Author: Persis

Kparekpare, a farming community in the Krachi East Municipality of the Oti Region has banned the carrying of offensive weapons including knives in public.

Nana Atta Foster Owusu III, Chief of KpareKpare said the decision was to discourage communal fights and promote peace in the area.

He said weeks ago a committee sensitised Fulanis and other indigenes on the increasing use of offensive weapons in the area, where an agreement was reached to ban the carrying knives, club weapon and other offensive implements in public.

Nana Owusu said the free movement of such implements even at funerals and markets was causing fear and panic to many, especially businesswomen and urged other communities to ban them.

He warned that anyone caught carrying such items in an offensive manner would be sanctioned.

A document on the ban, which gives power to established committee members to search suspects and arrest them was signed and thumb printed by community leaders with copies sent to the Oti Regional Minister, the Krachi East Municipal Chief Executive and the Bureau of National Investigation.

Alhaji Issah Zraki of KpareKpare Zongo assured that all Zongo dwellers and Fulanis would go by the by-law for peace to prevail in the area.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

The family of the late Kofi Poku, also known as ‘Asco Pee’, the 35-year old phone repairer who died on Sunday, July 07, 2019, after he was allegedly manhandled By the Old Tafo police, is calling for justice.

“We are appealing to the Inspector General of Police ( IGP) to use his good offices to intervene in the issue since the family is suspicious of police complicity in the unfortunate death,” Nana Akua, the grief-stricken mother of the deceased, told newsmen.

According to the mother of the deceased, they had information that the late Poku was allegedly subjected to severe beatings by the police soon after his arrest for reckless driving, which subsequently, led to his death at the Tafo Government Hospital.

When the Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited the Old Tafo Mile Three family residence of the deceased on Monday, the tension was brewing as the youth, family and relatives of the deceased, clad in red and black, had sworn not to rest until the right thing was done.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Godwin Ahianyo, in-charge of the Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Unit, confirming the incident, said the Command had commenced preliminary investigations into the issue.

“Our information indicates that the deceased who was in charge of a Toyota Saloon car, on reaching Krofrom, a suburb of Kumasi, ignored police signals to stop as he was driving recklessly,” he stated.

This, he noted, aroused the suspicion of the police and as a result, a patrol team pursued the speeding driver and caught up with him at a spot close to the Tafo Government Hospital Junction.

ASP Ahianyo added that sensing danger, the deceased driver was said to have jumped out of his car in an attempt to run away, and allegedly fell down heavily, becoming weak in the process.

“When our men found out that he had almost fallen unconscious, they then rushed him to the hospital,” he noted.

Meanwhile, five people who were said to be part of some demonstrators who took to the streets and proceeded to the Hospital to pour out their anger, following the incident had been arrested by the police.

The culprits, who at the time of filing this report were still in police custody, are assisting with investigations.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

A suit has been filed at the Registry of the High Court, Accra, seeking to force the General Legal Council, the body charged with legal education in Ghana, to withdraw an advertisement it placed in the state-owned Daily Graphic of 4 June 2019, in which it asked prospective applicants to submit applications to it to undergo a law school entrance examination.

The suit is titled GJ1547/2019.

On 10 June 2019, the Coalition for the Reformation of Legal Education in Ghana issued a press statement asking that the advertisement issued on 4 June 2019 be withdrawn.

In that letter, the group stated: “To conclude, we are by this letter serving notice on the General Legal Council, and notice is hereby served, that if it fails to publicly withdraw the advertisement placed on page 30 of the Daily Graphic of 4 June 2019, we would initiate all legal actions allowed by the 1992 Constitution to ensure that they listen to the voice of reason.”

Copies of the letter were subsequently served on the General Legal Council and several interest groups.

“Unfortunately, we have not seen the required action, leaving us with no option to seek judicial intervention”, the coalition said in a statement.

In the suit, which is an application for Judicial Review by way of Prohibition, the Applicant is seeking three reliefs, which are the following;

(1) An order of Prohibition directed at the Respondents to withdraw the advertisement placed at page 30 of the Daily Graphic of 4 June 2019, and to make the contents of the said advertisement consistent with articles 23 and 296 (a) and (b) and the Legal Profession (Professional and Post-Call Law Course) Regulations, 2018 (L.I.2355).

(2) An order of Prohibition directed at the Respondents to withdraw the advertisement placed at page 30 of the Daily Graphic of 4 June 2019, and make the contents of the said advertisement consistent with articles 17 of the 1992 Constitution.

(3) An order of Prohibition to directed at the Respondents to withdraw the advertisement placed at page 30 of the Daily Graphic of 4 June 2019, and make the contents of the said advertisement consistent with article 15 of the 1992 Constitution.

“The reasons are that even though the General Legal Council has been sued in the Supreme Court on the very same matters, it has not seen it fit to file an appearance in the matter before the Supreme Court to provide a response in that suit. What it has rather done, is to proceed by doing exactly the same things that has landed it in the Supreme Court”, the group noted.

Source: classfmonline.com

Members of the Coalition for Social Justice, will today, Tuesday, 9 July 2019 embarked on a demonstration dubbed “Kum Yen Preko” to register their displeasure over what they term as severe hardship in the country.

Members of the group are unhappy with the state of insecurity, attack on media freedom among others.

Groups that have shown interest to participate include the Minority caucus in Parliament, the Greater Accra Market Women Association, the Concerned Drivers Union, True Drivers Union, Free Media Vanguard, the Coalition for National Sovereignty, disgruntled MenzGold customers and unpaid customers of Gold Coast Fund Management.

The Police Service in an earlier statement has cautioned persons intending to take advantage of a demonstration to foment trouble to reconsider their decision.

The Police Service said it “will secure the routes earmarked for the event and take necessary steps to ensure the security of all demonstrators as well as maintaining law and order for the entire period and beyond.”

Source: classfmonline.com

Former Member of Parliament for Bantama Constituency, Henry Kwabena Kokofu has asked the leadership of parliament to apologize to Ghanaians over their decision to build a 450-seater new parliamentary chamber.

According to him, they have done a lot of disservice to the people of Ghana for prioritizing their interest over the interest of the majority Ghanaians who voted the NPP into power.

Speaking on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ programme, he explained that the NPP government led by President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo owes it a duty to honour his promises to the people of Ghana as the 200 million US dollar project is not a priority.

“The NPP government is committed to providing basic amenities and social infrastructure for the people of Ghana and we will not lose focus on that.”

“I believe that Parliament should be focused on helping the President achieve his basic aim and goal rather than doing things to suit their whims and caprices,” he added.

Watch Interview below

Source: peacefmonline.com

Luck eluded a 23-year-old suspected highway armed robber when he was gunned down by a civilian on the Atebubu-Kwame Danso Highway in the Atebubu-Amantin Municipality in the Bono East Region last Tuesday evening.

The deceased, suspected to be a Fulani, was one of about six suspected armed robbers who attacked and robbed occupants of four vehicles that plied the road that evening.

The rest of his colleagues fled into the bush when they realised their colleague had been killed.

Vehicles whose registration numbers are yet to be identified were two cargo trucks and two SsangYong mini buses commuting from Kumasi in the Ashanti Region to Kajaji in the Bono Region when they were attacked and robbed.

Police response

The Bono Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Chief Inspector Augustine Kinsley Oppong, who is also in charge of the Bono East and Ahafo regions, told The Mirror that the civilian shot the suspected robber on the chest.

According to him, the police at Atebubu received a message that armed robbers were robbing commuters on the Atebubu-Kwame Danso Highway so a police patrol team was dispatched to the scene.

Chief Inspector Oppong said a victim informed the police that one of the armed robbers who was wearing a red T-Shirts over a grey-coloured trousers held a heavy stick and ordered him to lie on the ground.

He said when the police conducted a search at the crime scene, they saw a male adult believed to be Fulani aged about 23 years wearing a red T-Shirt over a grey-coloured trousers lying dead in a pool of blood in prone position.

Chief Inspector Oppong said an examination on the body revealed pellets wounds on the chest, adding that items such as a phone and GH¢72 cash was found on him.

He explained that a pair of sandals, a stick, a torch, two empty AA cartridges believed to have been used by the robber were retrieved.

According to Chief Inspector Oppong, the members of the patrol team also said they heard two gunshots around the area. At the scene, some of the victims said the robber died when a passenger on board one of the affected cargo trucks shot at him.

He said the body had since been sent to the St Mathias Hospital morgue at Yeji for preservation and autopsy.

Source: Graphic.com.gh

 

Oral history from Bonwire, de Ghanaian village wey produce kente show sey de cloth dey in existence for 377 years now.

One of de great great grandchildren of de original kente maker, Eric Kwarteng reveal give BBC Pidgin sey dema fore fathers come up plus kente after dem see spider dey weave en nest for forest inside during dema hunting expedition.

Kente, which before-before be cloth for just royals come turn national symbol as people wey get high or low status all dey wear sake of de sense of pride Ghanaians dey get from am.

Den times one kente cloth dey fit take one year, eight months, some six months to finish saf, but of late dem fit dey finish am quick small, sake of that kente be expensive

No be just Ghanaians dey love am, over de years de kente come turn iconic symbol for de Black race across de world.

People of African descent all dey use kente for all parts of de world during special occasions like graduation, others dey take make political statement sey dem dey connected to dema African routes den stuff.

More times kente dey feature for movies inside, music videos den stuff especially when Blacks dey inside.

Producers: Usifo Omozokpea and Favour Nunoo.

Source: BBC.com/pidgin

Togbe Afede XIV, Agbogbomefia of Asogli State and President of the National House of Chiefs, has advised young people to remain obedient to their parents irrespective of their academic achievements.

He said educated children tend to regard themselves more intelligent than their parents, and said such tendencies would deny them good counsel.

Togbe Afede said this in a tribute to his mother, Madam Rosalia Akuyo Anyawo at her burial mass held in Ho on Saturday.

“Young people must listen to their parents. It is easy for the young to think their education has made them wiser than their parents. I wish that I had listened to her more, and understood and taken more seriously some of the things she said. I would have been a much better person”, he said.

Togbe Afede said his mother, though uneducated, strove to keep his schooling on course, and was a major source of encouragement as he climbed up the academic and business ladder.

He was thankful for picking virtues such as honesty, truthfulness, empathy and long-suffering from his late mother, whom he described as a successful palm wine seller.

“My mother taught us the importance of hard work and taught us to be resolutely committed to our goals. We were inspired by how she juggled her duties daily. Dada also taught us to be honest, so we would truly earn, with pride, whatever benefits we receive”, Togbe Afede said.

Akuyo Anyawo, the mother of four, who lived from 1932 to 2018, headed the Palm Wine Sellers Association in the Volta Region, whiles venturing into farming and other endeavours.

The body of the deceased was laid in state at the OLA Girls Senior High School where the burial mass was performed by the Ho Diocese of the Catholic Church preceding a private burial later.

Present at the Mass was Vice President Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia who led a government delegation, and former president Jerry John Rawlings.

Ministers of State, Members of the Council of State, political party heads, corporate leaders, former government appointees, and some foreign development partners were also present, with more expected until the event ends with a thanksgiving service at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Ho on Sunday, July 07.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

rospective voters awaiting in long queues to be registered in the Sunyani Municipality on Friday appealed to the Electoral Commission (EC) to extend the duration of the on-going Limited Voter Registration Exercise.

According to them the number of would-be voters wishing to be registered have increased, though the exercise officially ends on Sunday, July 7, 2019.

They attributed that increment to the arrival of Senior High School students who have attained age 18 and now back home on vacation.

When the Ghana News Agency visited the Sunyani Municipal EC registration Centre at 1430 hours, there was a long-winding queue of many potential voters who appeared so frustrated because some of them had been there for three working days but had not gotten the chance to be registered.

In an interview with the GNA, MS Priscilla Osei, an apprentice hairdresser, said, “I have been here for three days and have still not been registered due to the huge number of people”.

She pleaded with the EC to extend the duration for the registration to afford any qualified voter the opportunity to be registered.

Mr Yaw Badu-Amaniampong, the Municipal Supervisor of EC, said there is the need for the Commission to extend the duration because of the increase in the number of those wishing to be registered.

He said initially the Centre could register a little over 200 people a day but since Monday, July 1, 2019, more than 350 people were registered daily.

Mr Badu-Amaniampong said the Centre could register that number daily because of the capacity and the competency of the team of registration officials.

He said the agents of the two main political parties, the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress have been cooperating with them adding that the Centre did not have any challenge except the issue of increasing numbers.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Dr Hafiz Bin-Salih, the Upper West Regional Minister, has advised Senior High School (SHS) teachers to adopt modern technology as the overriding tool for effective transfer of knowledge and skills to students.

He also called on students in second cycle schools in the Region to take advantage of internet facilities to develop their skills in order to keep abreast with current trends.

He said the way teaching and learning was done in the past, needs to be revisited by adopting technology as the best tool to impart knowledge to students.

Dr Bin-Salih said this in a speech read his behalf during Lassia Tuolu Senior High School 25th Anniversary Celebration which was organised under the theme: “25 years of developing resourceful and responsible citizens for nation building: the way forward”.

He said developing resourceful and responsible students involve the use of new strategies and the need to use the internet to search for useful information.

According to the Minister, government through the Get Fund has made provisions for the construction of various facilities in the school including an administration block, a 12- unit classroom block and fence wall.

He said many schools have complained to him about sexual harassment perpetrated by both teachers and students against girls but nothing of that sort was heard about in Lassia Tuolu SHS and commended the students and teachers for living decent lives.

Dr Bin-Salih was not happy that five districts in the region were without Directors while six SHSs were also without Headmasters adding that these are obstacles to quality education delivery.

He urged parents not to ignore the basic needs of their wards because government has introduced free education; adding that they should continue to support and even monitor their studies to ensure academic excellence.

He said Ghana Education Service (GES) was rolling out a Teacher Rationalization Policy to pave way for teachers who studied particular subjects to teach same subjects in their respective schools.

Teachers who spoke with the Ghana News Agency lauded the idea of adopting modern technology for teaching but said they were handicapped since teachers do not have access to computers and projectors. And this is beside the fact that many schools are yet to be connected to the national grid.

Mr Banongie Emmanuel, Headmaster of the School, enumerated various academic successes chalked out including National Mathematics and Science Quiz Competition and qualification of two students to participate in a French programme in Lome, the capital town of Togo.

Source: Ghananewsagency.org

Parliament of Ghana would start sitting on Mondays, commencing on Monday, July 15, 2019.

The sitting is to meet the constitutional requirements relating to the coming into force of the subsidiary legislation before the House.

Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Majority presenting the Business Statement for the seventh week ending Friday, 12th July, 2019 noted that the Business Committee proposes that the House sit on Mondays, beginning on Monday, 15th July, 2019.

The information is to serve a prior notice to all Members of Parliament (MPs) to aid in their planning for the weeks beginning Monday, 15th Monday, 22th and Monday, 29th July 2019.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Nana Agyenim Boateng, the newly enstooled Mrantehene of Apedwa, has called on all citizens of Akyem Apedwa to unite and help attract development to the area.

He said without unity and peace, much could not be achieved, hence the need for all to promote peace.

Nana Boateng was speaking to the media after he had sworn an oath to the Apedwahene, Osabarima Frempong Manso II at Apedwa in the Eastern Region.

He assured the chiefs and people in the area of his desire to promote development to help raise Apedwa to its past glory.

Nana Boateng, 42, is known in private life as Alexander Kwaku Boateng and he is a businessman.

Until his enstoolment, he was the President of the Apedwa Youth Association and has championed many development projects in the area.

Some of the projects he championed include rehabilitation of the Apedwa Clinic, upgrading of the town roads and putting up of street lights in the community.

The Apedwahene Osbarima Frempong Manso II called on the new Mrantehene to discharge his duties effectively and efficiently so that the people will benefit from his leadership.

He commended him for his contribution to the development of Apedwa.

Apedwa is located at the Western part of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area and the people there are regarded as the traditional soldiers and guards of the Ofori Panin stool.

Source: Ghananewsagency.org

new women’s volunteer group of the New Patriotic Party known as NPP Action Ladies was inaugurated in Accra on Friday 5th July, 2019.

According to the President of the group, Mrs. Queen Enam, their objectives are to mobilize women’s support to ensure victory for NPP in 2020; to inform and educate the citizenry on the good work being done by the NPP and to establish the rightful place of women in the present and future NPP government.

Mr. Paul Asare Ansah, Technical Advisor to the Minister of Transport who was the chairman at the inaugural ceremony congratulated the group for their foresight and commitment to the NPP agenda of development and prosperity for all.

He advised them to unite behind the leadership as they pursue their dreams.

As part of the programme for the day, the Action Ladies honoured 12 distinguished personalities for their great contribution to the development of women in the NPP and Ghana as a whole. These include the Second Lady Hajia Samira Bawumia, Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye and Paul Ansah.

Source: Jacob Kpodonu

The Jomoro District Police Command has arrested a woman for attempting to kidnap a 1-year-7-month-old boy at Bonyere Junction near Half Assini.

Giving an eyewitness account to GhanaWeb’s Regional Correspondent, the Morning Show Host of Hope FM in the area, Bishop Oteng, said the mother of the baby works at a restaurant in the area called Apollo Annex.

According to him, the baby’s mother who comes from a town called Ndumsuazo near Bonyere Junction always leaves her child at a drug store in the area whiles she works just so he is safe.

In a similar manner she left her child on Saturday, July 6, 2019 but nearly lost him to a kidnapper.

Around 10am, the eyewitness narrated, the owner of the drug store realised the child had suddenly disappeared, he called for help and quickly informed him (the eyewitness) who helped announce it on his media platform so the child could be found.

“I quickly called the District Police Commander about the incident and in fact the Commander responded well and promised to help rescue the child. Two hours later,some youth arrested a certain woman with the child at a town called Nawule which is near Bonyere Junction and when they arrested her they brought her to Bonyere Junction”, he narrated.

He added that “when she was brought to Bonyere Junction, the youth of the area and its surrounding communities blocked the road with sticks, stones, cutlasses, bottles among others to lynch her but the police within some few minutes rushed to the scene and saved the suspect from attacks”.

Confirming the incident to GhanaWeb, the District Police Commander, DSP Zeprain Zenge commended the Hope FM’s Morning Show Host for his swift tip-off which helped save the suspect from lynching.

DSP Zenge further admitted that it took great efforts on the part of his men to save the suspect from the angry youth, hundreds of them.

He said the suspect has been arrested and put behind bars at the Hall Assini Police Station pending investigations.

“We are doing our investigations, give us some time and we will give you details very soon but in fact if we didn’t rush to the scene, the mob would have killed her”, he concluded.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

The Ahafo regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been confirmed dead in a motor accident Saturday.

The deceased, Francis Sarfo Poku, known in private life as “Chairman Jerry” was returning from a party duty.

The astute businessman died on his way from Achrensua around Water Works when his Range Rover vehicle with registration number GT 3150-17 somersaulted.

Other five occupants of the vehicle including his wife and the driver are said to be in critical condition and have been rushed to the Sunyani Government Hospital.

Source: Starrfm.com.gh

One of the laptops used for the ongoing Ghana Card registration at the Christ Evangelical church centre at Kotobabi went missing sparking chaos at the centre Friday.

The situation got to the attention of registration officials Friday morning when they were about to start work at about 8:00GMT, an eye witness told starrfm.com.gh.

The exercise which has been going on at the centre for about a month now is supposed to come to an end on Saturday, July 6.

The eye witness who spoke to starrfm.com.gh said one of the officials came to make an announcement to prospective registrants, urging them to go home because one of the missing laptop.

The room at the Church premises where the equipment were stored overnight was not broken into.

NIA registration officials at the centre have however reported the incident to the Kotobabi Police Station.

Source: starrfm.com.gh

The chief of Drobonso in the Sekyere Afram Plains in the Ashanti Region escaped unhurt after some gunmen who blocked a section of the Drobonso-Kumawu road shot at a vehicle he was travelling in on Friday evening.

Nana Dwamena Dankwah Dwibisaw, who was travelling from Kumawu to Drobonso noticed that portions of the road were blocked by persons suspected to be robbers.

He refused to stop when the suspected robbers stopped his vehicle.

They fired sporadically as he sped off.

The chief was not hurt, but part of the vehicle was damaged.

The Officer in charge at the Drobonso Police station, Chief Inspector Borbor confirmed the attack to Citi News.

“After he [the chief] bypassed the thing, he called us. We also notified the Kwamahu police and they went to the scene but the robbers had left the scene.”

A vehicle belonging to the Drobonso health centre which was travelling on the stretch also had its windscreen damaged during the attack.

Police say they believe the robbers took advantage of the Kumawu-Bodomase market day to attack unsuspecting traders returning from the market on Friday.

Police suspect some other vehicles travelling on that stretch might have also been victims.

Source: citinewsroom.com

The Tamale Teaching Hospital has embarked on a mass burial exercise following power surges that damaged five refrigerators at its morgue.

The hospital in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Dr. Ken Osei Mensah said: “as a result of the incident, the hospital secured a court order for the mass burial of unclaimed bodies that had accumulated at the morgue over a period of time.”

Only one refrigerator at the morgue is currently functional.

“The Biomedical Engineering Unit of the hospital has been able to get one of the fridges functional, by replacing one of the faulty outdoor units with an older one,” the statement added.

The hospital blamed the unfortunate incident on power surges in the area on June 27, 2019.

It said the company responsible for fixing the refrigerators has also been notified to expedite work on the devices so the morgue could resume full operation.

“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.”

“The project contractors, Vamed BV, responsible for the aftersales services of the fridges have been duly informed and are taking steps to replace the electrical boards of the outdoor units,” the statement added.

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

Below is the full statement from the hospital:

Source: citinewsroom.com

The Bechem Central Mosque in the Tano South Municipal Assembly has been closed down temporarily to prevent a possible violent clash between Hausas and some Moslems in Bechem Zongo.

The Tano South Municipal Security Council took the decision on Friday having picked intelligence the likelihood of the two groups to engage clash.

The two factions have been disputing over a parcel of land.

The mosque will therefore not be opened for Friday Jummah prayers and other prayers indefinitely until the security situation improves.

Source: 3news.com

The opposition National Democratic Congress Deputy National Communications Officer, Godwin Ako Gunn has cautioned the prospective Parliamentary aspirants of the party to be mindful on how to communicate.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has slated August 24, 2019, for its parliamentary primaries.

The exercise is expected to take place across all 275 constituencies in the country.

General of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah told journalists on Thursday that the party has also pegged filing of nominations forms at Twenty Five thousand Ghana cedis (GHC 25,000.00).

Women and people living with disability have However, women and persons living with da disability would pay only twelve thousand five hundred Ghana cedis (GHC 12,500.00).

Mr. Nketiah said all aspirants must satisfy the constitutional requirement which qualifies one to be a Member of Parliament.

In a statement issued and signed by Ako Gunn, the Deputy National Communications Officer, copied to the media, cautioned the prospective aspirants to be mindful about their utterances in the media not to give the NPP message.

“…The elephants are unhappy, they have their backs to the wall with no breathing space. My humble appeal to all aspirants is to be mindful of the interviews they grant, and the mischievous media houses that will try to hit heads together to generate controversies that will not enure to our benefit”, the statement emphasized.

He added, “Let us always remember the main battle is with the elephant, and not among ourselves”.

The statement, therefore, urged the aspirants to get in touch with the Communications Department for assistance on how to communicate to avoid inconvenience.

“In case of assistance, kindly reach out to the communication department and we will be readily available to assist you”, the statement opined.

The statement continued “Let us not give them a loaded gun to turn on us. Most political watchers know the NPP is on it’s way out, let the consistency in our communication not be diluted. We at the communication department can not gag you in your interviews, but we are pleading that we go through this phase in the most organized and serene manner exemplary of social democrats”.

The statement noted that “The party’s school (Ghana Institute of Social Democracy) is also organizing programs that will be a guide to all those who want to help the party through the legislative arm of our government come 2021. It is our respected view that all should use this medium to build knowledge in all you need to know before, during and after campaign”.

The statement concluded that “If there is anything more I can add, it will be a caution to all of us and for the aspirants to TALK TO THEIR SUPPORTERS; ESPECIALLY THE ONES ON SOCIAL MEDIA!!!”.

Below is the full statement;

PARLIAMENTARY CAMPAIGN SHOULD NOT DIVIDE US

Yesterday’s announcement of the calendar for parliamentary primaries has seen a lot of posters flying on social media, whether it’s for real or “strategic” reasons, it is important I congratulate you ahead of time.

I know many more will come out in the days ahead. It’s not an easy decision you have made, may it end well with you.

Comrades, with this euphoria to push your ambitions further, let’s be careful not to elbow ourselves along this journey.

Let us always remember the main battle is with the elephant, and not among ourselves.

Our communication officers, communication team, headed by Comrade Sammy Gyamfi have been doing extremely well. The elephants are unhappy, they have their backs to the wall with no breathing space. My humble appeal to all aspirants is to be mindful of the interviews they grant, and the mischievous media houses that will try to hit heads together to generate controversies that will not enure to our benefit.

In case of assistance, kindly reach out to the communication department and we will be readily available to assist you.

Let us not give them a loaded gun to turn on us. Most political watchers know the NPP is on it’s way out, let the consistency in our communication not be diluted. We at the communication department can not gag you in your interviews, but we are pleading that we go through this phase in the most organized and serene manner exemplary of social democrats.

The party’s school (Ghana Institute of Social Democracy) is also organizing programs that will be a guide to all those who want to help the party through the legislative arm of our government come 2021. It is our respected view that all should use this medium to build knowledge in all you need to know before, during and after campaign.

Let us not abandon the work we are already doing at the registration centers, both at EC and Ghana card centers.

Some of you have already been assisting with food, water, snacks and others. Others have been transporting people and many other forms of assistance. This is the spirit needed for victory in 2020.

I hope and pray all executives from constituency, region and national will remain neutral.

At the end of the day, in victory or in defeat, the candidate will accept it in good faith.

I wish you all the best and have at the back of your mind that you are coming to office 2021.

Your work will never be in vain; this will be our last internal elections before we face the elephant. Let’s remain united and focus as a party and there is nothing that can break us. It is well with us.

If there is anything more I can add, it will be a caution to all of us and for the aspirants to TALK TO THEIR SUPPORTERS; ESPECIALLY THE ONES ON SOCIAL MEDIA !!!

Keep Hope Alive

Kun fa Yakun

Signed!

Godwin Ako Gunn

Deputy National Communications Officer of NDC

Source: Daniel Kaku

Four envoys representing Switzerland, Botswana, New Zealand and Pakistan Tuesday presented their letters of Credence to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House in Accra.

The four envoys all harped on the need to deepen the ties and cooperation between their respective countries and Ghana, particularly in the areas of trade, investment and technical cooperation.

The Pakistani High Commissioner to Ghana, retired Major General Wagar Ahmad Kinggravi spoke about the cordial diplomatic relations between the two countries, stating his determination to further strengthen those ties.

He said Pakistan was committed to fostering its economic, social and political relations with Ghana.

“Our two great people are well familiar with each other’s system and ways of business and trade. We can share our experience in agriculture, education, medical, Information Technology, Engineering and military fields,” Maj. Gen Kingravi said.

With the advantage of English being a common language for communication in both states, the High Commissioner disclosed that Pakistan was eager to invite Ghanaians to take advantage of the conducive environment in textiles, cement and a whole range of agro-based industries.

“We would also like to participate in joint ventures in the field of fertilizer and oil/gas development,” he added.

The Pakistani envoy who also has concurrent accreditation to Gabon, Cameroon, Benin and Equatorial Guinea since 2018, commended President Akufo-Addo’s leadership, which he said had buttressed global acceptance of Ghana as one of the most stable democracies in Africa.

The Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Philip Stadler, on his part was positive that the bond between Ghana and Switzerland that dated back many years would blossom into a more fruitful relationship.

He noted the excellent economic cooperation between the two countries since 2002, hoping that his stay in Ghana would contribute to the diversification and deepening of trade and bilateral ties.

Mr Stadler noted that although Swiss companies run their business and investment decisions very independently from the government, that fact would not interfere with the overall quest to deepen trade relations between the two countries.

He also lauded President Akufo-Addo for the impressive and sustainable economic development in Ghana, saying, “I am impressed about the economic development in the last decade and the growth forecast for 2019. Ghana gained Middle-income country status, sound and prudent macroeconomic policies and a strong private sector”.

New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Ghana, Mark Ramsden, assured of his country’s commitment to tighten trade and economic cooperation with Ghana.

“New Zealand sees the scope to deepen trade and economic cooperation and links amongst Commonwealth members, he said, stating that his country would pursue relentlessly that agenda at this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government’s meeting.

The envoy raised the issue of climate change and was happy that both Ghana and New Zealand recognized the threat that climate change presented and was working to address the challenge.

Ambassador Pule Batimanki Mphothew of Botswana told the President that Ghana was a strategic development partner to his country.

He said even though bilateral relations between the two nations was excellent, there was a need to further strengthen that cooperation to move both countries to a higher level of development.

President Akufo-Addo who placed value on the relations between Ghana and the four countries said the content of the relations ought to be transformed and strengthens economically through extensive trade for the mutual benefits of the peoples of Ghana and that of those respective nations.

He asked the countries to increase investments in Ghana and get their businesses communities to collaborate with local industries in the country to add value to raw materials to lend a boost to the nation’s industrialisation drive and export development.

Source: Ghananewsagency.org

The Dubai high court hearing the case involving Menzgold CEO, Nana Appiah Mensah and his Arabian debtors, Royal Horison, has upheld its earlier ruling ordering the United Arab Emirates-based company to pay up $39 million owed the Ghanaian.

The court at its sitting on Tuesday over an appeal filed by Royal Horison also ordered the company to pay NAM1 compensation for the period he has been incarcerated in Dubai.

Royal Horison, feeling hard done by when the court ruled in April in favour of NAM and Menzgold, filed an appeal to overturn the ruling but the court says the appeal lacked merit.

 

Emmanuel Ajafor Abugri, editor of Modern Ghana was on the Citi Breakfast Show to recount the alleged acts of torture he suffered at the hands of National Security Operatives after being detained last Thursday.

Mr. Ajarfor, who was detained alongside a fellow journalist, Emmanuel Yeboah Britwum, was interrogated without a lawyer present.

The editor said he was physically assaulted and his privacy violated by the forceful seizure of some of his electronic gadgets.

He also said the personnel tried to beat out a false confession from him concerning the authorship of a controversial article published on the website.

A Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) commander is warning against the use of mobile phones in the kitchen, especially during cooking, as it has the propensity to cause domestic fire outbreaks.

Commander at the Accra Metropolitan Fire Station, Lilly Ashong Robertson, explained radioactivity from mobile phone calls have the propensity to cause gas cylinders to ignite.

She thus underscored the need to prohibit mobile phone use in the kitchen, as is the case at fuel filling stations, indicating that it is one of the surest ways to prevent domestic fires.

Ms Ashong who is a divisional officer grade one at the GNFS gave the warning at the maiden safety week celebration of the Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECOP) in Accra.

She said many of the fire outbreaks in the country are due to negligence and disregard for safety precautions.

A Divisional Officer Grade II, Mr E. Osei Owusu who took workers and stakeholders of IRECOP through fire preventive and control measures indicated there is the need for all organisations and homes to install fire extinguishers at their premises and learn how to use them.

He stated that the GNFS is always available nationwide to train and assist people to keep safe from fire outbreaks. He advised employees to always ensure that all main switches are put off when they sense fire outbreak.

DO II Osei Owusu described the training for IRECOP staff as timely, considering that the waste they collect are stored for a while before processing; something he said could trigger fire due to the fact that the waste are to be stored in different temperatures.

General Manager of (IRECOP), Ms Betty Brown Nyadu stated they so far have an encouraging safety record.

She said the vision of IRECOP is to inculcate safety policies and procedures in all aspects of management decisions and to protect employees by arriving at an accident free work environment.

The safety week was organised to further educate the employees on safety and to allow the workers to be audited in order to identify safety gaps and draw corrective measures to some of their operational standards and procedures.

“In contemporary times, safety has moved from a voluntary option to an inevitable choice in management practice, thus-every manager should endeavor to take health and safety issues very critically to forestall the loss of lives and the payment of unnecessary claims” she said.

Ms Nyadu said the Ghana Labour Act makes it mandatory for the employer to put premium on health and safety by minimizing hazards at the work place, a position she said IRECOP shares in.

Source: 3news.com

The Overlord of the GaDangme State, Gborbu Wulomo Shitse, has announced a one-week ban on drumming and noise-making in Nungua and its environs.

This forms part of activities to pave the way for the preparation of the annual Kplejo festival of the chiefs and people of Nungua in the Greater Accra Region.

Gborbu Wulomo Shitse has, therefore, urged the public, especially local churches, to judiciously observe the customs to avoid any confrontation with the traditional authorities.

Speaking to Class News, the Nungua Nkpor Mantse, Nii Borteyfio Bortekwei Afadi-Nsro said adherence to the ban will promote peace and unity among inhabitants of Nungua.

Source: classfmonline.com

The Management of Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the University of Cape Coast (UCC) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement to train Fire Personnel in the field of Forensic Investigation.

A statement by the Public Affairs Department of the GNFS and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Monday said GNFS has established a Fire Laboratory and Forensic Unit.

The statement quoted Professor Joseph Ghartey Ampiah Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast as saying that the collaboration between the Fire Service and the University will go a long way to enhance the application of modern scientific methods in the area of Fire Management in the country.

The Chief Fire Officer Edwin Ekow Blankson in his speech noted that the collaboration between the two institutions is timely because it will address the scientific needs of the Service in terms of fire investigations thereby assisting the Fire Service with more effective and efficient ways of dealing with fire outbreaks and other life-threatening situations.

Source: ghananewsagency.org

Three leaders of healing churches have so far been prosecuted and jailed for defiling girls who visited their churches to seek healing.

This was disclosed by Ms Hannah Morrison, Senior Investigator with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) at an annual durbar of the Eastern Regional branch of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Association at Nsawam.

She did not elaborate but urged church leaders who claim to have healing powers and traditional medicine practitioners to stop treatment of underage persons without the consent of their parents.

Ms Morrison advised them to desist from putting their patients in chains at their facility since such practices were against the rights of the patients.
Mr Benedict Yankyera, Eastern Regional Officer of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Council advised all traditional medicine practitioners in the region to register with the Council.

He explained that under the law, all traditional medicine practitioners are expected to register and ensure that the packaging of their herbs comply with standards of alternative medicine in the country.

Mr Yenkyera urged the members to quickly refer sickness that they could not treat to the nearest public health facility to help save lives.

Reverend Rebecca Agyei Yirenkyi, Field Assistant of the Association expressed the hope since more practitioners are now registering with the association it would help them to speak with one voice and promote the practice of alternative medicine in the country.

Source: Ghananewsagency.org

The John Sanie Foundation and Luak Foundation in collaboration with the District Health Directorate have launched a district-wide health screening exercise in Adum- Banso in the Mpohor district.

This health screening exercise was aimed at finding out if people have a particular condition even if they feel perfectly well and without symptoms, or signs of any ailment.

The motivation for the exercise emanates from the fact that early detection, followed by treatment and good control of a bad condition can result in better outcomes, and inevitably lowers the risk of serious complications.

The exercise represents one of the massive health screening arrangements in the Mpohor district, and so far, 577 people have been screened in Adum-Dominase, Ayiem, Adum-Banso, and Mpohor. Other areas to be covered are Wassa-Manso, Angu, and other villages in the Mpohor district.

John Sanie, Chief Executive Officer, John Sanie Foundation, said identifying healthy people who may be at increased risk of disease was the surest way of helping the people to live longer and contribute to national development.

“Our resolve is to help humanity in diverse ways through advanced education and extension of restorative healthcare to our people in the Mpohor district”, John Sanie stated.

He said the screening exercise will be replicated every year, and all the towns and villages in the district will be covered free of charge.

Nana Kwandoh Brempong III, Chief of Adum-Banso, commended John Sanie and Luak Foundation for such a distinguished adventure of responding to a prerequisite in effective healthcare delivery.

Nana Kwandoh Brempong III, said it was instructive to cherish how John Sanie, a native of the district, would undertake such “a noble enterprise of extending help to our people, saying ” this is remarkable”.

“Some people do not bring such a good healthcare exercise to our people, even though they come from the Mpohor district, and I wish to congratulate you for this wonderful work “, Nana Kwandoh Brempong added.

“We are very grateful because many of our people are constrained to respond to their healthcare needs due to limited income from subsistence farming. John Sanie should know that we shall remember him on the day of the appraisal on those who genuinely helped or are helping the Mpohor district”, the Chief concluded.

People from all walks of life who participated in the screening exercise praised the initiative as laudable, adding that through the John Sanie Foundation, quality leadership and functional healthcare delivery have been amplified.

“This massive response to healthcare screening once again demonstrated how people-centred initiatives are imperative to some of the needs in the Mpohor district, a great service that beneficiaries will appreciate for the rest of their lives”, a community leader in Adum-Banso opined.

Source: Victor Amoo

The Speaker of Parliament, Rt Professor Aaron Michael Oquaye, has unveiled the design of the New Parliamentary Chamber Block.

The unveiling was done during a courtesy call paid by a delegation from the Architectural Firm Adjaye & Associates.

In attendance, were the Leadership of the House, some members of the Board, the Clerk and other Principal Directors of the Parliamentary Service.

A statement copied the Ghana News Agency said during the presentation of the model Chamber Block to the Speaker of Parliament and the Leadership, Mr David Adjaye indicated that the concept of the archetype was inspired by the Akan saying, “Ti kro nko agyina”, literally meaning, “two heads are better than one.”

“This key concept is one that depicts the idea of Ghanaian democracy, where Parliament represents a body with various members interlocked in decision making,” he said.

Commenting on the sitting capacity of the model New Chamber Block, the Speaker of Parliament clarified that the 450 seater Chamber did not necessarily mean that the number of Members of Parliament would be increased.

“However, the monumental project is planned to be futuristic and one that will stand the test of time and for posterity,” he asserted.

The new Chamber, with a sitting capacity of about 450 Members of Parliament, would house other facilities including diplomatic offices, a library, a museum, a church, a mosque, eateries, press conference rooms, galleries, a car park, an upper gallery garden, a post office and other facilities to complete the Parliamentary enclave.

Source: ghananewsagency.org