Author: Chris Kodo

Majority and Minority Members of Parliament (MPs) have expressed varied views on the need for the construction of the proposed 450-capacity chamber for Parliament.

Read: Constructing $200m Parliamentary chamber is good use of money NPP MP

While the Minority side felt that the construction of the new chamber was a misplaced priority, since there were more pressing issues, such as poor roads and challenging health care, the Majority MPs argued that having an expanded chamber would cater for any increase in the number of MPs in the future.

The Majority MPs, led by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Bantama, Mr Daniel Okyem Aboagye, and the NPP MP for Manso-Adubia, Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo, and the Minority side, headed by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for North Tongu, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and the NDC MP for Buem, Mr Daniel Kwesi Ashiamah, were sharing their views on the proposed new chamber in separate interviews with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday.

Read: #DropthatChamber: Ghanaians protest construction of new Parliamentary chamber

The new chamber is to house other facilities, including diplomatic offices, a library, a museum, a church, a mosque, eateries, press conference rooms, galleries, a car park, an upper gallery garden, a post office and other facilities to complete the Parliamentary Enclave.

Minority’s concerns

Leading the debate for the Minority side, Mr Ablakwa said the money that would be used for the construction of the new chamber should rather be used to beef up research staff for MPs.

He said good calibre researchers could be attracted to conduct more research to aid the work of MPs.

Mr Ablakwa, who is the Ranking Member on the Foreign Affairs Committee, said in developed democracies, such as the United Kingdom, the United States of America and Kenya, legislators had offices in their respective constituencies.

Therefore, he said, the money should rather be channelled into the construction of offices for MPs to aid their work and deepen Ghana’s parliamentary democracy.

He said the Parliamentary Service Board (PSB) should have consulted MPs for their inputs before arriving at the decision to construct a new chamber.

He asked the PSB to take a second look at the proposed new chamber project, since it was not a priority now.

He suggested the capping of the number of MPs to avoid any increases which might not inure to the benefit of the people.

For his part, Mr Ashiamah said MPs did not need any expanded chamber and suggested that the money should rather be used to address the infrastructure challenges militating against the country’s development.

“On the scale of preference, the construction of a new chamber is not a pressing need for now,” he said.

He mentioned roads, hospitals and investment in industries as some of the areas that needed urgent attention but not an expanded chamber for MPs.

“If the government will do that (invest in infrastructure development), then I am ready to stand on my feet in Parliament to work as an MP,” he said.

Majority’s rebuttal

Leading the defence for the Majority side, Mr Aboagye said “the proposal for a new chamber is not out of place, as this is the type of governance we have chosen for ourselves”.

He said he supported the proposal for an expanded chamber because it would ensure equal representation of people in Parliament.

For instance, he said, a constituency with a population of about 10,000 had one MP, while a constituency with a population of about 130,000 also had one MP, which was not fair.

He said legislators from constituencies with small populations and those from constituencies with big populations received similar Common Fund allocations.

That arrangement, he said, was not fair, since MPs from highly populated constituencies faced huge demands from their constituents.

Therefore, Mr Aboagye said, there was the need to carve new constituencies from the big ones to ensure fairness in the representation of the people in Parliament and equal distribution of resources.

He said the construction of an expanded chamber would, therefore, cater for the expected increase in the number of MPs.

For his part, Mr Addo said the proposed chamber had received the approval of the PSB and indicated that the intention to have a new chamber to accommodate an expected increase in the number of legislators was germain.

He said the current chamber was built as a conference centre and, therefore, it was important for Parliament to construct a new chamber fit for purpose.

Mr Addo proposed that Parliament should explore other sources of funding for the construction of the new chamber.

For instance, he said, the Jubilee House was funded by the Indian Government and indicated that other countries or organisations could be ready to support the construction of a new chamber.

Source: www.graphic.com.gh

The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bantama Constituency, Daniel Okyem Aboagye has justified the proposed construction of a new Chamber of Parliament saying it is “something that is worth doing” and “good use of our money”.

Read: #DropthatChamber: Ghanaians protest construction of new Parliamentary chamber

When quizzed by on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show if the chamber which has been widely reported would cost $200m was the best use of money, the MP said: “…It is something that is worth doing, it is a good use of our money. Of course, we will not leave the rest of the issues untackled. Employment are being created, we are managing the economy very well. If we can have two hundred million dollars that is good money that can also be used to build our democracy, I think it’s a good use for me”.

The new parliamentary chamber which will have a sitting capacity for about 450 Members of Parliament when completed will be constructed by the architectural firm Adjaye & Associates.

It is expected to house facilities including diplomatic offices, a library, a museum, a church, a mosque, eateries, press conference rooms, galleries, a car park, an upper gallery garden, a post office and other facilities to complete the Parliamentary enclave.

Source: www.graphic.com.gh

The President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Affail Monney has called for an independent probe of the torture allegations against the National Security by the editor of news website Modern Ghana.

Speaking on Radio Ghana, Mr. Monney said the association was monitoring the progress of the case.

Read: Tension brews between GJA executives; Affail Monney accused of using GJA for his agenda

He added that “we believe that the time has come to move it to a new level by instituting an independent investigation into what happened to the two journalists.”

The association also has a team of lawyers “studying the situation” and Mr. Monney said they have requested for medical reports from the two journalists to possibly verify their claims.

Read: National Security Council denies torture claims by Modern Ghana journalist

“The lawyers are insisting that they will need the medical report which will serve as a basis for an action they intend to take,” the GJA president noted.

In the event that the torture claims are verified, Mr. Monney said: “we will push for the law [to take its course] because we are in the dispensation of rule of law and in such dispensations, no one is above the law.”

Emmanuel Ajarfor, the Modern Ghana editor, was detained alongside a fellow journalist, Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum.

The case has been surrounded by controversy after suggestions that the arrest of the two journalists was tied to the publication of an article that criticized the National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah.

Mr. Ajarfor later claimed he was tortured and his digital privacy violated while in National Security custody.

The National Security Council Secretariat has denied the torture claims and also intends to study the medical reports.

The secretariat in a statement said Mr. Ajarfor, “was never manhandled, neither was he subjected to any form of forced physical contact.”

Source: citinewsroom.com

The Ghana Police Service has taken delivery of 250 body cameras to be used by its personnel. This is the first batch of 3,000 pieces expected to be delivered by the close of this year as part of efforts to enhance police transparency and accountability.

Police body cameras are small-lensed devices, often worn on an officer’s chest to capture images. It has a microphone to record sounds and internal storage for data or footage for later review and analysis.

Read: Holistic approach needed to improve police transparency Security analyst

As part of the consignment delivered to the police are 4,500 body armour, ballistic helmets and riot control gadgets.

Six armoured vehicles, each with the capacity to carry 10 personnel for police operations, have also arrived at the Tema Port.

The equipment and vehicles constitute part of a GH¢800 million retooling budget for the Ghana Police Service, announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in his State of the Nation Address on February 8, 2018.

IGP hails

In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr David Asante-Apeatu, said the use of the gadgets would help the police a great deal.

Read: Police to deploy body cams in May

He said it would take away the issues of misconduct by personnel that would otherwise have taken supervisors to discover.

According to him, before a police officer was issued with a body camera, it would be tested to ensure that the sound, camera and recording functions were working.

“If you return from the field and cannot produce a report from your operation from the body camera, you will have to answer,” he said.

He said it would be in the interest of police officers to use the cameras because if a case was reported against an officer during an operation or exercise but there was no recording to back it, that officer would certainly be in trouble.

He explained that apart from recording events, the body cameras would be internet-operated and connected to the Police Command Centre where events and images would be transmitted live.

Mr Asante-Apeatu said in an area where there was no Internet connection, the cameras would record and be played back.
He said the Police Administration would be taking delivery of more of such modern equipment in the coming months.

Visit

The Director-General in charge of Services, Commissioner of Police (COP) Mr Alex Amponsah-Asiamah, had earlier conducted the Daily Graphic round the warehouse where the gadgets had been kept.

He said personnel would now be trained on the use of the cameras before their deployment.

Although the 250 body cameras are inadequate, he was hopeful that the arrival of the remaining pieces by the end of the year would go a long way to help deal with the issue of enhancing police transparency and accountability.

Mr Amponsah-Asiamah explained that the decision to use the body cameras formed part of the police transformation agenda to enhance public confidence in the service.

He added that the deployment of the body cameras would be handled by the Directorate of Operations of the Ghana Police Service.

Backlash

Two major incidents in March this year attracted a backlash on the police regarding their lack of accountability.

In the first instance, a policeman allegedly assaulted three journalists from Ghanaian Times. The officer allegedly seized the mobile phone one of the reporters was using to record a traffic offence involving him (the police officer).

In the second case, a driver and his mate were captured in a viral video assaulting another police officer.

Members of the public wondered what might have triggered the incident since the video only captured the assault.

Body Armour

On the acquisition of body armour and nose masks for personnel, Mr Amponsah-Asiamah said they would go a long way to protect those who would be sent to conflict zones and other violent areas.

Those on such operations, he added, would be transported by armoured vehicles.

Background

The Daily Graphic in its March 21, 2019, edition, reported on the plans by the Police Administration to deploy body cameras as part of efforts to enhance police transparency and accountability.

Source: Graphic.com.gh

A 16-year-old girl, who could not endure the pain of seeing her boyfriend in an amorous relationship with another teenager, has allegedly stabbed the man to death at Kade in the Eastern Region.

Read: Jilted lover,16, stabs boyfriend to death

The suspect, Fremah Asuming, who completed junior high school (JHS) in June, this year, has been placed in police custody to assist in investigations while the body of the deceased, Fred Gagblezu, a 21-year old taxi driver at Kade, has been deposited at the morgue of the Kade Government Hospital awaiting autopsy.

Police briefing

Briefing the Daily Graphic at Kade last Saturday, the Asamankese Divisional Crime Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Mr Christian Apronti, said Fremah and the man had been in a relationship for some time.

Read: Ipswich stabbing: Boy called for own ambulance after knife attack

He said around 8 p.m. last Friday, Fremah visited the boyfriend and realised that he was in the bedroom with his former girlfriend, Vida Yeboah, 16-year old JHS dropout, with whom the deceased had a baby girl.

Mr Apronti said Fremah shouted at the top of her voice asking Gagblezu to open the door and when he opened it, he asked Vida to leave the bedroom for Fremah to enter to avoid a clash between them.

Mr Apronti, who is the acting Kade District Police Commander, stated that no sooner had Fremah entered the bedroom than Vida, who was outside the room, heard Gagblezu screaming for help.

Pool of blood

He said Vida entered the bedroom and saw Gagblezu lying in a pool of blood on the floor, struggling and screaming for help after Fremah had stabbed him in the chest with a sharp knife.

The Divisional Crime Officer said the screams of Vida and the deceased attracted many people to the scene and they hurriedly sent Gagblezu to the Kade Government Hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival by the medical personnel on duty.

He said the people reported the matter to the Kade police who arrested Fremah that night and detained her.

Mr Apronti said Fremah would be prosecuted as soon as police completed their investigations.

Source: www.graphic.com.gh

Four envoys representing Switzerland, Botswana, New Zealand and Pakistan Tuesday presented their letters of Credence to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House in Accra.

The four envoys all harped on the need to deepen the ties and cooperation between their respective countries and Ghana, particularly in the areas of trade, investment and technical cooperation.

The Pakistani High Commissioner to Ghana, retired Major General Wagar Ahmad Kinggravi spoke about the cordial diplomatic relations between the two countries, stating his determination to further strengthen those ties.

He said Pakistan was committed to fostering its economic, social and political relations with Ghana.

“Our two great people are well familiar with each other’s system and ways of business and trade. We can share our experience in agriculture, education, medical, Information Technology, Engineering and military fields,” Maj. Gen Kingravi said.

With the advantage of English being a common language for communication in both states, the High Commissioner disclosed that Pakistan was eager to invite Ghanaians to take advantage of the conducive environment in textiles, cement and a whole range of agro-based industries.

“We would also like to participate in joint ventures in the field of fertilizer and oil/gas development,” he added.

The Pakistani envoy who also has concurrent accreditation to Gabon, Cameroon, Benin and Equatorial Guinea since 2018, commended President Akufo-Addo’s leadership, which he said had buttressed global acceptance of Ghana as one of the most stable democracies in Africa.

The Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Philip Stadler, on his part was positive that the bond between Ghana and Switzerland that dated back many years would blossom into a more fruitful relationship.

He noted the excellent economic cooperation between the two countries since 2002, hoping that his stay in Ghana would contribute to the diversification and deepening of trade and bilateral ties.

Mr Stadler noted that although Swiss companies run their business and investment decisions very independently from the government, that fact would not interfere with the overall quest to deepen trade relations between the two countries.

He also lauded President Akufo-Addo for the impressive and sustainable economic development in Ghana, saying, “I am impressed about the economic development in the last decade and the growth forecast for 2019. Ghana gained Middle-income country status, sound and prudent macroeconomic policies and a strong private sector”.

New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Mark Ramsden, assured of his country’s commitment to tighten trade and economic cooperation with Ghana.

“New Zealand sees the scope to deepen trade and economic cooperation and links amongst Commonwealth members, he said, stating that his country would pursue relentlessly that agenda at this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government’s meeting.

The envoy raised the issue of climate change and was happy that both Ghana and New Zealand recognized the threat that climate change presented and was working to address the challenge.

Ambassador Pule Batimanki Mphothew of Botswana told the President that Ghana was a strategic development partner to his country.

He said even though bilateral relations between the two nations was excellent, there was a need to further strengthen that cooperation to move both countries to a higher level of development.

President Akufo-Addo who placed value on the relations between Ghana and the four countries said the content of the relations ought to be transformed and strengthens economically through extensive trade for the mutual benefits of the peoples of Ghana and that of those respective nations.

He asked the countries to increase investments in Ghana and get their businesses communities to collaborate with local industries in the country to add value to raw materials to lend a boost to the nation’s industrialisation drive and export development.

Source: Ghananewsagency.org

The Dubai high court hearing the case involving Menzgold CEO, Nana Appiah Mensah and his Arabian debtors, Royal Horison, has upheld its earlier ruling ordering the United Arab Emirates-based company to pay up $39 million owed the Ghanaian.

The court at its sitting on Tuesday over an appeal filed by Royal Horison also ordered the company to pay NAM1 compensation for the period he has been incarcerated in Dubai.

Royal Horison, feeling hard done by when the court ruled in April in favour of NAM and Menzgold, filed an appeal to overturn the ruling but the court says the appeal lacked merit.

 

A 16-year-old girl (name withheld) has allegedly stabbed her boyfriend popularly identified only as Efo, to death at Kade in the Kwaebibirem District.

The body of the deceased has been deposited at the morgue while the suspect arrested by the police to assist investigations.

Read: Palm wine tapper allegedly murders wife, son over infidelity

Information gathered indicates the girl stormed the house of the boyfriend with a knife in the evening around 10:00 pm after a tip of that he was flirting with her ex-girlfriend whom he has a child. In the cause of confusion the suspect allegedly stabbed the deceased in the chest and rib.

He bled profusely hence pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital.

 

Source: kasapafmonline.com

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa North Constituency in the Upper East Region and a former Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr James Agalga, has called for the immediate resignation of the National Security Minister, Mr Albert Kan Dapaah, over an alleged abduction and maltreatment of some journalists of ModernGhana, an online news portal.

Two staff of ModernGhana, Deputy Editor, Mr Emmanuel Ajarfor Abugri and Mr Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum, a reporter, were picked by National Security operatives on Thursday, June 27, 2019.

Read: Suspend Kan-Dapaah over torture of ModernGhana Journalist NDC

The arrest, according to the two journalists were in connection with some articles they published which linked the National Security Minister, Mr Kan Dapaah.

OneGhana Movement condemns arrest and torture of journos Mr Agalga, who is also a Ranking Member for the Select Committee on Defence and Interior, said it was unacceptable for the minister to dispatch operatives from his outfit to ransack and arrest the journalists, as well as subjecting them to torture.

According to him, if the minister was unaware of those who carried out the unlawful arrest, he ought to have found out about them by now and sanctioned them accordingly.

Mr Agalga who was speaking to some journalists at Parliament on Tuesday was of the view that the resignation of the minister would send a strong signal that “you cannot abuse power and get away with it no matter what your status is in society.”

In a radio interview on Accra based Citi FM on Tuesday, July 2, 2019, Mr Ajafor said he was subjected to all manner of abuse by those who came to pick him and his colleague.

Read: Audio: ModernGhana editor recounts ordeal with National Security operatives

According to him, he was blindfolded from his office to the building where he was subjected to severe beatings, including the use of electric shocker to compel him to admit to some accusations which the National Security operatives proffered against him.

According to Mr Ajafor, the operatives from the National Security accused him of cybercrimes and other related offenses.

Meanwhile, the Media Foundation for West Africa, as well as other media-related organisations, have condemned the act of the national Security operatives over the arrest of the ModernGhana journalists.

 

Source: Graphic.com.gh

The OneGhana Movement, a non-governmental organization (NGO) has condemned the torture of two journalists of ModernGhana, an online media outlet.

It is calling on the government to commission an independent investigation into the reports of torture of the ModernGhana journalists, and ensure that investigations are conducted thoroughly, impartially and promptly to serve as a deterrent.

The NGO is also urging the National Security Minister to as a matter of urgency, thoroughly investigate the issue and bring the perpetrators to justice adding “failure to do so should result in him tendering his resignation.”

Read: National Security Council denies torture claims by Modern Ghana journalist

A statement issued in Accra today and signed by the Executive Secretary, Ms Emily Kanyir Nyuur said “government should ensure that any Security Operatives who are found culpable will be held accountable for their involvement in the attacks,” the OneGhana Movement noted.

It also called on the government to work on, and adopt a national Action Plan with the sole purpose of safeguarding freedom of expression and safety of journalists, by protecting journalists primarily, and other groups, against threats and attacks.

“Civil Society and the Government must collaborate to promote media literacy among security agencies and the general public to ensure that society can understand and stand up in favour of the safety of journalists and the average Ghanaian, and ultimately, help prevent incidents of security service attacks on the citizenry,” it said.

Below is the remaining part of the statement from OneGhana Movement

The OneGhana Movement has learnt with utter shock and horror, the harrowing ordeal meted out to two (2) journalists, Emmanuel Ajarfor Abugri and Emmanuel Britwum, both of ModernGhana, an online news outlet, by the National Security.

We condemn in no uncertain terms the torture of these journalists.

We also condemn the disturbing trend of threats, intimidation and attacks which do not only leave journalists feeling unprotected and vulnerable, but also feeds into the degenerating global outlook for press freedom in Ghana.

Media reports indicate that on Thursday 27th June 2019, a group of gun-wielding men purported to be National Security Operatives stormed the offices of ModernGhana and arrested the two (2) journalists.

This arrest followed two (2) publications made by their news outfit on the National Security Minister, Mr. Albert Kan Dapaah. They were asked to pull down the publications, which they did. However, the operatives raided their office, seized some laptops and carted the two journalists off to a location later identified to be the National Security Secretariat, where they were tortured with electric shocks and also subjected to physical brutality in an attempt to force them either reveal their source(s), or to admit to using pseudo names to concoct stories.

Read: Audio: ModernGhana editor recounts ordeal with National Security operatives

“I received no less than 20 slaps,” Mr. Ajarfor told OneGhana Movement. “Two people were doing the slapping and the electric torturing. They even tortured my ears with the electric shocker.”

Mr Ajarfor continued: “They made me lie down backward on my hand with the handcuff and asked [me to rise up]. The second part was the military punishment. They made me lean against a wall my legs up and my hands down as if am doing press up. One hit me with a dying blow and I fell. It was a lot. I cried like a new born baby begging that I am innocent.”

We are aware of news reports of government statements suggesting that these journalists were arrested for allegedly engaging in illicit activities against competing media organizations. But according to the journalists, the claim of hacking into accounts of competitor media houses never came up during their detention and interrogation at the National Security Secretariat.

According to Article 162 (4) of the Constitution, “Editors and publishers of newspapers and other institutions of the mass media shall not be subject to control or interference by Government, nor shall they be penalized or harassed for their editorial opinions and views, or the content of their publications.”

Article 162 (5) also stipulates that: “All agencies of the mass media shall, at all times, be free to uphold the principles, provisions and objectives of this Constitution, and shall uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people of Ghana.”

It is totally unacceptable that in the 21st Century and in the 17th year of the 4th Republic of Ghana, journalists are captured with black polythene bags over their heads, sent to a location unknown to them and subjected to long hours of torture by electric shock and physical brutality over publications on their platform, in clear contravention of Article 162 of the constitution.

SIGNED

Emily Kanyir Nyuur Executive Secretary

 

Source: Graphic.com.gh

Emmanuel Ajafor Abugri, editor of Modern Ghana was on the Citi Breakfast Show to recount the alleged acts of torture he suffered at the hands of National Security Operatives after being detained last Thursday.

Mr. Ajarfor, who was detained alongside a fellow journalist, Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum, was interrogated without a lawyer present.

The editor said he was physically assaulted and his privacy violated by the forceful seizure of some of his electronic gadgets.

He also said the personnel tried to beat out a false confession from him concerning the authorship of a controversial article published on the website.

A Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) commander is warning against the use of mobile phones in the kitchen, especially during cooking, as it has the propensity to cause domestic fire outbreaks.

Commander at the Accra Metropolitan Fire Station, Lilly Ashong Robertson, explained radioactivity from mobile phone calls have the propensity to cause gas cylinders to ignite.

She thus underscored the need to prohibit mobile phone use in the kitchen, as is the case at fuel filling stations, indicating that it is one of the surest ways to prevent domestic fires.

Ms Ashong who is a divisional officer grade one at the GNFS gave the warning at the maiden safety week celebration of the Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECOP) in Accra.

She said many of the fire outbreaks in the country are due to negligence and disregard for safety precautions.

A Divisional Officer Grade II, Mr E. Osei Owusu who took workers and stakeholders of IRECOP through fire preventive and control measures indicated there is the need for all organisations and homes to install fire extinguishers at their premises and learn how to use them.

He stated that the GNFS is always available nationwide to train and assist people to keep safe from fire outbreaks. He advised employees to always ensure that all main switches are put off when they sense fire outbreak.

DO II Osei Owusu described the training for IRECOP staff as timely, considering that the waste they collect are stored for a while before processing; something he said could trigger fire due to the fact that the waste are to be stored in different temperatures.

General Manager of (IRECOP), Ms Betty Brown Nyadu stated they so far have an encouraging safety record.

She said the vision of IRECOP is to inculcate safety policies and procedures in all aspects of management decisions and to protect employees by arriving at an accident free work environment.

The safety week was organised to further educate the employees on safety and to allow the workers to be audited in order to identify safety gaps and draw corrective measures to some of their operational standards and procedures.

“In contemporary times, safety has moved from a voluntary option to an inevitable choice in management practice, thus-every manager should endeavor to take health and safety issues very critically to forestall the loss of lives and the payment of unnecessary claims” she said.

Ms Nyadu said the Ghana Labour Act makes it mandatory for the employer to put premium on health and safety by minimizing hazards at the work place, a position she said IRECOP shares in.

Source: 3news.com

The Overlord of the GaDangme State, Gborbu Wulomo Shitse, has announced a one-week ban on drumming and noise-making in Nungua and its environs.

This forms part of activities to pave the way for the preparation of the annual Kplejo festival of the chiefs and people of Nungua in the Greater Accra Region.

Gborbu Wulomo Shitse has, therefore, urged the public, especially local churches, to judiciously observe the customs to avoid any confrontation with the traditional authorities.

Speaking to Class News, the Nungua Nkpor Mantse, Nii Borteyfio Bortekwei Afadi-Nsro said adherence to the ban will promote peace and unity among inhabitants of Nungua.

Source: classfmonline.com

Nurses and other allied health workers at the West Gonja Hospital in Damongo in the Savannah Region have on Monday morning embarked on a sit down strike.

This is because the management of the hospital has refused to pay a 10 per cent allowance on the basic salaries of the staff, which the management agreed to pay them, starting from January this year.

Read: Increment in electricity tariffs, a bad decision Damongo MP

The health workers who are members of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) and Health Services Workers Union (HSWU) at the hospital have however assured that they would continue to attend to maternal and child health cases as well as emergencies.

Patients who went to the hospital this morning, July 1, 2019, to access healthcare could not do so as a result of the strike action and they had to seek for medical attention elsewhere.

Read: Chiefs in Savannah Region agreed on Damongo as capital Dan Botwe reveals

“For now we are only attending to in-patients that is those who are already on admission at the various wards and emergency cases”, the branch chairman of the GRNMA at the hospital, Abdul-Karim Issah told Graphic Online.

The leadership of the two health workers unions said they have given the management of the hospital 48 hours ultimatum to address their concerns and that failure by management to heed to their grievances would lead to a full blown strike action in which all services would be withdrawn entirely.

A letter sighted by Graphic Online signed by chairmen of the GRNMA and HSWU, Abdul-Karim Issah and Emmanuel Kichana respectively and copied to the Catholic Bishop of Damongo; the Savannah Regional Minister; the District Chief Executive (DCE) for West Gonja among others, said they saw the strike action as the last resort for management to fulfill their side of the negotiations.

Concerns

Other concerns raised by the health workers of the hospital included denial of study leave and promotion of staff by the management of the hospital.

They also called for the immediate removal of the Administrator and the Matron of the hospital since according to them; they are the major cause of the problems in the hospital.

When contacted, the West Gonja Hospital chairman of the GRNMA, Mr Issah confirmed the strike action and said all their demands were contained in their collective bargaining agreement negotiated with management.

The Administrator of the hospital, Mr. Remy Nyewie when reached confirmed the strike action, and said all the concerns as regards to promotions and study leave have been resolved except the 10 per cent basic allowance.

He, however, said management was in the process of addressing the 10 per cent allowance.

Source: www.graphic.com.gh

The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, has destooled the Chief of Hemang, Osabarima Professor Mirikissi Apori Atta.

Read: Okyenhene destools Hemang Chief over uncustomary conduct

A statement signed by the Akyem Abuakwa State Secretary, D.M Ofori Atta, said the chief of Hemang upon a petition by the people of Dome and Gyampomanin was invited to answer charges before the Kyebi Executive Council.

But, the Hemanghene in brazen disregard for custom, disrespected summons to appear before the Akyem Abuakwa State Council and in a letter addressed to the Council by his lawyers questioned the jurisdiction of the Kyebi Executive Council to determine matters concerning Hemang lands.

Read: We stand for unity Okyenhene, Asantehene declare

The Okyenhene made the decision in the presence of Daasebre Boamah Darko, Adontenhene and Kukurantumihene, the Oseawuohene and Wankyihene, Daasebre Asumadu Appiah, members of the Kyebi Executive Council, Kingmakers and representatives of the Hemang stool.

The Okyenhene deplored the unruly, uncustomary and disrespectful conduct of the Hemanghene

Below is the full statement

The Okyenhene, Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin on Monday 1st July 2019 at the Ofori Panin Fie, Kyebi announced the destoolment of the Chief of Hemang Osabarima Professor Mirikissi Apori Atta.

This follows complaints of uncustomary conduct and harassment of the people of Dome and Gyampomani and his unlawful claim of ownership of lands in the two villages.

The Chief of Hemang upon a petition by the people of Dome and Gyampomanin was invited to answer charges before the Kyebi Executive Council.

However, the Hemanghene in brazen disregard for custom, disrespected summons to appear before the Akyem Abuakwa State Council and in a letter addressed to the Council by his lawyers questioned the jurisdiction of the Kyebi Executive Council to determine matters concerning Hemang lands.

The Okyenhene made the decision in the presence of Daasebre Boamah Darko, Adontenhene and Kukurantumihene, the Oseawuohene and Wankyihene, Daasebre Asumadu Appiah, members of the Kyebi Executive Council, Kingmakers and representatives of the Hemang stool.

The Okyenhene deplored the unruly, uncustomary and disrespectful conduct of the Hemanghene.

He said, the Hemanghene by disrespecting summons to appear before him has acted in breach of his customary oath and is therefore unfit to hold himself as Chief of Hemang.

The Gyaasehene of Kyebi, Barima Amoako Darko Ampem poured libation and slaughtered a sheep to give customary validity to the destoolment process.

By this decision, the Kingmakers of the Hemang stool are under customary obligation to present a new candidate for installation as Chief of Hemang within 40 days.

Signed

D.M Ofori Atta

State Secretary.

Source: adomonline.com

The Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, says the state does not intend to spend more than $200 million on the new 450-seater new parliamentary chamber.

Read: Speaker Mike Oquaye in Moscow for Parliamentary Conference

The planned construction was announced last Friday when members of the Parliamentary Service Board received a model for the proposed new Chamber.

“We all think that the facility should not exceed a certain amount; that is $200 million. We are looking at anything between $150 million and $200 million,” Mr. Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu told Citi News.

Read: Proposed new parliamentary chamber block design unveiled

Despite the increase in capacity, Mr. Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu, who is also the Majority Leader, quelled suggestions that the number of legislators could also increase.

“There is a great misunderstanding of the intent of the project. It is not intended by anyone to increase the number from 275 to 450. Nobody is talking about that at all. We want to have a design such that the President will be sworn in in parliament before Parliament.”

The construction of a new parliamentary chamber is expected to begin before the end of 2019.

Famed architect, David Frank Adjaye, designed the model and at the Friday meeting, he took the parliamentarians through the proposed design and their concepts.

He told the media that the project will be completed in three years if it begins before the end of the year.

The new chamber will be a multi-purpose building with a chapel, mosque, eatery and a museum.

The plan for the construction of a new chamber dates back to 2017 when the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia disclosed that the government was considering the construction of a new chamber because existing one appeared to lack structural integrity.

The construction of the new chamber has, however, gotten some detractors with the Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak saying it was needless.

“Ghana clearly does not need a 450 member chamber. The expenditure cannot be justified. A country as small as Ghana should not be entertaining the thoughts of having a 450-member chamber. Yes indeed, democracy is expensive but we must not make it too expensive. Currently, there are many issues at the top of the minds of our constituents. Water, road, electricity, schools, you name it,” he argued.

Source: citinewsroom.com

The Management of Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the University of Cape Coast (UCC) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to train Fire Personnel in the field of Forensic Investigation.

A statement by the Public Affairs Department of the GNFS and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Monday said GNFS has established a Fire Laboratory and Forensic Unit.

The statement quoted Professor Joseph Ghartey Ampiah Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast as saying that the collaboration between the Fire Service and the University will go a long way to enhance the application of modern scientific methods in the area of Fire Management in the country.

The Chief Fire Officer Edwin Ekow Blankson in his speech noted that the collaboration between the two institutions is timely because it will address the scientific needs of the Service in terms of fire investigations thereby assisting the Fire Service with more effective and efficient ways of dealing with fire outbreaks and other life-threatening situations.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

The National Security Council Secretariat has rejected claims that National Security operatives tortured the Modern Ghana journalists detained recently.

The secretariat in a statement insists that the suspect, Emmanuel Ajarfor, “was never manhandled, neither was he subjected to any form of forced physical contact.

Read: I was tortured, tasered, punched, kicked; I cried like a baby ModernGhana Deputy Editor

“We consider it to be a clear and deliberate attempt by the suspect to discredit the investigations and the case against him… Torture and manhandling of suspects are not part and parcel of the culture and architecture of the secretariat under the administration of President Akufo-Addo,” the Council insisted in the statement.

In addition, the secretariat expects a medical examination to “present the truth in the matter.”

Read: Reporter released; Editor detained

Mr. Ajarfor, who was detained alongside a fellow journalist, Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum, will be arraigned later today, Tuesday and charges against him made known.

Ajarfor had claimed that he was manhandled and tortured by National Security personnel during his interrogation.

Personnel who identified themselves as operatives from the National Security reportedly arrested two journalists of the online portal in their office in Accra on Thursday.

It remains unclear why the two were picked up but it is believed to be linked to an article published by the website which was critical of the National Security Minister, Albert Kan Dapaah and Member of Parliament for the Effutu constituency, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

The arrests were criticised by groups like the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and the OneGhana Movement.

The foundation called on the Minister of National Security and the National Security Co-ordinator to clarify the circumstances surrounding the raid, who the perpetrators are and whether they were officially mandated to carry out the operation.

According to MFWA, the editor of modernghana.com, William Nana Beeko said the operatives did not present any warrant.

They also reportedly seized laptops from the media organisation.

Source: citinewsroom.com

The National Security Council Secretariat has denied reports in the media by a deputy editor of online news portal MordernGhana.com, Emmanuel Ajarfor Abugri, claiming that he was tortured and manhandled during his interrogation.

In a statement, the Secretariat explained that the allegations are false, stressing that it is a deliberate attempt by the suspect to discredit the investigations and the case against him.

Read: I was tortured, tasered, punched, kicked; I cried like a baby ModernGhana Deputy Editor

“Torture and manhandling of suspects are not part and parcel of the culture and architecture of the secretariat under the administration of President Akufo-Addo,” the statement said.

It reads further that “The suspect during questioning was never manhandled neither was he subject to any form of forced physical contact.”

Read: ModernGhana Raid: Reporter released; Editor detained

The statement then added that the National Security Council Secretariat is pleased to note that “upon being handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service, the Police has requested that a medical investigation on the suspect be undertaken immediately.”

Read full statement below

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Three leaders of healing churches have so far been prosecuted and jailed for defiling girls who visited their churches to seek healing.

This was disclosed by Ms Hannah Morrison, Senior Investigator with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) at an annual durbar of the Eastern Regional branch of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association at Nsawam.

She did not elaborate but urged church leaders who claim to have healing powers and traditional medicine practitioners to stop treatment of underage persons without the consent of their parents.

Ms Morrison advised them to desist from putting their patients in chains at their facility since such practices were against the rights of the patients.
Mr Benedict Yankyera, Eastern Regional Officer of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Council advised all traditional medicine practitioners in the region to register with the Council.

He explained that under the law, all traditional medicine practitioners are expected to register and ensure that the packaging of their herbs comply with standards of alternative medicine in the country.

Mr Yenkyera urged the members to quickly refer sickness that they could not treat to the nearest public health facility to help save lives.

Reverend Rebecca Agyei Yirenkyi, Field Assistant of the Association expressed the hope since more practitioners are now registering with the association it would help them to speak with one voice and promote the practice of alternative medicine in the country.

Source: Ghananewsagency.org

The John Sanie Foundation and Luak Foundation in collaboration with the District Health Directorate have launched a district-wide health screening exercise in Adum- Banso in the Mpohor district.

This health screening exercise was aimed at finding out if people have a particular condition even if they feel perfectly well and without symptoms, or signs of any ailment.

The motivation for the exercise emanates from the fact that early detection, followed by treatment and good control of a bad condition can result in better outcomes, and inevitably lowers the risk of serious complications.

The exercise represents one of the massive health screening arrangements in the Mpohor district, and so far, 577 people have been screened in Adum-Dominase, Ayiem, Adum-Banso, and Mpohor. Other areas to be covered are Wassa-Manso, Angu, and other villages in the Mpohor district.

John Sanie, Chief Executive Officer, John Sanie Foundation, said identifying healthy people who may be at increased risk of disease was the surest way of helping the people to live longer and contribute to national development.

“Our resolve is to help humanity in diverse ways through advanced education and extension of restorative healthcare to our people in the Mpohor district”, John Sanie stated.

He said the screening exercise will be replicated every year, and all the towns and villages in the district will be covered free of charge.

Nana Kwandoh Brempong III, Chief of Adum-Banso, commended John Sanie and Luak Foundation for such a distinguished adventure of responding to a prerequisite in effective healthcare delivery.

Nana Kwandoh Brempong III, said it was instructive to cherish how John Sanie, a native of the district, would undertake such “a noble enterprise of extending help to our people, saying ” this is remarkable”.

“Some people do not bring such a good healthcare exercise to our people, even though they come from the Mpohor district, and I wish to congratulate you for this wonderful work “, Nana Kwandoh Brempong added.

“We are very grateful because many of our people are constrained to respond to their healthcare needs due to limited income from subsistence farming. John Sanie should know that we shall remember him on the day of the appraisal on those who genuinely helped or are helping the Mpohor district”, the Chief concluded.

People from all walks of life who participated in the screening exercise praised the initiative as laudable, adding that through the John Sanie Foundation, quality leadership and functional healthcare delivery have been amplified.

“This massive response to healthcare screening once again demonstrated how people-centred initiatives are imperative to some of the needs in the Mpohor district, a great service that beneficiaries will appreciate for the rest of their lives”, a community leader in Adum-Banso opined.

Source: Victor Amoo

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye, has unveiled the design of the New Parliamentary Chamber Block.

The unveiling was done during a courtesy call paid by a delegation from the Architectural Firm Adjaye & Associates.

In attendance, were the Leadership of the House, some members of the Board, the Clerk and other Principal Directors of the Parliamentary Service.

A statement copied the Ghana News Agency said during the presentation of the model Chamber Block to the Speaker of Parliament and the Leadership, Mr David Adjaye indicated that the concept of the archetype was inspired by the Akan saying, “Ti kro nko agyina”, literally meaning, “two heads are better than one.”

“This key concept is one that depicts the idea of Ghanaian democracy, where Parliament represents a body with various members interlocked in decision making,” he said.

Commenting on the sitting capacity of the model New Chamber Block, the Speaker of Parliament clarified that the 450 seater Chamber did not necessarily mean that the number of Members of Parliament would be increased.

“However, the monumental project is planned to be futuristic and one that will stand the test of time and for posterity,” he asserted.

The new Chamber, with a sitting capacity of about 450 Members of Parliament, would house other facilities including diplomatic offices, a library, a museum, a church, a mosque, eateries, press conference rooms, galleries, a car park, an upper gallery garden, a post office and other facilities to complete the Parliamentary enclave.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

The Kwabena Nketia Centre for Africana Studies of the University College of Communications and the GaDamgme Council will on August 9, organise the Annual Lecture and Cultural Festival, to celebrate the life and achievements of King Tackie Tawiah I, of the Ga State.

The event, which will be held on the theme: “Sharing Knowledge with the People”, will witness a medley of activities, including music, dance and exhibition, as well as funfair and fundraising at the Accra Sports Stadium.

The organising committee planned the activities to coincide with the Ga Homowo Festival, which forms part of the activities marking “The Year of Return”.

The function is open to the public and will start from 0930 to 2030 hours, with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as the Special Guest of Honour.

Other dignitaries expected to grace the occasion include Mrs Barbara Oteng-Gyasi, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, as the Guest of Honour, Mrs Bella Ayayee-Ahu, the President of the Ghana Tourism Federation and Mr Akwasi Agyeman, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority.

The Ghana Tourism Authority, which is organising “The Year of Return” activities, is one of the collaborators of the programme to promote it to a wider audience.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Nurses and teachers of visually impaired schools have undergone a five-day workshop on early detection of visual impairment among children between the ages of zero to six years.

Read: UCC President of persons with disabilities writes: The plight of persons living with disabilities in Ghana

The programme was organized by Visio International, a non-governmental organization based in the Netherlands, that supports persons with visual impairments in the areas of education, care and rehabilitation.

Other collaborators of the programme include the Presbyterian Health Service of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Special Education Division of the Ghana Education Service, Department of Children at the Ministry of Gender, children and Social Protection and the National Eye Care Unit of the Ghana Health Service.

Read: 300,000 Ghanaians at risk of going blind GHS

The participants were drawn from six municipalities and districts across the 16 regions of the country.

Mr Bert Van Der Waal, the Programme Manager of Visio International, said the workshop is to help the participants to identify early, children with visual impairment problems for support so that, they can join the mainstream education system from the early ages and progress gradually through the educational system.

He said his outfit wants to ensure that children with visual impairment can live a normal life, socialize and play with their other colleagues without being neglected.

The Programme Manager advised that the beneficiaries of the training to form a group in their various municipalities and districts with other stakeholders to organize better care for children in their areas.

Mr Jeremiah Badu-Shayer, the Country Coordinator for the Visio Programme, said the training is to help the participants to establish a referral system for early and appropriate referral of children identified in their communities with eye challenges.

He said some of these cases require early detection so that the problem could be rectified, however, due to the lack of knowledge, the problems have been neglected leading to aggravation situations.

Dr James Addy, the Head of the Eye Care Unit of the Ghana Health Service, said the age limit was selected because it has been realized that there is a gap in the treatment of children with eye challenges between the ages of zero to six years.

He said now that the country is promoting inclusive education, there is no need for children with such cases to end up in the schools for the blind but be encouraged to be part of the normal school system.

Ms Joan Kafui, the Special Education Coordinator at La Dadakotopon Municipal Education office, said the training has shown them how to manage and train such children with special educational needs as well as nurture them.

She said they were made to understand that even before one can manage such children, one needs to show them love, empathy and acceptance to be able to understand them better to provide the needed service.

Source: ghananewsagency.org