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Tag: Main Story

  • Amidu ‘fires’ back at President Akufo-Addo

    The immediate past Special Prosecutor, Mr Martin Amidu has fired back at President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s reaction to the reasons for his resignation.

    Dubbed, Amidu’s Constitutional defence to Rejoinder to the personal letter address to him as citizen of Ghana by the President after accepting his resignation of appointment as Special Prosecutor”, Mr Amidu released it on Friday afternoon (November 27, 2020)

    Click the Link below to read a copy of the letter

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TRfmwcyra-5YX03BQRcAm40UftFG1Xv-/view

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Bawumia makes a compelling case for re-election of Akufo-Addo

    The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has made a strong case for the retention of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo in office ahead of next month’s election.

    At a characteristic, data-ladden presentation Thursday night [November 26, 2020] at the University of Ghana in Accra, Dr. Bawumia told the Akufo-Addo government’s story, taking his audience and Ghanaians through a trajectory of the challenges Ghanaians faced under former President John Mahama, the “dire” economic conditions the Akufo-Addo government inherited from the Mahama-led NDC, the key promises the NPP made in 2016, the successful programmes and interventions in the last four years by the Akufo-Addo government, as well as its vision beyond 2021.

    Economic challenges under Mahama

    Dr. Bawumia set the tone for his presentation by recalling the mismanagement of the economy and its accompanying harsh conditions that had hit the country under the administration of former President Mahama.

    “I am aware you need no reminders of the dire economic conditions at the time we came into office. You lived and breathed it, and bore the human cost of the economic mismanagement that was visited upon us by the Mahama-led NDC government,” Dr. Bawumia said.

    The Vice President reminded Ghanaians about the many challenges, which included: growing unemployment leading to the formation of Unemployed Graduates Association, the effects of four years of ‘dumsor’ which led to job losses, high electricity tarrifs, collapsing NHIS and ambulance service, lack of basic facilities like textbooks and chalks in public schools, cancellation of nursing and teacher trainee allowance, backlog of unemployed nurses, non payment of teachers, burdensome taxes and what he said were series of scandals.

    “It was clear that the Mahama-led NDC government had lost its way, failed Ghanaians, and did not have any idea how to get us out of the ditch it has driven us into.”

    Akufo-Addo govt’s 2017-2021 governance blueprint

    Dr. Bawumia noted that having been overwhelmingly voted for by Ghanaians in 2016, the Akufo-Addo government set out to roll back the human cost of the economic mismanagement by the previous government and to create the foundation for an inclusive, prosperous Ghana.

    The Vice President added that the Akufo-Addo government’s vision was broadly anchored on seven objectives, which he said were to: “stabilise and grow the economy, transform the economy, create jobs, especially for the youth, modernise, digitise and formalise the economy, make development inclusive and protect the vulnerable, fight corruption and create a safe, secure environment for citizens and businesses to thrive.”

    Promises fulfilled by Akufo-Addo in 4 years

    Having stated the Akufo-Addo government’s governance blue print for its first term, Dr. Bawumia then provided in detail, how the government has achieved its seven six stated objectives and how they have positively impacted on the people.

    On the first policy objective, which was to stabilise and grow the economy, Dr. Bawumia noted that before Coronavirus devasted the world’s economy this year, the Akufo-Addo Addo government had achieved it objective of stabilising and growing the economy it inherited from the NDC.

    “Prior to the Coronavirus pandemic which has impacted all economies in the world, we established the economy. We reduced inflation, doubled economic growth in our first three years, reduced the rate of exchange rate depreciation; the exchange rate depreciation stabilized with Ghana recording the lowest depreciation in the last 28.”

    “We have also reduced the fiscal deficit (pre covid-19), improved our external payments position, which is stronger today than it was in 2016 (notwithstanding the pandemic). Interest rates are on the decline in line with decline inflation expectations.

    The Vice President also referenced the clean up of the “mess in the financial sector that we inherited,” including government’s decision to pay up to 50,000 to all customers of affected Fund Management Companies on “compassionate grounds”.

    “We took the decisive decisions to avoid the collapse of the financial sector, save the deposits of 4.6 million depositors and save jobs. Thus far, government has spent GH¢21 billion to clean up the sector. 99% of depositors of the affected banks, microfinance and savings and loans companies have been fully settled.”

    The Vice President noted that the impressive performance of the Akufo-Addo government, led to Ghana becoming the investment destination of choice in West Africa and has led to new opportunities for Ghanaians and businesses.

    “The relatively strong performance of the economy, among other things, led to Ghana becoming the destination of choice for Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) in West Africa according to the 2019 World Investment Report by UNCTAD.”

    Just two days ago, Bloomberg reported ad follows: “Ghana was one if the first countries in Sub-Saharan Africa to lower interest rates to counter the virus shock and its economy has performed better than forecast even as the pandemic stalled activity and the oil price slumped.”

    Transforming the economy beyond stability

    Dr. Bawumia said the Akufo-Addo government did not only seek to stabilize the economy, but they also took steps to transform the nature of the economy by improving agriculture productivity to reduce dependence on food import, add value to raw materials through industrialisation and reduce the cost of energy and of running businesses and industries in Ghana.

    “These we have achieved through Planting for Food and Jobs, Planting for Export and Rural Development and Rearing for Food and Jobs. PFJ has led to a 71% increase in the national production of maize and 34% in paddy rice. Yields per hectare of maize, rice, and soybean have also increased significantly and we now export 19 different food items, including maize, to the rest of ECOWAS countries.”

    “Again through One District One Factory and Strategic Anchor initiatives, we are adding value to our raw materials through industrialisation. In four years, 76 companies are in operation and a total of 107 1D1F factories are also under construction. We expect every district to have a factory in the next 2 years.”

    “We have also abolished or reduced 15 taxes and levies to reduce the burden of taxes on businesses and individuals. This is unprecedented in the history of economic management in Ghana.”

    “We have also reduced electricity tarrifs for residential, business and industrial customers. No government in the history of Gjana has reduced electricity tarrifs in net terms during its term of office.”

    Jobs for the youth

    Vice President Bawumia said, the Akufo-Addo government took the “bull by the horns” to address the major unemployment challenge the youth faced during Mahama’s administration.

    “In 4 years, we have created over two million jobs in the formal sector, including and through government programmes such as NABCO, (100,000 jobs to unemployed graduates), NEIP, and Planting for Food and Jobs.”

    “We have also hired nurses, doctors, and other healthcare workers, recruited new teachers, police officers, and many others in the public sector after many years of employment freeze under the previous government.”

    Modernised and digitised economy

    Dr. Bawumia also highlighted the fulfillment of the objective by the Akufo-Addo government to modernise, digitise and formalised the Ghanaian economy, which he said was largely informal.

    He revealed that when they came into office, “Over 90% of Ghanaians had no unique identity, there was no working address system, over 70% of the bankable public had no bank accounts, most transactions were cash based, less than 10% had Tax Identification Numbers, and clearing goods at the port, obtaining a driver’s license, passpirt, renewing your NHIS card, purchasing electricity units, obtaining birth certificates,” and many others, were manual and became breeding grounds for corruption as bribes were demanded.

    He said the Akufo-Addo government “made the strategic decision to address these chronic problems by digitising the Ghanaian economy as well as the prices of delivery of many government services to increase government revenue, eliminate corruption and ultimately provide public services to citizens more efficiently and more conveniently.”

    Dr. Bawumia noted further that with the successful issuance of digitised national ID cards to 15.5m Ghanaians in 4 years, the implementation of mobile money interoperability, digital address system and the digitisation of various government services, the Akufo-Addo government has made significant strides in its digitisation agenda.

    Inclusive development

    Dr. Bawumia also showed in detail how the Akufo-Addo government has addressed the exclusion of many communities and citizens from the “proverbial national cake”.

    He said in fulfillment of his promise to build a Ghana that works and gives each and every one opportunities, President Akufo-Addo has spread infrastructure development projects to every district in the country, and has also introduced many all-inclusive interventions, which everyone is benefiting such as Free WASSCE and BECE exams registration, ambulances for every constituency, one village one dam for farmers in the north, Coronavirus relief package for electricity and water, Free SHS and TVET, among many others.

    Elections 2020 and beyond

    Dr. Bawumia stated unequivocally that President Akufo-Addo has delivered on his 2016 promises and appealed to Ghanaians to give him 4 more years to continue with his good works and move Ghana ahead.

    “We ask you to give us four more years because our Government, borne out of the NPP, under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo , has kept faith with you, Ghanaians, by delivering on the commitments we made to you.”

    Dr. Bawumia said President Akufo-Addo has been able to restore in 4 years, what Mahama and the NDC destroyed in 8 years, and he deserves another 4 years to continue to stimulate economic growth, support industrialisation, accelerate agriculture modernisation, consolidate 1D1F and the implementation of Free SHS and TVET.

    “On December 7, remember that we have achieved together, and what, we can achieve together over the next four years, and vote to retain Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as President, and for NPP MPs, all of whom are number 1 on the ballot, so we can deliver once again on our mandate.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Ayanfuri illegal mine collapse: 8 dead

    Eight persons are reported dead after an illegal mine collapsed and trapped them at Ayanfuri in the Central Region.

    The mine is located at the outskirts of Ayanfuri at a place popularly referred to as Phase Four.

    It was residents in the area who intervened to rescue the victims but they were pronounced dead on arrival at the Dunkwa-On-Offin Government Hospital.

    The remains have since been deposited at the hospital’s morgue.

    They are yet to be identified.

    Sergeant Isaac Evans Etie of the Central Regional Police Public Relations Office explained that the incident happened on Thursday, November 25, 2020.

    He said the police received information about the incident around 7pm.

    He gave the age range of the deceased persons as 24 to 35years.

    He said the police were investigating the incident.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Most free SHS graduates with excellent grades to get government scholarship

    Majority of students from the first batch of the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy, who obtained excellent grades in the 2020 WASSCE are to benefit from a government scholarship to enable them pursue tertiary education.

    The scholarship scheme will specifically target the brilliant students from deprived homes.

    The Registrar of Scholarships at the Scholarship Secretariat in the Office of the President, Mr Kingsley Agyemang who disclosed this in a radio interview Wednesday morning [November 25, 2020] said his outfit would be making a major announcement at a press conference on Tuesday, December 1, 2020.

    He said the Secretariat was therefore seizing the opportunity to inform the 2020 WASSCE graduates to prepare themselves for a big announcement from the Secretariat on Tuesday.

    He said the retooled Ghana Scholarships Secretariat is now strategically positioned to effectively deliver on its mandate of awarding scholarships to Ghanaians for tertiary education.

    Mr Agyemang’s revelation in a radio interview on Accra based Oman FM, monitored by Graphic Online followed a social media appeal for assistance for a student from the Adeiso Senior High School in the Eastern Region, who obtained grade A1 in all eight subjects in the 2020 WASSCE but comes from a deprived home.

    Thomas Amoaning lives in Asuaba near Adeiso and studied General Arts at the SHS level.

    He obtained Excellent grades of A1 in Social Studies, English Language, Mathematics (Core), Integrated Science, Economics, Geography, Government and Mathematics (Elective).

    His dream is to study Economics at the University of Ghana. 

    A video interview [attached below] of how he was able to go to senior high school because of the free SHS educational policy has been shared on social media.

    Amoaning in the interview narrated how he walked from Asuaba to Adeiso, a distance of about 6-kilometres on a daily basis to attend school.

    He was a day student.

    He said he was motivated to persevere because of his poor background.

    His mother also narrated how Thomas, who is her second born would not have been able to go to SHS but for the free SHS policy and assistance from his teachers in Asuaba.

    Scholarship

    Following that, the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat in the Office of the President in a press statement issued Tuesday, November 24, 2020 by the Registrar, Kingsley Agyemang said, “H.E. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has taken notice of a social media video reporting of the excellent results of Thomas Amoaning who lives in Asuaba near Adeiso and attended Adeiso SHS.”

    It said as a normal practice and taking into consideration the socio-geographical background of the student, President Akufo-Addo has expressly directed the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat to grant a full scholarship award to the student for his tertiary studies.

    It added that the Scholarship Secretariat has already established contact with the student and parent and will on Friday, November 27, 2020 pay a visit to the family to discuss their needs in detail.

    After that, the Education Committee of the Scholarship Secretariat headed by Professor S.Y. Mensah will do a need based assessment to determine the way forward for Thomas Amoaning. 

    Beneficiaries

    In the radio interview with Oman FM monitored by Graphic Online on Wednesday morning, Mr Agyemang said the scholarship secretariat has decentralized to the district level and would have captured Master Thomas Amoaning even without the social media appeal. 

    He said since the decentralization of the secretariat at the district level and also making the application available online, the number of applications have increased.

    Since the portal was opened on March 31, 2020 and closed on June 15, 2020, a total of 278,350 applications were received, he said.

    After going through the process including interviews at the district level, a total of about 45,000 would be getting the scholarship this year, Mr Agyemang added.

    He said the number is expected to go up after the December 1 announcement to enable majority of the students from the first batch of the free SHS to get the opportunity for further studies.

    He said already, one Abednego Sackey who obtained good grades at the SHS level and was from a deprived background is currently pursuing studies in medicine in Cuba on government scholarship.

    Charlotte is also currently at Robert Gordon in Scotland on government scholarship.

    Similarly, the child of a teacher who was gruesomely murdered in the Eastern Region has also been offered scholarship to pursue further studies, Mr Agyemang said.  

    Watch the video interview of Thomas Amoaning and mother below

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • 8 ‘A’ s student from Adieso SHS to get presidential scholarship

    A student from the Adeiso Senior High School in the Eastern Region, who obtained grade A1 in all eight subjects in the 2020 WASSCE but comes from a deprived home is to get government scholarship to pursue tertiary education.

    Thomas Amoaning lives in Asuaba near Adeiso and read General Arts.

    He obtained Excellent grades of A1 in Social Studies, English Language, Mathematics (Core), Integrated Science, Economics, Geography, Government and Mathematics (Elective).

    His dream is to attend the University of Ghana to read Economics.

    A video interview [attached below] of how he was able to go to senior high school because of the free SHS educational policy has been shared on social media.

    Amoaning in the interview narrated how he walked from Asuaba to Adeiso, a distance of about 6-kilometres on a daily basis to attend school.
    Happy Farmers day

    He was a day student. 

    He said he was motivated to persevere because of his poor background.

    His mother also narrated how Thomas, who is her second born would not have been able to go to SHS but for the free SHS policy

    Following that, the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat in the Office of the President in a press statement issued Tuesday, November 24, 2020 by the Registrar, Kingsley Agyemang said, “H.E. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has taken notice of a social media video reporting of the excellent results of Thomas Amoaning who lives in Asuaba near Adeiso and attended Adeiso SHS.”

    It said the student reportedly scored 8 ‘A’s in the recently released WASSCE results.

    It said as a normal practice and taking into consideration the socio-geographical background of the student, President Akufo-Addo has expressly directed the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat to grant a full scholarship award to the student for his tertiary studies.

    It added that the Scholarship Secretariat has already established contact with the student and parent and will on Friday, November 27, 2020 pay a visit to the family to discuss their needs in detail. 

    Meanwhile, the Registrar of Scholarship, Mr Agyemang also revealed that a major announcement from the Secretariat would be made on Tuesday, December 1, 2020.

    “We again, seize this opportunity to inform our cherished WASSCE graduates to prepare themselves for a big announcement from the Secretariat on Tuesday, 1st December, 2020.”

    “The retooled Ghana Scholarships Secretariat is now strategically positioned to effectively deliver on its mandate of awarding scholarships to Ghanaians for tertiary education,” it added.

    Watch the video interview below

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • EC made a mistake in making full data of electorates public – IT expert

    An IT security consultant Prince Kpasra has flawed a decision taken by the Electoral Commission to make public, some details of electorates as captured in the voters register via a google drive document.

    He argues that considering the use of sophisticated technology by fraudsters in recent times and the existence of Data Protection Laws, the EC could have managed the information more responsibly.

    In an interaction on Citi FM, Mr. Kpasra said the EC could have, in the first instance, restricted access to the data it published on its website some days ago.

    “The first thing is that they should have put it on their website and restricted access, but they put it on a public cloud, which is Google, and allowed anybody who wanted to download the information to download it,” he said.

    Mr Kpasra expressed fears that some unscrupulous could use the data which has now been taken down by the EC to impersonate and defraud unsuspecting Ghanaians.

    “There could be identity fraud where fraudster can use your ID number to register a SIM card…having all the information will make it easier for fraudsters to steal your identity for opening bank accounts and hacking social media,” he said.

    The Electoral Commission published on its website the full names, age, polling station codes, gender amongst others of electorates. All details which were loaded on a google drive document was subsequently downloaded and shared amongst the citizenry.

    The motive of the EC to allow some transparency in its operations as regards the December 7 polls was rather heavily castigated.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Amidu’s resignation: ‘I’m disappointed’ – Kweku Baako

    Seasoned Journalist, Kweku Baako has expressed disappointment in Martin Amidu for resigning as Special Prosecutor.

    Martin Amidu announced his resignation to the nation citing operational challenges and government not paying him his emoluments and other benefits of his office as some reasons for his decision.

    In a resignation letter to the President, Mr. Amidu said; “The one condition upon which I accepted to be nominated as the Special Prosecutor when you invited me to your Office on 10th January 2018 was your firm promise to me that you will respect and ensure same by your Government for my independence and freedom of action as the Special Prosecutor.”

    He further cited a traumatic experience he endured after the release of his corruption risk assessment report on the controversial Agyapa Royalties deal as another reason for his resignation.

    “I should not ordinarily be announcing my resignation to the public myself but the traumatic experience I went through from 20th October 2020 to 2nd November 2020 when I conveyed in a thirteen (13) page letter the conclusions and observations on the analysis of the risk of corruption and anti-corruption assessment on the Report On Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions and Other Matters Related Thereto to the President as Chairman of the National Security Council cautions against not bringing my resignation as the Special Prosecutor with immediate to the notice of the Ghanaian public and the world . . .

    ” . . The events of 12th November 2020 removed the only protection I had from the threats and plans directed at me for undertaking the Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions anti-corruption assessment report and dictates that I resign as the Special Prosecutor immediately. Fear is the enemy of change and I am prepared from the vacuum created on 12th November 2020 to meet the threats of my demise as the price to pay for serving my country without fear or favour affection or ill will. I acted professionally through out in the discharge of my duties and my conscience is the anchor of my strength to face any consequences,” portions of the letter read.

    “It is essential for me to state for the purpose of the records, and contrary to public perceptions, that my appointment letter was received on 5th February 2020 (almost two (2)-years after my appointment). The copy addressees made no efforts to honour any of the conditions of appointment in terms of emoluments and benefits of the appointment ever since my warrant of appointment was issued on 23rd February 2018 to the date of my letter of resignation.

    “I accepted the offer on 10th January 2018 to be nominated to be Special Prosecutor because Mr. President, and Ghanaians knew I have been an anti-corruption crusader all my life and not an anti-corruption entrepreneur. This explains why I have never put the emoluments and benefits of the Office as central to my commitment and my passion for the establishment of an independent, effective, efficient and impartial anti-corruption Office of the Special Prosecutor before the end of the first term of Mr. President. This has not been possible for several reasons.

    “The Deputy Special Prosecutor has also not been paid any emoluments since her appointment, and there is the need to redress that situation for her now that I am out of the way,” he added.

    But, according to Kweku Baako, the reasons given by Mr. Amidu should have strengthened him to execute his mandate without fear or favour but not pushed him to resign.

    He stated emphatically during a panel discussion on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo” that Mr. Amidu should have resolutely stayed in his office but he choosing to vacate his office is disappointing.

    “This was the time for him to stick to the office and use the powers that the Act had given to him . . . because you can’t sack me unless you go through the same procedures and processes that are used to sack a Court of Appeal judge . . . My source of disappointment seriously is him choosing to leave that office based on the reasons he has given, because I think it is rather those reasons which should have strengthened his resolve . . . For me, this was the trigger to prove a point,” he stressed.

    Mr. Baako also asserted that, “it is not like President on his own whims and caprices or political guys in the party to say we don’t like him; so hunt him out. Nobody was going to be able to do that unless they go through the right processes. And I know him as a fighter and it will be open so everybody will have the benefit of why people want to impeach or take you out from the place. Meanwhile, you have a job to do. You have the mandate to execute and you say you have seen suspected corruption or corruption, that is the time I will stick to the office and operationalize my mandate; execute it especially when I know the people who I’m saying is tormenting me are a target.”

    ”Why would I leave the place for you?” Mr. Baako queried Martin Amidu.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Assembly to “remove” Ashaley Botwe storey building

    The Adentan Municipal Assembly has assured that it will soon remove a multi-storey structure at the Ashaley Botwe School junction because the developer does not have a building permit.

    The Assembly in a press release said it has not received any application or documentation for a permit to put up the six-storey structure.

    The assembly added that the developer has failed to heed its directives to stop the construction despite multiple attempts by its Municipal Assembly’s Works Engineer to stop him.

    The release did not disclose the identity of the developer but said it has also ignored two ‘Stop Work’ notices.

    “The Adentan Municipal Assembly Works Engineer and his team have visited the site several times to stop him but all have not yielded any positive results,” the statement said.

    “Stop work notices were served to the developer, on the 22 of June 2020, 4 of August 2020, while the Assembly undertook the necessary steps to work with the relevant state agencies for their assessment and recommendations before proceeding to demolish the property or otherwise. This was to ensure that the Assembly keep its commitment to act fairly and reasonably in the protection of the public in all cases”.

    “Finally, on the 29 of September 2020, the developer was formally written to, to cease all on-going construction works on-site and proceed to take necessary steps in demolishing the structure. The Adentan Municipal Assembly is taking all needed steps and liaising with the relevant state agencies, to assess and ensure the safe removal of the structure with immediate effect”.

    The release assured that “within the shortest possible time an action would be taken on the building to ensure safety within the area”.

    On social media, those arguing that there was nothing wrong with the project concludes that you cannot determine a structural integrity of a project by a mere look at a video or a picture.

    They have therefore called for structural engineers to examine it and conclude whether it was safe or not.

    Others however have argued that, there was everything wrong with a mere look of the project.

    The Executive Director of the EPA, Mr Henry Kwabena Kokofu, who visited the project site Monday morning, [November 16, 2020] ordered that construction work should immediately cease.

    He said the EPA had not given a permit for the project  and was not sure whether other agencies with such responsibilities have also given permit for it.

    He consequently asked that the owner of the building to visit the office of the EPA with the necessary documentation covering the project.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Driver shoots painter, then shoots himself to avoid mob attack

    A driver of a KIA saloon vehicle has shot himself after shooting a man who warned him against careless driving at Ayeduase near Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

    The victim, Amoah who is a painter, was shot three times in the stomach after returning a slap from the driver.

    The driver, according to the eyewitnesses, was quarreling with a woman who sat in the front seat of the vehicle.

    He shot himself after he was surrounded by the police who had rushed to the scene to prevent a mob action.

    Amoah, had moved in to tell the driver to drive cautiously on the busy road when he was caught in traffic.

    The two who are in critical condition have been sent to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for medical attention.

    Source: myjoyonline

  • Akufo-Addo accepts Martin Amidus resignation

    President Akufo-Addo has accepted the resignation of Martin Amidu as Special Prosecutor.

    In a letter Tuesday, the Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, stated that the President “has taken due note of the other matters raised in your letter, and government will issue a statement responding to them in due course”.

    Three years after his appointment, Mr Amidu wrote to the President on Monday explaining his decision to resign from office to enable his appointing authority “to take steps to appoint a replacement to that position as required by law.”

    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GhqjDrIjzsshm6j7jJw2gxlgtYIf2o7O/preview

    In his resignation letter, the former Attorney General also revealed that his appointment authority made no effort to ensure that he was paid for his work since the state engaged his services in 2018.

    Accordingly, the President has directed Mr Amidu is remunerated for his services to the State.

    “The President has directed me to ensure that all emoluments benefits due you under law are paid to you accordingly,” the Chief of Staff said.

    Source: myjoyonline

  • Rawlings death: Kufuor, Mahama, others to sign book of condolence on Monday State Protocol

    The State Protocol Department has scheduled former presidents John Agyekum Kufuor, John Dramani Mahama to sign the book of condolence opened in memory of the late President Jerry John Rawlings on Monday, November 16.

    The two former heads of state are expected at the Accra International Conference Centre where the book will be open between 10:15am and 10.45am.

    This will be after The Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament Aaron Mike Oquaye; the Chief Justice His Lordship Anin Yeboah; members of the Judicial Committee; as well as Justices of the Supreme Court have signed between 9.00am and 10.10am.

    According to a release by Nana Enoch Osei-Mensah, the Head of Protocol at the Office of the Vice President and Moderator of the signing of the book of condolence, details of the signing of the book will be available at the foyer of the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) on November 16 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

    The schedule, according to the statement, is necessary “due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

    The statement comes after the controversy surrounding why John Mahama and the NDC leadership were prevented from signing the book.

    On Friday, November 13, prior to his signing of the book, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the NDC General Secretary claimed that the book of condolence was taken away to deliberately prevent the NDC flagbearer from signing it.

    “We were at the residence of the family to offer our condolences,” Johnson Asiedu Nketia told journalists, Asiedu Nketiah told reporters. “The maternal family from Anlo was represented, the nuclear family as well. We were led by our flagbearer. Upon arrival, we were informed that the book of condolence had been taken to the [Accra International] Conference Centre, so we should go there.

    He continued: “By the time we reached there, the state officials had locked up the [Accra] International Conference Centre, taking the book away. When we enquired, we were told that they had been directed to prevent Mr. Mahama from signing.”

    Read below the full statement from the State Protocol Department.




    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Executive Director of National Population Council directed to proceed on leave

    Executive Director of the National Population Council (NPC) has been directed to proceed on terminal leave by the Board of the Council. 

    The board explained that, this is line with the terms of her appointment.

    According to the board, Leticia Adelaide Appiah exhausted her tenure of office on October 31 this year.

    The Board further indicated that it “has initiated action to assess the performance of the Executive Director during the [four-year] term of service to enable it to make appropriate recommendations to the Appointing Authority.”

    “Whilst the assessment process is ongoing, you are expected to proceed on your terminal leave with immediate effect,” a letter dated 4th November 2020, and signed by Chairman of the Board, Dr. Gladys Norley Ashittey said.

    She is also expected to “prepare and submit comprehensive handing-over notes to the undersigned by 16th November 2020.”

    “The Board wishes to express its gratitude to you for the services you have rendered to the Council,” the letter added.

    Meanwhile, Dr Appiah has said she would not vacate her office until a final verdict is delivered from the appointing authority.

    Source: MyJoyOnline.com

  • WAEC releases 2020 WASSCE results; cancels papers of 2,383 candidates

    The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has released the provisional results of the 2020 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE),

    According to WAEC, the release follows the completion of all its post-examination processes.

    “The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) wishes to inform its numerous public that it has released provisional results of candidates, who sat for the WASSCE for School candidates, 2020 in Ghana. This follows  the completion of all post-examination processes.”

    “The results of the candidates will be dispatched to their schools,” the statement added.

    WAEC made this known in a statement it issued today, Friday, November 13, 2020.

    Meanwhile, the subject results of some 2,383 have been cancelled.

    This, WAEC explains, is as a result of alleged examination malpractices by those candidates.

    “The subject results of 2,383 candidates have been cancelled for engaging in collusion, bringing foreign materials to the examination hall, and tearing part of their question papers to solicit assistance,” the statement added.

    About 2020 WASSCE

    The 2020 WASSCE commenced on July 20, 2020, and ended on Saturday, September 5.

    The examination was written by 313,897 candidates across the country.

    It began with practical subjects like basketry, painting and woodwork for Visual Arts candidates.

    Despite measures by the WAEC to ensure a smooth process, the examination had its fair share of rumoured question leaks purported to have originated from the Council.

    Some candidates rioted over the strict invigilation at their centres and, in the process, destroyed school property while using unsavoury language against state officials.

    The students who engaged in the unruly behaviour were dismissed by the Ghana Education Service (GES) but President Akufo-Addo intervened and asked that they be given a second chance.

    A total of 375,763 candidates from 976 schools sat for the examination representing “8.6% higher than the 2019 candidates of 346,098. The 2020 entry figure was made up of 187,581 (49.9%) males and 188,182 (50.1%) females.”

    Read the full statement from WAEC below:

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Breaking News: Jerry John Rawlings dead

    Former President Jerry John Rawlings is dead, GhanaWeb can confirm.

    The former president GhanaWeb understands passed on, today, November 12, 2020, after a brief illness.

    According to state-owned Daily Graphic, the former President had been on admission at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for about a week for an undisclosed ailment. He was 73.

    It will be recalled that Mr Rawlings recently lost and buried his mother last month.

    Jerry John Rawlings was born in Accra on 22nd June 1947, to a Ghanaian mother from Dzelukope, near Keta, in the Volta Region, and a Scottish father.

    Background of Rawlings

    Jerry John Rawlings was born in Accra on 22nd June 1947, to a Ghanaian mother from Dzelukope, near Keta, in the Volta Region, and a Scottish father.

    He was educated at Achimota School where he obtained his General Certificate of Education ‘O’ Level in 1966.

    He enlisted as a Flight Cadet in the Ghana Air Force in August 1967, and was subsequently selected for officer cadet training at the Ghana Military Academy and Training School, Teshie, in Accra.

    In March 1968, he was posted to Takoradi in the Western Region to continue his course.

    He passed out in January 1969, as a commissioned Pilot Officer. He won the coveted “Speed Bird Trophy” as the best cadet in flying and airmanship.

    He earned the rank of Flight-Lieutenant in April 1978. He was an efficient officer with a close rapport with his men.

    During his service with the Ghana Air Force, he witnessed the deterioration of discipline and morale, reflecting the corruption of the regime of the Supreme Military Council (SMC) at that time.

    As promotion brought him into contact with the privileged classes and their social values, his awareness of the injustices in society was sharpened.

    He was thus regarded with some unease by the SMC. He read widely and discussed social and political ideas with a growing circle of like-minded friends and colleagues.

    On May 28, 1979, Flt.-Lt. Rawlings, together with six others, appeared before a General Court Martial in Accra, charged with leading a mutiny of junior officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces on 15th May, 1979. There was strong public reaction, especially after his statement had been read in court, explaining the social injustices that had prompted him to act.

    The ranks of the Armed Forces, in particular, expressed deep sympathy with his stated aims. When he was scheduled for another court appearance on 4th June, 1979, Flt.-Lt. Rawlings was sprung from custody. With the support of both military and civilians, he led a revolt, which decisively ousted the Supreme Military Council from office and brought the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) into being.

    The AFRC, under the chairmanship of Flt.Lt. Rawlings carried out a “house-cleaning exercise” aimed at purging the Armed Forces and society at large of corruption and graft as well as restoring a sense of moral responsibility and the principles of accountability and probity in public life.

    Meanwhile, following the programme already set in motion before the 4th June Uprising for civilian administration, general elections were held.

    On 24th September 1979, the AFRC handed over to the civilian Government of the People’s National Party (PNP) under President Hilla Limann.

    On 31st December 1981, Flt. Lt. Rawlings led a section of the Armed Forces to overthrow the PNP administration. A Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), composed of both civilian and military members, was established, with Flt-Lt. J.J. Rawlings as the Chairman.

    His interests include reading, building model aircraft, horse-riding and swimming. He is married to Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings with whom he has four children – three girls and a boy.

    Flt-Lt. Rawlings ceased to be a member of the Ghana Armed Forces with effect from September 14, 1992. He formed the National Democratic Congress, which contested and won the 1992 Presidential and Parliamentary elections. He and the party again won the 1996 elections.

    His term of office ended in the year 2000.

    He is the joint recipient of the 1993 World Hunger Prize. He holds an Honorary Doctor of Law Degree from Medgar Evers College, City University of New York and Lincoln University Doctorate Degree for Diplomacy and Development.


    https://youtu.be/w1lAgeL3Oxw

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com


  • LPG stations without trained attendants to be closed down

    Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LGP) stations without trained and certified attendants would soon be closed down, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has said.

    EPA said it would renew the environmental permits of LPG stations based on the evidence of training of the staff of the company.

    This was contained in a speech read on behalf of the Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Mr Henry Kokofu, at the opening of a three-day training programme for managers, supervisors and pump attendants of LPG companies in the Eastern Region at Koforidua.

    The programme, which started last year, aimed to train LPG station pump attendants and managers on safety and best international practices in the handling of LPG.

    He said between 2007 and 2015, the country recorded 19 incidents, involving activities at gas refilling stations in which 96 people died and 486 people were injured.

    Mr Kokofu said investigations into the incidents indicated that all the cases were due to human errors and that in many instances, players in the LPG value chain had no training in the safe handling of LPG.

    He said it was in the light of such development that EPA and other stakeholders decided to initiate the training to protect public safety and investment in the industry.

    Mr Evans Opare of Department of Factory Inspectorate called on LPG companies to put in place safety management plans and to comply with plans to reduce the risk in their operations.

    He urged the companies to set standards for their operations, conduct risk assessment and adopt measures to reduce the risks in their activities.

    Mr Opare said many owners of LPG companies felt that it was expensive to comply with safety regulations, adding that it was rather costly to respond to emergencies.

    He said one could lose investment and human lives.

    Mr Joseph Koranteng, Eastern Regional Deputy Commander of the Fire Service, advised LPG companies to place the fire extinguishers on their facilities at strategic places where they could reach them quickly in emergencies.

    He advised the companies against placing the fire extinguishers near the gas pump because, in case of a fire outbreak at the pump, it would be difficult to get access to them.

    Mr Koranteng said the Fire Service was ready to offer services to gas companies on request to help train their personnel in fire safety and the assessment of their fire safety equipment.

    Mr Felix Offei of Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority advised owners of LPG stations to properly document their land and seek the necessary documentation from the relevant authorities.

    The Eastern Regional Director of EPA, Mr Felix Addo-Okyere said the region had not recorded any major gas explosion.

    However, it was necessary to enhance the knowledge of workers in the petroleum value chain in the region.

    Source: GNA

  • World Bank approves US$250 million for Ghana to set up development bank

    The Executive Board of the World Bank has approved an aid package of 250 million U.S. dollars to help Ghana set up a development bank, said a release on Friday.

    The establishment of the Development Bank of Ghana (DBG) would increase access to long-term finance to boost job creation for 10,000 enterprises in critical sectors of the economy, it said.

    Sectors to benefit from the establishment of the bank would include agribusinesses, manufacturing, and high-value services.

    Pierre Laporte, World Bank country director for Ghana, said the support for the DBG is an integral part of efforts by the global lender to promote sustainable growth in the country.

    “By offering long-term wholesale financing, credit guarantees, and other services, the Ghana development finance project will help increase overall lending to priority sectors and market segments,” Laporte said.

    Source: Daily Mail

  • Two more suspects arrested over MP Ekow Quansah Hayford’s death

    Two new arrests have been made in connection with the death of the former Member of Parliament (MP) for Mfantseman, Mr Ekow Quansah Hayford.

    This brings the total number of suspects arrested to eight.

    The two new arrests were disclosed by the prosecution when the case came up for hearing on Friday at an Accra Circuit Court presided over by Ms Evelyn Asamoah.

    The names of the two new suspects were however not mentioned in court when the case came up for hearing Friday, October 30, 2020, reports Graphic Online’s Justice Agbernorsi who was in the courtroom.

    The earlier six suspects were arraigned on October 21, 2020.

    They are Alhassan Abubakar, aka Abu Fulani; Naziru Fudailu Nash, aka SP; Alhassan Mahama Yahaya, aka Mystical Cloud; Amadu Yakubu; Haruna Osumanu and Adam Alhassan.

    They have all pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit crime and robbery.

    Charge sheet

    At Friday’s hearing, the prosecutor, Chief Inspector Emmauel Haligah who held brief for the substantive prosecutor in the case told the court that the two new suspects would be processed for court in addition to the six.

    He added that the prosecution would amend the charges in due course and prayed for a short adjournment to enable the prosecution amend the charge sheet and arraign all eight suspects.

    The court adjourned the case to November 2, 2020.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Ghana back to HIPC: Who made that official declaration? – Kweku Baako

    Seasoned Journalist, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako has slammed former President and NDC Presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama over his HIPC comments.

    Engaging some professionals at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra on Monday, 26th October 2020, former President John Mahama was worried about the rate of borrowing by the Akufo-Addo administration.

    Addressing the gathering, he reportedly made an emphatic statement that Ghana is back to the status of a Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC).

    “Even worse, the rate of borrowing by this government has dazed many observers.

    “The IMF in its Sub-Saharan African Regional Economic Outlook forecast the current rate of borrowing and debt at a frightening 76.7% debt to GDP ratio. Officially, Ghana is back to HIPC status under Nana Akufo-Addo and Ken Ofori-Atta administration,” he said.

    Kweku Baako, speaking to sit-in host Nana Yaw Kesseh on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ programme, has punched holes in Mr. Mahama’s HIPC statements.

    Mr. Baako first wants to know where Mr. Mahama gleaned his information from, asking ”who made that official declaration?”

    ” . . what did President Mahama mean by official, Ghana is back to HIPC status?” he further queried.

    He admitted that Ghana has some debt issues but asserted it doesn’t give credence to the comments made by Mr. Mahama.

    ”I don’t think that any Ghanaian should think that we don’t have a challenge with our debt profile or debt servicing. I don’t think anybody should entertain that idea. We do have as a lower middle income and the borrowing we’re doing, there’s always a risk element there and I think those in charge who are doing the borrowing on our behalf know that. The question really sometimes, when you do a debt sustainability analysis, is to determine whether you’re able, in spite of the profile, the stock, the quantum; whether you’re able to service your debt,” he stated.

    “The IMF hasn’t declared Ghana HIPC,” Kweku Baako called out Mr. Mahama’s lies.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Finance Minister presents Q1-2021 budget before Parliament

    Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, is currently in parliament to make a presentation of an advanced budget statement for the first quarter of the 2021 fiscal year to Parliament.

    The Public Financial Management Act (2016) requires the Finance Minister to present the budget for the upcoming year to Parliament for approval before that year begins.

    The budget which is dubbed the Expenditure in Advance of Appropriation forms part of a mandated practice usually conducted in election years.

    The presentation is intended to prevent transitional encounters in the affairs of the central government for the first three months after the general election.

    Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta is expected to announce key decisions including expenditure estimates and measures to resuscitate the economy in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

    Join the feed below

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Ghana governmet will temporarily operate AirtelTigo after transfer of ownership

    Discussions for the transfer of AirtelTigo shares to the government of Ghana along with all customers, assets and agreed liabilities are in its advanced stages.

    The transaction will be concluded by the execution of definitive agreements shortly.

    The government of Ghana through this transaction, will temporarily operate the national asset in the best interest of the nation, and ensure the protection of the interests of all employees, customers and stakeholders, and a continuation of the digital transformation in Ghana, a statement issued on the move has said.

    Given the multiplier impact the telecommunications sector has on the economy and various related industries, the Government of Ghana has entered into this agreement to ensure that thousands of Ghanaian jobs are safe guarded, the statement added.

    It is of critical importance that the telecommunications sector remains healthy, dynamic, vibrant, and most importantly, competitive, the statement added.

    The board of Bharti Airtel in a statement issued to the Bombay Stock Exchange on Tuesday evening [October 27, 2020] announced that the board has cleared the sale of its Ghana joint venture Airtel Tigo – to the Ghana government.

    It is taking an impairment charge of about $25million for the transaction.

    “The parties are in advance stages of discussions for conclusion of the commercial agreement for the transfer of AirtelTigo on a going concern basis to the government of Ghana,” Airtel said in the statement to the Bombay Stock Exchange in India.

    The proposed deal would result in the government of Ghana acquiring 100% shares of Airtel Ghana Limited, also known as AirtelTigo, along with all its customers, assets and agreed liabilities.

    “Accordingly, Airtel is voluntarily taking an impairment charge of Rs 1,841 million (Rs 184 crore),” the statement added.

    AirtelTigo is a joint venture between ‘Airtel’ and ‘Millicom’ wherein Airtel holds a non-controlling 49.95% share in AirtelTigo.

    Bharti Airtel in 2017 merged with Millicom’s Tigo in Ghana to become the country’s second largest mobile operator, AirtelTigo, with the approval of the National Communications Authority (NCA).

    AirtelTigo serves around 5.1 million subscribers and offers direct and indirect employment opportunities to almost 10,000 people.

    Celtel International acquired 75% of Western Telesystems Ltd (Westel) from the government of Ghana for $120 million in 2007.

    Celtel was subsequently acquired by the Zain Group which also sold all its African Assets to Bharti Airtel in 2010.

    The government of Ghana remained a shareholder in Airtel Ghana with a 25 percent holding through the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, until the AirtelTigo merger, and retained an option to acquire additional shares after the merger.

    Westel was at the time of the take over by Celtel, the second national operator in Ghana and was licensed to provide fixed and mobile (GSM) telecommunications services.

    Millicom Ghana Limited, was the first mobile telecommunications company to operate in the country under the brand name Mobitel before rebranding to become Tigo.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Ghana ranked number 1 in country risk index survey

    Fitch Solutions, a research arm of an American rating agency has adjudged Ghana as number 1 in the latest risk index assessment.

    Ghana, having a risk index of 53.9% emerged the first ahead of four West and Central African countries; Gabon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Cameroon.

    According to a myjoyonline.com report on the Fitch rating, the evaluation means that Ghana is a good place for investment in both West and Central Africa as the risk involved in engaging in businesses is lower.

    Per Fitch Solutions report, inasmuch as Ghana was equally hit with the global pandemic, Coronavirus, its economy has become pretty strong.

    Ghana also scored 69.7% and 72.9% for short and long term political risk respectively as well as having a 44.1% in operational risk.

    However, the country is swamped with debt and may fail in honouring its obligations.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Dec polls: All polling stations in Ashanti Region declared flashpoints

    The Ashanti Regional Police Command of the Ghana Police Service has revealed that the over 5,190 polling stations in Ashanti Region will be considered flashpoints.

    Regional Police Commander COP Kwasi Mensah Duku buttressed this claim with data from the Small Arms and Light Weapons Commission which revealed over 635 flashpoints in Ashanti Region.

    Speaking on Akoma FMs morning Show GhanAkoma on Monday, October 26, COP Mensah Duku told host Aduanaba Kofi Asante Ennin that “all the polling stations in the region have been flagged as flashpoint areas in the face of security ahead of the general elections”.

    He further stressed that “the security situation in the region is under control, however, there is heightening political tension”.

    Speaking on the recent happenings in the Asawase Constituency involving NDC supporters who nearly took over the Suame Police Station on Saturday, the senior police capo commended the personnel who were on duty at for acting professionally during the heat of the agitation.

    COP Mensah Duku appealed to the general public to go about their normal daily activities but admonished the public to give out information on persons with questionable characters to assist the police flush out miscreants from the society.

    Source: 3News

  • About 30,000 people disqualified from voting on Dec 7 EC

    The Electoral Commission (EC) has disclosed that about 30,000 out of the over 16 million people who took part in the voter registration exercise have been disqualified.

    Deputy EC Commissioner in charge of Corporate Services, Dr Eric Bossman Asare, said about 14,000 of the 30,000 disqualified voters have been put on the Exceptions List while about 16,000 names have been put on the Multiple List.

    A name is put on the Exceptions List after it has been excluded from the Provisional Register on grounds of disqualification registration outside the stipulated time.

    Also, the Multiple Registration List contains the names and photographs of persons who have registered more than once.

    “They cannot vote because they had engaged in infractions,” Dr Bossman Asare said.

    Dr Asare made the revelation when he spoke on a current affairs programme on Joy News on Sunday, October 25, 2020.

    He said the disqualification of these 30,000 people went through a legal process, presided over by a judge, after their eligibility was challenged a point he made to explain that the removal of the names from the provisional voters’ register followed due process.

    He said although a few issues cropped up during the voters registration exercise, the EC has been able to make sure that every Ghanaian who registered in the just ended exercise would be able to vote on December 7.

    “Your details are intact. Your biometric details fingerprint, facial recognition all of them are intact. So, the Commission is assuring all the good people of this country. Once you took part in the registration, your details are intact. You are part of the 17 million or so people,” he stressed.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Turn yourselves in Police to NDC supporters who stormed Suame police station

    The Ashanti Regional Police Command has advised National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters who besieged the Suame Police Station to report themselves to police.

    The command has given them until 9 am on Monday, October 26.

    The persons stormed the police station on Saturday demanding the release of some of its members who were arrested in a police swoop.

    The command claims the protesting supporters “attacked the Police officers on duty, verbally and physically,” though Citi News is yet to sight evidence to this effect.

    They were also seen “in the video hitting the counter at the Charge Office.”

    In a statement, it notes one Yakubu Tony Aidoo of the NDC after scrutinising video footage from the incident.

    It said they were “seen in the video hitting the counter at the Charge Office.”

    “The Command is therefore, advising the persons involved who besieged the Suame Police Station in their own interest to report to the Regional Police Command latest tomorrow 26th October, 2020 at 0900hrs to assist Police with investigation, without fail,” the statement added.

    The incident occurred after the Ashanti Regional Police Command embarked on a special Police Operation and arrested a number of persons to assist with investigations into recent robberies within the Metropolis.

    The command also acted on intelligence in respect of suspected whose names came up during the investigation and conducted swoops within the Metropolis.

    It was these suspects that were taken to the Suame and Central Police Stations to assist the Police investigation.

    Earlier on Sunday, NDC members also gathered at the Ashanti Regional Police Headquarters to demand the release of 10 party supporters who were picked up in the Asawase Constituency.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • How a woman was rescued from the collapsed church building at Akyem-Batabi

    The four-day rescue operation in the church building that collapsed at Akyem-Batabi in the Eastern Region has ended.

    Thirty victims had been retrieved as of Friday, October 23, when the operation was brought to a close; 22 of them had died, while eight survived.

    The deceased are made up of 12 women, nine men and a girl child.

    Among those who were rescued by the team from the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Ghana National Fire Service and other securities agencies was an old woman who was part of the worshippers. She had gone to church to pray for their pastor who was indisposed and was trapped under the rubble.

    In a viral video sighted by GhanaWeb, the woman was saved on Wednesday, October 21 by the rescue team first clearing the debris from the floor. Then a NADMO official who wore a red shirt and a pair of trousers was seen entering the hole that was created within the debris by lying in a supine position and pulling out the woman who was trapped under the rubble.

    Officials from the Ghana Ambulance Service then quickly brought a stretcher and placed her on it. Next, she was placed on oxygen before she was carried into the ambulance and then to a hospital.

    On the last day of the rescue operation, The Ghana Air Force provided sniffer dogs during the early hours of Friday to check for possible bodies covered under the debris.

    The team searched thoroughly for the last victim-a woman-who was reported missing but who unfortunately has not been found under the rubble as of the time of filing this story.

    Hence the church leaders have been asked to notify NADMO, whenever they smell a stench from the disaster scene.

    Eric Nana Agyeman Prempeh, Director-General of NADMO, when decommissioning the rescue team commended the rescue team made up of 210 personnel from various security agencies, and the operators of the four excavators, seven haulage tipper trucks and two payloaders, for working tirelessly.

    He charged organizations responsible for regulating the construction of buildings to intensify their monitoring regimes to enable them proactively avert the recurrence of such incidents.

    Background

    The collapse of the uncompleted three-storey church building occurred Tuesday at about 2:30 pm.

    Prophet Akoa Isaac who is the keener of the church has told the police in his caution statement after his arrest that he was sick and lying in his residence on the same compound of the Church when he heard the sound of the collapsing church building.

    He added that he was told that about 56 worshippers were in and around the building fasting and praying when the incident happened.

    When the police proceeded to the scene, 35 of the worshippers were seen traumatized, while a 60-year-old woman identified as Afia Tamakloe, was lying dead. The rest were trapped under the rubble.

    A joint rescue team made up of officials of the National Disaster Management Organization, NADMO, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Ambulance Service, the BNI, National Security, and the Ghana Armed Forces, rescued 13 victims a few hours after the incident.

    Out of the 13, six-all-female-were dead; and one was in a critical condition.

    The remaining six victims who were not in very serious danger namely Adu Godfred, 21; Erasmus Larner, 25; Elizabeth Toot,18; Bridget Birorey, 59; Jonas Larner, 45; and Charity Addison, 38, have been treated and discharged from the Oda Government Hospital.

    One of the survivors gave this account: “We were resting in the church building after fasting and prayers so whilst resting, we heard portions of the building coming down. We were over 60 in the building [and] we started running away. Some of the people managed to escape but others were trapped.

    Some residents say construction of the church building started in 1996 hence they suspect that its structural integrity continued to weaken through years of inactivity.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Agona West: NDC parliamentary candidate charged over alleged plot to kill Cynthia Morrison

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Agona West, Paul Ofori Amoah has been charged with aiding and abetting political party vigilantes in connection with an alleged plot to murder the incumbent Member of Parliament for the constituency, Cynthia Morrison.

    According to a charge sheet sighted by Citi News, Mr. Amoah is said to have recruited four persons “to engage in vigilantism at Agona West constituency and hatched a plan to murder Cynthia Mamle Morrison.”

    Mrs. Morrison had made a formal complaint to the police about four men who were arrested at a hotel in Agona Swedru saying they had plotted to kill her.

    The four were cautioned on preparation to commit murder and carrying offensive weapons.

    They have been identified as Saddick Abubakar, Gordon Kunya, Isaac Addea and Dauda Fatua.

    The Central Regional Police Command subsequently invited Mr Amoah in connection with the alleged plot.

    Police said he admitted to issuing two bank cheques that were found by police at the hotel the suspects were arrested at.

    The cheques were worth GHS 5,000.

    Six other persons were later arrested by the Swedru Divisional Police Command in connection with another plot to kill Cynthia Morrison.

    They have been identified as John Toko, Emmanuel Mensah, Elvis Kwabena Poku, Kwabena Poku, Wahab Saeed and Kweku Amponsah.

    Intelligence gathered revealed that the suspects were tailing the MP on the Agona Otsenkorang road.

    The MP, who doubles as the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection was on a campaign tour from that town and its adjoining villages when the suspects allegedly made an attempt on her life.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Sammi Awuku, others escape another accident; vehicle goes up in flames

    The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Sammi Awuku and some Northern Regional Executives of the party escaped another accident in Tolon some few hours ago.

    MyNewsGh.com has confirmed that a Tundra vehicle carrying their PA system suddenly went up in flames in the middle of the crowd where party supporters had gathered to be addressed.

    The incident happened at the Tolon station around when the National Organiser, Regional Chairman and the Parliamentary candidate were expected to address the multitude of supporters gathered there.

    The vehicle which was parked in the middle of the station with supporters and constituents already in attendance to listen to the National Organiser and the Regional Chairman suddenly caught fire with people running for their lives. The cause of the fire is not immediately known.

    The National Organiser and the team had left the Palace of the Tolon Naa and heading towards the events grounds with just a few meters away when the vehicle went up in flames accompanied by some explosion.

    The Personnel of the Ghana Fire Service were at the scene to bring the fire under control.

    The National Organiser, the Regional Chairman and the Parliamentary Candidate are reported safe but were forced to cancel their scheduled event in the town. They had earlier visited four other communities within the Constituency.

    Source: My News GH

  • Church Building Collapse: Rescue operation ends

    The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has officially brought its search and rescue mission at Akyem Batabi in the Eastern Region to an end to make way for full investigations into the collapse of a six-storey uncompleted church building last Tuesday.

    At the end of the exercise, 30 persons were retrieved, 22 confirmed dead and eight alive.

    The National Coordinator of HAD NO, Eric Nana Agyemang Prempeh, who officially closed the search and rescue mission, appealed to the general public to use appropriate materials and seek technical advice before building .

    He also asked individuals and organizations to submit plans for building to district assemblies for advice before embarking on building projects.

    He also appealed to the MMDAs and their Physical Development Department officers to increase monitoring efforts on buildings to avert such disasters from reoccurring.

    He pointed out they have the responsibility to stop people who are not following due process regardless of their position or persuasion and expressed worry negligence cannot always result in loss of human lives and spending of governments scarce resources in rescue exercises.

    The Asene Manso Akroso District Security Council (DISEC) is expected to begin investigations soon.

    Source: 3 News

  • Election 2020: EC to start printing ballot papers on October 26

    The Election Commission is set to commence the printing of electoral materials for the December presidential and parliamentary polls from Monday, October 26, 2020.

    According to a citinews report, seven printing houses have been selected to commence the printing of notices of polls and ballot papers.

    The commission is said to have written to the parties contesting to appoint a representative each to observe the printing of materials at the printing houses.

    Parties are expected to give out details of their representatives to Electoral Commission by Monday for accreditation.

    The Electoral Commission of Ghana announced that 12 presidential candidates out of 17 who filed their nominations for the upcoming 2020 elections have been cleared to contest.

    The Commission has also disqualified five presidential candidates out of the 17 who initially submitted their nomination forms.

    Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa explained that the five disqualified candidates had amongst other things, presented forged signatures to the Commission and also had IT issues with their forms.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Church building collapse: Death toll now 21

    The death toll from the Church building collapse in Akyem Batabi in the Eastern Region has risen to 21, out of 29 victims retrieved.

    The deceased persons are made up of 12 females and 9 males. There are eight survivors so far.

    More victims are expected to be extricated as rescue workers worked throughout last night to enter day four of the rescue Operation.

    Almost all the victims found by the rescue team after 24 hours of the incident are dead, an indication that many victims trapped under the rubbles are giving up the ghost as their rescue delays.

    The stench emitting from decomposing bodies still trapped under the rubble is becoming unbearable.

    The rescue team are in a dilemma on the exact number of victims trapped as some survivors have given conflicting figures.

    Meanwhile, the Founder of Church Of Prosperity, Prophet Isaac Ofori popularly known as Akoa Isaac is assisting the Akyem Oda Divisional Police Command to investigate the incident.

    Background

    The collapse of the uncompleted three-storey church building occurred Tuesday at about 2:30 pm.

    Prophet Akoa Isaac has told Police in his statement after his arrest that he was sick and lying in his residence on the same compound of the Church when he heard the collapsing of the church.

    He said he was told that about 56 worshippers were in and around the building fasting and praying when the incident happened.

    When Police proceeded to the scene, 35 of the worshippers were seen traumatized at the scene while a 60-year-old woman identified as Afia Tamakloe, lying dead. The rest were trapped under the rubble.

    A joint rescue team made up of officials of the National Disaster Management Organization, NADMO, Ghana National Fire Service, Police, Ambulance Service, BNI, National Security, Military with support from the Eastern Regional Minister Eric Kwakye Darfuor who is at the scene retrieved 13 victims few hours after the incident out of which 6 -all females were dead, one (1) in critical condition while 6 victims namely Adu Godfred,21, Erasmus Larner,25, Elizabeth Toot,18, Bridget Birorey,59, Jonas Larner,45, and Charity Addison,38 have been treated and discharged by the Oda Government Hospital.

    According to one of the survivors “We were resting in the church building after fasting and prayers so whilst resting, we heard portions of the building coming down. We were over 60 in the building so we started running away some of the people managed to escape but others were trapped.”

    The Asene Akroso NADMO Director Gyan Willington told Starr News it has been very tedious removing the rubbles but added the rescue team is making headway as additional excavators have been provided.

    Some residents say the construction of the Church building started decades ago hence its structural integrity continued to weaken.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Akyem Batabi church collapse: Death toll rises to fourteen

    Fourteen people have so far been confirmed dead following the collapse of a 3-story building at Akyem Batabi in the Asene Manso Akroso District of the Eastern Region.

    The Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darko confirmed this in an interview on Eyewitness News on Wednesday, October 21, 2020.

    “Fourteen have been confirmed dead. A lady was rescued this morning. She is the only survivor for today. Seven of those who were rescued have been treated and discharged. One of the two of those who were in critical condition has been transferred to the Eastern Regional Hospital. The other is at Akyem Oda government hospital.”

    He added that “We do not have an idea of the number of people still trapped [in the rubble] but the rescue mission is ongoing. The bulldozers are lifting the debris to the tipper truck.”

    He also disclosed that the head pastor of the Church of Prosperity, Prophet Isaac Akoa who was earlier picked up by the Akyem Oda police Command for investigations has been released and is back in the area.

    Church of Prosperity collapses on Tuesday

    The Church of Prosperity building came down on Tuesday, October 20, 2020, when some members of the church were resting in the building after a prayer session.

    Earlier reports suggested that over 60 church members were in the building before the collapse.

    23 rescued so far

    So far 23 persons have been brought out from the rubble but 14 could not make it.

    Seven have been treated and discharged and out of the 2 who were in critical condition at the Akim Oda Government Hospital one person has been transferred to the Eastern Regional Hospital for further treatment.

    Rescue operations will continue deep into the night to retrieve those who are still trapped under the rubble, according to local authorities.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • 9 confirmed dead in collapsed church building in Eastern Region

    Nine dead bodies have been exhumed from the debris of a collapsed three-storey church building at Akim Batabi near Oda in the Eastern Region.

    They include 60-year-old Afia Tameklo who was reportedly killed by a falling pillar as she tried to escape.

    According to a police report, the bodies were retrieved from the scene at 9:40 pm when the rescue exercise was put on hold. 

    The rescue team was made up of NADMO officials, Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), the police, soldiers from jungle warfare, fire personnel and local volunteers who had to wait for appropriate equipment from Accra to be used in the exercise. 

    However, the exact number of persons still trapped under the debris is still unconfirmed.  

    Eastern Regional Minister, Eric Kwakye Darfuor visited the scene alongside the Chief Executives of Oda Municipal and Asene-Manso-Akroso District Assemblies.

    The bodies have been deposited at the Oda Government Hospital mortuary.

    When the Police visited victims at the same hospital, 30-year-old Clement Bentouah was the only victim on admission with a fractured right thigh. 

    Meanwhile, nurses on duty have identified six other victims  Adu Godfred, 21; Erasmus Larnor, 25; Elizabeth Toot, 18; Bridget Binorey, 59; Jonas Larnor, 45, and Charity Addison, 38 who have been treated and discharged.

    Source: Myjoyonline.com

  • Man stripped naked and lynched by unknown residents

    A man believed to be about 25 years of age has been lynched in Adweso Mile -50 junction area in the Eastern Regional Capital, Koforidua.

    The naked body of the victim was found on the streets early Monday morning.

    Police investigators examination and inspection of the body revealed deep cuts on the right side of the head and also at the buttocks of the deceased.

    There was also a cut on the penis and multiple injuries all over the body.

    Meanwhile, Assembly Member for the area Ebenezer Opare has told Police investigators that the deceased is not known in the community, therefore, believes he might have been lynched in a different community but dumped in his electoral area to thwart arrest.

    The body has been deposited at the Eastern Regional Hospital Morgue after Dr. Eunice Kegyeda medically confirmed him dead.

    The Acting Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Regional Police Command DSP Ebenezer Tetteh told Starr News that investigation is ongoing but, however, appealed to the general public whose relative is missing to report to the police for identification.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Agona West: Police invite NDC parliamentary candidate over alleged plot against Cynthia Morrison

    The Central Regional Police Command has invited the National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Agona West, Paul Ofori Amoah in connection with an alleged plot to kill the incumbent Member of Parliament for the constituency, Cynthia Morrison.

    Mrs. Morrison had made a formal complaint to the police about four men who were arrested at a hotel in Agona Swedru saying they had plotted to kill her.

    Paul Ofori Amoah reported to the Central Regional Police Headquarters in Cape Coast upon an invitation by the police.

    According to the Public Relations Officer of the Central Regional Police Command, DSP Irene Oppong, the NDC parliamentary candidate “admitted to issuing the two bank cheques that were picked by police at the hotel when a search was conducted in the rooms and also on the suspects.”

    “The parliamentary candidate is at the regional CID and is assisting police investigations,” she added.

    The four suspects have been remanded in police custody by a Cape Coast Circuit court presided over by Her Lordship Dorinda Smith Arthur and will be re-arraigned on October 30, 2020

    They were cautioned on preparation to commit murder and carrying offensive weapons.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Lead suspect in Prof Bennehs murder dies

    The lead suspect in the murder of Legon Law lecturer, Professor Yaw Benneh has died at the Police Hospital in Accra on Saturday.

    According to Police, he had been sick for a while and had been put on oxygen at the intensive care unit of the hospital but died after some time.

    James Nana Womba had earlier confessed his involvement in the gruesome murder of the late law professor at his Adjiriganor mansion in Accra.

    He was one of four who were initially arrested on suspiscion of the murder.

    Following his confession and naming of his accomplices, the state dropped charges against the other three.

    Officers of the Ghana Police Service have also been able to effect the arrest of one of the said accomplices.

    One Opambour Agya Badu who prosecutors describe as a named accomplice of Mr. Womba has since been arrested and charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

    The state prosecutors says efforts are underway to apprehend the two others as they got the court to grant them an arrest warrant.

    The names of the two were not stated in court.

    The two persons currently standing trial have been remanded in the custody of the police to re-appear on October 14.

    Prof Emmanuel Yaw Benneh was allegedly murdered at his Adjirigano mansion in Accra.

    His body was found days after with his hands tied and cloth stuffed in his mouth.

  • Fate of coup plotters in a balance as jury isnt available to decide on case

    The fate of the 10 persons standing trial for allegedly plotting a coup to destabilise the country and possibly overthrow the government is still undecided as the jury is not fully constituted.

    According to a Graphic report, this made the High Court adjourn the trial to November 20, in an expectation that the required pool of jurors will be constituted from which seven will be selected for the trial.

    The jury was expected to be empanelled on Friday October 16, but the presiding judge announced that the jurors were not available at that particular time.

    Justice Samuel Asiedu, the high court judge hearing the case, indicated that letters had been sent to various institutions as well as organisations to make their members available for jury duties but those institutions have yet to respond.

    “I will get the registrar to get the members ready for the jury to be empanelled,” Justice Asiedu said, when he was announcing the adjournment of the trial.

    The accused persons standing trial include Dr. Frederick Mac-Palm, the main person accused of masterminding the alleged plot, Donya Kafui, Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu, Johannes Zikpi, Corporal Seidu Abubakar, Lance Corporal Ali Solomon and Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon.

    Others are Colonel Samuel Kodzo Gameli, a senior military officer and ACP) Dr. Benjamin Agordzo, a senior police officer.

    Dr. Mac-Palm, Kafui, Debrah, Dekuwine, Abubakar, L/Col Akanpewon and Zikpi have pleaded not guilty to the charge of treason felony and conspiracy to commit treason felony, while Dr. Mac-Palm and Kafui have separately pleaded not guilty to the charge of conspiracy to possess explosives and ammunition without lawful excuse, and possession of explosives and ammunition without lawful excuse.

    Col. Gameli and ACP Dr. Agordzo have pleaded not guilty to the charge of abetment in a treason felony.

    Background

    The 10 who are part of a group known as TAG, an NGO, are alleged to have planned on demonstrating against the Government of Ghana and “possibly take over the government”.

    Prosecutors say the group had a map in their possession when they were arrested with some important state installations targeted.

    The alleged state institutions targeted are the Jubilee House, the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Burma Camp, the 37 Military Hospital and the National Police Training School.

    Dr. Mac-Palm, Kafui and Debrah as part of the alleged coup plot had planned on kidnapping the President, the Vice-President, the Speaker of Parliament and the Chief of the Defence Staff and force the President to announce his overthrow.

    “Again, there were discussions on whether or not to kill the President in the process of overthrowing the government,” the prosecutors added.

    The prosecution indicated that in June 2018, the security agencies picked up intelligence that the accused persons had planned to overthrow and take over the government.

    Col. Gameli is said to have recruited Zikpi, who was a signal specialist with the GAF, to help jam the radio signals of the National Communications Authority with the exception of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation.

    The prosecution said in furtherance of the plot, Dr. Mac-Palm invited Kafui, who was a blacksmith at Alavanyo, to Accra to manufacture explosives and pistols for TAG.

    The prosecution added that ACP Dr. Agordzo donated GH¢2,000 to TAG to aid in its cause and also drafted a speech for Dr. Mac-Palm to be read at the planned demonstration by TAG.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Robbers attack bank – Unspecified amount stolen

    A group of armed robbers stormed a bank at Lashibi near Accra at dawn yesterday, cut through the wall to gain access to the vault and made away with an unspecified amount of money.

    Two suspects identified by the police as Prince Ankrah and Albert Buckson, who were found in a parked taxi with the engine running few metres from the scene, were arrested and are assisting the police in their investigations.

    Three private security details who were on duty at the time of the robbery were also picked up by the police, and had been in custody assisting in investigations.

    The Accra Regional Police Command also retrieved two pump action guns with 100 rounds of AK 47 ammunition.

    Attack

    According to the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Accra Regional Police Command, Deputy Superintendent (DSP) Mrs Effia Tenge, around 2 a.m. yesterday, some unidentified armed men numbering about six attacked and robbed the bank.

    The regional police PRO said the robbers fired into the vault lock, chiselled the wall to the vault to gain access and stole an unspecified amount of money.

    DSP Tenge said the gunshots attracted the attention of a police patrol team which quickly moved in that direction.
    The robbers, realising the police were fast approaching the scene, managed to escape amid firing.

    A search conducted at the scene by the police led to the retrieval of an electric cutter, a chisel, a harmer, 11 live 9mm ammunition, and 1 round of spent ammunition.

    The PRO said an extension of the police search within the enclave led to the arrest of Ankrah and Buckson who were suspected to be on surveillance linked to the robbery.

    Patrol teams

    She said reinforcement patrol teams to the robbery scene also intercepted an Uranus bus suspected to be linked to the same robbery but its occupants, on seeing the police, managed to escape.

    DSP Tenge said it was in the Uranus bus that the police retrieved the two pump action guns and the 100 rounds of live AK47 ammunition.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • There will be no by-election at Mfantseman constituency

    There will be no by-election at the Mfantseman constituency in the Central Region following the killing of the Member of Parliament for the area, Ekow Kwansah Hayford last Friday.

    Per Article 112 (5) of the 1992 Constitution, a by-election shall be held within 30 days after a vacancy occurs in Parliament.

    That notwithstanding, Clause 5 of Article 112 of the Constitution also states that a by-election shall not be held within three months before the holding of a general election.

    Therefore since Ekow Kwansah Hayford died 60 days before the December 7, 2020 general election, there can be no election by mere calculation of the period which is less than three months to the general election.

    Media must stop misleading public – Speaker 

    On the floor of Parliament on Wednesday [October 14, 2020] there was a discussion that some media houses had published that there was going to be a by-election following the killing of the MP.

    But reacting, the Speaker of Parliament, Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye  advised the media to desist from misleading the public, reports Nana Konadu Agyeman, who is Graphic Online’s correspondent in Parliament.

    The Speaker said the sudden death of the Mfantseman  MP does not automatically pave the way for a by-election.

    He said per Article 112 (5) of the Constitution, a by-election shall be held within 30 days after a vacancy occurred.

    He said notwithstanding Clause 5 of the Article 112 a by-election shall not be held within three months before the holding of a general election.

    “Of course simple calculation tells us that we are not within the three months since the death of our colleague occurred. Therefore, there can be no election by mere calculation,” he said.

    Prof. Oquaye who was addressing Parliament said “I would respectfully say that if we do not take care, we will add insults to injury if we become unnecessarily speculative in this kind of situation.”

    “And we should all learn to quote from the Constitution itself and seek direction from the Public Affairs and our Legal Department [in Parliament] whenever we want to quote from laws and from the Constitution or make reference,” he said.

    Minority Leader’s concern

    Prof Oquaye gave the advice after the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu had raised concern that there were some misleading media information in the public domain arising out of the “regrettably” death of the MP for Mfantseman.

    Mr Haruna Iddrisu told the House that some newspapers on Wednesday published stories to the effect that a candidate for a by-election in the Mfantseman constituency had been determined.

    Quoting Article 112, he said “Nothwitstanding clause 5 of this article by-election shall not be held within three months before the holding of a general election.”

    “So Mr Speaker,  the sudden death of our colleague does not create a constitutional duty for the Electoral Commission to conduct a by-election.

    “Because of the time limit, we virtually have 55 days to the elections so the media, if they will endeavor, to desist from further misleading the public. There will no by-election in the Mfantseman constituency,” he said.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Supreme Court hands over Kennedy Agyapong’s contempt case to another High Court Judge

    The Supreme Court has ordered Registrar of the High Court to put the contempt trial of the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, before another judge.

    This comes after the five-member Apex court barred Justice Amos Wuntah Wuni from presiding over the contempt trial of the MP.

    The court, according to Daily Graphic, quashed all proceeding that had been held before Justice Amos Wuntah Wuni, prohibiting him from presiding over the case but held the order for Kennedy Agyapong to still appear before the High Court to answer for contempt.

    “The matter should be sent back to the Registrar of the High Court for the Registrar to place it before the High Court differently constituted,” the court held.

    The court adds it will give its full reason for the decision on October 20, 2020.

    The five-member panel of the court was presided over by Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, with Justices Yaw Appau, Gabriel Pwamang, Issifu Omoro Tanko Amdau and Yonny Kulendi.

    The MP on September 17, filed for a review application at the Supreme Court to stop contempt proceedings against him and also quash the order of summons for him to appear before the court as the High Court had no jurisdiction to do so.

    According to the lawyers, the alleged comments by their client was not directed at Justice Wuni, but rather at a different Justice of the High Court.

    They also accused Justice Wuni of bias including the declaration of intention to punish their client even before the conclusion of the trial.

    This was after he was summoned in court for describing the Judge a “stupid” during an interview on NET2TV.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • John Boadu confirms selection of slained Mfantseman MP’s widow as NPP’s replacement

    The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr John Boadu has confirmed the selection of Ophelia Hayford, the widow of the late Member of Parliament for Mfantseman as a replacement nominee in the 2020 Parliamentary election in the area.

    “Yes, it is to a large extent true. I have been to the constituency several times and the whole constituency leadership and party members, the Regional [Executive] setup and the National [Executive] setup deem it fit that his wife [Ophelia] is the back bone of the husband,” Mr Boadu said in a radio interview monitored by Graphic Online Tuesday night [October 13, 2020].

    “She knows the constituency very well and considering the large support that the husband had and the kind of difficulties that the constituency is going through, a lot more of the constituents think that we should let the wife continue,” Mr Boadu added in the radio interview which was with Accra based Joy FM.

    He added that “there was massive consensus,” and that there was “no descent at all” at all levels of the consideration of the widow as the replacement at the constituency, regional and national levels.

    Mr Boadu said the party will formally announce the decision later.

    Graphic Online understands that Ophelia Hayford, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) has since reportedly submitted her resignation letter to the Police Administration.

    When Mr Boadu was asked about that in the Joy FM interview, he said yes, that has been done.

    Mr Ekow Kwansah Hayford, hitherto, the NPP’s Parliamentary nominee for Election 2020 at Mfantseman in the Central Regional and incumbent MP for the area was killed last Friday by suspected armed robbers.

    He had filed his nomination with the Electoral Commission on Thursday, October 8, 2020 seeking re-election in the December 7 election when the unfortunate incident occurred.

    In line with Section 4 of the Public Elections Regulations 2020, C.I. 127, which states that: “Where at the close of nominations, but before the election, one of the candidates dies, a further period of 10 days shall be allowed for nominations,” the NPP then initiated the move for a replacement.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • GCAA staff to withdraw air traffic, vital services from Wednesday over land encroachment

    Staff of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has threatened to embark on a strike effective Wednesday, October 14, 2020, to demand the return of lands taken away from the Authority.

    This was disclosed in a notice by the GCAA to airlines flying from and to the Kotoka International Airport and the general public.

    It was co-signed for and on behalf of the Coalition of GCAA workers by its spokespersons William Amoako and John Sampah.

    According to the GCAA staff, it “may embark on an action to withdraw some essential services, including Air Traffic Services, from Wednesday, 14th October 2020, to demand the return of lands taken away from the Authority.”

    The staff noted that the strike action has become necessary “after exhausting all relevant avenues, including meetings and discussions with the executive management of GCAA and the Ministry of Aviation, interventions by the National Labour Commission and the Ministry of National Security, a letter to the Chief of Staff, a petition to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and a recent press conference.”

    The statement further noted: “The reallocation or sale of lands strictly meant for aviation purposes to private developers poses serious safety concerns to the aviation industry. You would recall that some of your flights have been experiencing occasional breakdown in communication with air traffic control due to constant interference and heavy background noise on some of our frequencies since October 2, 2020.”

    The staff continued that they have “reason to believe that these challenges are due to the activities of real estate developers around our communication systems, navigational aids and surveillance systems on GCAA lands,” as these developments have made it nearly impossible for GCAA “to provide quality air traffic and air navigation services.”

    The GCAA staff are, therefore, demanding that the government stop “the threat and damage to vital communication, navigation and surveillance equipment and installations, the wanton demarcation and sale of GCAA lands to private persons” and “the forceful eviction of GCAA staff from their officially allocated bungalows.”

    The staff, however, stated that they would rescind their decision to withdraw essential services “only if all activities on the lands are stopped immediately and land titles, by Executive Instrument and lease, are issued in the name of GCAA.”

    The Coalition also stated that if its pleas are not “heeded and any accident or serious incident occurs, the following persons, whose actions and inactions have led to this unfortunate situation, must be held accountable: Mad. Cecilia Dapaah, immediate past Minister of Aviation; Joseph Kofi Adda, Minister of Aviation; Kwaku Asomah Cheremeh, Minister of Lands; Air Commodore Rexford GM Acquah (Rtd), Board Chairman of GCAA; Ing. Simon Allotey, immediate past Director-General of GCAA; Ing. Charles Kraikue, Director-General of GCAA; Mr Paul Kontoh, who is a retired Director of General Services at GCAA, but on a two-year contract; and Alhaji Suleiman, Mr Quainoor and Clemence Gyato, all of Lands Commission.”

    The coalition emphasised that it is resorting to the strike in “the interest of safety, the sustainable growth of the aviation industry, and a lasting solution to this matter.”

    It, however, regretted “the inconveniences that might arise from the withdrawal of these vital services” reiterating that “we must protect current installations and make provisions for new ones.”

    Staff of the GCAA had earlier embarked on a protest to register their displeasure about the encroachment of lands belonging to the Authority.

    According to the GCAA staff, the aviation sector in the country risks shutting down if steps are not taken to protect its lands.

    A statement issued by the leaders of the GCAA staff noted: “The aviation industry is dynamic and driven by technology”.

    “This means that new technology may spring up, which requires a piece of land for its implementation.

    “Some parcels of land must, therefore, be set aside for those purposes.

    “Non-availability of land for these installations will mean there is no future for aviation in Ghana”, they warned.

    Source: Class FM

  • I was targeted by robbers while disbursing money to flood victims West Mamprusi MCE

    The Municipal Chief Executive for West Mamprusi Assembly in the North East Region, Issahaku Aremeyaw Somo, has said he escaped a robbery attack on Monday, October 12, 2020.

    This happened when the MCE was travelling to communities to disburse money to victims of recent flooding in the region.

    Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Somo said he was able to escape the attack because security personnel came in time to open fire on a group of robbers who attempted to block his convoy.

    “Fortunately the police came in. But then at the time, they had already shot a motor rider on the leg. I was with the chiefs distributing the money when they brought him. They quickly rushed him to the hospital. I was alarmed, so I quickly had to go back to Walewale.”

    “That particular road is noted for robbery. Because of that, we mounted a number of security checks in the area and that had helped in curbing the attacks. But recently, the police had an accident in the area, and so they had toned down a bit, so I am sure these robbers wanted to take advantage of the situation. But luck evaded them,” he added.

    On Thursday, October 1, 2020, four villages, Gaagbini, Dimia, Tinkaya, and Banawa were submerged in floodwaters following massive torrential rains that forced the banks of three dams to break, allowing the water from the dams to rush onto the villages

    The government gave GHS100,000 to the MCE to support flood victims in the municipality. 

    Mr. Somo said he suspects the robbers may have come after the money in his possession.

    “We are suspecting they came after the GHS100,000. Since then, I have had to move about with security. That way, my security is assured while disbursing the money.”

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Alleged kidnappers abandon victim after being rejected

    Unidentified men who kidnapped a teenager on Friday around Area 52 in Ho made a U-turn by returning their ‘catch’ only when a voice rejected the boy’s offer for a girl’s preference.

    The victim, (name withheld) narrated to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) from his hospital bed that some unidentified kidnappers took him, hostage, outside their gated house, when he stepped out to pass urine.

    He said what he could remember was a hand blindfolding him and could later hear a voice rejecting his gender, in an unknown environment, all this time still in the sack with hands and face tied with ropes.

    According to Mr Selorm Awadi, the father of the 14-year-old kidnapped teenager (name withheld) said his son was picked by the men, who managed to conceal the victim in a white sack and was abandoned at the vicinity of the area, where he was earlier kidnapped. He told the GNA that his son ran an errand to buy bread for the household before 0900 hours, and could no longer be located at home afterwards.

    He said the whereabouts of his son could not be ascertained until word went round that a boy was abandoned in a sack around the popular Mirage pub area in Ho.

    Mr Awadi said he thought that development or incident was far away from him and was never worried until the reality beaconed.

    Mr Prosper Kofi Pi-Bansah, Ho Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), who conveyed the victim to the Municipal hospital for medical attention, said this could be a clear case of a ritual operation gone good for the victim and bad for the kidnappers, after confirming the incident to the GNA.

    The dumbfounded MCE appealed to parents and guardians to be vigilant over their children especially teenagers as the nation positioned itself for another election in December. Meanwhile, hospital sources said the condition of the victim was stabilised after receiving treatment.

    The Municipal Police Command has begun investigations into the alleged kidnapping episode.

    Source: GNA

  • NPP initiates moves to replace slain MP Ekow Kwansah Hayford in 10 days

    The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Mfantseman constituency in the Central Region, has initiated moves to find a replacement for Mr Ekow Kwansah Hayford, the party’s Parliamentary nominee for Election 2020 who was killed last Friday by suspected armed robbers.

    This is in line with Section 4 of the Public Elections Regulations 2020, C.I. 127, which states that: “Where at the close of nominations, but before the election, one of the candidates dies, a further period of 10 days shall be allowed for nominations.”

    The NPP in the Mfantseman constituency is yet to settle on a candidate to represent the late Ekow Kwansah Hayford but is hoping to find one this week to meet the 10 days deadline specified in law.

    Ekow Kwansah Hayford who was the Member of Parliament for the area and was seeking re-election filed his nomination forms on Thursday, October 8, 2020 only to be killed the next day.

    The EC closed the filing of nominations on Friday, October 9, 2020 same day as the MP was killed at dawn.

    As part of the processes for re-election, Mr Hayford battled it out with a new entrant Mr James Korsah-Brown in June 2020 where the NPP delegates endorsed him.

    Replacement

    In an interview with Graphic Online’s Central Regional correspondent, Shirley Asiedu Addo, the first Vice Chairman of the Mfantseman constituency, Mr Yaw Berchie-Nuako said the constituency executive would meet by mid week to decide on a nominee and propose same to the national executive for approval.

    He said they were hoping that whoever they select will be a winnable candidate to step in the shoes of the late Mr Hayford.

    “The constituency executive here are on the grounds and so we know who can win the seat for us,” he stated.

    Mr Berchie-Nuako stated that there was no way the national executive could impose any person on the constituency.

    Is it going to be Ekow Kwansah’s widow?

    Asked if the party was considering bringing the widow of the late MP, Mr Berchie-Nuako did not give a definite answer except to say that the nature of the death was a great blow to the family.

    Korsah-Brown

    Asked if the executives would consider Mr James Korsah-Brown the only candidate who had contested the late MP in the primary in June 2020, he said “like I said we don’t have any name yet. The executives would decide and let you know,” he stated.

    NPP will retain seat

    The NDC held the seat for 8 years before the NPP’s Ekow Kwansah Hayford snatched it from them in 2016.

    “Our late MP was a good man who did a lot of work. His four-year work as MP is far more than the NDC’s work in 8 years,” he stated.

    He said any candidate chosen would ride on the excellent works of the late MP.

    “We are not going to rely on sympathy votes. The works of Kwansah Hayford speak everywhere and we are optimistic that the NPP will retain the seat,” he added.

    He urged NPP members to remain calm and support the family in prayers.

    “I was with him when the incident happened and I have still not recovered from it. It has hit us hard but we are praying and know it will make us even stronger,” he added.

    #GhanaVotes2020

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • President Akufo-Addo promotes four DCOPs and 23 ACPs

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has promoted four Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCOPs) to the rank of Commissioners of Police (COPs) and 23 Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) to the rank of Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCOPs).

    A release signed by Superintendent (Mrs) Sheilla Kessie Abayie-Buckman, Director, Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Friday, said the promotions were upon the recommendation of the Police Council.

    The four newly promoted Commissioners are; Mr Vincent Redeemer Dedjoe-Director-General/ Police Professional & Standards; Mr Godfred Owusu Boateng- Bono Regional Police Commander; Mr Kwaku Boadu Peprah- Director-General/ Operations and Mr Frederick Adu-Anim- Director-General/Information Communications Technology.

    The 23 newly promoted Deputy Commissioners are; Mr Joseph Obeng- Deputy Director, Service workshops/ National Headquarters; Mr Peter Baba Atinak- Deputy Eastern Regional Police Commander; Rev. Father George Arthur- Director, Religious Affairs/National Headquarters; Mr Emmanuel Afriyie Sakyi- Deputy Accra Regional Police Commander; Mr Nelson Opoku- Deputy Director, Audit/National Headquarters; Mr Vance Baba Gariba- Director, ICT/National Headquarters; Mr Isaac Emmanuel Quist- Administrator/CID Headquarters; Mr Kwasi Akomeah-Apraku- Deputy Volta Regional Police Commander; Mr Alexander Kwame Amenyo- Deputy Upper East Regional Police Commander; Mr Dennis Abade Akob-Dem- Deputy Central Regional Police Commander; Mr Haruna Saeed- Director, Payroll/National Headquarters.

    Others are; Mr Moses Ali Kpachin- Deputy North East Regional Commander; Mr Sebastian Atsu Wemegah- Deputy Oti Regional Police Commander; Mr Charles Botwe- Officer Commanding Regional Police Training School/ Kumasi; Mr Michael Nketia Frimpong- Finance Officer, National Police Training School/Accra; Mr Ernest Akrasi Kirk Mensah- Deputy Western-North Regional Commander; Mr Francis Nyametso- Director, Serious Crime Registry/ CID Headquarters; Mr Ebenezer Larbi- Deputy Savannah Regional Police Commander; Mr Charles Kwabla Normesinu- Director, Inspectorate Unit/ National Headquarters; Mr Samuel Alfred Winful- Tepa Divisional Police Commander- Ashanti; Mr Francis Agrippa Oppong- Offinso Divisional Police Commander- Ashanti; Mr Ebenezer Ampofo- Berekum Divisional Police Commander- Bono/Region and Mr Martin Kwaku Ayiih- Commanding Officer Central MTTD/Accra.

    “Mr James Oppong-Boanuh, the Inspector-General of Police extends heartiest congratulations to the promoted officers and wishes them the best of luck in their new ranks,” the statement said.

    Source: GNA

  • NDC executives in Ashanti Region robbed; 4 injured

    Some executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti Region have been robbed at gunpoint, MyNewsGh.com has confirmed.

    The victims including the Deputy Ashanti Regional Youth Organiser Onasis Kobby were returning from one of the communities in the Afigya-Kwabre South Constituency where they went to campaign in the when they were pounced on by the robbers who had mounted a roadblock around a valley.

    According to Onasis Kobby, the team left Hemang and were heading towards Ejuratia when the gun-wielding robbers numbering about five, masked and wearing overall in order to disguise their identity, stopped their vehicles and ordered occupants to lie prostrate on the bare floor with guns pointed at them.

    “They hit the Constituency Women Organiser, the Deputy Constituency Youth Organiser and the Communications Officer with the butts of the gun leaving them with severe injuries. They later ransacked the vehicles and took mobile phones, money and other valuables and bolted with the booty into the bush”, he confirmed to MyNewsGh.com.

    Police it is gathered, got wind of the robbery attack and rushed to the scene but the bandits had long gone leaving their victims with various degrees of injuries.

    The NPP executives were later sent to the Mamponteng Hospital where they have since been treated and discharged while the police are investigating the matter.

    Source: My News GH

  • How police guns were retrieved from ‘Western Togolanders’ [VIDEO]

    A video of how the police retrieved weapons stolen by some suspected Western Togoland secession campaigners in a recent attack has emerged.

    The weapons were stolen by some men believed to be members of the Western Togoland secession group during an attack on the Aveyime and Mepe Police Stations in the North Tongu District of the Volta Region.

    The armed men, simultaneously took over both police stations, overpowered the police officers, and and stole the weapons which were in the armory.

    The Ghana Police Service, in giving an update on the matter indicated that the stolen weapons were retrieved on Friday, September 25, 2020.

    “The vehicles, weapons and other items seized or stolen by the “elements” on Friday 25th September 2020 have also been retrieved.”

    The Police reiterated that they were in control of the situation and that life had returned to normal in the affected regions.

    “Security agencies wish to reiterate that adequate security is on the ground in the affected areas in the Volta, Oti and Eastern regions and all other parts of the country. Life has returned to normal as residents are going about their daily activities without fear of insecurity,” part of the statement reads.

    They also indicated that thirty-one persons in connection to the disturbances have been arrested have been provisionally charged and presented in court for allocation.

    “The general public is being assured to remain calm as security agencies will continue to count on their assistance to arrest all perpetrators to face the law,” the statement added.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Osu: Chinese national found dead in casino after losing money gambling

    Police in Osu are investigating the death of a Chinese national who was found dead, on Friday night, in a room at the Casino Galaxy along the Osu Oxford Street.

    A source close to the Casino said the man allegedly lost all his money to the games he played at the Casino.

    Following this, he allegedly borrowed money from the Management of the Casino to try his luck again but he was unsuccessful, the source said.

    He was later found dead in one of the rooms at the Casino.

    The Police confirmed the death to the media, on Saturday, saying investigations had started but declined to give any information regarding the circumstances.

    Source: GNA

  • West Mamprusi flooding: Distressed victims cry out over inadequate meals, shelter

    Victims of flooding in the West Mamprusi municipality are still crying out for help from the state after being displaced.

    A day after the government donated GHS100,000 and relief items to floods victims of Thursday torrential rain in parts of the West Mamprusi municipality, the flood victims are yet to receive improved help.

    Speaking to Citi News, some displaced persons complained about hunger as food meant for the victims from the assembly are not forthcoming.

    A victim of the flooding complained about the conditions in the schools being used as havens saying, “for the past three days, we have been finding it difficult to fend for ourselves.”

    “We have only been provided with two classrooms to live in. We are over 300, but because of the limited space, we the men have left the classrooms for the women and children while we hang around outside. The food is not enough, they brought in 77 food packs whereas we are close to 300 in number.”

    “We do not know what to do now, the DCE allowed us to move in here until further notice. The food they provide is not enough, we are forced to hand them over to the children while we strive to survive. They claim they have brought us food, but we are not feeling the impact. We have nothing to survive on, with no helper,” another lamented.

    “The said amount donated to us by the government has not been disbursed yet, the DCE and NPP parliamentary candidate took the money to Walewale but we have not heard from them,” he added.

    Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia cut short his campaign tour of the Greater Accra Region to visit the victims of the devastating floods.

    Upon arrival, he donated GHS 100,000 to food victims.

    Four villages; Gaagbini, Dimia, Tinkaya and Banawa have been the hardest hit in the municipality.

    On Thursday, the villages were submerged in floodwaters following massive torrential rains that forced the banks of three dams to break, allowing the water from the dams to rush onto the villages.

    Acres of farmlands were submerged while some livestock was carried away by the floodwaters.

    It has been confirmed by officials of NADMO that a three-year-old child also died due to the flood.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Prof Yaw Bennehs murder: Chilling details of domestic workers confession

    A domestic worker employed by the late Professor Yaw Benneh of the University of Ghana has confessed to the crime of the lecturer’s murder which took place on September 12, 2020.

    The Director-General of the CID, COP Isaac Ken Yeboah, revealed that the motive of the suspect, according to his own confession, was to rob his boss.

    He has confessed to masterminding the attack and gained access to the room of his late boss with the aid of a duplicate key which he kept without the knowledge of his boss.

    According to COP Yeboah, the suspect, after having mentioned the name of his accomplice this morning changed his narrative and mentioned a new person as his accomplice.

    On how they ended up killing his boss in the process, the suspect said after demanding money from his boss, the late professor denied them and in the process tried raising an alarm.

    According to the police, the suspect confessed that in the ensuing struggle to keep the professor silent they hit him with an iron rod and gagged him, causing the late professor to die.

    The two are then said to have made away with two mobile phones belonging to the professor and an amount of GH¢450 which was kept in the professor’s wallet.

    The suspect has also confessed that for fear of being recorded in the act, he took the late professors central processing unit(CPU) and dumped it in a septic tank in the house.

    He also confessed to sharing the two phones between himself and his accomplice after which the phones were sold off.

    According to the Director-General of the CID, C.O.P Isaac Ken Yeboah, the police will this morning visit the crime scene with the suspect to retrieve evidence including the iron rod which according to the suspect was thrown away around the crime scene.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com