TIG Post

Author: Persis

  • We will get to the bottom of missing excavators saga – Police CID

    The Police CID has assured that they will get to the bottom of the missing excavators saga after arresting six persons including suspended Central Regional Vice-Chair, Ekow Ewusi.

    This comes after the Police Service issued a statement announcing the arrest of six (6) persons for their involvement in the missing excavators and other equipment seized by operatives of Operation Vanguard yesterday February 4 2020.

    Speaking on Starr FM today PRO of the CID, Juliana Obeng said, “Investigations has started and CID will get to the end of this matter. Again, the missing excavators will be found and persons in connection with it will be dealt with by the law”.

    The suspects have since been cautioned and are in police custody pending further investigations.

    The six persons arrested so far are; Horace Ekow Ewusi, Frederick Ewusi, Joel Asamoah, Adnan Haruna, Frank Gyan and John Arhin.

    However, on Monday, February 3, 2020, the CID picked up Mr Ekow Ewusi, who is one of the leaders of Operation Vanguard, for interrogation over his role in the missing excavators and other equipment seized from illegal miners.

    His arrest was triggered by a request from the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, to the Director-General, CID Headquarters, Accra, to commence investigations into the missing excavators and some other equipment.

    It will be recalled that, with the quest to fight against illegal mining between 2017 and 2018, many machines numbering about 500 were seized by the Operation Vanguard, an operational team made up of various security personnel purposely set up to clamp down on illegal mining.

    The then sector Minister, Mr John Peter Amewu who sanctioned the seizure directed them to be parked at the premises of the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

    Recently, the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation and also Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng disclosed recently that most of the excavators that were seized from illegal miners had vanished.

  • Missing Excavators: CID picks Agona West NPP Chair

    The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service probing into the 500 missing excavators seized in the clampdown of illegal mining have invited the Agona West constituency chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kojo Addo, for questioning.

    He was invited by the CID, Tuesday afternoon when he was attending to some issues in the constituency.

    Inside sources say the Agona West constituency NPP chairman is the right-hand man of Mr Horace Ekow Ewusi, who was suspended from the position of First Vice-Chair of the Central Region of the elephant family for gross disrespect and perjury.

    He is alleged to have had a hand in the missing excavators, hence, the invitation to assist the CID to unravel the circumstances that led to the missing of the earth moving equipment.

    He is further to assist the Police to identify all the accomplices in connection to the deal that has put the government and the Operation Vanguard team in a very bad taste.

    On Monday, February 3, 2020, the CID picked up Mr Ekow Ewusi, who is one of the leaders of Operation Vanguard, for interrogation over his role in the missing excavators and other equipment seized from illegal miners.

    His arrest was triggered by a request from the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, to the Director-General, CID Headquarters, Accra, to commence investigations into the missing excavators and some other equipment.

    “Mr. Ekow Ewusi was contracted to cart excavators and other vehicles and pieces of equipment seized by Operation Vanguard to designated areas for safekeeping. We have received information that he sent an unknown number of equipment to unauthorized locations, including one in Tema. This was confirmed by the caretaker of the depot in Tema. Information reaching me indicates that he has sold an unknown number of the pieces of equipment, including excavators. I wish to appeal to the Police Authorities to investigate the matter”, the letter dated February 3, 2020, and requesting the Police to probe into the matter in part read.

    Following his arrest, the names of some persons believed to be his friends who have ample knowledge and at a point played a role in moving the excavators from its authorized location, have popped up.

    One of such persons is the Agona West Constituency NPP chair who allegedly played a leading role in organizing some people to stage series of demonstrations against executives of the Central Regional NPP for suspending Mr. Ekow Ewusi.

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

     

  • Koku Anyidoho ‘deserts’ Mahama, asks him to carry his own Airbus cross

    A former Director of Communications at the Office of the President under the John Evans Atta-Mills administration, Koku Anyidoho has served notice of not defending the flagbearer of the NDC in the wake of the Airbus debacle.

    Anyidoho, who appeared on Nana Fianko’s afternoon show on ATV, indicated that he is “nobody’s pawn” and is neither anybody’s henchman to go out there and fight for them on the Airbus scandal.

    A scandalized looking Koku, when asked to talk about the raging Airbus bribery scandal declined to comment.

    Throwing his hands into the air when Nana Fianko persistently asked him to say something about the matter, Koku Anyidoho reminded the host that “time was up to end the show” so if there was “nothing else to deliberate on, he should be excused”.

    “…the time is up….i walk out (of the studio),” he told the host, whiles parodying “my lips are sealed” sign.

    In what has become the biggest corporate bribery scandal in the world, Europe’s largest and arguably the world’s largest aerospace manufacturing company, Airbus, has admitted to having paid bribes to people in certain countries to influence their business transactions with those countries.

    Out of the over fifty countries on the African Continent, Ghana, got a mention.

    Airbus admitted that it paid kickbacks to a Government Official 1 through a blood relation, Intermediary 4 or Consultant 4. Government Official 1 is known to be former President John Dramani Mahama while the Intermediary 5 happens to be a sibling of his, Samuel Mahama; as claimed by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    Anyidoho, a close ally of Mills of blessed memory, is believed to know much more about the Airbus deal because of his closeness with the deceased Ghanaian leader. It is not clear why he doesn’t want to speak to the latest incident.
    Source: peacefmonline.com

  • Only a clueless government needs global misfortune to save its currency Adongo

    The Member of Parliament for Bolga Central, Isaac Adongo has said that the Bank of Ghana (BoG) is only profiting from the invasion of the coronavirus disease in China to strengthen the cedi against the major trading currencies.

    He said this smack of a government that is clueless in managing its currency with prudent policies but only takes advantage of misfortunes in other countries to do so.

    A BoG latest Summary of Economic and Financial Data report for the month of January has indicated that the cedi has gained marginal improvement against the major trading currencies.

    It added that the cedi in the first month of the year has so far appreciated 0.3 percent against the dollar, made a 1.9 percent gain on the British pound while recording a 2.3 percent appreciation against the Euro.

    But in a tweet, Mr Adongo said: “I hear BOG is celebrating a cedi profiting from a drop in demand for dollars for imports from China as a result of the outbreak of the Coronavirus in China.

    “Only a clueless Government needs global misfortune to save its currency. You haven’t learnt from Bawumia’s infamous arrest.”

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Fire razes two dormitories at Boa-Amponsem SHS

    Dunkwa-on-Offin (C/R), Feb. 4, GNA – Fire on Monday afternoon razed two male dormitories; Owusu Bore and Aggrey halls, at Boa-Amponsem Senior High School at Dunkwa-on-Offin in the Upper Denkyira East Municipality, displacing about 300 students.

    The inferno, causing extensive damage to property, took the intervention of the Municipal Fire Service to bring it under control.

    It started around 1400 hours when classes were in session.

    Madam Grace Anapong, the Head Mistress of the School, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, appealed to the Government, non-governmental organisations, old students and stakeholders to go to their aid.

    She said the School was looking for a temporary accommodation for the displaced students, who had their personal effects destroyed.

    Meanwhile investigations have commenced to ascertain the cause of fire.

    Source: ghananewsagency.org

  • Six persons arrested over missing excavators

    The Ghana Police Serice has announced the arrest of six persons over missing excavators and other equipment seized by operatives of Operation Vanguard.

    The six persons arrested so far are; Horace Ekow Ewusi, Frederick Ewusi, Joel Asamoah, Adnan Haruna, Frank Gyan and John Arhin.

    According to the police, all suspects are currently in police custody assisting investigations.

    Horace Ekow Ewusi, suspended First Vice-Chair of the Central Region is alleged to have a hand in the missing excavators, hence, the invitation to assist the CID to unravel the circumstances that led to the missing of the earth moving equipment.

    His arrest was triggered by a request from the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology & Innovation, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, to the Director-General, CID Headquarters, Accra, to commence investigations into the missing excavators and some other equipment.

    “Mr. Ekow Ewusi was contracted to cart excavators and other vehicles and pieces of equipment seized by Operation Vanguard to designated areas for safekeeping. We have received information that he sent an unknown number of equipment to unauthorized locations, including one in Tema. This was confirmed by the caretaker of the depot in Tema. Information reaching me indicates that he has sold an unknown number of the pieces of equipment, including excavators. I wish to appeal to the Police Authorities to investigate the matter”, the letter dated February 3, 2020, and requesting the Police to probe into the matter in part read.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Catherine Afeku picks up nomination forms for Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira area

    The Constituency executives and polling station executives for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira of Western Region have voluntarily picked nomination forms for the incumbent Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Hon. Catherine Afeku to seek re-election.

    The Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira Constituency has been one of the swing area which has swayed to the direction of both opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    Catherine Afeku who is seeking for re-election for the third time, won the parliamentary seat for the first time for NPP in 2008 but lost it to NDC in 2012 and came back to win it in 2016.

    The seat is being currently occupied by Catherine Afeku who is also the Minister of State at the Senior Minister Office.

    On record, no sitting Member of Parliament for Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira Constituency has won the seat for continuous two terms but Hon. Catherine Afeku had vowed to break the jinx.

    The NPP has opened nomination forms for their sitting Members of Parliament and the party is expected to hold its parliamentary elections on Saturday, April 25, 2020

    The NPP has I69 sitting Members of Parliament out of the total 275 seats in Parliament.

    The party has already elected more than 95 Parliamentary candidates who would be contesting on its ticket in orphan constituencies (areas the party does not have sitting MPs).

    The same April 25, 2020 date would also be used to elect a flagbearer for the party for Election 2020.

    The opening of the nomination forms would close on February 20, 2020.

    Picking of nomination forms by Executives

    The occasion, which could be described as a rally, was characterized by a procession of NPP faithful, sympathizers and apprentices from the constituency who picked the nomination forms on her behalf through the principal streets of Axim amidst brass band music and dance.

    Presenting the forms to Hon. Catherine Afeku at the forecourt of the Constituency office of the party over the weekend, the Constituency Youth Organiser, Samuel Dwomoh, disclosed to the charging gathering why they (Constituency Executives) together with the polling station executives contributed GHC22,000 to pick nomination forms for their sitting MP to lead the party into another victory.

    He explained that they swore to declare their unflinching support for Hon. Catherine Afeku to lead the party because of what she had done for the Constituency so far.

    “Today is a happy day for Constituency Officers, polling station Officers and for all people of Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira Constituency to support Hon. Catherine Afeku”, he said.

    “The reason is that we the Constituency Executives we have sworn that here in Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira Constituency nobody should contest Hon. Catherine Afeku because she is doing well, she has brought so many developmental projects into the Constituency”, stated.

    He, therefore, seized the charging atmosphere to call on the people of the area to rally behind her, adding that “four more deserve another, four more for Catherine Afeku, four more for Nana Addo”.

    He concluded that, “… because of the great love we have for her so we the Constituency Executives and polling station executives bought the forms for her free of charge, we know there is something good in her so we have to support her to run unopposed to continue her good works she has started”.

    Receiving the nomination forms, the MP for the area, Hon. Catherine Afeku gave thanks to the Constituency executives and polling station executives for contributing GHC22,000 to purchase forms for her to run again as their 2020 parliamentary candidate.

    She gave a brief history of the Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira parliamentary seat and said winning a parliamentary primaries doesn’t automatically mean you have gone to Parliament but one needs to work harder.

    “In Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira if you win a primaries, it doesn’t mean you have won a national election, here is not like Ashanti Region but you have to work hard before you can go to Parliament”, she admitted.

    She disclosed that, “I was elected as an MP for this Constituency when Atta Mills was the President of Ghana and I did well in Parliament and you can check my track records in the parliamentary Hansard, I was the one who fought for the name Ajomoro to be added to Evalue Gwira Constituency and now called Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira Constituency”.

    “In 2012 I contested as an incumbent MP but the people said they like an NDC person because I was an opposition MP and we accepted and for good four years years we didn’t hear our name in Parliament house and there was a report by Odikro that our MP was part of 19 silent MPs in the House. The NDC MP not make “THE” in Parliament”, she continued.

    “But in 2026, the good people of Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira brought me back to replace the NDC silent MP and from January 7, 2017 till date I have done a lot for this Constituency”, she said.

    She emphasized, “…and I thank the polling station executives, electoral area coordinators and Constituency Executives for picking nomination forms for me to seek re-election. This has not happened before for the whole Constituency Executives and polling station executives for contributing money for me to contest again”.

    She stated that this should tell everybody that the delegates have trust in her.

    She also pledged to not disappoint the delegates and promised to use humility to serve them.

    “We want everybody in Ghana to hear that for the first time in the history of Evalue-Ajomoro Gwira, Constituency Executives and polling station executives have picked nomination forms and paid all the money for their MP that their MP they endorsed her 100 percent, it goes a long way to tell you that they have faith in their MP”.

    She, therefore concluded by promising them, “I will not disappoint you, I will use humility to serve you”.

    On his part, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the area, Hon. Frank Okpenyen said Hon. Catherine Afeku deserved to be supported hence the Constituency and polling station executives contribution towards the victory of her.

    He revealed that over 600 delegates voluntarily contributed to buy the forms for Hon. Catherine Afeku, adding that this was unprecedented.

    He also used the platform given to him to declare his total support for Hon. Catherine Afeku to run unopposed.

    He urged the party members in the area to respect everybody in the Constituency and try to win more souls for the party from different political parties.

    The MCE called on the gathering to embrace the registration of the Ghana Card and register to benefit from its advantages.

    As of the time of filing this story, only Hon. Catherine Afeku had picked nomination forms to contest in the upcoming parliamentary primaries.

    Source: Daniel Kaku, Contributor

  • Drama as duabo hits Kintampo presiding member elections

    There was drama on Monday, February 3, 2020, at the premises of the Kintampo North Municipal in Kintampo in the Bono East region during the election of a Presiding Member for the Assembly.

    The Assembly had reconvened for the second time after it failed to elect a Presiding Member during its first meeting.

    But an aggrieved Assembly Member who was not happy at the turn of events stormed the premises with a Schnapps and egg and rained curses on the MCE, Mr. Michael Sarkodie Baffoe and officials of the Electoral Commission.

    With shock clearly written on the faces of bystanders, Honourable Charles Gyinde, the Assembly Member for the Busuama Electoral Area and the Kintampo North Communications Director of the NDC called on the gods to deal with the officials.

    According to him, the officials had connived to tilt the election results in favour of their preferred candidate.

    In spite of the drama, the Assembly still went ahead and elected Paul Adom Frimpong as the new presiding Member.

    Honourable Paul Adom Frimpong secured 50 Yes votes as against 13 No votes.

    Source: Aboagye Addo Frank, Contributor

  • Ghana’s timber sector develops communication strategy to grasp EU opportunities

    The Kumasi Wood Cluster (KWC) and the Ghana Timber Millers Organization (GTMO) have introduced an innovative marketing communication strategy to help the private sector capitalise on opportunities in the European Union (EU).

    The initiative, christened: “Message House,” developed in collaboration with government and civil society, will communicate measures Ghana has put in place to meet the EU criteria for wood and wood products.

    This falls under the Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA), a bilateral timber-trade agreement between the European Union and the timber-exporting country outside the Union.

    It is a key element of the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) signed over a decade ago, aimed at addressing illegal logging.

    Mr Kofi Afreh Boakye, the Chief Executive of the Domestic Lumber Traders Association, at a workshop in Accra to discuss the communication strategy, said the “Message House” would help the private sector to market itself.

    The workshop also updated stakeholders on effective messages the private sector would advance to promote and communicate the essence of Ghana’s legal timber on the European Market when licensing is ready.

    Mr Boakye assured the international community, especially the EU, that Ghana had met the sustainability and legality requirements for wood to be exported.

    He disclosed that in the past, a miscommunication of those processes and the absence of information on sustainability resulted in doubts among majority of EU countries over the sustainability of Ghana’s timber products.

    “The Europeans are more concerned about how sustainable Ghana’s legal wood system is and this is a platform where we can tell the whole world that we are not only interested in legality but also sustainability,” he said.

    However, the KWC and the GTMO is implementing a six-month project titled; “Development of private sector-focused messages for Ghana’s FLEGT license communication strategy,” funded by the Food and Agriculture Organisation-EU FLEGT Programme.

    The project is to make available facts and figures to support messages to be carried by Ghana’s overall FLEGT licensing communication.

    When ready, exporters of timber and timber products would have to meet certain criteria for FLEGT licenses to be issued on the products they export to Europe.

    With this new communication strategy, licenses issued under the FLEGT-VPA will be worthwhile.

    As part of the project activities, a photo catalogue; Ghana Wood Digest, of exported timber products, company facilities and national infrastructure have been designed.

    Mr Adjei Yeboah, former Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, said: “It is very important that our messages are strong enough. We are not just talking about an industry. It is not cosmetic.”

    “It is good we are doing this and I pray we would be able to articulate it well to the international community”.

    He debunked assertions that Ghana was not doing things right in the past, necessitating the creation of the “Message House,” and said initially emphasis was not placed on communication sustainability.

    Mr Gustav Adu, the Executive Director of KWC, recommended to the Forest Industries Association of Ghana and the companies to use the communication strategy to promote FLEGT licensed timber products.

    Source: ghananewsagency.org

  • Road Safety Authority to sanction drivers who cause road accidents

    The National Road Safety Authority (NRSC) has indicated that the time has come for drivers who cause road accidents in the country to be sanctioned.

    According to the Authority, this will go a long way to deter others and ensure that drivers observe all safety rules and regulations when on the road.

    This comes in the wake of recent accidents in the country. The National Road Safety Authority said it is stepping up its education of drivers to be cautious and observe safety measures on the road and if they fail to, they will face the necessary sanctions.

    Speaking on Uniqq FM, today February 3 2020, Director of Planning and Programmes at the NRSA, Mr David Osafo Adonteng hinted on the Authority’s decision of sanctioning drivers who cause road crashes

    ”We expect our colleagues from the Police, Motor Transport and Traffic Directorate (MTTD) to also enforce the law vigorously, this time around if anyone caught misbehaving on the road in a manner that will bring death or injury, that particular driver must be punished severely so that we will see punitive actions in terms of enforcement, and am sure that will put a lot of fear in them. If education alone cannot do the trick, then am sure we would have to bring in the harsh punishment and punitive measures so that they can change our behaviour”

    ”It is up to all of us to change our behaviour and mindset because the road environment is not a place where we joke if you make a mistake it will punish you that its why it’s important we all behave,” he added.

    He advised motorists to demonstrate discipline when using the road. Adding, he said pedestrians have some responsibility one way or the other of protecting their lives and the lives of others.

    Again, Mr Osafo stated that revoking licences of operation or halting operations of these drivers will be the forms of punishment meted out to drivers who go contrary to the rules and regulations regarding road usage.

    He said this action when taken will put some fear in drivers and owners of transport services in the country. Adding, transport owners will see the need to discipline their men to bring sanity on our roads.

    Mr Osafo Adonteng further stated that road crashes occur due to indiscipline and non-observance of road safety tips by drivers.

    On January 13 this year, a fatal accident occurred at Dompoase near Elmina in the Central Region. This left 34 people dead while several others injured.

    The incident occurred after an intercity bus with registration number GR 5704-18 collided head-on with another bus with registration number GN 3780-10.

    Again, on February 1 2020, five persons died while 14 others were injured in an accident at Gomoa Antseadze on the Accra Takoradi road.

    The accident was between an articulator truck with the registration number AS 8726-10 which collided with a Toyota minibus with registration number GX 3045-18.

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • Elvis Aseidu picks nomination form to contest Amanfrom seat

    Philanthropist, Elvis Asiedu Antwi has made good his intention of contesting the Bortianor-Ngleshie-Amanfrom constituency parliamentary primaries on the ticket of the governing New Patriotic Party.

    Mr Asiedu Antwi popularly known as General, picked the forms last Thursday, January 30, 2020 in the company of hundreds of supporters and some party delegates.

    Over the years, the businessman, has been at the back burner of partisan politics in the constituency and the Greater Accra region as a whole. But according to him, intense lobbying and pressure by some party stalwarts and delegates in the constituency located in the Greater Accra region, led to him picking the forms.

    Addressing the delegates shortly at the mini rally, Mr. Asiedu Antwi pledged his unflinching support to running a clean campaign devoid of personality attacks and strived to maintain the peaceful and cordial atmosphere the governing NPP has enjoyed in the area.

    Mr Asiedu Antwi has over the years, proved loyal to the cause of the party in the constituency by providing livelihood support schemes which have benefited polling station officers and constituents alike.

    “The headache of the people of Bortianor-Ngleshie-Amanfrom has always been my headache and will continue to be. I come to serve evident in my past work, and will continue to do so, whether I’m elected to lead this constituency or not,” Mr Asiedu Antwi told the charged crowd.

    In 2019, the philanthropist cum politician in a gesture running into thousands of Ghana cedis donated toiletries, detergents and cement for blocks to help the smooth discharge of medical care to residents in and around the Kokrobite community in the Ga South municipality.

    Mr Asiedu Antwi popularly known as General has over the last decade and beyond, made it an annual ritual to donate and help alleviate the plight of the poor and marginalized in society.

    Majority of polling station executives and ordinary constituents who are rooting for his coming have endorsed his human relation credentials and business links as a trump card to turn around the fortunes of the constituency.

    The many constituents, who are hoping to see Asiedu Antwi become their MP, say they believe in his judgement and have already bought into his “hope” campaign of securing the seat for the NPP in the December polls.

    According to them, they have lived with him in the constituency for years and have seen how he has acquainted himself, which they believe makes him a better choice to others.

    Moments after picking his forms, Mr Asiedu Antwi made his way to the Bortianor Hills plush residence of his godfather who also happens to be the Sempe Mantse of the Ga State, Nii Adote Otintor II, where he officially informed the revered Chief of his intention to contest the seat in the April 25th, primaries.

    The influential traditional ruler in giving his blessings to his son, touted the hardwork and commitment of Elvis Asiedu Antwi and urged delegates to repose their trust in him, as he has always done.

    Source: Ekow Annan, Contributor

  • EC’s reasons for new register fraudulent – Inter-Party Resistance

    The Inter-Party Resistance Against the new voters’ register says the reasons given by the Electoral Commission on why it wants to compile a new voters register are fallacious and must be rejected by all Ghanaians in the interest of safeguarding Ghana’s democracy.

    The “Resistance” which is comprised of political parties including the National Democratic Congress (NDC), All Peoples Congress (APC) and Peoples National Convention (PNC), said the EC was engaging in fraud and inherent lies with the justifications it has provided for a new register.

    In a presentation titled: Understanding Why Ghana Doesn’t Need a New Voters Register for 2020, the IT Director of the NDC, Mr Osei Kwame Griffith’s said none of the challenges suggested by the EC undermines the credibility of the current voter’s register.

    He said even though claims by the EC that some of the current mobile registration workstations were faulty were somewhat true, the workstation can be replaced at a far lower cost as compared to replacing the entire register.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • NDC parliamentary candidate for Ahanta West is dead

    The Parliamentary Candidate for the opposition National Democratic Congress for Ahanta West Constituency in the Western Region, George Kwame Aboagye, has died.

    Family sources say he died at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital.

    Mr. Kwame Aboagye became the second member of Parliament to have won the parliamentary seat for the NDC in the 2012 elections after beating the incumbent Samuel Johnfiah.

    The close family relations revealed that Aboagye known in political circles as “Abugye” has been on admission at the hospital for a while now.

    His death comes ten months to the 2020 elections

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Head-on collision claims 5 lives

    A head-on collision between an articulated truck registered as AS 8726-10 and a Toyota Hiace bus registered GX 3045-18 at Gomoa Antsadze on the Accra-Cape Coast highway has claimed five lives and left 14 others with critical injuries.

    The accident which occurred on Saturday morning created a traffic logjam demanding a police intervention to restore free-flow of vehicles.

    The passengers were members of the Good Shepherd Methodist Church in Takoradi in the Western Region who were attending the funeral of one of their members at Agona, the Apam District Police Commander, DSP Moses Osakonor, said.

    Four persons have been referred to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital while 10 other persons are still on admission at Apam Government Hospital.

    Another eyewitness of the accident, Emmanuel Amoh, told reporters that the articulated truck initiated wrong overtaking colliding with the oncoming Toyota Hiace with 19 passengers on board.

    The Apam District Police Commander called on drivers to be careful, especially during the harmattan season.

    Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

  • Life support foundation Ghana donate items to the Accra Psychiatric hospital

    Life support Foundation Ghana, an NGO, has donated food, clothes and drinks worth thousands of Cedis to the Accra Psychiatric Hospital.

    During the presentation of the items, Madam Sylvia Naa Odarley Amporful, co-founder of the NGO, expressed joy at having fulfilled her desire to spend time with the patients on her birthday.

    She said the donation was meant to put smiles on the faces of the patients as she has always been sensitive towards the cause of helping and uplifting others, especially the disadvantaged in society.

    According to her, she chose the Accra Psychiatric Hospital over other aid needing institutions because of a personal bitter experience, of a close relative who has being living with bipolar disorder.

    She disclosed how challenging this has been for her family in the last decade.

    Speaking about how her NGO which is less than a year old begun, she said it was fuelled by the burning desire to help touch lives.

    She envisions doing more to help society, especially children and women. She expressed gratitude for the support received so far and called for more help to extend the works of her NGO.

    “We hope to collaborate with the hospital to educate the public on mental illness in schools, churches and corporate organizations. This will help people know what signs to look out for and how to minimize stigmatization.”

    Madam Sylvia Naa Odarley Amporful was accompanied by close relatives and friends who also vowed to be regular donors to the hospital.

    PRO of the Accra Psychiatric hospital, Mr. Emmanuel Aboagye, thanked the organization for the kind gesture and urged the general public to continue showing unflinching support to the hospital.

    Source: TheIndependentGhana | Satsyi Esene Courage

  • Consiege 360: Lifestyle Company outdoored in Ghana

    Consiege 360, a lifestyle company to take care of day-to-day activities of busy people and industries in the country has been unveiled in Accra.

    Consiege 360 is a lifestyle management opportunity to cater to the needs of all busy people in search for ways to save, manage and make more out of the very little time they have.

    It is a full service company which will be a game changer not only within the hospitality industry, but the entire business and financial sector of the country.

    The Founder and the Managing Partner of Consiege 360, Senam Aklaku Melody,  in her speech said, “in an ever so busy world where people find it difficult to make time, there was the need help them find solutions to their problems.”

    According to her, people try to free up most of their everyday time to be able to focus on other important activities, but it is usually difficult.

    “I have interest in such people from all walks of life and every sector of life. I really wanted to understand what fundamentally drives them, where they rather spend their time, what they are looking for, what they want in life and how I can help them get there with the right resources.”

    She revealed that, it is her intention to look after the time sensitive people across Accra and subsequently focus on branching nationwide and international.

    The Founder of Consiege 360 observed, the company places prominence on privacy and discretion and will make tailor- made customer experiences available.

    A Partner of Consiege 360, Naa Ayeley Armah, in her address said, the company would offer services in travel, sports, fashion, entertainment, business events and small errands even on a personal level.

    She added, over the years, together with her business partner, decided to built a vast connection of strategic alliances with businesses including restaurants, hotels, shopping centers, clubs and hangout spots, to gather insider knowledge of services.

    “Our clients are time-poor and super busy and want to get the most out of their lives, they do not have the time to do so, they need someone creative enough to provide the ideas of time management and most importantly someone they can trust.”

    According to her, the aim is to look after a personal, business, political, celebrity and entrepreneurial type of clientele by providing them with premium services.

    She said, their services are going to be available 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

    Source: TheIndependentGhana | Maame  Agyeiwaa Agyei

  • What happened to the traditional “second thank you?” – NCCE Boss

    Chairperson for the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mrs Josephine Nkrumah, has quizzed Ghanaians on the “second thank you” tradition which now seems extinct.

    Embedded in Ghanaian cultural values is an important tradition of expressing gratitude for a kind gesture, the next day after the act.

    According to her, Ghanaians are gradually losing this core value which makes us unique.

    Mrs. Nkrumah made these comments during the 9th edition of the National Development Forum in Accra. It was organised by the National Development Planning Commission, under the theme, “Societal values and national development: consolidating the gains.”

    “Interestingly, three days ago, I had a conversation with none other than, Madam Adwoa Yeboah Afari, on the issue of the vanishing traditional second thank you.When somebody does something, you say thank you, but as our tradition demands, the following morning, you call back or you go back and say thank you again.”

    She appealed to the Ghanaian society to revisit that culture which binds us and strengthens our identity as a people.

    Mrs Nkrumah reiterated, strong societal values have long served to propel us to do what is right and it will be good to maintain them.

    She said it is imperative for Ghana to learn from Singapore to consolidate the gains of societal values.

    Mrs. Nkrumah quoted a portion of the national anthem that says, “make our nation great and strong;” saying, great and strong nations do not come from having no values.

    She said, in recent times, society has been characterised by lawlessness, destruction of environment, dishonesty, violent crimes, mistrust, immorality and several vices.

    Values of integrity, humanity, discipline, self-governance, hardwork, service to humanity, patriotism are fading away, she lamented.

    Mrs Nkrumah who was the chairperson for the 9th National Development Forum commended NDPC for organising the forum and choosing the topic.

    In her closing remarks, the NCCE boss said, the topic was thought provoking, and therefore had the propensity to alert Ghanaians to the importance of values.

    She also appealed to various media houses to help restore lost Ghanaian values, through campaigning and sensitisation.

    Source: TheIndependentGhana |Maame Agyeiwaa Agyei

  • Ghana Railways Company dismisses reports passenger coach derailed

    The Ghana Railways Company Limited has confirmed the return train from Tarkwa to Takoradi on Thursday experienced a minor challenge at Nsuta in the Tarkwa Nsueam Municipality of the Western Region.

    The company, however, says the challenge was resolved for the train to proceed safely back to Takoradi minutes after the incident.

    “When we got to Nsuta the coach carrying goods experienced a technical hitch and so we had to stop. After on-the-spot examination, the engineers agreed that the coach be left behind,” Michael Kobina Addison, the Chief Civil Engineer for Ghana Railways Company Limited, told 3news.com.

    Mr Kobina Addison added that immediately after the advice, the cargo coach was separated from the passenger side for the train to continue back to Takoradi.

    A video has emerged showing that one of the coaches for the Takoradi to Tarkwa passenger service has derailed at Nsuta.

    Mr. Kobina Addison dismissed reports that passengers had to be rushed to safety.

    “The affected coach was a cargo one. There were no passengers on that section. So it is not true that people had to be rushed to safety.”

    Issues of safety

    He explained that there is a technical team on board each trip to immediately address any issues that would arise.

    “There are also vacuums for break. So in the event of any derailment that particular coach will break off. When that happens it serves as a natural push on the other coaches and so the driver will notice it and stop.”

    Responding to the complaint of different experience on the track from Takoradi to Kojokrom as against Kojokrom to Tarkwa, Mr. Kobina Addison explained that it had to do with how old both tracks are.

    “The Takoradi to Kojokrom rail lines were built and completed in 2016. So they are very new and it is also a dual gauge. But the track from Kojokrom to Tarkwa is a narrow gauge and are more than 100 years old. They have completed two life cycles. The life cycle of a track is around 50 years.”

    He indicated that it is the same tracks that they use to haul manganese from Nsuta.

    “And so because of that, we carry out routine maintenance works on them. And I must add that before the commencement of this free passenger service we had several successful test runs on the track.”

    He stated that where the incident happened had steel sleepers.

    “As I speak the coach has been cleared from the track. This morning our train set off for Tarkwa and so far we have had no challenge.”

    Source: 3news.com

  • Parliament approves increment in passport fees

    Parliament has accordingly approved an upward review of passport fees and other services provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration made this known in a press release dated January 30, 2020.

    It said the new fees are to take effect from February 1, 2020.

    Passport Fees Breakdown

    With the approval, ordinary passport which used to be GHC 50 for 32 pages will now cost GHC 100, while the 48 pages passport will be processed at GHC 150.

    The fee for expedited service of the 32 pages is now pegged at GHC 150 instead of GHC100 while 48 pages booklet at expedited service is now GHC 200.

    Attestation Of Legal Documents

    The old fee of GHC 25 for attestation of legal documents has been adjusted to GHC 37.50.

    Travel Certificate

    For travel certificate, the fee has been increased from GHC 25 to GHC 37.50.

    Meanwhile, the Ministry has indicated that the 48 pages passport booklet will take effect from February 1.

    Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

  • Foreign Affairs Ministry introduces 48-page Passport, announces new fees for their services

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has announced new fees for the services they provide.

    The Ministry in a release said the new fees were approved by Parliament and it will take effect from February 1, 2020.

    The Ministry also announced that they have introduced a 48-page Passport Booklet.

    The new fees have seen the ordinary 32 pages Passport going for GHC 100.00 and 48 pages for GHC 150.00.

    The Expedited 32 pages also go for GHC 150.00 and the 48 pages going for GHC 200.00.

    One now has to pay GHC 37.50 for the attestation of legal documents and pay the same amount for a travel document.

    Below is the release

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • CHRAJ records more human rights abuses in Central Region

    The Central Regional office of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) last year recorded a total of 667 human rights infractions as compared with the 660 cases recorded in 2018.

    Of a total of 824 cases received for various rights infractions, administrative justice and anti-corruption, 577 were closed while 125 are pending.

    One hundred and two of the cases were from the previous year (2018).

    Mr Theophilus Tetteh Tuwor, the Regional Director of the Commission made this known in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Cape Coast on Monday.

    Among the rights infractions, child rights related cases including non-maintenance, right to education, name and access as well as custody was the highest with 334 reported cases.

    This was followed by property rights related issues of destruction of property, retrieval, truancy, share of property and inheritance with 101 recorded cases, while breach of agreement, non-payment of salary, SSNIT and right to work registered 117 cases.

    Women rights related cases such as non-maintenance, non-performance of customary rights and denial of paternal responsibility recorded 81, while civil and political issues relating to the right to bury, respect and dignity registered 32 cases.

    Touching on the performance of the districts in the 12 administrative districts of CHRAJ in the Region, Mr Tuwor mentioned the highest recorded districts to include Agona Swedru, Winneba, Cape Coast, Dunkwa-on-Offin, Saltpond and Abura-Dunkwa.

    Ajumako, Breman-Asikuma, Apam, Assin Fosu, Elmina and Twifo Praso were among the districts with least recorded cases.

    However, the only anti-corruption case recorded in the Region came from Assin-Fosu with the Cape Coast Metropolitan Area having the most reported cases of administrative justice, which was 13.

    The Regional Director of CHRAJ called on parents, family members and community leaders to report cases of sexual abuse of children to expose perpetrators, adding that CHRAJ was ready to offer protection to citizens who reported crimes to avoid victimisation.

    The Commission, he said scaled-up public education programmes at the community level, schools, groups and institutions on how they could demand accountability from public officers.

    Such engagements, he said, offered the citizenry the opportunity to learn basic human rights and allowed those who ordinarily would not have the opportunity to access legal services to also report and pursue corruption related cases.

    Source: ghananewsagency.org

  • Health officials on alert over possible coronavirus outbreak in Tema

    Health officials in Tema say they are on high alert over a possible coronavirus outbreak in the area.

    This they say is due to the influx of foreign nationals mostly Chinese who come into the country to do business at the Tema Port.

    The World Health Organization (WHO) said Thursday in a press conference that it is declaring coronavirus an international health emergency.

    The coronavirus has claimed over 170 lives already with over 7,000 affected and many countries are on high alert for any possible outbreak.

    Ghana has tightened surveillance at various ports and borders to ensure the disease does not find its way into the country.

    Medical Director of the Tema General Hospital Dr Richard Anthony says measures are in place to deal with the situation should it arise.

    “Influenza surveillance has always been ongoing by the public health department so we have put in structures, emergency response team, nurses, doctors and security men and others. Nationally there is a national response team to make sure that any such case will quickly be managed”

    However, Associate Professor of Microbiology at the University of Health and Allied Sciences Theophilus Adiku is calling for the deployment of rapid test kits and ambulances at the country’s entry points to fast track early detection and treatment of the deadly disease.

    The Majority in Parliament early this week enough preparations have been made to deal with the disease should it find its way into Ghana.

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • Four siblings burnt to death near Kintampo

    Tragedy hit a family when four children of the family were burnt to death at Bonche, a farming community near Portor in the Kintampo municipality in the Bono East Region, yesterday.

    The deceased are Freda Stephen, seven; Nyanne Nabada, four; Nabada Uwumboryakii, three, and Faith Stephen, nine months.

    How it started

    According to the police, the eldest of the siblings, Freda, set fire to drive some bees that had invaded their cottage, in the process of which the fire gutted the structure, burning the children to death.

    The incident happened when their parents had gone to farm.

    The Bono Regional Police Public Relations Officer (PRO), Chief Inspector Mr Augustine Kingsley Oppong, who is also in charge of the Bono East and the Ahafo regions, told the Daily Graphic that when the police visited the scene with some community members, they found the charred bodies of the deceased.

    According to him, the police at Kadelso, near Kintampo, received a distress call from the Assembly Member for the Gulumpe Electoral Area, Mr Emmanuel Tananja, about the incident.

    “The police rushed to the scene and found all the children and the structure completely burnt,” Chief Inspector Oppong said.

    He said the bodies were removed and deposited at the Kintampo Municipal Hospital mortuary, pending autopsy.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • NLA gets new office complex in Ho

    The National Lottery Authority (NLA) under the leadership of Kofi Osei-Ameyaw has built an ultra-modern Regional Office Complex for the Staff, Lotto Marketing Companies and other stakeholders in Ho, Volta Region.

    Previously, the Authority was renting an office space for its day-to-day businesses, administration and operations in the Region.

    The new office complex serves as a relief for the Staff of the Authority in the Volta Region.

    Upon assumption of Office as the Director-General of NLA, Hon. Kofi Osei-Ameyaw has also supervised the refurbishment of the Secretariat for Veterans Administration Ghana(VAG) and refurbishment of the Head Office for the Association of Lotto Marketing Companies.

    Plans are far advanced to establish more Offices for the National Lottery Authority (NLA) across the Country to meet the demands of accessibility, availability and visibility as far as the Customers/Clients of the Authority are concerned.

    The National Lottery Authority (NLA) would continue to be innovative in order to support Government to raise revenue for national development as well as create jobs for the good people of Ghana.

    Source: Dickson Boadi, Contributor

  • Boreholes in Dodowa polluted – Study

    A water and sanitation baseline study in Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region has established that all wells and boreholes in the community contain bacteria from human and animals faeces, making it unsafe for human consumption.

    The survey also found that more than 70 per cent of the hand-dug wells were sited within 10 metres of latrines, waste dumps and unlined wastewater drains.

    The findings were disseminated at a workshop to share the outcome of a five-year project which assessed the quality of water from wells and boreholes in Dodowa.

    The survey was a joint project by the Department of Civil Engineering and the Regional Water and Environmental Sanitation Centre of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the Central University, with support from Unlocking the Potential of Groundwater for the Poor (UPGro), an international research programme funded by the UK, and the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education.

    The workshop, organised in collaboration with the Resource Centre Network (RCN), brought together about 100 participants drawn from Dodowa, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other stakeholders in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH).

    Findings

    Sharing the findings, the Head of the Civil Engineering Department of the Kwame Nkrumah University, Prof. Sampson Oduro-Kwarteng, said the researchers looked at the pollution risk assessment of 57 wells in the community and sampled water from them.

    The samples, which were tested in the field laboratories or transported to The Netherlands, indicated that 27 per cent of the dug-out wells were positive for rotavirus, while 55 per cent had adenovirus, with other pathogens and pollutants also identified.

    “What we found in Dodowa can be said to be a nationwide thing,” he said and explained that the findings and recommendations would help improve the quality of water from boreholes and wells across the nation.

    Polluted boreholes

    A Senior Lecturer at the Civil Engineering Department of the Central University, Dr George Lutterodt, who was a co-investigator in the survey, said although two per cent of the people sampled claimed they drank water directly from the polluted boreholes or wells, it was found that the water from such sources were mainly used for cooking, washing and bathing.

    “The irregular flow of water from the Ghana Water Company Limited forces the people to rely on the polluted water,” he said.

    Dr Lutterodt added that the depths of the boreholes and wells sampled were less than a metre to seven metres and the water table was very close to the surface, just like in all communities in the southern part of the country.

    Apart from the poor quality of well water, Dr Lutterodt said, it was also found that rivers in the community were also polluted, while littering and dumping of refuse and open defecation were also prevalent.

    The report concluded that every household must own a well-built toilet facility, have access to clean, potable water and practise good sanitation.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • New Register: Advisory Committee snubs NDC

    The Eminent Advisory Committee (EAC) of the Electoral Commission (EC) has urged political parties to support the EC in the compilation of the new voters’ register to ensure smooth and transparent elections in December.

    In a statement signed by Sylvia Annor, acting Director of Public Affairs of the EC, the group urged all political parties to, as a matter of national importance, assist the EC to discharge its electoral duties as enshrined in the national constitution.

    “They advised all stakeholders to put Ghana first in all they do and continue to support the EC with suggestions and recommendations aimed at improving our electoral process,” the statement said.

    The recent stance of the Committee would be a jolt on the National Democratic Congress and other groups that have vehemently opposed the compilation of the new register.

    Read the full statement below:

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Krif Ghana to award loyal customers

    The leading dealer in the sale and distribution of Superior Quality Office Stationery and Equipment, Krif Ghana Ltd. will on Wednesday 29th January, 2020 award its loyal customers for their contributions towards the growth of Krif for the past 33 years.

    The award is to show appreciation to customers who have purchased and supported Krif products over the years.

    The award will come off at the product exhibition and the launch of Free A4 Promotion at the British Council in Accra.

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    The promotion seeks to reward cherished customers who make purchases of the quality office equipment and stationery with A4 Photocopier Paper which is undoubtedly the most essential material for every office.

    The Free A4 photocopier paper promotion will help save the customer money which hitherto would have been used to purchase A4 photocopier papers.

    At the same event, there will be a display of a wide array of top-notch quality products from Money counting machines, security safes, binding and laminating machines, and assorted stationery items sourced from world-acclaimed brands such as Olympia Of Germany, Herlitz Of Germany, Pelikan Of Germany, Durable Of Germany, Geha Of Germany, Tesa Of Germany, Magner and Fellowes Of USA, Uchida Of Japan, Techno Express Of Spain. Diplomat of Korea, FIS of UAE, Bantex Of Denmark etc.

    There will also be other offers, including massive discounts on all products at the event. While experts from the engineering Department of Krif will educate and provide guests and customers with indispensable information about the products and services of Krif Ghana.

    This three-in-one event (Product Exhibition, Launch of Free A4 Promotion and Customer Awards) has been packaged in a way that will benefit not only the customers but everyone present at the event.

    KRIF Ghana Limited has been a household brand which for 33 years has provided quality security safes, money counting machines office equipment and stationery to Ghana and beyond.

    Source: Krif Ghana

  • Cervical cancer kills 2,000 women annually – Health professionals

    Although it is preventable and treatable when detected early, cervical cancer is killing over 2,000 women every year in the country, health professionals have said.

    At a national forum in Accra, Friday, January 25, 2019, to raise awareness of the disease, about 10 medical doctors who spoke attributed the high mortality rate to reasons such as late screening and late detection.

    They, therefore, called for voluntary screening and early treatment to help save lives.

    Stacy Amoateng lied about the cause of her cervical cancer Society of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists of Ghana reacts

    The forum, held on the theme: “Cervical cancer prevention, a call to action,” was also used to sustain the momentum of public education and screening beyond January, this year, which had been set aside as cervical cancer awareness month.

    It was an initiative of the Society of Gynaecologists and Obstetricians of Ghana (SOGOG) in partnership with the Samira Empowerment Foundation, the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and other stakeholders.

    In a presentation, an oncologist at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr Hawa Malechi, indicated that while people often wanted to see symptoms of diseases before seeking medical attention, cervical cancer posed no symptoms at the treatable stages.

    “Once symptoms for cervical cancer show, then it has reached a very advanced stage that can only be managed and not treated and at that point, chances of survival is less than 50 per cent,” she said.

    Cervical cancer still the leading cause of death in women Dr. Kwaku Ansah-Opoku

    Throwing more light on the condition, she said cervical cancer developed in a woman’s cervix (the entrance to the womb from the vagina) and mainly affected sexually active women aged between 30 and 60.

    Human Papilloma Virus

    Dr Malechi, who is the first woman oncologist from Northern Ghana, said almost all cases of cervical cancer were caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), describing it as a very common virus that could be passed on through any type of sexual contact with a man.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Nothing works in Kumasi Bantamahene fumes

    The Bantamahene has bemoaned the spate of development in Kumasi despite promises made to the people of the region by the NPP government.

    According to him, although members of the government keep speaking of grand ideas, very little action has been seen in the region with regards to development.

    “with all sincerity before God, nothing works properly in Kumasi and the KMA boss who is sitting close to me knows it. Everybody does what they want.”

    Enough of the ideas; start doing action Bantamahene to government

    “Our pedestrian walkways have been taken over by hawkers. Commercial drivers have left their stations picking up passengers from all places and creating a mess. Stalls have been erected haphazardly taking away the beauty of plush settlements like Nhyieso,” he fumed when spoke on behalf of the Asantehene at the swearing-in ceremony of assembly members of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly.

    He disclosed that Manhyia and its council of chiefs are so furious with the state of the city and had even begun contemplating withdrawing the 55% of stool land revenues that it generously advances to the assembly to carry out its developmental projects.

    “The way we the chiefs are wild, if you are not careful we will withdraw our 55% stool land revenues from the assembly and develop Kumasi ourselves and you know that when the Opemsuo speaks, it is final,” he dared.

    A/R: Manhyia moves to withdraw from MMDAs over alleged sidelining of chiefs

    Baffour Amankwatia VI charged the assembly members to be goal-oriented and serious about cleaning up the mess in the Kumasi Metropolis.

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Avail yourself to access HIV testing services – AIDS Commission urges the public

    The Director-General of Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC), Kyeremeh Atuahene, has urged the public to avail themselves for HIV testing services for comprehensive care as the country strives to meet the global target of ending AIDS by 2030.

    He called on Ghanaians to make a difference by contributing their quota to eradicate the deadly disease.

    He said his outfit is committed to fighting HIV adding that “We have got to do more to achieve the 90-90-90 targets and we encourage every Ghanaian to do AIDS test.”

    Speaking on Accra-based Kingdom FM, he said: “The commission recognizes the need to support everybody who is affected by the disease, particularly those who have been abandoned by families after their parents died of HIV but we are constrained by funds.”

    He admitted the country’s inability to meet the 90-90-90 HIV targets of 90 percent of the population knowing their status, 90 percent of those who are HIV positive getting ART treatment and 90 percent of those on ART treatment having viral suppression.

    He said as Ghana strived to achieve epidemic control, it was important stakeholders worked together to achieve what he called a fast track target by 2020.

    Source: Pulse.com.gh

  • Fishermen fight EC over voter registration date

    Fisher folk in the four fishing regions have called on the Electoral Commission to change the date for the new voter registration as the fixed date, April 2020, will not favour them.

    According to them, most fisher folk travel to different countries for fishing from March to September and sticking to the stated registration date will disenfranchise a lot of them.

    They have therefore appealed to the National Peace Council (NPC) to impress the EC to rescind its decision.

    No premix fuel in Salakope over two years Fishermen cry

    “Many fisher folks are at sea in neighboring countries and hence cannot be back in time to engage in the new registration exercise. This means that should the EC and the government go ahead with their plan, many fisher folks would be disenfranchised because of no fault of theirs. The number of fisher folks currently on fishing expedition in other countries is extremely huge this time around due to the breaks in fishing activities in Ghana. Therefore, any attempt to go ahead with the exercise without taking them into consideration would be suicidal for our ever-growing democracy,” spokesperson for the aggrieved fishermen in the Greater Accra, Volta, Central and Western Regions, John Quayson, told GhanaWeb in a telephone interview.

    He called on the Akufo-Addo government to intervene as the fishing sector also contributes to the economic and political well-being of the country.

    “A call is made on the President to act in the interest of the fishermen whose operations contribute immensely to the economic and socio-political well-being of Ghana.”

    Tema fishermen disagree on significance of flags on canoes

    The fishermen are, however suggesting that the voter registration exercise be rescheduled it to November 2020.

    This is despite calls by many groups that even April is not enough time for the registration to be done and everything put in place for the December elections.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Driver crashes into sidewalk as car catches fire at Mile 7

    But for the intervention of eyewitnesses, a Hyundai Santa Fe would have burnt to ashes at Achimota mile 7 Friday morning.

    The car with registration number GW 6363-16 caught fire a few metres from the Achimota Mall but the driver, a middle-aged woman was able to escape without any injury.

    A Jubilee House security personnel who helped the woman out of the car, Inspector Samuel Ninson, believes a faulty electrical wiring in the car, was responsible for the fire.

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    The woman who was taken aback when the bonnet of her vehicle caught fire, crashed into the sidewalk as she tried to park it.

    Residents rushed to her rescue with buckets of water as others poured heaps of sand.

    They successfully put out the fire thereby preventing an explosion, that could have been of dire consequence.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Auditor-General begs Senior Minister for more time

    Auditor-General(A-G) Daniel Yao Domelovo is pleading with the Senior Minister Yaw Osafo-Maafo for more time to access, collate and file evidence and documents he claims to have based his purported disallowance and surcharge decision on against Osafo-Maafo and four other eminent public officers.

    Mr. Domelovo has refused to file the said documents in the high court 14 days after service of the appeal filed by Mr. Osafo-Maafo and the four others contrary to the provisions of the applicable law which deems such conduct a contempt of the High Court.

    OccupyGhana hails constitutional independence of Auditor-General

    This prompted the Senior Minister and the others to comply with the law by citing the A-G for contempt of the Accra High Court. Subsequent to the publication of the contempt application, the A-G, in a letter sighted by this media platform is pleading with Mr. Osafo-Maafo and the four others for “further period of 14 days” after he has failed to comply with the law more than a month ago.

    It is yet to be known whether the Senior Minister and the four others have the power to grant the plea being made by the Auditor-General Daniel Domelovo.

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    BACKGROUND

    The Auditor-General was mandated to file with the Registry of the High Court copies of all documents he was required to rely on before making a decision on disallowance and surcharge 14 days from 13th December 2019, when, according to the court registry, he was served with the said notice of Appeal.

    Based on information already in the public domain Mr. Osafo-Maafo and the four others believe that the Auditor-General could not produce any document in accordance with the provisions of Order 54A rule 5(1) within the period provided by the law because he did not have any audit working papers since if he did, he could have readily accessed and filed them within 14 days.

    Source: primenewsghana.com

  • One grabbed over shooting of police officer at Mankessim

    The Central Regional Police CID has arrested one Isaac Eshun, the owner of Zen Filling Station near which a police officer was shot dead on Wednesday.

    Before the incident, police officers had foiled a robbery attack at the fuel station.

    Investigations were immediately launched into the murder with the Central Regional Command assisted by the Crime Scene Management Team from the Criminal Investigations Directorate at headquarters.

    IGP offers GHC10k bounty for Mankessim cop killer

    The team realized that the spent cartrigdes retrieved from the murder scene are suspected to have been fired from a shot gun and pistol belonging to the owner of the fuel station.

    Lance Corporal Kingsley Boahene was in mufti, however, when he was killed at the scene 400 meters away from the fuel station, which is situated on the Mankessim-Kumasi road.

    The police are on the heels of a second suspect “to assist with investigations”.

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    Isaac Eshun is expected to be put before court.

    Source: 3news.com

  • Today’s newspapers front page

          

  • Fuel station owner arrested over Mankessim police killing

    The Central Regional Police CID has arrested one Isaac Eshun also known as Nana Nyeiku VII, the owner of Zen Filling Station where suspected shot and killed a police officer G/L/Cpl. Kingsley Boahene of Mankesim District.

    Crime scene investigation conducted by the Regional CID with its Crime Scene Management Team working in conjunction with Crime Scene Management Team from the CID Headquarters reportedly found out that the spent cartridges retrieved from the murder scene are suspected to have been fired from the shotgun and pistol belonging to the fuel station.

    IGP offers GHC10k bounty for Mankessim cop killer

    The deceased who was found in a supine position in a pool of blood was wearing blue shorts with a white top.

    Efforts are underway to arrest a second suspect to assist with the investigation.

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Ex-BoG governor reportedly wanted

    Report reaching DGN online indicates that the police have launched a manhunt for the arrest of a former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiamah.

    The former is deputy Governor is wanted in connection with the banking crisis that led to the collapse of nine commercial banks.

    The police are also on the heels of Dr Kwabena Duffuor and his son Dr Kwabena Duffuor Jnr for their various roles in the banking sector crisis. Duffuor Jnr was the Chief Executive of the defunct bank before it collapsed.

    Police sources said the three persons have not only refused to honour several invitations sent to them to assist in investigations but they are also finding it difficult to locate them.

    Dr Asiamah is also allegedly linked to attempt to print extra money totalling GHC1billion outside the banking system ahead of the 2016 elections.

    That case was being handled by operatives of the National Security.

    Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

  • Today’s newspapers front pages

     

  • GES revises promotion process for staff

    The Ghana Education Service (GES) has revised its promotion processes, with the aim to improve efficiency and effectiveness.

    The management of the GES said all staff of the service due for promotion would now undergo an aptitude test for all ranks from Principal Superintendent to Deputy Director.

    “Officers who get promoted to deputy directorship shall be expected to attend face-to-face interviews if they desire to become heads of schools or any other position that may require interviewing,” the Director-General of the GES, Professor Opoku-Amankwa, told the Daily Graphic in an interview in Accra yesterday.

    He said the review had been done after extensive deliberations and consultations with key stakeholders, with the approval of the GES Council and in accordance with regulations of the Public Services Commission (PSC).

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    Prof. Opoku-Amankwa said the new promotion process was being introduced for a good reason — to ensure that the about 35,000 GES staff who applied for promotion every year went through the process fairly, transparently and based on competence.

    The switch to aptitude tests for promotion has been necessitated by the tonnes of petitions the GES receives every year from teachers alleging that the performance appraisals and interviews used for promotions are fraught with victimisation and corruption.

    Applicants for 2019

    Last year, 47,323 applicants submitted documentation for promotion, the director-general disclosed, adding that the applicants were yet to attend interviews in that regard.

    He gave the breakdown as follows: 4,413 for the rank of Deputy Director, 10,724 for Assistant Director I, 26,876 for Assistant Director II, 3,816 for Principal Superintendent, while 1,494 applied for non-teaching ranks.

    He said every year, “the GES sets up about 150 panels across the country, with each panel having five members”.

    Each panel interviewed eight people a day, according to PSC regulations, and they worked for three to six months to finish up all applicants, he added.

    Petitions

    “Meanwhile, every year, the GES receives almost a thousand petitions on promotions, all levelled against GES staff in the district, regional and national headquarters, as well as interview panels across the country,” he said.

    Oti, Volta teachers fume over GHS120 stipend for GES workshop

    Prof. Opoku-Amankwa explained that the petitions included allegations of victimisation and corruption, explaining that apart from the complaints, the process was tedious and expensive.

    “Based on these and many other reasons, the GES management, in June last year, initiated the move to reform the promotion process within the confines of PSC guidelines.

    “The details and input into the new process have been agreed on with teacher unions and accepted by the GES Council,” he added.

    He said the management had done extensive education and sent out announcements on the new promotion process, “which have been received and accepted in good faith”.

    He said the least opportunity he had with teachers, he touched on the subject, adding: “Recently, we did training for SHS core teachers and I used the opportunity of my visit to talk to them about the new promotion process and they agreed.”

    The GES intended to do a road show from the first week of next month to educate and inform teachers on the details of the new process, he hinted.

    “The areas where questions will be generated are the same areas they prepare on for the interviews and the proposed examination is between 45 and 60 minutes for each rank,” Prof. Opoku-Amankwa said.

    Areas of aptitude test

    The director-general said, for instance, that the aptitude test for those seeking promotion to the ranks of Principal Superintendent, Assistant Director I and II would cover knowledge of the ministry and the GES, school/classroom management, theories of learning, assessing and evaluation, contemporary issues in education, as well as current and general knowledge.

    He said those applying for the rank of Deputy Director would, “in addition to the above, be tested in education administration and management”, explaining that those areas were the same as those used in promotion.

    Prof. Opoku-Amankwa hinted that the examination was fixed for February 20 and 21 and that the results should be ready by the end of March this year.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Students undergo medical examination under Free SHS

    First-year Senior High School (SHS) students in the country are benefitting from a mandatory free medical examination initiative as part of the Free SHS programme.

    The programme is funded by the Ghana Health Service (GHS) in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES).

    Free SHS will produce dangerous graduates Hassan Ayariga

    Before the Free SHS Programme, first-year students were required to pay about GH¢50 to undergo the examination which was done by schools that partnered health facilities, both private and public in their districts, to do so.

    However, the Chairman of the GES Council, Mr Michael Nsowah, told the Daily Graphic that almost all the three cohorts of the Free SHS programme had gone through the medical examination without paying because the Ministries of Health and Education had absorbed the cost.

    Unfortunate

    Mr Nsowah said it was unfortunate that people spoke about the Free SHS without looking at the free medical examination that went with it, saying at least it had saved parents some money.

    “No student has been charged for undergoing the free medical examination. Before the introduction of the Free SHS, all students were required to do medical examinations arranged by the schools.

    Thank God for Free SHS Bishop Kankam Boadu

    “But now schools, under the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education collaboration, have established a relationship with the nearest government health facilities in their districts to provide the free examination to students without paying,” he said.

    Arrangements

    Mr Nsowah said the arrangement between the GES and the GHS was smooth so far as no student had reported paying any money to do the examination.

    He said students who went through the free examination had their records kept at the health facilities so that in case they needed any health attention, their documents could be picked and attended to swiftly.

    Mr Nsowah said the free health care started with the current third-year students but not in all schools, adding that however, almost all the first and second-year students had benefited from it now.

    Conduct

    “While we were arranging this for the first batch of students, we stopped the schools from conducting the private medical examination.

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    “Our students have benefitted because of the arrangement between the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health,” Mr Nsowah said.

    Free SHS

    The government started the Free SHS programme aimed at building an educated population for speedy national development from the 2017-2018 academic year.

    In addition to the free tuition, there are no admission, library, science centre, computer laboratory, examination or utility fees.

    There are also free textbooks, free boarding and free meals, among other things.

    Free SHS was a key campaign promise of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2012 and 2016 general elections.

    About 1.2 million students are currently benefitting from the Free SHS programme.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Operational factors force GWCL to ration water

    The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) says it has begun rationing water in some parts of the country due to a number of factors affecting the treatment and distribution of water.

    The factors include low pressure from its treatment plants, low levels of water bodies, illegal mining activities (galamsey), the high demand for water and high turbidity of water.

    The Public Affairs Manager of the GWCL, Mr Stanley Martey, told the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday that some of the areas where the rationing was going on were Teshie and Dansoman in Accra and the Tamale and the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolises.

    Contaminated Tano river restored to its natural state GWCL

    He said the company was working tirelessly to resolve some of the challenges which were within their means.

    He said the challenge within Accra was the result of low pressure and the high demand for water, although the treatment plants at Kpong and Weija were functioning.

    “There is also the issue of burst pipes in the communities. When that happens, we isolate or shut down that particular area, so we can have the pipeline to work on and there are several of them,” he said, adding: “As we speak now, there is some improvement in the system.”

    Other regions

    In the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis, Mr Martey explained, the main challenge, apart from the low levels of water, was the continued galamsey activities on the Pra River.

    He said the company produced only 11 million gallons of water daily from its treatment plants at Inchaban and Daboase, out of which only three million gallons were currently treated.

    GWCL fires Mahama over remark

    “We lose about 40 per cent of available water because the water is very dirty and filthy. With the remaining 60 per cent, we are forced to use a lot more chemicals than we usually do because of the high turbidity, making the cost of treatment very high. Now we don’t have enough in the system to meet the demand of the population in Sekondi-Takoradi,” he noted.

    In Tamale, he mentioned, among other things, sand winning on the Nawuni River (White Volta) and the over-reliance on the use of water from the GWCL for car washing and animal rearing as the major causes of the water shortage.

    Fight against galamsey

    Stressing the damage caused by illegal mining, he called on all to join in the fight to help the company have enough clean water to treat and distribute.

    “Looking at the rate at which galamsey is being done on the Pra River, if we do not stop it within the next month and we do not get rains within the period, then we may have to shut down the treatment plants at Inchaban and Daboase,” he said.

    On the way forward, Mr Martey urged the public to report any burst pipe or leakage that might occur in their communities for repairs.

    He also urged them to minimise the use of water from the GWCL to water their lawns, wash their cars, among others.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Bole curfew to be lifted soon – Ambrose Dery

    The Minister for Interior Ambrose Dery has paid a one-day working visit to the newly created Savannah Region.

    Mr Dery first visited the Savannah Regional Coordinating Council where he met with the Minister in-charge of the region Salifu Adam Braimah who led the minister and his team to meet with the security services in the region including the Savannah Regional Police Command, Savannah Regional Fire Command and the Regional Immigration Service Command.

    The Interior Minister inspected separate guard of honours mounted by the security and also interacted with the personnel of the security services.

    Kidnapping not new in Ghana Ambrose Dery

    He used the opportunity to address several issues raised by the security personnel including accommodation, promotions, lack of vehicles to help in their operations in the region.

    The Minister and entourage later paid a courtesy call on the overlord of the Gonja traditional area, Yagbonwura Borasa Tuntumba at the Jakpa Palace in Damongo.

    At the Jakpa Palace, Yagbonwura Boresa welcomed the minister and his entourage into the Savannah Region and used the opportunity to make several appeals to the him regarding security issues in the region.

    Yagbonwura Borasa told the Minister that he is worried about the rampant killings going on in the region citing Bole area where recently some persons were shot with one of the victims still receiving treatment in the hospital.

    He praised the Police Service in the region for reducing the rate of armed robbery which has become another major problem in the region.

    Yagbonwura Tuntumba Boresa spoke about the recent one on the Bole-Tinga road and appealed for more Police Posts in the area and more police officers to beef up the security situation in the Region.

    He further spoke about the various chieftaincy conflicts in the Savannah Region mentioning that of Bole, Damongo and so on and as well called for a collaboration between his committee of eminent chiefs charged to resolve the chieftaincy issues in the region and the national security outfit to resource the committee find lasting solutions to the chieftaincy issues.

    Civilians own guns, so how is arming MTTD cops a threat? Ambrose Dery

    Mr Dery in response to the request put forward by the Yagbonwura thanked him for his role in finding lasting solution to the Dagbon chieftaincy issues.

    He also reminded the Yagbonwura that he was brought up in Damongo and attended his school in Damongo and will, therefore, make sure the request by Yagbonwura to resource the Security Services in the region is attended to immediately.

    He applauded the Yagbonwura for forming the committee of eminent chiefs to solve the issues in Gonjaland and promised to consult the national security minister to help the committee.

    Mr Dery also sought permission from the Yagbonwura to lift the curfew in Bole since the REGSEC is advising him to do that.

    Yagbonwura Tuntumba Boresa in response to the minister about the Bole curfew suggested to the Minister to give him time to consult his council before getting back to him through the Savannah Regional minister.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Were on alert for Coronavirus Health Ministry

    The Ministry of Health has assured Ghanaians it is taking the necessary steps to prevent Coronavirus which is spreading in China from entering Ghana.

    There are fears the dangerous virus can make its way into Ghana considering the closely knitted relationship between nationals of both countries.

    Scores of Chinese nationals are into numerous activities in Ghana including illegal mining while many Ghanaian business owners travel to China to conduct business.

    Passengers from China to be screened to prevent spread of Coronavirus

    In a statement, the health ministry said: “The Health Authorities in China confirmed an outbreak of a novel Coronavirus Infection on the 7th January 2020 in Wuhan Province in China following a series of reported cases of pneumonia of unknown cause in December 2019.

    “The outbreak was linked to a local animal market (spread from animals to humans) but has also been found to spread from one person to the other. It can be spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes on another person. The disease is characterized by fever, cough and difficulties in breathing. So far, four people have been confirmed dead due to the disease.

    “Three other countries (Thailand, South Korea and Japan and United Arab Emirates) have also reported cases. The World Health Organisation has called on countries to strengthen prevention and control measures for 2019-nCoV. Following the notification of the member states of the WHO on the outbreak, Ghana has initiated measures to protect the general public from the disease. The following measures are currently being implemented: 1. Alert message sent to all regions in Ghana on the outbreak in addition to guidance information on the disease 2. Enhanced surveillance at points of entry especially the Kotoka International Airport”.

    The statement added: “In addition, there is in-country capacity to diagnose 2019-nCoV through laboratory testing of the appropriate samples by the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research. As part of measures to prevent an outbreak in Ghana, passengers from China will undergo enhanced screening procedures including the administration of health questionnaire. Health facilities have also been alerted to prepare and manage cases in case of an outbreak. The general public is advised to adhere to the following measures as part of prevention”.

    Source: kasapafmonline.com

  • Passengers from China to be screened to prevent spread of Coronavirus

    The Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced a series of measures it is taking to prevent the spread of Coronavirus in Ghana including screening all passengers from China.

    China has recorded cases of Coronavirus where nine persons have been reported dead.

    “As part of measures to prevent an outbreak in Ghana, passengers from China will undergo enhanced screening procedures including the administration of health questionnaire. Health facilities have also been alerted to prepare and manage cases in case of outbreak,” a statement from the MoH noted.

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    The health authorities in China confirmed the outbreak of the Novel Coronavirus in December, 2019 after a series of reported cases of pneumonia of unknown cause.

    The outbreak was linked to a local animal market spread from animals to humans but has also been found to spread from one person to the other.

    It can be spread when an infected person coughs or sneeze on another person.

    Thailand, South Korea, Japan and the United Arab Emirates have also reported cases of the disease.

    China gifts 100 police vehicles to Ghana

    The statement signed by the sector minister; Kwaku Agyeman-Manu assured that Ghana has in-country capacity to diagnose the infection at the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research.

    Authorities have, however, cautioned the public to regularly wash their hands with soap and water, keep a distance from persons showing signs of fever and immediately seek treatment upon suspicion of infection.

    COROVIRUS-1 by The Independent Ghana on Scribd

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Police mutilate robbers leg

    A robbery operation has been foiled by the police, with one of the suspected robbers severely suffering a gunshot in the right ankle, an incident which occurred on the Bole-Bamboi highway in the Savannah Region.

    The purposeful but failed suspected armed robbers, wielding guns, tried to raid a moving vehicle carrying goods, The Chronicle understands.

    The suspected robber, who was shot in the ankle by a police officer onboard the vehicle, was nabbed after he and two others attempted to rob the goods in a Mercedes Benz distribution van, with the registration number GX 5225 17, last Friday at 1:30 pm.

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    Driven by one Mr. Amoah Amponsah, the van was carrying assorted soft drinks, and escorted by Mr. Adjei Yaw Hayford and Stella Darsi, sales personnel. They were driving from Banda Nkwanta to Tinga on the Bole-Bamboi highway.

    Information available to The Chronicle from the headquarters of the Ghana Police Service indicates that on reaching a section of the road, between Banda Nkwanta and Nouryiri community, three masked armed men emerged from the bush and started firing in an attempt to rob the said distribution van.

    Little did they know that there was an armed police officer escorting the team.

    As the suspected robbers fired their guns at Mr. Amponsah and his team, the police officer on board (name withheld) returned fire and hit the right ankle of one of them.

    The shot made it extremely difficult for the suspected robber, who later gave his name as Seidu Salifu, a 25-year-old Fulani herdsman at Bole, to escape.

    Police gun down two robbery suspects

    Seidu Salifu was immediately arrested by the brave police officer, but his accomplices managed to escape. Reports indicate they might have equally suffered gunshot wounds.

    The suspect, Seidu Salifu, was searched and the police found one locally manufactured single barrel shot gun, one live cartridge, a face mask, one Techno mobile phone, and an amount of GH¢130 in his pocket.

    Later, during interrogations, he mentioned one Sumaila and Elliasu, all of Bole, as his accomplices.

    Meanwhile he has been admitted at the Bole District Hospital for treatment. The police confirmed to this paper that the case was under investigation.

    Source: ghananewsagency.org

  • Job advertisements in today’s newspaper

    Prospective job seekers can find below the advertised jobs in the January 21, 2020 edition of Daily Graphic and Ghanaian Times as published today in the paper.

    Source: theghanareport.com

  • Government urged to enact policies to fight inequalities – CSOs

    The Ghana Civil Society Organisations Platform on the Sustainable Development Goals on Monday urged government to enact policies to curb inequalities in all spheres and ensure more inclusive labour markets.

    The Platform said the policies must aim at curbing all forms of discrimination and also publicise any incidents of rape and sexual harassment in the work place and ensure equal pay for equal work for all.

    George Osei Akoto Bimpeh, the Spokesperson for the Platform, made the call in Accra at a press briefing to mark the Global Week of Action on Inequality.

    Electoral register needs upgrade CSOs

    The Week is recognised annually by development practitioners across the globe from January 18 to 25, 2020.

    The Sustainable Development Goal-10 enjoined countries across the globe to reduce inequality in all forms.

    However, inequality within and among nations continue to be a concern even though efforts at reducing the disparities of opportunity, income and power were being made.

    Mr Bimpeh appealed to authorities to put in place skills development in the informal sector and create incentives for public providers of training to serve the sector because capacity building help workers to access non-agricultural jobs and increase earnings.

    “Apprenticeships are the most important form of skills development in the informal sector and government must invest the resources needed to improve the efficiency of internship schemes,” he added.

    He said inequality had become a global issue and countries cannot achieve equitable and sustainable development if the needed systems were not put in place.

    A research study on inequality in 2018 by Oxfam, SEND Ghana and Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition established that one of the richest men in Ghana earns more in a month than one of the poorest women could earn in 1,000 years.

    Oxford International and Development International Finance Index Report in 2019 revealed that Ghana and other West African governments were the least committed to reducing inequalities in Africa.

    Mr Bimpeh said the commitment to reducing Inequality Index for West Africa charged African governments to take steps to reduce the gap between the rich and the poor through sustained proactive policies.

    No need for new voters register 18 CSOs to EC

    He called on government to allocate a minimum of 20 per cent of budgets to boost free universal public quality education with special focus on improving access to high-quality primary and secondary education.

    On inequality taxation, Mr Bimpeh urged government to increase tax revenues by collecting more from those who have more in order to better fund basic social services.

    The Platform urged government to pay special attention to increasing tax compliance by high net worth individuals and improve the capacity of national revenue authorities to fight illicit financial flows.

    Statistics in 2016 showed that 22 per cent of global income was received by the top one per cent compared with 10 per cent of income for the bottom 50 per cent.

    Mr Alex Bankole, a member of the Ghana Disability Federation, appealed to government to include persons with disability in policy formulation since they were mostly left behind in accessing social interventions.

    He said most infrastructure for education, health and social centres were not friendly to persons with disability and called on the authorities to be proactive in addressing their plight for inclusive development.

    Source: ghananewsagency.org

  • Police gun down two robbery suspects

    The Accra Regional Police Command in the early hours of Monday, gunned-down two suspected armed robbers believed to be part of a notorious gang operating within the Accra, Tema metropolis.

    They were identified as Ali Abba alias Ali Hero and Charles Donkor, alias Killer boss who had been on police wanted list for some time now.

    Ali and his gang embarked on series of robberies including robbing and raping a resident who lives close to Trassaco, and that specifically on October 7, 2019, Ali and his accomplice: Rambo, Fuseini, C.J. and Raymond, attempted to rob a resident at Anyaa, but C.J. was shot dead by their victim.

    Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Mr Frederick Adu Anim, Regional Commander said this in a media briefing in Accra on Monday.

    He said the Regional Police Intelligence Unit on January 19, upon a tip-off gathered that a gang of robbers were going to embark on an expedition at Oyibi and Apollonia, all suburbs of Accra.

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    He said at about 0115 hours on January 20, a team of police personnel proceeded to Oyibi on surveillance.

    The Regional Commander said close to the Oyibi Check Point, the team intercepted a green hardbody Nissan Pick-up with the suspected robbers on board.

    The Police Commander said the driver sped-off when the police signalled him to stop but the team pursued it and realising police were closing in on them opened fire of which the police returned fire which led to the deaths.

    He said Donkor, who was injured after the shootout was sent to the hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

    He explained that his accomplices managed to escape but police intelligence led them to their hide-out at Bawleshie near Dodowa.

    Mechanic grabbed for faking robbery attack

    Mr Adu Anim said over there they also engaged the police in a shoot-out which claimed the life of Ali but the rest escaped.

    He said one SMG Mark Riffle, two Mark 2 Riffles, one G3 219 mm ammunition, one Mark 4 Riffle, two hammers, 47 rounds of AK 47 ammunition, six G3 ammunitions, a pair of handcuffs, two axes and a face mask were found in the car of the alleged robbers.

    Source: ghananewsagency.org

  • Two finance officers arrested at PAC sitting

    Two finance officers of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) are in police custody following an attempt to mislead the committee during a hearing today.

    The offenders, Isaac Akowuah and James Essilfie who are current and former finance officers from the Sefwi Akontombra District Assembly respectively were whisked away to the Parliament Police Station.

    PAC orders arrest of two persons over malfeasance at Sefwi Akontombra Assembly

    Their arrest was ordered by the Chairman of the committee James Klutse Avedzie who believed the behavior put up by these officers was a deliberate attempt to hide some payment vouchers from the committee.

    Following an order by PAC, the two officers appeared before the Committee to defend their spending.

    But after going through the receipts presented, Mr Klutse Avedzi found out that most of the payment vouchers submitted did not tally with current receipts and they both stated diverse reasons for spending.

    The alleged culprits tried offering reasons for the confusion but the displeased chairman would have none of it.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Drama as angry Sogakope residents dump corpse at police station

    There was drama on Saturday January 18, 2020 when angry residents of Sogakope in South Tongu district of the Volta Region dumped a coffin containing a dead body at the charge office of the Sogakope Police Station in protest against moves by the police to stop the burial of the deceased.

    Intelligence gathered by Sogakope Police District Command according to sources indicated that a man from Eworyi family at Sokpoe, suburb of Sogakope was found dead in his room and the family was preparing to bury same on Saturday January 18, 2020, MyNewsGh.com can state!

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    Police proceeded to the funeral ground but the body was already sent to cemetery for burial.

    The head of Eworyi family, Solomon Eworyi led the police to Sokpoe cemetery but the youth became incensed and trooped to the cemetery with offensive weapons to attack the police who professionally managed and returned to base.

    At about 8pm same day, the coffin containing the deceased, Emmanuel Norvietro alias ”I need more” aged about 60 years, was carried to Sogakope Police Station by the youth of Sokpoe and dumped it on the charge office counter amidst stone throwing.

    When calm was later restored, the coffin containing the deceased was sent by the police to Richard Novati Catholic Hospital Morque for preservation and autopsy.

    Source: mynewsgh.com