TIG Post

Author: Persis

  • Salaries of presidential staffers shot up from ¢136m to ¢823m in one year Okudzeto Ablakwa

    MP for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has revealed that the salaries of presidential staffers shot up from GH¢136.2m in 2020 to GH¢823.8m in 2021.

    He attributed the increase to the creation of “amorphous positions” at the Office of Government Machinery.

    In a post on Facebook, he claimed that, “It is significant to observe from the 2021 Budget Statement — the year most of these amorphous positions were created at the Office of Government Machinery, that their Wages and Salaries shot up astronomically to GH¢823.8million from just GH¢136.2million in 2020 (an increment by a staggering 508.4%).

    Salaries of presidential staffers shot up from ¢136m to ¢823m in one year Okudzeto Ablakwa

    “Compared with that of the entire Parliamentary Service (including non-parliamentarians), GH¢201.1million was budgeted in 2021 from GH¢140.4million in 2020 (representing an increase of 43.2%). Placed in perspective, the OGM salary increase by an additional GH¢687.6million in one year (508.4%) is more than the GH¢672million needed to pay NABCo workers for an entire year (see page 241 of 2021 Budget),” he said.

    Mr. Ablakwa said this notwithstanding, NABCo workers remain unpaid for 7 months.

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • E-Levy implementation has been very smooth GRA

    It has been 30 days since the implementation of E-Levy. The Ghana Revenue Authority noted that measures that were employed by the Authority led to a smooth implementation.

    Even though the Authority said the implementation was smooth, there have been complaints of wrongful deductions by users.

    In this light, the Head of Communication and Public Affairs at the GRA, Florence Asante is urging users with complaints to call the Authority to have them addressed.

    “From the side of the Ghana Revenue Authority, the implementation of the Electronic Transfer Levy has generally been very smooth. We commenced implementation on Sunday, May 1. We had a lot of collaboration with our charging entities, and they are the banks, electronic money issuers, payment service providers, and specialized deposit-taking institutions.”

    “So, we went into collaborations with all these institutions and businesses, and together with them, we planned on how we were going to implement the levy, and that accounted for the smooth introduction of the levy.”

    Mrs. Asante also stated that the charging entities are being engaged to enhance the efficiency of platforms being used for the collection of the levy.

    The E-Levy was implemented on May 1. It is a 1.5% levy on all electronic transfers after GH¢100.

    The implementation was however characterized by complaints from users as they claimed wrongful deductions were been made.

    The Authority stated that it had begun reimbursement of these deductions.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Stop the transfer of ownership of the Achimota Forest – OneGhana Movement

    Pressure group OneGhana Movement has called for the immediate cessation of all processes intended to transfer portions of the State’s interests in the Achimota Forest into private hands.

    The group in a statement says while it notes with deep concern recent developments surrounding the Forest, it is further “disturbed by developments that apparently suggest that portions of the land may have already been disposed-of.”

    “Issues bordering on conflict of interest appear to surface following reports that portions of the land may have been directly or indirectly sold to the former Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission, whose responsibility among others, was to protect our forest reserves.

    “We wish to state in no uncertain terms that we are against any form of diversification of the State’s interest in the Achimota Forest given that the Achimota Forest represents the last frontier of the green belt within the Accra City metropolis. Our forest cover as a country is fast depleting and the entire ecological state of the city is undoubtedly in danger. In this respect, we call on Government to protect and preserve the State’s interest in the Achimota Forest in perpetuity for the current and future generations of our Motherland.”

    According to the OneGhana Movement, “Government attempts to transfer parts of the forest to private individuals is even more disconcerting given the fact that the Supreme Court has clearly decided that Government is under no legal obligation to return lands that were previously vested in the State prior to the 1992 constitution, into private hands. Therefore, there is neither legal pressure nor necessity to justify any action to give away the State’s interest in the Achimota Forest. We consider the action and posturing by Government so far as imprudent and ill- considered for the collective good of Ghana. We call on His Excellency the President to take immediate steps to reverse all actions taken so far and fully restore the State’s complete control and ownership over the entire Achimota Forest.

    “The leaked information on the past sale of State lands only affirms that the abuse of power by the ruling political elite will remain a feature of our governance unless we diffuse the excessive power reposed in a partisan presidency. It is a cold reminder of the need for reform of critical portions of our constitution to minimise or mitigate the wanton abuse of executive power. We continue to call for responsible governance anchored on service to the people of Ghana.

    “We support actions initiated by Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and well-meaning Ghanaians, who have placed portions of the issues before the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). We will continue to monitor the situation and respond appropriately when required.

    “God bless our homeland Ghana.”

    Source: Graphic Online

  • Stephen Ntim starts nationwide tour in bid to clinch NPP chairmanship

    New Patriotic Party (NPP) national chairman aspirant, Stephen Ayesu Ntim on Monday began a nationwide campaign tour to convince delegates why he is the best fit to chair the party into the 2024 elections.

    He began the national campaign tour with a visit to the Western North region, with the Western and Central regions also in tow.

    Ntim, a former national first vice chairman of the NPP, says the party under his chairmanship would extend its rule beyond the eight years maximum that has become the tradition for any political party in Ghana and hopes delegates would offer him the opportunity.

    While on the tour he has christened “Time Aso to Break The 8 Campaign“, he says would be articulating his message of hope and unity, and also share his vision for the party with delegates.

    “My resolve to always avail myself to be elected as the National Chairman of the party emanates from my belief that the fast movement of our development and success as a country requires an NPP government and an overwhelming parliamentary majority”, a statement Ntim issued ahead of the tour said.

    “My Campaign will focus on strengthening the party, creating equitable opportunities for all members and rewarding loyalty and hard work.

    “My prayer is that you, our cherished delegates, will find favour in my loyalty to our great party and demonstrable leadership qualities required to break the 8 and elect me as your next National Chairman”, it said.

    Source: Graphic Online

  • Samuel Kanu: Nigeria’s Methodist Church leader kidnapped

    The head of the Methodist Church in Nigeria, Samuel Kanu, has been abducted along with two other priests on their way back from a church event.

    The men were travelling on a major highway on Sunday in the south-eastern state of Abia when they were kidnapped, local police told the BBC.

    It is not clear who is responsible, but separatist groups frequently carry out abductions in the region.

    Police say they have launched a rescue mission to find the clerics.

    http://backend.theindependentghana.com/2021/12/desist-from-giving-death-prophesies-methodist-bishop/

    Kidnappings, often for ransom, are common in many parts of Nigeria.

    There has also been a resurgence of attacks by armed gangs, including Islamist militant groups in the north, as the country prepares for a general election next year.

    Much of the unrest in Nigeria’s south-east region stems from separatists who are demanding a breakaway state.

    The government blames the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob) movement for many attacks in the region, which Ipob denies. But the group continues to enforce sit-at-home orders on Mondays, which are usually preceded by attacks on Sunday evenings to scare people into complying.

    However it is not known who abducted the clergymen on Sunday, and a number of recent violent attacks in the country remain unsolved.

    National Cathedral: Methodist Church Ghana donates GH₵100,000 to project

    Recently a local MP was kidnapped by unknown gunmen. His headless body was later found.

    In April, a male and a female soldier who hoped to get married were beheaded when they travelled to the region to inform their relatives about their planned wedding.

    In a separate incident on Sunday morning, two people were abducted when gunmen entered their home in Lafia, Nasarawa state, near the capital Abuja. One person was shot dead during the attack.

    Source: BBC News

  • Bring back lithovit fertiliser – Farmer pleads at Opuni-Agongo trial

    Mr. Thomas Amo Amankwaa, a renowned cocoa farmer in Berekum has made a passionate appeal to government to reintroduce the supply of Lithovit liquid fertilizer to farmers.

    According to him, the years that lithovit was supplied to farmers by CHED of COCOBOD, they recorded bumper harvest.

    In his case, for instance, his production jumped from 1,600kg of cocoa beans to 4,600kg when he applied Lithovit liquid fertilizer during the 2015/2016 cocoa season.

    Mr. Amo Amankwaa has been testifying in the trial of former COCOBOD Chief Executive Dr Stephen Opuni and businessman Seidu Agongo who have been accused of, among others, causing financial loss to the state. It is the case of prosecution that Lithovit liquid fertilizer purchased under the tenure of Dr. Opuni was a waste of resources, because the state did not get value for money.

    The state called seven witnesses but none was a farmer to testify to the efficacy or otherwise of Lithovit when it was applied on his or her farm.

    Dr. Opuni in his defence has called three witnesses so far with two being cocoa farmers.

    Mr. Amo Amankwaa, who is the third defence witness has four different cocoa farms: Two of the farms are located at Subronou in the Ahafo region: one at Biadian covering an area of 13.6 acres; there is another one at Yaakrom in the Dormaa West District and covers an area of 21 acres.

    The witness is the second cocoa farmer to have so far testified in the over four-year trial, and have all testified in favour of the accused persons. Whilst the first described Lithovit as a “messiah”, Mr. Amankwaa calls it a “great saviour”.

    Being cross-examined by lawyer Nutifafa Nutsukpui, who is holding brief for Benson Nutsukpui, on Thursday, May 26 at the High Court in Accra, the witness asserted that based on personal experience, the efficacy of the Lithovit liquid fertilizer was way above other fertilizers he and his colleague farmers applied on their cocoa farms.

    He recounted the frustrations of cocoa farmers when government stopped supplying them Lithovit, and appealed for it to be brought back.

    “My lord, we went to CHED office to demonstrate for the litovit fertiliser to be brought back because it helped us.The COCOBOD officials told me that this will not have any effect and that if we want we can go to radio stations, and so I went to Akonoba FM in Sunyani, Chris Fm in Berekum, Ahenfo fm in Berekum and Shalom FM in Berekum to appeal to the government to bring back Lithovit fertiliser because it helps give us good yield in our cocoa farms.

    “My lord, I am here not because of anything but to plead with the government to bring back Lithovit fertiliser because it really helped us.”

    Mr. Amankwaa has since tendered in evidence his passbook which contains details of all products received and the quality of cocoa produced by him as well as other information from Licenced Buying Companies.

    The former COCOBOD Chief Executive, Dr. Stephen Opuni and businessman Seidu Agongo as well as Agricult Ghana Limited, are facing over 25 charges, including defrauding by false pretences, willfully causing financial loss to the state, corruption by public officers and contravention of the Public Procurement Act.

    Sitting continues on Monday, May 30, 2022.

    Source: angelonline.com.gh

  • What the law says about returning state acquired lands to original owners

    Government’s decision to degazette portions of the Achimota Forest Reserve through the Executive Instrument 144, which took effect on 1st May, 2022, has generated a lot of controversy in the Ghanaian media with varied comments being expressed about the propriety of the action amidst government’s stated commitments to environmental protection.

    Although the government says the degazetted portion, about 361 acres, is being ceded to the allodial owners of the forest land, the Owoo family, environmentalists insist that the government ought to protect and preserve it due to its importance.

    In the cause of the conversion, a purported Will of former Forestry Commission head, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, also known as Sir John, has become public.

    In the purported Will, Sir John bequeathed acres of lands he owned in his name and others he owned in the name of his companies in the Achimota forest to some relatives.

    He also willed acres of specified and unspecified land at the Sakumono Ramsar site to relatives.

    Many have spoken against the development and accused the late Sir John of taking advantage of his office to amass for himself lands that ought to be protected for the state.

    The Lands Commission has already said that it has no records to show that Sir John owns lands in the Achimota Forest, but the Ministry for Lands and Natural Resources has said while the purported Will is a subject of litigation, it is revoking any authority of the said Achimota forest and Sakumono Ramsar site lands to any private individual.

    But what do the laws of Ghana say about returning state acquired lands to their allodial owners?

    In the case of Nii Kpobi Tettey Tsuru v Attorney-General [2010] SCGLR 904

    Dotse JSC in his ruling stated that;

    “We are certain in our views that Article 20 of the Constitution, 1992 only deals with land acquisitions that are effected after the 1992 Constitution came into effect, and this by operation of law is January 7th, 1993.

    Our conviction and resolve is further buttressed by the provisions in Article 20(2) of the Constitution which provide that compulsory acquisition of property by the State can only take place under a legal regime which provides for prompt payment of fair and adequate compensation and a right of access to the High Court by any affected person of such an acquisition.

    It must be noted that there have been several instances of a lot of acquisition of lands by the State in the past, for which compensation has not yet been paid.

    If the Constitutional provisions should have retrospective effect then all such acquisitions of land by the State under the past legal regimes would be unconstitutional. This state of affairs would not only create chaos and confusion in the land administration sector of the country but would lead to anarchy.

    Thirdly, it must be noted that since the Constitution 1992 itself frowns upon and actually prohibits retrospective legislation, it is doubtful if the Constitution itself would be interpreted to have retrospective effect. Such an interpretation will not only be reactionary but counter productive and will not be in the interest of the good and orderly development and administration of the country.

    This court will therefore hold and rule that Articles 20 (5) and (6) of the Constitution, 1992 have no retrospective effect on acquisitions of land done under CAP 134 the Public Lands Ordinance which is the subject matter of this appeal.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • 2022 FIFA World Cup will be a special one – Emir of Qatar

    Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, has disclosed the upcoming 2022 FIFA World Cup will be a special one as he opens up on discrimination against the Arabs.

    “For decades now, the Middle East has suffered from discrimination,” he said on Monday.

    “And I have found, that such discrimination, is largely based on people not knowing us, and in some cases, refusing to get to know us. Even today, there are still people who cannot accept the idea, that an Arab-Muslim country would host a tournament like the World Cup.

    “These individuals, including many in positions of influence, have launched attacks, at a pace never seen before,” the emir said.

    Qatar’s leader said that other countries and regions had already staged major events, “despite the fact that each of those countries, has its own particular problems and challenges.

    “Qatar is just like your own country… not perfect, constantly trying to improve, and full of hope, for a brighter future.

    “We are so proud of the development, reform, and progress we have made, and we are grateful for the spotlight that the World Cup provided, which inspired us, to make these changes at lightening-speed,” he said.

    The 2022 World Cup will be staged in the Asian country between November and December later this year.

    Source: footballghana.com

  • ‘We are friends to African nations’ – French ambassador to South African protesters

    The French ambassador to South Africa, Aurelien Lechevallier, has stressed that his country has friendly relations with African countries.

    He made the comments during a brief appearance on Wednesday, May 25, to receive a petition demanding that France leaves Africa.

    “We are friends to African nations,” he told protesters from South Africa’s leftist Economic Freedom Fighters, EFF, party.

    The EFF picketed at the French Embassy on the day the African Union marked the AU Day.

    Some placards the protesters bore had inscriptions like “West Africa is not a colony of the French” and “France must pay reparations for its colonial crimes”.

    “You killed a lot of people in Africa. Why are you so scared today?” EFF leader Julius Malema said stressing that he was speaking to “French white supremacists.”

    A tweet announcing the protest read: “The EFF will picket at the French Embassy on Africa Day, to demand the withdrawal of France from the continent.”

    The EFF has periodically slammed France for its stranglehold over former colonies in West and Central Africa.

    French President Emmanuel Macron has made a number of visits to countries across the continent during his first term in office.

    Anti-France sentiment has been growing across parts of West Africa with the most recent being in Mali.

    Over in Central Africa, protesters were arrested in Chad and an opposition protest in Gabon was banned by government.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Africa risks stagflation due to COVID, Russia – Ukraine war – AfDB

    Africa risks sliding into stagflation – a cycle of slow growth and high inflation – as it battles the lingering effects of the pandemic and rising fuel and food prices caused by the Ukraine conflict, the African Development Bank (AfDB) said on Wednesday.

    Despite experiencing relatively low death rates compared to more developed regions, Africa was dealt a heavy economic blow by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    While 2021 saw a continent-wide rebound, with gross domestic product (GDP) growth estimated at 6.9% after a pandemic-induced contraction of 1.6% the previous year, the Bank projects real GDP growth to slow to 4.1% this year.

    “The deceleration in growth highlights the severity of the impact of the RussiaUkraine conflict on Africa’s economy,” the AfDB wrote in its 2022 African Economic Outlook.

    “If the conflict persists, Africa’s growth is likely to stagnate at around 4 percent in 2023.”

    Inflation is meanwhile expected to accelerate to 13.5% this year, from 13% in 2021, due to a sharp rise in energy and food prices linked to the war in Ukraine.

    The AfDB estimates around 30 million Africans were pushed into extreme poverty and 22 million lost their jobs last year alone as a result of the pandemic.

    Vulnerable populations, particularly in urban areas, will bear the brunt of rising prices, the report said, adding that economic disruptions stemming from the war could tip nearly 4 million more into extreme poverty this year and next.

    “In the absence of measures to cushion the impact, this could stoke social tension across the continent,” the report stated. “But in many African countries, fiscal space remains constrained by the effects of the pandemic.”

    The AfDB forecasts Africa’s debt-to-GDP ratio to stabilise at around 70%, down slightly from 71.4% in 2020, due to last year’s growth recovery and debt relief measures, but will remain above pre-pandemic levels.

    Source: financialpost.com

  • S/R: Armed robbers reportedly shoot and kill lawyer on Bole-Bamboi highway

    Suspected armed robbers have shot and killed a lawyer, Richard Badombie on the Bole-Bamboi highway in the Savannah Region.

    The Accra-based lawyer was reportedly killed by the robbers while travelling to Jirapa in the Upper West Region with some relatives on Saturday, 28 May 2022.

    The robbers, who emerged from the bush, stopped the vehicle in which the lawyer was travelling between Banda Nkwanta and Nuoyir.

    One of the robbers shot at the lawyer, who was driving the vehicle at the time of the incident.

    The car had veered off the road and hit a tree when the robbers attempted to open the doors of the vehicle.

    However, a dog in the car barked at them and they fled.

    Until his demise, the deceased was a lawyer with Lartey, Badombie & Co. Associates in Accra.

    The Police have since begun a search for his killers.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Woman found dead in her room in Mempeasem at Bole

    A woman identified as Maame Adjoa and believed to be in her 40s has been found dead in her room at Mempeasem, a suburb of Bole in the Savannah Region.

    According to reports, the deceased might have died a week ago on the blind side of her co-tenants.

    Neighbours and co-tenants of the deceased said there was a bad stench emanating from the room with flies hovering around but upon checks, realized the deceased’s room was locked.

    This led them to forcefully open the door and realized that her lifeless body was almost decaying.

    Though the cause of her death is unknown, her neighbours, however, suspect a foul play.

    Meanwhile, the incident has been reported to the Bole District Police Command for investigation.

    Source: ghanaweb.com

  • Bole SHS Assistant Headmaster to appear before court for allegedly raping final year student

    The Assistant Headmaster of Bole Senior High School of the Savannah Region, Issahaku Jeduah who is at the centre of an alleged rape case involving a final year student of the school is set to appear before the Tamale circuit court for hearing on May 31, 2022.

    This was disclosed by a source close to the Bole District Police Command.

    The source revealed that the case was presented before the Bole Magistrate Court on Friday, May 27, 2022.

    The case was subsequently directed by the prosecution team to bring finality to the investigation before May 31.

    The source further added that the Bole Magistrate Court can only adjourn and remand the suspect until all detailed information is gathered by the prosecution team.

    Background

    Mr. Issahaku Jeduah who is the assistant headmaster for Bole Senior High School was arrested on Wednesday, May 25 for allegedly raping a final year student of the school.

    He is reported to have fled the school and the Bole township after police besieged the school to effect his arrest following an official complaint lodged by the victim and her parents.

    The victim (name withheld) narrated that the suspect lured her to his office under the disguise of advising her and forcefully had an intimacy with her during prep hours.

    “He invited me to his office during prep hours under the guise of advising me only for him to force me into sleeping with him and threatened to have me dismissed if I disclose what happened between us,” the victim narrated in a past interview.

    The victim was admitted at the Bole Government Hospital to receive medical attention.

    Meanwhile, the suspect is currently in police custody as the prosecution team intensifies investigations to arraign him before court.

    Source: ghanaweb.com

  • Man caught with stolen digital address plates

    There have been several reports on the stealing of digital address plates by some scrap dealers and unscrupulous persons in society.

    Another video circulating on social media shows how a young man had in his possession digital address plates in a sack.

    Per the voiceover of the video recorded, the suspected thief was apprehended by school children within a yet to be identified location. The pupils then reportedly drew the attention of elderly men around at the time.


    The reporter also accused the thief of wanting to sell the digital address plates to scrap dealers for money.

    “This man was caught by schoolchildren removing digital address system plates on various homes to sell to scrap dealers,” he’s heard saying in the video that has gone viral.

    Due to the incessant stealing of these plates, worried residents are always on alert to apprehend perpetrators.

    Meanwhile, some people have condemned this act, calling for an attitudinal change in the country.

    The digital address system is one of government’s flagship projects that facilitates easy direction to both public and residential places of people.

    This plate is mostly fixed on the walls at the entrance of houses across the length and breadth of the country.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Affordable houses going for GH¢50,000 for a 2-bedroom house?

    The Tamale Cooperative Credit Union got a contractor – Afreh – to put this together for its members in Tamale.

    A total of 100 pieces have been built in Tamale.

    The contractor has reportedly moved to the Bono Region – Sunyani – to replicate the same project, according to some members of the Tamale Cooperative Credit Union.

    The Tamale Cooperative Credit Union is opened to everybody to join, including teachers, nurses and traders.

    The Sowah’s visited the project site and produced the video below and shared on social media.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • We are working towards victory in 2024 – John Boadu

    The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr John Boadu, says the Party is on course to win the 2024 general election.

    He said, since last year, the Party had taken various programmes and activities to restructure it to ensure victory in 2024.

    For instance, Mr Boadu said since January this year, the Party had successfully held elections in 38,622 polling stations, 6,500 electoral areas and 271 constituencies to elect officers to steer the affairs of the Party ahead of the 2024 elections.

    The General Secretary made the remarks in an interview with the media at the Party’s 2022 Greater Accra Regional delegates congress at the Trade Fair, in La on Saturday.

    Mr Boadu said the Party would from Monday, begin preparations for the National Delegates elections, saying: “This indicates that our preparations towards election 2024 are still on course,” he said.

    The NPP is holding its regional delegates conference across all 16 regions to elect officers to lead the Party for the next four years.

    Source: GNA

  • Ghana commends ECOWAS efforts to regulate arms brokering in Sub-region

    Mrs Afi Azaratu Yakubu, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons has commended ECOWAS and its partners for producing a report, which provides an excellent basis for an in-depth discussion on arms brokering within West Africa.

    The report and accompanying operational guidelines provide further basis for the Member States to elaborate laws and procedures to regulate brokering practices.

    Mrs Yakubu said this during technical experts’ meeting in Abuja, Nigeria on the Validation of Study Report on Arms Brokering in West Africa, organised by the ECOWAS Small Arms and Light Weapons Division, through the Organised Crime: West African Response to Trafficking Project.

    It was to review and validate a draft study report and operational guidelines for regulating arms brokering in the ECOWAS.

    Mrs Yakubu, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, explained that in many countries, because of the lack of regulation and controls, it was easy for small arms to fall into the hands of people, who used them use them to commit crimes in violation of international humanitarian or human rights laws or diverted them to the illicit market.

    Recent global data indicates that the arms trade had seen a shift from direct contact between government officials or agents to the pervasive use of private intermediaries, who operated in a particularly globalised environment, often from multiple locations, she said.

    The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs Information indicates that “contemporary traders, agents, brokers, shippers and financiers regularly combine their activities, making it difficult to clearly distinguish small arms trade from brokering and related activities”.

    Mrs Yakubu said many countries had not enacted specific laws or regulations covering arms brokering within their systems of arms export, therefore, the ECOWAS Arms Brokering regulations would ensure that member states regulated the importation and exportation of arms and contributed to the reduction of illicit transfers and diversions into unauthorised hands.

    Mr Piex Joseph Ahoba, the Head of ECOWAS Small Arms Division highlighted the importance of the regulation of arms brokering activities.

    He said it was a key that national and regional efforts were geared towards preventing, combating, and eradicating illicit circulation, trafficking and proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons.

    He expressed optimism that the meeting would elicit inputs that enriched the draft Operational Guidelines on Arms Brokering given the richness of the experts assembled.

    The Organised Crime: West African Response to Trafficking (OCWAR-T) is an ECOWAS project, commissioned by the German Government and co-funded by the European Union.

    GIZ jointly implements the OCWAR-T with the United Nations Development Programme, UN Office on Drugs and Crime, Mines Advisory Group, International Centre for Migration Policy Development, Institute for Security Studies, and the Global Initiative Against Organised Crime.

    Source: GNA

  • Chairman Wontumi re-elected as NPP Chairman for 3rd time

    Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has sailed through his re-election bid as Regional Chairman for the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Ashanti Region.

    This is the third time Chairman Wontumi, as he is popularly called, is securing the seat.

    Chairman Wontumi first won the position in 2014 and was re-elected in 2018. Before that, he was the constituency chairman for Bosomtwe.

    The vociferous Chairman polled 464 votes against that of his closest contender, Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah (COKA), who got 306 votes.

    Other members of the party who contested for the Chairmanship position included Asare Bediako, Owusu Aduomi and Oheneba Kofi Adum Bawuah.

    Robert Asare Bediako, who is contesting the chairmanship position for the second time, polled 20 votes to be the third. Kwabena Owusu Aduomi, a former MP for Ejisu, polled nine votes and Oheneba Kofi Adum Bawuah managed three votes to be in the fourth and fifth positions respectively.

    Find below the full results:

    CHAIRMAN

    Bernard Antwi Boasiako Boasiako -464
    Odeneho Kwaku Appiah -306
    Asare Bediako -20
    Kwabena Owusu Aduomi – 9
    Oheneba Adum Bawua -3

    FIRST VICE-CHAIRMAN

    Kwabena Senkyire -=342
    Patrick Acheampong -358
    Kennedy Marfo -76
    Yaw Amoaten -26

    SECOND VICE-CHAIRMAN

    Victoria Owusu Acheaw – 422
    Patrick Gyamfi-153
    Oscar Riches – 140
    Samuel Abanga -41
    Mohammed Seidu -32
    Abraham Boadi -11
    Adu Asamoah Kwasi Joseph-=3

    WOMEN ORGANISER

    Nana Ama Ampomah – 419
    Beatrice Owusu -344
    Adwoa Konadu – 39

    ORGANISER

    Francis Adomako

    NASARA COORDINATOR

    Salim Bamba

    SECRETARY

    Lawyer Kwame Adom Appiah – 411
    Nelson Owusu Ansah – 390

    ASSISTANT SECRETARY

    Alan Gyimah – 538
    Paul Yandoh – 190
    Shadrach Agyapong – 38
    Kwame Bediako – 38

    YOUTH ORGANISER

    Safo Raphael Patrick – 294
    Martin Ameyaw – 245
    Gyimah Boateng Henry Kwaku – 147
    Isaac Bonsu – 32
    Agyako Lawrence – 30
    Kwabena Amo Aidoo – 25
    Michael Ofori Akuoko – 21
    Ohemeng Ian Moore – 7

    TREASURER

    Hajia Zainab – 388
    Isaac Osei Kwarteng – 221
    Frederick Addai – 151
    Foster Kojo Asare – 41

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • You cant prosecute a dead man Amaliba tells OSP as he calls for parliamentary probe into Sir Johns will

    Director of Legal Affairs of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Abraham Amaliba has called for a bipartisan parliamentary committee to look into the alleged improper acquisition of state lands by the late Former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John).

    He dissented on the decision of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to investigate this matter.

    He explained that the intention of the OSP to investigate case of this kind is to prosecutor if prima farcie is established but in this particular case, Amaliba said, the person at the center of the controversy is dead hence, prosecution will not be possible.

    “We need a bipartisan committee from parliament to deal with it.

    “It should be opened to the public, let us invite people to testify, we will get to know how the forest was distributed to public servants apart from Sir John.

    “If you want the OSP to do it he will just limit himself to the will and that will not address our our pain. Our pain is that a number of people have acquired state lands which is not just Sir John.”

    “If you are conducting a criminal investigation your intention is to prosecute, how are you going to prosecute a dead man?” He quizzed while speaking on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday May 28 with host Dzifa Bampoh.

    The OSP announced that it had started investigations into the alleged improper acquisition of state lands by Sir John.

    A statement issued by the OSP on Thursday May 26 said “The Office of the Special Prosecutor has commenced full investigations into suspected corruption and corruption-related offences in respect of alleged improper and unlawful acquisition of state lands at the Achimota Forest enclave and Ramstar catchment at Sakumono in Accra by former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie alias Sir John (Now deceased) and other persons.”

    The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources also said it was investigating the supposed will that lists some individual relatives of Mr Owusu Afriyie to be given some portions of the Achimota Forest, which has become a topical issue the past days as a result of an Executive Instrument signed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuf-Addo to declassify portions.

    “I give my portion of land that I jointly own at the Achimota Forest in the name of DML Limited to Elizabeth Asare Boateng who at the time of making this will is domiciled in the USA forever,” point g. of the will of the late public official, popularly known as Sir John, stated as captured on social media.

    But the Ministry says it was probing this.

    “The Ministry takes a very serious view of the allegations, and has requested for all documents relating to the lands in question, as part of an initial inquiry to ascertain the veracity of the claims,” a statement issued on Sunday, May 22 by the Ministry said.

    “Considering that the issues that form the basis of the allegations predate the tenure of the current Minister, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, it is important that he is seized with the full facts to enable him take appropriate action, if, indeed, there is any merit in the claims.

    “The Ministry assures the general public and the good people of Ghana that it will ensure that the national interest is protected at all times, especially in matters pertaining to the Achimota Forest.”

    Source: 3news.com|Ghana

  • COCOBOD announces closure of main cocoa crop season

    The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has announced the closure of the main cocoa crop season.

    “It is hereby notified for general information that purchases of the 2021/2022 Main Crop Cocoa Season will close on Thursday, 26th May, 2022”, a statement from COCOBOD said.

    The main crop season which starts from October to May is the period within which the regulator buys most of the cocoa beans from farmers for export.

    This ushers in the Light Crop season which commences from June to September. During this season, cocoa beans are mainly sold to local companies at a discounted rate.

    The statement said License Buying Companies will be allowed to obtain returns for the sale of cocoa beans from the interior parts of the country until 2nd June, 2022.

    Source: Joy Business   

  • NPP: Incumbent Ahafo Chairman Kwabena Owusu Sekyere retains position

    The incumbent Ahafo Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Owusu Sekyere retained his position in a keenly contested election at Goaso Friday.

    He polled 49 votes to beat six other contestants, including former Member of Parliament for Asunafo North, Robert Sarfo-Mensah who came second with 43 votes.

    Others, Alhaji Hassan Ziblim, 31 votes, Eric Agyapong, 12 votes, Emmanuel Opoku Marfo, three votes, Yiadom Boakye Boateng, three votes and Adutwum Gyima, two votes.

    However, the incumbent Regional Secretary, Baba Gausu Mohammed lost his position with 47 votes as against 53 garnered by the regional secretary-elect, Eric Nana Antwi.

    The third candidate for the contest, Robert Forkuo Boakye had 43 votes.

    Other winners of the contest were Justice Appiah Antwi, 1st Vice Chairman, Collins Osei Bonsu, 2nd Vice Chairman, Samuel Owusu Akoto, Assistant Secretary, Seth Oduro, Youth Organiser, Eugene Kusi Boakye, Treasurer, Adrian Fosuaa, Women’s Organiser and Amadu Seidu, Nasara Coordinator.

    In the Bono East Region, the incumbent Regional Chairman, Thomas Adu-Appiah lost his position.

    He lost his bid for re-election when he had 78 votes as against 151 obtained by the regional chairman-elect, Ibrahim Baba Bukari.

    A third contestant for the chairmanship position, Prince Appiah Donyina had only seven votes.

    In the race for the regional secretary, incumbent David Boakye had 129 votes to beat his challenger, Amofa Kusi Atta who had108 votes.

    However, both the incumbent 1st and 2nd regional chairmen lost their positions.

    While incumbent 1st Vice Chairman, Ibrahim Mohammed had 155 votes, his challenger, Amoah King-David had 122 votes.

    Similarly, while incumbent 2nd Vice Chairman, Nana Sekyere Boateng had 101 votes, his challenger, Baba Ahmed Abdalla got 119 votes to beat him.

    Incumbent Regional Organiser, Sule Musah had 168 votes to retain his position while his challenger, Kwain Bonse Isaac obtained 59 votes.

    In the Women’s Organiser race incumbent Sophia Afriyie Danso had 174 votes to retain her position as against 63 garnered by her only contender, Akosua Kuffuor Nketiah.

    In the contest for the Nasara Coordinator position, Jibril Abdulai had 144 votes to snatched the position from incumbent Alhaji Mohammed who polled only 42 votes.

    A third contestant, Isaka Haruna got 51 votes.

    Source : Graphic Online

  • Northern: Samba retained as NPP chairman

    Businessman, Mohammed Adam Bantima Samba has been retained as the Northern Regional Chairman of the governing New PatrioticParty(NPP).

    He beat his closest contender Alhaji Inusah Musah popularly known a Dagomba Boy with a wide margin.

    He polled 238 votes as against 122 votes obtained by Alhaji Dagomba Boy.

    Ibrahim Mahama, another candidate in the contest had a single vote.

    Source: Graphic Online

  • NPP Bono East: Incumbent chairman Adu-Appiah ‘deposed’

    The incumbent Bono East Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Thomas Adu-Appiah has been deposed after he lost a re-election bid Friday.

    He lost his bid for re-election when he had 78 votes as against 151 obtained by the regional chairman-elect, Ibrahim Baba Bukari.

    A third contestant for the chairmanship position, Prince Appiah Donyina had only seven votes.

    In the race for the regional secretary, incumbent David Boakye had 129 votes to beat his challenger, Amofa Kusi Atta who had108 votes.

    However, both the incumbent 1st and 2nd regional chairmen lost their positions.

    While incumbent 1st Vice Chairman, Ibrahim Mohammed had 155 votes, his challenger, Amoah King-David had 122 votes.

    Similarly, while incumbent 2nd Vice Chairman, Nana Sekyere Boateng had 101 votes, his challenger, Baba Ahmed Abdalla got 119 votes to beat him.

    Incumbent Regional Organiser, Sule Musah had 168 votes to retain his position while his challenger, Kwain Bonse Isaac obtained 59 votes.

    In the Women’s Organiser race incumbent Sophia Afriyie Danso had 174 votes to retain her position as against 63 garnered by her only contender, Akosua Kuffuor Nketiah.

    In the contest for the Nasara Coordinator position, Jibril Abdulai had 144 votes to snatched the position from incumbent Alhaji Mohammed who polled only 42 votes.

    A third contestant, Isaka Haruna got 51 votes.

    Source: Graphic Online

  • NPP regional chairmen who have retained their seats

    The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) on Friday, May 27, 2022, began its regional delegates conference to elect new executives.

    Already, 8 regions including Ahafo, Bono East, Central, Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper East and Western North have held their elections with many of their chairmen retaining their positions.

    Meanwhile, delegates in Ashanti, Eastern, Greater Accra, Upper West, Volta, Oti, and Western Regions are yet to cast their ballots. The contests are scheduled for Saturday, May 28, 2022.

    Many are keen to know who wins what in these regions because new entrants are looking to unseat incumbents as they argue they have what it takes to help the party ‘break the 8’.

    Below is the full list of NPP chairmen who retained their positions on Friday, May 27

    NPP Savannah: Prof Kalmonia re-elected as chairman

    The Incumbent Savannah Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Iddrisu Sulemana has been voted back into power.

    He garnered 112 votes whiles his contender, Abass Azumah had 60 votes.

    Samba retained as NPP Chairman in the Northern region

    Businessman, Mohammed Adam Bantima Samba retained his position as the Northern Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party with 238 votes.

    Incumbent Ahafo Chairman, Kwabena Owusu Sekyere retains position

    Kwabena Owusu Sekyere also retained his position after the regional chairmanship race ended at Goaso on Friday, May 27.

    “He polled 49 votes to beat six other contestants, including former Member of Parliament for Asunafo North, Robert Sarfo-Mensah who came second with 43 votes,” Graphic.com.gh reported.

    Anthony Namoo re-elected NPP Upper East Chairman

    Legal luminary, Anthony Namoo was re-elected as the Upper East Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party after he beat his five contenders with 114 votes.

    Nurudeen Fuseini retained as NPP chairman in North East region

    Out of 146 votes cast on Friday, May 27, Nurudeen Fuseini was maintained as the North East regional chairman of the NPP.

    The regional executive elections are however expected to end on Sunday, May 29, 2022.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ghana can generate $32bn annually through plant medicine Prof Ato Duncan

    Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the COA Research and Manufacturing Company says his outfit is close to a research breakthrough in plant medicine from which the country could realise not less than $32 billion annually.

    Prof Samuel Ato Duncan added that funds generated from the medicine would bring some economic relief to the country when it turns out successful.

    Speaking at the re-launch of the COA Mixture on Wednesday, May 25, he added that the medicine can also offer treatment to some diseases the world is still struggling to treat.

    “This is what I want to achieve for mother Ghana as part of my Global Peace Mission Project,” Prof Duncan explained.

    Ghana can generate $32bn annually through plant medicine Prof Ato Duncan
    COA Mixture products

    He noted that the re-launched COA Mixture is an upgrade in drug development and after going through processes at the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), it has been upgraded from a food supplement to a herbal medicine for general wellbeing.

    However, “it is not an HIV and AIDS drug. COA Mixture is for healthy living; it is a 100 per cent natural product from plants and without any artificial preservatives.

    Ghana can generate $32bn annually through plant medicine Prof Ato Duncan

    “COA Mixture is one of the best medicines the world has ever produced because of the numerous evidence-based testimonies from users.”

    Need for collaboration

    Prof Samuel Duncan called on government, research institutions and investors to collaborate with the Company in order to make its visions achievable.

    Although the Company has acquired 1,000 acres of land to cultivate raw materials in the Ashanti Region, he said they would need an additional 9,000 acres of lands to produce COA products that would meet international market demands.

    Ghana can generate $32bn annually through plant medicine Prof Ato Duncan
    The COA Mixture has been upgraded from a food supplement to a herbal medicine for general wellbeing.

    A cash donation of ¢100,000 was made to the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners Associations (GHAFTRAM) to help members go through some evaluation and registration processes for the certification of their medicines.

    Prof Ato Duncan also appointed the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to be the Patron of the COA Mixture because of his support for the product.

    Pharmaceutical sector

    The Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen, revealed that government is investing in the pharmaceutical sector in the quest to diversify the economy.

    “For the country to depend on only two commodities — cocoa and gold — for over 100 years is clearly not sustainable. So we need to diversify our economy.

    “The country produces only about 30 per cent of our required medicines, so we import almost 70 per cent of our required drugs, which is unacceptable,” he posited.

    Ghana can generate $32bn annually through plant medicine Prof Ato Duncan
    The Trade Minister said said an effective pharmaceutical industry would not only boost the economy but also create skilled jobs.

    The Trade Minister also used the opportunity to urge manufacturers to follow laid down protocols to build public confidence and get their products accepted.

    “If you want to become like COA, you have to be able to subject your products to various processes, including therapeutic analysis.

    “If you want to do mass production that will earn you income, then you need to expose your processes to technology,” he stressed.

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

     

  • More rain to hit north this year – Meteorological Agency

    Heavy rainfall accompanied by strong winds is expected to hit the northern part of the country in the July-August-September (JAS) season, the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMeT) has warned.

    It further warned that the rains would be erratic and could lead to localised floods in most places in the area.

    The agency indicated that the five regions in the north would also experience relatively short dry spells at the beginning and towards the end of the season.

    It said there was a high probability that most places in the northern parts would be “wetter than normal”.

    These were contained in the June-July-August (JJA) and JAS seasonal forecast of the GMet, which has been made available to the Daily Graphic.

    The total cumulative rainfall amount for June-July-August, both in time and space, will be mostly near normal to below normal for most places in the southern parts of the country.

    Seasons

    However, it said, most places in the Upper East and Upper West regions, and a few places in the North East and Savanna regions would experience above normal to near normal rainfall for the JJA season.

    It added that the season would be near normal for most places in the transition areas, Savanna and North East regions.

    The report said the JAS season was expected to be near normal for most places around the coast and some inland areas in the middle parts of the country.

    It said most places in the middle and transition parts of the country would also experience near normal rainfall, while most places in the Upper East and portions of Upper West and the North East would experience above normal to near normal rainfall.

    It said early onset dates were expected over most places in the Upper East and Upper West, as well as some places in both the North East and Savannah regions.

    Source: Graphic Online

  • Ukraine war: Bodies of dead Russian soldiers abandoned near Kyiv

    When their dogs started digging insistently at a spot in the woods, villagers in Zavalivka called in the authorities.

    A Ukrainian military team were soon at the scene in white protective suits, carefully removing the topsoil.

    They uncovered a man’s body, face down with his legs oddly twisted beneath him. It was clear from his uniform that he was a Russian soldier.

    Weeks after they failed to seize Ukraine’s capital, the remains of Russian troops are still being discovered in and around the villages they passed through or occupied near the capital, Kyiv. But Ukraine says Russia shows little interest in getting them back.

    From the grave in the woods, the body was removed to a refrigerated train on the outskirts of Kyiv that now operates as a mobile morgue for the Russian dead.

    The white plastic sacks are marked with numbers rather than names and there were at least 137 stacked inside two carriages on the day we visited.

    The dead Russian bodies are placed in refrigerated train carriages

    The bodies of dozens of dead Russian soldiers discovered near Kyiv have been placed in refrigerated train carriages

    The Ukrainians attempt to identify the dead: on the body just brought in, the forensics team turned up two bank cards, as well as badges for a Russian motorised rifle brigade.

    “At least this one has a chance of getting home,” the man in charge announced, displaying the finds, including a soiled fragment of T-shirt printed with the Army of Russia logo.

    Moments later, I confirmed that the man I had just seen exhumed had been a young, married soldier from Siberia. Next to his body bag, a carefully posed black-and-white photograph from his social media profile stared out from my phone.

    Russia has a proud slogan: “We don’t abandon our own.” It’s a big part of President Vladimir Putin’s supposed justification for invading Ukraine, where he falsely claimed Russian-speakers needed protection.

    That pledge appears not to apply so much to Russia’s own soldiers.

    “The bodies we’ve found show they treat people as rubbish, as cannon fodder,” Col Volodymyr Liamzin told the BBC. “They don’t need their soldiers. They throw them here, retreat – and leave the bodies.”

    A Ukrainian forensic team remove a Russian soldier from a shallow grave on the outskirts of Kyiv

    A Ukrainian forensic team remove the body of a young Russian soldier from a shallow grave on the outskirts of Kyiv

    We don’t actually know how the young soldier in the woods came to be abandoned. The villagers in Zavalivka say they were mostly hiding in their cellars from shelling at the time – they assume he was injured and got lost as his unit was forced to retreat.

    From what we’ve learned of the Russian troops fighting around Kyiv, many were young and inexperienced. It’s likely they were fleeing under fire.

    “We did do one swap,” Col Liamzin says, explaining that the Russian side provided a shortlist of the dead soldiers it wanted returned.

    “We’re ready to give them all back, we want our own dead returned too. We knock on every door there is, but there is no response, no dialogue,” the colonel says.

    The delay in collecting bodies isn’t unique to Russia.

    Neither side in this war is open about the number of casualties suffered. We’ve spoken to several Ukrainian families who say their own government has been less than helpful in recovering the remains of Ukrainian soldiers from the battlefield.

    One woman, who was told of her husband’s death by the men in his unit, said she had been trying to recover his body for almost three months.

    But the Russian dead are being discovered here all the time.

    Russian forces met fierce resistance from Ukrainian troops when they tried to advance on the capital Kyiv

    Russian forces met fierce resistance from Ukrainian troops when they tried to advance on the capital

    Just up the road from Zavalivka in Sytnyaky, the village elder told us at least 10 Russian soldiers were killed and left behind in March, probably more.

    Their column was ambushed after they lost their way: the locals had removed and switched the traffic signs.

    The battle was fierce. What was once a roadside restaurant at the spot is now a heap of rubble, a bit of wall and a giant aquarium that somehow survived the assault.

    Leaflets in the ruins call on Russian soldiers to surrender and save their lives, and spare the blood of Ukrainian children.

    The village elder says he and others buried the Russians after the battle “for sanitary reasons”. When I look quizzical, he says most were blown to pieces.

    He wasn’t allowed to show us the graves: they constitute a crime scene until Col Liamzin’s team can get round to visiting and exhuming the site. But his dig-list is already long.

    line

    War in Ukraine: More coverage

    line

    A local man planting beetroot confirms that the Russians were killed along the main road.

    “It’s not humane to abandon a soldier, not to bury them,” Mikola says, leaning on his spade. His own son is in Ukraine’s army.

    “My wife felt sorry for the Russians at first, but then we found out what they did here,” he adds, referring to the shooting of unarmed civilians in places like Bucha and Irpin.

    “No-one feels sorry for the Russians after that.”

    The burned wrecks of Russian tanks still line all the main roads into Kyiv. Every few seconds, cars stop and families spill out to take photographs, children clambering over the top.

    It seems somehow cathartic. The other day, I watched a man working out by lifting a tank barrel up and down, over his head, as though he was doing weights.

    But that same day, just a few steps across the road, we spotted human remains on a scorched patch of verge – a charred piece of spine and a fragment of foot – and a sweet, deathly smell when the wind dropped. It was most likely one of the men killed in one of the nearby tanks.

    So the refrigerated train in Kyiv is still filling up, and there are more in other cities close to the fighting. For the Ukrainian military who recover and store the bodies, there is little sympathy: the dead are enemy soldiers – invaders.

    But in Russia, someone, somewhere must be looking for each one of them.

    Source: BBC News

  • Probe Sir Johns alleged acquisition of state lands- Group petitions Special Prosecutor

    Corruption Watch Ghana has petitioned the Special Prosecutor to investigate the alleged acquisition of several acres of State lands situated within the Achimota Forest and at Ramsar sites in Sakumono in the Greater Accra Region.

    This comes after the controversy sparked by documents containing details of the alleged acquisition of lands by the late Forestry Commission CEO Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, popularly known as Sir John.

    The particulars of the alleged acquisition of the alleged State lands were in the Last Will and Testament of Sir John as revealed by The Fourth Estate.

    Corruption Watch in a statement said its petition for the investigation of these acquisitions is premised on the provisions of Section 1, Sub-section 3 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).

    These mandate the Office of the Special Prosecutor to investigate alleged or suspected cases of corruption or a corruption-related offence involving public officers.

    “It is worth emphasizing that the deceased was a public officer and a politically exposed person per the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), when he served as the CEO of the Forestry Commission and singularly or jointly allegedly acquired the said lands with other natural and artificial persons during the period he was the CEO of the said Commission. One such person was Charles Owusu, also a public officer, and a politically exposed person.”

    “Furthermore, Corruption Watch draws inspiration from Section 179C of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), which makes it an offence for a person to use public office for profit. We note that the offence is committed by both the person who holds public office who dishonestly abuses the office for private gain or benefit and other persons who collaborate with the public officer to so abuse the office,” the statement said.

    Corruption Watch is specifically requesting the Office of the Special Prosecutor to investigate the following:

    • Whether the Republic of Ghana owned the said lands at the time of their alleged acquisition by Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, Jakaypros Limited, Fasoh Limited, DML Limited, and Charles Owusu;
    • The circumstances of the alleged acquisition;
    • The Beneficial Owners of the companies implicated in this transaction and compliance with the reporting requirements of such persons where they are PEPs under sections 13, 35, and 126 of the Companies Act 2019 (Act 992);
    • Who authorized the alleged sale or purchase of the lands?
    • Whether the interests in the lands have been registered?
    • Under what authority did the person(s)/ institution authorize the sale or purchase?
    • Whether any amount of money was paid for the said lands, and to whom?
    • Whether the politically exposed person(s) and public officers who own these properties have complied with the Code of Conduct for Public Officers under Chapter Four of the 1992 Constitution, particularly relating to Article 286 of the Constitution?
    • The propriety or otherwise of the said sale or purchase?
    • Whether other natural or artificial persons who are politically exposed persons have also acquired lands
    • illegally within the Achimota Forest and Ramsar site in Sakumono.

    Source: citinewsroom.com

  • North Korea fires missiles hours after Biden leaves Asia

    North Korea fired three ballistic missiles early on Wednesday morning, South Korea’s military has said.

    Authorities in Seoul said the missiles were fired in the space of less than an hour from the Sunan area in Pyongyang.

    It comes just a day after US President Joe Biden left the region, following a trip that saw him vowing to bolster measures to deter North Korea.

    North Korea has been test-firing a flurry of ballistic missiles since the beginning of this year.

    Japan confirmed at least two launches happened on Wednesday but acknowledged there may have been more.

    Japan’s Defence Minister Nobuo Kishi said the first missile flew about 300km (186 miles) with a maximum altitude of around 550km, while the second, reaching as high as 50km, travelled around 750km.

    Mr Kishi criticised the launches, saying they were “not acceptable” adding that it would “threaten the peace, stability and safety of Japan and the international community”.

    In a meeting convened after the missile launch, South Korea’s National Security Council called the test a “grave provocation”, the presidential office said.

    The launches came hours after Mr Biden departed for the US on Tuesday evening, after a five-day trip that saw him visit South Korea and Japan.

    US and South Korean officials had earlier warned that North Korea appeared ready for another weapons test, possibly during the Biden visit.

    During his visit to Seoul over the weekend, Mr Biden and his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk-yeol agreed to hold bigger military drills and deploy more US strategic assets if necessary to deter North Korea’s intensifying weapons tests.

    Mr Biden had said the United States was “prepared for anything North Korea does”.

    line
    Analysis box by Jean Mackenzie, Seoul correspondent

    The timing of these launches is not an accident – just hours after President Biden completed his trip to Asia, and days after he agreed with South Korea’s president to bolster their defences against North Korea.

    For weeks intelligence suggested North Korea was planning to test something major while the president was here. Slightly less provocatively, it has waited until he had left, but only just. Air Force One hadn’t touched down on US tarmac before the missiles were fired.

    At their weekend summit, President Biden and President Yoon said they were ready to take on the threat of North Korea together. This was their first test. They have responded quickly, condemning the launches, while joint-firing missiles of their own.

    This marks another escalation by North Korea, which, over the past six months has become increasingly aggressive. But the concern is over what comes next. Evidence is mounting that North Korea is preparing to test a nuclear weapon. This would be its first nuclear test in five years and a major step-up.

    Missiles amidst Covid ’emergency’

    The latest launches come as North Korea struggles to contain a suspected outbreak of Covid amongst its largely unvaccinated population of 25 million.

    More than a million people have now been sickened by what Pyongyang is calling a “fever”, and more than 68 people have died since late April, the authorities say.

    On 12 May, North Korea test-fired ballistic missiles the same day that Mr Kim declared an “emergency” over the Covid outbreak.

    South Korea has said it offered humanitarian aid, but Pyongyang is yet to respond.

    Source: BBC News

  • Police caution commuters, school authorities over recent floods in Accra

    The police have urged the persons living in Accra and Tema, to be cautious during their commute to and from work.

    The caution follows the downpour in Accra.

    In a public alert, the Police said: “School authorities and parents are also advised to pay extra attention to school children who are already in school and those who are still trying to make their way to school.

    “Police patrol teams have been deployed and are on the ground to ensure the safety of all.”

    It added: “We remain committed to working with other safety stakeholders to offer the needed assistance.”

    Some trees in Accra got downed by the rains that fell on Monday night into Tuesday morning in some parts of the national capital.

    Trees within the Achimota Forest, North Kansehie, Abelenkpe, Rawlings Park, and North Industrial Area, among others, fell on some streets, thus, blocking them.

    Floods also ravaged some parts of the city.

    Areas like Kaneshie, WestHills mall, Adabraka, Dansoman, and Pamprom among others, were taken over by floodwaters.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • The story of the Ghanaian professor emeritus who did not attend secondary school

    The story of the Ghanaian professor emeritus who did not attend secondary school

    One of the most important things in the life of everyone who rises to the rank of professor is that they went to school for years and obtained numerous academic certifications.

    While Professor Emeritus Stephen Adei, a former Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), has accomplished the highest levels of education, his journey has not been without bumps.

    The professor explained that he skipped secondary school in an interview with the Business and Financial Times (B&FT) newspaper as part of its celebration series.

    Giving further details, he said that it was not a case of not qualifying for secondary school, but it had to do with the fact that there was no money to support his desire to continue schooling at the time.

    Prof Stephen Adei | Image source: citinewsroom.com

    As early as primary six, Prof. Adei harboured the desire to go the university and the only route to that at that time was through secondary school. So, from grade eight, he sat for the common entrance examination which he passed through to grade 10, securing admissions into Prempeh College, Mfantsipim, and Aggrey Memorial School in consecutive years.

    “However, he was unable to enroll in any of the schools and for the first time, he realised his family was poor. The 16-year-old Stephen Adei was becoming frustrated because thought that was the only route by which I could get into the university,” the report added.

    Prof. Stephen Adei added that he however got advice from his teachers that he considers today as one of the best pieces of counsel he has ever received in his life.

    “I was so disturbed and I wanted to know what to do since my chances of going to university seemed doomed forever. Mr. Amoah then encouraged me and told me that there was another way. He said I could write the O and A-Level examinations by studying via correspondence programmes. I simply had to study on my own and write the exams…that brightened me up and I think that was one of the best pieces of advice I had ever received regarding education,” he said.

    Stephen Adei, born 14 December 1948, is a Ghanaian educationist, writer, economist and motivational speaker. He was a former Director-General and Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.

    He is currently the chairperson of the National Development Planning Commission under the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government He also serves as the Board Chairman of the Ghana Revenue Authority having been sworn in by the Finance Minister of Ghana; Ken Ofori-Atta.

    He was born in Hwiremoase a village in the Ashanti Region of Ghana to Kwaku Adei and Abena Pomaa (aka Bedito). He had his primary school education at the Hwiremoase Methodist Primary school and a nearby United Middle School in Brofuyedru.

    He is the fourth out of seven surviving all male children of his parents. After his basic school education, he obtained a four year Teacher’s Certificate in 1964 from the Sefwi Wiawso Training College.

    Stephen Adei studied privately to gain London University Ordinary and Advanced Level General Certificates in Education, and High School equivalent qualifications in three and a half years.

    Adei proceeded to the University of Ghana in October 1968 where he read Economics, Sociology and Geography obtaining honours in all three first-year subjects before going on to do a BSc Honours programme in Economics.

    Stephen Adei then went to Strathclyde for his Masters in Development Economics. He also holds a PhD in International Economics at the University of Sydney.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Achimota Forest: Why allocate 360 acres to the Owoo family? – Inusah Fuseini

    Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, a former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, has called on the government to explain why it decided to increase the land parcel allotted to the Owoo family in the Achimota Forest.

    According to Inusah Fuseini, the government has transferred 361 acres of land to the Owoo family.

    Revealing this in an interview with Citinews, Mr Fuseini further explained that the the NDC government had turned over 118 acres to the custodial owners on compassionate grounds in 2013, when he was Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.

    He argues that the NDC government then wanted to establish an eco-tourism park to prevent further encroachment.

    Mr Fuseini noted that the current government, which was in opposition at the time, had questioned the decision and demanded an explanation.

    Thus the former minister has also called on the NPP government to reveal to Ghanaians the reason for re-allocation of 361 acres of Achimota land to the Owoo’s.

    “We were also criticized for giving 118 acres to the family and we had a duty to explain why we did… I cannot judge the government, but I only demand that we know the reason why they did that. Government is in charge of policy so they should come out and explain.”

    He also noted that the government’s decision gives the Owoo family the free hand to engage in any development on the land as against what the NDC proposed, which was to ensure the family received approval from the Forestry Commission on any initiative they planned to take.

    Inusah Fuseini wants the government to address this matter as well.

    “We principally wanted the land to still be under the control of the Forestry Commission so that the ecological integrity of the forest will be protected, but you [government] are of a different view that it should be declassified as a forest and removed from the forest reserve and so they need to explain,” he said.

    Background

    Lands Minister, Samuel Abdulai Jinapor, in an Executive Instrument (E.I) 144 on behalf of the President stipulated that effective May 1, 2022, the land on which the Forest is located shall cease to be a forest reserve.

    He noted that portions of the land will be returned to the Owoo family and government will redevelop the remaining into the likes of “High Park of London and Central Park of New York, where Ghanaians can go and enjoy the beauty of nature.”

    Following the news, many including the Minority in Parliament and the Osu Traditional Council have disapproved of the move. The Osu Traditional Council says they are the custodial owners of the land and not the Owoo family.

    With the government trying to resolve the matter, it emerged on Monday that the immediate former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, probably owned some Achimota Forest land.

    This was discovered in purported Will of Sir John, the late CEO, shared by the Fourth Estate.

    The news sparked a conversation on social media where Ghanaians asked the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to expedite investigations into the matter.

    Meanwhile, the Lands Commission has rejected claims that Sir John owned portions of land at the Achimota Forest.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Charles Owusu responds to Sir John’s Will and Achimota Forest issues

    An aide to the former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu, has reacted to the public discourse on the alleged Will of the late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, commonly known as Sir John, in which it is alleged that he owned some lands in the Achimota Forest.

    One Charles Owusu has been named as one of the five beneficiaries of the said lands in reference in the alleged Will.

    Sir John’s aide, Charles Owusu, who had a working relationship with Sir John as an uncle and a nephew will not comment on whether or not he is the person in reference in the said Will.

    He said once, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has indicated it will investigate the allegation that the former CEO of the Forestry Commission owned some lands in the Achimota Forest and named the said lands in his Will, he will not comment on it for now, until the findings by the Ministry.

    De-classification

    Some portions of the Achimota Forest, specifically in the southern peripheries have been de-classified by the government as a forest reserve following it’s release to the Owoo Family of Accra in lieu of monetary compensation, which has not been paid since 1927 that the land was acquired by the government from the family.

    Following, the gazetting of an Executive Instrument (E.I.) 144, which de-classified the said portions, public discourse on the forest has been partly on why the government did not pay the monetary compensation to allow the forest to stay intact.

    Some had alleged the lands could end up in the hands of some public officials.

    Will allegation

    On Monday, it came out that the late Sir John, who died in July 2020 allegedly owned some lands in the Achimota Forest and named the said lands in his Will.

    A media report had suggested that Sir John in his Will named his children and some individuals related to him as the ones the lands should be given to forever.

    The said Will has been circulated on social media, in which five persons have been named as the beneficiaries of the said lands.

    One Charles Owusu, was also named in the Will, as one of the persons who should benefit from the lands.

    It is dated May 20, 2020, a few weeks before Sir John died in July 2020.

    The said Will in circulation was certified at the High Court in Accra, in August 2021.

    Charles Owusu’s comment

    In a radio interview with Accra based Asempa FM Monday afternoon [May 23, 2022], monitored by Graphic Online, Charles Owusu, the aide to the late Sir John said he will not comment on the issue until the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has completed investigations into the issue.

    He expressed worry about how the said Will of Sir John, something, he said was supposed to be a private issue has been leaked into the public domain.

    Touting that it was uncustomary to be discussing private matters such as a Will of a deceased person in the public domain, Charles Owusu said at the appropriate time, he will speak on the issue but for now, I will not go into it, he said.

    He, however, added that, he has read what was in the public domain, and no where did the said Will mentioned a land in the “Forest Reserve” but only mentions Achimota Forest.

    Owusu said he has received many phone calls on the issue since Sunday and had decided not to comment publicly on it.

    I am sad, the Will of the deceased Sir John has been thrown into the public domain, Owusu said.

    Owusu is not a relative of the late Sir John but the relationship that existed between them was typical of an uncle and a nephew.

    When he was asked by Osei Bonsu, the interviewer of the radio programme - Ekosii Sen – on whether he was the said Charles Owusu being referred to in the Will, Owusu said he cannot confirm or deny for now, but will wait till the Ministry’s investigation is completed.

    He said the investigations by the Ministry will establish if Sir John had a land in the Achimota Forest and when in specific he got the said land.

    After the findings by the Ministry, I will speak and will plead with the public to exercise patience for now.

    Lands Ministry’s investigation

    The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources on Monday said it will investigate the allegation that former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, also known as Sir John owned some lands in the Achimota Forest and named the said lands in his Will.

    The Ministry’s action followed a media report that had suggested that Sir John in his Will named his children and some individuals related to him as the ones the lands should be given to forever.

    In a press statement issued by the Public Relations Unit of the sector ministry, it said, “The Ministry takes a very serious view of the allegations, and has requested for all documents relating to the lands in question, as part of an initial inquiry to ascertain the veracity of the claims. Considering that the issues that form the basis of the allegations predate the tenure of the current Minister, Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, it is important that he is seized with the full facts to enable him take appropriate action, if, indeed, there is any merit in the claims.”

    Below is a copy of the statement by the Ministry

    ALLEGATIONS SURROUNDING ACHIMOTA FOREST AND THE PURPORTED WILL OF THE LATE FORESTRY COMMISSION CEO.

    The attention of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has been drawn to a document making the rounds on social media, which alleges that the late former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, had included portions of the Achimota Forest in his Will, and given out same to individuals who are said to be related to him.

    The Ministry takes a very serious view of the allegations, and has requested for all documents relating to the lands in question, as part of an initial inquiry to ascertain the veracity of the claims.

    Considering that the issues that form the basis of the allegations predate the tenure of the current Minister, Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, it is important that he is seized with the full facts to enable him take appropriate action, if, indeed, there is any merit in the claims.

    The Ministry assures the general public and the good people of Ghana that it will ensure that the national interest is protected at all times, especially in matters pertaining to the Achimota Forest.

    END

    PUBLIC RELATIONS UNIT
    MINISTRY OF LANDS AND NATURAL RESOURCES

    Source: Graphic Online

  • ‘Each man for himself, God for the select few’ – How Atta Mills described NPPs property owning democracy’

    “Property owning democrats,” the tagline of the governing New Patriotic Party, NPP, known to be the capitalists, has been making rounds on social media after some portions of the Last Will and testament of the party’s former General Secretary, Sir John, was made public.

    The Will details how much wealth Sir John, real name Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, willed to his children and nephews.

    Some portions relating to prime lands in Accra have dominated discussions in mainstream and on social media. Many Ghanaians were outraged after a signed Executive Instrument, E.I. by the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, declassifying parts of the Achimota Forest as a forest reserve were made public.

    Some social media users accused the political class of an attempt to sell the lands to themselves and their cronies. The government has denied the accusations, saying it was only returning part of the land to its rightful owners.

    But Sir John’s Will contains four parcels of specified and unspecified acres of land in the Achimota Forest, which the late politician bequeathed to named persons.

    Prior to the 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections, Professor John Evans Atta Mills [of blessed memory], who at the time was contesting the elections as an opposition leader with Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, described the NPP’s mantra of property owning democracy as “each man for himself and God for the select few.”

    In a campaign video of the NDC, the late Prof Atta Mills said:

    “Nana Addo is talking about having fought for democracy, [and] having fought for human freedom. It is quite clear that they are following their tradition property owning democracy, as they call themselves. That is each man for himself and God for the select few.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ghana Health Service confirms outbreak of Hanz virus

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has confirmed the outbreak of HANZ virus in Ghana.

    It is therefore calling on Ghanaians to be on the alert and report symptoms of the virus.

    Hanz Virus, also known as H3N2v, is a strain of influenza usually found in pigs, birds, and humans.

    The virus is said to spread more easily to humans from pigs than other swine influenza viruses.

    According to the GHS, this influenza virus easily mutates with adults usually having stronger immunity. Symptoms of H3N2v include fever with cough and a runny nose.

    Other possible symptoms are body aches, nausea, chills, vomiting, or diarrhoea.

    The GHS added that the virus could sometimes cause severe diseases like pneumonia, which could lead to hospitalization and at the worst result in death.

    All matches involving the Ghana Premier League club Accra Hearts of Oak have been postponed after the virus was confirmed among the players.

    The Game Week 30 fixture involving Hearts of Oak and Eleven Wonders was postponed by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) following the outbreak of the disease.

    “Our match against Eleven Wonders has been postponed following advice from the Ghana Health Service. According to the GHS, they are still investigating the cause of the illness that affected the Hearts of Oak team,” the team tweeted.

    Source: citinewsroom.com

  • List of assets allegedly owned by Sir John, including portions of the Achimota Forest

    Following the government’s re-allocation of portions of the Achimota Forest to allodial owners, the Owoo family, it has been reported that late Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie (Sir John), the former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, also owned parts of the forest.

    Mr Owusu Afriyie, the former general secretary of the New Patriotic Party, reportedly acquired over 6.528 hectares of land at the Achimota Forest, according to what appears to be his will, as shared by the Fourth Estate.

    According to the will, these parcels of land were passed down to family members of the late Forestry Commission CEO.

    Many people are surprised by this revelation, given that the Lands Commission had previously stated that, aside from portions owned by the Owoo family, all remaining acres would be redeveloped by the state.

    In a statement, Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Samuel Abu Jinapor said that as part of an initial investigation to determine the truth of the claims, the Ministry has requested all papers relating to the lands in the alleged Will.

    Up until his death on July 1, 2020, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie was the CEO of the Forestry Commission. Mr Afriyie took over as CEO of the Commission from Mr Samuel Afari Dartey in 2017.

    Below is the list of properties purportedly owned by Sir John according to alleged Will.

    Houses

    A house located at Ogbojo East Legon with land title certificate number GA 54480 dated February 12, 2018

    A house at Oyarifa (Oyarifa No. 2) with land title certificate number GA 54480 dated February 12, 2018.

    A house at Oyarifa (Oyarifa No. 1) with land title certificate number GA 53475 dated September 27, 2017.

    A house located at Adjiringanor (White House) with land title certificate number GA 58881 dated August 7, 2019

    A six bedroom house with an outhouse located at Patangbe Avenue, Ogbojo, Accra.

    Four bedroom house with an outhouse and a security post at Ogbojo, Accra with land title certificate number TDA 4140 dated July 3, 2019.

    Two three bedroom houses (detached) on a plot of land at Mempeheusem, East Legon with land title certificate number GA 56838 dated October 25, 2018.

    Four bedroom house together with the adjoining boys quarters and it’s security post located at Sakora Wonoo in the Kwabere District of the Ashanti Region

    Five bedroom house located at Sokoban, Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

    A four storey building at East Legon which contains ten 3 bedroom apartments and 5 two bedroom apartments.

    A house located at East Legon Hills.

    A house at Otinshi.

    Hospitals

    A hospital called Afriyie Memorial Hospital located at Sakora Wonoo in the Kwabere District of the Ashanti Region.

    Plots of land

    Two plots of land situate at Ahenema Kokoben in the Ashanti Region

    Two plots of land at Oyarifa in the Greater Accra Region with land title certificate number GA 56921 dated November 6, 2018.

    A land situate at the Achimota Forest in the name of Jakaypro Limited measuring 5.54q acres

    A land at the Achimota Forest in the name of Fasoh Limited measuring 0.987 acres

    A piece of land owned at Achimota Forest with Charles Owusu.

    A portion of land jointly owned at the Achimota Forest in the name of DML Limited

    A land situated at Ramsar area at Sakumono in the Greater Accra Region measuring 5.07acres.

    Five plots of land located within the Millenium City Estates, near Kasoa.

    I own a plot of land at Mempeheusem, East Legon register with certificate number ()
    60802 dated December 13, 2019.

    Two plots of land containing an approximate area of 0.16 hectares or 0.40 acres situate at No. 7 ARS Lane, Ogbojo, East Legon.

    A plot of land near Chain Homes Estates, East Airport Hills, Accra.

    A piece of land numbered plot number 139 within the Adentanman Business District (aka Aviation Land).

    Businesses

    A fuel station at Kentinkronu, Kumasi.

    A fuel tanker business with 10 petrol tanker vehicles.

    One compartment of teak plantation at Nkawie in the Ashanti Region.

    A rubber plantation in the Eastern Region sharing a common boundary with the plantation of Mr Edward Obiaw formerly of the Forestry Commission.

    Farms at Ejura in the Ashanti Region

    Private Vehicles

    Lexus LX570 V8, Ford Fusion, Lexus V6.

    Nissan Titan Pick-up V8, Mercedes Benz E63 sport AMG

    Honda Pilot V6
    Honda Accord Sport, Toyota Land cruiser V8

    Ford F150, Honda Accord 2.0 Touring, Toyota RAV 4 2019 model, Chevrolet Crusze, Lexus saloon car 2019 model

    Guns

    Five pump action guns.

    Investment

    GH2million at Agricultural Development Bank (ADB).

    GH250, 000 with NTHC.

    Joint Gold production investment with Mr Francis Owusu

    Joint ownership in Gold production with Rod, Fasoh, MBL

    Three stalls at the New Kejetia Market.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Extremist attacks: I believe the terrorists are already in Ghana Dr Ishmael Norman

    Dr. Ishmael Norman, the president of the Institute for Security, Disaster and Emergency Studies, has suggested that some terrorists have already made their way into the country.

    This comes after the National Security recently issued a number of stern warnings and alerts of potential attacks by extremist elements targeted at Ghana.

    Reacting to the development in an interview with Accra-based TV3 on May 21, Dr. Norman said although the situation is worrying, citizens must be circumspect in their dealings taking into consideration their personal safety and security.

    “They are not just near Ghana; they are in Ghana. Some of them will even marry Ghanaian men or women. We have to assume that they are already here. The National Security warning is a good one, I believe the terrorists are already in Ghana,” he stressed.

    Meanwhile, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah on Saturday also described as worrying reports of potential attacks by extremist groups targeting Ghana as their next spot to cause mayhem.

    He however said government through security agencies will continue to tighten their apparatus and intelligence gathering but urged Ghanaians to take their personal security in high regard.

    “Very worrying reports of potential attacks of extremist elements targeted at Ghana. As we heighten the alertness of intelligence and security agencies, all of us need to be more security conscious and be quick to report any suspicious persons or packages to security agencies,” Oppong-Nkrumah wrote.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

     

  • A 1-year-old boy died after being raped by 2 Russian soldiers, Ukraine says

    A one-year-old boy died after being raped by two Russian soldiers, the Ukrainian Parliament’s Commissioner for Human Rights said on Thursday.

    The accusation is one of the most horrific from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but is not unique.

    Denisova Liudmyla Leontiivna said in the statement that it gets reports of sexual violence against Ukrainians every day, including against children.

    Leontiivna did not give further details of what is alleged to have happened, but said that the report had been received in the previous 24 hours. Insider could find no independent evidence for the claim.

    The majority of new reports were coming from around Kharkiv, she said, though did not give a specific location for the allegation about the one-year-old. Most reports were made by relatives or, for those who did not die, by the victims themselves, she said.

    Russian forces have this week been withdrawing from the area around Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, which had long been subject to heavy attacks.

    The commissioner said on Thursday that her office recieved 10 reports of sexual violence in one hour on Thursday, including eight cases of minors being raped.

    “I appeal to the UN Commission for Investigation Human Rights Violations during the Russian military invasion of Ukraine to take into account these facts of genocide of the Ukrainian people,” Leontiivna said.

    Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has repeatedly been described as a genocide by Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and reports of rape have been widespread.

    Source: Businessinsider

  • Medical Director robbed while conducting surgery

    The Medical Director of the Dixcove Government Hospital in the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western Region has been robbed whilst he was performing surgery.

    Dr. Nana Brobbey was reportedly robbed when he left his house to perform emergency surgery in the wee hours of Thursday.

    Confirming the incident, the Ahanta West Health Director, Timothy Ofori, told Connect FM that he left his house to attend to the patient only to return to a raided room.

    Medical Director robbed while conducting surgery

    “He resides in the hospital, so around 1:00am, he had a call for an emergency he needed to attend to. He quickly went to save the life of the patient.

    “After performing the surgery successfully, he came back to his house and realised that robbers have ransacked his room. He indicated that they made away with his laptop, mobile phones, and other personal belongings,” he indicated.

    Medical Director robbed while conducting surgery

    According to Mr. Ofori, this is not the first time Dr. Brobbey has been robbed.

    “This is the third time the doctor has been robbed. He looked traumatised when I met him this morning.

    “He is not even in the mood to serve again. This is a man who has left his family to serve us here in the Ahanta West District but look at what is happening to him,” he lamented.

    Medical Director robbed while conducting surgery

    Meanwhile, the Ahanta West Police Command has begun investigations into the robbery.

    The Police Commander, ASP Valentine Akposu, assured that no stone will be left unturned until the perpetrators are brought to book.

    Source: MyJoyOnline.com  

  • Average lending rate rises to 21.6% in April 2022 BoG

    Average lending rate of commercial banks rose to 21.6% in April 2022, from 20.57% in March 2022, the Bank of Ghana has disclosed.

    This is equivalent to 1.8% interest on loans per month.

    However, the average lending rate varies among the banks and the respective sectors.

    For instance, some banks will offer loans as low as 17% per annum, whilst others will charge rates as high as 29%. Overall, it will depend on the risk profile of the customers.

    Again, some perceive lending to the agriculture and construction sectors as riskier, and therefore credit to these sectors are expensive.

    According to the BoG Summary of Economic and Financial Data, cost of loans have been rising but marginally due to increasing inflation rate and other factors.

    It rose from 20.16% in January 2022 to 20.52% in February 2022.

    But average lending rate fluctuated in the first quarter of the year, and then fell consecutively till December 2021.

    In January 2021, average lending rate stood at 20.97%, but shot up marginally to 21.02% in February 2021, and then fell to 20.96% in March 2021. After that it consistently dropped to 20.04% in December 2021 and later rose in January 2022.

    But with the expected increase in the policy rate once again from its current 17%, lending rate is expected to go up further.

    The Bank of Ghana will however hope the monetary policy measures to be announced on Monday May 23, 2022, will help bring down the rising inflation rate and consequently help reduce cost of borrowing going forward.

    Source: MyJoyOnline.com

  • VRA bares teeth at Sentuo Steel over pollution

    The Volta River Authority (VRA) has hinted at sending Sentuo Steel Limited, a Chinese company operating within the Tema industrial enclave, to court if it continues with activities that negatively affect its staff and power turbines.

    The VRA named pollution as the main offence and cited air pollution in the form of thick smoke that comes from Sentuo Steel chimneys and thereby affecting the health of workers of the power-producing company.

    Addressing the media at the Tema Thermal Power Complex (TTPC) of the Volta River Authority, Mr Samuel Anim Yeboah, Plant Manager TTPC stated that the Tema Thermal Power Complex had some key entities in the energy sector operating from the complex in Tema.

    He noted that the activities of Sentuo Steel were affecting operations at the TTPC and it was time the Environmental protection Agency (EPA) called Sentuo Steel to order.

    He said aside from the smoke that invaded the complex, the wind also carried a mix of sand and iron dust directly into the turbines.

    Mr Yeboah said the turbines needed to operate effectively in a cleaner environment, adding that the dust that emanates from Sentuo Steel choked the filters embedded in the power turbines which always increased the maintenance cost of VRA.

    He said the Tema Thermal Power Complex had about 300 megawatts of installed capacity and the activities of the Steel Company could negatively affect the operations of VRA.

    The TTPC Plant Manager revealed that efforts were made to address the issue since 2010 but to no avail stating that VRA could initiate some legal actions against Sentuo Steel if the situation continued to remain the same.

    Source: GNA

  • 2 more suspects charged in bullion van case

    Two more persons have been charged in connection with the recent bullion van robberies in Accra.

    The two, General Constable Nelson Tetteh and Badu Zakari, aka Rasta, a mechanic, were arraigned last Tuesday at the court presided over by Evelyn Asamoah.

    Before their arrest, four police recruits Constable Yaro Afisu Ibrahim, Constable Albert Ofosu aka Cypher, Constable Richard Boadu, aka Osor, and Constable Rabiu Jambedu had been charged earlier in connection with the crime.

    When the case was called, the substantive charge on the four were amended to include the two accused persons.

    Charges

    Constable Yaro Afisu Ibrahim and Constable Albert Ofosu, aka Cypher, have pleaded not guilty to the charge of attempted robbery.

    While the remaining four G/Constable Richard Boadu, aka Osor, G/Constable Rabiu Jambedu, G/Constable Nelson Tetteh and Badu Zakari have also pleaded not guilty to the charge of abetment.

    Custody

    They have been remanded into lawful custody to reappear on June 2 this year.

    The court has ordered the prosecution, led by Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sylvester Asare, to file its disclosures and witness statements by May 30.

    Lawyers of the accused persons Justin Terriwajjah, David Bondorin, Jango Huhu, Devine Dotse Tettey and Andrews Kudzo Vortia all took turns to pray for bail for the clients.

    However, after their request was vehemently opposed by the prosecution, the court remanded them in police custody.

    Source: Graphic Online

  • Gang linked to kidnapping, robberies and rape of women at Adenta arrested

    Three suspects who have been linked to a series of robberies, rape, and kidnapping at Adenta and its environs have been arrested by the police, MyNewsGh.com reports.

    Mastermind of the criminal gang Richmond Klustey has admitted to the police that he and other members of his team reportedly engaged in robbery, kidnapping, and raping of women within their operational area.

    He mentioned incidents that occurred at Adenta and Oyibi as some of their operations adding that they have been engaging in criminal activities in a forest close to the Christian University College for the past three months.

    He blew the cover of his accomplices Samuel Olessey Junior, a 27-year-old Nigerian, and Gordon Amable Sackey, a 27-year-old Ghanaian who have all been arrested.

    They claimed victims were lured through a particular dating site to their location where they, kidnap them, use cutlass to coerce them, seize their phones, rob and rape them and sometimes take ransom before releasing them.

    During a search conducted in their homes, 18 assorted mobile phones, 3 knives, a pair of pliers, a military camouflage uniform, and condoms were retrieved from them and retained for evidential purpose.

    All three suspects are currently in custody at the Adenta Divisional Headquarters and would be arraigned before court soon.

    Source: mynewsgh.com

  • Former PPA boss Adjenim Boateng slapped with 17 corruption related charges

    The former Chief Executive Officer of the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), Adjenim Boateng Adjei has been slapped with 17 corruption related charges by the Special Prosecutor.

    They are eight counts of using public office for profit and nine counts of directly and indirectly influencing the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of a procurement contract.

    Adjenim Boateng Adjei has been charged alongside his brother-in-law, Francis Kwaku Arhin, who has also been charged with one count of using public office for profit.

    The two will be arraigned before the High Court in Accra, Criminal Division on Wednesday, may 25, 2022, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng has stated in a press release dated May 18, 2022.

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on August 22, 2019, suspended Adjenim Boateng Adjei from office, following the broadcast of allegations made against him in a publication by freelance journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, titled “Contracts for Sale”.

    President Akufo-Addo subsequently referred the allegations involving conflict of interest to Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), and those relating to potential acts of corruption to the Office of Special Prosecutor, for their action.

    It was based on recommendations from the CHRAJ report that Adjei was sacked from office on October 31, 2019.

    Per the CHRAJ report, Adjei’s accounts since assuming office in 2017 stood at GH₵14.8 million from his four Dollar and Euro accounts held at two banks.

    According to CHRAJ, Adjei could not satisfactorily explain the source of the large volumes of excess wealth that passed through his bank accounts between March 2017 and August 2019.

    CHRAJ after investigating Adjei found him guilty of conflict of interest in the performance of his duties after sidestepping procurement procedures for personal gains.

    Facts by the Special Prosecutor for the 17 charges

    By a letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo referred allegations of corruption against Adjenim Boateng Adjei to the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

    The referral was on the back of and based on an audio-visual documentary titled Contracts for Sale an investigative journalistic piece conducted by Manasseh Azure Awuni and aired by the Multimedia Group.

    According to the Special Prosecutor, the evidence will establish that Adjei was at all material times the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Governing Board of Public Procurement Authority (PPA).

    Adjei and and his brother-in-law, Arhin, according to the Special Prosecutor, incorporated Talent Discovery Limited in Ghana as a company limited by shares on June  19, 2017, three months after the Adjei was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of Public Procurement Authority.

    At all material times, Adjei was the majority shareholder and a director of Talent Discovery Limited; and Arhin was the minority shareholder, a director and the Chief Executive Officer of Talent Discovery Limited.

    Adjei and Arhin employed Talent Discovery Limited as their sure bet of winning public contracts in a disingenuous and unlawful design by which the former would employ his position as the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Governing Board of Public Procurement Authority to directly and indirectly improperly influence the outcome of the procurement process in favour of the company and the latter would run the affairs of the company until the retirement of the former from public service at which time the former would join the latter at the company and share the spoils, according to the Special Prosecutor.

    Talent Discovery Limited, during the tenure of Adjei as the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Governing Board of Public Procurement Authority, participated in several restricted tenders in respect of public works contracts awarded by the Ministry of Works and Housing, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Special Development Initiatives, Ministry of Inner-City & Zongo Development and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.

    Adjei, in his capacity as the Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Governing Board of Public Procurement Authority, conducted the procurement process in respect of tenders in which Talent Discovery Limited was shortlisted; and he actively participated in the decision-making process leading to the selection of Talent Discovery Limited as the contractor in respect of nine of the tenders, without disclosing his interest as the majority shareholder and a director of the company, the Special Prosecutor added.

    In an instance, Adjei, in his capacity as the implementer of the decisions of the Governing Board of Public Procurement Authority, unlawfully altered the decision of the Board in favour of Talent Discovery Limited, the Special Prosecutor said.

    Arhin, according to the Special Prosecutor acted in collaboration with Adjei in the unlawful scheme.

    “The First and Second Accused perversely benefited pecuniarily through the use of public office for profit and influencing the public procurement process to obtain unfair advantage. Indeed, the First Accused, in particular, amassed fantastic funds in his bank accounts within a very short time,” the Special Prosecutor stated.

    After investigations, Adjei and Arhin were duly charged with the offences on the charge sheet.

    Below is a copy of the charge sheet

    COUNT ONE

    STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

    USING PUBLIC OFFICE FOR PROFIT, contrary to section 179C(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

    PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

    ADJENIM BOATENG ADJEI, 63 years, between circa June 2017 and circa August 2019 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region and within the jurisdiction of this Court, while holding a public office, viz the Chief Executive Officer of Public Procurement Authority and a member of the Governing Board of Public Procurement Authority, corruptly abused the office for private profit and benefit by improperly and unlawfully influencing the outcome of the public procurement process by conducting the procurement process and actively participating in the decision making process in respect of a public works contract awarded by the Ministry of Works and Housing for the construction of a concrete dam at Santa Maria in the Greater Accra Region through restricted tendering unfairly in favour of Talent Discovery Limited, without disclosing your interest as the majority shareholder and a Director of Talent Discovery Limited, and thereby obtaining a corrupt pecuniary benefit.

     

    COUNT TWO

    STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

    USING PUBLIC OFFICE FOR PROFIT, contrary to section 179C(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

    PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

    ADJENIM BOATENG ADJEI, 63 years, between circa June 2017 and circa August 2019 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region and within the jurisdiction of this Court, while holding a public office, viz the Chief Executive Officer of Public Procurement Authority and a member of the Governing Board of Public Procurement Authority, corruptly abused the office for private profit and benefit by improperly and unlawfully influencing the outcome of the public procurement process by conducting the procurement process and actively participating in the decision making process in respect of a public works contract awarded by the Ministry of Works and Housing for channel improvement works at Akatsi in the Volta Region through restricted tendering unfairly in favour of Talent Discovery Limited, without disclosing your interest as the majority shareholder and a Director of Talent Discovery Limited, and thereby obtaining a corrupt pecuniary benefit.

     

    COUNT THREE

    STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

    USING PUBLIC OFFICE FOR PROFIT, contrary to section 179C(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

    PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

    ADJENIM BOATENG ADJEI, 63 years, between circa June 2017 and circa August 2019 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region and within the jurisdiction of this Court, while holding a public office, viz the Chief Executive Officer of Public Procurement Authority and a member of the Governing Board of Public Procurement Authority, corruptly abused the office for private profit and benefit by improperly and unlawfully influencing the outcome of the public procurement process by conducting the procurement process and actively participating in the decision making process in respect of a public works contract awarded by the Ministry of Works and Housing for the renovation of Bungalow No. C41 at Roman Ridge in the Greater Accra Region through restricted tendering unfairly in favour of Talent Discovery Limited, without disclosing your interest as the majority shareholder and a Director of Talent Discovery Limited, and thereby obtaining a corrupt pecuniary benefit.

     

    COUNT FOUR

    STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

    USING PUBLIC OFFICE FOR PROFIT, contrary to section 179C(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

    PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

    ADJENIM BOATENG ADJEI, 63 years, between circa June 2017 and circa August 2019 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region and within the jurisdiction of this Court, while holding a public office, viz the Chief Executive Officer of Public Procurement Authority and a member of the Governing Board of Public Procurement Authority, corruptly abused the office for private profit and benefit by improperly and unlawfully influencing the outcome of the public procurement process by conducting the procurement process and actively participating in the decision making process in respect of a public works contract awarded by the Ministry of Works and Housing for the renovation of Bungalow No. 3A at Airport Residential Area in the Greater Accra Region through restricted tendering unfairly in favour of Talent Discovery Limited, a company in which you held the majority shares and held the position of director at all material times, and thereby obtaining a pecuniary benefit.

     

    COUNT FIVE

    STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

    USING PUBLIC OFFICE FOR PROFIT, contrary to section 179C(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

    PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

    ADJENIM BOATENG ADJEI, 63 years, between circa June 2017 and circa August 2019 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region and within the jurisdiction of this Court, while holding a public office, viz the Chief Executive Officer of Public Procurement Authority and a member of the Governing Board of Public Procurement Authority, corruptly abused the office for private profit and benefit by improperly and unlawfully influencing the outcome of the public procurement process by conducting the procurement process and actively participating in the decision making process in respect of a public works contract awarded by the Ministry of Education for the construction of a dormitory block at Collins Senior High School in the Asante Akyem North District in the Ashanti Region through restricted tendering unfairly in favour of Talent Discovery Limited, without disclosing your interest as the majority shareholder and a Director of Talent Discovery Limited, and thereby obtaining a corrupt pecuniary benefit.

     

    COUNT SIX

    STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

    USING PUBLIC OFFICE FOR PROFIT, contrary to section 179C(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

    PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

    ADJENIM BOATENG ADJEI, 63 years, between circa June 2017 and circa August 2019 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region and within the jurisdiction of this Court, while holding a public office, viz the Chief Executive Officer of Public Procurement Authority and a member of the Governing Board of Public Procurement Authority, corruptly abused the office for private profit and benefit by improperly and unlawfully influencing the outcome of the public procurement process by conducting the procurement process and actively participating in the decision making process in respect of a public works contract awarded by the Ministry of Education for the construction of a twelve-seater toilet at Tuobodom Senior High Technical School in the Techiman North District in the Bono Region through restricted tendering unfairly in favour of Talent Discovery Limited, without disclosing your interest as the majority shareholder and a Director of Talent Discovery Limited, and thereby obtaining a corrupt pecuniary benefit.

     

    COUNT SEVEN

    STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

    USING PUBLIC OFFICE FOR PROFIT, contrary to section 179C(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

    PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

    ADJENIM BOATENG ADJEI, 63 years, between circa June 2017 and circa August 2019 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region and within the jurisdiction of this Court, while holding a public office, viz the Chief Executive Officer of Public Procurement Authority and a member of the Governing Board of Public Procurement Authority, corruptly abused the office for private profit and benefit by improperly and unlawfully influencing the outcome of the public procurement process by conducting the procurement process and actively participating in the decision making process in respect of a public works contract awarded by the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives for the construction of four (4) dams/dug-outs in the Binduri Constituency in the Northern Region through restricted tendering unfairly in favour of Talent Discovery Limited, without disclosing your interest as the majority shareholder and a Director of Talent Discovery Limited, and thereby obtaining a corrupt pecuniary benefit.

     

    COUNT EIGHT

    STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

    USING PUBLIC OFFICE FOR PROFIT, contrary to section 179C(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

    PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

    ADJENIM BOATENG ADJEI, 63 years, between circa June 2017 and circa August 2019 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region and within the jurisdiction of this Court, while holding a public office, viz the Chief Executive Officer of Public Procurement Authority and a member of the Governing Board of Public Procurement Authority, corruptly abused the office for private profit and benefit by improperly and unlawfully influencing the outcome of the public procurement process by conducting the procurement process and actively participating in the decision making process in respect of a public works contract awarded by Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority for the supply and installation of a Mobile Column Lift for the Takoradi Port in the Western Region through restricted tendering unfairly in favour of Talent Discovery Limited, without disclosing your interest as the majority shareholder and a Director of Talent Discovery Limited, and thereby obtaining a corrupt pecuniary benefit.

     

    COUNT NINE

    STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

    USING PUBLIC OFFICE FOR PROFIT, contrary to section 179C(b) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

    PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

    FRANCIS KWAKU ARHIN, 50 years, between circa June 2017 and circa August 2019 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region and within the jurisdiction of this Court, while not being a holder of a public office, acted in collaboration with your brother-in-law, Adjenim Boateng Adjei, who was holding a public office, viz the Chief Executive Officer of Public Procurement Authority and a member of the Governing Board of Public Procurement Authority, for the said Adjenim Boateng Adjei to corruptly abuse the office for private profit and benefit by improperly and unlawfully influencing the outcome of the public procurement process by conducting the procurement process and actively participating in the decision making process in respect of the award of public works contracts through restricted tendering unfairly in favour of Talent Discovery Limited, a company in which you held the minority shares and held the position of Director and Chief Executive Officer at all material times, which you incorporated with the said Adjenim Boateng Adjei circa June 2017 for the said purpose, and thereby obtaining a pecuniary benefit.

     

    COUNT TEN

    STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

    DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY INFLUENCING THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO OBTAIN AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE IN THE AWARD OF A PROCUREMENT CONTRACT, contrary to section 92(2)(b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).

    PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

    ADJENIM BOATENG ADJEI, 63 years,  circa June 2017 and circa August 2019 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region and within the jurisdiction of this Court, employed your position as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Public Procurement Authority to directly and indirectly influence the procurement process by improperly and unlawfully conducting the procurement process and actively participating in the decision making process and thereby obtaining an unfair advantage in respect of a public works contract awarded by the Ministry of Works and Housing for the construction of a concrete dam at Santa Maria in the Greater Accra Region through restricted tendering to Talent Discovery Limited, without disclosing your interest as the majority shareholder and a Director of Talent Discovery Limited.

     

    COUNT ELEVEN

    STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

    DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY INFLUENCING THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO OBTAIN AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE IN THE AWARD OF A PROCUREMENT CONTRACT, contrary to section 92(2)(b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).

    PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

    ADJENIM BOATENG ADJEI, 63 years,  circa June 2017 and circa August 2019 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region and within the jurisdiction of this Court, employed your position as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Public Procurement Authority to directly and indirectly influence the procurement process by improperly and unlawfully conducting the procurement process and actively participating in the decision making process and thereby obtaining an unfair advantage in respect of a public works contract awarded by the Ministry of Works and Housing for channel improvement works at Akatsi in the Volta Region through restricted tendering to Talent Discovery Limited, without disclosing your interest as the majority shareholder and a Director of Talent Discovery Limited.

     

    COUNT TWELVE

    STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

    DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY INFLUENCING THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO OBTAIN AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE IN THE AWARD OF A PROCUREMENT CONTRACT, contrary to section 92(2)(b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).

    PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

    ADJENIM BOATENG ADJEI, 63 years,  circa June 2017 and circa August 2019 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region and within the jurisdiction of this Court, employed your position as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Public Procurement Authority to directly and indirectly influence the procurement process by improperly and unlawfully conducting the procurement process and actively participating in the decision making process and thereby obtaining an unfair advantage in respect of a public works contract awarded by the Ministry of Works and Housing for the renovation of Bungalow No. C41 at Roman Ridge in the Greater Accra Region through restricted tendering to Talent Discovery Limited, without disclosing your interest as the majority shareholder and a Director of Talent Discovery Limited.

     

    COUNT THIRTEEN

    STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

    DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY INFLUENCING THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO OBTAIN AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE IN THE AWARD OF A PROCUREMENT CONTRACT, contrary to section 92(2)(b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).

    PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

    ADJENIM BOATENG ADJEI, 63 years,  circa June 2017 and circa August 2019 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region and within the jurisdiction of this Court, employed your position as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Public Procurement Authority to directly and indirectly influence the procurement process by improperly and unlawfully actively conducting the procurement process and actively participating in the decision making process and thereby obtaining an unfair advantage in respect of a public works contract awarded by the Ministry of Works and Housing for the renovation of Bungalow No. 3A at Airport Residential Area in the Greater Accra Region through restricted tendering to Talent Discovery Limited, without disclosing your interest as the majority shareholder and a Director of Talent Discovery Limited.

     

    COUNT FOURTEEN

    STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

    DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY INFLUENCING THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO OBTAIN AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE IN THE AWARD OF A PROCUREMENT CONTRACT, contrary to section 92(2)(b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).

    PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

    ADJENIM BOATENG ADJEI, 63 years,  circa June 2017 and circa August 2019 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region and within the jurisdiction of this Court, employed your position as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Public Procurement Authority to directly and indirectly influence the procurement process by improperly and unlawfully conducting the procurement process and actively participating in the decision making process and thereby obtaining an unfair advantage in respect of a public works contract awarded by the Ministry of Education for the construction of a dormitory block at Collins Senior High School in the Asante Akyem North District in the Ashanti Region through restricted tendering to Talent Discovery Limited, without disclosing your interest as the majority shareholder and a Director of Talent Discovery Limited.

     

    COUNT FIFTEEN

    STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

    DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY INFLUENCING THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO OBTAIN AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE IN THE AWARD OF A PROCUREMENT CONTRACT, contrary to section 92(2)(b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).

    PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

    ADJENIM BOATENG ADJEI, 63 years,  circa June 2017 and circa August 2019 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region and within the jurisdiction of this Court, employed your position as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Public Procurement Authority to directly and indirectly influence the procurement process by improperly and unlawfully conducting the procurement process and actively participating in the decision making process and thereby obtaining an unfair advantage in respect of a public works contract awarded by the Ministry of Education for the construction of a twelve-seater toilet at Tuobodom Senior High Technical School in the Techiman North District in the Bono Region through restricted tendering to Talent Discovery Limited, without disclosing your interest as the majority shareholder and a Director of Talent Discovery Limited.

     

    COUNT SIXTEEN

    STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

    DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY INFLUENCING THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO OBTAIN AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE IN THE AWARD OF A PROCUREMENT CONTRACT, contrary to section 92(2)(b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).

    PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

    ADJENIM BOATENG ADJEI, 63 years,  circa June 2017 and circa August 2019 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region and within the jurisdiction of this Court, employed your position as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Public Procurement Authority to directly and indirectly influence the procurement process by improperly and unlawfully conducting the procurement process and actively participating in the decision making process and thereby obtaining an unfair advantage in respect of a public works contract awarded by the Ministry of Special Development Initiatives for the construction of four (4) dams/dug-outs in the Binduri Constituency in the Northern Region through restricted tendering to Talent Discovery Limited, without disclosing your interest as the majority shareholder and a Director of Talent Discovery Limited.

     

    COUNT SEVENTEEN

    STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

    DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY INFLUENCING THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO OBTAIN AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE IN THE AWARD OF A PROCUREMENT CONTRACT, contrary to section 92(2)(b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).

    PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

    ADJENIM BOATENG ADJEI, 63 years,  circa June 2017 and circa August 2019 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region and within the jurisdiction of this Court, employed your position as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Public Procurement Authority to directly and indirectly influence the procurement process by improperly and unlawfully conducting the procurement process and actively participating in the decision making process and thereby obtaining an unfair advantage in respect of a public works contract awarded by Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority for the supply and installation of a Mobile Column Lift for the Takoradi Port in the Western Region through restricted tendering to Talent Discovery Limited, without disclosing your interest as the majority shareholder and a Director of Talent Discovery Limited.

    COUNT EIGHTEEN

    STATEMENT OF OFFENCE

    DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY INFLUENCING THE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO OBTAIN AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE IN THE AWARD OF A PROCUREMENT CONTRACT, contrary to section 92(2)(b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).

    PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE

    ADJENIM BOATENG ADJEI, 63 years,  circa June 2017 and circa August 2019 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region and within the jurisdiction of this Court, employed your position as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Public Procurement Authority to directly and indirectly influence the procurement process by improperly and unlawfully conducting the procurement process and actively participating in the decision making process and altering the decision of the Governing Board of the Public Procurement Authority and thereby obtaining an unfair advantage in respect of a public works contract awarded by the Ministry of Education for the construction of a dormitory block at Savelugu Senior High School in the Savelugu-Nanton Municipality in the Northern Region through restricted tendering to Talent Discovery Limited, without disclosing your interest as the majority shareholder and a Director of Talent Discovery Limited.

    Dated at the Office of the Special Prosecutor, 6 Haile Selassie Avenue, South Ridge, Accra this Eighteenth day of May 2022. 

    Source: Graphic Online

  • NACOC seizes drugs at Kotoka International Airport, Woe

    Officers of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) have intercepted substances suspected to be narcotics in separate operations in Accra and Woe in the Volta Region.

    The first interception was made at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), where a 46-year-old woman who was travelling with a whitish substance suspected to be cocaine on her was arrested.

    The other was the seizure of 162 sacks of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis, after NACOC officers had raided a stash house at Woe, a town near Keta in the Anlo District in the Volta Region.

    Cocaine at KIA

    The arrest made at the KIA last Saturday involved a woman identified as Margret Wolo Maikplay, a Liberian, who was transiting through Ghana aboard an Asky Airline and was to fly to Doha-Bangkok via Qatar Airline.

    The suspect was picked up as she went through pre-transit formalities after it was detected that she had 30 thumb-size pellets of a whitish substance concealed under her breasts and in her private parts.

    According to NACOC officials, the substance intercepted, weighing 0.36kg, tested positive for cocaine after an initial field test on the day of the arrest

    Briefing the Daily Graphic on the arrests, the Manager of the Public Affairs and International Relations Department of NACOC, Francis Opoku Amoah, said during an initial interrogation, Ms Maikplay confessed having inserted some substance in her genitals.

    “She said she was contacted by one Oratha, a Liberian resident in Monrovia, who sponsored her travelling expenses to Thailand to deliver the drug to an unknown person in Thailand,” Mr Amoah explained.

    He also explained that the exhibit would be forwarded to the Ghana Standards Authority for further analytical examination, as part of further investigations, while the suspect would be arraigned.

    Illegal

    Mr Amoah stressed that trafficking in illicit drugs continued to be illegal in Ghana, and that NACOC remained resolute 1n its mandate and would work with other relevant state agencies to make it unprofitable to deal in drugs.

    He further warned that people who were arrested for breaching the law would be prosecuted according to the law.

    Woe raid, arrest warrant

    He said the raid at Woe was as a result of intelligence and surveillance work conducted by the commission.

    He explained that while the sacks of dried leaves, which weighed grossly 7153.51kg, were successfully seized, NACOC officials were still pursuing one Gideon Yao Kudzinawo, believed to be the owner of the consignment, and that a warrant had been issued to that effect.

    He encouraged the police to apprehend the said suspect and produce him before the Accra High Court.

    “Since March 15, NACOC has been pursuing Kudzinawo but it has not been successful.

    “A warrant has, therefore, been issued for his arrest for the possession and exportation of a narcotic substance, contrary to sections 36 and 37 of the Narcotics Control Commission Act 2020, Act 1019, and we continue to lay surveillance at the crime scene to ensure that the suspect is apprehended and brought to face the law,” Mr Amoah emphasised.

    Source: Graphic Online

  • Ghana issues travel advisory on Gao region in northeastern Mali

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has issued travel advice against all travel to the Gao region of Mali and surrounding areas.

    The Ministry said the advice was in view of recent abductions and executions of travellers especially Christians (including Ghanaians) in the region.

    The Ministry is a press release also urged all Ghanaians in the region to immediately leave the area for their safety and security.

    “Commercial transport operators and drivers who still ply the Gao route from Ghana are particularly advised, as a matter of urgency, to suspend all operations to that part of Mali,” the release said.

    “Ghanaians in the Gao Region are also advised to leave immediately for their safety and security. Those who, for any reason, are unable to leave are advised to minimise their movement, monitor developments in the local security situation and follow precautions based on their own best judgment.

    Caution

    The release said the Government of Ghana’s ability to facilitate the departure of Ghanaian nationals from the region was very limited, adding that those “who require assistance to leave should contact the following numbers: +223 71762020, +223 20295768 and +233 77807676”.

    “Those who choose to depart the Gao Region are advised to exercise the utmost caution as they move to a departure point, only when judged to be safe to do so”.

    Source: Graphic Online

  • Achimota forest to be revamped into a world-class asset Lands Minister

    The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has said plans are afoot to upgrade the Achimota Forest, into a world class asset.

    Addressing the press on Tuesday, the sector Minister emphasised that widespread reports about the supposed sale of the Forest are false and baseless, as government has no such plans.

    According to him, the government “intends to enrich the Achimota forest, revamp it and hopefully in the not too distant future, transform it into the likes of High Park of London and Central Park of New York, where Ghanaians can go and enjoy the beauty of nature and forest reserve as it happens in other parts of the world”.

    He, therefore, urged the public to disregard any reports about the sale of the forest.

    “So for the avoidance of doubt, neither President Akufo-Addo nor myself or his government intends to sell the Achimota forest or redevelop the Achimota forest as currently constituted,” he said.

    Achimota forest to be revamped into a world-class asset - Lands Minister

    Earlier on Tuesday, an eight-paged document was widely circulated on social media, which purported to mean that the classification of the Achimota Forest Reserve has been lifted to pave way for a possible redevelopment for other purposes.

    The Executive Instrument gazetted on behalf of President Akufo-Addo by the Lands Minister Samuel Abdulai Jinapor stipulated that effective May 1, 2022, the land on which the Forest is located shall cease to be a forest reserve, pursuant to Section 19 of the Forest Act, 1927 (CAP. 157).

    The cessation, per that document, was to be effective on May 1, 2022.

    President Akufo-Addo also ordered the creation of a master plan for the development of the land by the District Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority.

    The Authority was also tasked to take into consideration the protection of the ecological integrity of an adjoining forest reserve while preparing the master plan which would be approved by the Sector Minister.

    Source: MyJoyOnline.com

     

  • Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed dead: NDC signs book of condolence

    The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Johnson Asiedu Nketia on Tuesday, May 17, joined Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang to sign a book of condolence for the late Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Abu Dhabi.

    Mahama, NDC sign book of condolence for former Dubai president
    Mahama, NDC sign UAE book of condolence for former president

    Professor Opoku-Agyemang, signing the book of condolence on behalf of the former President said Mr Mahama “notes the inspiring legacy that His Highness has bequeathed to his people and the world”.

    She added, “may the family, government, and people be comforted, and may Allah grant him eternal rest”.

    Mahama, NDC sign book of condolence for former Dubai president
    Mahama, NDC sign UAE book of condolence for the former president

    On his part, Mr Asiedu Nketia wrote: “President Mahama and the entire NDC join our brothers and sisters of the UAE to mourn the demise of our great King. He has been a blessing, not only to the people of the UAE but, to humanity in general”.

    Mahama, NDC sign book of condolence for former Dubai president
    Mahama, NDC sign UAE book of condolence for former president

    Professor Opoku-Agyemang, who is the 2020 Vice Presidential candidate of the NDC, and a former Minister for Education was also accompanied by the Director of International Relations of the NDC, Alex Segbefia.

    Mahama, NDC sign book of condolence for former Dubai president
    Johnson Asiedu-Nketia

    Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan died on May 13, and has since been buried in line with Islamic customs.

    Mahama, NDC sign book of condolence for former Dubai president
    Mahama, NDC sign UAE book of condolence for former president
    Mahama, NDC sign book of condolence for former Dubai president
    Mahama, NDC sign UAE book of condolence for former president

    Source: MyJoyOnline.com  

  • Ghana Armed Forces releases notice for 2022 enlistment

    The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has commenced the 2022 enlistment process for Regular Career Course and Short Service Commission Officers.

    Details for enlistment have been advertised in the Monday, May 16, 2022 edition of the Daily Graphic.

    Scratch cards for the online application are on sale at GH¢300 at Ghana Post offices across the country.

    The portal for the online application, http://apply.mil.gh, has also been activated.

    The closing date for the online submission is Sunday, July 10, 2022.

    A statement signed by the Director of Public Relations, Ghana Navy, Captain Michael Addo Larbi, cautioned interested applications to be wary of persons who pose as middlemen with the promise to help them join the Forces.

    It said the GAF did not employ middlemen or charge fees for enlistment and advised applicants to desist from paying money to such persons.

    It said individuals who presented themselves as middlemen, intermediaries or agents demanding payment to assist any candidate(s) should be reported to the nearest Military Installation or Police Station.

    It said interested applicants who chose to pay monies to agents for help were equally culpable in the fraudulent act.

    See the full statement below:

    New 2022 GAF Enlistment by The Independent Ghana on Scribd

     

     

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Traders in Sunyani Municipal Assembly at risk of eviction over non payment of rent

    Traders in the Sunyani Municipal Assembly’s Nana Bosoma Market are at risk of being evicted due to non-payment of rent.

    A shop in the market is rented for GH20 per month, but the occupants have refused to pay.

    The tenants, according to the Assembly, owe up to GH800,000.

    Mr Ansu Kumi, the Municipal Chief Executive for Sunyani East Assembly, devised a beneficial payment arrangement to relieve the traders’ burden, but the majority of traders refused to pay.

    “You will be surprised to note that as we speak, the amount the Assembly charges for these stores monthly is GH20. Most of them have refused to pay. I have had a series of meetings with the leadership of those occupying the stores. The assembly agreed that we need to start from somewhere. So, every one who occupies this store needs to pay GH1000 – at least part of the debt so we can begin on a fresh page. This one too, most of them decided not to pay,” he told Citinews.

    Tenants who are unable to pay their debt, Mr Kumi said, will have their stores seized by the Assembly.

    “We decided that we will pursue this matter vigorously with all the seriousness that it deserves. We are giving them a month and this is an ultimatum I am giving – that we are giving them a month and whoever owes the assembly, we will seize the stores from them.”

    Mr Ansu Gyeabour Agyiri, Secretary for Nana Bosoma Market Tenants Group says the Assembly has been unable to meet some of their demands.

    “We told the Assembly to get money and give a face-lift to the market but they told us they do not have that money.

    “We agreed that we will pay GH1000 so that they can use that money to improve security here and also produce toilet and other facilities here. But they gave us up to the end of February…”

    He stated that the Assembly and traders had yet to meet to discuss the matter.

    He claimed that due to the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana’s strike, the Group was unable to meet with the Assembly (CLOGSAG).

    Source: The Independent Ghana