TIG Post

Author: Persis

  • Calm restored to Lamashegu

    The Lamashegu Na, Zinlim Abdulai has called for an end to Police brutalities in Lamashegu in particular and Dagbon in general. 

    The Chief, who was visibly angry, warned that recent attacks on residents could erode the gains made in bringing lasting peace to Dagbon and therefore the Police must rise up and put their House in order.

    The Lamashegu Na expressed these sentiments when the Northern Regional Security Council called on him at his Palace. 

    The visit was among other things to commiserate with the Chiefs and people of the area for the February 13, 2022 clash between residents and the Police.

    The clash left one person dead and at least eight others injured. The Lamashegu Na called for justice for the victims of the shooting incident. Correspondent Murtala Issah reports that the Ghana Police Service has interdicted six officers who were involved with the shooting incident.

    Although calm has been restored- Security is beefed up in Lamashegu and its adjoining communities, in Tamale in Northern Region.

    Source: gbcghanaonline.com

  • Police to hold mass burial for 300 unidentified bodies

    The Ghana Police Hospital is set to embark on a mass burial for three Hundred (300) unidentified and unclaimed bodies.

    This is part of its routine measures to decongest the Hospital Mortuary.

    According to the police, these unidentified and unclaimed bodies are made up of mostly paupers, unknown former patients, abandoned bodies, unidentified accident and crime victims.

    In a statement, the Police urged the General Public to contact the Pathology Department of Police Hospital for identification of the persons who might have not been seen for some time as part of the search.
    “This is to avert a situation whereby such bodies are added to those earmarked for the mass burial after Twenty-One (21) days from this announcement,” the police added.

    Meanwhile, the Police also encouraged the public acquire the habit of always having an identification card on them to help police and others easily identify them whenever they are in any health crisis or involved in an accident.

    Source: atinkaonline.com

  • Sulley Muntari gets standing ovation in Hearts of Oak vs RTU draw

    Former Black Stars midfielder Sulley Muntri received applause from both Hearts of Oak and RTU supporters when he came off the pitch after playing 78 minutes for the Phobians in his first start after signing for the defending league champions.

    Muntari has been hogging the headlines after joining Hearts of Oak for the remainder of the league campaign.

    The former AC Milan star came off the bench in his first game for the Phobians last week but his presence was not enough as Hearts of Oak lost to Great Olympics in Accra in the Ga Mashie derby.

    On Sunday, the Champions League winner started his first game for the league champions and was impressive in the 78 minutes that he was on the pitch.

    At 37 years old, not many expect him to play a lot of minutes but he brought his experience to bear and tried to help his side beat RTU in Tamale.

    The game, however, ended goalless with Hearts winless in their last two games.

    While being substituted, both sets of supporters were on their feet to applaud him off and he wave right back in appreciation of the love and respect he was getting.

    Hearts will next meet league leaders Asante Kotoko at the Accra sports stadium in what is expected to be a cracking game.

    It waits to be seen if Muntari will start in that game come next Sunday.

    Source: ghanasoccernet.com

  • Jomoro MP has two dates of birth Petitioner tells court


    In a case challenging the nationality of the Member of Parliament for Jomoro Constituency, the petitioner has told the Sekondi Takoradi High Court that Dorcas Affo-Toffey has two dates of birth.

    Joshua Emuah Kofie of Nuba-Mpataba in the Jomoro Constituency last year filed a suit challenging the Jomoro MP to produce evidence of her renounced dual citizenship.

    According to the petitioner, Dorcas Affo-Toffey was not qualified to contest in the 2020 parliamentary elections as she bore dual citizenship at the time.

    In the petitioner’s case, the MP holds a Ghanaian passport with the number G2192584, issued in Accra on October 9, 2018, with her date of birth stated as May 4, 1972.

    Joshua Emuah Kofie again states that the Jomoro MP also holds an Ivorian passport with number 18AR54825 issued on July 27, 2018, with her date of birth and place of birth stated as May 4, 1971, and Adzope in the Ivory Coast, respectively.

    The petitioner said the MP, who is the first respondent, initially held an Ivorian passport with the number 16AK13363 issued on January 19, 2017, but she declared it as missing on July 26, 2018.

    The first respondent subsequently applied and was issued with a new passport with number 18AR154825, on which she changed her profession from student to entrepreneur.

    This was stated in a response by the petitioner to the MPs amended answer filed at the High Court pursuant to leave of the court dated January 25, 2022.

    Dorcas Affo-Toffey, having initially filed a response to the request to produce evidence of her citizenship renunciation to the court, applied to amend her answer at the court’s last sitting.

    As granted by the court, she accordingly filed her amended answer stating that at the time of filing her nomination forms to contest the parliamentary election, she was only Ghanaian.

    She explained that by Article 48 of the nationality code and law of the identification of persons of the Ivory Coast, once a person holding an Ivorian nationality expresses an interest in not being an Ivorian national again, in order to become a national of another country, the person forfeits their Ivorian nationality.

    She stated that in 2019, before filing her nomination forms to contest the December 2020 parliamentary elections, she had officially written to the Ivorian authorities informing them that she forthwith ceased to be an Ivorian national.

    “Therefore, by the operation of Article 48 of the nationality code of Ivory Coast, I ceased to be an Ivorian national in compliance with Article 94 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution to contest the Jomoro seat,” she noted.

    However, the petitioner, in response to the respondent’s answer, maintained that she never renounced her Ivorian nationality in 2019.

    According to the petitioner, the claim by the first respondent was disingenuous and an afterthought.

    He contended that even if the first respondent submitted any such letter as alleged, the mere submission of any such letter did not strip the MP of her Ivorian nationality.

    “At the time the MP filed her nomination forms, she was a full-fledged Ivorian national and thus owed allegiance to that country,” he stated.

    “She was therefore not qualified to contest the 2020 parliamentary elections,” the petitioner stressed.

    The court is yet to fix a new date for the hearing of the case.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Malian soldiers killed in jihadist attack

    Two Malian soldiers have been killed in an attack blamed on jihadists.

    The attack was on the Niafunké post in central Mali on Sunday morning.

    Five of the militants were killed during the attack.

    The Malian army, which has been struggling to contain a jihadist insurgency, has been carrying out an operation to destroy jihadist bases.

    Former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita was ousted by the military in 2020 after being accused of failing in the fight against the insurgency.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Namibian medic awarded for her passion for patients

    A Namibian doctor has been awarded for offering free online consultation to people during the coronavirus pandemic.

    Dr Esperance Luvindao won the Commonwealth Points of Light award for offering 44,000 sessions.

    “I am beyond thrilled and we are honoured to accept the award! Like I always say, we do not do the work in order to be awarded but to be awarded for doing the work we love is a different kind of blessing,” she said.

    Dr Luvindao is a senior medical doctor from Windhoek.

    She has done community service and has been outspoken on local media about patient care.

    Dr Luvindao worked in northern Namibia where her passion to reach out to marginalised communities started.

    She discovered patients were travelling 50km (31 miles) with a poor transport network to access medical centres.

    Dr Luvindao also started the “1 Step at A Time” initiative that helped purchase medical equipment for village health practices, reaching thousands of patients in remote areas.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Mozambique drops pupils’ textbook over sex topics

    Mozambique is withdrawing from its education curriculum a book for 12-year-old grade seven pupils containing some controversial subjects on sexuality.

    The natural sciences book addresses subjects such as masturbation and sexual orientation.

    The education ministry says the book has been in use from 2004 but these topics “generating controversy in society” will no longer be taught.

    Teaching issues on sexuality to young people is for some communities in Mozambique being considered a taboo.

    Some also believe that sex education for children at this age group may promote premature marriages and early pregnancies.

    The book will be replaced next year but the education ministry has urged schools “not to address these issues”.

    “We talked to the publisher to remove that page”, said Ismael Nheze, the director of the National Institute of Education Development.

    Source: bbc.com

  • #Fixthecountry supporters mass up at Ashaiman Police Station

    Officers of the Formed Police Unit and Striking force have reportedly been dispatched to the Ashaiman Police station after some supporters of the arrested leader of the FIXTHECOUNTRY movement began massing up at the station.

    The officers are to ensure peace and order at the station.

    Meanwhile, Oliver Barker-Vormawo who was arrested on Friday night upon arrival from the UK is expected to be put before court today, Monday, February 14, 2022.

    He is reportedly on a hunger strike.

    According to a Police statement, the convener of the pressure group was arrested for threatening to stage a coup in Ghana on social media.

    The statement said his “post contained a clear statement of intent with a possible will to execute a coup in his declaration of intent to subvert the constitution of the Republic.”

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Dampare being used to execute ‘senseless arrest of journalists’ – Bobie’s lawyer



    Edudzi Kudzo Tamekloe, lawyer for Accra FM journalist, Kwabena Bobie Ansah, has expressed vindication in his call for people to moderate their praise for Inspector-General of Police, George Akuffo-Dampare.

    According to him, the recent arrests of which he considered ‘senseless,’ was a sign that the IGP was now receiving ‘direct calls from above,’ insinuating that he is being influenced by political players.

    Edudzi was commenting on the arrest specifically of his client in a Facebook post dated February 11, 2022.

    The post read as follows: “I told people from the beginning to be moderate in the praise of IGP, Dr Dampare. 

    “Well, the senseless arrests of journalists are happening under his command with direct calls from above. Look at the complainants. Big men,” he stated.

    In another post, he called on the First Lady to sue for defamation if she is so minded and to ask the Police to quit the criminal processes if she is not responsible for the complaint that led to the arrest.

    His post read: I am so disappointed that our First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo Addo would want to use the police for this purpose. “If Mrs Rebecca Akufo Addo believes that she has not fraudulently acquire any land in Cantonments, as a private citizen, she can sue for defamation. 

    This is the lowest in the desperate attempt to suppress the media. So now any alleged false publication is criminal?

    “If Mrs Rebecca Akufo Addo is not responsible for the arrest and detention of Bobie Ansah, she must call the regime IGP, Dr Dampare to release him forthwith,” he added

    Brief about the Bobie vs. State case: 

    Kwabena Bobie Ansah was arrested on Thursday, February 10 for making unsubstantiated allegations against the First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, and wife of the Vice President, Samira Bawumia. 

    The journalist accused the duo of “fraudulently granting themselves state lands at AU Village, around the Kotoka International Airport for the construction of [the] Rebecca Foundation, a non-governmental project”.

    The broadcaster, per the police charge sheet made the allegations on January 1, 2022. However, investigations into the matter revealed that it was false.

    He has been charged with the publication of false news and offensive conduct following which a Kaneshie District Court granted him a GH¢50,000 bail with two sureties.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Stop return to criminal libel regime CSOs to Attorney General

    Some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the country have called on the Attorney-General to ensure that the country does not return to a “criminal libel regime.”

    This follows the recent arrests of journalists and the prosecution of persons for making or publishing certain statements.

    According to the CSOs, the use of criminal law enforcement and prosecution to regulate and punish speech will take the country through another criminal libel regime.

    A statement issued by the CSOs and co-signed by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), IMANI Africa, and the Africa Centre for International Law & Accountability (ACILA), said: “We are deeply troubled by the growing use of the prosecutorial and judicial power of the State to punish criminally speech that allegedly falsely injures or damages the reputation of other persons or of an institution of state.”

    The statement continued that: “As a tool for regulating speech, the criminal law is fraught with the danger of politicisation and selective prosecution, as it leaves it to a party-aligned Attorney-General, an appointee who serves at the pleasure of the President, to determine which or whose allegedly false speech or publication to prosecute and which or whose speech to ignore.”

    The CSO emphasised that: “A return to the use of criminal law enforcement and prosecution to regulate and punish speech would take us back to a bygone authoritarian era where journalists and public speakers were jailed for politically disagreeable libel.”

    The CSOs, therefore, called for the discontinuation of the case against the Executive Director of the Alliance For Social Equity and Public Accountability (ASEPA), Mensah Thompson.

    “We implore the Attorney-General to discontinue the prosecution of Mr Thompson and take steps to stop all persons acting under his authority from re-introducing in another guise the long-discredited and abolished criminal libel regime.”

    It also urged “media practitioners and users to tone down the inflammatory rhetoric that has contaminated our public square and airwaves, desist from knowingly or recklessly making or publishing false statements, and use, to the extent possible, the Right to Information Act and its processes to access information from public authorities.”

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • NPA outlaws table top fuel stations, wages war to prevent disaster

    The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has cautioned “table-top fuel station” operators to desist from the illegal practice before the law catches up with them.

    According to the authority, the practice is illegal and a recipe for disaster. The illegal trade is rife in rural communities across the country.

    The Chief Executive Officer of NPA, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, who gave the warning, noted that fuel safety from such illegal stations could not be guaranteed because they are mostly found to be adulterated.

    He, therefore, cautioned the public to boycott such fuel stations in order not to cause damage to their vehicles.

    Dr Abdul-Hamid said this when he interacted with journalists in Sunyani on Friday as part of a working visit to the Bono Region to acquaint himself with firsthand information on activities of the sector.

    The authority, he said, since its establishment had made incremental progress in perfecting the regulatory regime and framework to police the industry to meet international best practices and standards.

    The industry. which initially had about 20 oil marketing companies (OMCs), now has over 200, including Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), an indication of exponential growth in the downstream petroleum sector, he said.

    Dr Abdul-Hamid said the authority had worked hard to ensure high and quality standards in the recent past through the introduction of electric cargo tracking and the automatic tank gauging systems, among other interventions.

    “It is the responsibility of the authority to regulate the industry and ensure petroleum products delivered to the final consumer are efficiently authenticated,” he said, adding that companies who fell short of the set minimum benchmark are sanctioned.

    He called on the municipal and district assemblies to collaborate with the relevant institutions and regulatory bodies to ensure fuel filling stations were set up in a hazardous-free environment.

    Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh

  • Military takeover not the way to go – Deputy defence minister



    Deputy Defence Minister, Kofi Amankwa-Manu has said coups, as being talked about by some faction in public, cannot lead to the development of the country.

    He said Ghana can only develop through the sharing of ideas and persons calling for military coup are ignorant of its consequences.

    “I do not think it (coup) is the way to go, we want to develop this country and we can develop this country, not through coups. We can develop this country by sharing ideas.

    “It is worrying more especially when we have people who are supposed to know better who talking calling for coups. Sometimes I wonder if those who are calling for coups have really experienced coups in Ghana or in other countries within the sub-region,” the defence minister told the media on the side-lines of an empowerment programme for the youth of Atwima Kwanwoma.

    He, however, noted that the military is ready to defend the country in the likelihood of any disturbance.

    “I would take every opportunity to ensure every Ghanaian living in this country called Ghana to go about their normal duties without any fear because I have so much confidence in our men in uniform. They are prepared to protect this country from those that we call the destroyers,” he added.

    Kofi Amankwa-Manu, who is also the member of parliament for Atwima Kwanwoma, said current happenings in parliament were not the best, adding that the house is not a boxing arena.

    “We can also disagree to agree. That is why I thought it was in bad taste when the general secretary of the NDC said that if they want to make sure that whatever the standing orders were working and they have to slap for those laws to work they would slap,” he said.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Two cops, four civilians dead in head-on collision

    Two Police officers, three male civilians and a female passenger on Sunday, 13 January 2022, died on the spot in a fatal accident on the Asikuma-Kpeve highway.

    On Sunday at about 8:15 am, Mr Asupah Kwame, 25, driver of a Ford transit bus with registration No. GJ 729-21 with 17 passengers on board travelling from Accra to Kpassa on reaching a section of the road between Asikuma and Peki on the Asikuma -Kpeve highway burst a tyre.

    The vehicle veered into the opposite lane and crashed head-on with an Apsonic motorbike with registration No. M-22 VR 4 ridden by General Constable Richard Dadzie with pillion rider G/Cpl. Evans Quansah, all of Peki Police Station who were on their way to the Police checkpoint at Opokuase near Asikuma junction.

    The vehicle and the motorbike somersaulted and landed in the offside bush when facing Peki direction.

    The two Police officers, three male and one female passenger on board the ford transit bus, died on the spot.

    The injured passengers on board the vehicle, including the driver, were rushed to the Peki Government Hospital for medical attention.

    Meanwhile, the bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the same hospital morgue for identification, preservation and autopsy.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • #Fixthecountry supporters mass up at Ashaiman Police station

    Officers of the Formed Police Unit and Striking force have reportedly been dispatched to the Ashaiman Police station after some supporters of the arrested leader of the FIXTHECOUNTRY movement began massing up at the station.

    The officers are to ensure peace and order at the station.

    Meanwhile, Oliver Barker-Vormawo who was arrested on Friday night upon arrival from the UK is expected to be put before court today, Monday, February 14, 2022.

    He is reportedly on hunger strike.

    According to a Police statement, the convener of the pressure group was arrested for threatening to stage a coup in Ghana on social media.

    The statement said his “post contained a clear statement of intent with a possible will to execute a coup in his declaration of intent to subvert the constitution of the Republic.”

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Manasseh reacts to Oliver Barker-Vormawors arrest

    Investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure has stated that the arrest of Oliver Barker-Vormawor was expected owing to his coup comment and circumstances surrounding same.

    According to Manasseh, it would have been irresponsible on the part of the state if it had not taken action over the comment made by the #FixTheCountry convener.

    “We can disagree on whether Ghana needs a coup or not. But we must agree that no responsible state will sit aloof if a leader of a youth movement calls the army “useless” and declares his intention to do a coup if a certain bill is passed,” Manasseh posted on Facebook.

    Oliver Barker-Vormawor, a convener for the #FixTheCountry Movement, recently hinted that he will organize a coup in the country if Parliament passes the Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy).

    He described the army as useless whilst commenting on some viral photos and videos of an E-Levy cake presented to the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, during his 65th birthday.

    In a post on his Facebook timeline, the activist wrote:
    “If this E-Levy passes after this Cake bullshit, I will do the coup myself. Useless Army!”

    The Ghana Police Service on Saturday morning confirmed the arrest of Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor, adding that he will be arraigned before the court on Monday, February 14, 2022.

    According to reports, the activist was picked up by security officers at the Kotoka International Airport upon his arrival in the country on Friday night.

    In a statement signed by the Director-General of Public Affairs, DCOP Kwesi Ofori, the police said the activist was arrested based on the social media post he made.

    fixture

    “Mr. Oliver Mawuse Barker-Vormawor has been arrested by the Tema Regional Police Command following a post he allegedly made on a social media platform to the effect that he would stage a coup himself if the E-levy Bill is passed by Parliament.

    “The post contained a clear statement of intent with a possible will to execute a coup in his declaration of intent to subvert the constitution of the Republic of Ghana. He will be arraigned before the court on Monday, February 14, 2022,” parts of the statement read.

    In another post on his Facebook page, Manasseh Azure said “there are times the state gets it wrong. Sometimes, the citizens get it wrong too.”

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Bawumia’s advance convoy in deadly accident

    An advance team of the convoy of Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Friday night crashed at Kablipe, a village after Buipe.

    The team was on its way to Tamale.

    According to preliminary reports, the vehicle in which the military officers were travelling veered off the main road that links Buipe to Tamale and ran into some wood lots.

    The driver, who has been identified as Sergeant Zorwunu, died on the spot.

    The other officers on-board Major Hansen Adu Kofi and Captain Badawe Sabastian sustained serious injuries.

    They were rushed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital, where they are receiving urgent treatment.

    The accident comes a day after Vice President Bawumia took over the reigns of the country following the 10-day trip of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    Source: 3news.com

  • Bobie Ansah to be put before court Police


    The Ghana Police Service says it will be putting Kwabena Bobie Ansah before a court today, Friday, February 11, 2022.

    The Accra FM late-night political talk show host was arrested on Thursday and passed the night at the Nima Police Station in Accra.

    In a statement signed by the Head of Public Affairs Unit of the Accra Police Command, DSP Juliana Obeng, the police said the arrest of the journalist was in connection with his failure to “honour police invitations following a case of publication of false news reported against him.”

    The police noted that the suspect “on January 11, 2022, while hosting the Citizen Show on Accra FM, together with three others, allegedly made several statements against some individuals.” 

    According to the police, while its investigations into the said allegations made by Bobie Ansah and his guests established same to be false, several attempts to get the journalist and his guests to honour an invitation to assist in investigations failed, hence his arrest.

    “The suspect will be put before court today. Meanwhile, efforts are being made to arrest the other suspects,” the police added.

    Meanwhile, a video of the January 11, 2022 show hosted by Bobie Ansah as sighted by GhanaWeb indicates the said allegations by the journalist and his guests were made against the first lady of the Republic, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo.

    Bobie Ansah, during the show, accused the first lady of appropriating state lands to herself for the use of her private foundation.

    “Do you know that Rebecca Akufo-Addo and Samira have appropriated for themselves the aviation lands?” he questioned in a short video of the programme obtained by GhanaWeb.

    “As I speak to you today, there are Chinese nationals working on the aviation lands that were acquired by Kwame Nkrumah for the state for the expansion of the aviation sector for its growth. Rebecca Akufo-Addo has had the guts to apportion the state land to herself and is putting up a project in the name of her foundation an NGO,” he added

    While raving about the allegations, Bobie Ansah, who is known to be an ardent critic of President Akufo-Addo, further accused the first lady of joining the president in what he described as thievery and corruption.

    “I used to think it was Akufo-Addo and his family members alone who were doing evil to the nation, but the woman has also joined. Per documents I have received… the bad and evil she wants to do to the nation.. the thing is Rebecca is a thief,” his rant was interrupted by one of the guests on the show who was prompting him to exercise restraint in his comment.

    While Bobie Ansah was being prompted by one of the guests, the remaining two of the three guests urged him on.

    The show then continued with the host showing a video of the supposed project site of the alleged Rebecca Foundation construction.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • E-Levy: Their track record does not support what they want to use funds for – Sam George


    The Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George, has stated that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo have failed to earn the trust of Ghanaians in the management of the public purse. 

    He explained that in the real sense of the word, the NPP has not proven to Ghanaians why they should continually help it make money that never gets used for what they were promised. 

    Speaking to GhanaWeb on the sidelines of the Yentua Demonstration that was organized by the youth wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and other groups to register their abhorrence to the controversial 1.7% Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy), he said the explanations being given by the government do not suffice. 

    “First and foremost, they say they’re going to use the E-Levy to build hospitals. How many hospitals has he built from the 300 billion he’s borrowed? You had Year of Roads 1, Year of Roads 2, how many roads were built? How much can less than a billion dollars do for us in terms of hospitals and roads? It’s impossible!

    “And so, when they tell you that this is going to be used to do infrastructure, it is not true: their track record does not support what it is that they claim they’re going to use the money for,” he said. 

    Sam Nartey George further explained that the more reason the NPP cannot be trusted with the E-Levy is because they have not shown faith with how earlier funds were managed. 

    “We have seen similar funds, we have seen the dissipation of road funds, we have seen the abuse of those funds. We cannot trust the NPP; they do not have a track record of trust when it comes to [the] management of the public purse,” he said. 

    Thousands of Ghanaians spotting red colours poured onto the streets of Accra on Thursday, February 10, 2022, to participate in the march through some principal streets of Accra. 

    The march ended at the Parliament House of Ghana, where a petition was presented to the Speaker of Parliament but was received on his behalf by the Majority Chief Whip and the Minority Leader in Parliament, Frank Annoh-Dompreh and Haruna Iddrisu, respectively.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • E-levy will no longer be withdrawn Majority

    The Majority in Parliament has backtracked on an earlier announcement in the business of the House that the Finance Minister will withdraw and reintroduce the Electronic Transfer Levy Bill.

    At the end of the business week on Friday, February 4, the statement read: 

    “Finance Minister has therefore given indication after his nationwide engagement with the citizenry on the Bill of the likelihood of the withdrawal of the Bill and the reintroduction of same on Friday, 11th February 2022 barring any unforeseen circumstances.

    “Speaker, after the withdrawal and reintroduction of the Bill, the Business Committee would programme the Bill for consideration during the course of the Fourth Week of this meeting and members are therefore encouraged to participate fully in the consideration of the Bill for the passing of good piece of legislation for the benefit of all,” the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin had said.

    The Effutu Member of Parliament on Friday, February 11 said this will no longer be the case as advertised.

    Besides, Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta is still on tour with the regional townhall meetings on the e-levy, he hinted.

    Source: 3news.com

  • You can’t oppress people because you feel offended by them Mahama to Akufo-Addo



    Former President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned President Nana Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo against the oppression of people he (Akufo-Addo) feels have offended him.

    The ex-president said Akufo-Addo could not continue to criminalise statements against him since offensive speech is a civil issue.

    In a statement shared on his Facebook page, Mahama said,

    “President Akufo-Addo, you cannot continue to oppress the people, criminalise speech when these matters are essentially civil in nature; if you feel offended by them.

    “I am appalled at the growing criminalisation of speech and journalism in Ghana under your watch in this 21st century.”

    The ex-president went on to list some actions by journalists that were wrongly criminalised, including the detention of radio and TV presenter Captain Smart and the recent arrest of radio presenter Oheneba Boamah Bennie who allegedly made offensive statements against the first family.

    He lamented the silence of the senior journalists, the Ghana Journalist Association, and leaders of the various faith-based organisation in the country on frequent abuse of journalists by the government.

    “It is even more sad that the Journalists Association and its senior members, many of our clergy and other moral leaders, scared because of the oppressive and dictatorial regime you are running, have remained quiet in the face of this disturbing development in our maturing democracy,” he said.

    “This is a dangerous blueprint you are fashioning for our dear nation, and it must not be encouraged. Your actions as president have totally discredited your self-acquired accolade as a human rights lawyer and activist. Ghana has long emerged from the unfortunate past where journalists were cowed by incarceration and brutalisation,” he added.



    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • I will resign if anyone proves otherwise – Akim Swedru MP boasts of Akufo-Addo’s road achievements



    The Chairman for Roads and Transport Committee of parliament who doubles as MP for Akim Swedru constituency, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, has ardently stated that President Akufo-Addo is the only president who has been able to construct 3,600/km roads within his first four years in government.

    He indicated that he would resign if anyone brings evidence of any government constructing more roads than Akufo-Addo in its first four years.

    Addressing the media in parliament, he said “It has never happened in the history of this country for a government to construct more roads in his first term in office. I challenge any government who has constructed more roads in his first term than Akufo-Addo’s government, to come out with a proof and I will resign as a member of parliament for Akim Swedru.”

    His statement follows an approval of a two hundred million (€200,000,000.00) contract between the government of Ghana and BNIP – Janson of Netherlands, for the construction of a bridge over river Volta at Adawso-Ekyi Amanfrom, and an additional €150,000,000.00 for the construction of 121/km road from Bunso to Adawso

    The Chairman explained that the bridge, when completed, will be the longest bridge in West Africa. He added that the 3.0km-long-2-lane bridge, it will take (36) months for completion.

    The objective of the project, he said, is to enhance productivity in the agriculture sector in the Afram plains as it is a food basket to the nation.

    He expressed his profound gratitude for government for awarding such projects to benefit the good people of Donkorkrom.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Morocco to survey all wells after Rayan tragedy

    The Moroccan authorities have decided to survey all abandoned wells across the country after a trapped young boy died in a valiant but unsuccessful rescue attempt last week. 

    Rayan’s plight at the bottom of a narrow 32m ((104ft) deep borehole gripped millions in Morocco and beyond. 

    A water ministry official, Abdelaziz Zerouali, said the survey was designed to prevent a repeat of the tragedy. 

    He said those who dug wells that flouted regulations would be required to pay to make them safe. 

    He added that more than 1,000 Moroccans a year were already being punished for illegal drilling.

    Source: bbc

  • Teachers to petition international bodies against One teacher, One laptop initiative

    The All Teachers Alliance has served notice to petition international organizations to ensure that labour disrespect of teachers is stopped in Ghana.

    They said in a statement that their attention had been drawn to a letter emanating from the Ghana Education Service (GES) referenced GES/HQ/SDTU/11/22 inviting teachers to ICT training.

    According to them, the GES said the invitation is within the one teacher, one laptop initiative.

    “The letter is opining that per the initiative every teacher is to undergo some basic ICT training to help them use the various e-learning resources that have been made available on the laptops. KA Technologies according to GES is mandated to carry out the training which will be done online (online workshop) for teachers. According to GES, the online workshop will attract CPD points, certification and assessment.

    “We in the All Teachers Alliance Ghana (ATAG) find this invitation to be preposterous, machiavellian and uncalled for as our employer is bent to subject teachers to ridicule, labour rape and unsubstantiated actions,” their statement said.

    Therefore, they added “We will petition the President of Ghana and other international organizations on this matter and ensure that labour disrespect of teachers discontinues in this country”.

    Source: theheraldghana.com

  • He who hires, fires Security expert on dismissal of Airport MD

    Security and Fraud Consultant, Richard Kumadoe, has questioned the government under whose authority state appointees are appointed and dismissed.

    He posited that the latest directive for the removal of the Managing Director of the Ghana Airport Company Limited is among other corporate governance issues that hinder the development of the country and Africa at large.

    The consultant believes the president has the power to sanction appointees, but the process was contradictory and problematic.

    Speaking to Don Kwabena Prah on Happy98.9 FM’s Epa Hoa Daben political talk show, Mr Kumadoe indicated, “I’ve seen the letter, but it is very unclear to me when it comes to the appointment and approval or dismissal of the appointment of the Airport MD. Whose responsibility is it to take that decision? Will it be the responsibility of the Board Chairman to sack the MD? Or the responsibility of the Minister to sack the MD. 

    “Then if it was the Minister’s responsibility to sack the MD, why was the MD not given a straightforward letter than to direct it to Board Chairman. So corporate governance issues in Africa, predominantly Ghana with this recent incidence, will be one of the test cases they must run with. Other than that, ‘He who hires, fires. Therefore, once you’re hired by somebody, you can be fired for whatever reason.”

    The security expert also identified that the letter failed to include a reason for the Airport MD’s dismissal. He believes that such failure to exempt the cause of his dismissal would allow political activists and conspiracy theorists to feed on that and deduce personal reasons for the public.

    “Another relevant thing I noted from the letter was that it didn’t provide any reason for his dismissal. Leaving such a letter vacant will only allow other conspirators and political activists to feed on politics as usual,” he stated.

    Richard Kumadoe’s comments come at the back of the recent directive from the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) through the Transport Minister, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, to terminate the appointment of the Managing Director of the GACL, Mr Yaw Kwakwa.

    Meanwhile, Mr Yaw Kwakwa has expressed surprise at his dismissal and indicated that he was unaware of the latest happenings, as it awaits official correspondent to that effect.

    “I don’t know what you are talking about. My appointment has not been terminated, so if you have any evidence… I don’t know about it, but when I get to that bridge, I will cross it,” Mr Kwakwa told the media when he was asked about his dismissal.

    Source: happyghana.com

  • Ghanaians dont feel government has handled the economy well Jantuah

    The Chief Executive Officer of the African Energy Consortium, Kwame Jantuah, has indicated that the people of Ghana have trust issues when it comes to how revenues to be generated from the yet-to-be approved E-levy will be utilized.

    Mr Jantuah, a private legal practitioner, said Ghanaians do not believe that the economy has been handled well by the current government hence the rejection of the E-levy.

    “There is a question of trust. Ghanaians want to know if they can trust the government to account to them on the use of the e-levy money,” he said on the New Day show on TV3 Friday, February 11.

    He added, “Do the people feel the government has handled the economy well? From a look of things, it doesn’t look so.”

    He was contributing to a discussion on the Yentua demonstration organized against the proposed E-levy on Thursday, February 10.

    During the demonstration, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, served notice that the Electronic Transfer Levy will be scrapped within the first 100 days of its government if it is passed by the current administration.

    He said that was a pledge he was making on behalf of his party in the unlikely situation the Eighth Parliament passes the bill.

    These same sentiments were expressed by Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram Constituency Sam Nartey George.

    “Well, I am glad my General Secretary has said it. People have been asking, and you are hearing it today,” he told Media General’s Johnnie Hughes at Obra Spot, the converging point of the Yentua Demo.

    “We have made a pledge to the Ghanaian people [that] when the NDC comes into power, in the first 100 days, we will abolish it because it is a nuisance tax.”

    Source: 3news.com

  • Bobie Ansah refused to honour several invitations – Police clarifies after arrest


    The Ghana Police Service has clarified the circumstances under which a presenter with Accra-based Accra FM, Kwabena Bobbie Ansah, was arrested on Thursday, February 10, 2022. 

    According to a statement from the Police Service, the presenter was arrested in connection with an alleged case of publication of false news and offensive conduct. 

    The statement further said that the arrest only became necessary after the presenter refused to honour invitations from them. 

    “Mr Kwabena Bobie Ansah of Accra FM was arrested yesterday, February 10, 2022, by the Accra Regional Police Command in connection with an alleged case of publication of false news and offensive conduct.

    “His arrest became necessary after he turned down several invitations from the Police to him and others involved in the case to assist with investigations,” the statement said. 

    It further stated that a full statement on the case would be communicated in due course. 

    Earlier, GhanaWeb reported that Kwabena Bobie Ansah, host of ‘The Citizen Show’ on Accra FM, had reportedly been arrested by persons purported to be National Security operatives after his show on Thursday, February 10, 2022.

    According to Kwame Kwakye, the producer of the show, he cannot really tell what occasioned the incident that happened close to the station’s premises at around 10.00 pm.

    “We have no idea of where he has been sent to,” Kwame Kwakye said in a Facebook live stream after the incident.

    “As a journalist, he’s done with his job and on his way home to rest, but he has been picked up by some unknown officers. Kwabena Bobie Ansah has been arrested; his phone is off. Before we signed out of the show, his phone was on, but when he was arrested and was put in a vehicle, being taken to some unknown destination, his phone has been switched off. Where they are taking him, we don’t know, but we can say on authority that he has been arrested…,” Kwakye added.

    “We finished the show at 10.00 pm, and he [Bobie Ansah] stepped out, so I followed him to pick his car and hand it over to him in order for him to go home. Because when we close, he exercises around the junction before he goes home, but as of now, we don’t know where Bobie Ansah is.

    “…when I was approaching the junction with Bobie Ansah’s car and looking at the scene were the police and National Security [with] about four cars, where they arrested him, put him in their vehicle [sic] and drove off. If he was a criminal who had killed someone, would he be arrested this way? It is very sad!” he stressed.

    Odansini Odilia, another presenter of the station, described the incident as a ‘horror’ movie.

    “I call the whole scenario an ambush,” Odilia said.

    She explained she was on her way to the station to prepare for her show, which is after the Citizen show when she “saw one black car drive past. A second car, ash in colour, stopped by me and looked at me suspiciously. The last car is the one we met at the gate. That was when I asked passers-by why the cars were moving around in such fashion, only to find out that he [Kwabena Bobie Ansah] had been arrested.

    “It wasn’t the right procedure to arrest him. He was not rightfully arrested,” she added. “I didn’t see any policeman around; I didn’t see any police car around, so, if my colleague was arrested, he was arrested through one of the National Security whatever, whatever…”

    Although there has not been any official communication about his arrest, an Accra-based Citi FM reports that the presenter may have been picked up over a post he made on his Facebook timeline.

    In the said post, Ansah alleged, the “current judiciary is corrupt and made up of crooks and criminals led by a corrupt Chief Justice who’s struggling to purge himself of a $5 million thievery allegation.”

    Meanwhile, Joy News sources indicate that the journalist has been sent to the Nima Police Station after he was picked up from the premises of Accra FM.

    This brings to three the number of journalists arrested by security officials this year.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Meet members of the new Black Stars management committee



    The Ghana Football Association (GFA) have named new members for the Black Stars management committee.  

    The GFA’s new appointment follows the government order to restructure the committee after Ghana’s terrible performance at the just ended Africa Cup of Nations.  

    The new body sees GFA vice president, Mark Addo as chairman with former Black Stars players, Samuel Osei Kuffour and Stephen Appiah as well as veteran football administrator, Alhaji Grusah all earning an appointment. 

    The FA in a statement on their website announced the new appointees.  

    “The Executive Council of the Ghana Football Association has appointed Vice President Mark Addo as Chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee. 

    Other Members of the Committee include Kwasi Agyemang Vice Chairman, Samuel Osei Kuffour, Kwame Ofosu Bamfo, former Ghana Captain Stephen Appiah, Colonel Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd.) and Alhaji Karim Grusah. 

    ”The Management Committee has ultimate responsibility of directing the activities of the team, ensuring it is well run and delivering the outcomes, monitoring the activities of the Technical team, the Medical team and the Playing body to ensure they are keeping with the founding principles, objectives and values of the team.”

    Mark Addo- Chairman

    Mark Addo is the vice president of the Ghana Football Association. He also serves on the ExCo as one of three representatives for the Division One League clubs.  

    Mark Addo also owns Division One League side, Nzema Kotoko Football Club.

    Kwasi Agyemang- vice chairman

    Kwesi Agyeman is the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Tourism Authority(GTA). He is a known member of the New Patriotic Party and a member of Division League board.  

    Samuel Osei Kuffour

    Osei Kuffour is a retired Ghanaian footballer who made 54 appearances for the Black Stars, serving the from 1993 to 2006.  

    He is regarded as one of Ghana’s biggest export in regards to football. He won the UEFA Champions League, 6 Bundesliga titles, 4 DFB Pokal trophies among others during his 12 years stay with Bayern Munich.  

    Kuffour played for AS Roma, Livorno, Ajax and Nuremberg before announcing his retirement in 2009.  

    Kwame Ofosu Bamfo

    Kwame Bamfo popularly known as Sikkens, is a Ghanaian entrepreneur who established Bamson Company Limited in 1980. 

    One of his numerous companies imports cars and refinishing paints from AkzoNobel, a Dutch multinational that manufactures a brand of paints called Sikkens. 

    Stephen Appiah

    The former Black Stars captain, made his international debut in 1995. He drew the curtain on his international career in 2010 after leading Ghana to a second successive World Cup appearance. He made 67 appearances for the Black Stars, scoring 14 goals.  

    In his club career that started from Hearts of Oak, he played for some European giants like Juventus and Fenerbahce.  

    Colonel Kwadwo Damoah (Rtd.)

    Col K Damoah (Rtd) is currently the Commissioner of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).  

    He is a former Board Member of the Ghana Revenue-May 2017 to May 2019 and Technical Advisor to the Commissioner General- October 2017 to June 2019.

    He was a lecturer at the Faculty of Law and Business Department of the Zenith University College in Accra between 2010 and 2018. 

    Alhaji Karim Grusah

    Alhaji Grusah is the owner of Ghana Premier League side, King Faisal. He is an experience football administrator who has contributed greatly to the growth of Ghana football, which include producing of talented players for the various national teams. 

    He discovered Samuel Osei Kuffour, and a host of other big names like, Yussif Chibsah and Illiasu Shilla .

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • NDC will abolish E-Levy within 100 days in office Asiedu Nketia



    The General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has revealed the NDC government will abolish E-Levy when they assume power should it be passed.

    According to him, the E-Levy will be the first tax to be abolished in their first hundred days in office as it’s a daylight robbery and not taxation.

    Addressing the crowd gathered at the Obra Spot demonstrating against the E-levy dubbed “Yentua Demo” today, Thursday, 10 February 2022, Asiedu Nketiasaid, “Let me tell you all right now that in the unlikely event the e-levy is passed, we will abolish it, and it will be the first tax to be abolished within the first 100 days of a future NDC government because we don’t see it as a tax, it is daylight robbery, this is not taxation.

    “That is not to say we will not be taking other taxes, but we are saying this is thievery, it is not tax based on any production, it’s not tax based on any value addition, it is daylight robbery, taking people’s capital from their pockets because they chose not to keep the money in their pockets but to keep it on momo wallets.”

    The Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is currently protesting against the passage of the Electronic Transactions Levy (E-levy) presented by the government.

    This follows previous messages by the opposition and minority members to the effect that they are against the tax, which will burden Ghanaians more than they already are.

    The protest is also to register displeasure with the ongoing UTAG strike and the government’s inability to resolve the situation.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Allocate adequate funds to address agric infrastructure deficits – Irene Susana Egyir

    The Dean of the School of Agriculture at the University of Ghana, Professor Irene Susana Egyir, has called on the government to allocate adequate funds to address the infrastructural deficits in the agriculture sector of the country.

    She said the funds should be channelled in developing the deplorable roads linking most of the farming communities, providing adequate and affordable energy to power agricultural machinery, and as well as provide a proper irrigation system to boost the production of higher quality foods.

    Professor Egyir said this yesterday in Accra, at the 20 years celebrations of the International Fertilizer Development Centre (IFDC) themed “20 years developing agriculture from the grounds up.”

    IFDC promotes local economic development by increasing food and agriculture productivity through effective and environmentally sound crop nutrients, technologies and agriculture expertise using a bottom-up approach.

    She said although Ghana had good policies and programmes that targeted the development of the agriculture economy, there was the need to develop the local economy by addressing the infrastructural challenges associated with the sector.

    Professor Egyir said since the private sector was incapable of raising the necessary funds to improve the infrastructure development in the farming communities, the government support was keen as the sector was the backbone of most economies in the world.

    She added that farming had become a knowledge-based approach and therefore, players in the sector needed to educate the people on how to use the right method that had the capability to improve yields.

    The Regional Director for North and West Africa of IFDC, Mrs Oumou Camara, said among the many goals of IFDC was to significantly boost food production by eliminating wastage and destruction of agricultural water, land, seeds and fertilizer.

    She said IFDC had empowered chunks of smallholder farmers to become agricultural entrepreneurs to enable them to actively engage in the local and regional agricultural trade.

    The Co-ordinator for Fertiliser Research and Responsible Implementation (FERARI), Mr Williams Atakora, said the main challenge in the fertiliser value chain was fertiliser recommendations for specific crops and soil.

    He said this was due to weak manufacturer, research, and farm linkages and the presence of poor quality products in the system.

    Source: ghanaiantimes.com.gh

  • January records highest inflation since 2019 rebasing

    The month of January 2022 has recorded the highest inflation of 13.9% since 2019 rebasing.

    The figure is 1.3% percent higher than what was recorded in December 2021 which stood at 12.6%. 

    The figure (13.9%) indicates that the general price level was 13.9% higher than January 2021which stood at 9.9%.

    The Month-on-month inflation between December 2021 and January 2022 was 2.1%. 

    Food inflation also increased from 12.8% recorded in December 2021 to 13.7%.

    Non-food group for the first time in seven months recorded inflation of 14.1%, exceeding that of the food group.

    Housing and Transport (which includes fuel) once again were the two Divisions that recorded the highest inflation (28.7% and 17.4% respectively).

    The contribution of Housing, Water, Electricity, and Gas to overall inflation increased by 4.6 percentage points (from 17.5% in December 2021 to 22.1% in January 2022).

    Inflation for locally produced items continues to dominate imported items.

    On the regional level, Greater Accra regained its lead in overall inflation with the Upper West region still recording the highest food inflation.

    Source: atinkaonline.com

  • 2022 Aboakyer Festival unveiled

    The 2022 Aboakyer Festival of the chiefs and people of Effutu has been launched with a call on the celebrants to be circumspect in their actions in order not to mar the beauty, peace and success of the festival.

    The festival, which commences on Saturday, April 30, with a sanitation project, will be climaxed on May 7 with a grand durbar.

    Neenyi Ghartey VII, the Paramount Chief of Effutuman, who launched the festival, enumerated the unique tradition bequeathed to them by their ancestors to keep the religion and culture of the people sacred.

    He said the weeklong festival was also of economic importance, which would help tourism to flourish as well as comprehensive entertainment, including sports.

    To boost tourism, the tourists would be allowed to freely participate in all the customary practices with the Asafo companies while the sponsors would have the opportunity to sell their products.

    Neenyi Ghartey said the culture and social values of the festival included its unifying force and the rebuilding of the confidence among the people of Effutu.

    He, therefore, called for the full participation of the people to contribute their quota towards a peaceful and successful festival, saying the COVID-19 protocols must be strictly observed for people to avoid contracting the disease.

    Activities earmarked for the celebration from April 30 to May 6, include a Gospel Musical Night, general clean-up and consecration of the shrine, football tournament, Aboakyer Food Bazaar, and parading of deities by Tuafo Number 1 and Dentsefo Number 2 Asafo companies through the streets of Winneba.

    On Saturday, May 7, a grand durbar will climax the festival after a deer hunting in the morning by the two Asafo companies.

    Source: GNA

  • Demonstration against E-Levy to be held today

    The Police have released details of the NDC Youth-led Yentua Demonstration which is to protest the introduction of the E-levy Bill.

    According to the Accra Regional Police Command, the demonstration which is to be held today, Thursday, February 10, will be afforded the necessary security detail to prevent any mishap.

    The demonstrators are expected to converge at the Obra Spot where the march will commence through the Kwame Nkrumah Avenue through Farisco, Striking Force, the Kinbu Road, the Octagon, the National Theatre through the AU Roundabout and finally end at the Parliament House.

    The Motor Transport and Traffic Department (MTTD) will deploy personnel to assist with traffic management.

    “The general public is hereby encouraged to cooperate with the Police to ensure an incident-free demonstration,” the Police said in their statement.

    Meanwhile, organisers and demonstrators taking part in the demonstration have been advised to observe the necessary Covid-19 protocols.

    Source: MyJoyOnline.com

  • Watch how Chelsea players welcomed AFCON champion Edouard Mendy


    Players of English Premier League(EPL) side Chelsea, have congratulated their teammate, Édouard Osoque Mendy for winning the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal.  

    Mendy kept three clean sheets and also saved a penalty in the final to guide Senegal to win their first-ever AFCON trophy.  

    Following the triumph on February 6, 2022, the goalkeeper joined his Chelsea teammates on February 8, for the FIFA Club World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, (UAE).  

    In a video posted by Chelsea’s twitter handle, Mendy’s teammates were spotted congratulating him on his achievement with Senegal.  

    The current FIFA best goalkeeper will be hoping to win the Club World Cup and add another trophy to his cabinet as Chelsea face Al Hilal in the semi-finals on February 9.  

    At the AFCON, Edouard Mendy missed the first two games due to COVID-19. He returned to the post in Senegal’s final group game against Malawi, which he kept his first clean sheet. The match ended goalless. 

    His second clean sheet came in the 2-0 win over Cape Verde in the round of 16. He then grabbed his third clean sheet in the final against Egypt, where he saved one penalty as Senegal beat the Pharaohs 4-2 in the shootouts.  

    As a result, Mendy was named as the best goalkeeper of the tournament. 

    Watch the video below

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVZK4ByJCvg

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • ICJ to rule on DR Congo-Uganda reparations case

    The International Court of Justice (ICJ) at The Hague is expected to hand down a verdict in the long-running case between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda. 

    Both countries are demanding reparations from each other in relation to conflicts in the DR Congo’s mineral-rich Ituri province from 1998 to 2003.

    The court in 2005 ruled that Uganda must pay compensation to DR Congo for its occupation and looting in Ituri. 

    It also found DR Congo culpable for an attack on Uganda’s embassy in the capital, Kinshasa, and ordered it to pay compensation.

    The court ordered the neighbours to negotiate mutual reparations – but they were unable to reach an agreement, with Kinshasa pushing the case back to the court in 2015.

    DR Congo is claiming more than $11bn (£8bn) in compensation for Uganda’s occupation, which Kampala has rejected as “disproportionate”.

    The court is set to give a verdict at 14:00 GMT.

    Source: bbc.com

  • The brawls in parliament will prevent a military takeover – Mahama Ayariga


    A Member of Parliament for the Bawku Central Constituency, Mahama Ayariga, has said that with the current pace at which the country’s democracy is deepening, it will be difficult for military adventurers to take over.

    According to him, the recent brawl in parliament will rather prevent a military takeover as it’s one of the ways to build confidence in democracy through checks and balance.

    He explained that the two instances of a brawl in parliament were when some individuals wanted to rig and undermine the constitution; therefore, the minority had to ensure the right things were done.

    Speaking in an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb, he said, “I am confident that Ghana is on a sustained path to deepening our democracy, and I am very confident that if we continue at the pace we have assumed recently, we will see no excuse for a military adventurer. 

    “For example, say we see people fighting in parliament and exchanging blows and moving and throwing chairs at each other, if you do this, the military will come in and take all of us out, I say no! 

    “That is what is going to prevent the military from coming because soldiers are not senseless human beings. They want checks and balances to work in the democracy; they want a parliament that is not a rubber stamp. 

    “A parliament that when the population say we don’t like this, they can stand their grounds and tell the executive that we don’t like this, the people don’t like this, you can’t impose it on them. If the people say we like this, then parliament should be able to stand its ground and demand and get the executive to do what people like.”

    He added that people would have confidence in democracy and disallow military adventurers when institutions like the judiciary and media effectively play their roles.

    “Now, if we stand our grounds in parliament and we fight to make sure the right things are done, and the people have confidence in the institutions of democracy, they won’t support any military adventurer taking a gun. 

    “If the judiciary doesn’t turn itself to a rubber stamp and when citizens see that either parliament or the executive or any institution is clearly violating the constitution that we’ve all agreed on and come before the judiciary and stand their grounds and say no you can’t do this, the constitution is clear about this, the citizen is right, the government you are wrong, then people will have confidence in the judiciary.

    “When people have confidence in the journalist, that the media will expose wrongdoing and will not be in the pay pockets of executive and politicians and will fight to unearth wrongdoing and demand that the right things are done, and they have confidence in the media, nobody will support military adventurists, that is how to prevent coups.”

    He added that the fights would build confidence in democratic institutions.

    When asked if he thinks what the minority is doing will prevent such things from happening (Military takeover), Ayariga responded: “Yes! It will build confidence in democratic institutions. I mean, why do we fight in the chamber? And all the two occasions we have fought in the chamber, it is because somebody was trying to rig, somebody was trying to undermine the rules of the house. 

    “We had two options; to wait and allow the person or persons to undermine the rules so that later we attempt to correct it or to prevent it from being undermined so that we don’t risk that or you will do and later come and try and correct it. Those were the two instances,” he told GhanaWeb.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Planned demonstration by university students hits a snag over disagreements

    An unresolved misunderstanding between three student bodies at the tertiary level has led to a planned demonstration by students of tertiary institutions hitting a snag. 

    The Coalition of Concerned University Students planned to demonstrate over the university Teachers Association of Ghana’s (UTAG) strike, which is in week four already. 

    But it has emerged that the Coalition of Concerned University Students, the University Students Association of Ghana (USAG), and the National Union of Ghana Students have failed to agree on when it is appropriate to demonstrate, reports adomonline.com.

    According to Christian Philip Armah, the President of USAG, the planned demonstration was not something they had sanctioned, adding that they had stated throughout all their consultations that demonstrations should be a last resort. 

    He said that it is due to this that the intended demonstration came to them as a surprise when a splinter group, Coalition of Concerned University Students, advertised the protest.

    He explained that a meeting between the students’ leadership and the government had been held, and there is a plan to meet with the leadership of UTAG before any major decision is taken. 

    “The demonstration by Coalition of Concerned University Students is premature. If after all our consultations with stakeholders and UTAG is still on strike, then we will go on a demonstration,” he stressed.

    In the meantime, he has appealed to all students to stay calm and decline to participate in any demonstrations until they can meet with their lecturers on a possible resolution of the ensuing national strike.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • We will regain our majority control in Parliament in 2024 Ntim assures NPP

    The former first vice chairman and an aspiring national chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Stephen Ntim has assured the party members that he will make sure the party regains its full majority control in parliament in 2024.

    He said this in the wake of challenges the party is facing in the hung parliament which has made it difficult to get their programs passed.

    Addressing party members in the Greater Accra Region, he said the party lost many seats due to the inability of the party to resolve some of the internal grievances after the primaries. He said there are seats or constituencies that the NPP should not have lost and would make sure all those seats are won in 2024.

    “We are going to have an effective and fair procedure in place to bring everybody on board after an internal election. We will put in measures that will be difficult for the losing side to say they will not work for the party. NPP as a party will work again to bring the needed development to the good people of Ghana. How can we sit here and say we do not have an MP on the ticket of NPP in Okaikwei North. We need that seat back in 2024 and we will do all in our power to win it.”

    The New Patriotic Party (NPP) went into 2020 with 167 but ended the election with 137 while the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) also secured 137 seats.

    However, Andrew Asiamah Amoako (24 February 1966) an NPP member but elected as an independent member of Parliament for Fomena has decided to do business with the NPP on the floor of Parliament giving the party a slim majority.

    Source: kasapafmonline.com

  • Where’s your ‘agenda 111’? – Opanyin Agyekum asks Akufo-Addo

    The Akufo-Addo government has promised Ghanaians that it will construct 111 hospitals across the country to streamline the health sector.

    The construction of the Regional and district hospitals which is dubbed ‘Agenda 111’ is expected to be done in 18 months.

    President Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, 17th August 2021 cut sod for the Agenda 111 hospital project.

    The hospitals which will cost $16.88 million each was announced by the President in April 2020.

    However, since the sod cutting, the agenda 111 hospital project hasn’t received much concentration as to know whether or not the hospitals are indeed under construction or nothing is being done yet and whether or not it’s feasible to complete them in the 18 months period.

    Speaking on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ programme, the Dean of the School of Performing Arts and Linguistics Lecturer at the University of Ghana, Professor Kofi Agyekum slammed the government for being known for starting things and leaving them halfway.

    Recounting policies like the government’s ”Planting for Food and Jobs” and the ”Agenda 111” among others which, to him, haven’t seen full completion or utilization, Prof. Kofi Agyekum advised the government to focus on one specific thing and get it done well.

    He, therefore, sought an update on agenda 111 asking, “isn’t it recently that we were told about agenda 111? . . . Now, should we ask where has it got to, I don’t know what they will say?”

    Source: peacefmonline.com

  • Apiatse explosion: We didnt commit any breaches Maxam Ghana Limited

    Maxam Company Limited says it did not breach the Minerals and Mining Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2177) as indicated by a three-member committee set up by the Lands Ministry to investigate the cause of the Appiatse explosion.

    Reacting to a statement dated February 7, by the Ministry, the Company also stated that the supposed breaches with respect to manufacturing, storage, and transportation of explosives for mining and other civil works, as noted by government were not the cause of the explosion that claimed 14 lives and razed the entire Appiatse community down.

    Due to breaches noted by the Committee, the Lands Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has fined Maxam Ghana Limited $6 million.

    But according to Maxam Ghana Limited, the cause of the incident is related to the transport carried out by Arthaan Logistics.

    “Maxam has noted the findings made by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources from its review of the tragic road accident and its assessment of how to avoid a recurrence. The Ministry has determined that there were certain breaches by Maxam in its operations and has imposed a fine of US$1 million on the company.”

    “None of these breaches was the cause of the tragic road accident and all of them relate to the transport carried out by Arthaans Logistics. Based on a different interpretation of the applicable regulations, we believe that Maxam has not committed any of those breaches,” Maxam in its statement dated February 8, read.

    In response to the fine against the explosives manufacturing company, Maxam Ghana Limited has said it will ensure the payment in order to supply its customers and protect the employment of workers and sub-contractors despite its innocence.

    “Given our commitment to Ghana and its welfare, Maxam has agreed to the payment of additional Five Million United States Dollars or its cedi equivalent.

    “Maxam recognises the importance of its product for the value that Ghana and other countries derive from their natural resources, notably gold, and will continue to work with the mining industry and subcontractors involved in the transportation and use of these explosives to ensure safe handling and use,” it added.

    Maxam Ghana Limited has been provided with a number of measures as a condition precedent to the restoration of its permit.

    According to Maxam, it will comply with the 14 measures laid down by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.

    The measures include a ban on Ammonium Nitrate and Fuel Oil (ANFO) transportation on a public road to a mine or civil work site unless expressly permitted by the Chief Inspector of Mines.

    Other measures include explosives being guarded by two escort vehicles, one in front and one at the back, both having sirens to warn people about the explosives.

    The company is to notify the Chief Inspector of Mines of their intention to transport explosives 48 hours before the scheduled transportation, and mine inspectors are to inspect every transportation to ensure that all regulations and protocols are complied with.

    “Maxam will ensure it is in full compliance with the new regulatory measures announced by the Ministry and will continue to conduct its operations in accordance with the laws of Ghana and international best practices,” the company assured.

    Meanwhile, Maxam Company Limited has expressed its condolence to the bereaved families and victims of the Appiatse explosion.

    “Maxam has been deeply saddened by the road accident and the loss of lives, injuries and extensive damage to property suffered by the Appiatse community. Our hearts go out to the community members.

    We are indeed saddened by the incident and we express our heartfelt sympathy to Ghana, particularly, members of the Appiatse community for the loss of lives, property and livelihoods. Maxam wishes to emphasize its sympathy with the Appiatse community,” it concluded.

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • GOIL opens refurbished Kwabenya roundabout service station

    The Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of GOIL, Kwame Osei Prempeh, has cut the tape to officially open a newly refurbished service station at Kwabenya, Accra in the Greater Accra region.

    Located near the Atomic roundabout, the modern service station is equipped with an ultra-modern GoCafe, Auto center, Lube bay, a Pharmacy and a Restaurant.

    Speaking at the opening, Kwame Osei Prempeh said GOIL is committed to serving quality fuels to its customers.

    He appealed to Ghanaians to continue to patronize GOIL products and services, which offer value for money, affirming that GOIL will continue to establish more ultra-modern stations nationwide as part of a drive to ensure that every Ghanaian enjoys the benefit of quality fuels.

    GOIL opens refurbished Kwabenya roundabout service station

    The Chief Operating Officer of GOIL, Alex Adzew added that the companys push to provide quality products at affordable prices for its customers has being amply demonstrated with the introduction of the higher grade SUPER XP RON 95, which sells as the same price as normal fuel.

    He added that GOIL has pushed hard to ensure that the sale of low sulphur content diesel which ensures engine longevity and safe environment.

    The Zonal Manager in charge of Southern Ghana, Helen Kyeremanteng said the Atomic roundabout station will serve as a one stop shop for the public. 

    Present at the ceremony were the dealer of the station, Oheneba Frimpong as well as other GOIL dealers, Police Chiefs, Officials from NADMO, Fire Service, and executives of Driver Groups and Unions.

    Source: Joy Business 

  • 32-page passport booklet out of stock due to Covid-19 Foreign Affairs Ministry

    Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has announced that the shortage of the 32-page passport booklet is due to the effect of Covid-19 on global supply chains.

    This is in reaction to concerns raised by a section of the public who have applied for the 32-page passport but have been informed about its shortage.

    Addressing a press briefing on Monday, February 7, 2022 she said, “I regret to announce that due Covid related disruptions to global supply chains, we currently do not have in stock the 32-page booklet. The Ministry placed an order sometime in August last year, but the booklets are yet to be delivered.”

    According to her, applicants can apply for the 48-page booklet in the time being, until the 32-page is restocked.

    She said measures are being put in place to prevent future occurrences.

    The Minister further cautioned the public to desist from engaging middlemen in the passport application process, adding that the passports are been processed within the specified period.

    “There is no need for anyone to pay money to middlemen to help them. The middlemen do not fast-track the application process so please do not patronise them,” she stated.

    Source: MyJoyOnline.com

  • Assin North MP expected to make first appearance in injunction case

    A seven-member panel of the Supreme Court is expected to hear an interlocutory injunction filed by NPP’s Michael Ankomah-Nimfah against James Gyakye Quayson from performing his Parliamentary function.

    The apex court will also be interpreting Article 94(2)(c) in the same matter.

    In Court on Tuesday, February 1, the Court’s registrar informed the Court that their attempt to have the MP served through Parliament has proved unsuccessful.

    It was the case of Matthew Antianye, the registrar, that, for the first attempt, “the address of service was through the Clerk of Parliament, but the Clerk said it ought to be served on the Speaker.

    For the second attempt, the service was through the secretary of the Speaker, but the secretary said the Speaker was out of Parliament and could not receive the processes.

    A seven-member panel of the Supreme Court presided over by Justice Jones Dotse directed the applicant to assist the registrar with the service on James Quayson, the First Defendant in the matter, while it adjourned the matter sine die.

    The Electoral Commission and the Attorney General are the second and third Defendants.

    Source: kasapafmonline.com

  • All road contractors will be paid if E-Levy is passed Amoako-Atta

    Roads and Highways Minister Kwesi Amoako-Atta has promised road contractors that their outstanding debts will be paid in full if the controversial e-levy is passed.

    “When the E-levy is implemented, the road sector will get its fair share. All contractors owed by the government will be paid. A number of deplorable roads will be fixed when the E-Levy is introduced because all contractors we owe will be paid.

    “You are going to benefit directly from its implementation. No serious government will joke with its contractors,” the Minister told the leadership of the Road Contractors Association in a meeting on Monday.

    The Minister also hinted booths that were used for the collection of tolls in the recent past would be used for places of convenience following concerns by the roads safety commission.

    “We even want to refurbish all those toll booth structures to provide proper and decent washrooms for use by motorists to avoid situations where motorists stop to ease themselves indiscriminately.”

    The E-levy has been heavily challenged by the opposition NDC MPs and a section of Ghanaians.

    Source: starrfm.com.gh

  • Demo against UTAG strike postponed, organisers allege police intimidation

    The leadership of the Coalition of Concerned University Students (CCUS), have said they have decided to postpone their planned demonstration due to intimidation by the Ghana Police service.

    According to the students, the government, through the police has decided to frustrate their intended demonstration.

    A press statement shared by the CCUS said the police at the last minute decided to change the approved route for the demonstration with reason that protests on the roads pose a security threat.  

    “It was disclosed to leadership that the approved routes for the demonstration, after thorough deliberations by the command, may have to be changed on grounds that the public stands to be inconvenienced by the use of the road leading from Okponglo to the Jubilee House. Moreover, it is regarded as a national security threat to the nation. 

    “This sudden directive comes after an earlier police approval of the same route on the 7th of February 2022 at the Greater Accra Regional Police Command. It further indicated that refusal to comply with the directive, will compel the Police to arrest all demonstrators and conveners who will make an appearance,” the statement said.

    The coalition, further stated that it considers the position of the police an attempt to prevent the students from demonstrating.

    They also believe that changing the converging point and routes for the demonstration on such short notice will make the demonstration ineffective and therefore the need to postpone the demonstration to Thursday, February 10, 2022.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Majority of Ghanaians against E-levy; listen to them Emile Short to government

    A former Commissioner on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Justice Emile Short, has called on the government to pay heed to the majority of Ghanaians’ views regarding the passage of the controversial E-levy.

    According to Mr Short, most Ghanaians have kicked against the levy’s passage and, therefore, the government must do as the people want.

    Speaking in an exclusive interview with Kofi Oppong Asamoah on the Class Morning Show on a myriad of issues on Class91.3FM, Tuesday, 8 February 2022, Mr Short insisted the government must listen to the view of Ghanaians.

    He said: “I think the majority of Ghanaians from a survey that I read are against the e-levy and it is my view that government should listen to the views and opinions and voices of the majority of Ghanaians on this issue because I think the majority of Ghanaians think that they will be adversely affected by the passing of this e-levy legislation since a lot of electronic transactions are done by quite a sizeable number of Ghanaians.

    “So I’m hoping the government will listen to the views of the majority of Ghanaians. I don’t think the views and argument the government has put forward for the e-levy have been supported by the majority of Ghanaians.”

    Touching on the ongoing e-levy debate in parliament, Mr Short described as “unfortunate” the extent of anger that led to a brawl among legislators in parliament. 

    “First, it’s unfortunate that a brawl broke out in parliament arising out of a discussion on the e-levy, and there were fisticuffs as well as invectives being thrown at each other by the two dominant political parties,” he said.

    “The expectation of the electorates from the close results of the 2020 elections where we have a hung parliament with an almost equal representation of the two dominant parties was that they will work together, they’ll collaborate and arrive at a consensus as supposed to the previous situations where one party had a dominant representation. Unfortunately, that expectation has not been fulfilled. It’s unfortunate we are seeing this animosity between the two parties about the e-levy,” he bemoaned.

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Fast-track passage of tax exemptions bill Prof. Bokpin to government


    A senior lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School, Prof Godfred Bokpin, has urged the government to speed up the passage of the tax exemptions bill which it laid in parliament in 2021.

    According to him, the delay in the passage of the bill is making the country lose substantial amounts of tax revenues.

    In a report by Asaase radio, Prof Bokpin said tax exemptions are the main challenge government has in its domestic revenue mobilisation efforts. 

    “The biggest threat to our revenue mobilisation is tax exemption. In less than 15 years… Ghana has given away about half of its revenue base through exemptions; for me, it is the biggest leak in our economic structures,” he was quoted by asaaseradio.com.

    The senior lecturer added that the government, rather than being keen on implementing the E-Levy, should properly implement tax exemptions since it would yield better results.

    “The E-Levy is unfair and regressive, especially when we look at how little exemptions are therein for Ghanaians with the existing tax nets. If we are able to ensure their proper implementation, then we will not need the E-Levy,” Prof Bokpin said.

    Prof Bokpin’s comment comes on the back of the World Bank Country Director, Pierre Frank Laporte, saying Ghana had too many tax exemptions and a report by the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) which showed that Ghana loses over GH¢5 billion every year through tax exemptions alone.

    The Tax Exemption bill seeks to streamline Ghana’s tax exemption regime to ensure that only organisations whose production is important to the countries development are exempted from paying certain taxes.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ghanaian-American aboard United Airline flight allegedly dies due to ‘negligence’

    A Twitter user has narrated circumstances that, according to him, led to the death of a Ghanaian-American at Washington D. C. in the United States of America on Sunday, February 6, 2022, between 6:15 AM and 7:30 AM EST. 

    The user, Eche Enziga @Echecrates explained that the Ghanaian, whose name he gave as Benson Awuah, who also goes by the name Kwabena Attah, was with him on the same United flight (Flight No. UA 997) from Accra to D. C., but upon disembarking from the plane at the Dulles Airport, he noticed something going wrong ahead of him.

    “Our @united flight lands in D. C. As we get off the plane, we notice commotion on the walkway; a man has collapsed and is gasping for air struggling to breathe.

    “Airport staff and United personnel are standing around frozen to the spot. Nobody was helping this man,” he tweeted.

    He explained further that he took it upon himself to help out, and soon, the man lying on the floor was out of the woods, but only for a while.

    “I walked over to the man and noticed he had passed out. I started applying pressure to his chest area. After 15 seconds of pressure, he comes back to life. At this point, we begging United staff to call the paramedics.

    “Paramedics arrive after 20 minutes; the man is laying on his back, still struggling to breathe but unconscious. The paramedics arrive with no sense of urgency; it takes them 10 minutes to start attending to the man,” he added.

    Eche Enziga added that soon, the paramedics got ready to move the man out of the place but he noticed something wasn’t right.

    It was, however, too late to save the situation any longer.

    “They place the man in the gurney and say ‘we’ve got it from here.’ Something bothered me about their lack of urgency. I noticed the man had stopped breathing again, and I called it to their attention. This time they couldn’t resuscitate him, and this man died.

    “I’m typing with rage because this man did not have to die. The utter callousness and lack of urgency displayed by @united airline staff will stay with me for a long time. The man was an American citizen but it didn’t matter because his skin color was the wrong colour,” he added.

    According to the eyewitness, the deceased who spoke Twi was travelling alone; he called on the dead man’s family to sue the airline in a way that would greatly affect them.

    “This man was travelling alone, I’m not sure who his family is, but he spoke Twi. To the family of that man, I hope you bring the biggest wrongful death suit against @united.

    “We used to say ‘don’t let Nigeria’ happen to you. Now we must also say ‘don’t let America happen to you’ as a black man or woman. That man held on to my hand and wouldn’t let me leave even when the paramedics arrived. Almost like he knew he couldn’t trust the system to protect him,” he said.

    As of the time of going to press, GhanaWeb had made several attempts via phone calls and a text message to reach officials at the Ghana office of United Airlines for an official response, but to no avail. 

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • We elect you to protect the purse, not to amass wealth – Korankye Ankrah to politicians


    The Founder of the Royalhouse Chapel International (RCI), Apostle-General Sam Korankye Ankrah, has reminded politicians of why Ghanaians voted them into power. 

    He stated that contrary to the notion that people should get into political office to amass wealth for themselves, they are rather supposed to protect the public purse. 

    He added that it is a wrong mindset that when a person gets into political office, it is an opportunity for them to make their lives better, much to the neglect of those who got them there, reports myjoyonline.com.  

    “The reason we elect you into public office is to protect the purse and the monies of this nation to develop and to move this nation forward. We don’t elect them to amass wealth for themselves and to forget about us once they get to that place,” he said. 

    The Apostle-General added that in instances where the ideal situation is turned around in favour of politicians, it courts anger among people, leading to political challenges experienced in many parts of the continent in recent years. 

    “This is what brings anger, and this is what brings the kind of challenges we have in Africa here. But if our politicians place at their heart, first and foremost, the desire to see this nation move forward, all of us as citizens of this nation will have an equitable share of the national cake,” he said. 

    He suggested several things that he said would get the people on the side of political leaders rather than turn them away and lead them to commit things that contribute to unrest. 

    “If they ensure that our young people will get the jobs to do, if they can ensure that people can put food on their table three times a day, if they can ensure that our children are educated if they can ensure that at the end of the day, everybody can get a place to lay your heads, nobody will complain, nobody will fight, there will be no agitation, and there will be no reason for any military intervention in our nation,” he said.

    Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah made this known at his church in Accra during a ceremony where he was presented with the US President’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

    The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award is offered in multiple levels and is designed to recognize each milestone of an individual’s service and achievements. Levels include bronze, silver, gold and the highest honour, the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for those who contribute more than 4,000 hours of service in their lifetime.

    The Lifetime Achievement Award is intended for individuals with at least 10 years of documented accomplishments in the field of higher education sustainability who have had a significant impact on a large number of individuals and organizations.

    \Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Im not guilty Sosu pleads to criminal summons

    The Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina Constituency Lawyer Francis-Xavier Sosu has pleaded not guilty to police criminal summons.

    The MP for Madina denied the charges when he first appeared before the court on December 1, 2021, which led to a bench warrant issued for his arrest rescinded.

    This came to light when Mr. Sosu and his lawyers appeared before the Kaneshie District Court presided over by His Worship Oheneba Kuffour on Monday.

    The MP has been charged for unlawfully blocking a public road and the destruction of public property after he joined his constituents of Ayi-Mensah, Danfa, and the Otinibi in the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality in a demonstration over poor roads in the area on October 25, 2021.

    In court on Monday, February 7, 2022, when the case was called, the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), sought direction from the court on the matter.

    It was in the case of ASP Asare that a bench warrant was issued for the arrest of the accused person but was later rescinded.

    He said, prior to that, some applications were filed by the accused person, and “We do not know whether they want to withdraw or intend to pursue it so that we can advise ourselves.”

    Counsel for the MP, Victor Kwadjoga Adawudu in his response said, “We filed an application for the court to set aside the bench warrant.

    He added that it was filed on November 30, 2021, and they wish to withdraw that application because the accused person appeared before the court and the bench warrant was rescinded.

    “We filed another motion on notice for Stay of Proceedings and to set aside criminal summon. We wish to withdraw it for it to be struck out,” Counsel told the court.

    Lawyer Adawudu urged the court to “order the prosecution serve us with disclosures to facilitate speedy trial since his plea has been taken and granted bail.”

    Explaining to the court why prosecution has not filed its disclosures, he said it was due to the pending applications.

    According to him, “If today (Monday) they have withdrawn the applications, may we humbly take a date to file our disclosures.”

    The court presided over by His Worship Oheneba Kuffour after listening to the parties ordered the prosecution to serve the accused person or his lawyer with witness statements and all documents they intend to rely on for the trial.

    The case has been adjourned to March 14, 2022.

    Source: kasapafmonline.com

  • Owners vacate shops to brood over losses after fire disaster

    Owners of shops in the story building that was gutted by fire at Adum in Kumasi on Friday evening have vacated the shops and are brooding over their losses. 

    When the Ghana News Agency visited the scene on Monday morning the three shops on the ground floor, which were badly affected by the inferno, were closed while the top floor, which used to serve as warehouses for some traders was evacuated. 

    The fire was said to have started from the top floor of the building located at a prime business area of Adum, the busiest central business district of the Kumasi metropolis. 

    The fire, which started at about 1500 hours on Friday, February 4, destroyed properties running into several thousands of Ghana cedis. 

    Among the merchandized goods destroyed were rice, sugar, soaps, biscuits, oils, among others. 

    It took firefighters about two hours to bring the fire under control. 

    When the GNA visited the scene at about 0800 hours on Monday, some young boys were seen removing the debris from the top floor, while the affected shops on the ground floor were locked.

    Source: GNA