TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • Chief convicted of threat of death

    An Accra Circuit Court 10 has sentenced a chief to a fine of GH¢4,800 or in default serve two years in prison for threatening the life of a businessman.

    The convict, Nii Kotey, a chief and a resident of Abease in the Greater Accra Region, was also ordered by the court to sign a bond of good behaviour for two years.

    Read: Lives at risk as Dambai ferry poses death trap

    He was sentenced by Jane Harriet Akweley Quaye last Wednesday because he was found guilty of death threats he issued to Duke Dugbartey, aka Boafoyena of Treba, near Kuntunse in Accra.

    According to the prosecutor, Nii Kotey threatened to kill the complainant (Mr. Dugbartey) if he came to Abease to do business.

    The facts presented by the prosecutor, Inspector Benson Benneh, were that both the chief (convict) and the businessman (complainant) already have a case pending at the Accra Circuit Court 4.

    He said that the parties came to court on November 13, 2017 relative to the pending case, and that as soon as Nii Kotey saw Mr. Dugbartey walking out of the courtroom after an adjournment, he threatened in the presence of some witnesses that he would kill the complainant should he (complainant) come to Abease to inspect his businesses.

    Read: No arrests as death toll rises after funeral grounds shooting in Dambai

    Inspector Benneh told the court that the complainant reported the matter to the police and when the convict was contacted and invited to come over to the police station to give his side of the story, he failed to do so.

    The prosecutor further said that on November 21, 2017, Mr. Dugbartey went to Abease at about 5 pm to attend to his businesses when the convict again confronted and threatened him with death, but some nearby witnesses swiftly intervened and cooled down tempers.

    He said the conduct of Nii Kotey compelled the complainant to prepare criminal summons against him, leading to his conviction and sentencing to a fine, while he was also ordered to sign a two-year bond of good behaviour.

     

    Source: DailyGuideNework.com

  • Nigerian pastors arrested for conducting fake miracles

    Personnel of the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department of the Lagos State Police Command have arrested four suspects, including two pastors, for allegedly staging fake miracles to defraud unsuspecting members of the public in the Lekki and Epe areas of the state.

    The alleged pastors, Favour David and Favour Chimobi, were said to have connived with Rukayat Folawewo and Bunmi Joshua to perpetrate the crime.

    The state Police Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, said in a statement that the suspects specialised in procuring members for the Wonders Assembly Ministry, situated opposite the Lagos Business School on the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Ajah.

    Read:6 pastors who give hilarious meanings to scriptures

    Elkana stated, “The command has arrested four suspects in Lekki/Epe area, who pose as pastors to conduct fake miracles, prophecies and testimonies for unsuspecting members of the public to collect money from them and engage in other dubious means of enriching themselves.

    “On Friday, November 29, 2019, the command acted on an intelligence report by covert operatives of the SCIID, who monitored the activities of a fraudulent syndicate. A pastor, Favour David, who specialised in defrauding unsuspecting members of the public by procuring fake members for the Wonders Assembly Ministry, was arrested with two women, Rukayat Folawewo and Bunmi Joshua, who pretended to be members and were miraculously healed by the pastor after being involved in a car accident.

    Read:Renowned Pastor allegedly impregnates married woman; begs husband to accept responsibility

    “While the other woman, Bunmi Joshua, gave fake testimony to church members that her son, who was deaf and dumb, could now hear and talk and was healed by another pastor, Favour Chimobi of the Elijah Ministry 9, Igirita Street, Port Harcourt, who works alongside Pastor David Favour.”

    Elkana stated that during investigation, detectives found out that none of the stories and testimonies was true, adding that the suspects were arrested during a vigil.

    In another development, the Commissioner of Police in the state, Hakeem Odumosu, has ordered that 50 suspects arrested for various crimes, such as murder, cultism and robbery, be prosecuted.

    Read:Two pastors exchange insults; trade blows over preaching space in Kumasi market

    Elkana said, “In line with the directives of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosu, who has sensitised the management of the entire command and its personnel to his zero tolerance for human rights abuses, he has ordered the decongestion of all cells and formations across the state.

    “To this end, a total of 50 suspects have been charged for various offences at the SCIID Panti. Two suspects were charged for the murder of a LASTMA official, three for the murder of one Sodiq Abubakar, three for the murder of one Seun Abdullahi, six for armed robbery, one for misconduct, and 35 for cultism related activities.”

    Source: punchng.com

  • Schlupp fires Palace to victory over Bournemouth

    Bournemouth lost their fourth Premier League game in a row as they were beaten 1-0 by 10-man Crystal Palace, who themselves move into fifth ahead of the remaining midweek games.

    The game could not have started worse for the Eagles as Mamadou Sakho was sent off in the 19th minute after catching Adam Smith on the knee with a high foot, before Patrick van Aanholt was taken off with an injury not long after.

    Read:Schlupp not well appreciated Roy Hodgson

    Chances were at a premium for much of the Selhurst Park encounter, but it was a moment of magic from Jeffrey Schlupp in the 76th minute – firing home after a wonderful solo run from midfield – that secured a second successive Premier League victory for the hosts.

    But for Bournemouth, they have now lost their fourth consecutive league game and stay in 12th with 16 points while Crystal Palace move onto 21 points.

    Read:Jeffrey Schlupp scores as Palace march on in FA Cup

    Chances were scarce in the first half and Crystal Palace suffered a blow when they went down to 10 men inside 20 minutes. It was a reckless tackle from Sakho, launching into a high, studs-up challenge on Smith and catching him on the knee. Referee Anthony Taylor was straight over to brandish a red card with Sakho’s first start since September over quickly.

    Things got worse for the Crystal Palace defence when, seven minutes later, Van Aanholt went down with an injury, thought to be his hamstring. He came off shortly after, heading straight down the tunnel, as Schlupp came on in his place.

    Source: skysports.com

  • Govt to construct $43m landfill facility, transfer stations

    The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources has announced its intention to construct a sanitary landfill facility, two Transfer Stations and cap two major dump-sites at Abokobi and Agbogbloshie (Old Fadama).

    According to the Ministry, it will be utilizing an amount of $ 43 million to finance these activities under the solid waste component of the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) project.

    Read: Sanitation in Accra has improved massively Cecilia Dapaah

    Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah made this known in an address to the media on Tuesday, December 3, 2019, at the Information Ministry in Accra.

    The meeting with the media was to inform the public about the major findings of her three months visit to all the Metropolitan and Municipal Assemblies (MMAs) in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area to interact with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) and community members in public places i.e. markets, lorry parks, schools.

    Read: Sanitation offenders will not be spared — Ayawaso North Assembly

    According to her, additionally, under the GARID and the Greater Accra Sustainable Sanitation and Livelihoods Improvement Project (GASSLIP), effective and sustainable community-based solid waste collection systems will be introduced in low-income communities within the GAMA.

    “The beneficiary Municipalities under the project shall be supported with waste management equipment to enhance their capacities for effective work,” she said.

    She added that “as part of measures towards addressing the infrastructure challenge in the solid waste management sub-sector within the country, intensive negotiations are ongoing to re-engineer the Kpone landfill in Accra and Oti landfill in Kumasi.”

    She indicated that similar interventions have been earmarked for Sekondi-Takoradi and Tamale subsequently.

     

    Source: DailyGuideNework.com

  • Man Utd boss no more concerned after recent sackings

    Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says the recent sackings in the Premier League have not left him “more concerned” about his position.

    Tottenham dismissed Mauricio Pochettino in November before Arsenal sacked Unai Emery and Watford parted company with Quique Sanchez Flores.

    United are ninth in the table with 18 points from 14 league matches, their worst start to a campaign in 31 years.

    Read:Arsenal sack Unai Emery after 18 months in charge

    “I’m just focusing on my job,” said Solskjaer on Tuesday.

    “That’s doing as well as I can and look forward to the next game, but also look long term, plan things with the board.”

    Pochettino was linked with the United job before Solskjaer replaced Jose Mourinho, initially on an interim basis, at Old Trafford in December 2018 and has said he is “open to listen to projects” because he intends to “return to manage in Europe”.

    “It’s that time of year. It’s never nice to see your colleagues lose their jobs – now three in a very short space of time,” added Solskjaer.

    Read:Pochettino sacked by Tottenham

    “It doesn’t make me more concerned.

    “We have had too many draws for my liking – defeats as well, but draws we should have turned into wins.

    “Football is a results business and we’re not happy and know we should do better.”

    Solskjaer will face Mourinho – who succeeded Pochettino at Spurs – when United host the north London club on Wednesday (19:30 GMT kick-off), before a derby at Manchester City on Saturday (17:30).

    Midfielder Paul Pogba has not featured for United since September because of an ankle injury and Solskjaer says the 26-year-old France international will not be fit to face Tottenham.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Jesus double fires Man City to victory

    Gabriel Jesus struck twice to get Manchester City back to winning ways and back up to second in the Premier League with a 4-1 victory at Burnley on Tuesday night.

    City – who fell further away from runaway leaders Liverpool at the weekend – closed back to within eight points of Jurgen Klopp’s side in the table ahead of the Merseyside derby on Wednesday night.

    Jesus, in again for the injured Sergio Aguero, netted his third and fourth Premier League goals of the season either side of half-time, breaking his eight-game barren run for City.

    Read:UCL: Keeper chaos sees Walker don gloves as City draw at Atalanta

    Rodri and Riyad Mahrez then capped the win in the second half, to secure a great result for City as they head towards the Manchester derby on Saturday evening – which is live on Sky Sports Premier League. Robbie Brady notched a late consolation for Burnley, which was significant in denying City a clean sheet for an eighth game in a row in all competitions.

    City had the ball in the net after six minutes when Angelino’s shot from range was smartly flicked home by Jesus, but the Brazilian was rightly flagged for offside. When he next found the net after 24 minutes, though, it was the opener and it was brilliant.

    A swift counter-attack was launched by City as Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri combined to find David Silva. He then slipped in Jesus, who cut inside the area from the left and curled an absolute beauty into the side netting past the helpless dive of Nick Pope.

    Read:Man City striker Jesus signs contract extension until 2023

    Pope could do little about that one, but did brilliantly to deny City twice more before half-time. First, after 34 minutes, he stopped Raheem Sterling from close range after De Bruyne’s low cross into the six-yard box. Then, after 43 minutes, he kept out Bernardo Silva’s low drive with his leg after a swift City counter.

    Shortly after the break, however, City did manage to double their lead. It came after 50 minutes as they worked the ball from side to side and found Bernardo, who whipped a fine cross in for Jesus to volley into the roof of the net.

    City’s third after 68 minutes was even more emphatic. Rodri netted just his second goal for the club with a thunderous effort after Ben Mee’s headed clearance dropped kindly into his path.

    Read:Holders Man City cruise into EFL Cup quarter-finals after beating Southampton

    Their fourth was even better as Mahrez grabbed his 50th Premier League goal in trademark fashion, dribbling to the edge of the area before drilling a shot home. Burnley then went up the other end and struck back as another substitute, Robbie Brady, fired into the roof of the net.

    Source: skysports.com

  • Martial set to miss United’s clash against Tottenham

    Anthony Martial is set to miss Manchester United’s match against Tottenham on Wednesday due to injury.

    Martial was substituted after 82 minutes of Sunday’s home draw with Aston Villa and Sky Sports News understands the France forward is struggling to overcome a muscular problem.

    It is believed United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer will once again adopt a formation featuring three centre halves, as Jose Mourinho returns to Old Trafford for the first time since he was sacked almost a year ago.

    Last month Solskjaer played a similar formation in the 3-3 draw with Sheffield United, where he started with Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof and Phil Jones.

    Read:Man Utd 2-1 Real Madrid Jose Mourinho unsure when Anthony Martial will return

    The Norwegian also used three centre halves against Liverpool in October, earning a draw at Old Trafford.

    Scott McTominay and Nemanja Matic are “touch and go” for the game, while Paul Pogba has been ruled out.

    McTominay has missed three games with an ankle complaint, while fellow midfielder Matic has not played for two months with an unspecified issue.

    Pogba remains out as he recovers from an ankle injury, while Eric Bailly, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Diogo Dalot continue to build fitness.

    Read:Martial penalty ends Man Utds winless away run

    Solskjaer hit out at speculation over his future in the run-up to Wednesday’s clash, where he will go head-to-head with former United boss Jose Mourinho.

    Mauricio Pochettino, Unai Emery and Quique Sanchez Flores have lost their jobs over the past two weeks and while Pochettino’s shadow looms large over Solskjaer, having previously been United’s top managerial target and already declaring his intention to return to work in Europe, the current Old Trafford boss was in bullish mood.

    “Sometimes you laugh when you read stories about what I’ve said and stuff,” Solskjaer said. “At least I know the sources everyone is talking about aren’t sources, they are just made up, blatant lies.”

    Read:Pogba and Martial shine in Man United win at Fulham

    “It doesn’t make me more concerned, I’m just focusing on my job and doing as well as I can. I’m looking at the next game and also looking long term, planning things with the board.

    “It is that time of year, it is never nice to see your colleagues lose their jobs. It’s now three in a very short space of time. But it doesn’t make me anymore concerned that it’s December, no.

    “I don’t think whoever the manager or the opposition team is will change their motivation. They are motivated to do well for Manchester United because they know it is about proving it every time you step on to the pitch that you should be part of this long term.”

    Source: skysports.com

  • Scores of Accra High School students hospitalized over suspected food poisoning

    Scores of students of the Accra High Senior School are receiving treatment at the Adabraka Polyclinic following a suspected case of food poisoning, Kasapafmonline.com has learnt.

    The affected students reportedly started vomiting and experiencing stomach pain after eating kenkey.

    Read: My daughter poisoned my husband Woman suspects

    Many of the students were rushed to the hospital Tuesday afternoon with others arriving later in the evening.

    The school authorities are tight-lipped over the incident and have declined media interviews at least for now.

     

    Source: kasapafmonline.com

  • Police still most corrupt institution in Ghana – Afrobarometer report

    The Ghana Police Service has yet again been cited as the most corrupt institution in Ghana.

    Parliamentarians and the Judiciary were also perceived as corrupt, according to the latest Afrobarometer survey on corruption perception launched in Accra Tuesday [December 3, 2019].

    While 57 per cent of people interviewed perceived the police as most corrupt, 40 per cent pointed to judges and magistrates as second most corrupt, with Members of Parliament (MPs) following in that order with 36 per cent.

    Read: Police, judges, MPs most corrupt officials in Ghana Afrobarometer report

    The civil servants as well as tax officials tied at 34 per cent.

    Most trusted

    The report, however, named the Ghana Armed Forces, the President and religious leaders as the most trusted institutions.

    While the GAF topped with 40 per cent, the President had 33 per cent approval with the religious leaders scoring 28 per cent.

    On the other hand, the report indicated that the Parliament, opposition political parties, local government and tax officials were the least trusted with 15 per cent, 12 per cent, 12 per cent and 10 per cent respectively.

    Read: Police, judges, MPs most corrupt officials in Ghana Afrobarometer report

    The report of the latest Afrobarometer Survey on corruption perception, conducted by the Centre for Democratic Development, Ghana (CDD-Ghana) said more than half of Ghanaians said corruption in the country had worsened “somewhat” or “a lot” during the year preceding the survey.

    Launching the report in Accra Tuesday (Dec 3], the Afrobarometer Communications Coordinator for Anglophone West Africa, Mrs Josephine Appiah-Nyamekye Sanny noted that the perception that the police was corrupt declined slightly compared to 2017.

    Surveys

    The Afrobarometer heads a pan-African, nonpartisan research network that conducts public attitude surveys on democracy, governance, economic conditions, and related issues across Africa.

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Lady with curvy backside causes stir in church by twerking during offering

    A beautiful young lady has caused a stir on social media after a video o her unusual dance in church popped up online.

    In the video sighted by YEN.com.gh, the lady could be seen inside a church taking a selfie video while prayers were going.

    Read:Nadia Buari causes stir abroad; white man chases her on the streets

    Praying alongside the other congregants, the lady later positioned her phone to capture her dance moves as the congregation started singing praises thereafter.

    With her back turned, all the camera could capture was her heavy backside which she was shaking like the ones we see in twerking videos on social media.

    Read:Meal or snack: Moesha causes stir with raunchy pictures

    Looking at the video, it was as if the lady had placed the camera in a position to capture her twerking moves.

    Source: yen.com.gh

  • Loans for women in fishing ready Government

    The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, has revealed that the small-scale loans to be given to women engaged in the fishing business are ready.

    She said this when she accompanied President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to present some 6,336 outboard motors and other fishing equipment to fisherfolk along the coast on Tuesday December 3.

    Read: Stop light fishing Akufo-Addo appeals to fishermen in Ga Mashie

    “We will distribute the loans amongst members of the National Fish Processors Association for their use. This year, we have heard that you have caught a lot of fish and they just need the money to work on the fish. We are also bringing more Ahot? ovens, 3,000 of them,” Elizabeth Afoley said.

    She revealed that, last year, “we brought 350 of them but this year, we got some more funding to build more of the ovens for you. We will also provide you with insulated containers, in collaboration with USAID. We distributed some in Tema. We are bringing more this year.”

    Touching on the storage facilities, she indicated that a bumper harvest has been recorded this year, and “the catch this year is more than the cold stores can take”.

    Read: Wulomei asking for fishing ban extension Akufo-Addo

    With Government owning 6 cold stores across the country, she admitted that those put in charge of the cold stores did not take good care of them.

    “This year, the law has allowed us to give the cold stores to companies that can take better care of them, so we are in the process of changing ownership. We are working on restoring power to the cold store at Prampram so that it can be reopened for use,” she added.

     

    Source: laudbusiness.com

  • Moeshas response to claims she has cancer due to enhancing her butt

    Actress Moesha Bodoung has responded to claims she has cancer.

    According to reports, the actress after enhancing her butt has cancer and is currently suffering.

    Read:My backside is natural Moesha Bodoung

    The reports suggested that she sits on a special cushion to avoid the pain as a result of cancer.

    But in a post, the actress mentioned that people are just envious of her success.

    Read:Moesha Bodoung spotted in Dubai chilling with Wizkid

    She noted that people come at her just because she is not suffering like they expect her to.

    Source: mynewsgh.com

  • Presidency ranked 6th most corrupt institution Afrobarometer

    The Presidency has been ranked the sixth most corrupt institution in the country by the latest Afrobarometer survey.

    The highest office of the land comes after the Police, members of the judiciary, MPs, civil servants and tax officials.

    The report which was unveiled Tuesday also placed the media at the base of the corruption index in the country.

    The military was ranked as the most trusted institution.

    Read: Afrobarometer report on economic performance is good feedback Government

    “Among key public officials in Ghana, the police, judges and magistrates, Members of Parliament, civil servants, and tax officials are most widely perceived as corrupt (Figure 1). But perceived corruption among the police has declined slightly compared to 2017.”

    “The Army, religious leaders, and the presidency are the most trusted public institutions (by 72%, 63%, and 58% who say they trust them “somewhat” or “a lot”), while opposition political parties (37%), local government officials (38%), and tax officials (39%) are least trusted,” the report said.

    It added, “More than half (53%) of Ghanaians say corruption in the country has worsened “somewhat” or “a lot” during the year preceding the survey, a 17-percentage-point increase compared to 2017. This follows a huge (47-percentage-point) improvement between 2014 and 2017 (Figure 3).

    Read: 59% of Ghanaians say the country is “going in the wrong direction” Survey

    “The police is the institution that the largest number of citizens report bribing to access services. Among those who had contact with key public services during the previous year, four in 10 say they paid a bribe to avoid problems with the police (42%) or to obtain police assistance (39%) (Figure 4). Six in 10 Ghanaians (61%) believe they risk retaliation or other negative consequences if they report incidents of corruption”.

     

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • WAEC cautions public against fake remedial virtual schools

    The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has asked the public to be cautious of some remedial and virtual schools that are promising to register candidates for the school edition of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

    The council said the WASSCE for school candidates was exclusive to final year students of recognized public and private senior high schools (SHS) who had undergone three years of education and not those who desired to re-sit the exams.

    Read: Purchasing WASSCE past questions for SHS students wrong Minority

    A statement issued by the Public Affairs Officer of WAEC National Office, Winifred Ampiaw said the examination had a 30 per cent continuous assessment component.

    It said persons who registered through the remedial and virtual schools did so at their own risk as the council would match the data of all candidates who register for the WASCCE for school candidates, 2020 with existing information in its database.

    “Candidates who are not bona fide students of recognised public and private SHS are regarded as unqualified candidates and would have their registration nullified”, it said.

     

    Source: theghanareport.com

  • National Petroleum Authority outdoors premix retail outlet

    The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) in collaboration with the Ghana Oil Company Limited (GOIL) has outdoored a standard premix retail outlet at Winneba in the Central Region.

    The Winneba Outlet is the sixth of its kind, to be commissioned by the NPA. The other five have been sited at beach landing sites in the Greater Accra and Volta regions.

    Read: No premix fuel in Salakope over two years Fishermen cry

    The Energy Minister, John Peter Amewu who was the Guest Speaker, said the retail outlet would bring convenience to the fisher-folks who hitherto had challenges accessing premix fuel.

    It would also lighten their trading financial burden trade and enable them to access fuel directly from the outlet without any middlemen.

    The Minister said this would discourage the practice of diversion and ensure efficient and equitable distribution of premix fuel to fisher folks and also reverse the perennial challenge of shortages.

    Mr Amewu, however, said the subsidy on premix fuel was now 63% of the full price, up from 43% in January 2017.

    The Government from 2017 to May 2019, had spent GHS373.9 million to cushion fishermen.

    “A total of GH¢137.5 million was spent in 2017, while GH¢160.8 million was spent in 2018. This amount is projected to rise to about GH¢206 million in 2019. A total of GH¢134,604,110 million has been accumulated from January -September 2019,” the Minister said.

    The CEO of the NPA, Mr Alhassan S. Tampuli said the construction of the premix retail outlets demonstrated their commitment to improving standards and safety in the petroleum downstream industry.

    The facility follows the first prototype premix retail outlet constructed by the NPA in 2013 at Brawire, near Axim.

    The menace of diversion and hoarding associated with premix fuel distribution had reduced, he said, adding that, the fuel was now adequately available to fisher folks at affordable prices.

    “The drastic reduction is attributed to programmes and policies rolled out by the NPA in collaboration with National Premix Fuel Secretariat to monitor the distribution of premix fuel to ensure that the subsidised premix fuel gets to the fisherfolks,” he said.

    Read: Digitisation of premix fuel distribution soon VP Bawumia

    Mr Osei-Kwame Prempeh, Group CEO of GOIL, said he was happy that the NPA nominated the state-owned Oil Marketing Company, GOIL, to spearhead the construction and operation of the outlets.

    “It is our expectation that these retail outlets will serve the purpose for which they were constructed to ensure safe distribution and handling of premix at the respective landing beaches,” he said.

    He advised the fishermen to employ in safety practices when dealing with the fuel.

    GOIL, he said, would ensure that the fishermen had adequate premix fuel for their fishing.

    Chief Fisherman of Winneba, Neeyin Mber who spoke on behalf of fishermen in the area, thanked the NPA and the Government for the premix retail outlet on their land.

    He said they would patronise it to make their operations successful.

    The event was chaired by Mr John B. Ninson, the Municipal Chief Executive of Effutu District. It was attended by members of the fishing community and some residents of Winneba.

     

    Source: ghananewsagency.org

  • Treason in Ghana may not be a crime afterall

    The above statement emanates from the cardinal principle of law that an act does not constitute a crime if the statute books have not written that THAT PARTICULAR ACT is a crime AND the corresponding punishment clearly stated.

    This is why the highest law of the land, the 1992 Constitution, has stated in Article 19(11) that: “No person shall be convicted of a criminal offence unless the offence is defined and the penalty for it is prescribed in a written law.”

    For instance, the crime of murder is defined and the penalty for it also prescribed in Sections 47 and 46 respectively of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

    The aforementioned Section 47 provides as follows: “A person who intentionally causes the death of another person by an unlawful harm commits murder, unless the murder is reduced to manslaughter by reason of an extreme provocation, or any other matter of partial excuse, as is mentioned in section 52.”

    Thus the crime is clearly defined; Section 46 also provides as follows: “A person who commits murder is liable to suffer death.” Thus, the penalty for it is prescribed in a written law.

    Treason is defined in the 1992 Constitution as follows: “Treason shall consist only-

    Read:Coup plot: BNI cages Agordzor for treason

    (a) in levying war against Ghana or assisting any state or person or inciting or conspiring with any person to levy war against Ghana; or

    (b) in attempting by force of arms or other violent means to overthrow the organs of government established by or under this Constitution; or

    (c) in taking part or being concerned in or inciting or conspiring with any person to make or take part or be concerned in, any such attempt.” (See Article 19(17))

    The act of Treason has eluded both the legislative and executive arms of successive Governments over the years because even though it has been very well defined it does not have any punishment at all prescribed for it.

    The closest one may come to finding a prescribed punishment in our laws is Section 182 of the aforementioned Act 29, and this is the provision many resort as the punishment for treason.

    It says: “A person commits a treason felony and is punishable as for a first degree felony who

    (a) prepares or endeavours to procure by unlawful means an alteration of the law or of the policies of the Government, or

    Read:Koku Anyidoho walks free as State drops treason charges

    (b) prepares or endeavours to carry out by unlawful means an enterprise which usurps the executive powers of the Republic in a matter of both a public and a general nature. “

    Let me at this point state that treason felony and treason are not the same offences.

    Apart from the difference in definitions as can be seen in our local laws, many other jurisdictions, including where we clearly copied our Criminal Offences Act from, have completely separate enactment for treason felony and treason.

    Thus, there has since been the Treason Act and Treason Felony Act 1848 of the United Kingdom. The difference between treason and treason felony is acknowledged at common law.

    In the case of R v. Gallagher (1883) Cox C. C., three members of the Fenian Brotherhood were found guilty of the treason felony of levying war against the Queen; their intention was to destroy public buildings by nitro-glycerine and other explosions in order to produce “the freedom of Ireland by force alone”.

    According to the Court although they were only charged with treason felony it was clear that they could have rather been charged with the offence treason. This exemplifies the difference between treason and treason felony.

    So we can conclude that Section 182 of Act 29 does not at all prescribe a punishment or classify treason as a first degree felony; rather it is clearly speaking of and only of treason felony.

    Read:Nine charged with treason felony over plot to destabilise the country

    Though Section 180 of the same Act is titled Treason, the provision itself only speaks about High Treason which is also very different from Treason. It provides inter alia that: “A person who commits high treason is liable to suffer death.” High Treason has also been defined in Article 3(3) as follows: “Any person who

    (a) by himself or in concert with others by any violent or other unlawful means, suspends or overthrows or abrogates this Constitution or any part of it, or attempts to do any such act; or

    (b) aids and abets in any manner any person referred to in paragraph (a) of this clause; commits the offence of high treason and shall, upon conviction, be sentenced to suffer death.”

    Now that we know that there is no crime without its punishment prescribed in a written law, and we also know the difference between Treason, Treason Felony, and High Treason, we can safely conclude by saying that Treason itself may not be a crime in Ghana yet. I humbly ask the learned Attorney General and Parliament to take a look at this lacuna that for decades has been left in our law books.

    And for the avoidance of doubt Article 19(2) of the Constitution relates to crime in general and should be read as a whole, paying keen cognisance to Clause 2(i) of the same Article.

    Source:theghanareport.com

  • Passenger bus somersaults at Okponglo after failing brake

    A mini Benz bus carrying passengers has somersaulted at the Okponglo section of the Accra-Madina highway.

    According to eyewitnesses, the vehicle with registration number GW 5295-12 was heading to Accra from the Madina end of the road but failed brake while approaching the traffic light.

    Read: Traffic lights still off after June timeline

    No other vehicle was involved in the incident.

    Emergency workers have arrived at the scene to help victims in the car.

    Starr News source at the scene says an ambulance is currently conveying injured victims to the hospital.

     

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Man arrested after boy, 12, dies in Essex hit-and-run crash

    A 51-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 12-year-old boy was killed in a “deliberate” hit-and-run crash outside an Essex school.

    Essex Police said the Loughton man has also been arrested on six counts of attempted murder and one of causing death by dangerous driving.

    He also faces charges including causing serious injury by driving, failing to stop at the scene of a collision and driving without insurance.

    Read:Groom dies in gory crash, bride in coma

    The arrest came after police earlier said they were searching for Loughton man Terry Glover over the incident that happened shortly after the end of the school day, at around 3.20pm on Monday.

    Four teenagers thought to be pupils at Debden Park High School in Loughton and a 53-year-old woman were also injured when the car ploughed into them.

    Essex Police said they were treated at the scene or in hospital, and their injuries were not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening.

    Read:Trailer crashes woman to death

    Chief Superintendent Tracey Harman said: “We believe that the collision was deliberate and as such we have launched a murder investigation.

    “We are investigating whether or not this incident may have been connected with another incident nearby.”

    Anyone with any information should call 101 and quote incident number 726 of 2 December.

    Source: www.news.sky.com

  • Abused Russian sisters who killed father face murder charge

    Investigators said Tuesday that two sisters who killed their father after years of abuse should face murder charges in a case highlighting Russia’s dire record on domestic violence.

    Three Russian sisters — Krestina, Angelina and Maria Khachaturyan — stabbed their father Mikhail to death in July, 2018 after suffering years of beatings and sexual assault.

    They were 17, 18 and 19 at the time.

    Read:Two nuns become pregnant after mission work in Africa

    Russia’s Investigate Committee said in a statement on Tuesday that it had completed a probe into the killing and was recommending charges of murder and conspiracy to commit murder against the two older sisters, Krestina and Angelina.

    The probe established that the sisters, acting as a group, stabbed their father with a knife and beat him with a hammer, causing fatal injuries.

    It pointed to “mitigating circumstances” but said the two older sisters were of sound mind and aware of their actions at the time of the attack.

    Read:Pope admits clerical abuse of nuns including sexual slavery

    They face up to 20 years in prison if convicted. Investigators recommended that the youngest sister, Maria, should enter mandatory psychiatric care.

    Lawyers and activists say the teenagers were forced to act to save their own lives, pointing to poor legal protections for abuse victims in a country where a separate law on domestic violence still does not exist.

    Mari Davtyan, a lawyer for Angelina, told AFP the case should not go to trial in its current form.

    Read:Man sexually assaults Ghanaian air hostess
    She said the sisters “used reasonable force in self-defence”.

    Source: AFP

  • Lady found dead in hotel room

    Police have launched investigations into the murder of a woman whose body was found at Central Guest House on Sunday.

    The woman, identified as Joyce, was an employee at the same guest house and her lifeless body was found on the bed in one of the rooms at about 5.30pm.

    Read: 2 women found dead near hotel; used and fresh condoms retrieved at the scene

    Makueni County Police Commander Joseph Ole Naipeyan confirmed the incident to Kenya News Agency on Monday.

    “The woman had reported for the day shift at 9am and took over from [Dominic] Mburu. However, when Mburu reported back at five, he did not find her at the reception. He searched for her and found her lying in a pool of blood, her throat was slit. A kitchen knife was found under her head,” said Ole Naipeyan.

    Read: Willi Roi of Zylofon Media is dead

    The police commander said the handle of the killer weapon was found on the floor of the room and police are hunting for her killers.

    The body was taken to Makueni Referral Hospital Mortuary.

     

    Source: www.ghanaguardian.com

  • 9 arrested after Ghanaian and Nigerian traders clash

    Five Nigerians and four Ghanaians have been arrested after traders from the two countries clashed at Tip Toe Lane, near the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange in the Greater Accra Region.

    The traders pelted the police personnel who had visited the scene to restore calm with stones and caused damage to shops and also smashed the rear windscreen of a police vehicle.

    Trading activities also came to a stop and about 54 shops, mainly mobile phone retail shops were locked up.

    Read: Closure of foreign retail shops not a retaliatory measure GUTA

    The clash happened after the leadership of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) locked up some shops belonging to foreigners in the area as part of efforts to rid the Ghanaian market of foreign traders engaged in retail trade, in consonance with the Ghana Investment Promotion Act Centre Act, 2013 (Act 865).

    The foreigners, whose shops were locked, are mainly Nigerians who belong to the Nigerian Union of Traders Association Ghana (NUTAG).

    It took a combined team of police personnel from the Nima Divisional Police Command and the Operations Unit of the Accra Regional Police Command to restore calm.

    Lock up

    Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mrs Afia Tenge, said at about 6:15am, the command received information that some executive of GUTA had closed shops belonging to foreigners, mainly Nigerians, at the Tip Toe Lane.

    She said the owners of the shops tried to force open their shops, resulting in a confrontation between the two parties and leading to destruction of property.

    Mrs Tenge said the command picked up information that traders whose shop had been locked up had armed themselves with stones, clubs and knives in their bid to fight back.

    Police detachment

    When a team of policemen, led by the Accra Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP), Mr Fredrick Adu Anim, arrived at the scene, the rioters pelted them with stones.

    The chaotic situation led the police to repel the attack by firing warning shots to control the crowd.

    In the melee, the back windscreen of a police vehicle was smashed.

    The police arrested nine persons, who were alleged to be among the rioters, and have placed them in police custody to assist with investigations.

    Later on, a team of policemen, led by the Nima Divisional Police Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Mr Abraham Acquaye, also arrived at the scene and patrolled the area to maintain order.

    Read: GUTA gives government final warning to enforce laws on retail trade

    Concerns

    In separate interviews, traders on both sides blamed each other for starting the riot and destroying the peace that existed between the two sides.

    While the Nigerian traders called on the governments of Ghana and Nigeria to intervene to resolve the impasse, the Ghanaian traders insisted that the Ghanaian government must enforce Section 27 (1) of the GIPC Act that barred foreigners from engaging in retail business.

    One of the traders, Mr Edwin Abram, said the retail business was the preserve of Ghanaians “and so we do not understand why our Ghanaian leaders are looking on for foreigners to take over our space and deprive us of our livelihoods and income.”

     

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • Tonto Dikeh speaks about love in this latest Post

    Controversial Nigerian actress, Tonto Dikeh spoke about love in her current social media post and this has gotten people surprised because Tonto Dikeh is well-noted for controversies.

    Read:Tonto Dikeh finally reveals her mystery boyfriend in Dubai? Spends cozy moment with him (Photos)

    The actress who is now enjoying life in Dubai with her bestie, Bobrisky took to her Instagram handle to share a photo of herself happily smiling.

    Read:How butt surgery boosted my self confidence Tonto Dikeh

    She made the post with the caption;

    “LOVE ALWAYS WINS
    #LOVEYOUBABES👅👅”

    Source: www.ghgossip.com

  • ECG retrieves GH¢200,000 from illegal connections at Dansoman

    The Dansoman District Office of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has, since January this year, retrieved more than GH¢200,000 from customers who were using electricity illegally.

    The Dansoman District Manager of the ECG, Mr Vincent Osei-Appiah, told the Daily Graphic that a special monitoring team set up to audit electrical connections in factories, warehouses and workshops led to the uncovering of the canker.

    Read: No power outages during Christmas ECG assures

    Customers

    “The identified customers were engaged in illegalities such as direct connections, meter tampering and meter bypass,” he said.

    He added that following the success achieved by the task force so far, the scope of its operations would be expanded to include all categories of customers in the district.

    The Dansoman District is one of seven operational districts of the ECG in the Accra West Region.

    Warning

    The acting General Manager, Accra West Region of the ECG, Mr Emmanuel Ankomah, warned that the region would wage a relentless “war” on all illegal activities as the Christmas season beckoned.

    Read: VALCo, ECG owe GRIDCo US32m, GHC607m respectively Staff

    “We want to make the Accra West Region the model for others to emulate. Special measures, including strategic partnerships with the security agencies, have been taken to identify, surcharge and rectify all illegal connections in the region,” he said.

    Mr Ankomah advised ECG customers to report any suspected illegal connection to the nearest ECG office and pledged that aside from the identity of the whistleblower being protected, “there is a cash reward for the informant”.

     

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Government releases GH¢40 million for mortgage financing

    Government has released some GH¢40 million to support the efforts by the private sector in bridging the housing deficit in the country.

    The fund which has been made available to some selected banks in the country is expected to add to additional funding to be provided by private estate developers.

    Read: Stanbic Bank rolls out mortgage scheme for public sector employees

    Deputy Minister of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen disclosed this at the opening of the Ghana affordable housing finance forum in Accra.

    Ghana as a country needs about 2 million housing units to be able to bridge the affordable housing gap which has been a major concern for many in the country.

    According to Deputy Finance Minister, Charles Adu Boahen, funds have been made available to some selected banks at a very low-interest rate as government’s support towards mortgage financing.

    He said, “Government has released an amount of GH¢40 million to the commercial banks as part of funds to cushion the support of the financial sector in providing a low-interest mortgage.

    The funds have been made available to some selected banks only after careful due diligence by the ministry.”

    Meanwhile Minister for Works and Housing, Samuel Atta Akyea is inviting more investors to add up to the funds provided by the government to support affordable housing.

    Read: Budget 2019: Government fights housing deficit with GHC1bn mortgage fund

    According to him, state funds alone cannot cater for the housing needs of the country.

    “There are many opportunities for us to deal with these housing deficit and I can tell you, state funds alone cannot be adequate in solving the problem. Other private sector players must come on board to support the effort of government,” he noted.

    The two-day conference by the department of land economy of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the IFC seeks to provide an opportunity for stakeholders to come up with proposals in dealing with the housing deficit.

    The conference is also expected to present a dialogue paper on the various proposals to the Ministry of Works and Housing.

     

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • PHOTOS: Medeama SC captain Joseph Tetteh Zutah weds Doris Agyarkoh

    Medeama SC captain Joseph Tetteh Zutah has tied the knot with longtime girlfriend Doris Agyarkoh in a colourful ceremony over the weekend.

    The two love beds tied the knot on Saturday at the Church of Pentecost E.K Temple in Tarkwa which was preceded by the traditional marriage.

    Read:Ghanaian lesbians tie the knot in Canada

    Top club officials, teammates, family and friends as well as the football community graced the occasion.

    “Big Congratulations to @MedeamaSC captain Joseph Tetteh Zutah, who tie the knot with his longtime girlfriend Doris Agyarkoh in Tarkwa this weekend.”

    Read:Man, 96, marries lover 93, after 50 years relationship

    Zutah, who holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Cape Coast, has been a key figure at the Mauve and Yellows.

    Source: Primenewsghana.com

  • Catholic priest denies communion to a churchgoer because she is a lesbian

    A church in Michigan denied Holy Communion to a state district court judge because she is married to a woman.

    Judge Sara Smolenski, the chief judge of Michigan’s 63rd District Court, received a call from the priest at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, requesting she not attend communion.

    “This is not about me against the priest, and it’s not really me against the church,” Smolenski told CNN. “This feels like selective discrimination. Why choose gay people, and why now?”

    Smolenski, 62, said that the Rev. Scott Nolan, the priest at St. Stephen for approximately three years, called her on November 23 and told her, “‘It was good to see you in church on Sunday. Because you and Linda are married in the state of Michigan, I’d like you to respect the church and not come to communion.’”

    Smolenski was baptized at St. Stephen. She and her nine siblings attended the church’s school from first through eighth grade. Her parents were married in the church in the 1940s.

    Read:Ghanaian lesbians tie the knot in Canada

    Communion is a significant and sacred act in Catholicism. Through this sacrament, Catholics unite with Christ and symbolically form a single body, according to Catechism of the Catholic Church on the Vatican’s website. To be denied communion is essentially to be denied one’s right to the holiness of Catholicism.

    Former Vice President Joe Biden was denied communion at a church in South Carolina last month, as have other politicians, typically for their positions on divisive issues.

    Denying communion is done on a case-by-case basis. Other parishes are more accepting of gay people and would not hold back this sacrament, Smolenski said. She had already been distancing herself from the church in recent times after tensions rose when the priest denied communion to a same-sex couple during Mass earlier this year.

    “He publicly shunned the couple,” Smolenski recalled.

    It prompted her to branch out to another church for a while. But St. Stephen was Smolenski’s lifelong parish. She returned, and even received communion by Nolan on November 17. Six days later, she received the phone call from Nolan. “It definitely felt like a slam dunk,” Smolenski said.

    Read:Macron moves to extend IVF to lesbians, single women

    Priest says denying communion is ‘painful’

    Smolenski married her partner of over 30 years, Linda Burpee, in March 2016 following the Supreme Court’s marriage equality law. The marriage was publicized, not by choice, but because Smolenski is an elected official, she said. Smolenski was elected to the bench in 1990 and appointed chief judge in 1996.

    She and Linda have given financially to the church, including $7,000 in June 2017 for the renovation of St. Stephen.

    Nolan told CNN affiliate WOOD that Catholic teaching gives him no choice in the matter of giving Holy Communion. He told the station that he does not want any of his conversations about receiving communion to be public, but that denial happens with some degree of regularity.

    “Some of that criteria are just around what’s happening in that person’s life and what do they believe and what are they doing and what are they not doing,” Nolan said.

    He acknowledged that denial of Holy Communion is painful for those denied. “To me, this is also a cause of great sadness in my own life as a priest,” Nolan said.

    The Diocese of Grand Rapids issued a statement on behalf of its bishop supporting Nolan’s decision. The statement addressed Smolenski’s service and generosity to the community but included a line from Pope Francis’s “Amorus Laetitia: “Those who approach the Body and Blood of Christ may not wound that same Body by creating scandalous distinctions and divisions among its members.”

    Read:Lesbians and gays in Namibia want separate toilets

    The statement said that inclusion and acceptance are a hallmark of the diocese, but that acceptance is presumed upon “a respect on the part of individuals for the teachings and practice of the wider Catholic community.” “No community of faith can sustain the public contradiction of its beliefs by its own members,” the statement said. “This is especially so on matters as central to Catholic life as marriage, which the Church has always held, and continues to hold, as a sacred covenant between one man and one woman.

    Smolenski has read the bishop’s statement and feels the denial of her communion is leading to divisiveness in the parish. Micki Benz, a 40-year-parishioner at St. Stephen, empathizes with Smolenski. Benz recently switched churches because she finds it difficult to be part of a community where gay people are discriminated against.

    “This was a parish that was growing, that was harmonious, that was vibrant,” Benz said. “Today we are a parish of divisiveness and dissension.”

    Smolenski pointed to the larger picture, stating that even Pope Francis wants people to be loving and kind and that the Catholic church should tackle problems bigger than her sexual orientation.

    Earlier this month, while speaking to members of the International Association of Penal Law, the pope condemned speech that discriminates against people’s homosexual orientation.

    “I am who I am because God made me just like this,” she said.

    Source: cnn.com

  • Sperm whale dies with 100kg ‘litter ball’ in its stomach

    A sperm whale which died after stranding on the Isle of Harris had a 100kg “litter ball” in its stomach.

    Fishing nets, rope, packing straps, bags and plastic cups were among the items discovered in a compacted mass.

    Whale experts said it was not immediately clear whether the debris had contributed to the whale’s death.

    But locals who found the carcass on Seilebost beach on Thursday said it highlighted the wider problem of marine pollution.

    Dan Parry, who lives in nearby Luskentyre, said: “It was desperately sad, especially when you saw the fishing nets and debris that came out of its stomach.

    Read:Skeletal elephant dies in Sri Lanka weeks after parade outcry

    “We walk on these beaches nearly every day and I always take a bag to pick up litter, most of which is fishing-related.

    “This stuff could have easily been netting or the like lost in a storm, we just don’t know, but it does show the scale of the problem we have with marine pollution.”

    Members of the Scottish Marine Animal Stranding Scheme (Smass), an organisation that investigates the deaths of whales and dolphins, dissected the whale to try and determine its cause of death.

    A post on the group’s Facebook page stated: “The animal wasn’t in particularly poor condition, and whilst it is certainly plausible that this amount of debris was a factor in its live stranding, we actually couldn’t find evidence that this had impacted or obstructed the intestines.

    Read:Lion King actor Andile Gumbi dies aged 36

    “This amount of plastic in the stomach is nonetheless horrific, must have compromised digestion, and serves to demonstrate yet again the hazards that marine litter and lost or discarded fishing gear can cause to marine life.”

    Buried on the beach

    The debris is believed to have originated from both the land and the fishing industry.

    The Coastguard and workers from Western Isles Council helped with the examination of the whale on Saturday, as well as digging a giant hole on the beach to bury the animal.

    According to Smass figures reports of whale and dolphin strandings in Scotland are on the increase.

    There were 204 reports in 2009, rising to more than 930 in 2018.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Messi sinks Atletico on Griezmann’s return

    Lionel Messi struck late for Barcelona as Antoine Griezmann’s return to Atletico Madrid ended in a dramatic 1-0 victory.

    Griezmann’s first game in Madrid since leaving Atletico for Barcelona dominated proceedings going into the match, but it was Messi who stole the headlines on the eve of the Ballon d’Or announcement.

    A couple of inspired Marc-Andre ter Stegen saves initially kept Atletico at bay, with Messi then stroking home in the 86th minute to hand Barcelona all three points.

    Read:LMessi scores in 700th match as Barca ease into last-16

    Victory sends Barcelona top of La Liga ahead of Real Madrid on goal difference, while Atletico Madrid slip to sixth after Athletic Bilbao’s win earlier on Sunday.

    Atletico dominated the first half but Ter Stegen ensured it remained 0-0 at the break.

    After Mario Hermoso’s cross was deflected onto the post, the defender was denied by a spectacular point-blank save from Ter Stegen, who also produced an incredible reflex stop to keep out Alvaro Morata’s header.

    The closest Barcelona went to an opener in the first half was when Gerard Pique’s header bounced onto the top of the bar.

    Read:Messi will stay for another five years Barca president

    Player ratings

    Atletico Madrid: Oblak (6), Trippier (7), Felipe (6), Hermoso (7), Saul (6), Correa (6), Herrera (7), Thomas (6), Koke (7), Joao Felix (5), Morata (6)

    Subs: Vitolo (6), Lemar (6), Lodi (N/A)

    Barcelona: Ter Stegen (8), S. Roberto (7), Lenglet (7), Pique (6), Junior (6), Rakitic (6), Arthur (6), De Jong (7), Griezmann (6), Messi (7), Suarez (6)

    Subs: Vidal (6), Umtiti (N/A)

    Man of the match: Ter Stegen

    Source: skysports.com

  • Princess Shyngle reunites with cheating boyfriend weeks after break up

    Actress and model, Princess Shyngle after her recent social media rants about how men can be very unfaithful no matter what the lady they have in their lives do for them, seem to have found her way back to the warm arms of the cheating boyfriend she broke up with some weeks ago.

    The Snatched By Princess Shyngle waist trainers owner has shared some pictures and videos with Frederick, the ex she accused of being a cheat.

    Read:“I gave you my heart and put my career on hold but you cheated on me” Princess Shyngle claps back at her Senegalese ex-boyfriend

    In a series of Instastories zionfelix.net sighted on her page, she claimed that even though Frederick is the cheat she accused him of being, she has accepted him back into her life because of his (Frederick) young daughter.

    She wrote as a caption of a video with the young daughter of Frederick “Hahahaa Daddy is forgiven because of you”.

    Read:Go ahead and kill yourself Princess Shyngle tells ex-boyfriend

    Princess Shyngle also shares videos of a very intimate scene with roses and a wall with the inscription “I Am Sorry Baby” to reveal that they are back to their old days of cuddling and love.

    Anyway, we wish the actress well as she has reunited with Fred. We just pray there will be less drama with their relationship now…

    Source: zionfelix.net

  • No vote campaigners equal ‘angst’ of Ghanaians – Franklin Cudjoe to Akufo-Addo

    IMANI Africa President, Franklin Cudjoe is of the firm belief that the angst of the “No” vote campaigners in the aborted referendum reflect things Ghanaians are not happy about.

    In a Facebook post, Mr Cudjoe wrote that even as the government has withdrawn the referendum, they (government) should not think that they are impacting lives as the macro stories are stating.

    Read: President Akufo-Addo calls off referendum for lack of broad, national consensus

    “I believe, however, the angst of the ‘NO’ campaigners is subtly about just everything people are not happy about. So, while there has been a retreat on the referendum, I think the government must demonstrate beyond believable macro stories that they are indeed impacting lives- not easy but they can else, they’d be in overdrive in 2020,” his post read.

    Chronicling major events that have happened in 2019, Franklin Cudjoe wrote that, the President took a cue from the major inequality protests around the globe hence his decision to retreat on the December 17 referendum.

    “Looks like 2019 is the year of protests. Hong Kong, France, Lebanon, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, Guinea, Malta, Iraq, Iran etc. Some protests have led to resignations and sacking of presidents. The protests are largely about inequality though. Looks like our President took a cue from the marauding ‘NO’ referendum campaigners and beat a retreat.”

    Withdrawal of referendum

    President Akufo-Addo in his address to the nation on Sunday, December 1, 2019, stated that his government will work to attain a broad national consensus on the referendum because it is important, as the amendment of an “entrenched provision of the Constitution”, is critical.

    He said, “I do not believe that such an amendment should be driven as a party matter. There has to be a clear national consensus and agreement amongst the populace that a particular entrenched provision no longer serves the interest of the people, and thus, has to be removed.”

    Read: President has authority to suspend referendum Kyei Mensah Bonsu

    Below is Franklin’s full post on Facebook

    “Looks like 2019 is the year of protests. Hong Kong, France, Lebanon, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Venezuela, Colombia, Guinea, Malta, Iraq, Iran etc. Some protests have led to resignations and sacking of presidents. The protests are largely about inequality though. Looks like our President took a cue from the marauding NO referendum campaigners and beat a retreat. I believe, however, the angst of the NO campaigners is subtly about just everything people are not happy about. So, while there has been a retreat on the referendum, I think the government must demonstrate beyond believable macro stories that they are indeed impacting lives- not easy but they can else, they’d be in overdrive in 2020. That said, IMANI has a story on what percentage of the ruling government’s promises as contained in the 2016 manifesto have been attained. That would be soon. We wish the government well.”

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • I feel like a useless CEO, unhappy after divorce – Regretful man recounts

    “I am a CEO, well paid. I live well. I can afford anything I want. I can have any woman I want, but I feel I am useless. The love of my life is my ex-wife. I am in my second marriage, married to a far beautiful and younger lady. I am supposed to be content because I have it all – to put it mildly.

    But Dave, I feel useless. I am cheating on my second wife. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I thought I would be happy, but I am not, to be frank with you. Anytime I look at all these people who look up to me, and think life is or might be good for me, I wonder if they see my uselessness,” these are the exact words of a regretful Ghanaian man.

    Read: Nana Yaw Amponsah clueless about new role as Hearts CEO

    Having chanced on popular relationship expert David Papa-Bondze’s page, the man who shared his story on condition of anonymity poured out emotions he has never shared with anyone.

    Though he has remarried after the ‘love of his life’ paid him back for continually having several affairs, by also cheating on him just to hurt him.

    It’s been years after the divorce but he still can’t get over the fact his ex-wife cheated on him.

    Read his full story below:

    #InboxMessage

    “Mr. David Bondze, how are you doing? For the past two days, I have spent hours, reading from your wall. And this is so unlike me. I have a very busy schedule, I hate reading, I don’t have time for Facebook posts, but for some reason, your platform has gotten me hooked to Facebook since Wednesday. You have a very dangerous platform.

    I am a CEO, well paid. I live well. I can afford anything I want. I can have any woman I want, but I feel I am useless. The love of my life is my ex-wife. I am in my second marriage, married to a far beautiful and younger lady. I am supposed to be content, because I have it all – to put it mildly. But Dave, I feel useless. I am cheating on my second wife. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I thought I would be happy, but I am not, to be frank with you. Anytime I look at all these people who look up to me, and think life is or might be good for me, I wonder if they see my uselessness.

    Losing my first wife changed me. I have done everything to make life difficult for her. I have put her down in the lowest of lows, but even in the low, when I see her smiling or happy with herself, I feel useless. I can’t stop loving and wanting to hurt her so bad that, she would have to need me again. Dave, men will cheat, no matter what they come on your platform to say. They will lie about it and pretend about it. Let me speak for myself…

    When I married my first wife, I knew she wasn’t a virgin. She had dated other men before me. But when she became the love of my life, I knew I had in my heart, GOLD. We did 12 years with two kids. I cheated on her many times. And mind you, I was not cheating because I did not love her. If you can hear what I am really saying in my submission to you, I am still in love with her, even though I’d want to believe I have moved on.

    I was very careful with my moves outside the home. I did things accordingly, in the house just to fill in any suspected gaps. I handled my outside activities cautiously until one of my escapades thought it wise to blow my cover, by confronting my ex-wife with facts. Had it not been that, I would still be happily married.

    Read: Meet the founder and CEO of Shopnaw, Benjamin Osei Asante

    When a woman cheats on you, it’s normal. In fact, life goes on. But Dave, when the woman you love cheats on you, you become useless a man. If I am using useless on myself many times already, it’s simply because I am still broken. When my ex-wife paid me back with an affair, I saw the light in the clouds, and it was bright as the sun. I heard angels singing, and trumpets sounding. I saw the snakes walk and a sheep crawl. I saw a baby’s sharp teeth, and a toothless adult. I saw an Imam lead praise and worship in church, and pastors bowing in mosques. I saw things. I experienced things. I understood things. I became a thing.

    My marriage to my ex was intended to be forever, but Dave, my affairs and her one-time affair just to hurt me made forever not to last. I told her I love her. I told her I could never live without her. I told her I cared. Dave, I feel all those about her, even now, though divorced. They weren’t empty words or some wishful thinking… I love Audrey.

    I never understood why I was cheating on my wife, until she had sex with another man. That was when I knew how my actions had made her feel.

    I thought I had needs as a man. I couldn’t keep it in my pants for just her. I thought she would understand once caught and apologized to. I never considered her need of me to be loyal to her in the marriage. It never occurred to me until she had her affair. I knew I could have another woman to replace her if she left, and I had a beautiful replacement, but Dave, the new is nothing like the old. The old stood for something. The new is just something. She doesn’t stand for anything, just something to replace something with.

    Audrey wasn’t supposed to find out about my escapades. But when she did, she cheated on purpose, and then, told me after the sex. She packed all of her belongings, took our kids, to rent another place of abode.

    I married my second wife to be happy, and not to feel alone. I married again with the intention of becoming a better man for this new woman, indirectly, hitting back at my first wife. But Dave, once a cheat, always a cheat. I am cheating on my new wife and I do not know why I am not becoming any better. I can’t stop the lies and cover-ups either.

    It is still hard for me to believe the love of my life cheated on me, and not only that, but also went ahead to divorce me. The reality of the truth hurts. I have nothing to hold on to – after I lost my first wife. I have nothing, though I seem to have everything. I have begged, but she’s moved on. She thinks I am no longer good enough for her. And that hurts.

    I am a man in every sense of it, and in as much as I believe we all may disappoint our spouses someday, I would want to believe a small percentage of you guys may want to be better at fidelity than some of us useless men.

    Do not allow lack of self control to rewrite the future you and your wife believe in. Have a clear end to the book you and your wife are writing on this journey called marriage. Do not let yourself down. Do not let your wife down. And if there are any children, do not let your children down.

    I feel like a garbage thrown in the streets by the one person I hoped would keep me. I wasn’t good enough for my first wife. The divorce hurts, but I am very happy she left me. Because she seems happy today. Whenever I visit my children, and I see the life and joy in her eyes, I smile. She’s happy, and that’s all that matters.

    If you love your wife, make her matter.”

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Fire guts GRA offices near Kwame Nkrumah Circle

    The premises of the Ghana Revenue Authority at Ring Road office in Accra is on fire, www.ghanaweb.com has learnt.

    Unconfirmed reports suggest that personnel of the Fire Service are finding it difficult to access the infrastructure to douse the fire.

    Read: Parts of GRA Circle office gutted by fire

    A thick cloud of smoke can be seen emanating from the building as neighbouring residents of the area look on helplessly.

    More soon…

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Market women were consulted on new GH¢200 notes BoG

    A number of agencies and market women were consulted by officials of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) for their inputs into the decision that went into the introduction of the GH¢200 and GH¢100 notes, Mr Phillip Ottoo, Director of Research at the BoG, has revealed.

    Speaking at a training workshop for members of the Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists (IFEJ) in Koforidua on Saturday November 30, Mr Ottoo explained that the BoG sdid not spring surprise on Ghanaians with the new notes.

    Read: Bank of Ghana releases GH₵ 2 coin, 100, 200 Cedi notes

    He said it took 2 years of research work to arrive at the decision to usher in the new notes.

    “The introduction of the new notes was as result of 2yr research work that was done. It started in March 2017. After the research the conclusion was that still 70 per cent of the population still rely on cash”

    He added : “The BoG visited market centres, spoke to market women and other agencies and the conclusion was that still about 70 per cent of people still rely on cash for their activities.”

    The Governor of the central bank Dr Ernest Addison has announced that a new GHS100 and GHS200 notes has been introduced by the Central bank.

    Similarly, the BoG has also introduced GH¢2 coin, Dr Addison further revealed.

    He announced these at a press conference in Accra on Friday, 29 November 2019.

    He said : “As is the normal practice in all jurisdictions, Central Banks do periodically undertake a review of the structure of their currencies with the view to making sure that they are aligned with macroeconomic conditions and demand.

    “In fact international best practices requires monetary authorities to review their currency regimes at intervals of between five (5) and ten (10) years with the aim of ensuring that demand for banknotes are well aligned with economic activity, address weaknesses and challenges associated with the management of notes and coins in circulation, assess the non-usage of a particular series to ensure efficiency in printing, and address technological innovations that impact the usage of currencies.”

    Read: BoG has built strong reserves to stabilise cedi, prices Deputy Governor

    “A lot of thinking went into the decision to introduce the higher denomination banknotes. The structure of the banknote should align well with the needs of the people who use it for their daily transactions. We need banknotes and coins that are convenient for most people to use, high quality, secure and cost effective.

    “Accordingly, in March 2017, the Bank of Ghana begun a process of conducting a thorough review of the structure of the currency including on the note/coin boundary and acceptability and use of the individual currency series.

    “The review exercise which involved conducting a nationwide survey with market operatives, businesses and international stakeholders as well as some empirical exercise. The outcome of these exercise revealed the resurgence of deadweight burden issues on the economy due to past significant inflation and perennial depreciation of the currency, significant increase in the demand for higher denomination banknote and increased cost of printing.”

     

    Source: laudbusiness.com

  • Promote indigenous content to grow and build Ghana’s economy – Kate Quartey-Papafio

    Mrs. Kate Quartey-Papafio, Chief Executive Officer of indigenous cable manufacturing giant Reroy Cables Limited has called on the Trade Ministry to help promote indigenous content to help grow and build the nation’s economy. She made this call during the Association of Ghana Industries, 59th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Accra last Thursday.

    Read: Import duty killing local businesses GUTA

    This year’s AGM was themed “Positioning Local Industries for Global Competitiveness”

    Mrs. Papafio said the Trade Ministry should Pick up a product and set up a five (5) year target to make it a household name to help grow local brands to match international brands in the global market space.

    She emphasized we have to build a culture to have contagion effect on buy Ghana build Ghana creating market for local industries in the global market space.

    Read: Ghana Business Awards: Local companies urged to uphold standards

    She again said Ghana as a country has to transform its culture from being a liability into an asset for it competitiveness globally when realistic target are set to build local brands to earn the country more foreign exchange.

    She finally said visionary skills and technical expertise will drive this agenda.

     

    Source: Anthony Mensah

  • Courts must deal with DLE related violence cases expeditiously

    An aspiring Assembly Member in Tema has appealed to the Judiciary to expedite the handling of violent cases related to the upcoming District Level Elections to serve as a deterrent to others.

    Mr Christian Yaw Amoah popularly known as C.Y, immediate past and aspiring Assembly Member for the Homowo Electoral Area in Tema, said delaying such cases would only empower unscrupulous persons to perpetrate violence.

    Read: Fight against political violence requires sustainable efforts Envoy

    Mr Amoah noted that his area was a Hotspot and that recently a man popularly known as Kapanya reportedly inflicted cutlass wounds on another resident over an election-related argument.

    He added that the case which was reported to the Tema Fishing Police ended at the Circuit Court and the accused was subsequently remanded for three weeks adding however that he was granted bail at another sitting after the three weeks had expired.

    He said ever since the accused was granted bail and his case adjourned to “December 19, two days after the District Level Elections he had been inciting the youth in the community towards violence”.

    Read: Political violence shames us all Akufo-Addo

    Mr Amoah noted that “such election-related violence cases which had sufficient evidence to be prosecuted, must be swiftly handled to deter others as people in the community currently think that one can perpetrate such acts and walk free”.

    He further appealed to the Police to intensify patrol and their presence at the various flashpoints to check deviant acts.

    He said it was not good enough to wait and respond to chaos but would be prudent to have them in the community before, during and after the elections.

     

    Source: Ghananewsagency.org

  • Akufo-Addo meets Kufuor, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at Prempeh College 70th Anniversary

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Saturday, November 30, 2019, attended a grand durbar to climax the 70th-anniversary celebrations of Prempeh College.

    The durbar held on the school’s campus in Kumasi had the Asnatehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II also attending.

    Read: Akufo-Addo a blessing to Ghana NPP Communications Director

    Former President John Agyekum Kufuor who is past student of Prempeh College was also there to celebrate his alma mater.

    Photos shared on the official page of President Akufo-Addo also show of brotherliness between the three leaders.

    Other dignitaries present at the durbar were Education Minister Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei Mensah, Chairman Wontumi, among others.

     

    Source: yen.com.gh

  • Trained medical doctor now turns photographer

    Emmanuel Kweku Ennin is a former student of Prempeh College who trained as a medical doctor in Eastern Europe, Ukraine specifically.

    Emmanuel said he went into photography out of anger. According to him, he discovered photography on his final graduation at the Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University in Ukraine.

    Read: Newly inducted UCC female medical doctor sets record; sweeps 16 out of 20 awards

    In an interview with TheGhanaReport.com, Ennin opined that after six years of studying medicine, he tried photography because of how expensive it was to get only four copies of pictures.

    “We were asked by the university to take a picture of ourselves in surgical wears and lab coat.

    “The amount of money the photographers were demanding for the pictures, I found it outrageous, so I decided not to pay, I opted out,” he narrated to TheGhanaReport.com.

    Emmanuel said he was infuriated by the fact that photographers were charging $20 for four pictures.

    He told the story of how he added up to the $20 to get himself a camera to also train as a photographer.

    “So I added up to that amount and I bought myself a $1,200- Canon 80 D camera. That is the best decision I have made in the past six months,” he recalled.

    He said upon graduation, he returned to Ghana in July 2019 with a degree and a camera.

    “I self-taught myself on YouTube,” he said.

    He said by September 2019, he had mastered his photography hobby to go commercial now.

    Read: Korle Bu doctors perform the first endovascular aortic aneurysm repair in Ghana

    Emmanuel told TheGhanaReport.com that for now, he does photography only on Saturdays and he mostly covers bachelorette and pre-wedding shoots.

    He said business has been good so far and makes about 400 cedis on a gig.

    Meanwhile, Emmanuel Kweku Ennin is still learning to sit for the US licensure exams in Ghana.

    He said the exams administered by the Ghana Medical and Dental Council for doctors who trained outside to be able to practice in the country is frustrating and inflexible.

     

    Source: yen.com.gh

  • Fire guts toilet roll factory at Gomoa Budumburam

    Fire gutted the Bobo Toilet Roll factory at Aprah, a suburb of Gomoa Budumburam in the Central Region on Saturday afternoon.

    The blaze started around 1:00 pm. The cause of the fire was unknown at the time this report was being published.

    Read: Over 30 passengers escape death as bus catches fire

    Officers at the Ghana National Fire Service in Gomoa Budumburam were brought in but it took them close to eight hours to quench the fire.

    The Bobo toilet roll factory earlier this year caught fire destroying properties running into millions of Ghana cedis.

    Read: Fire guts tanker yard at Kpone [Video]

     

    The incident also led to the majority of its workers being laid off.

    The Chinese nationals who own the company have refused to comment on the latest incident.

    But the Ghana National Fire Service at Gomoa Budumburam says it will investigate the matter and ascertain the cause of the fire.

     

    Source: citinewsroom 

  • I never discussed PDS shares with Gabby – Philip Ayesu

    A Board Member of the Power Distribution Services (PDS), Philip Ayesu, has denied having a conversation with legal practitioner and NPP member, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko concerning shares of PDS.

    A story published by Ghanaweb.com had suggested that there was an audio recording of a purported conversation between Mr. Ayesu and Mr. Okertchiri-Darko in which the latter supposedly impressed upon the former to reduce his shares in PDS.

    Read: PDS voice chat with Gabby fake Philip Ayesu

    According to the Ghanaweb report, Mr. Otchere-Darko had asked Mr. Ayesu to reduce his shares from 40 percent.

    But Mr. Ayesu in a statement denied the claims, saying the voice recording was fake.

    According to him, “I would like to put on record that this is a mischievous and totally fabricated story.”

    “It never happened. I have never hazarded the thought of owning 40% of the shares in PDS, and never owned anything close to that amount of shares in PDS for any person to have suggested to me for my shares to be reduced below 40%, and the records faithfully attest to this,” he said.

    He added that “I have never discussed any such thing with my lawyers or other shareholders, let alone with a third party.”

    “I can strongly confirm that the said recording is fake and pregnant with mischief to score an expensive political point using me as a pawn, since no such conversation ever occurred,” he said.

    Read: PDS scandal: Alleged conversation between Gabby Otchere-Darko, Philip Ayensu and Edward Akufo-Addo

    The Government of Ghana terminated PDS concession agreement signed with ECG on March 1, 2019, over claims of material and fundamental breaches in the agreement by PDS.

    PDS expressed disagreement with the government especially when the agreement clearly stated steps that should be taken in an event of the government declaring its intention to cancel the contract.

    A 40-point statement PDS issued to its stakeholders, says “PDS does not accept the basis on which ECG and GoG assert their right to terminate the Transaction which, therefore, triggers a dispute as between PDS and ECG on one hand and PDS and Ghana on the other hand.”

     

    Source: DailyGuideNework.com

  • PDS voice chat with Gabby fake Philip Ayesu

    The PDS board chairman Philip Ayesu has rubbished reports making rounds that he had a conversation with Gabby Asare Otchere Darko over how to share PDS shares.

    According to him, the alleged conversation never happened hence the voice recording is fake.

    Read: PDS scandal: Alleged conversation between Gabby Otchere-Darko, Philip Ayensu and Edward Akufo-Addo

    “I can strongly confirm that the said recording is fake and pregnant with mischief to score an expensive political point using me as a pawn, since no such conversation ever occurred. It is but an elaborate fabrication with the help of an artificial intelligence-based software. It only reminds me of the reported voice spoofing video recording of President Donald Trump and Speaker Nancy Pelosi which was exposed by CNN and recently a similar recording of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Opposition leader Corbyn,” Mr. Ayesu said in a statement.

    He has served notice of suing and reporting the case to the police for investigations.

    “I have referred this defamatory mischief calculated to tarnish my hard-earned reputation to my lawyers and will be lodging a complaint with the Ghana Police Service,” he noted.

    Below is the full statement:

    PHILIP AYESU RESPONDS TO FAKE VOICE RECORDING

    My attention has been drawn to a 29th November, 2019, Ghanaweb publication headlined: “PDS SCANDAL…” of an alleged recording of a conversation between myself and Gabby Asare Otchere Darko, discussing PDS shares.

    I would like to put on record that this is a mischievous and totally fabricated story. It never happened. I have never hazarded the thought of owning 40% of the shares in PDS, and never owned anything close to that amount of shares in PDS for any person to have suggested to me for my shares to be reduced below 40%, and the records faithfully attest to this. I have never discussed any such thing with my lawyers or other shareholders, let alone with a third party.

    I can strongly confirm that the said recording is fake and pregnant with mischief to score an expensive political point using me as a pawn, since no such conversation ever occurred. It is but an elaborate fabrication with the help of an artificial intelligence-based software. It only reminds me of the reported voice spoofing video recording of President Donald Trump and Speaker Nancy Pelosi which was exposed by CNN and recently a similar recording of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Opposition leader Corbyn.

    Read: PDS fiasco: Minority demands valuation, publication of ECG assets

    Suffice to say, in any event, as an individual entrepreneur, I am at liberty to take advice from anybody I choose and also discuss with whomever I wish to discuss my private business, without the remote threat of breaching any law or agreement with any other party. But, it must be stressed that this particular purported conversation with Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko never happened. It is purely false and fake.

    The perpetrator of this falsehood has been persistent in lies about myself and PDS in which one of my other companies has some equity participation and even extends it to my advisors.

    I have consistently resisted any urge to respond to issues which have come into the public domain; however, the circulation of a conversation purportedly involving me which borders on criminality warrants a response and the taking of appropriate actions.

    I have referred this defamatory mischief calculated to tarnish my hard-earned reputation to my lawyers and will be lodging a complaint with the Ghana Police Service.

    Thank you.

    Signed

    Philip Ayesu.

     

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Lotto fraudsters swindling ‘greedy’ Ghanaians NLA

    The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has cautioned the general public against the operations and activities of lotto fraudsters who use “different platforms and communication strategies to dupe unsuspecting Ghanaians.”

    According to the NLA, the lotto fraudsters and social media miscreants use channels including television and radio stations, as well as online platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, text messages, emails and telephone calls to swindle their victims.

    Read: National Lottery Authority rubbishes mismanagement claims

    In a statement signed by its Public Relations Unit, the NLA said: “The lotto fraudsters and social media miscreants have defrauded a lot of unsuspecting people through several Facebook accounts/pages, WhatsApp platforms and other social media handles they have created using the name and logo of the National Lottery Authority (NLA) in different formats”.

    They also use pictures of the Director-General of the NLA, Mr Kofi Osei-Ameyaw, as well as pictures and images of NLA staff to carry out their trade.

    “The lotto fraudsters and social media miscreants are able to convince greedy people who want to be rich overnight to make mobile money transfers to them in exchange for winning lotto numbers”, the statement added.

    The NLA said it has neither “authorised nor appointed any individual or group of individuals to offer winning lotto numbers to the public”, adding: “Lottery is a game of chance and it is very impossible to foretell winning numbers before draws”.

    “The Authority does not have Facebook accounts/pages, the Authority has not created any WhatsApp groups, the Authority does not have a Twitter handle, the Authority has not designed a registration form for the public to register for winning lotto numbers, the outcome of draws are conducted in a very open and transparent manner and it is always open to the public for witnessing at 6:30 p.m. daily for original 5/90; and 7:30 a.m. daily for NLA VAG Lotto, except on Sundays and public holidays and it is absolutely false that NLA staff, lotto fraudsters and social media miscreants have access to winning lotto numbers.”

    Read: Private Lotto operators call on government intervention

    It further continued that the Director-General of the NLA is “not on Facebook and other social media platforms” and the NLA “shall not be responsible for any losses incurred by unsuspecting people who are defrauded by these lotto fraudsters and social media miscreants.”

    The NLA added that it would “like to urge the public to be more vigilant, avoid greed and discontinue engaging the services of the lotto fraudsters and social media miscreants”.

    It also appealed to “the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies to help” the Authority “in curtailing the activities and operations of the lotto fraudsters and social media miscreants.”

     

    Source: classfmonline.com

     

  • Q&A: BoG offers reasons for new notes

    1. Why has the Bank of Ghana introduced higher denomination?

    Answer: To address the deadweight burden on the economy from the past inflation and cedi depreciation. Also, the structure of the banknotes denomination has changed resulting in a shift in demand for higher denominations (GH¢50 and GH¢20 account for about 70% of the total demand), reflecting the expansion in income and prices. Introduction of the higher value denominations in circulation are therefore necessary to ensure customer convenience, reduction in the costs of printing and other currency management processes.

    Read: Bank of Ghana releases GH₵ 2 coin, 100, 200 Cedi notes

    2. What are the benefits of introducing these higher denominations?

    Answer: Ensuring customer convenience; efficiency in high value transactions in cash; and reduces cost of printing as well as currency management including processing, transporting, and storing banknotes.

    3. Will the new higher denomination banknotes lead to higher inflation?

    Answer: No. Higher denomination is introduced to only ease high transaction. These notes will only replace some of the large cash transactions done with the existing GH¢50 and GH¢20 banknotes. Again, the value of currency depends on what you can buy with it, rather than what the face value is. Bank of Ghana will remain committed to preserving the purchasing power of the currency.

    4. What will happen to the GH¢1 and GH¢ 2 banknotes?

    Answer: The GH¢1 and GH¢2 banknotes remain legal tender

    5. Why has the Bank of Ghana introduced GH¢2 coins?

    Answer: Bank of Ghana intends to gradually replace its lower banknotes denominations with coins to reduce its cost of printing. BoG will also embark on a vigorous campaign among road transport workers, market operators, small businesses, supermarkets, vendors and others to create avenues for the usage of the coins including develop infrastructures for coin usage.

    6. Is the 1Gp still a legal tender?

    Answer: The bank has no immediate plan of withdrawing the 1Gp from circulation.

    7. Are the new higher denominations going to be in the ATMs?

    Answer: No. The circulation of the higher denomination banknotes are intended to be minimal.

    8. How will the Bank of Ghana ensures that Ghanaians are aware of the security features of the new banknotes and coins?

    Read: PAC Vice chair demands cost of new Cedi notes

    Answer: There will be a nationwide educational campaign focused on the security features, proper handling of banknotes and promote usage of coins.

    9. What is the need for higher denominations when other countries are moving towards the paperless mode of payments?

    Answer: Introduction of higher denomination banknotes should not be misinterpreted to mean a shift away from the Central Banks policy of pursuing a cashless society and promoting the use of electronic modes of payments.

    The Bank of Ghana is rigorously pursuing paperless payment systems and recently implemented a regulatory framework for E-Payments and also introduced interoperability. These have enhanced growth in digital payments particularly growth in mobile money transfers and payments. More recently, the Bank announced exploration of issuing Central Bank Digital Currency.

    While vigorously pursuing financial inclusion by accelerating the migration to e-payment platforms, the bank is mindful of the relevance of cash in our day-to-day dealings. Undeniably, cash still remains the preferred medium of payment by the large informal sector in the country.

    This is why we continue to pay attention to enhancements in the structure, security features and management of cash within the economy.

     

    Source: Starrfm.com.gh

  • Introduction of GH¢100, GH¢200 notes could cause inflation Economist

    An economist, Dr. Laud Mensah has said that the introduction of the GH¢ 100, GH¢ 200 denomination notes by the Bank of Ghana may cause inflation.

    He said prices of goods of lower categories such as water will shoot up as result of the development.

    “For me, I think it has the tendency of causing inflation because when you are pricing, you will look at the minimum and what is convenient to handle and at the end of the day, the lower categories of consumption like water and others will start shooting up. The inflation that we have been struggling for it to come down over the years, we will end up going up again,” Dr. Mensah noted in a Citi News interview.

    Read: PAC Vice chair demands cost of new Cedi notes

    The Bank of Ghana has indicated that the introduction of the new denominations will not cause inflation.

    It said the new notes will only replace transactions done with the GH¢50 and GH¢20.

    The BoG in addressing some frequently asked questions on the development on its website, said it is committed to preserving the purchasing power of the currency.

    “Higher denomination is introduced to only ease high transaction volumes. These notes will only replace some of the large cash transactions done with the existing GH¢50 and GH¢20 banknotes. Again, the value of currency depends on what you can buy with it, rather than what the face value is. Bank of Ghana will remain committed to preserving the purchasing power of the currency,” the BoG said.

    The Governor, Dr. Ernest Addison, who announced the introduction of the new denominations at a press conference on Friday said the Central Bank went through a thorough thinking process before arriving at the decision.

    Read: BoG considering issuing E-Cedi in future

    He said the Bank of Ghana consulted broadly and conducted a survey that indicated a demand for the higher denomination of banknotes.

    “In March 2017, Bank of Ghana began a process of conducting a thorough review of the structure of the currency including the note, coin boundary, and acceptability and use of the individual currency series,” the BoG Governor said, adding that the process involved a nationwide survey with market operators, businesses and “international stakeholders as well as some empirical exercise,” he noted.

     

    Source: citinewsroom.com

  • NALAG calls for postponement of December 17 referendum

    The General Secretary of the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG) Mr Kokro Amankwah has called for postponement of the upcoming December 17 elections and referendum.

    According to him, majority of Ghanaians have not been reached and informed on the referendum to make an informed decision and it will be prudent to postpone the date for the referendum to get many Ghanaians well educated to enable them make an informed decision.

    Read: EC accountants ordered not to disburse referendum cash

    He was speaking in an interview with the Media at a programme organized by NALAG to sensitize market women on the upcoming December 17 referendum at Koforidua in the Eastern Region.

    The programme which was attended by market women from Suhum, Jamapo, Koforidua and its environs was part of NALAG National sensitization programme and engagement with key stakeholders on the December 17 referendum.

    Mr Amankwah said, Ghanaians have matured enough to elect their Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives on political lines this he said is the way to brake the winner takes-all syndrome. .

    He said , research indicate that none of the district assembly elections conducted so far recorded 40 per cent of registered voters whilst often over 70 per cent of registered voters often vote in the presidential elections.

    Mr Amankwah said this reveals that when political parties are involved in elections they mobilize political support to get the needed voter turnout during elections.

    Read: President has authority to suspend referendum Kyei Mensah Bonsu

    Delivering her closing remarks, the chairperson of the programme, President of the Koforidua Central Market Women Association (CMWA) Ms Florence Oteng Okyere urged all market women to vote yes in the December 17 referendum to enable them elect MMDCEs on partisan lines.

    According to her yes vote will bring consistent development in various communities as the MMCEs will be accountable to the local people and not the President as it holds now.

    Ms Felicia Mensah, a plantain seller at the Koforidua central market in an interview with the Ghana News Agency(GNA) commend NALAG for the education on the referendum because that was her first time of hearing about the referendum.

     

    Source: ghananewsagency.org

  • Ellembelle MP, nine others scoop Leadership Awards

    The Member of Parliament (MP)for Ellembelle constituency, Mr. Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, has been adjudged the best political leader in the Western Region.

    His leadership qualities was acknowledged by Fontomfrom Empire, organizers of the maiden edition of Fontomfrom Amandze Awards carefully developed to reward communal and social excellence.

    The former Minister for Petroleum, and nine (9) other awardees, received citations from the organisation.

    Read: Ellembelle MP commissions classroom block, toilet facility for Ankobra community

    For his part, the citation, signed by the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fontomfrom Empire, Ms Eva Sheita Kumah, read in part, “We appreciate all your effort to help the youth and society at large. We are grateful for your unraveling contributions and your commitment to the development of the capacities of the young people, organizations and nation. You have been an icon and a mentor in every way. Indirectly, you have inculcated greatness in most people and anyone that comes your way can testify to that. You have done more than it is expected. For not helping only just the community you belong, but everyone you meet. We appreciate your presence and would forever be honoured for your good work done to the society and community at large”.

    The lawmaker, who is currently the ranking member on Trade and Industry in Parliament, received the citation and promised to do more to help his Constituency, Region and the nation at large.

    Mr.Armah Kofi-Buah described the recognition accompanying the award, as inspiring especially when it had to come from his own region, to define his performance in government, leadership and service to humanity, and in capping his hard work in the country.

    He challenged leaders in the country to constantly apply the qualities required in fulfilling their mandates and social contract with the Ghanaian people. According to the Member of Parliament for Ellembelle, Ghana must succeed at all cost through the contribution of all Ghanaians. He in this regard appealed to Ghanaians to brighten the corner where they are or find themselves.

    The GNPC Foundation, which was carrying out social intervention projects and Programmes to improve the livelihood of Ghanaians, also received two awards, while the Executive Director Dominic Eduah personally won an award for his dedication to community development.

    Ms Diana Adjei, Chief Executive Officer of Aseda Foundation, who was one of the three winners of this year’s MTN heroes of change also won an award at the coveted event.

    Radio Maxx also received an award for carrying out social programmes to impact lives in the Western Region.

    For Connect FM, the station received an award for nurturing community relations with its flagship Programme “Omanbapa”.

    Madam Abiba Fuseini, the woman rescuing lunatics in Sekondi Takoradi, also gained recognition for playing an instrumental role that is keeping the oil city out of the troubles of lunatics. For her award, she was named responsible citizen (Omanbapa) of the year.

    Read: Akufo-Addo unveils new Gas Complex in Ellembelle

    In an address, she appealed to Ghanaians to eschew indiscipline, and instead cultivate love and compassion as vital qualities required for national cohesion and development.

    She assured that although she spent 12 years in the service of transforming lunatics, she would continue to do that to protect them against evil plotters. She appealed against deceptive use of black magic (juju) by Ghanaians to cure lunatics.

    The Chief Executive Officer of Focus One Group, Kwame Adu Mante was adjudged the best entrepreneur promoting youth development, and capacity building of Ghanaians.

    In his speech after receiving the award, he recalled the visit to Takoradi in 1999 when he gained admission at Takoradi Technical University (TTU), which was then a Polytechnic, and eventually ended up staying and becoming an entrepreneur.

    Brother Daniel Asiamah, Head pastor of the Church of Christ, also received an award for offering free vocational skills training to brilliant but needy students.

     

    Source: ghananewsagency.org

  • Stormzy stopped Jay-Z rapping on an Ed Sheeran song

    Stormzy has revealed how he prevented Jay-Z from appearing on his song with Ed Sheeran, Take Me Back to London.

    The US rapper wanted to appear on the track, but the grime star turned down his “number one hero inspiration” because he thought it was a bad fit.

    “I felt proper bad because I was like, ‘You’re saying no to Jay-Z!’” he told ITV’s Jonathan Ross show.

    “Jay-Z was super proud and super shocked and taken aback by the fact that this kid told him,” he added.

    The song, which appears on Sheeran’s No. 6 Collaborations Project, went on to top the UK singles chart for five weeks in September and October.

    Read:Ed Sheeran named richest UK celebrity aged 30 or under

    It finds the two Glastonbury headliners reminiscing about their London days, “hitting raves” and ordering “packets of crisps with my pint”.

    Jay-Z was in the studio as the track came together, Stormzy told Jonathan Ross in an interview that’s scheduled to air on Saturday [30 November].

    “Before that I loved Take Me Back To London because I thought it was just going to be me and Ed,” he said, “and then Ed was like, ‘Jay is getting on it.’

    “It blew my mind. Jay-Z is my number one hero inspiration.

    Read:Ed Sheeran designs Blue Peter badge for BBC Music Day

    “We got into the studio and we were writing for this song and then he just stops the music and he said, ‘Tell me about London, I need some inspiration.’”

    Stormzy said he and his manager had a “powerful, beautiful” conversation, “talking about everything from black culture, community [to] music, his journey, my journey…

    “It was the greatest conversation of my life.”

    ‘He couldn’t believe it’ Stormzy continued: “At the end he’s smiling, we were probably talking for an hour and he goes, ‘So what do you think of the song?’

    “I was like, ‘I love this song but you being on the song changes everything’.

    Read:Beyonce pays glowing tribute to hubby Jay-Z

    He went on: “‘If you didn’t ask me this, I would have just written my verse and we would have done it and I would have never questioned it, but now that you’ve asked me, no.’

    “I was like, ‘I know how it goes, Mr Z. You are the most brilliant, busy man and I will probably never get this opportunity ever again but hand on my heart, I don’t think this is the right song for us. I don’t know why I’m saying this to you but this is not the song.’”

    Describing Jay-Z’s astonished response, Stormzy said: “He fully understood [but] he couldn’t believe that I did it.”

    But the session wasn’t a complete bust: Footage of Jay-Z and Stormzy’s conversation was used in the introductory video for Stormzy’s historic Glastonbury performance this summer.

    The rapper recently announced his second album, Heavy Is The Head, will be released on 13 December. He has also revealed plans for an extensive, 55-date world tour in 2020, with shows scheduled in the UK, US, Canada, China, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Nigeria and Ghana.

    Source: bbc.com

  • We have not signed Don Bortey – Great Olympics coach

    Great Olympics coach Isaac Nii Armah has confirmed that his outfit has not secured the services of Bernard Don Bortey ahead of the new season.

    Media reports went rife the “Oly Dade” boys have added the former Hearts of Oak attacker to their fold ahead of the upcoming season.

    The Accra-based club have recruited players to beef up their team as the League commence on the weekend of 27-29 December 2019 at match venues across the country.

    They signed experienced players like 2007 Ghana Premier League top scorer Emmanuel Clottey, former Aduana Stars captain Godfred Saka among others.

    Read:Bernard Don Bortey joins Accra Great Olympics

    However, the tactician of the Great Olympics, Isaac Nii Armah has rubbished reports of the 2002 Ghana Premier League joint goal king among the recruited players.

    “I can confirm that we have not signed Don Bortey, my outfit have signed Emmanuel Clottey, Godfred Saka and we are negotiation with 2 more players.”

    He added “Clottey has vast experience and I won’t be surprised if he gains a call-up to the national team when the League resumes.

    “Saka with his crosses and freekicks will be very important because of the way we want to play and we needed such a player to join us.”

    ReadDon Bortey explains how John Paintsil allegedly killed his football career

    Great Olympics have been reinstated into the Ghana Premier League for the upcoming season following a decision by the Congress of the GFA held on October 25. According to their coach, his outfit is preparing feverishly to finish in the top 4.

    “Our worse performance in the upcoming league will be a top 4 finish.”

    Meanwhile, Great Olympics are set to play a friendly match against Dreams FC. The match will be played at the Vision FC Arena at Amrahia on Sunday, December 1 at 3:00 pm.

    Read:John Paintsil vows to strip Don Bortey naked

    Source: Primenewsghana.com

  • What you need to know about new GH¢100, GH¢200 banknotes, GH¢2 coin

    The Bank of Ghana on Friday November 29, 2019, introduced two new high denominations.

    They are the GH¢ 100 and GH¢ 200 Banknotes.

    The Central Bank also introduced a new GH¢ 2 coin.

    Why The New Notes?

    According to the Central Bank, high levels of inflation currency depreciation in the past have eroded some of the gains from redenomination.

    Read: PAC Vice chair demands cost of new Cedi notes

    It says the deadweight burden, reflected in high transaction cost has re-emerged.

    This set of higher denominations will address this increased transaction cost, especially in high-valued transactions in a cash based economy.

    It added that also the structure of the Banknotes denomination has changed resulting in a shift in demand for higher denominations (GH¢50 and GH¢ 20 account for about 70? of the total demand), reflecting the expansion in income and prices.

    “The introduction of the higher value denominations in circulation are therefore necessary to ensure customer convenience, reduction in the costs of printing and other currency management processes,” the Bank stated.

    Benefits of introducing the higher denominations

    According to the Bank, ensuring customer convenience, reducing high transaction cost; efficiency in high value transactions in cash; reduction of cost of printing as well as currency management including processing, transporting, and storing banknotes, are some of the benefits that come with the introduction of the new notes.

    Will The Higher Denomination Banknotes Lead To higher inflation?

    The Bank indicated that the introduction of the new notes will not lead to higher inflation.

    It says higher denomination is introduced to only ease high transaction volumes.

    “These notes will only replace some of the large cash transactions done with the existing GH¢50 and GH¢20 banknotes,” it explained, adding that “again, the value of currency depends on what you buy with it, rather than what the face value is.

    Will the new denomination banknotes be a transaction note?

    According to the Central Bank, the GH¢100 will complement the existing high denomination banknotes to ease high value transaction.

    Read: Bank of Ghana releases GH₵ 2 coin, 100, 200 Cedi notes

    It says the GH¢ 200 banknote will be introduced gradually into circulation and will be in limited quantities.

    Why has BoG Introduced GH¢2 Coins?

    The Bank says it intends to gradually replace its lower banknotes denominations with coins to reduce its costs of printing.

    It says it will also embark on a vigorous campaign among road transport workers, market operators, small businesses, supermarkets, vendors and others to create avenues for the usage of the coins including develop infrastructures for coin usage.

    There will be a nationwide educational campaign focused on the security features, proper handling of banknotes and promote usage of coins, according to the bank.

     

    Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

  • Cop arrested, detained for rape

    The Ashanti Regional Police Command has ordered that a Police Chief Inspector at the Manso Datano Police Station in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region be arrested, detained and interdicted for allegedly raping a woman.

    The story was reported by a Kumasi-based radio station, Nhyira FM.

    Read: Woman narrates how she got raped at police station

    The Regional Police Command said it has commenced investigation into the matter and any subsequent update will be communicated to the public.

    The Command reiterated its stance of not shielding officers who involve themselves in criminality as is the policy of the Inspector General Police and the Police Administration.

    The police has advised the victim to report immediately to the Regional Police Headquarters to assist in the investigations.

     

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Thieves loot 22 TV sets in Kumasi

    Twenty-two sets of Samsung flat-screen television estimated around GH?20,000 were stolen after robbers broke into a shop at Adum, Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region.

    The robbery took place at the Ambrose 09 Ventures store on the Prempeh I Roundabout area at the Central Business District between 11:00 pm on Saturday and 1:30 pm on Sunday.

    Read: Cable thieves arrested at circle

    The Chief Director of Ambrose 09 Ventures, Akwasi Amo, said even though the store had significant stock, he was astonished why it was targeted by the robbers, who covered the front view with big size black polythene to enable them to operate without suspicion.

    According to him, the stolen TV sets included 15, 32 and 43 inches. He, therefore, appealed to anyone with information about the raid to come forward.

    The Central District Police Command in the Ashanti has since commenced an investigation into the matter.

     

    Source: Dailyguidenetwork.com