Author: aejay_wp

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) will today, Monday, 24 December 2018 vet individuals who filed to contest the upcoming Ayawaso West Wuogon primary slated for Friday, 28 December 2018.

Mr Ekow Acquah, Mr Delali Kwasi Brempong and Ms Donna Selassie Agbo are the three persons still in the race after actor John Dumelo, and Ewoenam Attidokpo stepped down for personal reasons.

The Ayawaso West Wuogon constituency seat became vacant after the death of lawmaker Emmanuel Kyeremanteng Agyarko last month.

Source: classfmonline.com

Former CEO of National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Sylvester Mensah, has arrived in the Upper West Region with his Renewed Hope Campaign to solicit for votes, ahead of the presidential primaries of the National Democratic Congress.

The flagbearer hopeful and his team arrived in Wa, the Upper West Regional capital on Friday night, December 21, 2018.

Mr. Mensah’s first port of call was the NDC Regional Secretariat in Wa, on Saturday morning, December 22, where he had progressive interactions with a very organised, mature and brilliant Regional Executives and detailed out his vision for the NDC and Ghana. He assured the executives of mutuality of interest and effective participation in the processes of governance. Issues concerning strengthening the structures of the party, uniting the party at all levels, rewarding loyalty and creating prosperity for all were discussed.

Mr. Mensah seized the opportunity and appealed to the executives to support and vote for him on January 26, 2019. He indicated to them that even though Ghanaians are tired of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government and want change, they are equally expecting the NDC to provide a new leader, new vision, new sets of minds and new hope, for their full support.

“Ghanaians want to give power back to the NDC, but they are looking for something new; they are looking for a new face, a new leader, new hope and that is what I represent,” he said

The executives granted Sly and his team “permission” to tour all constituencies in the Region, with an assurance to step in whenever any difficult situation arises concerning the tour. They also assured Mr. Mensah that, as expected of them by the constitution of the party, they shall be neutral, transparent and work to provide a level playing field for all aspirants in the Region.

Sly Mensah Upper West

Mr. Mensah was later accompanied by some Regional executives and Wa Central Constituency executives to pay a courtesy call on the Wa Naa. Even though the Wa Naa himself was not around, he delegated some paramount chiefs to receive Mr. Mensah and his team. The chiefs gave their blessings to Mr. Mensah and encouraged him to continue pursuing his agenda with decorum.

Pragmatic ideas

Prior to embarking on the trip to the Upper West, Mr Mensah interacted with delegates from the Suhum and Ayensuano Constituencies on the final lap of his tour of the Eastern Region and revealed his plans and strategies on job creation.

Sylvester Adinam Mensah challenged the delegates not to look further but vote massively for him in the forthcoming flagbearer elections if they truly want real transformation in their lives and standards of living.

“It is ideas that shape and change the world and I have a team that has it in more than in enough measure to take both party and country forward,”.

The flagbearer hopeful reminded the delegates that Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah was not a rich man but an idealistic philosopher who inspired hope and confidence in Ghanaians but when he was given the opportunity to lead this country, he brought his expertise and innovative ideas of leadership to bare which culminated into monumental achievements with significant relevance.

Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s achievements were not a function of his personal pocket size but a function of his innovative ideas, he noted.

He decried the era of politicians paying lip service to changing the structure of Ghana’s economy and charged that it is time for personalities who have exceptional transformative ideas, skills and talents to take over the leadership of this country and utilisee their talents and ideas to create sustainable jobs for the masses who are unemployed. Mr. Mensah cited how China has created millions of jobs for its citizens in the textiles industry.

According to him, Ghana has a competitive advantage in the textiles industry under the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) to make profit and create millions of jobs for its people. He was of the view that the annual Farmers’ Day Celebration can be made more relevant and tailored towards enhanced productivity if the organisers can consider for instance giving a tomato processing machine to the best Tomato farmer so as to add value to his or her produce for enhanced profit instead of a giving such a farmer a motorcycle.

The flagbearer hopeful assured the delegates of the readiness of his idealistic and enthusiastic team to implement strategies that would inure into the creation of millions of sustainable jobs for party members and Ghanaians at large when voted for as flagbearer and subsequently president.

“We need time to create jobs for our unemployed masses and if you vote for me as your leader, I would grab the opportunity with alacrity and gusto and deliver jobs and real developments that would put you at the centre”.

The flagbearer hopeful also assured the delegates of unity amongst all the aspirants and was very clear that this contest for flagbearer was not a do or die affair but a family contest that can only produce one winner and in whichever direction the results may go, all the contestants are ready to rally behind the one who would emerge the winner so that with a united front the NDC can face and unseat the non-performing Akufo Addo-Bawumia-led government come 2020.

The delegates received his message with great joy with lots of them openly declaring their support for his bid to lead the party and country.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

The family of the late Emmanuel Kwabena Kyeremateng Agyarko, the former Member of Parliament of the Ayawaso West Wuogon, in the Greater Accra Region, have scheduled his funeral for January 25 and 26, 2019 at Odumase-Krobo, his hometown.

According to Mr Boakye Agyarko, the elder brother of the late MP, there will be a family gathering on January 25, 2019 to be followed by a pre-burial service on Saturday, January 26 at the Zimmerman Presbyterian Church.

He will finally be laid to rest at the Presbyterian Cemetery at Labour, Odumase-Krobo.

Mr Agyarko, whose remains arrived in the country last Thursday, died on Wednesday, November 21, 2018 in the United States of America (USA) after a short illness.

In a related development, the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Council of churches, in collaboration with the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly, last Friday organised a vigil and candle light procession through the principal streets of Odumase-Krobo in honour of Mr Agyarko, who was a former Presiding Member of the Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly.

The procession started at the Agormanya Taxi Station and ended at the Zimmerman Presbyterian Church of Ghana at  Odumase Krobo, on which the processors converged to climax the event with a remembrance service.

Profile

Mr Agyarko started his political career with the Manya Krobo Municipal Assembly as a government appointee between 2005 and 2006.

He was later elected as an Assembly member for the Odumase North Electoral Area, where he served from 2006 to 2010.

He also served as the Presiding Member of the Assembly from 2006  to 2008.

Later on in 2008, he was the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for the 2008 general election in the Lower Manya Constituency but lost.

Source: graphic.com.gh

Maxwell Abayate Peter, the 26-year-old resident of Tamale who has been arrested alongside his Nigerian accomplices for their roles in Africa-base cyber fraud could face a jail term of not less than 20 years and a fine of $500,000 according to copies of a bill of indictment by the US Department of Justice intercepted by MyNewsGh.com.

The suspect is standing trial at Western District of Tennessee alongside Babatunde Martins, 62, of Ghana and Bernard Emurhowhoariogho Okorhi, 39, a Nigerian citizen who resides in Ghana face charges conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, conspiracy to commit computer fraud, and aggravated identity fraud according to the United States (US) Department of Justice

According to the indictment documents sighted by MyNewsGh.com, he faces nine counts (Counts 1, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14) including Money Laundering, Embezzlement and others which penalties is up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $500,000, plus supervised release for up to 3 years.

On the count 10 according to the Bill of Indictment, he has been charged for conspiracy to defraud the United States and when convicted he will serve up to 5 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000, plus supervised release for up to 1 year.

In another count, he has been charged for Fraud by Wire, Radio, or Television and may get penalties of up to 20 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000, plus supervised release for up to 3 years.

Unknown to Maxwell Peter he was being trailed by officials of The Federal Bureau of Investigation who were closing up on him and his gang he was reported to have on May 26, 2017which penalties sent a WhatsApp message directing an undercover Memphis FBI agent to receive a $15,000 check on his behalf.

Days later on May 30, 2017, Maxwell Peter directed the FBI agent to send $5,000 of the proceeds to himself in Ghana and on June 2, 2017 he gave an order for the FBI agent to send a $15,000 check to himself in Ghana.

These and many other transactions blew their cover leading to the arrest of Maxwell Peter and his gang who by a combined team Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), INTERPOL and Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) for defrauding U.S. companies and citizens of approximately $15 million in various scams.

Source: mynewsgh.com

Scores of disgruntled customers of Menzgold Ghana Limited today, Monday, 24 December 2018 besieged the Dzorwulu office of the company in Accra to demand their locked-up investments.

Just on Thursday, 20 December 2018, some aggrieved customers of the company stormed the same office to demand their investments just as they have been doing in previous weeks.

The troubled gold dealership firm has petitioned parliament to help the company to amicably resolve its regulatory issues with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) so it can pay all entitlements owed its clients.

In the petition to parliament’s Finance Committee dated 3 December 2018 and signed by Corporate Manager, Offie Nana Yaw on behalf of the CEO, Menzgold said it wants members of the committee to intervene in the standoff for the benefit of its customers.

“We humbly write to your high office to intervene and help resolve this matter amicably,” portions of the petition said.

Meanwhile, a circuit court in Kumasi, Ashanti Region, has ordered that some assets of Menzgold be auctioned to pay clients following a writ of fi.fa filed by one Henry Darko.

Menzgold was ordered by SEC to stop its gold vault market operations in August 2018 over regulatory infractions. Since then, the company has been unable to pay its customers who are between seven thousand and one million clients, their monthly extra values (dividends) as well as their principal investments.

Source: classfmonline.com

The United States (US) Department Of Justice has revealed that Maxwell Atugba Abayeta aka Maxwell Peter, 26 and his cartel since 2012 had defrauded U.S. companies and citizens of approximately $15 million, MyNewsGh.com can report.

Eight individuals were arrested for their roles in the widespread, Africa-based cyber conspiracy after wire transfers from businesses and individuals, including many senior citizens while the Department announced Operation Keyboard Warrior, an effort coordinated by United States and international law enforcement to disrupt online frauds perpetrated from Africa.

Five individuals were arrested in the United States for their roles in the conspiracy including Javier Luis Ramos Alonso, 28, a Mexican citizen residing in Seaside, California; James Dean, 65, of Plainfield, Indiana; Dana Brady, 61, of Auburn, Washington; Rashid Abdulai, 24, a Ghanaian citizen residing in the Bronx, New York, who has been charged in a separate indictment; and Olufolajimi Abegunde, 31, a Nigerian citizen residing in Atlanta, Georgia.

Maxwell Atugba Abayeta aka Maxwell Peter, 26, and Babatunde Martins, 62, of Ghana and Benard Emurhowhoariogho Okorhi, 39, a Nigerian citizen who resides in Ghana, were arrested in Ghana with collaboration of Interpol and are pending extradition proceedings to face charges filed in the Western District of Tennessee.

The indictment in the US also charges Sumaila Hardi Wumpini, 29; Dennis Miah, 34; Ayodeji Olumide Ojo, 35, and Victor Daniel Fortune Okorhi, 35, all of whom remain at large. Abegunde had his detention hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Sheryl H. Lipman of the Western District of Tennessee, who ordered him detained pending trial,

“The defendants allegedly unleashed a barrage of international fraud schemes that targeted U.S. businesses and individuals, robbing them to the tune of approximately $15 million,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Cronan.

“The Department of Justice will continue to work with our international partners to aggressively disrupt and dismantle criminal enterprises that victimize our citizens and businesses.”

Source: mynewsgh.com

The Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Aaron Ocquaye has said parliament should be a place of refuge for persons with disabilities and the less privileged.

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The Ghana Prisons Service has asked all Prisons establishments in the country to suspend leave of officers with immediate effect and recall officers on leave for immediate deployment.

The move, one of several arrangements to beef up security during the Christmas and New Year festivities, was contained in a release issued in Accra Friday, by Superintendent Vitalis Aiyeh, Chief Public Relations Officer of the Service.

While wishing all Ghanaians a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and a season of joy and happiness as well as increased love for Ghana, the Service reiterated its “resolve to continue to effectively and efficiently deliver on its mandate of safe custody and welfare, reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners to ensure public safety during this festive period.”

It said the security measures are also to ensure that prisoners take part in the celebrations peacefully, devoid of any security shortfall.

Other measures include;

All staff who are engaged in outdoor labour, industrial and farming activities should be withdrawn to strengthen security in the yard.

All Prison Security Committees should be made functional and operational for the period.

Members of the Inner and Outer Perimeter Security Unit, as well as the Intelligence Teams should be extra vigilant, whilst the Operation Teams should be put on standby to deal swiftly with any security threat during the season.

Members of the Prisons Directorate will pay unannounced supervisory visits to the stations during the season.

Visits by the public

The prisons are open for visits during the festive period. Families and friends of prisoners can visit and donate items to them.

Religious bodies/Groups can also visit and have fellowships/talks with inmates, as well as donate items to them. They are however to note that, not more than twenty (20) of their members will be allowed into the yard at a go.

Security checks

Visitors are kindly requested to subject themselves to security checks (body and items searches) at all prison entrance. Visitors are entreated to corporate with authorities in this regard.

Prohibited articles

It shall be an offence against prison security for any visitor to carry into the prison yard any item considered as prohibited. Some of these articles include guns and ammunitions, narcotic drugs, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, mobile phone and its accessories, canned items, sharp objects, dangerous implements, cameras, drones etc.

Source: Graphic.com.gh

The government will, from next year, pay allowances to all divisional chiefs and members of all the judicial committees of the various regional houses of chiefs, Mr Kofi Dzamesi, the Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, has said.

Additionally, it will procure 25 four-wheel-drive vehicles for the National House of Chiefs and other houses of chiefs to aid their work.

The move, Mr Dzamesi said, was in recognition of the enormous role played by chiefs in the development of their communities and the maintenance of national cohesion.

General meeting

Making this known at the last general meeting of the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi last Wednesday, Mr Dzamesi said the vehicles would be delivered to the houses of chiefs latest by the end of February next year.

He said the ministry was aware that many of the traditional councils were not functioning due to the absence of personnel to man the various offices.

To support the traditional councils to have functioning offices, he said, the ministry was making arrangements with the Nation Builders Corps (NaBCo) to post some of its personnel to the various houses of chiefs.

Already, he said, the ministry had obtained clearance from the government for 3,000 NaBCo personnel to be posted to the houses of chiefs.

The minister briefed the?National House of Chiefs on some issues pertaining to the chieftaincy institution and also the house about the work of the Committee of Eminent Chiefs that was tasked to find an amicable solution to the Dagbon chieftaincy crisis.

He said the committee had concluded its work and submitted to the government a road map which was currently being implemented.

House grateful

For his part, the President of the National House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede XIV, expressed his gratitude and that of the house to the minister for the visit and the support being extended to the house in the performance of its duties.

He appealed to his colleague chiefs in the regions where referenda would be held to ensure peace in their areas.

He said the peace of the country was more paramount than the division of the regions and tasked the chiefs to ensure that all parties were given equal chance to campaign.

According to him, no side must be victimised because it held a different view about the referendum and asked the security services to be on top of their job to provide the necessary security to maintain the sanctity of the elections.

Local Government

Also in the house to brief chiefs on the road map to the election of district chief executives by 2021 was a Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Nana Akwasi Adjei Boateng.

He said the ministry had held consultative meetings with all the stakeholders involved and had developed a road map that would lead to the election in 2021.

He said since Article 55 (3) of the 1992 Constitution, which prevents political parties from taking active part in district level election, was an entrenched provision, it would require a referendum to repeal it to pave the way for the election of district chief executives.

He said a referendum had been scheduled for September next year to repeal Article 55 (3) of the 1992 Constitution.

Source: Graphic.com.gh

A flagbearer aspirant of the National Democratic Congress and former CEO of NHIA, Sylvester Mensah has revealed that the textiles and garment industry can create millions of jobs for the youth of Ghana if government adequately invests in that sector through a public-private partnership using a venture capital model.

Mr. Mensah said this when he was interacting with branch and constituency executives in the Eastern Region, on Wednesday, December 19, 2018.

“When it comes to creating jobs for Ghanaians, there are several Innovative ways that can be done. There is a huge potential for jobs within the textiles and garment industry. China has taken advantage of that and I believe we can also do so. Because of the AGOA, Ghana has a competitive advantage over China in the production and exportation of textiles and garments. This industry can create about a million jobs in each of the ten Regions of this country. If you give me the mandate, I know how to make it happen.”

Mr. Mensah has observed that Akufo-Addo and the NPP are struggling to create the jobs they have promised because they do not have achievable ideas to implement. He appealed to delegates to put faith in him, give him the mandate so that he can implement the innovative ideas he has to create jobs in order to bring down unemployment drastically and save this country from the national security threat it portends.

Mr. Mensah began his campaign tour of the Eastern Region last week and after touring twenty-six constituencies, postponed his meeting with the rest seven in order to submit his nomination forms.

Having successfully submitted his forms on Monday, December 17, 2018, Mr. Mensah resumed his tour which took him to five out of the seven constituencies, on Wednesday.

The first meeting for the day was held in Akwatia constituency, followed by Kade, Lower West Akim, upper West Akim and Nsawam Adoagyiri constituencies.

Branch and constituency executives have expressed their satisfaction with Mr Mensah’s message of ensuring unity in the NDC at all times, recognising and acknowledging sacrifices of executives at all levels, creating prosperity for all and giving power back to them.

They have also praised Mr Mensah for embarking upon a clean campaign and promised to vote for him as flagbearer of the NDC.

Source: Office of Sly Mensah

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has appointed Rear Admiral Seth Amoama as Chief of Naval Staff and Air Commodore Frank Hanson as Chief of Air Staff with effect from Tuesday, January 8, 2019.

Rear Admiral Amoama is currently the Commandant of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, while Air Commodore Hanson is the Base Commander, Air Force Base, Takoradi.

He is also the General Officer commanding the Southern Command of the Army.

A statement signed by the Director of Communications, Mr Eugene Arhin, said the new appointments were made in consultation with the Council of State, pursuant to the provisions of Article 212 of the 1992 Constitution.

Retirement

The statement said the appointment had become necessary because the current Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Maxwell Mantsebi-Tei Nagai, and the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Peter Kofi Faidoo, had completed their tours of duty and were due for retirement from the Ghana Armed Forces in January, 2019.

It added that the President had expressed his gratitude to them for their dedicated and meritorious service to the Ghana Armed Forces and the nation.

In another development, the President has appointed Brigadier General Thomas Oppong Peprah as Chief of Staff at the General Headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces on the recommendation of the Armed Forces Council, with effect from Tuesday, January 8, 2019.

Source: Graphic.com.gh

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo last Thursday joined the chiefs and people of Sandema to celebrate the Feok Festival, and announced to them that the government had awarded a contract for the construction of a bridge over the Santejan River at Doninga near Sandema in the Builsa North District in the Upper East Region.

The €2.2 million project will be executed over a 24-month period by Munck Engineering of Denmark.

The announcement of the award of the contract drew loud applause from the gathering.

President Akufo-Addo said the government was determined to invest in infrastructural development in the area and other parts of the region to uplift the standard of living of the people.

The Feok Festival is celebrated to mark the defeat of slave raiders at Builsa by the forefathers of the Builsa people.

Other initiatives

President Akufo-Addo also mentioned the construction of the Navrongo-Sandema-Wiaga-Fumbisi road, saying the road was part of the national trunk road, N10.

He said 10 kilometres of the project was awarded to Messrs Deliman Limited, while a stretch of 40-kilometre was awarded to Myturn Limited.

The President, however, indicated that the Ministry of Roads and Highways was taking steps to terminate the contract awarded to Deliman Limited for non-performance, and would be re-awarded to another contractor.

On the other hand, he said, Mytum Limited had returned to the site and had completed 13 per cent of the road.

“A variation order has been issued to cover an additional stretch, Navrongo-Sandema-Wiaga-Fumbisi, which was not part of the original works.” the President added.

Agric mechanisation

President Akufo-Addo said the government would from 2019, set up 200 agricultural mechanisation centres across the country, and the Builsa North District would be a beneficiary.

In addition to the elevation of the Builsa North District into a municipality, he indicated that the government was considering their request for the construction of a district hospital at Builsa.

GETFund

On education, President Akufo-Addo said he had directed the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to ensure the completion of a self-help project currently ongoing at the Chuchuliga Senior High School.

He said the Minister of Education, Mr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, had been directed to look into the request by the Wiaga Community School for its adoption into the public system.

The President thanked the Sandema-Na and the people of Builsa for inviting him to be part of the celebration.

Overlord

The Sander-Nab and Overlord of the Builsa Traditional Area, Nab Azagsuk Azantilow, expressed the appreciation of the people of Builsa to the government and urged his people to take advantage of the numerous policies and programmes rolled out by the government to improve their well-being.

He said initiatives such as the One-village, One-dam, One-district, One-factory and Planting for Food and Jobs, could change the lives of the people for the better

Touching on the construction of the bridge, Nab Azagsuk Azantilow said: “This is a project our late father, Nab Sir Azantilow had appealed to all governments since independence, to bridge the river, but to no avail. It is only your government that has listened favourably to us and has awarded the contract to bridge the river.”

Nab Azagsuk Azantilow expressed confidence that “our late father would roll happily in his grave, that Nana Akufo-Addo has made his dream come true, and certainly would wish and pray that he (Nana Akufo-Addo) stayed longer enough to make our country greater and stronger.”

He expressed appreciation to President Akufo-Addo for celebrating the festival with them and said, “for almost 20 years or more, no sitting President has joined us in celebrating this festival. We the chiefs and people of Builsa are, therefore, most grateful to your Excellency for your show of love.”

Source: Graphic.com.gh

Fundraising for the construction of a historic national cathedral has been set for December 28, 2018.

A member of the board of trustees for the Cathedral, Rev. Dr Paul Frimpong-Manso revealed the event comes off at the forecourt of the Black Star Square in Accra.

It will cost $1,000 to participate in the fundraising, he said in his Christmas message to Joy News Friday.

“You may say it [the amount] is too much but it is not too much if you think about what God has done for Ghana,” Rev. Frimpong Manso stated.

Government after explaining the construction will come at no cost to the taxpayer, later said it will be providing seed money for the prestige project.

The Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, who revealed this, did not state how much has been budgeted as seed money.

A chunk of the funding, however, is expected to come in from donations and gifts.

Taking steps in this direction, Dr. Paul Frimpong Manso said the Board of Trustees encouraged Ghanaians to contribute at the fundraising event.

The National Cathedral, he repeated, is to “demonstrate our gratitude and appreciation to God.”

Government’s decision to demolish buildings including residences of judges to make way for the construction of the cathedral has been criticised as inappropriate.

Private property owners have also objected to a quit notice to vacate the area earmarked for construction of the controversial national cathedral.

They have served notice it will cost Government millions of dollars to take over their land.

The affected property hosts sensitive and expensive IT infrastructure for many State entities including the Bank of Ghana, CEPS, SSNIT, CSD, GSE, GRA and other corporate organisations home and abroad.

Rev. Frimpong-Manso said “we thank God for putting the burden on the President of the Republic to build the national cathedral as an edifice to demonstrate our gratitude and our appreciation to God.”

“We are asking churches, Christians leaders and individual Ghanaians to come and be part of the launch,” he added.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

The general public has been advised to exercise extra vigilance in dealing with security personnel because some criminals are parading around in military and police uniforms.

The nefarious activities of these criminals is quite prominent in the Central Region, the regional police command has announced.

“The Central Regional Police Command wishes to bring to the notice of the general public the criminal activities of some criminals who often use Military and Police uniforms in committing crimes within the region,” DSP Irene Serwaah Oppong of the Regional Public Affairs Unit said in a statement.

So far, four men have been sighted employing this tactic to rob unsuspecting members of the public.

“The men numbering about four are usually seen in Military and Police uniforms use private saloon cars of different make and model to trail their victims who have huge sums of money and valuables in their possession,” the statement said.

The criminals stop their victims, the statement said, and accuse them of their involvement in crime, arrest, handcuff, push them into their car and drives off under the pretext of sending them to the police station for investigations.

On the way, they rob their victims of their monies, assault them, push them out of the car and speed off, the police said.

“The Regional Police Command wishes to appeal to the general public to be extra vigilant, listen and look out for these criminals or any other suspicious persons and alert police through our short code 18555, 191 Or 0291201874 and 0291201875 for them to be arrested, investigated and put before court .”

The statement which also wished the public a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year reiterated the commitment of the police service to ensure law, order and security in the Central Region.

Source: peacefmonline.com

The 459 gallons of 25-litres each were hidden in the goods compartments of a Bawku Kumasi bound bus with registration number GN 2460-12.

Officials of the division stationed at the Techiman Barrier became suspicious when the driver sped off after he had been asked to stop.

After a hot chase, the Customs officials caught up with the bus and when an inspection was conducted, the goods were found hidden in various compartments without any tax documents covering them.

Briefing

Briefing the media about the incident, a Sector Commander of the Customs Division of GRA, Assistant Commissioner Seidu Yakubu expressed concern about recalcitrant traders who had taken advantage of the West African trade protocols to smuggle goods into the country to deny the state of its needed revenue.

He estimated the Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF) of the intercepted gallons of oil at GH?39,864 and the tax liability as GH?18,119.08.

Mr Yakubu added that management would decide the penalty to be paid by the owner of the goods, explaining that she was expected to pay a maximum of 300 per cent of the tax on the goods.

Mr Yakubu advised vehicle owners to advise their drivers to refrain from carrying such uncustomed goods since they risk impoundment of their vehicles.

He appealed to Ghanaians to assist officials of the Customs Division of the GRA to arrest people who had made their minds to smuggle goods into the country, adding that “we are ready to go all out to arrest such perpetrators and prosecute them to deter others from committing such crimes against the state”.

Mr Yakubu said it was unfortunate that even some drivers of the Metro Mass Transit, which belongs to the state were using their buses to carry uncustomed goods.

He warned such drivers that they risked losing their jobs as well as facing prosecution caught.

Owner of the goods

For her part, the owner of the goods, 28-year old Ms Hadiza Suala who broke down in tears during questioning said she bought the goods at Windana on the Ghana-Burkina Faso border at a total cost of GH?56,000 while the driver charged her GH?6,450 to convey them to Kumasi.

When questioned how she managed to outwit security officials, she candidly stated that she paid some monies on the way before she alighted at Techiman for other assignments.

Ms Suala was informed by the driver of the goods after they were intercepted at dawn last Thursday, explaining that she was expecting to make GH?3.00 on each of the 25-litre gallons of oil.

Ms Suala explained that the bus set off from Bawku last Sunday, it delayed on the way due to frequent breakdowns.

The driver of the bus, Philip Atta told newsmen that “this is the first time that I have carried edible oil. The other time I conveyed spare parts and motorbikes”.

Source: Graphic.com.gh

The biggest telecommunications giant in Ghana, MTN, has donated a special bed and a mono desk to the most tallest student ever admitted to the Swedru School of Business (SWESBUS).

The donation is in connection with a publication by the Daily graphic on the difficulties, Ebenezer Mensah goes through in accessing his bed and desk.

Shedding light on what he does at home, Mensah said due to his height, he always had to bend down before entering their house and rooms.

“ I can’t sleep on my own bed at home because it is too short for me, I always have to bend my legs while sleeping on the bed or rest on the upper frame up on the bed while my legs hang off the bed”.

After his plea went viral on social media, MTN Ghana visited him and decided to come to his rescue with a mono desk and a special bed plus mattress designed to suit his height. The bed is two times the size of a normal mono desk and bed according to his height which is 7.2 ft.

Presenting the relief items, Acting Regional Senior Manager for MTN Ghana, South West, Yakubu Mohammed said, the move was to being relieve for Ebenezer Mensah and help nurture his God given talent since the Nation doesn’t pay critical attention to people such stature.

Ebenezer Mensah is a 16-year-old day student and part of the gold track of students who started their senior high school education last Monday, November 12, 2018 and is currently studying General Arts at the Swedru School of Business.

He began his basic education at the Swedru Presbyterian Basic School but later moved to the Victory Preparatory School at Oteipro near SWESBUS, where he completed his basic education.

He is the only child of his parents and lives with his mother at Ankyease, a suburb of Agona Swedru.

Due to his gigantic height, Mensah is always the toast of his friends.

First day in school

When Ebenezer Mensah reported to SWESBUS on his first day on Monday, November 12, 2018 to go through the registration process, security men at the gate were curious about his height upon seeing him in the white, short-sleeved shirt over brown khaki shorts and black sandals that are prescribed as the school uniform.

They approached him to be sure he was a first-year student and not an imposter, before ushering him to the campus to be met by stupefied gazes.

When news of his presence went viral on campus, continuing students, both teaching and non-teaching staff abandoned their activities so they could catch a glimpse of their new sensational companion. Some went on to pose with him in front of their phone cameras. Classes were momentarily interrupted.

Mensah was welcomed with thunderous shouts and cheers from, particularly students who could not hide their amazement and shock at seeing him in the school.

Since then however, his presence in the school has become a trending issue, drawing the curious from far and near to the school.

Source: ghananewsalert.com

The New Patriotic Party will on December 29 elect a candidate to contest the Ayawaso West Wuogon parliamentary seat.

The seat was being held by one of its members, Emmanuel Kyeremateng Agyarko until his demise on November 21, 2018, something that has necessitated the conduct of a by-election in the constituency.

Consequently, the NPP has opened nominations Friday to allow interested party members pick up forms to contest the by-election that is required to be held 60 days after a seat becomes vacant.

They have up to December 22 to pick up nomination form at a cost of 1,000 cedis and file same on December 23 with a non-refundable filing fee of 10,000 cedis. Female aspiring candidates as well as the youth and persons with special needs have been given a special 50 per cent discount in respect of the filing fees.

Vetting of the candidates has been scheduled for December 24 at the party headquarters in Accra, a statement from the party General Secretary John Boadu announced.

Meanwhile, the party said it has constituted a 5-member elections committee to be chaired by Peter MacManu to supervise the conduct of this conference.

Mr. Agyarko who would have turned 61 years on December 10, died on Wednesday, November 21 in the United States where he was flown to by his family for medical care.

Source: Peacefmonline.com