TIG Post

Author: Persis

  • Kotoka International Airport boosts rating with robust coronavirus prevention protocols

    Standard COVID-19 prevention protocols observed at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), have made the airport more attractive to the international community.

    Mr. Joseph Kofi Adda, Minister of Aviation, said this on Tuesday in Accra, when Qater Airways launched its flight operations into the country, with a Boeng 787 aircraft.

    “This is coming in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, an indication of the preparedness of the KIA, with regards to laid down protocols on the prevention of the spread of covid-19,” he said.

    Mr. Adda wooed the airline’s management to see Ghana as a convenient place to do business, and said there were a number of other investment potentials that they could explore, to the mutual gain of the two countries.

    Mr. Charles Owiredu, Deputy Minister, Foreign Affairs and Regional integration, recalled that in the year 2017, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, led a delegation to Qatar during which a memorandum of understanding to foster bilateral corporation between the two countries was signed.

    He said the launch was thus a fruition of that initiative, adding, “The government would give Qatar Airways all the support it needs to succeed.”

    Mr. Yofi Grant, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC), described the event as a milestone in the history of the two countries, adding that it served as a door opener for further cooperation between the two countries.

    The GIPC CEO said he was of the firm belief that Qatar Airways would soon become one of the leading airlines in the country.

    Source: GNA

  • Pursue your rights – CHRAJ

    Dr. Isaac Annan, Director, Human Rights Department of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has encouraged the citizenry to know and pursue their rights.

    “Learn your rights because if you do not know your rights, you cannot claim them, therefore, know your rights and pursue them,” he said.

    Dr. Annan said this at a day’s COVID-19 anti-stigma and discrimination training programme in Accra.

    It was organised by CHRAJ for religious and traditional leaders towards minimising stigmatisation against persons infected with COVID-19.

    Dr. Annan noted that though the rights of individuals were fully enshrined in the country’s constitution, people often got abused because they did not know of their rights and asked them to seek help from the Commission.

    He observed that people who were often abused belonged to marginalised groups, including people living in extremely poor communities, and urged them to turn CHRAJ when in doubt.

    Dr. Annan said CHRAJ was established to promote human rights and asked the citizenry to enjoy those services at no cost.

    Source: GNA

  • Tension brews in Senya Beraku as chiefs demonstrate against Kwamena Duncan, George Andah and others

    The chiefs, elders and thousands of residents of Senya Beraku in the Awutu Senya West District of the Central Region yesterday protested against the Central Regional Minister, Mr Kwamena Duncan, Legislature for Awutu Senya West Hon. Nenyi George Andah, NPP Central Regional Treasure Prophesor Essibu as well as DCE in the area Hon. Stephen Kwame Quaye for involving themselves in their Chieftaincy disputes.

    The demonstration was help with the inscription ”Politicians and Chieftaincy can they move together? Nana Addo come to our aid Senya Beraku is calling you”.

    According to history, the Supreme Court of Ghana in the year 2018 ruled in favour of the Omanhene of Senya Beraku Nenyi Kweku Issiw VI, since then other functions led by the Tufohene in the area Nenyi Ippi Kwao Bentum and his accomplices refusing the signing the gazette of the Omanhene after Supreme Court judgment.

    Some residents in an interview with Daily Analyst bemoaned that, the long-standing chieftaincy dispute has halted development, peace and unity in the area, calling on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo to settle the issue as Ghana is about to go to the polls.

    “Instead of the NPP gurus to bring developments to Senya community, they are rather conniving with other faction to deepen the chieftaincy disputes,” they said.

    Moreover, the Odikro of Senya Traditional Council, Beraku Nenyi Omanor is calling on the H E President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to intervened and call Central Regional minister Hon. Kwamina Duncan, MP Hon. George Andah and DCE Hon Stephen Kwame Quaye to order or they will advise themselves come 2020 general elections.

    Source: otecfmghana.com

  • Accra Zabarma Chief send his condolence to Nasara wing members

    The Greater Accra Zabarma Chief and President of Ghana Zabarma Association, Alhaji Sarki Pro-Umar Abubakar Tanko on Tuesday sent a message of condolence to the entire members of Nasara wing of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) over the death of former Nasara Wing Coordinator and a Founding father, Alhaji Fuseini Maiga .

    “On behalf of the Greater Accra Zabarma Community, the Association and in my own name, Alhaji Sarki Pro-Umar Abubakar Tanko” offered heartfelt condolences on the death of Alhaji Fuseini Maiga and extended his sincere regards to the NPP government and members, as well as to the family of the late Founding father of Nasara Wing.”

    He stated in his message that Alhaji Fuseini Maiga was an outstanding personality within and outside the Muslim community and had devoted himself to the development of the Zangos and the nation at large.

    “Alhaji Fuseini Maiga who was a father to me had pursued friendly relations with Zongo Vibes a super Hausa program I host on Vibe Fm an Accra base radio station and made important contributions to the development of Zongos and NPP.”

    “I have host Alhaji Fuseini Maiga several times on my show and I really did my very best to promote him and his agenda due to good intentions he had for the Zango Communities.”

    “Alhaji Fuseini Maiga in 2004 succeeded in his agenda by obtaining a high number of votes for the NPP in the Zongos and through his efforts the NPP won.”

    “He then continued with his selfless agenda and made a significant impact in the lives of many Zongo youths, indeed the Zongo Community had lost a great leader and he would be forever remain in the minds and hearts of many Zongo youths.”

    “We deeply regret the passing on of the late Founding father of Nasara Wing,” May Allaah (swt ) forgive him and grant his gentle soul Jannatul Firdaws pro-Umar.”

    Source: Muhammed Faisal Mustapha, Contributor

  • Secessionists criminals copying blindly – Sam Okudzeto

    The Western Togolanders, who hijacked Juapong last Friday, are a group of criminals who are copying blindly from what happened in Cameroon where a group also wanted independence for portions of that country, Sam Okudzeto, a member of the Council of State, has said.

    He indicated these are individuals that must be treated as criminals and be made to face the law.

    The group, after blocking major entry points in the Volta Region, attacked two police stations at Aveyime and Mepe, and seized 10 AK47 assault rifles after breaking into the police armoury.

    They ransacked the police stations, released inmates in custody, physically assaulted and injured some officers.

    The group, subsequently, blocked major roads to the Region and burnt car tyres.

    However, a joint police-cum-military enforcement team rescued the police officers who were held hostage.

    So far, 31 members of the secessionist group were arrested and, subsequently, airlifted to Accra and in the custody of the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service for interrogation.

    One person died and several others sustained various degrees of injury during the exchange of fire between the security agencies and the secessionist group.

    Reacting to the development, Mr Okudzeto said: “This is a criminal conduct by these people. These are Ghanaians that are copycats. When they see something happening somewhere they think it is just natural for them to also do the same thing.”

    “You have seen what is going on in Cameroon where Western Cameroon also had…same problem when they were trying to cut off.

    “Those in Ghana do not understand the history behind the other one and they try to confuse themselves as if they are the same,” he told Joy FM Tuesday, September 29.

    Source: 3 News

  • Our database does not contain any duplicates currently – EC

    The Electoral Commission (EC) says all duplicate voter identification numbers that were detected during the just-ended voter registration exercise have been “remedied” and the affected applicants have been re-issued new numbers.

    According to the Chairperson of the Commission, Mrs Jean Mensa, the duplicates occurred because the registration kits were offline hence all voter ID numbers were issued independently.

    She said 88,000 duplicates were detected when the national data came together online and that the Commission was in the process of handing over the new ID cards with the new numbers to the affected voters.

    Addressing a press conference in Accra on Monday, September 28, Mrs Mensa said political parties and their agents would be invited to monitor the re-issuance of the said duplicate ID cards.

    Reasons for duplicates

    The Chairperson explained that the duplicates were recorded because some registration kits had the same unique code.

    “To prevent the duplication of voter ID numbers, each kit is given a unique code. What we realised during the registration was that in instances where the registration kits become faulty, they were withdrawn from the field and a new one was sent to the field and the same code was put on the new one,” Mrs Mensa said.

    “The same code as the one withdrawn was placed on the new one. However, when the faulty kit was brought back to the field, that code was not changed and so you realised that we had two kits with the same code and this meant that they would produce the same ID numbers”.

    She said the current voter database does not contain any duplicate voter ID numbers.

    “Some 88,000 applicants were affected overall. The Commission has remedied this and contacted a good number of them during the registration. We are currently reissuing new Voter ID Cards to them. It must be emphasized that the data base does not contain any duplicates as this has been remedied.”

    “In the spirit of transparency, the Commission has instructed its officials to allow Political Parties and their agents to monitor the distribution of the duplicate cards to the affected persons.”

    Repeated pictures

    Mrs Mensa also assured that registers which contained recurring pictures were as a result of corrupted data which had been resolved by the EC.

    She said the corrupted images did not affect the validity of registered persons.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Secessionists attacks ‘very well coordinated’ – Okudzeto reveals

    Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency in the Volta Region, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says he is reliably informed the secessionists who launched attacks on security installations over the weekend were largely from Togo and not Volta Region.

    According to him, his fact-finding after the incidence has pointed to the fact that the language of the large majority of the attackers who besieged the two police stations at Mepe and Avehime in his constituency did not sound Ghanaian as there was variation in the Ewe language.

    Ghanaians woke up to the news of some secessionist group blocking roads leading to the Volta Region while clamouring for independence from Ghana.

    On Friday, September 25, 2020, some of the members of the group blocked some major roads and burnt lorry tyres on the ECOWAS road at Tademe, some kilometres away from the Sogakope Bridge in the South Tongu District impeding vehicular movement and leaving passengers traveling to areas in the Region stranded.

    The group also attacked Police stations at Aveyime and Mepe in the North Tongu District, amidst demands for the Volta Region to be an autonomous country known as “Western Togoland”.

    However, in a swift response, a joint team from the Military and the Ghana Police Service nipped it in the bud with 31 people being arrested in connection with the uprising.

    Surprisingly, on Tuesday dawn, the the secessionist group carried out an arson attack at the State Transport Corporation (STC) yard in Ho.

    Commenting on Okay FM’s Ade Akye Abia Morning Show about the secessionists attack, the NDC MP said his assertions are based on briefings he received from security agencies.

    “If you listen to those who are at the forefront, they are saying that the large majority of the attackers, the kind of language, even the war songs they were chanting did not sound Ghanaian; the variation of the Ewe language, at this point the suspicion is that they were from Togo and that is what many of the briefs I have received from the police chiefs are pointing to, that they were largely not from my constituency or from the Volta Region. At this point, the suspicion is that they came from Togo”, he asserted.

    Hon Ablakwa, who is a former Deputy Education Minister, further revealed that the attacks appeared well coordinated as the secessionists simultaneously besieged the Mepe and Avehime police stations, and the offices of the District Assembly and even managed to over-power a reinforcement team from Sogakope.

    “First of all, the attackers distracted the police and created the impression by a few of them that approached the police station that they were to lodge a complaint and so as the police were taking down the complaint, the others swarmed the police station and broke into the police armory at Avehime and made away 14 AK-47 rifles and 2 pump-action guns.

    “A similar event occured at Mepe police station and the secessionists took from the armory 2 AK-47 rifles….So, it was welcome coordinated; those people who carried out the attack were well trained….

    “The Sogakope Divisional Police Commander who rushed to the scene with reinforcement detachment was also overpowered and their weapons were also retrieved by the secessionists. And looking at the narrative from the eye-witness, clearly, the attackers were as many as 50 people at the Mepe police station and at the Avehime police station, they were about 70 people and those who laid ambush to overpower the approaching reinforcement detachment, led by the Sogakope Divisional Police Commander, we are also hearing high numbers there”.

    “And those who blocked the Juapong entry into the Volta Region were not less than 100 people and so it was quite a high number. What happened at the dawn of Friday was no joke; the secessionists were in possession of sophisticated weapons and they had superior firepower, quite clearly and if you listen to the police, the attackers are trained and they had weapons”, he narrated.

    Hon. Okudzeto Ablakwa, therefore, called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who is also the Commander-In-Chief and the entire security apparatus to exercise their constitutional responsibility by protecting and preserving the territorial integrity of the country.

    “We have to acknowledge that the entire national security apparatus and the head of national security council, H.E the President who is the Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces are the relevant authorities in charge of the protection and safety of the citizens which the Constitution mandates them to protect and preserve our territorial integrity”, he charged.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Mahama gave out nose masks on campaign tour not cash – Agyenim Boateng

    The 2020 Campaign Spokesperson for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), James Agyenim Boateng, has described as false, reports in sections of the media about John Mahama sharing money as part of his campaign tour in the Bono Region.

    In a trending video circulating on various social media platforms, the NDC flagbearer is seen handing throwing what some say looked like money into a crowd that gathered around his vehicle on the resumption of his campaign tour on Monday, September 28.

    But speaking on on the An?pa B?fo? morning show on Angel 102.9 FM on Tuesday, Mr. Agyenim Boateng urged the public to disregard the said publications.

    “Yes, Mr. Mahama was sharing something but not money as it was claimed. He was rather sharing his campaign nose masks with an inscription of his name- John Mahama 2020. He even shared some of his campaign T-shirts,” the former Deputy Information Minister told host, Nana Yaa Brefo.

    He added: “At other places, he even shared his campaign t-shirts and aprons. So if you saw him giving something out to a particular person in the video, then it was his campaign nose mask.”

    Mr. Agyenim Boateng added that though the former President, John Dramani Mahama is a generous man, he does his generous works behind scenes and not in the open.

    He used the opportunity to highlight some policies to be implemented by the Mahama-led NDC, should they be voted back in power on December 7, 2020.

    He Boateng mentioned that, “Mahama will make access to health facilities universal with or without the use of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). That is to say, there will be Free Primary Healthcare and he has also promised to complete all abandoned projects.”

    Meanwhile, John Dramani Mahama is expected to continue with his campaign tour today, September 29, 2020, to the Jaaman Constituency and five other Constituencies in the Bono Region.

    Source: angelonline.com.gh

  • Ghana will be completely transformed in next 2 years – Bawumia assures Ghanaians

    Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says Ghana will become a completely transformed country in the next two years.

    According to him, the incumbent government led by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is on the right track and will need more years to complete his vision for the nation.

    Delivering a speech at the grand launch of “Aspirants Unite for Victory”, a movement by Parliamentary aspirants who lost in the 2020 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Primaries to unite and forge ahead for victory in the elections this year, Dr. Bawumia disclosed that Ghana will, in the next NPP administration, become one of the most digitized economies in the world.

    The “Aspirants Unite for Victory” movement was launched on Monday, September 28, 2020 at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in the Greater Accra Region.

    The Vice President charged Ghanaians to give four more years to the Akufo-Addo administration to continue the good works, stressing it will be a grave mistake for them to vote former President John Dramani Mahama back to power.

    “By the grace of God, in another two or three years, this is going to be a completely different country. We’re going to have completely new systems. We’ll be one of the most digitized economies on the face of Africa. There’s no doubt about that. Give us just a couple of more years, with what we’re doing, it is going to be an amazing country to live in. I believe so and so we don’t make all this progress and then go back to incompetence. We cannot chart this course and go back to incompetence,” he said.

    He also advised members and supporters of the ruling New Patriotic Party to have a common purpose as the nation gears up for the December 7 elections.

    “I think that our collective interest must at all times override our personal interest. Our love for the party must be even demonstrated more in times of difficulty and not when all is well and rosy because that is easy for anybody to do. Aspirants Unite for Victory 2020 have shown the way and hope that they’re given the needed support as they join forces with the national campaign team to help canvass for votes from house-to-house, door-to-door and hamlet-to-hamlet to ensure a decisive and emphatic victory.”

    “It’s our every expectation that the strength of our party from North, South, East and West; we’re united and poised to work for victory with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.”

    Source: Peace FM

  • Bankpama School ripped off as school reopens

    The Bankpama Basic School in the Wa West District had its roof ripped off by a heavy rainstorm rendering the school inaccessible as school reopens on Monday, October 5, 2020.

    The residents of the Bankpama community, who revealed this to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Tuesday said they were worried their wards would not be able to attend school when it resumes.

    According to them, both the primary and the Junior High Schools were ripped off by a rainstorm leaving the building with cracks.

    “The school was constructed many years ago by a white man, and since then, the building has never seen any renovation and neither has the Assembly put up a new school for us”, Mr James Awula, the Assembly Member for the Bankpama Electoral Area explained.

    According to him, the school children were compelled to lie prostrate anytime they were to do write because there was no furniture for them. Madam Faustina Yipaala, a resident of the community also told the GNA that school children in the community were not willing to go to school because they did not want to sit on the floor.

    She, however, said parents were aware of the importance of education to the holistic development of their wards and therefore had to force their wards on daily basis to go to school to enable them to become better persons in the future.

    Madam Yipaala appealed to the Wa West District Assembly and the Member of Parliament, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh to renovate the school and to provide the necessary infrastructure to enable the children to return to school on 5th October 2020.

    President Akufo-Addo announced that second-year Junior High and Senior High School students across the country would resume school on October 5th, 2020, after schools were closed down for about six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Source: GNA

  • We are in control of the situation – Ho MCE

    Mr Prosper Pi-Bansah, the Ho Municipal Chief Executive, says the security services have the city under control after an attack on the State Transport Corporation yard by unidentified gunmen.

    He said the security services were monitoring the situation and urged residents to go about their daily activities without fear.

    Mr Pi-Bansah gave the assurance in an interaction with the media after a visit to the attack scene.

    He said security patrols would be intensified in the Municipality and asked for public cooperation to help end the crisis.

    Gunmen suspected to be members of the Western Togoland Secessionist group, in the early hours of Monday, stormed the STC yard assaulted drivers and a security officer, and set some buses ablaze.

    One bus was destroyed in the attack, and another partially burnt.

    Source: GNA

  • Atwima-Agogo cries for market and clinic

    The chiefs and people of Agogo in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality have appealed to the government to help construct a market for the community.

    Mr Latif Awuah Sarpong, Assemblyman for the area, who made the appeal, said the absence of a market place was seriously affecting economic activities in the community.

    Mr Sarpong, who spoke to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, said the community, which was gradually developing into a peri-urban status, needed a modern market to help promote commercial activities to improve the socio-economic lives of the people.

    The community, he said, also needed a hospital to make it easy for residents to obtain quality healthcare.

    He said patients, especially pregnant women, had to travel long distances to attend hospital and appealed to the district assembly to consider establishing a health facility in the area to provide quality healthcare services for the people.

    Mr Sarpong, however, commended the government and the district assembly for providing the community with potable drinking water, a football pitch, waste bins, a police station, and other basic amenities, which were improving the living conditions of the people.

    He pleaded with the contractor working on the Atwima Agogo- Twedie road to expedite action to complete the road to open up the area.

    Source: GNA

  • Hold on with IPO on Agyapa deal – Amidu tells Ofori Atta

    Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu has called on the Finance Ministry to hold on with its scheduled initial Public Offer (IPO) on the Agyapa royalties deal until he is done with his corruption risk assessment on the transaction.

    “This Office would have wished to complete its corruption risk assessment on the Agyapa Royalties Transaction soonest but for the non-submission of the information and documents pending to be submitted by your Ministry. The information and documents you supplied concerned mainly the processes for and the appointment of the Transaction Advisors which goes to the root of any corruption risk assessment,” Mr Amidu said in a letter to the Finance Ministry.

    The letter added: “Information and documents relating to the identification and recommendation by the transaction advisors to your Ministry for appointment a list of other services providers and or underwriters that may be required to complete the transaction as provided in clause 2.2.1 of the mandate agreement amongst others, that are critical to any through corruption risk assessment are also outstanding. The legal opinions particularly of the principal legal advisor to the government under the Constitution are relevant to ensure compliance with her recommendations as part of any corruption risk assessment.”

    “In the circumstances, this Office wishes to urge you to abide by the results of the corruption risk assessment it is undertaking on the transaction before moving to the launching of the IPO transaction. This Office makes this suggestion on the grounds of prudence on your part and to also not give the impression that the mandate of this Office on prevention of corruption is of no consequence to the transaction,” it noted.

    About the Agyapa deal

    Parliament August 14th approved the controversial Agyapa Mineral Royalty Limited agreement with the government of Ghana despite a walkout by the Minority.

    Two years ago, the House passed the Minerals Income Investment Fund Act 2018 which establishes the Fund to manage the equity interests of Ghana in mining companies, and receive royalties on behalf of government.

    The fund is supposed to manage and invest these royalties and revenue from equities for higher returns for the benefit of the country.

    The law allows the fund to establish Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) to use for the appropriate investments. Last month, government introduced an amendment to the act to ensure that the SPVs have unfettered independence.

    The approval will enable the country to use a special purpose vehicle, Agyapa Royalties Limited to secure about $1 billion to finance large infrastructural projects.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Couple in grips of Akuse police for burning hands of 11-year-old girl

    A couple is facing charges after the woman allegedly dipped the hands of an 11-year-old girl in hot water months ago and failed to seek medical help for her.

    The victim is receiving treatment at the Ho government hospital with severe burns to both hands following the dastardly act by the foster parents with whom she lived at Kpong in the Eastern Region.

    The couple is accused of not seeking medical attention after the victim was injured.

    Akuse District Police Commander, Superintendent Winfred Asare Nyarko said Austin Adokpa Gameli, 34, an uncle to the victim and his wife, 32-year-old Vera Koranteng face provisional charges of compounding crime and causing harm respectively pending further investigations.

    The Police commander disclosed that one Tawiah Sablah, 65 years accompanied by Seth Sablah, both residents of Wudome in the Volta Region and complainants in the case, brought the victim to the Kpong police station to lodge a complaint against Gameli and Vera for scalding the hands of the victim three months ago and refusing to seek medical attention for her.

    A police medical form, Supt. Nyarko added, was quickly issued to the complainants for the girl to be sent to the hospital for treatment.

    According to the police commander, investigations were still ongoing after which the suspects would be processed for court and the appropriate charges subsequently proffered against them.

    Source: myjoyonline.com

  • Police probes arson at Ho STC yard by alleged separatist group

    The police has begun a probe into the arson that took place at the State Transport Corporation (STC) yard in Ho, Volta region on Tuesday dawn by a separatist group.

    According to the police, at about 02:00 am, four armed men, stormed the Ho STC yard demanding the keys to all the vehicles parked and set two of the minibuses ablaze when the drivers did not produce the keys.

    The arrival of police and fire service personnel saved the situation.

    The police says its preliminary investigation shows that there were eleven vehicles parked at the time of the attack.

    One bus was completely burnt and another slightly burnt.

    A flag of the group, which calls itself “Western Togoland”, was found at the scene, the police noted in a statement.

    The security agency has urged the public to remain calm and volunteer information for the arrest of the perpetrators.

    There are several separatist groups in the Volta region advocating independence.

    They say the Volta Region of Ghana is independent and autonomous Western Togoland.

    It is unclear which of the groups attacks the transport yard.

    The Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF), one of the separatist groups, on Friday, 25 September 2020, blocked all entries and exits to and from the region, seized two police stations, took some officers hostage and exchanged gunfire with others wounding a police commander in the process.

    The police has, so far, arrested 31 people suspected to be members of the group.

    Traditional leaders including Togbui Sri III, the Awomefia of the Anlo state, leaders of Gbi-Hohoe, as well as members of the National Houses of Chiefs, have all condemned the actions of the separatist groups.

    Source: Class FM

  • Fisheries Minister to provide updates on sector interventions

    The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development will tomorrow, September 30, 2020 outline interventions that have been rolled out by government to boost the aquaculture sub sector.

    The sector minister, Elizabeth Afoley Quaye is expected to indicate measures that were also taken on compliance and enforcement of fisheries laws and regulations.

    Madam Afoley Quaye will also give an update on activities of the National Premix Fuel Secretariat which has been of concern to many fisherfolks.

    The National Premix Fuel Secretariat was established by the government to oversee the administration and distribution of premix fuel, a heavily subsidized petroleum product.

    Since premix fuel is highly subsidized by the government, the Secretariat ensures that monitoring is enforced to avoid diversion.

    The Secretariat also ensures that the proceeds from the sale of premix fuel are being used to develop fishing communities.

    Tomorrow’s press ecounter will be held at the Ministry of Information.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Akufo-Addos silence on Western Togoland saga strange Bonaa

    Security Analyst, Adam Bonaa, has described as surprising the silence of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the National Security Minister on the disturbances by secession groups in the Volta region.

    According to Mr Bonaa, the President must take the bull by the horn and address the country to assure citizens that he is charge of the situation.

    Mr Bonaa added that the propaganda and information management by the government is not helpful and urged the government to be truthful.

    A group of persons believed to be members of Western Togoland separatist movement Monday down attacked the State Transport Corporation (STC) in the Volta regional capital of Ho.

    In this latest attack allegedly carried out by the group which follows an earlier attack on some state institutions and police stations including mounting of roadblocks on Friday 25th September 2020, some drivers in the yard were beaten while two vehicles belonging to the company were set ablaze.

    The vehicles including a 14-seater bus with registration number, GG-4054-19 was burnt totally while the second one GG-1737-19 had parts of it burnt.

    Speaking on the Morning Starr on Tuesday, Mr Bonaa said it is obvious the government is docile and not in charge of the situation contrary to claims by the Information Minister on Monday.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Electoral Commission to reopen voters register on October 1

    The Electoral Commission of Ghana has announced it will on Thursday, October 1, 2020, reopen the just compiled voters register for one day.

    According to the Commission, the exercise will afford the opportunity for persons above the ages of 18 and citizens who were not able to register in the main the exercise to do so.

    “The Registration will take place in the district in the district offices nationwide and will start from 7am to 6pm,” a statement from the EC read.

    Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission says it has successfully retrieved the names of “valid electorate” that it initially failed to capture into the provisional register that was recently compiled.

    Speaking at press briefing on Monday, September 28, 2020, Chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa, indicated that the register has since been updated electronically with the data that was retrieved.

    This comes after the opposition National Democratic Congress alleged that some 7,000 names of applicants have been deliberately removed from the register.

    But the EC refuted the claims and insisted that voters who duly registered and were issued with Voter ID Cards but cannot find their names on the provisional register, can rectify the situation during the just ended voters exhibition exercise.

    Read the statement below:

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • 88,000 duplication detected in voters register rectified – EC

    The Electoral Commission (EC) has indicated that it has rectified all duplicate voter identification numbers that were detected during the just-ended voter registration exercise.

    Addressing a press conference on Monday, Chairperson, Jean Mensa explained that the duplicates occurred because the registration kits were offline hence all voter ID numbers were issued independently.

    She said 88,000 duplicates were detected when the national data came together online.

    The EC she announced has taken steps to issue new ID cards with the new numbers to the affected voters.

    She added that political parties and their agents would be invited to monitor the re-issuance of the said duplicate ID cards.

    She assured Ghanaians that all those who have been affected would vote on December 7.

    She further disclosed that the duplicates were recorded because some registration kits had the same unique code.

    “To prevent the duplication of voter ID numbers, each kit is given a unique code. What we realised during the registration was that in instances where the registration kits become faulty, they were withdrawn from the field and a new one was sent to the field and the same code was put on the new one,” Mrs Mensah said.

    “The same code as the one withdrawn was placed on the new one. However, when the faulty kit was brought back to the field, that code was not changed and so you realised that we had two kits with the same code and this meant that they would produce the same ID numbers”.

    She said the current voter database does not contain any duplicate voter ID numbers.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Ghana Standards Authority trains 40 Extension officers in Ashanti Region

    The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) has extended its sensitization campaign on aflatoxins to the Ashanti Region with the training of 40 Agriculture Extension Officers.

    The training was under the National Aflatoxin and Sensitisation Management (NASAM) Project and aimed to provide solutions to combat the aflatoxin problem.

    Supported by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and her partners, the NASAM project aims to catalyse and sustain an inclusive agricultural transformation by improving food safety and security through increased knowledge about aflatoxins, its impact and management.
    The nationwide project, which began in 2018, had been to every region with Ashanti Region being the last.

    Aflatoxin refers to fungal contamination, which mostly occurs in foods such as groundnuts, rice, tree nuts, cocoa beans, spices and other dried foods, in areas with hot and humid climates before and after harvest.

    Aflatoxin, contamination remains a major food safety concern in maize and groundnut-based foods.

    High levels of aflatoxin present in grains produced in Ghana led to post-harvest losses, farmers selling their grains at lower prices and the inability of Ghanaian grains and derived food products to be sold on the international market.

    High aflatoxin levels also affect the health of consumers as it is known to be the cause of some diseases.

    The GSA team visited Bosomtwe, Ejisu District and Safo, a suburb of Kwabere East District, where they interacted and educated 50 grains farmers on aflatoxin.

    Meanwhile, the NASAM Project team led by the Director-General of the Ghana Standards Authority, Prof Alex Dodoo paid a courtesy call on the Ashanti Regional Director of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Rev. John Manu.

    The office of MOFA and agriculture extension officers were of immense help to the effectiveness of the implementation of the sensitisation project and a key organization in providing visibility for the work.

    They continuously visit the rural farming areas to educate farmers on the management of aflatoxins through the value chain.

    Source: GNA

  • Let NPPs collective goal override your personal interests – Bawumia

    Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia Monday entreated parliamentary aspirants who lost the New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary primary to the let the collective goal of the Party override their personal interests at all times.

    Dr Bawumia, who launched the “Aspirants Unite for Victory Movement” made up of 220 defeated parliamentary aspirants and 42 sitting MPs who lost the primary, urged them to endeavour to drum home the massive achievements of the Government to the grassroots for a resounding victory.

    The Vice President said the formation of the group provided added impetus to the collective goal of the party for victory in the 2020 elections.

    “My spirit rejoices when I think about it that rather than grumbling and complaining about your loss, you have shown enthusiasm, full of energy and love by forming a movement…this is unprecedented,” he said.

    “I’m encouraged by the love and zeal you have exhibited…your stories will be told positively in the near future.”

    Vice President Bawumia said the dedication and zeal showed by the group indicated that the NPP was a team and united for victory on December 7.

    “A house divided against itself cannot stand because in unity lies our collective strength…I’m so inspired by what you have done,” Dr Bawumia added.

    Vice President Bawumia said there was so much at stake in this year’s election to determine the way forward for the country’s development, hence it was imperative to mobilise the grassroots for resounding victory.

    He said the Mahama-led government exhibited gross incompetence in administering the nation during his four-year term in office as President, therefore Ghanaians should not entrust him with power to manage the country again.

    Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, the Speaker of Parliament, who chaired the ceremony, lauded the resilience and boldness of the aspirants, saying despite the frustrations and disappointment in losing the primary they did not allow their defeat to overpower them, but were mobilising themselves to support the party’s campaign.

    He urged them to take inspiration from President Akufo-Addo, who suffered many electoral defeats both within the party and general elections, but exhibited resilience and now at the helm of affairs as the President of the Republic.

    Mr Kennedy Kankam, Convenor of the Movement and Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, who lost the primary, assured the party of their resolve to mobilise the grassroots for support for resounding victory on December 7.

    He appealed to government and the rank and file of the party to support them in cash and kind for the campaign.

    The Movement announced the adoption of two orphan constituencies – Upper West Akyem and Mion – to campaign for victory for their respective parliamentary candidates.

    It will also intensify media engagements, production of documentaries on the party’s achievements and enhance its presence on social media.

    Source: GNA

  • Public urged not to relent on coronavirus safety protocols

    Dr Dacosta Aboagye, the Director of Health Promotion Division of the Ghana Health Service, has urged the public not to relent on observing the COVID-19 safety protocols because the disease is still active.

    He said the current statistics on the virus should not let people feel the country had overcome the pandemic.

    Rather, he urged the public to intensify the wearing of nose marks, washing of hands, use of sanitizers and the adherence to the social distancing protocols.

    Dr Aboagye gave the advice at a sensitization workshop on COVID-19 for the members of the Greater Region House of Chiefs at Dodowa in Accra.

    He said: “Unless one has the disease, one may not believe it exists and that we should put all doubt aside and obey the protocols because that is the only means to protect ourselves from the pandemic.”

    Dr Aboagye cautioned persons with pre-existing diseases like diabetes, hypertension, asthma, among others to be extra careful not to contract the disease as it could enhance their vulnerability.

    Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Minister of Information, in an address read on his behalf, said Ghana cannot afford to throw caution to the wind and that for people to let their guard down could result in an erosion of the remarkable gains made and put the nation at risk of being hit by a second wave of the pandemic.

    Mr Ishmael Ashittey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister said despite the huge toll COVID-19 took on lives and livelihoods of the global population, the Ghana government took bold measures to contain its spread through well-coordinated and concerted action.

    He called on the members of the House of Chiefs to take the lead in educating their subjects to observe the safety protocols to help drive away the disease.

    Mr Charles Wereko, the Director of the Information Services Department said the chiefs as venerable persons in society the Department would rely on them to complement the efforts of government by undertaking sensitization campaign on the COVID-19.

    Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona, the President of the House and the Paramount Chief of Osu Traditional area gave the assurance that the chiefs would ensure that the safety protocol messages on the COVID-19 reach the people for a healthy living.

    Source: GNA

  • Western Togoland Rebellion: Intellectual Patriots call for national consensus

    Intellectual Patriots, an advocacy group, has called for a national consensus and non-partisan approach in silencing the western Togoland Seccesionist uproar.

    The secessionist group over the week assailed two police stations at Aveyime and Mepe, and made away with rifles from the stations’ armoury.

    They physically assaulted police officers and blocked major roads in the region causing a gridlock in its wake.

    The Advocacy Group said “it had observed with perplexity, the discussions in the media space on developments pertaining to the declaration of sovereignty by the group.”

    It made the comments in a statement signed by Mr Joseph Gyamfi Yeboah, President, Intellectual Patriots, and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Tema.

    With series such seperatist attempts by the group in the past, the Intellectual Patriots appealed for a more cohesive and clear national united voice to finding a lasting solution to the situation.

    “A national non-partisan approach is needed to addressing this sensitive Togoland menace since it is detrimental to the unity of the nation if not dealt with dispassionately.” it said.

    Mr Gyamfi Yeboah said “some political commentators were unashamedly capitalizing on the national problem to advance their debates to score political points on various media platforms by blaming the current administration.

    He emphazed that the partisan twist was not the right approach in dealing with the rather sensitive issue with serious security underpinnings.

    “We call on civil society, the House of Chiefs, Clergy groups, political parties and all well-meaning Ghanaians to offer support where needed to designated state agencies in order to arrive at a finality to the problem.” it concluded.

    Source: GNA

  • GJA cautions against sensationalism, irredentism and chaos

    The Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) has cautioned journalists not to promote sensationalism, irredentism and chaos.

    It said while respecting the rights of Ghanaians to express their inalienable rights and legitimate concerns, the media must be mindful of the constitutional order and desist from reportage that undermines the sovereignty of Ghana and threatens security as the December elections approaches

    In a press release signed by Mr. Rolland Affail Monney, President of the association and made available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra on Monday, said media coverage and analysis of acts of criminality by the Homeland Study group should not promote sensationalism and irredentism.

    “The GJA is aware that there are historic antecedents to the current agitations that stem from the 1956 United Nations plebiscite which created a unitary Ghana,” it said.

    It said as far as the GJA is concerned , apart from the 16 recognized regions that constitute the republic of Ghana, namely ; Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, Bono East, Ahafo, Central, Eastern , Greater Accra, Northern , Savannah , North East, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Oti, Western and Western North, there is no part of Ghana called Western Togoland.

    It urged the leadership of the various political parties and stakeholders to cooperate and facilitate a resolution to the agitation.

    Source: GNA

  • Minority asks Acting Auditor-General to publish 2019 Audited Accounts Report

    The Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) Caucus in Parliament on Monday asked the Acting Auditor General, to as a matter of urgency, submit to Parliament the Audited Accounts of the Government for the 2019 Financial Year

    He should also publish the Reports as demanded by the 1992 Ghanaian Constitution.

    “The Minority is particularly concerned that these delays may be deliberate for the primary purpose of avoiding further embarrassment to the Government,” the Minority said at a press conference at the Parliament House, in Accra, and asked if the “delays are not intended to cover up malfeasance on the part of Government because this year is an election year.”

    Led by the Minority Leader and MP for Tamale South, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, the NDC Caucus in Parliament, re-grouped from recess to organize the presser, at which it drew the attention of the Government to the constitutional requirement of the Auditor -General and the Audit Service to audit and submit to Parliament Reports on the Audited Accounts of Ghana for the preceding year within six months after the end of a preceding year.

    Mr Iddrisu quoted Article 187 (5) of the 1992 Ghanaian Constitution, which said: “The Auditor-General shall within six months after the end of the immediately preceding year to which the accounts mentioned in clause (2) of this article relates, submit his report to Parliament and shall, in that report, draw the attention to any irregularities in the accounts audited and to any other matter which in his opinion ought to be brought to the notice of Parliament.”

    He further referred to Section 20 of the Audit Service Act, 200 (Act 586) which provides that:” The Auditor-General shall, within six months after the end of the immediately preceding financial year to which each of the accounts mentioned in this Part relates, submit his report to Parliament and shall, in the report, draw attention to any irregularities in the accounts audited and to any other matter which in his opinion ought to be brought to the notice of Parliament.”

    Mr Iddrisu, however, observed that “notwithstanding the imperative of the above provisions of the Constitution and Act 586, the Auditor-General has failed to submit and publish his Reports, three (3) months to the end of the financial year.”

    “We are therefore calling on the Acting Auditor-General to as a matter of the urgency submit to Parliament, his Reports for the 2019 financial year,” the NDC Caucus urged.

    The Minority recalled that the previous Auditor-General, who was asked by President Nana Akufo-Addo to proceed on leave had complied with the constitutional provisions in respect of being up-to-date with his Reports to Parliament, stating for instance that the Reports of the Auditor General for the 2018 Financial Year were submitted within the statutory time limit.

    The NDC Minority called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to direct the Acting Auditor General to urgently submit to Parliament for consideration and Report just as he directed the Auditor-General to proceed on leave.

    “Accountability, transparency and good governance oblige us all to ensure that the Auditor General complies with the tenets and dictates of the constitution and laws of Ghana,” the Minority Leader said.

    Source: GNA

  • NPP is the best option – Joe Ghartey

    Mr Joe Ghartey, Minister of Railway Development, has appealed to Ghanaians to retain the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in power because it provides better governance and leadership.

    According to him, the re-election of President Akufo-Addo and the NPP on December 7 would consolidate and protect the socio-economic gains the nation had made so far.

    Mr Ghartey, also Member of Parliament for Essikado-Ketan in the Western Region, made the appeal at a training and campaign launch dubbed “Agenda Maintain and Increase Seats” In Accra.

    The Minister said the ruling NPP government had served Ghanaians well and it was the best option for nation.

    He noted that anytime the NPP was in power, Ghana recorded significant economic development.

    For instance, he stated that it took former President John Agyekum Kufuor to move Ghana from a Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) to a middle income nation.

    Under President Akufo-Addo’s leadership, he said, Ghana had made great economic strides.

    Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, he observed that Mr Akufo-Addo had provided sound leadership, and protected the economic gains so far, adding that “look at what President Akufo-Addo has done in spite of the COVID-19.”

    He therefore encouraged the youth and Ghanaian electorate to become “active participants” in the victory that is coming.

    Winning the next election is not just an exercise to keep the NPP in power, but also to protect the future of Ghanaians and Ghanaian children, and to further improve the standards of living of everyone, make the country a shinning star among the comity of nations, he said.

    Mr Ghartey said: “We have to win the next election to consolidate the gains of the New Patriotic Party, to take the country from strength to strength, to protect our future, your future, the future of our children, the future of all us.”

    Meanwhile, the Railways Development Minister has urged the youth of the party to serve with patriotism and selflessness in order for the party to retain power.

    Source: GNA

  • George Oduro urges NPP youth not to insult opponents

    Mr George Oduro, the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, has advised activists of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) not to engage in politics of insults as they campaign to win the 2020 elections.

    He said politics was a competition of ideas and since the NPP had a lot of innovative ideas to sell to the populace to transform their living conditions, the activists should concentrate on that to ensure a resounding victory in the December 7 elections.

    Mr Oduro, who is also the Member of Parliament for Adansi South, gave the advice at the inauguration of a club dubbed; “Friends of Oduro Fun Club,” at Obuobi, near New Edubiase in the Ashanti Region.

    The Club is made up of youth and NPP activists in the constituency, who are working to retain power in the 2020 general elections.

    Mr Oduro appealed to supporters and members of other political parties to also stay away from politics of insults to ensure peace and unity in the area before, during and after the polls.

    He said people voted to elect leaders who would work to improve their living conditions and urged the electorates to consider benefits they would derive from political leadership before they cast their ballot.

    Mr Oduro said through the various social interventions such as the Free Senior High School, Planting for Food and Jobs, One District One Factory, and support for cocoa farmers, the lives of many Ghanaians had changed for the better.

    The government had shown greater commitment in its first term in office to transform and change the destiny of the people hence the need to give it a second term to continue, he added.

    Source: GNA

  • Religious leaders urge EC to engage stakeholders on voter register

    The Eminent Persons Group of Religious Leaders (EPG) and the Christian Council of Ghana have called on the Electoral Commission (EC) to provide an enabling environment for all major stakeholders to engage more in the electoral processes.

    That, they said, would help to avoid suspicion on the part of all the critical stakeholders.

    The EPG has also appealed to Ghanaians and the political parties to assist the EC in any way possible to facilitate a smooth compilation of the final voter register in the run-up to the December 7 elections.

    A statement signed by the Rt. Reverend Professor J.O.Y. Mante, Chairman of the EPG, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said both the Christian Council and the EPG believed that the just ended voter exhibition exercise would help correct the mistakes identified.

    It said by law, the EC was required to publish the voter register for the electorate to validate their details.

    It said the voter exhibition exercise also offered an opportunity to correct entries and to challenge the exclusion of eligible and inclusion of ineligible persons “before the EC publishes the certified voter register.”

    The statement, however, said the EPG and the Christian Council had also taken note of the complaints by some political parties, typically the National Democratic Congress, as well as the response by the EC of the seemingly large numbers of registrants, who could not find their names on the provisional voters list.

    It, therefore, urged the EC to welcome any such complaints and assuage the fears of disenfranchising any registered voter.

    “Additionally, the EC must fully involve IPAC and other key stakeholders in all the processes to avoid situations that we are witnessing at this time when the election is so close,” the statement said.

    “We call on the media to support the process and avoid sensationalism.”

    Source: GNA

  • Conduct lawful activities without fear – Volta Minister

    Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Chairman of the Volta Regional Security Council (REGSEC) has called on the people of the region to conduct their lawful activities without fear or intimidation.

    He assured the people of the region of their safety and protection by the state security agencies as the rabble-rousers are tracked into their hideouts.

    Dr Letsa said in an interview with the Ghana News Agency that there was sustained security operation across the region and especially key installations to ensure total protection of persons and property.

    He disclosed that some weapons and ammunitions have been retrieved from the abodes and agents of the alleged secessionists, seeking to declare the sovereign Volta region an independent state.

    He said two vehicles belonging to the North Tongu Assembly and the Ghana Police, computers and other accoutrements by the secessionists, which were abandoned by the group after the operation of Friday, have been retrieved as well.

    He said state security have intensified intelligence for the safety of the population and appealed that residents should provide key information that would blow the cover of the activities of these nation-wreckers.

    Dr Letsa, doubling as the Volta Regional Minister assured that the situation was under control.

    He said the main entry and exit points have seen increasing security beef-up and urged the population to cooperate with the security to fish out the miscreants promising that “only those involved in the action will be arrested.”

    He said the Volta Regional Coordinating Council believed the action by the group was likely to dent the investor confidence of the region and thwart its development efforts saying, “what everybody should be fighting for is development, not seceding and fomenting trouble to destabilise the government.”

    Source: GNA

  • Man arrested for smuggling Indian hemp, lighter to remand prisoner in Accra

    A man has been nabbed for attempting to smuggle substances suspected to be Indian Hemp to a remand prisoner in Accra, the police said.

    Nurudeen Arafat was arrested on Friday, September 25, 2020 at about 18:30 hrs when he visited the Kaneshie Police Station where the yet-to-be-identified inmate was in custody.

    A search conducted in a polythene he was carrying retrieved seven wraps of dried substances suspected to be Indian Hemp and 27 pieces of tablets suspected to be Amphetamine.

    The other items include a packet of Rothmans cigarettes, six stripes of 5mg of Diazepam, and one lighter, according to an incident report sighted by Dailymailgh.com.

    The police said the items have since been retained and sent to the forensic laboratory for testing.

    The suspect has been detained assisting police in their investigations, the report indicated.

    Source: Daily Mail

  • Western Togoland suspected secessionists remanded

    An Accra Circuit court has remanded all 31 suspects in the Friday alleged separatist disturbances into BNI custody for two weeks.

    They are facing five provisional charges including conspiracy to attend prohibited meeting, unlawful gathering and rioting.

    The plea of the accused persons was not taken when they appeared before circuit court two on Monday September 28.

    They were charged with provisional charges of conspiracy to attend meeting of prohibited organization; unlawful gathering, gathering under prohibited name of organization and rioting.

    The prosecution led by ASP Sylvester Asare asked the court to remand the accused persons to allow for further investigations into the Friday incident.

    He argued that they were compelled by law to present them before her court knowing very well that she lacked the jurisdiction since the incident occurred in the Volta region.

    Counsel for the 31 accused persons, Theophanous Donkor, opposed the prosecution.

    According to him, the 48-hour provision has already been abused hence the plea of the accused must be taken.

    The counsel further argued that the provisional charged preferred against the accused persons ruled out geographical jurisprudence of the case as adduced by the prosecution.

    Theophanous Donkor ended his argument with a request for bail, insisting that the prosecution should have gone to a district court if it is genuinely mindful of jurisdiction.

    But ASP Asare maintained that the bail should not be a consideration at this stage as it will compromise investigation.

    Rosemary Baa Torsu granted the prosecution without taking into consideration of the argument of both parties.

    She remanded all 31 accused persons including a 19-year-old girl into BNI custody to re-appear on Monday October 13 at 9.00am.

    She further ordered the police and BNI to grant access to the counsels for the accused persons and also ensure their welfare whiles in detention.

    Source: 3 News

  • Our client has coronavirus complications Ken Agyapongs lawyer tells court

    The Member of Parliament for Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong who is a subject of contempt of court has suffered from complications of COVID-19, his lawyers told the High Court hearing his case.

    Agyapong who is in court for allegedly scandalizing the court by describing a High Court judge with unprintable words pleaded not guilty to contempt after he was charged for scandalising the court and bringing its name into disrepute.

    In court on Monday, where he and his lawyers are expected to open their defence of the charge, he was absent from the sitting.

    Lead counsel for the legal team Kwame Gyan told the court that though at the last adjourned date, they together with the court had “mutual agreement for continuation of proceedings,” the client is absent.

    He said after “we left the court on Friday, our client, Ken Agyapong suffered from complication of post-COVID-19 conditions that he suffered last month.”

    “We arranged for him to seek medical support and the report from the doctor who treated him and an attached excuse duty report” has been made available to the court.

    According to him, his absence was not out of disrespect to the court or wilful conduct, but due to his ill health.

    To buttress his point, Counsel said the court records will reflect that, “since the case started last month after the service of the Court Order of substituted service,” he has “consistently being in court and ahead of time.”

    He, therefore, prayed for an adjournment for him to claim bail of health.

    Court

    The court presided over by Justice Amos Wuntah Wuni, after hearing counsel said the contemnor was not present in court for proceedings to continue.

    “Indeed a medical excuse duty and attached form has been attached to a cover letter and medical report under the seal of counsel asking for a 14-day adjournment from, September 26 to October 10, 2020.

    The court said, “under the circumstance granted the request and adjourned the case.”

    Order

    However, the court has summoned the medical doctor of Holy Trinity Medical Centre/Spa and Health to appear before it on October 1, to speak to the medical excuse duty of Ken Agyapong.

    The court said “We have to create a good country for ourselves. The way excuse duties reports are written these days, somebody must speak to it.”

    Source: Starr FM

  • 152 kgs of cocaine intercepted at Tema

    The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) in conjunction with the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) has intercepted 152 kilogrammes of cocaine at Tema in the Greater Accra Region.

    A statement issued by NACOC said the cocaine was concealed in a shipment from Brazil.

    The NACOC said a number of persons have been arrested and are assisting in investigations.

    It said preliminary investigations have revealed the consignment was delivered to Tradepass Gh Limited.

    The statement said that the consignment with bill of lading number MEDUST209567 was shipped from Brazil by Usina Santa Isabel S/A Fazenda Tres, a Brazilian company on behalf of Sucden Middle East, based in Dubai.

    The shipment consists of 27,000 bags of Brazilian crystal white sugar, with a gross weight of 1,350mt.

    NACOC said Global Cargo and Commodities Limited, Tema, was the consignee of the shipment.

    The statement said the seizure was based on intelligence received that, a consignment of 50 containers of sugar destined for Ghana from Brazil is suspected to be narcotics.

    It said that NACOC, BNI and NSCS mounted surveillance on the shipment until the narcotics substances were retrieved from the consignment on September 12, 2020.

    After the interception, the statement said that the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) commenced physical search on the bags of sugar on September 10 and on September 12, eight bags of sugar were identified to contain the suspected narcotics.

    The statement said the narcotics were tested and the result proved positive for cocaine.

    Following that, NACOC took custody of the exhibits and subsequently forwarded same to the Ghana Standard Authority for analytical examination and report which also confirmed the substances to be cocaine.

    Source: Ghanaian Times

  • Election 2020: We are targeting 1.5m votes difference – Lord Commey

    The Director of Operations at the Jubliee House and Deputy Campaign Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Lord Commey has asked party people to work hard to better the 2016 election results.

    Mr Commey who spoke at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region at the just ended outdooring of the Regional Parliamentary Candidates appealed to the party supporters to work vigorously to retain the party in the 2020 general election.

    He said his boss, Mac Manu has put all things in place for the victory of the party.

    He quoted the Methodist hymn book 578 first stanza and the first line which says “A charge to keep I have” to advice the party supporters and Parliamentary Candidates to work day and night to help the party win another term to improve the lives of Ghanaians.

    He said 47/47 calls for hard work and he believes the party in the region can marshal all their might to win big in the Ashanti Region.

    Lord Commey on behalf of their flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo introduced the NPP’s Parliamentary Candidates from the various constituencies in the Region to the supporters.

    Notable among them were, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu for Suame, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh of Manhyia South, Asenso Boakye for Bantama, Dr Kingsley Nyarko for Kwadaso, Patricia Appiagyei for Asokwa, Alidu Seidu for Asawasi, Dr Marfo of Oforikrom.

    Source: Bright Barwuah, Contributor

  • Court summons Ken Agyapongs doctor over alleged coronavirus complications

    The court presided over by Justice Amos Wuntah Wuni after hearing counsel said the contemnor was not present in court for proceedings to continue.

    “Indeed a medical excuse duty and attached form has been attached to a cover letter and medical report under the seal of counsel asking for a 14-day adjournment from, September 26 to October 10, 2020.

    The court said, “under the circumstance granted the request and adjourned the case.”

    Order

    However, the court has summoned the medical doctor of Holy Trinity Medical Centre/Spa and Health to appear before it on October 1, to speak to the medical excuse duty of Ken Agyapong.

    The court said “We have to create a good country for ourselves. The way excuse duties reports are written these days, somebody must speak to it.”

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • ‘Akufo-Addos votes in Ashanti region will increase massively’ NPP Youth Organizer

    The Ashanti Regional Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dennis Kwakwa has pledged that the party’s youth will work tirelessly to claim all 47 parliamentary seats in the region.

    Mr Kwakwa explained that the NPP youth are duty-bound to ensure that the party retains power in the forthcoming elections.

    Touting government’s achievements in the past four years, he stated that the party is willing to protect the ‘significant progress’ witnessed in all sectors of the economy, particularly education.

    The NPP Regional Executive pledged during the inauguration of the Ashanti Regional NPP Youth Wing Campaign Team held in Kumasi.

    He also entreated the youth to work together to make sure that the NDC Flagbearer, John Mahama does not use what he described as deceptive promises’ to return to power.

    Source: My News GH

  • We are speaking to independent candidates to rescind decision – NPP

    Patron of the Ashanti regional campaign team of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor has revealed the party is working to get persons who have expressed interest in contesting as Independent candidates to rescind their decision.

    According to him, the party wants to address the issue so the elected persons would be allowed to contest.

    Speaking at a launch of the campaign team for the region he said “That is why I have been appointed to be the patron of the organising committee. I am going to try and persuade them to come back into the fold and allow our elected candidates to go forward,” Mr Kufuor said.

    He added: “We shall leave no stone unturned. Party supporters must go all out and the candidates should be all-inclusive.”

    Some aggrieved persons who were disqualified from contesting the race have decided to contest the NPP primaries.

    In the Bekwai constituency, a lawyer, Akwasi Amofa-Agyemang, declared his intention to contest the 2020 Parliamentary elections as an independent candidate.

    The candidate said he took the decision after he was disqualified from contesting allowing the incumbent, Joseph Osei-Owusu, who is also the First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, to run unopposed.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Test regime at Airport will prevent importation of coronavirus – Minister

    Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah has reiterated that the testing regime being used at the Kotoka International Airport will help curtail the importation of the Coronavirus even as parts of the world goes through a second wave of virus infection.

    Addressing a press conference on Sunday, September 27, 2020, the Minister said government has taken note of the new wave of the virus in some parts of the world and is putting measures in place to prevent a second influx from these affected countries.

    “The government of Ghana has taken note of a new wave of Coronavirus infections in some parts of the world. Especially Europe, America and Asia. Countries in parts of Europe have seen a resurgence of COVID-19 cases after many of them successfully slowed the initial outbreak a few months ago. Scientists have also reported that countries like France, the UK, Spain, Poland and the Netherlands are currently dealing with what they call a much feared second wave and are beginning to take some actions to curb it. Government takes note of the fact that at this time our borders or our air borders are open to flights from some of these countries there by heightening our risk.

    “At this time, therefore, the government of Ghana is going for strict observation of the in-bound flight protocols that were outlined a few weeks ago when the airports were opened. There will be the strict observation but also we will have to continue with the two-bound test or the two-layer test approach that we are currently embarking on to ensure that the risk of what appears to be a second wave of cases in Europe poses to us is clearly mitigated.”

    “At the same time, while doing this, we will continue to strictly observe the developments in these countries and these developments will inform whether or not Ghana will consider some travel restrictions from these countries,” he added.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • UDS reduces academic fees by 16% over coronavirus pandemic

    Management of the University for Development Studies (UDS) has reduced academic fees for the 2020/2021 academic year by about 16%.

    The reduction in fees is due to the financial impact the Coronavirus pandemic has had on families and individuals.

    The decision by school authorities to reduce academic fees comes amid an upward review of fees by other public tertiary institutions.

    The reduction also comes after the Students Representative Council petitioned school authorities over the need to review academic fees because of the coronavirus pandemic.

    A communique signed by the Central UDS SRC President, Christopher Otoo, stressed that the reduction was expected to mitigate the burden on parents and some junior members who pay their own fees.

    “By this communiqué, without any display of ostentation, mention must be made that successfully, the interest of respected colleagues have been drummed collectively by leadership, and management without resentment has listened to our plea,” part of the communiqué reads.

    The SRC further reiterated its mandate of working in the interest of students and ensuring that their concerns are channelled to management.

    “Appropriately the fee for the 2020/2021 academic year has been reduced by 16%. This became necessary because of the emergence of COVID-19 how it affected and continue to affect the economy. We expect that this reduction will mitigate the burden on parents and some junior members who pay their fees.

    Your interest has been prioritized and we promise never to look-on for anything that passes unattended to,” he added.

    Source: universnewsroom.com

  • Actionable intelligence prevented more dire attacks from secessionists Oppong-Nkrumah

    Contrary to claims that government failed to gather actionable intelligence on the recent secessionist resurgence, Information Minister, Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah has said intelligence gathered by state agencies enabled a prevention of more dire attacks by the HSGF on Friday.

    According to him, members of the Volta separatist, the Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF) have been on the watch list of the Security Agencies and were being monitored from time to time.

    Addressing journalists at the Minister’s Press Briefing in Accra on Sunday, September 27, 2020, Mr Nkrumah noted that the government is taking steps to adequately deal with the threats from the separatist group.

    “Government is taking steps to deal with threats of succession expressed by a group in the Volta region and in particular the events of Friday, September 25 2020. Now in recent months, the activities of this group have gained notoriety even as the government has been responding with appropriate force and the rule of law. The events on Friday morning have been as at now contained by the security agencies. Efforts are also underway to contain our standing threats from this group,” he said.

    The HSGF, a group championing the secession of parts of Ghana along the border with Togo last Friday blocked roads and hoisted flags as parts of agitation for independence from Ghana.

    However, reacting to the matter, the Minister condemned the act and called on all traditional, religious and political institutions to join hands to help combat the separatist activities even as government initiate measures to bring the situation under full control.

    “We continue to encourage all well-meaning Ghanaians especially traditional religious and political groups to express solidarity with the Republic and join in the efforts of holding the One Nation agenda while condemning these unfortunate developments. Now while the security agencies maintain a presence to avert any further developments, it will also be important to in the coming days provide more education, for example on the false basis for which the persons who are leading these exercises sort to mobilize support.

    “Key actors who have been identified as ultimately responsible for these events are also on the watch list of the security agencies and actually wanted at this point in time. In the coming days, the security agencies would I think be publishing some of the photographs and identities of persons who they are on a man for. Residents of these areas are encouraged to remain calm and to go about their daily lives without fear,” he added.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • NDC executives charged to monitor Thursday’s voter registration

    The Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Ade Coker, has charged all the 34 constituency executives to spend all their time at the various Electoral Commission (EC) offices on October 1, 2020.

    The NDC Chairman said all the executives should be vigilant during the one-day voter registration exercise.

    The Electoral Commission (EC) has said it will re-open the voter register on Thursday to give opportunity to those who have attained the age of 18 and citizens who for one reason or the other were not able to register in the just ended registration exercise to do so.

    The registration is expected to take place in the district offices nationwide from 7am to 6pm.
    Speaking at the launch of the Ablekuma West Constituency campaign on Sunday, September 27, Mr. Ade Coker alleged that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has planned to rig the elections, therefore the exercise is meant to register those who are not meant to register.

    He said the NPP has planned to register their members who came to Ghana after the airport was reopened and so the executives in all the constituencies should spend their time at the district offices to ensure that those registering are indeed from the constituency.

    The Ablekuma West NDC Candidate, Rev Kweku Addo, sharing his seven thematic pillars, pledged to the constituents to institute a regular meeting with them to ensure their needs are addressed.

    He added that education and sports development, empowerment support and infrastructural development would be backbone of his tenure.

    Rev Addo noted that sanitation, security and recreational facilities would be created in the constituency.

    The Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South Constituency, Dr. Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, who is also the former Mayor of Accra, alluded that he knew the challenges in the Constituency and Rev Addo would be in a better position to solve them.

    Source: 3 News

  • Government will continue to create more jobs Deputy Minister

    Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, George Oduro says the government will continue to work to open more factories in local communities to create jobs for the youth.

    He said the government through the planting for food and jobs, planting for exports and rural development as well as the one district one factory programmes, was creating avenues to expand employment opportunities for the youth in the country.

    Mr Oduro, who is also the Member of Parliament for Adansi South, stated this when he addressed party supporters after a health walk in some principal streets of New Edubiase.

    He said the government was currently expanding infrastructural facilities in senior high schools to help accommodate the high number of students benefiting from the free senior high school initiative.

    Additionally, facilities in public universities were being expanded to help admit the increasing number of students who would be enrolled following the introduction of the free SHS policy.

    The government was also expanding access to tertiary education by removing bottlenecks that prevented poor and needy students from going to the university through the introduction of the free guarantor system, to enable needy students have easy access to finance to support their education.

    Mr Oduro said the NPP government had done well in its first term and needed another term to continue to work to consolidate the gains and transform the country to improve the living conditions of the people.

    Mr Francis Ankomah, District Chief Executive for Adansi South, said the party was poised to retain the parliamentary seat to enable the government continue its development agenda in the area.

    He stressed the need for the youth to lead the campaign to retain the seat.

    Source: GNA

  • Government to publish names of big men financing Western Togoland rebels

    Security Agencies have identified financiers of the secessionist group in the Volta Region and will publish them in the coming days, this is according to the Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah.

    He made this known when he addressed the press Sunday covered by MyNewsGh.com on the development in the Volta region that took the country by surprise.

    According to him, publishing the names of financiers of the secessionist group in the Volta region will help prevent further attacks from the group.

    Contrary to claims that Ghanaian Intelligence Agencies failed, the Minister was of the view that their smartness led to a quick response and prevention of further attacks on some vital state properties planned by the group.

    on the wee hours of Friday, September 27, some armed men reportedly attacked the Aveyime and Mepe Police Stations in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region.

    They forcibly took over both stations simultaneously, overpowered the police officers on duty, broke into the armoury, and made away with all the weapons.

    Source: My News GH

  • Free SHS: I misjudged NPP’s implementation Kabila confesses

    Former Acting General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), James Kwabena Bonfeh, also known as Kabila has admitted to ‘misjudging’ the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and their implementation of the free SHS policy.

    “In 2016, I questioned the sincerity of the NPP campaign for free SHS because of the philosophy of their party; I said it was just for campaign…I am ready to say that as a human being who could make errors, I misjudged” he indicated

    Kabila who was speaking to Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM morning show ‘Kokrokoo’ confessed that “I doubted it (Free SHS) but I am humbled to accept that Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP have beaten me”

    Listen to him in the video below:

    Source: Peace FM

  • Government has identified sources of funding to Western Togoland secessionists – Oppong-Nkrumah

    Information Minister Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah has said Government and security agencies have identified the sources of funding and key actors behind the Western Togoland secessionist group.

    In view of that, he said, the security agencies had taken stringent measures to deal with it decisively and publish names of key actors on the watch list in the coming days, in order to forestall any future occurrence.

    He said government considered the action by the group as purely criminal and infringement of the country’s laws and, would, therefore, prosecute them accordingly.

    Mr Oppong Nkrumah announced this at a news conference in Accra on Sunday, to provide an update on the Homeland Study Group Foundation’s attack and road blockade of some major entry and exit points to the Volta Region, in the early hours of Friday, September 25.

    The Minister refuted claims that the security agencies were not proactive to gather security intelligence about the group’s intended action, saying the security agencies “did well by securing critical state installations such as Akosombo and Akuse dams, Adomi Bridge and Ho Central Market which the group had targeted to blast.

    The secessionist group attacked two police stations at Aveyime and Mepe, and seized 10 AK47 assault rifles after breaking into the police armoury.

    They ransacked the police stations, released inmates in custody, physically assaulted and injured police officers. The group, subsequently, blocked major roads to the Region and burnt car tyres.

    However, a joint police/military enforcement team rescued the police officers who were held hostage. The security agencies have so far arrested 31 members of the secessionist group, airlifted to Accra and in the custody of the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service were being interrogated.

    One person died and several others injured during the exchange of fire between the security agencies and the secessionist group.

    The Minister acknowledged the condemnation of the group’s action by the Council of State, National House of Chiefs and a section of the public and urged all well-meaning Ghanaians to rally behind the state in solidarity to prevent the whipping up of political or ethnic sentiments.

    Mr. Oppong Nkrumah said the security agencies would prefer appropriate charges against them and arraign them before court for prosecution.

    He also rubbished claims that the government was creating confusion in the opposition NDC party’s “stronghold” ahead of the December 7 Election and used it as the basis to deploy soldiers to the place to intimidate voters.

    The Homeland Study Group Foundation in May 2019 declared independence for Western Togoland, saying that they were no more part of Ghana.

    This led to the arrest of a 78-year old Charles Kormi Kudzordzi, aka “Papavi”, the Leader of the group and some other members of the group.

    Some were later released, while others faced prosecution in different regions.

    Source: GNA

  • Migrants rescued by fishing boats near Libya

    The bodies of three migrants have been recovered after a vessel sank off the coast of western Libya.

    The International Organization for Migration said another 13 people were unaccounted for.

    Twenty-two survivors were rescued and brought back to Libya by fishing boats.

    Many migrants set out from Libya, from where they try to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe – often aboard dangerously overcrowded and unseaworthy boats.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Ethiopia tells U.N. ‘no intention’ of using dam to harm Egypt, Sudan

    Ethiopian Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, told the United Nations on Friday that his country has “no intention” of harming Sudan and Egypt with a giant hydropower dam on the Blue Nile that has caused a bitter water dispute between the three countries.

    Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan failed to strike a deal on the operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam before Ethiopia began filling the reservoir behind the dam in July. But the three states have returned to African Union-led mediation.

    “I want to make it abundantly clear that we have no intention to harm these countries,” he told the 193-member U.N. General Assembly in a video statement, pre-recorded due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    “We are steadfast in our commitment to addressing the concerns of downstream countries and reaching a mutually beneficial outcome in the context of the ongoing AU-led process,” Nobel Peace Laureate Abiy said.

    Negotiations have previously faltered over a demand from Egypt and Sudan that any deal should be legally binding, over the mechanism for resolving future disputes, and over how to manage the dam during periods of reduced rainfall or drought.

    Egypt says it is dependent on the Nile for more than 90% of its scarce fresh water supplies, and fears the dam could have a devastating effect on its economy.

    Abiy told the United Nations that the project contributes to the conservation of water resources, “which would otherwise have been lost to evaporation in downstream countries.”

    “What we are essentially doing is to meet our electricity demands from one of the cleanest sources of energy. We cannot afford to continue keeping more than 65 million of our people in the dark,” he said.

    Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi expressed his concern about the project when he addressed the United Nations on Tuesday.

    “The Nile River must not be monopolized by one state. For Egypt the Nile water is an existential matter. This, however, does not mean that we want to undermine the rights of our brothers and sisters, sharing with us the Nile basin,” he said.

    “Nevertheless, it is unacceptable for the negotiations to continue forever in an attempt to impose the realities on the ground,” Sisi said.

    Source: reuters.com

  • Hotel Rwanda ‘Hero’ admits his role in Armed Group for Diplomacy

    The polarising hero of the oscar-nominated hit movie ‘Hotel Rwanda,’ Paul Rusesabagina — who is currently on trial on 13 charges including terrorism, financing and founding militant groups, murder, arson and conspiracy to involve children in armed groups, appeared in court in Kigali on Friday.

    He appealed the denial of his request to post bail last week and also admitted to helping form the armed wing, the National Liberation Front (FLN) — which has claimed responsibility for a series of attacks in Nyungwe, near the border with Burundi, of the Rwandan Movement for Democratic Change (MRCD), an opposition party based abroad which he co-founded.

    The accused told the court on Friday that he had helped form an armed group but denied any role in its crimes, “We formed the FLN as an armed wing, not as a terrorist group as the prosecution keeps saying. I do not deny that the FLN committed crimes but my role was diplomacy. The agreement we signed to form MRCD as a political platform included the formation of an armed wing called FLN. But my work was under the political platform and I was in charge of diplomacy.”

    Hotel Rwanda Hero On Trial for Terrorism Rusesabagina is famed for his depiction by Don Cheadle in the 2004 film in which a moderate Hutu is shown as saving hundreds of lives at a luxury hotel during the 1994 genocide that saw around 800,000, mostly Tutsi, lose their lives. The release of the film thrust him into the global spotlight, giving him a greater platform for his criticism of Kagame’s government.

    However, Rusesabagina left Rwanda in 1996 along with other moderates who believed the space for political opposition was fast shrinking and as he grew more critical, railing against his perceived Kagame’s anti-Hutu sentiment — a delicate subject matter in the country, his local image worsened as the regime attacked his character in turn.

    Detractors claimed he embellished his heroics, while some survivors groups accused him of profiting from their misery.

    Kagame, who has been in power since his troops flushed out the genocidal regime in 1994, is championed abroad for turning the country around. However, critics such as Rusesabagina accuse his government of authoritarianism, ruling with fear and oppressing the opposition. Several critics of his regime have even been assassinated abroad.

    An even more complex image of Rusesabagina has emerged since he appeared in police custody in Kigali under mysterious circumstances last month. This came after years spent in exile in Belgium and the United States.

    Rusesabagina’s family have said that he would never have willingly returned to Rwanda, and the details of his arrest are still murky. They also say that he has been permitted to choose his own lawyers for the trial.

    A ruling on his bail appeal will be made on October 2.

    Source: africanews.com

  • Ghana Health Service calls for media support to eradicate malaria

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has called on journalists to support the Service to deliver integrated health package through accurate messages towards malaria eradication in the country.

    “Also, we need your support to set malaria as a national development agenda. This will drive advocacy for political will, increase partnership, availability and accessibility of effective tool for prevention, diagnoses and treatment of malaria in all the vulnerable populations.”

    Dr Anthony Adofo Ofosu, the Deputy Director General, GHS, said this at the launch of “Zero malaria starts with me” campaign in Accra.

    The launch coincided with a sensitisation programme by the African Media and Malaria Research Network (AMMRN), the National Malaria Control Programme and the Speak Up African Organisation.

    The Deputy Director General said “It is the belief of the GHS that with effective engagement…we will be able to eradicate malaria from the country in the near future.”

    Dr Ofosu noted that malaria remained a major public health concern in the country, adding “It is accounting for majority of the OPD cases that we see in our various facilities. However through intensifying and scaling up of malaria control strategies, a lot of success has been achieved over the years.”

    According to him, malaria related deaths across all age groups had reduced drastically by 88 percent “That is from 2, 799 in 2012 to 33 by the end of 2019. Under five malaria case fatality rate had also reduced significantly.

    That is if you take 100 children admitted in the hospital, we have less than one per cent fatality,” he explained.

    The Deputy Director General said testing of malaria suspected cases to confirm the existence of parasites before treatment had increased from 38 percent in 2012 to 93.7 percent in 2019.

    “These reductions have been achieved through strong collaborations between public, private and Civil Society Organisations, the media and particularly the unwavering dedication of our health workers.”

    Dr Ofosu said in spite of the gains, the country continued to record high numbers of malaria cases, and disclosed that over six million malaria cases were confirmed in OPDs of health care facilities last year, and reiterated that malaria continued to be the number one cause of hospital attendance.

    He expressed concerns that about 50 per cent of the population did not sleep under treated mosquito nets though about 20 per cent of the population had access to the nets and said the involvement of the media was critical to intensify the need for the use of the treated mosquito nets.

    Mrs Linda Asante-Agyei, the Vice President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) stressed on the need for Journalists to change the narrative, and extensively concentrate news coverage on malaria dissemination in communities across the country.

    “As media people, we set the agenda. Let us use this opportunity to set the agenda, hold politicians, people in high places, and those who matter accountable, let us change the narrative, and we can do it,” she said.

    She said GJA was committed to complementing the efforts of GHS in its quest to eradicate malaria in the country.

    Source: GNA

  • Ejisu police arrest 11 suspected criminals in a swoop

    The Ejisu District police have arrested 11 persons suspected to be involved in various criminal activities in a swoop carried in some communities in the Municipality.

    The swoop led by Inspector Julius Akpelime was to clamp down on criminal activities such as drug peddling and robbery which were rising in communities such as Adadientem, Achinakrom, Abenase, and Onwe.

    Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Stephen Ngissah, Ejisu Divisional Police Commander told the Ghana News Agency that the police were going all out to rid the municipality of criminal activities which were increasing in the area.

    He said the suspects who were currently in police custody would be screened and those identified to be involved in criminal activities would be prosecuted.

    Among the suspects were Akwasi Frimpong 41-years, Kodjo Banir 34-years, Emmanuel Boakye 23-years, Noah Kwabena 40-years, and Keane Addo 26-years.

    The rest were Kweku Badu 21-years, Kodjo Sarpong Okyere 21-years, Agyeman Richard 25-years, Nana Kwame 21-years, Hayford Agyepong 22-years and Agyenim Boateng 29-years.

    ACP Ngissah said substances suspected to be narcotics were found on some of them during the swoop.

    He assured residents in the area that the police were on top of the situation and urged them to give information to enable the police to arrest all criminals from society.

    Source: GNA