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Showing posts from September, 2016

VIDEO : @penplusbytes Amplifying oil and gas issues -Ghana elections 2016 launched in Takoradi

Ghana opposition woos voters with billon-dollar spending promise

By Matthew Mpoke Bigg SALAGA, Ghana, Sept 6 (Reuters) - The leader of Ghana's main opposition party, Nana Akufo-Addo, climbed from his car, picked up a microphone and made a bold election promise to give every constituency the equivalent of $1 million a year if his party wins power. The money would be used to alleviate poverty by installing basic services such as electricity, running water and sanitation in a country that has accepted an IMF bailout in part to help manage debt accumulated from past government spending. Akufo-Addo and his running mate Mahamudu Bawumia did not explain to the crowd how they would finance the plan, which would cost $1.1 billion over four years, given that Ghana has 275 constituencies. But this did not appear to matter to the hundreds who had waited until after dark for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) rally on Friday in Salaga, a trading town in one of Ghana's poorest regions. They blew vuvuzelas and roared their approval. "We have

Be Forthright With Information To Curb Misuse Of Social Media – Analyst

Security Analyst Adib Saani has impressed upon officialdom to be forthright with information to avoid people relying on unofficial sources such as social media for information. Commenting on calls on security services to put in place measures to curb the misuse of social media, Mr Saani said citizen's reliance on official sources of information is key. The Security Analyst said the media must also double check information from social media sources before publication, but stifling it will represent an affront to freedom of speech. Meanwhile, governance and Technology expert, Kwami Ahiabenu says the Ghana Police Service needs to intensify policing of the social media space and expose those caught abusing the medium ahead of the December Elections. Mr Ahiabenu said even though regulating social media on Election Day is possible, it comes with a huge technological and human cost that may not be necessary. Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) 

Professor Abid Yahya Delivers 10th Anniversary Public Lecture

by Benjamin Larbi, Communication Officer On July 11, 2016, Professor Abid Yahya, a distinguished scholar in engineering and a researcher of international repute,  delivered the maiden edition of the 10 th  Anniversary Public Lecture series at the McCarthy Hill campus.  The topic for the lecture was “The Importance of Mobile Computing and Cloud Technology in the 21st Century”. The lecture series forms part of activities earmarked to celebrate the University’s 10 th  anniversary.  In attendance at the lecture were Regent staff, students, participants from various industries, and friend s of the University College. Dr. Prince Kofi Kludjeson, the Executive Chairman of the Kludjeson International Group of Companies  served as the chairperson for the lecture. In his introductory remarks, Dr Kludjeson expressed delight at the progress  the University had made over the years, and recounted memories of Regent’s humble beginnings  when it operated from a rented building i

Elections in the age of Social Media

By Tope Adebola Through a series of straightforward steps, audience members at the Social Media and Elections workshop were encouraged to devise their own social media coverage plans on the spot. Facilitated by Penplusbytes executive director, and new Highway Africa Fellow, Kwami Ahiabenu II, audience participation in this workshop was at peak level right from the start. In a newsroom, some of the stages ofimplementing a social media coverage plan successfully are defining anaudience; evaluating what tools to use; and, monitoring progress and takingcorrective action. “Now, I want you to give me examples of the use of social media in elections,” Ahiabenu said, opening up the floor for further audience input. Ahiabenu spoke in an edifying manner, a teacher accustomed to conducting training sessions and mentoring people. His tone was warmly rhetorical, “one of them is the ability to, what? Connect with the candidate,” Ahiabenu said, exemplifying the value of socia