Dennis Yeribu, the Upper East Regional Director of the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), has appealed to road users to help curb incidence of road crashes to save lives.
He said the surge in road accidents during festive seasons continued to be a disturbing phenomenon and appealed to road users to act responsibly to reduce the menace.
The NRSA head, who made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga, said: “It is our collective responsibility to stop road accidents so that as a road user, endeavour to arrive alive wherever you find yourself”.
He said NRSA had laid down some measures to reduce road crashes as the yuletide approached, including community outreaches to sensitize the public. The NRSA would also collaborate with the Ghana Police Service (GPS) and other key stakeholders to champion road safety in the region, he added.
On Community Outreach plans, he said the Authority would embark on road safety campaign dubbed “Arrive Alive” in some selected Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) in the Upper East Region.
He said officials from NRSA would educate pedestrians, motorists and tricycle operators on how to use the road safely without endangering others. He said the team would also distribute educative materials and play jingles crafted in local dialects to sensitize residents.
On Publicities, the Authority would embark on radio sensitization for the public on road safety protocols, which would target all categories of road users.
Provisional accident figures from NRSA in the Upper East Region indicate that 197 cases were recorded involving 334 vehicles with 66 deaths, 59 males and 7 females from January to November this year.
There were also 15 cases of Pedestrian knockdowns, 11 deaths and a total of 251 injuries.
For election-related incidences alone in December, two accidents cases were recorded with one death.
The Office of the President has advised the families of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings to resolve all outstanding matters regarding his funeral and burial and convey the final date to the presidency.
It follows disagreements between the families of the late former leader regarding the date for his burial.
The Anlo Traditional Council expressed outrage through a statement issued on Monday, 30 November 2020, signed by Mr James Victor Gbeho, which announced that the late former President would be buried on 23 December 2020.
The announcement said: “The family of His Excellency Jerry John Rawlings has, in consultation with the government, agreed that the date for the State funeral of the former President is confirmed for Wednesday, 23 December 2020 at the Independence Square in Accraâ€.
“The family is working in conjunction with the government on the finer details of the funeral ceremony and will communicate the arrangements in due courseâ€, the statement said.
It added: “Individuals and institutions who wish to contribute tributes to the memory of Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings are reminded to email such tributes to tributes@jjrawlingsmemorial.orgâ€.
However, the Anlo traditional council said in a counter-statement that it “wishes to express, in its strongest possible terms, its total outrage for the disrespect shown to the culture, traditions, mores and usages of our practices in the release of the so-called press statementâ€.
“Our anger stems from the fact that President J. J. Rawlings was not only a former Head of State and President of the Republic of Ghana, but he was also a properly-installed Chief of Anlo land, whose unfortunate demise must be dealt with in accordance with customs and traditions of Anloâ€.
The office of the President, however, said it is the obligation of the state to accord the former President a befitting state burial and, therefore, wants all outstanding matters to be resolved for that to happen.
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu has indicated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has not been able to retrieve pink sheets from the Techiman South constituency which will serve as concrete evidence to show that the party won that seat because it has been destroyed.
According to the Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale South, the returning officer at Techiman South confirmed to him that the pink sheets were burnt.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament when the House reconvened on Monday, 14 December 2020, Mr. Iddrisu condemned the spate of casualties recorded during the elections.
He said: “I was in Techiman personally and I was not pleased with what I observed. That an electoral officer cannot even make available to a political party declared results or results to be declared. That cannot be so in our multi-party constitutional democracy. Whether a returning officer or a district officer to claim somewhere that his copy meant for a political party, the NDC got burnt. We are still following through but what is significant is the loss of lives in Techiman. We had to visit one or two bereaved families arising out of shooting which resulted in loss of lives.â€
He continued: “That remains a negative blot on the conscience of our democracy to choose our leaders, lives must not be lost and lost needlessly. There are still contested outcomes in some other constituencies across the country, in Sene.â€
Mr. Iddrisu stressed that “we still have some dark clouds against what has been declared by the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission.â€
He, however, congratulated the newly elected Members of Parliament, “particularly the old ones who have had the privilege and honour of the electorate in their various constituencies to re-elect them to serve them.â€
But in swift rebuttal, the Majority Leader and MP for Suame, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu condemned the Minority NDC for attacking the elections conducted by the Electoral Commission.
He indicated that the NDC must arm themselves with ample evidence to counter their claims.
According to him, without concrete evidence, their objections against the outcome of the elections do not hold water.
“If the people want to really stand on the foundation of truth they should really be equipped with the evidence of truthfulness before they make any proclamation because if you don’t have the pink sheets, you cannot make any allusions,†he noted.
The number of commuters killed in road traffic crashes as at the end of November this year rose by 11.16% over the same period last year.
Between January and November this year, the number of commuters killed rose to 2,310, compared to 2,078 during the same period of 2019.
1,878 Males killed
Data compiled by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service indicates that 1,878 males, comprising 1,704 above 18 years and 174 below 18 years, were killed in road crashes in the first nine months of this year.
432 Females killed
On the other hand, 432 females, made up of 311 above 18 years and 121 below 18 years, also lost their lives during the period.
2,442 Pedestrian knockdowns
The data showed a decrease in pedestrian knockdowns from 2,701 last year to 2,442 this year.
9.59% decrease in pedestrians killed
Also, the number of pedestrians killed dropped from 659 between January and November 2019 to 645 in 2020, representing a 9.59% reduction.
Motorcycles killed 945, injured 4,185 Road traffic crashes involving motorcycles killed 945 and injured 4,185 commuters in the first 11 months of this year.
Motorcycle crashes record 21.75% increase
Motorcycle crashes recorded a 21.75% increase between January and November this year, spiking to 5,111, compared to the 4,198 in the same period last year.
13,787 Victims injured
According to the data, the number of commuters injured this year went up by 5.57%, recording 13,787, compared to the 13,060 recorded last year.
22,607 Vehicles involved in crashes
The total number of vehicles involved in crashes rose by 9.50% from 20,645 last year to 22,607 this year.
Private vehicles killed 513, injured 2,927 The MTTD data reveals that private vehicles killed 513 and injured 2,927 during the period.
9,050 Private vehicles involved in crashes
The number of crashes involving private vehicles recorded a 3.72% rise from 8,725 last year to 9,050 this year.
Commercial vehicles killed 852, injured 6,675 The statistics show that crashes involving commercial vehicles killed 852 and injured 6,675 commuters in the first 11 months of this year.
8,446 Commercial vehicles involved in crashes
The number of commercial vehicles involved in accidents increased by 9.38% from 7,722 last year to 8,446 this year.
13,392 Reported crashes
The total number of crashes reported also rose by 6.66% from 12,556 last year to 13,392 in the first 11 months of this year.
Motorcycles top deaths
The 945 commuters killed by motorcycles are higher than the 852 killed by commercial vehicles, and it is also almost double the 513 killed by private vehicles in road traffic crashes.
Motorcycles deaths represent 40.9%
In percentage terms, motorcycles killed 40.9%; commercial vehicles killed 36.8%; and private vehicles, 36.8%
Commercial vehicles top injuries
When it comes to the number of injured commuters, commercial vehicles lead with 6,627, followed by motorcycles with 4,185, and private vehicles with 2,927.
Private vehicles top vehicles involved in crashes
With regard to the number of vehicles involved in crashes, private vehicles recorded 9,050, followed by commercial vehicles with 8,446, and motorcycles with 5,111.
Mandatory refresher training for commercial drivers
To arrest the situation, the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has said that all commercial vehicle drivers would have to undergo mandatory refresher training before their driving licences are renewed.
13,000 High-risk commercial drivers trained The piloting of the training involving about 13,000 high-risk commercial drivers nationwide has been completed.
The move is part of the implementation of Regulation 125 of the Road Traffic Regulation, 2012 (L.I.2180).
Road safety inspectors to be deployed The authority would also be deploying some road safety inspectors at major road transport terminals to conduct pre-departure checks of vehicles and drivers to help minimise the risk of crashes.
Increasing number of annual vehicle population The increase in accidents is fuelled by the increasing number of annual vehicle population from 1.1 million (1,122,722) in 2010 to 2.6 million (2,679,394) in 2018.
Problems identified The problem identified with the canker of road crashes was indiscipline among road users and laxity or irresponsibility among policymakers and implementers.
Increase in road traffic deaths and injuries during election years Data garnered by the authority suggested an increase in road traffic deaths and injuries during election years, except for 2008 and 2016.
Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, a Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice has called on political parties to maintain peace in the country.
The deputy minister who is a defeated MP for Tempane stated that the numerous demonstrations across the country are as a result of false hopes the political leaders have been giving their supporters.
Speaking on Accra-based Joy FM, Joseph Kpemka said: “Most of these things we see on the streets, the mayhem that is being caused, the burning of tyres and et cetera, somebody is giving somebody false hope. If you give a person false hope, that is the result.â€
He added that in his constituency, when he lost, “Everything was so peaceful from the polling station to the collation centre. There was not one accusing finger at anything when I lost. I had no qualms with anybody, I walked awayâ€.
Joseph Kpemka further stated: “The official body responsible for [the] declaration of election results is the Electoral Commission so any other person or body of persons who engages in such acts [is] engaged in a total illegality and must be made to face the full rigours of the lawâ€.
General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu has called on the party members and supporters to calm down and not utter words that will heighten tension in the country.
The NPP has lost lots of Parliamentary seats following the elections on Monday, December 7, 2020.
Unlike the 2016 elections where the NPP attained 169 seats, the 2020 elections has seen the party lose over 30 seats to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The NDC gave the NPP a very close marking in this year’s elections by currently claiming 136 seats whereas the NPP leads with 137.
However, the Parliamentary results are in contention because the NDC feels they have been short-changed and purport they won 140 seats in Parliament.
With the NPP getting 137 seats in Parliament and with notable candidates losing their seats, the party members and supporters have laid the blame on their leaders.
Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ”Kokrokoo”, John Boadu advised the members and supporters to exercise restraint.
According to him, the party should focus on the way forward and not apportion blames.
“Don’t hurry to make statements that won’t help the party just to please the public. Some of us, we’ve been part of this process for a very long time . . . sometimes, we take knee jerk reaction to the problem at hand. Let’s exercise patience . . . one thing we have
Member of Parliament for North Tongu Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has justified the street protests by supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) against the results of the December 7 elections as announced by the chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC).
He said demonstrations are not illegal therefore, the party cannot be criticised for resorting to that modus operandi to make its concerns known.
The former Deputy Minister of Education said the NDC will go to the Supreme Court to challenge the outcome of the elections if it has to do so.
His comments come on the heels of the main opposition party receiving flak from a cross section of the Ghanaian public for calling on its members to hit the streets to reject the poll results rather than resorting to the courts to address those grievances.
The Presidential Candidate of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama said the party will not accept the results of the polls because in their view, the elections management body manipulated the figures in favour of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Speaking to journalists in Parliament on Monday December 14, Mr Ablakwa said “These are not unconstitutional. I hear a lot of commentaries on why NDC will not go to court.
“We will go to court when we have to but it is also peoples legitimate right to protest, to picket, to engage in civil disobedience.â€
He said “As our flagbearer announced, there is a forensic audit team that is looking at all the pink sheets putting our case together for a possible change challenge at the Supreme Court if we have to go there.â€
The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC) has admonished supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), victors of the December 7 polls, to be measured in their celebrations.
“To the victorious party, the Council wishes to appeal to them to be measured in their celebrations in order not to provoke their opponents to violent retaliatory responses,†the Council said in a press release issued on Monday, December 14, 2020.
The Council said in the statement that following the declaration of the December 7, there have been demonstrations by the opposition National Demonstration Congress (NDC) supporters seems to have heightened tension.
“The rights to peaceful demonstrations by aggrieved parties to the electoral dispute must be upheld and protected by the security agencies, especially Ghana Police Service without any hindrances.
“While calling on the security agencies to remain professional and be measured in their responses to acts of indiscipline by demonstrators in these tensed moments, we are equally calling on all aggrieved parties to be responsible in the exercise of their constitutional rights to demonstrate peacefully without disturbing the peace of the country,†the GPCC said in the statement.
Official figures released by the EC for the 2020 elections says the NPP candidate, President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo won the polls after obtaining 51.48% of total votes cast while the candidate for the NDC, John Dramani Mahama obtained 47.86% of the total votes.
Also according to the results, none of the two parties currently has a clear Majority in Parliament.
The NPP won 137 seats in Parliament while the NDC won 136 seats with one seat occupied by an independent candidate. A party needs at least 138 seats to form a Majority government.
The results for Sene West, which is being contested, is yet to be released.
The NDC says the elections have been stolen for the incumbent party.
Read the full statement below.
CALL FOR CALMNESS BY ALL GHANAIANS IN THE CURRENT POST-ELECTION AGITATIONS
The Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council (GPCC), has over the Iast few days after the declaration of the December 7, Presidential election result observed some unfortunate development in the political environments that border on peace, security, and stability of our nation with grave concerns and would wish to call the attention of all stakeholders to the following issues with the view to addressing them to avoid, monition of the already tensed environment.
1.. The rights to peaceful demonstrations by aggrieved parties to the electoral dispute must be upheld and protected by the security agencies, especially Ghana Police Service without any hindrances. While calling on the security agencies to remain professional and be measured in their responses to acts of indiscipline by demonstrators in these tensed moments, we are equally calling on all aggrieved parties to be responsible in the exercise of their constitutional rights to demonstrate peacefully without disturbing the peace of the country.
2. In the same vein, we wish to encourage the losing parties to strongly consider the constitutional option of proceeding to the Supreme Court with all the evidence they gathered to seek a review of the decision of the EC. While at this we also wish to appeal to the leadership of the losing parties to call on their supporters nationwide to be circumspect and responsible in the exercise of their rights to free expression and demonstration without the destruction of lives and properties, for we have only one nation to live in.
3. To the victorious party, the Council wishes to appeal to them to be measured in their celebrations in order not to provoke their opponents to violent retaliatory responses.
4. Finally, we wish to call on all our member Churches and by extension all peace-loving Ghanaians not to relent in their prayer efforts by continually praying congregationally and individually until calmness is restored to all parts of the country.
God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong. Long live Ghana!
Eleven (11) aggrieved contractors of the affordable housing project in Effiduase in Koforidua in the Eastern region have commenced a suit against government over re-awarding the contract to different contractors without paying them for work done on the project since 2007.
The contractors are Kwality construction Investment Ltd, Josam Company Ltd, Osajoe Enterprise, Udaway Company Limited and Okoampa Ltd.
The rest are Malkana Enterprise, Bomaf Ventures, Umaco Ltd, Soadjei Construction, Kwadjei Construction and Agya Agyena Ltd.
The reliefs being sort by the contractors are; Payment of retention, payment of additional works after last payment certificate, compensation, damages, interest on payment and punitive cost.
A letter of notice of intention to commence suit written to the Minister of Works and Housing, Atta Akyea and State Housing Company, by Lawyer of the aggrieved constructors intercepted by Starr News, explained that, about 18 contractors signed an agreement with the Ministry of Works and Housing individually on July 10, 2007 to commence work on the Affordable Housing Project in Koforidua Effiduase, an intervention by then John Agyekum Kufuor-led government to provide cost-effective housing projects to Government workers.
They were awarded contract letters dated June 8, 2007.
The aggrieved Contractors say, they embraced the project with zeal and worked to reach various stages of completion. However, due to inability of the Ministry to supply the needed materials for the project, same was stalled, having sank in their own resources to reach the present stage of the project.
The Contractors said, “not long ago at site meeting in Koforidua with the President of the Republic and subsequently, in another meeting with the Deputy Minister of the Ministry in Accra, my clients were given assurance to exercise patience as the Government was sourcing for funds to continue with the project, but nothing was heard on the matter againâ€.
The letter continued that “surprisingly, however, it has come to the notice of my clients that the project has been re-awarded to the state Housing Company without any notice or reference to my clients “.
Some of the contractors told Starr News their properties have been seized by their bankers for defaulting loan payment.
The financial difficulty has also ruined their families.
One of the affected contractors bedridden with stroke is struggling to get money to seek healthcare.
In a remote corner of Sierra Leone, a man caught a glimpse of 16-year-old Marie Kamara as she ran past his house. Soon after, he proposed to her.
“My family does not have money so when he told me he wanted me, I said ‘yes’, said Kamara.
The financial pressure on her family felt more pressing than her wish to continue her education and become a nurse.
Her family needed the money. Her stepfather runs a tailoring shop in Komao, but the coronavirus pandemic meant there were few customers.
Kamara’s suitor was a miner in his mid-20s. His parents could provide rice for Marie’s four younger sisters and access to their watering hole – and they could pay cash.
When her now-husband met with Kamara’s family, she was asked if she agreed with the proposal.
Thinking of the dire economic situation of her family, she accepted.
Kamara hopes her younger sisters won’t have to go through the same experience. She advises them to make sure they stay in school.
Marriages of underage girls like Kamara are on the rise as the coronavirus pandemic deepens poverty around the world, threatening to undo years of work by activists trying to stop the tradition in countries such as Sierra Leone.
The United Nations estimates that hardships resulting from COVID-19 will drive 13 million more girls to marry before the age of 18.
Statistics, though, are hard to come by as most families carry out such weddings in secret.
In most cases, needy parents receive a dowry for their daughter, a bit of land or livestock that can provide income, or cash and a promise to take over financial responsibility for the young bride.
The girl, in return, takes on the household chores of her husband’s family and often farm work too.
Marriages conducted in secret
In Sierra Leone, the rate of marriage under 18 had dropped from 56% in 2006 to 39% in 2017, a major achievement in the eyes of child protection activists.
Then COVID-19 hit, schools closed in March, and child marriages accelerated.
It wasn’t clear when or even if the school ever would resume, and many parents feared their idle daughters would get pregnant out of wedlock, said Isata Dumbaya, from Partners in Health Sierra Leone, whose clinics provide health services to teenagers.
Many of the girls’ mothers were themselves married off as teenagers, she explained, and see early marriage as normal.
“They do not see it as harming their children,” Dumbaya said, but rather an investment in securing their daughters a future.
It’s a mindset that Sierra Leone’s first lady, Fatima Maada Bio, has been working to change with her “Hands Off Our Girls” campaign.
Bio herself managed to escape to the United Kingdom as a teenager after learning her father intended to marry her off to someone.
She now has made it her life’s work to help other underage girls. “If you force a child to be married at a very early age, you are legalizing the rape of that child,” she told the Associated Press.
‘Hands off our girls’
While sex with underage girls is illegal in Sierra Leone, it is rarely enforced.
Police say cases aren’t reported because the families already have agreed to the marriage, whether the brides have or not.
Billboards with the first lady’s image reading “Hands off our girls” still line the roadsides, but COVID-19 precautions mean the campaign has had to scale back many of its outreach efforts.
Like Bio, to become the first lady of Sierra Leone was the dream of Mariama Conteh, whose estimated age is 17. She’s expecting a baby within the next two months.
Conteh had left her remote village near the border with Guinea to live with an aunt in Koidu and attend school.
Then in April a 28-year-old man in their compound expressed interest in her.
“I told my aunt that I did not want to get married,” said Conteh, but her aunt replied that if she did not get married, she’d have to return to her home village.
Conteh figured out that if she refused the proposal, her own parents would try to marry her off once she got home anyway.
At least 27 people have been killed in an attack in southeast Niger, local officials have gathered.
Other people were wounded and some reported missing on Saturday evening in the village of Toumour in the Diffa region, said a senior local official.
Witnesses and other officials confirmed the attack, which came hours before municipal and regional elections went ahead across the country on Sunday.
“Some victims were killed or wounded by bullets, others were burnt inside their houses, consumed by the flames of an enormous fire set by the attackers,” said the official.
Between 800 and 1,000 houses, the central market, and numerous vehicles were also destroyed in the fire, he added.
Roughly 70 attackers arrived at Toumour at around 1745 GMT on foot, having swum across Lake Chad, said the official. The attack itself lasted three hours.
“They first attacked the residence of the traditional chief, who only just managed to escape,” he said.
“It was an attack of unprecedented savagery,” said a local elected official who asked not to be named. “Nearly 60 percent of the village has been destroyed.”
Diffa a region located on the border with Nigeria has been frequently attacked by Boko Haram since February 2015.
Former South African football international Anele Ngcongca died in a car accident on Monday, according to the country’s IPSS Medical Rescue service.
In a statement on its website, IPSS Medical Rescue said it responded to a single-vehicle roll-over on the N2 highway near Mtunzini.
“On arrival of IPSS advanced life support paramedics, they found an adult male lying approximately 30m from the wrecked vehicle. The man showed no signs of life and was declared dead by paramedics,” said the statement.
According to the IPSS, a female driver was trapped in the wreckage having sustained “critical injuries” but was freed and is now in hospital.
Ngcongca, 33, had been transferred from Mamelodi Sundowns to AmaZulu on loan, and both Premier Soccer League sides, the top tier of South African football, paid tribute to the defender following the accident.
“AmaZulu FC and Mamelodi Sundowns FC extend their deepest condolences to the Ngcongca family, former clubs, teammates, supporters, and the broader football fraternity as well as everyone who was touched by the life of this exceptional football ambassador,” said a joint statement from the two clubs.
Ngcongca (center) wins possession during an Africa Cup of Nations game against Cape Verde in January 2013.
Ngcongca, who helped the Sundowns win a domestic treble last season, represented Bafana Bafana, the South African national team, more than 50 times, including at the 2010 World Cup on home soil.
“This 2020 has been a terrible year; economically, socially and we have lost many of our beloved ones,” said South African Football Association President Danny Jordaan.
“Anele’s death just sums up this dreadful year.”
Ngcongca spent much of his playing career with Belgian side KRC Genk, for whom he made 279 appearances.
“We heard the tragic news about Genkie Anele Ngcongca,” said a statement from the club posted online.
“Our thoughts are with family and friends of our South African ex-player. RIP Anele.”
Medeama coach, Samuel Boadu is demanding improvement despite his side’s 1-0 win at Ebusua Dwarfs to end their winless run in the Ghanaian top-flight.
The Mauve and Yellows had to dig deep to record their first win of the season, thanks to a second-half header from substitute Isaac Agyenim Boateng.
It’s been a disappointing start to the season for the Tarkwa-based side after picking just two points from three games.
But the club found their rhythm to continue their dominance over Dwarfs with a routine win at the Cape Coast Sports stadium.
This was the fourth consecutive defeat suffered by the Mysterious side against Medeama at home.
But coach Samuel Boadu is not getting carried away as he demands improvement from his players.
“It was a very hectic game. Both teams did well tactically. My boys did well I will congratulate them because they followed the instructions that we gave to them,†Coach Boadu said.
“We created a lot of chances but we squandered them but fortunately for us, we were able to score one goal.”
“We are going back to Tarkwa and I believe that in the next home match, there will be an improvementâ€.
Medeama host Liberty Professionals at the Akoon Park on Sunday.
Ghana’s U-20 team suffered a defeat in their last Group B fixture against LA Cote d’Ivoire in the 2020 WAFU Cup of Nations in Benin.
The West African neighbors, LA Cote d’Ivoire inflicted a 1-0 defeat on Ghana in the last group fixture at Stade de Gaules in Porto-Novo on Saturday, December 12, 2020.
Issouf Dosso stepped up and scored the only goal for the Ivorians with a stunning strike from the free-kick.
LA Cote d’Ivoire top the group with 4 points followed by Ghana with 3 points as Nigeria exit the tournament with just a point.
Candidates who have filed to contest various positions at the Ghana League Clubs Association (GHALCA) will undergo a vetting process on Wednesday, GHANAsoccernet.com can confirm.
The election panel of the club’s umbrella body has confirmed that incumbent Kudjoe Fianoo and challenger Isaac Koomson will be vetted to become formal candidates after the close of nominations.
Fianoo, who is the overwhelming favourite to clock his second term, is being challenged by policeman Isaac Koomson.
Koomson – a former GHALCA vice-chairman lost to Mr Fianoo in the last election four years ago who is still popular within the football circles.
Many had anticipated that he would contest unopposed before Koomson threw himself into the race.
Vice-chairman Alex Ackumey is surprisingly being challenged by Ebusua Dwarfs John Ansah – who is gunning for another seat on the GHALCA council after spending eight solid years as a Premier League representative.
Ansah has completed his two-term mandate but shockingly keen to remain on the council for another four years to complete an astonishing 12-year period- a move which has been heavily criticized.
Its’ widely believed he has the full backing of Ghana FA boss Kurt Okraku to unseat Alex Ackumey which could further polarized the football space.
Liberty Professionals dynamic chief executive Linda Ansong will contest as a Treasurer but will fend off competition from Justice Boison.
West African Football Academy (WAFA) operations manager George Ofosuhene is seeking another term as a Premier League representative on the council.
He must fend off competition from former Asante Kotoko official Edmund Ackah as well as King Faisal sporting director Nana Amankwah.
Two will be elected onto the council.
Chief Executive Officer of Danbort FC, Eugene Nobel Noel and Felix Bewu of Heart of Lions will jostle for one of the slots as representative of the National Division One.
Grassroots man Eugene Jacquaye is also contesting a seat on the council but faces competition from Emmanuel Opoku as representative of Division two.
Edna Quagrin and Anita Wiredu will be contesting for one slot on the council as well.
The candidates will undergo integrity checks by the election committee and have their nomination papers scrutinised by the oversight panel.
The election panel expects to formally admit and declare the candidates who are eligible for the office of GHALCA.
The election will be held on January 21, 2021, in Accra.
The election panel is headed by former Ghana FA vice-president Fred Pappoe with Inter Allies vice-president Delali Senaye and Enam Dzakpasu as members with veteran Oduro Nyarko serving as member secretary.
Asante Kotoko coach, Maxwell Konadu is satisfied with the progress of new signing Fabio Gama and has therefore indicated that he will soon be in action for the Porcupine Warriors.
The Kumasi-based club completed the signing of the Brazilian on a free transfer in October in their quest to strengthen their team for the 2020/2021 football season.
The former Brazil U-17 and U-20 midfielder on his arrival in the country indicated that he is not ready for a 90 minutes soccer action and will need some time to get himself ready for the campaign.
Despite training with the team for quite some time, he has not had the chance to feature in any game yet.
Maxwell Konadu giving an update on the player stated that he is almost ready to play for the club.
“He is now almost ready whiles we are working on his documentation, his fitness level is now good. I was impressed with the way he trained this week.â€
“So let see the coming days, everything is ready and we will be introducing him very soon,†he said.
Lionel Messi will leave Barcelona if he does not accept a pay cut, according to presential candidate Emili Rousaud.
Messi’s future remains an important topic at embattled La Liga giants Barca after the superstar captain handed in a transfer request following a tumultuous 2019-20 campaign.
The six-time Ballon d’Or winner was tipped to join Premier League powerhouse Manchester City before opting to remain in Spain, though he has since been linked to Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain and Inter.
Rousaud, who is in the running for the presidential election which takes place on January 24 following Josep Maria Bartomeu’s resignation in October, discussed Messi’s future amid the coronavirus pandemic
“We’ll have to sit down with Messi and ask him to make a salary cut,” Rousaud told ARA.
“Right now, with things as they are, it’s unsustainable.
“We’ll ask him to make the sacrifice. If there’s no agreement, then Messi will leave.”
Rousaud added: “Messi has written the most brilliant pages in the club’s history. We have to honour our legends, but the reality is what it is.
“I believe that things have to be said as they are. We can’t fool our members. We’ll make every effort to ensure he stays, but always with the interests of the club first.”
Messi scored as Ronald Koeman’s Barcelona returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Levante in La Liga on Sunday.
After losses to Juventus in the Champions League and Cadiz in La Liga, Barca bounced back courtesy of Messi’s 76th-minute winner to move within nine points of competition leaders Real Sociedad but with two games in hand.
Barca will a chance to close the gap on Real Sociedad when the two teams meet in the league at Camp Nou on Wednesday evening.
Messi has been involved in 37 goals in his La Liga career against Levante (22 goals and 15 assists), more than against any other team in the competition.
The 33-year-old has scored 449 goals in La Liga and he is just one shy of becoming the first player to reach 450 with just one club in the top five European leagues.
Among the thousands of people fleeing the five-week-old conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region are a few dozen men, women and children from Eritrea, one of the world’s most authoritarian states.
They were already living as refugees in Tigray, which had long been a safe haven for them during years of conflict and repression in Eritrea.
But when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government launched a military operation against Tigray’s ruling party, the Eritrean refugees’ illusion of safety was shattered as violence escalated around their camps.
“Suddenly soldiers came to our camp and they started shooting,” Kheder Adam told AFP in a Sudanese refugee camp. “The situation was very serious. There was a lot gunfire.”
Kheder and his family had originally settled in one of the refugee camps in the Sheraro area of Tigray near the Eritrean border around two years ago, he said.
For years, Ethiopia and Eritrea had been officially in a state of war.
In 2018, Abiy took power, ending years of political dominance by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front — sworn enemies of Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki.
Abiy and Afwerki signed a historic peace agreement that same year, winning the Ethiopian leader the Nobel Peace Prize.
After the dramatic shift in alliances, Abiy’s forces launched their operation in Tigray on November 4, Eritreans who had long benefitted from protection in Ethiopia appear to have become a target.
Since then, a few Eritrean refugees have managed to escape to Sudan.
The UN, meanwhile, has expressed fears for the safety for those still in Tigray, home to some 96,000 Eritrean refugees living in four refugee camps.
The African Union has maintained that the fate of Western Sahara must be decided by a referendum, even after the US endorsed Morocco’s control over the breakaway region.
Ebba Kalondo, spokesperson of AU Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat, says the AU supports the self-determination of Western Sahara through a free and fair referendum as decided by the UN Security Council.
“The position of the African Union remains unchanged, in conformity with relevant AU and United Nations resolutions,” Ms Kalondo wrote on Twitter on Friday.
Both Western Sahara and Morocco are members of the AU although Morocco sees Western Sahara as part of its territory.
In 1982, Morocco quit the AU in protest after the then Organisation of African Unity (the precursor to the AU) admitted the proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic as a member.
Morocco returned to the AU in 2017 after failing its bid to enter the European Union.
Israel relations
On Friday, Washington announced that Morocco should be the definitive government over Western Sahara.
This came after Morocco re-established relations with Israel, becoming the fifth member of the Arab League to do so in under three months.
The Polisario Front, which runs the government of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, which controls about a fifth of Western Sahara, has often operated from refugee camps in Algeria.
The entire Western Sahara region was initially a Spanish colony but was annexed by Morocco in 1975.
While the region seeks independence, Morocco has argued for some autonomy but while having it run as part of its territory.
UNSC resolution
A United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution proposed a referendum voted for by natives of the region, to decide between independence and integration into Morocco.
The Polisario Front favoured separation while the Kingdom of Morocco favoured integration.
However, Morocco has been accused in the past of sending non-natives to live in the region in a bid to weaken the vote. The referendum has never been held despite the AU’s endorsement.
With the US support of Morocco, the poll is unlikely to occur and this may just reflect another form of defiance to the UNSC’s decision, to which the US, as a permanent member, was part of.
In October, the US sided with a UNSC resolution that extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until October 31, 2021.
Resolution 2548 (2020) was endorsed by 13 votes with none against, while Russian and South Africa abstained.
The October resolution called for resumption of negotiations without preconditions. It noted the “need for a realistic, practicable and enduring solution to the Western Sahara question based on compromise”.
On Friday, Washington announced that Morocco should be the definitive government over Western Sahara.
This came after Morocco re-established relations with Israel, becoming the fifth member of the Arab League to do so in under three months.
The Polisario Front, which runs the government of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic, which controls about a fifth of Western Sahara, has often operated from refugee camps in Algeria.
The entire Western Sahara region was initially a Spanish colony but was annexed by Morocco in 1975.
While the region seeks independence, Morocco has argued for some autonomy but while having it run as part of its territory.
UNSC resolution
A United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution proposed a referendum voted for by natives of the region, to decide between independence and integration into Morocco.
The Polisario Front favoured separation while the Kingdom of Morocco favoured integration.
However, Morocco has been accused in the past of sending non-natives to live in the region in a bid to weaken the vote. The referendum has never been held despite the AU’s endorsement.
With the US support of Morocco, the poll is unlikely to occur and this may just reflect another form of defiance to the UNSC’s decision, to which the US, as a permanent member, was part of.
In October, the US sided with a UNSC resolution that extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) until October 31, 2021.
Resolution 2548 (2020) was endorsed by 13 votes with none against, while Russian and South Africa abstained.
The October resolution called for resumption of negotiations without preconditions. It noted the “need for a realistic, practicable and enduring solution to the Western Sahara question based on compromise”.
The Oyo State Police Command said on Saturday that its men were on the trail of two foreigners who were kidnapped by suspected hoodlums.
The two foreigners (names not given) were reportedly kidnapped in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, around 4 pm Wednesday evening at a pharmaceutical firm, close to the Toll Gate along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
The duo was said to have been abducted while driving out of the premises of the pharmaceutical firm.
The kidnappers reportedly opened fire on their vehicle which grounded to a halt when the tyres went flat.
It was gathered that the two foreigners were robbed of their cash and other personal effects before they were whisked away to an unknown destination by their abductors.
The Police Public Relations Officer, Oyo State Command, Olugbenga Fadeyi, confirmed the incident, saying the Police were on the trail of the criminals.
It was learnt that as of the time of filing this report, the kidnappers had yet to contact the relations of their victims.
Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Daniel Ogbarmey Tetteh, has admonished credit unions to remain compliant and pick-up lessons from the financial sector clean-up exercise.
According to him, this would enable credit unions operating in the country to avoid falling prey to a reoccurrence of the clean-up exercise that affected various financial institutions.
Speaking at the biennial conference of the Ghana Co-operative Credit Unions Association (CUA), the Director-General of SEC explained, “a regulated activity means compliance with standard, rules, and procedures. I want to suggest that you must be big on compliance as it is germane to the success of financial institutions.
“Ethical behaviour must take the front seat in the financial industry, and it is important to help people to become compliant by defining clearly, the standards of ethical behaviours, as well as introducing a regime of sanctions against unethical behaviour,†he added.
Daniel Ogbamey Tetteh on his part was confident that depositors of collapsed financial institutions whose funds have been locked-up due to the clean-up, would soon receive their monies.
Government through the SEC in November this year announced a partial bailout intervention scheme to bring relief to affected clients of Fund Management Companies (FMCs).
The bailout will involve the payments of up to GH¢50,000 each, to customers of FMCs whose licenses have been revoked but whose liquidation processes in the courts have not been concluded.
Meanwhile, the Amalgamated Mutual Fund PLC (The AM Fund) has begun cash payments under the partial bailout scheme to clients of the FMCs for which the Official Liquidator is yet to obtain Liquidation Orders from the courts.
Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, parent company of Ecobank Ghana registered a profit of GH¢150 million in the nine-month of this year.
This was however down by 87 percent and could be largely attributed to the impact of COVID-19 on economies that the Ecobank Group operates.
According to its unaudited financial statement for Quarter Three, ETI revenue however went up by 12 percent year-on-year to GH¢6.7 billion in the nine months of this year.
Total assets also went up by six percent to GH¢139.4 billion in the third quarter of 2020.
Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, parent company of Ecobank Ghana registered a profit of GH¢150 million in the nine month of this year.
This was however down by 87 percent and could be largely attributed to the impact of covid1-9 on economies that the Ecobank Group operates.
According to its unaudited financial statement for quarter three, ETI revenue however went up by 12 percent year-on-year to GH¢6.7 billion in the nine months of this year.
Total assets also went up by six percent to GH¢139.4 billion in the third quarter of 2020.
Only 958 businesses across the country are said to be aware of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which is expected to start on January 1, 2021, findings from the second wave of  COVID-19 Business Tracker  Survey has revealed.
This represented 26.2 percent of firms interviewed between August 15 and September 20 this year by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank.
A total of 3,658 from the initial 4,311 firms from the first Business Tracker were re-interviewed to provide critical information to help the government, development partners and other organisations monitor the effects of the pandemic.
The Government Statistician, Prof. Samuel Annim said this on Thursday at a press conference held in Accra.
He said the awareness of AfCFTA was more among the medium and large firms which represented 63.8 and 72.7 respectively while within the small and micro firms only 26.2 and 24.9 per cent were in the know of it.
According to Prof. Annim, though awareness of AfCFTA was low, 76 per cent of the businesses believed the implementation of it would bring transformation to their businesses.
He said both large and small firms, as well as medium-size firms, believed that reduced cost of credit, increased information on business opportunities and removal of policy and regulatory bottlenecks, digitisation, business advisory services and information on business opportunities would be the support needed to make their firms useful and enable them to sell their goods and service across the continent.
Prof. Annim said the number of firms in Ghana aware of the AfFCTA was worrisome and was unexpected, given that the intended benefits were enormous for businesses and the country at large.
He said the Service had taken steps to intensify the sensitisation of AfFCTA to ensure that businesses and firms in Ghana could leverage and benefits from the returns associated with it.
He also indicated that the findings had been shared with the Ministry of Finance and would be subsequently shared with relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Trade and Industry.
“We expect the firms in Ghana would fully be aware of this intervention and will be educated on the strategies by which they can harness the returns associated with it,†he added.
Founding President of IMANI-Africa has fired back at critics who have slammed him for his fierce criticism of Jean Mensa, the Chair of the Electoral Commission (EC).
Franklin Cudjoe has come under verbal attack for criticising the competence of the Electoral Commission following the outcome of the 2020 polls.
He had slammed the EC after it admitted that the were errors in the declared results for the presidential polls.
He further described the former EC boss, Charlotte Osei, as a better EC chair compared to Jean Mensa.
Some persons especially from the NPP have taken him to the cleaners but to these individuals, Mr. Cudjoe says he criticised the former EC chair when he felt some of her decisions were not the best.
But he believes the former EC chair is far better than the “incompetent” Jean Mensa.
“Turns out some people think everyone has an autopilot brain. Yes, I criticised Charlotte when some of her decisions were troubling, but compared to the brave bare lies, tender rigging re biometric machines, shameful procurement gigs, and shambolic basic math errors that has generated a crisis of confidence, the entire current EC is a pale shadow of Charlotte! Eat it!! IMANI shall be releasing its own report and recommendations on the conduct of this EC. Enjoy your Sunday.â€
European Union observers in the just ended Presidential and Parliamentary elections in Ghana have said results were not publicly displayed in 17 polling stations they observed.
The observers however noted, “voting was conducted in a generally peaceful atmosphere and voting procedures were mostly followed, including the biometric verification of votersâ€.
“Furthermore, presiding officers appeared to have difficulties completing the result forms. The polling station result forms were not publicly displayed in 17 polling stations although party agents received signed copy of the result form in all cases,†the EU observers said in their 12-page report on the election.
The report also praised civil society organisations in the country.
“Ghanaian civil society has a strong presence and a leading role in electoral observation. Domestic observation is organised, credible, and well perceived by stakeholders. The Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO), a network of 43 organisations advocating for democratic institutional development and human rights, leads the national observation activities.
“CODEO, with support from the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD Ghana), amongst others, deployed around 4,000 observers on election day. CODEO issued reports on registration, campaigning, and incidents, and set up a parallel vote tabulation (PVT) exercise. The Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) deployed some 700 observersâ€.
It also raised concerns over the collation process in the polls.
“Collation of results at the constituency level was observed in 35 constituency collation centres with many of them being visited repeatedly. Collation process was less well organised and less transparent often due to a lack of detailed procedures, inadequate facilities, and overcrowding which at times led to agents and observers not having a clear view of the procedures and the filling in of result forms.”
“Instances of unrest and tension were observed in Asawase, Sunyani West, and Techiman South constituencies. The results were collated in the presence of party agents and observers and key transparency measures were adhered toâ€.
A US-based Ghanaian professor Kweku Asare has asked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to appoint new faces as ministers of state.
He also asked the president to reduce the number of appointees who are serving in his government.
Prof Asare revealed that he asked the president to reduce the number of ministers he appointed after winning the 2016 elections however, his advice was not taken.
He has reiterated his call after the 2020 election which was also won against by Mr Akufo-Addo In a Facebook post, he said “I know his Excellency rejected my March 15, 2017 advice on running a smart government. Nothing that I saw in the last 4 years has changed my mind. So I offer the same advice as he contemplates a new team.
“I will also add that he needs fresh faces, not just as ministers but also as staff.â€
Businessman and maverick lawmaker for Assin Central Constituency Kennedy Agyapong has advised the New Patriotic Party(NPP) to resource its Members of Parliament(MPs).
According to him, this will help them meet the needs of their constituents and will save them the hassle of losing their seats in subsequent elections.
He observed that being a Parliamentarian is a stressful and money-consuming venture and there is, therefore, the need for the party to ensure that Parliamentarians are given contracts that will equip them for the work ahead.
“Going forward, there is the need for Members of Parliament to be resourced so that they can be able to keep the seats that they have now,†he said on Net2TV monitored by MyNewsGh.com.
Mr. Kennedy Agyapong also disclosed that some Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives(MMDCEs) sponsored opposition members to beat NPP Parliamentarians.
The New Patriotic Party per the results provided by the Electoral Commission has lost several seats and currently has 137 of the seats in Parliament.
The NPP prior to the 2020 election had 169 Parliamentary seats to their credit with the opposition holding on to 106 of the remaining seats.
But this has changed as the NPP leads the NDC by just a single seat and analysts have said that this does not look good for the second term of the President.
More than 300 residents of Anlo Afiadenyigba township in the Keta Municipality have besieged the Afiadenyigba Police Station demanding the sacking of officers from the town.
The attack on the police station happened hours after the MP-Elect of the Keta Municipal Assembly, Mr Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpe, was attacked in his house which is only a two-minute walk from the Police station.
Most of the residents who were clad in red outfits accused the police of doing nothing to rescue the MP-elect at the time of the attack at 2 am.
According to the residents and a relative to the MP-elect, when the MP-elect came to the station to seek for the intervention from the officers on duty, he was told that they [officers] have no gun to withstand the gunmen.
The residents also accused one particular officer who is popularly called Eric for knowing something about the attack on the MP-elect.
A resident, Rita Atsufui alleged to GhanaWeb that “Eric is known for associating himself with criminals in the Municipal and that he does not take cases brought against his criminal friends serious.
“…he should go, we don’t want him here anymore. Eric is a thief, he’s a criminal….who doesn’t know him? He sleeps with small small girls here…,” she alleged in the interview with GhanaWeb.
Meanwhile, the officers who were on duty before the MP-elect came to them for help have been driven out of the town by colleagues officers from a nearby station after several hours of a standoff with resilient residents.
Parliamentary results of the December 7 polls reveal that a host of new legislators will enter the 8th Parliament next year.
According to results released by the Electoral Commission (EC), the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has won 137 parliamentary seats, while the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has won 136 seats.
There is also one independent candidate the MP-elect for Fomena who went to the polls as an independent candidate after falling out with the NPP.
The latest parliamentary results show that there are about 94 new entrants including notable names such as Peter Amewu, Hohoe; Francis Xavier Sosu, Madina; Sheila Bartels, Ablekuma North; and Dakoa Newman, Okaikwei South.
Many of the new entrants are from the opposition NDC.
Below is a list of the new MPs expected in the next Parliament.
Volta Region
1. John Peter Amewu Hohoe (NPP)
2. Abla Dzifa Gomashi Ketu South (NDC)
3. Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpe Keta (NDC)
4. Kwame Sefe Anlo (NDC)
Bono Region
5. Williams Okofo Darteh Jaman South (NDC)
6. Frederick Yaw Ahenkwa Jaman North (NDC)
7. Sulemana Adama Tain (NDC)
8. Haruna Seidu Wenchi (NDC)
9. Paul Twum Barimah – Dormaa East (NPP)
Ashanti Region
10. Francis Asenso-Boakye Bantama (NPP)
11. George Kwabena Obeng Takyi Manso Nkwanta (NPP)
12. Adelaide Ntim Nsuta Kwaman Beposo (NPP)
13. Akwasi Darko Boateng Bosome Freho (NPP)
14. Stephen Amoah Nhyiaeso (NPP)
15. Abdul Salam Adams New Edubiase (NPP)
16. Dr. Kingsley Nyarko Kwadaso (NPP)
17. Alex Blankson Akrofuom (NPP)
18. Vincent Ekow Asafua Old Tafo (NPP)
19. Isaac Yaw Opoku Offinso South (NPP)
20. Collins Adomako-Mensah Afigya Kwabre North (NPP)
21. Akwasi Konadu Manhyia North (NPP)
22. Kofi Amankwaa Manu Atwima Kwanwoma (NPP)
23. John Ampontuah Kumah Ejisu (NPP)
Northern Region
24. Daniel Nsala Wakpal Kpandai (NDC)
25. Abukari Dawuni Wulensi (NDC)
26. Farouk Aliu Mahama Yendi (NPP)
27. Thomas Mbomba Tatale (NPP)
28. Alhassan Tampuli Gushegu (NPP)
29. Mohammed Aminu Anta Karaga (NPP)
30. Abdul Aziz Ayaba Mion (NPP)
31. Hamza Adam Kumbungu (NDC)
Bono East Region
32. Joseph Kumah Kintampo North (NDC)
33. Gyan Alexander Kintampo South (NPP)
34. Joseph Kwasi Mensah Nkoranza North (NDC)
35. Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare Techiman North (NDC)
36. Techiman South: Martin Adjei Korsah (NPP)
Upper East Region
37. Abdulai Abanga Binduri (NDC)
38. Lydia Adakurugu -Tempane (NDC)
39. Sampson Chiragia Navrongo (NDC)
40. Thomas Dalu Chiana-Paga (NDC)
Upper West Region
41. Peter Lanchene Tuobu Wa West (NDC)
42. Godfred Seidu Jasaw Wa East (NDC)
43. Anthony Mwinkaara Sumah Nadowli-Kaleo Constituency (NDC)
44. Cletus Seidu Dapilah Jirapa (NDC)
45. Amidu Chinnia Issahaku Sissala East (NPP)
46. Mohammed Adama Sikparu Sissala West (NDC)
47. Bright Baligi Lambusie (NPP)
48. Bede Ziedeng Lawra (NDC)
Western Region
49. John Sanie Mpohor (NPP)
50. Dr Prince Hamid Armah Kwesimintsim (NPP)
51. Gabriel Kojo Essilfie Shama (NPP)
52. Robert Wisdom Cudjoe Prestea-Huni-Valley (NDC)
53. Darcos Affo-Toffey Jomoro (NDC)
54. Arko Nokoe Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira (NDC)
55. Nicolas Amankwah Amenfi East (NDC)
Western North
56. Alfred Obeng Boateng Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai (NPP)
Members of the National Peace Council (NPC) who intervened to engage the leadership of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) over their rejection of the results of the election declared by the Electoral Commission (EC) were attacked by some supporters of the NDC on Wednesday.
The Chairman of the NPC, Rev Dr. Ernest Adu-Gyamfi who made this known said the incident has “traumatized” some of the members of the NPC and they feel that they should be allowed to psychologically recompose themselves before they can re-engage the leadership of the NDC.
The incidents reportedly happened in the residence of the NDC presidential candidate John Dramani Mahama and the party’s national headquarters at Adabraka in Accra.
“We were attacked, two of our vehicles were damaged and we thought that that was very very unfortunate.”
“When we met the leadership [of the NDC], they were very cooperative in terms of our discussions, and we thought those incidents were very very unfortunate, and it shouldn’t happen again.”
Rev Adu Gyamfi, who made this known in a radio interview with Accra-based Joy FM on Thursday night [December 10, 2020] said the members were safe.”
“The board met today [Thursday]” but added that “most of the members are traumatized because the attacks were very physical and in some situations, some gunshots were fired while we were there. And so most members are traumatized and they think that we need to let them maybe, psychologically recompose themselves before we can re-engage,” Rev Dr. Adu-Gyamfi said.
A 28-year-old fuel tanker driver, Issah Salifu, has been confirmed dead while two others are in critical condition in a crash near Nkawkaw in the Eastern Region.
The deceased driver of the Fuel tanker Vehicle Issah Salifu was driving DAF CF Fuel tanker with registration number GT 7529-15 with two-persons on board from Kumasi towards Accra.
However, upon reaching Damisekrom along the Nkawkaw dual carriage road the vehicle crashed.
The occupants on board the vehicle together with the driver sustained serious injuries and were rushed to the Holy Family Hospital, Nkawkaw for medical treatment but Issah Salifu, the driver was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police proceeded to Holy Family Hospital, where victims- Shehu Musah, 25, and Abdullah Ibrahim, 28, were seen at the emergency ward undergoing medical treatment.
Meanwhile, Shehu Musah was referred to St Joseph Hospital Koforidua for further medical treatment.
The body of the driver -Issah Salifu has been deposited at Holy Family Hospital Morgue for preservation and autopsy.
The accident vehicle has been towed and impounded at Nkawkaw central police station for DVLA examination and testing.
Majority Leader in the 7th Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has confessed that his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), did not expect a massive reduction of seats in the Legislature in the just-ended polls.
According to a Citi News report, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said his party was expecting to reduce its seats to up to 150 from 169 and not the current 137 seats as the parliamentary results of the December 7 elections show.
The Commission said the NPP had so far won parliamentary 137 seats, with the NDC having 136 seats.
The Fomena seat has been won by an independent candidate, while the winner of the Sene West contest was yet to be declared.
“By and large, it [reduced NPP seats] may have a negative impact on the conducting of business in Parliament,†the Citi News report quoted the MP for Suame in the Ashanti Region.
Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu is, however, confident that current numbers for the NPP and NDC in Parliament will ensure cooperation between the two main parties.
“It also would mean that government would have to be much more consultative and reach out to the opposition much better we are used to and that could deepen democracy if we allow that to happen.
“We may have a Speaker come from the opposition party who really is for the good of democratic governance, and we could live with that. But if we have a Speaker who is entrenched on his own party line, it becomes difficult to run a government,†Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said.
Meanwhile, the NDC is contesting both the presidential and parliamentary results as flawed and stolen for the incumbent NPP.
Professor Oheneba Boachie-Adjei, Founder and President of the Foundation of Orthopedics and Complex Spine, has been chosen by Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei-Tutu II as the Essential Chief (Hiahene) of Asanteman.
At a well-attended swearing-in ceremony at the Manhyia Palace on Thursday, 19th November, 2020, Prof. Boachie-Adjei was installed with the new stool name Oheneba Boachie-Adjei Woahene II.
In the local Akan language, “I need you†translates as “me hia woâ€. The HIA Stool was created by Opemsuo Osei Tutu I in 1690, with the occupier bearing the responsibility of being indispensable to the ruler of the Ashanti Kingdom. The choice of Nana Professor Boachie-Adjei for this honor further demonstrates an extensive recognition for his selfless, dedicated and sacrificial commitment and services for the love of Asanteman, Ghana and mankind.
For many years, Nana worked as Professor of Orthopedic Surgery at the Weill Cornell Medical College, New York. He was also Chief of Scoliosis at the world-acclaimed Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York, while operating a successful private medical practice in Manhattan.
In 1998, Nana Boachie-Adjei Woahene II founded FOCOS in New York and Ghana as a medical mission Not-for-Profit organization. This vision was in alignment with his grand commitment toward making access to quality orthopedic and spine care possible, especially for the poor, vulnerable and underserved populations across Ghana and the West African sub-region.
The severe suffering, disability and economic burden that come with spinal and orthopedic deformities require a modern facility for the treatment of patients, culminating in the establishment and opening of the 70-bed state-of-the-art FOCOS Orthopedic Hospital in 2012.
Till date, the vision brought into being by Nana has resulted in the treatment of over 60,000 adult and pediatric patients from all over the world. His motivation to contributing to human development and alleviating suffering, has earned him multiple local and international awards of recognition. As Nana would usually say, we make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. For all that he has already given, we congratulate Nana and wish him all the best in this new phase of life.
The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) will today, Friday, December 11, 2020, hold an Islamic thanksgiving prayer for victory in the December 7, 2020, presidential and parliamentary elections.
The event is scheduled to take place at the Central Mosque in Abossey Okai, Accra.
A flyer of the event sighted by GhanaWeb indicates that the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, will lead the thanksgiving prayers after Friday congregational prayers at the Central Mosque.
President-elected Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Vice President-elect, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia are expected to be at the event.
The NPP will hold a Christian thanksgiving service on Sunday, December 13, 2020, reports indicate.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has declared incumbent President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo winner of the presidential election on Wednesday, stating that the incumbent President won with 6,730,587 votes, which represents 51.302 per cent of the total valid votes cast.
Former President and flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, according to the EC, obtained 6,213,182 votes, representing 47.359 per cent.
However, the NDC has contested the results, alleging that the EC stole the elections for the NPP.
Popular Ghanaian boxer, Brimah Kamako popularly known as Bukom Banku was physically attacked in a scuffle between the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party in the Odododiodio Constituency on Monday night.
Bukom Banku, who is known to be a staunch supporter of the NDC, was injured on his left arm during a fight that erupted between the two political factions.
The clash between the two factions led to the firing of gunshots which resulted in the arrest of the incumbent Member of Parliament, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye that night.
The former Sports Minister is alleged to have masterminded the fracas in the constituency.
In a video which has gone viral on social media, nurses are seen stitching the open wound of Bukom Banku.
Although one of the nurses attending to the boxer called to an end of the clashes, Bukom Banku insisted in the video that there would be more casualties in the constituency as a result of the clashes.
“People will die in Odododiodio more than any constituency. Three people died yesterday, so more will die,†Bukom Banku said in the video.
The Christian Council of Ghana (CCG) has called for restraint as some people continue to protest over the presidential election result.
Expressing worry over the situation, the Council, has therefore, appealed to all Ghanaians to maintain the tranquil and peace of the country.
A statement signed by Reverend Cyril Fayose, General Secretary of the Council, and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Thursday, called on all supporters of the winning candidates to be moderate and decorous in their celebration to avoid inflaming emotions of political opponents.
Similarly, the Council has also appealed to the supporters of the losing candidates to exercise self-restraint.
It also entreated all pastors to use Sunday, December 13, 2020 to thank the Almighty God for the peaceful elections held and to preach unity among the populace.
“Kindly let us continue to pray for the establishment of a united ‘just and free society’ as stipulated in the Directive Principles of State Policy. The Lord continues to bless and keep all of usâ€, the statement said.
Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the just-ended elections John Dramani Mahama insists the results are “flawed and discreditedâ€.
He also says the declaration by the Chair of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) on Wednesday is a violation of the law.
He said Jean Mensa declared over 100 percent of the results, a clear case of a wrongful act.
“On account of this, my party is confident that what has happened is a violation of the law. It is a violation of due process and, therefore, tantamount to an illegality.†The former president expressed these sentiments as he addressed journalists on Thursday, December 10.
It comes a day after Mrs Mensa declared the presidential results in favour of incumbent Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
According to Mr Mahama, who was president between 2012 and 2017, the EC fell for the influence of state machinery controlled by President Akufo-Addo as the Commission engaged in “blatant attempts at riggingâ€.
To him, this has taken the credibility of the Commission to an all-time low.
“It is also a violation of an understanding we hold dear in this country, an understanding that this is not dictatorship or a monarchy run by a single family for the benefit of a family.
“Ghana belongs to the people of Ghana, all of the people of Ghana.â€
He, therefore, announced his intention to challenge the results.
“We will take legitimate steps to reverse this travesty of justice.
“There is no doubt that every Ghanaian in this country voted for change. We did so both in the presidential and parliamentary elections.â€
Presidential Candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the just-ended elections John Dramani Mahama insists the results are “flawed and discreditedâ€.
He also says the declaration by the Chair of the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) on Wednesday is a violation of the law.
He said Jean Mensa declared over 100 percent of the results, a clear case of a wrongful act.
“On account of this, my party is confident that what has happened is a violation of the law. It is a violation of due process and, therefore, tantamount to an illegality.†The former president expressed these sentiments as he addressed journalists on Thursday, December 10.
It comes a day after Mrs Mensa declared the presidential results in favour of incumbent Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
According to Mr Mahama, who was president between 2012 and 2017, the EC fell for the influence of state machinery controlled by President Akufo-Addo as the Commission engaged in “blatant attempts at riggingâ€.
To him, this has taken the credibility of the Commission to an all-time low.
“It is also a violation of an understanding we hold dear in this country, an understanding that this is not dictatorship or a monarchy run by a single family for the benefit of a family.
“Ghana belongs to the people of Ghana, all of the people of Ghana.â€
He, therefore, announced his intention to challenge the results.
“We will take legitimate steps to reverse this travesty of justice.
“There is no doubt that every Ghanaian in this country voted for change. We did so both in the presidential and parliamentary elections.â€
Chief Executive Officer of the Atta-Mills Institute, Koku Anyidoho has downplayed claims by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) that the December 7 General Elections was fictitious and flawed.
The former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who was an observer for December 7 General Elections has in the past said the elections was free and fair.
The flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Electoral Commission and its Chairperson, Jean Mensa for rigging the December 7 General Elections for the incumbent New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He made a tearful address at the NDC Party headquarters where he said he will not accept the results of a ‘fictitious and flawed elections’.
In a post on his twitter handle, Koku Anyidoho said a particular candidate deciding not to accept the results of an election does not negate it.
“Non-acceptance of elections results by a political party, does not negate the validity of the Declared Results by the Electoral Commission.” he said.
The Electoral Commission (EC) declared the incumbent President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo the winner of Monday December 7 General Elections.
Mrs Jean Mensa , the returning officer of the Presidential elections made the announcement at the commission’s head office in Accra.
Nana Akufo-Addo won with 6,730,413 votes which represents 51.30 percent of the valid votes cast.
His closest competitor, John Dramani Mahama from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) got 6,214,889 votes representing 47.35 per cent.
Total votes cast – 13,119,460 representing 79 per cent of total voters.
Non-acceptance of Elections Results by a political party, does not negate the validity of the Declared Results by the Electoral Commission.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) branch in Akwatia has vowed to punish all party executives and members who sabotaged the party from retaining the parliamentary seat in the constituency.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, December 11 at Akwatia, NPP Chairman of the Akwatia constituency, Alhaji Baba Yakubu, decried how the party lost the parliamentary seat even though it won in the presidential election.
He indicated that the party was still formidable in the constituency considering the wide vote margin in the presidential election in favour of the NPP which polled over 5,000 more votes against NDC’s John Dramani Mahama.
Alhaji Yakubu subtly accused Mercy Adu-Gyamfi (aka Ama Say) for being the prime saboteur of the NPP in the Akwatia constituency in the just ended parliamentary election and indicated she and other executives would be punished duly.
“On 20th June we held primaries and (afterwards) Hon. Ama Sey decided to go independent. Leaders advise her but she budges. She refused to step down.
“We will, first of all, apologize to Nana Akufo-Addo on behalf of Ama Sey who did not show up when he came to campaign in Akwatia.
“Some of our polling station campaign publicly campaigned against the party…
“This afternoon we are addressing the media to say that any member who campaigned against the party, we have a constitution that will deal with you accordingly.
“Any member who sabotaged the party, the party will deal with you accordingly. Whoever falls guilty (of the sabotage) we shall suspend that person.
“We have sabotaged ourselves and (as the chairman) I will ensure we take back the seat in 2024,” Alhaji Baba Yakubu said at the press conference.
He stated emphatically that all the saboteurs will be alienated by the party.
The NPP lost the Akwatia seat to the NDC in the just ended parliamentary election as many of the electorates voted against the NPP candidate Ernest Yaw Kumi and voted for Akufo-Addo in the presidential race.
The electorate “skirt and blouse” action was to indicate their displeasure with the NPP constituency executives for clandestinely unseated their favourite Ama Sey who snatched the seat for the NPP in 2016.
In the heat up to the December 7 election, Ama Sey, reportedly campaigned for Akufo-Addo and however told the constituents to exercise their own discretions in the parliamentary election.
In the 2020 election, Akufo-Addo obtained 21,758 as against the NPP parliamentary candidate Kumi who polled 18,750.
The NDC’s John Mahama got 16,181 while his parliamentary candidate, Henry Kwadwo Boakye Yiadom, won with 19,990 votes.
The vote difference between Akufo-Addo and Mahama was 5,577 while the difference between Kumi and Yiadom was 1,239. A clear case of “skirt and blouse” voting.
The Electoral Commission has announced the certified Parliamentary results of the 2020 election across 275 constituencies.
According to a statement issued by the EC on Thursday, December 10, 2020, the New Patriotic Party has won 137 seats in Parliament while the National Democratic Congress has won 136 seats.
One independent candidate has however won a seat in Parliament while one outstanding result is yet to be provided from the Sene West Constituency.
The Ashanti Region gained the most seats with 42 won for the NPP while the NDC gained 20 seats from the Greater Accra Region.
Ghanaians went to the polls on December 7, 2020, for the eighth time since 1992 to elect a President and 275 Members of Parliament as part of a four-year constitutional mandate.
Chairperson of the Electoral Commission Jean Mensa on Wednesday, December 9, announced that Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party polled 6,730,413, representing 51.595 percent while John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress garnered 6,214,889 representing 47.366 percent in the 8th election in the 4th Republic that had 12 candidates.
The parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Upper West Denkyira in the just-ended general elections, Mr Daniel Ohene Darko, has won the seat.
Mr Ohene Darko polled 18,446 votes while the candidate of the governing New Patriotic Party, Mr Samuel Nsowah Dzan, polled 17,925.
The declaration of the disputed parliamentary result for the constituency followed a meeting between officials of the Electoral Commission and the two main political parties, NDC and NDC.
This means the NDC has increased its number of seats to 136.
There are three more disputed parliamentary results to be declared.
They include Savelugu, Sene West and Techiman South.
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the NDC, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has urged supporters of the party in those constituencies to “stand their ground†and insist the right things are done.
The parliamentary candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Upper West Denkyira in the just-ended general elections, Daniel Ohene Darko, has won the seat.
Mr Ohene Darko polled 18,446 votes while the candidate of the governing New Patriotic Party, Samuel Nsowah Dzan polled 17,925.
The declaration of the disputed parliamentary result for the constituency followed a meeting between officials of the Electoral Commission and the two main political parties, NDC and NDC.
This means the NDC has increased its number of seats to 136.
There are three more disputed parliamentary results to be declared.
They include Savelugu, Sene West and Techiman South.
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has urged supporters of the party in those constituencies to “stand their ground†and insist the right things are done.
A policeman, Constable Senanu Davordzie has accidentally shot himself.
According to the police, Constable Senanu Davordzie went on night duty at the Takoradi Market Circle Branch of Ecobank.
The policeman upon reaching the charge office where he was going to hand over his rifle, fell off his motorbike.
The fall triggered his rifle which discharged two bullets into his abdomen and although he was rushed to the hospital in Takoradi, he was pronounced dead on arrival.
His body has since been deposited at the Takoradi Hospital morgue pending autopsy.
Meanwhile, his rifle with 18 rounds of ammunition and 1 spent shell have been retrieved and retained.
The Inspector-General of Police, James Oppong-Boanuh has squashed claims that military men were deployed at various polling centres on December 7 to oversee the electoral process.
According to him, the allegations are false as some military men spotted at some centres on the day, were only there to serve as a back-up in emergency cases.
At a press briefing Thursday, December 10, 2020, the IGP noted that the general election was supervised by the Police Service and other security agencies without the involvement of the military.
Mr Oppong-Boanuh, while addressing the media said, “It is important to highlight that we rolled out a four-tier deployment strategy for the elections which revolved around static duties at the polling stations and the collation centres, Mobile patrols, Rapid Response Teams and Reserved Teams. The core election duty was at the polling stations and the collation centres where personnel of the various security agencies were deployed without the involvement of the military.”
The IGP furthered that, “The military, together with the various Operation Units of the Ghana Police Service were deployed for back-up in emergency situations. The military was not involved in the duties at the polling stations but were called in under rapid response and emergency situations only. The impression being created that the military was used at the polling stations is therefore not correct.”
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has said about five people have died from electoral and post-electoral incidents nationwide.
The security agency pointed out that 21 of the incidents were through electoral violence while 6 involved gunshots resulting in the death of 5.
The cases according to the Police happened in the Awutu Senya East, Odododiodio, Ablekuma Central constituencies among others across the country.
Some streets in Tamale have been filled to capacity as NPP supporters clad in NPP branded shirts and paraphernalia jubilate and jam to loud music.
Motorists have been spotted riding carelessly at crossroads within the Tamale Central, and excited over the party’s victory in the just-ended Presidential elections, with little care about their safety, traffic rules, and regulations.
Major streets in the central business area were blocked, causing night traffic, while they engaged in uncontrolled jubilation in the absence of security personnel.
Streets like Lamashegu, Dungu, and Fuoh have been calm and almost empty.
Other party supporters including some NDC members joined the jubilation as a mark of tolerance and reconciliation.
Mr. Alhassan Yakubu, an NDC sympathizer who spoke to the Ghana News Agency, said although the NPP Presidential candidate had been declared the winner in the Presidential election, it takes consolation of having a majority in Parliament.
Cletus Apul Avoka, Member of Parliament-elect for the Zebilla Constituency, has pledged to work hard to unite the people of the area.
“A unified people can work together and propel the development of the area,†he said.
Mr. Avoka was speaking to the constituents after he won the 2020 parliamentary election in Zebilla.
The long-serving Member of Parliament beat the Upper East Deputy Regional Minister, Frank Adongo Fuseini of the New Patriotic Party to reclaim the seat.
Mr. Avoka polled 33,616 votes while the incumbent, Mr. Adongo obtained 15,997 votes.
The Convention People’s Party candidate, Mr. Benjamin Anafo secured 842 votes, while the National Democratic Congress candidate, Karim Mahamadu Aduku obtained 174 votes.
“This is the beginning of many things to happen. We are going to close our ranks, I am going to work with everybody in the Constituency for the purpose of bringing development to the doorstep of the people,” Mr Avoka said.
Mr. Avoka thanked the people of Zebilla for the confidence reposed in him one more time.
He also thanked the media, the security personnel, the Electoral Commission, and other election observers for the professionalism they showed, which he said attributed to a “peaceful election in the Zebilla Constituency”.
The Zebilla Constituency has been one of the strongholds of the NDC since 1992.
The parliamentary seat was occupied by Mr Avoka until in 2004 when he lost it to Mr John Akparibo Ndebugre of the PNC.
In 2008, Mr. Avoka reclaimed the seat and lost it again in 2016 to Mr Frank Fuseini Adongo of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who won the seat for the first time and lost it in the just ended 2020 elections.
Prominent Black Lives Matters activists and celebrities have written to Nigeria’s president demanding justice over the treatment of people during protests against police brutality.
The group, which includes singer Alicia Keys and campaigner Greta Thunberg, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to free jailed protesters.
They also called for a “transparent investigation” into the alleged killing of protesters by armed forces.
“We cannot stay silent,” they said.
Witnesses say they saw soldiers open fire on protesters at a toll gate in the wealthy Lagos suburb of Lekki on 20 October. It followed weeks of protests, which began against the now-disbanded, much-hated police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (Sars), but then morphed into greater calls for better governance.
“In the midst of a global pandemic, your people sought to bring peace and justice to their land, and they made Africa and its diaspora proud in doing so,” the letter to President Buhari said.
“Yet their peaceful requests were met with state-sanctioned violence and suppression, as your administration meted out unwarranted force against its own unarmed citizens.”
The letter was organised by #BlackLivesMatter movement co-founder Opal Tometi, and timed to coincide with International Human Rights Day.
Other signatories included actors Kerry Washington, Danny Glover and Mark Ruffalo, as well as writers Afua Hirsch, Reni Eddo-Lodge and Naomi Klein.
“As people who have supported the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States and throughout the diaspora, we cannot be silent when similar atrocities take place in African countries,” the letter said.
“We demand respect for the Nigerian people, especially as they engage in their constitutional right to protest grave injustices.”
“We demand respect for the Nigerian people, especially as they engage in their constitutional right to protest grave injustices.”
For Black Lives Matter, highlighting injustices on the African continent is part of its wider mission to intervene in violence inflicted on black communities by the state.
Many of the signatories to the letter are members of the African diaspora, including Opal Tometi, whose parents are Nigerian. She told the BBC she has friends and family in Nigeria, so this feels personal. She believes the international community needs to continue to apply pressure on the Nigerian government to deliver justice for victims of brutality by the armed forces.
However despite the big name endorsements, it’s unlikely the letter will lead to a change of tack from the Nigerian government.
In the immediate aftermath of the Lekki tollgate shooting, public figures, including former US presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and President-elect Joe Biden, called on the Nigerian government to hold those accountable responsible.
But the comments were brushed off by the authorities; and just this week President Buhari reiterated that any form of violent protest would not be tolerated.
On Monday there was a heavy police presence around the tollgate following calls for a second phase of protests to begin. It seems the authorities are determined to stop a repeat of the scenes of widespread street protests across Nigeria in October.
However stopping the #EndSARS social media campaign will not be so easy. Young Nigerians have seen how much influence they can yield – this letter is evidence of that.
Just last night at the Mobos, Afro pop singer Tiwa Savage referred to the Lekki tollgate shooting in her performance, singing “who gave the order?” Young Nigerians have vowed not to give up until the question is answered.
As well as demanding the release of all jailed protesters, activists and journalists, the signatories demand that all soldiers and security officials responsible for the shootings at Lekki Toll Gate are held to account, and that the ban on peaceful protests is lifted.
Amnesty International says 12 people were killed in the shooting, although the Nigerian army insists its soldiers were firing blank bullets.
A judicial panel has been set up in Lagos to investigate both events at Lekki and the activities of Sars. While it promises neutrality and justice, some protesters say they fear government retribution if they speak out.
Since the protests, a number of activists say they have been targeted by the authorities. Some have had their bank accounts frozen by the Nigerian Central Bank and some have been detained without charge, before being eventually released.
Nine out of 10 people in dozens of poor nations could miss out on getting vaccinated against Covid-19 next year because rich countries have hoarded far more doses than they need, campaigners said on Wednesday.
Rich nations home to 14 percent of the global population had bought 53 percent of the total stock of the most-promising vaccines as of last month, said the People’s Vaccine Alliance, a coalition including Oxfam, Amnesty International and Global Justice Now.
They said pharmaceutical companies working on Covid-19 vaccines should openly share their technology and intellectual property through the World Health Organisation (WHO) so more doses can be manufactured.
“This shouldn’t be a battle between countries to secure enough doses,†Mohga Kamal-Yanni, an advisor for People’s Vaccine Alliance, told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
“During these unprecedented times of a global pandemic, people’s lives and livelihoods should be put before pharmaceutical company profit,†she added.
While high-risk groups in Britain received on Tuesday the first shot of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, most people in 67 low- and lower middle-income countries including Bhutan, Ethiopia and Haiti, risk being left behind, they said.
Among the three Covid-19 vaccines for which efficacy results have been announced, almost all the available doses of two of them – Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech – have been acquired by rich countries, the Alliance report said.
While AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford have pledged to provide 64 percent of their doses to people in developing nations, that would only reach 18 percent of the world’s population by next year “at mostâ€, it added.
The campaigners used data from science information and analytics company Airfinity to analyse the deals done between countries and eight leading vaccine candidates, including China’s Sinovac and Russia’s Sputnik V.
The EU, United States, Britain, Canada, Japan, Switzerland, Australia, Hong Kong, Macau, New Zealand, Israel and Kuwait have acquired 53 percent of these potential doses – with Canada buying enough to vaccinate its population five times over, Oxfam said.
“By buying up the vast majority of the world’s vaccine supply, rich countries are in breach of their human rights obligations,†Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s Head of Economic and Social Justice, said in a statement.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta insists Thomas Partey’s injury setback was not because he was rushed back by the club for their north London derby against Tottenham.
Partey will ‘miss the next few matches’ because of a recurrence of his recent thigh issue, Arteta confirmed on Wednesday ahead of their Europa League dead rubber with Dundalk.
The 2-0 defeat by Spurs was Partey’s first appearance in almost a month and Arteta said: ‘He did incredibly well and was very confident. We tested him three times and he had zero incidents.
In football you have a lot of unpredictable actions.’ Partey limped off the pitch against Tottenham – leaving Arsenal light in defence as Spurs scored from a counter-attack.
Arteta is set to give Arsenal’s kids their chance in Thursday night’s clash. The club are looking to end their Europa League group with a perfect record after five wins from five.
Arteta added he would fully support his players if they decided to walk off the pitch if they felt there had been a racist incident, in light of what happened in the Champions League clash between PSG and Istanbul Basaksehir.
