Day: January 21, 2022

Mrs Henrietta Lamptey, a Research and Development Practitioner, has been appointed by President Akufo-Addo as the Registrar of the Births and Deaths Registry, Ghana.

Prior to her appointment as the Registrar of Births and Deaths, Mrs Lamptey worked with the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development and ActionAid Ghana, a Non-Government Organisation.

Her appointment is in accordance with article 195 of the 1992 Constitution which requires the President to appoint a Registrar of Births and Deaths, and Section two of Registration of Birth and Death ACT 2020 (Act 1027).

As part of her functions, the Registrar would be responsible for the day-to-day administration of the affairs of the Registry and shall keep and maintain the national register of births, foetal deaths, and deaths.

“The Registrar shall prescribe the qualification, expertise and professional competence of the District Registrars.”

Mrs Lamptey has over 15 years of experience in social and economic development and has coordinated several intervention programmes aimed at improving the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics System in the country.

She has vast experience from her work with Government and International Development agencies in Ghana and the United Kingdom.

Her areas of expertise are research, advocacy, policy formulation and implementation, and monitoring and evaluation.

Mrs Lamptey has attended several workshops and professional development courses; notable among them are project management; and rights-based approach in development work.

The new Registrar has served as a resource person at several workshops and training programmes and as guest lecturer.

She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Ghana and two Masters Degrees; Master of Research (MRes) in Social Policy from the University of York, United Kingdom and Master of Science (MSc) in Applied Development Studies from the University of Reading, United Kingdom.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra,– The Ghana Education Service (GES) has released appointment letters of newly trained teachers who have completed and passed their Public Colleges of Education Examinations in 2020.

The Service, in a press release copied to the Ghana News Agency, said the new teachers had passed their licensure exams, completed their mandatory national service, and applied for recruitment.

The letters can be accessed on “www.gespromotions.gov.gh” at a fee of 10 Ghana cedis.

“Appointees are to report to the Regional Directors with their appointment letters and certificates for further directives,” the statement said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ghana Football Association (GFA) president, Kurt Okraku has pleaded for calmness amidst the pain after the Black Stars were crashed out of the ongoing 2021 Africa Cup of Nations [Cameroon] in Cameroon.

The Black Stars after failing to win the continental title after 40 years were tasked to win the 33rd edition of the AFCON but their campaign shockingly ended in an embarrassment.

Ghana were eliminated after losing 3-2 to debutant Comoros in their final game.

In a group consisting of Morocco, Gabon and Comoros, Black Stars, shockingly, finished bottom with only one point, scored three goals and conceded five.

The embarrassment has led to calls for Milovan, only reappointed in September, to be sacked while some want changes at the GFA too, but Okraku has urged Ghanaians to stay calm.

“I share in the pain of the entire country. I share the pain of everybody who follows the Ghanaian sport. At this moment, everybody has the right to speak or to share their pain but at the same time, it’s a moment that we need cool heads to navigate our Black Stars to the levels that we desire,” Kurt Okraku told TV3.

“The journey to make the Black Stars champions did not start two years ago under my leadership but it started since the last time Ghana won the Afcon [in 1982]. The journey has been ongoing, since the last time we won the Afcon, we haven’t been able to win. Don’t forget being a finalist is not being a winner so we have never been able to win.

“We have been trying to look for the solution but the solution is not what was displayed by the team in Cameroon but [it] behoves on all of us to stay together as a unit, family, look inside us, look within us, look externally to find how our Black Stars can win that enviable trophy again. It is our responsibility.”

Source: Modern Ghana

Appiatse (WR),– Calm is gradually returning to the tragedy-hit Western Region town of Appiatse, after Thursday’s fire incident involving a vehicle carrying mine explosives, which has so far claimed 13 lives and injured more than 50.

Th injured are receiving medical attention at various health centres in the Prestea-Huni Valley Municipality with some referred to the Effia-Nkwanta Government Hospital at Sekondi, and beyond.

The town, however, looks desolate as the GNA witnessed a few people counting their losses and salvaging property.

Some residents are being housed at the St Matthew Catholic Church Parish Hall in Bogoso and are being taken care of by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO).

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who is leading the Government delegation to the town, has expressed the nation’s condolence to the people and assured them of state support towards healing and recovery.

The delegation includes Lands and Natural Resources Minister Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Interior Minister Ambrose Dery and Western Regional Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah.

The Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, is also present with his team.

The joint team commiserated with the bereaved families and visited a number of health facilities to sympathise with those on admission.

They presented assorted items to the patients and pledged to give more assistance.

The tragedy occurred along the Bogoso-Bawdie road when a vehicle conveying explosives to the Chirano Gold Mines site allegedly collided with a motorcycle, resulting in an explosion.

According to a statement issued by the Minister of Information, Friday, the government promptly activated a national emergency response mechanism for personnel from the Police Service, Ghana Armed Forces, Fire Service, NADMO and the Municipal Authority to help those affected and send relief to residents of the town.

The statement said additional personnel and resources had been deployed to the community to support the ongoing response effort.

An alternative route, it said, had been created to facilitate the movement of stranded vehicles plying that route, while all hospitals within the vicinity were being used to treat injured persons.

An evacuation plan has also been activated to move those in critical conditions to medical facilities in Accra so they could get the needed assistance.

The statement said to forestall a secondary explosion at the site, a joint team of police and military explosion experts had been deployed to examine the situation and put in place requisite measures.

The Government assured that some efforts to get stranded community members shelter and other basic necessities in the days ahead had been set in motion.

“We would want to urge the public to remain calm and obtain regular updates from the national emergency response team,” the statement said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra,– The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, has warned that government will deal ruthlessly with anyone found to have breached the Minerals and Mining Regulation regarding the transportation of explosives.

The warning follows the constitution of a committee comprising officials from the Minerals Commission, security agencies, Ghana National Fire Service and National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to complete investigations into the explosion.

Mr Jinapor, who accompanied Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to commiserate with the bereaved families of the Appiatse disaster on Friday, said the investigations would be thorough to determine the actual cause of the incident.

Mr Jinapor noted that the manufacture, storage, transportation and use of explosives was governed by law, particularly the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) and the Minerals and Mining (Explosives) Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2177).

He assured that Government would implement all recommendations from the investigations to forestall future occurrence.

The Ministry would hold meetings with all stakeholders, including mining companies, Ghana Chamber of Mines and mine support service companies, to discuss the entire regime of handling and use of explosives and other hazardous chemicals for mining, with a view of developing safe and healthy mining operations and support services in the country, he stated.

Preliminary investigation confirmed 13 persons dead, 179 affected and 31 houses torched.

A vehicle transporting 10 tonnes of ammonium nitrate from Tarkwa to Chirano Gold Mine allegedly collided with a motorcycle resulting in the explosion, killing dozens of people at Appiatse in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra,- Seven out of 11 persons allegedly involved in the recent violence at Nima have been remanded into police custody by an Accra Circuit Court.

They pleaded not guilty for rioting with weapons and causing harm.

The accused persons are: Abdul Gafaru Mahama, Atarowa Bassam, Abdul Mumuni Gariba, Mohammed Saabi Ganiru, Illiasu Salm and Issah Seidu.

Ali Awudu, aka “Bombo” and Ibrahim Husain, aka “Kumordzi” are said to be on the run while Aziz Suleman, aka “Rambo” and Ibrahim Jalo, are said to be on admission at hospitals.

Two victims, Frimpong Boateng and Shaibu Abdul Razak, are said to be receiving treatment at the Police Hospital.

The court, presided over by Mrs Rosemary Baah Torsu, has ordered the pleas of alibi put by some of the accused persons and adjourned the matter to February 1.

Prosecution led by Chief Inspector Dennis Terkpetey opposed to the grant of bail to the accused persons, saying tension was still high at Nima.

Chief Inspector Terkpetey asked the court to avert its mind to public interest because investigations had just begun and “in the interest of justice and fairness, the Police should be given time to investigate the matter well.”

The prosecution asked that the accused persons “be remanded so the Police could conduct forensic investigations into the matter. There is too much tension, and the safety of the accused persons is paramount.”

Counsels for the accused persons, however, took turns to apply for bail for their clients.

Mr Yaw Dankwah who represented Illiasu Salim and Issah Seidu indicated that his clients were nowhere near the scene and that the Police had only brought before the court innocent persons and urged the court to investigate the plea of alibi put up the accused persons.

He said in the case of his client, the Police had done a “sham job” and that the accused should be admitted to bail.

Mr Nasiru Seidu indicated that his client, Abdul Gafaru Mahama, had just been operated on and that there was no way he could have taken part in the riots.

He therefore, prayed for bail so he could visit the hospital for further treatment.

Mr Seth Agyapong Oware who represented Ganiru informed the court that the facts presented did not support the charges, adding that, his client was “caught in a wrong place at the wrong time.”

Presenting the facts, Chief Inspector Terkpetey, said on January 18, this year, at about 1500 hours, the Police received information that there was an ongoing riot at Nima (Gutter) and that the riots involved the use of arms and other offensive weapons.

The prosecution said a team of armed policemen were quickly dispatched to the location where very large crowd of people had gathered.

It said the names of Ali Awudu, aka “Bombom” and Ibrahim Hussein, aka “Kumordzi” were mentioned as the leaders of two groups responsible for the riots.

The prosecution said Awudu and Hussein were, however, at large when the Police arrived.

It said Abdul Gafaru Mahama was arrested after he was identified to the Police as one of the perpetrators.

The prosecution said a total of 12 spent shells were retrieved at the scene.

It said a barbering shop located a few meters from the scene was also vandalised by the rioters and that a search in the vandalised barbering shop led to the discovery of three AA A live ammunitions, one empty pistol magazine, one live pistol bullet, a knife, and a machete.

The prosecution said a victim named Frimpong, 53, who was about to move his car from the scene was shot in the left shoulder and receiving treatment at the Emergency ward 37 Military Hospital.

Suspect Aziz Sulemana, aka “Rambo” and Ibrahim Moro, aka “Gato” who went to seek treatment at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital/ Ridge, were picked up and currently on admission and under heavy Police guard at the Police Hospital.

It said Bassam, Gariba, Barinu and Ganiru, were also picked up at the same hospital after they were identified by the Police.

The prosecution said intelligence also led to the arrest of Illiasu Salim and Issah Seidu at their hideout at Ashalajah, near Amasaman in Accra.

It said a search led to the discovery of a Military uniform and a pump action gun at the hideouts of the two accused persons.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Kumasi,– The National Youth Authority (NYA) has received approval for its new scheme of service from the Public Services Commission.

Mr Pius Enam Hadzide, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who announced this, said the new scheme of service would provide an open and transparent system for recruitment, training, development, and promotion of staff.

Currently, the Authority is in extensive consultations with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to generate an appropriate salary structure to match the newly approved scheme of service.

Mr Hadzide announced this at the opening of an annual delegates’ meeting of NYA branch of the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) of Ghana Trade Union Congress (TUC) in Kumasi.

He said the new service scheme would help resolve the problem of delayed promotions adding that the Authority was considering a new condition of service for staff under the new scheme.

Mr Hadzide said management’s commitment to staff extended beyond their years of active service and that retirees were still considered members of the NYA family.

“In my end of year address, I assured staff that our commitment to our staff extended beyond their years of active service, and retirees were still considered members of the NYA family,” he assured.

To that end, he said the Authority for the first time in over 10 years, provided service benefits to the 2021 batch of retirees, and further gave them citations in recognition of their long years of service.

Moving forward, the CEO said management would enroll the staff onto the third tier of the tier 3 Pension Scheme and would establish a Provident Fund for officers to supplement their pension benefits.

The Authority shall continue to develop Human Resource policies and proposals to guide the operations of officers in the Authority, Mr Enam Hadzide said.

He said the introduction of the Free SHS policy coupled with the general review and overhaul of the educational structure and system to position graduates competitively in a globalized world could only be in the interest of the youth.

The entrepreneurship drive of the government seeks to leverage the ‘can do spirit’ of the Ghanaian youth and seeks to change the youth from mere job seekers to job owners and job givers, the CEO said.

This, he said, was a more sustainable way of dealing with the canker of youth unemployment in the country.

The Authority, he said, welcomes the YouStart initiative which seeks to invest GH¢10,000,000,000.00 into the Ghanaian youth over the next three years to create about one million jobs.

He appealed to authorities and the Parliament of Ghana to consider and approve the revenue measures including the E-levy that would guarantee that YouStart happened.

The CEO also announced that the Authority had begun staff promotions and some batches of the staff received their promotions in the final quarter of 2021, adding that the Authority shall continue the exercise of promoting deserving staff in this quarter.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Tarkwa(W/R),- Police have arrested one Apostle Ebenezer Boahene, chairman of the Christian Divine Church (CDC), in Tarkwa, for allegedly engaging in financial malpractices.

He has been accused of diverting church funds into the accounts of a private company which he created with his own people.

He was taken to the Tarkwa Divisional command where his statement was taken.

Speaking to the media after the arrest, the Tarkwa Divisional Police Commander, ASP Andrew George Kuma said the Christian Divine Church had a leadership problem which was at the court.

The complainant of the case, who is a presiding Elder and a member of the National Finance Board, Elder David Agyekum indicated that the fact that it was a church organization did not warrant him to take the law into his own hands to apply funds meant for the church anyhow.

Meanwhile, Apostle Ebenezer Boahene has been granted a self-recognizance bail.

Source: Ghana News Agency