Day: May 23, 2022

Aggrieved farmers within the Ahafo South Mine enclave of the Newmont Ghana Gold Limited (NGGL) in the Ahafo Region has besieged the premises of the Sunyani High Court amidst tight Police presence.

Numbering more than 100, the visibly angry farmers, clad in red headgears and armbands were at the high court to seek an order to restrain the NGGL from undertaking compensation valuation of lands at Afrisipakrom and Yamfo in the Mine’s concessional area.

The farmers, drawn from Afrisipakrom, Yamfo, Adrobaa, Techire and Susuanso are members of the Ahafo North Property Owners and Farmers Association, a group comprising local farmers within the 10 Newmont Ahafo mine-take communities.

An accompanying affidavit filed by David Rockson Tabiri Boahen of “Sarpomaa Chambers”, a Sunyani-based legal firm and Counsel for Ali Baba Mohammed, one of the aggrieved farmers noted the NGGL had failed to comply with all the laws, regulations and rules laid by the state to regulate compensation processes.

A copy of the affidavit made available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani explained in 2021, the NGGL commenced fresh engagement with the affected communities and formed a Resettlement Negotiation Committee (RNC) that would facilitate payment compensation to affected farmers by the Mine’s operations.

The RNC, composed of five representatives from each of the five affected communities were tasked to find and engage qualified expert to lead them in negotiations and assessment for fair and adequate compensation.

“Representatives from Afrisipakrom, Susuanso, Adrobaa, Techire and Yamfo, all resolved to engage their own preferred qualified person or expert to represent them in the negotiation and assessment of the compensation, which NGGL accepted, but rejected those of Yamfo and Afrisipakrom in violation of the plaintiffs’ legal right to representation of their choice”, it stated.

“All amiable attempts and efforts by the plaintiffs to the defendant to allow the plaintiffs to engage a qualified expert or person to represent their interest and lead the negotiation and assessment in accordance with law and regulations governing the process have been opposed and rejected by the defendants”.

“Recognition of qualified person engaged by the plaintiffs by the defendant is necessary because plaintiff is required by law to pay all professional fees and expenses incurred by the qualified persons in undertaking the instructions by the plaintiffs”, the affidavit explained.

It said the reject of the plaintiff’s preferred valuer or expert to represent them in the negotiation and assessment of compensation to be paid to the plaintiffs remained a violation of law and legal rights of the plaintiffs.

The affidavit therefore added if the right thing was not done the affected farmers would suffer hardships, and therefore prayed the Court to push the NGGL to comply with the laws governing the compensation assessment and negotiation process.

In a related development, Nana Ansah Adu Baah II, the Paramount Chief of Yamfo Traditional Area and also the President of the Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs has appealed for out-of court settlement.

Speaking in an interview with the GNA, Nana Baah II, who was also at the Court premises said a meeting had been arranged between the counsels of NGGL and the affected farmers and expressed the hope the engagement would be fruitful for mutual benefit.

He therefore appealed to the farmers to remain calm, saying “we would not sit unconcern for anybody to cheat you”.

Nana Baah II urged the farmers to refrain from any behaviour that could disturb the peace of the area, and reminded them that the company had already secured the right to mine in the Ahafo North concessional area.

Later in an interview, Dr. Samuel Kumi, the spokesman explained the Association sought support from the Global Greengrant Fund to undertake advocacy campaigns to tackle the challenges confronting mining companies and their host communities.

Source: Modern Ghana

Kadjebi (O/R), May 23, GNA-ActionAid Ghana has organised a day’s capacity building workshop for 60 Community-Based Anti-Violent Team (COMBAT) and eight Child Protection Committee (CPC) members.

The COMBAT 60 participants were drawn from the ActionAid operational communities in Jasikan and Kadjebi Districts, while the eight CPC members came from World Vision impact communities in Kadjebi.

Modern slavery is quite common in Ghana, manifesting in the forms of exploitation of children and women labour, especially within the agricultural sector.

However, the phenomenon has not received the needed attention to address the various forms of modern slavery.

Mr. Foster Adase-Adjei, the ActionAid Ghana Programme Officer for Volta and Oti Regions, disclosed these at the workshop at Kadjebi in the Oti Region.

One critical gap that perpetuates and entrenched modern slavery is the lack of capacity and community level structures to build anti-slavery, human trafficking referral and whistleblowing in hotspots of modern slavery.

To address this gap, the project would build the capacity of community leaders/structures on anti-modern slavery and human trafficking referrals systems/protocols and build their capacity in whistleblowing.

This is expected to ensure that all cases of modern slavery, especially within the agricultural sector, are reported to the appropriate authorities.

Mr. Adase-Adjei appealed to the beneficiaries to help reduce modern day slavery together through networking and collaboration.

Detective Sergeant Bismark Walker Tetteh, the Kadjebi District CID, called on the participants to help identify and arrest perpetrators of human trafficking.

He said the act took many forms and could happen anywhere.

He said the perpetrators engaged in the act for monetary gains, and the act takes the form of fraud, deception, and abduction.

Mr. Eric Arthur Fynn, Kadjebi District Director of Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), urged participants to help protect children from violence, exploitation, abuse, and neglect.

According to him, the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of the Child placed obligation on States to protect children from all forms of maltreatment perpetrated by adults and to undertake preventive and treatment programmes in that regard.

Ms. Cynthia Worlali Kpese, a participant from Kutey in the Jakisan District, said the workshop had enlightened her on modern forms of slavery and could educate community members on it.

The workshop was funded by Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation (Norad).

Source: Ghana News Agency

Steve McClaren and Mitchell van der Gaag have been appointed as Erik ten Hag’s assistant coaches at Manchester United.

They have worked with new United boss Ten Hag in Dutch football – McClaren at FC Twente and Van der Gaag at Ajax.

All three were in the crowd for United’s defeat by Crystal Palace on the final day of the Premier League season on Sunday.

“I thought I worked hard until I met Erik,” said McClaren.

“His great strength lies not just in his attention to detail and organisation. He has a clear philosophy of how he wants to play football, the environment he wants to create.”

Former England manager McClaren worked as Sir Alex Ferguson’s assistant at United for more than two seasons from 1999 to 2001.

Van der Gaag spent the last year as Ten Hag’s assistant at Ajax.

Source: Modern Ghana

Accra, May 23, GNA –The Accra High Court hearing the case involving Dr Stephen Opuni, Seidu Agongo and one other, has ordered Dr Opuni to produce his third Defence Witness at the next adjourned date.

Dr Opuni through his lawyers was supposed to produce Samuel Torbi, the Second Defence Witness, to be cross examined by the State prosecution in the case but the witness was absent with an excuse duty from the lawyers.

Mr Torbi gave his evidence in chief and was cross examined by the Counsel for Seidu Agongo, which he ended.

The State also commenced its cross examination but could not finish and on Wednesday May 18, when the case was called, the witness was absent, but the Court was told he was on admission and had brought an excuse duty.

Dr Opuni and Mr Agongo are facing 27 charges, including defrauding by false pretences, willfully causing financial loss to the State, money laundering, corruption by a public officer and contravention of the Public Procurement Act.

They have both pleaded not guilty to the charges and are on a GHS300,000.00 self-recognizance bail each.

On Monday May 23, 2022, when the case was called, Mr Samuel Codjoe, Counsel for Dr Opuni, informed the Court that he had in his hand another excuse duty issued by the Ridge Hospital on behalf of Mr Torbi.

Mr Torbi was admitted to the Hospital on May 17, 2022, and was discharged on May 20, 2022, and was given a week’s excuse duty.

Mr Codjoe told the Court that this explained why the witness was not present in court to continue with the cross examination.

The counsel explained that he had requested from the Hospital a medical report to enable him present that to the Court but he was told that it was due to Doctor-Patient confidentiality, it could not be done except there was an order from the Court.

Mrs Evelyn Keelson, Chief State Attorney, said she was served with a copy of the excuse duty of the witness from the Hospital.

She said once again, “we do not know from the excuse duty, what is wrong with the witness, and it was their submission that for the Court to effectively manage the conduct of the case, it would be necessary for it to order the medical officer who had issued the excuse duty to appear before the court to give further and better particulars to the court as to the ailment.”

She said this would help the Court to effectively manage the conduct of the case and assist the Court in deciding whether the next defence witness for Dr Opuni could be called, while the second witness took time to heal.

Justice Clemence Jackson Honyenuga, a Supreme Court Judge, sitting as an additional High Judge, after hearing the parties, said the second witness would be allowed to recover and recalled to continue his cross examination.

He cautioned that the Court had power to expunge the evidence of the witness at the appropriate time, consequently, although the suggestion from the prosecution to invite the Doctor was laudable, it would only occasion more delays in the four-year old criminal trial

At the last adjourned date, the judge expressed surprised at the turn of events at the disposition of the second defence witness.

The Judge said he was surprised because the witness looked very energetic and did not seem like somebody who could fall sick within two days.

Source: Ghana News Agency

UNHCR ensures capacity-building of Governments and national structures to strengthen asylum systems and help refugees improve their self-reliance.

MCO Senegal continues to provide durable solutions and assistance to refugees focusing on voluntary return, local integration, and complementary pathways.

UNHCR aims to tackle statelessness in line with pledges made by MCO countries during the High-level segment on Statelessness in 2019.

Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees

Accra, May 23, GNA – A land agent has been granted bail by an Accra Circuit Court in the sum of GHS100,000.00 with two sureties for conspiracy to commit crime and defrauding by false pretense.

Mr Kingford Okata, aged 52, was also charged with conspiracy to commit crime and fraudulent sale of land, which he pleaded not guilty too.

Meanwhile, Mr Samuel Jonathan Anum Oddoye, aged 57, businessman and Land Agent, was also charged with the same offences but failed to appear before the Court for his plea to be taken.

The Court therefore issued a bench warrant for his arrest.

The case has been adjourned to June 1, 2022.

Prosecuting Police Chief Inspector Maxwell Ayim told the Court presided over by Mrs Adelaide Abui Keddey that the complainant was Lawyer Akoto Ampaw and counsel for Bola Solution Ghana Limited.

The Prosecution said Mr Okata and Mr Oddoye (at large) were both Land Agents at Kitase near Aburi in the Eastern Region.

Police Chief Inspector Ayim said in 2018, Management of Bola Solution Ghana Limited, wanted about 600 acres of land for a Waste Energy Project.

The Prosecution said after a search, one Reverend Yeboah introduced the accused persons and other witnesses in the case as partners, who could assist in searching for a parcel of land.

Police Chief Inspector Ayim said the accused persons brought three separate site plans covering three parcels of land at Akuapem Mampong, Prampram/Dawhenya and Sege.

Management of Bola Solution Ghana Ltd and their foreign partners in United Kingdom visited the various parcels of land and selected the Prampram/Dawhenya land as suitable for the project.

The Prosecution said the Bola Solution Ghana Ltd started doing the necessary works with the various Districts, Municipal and Metropolitan Assemblies for supply of waste in the future when the project became operational.

Police Chief Inspector Ayim said within that period, Mr Oddoye (at large) with the power of Attorney introduced himself as the representative of Mr Nii Nartey Borboryor family of Dawhenya and negotiated for the price of the land on behalf of the family for GHS60,000.00 per an acre for the proposed 600 plots and terms of payment with the Bola Solution Ghana Ltd Management.

The Prosecution said Lawyer Ampaw requested for a proof of the ownership of the land from Mr Oddoye and he promised to produce same in a couple of days.

Police Chief Inspector Ayim said on September 5, 2020, the accused persons went to Lawyer Ampaw’s office at Adabraka, Accra and requested GHS150,000.00 for the surveying of the land, to enable a site plan to be prepared to cover the 600 acres of land and commitment on the part of Bola Solution GH Ltd to purchase the land.

The Prosecution said Lawyer Ampaw gave Oddoye an initial amount of GHS100,000.00 to produce a site plan with a land title certificate.

Mr Oddoye in the company of Mr Okata subsequently requested various sums of monies from the management of the company which were paid in both cash and Zenith Bank cheques to a total sum of GHS351,500.00.

Police Chief Inspector Ayim said the accused persons further made a false representation to Lawyer Ampaw that Mr Nii Nartey Borboryor’s family was pressuring them for the money and the land in question would be sold to Zoomlion Company instead.

Furthermore, the head of Mr Nii Nartey Borboryor’s family was dead, and the family needed money to perform the funeral rites.

Following these developments, Lawyer Ampaw became suspicious and conducted a survey on the land with the help of a drone with Mr Oddoye.

The Prosecution said before the survey, Oddoye took the company’s representative to one Frederick K. Nartey, whom he introduced as the new head of Borboryor’s family and indicated to him that, the Bola Solution GH Ltd team were the investors but failed to disclose the various sums of monies paid to him, which raised further suspicion.

Police Chief Inspector Ayim said the company’s representative eventually visited the purported land and found out that it had been occupied.

The Prosecution said Lawyer Ampaw later found out that the representation made by the accused persons was false and the head of Borboryor’s family was alive.

Police Chief Inspector Ayim said on May 22, 2022, Lawyer Ampaw made a report to the Police at the Regional CID, Accra and the accused person were arrested at Adabraka.

Investigation revealed that Mr Nii Nartey Borboryor’s family had about 200 acres of land at Prampram which they were willing to sell but not 600 acres as Mr Oddoyr made the management of the Bola Solution GH Ltd to believe.

Mr Oddoye also gave the family of Mr Nii Nartey Borboryor GHS20,000.00 out of the GHS351,500.00 he took from the company.

The Prosecution said Mr Oddoye further gave Mr Okata GHS26,000.00, Nana Osei Ntiful 1 GHS4,000.00, Isaac Danso, a.k.a “Nkasei” GHS6,000.00 and David Sepro Kumuriwo GHS6,000.00, all witnesses in the case who rendered some services to Mr Oddoye.

Police Chief Inspector Ayim said during investigation, Mr Okata refunded GHS26,000.00, the others mentioned also refunded theirs, including the head of Mr Nii Nartey Borboryor’s family GHS20,000.00, totaling GHS65,000.00.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Lynx Entertainment signee, Kuami Eugene has made a shocking revelation about one of the reasons behind his latest club banger, ‘Take Away’.

Citing financial difficulties and struggles amongst other factors as the reason behind the song, the singer indicated that a heartbreak he suffered some years ago was part of it.

Speaking to Sammy Forson on the Daybreak Hitz on Hitz FM this morning, the singer recalled when his first lover turned him down for a rich guy.

Kuami Eugene stated that the said gentleman who was an alleged fraud boy bought a Toyota Corolla.

He said the lady fell for the gentleman without hesitation despite the constant assurance of a happy relationship.

Speaking about his relationship with the lady, Kuami Eugene stated that he is on good terms with the lady, adding that they engage in conversations where the lady always wishes they are back together.

When asked by Sammy Forson whether he may consider taking the lady back, Kuami Eugene indicated that he is already dating someone else.

Source: Modern Ghana

Accra, May 23, GNA – The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources says it will investigate allegations that a former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, alias Sir John, allocated portions of Achimota Forest lands to some persons related to him in his Will.

A statement issued by the Public Relations Unit of the Ministry in Accra said it would demand the necessary documents surrounding the issue.

“The attention of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has been drawn to a document making the rounds on social media, which alleges that the late former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, had included portions of the Achimota Forest in his Will, and given out same to individuals who are said to be related to him,” the statement said.

The Ministry said it took serious view of the allegations, and had requested for all documents relating to the lands in question, as part of an initial inquiry to ascertain the veracity of the claims,” it said.

It said considering that the issues that formed the basis of the allegations predated the tenure of the current Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, it is important that the Minister seized with the full facts to enable him take appropriate action, if, indeed, there was any merit in the claims.

The Ministry assured the l public and the people of Ghana that it would ensure that the national interest was always protected, especially in matters pertaining to the Achimota Forest.

Source: Ghana News Agency