A former chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), in the Afigya Kwabre South Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, known in political circles as (COKA), has pinpointed dishonesty, greediness and corruption’ as the core bane to Ghana’s under development.
The NPP stalwart, believes Ghana is not developing because the country has been infested with large number of dishonest and greedy individuals with high tendency of engaging in corrupt practices to serve their own parochial interest.
“I personally describe these individuals as, “Economic Demons”, their toxic nature has collapsed thousands of both private and state owned companies which had the potential of employing more youth and generating massive revenue at the same time in the country “.
Expressing his frustrations on his social media handles, on Tuesday November 15, 2022, Chairman COKA described as worrying, what he says is the increasing incidence of greed and selfishness exhibited by a large number of Ghanaians.
“When you take your time to research, you will find out that the demons in Africa are powerful than those in Europe. You travel to Europe and you will see a company which was established 80 years go and the founder is no more yet the company is thriving. In Africa, a company dies after the founder is no more all because we are always thinking about today”.
“However, those in the other part of the world think of today, tomorrow and their next generation to come. All our visions and dreams die with us all because there are people who are envious of our progress”. Plan for the future and stop selfishness”. He said in a Facebook post.
Mr Odeneho Kwaku Appiah further noted that, the slow pace of the country’s development can only be blamed on such tendency, adding that, Ghana needs what he describes as service citizens and leaders to change the course of development.
Some residents in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, have kicked against the directions by the leadership of some religious leaders to declare fasting and prayers aimed at reviving Ghana’s ailing economy.
According to them, “prayers and fastings alone won’t solve our economic hardship, but what Ghana needs is strong, incorruptible leaders with the very strong mentality to formulate and implement good policies to revive the economy.”
The current economic hardship, which has been widely speculated about by many Ghanaians and admitted by the president, has resulted in many people suggesting solutions on how to propel the country to greater heights.
Church of Pentecost
The Church of Pentecost (COP) declared a three-day fast and prayer session for all members starting on November 10, 2022.
The Church’s Executive Council arrived at the decision in the wake of economic hardship being experienced in the country.
“It is apparent that the country for some time now has been going through some economic challenges which threaten the peace and security of the nation.
“The church in times like this has a divine responsibility to intercede for the nation,” he said. Addressing the congregation on Sunday, the Chairman of COP, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, told the members to adhere to the directive.
Recognizing that the announcement was made on short notice, he urged the gathering to do so in order to invite divine guidance into Ghana’s leadership and put the economy on a better footing.
He highlighted a biblical reference to buttress his point. ‘So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He answered our prayer’ (Ezra 8:23).
On the back of this, he indicated that “we should also pray for wisdom for our leaders to find immediate solutions to these challenges.”
The fasting and prayers are expected to take place from November 10th to November 13th.
Presbyterian Church of Ghana
The Presbyterian Church of Ghana also declared a three-day fast and prayer for Ghana’s economy.
The church noted that most economies around the world are facing economic difficulties, and Ghana is not an exception.
The church said they remain hopeful that the Lord will step in and put an end to these difficulties.
“In light of this, the Moderator of the General Assembly, with the support of the General Assembly Council, has declared a three-day fasting and prayer from November 28th to November 30th, 2022, to fervently intercede for the wellbeing of Ghanaians.
“We encourage all congregations to set aside these days to pray for the nation,” a statement issued by the Church on Thursday, November 10, said.
But speaking to OTEC News on Friday, November 11, 2022, some said they would not participate in the fasting and prayers for the country because it is a waste of time and energy, adding that “if prayers and fasting were the solutions to Ghana’s problems, we would have been a prosperous nation by now.”
Instead of fasting and praying all the time, they charged religious leaders to advise their church members on proper ethical behaviour, discipline, and adhering to the responsibilities of the state and the community.
Another noted that, if praying for the country’s economy was the answer to the problems in the country, the economy would have been fixed already.
Another citizen said traders increasing the prices of their goods at an unreasonable price also affects the economy, so if they do not refrain from that, the economy will never grow no matter the number of prayers and fasting.
The Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has donated GH¢100,000.00 in support of the construction of the Ejura-Sekyedumase Divisional Police Command in the Ashanti Region.
The money was to fund the roofing of the storey building which is almost ready to house about hundred police officers in the Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality.
This donation followed Dr. Bawumia’s first presentation of one thousand bags of cement during the initial stage of the project which was the brainchild of the chief of Ejura Traditional Area Barima Osei Hwedie II in 2021.
Dr. Bawumia made the donation during a short meeting with the chief of Ejura Traditional Area, Barima Osei Hwedie II in Accra on Sunday, November 12, 2022.
Dr. Bawumia during the presentation said it was his utmost wish that the project will be completed on time to help beef up security in the area.
He pledged his commitment to supporting authorities at Ejura to maintain law and order in the area.
Chief of Ejura Traditional Area Barima Osei Hwedie II who welcomed the support said, Dr. Bawumia’s kind gesture was timely.
He praised the vice president for his continuous support of the development of the Ejura-Sekyedumase Municipality and Ashanti Region as a whole.
“Dr. Bawumia’s efforts to ensure that Ejura Traditional Council’s vision of putting up a place for the municipality’s Divisional Police Headquarters come through is unprecedented”
“We are very lucky to have the support of no other than the vice president who is keen on working towards enhancing peace and security of Ejura Residents”
“We at Ejura are wishing him well in all his future endeavors and we hope he will continue to shine in his political career and help others ”
A newly-constructed road at Ntobroso in the Atwima Mponua District of the AshantiRegion was used by some farmers to dry cocoa beans.
In a video on social media, one side of the tarred road was covered with cocoa beans.
“Since when did we start drying cocoa beans in the middle of the road?” the Ashanti Regional Minister questioned.
He was inspecting ongoing feeder road projects in the area with some government officials.
When a cocoa farmer decided to dry cocoa beans on an asphalted road in a town, blocking one lane of the road and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah chanced on it and was irritated by the action of the owner of the cocoa beans. pic.twitter.com/qlIgdxrwVO
After chancing on the development, Simon Osei-Mensah was irked and ordered that they are removed immediately.
One of the residents on the scene complained that they would not remove the beans because the road is not being used for illegal mining to warrant such a directive from the Minister.
Oddly enough, he went ahead to state unequivocally that even if they remove them, they would still dry the cocoa beans again after the Minister and his team had left.
“Is this act not worse than galamsey? We will arrest you if you don’t take care,” Mr Simon Osei-Mensah is heard saying in the video.
But the gentleman swiftly replied to the Minister and said that even if he is arrested, he would be freed, eventually.
It was an interesting exchange as the Regional Minister ordered the security to arrest him for his unfortunate utterances.
Some residents and the Assemblyman began pleading on his behalf. They suspected the man in question was drunk.
The man believed to be in his early 40s snubbed the Ashanti Regional Minister and refused to apologise.
“This man standing there, what shows he is drunk? He is just being foolish. What is the sense in this? Arrest him and let’s see if he could come back as he’s saying,” Simon Osei Mensah directed.
Speaking to Class 91.3 FM’s Ashanti regional correspondent, Elisha Adarkwah, Mr Poku, who confirmed the increase in the price of caskets, attributed the price adjustment to the prevailing economic situation in the country.
“It’s true because everything that we’re using to do the work has increased by about 50 to 70 percent, that’s why we have also increased the prices,” he admitted.
Currently, an ‘Abenwoha’ coffin that was sold previously at GH¢1,500 sells at GH¢2,500 while a ‘theatre’ coffin which was selling at GH¢3,000 is now priced at GH¢3,700.
The ‘Akyikyideakyi’ coffin has been increased from GH¢3,500 to GH¢4,000 and the ‘Hyedua’ coffin has soared from GH¢4,000 to GH¢5,000.
The least-priced coffin is GH¢1,700, which was previously sold at GH¢1,000.
He justified the price adjustments thus: “For filler, previously it was GH¢150 but now it has increased to GH¢250. That’s why we’ve increased it. As for the paint, half of it previously was GHS40 but now it is GH¢90. For the thinner, it was GH¢70 but now it’s GH¢110, so, that’s why the prices have gone up,” he enumerated.
Two persons were killed in a robbery on the Ejura-Nkwanta–Nyinase road in the Ashanti Region, on Monday.
Kipo Sumaila,50, died on the spot, while Ibrahim Iddrisu, 40, died, at St Luke’s Hospital in Kasei, where he was receiving treatment.
The body of Iddrisu has been deposited at the Ejura Government Hospital mortuary.
Meanwhile, Masawudu Sumaila, 20, son of Kipo Suamaila, who was wounded in the back, during the incident, was still on admission at the emergency unit of St Luke’s Hospital, at the time of filing the report.
Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Afful Boakye-Yiadom, led a team to the crime scene, on Tuesday, and also visited Hiawonwu and Ejura, to commiserate with the bereaved family and made donations to them.
The Regional Commander promised that the Ghana Police Service would take action to curb the robbery menace.
He mentioned the deployment of personnel on motorcycles and vehicles to patrol all the robbery-prone areas to give protection to the people.
A source confirmed the incident and said that the police received a distress call from Mr. Philip Appiah, Assembly Member of Ejura-Nkwanta, about the incident.
The police proceeded to the scene and found a 255 Massey Ferguson tractor with registration number AS 2736-Y parked in the middle of the road with, deceased KipoSumaila, with a gunshot wound on the neck lying in a supine position in the trailer of the tractor.
The source said three persons were on board the tractor returning to Kpaliguni at about 6:30 pm, and on reaching a section of the road, they were attacked by armed men, three of them being of Fulani extraction.
According to the police source, one of the armed men asked Kipo Suamaila to surrender all the money on him, but he, refused and the suspect shot him twice in the neck.
The robbers took away an unspecified amount and mobile phones belonging to the victims, while the police mounted a search for them.
It has emerged that mandatory payments such as the MPs Common Fund (Q1 and Q2), MPs Monitoring and Evaluation (Q2), Q1 and Q2 of District Common Fund and the Disability Relief Fund to Districts have all been settled.
The delays, since January 2022, have always been attributed to Ghana’s cash-strapped situation.
This was revealed by host of Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV, Randy Abbey on Wednesday, November 2, 2022.
An MP, opposition NDC-MP for Afigya Kwabre North Constituency in the Ashanti Region, Charles Adomako-Mensah, who was a panellist on the morning show, confirmed the payments.
“That is true, it is true. The payments were supposed to come and there were delays, and it has been paid. It is true,” he said amid laughter.
Another panellist on the morning programme, the renowned journalist Kwesi Pratt Jnr, could not hide his surprise.
But the MP tried to calm him:
“Uncle Kwasi, these are statutory payments, there were delays fortunately they have been paid, thank God, they have been paid…they’ve been paid because they have to be paid.
“I am not too sure if it was because of the [‘Ken Must Go’] demands…the fact that it was after but I am not too sure if it was because of the demands,” the NDC MP said.
“Oh Randy, delays in Common Fund payments are not something new,” Adomako-Mensah added.
MPs are progressing towards taking a vote of censure against the minister for poorly managing the economy and plunging it into hardship. If two-thirds of all MPs approve the vote of censure, his appointment will be revoked.
Former National Peace Council Chairman, Rev Professor Emmanuel Kwaku Asante, has implored Ghanaian children to see the Free Senior High School policy implemented by the Akufo Addo government as an excellent opportunity for them to acquire life-changing education.
He also advised them to be disciplined and make education their priority.
According to him, getting access to education in the past was difficult. Still, with determination and self-discipline, many had the opportunity, and now as heroes and heroines serving the country and other nations.
The Past Presiding Bishop of The Methodist Church Ghana, Most Rev. Professor Emmanuel Asante, gave this advice during the launch of the 83rd Anniversary of Osei Tutu SHS at Akropong in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District of the Ashanti region under the theme: “Discipline, a panacea for academic and moral excellence.”
“Education in the past was very difficult, but those who were determined and self-disciplined were able to make it. You have free SHS, which makes access to education easy, so you have to make good use of it”. He stated.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the occasion and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dominion Chambers, Lawyer Dr. William Kusi appealed to the government to review the educational curriculum by revisiting the studies of Cultural studies, Religious Moral Education which are moral values to reshape the children’s behaviour to minimize the tendency social vices such as drugs abuse, streetism, teenage pregnancy and many more which affects their upbringing.
The Headmaster of Osei Tutu SHS, Dr. Asare Yeboah, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Board, Staff, and Old Students Association for the support given to him, especially (1980-81) year group for the Construction modern state of arts Clinic for the School.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Oforikrom constituency, Ashanti Region, Dr Emmanuel Marfo in his opinion believes the Majority Caucus were in a haste to suspend their request for Ken Ofori-Atta’s dismissal.
The MP in a Facebook post on Thursday, October 27, 2022 stated that,” I read the Statement by the NPP caucus in response to the President’s plea for more time with lots of concern. I do not fully agree with it and perhaps would have been better to say we have taken all concerns on board and will do what will be in the best interest of the political and economic stability of our country”.
On Tuesday, October 25, 2022, some Members of Parliament who are part of the Majority Caucus called for the immediate dismissal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, as well as the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.
They argued that relieving the duo of their duties will aid in fixing Ghana’s struggling economy, which has been plagued by rising inflation and debt.
In light of this, President Akufo-Addo met with the dissatisfied legislators and demanded that the Finance Minister conclude Ghana’s negotiations with the IMF and submit the 2023 Budget Statement to Parliament.
Briefly after the interaction, the Majority Caucus in a statement dated Wednesday, October 26, noted that after deliberation among members, it will withhold its current demands.
Read Dr Emmanuel Marfo’s Statement here:
*DR. EMMANUEL MARFO (MP) writes:*
Statement by the Majority caucus in Parliament on call for sacking Finance Ministers
I read the Statement by the NPP caucus in response to the President’s plea for more time with lots of concern. I do not fully agree with it and perhaps would have been better to say we have taken all concerns on board and will do what will be in the best interest of the political and economic stability of our country.
I think the turn of events post the press conference begs for some questions in order to come to a conclusion whether the action was needed in the first place. Was the grievance of the 80 MPs and their subsequent action well communicated to the leadership of the Party and the Caucus? Did the Caucus leadership communicate to the President? Did the President provide a response consistent with his plea to leadership? Did leadership convey the President’s response to the concerned MPs or the Caucus?
In effect I am asking whether there was effective engagement within us. If indeed there was, and one may say the President was ‘recalcitrant’ then the press statement may be justified, if not, then perhaps in my humble view, the press Statement was too early.
However, we are made to believe that the sentiments were rightly conveyed to the President and that his response was unfavourable to the concerns of the MPs. In that case, I dont think the MPs, and now the caucus, should have backed down on our demands. Why? Because for MPs in a ruling Party to come to a point of going public to demand of their President to sack an appointee, and no less an appointee than a Finance Minister, a lot of public pressure, political and intellectual thinking and and assessment MUST have gone into that decision.
Securing public and perhaps Party interest must have been stretched beyond its elastic limit and that nothing should stop them from going back. The MPs must have reached a point where the die is cast and that no amount of words were going to stop the crossing of Rubicon. It must be the point of no return and here the words of Sun Tzu come to mind “he will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.” Now the cake is half-baked, you cannot eat it, you can’t throw it away!
In any case, I think the response in the Statement, especially the condition that the President must sack them after the IMF and budget assignments, will even worsen the plight of the President, politically-speaking because he has been put in a very tight corner; indeed between the devil and the deep blue sea. If we were going to listen to the President’s plea, then my view is that we should not have given him any conditions and allow events to take their natural course. And indeed, if I were Ken or Charles, perhaps this is the time to have honourably resigned. Why? Because we seem to have passed a death sentence on them and that regardless of what they will do, we are only waiting for the clock to tick, just to wait for their day of cruxificion. Wow!! This is most unfair, to say the least. How would they be in the right frame of emotional, pyschological and intellectual mind to execute the very critical job for which we have been begged to wait till completed? Are we looking for quality output or just to tick the check box that a job is done?
In any case, I cannot also stand for the Statement because it defeats, fundamentally, the very principle for which we called for the cruxificion. Are we saying that regardless of the Ken-led IMF negotation, a role I dont support anyway, or how good his 2023 budget will look like, he must still go? If that is so, and indeed as the statement suggests, then we have already declared no hope in their competence and that nothing good can come from Nazareth. If indeed that is our fatal hope and expectation, then I beg to suggest that there is no need to waste any further time on these gentlemen, they must go! However, the flip side is, if for any reason, they deliver a good IMF programme and a great budget to our satisfaction, would we still insist they go? One may say, of course not but then we would have already created the fertile conditions for their dismissal by the ‘agreement’ in our Statement.
The President, and indeed all of us majority MPs, will come under immense pressure, especially when the press Statement has received immense public applause.
In summary, I think if we really came to a point of going public, then nothing should have stopped us for standing on our demands. If we were going to yield, then we should not have given any conditions to the President. Afterall, it cannot be the case that the 80 MPs did not know that Ken was busy leading an IMF negotation and that he was busy preparing the 2023 budget. It cannot be that the MPs did not contemplate the consequences of our demand on these ongoing assignments.
For me it is a zero-sum game, this symbolic win-win semblance will come back to bite us. Mark my words! He who fights and run away, lives to fight another day-Bob Marley
I like the slogan of an insurance advert, if it must be done, it must be done well. If Ken and Charles must go, they must go now, else lets forever hold our peace and pray for something good to come from Nazareth. The Parliamentary group is a very powerful, respectable and honourable arm of our Party. Next time, when we have to leap, we must weigh and watch and when we leap in the glare of the public, we must never return to base. Before we speak, we must have come to a point of no surrender, less we make mockery of ourselves. This is politics, Selah!
About eight trader groups and importers in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region are threatening to close their shops and stop imports for two weeks to protest the continuous free fall of the cedi against major trading currencies.
The traders who import and sell clothes and wares say the unstable nature of the exchange rate is collapsing their business and also eroding their capital.
The Deputy Secretary of the importers Association in Kumasi, Nana Yaw Agyeman, said the leadership of the various groups is mobilizing members to begin the strike next week.
“At this moment, we are running at a loss. All our capitals are in a ditch,” Mr. Agyeman said to Citi News.
“The inflation is killing us. It is collapsing all our finances, collapsing all our capital, and we cannot sit down for our capital to drain like that,” he added.
The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) went on strike last week over similar concerns.
The strike lasted two days because the government came out with some interventions to appease the importers.
Among interventions and concessions the government has made to GUTA, a Deputy Trade and Industry Minister, Michael Okyere Baafi, said a fixed exchange rate will be maintained at the ports for the next three months to cushion traders who import goods.
The Deputy Minister also said the government will suspend the ongoing invigilation by the Ghana Revenue Authority that has resulted in protests and the closure of businesses, specifically in Adum, Kumasi.
Police on Friday, October 21, 2022, shot and killed an armed robber at Suame in the Ashanti region.
In a statement issued on Saturday, October 22, 2022, the police explained that the operation was occasioned through intelligence gathered by its men.
“On Friday, October 21, 2022, following intelligence that an armed robbery gang was planning an attack on the cluster of banks in the Suame Magazine and Maakro enclave in Kumasi, the Police launched a special anti-robbery operation in which one of the armed robbers was shot.
“The armed robber and his accomplice who were on motorbikes attacked a customer who had stepped out of the Fidelity bank, Maakro branch, carrying a brown envelope,” the Police explained in a statement.
According to the Police, the robbers attacked the customer of the bank and snatched the envelope amidst the firing of guns.
“The rear windscreen and the left door glass of a Daewoo Matiz saloon car which was parked on the bank premises was hit during the shooting.
“The Police, who had mounted surveillance in the area, responded to the situation by firing at the armed robbers and succeeded in hitting the pillion rider who fell off the motorbike. However, the rider who also sustained gunshot wounds, managed to escape,” the statement further added.
The Ghana Police indicated that one of the police officers was shot by the armed robbers during the exchange of fire and “sustained a gunshot wound to his right hip.”
“Both the injured officer and the suspect were rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for medical attention. The suspect was, however, pronounced dead on arrival.
The body of the deceased suspect has been deposited at the morgue for preservation, identification, and autopsy, police said.
The Police administration stated that efforts are underway to get his accomplice arrested to face justice.
“We wish to appeal to the public especially those who run health facilities within the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs to report any person seeking medical attention with a gunshot wound, for prompt Police action.
“We would like to commend all the officers who took part in the operation and also wish our injured colleague a speedy recovery.”
A popular traditional priest, Okomfuo Kyei (real name, Nana Yaw Kyei), has been elected as the new Chairman of the National Democratic Congress in the Adansi Asokwa constituency of the Ashanti Region.
According to a report by the Ghana News Agency, the new chairman unseated the incumbent chairman, Godwin Anumley Dogodzi, with a vote tally of 436 to 285.
The report added that after he was confirmed, Nana Kyei pledged to work hard to win the constituency seat for the NDC in the 2024 general elections.
He further called on all members of the party to unite towards the task ahead, adding that it would take unity and determination to recapture power from the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Other executives elected were Joseph Ankomah as vice chairman, Lawrence Osei Adarkwa as secretary, Amidu Raman Razark as assistant secretary, and Kwabena Ebo as organiser.
The rest were Moses Appenteng, treasurer; Isaac Semirika, youth organizer; Madam Mavis Adjei, women organizer; and Julius Dzekpey Mawuli, communication officer.
The NDC held its constituency elections across the country on Saturday, October 22, 2022.
There were, however, over 15 constituencies that did not hold their elections due to some unresolved election details, including incomplete voter registers.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has reportedly suspended its polling station organizer in the Manhyia North Constituency of the Ashanti Region, named Andy, who begged former President John Dramani Mahama’s forgiveness for voting against him.
In a viral video sighted by GhanaWeb on October 20, Andy berated President Akufo-Addo for his poor handling of Ghana’s economy while expressing regret for his decision to vote against former President John Dramani Mahama.
“Honourable Mahama, please forgive me. Mahama, forgive me. I did not know that things were going to be like this. If I knew that this was what was going to happen, I would not have voted against you. Mahama, please forgive me.
“… As for you, Akufo-Addo, I am not going to say anything against you. After all these (difficulties), you are also insulting us by telling us that nobody held our hands to vote. 2024 will be here soon and you will see your stance.
“A dollar is almost GH¢15 and you’re telling us it is because of the Russia-Ukraine war. A gallon of petrol is now GH¢70. We can no longer buy cement. We have all packed our cars. Mahama please forgive, please forgive,” he said in Twi.
In another video sighted by GhanaWeb, Andy, who disclosed his suspension from the NPP, said that he has no regret for the comments he made.
He added that his suspension will not affect him in any way since the NPP has done nothing for him for the 12 years he has been serving the party.
“Yesterday, the dollar was GH¢14 plus. Today it is GH¢15, why? You have suspended me for speaking the truth.
“It has never been my intention to contest for a position in the NPP; it has never been my intention. Also, the NPP has never gotten me a job. I have been a member of the NPP for 12 years and you have not gotten me a job. And so, what is the essence of your suspension?
“… I will continue to seek Mahama’s forgiveness because I did not know this was how things were going to be. I have supported the NPP with my resources. I have used my money for posters, banners and other things. I don’t want to hold any position in the NPP and I will continue to beg Mahama for his forgiveness,” he said in Twi.
Customers adversely affected by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG)’s prepayment system vending failure will today begin processing claims forms to be submitted to the ECG District Offices for compensation.
This follows an engagement between the PURC and ECG regarding the compensation of clients affected by ECG’s Prepayment System in the Volta Region, Accra, Central Region, Western Region, Ashanti Region, and Eastern Region, among others.
Dr. Ishmael Ackah, Executive Secretary, PURC, in a statement signed and issued and copied to the paper in Accra on Friday, said the ECG, under PURC’s regulatory oversight, shall investigate and analyse the information contained in submitted forms and compensate affected customers accordingly.
“Only customers whose electricity supply was interrupted due to the vending failure will be considered for compensation,” he added.
Dr. Ackah used the opportunity to assure all stakeholders that the Commission was committed to protecting the interests of both utilities and consumers.
Meanwhile, ECG, at a presser recently in Accra, said it could not undertake a wholesale compensation payment to all customers of the company as directed by the PURC for the recent power crisis.
Instead, the company noted, it was prepared to abide by the laid down procedure to pay compensation to affected customers on a case-by-case basis.
Managing Director of ECG, Samuel Dubik Mahama, said his outfit was preparing to engage the PURC on the need to alter the directive to make case by case the basis of payment of compensation.
A group, consisting of the victims and families of victims of the Ejura killings has submitted a joint memorandum to petition the Appointments Committee of Parliament against confirming the nomination of Justice Kingsley Koomson to the Supreme Court of Ghana,
This is in connection with his role in the work of the Interministerial Committee that investigated the killings that occurred in Ejura in the Ashanti Region.
In a petition to Parliament, the group said, “We consider that Justice Kingsley Koomson lacks the necessary independence of thought, moral conviction and integrity that will support his nomination to the Supreme Court.”
“Justice Kingsley Koomson’s record with the Koomson Committee shows that he is not up to the task and that he had failed when he was entrusted with a national duty requiring that he show the necessary independence of thought, moral conviction and integrity that will support his nomination to the Supreme Court.”
“We invite the Appointments Committee and subsequently Parliament to reject the nomination of Justice Koomson to the Supreme Court,” the petition added.
The Director of Communications at the Jubilee House, Eugene Arhin, has said neither himself nor President Akufo-Addo heard Ghanaians booing at them during their tour in the Ashanti Region this week.
According to him, the presidency was surprised when they saw the report in the media suggesting that some traders hooted and booed at the president.
“I didn’t hear anything. Even the president himself [didn’t hear anything too]. Some of us were a little bit taken aback [when we saw that in the media],” citinewsroom quoted Eugene Arhin.
On October 18, 2022, some traders at Adum reportedly hooted and booed at Akufo-Addo’s convoy as it made its way through the Central Business District of Kumasi during his tour in the region.
As seen in videos shared via social media, some traders lined up along the stretch of the road booed away as the president and his convoy passed through the Adum Market to inspect the progress of work on the Kejetia/Central Market Project Phase II.
The booing of the president’s convoy has largely been attributed to the current state of the Ghanaian economy and the general economic hardship in the country.
Some three weeks ago, the president, in a similar fashion, was booed at a public event held at Independence Square.
The president, who had mounted a podium to deliver an address during a Global Citizens Festival held in Ghana, was welcomed with wild boos.
Reacting to this, Eugene Arhin said just like what happened at the Global Citizens Festival; they also heard no boos are was reported.
“It is just like, probably, what happened during the Global Citizen festival. A group of people standing somewhere doing their own thing, and they record… but meanwhile, once you are in front there, you literally don’t hear anything,” he added.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), in the Ashanti Region have cautioned the Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh to stay off joining issues with former president John Dramani Mahama.
The party at an October 20, 2022 press conference said a recent attack on the former president by the MP, popularly referred to as NAPO, was to further his ambitions of becoming a vice-presidential aspirant of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
NAPO had earlier this week stated that he was going to match Mahama boot for boot given that he was the most likely presidential candidate of the NDC. He reportedly added that he was going to teach Mahama some sense.
Responding to his claims, the NDC official who addressed the press conference stated: “We know you have aspirations of becoming a running mate, but if you think you will use Mahama to advance your aspirations, then we are battle ready for you.
The NDC asked NAPO to advance any extra sense that he had to VP Mahamudu Bawumia to help him tackle the economic challenges the country is currently faced with.
“We want to tell the Manhyia South MP that even if he has any sense as he claims, he should advance some to Bawumia to tackle the economic challenges so that people in his constituency – Alabar and Ashtown – to ameliorate the hardship and loss of livelihoods people are suffering.
The Ashanti Regional branch of the opposition NDC has criticized President Akufo Addo’s just-ended tour of the Region describing it as full of tantrums and empty promises.
It argued that the Ashanti Region is no more a stronghold for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), but has now turned into a strangling hold for the governing party.
The opposition NDC said it observed a cold reception that turned into booing and jeering when the president visited the Ashanti region on his four-day working tour.
Addressing the media, the Regional Communications Director of the NDC, Nurudeen Abass contended the president had nothing substantial to show to the Ashanti region for all the revenues and votes the Nana Addo administration enjoyed from the region.
“Distinguished friends from the media, it goes without saying that President AkufoAddo’s latest tour of his favourite political backyard was nothing short of
underwhelming. With nothing by way of any worthy accomplishments, President AkufoAddo went about inspecting and commissioning mediocre and mundane projects which ordinarily should be the work of DCE’s and other government officials. To imagine that the President was driven in a convoy of nearly 70 V8’s to commission a magistrate court building at Toase, sums up what miserable spectacle of a tour it was.
“It is important to remind ourselves that when President Mahama and the NDC constructed a brand new High Court building at Obuasi in 2016, the then Regional Minister and MCE for Obuasi at the time did the honour of commissioning same. This is for us, the difference between the Nation-Builder, President John Dramani Mahama and the Family Builder, His Excellency William Akufo-Addo. Whereas one of them – President Mahama, built legacy projects in the Ashanti Region, such as the $234 million Kejetia Central Market project, the largest investment in the history of the Ashanti Region, the Kumasi Airport Phase II, Rattray Park, Konongo-Kumawu-Kwahu Water Project, the 500-bed Military Hospital at Afari, the 250-bed Regional Hospital at Sewua, the other – President Akufo-Addo, has very little to show for all his unprecedented borrowing and the huge votes he enjoys from the people of the region.
“Indeed, the popularity of the New Patriotic Party and President Akufo-Addo for that matter is so low in their own stronghold that they have resorted to emulating the NDC’s hugely successful membership drive in the Ashanti Region in order to try and revive their sinking fortunes. For a party that garnered as much as 1.8 million votes out of a total of 2.5 million valid votes cast in the 2020 elections to be conducting a membership registration drive in their supposed comfort zone two years down, is clear indication of their waning popularity in the region.”
The Mankranso District Forest Services Division Manager, Mr. Godwin Agyemang has categorically stated that Forestry Commission has not issued permits to anyone to mine at Desiri Forest Reserve at Numesua near Tepa in the Ahafo Ano North Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
Adding that his outfit and the forestry commission have no hands in the ongoing illegal mining, farms, and illegal loggers which present a major threat to the Reserve so they will ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.
According to him, some stakeholders are doing community mining in the Desiri forest reserves which government and private developers have invested and they have made part of the reserve as a community and have erected temporal structures but the illegal activities have affected the water bodies and farmland.
Speaking to the media, Mr. Agyemang vowed that they will not allow some people to destroy the forest for their parochial interest.
He, therefore, appealed to residents and the media to collaborate with the commission to protect and preserve the reserve which has a collateral benefit for not only the area but the entire nation.
Forest reserves in the Asunafo South, Asunafo North, Asutifi North, Asutifi South, and Ahafo Ano South for a long time has been under siege by illegal loggers and farmers who with support from influential opinion leaders are destroying the reserves with impunity.
This has resulted in severe economic repercussions as some people have lost their livelihood to these activities and sometimes resulted in deaths due to violent attacks on them.
The President of Ghana, President Akufo-Addo, is currently in the Ashanti Region as part of a tour of the region.
According to communication that was made public ahead of his four-day tour that started on Sunday, October 16, 2022, the president is expected to commission projects, inspect ongoing ones, and confer with traditional leaders of the area.
On Sunday, 16th October, President Akufo-Addo visited the Manhyia Palace to interact with the Asantehene and Asantehemaa.
As part of his itinerary, the president was also supposed to honour a number of radio appointments in the region.
Having already done three days of his tour, there have been a number of concerns raised by some Ghanaians over how the president’s activities in the region have gone so far.
Among those are a number of utterances the president has made in either his addresses at some of his scheduled engagements, and then others he made during his radio interviews.
In an earlier interview, the president also courted the disaffection of Ghanaians over some statements he made.
Below are some of the things Ghanaians wished President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo should not have said, or, could have said better:
I am not afraid to be voted against
During an interview on OTEC Fm in Kumasi, President Akufo-Addo made a comment that got many people literally in stitches.
In the interview, the president stated that he is not moved by threats of electoral consequences by some supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He explained that he knows that people will vote for their preferred candidates in an election and that voters can also not be forced to make choices in a democratic dispensation, hence there was no need to threaten a government with votes.
The president was responding to concerns raised by people in Manso and Kwabre, who had threatened to vote out the NPP in 2024 if their roads are not fixed.
Their concerns were conveyed by the journalist who conducted the interview on OTEC FM.
“The people of Kwabre and Manso, we know they voted massively for Nana, they have asked me to inform the president that if their roads are not fixed, they will be pained and in 2024, they will vote against the NPP,” the journalist asked after the Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, had responded to a question.
“No problem, no problem. I am saying people make those kinds of threats, me, they don’t frighten me. Somebody votes for you, somebody supports you, it is because they want you to do things for them, so I understand that,” the president quickly weighed in with a response.
I will shame you all
Still in the Ashanti Region for his tour, the president took an opportunity while making an address to send a statement to persons he believes are his political detractors in the region.
According to him, these people will be shamed one by one by the numerous work he has done for the people of the region, which is considered the ‘political world bank’ of the governing party; the NPP.
President Akufo-Addo stated that for the past six years that he has been in office, the people of the Ashanti Region have benefitted enough from his government, therefore, his detractors cannot say otherwise.
“And to those of you going around saying bad things about me in the Ashanti Region, one after the other, they are all going to be shamed convincingly, today, tomorrow and the day after.
“In spite of our present difficulties which I know will be gone as soon as possible, I continue to be excited about the future prospects of the nation and I urge all Ghanaians to join hands in building the Ghana that we want, we can realize it if we all work at it,” he said.
The president was speaking during a sod-cutting ceremony for the Suame Interchange, on October 18, 2022.
You can vote for NDC
While still speaking in his interview on OTEC Fm in Kumasi, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made another comment about how unfazed he is about his party losing the next general elections.
He explained that while there are threats to vote against them, he is unmoved, adding that intimidations of voting against the NPP due to unfulfilled promises or lack of development under his tenure, is a personal decision he cannot be bothered about.
“People make those kinds of threats; they don’t frighten me. Somebody votes for you, and somebody supports you. It’s because they want you to do certain things for them. I understand that. But there is no need for people to say that if I am unable to do this and that… those are their own issues to deal with. Of course, I will do it (the road).
“But if it comes to the election and you choose to vote for the NDC, that is your own issue that is not my worry because nobody holds your thumb to vote; it is your own work. The important thing is that I understand my responsibility, and we will deal with it,” the president said.
I’m not so sure if Aisha Huang was deported
In September, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo granted an interview to Stone City Radio in Ho during his tour of the Volta Region.
During the interactions, he made a statement about the case of the embattled Chinese galamsey ‘kingpin,’ Aisha Huang (En Huang).
The statement came under a lot of public scrutiny because it was determined to have contradicted what some of his appointees had said on the same subject, to the effect that Aisha Huang had actually been deported from Ghana in 2018.
But speaking in that interview, President Akufo-Addo said it is likely that the ‘galamsey’ queen may not have been deported, but rather fled the country in 2018.
“… I am not still sure whether she was, in fact, deported or whether she fled the country the first time and has now come back or whatever. There still seems to be some uncertainty about it.
“Whichever way it is, she has become a sort of nickname for all that the ‘galamsey’ represents and also, unfortunately, for the involvement of Chinese nationals in this illicit trade,” he said.
Energy Minister and Member of Parliament for the Manhyia North Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh has accused media practitioners in the Ashanti Region of taking money from some people to denigrate the governing NPP in the region.
The MP who was not specific with which media persons said, “Journalists have taken money and they sit on radio to insult the government. Their agenda is mainly to make the NPP look bad in the area but the truth is that the government is doing well for Asanteman.”
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony of the Suame Interchange on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, Dr. Prempeh also known as NAPO touted the achievements of the governing NPP in the Ashanti Region. According to him, the party is the only one that has the development of the region at heart and numerous projects are ongoing in the region curtsy the governing NPP.
He urged the residents in the region to be thankful to the government saying, ” even God who created us requests for thanks from us anytime he does something good for us hence we the people in the area must be thankful to the Nana Addo government for what he continues to do for us”.
He took a swipe at individuals who use the absence of the Suame Interchange to accuse the government of not developing Asanteman by saying, “Suame Interchange is not Asanteman, other roads and infrastructure are being developed in the region”.
Deputy Minister of Education, John Ntim Fordjour, has urged BECE candidates to do their best during their 2020 examination.
According to him, several investment plans have been put in place to give them great opportunities after their examination.
This investment, he says, includes the flagship Free SHS/TVET policy, which has been put in place by the Akufo-Addo administration.
In a Twitter post, he said, “best wishes to all 552,276 BECE candidates across the country. The future is bright with you. The massive investment awaiting you through government flagship Free SHS/TVET policy is to give you a future of great opportunities and economic empowerment. Now therefore, put in your best possible efforts and make us proud.”
A number of 552,276 candidates will on Monday 17th begin the 2022 Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE).
The candidates include 276,988 males and 275,288 females.
The exams will end on Friday, October 21, 2022, and will be taken across 2,023 designated centres across the country.
In a statement issued and signed by the Head of the Public Relations Unit, GES, Cassandra Twum Ampofo advised candidates to play by the rules governing the conduct of the examinations and abide by them in order to ensure incident-free examinations.
“All Candidates and Stakeholders are assured that Management has worked very closely with the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) to ensure the smooth conduct of the examinations throughout the country.
“We wish to remind all Candidates, Parents, Invigilators, and Supervisors to appreciate the fact that the basis of success in life is honesty and hard work and therefore urge all Candidates and Stakeholders to eschew all forms of examination malpractices before, during and after the exams and to indicate that all cases of reported examination malpractices will swiftly be investigated and dealt with decisively,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo has, in the clearest terms, declined the call on him to reshuffle his ministers.
The president, who is currently on a tour in the Ashanti Region during a radio interview with Otec FM on Monday, October 17, 2022, said there is no need to make changes to his list of ministers as they have all met his expectations.
“I feel many of them for me have done outstanding work. Their output has been considerable, and that is what I look at. If the output measures expectations, then I don’t have any strong reasons to heed the call,” the president is quoted in a report by Modernghana.com.
The president has been under intense public pressure to reassign and sack some of his ministers over what is described by some critics as their incompetence in discharging their duties.
The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has dominated the list of individuals whose heads are being demanded.
Calls for the minister’s sacking have heightened in recent months due to the current performance of the Ghanaian economy and its resulting economic hardship.
He mentioned that of late, there had been so much talk about the illegal mining activities, popularly called “galamsey” and that “means that serious work to end the menace was ongoing.”
The President had paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene at the Manhyia Palace, yesterday, as part of a four-day working tour in some parts of the Ashanti Region.
Addo (right) exchanging greetings with Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II
Prior to the interaction, the President and his entourage had worshiped at the St Cyprian’s Diocese at Fanti Newtown, where a visiting Bishop of Warrington, Liverpool in the United Kingdom, Bishop Beverly A. Mason, preached the sermon and offered a special prayer for him.
Many people, the President noted, had been saying my government had done nothing in the Ashanti Region, “but after the four-day tour, they would see what have been done.”
As part of the tour, which begun yesterday, the President would inaugurate some projects such as the residential accommodation for the Court of Appeal judges at Danyame.
The sod cutting for the commencement of work on the complex which would be permanent residential facilities for Court of Appeal judges, was performed by the President with the support of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Chief Justice Anin Yeboah, on April 20, this year.
With the collaboration of the Ministry of Local Government and the District Assembly Common Fund, 20 townhouses and a guesthouse have been built to be used as permanent residences for Court of Appeal Judges, who would be mandated to handle cases in the northern part of the country.
He would also commission the ECG KATH 33/11kv primary substation constructed under the EDSTREP project, at Subin, in Kumasi.
There would be a durbar of chiefs and people of Toase for the inauguration of the Town’s Magistrate Court.
The President would have a crunch meeting with MMDCEs, Regional Executives and Constituency chairmen only, perhaps to reiterate his stance to stop illegal mining(galamsey) and to punish culprits in the party.
Other programmes outlined included the inauguration of maize processing factory at NsutaKwaman under the 1D1F and also inspect agenda 111 project at Beposo.
Inspection of Anwia-Nkwanta-Obuasi, Santasi-Apire roads would also be undertaken.
President Akufo-Addo will today commission a residential complex for Appeals Court Judges at Nhyiaeso in the Ashanti Region as part of his four-day tour of the Ashanti Region.
The residential complex has about twenty (20) bungalows for Court of Appeal Judges in Kumasi.
The sod for the construction was cut in April last year by President Akufo-Addo with support from the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah.
Ahead of the commissioning later today, Ghanaweb shares images of the ultra-modern judge complex.
According to him, Akufo-Addo is embarking on many projects in the region and people who have made such claims will be exposed in due time.
Speaking on Okay FM’s Adeakyeabia show, he said, “… Akufo-Addo will commission some projects under Agenda 111 during his tour in the region today, so if anybody sits somewhere to say Ashanti Region has been abandoned in regards to developmental projects, it’s false, and we are going prove them wrong. We are deliberately quiet, and because some contractors have abandoned their sites due to hardship, we are quiet. We are going to expose them big time.”
President Akufo-Addo has commenced a four-day tour of the Ashanti Region.
He arrived in the region on 16th October 2022, where he will commission projects, inspect ongoing ones, and confer with traditional leaders of the area.
On Sunday, 16th October, President Akufo-Addo visited the Manhyia Palace to interact with the Asantehene and Asantehemaa.
He is expected to inspect the Boankra Inland Port Project and proceed to commission the Konongo Municipal Hospital in the Asante Akyem Central Constituency.
He will later inspect the Agenda 111 Hospital Project at Kokoben and commission the 30kv Kumasi-Bolgatanga Transmission line.
Day 2 of the tour will begin with a radio interview on Otec FM and the commissioning of a residential complex for Appeals Court Judges at Nhyiaeso.
He will depart to inspect the Kejetia/Central Market Phase II Project, the Maternal and Children’s Block Project at KATH and the commissioning of the ECG KATH 33/11kv Primary Sub-station, all in the Subin Constituency, among others.
The police in the Ashanti Region on Thursday, October 13 arrested two armed robbers after a specialised intelligence operation.
One other robber attempted to fire at the police but he was overpowered by returned fire, leaving him dead upon arrival at the hospital.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Public Affairs at the Ghana Police Service, Grace Ansah-Akrofi, the deceased, whose name was given as Issaka Muniru, was wanted after jumping bail at the court.
He had led a gang to rob a pastor of his two gold watches and mobile phones on May 26, 2021.
“The deceased was granted bail by the court but he jumped the bail and a bench warrant was therefore issued for his arrest,” the police statement said.
“His accomplices are still attending trial at the court.”
In another robbery instance, he was arrested among four “but he managed to escape”.
The three suspects have since been remanded into prison custody.
The police commended the Ashanti Regional Police Command, especially personnel of the Regional Intelligence and Operations teams, for leading the operation.
“We would like to assure the public that we will continue to carry out our constitutional mandate of protecting life and property and maintaining law and order even at the peril of our lives.”
The police have arrested two suspected armed robbers and shot dead another on Thursday (13 October) at Asuofua Asamang in the Ashanti Region.
The deceased, who was later identified as Issaka Muniru was shot when he attempted to fire at the police in an operation. He was rushed to the hospital for treatment, but was pronounced dead on arrival.
The police also succeeded in arresting two of his accomplices, Kwaku Boateng alias Form Noede and Kojo Gyamfi.
“The two are currently in police custody and will be put before the court to face justice,” an official statement said.
The police retrieved a pistol, which was allegedly used to fire at the officers, and 13 rounds of live ammunition.
The deceased, Issaka Muniru and his robbery syndicate have been involved in a series of robberies within the Kumasi metropolis and its environs for years, the police said.
Brush with the law
Before his demise, Issaka Muniru was standing trial with three other accomplices Ernest Agyei Badu alias gangster, Rider, and MBY at the Nkawie Circuit Court for robbing one Pastor Emmanuel Barfour Awuah of Abuakwa Abakomadi at gun point on 26 May 2021, and making away with his two gold wrist watches, mobile phones and an unspecified amount of money.
Police say the deceased was granted bail by the court but he jumped the bail and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. His accomplices are still attending trial at the court.
“In another robbery where Issaka Muniru, now deceased, was named as the gang leader, three other members of his gang, Charles Kojo Fosu, Yaw Anim and Paul Osafo were arrested by the police but he managed to escape. The three suspects have since been remanded into prison custody,” said the statement.
Meanwhile, the statement commended the Ashanti regional police command, particularly, personnel of the regional intelligence and operations teams who conducted the operation.
“We would like to assure the public that we will continue to carry out our constitutional mandate of protecting life and property and maintaining law and order even at the peril of our lives,” the statement added.
The police on Thursday arrested two armed robbers and shot one dead at Asuofua Asamang in the Ashanti region.
According to the police, the specialised intelligence operation on Thursday [October 13, 2022] led to the arrest of Kwaku Boateng, alias Form Noede and Kojo Gyamfi.
They are both in police custody being prepared to face justice in court, the police said in a statement.
The police statement signed and issued by the Director of Public Affairs, Chief Superintendent Grace Ansah-Akrofi said the deceased has been identified as Issaka Muniru.
According to the police, he attempted to fire at the police but was shot by the police instead.
He reportedly died upon arrival at the hospital.
The police said they retrieved a Smith & Wesson SD40 VE pistol which was used to fire at the officers, and thirteen rounds of live ammunition.
“The deceased, Issaka Muniru and his robbery syndicate have been involved in a series of robberies within the Kumasi Metropolis and its environs for years”.
The statement added that “before his demise, Issaka Muniru was standing trial with three other accomplices Ernest Agyei Badu a.k.a. Gangster, Rider and MBY at the Nkawie Circuit Court for robbing one Pastor Emmanuel Barfour Awuah of Abuakwa Abakomadi at gunpoint on 26th May, 2021, and making away with his two gold wrist watches, mobile phones and an unspecified amount of money”.
“The deceased was granted bail by the court but he jumped the bail and a bench warrant was therefore issued for his arrest,” the police stated.
His accomplices are still facing trial at the court, it added.
In another robbery instance, he was arrested among four “but he managed to escape”.
The three suspects have since been remanded into prison custody.
A young girl believed to be 12-year-old has met her untimely death after she was knocked down by a speeding vehicle at Kotwi in the Atwima Kwanwoma District of the Ashanti region.
The unfortunate accident occurred on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, around 5:00 pm.
Some eyewitness who narrated the story to OTEC News Kwame Agyenim Boateng said the girl was crossing the road when the Nissan Navara Pick-Up with registration number AC-884-21 hit her.
“She had just gotten off a commercial vehicle and was crossing the road, but was knocked down by the vehicle.”
“Some Emergency Medical Attendants and Paramedics who rushed to the scene declared the girl dead and left her at the scene”. A witness told OTEC News.
Meanwhile, policein the area were at the scene to help ease the vehicular traffic caused by the accident.
The body was however conveyed to the mortuary for further investigations.
Eighty more foreign nationals said to be in fraudulent online businesses were at the weekend arrested by the Tafo Pankrono Divisional Police Command in Kumasi.
They were busted at Kenyase-Duase in the Kwabre East District of the Ashanti Region.
Out of the number, nine were females, all from Burkina Faso, and the rest of them from Nigeria and Niger.
While the females have been kept at Kenyasi police custody the rest were kept at the Tafo Pankrono Divisional Police Command.
They were all said to be living in a chamber and Hall apartment in the area.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Stephen Kwakye, Tafo Pankrono Divisional Commander confirmed the arrest but would not give any details.
Meanwhile, the Unit Committee Secretary for the area, Kofi Kakari, said there were suspicious moves by the suspects and compelled some residents in the area to report them to the police.
He claimed that he led some elders in the community to question them on their activities in the area but they failed to give tangible reasons.
This brings to 128 the number of such suspects being investigated by the police with 48 arrested in two separate operations in connection with alleged terrorism and other fraudulent acts, barely two weeks ago.
Twenty One of the suspects were arrested earlier, while 27 were also arrested later.
They were said to be from Niger, Nigeria, Kenya and Mali.
In the operation, the Ejisu Divisional Police Command made the arrest at Ekyem, a community in Ejisu Municipality, based on a tip off.
The investigation is focused on whether they have links to any terrorist group, following a recent terrorist acts in some neighbouring counties.
Some of the suspects have been placed in police custody at Fumesua and others at Donyina and Ejisu.
Throwing more light on the incident, the Assemblyman for Akokoamon-Achiase-Ekyem electoral areas, Daniel Owusu, said the community members had observed the “suspicious activities” of the suspects for some months and therefore, decided to report them to the police for further investigations.
He said they did not know what exactly was happening in the house but “you will always see them making calls for hours in the evening”.
“Out of curiosity, I entered the house one day and asked them of their mission, but they claimed they were learning because the place is a school.
The move, he said, followed the “See something, say something” campaign being spearheaded by the National Security as a citizens’ awareness campaign aimed at protecting the country against terrorist attacks.
He said the 27 suspects had rented five bedrooms of a storey building while the 21 were also occupying a 13 bedroom house, both at Ekyem.
A search in their rooms saw some teaching boards and documents. The arrest followed a tip off by some community members in the area who noticed the abnormal behaviour of the foreign nationals in the area.
Police have picked 80 foreign nationals at Duase in the Kumasi metropolis of the Ashanti Region.
Police and Immigration officials have begun investigations into the activities of the nationals who were living in a six-bedroom apartment.
This follows the previous arrest of alleged illegal migrants in separate operations by security agencies in parts of the Ashanti Region after inhabitants raised concerns over their activities.
The arrest at Duase involved nine Burkinabe females, 60 Burkinabe males, and 11 Nigerians.
Police sources said the apartment where these nationals lived was thoroughly searched but nothing incriminating was found.
A resident, Abena Serwaa narrated events that led to the arrest of these nationals said;
“The foreign nationals have been living in this area for about three months. About 20 of them came initially, and we heard that they were there for educational purposes. That’s why the landlord gave out the apartment. After the initial number that came around, we subsequently noticed that they came in pairs, but we never knew what was going on.”
“Sometimes you hear them make some gestures and sounds, but we were not still privy to what was going on. They used to play with our kids, and they spoke different foreign languages. On Monday, some guys from this area came to ask if some persons had been kidnapped here, but I told them it was not true. Later they came back wielding some implements, and they clashed with the foreign nationals.”
Residents in the area told Citi News that they had doubts about the activities of these nationals.
The Unit Committee Secretary for the Duase Electoral area, Kofi Karikari advised residents to always volunteer information about the activities of strange persons in the community.
With the government’s see something, say something campaign, community leaders are collaborating with security agencies to arrest strange and suspicious characters in their communities.
The foreign nationals arrested on Monday are in custody at the Tafo-Pankrono and Kenyase Police stations.
Police are also collaborating with Immigration officers as part of investigations.
The Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah has announced the judges residential complex in Kumasi in the Ashanti region is going to be commissioned next week Monday.
The Chief Justice said this when he was speaking during a meeting with the leadership of Judicial Service Staff association of Ghana in Accra on Tuesday October 11.
Explaining why he appeared late at the meeting, he said “Please accept my apology for not being here on time. Indeed, yesterday I was unable to come to work because I had to attend to more pressing matter in Kumasi and I came just this morning. As some of you may be aware, we are going to commission the residential complex in Kumasi on Monday and we have invited some of the Directors to be with us.
“So, I had to spend the whole time with the consultant, the contractors, and the regional Minister.”
In April last year, President Akufo-Addo cut sod for the construction of 20 residential facilities for Court of Appeal judges in Kumasi.
Supported by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the Chief Justice, Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah, President Akufo-Addo cut the sod to signify the beginning of construction works for the accommodation facilities.
“With the collaboration of the Ministry of Local Government and the District Assembly Common Fund, 20 townhouses and a guesthouse are being built to be used as permanent residences for Court of Appeal Judges based in Kumasi, who will be mandated to handle cases in the northern part of the country,” Mr Akufo-Addo said.
Some local farmers numbering about 700 have had their farm crops destroyed by the Bagre dam spillage in the Talensi district of the Upper East Region.
Their produce namely millet, cassava and watermelon among others have been washed away.
The farmers say they have lost everything to the water spillage.
Some of them who spoke with Class 91.3 FM’s Upper East regional correspondent Moses Appiah complained about how they have lost everything they invested into the farm as a result of the unannounced spillage.
The District Director of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Alpha Robert, speaking in an interview noted that his outfit has begun doing some assessment-based reports to ascertain the levels of the danger of the spillage on farmland.
He added that the assessment is only for record-keeping and not to seek relief items for the affected farmers.
The Ashanti Mampong District Police Command of the Ghana Police Service have arrested a 14-year-old boy and 10 other suspects in two communities in the Ashanti Region for possessing illegal drugs.
According to a Daily Guide, the 11 suspects were arrested at ‘wee’ joints during a police swoop at Akyeremade, Zongo, and Tunsoum in the Ashanti Region.
The Daily Guide indicated that a police document it cited said that the police found some illegal drugs, including cannabis, popularly known as “wee”, during the arrests.
“The suspects were arrested with 4 pieces of partially smoked substances suspected to be Indian hemp,” it said.
Also, the Ashanti Mampong District Police Command said that the arrests form part of efforts to stop the sale of narcotics and their use in the area.
It stated that the 10 suspects included Richard Brako, 24; Mohammed Mubarak, 18; Allah Mohammed, 19; and Amin Rashwan, 19.
It added that the other suspects are Isaac Acheampong, 40, Kwame Okyere aka ‘Palapa, 36; Tutu Collins, 22, Stephen Kwabena, 42; Ibrahim Yakubu, 26, and Yeboah Rehand, who is aged 24.
The police further stated that the 14-year-old boy has been released to his parents and will be brought to the police station occasionally to assist with the investigation.
“The rest of the suspects are in police custody as exhibits have been retained. Suspects will be screened, profiled, and those found culpable will be put before the court,” it added.
The founder and leader of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Akwasi Addai Odike, has accused traditional authorities in Ghana, particularly chiefs in the Ashanti Region, of ruling their subjects without a vision.
According to him, most of the chiefs are only interested in the pride and pageantry that comes with being chiefs and do not have any plans to improve the livelihood of their subjects.
Odike accused the chiefs of selling off all the lands that have been entrusted to them to illegal miners whose activities are now endangering the lives of their subjects.
“The lives of your subjects are not important to you (the chiefs). You are only interested in selling our lands to enrich yourself. Akufo-Addo has only two years of his term as president left. He will not be president forever. But you, the chief, will be chief till you die, and all the destruction you are causing in the environment with the help of Akufo-Addo will be your burden.
“…When I become president, I will school you on leadership. You people (the chiefs) do not understand leadership. We don’t rule people by oppressing them. We rule with a vision. What is your vision? Tell us the vision you have for the Ashanti land.
“How can you call yourself leaders? People travel abroad and make money to come and bid to be chiefs. As they are bidding to become chiefs, all they think about is how they are going to sell lands to enrich themselves. Their mindset is to only sell land; they don’t think about what is going to happen to their grandchildren,” he said in Twi in an Onua TV interview monitored by GhanaWeb.
He added that should he become president, he will review the country’s land tenure so that chiefs will not have 100 percent ownership of lands under their jurisdiction.
The Kumasi Traditional Council, in August 2022, performed rituals to banish Odike for accusing Ashanti chiefs of condoning illegal mining.
According to the Kumasi Traditional Council, the businessman turned politician made inciteful statements that the Council deemed to be distasteful, unsubstantiated, and meant to dent the image of Manhyia.
Odike, in an interview on Oyerepa Radio, berated the chiefs for failing to help end the ‘galamsey’ menace.
He went ahead to urge the youth to rise and demonstrate against the chiefs if the traditional rulers fail to come clean on their roles in or stance against illegal mining.
About 30 more factories are at various stages of completion under the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative in the Ashanti Region, Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah, the Regional Minister, has disclosed.
The Minister, who was speaking at the 23rd Regional Annual General Meeting of the Ashanti, Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Branch of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) in Kumasi, said the region was a beneficiary of 21 out of the 125 factories, already in operation under the initiative.
The meeting, which was on the theme: “Investing in Ghanaian Industries to Leverage Opportunities in the Single African Market,” was held to take stock of the activities of the Association and to chart the way forward by addressing pertinent issues affecting the growth of industries.
It was attended by representatives of AGI from the four regions and other relevant industry players.
Mr Osei-Mensah said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government in its quest to change the nature of the economy from taxation to production, launched the 1D 1F initiate in 2017 to promote the manufacturing and service sectors through several policy initiatives.
He said through the GhanaCARES ‘Obatanpa’ Programme, the Government supported many manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries to survive the COVID-19 impact.
“One of the objectives of the GhanaCARES ‘Obatanpa’ Programme is to support the private sector particularly agribusiness, manufacturing, ICT and digitalisation,” he stated.
The Minister urged the Association to strengthen and deepen collaboration with the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and take advantage of the Authority’s work to diversify its export base.
The location of the Secretariat of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Ghana, according to the Minister, offered a perfect opportunity for the AGI to make deliberate attempt to create export-oriented companies to enhance the country’s industrialisation agenda.
He said the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council had always collaborated with the private sector and that together with the AGI, his outfit was implementing projects that would grow the economy to promote businesses in the Ashanti region.
Mr Akwasi Nyamekye, Regional AGI Chairperson for Ashanti, Ahafo, Bono and Bono East, called on the Government to take a second look at the current ECOWAS protocols on trade, saying in-spite of the protocols there was no free movement of goods within the sub-region.
He said the association and its members had the capacity to support all government programmes that fell within their domain.
About 30 more factories are at various stages of completion under the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative in the Ashanti Region, Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah, the Regional Minister, has disclosed.
The Minister, who was speaking at the 23rd Regional Annual General Meeting of the Ashanti, Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Branch of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) in Kumasi, said the region was a beneficiary of 21 out of the 125 factories, already in operation under the initiative.
The meeting, which was on the theme: “Investing in Ghanaian Industries to Leverage Opportunities in the Single African Market,” was held to take stock of the activities of the Association and to chart the way forward by addressing pertinent issues affecting the growth of industries.
It was attended by representatives of AGI from the four regions and other relevant industry players.
Mr Osei-Mensah said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government in its quest to change the nature of the economy from taxation to production, launched the 1D 1F initiate in 2017 to promote the manufacturing and service sectors through several policy initiatives.
He said through the GhanaCARES ‘Obatanpa’ Programme, the Government supported many manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries to survive the COVID-19 impact.
“One of the objectives of the GhanaCARES ‘Obatanpa’ Programme is to support the private sector particularly agribusiness, manufacturing, ICT and digitalisation,” he stated.
The Minister urged the Association to strengthen and deepen collaboration with the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and take advantage of the Authority’s work to diversify its export base.
The location of the Secretariat of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Ghana, according to the Minister, offered a perfect opportunity for the AGI to make deliberate attempt to create export-oriented companies to enhance the country’s industrialisation agenda.
He said the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council had always collaborated with the private sector and that together with the AGI, his outfit was implementing projects that would grow the economy to promote businesses in the Ashanti region.
Mr Akwasi Nyamekye, Regional AGI Chairperson for Ashanti, Ahafo, Bono and Bono East, called on the Government to take a second look at the current ECOWAS protocols on trade, saying in-spite of the protocols there was no free movement of goods within the sub-region.
He said the association and its members had the capacity to support all government programmes that fell within their domain.
The Medical Laboratory Professional Workers’ Union (MELPWU) of Ghana has called on the government to suspend a decision to place the services of the medical laboratory profession under public-private-partnership (PPP).
The Union says it is the known that government has begun processes to place the services of Medical laboratory professionalsunder public-private partnership.
According to the union, the arrangement which is new has no service provider within the health sector currently under it.
Speaking at the annual general meeting of the union in the Ashanti Region, the General Secretary of the Medical Laboratory Scientists, Cephas Kofi Akortor, called on the government and the Ministry of Health to “put the decision on hold.”
The group wants government to “engage in a broader stakeholder consultation in order to ensure it is in the interest of the public.”
The Ranking Member of the Local Government and Rural Development Select Committee of Parliament, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has expressed his indignation at the call by President Nana Akufo-Addo for a new initiative to be adopted in the fight against galamsey in the country.
President Akufo-Addo, at the meeting with some chiefs, metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) to find new ways to deal with the galamsey menace at the Manhyia palace in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, 5 October 2022, said: “We have tried many initiatives in the fight against galamsey, still we have not won the fight against galamsey in the country.”
According to Mr Vanderpuije, however, considering the plundering that has occurred, “I don’t think there is something the president can do in the next two years to salvage the galamsey menace.”
The opposition MP for Ododododiodio in the Greater Accra Region expressed these doubts when he spoke on 505 on Class 91.3 FM hosted by Korku Lumor.
He noted that there are so many laws like the mining regulations and mining Acts to deal with the galamsey situation.
He said the president, with his cohorts, designed many of these initiatives to cause devastation to the country’s forest cover and water bodies.
Mr Vanderpuye argued that the president’s warning that he was not going to shield anybody in the renewed fight against galamsey was a charade because he had already shielded enough in the fight.
“Hasn’t the President shielded the former Minister of Science and Technology, Prof Frimpong Boateng, under whose watchful eyes some 500 flew into thin air?” he questioned.
He again asserted that the likes of Mr Charles Bissue, the former Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), is walking free despite his alleged involvement in the galamsey menace.
He maintained that there is a tall list of party galamseyers who have been shielded by Mr Akufo-Addo.
According to him, it is too late for the president to turn things around because of the level of devastation caused by the illegal miners.
He said the failure of the president to sustain the fight against galamsey was a situation of sheer incompetence, complicity, unwillingness and dishonesty.
“This government cannot do anything to compensate for the loss because of galamsey,” he said.
During her first trip to the Ashanti Region, U.S. Ambassador Virginia Palmer met with his Royal Majesty the Asantehene, other traditional leaders, civil society, and U.S. government alumni in Kumasi.
The trip reiterated the United States’ commitment to economic development, inclusive prosperity, and accountable governance in Ghana.
“I’m thrilled to visit Kumasi, the historic capital of the Ashanti Region. I was honored to meet the Asantehene today. Kumasi and its people are an important priority for the United States and I’m glad to have met so many Kumasifuo. I will be back soon,” said U.S. Ambassador Palmer during her trip.
The Ambassador met His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at Manhyia Palace. Their discussions centered on the continuous U.S investment in Ghana’s human capital based on strong bilateral ties rooted in history and common democratic values. The Ambassador also paid a call on the leadership of the National House of Chiefs to discuss the vital role of traditional leaders in development, prosperity, and peace.
She also met with the Ashanti Regional Minister Honorable Simon Osei-Mensah, focusing on the U.S government’s support for peacebuilding and governance, as well as promoting opportunity and development through inclusive investments in people.
At a media roundtable with Kumasi journalists, Ambassador Palmer reiterated to journalists the United States’ commitment to safeguarding press freedoms while promoting professional development for journalists.
Meeting with the local entrepreneurs during her visit to the Kumasi Hive, Ambassador Palmer underscored the importance of entrepreneurship in developing Ghana’s economy.
“Promoting inclusion and economic growth, trade and investment is one of the top priorities of the U.S. government and enhancing the skills of entrepreneurs across various sectors can boost sustainable economic growth,” said Ambassador Palmer. Earlier this year, with the support of the U.S. Embassy, the Kumasi Hive trained more than 300 local Senior High School students with entrepreneurship skills, including design thinking, marketing, and a pitch competition.
Ambassador Palmer concluded her trip with Kumasi-based alumni of U.S. Government exchange programs, including alumni of the Fulbright Program and Mandela Washington Fellowship.
Some aggrieved residents of Sekyere Kumawu District in the Ashanti Region on Tuesday besieged the premises of the District Assembly to protest bad roads.
The residents say a rise in robbery incidents in the area can be attributed to the nature of the main Juaben to Kumawu road.
The residents had red bands tied to their hands and heads and said they were also worried about the transportation of produce from farming communities to urban centres after harvest.
One resident, Stephen Acheampong, read out the petition on behalf of the group and presented it to the District Chief Executive.
“This passionate petition has become necessary. Our road from Kumawu through Effiduase to Juaben is in a highly deplorable state. The contractor who started work in some parts has abandoned the site. We can no longer continue to deal with the poor state of the road.”
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Kumawu received the petition on behalf of the Regional Minister.
“We know how important this is to you, and I can assure you all that I am on your side and will throw my weight behind you to see that the roads are fixed.”
In a rather bizarre turn of events, a 37-year-old man, Kwaku Yayente, has met his untimely death after excessive drinking of alcohol at Kansakrom, a suburb of Atwima Mponua District in the Ashanti region of Ghana.
The deceased reportedly had his stomach exploding after drinking excessively.
Mr. Aguuri, an eyewitness who spoke to GhanaWeb’s correspondent in an interview revealed that, the late Yayente had been an alcohol addict for many years.
According to him, the family of the deceased had tried all the necessary means to stop him from drunkenness but all efforts proved futile.
A senior mortuary attendant, Mr. Kwame Nyamekye aka Last Doctor, also told GhanaWeb, that he was at the mortuary when a family member and three(3) policemen brought the body.
According to him, the family revealed to him that their late relative’s stomach was bloated due to excessive drinking.
“Unfortunately for them, they heard a blast inside his room, and upon checks on him, they found out that his stomach had exploded with the intestines gushing out.
“He did not die on the spot, so they rushed him to the Bibiani hospital here, but unfortunately, he was pronounced dead upon arrival,” he said.
According to him, the family further told him that their relative had been sick for some days due to drunkenness. “I’m reliably informed he drinks every day, and even before his demise this morning, he drunk,” he concluded.
The Chancellor of the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU), Dr Kwame Addo Kufuor, has entreated lecturers of the university to support artisans at the Suame industrial enclave to develop technologies to support the industrialisation of the country.
In doing so, he asked them to drop their academic degrees and big vocabularies and come to the level of the artisans in order to get their collaboration.
He said experience had shown that it was easier to get the collaboration of people when they had a sense of belonging, hence the need for the lecturers to rather make the approach.
“If you speak all the big English, there is no way they will be willing to collaborate. However, if you go to them speaking the local language and explain things to them, they will listen to appreciate what you are telling them,” he said.
This is because discussing mechanical problems in the local languages with the artisans will lead to finding solutions and enhancing performance.
Dr Kufuor made the call during his investiture as the first Chancellor of KsTU in Kumasi last Friday (September 30).
Ceremony
First of its kind, the ceremony was quite a colourful one and attracted a host of dignitaries as well as the family of the chancellor.
The dignitaries included the Guest of Honour, Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, former president John Agyekum Kufuor, who is an elder brother of the Chancellor, former Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye, Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Sir Sam Jonah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simeon Osei-Mensah, and Apagyahene Oheneba Owusu Afriyie IV, the family head of the new Chancellor.
Also present were Mrs Addo Kufuor and their two sons, as well as some senior lecturers of the KsTU.
Investment
In his address, Vice-President Bawumia paid glowing tribute to the chancellor, who he said had paid his dues to the nation through his service in the public sector.
“The university could not have picked a worthier leader than you.
“Your worth of experience as Board Chairman of Suame Magazine Industrial Development Organisation (SMIDO) indicate your in-depth knowledge and already established interest in Vocational and Technical Education,” he said.
He said it was apt that the first chancellor of the university was a son of the land of Ashanti Kingdom who has been put in good stead to help propel the university onto greater heights to achieve world-class university status.”
Role
Dr Kufuor said the call to be a Chancellor was an opportunity to help develop the young university students into world class talents in order to serve Ghana and raise the image of Africa on the world stage.
He also acknowledged that his new role would require him to lead the university and provide the necessary support and assistance to the council, faculties and administration to transform KsTU to one of the “topmost institutions for information and communication development and training in Ghana and beyond.
“I have confidence in the ability, creativity and ingenuity of the Ghanaian youth.
“It is my firm belief that with the right type of education and training, our young people can create and achieve whatever their counterparts have attained anywhere in the world,” he said.
Collaboration
To achieve this, the KsTU Chancellor called for more collaboration among the academia, industry and agriculture to drive industry and practical work experience for students.
He thus advised KsTU to reach out to share knowledge of mutual value with local senior institutions like the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and also other universities in the country.
Such collaboration, he explained, would also ensure that “graduating students come out of the university with considerable exposure to the workplace and the confidence to work in such an environment.”
Appreciation
He was grateful to the university governing council for selecting him as a chancellor and pledged to bring his experience and expertise in academia and administration to bear during his reign.
The Tamale North MP has asked the Lands Minister to deal with his party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman.
Alhassan Suhuyini said Samuel Abu Jinapor must not be selective in dealing with persons involved in the canker.
As a result, he wants the Damongo MP to apply the laws of the land fully.
“Deal with Wontumi, his companies and others; that’s how your flowery political rhetoric will reflect indeed.
The MP also asked Mr Jinapor to adequately resource the Minerals Commission to help deal with the canker.
“Adequately resource and restructure the Minerals Commission, the Inspectorate Division especially, to professionally recruit and train guards in every mining District, like the Forestry Commission’s Forestry Guards,” he added in a Facebook post on Monday, October 3.
Meanwhile, Mr Wontumi has denied reports he is involved in illegal mining.
He insisted that his company, Akonta Mining Limited, has all the required documentation.
Speaking on Wontumi TV on Monday, October 3, Chairman Wontumi said he is ready to make the document available.
“I am appealing to them to use the law. They should do their investigations, and we should let the law work.”
“I have a large scale company which Akonta mining is under… All the required documents I have, I will make all available[sic],” he added.
The Managing Director of the power distributing company, noted that the ECG acknowledges its fault of failing to distribute power to customers.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has apologised to customers for the inconvenience caused by the challenges it experienced with its prepaid vending system.
The company has also disclosed that its vending stations are currently working so customers can purchase their prepaid credit.
Speaking at a press conference held on Monday, 3 October 2022, in Accra, the Managing Director of the power distributing company, Samuel Mahama noted that the ECG acknowledges its fault of failing to distribute power to customers and apologised for the interruption in service delivery.
Mr Mahama said: “That was our fault that we were not on top of our game to deliver a service. Let us not forget that in such a business the customer is the one that always gets hurt when you don’t deliver on your promise. So when I said I admit my fault, I admit my fault in not being able to deliver the service that we promised to deliver.
“I will like to apologise to all customers of the Electricity Company of Ghana who attempted to purchase power and they were not able to purchase power, the company admits its fault, the company admits that it was not able to deliver on the service.”
He however, hinted that, the company is still experiencing some challenges in the Ashanti Region.
“But the company will like all its customers to also know that most vending stations are up and running.
“I used most because we still have some few challenges in the Ashanti region that we are working on. Hopefully, by close of day today, it will be resolved.”
Meanwhile, the MD, is optimistic, that challenges with the power distributing company’s prepaid vending system will be fully resolved by Tuesday, 4 October 2022.
According to the ECG MD, customers will be able to purchase prepaid credits without challenges.
Power consumers across certain parts of the country have, for the past six days, been unable to purchase power on their prepaid meters because of a technical challenge that affected ECG’s prepaid metering systems.
Some dog lovers and breeders are mobilising 5,000 doses of vaccines to provide free vaccinations for cats and dogs in rabies-infected areas of the Ashanti region.
At least eight people have died from rabies in just the first half of the year; outbreaks have been reported in Bosomtwe, Kwabre East, and Asante Akim South, among other places.
The pet breeders say they are concerned about the State’s inaction over the immunization of the animals.
Health authorities are worried over the increasing number of rabies-related deaths among dog owners in the Ashanti region.
Regional Health Director, Dr. Emmanuel Kojo Tinkorang, who is also worried about the high fatality rate of victims of rabies attacks, has recommended a mass vaccination exercise.
“We’ve written to the Veterinary Services Division so that at least, all the dogs would be vaccinated. Other than that, the health system would see some of these cases very late. Rabies is such that when you get it, the fatality is very high so you don’t have to wait till it’s too late.”
But the Veterinary Service says it lacks funding for mass vaccination.
The majority of the pet owners cannot also afford the cost of vaccination.
Regional Veterinary Officer, Dr. Mabel Abudu, encourages pet owners to take their pets to district veterinary offices to be vaccinated but at a fee.
“ Mass rabies vaccination; some years back we used to do that. When I came into the system, it was done year after year. Not only rabies. But along the line, things have really gone done. It is not our fault anyway but it has to also do with funds
In the midst of this hopelessness for some pet lovers, a group of dog breeders are raising 5,000 vaccines.
They include Adamfopa Petcare, Happy Home, Mainstream Animal Hospital and Shihtzu Club of Ghana.
“ We think that dog life matter and animal lives matter. And we believe that in 2022, human beings and pets should not lose their lives because of a lack of a vaccine,” Emmanuel Asare, Chief Associate at Adanfopa Petcare in Tema Community 2 and leader of the campaign said.
“ Our goal is to try and mobilize about 5,000 vaccines so that we can give to rural Ghana.” Mr. Asare added.
Mr. Asare, who doubles as President of the Shihtzu Club of Ghana, wants all dog lovers to come onboard the vaccination exercise.
The Ashanti Region has recorded one more death making it a total of two casualties when torrential rains swamped communities on three successive days.
The victim, an unidentified male believed to be 30 years old was the first to be confirmed dead at Asokwa. In contrast, the recent one, Kwadwo Mensah also believed to be in his mid-30s was found dead at Oduom-Bebre a suburb of Kumasi.
Eyewitnesses who spoke to OTEC News Kwame Agyenim Boateng explained that Mr. Mensah attempted to cross the Sisaa River which had overflown its banks to his home.
The deceased who is said to have ignored warnings from nearby residents not to ply that road at that moment slipped into the river and was taken away on Wednesday, September 29, 2022.
His lifeless body was however discovered by a search party in the area a day after he drowned.
The Municipal Director of the National Disaster Management Organization NADMO at Oforikrom Awudu Mohammed confirmed the incident to OTEC News.
“We rushed to the scene after receiving a distress call from one of the residents that a colleague had drowned. All attempts to find him were proven futile as the water had flooded the entire area.”
“So we came back in the morning and discovered his body from about 50 metres away from where he drowned.”
“The body was subsequently sent to the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for further investigations,” he said.
Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa in the Ashanti Region, Kobina Tahir Hammond, has revealed that as an up-and-coming politician, he used to stay in his lane.
His comment followed a harsh critique he delivered on the youth following an incident where President Akufo-Addo was booed.
A section of the crowd at the Global Citizen Festival at the Black Star Square on September 24, clapped and chanted ‘away, away’ when Akufo-Addo mounted the stage to deliver an address.
KT Hammond is among public officials who chastised the youth for engaging in insulting attitude. He described them as empty heads and people who cannot govern even if given the opportunity.
Challenged that he also started off as a young politician, he retorted: “When I started off as a young man, was that how I was doing it? When I was a young man like you, I stayed in my lane. I stuck to my lane.
Asked whether the president had to attend the event at all, he replied: “I don’t know about that, about the movement of the president, about whether he was advised to go or not. It is not the issue. What we are talking about in the end we saw the President there.
“Whatever was going on there, I did not know, I hadn’t heard of it before, we are hot, we don’t know about everything going on. The President owns the nation and so he goes there. But that does mean you should hurl abuse?”
The booing incident: Exactly what happened?
Thousands of patrons were at the Black Star Square to witness the concert that had a number of local and international artistes performing.
As host of the event, the president was called upon to give his remarks, which happened to be a prepared speech that lasted over six minutes.
The booing happened when he started his speech saying: “The whole world is in Ghana today.”
What started initially as people showing their disapproval of his presence on the stage, turned into loud clapping and chanting of the words: “away, away…,” the president, however, stayed the course and delivered his full speech.
As if that was not enough, people on social media latched on to the development to mock the president.
Global Citizen is the world’s largest movement of action takers and impact makers dedicated to ending extreme poverty NOW.
The voices of millions of Global Citizens around the world are driving lasting change towards sustainability, equality, and humanity by taking action every day.
The Global Citizen Festival started as a music festival where fans take actions to end extreme poverty in order to earn free tickets to attend.
