"When we now appear in foreign news segments we are right there with Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq ... places that are in full blown war and used to seem so far away," writes Victor Ehikhamenor.

I am a strong follower of football, and a strong supporter of Accra Hearts of Oak and all the national soccer teams as well. Every club or national soccer team supporter is so passionate and has zero tolerance for defeat -- unless, of course, you support Arsenal Football Club in England, which has a penchant for breaking its supporters’ hearts. Supporters easily turn their anger and frustration on their players when their teams lose matches; and in Ghana, the current captain of the national soccer team, Asamoah Gyan, is one of the most vilified players in the team. I doubt without there is any player who has suffered supporters’ vituperation more than Asamoah Gyan. The question l keep asking myself always is: the way we demand nothing short of performance par excellence from our national team players, do we demand the same from our public office holders? How come we are able to tolerate our public office holders, even when they are just occupying  an office feeding fat on our public purse and abysmally underperforming -- and yet we hound our footballers like common criminals when they fail to win a cup at tournaments? How come we have a Mayor in Accra, and yet the whole of the city and its environs stink? How come residents of Accra have not vented their frustration at the sloppy manner he is managing the national capital? The rains will start coming soon, and we will experience the yearly occurrence of floods….yet again! You don't have to be a genius or a prophet to predict. It will take you no effort at all to foretell that there will be serious floods in Accra. In fact, areas like Dzorwulu, Kwame Nkrumah Circle, North Industrial Area, and Odawna, to mention a few, will be on the receiving-end of severe flooding. The drains have not been de-silted yet. They are choked and the city authorities have not made any effort at de-silting them. This means with very little rain, the consequence will be there for all to see. Anytime you see a gutter or drain choked, what it means is that somebody who is paid to do his/her job is not doing it. Impliedly, that fellow is lazy, incompetent -- and more so a fraud, because he is being paid for no job done. I wonder why he draws salary and parades himself around as the Mayor when the whole city is engulfed in filth -- and also stinking. Yet, unlike our footballers, he walks around freely and sees himself high -- after all, he is the monarch of all that he surveys. We need a mayor ready to focus on the job and deliver as expected. Accra must be neat and clean, and that must be one of the performance indicators. Is there any wonder even clean-up exercises organised by the AMA do not get the needed support of residents of Accra?  In this time and age, clean-up exercises are just a waste of time. People have better use for their time -- and why should they help you do the job that you have been paid to do.Recently, at a poorly-attended clean-up in some parts of Accra, Dr. Vanderpuije assured that the Assembly is doing everything possible to ensure that no community gets flooded when it rains. According to him, “We are doing everything possible to ensure that only water runs through gutters and drains during the raining season.”  I will hold him to his words. Wait a minute! How can l forget about the AMA allowing people to build on water-courses? AMA will allow people to build on water-courses, and won't stop them. In fact, the stiffest action it usually takes is to use red paint to inscribe its popular cliche -- 'Stop Work, Produce Permit' -- and it ends there. We see all manner of buildings being built on water-courses, and yet AMA looks on with no apparent concern. It lacks the will to demolish them. And all this takes place under the watch of the Mayor. Another bone l have to pick with Dr. Vanderpuije is the fact that he hasn't been able to clear the hawkers off the streets. It is not a good situation at all to accept that the hawkers are the lords of our ceremonial streets. As for the central business district, the least said about it the better; the hawkers are calling the shots. Let us admit the Accra Metropolitan Assembly is clueless about how to get the hawkers off the pavements, off the streets.  Forget about the old tired excuses of political interference. When you are a leader, you must be decisive and definitive. When you are very passionate about your job, chances are that you will always get the required results. We cannot allow the city to run on auto-pilot any more. Accra can potentially be one of the most beautiful and the cleanliest city in Africa if we get the right people to run the city; not people like Dr. Vanderpuije, who it appears has run out of steam and ideas. It has been said that when a fish is rotting it starts from the head; therefore, if AMA has failed in its core mandate, look at the head of the place. This is why l believe Dr. Vanderpuije must call time on his job as Mayor.  He is simply off-key.

Democratic Republic of Congo side TP Mazembe are set to appoint new coach in next two days, BBC Sport understands.

KLM has taken delivery of its 12th Airbus 330-200 in Toulouse. The new aircraft has been named Museumplein in honour of the Dutch capital of Amsterdam and the 2013 festivities surrounding its iconic sites. “All of KLM's Airbuses are named after city squares. Apart from Dam, KLM’s first Airbus, the popular Museumplein in Amsterdam certainly deserves a place in our Airbus fleet, particularly this year when KLM proudly takes the role of chief sponsor and official carrier for Amsterdam 2013,” Pieter Elbers, Managing Director & Chief Operating Officer KLM said. “The arrival of this Airbus 330-200 marks another step forward in modernising the KLM fleet. Even in challenging times, KLM continues to invest in cleaner, quieter aircraft in its drive to guarantee customers optimal service. The Airbus 330-200 offers 30 Business Class seats and 35 economy comfort seats and 178 Economy seats. With the arrival of this latest aircraft, KLM's A330 fleet now counts 16 aircraft: 12 Airbus A330-200s and 4 Airbus A330-300s” he said. During the course of 2013, numerous Amsterdam sites and organisations will mark the historic milestones. The city will be celebrating these events in style, uniting local residents and tourists alike. Jubilee celebrations around Museumplein include the Concertgebouw and Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra (125 years), the Van Gogh Museum (40 years). KLM Royal Dutch Airlines was founded in 1919, making it the world’s oldest airline still operating under its original name. In 2004, Air France and KLM merged to form AIR FRANCE KLM. The merger produced the strongest European airline group based on two powerful brands and hubs -- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Paris Charles de Gaulle. Retaining its own identity, the group focuses on three core businesses: passenger transport, cargo and aircraft maintenance.

Daily BeastDozens Killed in Iraq Bomb BlastsDaily BeastAt least 26 people were killed and over 100 more injured on Monday in a series of bomb blasts throughout Iraq, the latest in a series of escalating attacks linked to political and sectarian tension. Most of the dead were in Baghdad, where eight separate ...At least 70 dead, dozens wounded as string of bombings hits IraqRTSectarian violence erupts anew in IraqCNNHow Baghdad Fuels Iraq's Sectarian FireNew York Timesall 423 news articles »

Most salespeople and business owners day-in day-out come face-to-face with negotiation and frustration from lacking adequate skills to gain the upper-hand at the end of each round. That means it is important to learn how to negotiate more effectively. How to Negotiate     The negotiation itself is a careful exploration of your position and the other person’s position, with the goal of finding a mutually acceptable compromise that gives you both as much of what you want as possible. People’s positions are rarely as fundamentally opposed as they may initially appear -- the other person may have very different goals from the ones you expect. To become a negotiation pro, here are some best negotiation skills every corporate executive, entrepreneur and individuals must know and have!!! Decide on your break-even point (the lowest amount or cheapest price you will accept in the deal, the "worst-case scenario"). If you are representing someone else in a negotiation, get your client's agreement in writing to a target deal before hand. Otherwise, when you get them a great deal, they may decide they don't like it after all. Your credibility is the one that takes the hit.   Know what you're worth The knowledge of you having the upper hand in a negotiation business is a good point to set off in confidence especially if you happen to be the most needed. To ascertain that you need to answer these questions: How much does the other party need you? Is what you're offering hard to come by, or a dime a dozen? How desperate are they? Who needs who more? And if you need them more than they need you, how can you give yourself an edge?   Plan how you will move in your proposals Your moves should be in ever-decreasing steps, which will give the impression that you are being "bled" and there is increasingly less bargaining range to be had.   Open your extreme Decide on your maximum sustainable position (the most you can logically argue for). Ask for what you want. When starting off a negotiation, don't be scared to make an outrageous request. You never know you might get it! And what's the worst that could happen?   They might think you're vain, or delusional; but they'll also know you have guts, and you value yourself, your time, and your money.  And if making a low offer to buy something can get you worried and insolent; remember that this is business, and if they don't like your offer, they can always counter-offer. If your opening offer is too close to your breakpoint, then you will not have enough bargaining range to concede to the other party as a way of giving satisfaction.   Offer or Request Extras What else can they give you that is of low value to them, and high value to you? Or what can you offer that is of low value to you, and high value to them? This is why retail stores offer employee discounts. Think along the lines of bartering, and be creative. What do you have a lot of, or what can you offer with ease, that they would find valuable? Make a list of your skills and your stuff. Calculate how much they cost you, and then find out how much they sell for. For example, if you have a lot of spare time, then time-consuming services in-house consultations will "cost" you very little, but could be quite valuable to someone else.   Research their costs (retail versus wholesale). Let's say you're doing business with a winery, for instance, and they want to pay you GH¢100 to perform there. You want GH¢150. Why not suggest that they pay you GH¢100 and give you a GH¢75 bottle of wine? It's worth GH¢75 to you because that's how much you'd have to pay to buy it, but it costs them much less to produce that bottle. (This is, of course, assuming you like their wine!) Or, you can ask them for a 5% or 10% discount on all their wine. Presuming you buy wine regularly anyway, you'll save money, and they'll still make money from your purchases (just not as much).   Offer to pay up front. An up front payment is always desirable to a seller, especially in situations where most people do not pay up front (such as air time). As the buyer, you can also offer to buy in bulk, paying in advance for a certain number of products or services, in exchange for a discount. One tactic is to come into the negotiation with a pre-written cheque; ask to buy the product or service for that amount, and tell them that's your final offer. They may accept it, since the lure of an immediate payment is hard to resist. Finally, paying in cash rather than with a cheque or credit card can be a useful negotiation tool because it reduces risk to the seller (e.g. cheque bouncing, credit card declined).   Shop around, and bring proof. If you are buying airtime and you know the other dealer will sell you the same air time for GH¢200 less, tell them so. Tell them the name of the dealer and salesman. If you're negotiating a salary and you've researched how much people in equivalent positions get paid in your area, print out those statistics and have them handy.   Always hold back a closer or two: One or two facts or arguments you can use when you sense the other side is close to a deal but needs that final push. It would be for your good not to release all facts or proofs; just to help yourself out when closed on the unfavorable side of the coin. Be ready to walk away You know what your break-even point is, and you know if that's not what you're getting. Be willing to walk out the door in the event of that. You might find that the other party will call you back, but you should feel happy with your efforts if they don't.   Recognize that people often ask for more than they expect to get This means you need to resist the temptation to automatically reduce your price or offer a discount. I once asked for a hefty discount on a pair of shoes hoping to get half of what I asked for. I was pleasantly surprised when the shop owner agreed to my request. It means that mostly those who flinches first, wins.  Remember to flinch in reaction to a negotiable term proposed by the other person. The other person might not be expecting to get what he asks for, but if you don’t show a negative reaction, you’re communicating that the term could be a possibility. • Use a flinch to gain a concession. A well-timed flinch might make the other person immediately retract or adjust one of his proposed terms in your favour. • Don’t underestimate the power of a telephone flinch. Even when you’re not face to face, gasping in surprise during the conversation can work just as well.   So while deadpan poker faces work for some negotiators, don’t be afraid to display your emotions once in a while. You never know what you might get out of the deal. A well-timed flinch can bring dramatic results.   Learn to flinch The flinch is one of the oldest negotiation tactics but one of the least used. A flinch is a visible reaction to an offer or price. The objective of this negotiation tactic is to make the other people feel uncomfortable about the offer they presented. Here is an example of how it works. A supplier quotes a price for a specific service. Flinching means you respond by exclaiming, "You want how much?!?!" You must appear shocked and surprised that they could be bold enough to request that figure. Unless the other person is a well seasoned negotiator, they will respond in one of two ways; a) they will become very uncomfortable and begin to try to rationalize their price, b) they will offer an immediate concession.   The person with the most information usually does better You need to learn as much about the other person's situation. This is a particularly important negotiation tactic for sales people. Ask your prospect more questions about their purchase. Learn what is important to them as well as their needs and wants. Develop the habit of asking questions such as;   "What prompted you to consider a purchase of this nature?""Who else have you been speaking to?""What was your experience with…?""What time frames are you working with?""What is most important to you about this?" It is also important to learn as much about your competitors as possible. This will help you defeat possible price objections and prevent someone from using your competitor as leverage.   Try to achieve a ‘win-win’ For a negotiation to be 'win-win', both parties should feel positive about the negotiation once it's over. This helps people keep good working relationships afterwards. In an ideal situation, you will find that the other person wants what you are prepared to trade, and that you are prepared to give what the other person wants. If this is not the case and one person must give way, then it is fair for this person to try to negotiate some form of compensation for doing so – the scale of this compensation will often depend on the many of the factors we discussed above. Ultimately, both sides should feel comfortable with the final solution if the agreement is to be considered win-win.   Only consider win-lose negotiation if you don't need to have an ongoing relationship with the other party as, having lost, they are unlikely to want to work with you again. Equally, you should expect that if they need to fulfill some part of a deal in which you have "won," they may be uncooperative and legalistic about the way they do this.   Practice at every opportunity Most people hesitate to negotiate because they lack the confidence. Develop this confidence by negotiating more frequently. Ask for discounts from your suppliers. As a consumer, develop the habit of asking for a price break when you buy from a retail store. To practice your negotiation skills you must always keep flowing out some questions or statements like these:   "You'll have to do better than that.""What kind of discount are you offering today?""That's too expensive."   Wait for their response afterwards. Be pleasant and persistent but not demanding. Conditioning yourself to negotiate at every opportunity will help you become more comfortable, confident and successful. Thank you and expect more of our weekly business solutions. NewMax is always ready to attend to your business advisory needs and training in this regard. Until then keep reading BF&T.     By Prince Etornam William Attipoe PR & Customer Service Consultant   NEWMAX COMPANY LIMITEDAbout UsNewMax Company Limited is a Marketing, Public Relations and Business Advisory Firm t: +233 (0) 302 265 166| m:+ 233(0)260595900| (0)246225113www.newmaxgroups.com Kindly send all feedback, queries and comments to [email protected]

The Guardian (blog)Italy cries foul over penalty that helped Milan into Champions LeagueThe Guardian (blog)Link to video: Angry Siena fans surround Milan team bus after Balotelli's controversial penalty. It should have been straightforward. To secure third place in Serie A, and with it a spot in next season's Champions League qualifying stage, Milan needed simply to ...Balotelli hit by more racist abuse as Fiorentina fans target Milan striker boarding ...Daily Mail'Champions League is in our DNA' - but AC Milan need huge improvements after ...Goal.comAC Milan carri gree-die enta Champions LeagueSuperSport (blog)Eurosport.com ASIA -BBC Sportall 101 news articles »

A delegation of the National Food and Agriculture Show FAGRO has left Ghana to attend the 1ST FAGRO-Israel Investment meeting Scheduled for May 18-23, 2013 in Israel. The delegation, comprising agricultural stakeholders and farmers, will engage their Israeli counterparts in areas such as irrigation, value-chain development, technology, joint ventures, import and export opportunities -- as well as business-to-business sessions to explore areas of international cooperation designed to boost agricultural growth, trade and investment between Ghana and Israel. In a pre-departure briefing, FAGRO Exhibition Director, Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, remarked: “The meeting will showcase the latest technological advances made in the field of agriculture by Israel which have increased food security, as well as new and advanced methods of farming.” She explained that there are substantial opportunities for income-generation and employment creation in agriculture, especially for the smallholders. “In order to translate these opportunities into reality, we need to create a new cadre of agri-entrepreneurs with new skills and global market vision. Quite obviously, we have to create employment by means of value-addition through agri-businesses,” she adds. The delegation is expected back in Ghana on Friday May 24, 2013.

uniBank Ghana Limited has launched its “esteem banking”, a 24-hour banking service to offer personalised financial solutions to customers. Mr. Isaac Palomeras, Head of Retail Banking at the bank, said the “esteem banking” offers a market-driven world-class retail service to meet the needs of their customers. He said the focus is to offer financial solutions to busy high net worth individuals, executives and business executives among others. “The service is of superior quality and personalised, and customers enjoy this service in a comfortable and serene environment. “An esteem member will have a specially-designed gold card and the card-holder will be entitled to access all esteem centres,” he said. The centre is expected to offer services to clients beyond the normal working hours, including weekends. He said the branch staff will also render personalised door-to-door services to “busy high net worth” clients who have subscribed to the product. He said uniBank will offer to its clients “superior quality e-banking services” under the scheme.

Cameroon are close to appointing a new coach to take over from Jean-Paul Akono, BBC Sport has learnt.