Day: July 18, 2022

Accra, The fight against piracy and response to current maritime security challenges on the Gulf of Guinea have been reinforced with the utilization of the Yaounde Architecture Regional Information System (YARIS).

 The YARIS platform, an information sharing tool or system for Maritime Law Enforcement Agencies in the Gulf of Guinea region, was developed in partnership with the Gulf of Guinea Inter-Regional Network (GoGIN ) project to aid the implementation of the Yaounde Architecture with the support of the European Union (EU).

 The Yaounde Architecture comprises the inter-regional Coordination Centre (ICC), coordination and information-sharing structure which connects the Regional Maritime Security Centre for Central Africa (CRESMAC) and the Regional Maritime Security Centre for West Africa (CRESMAO).

 The Coastal space is divided into five operational maritime zones -where activities are coordinated by five Maritime Multinational Coordination Centres (MMCC).

 The YARIS platform is therefore an information sharing tool amongst the 27 maritime centres of the Yaounde Architecture, their partners and all stakeholders involved within 6,000 kilometres of the coast.

 Operational since September 2020, the platform correctly connects 96 per cent of the Yaounde Architecture member states and centres.

 Beyond inter-regional coordination, YARIS is also a tool for connecting national administrations and enforcement agencies.

 Mr Daniel Appianin, Deputy Director-General of Operations, Ghana Maritime Authority, speaking at the closing of the national training and implementation of a National YARIS Network in Accra, commended the participants for their commitment and desire to develop and promote information sharing, leading to a secured Gulf of Guinea and to enhance legitimate use of Ghana’s maritime domain.

 The stakeholders, numbering 29, underwent a 15-day training in the use of YARIS to master and maintain its functionalities, coordination and operations for combating piracy, illegal fishing, vessels in difficulty and miscellaneous trafficking.

 The training enabled participants from Ghana’s maritime law enforcement agencies to utilize the platform to enhance surveillance and information sharing capabilities to improve maritime safety and security operations.  

 After the modular training, the operational centres will be connected to the national YARIS network, enabling them to facilitate the exchange of information and the coordination of operations at sea.

 Mr Appianin said the country had experienced unprecedented levels of maritime insecurity activities in the Gulf of Guinea Region, including Ghanaian waters which had led to needless loss of lives, property and destruction to the maritime environment.

Conceived primarily as a maritime situational awareness tool, he said, the YARIS allowed knowledge on what was going on at sea and to coordinate crisis situation operation, incorporating email and videoconference services.

He noted that YARIS would therefore improve collaboration between coastal states to combat piracy and respond to current maritime security challenges that the coastal Gulf of Guinea State members were facing including drug and arm trafficking, illegal fishing, and environmental damages.

“The system further provides and facilitates real-time coordination of maritime operations at various levels and offers a wide range of complementary tools, such as the creation of dedicated situations, opening logs, chats, building views and use of smart layers,” Deputy Director-General of Operations explained.

Mr Pieter Smidt Van Gelder, Deputy Head of Delegation of the EU to Ghana, said the coordination of maritime safety and security was essential to monitor and combat any illegal activity at sea.

The European Union, he stated, had supported the implementation of the Yaoundé Code of Conduct signed in 2013 which placed information sharing at a strategic level with a network of maritime centres. 

 “In close relationship with ECOWAS and the Economic Community of Central African States, the EU has funded multiple actions and projects in the field of maritime security including capacity building and training modules carried out in Accra.

 Mr Gilles Chehab, Head of Component – Capacity Building of the GoGIN Project, told the Ghana News Agency that the YARIS platform was a recognised tool by many national and regional and international agencies and external partners to link 24 Yaoundé Architecture Centres. 

 Squadron Leader Francis Tetteh, Pilot, Ghana Air Force, expressed optimism that with the knowledge imparted, it would offer participants the ability to detect and mitigate maritime crimes and threats in the country’s waters and the Sub-region.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Monday inducted into office ten new Justices of the High Court, charging them to dispense justice without fear or favour, affection or ill will.

The Justices included Ebenezer Osei-Darko, Bernard Bentil, Alexander Graham, and Mercy Adei Kotei, who were all elevated from the Circuit Courts.

The rest are Mr. George Kwame Gyan-Kontoh, Mr. Richard Apietu, Mr. Eric Ansah Ankomah, Mrs. Cynthia Martinson, Dr. Mrs. Bridget Kafui Antonio-Apedzi and Ms. Nabeela Naeema Wahab, all of whom join the bench from private practice.

At a short ceremony at the Jubilee House, Accra, President Akufo-Addo congratulated them on their well-deserved appointment, and enforced the need for them to demonstrate honesty, integrity, and sound knowledge of the law to gain the confidence the people.

He urged them eschew all forms and temptations of corruption throughout their journey as judges of the Superior Court of Judicature because “a corrupt or incompetent judge is a danger to the public interest and judicial administration.”

The President reminded the justices that the high court was the focal point for justice delivery in the country, adding “much of judicial work begins and ends there.”

“It is therefore critical for the growth of the nation that the High Court commands the respect of the people by the quality of its judgements as well as the comportment of its judges,” he stated.

President Akufo-Addo admonished the judges to avoid proffering judgements on the basis of decisions from lower courts and to employ the time-honoured common law tradition of precedence as the foundation for the coherent development of the law.

“You must be learned, know your case law, and ensure your decisions and judgements are properly motivated,” he said.

The President reinforced the fact that the dispensation of justice required that the application of the laws of the land must occur without fear or favour, affection or ill will, and without recourse to political, ethnic or religious affiliations.

“When a citizen falls foul of the law, that citizen, high or low, must be dealt with accordingly, and the law enforcement agencies including you our new judges must ensure this is done…that is the true meaning of the concept of equality before the law”

President Akufo-Addo also encouraged the judges to leverage technology to expedite the conduct of cases that came before them and in the management of the Courts.

He emphasized that the transparent and efficient delivery of justice builds confidence in citizens, businesses and the investor community.

The Government, the President told the Judges, had taken note of the inadequate numbers of courts in various parts of the country, resulting in citizens travelling long distances to gain access to courts, and had decided to remedy this situation.

To that end, 60 district courts, 60 bungalows for judges, and three new high courts for three of the six newly created regions would be commissioned before the start of the legal year in October.

Additionally, Government, through the Administrator of the District Assembly Common Fund, is constructing 100 new courts and bungalows for Judges in all 16 Regions of the country.

Justice Mercy Adei Kotei who spoke for her colleague justices expressed gratitude to the President for the confidence reposed in them and pledged that they would work to justify their elevation.

“We promise to remain true to our oaths and to discharge our duties with diligence” she said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced two thieves to five years imprisonment each, in hard labour. Albert Nii Ayi Quaye, 32 and Kelvin Kitorki, 24, denied conspiring to unlawfully enter the homes of their victims to steal cash and items but were found culpable.

Accra, An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced two thieves to five years imprisonment each, in hard labour.

Albert Nii Ayi Quaye, 32 and Kelvin Kitorki, 24, denied conspiring to unlawfully enter the homes of their victims to steal cash and items but were found culpable.

After trial, the Court presided over by Mr Kwabena Koduah Obiri Yeboah acquitted and discharged Gershon Nii Okai Armah, who dishonestly received some of the stolen items.

Their accomplice, only known as Asaawa, who is on the run is being sought for by the Police.

Police Chief Inspector George Nana Akomeah told the Court that Gladys Osei Owiredu, journalist and Nana Kojo Dadzie, a lecturer, both are the complainants and residents at Franco Estates at Kwabenya, a suburb of Accra.

Quaye and Kitorki are unemployed and lived at Kwabenya, as Armah, an auto mechanic also stayed at Bubuasbie.

He said on February 23, 2022, Gladys left for work and her daughter also left for school and whilst at work, she received a call from the Franco Police Station that her daughter had come to report that a thieves had broken into their house and stolen their Television set, USD 500 among other valuables.

Chief Inspector Akomeah said on March 2, 2022, Dadzie also left for lectures whereas his wife and children also left for church. His family returned from church and to their utter dismay, their home had been broken into and the rooms ransacked, the Court heard.

Prosecution said they discovered that GHS54,000.00 kept in a bag was taken, Fujitsu laptop, Amazon Tablet, two wrist watches, one wax print among other valuables had all been stolen.

Chief Inspector Akomeah said a formal complaint was lodged with the Franco Estate Police station and on March 22, 2022, the Police Intelligence Directorate had information that Quaye and Kitorki were behind the series of thefts within the Franco Estates, Kwabenya and its environs and were currently hiding at Pokuase. He said surveillance was immediately placed on them, leading to their arrest.

Prosecution said Quaye and Kitorki (the convicts) on interrogation admitted going on stealing spree during the day at Kwabenya, Madina, Aburi, Adenta and its environs when the occupants of the houses were out.

A spot search in their rooms at Kwabenya revealed a 65 inches Samsung television and a fujitsu laptop, a matchet and a flat screw driver, he said.

Prosecution said Dadzie on seeing the fujitsu laptop identified it as one of the items stolen from his House.

The convicts, he said, mentioned Armah and one Asawaa as receivers of their booties.

Chief Inspector Akomeah said Quaye and Kitorki led Police to the house of Armah at Bubuashie but was not meet at home and his (Armah’s) wife opened their door to Police where Quaye pointed to the Police an LG Television as one of the stolen televisions sets sold to Armah and Armah’s wife confirmed having seen Quaye selling three (3) television sets to her husband.

Prosecution said both convicts led police to Franco Estate in Kwabenya and demonstrated how they gained access into the rooms.

Further investigation led to the arrest of Armah and during investigation, Armah admitted the offence.

It was also established at Franco Estates Police station that both Complainants had made official complaint of the crime at their homes on the respective dates, the Court heard.

Prosecution said the Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) footage also captured Kitorki at Gladys’ home of on the day they robbed her.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Accra, Two drivers whose negligence caused the death of a seven-month-old baby and a 21-year-old adult at Ritz Junction at Adenta, have been fined GHS7,200 by an Adentan Circuit Court.

Isaac Okyere and Maxwell Owusu Abrokwah are to pay GHS3,600 each or in default serve two years imprisonment each.

The Court presided over by Mrs Sedinam Awo Balokah further ordered Okyere and his car owner Jeffery Ameyibor to pay compensation of GHS10,000 each to parents of deceased Praisey Nana Ama Nyaniba aged seven months and Michael Anti, the 21-year-old.

Okyere and Abrokwah were charged with negligently causing harm and causing danger to other road users. They pleaded guilty to the various charges.

Prosecuting Chief Inspector Jacob Nyarko narrated that on May 12, last year, at about 10:25 am, Okyere was in charge of a Nissan Urvan Bus with registration number GS 7323-18 with nine persons on board from Dodowa towards Madina along the N4 Highway.

Chief Inspector Nyarko said on reaching a section of the road near Adenta Ritz Junction, Okyere failed to exercise due care and attention and to other road users and in the process, crashed into the rear portion of a stationary Tipper Truck with registration number with registration number AC771-17 loaded with chippings which had parked in the service lane by Abrokwah.

Okyere’s passengers on board his vehicle sustained injuries and they were sent to the Legon Hospital for treatment but Michael and Praisey died whiles receiving treatment.

Prosecution said their bodies were sent to the Police Hospital for preservation and autopsy.

It said the baby was said to have died of severe head injury while Michael died because of hemorrhagic shock and severe abdominal injury.

The prosecutor said both vehicles got damaged. When a duplicate docket was sent to the Attorney General for study and legal advice and the Police was advised to charge the accused persons.

Source: Ghana News Agency