US Condemns Military Seizure of Power in Mali,stands by AU and ECOWAS

March 22,2012-Washington DC.......The United States has strongly condemned the violence initiated by elements of the Armed Forces of Mali and has called for the immediate restoration of constitutional rule in the West African nation.

A statement issued by White House Press Secretary,Jay Carney says "The United States  stands by the people of Mali and the legitimately elected government of president Amadou Toumani Toure and also welcome the strong statements by the African Union and the Economic Community of west African states,condemning this unconstitutional seizure of power."

The coup which began Wednesday following a mutiny by troops at a military camp near the capital Bamako,has spread to other garrison.Meanwhile the where about of the president is unknown.

The regional body,Ecowas  has called the coup "reprehensible"sources say the coup is a major setback for Mali which is a landlocked  country and one the continent's poorest but well respected for it's democratic credentials.

President Toure himself came to power through a 1991 coup ,but was hailed for handing over to civilians and a decade later,he won the 2002 elections and was re-elected in 2007.

Source:EKOW MENSAH-SHALDERS AND JOEL SHALDERS

First Lady Michelle Obama to Lead Presidential Delegation to Opening Ceremonies of 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London

Washington  DC- March -13  2012-    First Lady Michelle Obama will lead the Presidential Delegation to the Opening Ceremonies of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. Mrs. Obama made the announcement at an event with Mrs. Samantha Cameron celebrating the Olympic Games and Mrs. Obama’s let’s Move! Initiative. At the event, Olympians and Paralympians including Kortney Clemons, Dominique Dawes, Tom Dolan, April Holmes, Lisa Leslie, Lori Ann Lindsey, Dan O’Brien, Becky Sauerbrunn, David Wagner and Mal Washington led DC-area school children in activities inspired by the Olympic Games. Mrs. Obama emphasized her hope that the Olympic Games will inspire more young people to get active and healthy, the goal of her let’s Move!  Initiative.

“In the months ahead, I’ll be talking to Americans all across the country to encourage even more young people to tap into that Olympic spirit and turn their inspiration into action,” said Mrs. Obama. “As the Olympic creed states, ‘the most important thing … is not to win, but to take part.’ And that doesn’t just mean sitting and watching, it means getting up and getting active as well.  I hope we use the upcoming games as motivation for all of us to get up and get moving. This is especially true for our young people. You don’t have to be a gold medal winner or the best athlete at your school to take part.  You don’t even have to play an organized sport.  You can dance in the living room, ride your bike around the neighborhood, or go for a walk with your friends.  Everyone can find some way to be healthy, get active, and have some fun.”

“Olympians are ambassadors of their country so it is only fitting that our nation’s leaders show support for the Games. Mrs. Obama’s support will only further invigorate the athletes’ desire to bring home the gold and motivate all Americans to be active,” said Dominique Dawes, three-time Olympic gymnast.

It is traditional for a delegation to travel to the Olympic Games to represent the United States. In the coming months, the White House will announce the official delegates accompanying Mrs. Obama to London. Other First Ladies that have led a Presidential Delegation to the Olympic Games include First Lady Laura Bush to the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy and then-First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton to the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.

Source: EKOW MENSAH-SHALDERS AND JOEL SHALDERS

GHANA's PRESIDENT VISIT WHITE HOUSE

March 8 2012-Washington DC. Ghana's President John Evans Atta Mills was in the Oval Office for a bilateral meeting with the United States President,Barack Obama.

The two leaders used the opportunity to discuss objectives in advancing development as well as the economic ties between the two countries.They also discussed cooperation on a host of bilateral,regional and multilateral issues and deepening of bilateral partnership.
Ghana's delegation to the Oval Office  included:

The Foreign Minister Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni

The Secretary to the President James Bebaako-Mensah

The Minister of Finance Kwabena Dufuor

The Trade Minister Hanna Tetteh

The Minister of Energy Dr.Oteng-Adjei

The Deputy Minister of Transport Dzifa Ativor

The Presidential Advisor to the President Dr. Cadman Mills

His Excellency the Ambassador Daniel Ohene Agyekum

President Mills told President Obama that he was honored to be in the White House.He said Ghana and the United States share the same values of democracy and democracy is the only way.

He said "We share the same  values of democracy and democracy is the only way.It goes with development .There cannot be any development without peace.We also have an election this year and we want to make sure there's peace before,during and after"

Mr Mills is expected to meet with US Attorney General,Eric Holder, Secretary of Energy,Dr Steven Chu,Secretary of Transport Ray La Hood and the Administrator of USAID Dr Rajive Shah.


He will also visit the Martin Luther King  memorial and have lunch with senators Chris Coons and Johnny Isakson before returning to Accra-Ghana.


Source :Ekow Mensah-Shalders

Fact sheet on the U.S.-Ghana Development and Economic Relationship

Ghana’s democratic and economic development successes exemplify the integral relationship between democracy, good governance, and development.  Ghana also exemplifies many of the positive economic trends in Sub-Saharan Africa.  Africa is home to some of the fastest-growing economies in the world, including Ghana, offering enormous potential for enhanced trade and investment by U.S. companies. 

A Growing Trading Partner

·         Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product grew by at least 13.5 percent in 2011 and will sustain a growth rate of at least 8 percent in 2012, according to the International Monetary Fund.

·         Two-way total trade between the United States and Ghana was valued at $1.9 billion in 2011, a 56 percent increase over 2010.  U.S. exports to Ghana were valued at $1.2 billion, up from $963 million in 2010, and over the past five years exports of U.S. goods and services have increased over 186%.

·         U.S. companies are among Ghana’s largest and highest profile partners, and U.S. companies are increasingly helping to build Ghana’s infrastructure, while adhering to strong environmental and social standards, and ensuring better development outcomes.

·         Over the last twelve months, including new contracts signed this week, the U.S. has provided crucial assistance that has made $1.47 billion in U.S. exports possible.  A few recent examples include:  Miami-based Belstar is implementing a $250 million project providing medical equipment, services and infrastructure to benefit up to 100 hospitals throughout Ghana.  The project will make a significant impact on Ghana’s ability to meet its growing need for modern health care infrastructure.  The project is expected to generate $147 million in U.S. exports through initial procurements, with an expected total procurement amount of $253 million.

·         In the past year and a half, companies such as General Electric and IBM have set up offices in Ghana, and others are expected to soon follow.  U.S. companies are involved in a wide range of sectors from oil to cocoa processing, and Ghana now has three direct flights from the U.S., on American carriers.

Partners for Growth

·         The United States continues to support Ghana's economic development and reform efforts through bilateral and regional assistance programs.

·         Ghana recently completed its five-year, $547 million compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation to improve agricultural production, transportation and rural development.

·         U.S. development initiatives seek to partner with Ghana to hasten the day when foreign assistance is no longer needed.  This includes shared work to build on accomplishments to date and address the remaining constraints to economic growth through the Partnership for Growth.

Source:White House.

Filed by:Ekow Mensah-Shalders

Institute for Democracy and Press Freedom,Inc.

 

FROM CAR WASH TO A MILLION DOLLAR CROONER, Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. wins America’s Got Talent 2011

Los Angeles, CA. -----It was all tears of joy for Landau Murphy Jr. , on Wednesday  when the host of America’s Got Talent Nick Canon announced  to  anxious audience  that he has won the million dollar prize for this year’s competition. T

Murphy Jr. from Logan, West Virginia who not long ago was washing cars is now a millionaire, courtesy America’s Got Talent .He also has a Las Vegas  headline contract .He thanked Americans for believing in him and giving him the opportunity to what he has worked so hard for since childhood. ”I have worked my butt so hard for this and I thank Americans for given me this opportunity”  

His victory brings to the fore the prediction of one of the judges, Howie Mendel, that his life will never be the same! This was after the he had performed during the audition to the surprise of all.

The smooth singer will headline at Caesars Palace in October 2011

Source: Ekow Shalders (IDPF, USA)

Large Marijuana Grow Operation on U.S. Forest Land Eradicated One Man Arrested and Four Others Sought; Will Face Federal Drug Charges

MADISON, WI—John W. Vaudreuil, United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that a large marijuana grow operation located in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in Ashland County, Wis., was eradicated today. One individual was arrested at the scene, and four others are at large. The marijuana grow involved thousands of plants over a several-acre area approximately 25 miles northwest of Park Falls, Wis. Law enforcement was alerted to its presence by a tip from a hunter in November 2010.
Approximately 175 federal, state, and local law enforcement agents were involved in today’s operation, which involved the removal of the marijuana plants and the processing of the site for evidence. An evaluation of the scene indicated that the grow operation has been active for some time. The site included a campsite for individuals who cultivated the grow operation. Loaded firearms were found at the campsite.
Law enforcement officials are asking any members of the public who see suspicious individuals in the area to contact the Ashland County Sheriff’s Office at 1- 715- 685-7640.
Any individuals who are arrested in connection with this grow operation will be charged by the U.S. Attorney’s Office with manufacturing marijuana.
“Unfortunately, there are criminals who take advantage of the remote and heavily wooded nature of our national forests to cultivate marijuana on a large-scale basis. Visitors to U.S. forest land who come upon marijuana grow operations should leave the area immediately and report their observations to law enforcement authorities,” United States Attorney Vaudreuil said.
The investigation of this matter is being conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice - Division of Criminal Investigation; Ashland County Sheriff’s Department; Drug Enforcement Administration; U.S. Forest Service; Federal Bureau of Investigation; Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; Northwest Area Crime Unit (comprised of Sawyer, Douglas and Washburn County Sheriffs’ Departments and Superior Police Department); U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission. The prosecution of the case will be handled by Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert A. Anderson.
FILED BY:EKOW SHALDERS,INSTITUTE FOR DEMOCRACY AND PRESS FREEDOM

Facebook Fake Pleads Guilty to Receipt of Child Pornography

OKLAHOMA CITY—DANIEL LESLIE MOONEYHAM, 32, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, pled guilty today to receipt of child pornography depicting a 15-year-old boy, announced Sanford C. Coats, United States Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma.
According to court records, Mooneyham, using a fake Facebook profile, pretended to be an attractive 18-year-old blonde female named “Terri Smith.” Posing as Terri Smith, Mooneyham would send Facebook “friend” requests to teenage boys, some of whom he knew through church youth group and a youth camp. After establishing a Facebook “friendship” with teenage posing as Terri Smith, Mooneyham would solicit nude pictures in exchange for sexually explicit photos of Terri Smith. Mooneyham would direct them to text or e-mail their nude pictures to a Yahoo! e-mail account that he had created for his Terri Smith Facebook profile. Mooneyham received nude pictures via e-mail from at least three minors. The pictures of Terri Smith that Mooneyham sent the boys depicted an unknown female that Mooneyham had found on the Internet. During the investigation, Mooneyham, posing as Terri Smith, also solicited a sexually explicit photo from an undercover FBI agent who was posing as a 15-year-old boy on Facebook.
The FBI arrested Mooneyham on July 14, 2011, a few days before he was scheduled to return to an Oklahoma youth camp with a church youth group. Mooneyham is currently in federal custody. United States District Judge Timothy D. DeGiusti will sentence Mooneyham in approximately 90 days. He faces not less than five years and up to 20 years in federal prison.
This case was part of Project Safe Childhood, the flagship program in the Department of Justice’s National Strategy for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction, and was the result of an investigation conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Hale.

Filed By:Ekow Shalders
IDPF USA