Tang Hong (second left) making the donation to Col. Yeboah-Agyapong. With them is President of the Ghana China Friendship Association.

The Association of Chinese Societies in Ghana has donated GHȼ50,000 to the 37 Military Hospital to support the treatment of victims of the Atomic Junction gas explosion.

About seven persons, including a cameraman attached to the presidential press corps, lost their lives while scores of individuals got injured on Saturday, October 7, 2017 during a gas explosion at Atomic Junction, a suburb of Accra.

Many of the victims are currently receiving treatment at the 37 Military Hospital which was their first port of call.

Chairman of the Association of Chinese Societies in Ghana, Tang Hong, in a statement on Tuesday in Accra, said that “the Chinese Community in Ghana is saddened to hear of the tragic event which occurred on Saturday, 7 October, 2017.”

He said “it is unfortunate that many families are still reeling from the great loss and pain of devastation caused by the Atomic Junction gas explosion.”

He indicated that the Chinese community in Ghana was obliged to offer assistance and humanitarian support to the victims.

“This donation is a token and to show our concern to the accident victims. We are hopeful this modest contribution will help to support some of the hospital expenses of the victims,” Mr Hong said.

According to him, “We all are fully aware that disasters cannot be completely avoided. It is also a fact that being struck by natural calamities such as this and its aftermath is a heart-wrenching experience.”

Receiving the cash on behalf of the hospital, Colonel Yeboah-Agyapong, Commanding Officer of the 37 Military Hospital, thanked the Chinese Societies for the support and said that it would go a long way to help meet the medical needs of the victims.

He said it takes long period of time to heal such victims which requires support, indicating that the last victim of the June 3 2015 victim was released from the hospital only a month ago.

Colonel Yeboah-Agyapong therefore appealed to other organizations to support the hospital to meet the medical needs of the fire victims.

By Melvin Tarlue

The post Chinese Societies Support Atomic Fire Victims appeared first on Daily Guide Africa.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II

An association of youth in the Ashanti Region has said a publication that appeared in a UK-based news portal citing Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in a money laundering scandal is spurious.

A statement issued Wednesday evening by the Concerned Youth of Asante stated that its President, Nana Dr Agyenim Boateng, is “convinced that the news is cooked to degrade the name of  His Royal Majesty of the Asante kingdom.”

The revered Asantehene is reported to have handed £350,000 cash to a banker, Mark Arthur, to be deposited on his behalf at the Ghana International Bank in the UK.

The bank official who handled the transfer said he did that because he is a subject of the King and could not question him over the money or any other issue.

He has since lost his job, which is a subject of litigation in the European country.

The Bank reported the matter to the UK’s National Crime Agency after the money was “suspiciously” transferred to Jersey, an Island in the country.

Read the full statement released by the Ashanti Region-based youth association.

ALLEGED MONEY LAUNDERING SAGA LEVELLED AGAINST THE ASANTE KING BOGUS….CYA

The president of the Concerned Youth of Asante, a pressure group in the Ashanti region ,Nana Dr Agyenim Boateng has issued a statement to rubbish the alleged $350,000 money laundering saga levelled against the Asante monarch, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II  as reported by a UK based Telegraph portal as bogus which has been  political motivated to tarnish the image of the  great Asante Kingdom.

H, however, commended the attitude characterized by the media in the  Ashanti region of being mute over the alleged money laundering scandal in the United Kingdom that has mentioned the name of  Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

Gyataba indicated that, considering the nature of the story as reported by the UK based online portal, he is much convinced that the news is cooked to degrade the name of  His Royal Majesty of the Asante kingdom.

According to him, Manhyia Palace has it own say on the story but as president of CYA, he knows Otumfuo Osei Tutu II respect the rules and regulations of foreign laws and would never violate any foreign laws because he is the occupant of the golden stool.

Though the  King of the Asante kingdom is yet to respond to the issue when  he returns from his current trip abroad.But Gyataba indicated, as a grandson of the golden stool he has every right to defend  Asantehene in this crucial time that some political apparatchiks wants to belittle His(otumfuo) kingdom.

He said, in 2012 this same stomach politicians tarnished the high won reputation of the Asantehene by telling the whole world that Otumfuo influenced the electoral commission of Ghana in the 2012 general elections.

The report which emerged in the UK-based Telegraph online portal claimed a top banker in the country lost his job after receiving a huge amount of cash for savings for the Otumfuo, a practice frowned upon by the UK laws.But Gyataba deduced that Otumfuo has respect for the laws of the UK and would not use his power as the Ghanaian king to flout the rules of the United Kingdom.

-Myjoyonline

The post Ashanti Youth Condemn ‘Bogus’ Money Laundering Allegation Against Otumfuo appeared first on Daily Guide Africa.

Dr Kwesi Aning

The Director, Faculty of Academic Affairs and Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) Dr. Kwesi Aning has described the diplomatic corps in Ghana as “liars”.

According to him, members of the diplomatic corps in Ghana fabricate stories to gain promotion in their respective countries.

Responding to reports by Wikileaks that he had described President Akufo-Addo as a weed smoker on Starr Chat, the security analyst said that report was a complete fabrication.

“That officer who wrote that report needs to be put on trial, my suspicion is that he had misspent that money that was given to entertain and he had to make up stories, I am not that stupid.

“When that story came out I issued a statement backed by the Kofi Annan Institute challenging the American embassy to bring out the tape…if not for anything at all the president is a man who believes in the rule of law and that is a man that I respect,” Dr. Aning told host Bola Ray on Wednesday.

The security analyst added “So that was a lie by the Americans and post that I have lost respect for the diplomatic corps because I know they lie, they fudge information because they want to get promotions in their own countries.

In a 2011 report by Wikileaks, Dr. Aning reportedly revealed to the US embassy and not only confirmed his knowledge of Nana Addo’s drug use but also referred the US ambassador to the Germans intelligence service for verification.

“When asked about rumours of Akufo-Addo’s cocaine use, Kwesi Aning admitted that Akufo-Addo had used drugs in his younger days, but that was now under control.” He added cryptically that “you can check with German intelligence on that.”

-Starrfmonline

The post Diplomatic Corps In Ghana Liars – Aning appeared first on Daily Guide Africa.

Some of the participants at the workshop

The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has bemoaned the fact that none of the Presiding Members (PMs) in the 22 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) in the Western Region is a woman.

The Centre is also not happy that out of the numerous elected and appointed district assembly members, only 59 are women while two hold the position of District Chief Executive (DCE) in the region.

To this end, CDD-Ghana is poised to train and prepare women to contest for positions in the district assemblies in the next assembly elections.

The political think-tank has therefore organized a capacity building workshop for female assembly members in some parts of the region to help improve their performance and make them more productive in their communities.

The three-day workshop, which was under the theme, “Strengthening the Capacities of Assembly Women in the Western Region to be more Functional, Efficient and Productive,” was also attended by gender desk officers and other selected women in the region.

CDD-Ghana believes that improved capacity, skills and knowledge to perform the duties imposed by the Constitution and other relevant local government laws would help the assembly women to better deliver on their mandate in a more effective and efficient manner.

Addressing the women, Ambassador Francis Tsegah, a senior research fellow at CDD-Ghana, noted that improved performance of the current assembly women would serve as motivation for other women to aspire to become assembly women.

“It will also provide a justification for the electorate to consider voting more women into the district assemblies,” he added.

He mentioned some of the challenges confronting women in contesting for competitive political positions as negative comments against them, traditional and cultural stereotypes and financial.

“Yet in the face of all these challenges, it is also a fact that some women have remained steadfast and have been victorious over men to win seats in national and district political competitions,” Ambassador Francis Tsegah observed.

He continued, “Their performance validates the fact that women have the capabilities to serve their constituents and communities better if given the needed support.”

The workshop was organized with support from the French Embassy in Ghana.

From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi

The post No Woman PM In Western Region appeared first on Daily Guide Africa.

Dr. George Eric Gyamfi Osew, Director, Operations at National Lottery Authority (NLA) has called on the membership of Old School  Associations to extend their mandate of providing support to their alma mater to one of playing advocacy roles in the general development of education and welfare of the people.

Speaking at the Presbyterian Boys Senior High School (PRESEC) old Boys Association’s (Odadee) 6th Engman Klufio-Batsa Commemorative lectures, he indicated that the associations will be seen in this new direction as a vibrant group contributing significantly to ensuring that the rights of both students and the rest of the citizenry are respected by government.

The lecture which was held at the auditorium of the school lately was under the theme,”Mobilising Odadees Around the Globe for National Development”

“We have remained within the limits of our mandate as providers or additional resources to our schools for far too long and the time to commend or draw government’s attention to burning issues of state is now,” he stated.

Describing the President’s Free Secondary School (SHS) as a timely lifeline intervention, he observed that it has taken a huge financial burden off the shoulders of parents.

While he appealed for putting measures in place to sustain the policy (free SHS), he also indicated that it was in fulfillment of the global call for Access, Equity and Quality education for all.

Dr. Gyamfi Osew who traced the history of basic education in the country lamented over the inconsistencies that has characterized the educational system of the country each time there was a change of government adding that adequate measures be put in place to ensure the nation knows its direction when it comes to education delivery.

“The future of our children cannot be taken for a ride, we need to know what we want to achieve as a people and hold onto it that our people will benefit from a well structured educational system- including technical and vocational education,” he stressed.

Planting for Food and Jobs

The Director who also congratulated government for the introduction of the Planting for Food and Jobs said they were interventions which will create job opportunities for the youth adding that such an intervention cannot go without comprehensive industrialization.

He urged Ghanaians to rise up to the fight against corruption, destruction of natural resources especially mining, indiscriminate disposal of waste and poor attitude to work among other negative traits.

By Solomon Ofori

The post NLA Chief Speaks On School Associations appeared first on Daily Guide Africa.

Some of the demonstrators wielding placards

CLOSE TO 1,000 youth of Yilo and Manya Krobo in the Eastern Region Thursday morning staged a massive demonstration against their chiefs to register their dissatisfaction about the way they (chiefs) are handling the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) billing.

The youth have therefore tasked the traditional rulers to make available a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Krobos.

The demonstrators, who poured onto the streets from Odumase Krobo through to Somanya, clad in red and black with placards to register their displeasure, were demanding a copy of the (MoU) because they claimed that the construction of the Akosombo and the Akuse Dams had rendered large acres of Krobo lands unproductive.

A petition jointly signed by Noah Matey Konotey and Josuah Ogborjor on behalf of the youth and addressed to the Chief Executive of Lower Manya, Simon Tetteh; the Odumase Police Commander, ASP Harry Serlormey and the paramount chief of Manya Krobo, Nene Sakite II, indicated that the demand for a copy of the MoU would enable them to address the plight of the inhabitants with the EC Ghana.

The angry youth in Somanya in the Yilo Krobo municipality some months ago demonstrated against the (ECG) for overbilling the residents and destroyed assets of the company.

During the Thursday demonstration the youth threatened to stop the celebration of the Kloyosikplemi and the Ngayem festivals of Yilo Krobo and Manya Krobo respectively if the MoU was not made available.

FROM Daniel Bampoe, Somanya

The post Demo Rocks Krobo Chiefs appeared first on Daily Guide Africa.

Herbert Mensah

A close friend of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Herbert Mensah, has described as “truly unfortunate” money-laundering claims against the monarch after £350,000 was physically transferred into his UK account.

Vouching for the personal integrity of the Asante monarch, the former Asante Kotoko chairman said the allegation is not “worth us thinking about it”.

The UK’s Telegraph and Daily Mail reported the revelations in an ongoing tribunal after the bank official, Mark Frank Arthur, who carried the money in a taxi to deposit at the Ghana Commercial Bank in London.

He was subsequently fired for flouting anti-money laundering regulations and he is currently challenging his sacking in a UK court.

Herbert Mensah before the Asantehene

In Ghana, the subject has triggered reactions somewhat subdued in certain quarters where the king is held in high esteem.

There has been no official reaction from the Manhyia Palace but Herbert Mensah who has an enduring friendship with the king has explained there is “nothing peculiar” to the story.

The king who is not on a salary often receives gifts from subjects and admirers alike.

He said he witnessed a prominent Nigerian give the king a Rolls Royce as a gift while he visited the Otumfuo in the UK.

Reminiscing when he was growing up, Mr Mensah said he saw his father send “massive amounts of money” to the Asantehene.

Like many monarchs, the Asantehene is not to be seen involved in any direct forms of business.

“You don’t get Otumfuo rushing into a bank,” he defended Asante tradition and customs.

The tribunal at the UK, he said appears to be “borne out of internal politics at the bank.”

While he concedes the transfer breached rules, he expressed disgust that it would be stretched to include claims of the Asantehene’s involvement in illicit activities.

He said the allegation is “topical for people” but £350,000 is “relatively small in the scheme of things” pointing to bigger controversies such as the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) saga.

“For me, it is not a story”, he said stating “I know of the integrity of the Otumfuo”

The queen would never do that – Banker criticises Otumfuo

But in a reaction, an international banker Dr Richmond Kwesi Atuahene has questioned why the Asantehene would authorise the physical transfer of £350,000 into an account in the UK.

Dr Atuahene said the physical movement of cash into the bank in the UK is unbecoming of a royal in the stature of the Asantehene.

“The queen would never do this”, he referred to the British Queen Elizabeth.

In an interview with Joy News, Dr Atuahene was emphatic the transfer is “against all practices whether in Ghana, America or Canada”.

“Withdrawing that kind of money is not professionally done,” he wondered why debit cards were not used to effect the transfer.

He disagreed with Mr Mensah’s suggestion that the amount involved is not a big deal.

“It is a colossal sum of money,” he stressed.

Mr Atuahene insisted that in the UK, withdrawing even £6,000 is a lot of money as his daughter found out recently when she tried to do so in the UK.

“…in that jurisdiction, they are very careful about cash,” he said explaining that using hard cash is often associated with nefarious activities such as drugs.

“People of that stature I mean if you talk about the Queen, she would not do that. They would have card systems where they can go and do whatever they want to do” he observed.

-Myjoyonline

The post Money Laundering Claims Against Otumfuo Unthinkable – Herbert Mensah appeared first on Daily Guide Africa.

The Ashanti Regional Office of the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) has impounded 500 cartons of rotten mackerel imported into the country.

The rotten mackerel with the name “So Nice Mackerel” were found on the market during market surveillance by FDA in some selected markets in the region.

It has been discovered that the importer of the said mackerel has also distributed the unwholesome products to traders in Takoradi and Tamale as well.

The importer, according to reports, is a company called Dotsisco Ventures located at Ofankor in Accra.

The same company also imported unwholesome Asahi mackerel that were seized a week ago.

The Food and Drugs Authority on Wednesday supervised the safe disposal of the unwholesome Asahi mackerel seized early this month by the Mile 7 Police with the help of residents of the area.

The three 20-footer containers of the unwholesome Asahi Mackerel were disposed off under tight security by the Police.

Reports from the Police and the FDA have revealed that a total of six 20 footer containers of mackerel were imported by Dotsisco Ventures into the country and documents covering the products indicated that they were on transit to neighbouring country Togo.

“Three 20-footer containers of the consignment contained another brand of unregistered mackerel named “So Nice Mackerel” and were transported to Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale.”

The other FDA Regional Offices, according to reports, have embarked on an intensive market surveillance exercise to ensure that the “So Nice Mackerel” are not sold to the general public.

The public have therefore been advised to look out for such products on the market and desist from purchasing them.

(lindatenyah@gmail.com)

By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey

The post 500 Cartons Of Rotten Mackerels Seized In Kumasi appeared first on Daily Guide Africa.

John Peter Amewu

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, has indicated that as part of government’s efforts to eliminate the activities of illegal miners in the long-term, it has developed a Multilateral Mining Integrated Project (MMIP), which would be implemented over the next five years at an estimated cost of $200 million

According to him, the project, which has been taken through validation, is being fine-tuned to enable the government secure the requisite financial and other resources to start its implementation.

The Minister made this known in Parliament on Tuesday when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Wassa East, Isaac Adjei  Mensah asked him what steps the Ministry was taking to close down ‘galamsey’ sites and how many have so been closed.

The Minister said illegal mining activities were threatening livelihoods and sources of water when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government took over power in January, 2017.

“It is this preponderance of the flouting of the legislative framework for such operations by a large number or proportion of small scale miners, with its associated threat to life and property that led government to declare a six-month moratorium on all small-scale mining activities in April, 2017,” the minister said.

He noted that moratorium was to create the opportunity to eliminate the worst forms of illegal activity and ensure that small-scale mining was streamlined with due regard to the environment, safety and other land use dimension.

He said that four percent of Ghana’s 238,000 sq km land mass has been devastated by illegal mining activities.

The Minister said with the deployment of taskforce codenamed ‘Operation Vanguard’ to clamp down on the activities of the illegal miners, about 90% of heavy duty earth-moving machinery at galamsey sites have been evacuated while 3,000 floating platforms on river bodies have been destroyed with 347 illegal miners arrested and put before court.

He said the MMIP combines a ‘Legislation, Enforcement, Civil Integrated and Technological Approach’ as a sustainable and structured but regimented conjoint concept which will encompass multi-stakeholders in dealing with the galamsey menace.

By Thomas Fosu Jnr

The post $200m To Takle Galamsey appeared first on Daily Guide Africa.

The Metropolitan Chief Executive of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA), Mohammed Nii Adjei Sowah has commissioned the renovated magistrate court at the Adjaben District of the Accra Metro on Monday.

He said that the commissioning of the court marks the beginning of another milestone in promoting good sanitation in the Metropolis. Adding that, waste management does not only involve the evacuation of refuse but also the enforcement of sanitation bye-laws in order to make city dwellers disciplined.

He disclosed that the newly commissioned magistrate court will prosecute all sorts of civil cases as well as sanitation cases. He also tasked the magistrate of the court to deal with sanitation offenders expeditiously.

The MCE entreated all AMA officials to work hard, to serve as an example for the peripheral assemblies to emulate.

The registrar of the renovated Adjaben Magistrate Court, Solomon Essel expressed his gratitude to the MCE for answering their call for the renovation of the court, saying that it has been made more accommodating.

The Adjaben Magistrate Court will augment the sanitation and motor courts in the Ablekuma Central District, the Okaikoi North District and the La District to help enforce sanitation bye laws in the Metropolis and adjourning assemblies.

The post AMA Commissions Adjaben Court appeared first on Daily Guide Africa.

Matthew Opoku Prempeh

Uncertainty has characterized the education of fifty-nine(59) pupils of the Nima 1 Basic School many months since they wrote their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

The near indefinite withholding of their Mathematics paper by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has thrown the children into the streets; some of them almost giving up any hope of proceeding beyond the Junior High School (JHS) they reached before their predicament.

A distraught chairman of the local Parents’ Teachers Association (PTA) Jibril Muhammed told DAILY GUIDE when he came to the newsroom that ‘getting parents to get their kids enrolled in schools has never been easy and so when such a challenge crops up it makes the situation precarious. One parent has, for instance, said his kid should be content with the JHS level he has attained.’

The PTA Chairman who has been engaged in a lone campaign of encouraging parents to have their kids enrolled and stay in schools has, in view of the situation, asked that the authorities should have WAEC expedite action on the paper they claimed they found anomalous so that the children can proceed to the SHS.

According to him, following the development ‘we have written to the Metro Director Of Education on 12^th September 2017 but to date nothing positive has emanated from the correspondence.’

The correspondence authored by the PTA Chairman reads ‘We the PTA of the 2017 JHS THREE pupils wish to appeal through you to WAEC concerning the Mathematics results of our children that have been withheld by WAEC.

We wish to appeal for the release of the result of our children so our children can also be placed into their respective Senior High Schools before the deadline.’

A long list of signatures of aggrieved parents has been made available to the DAILY GUIDE.

The children loitering in Nima who should have been at school in an era of free SHS could be some of those whose Mathematics paper was withheld over suspected examination malpractice.

According to the PTA Chairman, he has learnt that WAEC claims that almost all the pupils scored similar results in the subject, a coincidence which he added, incurred the suspicion of the examination authorities.

While some parents are disturbed about the situation others showed apathy finding the development a means of savings for them. The PTA Chairman has vowed, however, to fight to have the children progress to the SHS stage now that the expenses are being borne by the state.

By A.R. Gomda

The post 59 Nima Kids’ Fate In Limbo appeared first on Daily Guide Africa.

Ambrose Dery

Personnel of the Ghana Prisons Service have praised the current Akufo-Addo administration for paying their rent allowances as part of efforts to help find solution to the accommodation problems facing them.

The Second In-Command (2i/c) of the Prisons Service in the Western Region, ADP Adjei Arthur disclosed this when the Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery visited the Sekondi Prisons and interacted with the personnel there as part of his three-day working visit to the region.

The Minister is in the Western Region to visit some of the agencies under his ministry to learn at first hand some of their challenges and how they could be tackled.

At a special durbar organized by the personnel of the Prisons Service in Sekondi in honour of Mr Dery, ADP Arthur remarked that “thanks to the minister and President Akufo-Addo, now we have started receiving rent allowance, which would go a long way in alleviating our accommodation problems.”

He, however, pointed out that the GH₡1.80 feeding fee per prisoner per day was woefully inadequate and appealed to the minister to help increase the amount so that the inmates could be fed adequately.

He indicated that overcrowding and the deplorable conditions at the Sekondi Central Prisons and other prisons in the Western Region were major concerns.

“The current overcrowding situation has placed a lot of pressure on health, transportation, and feeding demands on the prisons, hindering the smooth running of the facilities,” he added.

He attributed the overcrowding at the prisons partly to the fact that there were many remand prisoners.

The Prison Officer also complained about inadequate medicines at the prison’s infirmary to take care of the inmates.

“We will be very happy if our honourable minister could assist us in that direction. We also have serious logistics problems with regards to vehicles,” he added.

He also mentioned inadequate office furniture as one of the problems and stressed that the prison’s workshop had been dormant for some time now because of inadequate funds to purchase the requisite tools for use at the workshop.

The Minister for the Interior, Mr Dery extolled personnel of the prisons service for delivering on their mandate over the years in the wake of numerous challenges.

Mr. Dery indicated that he and his team and to a large extent the government would handle issues based on facts.

“We first have to understand the problem before we can meaningfully attempt a resolution of the matter.”

The Minister assured the personnel that his ministry would work hard to tackle the various challenges confronting the prisons service to make its operations more effective and efficient.

From Emmanuel Opoku, Sekondi

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Samira Bawumia with Salifu Saeed, pupils at Zogbeli primary school in Tamale

The Second Lady of the Republic of Ghana, Samira Bawumia, has donated learning materials worth over thousands of cedis to the Zogbeli Primary School in Tamale in the Northern Region as part of the Samira Empowerment and Humanitarian Project.

Making the presentation, the wife of the Vice President said pupils should be encouraged to read wide, since reading broadens their horizon and creativity.

She admonished teachers of the school to put the books to good use and inculcate the habit of reading into the children, saying she took reading very seriously as a child.

Henrietta Yaro, the Headmistress of Zogbeli Primary School, expressed her excitement at the donation by the Second Lady and called for more of such donations.

In a related development, Mrs Samira Bawumia visited the Tamale Teaching Hospital and hinted of government’s commitment to solving the many challenges at the facility.

She said government, under the leadership of Nana Akuffo Addo, was committed to resourcing and solving the challenges of vital institutions such as Tamale Teaching Hospital.

She said government would equip the hospital with all logistics needed to deliver quality healthcare to Ghanaians at large.

Mrs. Samira Bawumia donated some items worth over thousands of cedis to the facility.

She assured the hospital staff that she would use her good office to help mobilize funds and resources.

The CEO of Tamale Teaching Hospital, Dr David Zawumya Kobilla, who received the items, said management of the facility was grateful for the donation.

He indicated that the donation has come at the right time to solve some of the challenges of the hospital.

Dr Kobilla and his team have ensured 24-hour operation of the emergency units of the hospital throughout the week and even on holidays since assuming office.

From Eric Kombat, Tamale

The post Samira Bawumia Donates To Pupils In Tamale appeared first on Daily Guide Africa.

George Weah

Partial results from Liberia’s presidential election show former football star George Weah has taken an early lead.

Figures from the National Elections Commission (NEC) put Mr Weah ahead in 11 out of 15 counties, although most votes have yet to be counted.

His main rival, incumbent Vice-President Joseph Boakai, leads in one county and is second in most others.

A candidate needs more than 50% of the votes for outright victory.

If no-one achieves that, a second round will be held in November.

The election is to choose a successor to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – Africa’s first elected female president and a Nobel Peace laureate.

As the results came in, the manager of Arsenal Football Club, Arsene Wenger, was apparently duped by false reports that Mr Weah had won.

“I would like to congratulate one of my former players, who became president of Liberia,” Mr Wenger told reporters.

“It’s not often you have a former player who becomes president of a country. So well done, Georgie.

• Is ex-warlord pulling Liberia’s election strings from UK prison?
• Find out more about Liberia

NEC Chairman Jerome Korkoya hit out at false reports and said his officials were doing their best to get accurate official results out as quickly as possible.

“This commission has not declared any winner,” he stressed.

International election observers said they had not identified any major problems with Tuesday’s voting.

However, parties supporting three of the 20 candidates have alleged irregularities and said they would contest the result, Reuters reported.

Ms Sirleaf, 78, who is stepping down at the end of two terms, hailed the election as a success.

“We believe that all Liberians are ready for this process. I thank them for participating in this process,” she said.

Liberia, which was founded by freed US slaves in the 19th Century, has not had a smooth transfer of power in 73 years.

Ms Sirleaf took office in 2006, after her predecessor, Charles Taylor, was forced out of office by rebels in 2003, ending a long civil war.

Taylor is currently serving a 50-year prison sentence in the UK for war crimes related to the conflict in neighbouring Sierra Leone.

Mr Weah, 51, has chosen Taylor’s ex-wife Jewel Howard Taylor as his running mate.

-BBC

The post Liberia Election: George Weah Takes Early Lead appeared first on Daily Guide Africa.

Staff of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), have welcomed news of the dismissal of Mr. Samuel Sarpong, the Commission’s Executive Secretary.

According to the Union, although they have no personal issues with Mr. Sarpong, they believe that his exit will spur the Commission on.

The Vice Chairman of the Workers’ Union, Israel Amenfia, PURC told Richard Sky on Eyewitness Newsthat, Mr. Sarpong’s exit “it’s a welcoming news to us. Once the president speaks, you have nothing to doubt. So we as a workers’ union will look at the way forward.”

A letter from the Office of the President, signed by Nana Bediatuo Asante, Secretary to the President and addressed to Mr. Sarpong on Wednesday, asked him to vacate his post and hand over all documents to his successor, a staff of the Commission, Ms. Mami Dufie Ofori, latest by Friday, October 13, 2017.

“Reference is made to your appointment letter dated 11^th February, 2013, appointing you as the Executive Secretrary of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission that took effect from 10^th December,2012. In accordance with paragraph 7 of the said Letter, your appointment is hereby terminated… [you are to] hand over your office to Ms. Mami Dufie Ofori and proceed to collect three (3) months’ salary in lieu of notice,” the letter said.

Mr. Samuel Sarpong’s tenure as Executive Secretary had been characterized by internal challenges from the staff of the Commission who accused him of superintending over financial malfeasance.

Israel Amenfia said, the workers believe that the new Executive Secretary, has the capability of leading them, arguing that they cannot be blamed for Mr. Sarpong’s dismissal.

“She is qualified to handle a position like this. She has been able to work with people in the energy sector. She is a people’s person so like any other professional in the institution, we as staff do not have any motive detrimental to the institution. Our entire grievances were made public. We are ready to work, we have even been working in the crisis situation, and we’ve been tolerant for over 9 months of the struggle so if something [like this] has happened, It is welcoming news to everybody.

-Citifmonline

The post Our Boss’ Dismissal Welcoming News – PURC Staff appeared first on Daily Guide Africa.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stressed government’s commitment towards the full enforcement of the new regulatory measures for the operations of the Liquefied Petroleum Gas industry, issued after a Cabinet meeting on Thursday.

At a meeting of the Ministerial Co-ordinating Committee, set up by the President on Friday, 13th October, 2017, President Akufo-Addo noted that the Committee is to ensure the strict adherence and implementation of the regulatory measures, and depart from the era of non-compliance, which has been the status quo in recent years.

The Ministerial Co-ordinating Committee, chaired by the Minister for Energy, Boakye Agyarko, comprises the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation; the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development; the Minister for Employment and Labour Relations; and two deputy Ministers for Energy.

The Ministerial Committee is to be supported a Technical Implementation Committee, chaired by the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Hassan Tampuli. The other members of the Committee are the Chief Fire Officer of the National Fire Service; the CEO of Standards Authority; the CEO of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the Director of the Land Use and Spatial Development Authority; and the Director of the Department of the Factories Inspectorate.

Reiterating his commitment to ensuring the full implementation of the measures, President Akufo-Addo assured that his government does not intend to follow the practice in recent years, where the political will to enforce measures protective of the citizenry has not been present.

“I do not intend to have that as a feature of my government. The people of Ghana are looking up to us to protect them. I want to emphasise that, beyond the statement that was issued yesterday, there is a strong political will that something will be done about it. I have a clear mandate to change things in this country,” President Akufo-Addo said

To the members of the Committee, President Akufo-Addo noted that the measures rolled out by his government “cannot work and will not work if those of you implementing it are not on board, dragging your feet or not adhering to its implementation.”

He, thus, urged them to co-operate and co-ordinate fully, and “get out of the practice I found, since coming into office, that the right hand and left hand don’t know what is going on in the same issue.”

The Committee members assured the President of their determination to enforce fully the measures rolled out by government, to forestall the occurrence of any more gas explosions, and to co-ordinate effectively their actions.

The CEO of the NPA, Hassan Tampuli, indicated, to this end, that from Friday, 13th October, 2017, his outfit has commenced the immediate inspection of all gas stations and the vigorous enforcement of existing regulations by the NPA.

Additionally, his outfit has begun reviewing safety protocols and, from Monday, 16th October, will begin the deployment of a task force to assess the risk that the current LPG infrastructure poses in terms of public health and safety.

Thus far, he noted that 21 high risk stations have been closed down, in accordance with relevant law and without regard to any political or special interests.

The National Fire Service assured the President that a full report of the Atomic Junction Gas explosion will be ready in two weeks.

-Starrfmonline

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Paul Yebi (right) and Penidas Fordjour

Two persons who are said to be working at the Volta Regional Health Directorate (VRHD) of the Ghana Health Service (GHS) have been arrested in Ho, the regional capital, for alleged forgery.

The two – Paul Yebi, 32, a National Service Personnel (2015/2016 batch) and Penidas Fordjour, 33, a staff who works as a Bio Statistics Assistant – were arrested for allegedly forging the signature of the outgoing Regional Director, Dr. Joseph Teye Nuertey.

Paul, who was working with the Human Resource Department during and after his national service period, is reported to have forged the signature to release some nurses and midwives to other regions at the cost of GH¢1,440.00.

Penidas on the other hand, is reported to have forged the director’s signature to re-instate somebody on the payroll of the Ghana Health Service.

Their arrest was confirmed by the Volta Regional Police Commander, DCOP Nana Asomah Hinneh, during an interview with DAILY GUIDE yesterday. He said Dr. Joseph Teye Nuertey reported the incident to the police on Wednesday, 11th October, 2017. The person at the directorate admitted the offence whiles the second suspect, Penidas Fordjour, a staff, was an accomplice.

According to him, Paul, who claimed to have been engaging in the act for a year, said he had managed to facilitate the release of over 20 nurses and midwives from the region, while Penidas claimed he re-instated someone onto the government’s payroll with the forged signature only once.

DCOP Asomah Hinneh added that although another person was named as an accomplice, details were sketchy. In the meantime, a midwife who has been mentioned as the recent beneficiary, is being contacted to assist in further investigation.

Although the regional command is making efforts to contact some of the nurses who benefited, the commander ruled out the possibility of they being accomplices or otherwise, only investigation could conclude whether the nurses and the midwives were accomplices or mere victims. DCOP Hinneh said that the two suspects would be processed for court after adequate investigation. He was hopeful the investigation would help to fish out other collaborators.

From Fred Duodu, Ho (freduoo@gmail.com)

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IGP Asante-Apeatu (right) with members of REGSEC at Bimbilla

The Inspector General of Police (IGP) David Asante-Apeatu has warned Bimbilla residents not to engage in any act that will disturb the peace of the area.

According to him, for far too long, free movement at Bimbilla has been restricted and this has hampered economic activities and growth at the place.

Due to the burial of the late Nakpa Naa of Bimbilla, top security officials have gone to the town to assess the situation and ensure peace.

Addressing residents of Bimbilla, the IGP said should anyone or group of persons decide to engage in any act that will constitute a breach of the peace at Bimbilla and the country at large, the law would deal with them.

Mr Asante-Apeatu has expressed gratitude to the people and the traditional leaders of Bimbilla for their conduct regarding the burial of the late Nakpa Naa.

The regent of Bimbilla, Naa Andani Dasana, indicated that the main issues surrounding the conflict had to do with the place of burial for the late chief and the title he should have been buried with.

The regent revealed that as traditional rulers, they respect the laws of the land and the law enforcement agencies of the country but that respect had never been reciprocated.

Naa Andani Dasana stated that over the years, all the crises that had existed were as a result of the failure of the law enforcement agencies to live up to their mandate of enforcing the law.

He hinted that all verdicts from competent courts of law, the regional and national houses of chiefs and the Supreme Court had all been in the favour of the Bimbilla people, yet the law enforcement agencies had refused to play their part to ensure peace.

Meanwhile, lieutenants of the regent have warned that should the Nakpa Naa family go ahead to enskin a regent, drum and dance, there would be resistance.

Spokesperson of the newly enskinned Sung Lana, Yussifu Salifu Dawuni of Bimbilla, said the bereaved family was grateful for the efforts and mediations of the government towards the burial of the late chief.

He was also grateful to the government for offering to pay for the cost incurred at the hospital to get the late chief out for burial.

The family of the late chief promised not to engage in any activity that would jeopardize the peace of Bimbilla.

He assured the IGP and his entourage that they would not engage in unruly acts such as enskinment of sub-chiefs and sale of skin lands.

Meanwhile, the bereaved family has called on the government to see to it that the late chief is given a befitting burial in line with the custom of the Gbewa State.

FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale

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BullDog

Jerry Avenorgbor, the lawyer representing Nana Asiama Hanson popularly called Bulldog, has requested the judge hearing his client’s case to discharge him by the next adjourned date if the prosecution could not bring to the court anything concrete.

According to him, it was becoming frustrating to be coming to court all the time without the prosecution giving the court anything substantial that ties his client to the charges he is in court for.

Mr Avenorgbor said it is disrespectful for the prosecutors to absent themselves from court whenever the case is called.

Bulldog, 36,, has been put before the court for allegedly murdering Fennec Okyere, a music producer, in May 2014.

At the last sitting, presiding judge of the court, Worlanyo Kotoku, had directed the registry of the court to summon a state attorney in connection with the case to come and explain some “codified” portions of the Attorney General’s advice which directed that Bulldog be discharged.

Chief Inspector Simon Apiorsornu, the prosecutor, told the court at the time that the AG had advised that Bulldog be discharged.

He said the advice had subsequently been directed to the Director General of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service.

He could however, not disclose the content of the AG’s advice since it was “codified.”

However, both the prosecutor and the state attorney were not present in court on Wednesday when the case resumed, to the disappointment of Bulldog and his counsel.

Mr. Avenorgbor told the court that something new was being work on and prayed the court to adjourn the case to November 15, 2017 to allow the prosecutor ample time to conclude whatever they were working.

Mr. Kotoku wondered why the prosecutor was not in court, but assured Bulldog and his lawyer that the court’s registry had received the docket and a letter was being prepared to be sent to the Attorney General’s Department.

He subsequently adjourned the case to November 15, 2017 as suggested by counsel for the defendant.

Gibril Abdul Razak

gbabdulrazak@gmail.com

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A ‘self-acclaimed’ chief of Abehenease, near Amasaman in the Greater Accra Region, has been put before an Accra circuit court for fraudulently re-selling a 1.896-acre land to another person.

Nii Kotey Susubribi alias Nii Isaac, is alleged to have consistently threatened the lawful owner of the land with death and succeeded in re-selling a portion of it to another unsuspecting buyer.

The first complainant, Alfred Abosu, was said to have been chased off the land by the chief and his thugs, although the said land was legally acquired from the accused person’s family, led by his elder brother, Kotey Nii Kwei.

He is facing threat of death and fraudulent sale of land charges but he pleaded not guilty to both of them.

The court, presided over by Jane Harriet Akweley Quaye, granted Nii Kotey bail in the sum of GH¢70,000 with two sureties who are gainfully employed.

The case was adjourned to November 27, 2017.

The prosecution, led by DSP Mawunyo Nanegbe, told the court that Alfred Abosu is a businessman and acquired the said land situate at Abehenease from the Amah Asor Family in 2003.

He later acquired a legal land title in 2005 covering the land and subsequently put up two single-room buildings on a portion of the land which was being occupied by his caretaker.

DSP Nanegbe said the complainant peacefully occupied the land until 21^st February, 2015 when the accused person prevented him from further developing the remaining portion of it.

According to the prosecutor, Nii Kotey continuously harassed the first complainant, claiming that the land belonged to him (Kotey).

“During the month of March 2015, the accused person and his group of thugs consistently threatened the caretaker, Korsi Tondey, to vacate the land or face death.

“The caretaker, out of fear for his life, packed his belongings and left the land.”

DSP Nanegbe told the court that Nii Kotey then fraudulently sold a portion of the land to the second accused person, Freeman Kofi Owusu and some others at a cost of GH¢42,000.

He said documents obtained from the Lands Registration Division of the Lands Commission, Accra, confirmed that Alfred Abosu is the rightful owner of the land.

Nii Kotey alias Kotey Nii Quaye, was thus arraigned before the court.

By Gibril Abdul Razak

gbabdulrazak@gmail.com

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