Former National Democratic Congress (NDC) legal affairs chief Abraham Amaliba has asked the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to review its non-political status.
According to Amaliba, the GBA has increasingly demonstrated political partisanship over the past few years, favoring the current government and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Based on president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s use of the 2023 edition of the conference to rip into former president Mahama’s remarks on the judiciary, he characterized the annual Bar Conference as a political jamboree.
Speaking on Joy fm, he said “The bar conference has become a political jamboree for the NPP-inclined lawyers and state officials including the president to attack NDC-inclined lawyers and its leadership. The NDC-inclined lawyers pay dues to the Ghana Bar Association.
“The Bar uses the dues to organize the Bar Conference which is a non-political platform…,” he stressed before adding that regrettably the Bar conference has been politicized and that; “the Bar should take the fall for this. The Bar has misconducted itself for far too long in these matters and I don’t want to be charitable at all.”
On Mahama’s critical comments on the judiciary labelling it as partisan and calling for what he called balancing out of members of the bench, Amaliba said; “Mahama used an NDC platform to make comments. Why would bar give Akufo-Addo platform to respond?” he complained.
During the same program as Amaliba, GBA spokesperson Saviour Kudze expressed the association’s condemnation of Akufo-Addo’s political remarks at the conference. However, he clarified that they couldn’t have anticipated the content of the president’s speech.
The 2023 edition of this prestigious event was held in Cape Coast on the 11th of September, centered around the thought-provoking theme, “Ensuring High Standards and Integrity in Public Life; The Role of the Legal Profession.”
Remarkably, this marked the seventh consecutive year that President Akufo-Addo had graced the conference with his presence and delivered an address, underscoring his enduring commitment to the legal profession and his dedication to fostering an environment of principled governance and professionalism in Ghana’s public sphere.
Addressing the audience he said “I am aware that it is a privilege, which I will continue not to abuse,”
There were a number of topics covered in the speech, including issues of governance, the need for cooperation between the three branches of government, and attacks on the judiciary.
During his speech on corruption, Akufo-Addo vowed to continue putting in place measures to combat the menace, rejecting the clearing agent tag he has been referred to as repeatedly, and listing a number of corruption cases involving his appointees to show his commitment to fighting the issue.
“It is not my job to clear or convict any person accused of wrongdoing, or of engaging in acts of corruption. That is the job of the courts and the law enforcement agencies.
“My job is to act on allegations of corruption by referring the issue or issues to the proper investigative agencies for the relevant enquiry and action, including, if necessary, the suspension of the affected official, pending the conclusion of investigations.
“That is exactly what has been done since I assumed the mantle of leadership on 7th January 2017,” he stressed.
Below are the cases he listed:
During the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) conference, various significant cases and allegations that have stirred public interest and concern over the years were brought to the forefront for discussion. These included:
The allegations raised against Boakye Agyarko, the then Minister-Designate for Energy, during his parliamentary confirmation hearings in 2017.
Accusations against Hon. Alfred Obeng, the former CEO of BOST (Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited).
Allegations against Hon. Francis Asenso Boakye and Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor, who served as the deputy Chiefs of Staff at the Office of the President.
Conflict of interest allegations involving Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minister for Finance.
Claims of extortion made against Alan Kyerematen, the then Trade and Industry Minister-designate, during his parliamentary confirmation hearings in 2017.
Allegations of involvement in visa racketeering against Pius Hadzide, the then deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, and Hon. Robert Sarfo Mensah, the then Director General of the National Sports Authority. Although they were exonerated by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Hon. Robert Sarfo Mensah later resigned. Also mentioned was Hon. Kwadwo Baah Agyemang, Chairperson of the Board of the National Sports Authority.
Accusations of bribery against Charles Bissue, the Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining.
Cases involving A. B Adjei, the dismissed acting CEO of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), and Emmanuel Asigiri, the dismissed CEO of the National Youth Authority. It was noted that they had been investigated and, in most cases, cleared by authorized state institutions, not by President Akufo-Addo.
The most recent episode concerning Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, the former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources.
The conference saw the presence of key figures, including the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Dame, Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, GBA executives, and several retired Justices of the courts.
A former Upper East regional vice chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was fatally shot by unidentified attackers, as reported by Accra-based Asaase Radio.
The victim, Williams Akanyele, was killed at his residence in Nabango, situated in the Kassena-Nankana West district of the region. He was discovered in his room on Thursday morning, with gunshot wounds to his neck and abdomen, according to the Asaase Radio report.
The incident occurred Wednesday night and is suspected to be an assassination related to an ongoing chieftaincy dispute. Regional police, under the leadership of DCOP Darko Offei Lomotey, have launched an investigation into the matter.
A similar episode unfolded in late August, where three out of seven assailants attempting to attack the NDC constituency chairman for Binduri were killed. The attackers besieged the chairman’s residence and fired indiscriminately, prompting community members to come to his aid.
During the confrontation, three assailants were fatally injured. One of them died on the scene, while the others fled and later succumbed to their injuries in different locations.
According to a report from TV3, the deceased assailants were identified as Nashiru Razak, 32, Abdul Bashid, 23, and Muniru Bashiru, 22, hailing from Sagabo, Patrame, and Pusum in the Bawku municipality. DCOP Darko Offei Lomotey, the Upper East Regional Police Commander, and his team visited the crime scene in Bazwa to gather information about the attack.
Two men have been sent to prison for being recorded while participating in an assault on French police officers who were attempting to prevent migrants from crossing the Channel.
Video from police body cameras shows a bunch of people throwing stones and scaring the police on a beach near Calais in June.
Two men named Salih Abdullah and Ahmed Khater, aged 33 and 25 respectively, were arrested when they reached Dover. They confessed that they had tried to come to the UK without permission.
They each got sent to jail for 14 months and 12 months.
Abdullah, from Iraq, and Khater, from Sudan, were with a group of 51 people who were going to get on a small boat. However, the police in Oye Plage near Calais found them before they could board the boat, according to the Home Office.
Tension is going up.
Some migrants threw rocks at the French officers and threatened them with sticks before they got on a boat to go to the UK.
Abdullah and Khater were caught on camera by the police and were arrested as soon as they reached Dover.
The couple admitted that they tried to enter the UK without permission and appeared in court on June 19th. They were then sentenced at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday.
Charlie Eastaugh, who is in charge of international operations for the Small Boats Operational Command at the Home Office, stated that there is growing tension on French beaches. This is because law enforcement has been successful in stopping this organized criminal activity.
This situation shows how our French colleagues do difficult and brave work, even when things are very hard.
We will keep working together with them to stop the criminal gangs who are responsible for these dangerous border crossings, to keep our borders safe and save lives.
A person from the Russian government called Dmitry Peskov has said that the meeting between Kim Jong Un from North Korea and Vladimir Putin from Russia will make their friendship stronger.
Kim is going to meet Putin. She is taking a train that is protected. She is starting her journey from the capital of North Korea, Pyongyang. She will be going to Russia for a meeting with a group of people. Press Secretary Peskov said that if the situation requires it, the two leaders will keep talking privately.
Assuring that the UK is safe from “foreign state activity that seeks to undermine our national security” is a top responsibility, the deputy prime minister told MPs.
Oliver Dowden was speaking following the revelation that a parliamentary researcher had been detained in March on suspicion of working as a Chinese spy.
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle earlier instructed lawmakers to bring up concerns in private rather than bring up security risks related to the claim before the Commons.
James Flynn, who is 32 years old, has been declared guilty of unlawfully entering a house and taking the keys to a car. This car was then used in a robbery where weapons were involved.
A police officer named Adrian Donohoe was killed when he got shot at a credit union in Lordship, County Louth on January 25, 2013. Garda Donohoe, who was 41 years old, was married and had two young kids.
He was one of two detectives working late at night. They were taking money to the rural credit union when the robbery happened.
During his trial for murder, it was revealed that the building’s staff were getting ready to leave with the money they had earned that day when a group of men came up to them and stole from them.
Garda Donohoe was shot in the head and died right away.
Actively conspired means actively working together secretly.
On Monday, Flynn was found guilty of planning with Brady and others to enter a house in Clogherhead, two days before the robbery and murder, in order to steal the keys of a Volkswagen Passatt.
Later on, the car was used to escape from a crime scene.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt said that Flynn worked together with two friends to break into a house and hide the car for criminal purposes.
He was not declared guilty of stealing €7,000 (£6,000) from the Credit Union.
A second man named Brendan Treanor, 34, who used to live in Emer Terrace, Castletown Road in Dundalk, County Louth, was found innocent of both accusations.
The court found out that Treanor is part of a criminal group, but there is no clear evidence connecting him directly to the place where the crime happened. The judge determined that the CCTV footage showed Flynn being more involved in the situation than Brendan Treanor.
The court believed that Flynn had lied about where he was during the robbery.
The court said that Flynn was part of the gang that committed the robbery.
But it wasn’t certain that he was one of the four men involved in the robbery, and there was not enough clear evidence connecting him to the crime.
Mr Justice Hunt said that ultimately, we cannot be certain if he was present at the location or just involved with the gang. Therefore, we have no choice but to declare him not guilty of this accusation.
The judge decided to keep Flynn in jail until his sentencing, which will happen on November 13th.
Stopping bad habits can be challenging, but with determination and the right strategies, you can overcome them. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you stop bad habits:
Self-Awareness: Recognize the bad habit you want to change and understand its triggers. Be honest with yourself about why you engage in the habit and the negative impact it has on your life.
Set Clear Goals: Define your reasons for wanting to break the habit. Establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals. This will give you a clear sense of purpose.
Replace with Positive Habits: Instead of just trying to quit a bad habit, replace it with a healthier alternative. For instance, if you’re trying to quit smoking, you could take up regular exercise or practice deep breathing when you feel the urge to smoke.
Identify Triggers: Figure out what situations, emotions, or environments trigger the bad habit. Once you identify these triggers, you can develop strategies to avoid or manage them effectively.
Create a Supportive Environment: Surround yourself with people who support your goal and understand your desire to change. Minimize exposure to situations that encourage the bad habit.
Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness techniques can help you become more aware of your thoughts, emotions, and actions. This awareness can give you the power to choose a different response when the urge for the bad habit arises.
Use Positive Reinforcement: Reward yourself for making progress. Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small. Positive reinforcement can boost your motivation to continue making positive changes.
Visual Reminders: Use visual cues to remind yourself of your goal. For example, you can place notes around your living space or set reminders on your phone to stay on track.
Practice Patience: Breaking a bad habit takes time and effort. Be patient with yourself and don’t get discouraged if you slip up. Learn from setbacks and use them as opportunities to grow.
Seek Professional Help: If the bad habit is deeply ingrained or causing serious harm, consider seeking professional help. Therapists, counselors, or support groups can provide guidance and a structured approach to breaking the habit.
Track Progress: Keep a journal to document your progress. This can help you stay accountable and see how far you’ve come.
Stay Persistent: Breaking a bad habit is not always easy, and there might be setbacks along the way. The key is to stay persistent and committed to your goal.
Remember, changing habits takes time and effort, so be patient with yourself. Celebrate each step in the right direction and keep your focus on the positive changes you’re making in your life.
Rishi Sunak said he will not allow China to interfere in the UK’s democracy. A parliamentary researcher was arrested for spying for China.
The Prime Minister told Members of Parliament that he informed the Chinese Premier during the G20 conference that any attempt to spy will not be allowed.
The Met Police said on Saturday that they arrested two men in March for breaking the Official Secrets Act.
The researcher says that the accusations are not true.
The man mentioned in a statement that he felt like he had no choice but to answer the accusations made in the media.
China denied the accusations of spying and the foreign ministry spokesperson, Mao Ning, said it was false and intended to harm their reputation.
The Speaker of the House of Commons, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, has told Members of Parliament not to reveal the identity of the man, who the BBC is not naming, using parliamentary privilege.
During a speech to the House of Commons about the G20 summit in India, Mr Sunak told MPs: “I have made it very clear to China that we will not allow them to meddle in our democracy and parliamentary system.
We will protect our democracy and our safety.
I strongly told Premier Li that we will not allow any actions that try to harm British democracy. This kind of behavior is not acceptable and we won’t tolerate it.
When asked by Sir Keir Starmer, Mr Sunak said that Foreign Secretary James Cleverly had also talked about China’s attempts to meddle with UK democracy during his recent trip to China.
Sir Keir stated that incidents such as this demonstrate the ongoing dangers that we encounter. ‘Refreshingly perceptive’
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden mentioned that the government is considering the idea of examining Chinese government workers more closely in the UK.
Some Members of Parliament want China to be placed in the “higher category” of the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme, which was implemented this year.
When more countries are involved, China-linked organizations have to provide more information.
Some important members of the Conservative Party, including Liz Truss and Iain Duncan Smith, want the government to officially say that China is a threat to the UK. But so far, the government has not agreed with this.
Mr Dowden, speaking in the Commons, said that there is a good reason for this, but the government is currently deciding which countries should be included in the registration system.
He said that ministers were well aware of the difficulties China presents, but it would not be practical to completely cut off all relations with the country.
The Sunday Times reported that a researcher was arrested and had connections with some Conservative politicians like Security Minister Tom Tugendhat and Foreign Affairs Committee chairwoman Alicia Kearns.
They say that Mr Tugendhat didn’t have much contact with the man, and he didn’t work with him as a minister.
The arrest of the researcher has caused MPs to discuss again whether the UK should be tougher with China.
China is one of the UK’s most important trading partners, and British government officials often emphasize the importance of collaborating with China on major global concerns like addressing climate change.
However, the relationship between the two countries has become worse in recent years due to a number of problems. These problems include the violation of people’s rights in Hong Kong, which used to be a British colony, and China’s support for Russia during the war in Ukraine.
Ghanaian actor Prince David Osei has urged men to place personal growth and careers above casual relationships and sex.
In a twitter post, he recognized the value of romantic and sexual relationships but underlines the concern when these interests eclipse long-term objectives.
He emphasizes the significance of balancing personal lives and ambitions, particularly for young men, while emphasizing that success requires discipline and focus.”
“Brother, don’t put your head on Delilah’s lap, don’t get caught up in Delilah’s trap, man. That’s where big dreams go to die! Don’t swap your fate for a quick roll in the hay. Time to leave that comfort zone and conquer the world. Don’t let sex chain you down, bro; the world’s your oyster. Reach for greatness. Stay alert, bro! Stay woke, fam,” he posted.
“Prince David Osei also motivated men not to fear their partners leaving them when they pursue new opportunities. He believes that a woman genuinely in love will provide unwavering support for a man’s advancement.”
“Don’t stress over your girl, wife… If she’s the one, she’ll hold it down for you. Too many dudes parking their potential ’cause they’re afraid their woman will bounce,” he added.
The 57-year-old person, whose name is unknown, was found unconscious on a beach in the village of Laganas. They were taken to a hospital on the island and were pronounced dead there.
According to local news, a lifeguard helped provide immediate medical care to him after he was rescued from the sea.
This happened just one day after a four-year-old boy from Poland was taken away by the sea in the same village.
A boy who was not named was wearing a life-jacket, but strong winds pulled him out to sea. The emergency services saved him.
In simpler terms, people are honoring a British man who died in a gliding accident in the lower parts of the Pyrenees mountain range last Saturday.
Mike Evans, who was 75 years old, passed away after his plane veered off the runway and crashed into some trees while coming in for a landing at the Santa Cilia aerodrome near the city of Jaca in northern Spain.
Emergency workers got a message at around 4pm saying that he was awake and saying his neck hurt.
Four individuals have lost their lives after a tourist bus and a car crashed into each other on a road in Greece.
The big bus had license plates from Serbia, and it had about 80 people on board.
Photos taken at the location near Kilkis in the northern part of the country depict a vehicle turned over on its side in a trench with its windows broken or taken out.
The police first said that three people had died, but later a fourth person also died due to their injuries.
Local news reports say that 49 people on the bus got hurt and were taken to hospitals in Kilkis and Thessaloniki.
According to a Greek news site called Kathimerini, there were Serbian people who were visiting the coastal town of Asprovalta for their vacation.
The website said that another car was also involved in the accident. Approximately 20 firefighters went to the accident with six vehicles for rescuing people.
The local police started an investigation into the crash.
Many parts of Greece are currently experiencing storms and floods.
Videos from the island of Skiathos, which is located to the east of the mainland of the country, showed fast-moving floodwater passing by hotels and homes earlier this week.
Ghanaian actor and film producer, Kwaku Manu has revealed that celebrities turn to politics due to financial hardships.
He highlighted the unfulfilled promises by both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) governments. Kwaku Manu’s remarks stem from the challenges plaguing the creative arts industry, leaving many discontented.
Speaking as a panelist on United Showbiz on September 9, 2023, he attributes the engagement of Ghanaian celebrities in politics to the industry’s ongoing struggles and urges government intervention.
“Celebrities are hungry and it is the main reason some of us are going into politics. There’s nothing happening for us at the moment and I think it’s about time the government came to our rescue. Both the NPP and NDC governments made huge promises but nothing is happening.
“How are we supposed to have better lives when our leaders don’t think about us but themselves? Here in Ghana, our leaders are always enriching themselves, their friends and families and not thinking about the ordinary citizens and it is quite a sad development,” he stated.
Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) dormancy has led to government neglect of their challenges, he lamented.
“Ask most celebrities who the minister of tourism is and I can tell you about 90 percent will fail the test. It is obvious we [the creative art industry] have been neglected because nothing is happening,” Kwaku Manu added.
Kwaku Manu Hit The Nail At The Right Spot!! 💯 🔥🔥👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿
The voluptuous actress, who became the center of attention on various media platforms, expresses feeling violated and vulnerable due to the unfortunate incident.
In an Instagram video, Moyo Lawal asserts the invasion of her privacy and its emotional toll.
The trending video on Twitter has triggered mixed reactions from fans and colleagues. While some criticize her, others speculate on the video’s deliberate release.
Moyo, known for her lively social media presence, emphasizes her complete surprise at the video’s unexpected release.”
“A private video of mine from a while ago has been inappropriately shared without my consent, violating my privacy and trust.l want to emphasise that this video done with my ex I was to marry as at that time was never intended for public consumption, and its unauthorised distribution is a breach of my personal boundaries. However this criminal breach of privacy will definitely be treated with legal action.
It really hits me funny because I have always maintained a strict approach to my sexuality, even going as far as being celibate for a few years, refusing to date often and choosing to be alone most times. ” She wrote on IG.
She also urged her fans and the public to respect her privacy during this difficult time and called for a more responsible and empathetic use of social media.
She emphasized that the incident has had a profound impact on her mental and emotional well-being.
“I am determined not to let this unfortunate incident break my spirit . I appreciate the support and understanding of those who have reached out to me during this challenging time. Please know that your kindness and goodwill means the world to me.” She added.
Chinese authorities arrested two construction workers, a man named Zheng who is 38 years old, and a woman named Wang who is 55 years old. They are accused of breaking through the Great Wall.
The government of Youyu County, which is far away from Beijing, shared some pictures showing a bumpy road going through a broken part of a barrier.
The part being talked about is believed to be at the far west end of the wall in Shanxi province.
Some parts of this area were built around 2,000 years ago, but they are not close to the restored sections that tourists usually visit at the United Nations protected heritage site.
According to reports, Zheng and Wang made a new pathway because they needed a faster and easier way to do their construction work in nearby towns.
They will stay in jail as more legal steps are being taken.
This picture, posted online on August 31, 2023 by the Youyu Police, shows a path that seems to have been made through a part of the old Great Wall in Youyu county in northern China’s Shanxi province. Authorities in China have taken two people into custody for breaking through a part of the ancient wall, which is a famous cultural symbol and a site protected by the United Nations.
A recent online post by the Youyu Police in northern China’s Shanxi province shows a path that seems to go through a part of the old Great Wall in Youyu county.
The Great Wall of China was built a long time ago, starting around the 7th century BC. The most famous parts of the wall were finished during a period called the Ming dynasty, which lasted from 1368 to 1644. It is a very important and special historical site in China.
The attempt to stop the Ming dynasty from being overthrown by the Manchu people from the north wasn’t successful. The Manchu people were able to conquer the Great Wall and eventually took control of the entire empire, establishing the Qing dynasty.
A person is wearing a mask to stay safe from the coronavirus while standing close to a part of the Badaling Great Wall in China, near Beijing, in October. On the 6th of January 2020. The police in China caught two men for breaking a section of the old wall, which is a very important cultural and protected site by the United Nations.
In the years after, the wall mostly fell apart, as many of its original stones were stolen by nearby villagers.
China’s communist government brought back interest in the wall as a symbol of love for one’s country and standing up against external influences in the middle of the 20th century.
In the past, the Great Wall has been in the news because it can be dangerous for tourists in the winter. There have been videos of many people slipping and holding onto the handrails while trying to walk on the icy surfaces.
Airbnb, an online rental service, has previously provided eco-friendly lodgings near the Great Wall in China. This was done to encourage sustainable tourism.
They were initially apprehended separately and then sent to the National Operations Department (JOC) at Police Headquarters in Accra for questioning. Subsequently, they were placed in police custody but have now vanished.
According to credible sources, the Nigerian High Commission is actively seeking information about these suspects.
It remains uncertain whether the Police administration deported them to their home country due to suspicions of their involvement in criminal activities in Ghana.
Background
Seven Nigerians, namely Michael Eke, Chukwudi Moses, Prince John Akossey, Udoka Njoka, Nnaji Ekezie, Elachi, and Nzete Chukunanu Best, were initially apprehended in Kasoa for various criminal charges. The Herald possesses a photograph of their arrival at the National Operations Department (JOC) located at Police Headquarters.
Subsequently, a second group of five individuals, which included a pregnant woman, were arrested in connection with a robbery incident in Caprice, Accra. The names of these individuals are Prince Anthony Chiobi, Izichuku Igwenagu, Emmanuella Chinwetalu (the pregnant lady), Ahamafula Onwukwa, and Godfrey Chukuebuka, also known as Caleb. The husband of the pregnant woman, identified as Ikebana, is currently evading authorities.
It has been reported that the Nigerian High Commission will soon communicate with Ghanaian authorities regarding this matter, according to sources cited by The Herald.
A court heard that a man named Jackson Katjombe, who is 37 years old, attacked the siblings many times on their farm in the town of Otjimbingwe in Namibia.
One person who was hurt was only 8 years old, while another was a 25-year-old woman who has disabilities and thinks like a child.
She is not able to walk or use her arms, so she moves by crawling and using a wheelchair. She also gets help from her siblings.
According to court documents, the third victim was 19 years old at the time and showed a small difficulty but seemed to be more mature emotionally.
According to The Namibian, Katjombe would often focus on the sisters when their aunt had to go to Windhoek, the capital city. Their mom, who had HIV, was in the hospital there.
Their aunt would ask neighbors and other family members to watch over the siblings when she was in the city, but there were times when the siblings were on their own.
Katjombe, who lived close by, was found responsible for three acts of rape and two acts of physical assault in June.
On Friday, he was put in prison for 35 years. The Windhoek High Court heard that he caused extreme trauma and nightmares for his victims.
Katjombe, a father of three who tried to say he didn’t do anything wrong, would sometimes force his victims to watch him sexually assault someone else.
In one attack, he put a pillow on the 19-year-old’s face and then she yelled and told her little sister to bite Katjombe.
When the little girl was only eight years old, she tried to help her sibling by biting Katjombe on the back.
This made it possible for the 19-year-old to escape and run to their uncle, but Katjombe took advantage of this opportunity to run away from their home.
The young woman who cannot move easily told the court about a time when she was playing with a doll before Katjombe forced her to have sex against her will.
Katjombe’s terrible actions became known when the sisters’ family members noticed that their behavior was different.
They were very sad and would sometimes get really angry and stop eating. The eight-year-old girl refused to let anyone give her a bath.
The sisters said that Katjombe frightened them by saying he would harm them if they told anyone about what happened. However, they eventually found the courage to talk about the difficult situation they were in.
Katjombe was cleared of a charge of seriously hurting someone on purpose and three charges of scaring or threatening someone.
President Nana Akufo-Addo has categorically stated that every accusation of corruption made against individuals he has appointed to various positions has undergone thorough scrutiny and investigation, carried out by reputable entities, such as CHRAJ, the CID, and, in some cases, by Parliament itself.
Speaking at the 2023 Bar Conference of the Ghana Bar Association on Monday, 11th September 2023, in Cape Coast, he said “It is not my job to clear or convict any person accused of wrongdoing, or of engaging in acts of corruption. That is the job of the courts and the law enforcement agencies.”
The President told the gathering that “my job is to act on allegations of corruption by referring the issue or issues to the proper investigative agencies for the relevant enquiry and action, including, if necessary, the suspension of the affected official, pending the conclusion of investigations. That is exactly what has been done since I assumed the mantle of leadership on 7th January, 2017.”
He proceeded to enumerate several instances where allegations of corruption against his appointees had undergone rigorous examination by independent bodies.
These cases ranged from the accusations directed at the then Minister-Designate for Energy, Boakye Agyarko, during his parliamentary confirmation hearings in 2017, to those involving the former CEO of BOST, Hon. Alfred Obeng, the then two deputy Chiefs of Staff at the Office of the President, Hon. Francis Asenso Boakye and Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, facing conflict of interest allegations, and the claims of extortion raised against the then Trade and Industry Minister-designate, Alan Kyerematen, during his parliamentary confirmation hearings in 2017.
Additionally, there were allegations of visa racketeering against the then deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, Pius Hadzide, and the then Director General of the National Sports Authority, Hon. Robert Sarfo Mensah, who, despite being cleared by the CID, later resigned.
The Chairperson of the Board of the National Sports Authority, Hon. Kwadwo Baah Agyemang, was also implicated, as well as allegations of bribery against the Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, Charles Bissue, and cases involving the dismissed acting CEO of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), A. B Adjei, and the dismissed CEO of the National Youth Authority, Emmanuel Asigiri.
President Akufo-Addo emphasized that these allegations had all been subject to investigation and, in most instances, received clearance from the authorized institutions of the state, emphasizing that the clearance decisions were not made by him personally but by the relevant state entities.
“The latest episode involving the former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, is evident for all to see. I am not aware of any government in the 4th Republic subjecting so many of its officials to such investigations and inquiries,” he said.
At the same time, President Akufo-Addo noted that several officials of the previous Mahama administration, such as William Matthew Tetteh Tevie, Alhaji Salifu Mimina Osman and Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie, in the infamous $4 million NCA scandal, have been tried and convicted of various corruption-related offences, adding that “several others, including Dr. Stephen Opuni, the former CEO of COCOBOD, and Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader in Parliament, are standing trial as we speak.”
None of the accountability institutions of state, including the new Office of Special Prosecutor, he said, have ever indicated any pressure from the Executive over their investigations.
“There are some who refuse to accept my method of proceeding, and have characterised me as a ‘clearing agent’, because, for them, the mere allegation without more is enough to merit condemnation of the public official. For my part, I will not set aside due process in the fight against corruption, no matter how much opprobrium this incurs for me,” the President said.
I am grateful to the Bar Council for the invitation and opportunity to address this year’s Bar Conference, my seventh time of doing so as President of the Republic. I am aware that it is a privilege, which I will continue not to abuse.
Before I touch on the theme of this year’s conference, “Ensuring High Standards and Integrity in Public Life; The Role of the Legal Profession”, I want to place on record my appreciation, once again, to the Council for making me a member in permanent good-standing, i.e., one who does not have to pay dues. It is an enviable status, one which I cherish. I am also very grateful to the President and members of the Council for re-arranging today’s programme in a manner that allows me to fulfil other important engagements of the day.
It means, unfortunately, that I will not be able to enjoy the fellowship of the traditional lunch after this ceremony, which allows us all to break bread together. God willing, next year, we will resume the fellowship, as I continue to be extremely proud of my membership of this Association, which has been and continues to be, so devoted to advancing the public interest of our nation.
Learned friends, I come from a background where public service is considered a duty, and where privilege and good fortune demand even greater commitment to the common good. Generations of my forebears and relations established this rich tradition of public service, to which I am greatly indebted, as it is a source of constant inspiration.
Indeed, Kofi Abrefa Busia, Prime Minister of the Progress Party government of the 2nd Republic, and one of the great Ghanaians, said in these pregnant words: “We regard politics as an avenue of service to our fellow men. We hold that political power is to be exercised to make life nobler and happier.”
I am fully aware of the responsibility the job of President of the Republic brings, as I am fortunate enough to carry a sense of the history and struggles that made that job possible, as well as being apprised of the challenges and opportunities of the future. Crucial to the progressive and prosperous future I seek to help create for the Ghanaian people is how to sustain their confidence in the democratic journey on which we have embarked.
We celebrated, this year, 30 years of multiparty democracy under the Constitution of the 4th Republic, which has provided the framework for the longest period of uninterrupted, stable, constitutional governance in our otherwise turbulent history. Next year, we will be going to the polls, for the ninth time in the 4th Republic, to elect a new President and new Members of Parliament. We will, in the results of those polls, witness either the changing of power from one political party to another, as we have done on three separate occasions in the 4th Republic, or the breaking of the eight, something that has never happened before in the 4th Republic. I am sure I do not need to tell you what my preference is. It is public knowledge. What is important, however, is that the Ghanaian people have demonstrated that they are fully conversant with the process of peaceful democratic transitions, and need no lessons in the exercise of their democratic rights.
Maintaining high standards and integrity in public life is key to extending our association with multiparty democracy.
As one writer put it, and I quote, “Standards in public life help to maintain the health of the democratic system and uphold public confidence in it. They help prevent politicians and officials from being swayed by outside interests in their decision-making, and help to maintain a political culture that fosters open and constructive debate. They, thereby, contribute to a political system that is fair, inclusive, stable, and effective.”
The Ghanaian people are expectant that Parliament, the legislative arm of government, will continue to grow into its proper role as an effective machinery for accountability and oversight of the Executive, and not be its junior partner. Parliament must stand out as an institution that represents all the values that we hold dear and in which citizens can take pride. Our Judiciary must inspire confidence in the citizenry, so we can all see the courts as the ultimate arbiters when disputes arise. A Ghanaian judge must be a reassuring presence and the epitome of fairness.
Ensuring High Standards and Integrity in public life has its own impact on the image of our nation, and our ability to attract the substantial amounts of investment, foreign and domestic, needed to help grow our economy. We will attract the requisite investments if we continue to hold ourselves as a haven of peace, security and stability; and if we continue to show that we are a country where the separation of powers is real and the principles of democratic accountability and respect for the rule of law, individual liberties and human rights are firmly entrenched in our body politic. The legal profession has a catalytic role to play in guaranteeing the sustenance of these values, and, thereby, in helping us uphold the maintenance of integrity in the ordering of our state.
Learned friends, in recent times, the debate on standards and integrity in public life has centered, largely, on the fight against corruption, and whether or not this President and his government are doing enough to combat this canker.
It is true that corruption is not an exclusively Ghanaian phenomenon, but one which permeates all nations of the world. It results in reputational damage to businesses and establishments, and undermines the public trust in governments. The manifestations of corruption are getting increasingly complex, as they often occur with the aid of professional enablers, such as accountants, lawyers, bankers, real estate agents, shell companies and opaque financial systems that provide opportunities for the laundering and concealment of illicit wealth. If not controlled, corruption can stultify the economic aspirations of any nation. Globally, the World Economic Forum has estimated the cost of corruption around the world at some US$2.6 trillion a year.
I accepted the invitation to speak here in order to take advantage of this occasion to place, once again, my government’s record on corruption for public scrutiny. It will show that my government has undertaken, arguably, the boldest initiatives since our nation attained independence, nearly sixty-six (66) years ago, to reform and strengthen the capacity of our institutions to tackle corruption in the public sector.
Charity, they say, begins at home, and that is why, so far, every single alleged act of corruption levelled against any of my appointees has been investigated by independent bodies, such as CHRAJ, the CID, and, in some cases, by Parliament itself. It is not my job to clear or convict any person accused of wrongdoing, or of engaging in acts of corruption. That is the job of the courts and the law enforcement agencies. My job is to act on allegations of corruption by referring the issue or issues to the proper investigative agencies for the relevant enquiry and action, including, if necessary, the suspension of the affected official, pending the conclusion of investigations. That is exactly what has been done since I assumed the mantle of leadership on 7th January, 2017.
From the allegations against the then Minister-Designate for Energy, Boakye Agyarko, at his parliamentary confirmation hearings in 2017; to that against the former CEO of BOST, Hon. Alfred Obeng; to those against the then two deputy Chiefs of Staff at the Office of the President, Hon. Francis Asenso Boakye and Hon. Samuel Abu Jinapor; to the conflict of interest allegations against the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta; to the claims of extortion against the then Trade and Industry Minister-designate, Alan Kyerematen, at his parliamentary confirmation hearings in 2017; to allegations of doubling in visa racketeering against the then deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, Pius Hadzide, and the then Director General of the National Sports Authority, Hon. Robert Sarfo Mensah who, even though exonerated by the CID, later resigned; the Chairperson of the Board of the National Sports Authority, Hon. Kwadwo Baah Agyemang ; to the allegations of bribery levelled against the Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, Charles Bissue; to those involving the dismissed acting CEO of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), A. B Adjei; and the dismissed CEO of the National Youth Authority, Emmanuel Asigiri – they have all been investigated and, in most cases, cleared by the authorised institutions of our state, and not by President Akufo-Addo. The latest episode involving the former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Hon. Cecilia Abena Dapaah, is evident for all to see. I am not aware of any government in the 4th Republic subjecting so many of its officials to such investigations and inquiries. At the same time, several officials of the previous Mahama administration, such as William Matthew Tetteh Tevie, Alhaji Salifu Mimina Osman and Eugene Baffoe-Bonnie, in the infamous $4 million NCA scandal, have been tried and convicted of various corruption-related offences, and several others, including Dr. Stephen Opuni, the former CEO of COCOBOD, and Hon. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minority Leader in Parliament, are standing trial as we speak.
None of the accountability institutions of state, including the new Office of Special Prosecutor, have ever indicated any pressure from the Executive over their investigations. There are some who refuse to accept my method of proceeding and have characterised me as a ‘clearing agent’, because, for them, the mere allegation without more is enough to merit condemnation of the public official. For my part, I will not set aside due process in the fight against corruption, no matter how much opprobrium this incurs for me.
With a clear understanding that corruption thrives in an atmosphere conducive to its concealment, and that access to information is a vital tool in the fight against corruption, my government, in its first term, ensured the passage of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), in order to give true meaning and effect to article 21(1)(f) of the Constitution. The Act, which successive governments had failed to pass, sees to the implementation of the constitutional right to information, held by a public institution, to foster a culture of transparency and accountability in public affairs, subject to exemptions necessary and consistent with the protection of the public interest in a democratic society. The Act is being implemented fully now, with the governing Board chaired by an experienced, retired High Court Judge. The Ministry of Information has trained information officers in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government to support the full application of the law.
In 2018, again during my 1st term, Parliament passed the Witness Protection Act, 2018, (Act 975), to which I gave assent on 24th August the same year. The Act established a Witness Protection Agency to establish a witness protection scheme as a vehicle for offering protection to persons, who are required to co-operate with law enforcement agencies as witnesses in the investigation and prosecution of cases, particularly corruption cases affecting public officers.
The Criminal Offences (Amendment) Act, 2020, (Act 1034), has been passed to amend section 239 of the Criminal Offences Act, to categorise the offence of corruption, previously a misdemeanour, as a felony, and to provide stiffer punishments of terms of imprisonment of not less than twelve (12) years and not more than twenty-five (25) years in prison.
Other laws passed by Parliament, at the instigation of my administration, and which have enhanced significantly the capacity of the State in the fight against corruption, are the:
Administratively, a series of other far-reaching measures have been undertaken by my government to help in the fight against corruption. A Memorandum of Understanding, on information exchange and collaboration in combating corruption and crime in general, has been signed by CHRAJ, EOCO, Parliament, Office of the Attorney-General, Ghana Audit Service, Ghana Police Service, Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), Narcotics Control Commission, Internal Audit Agency, National Investigations Bureau (NIB), and the Office of the Special Prosecutor, to this end.
Underlying the digitalisation agenda of my government, which comprises a robust national identification system, digital property address system, paperless port system, e-justice system, pensions and insurance data, a digitised land registry, and mobile money interoperability system, is the overarching objective to improve transparency, accountability and efficiency in the public sector. A digitised environment, ultimately, helps to eliminate and prevent corruption in various institutions and agencies. The passport office, ports and harbours, Registrar-General’s Department, National Health Insurance Service, Driver Vehicle and Licensing Authority, which, hitherto, were fertile grounds for corrupt activity, are being transformed beyond recognition. The introduction of the Ghana.Gov platform has significantly reduced the risk of public sector corruption through embezzlement, making it possible for services to be accessed and payments made online by card or mobile money, with a considerable reduction in the conduit of middlemen or ‘goro boys’.
It is also an undeniable fact that budgetary allocations for institutions actively engaged in public sector accountability, i.e., the Office of the Auditor-General, the Judiciary, Parliament, the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Ghana Police Service, the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO), and the Financial Intelligence Centre, have witnessed unprecedented increases since I assumed office in 2017. At the end of 2022, the budgetary allocation to Parliament witnessed a one hundred percent (100%) increase, compared to what I inherited in 2016; the Police saw its budget increase by two hundred and seventy-four percent (274%) at the end of 2022, in comparison to 2016; the Audit Service recorded a two hundred and fifty-eight percent (258%) rise in its budgetary allocation at the end of 2022, as compared to 2016; the budget of the Judiciary rose by thirty-six percent (36%) at the end of 2022, compared to 2016; the budget of the Office of the Attorney-General increased by one hundred and sixty-two percent (162%) at the end of 2022, compared to 2016; the budget of EOCO increased by forty-seven percent (47%) at the end of 2022, in comparison to 2016; the budget of the Financial Intelligence Centre increased by four hundred and forty-three percent (443%), compared to 2016; whilst the budget of CHRAJ increased by ninety-nine percent (99%) at the end of 2022, compared to 2016. These figures reflect my resolve to ensure that institutions of state of relevance in the anti-corruption agendum are properly equipped to discharge satisfactorily the mandate of their offices.
In the area of investigations and prosecution of corruption and corruption related offences, a distinct innovation was undertaken by my administration in 2017, with the decision to set up an Office of Special Prosecutor, through the passage of the Office of Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959). The establishment of the Office of Special Prosecutor represents the most courageous measure by any government in the 4th Republic, to prosecute corruption in the executive arm of government. The monopoly of prosecutorial authority by an Attorney-General, hired or fired by a President, had been identified by some as a key factor allegedly standing in the way of law enforcement and prosecution as a credible tool in the fight against corruption before 2017. Even though the President appoints the Special Prosecutor, the President cannot, unilaterally, unlike in the case of the Attorney General, remove the Special Prosecutor from office. Article 15 of Act 959 vests the power to remove the Special Prosecutor in a Committee established by the Chief Justice, with the President acting only in accordance with the recommendations of the Committee. His or her independence of the President is, thereby, assured.
Learned friends, in as much as public officials are required to declare their assets upon taking office, as a tool of fighting corruption, a constitutional requirement which has been fulfilled by virtually all officials of both my administrations, I am, however, of the candid opinion that existing legislation on corruption, relating to the conduct of public officers in Ghana, appears to be inadequate to deal extensively with public office accountability. The need to lay down a set of far-reaching and a more fit for purpose set of regulations for the conduct of public officers, which will give effect to the provisions of Chapter 24 of the Constitution on Conduct of Public Officers, is, in my view, now self-evident.
The Attorney-General, on behalf of Government, is leading the effort to enact a law on the Conduct of Public Officers. He has undertaken various stakeholder consultations with a number of public sector organisations, civil society and other interest groups to this end. When passed into law, the Conduct of Public Officers Act will follow the example of legislations in other jurisdictions like the United States Ethics in Government Act of 1978, the Public Officers Ethics Act of Kenya of 2003, and the U.K. Constitutional and Governance Act of 2010, in addressing issues regarding financial portfolios held by public officers before assuming public office, links to family business, improper enrichment, care of public property, professional practices, property, investments/shareholdings and other assets, self-dealing, partiality in the performance of duties, use of public or confidential information to further private interest, amongst others.
The Bill will provide a gamut of stringent administrative measures and sanctions to deal with violations of the law, ranging from a bar against holding public office for limited and indefinite periods, to penal measures. The Bill will also seek to strengthen the role of CHRAJ in the investigation of allegations of contravention of or non-compliance with the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, including conflict of interest, non-declaration of assets, and illicit enrichment. The Attorney General will bring the Bill soon for the consideration of Cabinet and subsequent enactment by Parliament, upon the conclusion of his consultations.
What I have done is to show you that my government has fought and is fighting corruption not just in high-sounding words, but, actually, in concrete deeds. We have shunned mere exhortations and showy denunciations of unproved corruption. It has been a holistic approach. We have made institutional reforms, we have enacted additional, requisite laws, and we have resourced more adequately the accountability organs of state. Our fight against corruption has been grounded on legislative, financial and institutional action, and not on mere lip-service.
I can assure you that the fight to enhance standards and integrity in public life will continue under the Akufo-Addo Government. We will enforce the law, no matter who is affected because it is a necessary foundation for the successful fight against corruption, and for guaranteeing integrity in public life. The law must truly be no respecter of persons.
Learned friends, I know that, in some common law countries, particularly in the United States of America, the political colour of judges is a legitimate topic of public discourse. Indeed, judges at the District and State levels, within the federal structure of the American Government, are elected officials, and, even though judges at the federal level, including those of the Federal Court of Appeals and the US Supreme Court, are appointed by the President, with the consent of the Senate, their political colouring is generally well-known and accepted. Historically, this has not been the case in Ghana, largely because of the critical, controlling role of the Judicial Council, a non-partisan body chaired by the Chief Justice, in the process of judicial appointments. It has meant that judicial appointments are conducted essentially on the basis of professional merit and suitability. Appointments to the lower courts, the High Court and the Court of Appeal are done by the President, exclusively on the advice of the Judicial Council. In the case of appointments to the Supreme Court, because of its unique position in our judicial structure, there are the additional requirements of the consultation of the Council of State and the approval of Parliament. In the overwhelming number of cases of justices-designate to the Supreme Court, that approval has been given on a bi-partisan basis. You can count on the fingers of a hand the number of justices-designate whose approval met less than unanimous consent. I have gone into this matter in some detail because of a new concept that has been recently introduced into our public discourse by no less a public figure than the 4th President of the 4th Republic, the perennial NDC presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama, who has told the world that I have packed the courts with so-called “NPP judges”, and that one of the key purposes of a putative NDC victory in 2024 will be to enable him balance the courts with so-called “NDC judges”. Not only are these concepts of “NPP” and “NDC” judges new in our public discourse, they are also extremely dangerous, and represent the most brazen attack on the independence of the judiciary by any allegedly responsible politician of the 4th Republic. They provide another reason, if more were needed, why right-thinking citizens should ensure the defeat in 2024 of the man whom the first Special Prosecutor identified as Government Official No.1, in the still unresolved Airbus Bribery Scandal.
I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute my thoughts to this important conversation, and to the deliberations on the theme of this Conference, and I wish you a successful meeting.
May God continue to bless the Ghana Bar Association, and us all, and may God bless our homeland Ghana, and make her great and strong.
According to what is known, the event occurred at the weekend in Bordeaux after Ireland’s World Cup match against Romania.
Irish police, the Garda, said its personnel helping Irish fans at the Rugby World Cup in France “are liaising with local authorities in relation to an alleged incident.”
It also stated that French police should handle the situation.
The Bordeaux public prosecutor’s office reported that forensic investigations are ongoing and that video surveillance camera photographs from the scene are being examined.
Chris Heaton-Harris was talking after having discussions with the Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) during the introduction of a new £858m funding plan.
The Peace Plus initiative will give money for projects in Northern Ireland and the counties along the border.
At the meeting in Belfast, Mr Heaton-Harris and Mr Varadkar talked about bringing back power-sharing.
The government of Northern Ireland stopped working last year because the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) left in protest against trade barriers after Brexit.
The DUP has said that they believe the Windsor Framework deal, made between the EU and UK Government earlier this year to change the Northern Ireland Protocol, doesn’t do enough to solve their worries.
‘Down in Dublin’ can be rephrased as ‘In Dublin’. In August, Mr Varadkar said that if the Stormont institutions were not restored, they would need to have discussions about an alternative plan.
Last week, he said he believed he would see a united Ireland during his lifetime.
Mr Heaton-Harris said again that discussions to resolve issues with the DUP were moving forward and seemed to express disapproval of Mr.
He said: “The leader has a lot of local politics to deal with, but sometimes unhelpful remarks in Dublin have an impact on the unionist community up here. “
I want a very clear plan to get the boss started quickly.
I want to make sure that the executive is working as quickly as possible.
“He said that discussing a backup plan is not useful because we should focus on getting the executive functioning again, regardless of the situation. “ ‘Snail’s pace’ means moving very slowly, like a snail.
Last week, Mr. Heaton-Harris informed MPs that discussions to bring back Stormont had made significant progress.
When asked about this evaluation, Mr. Varadkar said that he thinks it is progressing very slowly, like a snail.
He said, “I told the secretary of state that there will be a time when we can’t wait any longer and we need to discuss other plans that follow the Good Friday Agreement. “
Mr Varadkar said he will get a chance to talk with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak about this in October.
He said that the idea of both the UK and Irish governments sharing power is not allowed in the Good Friday Agreement. Chris Heaton-Harris and Leo Varadkar had a brief meeting for around 15 minutes. They met in a separate room away from the main event on Monday.
Their separate press conferences showed that the men disagree greatly on the important problems they need to solve.
Chris Heaton-Harris said that discussions in Stormont progressed a lot, but Leo Varadkar said that if there is any progress at all, it is very slow.
If Stormont doesn’t come back, Mr. Varadkar said we can’t wait forever. We will need to come up with different plans.
Mr Heaton-Harris said that discussing a backup plan is not useful.
Mr Varadkar said he requested the UK government to stop the bill, but Mr. Heaton-Harris said no request to stop was made.
What started as a day focused on working together between different countries has turned into another argument about the politics of Northern Ireland.
What does the Peace Plus plan mean.
The politicians came together in Belfast to start a plan that will bring money and support to Northern Ireland. This plan focuses on six important areas to help the economy, society, and environment in Northern Ireland keep growing.
The UK government is giving £730m to Peace Plus.
MrVaradkar mentioned that it would have a significant impact on people’s lives. Some famous projects are the Peace Bridge over the River Foyle and the redevelopment of the Girdwood Barracks in north Belfast.
The current plan replaced a peace plan that was used before Brexit and had been in place since 1995. This rule is for Northern Ireland and the border areas of the Republic of Ireland, specifically Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan, Monaghan, and Louth.
This is the next program after Peace IV. It helps kids and young people by promoting shared education, shared spaces, and positive relationships in the community.
‘People were worried. ‘
A few people who support victims showed up at the event to oppose the UK government’s disputed legacy bill.
This week, it is expected to finally be approved in the House of Lords, even though political parties and victims’ group are against it.
Protesters carried signs asking the Irish government to step in and stop the bill from becoming law.
It stops new investigations and court cases from the Troubles era and gives forgiveness under certain conditions to people accused of committing murders. The government of Ireland had said that it may decide to sue the United Kingdom because of the new law.
On Monday, Mr. Varadkar said that a decision on an interstate legal case has not been made yet.
“He said that we need to get advice from the attorney general before we decide anything. We should be getting that advice in a few weeks. “
MrHeaton-Harris said that the Irish government expressed worries about the proposed law.
He said that the Irish government is not happy with the bill, but he thinks the bill is a sincere and genuine effort to provide information for families.
Some of the things you could do at the event were listen to bagpipe music, watch people dance, shop at a market with many different things to buy, and eat a big Scottish breakfast.
According to a South Korean government official, Mr Kim’s special train for international trips seems to have left Pyongyang.
The two leaders are going to meet on Tuesday, most likely.
The government of Russia, known as the Kremlin, has stated that Mr. Kim will be visiting their country soon.
If the meeting with Mr. Putin happens, it will be the first time the North Korean leader goes on a trip abroad in over four years, and the first time since the pandemic.
The two leaders will probably talk about North Korea giving weapons to Russia to help with its war in Ukraine, said a US official to CBS, the BBC’s US partner.
Mr Kim traveled to Vladivostok in 2019 for his first meeting with Mr. This happened after North Korea’s talks about getting rid of nuclear weapons with former US President Donald Trump didn’t work out.
There are rumors that this car has 20 bulletproof cars. Because of this, it weighs more than regular trains and can’t go faster than 59 km/h (37 mph). He is going to Vladivostok and it will take him a whole day to get there.
There might be a meeting happening soon because the White House said they have new information that the discussions about weapons between the two countries are making progress.
The spokesman for the National Security Council, John Kirby, said that Russia’s Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, recently visited North Korea and tried to convince them to sell artillery ammunition to Russia. The meeting happens when Russia and North Korea have things that the other country desires.
“He told the BBC that the important thing now is for both sides to agree on prices that they are willing to pay for each other’s help. ”
Russia will probably request North Korea for regular weapons such as artillery shells and rocket artillery ammunition. In return, they will offer food and raw materials, as well as ongoing support at international gatherings like the United Nations.
He said that this could mean that North Korea might give more advanced weapons to Russia so that Moscow can keep and replace its own supplies of regular weapons.
Experts believe Russia might require 122mm and 152mm shells because they are running low on supplies. However, it is challenging to determine the complete artillery inventory of North Korea due to its secretive behavior.
During the meeting in July, Mr Kim and Mr Shoigu showed off some weapons. One of them was the Hwasong missile, which is believed to be North Korea’s first missile with solid fuel.
Mr Kim opened the country to foreign guests for the first time since the Covid pandemic.
The annual Ghana Bar Conference is under scrutiny for allegedly being used as a political campaign platform.
Edudzi Kudzo Tameklo, the Director of Legal Affairs of the NDC has accused it of becoming a tool for the NPP to campaign against John Mahama in the lead-up to the 2024 elections.
This controversy arises from President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo‘s speech at the 2023 Ghana Bar Association Annual Conference in Cape Coast on Monday, September 11, 2023.
During his address, President Akufo-Addo appeared to target former President John Dramani Mahama, who had previously declared, ‘I’m not going to be a clearing agent president.’
President Akufo-Addo, in response to allegations of clearing his appointees accused of corruption without due process, stressed that his government’s anti-corruption initiatives have established an unprecedented standard in Ghana’s history since gaining independence.
The President clarified, stating, “Every single alleged act of corruption leveled against any of my appointees has been investigated by independent bodies such as CHRAJ (Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice) and CID. It is not my role to clear or convict any person accused of wrongdoing or engaging in acts of corruption; that is the responsibility of the courts and law enforcement agencies.”
He further clarified that his responsibility involved addressing corruption allegations by directing them to the relevant investigative agencies, which might involve suspending the accused official pending the investigation’s outcome.
In response to President Akufo-Addo’s speech, Edudzi Kudzo Tameklo expressed his criticism on Facebook.
“The Ghana Bar Conference has become a dubious campaign platform for the NPP to campaign against John Mahama in the 2024 election. The evidence is that Akufo Addo, at the Conference, urged voters to vote against John Mahama,” he wrote.
The leader of Sudan’s military, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, went to Asmara, the capital of Eritrea, to have a formal meeting with President Isaias Afwerki.
A statement from a government source said that the two leaders will talk about issues between their two countries, the situation in Sudan, and things that both countries are interested in. However, no additional information was provided.
On 2 September, he said that Sudan’s border crossings with Eritrea would be opened again. This is so that it would be easier for people and goods to move between the two countries.
A cricketer from Pakistan who used to play for the national team has been sentenced to 12 years in prison in the Netherlands. He threatened a politician named Geert Wilders, who is known for his far-right views.
This situation involved a video that was shared on the internet in 2018. In the video, Khalid Latif offered a large sum of money, 21,000 euros or £18,000, to anyone who would harm or cause the death of a politician.
That happened when Mr. Wilders said things about the Prophet Muhammad that upset Muslims.
It is not expected that Latif will spend any time in prison.
He currently stays in Pakistan, and Pakistan has no agreement with the Netherlands to send him back.
The Dutch government has been trying to talk to Latif for many years, but Pakistan has not given them any assistance.
On Monday, the court decided that it wasn’t far-fetched to believe that someone from anywhere in the world would have listened to the call to harm Mr.
The top judge, G Verbeek, stated that his remarks were not only criticizing Mr. Wilders personally, but also criticizing the freedom to speak freely.
Latif did not make a comment right away after the decision.
He put the video on the internet in 2018 when Mr. Wilder said he would have a contest for drawings of Muhammad.
In Islam, it is not allowed to have pictures of the Prophet because it is seen as worshiping idols. Caricatures of the Prophet are especially disrespectful. Mr Wilders, who is famous for speaking against Islam, changed his stance when there were big protests in Pakistan and he got many death threats.
The 60-year-old person is used to being involved in actions or statements that cause disagreement or argument. In 2020, he was found not guilty of causing hate and unfair treatment but was found guilty of insulting a specific racial group.
Mr Wilders was found guilty of similar accusations in 2016.
In a message on X (formerly Twitter) after the court’s decision on Monday, he asked Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and the country’s justice minister to push the Pakistani authorities strongly to arrest and send Latif back to the Netherlands.
The old cricket player has not played the game since 2017 because he was punished with a five-year ban for being involved in an illegal betting scheme.
Sara Sharif’s grandfather told the BBC that five children who went from the UK to Pakistan with Sara’s father have been taken away from his house, where they were hiding.
The people next door said that many police officers searched the house on Monday.
A 10-year-old girl was found dead in her family’s house in Woking on August 10th. Her father and his partner had left the country the day before.
The tests after Sara’s death showed that she had many severe injuries.
Sara’s grandfather, Muhammad Sharif, said that he hid the children in his home in a city called Jhelum in the north-eastern part of the country. However, he didn’t mention for how long the children stayed there.
On Monday, a little before 4:30 PM local time (11:30 AM GMT), the BBC was informed by neighbors that the police had come to search the house.
People who saw what happened said to the BBC that many police officers gathered outside the building, made the cars stop and didn’t let anyone record videos with their phones.
Mr Sharif said that the police took all five children away.
He said that the officers broke his home’s cameras and gates. He had previously said many times that he didn’t talk to his son or know where the family was.
The police said they have the kids. Sara’s dad, stepmom, and Uncle Faisal Malik were not there with them.
A person who lives nearby told the BBC that the police, including female police officers, went into the house with force. They broke the security camera at the door and went inside. While inside, additional police officers came outside and halted the flow of vehicles. They prevented people from using their mobile phones to film.
On Friday, Muhammad Sharif told the BBC that he had told his son Urfan Sharif to give himself up to the police two or three days ago.
He and his family say that the police have bothered them, held some of them without a reason, and searched their houses without permission. Muhammad Sharif also claimed that the police made up false charges against them to make things even more difficult.
As soon as people heard about the earthquake in Morocco on Friday, many countries offered to help. But the country has only accepted certain things so far.
The interior ministry of Morocco said on Sunday that they have received support from friendly countries such as Spain, Qatar, the UK, and the United Arab Emirates during this phase.
Spain has sent a group of people to search for and rescue others, along with dogs trained to sniff out people. The UK has also sent a similar group. However, some people are wondering why Morocco has been taking a long time to accept help from other countries.
French aid is ready to help, but the leader of a rescue charity called Secouristes sans Frontieres said their workers have not yet been given permission by the Moroccan government, according to the AFP news agency.
Algeria had stopped being friends with its neighboring country in North Africa two years ago. Now, Algeria is saying that it might send 80 rescue workers who are really skilled at saving people’s lives to help. These rescue workers are part of Algeria’s civil protection force.
There have been offers from different countries like the US, Tunisia, Turkey, and Taiwan.
However, the decision on which aid to accept is being complicated by concerns regarding a country’s control of its own affairs and international relationships.
France and Morocco have a tense relationship because French President Emmanuel Macron is trying to form a closer bond with Algeria, which has created a divide between the two countries.
But the French government is trying to make it seem like they were not ignored.
Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said that this controversy is not correctly focused or directed.
We are prepared to assist Morocco. “It’s a choice that belongs to Morocco, and they have the power to decide,” she stated.
Morocco wants to stay in charge and doesn’t want to take the chance of having many countries and organizations getting involved, which could lead to a messy situation.
“Officials there have said that not working together in these situations would be unhelpful. ”
However, Maati Mounjib, a government critic and activist, believes that this is not the right way to respond when urgent assistance is required, particularly in distant regions.
I believe that it is a mistake to strongly emphasize the importance of a country’s independence and patriotism. This is not the time to say no because the help is important, even rich countries accept outside help in disasters, he told the BBC’s Newsday program.
Hossam Elsharkawi, who is in charge of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in the Middle East and North Africa region, did not want to say negative things about the Moroccan authorities during this tough period. However, he believes that additional assistance from other countries will be necessary.
The group is giving money to the local Red Crescent branch. The IFRC also has special teams ready to go to the country.
We have been doing this for 30 years and know exactly what to do. They will require support from other countries.
“The local team has been doing a great job so far, but they are tired by the third day and they will need more assistance,” Mr. Elsharkawi stated
The shipping minister of Greece has quit his job because of things he said on TV after a man died. People say the man was thrown off a boat by the crew.
Miltiadis Varvitsiotis said that his comments, where he seemed to support the crew of the ferry, have been misunderstood.
The captain of the ship and three workers are being accused of committing a crime that led to a person’s death at the port of Piraeus in Athens.
The event has made people in Greece very angry.
A video on social media showed a 36-year-old passenger, Antonis Kargiotis, running onto the loading ramp of the Blue Horizon ferry. The ferry was getting ready to leave from Athens to go to Crete.
Some of the people working on the ramp tried to physically prevent Mr. Kargiotis from getting on the plane. The video next shows him appearing to be pushed into the ocean.
The ferry left on time but had to come back when the authorities told it to. The body of the man was found in the water afterwards.
Last week, Mr. Varvitsiotis said on Greek TV that the families of people who went to work for money and are now being blamed for murder are also grieving.
He received a lot of criticism for his comments. The Greek newspaper Ekathimerini said that Mr. Varvitsiotis’ statement was completely wrong and very unfortunate.
On Monday, Mr. Varvitsiotis wrote on a social media platform called X (previously known as Twitter) that Mr. Kargiotis’ death had surprised everyone.
But he also said that people had started attacking him in a very harmful way after they misunderstood his statement.
He said that he did not compare the victim to the people who did the bad thing. “He said that he does not agree with being judged harshly as a person. “
Last week, the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, expressed on Facebook that he was extremely disturbed and shocked by the unimaginable fate that one of our fellow citizens suffered. It is something that our minds cannot fully grasp.
Mr Mitsotakis stated that the death happened because of a mix of not being responsible, having a negative attitude, and not caring about others. He promised that the government will fulfill its obligation.
The person in charge of the ferry and three people who work on the ferry went to see a lawyer on September 6th, the day after the man died.
The captain is being charged with a serious crime for interfering with the safety of ships at sea, and the crew member who supposedly pushed someone could be charged with causing their death on purpose.
According to the AFP news agency, the other two crew members are being legally accused of being involved in the accidental killing of someone.
Attica Group, the owner of Blue Star Ferries, said that they were very saddened by the terrible event and promised to work together with the authorities.
At least 150 people have lost their lives due to a strong storm that caused serious flooding in eastern Libya, according to an official.
Storm Daniel arrived in the North African country recently, causing the government to declare a state of extreme emergency. Last week, it caused the death of twelve individuals in Europe.
Seven soldiers from the Libyan army are currently missing while trying to save people.
Authorities in the eastern part of Libya have set a rule that everyone must stay indoors during a specific time, and they have also told schools and stores to shut down.
At least 150 people died because of heavy rains and flooding caused by storm Daniel. These deaths occurred in Derna, the Jabal al-Akhdar region, and the suburbs of Al-Marj. This information was shared by Mohamed Massoud, a spokesperson for the Benghazi-based administration in Libya, with the French news agency AFP.
The storm named Daniel has caused problems in the cities of Benghazi and Sousse in the east. It has also affected Derna and Al-Marj.
The city of Misrata in the west also experienced the floods.
There are videos of the storm going around online, but we’re not sure if they’re true. One of the videos shows a lot of floodwater taking a man away. Other videos show drivers stuck on the tops of their cars.
In addition to schools and stores, four big oil ports shut down due to the storm.
The leader of the rival government in Tripoli, Abdulhamid Dbeiba, said he has told government agencies to quickly address the damage and floods caused by the storm. The United Nations in Libya is closely monitoring the situation and will help with relief efforts at the local and national level.
Since 2014, after the death of its long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been split into two different governments that are competing for power.
Last week, a strong storm named Daniel hit Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria, causing the death of over twelve individuals.
It will arrive in western Egypt on Monday.
Climate scientists are saying that because of global warming, there will be more water evaporating in the summer, which will cause stronger storms.
Ghanaian music group, Asakaa Boys rocked Paris during their Europe tour. The sold-out event at New Morning Paris was a collaboration with Tieme Music.
Asakaa Boys, known for their unique blend of Ghanaian drill music and storytelling, delivered an electrifying global performance. Fans from all walks of life gathered in Paris to witness their unmatched energy and talent.
Tieme Music, founded in 2022 by Franck Osei-Mensah and managed by Charlène Osei-Mensah, played a vital role in making this unforgettable evening happen.
Tieme offers a wide range of music services, including publishing, distribution, and label support. Their meticulous planning and dedication ensured the event’s success.
This milestone not only highlights Asakaa Boys’ immense talent but also demonstrates the power of international collaborations in the music industry.
The sold-out show in Paris proves the universal appeal of their music, transcending borders and resonating with audiences worldwide. Guest performances by French rappers Le Juiice and Rapi Sati added an exciting cultural exchange to the event.
The sold-out Paris performance by Asakaa Boys is a testament to their global music success and Tieme Music’s collaborative spirit. It marks a pivotal moment in their illustrious career, leaving an enduring impact on the music scene.
Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris recently talked with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar about bringing back Stormont. This discussion happened during the introduction of a new financial support program for Northern Ireland.
Mr Heaton-Harris had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Ireland in Belfast on Monday at the Peace Plus event.
The plan, which is paid for by the UK, Ireland, and the EU, will provide £858m for Northern Ireland and the counties near the border.
The money will be given to people from 2021 to 2027.
The money news is happening when Northern Ireland doesn’t have a working government.
It fell apart last year when the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) pulled out because they were mad about the trade rules between Northern Ireland and Great Britain after Brexit.
The DUP has stated that they do not think the Windsor Framework deal, formed between the European Union and the UK Government to improve the Northern Ireland Protocol, adequately tackles their worries.
“A clear answer”
Mr Varadkar and Mr Heaton-Harris quickly talked about the ongoing deadlock in Stormont. Meanwhile, Maros Šefčovič, the chief negotiator for the EU, stated to journalists at the event that the framework offered a final solution to all unresolved matters.
Mr Šefčovič said that both the UK government and the European Union know that they have reached their limits.
The UK government is giving £730 million to the Peace Plus scheme.
Jayne Brady, who is in charge of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, and Paschal Donohoe, who is the Irish Public Expenditure Minister, are also present at the event. Leo Varadkar, who is the Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister), is in Belfast on Monday to announce some money that will be given.
Mr Varadkar was supposed to express Dublin’s worries about the UK government’s contentious Legacy Bill when he met with Mr.
It will pass its final stage in the House of Lords this week, even though political parties and victims’ groups in Northern Ireland are against it.
The Irish government has said that it might take the UK to court over the law.
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, called it a massacre and said that over 60 people were injured in the attack.
People living nearby say that a military plane attacked the Qouro market in the south of Khartoum on Sunday.
The military groups that don’t like each other have been fighting since April.
On Sunday, Marie Burton, who coordinates emergency operations for MSF, said that Khartoum has been engaged in a conflict for nearly six months.
However, the people who are helping at Bashair hospital are extremely surprised and feeling swamped with the immense amount of terrible events that happened in the city on Sunday, according to a statement made by her on X, which was previously known as Twitter.
MSF stated that there were new weapons available called “explosive weapons”. They also mentioned that bombings and attacks were still happening, causing a lot of suffering and loss of life.
We are attempting to help those who have lost body parts in the explosion stay alive. MSF said it was a terrible massacre.
Loretta Charles, a medical worker with MSF at the Bashair Teaching Hospital in Khartoum, mentioned that she provided treatment to individuals who had been injured by explosions.
She said that we had severe injuries where body parts were cut off and there were also injuries to the head, chest, and abdomen.
Some people think that around 50 people were killed in the attack.
Sudan started a civil war in April because the army chief and the commander of the paramilitary forces had a disagreement.
Approximately five million people have had to leave their homes forcefully, and thousands of people have died. The fighting in Khartoum and the western part of Darfur has been very bad.
The RSF has a lot of power in Khartoum, Omdurman, and Bahri.
The army has been dropping bombs from planes multiple times to try and take back the cities.
According to activists, a bomb attack from an airplane caused the death of at least 20 individuals, including two kids, around a week ago.
The United States, Saudi Arabia, and other countries have been attempting to help stop the conflict, but they have not been successful.
Many times, there have been announcements of stopping the fighting so that people can run away from it. However, these announcements were not followed and the fighting continued.
Ethiopia has been arguing with Egypt and Sudan about the mega project since it started in 2011. Egypt gets almost all of its water from the Nile River.
Egypt’s foreign ministry stated that Ethiopia was not considering the concerns of the countries downstream.
Ethiopia claims that the $4. 2 billion (£34 billion) dam won’t reduce their portion of Nile water.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on X, which is formerly known as Twitter, that he is very happy to announce that the fourth and final filling of the Renaissance Dam has been successfully completed.
He said the project had problems from inside and outside, but “we managed to handle everything. ” The dam started making electricity in February 2022.
Ethiopia thinks that the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) will make twice the amount of electricity that the country currently produces. This will help the country develop and improve as almost half of its 127 million people do not have access to electricity.
The goal is to produce over 6,000 MW of electricity at the dam, which is located about 30km (19 miles) away from Ethiopia’s border with Sudan.
Egypt and Sudan are having a disagreement about the rules for how Gerd should work. They are worried that Ethiopia, who needs a lot of energy, could make their water shortages even worse.
Talks about the project started again last month. They had been stopped in 2021.
The country of Sudan, which is currently facing conflict between two armies, did not respond immediately to the announcement made by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Sunday.
The Egyptian foreign ministry wrote on Facebook that Ethiopia filling the reservoir on its own is against the agreement signed by the three countries in 2015. They also said that Ethiopia’s action is illegal.
“The statement said that the three countries must agree on the rules for filling and operating the Gerd before they can start filling it. ”
“Ethiopia’s actions ignore the concerns and rights of the countries downstream. This goes against international law, which promises them water security. ”
Fifty years ago today, the presidential palace of Chile, called La Moneda, was bombed. This was done during a military coup to remove the country’s president, Salvador Allende, who was elected by the people and believed in socialist ideas.
On September 11, 1973, President Allende died and a group of military leaders took control.
After General Augusto Pinochet took control for 17 years, about 40,000 people were captured, tortured, or made to vanish. More than 3,200 people were put to death.
“These walls have seen terrible things and a cruel and controlling history that we remember and will always remember,” President Gabriel Boric said from the balcony of La Moneda in March 2022 after he became the youngest president of Chile at only 36 years old. The young and forward-thinking group in his cabinet made a commitment to deal with and resolve the human rights abuses that occurred during Gen Pinochet’s rule.
Before today’s anniversary, his government that supports left-wing ideas started a program called the National Search Plan. This program is the first of its kind, supported by the government, and its purpose is to find out what happened to 1,469 people who went missing during military rule many years ago and are still missing to this day.
It is believed that the state killed them, but their bodies were never discovered.
The government spokesperson, Camila Vallejo, who leads the Ministry General Secretariat in Chile, explains that the plan aims to support the families of missing people. The goal is to relieve them from the burden of searching for their loved ones or finding the truth on their own.
The project will have a specific amount of money set aside for it and a team of people who will investigate it. Family members of missing persons may be eligible to receive compensation.
The National Search Plan aims to do two things: first, to find the people who were forcibly taken away, and second, to understand how and why they disappeared, so that the families who have been desperate for answers can finally get justice. Despite democracy being brought back in 1990, the influence and presence of Gen Pinochet still affect Chile.
Pinochet was in charge of the army until 1998. Afterwards, he became a senator-for-life, a position he made for himself in the constitution he forced upon the people in 1980. As a senator, he couldn’t be charged with a crime in Chile.
However, in 1998, when he went to London, he was confined to his house by the authorities because Spanish lawyers were attempting to send him back to Spain to be tried for torture.
In 2000, Jack Straw, the person who was in charge of the home affairs in Britain, allowed General Pinochet to go back to Chile because of his health.
The boss passed away in 2006 at the age of 91 without ever going to jail.
Chile’s current government, many of whom started their political careers by rallying against Gen Pinochet’s conservative neoliberal regime, promises to hold accountable those responsible for committing crimes during military rule.
The highest court in Chile informed the BBC that the country’s legal system is currently examining over 2,000 situations where the rights of individuals were violated by government officials during the time of military rule.
However, a lot of people who have been hurt and their families are saying that things have been moving too slowly and not getting results.
Many ex-army officers have passed away in their later years without ever being taken to court. Some people were sent to nice prisons that had their own rooms, tennis courts, and BBQ areas.
The President of Chile, Gabriel Boric, talks to Alicia Lira, the President of the Association of Relatives of the Detained and Disappeared of Chile, during a march to remember the 50th anniversary of the military takeover by General Augusto Pinochet against President Salvador Allende. This happened in Santiago, Chile, on September 10, 2023.
President Gabriel Boric walked with family members of the missing people in a special march on the day before the anniversary.
Minister Vallejo agrees that the progress made so far happened because of the efforts of human rights groups and the families of victims, not the government.
She says she knows why victims’ families don’t trust Chile’s institutions because some of them have not done a good job with investigations.
Earlier this year, it was discovered that 89 boxes with evidence from the time when the dictatorship was in power were left in a university basement for 20 years. The boxes were neglected and exposed to mold and dampness, which caused damage to them.
Camila Vallejo said to the BBC that the police, a team of scientists who study evidence, and courts would all help with the National Search Plan.
She said that it would become a “long-term rule” so that it would keep going even if the government changed. Camila Vallejo says that families who have been affected by wrongdoing have been leading the way in seeking justice.
She also said that the families of the missing people will not only be there during the process but also keep an eye on it.
Before the anniversary, President Boric met with all the former presidents of Chile who are still alive. They came together to sign an official statement that expressed their disapproval of Gen Pinochet’s dictatorship.
Some people, including Sebastian Piñera, who used to be a conservative leader, signed the agreement. Sebastian Piñera didn’t agree with the UK arresting Augusto Pinochet, and his brother used to work for Pinochet as a minister.
However, even though Mr. Piñera has supported it, some people in Chile’s right-wing political spectrum have criticized the document because they still support the deceased dictator.
Members of Mr. Piñera’s political party, National Renewal, are upset and unhappy with the former president’s endorsement of the declaration.
Senator Manuel José Ossandón said on a local radio station that the Boric administration is making the division in the country worse.
The senator said that if Allende hadn’t been in power, Pinochet wouldn’t have taken over. The senator thinks that Allende’s socialist policies caused his own downfall and the military dictatorship that came after.
Minister Vallejo stated that comments like these were not acceptable. He also mentioned that it was not fair to treat the victim and the person who caused harm equally. Camila Vallejo has criticized statements that say Allende and Pinochet are the same.
“She argued that it is a fundamental aspect of democracy to have diverse opinions about Allende. ” “But we can’t blame Allende for the coup, it was actually Augusto Pinochet who was responsible for it. ”
According to her, the declaration is a very important event that shows Chileans and the world that we should always protect democracy and human rights, no matter what differences we may have.
Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie has sincerely apologized to his Detroit fans for not showing up at his much-awaited show.
He explained that the problem came up because a Delta Airlines flight had to make an emergency landing on an island in Portugal. This made things tough for Sarkodie and everyone else on the plane.
Sarkodie in a tweet expressed understanding, saying, “So I missed my event in Detroit due to @Delta doing an emergency landing on an island in Portugal yesterday. It was unfortunate, but I know these things happen, so I wasn’t tripping.” However, he did voice his disappointment in Delta’s communication during the ordeal, highlighting that they failed to provide updates on the situation.
The rapper explained that he and other passengers had to wait at the airport for a painful six hours. They noticed that Delta Airlines had recurring problems with flights from Africa. Sarkodie criticized Delta for using what he called “old and weak planes” to pick up passengers. He thought these planes weren’t safe enough for long trips.
Things got scarier when they found out the flight almost landed in the ocean. Sarkodie was relieved they safely landed on the island, but Delta didn’t offer any compensation for the trouble. Passengers were stuck without their belongings still on the island.
Sarkodie, in his Twitter post, showed restraint in his critique of Delta, stating, “Moving forward, I wouldn’t want to tarnish a business, but hopefully, they see to this problem and resolve it.” He concluded his tweet by extending a heartfelt apology to his fans in Detroit, assuring them that efforts were underway to make amends for the missed event.
Kenya’s organization against drug abuse, Nacada, is worried that drug addicts are using animal calming drugs instead of heroin by injecting them into themselves.
This means that there are videos going viral on social media showing people near the coast who appear to be under the influence of drugs and behaving strangely.
Nacada mentioned on Sunday that they did not find any fentanyl in the samples they collected. Fentanyl is a very strong and dangerous synthetic drug, often thought to be stronger than heroin.
They discovered that the symptoms were caused by a large amount of heroin and a mix of heroin with other drugs, like a veterinarian tranquilizer called xylazine, prescribed medications, and other substances.
Nacada stated that the misuse of veterinary drugs could lead to a serious problem in managing cases of drug overdoses, which could affect the health of the general public.
“The statement says that we urgently need to put in place measures to control and regulate the use of veterinary drugs for non-medical purposes, to prevent them from being sold illegally. “
Former dance champion Adjetey Sowah has admitted he prioritized making money over education. Proficient in dancing, he received invitations from various Accra event organizers, insisting on payment before performing. The substantial income from dancing led him to neglect his education.
In an interview with Joy FM Showbiz A-Z Adjetey Sowah revealed that his educational qualifications suffered due to his attraction to the substantial income generated from his dancing career.
“Back in the day all the dancing competitions that were going on from 1984, even though I was part of the event, I had collected my money already. I was making money out of it [dancing] that is the reason why I did not take my education seriously,” he said.
He added, “All around the country, Tamale, everywhere I mean Accra alone, sometimes on weekends, there is a lot of competition maybe 8 or 9 events. I am part of everything and before I go, I collect money first. I go everywhere including Dansoman, Teshie, Circle, Spark Centre, Apollo Theatre. I will be there and after doing my bid, I go to another place, perform, collect my money, and come back.
The highest-ranking military officer in the United States has cautioned that Ukraine only has six weeks left to continue its counterattack before the weather becomes an obstacle. However, Kyiv has indicated that it might still continue fighting even during the winter season.
There is still enough time to fight for about 30 to 45 more days, according to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Mark Milley spoke to the BBC on Sunday. Afterwards, he explained that the mud and rain could affect how easily soldiers can move on the battlefield.
In line with the positive outlook from the Biden administration, Milley said the counteroffensive has been making consistent progress since it started in June.
The Ukrainians are still fighting and they have not finished what they are trying to do. He said that it’s too soon to know how this will end.
On Sunday, it was reported that there were only small improvements in one of Ukraine’s main areas of attack, near the village of Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region. This area is on the route to the important town of Tokmak.
A Telegram channel of Ukraine’s 46th brigade, which has been trustworthy, said that soldiers have moved forward to the east of a nearby village. However, they warned that Russian forces still have an advantage as they hold the higher ground in the area.
At the moment, a message online from the southern ‘Tavria’ command stated: “we are still moving forward little by little in the Robotyne area. ” Approximately 15 square kilometers of land in Ukraine has been set free, but it didn’t mention how long it took to accomplish this.
When asked about how quickly his forces were moving forward on Friday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine still had control, but he told the audience in Kyiv not to think of the counteroffensive as a movie that ends in just 90 minutes.
A senior security official of Zelensky said at the same event the next day that Ukraine’s forces might continue attacking throughout the upcoming winter.
Kyrylo Budanov, who is in charge of military intelligence, admitted that the counterattack was not progressing as quickly as he wanted it to. He said that Russia had a good plan for their defenses and they had put a lot of mines. This made the situation on the battlefield difficult.
But even though the military knows about the cold weather, they won’t stop fighting. They will keep attacking and defending.
Earlier in the week, a former US General named David Petraeus said during a different meeting in Kyiv that this situation will continue during the winter season.
Comparisons to Ukraine’s first major counterattack in 2022 indicate that a longer duration may be possible.
A year ago, the Russian forces were pushed out of the Kharkiv region. The Ukrainian forces regained control of the town of Lyman around September 30.
Ukraine fought back in the south for another six weeks until they finally freed Kherson around November 10.
There is a lot of discussion among experts and decision-makers about whether Ukraine should have continued with its efforts, or if the countries supporting them didn’t provide enough weapons and ammunition for them to do so.
People who support Kyiv are worried that if the offensive operations stop during the winter, it will give Russia a chance to make their defenses stronger.
Gloria Akpene Nyarku, known as MzGee and the host of UTV’s United Showbiz, has been awarded the 2023 Ghana Outstanding Woman TV Personality accolade at the GOWA (Ghana Outstanding Women Awards).
MzGee, who was filled with joy said she believes her triumph will motivate the public, hoping this news will inspire others to persevere amidst chaos, confident that their efforts will eventually yield rewards.
In an Instagram post she said “God’s been good! I didn’t see this coming…,” the caption of her celebratory post read. “Indeed, God’s been faithful. We won’t stop until it over! My season of congratulations is here.”
In a subtle call on the public to trust in God with all their hearts, the famous TV show host said, “God’s not man”, emphasizing the need for one to be persistent as she echoed, “Just keep moving”.
MzGee extended her appreciation to key figures in her career, including Nathaniel Attoh, a respected broadcaster who acknowledged her talent and introduced her to Mark Okraku-Mantey during his tenure as the Programmes Manager at Hitz FM.
The GOWA event was held on September 10 at the Accra International Conference Center.
Ghana Outstanding Women Awards is a humanitarian awards initiative initiated to recognize, honor and award women in Ghana and Africa , who are devoted to the welfare of humanity and are also contributing their quota to the society through charity and socio – economic developmental projects.
The leaders of two small islands that are being affected by rising sea levels to go to a court in Germany to get advice on what countries should do to fight climate change.
Prime Ministers Kausea Natano from Tuvalu and Gaston Browne from Antigua and Barbuda will share information at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. They will discuss if carbon emissions that the ocean absorbs should be seen as pollution, and what responsibilities countries have to safeguard the marine environment.
The tribunal will give an advice, which is not legally required to be followed, but provides a trustworthy statement on legal matters that could help countries when making laws to protect the climate.
The leaders of the Small Island States will say that countries must protect the ocean from greenhouse gases according to the UN Law of the Sea.
“We urgently need help because we believe that international law is important in fixing the unfairness caused by climate change that our people are facing,” said Natano from Tuvalu.
Too much carbon pollution hurts the oceans, causing problems like coral bleaching and acidification.
Islands like Tuvalu and Vanuatu that are close to the water level might go underwater because of the long-term effects of climate change by the end of this century.
Small island countries have also asked other courts for clear legal rules regarding their responsibilities regarding climate change. Vanuatu asked the International Court of Justice to provide their opinion on what countries should do about climate change.
The UN General Assembly voted in March to send the case to the ICJ. The ICJ will give its opinion in 2024.
The Prime Minister of the UK, Rishi Sunak, expressed his worry and disapproval to China’s leader about possible Chinese involvement in the UK’s democratic process. This came after an employee of parliament was arrested under suspicion of spying for China.
Speaking to reporters at the G20 meeting in New Delhi on Sunday, Sunak said he talked to Chinese Premier Li Qiang about a few concerns, including interference in our parliamentary democracy.
This happened after two men were arrested in the UK for breaking a law about keeping secrets. It was reported that a person who works for the government and has connections to important politicians from the Conservative Party, including a security minister named Tom Tugendhat, was also arrested on suspicion of spying for China.
The Sunday Times, a newspaper from the UK, revealed on Sunday that the researcher was taken into custody with another person on March 13th.
London’s Metropolitan Police have stated that they have arrested two men, one in his 30s in Oxfordshire, southern England, and another in his 20s in Edinburgh, Scotland.
“The inquiry is being done by police officers from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command. This department is responsible for investigating cases related to accusations of Official Secrets Act and spying offenses,” the statement explained.
The two men taken to a police station in south London were released on police bail until early October, as stated.
China’s embassy in London said that the accusations of spying are not true.
A spokesperson said that the claim of China stealing British intelligence is made up and meant to harm China’s reputation.
“We strongly disagree with it and urge the people in the UK who are involved in anti-China political schemes to stop orchestrating this fake political drama,” the statement said.
The Sunday Times reported that the parliamentary researcher who was arrested is connected to Alicia Kearns, the chairperson of the British government’s foreign affairs committee.
In a post on Saturday on X, which used to be called Twitter, Kearns said that they would not comment on the alleged connections. They said that it is important for everyone to make sure that the authorities’ work is not put in danger.
A group of politicians from different parties who are focused on relations with China, called the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC), said in a statement on Saturday that they were shocked by reports that someone who may be working for the government of China had secretly entered the UK Parliament. The alliance wants the authorities to share the name of the person who is accused. They also hope that justice will be done quickly.
Sami Sensis used to enjoy being in Moulay Brahim and it made him happy. The village is up in the mountains of Morocco. The beautiful views, clean air, and kind people made his parents want to go there every summer.
Now they are trapped beneath the debris of their hotel near the remaining area of the village.
The building broke apart a little bit after a very strong earthquake hit Moulay Brahim on Friday night. The middle point of the 6. 8-magnitude earthquake was close to the village. The village is located about two hours southwest of Marrakech.
The earthquake, the most powerful one to happen in Morocco in over 120 years, caused the death of more than 2,000 individuals.
Local government representatives told CNN that 25 individuals lost their lives in the village. As of Sunday afternoon, three people, including Sensis’ parents, were still missing.
Sensis, who is 39 years old, was starting to feel more and more desperate and frustrated. I can’t even bury them. “I cannot see them, and I do not know their whereabouts,” he said, his voice showing signs of strong emotions and anger.
His phone has been ringing continuously for the past two days. Relatives and friends keep calling and asking him for updates all the time. But he has no updates to tell. The website is not working well or safe, and the local fire department has told people to leave the area. This means they have stopped looking for the people who are missing.
There is no action or events occurring. We are just staying put. They chose not to take any action. They are saying that we should wait and not get worried. They are making promises to help. Sensis also tried to go inside the fallen building to look for his parents.
The boss of the hotel, Idsaleh Mahjoub, told CNN that Sensis’ parents were at the hotel when the earthquake happened. He had their names written down, and he knew who they were when he saw their pictures that Sensis showed him.
The people who live nearby saved six individuals from the collapsed hotel. Everyone they rescued was still alive, according to Mahjoub.
“But we couldn’t do anything for the others,” he said. We told the governor about the people who were stuck, but he keeps saying that help will come soon to rescue them. Today, they came to check the place out, and then left to get their stuff.
Morocco’s government received offers of help from other countries like Spain, Qatar, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. These countries suggested sending search and rescue teams, and after considering their needs, Morocco’s Interior Ministry agreed to accept their assistance. In pictures: A very strong earthquake causes the death of many people in Morocco.
Moulay Brahim, just like other villages nearby, is difficult to reach. The roads are small and curvy, and some have big rocks in the way from the earthquake.
According to the authorities, some roads higher up in the mountains are still impossible to use, even after 48 hours after the earthquake.
The efforts to bring aid to the large area affected by the earthquake have been slowed down because it is hard to reach the area. Some places have set up camps for emergencies, but people in other areas that are hard to reach have to take care of themselves.
In a village close to Asni, not too far from Moulay Brahim, the first official help from the government came on Sunday morning. In this town of 2,000 people, almost everyone no longer has a place to live.
Many bright yellow tents are now being used as shelter for people whose homes were damaged in the earthquake.
The tents didn’t provide much shady relief from the hot sun on Sunday afternoon.
But the hot weather didn’t stop Leila Idabdelah. Idabdelah was making khobz, a traditional Moroccan flatbread, while carrying her baby on her back. She was preparing the bread to feed those who were affected.
The people in the area are helping each other because they can’t count on official assistance. They have organized themselves and are sharing things they need. Idabdelah was in charge of the bread oven and had made many loafs since morning.
Idabdelah said to CNN that she and her family of five were sleeping when the earthquake happened on Friday. When they quickly stood up and attempted to go outside, they discovered that the strong shaking had caused harm to their house and made it impossible to open the door and windows.
Our neighbors helped us. She said, “They arrived, opened the door for us, and assisted us to go outside. ”
She told CNN that she couldn’t imagine how much time it would take for her family to get a stable roof for their house. The tents are not very good, but they are much better than when the family had to sleep on the floor outside after the earthquake.
In Moulay Brahim, there are no legal tents.
A lot of people are very tired and sad, and their feelings are intense. On Sunday afternoon, there was a fight on the street near where Sensis was waiting for news from the authorities.
As time goes on, it is becoming less likely that anyone will be found alive in the collapsed building.
On Sunday night, they found Sensis’ mother’s body among the debris. His dad is still gone.
Earlier, Sensis told CNN that he had no more hope that his parents might still be alive. However, when he talked about them, he still talked about them as if they were happening now.
Sensis said that they cannot imagine their baby growing up without his grandparents because he loves them. “He keeps repeating: “I want to visit my grandparents, I want to visit my grandparents. ”
Per South Korean media and government officials, it seems that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is currently travelling on a train towards Russia.
Russia and North Korea have not confirmed the meeting officially.
The newest news in the media is that Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin are likely to have a meeting soon to talk about weapons. The exact date and place of this meeting have not been announced yet.
If the visit happens, it would be Kim’s first trip to another country since the Covid-19 pandemic started. North Korea, which has closed its borders for most of the past three years, has only recently started to loosen travel restrictions.
Kim has only gone on 10 trips since taking control in 2011. All of those happened in 2018 and 2019, when the leader of North Korea talked with then-US President Donald Trump about his nuclear weapons and missiles. They had three meetings in Singapore, Hanoi, and the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea.
Kim also went to China four times during those two years to meet with the leader of China, Xi Jinping. He also met with Putin once in Vladivostok in April 2019. Afterwards, we went on a trip to the DMZ in 2018 to meet with the South Korean President at that time, Moon Jae-in.
Vladivostok is located 130 km (80 miles) away from the North Korea border.
The leader of North Korea likes to travel in a fancy train that is protected and his father also did the same. However, most of his trips to other countries are not done by train. Three out of the nine trips were taken by airplanes, and two trips, which were both to the DMZ, were done by car.
The Russian defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, went to Pyongyang in July to ask them to sell artillery ammunition.
Jake Sullivan, a person from the White House who helps keep the country safe, said that North Korea will face consequences if it makes a deal with Russia to get weapons. He didn’t say exactly what those consequences would be.
North Korea is already being punished by the United Nations and the United States for having weapons of mass destruction.
The possible meeting between Putin and Kim could allow Pyongyang to obtain weapons that have been banned from them for 20 years, especially for their nuclear missile program.
Additionally, this comes after over a year and a half of fighting in Ukraine, which has significantly damaged the Russian military and caused a shortage of resources.
Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, expressed disappointment in former President John Mahama over comments he made concerning the Judiciary. John Mahama accused President Akufo Addo of packing the judiciary with NPP-aligned judges during an NDC Lawyers’ Conference. He suggested that the current President had appointed a large number of judges to avoid accountability after leaving office.
In response to these comments, Ekow Vincent Assafuah described them as “unfortunate and condemnable.” He expressed his belief that such remarks were not befitting of a statesman and should have been left for party communicators and serial callers. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining a neutral and impartial stance, suggesting that even he himself did not speak in such a manner.
It appears that Ekow Vincent Assafuah disapproved of John Mahama’s comments and felt that they were divisive and inappropriate for a former President to make, especially concerning the judiciary.
Ekow Vincent speaking to this described the comment as “unfortunate and condemnable”.
“This is not befitting of a statesman. He should’ve left these comments for the serial callers and communicators. This should not be coming from a former President. Even I don’t speak like that…there’s a thin line between someone who is neutral and impartial” he stated on Peace FM’s The Platform programme.
The family of Regina Asamoah, a 21-year-old nursing mother, seeks justice after she was fatally attacked by an unidentified assailant in Koforidua Asokore.
Regina was brutally stabbed in broad daylight while caring for her three-month-old daughter in their room. She passed away at the Eastern Regional Hospital, leaving her grieving widower, Francis Antwi, shocked, especially as they were planning their baby’s naming ceremony.
Esther Osaebea, Regina’s mother-in-law, urges the Ghana Police Service to expedite the investigation and capture the culprits.
Simultaneously, the family of Gloria Asare, a 54-year-old trader allegedly robbed and murdered by unknown assailants while on her way to purchase cowhide meat in the same Asokore community, also demands justice.
Ghanaian highlife singer, Akosua Agyapong, believes that the concept of abstaining from sex before marriage should be reconsidered. She argues that this traditional view can lead to various problems in marriages.
While some people consider sex a fundamental element of a healthy relationship and marriage, others, often guided by religious principles, adhere to the ‘No sex before marriage’ principle.
On the other hand, some individuals believe that engaging in sexual activity before marriage is essential to understand their partner better and build a strong foundation for a healthy marriage.
Akosua Agyapong’s perspective is that the ‘No sex before marriage’ mindset should be reevaluated because it can potentially cause issues in marriages. She suggests that having sexual experiences before marriage can help couples identify and address any sexual issues, fostering healthier and more harmonious relationships.
Appearing as a guest on Ghone’s Duvet show, she said, “We have to change that ‘No sex before marriage’. They have to change it. It causes problems a lot”.
“The man might be impotent and you wouldn’t know. Maybe, your woman too might be something else. It is a problem oo”, she added.
Several netizens disagreed with Akosua Agyapong’s statement since most of them have a strong belief that sex after marriage is the right thing every individual should practice.
The following are reactions from some netizens:
“Adults without the fear of God is one of the reasons why the youth are struggling. What sense do they have to direct the younger ones coming after them?! If you’re a young person watching this nonsense, be advised and warned. Sex before marriage destroys destiny. It opens the door for satan and his demons to steal blessings and ruin one’s life. You might be like oh. I had sex before and nothing happened. Well, Adam ate the apple and here we are. It does something to your soul called spiritual death. So think before you act. Those ppl up there have lost it and you the saying misery loves company ?!…”
“God have mercy on them for they do not know what they are doing. something God is against and our parents are telling us to practice. Shame”.
“No sex before marriage is no man’s law. That’s God’s direct instruction. How is she calling on us to change it? Comparing sex, a sacred bond, to cars and houses?”
Mr. Osei-Owusu, who is known for capturing great photos and videos of John Mahama, is now happily married, and many people are congratulating him.“Francis Osei-Owusu, congratulations my dear. God bless and replenish your beautiful bond,” NDC stalwart Obuobia Darko-Opoku wrote.
“Congratulations Francis Osei-Owusu on finding your forever love and embarking on this beautiful journey of marriage. Wishing you and your partner a lifetime filled with love, joy, and countless unforgettable moments together. Cheers to the newlyweds!” Richmond Atuah also wrote.
Many well-wishes keep coming in for the respected photographer, who is also a property valuer and real estate expert.
Ghanaian media figure Ola Michael urges Black Sherif’s team to prioritize his mental well-being following a concerning viral video.
In the video, Sherif revealed his mental distress due to increased threats on his life and appeared confused, expressing fears about potential harm.
“I’ve been at war, I’ve been growing my hair, I’ve been running, I’ve been recording, I’ve been talking to my mum and dad. There’s been a lot going on. When it’s all said and done, everybody go hear am.
“No one is excluded. People who have pestered me before, others have chased me and want to slash my throat. People dey chase my throat, dey want slash am! On God! (speaks pijin),” he stated in the said TikTok live.
Upon careful examination of Black Sherif’s statements and behavior in the video, Ola Michael is deeply concerned. He firmly believes that there’s a concealed plea for assistance embedded in Sherif’s words and actions.
“I am a bit worried. Sometimes when artistes don’t talk much, they have a lot up their sleeves. When I saw this particular video, I was a bit concerned about what is going on in his mind, what he is going through, and what people are doing to him. I was wondering how life is treating him.
“His success probably came suddenly and he has been running with it since, so maybe, he is not ready for it. I think those close to him should find him someone to help him with therapy. His thoughts need to be straightened. We all did not even understand what he was trying to say in the video, we are all confused but he knows what he is saying. He had a lot to say but he was unable to communicate it well,” he said.
According to the Acting Regional Commander of the Immigration Service, Assistant Commissioner of Immigration (ACI) Noah Ahomka, this is the largest amount of marijuana ever found in the Ho municipality. He said that the Nyive Command has been doing a great job over the years, especially when it comes to stopping illegal things like drugs. He praised the officers for their good work and encouraged them to keep it up.
The interception happened on Thursday, September 7, 2023, thanks to a tip-off. The officers found the marijuana in an abandoned place near the Atikpui clinic. It was packed in sacks and ready to be taken away by someone before the tip-off.
The officer in charge, Assistant Commissioner of Immigration (ACI) Alhaji Abdulai, thanked the people in the area for working together against illegal activities.
The confiscated marijuana will be given to the Narcotic Control Board.
Atikpui is a farming community in the Ho municipality. It is near the border with the Republic of Togo and has around 4,000 people, including children.
In July 2022, more than 2,000 pieces of marijuana were stopped in the same place.
