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Tag: Attorney General

  • Kusi Boateng isn’t above anyone, prosecute him – Apaak to AG

    Kusi Boateng isn’t above anyone, prosecute him – Apaak to AG

    The Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Apaak, has emphasized the need for the Attorney General and Minister for Justice to initiate legal proceedings against Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng.

    This statement follows a recent Facebook post by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, where he mentioned that the Human Rights Court had dismissed Rev. Kusi Boateng/Kwabena Adu Gyamfi’s application seeking restraint against him.

    According to Ablakwa, the court’s ruling affirmed that his parliamentary oversight had exposed two distinct identities with behaviors bordering on criminality, resulting in the application’s dismissal due to lack of capacity and locus standi.

    The judge also awarded a cost of GHS10,000.00 against Rev. Kusi Boateng/Kwabena Adu Gyamfi, marking the second time such costs have been awarded against them.

    In response to these developments, Dr. Apaak emphasized that Rev. Kusi Boateng is not exempt from the laws of the land and urged the Attorney General to take necessary action in prosecuting him.

    “How did such a character become Sec and Board of Trustee of a National Cathedral? How many more criminals are walking freely in the Presidency? The Presidency has been so, so, so DEPRAVED! The AG must prosecute him immediately, he is not above the law!” Dr. Apaak stated.

    Below is the full statement by Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

    The Human Rights Court has today dismissed Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng/Kwabena Adu Gyamfi’s application which sought to restrain me.

    The court’s judgment was emphatic that my parliamentary oversight had unraveled two distinct identities in conduct which borders on criminality and therefore the application was dismissed for lack of capacity and locus standi.

    The judge awarded cost of GHS10,000.00 against Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng/Kwabena Adu Gyamfi. This is the second time cost has been awarded against Kusi Boateng/Adu Gyamfi.

    I dedicate this latest legal victory to the masses who have kept me resolute with their prayers and support for transparent and accountable governance.

    I am indebted to my outstanding legal team.

    2 down; 1 more to go in his defamation suit.

    For God and Country.

    Ghana First

    Summary of Judgment

    It has been proven that Kwabena Adu Gyamfi and Victor Kusi Boateng are two separate identities concurrently used by the Applicant and 1st Respondent is justified in his claims that, Victor Kusi Boateng is not an alias but another separate identity altogether.

    The way the two identities were used does not suggest a simple case of two different names, but rather two independent and totally separate identities to conceal applicant’s dealings in a manner that was not obvious, until the investigations and publications of 1st Respondent.

    Applicant’s assertion that the use of two names in the manner he has done is not a crime under our laws is misconceived, as the two identities were used in a pattern of duplicity depicting a lack of transparency and this conduct borders on criminality.

    The Application was sought to be enforced under Article 33(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which requires an Applicant’s personal interest in the matter to confer locus standi. 

    From the record, it is not clear which of the two separate identities seeks to enforce its fundamental human rights by this suit. And once there is a clear case of double identity presented and proven before this court, this Application is dismissed for lack of capacity and locus standi.

    Costs of GHC10,000 awarded against the Applicant in favour of the 1st Respondent.

  • You are still in our plans, help us win 2024 election – Mahama to Assin North residents

    You are still in our plans, help us win 2024 election – Mahama to Assin North residents

    Former President, John Dramani Mahama has assured the people of Assin North that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will stand firmly by their side if it emerges victorious in the 2024 general elections.

    Speaking during the ‘Thank You Tour’ following James Gyakye Quayson‘s success in the by-election on June 27, Mahama acknowledged the historical significance of Assin North in Ghana and expressed unwavering confidence in the NDC’s prospects of reclaiming power in the upcoming elections.

    “If history is being written about elections in Ghana, the people of Assin North will have their name written in gold. The victory in this by-election is the begging of our march to recapture power. We are carrying the same momentum to the 2024 general election. I have faith in the Almighty God to grant the NDC victory in the next election.”

    Mahama underscored the party’s strong commitment to providing support for Gyakye Quayson, who is currently confronted with legal proceedings regarding his eligibility to participate in the 2020 general elections.

    “The Dormaahene who is a respected High Court Judge has appealed to President Akufo-Addo and the Attorney General to discontinue the case because the prosecution is needless. But people vilified him for making such an appeal.

    “Whatever they do, for us in the NDC, if the Attorney General discontinues the case, we’ll be okay with that, if he continues the prosecution, our support for Gyakye Quayson will remain resolute. We’ll support him in the morning, afternoon and evening.”

  • Opuni’s trial: High Court Judge’s decision to begin case was “backward” – Attorney General

    Opuni’s trial: High Court Judge’s decision to begin case was “backward” – Attorney General

    Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has expressed strong disapproval of the High Court judge’s ruling, which ordered a complete restart of Stephen Opuni’s trial.

    Following the Court of Appeal’s decision to overturn the High Court’s ruling, Mr. Dame criticized the judge’s decision, deeming it as erroneous and regressive in nature.

    “I think that it is actually backward with all respect for a trial which has advanced to this stage for an order to be made that we should start de novo. It will amount to giving the evidence twice, it will amount to giving parties of the matter a second bite of the cherry, and I think that it is improper,” Mr Dame told Journalists on Monday, July 3.

    The Court of Appeal has overturned the decision of the trial judge and directed that the proceedings and evidence led under the previous judge, Justice Hornyenugah, be adopted instead.

    Justice Kwasi Anokye Gyimah, who took over the case in March 2023, had ordered a restart of the trial, citing concerns of unfairness and the need to restore trust in the process. However, Attorney General Godfred Dame disagreed and filed an appeal, arguing that it was a miscarriage of justice.

    The appellate court agreed with the appeal, stating that the trial judge had made an error by considering irrelevant factors in ordering a fresh trial.

    Attorney General Godfred Dame expressed satisfaction with the court’s decision in a media interview following the proceedings.

    In a separate development, Justice Kwasi Anokye Gyimah has been asked to vacate his position and move to Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, according to a letter allegedly sent to him by Chief Justice Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo in June. Justice Aboagye Tandoh of the Winneba High Court will replace Justice Gyimah as the presiding judge in the case.

    The case involves allegations that Stephen Opuni, former CEO of COCOBOD, and businessman Seidu Agongo caused a financial loss of over GH¢217 million to the state.

  • Gyakye Quayson’s criminal trial: Let the law run its course – Majority Leader to Dormaahene

    Majority Leader in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has waded into the conversation of Assin North MP-elect, James Gyakye Quayson’s criminal trial involving perjury and forgery.

    While the Accra High Court is yet to begin hearing of the trial, several individuals have called on the government to discontinue its case against Mr Gyakye Quasyon.

    Among them is Omanhene of the Dormaa Traditional Area in the Bono Region, Oseadeoyo Agyeman Badu II, who over the weekend, entreated the Attorney General, Godfred Dame to bring an end to the criminal trial by filing nolle prosequi.

    “Honestly, I don’t see the benefits this prosecution will bring Ghanaians. If he is in court, he can’t fulfil his mandate so the president and the Attorney General should do something urgently to end this matter, so we move on as Ghanaians,” he argued.

    Oseadeoyo Agyeman Badu II’s call has however not sat well with Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu.

    Engaging Kumasi-based Pure FM on Monday, July 3, 2023, the Suame MP argued that it would be unwise for the government to be selective on criminal cases it seeks to resolve.

    “We are talking about constitutional matters here. Is it the case of the chief that he would call for same to be discontinued if it was a murder charge or any other?

    “Is the respected chief saying that if someone flouts the law, we should let it go? I disagree. I think he should come out to explain further.

    Mr Osei Kyei-Mensa-Bonsu is of the assertion that “the law (has) to run its due process and course.”

    “We can ask the question whether the State has a case or not but beyond that, we cannot abuse the process,” he added.

    According to the Majority leader, it is concerning for Oseadeoyo Agyeman Badu II who also doubles as an Appeals Court Judge to make such a request with his knowledge in law. He predicts challenging times for the chief should be appointed a Supreme Court judge, and subsequently faces Parliament’s Appointments Committee for vetting.

    “He is a judge, is it his position that should the case be before him, he would have rejected or made similar utterances?” he quizzed.

    “As an Appeals Court Judge, he is a potential candidate to the Supreme Court. Comments like this might haunt and affect the chances when posed to him at vetting. I disagree with him,” he concluded.

    Mr Gyakye Quayson is facing allegations of forgery and perjury over his involvement in the 2020 parliamentary elections.

    The High Court in Accra has adjourned to July 4 an application for a stay of proceedings of the criminal trial of the newly elected Member of Parliament for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson.

    The lawyers of Mr. Quayson argue that the application is to stay proceedings in the High Court so that the Court of Appeal can determine whether or not the High Court was right to rule that Gyakye Quayson’s criminal trial be heard on a daily basis.

    The court presided by Justice Mary Yanzuh had earlier ruled that the perjury and forgery trial involving Mr Gyakye Quayson will proceed on a day-to-day basis, starting from Tuesday, June 20, 2023.

    The trial Judge, Justice Mary Yanzuh said the adjournment is to enable the court to receive the full compliments of the application documents.

  • Man behind missing Meek Mill phone rearrested again

    Man behind missing Meek Mill phone rearrested again

    The 33-year-old scrap dealer, Nuhu Sulley, who was previously granted GH¢50,000 bail by an Accra Circuit Court for stealing an American rapper, Meek Mill’s iPhone, has been arrested again for another phone theft.

    This time, he is accused of stealing a phone valued at GH¢4,000 from a medical officer in Madina.

    Sulley appeared before an Adentan Circuit Court and pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to steal and stealing.

    His alleged accomplice, known as Junior, is currently at large. Sulley has been granted bail in the sum of GH¢100,000 with three sureties, and he is expected to reappear in court on July 20 while the police continue their search for the accomplice.

    An Attorney from the Attorney General‘s Department opposed the grant of bail to Nuhu Sulley, citing his previous charges of phone theft against American rapper Meek Mill during the Afro Nation concert in December.

    The prosecution argued that granting bail to Sulley would pose a risk of him committing a similar offense and potentially fleeing.

    Sulley’s defense counsel described him as a law-abiding and peaceful member of society, stating that he had people willing to stand as sureties.

    The prosecution presented the case that Sulley, along with his accomplice Junior, allegedly stole a Huawei mobile phone valued at GH¢4,000 from a clinical physician in Madina.

    When the complainant felt a hand in his pocket, Sulley was seen running away with the phone. The following day, Sulley was arrested, but he resisted and raised an alarm, resulting in injuries to the complainant and a witness.

    In his caution statement, Sulley denied stealing the phone and claimed that Junior was the one who stole it. Sulley stated that he chased Junior and retrieved the phone from him. The prosecution mentioned that an investigation is ongoing.

  • AG opens up on death threats for prosecuting some cases

    AG opens up on death threats for prosecuting some cases

    Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has made claims that he has received death threats due to several cases pursued by his office.

    Speaking on Upfront on JoyNews, he mentioned that that many of those threatening his life have also attempted to influence his work through bribery.

    “We get such representations all the time, such offers of inducements, and even threats on our life – I can show you many on my phone. It is not just on galamsey [illegal mining] or financial offences, and even murder. I am the kind that has the tendency not to rely on security, but on certain occasions, I have had to have a review of my security. We get such threats and offers all the time,” Mr Dame said.

    The Attorney General indicated that despite such threats, his office continues to work by resisting all forms of intimidation.

    “We resist them because some of us have to act in accordance to the mandate given us under the law and the constitution of Ghana,” he told Kojo Yankson, host of the show.

    The young lawyer said in spite of these challenges, he has been able to protect the interest of the state by effectively defending judgment debt cases, implementing reforms and also prosecuting crime effectively.

    He said he would like to leave a zealous legacy stating “I would want to be an Attorney General who inspired the staff and the staff attorneys to conduct matters ably in court both locally and abroad, and I think that is what is most important.”

    “I would want an office of Attorney General whose capacity has been effectively built and well harnessed to defend the interest of the state in all matters both home and abroad. People should see the office of AG as the best department in the country. We ought to be an institution which is a star example of success and excellence in the republic,” Mr Dame added.

  • AG wants Ato Essien thrown in jail over GHS20m debt to the state

    AG wants Ato Essien thrown in jail over GHS20m debt to the state

    The Attorney General has urged the High Court to condemn William Ato Essien to a term of incarceration him  for failing to pay the state $20 million.

    On the eve of the court’s decision in the case where he was charged with theft and money laundering for his role in the bank’s failure, the founder of the now-defunct Capital Bank came into an agreement with the state in 2022.

    Mr Esssein was required to pay a sum of 90 million dollars as per the conditions of the agreement. The remaining $60,000 was to be paid in three installments of $20,000 within a year of the date of conviction. A third of the total was to be paid ahead.

    The first instalment was to be paid latest by April 28, 2023. Documents filed on behalf of the Attorney General reveal that as of May 2, 2023, the first instalment of ¢20 million cedis has not been paid.

    The AG’s Office says this is contrary to the conditions imposed on him by the court and makes him liable to a custodial sentence.

    “That having failed to fulfil a condition imposed on him by this Honourable Court under section 35 of the Courts Act, the outstanding amount under the agreement has become due and the respondent is liable to a custodial sentence by the four”.

  • Why is akwaaba an ‘official’ greeting in Accra, what about ‘awaa waa atuu,’ in Ga? – Ayikoi Otoo asks

    Why is akwaaba an ‘official’ greeting in Accra, what about ‘awaa waa atuu,’ in Ga? – Ayikoi Otoo asks

    Former Minister of justice and Attorney General, Ayikoi Otoo, has criticized what he claims is a deliberate effort to gradually decrease the influence of the Ga language, especially in Ga land-dominated areas like the Greater Accra Region.

    He mentioned instances of nations around the globe where native people are treated with respect for their customs, with political power recognizing those traditions at official events.

    He berated particularly how the pouring of libation, a custom of the Ga people has now been removed from national events even in Accra before wading into the issue of language and how Ga is being moved to the periphery.

    “Like I said of the people in Canada, lands taken from indigenous people, the Innuits, they recognize them at every function,” he said zooming in on libation, “and they used to allow them to pour libation… they’ve stopped.

    “You are in Accra land, we also have our gods, we have our customs, we have our traditions. This can be done and shown to other people. Why is it that in Accra, no more but you can import people to come and dance and other things?

    “Who says we don’t have the equivalent of Akwaaba, we used to say ‘awaa waa atuu’ when we were young, you leave in a nuclear house and when you go to the family house the old people come and hug you with ‘awaa waa atuu.’

    “The Dangbe people have it, they say ‘moyeee’ we have it but they deliberately say that you don’t have it so it should be replaced with akwaaba. Everywhere you go should be Akwaaba,” he stressed.

    Ayikoi Otoo was speaking in an interview on Joy News’ Upfront programme on April 15 when he made the comments.

    The name gobe which translates into Gari, oil, Beans, EGG which has become slang for ‘Yo ke gari’ is generating controversy.

    Former Attorney General Ayikoi Otoo is not happy with what he describes as the subtle attempt to deface the Ga language. #UPfront pic.twitter.com/gViVXUSOTz

    — JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) April 14, 2023

  • Godfred Dame wins case against Ghana in Norway Supreme Court

    Godfred Dame wins case against Ghana in Norway Supreme Court

    The Supreme Court (SC) of Norway have declined to grant leave to Messrs Jongsbru AS, a party to the Norway Court of Appeal decision ruled in Ghana’s favor on November 2, 2022.

    This was a preliminary decision by a three-member panel of the SC to Norwegian civil procedure rules.

    The case concerns the litigation over the purchase of a proper­ty previously identified by the Republic of Ghana for use as a chancery building in Oslo.

    Per the Norwegian law, if a Court of Appeal gives a judge­ment in a civil case and same is ap­pealed at the SC, the court, would first, make a preliminary decision by taking into consideration, whether a new or major issue of law is raised in the matter.

    The Norway SC does not hear an appeal on matters concerning the facts or evidence in a civil matter.

    This judgement brings finality to the four year litigation in which the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr Godfred Dame represented Ghana.

    The Court of Appeal on No­vember 2, 2022 awarded cost of $250,000 in favour of Ghana.

    The SC ordered Jongsbru to compensate Ghana nominal legal costs of USD 1 871.

    Mr Dame said he was elated by the decision of the SC.

    He explained that the cost awarded to Ghana, which was still outstanding, would be used to defray his travel expenses and those of witnesses from Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who testified on behalf of Ghana.

    Prior to the decision of the SC, Mr Dame explained that, under Norwegian civil procedure rules, any civil judgment of the Court of Appeal may be appealed to the SC but the hearing of that appeal is not as of right.

    In the appeal at the SC, Jongs­bru contended that the decision of the Court of Appeal was too short, vague, unclear and con­tained deficiencies, which rendered a proper appeal on the merits impossible and therefore, the judg­ment had to be “repealed.”

    An application for a judgment to be repealed, in Norwegian law, is similar to a request to set aside the judgment.

    BY MALIK SULLEMANA

  • Parliament to deliberate on Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill on Friday

    Parliament to deliberate on Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill on Friday

    On Friday, March 24, 2023, the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee will present its findings on the Promotion of Appropriate Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021, better known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ bill, according to Bernard Ahiafor, the committee’s ranking member.

    According to him, the committee has considered the concerns of Ghanaians after they received over 200 memoranda on the bill.

    Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb’s Nimatu Yakubu Atouyese, he said, “…We are at a stage that the committee’s report and the recommended amendments on the LGBTQ+ bill is ready, so it likely tomorrow we will lay the report on the LGBTQ+ bill by which it has now moved from the committee to the plenary for consideration.

    “So, it will be for a second reading then after the second reading when the bill passes through the second reading, then it moves to a consideration stage, the third reading, then it is passed. And will be referred to the president for accent in line with the constitutional imperatives.”

    The Anti-LGBTQ+ bill sponsor, Sam George has hinted that the bill will be presented before the house in March 2023.

    This comes after the committee on the bill met with the Attorney General Wednesday, February 22, 2023, after which he indicated that he was okay with the bill.

    “I can see that we now have a light at the end of the tunnel. We have reached the end of the tunnel. And we’ll be bringing that report hopefully before the end of March or before this house rises and laying it before the house for debates on the floor. And so watch this space. We are in a good place. And we’ll be looking forward to you giving us all the support to pass this landmark bill, which will be the first of its kind. Yesterday the Attorney General made that point the first of its kind on African continent. Nigeria has a bill banning same sex marriages. That’s all. It doesn’t have all the other things our bill has. And so we’re excited about this,” Sam George added.

  • Wa killings: 27 suspects arrested

    Wa killings: 27 suspects arrested

    Some 27 individuals have been arrested in relation to the murder of five security guards in the Wa Municipality of the Upper West Region.

    This was revealed by the Minister of Interior, Ambrose Dery, when he appeared before Parliament to answer some urgent questions filed by some members of the House on March 2, 2023.

    Eight suspects have been discharged per the Attorney General’s advice.

    The sector minister added that no arrests had been made regarding the three missing security guards, and the police were still working to arrest the perpetrators.

    He assured that the ministry has been sensitising the youth in the area to be vigilant and be on the lookout for the activities of serial killers.

    He also revealed that National Counter Terrorism Unit and the National Small Weapon and Armour Team (SWAT) had been deployed to augment the strength of local police within the Atebubu and Yeji of the Bono East region to combat armed robbery.

  • Opuni trial: AG tells Honyenuga to refer case to CJ for new judge

    Opuni trial: AG tells Honyenuga to refer case to CJ for new judge

    Judge Clemence Honyenuga, the judge hearing the case of Dr. Stephen Opuni, the former CEO of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has been requested by the Ministry of Justice and the Office of the Attorney General to send the matter to the Chief Justice for a new judge.

    According to the Office of the Attorney General “it is practically impossible to conclude” the matter in the extremely limited time available” in the circumstance “we respectfully pray that my lord refers this matter to the Chief Justice to be reconstituted.”

    Since 2018, the trial has been heard by Justice Honyenuga, a Supreme Court Justice who serves as an additional High court judge.

    But once he retired, the Chief Justice gave him a six-month extension to finish the case, which is due to expire this month.

    When the subject was called in court on February 23, Deputy Attorney General Alfred Tuah-Yeboah indicated he should refer the case to the CJ so that it might be reassembled because to the “extremely limited time” he had to deal with it.

    “Pursuant to article 144(11)of the Constitution my lord was granted a limited mandate to conclude the hearing of this matter,” the deputy AG stated.

    “Today is February 23, 2023, the time left for that mandate to expire is extremely limited in the sense that the first accused person has not closed his case for the second and third persons to open theirs and call their witnesses.

    “Considering the time left, it is practically impossible to conclude in the circumstance we respectfully pray that my lord refers this matter to the Chief Justice to be reconstituted,” Alfred Tuah Yeboah noted.

    He said his “submission is being made in the interest of Justice and fairness. This is our humble submission.”

    Defence reactions

    Counsel for Dr Opuni, Lawyer Samuel Codjoe said, “we have nothing to add to what the learned Deputy AG had said.”

    Nutifafa Nutsukpui, counsel for the second and third accused for his part said “Respectfully my lord, we believe that this is a very commendable recommendation or suggestion from the prosecution and my lord we will also urge you to consider it favorably in the interest of Justice.”

    By court

    Justice Honyenuga who has been a subject of several applications for recusal including a pending one from Seidu Agongo said he would adjourn the case to March 1 to wait for the Supreme Court reasons on Dr Opuni’s review.

    “It is my view that we are here this morning to await the reasons of the Supreme Court on this matter.

    “Indeed, I should be the first person…considering the numerous applications filed in this matter in this court and the Supreme Court and also in the court of appeal. I will adjourn the matter to Wednesday, March 1, 2023, so that we hear the full reasons of the Supreme Court and we get the full import of the Supreme Court.

    He said “We shall abide by the decision of the Supreme Court.”

    Source: Starrfm.com.gh via Ghanaweb

  • Attorney General approves sale of Vodafone Ghana to Telecel

    Attorney General approves sale of Vodafone Ghana to Telecel

    The Attorney General, after a thorough assessment has approved the sale of Vodafone Ghana to Telecel.

    The Finance Ministry had earlier written to the Attorney General with a request for a review of all relevant transaction documents on the transfer of 70 percent majority shares in Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited (Vodafone Ghana) held by Vodafone International Holdings B.V. to Telecel Group with a view to carrying out due diligence for the transaction and providing legal advice.

    Commenting on the details of the transactions after the review the Attorney General indicated that the documents provided met all the conditions per Section 98 of the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992), Regulations 34 of the Regulations and Articles 14 & 15 of the Shareholders’ Agreement.

    In a letter cited by Citi Business News from the office of the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice to the Minister of Finance on the deal, the AG advised that “the transaction may proceed…”

    This development was the final lap to complete the transfer of shares to be approved by the company’s board.

    With this concluded, insiders at Vodafone Ghana say the board will likely meet next week to approve the transaction.

    Last year, Vodafone Ghana applied to the NCA to transfer 70 percent of its majority shares to Telecel, but this did not pull through after it failed to meet regulatory requirements.

    The Authority earlier this year gave clearance but added that it was conditional on both sides making concessions and was issued in response to the assessment of the Telecel Group’s revised proposal.

    The statement added, “Following the NCA’s decision, the buyer resubmitted a revised financial and technical proposal in December 2022 which demonstrated the needed capital investment to extend the deployment of 4G and launch innovative Fintech solutions,” the statement read in part.

    “The NCA found that the revised proposal provided more clarity and certainty in terms of the funding required for the acquisition and commitments from both the Seller and buyer.

    In addition, the buyer has strengthened the overall governance and management team, and made firm commitments toward meeting the regulatory requirements of the NCA,” it further indicated.

    Based on this, the NCA determined that the Purchaser’s revised plan now satisfies regulatory requirements.

    As a result, it gave conditional approval for the transfer of shares to the buyer, subject to the filing of a staff retention strategy.

    But since news broke about the deal, there has been uneasy calm amongst the staff of Vodafone over their job security. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Citi Business News, Managing Partner at Telecel Group, Nicholas Bourg, stated that there was no cause for concern.

  • Police conclude investigations into Mankessim murder case

    Police conclude investigations into Mankessim murder case


    The Ghana Police have completed investigations into the killing of Ms Georgina Asor Botwe, a 25-year-old prospective student nurse at Mankessim.


    The Service is however awaiting further directive from the Attorney General’s Office, where the docket has been sent.


    Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Daniel Gadzo, the prosecutor, updated the Cape Coast District Magistrate’s Court, presided over by Mr Eric Oheneba Antwi Boaisiako, who sat in for Mrs Bernice Mensima Ackon, now on vacation.


    The court, upon the update, adjourned the case for the seventh time to Tuesday, February 28, 2023, and told the Office of the Attorney General to speed up the process for the necessary actions to be taken.


    Christopher Clarke Quansah, the first accused, raised his hands to speak but was denied permission by the court.


    Pleas of Quansah and Michael Darko, a self-styled pastor, are yet to be taken by the court.


    On Thursday, September 8, 2022, the deceased, Ms Botwe, who had come from Yeji in the Bono East Region for an interview at the Ankaful Nursing Training School in Cape Coast, as a student applicant, called Darko, who was her sister’s boy-friend to inform him of her presence in town. 


    Darko promised to pick her up after the interview on Friday, September 9, 2022.


    Prosecutor said the two accused persons went to pick the deceased from Ankaful in a Taxicab to Pedu in Cape Coast, where Quansah had parked his Benz saloon car, with registration number GT 8686 – C and drove her to Akwakrom, a suburb of Mankessim. 


    Quansah and Darko then took her iPhone, locked her in a room and left for Sikafoambantem, a suburb of Mankessim, where they dug a hole in an uncompleted storey building. 
    They later took the lady there and Quansah hit her neck with a club from behind while Darko held her neck till she died.

    They then cut her hair and buried her in the hole. The Central Regional Police Command picked up intelligence, which led to the arrest of Darko at Anomabo but Quansah managed to escape. 
    On Wednesday, September 21, 2022, Quansah was also picked up from his hideout upon a tip off.

  • Assault of Latif: Attorney General asks for time to pursue settlement talks

    Assault of Latif: Attorney General asks for time to pursue settlement talks

    Barely 24 hours after claiming journalist Latif Idrissu was not touched by any police officer, the Attorney General’s office is aggressively pursuing settlement talks.

    State Attorney, Nancy Rita Twumasi Asiamah, literally begged the court for the case to be put on hold.

    “My lady, my instructions are to ask for an adjournment. As we indicated on Monday, we have written to the police to advise them to settle.

    “We are yet to get a response and I have been asked to please ask for an adjournment while we pursue that. I am pleading,” she stated.

    This did not sit well with trial judge Justice Cynthia Wiredu who pointed out that the case has been outstanding since 2019 and earlier settlement talks had failed.

    “Parties even settle cases after judgement. You had the opportunity to settle and failed to do so. The fact that you are pursuing this does not mean I cannot do my work.

    “You have your instructions, I also have my work to do. Is it to delay the court? The trial can continue? Any time there is a settlement we can look at that,“ the judge said.

    Lawyer for the journalist and The Multimedia Group, Samson Lardi Anyenini, told the court that his side was not opposed to the idea of settlement.

    His concern was, however, the fact that the case had been delayed unduly.

    “Respectfully, as we indicated to the court yesterday, plaintiffs have been amenable to settlement. We only wish that once same is commenced it will be speedy.

    “Seeing that the suit has been pending for a very long time. While the first plaintiff, in particular, continues to bear the cost of medical treatment both in Ghana and the USA,“ he stated.

    Justice Wiredu urged both sides to pursue the settlement talks without taking entrenched positions.

    Mr Anyenini pointed out at this stage that certain comments made by the police were problematic.

    He made reference to court documents in which the police had claimed the assaulted journalist was not suffering from any complications.

    “Even in the face of clear medical evidence, they claim nothing has happened. Such positions don’t help”, he stated.

    Justice Wiredu advised the police to consider getting an independent examiner if necessary.

    She stressed that settlement is always the best approach.

    The case has been adjourned to March 16, 2023.

  • Godfred Dame lists the achievements of the Akufo-Addo government under his ministry

    Godfred Dame lists the achievements of the Akufo-Addo government under his ministry

    The Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Godfred Dame, had said that the government of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has brought unparalleled improvement to the justice delivery system of Ghana.

    According to him, not only has the government brought a much-needed improvement in the human capacity of his ministry and its agencies, but it has also equipped them with the tools to ensure effective justice delivery.

    The minister, who made these remarks in a Good Evening Ghana interview monitored by GhanaWeb, went on to list some of the New Patriotic Party government’s achievements in his ministry.

    Human Capacity:

    Godfred said that the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government has boosted the human resource capacity of his ministry by recruiting about 200 attorneys since 2017.

    “Last year, 70 attorneys were recruited, the year before 2021, another 70 were recruited. During Madame Gloria Akuffo’s time, another 60 or 70 were recruited… and this year I have applied for financial clearance to recruit about 50 or 60 more,” he said.

    He added that the government has also been offering regular training to state attorneys both locally and internationally, with about 5 of them currently undergoing training abroad.

    Infrastructure:

    The attorney general also said the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government will soon complete the Law House, which has been under construction since 2003.

    He stated that the Law House would be completed within a year and used as office space for the minister and its agencies.

    “When I came, I ensured that there was an earnest construction of the project, and I am sure that in about six months or so the Law House will be done… from a state where it was 35 percent complete when I assumed office,” he said.

    Equipment:

    In the area of tools and equipment, he said that some of his agencies did not even have vehicles to run their operations, but between 2017 and 2023, the government procured a lot of vehicles for these agencies.

    “My predecessor Madame Gloria Akuffo, believed there were 27 vehicles. Last year, in 2022, on account of the support of the minister of finance and the president’s decision at cabinet, I delivered 91 vehicles.

    “The Law Reform Commission had only one vehicle, which was way back in 1997; Legal Aid had only about three or four vehicles… I doubled the stock of vehicles available to each agency and each regional office,” he said.

  • Canadian kidnappers: Victims to observe judgement via video link December 20

    The two Canadian ladies who were the victims of kidnapping and their families would observe the judgement of the High Court on December 20, 2022, via video link.

    This was after the court had granted a request from the family of the victims to the court through the office of the Attorney General to be allowed to monitor the judgement.

    The two ladies – Miss Lauren Patricia Catherine Tiley and Miss Bailey Jordan Chilley, who were in Kumasi to participate in a youth programme on June 4, 2019 were kidnapped.

    Sampson Agharlor, together with three others including a Ghanaian are facing judgement after a full trial.

    The four persons who have been charged with unlawful imprisonment of two Canadian nationals have pleaded not guilty to four charges related to kidnapping.

    The accused – Sampson Agharlor, aka Romeo, the ring leader together with Elvis Ojiyorwe, Jeff Omarsar and Yusif Yakubu have all denied the charges of conspiracy to kidnap, two kidnappings and an unlawful improvement.

    They have been accused of playing various roles in the kidnapping of Miss Lauren Patricia Catherine Tiley and Miss Bailey Jordan Chilley, who were in Kumasi to participate in a youth programme on June 4, 2019.

    The trial has ended with the court set to deliver its judgement.

    However in court on Thursday, November 24, 2022, when the case was initially fixed for judgement the court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo said, the judgement is not ready.

    “We were to have our judgement today (Thursday, November 24, 2022) unfortunately, same is not ready. Meanwhile, I received a letter from the office of the Attorney General requesting that some members of the victims and their family will want to be part of the delivery of the judgement.

    “The court is agreeable to their request. We shall create a link which they can join on the day the judgement would be delivered. This information would be relayed to them at least four days before the judgement,” Justice Osei Marfo noted.

    The case has been adjourned to December 20 for the judgement to be delivered.

    The accused persons who are in lawful custody according to EIB Network’s Legal Affairs Correspondent Murtala Inusah, were all present in court.

  • Parliament has no authority to investigate Ofori-Atta for conflict of interest – Kweku Baako

    Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr, has said Parliament of Ghana has no power to investigate the Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta for allegations of conflict of interest.

    The Minority in parliament on Thursday, November 10, 2022, moved a motion for a vote of censure to be passed on the minister of finance by the house.

    Among other things, the minority cited conflict of interest as the first grounds for the motion.

    But reacting to this in a text message sent to Metro TV morning show Good Morning Ghana, Mr Baako alluded that the issue of conflict of interest will fail because the parliament lacks jurisdiction on the matter.

    “Parliament has no jurisdiction to interrogate the issue of “Conflict of Interest”! Per Article 287 of the Constitution, it is CHRAJ that is vested with the exclusive jurisdiction to investigate complaints under Chapter 24 of the Constitution,” he said.

    “Indeed, I want to believe Sammy is very conversant with this point because the Supreme Court amplified that point in the Okudzeto Ablakwa/Omane Boamah vrs Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey and Attorney-General case. Speaker Doe Adjaho was guided by that SC verdict in refusing to admit the motion on the Ford Expedition Vehicle saga on 1st September, 2016!” the text read by the host of the show, Dr Randy Abbey said.

    The speaker after admitting the motion and rejecting a preliminary objection to the motion by the majority side has referred the motion to an 8-member ad hoc committee to investigate the motion and make recommendations to the house.

    But according to Kweku Baako Jnr, the issue of impropriety against the minister “if it is indeed contained in the “Motion for Censure” may run into a “constitutional minefield” both at the Ad-Hoc Committee level and outside Parliament unless it is tabled before CHRAJ for determination!”

    Source: Ghanaweb 

  • A-G’s first witness tells court he has no personal information that Aisha Huang mined illegally

    A superintendent of Immigration has told an Accra High Court that he has no personal information that Aisha Huang was engaged in illegal mining.

    Ruben Ransford Aborabora is the Attorney General’s first witness in the trial of the Chinese alleged to be a key architect of illegal mining in the Ashanti Region.

    Director of Public Prosecution Yvonne Attakora Obuobisa led the Immigration Officer to testify as the state’s first witness.

    Supt. Aborabora told that court that sometime in 2017, he and his men embarked on an operation to arrest persons alleged to be mining illegally at Bepotenten in the Ashanti region.

    On arrival at the said site, four Chinese were picked up.

    He told the court that various mining equipment were seen at the site including excavators.

    He said one of the arrested Chinese informed him that they were mining for Aisha Huang.

    He submitted videos showing the mining equipment and site to the court.

    Lawyers for Aisha Huang led by Nkrabeah Effah Dartey then cross-examined the witness.

    Mr Dartey questioned him on whether he had on his own verified the allegations by the Chinese or had any independent means of verifying this. This is what transpired.

    Question-Even with your compact disk video, you have no personal independent information verified by you against the accused.

    Answer: No my lord. I have no personal information.

    Question: If Gao jin Chen gave you the wrong information then your source is wrong

    Answer: Yes my lord. I only reported on what Gao jin Chem told me. And I forwarded the same in my report.

    Question: My lord I have no further questions for a witness who has no personal information.

    The case has been adjourned to November 14 for continuation.

    Source: MyJoyOnline via Myinfogh

  • QNet welcomes A-G’s decision to dissolve fraudulent entities impersonating original firm

    QNET, a leading international direct selling company supports the decision of the Attorney General to dissolve companies that are impersonating QNET International, conducting fraudulent business activities and misrepresenting the company in Ghana.

    There is a recent media publication on the Attorney General’s efforts at dissolving fraudulent companies, unfortunately, the facts of the matter were not accurately presented by the media organisation that reported the court case. The first significant error in the media report is misconstruing QNET for Quest Net or Q-NET Investment Limited. The name Quest Net does not refer to nor is meant to refer to QNET. They are effectively entities which are entirely separate and distinct, and with no relationship or incorporation internationally.

    The company mentioned in the order given by the Accra High Court, references an unauthorized entity set up by individuals who are not in any way connected with QNET Ltd, which is an international direct selling company headquartered in Hong Kong.

    It is clearly evident from the Judgment dated 20 July 2022 that the title of the case is “IN THE MATTER OF THE CORPORATE INSOLVENCY AND RESTRUCTURING ACT, 2020 (ACT 1015) AND IN THE MATTER OF A PETITION FOR THE OFFICIAL WINDING UP OF Q-NET INVESTMENT LIMITED (A COMPANY LIMITED BY LIABILITY) AND IN THE MATTER BETWEEN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND Q-NET INVESTMENT LIMITED.” It is thereby clear, QNET was never a party to the court action.

    QNET operates its business everywhere, including Ghana, via Independent Representatives (IRs) who are properly trained and accredited individuals, and who undertake the business in compliance with best business ethics and practice.

    Certain individuals acted in bad faith by registering a company called Quest Net/QNET Investment Limited in Ghana for their unlawful activities. QNET Limited had, via its lawyers in Ghana, written to the relevant authorities and placed Quest Net on notice that there is no relationship, connection or nexus of any nature with this Ghana-registered local entity and QNET Limited.

    QNET, on a continuing basis, has been in touch with the relevant authorities to clarify its stand. QNET accordingly condemn the actions of these unscrupulous individuals and their bad practices which we wholly dissociate ourselves and our business dealings from.

    Whenever QNET’s attention is brought to unethical or illegal actions of IRs, QNET takes punitive actions against them. This includes termination or suspension of the IR. Additionally and as required, QNET lodges complaints with the Police against IRs who commit crimes against innocent individuals.

    QNET is always available to offer clarification and assistance to all authorities and the media regarding any issue about its business. QNET has also embarked on a sensitization programme called the “MAMA Campaign”, to educate the general public about QNET, its business model and the need to be wary of fraudsters or impersonators.

    QNET is a law-abiding and socially-responsible company. QNET, through its social impact arm, RYTHM Foundation, has partnered with many charity projects across the world to empower less-privileged and physically-impaired people. In Ghana, QNET is actively supporting the Anopa Project, providing deaf and blind children with access to education and sporting skills.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Dame, Dampare sued for GH¢10m by family of man allegedly killed by 9 police officers

    The family of a man who was allegedly killed by some police personnel at Adomfe, in the Asante Akyem South Municipality of the Ashanti Region, have filed a GH¢10 million suit against the Inspector General of Police, COP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare; the Ghana Police Service, and the Attorney General.

    The suit, according to a report by The Chronicle newspaper, is jointly filed with nine others.

    Stating the details available to it, the newspaper said that the deceased man, 33-year-old Kofi Ampomah, was allegedly seized by nine police officers on October 15, 2022, just after he had closed from work.

    Further details said that upon his seizure, the police officers allegedly assaulted him by using pepper spray on him, after which they butchered him with cutlasses or machetes.

    The police are then said to have left the man unattended.

    Maxwell Boamah, who is said to be a customary successor of the late Kofi Ampomah, is also reported to have said that the body of the deceased was handled like an animal by the officers from the Konongo Division of the Ghana Police Service.

    “The police finally dumped the deceased at Konongo Odumasi Government Hospital and lied that he had been killed by armed robbers,” details of the writ said.

    The report added that the family of the deceased is filing a suit for GH¢10 million as compensation that will be used for the education, maintenance, upkeep, and trauma suffered by the dependants of the deceased.

    Why Kofi Ampomah was killed?

    The Chronicle newspaper explained that Boamah, the relative of the deceased, said that Kofi was mistaken for a young man who had allegedly reported the defendants (the nine policemen) to the Bompata police for apparently releasing a woman.

    The woman, it added, was allegedly selling local gin mixed with a substance suspected to be Indian hemp to the public.

    “He averred that the police, on two different occasions, arrested and released the woman in question after extorting GH¢3,000 and GH¢4,000 respectively from her,” the report said.

    Police officers named in the writ:

    According to the writ, the following are the names of the officers alleged to have been involved in the death of Kofi Ampomah:

    General Sergeant Suleman Seidu (Sully Seidu), G/CPL Seth Agbango (Seth Agbango), D/L/CPL Salifu Yakubu, G/SGT Samuel Awrjamb, G/SGT Opare Samuel (Opare Samuel Antwi), D/CPL James Astikson Mensah (James Mensah), G/CPL Nyame Hayford, G/CPL Emmanuel Divines Delasi (Delasi Divine), and G/L/CPL Samuel Kwame Gorman (Gorman Samuel).

    Additionally, the writ has named the IGP, COP Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, and the AG, Godfred Dame, jointly in the case.

    About the late Kofi Ampomah:

    Details contained in the writ showed that the deceased was a Sprinter ‘trotro’ driver who plied his trade along the Adomfe to Kumasi Road.

     

     

  • Fully-fledged trial for Aisha Huang begins next week, 1st witness to be called for cross-examination

    The trial of Aisha Huang will begin on the 9th of November 2022, an Accra High Court has ruled. Per this ruling, witnesses in the case will individually be called to be cross-examined in the courtroom.

    This follows an order by the court, directing the Attorney General to submit the full complement of the evidence it intends to rely on for the prosecution of the accused.

    According to the Presiding Judge, Lydia Marfo, the state will call its first witness; Reuben Ransford Aborabora for cross-examination on the 9th of November.

    He will subsequently re-appear on 14th November 2022.

    Reuben Ransford Aborabora, the second witness; David Essien will appear on the 16th, 17th, and 21st.

    The third witness; Nana Safo Prempeh will appear on the 23rd of this month and subsequently on the 28th and 29th.

    On the 30th and 1st of December; the fourth witness; Matthew Kwabena Abotsi will have to appear.

    In the meantime, Aisha Huang will continue to remain in police custody.

    Background:

    Ms. Huang in 2017 was charged for undertaking small-scale mining operations contrary to Section 99 (1) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703).

    She was also charged with providing mine support services without valid registration with the Minerals Commission, contrary to Section 59 and 99 (2) of the Minerals and Mining Act; and also charged with illegal employment of foreign nationals (in breach of section 24 of the Immigration Act and regulation 18 of the Immigration Regulations).

    Her case was however discontinued and she was deported. Her deportation meant the state discontinued the trial against her.

    She however found her way back into the country leading to her recent arrest. An Accra Circuit court last week remanded Aisha Huang and three other Chinese nationals into custody to reappear on charges of illegal gold mining and trading.

    Her recent arrest is on the same issues of illegal mining.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • ‘I wasn’t served’ – Speaker takes on Supreme Court over cannabis judgment

    Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has faulted the Supreme Court for delivering judgment in a matter the legislature was a party to without giving it a hearing.

    According to Alban Bagbin, he “had no knowledge about the suit.”

    He made this comment in Parliament on Thursday, October 27, 2022.

    In July 2022, the Supreme Court declared as unconstitutional the law on granting licence to grow cannabis, popularly known as ‘wee’ in small quantities for industrial and medicinal purposes.

    Section 43 of Act 1019 of the Narcotics Commission Act stipulates that “the Minister on the recommendation of the Commission, may grant a licence for the cultivation of cannabis popularly referred to as “wee” in Ghana, which is not more than 0.3 % THC content on a dry weight basis for industrial purposes for obtaining fibre or seed for medicinal purposes.”

    However, the Apex court in a 4-3 majority decision on July 28 annulled Section 43 of Act 1019 and declared that it is a violation of Article 106 of the 1992 constitution.

    But the Speaker has faulted the court saying although Parliament was a party to the suit, they were not granted hearing on the matter.

    He insists that the fact that the ruling affected portions of the law is what even makes the implications dire.

    “Yet, judgment was delivered by the Supreme Court in which a section of a law we passed was struck out as unconstitutional. If the speaker is a party to a suit, at least the speaker should be served. There was no service,” he said.

    The Justices who ruled for the majority decision were; Justices Jones Dotse, Clemence Jackson Honyenuga, Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu and Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi while Justices Nene Amegatcher, Prof Nii Ashie Kotey and Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu disagreed.

    The case was brought before the Apex Court by one Ezuame Mannan against the Attorney-General.

  • Aisha Huang sells spare parts; she is not involved in galamsey – Effah Dartey

    Lawyer of Aisha Huang, Nkrabeah Effah Dartey, has said his client is engaged in the sale of spare parts contrary to claims that she is engaged in illegal mining (galamsey).

    According to him, under no circumstance did his client engage in any activities which involved digging the ground for gold.

    He adds that it’s sad that many have tagged her as ‘galamsey kingpin’ among other names.

    He said he hopes the court vindicates his client despite the Attorney General’s claim that he has documents and evidence to prove otherwise.

    “Aisha Huang is not involved in Galamsey; she sells spare parts for excavators. Aisha Huang has never stood on the lands of Bekwai or anywhere in the Ashanti Region to say she is digging gold. All she does is sell spare parts, but people have called her names, including galamsey kingpin. So let’s see what God will do since the matter is in court. I pray the law will be in the best interest of my client,” he said on Atinka radio during an interview monitored by GhanaWeb.

    Speaking on the refusal of the court to grant his client bail, he said if the court fails to grant her continuously, he will go to a higher court for bail.

    The Accra Court denied Aisha Huang’s request for bail through her lawyer.

    According to the court, she will be in police custody until the case is determined due to the nature of the case and also her being a flight risk.

     

     

  • Allow me to marry more women – Ampomah tells Supreme Court

    A Ghanaian, Samuel Ampomah, on October 18, 2022, prayed a seven-member panel of the Supreme Court presided over by Justice Baffoe-Bonnie to order the State to remove restrictions to a wife under the marriage Ordinance for him to marry again in fulfilment of his fundamental human rights, having already married under the Act and unwilling to divorce his wife, while desirous of adding another.

    In a case against the Attorney-General, Ampomah is seeking a declaration mandating the State to amend the Ordinance under the Marriages Act to respect choices and fundamental human rights to marry more in line with customary and Islamic arrangements of Ghana’s marital laws.

    Marriage under the ordinance is presently the only strict monogamous marriage arrangement under Ghanaian law, with possibility of a criminal charge of bigamy against a man who adds another wife under the same law.

    The case has been adjourned for the Attorney General to file the State’s response, a report filed by Dennislawnews stated.

    Why?

    In Ghana, marriage under the ordinance is governed by the Marriages Act (Cap 127) and is the only, strictly monogamous legal means of marriage in Ghana.

    After recess

    The new legal year has begun in earnest and thus the apex court of Ghana is back in full flight presiding over cases invoking its numerous jurisdictions.

    On Tuesday, October 18, 2022, the Supreme Court sat on its first batch of cases after the vacation and one amongst the many was the writ filed by the Ghanaian citizen, Samuel Ampomah against the Attorney General of the Republic.

    When the seven-member panel presided over by Baffoe-Bonnie (JSC) sat and the case duly called by the Registrar, a member of the panel queried the plaintiff, and his capacity relative to this action.

    Subsequently, his counsel was allowed to tell the court why they were there.

    Then he mentioned that having married under the marriage ordinance, his client is only restricted to marrying one wife and thus wants the apex court to make a declaration directed at the Attorney General to change the law, allowing him to marry more women.

    In Ghana, marriage under the ordinance is governed by the Marriages Act (Cap 127) and is the only, strictly monogamous legal means of marriage in Ghana. This option is a civil union available to any Ghanaian to take advantage of.

    Even though there is much confusion about it, it is entirely secular and not religious (Christian) at all thus those intending to get married are required to give notice to the marriage registrar in the district where the marriage is going to occur.

    After the above brief of the plaintiff’s action, counsel further mentioned that his client was coming relative to a supposed breach of his fundamental human right.

    The Attorney General was then asked if they have duly responded, which she mentioned in the negative.

    As a result, the case was adjourned sine in order for the AG to file the necessary documents.

    Other members of the panel were; Nene Amegatcher (JSC), Pwamang (JSC), Torkonoo (JSC), Owusu (JSC), Prof Kotey (JSC) and Kulendi (JSC).

    Source:graphics.com

  • High court orders A-G to submit evidence against Aisha Huang

    An Accra High Court has instructed the Attorney-General, Godfred Dame to submit the full complement of the evidence it intends to rely on for the prosecution of “galamsey” kingpin, Aisha Huang.

    Aisha Huang is standing trial for her alleged role in illegal mining activities in the Ashanti Region.

    The A-G on October 11, 2022, told the court it was ready for the trial and will disclose all evidence to be used.

    It, however, emerged in court today that the documents had not been submitted.

    Deputy Attorney-General, Alfred Tuah Yeboah, told the court his officers were at the registry filing the documents.

    This explanation did not sit well with the lawyer for Aisha Huang, Nkrabeah Effah Dartey.

    “At the last date, the AG said he was ready. Now we are here. And they are saying they are not ready. Please, I want to repeat my application the other time. Grant us bail,” he said.

    Justice Lydia Marfo responded that the circumstances that led her to decline the request for bail had not changed.

    She also took notice of the fact that the Chinese Interpreter needed for proceedings was also absent.

    She, therefore, adjourned proceedings to November 2, 2022, directing the Attorney General to ensure that the documents are made available to enable case management and pre-trial conference to take place.

    Deputy AG Alfred Tuah Yeboah told pressmen the delay was only a result of his office being diligent.

    “We have complied but it wasn’t within time. As we speak, it has been done. Prosecuting a case like what we have at the moment, you need to dot the “I’s” cross the T’s. At the next adjourned date we will definitely be ready to move on,“ he stated.

    Aisha Huang is accused of being heavily involved in Galamsey activities.

    She was arrested and charged in 2017 but left the country after she was repatriated.

    She is accused of sneaking into the country to continue with her illegal activities. She has at all times pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against her.

    Source: MyJoyOnline

  • Aisha Huang’s case: File your witness statement – High Court Judge tells Attorney General

    The Accra High Court, presided by Justice Lydia Marfo, has asked the Attorney General to file its witness statement and serve the accusers in Aisha Huang’s case.

    This comes after the Deputy Attorney General told the court he had prepared its witness statement and other relevant documents, which are being filed at the court registry.

    Chinese national, Aisha Huang, is in court for her involvement in illegal mining activities (galamsey) in Ghana at the Accra High Court.

    At today’s sitting, the Deputy Attorney General, Alfred Tuah Yeboah, asked for an adjournment as all their witness statements and documents were being filed at the court registry.

    The judge then asked the attorney to ensure it is filed and the accusers are served to enable case management and pre-trial conference to occur.

    The case was therefore adjourned to November 2, 2022.

    Meanwhile, Deputy AG Alfred Tuah Yeboah, who spoke to the press after today’s sitting, said the delay was to ensure the right documents are presented.

    “We have complied but it wasn’t within time. As we speak, it has been done. Prosecuting a case like what we have at the moment, you need to dot the “I’s” cross the T’s. At the next adjourned date we will definitely be ready to move on,“ he said.

     

  • Customer service should be a priority for businesses not just a department – Odelia Ntiamoah

    The Chief Executive of the SnB Group, Odelia Ntiamoah, has charged businesses to adopt a holistic approach to maximize customer experiences.

    According to her, when customer experience becomes a priority for the entire brand, revenue will be generated even in difficult times.

    Speaking at the 2022 CPX Ghana Conference, she noted that even though most companies think about money when it comes to delivering good customer experiences, strategy is the most important step to take.

    She said “There are so many institutions that we have engaged in recent times then again coming back to the research and what we have seen is that they are not engaging their customers, it’s not money now it’s about strategy.

    “So, for example, if these companies are sitting on digital platforms how are they engaging their customers within that space. Most of the time we have left that sort of engagement sitting with the CopiComs department. If the customer experience and the customer engagement are not left in one department but it becomes a holistic responsibility of the whole brand it will surprise you that our behaviours and how we decide to treat customers will bring us even the revenues in difficult times,” she noted.

     

  • 187 ‘galamseyers’ jailed in Eastern Region since 2017 – Attorney General

    The Minister for Justice and the Attorney- General, Godfred Dame, has disclosed that up to 187 illegal small-scale miners (galamseyers) have been jailed in the Eastern Region since 2017.

    According to him, out of the 187 illegal miners jailed, 29 were nationals of Niger, seven Nigerians and three Chinese with the remaining 148 being Ghanaians.

    The Attorney-General indicated that most of the ‘galamseyers’ were given a minimum fine of three thousand penalty units or an imprisonment term of not more than five years for the offence of buying or selling minerals without a licence under Section 99(1) of Act 703 of the 1992 Constitution.

    He also indicated that some of the illegal small-scale miners were sentenced for the offence of mining without a licence and were given a minimum fine of one thousand penalty units or an imprisonment term of not more than three years under Section 99(2) of Act 703.

    Also, the AG indicated that 33 persons involved in small-scale mining were convicted under the new mining laws, the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995), between August 2021 and September 2022 and are currently serving various prison terms of 15 years, 20 years and 18 years.

    The AG, who disclosed these details at a press briefing, added that 11 of these 33 people are offering nationals.

    He also indicated that his office has secured convictions for 48 new cases with only one on appeal.

    Dame added that 43 new cases are being trialled in courts in Koforidua with 250 other cases which involve some Chinese pending.

    The AG further stated that details of the prosecution of illegal miners in other regions, particularly, the Ashanti, Western and Greater-Accra Regions will soon be provided.

  • A-G finds receipts of galamsey site purchase with Aisha Huang’s accomplices

    The Attorney General Godfred Dame has told an Accra High Court that the state has evidence to prove that some four foreigners charged as accomplices of galamsey kingpin, Aisha Huang were indeed engaged in illegal mining activities.

    The Attorney General, during proceedings on October 11, 2022, told the court that the evidence gathered by the state against the suspects include five receipts issued to the foreign nationals as proof of purchase of small-scale mining sites.

    According to the Attorney General, the suspects were engaged in criminality as the laws of Ghana bar foreigners from engaging in small-scale mining.

    The four suspects are made up of three Chinese nationals; Shi Yang alias Philip, Li Wei Guo and Shi Mei Zhi, as well as a Vietnamese national, identified as Nguyen Thi Thanh Tuyen.

    They are all facing a provisional charge of engaging in small scale-mining without a licence, contrary to section 99(2)(a) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended by Act 995 of 2019.

    However, the Vietnamese national is facing a separate charge for remaining in Ghana after the expiration of a permit contrary to sections 20(1) and 52(1)(d) of the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573).

    The three Chinese nationals have all pleaded not guilty to their charge while the court was compelled to defer the plea of the fourth suspect due to the absence of an interpreter.

    Responding to the prosecution’s evidence against the suspects, their lawyer, Lucie Ekelebe Blay who was holding brief for Freddie Blay challenged the substance of the receipt.

    According to the lawyer for the accused persons, the supposed purchase of mining sites by her clients did not materialise as they were duped in the process.

    Her argument nonetheless was deemed as enough grounds to prove the prosecution’s case according to the Attorney General.

    In his response to the defence lawyer, Godfred Yeboah Dame maintained that the suspects breached the law by their attempt to own a mining concession as the law prohibits foreigners from engaging in small scale mining.

    The court, citing various factors such as the nature of the alleged offence committed by the suspects, their flight risk possibility and the severity of punishment if they are found guilty, denied the four bail till the end of their trial.

    The case against the four has been adjourned to Tuesday, November 1, 2022.

    The state’s case against alleged galamsey kingpin Aisha Huang was called after that of her alleged accomplices was adjourned.

    Presiding Judge Lydia Osei Marfo, during a sitting on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, refused the plea of her lawyer, Nkrabea Effah Dartey, after the latter argued that his client deserved bail.

    According to the judge, all arguments previously made against his plea for bail, including his client’s flight risk, remain and will not be changed.

    She added that his constant presence in court with his client would be the only way to ensure the case is heard accordingly for the determination of his client’s fate.

    State Prosecutor Godfred Dame, on his part, reiterated government’s commitment to ensuring the case is duly heard and that the accused are prosecuted if found guilty.

    Aisha Huang is in court over charges of mining without a license and engaging in the sale and purchase of minerals, four other charges, including undertaking a mining operation without a license.

    She is also facing four other charges, including undertaking a mining operation without a license, facilitating the participation of persons engaged in a mining operation, illegal employment of foreign nationals, and entering Ghana while prohibited from re-entry were filed at the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court on Friday, September 16, 2022.

    Her case has since been adjourned to October 24, 2022, for case management.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Gov’t is determined to make Aisha Huang face the law – Lands Minister

    Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor has said the Akufo-Addo administration is determined to make all persons who are caught engaging in illegal small scale mining (Galamsey), to face the full rigours of the law.

    He indicated that the Chinese national, Aisha Huang popularly known as Galamsey Queen, who was arrested for allegedly re-entering Ghana without permission after her deportation, and the others with her will all face the law for their actions.

    Aisha Huang was denied bail yet again on Tuesday October 11.

    She was denied bail by an Accra High Court, where she is facing four charges pressed by the Attorney General.

    Speaking to journalists after the case, Mr Jinapor said “One of the key pillars on which we are seeking to deal with this issue of illegal small scale mining is law enforcement and prosecution, particularly as it relates to foreigners.

    “As you can see, the Attorney-General himself was in court and he himself is conducting this trial, prosecuting the cases in a very spirited and enthusiastic manner.

    “I think it helps my work, when you have an Attorney-General who is diligent and serious about prosecution and ensuring that all perpetrators are brought to book, I think it is a big boost and I am very thankful to him for the work he is doing.

    “We will continue with our efforts on all fronts – law enforcements, reforms as well as the prosecutorial part, which we are fully committed .

    “As you can tell, this Aisha Huang lady, the government of President Akufo-Addo is committed to bring her and other persons who are involved in illegal mining to face the full rigors of the the laws.”

  • Eight witnesses to testify against Aisha Huang, four accomplices – Godfred Dame

    The Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Godfred Dame, indicated that the state would present eight witnesses in the case against alleged small-scale mining (galamsey) kingpin, Aisha Huang, and her four accomplices.

    This is after the Attorney General withdrew the four witness statements he had previously filed against the alleged ‘galamsey’ kingpin.

    Speaking during the trial on Tuesday, Godfred Yeboah told the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, that the prosecution had to withdraw the four witness statements to enable it to file the full set of eight witness statements.

    He added that the prosecution was ready for a trial because all eight statements were ready and would be filed as soon as possible.

    Justice Lydia Osei Marfo granted the request of Dame and adjourned the case to October 24, 2022, for the AG to file the documents.

    Meanwhile, the court has remanded Aisha Huang to police custody.

    Presiding Judge Lydia Osei Marfo, during a sitting on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, refused the plea of her lawyer, Nkrabea Effah Dartey, after the latter argued that his client deserved bail.

    According to the judge, all arguments previously made against his plea for bail, including his client’s flight risk, remain and will not be changed.

    She added that his constant presence in court with his client would be the only way to ensure the case is heard accordingly for the determination of his client’s fate.

    State Prosecutor Godfred Dame, on his part, reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring the case is duly heard and that the accused are prosecuted if found guilty.

    Aisha Huang is in court over charges of mining without a license and engaging in the sale and purchase of minerals, four other charges, including undertaking a mining operation without a license.

    She is also facing four other charges, including undertaking a mining operation without a license, facilitating the participation of persons engaged in a mining operation, illegal employment of foreign nationals, and entering Ghana while prohibited from re-entry were filed at the Criminal Division of the Accra High Court on Friday, September 16, 2022

    Also, four others, who appeared in court, 3 Chinese nationals and a Vietnam national, have all been remanded to reappear in court on November 1, 2022.

    The 3 Chinese nationals – Shi Yang alias Philip, Li Wei Guo and Shi Mei Zhi are on a provisional charge of engaging in small scale-mining without a licence, contrary to section 99(2)(a) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) as amended by Act 995 of 2019.

    Vietnam national; Nguyen Thi Thanh Tuyen is, however, being charged for remaining in Ghana after the expiration of a permit contrary to sections 20(1) and 52(1)(d) of the Immigration Act, 2000 (Act 573).

    Hearing their cases separately, the sitting judge heard the pleas of the 3 Chinese nationals but reserved that of the Vietnamese, Nguyen Thi Thanh Tuyen, who had difficulty understanding the Chinese and English languages through which she was communicated.

  • A-G advises gov’t to compensate Ejura shooting injured victims

    With family members of some injured persons in the Ejura shooting incidents agitating for compensation, it has emerged that the Attorney-General (AG) gave a piece of legal advice in July this year for compensation to be paid.

    In a letter cited by the Daily Graphic, the A-G, Godfred Yeboah Dame, advised the government to compensate three injured victims of the incident with about GH¢1.28 million.

    The three injured persons captured in the A-G’s advice for compensation are Louis Ayipka, 30; Nazif Nuhu, 20, and Awal Mesbawu, 16.

    Per the letter, the A-G advised that Ayikpa should be compensated with GH¢347,953, Nuhu should get GH¢192,425, and Mesbawu should be given GH¢678,519.

    Apart from the compensation, the A-G also advised the government to implement a recommendation by a Medical Board for the victims to be given medical and psychosocial care.

    The letter, dated July 12, this year was addressed to the Minister of Interior, Ambrose Dery.

    Family agitates

    Last Wednesday, the family of the three injured persons called on the government to pay them compensation as recommended by the Justice Koomson’s Committee.

    At a press conference in Accra, the family further urged the A-G to expedite action on the prosecution of those suspected to have killed Yussif and Suraj.

    According to the family, after submitting all the required medical documents needed to effect the payment, they had so far not received any acknowledgement indicating receipt of the documents.

    Report

    On June 29, last year, Abdul Nasir Yussif and Murtala Suraj Mohammed died from gunshots from joint police and military team during activities related to the burial of a social activist in the area, Ibrahim Muhammed, popularly known as Kaaka.

    Three other persons — Ayikpa, Nuhu and Mesbawu — got injured in the incident.

    A committee set up by the Minister for the Interior to investigate the matter submitted its report in September last year.

    The committee, chaired by a Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Kingsley Koomson, in its report, recommended that the families of the two young men who lost their lives in the shooting incident must be compensated.

    It further recommended that the three injured persons must also be compensated.

    While the government had since compensated the families of the two young men who lost their lives in the shooting incident, the injured persons are yet to be compensated.

    On what went into arriving at the compensation for each of the three persons, the A-G relied on certain factors used to award compensation in some case law.

    These were permanent physical disability or impairment, disruption of education, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, ongoing medical care needs, loss of future earnings, reimbursement of the cost of medical treatments, increase in living expenses among others. The A-G also factored in the national minimum wage and transportation cost, among other factors.

    Regarding the medical and psychosocial care, the A-G advised that all three should be given psychosocial support as recommended by the medical board.

    “In the case of Awal Mesbawu, the appropriate functional prosthesis should be provided to him to assist in mobilisation as recommended by the medical board,” the A-G said.

  • A-G advises govt to compensate Ejura shooting injured victims

    With family members of some injured persons in the Ejura shooting incidents agitating for compensation, it has emerged that the Attorney-General (A-G) gave a piece of legal advice in July this year for compensation to be paid.

    In a letter cited by the Daily Graphic, the A-G, Godfred Yeboah Dame, advised the government to compensate three injured victims of the incident with about GH¢1.28 million.

    The three injured persons captured in the A-G’s advice for compensation are Louis Ayipka, 30; Nazif Nuhu, 20, and Awal Mesbawu, 16.

    Per the letter, the A-G advised that Ayikpa should be compensated with GH¢347,953, Nuhu should get GH¢192,425, and Mesbawu should be given GH¢678,519.

    Apart from the compensation, the A-G also advised the government to implement a recommendation by a Medical Board for the victims to be given medical and psychosocial care.

    The letter, dated July 12, this year was addressed to the Minister of Interior, Ambrose Dery.

    Family agitates

    Last Wednesday, the family of the three injured persons called on the government to pay them compensation as recommended by the Justice Koomson’s Committee.

    At a press conference in Accra, the family further urged the A-G to expedite action on the prosecution of those suspected to have killed Yussif and Suraj.

    According to the family, after submitting all the required medical documents needed to effect the payment, they had so far not received any acknowledgement indicating receipt of the documents.

    Report

    On June 29, last year, Abdul Nasir Yussif and Murtala Suraj Mohammed died from gunshots from joint police and military team during activities related to the burial of a social activist in the area, Ibrahim Muhammed, popularly known as Kaaka.

    Three other persons — Ayikpa, Nuhu and Mesbawu — got injured in the incident.

    A committee set up by the Minister for the Interior to investigate the matter submitted its report in September last year.

    The committee, chaired by a Justice of the Court of Appeal, Justice Kingsley Koomson, in its report, recommended that the families of the two young men who lost their lives in the shooting incident must be compensated.

    It further recommended that the three injured persons must also be compensated.

    While the government had since compensated the families of the two young men who lost their lives in the shooting incident, the injured persons are yet to be compensated.

    On what went into arriving at the compensation for each of the three persons, the A-G relied on certain factors used to award compensation in some case law.

    These were permanent physical disability or impairment, disruption of education, pain and suffering, loss of enjoyment of life, ongoing medical care needs, loss of future earnings, reimbursement of the cost of medical treatments, increase in living expenses among others. The A-G also factored in the national minimum wage and transportation cost, among other factors.

    Regarding the medical and psychosocial care, the A-G advised that all three should be given psychosocial support as recommended by the medical board.

    “In the case of Awal Mesbawu, the appropriate functional prosthesis should be provided to him to assist in mobilisation as recommended by the medical board,” the A-G said.

     

  • Court orders CID Boss to provide safety report on alleged bride killers

    A District Court has ordered the Director General, Criminal Investigations Department (CID) to furnish it with an independent report on the safety of persons being held over the murder of a new bride at Abeka.

    Muniratu Moro was murdered a few days after she was married off at Abeka, a suburb of Accra.

    The Kaneshie District Court gave the order whiles delivering its ruling on a stay of execution, pending an appeal filed by the Attorney General.

    The Court on September 22, this year granted bail to four accused persons namely:  lmoro Salifu Zakaria, 44 and Adams Salifu Zakaria both Land Surveyors, Amdiya Mohammed, a 33-year-old trader, and Abass Mohammed, a 27-year-old Labourer.

    They were granted GHS300,000 bail with three sureties to be justified with landed property by the Court presided over by Mr Oheneba Kufuor, a Circuit Court Judge sitting with additional Magisterial duties.

    The Court in its ruling turned down the application for stay of execution pending an appeal.

    It however ruled that it was waiting for the CID Boss’ independent report on the safety of the accused persons.

    It noted that it needed security report on the accused persons because at the last sitting it witnessed the commotion that took place at the court premises.

    Additionally, the Court noted that the case investigator also informed it about the safety of the accused after the grant of bail.

    Lawyers for the accused however indicated that if the case investigator provided the Court with the safety report on the accused, he could prejudice the said report hence it wanted an independent report from different police officer or the Regional Crime Officer.

    According to the Court, the accused persons could not continue to be on remand forever.

    It said the State could go ahead and file its appeal at the High Court within the 14-day period.

    At the last sitting, the Attorney General Office represented by Mr Adu Gyamfi, a State Attorney, had argued that since the Court had no jurisdiction to try the case, it also had no jurisdiction to grant bail.

    Defence Counsel for the accused persons held the opinion that once the Court had power to remand the accused persons, it also had the power to grant bail.

    The accused persons are standing trial for the murder of Muniratu Moro who was recently married as a second wife.

    On August 28, this year Police say, before the marriage of the deceased, Salifu and Amdiya had disagreement over the deceased becoming a second wife.

    Days after Muniratu was married off, she was found stabbed several times.

    Police investigations led to the arrest of the accused persons.

    They have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime to wit, murder, and murder.

    The District Court has preserved their pleas.

    The matter has been adjourned to October 20.

    Source: GNA

  • Don’t let power corrupt you – Dr Robert Allotey Okine to Judges

    Judges in the country have been admonished to guard against being corrupted by the power they wield.

    According to the Most Reverend Dr Robert Allotey Okine, Archbishop Emeritus of the Church of Province of West Africa, judges must be guided by the aphorism “power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely“ in their dispensation of justice.

    He was speaking at the special church service held last Saturday at the Cathedral Church of the Most Holy Trinity in Accra to open the new legal year which commenced yesterday.

    “As representatives of the third arm of government, you wield tremendous power, power that can determine an individual or a family’s fate in life. Power that can build or destroy,” he said.

    Quoting the late professor William Chadwick, a former professor of history at the Cambridge University, Rev Dr Okine added: “the possession of unlimited power corrupts the conscience, hardens the heart and confounds the understanding” contending that such a position ended in tyranny.

    In contrast. he entreated them to be the salt and light of their practice to stay on the right path.

    The annual service ushering in the 65th legal year was attended by judges, lawyers, traditional leaders, the clergy and other stakeholders in the justice system who gathered to seek God’s strength and guidance for the new legal year.

    Chief Justice, Justice Anin Yeboah, Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame, President of the Ghana Bar Association, Yaw Acheampong Boafo and Director at the Ghana School of law, Yaw Oppong were also accounted for.

    Speaking on the theme “Improving Legal Access to Justice in a pandemic through the use of technology” the retired Bishop of the Koforidua Diocese of the Anglican Church, indicated that technology was one of the ways God wanted mankind to solve problems and this had been made manifest by the coronavirus pandemic.

    He exhorted the judges on ten tenets to guide their practice which included admonition on not sacrificing integrity to expediency, being careful about people they associated with and being consistent in their utterances and actions.

    In a message, the Chief Justice, Justice Anin Yeboah, revealed that training in ICT and other related programmes have been planned to make the justice system more robust, dependable and acceptable.

    Prayers were also offered for departed judges and lawyers who passed on during the last legal year.

     

  • I haven’t paid dues for 10 years – Betty-Mould slams ‘partisan’ Bar Association

    A former Attorney General, Betty Mould-Iddrisu, has disclosed that she hasn’t been honouring her financial obligation to the Ghana Bar Association, GBA, of which she is still a member.

    Her refusal so to do, she explained was premised on the partisan nature of the umbrella body for all lawyers in the country.

    In an interview with Accra-based TV XYZ earlier this week, she addressed issues around Ghana’s justice delivery system – tasking the bench to accept criticism and the GBA to get its acts together.

    “I have never had much faith in the Ghana Bar Association because its lost its capacity to withstand external influences. We saw them at critical times during the previous regime because it is obvious they are favouring one political party or the other.

    “I will pay my dues when I feel the GBA will be fair, a true arbiter of the interest of all lawyers in Ghana,” she emphasized.

    With respect to the Judiciary, she tasked them to take a recent critique by former president John Dramani Mahama in good faith and to work towards cleaning up their image and better serving the people of Ghana.

    “Article 125 of the Constitution says quite clearly that the administration of Justice is vested in the people of the Republic of Ghana and it is the judiciary who is to administer that.

    “If you don’t listen to the people, how on earth can you administer justice for us? They need to listen to us. This should be a wakeup call,” she stressed.

     

     

    She also scolded current Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame for using the recent Bar Conference in Ho to attack Mahama for his views on the Judiciary and the need for reforms.

    “Very unfortunate for a young Attorney General, Godfred Dame to come out with such statements about our former President. He was disrespectful and very upsetting to me, having held that position before.

    “I forgive him because I am a Christian and its an act of charity…” Betty Mould told IDEAS Exchange show host Eric Ahianyo on Thursday, September 29.

    “I chaired that conference of NDC lawyers John Mahama addressed. And all of us enthusiastically support his remarks about the perception of Ghanaians waning confidence in the judiciary.”

    She cautioned Dame further that being Attorney General and by extension leader of the Bar does not give anyone the right to use a Ghana Bar Association meeting to create such chaos.

    In his address at the recently held Bar Conference in Ho, Dame stressed that it was worrying that National Democratic Congress, NDC, lawyers had failed to call Mahama to order despite having made the comments at a party event.

    “Non-lawyer Mahama made the comments at meeting of the legal committee of his party, none of the lawyers raised a finger to contest the wrong and dangerous propaganda by the former president. By their silence, they became abettors of the propagation of hate against the judiciary,” Dame submitted.

    He reiterated the fact that lawyers needed to be the loudest and strongest defenders of an independent judiciary and by extension defenders of the most crucial arm of government.

    “I find it worrying because lawyers ought to be the loudest and strongest defenders of the independence, integrity and importance of the judiciary rather than serving as tools for its destruction,” he added.

    Mahama told a gathering of NDC lawyers at a conference in Ada that a judiciary needed to be trusted by the public at all times because such trust had wide-ranging implications on the security of the state.

    He took aim at the current Chief Justice stating that it would take a new CJ to carry out needed reforms in the judiciary because of growing lack of trust in their work.

    The NDC has strongly stood by his views whiles the NPP have slammed it as unwarranted and needless.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Directive for Chairman Wontumi’s mining firm to stop work not enough, A-G must step in – OccupyGhana

    OccupyGhana is asking the Lands Ministry to go a step beyond merely directing Akonta Mining Limited to halt operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest in the Western Region.

    According to the pressure group, the ministry must invite the security agencies and the Attorney General into the fray by furnishing them with the information needed to ensure that perpetrators are punished.

    “We therefore demand that you forthwith refer the facts and evidence in your possession that show that the said mining company is undertaking mining operations in breach of the Act, to the police and the Attorney-General for further investigations and prosecution of the company and its directors and officers.”

    The Lands Ministry on September 30 directed mining firm, Akonta Mining Limited to stop operations in the Tano Nimiri Forest.

    Directive for Chairman Wontumi’s mining firm to stop work not enough, A-G must step in - OccupyGhana

    This was after two persons sustained gunshot wounds at Samreboi in the Western Region after a section of the youth reportedly prevented personnel of Akonta Mining Limited from sending more mining equipment into the Tano Nimri Forest reserve.

    The mine is owned by NPP’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako popularly called Chairman Wontumi.

    But OccupyGhana says even though the reaction is laudable, there were also some concerns raised in the communique such as the fact that the said company is undertaking the mining operations without a mining lease.

    “While congratulating you on this step, we would be taken aback if that was all you did.”

    This, per the pressure group, is enough grounds to pursue the case in accordance with the law.

    “If the company is engaged in the activities that you have alleged, then it is committing an offence that is punishable by fines and prison terms between 15 and 25 years,” the group said in a statement.

    JoyNews investigations recently revealed ongoing destruction to the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve despite the government’s declaration it has not given any entry permit into the forest.

     

  • Stop threatening critics – Former AG Betty Mould Iddrisu to judiciary

    A former Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Betty Mould Iddrisu, has taken yet another swipe at the judiciary over what she describes as a failure to reform to address widespread negative public perception but rather adopting threats to silence critics.

    Mould Iddrisu, who is Ghana’s first female Attorney General, described attacks on the former president, John Dramani Mahama, as unfortunate, undemocratic, and a slap in the face of Ghanaians demanding fairness from an institution bestowed with powers to protect dictates of the 1992 constitution.

    She condemned the current AG, Godfred Dame, stressing that she can only forgive him for abusing the platform he had during the recent Bar Conference in Accra.

    “Very unfortunate for a young Attorney General, Godfred Dame to come out with such statements about our former President. He was disrespectful and very upsetting to me, having held that position before. I forgive him because I am a Christian and it’s an act of charity,” she told Eric Ahianyo on IDEAS Exchange, a current Affairs program on TV XYZ.

    Mould Iddrisu, who could not hide her emotions, emphasized, “Article 125 of the Constitution says quite clearly that the administration of Justice is vested in the people of the Republic of Ghana and it is the judiciary who is to administer that. If you did listen to the people how on earth can you administer justice for us? They need to listen to us. This should be a wake-up call.

    “I chaired that conference of NDC lawyers, which John Mahama addressed. And all of us enthusiastically support his remarks about the perception of Ghanaians’ waning confidence in the judiciary.”

    Explaining her position further, Betty Mould Iddrisu said being a leader of the Bar (Attorney General), does not give anyone the right to use a GBA meeting to create such chaos.

    She disclosed that she has not paid her dues as a lawyer for the past 10 years because of the partisan actions of such persons who lead the Ghana Bar Association.

    “Our lawyers were extremely upset. I have never had much faith in the Ghana Bar Association because it lost its capacity to withstand external influences. We saw them at critical times during the previous regime because it’s obvious they are favouring one political party or the other. I will pay my dues when I feel the GBA will be fair, a true arbiter of the interest of all lawyers in Ghana,” she emphasized.

    She added that this development must be a wake up call to the judiciary.

    She argued that several public surveys and observations by renowned lawyers and civil society organizations have drawn similar conclusions in the recent past.

    “John Mahama was just asking them to look within, assess what various persons are saying, step out and speak to ordinary Ghanaians themselves and find out what their perception of the Judiciary is.

    “It is sad to see and hear the barrage of unjustifiable attacks leveled against the former President. Hundreds of lawyers present at the conference supported the President not because they are NDC but because 99% of them practice at the bar. They go to the Courts daily and they know what is happening in the courts, yet many may be afraid to talk because they will be victimized,” she added.

  • Government committed to advancing rights of minorities – Attorney General

    According to Godfred Yeboah Dame, Ghana’s Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, the government of Ghana is still dedicated to advancing and defending the basic human rights of the nation’s minorities.

    He maintained that it was crucial that the government carry out its responsibilities in order to prevent the marginalization of minority rights in Ghana.

    In order to emphasize the government’s commitment, Hon Yeboah Dame said that Article 17 of the constitution, which ensures equality before the law and forbids discrimination based on gender, race, color, ethnic origin, religion, faith, or social or economic standing, would be strictly enforced.

    The Attorney-General made these remarks at the High-Level Meeting of the 77th Session of the General Assembly to mark the commemoration of the 30th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Persons belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious And Linguistic Minorities.

    Mr Dame, in his address, said, despite the progress made in advancing the rights of minority groups following the adoption of the Declaration 3 decades ago, challenges persist.

    “We solidarize with the people belonging to minority groups and remain concerned about the disproportionate suffering they are subjected to in conflict situations, including their vulnerability to forced displacements, obstacles to education and other attendant effects resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic”, he added.

    Mr Dame re-iterated Ghana’s commitment to the implementation of the Declaration as he said it is the government’s conviction that unbridled political will by the Member States at the national, regional and multilateral level was critical to advancing the rights of minority groups sustainably.

    The Attorney General highlighted the following points, which he says are instrumental in dealing with the issue confronting minority groups: “First, We believe that although the Declaration was adopted three decades ago, it remains relevant in addressing contemporary challenges facing minority groups. It is, therefore, important for the Member States to make their commitment to its implementation”.

    “As we move towards a post-COVID-19 future, it is important for Member States to deliberately put in place measures that would enhance emergency aids, boost data collection for monitoring and tracking of disparities among minority groups, intensify outreaches including minority languages and sign languages on how to prevent and address COVID-19 and other challenges, and availability of services. This would help ensure that minority groups are not disadvantaged”.

    “The growing exclusion, marginalisation and discrimination against minorities require a more holistic and comprehensive approach in addressing the situation. We welcome the integration of employment, sustainable development and social protection into domestic policies and the advancement of equal rights and opportunities for all, ensuring that the interest of minority groups is served. Furthermore, deliberate policies that create a conducive environment for minority groups to meaningfully participate in political activities and decision-making are encouraged”.

    “Equally important is the urgent need to empower minority women and girls to help ameliorate the various forms of abuse they are subjected to. We believe this can be addressed by urgently considering measures embedded in economic support and stimulus packages that reflect the needs of women who face multiple forms of discrimination. In addition, the introduction of interventions such as helplines, psychosocial support and online counselling is recommended”.

  • You don’t have a right to choose a judge for your cases in court – Sam Okudzeto tells Ghanaians

    A former president of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Samuel Awuku Okudzeto, has said litigants are in no position to decide which judge presides over their case.

    In an interview on Wednesday, September 21, Mr Okudzeto argued that because a judge serves as an impartial third party who seeks to resolve conflicts between two opposing sides, any attempt to remove a judge handling a specific case must be supported by convincing evidence.

    “The judge is a neutral arbiter, so, unless you have evidence, then you can appeal to the chief justice,” he added.

    However, he explained that in circumstances where individuals are dissatisfied with judges apportioned to them due to their biassed nature et al., such persons have the right to consult the Chief Justice for a change.

    “If I have a corruption allegation against a judge, then I can go to the process, get the evidence, and then make a complaint against the judge. If I feel the judge is biased, I have the right to complain to the Chief Justice…. that the matter should be given to somebody else,” he said.

    “When doing that, you must be careful, since you don’t have the right to choose a judge that you want to hear your case. In Ghana, we seem to think that I don’t like this judge, so I want the case to be held by another judge,” he stressed.

    His comments follow criticisms of Ghana’s judicial system, which some have characterised as “tin gods” to wit, pompous, since some claim the decisions they make are binding.

    In response, the lawyer claimed that the accusers do not have a comprehensive understanding of the legal system.

    “It is a complete misunderstanding of the judiciary process, you can disagree with judgment. I disagree with judges. Let’s not use the word (judiciary). Judiciary is an institution, the entire court system with different people with different temperament etc,” he emphasized.

    Attacks on Ghana’s judiciary are a challenge to the judicial body, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, recently stated while speaking to lawyers at the Ghana Bar Association Annual Conference in Ho on September 12.

    Mr Dame asserted that the unfounded comments harm the judiciary’s credibility, endangering the safety and welfare of the country.

    “It was a great dismay and embarrassment that I heard a person who has occupied the highest office of state, that is the former President, recently launched an unwarranted attack on the integrity of Ghana’s Judiciary. I observe that this was the latest instalment of systematic attack by the former President, albeit unjustified,” he added.

    The Attorney General’s statement was at the back of ex-president John Dramani Mahama’s remarks.

    The former president, who was addressing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Lawyers’ Conference earlier this month, demanded that the country’s judiciary be replaced in order to restore what he called the institution’s damaged reputation.

    He alleged that the judiciary today is in such disrepair that the average Ghanaian no longer has confidence in it, hence the need for a new Chief of Justice.

    “So badly has the image of our Judiciary deteriorated that many of our citizenry openly make a mockery of our justice system and of our justices. The phrase ‘Go to Court’ is these days met with derisive laughter, instead of hope that one will truly get justice.”

    “There is therefore the urgent need for the Ghanaian judiciary to work to win the trust and confidence of the citizenry, and erase the widely held perception of hostility and political bias in legal proceedings at the highest courts of the land”, the former President suggested.

    Continuously, he said “Unfortunately, we have no hope that the current leadership of our Judiciary can lead such a process of change. We can only hope that a new Chief Justice will lead the process to repair the broken image that our judiciary has acquired over the last few years.”

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • U.S. to return $23 million looted by late dictator Abacha to Nigeria – officials

    The United States will turn over to Nigeria $23 million taken by former military ruler Sani Abacha, officials said at an event to sign the agreement on Tuesday.

    Nigeria has reached several agreements to return stolen cash in recent years. Abacha ruled Africa‘s most populous nation and top oil exporter from 1993 until his death in 1998, during which time Transparency International estimated that he took up to $5 billion of public money. He was never charged.

    U.S. Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard said the cash was in UK accounts but was identified and frozen by U.S. officials. She added that including the latest deal, the United States had agreed to repatriate more than $334.7 million linked to Abacha.

    Attorney General Abubakar Malami said the funds would be used for infrastructure projects, including the Abuja-Kano road, the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and the second Niger bridge under the supervision of the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).

    “The president’s mandate to my office is to ensure that all international recoveries are transparently invested and monitored by civil society organizations to compete for these three projects within the agreed timeline,” Malami.

    The U.S. Justice Department has previously said that Nigeria must use money repatriated from funds looted by Abacha on agreed public projects or be forced to “replace” it https://www.reuters.com/article/usa-nigeria-corruption-idUSL8N2CI8QA.

    Source: Reuters

  • KNUST gang rape: A-G set to commence committal proceedings of six accused persons

    The prosecution has stated that the Attorney General‘s (A-G) office is preparing for committal procedures against the six accused individuals who are now in court for allegedly gang-raping a first-year student at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, KNUST.

    The process will pave the way for a full trial at a higher court.

    In court

    On Thursday, August 18, the Asokore Mampong District Court granted a request to remand the suspects into police custody to reappear on September 2.

    “We alluded to the fact that there was a bail application at the High Court by Counsel for the accused persons but it was refused. So we brought it to the attention of the trial judge and he went ahead to remand the accused persons,” said the Head of Legal and Prosecution at the Ashanti Regional Police Command ACP Kofi Blagodzi.

    The suspects, including the boyfriend of the victim, Patrick Fosu reportedly lured the victim, a level 100 student of the KNUST to commit the crime with the five others on July 24. Police also gave their names as Edwin Nii Noi Quaynor, John Wilson, Kingsley Asiedu Andoh, Thompson Nii, and Assafua Eric all students of the university.

    “Very soon the A-G will commence the committal proceedings after which the actual trial will be at the High Court,” Blagodzi said indicating that a bail application at the High Court by counsel for the accused persons was not granted.

    Difficult times

    The suspects will remain behind bars until September 2. University authorities are yet to determine their although sources say they risk being rusticated.

    Lawyer for the accused persons is urging calm but admits parents of the accused persons are worried that their sons are going through such difficult times.

    “We went to the High Court and made our argument but the High Court disagreed with us citing the safety of both the victim and the students. If that offense has not been proven they are still innocent.

    Their parents are very distraught and are in difficult times but I must tell you that they also empathize with the victim. The parents are also taken steps to assist the victim as they think of their sons”, Counsel for the accused persons Richard Adu Darko told the media shortly after proceedings.

    Meanwhile, two other suspects including a police officer are facing court for committing a similar offense.

    The officer, General L/Cpl Frank Adu-Poku stationed at Bomso, and a KNUST student were arrested for allegedly gang-raping a first-year student of the school.

    Joel Osei Owusu, a Level 400 Business Administration student, is alleged to have lured the victim into his room at Ultimate Hostel, formerly Evandy Hostel, and forcibly had sexual intercourse with her.

    They have since been remanded into police custody assisting investigations.

  • Attorney-General to swear in OSP Board today

    The Board of the Office of Special Prosecutor will be sworn into office today, Tuesday, June 21.

    It will be done by Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame.

    The Office has been without a Board since the mandate of the previous one led by Linda Ofori-Kwarfo expired.

    This is nine months after Kissi Agyebeng was officially sworn into office as the Special Prosecutor.

    Civil Society Organisations in the country have since lamented the lack of a substantive Board and the impact on the operations of the Special Prosecutor.

    Attorney-General to swear in OSP Board today

    However, a former Deputy Attorney-General, Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, assured that the Governing Board will be inaugurated soon.

    According to sections 5 and 6 of the Office of Special Prosecutor Act 2017, Act 959, a Board is required to formulate policies for the objective of the Office, ensure proper and effective performance of the functions of the Office, advise the Special Prosecutor on the recruitment and selection of various staff among other duties.

    The Board is also to consist of the Special Prosecutor, the Deputy Special Prosecutor, one representative each from the Audit Service, the Ghana Police Service, Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), Financial Intelligence Centre, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), a person nominated by the Minister for National Security, and one other person who is a female representing the Anti-Corruption Civil Society Organizations.

    The previous Board included the then CID Boss, DCOP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah; EOCO rep, Charles Nana Antwi; representatives from civil society, Linda Ofori Kwafo and Addai Wereko Tawiah; Kofi Wiredu Boakye, Charles Ayamadu and Kwaku Domfeh.

    Source: MyJoyOnline

  • Barker-Vormawor doesnt have people of good character to stand as sureties AG tells court

    The Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has told the Tema High Court not to grant Convener of the FixTheCountry Movement Oliver Barker-Vormawor bail because he has not demonstrated that he has people of good character and sufficient means willing to stand as sureties for him.

    “That the applicant has not demonstrated that he has people of good character and sufficient means willing to stand as sureties for him,” the Attorney General said.

    He further said Barker-Vormawor allegedly lied that a United Kingdom-based woman he asked the Ghana Police to speak to after his arrest was his wife.

    In asking the court to deny Barker-Vormawor bail, the Attorney General said it turned out that the claim was false.

    “Following his arrest, the applicant directed the Police officers to speak to a lady in the United Kingdom that the applicant claimed was his wife, which allegation eventually turned out to be false. Subsequently, another woman showed up at the Ashaiman Police station claiming to be the applicant’s wife,” Godfred Dame said.

    The AG further told the court to deny him bail because he has no fixed place of abode.

    This makes him a flight risk, he said.

    “That investigations have revealed that the applicant has no fixed place of abode in Ghana, thus making him a flight risk,” he said.

    Barker-Vormawor was rushed to the Police Hospital in the early hours of Wednesday, March 9, after falling ill in a Police cell.

    A statement issued by the Movement said Barker-Vormawor has been feeling unwell since his detention.

    He was arrested for allegedly writing on social media that he would topple the government if the E-levy bill was passed.

    “Mr Oliver Baker-Vormawor has been arrested by the Tema Regional Police Command following a post he allegedly made on social media platforms to the effect that he would stage himself if the E-levy bill is passed by Parliament,” portions of the Police statement said.

    The court denied him bail after being charged with treason felony.

    Source: 3news.com

  • Stop return to criminal libel regime CSOs to Attorney General

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Source: classfmonline.com

  • Saglemi Housing Project: Mahama government overpaid contractor $115 million Attorney-General reportedly reveals

    It has emerged that the government of Ghana paid $179 million to the company that executed the Saglemi Housing Project despite only $64 million worth of work on the ground.

    This was revealed by the Attorney General in a fact sheet submitted to the Accra High Court and sighted by www.ghanaweb.com.

    The Attorney General details that the contractor managed to work on 651.75 acres of land as opposed to the 2172 acres of land for which the entire project was billed for.

    The court papers revealed further that of the 668 housing units executed by the contractors, not a single of them is suitable for residential use.

    “Even though a total amount of $196,428,891.66 has been spent on the Saglemi Affordable Housing Project, with the contractor having been paid $179,904,757.78, investigations revealed that the cost of works executed on the site, including consultancy services, is about $64,982,900.77. Only 651.75 acres of land out of the 2,172 acres of land made available by the MWRWH to the contractor for the project has been developed.

    “Investigations further revealed that only 668 housing units were completed by the contractor. These houses are however not habitable. Not a single house under the project has been sold and the facility remains unpaid, resulting in huge financial loss to the Republic of Ghana.”

    Five persons including forme Works and Housing Ministers Collins Dauda and Kwaku Agyeman Mensah have been charged with 52 counts of willfully causing financial loss to the state over their roles in the execution of the Saglemi Housing deal.

    The Executive Chairman of the company that undertook the project, Andrew Clocanas and former Chief Director of the Ministry Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu and Tetteh Angelo, the majority shareholder of Ridge Management Solutions DWC-LLC are the other accused persons.

    Read the charge sheet HERE

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Attorney General updates Parliament on investigations into murder of Prof Benneh

    The Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, on Tuesday went to Parliament to update the House on the investigation of four high profile murders in the country.

    They include the murder of an investigative journalist, Ahmed Suale; the murder of Law Professor at the University of Ghana, Emmanuel Yaw Benneh; former Abuakwa North MP J. B. Danquah and Mfantseman MP, Ekow Hayford.

    Read what he said about the murder of Prof Emmanuel Benneh;

    On September 10 2020, the accused purposefully aided James Nana Womba (now deceased) to intentionally cause the death of Professor Emmanuel Yaw Benneh by unlawful harm at his residence at Adjiringanor in the Greater Accra Region after they had robbed him.

    The body of the deceased was found on September 12, 2020, by his sister, Ambassador Elizabeth Afia Benneh and others after they broke the lock into his residence to gain access. They had not heard from him since the night of the September 10, 2020, investigations.

    In the course of investigations, three suspects were arrested. Unfortunately, the first suspect, James Nana Womba, believed to have strangled the deceased to death, died in custody on October 17, 2020.

    After investigations were concluded, the docket was forwarded to the Office of Attorney-General on February 3, 2021. The advice was dispatched on February 17, 2021, recommending the prosecution of the suspects.

    Trial

    On May 21, 2021, a Bill of Indictment was filed to commence the prosecution of the second suspect Ebenezer Kwayisi.

    The third suspect Opambuor Agya Badu Nkwansah, was discharged after a study of the docket revealed that he was not at the crime scene when the offence was committed. However, he was invited by James Womba to assist him in robbing the deceased. As a result, Opambuor Agya Badu Nkwansah is now a witness for the prosecution.

    Ebenezer Kwayisi has been charged with abetment of murder contrary to sections 20(1) and 46 of Act 29. His
    committal was held at the Kaneshie District Court, which committed him to the High Court for trial on June 21, 2021.

    However, the prosecution is waiting for the notice of arraignment at the High Court for the trial of the accused. Accordingly, the accused has been remanded into prison custody.

    Source: myjoyonline.com

  • Deputy Attorney-General charges political parties to maintain peace

    Joseph Dindiok Kpemka, a Deputy Attorney-General and Minister for Justice has called on political parties to maintain peace in the country.

    The deputy minister who is a defeated MP for Tempane stated that the numerous demonstrations across the country are as a result of false hopes the political leaders have been giving their supporters.

    Speaking on Accra-based Joy FM, Joseph Kpemka said: “Most of these things we see on the streets, the mayhem that is being caused, the burning of tyres and et cetera, somebody is giving somebody false hope. If you give a person false hope, that is the result.”

    He added that in his constituency, when he lost, “Everything was so peaceful from the polling station to the collation centre. There was not one accusing finger at anything when I lost. I had no qualms with anybody, I walked away”.

    Joseph Kpemka further stated: “The official body responsible for [the] declaration of election results is the Electoral Commission so any other person or body of persons who engages in such acts [is] engaged in a total illegality and must be made to face the full rigours of the law”.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com