Armed men killed a leader and took his wife and another person in southwestern Nigeria.
The attackers broke into the palace of Segun Aremu, who is a retired army general and monarch with the official title of the Olukoro of Koro, on Thursday night.
It’s not known who the shooters are or if they want money in exchange for someone’s release.
This recent murder and kidnapping happened just a few days after people asked for urgent action to address the problem.
Fifty groups from the community want President Bola Tinubu to announce that more than 1,800 people have been kidnapped since he became president last May.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is very upset about the killing of the Olukoro of Koro in Kwara state. He promises to catch the people who did this terrible thing.
Police are looking for a man.
A few days ago, some people took five students and four teachers from a school in Ekiti state. They want 100 million naira (about $110,000) to let them go.
A high-ranking government official was taken by force on Wednesday night in Bwari, a neighborhood near the capital city, Abuja. This happened close to where six sisters and their father were also kidnapped for money last month.
One girl was killed because the ransom wasn’t paid on time.
In another place, two girls were recently taken away in the Chikakorie area of Kubwa, another part of Abuja. The people who took them away want $25,000 to let them go.
In Nigeria, more and more people are being kidnapped and held for money. This includes people on the road, students, and people living in both rural and city areas.
Tag: traditional
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Traditional Nigerian monarch shot dead, wife abducted
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Stakeholders urged to support District Level Elections
Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Saibu, has urged for active involvement in successful district elections.
Speaking at a Tamale forum, Saibu highlighted the need for effective local governance through education and awareness.
The event, organized by LOGNet, PFM-Network, and CHaloG across three zones with GIZ support, aims to educate stakeholders on the 2023 DLE and strengthen MMDAs’ fiscal power for efficient governance.
Saibu lamented the decline in voter participation at this governance level. He calls for collaboration with community leaders for voter education.
Challenges include revenue scarcity, weak financial systems, and insufficient oversight for local fiscal sustainability.
He calls on MMDAs to diversify revenue sources beyond traditional channels like government transfers.
Encouraging innovative financing and private sector involvement can boost local economic development and fiscal stability.
Local Governance Analyst, Dr. Daniel Alimo emphasized fiscal sustainability as a cornerstone for effective local governance.
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Galamsey chief crawls the ground to plead Okyenhene’s Mercy
It has emerged that the Okyenhene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panyin destooled the Benkumhene of Asamang Tamfoe Nana Darkwa despite pleas by the sub-chief.
Nana Darkwa, in earlier reports, had called bluff reports of his destoolment by the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council led by the Okyenhene.
However, appearing before the committee on Wednesday, November 23, 2022, Nana Darkwa lied down to plead against his destoolment when the Council found him guilty of engaging in illegal small scale mining also known as galamsey.
Nana Darkwa was also found guilty of disrespecting the Council and the Okyenhene for holding a press conference in which he called the bluff of the Okyeman Environmental Protection Taskforce and threatening to clash with them if they dared enter Asamang Tamfoe to clamp down on illegal mining in the area.
At the press conference, he is said to have addressed himself as the chairman of the Community Mining Committee at Asamang Tamfoe and Benkumhene of the area, who wield the sole powers to supervise community mining in the area.
Nana Darkwa is said to have instigated the Asamang Tamfoe youth in a confrontation that ensued between the Okyeman Environmental Taskforce and a section of the youth in the area which led to the sporadic gunshot in the area some months ago.
He had questioned the authority of the leader of the Okyeman Environmental Taskforce who double as the Apepamhene, Okogyeman Apedja Fori and the Kyebi Divisional Police Command on clamping down the menace of illegal mining in the area.
But appearing before the Council, Nana Darkwa appeared remorseful while lying before the Okyehene to plead for pardon.
However, the Okyenhene refused his plea for pardon and insisted that the Benkumhene was not fit to be a chief per his conduct.
Subsequently, Okyenhene’s chief linguist Okyeame Antwi Boasiako performed customary rites at the forecourt of Ofori Panin Fie to symbolise the destoolment of Nana Darkwa.
The customary rites were performed in the presence of the Kyebi Executive Council and the Chief of Asamang Tamfoe Nana Kwame Koh II.
Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin cautioned Chiefs within the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional area to be guided by this development and desist from promoting activities of illegal mining or getting involved in same or face destoolment.
The Okyenhene emphasised that he will not relent in his effort to crack the whip on any chief within the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional area who is involved in illegal mining.
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Building Cathedral fulfillment of Nana Sir Ofori Atta’s wish – Okyenhene
Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin says President Akufo Addo’s pursuit to build a National Cathedral is a similar wish nurtured by the late Okyenhene Nana Sir Ofori Atta.
Addressing congregants at the centenary celebration of Akyem Abuakwa Presbytery of The Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin explained late Nana Sir Ofori Atta who was a staunch Christian and Presbyterian wanted to build a temple for God having stopped the persecution of Christians in the traditional area.
This, he says is heartwarming that a great-grandson of Nana Sir Ofori Atta (President Akufo Addo) is also pursuing similar love for God’s work and fulfilling the wish of his late grandfather by building a house for God (Cathedral) at this particular time.
He said the whole arrangement happening at the back of the centenary celebration of Akyem Abuakwa Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana at a time grandsons of Nana Sir Ofori Atta – he (Okyenhene) as overlord of Akyem Abuakwa, whilst Akufo Addo is President of Ghana and Ken Ofori Atta as Finance Minister are at the helm, is divine.
“Hundred years later, the grandson of Nana Ofori Atta (Akufo Addo) is President of the Republic of Ghana. More surprisingly, the President’s brother’s son is also the Finance Minister. So it is a divine arrangement that God has made for us to contribute to the development of the country”.
Okyenhene continued, “It is same perseverance that President Akufo Addo is pursuing to build a house for Ghana to the glory of God. A vision that came to man through God …He said I will build a house for God. Historically, someone met Nana Ofori Atta and said you are the only Christian King in Akyem Abuakwa, you must leave a legacy. Nana Ofori Atta then promised to build a temple in Kyebi. So if President Akufo Addo is building a temple (Cathedral) in Accra, let’s assume it is in fulfillment of the promise made by Nana Ofori Atta” Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin said.
Okyenhene reiterated and justified his decision in 2019 declaring “Okyeman for Christ” as a pursuit to honour God for how far he has brought Okyeman.
“I stand here to boldly declare Akyem Abuakwa is solely for Christ.”
Okyenhene said this Sunday, November 20, 2022, when addressing congregants at the climax of the Centenary celebration of Akyem Abuakwa Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana at Kyebi in the Eastern region.
Presbyterian Church missionaries in Akyem Abuakwa in the 1800’s faced persecution by then Okyenhene Amoako Atta I over Christianization and the abolition of slavery which he says was causing him to lose his source of power and revenue.
Nonetheless, Odehyee Susana Gyankroma, a royal at Kyebi accepted Christ and was baptized together with her husband Okyerema Yaw Boakye, who was a drummer at the then Okyenhene’s palace in 1876.
Having been baptized into the Presbyterian faith, the couple thus became missionaries winning souls for Christ, as a result, they were banished from Akyem Abuakwa and suffered persecution for standing for the faith.
As the persecution festered, the couple lost their four-month-old baby who fell from the back of her mother whilst escaping on foot from their persecutors at Akyem Asuom.
Odehyee Gyankroma was the mother of Nana Sir Ofori Atta, a late Okyenhene, who gave birth to Paa Willie, a Ghanaian political doyen and Mrs Adeline Yeboakua Akufo-Addo, the former first lady of Ghana and mother of President Akufo-Addo.
Nana Sir Ofori Atta, after ascending the stool as Okyenhene in 1912 leveraged on his Christian faith and power as a traditional ruler to help the Presbyterian Church blossom in Akyem Abuakwa.
Nana Ofori Atta was the grandfather of Okyenhene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo Addo, current President of Ghana, Ken Ofori Atta, current Finance Minister, Samuel Atta Akyea, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South.
President Akufo Addo
Addressing the congregants, President Akufo Addo stated that, he is inspired that “our great grandparents Akua Gyankroma and his husband Yaw Boakye thought us one thing that still remains dear to my heart. If you have faith in God and lean on Him, whatever any man will do or say about you will never come to pass.Just continue to hold on to your faith for there is light after the tunnel. That is what we are all witnessing today”
President Akufo Addo assured Ghanaians that the current economic hardship will soon be over due to various policy interventions being implemented by government.
Moderator
Ministering at the service, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, Rev Prof.Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante said the crucifixion of Jesus Christ despite his good works on earth epitomizes that not all human beings will appreciate what leaders do therefore every leader must rather focus on God to do things that please Him(God), not mankind.
The Moderator eulogized the late Okyenhene Nana Sir Ofori Atta for his vital role in accepting Christianity to Akyem Abuakwa and helping the Presbyterian Church grow despite opposition and persecution of the Church by his predecessor.
The Chairperson of Akyem Abuakwa Presbytery of Presbyterian Church, Ghana Rev. Dr. Seth Kissi together with the Moderator presented honours to some individuals who have contributed to the growth of the Presbytery.
President Akufo Addo joined Okyenhene and leaders of the Church to commission and dedicate a centenary office Complex.
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No more mining licenses unless approved by chiefs – Lands Minister
Government has directed that, henceforth, no mining concession or licence should be granted to any applicant unless the Paramount Chief of the area is formally consulted to seek his input.
Additionally, the regional ministers and Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) of that particular jurisdiction should also be formally consulted to bring their views to bear on the granting of mining concessions to any individual or company.
Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources announced this at a media briefing in Accra on Thursday, 13 October 2022, to update the public on new measures being implemented by the Government to combat illegal small-scale mining, otherwise known as “galamsey”.
In view of the President’s directive, Mr Jinapor has issued a Ministerial Fiat to the Minerals Commission to halt all processes leading to the recommendation for granting of mining concessions and licences until the Commission has sought the inputs of the aforementioned authorities.
The directive, the Minister said, had become very necessary to enable the traditional and local authorities to play a central role in the fight against illegal small-scale mining, which had wreaked havoc on the environment and water bodies.
Mr Jinapor stated that when the President met the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi recently, the chiefs raised concerns about them being neglected regarding issuance of mining licences and granting of mining concession to individuals.
Therefore, whenever there was illegal mining within their traditional areas, they had no power to stop it because they did not play any meaningful and active part in the granting of the licences and concessions.
With the enforcement of the Ministerial Fiat, traditional rulers and MMDCEs would play a central role in the fight against galamsey.
The Minister highlighted gamut of measures implemented by the Government so far to stop the galamsey menace including the procurement of speed boats to patrol rivers, training of river guards, forest reserves declared as “red zones” for mining and distribution of mercury-free gold processing machines (gold kachas) to small-scale miners.
The others are the collaboration between the Lands Ministry and the Attorney-General’s Office to prosecute illegal miners, both Ghanaians and foreigners, rolling out of Community Mining Schemes for local people, recruitment and engagement of about 80,000 people for alternative livelihood programme, frequent operations by the military (Operation Halt) to mining sites to arrest and burn excavators belonging to illegal miners and setting up of 83 district mining committees to oversee mining at the district level.
It has also launched another Operation Halt II campaign being spearheaded by the Military High Commands in the southern, middle belt and northern commands, which would be sustained until galamsey is brought to a satisfactory situation.
The government has, therefore, allocated significant funds and logistics to the new military operation, Mr Jinapor stated.
He, thus, called for collaboration with all stakeholders and change of attitude by all Ghanaians to help in fighting the menace.
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Saying I will put my presidency on the line against galamsey was not out of recklessness – Akufo-Addo
President Akufo-Addo has emphasised that he spoke the absolute truth when he announced his commitment to fighting illegal mining in Ghana.
According to the president, the evidence of truth in his statement was apparent when his government’s fight against galamsey cost himself and the New Patriotic Party during his quest for re-election in 2020.
“Since I took office on January 7th, 2017, nearly six years ago, I have made it a central feature of my presidency to lead in the fight to rid our country of this menace, which we all now call galamsey. Indeed, it was an important aspect of my inaugural address that day. It has not been easy; it has not been popular and we have not gotten the immediate results that I was looking for.
“Indeed, in the last election of 2020, my stance on the issue cost my party and I significant losses in the mining communities. It turned out that my statement that I was putting my presidency on the line in the fight against galamsey was neither bumbazed nor reckless. It was the simple truth,” the president said when he met with members of the National House of Chiefs in Kumasi on Wednesday, October 5, 2022.
The meeting with the traditional leaders was convened at the request of the president to discuss ways to fight illegal mining, which has escalated in magnitude over the past years.
This is despite the promise made by the president at his inauguration in 2017 and the various campaigns launched by his government over the period.
The growing impact of galamsey is proving a threat to several water and forest bodies across the country.
This has led to calls on the government to adopt more radical efforts in the galamsey fight.
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New Juaben Traditional Council bans broad daylight conveyance of corpse
The New Juaben Traditional Council in Eastern region has banned broad daylight conveyance of corpses by bereaved families.
A decision taken by the traditional authority during Akwasidae stated that ” all corpse should not be conveyed from the mortuary before 6:00pm”.
The statement issued by Maxwell Asante , Registrar on behalf of the Omanhene Daasebre Kwaku Boateng III further stated that “no corpse should pass around the Omanhene’s palace at Srodae, Koforidua when taken from mortuary”.
The traditional council also took a decision reducing time for observation of one-week funeral from 6:00 am to 12:00noon instead of 6:00 am to 6:00 pm.
The statement entreated all subjects to comply with the directives to avoid serious sanctions.