TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • UG, GIJ students kick against fee hikes for new academic year

    A decision by two public tertiary institutions to increase fees for the 2020/2021 academic year has been met with resistance by students.

    Both the University of Ghana and the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) have increased fees for the next academic year.

    The University of Ghana, for instance, has increased fees by 12% but it is not clear if Parliament has approved the new fees.

    Per the law, the fees of public universities must be ratified before they are enforced.

    But since the new fees were announced, the students have mounted a strong protest.

    Students say the timing of the new fees is insensitive, citing the disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic to businesses as among the numerous reasons why the fees should not have been increased.

    “I think the new fees are expensive because looking at what COVID has brought on us, I expected the fees to be lower. Some of our parents have lost their jobs and money is hard to come by,” a student of the University of Ghana told Joy News.

    Meanwhile, General Secretary of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), has said the union intends to speak to the government to reduce the fees.

    Devine Edem Kojo said “NUGS agrees with the section of students agitating because of the increase. We have been engaging with the government for the past two weeks to reduce the fees.”

    He said NUGS has picked up hints that the new fees have been approved by Parliament.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Car snatcher reportedly jailed 12 years

    A 29-year-old man, Kwaku Oduro, also known as Agya Kwabena Oppong, a taxi driver and a native of Konongo has been jailed by an Accra circuit court for 12 years for carjacking.

    According to the prosecution, on 31 August 2020, Kwaku Oduro hired the services of a taxi driver around 2:30 am from Achimota overhead to Anyaa.

    However, a few meters to his desired destination, Kwaku Oduro signalled the driver to stop exactly where two young men were by then waiting.

    The taxi driver sensed danger upon seeing them and immediately sped off with Kwaku Owusu to the nearest police station and called out for her.

    The police took custody of Mr Oduro for investigations into the complaint of the driver.

    At the station, another complainant who had also fallen victim to car snatching the previous day and lost his Daewoo Matiz taxi cab in the process, identified Kwaku Oduro as the same suspect who snatched his vehicle through the same modus operandi.

    Kwaku Oduro could not deny the allegation and broke down in confession, pleading for forgiveness.

    He was subsequently arraigned and found guilty of an attempted robbery by a Circuit Court.

    He was convicted to 12 years imprisonment with hard labour, as he awaits further trial for his involvement in the other carjacking crimes.

    Source: Class FM

  • Minister appeals for a Military Barracks in Upper West Region

    Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, the Upper West Regional Minister, has appealed to the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to consider the establishment of a Military Barracks in the Upper West Region to help consolidate the peace and security in the region.

    While commending the CDS for establishing a Military Battalion in the region, the Minister said the Upper West Region shared border with Burkina Faso and was, thus, prone to activities of terrorists.

    Dr Bin Salih made the appeal when a team of the military high command led by Lieutenant General Obed Boamah Akwa, the CDS, called on him to officially announce their presence in the region.

    The team, including the Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Intelligence, among others, was in the region to hold a conference to discuss the effective ways to maintain peace in the country, particularly, during, before and after the 2020 general elections.

    Dr Bin Salih acknowledged the role of the Ghana Armed Forces in safeguarding the peace and security in the region and the country at large and expressed the hope that the 2020 general elections would be violence-free.

    He gave the assurance that the Regional Coordinating Council would collaborate with the security agencies, including the Ghana Armed Forces to ensure that peace and security were maintained in the region.

    Lieutenant-General Akwa noted that the Army chose to hold the conference in the Upper West Region due to the relative peace in the area.

    He assured the Minister that he would be an ambassador of the region, propagating its humanitarian and peaceful nature.

    Source: GNA

  • 12 pregnant girls, 7 nursing mothers write BECE

    A total of 12 pregnant girls and seven nursing mothers are taking part in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Akontombra District of the Western North Region.

    Forty-three candidates, comprising 30 males and 13 females were absent.

    This was contained in a release signed by Mr Thomas Koffie, Akontombra District Education Director and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA).

    According to the releases, 1,606 candidates out of 1,649 registered candidates from 38 public and 18 private schools are sitting for the examination in five centres.

    Of the candidates present, 924 are males and 682 females.

    Mr Koffie expressed satisfaction with the conduct of both candidates and invigilators.

    Meanwhile, a visit to the Nsawora and Nkwadum centres by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on day three of the examination saw candidates and invigilators in nose masks.

    There were veronica buckets at the entrance of the examination halls in compliance with the COVID-19 safety protocols.

    Source: GNA

  • Don’t be deceived by the ongoing sod-cutting of projects – Nzema Akropong Chief to voters

    The Divisional Chief of Nzema Akropong in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region, Nana Adu Kwame II has charged eligible voters not to be deceived by the ongoing sod-cutting of projects being undertaken by President Akufo-Addo and his government.

    Eligible Ghanaians will go to the polls and elect their President and Members of Parliament (MPs) for the next four years on December 7, 2020 but some Ghanaians are criticizing the current administration for embarking on sod-cutting of projects at this point in time instead of commissioning of projects.

    The next to join these critics is the Divisional Chief of Nzema Akropong.

    Addressing the Vice Presidential Candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof. Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman on Wednesday, September 16, 2020 at Asasetre lorry park in the Ellembelle Constituency as part of her four-day rescue mission tour to Western Region, Nana Adu Kwame II, the Divisional Chief of Nzema Akropong state that the NPP government has nothing to offer Ghanaians and the good people of Ellembelle.

    He urged the gathering not to fall for the Akufo-Addo-led government’s on-going sod cutting of new projects and retain them come December 7.

    “The NPP government has nothing to offer you so if you don’t know Zongo just go to the North”, he reminded the gathering.

    Nana Adu Kwame II quizzed President Akufo-Addo what did he do in the last three and half years and now going round the country to cut sod for projects.

    “We have just three months to the election and you now cutting sod. What were you doing. What were you doing the past three and half months. We don’t use three months to go to election to cut sod ?”, he asked President Akufo-Addo.

    He added, “we have three months to election and they are now busy going round to cut sod, you put pickaxe in your vehicle and you get here you come out from your vehicle and starting cutting sod, nobody here should be deceived”.

    The outspoken Chief fathomed why people to universities and complete and come home without getting work to do.

    He, therefore seized, the opportunity to commend former President John Mahama for promising to legalise Okada business in this country when elected into power.

    “Right now my headache is that today if you go to university and poly and complete you don’t get work to do and the good news is that when John Mahama comes to power, he will legalise Okada business to be more lucrative so we have to vote for him, Okada riders must vote for him”, he stressed.

    “…and we have many people unemployed now. So why would you protest the Okada thing?” he questioned NPP members.

    Nana Adu Kwame II took the opportunity to appeal to women in the area to vote massively for John Mahama for selecting a woman as his running mate and stated that Prof. Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman would be the next Vice President in Ghana after December 7 polls.

    He also applauded women for continuing to help men.

    “…you cook for us, you fetch water for us and also women have time to go politics, if you fail this women (Prof. Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman) because John Mahama if becomes president she will join him and if it happens, you women will be happy and your lives will be better”, he told the women.

    He lauded John Mahama and Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah for promising to upgrade the Asasetre Market into a modern status.

    “John Mahama and Armah Buah have said if they come to power, they will construct an ultra-modern market for women at Asasetre because what you are currently in, anytime the rain falls, it beat you so if someone is coming to build a new one for you, what should you do for the person, you vote for the person”.

    He also commended Mr John Mahama for doing so many things in Ellembelle District than any President.

    He said it was John Mahama who constructed the Atuabo Ghana Gas Processing Plant, constructing Agona Nkwanta to Elubo road, constructing All Bokazo to Atuabo oil enclave road.

    He added that it was John Mahama and Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah who first constructed CHPs compounds in Ellembelle District of which his community also benefited.

    “John Mahama is the man who says and he does it, he has done it before in Ellembelle and he has track records here, he brought Ghana Gas, he constructed Agona Nkwanta to Elubo road, he constructed Alla Bokazo to Atuabo road”

    “A time came when we do transit before reaching Eikwe hospital and the transit here means, unless you take a canoe to cross the river on Eikwe road before taking another commercial vehicle to Eikwe hospital but today the bridge you see over the river, it was John Mahama’ and his NDC who did it”, he recounted.

    “What I will say again is that it is only the NDC that comes to power and think about we Nzemas, when they were in power they were the first to build so many CHPs compounds in Ellembelle and they even built one for my Community, a time came before you will take a sick person to hospital we have to carry on a hammock before a person can get access to health care at Axim or Eikwe, but today we have so many CHPs compounds all over in Ellembelle and it was NDC who did that is John Mahama and Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah”.

    He emphasized that, “John Mahama and Armah Buah have people at heart, they think about human being and these are the people we should vote for and not those that have done nothing”.

    On behalf of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Council, Nana Adu Kwame II took the opportunity and appealed to Prof. Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman to liaise with John Mahama to build the delayed Atuabo Freeport when elected into power to create jobs for the youth.

    “I was the one who performed the libation for the commencement of the Atuabo Freeport so we are appealing that when John Mahama comes to power he should build the Atuabo Freeport for us so that the youth will get work to do”, he urged.

    On her part, the Vice Presidential Candidate Prof. Jane Naana Opoku Agyeman thanked the Chiefs and people of Asasetre enclave for welcoming her in their numbers.

    She therefore promised that the next NDC government would build an ultra-modern market complex for the good people of Asasetre and its environs.

    She also advised them against politics of insults and continue to live in peace and harmony.

    Source: Daniel Kaku, Contributor

  • 5 universities not recognised by Ghanas Accreditation Board

    The National Accreditation Board (NAB), in charge of regulating, supervising, and accrediting tertiary institutions in Ghana has re-echoed its stance with regards to the operations of some universities in the country.

    According to the Board, the tertiary institutions in question have either not gone through the full accreditation process in order to commence operations or have not met the necessary requirements.

    The Board insists that some of the institutions are still in the process of awarding qualifications, honorary degrees, and titles to some prominent Ghanaians.

    A report filed by Graphic Online indicated that the Accreditation Board has on several occasions issued public notices to caution Ghanaians from patronizing the services of such institutions.

    One of such notices was published on August 24, 2020, in the Daily Graphic.

    A notice signed by the Executive Secretary of the Board, Dr. Kingsley Nyarko named the following institutions as unaccredited and unrecognized; Swiss Management Centre (SMC) University, Institute of Professional and Executive Development (IPED), Cambridge International College (CIC), CASS European Institute of Management Studies and M-GIBES College of Business and Management.

    The NAB has also explained that it had ceased to recognise the qualifications awarded by the institutions because of their “failure to comply with some directives by NAB.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Celtic intensify pursuit of Christian Atsu

    Scottish champions, Celtic, have stepped up efforts to sign Newcastle United winger Christian Atsu.

    Newcastle United manager, Steve Bruce, conformed on Tuesday, that the Ghana international was free to leave the club after being rendered surplus to requirements.

    Celtic manager, Neil Lennon, who has been a long time admirer of the 28 year old, has reportedly put his club on alert about the availability of Atsu.

    Celtic tried to sign Atsu in January, but the Ghanaian rejected the move at the last minute in favour of staying and fighting for his place at Newcastle.

    With just a year remaining on his Newcastle contract, Atsu is expected to attract a very reasonable transfer fee.

    The former Chelsea winger is also said to be attracting interest from clubs in England and the Netherlands.

    Source: citisportsonline

  • Uganda jail break: Seven of 219 escapees arrested

    Seven of the 219 prisoners who escaped from Singila prison in north-east Uganda have been captured.

    The prisoners shot and killed a soldier who tried to intercept them, before heading for Mount Moroto on Wednesday afternoon.

    Prisons service spokesperson said they have deployed three helicopters and soldiers on foot to pursue the fugitives. Two of them have been shot dead.

    The escapees are thought to be trying to use mountain routes to cross the border into Kenya.

    The prison facility, usually with a population of over 600 inmates, has been put under lockdown as investigations into how the jailbreak happened get underway.

    The army has released a picture of their hunt of the escapees:

    Source: bbc.com

  • Floods ‘affect hundreds of thousands’ in South Sudan

    Heavy flooding has affected 500,000 people in central South Sudan, according to the UN mission in the country

    The states of Lakes and Jonglei have been worst affected.

    The head of the mission, David Shearer, told the UN Security Council on Wednesday that heavy rainfall and flooding of the Nile River had devastated parts of the country.

    “Humanitarians are working incredibly hard to help people living without shelter, food, water, and sanitation in the middle of the rainy season,” Mr Shearer told the council via video link from the capital, Juba.

    Mr Shearer added that there had been “an upturn” in conflict from splintering of armed groups.

    He said while the situation had calmed down, “tensions remain high” and effort must be made to stop a resurgence.

    Source: bbc.com

  • New approach needed to attract Ghanaian players abroad to Black Stars Ibrahim Tanko to GFA

    Former Ghana U-23 male team coach, Ibrahim Tanko, has advised the Ghana Football Association to change its approach in convincing foreign-based Ghanaian players to wear the national team jersey.

    Tanko believes the GFA must start monitoring potential players whilst they fight to make it to the first-team in their respective.

    “There are a lot of Ghanaian talents abroad especially in England, Germany, and Holland but we always wait for them to play first-team football before they get our attention. If we want to integrate them into our national team, we need to start early. A player like Tariq Lamptey has the potential of playing for the England national team because he plays in England,” he told Wontumi Sports.

    The former Borussia Dortmund forward added that former Black Stars players residing outside the country could be tasked to monitor and convince potential players.

    He also suggested that the Football Association sets up offices in countries where Ghanaian players are based.

    “In Germany, we have Oto Addo, Eric Addo in Holland, Adu Tutu is also in Austria and Razak in Denmark. If we ask these former players to speak to the youngsters, they can convince them because they have experience in dealing with players. I know Turkish FA have an office in Germany because they know they are Turkish players who are based in Germany. So if we do the same, we will get these players.”

    Source: universnewsroom.com

  • Kwadwo Asamoah emerges as a transfer target of Cagliari

    Ghana International Kwadwo Asamoah is being courted by Caligari Calcio with the Italian outfit keen on a summer swoop for the Inter Milan midfielder.

    The former Juventus man endured a difficult campaign in the 2019/2020 football season where he was limited to playing time in the Serie A and the European campaign of the Nerazzurri as a result of multiple injury setbacks which left him sidelined for the most parts of the season.

    In the midst of the summer transfer window, sources have confirmed that Inter Milan is ready to ship out Kwadwo Asamoah after deciding to move on from the versatile midfielder who also excels when deployed in a left–wing-back role.

    Today, the latest information picked up is indicating that the Ghana asset is on the radar of Cagliari. According to reports, the team is bent on reinforcing this summer and has identified Kwadwo Asamoah as one of a few players with the needed quality.

    The Serie A club hence joins the likes of Hellas Verona, Crotone, and a couple of clubs from Turkey interested in signing the 31-year old this summer.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Atletico Madrid to replace Thomas Partey with Elisha Owusu

    Spanish top-flight club, Atletico Madrid is planning to replace key player, Thomas Partey with French-born Ghanaian, Elisha Owusu as EPL side, Arsenal continue the chase for his signature.

    Owusu, who joined KAA Gent from Lyon and has been in tremendous form is being courted by the Spanish team as a fine replacement for the newly appointed deputy captain of the Ghana Black Stars, Partey.

    The KAA Gent in-form defensive midfielder would switch to play under Coach Diego Simeon in one of the biggest European Leagues in the World, La liga if both parties meet the terms of condition.

    The 22-year old budding talent Owusu, made 27 appearances for KAA Gent in the 2019/2020 Belgian topflight.

    Owusu has a contract with KAA Gent until 2023.

    Meanwhile, Ghana is still pursuing the former FC Sochaux lad to play for the Black Stars.

    Source: GNA

  • Coronavirus has affected over 11 million jobs Employment Minister

    The Minister for Employment and Labour Relations, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah has revealed that over 11.2 million jobs were affected in the country by the coronavirus pandemic.

    Mr Baffour-Awuah explained that the labour force was largely affected in terms of pay cut and downsizing of workers.

    He noted that based on a survey conducted by the ministry on 44,000 people, l7,685 of them lost their jobs with the rest either being asked to work from home or suffering pay cuts.

    Speaking at the Meet the Press Series in Accra on September 16, 2020 to address the nation on the effect of COVID-19 on the workforce and progress made by the ministry, Baffour-Awuah said: “Results of the survey indicated that 17,685 out of the 44000, that is 40 per cent of workers suffered pay cuts.

    “Pay cuts were highest among medium scale enterprises with 46 per cent of workers affected and lowest among small scale enterprises with 38 per cent being affected.”

    He added that 98.5% of these workers who lost their jobs as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic were mostly in the private sector, adding that no job losses were recorded in the public sector due to the efforts and measures put in place by the government.

    Mr Baffour-Awuah stated that the government has learnt lessons from the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and has, therefore, brought into force the National Unemployment Insurance Scheme that will help support workers in the formal sector when the labour force is hit hard by any crisis of such nature in future.

    Source: Class FM

  • Simon Osei-Mensah reportedly sues newspaper, STRANEK for GH¢10m

    Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, has sued Militant Publication Network publishers of the Insight newspaper for defamation.

    Joined to the suit is the acting Acting Editor of the newspaper, Benjamin Akuffo and Nii Tetteh Tettey, Executive Director of Strategic Thinkers Network (STRANEK).

    The Minister in his writ argued that on Friday, August 23, 2020, his attention was drawn to a defamatory news item on page 5 of the newspaper publication captioned; “Alleged Ethnocentric Comments: CSOs call for dismissal of Minister”, and same published on its website.

    In the suit sighted by Dailymailgh.com, Mr. Osei-Mensah argued that a press conference held by STRANEK, the third defendant, also accused him of making “ethnocentric comments against the people of Northern descent and the full text was carried in the Friday, August 28, 2020 edition of the Insight Newspaper.”

    According to the former Bosomtwe Constituency legislator, the claims made by the newspaper and STRANEK are defamatory and were made without basis, adding that the said publication has completely soiled, damaged, or dented his hard won image.

    Having shot down the allegations levelled against him, he is therefore through his solicitors, seeking compensatory damages in the sum of GH¢10,000,000 for loss of reputation against the defendants together with general damages.

    Among his reliefs, the Minister is also demanding an order of injunction directed at the defendants, agents, assigns, privies from continuing to make a further defamatory publication about the plaintiff.

    The Minister wants another order of the court directed at the defendants to retract the said defamatory publication and render an unqualified apology in the same prominence as the defamatory publication.

    Attached is a copy of the suit:

    Source: Daily Mail

  • I’ll retrieve guns from NPP vigilante groups for security services Mahama

    The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, has said should he win the 7 December polls, his next government will see to the retrieval of arms and weapons from pro-New Patriotic Party (NPP) vigilante groups.

    The retrieved weapons, he noted, will be given to the security services to beef up their logistics and weaponry so they can combat crime in the country.

    Speaking at an NDC town hall meeting in Kumasi on Tuesday, 15 September 2020, the former President said: “We will give the guns and bulletproof vests that the Invisible Forces and Delta Forces are using to threaten us, to our military and policemen to fight armed robbers”.

    He also promised to investigate the deaths of the late Abuakwa North Member of Parliament, J. B. Danquah-Adu and investigative journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale.

    Though the J.B. Danquah-Adu case is pending in court while investigations are underway in the Hussein-Suale case, the former president said he will “ensure swift investigations into the cases” if he is re-elected.

    Additionally, Mr Mahama pledged to reopen radio stations closed down by the current administration and ensure freedom of speech and expression when given the nod in the December polls.

    “All radio stations shut down by Nana Addo will be opened to ensure press freedom.

    “So, Radio Gold, Montie FM and all the others will be operational again,” he noted.

    Source: Class FM

  • Withdraw ‘unnecessary’, ‘unconstitutional’ Public Universities Bill UG UTAG to government

    The University of Ghana branch of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG) has reiterated their opposition to the Public University Bill calling on government to withdraw it.

    According to the university lecturers, the bill, when passed into law will do more harm to education in the country and outlook of universities than good.

    In a statement Wednesday, the group said claims by President Akufo-Addo that the rationale behind the bill is incontestable is false.

    “In an interview on the 4th of September 2020 on Oman FM, the President conceded that “valid criticisms” had been brought against the PUB and said that these would be reviewed. However, the President ultimately concluded that “the basic thrust of the Bill and the rationale for it is incontestable”. With this press conference, UG-UTAG is, in fact, contesting the very basis of the Bill and calling for it to be completely withdrawn.

    “In sum, our objections are that the PUB is unconstitutional, unnecessary, and will create more problems than it claims to solve,” the statement said.

    It added: “If passed into law, this new legislation would confer on the President powers that the 1992 Constitution explicitly denies him or her under Articles 68(1)(b) and 195(3). Through provisions in the Bill that give the Executive majority representation on the University Council and that allow the President to dissolve the Council, the President would effectively control universities.

    “The new law would thus erode the protections that the Constitution grants universities in order that they can effectively carry out their mandate of teaching, learning, and research; academics would become beholden to the political party in power, either as a result of direct interference or through self-censorship, and would cease to be the source to which the media and public can turn for impartial analysis of government policies.

    “Although in the interview on Oman FM the President did concede that the issue of University Councils required a second look, he did not indicate whether these clauses would be totally removed or merely tweaked. In any case, there are many more problems with the Bill that make it untenable”.

    The lecturers also described the bill as unnecessary.

    “Public universities are already accountable to all three branches of government (the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary) through a large number of laws and institutions. The PUB seeks to attain by legal meddlesomeness what can already be achieved by enforcing existing laws and laid down administrative procedures, and by ensuring that the regulatory institutions do their job. Where there have been any cases of wrongdoing, it behooves the state to proceed with investigations and, if necessary, bring charges to bear.

    “The UG-UTAG Press Statement on PUB, 16 Sep 2020 Page 3 of 4 PUB is yet another instance of the government introducing a new law rather than ensuring that existing laws work as they should”.

    The bill, according to government is ostensibly for the purpose of harmonizing the laws that regulate public universities but members of UTAG have held that the bill is disguised to expand the frontiers of executive power.

    Source: Starr FM

  • GES recruits 2019 teachers from Colleges of Education

    The Ghana Education Service (GES) has announced the recruitment of teachers from the colleges of education.

    The applicants must, however, meet the following requirements:

    – Completed College of Education in 2019 and have no outstanding exams or referrals

    – Completed mandatory national service

    – Passed Ghana Licensure Exams

    – Will be ready to work wherever services are needed

    Interested applicants have been advised to access the GES official website
    www.gespromotions.gov.gh
    to complete an online application form and upload all valid certificates on or before October 30, 2020.

    The recruitment, according to the GES, is strictly for only applicants who completed the colleges of education in 2019.

    Source: Class FM

  • Maintain discipline on our roads to curb accidents – Minister

    The Eastern Regional Minister, Kwakye Darfour has advised drivers to be disciplined on our roads to reduce accidents.

    He asked them to desist from drunk driving, over speeding, and other practices that endanger the lives of passengers.

    The Minister says human errors on the part of drivers are causing many accidents on our roads.

    He encouraged drivers to constantly refresh their knowledge and have constant training in order for them to understand defensive driving so, in situations such as burst tyres, they would know what to do.

    Fourteen persons were confirmed dead in the Kyekyewere accident on the Accra-Kumasi highway which occurred Tuesday morning.

    The accident involved an STC bus, a Yutong bus and a tipper truck.

    According to an eyewitness, the tipper truck veered off its lane forcing the other vehicles to run into it.

    Reacting to the accident, he described it as painful and extended condolence to families that lost their loved ones in the gory accident on Tuesday.

    He admitted that dualization of our roads would contribute a lot in reducing road accidents.

    He said there is a design to dualize our main roads from Accra to Tamale, Western Region, Aflao and others but the lack of resources has always delayed these projects.

    Former President John Agyekum Kufour he asserted took a bold step to dualize the main corridor and roads.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • BECE candidate goes into labour at examination hall

    A candidate sitting the ongoing Basic Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Kwahu Afram Plains South District of the Eastern Region went into labour Monday few minutes after the arrival of the first Examination paper.

    The candidate was rushed to the Maame Krobo Health Center but was referred to Donkorkrom Presbyterian Hospital where she delivered a baby boy.

    The Afram Plains South District Director of Education Mustapha Haruna Appiah confirmed the incident to Nkawkaw based Agoo FM.

    The Education Director said, three pregnant candidates and three nursing mothers are taking part in the exams in the district.

    He said these candidates are being provided special attention and support to enable them write the exams.

    About 1039 candidates are writing the ongoing BECE exams in Kwahu Afram Plains South District. There are 13 absentees made up of 4 boys and 9 girls.

    Teenage Pregnancy is prevalent in the District due to high rate of poverty.

    The District Chief Executive for Kwahu Afram Plains South, George Ofori told Starr News on Wednesday that the exams has been smooth so far but worried over cases of teenage pregnancy.

    The DCE assured of investing more to tackle the teenage Pregnancy menace in the district.

    He however charged parents to be more responsible.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Poor sanitation affecting livelihood of residents in Tafi Atome

    Residents of Tafi Atome in the Afadzato South District in the Volta Region, are under threat of contracting the outbreak of cholera and other deadly diseases as the community looks filthy and unhygienic.

    The community which is well-known in the tourism sector as Tafi Atome Monkey Sanctuary has been turned into open defecation and refuse dump affecting the living condition of the people.

    Sources revealed that residents have opted for the use of the forest for defeating as a result of lack of concern on the part of chiefs, elders and other community agencies to collect waste material from the two 16-seater toilet facilities which are filled to the brim.

    The community is said to have been without refuse containers and that had contributed to an excessive heap of refuse in the forest, thus making the community unkempt and unhealthy.

    The Afadzato South District Assembly through the Health Directorate, DCE, MP should in collaboration with chiefs, elders and other community agencies to organise a clean-up exercise to clear the excessive heap of refuse in the forest, provide refuse containers and to also collect the waste material from the toilet facilities to restrain residents from messing-up the surroundings to improve sanitation and to also promote ecotourism in the community.

    Source: kingdomfmonline.com

  • EC’s filing fee is to sieve serious candidates from unserious ones – Nana Akomea

    Managing Director of State Transport Company (STC), Nana Akomea has thrown his weight behind the Electoral Commission (EC) for charging a filing fee of Ghc 100,000 for Presidential candidates and Ghc 10,000 for aspiring Parliamentarians.

    The EC disclosed the filing fee at its “Let The Citizen Know” press conference in Accra, Monday, September 14, 2020.

    Speaking to the media, Electoral Commission Chairperson, Madam Jean Mensa highlighted the filing process saying “the Presidential Candidate will be required to deposit an amount of Ghc 100,000 in a form of a Bankers draft to the Commission, Parliamentary Candidates will be required to deposit Ghc 10,000 in a form of a Bankers draft as well. We wish all candidates for both presidential and parliamentary elections well, we trust that the nomination process will be efficient, seemless and orderly . . .”

    Addressing the filing fee on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’, Nana Akomea believed the amount is to discourage unserious political parties from participating in the 2020 elections.

    According to him, the money will help the electoral management body to sieve the candidates.

    “They want the people who will file their nomination to be people who are serious so that nobody wakes up to do just something and get 2 percent or 1 percent to waste time. I think the money is one way they’re using to seive in order to have serious candidates or serious political parties.”

    He, however, was of the view that the EC should have had a stakeholder meeting with all the political parties before coming out with the filing fee so as to have established a consensus with the parties.

    Deadline for Nomination Forms

    Nominations were opened from 6pm Monday, September 14 and the forms are to be accessed on the EC’s website https://ec.gov.gh/political-parties/

    Monday, 5th October to Friday, 9th October, 2020 is the deadline for the submission of the nomination forms and will be received by the EC between the hours of 9am and 12noon, and 2pm and 5pm each day.

    Source: Peace FM

  • EC wants corruption to skyrocket, filing fee ‘exorbitant’ – Kwesi Pratt

    Seasoned journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr has berated the Electoral Commission (EC) for pegging its filing fee at GH¢100,000 and GH¢10,000 for presidential and parliamentary aspirants, respectively.

    He held rather strongly that the filing fee is “exorbitant”.

    Speaking at the Commission’s “Let The Citizen Know” press conference in Accra on Monday, September 14, the EC Chairperson, Jean Mensa said individuals or parties willing to contest the elections must first make a deposit of the aforementioned amount in a form of a bankers draft to the Commission after downloading, filling and submitting their forms within 5 days.

    “The Presidential Candidate will be required to deposit an amount of GH¢ 100,000 in a form of a Bankers draft to the Commission, Parliamentary Candidates will be required to deposit GH¢10,000 in a form of a Bankers draft as well. We wish all candidates for both presidential and parliamentary elections well, we trust that the nomination process will be efficient, seemless and orderly…” she said.

    The aspirants are to pick the forms via the EC’s website.

    Nominations were opened from 6pm Monday, September 14 with the deadline being from Monday, October 5 to Friday, October 9, 2020 between the hours of 9am and 12noon, and 2pm and 5pm each day.

    However, the EC’s filing fee has become a bone of contention for many concerned stakeholders.

    At least 4 major political parties; the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the Convention People’s Party (CPP), the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) as well as the All People’s Congress (APC) have launched scathing attack on the electoral body, describing the filing fee as “outrageous”

    Contributing to a panel discussion on ‘Kokrokoo’ on Peace FM, the Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr opined that the payment of such huge sums for nomination forms is one of the major contributors to corruption in Ghana.

    According to him, there are some parliamentary aspirants and sitting Members of Parliament who, in order to pay the filing fee, will have to rely on donors for funds, but in return, offer them contractual favours when they come into government in order to appease them.

    In his candid view, this and other reasons he cited are why the Electoral Commission should have reduced the fee.

    “This filing fee is too much…If we want corruption to escalate, let’s continue to do what we’re doing. But if we don’t want corruption to increase, let’s take decisions that will ease the financial pressures…We will all benefit if we get a good President. Getting a good Parliamentarian will also affect us; the same way if we get a bad person, it will also affect us. The fee is too excessive,” he said.

    Source: Peace FM

  • 5 dead, 7 in critical condition in accident at Gomoa Adam

    Five persons died on the spot while seven are in critical condition following a head-on collision involving two passenger vehicles at Gomoa Adam on the Kasoa-Cape-Coast highway.

    According to a surviving passenger, they were travelling from Kasoa to Cape Coast when they suddenly saw the driver of the Ford vehicle trying to overtake a car.

    He said immediately the driver came into their lane he rammed into their vehicle causing it to somersault causing the instant death of five persons while seven are severely injured.

    The Medical Superintendent of the Apam Catholic Hospital, Dr Paul Archer explained that fourteen passengers were involved in the accident with five of them all male brought in dead.

    He said his outfit is currently having difficulty getting a referral for the severely injured persons but added that their conditions have been stabilized.

    This accident comes less than 24 hours after an accident at Kyekyewere near Suhum claimed 14 lives on Tuesday.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • ECOWAS stands by civilian-led transition team in Mali – Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday said ECOWAS has reaffirmed its position that a civilian leadership should be in charge of the transition in Mali.

    He said that once the required leadership was put in place through the processes that the Military rulers had agreed on in Mali, the sanctions that had placed on that country would be lifted.

    Speaking to journalists after the consultative meeting convened by him to resolve the political crisis in the West African nation, President Akufo-Addo said though an agreement had not reached, the military leadership agreed with the decisions taken at the meeting.

    However, the military leadership said they would have to go back to consult with those who were responsible for decisions to get them to buy into it.

    “The view point of ECOWAS is that matters that have been put out should be dealt with in terms of days and not weeks so that we begin the process of normalizing the situation in Mali,” he said.

    In that direction, President Akufo-Addo who was undertaking his first major assignment after being made the regional bloc’s chairman, said the mediator in the crisis, Nigeria’s former leader Goodluck Jonathan would return to Bamako in a week’s time to continue with talks with the military Junta.

    “The situation in Mali calls for a quick resolution, we have to have a government in place that can begin the process of normalising things, and more than anything else organising the resistance to the Tuareg menace.

    “The issue is now in the hands of the Malians,” he stated, hopeful that by the time the mediator returns to Mali, things would have been sorted out so that the sanctions can be lifted.

    ECOWAS had imposed sanctions on Mali and asked neighbouring states to close their land and air borders with the country after the military deposed the 75 year old Malian President Ibrahim Keita on August 15, 2020.

    The Bloc also suspended all financial flows between the 14 other member states and Mali, suspended the country from international decision making bodies and gave the military junta a deadline of September 15 2020 to appoint a new civilian president and prime minister.

    Tuesday’s meeting was attended by at least eight Presidents, Mali’s political junta and other stakeholders.

    Guinea’s Alpha Conde, Togo’s Faure Gnassingbe, Nigerien leader, Mahamadou Issoufou, who is the immediate past ECOWAS Chair, Senegalese President Macky Sall, Burkinanabe head of state Roch Marc Christian Kabore, Ivorian President Alassani Ouattara and the Nigerian Vice President Yemi Osinbajo took part in the consultative meeting.

    They have since left for their respective countries.

    Source: GNA

  • Breast cancer patient cries for help to undergo surgery

    Salomey Tetteh, a breast cancer patient and a market woman needs over GHC2000 cedis for her cancer treatment.

    Speaking to SVTV Africa, she said, her cancer started as a normal pain under her armpit until she went to the hospital, where she was scanned and later told she has breast cancer.

    “Something like a ball came and enter my armpit; it was very painful so l took it to the hospital, it was there they told me it is breast cancer” She lamented.

    She was later transferred to the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital where she was instructed to take certain tests, amounting to over GHC1,600 cedis.

    According to her, she has been able to do three tests so far.

    However, there is another test she is supposed to do and that will cost her 900 cedis, one that is different from the previous three tests she has already done in line with Korle Bu Hospital.

    Adding that, there is even another scan in line with her stomach; one she is yet to know the cost.

    The mother of one, former wife, and a tomato seller at the market, needs over GHC2000 cedis to make all the mentioned tests a successful one.

    Watch video below

    Source: svtvafrica.com

  • There will be no diversion of premix fuel under NDC – Adam Mutawakilu

    A ranking member of the Parliamentary Mines and Energy Committee, Adam Mutawakilu has disclosed that the National Democratic Congress will bring an end to the diversion of premix fuel for fishermen when they hopefully assume office.

    Speaking at a press briefing, the Damongo MP expressed his disgust at the partisan distribution of premix fuel. He noted that the NDC when voted into power will ensure the availability of premix fuel to fishermen.

    Although Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia said he will ensure efficient distribution of premix fuel through digitization and cancellation of middlemen, Adam Mutawaikilu believes the government has done little to clamp down on the premix fuel menace.

    According to him, the NDC under President Mahama will ensure that premix fuel is channelled to fishermen without any diversions through middlemen.

    He said, “President Mahama is promising that when he comes back, his structures will work. He will ensure the availability of premix fuel for our fishermen and fisherfolk.”

    Adam Mutawaikilu added, “He will ensure that there is no difficulty in getting premix fuel, so my brothers and sisters who are into fishing and those who trade in fish, the best person to vote for come 7 December 2020 is John Dramani Mahama. He is the only one who can help you. He is the only one who can make premix fuel available and ensure that there is transparency.”

    Meanwhile, the government is set to roll out a Canoe Identification Card to curb premix fuel diversion.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Four trotros carrying 36 West Africa nationals intercepted at Elubo

    The Western Regional Command of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) in a joint operation with the Ghana Armed Forces on Thursday, September 10 intercepted four commercial vehicles en route to Takoradi.

    The vehicles had on board illegal West African nationals who were consequently arrested.

    According to GIS, intelligence was gathered about illegal activities along the border, leading to the special joint operation.

    “In all, Thirty-Six (36) ECOWAS nationals were intercepted at different sections of the Elubo-Takoradi road and escorted back to Elubo Border for proper screening and investigations.”

    The operation was led by Chief Superintendent Joshua Kraku.

    Among the arrested West African nationals, three are Ivorians, two are Nigeriens, seven are Liberians, seven are Nigerians and 17 are Beninois.

    “Investigations conducted indicate that all the suspects had entered the country through an unidentified illegal route in the Jomoro Municipality, of the Western Region, with the assistance from some miscreants at a fee.

    “Intelligence from those communities indicates that in order to outwit Officers deployed to prevent travelers from moving across the Western Border, some of the Canoe Operators and Commercial Drivers arrange to ferry these recalcitrant travelers into the country.

    “Upon reaching the Ghana side of the river, the drivers take over the responsibility of clandestinely taking them to their intended destinations across the country.“

    The arrested were aged between 10 and 53.

    They were screened for coronavirus before being handed over to Ivorian authorities at Noe.

    “It is our considered view, as a Command, that such unconscionable behaviour is not only a threat to consolidating the collective gains made in our fight toward defeating the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic, but also, an affront to the directive of the President, to keep our land Borders still closed until further notice.

    “The severity of the security challenges this poses to our country, has occasioned renewed operational strategies, in terms of heightened surveillance and collaborations, hence the positive results.”

    Source: 3news.com

  • Daboya post office set ablaze after security man tries to use fire to kill bees

    Attempts by a security man at the Daboya post office in the North Gonja district of the Savannah Region to kill bees led to the burning of the post office on Tuesday, September 15, 2020.

    Sources say the security man at the post office lit fire to kill bees in the building that has been disturbing people around the post office.

    Daboya post office set ablaze after tries to use fire to kill bees0

    But the fire spread to some wood in the building.

    It took efforts of some road contractors, personnel from the ambulance service and some community members to bring the fire under control.

    This is because there is no fire station in the entire district.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Bagre dam spillage renders over 750 residents homeless

    Over 750 residents of the North Gonja District of the Savanna Region have been rendered homeless following the spillage of the Bagre Dam, reports Class News’ regional correspondent Zion Abdul-Rauf.

    Nine communities, namely: Dambolto, Wawato, Lingbinsi, Disa, Singa, Tari, Mankargu, Yagbon, Sekpala and Sakpege have been cut off from the district capital of Daboya alongside farmlands, while occupants of the affected homes moved to the school blocks in Daboya.

    The Director of the Savanna National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Mr Mahama Tahiru, disclosed that his team is still collating the figures to ascertain the exact number of victims of the flood.

    The Assemblymember for Daboya West electoral area, Mahama Shaibu, revealed in an interview with Zion Abdul-Rauf that the damage caused by the spillage of the Bagre Dam is the biggest of its kind in over 30 years.

    Explaining the situation, he called on the government and non-governmental organisations to help manage the losses incurred.

    “As an assemblyman, I have a lot of challenges.

    “When the water started coming, my electorates started complaining and as you can see it is an eyesore.

    “A lot of damage has been caused.

    “A lot of our farm produce has gone.

    “Farmers, fishermen and residents; we don’t have a place to even lodge, so, it is a big challenge to us.

    “I appeal to organisations to come to our aid to help us so that we can have a comfortable place to lodge ourselves or replace the damages,” he noted.

    For his part, the Savanna regional minister, Adam Salifu Braimah, who was accompanied by the Regional NADMO Director, disclosed that plans are far advanced to mitigate the situation.

    “The government of the day is committed to the cause of constructing a modern bridge to salvage the good people of North Gonja district and like the Vice President, a few weeks ago, rightly said, the contractor of this said bridge would soon move to site.

    He indicated that the Pwalugu Dam, when completed, will end the rampant havoc caused by the Bagre dam spillage in the country.

    He further stressed the need for the inhabitants of that area to be cautioned against building along spillage-prone locations.

    “Fortunately, we haven’t recorded any casualty yet but I still want to admonish those closer to the riverbank to as a matter of urgency move to the safest place as soon as possible. So, I have directed the Regional NADMO Director to provide the victims of this unfortunate situation some relief items to mitigate their plight.”

    Source: Class FM

  • LIVESTREAMING: Mahama holds town hall meeting on the ‘People’s Manifesto’

    The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) will this afternoon, September 15, 2020, at 1:00pm hold a town hall meeting in Kumasi, Ashanti region.

    The meeting comes as part of the NDC’s efforts to acquaint its supporters and citizens with policies outlined in its just recently outdoored manifesto ahead of the upcoming 2020 general elections.

    One of the initiatives outlined in the manifesto of the NDC, will see an injection of US$10 billion accelerated into an infrastructural plan intended to drive jobs and entrepreneurial agenda if elected in December 2020.

    The flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama on his part has assured that his next administration if elected, will adopt a smart borrowing tactic to finance the initiative.

    Meanwhile, his running mate, Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has begun a tour in the Western Region on Monday, September 14, 2020, to acquaint herself with the chiefs and people of the region.

    Join the feed below:

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Bill Gates lauds Ghana for exemplary leadership

    American business magnate and Co-founder of Microsoft, William Henry Gates, popularly known as Bill Gates, has, lauded Ghana for showing exemplary leadership and making strides on several fronts.

    Mr Gates made the remarks when Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia held a meeting with him via Zoom, to discuss three pertinent issues affecting Ghana.

    They discussed Ghana’s progress on immunization against the new circulating vaccine-derived polio virus type 2 (cVDPV2), the lessons from Ghana’s policy response to COVID-19 pandemic and Ghana’s digitisation strategy.

    In a tweet, Vice President Bawumia said, “It was a good exchange of views and he (Bill Gates) congratulated Ghana for the strides we have made on several fronts.

    “I also thanked him and the Bill Gates Foundation for their successful work in the fight against polio and other diseases”.

    Dr Bernard Okoe-Boye, a Deputy Minister of Health, also joined the zoom meeting.

    Source: GNA

  • President Akufo-Addo wants an end to the Malian political crises

    Presidemt Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Chairman of ECOWAS, says there was need to bring finality to the upheaval in Mali.

    “That country can no longer afford any delay in putting a responsible government in place following the events of 18th of August. The circumstances in Malii today require that closure be brought to the matter now,” he said.

    The President was addressing a meeting convened by him at the Peduase Presidential Lodge to resolve the political stalemate in Mali.

    He said it was his belief that a face to face meeting with between the representatives of the ECOWAS Community and the military leaders in Bamako provided the best opportunity to find a resolution to the situation.

    He said terrorist were taking advantage of the situation in Mali to flex their muscles even more and thanked the military leader for responding positively to his invitation to the meeting.

    The ECOWAS Chair reminded the meeting that today was the day for the military rulers to put in place a government which should respond to the criteria set in August by the bloc.

    He said it was unfortunate that the deadline had not been met, but thanked the Malian military rulers for allowing Mr Keita to leave the country to seek medical attention in the United Arab Emirates.

    Mali, a country of 20 million people, has been unstable politically since 2012 when soldiers opposed to the response by the government to the separatist insurgency by Tuareg rebels in the country’s north, staged a coup d’etat.

    Since then, the political unrest in that country has served as a magnet for al-Qaeda and ISIL-linked groups, who have launched attacks on other West African nations from there, drawing concerns from the 15-member regional bloc.

    The recent unrest in the country follows the worsening security situation created by extremist Islamic groups who have leveraged the Tuareg insurgency and local militia that have banded to quell the chaos.

    Mali’s leader, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita whose reelection in 2018 was marred by low turnout and allegations of fraud further ignited deep resentment for his government.

    He has also been accused of mismanaging the economy and the ongoing insurgency in the north coupled with allegations of corruption.

    Since June 2020, numerous protests have been staged for Keita’s resignation, leading to elements of the Malian Armed Forces staging a coup on August 18 2020, forcing the 75 year old leader to resign and dissolve his government, with the Junta promising new elections within a reasonable timeline.

    The situation was strongly condemned by the international community including the United Nations, the African Union, as well as ECOWAS, who urged the soldier to return to barracks, release immediately Keita who had been held since his deposition.

    ECOWAS further imposed sanctions on Mali and asked neighbouring states to close their land and air borders with that country.

    It also gave the military Junta a deadline of September 15 to appoint a new civilian President and Prime Minister.

    The Peduase meeting, the first official assigment of President Akufo-Addo after assuming the position as Chairman of the Commission, will consolidate all the mediation efforts by the bloc to return Mali to constitutional rule and prevent further deterioration of the political situation there.

    Source: GNA

  • Ellembelle MP donates 2,000 mathematical sets to BECE Candidates

    Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle in the Western Region has donated 2,016 pieces of mathematical sets to this year’s Basic Education Examination Certificate (BECE) candidates in the area.

    The gesture was to motivate and encourage them to successfully write their final exams. Before the gesture, the Ellembelle Lawmaker also organised a Mock Exam to prepare them for the final exams.

    In all, 1,815 candidates are taking part in this year’s Basic Education Examination Certificate Examination in the Ellembelle District with six centers and seventy-one schools. Making the presentation, Mr Kofi-Buah wished the candidates well and urged them not to be afraid of the exams.

    “I am here this morning to encourage you that you should not be worried at all. I want you to know that what you are about to write is not different from what you have been writing in school”, he said.

    He urged them to relax and write the papers since the exams was not about life and death. He cautioned them against examination malpractices and urged them to respect all the rules and regulations associated with the examination.

    Receiving the items on behalf of the schools, the Ellembelle District Examinations Officer, Mr Denis Bansah expressed appreciation to the Member of Parliament for the kind gesture and gave the assurance that they would motivate them to write their exams with flying colours. Some of the candidates also expressed their appreciation towards the Member of Parliament and promised to learn hard to achieve their aim.

    “We are very excited and happy today for these mathematical sets and we say God should continue to bless him for always supporting students in this District, we will also learn hard to pass well”, they stated

    Source: GNA

  • Mills chaired most cabinet meetings under Rawlings Spio-Gabrah

    A Former Minister of Trade and Industry, Ekwow Spio-Gabrah, has said the late Professor John Evans Atta Mills was the one who actually handled cabinet meetings while vice to former president, Jerry John Rawlings.

    He told TV3 in a yet-to-be telecast interview Mr Rawlings use not to attend cabinet meetings and never retracted any decision taken by the then Vice President.

    “To the best of my knowledge Rawlings never countermanded any of the decisions that were taken by Atta Mills as Vice President”

    The former Minister of Education said Prof Mills also took several government decisions which were not objected to by Mr Rawlings

    “Vice President Mills was the one running the government; at least he did public service and government decisions,” he said.

    He added that Rawlings allowed then Vice President and cabinet to take decisions that inured to the benefit of all.

    “He allowed Prof. Mills and the cabinet to take decisions they thought was in the national interest.

    Source: 3 News

  • Ugandan carrying child’s severed head arrested outside parliament

    A man carrying a parcel containing the severed head of a child has been arrested at the gate of Uganda’s parliament.

    Joseph Nuwashaba, 22, is being held by the country’s Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

    It is not yet clear what he intended to do with the parcel or where and how he acquired the head.

    A CID source said that a child was reported missing in Masaka, south-west of the capital, Kampala, on Sunday.

    A headless body has also been recovered in that district.

    Investigators are working to find out whether it may be related to the head that Mr Nuwashaba was carrying when he was detained, reports the BBC’s Patience Atuhaire in Kampala.

    In the 1990s and early 2000s, Uganda experienced a wave of kidnappings and killings of children. Their body parts were believed to have been used in rituals.

    Source: bbc.com

  • China ‘denies military presence in Namibia’

    The Chinese embassy in Namibia has denied reports of massive Chinese military presence in the south-west African country, the Namibian Sun newspaper reports quoting an embassy spokesperson.

    Helen Lu Hairong told the newspaper that there had been no talks between the Chinese and Namibian governments about China building a military base at the coastal town of Swakopmund.

    Some Namibian MPs have claimed that about 3,500 Chinese troops were receiving training in the country.

    The Defence Minister Peter Vilho, while responding to MPs concerns last week, said the reports “were confidential”.

    China recently denied claims of seeking to establish military bases in Kenya and Tanzania.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Mozambique seizes chicken imports from South Africa

    The customs authorities in Mozambique have seized just more than 300 boxes of smuggled chicken on the Ressano Garcia border with neighbouring South Africa.

    The boxes were hidden in a container. They had entered the country without paying the custom duties, according to an official.

    Maputo provincial director of customs Leonel Vasco said the importers had violated other rules apart from not paying taxes.

    Mozambique was to lose $4,173(£3,200) in tax charges.

    The country imports food from South Africa and importers have often tried to escape paying customs duties.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Algerians get three years in jail for leaking exam papers

    Algerian courts in several parts of the country have ordered prison time for defendants in cases related to leaking exam papers, the ministry of education has said.

    In the southern province of Djelfa, two people were sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay a fine of 500,000 dinars ($4,000; £3,020) after they leaked the Arabic language exam papers online.

    Other jail sentences ranging from 10 to 18 months have been ordered against people accused of posting national exam papers on social media in the provinces of Tebessa east and Laghouat south of the country, the Algerian press agency APS reported.

    The leaking of exam papers has been a perplexing problem for the government in recent years with the ministry of communication technologies deciding to cut the internet during the exams period and exam boards banning electronic devices in their centres.

    The Baccalaureate exams started this week throughout the country after a long delay due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    Extra online security measures have been taken according the ministry of education to prevent cheating and leaking of exam papers.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Ex-President Laurent Gbagbo barred from Ivorian elections

    The Constitutional Court in Ivory Coast has barred the former president, Laurent Gbagbo, and former prime minister, Guillaume Soro, from running in the presidential election next month.

    The electoral commission had already said that anyone with a criminal record would be disqualified.

    Both men have convictions.

    Earlier, protests broke out in several cities over President Alassane Ouattara’s decision to run for a third term, something the Ivorian constitution prohibits.

    Fifteen people have died in violence since he said last month that he would stand again.

    He took the decision after his hand-picked successor died suddenly in July.

    Source: bbc.com

  • US imposes visa restrictions over Nigeria elections

    The US has imposed visa restrictions on a number of people in Nigeria accused of undermining democratic principles ahead of elections in Edo and Ondo states.

    The state department said the individuals – who have not been named – had operated with impunity at the expense of the Nigerian people.

    It urged all parties – including the security forces – to ensure free and fair elections.

    The US also announced visa restrictions on individuals involved in elections in two other states that were marred by violence last year.

    In August the US had expressed concern over the deteriorating political climate in Edo State. It said it was disappointed with the role played by some political actors in the state, especially with regards to allegations of interference by security forces in political matters.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Trump vows response on any ‘plot to kill diplomat in SA’

    The US President Donald Trump has vowed a response that will be “1,000 times greater in magnitude,” to any attack by Iran.

    This is after reports that Iran was plotting to kill the US ambassador to South Africa, Lana Marks.

    “Any attack by Iran, in any form, against the United States will be met with an attack on Iran that will be 1,000 times greater in magnitude!” Mr Trump tweeted on Monday.

    Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh has dismissed the report on the planned assassination that was first reported by Politico.

    It reported that Iran was planning to assassinate the US ambassador, a long-time friend of President Trump, in retaliation for the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani in January.

    Gen Soleimani was killed in a US drone strike on an airport in Baghdad in January.

    Source: bbc.com

  • 2010 World Cup star Lee Addy wants to make history with a GPL club

    Former Black Stars defender and 2010 FIFA World Cup quarter finalist, Lee Addy is hoping to make history with any of the Ghana Premier League clubs.

    Addy recently disclosed that he is in talks with Premier league clubs particularly Hearts of Oak, Kotoko and Ashantigold.

    The 30-year-old is currently clubless, after his short spell in Ethiopia ended abruptly following the outbreak of COVID-19.

    In an interview, he indicated that his doors are open for any local club since he wants to make history before he call it a quit.

    “For me my doors are open and anyone who comes to my door i will open and embrace any contract”

    “I will be very happy to be part of people who will make history. I have made history with the Black Stars, left the country and i’m back”

    “So i will be happy to be part of any club in Ghana who will make another history”

    “In fact, i will be very happy to lead a club in Ghana to the highest state. Let me say i will join Hearts of Oak, Ashantigold or Kotoko for the young ones to learn from me because i have acquired and learnt a lot” he said.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • We want to make impact in Africa – Kotoko’s Emmanuel Gyamfi

    Kumasi Asante Kotoko deputy captain, Emmanuel Gyamfi has shared that his outfit aim is to go higher in this year’s CAF inter club competitions.

    The Porcupine Warriors was selected to play in the 2020/2021 CAF Champions League following the truncation of the season.

    The Kumasi based club recently confirmed their participation to the Ghana FA and according to the winger, he and his teammates wants to make huge impact in Africa.

    “We are definitely going to Africa so we will plead with Ghanaians to support us. In fact we will need much from them in terms of prayers”

    “We the players will assure them to progress to the next stage of the competition, we aim to go higher” he said

    Source: footballghana.com

  • Dumsor: Government starving GRIDCo, ECG of funds Minority

    The Minority in Parliament has blamed the recent power outages on the failure of government to release funds to GRIDCo and ECG.

    Consumers of electricity have been complaining about intermittent outages in Accra, Kumasi, and other places in the country.

    In an interaction with the media in parliament, minority spokesperson on mines and energy Adam Mutawakilu accused government of failing to use proceeds of the Energy Sector Levy, ESLA put together by the Mahama administration to settle debts of GRIDCo and other players under huge financial distress.

    According to the Damango MP management and staff of both GRIDCo and ECG have been gagged from telling Ghanaians the challenges at the two organizations.

    He wants the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) to take punitive actions for poor services to customers.

    Touching on rural electrification, Adam Mutawakilu shot down NPP manifesto promise to achieve universal electrification by 2030 arguing former President Mahama will do it in 5 years after assuming power next year.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • National Security operatives brutalise estate developer at Dodowa

    Police at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region have commenced investigations into the alleged attack on an estate developer by some individuals claiming to be operatives of the national security.

    There was chaos when the alleged national security operatives stormed a parcel of land at the Dodowa and reportedly attacked its owner.

    The operatives, numbering about 10, according to eyewitnesses attempted to kidnap the landowner who had gone to enquire what they were doing on his land.

    “My contractor working on the land told me they had come there to ask him to leave the land. So I went there in the company of two police officers to find out who they were. Suddenly, I saw a number of men with guns closing up on me and the police officers, then the scuffle began,” the landowner Alhaji Hajj narrated the incident to the media.

    He further explained: “While the police officers tried to ask who they were, one of them pulled his ID card and said there were operatives of the national security and their boss had asked them to bring me to Blue Gate (national security office) but the police officers resisted. The young men tried to drag me into their car but the officers fought them off and they left”.

    Leader of the alleged national security operatives in blue top at the Dodowa Police station.

    He said was admitted at the hospital for treatment after he sustained injuries as a result of the scuffle

    The Dodowa divisional police command has confirmed the incident.

    The police told the media Monday that statement of the victim has been taken for prosecution to begin.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Prof. Benneh’s murder: Police appeal to public for more information

    The Police are appealing to the general public to provide more information about the murder of the former University of Ghana Senior law lecturer, Prof. Emmanuel Yaw Benneh.

    According to them, though 4 suspects have been picked up concerning the murder, they still need more information to enable them to put their leads together.

    Speaking on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ program, Greater Accra Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Police Service, DSP Afia Tenge added that the police are on a manhunt for more suspects.

    Professor Emmanuel Yaw Benneh was a Senior law lecturer at the University of Ghana Law Faculty.

    He was found dead in a pool of blood at his Agyiriganor home, a suburb of Accra.

    DSP Afia Tenge said on Saturday, September 12, 2020, at about 0730 hours, a report was received by the East Legon Police that Professor Benneh had been found dead at his residence and the Police Crime Scene Investigation Team from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) proceeded to his residence, where they found him lying in a pool of blood with some cuts on the body.

    The body, she added had been deposited at the Police Hospital Morgue pending further investigations.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Some 600 NDC members defect in Krachi East

    About 600 members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Krachi East Constituency of the Oti Region have defected to the New Patriotic Party, barely three months to the general elections.

    The defectors mainly youth activists of the party are said to be dissatisfied with the former President John Dramani Mahama and now the flagbearer of the NDC and therefore crossed carpet to join the camp of the ruling party.

    They resigned and officially announced their decision at the Dambai Lapaz Park, when Samira Bawumia, the Second Lady paid a courtesy call on Nana Kwaku Beyenor II, Imams and youth of Krachi East.

    Mr Mohammad Ayuba, former Zongo Youth Coordinator of the NDC in Krachi East among others told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that they were in the party for many years, but could not boast of any landmark developmental project around them.

    He said, the NDC won almost all the elections in the Constituency with the exception of 2016 and did nothing significant for the people of Krachi East.

    “As a patriot, my team and I owe ourselves a responsibility to ensure the Constituency develops.”

    Mr Ali Kwame, former Assembly-man of KpareKpare Electoral Area said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency that, over 16 communities had been connected to the national grid through Michael Yaw Gyato and 85 island communities also got solar and rechargeable lamps.

    He said there were lots of massive infrastructural development ongoing, which Dambai town roads were part during the NPP’s regime.

    Mrs Bawumia urged the Constituents to show much appreciation to the NPP government in the December polls for the creation of the Oti Region.

    She said Krachi East was carved out from Krachi West District in 2004 by former President John Agyekum Kuffour and was upgraded to Municipal status by President Akufo-Addo.

    Mrs Bawumia encouraged the people to give President Akufo Addo, four more years and also retain Michael Yaw Gyato to develop the Region and the Municipality.

    Source: GNA

  • Heads of basic schools confirm receipt of PPEs for 2020 BECE

    General Secretary of Conference of Heads of Basic Schools (COHBS), Alex Ackah has confirmed that personal protective equipment (PPEs) for 2020 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) candidates have been delivered to the various regions for distribution.

    In an interview with UniversNews, Mr. Ackah, who is also the Headteacher of Dunkwa Methodist JHS in the Central Region, mentioned that the PPEs were received about a week ago and have since been distributed to candidates.

    He was quick to add that nose masks were yet to be part of the distribution, explaining that they would not want students to come to the exam hall with excuses that they left them at home.

    Mr. Ackah indicated that face masks would rather be distributed to the students at the exam centre.

    “Currently all schools have received their PPEs for the upcoming BECE. For my district, I took it last week and I have distributed it among the students, other districts have called to confirm that they have received their PPE”

    Mr. Ackah added that although the students were writing the exam during the outbreak of the COVID-19 disease, he is confident that the students have been adequately prepared.

    “The children are prepared, they are gingered, they are prepared to write the exams because we have been with them since the reopening and tuition has been going on. Although, it may not be as it was when school operated for full hours; since it is an examination period, we teach for a while and allow them to also practice on their own”

    The 2020 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) would be conducted from 14-18 September 2020 with a total of 531,705 candidates comprising 269,419 males and 262,286 females.

    Candidates are from 17,440 schools and they will write the Examination at 2007 centres.

    Source: universnewsroom.com

  • GRIDCo undertakes works on Atiwa Forest Transmission Line to strengthen transmission

    The Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) has stepped up repair works on its Tafo-to-Akwatia transmission line, which traverses the thick parts of the Atiwa Forest in the Eastern Region.

    The F2Q line, as it is called, is crucial to the stability of the transmission system, the power-producing firm said.

    However, it has in recent times been experiencing faults, leading to brief and intermittent power outages in some parts of the country.

    Having located the fault in the thick of the forest, Line Maintenance workers at GRIDCo are in the middle of completing the construction of a 14-Kilometer access road in order to transport materials and other equipment to the site and resolve the fault.

    GRIDCo Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Amoako-Baah made an emergency visit to Atiwa last Thursday to inspect the progress of the works.

    He was accompanied by GRIDCo Directors responsible for Southern Network Services, Engineering Planning and Human Resources.

    Commenting afterwards, Mr. Amoako-Baah said: “Great progress is being made to permanently repair the fault in order to strengthen the transmission system and resolve the intermittent outages we have been experiencing these past weeks.

    “I am encouraged by the dedication and resilience of our staff and the external vendors, who are working round the clock to get this done. Navigating the Atiwa Forest is a real challenge but we have put measures in place to expedite action on the project in order to ensure consistent and uninterrupted power supply in the country.”

    Some parts of the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Eastern and Northern regions, have been experiencing brief outages in the past two weeks due to the situation.

    Apart from the instability on the F2Q line, the activities of some galamsey operators and the disruption to some of the lines by heavy duty trucks are all contributory factors.

    GRIDCo says it is committed to resolving the challenges and restoring stability to the national grid.

    Source: 3 News

  • Ethiopia warns of possible terror attack in Addis

    Ethiopian authorities on Thursday warned of a possible “terror attack” in the capital Addis Abba.

    The warning came as nearly 110 million citizens across the country began celebrations on the eve of Ethiopia’s New Year.

    Addis Ababa Police Commission said security agents have found pre-incident indicators of a terror attack targeting New Year celebrations in the city.

    The officials, however, did not give details on the alleged attackers or targetted areas.

    The authorities have temporarily banned fireworks during the festivities for security reasons.

    “Everyone in Addis Ababa is prohibited from displaying fireworks during the New Year’s celebrations to prevent crime,” police said.

    Police also warned that violators of the ban would be arrested.

    At the same time, Addis Ababa police said they have seized illegal weapons during a search operation in the capital.

    Police said 180 suspects were arrested during the raid.

    Source: theeastafrican.co.ke