Day: July 6, 2021

A Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Boamah Otokunor, has called on President Akufo-Addo to review what he calls his “authoritarian dictatorial tendencies” that threatens the country’s democracy and continues to worsen the state of the security in the country.

There have been growing concerns about the use of the military for civil events that ordinarily should be handled by the police.

The incidents that have angered many include the killing of some Ghanaians during the 2020 election, the invasion of Parliament by soldiers, the latest killing of two persons, and the injuring of four others who were protesting at Ejura in the Ashanti Region.

The brutalization of some residents of the Upper West Region in Wa by some soldiers over a supposed stolen phone has also been widely condemned.

Otokunor in a Citi News interview at the NDC youth wing’s ‘March for Justice’ protest on Tuesday, July 06, 2021, said security in the country is fast deteriorating, adding that there is an urgent need for President Akufo-Addo to take action against “state-sponsored aggression.”

“The people are here in their numbers, and I think that should be a loud statement to the government. The cause that we are fighting for, is a universal cause that transcends age. We are fighting against state organized killing and murder and citizens’ suffering,” he said.

He said the high turnout for the protest should be a wake-up call to the President and prove the NDC’s commitment to an improved and better security situation in the country.

“This should be a wakeup call. This should be a reminder that we need to change cause. President Akufo-Addo should review his authoritarian dictatorial tendencies that he has brought bare on our democracy,” he added.

Thousands of members and sympathizers of the opposition Democratic Congress, NDC, are staging a protest in Accra over the killing and brutalization of citizens by various security agencies in the country.

The supporters, most of whom are clad in red and black, said the Akufo-Addo government is supervising a declining state of security in the country.

According to Mr. Otokunor, the state of security in the country has deteriorated, and there has rarely been a conclusion on any of the cases that are under investigation.

“The situation is so bad that you cannot sleep in your room and sleep in peace. Everybody is worried. People are dying. They are killing ordinary citizens, they are killing security officers. We are not seeing the end to these investigations, and the military and police are engaged in state-organized aggression on people. That is worrying, and the government must know that enough is enough,” the Deputy General Secretary added.

Source: Modern Ghana

Accra,- Some victims of the Makola Market fire incident on Tuesday broke down in tears following reports that the fire was still raging.

The traders, wailed uncontrollably as they watched firemen battled the inferno for more than 24 hours and appealed to the government to help them get back on their feet.

They said they were yet to pay loans they took for their businesses and said they needed government intervention to survive.

A middle-aged woman, who gave her name only as Joyce, a shop owner in the building razed by fire, told the GNA that she lost over two billion cedis worth of items in the fire.

She said the goods were delivered to her last week Thursday and that she lost everything on Monday saying, “this has affected me,” as she dropped her head in tears.

Another woman, Emelia, a wholesale rubber distributor, also said she lost everything and was looking up to God and contemplating changing her business because she may not have the needed capital to be a wholesale distributor.

Mr Isaac Ansah, a shop attendant, said his Boss lost her shop and warehouse in the inferno.

“My Boss’s shop is burnt completely. The worth of goods, I can’t estimate at the moment,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Ahmed Sowah, the Mayor of Accra, on the first day of the incident, assured that government would investigate the cause of the fire and reach out to the victims.

The Mayor, who visited the fire scene to assess the situation, said it was unfortunate that another fire outbreak had been experienced in the central business district but assured of the government’s support.

The fire, which started around 0730 hours on Monday, has been brought under control after over 24 hours of fire fighting.

At the moment, there is a power cut in the area to allow firefighters to continue with their work.

Most shops have also been closed with affected shop owners who were able to rescue a few items, relocating their wares.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Tema, – The East African Law Society and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights has initiated moves to deepen cooperation to ensure the protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa.

The two entities seek to complement and reinforce the protection of the rights of Africans in pursuant to Article one of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Lady Justice Imani Daud Aboud, African Court President and the East African Law Society President, Bernard Oundo iron out the cooperation during interaction at the African Court Headquarters at Arusha, Tanzania.

Mr Oundo also used the occasion to congratulate Lady Justice Aboud’s election as the President of the African Continental Court.

He explained that the East Africa Law Society which is the regional Bar Association of East Africa was formed in 1995 and incorporated in Tanzania with over 17,000 individual members.

It also has seven national Bar associations as members: Law Society of Kenya, Tanganyika Law Society, Uganda Law Society, Zanzibar Law Society, Rwanda Bar Association, Burundi Bar Association, the South Sudan Bar Association.

Mr Oundo explained that the East Africa Law Society works to promote good governance and the rule of law in the East African region and enjoys formal Observer Status with the East African Community and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

He said the Society was also a member of the International Coalition for the Responsibility to protect under which leaders of every country solemnly promised to protect their people from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity.

Lady Justice Aboud explained that the African Court was the judicial arm of the African Union and one of the three regional human rights courts together with the European Court of Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human rights.

He said it was established to protect the human and peoples’ rights in Africa principally through delivery of judgments.

She said the African Court’s mandate is to complement and reinforce the functions of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which is a quasi-judicial body charged with monitoring the implementation of the Charter.

The African Court applies the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other human rights instruments ratified by the States concerned. It does not have criminal jurisdiction like the International Criminal Court.

The African Court President explained the core values hinged on the African Charter and other internationally recognized principles of human rights and the promotion of the rule of law.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Football stadiums in England are set to return to full capacity from July 19 after the UK government announced plans to ease the remaining restrictions on social distancing.

A final decision on whether to lift the remaining restrictions in England on July 19 will be taken next Monday.

But the government plans for stadiums to operate at full capacity from that date.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said at a press conference on Monday afternoon: “We will move away from legal restrictions and allow people to make their own informed decisions about how to manage the virus.

“From step four we will remove all legal limits on the numbers meeting indoors and outdoors. We will allow all businesses to reopen, including nightclubs, we will lift the limit on named visitors to care homes and the numbers of people attending concerts, theatre, and sports events.”

Have English clubs allowed fans to return yet?
There has been a gradual return of fans to matches since the final stages of the 2020-21 season.

In the Premier League, clubs were allowed to welcome back up to 10,000 fans — or a quarter of their stadium’s capacity — for their last home game of the season in May.

Simultaneously, the government held a number of pilot events for testing the safe return of large audiences. The pilot events with a reduced number of fans included an FA Cup semi-final, the FA Cup final and the Carabao Cup final.

The FA Cup final between Chelsea and Leicester on May 15 was attended by 21,000 fans, 2,800 spectators — made up of local residents and key workers — watched the FA Cup semi-final between Leicester and Southampton, and 7,800 attended the Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and Tottenham.

The return of capacity crowds was boosted by a government report showing only eight COVID-19 cases were identified among 30,000 fans who attended football pilot events in April and May.

How about at Euro 2020?

During Euro 2020, matches at Wembley Stadium have also been used as pilot events.

Wembley’s 90,000-seater capacity was reduced to 22,500 for group fixtures at Euro 2020, but that was then expanded to 45,000 for last-16 ties. There are 60,000 fans anticipated for the semi-finals and final of the tournament.

If England’s football team — who have reached the semi-final — wins Euro 2020, however, there will be no public celebration or parade until after July 19.

What about vaccine passports?

Test events including Euro 2020 matches and Wimbledon tennis have seen fans asked to provide proof of double vaccinations or a negative COVID-19 test within 48 hours of the event.

There is a possibility that a similar ‘passport’ system could be used to help sports have full venues.

This decision to continue with this system, however, will be left up to the individual sporting bodies and will not be compulsory for entry.

What has the Premier League said?
A Premier League statement read: “Fans have been hugely missed so we welcome today’s announcement by the Government, and are looking forward to full stadiums in the 2021/22 season.

“As we move towards a Government decision on Step 4 of the roadmap and beyond, we will continue to work with football stakeholders and relevant public authorities to ensure that the return to full capacity is done in a way that keeps everyone safe.”

What about the EFL?

EFL chief executive Trevor Birch said: “The EFL welcomes today’s positive announcement by the Prime Minister that capacity restrictions are expected to be lifted later this month, which will allow us to finally press forward with our plans to see a full return of fans to EFL stadiums from the start of the new EFL season in just four weeks’ time.

“Football has been planning for this outcome since the outset of the pandemic and having been forced to endure empty stadiums since March 2020, the message from EFL Clubs is that we are ready to re-open and welcome fans back in numbers.

“From the EFL’s own participation in the Events Research Programme and our Club’s extensive experience built up over many years, we are confident that all our Clubs can successfully manage large scale events and we will continue to work with the Government on the guidance that will help support their matchday operations.

“Today’s developments, of course, have been made possible by the staff at the NHS and countless medical experts and scientists who have helped to develop and roll-out the vaccines. On behalf of the League and its membership, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for playing such an important role in helping re-open our sport and wider society.”

Source: Modern Ghana

Ejura (Ash),- The Ministerial Committee commissioned to investigate the Ejura shooting incident, has appealed to the public to be willing to provide all the evidence needed for a successful probe.

“The public is being invited to provide us with all the relevant evidence linked to the incident as we seek to get to the bottom of the issue,” Mr. Justice George Kingsley Koomsom, the Chairman appealed.

The Committee had resolved to investigate the issue to its logical conclusion, he assured, in an interview with the media at Ejura, after the members called on Barima Osei Hwedie II, the Ejurahene.

Mr. Justice Koomson said the Committee would discharge its duties as expected and within its terms of reference.

Therefore, those who had any information connected to the tragedy, should not hesitate to present them at the Committee’s sitting, he appealed.

The Committee begins sitting at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi, on Tuesday, July 06, and have 10 days within which to finish its work and submit recommendations to the government.

Those invited to make an appearance include; security personnel, traditional authorities and some youth groups at Ejura, some media houses as well as identifiable individuals with links to the incident.

Two young men, Nasiru Yussif and Murtala Mohammed, both in their 20s, who lost their lives in the tragedy, had since been buried.

The incident was triggered by the death of one Ibrahim Mohammed, alias Kaaka, 45, who was said to have been brutally assaulted while returning home on a motorbike three days before the disturbances.

Three accused persons, Ibrahim Issaka, Fuseini Alhassan and Iddi Mohammed, arrested in connection with Kaaka’s death, have been remanded into police custody by the Asokwa District Court.

They have been charged with conspiracy to commit crime and murder.

The court, presided over by Mrs. Akua Adu Boahen, did not take the accused persons’ pleas when they made an appearance on Friday, July 02, and will re-appear on reappear on July 22, 2021.

Mr. Justice Koomson told the media that their terms of reference encompassed identifying the circumstances leading to the death of Kaaka and the two young men, the role of the key witnesses such as security personnel and suspects in the murder case.

He called for public support to enable the Committee discharge its duties to the best of the citizenry’s expectation.

Barima Osei Hwedie, the Ejurahene, assured the Committee that the traditional authorities would be cooperating with the members in their work.

“We will not hesitate to give the requisite evidence you need in your work,” the Chief promised and appealed to the people of Ejura, especially the youth and affected families to offer the Committee information to achieve the purpose for which the probe had been commissioned.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Feyiase (Ash),- The Bosomtwe District Police Command has arrested one suspect in connection with the murder of an Uber driver at Feyiase in the Ashanti Region on Sunday, July 04.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Eric Bekoe, the District Police Commander, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the suspect was arrested on Monday in the course of police investigations into the matter.

“We can confirm that the Police have in our custody a male adult suspected to have played a key role in the murder of Israel Agyei Manu,” he said.

He said the decapitated body of the deceased was found in the community over the weekend and that preliminary investigations later led to the discovery of the severed head of the deceased some few metres near where the lifeless body was dumped.

DSP Bekoe said the deceased, who was also the headteacher of the Rogel Montessori Basic School at Atonsu in the Kumasi metropolis, was driving a white Toyota Vitz vehicle with registration number GE 3170-21, when he was murdered.

Mr Bekoe said the circumstances leading to the death of the Uber driver were being investigated and that the suspect would soon be arraigned in accordance with the law.

Source: Ghana News Agency

New Abirem (E/R),- The Birim North Association of Chiefs headed by Obrempong Kwesi Amoh Kyeretwie I, the Chief of Abirem has called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) to post more teachers to public schools in the District to enhance effective teaching and learning.

The appeal was made when the chief, who is also the acting Kotoku Gyaasehene, and his sub-chiefs visited schools in the district to inspect ongoing activities.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at New Abirem, he said over 10 schools suffered staff attrition which was hindering education in the area.

He said the association had sent letters to the GES for additional teachers and urged them to speed up the process to help address the acute shortage of teachers in the schools.

He added that the association aimed to promote effective teaching and learning in the area by rewarding hardworking and dedicated teachers.

He also complained about inadequate furniture in the schools that had prevented the schools from observing social distancing and other protocols of COVID-19.

Obrempong Kyeretwie I entreated parents to guide their children against social deviance.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Tema, – Residents in Tema have responded positively to the ongoing 2021 Population and Housing Census despite some few operational hitches in the field, Mr.

Isaac Tetteh Angmor, District Census Officer for the Tema Metropolis has stated.

Mr Angmor in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at Tema on Tuesday said the exercise was on course as the residents have responded positively and cooperating with the enumerators.

He said they had only encountered some minor misunderstanding which were resolved immediately by senior officials.

Mr. Angmor cited an incident at Bankuman in Tema Newtown, where a misunderstanding ensued between the official and one drug addict.

He said, “The enumerator was prevented from entering a particular house and chased out, hooted at and called thief by the drug addict who was a native of Tema Newtown, but the residents came to the rescue of the enumerator”.

He said, currently the officers were working tersely in the field and going about the enumeration and the response from the residents was encouraging.

He however expressed concern that, some of the respondents were reluctant to disclose their personal information due to some personal reasons, but they are hopeful by July 16th as planned, the census exercise would be done.

Source: Ghana News Agency