AFTER THE DEGREE, WHAT NEXT? (1) – Best entrepreneurs in ghana 2012

As we get ready to join the job market in about 3 weeks, what are your plans after school?

Grabbing a job with a multinational company with the opportunity to travel all around the world with a fat salary?

Or starting your own venture after 16 weeks of lectures in entrepreneurship development

If you belong to the former group, here is the list of the best entrepreneurs in Ghana to motivate you irrespective of your programme of study

• Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong .CEO, ZoomLion Ghana Ltd – Overall Best Entrepreneur of the Year

• Mr Ramcharnd Udharam Mohinani ,Chairman ,Mohinani Group of Companies, Lifetime Entrepreneur Achievement Award ,

• Sir. Sam Jonah, Executive Chairman, Jonah Capital Ghana and South Africa, Best Ghanaian International Entrepreneur Award.

• Mr. Bhagwan Khubchandani, Chairman .Melcom Group of Companies, Special Entrepreneur Achievement Award.

• Dr.Theresa Oppong-Beeko, CEO, Manet Group of Companies, Best Woman Entrepreneur Award

• Dr. Kwaku Frimpong, CEO, Champion Divine Clinic, Outstanding Entrepreneur Achievement Award,

• Mr Mike Nyinaku,founder & CEO, Beige Group of Companies, Best Young Entrepreneur Award .Mr.Salem Kalmoni, CEO, Japan Motors Group of Companies, Best Serial Entrepreneur Award,

• Mr.James Ebo Whyte, CEO, Roverman Productions , Most-Promising Entrepreneur Award,

• Mr William Ato Essien,CEO, First Capital Plus Savings and Loans Ltd, Best Entrepreneur Banking & Finance Award ,

• Mr. Kimathi Mawuse Dake, CEO,Jescan Constructions Ltd, Best Entrepreneur Building & Civil Engineering Award ,

• Rev.Prof. Kingsley E. Larbi,President & CEO, Regent University College of Science and Technology, Best Entrepreneur Education Award ,

• Dr.Fawzi Wolley,CEO,Kwatsons Group of Companies and Max Mart Shopping mall,Best Entrepreneur Trading & Retailing Award 2011

• Mr.Macdonald Vasnani,CEO, Consolidated Shipping Agencies Ltd ,Best Entrepreneur Transport & logistics Award ,

• Dr. Felix Kwaku Anyah ,CEO, Holy Trinity Medical & Spa Centre. Best Entrepreneur in Health Services Award ,

• Mr Samuel Amo Tobbin ,CEO.Tobinco Pharmaceutical Group of Companies, Best Entrepreneur in Pharmaceuticals Industry Award ,

• Mr.Herman Chinery-Hesse,Executive Chairman, The SoftTribe Ltd & BSL Ghana Ltd, Best Entrepreneur Information Communications Technology Award ,
• Yonny Emmanuel Kulendi, Esq,Managing Solicitor, Kulendi @ Law, Best Entrepreneur Professional Award

• ,Mr Kennedy Okosun,Chairman, KRIF Ghana Ltd &The Stationery Depot, Best Entrepreneur Office Suppliers & Stationery Award.
• Mr.Isaac Tetteh,CEO,T.T Brothers Ltd, Best Entrepreneur Food & Beverage Award ,

• Mr.Sydney Baeta CEO, Expertravel-HRG Ghana ,Best Entrepreneur Travel & Tourism Award
• Mr.Stephen Osei Akoto,CEO, Mplaza & Mariset hotels ,Best Entrepreneur Hospitality Industry Award ,
• Mrs Edith Dankwa, Executive Director, Business & Financial Times Ltd, Best Entrepreneur Print Media Award ,

• Mr. Talal Fatal,CEO, Global Village Group Best Entrepreneur Electronic Media Award ,

• Mr. Edward Boateng,Executive Chairman ,Global Media Alliance & Silverbird Entertainment , Ghana ,Best Entrepreneur Media Communication & Entertainment Award,

• Mr Magnus Nunoo CEO, Magvlyn industries ltd, Best Entrepreneur Manufacturing Industry Award.

• Dr.Fawzi Wolley,CEO,Kwatsons Group of Companies and Max Mart Shopping mall,Best Entrepreneur Trading & Retailing Award ,

• Mr John Daniel Otoo, CEO,Capital 02 Natural Health Co.Ltd, Best Entrepreneur in Herbal Services Award ,

• Chief Yaw Kumey,CEO,Y. Kumey International Group limited,Commercial & Property Development Award

• Nana Odeneho Kyeremanteng Executive Chairman, Comet Properties, Best Entrepreneur Real Estate Development Award.

Brian Dzidefo Dzansi

www.watsuptek.com

 

THE WORLD BANK BOSS

Jim Yong Kim, an American who is president of Dartmouth College, has been chosen to be the next president of the World Bank. His selection Monday extends the U.S. hold on the top job at the 187-nation development agency.
Kim, a surprise nominee of President Barack Obama, was selected Monday in a vote by the World Bank’s 25-member executive board. He’ll succeed Robert Zoellick, who’s stepping down after a five year term.
Developing nations waged an unsuccessful challenge to Kim, 52, a physician and pioneer in treating HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in the developing world.
Kim’s selection marks a break from previous World Bank leaders who were typically political, legal or economic figures. The World Bank raises money from its member nations and borrows from investors to provide low-cost loans to developing countries.
Developing countries had put forward two candidates for the post — Nigerian Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and former Colombian Finance Minister Jose Antonio Ocampo.

Kim will begin a five-year term in July. Born in South Korea, Kim is an American who moved to the United States with his family at age 5. His selection extends the tradition of Americans leading the World Bank dating to the institution’s founding in 1944.
Kim was in Lima, Peru, on Monday — the latest stop in a global tour that has taken him to Africa ,Asia and Latin America to try to build support among developing countries.
He and the other candidates were interviewed by the World Bank’s board last week. In his statement to the board, Kim said he had worked throughout his career for “reform and change” and would continue those efforts at the World Bank.
Obama’s announcement March 23 that Kim would be the U.S. nominee for the World Bank post came as a surprise. His name had not been mentioned as a possible candidate. Since 2009, Kim has been president of Dartmouth College.
Kim’s nomination had won widespread praise because of his extensive experience in working to improve health in the poorest countries. In the 1990s, Kim defied skeptics to find a cost-effective way to fight tuberculosis in the slums of South America. He also began a program that has treated millions of Africans for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.

 

KONY 2012

Kony 2012 is a film created by invisible children inc, an organization which has been working for 9 years to end Africa’s longest-running armed conflict.

The film’s purpose is to promote the charity’s ‘stop kony’ movement to make indicted Ugandan war criminal joseph kony internationally known in order to arrest him in 2012.The film was released on March 5, 2012 on the internet, directed by Jason Russelland produced by Kimmy Vandivort, Heather Longerbeamm, Chad Clendinen, and Noelle Jouglet.

Jedediah Jenkins, the director of idea development for invisible children, explained that the video itself was a “tipping point” that “got young people to care about an issue on the other side of the planet that doesn’t affect them

The film has spread virally. As of 12th March 2012, the film currently had over 74 million views on video-sharing website YouTube, and over 16.6 million views on vimeo, with other viewing emanating from a central “kony2012” website operated by invisible children

THE PLOT

The film documents the invisible children inc’s plans and efforts to arrest kony. It describes kony’s guerrilla warfare tactics with his lord’s resistance army and the regions (northern Uganda, democratic republic of Congo, and south Sudan) in which they have been employed.One of the main people featured in the film is a Ugandan named Jacob, whose brother was killed by the lord’s resistance army. The video also has clips of Jason Russell’s son, Gavin. Gavin is a young child and many children his age are subject to kony’s regime. Gavin shows that even though he’s young he wants to help and wonders why no one else does. He also says innocent, childlike things – when told that kony forces people to kill family members and fellow countrymen, his response is “but they’re not gonna do what he says, ’cause they’re nice guys… right?”

According to the directors of the film, their action is to ensure two things:

• That Joseph Kony is known as the world’s worst war criminal.
• That U.S. and international efforts to stop kony are bolstered with a more comprehensive strategy for disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (ddr).

 

But big question is ; who is Joseph Kony?

JOSEPH KONY is the world’s worst war criminal. In 1987 he took over leadership of an existing rebel group and renamed it the lord’s resistance army (LRA).

The LRA has earned a reputation for its cruel and brutal tactics. When joseph kony found himself running out of fighters, he started abducting children to be soldiers in his army or “wives” for his officers. The LRA is encouraged to rape, mutilate, and kill civilians–often with blunt weapons.

The LRA is no longer active in northern Uganda (where it originated) but it continues its campaign of violence in democratic republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and south Sudan. In its 26-year history, the LRA has abducted more than 30,000 children and displaced at least 2.1 million people.

The video has also seen a number of celebrities endorsing the campaign including Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Christina Milian, Nicki Minaj, Bill Gates and Kim Kardashian.

The invisible children charity has been focused on obtaining the support of a select group of individuals in order to “help bring awareness to the horrific abuse and killing of children in the east and central African countries at the hands of Kony and his leadership”. The list featured 12 “policy makers” that have “the power to keep U.S. government officials in Africa” in order to work toward the capture of Kony. This list includes former U.S. president George W. Bush and his secretary of state Condoleezza Rice, and U.S. senator and former presidential candidate John Kerry.

The 29-minute video’s very simplicity has provoked abundant complaints: among them, that it exaggerates the threat posed by a warlord who was driven out of Uganda six years ago and now has only a few hundred followers; that it promotes a “white man’s burden” view of African problems; and that its focus on capturing Mr. Kony this year is misplaced

On April 20, 2012, as part of the campaign, supporters will put up posters promoting kony 2012 in their home towns. Invisible children offer posters from an online shop in an attempt to gain wider recognition on the issue. They have also created action kits that include campaign buttons, posters, bracelets, and stickers to help spread awareness.

Several questions crossed my African mind after watching the documentary;

• Can’t we as Africans tell our own story better?
• Is capturing Kony a priority considering the fact that most of his victims just need money to resettle and get back their lives?

 

Brian Dzidefo Dzansi

(www.watsuptek.com)

 

STOP LEAVING THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH- REV. K OFOSU ADDO CRISES

The national union of Presbyterian students NUPSG, knust climaxed its 50^th anniversary celebrations on Sunday 18^th March 2012 with a thanksgiving service at the royal parade ground. The theme for the celebrations was his faithfulness throughout the year culled from Joshua 25:1

Among the many dignitaries present at the service include; the Vice Chancellor of KNUST Prof. W.O Ellis, Rev Dr. K Opuni-Frimpong, representative of the Moderator of the Presbyterian church, Rev. K Ofosu Addo, Chairman PCG Asante presbytery, Mr. David Agyei, NUPS-G national president and many others.

Delivering the anniversary message, the Rev. K Ofosu Addo, director of missions & envangelism explained that jubilee year in the life of any institution is a year of reflection. He added that jubilee is a call to influence ones society by sending student missionaries all over the world.

He bemoaned the practice among alumni of NUPS-G who leave the church to join other charismatic churches. Rev Ofosu said; “the church leaders are counting on this generation of NUPS-G to influence the country”.  “You should stay in the church and help build structures that will help the church grow” he admonished.

Awards and citations were also presented by the executives of NUPS-G KNUST to persons and institutions who contributed to the growth, vision and activities of the union throughout the past years. This list included; Rev. E.S Mate-Kodjo, first NUPS-G branch president, Prof K.K Adarkwa, former Vice Chancellor Of Knust, Rev Paul K Boafo Protestant Chaplain , knust,  Tobinco Pharmaceutical, Challenge Bookshop, Unilever Ghana Limited and many others.

The national union of Presbyterian students was formed at Akuafo Hall Chapel of the University of Ghana Legon on February 28, 1960 with 39 members, now has membership of over ten thousand students nationwide.

The knust branch was established 2 year later in 1962 initially called the Presbyterian students union. It was later known as the UST PSU branch and UST NUPS-G. The current name NUPS-G KNUST has been in effect since 1998.

 

Dzansi Brian Dzidefo

Jancy.bryan@gmail.com

(www.watsuptek.com)

 

TERTIARY STUDENTS ARRESTED FOR MOVIE PIRACY

16 students from three of the country’s tertiary institutions have been apprehended by the police for pirating several movies including Leila Djansi’s Ties that Bind.

The students, some presently assisting the police with investigations, are from the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the University of Cape Coast (UCC).

Of the 16, five were arrested at the University of Ghana while seven were arrested from the KNUST and four from the UCC. The police found copies of the Ties that Bind on their hard drives.

Their arrest came after several weeks of investigations by the police and movie producer and director Leila Djansi whose movies were the most pirated.

According to Leila said she got a tip-off during the premiere of Ties that Bind at Legon some weeks ago that some students already had copies of the movie “so I arrested [one of the] students who revealed where he got it from,” leading to the arrest of the Legon students by the Legon Police two weeks ago.

The award-winning director added that she search twitter a lot, so at KNUST, I caught some students who tweeted ‘now watching [Ties That Bind] and I traced them and that is how I got the KNUST students.”

The Dean of students at the KNUST, Leila disclosed, “did not want the police to deal with the students, so he sent the police away and handed the students over to the campus lawyer. But we got their signed confessions with the campus lawyer.”

The director said she is taking them to court and she is seeking US$100,000 jointly from them.

 

IS UTAG ON STRIKE?

The University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), has resolved to withdraw teaching services to public universities in the country with effect from March 16, 2012.

This was stated in statement signed by the UTAG national president, Dr. Anthony Simons, copied to Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Thursday.

It said until Government pays all arrears and the January 2012 salary difference due the Academic Senior Members of the public universities, UTAG would withdraw teaching services.

The statement noted that; “At an emergency National Executives Committee (NEC) meeting held on February 29, 2012, at the University of Ghana, Legon, UTAG noted with dismay the failure of Government to meet the 7th and 9th February, 2012 deadlines for the payment of the Single Spine Salary arrears of the Academic Senior Members of public universities.

It said in spite of this, the NEC was magnanimous to extend the deadline for the payment to March 15, 2012 but unfortunately Government failed to meet the deadline. GNA

 

POLICE GRIPS KNUST ROBBERS

Three suspected armed robbers have been arrested in connection with last Thursday’s robbery at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.

The suspects, including a female, were arrested at Bomso in Kumasi about 3 p.m. last Friday.

The police declined to disclose the identities of the suspects and their ages, stating only that they were all in custody helping in police investigations.

A supermarket attendant, identified as Joyce Kwateng, 26, was allegedly shot in the head by suspected armed robbers on the KNUST campus last Thursday.

The Zongo Divisional Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mr Nicholas Opare Ofosuhene, told the Daily Graphic that the suspects were arrested following a tip-off.

Ms Kwateng is currently receiving medical care at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

The incident created apprehension among the students, who demanded that the university authorities provide them with armed security, especially in the evenings.

That, according to the students, would enable them to move in and out from their halls of residence to their faculties.

In another development, the police are yet to arrest the Level 200 Republic Hall student of KNUST who allegedly stabbed her roommate three times in the chest a week ago.

DSP Ofosuhene said the police were making progress in their investigations and that hopefully the suspect, Patricia Enyonam, said to be hiding at Kasoa in the Central Region, would be arrested.

Source: Daily Graphic

 

OSCAR AWARD WINNERS 2012

The 84^th annual academy award took place at the Hollywood & Highland Center (formerly the Kodak Theatre) on Sunday. Among the high-wattage presenters for the 84th Academy Awards are Halle Berry, Tom Cruise, Natalie Portman, Michael Douglas, Penelope Cruz and Angelina Jolie. They were framed by a stage set evoking a classic movie theater and the evening’s theme was ; the enduring nature of the movie going experience. Below is the lists of winners

1. Best Picture: “The Artist.”

Film Synopsis

As the era of silent films draws to a close, two actors find their careers and their relationship influenced by the coming of talking pictures.  While popular screen star George Valentin resists the transition to sound, young Peppy Miller embodies a modern age that is leaving Valentin behind.

2. Actor: Jean Dujardin, “The Artist.”

Jean Dujardin portrays George Valentin, a silent film star unwilling to make the transition to talking pictures. This is the first Academy Award nomination for Jean Dujardin.

1. Actress: Meryl Streep, “The Iron Lady.”

Nominated Role

Meryl Streep portrays Margaret Thatcher, the formidable shopkeeper’s daughter who rises through the ranks of the Conservative Party to become Britain’s first female prime minister.

This is the seventeenth Academy Award nomination for Meryl Streep.  She was previously nominated for: JULIE & JULIA (2009)Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role , DOUBT (2008 Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA (2006) Nominee, Actress in a Leading Role

4. Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, “Beginners.”

5. Supporting Actress: Octavia Spencer, “The Help.”

6. Directing: Michel Hazanavicius, “The Artist.”

7. Foreign Language Film: “A Separation,” Iran.

8. Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne, Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, “The Descendants.”

9. Original Screenplay: Woody Allen, “Midnight in Paris.”

10. Animated Feature Film: “Rango.”

11. Art Direction: “Hugo.”

12. Cinematography: “Hugo.”

13. Sound Mixing: “Hugo.”

14. Sound Editing: “Hugo.”

15. Original Score: “The Artist.”

16. Original Song: “Man or Muppet” from “The Muppets.”

17. Costume Design: “The Artist.”

18. Documentary Feature: “Undefeated.”

19. Documentary Short: “Saving Face.”

20. Film Editing: “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.”

21. Makeup: “The Iron Lady.”

22. Animated Short Film: “The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore.”

23. Live Action Short Film: “The Shore.”

24. Visual Effects: “Hugo.”

Other awards

Oscar winners previously presented this season:

Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award: Oprah Winfrey.

Honorary Award: James Earl Jones.

Honorary Award: Dick Smith.

Gordon E. Sawyer Award: Douglas Trumbull.

Award of Merit: ARRI cameras.

Brian Dzidefo Dzansi (www.watsuptek.com)

 

RED CARPETS, LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION… THE OSCAR AWARDS

• The Oscars is an award conferred by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers
• The first Academy Awards ceremony was held on May 16, 1929, at the Hotel Roosevelt in Hollywood to honor outstanding film achievements of the 1927/1928 film season.
• The first Best Actor awarded was Emil Jannings, for his performances in The Last Command and The Way of All Flesh.
• As of the 83rd Academy Awards ceremony held in 2011, a total of 2,809 Oscars have been given for 1,853 awards. A total of 302 actors have won Oscars in competitive acting categories or been awarded Honorary or Juvenile Awards.
•  Oscar statuette is made of gold-plated britannium on a black metal base, it is 13.5 in (34 cm) tall, weighs 8.5 lb (3.85 kg) and depicts a knight rendered in Art Deco style holding a crusader’s sword standing on a reel of film with five spokes.
• The five spokes represent the original branches of the Academy: Actors, Writers, Directors, Producers, and Technicians.
•  Mexican film director and actor Emilio “El Indio” Fernández. pose nude to create what today is known as the “Oscar”.
• During World War II, the statuettes were made of plaster
• Winners are voted for by the 5,783 members of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) as of 2012.
• A film must open in the previous calendar year, from midnight at the start of January 1 to midnight at the end of December 31, in Los Angeles County, California, to qualify for nomination (except for the Best Foreign Language Film).
• From the 70th Academy Awards, winners of the best picture awards were; Titanic, Shakespeare in Love, American Beauty, Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind, Chicago, The Lord of the Rings The Return of the King, Million Dollar Baby, Crash, The Departed, No Country for Old Men, Slumdog Millionaire, The Hurt Locker, The King’s Speech

• Kodak lost naming rights to the traditional venue of the Oscars, the Kodak theatre due to its bankruptcy

 FUUNY SIDE OF THE OSCARS

• JACK PALANCE stepped up to receive his Supporting Oscar in 1991 (for “City Slickers), the then-73-year-old actor celebrated by performing several one-armed press-ups onstage…

• In 1973 ROBERT OPAL briefly interrupted the awards ceremony by streaking naked across the stage while live on national television.

• Actress GREER GARSON holds the record for delivering the longest acceptance speech…. (for “Mrs Miniver in 1942). the recommended time was 45 seconds per speech but Ms.Garson (known in the industry at the time as “the Queen of Hollywood”) spoke for all of seven minutes!

RECORDS

• WALT DISNEY holds the record for the highest number of individual Oscars awarded… In his lifetime he received 20 Oscars, but he was posthumously awarded a further 6, making a total of 26. Of all the statuettes awarded him, the most famous “set” were an Oscar and seven miniature statuettes in 1938 for the film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”.

• KATHERINE HEPBURN achieved and still holds the record of four Oscars for Best Female Acting in a Leading and/or Supporting role. Nominated 12 times (and all for Leading Roles only) during a span of 48 years, her four Oscars were awarded for 1933 (“Morning Glory”), 1967 (“Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner”), 1968 (“The Lion In Winter”) and 1981 (“On Golden Pond”).
• WALTER BRENNAN and JACK NICHOLSON have achieved a record 3 Oscars for Best Acting in Leading and/or supporting roles.
• First animated film to be nominated for Best Picture is Beauty and the Beast (1991)
• First African to win an acting award is charlize theron  (from south Africa) who won Best Actress for Monster (2003).
• SIDNEY POITIER is the first black man to win the Best Actor Oscar had  for “The Lilies In The Field” in 1963

• Three films share the record for the highest number of awards received:
  •  the 1952 epic BEN-HUR set the record by achieving 11 out of a possible 15 Oscar categories (nominated in 14 of them).
  • Since then James Cameron’s TITANIC (1997) and Peter Jackson’s LORD OF THE RINGS: THE RETURN OF THE KING (2003) have each won 11 out of a possible 17 Oscars (nominated in 12 and 11 categories respectively)

• In 2002 at the 74th Award show saw Afro-Americans win both top honours, Best Actress for the first time, and Best Actor. first HALLE BERRY (for her 2001 performance in “Monsters Ball”) and then DENZIL WASHINGTON (for his portrayal of a bad cop in “Training Day”).

• The 1939 film Beau Geste is the only movie that features as many as four Academy Award winners for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Gary Cooper, Ray Milland, Susan Hayward, Broderick Crawford) prior to any of the actors receiving the Best Actor Award.
• PETER FINCH and HEATH LEDGER are the only persons to have won an Acting Award posthumously – and both were Australians.

• The 1968 Oscar awards ceremony was notable for producing the only tie in votes for Best Actress, resulting in 3 female acting Oscar awards being presented. The tie for Best Actress occurred between KATHERINE HEPBURN (for “The Lion In Winter”) and BARBARA STREISAND (for “Funny Girl”).

• Rapper EMINEM’s  “Lose Yourself” is the only hip-hop song( uncompromising lyric) to win best song writer Oscars in 2002

• TATUM O’NEAL,is the youngest person to win a competitive Academy Award who was 10 years old when she achieved Best Supporting Actress for 1973’s “Paper Moon” (in which she starred alongside her father Ryan O’Neal)
• GEORGE BURNS is the oldest male Oscar winner in a competitive category when he won the 1975 award for “The Sunshine Boys” at age 80, until at the 1989 awards 80-year old JESSICA TANDY won Best Actress for “Driving Miss Daisy”.

• TITANIC is the most nominated film (14 out of 17 possible) – alongside Joseph L. Mankiewitz’s ALL ABOUT EVE (winner of Best Film in 1950), nominated in 14 out of 15 possible at the time but going home with only six

Brian Dzidefo Dzansi (www.watsuptek.com)

 

Goran Stevanovic’s AFCON technical report

Below is the full text of Ghana’s coach Goran Stevanovic’s  AFCON technical report

MEMO

 FROM   : TECHNICAL TEAM

 TO     : EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 DATE : 07-01-2012

 SUBJECT : REPORT – THE 2012 AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS IN GABON / EQUITORIA GUINEA.

1.                   PREPARATIONS

The Ghana football Association in consultation with the technical team selected 25 players for preparation in South Africa.

 Camping in Rustenburg was excellent and accommodation, feeding, training facilities were all good. We had ten training sessions and played two friendly games.

 INVITED PLAYERS

1. ADAM KWARASEY – Norway          15. EMMANUEL BAFFOUR – Edubiase

2. DANIEL ADJEI – Liberty                                      16. DEREK BOATENG – Dniprcr

3. ERNEST SOWAH – Chelsea              17. JORDAN AYEW – Masselle

4. KWADWO ASAMOAH – Udinese             18. JOHN MENSAH – Lyon –

 5. SAMUEL INKOOM – Dnipro                    19. JOHNATHAN MENSAH – France^

6. MASAWUDU ALHASSAN – Genoa          20. ISAAC VORSAH – Hofenheim ~

7. DANIEL OPARE – Standard                    21. ANTHONY ANNAN – Vetesse – Hol

8. JOHN BOYE – France                          22.JOHN PAINTSIL- Leister City ^

9. MOHAMMED ABU – Norway               23. PRINCE TAGOE – Turkey f

10 DEDE AYEW – Masselle                        24. LEE ADDY – China ^J

11. CHARLES TAKYI – St. Pauli                  25. ASAMOAH GYAN – AL Ain,

12. AGYEMANG BADU – Udinese

13. DEREK ASAMOAH – Pohang

 14.SULLEY MUNTARI – Inter

OFFICIALS

1.              GORAN STEVANOVIC

2.                   KWASI APPIAH

3.                   EDDIE ANSAH

4.                   ALEKS GUSIC

5.                   PERCY ANNAN

6.                   OPOKU AFRIYIE

7.                   ALLEN AKABA

8.                   CHARLES BOTCHWAY

9.                   SHERRIF MUSAH

10.               ANKAMAH

11.               SHILE ( PHYSICAL TRAINER)

12.               MARIANA ( PHYSIOTHERAPIST)

 

 

INJURIES AND THE FINAL 23 SQUAD

 After five training sessions in South Africa the technical team dropped Emmanuel Baffour and Derek Asamoah to bring the squad to 23.

 John Mensah and Asamoah Gyan were nursing muscle injuries so the management brought in  physiotherapist ( Mariana) from Serbia to help treat the muscle problems in the team.

 Fortunately both players recovered miraculously within two days to join our training sessions.

 Agyemang Badu also had an injury before camping in Rustenburg but recovered within some few days in camp.

TECHNICAL MEETING

On the day of every match we showed the players clips of the opposing team.

 We analysed the opponent set pieces, defensive and attacking tactics and how we can penetrate their defence. All players were made aware of their roles and those who should take our set pieces.

 Players were always psyched up and always made aware about the importance of this tournament to themselves and Ghanaians.

 I also showed them films which were very motivational and inspiring.

 ASSESSMENT OF TOURNAMENT

We played our first match against Botswana at Franceville which ended 1 – 0 in our favour.

Every first game of a tournament is always difficult and the Botswana team tactically sat back and relied on counter attacks.

 I realised that most players’ performance was not as expected due to lack of games in their various clubs.

John Mensah scored the only goal for Ghana.

 Our second game was also played at Franceville with Mali and the match ended 2 – 0 in favour of Ghana.

 The goals were scored by Asamoah Gyan and Andre Ayew. I was really satisfied with our performance technically and tactically.

 The third group match was played against Guinea at Franceville and the final score ended 1-1.

 Guinea was my best team in the tournament and I was not surprised when they gave us a really good game.

 John Mensah scored our goal from a corner kick

We qualified to the quarter final stage after being on top of our group.

The match was played at Franceville with Tunisia and it ended 2 -1 in favour of Ghana.

The goal scorers for Ghana were Agyemang Badu and Andre Ayew.

The match was very competitive but I was satisfied with our game and the players fighting spirit.

We reached the semi finals of the competition playing against Zambia. We played our best game in the tournament outplaying the Zambians technically and tactically.

We created many scoring opportunities but unfortunately could not utilise our chances. The Zambians created two chances and were fortunate to get a goal. We lost 1-0 but there was vast improvement in our game compared to the group stage matches.

After the loss every individual in camp was devastated and spirit in camp was zero. I held a meeting with the playing body the following day to encourage and to psyche them for our next game with Mali.

Unfortunately, the meeting turned out to be accusations and blames amongst the players which needs to be addressed by the FA management and the technical team for a better future.

The third place match against Mali was played at Equitorial Guinea. After missing our target which is the gold, the willingness to fight was lost in the players and we lost 2 – 0 to Mali.

CONCLUSION

After losing to Zambia, there arose so many accusations amongst the players during my meeting with them. I have learnt great lessons from African football and also about Ghanaian players’ behaviour on and off the field.We all need to help in changing some players’ mentality about using black power to destroy themselves and also make sure we install discipline and respect for each other.

 I am very grateful to the Ministry of Sports, Ghana football Association Management, and the Black Stars Management Committee for their assistance and support during the qualifying stages, preparations and the competition in Gabon / Equitorial Guinea.

 I also thank the technical team and Coach Oti Akenten who assisted in monitoring other teams for us. My gratefulness and thanks goes to my Gallant players who stayed in camp for almost seven weeks and worked tirelessly to reach quarter finals and finally to all Ghanaians who prayed and also supported us throughout the competition.

 GORAN STEVANOVIC – HEAD COACH

Brian Dzansi

(www.watsuptek.com)