CRANCHON.COM: Ghana's 19 Most Discussed Stories in 2012

Prince Baah-Duodu, Founder at Cranchon.com

From Woyome's judgment debt to the fall outs of Asamoah Gyan's penalty miss and the death of President Mills, 2012 was indeed a busy year for the center of the world and the gateway to West Africa, Ghana. We have been compiling real happenings that gained much attention on social media platforms from January through to December, 2012 and we have these interesting flashbacks for you:

December 2011 – March 2012: Perhaps the only name/scandal in Ghana that resisted being suppressed by the euphoria of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea. Even Asamoah Gyan's penalty misses and the late President Mills visit to the Whitehouse, could not overcome it. The Fallout of Mr. Alfred Woyome's alleged 'multi gargantuan' judgment debt payment is indeed the biggest news in 2012. This scandal saw two ministers: Attorney General& Minister for Justice and Minister of Education losing their ministerial positions.

January 2012: He is arguably the most popular investigative journalist in Africa. But his real personality is unknown. Anas Aremeyaw Anas electrified the offices of some top and respected companies in Ghana as well as the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) with his “President's assignment video” when he revealed that these companies had failed to pay their huge sums of bills owed to the ECG.

February 2012: Ghana Black Stars team was kicked out of the African Cup of Nations Competition in Gabon/Equatorial Guinea. This led to Asamoah Gyan temporarily suspending his international career following criticisms from the public for missing another important penalty kick.

March 2012: After a shocking exit of the Ghana Black Stars from AFCON 2012, the brouhaha started – Majority of Ghanaians called for the “head” of Goran Stevanovic (coach). The football 'war' drama ended when the Ghana Football Association (GFA) bitterly sacked him against his wish to stay. The GFA later responded to the cry of many football loving Ghanaians by appointing Ghana's own son, Mr. Akwasi Appiah as the Stars coach.

March 2012: He was acquitted in the court of appeal after months of being sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labour. “Jesus One touch” was accused of allegedly having sex with his little daughter in 2011.His release from prison caused an 'unprecedented brouhaha' between Pastor 'Kumchacha' and the Traditional Priest, Nana Kwaku Bonsam, as to whether the latter predicted his release from prison or not.

April 2012: Hon Kennedy Agyapong, MP for Assin North, was detained at the CID headquarters and subsequently charged for allegedly making treason comments. This action generated hot arguments among most members of the public especially from his well wishers/followers and some leaders. His case is still pending in court.

May 2012: Majority of Ghanaians went 'Gay' when the Blues of English Soccer, Chelsea, beat Bayern 4 – 3 on penalties to win their first ever Champions League trophy. Chelsea's win was the talk of town; helping tight- lipped the Manchester United and Barcelona fans for days and weeks.

May 2012: Ghana's Cabinet “overruled” Supreme Court of Ghana's rule that Mr. Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, NPP Chairman, used the right procedure to acquire a house which belonged to the Government of Ghana.

June 2012: A match between Ghana Black Stars and Lesotho came to a halt for over an hour due to faulty switches to “power” the floodlights. A director at the Presidency, Mr. Koku Anyidoho reportedly said late President Mills was upset and has directed the suspension of the ECG Boss of the Ashanti Regional Area. The Presidency later rubbished Koku's claim.

June 2012: An Allied Cargo Plane from Nigeria crashed near the Elwak Sports Stadium, killing all 10 passengers in a 207 Benz Bus, when the plane ran over it. It was tragic!.

June 2012: It was rumored that President Mills had died. This sparked hot arguments politically, especially when the issue of the President health had been debated politically.

July 24, 2012: This day was a black Tuesday for all and sundry in Ghana. His Excellence the President of Ghana, at that time, Prof. J.E.A Mills died at exactly 14:15GMT at the 37 Military Hospital, Accra. The shocks of the President's death caused 'rain to fall' from the eyes of majority of Ghanaians, especially women and his party supporters. His Vice President, John Dramani Mahama, was sworn in as President, some few hours after the President's death, as per Ghana's constitution.

October: NPP's Akufo Addo paid an unexpected visit to former President Rawlings. It was big news because of the fact that these two personalities were portrayed as political enemies

October: Just at the period where her husband had declared his support for her; her husband had met NPP's Akufo Addo and their standings in the ruling NDC seemed 'shaky', Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings left the NDC, a party she helped her husband formed, to lead the newly born NDP for Ghana's December 7, polls; Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings and her NDP Party were disqualified by Ghana's Electoral Commission on the basis of submitting incomplete documents.

October: While Andre Dede Ayew was summoned by Ghanaians to apologize to Coach Akwesi Appiah and his team mates, for his indiscipline acts, or face sanctions, 'Baby Jet' Asamoah Gyan was appointed captain of Ghana's Black stars. The nation was divided whether Dede should be kick out from the team if he failed to apologize. And whether Asamoah Gyan deserved the captainship, especially when Asamoah had missed at least 2 critical penalty kicks that would have pushed Ghana to winning the FIFA 2010 World cup or the African cup 2012.

November 7: This day was described as a 'black Wednesday'. Melcom's Achimota building completely collapsed causing loss of lives and injuries to several scores of people.

November 16: Ghana lost a former vice president (2001-2008), a philanthropist, an entrepreneur and a political timber. Alhaji Aliu Mahama died at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital some days of speculation of his death among Ghanaians following news that He was on a life supporting machines.

November: The events leading to the second IEA Presidential debate and even the post debate discussions were the talk on social media platforms. The Mr. Ayariga boycott and his u-turn, the IEA 24-hr debate postponement and the Ayariga-cough-interruptions. 'Ayarigate' is one new word added to Ghana's political dictionary and health wise, one antidote to frequent coughing – Ayaricough mixture

December 7: The mystery continued as another John won Ghana's Presidency in a dramatic sequence. The Largest Opposition party, NPP, rejected the results of the elections even before the electoral commission announced it – claiming some of the results from the collision centers were different from those the Commissioner announced. These sparked lots of anger from their supporters and threats of court actions….and it's still generating lots of arguments….

Do you have any news that made waves on social media this year?

Written by PRINCE BAAH-DUODU
Founder and Editor: WWW.CRANCHON.COM[www.cranchon.com][www.cranchon.com]