2013 in retrospect
We bring to you some of the interesting events that took place in 2013.
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Education
Private SHSs Cry for students
Many private senior high schools (SHSs) in the country may not get enough first-year students for the 2013/2014 academic year.
This is because the Secretariat of the Computerised Schools Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) virtually placed all the candidates who wrote the 2013 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in public SHSs.
Consequently, the Ghana National Association of Private Schools (GNAPS) has accused the Ghana Education Service (GES) of embarking on the wholesale admission of candidates, irrespective of their performance, to public SHSs and technical institutes for the academic year.
As of November 1, 2013, a total of 351,881 candidates had been placed, leaving only 40,000 yet to be placed.
More than 390,000 candidates wrote the 2013 BECE.
GES approves new fees for SHS
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has released approved fees for the first-year day and boarding senior high schools (SHS) students for the 2013-2014 academic year.
Boarding students are to pay GH¢437, while day students are to pay GH¢230 for the first term.
Aviation
Ghana Airways DC-10 now a restaurant
The Ghana Airways DC-10 has been turned into a restaurant after government sold it out to some private individuals.
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Mandela died at 95
South Africa's first black president and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela died at the age of 95.
Mr Mandela led South Africa's transition from white-minority rule in the 1990s, after 27 years in prison for his political activities.
He had been receiving intensive medical care at home for a lung infection after spending three months in hospital.
Omanhene murdered
AN uneasy calm hanged over the otherwise peaceful town of Seikwa, in the Brong Ahafo Region, following the murder in cold blood of the Paramounnt Chief of the area, Nana Kwaku Dwuma Ankoana II.
Two accidents claim 13 lives
Thirteen people died in two separate accidents on the Kumasi-Obuasi highway and at Mfensi in the Atwima Nwabiagya District in the Ashanti region.
Courts and Crime
10 robbers jailed 400
An Accra circuit court sentenced 10 persons to a total of 400 years’ imprisonment for enegaging in eight separate robberies.
Obinim back in court
The leader of the God’s Way International Ministry, Bishop Daniel Obinim, was granted GH¢10,000 bail with one surety by the Accra High Court for allegedly causing harm and destroying the property of a private radio station.
Odartey Lamptey disputes fathering children
What previously seemed a blissful marriage between former Ghanaian star Nii Odartey Lamptey and Gloria, his wife of nearly two decades, has hit the rocks and is set to end in divorce.
It is one of the most bizarre cases of alleged infidelity which has left the football community stunned, after a teammate of the player was rumoured to be a father to one of the three children.
Gloria Lamptey has reportedly filed for divorce at the Accra High Court on the back of marital problems arising out of alleged infidelity on her part, after the football star discovered through paternity tests that he was not the biological father of their three daughters.
The Lampteys are blessed with three girls namely, 19-year-old Khadija, Moyesha, 18, and Latifa, 7. Apart from the three children, the couple lost two of their children during their marriage.
Election Petition
Ghana's Supreme Court dismissed the petition by the opposition to annul President John Mahama's victory in last year's disputed election.The New Patriotic Party (NPP) had alleged that there were irregularities which inured to the benefit of Mr Mahama, a charge his National Democratic Congress (NDC) denied.NPP leader Nana Akufo-Addo said he was disappointed but accepted the verdict and urged his supporters to do likewise.Ghana is generally seen as a beacon of democracy in the region.The case was broadcast live on television and radio in a rare sign of judicial transparency in Africa.
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Sports
Black Stars for Brazil 2014
The Senior national team, the Black Stars qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup to be staged in Brazil next.
The Black Stars played the Pharaohs of Egypt recently to secure qualification to Brazil 2014.
Ghana now joins West African countries; Nigeria, Cameroon and Ivory Coast for the 2014 World Cup.
Agbeko Wins IBO Bantamweight Title
Ghana’s Joseph Agbeko recorded a unanimous decision over Luis Malendez of Columbia to win the International Boxing Organisation (IBO) Bantamweight title at the Accra Sports Stadium.
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Agbeko scored 117-111, 119-111, 117-113 on the cards of Lanchen Oungham of Netherlands, Deon Dwarte of South Africa and Attaa Eddie Pappoe of Ghana, to overcome the durable Columbian boxer in a fight under the auspices of Fresh King Entertainments.
Politics
The President sacked the Deputy Communications Minister, Ms Victoria Hamah.
The minister was relieved of her post after she was allegedly heard on a secret tape saying she will only quit politics after making one million dollars.
The tape went viral on the Internet and social networking sites with newspapers quoting verbatim the comments contained thereof.
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The driver who is alleged to have secretly recorded the private conversations is Ms Hamah’s cousin.
Entertainment
Naa Okailey beats them all
Miss Ghana 2012, Naa Okailey Shooter, earned a place in the top three of this year’s Miss World competition.
Ghana did not win the ultimate crown of Miss World but made the nation proud when she placed third at the Miss World pageant and thus became Miss World Africa 2013.
Ghana had tried fruitlessly in the previous years to make it to the top at Miss World.
Kirk Franklin came to Ghana
International award winning American gospel musician, choir director and author, Kirk Franklin, headlined the 2013 edition of Adom Praiz.
The nine-time Grammy Award winner, known for leading urban contemporary gospel choirs such as The Family, God's Property and One Nation Crew (1NC), was the main artiste at the biggest gospel concert in Ghana for the year, organised by entertainment powerhouse Adom 106.3 FM.
Donnie McClurkin stands in worship
Celebrated American gospel singer, Donnie McClurkin, performed live at a show dubbed 'Ghana Stands In Worship', at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Donnie McClurkin was one of the main attractions at the MTN 'Ghana Stands In Worship' concert, which attracted a large number of gospel music fans.
R2Bees
Tema-based music duo, R2Bees was crowned Artiste of the Year at the 2013 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.
The group beat competition from D-Black, VIP, Kwaw Kese, Cwesi Oteng and 4X4 to win the coveted award which for the first time came with a prize of a brand new MG 550 saloon car.
R2Bees also walked home with five other awards including Hi-life Song of the Year, Hiplife Song of the Year, Group of the Year, and the Vodafone Most Popular Song of the Year.
Thomas Frimpong goes by wind
Highlife musician Thomas Frimpong also put his microphone down and said farewell to his listeners. The veteran musician died at the age of 70 at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
Frimpong had been taken ill for sometime and was on admission at the hospital. The late Frimpong was survived by some 10 children.