Jailed 25 years at age 16 over Ghc10 theft – The story of Mohammed Abdellah

Born on 1st July, 1993, Mohammad Abdellah, now 26years is calling on state authorities who matters most in legal matters to have a second look at his case and reconsider his 25 years jail term which he described as harsh and excessive for a first time offender.

On 23rd June 2009, Mohammed Abdellah who had just about eight (8) days to celebrate his 16th birthday and one Seidu Elliasu(Trader) were arrested by a group of people at Akwatia line, Kumasi in the Ashanti Region at about 11:45pm for attacking one Moro Haruna and robbed him of his Ten Ghana cedis (Gh¢10) and a bunch of keys.

The two suspects after receiving severe beatings from the people were sent to Zongo Police Station but Seidu Elliasu managed to escape, but was rearrested the following day.

The then 15 years old Mohammed Abdella and his alleged accomplice, Seidu Elliasu were later sent to court and were charged on two counts; (a)Conspiracy to commit crime contrary to section 23(1) of Act 29/60 and (b) Robbery which is contrary to section 149 of the Criminal Code 1960 of ACT 29, by a Kumasi Circuit Court presided over by his Honour Emmanuel Amo – Yartey(Esq).

Brief facts of the matter was that, the Complainant, Moro Haruna who live in Aboabo, a suburb of Kumasi stated that, on 23rd day of June 2009, he visited his brother at Akwatia line.

Whilst he was returning to Aboabo at about 11:45pm and on reaching a spot at Akwatia line, he met both accused persons, Mohammed Abdellah and Seidu Elliasu who attacked him physically and ordered him to surrender everything on him, but according to him(Moro Haruna), he refused to comply with such orders.

He said, Seidu Elliasu then held his shirt against his neck whiles Mohammed Abdellah searched his pocket and removed cash of Ten Ghana cedis (Gh¢10) and a buch of keys.

After that Seidu Elliasu collected the bunch of keys and am used it to hit his head and wounded him.

Moro Haruna said he managed to escape from their grips and rushed to inform his brother and others who rushed to the spot where the incident happened and arrested the accused persons.
Seidu Elliasu pleaded to return the Gh¢10 they collected from Moro Haruna in order to settle the case amicably but his plea was not accepted.

Whilst both accused persons were being escorted to the Police Station, Seidu Elliasu struggled with them and managed to escape, and Mohammed Abdellah was handed over to escape the police for action.

Two days later, Seidu Elliasu was arrested and brought to the police station on a similar offence, and was adentified by the complainant (Moro Haruna).

Mohammed Addellah response;

Responding to his accusation, Abdellah who live at Aboabo said he don’t even know his alleged accomplice Seidu Elliasu anywhere adding that, on the day of the incident, he was only passing through the area with one Rabbi, a neighbour when the people arrested and beat him up.

He denied knowing anything about the incident but they did not listen to him.

The embattled Mohammed Abdellah who has already served Ten (10) years of his sentence said he was mistakenly arrested, tried and sentenced to 25 years imprisonment in hard labour, for a crime he didn’t commit at age 16.

During cross examination, the complainant, Moro Haruna and the first accused, Seidu Elliasu admitted they do not know Mohammed Abdellah.

In Thursday 23rd June, 2009 at the Kumasi circuit Court before his honour, Emmanuel Amo-Yartey (Esq), the prosecutor chief inspector Fandoh said, per the totality of the evidence led, he preferred the case of the prosecution to that of the accused persons and therefore found the accused persons guilty of the offence and convicted them.

In 27th July, 2009, the court presided over by his Honor Emmanuel Amo-Yartey read his judgement and sentenced the accused persons into 25 years imprisonment in hard labor.

Mohammed Abdellah is now 26 years, served Ten (10) years, Left with his 15 years to serve at the Kumasi central prisons.

APPEAL MADE

In 1st April 2014, the family of Mohammed Abdullah through Alexander Owarae ( Esq) of Sakyiampomaa Chambers in Kumasi served a notice of appeal to the high court in Kumasi to have a second look at the 25 years sentence in hard labour as Mohammed Abdullah and his family were aggrieved by the said sentence and humbly prayed that they may appeal against the sentence.

The grounds of the appeal were that, the honorable court (Kumasi circuit court) failed to deliver it’s judgment on the 27th July, 2009.
Also, the trial judge failed to consider the value of the items involved, but the solicitor of the applicant, failed to pursue the case because of sickness.

AT THE PRISONS

When Seidu Elliasu and Mohammed Abdellah were sent to the Kumasi central prisons to start their sentences, the prisons authorities refused to admit Mohammed Abdellah in their custody on the grounds that Abdellah was too young to be in the same prison with adults.

But the CID in charge of the case, Detective Corporal Osei Asibey Eric with No. 32728 convinced the officers at the prisons to let him there.

ABDELLAH’S FAMILY

The helpless family of the embattled Mohammed Abdellah sees the sentence as harsh, considering their son’s age as at the time of his sentence and pleads with state authorities, CSOs, Human Right Organizations and anyone who matters most to intervene and save poor Mohammed Abdellah.

Filed by : Odiasempa Kwaku Mensah(Boss Fm), Member, Human Rights Defenders-Gh

E-mail:
odiasempa85@gmail.com

Tel: 0544610300

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“Loom is a scam” – EOCO warns the public over “get-rich-quick” Loom

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has warned that the Loom money making scheme targeted at young people is a scam.

“It is a scam and the general public is cautioned to desist from investing and patronising the Loom,” the office warned in a statement.

EOCO also warned that “anyone who transacts business with the Loom does it at their own risk.”

The office assured that it will keep an eye on how the get-rich-quick scheme unravels.

“The Economic and Organised Crime Office in line with its mandate to prevent and detect organised crime will continue to monitor developments with online investmetns with the view to ensure that citizens are protected from scammers and fraudsters.”

The pyramid scheme has been appearing in newsfeeds online and circulating on social media.

The scheme has also been described as a “loom circle” or “fractal mandala” or “Loom Money Nigeria” in some other parts of the world.

The scheme asks participants to pay a sum of money up front with the promise of making a return of up to even eight times that amount

Seidu’s ex-Girlfriend Goes After “Wicked” NDC For Denying Her Boyfriend

An ex-girlfriend of Seidu Mba, has responded to moves by the National Democratic Congress to disassociate themselves from her beleaguered boyfriend after being arrested for kidnapping two Canadian girls in the Ashanti Region.

Zaahirah Zafeerah, claims it came to her as sad news when she got to know Sammy Gyamfi and some members of the NDC were denying Seidu when he needed them most.

According to her, “I see it as cruel, considering how helpful Seidu has been to these people. I remember very well how he struggled and risked his life only to protect even persons in the NDC, including Sammy Gyamfi when they came to Kumasi.”

In an address by the National Communication Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, he stated that “The ringleader of this syndicate, who goes by the name SEIDU YAKUBU (aka Mba), has identified himself as a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Speaking on Kumasi-based Fox FM, Seidu openly declared that he is a known member of the New Patriotic Party, and in fact, the Founder of the Aboabo Fun Club of the NPP. This evidence is incontrovertible proof of Seidu’s membership of the NPP.”

But Zafeerah responded stating that “it hurts badly when he comes out so swiftly to deny Seidu at a time he needs his party, the NDC most. During the just ended congress of the NDC, Seidu could be seen mobilizing macho men for Sammy, Joseph Yasmin and some other persons, so how could they turn around to deny ever knowing him.I even heard they claim he’s an NPP member now. That is very disgusting and it clearly tells how ungrateful some of these persons in the NDC could be”, she said.

According to her, unlike the NPP who stand by their people when they are in trouble, the NDC does the opposite.

“We all saw how Chairman Wontumi hired lawyers for the members of the Delta force when they were placed before court. During that time he even went to their family members to support them with money. But, what are we seeing from Sammy Gyamfi and the others in the NDC? It’s really inhuman. It is only Joseph Yasmin who has shown concern and I thank him.

I will not say anything against them; I will only thank them especially Sammy Gyamfi”.

Source: peacefmonline.com

Bryan Acheampong gives account on how the two Canadian girls were rescued

The rescue of the Canadian women was a national security operation but lots of people and technology was involved.

It’s a feather in our cap that we were able to find the Canadians in the two days that were involved in the matter.

The rescue of the Canadian women involved 80% human intelligence and 20% technology.

When the Nigerians first came to Ghana, they made contact with people in Ashaiman, Aflao & Kumasi and tried to recruit them. A lot of people rejected them. We’ve picked up a lot of people in the chain.

Not all the people we’ve picked up so far were directly involved in the kidnapping, we’re now trying to sort them out but we’re 99% sure the 5 Ghanaians and 3 Nigerians were involved.

A lot of the people the Nigerians contacted in the country rejected the offer to commit that kind of crime (kidnapping).

In kidnapping, the first 24 hours are crucial. The Canadians’ case was reported quickly. Police got wind of the Takoradi girls’ kidnapping after about a week so the degree of difficulty is different.

We have committed more resources to the Takoradi missing girls’ case since its amplification than any other case, since I came into my office.

We exist to ensure that Ghanaians and everyone who comes to Ghana are safe.

We have a whole unit working on the Takoradi girls’ case, it’s not true that we put more effort into rescuing the Canadian women

We don’t have a security situation in Ghana. We have a political problem with everything taking a political tone. There are gaps which are being dealt with but something could filter through once in a while

We have a whole unit working on the Takoradi girls’ case, it’s not true that we put more effort into rescuing the Canadian women

35-year-old man arrested after attempting to commit suicide in Parliament

A 35-year-old man has been arrested after attempting to commit suicide in Parliament. He was restrained after trying to hang himself in the public gallery.

The man has been identified as Kojo Mensah from Kwesimintim sat at the public gallery with a rope wearing the T-shirt of Kwesimintim MP Joe Mensah.

As sitting adjourned, he shouted he wants to jump off the gallery to the main floor and was restrained by the security persons.

Commander of the Parliament Police Supt. Freeman Tetteh said a criminal investigation has begun into his conduct. He has been transferred to the Ministry police station.

Source: myjoyonline.com

35-year-old man arrested after attempting to commit suicide in Parliament

A 35-year-old man has been arrested after attempting to commit suicide in Parliament. He was restrained after trying to hang himself in the public gallery.

The man has been identified as Kojo Mensah from Kwesimintim sat at the public gallery with a rope wearing the T-shirt of Kwesimintim MP Joe Mensah.

As sitting adjourned, he shouted he wants to jump off the gallery to the main floor and was restrained by the security persons.

Commander of the Parliament Police Supt. Freeman Tetteh said a criminal investigation has begun into his conduct. He has been transferred to the Ministry police station.

Source: myjoyonline.com

‘Take sensible precautions’ – UK government to citizens in Ghana

The government of the United Kingdom (UK) has updated travel advice to its citizens in Ghana following recent kidnappings and other forms of crime in Ghana.

The British High Commission in Ghana said the update released on June 7, 2019 includes “new advice on kidnapping”.

Preliminary comments in the updates entreated the about 90,000 British nationals who visit Ghana every year to “take sensible precautions. Be particularly vigilant in public areas, and take care when travelling by road”.

The travel advice noted that “there have been reports in the media of criminally-motivated kidnapping in Accra, Takoradi, and Kumasi, including targeting foreign nationals. Kidnaps can be for financial or political gain or can be motivated by criminality. If you’re kidnapped, the reason for your presence is unlikely to serve as a protection or secure your safe release”.

It added that : “The long-standing policy of the British government is not to make substantive concessions to hostage takers. The British government considers that paying ransoms and releasing prisoners increases the risk of further hostage-taking. The Terrorism Act (2000) also makes payments to terrorists illegal”.

The British High Commission indicated that various groups including Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQ-IM) and Daesh-affiliated groups, pose as threats.

“There is a heightened risk of kidnap in areas bordering the Sahel. Terrorist groups have kidnapped foreigners, government officials and civilians in the region for financial gain and for political leverage. Further kidnaps are likely. Those engaged in tourism, humanitarian aid work, journalism or business sectors are viewed as legitimate targets,” the British High Commission added.

This comes in the wake of the recent abduction of two Canadian citizens in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.

The two were abducted at Silver Spring Avenue, a hostel near Royal Gulf Club at Nhyiaeso in the Ashanti regional capital.

Bailey Jordan Chitty, 19, and Lauren Patricia Catherine Tilley, 20, were bundled into a private Toyota Corolla car after they had alighted from an Uber car and whisked away amidst gunshots. The two are volunteers with a Non-Governmental Organisation known as Youth Challenge International.

Police have, however, mounted a search for the duo and making every effort to arrest the kidnappers.

There has been an increase in the number of kidnap cases in Ghana.

In April this year, an Indian was also kidnapped in the Ashanti Region and later rescued.

Mr Om-Parkash Chudry was kidnapped on Thursday, 25 April 2019 by unidentified gunmen.

The kidnappers, numbering about three, assaulted him and pushed him into a car and sped off.

Mr Chudry, however, struggled with the kidnappers, overpowered them and took refuge at a nearby house and later called the police, who subsequently rescued him in the early hours of Friday, 26 April 2019.

Currently, three Ghanaian girls who were also kidnapped since August last year in Ghana’s oil-rich city of Takoradi have still not been found.

Source: classfmonline.com

Go to court in your own interest – Former Clerk urges Ayariga

Embattled Bawku Central MP has been urged to purge himself of criminal allegation rather than avoiding the court.

A former Clerk of Parliament, Samuel Ntim Darkwa said “I am afraid if a Member of Parliament is accused of a criminal offence, this does not give him license to say he will not appear in court because he is privileged to do that.”

According to him, it is in Mahama Ayariga’s to clear himself of corruption allegations because “if you are indicted in court, it undermines your own integrity and your effectiveness is reduced.”

Mr. Darkwa adds that “for a Member of Parliament you should not be in a position where you are accused of moral turpitude or corruption.”

Mahama Ayariga is facing criminal prosecution following an allegation of tax evasion made against him by the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

He initially declined court invitations asserting his immunity as a parliamentarian.

As a result, Ayariga was not in court when his case was called on Tuesday morning.

But the veteran Parliamentary scholar has said the court should not be chasing the MP to clear his name.

Instead, the earliest opportunity should be given to the embattled MP “go to court to establish his innocence or otherwise.

According to Mr. Darkwa, the constitution debars any criminal from seeking office as a parliamentarian.

“You cannot seek the membership of parliament if you are a criminal. And therefore if you are accused of being a criminal you should quickly go and establish your innocence,” he argued.

Meanwhile, an earlier decision by Mr. Ayariga not to honour the High Court’s invitation incensed Justice Afia Serwaa Asare Botwe, the presiding judge compelling her to order lawyers of the MP to produce him not later than 1 pm on Tuesday.

Even though the MP met the court’s deadline, he did so after seeking the intervention of the speaker of Parliament.

The ruling of the Speaker which asserted the immunity of the Bawku Central MP has led to what many has described a clash between the Legislature and Judiciary.

But Samuel Ntim Darkwa said the controversy was needless. It could have been avoided if the Speaker was approached on the subject.

“If the Speaker is informed that a member is wanted for such an offence, normally I think the speaker will let him go,” he added

This will not be the first time this has happened, Mr. Darkwah said, referencing a case involving a former Member of Parliament for Keta, Dan Abodakpi who was accused of financial malfeasance.

He attended all court sittings once he became a person of interest to the court. he added

As a party to the body that fashioned out Parliamentary privileges including immunities, he said such clauses were made in the interest of the House.

Parliament requires the presence of members to form a quorum, without which the business of parliament cannot go on, he argued.

Again at “the completion of debates, the speaker cannot take a decision until they have about half of the members present and voting.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

Ayariga Counter-Sues Martin Amidu, Says He Is Not Qualified To Charge Him

The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga has counter-sued the Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu in the case where he is being charged for tax and duty evasion.

An application from Ayariga’s lawyers to the Accra High Court asked the court to strike out the charge sheet of Martin Amidu against Ayariga.

The lawyers also want the court to bar Martin Amidu from proceeding with any criminal prosecution against Mahama Ayariga citing among other reasons that the Special Prosecutor did not fit to act in the capacity of a Special Prosecutor due to his age.

“I have been advised by Counsel and verily believe same to be true that the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu who is above 65 years is not qualified to hold the Office of Special Prosecutor since the holding of that office is in contravention of article 1991 (11) and (4) if the 1992 Constitution of Ghana,” Ayariga’s counter-suit said.

His lawyers argue that due to his disqualification, Martin Amidu, “has no capacity in law to append his signature on the charge sheet” and therefore the charge sheet signed by him is defective and do not have legal effect.

Martin Amidu’s suit against Ayariga was filed some two weeks ago with five charges levelled against the Member of Parliament.

Martin Amidu alleged that Mahama Ayariga abused the privileges he enjoys a Member of Parliament by getting a loan for a car but connived with a private company to secure the funds and import three cheaper vehicles from Dubai and failing to pay duty for them under the guise that they were for official duties.

Amidu, therefore, levelled five charges against Ayariga but the latter wants the charges to be scrapped and declared “null and void.”

The court is expected to sit on the application on Tuesday, June 4, 2019.

Source: citinewsroom.com

The Banking Sector Reforms: Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko throws hard punches at critics

Yesterday, a good friend said to me that NPP cannot expect the bank workers who have lost their jobs as a result of the banking crisis to vote NPP in 2020.

My response was: “I guess it is understandable. But, what about the over one million depositors who would have lost their savings completely had the NPP government not acted against the toxicity that would have eventually overwhelmed the entire industry?”

I think we should tell the story better. GH¢11.2 billion, which was not budgeted for, has been spent to secure the funds of depositors in the collapsed banks. Ironically, the Govt is receiving no applause for this. Note: this amount is more than the $2bn Sinohydro facility that we have praised so much! This is GH¢11.2 billion that could have fixed our roads, schools, drains, health centers, etc. Spare a thought for this Govt for being forced by circumstances not of its own making to spend good money not on its own priority programmes but on others’ negligence and alleged crimes.

The fact that has not been told boldly is that the National Democratic Congress messed up the Banking system. They led the Banking sector to near collapse by creating a laxed system which allowed various unconventional practices in the sector. It is this which is being fixed by the New Patriotic Party and at great cost to you, the taxpayers! Know who to blame and no who to praise!

Specifically, during the NDC regime, according to the evidence, some Banks engaged in the following activities which compromised their capital and liquidity, leading to their collapse:

(1) Poor regulation and irresponsible corporate governance practices.

(2) Circumvention of banking laws which resulted in some Banks obtaining licenses under false pretences, false financial reporting as well as insider dealings.

(3) The Bank of Ghana, under the NDC government, effectively condoned under-provisioning and related-party lending to the perverse extent that the bad practice irreparably damaged the capital adequacy for some of the Banks. They were riding on limited stock of steroids and effectively false pretense.

(4) Non-performing loans were at a record high due to poor lending practices by some of the Banks , worsened by reckless award of contracts by the NDC, which combined to collapse lending to liquidity problems. Inflated contracts awarded through sole sourcing without any downward price reviews; non-performing loans also increased since Banks were saddled with public sector legacy debts, including a $2.4 billion energy sector legacy debts, to the point that oil trading companies were also collapsing; a calamity that would have eventually affected our capacity as an economy to even import refined petroleum products for essential consumption.

(5) The Bank of Ghana, under the NDC government, tried to sweep the problem under the shredding carpet, and managing the worsening situation by providing liquidity support to these failing Banks in a way which they ought to have known was simply not sustainable. They failed, arguably to the point of criminality, to address the underlying problems that led to the illiquidity and insolvency of these institutions. In short, the financial system had reached a tipping point and was near collapse.

(6) It is as if the NDC and the BoG leadership before 2017 operated with this devious and dubious philosophy: “Let’s stay put! Let’s not touch it because it would cost us to Li much to fix the mess. Let’s pretend the problem does not exist for now, plaster over it and hope that we lose power in 2016 for another Govt to come and struggle to fix it if they can, with all the hassle that comes with it and hope that they will become so unpopular fixing it, with us rubbing it in, that the voting public will turn against them for us who caused the mess to take back power in 2020 after they have fixed it!”

(7) To worsen the situation, Microfinance institutions and Savings and Loans companies were hugely affected due to lack of a comprehensive regulatory framework for those non-bank institutions. This led to the collapse of many microfinance institutions, resulting in Ghanaians losing their hard-earned savings and business capital.

(8) These issues are corroborated and well documented by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank 2015/2016 review as evidenced in their findings and recommendations. Please go and read it. You don’t have to take my word for it. The NDC knew the problem but kept it away from you and pretended all was well.

Now, let us examine the steps undertaken by the NPP to save depositors’ funds and the banking system from collapse.

The NPP government upon assuming office had a banking crisis that they did not create to deal with and quickly had to come up with bold and innovative interventions to restore confidence in the sector and also to protect Ghanaian depositors, businesses and Banks. The Bank of Ghana with the support of the government embarked on a comprehensive and innovative reform agenda with the objective of cleaning up the sector and strengthening the regulatory and supervisory framework for a more resilient banking sector. These are actions of a government that cares about the destiny of the country, the fate of its economy and the wellbeing of the people.

Specifically, the current government undertook the following activities to salvage the situation

(1) The Government and the Bank of Ghana intervened to prevent a banking crisis by initially injecting GH¢11.2 billion of public funds into the financial sector

(2) These measures saved not only the deposits of one million, one hundred and forty-seven thousand, three hundred and sixty-six (1,147,366) Ghanaians and their businesses and the people they employed, but also minimized job losses in the banking sector, as well.

(3) The Government also saved 5 Ghanaian banks that would otherwise have evaporated under the weight of their insolvency, providing, in the process, a back stop guarantee of up to GH¢2 billion.

(4) The current government also took steps to reduce all arrears to contractors. This has helped reduce non-performing loans in the Banks’ books arising from lending to contractors. This means that not all Banks which claim they are being owed by Government may be entirely speaking the truth, until they have their claims validated.

(5) The government also took steps to deal with the energy sector debt by using the ESLA PLC to issue energy sector bonds. The proceeds from the issue was used to pay energy sector debts upfront. As a result, Banks were relieved from legacy debts to free up liquidity and capital for investments.

(6) The government developed and used these initiatives to protect jobs, local enterprises, enhance the capacity of local banks and ensure strategic Ghanaian interests in the banking sector.

We should not underrate the monumental rescuing job the NPP has done for the banking sector in Ghana. We will see the benefits for a long time to come.

By the time this entire cleaning up exercise is complete by next year (banks, savings & loans, micro finance and asset managements), over GH¢14 billion of your money as Ghanaian taxpayers would have been spent on it!

Just remember that #TheAlternativeIsStillScary

Development is not only about infrastructure – Oppong-Nkrumah schools NDC

Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has urged the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to revise its thinking on economic development.

According to the Minister, a country’s development is not only about physical infrastructure and therefore he could not comprehend why the NDC is saying there is little or nothing to show for government’s high indebtedness.

The position of Mr Nkrumah follows claims by the Minority in Parliament that Ghana’s public debt stock has hit a total of GH¢ 200 billion in the first quarter of 2019 after 27 months of the Akuffo-Addo-led administration.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr Nkrumah cautioned the opposition not to pretend nothing is happening.

“Who says development is only about infrastructure? It is not possible to say there is nothing to show for the loans and grants we have obtained because when it comes to grants, the monies are given for specific purposes and we have rolled out new projects which may not be capital intensive,” he said.

“Do you expect to see infrastructure before you understand the ‘Planting for Food and Jobs’ is working? By 2020, we will be exporting rice and we no longer sing ‘Send Your Girl Child to School’ because free Senior High School has greatly improved female access to schools,” he added.

Source: adomonline.com

Two Canadian women kidnapped from golf club in Ghana

Two Canadian women have been abducted in Ghana, police said Thursday, a rare attack in a country seen as one of the most secure in the West African region.

The Canadians, charity volunteers aged 19 and 20, were taken on Tuesday evening in Kumasi, Ghana’s second city, some 200 kilometres (125 miles) northwest of the capital Accra, David Eklu, Assistant Commissioner of Police said in a statement.

“Police Command is investigating a complaint of kidnapping at Ahodwo, Kumasi Royal Golf Club, at 8:25 pm on 4 June 2019, where two women of Canadian nationality were kidnapped,” Eklu said.

“Investigation started immediately upon receipt of the complaint, and the security agencies are working closely together to get them rescued, and the perpetrators arrested,” he added.

Police did not release the names of the women.

But they said they are volunteers with a group Youth Challenge International, a Canadian international development organisation with its headquarters in Toronto.

The group works in 16 countries across South America, Africa and Asia, working to support development projects for young people in areas such as health, education and employment.

“The general public is urged to assist the police by volunteering information,” Eklu added.

Security sources suggested this was a kidnapping for ransom.

– Appeal to the public –

Kidnappings and violent crime towards foreigners are rare in Ghana.

But earlier this year, local media quoted President Nana Akufo-Addo as warning that action must be taken to make sure kidnapping “doesn’t become a feature of our society.”

In April, an Indian man was reportedly abducted, also in Kumasi, by an armed gang demanding a cash ransom. He was swiftly rescued by police.

Tourism is an important industry for Ghana, and Kumasi, the historic capital of the Ashanti kingdom, is a favourite destination.

Ghana is a country of some 30 million people, where more than two-thirds of people follow Christianity and the rest of Islam and other religions.

It has long been seen as a bulwark of stability in a region struggling to contain multiple groups of Islamist fighters.

Akufo-Addo, speaking on Wednesday to mark the Muslim holiday of Eid al Fitr, called on the Ghanaian people to protect religious tolerance.

“We are the envy of the world when it comes to the peaceful co-existence of different religious communities,” Akufo-Addo said in a speech, according to the presidency.

He also urged people to “report suspicious characters” to the police.

“We cannot surrender this beautiful way of life for anything, and, certainly, not to people who seek to pervert religious beliefs,” Akufo-Addi added.

(AFP)

NAM1 speaks again from Dubai, vows to settle Menzgold customers

Embattled Menzgold CEO, Nana Appiah Mensah known as NAM1, has dropped a bombshell from Dubai, where he is behind bars.

Nana Appiah Mensah has expressed worry over how the government is treating him.

According to NAM1, he is ready to sit down with the government regarding Menzgold.

He also revealed that, he has suffered for months but he is leaving no stone unturned as he is ready to make Menzgold customers happy.

NAM1 made this known via his official Instagram handle.

He wrote, “We have communicated to government. Inasmuch as I have suffered many months & continue to suffer severe unjustifiable pains behind bars now, I am willingly letting go of the past in the interest of you the many fellow citizens. We are also engaged in & committed to productive negotiations to resolve the pending issues related to Menzgold, in a manner that serves the best interest of government & all customers as soon as possible.”

The Menzgold saga is one that brought Ghana to a stand still few months ago after the gold dealership firm was asked to close down.

The Security and Exchange Commission noted that Menzgold was operating without some necessary licenses.

After the SEC order resulted in Menzgold shutting down, investors who had their monies with the firm got agitated.

It has been over six months and Menzgold customers have still not been able to retrieve their money from the firm amid countless promises of refund.

Source: yen.com.gh

JUNE 4 HISTORY: This is an eye witness account of how it all happened on June 4, 1979

TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 1979. At approximately 9.15am the piercing wail of sirens could be heard from the directions of the Trade Fair ground. A few minutes later a convoy of military vehicles was seen heading towards the Teshie military range at break-neck speed. It was as if the convoy was being pursued or had to reach its destination before it received a counter command to turn round and return to base.

Leading the convoy was an anti-aircraft gun vehicle with four soldiers on board, followed by two ambulances and, at the rear, a Pinzgauer with presumably the firing squad. As the vehicles screeched to a halt inside the range, a member of the AFRC, Cpl Tasiri, jumped out of the lead vehicle, followed by four fierce looking soldiers, assault rifles cocked and ready.

Cpl Tasiri immediately barked out an order that there were to be no
pictures taken and commanded the numerous cameramen, foreign press included, to leave the range proper and join the crowd. Anybody who dare [sic] take a picture, he said, would be severely dealt with. Reporters, however, could remain and take notes.

There were six stakes, each with a rope dangling about it. Sandbags were piled behind each stake up to the shoulder level. Some twenty-five or so feet in front of the stakes were open ended tents for the firing squad.

The door of an ambulance was flung open and out stepped F.W.K. Akuffo, the immediate past Head of State. He was followed by Gen Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa a former military ruler, Gen Robert Kotei, Col Roger Felli, Air Vice-Marshal Yaw Boakye and RearAdmiral Joy Amedume. All of them were blindfolded and led by the soldiers towards the stake.
A sudden hush fell on the teeming spectators.

The six condemned senior military officers were led to the stakes and the ropes tied across their chest and around their legs. First was Gen Akuffo, then Gen Bob Kotei, Gen Afrifa, Air Vice-Marshal Yaw Boakye, Col Roger Felli and last, towards the sea, Rear-Admiral Joy Amedume.
Hardly anyone saw the firing squad enter the tents, all attention was on the condemned officers. And there was no audible order to fire. Just a sudden: “ko. ko….ko.ko.ko”
From my vantage point just besides the tents, I could see the blood soaking through their dresses where the bullets hit. The ropes holding Col Felli were torn by the bullets and he came crashing down. Then as suddenly as it had started, the firing stopped.

A minute passed. Then Gen. Afrifa started rising up; blood was streaming from his shoulders down his arm. He screamed “I am not dead … I am not dead …”

A bearded officer, presumably a commander of the firing squad, took out his pistol and walked towards Gen. Afrifa to deliver the ‘coup de grace’. He had pain and agony written all over his face. The first shot missed and hit the sandbags, the second shot never came as the pistol jammed. The officer stood there, fumbling with his gun, now.

Another officer snatched a sub machine gun S MG from a nearby soldier and gave it to the first one. “Ko….ko…ko” The shots were aimed at Afrifa’s head. Six shots later, he finally slumped down, dead. A soldier standing beside me was beside himself with anger. “Why dey for punish the man so, eh? Say wetin at all ‘e do?”

Gen Afrifa had foreseen his death!In a secret letter written to Gen Kutu Acheampong about a year before his overthrow in a palace coup, he had expressed his fears succinctly: I feel greatly disturbed about the future after the government…

In order to discourage the military from staging coups in the future, how about if they line all of us up and shot us one by one? I do not certainly want to be arrested, given some sort of trial and shot. But I would be a stupid General if I sit in the comfort of my farm and await the VENGEANCE that is about to be unleashed on us…. I will pray to take away the fear and confusion weighing on my mind

About five minutes after the execution, an Airforce fighter jet swooped low over the military range and wiggled it wings. The dispersing crowd yelled: J.J….JJ….JJ…”
So now I had my story.

The next thing was to find a telephone so I could dictate it to the office. My best bet was the sentry post at MATS. I fought my way through the milling crowd till I got there. The soldier on duty was on the line: “Yes Sir….Yes …” he was saying, “Yes, they have just finished slaughtering the cows.”

Mahama Ayariga in hot waters as H K. Prempeh, Kwaku Azar challenge him over Martin Amidu’s invitation refusal

International legal luminaries, Prof. Henry Kwasi Prempeh, Executive Director of Center for Democratic Development and a member of Ghana’s legal team in the ITLOS case and American Based Ghanaian Law Professor, Kwaku Asare have questioned the bases behind the refusal of Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga, not to honour invitation sent to the speaker of Parliament by the Special Prosecutor, Martin ABK Amidu.

The The Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu has sued the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central for evasion of duties and taxes among others.

Mr. Ayariga is facing five different counts of case. In the writ filed by the special prosecutor, it stated that “Mahama Ayariga aged 44 years in November 2017 at Tema in the Greater Accra Region did fraudulently evade customs duties and taxes by paying GH¢6,062.86 instead of the approved duties and taxes of GH¢36,597.15 to clear three Toyota V8 Land Cruisers.”

Mr. Ayariga is also accused of allegedly abusing his office as a public officer for his private benefit by “selling three Toyota V8 Land Cruisers with registration numbers GR 2220-18, GR 2221-18 and GR 2222-18 meant to be used for your official duties as a Member of Parliament to Kendrick Akwasi Marfo of ATLAS-Rent-A-Car at a price of GH¢40,000 each.”

Again, Mr. Ayariga is being accused by the Special Prosecutor of transferring “foreign exchange from Ghana through an unauthorised dealer contrary to sections 15(3) and 29(1) of the Foreign Exchange Act 2006, Act 723.”

The court is set to sit on 4th June, 2019 and Mr. Amidu has subsequently written to the Speaker of Parliament, Prof. Mike Ocquaye to “release” the Bawku Central legislator to face trial.

But in an “epistle” of a response written to Mr. Amidu, Mr. Ayriga stated that he is not obliged to honour the invitation because Parliament will be in session and sitting.

He said “Any conduct on your part that in any way impedes or obstructs my right to be in Parliament on 4th June and represent the good people of Bawku will amount to Contempt of Parliament.”

Responding to Mahama Ayariga’s claim, Prof. H.K Prempeh questioned the basis of Mr. Ayariga’s refusal. He asked on what basis were past MPs such as Adamu Sakande on Dan Abodakpi convicted.

Posting Mr. Ayariga’s letter, Prof. Prempeh said “Interesting. This elastic, extrajudicial reading of the Constitution would mean, in effect, a grant of term-of-office or, at the minimum, duration-of-session immunity from criminal proceedings to all MPs, roughly similar (in justification) to the one the Constitution expressly grants the President during his tenure as president.

Wasn’t a former MP (Bawku Central) by the name Adamu Sakande charged, arrested, prosecuted, convicted, and jailed for 2 years in 2012 while a member of Parliament? Or was Parliament not in session, and did Parliament not sit, during the entire trial? Ditto Dan Abodakpi’s prosecution and conviction while an MP?

Were those prosecutions unconstitutional acts then? Or those MPs and their lawyers didn’t know or didn’t assert their sweet privileges and immunities? Anyway, it is for the Honorable MP to raise his objections before the trial judge at the High Court when he appears to answer the charges. An open love letter to the prosecutor is not the appropriate place to raise these objections.”

On his part Prof. Kwaku Asare popularly referred to as Kwaku Azar emphantically stated that “A court date is not an invitation from a prosecutor that a defendant can decline. It is an order from the Chief Justice to appear in court at the pain of contempt.”

Source: Eveningmailgh.com

Politicians do not have the political will to fight sanitation – Pastor Kusi

The Goaso Area Youth leader of the Church of Pentecost Cum Sienchem District Pastor, Pastor Maxwell Kusi has chide politicians for not having political will to fight Sanitation and has urged Christians to take it up to clean the Country.

Pastor Kusi speaking to the Media when the Church launched it Environmental Care Campaign at Goaso on the theme: My Environment My Responsibility noted politicians when in power instead of dealing with Sanitation offenders so as to scare people from littering the environment, refuse due to their political interest and has called on Churches to embrace the Campaign to save the Nation from current environmental mess.

“All politicians are same, they don’t have political will to fight Sanitation because they know people will not vote for them. If Christians, religious groups and youth didn’t intervene and rely on government, the situation will get worse than we see now,” he added.

Source: Piesie Yaa Esaaba, Splash fm-Assin Fosu

Okudzeto Ablakwa praises Akufo-Addo over Ghana’s bid to host Continental Free Trade secretariat

The ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has praised President Akufo-Addo for his patriotic decision to lobby to host the secretariat of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area in Ghana.

He said Ghana deserves to have such a secretariat because of its pioneering role in the formation of the erstwhile Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union (AU).

The MP said the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has decided to fully support the government in its bid.

According to him, it was nationalistic on the part of President Akufo-Addo to also invite the former president, John Mahama to be an emissary to help lobby some of the heads of state of the member countries to support Ghana’s bid to host the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.

The ranking member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament, who is also the NDC MP for North Tongu, commended the president when he contributed to a motion in parliament on Thursday to approve the nomination of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for Ablekuma North, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, to the Pan African Parliament in South Africa to represent Ghana.

According to the North Tongu MP, it is refreshing to also note that a team from the AU had just visited the country and expressed satisfaction with progress made so far by the government in its quest to host the secretariat.

“Mr Speaker, this morning I listened to the BBC news and heard that the 22nd nation in the AU has just ratified the Africa Continental Free Trade Area and so we in the minority are solidly behind Ghana’s bid to host the secretariat,” he said, stressing the hosting of the secretariat would significantly improve the economic fortunes of the nation.

The ranking member further explained that owing to the Pan African credentials of Ghana, which are unparalled on the continent, all Ghanaians should support government to host the Secretariat of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com

E/R SUHUM DIARIES: Hon Frederick Opare-Ansah Donates Mathematical Sets To BECE Candidates

The Member of Parliament for Suhum constituency, Hon Frederick Opare-Ansah shares mathematical sets for about 2000 BECE candidates under his county.

This project has been in existence for the past years and its intent is to aid his students in writing the exams, to curb borrowing of items in exams center.

A little over 10,000gh was involved in this project but since he wants the best for his students, he never hesitates to spend even more on them. Not too long ago, he sponsored a mock exam for them to strengthen them and build upon their weaknesses in correcting simple mistakes and doing away with fear.

Hon Frederick Opare-Ansah is poised to invest his last amount in education for his constituents.

He uses the opportunity to also hit on the Free SHS which have been implemented by the ruling NPP government led by H. E. Nana Addo President of the Republic of Ghana and His Vice Alhaji Bawumia which awaits them. He wishes them good luck in accounting for what they have learnt for the past 3 years.

This exercise was embraced by Headteachers and the BECE candidates, they thanked the Hon MP for his philanthropist gesture on yearly basis and God’s blessings for him in all his endeavors.

Released by
Augustine Odei
Director of Communications NPP Suhum
0240195970

EDITORIAL: Ghana cannot imitate Kagame’s Rwanda in a lot of ways – P.K Sarpong

Paul Kagame’s Rwanda, oftentimes, becomes the nectar from which Ghana should feed in its quest to enforce its existing laws, according to a section of Ghanaians.

Many people instance Rwanda as an epitome of a working society, and thus, ask Ghana to embrace its leadership style as that is the only way to guarantee the success stories which have eluded us for years.

Imitating Rwanda in itself isn’t a bad idea but it is an impossible dream. It is idealistic, to put it mildly, since our system of governance is worlds apart from what pertains to the governance system in Rwanda.

For what it’s worth, Paul Kagame has been lucky to have been president of Rwanda since the year 2000. He has been in power for almost twenty years.

This affords him the leeway to implement any policy he believes could advance the growth and development of Rwanda.

Plastic products have been outlawed by Kagame and the plaudits therein cannot be underestimated since it has the potential to rid the country of the damages caused by them.

The number of churches in Rwanda were found to be outrageous, and this led to Paul Kagame taking steps to trim them down, and this, as expected, has been met with an acclamation from the rest of the continent.

With an electoral system that allows individual presidents to run for office for two terms with no promise of the party retaining party if implemented policies do not meet the approval of the electorate, it would be highly impossible to adopt Kagame’s style.

The fear of losing elections is non-existent for Paul Kagame in Rwanda. This is where he derives his power from. In Ghana, the political landscape hardly allows such methodologies to be adopted. Political opponents could capitalize on the downsides of such policies and kick the governing party out of office.

It may sound heavenly and serene to exemplify the good policies of Kagame, the reality is that our political system and the extreme partisan nature of our political environment militate against Kagame-like policies.

Plastics can be banned, but success can crease our brows if the people are prepared to paradigmatically change their ways.

Putting a cap on the number of churches in Ghana may bring a bit of relief to a section of the populace, the ramifications could be so enormous that the government cannot withstand.

Kagame and his Rwanda are good examples, their policies, however, can hardly be replicated in our political system.

VIDEO: Former GFA capo Kwesi Nyantakyi lifts lid on reaction after Anas exposé

Former Ghana Football Association (GFA) president Kwesi Nyantakyi has opened up on how he dealt with the Anas exposé over the last twelve months.

Exactly one year ago, Ghana was thrown into a state of shock following the airing of an undercover video documentary by renowned investigative journalist Anas Aremayaw Anas.

In the documentary, Mr. Nyantakyi was seen allegedly negotiating for a 25 percent cut of a sponsorship deal meant for the federation to be diverted to a company he owns.

In the aftermath of the video, the former Wa All Stars bankroller resigned from his position as the nation’s football governing body head as well as his positions at FIFA and CAF.

Nyantakyi has digested the agony he went through during these past twelve months as he disclosed how he took the news and its influence on his life during a colourful event at Nima in Accra to break the Ramadan fasting with his fellow Muslim brothers.

Watch the video below;

Iron, Steel Industry For Yendi – Dr. Bawumia

Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has disclosed that government would establish iron and steel industry in the Yendi municipality of the Northern Region.

“Yendi will be the center for the iron and steel industry and this is the time to exploit it,” he announced.

He made this known when he called on the king of Dagbon in Yendi and performed iftar and Magrib prayer with him.

According to him, last month, the Ghana Iron and Steel Development Corporation Bill was passed by Parliament.

About 1.7 billion tonnes of iron have been discovered in an exploration exercise at Sheini in the Tatale/Sanguli District of the Northern Region.

Reports indicate that the iron ore that has been discovered at Sheini is the biggest in the country.

Dr. Bawumia indicated that the railway from Tema would pass through Yendi to Paga because of the iron and steel discovered in the area.

Dr. Bawumia noted that the iron and steel industry would create massive jobs opportunities for the youth in Yendi and its environs.

He also called on residents of Dagbon to support and pray government to transform the country as well as fulfill the promises made to them

I can’t honour your ‘inappropriate’ court invitation – Ayariga to Amidu

Member of Parliament for Bawku Central Mahama Ayariga has begun a showdown with the Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu, stating he cannot avail himself in court Tuesday to be tried for alleged tax evasion and abuse of office.

Mr Amidu in March filed his first case against Mr Ayariga and subsequently wrote to the Speaker of Parliament to “release” the MP to appear in court on June 4 to answer some criminal charges against him.

But the MP who just returned from Abuja on parliamentary duties have responded to the SP describing the invitation as “inappropriately” hence will not honour same.

Justifying why he cannot attend court session on Tuesday, the MP said “absenting myself from sittings of parliament for a certain number of days without the Speaker’s permission, could be grounds for my removal from parliament”.

In a terse response to the SP dated June 2, Mr Ayariga raised key constitutional issues, stating unequivocally that the Speaker of Parliament has no right to “release” a sitting Member of Parliament to be arraigned in court.

“Be informed that any conduct on your part that in anyway impedes or obstructs my right to be in parliament on 4th June and represent the good people of Bawku will amount to contempt of parliament,” Mr Ayariga stated.

“I believe you have read article 122 of the constitution. The language of article 122 does bind even the Speaker of parliament,” he added.

The MP contended that Amidu’s letter inviting the Speaker of Parliament “to engage in an unconstitutional conduct” could cause the Speaker to also be cited for content of parliament.

Source: 3news.com

Nigeria deports four Ghanaians for falsification of Nigerian identity – Foreign Affairs ministry confirmed

The Federal Republic of Nigeria has deported four Ghanaians for falsification of Nigerian identity, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says in a statement.

This should be a wake up call to the officials responsible for the registration of the Ghana Card and the law enforcement agencies to crack the whip on anybody who engages his/herself in such manner.

EDITORIAL: Ghana’s sanitation problem and the citizen’s contribution

Much as I concede, that successive governments have done little relative to curbing perennial flooding in our cities, I believe, that the attitude of the “typical Ghanaian” is the major contributory factor that cannot be swept under the carpet.

A woman dumping refuse into a main drainage

Dumping of rubbish into major drainages, indiscriminate littering on the streets, at lorry parks, markets etc by both hawkers and pedestrians, building on waterways without recourse to law just to name a few are the very reasons that have culminated in the challenge we face after the slightest downpour.

Some have said, government should ban plastics, others have also said, soldiers should be deployed onto the streets to sanitize the system because we’re undisciplined as a people.

Question : what’s your take?

Obrempong-Nana Kwaku Ampomah
(A worried citizen)

UCL MADRID 19: [Photos] Meet Kinsey Wolanski; the Turkish model who run across the pitch half naked

Kinsley Wolanski is a Turkish model whose goal is to build a life she doesn’t need a vacation from.

She run across the pitch half naked with no one know her intention but the security personnel rushed to get her off for the game to continue.

The girl who run across the pitch had over 200k followers on Instagram before invading the pitch. Now she has over 700k followers. Page numbers growing by the minute.

Good News for Ghanaian Construction Firms; As Turkish Gov’t Organises Turkey-Africa Construction Summit in September

Another business opportunity offers itself for Ghanaian business community operators in the construction industry.

The government of Turkey is at it again with a business summit opportunity for the Africa Construction market but more specifically tailored for the Ghanaian business community with designed packages of new modern technology.

Equipment in display include Construction chemicals, Dye Roof, Lift, Door to Window, Arcade, Automation Door switch systems, Construction Machines, Hardware Man and Hand tools, Structural Steel, Prefabs, Construction system, Interior decoration, Wall and Floor coverings, Doors and accessories, Bathroom and Kitchen equipment, Electricity lighting automation.

This year’s Turkey Africa business summit will witness not less than 660 companies, 200 manufacturing companies and 300 supplier companies in all sectors but notably among them is the Construction wares.

The Africa Turkey Construction summit is expected to start on 3rd September 2019 to 4th September, 2019 at Turkey Wow Convention center, Istanbul.

Esty Shipping Company Ltd at Kotoka International Airport has been mandated to communicate with interested persons and companies who want to take part via 0302984786, 03029088425 and 0244176322.

[VIDEO]: John Boadu reveals how Akuffo-Addo saved Ghana’s bauxite from Ibrahim Mahama

The General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu says but for the timely intervention of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), former President John Mahama and his brother, Ibrahim Mahama would have “benefitted alone from the country’s bauxite”.
Speaking in a one-on-one interview with Nana Yaw Kesse on Peace FM’s ‘The Platform’ programme, Wednesday, John Boadu said unlike the former President’s decision to hand over the Bauxite deal to his brother, President Akufo-Addo through the same bauxite has received $2bn through the Sinohydro deal which is being used to construct roads and so on
Watch video below

Source: peacefmonline.com

One of Ghana’s craziest Rappers, McRoni Holds Never Left EP Listening at Tema Newtown

This is history, the energy here is crazy. I’ve never seen anything like this – this is another level of inspiration. He’s at G.O.A.T status, another level. Legendary.”

It is clear Engineers, Keena Gh and SwaggBoi Breezy are still in awe of what they witnessed last Saturday at the RoofTop Pub during the ‘Never Left EP Listening by McRoni and the McRoni Music Clan (MMC).

McRoni is the artist who performed – it’s his first headline show after a while of being mute to prepare the grounds for his musical career.

It’s been described as the biggest music event in Tema Newtown.

RoofTop Pub(Tema NewTown Manhean Last Stop) which hosted the concert, is listed as having an important personalities like Miss Grace Nartey (Tema East Deputy Women Organizer NDC), Hon Moshake (Executive Member of NDC Tema East and A Leader of GPHA Workers)

For the first night of McRoni’s Never Left EP Listening, we had artists like Addi Pundit, Skon, Pijuu Lighter, Deinty Bwoy, Natta Blakka, SwaggBoi and Dade Flava, who also performed their heart out. Engineers Keena Gh and SwaggBoi Breezy also graced the occation as well as God Dey Bless Media Consult and Otapat Media who also joined hands to give a full video and photo coverage.

“I haven’t seen anything like that and I have been to a few concerts. To come out and do this, that’s crazy,” one of the attendees said this after the program

It was all fun and memorable.

REVEALED: GCB Bank lost GHȼ1bn in 4 months after absorbing UT, Capital banks

The GCB Bank lost almost half of the deposits it inherited from the UT Bank and the Capital Bank to panic withdrawals, four months after absorbing all the liabilities and selected assets of the collapsed banks, its Deputy Managing Director in charge of Finance, Mr Socrates Affram, has disclosed.

In August 2017, Mr Affram said GCB Bank absorbed total deposits of GHȼ2.3 billion from the two banks but by December 2017 — four months after the purchase and assumption — it had lost about GHȼ1 billion to panic withdrawals.

The situation exerted undue pressure on the bank’s finances, forcing it to liquidate almost all of its interbank investments to be able to contain the ‘heat’, Mr Affram said.

GCB Bank also had to fall on the Bank of Ghana (BoG) for liquidity support to the tune of GHȼ400 million to be able to meet withdrawals, the DMD told stock market analysts and the media on May 23.

He said the loss was in spite of assurances from the central bank that customers needed not to rush into withdrawing their deposits from the absorbing bank — GCB Bank, Mr Affram said on May 23.

He made the disclosures when the bank took its turn at the facts behind the figures programme organised by the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) for listed companies.

“If you scrutinise our published reports, you will notice that in the quarters prior to the assumption, we had a substantial amount of interbank investments and as a bank, because of these heavy withdrawal, we had to liquidate all our investments in that space,” he stated.

“We had to go to the central bank to tell them we were bleeding too much from the process. So we borrowed GH ȼ400 million from them,” he noted.

Subsequently, he said, the bank was able to mobilise some deposits and tapped into some of the businesses they took over, especially in the area of trade.

Toxic loans

Mr Affram also downplayed concerns that GCB Bank took over bad loans from the two banks, stating that the bank did not take over all the loans.

“In terms of loans, people were afraid GCB had gone to take toxic loans but that was not the case.

Even with the deposits, not all of them were taken over by the bank because some of them were fictitious and also with the loans, we selected a few,” he explained.

“From the very onset, we took over about GHȼ75 million and then in the course of time as we engaged some of the customers and their business models, we brought on board an additional GHȼ75 million so in total, the loan assets we took from UT and Capital was not more than GHȼ150 million,” he emphasised.

In effect, he said, the contribution of the two banks to the assets of GCB were paid for by a bond of about GHȼ2.2 billion.

420 staff laid off

In total, he said, the bank had to lay off 420 staff out of the 850 it inherited from the two banks.

He said that followed the rationalisation of the branches that it took over which were reduced from 53 to 22.

“Between UT and capital, we had regular staff of about 850 from day one and we worked with this number until February 2018 and that was when we pruned it down to 550 due to the rationalisation of the branches,” he explained.

“We assumed 53 branches and we settled on 22 so about 300 staff had to leave. About 120 also had to leave later because their documents did not meet our requirements,” he added.

Mortgage business

The Managing Director of GCB, Mr Ray Sowah, explaining why the bank had still not commenced its mortgage business, said government was providing it with some concessionary lending to support the mortgage business and that was what was delaying the take-off of the business.

“We have not taken off fully because the modalities from government have not been fully completed so once the modalities are completed,we will roll it out,” he said.

“Latest by July, we should be able to take off but a lot is dependent on the modalities being completed by government with which we are going to work with,” he added.

Stonebwoy finally reacts to Shatta Wale mocking him with his crippled leg

Livingstone Etse Satekla aka Stonebwoy, the Ghanaian Afropop, Dancehall and Reggae artiste who is also the CEO of Burniton Music Group has finally reacted to the mock from Shatta Wale, his music rival who has been laughing at him with his crippled one leg.

According to Stonebwoy, anyone who laughs at anyone with his deformity in one way or the other is childish, immature and foolish so he/she should be ignored all by well-meaning people.

The ‘Bawasaba’ hitmaker revealed that although he was not born deformed, there is no sense in mocking someone who has deformity whether he was born with it or not because a person can never know what further has for them.

Explaining how he fractured his leg, Stonebwoy revealed that he was traveling with his father and his twin brother in his daddy’s car when they had a head-on collision with a police vehicle when he was just 14 years old.

His twin brother died instantly and he fractured his knee. His father also suffered some injuries from the accident. He nearly lost his right keg but for some doctors who save him.

But he limped on that leg for years until recently he had a surgery in abroad to fix the knee that was making him limp so much.

Listen to Stonebwoy below

Free me and I’ll pay your locked up cash – NAM 1 begs from Dubai prison

Beleaguered Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Menzgold, Nana Appiah Mensah has revealed in a leaked conversation that he is prepared to pay off the locked up cash of his clients once he is released from detention.

NAM 1 as affectionately called, is currently in detention in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following his arrest after a deal with a company there went bad.

He was subsequently acquitted of any wrongdoing but is still in detention following a red alert issued by Interpol in view of the fact the Ghana Police Service declared him wanted over claims he had jumped bail.

Controversial musician and supporter of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Asare Obeng otherwise known as A Plus who spoke to owner of the troubled gold dealership firm from his prison detention, revealed that he is willing to settle all his indebtedness.

“Some NDC and NPP big guys have money with Menzgold. Some poor people, some widows even invested the donations they received at their husband’s funerals. Why will I run away with all this money? I’m waiting for government to give the green light for me to come to Ghana and arrange payment. I understand that some paperwork must be done so I’m waiting. If government is ready today, I will be in Ghana today. My assets exceed my liabilities. Why can’t I pay?”, NAM 1 is quoted to have said in his twelve minutes, twenty-one seconds telephone conversation.

Nana Oye Lithur Shops For MP Job After Bitter Divorce

FORMER MINISTER of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, is turning to the Adenta Constituency in Accra, to test the waters again in her quest to become a National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP).

Nana Oye whose marriage with lawyer Tony Lithur recently hit the rock leading to a bitter battle over divorce, has already met her former employer, former President John Mahama to make her intentions known.

She has also indicated that she has had consultations with her mentors, advisors, party executives, constituents of Adenta over the move to take a shot at the parliamentary seat.

According to her, “following consultations with my Mentors, Advisors, Party Executives, Constituents of Adentan and after a lot of self reflection, I have taken a resolute decision to offer myself as a willing and able candidate for the Adentan Parliamentary Seat on the ticket of the NDC.”

Her visit to Mr. Mahama on Tuesday to announce to him, she said in a statement posted on facebook, was “to solicit his counsel.”

Previous Failed Attempts

Nana Oye had over the last few years been crisscrossing the Western, Greater Accra and Eastern Regions, desperately shopping for a parliamentary seat.

She started with Shama in the Western Region in 2014 where the odds were against her, then moved to Odododiodioo in the Greater Accra Region and could not stand the heat of Bukom man, Nii Lantey Vandepuye and finally tested her popularlity at Aburi in the Eastern Region but was not welcomed making her to quench her burning parliamentary fire.

As at the time she was made a minister by virtue of her estranged husband’s association with the NDC and John Mahama, she was not a card bearing member of the party.

She conceded during her vetting that she was not an NDC member.
Even though NDC has not open nominations for the 2020 polls, Oye Lithur, a former human rights activist has suddenly ressurected her parliamentary ambition, targeting the Adentan constituency where the NDC candidate Mohammed Ramadan, brother of Second Lady, Samira Bawumia lost the election in 2016 to Yaw Buabeng Asamoah, NPP Director of Communications.

Divorce Saga

And she is back at it again at Adenta in the Greater Accra Region, this time around with an embarrassing divorce case – which is still ongoing in court – on grounds of her alleged infidelity which has been a subject matter for ‘gossips.’

Tony Lithur had accused his wife of over 25years in 2018 of among other things, being a violent woman, not a good mother and wife, as well as cheating on him with several men.

He also accused her of acquiring a property valued at $400,000 in South Africa. DAILY GUIDE has learnt that the case is before the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, for investigation.

Mahama’s Acknowledgment

In a statement posted on her Facebook wall, she said the former President during the meeting “acknowledged the need to elect strong, opinionated candidates who would appeal to the general electorate during the 2020 elections.”

She said “the general elections would involve the entire voting public and not just the NDC delegates, in this regard we as a party need to be strategic in our selection of parliamentary candidates.”

According to her, “we must also consider the strength, the character and track record of the aspirants to determine if they can emerge victorious in the general elections.”

Source:DGN

Physically-challenged, one other, jailed total of 22 years

Two persons including a physically-challenged who conspired to rob a bread seller at knife point, at Bantama in Kumasi, have been sentenced to a total of 22 years imprisonment by a Kumasi Circuit Court.

Kwaku Gyasi, the physically-challenged whose disability hampered him from running away from the crime scene, was arrested and later identified the other accomplice, Emmanuel Teiko. Whilst the third accomplice only named as Awudu, is on the run.

The two pleaded guilty to the charges of conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery and were convicted on their own pleas.

Kwaku Gyasi was jailed 10 years on both counts whiles Emmanuel Teiko also got 12 years on both counts. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Chief Inspector Timothy Amoako, Prosecuting, told the Court the three are all unemployed.

He said the complainant is Comfort Agambille, a resident of Santasi in Kumasi, and a bread seller.

He said the crime was committed on 20 January 2019 at about 0400 hours, when the complainant after alighting at Bantama in front of the Pentecost Church from a trotro she had boarded was attacked.

Prosecution said the complainant was on her way to a baker’s house to get her daily supply of bread for sale, when the miscreants pulled a knife on her, ordering her to surrender all she had.

Mr Amoako said the victim obliged and handed over to them the black polythene sachet containing her ITEL phone valued at GH₵100.00, a cash of GH₵1,600.00 and a GH₵5.00 loaf of bread.

He said they then bolted with the booty but complainant immediately raised an alarm which attracted the attention of some residents in the area, who pursued them.

The prosecution said the disabled who could not escape due to his physical impairment, sought refuge under a non-functioning school bus parked in front of a house in the vicinity.

He said he was however spotted by some neighbours, arrested and handed over to the Suntreso Police.

Mr Amoako said during Police interrogation, convict Gyasi mentioned the names of the other accomplices.

The prosecution said Teiko was arrested later at a hideout by some community members who found the stolen itel mobile phone in his possession. He was subsequently handed over to the police together with the phone.

The two convicts in course of investigations led the police to the crime scene where the black plastic sachet and its content was retrieved in a big gutter at North Suntreso, but without the GH₵1600.00 cash.

They were subsequently charged and arraigned

FIFA frees Kwesi Nyantakyi on Anas’ number 12 exposé

A forensic audit conducted by FIFA on the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has found no acts corruption or financial impropriety on Kwesi Nyantakyi during his tenure, Ghanasoccernet.com can exclusively reveal.

The audit conducted on the orders of the world governing body six months ago also cleared members of the Executive Committee of the GFA of any acts of malfeasance.

The FIFA auditing officials, who spent about one month in Ghana investigating the financial affairs of the federation, discovered that neither corruption nor embezzlement took place at the GFA.

The audit report concluded that the Ghana FA has only ‘perception issues’ to deal with since media reports of corruption within the federation are ‘wide off the mark’, the report said.

However, the FIFA auditors recommended that the slim accounts office staff must be boosted while modern accountancy software used by some federations like the South African FA must be acquired by the Ghana FA to ease the workload.

The audit report has been made available to the Normalisation Committee of the GFA for about two months now but it is not known why it has so far been kept secret from the public.

The report will come as a huge relief for Nyantakyi and the Executive Committee of the Ghana FA as there were suspicions of corruption within the federation.

Since Nyantakyi left office, Ghana football has suffered some paralysis as the Normsalisation Committee has struggled to meet the expectations of the football fraternity.

This is also a boost for the former Ghana FA boss in his fight to clear his name after the sting operation by Anas Aremeyaw Anas made allegations of corruption against him.

The forensic audit was sparked by Nyantakyi’s resignation from his position as the President of the Ghana FA in the wake of an undercover investigation that claimed he took bribes.

Nyantakyi resigned his Caf and Fifa posts but claimed the footage had been doctored to falsely incriminate him.

Despite that the adjudicatory chamber of Fifa’s ethics committee banned him for life from “all football-related activities at both national and international level”.

The former Ghana FA chief has taken the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport where he is challenging the FIFA decision.

He has also sent Anas to court in Ghana claiming the violation of his human rights and also seeking damages for defamation.

Source: GHANAsoccernet.com

EDITORIAL: A letter to Hannah Bissiw over lies of threats to her life – PK Sarpong

Dear Hannah Bissiw,

Your expertise in insolence is an open secret to the extent that whenever your name is mentioned, the refrain has always been ‘that insolent NDC woman?’

Little did we know that you have added comedy to the trait known to be part and parcel of your political career.

Insolence and comedy are poles apart since each of them dwells in a different world.

You spoke on Power FM and alleged that you have been receiving text messages threatening to ‘eliminate’ you on the flimsy reason that you hit this government extremely hard in the media.

You also indicated that you are not in a hurry to report these threats to the Police CID because the messages mentioned that the CID is in league with these evil-minded people plotting to kill you.

Madam, I can understand that since the NDC lost the 2016 elections, you have waned in terms of relevance and want to ride to the top again using this fairytale of a story.

You cannot regain the obnoxious fame which used to define you through such a schemed Kweku Ananse story.

I am inclined to believe that you are peddling falsehoods with these allegations. Nobody has your time. We don’t have to deal with you in such a crude manner.

A few weeks ago, you took to your heels when you met our own Jennifer Queen in the studios of Kasapa FM. She dealt with you intellectually, and you took to your heels. That’s how we would deal with you but not through any nefarious but criminal actions aimed at killing you.

You are not worth ‘eliminating’ because you don’t come to the table with anything potent enough to destabilize us.

You may see yourself as important within your party, but Madam, we in the NPP see you to be a weightless loudmouthed woman who wants to climb up the political ladder through insults.

Comedy doesn’t become you. In fact, it doesn’t even suit you! There is a wider gap between your insolent behaviour and comedy!

How can comedy and insolence be in a symbiotic relationship when they live in different environments?

Hannah, tell these incredulous stories to the marines. We are too discerning to be hoodwinked by this fable of yours.

The duck, though a bird, cannot soar in the skies above like the eagle. Your cock and bull story is dead on arrival. No wonder you chose to grant that interview to Mugabe Maase, after all, birds of a feather, they say, flock together.

P.K. Sarpong

The Ghanaian media has been misled by “Lovers” of Charlotte Osei

Stage in this political space as the melodrama has hit the rooftop and ought to be tamed lest political actors become laughing stocks in the eyes of the apolitical.

We cannot run away from the fact that the dismissal of Charlotte Osei was a blow that hypnotized members of the NDC to the core.

The passage of time after her dethronement appears to have failed to assuage their pains simply because she was seen to be sympathetic to their cause (not that I find it problematic since that fact could not help the NDC to stay in office).

Frantically, they have been searching for something worthwhile to jab members of the NPP on, and we woke up only to be told that Charlotte Osei has been elevated by the UN.

Web-portals have been awash with news about the former Chairperson of Ghana’s Electoral Commission to the effect that she has been appointed as the International Electoral Commissioner for Afghanistan as the war torn country seeks to get its leaders through the ballot.

The absurdity in this whole matter is that there’s nothing like an International Electoral Commissioner. The term or portfolio doesn’t exist anywhere in the world.

It only goes to show that this is a pure invention by the NDC to give Charlotte Osei some self-importance in the wake of her predicament.

What boggles the mind of many people is the way the media houses reported the news item. It is strange that none of them did any background checks to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of this so-called International Electoral Commissioner position having been conferred on Charlotte Osei.

If the ‘vibrant’ media in the country fell for this crap of a news item, then it leaves so much to be desired. As the gatekeepers of our democracy, a section of the media gullibly swallowed this falsity hook, line and sinker. Clearly, the media has let us down in this instance.

Ghana has become an object of derision because its daughter has supposedly been selected as the International Electoral Commissioner for Afghanistan, a portfolio that exists in their warped minds.

How a mere election monitor transmogrified into an International Electoral Commissioner is something that the mind cannot assimilate.

“Go to court & defend yourself if you are innocent” – Ayariga advised

A New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) communications officer Ernest Yaw Kumi has asked the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, to go to court and challenge the Special Prosecutor if he feels the allegations leveled against him are untrue.

He has also ruled out claims of personal vendetta against the legislator by Martin Amidu.

To him, it makes no sense for anyone to say that Martin Amidu was a mission to go after Mahama Ayariga because of perceived feud between the two of them.

Mr. Yaw Kumi said the Special Prosecutor had been consistently attacked by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for doing nothing after he was appointed but after he started work, they are changing the narrative.

‘’I do not want to go into the substance of the matter because the case is in court. But the NDC over the past two weeks attacked Martin Amidu claiming he has done nothing and now that he has started work, they are complaining. You called for prosecution and it has started so why you are complaining?”

He said, ‘’the Deputy General Secretary for the NDC, Mr. Otokunor described the office as useless; you called for it, he has started so keep quiet and let him do his job.’’

The NDC he said does not have the mandate to select cases for the Special Prosecutor to prosecute.

‘’The Special Prosecutor is working in accordance with the law and so he should be allowed to work. If Ayariga believes he is innocent, he should go to court.’’

He was speaking to Kwabena Agyapong on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm.

The Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu has sued the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga.

Mahama Ayariga is facing five counts of among other things, evasion of duties and taxes.

Joined to the suit is one Kendrick Akwasi Marfo of ATLAS-Rent-A-Car company.

It is the case of the Special Prosecutor that Mahama Ayariga ‘’…in November 2017 at Tema in the Greater Accra Region did fraudulently evade customs duties and taxes by paying GH¢6,062.86 instead of the approved duties and taxes of GH¢36,597.15 to clear three Toyota V8 Land Cruisers.”

He is also accused of allegedly abusing his office as a public officer for his private benefit by “selling three Toyota V8 Land Cruisers with registration numbers GR 2220-18, GR 2221-18 and GR 2222-18 meant to be used for your official duties as a Member of Parliament to Kendrick Akwasi Marfo of ATLAS-Rent-A-Car at a price of GH¢40,000 each.”

Meanwhile, the legislator says the allegations are not entirely true.

He denies evading tax because “taxes on all the vehicles have been paid. There is no tax owed on any of the vehicles…there is not even a 1 cedi tax owed on any of the vehicles.”

Mr Ayariga explained that it was no fault of his that ?6,000 instead of ?36,000 import duty was paid for the three Land Cruisers.

According to him, “when the vehicles came, Parliament wrote to Finance Ministry for exemption, Finance wrote to GRA granting the exemption and then assessed the exemption at 36,000 [cedis] then we gave the money to an agent to clear the vehicles.

“When the agent got to the port, he was told that the assessment by the Finance Ministry was wrong and that it was 6,000 [cedis] so he paid that and brought the balance back. So when Martin Amidu started the investigations and invited me, I told him I never went to the port so [he should] invite the agent and ask him how he paid ?6,000 instead of ?36,000,” the MP narrated.

Source: rainbowradioonline.com

NPP Germany Responds to Okudzeto Ablakwa’s AU holiday restoration comment

Ghana has a lot of challenges to deal with in all facets of its national life. In a very plausible effort, the NPP government led by HE Nana Akuffo-Addo, is trying to restore decency and progress to Ghana.

Having seen the progress chalked under the able leadership of HE Nana Akuffo-Addo, the NDC has always raised non issues with the sole aim of distracting the government from pursuing its developmental agenda.

NPP Germany, has taken note of yet another of such distractions. This is found in Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa’s (Hon NDC MP North Tong) statement on AU day – in which statement, he accuses the president of trying to undermine the legacy of Nkrumah

It is quite clear that the younger generation of NDC adherents have lost their political identities and Mr Ablakwa exemplifies that. The founder of NDC, Jerry John Rawlings, is on record not to be amused by the successes of Nkrumah which the NDC likes to highlight as though it’s part of their failed government’s achievements.

The NDC in many covert operations, destroyed CPP, the party founded by Nkrumah. They used money to woo many elements in CPP to NDC. We are surprised that the very party whose actions have suffocated the CPP, the party of Nkrumah, would today assume high heights to accuse NPP of very bogus allegations.

Kwame Nkrumah is a towering figure not just in Africa but the world. Undermining him will not solve the everyday bread and butter issues of the ordinary Ghanaian. If there’s anything Nkrumah yearned for, it’d be seeing Ghana and indeed Africa on the path of prosperity and not holidays for his commemoration. We firmly believe that Nkrumah would be happier with NPP today seeing the amount of progress Ghana has seen under the NPP. On the other hand, NDC that demonstrated gross incompetence and predatory corruption while in government, would have been banned by Nkrumah if he were alive.

The progress of any country is not merely in setting aside holidays to celebrate individuals no matter how heroic. By way of education, Mr Ablakwa should know that – the AU day is not for celebrating Nkrumah. Indeed the president has through an act of parliament, set aside the birthdate of Nkrumah as a national holiday. We fail to understand how not ‘sitting home’ on AU day while a lot of work remains to be done in the country, constitutes diminishment to Nkrumah’s legacy.

What Ghana and Africa need now is a lot of hard work and not holidays. Clearly, Ablakwa has demonstrated that the NDC’s approach to the problems of Ghana is ‘sitting home’. We hope this is not the campaign strategy of the NDC going into elections 2020 because if it is, the NDC’s all-time record of being a party without a message would be cemented.

Do Ablakwa and the NDC think Ghanaians will leave free SHS, a working health insurance, 1D 1F, 1 village 1 dam, etc for a government whose focus is to give a holiday on AU day? What Okudzeto could and should have done as a ranking member on foreign affairs, was to suggest ways to make the AU stronger than it is today. Is it the view of him and the NDC that declaring a holiday on AU day would make the AU stronger enough to rub shoulders with the EU, China, America and other regional organisations?

The point has to be made that, the AU day is not a day to commemorate Nkrumah and that there already exist a holiday designated to celebrate his heroic role in Africa. The NDC’s attempt to ride on the back of Nkrumah in order to be relevant – is only a clutch to straw: it is a shame and shows how clueless the party is.

We continue to urge the NDC to raise the bar a bit when they come to national discourse.

Nana Boateng
Director of Communication
NPP Germany Branch

NDC will restore AU holiday – Ablakwa assures

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will restore the commemoration of AU Day as a statutory holiday when it comes to power.

Parliament recently passed the bill which was seeking to scrap AU and Republic Days as public holidays and introduce January 7 as Constitution Day.

Mr. Ablakwa believes the move forms part of President Nana Akufo- Addo’s plans to diminish Ghana’s first President Kwame Nkrumah.

“Under the direction of President Akufo-Addo, today the 25th of May which marks Africa Union Day or Africa Liberation Day as was reintroduced by President John Agyekum Kufuor as a public holiday in 2002 has now been degraded and therefore no longer a public holiday.”

“How embarrassing that seven years down the lane, in his home country, Ghana – President Akufo-Addo continues to pursue an agenda of diminishing Africa’s man of the millennium.”

Mr. Ablakwa was, however, quick to add that Mr. Akufo-Addo’s agenda for scrapping the holiday will fail, given that the NDC intends restoring the holiday when it comes to power.

“President Akufo-Addo should know by now that his agenda has already failed and just as President John Agyekum Kufuor restored full commemoration of AU Day, so shall a future NDC Government restore Ghana to its pride of place; considering that we have already served notice in Parliament.”

AU Day or Africa Day is the annual commemoration across the continent of the day the Organisation of African Unity, now the AU was founded.

Below is the statement from Mr. Ablakwa

Under the direction of President Akufo-Addo, today the 25th of May which marks Africa Union Day or Africa Liberation Day as was reintroduced by President John Agyekum Kufuor as a public holiday in 2002 has now been degraded and therefore no longer a public holiday.

It’s a real shame that Ghana, the country considered to be mother of the Africa Union due to the vision and sacrifices of our founding President, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah who first convened the All African Peoples Conference of 1958 here in Accra to lay the foundations of continental unity five years before the OAU was born in 1963 will now be set on a path by President Akufo-Addo where our Pan-African leadership and the inspiration we offer black people all over the world now stands undermined.

Kwame Nkrumah’s imposing bronze statue stands tall at the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa to remind all Africans and people of the world about Nkrumah’s pioneering role. I recall with great pride how in January 2012, Osagyefo’s statue was unveiled in Ethiopia by a powerful Ghanaian delegation led by Prof. John Evans Atta Mills and which comprised former President Jerry John Rawlings, Hon. Allan Kyerematen and Madam Mary Chinery-Hesse representing President John Kufuor and then the designer and sculptor Dr. Don Arthur. Of course, Prof. Francis Nkrumah and Samia Nkrumah represented Nkrumah’s immediate family at that quintessentially proud Ghanaian moment of history.

How embarrassing that seven years down the lane, in his home country, Ghana – President Akufo-Addo continues to pursue an agenda of diminishing Africa’s man of the millennium.

President Akufo-Addo should know by now that his agenda has already failed and just as President John Agyekum Kufuor restored full commemoration of AU Day, so shall a future NDC Government restore Ghana to its pride of place; considering that we have already served notice in Parliament.

On this day, I invite us all to ponder over what W.E.B. Du Bois told the assemblage of the All African Peoples Conference convened by Nkrumah in December 1958: “If Africa unites, it will be because each part, each nation, each tribe gives up a part of the heritage for the good of the whole. That is what union means, that is what Pan-African means.”

Source: Citinewsroom.com

NPP Vice Chairman sues Sammy Gyamfi for defamation

The First Vice Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Central Region, Mr. Horace Ekow Ewusi, has sued the National communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Sammy Gyamfi at the High Court of Justice, General Jurisdiction Accra, Greater Region for defamation.

The NPP stalwart confirmed the report in an interview with Peace FM News.

According to him, Sammy Gyamfi has ruined his (Ewusi’s) high earned reputation calling him names and accusing him of conspiring with foreigners to undertake illegal mining in the country as a member of the Galamsey team.

It is believed the NDC’s Communication Director questioned the source of wealth of the NPP’s First Vice Chairman, and also tried linking it to conspiring and corruption activities being undertaken by Ekow Ewusi as a member of the galamsey team.

Mr. Ewusi on the 10th day of May 2019 got the Accra High Court to serve Mr. Sammy Gyamfi with a writ of defamation for which the defendants, Sammy Gyamfi is expected to enter appearance within eight days, failure of which a default judgment will be given against the defendant.

Mr. Ewusi, who by dint of his hard work and loyalty to the party, was elected as the First vice Chairman of the NPP in the Central Region, told Peace FM that he finds it “very denigrating and humiliating” that the Communication Director of the NDC found it necessary to accuse him of corruption and insulting his personality.

Meanwhile, reliable sources have hinted that the defendant, Sammy Gyamfi, is making strenuous efforts for an out of court settlement and has equally done that through some high profile party members and other influential personalities, but the NPP First Vice Chairman remains resolute in his desire to seek legal redress.

Source: peacefmonline.com