Four important government leaders in Japan resigned on Thursday because of a problem with raising money for the ruling party’s strongest group.
It is claimed that over 500 million yen (equivalent to £2. 8 million or $3. 4 million) was put into secret funds between 2017 and 2022.
Tokyo prosecutors are investigating corruption, according to Nikkei.
The Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida‘s government is becoming more unpopular and his approval ratings are dropping. This is another setback for him.
A new survey from NHK showed that the support for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has dropped to under 30%. This is the first time it has been this low since 2012. The LDP has been in power for a long time, since 1955.
Voters are upset about prices going up and they are also angry about how Mr. Kishida dealt with past problems.
Hirokazu Matsuno, a top government spokesman and close advisor to Mr Kishida, was the most well-known of the four ministers. On Thursday, the Economy and Industry Minister, the Internal Affairs Minister, and the Agriculture Minister all resigned.
New people to take their place will be announced by the end of today.
Also, five high-ranking deputy ministers and one deputy minister from the same group, previously led by the late PM Shinzo Abe, also resigned.
The LDP now has no members from its biggest and most powerful group in the government because they have all quit.
Mr Kishida, who started his job in October 2021, said on Wednesday that he will address the accusations directly.
The group didn’t tell the authorities about the money they raised.
The Seiwa policy group set limits on how many tickets its members could sell for party fundraising events.
When they sold more than expected, the members got extra money. This itself does not break Japanese law.
However, in this case, it is suggested that the extra money was not recorded and instead put into secret funds, due to a criminal complaint.
Mr Matsuno is being accused of not reporting over 10 million yen in income.
Other big groups in the LDP, like the one Mr Kishida used to lead, are also being accused of not reporting all the money they raised.
On Wednesday, the lower house of Japan’s government voted against a motion to remove Mr Kishida’s cabinet, which was proposed by the opposition party.
The LDP will choose new leaders in September. There will be a big vote in 2025.
Some people think that even if Mr. Kishida keeps his job, the scandal will still make people less likely to trust him.
Kishida will continue as the president for now because no one else is an obvious choice for the next president. “But if someone else becomes a real competitor, they might consider replacing Kishida,” said Yu Uchiyama, a professor at the University of Tokyo, to Reuters.
Author: Chris Kodo
-
Japan: Fundraising scandal forces four cabinet ministers to resign
-
Denmark thwarts alleged terror plot with four arrests
The Danish police have stopped a big planned attack. Police said they arrested three people in Denmark and one in the Netherlands early on Thursday morning.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the danger was very serious.
Officials did not give many details about the plot they stopped because they are still investigating.
Three people in Denmark were arrested for terrorism and will be charged, said Ch Insp Flemming Drejer during a press conference.
He said that an investigation found a group of people from different countries getting ready to carry out an attack, and they are connected to criminal groups.
More police will watch over Jewish places and patrol more often in Copenhagen for safety.
Ex-Copenhagen Police Deputy Inspector Jens Moller said on TV2 that Thursday morning’s raids would have been well-planned and timed to the exact minute.
“He said they have to happen at the same time, within a minute of each other, and it would be best if they were only 10-15 seconds apart. ”
The head of Danish intelligence, Anja Dalgaard-Nielsen, said that the threat of terrorism is connected to the Israel-Gaza war and the burning of the Quran in Denmark and neighboring Sweden.
Earlier this month, Ylva Johansson, who is in charge of keeping Europe safe, said there is a big chance that there could be terrorist attacks during Christmas.
In 2015, two people died in an attack on a cultural center and a synagogue in Copenhagen.
In Denmark, the terror threat is currently at level four out of five, which is the second-highest level. -
Man accused of stabbing Jewish leader in Detroit
The police say a man stabbed and killed a Jewish leader in Detroit. They also say he stole things from the leader’s home. Now the man is being accused of these crimes.
Samantha Woll’s death in October surprised and upset many people in the Jewish and interfaith communities in the state. Some people were wondering if her death was because of hate against Jewish people.
However, the prosecutors say that the person accused, Michael Jackson-Bolanos, did not know Ms Woll and does not seem to have done a hate crime.
The 28-year-old is accused of committing a serious crime called murder during a break-in at someone’s home.
“There is no proof that shows this was a hate crime,” said Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy on Wednesday. “There is simply no proof. ”
Detroit police said they were keeping an eye on Mr. Jackson-Bolanos a few weeks ago.
The police chief, James White, said they found a man in the area who was being investigated for stealing things. They let him go because they didn’t have enough proof to charge him for the murder.
We knew where he was and we knew what he was doing. “Nobody in our community was ever in danger,” Mr.
He said the police arrested him within an hour. They had enough evidence to arrest him.
Ms Woll was found dead in front of her house early in the morning on October 21, with a line of blood leading to her front door.
Officials said that she went to a wedding the night before she died and came back home a little after midnight.
She was the leader of a synagogue and the founder of a group that brings Muslims and Jews together in Detroit. A lot of people in the state knew who she was.
In a message to US media, Ms. Woll’s family said thank you to the police and everyone who helped and prayed for them.
Samantha’s death is a very sad thing that has made a lot of people feel really bad. It has affected not just her family and friends, but also the people who knew her as someone who worked really hard to help her community and bring people together. She was very loved and everyone could feel her warmth and happiness.
The person accused of doing something alone is also accused of breaking into someone’s home and lying to the police.
However, his lawyer told the Detroit Free Press that he is still saying he didn’t do it, and pointed out that the police had arrested and then let go another person they thought was the culprit.
“To be honest, I think this case got a lot of attention and put a lot of pressure on the Detroit Police Department to find someone,” Brian Brown said.
He said he thinks the person was just in the wrong place at the wrong time and did not actually commit the crime.
Mr Jackson-Bolanos went to court on Wednesday and was sent to jail, according to the police. He will go to a court hearing this month to decide if there is a good reason to think he committed a crime.
If he is found guilty, he could be in jail for the rest of his life with no chance of getting out. -
Rudy Giuliani to assist in 2020 election slander lawsuit
Rudy Giuliani has to go to court on Thursday because he said false things about two election workers after the 2020 election.
Ruby Freeman, a former poll worker, and her daughter Wandrea Moss are taking legal action against Mr Giuliani for saying untrue things about them being involved in election fraud.
Ms Moss said she was very scared because of the pro-Trump groups after Mr. Giuliani posted a video of her in 2020.
He has been declared responsible, now they are deciding on the consequences.
Ms Freeman and Ms Moss want $15m to $43m in money for what they say they have suffered. Giuliani, who is Donald Trump’s lawyer, says he does not have that much money to give them. Giuliani said in court that he lied about the pair.
In a court in Washington DC, Ms Freeman told how she had to run away when a bunch of Trump supporters came to her house and the FBI warned her that she was at risk.
“I felt like they were going to hurt me with their ropes on my street,” she said. “I was really afraid. ” I didn’t know if they were going to hurt me.
Also,Freeman mentioned that she feels lonely because her friends and acquaintances are scared to be seen with her. As a result, she now lives alone and is afraid of being recognized in public.
“It’s really frightening. Every time I have to say my name when I go somewhere,” she said. “Right now, I don’t actually have a name. ”
Ms Freeman and her daughter’s lawyers finished presenting their evidence on Wednesday.
Mr Giuliani helped Mr Trump try to change the results of the 2020 election by saying over and over again that the election was not fair.
During the trial, a teacher from Northwestern University, Ashlee Humphreys, said on Wednesday that many people saw Mr Giuliani’s mean comments, up to 56 million times.
The judge in Ms. Freeman’s case won’t let her talk about the false election fraud claims in court. However, he keeps saying outside the court that the lies he told about Ms. Moss and Ms. Freeman are true.
“On Monday, he said that when he tells what happened, you will understand and see that what he said was true. He also said that whatever happened to them, if others overreacted, it was not their fault, but everything he said about them is true. ” “Of course I don’t feel bad about it, I told the truth. ”
Mr Giuliani is in trouble in Georgia for being involved in a plan to change the election results with Mr Trump and others. He says he didn’t do it. -
Education Minister announces highest enrollment despite challenges in 2023 placement
Education Minister Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum has conceded that the school placement process for first-year senior high school students encountered challenges. However, he highlighted that this year’s edition achieved the highest enrollment figures in the country.
He revealed that the Education Ministry successfully facilitated the placement of 95% of the 2023 Junior High School graduates into different senior high schools across the country.
Speaking before members of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs in Kumasi, Dr Adutwum disclosed that 81% of students were automatically assigned to their chosen schools, while the remaining 19% relied on self-placement.
The meeting was to give an account of his achievement as the Minister of Education at the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs General Meeting.
In attendance were the members of the Kumasi Traditional Council, members of the Regional House of Chiefs, and the Asantehene himself.
The Education minister, Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum, stressed that enrollment this year has become the highest recorded since the introduction of the placement system.
The minister used the occasion to address several issues concerning education including the challenges with the 2023 SHS placement.
On his part, the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II admonished chiefs to inspect the educational infrastructure and its progress in their communities.
He also commended the Minister of Education on his achievements so far.
-
Tanzania student killed by Hamas in Israel
A student from Tanzania who was thought to be captive by Hamas in Israel has been confirmed dead by the Tanzanian government.
Joshua Mollel was interning on a farm when it was attacked by gunmen from Hamas on October 7th.
Tanzania’s Foreign Minister January Makamba says Mr. Mollel was killed right after he was taken as a hostage.
Another student, Clemence Felix Mtenga, was also murdered in the attack.
Joshua’s dad, Loitu Mollel, has been told about his son’s death, the minister said.
Mr Makamba wrote on X, that he is planning to bring Mr. Mollel, another family member, and a government official to Israel to learn more about the situation.
The Mollel family hasn’t said anything yet.
In a post on Facebook, officials in Kibbutz Nahal Oz said that Hamas is holding Mr.
The two students from Tanzania had gone to Israel only a month before the attack on 7 October. At first, it was said that they were part of the 240 people held captive by Hamas.
Tanzania officials say about 350 Tanzanians are living in Israel, mostly as students studying agriculture.
Many people from Kibbutz Nahal Oz were killed by Hamas fighters on October 7th.
Since then, about 18,600 people have been killed in the Israeli attack in Gaza, according to Hamas. -
Barker-Vormawor slapped with GH¢3k fine after court throws out dismissal application against Kan Dapaah
The High Court in Accra has dismissed an application made by Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a member of the #FixtheCountry Movement, seeking to have the GH¢10 million defamation suit brought against him by the Minister for National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah, thrown out.
As per GHOne TV reports, the court, aside from rejecting the application, has imposed a fine of GHC 3,000 on Barker-Vormawor.
In an affidavit supporting the motion on notice for an order to dismiss the suit, dated November 29, 2023, Barker-Vormawor, a private legal practitioner, contended that the minister is not entitled to initiate or oversee civil matters pertaining to the functions he carries out on behalf of the state.
He said that the alleged defamatory words were directed at the state or its functionaries and not personally at the minister.
He contended that the matters forming the basis of the defamation claims are exclusively linked to the minister’s performance of state functions.
Kan-Dapaah filed a defamation suit against Barker-Vormawor after the latter claimed that National Security officials, including government representatives, met him in 2021 and offered him money to silence his activism.
He asserted that he was offered $1 million and lucrative government positions to cease his activities critical of the government.
-
Chief Justice and Judicial Service contribute GHC125K to aid Volta flood victims
Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, along with fellow judges from the Judicial Services, has extended support to victims of the recent flood in the Volta Region.
The dignitaries collectively donated GHC125,000 in response to the challenges triggered by the spillage of the Akosombo and Kpong Dams.
Revealed through a social media announcement by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the GH¢125,000 donation was mobilized following an appeal by the Chief Justice to judges and staff of the judicial service. The funds aim to assist the flood victims affected by the Akosombo and Kpong Dams spillage in the Volta Region.
“The Honourable Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, distinguished judges and the entire Judicial Service of Ghana deserve abundant commendation for their extremely kind and generous gesture of donating to displaced persons in my beloved North Tongu.
“It has been disclosed that the Chief Justice initiated a compassionate mobilization of personal contributions from judges and staff of the judiciary including her own financial support amounting to an impressive GHC125,000.00 which she gracefully announced to my revered chiefs and I at a beautiful ceremony in her office earlier today,” the MP wrote on X.
He also stated that the GHC125,000 would be used to construct a mechanized borehole and to supply selected building materials for our second Safe Alternative Housing Project in Mepe.
The North Tongu legislator expressed his gratitude to Justice Torkornoo and the judicial service for their kind gesture.
Ablakwa and some chiefs from his constituency received donations from the Chief Justice, at her office.
-
What Anas Aremeyaw Anas said about Prof J.E.A Mills in Berlin last month
Former President John Evan Atta-Mills’ name popped up in Berlin last month during a Disrupt Lab event in Germany which featured Investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
Speaking on some of his investigative works, Mr Aremeyaw recounted efforts by the late President to combat smuggling of Cocoa outside Ghana.
“My late President John Atta-Mills, he tasked the state security agencies to ensure that Cocoa which is the major export produced in Ghana should not be stolen.
“He had tasked the security agencies there to ensure that people smuggling Ghana’s Cocoa out of the country are arrested but what did the security agencies do? They arrived and rather assisted the people to stab the nation in the back,” he said.
Mr Aremeyaw said he and his team of investigative journalists exposed this rot and eventually, it led to the arrest of the culprits.
-
All eyes on Orban as EU chooses whether to back Ukraine
Ukraine needs Hungary’s Prime Minister, Viktor Orban, to agree in order to benefit from the EU leaders’ summit on Thursday.
He has strongly refused to let Kyiv join the EU and ignored its requests for help.
“We are the ones who speak common sense in Europe,” he said to the Hungarian government before the summit.
He said that Kyiv won’t be able to join the EU because of war, corruption, a large farming industry, and how they mistreat the Hungarian people living there.
Ukraine is being asked to start talking officially with the EU, and the EU plans to give Ukraine €54bn to help its economy until 2024, as well as €24bn in military assistance.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is having a tough week, and Hungarian objections are making it even worse. He went to Washington to ask for $61 billion in military funding from the US, but the Republican lawmakers said no.
The Ukrainian leader said that if there is no good news from Brussels, it means Putin stopped the decision. He accused Budapest of causing problems.
Budapest might stop Kyiv from getting what it wants, even though other EU countries support Ukraine. Poland’s new leader, Donald Tusk, said it’s not okay to ignore Ukraine.
However, as EU leaders started coming to Brussels late on Wednesday, it looked like a compromise might be possible.
The EU’s Commission said they are releasing around €10. 2bn out of €30bn of EU funds for Hungary. This money was stopped because Hungary was not following the rules of law.
Many people think that releasing the money is a way to make Mr Orban less stubborn, but officials in Brussels say they were not forced to do it. And they can mention a law in Hungary that allows Hungarian judges to ask the European Court for help.
Brussels wanted many changes to the criminal code and this was one of them.
Most other leaders in the EU strongly support Kyiv. Slovakia’s leader Robert Fico stopped giving military help to Ukraine. But he said he will help Ukraine start talking about joining the European Union.
A few hours after President Zelensky left Washington DC without getting US aid, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told the European Parliament that Ukraine needs our help to be strong now and in the future when negotiating peace.
MrZelensky really wants things to go well at the EU summit and tried to sound positive during his visit to Norway: “We have been very helpful. ” We did everything and followed the European Union’s suggestions.
The European Commission has said that six out of the seven things needed to start formal talks to join the EU have now been done.
Budapest disagrees with this and says Brussels is making it easier for Kyiv. President Zelensky met with Viktor Orban in Argentina on Sunday and they had a serious talk. Later, Ukraine’s president said it was an honest conversation.
The Ukrainian parliament passed a law last week to make people in Budapest feel better. The law gives Hungarians and other minorities the right to study in their own language.
Ukraine made a new law to fight corruption, which the EU asked for. This law takes away some power from the Orban government.
No one in Brussels thinks that Ukraine is ready to join the European Union right away. The EU 27 starting membership talks shows they are standing together in support.Orban said to the French magazine Le Point that he doesn’t exactly have a veto power. Let’s say I don’t help make a decision that I think is not good.
That seems like choosing not to vote. His government has already quietly agreed to punish Russia 11 times, but this is hardly ever mentioned by Hungary’s controlled, pro-government media.
On Wednesday, the Hungarian government’s top aide, Balazs Orban, said that Hungary’s money from the European Union and Ukraine’s money are not connected.
“However, if the EU says Ukraine’s funding should come from a revised EU budget, then the two issues are connected,” he told Bloomberg.
Viktor Orban is determined that Hungary cannot be forced to do something by threats, and that money problems should not be mixed up with important beliefs.
He, similar to Volodymyr Zelensky, says he did everything the Commission requested – a strange similarity at this summit.
But Ukraine has a lot more to lose. President Zelensky might not win the war with Russia, and Mr. Orban wants to have more power in Europe. He is now thinking about the European Parliamentary elections in June 2024. He wants nationalist parties to win.
President Zelensky’s best result would be to come back to Kyiv with an invitation to start talks to join a new group and a check for €78 billion in military and economic help.
The leader of Hungary wants the EU and Ukraine to agree on a “strategic partnership” at the summit. This would be a small step towards Ukraine joining the EU. Billions of euros in EU money that hasn’t been used yet.
“We are going to stay in Brussels,” he said to the Mandiner news site on Wednesday, “We are going to take over it. “ -
Former GWCL employee apprehended for allegedly pilfering iron pipes valued at GHC299K
A 52-year-old former employee who voluntarily resigned from the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) in 2022, has found himself in police custody in Larteh-Akuapem, Eastern Region.
Abraham Asare’s arrest comes amid allegations related to activities following his departure from the company, raising questions about potential misconduct during his tenure at GWCL.
Asare is facing allegations of pilfering 23 units of 8-inch ductile iron pipes, integral components of a vital water distribution mainline catering to the needs of local residents.
Responding to an urgent distress call, the police thwarted Asare and his accomplices as they loaded the purloined pipes onto a KIA truck bearing registration number ER 587-20 at approximately 6:30 pm on December 12, 2023.
The estimated cost of one 8-inch ductile iron pipe is approximately GHC13,000, resulting in a total value of GHC299,000 for the stolen items.
According to the Public Relations Officer of GWCL in Eastern Region, Kwadwo Daase, the arrest sheds light on the broader challenges faced by the company, including incidents of meter theft, removal of metallic covers for its chambers, and pilfering of electric cables from its plants.
The GWCL continues to grapple with safeguarding its infrastructure against such criminal activities.
-
Biden’s risks as Republicans pursue impeachment more vigorously
Republicans in the House of Representatives voted to officially start looking into Joe Biden, which could lead to him being removed from office.
It can be tough to quit.
Three out of the four times in the past, the House decided to impeach after taking this step. The only time it didn’t happen was because Richard Nixon quit before a vote could happen.
Republicans say that the president got advantages from his family’s business in other countries, even though they haven’t shown any clear proof yet.
In the short term, the House’s decision gives the investigating committees more authority to ask for documents and testimony and for judges to make sure those requests are followed. The Biden White House didn’t give some information because there was no formal vote, but now they might have to.
In the end, this vote could make it possible for House Republicans, who don’t have a big majority, to support impeachment in early 2024.
They have agreed to continue the process. If moderate Republicans in areas that voted for Biden in 2020 are going to be blamed for starting the investigation, they might decide it’s best to finish it.
The issue would go to the Senate, where the Democrats are in charge. It would need a two-thirds majority vote to find the president guilty and remove him from office.
No president in US history has ever reached that high standard. Some Republicans are worried that the vote on Wednesday shows that the impeachment process is being made less important.
Asa Hutchinson, a former congressman and current Republican running for president, was one of the people who argued against Mr. Clinton during his trial in 1999.
“He told the BBC that impeachment should only be used for very serious crimes. ” “That’s how the people who started our country made it. ” We don’t want to get into the back-and-forth argument between the two political parties about removing the president from the other side. “It’s a problem. ”
Worries or problems were not the most important thing on Wednesday. The investigations will keep going as we get closer to the November 2024 presidential election.
Republicans have always seen Joe Biden’s son Hunter as a problem for his father in politics. “If they can show that his business and personal behavior are connected to the president, they could hurt Joe Biden’s reputation with American voters. ”
A serious investigation to impeach Mr. Biden could cause big problems for him during the election. This is still true even if Republicans don’t have any solid proof connecting the president to his son’s wrongdoing.
We can’t predict what unexpected things will happen during this investigation. Although there is no proof directly connecting Mr. Biden to his son’s problems at work and in his personal life, having a lot of power can lead to unexpected outcomes.
Bill Clinton was in trouble for lying about having a relationship with a person who worked for him. It all started with an investigation into a real estate deal that went wrong. Hillary Clinton’s email server issue started because of an investigation into the death of a US ambassador in Libya.
Sometimes when people go fishing, they catch a fish.
If nothing is found, people might still think Biden is corrupt, which could hurt his reputation.
Republicans might use impeachment and Hunter Biden’s legal issues to distract from the legal troubles of their likely presidential nominee, Donald Trump.
People are discussing when to start the impeachment process to distract from a possible federal trial for Trump in March. He is being charged with trying to overturn the 2020 election.
In a country where people already don’t like politicians, the upcoming election next year might make things even worse. -
Supreme Court denies Numo family ownership of over 72K acres, including Madina, Adenta, and Oyarefa Lands
The Supreme Court of Ghana has debunked the claim made by the Numo Nmashie family of Teshie, asserting that they are not the rightful owners of 70 villages encompassing more than 72,000 acres of land in the Greater Accra Region.
The court’s ruling challenges the family’s long-standing assertion of ownership, opening a new chapter in the intricate landscape of land rights in the region.
As reported by graphic.com.gh, a definitive stance has been taken by a five-member panel of the court, presided over by Chief Justice Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. The panel emphasized that the Numo Nmashie family holds no valid claim to the mentioned land. This assertion contradicts a Court of Appeal decision in 1982 that had previously declared them as owners of the contested piece of land.
In a report by graphic.com.gh, a decisive position has been established by a five-member court panel led by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. The panel unequivocally stated that the Numo Nmashie family lacks a legitimate claim to the specified land. This assertion stands in direct contradiction to a 1982 Court of Appeal decision that had previously recognized them as owners of the disputed piece of land.
It, therefore, ordered the Lands Commission to expunge all registrations and certificates issued to the Numo Nmashie family of Teshie, and the Tetteh Olewolon Family, in respect of the 72,000 acres.
The villages affected by the decision are Peduase, Obuom, Nsakye, Agyemanti, Brotrease, Danfa, Adoteiman, Otinibi, Malidzano, Okyrekomfo Kotei, Taboadidi, Ayim, Adenkrebi, Abefia, Ayimensa, Kweiman, Odonkorkurom and Kwadwokurom.
Others are Otiakurum, Otopram, Brekusu, Kponko, Dedekurom, Sesemi, Teiman, Papao, Ogbodzo, Adaman, Mpehuasem, Otinshi, Otanor, La- Bawaleshie, Tesa, Adjiringano, Okpoi Gonno, Manmormo, Oshiyie, Amanfro, Bobamase, Abokobi, Nyamekurom, Oyarifa and Ogoha.
The rest are Ajangote, Akpomang, Boi, Pantang, Sempene, Frafraha, Apenkwa, Abladdzei, Ankome, Ashonman, Agbogba, Adenta, Otuwa, Madina, Nkwantanang, Ashale-Botwe, Atwuo-Okuman, Martey Tsuru, Gbatsuma, Okpegon, Ablekuma, Odediben, Agbleshia, Alegon, Mangoase, Teshie and Kpeshie Ridge.
The clarification by the Supreme Court was an affirmation of its judgment dated March 22, 2023, in favour of the Boi Stool and 13 others.
The panel that made the judgment had Justice Jones Victor Mawulorm Dotse, as the presiding judge, with Justices Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu, Nene Abayateye Ofoe Amegatcher, Avril Lovelace-Johnson and Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi, as members.
-
GSE and stakeholders unite to raise capital for $560bn Energy Transition goals
The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) is forging partnerships with crucial stakeholders to pioneer the development of climate financing and carbon trading mechanisms, in a strategic move towards advancing the nation’s energy transition objectives, t.
GSE’s Managing Director, Abena Amoah, has articulated this collaborative effort as a proactive initiative to mobilize capital for Ghana’s ambitious energy transition goals.
While there have been commendable strides since the implementation of the Ghana National Energy Transition Framework, targeting the decarbonization of the energy sector and aiming for net-zero emissions by 2070, considerable endeavors remain, particularly in the domain of domestic financing. The framework outlines a substantial funding requirement of $562 billion for its comprehensive implementation.
“The GSE seeks to partner the Ghana Carbon Market Office of EPA and all capital market stakeholders, to thoughtfully develop climate finance and carbon trading vehicles that mobilise domestic capital and crowd-in regional and international capital to finance our just transition targets,” Ms. Amoah said during the inaugural ‘Ring the Bell for Climate’ event.
In a proactive move toward fostering sustainable financing, the GSE has initiated measures such as introducing a dedicated Sustainable Bond Market Segment within its fixed income market. This innovative segment enables issuers to list green and other sustainable bonds, providing a platform to fund projects that generate climate or environmental benefits.
Additionally, the GSE has collaborated with member exchanges to endorse the WFE Green Equity Principles, fostering a global framework for ‘green’ offerings of listed equities. The exchange also advocates for increased local ownership in Ghana’s green earth minerals, leading to the listing of Atlantic Lithium on the GSE.
COP 28 Tango
The event was spearheaded by the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE), which the GSE is a member of, coincided with this year’s United Nation’s Conference of Parties (COP28) that recently concluded in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The event presented conflicting views, as the host and various stakeholders seemed to dampen enthusiasm for achieving net-zero goals. Instead, they supported a reduction in fossil fuel usage without advocating for a complete phase-out.
Concerns arose when it was revealed that COP28 President Sultan al-Jaber had asserted in November that there is no scientific basis for phasing-out fossil fuels. Some accused him of undermining the Conference’s overarching objective.
Sultan Al-Jaber reportedly argued that a complete fossil fuel phase-out would hinder sustainable development, suggesting it could regress the world to primitive conditions.
This elicited a stern rebuke from prominent net zero campaigners, including former US Vice President Al Gore.
In a historic move, however, COP28 concluded with a consensus to shift away from fossil fuels. The final text – agreed upon on December 13 – calls for all countries to move away from fossil fuel usage without explicitly endorsing a complete phase-out, aligning with the UAE Consensus.
The text acknowledges a need for substantial reductions to limit temperature rises to 1.5°C and marks an unprecedented commitment to transitioning away from all fossil fuels, potentially reshaping global economies.
While the agreement allows for responsible fossil fuel exploration, it lacks clear directions on climate finance. Advocates emphasise the importance of climate finance from developed countries to strengthen the final text – given that developing nations like Ghana rely on such support to address climate challenges and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
These developed countries are responsible for a significant share of global carbon emissions and bear a greater historical responsibility for the current climate crisis compared to Africa, which contributes a mere three percent and is largely non-industrialised.
Tensions persisted as the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has urged members to reject any deal targetting fossil fuels.
-
President of South Africa meets with Jewish leaders
South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa met with a Jewish lobby group and said the country strongly supports Palestinians in the ongoing war with Israel.
During the meeting, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies asked President Ramaphosa to keep the community safe from antisemitism.
They asked Mr Ramaphosa to fully recognize Israel and open the South African embassy in Tel Aviv. They also wanted to stop the closure of Israel’s embassy in Pretoria.
They also asked Mr. Ramaphosa to speak out or take action against the boycott of Israeli and Jewish businesses in South Africa.
In answer, President Ramaphosa spoke out against hatred of Jewish and Muslim people, but confirmed that South Africa still supports Palestinians.
“President Ramaphosa restated the South African government’s stance on the current fight between Israel and Palestine,” said the president’s office in a statement.
The President said the government does not agree with treating Jewish people badly in South Africa, like boycotting their businesses, and being afraid of people who practice Islam. -
Road in Venezuela on fire as vehicle crashes into other cars
Officials say that at least eight people died in a car crash near the city of Caracas in Venezuela.
A big truck crashed into a bunch of cars that were stopped on the road after being in a crash.
One of the cars seemed to be carrying a very easily ignitable liquid.
Videos show the highway between Guarenas and Caracas on fire.
Firefighters and emergency services from Caracas have been sent to put out the fire and help the injured people.
The governor of Miranda state, where the crash site is, said that 16 vehicles caught fire in the incident. It happened after 07:00 local time (11:00GMT).
A video on social media shows a burned bus flipped on its roof on the road.
The deputy minister of risk management, Carlos Pérez Ampueda, explained what happened during the tragedy.
“There was a small accident with a truck and three cars on the road between Caracas and Guarenas. The road was being fixed with new asphalt,” he said on the local radio station Unión Radio.
He said a truck drove into the crash scene. “He said the first accident happened at 7:00 and the second at 7:15. ”
He also said that the lorry driver might not have been able to see the first accident because of bad weather.
But people in Venezuela have been using social media to say that the roads in many areas of the country have not been taken care of during the economic crisis.
Some people also said that large trucks that were not properly maintained had been in several recent crashes. -
Memorial event for renowned musician Zahara from South Africa under way
At the memorial service for the late South African singer Bulelwa Mkutukana, better known by her stage name Zahara, family, friends, and admirers are gathered in Johannesburg.
The celebrated Afro-pop singer passed away earlier this week following a brief illness.
It was reported that she suffered liver problems while she was in the hospital.
The family stated that they did not believe there was a malicious motive behind her passing.
On December 23, she is scheduled to be buried in the Eastern Cape.
You can follow the live service here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g7PV4IwfUm0
-
Putin informs Russia his military goals remain same
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that there will only be peace with Ukraine when Russia accomplishes its goals.
He is having a big press meeting for the first time since he started a full-scale attack on Ukraine in February 2022.
Mr Putin talked to the Russian people on the phone while also answering questions from journalists.
The event did not happen last year.
The beginning of this marathon event is mostly about what Mr. Putin is calling the “special military operation in Ukraine”.
He first thinks about how important it is for Russia to be in control of its own country.
“Our country cannot exist without being in control. ” “It will just not be there,” he tells Channel One host Yekaterina Berezovskaya.
MrPutin thinks Russia’s economy is good during the war and then he starts talking about Ukraine.‘Why is mobilization important. ‘
Mr Putin says that he believes peace will come to Ukraine once his goals are achieved. He says the goals are still the same: to remove Nazi influence, reduce military power, and stay neutral. These are the important topics he has focused on since the war began.
He said that about 486,000 people signed up to be contract soldiers and 300,000 people were called up last year.
“He said there are still many men ready to defend our country with weapons. ” In total, there will be almost 500,000 men by the end of this year. Why do we need to get people together and ready.
A secret US intelligence report said that about 315,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or injured since the war started. This is nearly 90% of Russia’s military at the beginning of the invasion.
A journalist from a Russian newspaper in Luhansk, Ukraine, asked Mr Putin about Ukraine’s recent control of the east side of the Dnipro river, which Russia had previously occupied.
President Putin says that Ukraine’s military had some success in a small area and was trying hard to get to Crimea. So, Russian forces decided to move back a little into the woods to protect their soldiers. He says that Kyiv wants to show the West that it needs more money for its military.
“I don’t understand why they are doing it. They are forcing their own people to get killed. It’s a dangerous mission for the Ukrainian forces. ” The reasons for this are political because Ukrainian leaders are asking other countries for help.
Mr Putin says that Russian forces are winning in Ukraine.
“At almost all the places where our soldiers are fighting, they are getting better,” he says during his long press conference.
There hasn’t been much action on the front line lately, but Russia is attacking two towns in the Donetsk region. The towns of Mariinka and Avdiivka.
Russia can keep making progress even though there are sanctions against it.
Mr Putin also talks about how Russia gets along with the United States and the European Union.
He says the US is a big country but says it does bad things by taking over other countries. He asks America to be polite to other people and countries. He also says Russia is willing to fix its relationship with America once this happens.
While the leader of Russia is talking, the Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg holds a press meeting in Brussels and says that if Putin wins in Ukraine, he may continue to be aggressive in other places too.
Mr Putin says Russia can still make progress even though it’s facing economic punishments and being left out by other countries because it invaded Ukraine.
Russians sent more than two million questions to Mr.
Mr Putin spends up to four hours answering questions during his phone-ins, while Russian and international journalists also ask him lots of questions at the same time. -
Woman detained for stealing van full of doughnuts
A woman in Australia has been accused of taking a delivery van filled with 10,000 Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
The van was stolen from a gas station in a Sydney neighborhood on the morning of November 29th.
The police found the car a week later in a parking lot. Inside the car, there were thousands of old and bad-smelling doughnuts.
On Thursday, the police took into custody a 28-year-old woman. She was not allowed to leave jail and is accused of stealing a car and driving without a license.
Video from a security camera shows a woman staying at the gas station around 4:00 in the morning. She then gets into a delivery van that was left unattended and drives away.
It’s not clear if she knew there were 10,000 doughnuts in the van. She got some really yummy Christmas and regular doughnuts, according to News. comau
Krispy Kreme told the police about what happened and told customers that they were making more donuts to replace the 10,000 that were stolen. -
Man dies chasing a bird
In a heartbreaking incident in Kasoa Opeikuma, located in the Awutu Senya East Municipality of the Central region, a 59-year-old man named Peter Owusu met a tragic fate as an uncompleted building collapsed on him, claiming his life.
The incident occurred while he was chasing a bird that was a frequent visitor to the site.
According to a report by adomonline.com, the bird would often make noise on the uncompleted building between 11:00 pm and 4:00 am. Frustrated by the daily disturbance, Mr. Owusu decided to take action to chase the bird away.
In an account provided by the Kasoa Branch Pastor of Deeper Life Church, Isaac Opoku Mensah, the deceased’s widow revealed that her late husband initially threw a stone at the bird, causing it to temporarily fly away.
However, the bird returned after about ten minutes.
In an attempt to rid the area of the bothersome bird, the deceased climbed the uncompleted building. Unfortunately, the structure unexpectedly collapsed, leading to his tragic demise.
The man was quickly rushed to the Kasoa Mother and Child Hospital, but upon arrival, he was pronounced dead.
-
Fitch adjusts 2024 Crude Oil forecast to $80
Leading rating agency, Fitch Solutions, has adjusted its crude oil forecast for 2024 to $80.0 per barrel, marking an increase from the earlier projection of $75. This revision is expected to have significant implications for the global energy landscape, reflecting changing market dynamics and economic considerations.
However, the rating agency is anticipating a reduced crude oil price for 2025, with a projection of $70 per barrel, aligning with its initial forecast of $70. This outlook suggests a cautious perspective on the trajectory of oil prices in the coming year.
Currently, the world market sees crude oil priced at $76 per barrel.
Hence, assuming the forecasted price holds and considering the stability of the cedi, fuel prices at the pumps are not expected to undergo significant changes in 2024.
The elevated Brent and WTI oil benchmark projections for 2024, as stated, find support in OPEC’s ongoing efforts to bolster oil prices. This includes the recent collaborative decision of several members to join Saudi Arabia and Russia in implementing additional cuts during the first quarter of 2024.
According to the UK-based firm, the market was likely to be in a deficit of about 1.2 million barrels per day in the second half of 2023, according to the International Energy Agency.
It explained that OPEC+’s additional curtailments suggest that the deficit could persist in the first half of 2024, provided that compliance with production cuts remain strong.
-
Don’t rig the elections for me or any other party – Mahama tells EC
Former President John Dramani Mahama has emphasized the importance of a fair and transparent electoral process in the upcoming 2024 general election.
Speaking during his “Building Ghana Tour” in the Western North Region, Mr Mahama directly appealed to EC officers during a speech delivered to students at Wiawso College of Education and the Nursing Training College. He urged them to adhere strictly to the rules, emphasizing the need for the genuine aspirations of voters to be reflected in the outcomes of the elections.
“They should do their duty to God and country. They shouldn’t cheat for anybody. I don’t want them to cheat for me, and they shouldn’t rig the election for anybody; they [EC] should let the wishes of the Ghanaian people prevail,” Mahama asserted, as reported by myjoyonline.com.
Drawing from his experience as Ghana’s President from 2012 to 2016, Mahama stressed that the credibility of the election rests on the integrity of the Electoral Commission. He spoke passionately about his commitment to a just electoral process, emphasizing that the EC should not manipulate the results in favor of any political party, including his own.
“I have that experience; I have been President of Ghana before, and you all know the work that I did when I was President. I know that on 7th December 2024, insha Allah [God willing], NDC will win the election,” Mahama confidently declared.
The former President, who previously ran against and lost to President Akufo-Addo in the 2016 and 2020 elections, respectively, has expressed unwavering confidence in his ability to secure victory in the upcoming 2024 election. Mahama is determined to bring about the changes he believes Ghana needs, underlining his commitment to a democratic and transparent electoral process.
As the nation gears up for the 2024 elections, Mahama’s plea to the Electoral Commission echoes the broader call for a fair, credible, and transparent electoral system that truly reflects the will of the Ghanaian people.
-
No turning back as Majority Leader reaffirms his decision not to return to Parliament
Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Suame Constituency, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has affirmed his decision to exit the legislative chamber upon completing his present term. The announcement marks a notable development in the political landscape as Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu signals his intention to conclude his parliamentary service after the current term.
The legislator, who is set to mark 28 years in parliament by 2024, reiterated once again during an interview with Kwame Nkrumah Tikese on Okay FM that he will not pursue re-election in 2024.
“Akans have a saying that a man does not go back to lick his spit. I’ve already mentioned it a number of times and I still stand by it,” he stated of a possible U-turn.
According to him, while he is yet to officially write to the New Patriotic Party informing the leadership of his decision, his mind is already made up.
The NPP ahead of the 2024 general elections has held primaries in constituencies that do not have seats in parliament – orphan constituencies so called.
Meanwhile, the party has fixed early 2024 to hold parliamentary primaries in constituencies with sitting Members of Parliament.
-
Israeli and Palestinian peace comes at a cost
Simply making it through the day and staying alive at night seems like a miracle in the Gaza Strip. Palestinians are asking for help to stay safe in Gaza. The head of the main UN aid agency in Gaza called the situation an ongoing and worsening tragedy, like living in hell on earth.
It must be really terrible for the people taken by Hamas and for the families of their victims. War is very painful and hard for people to go through. But the heat can create changes that seemed not possible.
It happened in the Western part of Europe after the second World War. Former enemies who had been fighting each other for centuries decided to make peace. Can the fighting in Gaza make Israelis and Palestinians finally stop their long conflict over the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan river.
Muhammad Abu Shaar’s wife after he died.
I watched a video of a very sad woman sitting next to her dead husband, Muhammad Abu Shaar. Israel and Egypt are not letting reporters go into Gaza, so I haven’t seen her. I can’t figure out her name because it wasn’t with the names of her husband and children who died.
In the video, she seems to believe that if she grieves hard enough, it will bring him back.
“I promise that we agreed to die together. ” You passed away and you’re not here anymore. What should we do, God. Muhammad, wake up. My love, I promise I love you. Please, get up, for God’s sake. Our kids Nour and Aboud are here with you. Wake
The father and his two children were together because they were all just killed by Israel. A big bomb destroyed the house they were hoping to stay in in Rafah.
Yonatan Zeigen is a person’s name.
I went to Yonatan Zeigen’s apartment in Tel Aviv. The house was cozy and had a lot of toys belonging to his children. I saw a photo of his mother, Vivian Silver, who worked to make peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Vivian was at her family’s house in kibbutz Be’eri, near Gaza, when Hamas attacked on October 7th.
I met Yonatan for the first time after his kibbutz was attacked. He was hoping that his mother was taken to Gaza as a hostage.
He called Vivian when he heard the air raid sirens in Tel Aviv. They started using WhatsApp when they heard gunshots and explosions in the kibbutz, hoping that if they stayed quiet, Hamas would not come to the house.
He read the messages they sent each other. At first, they were joking around, but then they got serious and filled with love when she realized there was a massacre happening.
“She wrote to me and said they are in the house. She thinks it’s time to stop joking around and say goodbye,” he tells me.
“I wrote back saying ‘I love you, Mom. ‘” I can’t express how much I’m with you. She says, ‘I understand how you’re feeling’. And that was the end, that’s the final message.
The next day, I went to her house in the kibbutz and saw that it was burned. It took a long time for the investigators to find Vivian Silver’s body in the ash that was left in the safe room. Yonatan stopped being a social worker so he could work for peace.
“They entered my land and murdered my mother because we didn’t have peace. ” “So, to me, this just shows that we need it,” he says.
“It could go in one direction or the other. ” Disasters like this make societies in the world change. And I think it can make the future better.” -
Museums Board urged to collaborate with visual artists in preserving Ghana’s heritage
Former Head of Visual Arts at the Centre for National Culture, Kizito Nii Amarh Amartey, has called on the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board to collaborate with Ghanaian artists in the preservation of our culture and heritage.
Speaking at the second edition of an Arts exhibition dubbed ‘Contemporary_emerge,’ on Saturday, December 9, 2023, Mr Amartey, voiced concerns over how Ghana is gradually losing its cultural identity.
He noted that with the advent of various modern appliances like blenders, fufu pounding machines, cooking stoves, etc., traditional kitchen utensils that were once highly regarded and emblematic of our society, such as the grinding stone, mortar, and pestle, are gradually losing their value and could soon become extinct.
In light of this, he charged the Museums and Monuments Board to ensure the preservation of this precious heritage.
“Over the years, my experience in other museums is that, just by walking into a museum, you could tell the culture, you could tell the history, and the values of the country. In our part of the world [Ghana], we’ve had some facelift of our museum, but I think we still lack some pertinent ingredients.
“Museums are not supposed to only capture and preserve things that are going extinct, but also what is it that the country is cherishing today. We have to explore all the regions so that our museum is well-represented. Secondly, I’ll be happy that a broader spectrum of artists are engaged so that we don’t only preserve history, but we also look at what is happening in the contemporary sense,” he noted.
Kizito’s call adds to the myriad of voices advocating for the preservation of Ghana’s culture. He strongly believes one way this can happen is through collaboration between key stakeholders in the sector.
As a means of contributing his quota to this cause, Kizito launched his latest masterpiece, “Mukasi,” which is a remarkable artwork that ingeniously incorporates local kitchen elements such as the kitchen stool, earthenware pot, mortar, pestle, and more, at this year’s edition of Contemporary_emerge.
Contemporary_emerge is a dynamic platform for emerging artists to showcase their innovative works and perspectives.
It was established by Kizito Nii Amarh Amartey to spotlight the evolving trends and voices within the contemporary art scene as well as provide a space for artists to present their creative expressions, engage with diverse themes, and contribute to the cultural discourse.
Nine young talented Ghanaian artists; Ernest Boafo, Suzzy Owusu Boadi, Judith Edem Quansah, Adam Tata Dasagbor, Lilian Asiamah, Asiedu Edward Ankomah, Adel Emefa Dogbe, Gregory Adjei Kumah and Jerome Cudjoe, were also prominently featured and celebrated at this year’s edition of the Contemporary_emerge Arts Exhibition.
-
India launches investigation into parliamentary security breach
India’s government is looking into a security problem at its parliament. Two people got into the building and caused a disturbance by yelling and releasing colored smoke.
At least four people have been taken by the police and it’s said that two others are being held.
We still don’t know why they did it.
Opposition leaders didn’t like that security failed on the anniversary of a previous attack on the parliament.
They want Pratap Simha, a member of the BJP, to be punished for allegedly allowing the intruders to enter the public gallery in parliament.
MrSimha and his party have not said anything officially. The BBC sent an email to the MP to ask for their thoughts.
Attackers release colored gas in India’s government building.
On Thursday, there were more security measures around the parliament building. There were barriers outside the building to stop people from getting in.
The meetings in both houses were stopped because the opposition politicians wanted to talk about the incident and hear from the prime minister and the home minister.
“They should have at least criticized the incident,” said Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to reporters afterwards.
Derek O’Brien, a member of the opposition in the upper house of parliament, called for Home Minister Amit Shah to make a statement. As a result, he was suspended for bad behavior.
Before the meeting ended, defense minister Rajnath Singh said in parliament that everyone had criticized the incident. “We, including both ruling and opposition MPs, need to be cautious about who we give passes to enter parliament,” he said.
A police officer told Reuters that people can’t visit the new parliament building until they make sure it’s safe.
The news says that four people, three men and a woman in their 20s and 30s, will go to court on Thursday. The police have not said for sure who they are, but their families have talked to the local news and their pictures and names are in the newspapers.
The event happened on Wednesday when politicians were working in the Lok Sabha, which is the lower part of India’s parliament. Earlier today, President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other leaders honored the nine people who were killed in the 2001 attack. All five of the attackers were also shot and killed.
Lawmakers said that two men jumped into the room from where the public sits and released cans of colored smoke. One man was seen jumping from one table to another while the lawmakers and security officials tried to catch him.
Another man and woman shouted chants outside the parliament and released colored smoke from containers. They were caught on camera being taken away by the police.
Who are the people being charged.
“Four people from different states in India have been arrested. Some media reports say they met on Facebook, but the BBC couldn’t confirm this independently. ”
Some reporters outside the government building talked to one of the people accused of a crime as she was being taken away by the police. “My name is Neelam, and I am not part of any organization,” she said. She also said she was just a regular person without a job and wanted to protest against the government for being too harsh on the people.
Her family talked to ANI news agency from their home in Jind district, northern Haryana. They said they didn’t know she went to Delhi. Her brother said that we only knew she was in Hisar for her studies.
Neelam’s family said she had many degrees, including a master’s degree in education, but they were worried that she might not find a job.
“Her mother told ANI that she used to say she’s very qualified but can’t find a job, so it’s better to die. ”
The man she was protesting with is named Amol Shinde. He comes from Latur district in Maharashtra state. A government official said to the press that Mr. Shinde has been trying for the past few years to pass tests to become a police officer. The police say that his family did not know where he was.
The two men who went into parliament are named Manoranjan D from Mysore, in southern Karnataka, and Sagar Sharma from Lucknow, in northern Uttar Pradesh.
Devaraju Gowda, Manoranjan’s dad, said he didn’t approve of his son’s actions to the reporters.
“This is not right. ” “He said you can protest outside parliament but you can’t do this,” He also said that Manoranjan has a degree in engineering and will raise chickens, sheep, and fish on the family’s land.
“He reads many books about Vivekananda, who is an intellectual and philosopher. “Gowda said he just wanted to help society and people in need. The family is from the area where Mr. Simha works as a lawmaker, and he is accused of allowing the men to enter.
Sagar Sharma was the guy who was caught on camera jumping on tables in parliament. His mother, Rani Sharma, said that he drove a tuk-tuk in the city of Lucknow.
“He left two days ago,” she told the news agency ANI. “He said he was going with his friends for a job. ”
Reports say the fifth person accused was arrested in Gurugram outside of Delhi, while another man was found in Rajasthan. Both guys are accused of aiding the four protesters. -
Mahama advocates transparent 2024 election, calls on EC for integrity and fairness
President John Dramani Mahama has urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure a transparent and credible electoral process in the upcoming 2024 general election.
As part of his “Building Ghana Tour” in the Western North Region, the 2024 presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) emphasized the significance of ensuring that the genuine aspirations of the voters are reflected in the outcomes of the elections.
Mahama emphasized that the credibility of an election relies on the integrity of the Electoral Commission.
Addressing students at Wiawso College of Education and the Nursing Training College, Mahama made a direct appeal to Electoral Commission officers, calling on them to follow the rules and guarantee a just electoral process.
“They should do their duty to God and country. They shouldn’t cheat for anybody. I don’t want them to cheat for me, and they shouldn’t rig the election for anybody, they [EC] should let the wishes of the Ghanaian people prevail,” myjoyonline.com quoted him to have said.
He added “I have that experience; I have been President of Ghana before, and you all know the work that I did when I was President. I know that on 7th December 2024, insha Allah [God willing], NDC will win the election.”
John Mahama previously served as President of Ghana from 2012 to 2016, before losing to Akufo-Addo in the 2016 presidential election.
He unsuccessfully ran against Akufo-Addo again in the 2020 election.
He has expressed confidence that he can win in 2024 and bring about the changes he believes the country needs.
-
Irish economy stronger than data indicates – Think tank
Ireland’s economy is doing well, even though the main GDP numbers may not show it, according to a top research group.
The Irish economy’s size is mostly affected by the actions of big international companies.
This often makes the country’s economic growth rate seem higher than it really is.
However, the ESRI says the opposite is happening now.
The ESRI said that even though the economy has slowed down, there is still some growth happening.
At the same time, the big international companies that control a lot of the economy have slowed down. This is easy to see because there are fewer things being sold to other countries and not as much money being invested.
Pharmaceutical exports are going down.
The experts expect the country’s economy to shrink by about 3% this year, but the underlying domestic economy is predicted to grow by 0.It was mentioned that the main thing causing Ireland’s economy to slow down this year is the decrease in the amount of goods being sold to other countries.
The biggest thing that the country sells to other countries is medicines, but this year the amount of medicines sold to other countries has gone down by 6%.
This is partly because big global drug companies sold a lot of drugs which became more common during the pandemic.
Ireland’s job market has gotten a lot better since the pandemic. The unemployment rate is now less than 5%, which is almost like everyone who can work has a job.
ESRI said that the small increase in the unemployment rate is probably just because some Ukrainian immigrants were reclassified in the statistics. -
Don’t be quick to dismiss Mahama’s 24-hour economy – Professor tells Ghanaians
Director of the Institute of African Studies, Prof. Samuel Ntewusu, is advocating for an open-minded approach among Ghanaians in endorsing the 24-hour economy proposed by John Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
During an interview with the media on the sidelines of the Anton Wilhelm Amo Lecture held on Tuesday, Prof. Ntewusu underscored the significance of refraining from hastily rejecting novel concepts as he shared his perspectives on the matter.
He clarified that his statement was not an endorsement of any political party and, therefore, urged citizens to rally behind the concept of a 24-hour economy.
“I think in Ghana we are very quick to condemn anything that somebody wants to bring on board. It is not good for the development of the country. Even if you meet someone on the streets and the person says ‘I have this idea,’ do not be quick to dispense that person’s proposal. Allow the person to try out what he has in mind. If it doesn’t work out, then you know that that doesn’t work,” Prof Ntewusu stated.
He continued, “So if Mahama says he is going to roll out the 24-hour economy, he hasn’t even started, and people have started condemning it. I am not saying this in support of a particular party; I am saying that we Ghanaians and Africans are almost like ‘konogo kaya’ we cannot carry, and we will not let anyone else carry. And we’re very quick to rejoice when somebody fails rather than support that person to succeed.”
Former President Mahama has been advocating for a 24-hour economy, a concept he believes will resuscitate the struggling Ghanaian economy.
This stance has since sparked diverse opinions from individuals, politicians, civil society organisations, and the business community.
While members of the NDC applaud the proposal, considering it a blueprint for addressing the escalating unemployment rate and the shaky economy, their counterparts from the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) dismiss it as an impractical and belated idea.
However, Mr Mahama seems unperturbed by his opponents. In responding to the critics, he acknowledged that while some institutions are already operating around the clock, his government would facilitate and extend it to cover more sectors.
-
Haitian police officer in Kenya prior to police deployment
Haitian police chief Frantz Elbe is in Kenya for a three-day visit. He is planning to send police to help stop gang violence in Haiti.
Mr Elbe and his group met with the Kenyan police chief and other important security officials for a meeting about security.
The police officers from Kenya are getting ready to go on a UN mission called Multinational Mission to Support Security (MSS). They are visiting as part of their preparation for this mission. Over 1,000 officers are expected to be deployed. This news was reported by local media in Kenya.
The first group of around 300 officers will be sent out by February next year, as reported by The Star newspaper.
Last month, the Kenyan government said they could send soldiers somewhere, but a court said they can’t do it until they finish investigating if it’s allowed.
The plan has been criticized by many people because past efforts in Haiti didn’t work out and because the police in Kenya have been known to violate people’s rights.
Kenya’s top opposition leader, Raila Odinga, has spoken out against the plan to send troops. President William Ruto supports the plan because he believes that Africa wants to help Haiti stay safe and free.
Haiti has about 300 gangs, and 80% of the capital city, Port-au-Prince, is controlled by these gangs. -
Unethical and unlawful content on airwaves surges over 64% in November – NMC reports
The second half of November witnessed a sharp uptick of 64.7% in the overall reported incidents of unethical and unlawful content broadcasted on the airwaves, according to statements from the National Media Commission (NMC) and the National Communications Authority (NCA).
The surge underscores the pressing need for heightened vigilance and regulatory measures to curb the dissemination of inappropriate content in the media landscape.
A collaborative monitoring effort conducted by the two institutions unveiled notable spikes in specific categories of unlawful and unethical content. Fake lottery incidents surged six-fold (676%), while occurrences related to occultism doubled (105%).
On the contrary, the report signed by Mr George Sarpong, Executive Secretary, NMC, said money doubling decreased by 23.03 per cent while money rituals decreased by 16.07 per cent.
It said the top 10 stations that had complaints against them were Adwenpa TV, Asomafo TV, Elephant TV, XTV, Diamond TV, Big TV, Passion TV, Funny TV, Best TV and Energy TV.
In the case of fake lottery, 10 complaints were received regarding Adwenpa TV, 16 for Asomafo TV, 31 for Elephant TV, four complaints involving XTV, three for Diamond TV, six for Big TV, one for Funny TV, two for Best TV and five complaints for Energy TV.
Some 15 complaints were received concerning Adwenpa Tv regarding occultism, nine reports were made against Diamond TV, four against Big TV, six against Passion TV, one each against Best TV and Energy TV.
For money doubling, 15 complaints were made against Adwenpa TV, 28 against Asomafo TV, seven against Elephant TV, 12 against XTV, 23 against Diamond TV, 17 against Big TV, 13 against Passion TV, 28 against Funny TV, 25 against Best TV and 24 against Energy TV.
Adwenpa TV was reported on three occasions for promoting money rituals on their airwaves, one report was made against Asomafo TV, two against Elephant TV, 24 against XTV, five against Diamond TV and Big TV respectively, 17 against Passion TV, three against Funny TV, four against Best TV and two against Energy TV.
A total of 20 complaints were received against Adwenpa TV for promoting inappropriate sexual content on their airwaves.
The report said even though Asomafo TV, Adwenpa TV, Diamond TV, X TV, Funny TV, Big TV, Passion TV, Elephant TV, Best TV, Energy TV, Nkabom TV and Seekers TV were cited in the National Media Commission (NMC) / National Communications Authority (NCA) fortnight report, they continued to carry out their offensive broadcast after they were publicly cautioned.
“They should take note that this constitutes their final warning. Regulatory action may be taken against them without any further reference to them,” it said.
On the related case of Onua TV/ FM, the Commission said it had filed a notice of suspension of
authorisation with the NCA after the extended time expired without the stations apologising or withdrawing their offensive content.
It said Onua TV/ FM had subsequently filed a case in court claiming a right to carry the content the Commission found offensive, adding that the Commission would continue to update the public on the issue.
The Commission expressed gratitude to the NCA for the positive collaboration in ensuring professionalism in broadcasting.
“We reaffirm our dedication to ensure free, pluralistic and responsible media in Ghana.
“We encourage the public to continue to collaborate with us by calling the toll-free number 0800-419-666, to draw our attention to any content they consider unacceptable by the standards of media ethics, Ghanaian culture, traditions and norms,” it added.
-
We deserve fairness, you can’t tell us to transition from fossil fuel by 2050 – Napo tells stakeholders at COP28
Energy Minister, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has expressed candid remarks about some global commitments made at the Conference of Parties (COP).
Speaking at this year’s edition of the climate summit in the United Arab Emirates, Mr Opoku Prempeh highlighted the unprecedented achievements of COP28 but urged for a fair and balanced approach, particularly in addressing the concerns of developing nations.
“We do know that this COP has generated and delivered things that we have never dreamt that could be done. We also do recognize the global stock change and that is where we think things could have been done in a fair manner and a more balanced approach.
“The Global Stock take, we have a huge and high impact that it is going to change and it’s going to deliver things for us. But what we have seen in the letter written needs to be firmed up and more balanced and fairly written,” he said.
The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) closed on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, with an agreement that signals the “beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era by laying the ground for a swift, just and equitable transition, underpinned by deep emissions cuts and scaled-up finance.
In a demonstration of global solidarity, negotiators from nearly 200 Parties came together in Dubai with a decision on the world’s first ‘global stocktake’ to ratchet up climate action before the end of the decade – with the overarching aim to keep the global temperature limit of 1.5°C within reach.
Prior to the closure of the summit, Ghana’s Energy Minister acknowledged the significant impact of the global stocktake, however, he emphasized the need for a more comprehensive and equitable assessment.
He underscored the importance of a firm and well-balanced framework, emphasizing that the current draft requires refinement to better serve the interests of all participating nations.
The minister drew attention to the challenges faced by developing countries, particularly those in Africa and vulnerable to climate change. He called for a more attentive and appreciative approach towards the concerns of nations grappling with the consequences of the climate crisis.
Addressing the transition away from fossil fuels, the Energy Minister questioned the fairness of the proposed timelines, especially for developing countries that have recently discovered fossil fuels. He argued that the stipulation of a 2050 deadline for such nations contradicts the principles of fairness and equity.
“Yes, we in the developing countries, Africa and climate vulnerable at the receiving end of the climate crisis deserve to be listened to and appreciated in better ways that partner 28 seems to be doing. In one breadth, we are given timeless information that we are supposed to all indicate the transition away from false influence, and in another paragraph the timeline is left vague .
“We think we should look at this 2050, 2030 timeliness. If we are going to stick to net zero, as a point you can’t say developing countries that have recently found fossil fuels and are using it for development should transition away from it by 2050. And then other Greenhouse gasses emitted like methane should just reduce in a manner that is appreciated, I don’t think there’s fairness there. We hope that, yes, a lot has been achieved with the funds and litigation and adaptation. But going forward we will see to a better paragraph 28,” he noted.
About the Global Stocktake
The global stocktake is considered the central outcome of COP28 – as it contains every element that was under negotiation and can now be used by countries to develop stronger climate action plans due by 2025.
The stocktake recognizes the science that indicates global greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut 43% by 2030, compared to 2019 levels, to limit global warming to 1.5°C. But it notes Parties are off track when it comes to meeting their Paris Agreement goals.
The stocktake calls on Parties to take actions towards achieving, at a global scale, a tripling of renewable energy capacity and doubling energy efficiency improvements by 2030. The list also includes accelerating efforts towards the phase-down of unabated coal power, phasing out inefficient fossil fuel subsidies, and other measures that drive the transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems, in a just, orderly and equitable manner, with developed countries continuing to take the lead.
In the short-term, Parties are encouraged to come forward with ambitious, economy-wide emission reduction targets, covering all greenhouse gases, sectors and categories and aligned with the 1.5°C limit in their next round of climate action plans (known as nationally determined contributions) by 2025.
-
MP slams govt for failing to fulfill promise of constructing 2-bedroom house for 2021 best fish farmer
Ranking Member on the Agriculture Committee of Parliament, Eric Opoku, has voiced deep disappointment at the government’s failure to honor its commitment to construct a promised two-bedroom house for the Best Fish Farmer of 2021.
Years have passed, and the unfulfilled pledge has drawn criticism, raising questions about the government’s commitment to supporting and recognizing excellence in the agricultural sector.
Eric Opoku has rebuked the Ministry of Agriculture for requesting an additional sum of GH¢50,000 three years later to finalize the construction of the promised house.
Opoku made these remarks while deliberating on the 2024 budget estimates of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development during the Committee on Agric and Cocoa Affairs discussion.
“…Mr. Speaker, Farmers Day. This is a very important celebration that every Ghanaian must have heard. Unfortunately, during the celebration, the best fish farmer is not given the award. In 2021, the best fish farmer was to be given a two-bedroom house. The ceremony, attended by the President and all state apparatus, was widely publicized. However, as we speak, the house has not been completed, and the ministry is now asking for five hundred thousand cedis to be able to complete the building and hand it over to the best fish farmer. Mr. Speaker, this is something that must not be told anywhere. We don’t have to allow this to happen.”
However, the ministry, as revealed in the report, has abandoned the decision to award the Best Fish Farmer a house due to financial constraints.
The Committee urged the Ministry of Finance to release the GH¢500,000.00 allocated for the completion of the two-bedroom house awarded to the 2021 Best Fish Farmer.
This move aims to enable the ministry to reconsider reinstating the housing award, intending to motivate more investors to venture into aquaculture.
The House has since approved a total sum of two hundred and ninety-eight million, seven hundred and seventy-two thousand, two hundred and fifty-three Ghana Cedis (GHC298,772,253) to implement the planned programs and activities of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development for the 2024 financial year.
-
Coups are not solutions to development and governance challenges – Ambassador
Coordinating Director for Multilateral and International Organizations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (MFARI), Ambassador Perpetual Dufu, has emphasized that considering coup d’états as a means to address development and governance challenges is inappropriate.
She highlighted that the African continent is experiencing a burgeoning youth population, but the available opportunities do not align, leading to discontent and, at times, fostering conditions conducive to coup d’états.
She, however, said “One thing I can say is that we don’t always have to look for the solution in coup d’état.”
Ambassador Dufu said this in Wa at a stakeholders’ workshop on the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) protocol, programmes, and activities organized by the MFARI in collaboration with the Media Response.
The workshop was to offer the participants the opportunity to know and understand the pivotal role that ECOWAS played in the development and integration of the sub-region and the African continent in general.
Ambassador Dufu added that issues of climate change displaced people and the desire for people to change their livelihood and lifestyles had also caused them to move from rural areas into urban areas, which had its accompanying consequences.
“This brings along with its development challenges, and of course when the heat is so much it can result in some of the things we are seeing in our region,” she explained.
She indicated that the ECOWAS regional integration efforts would help promote interaction, trade, and a prosperous economic life for the citizens of the region, which would contribute to reducing those coup d’état-related factors and ensuring peace within the region.
She said people in the region would not be able to access the benefits of the ECOWAS Protocols if they did not have the knowledge and understanding of the extent of the benefits of the protocols that were available to them.
The Ambassador said that was part of the reasons that had made it imperative that all member states should sensitise their citizens to what they stand to gain if those protocols were effectively implemented.
She explained that the ECOWAS protocol had provided for the free movement of goods and persons within the community and the right to establish themselves in member-state countries.
Ambassador Dufu, however, observed that the challenge in the full implementation of that protocol was integrating the protocols into the laws of member states to make it a reality.
“The challenge since this has been in place is that after all these protocols have been agreed member states are to localise it in their own laws and to remove barriers that exist within their legal systems to make this a reality.
In many places, some of the barriers still exist but it’s a work in progress”, she said, and called for the support of the citizens within the community in realising that objective.
Naa Seidu Braimah Nubalanaang, the Paramount Chief of the Guli Traditional Area in the Wala Traditional Council, expressed worry about the growing spate of coup d’états in the West Africa sub-region.
He called on the leadership of the regional bloc to re-examine itself and to put in the appropriate measures to end the coup d’états within the bloc.
“When we meet at the highest levels, we should not just go there to take tea and other things, chat and come back, let’s look at these things.
If sincerely, we had good governance in this part of the world I don’t think that these coup d’états will be happening,” the revered chief said.
Representatives of traditional and religious leaders, Civil Society Organisations, students, security agencies, and the media participated in the workshop.
-
GHC33m allocated to Legal Aid Commission inadequate – Minority
Minority in Parliament has voiced strong discontent, asserting that the allocation of GH₵33 million to the Legal Aid Commission is significantly insufficient.
In their critique, they argue that this allocation falls short of meeting the essential needs and demands of the Legal Aid Commission.
The commission plays a crucial role in promoting equality of access to justice and fair treatment before the law. It serves as a public defender, particularly for individuals who lack the financial means to cover the expenses associated with legal proceedings in court.
Nevertheless, the commission has grappled with chronic underfunding for years, struggling to attract legal practitioners from the private sector primarily due to inadequate working conditions.
According to Minority Spokesperson on Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Bernard Ahiafor, if government is not serious about adequately resourcing the commission to work, then it must close the institution.
“Mr. Speaker if we want Legal Aid as an autonomous body being established by an act of parliament then with all due respect as a country we need to pay some attention to this particular institution. If we don’t want the Legal Aid Commission to exist, let us abolish it so that we know we do not have legal aid.
“To establish it with responsibility to go down to the districts, regional, not only at national with this kind of budgetary allocation, Mr. Speaker, legal aid commission is not an individual to be given a CAPEX budgetary allocation of 3 million. Goods and services to be 3 million.
“Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the legal aid, I am on my knee that the way and manner additional resources are provided for other institutions, we have to do the same for legal aid if we really want legal aid to perform its duties and responsibilities,” he said.
MP for Bia East, Richard Acheampong, also argued that because of the low budgetary allocation to the commission, very few good lawyers are willing to join the commission.
This he said has resulted in large swathes of the country lefty without the service of the legal aid commission.
“Together with the Attorney General’s office, many seasoned lawyers don’t want to work there because their conditions of service are very bad. And we’re pretending as if our state institution – so if you talk to somebody, ‘oh go to legal aid’, what is there?’ they can’t do anything for you.
“They don’t even have vehicles to traverse the length and breadth of this country in order to even support our people who are in need. Let’s put all the northern zones together; Savannah, Upper East, Northern Region and the rest, we have a lot of people who have cases because of financial constraints they can’t go to the court for a proper adjudication.
“And this system is not there to support these people and they can’t also travel to the south to access such facilities. So Mr. Speaker let’s be frank to ourselves and do what is right. Let’s put our money where our mouth is,” he lamented.
Despite these concerns, the house still approved 33 million cedis for the Legal Aid Commission.
-
Hundreds arrested by IDF during 30-hour raid in West Bank
The Israeli army has been carrying out an operation in the Jenin refugee camp in the West Bank for over 30 hours.
Some Palestinians there have started protests because of it.
The Israeli army caught many suspects, looked in lots of buildings, took away weapons and bullets, and destroyed places used by terrorists.
Six buildings where explosives were made were destroyed, along with some tunnels underground in the camp.
We saw some pictures of Palestinian protesters setting fire to tires to block the road after the raids.
The Palestinian health ministry said a 13-year-old boy was the seventh person to die after the raids and drone attacks in the Jenin area in the past day. -
Conditions worsen overnight due to heavy showers in Gaza
There was a lot of heavy rain in Gaza last night that made it even harder for people living in tents.
The rain came from a low area in northeast Africa moving over the eastern Mediterranean.
This has made the air cooler over the warm seas. The sea is still around 20 degrees Celsius. This makes the air in the atmosphere unstable, causing rain showers and thunderstorms.
The rain amount will be different in different places.
More rain will keep coming to Gaza all day today. A strong area of high pressure will bring sunny and dry weather, with temperatures much higher than usual by Friday. This warm weather will continue into next week.
It seems like it will rain again at the end of next week.
Gaza gets most of its rain from November to February. There will be more cool and wet weather in the coming weeks and months. -
10 troops killed in Gaza on what Israel claims to be bloodiest day for armed forces
Israel’s army said that 10 soldiers died in a battle in northern Gaza yesterday, making it the worst day for the military since they started their attack on Hamas.
Nine people were killed, and they were fighting in Shejaiya, which is to the east of Gaza City. Among them were a battalion commander and a colonel.
It is said that they were attacked in a planned way.
One hundred and fifteen soldiers have died.
Benny Gantz, a member of the Israeli War Cabinet and a former military leader, said that the war was causing a lot of pain and was hard to deal with.
Most Israelis still think the war is right and needed, but when soldiers die, it affects everyone in the country because most Jewish people, and also some from other religions, serve in the army.
Some Israelis on social media are asking if the increase in fighting on the ground could be because the US is pushing for less air strikes.
Israeli airstrikes hurt fewer Israeli soldiers but have caused many Palestinian civilians to die. -
Gov’t pays GHC230.5m judgment debt; GHC1.44bn outstanding
Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta has authorized the payment of US$20 million (GHC230.5m) as a partial settlement for a US$140 million judgment debt in favor of the Ghana Power Generation Company (GPGC).
This leaves an outstanding $120m (GHC1.44bn) balance to be cleared. The directive, dated November 11, 2023, has sparked controversy and raised questions about the government’s financial priorities.
The payment order came to light after Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, shared the transmission letter on social media. Ablakwa criticized the government, questioning its claim of financial constraints while allocating a substantial sum for a judgment debt settlement.
The ongoing legal dispute stems from the termination of two power deals between the Ghanaian government and GPGC, a subsidiary of international commodities company Trafigura. The UK High Court had previously ruled in favor of GPGC, awarding them a judgment debt of US$140 million.
One of the contentious issues in the case was Ghana’s argument that GPGC should have served the government through diplomatic channels, as per existing laws. However, the UK High Court deemed this argument untenable, allowing alternative service methods.
Trafigura, the majority owner of GPGC, secured the award in January 2021. The arbitral tribunal found that Ghana had unlawfully terminated a contract for the installation and operation of two power plants. The multinational commodities-trading company, based in Singapore, initiated the legal proceedings.
Legal representation for GPGC included James Willan KC and Catherine Jung of Essex Court Chambers, with instruction from Stephenson Harwood. Ghana was represented by Stephen Houseman KC and Luke Tattershall, also of Essex Court, instructed by White & Case.
Ablakwa expressed concern about the government’s handling of the situation, accusing them of recklessness and creating financial losses for Ghana. He called for accountability, suggesting that those responsible for terminating the GPGC contract might face consequences in the future.
As this complex legal and financial saga unfolds, it remains to be seen how the government will address the concerns raised by Ablakwa and manage the implications of the judgment debt settlement.
-
PAC report reveals ¢17bn in irregularities recorded in 2021
A Public Accounts Committee (PAC) report has revealed that GH¢ 17 billion was recorded as irregularities recorded in some 19 State Institutions in 2021.
In response to the report, Majority Leader of Parliament and Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu, proposed the establishment of a parliamentary committee to address and investigate the reported financial discrepancies and ensure accountability in the management of public funds within the implicated institutions.
According to the report, an amount of GH¢17,483,483,539.25 was recorded as irregularities in the management of some 19 State institutions for the period ended December 31, 2021. The report pressed the Majority Leader to call on the House to constitute a committee that would further probe on the recommendations of the Public Accounts Committee.
The 19 state institutions and agencies that were cited for causing these irregularities were under the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General, Ministry of Communication and Digitization, Ministry of Tourism, Creative Arts and Culture, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations. The rest were the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Works and Housing, and Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources.
He expressed the view that even though the Public Accounts Committee has as parts of its mandate to investigate the reports by the Auditor General and presents its reports to Parliament, the House also is empowered by the same constitution to further work with the Attorney General’s Department to ensure that all recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee are carried out.
The report of the Public Accounts Committee further revealed that, the total irregularities increased from GH¢ 12,856,172,626 in the year 2020 to GH¢17,483,483,539.25 in 2021, representing an increase of 36.0% from the 2020 irregularities uncovered.
The report classified the irregularities under eight (8) different headings namely, Outstanding Debtors/Loans Receivable (58.98%), Dues from Customers for power sales (COVID -M19 & Others) (34.56%), Cash (2.89%), Payroll (0.05%), Procurement (1.75%), Tax (0.13) and Contract irregularities (1.62%).
-
Deaths among Ugandan teachers caused by poor conditions – Union
The Uganda National Teachers Union reported that many teachers have died because they were not healthy due to bad working conditions.
The union said that over 1,000 teachers in the country have passed away in the last two years. Uganda might not have enough teachers by 2025 because bad working conditions are causing many teachers to leave the job.
These deaths happened because of how people work and live. “Work can be really overwhelming and stressful,” said Baguma Filbert Bates, the General Secretary of Uganda’s National Teachers Union on BBC’s Newsday programme.
He said that Ugandan teachers have too much work to do because there aren’t enough of them, and they only get paid about 490,000 Ugandan shillings ($125; £100) each month. Bates thinks that the money is not enough to support teachers and their families in today’s economy.
He said the union keeps asking the government to make teachers’ lives better, so that students can get a better education.
Whenever there is something that politicians think is really important, they always manage to find the money for it. “So, we cannot say that the Ugandan child should be harmed because of the economy,” Mr Bates stated. -
Farmer slapped with 5 year jail term for issuing death threat to DCE
A farmer in Chereponi has been sentenced to five years in prison for making threats against the District Chief Executive (DCE) in the area.
The judgment was handed down following a legal process that unfolded at the Circuit Court in Yendi in the Northern Region, in accordance with Section 75 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960, Act 29.
As per the statements provided by the prosecutor, Detective Chief Inspector Nicodemus York, the defendant, a dweller of Kwame Nansoni in the Chereponi district, reportedly contacted the District Chief Executive (DCE), Nashiru Zuwera Muda, on phone on November 20, 2023. The accused allegedly issued threats, stating, “I will kill you if you dare enter Chereponi.”
The incident was reported to the Chereponi police, resulting in the identification and subsequent arrest of the suspect, aided by National Security officials.
In his caution statement, the accused confessed to the offense, ultimately resulting in his conviction to a five-year imprisonment term by Justice Francis Ayamwuni Asobayire.
-
Court ‘frees’ 19-year-old who threatened to kill his mother
The Gbetsile Circuit Court has approved bail for 19-year-old unemployed individual, Joshua Narh, who allegedly threatened his mother, Doris Narh, with a knife.
The bail amount is set at Gh₵50,000, requiring three sureties to secure his release. The defendant, who made his initial court appearance in November, was initially remanded and is scheduled to return on December 12, as ordered by the presiding judge, Mrs. Eleanor Kakra Banes Botchway.
The proceedings have been adjourned until February 2, 2024, for the Case Management Conference.
Mrs. Eleanor Kakra Banes Botchway, presiding over the court, granted bail to the accused following his plea of not guilty to the charges brought against him.
Inspector Maxwell Ayeh, the prosecutor, informed the court that the complainant, Doris, is a trader residing in Afienya-Zugbanyatey. The accused, Joshua, is identified as the son of the complainant.
The defendant resides at the same address as the complainant but occupies a distinct room.
The prosecution told the court that on Sunday, November 12, 2023, while Doris was in her shop, she had information that the accused person was causing damage to her locked room in an attempt to enter, and when she rushed to the scene, she met Joshua in the act.
Inspector Ayeh said the complainant attempted to stop him, but the accused struggled with her and, in the process, pushed her on the ground. Joshua further pounced on the complainant while she was on the ground.
The prosecution said Joshua pulled a knife from his attire and threatened to stab Doris if she dared prevent him from entering the room.
The complainant’s daughter, who is a witness in the case, shouted, which attracted their neighbour’s attention, and they came to rescue the complainant.
Subsequently, a complaint was lodged, leading to the arrest of Joshua, who, after investigation, was charged with the offence and arraigned before the court to stand trial.
-
Rebel group in Colombia to stop kidnaps for ransom
The rebel group in Colombia, called EMC, said it will no longer kidnap people to get money.
The EMC is a big group that separated from the Farc in Colombia. It includes rebels who didn’t stop fighting when the Farc made peace in 2016.
The news is good for Gustavo Petro’s government, which is working on making peace with the EMC.
Kidnappings for money have been increasing in Colombia this year.
The father of Liverpool footballer Luis Díaz was taken by force, but then let go.
Mr Díaz Snr and his wife were taken from their home in Barrancas, Colombia. This brought attention to the problem of kidnapping, which some criminals and rebel groups use to make money.
EMC announced on Tuesday that it’s a win for President Petro, who wants to bring “complete peace” to Colombia, but kidnappings for money may still happen.
The National Liberation Army (ELN) is a group in Colombia that kidnaps people for money. They are one of many criminal and rebel groups in Colombia that still continue to do this.
The Ombudsman’s office announced this week that 91 people are still being kept as hostages in different parts of the country.
A recent report from Colombia’s Foundation for Peace and Reconciliation shows that the number of people kidnapped in the first 10 months of this year is the highest it has been since 2016, the year the government made a peace deal with the Farc.
The EMC, which stands for Estado Mayor Central (Central General Command in Spanish), is the biggest rebel group that formed after the peace deal in 2016. It is estimated to have around 3,000 members.
It is most busy in the areas of Caquetá, Guaviare, Meta and Putumayo.
Talks with the EMC have been difficult. In May, President Petro stopped the peace agreement with the rebel group because they killed four indigenous teenagers who were forced to join the group and tried to escape.
The two sides started talking about peace again last month. -
Palestinian support for Hamas rising in West Bank
Since the fighting started in Gaza, Israel has been doing more and stronger military actions in the West Bank.
The city of Jenin in the north is now a place where fighting happens every week, after being a main target for raids before the attacks by Hamas.
I met some Palestinian teenagers who were running from the army on Tuesday. They had the same doubtful and disrespectful attitudes as older men. They made fun of the Palestinian president and his requests for help from the world to protect them from Israel’s occupation.
Israel’s heavy-duty bulldozers and military vehicles were moving near the entrance of Jenin refugee camp. Explosions and gunshots could be heard from other parts of the city as well. The streets were empty and all the stores were closed.
The walls of this city have pictures of young men who were killed by Israeli forces. Some of them were part of groups like Hamas, which the UK and other countries consider to be terrorists. The posters and the faces are changed every year.
Six men died in a military operation on Tuesday. Witnesses said four of them were killed by a drone.
Israel is saying that they are going after people in the West Bank who are part of armed groups, especially those who have hurt Israelis.
The head of Jenin’s hospital, Wissam Bakr, said a very sick 13-year-old child died because they couldn’t get to the hospital for treatment.
“He said that the attacks in Jenin and the killing of young people will make the people very angry because we lose a friend every day. ”
“This won’t make Israel peaceful – it will make more and more people fight back. ”
On October 7th, some people from the group Hamas in Gaza attacked the southern part of Israel. They killed 1,200 people and took 240 other people as hostages. Over 18,400 people died in Gaza during the war.
In the West Bank, 271 Palestinians, including 69 children, have been killed since the attacks – which is more than half of the total number for the year. The United Nations says the Israeli forces have killed almost all of them.
After the Hamas attacks, more people in the West Bank support using weapons to fight back. This is especially true in Nablus and Jenin.
“I can tell by the way people talk, the music they listen to in their cars, and what they say on Facebook and other social media. I also learn from my discussions with my students,” explained Raed Debiy, a political scientist and leader of the Fatah party, which is in charge of the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank.
He said that the attacks were a big moment for Palestinians, just like they were a shocking moment for Israelis.
“He said that a lot of people, especially young people, are supporting Hamas more than ever before. ” “In the last 30 years, there weren’t any role models for the new generation. But now, they see something different and a new story is being made. ”
He said even his 11-year-old nephew doesn’t respect Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, but looks up to Hamas military spokesman Abu Obeida because he keeps them safe.
“Palestinian young people have specific things they really want, like owning a house or getting a degree,” said Amjad Bushkar, a political expert from the West Bank.
“But now I think these priorities have completely changed after 7 October. ” More and more people want the homeland to be completely free. They believe this can be achieved through peaceful or armed resistance.
Dr Bushkar said he was in Israeli jails for nine years and used to be part of Hamas’s student group. He said that seven of his family members had been arrested after the attacks on 7 October.
Hamas members in the West Bank have been attacked by Palestinian security forces, not just Israeli ones, because Hamas took control of Gaza by force in 2007. This happened a year after they won parliamentary elections.
However, Bushkar said that something was different now.
“Fatah and Hamas know they need each other, and I believe they will work together more closely in the future. ”
“The Palestinian Authority understood that trying to get rid of Hamas would not work because it is a deeply held belief among the Palestinian people. Hamas also knows it can’t create a Palestinian state without the support of Fatah. ”
Some important people in the Palestinian government are now talking about the good things that could happen if everyone works together, even though the President is not saying the same thing.
Earlier this month, the leader of Palestine, Mohammad Shtayyeh, said in an interview with Bloomberg that they want Hamas to join their government in Gaza.Qossay Hamed, who knows a lot about Hamas, says that the problems in Gaza might make the political part of the group stronger, but not the military part.
He said that revolutionary movements should have a political outcome from their military actions.
“Hamas has many different trends. ” And there are fights happening inside. I believe the political influence of Hamas will increase after this war because the whole world will be less accepting of them.
Israel wants to get rid of Hamas in Gaza and does not want Hamas or Fatah to be part of the government there in the future.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Tuesday that he will not let people who teach, support, or fund terrorism go to Gaza.
“Gaza will not be controlled by Hamas or Fatah. ”
Some Palestinians think that Gaza suffered too much because of the attacks by Hamas.
However, some people believe that the group’s violent methods were effective in pressuring Israel to release Palestinian prisoners. They compare this impact to that of the Palestinian Authority, which was established 30 years ago after the Oslo Accords to cooperate with Israel in creating a future Palestinian State.
Amjad Bushkar said that after the attacks, the world and international community are now giving more importance to the Palestinian cause.
Many people think the PA is not honest and doesn’t work well. They also can’t pay their workers or police because of a disagreement with Hamas. This happened because of the war in Gaza and arguments over money from Israel.
More Hamas flags and slogans appeared when Palestinian prisoners were released by Israel in exchange for Israeli hostages in Gaza. But the president and security forces of the Palestinian Authority were not seen.
Israel wants to stop Hamas from being in charge in Gaza, but their power is growing here in the West Bank. -
Mountain Climber honoured after being buried by deadly avalanche
A man from Glasgow won a big climbing award after almost dying on a trip a few years ago.
Tim Miller, who is 27 years old, began climbing mountains in his area, and then started tackling dangerous and unknown mountains in different parts of the world.
He won a big award, like a mountain-climbing Oscar, for reaching the top of a mountain in Nepal that no one had climbed before.
Tim was the first person to climb the very steep and dangerous route.
The mountain peak, which is 21,532 feet (6563 meters) high, was climbed without using extra air, ropes already in place, or help from Sherpa guides. This type of climbing is called “Alpine style. ”
Tim achieved this just a few years after he was caught in a deadly avalanche that killed his friend Christian Huber in 2018.
Excavate up to the top.
During camping in Pakistan’s Ultar Sar mountain, the group was covered by six feet of snow at a height of 19,300ft (5883m).
“It was a small avalanche, but it buried us because we were lying on the bottom of our tent,” he said. “I was on the opposite side of the tent, so I couldn’t reach them. ”
Tim chewed through the tent and dug his way out, but his friends didn’t come out with him.
He saved Bruce’s life while climbing, but when he found Christian, he was already dead.
Bruce and Tim found their equipment and stayed in their damaged tent for two days. They waited for the weather to get better before a helicopter from the Pakistani military rescued them and took them to safety.
“Everything happened so fast,” Tim said. “I didn’t notice it right away because I was too busy looking for things like food, water, and shelter to stay alive. ”
“When I realized what had happened, I saw how scared my mom, dad, and girlfriend were. ” But it helped me see how important it is for me to improve and move forward.
“When I think about it now, it feels like I’m reading a story about someone else in a book. ”
‘In a flow’ means moving smoothly and continuously.
Tim told BBC Scotland that he learned a lot from his experience and now always plans carefully before going on a climb.
“It can be scary sometimes, but I feel more stressed when I’m not on the mountain and my phone starts making noise,” he said.
“When you’re in the mountains, you feel really good, and I find it difficult to go back to regular life. ”
Tim met famous climber Paul Ramsden for the first time while hitchhiking back home to Glasgow after climbing Ben Nevis. They ended up becoming partners and won an award for their climb.
The two friends stayed in contact and carefully planned their trip up Jugal Spire for a long time before finally going on the eight-day expedition in the spring of 2022.
He said that there are only a few mountains that no one has climbed yet. It takes a lot of effort to find these mountains by searching books and Google Earth. The mountains remain unknown until someone actually climbs them.
The weather was bad during the whole trip, with rain, hail, and snow almost every day. Also, at the end of the trip, an avalanche destroyed the tent.
The two had to cover themselves with the fabric and they slept in a small cave for one night.
Tim got frostbite while climbing up the icy steep rock, but he thought the journey was “really great”.
“You’re hanging off a mountain where people aren’t supposed to be and tied to some equipment on a rock,” he said. “It feels like being on the planet Mars. ”
He began climbing with his mom and dad when he was young and it made him really excited about it. Then he got his first job at the Glasgow Climbing Centre in Ibrox.
Now Tim is a mountain guide and leads groups of people up mountains. He is going to Greenland, Iceland, and Nepal next year.
“I am very happy to get a Piolet d’Or, but I didn’t start climbing to win awards,” he said. The prize is getting to go to places no one has been before and having an adventure.
“During an expedition, you only focus on reading, chatting, and climbing for six weeks. ”
“In order to be alert, you need to take a break and relax. ” Everything you do has results, so you have to concentrate completely. “It’s unlike anything else. “ -
DR Congo signs contract for Congo basin carbon credits
The Democratic Republic of Congo made a deal with a company from the United States to sell the carbon credits from their rainforest and peatlands in the Congo Basin.
Climate, a company that provides information about the weather, said it will help DR Congo protect the Basin by stopping the cutting down of trees. The agreement is meant to keep more than 100 million tons of carbon dioxide in the forest from being released into the atmosphere.
In the last few years, environmentalists have been worried about the cutting down of thousands of acres of trees in the Congo Basin.
The rainforest is the second-biggest in the world and it soaks up more than 1. 5 billion tonnes of CO₂ every year. Experts say it’s really important to protect the Congo Basin in order to help stop climate change and save different kinds of plants and animals.
Climate said it will also help the central African country to make a list of carbon emissions – a system through which the government will keep track and sell credits.
dClimate will rent the rights to store carbon for 10 years, but they won’t buy or rent the land. This will protect the country’s control over the land and the rights of the people who live there. This was announced on Tuesday after signing the agreement at the UN COP28 climate summit in Dubai.
During the ten years they worked together, the credits they made will be worth about $1 billion, said Siddhartha Jha, who co-founded dClimate, to Bloomberg.
Climate will keep 10-20% of the money it makes.
To get credits, the project must show that the basin can lower emissions.
The Congo basin sucks up more than 1. 5 billion tons of CO₂ every year, says the UN. This makes it one of the most important places for storing carbon in the world.
Most of the area is in DR Congo and a small part is in five other countries. -
Abducted and “tortured” students rescued by army of Cameroon
Eight boys who were taken by suspected separatists from a school in the troubled Anglophone north-west region of Cameroon have been released, officials say.
Abdoullahi Aliou, a person who is in charge of the area, said that a group of armed men attacked the school in Esu on Tuesday. They hurt the students and then took them away.
Two rooms where classes are held and the main office of the principal were set on fire during the attack. Some people who work at the school, like the assistant principal, were also taken by force.
Some students got hurt and are getting treatment at the hospital.
“MrAliou said that the defense and security forces rescued the eight kidnapped students. He didn’t say where the deputy principal and other school officials are. ”
For more than six years, separatists have stopped and made sure that children in English-speaking areas of Cameroon don’t go to school. The separatists believe that schools are controlled by the French-speaking majority.
The separatists have attacked the students and teachers who do not follow their rules.
No one has said they did the attack on Tuesday.
The UN says that over 700,000 kids can’t go to school because many schools had to close due to the conflict that started in 2017.
Around 6,000 people have died and hundreds of thousands have been forced to leave their homes because of the fighting, according to the International Crisis Group. -
Usman Khawaja to contest Gaza message ruling
Australian cricket player Usman Khawaja says he will not accept the decision to stop him from speaking out in support of Palestinians during a game, and is ready to challenge it.
The batter had planned to wear shoes with the words “all lives are equal” and “freedom is a human right” at a Test match with Pakistan.
The International Cricket Council said they couldn’t do it because they thought the statements were “political,” Khawaja explained.
In a video, he said that the message was a “plea for help for people in need”.
In the Instagram video, the 36-year-old said that he’ll listen to the International Cricket Council’s decision, but he’ll still try to get them to agree with him.
According to ICC rules, Khawaja might not be allowed to play in the match if he wears the shoes without permission. Team captain Pat Cummins had said earlier that Khawaja won’t do this.
Khawaja, who is a follower of Islam, was seen wearing the shoes earlier this week while practicing for the next Test match in Perth. He has shown his support for people in Gaza on social media before.
“Nobody gets to pick where they are born. ” When I was growing up, I felt like my life wasn’t as good as other people’s lives. “But I’m lucky because I’ve never had to live in a world where unfair treatment could kill me,” he said in the video.
Before, Khawaja shared a video from Unicef on Instagram about Gaza. In the comments, he asked if people don’t care about innocent humans being killed, or if their skin color or religion makes them less important. He said these things shouldn’t matter if we really believe that everyone is equal.
Cricket Australia said it is okay for their players to share their own opinions, but they need to follow the rules of the ICC.
Cummins said he thought Khawaja didn’t know the rules, but still publicly backed what he said.
He said he doesn’t think the person meant to cause any trouble.
“I think he believed that everyone is equal. ” I don’t think that would cause disagreements. I don’t think anyone can have too many problems with that.
Anika Wells, the Sport Minister, supports the batter and doesn’t think his shoes break the ICC rules.
Usman Khawaja is a talented sports player and a proud Australian. He should be allowed to talk about things that are important to him. “He did it quietly and politely,” she said.
But ex-Australian cricket players Rodney Hogg and Simon O’Donnell said that the sports field is not the right place to make political statements.
“I completely respect Usman Khawaja’s beliefs, but when he’s playing for Australia, he shouldn’t try to push his beliefs onto others,” O’Donnell said on local SEN radio.
According to ICC rules, players and officials need permission to display anything on their clothing or equipment. Messages that could cause problems or are political are not allowed.
The rules also allow referees to make players stop playing if they are wearing things that don’t follow the rules.
In 2014, a cricketer from England named Moeen Ali was told to stop wearing wristbands that showed his support for Gaza during a Test match with India. -
Kwesi Pratt Jnr. questions timing and long-term implications
Renowned journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr. has expressed concerns regarding the recently inked lithium deal between the Government of Ghana and Barari DV Ltd.
The agreement, which entails mining the valuable mineral, has come under scrutiny as a section of the public have raised questions about its terms and potential implications for the nation.
The experienced journalist has also posed critical inquiries about the agreement, highlighting that prior to Ghana’s recent discovery, only 20 countries worldwide were identified to possess this particular mineral deposit.
Despite Ghana’s inclusion in this list, he emphasized that when considering all 21 countries, Ghana’s deposit quantity is the least among them—a factor he deems impossible to overlook.
Discussing the prospects of this mineral in Ghana, Mr. Pratt asked; “Now, given this situation, the most important question is should we mine it now or we shouldn’t? That’s a crucial question…Should we mine it now or should we wait until certain conditions are mature for mining?”
He argued that “it is important for us to also understand that most of our minerals including lithium is a non-renewable resource. What this non-renewable resource means is that, for instance, if you have gold in your land and you mine it, it is gone forever. It will not regerminate. When you refine oil and gas and sell it, it won’t return to you again; non-renewable resource”.
“So, when you check the intensity that we are mining these natural resources and send them abroad, we have to remember that a time will come, maybe 50 years from now, maybe 100 years from now; these resources will not be available for extraction and export again. It is gone forever and won’t return; that’s an important consideration when we are discussing the mining of our mineral resources”, he also stressed while delivering his submissions on Peace FM’s morning show “Kokrokoo”.