TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • BNI picks up Otokunors driver over recent market fires

    The driver of the Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Boamah Otokunor, has been picked up by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), formerly known as Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), 3news.com has gathered.

    The arrest is in connection with recent market fires recorded across the country.

    It is unclear what prompted the action from the NIB officials but many believe the recent spate of market fires may be deliberately masterminded by elements within the opposition party, which has since the December 9 declaration demonstrated against the results of the elections.

    Major markets in Koforidua, Kantamanto, Asankragwa and, lately, Kaneshie, have been torched in one way or the other.

    At Kaneshie, it took the intervention of personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) on Saturday night to stop the fire from spreading to other shops.

    Only nine shops were affected, 3news.com gathered, as the “robust” fire system complemented efforts by the fire officers.

    A couple of days earlier in Kantamanto, traders reeled as the central market was completely razed down.

    A provision has been made, at the instance of the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, to get the traders back in business.

    More to follow. . .

    Source: 3 News

  • 54-year-old man remanded for pouring acid on SHS graduate and mother

    54-year-old Nana Yaw Mante has been remanded into police custody for pouring acid on a Senior High School graduate, Deborah Osei and her mother, Asi Jacklyn.

    The suspect carried out the crime after the lady rejected his marriage proposal.

    Mr Mante turned himself up to the police after committing the crime.

    His remand was ordered after the case was sat on by Her Honour Felicia Antwi Anane of an Akuapem Mampong Magistrate Court.

    The accused person will reappear before the court on Wednesday, December 23, 2020.

    The police has on the other hand launched investigations into the matter.

    Meanwhile, the families of the victims have called on Ghanaians to assist them financially to help the two undergo surgery at the Korle-Bu Teaching hospital.

    The Member of Parliament for Okere constituency, Dan Botwe, upon hearing the news donated about GHC2,000 to the family.

    Chief of Awukugua, Osabarima Opase Konadu II has also contributed GHC 500 to the family.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Shame unto you if you voted against me – Hawa Koomson to NPP supporters

    MP for Awutu Senya East Constituency, Mavis Hawa Koomson has taken New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters to the cleaners for voting against her in the parliamentary election.

    The legislator said it was unfortunate that some party supporters voted against her in the polls due to some trivial issues.

    Addressing a gathering over the weekend, the MP who is also the Minister for Special Development Initiatives, said shame unto all those who voted against her because she did not give them money or other material things.

    She decried how some party supporters haboured hatred against her, campaigned against her and voted against her candidature.

    She said the party nearly lost the seat and presidency due to disunity and disloyalty.

    Mavis Hawa Koomson underscored the need for the party supporters to continue having faith in the party.

    “We nearly lost the presidency, we nearly lost because of selfishness and greed. If we love the party, we should support it with love and unity. We should not allow pain and disunity to destroy the party. We should not say because Hawa Koomson shared handkerchiefs and did not give me, I will not vote for her. We should not say Hawa Koomson did not give me money so I will not vote for her, shame unto you,” she stated.

    She called for continuous support for the party at all levels do they will continue to remain in office to transform Ghana.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Police hunts man for beheading mother

    A young man believed to be in his late thirties has allegedly beheaded his mother at Opeinimso a farming community near Asamankese in the Lower West Akyem Municipality of the Eastern Region.

    The incident occurred Monday dawn around 2:00am, according to a family source.

    The suspect identified as Quarcoo has, however, gone into hiding after the callous act.

    The cause of his action is not known.

    The body of the deceased Adwoa Ayare has been retrieved from the pool of blood by the police and deposited at the Asamankese Government hospital morgue.

    The Lower West Akyem Municipal Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) familiar with the incident told Starr News that the locals in collaboration with the police have launched a manhunt for the arrest of the suspect.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Concede defeat for the sake of peace, 2024 is for you – Mahama told

    Founder of the Faith African Faith Tabernacle Church, Pastor Kwabena Mensah, has asked former President John Dramani Mahama to concede defeat in the interest of peace.

    The man of God said although the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has raised concerns over the results, they have to let go.

    He claims Ghanaians will reward Mr. Mahama with massive votes in 2024 should they forget about the 2020 results and accept defeat.

    Pastor Kwabena Mensah speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm said it is painful to lose an election but in the interest of peace and unity, John Mahama must accept defeat and move on.

    Pastor Kwabena Mensah said the NDC as a party has not collapsed and for them to be elected in 2024, they should just forget about it.

    He advised the leadership of the NDC to speak to their followers to stop the demonstrations.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Creation of Guan constituency cannot happen under 7th parliament

    The Electoral Commission (EC) has disclosed that it will initiate processes leading to the creation of a new constituency in the Guan district when the 8th Parliament commences.

    At the just-ended general election, the EC could not hold elections for registered voters in the Guan District to elect a Member of Parliament due to the absence of a constituency.

    A source at the Electoral Commission said it was unable to create the Constituency because the C.I. needed to create the constituency could not have matured in the 7th Parliament.

    Parliament went on recess on November 9, for the December elections and resumed on December 14.

    The source said the EC could not lay the C.I. for amendment of the creation of constituencies because the 7th Parliament could not sit for 21 days before its dissolution at midnight, January 6, 2021.

    “If we had initiated the process in the 7th Parliament, the CI could not have matured. In that case, the process will have to start all over again in the 8th Parliament,” the source said.

    “The C I to be laid will have to stay in Parliament for 21 sitting days and come into force if 2/3s of Members of Parliament allows its journey. It is after the passage of the amended C.I. that the EC can contemplate the holding of any election in that created Constituency,” the source said.

    The EC noted that the Supreme Court had ruled on when elections could be held in a newly created Constituency.

    “It was not a deliberate attempt by the EC to deny the people of representation in Parliament. They could not have voted to elect an MP because it was not legally right for an MP to be voted for by two different districts,” the source said.

    “By law, if a new constituency is created they have to join the new parliament, and whether the people will have a representation or not in the 8th Parliament, it will be another huddle. As a Commission, we will do our part and leave the rest to the judicial process”.

    Meanwhile, the Executive Director at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Prof. Henry Kwasi Prempeh has suggested that it will be most appropriate for parliament to schedule the election of a new Speaker once the House gets a full complement of MPs seated.

    For him, the vacuum created with the delay of the parliamentary election in the Guan constituency should prompt the House to maintain the current Speaker in the interim until the House is set to elect a new speaker for the next parliament.

    “I think the most appropriate thing to do in the present circumstances, if the election of the Guan MP is not done by the time the next Parliament opens, is to have the current Speaker hold over as Speaker (thus creating no vacancy in the office) until the Guan MP is elected and then schedule the election of a new Speaker once the House has a full complement of MPs seated. But we must have a time certain by which this would happen,” Prof. H. Kwasi Prempeh said in a Facebook post.

    Source: GNA

  • EC initiates process to create Guan constituency

    The Electoral Commission (EC) has disclosed that it will initiate processes leading to the creation of a new constituency in the Guan district when the 8th Parliament commences.

    At the just-ended general election, the EC could not hold elections for registered voters in the Guan District to elect a Member of Parliament due to the absence of a constituency.

    A source at the Electoral Commission said it was unable to create the Constituency because the C.I. needed to create the constituency could not have matured in the 7th Parliament.

    Parliament went on recess on November 9, for the December elections and resumed on December 14.

    The source said the EC could not lay the C.I. for amendment of the creation of constituencies because the 7th Parliament could not sit for 21 days before its dissolution at midnight, January 6, 2021.

    “If we had initiated the process in the 7th Parliament, the CI could not have matured. In that case, the process will have to start all over again in the 8th Parliament, ” the source said.

    “The C I to be laid will have to stay in Parliament for 21 sitting days and come into force if 2/3s of Members of Parliament allows its journey. It is after the passage of the amended C.I. that the EC can contemplate the holding of any election in that created Constituency,” the source said.

    The EC noted that the Supreme Court had ruled on when elections could be held in a newly created Constituency.

    “It was not a deliberate attempt by the EC to deny the people of representation in Parliament. They could not have voted to elect an MP because it was not legally right for an MP to be voted for by two different districts,” the source said.

    “By law, if a new constituency is created they have to join the new parliament, and whether the people will have a representation or not in the 8th Parliament, it will be another huddle. As a Commission, we will do our part and leave the rest to the judicial process”.

    Meanwhile, the Executive Director at the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Prof Henry Kwasi Prempeh has suggested that it will be most appropriate for parliament to schedule the election of a new Speaker once the House gets a full complement of MPs seated.

    For him, the vacuum created with the delay of the parliamentary election in the Guan constituency should prompt the House to maintain the current Speaker in the interim until the House is set to elect a new speaker for the next parliament.

    “I think the most appropriate thing to do in the present circumstances, if the election of the Guan MP is not done by the time the next Parliament opens, is to have the current Speaker hold over as Speaker (thus creating no vacancy in the office) until the Guan MP is elected and then schedule the election of a new Speaker once the House has a full complement of MPs seated. But we must have a time certain by which this would happen,” Prof. H. Kwasi Prempeh said in a Facebook post.

    Source: GNA

  • Investigate killings of Ghanaians on election day – Agyinasare

    The Founder and General Overseer of the Perez Chapel, Bishop Charles Agyinasare has called for an investigation into the killings of some persons during the presidential and parliamentary elections.

    According to him, nobody needs to die because of elections.

    Bishop Charles Agyinasare in a sermon condemned the use of firearms on unarmed civilians and called for a thorough investigation conducted into the death of those who wanted to protect their votes.

    Democracy he stressed is not war adding, Ghanaians must continue to pray for peace to prevail.

    He said although the Electoral Commissioner declared the presidential results for the incumbent, the opposition led by former President John Dramani Mahama has rejected the results.

    He asked him to contest the results peacefully.

    At least five people died in election violence during the polls, a recent police report stated.

    The Ghanaian Police Service said there had been more than 60 incidents since Monday morning.

    “Twenty-one of the incidents are true cases of electoral violence, six of which involve gunshots resulting in the death of five,” it said.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Ghana will not be left behind in accessing COVID-19 vaccine Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has given the assurance that Ghana will have access to vaccines for the novel Coronavirus.

    Giving updates on the management of the Coronavirus pandemic in Ghana, the President said a team of experts from various agencies and institutions had been constituted to ensure the procurement and deployment of vaccines across Ghana.

    “Ghana, I assure you, is not going to be left behind in having access to the vaccines. I am aware of the anxieties relating to the safety and efficacy of newly-developed vaccines.”

    “Government will ensure that the COVID-19 vaccines to be deployed in the country are effective and are safe. To this end, I have put together a team of experts from the relevant agencies and institutions who are working assiduously towards the deployment and procurement of vaccines,” he added.

    COVID-19 vaccines have already been rolled out in the UK and the US.

    Reports, however, indicate that some countries such as Zimbabwe, Mexico and Pakistan are having a hard time procuring their vaccines.

    There are other potential COVID-19 vaccines currently in development, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).

    WHO is currently liaising with some partners to ensure the equitable distribution of safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines for persons across the world.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Coronavirus: Ghana records 13 more deaths, total number now 333

    Ghana has recorded 13 more deaths from the Novel Coronavirus pandemic, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has revealed.

    Addressing the country on Sunday, 20 December 2020, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo stated that although the number of active cases has reduced marginally, a number of fatalities have been recorded.

    According to him, some regions in Ghana do not have any active cases currently, which shows how the government has fought hard to tackle the situation.

    The president also emphasized that the active cases have reduced from about 1,000 to 946.

    “We have recorded a stable rate of daily infections of between 130 and 100 cases. Indeed, the total number of active cases has reduced marginally from 1139 as of Friday, 6 November to 946 as of Friday 18th December,” the President said.

    He added, “Our hospitalization rate continues to be very low and our treatment centres are virtually empty. As per data from [the] Ghana Health Service, some regions at the moments have no recorded active cases and long may this continue.”

    Akufo-Addo went on to say, “Our heroic health workers have seen to 52,675 recoveries to which the country is extremely grateful. Unfortunately, 13 more deaths from COVID-19 and its complications have been recorded bringing the total number of fatalities to 333 out of the 53,954 confirmed cases. May their souls rest in peace.”

    Akufo-Addo also assured that government was working around the clock to deploy some of the approved vaccines into the country.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Suspected Kantamanto market arsonist arrested

    The Ghana Police Service have arrested an alleged individual suspected to be the arsonist behind the recent Kantamanto market fire outbreak.

    A Daily Guide reportage suggests that the suspect whose name was given as Daniel Dah Kormlah, aged 41, was identified through police investigations into the Kantamanto fire incident.

    The source added that the police and other intelligence agencies have begun arresting persons believed to be linked to recent arsons in some markets across the country.

    A number of major markets including the Kaneshie market have been razed down by fire.

    The suspect who was on the run was apprehended by a joint team of Police and Intelligence Operatives.

    The suspect was then arrested at his hideout in Ho in the Volta Region on Friday evening December 18, 2020, at about 10 pm.

    “Upon further interrogation, it was realized that the suspect was believed to be an active member on various political platforms, namely NDC Group Administrators, Renaissance Agenda 2020, among others.

    “Phone records showed several conversations with other persons aimed at incitement to riot and possible conspiracy to attack other state institutions,” the report stated further.

    He admitted to having had such conversations and to be engaging with like-minded persons to execute some acts with the potential to breach the peace of the nation, sources say.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Police broke into a Ghanaian church in Germany over violation of coronavirus protocols

    Police break up church service with 86 people in Essen-Germany.

    In a private church building of the original Ghanaian congregation “The Church of Pentecost”, the members celebrated Sunday mass.

    In a private church building of the originally Ghanaian congregation “The Church of Pentecost”, the members celebrated Sunday mass.

    Police had to stop a church service in Essen-Kray on Sunday because of Corona violations.

    At around 1.50 pm on Sunday, officers broke up a service of the Ghanaian “Church of Pentecost”, a free church Pentecostal congregation originating in Ghana.

    The officers found 56 adults and 30 children celebrating mass on the premises of the street “Schwelmhöfe”. Charges were filed against the adults.

    Source: Francis Tawiah, Contributor

  • Your perseverance won you victory – Chief commends Amewu

    Togbe Adzimah V, Chief of Gbi Abansi in Hohoe, has commended John-Peter Amewu, Minister of Energy and newly elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Hohoe Constituency on his victory.

    He noted that the election of Mr Amewu came as a result of his perseverance, hard work and determination.

    Togbe Adzimah in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said “I wish to convey to you my special congratulatory message for emerging victorious as the Parliamentary candidate-elect for Hohoe Constituency in the just ended parliamentary elections held across the country on December 7, 2020.

    “Your perseverance, hard work and determination won you this victory. You never gave up after two unsuccessful attempts in 2004 and 2008.”

    He said the people of Hohoe Constituency had seen the capabilities demonstrated during Mr Amewu’s days as Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) and becoming a cabinet Minister.

    Togbe Adzimah said the positions occupied by the MP-elect brought “unparallel development projects” to the Constituency.

    He noted that the development projects had reposed the confidence of electorate in Mr Amewu by voting for him to represent them in Parliament, to champion and transform their lives through infrastructural and human-centred development as stated in his “One Family, One Opportunity” campaign message.

    The traditional ruler also wished the Energy Minister well in his endeavour and quest, as he leads the constituents for the next four years.

    Source: GNA

  • Prison has taught me how to respect women Ex-convict shares experience

    For many men, after becoming successful in life, they tend to forget about the women in their lives they toiled with to reach their current status.

    Their monies and wealth now control their moves at the detriment of their family and no one seems to be able to advise them on what to do.

    Such is the story of Ohene Kofi Agyekum, a man who seems to have learnt his lessons in life after he was convicted.

    Agyekum who spoke to Crime Check TV monitored by MyNewsGh.com, said while at home, he never respected his wife who is a nurse by profession because he had money.

    He said he never spent on his wife but rather, he spent on other women, alcohol and friends who never advised him to do the right thing.

    However, he ended up in jail when he invested the money into a business venture with another friend which involved car sales but it flopped.

    After his conviction, he noted that although he treated his wife unfairly while he was a free man, his wife did not pay him back with the same coin because she sacrificed her time and energy to ensure that he was ok.

    “When I got the problem, I could not tell my wife because I was shy about it and the fact that I never respected and treated her right was another thing. But my wife provided me with all the support. She visited me and we spoke on phone often. I had to tell her not to come here because she can use that money to take care of our four children,” he told Crime Check Television in an interview monitored by MyNewsGh.com.

    He called on all men to respect their women because they are their backbones and without them men are nothing.

    Source: My News GH

  • Karaga: Suspected robber lynched after attack on mobile money vendor

    Some residents of Karaga lynched a suspected armed robber to death on Thursday evening after a mobile money vendor was robbed.

    According to police, five men on motorbikes attacked the vendor and robbed him off an unspecified amount of money.

    One of the robbers was unable to escape and was beaten and burned alive in a drain by a mob.

    As police hunt for the robbers, the Gushegu Police Command is also looking for persons involved in the lynching.

    Speaking to Citi News, the Gushegu Police Commander, ASP Thomas Tolasi says the police will soon begin investigations into the mob attack and eventually arrest the perpetrators.

    “We are yet to get the perpetrators; those who were actually involved in killing the suspect. The mob had more than 200 people,” he said.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Mahama visits Greater Accra Police command after arrest of NDC supporters

    The presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama and the leadership of his party on Friday, December 18, 2020, visited the Accra Regional Police Command.

    This was after about 30 NDC supporters were granted bail after their arrest for protesting at the precincts of the Electoral Commission (EC) headquarters on Thursday.

    Mr. Mahama was accompanied by his vice-presidential candidate, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.

    The supporters marched to the premises of the EC to register their displeasure against the outcome of the 2020 polls Earlier on Thursday, December 17, 2020.

    According to the police, they were arrested for blocking major roads leading to the Commission.

    Lawyer for the accused persons, Francis Zavier Sosu, in an interview with Citi News said: “they are supposed to reappear on January 25, 2021.”

    “They were arraigned before the court on three charges: conspiracy, unlawful assembly, and failure to notify the police. They pleaded not guilty to all the counts.”

    “The bail is GHS 10,000 with one surety each. We are currently working to execute the bail for them,” the lawyer added.

    Meanwhile, the NDC says the action of the police will not deter its members from protesting the outcome of the election.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Police chase election violence suspects

    The Ghana Police Service is pursuing all suspects identified to be involved in violent activities, including the discharge of firearms during the December 7, 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.

    The move formed part of the resolve of the police to bring finality to all election-related violence cases.

    This was made known by the Director General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Commissioner of Police (COP) Mr Isaac Ken Yeboah, when he updated journalists on violent incidents recorded by the police during and after the elections.

    The cases under investigations were the shooting of some jubilant supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Savelugu by unknown gunmen, shootings in the Ablekuma Central Constituency, rioting and shooting incident in the Odododiodio Constituency and the firing of guns at the Techiman South Constituency collation centre.

    COP Yeboah said the police had commenced investigations into the cases and would work hard to ensure the prosecution of all perpetrators.

    Odododiodio

    In Odododiodio, he said five suspects alleged to have shot into a crowd of jubilant supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) had been arrested and put before the Adjabeng District Court in Accra.

    The suspects, charged for possessing arms and ammunition without lawful authority, were remanded in police custody and would reappear in court on December 21, 2020.

    Thirty-two other suspects who were arrested for damaging an NPP-branded vehicle have also been put before the same court.

    They pleaded guilty and have since been granted bail by the court to reappear on February 3, 2021.

    During investigations into the shooting incident which led to the death of two persons identified as Emmanuel Dompreh, 36, and Botwe Tackie,16, the police retrieved a pump action gun with cartridges and two pistols with ammunition.

    Other items retrieved from the suspects included pepper sprays, a machete, jackknives, kitchen knives and a ballistic vest.

    The CID head said efforts were ongoing to arrest one of the suspects identified only as Bruno, who had been on the run.

    Ablekuma Central

    With regard to the shooting incident at the Ablekuma Central Constituency, the CID Director General said a national security operative, Collins Quarcoo, who fired his side arm indiscriminately at the collation centre, injuring three persons including a policeman, was arrested by the police on duty at the centre.

    One of the injured persons has died.

    The suspect had since been put before a Circuit Court in Accra and remanded in police custody, with the next hearing fixed for December 24, 2020.
    COP Yeboah said in another incident in the same constituency, police investigations established that a stray bullet, fired by a soldier who was yet to be identified, hit two persons.

    He said the incident which took place at the Odorkor Police Church which served as a collation centre for the Ablekuma Central Constituency happened when some people started pelting officials of the Electoral Commission and other persons at the centre with objects.

    He explained that the stray bullet was from warning shots meant to ward off attacks from a mob.

    The two victims were taken to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital but one of them, identified as Abass Ibrahim, died on December 16, 2020.

    “Investigations are underway to identify the military officer who fired the warning shot,” said Mr Yeboah.

    Savelugu chief arrested

    COP Yeboah said the chief of Duko in Savelugu, Duko Naa Mohammed Ahmed, and two others have been arrested in relation to the shooting of a 12-year-old girl, Zakaria Samira, and three others when some supporters of the NDC were jubilating after the elections.

    He stated that police investigations had revealed that the shooting emanated from the office of the parliamentary candidate of the NDC, Alhaji Iddrris Yakubu, and that the weapon used was an AK47.

    A joint military and police operation led to the retrieval of an AK 47 rifle with two magazines loaded with 40 rounds of ammunition, and a G3 ammunition with a cartridge from the chief of Duko.

    When the team searched the office of Mr Yakubu in his absence, another AK 47 rifle with two magazines loaded with 60 rounds of ammunition were found.

    Mr Yeboah said Mr Yakubu had failed to report to the police even though he had been invited while the chief of Duko had been put before the Tamale Magistrate Court.

    The court granted the chief GH¢100,000 bail with two sureties.

    Techiman

    Taking a look at Techiman, the Director General said the police were hunting for the persons behind the shooting incident which injured eight men at a collation centre in the Techiman South Constituency.

    He said an unknown person from the crowd fired a gun and security persons at the centre fired warning shots to disperse rioters following a disagreement of election results during the collation of the results.

    Two of the victims, identified as Tajudeen Mohammed and Abdallah Ayarek, were pronounced dead when they were taken to the Holy Family Hospital in Techiman.

    “The police are still investigating to determine the perpetrators of the crime,” Mr Yeboah said.

    NDC demonstrators

    In a related development, 30 protesters who were arrested during a demonstration by some NDC supporters on the premises of the Electoral Commission last Thursday, were yesterday granted bail of GH¢10,000 with one surety each by the Accra High Court.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • US ambassador urges Mahama to go to court

    The United States Ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie S. Sullivan has urged National Democratic Congress candidate, John Dramani Mahama to address his concerns with the just-ended 2020 election in court.

    She said this in a meeting with John Mahama and his running mate, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on Thursday, December 17.

    This comes after the former President John Mahama and his party expressed their unwillingness to accept the results of the 2020 elections as declared by the Electoral Commission, December 9.

    She further urged all other political parties “to pursue legal channels for any electoral disputes and to preserve the peace in Ghana”.

    Supporters of the NDC have since the rejection of the 2020 election results by their party leaders been protesting across the country demanding that the EC declares Mahama as president-elect.

    On Thursday, 26 protestors were arrested in front of the EC headquarters in Accra for unlawful gathering.

    They burnt car tyres and pelted stones at the EC office until they were dispersed up by the police.

    Source: myjoyonline

  • Ericsson: Intelligent connected machines to be a major part of life by 2030, consumers predict

    • Early tech-adopter consumers predict intelligent connectivity to enable services that go way beyond the mobile broadband experiences of today
    • Consumer expectations on smarter connectivity are higher than for any other connected intelligent machine type
    • These predictions about connected intelligent machines point to opportunities for 5G service providers for new intelligent network services.

    Consumers expect connected technology to become more flexible and interactive going forward and see devices enabling more pro-active, and even creative choices in a wide range of everyday life situations by 2030.

    The tenth edition of the Ericsson ConsumerLab 10 Hot Consumer Trends report highlights consumer predictions about the various roles that connected intelligent machines could take on going forward. Each of these roles could be seen as new service areas, opening a range of opportunities for 5G service providers to gradually extend intelligent networks to their customers.

    At Ericsson Research, our vision is that advances in AI and cellular communications technology will enable connected intelligent machines to securely communicate across the networks of tomorrow. In the process, they could make the world more responsive to consumer needs than ever before, given that consumers predict intelligent connectivity to enable services that go way beyond the mobile broadband experiences of today.

    Based on long-standing global trend research, the ConsumerLab 10 Hot Consumer Trends 2030 report represents the expectations and predictions of 50 million early technology adopters across 15 major cities.

    In this study, respondents rated 112 connected intelligent machine concepts, ranging from a human-centered to a more rational perspective. The result is an overview of the 10 roles consumers expect connected intelligent machines to take in everyday life by 2030. Each trend in the report depicts a specific role that such machines could take.

    Dr. Michael Björn, Head of Research Agenda, Ericsson Consumer & IndustryLab, and author of the report, says: “I was surprised to see that consumer expectations on smarter connectivity are higher than for any other connected intelligent machine type. The Connectivity Gofers trend includes predictions that devices will intelligently adapt to any signal, with use of cellular, Wi-Fi and fixed connectivity being seamless, as well as smart signal locators that guide users to spots with optimal coverage even in crowded areas.”

    “This points to opportunities for 5G service providers to gradually extend intelligent networks to cover a whole range of new services for their customers, and each of the machine roles we present in this report could be seen as a whole new service area.”

    “The Community Bots trend, for example, highlights the role machine intelligence could take in providing much needed community services. The Explainers puts forward the idea that all connected devices need to be able to explain themselves to users, and Sustainability bots focuses on the increased need for localized intelligent climate advice going forward.”

    “What all of these potential services have in common is that they rely on intelligently communicating across devices and thus puts the networking aspect even more in the front seat than today.”

    The 10 Hot Consumer Trends for 2030

    • Body bots: Get a power-up 76 percent of consumers predict there will be intelligent posture-supporting suits.
    • Guardian angels: Three-quarters believe that privacy guardians will help fool surveillance cameras and block electronic snooping.
    • Community bots: Seventy-eight percent believe electronic watchdog services will alert neighborhood allies to any trespassers.
    • Sustainability bots: Future weather will be extreme 82 percent believe devices will share data and warn about local rain torrents or heat blasts.
    • Home officers: WFH uninterrupted 79 percent say smart speakers will project noise-canceling walls around the home office space.
    • Explainers: Over 8 in 10 predict automated financial management systems that explain how your investments are handled.
    • Connectivity gofers: Smart signal locators will be able to guide you to optimal connectivity spots, say 83 percent of consumers.
    • Baddie bots: A baddie bot that can be trained to carry out burglaries or attack other people is wanted by 37 percent of AR/VR users.
    • Media creators: Machines will curate content. Sixty-two percent think game consoles will make original games based on their game play.
    1. Bossy bots: Around 7 in 10 believe that social network AIs will understand your personality and build up a circle of friends that is good for your mental and physical wellbeing.

    Read the ConsumerLab Hot Consumer Trends 2030 report here

  • NDC wins Sene West Seat by 16 vote-margin

    The National Democratic Congress parliamentary candidate for Sene West has retained his seat as the Member of Parliament for the constituency.

    This comes after the Electoral Commission counted the ballot papers from the Tato Battor Polling Station B which were prior to this locked up at the Techiman police station following a court injunction.

    The Sene West constituency results were not declared after the elections because the ballot box for Tato Battor Polling Station B was snatched by one Christian Nukpeta when the election results were being counted.

    Although Christian Nukpeta was arrested immediately, the parties involved noticed that the seal of the ballot box belonging to the NPP had been removed, leaving that of the Electoral Commission and NDC.

    As a result, Lawyers for the NPP’s Sene West parliamentary candidate, Joseph Markay Kuma, immediately sought an injunction from the court to stop the EC from counting the ballot papers in the box.

    The ballot box was then locked up at the Techiman Police Headquarters.

    However, counsel for Joseph Markay Kuma withdrew their motion of injunction on the declaration of the results as filed in their petition.

    On Thursday, December 17, 2020 the court threw out the case brought by the New Patriotic Party against the Electoral Commission and the National Democratic Congress on the Sene West Parliamentary Elections.

    The court ruled that the said case lacks merit, the reason it was dismissed.

    The NPP has also been fined an amount of GH¢20,000 for wasting the time of the court.

    After the court ruling, the ballot papers in the box were counted and the NDC emerged winners.

    For the Tato battor polling station B NPP polled 148 votes while the NDC polled 275.

    This, when added to the previous results by other polling stations where the NDC polled 12441 and NPP polled 12952 votes, will produce higher figures; the NPP will now have a total of 13100 votes, while the NDC polls 13116 votes.

    The NDC won by 16 votes.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Election 2020: Police arrest scores of aggressive NDC protesters at EC Headquarters

    The Ghana Police has arrested some persons said to be sympathizers of the National Democratic Congress for picketing at the headquarters of the Electoral Commission.

    The protesters in the early hours of Thursday morning clashed with the police over the declaration of results of the 2020 presidential and parliamentary elections.

    Hundreds clad in red attire and NDC party colours, amassed at the headquarters of the EC with placards to register their protest. The police then intervened in the situation and things turned rather ugly.

    The protestors began littering the streets, burning car tyres, a situation which led to somewhat a public distraction.

    Tensions were relatively calm at the time the GhanaWeb team arrived at the scene but later escalated as the protesters mounted a road block on the Kanda highway.

    The Police and military keeping security briskly moved in towards them and fired rubber bullets to disperse the crowd who kept chanting the words “No Mahama, No Peace”.

    This then followed up with a chase between the police and protestors which resulted in some arrests.

    Meanwhile, flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama has accused Chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa of presiding over what he describes as a flawed election.

    Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was declared the winner of the election by the returning officer of the presidential election on Wednesday December 9, 2020.

    Ghanaians went to the polls on Monday December 7, 2020 to elect a president and 275 Members of Parliament for the eighth time since 1992.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Let’s have ‘responsible demonstrations’ – Rev Opuni-Frimpong advises amidst NDC election protests

    Former General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana and former Chairman of the Asante Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Dr. Opuni-Frimpong has asked party supporters not to be brainwashed by their leaders to foment trouble over what they claim to be rigged results in the just-ended 2020 elections.

    Speaking on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ programme, he advised that those youth perpetrating violence because their leader failed to win the elections and they are being incited to hit the streets should think twice about it before they join forces to demonstrate.

    “The leaders organizing those protests should ensure we have responsible demonstrations,” he advised.

    In a related event, thousands of NDC supporters clad in red and black demonstrated at the premises of the Electoral Commission in Accra.

    In videos gone viral on social media, the police were seen using waters cannons to disperse the crowd which seemed resistant.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Election 2020: We’ve not filed any case against EC on Techiman South Parliamentary election NDC

    The main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has denied reports that it has filed a case against the Electoral Commission (EC) on the Techiman South Parliamentary election and has withdrawn same.

    According to the party, it has not filed any case in the High Court.

    This was disclosed in a statement issued by the NDC on Thursday, 17 December 2020 and signed by the Bono East Regional NDC Secretary, Mohammed Shamsudeen Ali.

    The Bono East NDC indicated that publication by some print media creating the impression that it has “withdrawn a suit brought against the EC from the High court for lack of evidence” is false.

    The party stated unequivocally that, it “has not filed any suit in court against the EC on the Techiman South Parliamentary Elections let alone withdrawing same” and urged the “general public to dismiss the said malicious publication with all the contempt it deserves.”

    The party further pointed out the facts that: “A citizen of Ghana who is a member of the NDC decided to go to court to compel the EC to do what is expected of them as the law establishes, this happened at the early stage of the confusion before the NDC legal team even came into the region for their facts finding mission.”

    Also, the NDC “legal team led by Lawyer Victor Kwadjoga Adawudu filed a petition to the EC for re-collation and submission of the results declaration sheet as it claims it has declared the results, after their facts finding mission in the Bono East region concerning the Techiman South and the Sene West Parliamentary Elections” and the citizen “who filed the said suit in the High court decided to withdraw his suit to pave way for the NDC petition filed by the legal team to be considered by the EC as the first legitimate means.”

    It continued that: “Any attempt by the pro-NPP media house or their surrogates to twist the facts for their political expediency will not see the light of the day.”

    The party also called on “those media houses to desist from publishing such malicious and fabricated stories just to please their paymasters.”

    It added that it is poised to “use all legitimate means to make sure that, the Techiman South Parliamentary Seat is declared” for its Candidate Mr Christopher Baasongti Bayere, “because he won the Seat convincingly based on the evidence available” to them on the face of all the pink sheets in their possession.

    The NDC, therefore, urged its “members, supporters and sympathisers to remain calm and resolute.”

    Source: Class FM

  • Man who allegedly shot reporter, others at Ablekuma Central collation centre remanded

    The Accra Circuit Court 4 has remanded one Collins Kwaku, also known as Kola, into police custody for a week after he allegedly fired his gun at the Ablekuma Central Collation Centre in the just-ended elections.

    Collins Kwaku is a National Security operative at the operations unit of the office of the President, according to his counsel, Faisal Cisse.

    A journalist, Pius Asiedu Kwanin, was among the persons wounded as a result of the shooting.

    He pleaded not guilty to six charges levelled against him at the court.

    The charges include causing unlawful harm and the use of an unlawful weapon.

    He was denied bail by the court and is expected to reappear on December 24, 2020.

    Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the Ghana Journalists Association, Kofi Yeboah who was at the court to solidarise with the affected journalist called for justice to be served.

    “We are hoping that the judge will pronounce a judgment by next week. We are going to follow the case closely and ensure that we get justice for our brother and the two other victims who suffered injuries.”

    The victim, who is also a level 300 student at the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) underwent successful surgery at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital on Friday, December 11.

    One of the wounded persons from the shooting incident has died.

    As far as violence during the polls was concerned, five lives were lost during the 2020 general elections, according to the National Election Security Taskforce (NESTF).

    There were 61 recorded cases of electoral and post-electoral violence across the country.

    Twenty-one of the incidents were true cases of electoral violence, six of which involved gunshots.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • KIA Security man busted for stealing 10 iPhone 8 phones

    A Security man who is said to be working with Aviance Ghana Limited has been nabbed for stealing ten pieces of iPhone 8 phones.

    In a video that has since gone viral, the Security man is seen removing the phones from different sides of his working gear to the shock of onlookers after his arrest.

    After taking the phones which he had hid in his pocket, shoes and socks, a voice in the video is heard calling for a thorough search on him because he cannot be trusted.

    Clearly, the man was going to sell the phones to get his Christmas money but luck eluded him in an attempt to outsmart his bosses.

    Click the link to watch the video

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CI5BPFmJdng/?utm_source=ig_embed

    Source: My News GH

  • Rawlings funeral postponed indefinitely

    The funeral rites of the late former president, Jerry John Rawlings which was scheduled for Wednesday, December 23, 2020, has been postponed indefinitely.

    A statement from the office of the former president indicated that “a new date will be communicated to the public in due course.”

    “The inconvenience to all who had made prior arrangements for the funeral ceremony is deeply regretted,” it added.

    This announcement comes weeks after the Anlo Traditional Council expressed outrage because it was not involved in the funeral arrangements of the former President. 

    The council said the arrangements were not in accordance with the customs and traditions of the Anlo people.

    The Council thus called on President Akufo-Addo to “ensure that the right procedures are adhered to.”

    “The Anlo Traditional Council reserves the right to take steps to ensure that this error is remedied appropriately,” it added.

    Below is the statement from the Office of Rawlings 

    Source: citinewsroom

  • 3 killed, 10 houses burnt in Upper East following land dispute

    Three persons are reported dead and at least 10 houses burnt at Kandiga and Doba communities, in the Kassena-Nankana West District and Kassena-Nankana Municipality of the Upper East Region, following renewed clashes over land.

    The police Kassena-Nankana Municipal Police Command had so far arrested 11suspects, and retrieved one pump action gun, three single barrel guns and twelve live carriages, from them.

    The Kassena-Nankana Municipal Police Commander, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Francis Oppong Agyare, confirmed the story to the Ghanaian Times, here on Monday.

    He said when the police received a distress call on Saturday dawn that some houses were in flames in the conflict communities, they alerted the Ghana National Fire Service.

    DSP Agyare said normalcy had returned to the area, and people were going about their activities peacefully.

    He said the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC) imposed curfew in the conflict areas since June, this year following land dispute.

    DSP Agyare said “the MUSEC has been managing the situation until Sunday when a 23-year-old man was murdered on his way to his farm. The man is from Kandiga, but allied to the Doba Chief, so he was killed by people, believed to have come from Kandiga, which triggered the clash again. It subsequently turned into a conflict between some members of the Kandiga community, those who they think aligned themselves to the Doba Chief, were targeted”.

    It would be recalled that in June this year, six people were reported killed and 12 houses torched after some residents from the Doba and Kantiga clashed over land intended for a police station project.

    The police arrested 10persons in connection with the June violence, some guns and cartridges retrieved from suspects and they were put before court.

    Source: Ghanaian Times

  • NDC supporters mass up in Tamale to protest against EC

    Supporters of the National Democratic Congress have hit the street of Tamale in the Northern Region to protest against the declaration of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as president-elect in the just ended polls.

    The demonstration which is currently ongoing in the city central recorded huge turnout as partakers chanted war songs.

    The National Vice-Chair of the opposition National Democratic Congress Chief Sofo Azoka was pictured holding hands with some supporters as they went around town.

    Others were seen with placards on motorcycles while others burnt car tyres at some parts of the city.

    Security Personnel were also spotted in their vehicles to ensure a chaos-free protest.

    Meanwhile, this is not the first demonstration held by members of the opposition since results of the December 7 elections were announced by the electoral body.

    The first of many was after Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu told supporters the NDC does not accept the results of the presidential elections as announced by the Chair of the Electoral Commission (EC) Jean Mensa

    At a press conference, Haruna Iddrisu expressed reservations about the way and manner in which the polls were conducted hence, the rejection.

    “We reject the presidential elections as announced by the chair of the Electoral Commission. And we also want to serve notice that the blatant effort even to deny us of a parliamentary majority will be fiercely resisted,” the Tamale South lawmaker said.

    In Bolgatanga and Tamale, for instance, hundreds of supporters were seen on the streets burning car tyres in disapproval of the election results.

    Also, Ashiaman supporters and NDC Women wing also hit the street yesterday to express their displeasure as well as protest against the EC.

    The NDC, however, maintained that they intend to continuously hold a peace protest until their votes counts.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Hajia Zuwera, first woman MP-elect in Savanna Region

    On January 7, 2021, Hajia Zuwera Ibrahim, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP)-elect for the Salaga South Constituency in the Savanna Region, and the rest of her colleagues would be sworn into Parliament.

    Hajia Zu, as she is affectionately called by her colleagues, would have made history as the first female MP in the Salaga area since the Fourth Republic and of course, the entire new Savanna Region.

    That is not all; she will also be the lone ranger: the only female MP in the whole of the Northern and Savanna regions.

    Hajia Zuwera, a product of Tamale Senior High School (Tamasco), beat her senior, also an alumnus and Savannah Regional Minister, Mr Salifu Braimah, to snatch the seat from the latter whose attempt to retain it for the second time fizzled out on December 7, 2020.

    She garnered 20, 525 votes in her first attempt to beat the incumbent, Mr Braimah, who received 19,806 votes out of a total valid votes of 41,582.

    Appreciation

    The new MP-elect expressed appreciation to the chiefs, opinion and religious leaders and all the Salaga South constituents for believing in her message of hope and transformation.

    She also thanked former President John Mahama and the leadership of the NDC for giving her the opportunity to contest on the ticket of the party.

    “I thank them for accepting me. I cannot tell my story without paying glowing tribute to my late father, Professor M. Z. Ibrahimah, a former Rector of the Tamale Technical University and the Kuntundawura, a sub-chief of the Kpembe Traditional Area,” Hajia Zuwera added.

    According to her, the good works of her father also largely influenced her election because he left his footprints in the sands of time.

    Profile

    Hajia Zuwera was born to Mrs Adisah Nassamu Ibrahimah and Prof. M.Z. Ibrahimah, both deceased. The 50-year-old communication specialist had her basic education in Winneba in the Central Region and secondary education at Tamasco. She proceeded to the University of Cape Coast, University of Ghana, University of London in the UK and Trent University, Canada.

    The MP-elect is also a development specialist and  social democrat by ideology. She is happily married with two biological children and many adopted kids.

    She expressed her passion in human development and said her main focus would be in creating opportunities for the youth, women and the vulnerable.

    “I hope to raise awareness of a clean and self-sustaining environment, infrastructure and human capital development.

    “It is my fervent belief that the environment shapes our circumstances in life and infrastructure becomes the conveyor belt to life-changing experiences,” she said.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Parliament wont act as rubber stamp in passing Public Universities Bill NAPO

    Parliament will not act as a rubber stamp in the processes leading to the passage of the Public Universities Bill. This is according to the Minister for Education, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh.

    The Bill entered the consideration stage after its second reading in Parliament on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, where the Minority threatened to withdraw their support if their request for further consultation is ignored.

    However, speaking to Citi News, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh allayed fears of stakeholders.

    “The ranking member of the Committee attested to the fact that the Universities were consulted and it is their proposal that they brought in that led to a large number of amendment. Of course, when bills are brought, Parliament is not a rubber stamp.

    “Parliament invites stakeholder memorandum and there were 38 memoranda that were brought so Parliament will listen and if there are amendments that is the word of Parliament. I do not remember a single bill that came and went back the same.”

    Parliament on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, approved the Public University Bill at the second reading stage.

    The Minority in Parliament, during the debate, expressed conditional support for the other processes to get the Bill passed.

    It was also concerned with consultation from groups that wrote to it during the period of recess by the House.

    What did the Education Committee of Parliament say?

    The Education Committee in presenting its recommendations on the bill to the House noted that the Bill is important for the “governance architecture of public universities.”

    It further said the Bill seeks to present an “equitable opportunity for all qualified applicants” in the country.

    “The Bill provides important reforms for improvement in the governance architecture of public universities. The Bill further improves the admission process and create equal and equitable opportunity for all qualified applicants to access higher education, irrespective of their economic circumstances.”

    “In particular, the standardisation of key governance structures across all public universities will inject more efficiency and effectiveness in the administration of public universities.”

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Weak Parliament failed Ghanaians on Agyapa deal; Amidu, Franklin Cudjoe stopped it MP

    Member of Parliament for the Banda constituency, Ahmed Ibrahim has said, but for the intervention of civil society organizations and the Office of the Special Prosecutor, the controversial Agyapa deal would have been executed.

    He said the majority side of parliament used its numbers to push the deal through, much against the consent of the minority and the public, a reason he believes makes the 7th Parliament the weakest in the Fourth Republic.

    Speaking to journalists in Parliament, the Banda MP specifically mentioned the former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu and President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe as people who played pivotal roles in stopping the execution of the Agyapa Royalties Agreement which was passed by parliament to mortgage the mineral royalties of the country.

    “This was the weakest Parliament that we have simply because we passed the Agyapa Royalties deal and Civil Society, Franklin Cudjoe and co had to stand up against it.

    “And if not for Franklin Cudjoe and Martin Amidu, Agyapa deal would have been a thing now,” he said.

    Civil Society was very critical of the deal before, during and after its passage in Parliament, alleging corruption, conflict of interest, undervaluation among others.

    The continuous mounting of pressure by Civil Society caused the former Special Prosecutor to take interest in the matter and initiated a corruption-risk assessment which unraveled the risk of corruption is high.

    Succeeding events would later lead to the resignation of Martin Amidu who cited executive interference as a reason.

    Mr. Ahmed explained the Agyapa deal was just one of the many things parliament the government used it 169 majority in Parliament to push through.

    “When they [government] brought Ameri, we said it was not good, the government used his majority to passed it. When the government brought BOST scandal, Agyapa deal, within thirty munite, Asibey was able to produce a report”, he said.

    He however believes that the 8th Parliament will be different.

    “We had the weakest parliament because the majority was 169 against 103, so whatever government wanted to do they could do it but now this government is going to be critical and strong.”

    Source: 3 News

  • Governments E-waste project taking shape

    The E-waste recycling project, introduced by government, is gradually taking shape and expected to ensure sustainable disposal and proper recycling of e-waste.

    The project, being implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), is still in its pilot phase.

    It is helping to promote an incentive system that secures the income of people in the informal sector and encouraging them to dispose of their waste in a manner that would earn them money.

    The first phase of the project, dubbed: “Recycling and Disposal of Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment in environmentally sound way,” is funded by the German Government through the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) KfW and the Government of Ghana.

    At a media sensitisation meeting with editors in Accra, Mrs Lydia Essuah, the Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, MESTI, said the first phase spanned 2018 to 2021, under which e-waste from four main sources; Cables, Batteries, Thermoplastics and Cathode Ray Tubes, were collected for recycling.

    Information gathered by Goldstreet Business is that about 30 tonnes of cables had been received from over 250 scrap dealers in and outside Accra within the first 88 days of the start of the transactions at the mini-collection centre at Agbogbloshie.

    Also, a new policy, legislation, business model and funding had been provided under the first phase.

    Mrs Essuah, with an additional responsibility as the E-waste Project Coordinator, said the current management practices of such waste was having implications on the quality of air as well as leaching hazards into soil, groundwater and onward uptake by plants.

    She said lead was also released into the environment with harmful effects on developmental disorders and kidney and brain issues.

    Mrs Essuah said the informal sector was, therefore, being partnered as registered collectors to send their e-wastes to a handover centre that would be constructed in January, next year, for onward recycling by private waste management companies.

    Mr Vincent Nartey Kyere, an E-waste Expert and Consultant with the Project Implementation Unit, MESTI, said dealers submitted their e-wastes at the collection centre on daily basis, and that a weight of 0.36 tonnes received per day attracted GH¢4,117.

    Mrs Cynthia Asare Bediako, the Chief Director of MESTI, said the important role the media played made it crucial to partner them to promote the project and to sensitise the citizenry on the need to segregate waste to make it much easier for disposal.

    Mr Andreas Ahrenbog, Team Lead, E-waste Programme, MESTI, said the German Government had allotted 20 million Euros towards the project, with the first collection of 10 million Euros already released.

    He said, ultimately, all stakeholders in the e-waste value chain would work together to reduce the negative impact on the environment while helping to create more employment within the system.

    Source: Goldstreet Business

  • Mahama storms Techiman South to visit victims

    Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the just-ended elections John Dramani Mahama will be in the Techiman South Constituency in the Bono East Region on Wednesday, December 16 to visit families of victims of post-electoral clashes there.

    Two persons Abdallah Ayaric and Tajudeen Alhassan died while four got injured after the military fired warning shots at the Constituency Collation Centre in the early hours of Tuesday, December 8.

    Addressing journalists to announce his rejection of the declaration of results by the Electoral Commission (EC), Mr Mahama said there was a third death later at a hospital.

    The NDC believe they won the Techiman South Constituency but the Returning Officer had declared the results in favour of the Parliamentary Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, who is also the Deputy Minister of Regional Reorganisation and Development.

    Results from that Constituency were not added to the total national tally before the final declaration by Jean Adukwei Mensa.

    Aside visiting the bereaved families to commiserate with them, the former president will also visit the injured on admission in the hospital.

    Source: 3 News

  • Public Universities Bill not passed by Parliament Oppong Nkrumah

    Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minister of Information, has clarified that the Public Universities Bill has not been passed by Parliament contrary to reports by some news outlets.

    The Bill, on Tuesday, December 15, 2020, reached the consideration stage after it was approved at the second reading in Parliament.

    However, some reports suggested that the bill had been passed by Parliament but the Information Minister has moved to quell such reports.

    In a Twitter post, Oppong Nkrumah emphatically stated that the bill has not been passed.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, please note that the Public Universities Bill has not been passed by Parliament,” he tweeted.

    The Public Universities Bill seeks to harmonize the finances, administration and governance structure of public universities in Ghana.

    The Public Universities Bill when passed, will give the government of Ghana the power to appoint the majority of members of the University Council.

    The University Council will then have the power to appoint and dismiss public university officials.

    The Public Universities Bill will give the president the power to dissolve the University Council which will now have the power to appoint a chancellor.

    The University Council will be able to control the finances of the university and determine the allocation of funds.

    In addition to this, there will be a proposal to rename four public universities after various personalities.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Parliament considers Anti-money laundering Bill, 2020

    Parliament is working on a Bill to help plug the holes in the existing anti-money laundering regulatory framework and make it more responsive to international standards.

    The Anti-Money Laundering Bill, 2020, is to amend and consolidate the laws relating to money laundering and provide for related matters.

    “This Bill is to avoid piecemeal legislation in addressing all the deficiencies in Act 749,” Mr Kwaku Kwarteng, the Deputy Finance Minister, told Parliament on Tuesday when the Anti-Money Laundering Bill, 2020, was considered by the House.

    Moving the motion for the Second Reading of the Bill, the Deputy Finance Minister observed that the Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering and Terrorism in 2016 carried an anti-money laundering and financing of terrorism evaluation.

    The focus of the exercise was on technical compliance as well as assessed the effectiveness of the anti-money laundering and counter financing of terrorism regime of the country.

    The evaluation report identified some strategic deficiencies in the anti-money laundering regulatory framework and said: “Even though the result reflected significant improvement; it still did not meet the revised Financial Action Task Force (FAFT) methodology.”
    Mr Kwarteng said Ghana was accordingly placed on the FAFT “grey” list.

    In order to address the strategic deficiencies and comply with the FAFT recommendations, the Government had decided to repeal the current Anti-Money Laundering Act, 2007 (Act 749) and submit to Parliament a new Bill.

    This is to avoid piecemeal legislation in addressing all the deficiencies in Act 749.

    Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, Ranking Member on the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, stated that the status of Ghana on FAFT was not desirable as it posed very stringent measures not only on Ghanaian businesses but also Ghanaian travelers as they had to demonstrate the sources of their resources.

    He said Ghana, being a member of FAFT, imposed on her a responsibility to ensure that she complied with the anti-money laundering requirement by the international regulators.

    He said the new comprehensive Bill was intended to incorporate all the current requirements of FAFT to enable Ghana to get out of the “grey list” of countries that had failed to comply with the international regulations.

    Source: GNA

  • Desist from street protests against election results Christian Council to NDC

    The Christian Council of Ghana has urged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to consider legal action instead of street protests in its opposition to the declared election results.

    “We entreat them to desist from the street protests and agitations and rather resort to the court to seek redress for their concerns in accordance with the law,” the council said in a statement.

    It also urged the NDC to “avoid statements that have the tendency to inflame passion and cause mayhem in the country.”

    The party has been engaged in some protests nationwide in protest of some declared election results.

    The opposition has engaged in a series of demonstrations in Accra, Zabzugu, Techiman South, Tamale and Kumasi in protest of the outcome of the elections.

    Most recently, hundreds of NDC supporters in the Ashanti Region marched to the regional EC office to protest the outcome of the 2020 elections.

    Aside from grievances at the constituency level, the NDC has also rejected the outcome of the presidential election which saw Nana Akufo-Addo declared President.

    The council further called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to as a matter of urgency come out with “a clear statement on the state of constituencies that have challenges with results declared in the December 7, 2020 elections.”

    Following reports that five persons in incidents of election violence, the Christian Council expressed concern that “the government has been quiet about the unfortunate killings that took place in certain constituencies during the elections and admonish government to ensure the investigation of the killings and bring culprits to book.”

    Find below the full statement

    Source: citinewsroom

  • COVID-19: 110 new cases increases active cases to 978

    Ghana has recorded 110 new cases of the Coronavirus disease, increasing the cumulative number of active cases in the country to 978.

    The country now has a total of 53,270 confirmed cases of the disease as at December 11, 2020.

    The Ghana Health Service (GH) in an update said the 53,270 cases were detected from 627,116 COVID-19 tests conducted in the country.

    Testing

    Of the 53,270 infected persons, 21,548 were detected from Routine Surveillance, 31,311 were from Enhanced Contact Tracing and 411 from international travellers at the Kotoka International Airport.

    Eleven of the infected persons are listed as being in a severe condition while two persons are in critical condition. The death toll from the Coronavirus remains 327.

    According to the update, the Greater Accra region still remains the hotspot of the disease with 671 new cases while the Upper West region has recorded zero active cases since November 2020.

    Meanwhile, the Oti region which had no active case since March now has one active case.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Parliament approves Public Universities Bill at second reading

    Parliament has today, Tuesday, December 15, 2020, approved the Public Universities Bill at the second reading stage.

    The Bill which was withdrawn and re-laid in the House in November seeks to harmonise the structures for the administration of public universities.

    The Minority, during the debate, expressed conditional support for the other processes to get the Bill passed depending on consultation from groups that wrote to them during the period of recess by the House.

    “I must say that stakeholder consultation is very important in the work we do as Parliament that is why article 106 of the 1992 constitution requires that we invite a public memorandum and these are stakeholders who are affected by the Bill and therefore an assurance for the Education Minister that they will be thoroughly engaged and the report of same be submitted to Parliament either than that, we are unable to support this Bill,”  Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu said.

    The Minister for Education, Mathew Opoku Prempeh, says the Bill in its current form before Parliament incorporates almost every concern from stakeholders

    “There is been a thorough consultation between us [Government] and the stakeholders which even necessitated the relaying of same due to the voluminous nature of their inputs compelled us to withdraw and relay same. So it is not about consultation because Parliament in its own way did advertise it for inputs.”

    What did the Education Committee of Parliament say?

    The Education Committee in presenting its recommendations on the bill to the House noted that the Bill is important for the “governance architecture of public universities.”

    It further said the Bill seeks to present an “equitable opportunity for all qualified applicants” in the country.

    “The Bill provides important reforms for improvement in the governance architecture of public universities. The Bill further improves the admission process and create equal and equitable opportunity for all qualified applicants to access higher education, irrespective of their economic circumstances.”

    “In particular, the standardisation of key governance structures across all public universities will inject more efficiency and effectiveness in the administration of public universities.”https://www.youtube.com/embed//-Uau55mIfaw

    About the Public Universities Bill

    According to the framers of the Public Universities Bill, it seeks to harmonize the finances, administration and governance structure of public universities.

    The Bill, when passed, will give the government power to appoint the majority of members of the University Council.

    The Council then has the power to appoint and fire public university officials.

    The Bill also gives the President the power to dissolve the University Council which will now have the power to appoint a chancellor.

    It also gives effect to the University Council to control the finances of the university and determine the allocation of funds.

    In addition, there is a proposal to rename four public universities after various personalities.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Police arrest 5 supporters of NDC over rioting

    Five persons believed to be members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) are assisting the Accra Regional Police Command over an alleged rioting.

    They are Benedicta Coffie, 20, Kweku Osai, 23, Mohammed Fona, 21, Bismark Teye, 30 and Lukman Zakaria, 38.

    Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Effia Tenge, Head of Public Affairs Unit of the Command, told the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

    She said on Sunday, December 13, 2020, at about 1700 hours, a group of people were found rioting and burning car tyres at the Christian Village Junction, Achimota.

    She said police were alerted and proceeded to the scene where they managed to put out the fire as well as arrested some members of the group.

    DSP Tenge said whilst their cautioned statements were being taken, other members of the Party, on hearing their arrest started massing up at the station.

    The Formed Police Unit Team came in and assisted in transferring the suspects to the Regional Command, where they are on detention.

    Source: GNA

  • Mahama to visit Techiman on Wednesday

    Former President John Dramani Mahama, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), is expected in the Bono East Capital, Techiman, on Wednesday, December 16, 2020.

    A statement issued by Mr Mohammed Shamsudeen Ali, the NDC Secretary for Bono East, copied to the Ghana News Agency, said upon his arrival Mr Mahama would pay a courtesy call on the Techiman Traditional Council.

    He would then have “a solidarity visit to the family of those who have lost their lives in the battle to see NDC win power and those who were injured in the same course.”

    “The Regional EC Office and the Techiman South Constituency EC Office will feel his presence and this visit will accord him the opportunity to interact with the leadership of the Party, supporters, sympathisers and Party faithful within the Region,” it said.

    “By this release, all constituencies within the Region are invited to make this visit a memorable one. There is light at the end of the tunnel.”

    Source: GNA

  • Ajumako DCE granted police enquiry bail

    Ransford Nyarko, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, who allegedly led some people to assault a police officer on duty at Ochiso near Ajumako on Saturday, has been granted police enquiry bail with one surety.

    The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Irene Serwaah Oppong, Regional Police Public Relations Officer, told the Ghana News Agency that the DCE was expected to report at the Central Regional Police Command on Tuesday, December 15, at 1000 hours.

    She said General/Cpl Frank Mensah of the Ochiso Police Station was mercilessly assaulted by the people connected to the DCE in the presence of two Community Police Assistants who were on duty with him.

    DSP Oppong said the incident happened when G/Cpl Mensah arrested one Cosmos who assaulted a young man in the community, after taking the statement of the complainant and had issued a medical form for the victim to be sent to the hospital.

    Shortly after, a man on a motor bike arrived at the Police Charge Office and handed over a phone to G/Cpl Mensah and requested him to speak to a caller on the phone, which he obliged.

    He later handed the phone back when the caller verbally abused him, describing the action the police officer took as “utter nonsense”.

    In no time, two vehicles pulled up at the station with eight occupants, led by Mr Nyarko, and they pounced on the officer and assaulted him.

    Source: GNA

  • New entrants will not collapse parliament UG lecturer

    Senior Political Science Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Asah-Asante has asserted that the voting out of experienced members from parliament will in no way affect parliamentary proceedings.

    According to him, replacing these experienced parliamentarians with new faces will affect parliamentary proceedings in a way, but it does not mean the work of parliament will come to a standstill.

    Dr. Asah-Asante noted that because parliament is a socialization ground, the new entrants will gradually learn the ropes of parliamentary proceedings through training, mentoring and retraining from the few experienced parliamentarians remaining in the house.

    Speaking in an interview with Samuel Eshun on the Happy Morning Show aired on e.TVGhana and Happy 98.9 FM, the Political Analyst said, “It is true the number of experienced MPs have been reduced in the 8th parliament and that will affect the work of parliament but will not halt it. No one was born in parliament”.

    To him, with parliament being a socialization avenue which has seen some new entrants graduate from MPs to Vice Presidents and Presidents, then, “the new faces can learn, graduate and also help parliament grow. New entrants will in now way collapse parliament”, he reiterated.

    On his authority, if only experienced parliamentarians could run the affairs of the state, then the retired and deceased parliamentarians should be made to return to parliament.

    A total number of 111 members of the seventh parliament will not return to the legislative house for the eight parliament in January 2021.

    The New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress will both have some of their MPs not returning to parliament because some lost at the parliamentary elections last Monday, others lost at their primaries with others voluntarily retiring.

    This means seventy-eight (78) members of the NPP and and thirty-three (33) NDC MPs will not return to the eighth (8) parliament.

    Source: Happy 98.9FM

  • Court grants GH¢2.5m bail to 25 Volta Secessionists, 4 discharged

    The Circuit Court in Accra presided over by Mr. Emmanuel Marvin Essandoh has granted bail in a combined sum of GH¢2.5 million to 25 of the accused persons who have been charged in the Togoland case.

    The 25 accused persons have each been granted bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with two sureties each.

    The sureties, the court said, should be public servants earning not less than GH¢4000 per month and report to the police.

    4 out of the 29 who appeared before the court today were also discharged after the prosecution had amended its charge sheet.

    They are on charges including treason felony.

    In court on Tuesday when the case was called, ASP Sylvester Asare amended the charge sheet with a new one where 4 of the accused persons were discharged.

    He said investigations were ongoing and prayed the court to remand them to assist with investigations.

    It was the case of the prosecution that, the court does not have jurisdiction to take the plea of the accused persons and so should not grant them bail.

    But lawyers of the accused persons while praying for bail argued that the treatment the accused persons have been subjected to is an infringement of their human rights.

    They argued further that, some of the accused persons have their wives and relatives depend on them for their shelter.

    The lawyers said “considering where they are coming from, our prayer this morning is for you to grant them bail. Some might be going through illnesses before the arrest was made.”

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Fire ravages shops in Koforidua

    Fire has ravaged at least three shops in Koforidua, the Eastern Regional Capital of the country.

    The incident occurred around 10:15 am on Tuesday.

    The blaze was reportedly caused by an electrical fault on the main power supply pole of Electricity Company of Ghana which spread to the nearby shops.

    Though firefighters arrived late at the scene they managed to extinguish the fire preventing it from spreading to other nearby shops.

    The shops consumed by the fire sold electricals, plastics and cloths.

    Properties worth thousands of Ghana Cedis have been destroyed.

    A worker at Ogyeatuo Electrical shop told Starr News that he managed to disconnect the power supply to the shop however the other two shops were not open at the time hence the fire started there and spread to the electrical shop.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Thomas Partey models Arsenal iconic 1992 kit

    Arsenal star, Thomas Partey has shown off the team’s iconic kit worn in the 1992 season which has been released by kits sponsors Adidas.

    Arsenal and Adidas have lined up a very special Christmas gift for every avid Arsenal fan: a limited-edition re-release of iconic cult classics the Gunners wore during the early 1990s.

    The Arsenal x Adidas Originals collection brings back Arsenal’s old logo that was used from 1949 until 2002.

    Specifically, the collection includes a remake of Arsenal’s 1990-92 home shirt, a tracksuit, a hoodie, and a lifestyle jacket that are all closely inspired by the original looks.

    To fit this narrative all items also feature Adidas’ old trefoil logo.

    Thomas Partey is among other Arsenal stars such as Aubameyang and Ainsley Maitland Miles who modeled in the jersey.

    Thomas Partey joined Arsenal on the transfer deadline from Atletico Madrid in the summer.

    He has made five appearances for Arsenal since joining the club.

    See Thomas Partey’s post

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CI0BLzOABjN/?utm_source=ig_embed

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Kotoko reverse decision to play CAF Champions League games in Tamale

    Asante Kotoko has officially written to the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to notify the Association of their decision to maintain Accra Sports Stadium as their home ground in the CAF Champions League.

    The move is a swift turnaround after the Porcupine wrote to the FA of their willingness to rather use the Tamale stadium as their adopted home ground. Kotoko initially wrote to the GFA to use Tamale Sports Stadium as their home venue for their game against Al Hilal of Sudan in the CAF Champions League which is scheduled for December 23, 2020.

    But after careful consideration, the Porcupine Warriors have agreed that the Accra Sports stadium will serve them best, especially because the government has refused to open the various stadia to spectators due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    Due to renovation works at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi, Kotoko opted for the Accra Sports Stadium the same home venue for four other teams including rivals Hearts of Oak.

    The earlier decision to go to Tamale was conceived because the venue was seen as closer to Kumasi (the original home of Kotoko) than Accra and would have made financial sense to cut down the travel expenditure of the team.

    The GFA had reached the final stages of approval the Tamale Stadium for use by Kotoko before the club wrote back to reverse their earlier request.

    The Porcupine Warriors progressed from the preliminary round to this stage without kicking a ball after Mauritanian side FC Noaudibou failed to raise a team for the second leg encounter due to coronavirus infections.

    CAF in a statement stated Asante Kotoko progressed at the expense of FC Nouadibou because the latter failed to raise a team.

    “The match was not played because the Mauritanian team could not meet the minimum number of players required by CAF due to the positive cases of COVID in the team. As a result, FC Nouadhibou were disqualified and Asante Kotoko automatically qualifies for the next round to meet Al Hilal”.

    Asante Kotoko will first host the Sudanese giants here in Ghana at the Accra Sports Stadium in the first leg before heading to North Africa for the second leg next year.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Parliament to finalise determination of ex gratia for Article 71 officeholders before dissolution

    The 7th Parliament is racing against time to finalise the determination of the salaries and allowances payable and the facilities and privileges available to Article 71 officeholders.

    Article 71 office holders include the President, the Vice-President, the Speaker of Parliament, the Chief Justice, and Justices of the Supreme Court.

    The current Parliament is seeking to approve the ex gratia for this category of public office holders before the 8th Parliament begins official business next year.

    When Parliament reconvened on Monday, December 14, 2020, the matter was on the agenda.

    “In accordance with the 1992 Constitution, this House will be required to consider the approval of the Executive component of Article 71 officer holders report before the dissolution of the House,” Speaker of Parliament, Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye, told legislators on Monday.

    The report the Speaker was referring to is one prepared by a five-member Committee put together by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in June this year to make recommendations in the ex gratia of Article 71 officeholders.

    At the time the five-member committee was being inaugurated, President Akufo-Addo said there was the need for a national debate to regularise the payment of the ex gratia to Article 71 officeholders and urged the members to examine the practice in other jurisdictions, especially the American system, where the principles were established and automatically adjusted.

    Ex gratia payments to former public office holders remain one of the controversial issues in Ghana.

    There have been disagreements over the number of officials who must benefit from the ex gratia payments and whether there is a need for the payments at all.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Seek redress of election grievances through court EC to political parties

    The Electoral Commission (EC) has urged the leadership of various political parties to use the laid down procedures established by law to seek a redress of disagreements with the 2020 election results.

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has held different protests in some parts of the country to express their displeasure over the conduct and outcome of the 2020 polls.

    The EC in a statement entreated the parties to resort to the law for redress.

    “The Electoral Commission is aware of contests to some parliamentary seats by both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress in a number of constituencies. We entreat the political parties to use the laid down processes established by law to seek redress to their concerns.”

    Sene West parliamentary results

    The Commission also said it is concluding processes to declare the outcome of the parliamentary results of the Sene West Constituency.

    Sene West in the Bono East Region is the only constituency whose results are yet to be declared by the Commission due to a dispute at the constituency level. 

    So far, results for 274 seats out of the 275 parliamentary seats have been officially declared, with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) winning 137 parliamentary seats, putting it ahead of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) which has won 136 seats.

    There is also an independent candidate who won a parliamentary seat in the Fomena constituency of the Ashanti Region.

    The EC indicated that it will in the coming days, bring finality to the issue of who won the Sene West constituency seat.

    “The Sene West parliamentary election is yet to be finalized and the outcome declared. The Commission assures the General Public that it is working to finalize the issues regarding the Sene West Constituency to enable the transparent, fair, credible, and peaceful conclusion of the process. We expect to bring finality to this issue within the shortest possible time”, the statement noted.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Form a unity government with NDC – Korankye Ankrah to Akufo-Addo

    The founder and Apostle General of Royalhouse Chapel International, Most Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah, has called for peace in the aftermath of the December 7 elections.

    According to him, whatever the outcome of the general election, peace must prevail especially between the two major political parties, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    He said the leaders of the major parties must find a common ground and settle their misunderstanding regarding the declaration of results.

    “I know that usually the one who is in opposition calls the winner to congratulate him, but I am praying for the Lord to touch the heart of President Nana Akufo-Addo to call former president Mahama and say come and let us talk. I pray that this will happen this week,” he said.

    Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah also called for a unity government where members of the opposition would have a place in government.

    “I want to encourage the President to consider giving some executive positions in his government to qualified officers of the NDC. We want to break the winner takes all spirit,” he said.

    He said it is the winner takes all spirit that brings about the agitations and contention in the elections.

    “We want to see a unity government happen so that we can run this nation as one unit and develop the nation and serve God together,” he added.

    He also called for peace to prevail in constituencies where the parliamentary results were in contention.

    Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah was speaking to his congregation at the thanksgiving service held on Sunday, December 13, 2020, where two members of his church emerged winners at the parliamentary elections.

    Madam Rita Odoley Sowah won the parliamentary seat for the La Dadekopoton Constituency in Greater Accra on the ticket of the NDC and Mr. Teddy Nana Yaw Addi, won for the Ayensuano constituency in the Eastern Region on the ticket of the NDC.

    Rev Sam Korankye Ankrah thanked God for their victory and charged them to serve faith.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Police arrest Power FM presenter for allegedly threatening, insulting Akufo-Addo

    The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has officially arrested a radio presenter with Accra-based Power FM, Oheneba Boamah for allegedly threatening and insulting President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    The arrest took place on Monday, December 14, 2020, when the presenter honoured an invitation by the CID over the same issue.

    Oheneba Boamah, 36 is assisting the police in investigations.

    He has been cautioned on the offences of offensive conduct conducive to breaches of the peace and publication of false news contrary to sections 207 and 208 (1) respectively of the criminal and other offences Act, Act 29/60.

    Oheneba Boamah is said to have recorded a live video on his Facebook page in which he was heard insulting and issuing series of threats to the President of the Republic of Ghana.

    The Police in a letter to the management of Power FM asked for the release of Mr. Bennie to report to “Superintendent/1U at the CID Headquarters, 4th floor, Room 13 on Monday. 14/12/2020 at 1000hours” to assist with investigations.

    Source: citinewsroom