Vidal: This Chile generation is to stand Arturo Vidal hailed Chile's generation of champions after the nation secured back-to-back Copa America titles with a penalty shoot-out win over Argentina.

Arturo Vidal hailed Chile's generation of champions after the nation secured back-to-back Copa America titles with a penalty shoot-out win over Argentina on Sunday.

Just 11 months after defeating Argentina in a shoot-out for their maiden Copa America title, Chile repeated the triumph at MetLife Stadium in the Centenario edition of the tournament.

After scores were locked at 0-0 following extra time, with both sides reduced to 10 men, Chile prevailed 4-2 in the shoot-out - with Lionel Messi and Lucas Biglia missing their spot-kicks for Argentina.

While Vidal missed Chile's opening penalty, his blushes were saved as Nicolas Castillo, Charles Aranguiz, Jean Beausejour and Francisco Silva netted to seal the win.

"It was a very hard final against a national team that is very good," Vidal said. "The important thing is we won, and we achieved our objective.

"This generation of players will always stand [among the best].

"This national team has no roof. This is for the people who confide in us. We will always leave Chile's name as high as possible."

On his missed penalty, Vidal said: "I changed [my mind] in the last minute. But my team-mates supported me. I always felt like we would win."

Fuse ODG proud of Reggie N Bollie despite placing second

UK based Ghanaian artiste, Fuse ODG has said he is proud of runner up for 2015 X Factor, Reggie N Bollie.

In a tweet after the finals, Fuse ODG expressed optimism the duo will excel in their music career.

Reggie ‘N’ Bollie failed in their bid to win the title as they lost to 17-year-old Louisa Johnson.

Andy Ukaegbu's Blog: Rawlings laments scarce patriotism in Ghana

Andy Ukaegbu's Blog: Rawlings laments scarce patriotism in Ghana: Ghana’s former President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings has called for a paradigm shift in Ghanaians’ approach to patriotism, saying most Gha...

Rawlings laments scarce patriotism in Ghana

Ghana’s former President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings has called for a paradigm shift in Ghanaians’ approach to patriotism, saying most Ghanaians concede there is a scarcity of patriotism in the country, with selfishness and the desire for money and power taking precedence over love for country.

He said the greed, thievery, fraud and lies we see around us are not peculiar to government or state institutions but constitute a societal malaise that needs to be confronted by all Ghanaians.

The decadence level in the country, President Rawlings cautioned, was high. He therefore called on Ghanaians to focus on doing what was right for society, community and country.

“Today we seek money so we can have power and then proceed to lord it over the vulnerable in society. Selfishness is now seen as a proud asset and patriotism seen as the pursuit of people without ambition,” he said.

The former President made the comments when he addressed a ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of the Millennium Excellence Foundation at the Great Hall, Kumasi last Friday.

The five-yearly award scheme recognises and celebrates the contributions of distinguished personalities in various fields of endeavour.

Flt Lt Rawlings pointed out that Ghanaians are quick to join the chorus when there is talk of corruption and accountability but wondered how many Ghanaians have not played a part in the deterioration of the basic moral fabric of society.

He also lamented the involvement of some traditional authorities in the abuse of land sale, which has affected investor confidence in procurement of land for productive purposes.

The former President also spoke extensively on global issues describing the scourge of terrorism as a direct descendant of the discord and lack of equitable distribution of resources Ghanaians and others on the African continent take for granted. Selective justice and double standards in global affairs, he stated, have also seriously dented the exercise of morality in international relations.

“The new wave of global violence referred to as terrorism shows how man’s insensitivity to man can lead to violent upheaval almost impossible to contain and control. Even as the world empathizes and sympathizes with innocent victims of terrorist action all over the world, the world also supports the fight against terrorism.

“When the values of civilization are corrupted, democratic culture is in decline and political power and justice are up for sale, why will we not expect an increase in terrorist activities? ” Flt Lt Rawlings said.

The former President said the West and its allies would always be perceived as guilty if the unconscionable injustice perpetrated on Palestinians continues.

He said: “Although there are less guilty ones, there is also the guilt of silence, the guilt of inaction.”

Rawlings charged Ghanaians not to ignore global developments or the local degradation of values. He said the daily reports of murders, violent thievery, domestic violence and the upsurge in aggressive posturing by pressure groups was a direct result of the perception by some that just a few want to monopolise the right to power and money.

NPP never raised funds in churches at Amenfi - Wontumi

Ashanti Regional Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, a.k.a ‘Chairman Wontumi’ has refuted claims by the NDC youth in Amenfi West that the churches in the constituency have given their auditorium to raise funds to support the NPP's campaign for Tuesday's by-election.
A member of the NDC Youth in Amenfi West, Samuel Okwan in a press release expressed dismay and questioned why some major churches at Asankrangua in the Amenfi West Constituency allowed ‘Wontumi’ and the NPP to raise funds at their places of worship.
“We just can't understand the motivation to which these churches had to an extent of allowing the Ashanti regional Chairman of the NPP to raise funds to aid their campaign at their respective churches.
“Information we have gathered tells us that these churches, Methodist church, the church of Pentecost, the Assemblies of God church and the Christian Divine church all at Samreboi, allowed their churches to be used as a platform to solicit funds to aid the NPP towards the upcoming bye elections”.
 But 'Chairman Wontumi' in a response on Okay Fm’s 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show said the NPP didn’t raise any fund for itself in the ongoing by-election campaign in Amenfi West, but rather raised those funds as offertories for the churches.
He was of the view that the NDC cannot stand the heat in the by-election, hence this unfounded allegation by the NDC youth in the Amenfi West.
“We never raised funds for the NPP but for the churches. The NDC cannot stand the heat in the by-election…I went to the churches to pray to God for victory for the NPP’s Parliamentary candidate in the by-election and for Nana Akufo -Addo; we only helped to raise funds as offertories and not for campaign,” he stated.

Photos From Accident At Airport Road In Abuja

An accident occurred this morning, December 10, at Kushigoro bus stop on Airport Road in Abuja.

The driver was reportedly driving against the traffic when the accident happened. The driver was taken to a nearby hospital while  road safety officials cleared the car from the road.

However, there were no reports of any casualties.

See more photos below:

A few days ago, three people reportedly lost their lives while two others were seriously injured after a vehicle plunged off a bridge into a river in Ushafa, on the Dutse-Bwari expressway in Bwari area council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

An eyewitness said the driver, who was driving at the maximum possible speed while approaching the bridge, lost control and veered off the road, plunging into the river.

SO SAD: Jos Local Government Chairman Dies In Auto Crash

Reports just reaching us indicate that the newly sworn in local government chairman of Jos-East council area of the state, Dr Hosea Azi, is dead.

NAN reports that the death of the chairman who was sworn in on Friday, December 11, was made known by the state government in a statement issued in Jos, by Governor Simon Lalong.

The statement revealed that Azi died in an auto crash that occurred at Garaku, Nasarawa state, on Sunday, December 13.

The governor who described the tragic incident as “very shocking,” said: “I received the news of the sudden demise of the newly sworn-in Management Committee Chairman of Jos East Local Government Council, Dr Hosea Azi, with great shock.”

In the statement which was signed by the director of press affairs, Mr Emmanuel Nanle, Lalong hinted that the council boss died in an accident on his way to Abuja, when the vehicle he was travelling in, rammed into a stationary truck. He said the chairman and two other occupants of the vehicle died on the spot.

The governor said Azi was an astute politician and academic of repute, adding that he was appointed into government to give the needed people-oriented leadership following the wealth of experience he gathered during his membership of the Plateau House of Assembly.

However, the statement denied earlier reports that Azi had an accident while fleeing away from kidnappers that were allegedly chasing him to an unknown destination.

“Family sources have dismissed such rumour; government has actually confirmed that the death occurred while he was on his way to a legitimate function in Abuja,” the statement said.

Governor Lalong sympathised with the people of Jos-East over the sad incident, as well as the family and relatives of the late council boss. He prayed God to give them the strength to bear the irreplaceable loss.

Meanwhile, Azi was sworn in to replace Mr Sanda Daura, who was removed from office, “in response to the yearnings of the People of Jos East.”

Recall that Premium Times reported that Hosea Azi, the newly appointed transition committee chairman of Jos East local government area of Plateau state was kidnapped and killed by his abductors. The medium alleged that a family source said Azi was kidnapped on Friday, December 11, on Miango Road in Kufang, near the former NYSC secretariat in Jos South local government area of the state.