Alhassan Tampuli

he National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has shut down a total of 21 Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) filling stations in some parts of the country.

The move, according to NPA, became necessary after it observed that the affected stations – located in Kumasi, Ho, Accra and Takoradi – had not met the minimum operating and safety requirements, hence posing a threat to human lives and properties.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NPA, Hassan Tampuli, made this known in an interview with DAILY GUIDE.

He said the closure was done on Thursday, October 12, 2017, after safety audits by officials of the Authority on the various stations.

According to him, more stations are likely to be shut down by the time the Inspectorate and Monitoring Unit of NPA was done with the inspection.

NPA ‘shot into action’ following the gas explosion at Atomic Junction in Accra on October 7, this year, which killed seven persons – including a cameraman of Net2 Television attached to the presidential press corps – and injured about 132 persons.

Following the explosion, President Akufo-Addo issued a directive for the deployment of a taskforce to within 30 days assess the risk that Ghana’s current LPG infrastructure poses in terms of public health and safety.

DAILY GUIDE contacted Mr Tampuli after the directive had been issued to find out what NPA was doing to ensure public safety as far as threat from LPG’s infrastructure in the country is concerned.

By Melvin Tarlue

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DAILY GUIDE has gathered that a journalist with Rivers FM – a local radio station at Wassa Akropong in the Wassa Amenfi East District of the Western Region – was allegedly forced to kneel down in the scorching sun for about three hours as a punishment for expressing his view on the alleged killing of a native by a Chinese.

It would be recalled that the youth of Wassa Akropong caused a major stir in the mining town of Wassa Akropong last week when they demanded that the Chinese, Jiang Gen Hai, be handed over to them for instant justice after the foreigner had allegedly shot and killed one Nana Buah.

The police had a tough time protecting Jiang Gen Hai, 49, and other Chinese who were then hiding in their rooms. It took the intervention of the Western Region Police Commander, DCOP Kwesi Duku, to bring the chaotic situation under control.

During the melee, the journalist, Larry Saint, was said to have posted a recorded voice on a WhatsApp platform for journalists that claimed that the chiefs were not doing much to end the incessant abuse of the youth of the area by the Chinese.

Apparently, the traditional rulers in the area also got the voice on their cell phones and were not enthused at the comment by the journalist.

The journalist was also alleged to have incurred the wrath of the Omanhene of the Wassa Amenfi Traditional Area, Tetrete Okuamoah Sekyim II and some traditional leaders over the comment.

According to sources, Larry Saint was summoned to appear before the traditional rulers.

“When the radio presenter appeared before the traditional leaders, he was  asked by the paramount chief, Tetre Akuamoah Sekyim II, to kneel in the sun for over three hours as punishment after his voice, which was recorded on tape, was played,” a source told DAILY GUIDE.

The paper learnt that after the punished Saint was handed over to the police for an initial charge of offensive conduct.

Speaking on the issue, Larry Saint pointed out that when he was arrested, the law enforcement agency informed him that he was also being arrested for inciting the youth of the area to overthrow the Omanhene.

He indicated that he did not know his fate in respect of his job at the radio station since he had been asked to stay home for a while as investigations continue.

“Currently, the case is in the hands of the police who are investigating it so I will not speak further on the matter,” Larry Saint added.

Reacting to the matter in an interview with an Accra-based radio station, the Omanhene of Wassa Amenfi confirmed that he asked the journalist to kneel down, adding that even though there is freedom of speech, it has its limit.

From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi

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President Akufo-Addo visiting one of the victims of the gas explosion at the Ridge Hospital

Government has placed a temporary ban on the construction of new fuel and gas stations across the length and breadth of the country.

It follows the horrible gas explosion at Atomic Junction in Accra on the evening of Saturday, October 7, 2017, that took the entire nation by storm, claiming seven lives with 132 others sustaining various degrees of injury.

The decision was taken after a Cabinet meeting late Thursday evening.

After several hours of meeting behind closed door, President Akufo-Addo, on the advice of Cabinet, directed the immediate stoppage, until further notice, of the construction of facilities intended for use as gas or petroleum retail stations.

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the Minister for Information, Mustapha Hamid.

The president also directed, “Henceforth, the Cylinder Recirculation Model of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) distribution must be implemented.

“This model means that LPG Bottling Plants will be sited away from congested commercial and population centres and will procure, maintain and fill empty cylinders to be distributed to consumers and households through retail outlets. Low risk stations will be designated for the supply of gas to vehicles.”

The exercise is expected to be completed within one year.

Directives

In the interim, President Akufo-Addo has, among other things, directed the immediate inspection of all gas stations and the vigorous enforcement of existing regulations by the National Petroleum Authority as part of measures to give comfort to and ensure the safety of citizens.

He has also asked for a review of the current licensing regime to ensure that only those with demonstrable capacity and competence engage in the LPG distribution business and the institution of mandatory training and certification of the staff of regulators, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) and LPG Marketing Companies to ensure the safe handling of LPG.

Going forward, he has also ordered for a review of the safety protocols along the entire value chain through the combined efforts of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Town and Country Planning Department of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and the Factories Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations.

The president has also directed the deployment of a taskforce, within 30 days, to assess the risk that the current LPG infrastructure poses in terms of public health and safety.

High risk stations would be immediately closed down in accordance with the relevant law and without regard to any political or special interests, whilst low risk stations will be designated for the supply of gas for vehicles with improved safety standards.

President Nana Akufo-Addo has further directed the immediate incorporation of standards and guidelines developed by Ghana Standards Authority on the handling, storage and distribution of LPG and other petroleum products as technical regulations to strengthen the enforcement regime.

Meanwhile, the National Petroleum Authority has been instructed to recruit 200 safety auditors to join the staff of the Factories Inspectorate Department of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations to check regularly on all stations to ensure full compliance with safety standards and practices.

The Fire Service and the Police Service have also been asked to expedite action on ongoing investigations.

Government said that “any operator or regulatory official, against whom any act of criminal negligence is established, will face the full rigors of the law,” insisting, “The safety of citizens is the paramount objective of government; the president will take all necessary steps to ensure that the citizens are safe.”

By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent

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Eugene Boakye Antwi

A TOTAL of 300 brilliant but needy students in the Subin Constituency, Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital, have benefitted from a scholarship programme.

The provision of the scholarships was meant to support the beneficiaries to climb high the academic ladder so that they could be useful to Ghana in future.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Subin, Eugene Boakye Antwi, gave the students the scholarships.

Addressing the beneficiaries and their parents, the MP said it is the wish of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government that the youth receive formal education.

According to him, without proper education of the youth, the country’s dream of attaining growth would suffer.

In this regard, Mr Boakye Antwi entreated parents, guardians and other stakeholders to commit themselves to the education of their children.

After assumption of office early this year, the MP instituted an independent body in the constituency to supervise the selection of beneficiaries for the scholarships.

The committee selected brilliant but needy students from all the 147 polling stations in the constituency to benefit from the policy.

Political affiliation was not considered in the final selection of the over 300 beneficiaries. Any child who is brilliant but needy qualifies for the scheme.

Mr Boakye Antwi stated that his share of the Common Fund was used to support the beneficiaries.

He sternly warned them to abstain from all social vices and focus on their education so that they would become influential people in future.

The MP said Ghana’s industrial revolution dream would be a mirage without proper education, saying it should be given much attention.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi

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Osei Assibey Antwi – KMA Mayor

Two persons have been arrested for allegedly duping unsuspecting hawkers at Kejetia in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital.

The two suspects, James Nsowaah, 36, and Kwame Owusu, 30, told the victims that the monies would be handed over Osei Assibey Antwi, the Kumasi Mayor.

Nsowah and Owusu were arrested at the PZ area in Kumasi on Wednesday by some staff of the KMA while in the process of collecting the monies.

Efforts are being made to arrest one Adwubi, a cosmetics dealer, who is said to be the ringleader.

Nsowaah and Owusu, who admitted to collecting GH¢10 from each victim, have been handed to the police for further investigations.

Reports indicate that Adwubi, Owusu and Nsowaah lied to the hawkers that some top gurus at the KMA, including the Mayor, had saved their businesses.

They told the unsuspecting hawkers that due to construction works at Kejetia, the KMA was supposed to eject them, adding that the Kumasi Mayor intervened and prevented their ejection from the place.

They asked each hawker to pay GH¢10 each to be given to the mayor for saving their businesses.

The three people have nothing to do with the Kumasi Mayor, but decided to allegedly dupe them.

Their activities were eventually reported to the KMA by some Good Samaritans that led to the arrest of Owusu and Nsowaah.

The Chairman of Petty Traders Association of Kejetia, Eric Prempeh, told DAILY GUIDE that about 100 hawkers were duped by the suspects.

He said the three persons have no links to the mayor.

According to Prempeh, KMA officials were informed about their activities and that led to the arrest of two of the suspects, who were in the process of collecting additional monies from hawkers.

Meanwhile, Goodwin Okumah Nyame, the KMA PRO, has urged the public to arrest people that would demand money from them in the name of the mayor.

According to him, Osei Assibey has not sanctioned anybody to collect money from traders or hawkers in the city.

From I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi

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IGP Asante Apeatu with REGSEC in Bimbilla

The Inspector General of Police, David Asante-Appeatu, has warned Bimbilla residents not to engage in any act that will distort the prevailing peace of the area.

According to him, free movement in Bimbilla has been restricted for far too long and that has hampered economic activities and growth of the area.

Following the burial of the late Nakpa Naa of Bimbilla, security personnel were sent to the area to maintain peace.

Addressing residents of Bimbilla, the IGP warned that anyone caught in an act that constitutes a breach in the peace of Bimbilla and the country at large, will face the full rigours of the law.

IGP, however, expressed gratitude to the people and the traditional leadership for the peaceful burial of the late Nakpa Naa.

The Regent of Bimbilla, Naa Andani Dasana said, the main issues surrounding the conflict had to do with the late chief’s place of burial and the title with which he would be buried.

The Regent of Bimbilla revealed that as a traditional authority, they have respect for the laws and law enforcement agencies of the country but that respect had never been reciprocated.

Naa Andani Dasana stated that over the years, all the crisis 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.

The Regent hinted that all verdicts from competent court of law in the country, the regional and national house of chiefs and Supreme Court have all been in their favor yet the rightful law enforcement agencies refused to act and were rather doing the opposite which had and will always result in riot and conflict.

He called on the president to use his prestigious and most respected office to decouple politics from chieftaincy in the region, especially, the Bimbilla conflict.

Spokesperson of the newly enskinned Sung Lana, Yussifu Salifu Dawuni of Bimbilla expressed gratitude to the government for its efforts and mediations for the burial of the late chief and paying the cost incurred at the hospital.

The family of the late chief pledged their support and contribution to see to the growth of Bimbilla and promised not to engage in any act that will jeopardize the prevailing peace in the town.

FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale

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Eugene Boakye Antwi, the Subin MP in a photograph with the Ashanti Regional Chief Imam, Sheikh Abdul Mumin Haroun and other people after the event

PLANS ARE in the pipeline for the construction of a modern toilet facility and drainage systems across the Yelewa Zongo in the Subin Constituency in the Kumasi Metropolis.

The positive move is one of the grand strategies of the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, to upgrade the deprived Zongo area.

Making the announcement, Eugene Boakye Antwi, the NPP Subin Constituency Member of Parliament (MP), stated that the Zongo areas would be uplifted very soon.

According to him, the Zongos have been deprived for quite a long time and it is about time some serious works are done towards the growth of the Zongo communities.

He was speaking during a durbar on Sunday to welcome six Muslims from the Subin Constituency, whom he sponsored to travel to Mecca to perform Hajj, this year.

Held at Yelewa Zongo, the grand durbar was graced by top personalities including the Ashanti Regional Zongo Chief, Sultan Umar Farouk Saeed and Sheikh Abdul Mumin, Ashanti Regional Chief Imam.

Hon. Boakye Antwi, who is also the deputy minister for Works and Housing, said the NPP administration has set up the Zongo Development Fund and the Ministry of Inner City and Zongo Development Ministry to help expedite the development of the Zongos in the country.

Mr Boakye Antwi therefore urged Zongo residents to come together and present their pressing needs to the aforementioned agencies to help address them quickly.

The Ashanti Regional Zongo Chief, Sultan Umar Farouk Saed, heaped praises on Mr Boakye Antwi for single-handedly sponsoring six Muslims to Mecca for the Hajj.

He said more often than not, politicians usually fail to honour their promises after winning power but Mr Boakye Antwi has shown that he is a truthful and upright person so he should keep it up.

Sheikh Abdul Mumin Haroun, the Ashanti Regional Chief Imam, urged the Mecca returnees to exhibit positive traits in their dealings, adding “you should also pray for the Subin MP because he is a good man”.

FROM I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi

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Nanahemaa in her graduating gown

THE ANKOBIA-Hemaa of Nwoase Traditional Area at Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region, Nana Adjeiwaa I is among students who graduated from the Catholic University College of Ghana, Fiapre last Saturday.

The mother of four children who are all graduates with two holding masters’ degrees, defiled all odds and graduated in English major after four years of hardwork. The queen mother who beamed with smiles whilst receiving accolades from the school’s authorities, other Nananom, friends and well wishers told DAILY GUIDE that she wanted to be a role model to young girls in the country and to encourage them that there is nothing beyond their reach if  only they are determined and focused.

Nana Adjeiwaa who is currently a Teaching Assistant (TA) at the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) said she was installed queen mother about ten years ago at Nwoase when she was a teacher with diploma certificate. She, however, has to drop the chalk due to her new role as queen mother but later decided to further her education by acquiring a degree aiming to teach at the tertiary level. Nanahemaa entered the university with her last born; Michael who will also graduate from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) this year. Nana said she is fluent in 14 Ghanaian and international languages and is currently studying French.

She admitted that going through the course was not easy but said by the dint of hard work and God’s guidance and support from well wishers, she was able to finish the course. “Combining academic work with traditional role was not easy. Sometimes I would be invited for functions, I also play front role in my community and most times represent the Traditional Council in court but still have to do my assignments and attend lectures, it wasn’t easy, I must confess.”

Nana Adjeiwaa said her mates took her as one of their equals and she also took them as her children saying there was no mockery whatsoever.

“I equally do my assignments like them. We walk together and do things in common like all students do. The only difference is that as a queen mother, I don’t eat outside or at the canteen. I always eat in private and had a whole hostel to myself unlike the rest of the students who share hostels and rooms.”

As part of her ingenuity, Nana was able to link with the police to protect the school especially at night. Nana came to the graduation in her full regalia as a queen mother.

danielyaodauyee@yahoo.com

FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Fiapre

The post Woman, 50 Graduates From Varsity appeared first on Daily Guide Africa.

Fire men battle the fire in the restaurant 

BUT FOR the timely arrival of the personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service(GNFS) to put off fire that has engulfed a restaurant in Sunyani the Brong Ahafo Regional capital, there would have been another deadly gas explosion leading to loss of lives and property.

Despite the salvage, GH¢ 2,700 cash and the kitchen of Tasty Joint Restaurant located on top of Runners Club House were completely burnt.

Deputy Brong Ahafo Regional Fire Commander(2IC), DO1 Gyesi Boateng, told DAILY GUIDE on the scene that preliminary findings from the restaurant indicated that one of the tubes connecting the gas cylinders to the oven has melted due to radiation from the oven and that sparked the fire.

According to him, the gas started to leak after the tube was punctured igniting the fire “so on arrival we had to quickly remove the cylinders first to prevent them from catching fire which might lead to explosion. We were able to prevent the fire from spreading from the kitchen to the bar and the restaurant. There were no casualties except that GH¢ 2,700 cash, food items, fridges, tables and chairs and cooking utensils were burnt,” he said.

According to Gyesi Boateng investigations were ongoing to unravel the real cause of the incident.

The joint owners of the restaurant, Felix Amankwah Eriksen and Emmanuel Owusu were not available for comment. The incident which happened around 1:30am on Saturday night in the hub of the city, drew a large crowd onto the Sunyani-Kumasi highway; blocking one of the dual carriage lanes resulting into vehicular traffic.

danielyaodayee@yahoo.com

FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Sunyani

The post Sunyani GNFS Averts Gas Explosion appeared first on Daily Guide Africa.

Elizabeth Ohene

Elizabeth Ohene, a writer and distinguish journalist and communicator, has rebuked African media for their low reportage on the ongoing political crisis in Togo.

“Next door in Togo there has been a major political upheaval ongoing for many weeks now. You wouldn’t know this if you only watched or listened to our television and radio stations or read our newspapers. And they are our next door neighbours,” Ms Ohene said at the opening of the Second Biennial Conference of the African Studies Association of Africa (ASAA) in Accra.

“The African story is, therefore, left largely to be told often by non-Africans and then we complain,” she said.

The three-day conference, held under the theme: “African Studies and Global Politics,” is being attended by over 260 participants from across the globe, with 142 of them coming from Africa.

ASAA was established in 2013 during the climax of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana, Legon, to promote Africa’s own specific contributions to the advancement of knowledge about the peoples and cultures of Africa and the Diaspora.

The ASAA is currently the only multidisciplinary and trans-disciplinary professional association on the continent dedicated to the study of Africa from an Africanist perspective- what Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana, referred to as studying our societies and experiences in an African-centred way.

Speaking on the topic, “African Studies – Writing The Daily History,” Ms Ohene said she had spent most of her life reporting from or about various parts of Africa.

“Take any newspaper or any FM station or television station and you are likely to get different versions of what you saw with your own two eyes or heard with your ears the previous day,” she said.

She said throughout the years, when it comes to the reporting of the African continent, there had always been a feeling that it was portrayed unfairly by the animal called ‘the Western media’.

Ms Ohene said: “I have always held the view, even during the time that I worked for the BBC, part of that Western media, that it does not really matter what the foreign media says about Africa. It is far, far more important what Africa says about itself.”

She said, “I am suggesting that the definitions that we have given ourselves make our participation on the global stage cumbersome.”
“It is crowded on the global political stage and if you position yourself to be called to provide the interlude, you can hardly complain when you don’t feature on the main agenda.”

Ms Ohene, a former Minister of State under former President John Agyekum Kufuor, said there appears to be an unspoken agreement that the reporting and chronicling of our everyday affairs were not serious undertakings and can be left to entertainers and journalists.
“You are experts and you know every angle of the history and facts about Africa. You are recognized as such by your colleagues and contemporaries around the world. I wonder why you don’t want to take an active interest in the daily writing and rewriting of our history,” she said.
“It is, after all from today’s newspaper and radio headlines that you will be teaching us African Studies in 30 years,” Ms Ohene said.

Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo, Founding Vice President of ASAA, said the organisation was committed to providing a space where Africanists could formally collaborate to engage in the important work of reflecting on and proposing concrete responses to the global African condition.
“The work we do as professional Africanists must impact our communities,” Prof Adomako Ampofo said.

Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Paramount Chief of the Essikado Traditional Area, said African Studies had been ongoing since the existence of Africa.

GNA 

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Dr Archibald Letsa

The Adaklu District, which is one of the most deprived in the Volta Region and the country in general, will be the first to benefit from government’s flagship “One District, One Factory” programme.

According to the Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Letsa plans were far advanced to cut the sod for the construction of a starch factory in the Adaklu District under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government’s industrialization programme.

Dr Letsa made the announcement at the 17th Congregation of the Ho Technical University (HTU).

The Adaklu District, which was established by Legislative Instrument (L.I) 2085, has its capital at Adaklu Waya.

The district was inaugurated on 28th June 2012 by former President John Mills.

The district, which has over 20 communities, is home to the famous Adaklu Mountain and has arable land for farming.

The district, which shares boundaries with Central Tongu, Ho, and Agotime Ziope District, has a population of about 29,948 with 14,510 males and 15,438 females, according to the 2010 Population and Housing Census.

Should the starch factory come to fruition, the district will be able to utilize its arable lands to create more jobs.

The Member of Parliament of the area, Fred Kwame Agbogbza has on several occasions called for investments in the area to improve the living standards of his people.

More Projects for Volta  

The Volta Regional Minister, Dr Letsa added that five additional starch factories and two alcohol factories would also be constructed in various parts of the region under the programme.

He said most of the projects would require the support of people and said the Akufo-Addo administration would improve and equip technical universities across the country to lead to the industrialisation agenda of the country.

He hinted that the region will also benefit from tomatoes, pineapple and mango processing factories, calling on the management of the Ho Technical University to take advantage of such projects to raise internally generated funds and also give students more practical knowledge and skills.

HTU to produce Employers

The Interim Vice Chancellor, Prof Emmanuel Sakyi accepted the challenge and noted that the university was already positioning itself to provide students with adequate skills and knowledge to make them employers rather than job seekers.

So far the HTU as submitted 13 bachelor of technology programmes to the National Commission for Tertiary Education (NCTE) for approval, he declared.

Out of the 1,130 students, who graduated, 94 obtained first class honours.  Five hundred and sixteen students and 421 obtained second class upper and lower divisions respectively, while 52 obtained passes. 57 successfully went through a competent based programme.

Martha Seyram Daliesor was adjudged the overall best graduating student.

The university also matriculated 989 prospective students last Thursday.

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

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The Headmistress unveils the plague

The 1977 Year Group of the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School, Legon, has commissioned a new Visual Arts Centre valued at GH¢150,000.

Lt Col (Rtd) Dr Reginald Offei-Yirenkyi, President of the 1977 Year Group, in a statement, indicated that new Visual Arts Centre for the school, which was started in June, this year, was constructed to mark the school’s 80^th anniversary.

“We consulted the headmistress of this great institution on what we can do to support our alma mater on our 80^th birthday and for us it is a mark of joy that we have made it this far,” he stated.

According to him, the former Visual Arts Centre was in a deplorable condition, which made teaching and learning difficult for both students and teachers.

The President commended the Year Group’s Building Committee for the successful construction of the Visual Arts Centre.

The Headmistress of the school, Lady Queene Asiedu-Akrofi, commended the 1977 Year Group for the timely commissioning of the critical project.

She indicated that the centre would enhance the performance of Visual Arts students.

A Visual arts student, who spoke to DAILY GUIDE, expressed happiness that they have a conducive center to undertake their practical work.

By Solomon Ofori

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Members of the Ningo Traditional Council pouring libation to signify their unity

The District Chief Executive (DCE) of the Ningo-Prampram District, Jonathan Paa Nii Doku, has resolved the long-standing dispute between the Ningo Traditional Area and the assembly over the siting of the district capital at Prampram.

Ningo Traditional Area has rescinded its decision not to pay tolls, taxes and contribute its quota to the development of the district.

The refusal of residents of Ningo to pay property rates and tolls to the Assembly affected the revenue mobilization of the assembly, leading to the underdevelopment of the district.

Since the creation of the Assembly in 2012, there has been tension between the traditional area and the assembly, as the people of Ningo refused to pay tolls, rates, levies and fees to the Assembly in protest against the siting of the district capital at Prampram.

A group calling itself the Great Ningo Youth Association has expressed dissatisfaction with the selection of Prampram as the district capital since the creation of the district.

The impasse has since escalated, with the youth allegedly vandalizing offices of the Assembly in Ningo. Some youth prevented people from the Ningo from attending the inaugural ceremony of the assembly when it was carved out of the Dangme West District in 2012.

But the current DCE, after some serious negotiations with the Ningo Traditional Council and other leaders in the area, has promoted unity between Ningo Traditional Council and the assembly.

The traditional council has also allowed the reopening of the Assembly’s Zonal Council located at Ningo.

The Mankralo of the Ningo Traditional Area, Nene Kanor Atiapa III, who declared the Zonal Council dully opened, in a speech, expressed optimism that the reconciliation of the traditional council and the assembly would boost the assembly’s revenue since the area has a lot of resources.

He cautioned all to pay tolls, saying that anyone who resists the payment of taxes and levies would be made to face full rigors of the law.

The Mankralo further advised that all pending court cases should be withdrawn for the matter to be resolved by the traditional council.

He, however, reiterated the need for government to create a separate autonomous district for Ningo.

On his part, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Ishmael Ashitey, expressed gratitude to the traditional council, saying “it’s a good decision made by council that would boost the assembly’s revenue mobilization.”

He added that government would ensure the execution of a sea defence project to protect houses at the shoreline.

Mr Ashitey was grateful to Mankralo of Ningo Traditional Council for his efforts to reconcile the assembly and Ningo, thanking the people of Ningo for their support which will bring about development in the area.

From Vincent Kubi, Ningo

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Barbara Asher Ayisi, Deputy Minister Of Education, Unveiling The Plaque For The Classrooms Donated By The Indian DDG Charitable Trust & Friends

The Deputy Minister of Education in-charge of Primary and Junior High Schools (JHS) and Member of Parliament for the Cape Coast North constituency, Barbara Asher Ayisi, has inaugurated a five classroom block for Family Outreach Ghana, a non-profit organisation.

The DDG Charitable Trust & Friends, a group of Indian business people in Ghana, funded the classroom block with the aim of giving back to society.

At a short but colourful inauguration ceremony held on Thursday at Spintex, a suburb of Accra where Family Outreach Ghana is located, Madam Ayisi lauded the charitable organisation and the NGO for the initiative stating that giving to the needy is what humanity is meant for.

She said the initiative by the DDG Charitable Trust & Friends was good for the development of the country.

“We encourage these gestures by the private society. We urge people to do their little bests in their little communities to complement the good job the Nana Akufo – Addo government is doing,” she urged.

The Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Sri Birender Singh Yadav stated that the Indian community in Ghana was committed to the educational sector of the country and the general well being of the less privileged.

He said, “For the good business environment provided for our people in this country, we are also committed to helping Ghana reach its aim of universal education for all.”

Mr Mukesh Thakwani, CEO of B5 Plus and a member of the DDG Charitable Trust & Friends, was also present at the inauguration ceremony.

According to him the Indian business community in Ghana takes its social responsibility seriously, and projects such as this are but one example of its involvement to support the community.

“Although we are involved in various charitable ventures, B5 Plus has been placing a great emphasis on education as the future of any country depends on the quality of its youth when it enters life after school,” Thakwani said.

Family Outreach Ghana, the NGO which facilitated the building of the ultra-modern school block facility was grateful to the DDG Charitable Trust & Friends for funding the project. It noted that the classroom would facilitate the NGO’s aim to empower the less privileged in society.

Family Outreach Ghana is a non-profit humanitarian organisation consisting of individuals of different nationalities, backgrounds and experience. All the people at Family Outreach Ghana are non-salaried volunteers dedicated to the common goal of improving people’s lives.

The objectives of Family Outreach Ghana include:
– Contributing to the reduction of hunger, disease, poverty and the effects of natural disasters;

– Promoting the rights of children and women, including the right to education;

– Developing an educational sponsorship program for poor children of Ghana;

– Encouraging street children to study through an initiative of scholarships;

– Advocating against child labour, a common problem in Ghana, and

– Providing support to youth organisations for the development of their communities.

The country director stressed, “Our simple aim is to help the less privileged especially women and children from all walks of life, and we believe this classroom block would go a long way to help achieve that aim.”

Mr Mukesh Thakwani, CEO of B5 Plus, with Barbara Asher Ayisi, Deputy Minister of Education, at the inauguration ceremony of the block of classrooms donated by the DDG Charitable Trust & Friends to Family Outreach Ghana.

Mr Mukesh Thakwani, CEO of B5 Plus, the Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Sri Birender Singh Yadav, who stated that the Indian community in Ghana was committed to the educational sector of the country and the general well being of the less privileged.

Mr Mukesh Thakwani, CEO of B5 Plus, with members of the DDG Charitable Trust & Friends who donated the block of classrooms to Family Outreach Ghana.

Mr Mukesh Thakwani, CEO of B5 Plus, with some of the children who will benefit from the block of classrooms donated by the DDG Charitable Trust & Friends to Family Outreach Ghana.

-Modernghana

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Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo has decorated Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara with the highest state honour, The Companion of the Star of Ghana – Honorary Division.

The award was presented to the President Ouattara during a State dinner at the International Conference Centre in Accra Monday evening.

The Ivorian President arrived in Ghana on Monday for a two-day state visit.

The Order of the Star of Ghana is the highest award given by the Government of Ghana to any individual who had helped the cause of the country in one way or the other.

Addressing attendees at the State dinner, Mr. Akufo-Addo said both Ghana and Ivory Coast will coordinate in the Cocoa sector to ensure that the two countries who are responsible for the production of 65% of the world’s cocoa, reap higher benefits from the sector than what both currently enjoy.

“Being the two largest producers of cocoa, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire have begun to cooperate to ensure that we do not continue to be victims of a global cocoa industry that is dependent on the work of our farmers,” the President said.

-Starrfmonline

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The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has arrested two Ghanaians and a UK-based accomplice over allegations of trade-based money laundering and romance fraud.

According to EOCO, over 16 British have fallen victim to the fraud which involves about £5 million

The suspects, Moro Musah and Sabina Adzre, allegedly operate with UK-based Opoku Agyeman, who is believed to be a Ghanaian citizen.

The two were arrested on Tuesday morning.

Addressing the media on the development, a Deputy Executive Director of EOCO in charge of Operations, Nana Antwi, said further investigations into the matter are ongoing.

He said the one-year investigation was a collaboration between the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI), NACOB, Police, and coordinated by EOCO as well as the UK’s National Crime Agency.

Nana Antwi noted that, the investigations, which was started by the UK’s Crime Agency, revealed that the monies acquired through the crime were transferred to Ghana through some banks, withdrawn and later invested in legitimate businesses mainly clothing.

“Following an investigation into trade-based money laundering in the UK and in Ghana, the NCA commenced an investigation into the money laundering and romance fraud. So far, the investigations have uncovered that over 16 persons have fallen victims to this fraud from which over £5 million has been identified as stolen from victims in the UK. This amount has been transferred from the UK and found their way through certain accounts in some banks in Ghana. Currently, those monies have been withdrawn from those accounts,” he said.

“The use of second-hand clothing, for that matter, the textiles business, has been applied to launder the proceeds of the identified romance fraud. The Ghanaian security agencies were alerted by their counterparts in the UK, and we in Ghana also commenced investigations into the fraud about a year ago,” he added.

The EOCO Deputy Executive Director, who described the case as a “complex organized financial crime”, added that a simultaneous search in some residences of suspects led to the arrest of the two persons in Accra, and one other in the UK.

-Citifmonline

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Ninety-nine (99) illegal miners including 61 Chinese, have been arrested by government’s anti-galamsey task-force, Operation Vanguard.

The latest arrest brings to 461 the number of illegal miners arrested so far.

The arrests were made in Western, Ashanti and Eastern Regions, the operational areas of the task-force.

The joint military and police task-force was set up in August, to enforce the ban on illegal mining.

Speaking to Citi News, the Public Relations Officer of Operation Vanguard, Major Gariba Adams Pabi, said the task-force had “made 451 arrests including 61 Chinese, one Nigerian, one Togolese, one Burkinabe and the rest are Ghanaians.”

“They were in the three regions, that is the Eastern, Western & Ashanti, and they have been handed over to the police and they are at various stages of prosecution, we are still on course and we working seriously.”

36 prosecutions

Major Pabi added that, 12 more illegal miners have been successfully prosecuted, bringing the total number of illegal miners prosecuted and fined or sentenced to 36.

He assured that there will be no compromise on the part of the task-force.

“Our work is to ensure that illegal mining is stopped, so if we get you at an illegal mine site, we will arrest you, confiscate your items hand them over to the police. The rest is with the police and judiciary who will send you to court and then follow up from there.”

“So as at now, we have 36 who have been prosecuted, and the rest who have been sentenced and given days are at various stages of prosecution. Some have been adjourned. In Wassa Amenfi central, four excavators have been confiscated by the state after the sentences. I know in a short while many more will be sentenced.”

-Citifmonline

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Mustapha Hamid

Government has urged the former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Professor Emmanuel Martey, to provide evidence of persons within Akufo-Addo administration who are corrupt.

Professor Martey at a lecture in the Ashanti Region last week stated that, some officials of the Akufo-Addo government, are already exhibiting signs of corruption and cautioned against such acts.

The man, who blatantly criticized officials of the erstwhile Mahama administration for being corrupt and having mismanaged the country, appears to be turning the heat on the Akufo-Addo administration.

A large gov’t means large corruption – Rev. Martey cautions

He cited the large size of the government, and called for a review, stating that it could lead to corruption.

He cited the recent happenings at the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), and urged the President to ensure issues about corruption under his administration are dealt with.

But the government wants him to name the individuals who are alleged to be engaged in the corrupt practices to enable it to take action against such individuals.

According to the Information Minister, Mustapha Hamid, the government is committed to rooting out corruption especially among state officials, and appreciates information from the public to help it take action.

He, however said such information must be based on specifics and should not be generalized.

“As a senior citizen of our country, we want to urge him to go beyond talking generalities to giving us concrete examples that we can put our hands on and make an example for people to be deterred. But if senior citizens should begin talking like that, that in our view is quite nebulous and feeds into the perception,” he said.

“We welcome such comments, they are not comments that we want to attack or rebut, but we want to encourage senior citizens like that to speak up, but to speak more on specifics rather than generalities,” he added.

President Nana Akufo-Addo was criticized for appointing 110 ministers to serve in his government, after previously assuring that he would ensure a prudent and efficient government.

The size of Akufo-Addo’s government is considered one of the biggest in the country’s history.

The President said he created a number of special portfolios to serve at the Presidency because certain critical sectors needed “additional talents” to ensure their success.

He also responded to critics of his government size saying that the task of turning around Ghana’s fortunes requited a large government to rise up to the many challenges.

Perceived corrupt cases under NPP

The NPP government has so far found itself in two cases of alleged corruption, with the recent one being the allegations of corruption against two deputy chiefs of staff, by musician and NPP sympathizer Kwame A-Plus, as well as the perceived corruption in the sale of contaminated fuel involving BOST.

There has also been perceived corruption in government’s handling of the Ameri Power Deal, in which the same firm that was being questioned over a supposed bloated contract, sponsored a committee from Ghana to Dubai to hold discussions with them.

Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, was also accused of cronyism by the minority in one of government’s bond issue. Another major scandal, which many were unhappy with, was the allegations of corruption leveled against Boakye Agyarko, now Energy Minister during his vetting.

He was accused by some minority MPs of seeking to bribe them to enable him sail through his vetting with ease. The matter was later investigated by parliament, but the accusers were supposedly unable to prove their claims.

-Citifmonline

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The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Joseph Kofi Adda, yesterday made a statement in parliament in commemoration of this year’s Global Hand Washing Day on the theme, “Our Hands, Our Future.”

It stirred a lot of controversy as to whether Members of Parliament (MPs) wash their hands properly before eating.

The minister also demonstrated on the floor how one can effectively wash one’s hands before eating or after visiting the public place of convenience or after carrying out any engagement that involves the use of the hands.

Both majority and minority members, after the demonstration of effective hand washing, accused each other of not following the proper practice before eating and after carrying out other activities.

The minister, who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Navrongo Central, said scientific research had shown that washing hands with soap prevents diseases in a more direct and straightforward as well as cost-effective manner than the application of any single vaccine.

“The practice of hand washing has become one of the major global sanitation agenda items which have been highlighted every year to increase awareness and deepen understanding of the importance of washing of hands with soap,” the minister said.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Pusiga, Laadi Ayii Ayamba, said visiting the toilet without properly washing hands is one major way of ‘buying’ disease for oneself.

She indicated that there is a disturbing phenomenon in the country where almost all public toilets in the rural and urban areas do not have water and soap for users of those facilities.

She therefore called on the government and for that matter, all metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies to make by-laws that will compel operators of the various public toilets to provide water and soap at their facilities to ensure that people wash their hands after using those facilities.

The Pusiga MP also called on the Ministry of Water Resources and the assemblies to ensure that basins with water and soap are provided for pupils in all basic schools to use after extra curricula activities.

The MP for Ellembele, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, said MPs should be agents of change and lead the crusade to educate people in the various constituencies on the need to properly wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet.

The MP for Bodi, Sampson Ahi, called on the government to make it a policy to provide clean and potable water to the remaining 30% of the population who do not have access to water so that they can also benefit from the hand washing crusade.

Alex Afenyo-Markin, MP for Effutu who is also the Board Chairman for Ghana Water Company, assured the house that the company was doing its best, despite the logistical challenges to extend water to all parts of the country.

He therefore called on MPs and members of the public to support the efforts of the Ghana Water Company in extending water to all parts of the country by promptly paying their (water) bills.

By Thomas Fosu Jnr

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POLICE PERSONNEL guarding market women on board a Metro Mass Transit (MMT) bus with registration number AS 8161-Y, from Sunyani to Yeji, have gunned down a suspected highway armed robber.

He and his gang of suspected robbers reportedly attempted to attack the bus and rob the passengers of their belongings Monday night.

The incident, which happened at Bresuoano, near Atebubu Amantin in the Brong-Ahafo Region, saw the rest of the robbers flee into a nearby bush, according to Atebubu Amantin District Police Commander, Superintendent Edward Konyel.

Giving details, Superintendent Edward Konyel said the Metro Mass bus driver, upon reaching Bresuoano, saw some people in front of the vehicle signaling it with a torch light to stop, but the policemen on the bus asked the driver to drive past them. In the process, the robbers fired at the bus and the police returned fire, reported the exchanges to the Atebubu police and continued the journey to Yeji

Superintendent Konyel said it was later when the local police went to the crime  scene to gather some leads that they found a body lying in the bush about 50 metres away from the main road. He maintained that the police escorts were not even aware they had killed one of the suspected robbers, adding that the body had been deposited at the hospital.

According to the district police boss, community, assembly

and unit committee members had been urged to report any unusual activities of anybody of Fulani extraction in the area to the police for further investigations. He indicated that no other member of the group had been arrested yet, but investigations were ongoing.

He asserted that the passengers were safe and drove on to their destinations.

danielyaodayee@yahoo.com

FROM Daniel Y Dayee, Sunyani

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