her.

The Ghana Football Association over the years has been criticized as being corrupt and having a poor administration. Sports journalists like Patrick Osei Agyemang ‘Countryman Songo’ and Dan Kwaku Yeboah have been fierce critics of the Kwesi Nyantakyi led GFA.

The criticisms against the GFA reached its height after Ghana were kicked out of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil at the group stage amid issues of delay in the payment of appearance fees, which compelled the Black Starts to boycott training ahead of their final group game against Portugal.

READ MORE: Leanier Addy The only woman on the GFA Exco lowered herself by receiving GHC 300 as bribe

The Ghana government set up a committee to investigate the events, before, during and after Brazil 2014 Mundial that might have triggered Ghana’s shambolic performance. The findings of the Commission of Inquiry revealed that a whopping amount of over $500,000 was shared amount the members of the Black Stars management Committee headed by Kwesi Nynatakyi during the tournament. The FA President appeared before the Commission and explained how the amount was shared and it was further revealed that even a deceased member on the committee received his share of the amount. The Commission was not impressed with the accounts rendered and so were many Ghanaians.

Ghanaians’ love for the Black Stars has since suffered a major setback, and confidence in the Ghana Football Association has been at an all-time low.

Kwesi Nyantaky in one of his speeches said that in Ghana it is perceived that people who run football are thieves, and that that perception was false.

Well, Anas appeared like the biblical thief in the night and validate that perception.

READ MORE: Ex-Man United attacker Depay is on holidays in Ghana

Several football administrators dared Anas to bring evidence and they got it. The documentary has spawned a full blown crisis.

No wonder the government in response has decided to take steps to dissolve the GFA and is ready to face the consequences, including a FIFA ban. The damage done is drastic and has inspired an equally drastic response

Nyantakyi has also been slapped with a 90 day ban by FIFA, after Anas Aremeyaw Anas petitioned the world football governing body to look into the matter.

I would have wished to see Kwesi Nyantakyi go higher and higher in his career as a football administrator, having assumed power as the second in command at CAF and having had the opportunity to serve on the FIFA Executive Council.

And with all these feats coming at a young age of 49, he was well on course to becoming the first African to ascend the throne of FIFA Presidency in the near future.

Let’s see if Nyantakyi can still fight his way out of this scandal that had handed his reputation a major blow.

In the end, hopefully, the truth will stand.

source https://www.newssplashy.com/2018/06/anas-expose-how-gfa-president-shot.html