Several clergy have offered their personal opinions and suggestions on the best course of action that the government should take on the national cathedral debate as it continues to soar in the current state of the economy.
Latest among them is a reverend minister of the Global Evangelical Church – Ghana, Rev. Calvin Klabi, who has indicated that, Ghana does not need a consensus to build the national cathedral.
Speaking on the HardTruth show on Ahomka FM and Ocean 1TV, Rev. Klabi reiterated that, from the time of Ghana’s first president Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah through Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings to H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, Ghana has never had a consensus in any of its projects; from the construction of the Tema motorway, to the building of the Akosombo Dam, the National Theater, Jubilee house, the University Medical Center and now to the National Cathedral.
He, however, advised that the country needs anational policyor agenda that will drive it for a long time and which will seek to direct the policies of the successive government.
Rev. Calvin Klabi encouraged government to give a listening ear to suggestions and comments from other stakeholders in ensuring that, the interest of the ordinary Ghanaian is championed at all times.
Last Tuesday, the Electricity Company of Ghana paid a visit to the Ministry of Energy, cutting off electricity to the entire building for over half a day.
Power was only restored after the mother ministry of the Electricity Company of Ghana(ECG) paid their outstanding payment in full.
This will be the fate of many other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) who owe ECG huge amounts of money, forcing the power retailer to embark on a massive revenue mobilization exercise beginning on Monday, March 20, 2023, to Thursday, April 20, 2023.
The exercise is using almost all ECG staff from top management to junior officers to retrieve all the monies owed them.
According to the Managing Director, Mr Samuel Dubik Mahama Esq, the company is owed over GHS 5 billion from the month of September 2022 to February 2023.
Most of this debt resides with the SOEs and MDAs.
The strategy, therefore, is to take these agencies by storm, from March 20, 2023, and those who refuse to settle their bill immediately will be meted the same punishment as the Ministry of Energy.
Ahead of this exercise, Mr Dubik Mahama toured all the operational regions of ECG to sensitize the staff on how to go about the mobilization of the revenue, to respect the customer at all times.
He also reminded the staff that ECG is a business and not a charity and everyone must start to behave as such.
It is expected that at the end of the exercise, 100% of the debt would be recovered.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the deputy minority leader in parliament, has submitted his nomination documents to run for the Ellembelle seat a fifth time.
After ousting the outgoing NPP Chairman Freddie Blay, who was then theConvention People’s Party‘s representative in Parliament, Armah-Kofi Buah first won the Ellembelle seat in 2008.
Speaking to Citi News after filling his nomination form at Ayinase which was marked with a massive float by supporters to the Ellembelle NDC office, Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said his motivation to contest the seat again is because the people want him to continue the good works he has been doing in the constituency.
“The last seven years of governance has been a disaster. Almost every development project we’ve tried has come to a stop. I believe that I have earned the right to be in a position to help the District to develop, so that is why I’m running again. Look at the enthusiasm and the support base and I believe the people of Ellembelle want me to continue the good works I have been doing, and I’m proud to serve them,“ he said.
Although two other persons have their posters in town to contest the sitting MP, the Ellembelle NDC constituency Chairman and other executives told Citi News they are supporting Armah-Kofi Buah because of how well he has changed the face of Ellembelle in a positive light since he became an MP.
Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the majority chief whip, has urged the newly elected Pan African Parliament (PAP) President to see that the Parliament is granted oversight authority.
He asserts that the PURC and the agencies of AUCs have been given authority to oversee the PAP, and that the PAP is in competition with the PURC for this authority.
This, he said, should not be the case.
He explained that the PAP was formed with a mandate to oversee parliaments in Africa. Therefore, “that function that is being performed by the agencies of the AUC and PURC must be relinquished.”
“Nobody should tell me any theory, that is what it is. From whichever way you view it, we have an oversight that is backed by protocol and nobody will take it away from us.
“We will demand that and will make that suggestion to you with the greatest of respect that let that oversight powers be given back to PAP,” he appealed to the newly elected PAP President, Chief Fortune Charumbira.
He made this appeal during a Pan African Parliament meeting in South Africa.
He maintained that the oversight function must be given to PAP, noting that it is well defined in PAP’s rules of procedure under rule 17.
According to the legislator, the PURC, AU and PAP are supposed to work in sync.
“I hope today will be a day that all of us will rally around and say that enough is enough! We cannot come back one year after and be talking about the same thing,” he said.
He also commended the President of PAP and the Bureau for maintaining peace at meetings.
According to him, he has proven beyond doubt that the confidence reposed in him is justified.
“We want to make an appeal to the African Union and all agencies of the African Union that gone were the days when PAP will come here and be fighting. For a long time we are not fighting again, we as an institution are making a conscious effort to reform ourselves.
“That is why we changed our rules of procedure. That is why for a long time the PAP and the PURC were not meeting but through the leadership – our president, the new Bureau struck that understanding and there is a cross-fertilization and working together,” he said.
The Member of Parliament forAkim Oda, Alexander Akwasi Acquah, has stated that nothing should be done to obstruct the work of investigative journalists in Ghana.
He predicted that the day investigative journalism is banned, the nation would be ruined.
He was commenting on the judgment that was delivered in the case of Anas versus Kennedy Agyapong while speaking on the Key Points on TV3 Saturday, March 18.
The Accra High Court on Wednesday, March 15 dismissed the GH¢25 million defamation suit against Kennedy Ohene Agyapong brought by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
The judge, Justice Eric Baah, held that Anas Aremeyaw Anas failed to prove that Ken Agyapong defamed him by airing the documentary – “Who watches the watchman” – but rather, the documentary exposed shady deals that Anas and his associates were involved in.
This was after Anas, in 2018, sued the New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmaker for allegedly defaming him.
Anas prayed to the court to award GH¢25 million against Mr Agyapong to compensate him for the defamatory material published against him by the MP.
The court concluded that what Anas is engaged in is not investigative journalism but rather “investigative terrorism” and that Agyapong was justified to call Anas “a blackmailer, corrupt, an extortionist, and evil”.
“I find the claims by the plaintiff [Anas Aremeyaw Anas) meritless and they are hereby dismissed,” Justice Baah ruled.
But Anas said he disagreed with the judge both on law and on the facts of the case.
He accused Justice Baah of delving into the arena of criminal prosecution against him despite the matter being a civil case.
“My team and I and the lawyers have carefully studied the judgment delivered by the court and we are unanimous that the judge made an overreach and descended into the arena and made criminal pronouncements about me as If I was standing a criminal trial.
“He also justified the MP accusing me of the murder of JB Danquah, murder of 20 Chinese nationals. We are filing an appeal because there was no evidence provided,” Anas said in a video recording responding to the judgment.”
He added “…I disagreed with the judge’s ruling both on law and the facts. when I started this work 21 years ago, I never assumed that it would be an easy road yet it is the evidence in my work and the commitment to truth and justice that has always led and prevailed against all the forces that have worked to pull us down”
The Kumasi City Markets Limited board has ordered that the new Kejetia Marketremain closed for an additional week.
Following a fire that completely destroyed the market on March 15, 2023, which resulted in the loss of goods worth millions of Ghana cedis.
Following the incident, the facility was reopened after 12 noon the next day and was later closed down for three days for further assessment.
After being in a meeting, the board extended the closure for a further one week, starting on Monday, 20th March 2023.
“At its Emergency Meeting Held on Friday 17th March 2023, the Board of Kumasi City Markets Limited in consultation with experts on construction and disaster management has resolved that in order to protect the life and property of patrons of theKumasi Kejetia Market Complex, the following measures are to be adhered to following the outbreak of fire at the facility on Wednesday the 15th of March 2023. The experts have advised that there is a need to assess the electromechanical and other safety installations as well as the structural integrity of the affected area before granting access to patrons.In that regard; a. The non-affected area of the facility is to be closed for a further one week from Monday 20th March 2023.
b. The affected area (i.e, connection area) which is the epicenter of the fire is to be closed indefinitely until advised by the assessment experts.
The general public is therefore advised to strictly adhere to the above measures in order to safequard lives and property,” the board stated in its release.
The leadership of the traders have however expressed their displeasure following the latest decision, describing it as a shocking one.
“It has come as a shock to us. What we are asking is that, whoever took those decisions, did they really factor in the concerns of traders? Did they really factor in the effect it is going to have on trading? We are not sure authorities have taken these into consideration. They are only thinking about the structure. The management never engaged us in extending this closure. The board didn’t engage us. It just looks like some authoritative persons sitting in their own corner in their offices or their homes and decided to take these decisions without even taking into consideration other parties who this will be having an effect on them,” the General Secretary of the Combined Traders Association, Reuben Ammeh stated this in an interview with Citi News.
Reuben Ammeh tells Citi News the traders are considering taking legal action against the management of the facility and the board following the recent development.
“With this attitude of management and the board, when they’ve failed woefully on their job, when they’ve been sleeping on their job, this incompetency shows off from the board and management. We are very much sure that all this will end in court. We will surely take a class action. Before this issue, they knew everything-they knew the shortfalls of the market, but they didn’t take action”.
Private Legal Practitioner Captain (Retired) Nkrabeah Effah Dartey has narrated how he spent 11 months of his life in prison due to someone conspiring against him.
Speaking to the media, some individuals gave false testimony against him, thus led to his demotion from the Ghana Armed Forces.
According to him he was left in a situation in which he had no one to stand up for him.
“I was sent to prison for eleven months and was also sacked from the Ghana Armed Forces because someone lied against me. So it is not easy for someone to tell lies about you where you would have nobody to defend you”. Captain Nkrabeah Effah Dartey said this in an interview with Angel FM Kumasi over the week.
“There is nothing more painful than for someone to tell lie about you and you would have nobody to defend you, he stressed.
The legal practitioner and politician is a retired military officer who served in the Ghana Armed Forces. He was promoted to the rank of captain on 27th April 1983 and just after almost four months, he exited the military on 14 August 1983.
The Member of Parliament(MP) for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong has asserted that theNew Patriotic Party(NPP) did not win the 2020 elections fairly.
According to him, he will reveal how the current administration rigged the 2020 presidential election inAkufo-Addo‘s favor.
The ruling New Patriotic Party MP for Assin Central has made these allegations in an interview on NET 2 TV.
Do you remember the lawsuit filed by the NDC against EC boss Jean Mensah to have the 2020 election results annulled? As we know, the NDC could not win that case.
They thought the election results weren’t correct, which sparked a debate. Akufo-Addo got 6,730,413 votes, while John Mahama got 6,214,889 votes.
Kennedy Agyapong effectively rebuked his government by threatening to air its dirty laundry in public if they try to collapse his business.
His anger stems from the government’s pervasive incompetence and the current state of the economy, which has severely affected his chain of businesses including allegations by him that the Government wants to collapse his business.
Following the end of the Rugby Africa Executive Committee Elections held on March 18, 2023, former Asante Kotoko board chairmanHerbert Mensah has been chosen as Rugby Africa’s next president.
Rugby Africais the continent’s governing body for rugby.
In the upcoming four years, Herbert Mensah will serve as the head of rugby on the continent. He is renowned for his love of the game and his wealth of knowledge in sports administration.
In his acceptance speech, Herbert Mensah reiterated his passionate vision for the growth of African Rugby. He highlighted that his priority would be to continue the work he has already begun, helping rugby progress and grow not just in Africa, but globally. Mensah emphasized his business experience and stated that he would apply it to Rugby Africa, to generate revenues and development opportunities for all member associations.
Mensah said, “As we embark on this journey, I want us to project rugby as an alternative team sport, gain financial independence and improve the World Rugby Elite Program. My aim is to make Rugby Africa the gold standard for sports administration in the African continent.”
Rugby fans across the continent would be delighted by Mensah’s vision, which aims to raise the level of African rugby internationally. Mensah added, “My vision for the next four years is to foster an all-inclusive competition framework that will provide members equal opportunities to grow and develop. I am also determined to build a positive and strong brand for Rugby Africa, expand the women’s rugby program, and provide a national stadium for each member association.”
Herbert Mensah is a well-known figure in Ghanaian and international sports administration. He has been a driving force for the development and growth of Rugby in Ghana, and his contribution to the sport’s progress in the sub-Saharan region has been significant.
Mensah’s vast experience in sports administration and leadership, coupled with his passion for rugby, positions him well to lead Rugby Africa through its next phase of growth and development. Under his leadership, we can expect to see more investment in rugby development programs, increased participation of African nations in international tournaments, and greater visibility of rugby in mainstream media.
With Mensah at the helm, Rugby Africa is poised for growth and development, and his team’s collective experience and vision for African rugby bodes well for the continent.
The Bolgatanga Midwifery Training College in theUpper East Region has urged government to employ personnel as well as construct enough dormitories for the college’s students.
The college has had to turn down 570 applicants for the 2022/23 academic year due to inadequate accommodation and low staff.
Speaking at the college’s 17th matriculation in Bolgatanga, the Principal of the college, Christiana Amalba, bemoaned the situation and appealed to stakeholders to intervene.
“Large numbers of prospective students apply to this college yearly and each time, we are faced with the painful decision of having to turn down many applicants who otherwise are well qualified but due to the challenges of low academic staff and inadequate facilities, most especially accommodation of students.
Out of 792 applicants, only 222 students were admitted to undergo special training in this college”.
“I want to use this medium to call on the support of all interested parties, investors, local entrepreneurs, alumni and all stakeholders in and outside of the region of the region to help construct hostel facilities to resolve this pressing issue of accommodation of students”.
Mrs Amalba further assured the matriculants of her commitment to creating a conducive environment for enhanced academic work.
She admonished the students to invest their energies into their studies and eschew all acts of indiscipline.
She hinted that all matriculants shall sign a bond of good behaviour and abide by the rules and regulations of the college.
For his part, the Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, reiterated the government’s commitment to addressing some challenges facing the college.
He admonished the matriculants to take their studies seriously and refrain from all manner of social vices.
He further cautioned them against the use of mobile phones on social media platforms that could bring the name of the institution into disrepute but rather use the to advance their course of study.
As part of celebrations for the university’s 56th Congregation, the Asantehene,Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has officially commissioned the Jericho Wall Police Station at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on March 17, 2023.
In addition to improving local and campus security, the police station, which is meant to service the university and the neighboring areas, is also projected to increase overall safety.
The KNUSTMotorbikes Patrols was also launched as part of efforts by the Police Administration to improve police visibility and incident response time on the university campus.
This is an initiative to ensure motorized police visibility on the campuses of our universities. University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani was the first to benefit from this initiative with the KNUST being the second.
Also present at the commissioning which took place immediately after the 56th Congregation of the university were the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, the Deputy Education Minister, Rev John Ntim Fourjour, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Rita Akosua Dickinson, the Director-General/NPD, COP/Paul Manly Awini, DG/HRD, COP/Frederick Adu Anim and some other Senior Police Officers and some officials of the university.
A Strategic Environmental Assessment(SEA), on the creation of a petroleum hub inGhana has been released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The findings and recommendations in the report will be incorporated into the strategic decision-making process and guide the establishment of the hub.
To ensure that the establishment of the Petroleum Hub does not destroy the Fauna and Flora of the area which is close to the Ankasa forest reserve the Environmental Protection Agency, EPA launched a Strategic Environmental Assessment report to sensitize decision-makers about the environmental impacts of the facility.
Speaking at the SEA Report Launch the Chief Executive of EPA Mr. Henry Kwabena Kokofu explains the need for the report saying that this will serve as a roadmap to ensure that PHDC’s activities do not affect the environment.
Deputy Executive Director of EPA, Dr. Christine Asare said the Petroleum Hub will be a high monitoring and evaluation area to ensure that the necessary steps are taken to secure the environment.
Chief Executive of PHDC Charles Owusu said the Report is timely as the PHDC is engaging stakeholders and the community in decision-making during the plan preparation process.
PETROLEUM HUB
The Petroleum Hub Development Corporation, PHDC is a megaproject in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Nzema Traditional Council in the Western Region.
The hub is expected to be a leading integrated petroleum complex that will add value to the upstream and downstream oil and gas value chain in Africa.
The petrochemical facility will cover 20, thousand acres of land and will house a complex web of onshore, offshore and ancillary assets. It will comprise three refineries, five Petrochemical Plants, Shared Storage Interconnected and Jetties with Port infrastructure.
The development of the Petroleum Hub in Jomoro will accelerate the growth of the petroleum downstream sub-sector and make it a major player in the economy.
The Petroleum Hub development will increase the presence of major international oil trading and storage companies, create regional trading champions, and encourage joint ventures between local and international companies for knowledge transfer and wealth creation.
It will also provide the country with Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities for power production and drive the growth of various industries including petrochemicals.
The development of the Petroleum Hub is expected to transform Ghana’s economy and is projected to create more than 780,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2030.
RECOMMENDATIONS
PHDC must develop and implement an Integrated Biodiversity Management Plan, IBMP with consideration for Gender, the Vulnerable and Excluded/Marginalised.
The Riparian Buffer Zone Policy for the management of water bodies and wetlands within the Petroleum Hub must be implemented.
Compliance with industrial pollution control limits must be ensured by the necessary collaborators.
Operations of the Hub are likely to negatively impact the health and safety of the workers and the people living in the nearby communities, including climate change impacts. The Factories Offices and Shops Act, 1970 (Act 328) enjoins factories, offices, and shops to indicate welfare facilities provided, notification of operational accidents and illnesses, health and welfare standards, safety measures, complaints related to dangerous conditions and practices and related matters in Ghana.
The Monitoring and evaluating emission levels. Resettlement and compensation which must be adequate and timely including land ownership, acquisition and conflicts.
Alternative Livelihood and Support Schemes such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) must be extended to cover affected groups and individuals who cannot be trained in alternative livelihood schemes especially the aged, women, the vulnerable and the excluded/marginalized.
Inadequate capacity of locals to participate in the development and implementation of the Petroleum Hub activities. The establishment of the Petroleum Hub will have significant economic benefits for Ghana. The key issues identified under the economic pillar include the inadequate capacity of locals to participate in the development of the Petroleum Hub and the creation of jobs and the prevention of job losses.
Develop and implement capacity-building programmes including relevant technical and vocational skills for the locals, CSOs, academia, Traditional Authorities (TAs), and Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), among others with consideration for women, the vulnerable and the excluded/marginalized.
Establish an integrated waste management system within the JMA and the Petroleum Hub under a framework for zero impact philosophy and maximizing local content.
Ensure continuous transboundary dialogue to prevent any potential security threats and conflicts.
Cultural heritage issues are held in high esteem within the communities and could lead to conflicts if not properly managed. It is advised that the PHDC should work with TAs and local communities to develop unambiguous guidelines on cultural heritage issues to inform potential investors.
A former chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the Klotey Korley Constituency, Mr. Nii Noi Nortey, has urged young people to disregard the promises made by former President John Dramani Mahama, reiterating the fact that he has nothing better to provide Ghanaians.
According to Mr. Nii Noi Nortey, choosing Mr. Mahama is not only scary but also empty.
“Any time Mahama is talking, you could see how desperate he is… He is soo desperate that he can even insult without thinking. He does not have a single solution to the country’s problems. Mahama is just desperate to rule the country again, hence his penchant for making false claims of having all the answers to the country’s problems. Was it not under Mahama Ghana faced multiple problems like dumsor collapsing numerous businesses, poor infrastructure and the like?”
Speaking at TESCON general meeting atAccra Technical University College, Mr. Nii Noi added; “We want to hear something new and different from John Mahama. we want to hear him say he will do tertiary education free, we want to hear he will take care of our children right from birth to 18 years, we want to hear him say he will take full medical bill of our aged mothers and fathers…we want to hear something new and different ideas from him and not always trying to rubbish someone’s good initiatives.”
He asked Mr. Mahama and the NDC to mention a single social intervention they have made for Ghanaians.
“Why am I saying this? Because anytime NPP is in power we come up with soo many social interactions namely, Female Maternal Care for our pregnant mothers, NHIS for free medical care, Free SHS and more.”
“The incompetence of Mr. Mahama rather eroded the gains made by the erstwhile Kufuor government, thereby worsening the plight of the people. In the midst of the challenge, we are still constructing roads, building schools, paying nursing and teachers allowance…”
Mr. Nii Noi also stated the need for all TESCON members to sacrifice and have an enduring heart to achieve victory for the NPP.
“With you all around I believe we will break the eight. The good people of Ghana will retain the NPP government because of our good work. Put your energy and strength into this constituency and we will reward you because NPP rewards hard work.
Get us the numbers get us the people and help us break the 8,” he said.
Chief Executive Officer of the Coastal Development Authority, Jerry Ahmed Shaib also advised the youth to ignore former President Mahama’s promises and champion President Akufo Addo’s works to every student on campus.
If you prefer the return of dumsor, let’s welcome Mahama’s empty promises back. John Mahama is not the option.”
He also urged them to vote for Nii Noi Nortey when nomination is opened.
“In 2024, look out for those who are vibrant, those you see relationships in them, affable and reliable. We’re looking for a candidate who will do the talk, who will give us power and snatch this seat from the NDC. Look out for the right candidate.
Dennis Aboagye, a member of the governmentcommunication team, has shockingly disclosed that road tolls were never stopped or canceled.
The government in the 2022 budget abolished road tolls after it announced the introduction of the electronic transaction levy (E-Levy). Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta cited congestion and traffic jams at the toll booths as justification for the decision.
A year after the tolls were abolished, the government commenced stakeholder engagements aimed at reintroducing tolls across the country.
In a memo dated 10th March 2023 to the Roads and Highways Ministry, the Finance Minister sought their input on the proposed rates.
But speaking on Citi TV/Citi FM news analysis programme, The Big Issue, Dennis Aboagye popularly known as Miracles said assertions that the tolls were cancelled by the government are wrong.
“Government never cancelled road tolls, the government never said it has suspended road tolls it only said that tolls had been zero-rated.”
He added that the decision to re-introduce the road tolls was a well-thought-out process following its cancellation last year.
He, however, admitted that the decision to abolish the tolls could have been done in a better manner.
Anas Ameyaw AnasGhanaian investigative journalist and private eye is well-known for his anti-corruption activities and undercover reports.
He is renowned for hiding his identity by donning masks in public and for his willingness to challenge influential members of African society.
Anas has conducted numerous high-profile investigations and has received international recognition for his work.
Some of his most notable investigations include exposing corruption in Ghana’s judiciary system, uncovering human trafficking networks in Ghana and Nigeria, and revealing the exploitation of Ghanaian cocoa farmers by multinational corporations on the Ghana and La Cote D’Ivoireborder.
He has also worked on investigations into illegal logging, illegal fishing, and the abuse of children in orphanages.
Anas has won numerous awards for his journalism and was named one of TIME magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2015. He continues to be a prominent figure in the fight against corruption and human rights abuses in Africa.
The Ace investigative journalist was almost blameless until recently when people began questioning the rationale behind his investigative works, his character and his modus operandi or means of conducting his work.
Here are some famous times, Anas Aremeyaw Anas was put under the microscope for corruption check;
Ken releases ‘Who watches the watchman’ after Anas’ ‘Number 12’
Briefly after the release of Anas and Tiger Eye PI’s Number 12 video, the investigative piece captured alleged corrupt practices in Ghana’s football administration, a scandal which led to the collapse of the Kwesi Nyantakyi-led GFA administration, Assin Central legislator, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, bitterly questioned the methods of operation by Anas, accused the Tiger Eye PI journalist of indulging in corruption and promised to expose him, hence the release of “Who watches the watchman” by Kennedy Agyapong. “Who watches the watchman” premiered in 2018 .
The video was met with mixed reactions, while some regarded the documentary of Kennedy Agyapong as a desperate attempt to discredit Anas Aremeyaw Anas, a section of the public bought into the idea that the investigative journalist may be corrupt after all and began to question his methods. Arguably, since the release of “Who watches the watchman”, every subsequent expose’ by Anas has been scrutinized intensely.
Elizabeth Ohene on “Galamsey Economy” by Anas
Veteran journalist and politician, Elizabeth Ohene questioned the rationale behind Anas’ “Galamsey Economy”. According to her, the investigative piece which promised to expose the powerful faces behind illegal mining popularly known as “Galamsey’ failed to do so.
She also questioned the timing of the release of the video since suspects captured in the video were recorded in 2018 but the documentary was released four years later in 2022. The timing, made Elizabeth Ohene question if really, Anas Aremeyaw Anas had the interest of Ghana at heart like he claims.
“If, as it turns out, this incident with Charles Adu Boahen was filmed back in 2018, why have they kept it under wraps all this while and why have they chosen this time, November 2022, almost five years later, to release it? If, in their judgement, they saw what transpired in that hotel room in the United Arab Emirates as so reprehensible, why have they kept it for almost five years?”, Elizabeth Ohene wrote.
This question by Elizabeth Ohene became a topic of discussion for many media outlets in the country.
According to Ambrose Dery, minister of the interior, due to equipment purchases made by the security forces, criminals can no longer hold the nation hostage.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament during a debate on the President’s State of Nation Address, Mr. Dery assures the public that NADMO is now ready to deal with disasters such as earthquakes.
“Ghana now, Mr. Speaker, we do not have a threat of being held hostage by criminals. Is it perfect, no, we intend to continue to do more and Mr. Speaker let’s use this opportunity to appeal to the public. That we should not shield suspects even if they are relatives. Because if we do that then it means that they will harm us, and harm other people.
“So we will like to say that we will continue to depend on them and that security is a collective responsibility. With the numbers we need more even though the recruitment on the Immigration, Fire Service, Prisons and all have been unprecedented as compared to the past,” the Interior Minister stated.
He however stated that despite the number of recruitment the nation still needs more.
“Because each person does want to have a police station established. Mr. Speaker the other agencies under the Ministry of Interior are doing very well. Right now with NADMO, we are moving into the contingency plan in the short term,” Mr. Dery indicated.
According to the minority in parliament, President Akufo-Addo‘s administration has made the worst progress on roads in the fourth republic.
Speaking during discussions of the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), Minority Chief WhipKwame Agbodza contended that the President’s claim was not substantiated by government statistics.
According to the Adaklu MP, there are many projects for which sods were cut for their commencement including the Suame interchange have not seen any action so far.
“President Akufo-Addo’s records are probably the most appalling in terms of roads, the records we have and I quote paragraph 505 of the 2017 budget as a reference point as against paragraph 700 of the 2023 budget. You will see that President Akufo-Addo’s record on road maintenance work is the worst in the history of the fourth republic.
“I wish my senior colleague, a very affable Road Minister will be here, let him know that if you are Road Minister you have to call for a bipartisan committee to investigate roads that are physical for everybody to see. It means you haven’t done any work because if you fix the roads we will see them,” the lawmaker stated.
The ranking member on roads further stated that the road sector in the country is in a very terrible state.
Background
President Nana Akufo-Addo has stated categorically that this Government has built more roads than any government in the history of the 4th Republic.
In his address on the State of the Nation in Parliament on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, President Akufo Addo said: “Mr. Speaker, the details of all these roads are attached in the annex to this Message. I have done so because, last year, when I made a similar pronouncement, I was met with howls and gasps of incredulity from the Minority benches, and so I thought it appropriate, this time, to present it as an annex to the Statement, which will be part of Hansard.”
He said he is proud of the amount of work that his government has done, especially in the road sector.
“Roads constitute the largest number of questions asked in this House by Members of Parliament; a large amount of the monies we borrow are for road construction. Shall we dare stop constructing roads?” he asked.
A woman’s body was discovered in the Koforidua stretch of the Densu River.
The corpse was found in a supine position on river rocks close to the Ghana Water Company Limited dam in the eastern region’s Densuano Communities area of New Juaben South.
The body of the yet to be identified woman dressed in local cloth with black piece of cloth around the waist but without sandals was found in the river Friday Morning.
The Densu River is reported to have been full after rainfall few days ago compelling Ghana Water Company Limited to open the dam to avoid damage.
Benjamin Appiah, assembly member for old Estate West confirmed the incident to Starr News.
He said the deceased is not known in the Densuano community and its surrounding areas therefore suspects she might have drowned from a distance yesterday but swept to the Dam area of the river
Benjamin Appiah, said it took the intervention of the New Juaben South Municipal Chief Executive Isaac Appaw Gyasi who released a vehicle at the assembly to NADMO and Police to transport the body to the mortuary.
Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, and a few other locations across the nation are likely to experience flash floods from April to June, according to the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet).
The flash floods might make some routes impassable, according to GMet’s seasonal estimate for 2023.
“The total cumulative rainfall amount for March April May (MAM) both in time and space will be near normal to above normal at the eastern coast of the country, South Western parts of the country towards the north-western parts of the country will experience normal to below normal rains and the extreme North Eastern parts of the country will experience below normal to near normal rains,” GMet said in a statement.
The statement said, the rest of the country will experience near normal rains adding that, March, April, May, and June is the major rainfall season for the south of the country (8°N and below).
“At the peak of the MAM/AMJ season, there is a high probability of heavy rains accompanied by strong winds and lightning which could lead to flooding and damage to structures. There is also a high probability of experiencing relatively short to normal dry spells at the beginning and towards the end of the season.
“Places such as along the coast and its inland areas are likely to have some surplus rainfall, albeit not so significant from the normal rainfall. The western parts of the country will also experience some deficit rainfall amounts for the MAM and AMJ seasons.”
Road users are thus advised to be mindful when plying roads and refrain from driving through floodwaters.
“Light aircrafts are advised to take utmost care and avoid flying through deep convective clouds that are associated with severe turbulence and lightning, especially in the afternoon hours. Motorists should be mindful of fallen trees and objects on roads during or after a storm.”
The Forestry Commission of the Western North Areahas seized 26 illegal chainsaws that were being used by their owners day and night in forest reserves.
The “Operation Arrest Chainsaw” has also resulted in the arrest of eight (8) operators.
This according to the Western North branch of the Commission is an effort to ensure the protection and preservation of the forest reserves for the future generation.
Confirming the arrest to the media on Thursday, March 16, 2023, the Western North Regional Forestry Range Manager and Coordinator of the Forestry Commission who led the Rapid Team to embark on the operations, George Arthur said it was a special operation to arrest only chainsaw Machines operating illegally in the forest reserve.
According to the rangeManager, chainsawing is the major threat to the reserve hence their decision to embark on the exercise against those illegal operators.
He said the Rapid team were divided into five groups and dispatched into the reserves where these illegal chainsawing goes on.
George Arthur indicated that after the arrest, 26 chainsaw machines, pump action guns with cartridges, two ‘jacks’ and other items were retrieved from the operators.
The Western North Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission, Stephen Asamoah Duah indicated that the 26 chainsaw machines were retrieved within 5 days and more of them were arrested at the night.
“The focus of our operations was to attack the source of illegal chainsawing rather than arresting the illegal operators on the roads,” he told the Media.
He pledged the District Managers in the region will continue to hunt for those who engage in the forest illegally with different strategies.
Meanwhile, the Sefwi Wiawso Forest District Manager, Mr Raymond Obeng Boamah disclosed the Commission is doing its best but some residents in the Ahafo Region precisely Sankore are making their work very difficult for them.
The Rapid Response Team of the Western North Forestry Commission appealed to the authorities of the Commission to provide them with more logistics such as guns, vehicles, walkie-talkies among others so they can protect the forest Reserves effectively.
“These illegal Chainsaw Operators are very wicked and fully armed and we need to arm ourselves too otherwise any time they give a warning shot, it will scare you to go back, and in the process they will continue their activities to destroy the forest reserve. We are there to protect the reserves for the unborn generation and if we allow few people to cut all these trees including the small ones what signal are we sending to the future generation,” he told the media.
Former National Communication Officer of theNational Democratic Congress (NDC), Solomon Nkansah has cast a shade at former President Mahama over his ‘I would cancel ex-gratia’ comment.
Dr. Kwabena Duffour, notJohn Dramani Mahama, who has tasted ex gratia and may not have the hunger to do so, is the best candidate to lead a government to annul ex gratia, according to a member of the Dr. Duffour campaign team.
Speaking on a Kumasi-based radio station, Mr. Nkansah said the NDC and Ghana have reached a point where people must be doers and not talkatives.
He spoke to Julius Caesar Anadem on the Abusua Nkomo Show.
“We have reached a point in our democracy that we can’t throw money away just like that. We need people who are committed to the course of making this country better. Dr Duffour is a doer and has shown this over the years,” he said.
“Duffour is well accomplished, when he was finance minister he never took salary, he did not take ex gratia, so if we want someone who can be trusted to cancel ex gratia who will it be?” he questioned
“He has not taken ex gratia before so obviously he will not condone the payment of it. So when Duffour comes and tells Ghanaians to sacrifice they will heed. He has done his bit for Ghanaian politics and is considered an angel in politics”
“Even before he becomes flagbearer of the party, he has introduced the Ahoto Project, can’t people see the signs already,” Solomon Nkansah said.
At the launch of his campaign former President John Dramani Mahama promised to scrap the payment of ex-gratia to members of the executive and article 71 should he be re-elected in the 2024 elections.
Mr. Mahama said he will take the necessary steps to scrap the payment as soon as he assumes power.
Isaac Adongo, the deputy ranking member of the Finance Committee of the House of Representatives, has hinted that given China’s current economic and geopolitical circumstances, Ghana will likely have difficulty obtaining any sort of debt forgiveness from the Asian power.
Speaking about the challenges Ghana is facing in its request to China for softer terms to repay debts owed to China, Mr. Adongosaid that China’s political and economic ideology is at odds with the conditions of the Paris Club, which increases the risk for any debt relief.
“We need our friendly nations and the bilateral countries to come together and form a committee, but it has been difficult to get China to come to the table even though China is our biggest bilateral lender. The complexity of the China situation is that there are some bits of geopolitics involved where China does not see the Paris Club as anything other than a Western influence and would always want to have equal arrangements with individual countries.”
Mr. Adongo also stressed that the timing of Ghana’s engagement with China is not encouraging as there are other African countries seeking the same help from the Asian powerhouse.
“Unfortunately for us, we have arrived in China at a time when other African countries are already queueing to borrow from them and so it will be difficult for Ghana to jump that queue because whatever China agrees with Ghana will have to be fair with the other countries we came to meet. And also, traditionally, China does not believe that a sovereign country can be poor but does believe that a country can be broke like we are broke but have asserts and other means through which they can collect their money and so China is not a believer of forgiving debts.”
The Bolgatanga Centrallawmaker further bemoaned Ghana’s insignificant progress in achieving debt sustainability though the government had decided to conduct its infamous domestic debt exchange programme in hope of reducing the nation’s debt stock.
TheBolgatanga High Court judge, His Lordship Justice Alexander Graham, has not been subjected to any influence or entrapment, according to the Talensi Traditional Council (TTC) in the Upper East Area.
The Talensi Traditional Council has been accused of trying to force the judge to settle in a matter currently before him over a property dispute.
But the Council said it invited the Judge on March 8, 2023, for a debriefing on some worrying land litigation matters which had the tendency of causing injury and damage to lives and property in the area and were before his court on the way forward.
After the meeting, the judge claimed the invite amounted to an influence and attempt to entrap him and thus charged and convicted two members of the council who delivered the invite for contempt and ordered them to sign a bond of good conduct for six months.
But in a press statement, the Talensi Traditional Council debunked the assertions by the judge.
The council maintained that, it has over the period collaborated with the courts to amicably resolved land litigation issues and that the invite was just part of such collaborations with the court to resolve worrying land litigation issues in the town and not an attempt to influence justice delivery.
“The council did not send the two members to go and influence His Lordship Alexander Graham in any matter whatsoever. It was simply an invitation extended to His Lordship by the President to see how best ligitation on issues concerning lands can be addressed by the council through its Customary Lands Secretariat with the help of the Judge.
“The two members did not go to the court to entrap the judge nor influence his decision on cases pending before him since neither the council as a body nor the Tongraan Kulgbilsong Nanlebgtang, its President is a party to any land case pending in the high court or any other court in the region”.
The council stated that it recognises the independence of the judiciary in dispensing justice and would not at any time attempt to circumvent their mandate.
“The council appreciates and understands the independence of the Judiciary in the discharge of its functions as establish by law. It also recognises the long standing collaboration between the Judiciary and Traditional Authorities in the resolution of disputes in the interest of peace and justice”.
“Therefore, the council would be the last entity to circumvent that tradition and legal practice for which reason the two members of thecouncil were charged and convicted of contempt of court”.
The Headmistress for T. I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School, Hajia Zainab Adams has disclosed that the lateGhanaian football international star, Christian Atsu promised to construct a treatment facility to help cater for ill students of the school.
The late footballer was an old student of the T. I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School.
Speaking to the Independent Ghana, she said Atsu, was always ready to render support to the school adding that, “ It is hard to come by such a personality due to his philanthropism, his humility inspite of his achievement and a whole lot of things”..
She stated that now that Atsu is no more, it is difficult to tell who will continue his good works, however, she called on other alma maters to help fill in the shoes of the legend.
“In spite of his demise he had already sent a voice message to the school promising to build a sick bay for his alma mater but we believe that once he has left a legacy behind, others will follow and assist in that other,” she added.
Christian Astu was among those involved in the earthquake that occurred in Turkey on February 6, 2023.
Sadly, he did not survive the disaster, as he was pulled out of the rubble dead on Saturday, February 18, 2023. It has been a heart wrenching moment for all Ghanaians and sports world.
National Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Stephen Ayesu Ntim, has encouraged the Church to strengthen partnerships with political parties in order to address a number of societal issues.
He argues that such partnerships are necessary since political parties and the Church both have a role to play in the development of the nation.
Chairman Ntim made the remarks when he led national officers of the party to welcome the leadership of the Church of Pentecost on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, when they paid a courtesy call to the Party Headquarters in Accra.
In a brief introductory address, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi Larbi, General Secretary of the Church of Pentecost noted that the Church has since 2018, rolled out a vision to positively impact communities as all churches are borne out of communities.
He further noted that towards achieving this vision, the Church would deepen its engagements with community leaders, heads of other denominational groups, traditional authorities as well as leaders of political parties among others to advance the national interest.
Apostle Alexander also revealed that the Church remains committed to partnering every government to develop Ghana. He mentioned the construction of prison facilities, hospitals, Gari processing plants amongst others as some of the key projects executed by the Church to better the lots of Ghanaians.
He also noted that the Church of Pentecost is determined to contribute and make positive impact to the conduct of politics in Ghana. He intimated that Christians constitute at least, seventy percent of the population. He, therefore, outlined plans by the Church to engage various political parties in the country and advocate for politics of ideas devoid of insults and attacks.
In his concluding remark, Justin Kodua Frimpong, General Secretary of the NPP, praised the Church for its numerous social programmes and urged them to pray for the NPP especially as the Party gears up for its Presidential and Parliamentary primaries.
The delegation of the Church of Pentecost included Lawrence Oti Nyarko, Director for Finance and Administration; Apostle Philip Osei-Korsah, Director of Counseling Ministry; Mr. Stephen Djaba, Secretary for Men’s Ministry; Dr. Yao Yeboah, Secretary for Conference Planning Committee, Rev. Dela Klutse, Media Pastor; Hon. Elizabeth Sackey, Deacon of the Church and Chief Executive for Accra Metropolitan Assembly and Mr. Alfred Ofori Annye.
Other National Executives of the Party in attendance were Madam Rita Talata Asobayire, National 2nd Vice Chairperson; Dr. Charles Dwamena, National Treasurer; Madam Kate Gyamfua, National Women’s Organizer; Dr. Antoinette Tsibu-Darko, Deputy General Secretary; Mr. Joseph Kwayaja, Deputy National Organiser; Hajia Ayesha Salifu, Deputy National Women’s Organiser and Miss Miriam Ewurama Duah, Deputy National Women’s Organiser.
Also present were Mr. William Yamoah, Director of Finance and Administration; Mr. Richard Ahiagba, Director of Communications; Mr. Kwabena Frimpong, Deputy Director for Protocol, Kamal-Deen, Deputy Director of Communications and Mr. Stephen Forson, Deputy Director for Information Technology.
Ten recommendations and/or proposals have been given for consideration regarding the future of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana by participants at the 2023 edition of the law conference of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration(GIMPA).
On March 14 to 16, 2023, GIMPA hosted the GIMPA Law Conference. “The 1992 Constitution of Ghana @ 30: Taking Stock, Assessing Progress, and Dwelling on The Future” was the conference’s central focus.
reas of focus
The conference had several subthemes. Among them were; 30 Years of Multi-party democracy: Challenges and Prospects; The Economy and Financial Management in Ghana since 1993;Human Rights under the 1992 Constitution and Miscellaneous Constitutional Questions (including the political question doctrine).
Other subthemes of the conference were; Management of Natural Resources under the 1992 Constitution; Women’s Rights and Rights of Persons with Disabilities; Constitutional Review and Amendment of the 1992 Constitution; Interpretation and Enforcement of the 1992 Constitution; Contribution of the Judiciary to Constitutional Development; and finally, the Judiciary under the 1992 Constitution.
Recommendations
The recommendations and/or proposals suggested by participants at the 2023 GIMPA Law Conference, were firstly; “As a nation, we must embrace technology and its created systems as opposed to abandoning the idea of incorporating technology as a part of our governance architecture, due to foreseeable failures or challenges with technology that can be prevented and/or addressed.
Secondly, the conference participants recommended that “private prosecution of corruption related offences should be considered to help the State fight corruption” more effectively.
Thirdly, “Article 181(5) of the 1992 Constitution should be seriously looked at as it seems not to be serving the purposes which it was enacted” and fourthly, “the provision on the prohibition of an unconstitutional overthrow of the Constitution should be amended to explain what would constitute a suspension, an overthrow or an abrogation.
The fifth recommendation on the conference was that “we [Ghana] must consider a cap on the number of constituencies created as well as the number of Members of Parliament as this would help ease the pressure on the public purse.
Their sixth recommendation was that the country “must also consider returning to the 1979 Constitutional provisions on strict separation of powers between the Executive and the Legislature, so that a Member of Parliament cannot be a Minister of State at the same time”. This the conference participants noted; “will help strengthen the institution of Parliament to serve as a check on the Executive”.
“The Legislature in enacting or amending new or old laws regulating natural resources should use as a blueprint, the law regulating the management of petroleum resources” was the seventh recommendation made by the experts who attended the conference.
The eighth recommendation was that “We should urgently take another look at the content of the Affirmative Action Bill to bring its provisions in line with contemporary realities, as well as ratify the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol), and always make provision for persons with disabilities in all our laws”.
The process of enacting Executive instruments should be amended to include a process that reflects the principle of checks and balances and Discretionary powers of administrative bodies such as the Electoral Commission should be carefully circumscribed” constituted the ninth and tenth recommendations of the conference attendees.
Panel discussions
As part of the three-day programme, there were panel discussions on several topics. The first panel looked at the topic; “Thirty Years of Multi-Party Democracy: Challenges and Prospects”.
It was moderated by Dr. Enam Antonio, a Lecturer at the GIMPA Faculty of Law. The panelists included Mr Dennis Adjei Dwommoh, Managing Attorney, Law Plus, Mr Nicholas Lenin Anane, Lawyer, Akufo-Addo, Prempeh & Co. and Mr. Joshua Godwin Kyeremateng, Law Lecturer at the Faculty of Law of the University of Cape Coast.
Panel two and three (concurrent panels) considered the Economy and Financial Management in Ghana since 1993 and the impact of the 1992 Constitution on the Socio-Economic Development of Ghana.
Panel two was moderated by Dr. Dotse Tsikata, Principal Lecturer, GIMPA Faculty of Law and the panel members included Mr Clement Kojo Akapame, Senior Lecturer, GIMPA Faculty of Law, Dr Stephen Amoah, Member of Parliament, Nyiaeso Constituency and Mr Jesse Heymann, Associate, Koranteng & Koranteng Legal Advisors.
Panel three was moderated by Mr. Victor Brobbey, Adjunct Lecturer, GIMPA Faculty of Law with Mr. Reginald Nii Odoi, Assistant State Attorney, Office of the Attorney General & Ministry of Justice, Mr Edmund Nelson Amasah, Lecturer, Faculty of Law, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Mr Alexander Hackman-Aidoo, Lecturer, Faculty of Law, University of Cape Coast and Diana Asonaba Dapaah, Deputy Attorney General & Deputy Minister of Justice of Ghana, as members of the panel.
Other experts in various fields joined the discussion to look at other topics such as “Parliament is a Master of its own Rules, but the Constitution is a Master of all Rules: An Examination of the decision in the Justice Abdulai versus The Attorney-General case”, and Management of Natural Resources under the 1992 Constitution.
Other topics that came up for discussion during day two and three of the conference were: Women’s Rights and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; Constitutional Review and Amendment of the 1992 Constitution; Interpretation and enforcement of the 1992 Constitution; and Contribution of the Judiciary to Constitutional development since 1993.
The District Pastor of Narrow Gate Faith Ministries in charge of Bonakye has been killed by some unidentified on his farm.
Pastor Bless Denutsi, a 50-year-old man, was discovered dead on his farm, just a few meters from Bonakye town, in a supine position with blood gushing from his nose and ears.
Emilia Denutsi, wife of the deceased narrating the sad news to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) during a visit to the scene said, the husband left home to the farm early hours of Wednesday, March 15, but failed to return as he usually does.
She narrated she became alarmed after all efforts to reach him proved futile.
“Later in the evening I went and informed some leaders of our Church about the situation after I went to the farm but didn’t find him.”
The leaders of the Church together with some members of the community then went in search of him but found the Pastor dead.
A team of Police officers from the Nkwanta South Municipal Command led by Detective Lance Corporal Kumi Seidu, visited the crime scene this morning and conveyed the body to the Nkwanta South Municipal morgue awaiting autopsy.
Superintendent of Police, Lawson Lartey, Nkwanta South Municipal Police Commander said the Police suspected foul play, have begun investigations into the death of the Man of God, and assured that the culprits would be brought to book.
The LA Dadekotopon Municipal Assemblyhas warned that it would start ripping down unpermitted buildings erected on waterways under its control.
The municipality said this is to prevent flooding during the rainy season.
The Chief Executive of the Assembly, Solomon Kotey Nikoisays the three-week-long exercise will see earmarked structures pulled down without favour.
Giving more details about the scheduled exercise to Citi News, the MCE said the situation “has become serious that even the taskforce has to be working on weekends just to make sure that we stop people from filling the waterways to build on.”
“There are some structures that have been marked to be demolished in three weeks’ time to ensure that it makes way for the free flow of rain waters ahead of the rainy season,” Mr. Nikoi further stressed.
The MCE also appealed to the media to “advise the people who are being lawless to desist from such practices.”
He further disclosed that the dredging will cost the Assembly GH¢300,000.
Ever since Christian Atsu’s demise was announced testimonies about his selfless being keep pouring in.
Asamoah Gyan, former captain of the Black Stars, has joined the others in penning down a heartfelt homage to the late Ghanaian international.
According to him, Atsu was one of his favorites as he derived support and encouragement from him.
He commended Christian for remaining humble despite reaching the height of his career.
The former captain added that Ghana and the world at large has lost a great soul, as Atsu is irreplaceable.
Find Asamoah Gyan’s tribute:
Christian was one of my favourite players and also one of the guys very close to my heart.
I’m not God but the trust Christian had in me was unbelievable. He always tells me “ Asa, please try and play every game for us cos I don’t see us winning without you”.
Anytime he sees me, he shakes he head and starts laughing. After every goal I score, Christian always walks to me and always say “ Asa, Nyame shira wo (God bless you). My heart is in pain for loosing humble, innocent and unbelievable footballer like Christian. Thank you for everything. Rest in Peace Brother.
Today, Friday, March 17 the late Christian Atsu’s family, friends, football players, and prominent figures, includingPresident Akufo-Addo, have gathered to pay their final respects.
Atsu was discovered dead on Saturday, having spent the previous 12 days trapped beneath wreckage after the terrible earthquake that devastated Turkey and Ukraine.
Following disputes between some community members and the mining firm, the police have reinstated law, order, and security toGolden Star Resources, a mining site in the Western area at Wassa Benso.
One person is said to have died, four hurt, and some firm property damaged as a result of the incident.
Police have since beefed up security in Wassa Benso and its environs.
The Police have also reached out to some opinion leaders of the Benso community as well as the Vice President and Managing Director of Golden Star Resources all as part of police effort to maintain peace within the community.
“We would like to urge all parties to remain calm as the police investigate the incident and bring any persons found culpable to face justice,” a statement said.
Today, Friday, March 17, 2023, is a sad day as Ghanaian footballer, Christian Atsu‘s mortal remains lie in State.
Marie-Claire Rupio, the late Ghanaian footballer’s wife, has expressed immense grief over her husband’s passing.
Rupio stated in a heartfelt tribute that even though her spouse was no longer by her side, she knows their connection would last a lifetime.
According to her, Atsu served as a leader, a support system, a provider, an advisor, and a confidante for her and the kids.
Photo gallery of Christian Atsu, wife and children
Find below her tribute :
Lying before me today is the mortal remains of a beloved father and husband. I knew little that morning that God is going to call you home, In life ,I love you dearly . In death I do the same. It breaks my heart to lose you. You did not go alone. For part of me went with you. Your love is still my guide, and though I cannot see you.
You are always on my side, you were always so full of life. You seemed to be immortal. Your smile, your love, I see you in our children’s smile. You are never really gone as part of you is within them.
You are loved beyond words and missed beyond measure. But as you always say, God win. In love, your wife.
Tribute from late Christian Atsu’s wife
Christian Astu was among those involved in the earthquake that occurred in Turkey on February 6, 2023.
Sadly, he did not survive the disaster, as he was pulled out of the rubble dead on Saturday, February 18, 2023. It has been a heart wrenching moment for all Ghanaians and sports world.
Christian Atsu didn’t have a lucky start in life, but with talent and perseverance, he was able to fulfill his dream of playing professional football and, with it, a desire to make a difference in people’s lives.
The football world has been in mourning since Christian Atsu was confirmed dead after being trapped in the rubble following the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey in February.
At 31, the former Ghana international was nearly at the twilight of his career and his demise comes as a painful loss because he had a lot to offer, both on and off the pitch.
Born in Ada Foah in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana, Atsu became a shining light to his family and community and made it his duty to impact the lives of others.
One of 10 children born by his parents and the son of a fisherman, Atsu’s career and life were a testament to what one can achieve with the right mix of determination, luck and opportunity.
Not only was he a devoted Christian, but he also made it his mission to care for the less privileged by using his funds to make their lives better.
In a 2019 interview with the Guardian, Atsu said: “My faith is the most important thing in my life. I know I’m one of the lucky people God has blessed.
“I’m very lucky and privileged to be in this position. I had nothing and now I’ve got too much so I have to give something back.”
This overly dutiful thinking – of owing his society and of being lucky to be privileged – guided his every step when he had his breakthrough and he never lost himself to fame and money.
The model footballer
Christian Atsu’s football career started on the dusty pitches in Accra before he was snapped up by the Feyenoord Soccer Academy in Gomoa Fetteh.
He would eventually end up at Cheetah FC, where he was given the platform to develop his game to the next level and, in 2011, he secured his first European trial at FC Porto.
Then just a teenager, Atsu impressed the Portuguese outfit and was handed a permanent contract, although he only trained with Porto’s youth team.
A loan move to Rio Ave would follow, as he sought more game time. In 27 matches for Rio Ave, the winger scored six goals and returned to Porto as a more mature footballer.
Porto boss Andre Villas-Boas integrated him into the first team during the 2012/13 campaign, with Atsu starting nine matches as the club won the league – his first major trophy.
That impressive season with the Portuguese giants earned Atsu a dream move to Chelsea. Unfortunately for him, though, he would spend the next four years with the Blues without making a single first-team appearance.
In that time, he was farmed out on loan to Vitesse, Everton, Bournemouth, Malaga and Newcastle United, before permanently joining the latter in 2017.
Atsu would spend five years at St. James’ Park, helping the Magpies to gain promotion to the Premier League and playing over 50 matches in the white and black jersey.
He parted ways with Newcastle in the summer of 2021 following the expiration of his contract and joined Saudi Arabia side Al Raed on a free transfer that same summer.
After just a year in the Middle East, the Ghanaian winger moved to Turkey to joinHatayspor, where he tragically died in the earthquake just a day after scoring his first goal for the club.
The philanthropist
Atsu’s impact wasn’t just limited to the football pitch. Off it, he also took steps to make life better for the less privileged.
He was always willing to give and he paid the fees of many, including the popular Nigerian comedian Craze Clown.
He was also an ambassador for many children’s charity foundations. In Ghana, he financed the Becky’s Foundation, which caters for orphans.
He had even started building a school for the orphanage, which is made up of nine classrooms, libraries, a pitch and ultramodern libraries, before his death. He was also an ambassador of the charity organisation Arms Around the Child.
Furthermore, he played a huge role in the non-custodial sentencing bill and teamed up with the Crime Check Foundation to pay the fines of petty criminals.
These included persons who were languishing in prison over petty theft, and also helped to reintegrate the freed inmates into society. The winger even went as far as providing money for some of them to start businesses.
In a 2018 interview, Atsu tried to explain the motive behind his philanthropic works: “I lived in an uncompleted building. Every time I go back to Ghana, I see the building I lived in. It’s still uncompleted.
“I say to my friends ‘this was me, this is where I came from’. It’s hard in Africa. You cannot imagine what it is like to see the kids with no money, no house, with nowhere to go.”
“We have to build a better world. As a grown-up guy like me, I can suffer. That’s fine. But not the kids. Not when it’s not their fault.”
Atsu’s achievements
Atsu’s football career lasted over a decade and although he was blighted by injuries at his peak, he still had some achievements to his name.
At Porto, he won the Portuguese league title as well as the Portuguese Super Cup. He was also voted as the club’s young player of the year in 2011.
He also made his mark during his loan spell with Vitesse, where he was voted the club’s player of the year in 2014. With Newcastle United, too, he won the EFL Championship in their promotion season.
For Ghana, Atsu’s best performances came during the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where he helped the Black Stars to finish as runners-up to the Ivory Coast.
Atsu emerged as the player of the tournament, with his long-range strike against Guinea also voted as the goal of the tournament.
The deficiencies of the Ghana Fire Service, according toNana Akwasi Prempeh, chairman of the Petty Traders Association, are to blame for the massive damage brought on by the fire that broke out at the Kejetia market on Wednesday.
On March 15, a fire devastated portions of the first and second floors of the market, severely damaging several shops.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM, the petty traders’ chairman said the Fire Service cannot absolve itself from the unfortunate damage that was caused by the fire because that would not have happened if the necessary firefighting equipment were put in place at the market.
“If the fire fighting system in the market had been activated earlier, we think the extent of damage that was caused in the market would have reduced drastically because there were instances where we realized that there was no flow of water in the nearby water hydrant. They had locked the water and there was no alarm warning to indicate that there was going to be some fire.”
He added that “there was no alarm system to forewarn the traders, there were no smoke detectors and there were no fire detectors to alert the market traders of the looming damage.”
On his part, the Ashanti Regional Fire Commander, ACFO1 Henry Giwah, explained that management of the market had some lapses in its readiness to fight fire outbreaks.
“We identified some lapses, we informed management of the market, and they promised to fix it for which reason we have not even renewed their certificate. We were going to make sure those things are rectified first before the outbreak happened.”
Ghana’s move to restructure its local currency and overseas debt is weighing on banks from Africa to the UK.
Four of Africa’s biggest lenders — Standard Bank Group Ltd., FirstRand Ltd., Absa Group Ltd., and Nedbank Group Ltd. — collectively set aside 4.87 billion rand ($267 million) to account for the losses, impairing as much as 57% of local and onshore dollar-denominated debt holdings. Meanwhile, Standard Chartered Plc set aside $160 million.
A rare move to restructure local debt — bondholders exchanged 87.8 billion cedis ($7.1 billion) of notes that paid an average of 19%, with bonds returning as little as 8.35% — have resulted in losses for financial institutions. Ghana is restructuring most of its public debt, estimated at 576 billion cedis, to finalize a $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund.
“We dealt with the risk, because as we see it, while there’s a potential for a better outcome, there’s also potential for a worse outcome,” Absa Chief Financial Officer Jason Quinn said in an interview. “So that’s why we took a position to impair those extensively.”
Absa’s unit in Ghana, its third-largest lender by assets, booked 2.7 billion rand as impairment, including 2.2 billion rand for sovereign bonds, and another 500 million rand to cater for other government-related exposures. The lender maintains that its unit remains well capitalized.
Standard Bank, which runs the fourth-biggest lender in Ghana by assets, said it’s ready to re-capitalize the business should they need to, even though the Ghanaian unit’s balance sheet is a “fortress.” The lender holds as much as 2.6 billion rand in Ghanaian bonds.
“It is unfortunate where they find themselves,” FirstRand CEO Alan Pullinger said in an interview earlier this month. “The debt sustainability just wasn’t there and when you are over-geared, you eventually run out of cash and you have to call a default.”
President Nana Akufo-Addo’s government plans to start “substantive” discussions with international bondholders and their advisers in coming weeks, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta said on Feb. 16. The nation targets cutting its liabilities from an estimated 105% of gross domestic product in 2022 to 55% by 2028.
The costs to local lenders will only be known later given the stock exchange allowed them to delay releasing financials.
The late Nii Amon Kotei, a renowned Ghanaian artist who created the State’s Coat of Arms, has been honored with a new students hostel at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
Amon Kotei’s exceptional service to the country has been recognized posthumously by UPSA, who also intends to preserve his legacy as a prestigious national icon.
Amon Kotei, who passed away in October 2011, was a distinguished sculptor, painter, musician and surveyor.
“When it came to considering a name for this hostel, no other person’s life’s journey best fits what this hostel sympolises than Amon Kotei, a celebrated Ghanaian and an honorable son of La, and the designer of Ghana’s Coat of Arms,” the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Abednego F. O. Amartey explained at a colorful ceremony to commission the hostel on Tuesday, March 14.
“Due to his illustrious work with the Cartographical Division of the Army when he enlisted in theRoyal West African Frontier Force Gold Coast as well as his exemplary work at the Gold Coast Printing Office, he was recommended by the colonial government and specially commissioned to design a Coat of Arms for the country.
“The rest, as the saying goes, is history, and we are proud to honor him today with the naming of this hostel.”
Prof Amartey thanked the faculty and staff of UPSA for their sacrifices that have made recent construction projects a reality.
He explained that the new 10-storey students’ hostel, financed through the University’s internally generated funds, will help address students’ residential needs while also promoting diversity, integration, and inclusion on campus.
“As the Vice Chancellor, I know how important it is to provide a safe shelter and environment for our students. I appreciate the fact that the provision of a holistic education goes beyond a serene lecture hall, faculty, and the provision of books.
“It is for this reason that the University has invested in infrastructural development, including this new hostel, to meet the accommodation needs of students.”
The ultra-modern hostel complex has facilities such as a recreational area, study/reading rooms, Junior Common Rooms (JCR), a laundry area, TV rooms, automated teller machines (ATM), a modern security system, CCTV cameras, an elevator, and other auxiliary amenities.
The rooms have also been fitted with individual electricity meters to prevent waste and ensure energy conservation.
The chairman of the governing council of UPSA, Dr Kofi Ohene-Konadu, thanked the President of the Republic for his personal intervention in securing the land and the necessary clearance from the appropriate ministry to pave the way for the construction of the hostel.
The commissioning and naming of the hostel was graced by some high-profile dignitaries, including the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, family members of the late Nii Amon Kotei, traditional leaders, the clergy, faculty, staff, and students of the University.
Kennedy Agyapong, a member of parliament for Assin Central, is appealing for the reinstatement of every person who was fired from their job after being involved in what he calls Anas Aremeyaw Anas’ “awful” investigation.
His remarks follow his victory over a defamation suit filed against him by Anas.
On Wednesday, March 15, the Accra High Court dismissed the GH¢25 million defamation suit against Kennedy Ohene Agyapong brought by investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas.
The judge, Justice Eric Baah, held that Anas Aremeyaw Anas failed to prove that Ken Agyapong defamed him by airing the documentary – “Who watches the watchman” – but rather, the documentary exposed shady deals that Anas and his associates were involved in.
This was after Anas, in 2018, sued the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for allegedly defaming him.
Anas prayed to the court to award GH¢25 million against Mr Agyapong to compensate him for the defamatory material published against him by the MP.
The court concluded that what Anas is engaged in is not investigative journalism but rather “investigative terrorism” and that Agyapong was justified to call Anas “a blackmailer, corrupt, an extortionist, and evil”.
“I find the claims by the plaintiff [Anas Aremeyaw Anas) meritless and they are hereby dismissed,” Justice Baah ruled.
Mr Agyapong dedicated his victory to victims of Anas’ work including former President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) Kwasi Nyantakyi who was captured in Anas’ investigative work dubbed “Number 12” which uncovered rots in Ghana football.
Speaking to journalists after the court hearing, Mr Kennedy Agyapong said “we have to be bold to speak the truth, Anas goes ahead to [allegedly] defame people and gets away. It is only in this country that a journalist covers his face to go and give witness while Supreme Court judges are sitting there.
“Anas has to come out and apologize. All I am saying is the victory is for Kwasi Nyantakyi.”
“All those who were sacked over Anas terrible should be reinstated,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Tiger Eye PI, the investigative firm belonging to Anas Aremeyaw Anas, has said that they are disappointed in the court ruling.
In a statement reacting to the ruling, Tiger Eye PI said: “We find the court decision an unfortunate travesty of justice and very inimical to the administration of justice and fairness. If for nothing at all made an allegation of murder against Anas.”
It added: “Tiger Eye PI and our CEO Anas Aremeyaw remain resolute in our fight against corruption in the Ghanaian society.”
Vice-President,Mahamudu Bawumiahas said that he had restless nights when the country’s bulk oil distribution businesses priced petrol at GHC19 to a dollar .
According to Bawumia, the nightmare sparked the idea for the gold for oil initiative.
The policy is designed to allow the government to pay for imported petroleum products with gold in direct barter arrangements, using gold purchased by the Bank of Ghana.
The policy aims to help stabilise prices of fuel products, as well as reduce pressure on Ghana’s foreign exchange, because direct gold barters will be the modus for paying for imported oil, which will help guard against depleting the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
“One moment which gave me a lot of sleepless nights personally was when at one point, the forward exchange rate of GHC19 to the dollar was used to price fuel at the pump,” Bawumia said at the commissioning of the head office of the Bulk Oil Storage Transportation Companyin Accra on Wednesday (15 March).
“And therefore, we were faced with how much higher it could go. We were faced with a very critical situation because we didn’t have enough foreign exchange reserves to meet this persistent demand.
“Today, you are seeing that in Kenya, they are facing significant shortage of foreign exchange reserves resulting in petroleum queues.
“So, we had to think outside the box to prevent Ghana from going through that situation… and this is where the thinking for gold for oil came in,” Bawumia said.
The family ofImoro Sherrif, a dead soldier, has been asked to maintain peace and trust in the state security apparatus to bring about justice for the slain soldier.
Imoro Sherrif was discovered dead with stab wounds at Ashaiman Taifa on Saturday, March 4.
Defence Minister,Dominic Nitiwul made the appeal when members of the defence and interior committees of Parliament paid a visit to the deceased’s family at Ashaiman Zongo Laka to express their condolences.
“Don’t take revenge as a family and people of Ashaiman. The gods of Ghana will answer you. I know that it is difficult for all of us, but God has a way of defending the defenceless and Ghana will defend this family and the people of Ashaiman and in doing that, we will do what is right in accordance with the law. We at the Ministry of Defence are there and will support you”, he assured.
The 22-year-old soldier with the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) band in Sunyani in the Bono Region was stabbed to death by unknown attackers.
The soldier was said to be returning from his girlfriend’s house in Ashaiman-Taifa and heading toward his residence when the unfortunate incident occurred.
He has since been buried with persons believed to be his killers arrested.
The mother of the officer whose death triggered military brutalities in Ashaiman says she is devastated by the death of her son.
Afia Kyerah says she had no idea her son was visiting Ashaiman after taking a sick leave from his base in Sunyani in the Bono Region.
The death of Sherrif Imoro sparked the serious brutalization of residents of Ashaiman by the military on Tuesday, March 7.
Speaking to journalists, Afia Kyerah said justice should be served.
“Sherrif didn’t have any friends, he was always with me, some neighbours were always teasing me for turning him into a mummy’s boy. I had no idea he was coming to Ashaiman, I had no idea he will die like this, his death is so painful, I’m sad and devastated,” the mother said.
Kwesi Nyantakyi, the former president of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), reacted to the dismissal ofAnas Aremeyaw Anas‘ defamation lawsuit against Kennedy Agyapong.
In 2018, Anas filed a GH¢25 million defamation lawsuit against Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central in the Central Region, but the court ruled on March 15 that the claim is without merit.
In a lengthy ruling, Justice Eric Baah held that the plaintiff [Anas Aremeyaw Anas] failed to prove that Kennedy Agyapong defamed the investigative journalist by airing the documentary – “Who watches the watchman.”
Speaking on Accra-based Oman FM earlier today, Mr. Nyantakyi said “the High Court’s decision testifies to the truth that Anas Aremeyaw Anas is not honest but as described by the court, he is a blackmailer and an extortionist.”
“The judge also described his job as an investigative terrorist instead of an investigative journalist. He has been totally disgraced. He once portrayed himself as an angel, but today I’m not even sure he is at the devil’s level yet.”
In June 2018, the former member of Fifa’s executive council was filmed taking $65,000 in cash from an undercover reporter in a film captured by journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas which was aired by BBC Africa’s investigations unit, Africa Eye.
Nyantakyi was pictured placing the “shopping money” into a black plastic bag from an undercover reporter pretending to be a businessman keen to invest in Ghanaian football.
He later agreed to what he believed to be a sponsorship deal for the Ghana FA, which he had presided over since 2005. The bogus deal, invented by the reporters, would have enabled millions of dollars in commission to be paid to a company controlled by him.
This cost him his positions as FIFA Council Member and 1st Vice President of CAF.
Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the deputy majority leader, has called for a review of Article 94 of the 1992 constitution in order to make post-secondary education a requirement for individuals seeking to become member of Parliament.
The constitutional provision specifies, among other things, the standards by which someone can be regarded as qualified for or disqualified from serving as a member of Parliament.
Speaking at the 2023 GIMPA Law Conference, Afenyo-Markin, noted that the public has been critical of many happenings in Parliament including debates which occur on the floor.
He believes that making post-secondary education a criterion for entering Parliament will ensure improvement in the quality of persons who get to be Members of Parliament.
“We have often heard the members of the public talking about the quality of debates and sometimes our grammar is marked, our reasoning powers are questioned and I agree. It is fair. It is part of your bona fide as critical observers…looking at or interrogating what we do in the Chamber. For that purpose, I think that it wouldn’t be far-reaching to suggest perhaps that Article 94 be looked at.
“Maybe not talking about university degrees….first degree as a minimum qualification, but we can look at post-secondary education. Somebody may have some post-secondary education which may not even be a tertiary training but would have gathered some experience. We may have to look at that all aimed at ensuring that those who enter Parliament have the necessary capacity to do that,” Afenyo-Markin said.
According to Pius Enam Hadzide, the chief executive officer of theNational Youth Authority (NYA), 5 of 10 Youth Resource Centers currently under construction nationwide are expected to be completed and handed over by the end of March 2023.
The facilities’ development began in 2018 and was intended to take nine months to complete; nevertheless, five years later, not a single one has been finished.
A Joy Sports campaign tagged Bush Resource Centres has been highlighting the neglect and abandoning of the facilities which have already seen about $20 million invested in the projects.
Reacting to the reports by Joy Sports’ Fentuo Tahiru Fentuo on PM Express Wednesday, March 15, Hadzide said the authority has strategically decided to concentrate resources on completing five of the projects. He has now claimed those five will be completed and handed over by the end of the month.
“The instructions to the contractors which we are still following is the end of this quarter so I expected that by the end of March [five of the projects should be completed],” he said on Joy News.
“Tartan track is being laid as we speak in Axim because we are almost complete. I can assure you that we are committed to completing the projects.
“We have almost complete five. We will complete the other five in due time.”
The five projects that are expected to be completed by the end of the month include; Ho, Axim, Koforidua, Wa and Dormaa.
Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) constituency chairman for New Juaben North has pledged to resign from politics should Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia be defeated in the NPP flagbearership contest.
According to Kwadwo Boateng-Agyemang, Dr. Bawumia’s defeat will merely confirm that politics is in fact a game of deception.
He was speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen.
“Mark it on the wall, I swear by the grave of my father who passed when I was 10 that I will quit politics because it will give me a clear picture that there is indeed no truth in politics,” he stated without mincing words.
Former New Juaben North Chairman
About five leading members of the governing NPP including former Energy Minister; Boakye Agyarko, former Agric Minister; Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, former Trade Minister; Alan Kyerematen, and former General Secretary Kwabena Agyapong have all expressed interest in contesting the flagbearership slot of the party.
Many have also tipped Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia for the position but he is yet to officially make his intentions known.
But Mr Boateng-Agyemang has expressed conviction Dr Bawumia will gain a resounding victory, adding the grounds are fertile for him.
“I know what is happening on the grounds and you can go and conduct a survey to ascertain that fact,” he added.
At Kasoa Millennium City in the Central Region, Efo Kwasi Joseph, a 71-year-old father and carpenter has cut off the two fingers of his 11-month-old biological son.
The incident happened on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, in the afternoon.
According to the wife of the suspect, Juliana Amenasor, she was shocked to see her baby boy lose his fingers after her husband who is a carpenter took the child to his workshop and cut his fingers.
Information gathered indicates that the suspect had always threatened to use his son for money rituals and warned that he’ll cut the baby’s fingers but his wife always rebuked him.
The wife of the suspect in an interview with Kasapa News Yaw Boagyansaid, the child is in serious pain and can’t stop crying.
She added that she needs money for surgery and also buy medications prescribed by Doctors which is a major challenge, hence called on the public for financial support.
The mother has appealed to the Inspector General of police to intervene and prosecute the husband to serve as a deterrent to others.
Meanwhile, the case has been reported to the Millennium City police for investigation.
The suspect is yet to be arrested at the time of filing the report.
Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, a former minister of food and agriculture, has criticized former President John Dramani Mahama for neglecting to take action to address the country’s cocoa swollen shoot virus epidemic during his administration.
Many hectares of farmland were harmed by the disease, and the former president, according to Dr. Afriyie Akoto, should have proposed some solutions to stop its recurrence.
Parts of the country were severely hit by the swollen shoot virus disease during the erstwhile Mahama administration. Western and Eastern regions were the most affected.
Cases of the disease were recorded in Ghana between 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2017 and 2021, where millions of trees were affected.
But laying the blame on Mr. Mahama, on the Point of View with Bernard Avle, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto said, “cocoa production has almost stagnated and for a good reason. The swollen shoot virus disease set in about 11 years ago. The NDC-Mahama administration should have taken measures immediately when the incident started to stop spreading. But it was only when we came that through the African Development Bank, we managed to get a loan for rehabilitation to control the virus in the cocoa industry. The project started in 2020, it’s in 3rd year of implementation”.
He stressed, “the Ivorians took measures when it should have been taken, unlike Ghana where it festered to the extent that Western North production came down. We have taken some measures to correct something which should have been done 10 years back”.
The cocoa swollen shoot virus disease (CSSVD) is one of the most devastating diseases on cacao and causes significant production losses and death of cacao trees. The CSSVD is caused by a badnavirus within the family Caulimoviridae.
On Wednesday night, Real Madridand Napoli easily advanced to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League, completing the field of eight teams.
Real defeated Liverpool 1-0 on the night to finish with a 6-3 overall triumph over the Reds, while Napoli defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 3-0 to win with a 5-0 overall victory.
Real Madrid and Napoli join Chelsea, Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, AC Milan, Manchester City and Benfica for Friday’s draw.
The Reds, who lost the first leg 5-2, lined up with four forwards at the Bernabeu as they looked to add another famous comeback to their fabled European history.
But that rarely looked on the cards and legendary Real striker Karim Benzemaput the tie beyond doubt when he tucked in from Vinicius Jr’s cutback late on.
In Naples, Victor Osimhen scored twice as Napoli cruised into the last 8 for the first time with a comfortable win over Eintracht Frankfurt.
With Luciano Spalletti’s side two goals up from the first leg, the Nigeria striker’s thumping header in first-half stoppage time dispelled any lingering nerves at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Osimhen doubled the Italians’ lead on the night with a close-range finish from Giovanni di Lorenzo’s cross eight minutes after the break and, having been brought down in the box, Piotr Zielinski converted the penalty himself to make it 3-0.
The draw for the quarter finals and semi finals of the Champions League will be held at UEFA’s headquarters in Nyon.
Investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anashas been informed by the Accra High Court that his tactics are not those of investigative journalism but rather “investigative terrorism.”
This emerged after the court dismissed a GHC25 million defamation lawsuit the journalist had filed against Kennedy Agyapong, the MP for Assin Central.
According to a report by asaaseradio.com, the judge, Justice Eric Baah, ruled that the MP was justified to refer to Anas as “a blackmailer, corrupt, an extortionist, and evil.”
He added that “I find claims by the plaintiff (Anas Aremeyaw Anas) meritless and they are hereby dismissed.”
Background
Sometime in 2018, the ace international investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas dragged the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, to court for defaming him.
Anas was asking the High Court to award aggravated damages to the tune of GH¢25 million arising from defamatory materials published by the MP.
He said the MP had been publishing materials in his bid to discredit him after releasing an explosive piece on the rot in Ghana football.
Displeased with the MP’s actions, Anas, through his lawyer, Mr Kissi Agyebeng, sued Mr Agyapong for the award of general damages for defamation in the defendant’s publications.
A journalist, Mr Listowell Yesu Bukarson, has been granted the lawful attorney to stand in for Anas.
Publications
The publication complained of are May 29, 2018, live programme in Twi on Adom TV, where Mr Agyapong categorically stated that Anas was a blackmailer, corrupt, an extortionist and evil.
According to the statement of claim, the defendant, in a similar manner, published defamatory words on May 31, 2018, via Oman FM, a private radio station owned by the defendant.
The statement of claim also stated that the defendant published more defamatory materials against the plaintiff via other platforms to the extent of releasing pictures purported to be those of the investigative journalist in his bid to blow the latter’s cover.
The presiding judge in a GHC25 million defamation case filed against theMember of Parliament for Assin Central ruled that the accusations made against the plaintiff, Anas Aremeyaw Anas, were appropriate.
The judge, Judge Eric Baah, concluded that the MP Kennedy Agyapong‘s accusations against the undercover investigative journalist accurately reflect the type of job the journalist undertakes.
In a report by asaaseradio.com, the judge, who dismissed the suit brought by Anas, explained that what the journalist practices as investigative journalism is rather ‘investigative terrorism.’
By this, he ruled that it was justified for Kennedy Agyapong to describe his tactics as corrupt.
Justice Eric Baah stress that the MP was justified to refer to Anas as “a blackmailer, corrupt, an extortionist, and evil.”
Dismissing the case, the judge said, “I find claims by the plaintiff (Anas Aremeyaw Anas) meritless and they are hereby dismissed,” the report added.
Background
Sometime in 2018, the ace international investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas dragged the Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin Central, Mr Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, to court for defaming him.
Anas was asking the High Court to award aggravated damages to the tune of GH¢25 million arising from defamatory materials published by the MP.
He said the MP had been publishing materials in his bid to discredit him after releasing an explosive piece on the rot in Ghana football.
Displeased with the MP’s actions, Anas, through his lawyer, Mr Kissi Agyebeng, sued Mr Agyapong for the award of general damages for defamation in the defendant’s publications.
A journalist, Mr Listowell Yesu Bukarson, has been granted the lawful attorney to stand in for Anas.
Publications
The publication complained of are May 29, 2018, live programme in Twi on Adom TV, where Mr Agyapong categorically stated that Anas was a blackmailer, corrupt, an extortionist and evil.
According to the statement of claim, the defendant, in a similar manner, published defamatory words on May 31, 2018, via Oman FM, a private radio station owned by the defendant.
The statement of claim also stated that the defendant published more defamatory materials against the plaintiff via other platforms to the extent of releasing pictures purported to be those of the investigative journalist in his bid to blow the latter’s cover.
