Author: Chris Kodo

One thousand two-hundred and fifty-two persons have died from road accidents since January 2019, The Finder reports.

A breakdown of the figure means at least seven people die from road carnages a day. This is two more than the average family size in Ghana.

The newspaper gave a total breakdown in the figures from accidents involving commercial vehicles, private cars and accidents involving pedestrians.

Read: 1,252 perish in accidents between January to June 2019

Read the full Finder report below:

Data compiled by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MMTD) of the Ghana Police Service shows a 3.3% increase in the number of commuters killed in road accidents between January and June 2019 compared to the same period in 2018.

According to the data, the number of commuters killed rose from 1,212 in the first half of 2018 to 1,252 during the first six months of 2019.

It revealed that males 18 years and below killed were 126 while males above 18 years killed hit 808, bringing the total to 934.

On the other hand, females below 18 years who lost their lives were 86 while females above 18 years killed in road traffic crashes totaled 232.

This brings the total number of females who were killed to 318.

On the other hand, the number of pedestrians killed recorded a 7.16% decline from 397 in the first quarter of 2018 to 378 in the same period of 2019.

1,503 Pedestrians knocked down

The number of pedestrians knocked down also dropped from 1,619 in the same period last year to 1,503 this year.

The data indicates that the number of persons injured recorded a 15.5% jump, increasing from 6,689 in the first half of last year to 7,043 in the same period in 2019.

According to the records, the total number of vehicles involved in accidents increased from 11,053 to 11,167, representing a 1.03% rise.

364 Killed in motorcycle accidents

Of the 1,585 victims of motorcycle accidents, 364 were killed and the number of motorcycles involved in accidents was 2,284, an increase of 16.6% from the 1,937 motorcycle accidents in the first half of 2018.

4,786 Private vehicles involved in accidents

According to the data, the number of private vehicles involved in road traffic crashes rose from 4,774 to 4,786 in 2019, representing a 0.25% increase.

Read: Scores injured in multiple accidents on Accra-Kumasi Highway

Private vehicles killed 348 commuters and injured 1,670 victims.

4,133 Commercial vehicles involved in accidents

It came to light that commercial vehicles involved in accidents declined by 4.81% from 4,342 in the first half of last year to 4,133 in the same period this year.

Commercial vehicles killed 540 commuters and injured 3,788 victims in the first six months of this year.

There was 1.47% increase in the number of cases reported from 6,745 in the first half of last year to 6,844 during the same period this year.

Ghana witnessed a reduction in fatality rate from 27 per every 10,000 vehicles in 1999 to about eight per 10,000 vehicles in 2017, with the use of motorcycles threatening gains made in the other road user categories in recent times.

 

Source: Myjoyonline.com

Nine fishermen have been rescued by a Netherlands vessel after being stranded for several hours at sea.

A Dutch dredging vessel christened, MV Odin found the local fishermen whose canoes were capsized at some nautical miles away from the newly constructed Terminal 3 anchorage Tema Port after a miracle chance encounter enroute to Ghana.

Read: Tema fishermen threaten demo over unpaid compensation

The fishermen later disembarked to receive medical attention at a health facility in Tema.

Information available to DGN Online indicates that on July 8, 2019, at about 9:00 pm, three canoes manned by a total of nine local fishermen went out on fishing expedition.

Whiles fishing, a heavy tidal wave rising to the height of two meters smashed their canoes against surface rocks tearing them apart instantly and resulting in the fishermen being trapped in the sea for hours.

In the course of their struggle to survive, a Dutch dredging support vessel being drift by Captain Tjebbe Tammes appeared on the scene and the crew onboard rescued all nine accident victims who were said to be in very terrible physical conditions from hypothermia.

Read: Migrant children crisis: Democrats agree $4.5bn aid for migrants at border

The rescue was done at three different locations within the anchorage.

Speaking on the matter during a ceremony held in recognition of the rescued crew, the Tema Mayor, Felix Nii Mensah Annan-La, expressed surprise about the incident and how they were rescued.

 

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

Amnesty International has described as harsh the punishment meted to the soldier who took to soldier media to condemned plans by parliament to construct a new chamber.

The officer has been sentenced to 90 days imprisonment with hard labour at the guardroom.

Lance Corporal Lincoln Isaac Wassah of 2 Recce Squadron in Sunyani has also been stripped of his rank.

Speaking to Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Wednesday, the country director for Amnesty International Robert Akoto Amoafo said a warning could have been enough punishment for the offense since it is not a regular occurrence within the security agencies in Ghana

“The extent to which this punishment has gone is too far. A warning could have be given but to punish the person to this extent puts fear in officers to express themselves. The fact that one joins security agency does not take their citizenship rights from them. A warning would have been the best”.

Lance Corporal Wassah was seen in a military uniform in the viral video supporting the social media campaign that eventually led to Parliament shelving plans to construct a new Chamber.

L/Cpl Wassah in the viral video warned President Akufo-Addo the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces not to support the construction of the new Parliamentary chamber expected to cost 200 million dollars.

According to him, there were more pressing issues that needed to be addressed instead of building a fanciful new Parliamentary Chamber.

Following the release of the video, L/Cpl Wassah was arrested by the Military High Command for interrogation.

#DropThatChamber Campaign

The “#DropThatChamber” campaign was initiated on social media with the aim of mounting pressure on Parliament to discontinue a proposal to build a new 450-seater chamber.

The House after sustained social media pressure dropped the plans to construct the new Chamber indefinitely.

Source: starrfm.com.gh

Data compiled by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MMTD) of the Ghana Police Service shows a 3.3% increase in the number of commuters killed in road accidents between January and June 2019 compared to the same period in 2018.

According to the data, the number of commuters killed rose from 1,212 in the first half of 2018 to 1,252 during the first six months of 2019.

It revealed that males 18 years and below killed were 126 while males above 18 years killed hit 808, bringing the total to 934.

On the other hand, females below 18 years who lost their lives were 86 while females above 18 years killed in road traffic crashes totalled 232.

This brings the total number of females who were killed to 318.

On the other hand, the number of pedestrians killed recorded a 7.16% decline from 397 in the first quarter of 2018 to 378 in the same period of 2019.

1,503 Pedestrians knocked down The number of pedestrians knocked down also dropped from 1,619 in the same period last year to 1,503 this year.

The data indicates that the number of persons injured recorded a 15.5% jump, increasing from 6,689 in the first half of last year to 7,043 in the same period in 2019.

According to the records, the total number of vehicles involved in accidents increased from 11,053 to 11,167, representing a 1.03% rise.

364 Killed in motorcycle accidents Of the 1,585 victims of motorcycle accidents, 364 were killed and the number of motorcycles involved in accidents was 2,284, an increase of 16.6% from the 1,937 motorcycle accidents in the first half of 2018.

4,786 Private vehicles involved in accidents According to the data, the number of private vehicles involved in road traffic crashes rose from 4,774 to 4,786 in 2019, representing a 0.25% increase.

Private vehicles killed 348 commuters and injured 1,670 victims.

4,133 Commercial vehicles involved in accidents It came to light that commercial vehicles involved in accidents declined by 4.81% from 4,342 in the first half of last year to 4,133 in the same period this year.

Commercial vehicles killed 540 commuters and injured 3,788 victims in the first six months of this year.

There was 1.47% increase in the number of cases reported from 6,745 in the first half of last year to 6,844 during the same period this year.

Ghana witnessed a reduction in fatality rate from 27 per every 10,000 vehicles in 1999 to about eight per 10,000 vehicles in 2017, with the use of motorcycles threatening gains made in the other road user categories in recent times.

Source: thefinderonline.com

The Ghana Education Service has directed that all senior high school teachers holding a degree earned through distance education or sandwich should be re-posted to basic schools.

A letter to one of the headmasters, sighted by 3news.com, insisted that the directive should be considered “serious”.

District Directors of Education have subsequently written to heads of schools who have also communicated same to their teaching staff in that regard.

“Following Directives from the Director General, all teachers who obtained their degree through Distance, Sandwich and Foundation Programmes and are teaching in the Senior High Schools are to be withdrawn and re-posted to the Basic Schools,” the letter said.

According to the letter, “This is in compliance with the policy which prevents Sandwich and Distance teachers from teaching in Senior High Schools.”

Heads of schools have therefore been directed to submit a list of affected teachers to the district directorate for “the next action”.

“Do well to cooperate with these serious directives,” the headmasters were told.

Source: 3news.com

The Kassena-Nankana Municipal branch of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) in the Upper East Region has honoured some dedicated and hardworking members.

The first Maiden Annual Excellence Awards Ceremony held in Navrongo was aimed at celebrating outstanding contributions of workers in the course of their work.

The event, which attracted various stakeholders including Mr Alhassan Ziblim Alhassan, the Municipal Coordinating Director, Regional and Municipal CLOGSAG Executives, was also to motivate and encourage other civil servants to join the Association.

Addressing the function on behalf of Mr Williams Adum, the Municipal Chief Executive, Mr Al-hassan Ziblim Alhassan, the Municipal Coordinating Director, applauded the workers for their outstanding achievements.

Whilst urging CLOGSAG members to continue to work hard towards the growth of the Municipality, the nation and the world at large, the Municipal Coordinating Director, also called on corporate bodies to come on board to help push development in the area.

Mr Alhassan, however, tasked the members to keep abreast with the code of conduct governing the Civil and Local Government Services and gave the assurance that government has put in place measures to ensure that the general working conditions were improved for workers.

Mr Paul Apam, the Regional Chairman of CLOGSAG, who commended the awardees for their great work, urged them to be good ambassadors of the Association and thanked the MCE for supporting the event.

Mr Abdul-Baqi Alhassan, the Municipal Chairman of CLOGSAG, appealed to Management of the Assembly to address pertinent concerns, such as the delays and frustrations in promotion, upgrading and conversions of staff, poor and inadequate working tools.

The overall hardworking activist award was presented to Madam Awineboya Apoya. Other hardworking activists awards were presented to Mr James Brown Fankey, Mr Aaron Dijera Adiga, Madam Juliana Anaba and Mr Lucas Amikiya Aligire.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

201766 L/Cpl Wassah Lincoln Isaac, the soldier who was captured on video campaigning against the construction of the 450-seat chamber for parliament estimated at $200 million has been stripped of his rank and sentenced to 90 days imprisonment with hard labour at the guardroom.

L/Cpl Wassah of the 2 Recce squadron unit in Sunyani had called on authorities to drop the idea of building a chamber and channel those resources into eradicating under-tree schools, among others.

Read: #DropThatChamber: Newsfile panelists praise Economic Fighters League leader

The soldier was sentenced after the board that was set up to probe the matter found him guilty of misconduct contrary to the code of ethics of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF)

The board, chaired by the commanding officer of the unit, Lt Col WAK Ackah (GH/2927), delivered the ruling after questions and answers on actions of the soldier.

Earlier, the Economic Fighters League (Fighters) had called on the leadership of GAF to free the soldier after he was initially arrested and detained in a guard room for weeks.

Source: classfmonline.com

Security sources in Tema have concluded that the occupants of a Toyota Corolla, who shot the dispatch rider of former president Flt-Lt Jerry John Rawlings, were the same people who robbed the Tema Motorway Roundabout Shell Station.

The outrider, Sgt Atsu Sekeh of the Central Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) in Accra, who is assigned to the former president, was on Saturday, at about 11pm, shot by unknown gunmen using a blue Toyota Corolla at Tema Community 22.

Exactly 12 hours later, the same vehicle became the getaway car during a robbery expedition at the Motorway Roundabout in broad daylight.

Intelligence sources are investigating the authenticity of the registration number of the getaway vehicle, if it was hijacked from the owner for the robbery.

Meanwhile, the Tema Regional police have issued a statement in connection with the robbery at the Shell fuel station at the Tema Motorway Roundabout.

The following is the full statement:

The Tema Regional Police Command is on a manhunt for three robbers who robbed a shell filling station at the Tema Motorway Roundabout on Sunday, July 14, 2019.
The three men arrived at the filling station on board a black Toyota Corolla saloon car with registration number GG 991-18 at about 11.50am, held seven workers and two customers hostage at gunpoint, and robbed them of their valuables.
Police investigations revealed that items stolen included an Apple MacBook Pro laptop, a Dell laptop, one Motorola Z2 mobile phone and an MTN router.

The rest are GH¢3,000 worth of MTN recharge cards, a system unit, and an unspecified amount of money. Nobody was injured during the robbery.
Police have, however, visited the crime scene, and have in their custody the CCTV footages, which are currently being examined.
We assure the public that the police are working assiduously to make sure the perpetrators of this crime are brought to book.

We are appealing to the general public that anyone with relevant information that will help crack this case should not hesitate to contact the nearest police station, or contact police on the following numbers;

18555 MTN Toll Free
0542719093 MTN
0571017996 AirtelTigo

Source: thechronicle.com.gh

Personnel of the Operation Vanguard Team have apprehended 50 suspected illegal miners in the Western and Eastern Regions in various operations conducted recently.

The personnel on 13 July this year, in the Western Region, apprehended 16 suspected Chinese illegal miners in the general area of Enchi Kwahu in the Aowin District together with 5 excavators at where they had been operating.

Read: Closure of illegal mining pits at Talensi commendable — NORPRA

Whilst 34 other suspected illegal miners were also arrested in the East Akim Municipality in the Eastern Region last Friday.

Captain Andy Sowatey, Public Relations Officer of the team told the Ghana News Agency in an interview at Takoradi, said the suspects, made up of both locals and foreigners were apprehended in the general area of Asiakwa.

He said nine of the suspects who are local inhabitants have been handed over to Police at Kibi for prosecution, while the others comprising of 16 Chinese, 22 Guineans and 3 Burkinabes and the 5 excavators have been handed over to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Miners (IMCIM) for further action.

Read: Charles Bissue quits Inter-ministerial committee on illegal mining after Anas exposé

Captain Sowatey said though the Taskforce have been receiving information through tip-offs from some locals, others have also resorted to providing safe havens for the illegal miners.

He said some of the illegal miners have rented accommodation within various areas where galamsey is rampant and are wreaking havoc on water bodies and forests.

He called on the traditional authorities and the local inhabitants to help flash out these unlicensed operators and their collaborators from their hideouts to save the environment from further deterioration.

 

Source: GNA

Three passengers on-board a commercial vehicle from Accra to Anyinam had a shock of their lives Monday, July 15, at about 7:30pm when six persons reported to be National Security Operatives from Kyebi violently arrested and placed them under detention at the Okyenhene Palace for allegedly insulting Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin over the destoolment of the Chief of Akyem Hemang.

The swift intervention by the Kibi Police saved the victims.

Read: Akufo-Addo abusing National Security Joyce Bawa

They are Gabriel Opppong, 25, Frimpong Patrick, 30 and Jacob Arhin, 21.

The three who sustained various injuries have since been detained at the Kibi Police Cells and issued Police medical forms.

The driver in Charge of the vehicle, one Ofori told Starr News the victims and passengers in the vehicle were discussing 6pm news item on the protest held by residents of Akyem Hemang over illegal mining and its related destoolment of their Chief.

He said while the issue was being discussed, it became heated where the passengers condemned Okyenhene for unfairly destooling the Chief of Hemang whom they say is protecting the environment.

But while the debate was ongoing, a lady identified as Suzzy Oweriedu who hails from Kyebi placed a phone call to inform some unknown person that some of the passengers were insulting the Okyenhene.

The six persons believed to be National Security Operatives on board a Toyota Camry Car met the passenger vehicle which was entering the Kyebi township, stopped the vehicle and allegedly started assaulting the victims who were pointed out by the informant.

Read: OneGhana movement rejects national security statement; commencement of independent investigation

The victims were pulled out of the vehicle and forced into the Camry being used by the operatives and drove to the Okyenhene Palace where they were detained and forced on the floor amidst assault by the operatives and some guards at the Palace.

The victims say they were kicked, slapped and lashed. According to them, their Mobile phones, monies and other personal belongings were stolen from them.

The driver said he drove to the Kyebi Police station where he lodged official complaint upon which the Police swiftly rushed to the palace to rescue the victims.

Suzzy Oweriedu, the complainant told the Police that the suspects were insulting Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin in that vehicle. They said “Nana is stupid”.

 

Source: starrfm.com.gh

The Micro Finance and Small Loans center (MASLOC) has today [Tuesday] delivered 83 buses to the Ghana Road Transport Union (GPRTU) to work and pay over a 3-year period.

It would be recalled that MASLOC procured these buses for private transport operators in 2016 but the vehicles were abandoned for years over claims of overpricing.

The vehicles acquired by MASLOC were left abandoned because their intended beneficiaries, the GPRTU, rejected them since the former management and government inflated the cost of the vehicles to US$2million.

Investigations by rainbowradioonline.com in 2017 revealed that the vehicles, comprising 100 33-seater buses and 250 saloon cars, were to be used for commercial operations.

The vehicles were purchased for GPRTU but the transport operators rejected the vehicles because of the alleged overpricing.

Read:GPRTU, human rights group demand access to remanded driver, mate

The Chief Executive Officer of MASLOC, Stephen Amoah, told Rainbow Radio in an interview that the transport union rejected the vehicles because they are overpriced.

He disclosed at the time that the GPRTU agreed with the government to purchase a saloon car at a high purchase but the price was GHc85, 000 including insurance, one percent interest, and other cost but the union rejected the offer.

The buses were to be purchased by GPRTU at a cost of GHc700, 000 each but they refused to purchase them claiming the buses were overpriced.

But after renegotiation, GPRTU has taken custody of the vehicles at a cost of GHc300, 000.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony, CEO of MASLOC, Stephen Amoah expressed joy that GPRTU has finally taken the buses.

He further expressed gratitude to other stakeholders in getting these buses where they are today.

He also announced that MASLOC has done so well by reducing the interest rate by 50% from 24% per annum to 12% per annum.

Read:Driver, mate arrested over police assault transferred to BNI Headquarters

He said an amount of GHc20,000 could be borrowed without collateral.

The Board Chairman of MASLOC, Mr. Seth Adjei Baah aka Shaaba admonished the GPRTU to use the buses decently and achieve the target for the repayment.

He also asked the GPRTU to use the buses as a way to improve the transport system as well as improve their income and contribute their quota to the national development agenda.

Touching on road accidents and the need to maintain discipline on our roads, he encouraged GRPTU to operate the buses in a manner that would help promote safety and curb the carnage on our roads.

Chairman for the GPRTU, Mr. Kwame Kumah on his part described the ceremony as beautiful and great.

He extended gratitude on behalf of the GPRTU to the Chief of Staff, Frema Opare for her role towards the renegotiation.

He advised drivers who would have access to the buses to make good use of them.

Source: rainbowradioonline.com

Sergeant Atsu Sekey, a dispatch rider attached to the office of former President John Rawlings has survived over 10 gunshots.

He was shot at Community 22, a suburb of Tema in the Greater Accra Region.

He was rushed to the Tema General Hospital where he is receiving treatment at the Emergency Unit of the hospital.

Read: Motor rider, passenger crushed to death at Wulensi

The incident occurred at about 10:30 pm on July 13, 2019 when the officer was on patrol duties at Community 22 Junction on his motorbike with registration number GP 4405.

A police source told DGN Online that the officer escorted Flt Lt Rawlings to Aqua Safari Resort in Ada in the Greater Accra Region earlier in the day before the unfortunate incidence.

 

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

The Tema Regional Police Command is on a manhunt for three robbers who attacked a Shell fuel filling station at the Tema Motorway Roundabout on Sunday, July 14, 2019.

According a press statement issued by the Tema Regional Police Command and signed by its PRO, DSP Joseph Benefo Darkwah, “the three men arrived at the filling station onboard a black Toyota Corolla saloon car with registration number GG 991-18 at about 11.50am, held seven workers and two customers hostage at gunpoint and robbed them of their valuables”.

The statement said: “police investigations revealed that items stolen included an Apple MacBook Pro laptop, a Dell laptop, one Motorola Z2 mobile phone and an MTN router.”

The rest are GHC 3,000 worth of MTN recharge cards, a system unit and an unspecified amount of money.

The statement noted that nobody was injured during the robbery.

The statement said the Police has since visited the crime scene and has in their custody, the CCTV footages which are currently being examined to possibly aide them in the arrest of the robbers.

“We assure the public [that] the police are working assiduously to make sure the perpetrators of this crime are brought to book. We are appealing to the general public that anyone with relevant information that will help crack this case should not hesitate to contact the nearest police station or contact police on the following numbers;18555 MTN Toll Free 0542719093 MTN, 0571017996 AirtelTigo,” the statement added.

Source: citinewsroom.com

The Tema Regional Police Command is on a manhunt for three robbers who attacked a Shell fuel filling station at the Tema Motorway Roundabout on Sunday, July 14, 2019.

According a press statement issued by the Tema Regional Police Command and signed by its PRO, DSP Joseph Benefo Darkwah, “the three men arrived at the filling station onboard a black Toyota Corolla saloon car with registration number GG 991-18 at about 11.50am, held seven workers and two customers hostage at gunpoint and robbed them of their valuables”.

Read:Stop the deceit Families of kidnapped Takoradi girls descend on Police Service

The statement said: “police investigations revealed that items stolen included an Apple MacBook Pro laptop, a Dell laptop, one Motorola Z2 mobile phone and an MTN router.”

The rest are GHC 3,000 worth of MTN recharge cards, a system unit and an unspecified amount of money.

The statement noted that nobody was injured during the robbery.

Read:Driver with expired license allegedly tries bribing police with GHc10

The statement said the Police has since visited the crime scene and has in their custody, the CCTV footages which are currently being examined to possibly aide them in the arrest of the robbers.

“We assure the public [that] the police are working assiduously to make sure the perpetrators of this crime are brought to book. We are appealing to the general public that anyone with relevant information that will help crack this case should not hesitate to contact the nearest police station or contact police on the following numbers;18555 MTN Toll Free 0542719093 MTN, 0571017996 AirtelTigo,” the statement added.

Source: citinewsroom.com

The work of the Special Prosecutor is allegedly being hampered greatly by heads of some government institutions in the country.

If such hindrances are not checked, the fight against corruption may not be won by the Akufo-Addo government and the purpose for which the Office of the Special Prosecutor was set up will be defeated as the office may make little or no impact.

This complaint was made by the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, in a write-up in which he made known a litany of challenges the office was facing in its quest to fight corruption in the country.

According to him, some heads of institutions are simply refusing to comply with the laid down regulations of good governance and the protection of the national purse.

“The biggest challenge facing the Office of the Special Prosecutor as an anti-corruption investigatory and prosecutorial body in spite of all the powers conferred upon it is not the President who promised the people of Ghana to establish the Office but the heads of institutions who simply refuse to comply with laws designed to ensure good governance and to protect the national purse by fighting corruption.”

Mr. Amidu wrote in his piece that the “heads of institutions wantonly disregard statutory requests made by the Office for information and production of documents to assist in the investigation of corruption and corruption-related offences, in spite of the fact that the President has on a number of occasions admonished them on such misconduct.”

The Special Prosecutor said he has the right to sue such institutions through the Attorney if they refuse to release documents to help in investigations.

“The Office of the Special Prosecutor Act empowers the Office to enforce the production of information and documents in the Courts against any public institution that fails or refuses to honour the lawful request of the Office. This Office can also go to the High Court to compel heads of institutions to obey the laws that support the fight against corruption. The consequence will be that in accordance with the civil procedure rules this Office will have to sue the Attorney General as the representative of the State.”

Read: Lead fight against procurement related corruption Minority Leader charges parliament

He also complained about interferences from some of these agencies, whose names he did not mention in the write-up.

“There have also been cases where some heads of institutions have made it their habit to interfere with and undermine the independence of this Office by deliberately running concurrent investigations falling within the jurisdiction of this Office with on-going investigations in this Office for the sole purpose of aborting investigations into corruption and corruption-related offences.”

The Office of the Special Prosecutor has been chastised by Ghanaians for being ineffective in its fight against corruption over a year since it was established.

But Amidu complained that, although his outfit is doing everything possible to fight corruption, such hindrances are making things difficult.

“Some of the foregoing malfeasance has seriously affected the ability of this Office to deliver on its mandate, particularly when it must depend on some of these very institutions for seconded staff until it employs its own. The questions of anti-corruption work values and culture, and condoning indiscipline by some seconded staff by their parent institutions have surfaced and become public in some instances.”

“What is worrying to this Office as an anti-corruption investigation and prosecutorial agency is the refusal of heads of institutions to take steps to enforce basic rules of discipline governing their institutions even when they know that their officers are under investigation, have been cautioned, bailed, and eventually even charged with corruption and corruption-related offences.”

Read: Amidu using Special Prosecutor office to settle personal scores Edudzi Tamakloe

He stated that per law, when a public officer is under investigation, he or she has to be interdicted but the heads of such agencies deliberately refuse to do that.

“Unfortunately, the experience of the Office of the Special Prosecutor is that when it comes to fighting corruptions and corruption-related offences, heads of institutions think that the rules on interdiction and/or indefinite leave of public officers do not apply to corruption and corruption-related offences.”

Mr. Amidu in his piece urged the public and civil society organizations to support his work.

“The Office of the Special Prosecutor cannot fight corruption unless the public and civil society give it their fullest support and put pressure on the political elite to obey the laws that enable the Office to achieve its mandate.”

“The President, the Minister of Finance, the Chief of Staff, the Auditor General, the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice, and the Financial Intelligence Center have been very supportive of the Office thus far. But the response by other heads of institutions to the instructions from the Executive Branch appears to have been treated with impunity as far as the records show. Corruption cannot be fought on the so-called reputation of a few people. Every citizen needs to get involved now before the canker consumes the whole body politic,” he added.

Source: citinewsroom.com

John Dramani Mahama, former President of the Republic of Ghana, has called on Christians to continue to show compassion to others as it is a key requirement of the Christian faith.

“Without showing consideration to people in adversity, we fail to live up to our faith as Christians.”

Read: John Mahama was speaking as the special guest of honour for the launch of CEM Ability Village

Former President Mahama said this, when he spoke as the special guest of honour at the maiden project launch of the Charismatic Evangelistic Ministry (CEM) Ability Village, on Sunday in Accra.

Touching on the CEM Ability Village project which would provide a safe haven for physically challenged persons, he said it was most unfortunate that some people discriminated against others who were challenged physically.

Read: Lack of succession planning affects many institutions Mahama

The Former President said besides the fact that it was wrong to discriminate against people because they had physical defects, it was worth realising that anybody could become physically impaired at any time as a result of a number of factors such as accidents and ailments.

He said it was worth every effort to discard all forms of discrimination against the physically challenged and rather find ways at all levels, to ensure that such persons did not unduly suffer because of their circumstances.

The former President said the decency of a nation is judged by the general state of the physically challenged within that state, and urged the citizenry, organisations and policymakers, to be sensitive to the needs of the physically challenged in the society.

Mrs Cynthia Morrison, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, said government through her Ministry would work with all stakeholders to ensure the success of the project.

She said being physically impaired puts one in a challenging position that required a lot of support and understanding.

The Minister said one of the ways in which the society could help physically challenged persons, was to support them with an environment which brought out their creative and productive abilities and ensured that they found as much fulfilment in life as possible.

Reverend Steve Mensah, General Overseer of the CEM, and President of the CEM Ability Village said in his sermon that the time had come “for us to invest our resources to lift persons with disabilities from the quagmire our society has placed them in”.

He said as Christians, it was not enough to perform religious duties adding that showing kindness, care and concern, formed part of the core duties of every Christian.

Rev Mensah said it was not right for society to treat persons living with disability in a manner that stripped them of their dignity as human beings.

“We have a responsibility to support and encourage people with disabilities to realise their dreams and lead fulfilled lives,” he said.

Mr Yaw Debrah, chairman, National Disability Council, said the initiative was most laudable because physically challenged people typically found comfort in each other.

He said an environment which was particularly created to suit their needs and also ensure that they could find several others who shared in their plight was thus most soothing.

Mr Debrah said the project would improve upon the image of the disabled and as well as their well being and comfort and appealed for support from all stakeholders.

The CEM Ability Village, an initiative of the Charismatic Evangelistic Ministry, is a charity focused on empowering persons with disabilities to live more fulfilling and dignified lives in the society.

It seeks to help eliminate stigmatization against the physically challenged, raise awareness of their needs and provide the requisite services to enable them to integrate effectively into society.

The Village is a proposed residential and livelihood empowerment community that would be located on a one thousand acre land at Ningo in the Greater Accra Region, purposely designed for persons with disability.

The project is estimated to cost 85 million United States dollars, and funding is mainly expected from international donor organisations, corporate organisations, government and non-governmental organisations amongst others.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Mrs Mami Dufie Ofori, Executive Secretary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), has called on the public to halt the illegal connection of utilities to ensure improved service delivery to all in the society.

She said illegal connection of utilities is one of the main challenges the utility companies face and this is making it difficult for them to deliver good and reliable services to customers.

Read: Accra East ECG recovers GHC6.2m from illegal connections

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Tamale over the weekend, Mrs Ofori said a customer might be disconnected for some reasons including owing a bill, safety reasons or defaulting on an agreed payment amongst others.

She said self-reconnection of utilities after a disconnection was an offense which could lead to arrest and prosecution.

Read: ECG busts 40 companies for illegal connection

Mrs Ofori said some of the effects of illegal connection include overloading of transformers and lines, poor electricity supply to the premises, and possible damage to electrical appliances.

She urged the public to pay their utility bills for improved, reliable and sustainable service delivery.

Mrs Ofori said a total of number of 185 complaints were received against the utility companies by the end of June, adding that one of them was outstanding while 11 were at various stages of resolution.

She said 132 complaints out the total number received during the period were against the Volta River Authority/ Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) and 53 were against Ghana Water Company Limited.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Residents of Zenu in the Kpong Katamanso Municipality have been asked to prepare for flood rated challenges as the rains set in.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr Mutawakilu Bashiru, Director, Kpone Katamanso National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) said some residents have defied all odds to build on waterways, making it difficult for water to flow freely when it rains.

Read: NADMO receives GH¢1 million to pay June 3 flood victims

Mr.Bashiru, who doubles as the Assembly Member, Akansa electoral area, explained that all efforts made to prevent residents from building on waterways had not been successful.

According to him, some of the residents had bought plots in dam sites, a situation he claimed could cause a disaster should there be a downpour.

Read: NADMO issues flood alert ahead of Bagre dam spillage

The Municipal NADMO boss stated that the situation was affecting other residents as flash floods ended up in their rooms any time it rained because the natural courses had been blocked.

He advised residents and prospective developers to acquire building permits from the Municipal Assembly before building.

He advised those occupying buildings in waterways to relocate “to prevent any further danger to lives and properties”.

Some of the residents who spoke to the GNA on condition of anonymity, pleaded to the authorities not to demolish their houses.

When the GNA was leaving the site, officials of the Kpone Katamanso Municipal Engineering Department were meeting with stakeholders to decide on the next line of action.

Source: Ghananewsagency.org

The National Identification Authority (NIA) is charging foreigners $120 each for a non-citizen Ghana card.

This has raised concerns among the foreigner community in the country who say the amount is outrageous as they are already being charged for the renewal of resident permits.

Read: NCCE calls for extensive sensitisation on NIA registration

The NIA in an advertisement in the Daily Graphic last week said, “The National Identification Authority (NIA) in line with the National Identification Register Act, 2008 (Act 750), L.I 2111, is registering all foreign nationals resident in Ghana for 90 days or more and issuing them with the non-citizens Ghana Card issued at any Foreign Identification Management System (FIMS) registration centre.

“The non-citizen Ghana Card shall be used for ALL transactions which require identification. Eligible foreign nationals who do not have a non-citizen citizen Ghana card are in breach of the law and may be refused access to essential services in Ghana,” the advert noted.

Read: Over 500,000 Ghana cards ready for distribution in Accra NIA

The NIA said all foreign nationals living in Ghana above age six are required to register for the card except “foreign nationals and their families working for the United Nations (UN), Embassies and Consulates.”

The NIA further warned that no foreigner will be issued with a residence permit or be allowed to renew their permit without the non-citizen Ghana card.

Meanwhile, the International Spouses Association of Ghana (ISAG), an association of spouses of Ghana citizens are also protesting the move. They questioned the relevance of the card because they already possess identity documents which bear the same details that would be featured on the cards.

They content that they must not be included in the category of expatriates since they fall in a unique category by virtue of the fact that they are married

The spokesperson for the International Spouses Association of Ghana, Katie Danquah said “despitefully supporting the aim of producing a new national ID and electronic register that will enable the government plan for all persons living within Ghana, we strongly believe that foreign spouses of citizens of Ghana cannot be placed on the same categories as all other foreigners,” she said.

She added that, “the special circumstances of foreign spouses entitle them to equal treatment within socio-economic laws that benefit from their Ghanaian counterparts.”

Source: citinewsroom.com

Public Relations Officer of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) Nana Osei Nkwantabis, has charged the leadership of the Rastafari Council to be civil and professional in how they operate.

Read: NACOB destroys narcotic drugs, warning against abuse and illicit trafficking

According to him, he has not been contacted to be part of any cannabis conference which is organised by the Rastafari Council and has not given his consent for his name to be included as part of the speakers on the day.

Nana Osei Nkwantabisa indicated that, “The move by the Rastafari Council is a ploy to discredit my reputation and institution (NACOB) with their insignificant and mischievous agenda.”

Read: NACOB busts 4 drug trafficking kingpins

The Rastafari Council in a tract inviting members to the first national cannabis conference has the NACOB PRO as one of the guest speakers who will be speaking on NACOB and cannabis licensing.

But in a statement copied to GhanaWeb, Nana Osei Nkwantabisa emphasised that “I have not granted any permission to be part of the Rastafari Council meeting and would urge all to disregard this circular.”

Read the full statement below

Re: 1st National Cannabis Conference by Rastafari Council

Disclaimer

I have not granted permission to appear on the programme – NACOB PRO

My attention has been drawn to a poster purported to be circulated by the Rastafari Council.

To set the record straight, I have not granted any permission to be part of the Rastafari Council meeting and would urge all to disregard this circular.

The council led by its leadership must be professional and civil in their operation since I have never come into contact with the said group nor have I agreed to appear on their programme as a panel member nor received an official communique or letter of invitation.

The move by the Rastafari Council is a ploy to discredit my reputation and institution (NACOB) with their insignificant and mischievous agenda.

I, therefore, demand an immediate apology from the council and retraction/deletion of my name from the poster which has widely been circulated in the mass media and on social media by the close of day Monday 15 July 2019.

End…..

Nana Osei Nkwantabisa

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Seven farming communities near Coaltar in the Ayensuano District of the Eastern Region have appealed to the Department of Feeder Roads and the District Assembly to re-gravel the road network in the area.

The communities complained that about 22 feeder roads in the area are in a deplorable state, making travelling a big challenge.

Read: Truck veers off road at Nungua

The communities are Abiesikrom, Obowunsu, Tomkrom, Awereso, Bada, Mamakrom and Akotuakrom.

Briefing the Ghana News Agency after a meeting held by the farmers at Abiesikrom, Nana Abiesi Kumi II, Chief of Abiesikrom said the rehabilitation of the roads in the area would help the communities to easily transport their farm produce to the marketing centres.

Read: Angry contractors besiege Road Ministry to demand payment for contracts executed

Nana Kumi said because of the deplorable roads in the communities, the farmers had no choice than to carry their foodstuffs, including cocoa, to Marfokrom, about seven kilometers away, before transporting their produce to the marketing centers.

Nana Kumi said the rehabilitation of the roads would also enable the communities to send their patients to nearby clinics and hospital on time.

He said after a snake bite in the area, the victims are carried on shoulders for seven kilometres to reach a clinic at Marfokrom, adding that, students also walk long distances to get to school.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Nurses and Midwives Council registrar has been reported to the Special Prosecutor over claims he awarded himself a ?2m contract to build a house.

A group, Alliance for Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA) in a petition said, it has evidence of procurement breaches, tax fraud and corruption against the Registrar, Felix Nyante.

Read: Amidu using Special Prosecutor office to settle personal scores Edudzi Tamakloe

The Executive Director Mensah Thompson who signed the petition said these infractions occurred between 2014 and 2016.

The petition reads that in 2016, Mr. Nyante, without recourse to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), constructed a file house where documents of the council are stored.

Read: Anas to petition Special Prosecutor over Galamsey fraud video

He first obtained approval from the PPA to allow the restrictive tendering process in the bid for the construction. Three companies were selected for the bid as letters show.

But the project, first valued at ?400,000 went ahead without any award to these companies. According to ASEPA, the Registrar built the house by himself in contravention of Section 38(b) of the Public Procurement Act.

The project also ended up costing the NMC more than ?2million, the petitioner says.

The Registrar and the Chief Accountant who are the signatories to the NMC account, acted in concert to pay Mr. Nyante the monies, ASEPA says in the petition.

In September 2015, the NMC also procured CCTV cameras at an inflated cost of more than 300%, the petitioner states.

According to the petition, a company Jin Hong Yi Ltd, was selected without any valid procurement process to buy for the Council, CCTV cameras in September 2015.

ASEPA said as at September 2015, the average market value of 42 high-resolution cameras was ?150,000.

In exhibit 2A attached to the petition, the NMC paid more than ?594,000, the group said and decried an over bloated cost of 300% for the 42 cameras.

In the allegations of tax fraud, the petitioner explained that in March 2014, a set of furniture was procured on the instructions of the Registrar.

In March 2014, the Council contracted a Company called Okore Technology at the instruction of the Registrar to supply furniture to the Council.

Payment voucher raised for the payment of this contract which is attached and labeled as Exhibit 1A indicates that, a Withholding Tax of about ?17,688 was accrued in the payment of about ?415,688 to Okore Technology.

In total, the tax component for the said procurement amounted to about ?144,000 after the procurement process.

Checks at the Ghana Revenue Authority, however, revealed that as at 2014 when this procurement was done, the Company Okore Technology, was not registered with the Ghana Revenue Authority and was not paying taxes to the Government, according to the petitioner.

ASEPA said it suspects the company was formed by persons within the Council to facilitate the award of contracts to themselves.

According to ASEPA, when the internal audit unit of the Council raised concerns in November 2015, over alleged illegal activities at the Council, Felix Nyante wrote a memo instructing all pre-audits at the unit to stop.

The petitioner says this is in breach of the Public Financial Management procedures.

Felix Nyante confirmed he is under investigations by the NMC Board which was also copied in the petition.

He would not confirm or deny the allegations and stated he had been instructed by the Board not to speak until its internal investigations are completed.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

There was chaos at Nungua Kantamanto on Monday evening when a truck carrying a container veered off the road and crashed into a parked Toyota SUV and some motorcycles.

According to eyewitnesses, the driver of the truck with registration number GT 8337 X, was coming from the Ashaiman end of the Beach Road when he reportedly experienced a brake failure and started blowing the horn and flashing lights to warn other vehicles out of the way.

Read: Scores injured in multiple accidents on Accra-Kumasi Highway

Realising, he could not stop the truck, the driver reportedly opened the door and turned the vehicle sharply towards a tree just before the Nungua Kantamanto bus stop.

The area which is prone to vehicular traffic jams witnessed a heavy traffic after the accident.

A crowd thronged the scene of the accident.

There were no casualties.

When Graphic Online arrived at the scene, officers from the Ghana National Fire Service were at the scene to tow away the damaged vehicles.

The driver was not immediately available for a comment.

Source: Graphic.com.gh

Fifty illegal miners have been arrested by Operation Vanguard, the team tasked to end activities of illegal miners in the country.

The arrests were effected in two separate operations in the Western and Eastern regions over the past week.

Read: Some locals are protecting illegal miners Operation Vanguard

Those arrested includes; Chinese, Guinean and Burkinabe nationals.

While locals have been handed over to the police for possible prosecution, the foreign nationals, as well as excavators that were confiscated, have been handed over to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining for action to be taken.

Read: Operation Vanguard arrests 1,687 illegal miners so far

The Operation Vanguard team has however bemoaned the support of some local residents in harbouring illegal miners which it says hampers its operations.

Another action in the Central region has led to the destruction of ninety-four changfan machines used for the mining.

Source: citinewsroom.com

Sgt. Atsu Sekey, the regular police dispatch rider of former President Jerry John Rawlings narrowly escaped death at the hands of suspected robbers last Saturday night, when they shot at him severally at the Community 22 junction, Tema.

Sgt. Atsu escaped with a broken arm bone and has since been transferred from the Tema General Hospital where he was first admitted to.

Read: Deaf Football Association honours Rawlings

A security source tells Graphic Online no less than 16 pellets had been removed from his body and that “He was saved by his instinct…he jumped behind a truck and that saved him.”

Sgt. Atsu was said to have closed from work and was heading home when he was hit by the driver of an unregistered Toyota Corolla who was driving in the wrong lane.

Read: Indiscipline & sheer recklessness cause of road deaths Rawlings

“The driver hit Sgt. Sekey whilst maneuvering in the wrong lane and failed to stop. This led to a hot chase and after Sgt. Sekey caught up. After he caught up with the car in a dead end and got down, the guy managed to turn and rush on the rider with the car and started shooting. It was likely a second person in the car who did the shooting”, the security source told Graphic Online.

The source said the intent of the attacker(s) was to “fatally hurt him”, and that it was at this point that he instinctively jumped behind a truck to save himself.

Source: Graphic.com.gh

The Tema Regional Police Command says they are on a manhunt for three persons who allegedly robbed the Shell Filling Station at the Tema Motorway Roundabout on Sunday, July 14, 2019.

A CCTV footage from the scene showed the three men arriving at the filling station on board a black Toyota Corolla saloon car with registration number GG 991-18 at about 11.50am.

Read: Robbers attack commercial bus on Tarkwa-Takoradi Highway

They held seven workers and two customers hostage at gunpoint and robbed them of their valuables.

A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Tema Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police, (DSP) Mr. Joseph Benefo Darkwah, said police investigations have revealed that items stolen included an Apple MacBook Pro laptop, a Dell laptop, one Motorola Z2 mobile phone and an MTN router.

Mr Darkwah said other items also taken away included MTN recharge cards worth GHC¢3,000, a computer system unit and an unspecified amount of money.

He said nobody was injured during the robbery.

Read: Suspected armed robber killed

Mr Darkwah said following a visit to the crime scene, police have retrieved the CCTV footages and other relevant materials as part of the investigations.

He assured the public that the police were working assiduously to make sure the perpetrators of the crime were brought to book.

He appealed to the public to give relevant information to assist the police to arrest the perpetrators. Anybody with information should call:

18555 MTN Toll Free

0542719093 MTN

0571017996 AirtelTigo

 

Source: Graphic.com.gh

Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, the longest-serving Member of Parliament (MP) in the 4th Republic, is bowing out of parliament.

He has been representing the people of Nadowli-Kaleo in the Upper West Region since January 7, 1993 on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), but as at the close of nomination by the NDC for aspirants for the 2020 general election, Mr. Bagbin was said not to have picked or submitted his candidature.

Read: Eight women to contest NDC Parliamentary primaries in Central Region

Mr. Bagbin has not commented on why he did not pick up any nomination forms, and it is also not clear if he intends to contest on a different ticket.

He was one of the aspirants who wanted to lead the NDC as flagbearer but was overwhelmingly defeated by former President John Mahama, who wants to rule Ghana once again.

Apart from Mr. Bagbin, four other NDC MPs in the Volta Region did not also pick nomination forms for the parliamentary primaries slated for August.

They include Richard Quashigah (Keta), Clement Kofi Humado (Anlo), Franklin Fifi Fiavi Kwetey (Ketu South) and Dr. Bernice Adiku Heloo (Hohoe).

James Gunu, Volta regional secretary of the NDC, who confirmed the news to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said a total of 15 women out of 74 persons picked nomination forms after the closing of nomination on Friday to contest various parliamentary seats in the region.

He said Charles Agbeve, MP for Agortime-Ziope, was going unopposed because he was the only aspirant who picked nomination form to contest after the close of nomination.

Mr. Gunu added that the Functional Executive Committee (FEC), in consultation with the general secretary, had directed that the selection process for the parliamentary primaries in the Hohoe Constituency be allowed to continue with immediate effect.

Read: NDC Primaries: Three pick forms to contest Jomoro seat

He said that followed a meeting between the FEC and Hohoe Constituency executives of the party on Friday.

The regional secretary indicated that the date has been extended to Tuesday for eligible party members who wish to contest the parliamentary primaries in the Hohoe Constituency to pick nomination forms.

Mr. Gunu revealed that the original time table for the conduct of the parliamentary primaries remains unchanged and indicated the determination of the leadership of the party in the region to create a level playing field for all aspirants for free, fair, credible and transparent primaries.

 

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

At the close of nominations, Friday July 12,a total of three(3) of the seven(7) incumbent Members of Parliament in the newly created Savannah region have picked nomination forms to run unopposed in the upcoming NDC parliamentary primaries.

In a bid to seek re-election to parliament in 2020 on the ticket of the opposition National Democratic Congress, incumbent MP for Yapei Kusawgu constituency and former Deputy Power Minister,Mr.John Abdulai Jinapor; Incumbent MP for Sawla-Tuna-Kalba constituency,Mr.Andrew Dari Chiwitey and incumbent MP for Bole-Bamboi constituency, Mr.Sulemana Yussif are uncontested in the NDC’s impending parliamentary primaries scheduled for August 24, 2019.

Read: Lead fight against procurement related corruption Minority Leader charges parliament

Meanwhile, Minority Spokesperson on Mines and Energy and incumbent Member of Parliament for Damongo constituency,Mr. Adam Mutawakilu is being challenged by the 46-year-old headmaster of Yagbum J.H.S,Mr.Yakubu Yussif.

In the Daboya-Mankarigu constituency, young lawyer and one-term MP, Mr.Mahama shaibu is keenly being contested by the immediate past MP for the constituency and business magnate,Mr.Baani Abudu Nelson and Mr.Dingana Timothy.

The battle to annex the Salaga South Constituency seat currently being occupied by the Savannah Regional Minister,Mr.Salifu Adam Braimah has just been drawn as former MP, Ibrahim Abubakari Dey, Mr.Ahmed Saaka Shaibu Dan,Madam Zuwera Ibrahimah, Mr.Lukman Musah Jawular and Mr.Mahama Rashad are in the race to represent the NDC in a bid to reclaim what they describe,”their lost seat”.

Mr.Alhassan Mumuni, incumbent MP for Salaga North Constituency would have to battle-it-out with the likes of Mr.Abdulai Mohammed and Alhaji Rabiu in a bid to retain his seat on the ticket of the opposition National Democratic Congress.

In all,fifteen(15) prospective aspirants across the seven constituencies in the region have picked up nomination forms to run in the forthcoming parliamentary primaries,consisting of only one female and 14 males with three incumbent MPs’ running unchallenged.
The NDC currently holds six of the seven seats in the region.The Salaga South Constituency is the only seat being occupied by an NPP MP.

In the infant North East Region,21 prospective candidates across five constituencies picked nomination forms,with no incumbent MP going unopposed.Only one female prospective aspirant picked nomination forms.
The electoral process in Chereponi constituency in the region has been suspended according to a statement signed by the party’s General Secretary,Mr .Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and sighted by Ghanaweb’s Ananpansah B Abraham.

The parent Northern region that birthed the Savannah region and North East region has a total of 62 people picking nomination forms,with the minority leader and incumbent MP for Tamale South Constituency, Mr.Haruna Iddrisu running the election unopposed for the fourth time in a row.
The election will not be conducted in the Kpandai and Bimbilla constituencies as the said constituencies are among the 17 constituencies across the country were the electoral process has been suspended.

Nomination forms were picked at a cost of Ghc2,000 with filing fees pegged at Ghc35,000 for all contestants except women and Persons Living with Disabilities(PLWDs),who are to pay Ghc17,500.
Filing of nomination forms is scheduled for 18th July,2019 and 19th July,2019.
Vetting of prospective aspirants is expected to follow from the 24th-to-25th July across the country, whereas various appeals for disqualification would be considered from the 29th of July,2019, to the 31st of July,2019,after which the party will issue a notice of poll.

As part of the qualification procedures,prospective aspirants have been referred to the 1992 constituency for further clarifications on their eligibility.Normal procedural errors would not form a basis for disqualification of any candidate, however, defrauding by false pretense and impersonation will invalidate the candidature of potential candidates.

Read: Four Volta regional NDC MPs to leave Parliament

The 8th parliament will miss the faces and articulate voices of fine parliamentarians from the five regions in the north such as,the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament and NDC MP for Nadowli West Constituency,Mr.Alban Sumani Kingsford Bagbin and former Roads and Highways Minster and MP for Tamale Central, Mr.Inusah Fuseini.

The duo failed to pick nomination forms at the close of nominations. Speculations are rife that, Mr.Alban Bagbin,Ghana’s longest serving MP took the decision not to rerun the election after the youth of the constituency pressed on him to give way for a new and young face to take over.

 

Source: Ananpansah B Abraham

The National Security Coordinator, the Inspector General of Police and the Attorney General have been sued by the Editor of Mordernghana.com, Emmanuel Ajarfor.

Ajarfor has filed a suit at the Human Rights Division of the High Court against the security capos alleging the violation of his right to personal liberty, fair trial and human dignity, following his arrest last month by operatives of National Security.

Read: Medical report indicates possibility of torture on Modern Ghana journalist OneGhana Movement

Mr Adjarfor was arrested last month from his office together with a reporter, Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum over what security operatives said was in connection with cyber crime.

The two were held for two days before being released, however they alleged torture in the hands of the national security operatives. Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum has since denied ever being tortured.

The controversial arrest and surrounding circumstances have since elicited calls for an independent probe, with the Ghana Journalists Association in particular condemning the arrest and alleged torture.

Read: Arrest of journalists: Medical report not enough to prove torture Doctor

The High Court suit is seeking orders directed at the Attorney General to prosecute the officers alleged to have tortured Mr Ajarfor, the release of all seized items back to him and compensation, according to a report monitored on Citi News.

Counsel for Mr. Ajarfor, Samson Lardy Anyenini also hinted at civil suit against the perpetrators of the illegal and unconstitutional and criminal conduct.

 

Source: Graphic.com.gh

A police reinforcement team from the Eastern regional Command is heading to Akyem Gyampomani and Hemang communities to maintain law and order following clashes between residents of the two communities after a protest by residents of Akyem Hemang against Dome Mining.

Read: Driver with expired license allegedly tries bribing police with GHc10

The town folks protesting the pollution of the Birim river and degrading of the environment by the mining firm.

Residents of Gyampomani subsequently mounted road block preventing cars from moving to and from the Akyem Hemang amidst molestation and manhandling of drivers and passengers, while threatening to clash with protesters at Akyem Hemang opposing mining in the area.

Read: Police seek man who attempted setting wife, 2 children ablaze

They accused residents of Akyem Hemang of being incited by their destooled chief Prof. Mirikissi Apori Atta.

Police team from Kibi District which later arrived in the community were resisted by the residents of Gyampomani hence the deployment of Counter Terrorism Unit from the Regional Police Command to the community.

 

Source: starrfm.com.gh

A video of how a young boy was gruesomely murdered on the orders of the Chief of Mamponteng-Hemang in the Ashanti Region has gone viral.

Kasapafmonline.com has gathered that the sacrifice of the boy was to appease the gods of the town, for which reason is yet to be established.

In the video, the horrified inhabitants are heard pleading “the blood of Jesus Christ” on the murderers while they undertake the sacrifice of the boy, while others called for the head of the chief.

The elders of the town are also seen standing heartlessly right at the spot of the sacrifice.

Two Police vehicles are also parked at the crime scene. It is not immediately known what actions the police who are said to be in the pocket of the Chief took after the incident.

This website has not been able to reach both the Mamponteng-Hemang Police and the Chief of the town to confirm the incident.

Watch the video below.

Source: kasapafmonline.com

Illegal mining task force Operation Vanguard says their undercover investigations have revealed that some locals are protecting illegal miners in the various communities.

President Akufo Addo in 2017 set up Operation Vanguard which is a Military Police Joint Task Force (JTF) to combat the operation of galamsey,illegal mining in Ghana.

On Saturday, 13 July 2019, Operation Vanguard personnel in the Western region arrested 16 suspected Chinese illegal miners in Enchi Kwahu in the Aowin District together with five excavators they have been using in their operations.

Again, 34 other suspected illegal miners were arrested in the East Akim Municipality in the Eastern region on Friday.

Read: Operation Vanguard arrests 1,687 illegal miners so far

The suspects, who were made up of both locals and foreigners were apprehended in the general area of Asiakwa.Nine of the suspects who were locals were handed over to civil police at Kibi for prosecution while the others 16 Chinese, 22 Guinean and three Burkinabe nationals and the five excavators have been handed over to IMCIM for further action.

Speaking on Starr FM, the PRO of Operation Vanguard Captain Andrew Sowatey said some locals have resorted to providing safe havens for some illegal miners.

“Our Operations have uncovered that some of the locals have been providing safe haven for some of these illegal miners both local and foreign suspected illegal miners. The locals have rented out accommodation to them and sometimes protect them when we go out trying to gather information, confirm their whereabouts and apprehend them. Its something that has been happening and we have been trying to find a way around, its a challenge we have been facing”.

Source: primenewsghana.com