Day: June 25, 2021

Accra,- The Director of Public Prosecutions, Madam Yvonne Atakora-Obuobisa, has called on Police Investigators to conduct proper inquiries into reported child online cases for effective prosecutions.

Speaking at a two-day workshop on the Child Online Protection (COP) provisions in the newly passed Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) in Accra, the Director of Public Prosecutions said it was essential for prosecutors to learn how to present cases before trial judges, especially issues bordering on the admissibility of digital evidence.

The workshop, organised by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in collaboration with UNICEF Ghana, was to equip the COP stakeholders with the required knowledge and understanding of the provisions in the Cybersecurity Act and to encourage stakeholders to create awareness of the COP provisions in the Act for effective implementation.

The workshop was attended by representatives from the Judiciary, Office of the Attorney-General and the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), UNICEF-Ghana, Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Education Service (GES), Department of Social Welfare, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and NGOs, among others.

Justice Afia Asare-Botwe, a high court judge and one of the facilitators of the workshop, mentioned that the workshop was paramount, especially in creating the enabling understanding for proper use of digital evidence in the various child online related offences provided in the Act.

In her presentation, Justice Asare-Botwe educated participants on the COP related provisions in Act 1038 (Sections 62-68) and stressed the need to continually interact with children and young people to understand the challenges they face while online.

The Head of Legislative Drafting Division at the Office of the Attorney General, Madam Mavis Amoa, noted that the legislation was passed at an opportune time, considering the dimensions and trends of technological development.

She indicated that cross border crimes committed through the internet and other online crimes had motivated the passage of the Act, with the primary goal to protect citizens.

There was, therefore, the need for a robust framework, including Legislative Instruments and Regulations, to support effective implementation of the Act.

In his remarks, the Head of NCSC, Dr Albert Antwi-Boasiako, said the Cyber Security Authority, established under Section 2 of Act 1038, would employ a consultative approach in enforcing its regulatory functions and, therefore, called on the various stakeholders who are impacted by the law to prepare adequately for its full implementation.

Dr Antwi-Boasiako added that the Government, through the Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, would in the coming weeks outline some regulatory interventions aimed at protecting Ghana’s digital ecosystem as part of the implementation of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020.

Dr Antwi-Boasiako further recognised Madam Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, and Madam Mavis Amoa, the lead facilitators of the workshop, for their invaluable contributions towards the drafting and the passage of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020.

He also commended UNICEF Ghana for its support and COP stakeholders, including the National Communications Authority, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), Ministry of Education and Civil Society groups for their commitment to protecting the Ghanaian child on the internet.

A representative from UNICEF, Mr Rafiq Muhammad Khan, commended the Government for its commitment to Child Online protection and indicated his institution’s readiness to continue working with the Cyber Security Authority and other partners in the implementation of the Act.

Ghana’s Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) criminalises the production, possession, publishing, sharing and online streaming of child sexual abuse and exploitation materials.

The Act also aims at protecting children and young people from the wrongful and non-consensual exposure of their intimate images in cyberspace.

The Act further seeks to authorise a service provider to block, filter or takedown content that aims at undermining children’s protection online. Offenders could face up to 25 years in jail for breaching any of the provisions.

Analysts believe such hefty punishments are needed to protect children who are increasingly being exposed to various forms of dangers on the internet including sexual exploitation.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra,- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with support from the Police, on Friday closed down the Empire Cement Factory, a Chinese cement factory at McCarthy Hills in Accra, for operating without permit.

The police halted operations at the site and sacked all workers in the factory, including the Chinese nationals for flouting the laws of the country.

Information gathered by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) revealed that the management of the company was given an interim permit by the EPA to manufacture cement paper but the company went into cement production without approval from the Agency.

Some concerned residents at the McCarthy Hill on June 7, 2021, protested against the project, sited near the Pambros salt mines enclave in the area.

The residents expressed worry over possible pollution from the cement factory.

Mr Eddie Quaynor, the Chairman of the McCarthy Hill Residents Association, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said even though the exercise was long overdue, he commended the EPA and the police for the swift response to save the community from further “destruction.”

Mr Quaynor said the siting of the cement factory near the Pambros Salt Mines would pollute the water body and contaminate the salt, which would affect the health of the citizenry.

He said the Chinese had, on several occasions, disregarded warnings from the EPA to stop operations.

Some workers of the factory expressed worry about the situation, saying they were not aware that the factory was not permitted to operate and blamed the EPA for waiting for the factory to start operation before closing it down.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra,- Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah says Ghana’s justice delivery system has internal corrective mechanisms for persons whose conviction or trial might have suffered injustice.

However, it took those with the means to trigger the law, he said.

“A well-funded national Legal Aid Scheme should be an important programme that as a nation, we should commit our resources to for our people,” Chief Justice Anin said this in a speech read on his behalf at the premiering of a documentary dubbed: “The untold story of Ama Forson,” at the Law Court Complex in Accra.

Ama Forson is a beneficiary of In Prison Paralegal Programme/Appeal of POS Foundation, which empowers inmates to file an appeal by themselves when their conviction or trial might have suffered miscarriage of justice because of their inability to secure a good lawyer to cross examine evidence adduced against them.

Ama Forson, a food vendor, was jailed 11 years for possession of narcotics (Indian hemp), a crime she denied and said she was innocent.

The 67-year-old was acquitted and discharged when she appealed against her conviction.

Chief Justice Yeboah, in his speech read by Justice Gabriel Pwamang, a Justice of the Supreme Court, called for the institutionalisation of POS Foundation concept of In-Prison Paralegal Programme by continuously perusing the records of convicts who had reasons to believe that they were innocent and had been wrongfully incarcerated.

He said because of the complex nature of crime, the law had an elaborate provision aimed at ensuring that whiles criminals were effectively dealt with, innocent persons were not mistakenly punished in the process of crime fighting.

“Police or prosecutors may, out of zeal or human error, present evidence, which may not be true. This evidence may enter into the records of court because accused might not have a lawyer or may have an inexperienced lawyer to cross examine on the wrongful evidence,” he said.

“But the system has made provision for such unfortunate slips to be corrected by appeal or review of the judicial processes.”

Chief Justice Yeboah said the limitation of the corrective system, however, required money and the cost of the services of a lawyer to curtail such mishap in those instances.

The intervention of POS Foundation and its partners came in handy to assist the system to correct itself, he said, and commended the Foundation for organising a virtual court under the Justice for All Programme for inmates as the world battled with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Justice Yeboah said the Judiciary, under his watch, “is committed to our role in the fight against crime by ensuring that those who make it their business to disturb the peace of this country are punished according to the law of the country.”

He noted that in recent times there had been some persons or miscreants engaged in criminal acts and pledged the Judiciary’s resolve to rigidly enforce the law.

“We can only do our work if the Police and the Attorney General are able to gather sufficient evidence against those they prosecute in court.”

Ms Virginia Elliot, the Acting Deputy Chief of Missions at the United States Embassy, said the greatness of a nation was measured on how it treated the marginalised.

She said the US Government was providing support by training prosecutors and lawyers on the Case Tracking System where criminal cases would be monitored from start to finish.

Mr Charles Antwi Boahen, the Chief Executive Officer of KAB FAM Ghana Limited, dealers in electrical appliances, donated a cheque for GH¢ 20,000 to Ama Forson, who had no fixed place of abode, to start a business.

Touched by Madam Forson’s plight, Mr Boahen pledged to provide her with some appliances as a start-up for her business.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra,- Overcrowding remains a major challenge of the Ghana Prisons Service as it strives to promote human rights and dignity of prisoners, Mr Patrick Darko Missah, Director General, Ghana Prisons Service, has said.

“The total population as at June 24, 2021, stands at 13,200 despite authorised capacity of 9,945. This gives an Overcrowding rate of 32.65 percent.”

Mr Missah, whose speech was read by Deputy Superintendent of Prisons (DSP) Stephen Okine Aboagye of the Service Legal Unit, on his behalf, said a total number of remand prisoners was 1,526 representing 11.56 percent.

Mr Missah said this at the premiering of a documentary dubbed, “untold story of Ama Forson” at the Law Court Complex in Accra.

The documentary details the plight of a woman who was jailed 11 years for possession of narcotic drugs (Indian Hemp) but was acquitted and discharged by the Nsawam High Court after she had appealed against her Sentence. Before her appeal, the 67 year old food vendor had served 4 years and seven months of her jail term.

She is a beneficiary of POS Foundation’s, “In Prison Paralegal Programme,” which is based on self representation at the Courts. Inmates under the programme are taught how to appeal when they have suffered a miscarriage of Justice at the courts because they were unable afford the services of a good counsel to put up their defence during trials.

The Director General of the Ghana Prisons Service recounted that due to the percentage of Overcrowding, the service was faced with the difficulty in the classification of inmates and also prevention of “criminal contamination” among inmates.

Mr Missah indicated that the Service like any other institution globally, aimed at contributing to building and maintaining a peaceful and safe society by keeping inmates in safe custody while upholding their dignity, developing their sense of social responsibility and promoting the development of all inmates.

He indicated that In-Prison Paralegal Programme/Appeal was another intervention which would ensure access to justice and reduce congestion.

Mr Missah noted that under the programme, 25 inmates had so far been trained and 18 Appeal Schools had been created.

He commended POS Foundation, an NGO, for promoting access to justice in the country.

Dr Isidore Tufuor, a Lawyer and Consultant of POS Foundation, urged stakeholders in the Justice delivery system to take a look at the gabs in pre-trial, trial and post trial in Ghana’s adversarial system.

According Dr Tufuor, Ghana’s adversarial system offered opportunity to those who had the means, leaving the less previledged to their fate.

Dr Tufuor noted that the safety of one person represented the safety of all.

Mr Jonathan Osei Owusu, Executive Director of POS Foundation, said the In-Prison Paralegal Programme offered opportunity to the less marginalized who might have suffered miscarriage of Justice.

Mr Owusu said as a foundation, they were not only involved in criticisms of the Justice delivery system but part of solutions of the system.

He thanked the Governments of the United States of America and Canada for lending a hand to the foundation to put smiles on the faces of the marginalized.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Abura (C/R),- Mrs Justina Marigold Assan, Central Regional Minister, has called on traditional leaders to collaborate with stakeholders in reducing the spate of teen pregnancies in the Region.

She said a concerted and decisive approach to control the surging menace in the Region should be adopted as a matter of urgency to help protect girls to achieve their prospective ambitions.

The Minister made the appeal when she paid separate courtesy calls on the three paramount chiefs in the Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese (AAK) District of the Central Region to officially introduce herself and solicit support in transforming the Region.

She stated that parents, traditional and religious leaders must play a lead role in the campaign against teenage pregnancies in local communities to ensure the girls attain their full potentials.

The Minister said the government was ready to help in curbing the menace and, therefore, called for continuous support from opinion leaders and stakeholders in the Region.

She advised parents to monitor the movements of their daughters and endeavour to provide them with their basic needs.

Mrs Assan said teenage pregnancy impeded the growth and development of girls and prevented them from reaching their full potentials.

Professor Okatakyie Amenfi VII, the Omahene of Asebu Traditional Area, pledged his unwavering support to the Minister’s efforts to transform the Region.

“Asebu State is behind you, therefore, call on us anytime you need anything or advice to move the Region forward. “

He called on the government to provide the Asebu state with basic needs such as electricity.

Okakaber Idun Andoh X, the Omanhene of Kwamankese Traditional Area, called on the Ghana Police Service (GPS) to increase security in the area to help weed out drug abuse and alcoholism that was destroying the youth.

He expressed concern about a gang of wee smokers, who were grooming and training the younger ones in the area, and described it as ‘very disturbing’ and called for an immediate halt of their activities.

Okakaber Andoh X appealed to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to come to their aid as illegal sand winning activities were destroying their farm lands.

He also urged the government to post more health workers to the area to support effective health care delivery.

At the Palace of Nana Nkwefii VIIII, the Acting President of Abura Traditional Area, he appealed to Assembly Members of the AAK District Assembly to set aside their political differences and elect a Presiding Member to help propel the development of the district.

He called on the Minister to intervene for the district to get the needed funds to support the Assembly in executing its work.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Asante Kotoko Chief Executive Officer, Nana Yaw Amponsah has unequivocally reiterated that they will pick all three points against Hearts of Oak.

The Porcupine Warriors will be hosted by their bitterest rivals at the Accra Sports Stadium in the matchday 31 games on Sunday.

Kotoko recorded a 2-1 win over Karela United on Wednesday at the Obuasi Len Clay Stadium while Hearts of Oak also tamed their city rivals, Legon Cities 2-1 on Thursday night all in the matchday 30 games at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Despite the resurgence of their rivals and having recorded eight matches unbeaten, Mr Amponsah says they are coming to their favourite grounds on Sunday stressing that the Phobians are aware their unbeaten run will come to an end.

“For me, this is important for me and the club on Sunday,” he said ahead of the much-anticipated game this weekend in Accra.

“We wanted to win the first league game but ended in a draw but going into this game, we are well prepared and convinced of a win.

“Hearts of Oak and their fans knows Accra is our dominant ground and they are aware that we will surely win on Sunday,” he added.

Both Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak are tie-up with 56 points after 30 matches played.

The much-anticipated game has been scheduled to kick off at 15:00GMT.

Source: Modern Ghana

Former International Boxing Federation (IBF) bantamweight titlist, Joseph King Kong Agbeko, says he will be ready to face Paul Butler at a later date following the cancellation of their scheduled World Boxing Organisation (WBO) final eliminator on Friday.

Agbeko, who failed to secure a visa to travel for the bout with Butler in the United Kingdom, explained that his camp will be available to renegotiate with the British boxer after his fight with Willibaldo Garcia on Friday.

The 41-year-old experienced boxer was replaced with Mexico’s Garcia after visa arrangements delayed him from travelling on time to face Butler in a bout which could have earned him another shot at a world title.

In an interview with the Graphic Sports, Agbeko said his camp couldn’t readily provide all the needed paperwork demanded by the High Commission on time to secure the visa to travel for the bout.

He, however, noted that the MTK-signed Butler must fight him to become the mandatory challenger for the WBO bantamweight belt since he was rated the highest fighter in the division by the sanctioning body.

“I will be ready to face Butler at a later date because he can only fight me for the eliminator,” said Agbeko. “He cannot fight any other person because I am rated number one and he is behind me.

“It is rather unfortunate that I couldn’t provide all the paperwork for the fight because the notice for the bout was short. I look forward to facing him after his Friday bout so both camps can negotiate and prepare well.”

Agbeko has garnered nine straight victories since losing to legendary Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux in 2013. His last ring outing was a fifth-round knockout win over Albert Commey last December.

When asked about his return to the ring this year, Agbeko said he was confident of fighting for final eliminator by close of year before taking on John Riel Casmiero for the WBO bantamweight crown.

“I am confident that I will get to fight for the final eliminator as soon as possible to prepare me for the world championship. Everything is in order and it is just a matter of time for me to get the needed opportunity.”

Source: Modern Ghana

Accra,- The International Development Research Centre has identified gender equality as a key element in the advancement of the development debate.

This has been demonstrated by several research works proving that gender relations mediate the process of development.

Mr Ambrose Dery, the Minister of the Interior, said this in a speech read on his behalf at the maiden workshop on Gender and Development by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) in Accra.

He said the analyses of stabilisation and structural-adjustment policies by researchers showed that gender inequalities had an impact on the attainment of macroeconomic objectives.

The workshop is to build the capacity of the Management of GIS to better analyse and understand gender issues and properly integrate gender interests and needs into policies and programmes of the Service.

It was on the theme: “Integrating Gender Perspective and Responsive Action for the Executive Level of the GIS,” and will provide the Management with knowledge on the concept of gender and its relevance to the work of GIS.

The GIS established a Gender Mainstreaming Unit (GMU) in June 2019 to serve as a guide in bridging the identified gender gaps in the Service.

The initiative is part of the Strengthening Border Security in Ghana (SBS Ghana) project, being funded by European Union Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, and implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), in coordination with the GIS.

Mr Dery said: “Gender mainstreaming requires more than the creation of opportunities for officers to benefit, it also requires the creation of a conducive environment for both men and women in the Service to seize those opportunities.”

“This implies equal access to opportunities for men and women. Development in general requires good governments that give men and women equal voices in decision-making and policy implementation.

Such is what I see in the Ghana Immigration Service…bearing in mind the perspective that gender matters in the development of the Service at all times.”

“I will endorse the course and provide the enabling environment to support the Comptroller-General, Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi, in achieving this agenda.”

He said he endorsed the enhancement of women’s consciousness and abilities, and challenged the women to examine their situations and act to correct their disadvantaged positions in the Service.

Mr Dery, therefore, entreated the other security agencies under the Ministry to emulate the example of the GIS.

“I urge Management members to take advantage of this capacity building programme. I have no doubt that the capacity of Management members would be built at the end of the day, making members capable of effectively translating the gender issues into policies, programmes and activities of the Services,” the Minister said.

He acknowledged the support of the European Union and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development towards the development of the Service, and commended the officers for the efforts in organising the programme.

Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi, the Comptroller-General of Immigration, said gender was a vital element in development as it was a way of looking at how social norms and power structures impacted the lives and opportunities available to different groups of women and men.

“Understanding that men and women, boys and girls experience the world differently and face different barriers in accessing services, economic resources and opportunities helps to formulate interventions that target and meet their specific needs,” he said.

Mr Takyi said considering the inevitable dynamics of migration, it was necessary for the GIS to be more receptive and inclusive towards women and mainstream gender into its operational activities to encourage participation and representation at the workplace and other decision-making processes.

He noted that gender inclusiveness in development agendas could be the key for the success of the world’s economies, most especially Africa, because women made up the most of the world’s population.

“You all will agree with me that development is moving very fast on the continent as statistics and predictions of UN-Habitat have shown. The wide spread understanding of gender and development in the various levels of decision-making and policy formulation is therefore timely.”

He expressed appreciation to the continuous support of the EU and ICMPD towards the development of the Service.

Ms Sarah Adwoa Sarfo, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, in a speech read on her behalf, said the Ministry was implementing a Strategic Plan to redefine its strategic direction, policy goals, objectives and strategies to ensure the full realisation of its mandate.

The plan, she said, would serve as a guide to align the Ministry’s operation with the National Development Policy Framework, which was consistent with international obligations and national development goals.

She said the development of the Gender National Policy, which sought to regulate and mainstream gender concerns in all sectors, would encourage more institutions to develop their sector specific gender policies including the security sector.

Ms Sarfo said the enactment of the Affirmative Action Law, Intestate Succession Law, and the Domestic Workers Regulation Law would strengthen the legal framework systems to reduce the gender gap in all sectors of the economy.

Source: Ghana News Agency