Author: Persis

Over the course of the year, there have been a surge in the reported cases of kidnappings across the country with majority of the victims being children and teenagers. Several family members have mounted pressure on the government to intervene in the matter especially as the election year draws closer.

An outstanding case which remains unresolved involves the kidnapping of three young ladies; 15-year-old Priscilla Mantebea Koranchie; 18-year-old Ruth Love Quayson and 21-year-old Priscilla Blessing Bentum who went missing late last year.

Their abduction was pinnacle to a chain of many cases of the same sort resulting in the politicization of the situation.

Although they remain missing, the security apparatus in the country maintain that they are optimistic of finding the trio with increasing pressure from family members and the public.

Interior Minister who was summoned by Parliament to give update on investigations into kidnappings and security in the country revealed that some of the victims fake abductions in order to avoid punishment from parents.

“…the Police have found out that some of these reported cases of kidnappings involved teenagers who went to their friends and to avoid being punished by their parents, feigned having been kidnapped” Ambrose Dery explained.

Although the occurrence he disclosed has decreased per the statistics available to his outfit. He charged the law agencies to be up and doing to resolve all the outstanding cases which remain unsolved to bring sanity and safety in the country.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

A female police officer has been shot dead by suspected armed robbers at a checkpoint in the Sagnarigu Municipality of the Northern Region.

She was among three officers stationed at a checkpoint close to fuel filling station.

The three police officers at the checkpoint, a male and two females, were attacked by the robbers who gunned down the female officer before stealing weapons belong to the police.

The incident happened close to the Star filling station around 10 p.m. on Tuesday evening, according to Joy News sources.

The sources said empty shells recovered from the scene of the incident show the robbers used G3 weapons in the attack.

The four robbers, according to Joy News sources, approached the checkpoint in an ash-coloured saloon car and were signalled to stop.

The sources say the robbers who were all armed, dressed in military camouflage and wearing face masks and dessert boots suddenly got down and shot at one of the female police officers killing her instantly.

The other policewoman, in her attempt to take cover, stumbled and fell and her weapon together with that of the deceased were taken by the robbers.

The third officer who had then taken cover fired at the robbers but the robbers managed to escape with the two weapons.

This will be the second time in less than three months a similar attack has happened in the city and guns belonging to the police stolen.

Last Wednesday a resident of Sagnarigu was also robbed at gunpoint at about 9 p.m.

Source: Ghananewsagency.org

The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has released the provisional results of candidates who wrote the West African Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) in 2019.

According to a press release signed by the Head of Public Affairs of WAEC, Agnes Teye-Cudjoe, candidates can now access the results which have been hosted on the WAEC website.

A 9.2% increase in the number of candidates was recorded on the number of candidates in 2018. The number of candidates who sat the WASSCE rose to 346,094 from 316,999.

The highest number of students to pass a single core subject was recorded in the Social Studies exam with 257,828 (75.43%) candidates obtaining grades between A1-C6 which the most failures were recorded in the English Language exam with 74,038 (21.61%) obtaining grade F9.

The performance of the candidates in regard to the four core subjects are as follows;

English Language: 167,733 (48.96%) obtained A1-C6; 100,781 (29.42%) obtained D7-E8 while 74,038 (21.61%) had F9;

Mathematics (Core): 223,737 (65.31%) obtained A1-C6; 72,408 (21%) obtained D7-E8 while 46,384 (13.54%) had F9;

Integrated Science: 216,095 (63.17%) obtained A1-C6; 91,151 (27%) obtained D7-E8 while 34,825 (10.18%) had F9;

Social Studies: 257,838 (75.43%) obtained A1-C6; 52,983 (15.50%) obtained D7-E8 whilst 30,970 (9.06%) had F9.

The release also warned members of the public especially candidates to be wary of impostors who promise to change examination results for a fee.

“Candidates are to note that all WAEC results are well secured and can be authenticated. Persons with forged results will be exposed,” the release said.

Source: Graphic.com.gh

An Accra Circuit Court on Monday granted a GH¢ 20,000.00 bail with a surety each to two persons, including a teenager who is a houseboy for allegedly attempting to rob their employer.

The Court presided over by Mrs Ruby Naa Aryeetey ordered that the parents of the 16-year-old houseboy should stand as sureties for him.

They are also to furnish the Court with the birth certificate of their ward.

Jacob Kenya, 37, driver, who together is standing trial with the houseboy denied conspiring to commit the crime. The boy also pleaded not guilty to the charges.

They will make their next appearance on August 29.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Sylvester Asare told the Court that the complainants are personnel from the Special Weapon and Tactics Unit (SWAT) of the Ghana Police Service.

He said Jacob and the 16-year-old were employed by Mrs Mary Lamptey as her driver and houseboy respectively.

ASP Asare said, on June 24, this year, the two decided to rob her with the reason that she had not paid their salaries.

He said, they decided to employ a third person to assist them but luck eluded them when that person informed the police on the day they were to carry out the act.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

As part of measures to equip and protect its frontline staff, the Forestry Commission has provided the necessary training for its Wildlife guards.

The training, in confidence and team building, is to equip the guards properly to enable them to carry out their mandated duties.

Mr John Allotey, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, was speaking at the closing ceremony of the training, which involved 145 Wildlife Assistant Managers and Resource Guards of the Wildlife Division of the Commission at the Asutsuare Training Camp.

He said, “No longer will any staff lose their lives, protecting the natural resources of the country”.

He said management had realised the urgent need for the training of its field staff following the recent casualties and fatalities the staff had encountered throughout the years.

“There have been several reported cases of poachers, illegal loggers and galamsay operators, who have maimed or even killed our staff on normal patrol duties, “he added.

He said it was on record that the Wildlife Division of the Commission alone had lost five of its guards to activities of poachers, with the latest incident in March, this year, at the Via National Park.

Mr Allotey said, henceforth, all these unfortunate events would become a thing of the past.

He commended the Ghana Armed Forces, especially the officers in charge of the Asutsuare Training Camp for the training and urged the trainees to apply all they learnt during the three-week exercise adding that, it should reflect on their performances in the coming year.

“Through this, the Commission will achieve its vision to leave future generations and their communities a with richer, better and more valuable Wildlife resources than we inherited, ” he added.

He advised the trainees not to pose as Military officers, when they get back to their various communities and cautioned that anyone caught posing as such would be sanctioned.

Major Frank Agyeman, the Officer in Charge of the Asutsuare Training Camp said the 64 Infantry Regiment was always ready to support the Commission to train its frontline staff and urged the trainees to exhibit a high sense of discipline and put everything learnt into use.

The trainees were taken through activities such as Voice procedure, time management, weapon handling, rule of engagement and health conditions in the forest.

The rest are first aid lessons, living in the jingle, fieldcraft, jingle Survivor, map reading and navigation.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Police officers have been urged to exhibit high professionalism as they upheld the ethics and core values of leadership, integrity and excellence, the pillars of the Service.

They should also focus attention on building partnerships with the public through community engagements for the promotion of better police – community relations in the various communities in which they worked uphold the image of the service.

Commissioner of Police (COP) Akuribah Yaagy, Director General of the National Police Patrol Department, who made the call, said this would enable the Police to constantly device and revise crime prevention strategies on time to counter criminal activities in communities.

He was addressing a passing-out parade for police recruits in Kumasi, and stressed that police officers needed to carve a new image for themselves and the service as an institution.

A total of 142 recruits were presented at the parade after completing a six months basic training in fundamental human rights, Police ethics, criminal investigations, physical and tactical training as well as weapon handling and crowd control.

COP Yaagy advised the new recruits to refrain from unprofessional conduct such as unlawful arrest, engaging in armed robbery, extortion, blackmail, fraudulent deals, cybercrime and all other practices that were likely to bring down the image of the service.

Andrews Ateng was adjudged the overall best recruit scoring 1,612 out of 1,800 marks representing 89.5 per cent.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

The Akufo-Addo-led government will gradually fix all the deplorable roads in the country, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has said.

Presenting the mid-year budget review statement on the floor of parliament on Monday, 29 July 2019, Mr Ofori-Atta said: “Fellow Ghanaians, I wish to plead with you and assure you to bear with us for your obeying government, the Akufo-Addo government will fix your roads and we shall fix them not with words and pictures.”

Mr Ofori-Atta further stated that the government recognises that there are a lot of Ghanaians who need to be taken out of poverty.

For this reason, he said to Parliament that the government is working day and night to ensure that those who fall within that bracket are taken out.

“The president is always quick to remind us of the urgency to meet the needs and aspirations of the Ghanaian people. Just last week as we discuss the details of this statement, the president reminded us that in spite of all that we have managed to achieve so far, too many Ghanaians must still be taken out of poverty.

“He reminded us that we are certainly not there yet in spite of our efforts to confront poverty, fix our roads, provided community housing, support our farmers, protect the vulnerable, offer better condition of service to our nurses, teachers, security officers, get business operating optimally.

“He said we are being checked and that we should be bold then in taking steps that will offer us the fiscal space to improve the lives of those who we serve,” Mr Ofori-Atta stated.

Source: classfmonline.com

An Accra High Court has adjourned the defamation case brought against the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong by journalist, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr.

Mr. Baako sued the MP in October 2018 for defamation and is seeking damages to the sum of GH¢25 million.

When the case was called on Monday, both parties were not in court but counsel for the defendant said they were in talks with the plaintiff to settle the matter amicably.

The court presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe thus adjourned the case to October 9, 2019.

Background Kweku Baako in his suit complained that Mr. Agyapong in July 2018 made some defamatory comments against him on some stations including his own media platforms Net2 TV and Oman FM, and on Adom FM and Asempa FM.

Mr. Baako said the MP accused him of being corrupt, a hypocrite, a dishonest person among others.

Kweku Baako in his writ among other things requested for “An order of the Court directed at the Defendant to publish on three consecutive occasions, on the same platform that he published the defamatory words, an unqualified retraction and an apology, with the same prominence as given to the issuance of the defamatory words.”

He is also seeking an order of “perpetual injunction restraining Mr. Agyapong, his agents, assigns and servants from further publishing any defamatory words against him [Kweku Baako].”

Source: citinewsroom.com

The Assemblywoman for the Oforikrom Electoral Area at Suhum in the Eastern region, Madam Lucy Anim Koryo, has vowed she will do everything within her capacity to unseat Frederick Opare-Ansah as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Suhum constituency.

According to her, she will not hesitate to show her nakedness to the incumbent MP if he challenges her in her quest to win the primaries for her party, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

The vociferous Assemblywoman made the comment when she and her supporters thronged the party’s regional office on Friday, July 26, 2019, for vetting.

Addressing journalist and party folks present after sailing through the vetting process, Lucy Anim Koryo said she foresees the 2020 elections as a tough battle, and that she will not sit aloof for Mr. Opare-Ansah who has been MP for nearly two decades to retain the seat.

“If Opare-Ansah shows his chest, then I will go naked to face him”, she spoke in parables to indicate her ever readiness for the battle ahead.

Meanwhile, Madam Koryo is battling two other female aspirants, Amanda Okyere from Akwatia and Mercy Ago a.k.a Area Mama, who are also seeking the green light from the NDC delegates in Suhum to be their Parliamentary Candidate.

Source: ghanaguardian.com

Private legal practitioner and an influential family member of current President, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko says he is tired over strenuous attempts to link him to one thing or the other under the current administration.

He thinks that no story in the country is ever complete without the association of his name stating that he is tired [Gabby abr3!]

In a tweet, Gabby Otchere-Darko out of frustration over the name-calling said “What is it about the name Gabby Otchere-Darko that it appears no story is complete without it? Now, I hear, apart from working for Interpol, I am also a demolition man. Gabby abr3!”

Late last week, host of “With All Due Respect Loud Silence Media” Kelvin Ekow Taylor claimed the Attorney General and many others who wanted to separate the president of Ghana from Nana Appiah Mensah alias NAM 1 like Gabby Otchere Darko and many others hatched a scheme to bring him down.

According to Ekow Taylor, the first person Horizon Royal Diamonds contacted when they came to Ghana to file fraud charges against the two men who defrauded them [Adewoye Olorunfemi Adetunje, a Nigerian and Charles Opoku Darko, a Ghanaian] was renowned lawyer, Ace Anan Ankomah.

Ace Anan Ankomah has since denied the allegations and threatened to pursue the matter legally against Kelvin Ekow Taylor.

Source: mynewsgh.com

Thirty-year-old self-acclaimed pastor, Isaac Kofi, has been jailed 10 years by the Ashaiman circuit court for defrauding by false pretence.

Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Ahenkorah Afrifa, Ashaiman divisional police command, told the court that, the accused was arrested on 09/07/2019 from his hideout after series of complaints were made against him.

The prosecuting officer noted that, the accused Isaac Kofi succeeded in defrauding some unsuspecting persons of over 22,540.00 Ghana cedis.

According to ASP Afrifa, the accused introduced himself to one Reverend Joshua, in charge of Global Reform Church, in Adenta as someone who could “double” money for people.

He further revealed that Reverend Joshua later introduced the accused to another congregation at his local branch in Zenu within the Ashaiman municipality.

ASP Afrifa again told the court that the accused told the complainants at different locations that he had a special soap which when used after six weeks, their money in their individual bank accounts would multiply.

The complainants which included Ms. Pharida Gifty Doku, gave him 11,320.00, Ms.Faustina Doku gave him 1,700, Mr. Kojo Benjamin gave him 4, 680.00, Madam Agatha Maame Appiah gave him 2,000.00 among other three who gave out 1,060.00, 980.00 and 800.00 Ghana Cedis, in that order, the prosecutor said.

The prosecutor further explained that, the complainants took the special soap and used as instructed but their money did not increase even after two months.

The accused person went into hiding until he was arrested early this month.

The accused person Isaac Kofi pleaded guilty and vowed not to engage himself in such acts again.

The Ashaiman circuit court presided over by Mr. Gabriel Mate-Teye noted that defrauding by false pretence was an offence contrary to section 131 of the criminal offences act 29(1960).

He sentenced the accused to 10 years in jail on all five counts saying it will run concurrently.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

The Vigilantism and Related Offences Bill, 2019 has finally been passed by Parliament after corrections were effected on Clause 7 (3) of the Bill.

Parliament first passed the bill last Monday, but it rescinded the passage following a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, that the sentencing of the offence should be 10 years and not five years, as captured by Clause 7 (3) of the bill.

Bill amendment

After the amendment of the bill, the Minister for Planning, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Wenchi, moved the motion on behalf of the Attorney General for the third reading and passing of the Vigilantism and Related Offences Bill, 2019.

The act is now awaiting Presidential assent to become effective.

The Majority and the Minority sides of Parliament last Monday unanimously voted in favour of the passage of the bill when the Speaker, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, put the question to a voice vote.

The Vigilantism and Related Offences Bill, 2019 applies to a person who participates in the activities of a vigilante group that is associated with, related, connected or affiliated to a political party; a person who acts as a land guard and a person who engages in other acts of vigilantism.

Vigilante groups

It also seeks to disband political party vigilante groups within one month of it becoming law and spells out prison terms for persons convicted of vigilante offences, with a maximum of 15 years.

The bill was laid under a certificate of urgency, in accordance with Parliament’s Standing Order 119, and the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, which deliberated on the bill, unanimously agreed that it was of an urgent nature.

It, however, recommended that further consultation was needed with stakeholders to make it more comprehensive.

Following engagements with stakeholders, many amendments were proposed, which culminated in its second reading and consideration and the eventual third reading and passage into law.

The passage of the bill into law was in fulfilment of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s promise, when he presented the 2019 State of the Nation Address, to cause Parliament to enact legislation to deal with acts of vigilantism in the country.

Passage of bill

Barely three days after the passage of the bill into law, the Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Mr Ben Abdallah Banda, and the Ranking Member on the committee, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, told journalists last Wednesday that an anomaly which had to do with the sentencing regime was detected during the compilation of the various clauses in the bill.

They explained that a clause in the bill indicated that a person convicted of a vigilantism related offence who served a minimum of five years in prison could not hold public office.

Therefore, they said, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Ms Gloria Akuffo, would move a motion for the rescission of the third reading to take the bill to the second reading stage for the clause to be amended from a minimum of five years to 10 years, to be consistent with the provision in the Constitution.

Initial disagreements

At last Monday’s sitting of Parliament, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu moved the motion for the second consideration to amend the explanatory memorandum.

However, the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, challenged the decision by Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu to move for a second consideration because he (Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu) was not the Attorney-General to move for an amendment of the long title.

Explaining his position, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said per Standing Order 130 (1), the rules of the House gave him the power to move for a second consideration, either wholly or in respect of only some particular part or parts or new proposed clauses or new schedule.

Standing Order 130(1) stipulates: “If any member desires to delete and or amend a provision contained in a bill which has passed through the Consideration Stage or introduce any new provision to it, he may, at any time before a member rises to move the Third Reading of the bill, move that the bill do pass a second Consideration Stage…”­

Source: Graphic.com.gh

Scores of customers of defunct Menzgold have amassed at the premises of the Accra Circuit Court in anticipation of the trial of the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Nana Appiah Mensah, alias NAM1.

NAM1 is said to have defrauded 16,000 people of GH¢1.68billion on the name of investing their monies.

It is the case of the state that the embattled CEO, who returned to Accra on Thursday July 11, 2019 after months of detention in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, contravened sections of the Banks and Specialised Deposits Taking Act, 930 and the Criminal Offences Act while operating Menzgold and its sister company, Brew Marketing.

NAM1 charged with 4 counts of fraud and doing banking business without licence He has been charged with two counts of abetment to defraud by false pretence and two counts of abetment to carry out banking business without licence, contrary to Section 6 (1) of the Banks and Specialised Deposit-taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act 930).

Two of his companies — Brew Marketing Consult and Menzgold Ghana Limited — represented by him, have each been charged with defrauding by false pretence, contrary to sections 20 (1) and 13 (1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), reports Graphic Online’s Mary Mensah in charge of the crime beat.

The two companies have also been charged with carrying out a deposit-taking business without a licence, contrary to Section 6 (1) of Act 930.

Also facing the law are his sister and his wife, Benedicta Appiah and Rose Tetteh, respectively, who have been slapped with two counts of abetment to defraud by false pretence and two counts of abetment to carry out banking business without a licence, contrary to Section 6 (1) of Act 930. The two women are, however, at large.

Source: Graphic.com.gh

Three alleged grave looters, caught in possession of human skeletons, are standing trial at the Goaso Circuit Court in the Ahafo Region.

Their possession, it has turned out, were the remains of the late mother of the Nifahene of Abuom, who had been buried for years.

Farmers Yaw Yiredie, 35, and Isaac Berko, 34, and a fetish priest Peter Kor, 35, have been charged with four counts, including hindering the burial of a dead person and being in possession of human body parts.

The skeletons, the fetish priest is alleged to have told the police, were ground into powder and used for rituals to fortify people who visited his shrine for protection.

The trio have also been charged with conspiracy to commit crime and stealing.

They have been remanded in police custody to reappear on Thursday, August 8, 2019.

Their pleas were not taken when they first appeared in court last Wednesday.

According to the police, it was the vigilance of community dwellers that exposed the activities of the trio.

Facts

According to the police, at about 11.30 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2019, residents of Abuom in the Asunafo South District in the Ahafo Region arrested Yaw Yiredie and Isaac Berko on the outskirts of the town in possession of a sack containing human skeletons, and handed them over to the police.
When the two were interrogated, they claimed they were sending the body parts to Kor, the fetish priest, at Kokooso.

The police arrested Kor, but further investigations revealed that Berko and Yiredie dug up the grave at the Presbyterian Cemetery at Abuom to collect the bones of the dead person.

According to the police, it was also established that the grave was that of the mother of the Nifahene of Abuom, who was buried years earlier.

Kor was alleged to have told the police that they ground the human bones into powder and used them for rituals to fortify people who visited his shrine.
He said the powder was also used to treat various ailments.

Re-burial

Meanwhile, the court has ordered the police to release the skeletons to the family for re-burial.

The Asunafo South District Police Commander told the Daily Graphic that the police were waiting to take the statement of the family before the skeletons would be released for re-burial.

Source: Graphic.com.gh

The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Wednesday, 25th July, 2019, launched the Community Mining Programme at Wassa Akropong, in the Western Region.

The Community Mining Programme is aimed at formalizing mining in selected communities across the country.

With at least one community mine expected to be set up in each of the mining districts in the country, the community mines will provide employment for more than 4,500 miners that were trained by Government at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT), Tarkwa.

Launching the pilot programme at Wassa Akropong, President Akufo-Addo stated that the Community Mining Programme will ensure that “mining will be done the right way, within the tenets of the law, and will not destroy our natural resources.”

The President continued, “Today, we are launching a type of mining that will benefit all of us. I am here to plead with the young men who are participating in the community mining to do their best to adhere to all the laws and do a good job so that money will return to Wassa Amenfi. The money will come.”

He assured the programme will be replicated not only in Wassa Amenfi, but also in other towns in Ghana by September this year, and will be closely monitored to ensure that the standards that have been set for the CMP are adhered to.

The Chairperson of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, indicated that the Minerals Commission has blocked out several zones in each of the mining districts for this purpose, with some traditional authorities also providing land for the CMP.

He noted that a number of large-scale mining companies have shed off areas to be used for the CMP, and, between now and September, concessions for the various CMP will be mapped out by the IMCIM Mapping Team and uploaded onto the GalamStop software.

Prof. Frimpong Boateng stressed that canoes fitted with outboard motors have been procured for the Riverine Team to monitor the waterbodies.

“With the rolling out of the CMP, there should be no excuse whatsoever for miners to be mining illegally in the water bodies,” he added.

Source: Graphic.com.gh

The acting Inspector-General of Police (IGP) James Oppong-Boanuh has said he is open to public opinion in shaping policies to make the police service an effective one.

He says, his administration will continue with programs started by his predecessor to ensure the highest professional standard such as capacity building, provision of logistics, continuous training, motivation and welfare of police officers.

The acting IGP said this at his maiden meeting with more than 200 senior police officers working within the police headquarters, Accra and Tema Regions at the national headquarters.

“I will operate an open-door policy where ideas from both senior and junior ranks as well as the public will be carefully considered to improve policing aimed at ensuring the safety of persons and properties in the country”, Mr Oppong-Boanuh noted.

He also told senior officers to show positive attitudinal change in their interactions with colleagues, junior ranks and members of the public.”

While charging officers to undertake operations that will eradicate crime in their operational jurisdictions, Mr. Oppong-Boanuh directed commanders to undertake community engagements to boost public confidence in the Police, which is an essential component for effective policing.

The acting IGP also charged Commanders to focus on operational strategies towards curbing violent crimes in the country, especially with Accra and Tema.

Source: citinewsroom.co

The deputy education minister Dr Osei Adutwum has been attacked by highway robbers on the Bolga-Kumasi highway.

The police said the robbers numbering about seven-shot into the vehicle of the minister while taking other passengers and drivers under siege near Sarikyikura on the Tamale Buipe highway.

The Northern region police command has mounted a search for the group of robbers.

“Five persons sustained gunshot wounds and are receiving treatment at the Tamale Teaching hospital. The robbers also shot into the vehicle of the Deputy Minister for Education, Hon. Dr. Osei Adutum who was traveling from Bolga to Kumasi,” a police statement said.

The incident happened on 22/07/19 at about 17:30 hours and the police highway patrol team was called in but the suspects managed to escape into the bushes as soon as they saw police arrive. The bushes were searched extensively by the police but could not find the robbers.

According to the victims, the suspects numbered about seven all dressed in military-like uniforms. They fired indiscriminately at a cargo truck travelling from Buipe market to Damango with the passengers on board injuring five (5) person in the process. Victims are receiving treatment at Tamale Teaching hospital.

“Police in the region is conducting serious investigation into the incident and therefore calling on the public to assist with the information that can lead to the arrest of the perpetrators. Whoever has any information that could lead to the identification or arrest of the suspects should contact the police for necessary action. Persons with information can contact the police on the following numbers: 0299200331 or 0244506017,” the police said.

Source: starrfm.com.gh

The Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah has revealed that her outfit has not issued a letter of apology to the Multimedia Group over an interview she declined because it was going to be conducted by an intern.

Speaking on Oman FM’s ‘Boiling Point’ programme Tuesday evening, Madam Dapaah indicated that, two managerial staff from Multimedia rather called her on Monday to apologize.

“If something is wrong then it is wrong. We are very careful in this government because our leader is humble therefore we as his appointees need to serve with humility and Ghanaians appreciate what President Akufo-Addo is doing,” she said.

She noted that her ministry has had the best relationship working hand-in-hand with journalists and if any journalist wants an interview, “I’m there; my door is always open 24/7.”

Madam Cecilia Dapaah added since she was appointed a minister of state, she has never declined any request to be interviewed by any journalist unless she is in a meeting or is not available.

Background

The Public Relations Unit of the Sanitation Ministry on Tuesday, July 23, 2016, issued a statement which appears to be an apology to the Multimedia Group for the unfortunate incident which occurred between herself and an intern of Adom FM.

The statement read, “We wish to apologize to the reporter and the media house for any inconvenience caused and hope we all continue to work more closely together.”

The statement explained further that, The Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah did not ignore the reporter on the basis that she was an intern but because she was not prompted earlier enough by the news editor of the radio station.

“The Minister was in a meeting when she received the call and was, therefore, requesting that the reporter call later. She was of the view that the news editor could have prompted her earlier for the interview. The sector Minister did not ignore the reporter on the basis that she was an intern,” the statement reads.

But in a quick rebuttal, Madam Cecilia Dapaah maintains that the alleged letter in circulation was not released by her Ministry and as a result should be treated with the contempt it deserves.

Read the full statement below

She noted that her ministry has had the best relationship working hand-in-hand with journalists and if any journalist wants an interview, “I’m there; my door is always open 24/7.”

Madam Cecilia Dapaah added since she was appointed a minister of state, she has never declined any request to be interviewed by any journalist unless she is in a meeting or is not available.

Background

The Public Relations Unit of the Sanitation Ministry on Tuesday, July 23, 2016, issued a statement which appears to be an apology to the Multimedia Group for the unfortunate incident which occurred between herself and an intern of Adom FM.

The statement read, “We wish to apologize to the reporter and the media house for any inconvenience caused and hope we all continue to work more closely together.”

The statement explained further that, The Minister, Cecilia Abena Dapaah did not ignore the reporter on the basis that she was an intern but because she was not prompted earlier enough by the news editor of the radio station.

“The Minister was in a meeting when she received the call and was, therefore, requesting that the reporter call later. She was of the view that the news editor could have prompted her earlier for the interview. The sector Minister did not ignore the reporter on the basis that she was an intern,” the statement reads.

But in a quick rebuttal, Madam Cecilia Dapaah maintains that the alleged letter in circulation was not released by her Ministry and as a result should be treated with the contempt it deserves.

Read the full statement below

Security analyst Colonel retired Festus Aboagye has described as unfortunate the removal of David Asante-Apeatu as IGP by President Akufo-Addo with just one month left on his contract.

According to him, the president should have, at least, given reasons for the sudden dismissal of the top police chief.

“It is very unfortunate that any senior officer should end his professional career on such a note, without any reason from the President,” he told Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Tuesday.

President Akufo-Addo has asked the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. James Oppong-Boanuh, to act as IGP until a substantive IGP is appointed.

The substantive IGP David Asante-Apeatu was on Monday, 22 July 2019 relieved of his post.

Mr. Asante-Apeatu has proceeded on leave with immediate effect, pending his retirement from the Ghana Police Service on Wednesday, 14th August 2019.

He is due to retire from the Ghana Police Service on Wednesday, 14th August 2019.

“The President thanked him for his many years of service to the country and wished him well in his retirement,” director of communication Eugene Arhin said in the statement.

Oppong-Boanuh was granted a one-year contract extension last year October following his retirement. Until his appointment, Mr. Oppong-Buanuh was the Director-General of Administration.

Source: starrfm.com.gh

A young man alleged to have stolen an unregistered Hyundai Santa Fe has been nabbed by police and some youth at the Madina Atomic Junction roundabout after a hot chase.

An eyewitness told 3news.com, the suspect drove on high speed from the Rawlings Circle towards the roundabout, an act he said raised suspicions from onlookers.

According to the eyewitness, the suspect on reaching the roundabout could not wait to go with the traffic either to head towards Haatso or Legon, so he chose to drive towards the oncoming cars from Accra, obviously on a wrong side of the road [driving towards Legon on the Presec side of the road].

This, the eyewitness said created a chaotic scene resulting in the suspect knocking down a pregnant woman and hitting two other cars. In his attempt to force the oncoming cars to make way for him, the car somersaulted and some youth pounced on him.

Two police officers and a military man who were also driving in a Toyota V8 around the area came to rescue him from been lynched.

He was taken to the Madina police station while the pregnant woman was rushed to the Madina Polyclinic.

Source: 3news.com

The Bureau of Public Safety has expressed concern about the growing incident of violent crimes including murder in the country.

The bureau in its 2019 half-year report remarked that “Crime and Violent Crime continue to be a matter of concern as the two account for over 60% of all public safety events reported between April and June 2019.”

It noted that violent crime events increased by over 43% in the second quarter and accounts for more than 25% deaths over the first half of the year.

The figures are based on only reported cases.

Among the specific crimes that led to the increase were murder, manslaughter, armed robbery and assault.

In the first quarter of the year, violent crimes topped the chart for major crime incidents in the country.

The Bureau of Public Safety expressed concern that the Ghana Police Service “have no known active cold case program in place and absolutely no information on crime clearance rate especially for murder, armed robbery and assault.”

It, therefore, proposed that the police set up irregular checkpoints rather than regular ones that only check for vehicle documentations.

“The GPS must depart from mounting regular checkpoints to basically check for vehicle documentations and occasionally for arms to irregular checkpoints, and include sobriety checks,” it said in its report.

The Greater Accra Region has consistently led in the number of public safety concerns including violent crimes, with about 199 incidents recorded in 2018 and the previous year, 2017.

Transportation still tops cause of deaths in Ghana

BPS also identified transportation-related incidents as a leading cause of casualties in the country.

According to BPS, 41% of deaths recorded in the country, among ten indicators, from January to June 2019 was through transportation.

“Transportation remains the leading cause of death among the ten indicators of public safety and crime monitored. It accounts for over 41% of the deaths reported from January to June 2019,” BPS stated in its report.

The report broadly categorized public safety events under crime, violent crime, fire and industrial/workplace-related incidents, transportation-related incidents, civil disturbances, police officer casualties, police brutalities, police arrests, natural disasters, and general Incidents.

BPS stated in its report that, 65% of all vehicles involved in all road crashes were commercial vehicles (excluding motorbikes).

The BPS acknowledged recent efforts initiated by Citi TV/FM in collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service to reduce indiscipline on the roads but urged the MTTD “to establish and own a sustained institutional campaign to enforce basic road laws across Ghana in order to achieve any meaningful gains in curbing road crashes.”

More on the Report

The Ghana Public Safety and Crime report also known as the BPS WATCH is an initiative by the Bureau of Public Safety towards providing information to the general public, policymakers, and law enforcement.

“For the first half of 2019, the top three most frequently reported public safety events were crime, violent crime, and civil disturbances with 32%, 32% and 9% respectively of all cases reported,” the report stated.

Source: citinewsroom.com

Muslims at the Central Mosque in Tamale have been exposed to criminal activities and some strategies adopted by criminals to inflict harm on innocent citizens.

They were shown videos of various criminal activities including kidnaping, terrorism, human trafficking, contraband trafficking, human body harvesting amongst others to ensure that they were alert at all times to help safeguard their lives against such criminal acts.

The sensitisation was undertaken by Doyens Leverage, a law enforcement and intelligence training organisation, as part of the launching of its Security Awareness Programme in the Northern Region.

Mr George Dosoo Doyen, Coordinator, Security Awareness Programme, Doyens Leverage, said the increasing rate of crimes necessitated the launching of the programme to educate the citizenry on such crimes to help safeguard their lives.

Mr Dosoo Doyen said Doyens Leverage would visit mosques, churches, schools, organisations and social gatherings in the region to educate the citizenry on criminal activities to ensure that they did not fall victims to them.

He said so far, 18,000 citizens in the Greater Accra and Western Regions have benefited from the programme and urged all to embrace it as it would help save lives.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Contractors have commenced work on parts of the apron and tarmac of Terminal 3 of the Kotoka International Airport to fix a faulty drainage system.

Parts of the tarmac and the arrival areas of the terminal have been experiencing flooding after downpours due to challenges with the drainage system.

Minister for Aviation, Kofi Ada, told Joy Business the reconstruction works will be carried out by two entities PW and Mappa Contractors.

Read: Terminal 3 debt chokes Ghana Airports Company Limited

“There was a little misunderstanding about the roles that each of them had to play. But that misunderstanding has been cleared so they are working feverishly as we speak,” he said.

“The apron side is being worked on by PW and the part of the airside along the terminal is being handled by Mappa,” added.

He acknowledged that the construction needs to proceed quickly to prevent a recurrence of the flooding.

The newly built Terminal 3 floods every time there is a downpour.

Viral videos of the flooding showing workers mopping the floor kickstarted public criticism against the John Mahama-led administration which commissioned the project.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has hinted that the Akufo-Addo led government is set to release an amount of GHC3 billion to fix all deplorable roads leading to cocoa farms nationwide.

Making assurances on this new project, the minister said, “Funding is now also being made available for the commencement of particularly the cocoa roads… It is expected that over three billion cedis worth of cocoa roads are set to commence under the new programme in the cocoa growing areas across the country”.

Explaining why road works were stopped over the years, he said “There was a suspension of cocoa road projects for an audit to take place and to allow for re-scoping and proper alignment of funds to execute these projects”.

Read: Ghana finds no cocoa buyers in first offer since $400 premium

Some road contracts, the Minister noted have been terminated whilst others have been handed over to responsible agencies such as the Ghana Highways Authority and the Department of Urban roads.

He added that, the aforementioned agencies have been fully funded and equipped to execute these road projects.

After the demarcation of job, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah assured contractors of receiving their monies right after work.

Meanwhile, LEKMA roads have been given out to contractors to begin works on the deplorable site.

The minister made these known during a press conference at the Information Ministry on Sunday, July 21, 2019.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Zongo Against Drug (ZAD), a civic pressure group, has been formed at Sabon Zongo in the Ablekuma Central Municipality to check misuse of drugs by the youth in the area.

It also aims at championing the cause of sensitising the youth about the dangers of drugs, its side effects and helping them to abstain from it.

Mr Abdul Rahim Salifu Ango, Chairman of the group and a Clinical Psychologist at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, told the Ghana News Agency that the group would create awareness among the Moslem youth in Accra on the need to avoid negative practices in society and uphold high moral principles.

Read: Zongo Brigade share new music video featuring Wiyaala

ZAD, he said, is a non-partisan group, whose membership cuts across the political divide, adding that, it comprises opinion leaders of the community and some chiefs.

He said it seeks to stimulate action among policymakers and the public to recognise and take pragmatic measures to discourage the youth on the need to avoid deviant and immoral acts.

Mr Salifu Ango said Information and Communication Technology (ICT) tools presented more opportunities for the Moslem youth and there is the need to prepare themselves to play meaningful roles in the country.

He said ZAD intends to work in partnership with private and public sector institutions as well as international Non-Governmental Organisations committed to the same goals.

He expressed the hope that the media would continue to play its critical role of informing and educating the public about the concerns of ZAD.

He said community engagements and press releases would be the main vehicle for pursuing the goals of ZAD.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Having higher-than-normal cholesterol and blood pressure levels before age 40 can raise your risk of heart disease later in life more than you might think, according to a new study.

A level of “bad” LDL cholesterol at 100 mg/dL or higher as a young adult was associated with a 64% increased risk for coronary heart disease later in life, said the study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology on Monday.

Also, in the study, a systolic blood pressure of 130 mm Hg or higher was associated with a 37% increased risk of heart failure later in life and diastolic blood pressure of 80 mm Hg or higher was associated with a 21% increased risk.

Normal blood pressure levels are less than 120 systolic and 80 diastolic — or 120/80 — according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and a healthy level of “bad” LDL cholesterol is less than 100mg/dL.

“The main take-home point of the study is for young adults: Don’t wait to make healthy choices,” said Dr. Andrew Moran, a principal investigator at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York and senior author of the study.

“Our results show that waiting until middle age or older years to improve diet and exercise can’t always reverse the cumulative damage made during young adulthood.”

‘It was a novel finding and striking’

The study involved data on the blood pressure, cholesterol and cardiovascular health of 36,030 adults in the United States over an average of 17 years.

The data came from six different sources: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study; the Cardiovascular Risk Developing in Youth Adults study; the Cardiovascular Health Study; the Framingham Heart Study Offspring Cohort; the Health, Aging and Body Composition study; and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

The researchers took a close look at the health of the adults in the data from ages 18 to 39, and then from 40 and older.

The researchers found that elevated diastolic blood pressure and “bad” LDL cholesterol before age 40 were associated with incidents of coronary heart disease after age 40, and elevated systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure before 40 were associated with incidents of heart failure after 40.

“What was surprising was to see the strong association on young adult high LDL cholesterol and later life events — even after accounting for later life cholesterol level,” Moran said.

“We were also surprised at the association of young adult blood pressure with later-life heart failure,” he said. “It was a novel finding and striking because many heart failure events occur in older age.”

The study had some limitations, including that only associations between blood pressure, cholesterol levels and later cardiovascular events were found. More research is needed to determine a causal relationship.

More research is also needed to determine whether similar findings would emerge when comparing cardiovascular health in childhood to adulthood.

“Now that we found these associations of risk factors in young adulthood with later-life heart disease and stroke risk, it begs the question, what about even earlier in life, as in childhood and adolescence? We are intrigued with the childhood period, and potential opportunities for early prevention there,” Moran said.

‘The time has come to recognize that preventive interventions are occurring too late’
Dr. Samuel Gidding, of the Familial Hypercholesterolemia Foundation in Pasadena, California, and Dr. Jennifer Robinson, a professor at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, co-authored an editorial that published alongside the new study on Monday.

In the editorial, they called for the medical community “to wake up” and recognize that preventive efforts are needed among younger adults.

“Young adults, particularly women and non-white individuals, have not shared in the overall reduction in cardiovascular disease rates over the last several decades and are less likely to receive guideline-based care,” Gidding and Robinson wrote in the editorial.

“The time has come to recognize that preventive interventions are occurring too late in life to have a substantial impact on the population burden of” atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and heart failure, they wrote. “By moving to trials in younger higher-risk individuals who have less advanced disease more amenable to reversal, and developing precision medicine strategies based on genetics, imaging, and other risk factors, the next era of cardiovascular disease prevention can begin.”

Source: cnn.com

Mrs Deborah Daisy Kwabia, the Deputy Western Regional Director of Social welfare, has said sexual reproductive health right is key to obtaining sustainable development in the country.

She said proper education on reproductive health rights would help young people achieve their potential as well as enhance development.

“Providing adolescents with evidence-based and comprehensive sexual education will help prevent unwanted pregnancies and the spread of STIs”.

Mrs Kwabia was speaking at the celebration of the World Population Day (WPD) in the Western Region held under the theme: “Reproductive Health and Gender Equality for sustainable development”.

The Deputy Regional Director said, “If we have a well educated, healthy, and economically empowered youth, the fortunes of the nation will transform positively”.

Read: Licking female sexual reproductive organ dangerous to your health Medical expert warns

Mr David Gorman Hammond, Deputy Regional Coordinating Director, said the development of any country was tied to its knowledgeable and healthy youth population.

He said government has adopted various international and national conventions, policies and programmes which would have implications on individuals and families.

Mr Hamond said national commitment to universal basic education, gender equality, equity and empowerment of females, wealth creation and employment were some of the programmes put in place to address the needs of the youth.

He said the policies were meant to complement the number of existing national policies and action plans which would respond to the needs of the population and to the youth.

Mrs Freda Owusu-Ansah, the Regional Population Officer, said Ghana’s Population is currently projected to be 30.3 million with an annual growth rate of 2.2 per cent out of which 38.8 per cent are under 15 years.

She said the projected figure indicates that there is a rapid population growth rate of youth between 15-25 years.

Read: Pornography leading influence on sexual behaviour among youth Study

Mrs Owusu-Ansah said there is a need for the government to make more progress to address the demographic situation so that it does not affect the growing population.

he said the 2000 Population census reveals that the Western Region grew from 1.9 million to 2.3 million in 2010 with a growth rate of 2.0 percent and that it could increase to 4.8 million by 2040.

Mrs Ansah said the region has a youthful population and this accounted for its numerous adolescents and reproductive health challenges.

The Regional Population Officer said with the region’s robust mining sector, timber and fishing industry and the recent discovery of oil and gas in commercial quantities, it would attract both local and foreign migrants.

Mr John H.K Ahiable of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), who presided, called on the public to consider the issues of population very seriously so as to find pragmatic solutions to the demographic dividend.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Mr. Rodulph Kobi Sebuabeh, a business mogul in Kpone-Katamanso, says he is the constituency’s choice to replace incumbent Member of Parliament, Joseph Laryea Afotey Agbo.

He said this when summiting his nomination forms at the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Constituency office in Kpone.

In a telephone interview with the Ghana News Agency, Mr. Sebuabeh noted that it was time the NDC in Kpone Katamanso united to rescue power from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP)

The businessman explained that, the electoral fortunes of the party in the area kept dwindling and he was the only candidate to solve that problem.

According to him, he would make the party more attractive when given the opportunity to serve as the member of Parliament for the constituency.

Five aspirants had picked up nomination forms to contest and represent Kpone Katamanso on NDC’s ticket in the country’s legislative house after the incumbent decided not to contest.

Meanwhile, checks at the Ningo- Prampram Constituency office of NDC indicated that the constituency Chairman, Mr. Michael Kwetey Tetteh, had also filed his nomination forms to lock horns with the Incumbent Member of Parliament Mr. Samuel Nartey George.

Mr.Enerst Norgbe Member of Parliament for the Ashaiman constituency also filed his forms to seek reelection.

Aspirants were expected to be vetted from 24 to 25 of July whilst 24 August 2019 has been slated for the primaries across all the country.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

A few days ago, senior high school teachers received a letter from the Ghana Education Service (GES) which stated that they should be reposted if they hold a degree earned through distance education or sandwich.

The letter, according to the Education Ministry, did not sit well with many teachers who explained that earning a degree through distance learning or sandwich is not a good enough basis for getting a repost to basic school.

The Ministry of Education, which faced backlash from the teachers, has come out to clarify its position in a press release, explaining no policy disqualifies teachers who earned their certificates through distance learning.

“However, the official position is that a degree in Early Childhood Education or Basic Education whether through Sandwich or Campus programs, does not constitute eligibility to teach at a Senior High School,” the Ministry explained.

“Over the years the impression has been created that any degree qualifies one to teach at the Senior High school even if the degree (such as Early Childhood or Basic Education) is tailored for teaching at the Kindergarten or primary levels. That is not accurate,” the Education Ministry added in a statement.

The statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, Ekow Vincent Assafuah, stated in addition to meeting other requirements set by National Teaching Council and GES teachers with degrees in a subject area, whether through Distance or campus program, qualifies to teach in the Senior High School.

Read the full statement below:

Source: Myjoyonline.com

Taxi drivers plying the Kpone Calypso to Michel Camp road have threatened to demonstrate against authorities over the deplorable state of the road.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency, Mr Rexmond Ntiamoah, Chairman of the local taxi drivers association, stated that, all available avenues to get authorities to fix the road have been exhausted and the only option left was to demonstrate.

Mr. Ntiamoah stated that authorities such as the Kpone Katamanso Municipal Assembly and the Urban Roads Department had ignored their call to get the road fixed.

According to him, proceeds made from driving was used in fixing their cars which got damaged on daily basis due to the deplorable nature of the road, a situation he said, constantly resulted in confrontation between drivers and their employers.

The chairman explained that, prices of car parts were skyrocketing on a daily basis and, “We are really suffering.”

Mr. Anthony Nukpenu, former Presiding Member, Kpone Katamanso Municipal Assembly, in an interview with the GNA noted that, the 4.7 kilometer road was awarded on the construct to Queiroz Galvao, a Brazilian construction firm by the last NDC government.

He added that the contractor was able to construct only 2 kilometers with asphaltic overlay leaving the remaining 2.7 kilometers in such a deployable state.

Efforts made to get the Municipal road engineer to respond to the issues was unsuccessful.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Dr Patricia P. Acheampong, a Senior Research Scientist at the Crop Research Institute under the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR-CRI), has said plans are advanced to introduce the yellow and orange maize varieties into the School Feeding Programme.

She said government’s objective in introducing the school feeding programme is to ensure that children eat locally produced nutritious meals, hence the introduction of the yellow and orange maize varieties as they are rich in micro- nutrients.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Atebubu in the Bono East Region, she said CSIR-CRI is working with the World Food Program, a United Nations Frontline Agency to ensure the success of the program.

Read: Maize farmers call for standards in grain measurement

Dr Acheampong said with the implementation of the Enhanced Nutrition and Value Chains (ENVAC) project, CRI is putting in place measures to ensure that more farmers embrace the cultivation of the new yellow and orange maize varieties.

The Agricultural Economist said many of the schools in the targeted communities have accepted to include the Vitamin ‘A’ maize in the Feeding Program on pilot basis adding that so far, ten schools have responded positively.

Some of the communities that have accepted to plant the new maize varieties include Busunya in Nkoranza North Municipality, Mesidan in Techiman North and Sallamkrom, all in the Bono East Region, Bayere Nkwanta, Kobriti and Adwiwan all in the Ashanti Region.

Dr Acheampong said 30 kilogram of orange maize seed has so far been supplied to Kobriti community to begin farm trials.

She called on farmers to plant the Vitamin ‘A’ maize varieties on a large scale as the success of the entire effort would depend on this.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Deeper Christian Life Ministry is set to embark on a campaign to tackle immorality especially in tertiary institutions across the country.

Through its Deeper Life Campus Fellowship, the church has launched its annual national campus community congress; dubbed ‘Excelsior 2019’.

The congress to be held on July 31 to August 4 at Brofoyedru in the Ashanti region is on the theme for this year’s congress is “equipping intellectuals to reach the utmost height”.

Speaking at the launch, the National Overseer of Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor Edward Duodo bemoaned the growing practice of occultism, addiction to drugs and alcohol, sexual adventurism and promiscuity on our campuses.

The situation, he stated should become a source of discomfort and must be tackled head-on. Pastor Duodo described as very unfortunate how immorality is on the increase despite the proliferation of churches in the country.

The Deeper Life National Overseer said their focus was to reach to as many people as possible with the Gospel and expressed the hope that this year’s event would also be very successful.

Pastor Duodo urged the church not to focus only on the spiritual development of the people but their physical well being as well.

Also, the National Campus Coordinator, Pastor Francis Fosu, bemoaned the increasing rate of “sex for marks on our campuses, the abuse of tramadol among the youth.

“Now is the time for the Church to rise up pray and teach against such issues…there is more work to be done to bring such people to Christ”.

For his part, guest of honour, Rev Professor Kwamena Sagoe also urged all to yearn for the spirit of excellence and to fulfil what God has planned for them.

“We should desire for excellence and to fulfil what God has planned for us…excellence is not about the number of cars or vehicles we owe but about fulfilling the purpose and will of God” he indicated.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

Two persons have been handed a total of 40 years in jail by the Kasoa Circuit Court presided over by His Lordship Ebenezer Osei Darko.

The two Daniel Amoah and Yaw Danso were convicted on the charge of conspiracy to commit crime to wit robbery.

The two were alleged to have attacked a mobile money vendor Kate Aidoo at Gomoa Fetteh in the central region, bolted with her money and in the process poured acid on her leaving the victim to battle for her life at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

The victim Kate Aidoo who suffered severe burns on the face and breast managed to shout for help in the process of her attack with some youth pursuing the suspects leading to their arrest.

Source: starrfm.com.gh

All the Tamale Teaching Hospital mortuary fridges are back working after being offline for almost a month.

The breakdown of the mortuary fridges was as a result of a power surge in the area.

“Electrical power surges experienced on 27th June 2019, at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, resulted in damage to the electrical boards of the outdoor units of all five mortuary fridges at the Department of Pathology. An enquiry at the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) control room confirmed [that] the power surges were as a result of challenges with some transmission lines.”

On July 6, the hospital embarked on a mass burial exercise due to the breakdown of four out of the five mortuary fridges.

The hospital secured a “court order for the mass burial of unclaimed bodies that had accumulated at the morgue over a period of time.”

There are reports that a total of 24 corpses were buried during the exercise.

After the power surge on June 27, the Biomedical Engineering Unit of the hospital was able to get one of the fridges functional, by replacing one of the faulty outdoor units with an older one.

Source: citinewsroom.com

Nana Raymond Damptey, the Birim North District Chief Executive (DCE), has warned that the assembly would prosecute people caught littering in the district.

He said the assembly would provide 40 dustbins to be placed at various places- streets, market and the lorry station; to ensure easy access to bins.

Nana Damptey said this when he addressed residents of New Abirem at the launch of the environmental care campaign and a clean-up exercise at New Abirem in the Eastern Region.

Before the launch of the programme at the Abirem lorry station, the residents cleaned and weeded around the New Abirem Hospital, some principal streets, desilted the gutters and cleaned the New Abirim market and station.

read: Minister affirms support to GJA sanitation project

Nana Damptey appealed to leaders in the community not to come pleading on behalf of people arrested for sanitation offences.

He urged the officials of the District Assembly to be firm and not to allow their family and friends to influence them when it comes to enforcement of the sanitation laws.

Nana Damptey said if all the people would be law abiding and be conscious about the environment, it would be no need to meet once a month to clean the environment.

Mr John Frimpong Osei, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Abirem Constituency, said he would collaborate to help move the campaign to other communities in the district so that the public can adopt the concept and be sanitation conscious.

Nana Amo Kyeretwie, the Abiremhene, said he would support efforts to bring all the stakeholders together to ensure that the society stays clean.
He said the traditional authorities are engaging the assembly to provide street lights at all vantage points in New Abirim to ensure the safety of the people at night.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

A major shakeup has taken place at the top bracket of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the first since the appointment of Col Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd) as Commissioner.

As the tsunami rages on, the Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations, Mr Seth Dwirah, has been reassigned to the Ministry of Finance, the Deputy Commissioner of Preventive, Alhaji Seidu Iddisah, and his second in command have been shifted to the Customs Academy at Agortime-Kpetoe in the Volta Region.

Read: Ghana Revenue Authority seizes products in Kumasi

The vacant position in Preventive is now being filled by Assistant Commissioner Mr Yacuub Seidu as Acting Deputy Commissioner.

The most senior person with the rank of Assistant Commissioner, Mr Felix Mate Kojo, has been promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner with responsibility over Policy and Planning, Assistant Commissioner Madam Hannah Acquah Sampson moves from Free Zones to Post Clearance Audit, Assistant Commissioner Dr Okoh-Appiah from the Tema Port to the Ministry of Finance, with the Commandant of the Customs Academy Assistant Commissioner Appiah Warden taking his place.

Meanwhile, as the internal shake up continues with more areas affected, the Minister of Finance has given approval for the new Commissioner, Col Kwadwo Damoah, to wear the Customs uniform.

Customs, which is responsible for the collection of large chunk of state revenue, has not been meeting set targets for the last two years, a state which culminated in earlier changes at the commissionership a little over a month ago.

Source: thechronicle.com.gh

Member of Parliament for Ayawaso North, Yussif Issaka Jajah, has stated that his contention for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary primaries is riding on the back of the youth.

The youth, who constitute about 80 percent of delegates of the constituency, he said, have witnessed, testified and felt the impact of his performance and ready to endorse him again to represent them in the 2020 general elections.

He stated that with support of the constituency executives and the hardworking masses of the NDC, he is looking forward to getting the highest number of votes in the general election

Issaka Jajah made these claims when he, amid pomp and pageantry, filed his nomination at the NDC Constituency office in Kotobabi, followed by a huge crowd of sympathizers.

19th July 2019 was closing date for filing of nomination for the parliamentary primaries and aspirants went through the procedure across the country to beat the deadline except in constituencies where the process has been postponed.

Issaka Jajah indicated that the difference he is bringing aboard this time is the distinction he has made between his performance and that of his predecessor.

He promised there will be innovations in the processes to get quality results but decided to hold his cards close to his chest till he wins the primaries.

According to him, his achievements speak for themselves across all sectors namely sanitation, education and development projects.

“And the evidence is there for all to see and to support my nomination.”

“The people of Ayawaso North have been able to see the good works that I have been able to do within this short period.”

“This performance comes on the back of the fact that though I won the parliamentary seat, my government is not in power.”

“Even in opposition, I have been able to do more, in two and half years, than my predecessors 16 years of achievement and records.”

He expressed gratitude to Allah for making it possible for him to file his nomination and urged his teeming supporters to crank up the campaign to ensure landslide in the primaries and the national elections.

Yussif Jajah will be slugging it out again with his predecessor, Dr Mustapha Ahmed, who has also picked and successfully filed his nomination forms.

Source: Ghanacrusader.com

Churches within the Ga East Municipal Assembly have joined forces to establish the Ga East Council of Churches.

The Council aims at promoting unity among Christian churches in the municipality while spearheading development within the community member churches are located.

At the official inauguration held at the Soul Care Assemblies of God Church at Ashongman-Estates on Saturday, retired Presbyterian Minister Reverend Charles Barifi Ahwireng, who was also the guest speaker, commended all the churches for coming together for such a noble and religious cause.

He tasked the leadership to be resolute in helping grow the municipality spiritually.

The Chief Executive of Ga East Municipal Assembly, Janet Tulasi Mensah, was full of praise for the body.

She said it was part of a direction she received from God when she assumed the reins, to bring all the men of God within the Assembly together.

Speaking in Twi, Mrs Tulasi Mensah said she wants her municipality to be the envy of all.

She asked leadership of the Council to consider meeting monthly to pray for the Assembly.

Most of the heads of churches within the municipality offered support for the Council.

Source: 3news.com

The President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will begin a two-day working visit to the Western Region to enable him to engage with traditional rulers, students and cut sod for some developmental projects.

The President is expected to also commission some projects executed by his administration over the last two and a half years.

President Akufo-Addo will start his official tour in Shama District on Tuesday, July 23, 2019, to cut the sod for some projects.

Later in the day, President Akufo-Addo will interact with 24,000 farmers at Daboase in the Wassa East District.

From Wassa East District, the President will storm Ellembelle District to commission a multi-billion Ghana Gas Operational Headquarters at A. B. Bokazo in the Ellembelle District.

Read: 50 illegal miners arrested in the Eastern and Western regions

The President will end day-one of his working visit by interacting with tutors and students of Half Assini Secondary Senior High School (HASCO) in the Jomoro Municipality.

He will begin the second day of his visit on Wednesday at Dixcove in the Ahanta West Municipality where he will cut sod for the construction of a Landing Beach to support the fishing industry.

He will also cut sod for the construction of a Landing Beach at Axim in the Nzema East Municipality.

The President will end his two-day official working visit to the Region at Bogoso in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality where he will cut sod for the commencement of Bogoso township roads.

Akufo-Addo will continue his tour to Central Region on the next day and end it on July 27, 2019.

Read the full proposed programmes of the President’s tour

THE PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO WESTERN AND CENTRAL REGION (23RD – 27TH JULY, 2019)
PROPOSED PROGRAMME

WESTERN

TIME ACTIVITY TOWN CONSTITUENCY REGION

DAY 1, TUESDAY 23RD JULY 2019

9:00 am Fly to Takoradi Western

9:30 am Drive to Shama Western

10:00 am Sod Cutting for Twiford – Keda 2nd Expansion Work Shama Shama Western

11:00 am Depart Shama for Daboase Western

Read: 50 illegal miners arrested in the Eastern and Western regions

11:30 am Durbar of Chiefs and meeting with 24,000 farmers Daboase Wassa East Western

12:30 pm Depart Daboase for Esiama Western

2:30 pm Lunch Esiama Ellembele Western

3:30 pm Commissioning of Ghana Gas Operational Headquarters (No Durbar) Esiama Ellembele Western

4:00 pm Depart Esiama for Half Assini Western

5:00 pm Interaction with tutors and students of Half Assini Secondary School Half Assini Jomoro Western

6:00pm Depart Half Assini for Takoradi Western
Sleep in Takoradi Takoradi Western

End of day one

THE PRESIDENT’S VISIT TO WESTERN AND CENTRAL REGION (23RD – 27TH JULY, 2019)
PROPOSED PROGRAMME

WESTERN

TIME ACTIVITY TOWN CONSTITUENCY REGION

DAY 2, WEDNESDAY 24TH JULY 2019

9:00 am Depart Takoradi for Dixcove Western

10:00 am Sod Cutting for fish landing beach Dixcove Ahanta West Western

11:00 am Depart Dixcove for Axim Western

12:00 pm Sod Cutting for fish landing beach Axim Evalue Ajomoro Gwira Western

1:00 pm Depart Axim for Bogoso Western

3:30 pm Lunch at Bogoso Golden star Resources Bogoso Prestea-Huni-Valley Western

4:30 pm Durbar of Chiefs and Sod Cutting for Prestea Town Roads Bogoso Prestea-Huni-Valley Western

5:30 pm Depart Bogoso for Takoradi Western
Sleep in Takoradi

Source: Daniel Kaku

The New Glory Fellowship International honoured Ghana’s own and U.S. based Mr. Charles Nimmo Ntiamoah-Mensah (Mr.CNN).

The Humanitarian God’s Glory Award was given to the Founder/CEO of 3G Media Inc.in recognition of his years of personal dedication to promoting the best of Ghanaian achievements at home and abroad in art, music, sports, community, and business. Coming on the heels of Mr.nCNN’s recent 50th birthday celebration, the humble servant, also known as the “Don and Godfather of Ghana Media, the USA” could not but thank his Lord for the showers of blessings.

The “3G” in 3G Media stands for God, Global and Giving. The Annual 3G Awards have been occasions to showcase the leaders of Ghana, Africa, and America in entertainment, culture, sports, business, and community. Big and trending names in Ghana look forward to attending the 3G Awards and being feted.

Mr. CNN got his start in Media doing photojournalism for Ghanaweb nearly two decades ago. Gaining international recognition quickly before smartphones turned everyone into an amateur photographer, he parlayed the photos into interviews, and then into the now well-received 3G Magazine, a quarterly. He has featured all four living presidents of Ghana Rawlings, Kufuor, Mahama, and Akufo-Addo,
plus the Asantehene.

Mr. CNN has had his challenges, especially in health. Still, he has persevered in making the appointments to cover the many events in Ghana and elsewhere. He has been dutifully present at so many events in New York City that most believe that he resides in New York and not in Philadelphia, where he lives with his wife; Rosemond and children; Kendra, Emmanuella and Angel. Accepting his God’s Glory Award, Charles shed a tear as his expression of joyful thankfulness to the
Lord for seeing him through his trials and leading him to success, especially in health.

Rev. Felicia Sarpong Gambrah, Charter President of The New Glory Prayer Group thanked the evening’s honorees and supporters for their outstanding contributions to the Ghanaian Community. She encouraged all to love and cherish one another. She said;”Mr. CNN has been honouring many people, and today is his time to be honoured.” This drew huge applause from the congregation. Many have heard the name; “Mr. CNN” but not met him in person. The New Glory Fellowship International, http://newgloryny.org/ is a fellowship of non-denominational churches that attracts volunteers with a strong sense of call and a clear vision for what God wants us to do for the needy and others in communities.

The Keynote Speaker and honoree were; Archbishop Kwaku Frimpong-Manson. He has been honored by Her Majesty; Queen Elizabeth II of England. He is the Founder and Director of Reconciliation International.

The Chairman of the occasion and also honoured was; Dr Kwame Kyei, Board Chairman of the Porcupine Warriors, Asante Kotoko Football Club of Kumasi, Ghana. Dr. Kyei is the CEO of a number of businesses including; Unity Oil Company Limited, Light FM, Light TV, Vision1 FM, Sports Hotel and the Sports Recreational Centre.

The New Glory Fellowship International engages in Evangelism, Discipleship and Leadership Development, General Counseling, Community Development, International Evangelism, Bible Study & Youth Fellowship, Youth Empowerment, Women Empowerment, Local and International Donations

Source: 3G Media

The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) has intercepted six girls and a woman being trafficked to the Gulf States. The six girls aged between 21 and 22, hailed from Bono, Ashanti, Northern and Volta regions, and were scheduled to travel to Lebanon on board an Ethiopian Airlines flight.

The woman, 26, (name withheld) hails from Egbazo, Nzima in the Jomoro District of the Western region. An official statement signed by ACI Barbara Sam, GIS Public Relations Officer at KIA and copied the GNA, said the girls were suspected to have been be trafficked and appeared younger than their purported ages in their passports.

Read: Limited voter registration exercise was fraught with challenges NDC

According to the statement, they were unable to tell their purpose of travelling or their final destination, except one of them, who said she was travelling outside the country to work in a shop. The statement said In the case of the woman, she was spotted by an officer crying at the departure hall and was escorted to the Immigration Fraud Unit for interrogation.

She later revealed that she was recruited by one Alberta, who later transferred her to another agent by name Mina in Accra to facilitate her travelling to the Gulf State, it added. According to the woman, she was charged an amount of GHC7,500 but her family was able to raise GHC2,200 with the promise to pay the balance on her arrival in the Gulf State.

“She further disclosed that her family threatened her not to return home should she refuse to travel to Lebanon.” A thorough check on her passport revealed that she had travelled earlier on to Saudi Arabia.

Read; Immigration foils trafficking of 7 girls

The statement quoted the Regional Commander of the GIS KIA Command, ACI Edith Penelope Arhin, cautioning parents to take keen interest in the welfare of their children, especially the girl child because travelling outside the country does not guarantee their future.

“Parents should beware of people who pose as travel agents with juicy proposals of taking their kids abroad to better their lives,” she said. “With determination and hard work they can make it here in Ghana.” She said the irony of the Gulf issue is that most of the girls return home mentally disturbed, sick or sometimes die on arrival.

She also advised young girls to pursue their educational goals and learn some trade or apprenticeship.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Professor Kofi Agyekum, popularly known as Opanyin Agyekum has condemned the neglect of the Bekwai District Hospital which when completed will be beneficial to the district and Ashanti Region as a whole.

Bekwai District Hospital which commenced in September 2010 has been left at the mercy of rats, weeds and cobwebs.

The 190-bed capacity Bekwai Municipal Hospital, abandoned by the Akufo-Addo government, is one of three hospital projects started in the Ashanti Region by the then governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Read: Ghanaian Architects protest multiple government projects awarded to Sir David Adjaye

The two others are at Afari, near Nkawie in the Atwima Nwabiagya District, which is a 500-bed military hospital and 250-bed regional hospital at Sawua in the Bosomtwe District.

On completion, the 190-bed capacity facility, is expected to ease the pressure on the old Bekwai District Hospital and enhance healthcare delivery in and around the Bekwai Municipality, but these will not happen soon.

Construction work began in March 2014 and was expected to be completed by September 2017.

Reacting to this on Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, Opanyin Agyekum bemoaned the fact that everything in the country is politicized.

“Because of politics, projects from previous governments are abandoned . . . sometimes I wonder if it is a curse, otherwise why would we abandon a project that can be beneficial to us?” he wondered.

Watch video below

Nana Oye Lithur, the Former Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection on Friday filed her nomination to contest the parliamentary primaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the Adentan Constituency.

Nana Oye Lithur submitted all the required documents and made all payment.

In her address after the submission of the forms at the Adentan Constituency of the NDC Office, Nana Oye Lithur said she made the decision to serve the people of Adentan after a thorough consultation with key stakeholders.

She said: “What I offer as your Parliamentary Candidate for NDC, should you give me the nod, is a well-resourced united NDC Adentan Constituency, active resourced branches, efficient coordination at the ward level, a well-functioning administrative staff and service to the entire electorate”.

She said as part of an initiative, there would be a 100 per cent implementation in Adentan of the NDC national executive directive of the adopt a branch initiative and ensure the strategic scientific mapping of all wards and branches.

She said her major priority would be to galvanise the strength of the people and unite the party at the Constituency, Ward and Branch levels, adding that, there was no need to harbour factionalism.

Nana Oye Lithur said there were urban poor communities, including areas such as Alidzar, Amrahia Zongo and Adentan Village, among others, and that, their condition had provoked and motivated the decision to stand as the parliamentary candidate for the Constituency.

Alhaji Baba Zakaria Abdullah, the Constituency Chairman urged the supporters of Nana Oye Lithur to desist from any act of violence that may undermine the democratic credentials of the party and the country at large.

He said the primaries was not against an enemy but should be seen as a brotherly contest of which the winner would be supported by all for possible victory in 2020.

Mr Patrick Suantah, the Constituency Secretary said other aspirants had already submitted nominations, adding that Nana Oye Lithur had submitted all the needed requirement to be considered for vetting.

Mr Christian Gollo, the Constituency Election Director urged the Aspirant to ensure that she and the team undertakes a campaign, devoid of personality attacks and antagonism.

Source: Ghananewsagency.org