Month: August 2022

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Several killed in Somalia hotel siege

At least 12 people have been killed after al-Shabab militants, stormed a hotel in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on Friday night.

Police said attackers detonated two explosives outside the hotel, before entering the building and opening fire.

Continued gunfire and explosions were reported on Saturday, as security forces battled an unknown number of gunmen still inside holding hostages.

Dozens of guests and staff members have been rescued.

“So far we have confirmed 12 people, mostly civilians, died,” Mohammed, an intelligence officer who only gave one name, told Reuters new agency.

Earlier, a website affiliated to al-Shabab, said a group of militants had “forcibly entered” the hotel, and were “carrying out random shooting”.

The Hayat is described as a popular location for employees of the federal government to meet.

Nine people were injured and carried away from the hotel, the head of Mogadishu’s Aamin ambulance services, Abdikadir Abdirahman, told Reuters earlier.

The director of Mogadishu’s main trauma hospital, Dr Mohamed Abdirahman Jama, later told news agency AFP the facility was treating at least 40 people wounded in the hotel attack and a separate mortar strike on another area of the capital.

Unverified images circulating on social media appeared to show smoke billowing from the hotel, while shouting and loud bangs can be heard.

In a statement, a police officer told Reuters the initial attack on the hotel had been two car bombs.

“One hit a barrier near the hotel, and then the other hit the gate of the hotel,” he said.

An affiliate of al-Qaeda, al-Shabab has engaged in a long-running conflict with the federal government.

The group controls much of southern and central Somalia, but has been able to extend its influence into areas controlled by the government based in Mogadishu.

In recent weeks, fighters affiliated with the group have also attacked targets along the Somalia-Ethiopia border, which has raised concerns about a possible new strategy by al-

Shabab.

The attack on Friday marks the first in the capital by the group, since Somalia’s new president, Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, was elected in May.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Bank of Ghana launches Regulatory Sandbox to boost financial inclusion?

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has launched a Regulatory and Innovation Sandbox to support the Government’s financial inclusion and stability agenda.?

This comes after the pilot implementation of the regulatory sandbox, which was developed in collaboration with EMTECH Solutions to provide a framework for small scale, live testing of innovations in a controlled environment.?

According to the Central Bank, the move was in line with its commitment to continuously evolve a conducive regulatory environment that promoted innovation, financial inclusion, and financial stability.?

A statement from the Bank noted that the framework would, among others, foster a deeper understanding of innovative products, services, and business models by the regulator.?

It would also allow for potential improvements to legal and regulatory requirements to encapsulate emerging technologies and ensure careful monitoring and containment of any risks that may emerge.?

The Sandbox was an opportune tool for harnessing the potential of technology to develop an efficient and inclusive financial service industry without risking financial stability, the Bank noted.?

The Regulatory Sandbox was open to all licensed financial institutions including Banks, Specialized Deposit-taking Institutions, Payment Service Providers, and Dedicated Electronic Money Issuers Financial Holding companies and other Non-Bank Financial Institutions.?

It was also opened to unlicensed FinTech start-ups that have innovative products, services or business models that meet the Regulatory Sandbox requirements. ?

However, innovations eligible for the sandbox environment would be required to have new digital business models not covered explicitly or implicitly under any current regulation.?

They must also have new and immature digital financial service technology as well as innovative and disruptive digital financial service products that have the potential of addressing a persistent financial inclusion challenge. ?

The Central Bank explained that over the past two years, the use of digital financial services among Ghanaians had recorded remarkable increase because of enabling policies by the Bank and the Government under the national digitalisation agenda.?

Also, the restrictions imposed on movement of persons as part of the COVID-19 containment measures spurred the adoption of digital financial services among individuals, businesses, government ministries, departments and agencies. ?

The adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data analytic tools was also accelerating among Ghanaian financial service providers.?

This had created enormous opportunities for innovative products and services including chatbot, Know Your Customer (KYC) and Customer Due Diligence (CDD) solutions, anti-money laundering and fraud monitoring platforms, credit scoring for digital credit products and customer-centric product designs. ?

The Bank affirmed its commitment to provide the enabling environment for innovation to promote financial inclusion and facilitate Ghana’s digitisStion and cash-lite agenda.?

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Be worthy ambassadors of party’s achievements, NPP supporters urged

Loyalists and sympathisers of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) have been tasked to be worthy ambassadors of the party by propagating its achievements.

Mr Alfred Obeng-Boateng, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bibiani-Anhwiaso-Bekwai, said this would go a long way to ensure that the party became successful in “breaking the eight” in the next elections.

“Breaking the eight is not a mantra but an agenda, which should be fulfilled by dint of hard work,” he said.

The MP, addressing party faithful at separate meetings at Bibiani, challenged the executives to work extra hard to achieve the set goals.

Mr Obeng-Boateng also met with polling station executives of Estate Electoral Area as well as the leadership of all volunteer groups at the Anglican Church at Bibiani.

He said the objective was to increase the votes garnered in his constituency in the 2020 elections between the NPP and National Democratic Congress from 17,591 to 20,000 in 2024.

He cautioned party supporters to settle all disputes and eschew all forms of divisive tendencies that would derail the fortunes of the party in future elections.

The MP touted the flagship programmes of the Government such as the Free SHS, One District-One Factory, One Village, One Dam, infrastructure development and recruitment in all sectors, which had improved the living conditions of the people.

He also recounted his personal achievements in the constituency to include the construction of 25 mechanised boreholes, kindergarten classrooms, reshaping of feeder roads, 45,000 rubber seedlings for farmers, provision of classroom furniture, 2021 BECE Mock sponsorship, Scholarships and pick-up vehicles for security agencies.

Mr Obeng-Boateng said those successes should be enough to secure victory for the party in the area come 2024.

He said one project dear to his heart was the Dodowa housing project for traders, students and travelers outside of the constituency and was optimistic that it would be completed and commissioned within the shortest possible time.

The MP appealed to the constituents to register for the Ghana Card, which, he noted, was becoming a major document for the transaction of all businesses in the country.

Other members in his entourage were Mr Paul Andoh, First Vice Chairman, Mr William Ofori Assuming, Chairman of Council of Elders, Mr Solomon Boamah, Elections and Research Officer, Badu Joseph, Organizer, Ben Kumi, Deputy Organizer, and Peter Tanyah, Nasara Coordinator.

They took turns to address the gathering by admonishing them to unite for victory in 2024.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Two men accused of sodomy freed

There was spontaneous joy at an Accra Circuit Court when two persons who were accused of sodomizing a 16-year-old boy at Madina were acquitted and discharged.

Clinton Adofo, a 39-year-old Coach and Daniel Arthur a 25-year-old Event Decorator, who were freed by the Court, were facing a charge of unlawful carnal knowledge.

The Court in its ruling following a submission of no case filed on behalf of the accused persons, held that “there was no evidence to prove that the accused persons had sex with the victim through his anus on October 11, 2021.”

The Court further held that the evidence adduced by the prosecution was so discredited as a result of cross-examination and same was manifestly unreliable that no reasonable tribunal could safely convict the accused persons.

“The evidence adduced by the prosecution failed to take the case out of the realm of conjecture and the evidence on record is best described as insufficient,” the court presided over by Mrs Christina Cann, held.

The accused persons who were represented by Mr Jerry Avernogbo and Mr Lord Delvin Essandoh filed a submission of no case after prosecution had closed its case. The prosecution, in all called four witnesses to make their case.

The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Simon Terkpor, narrated that the victim, aged 16, was a form two Junior High School student who lived with his mother at Madina, Accra.

The prosecution said Adofo and Arthur were residents of Madina and Adenta respectively.

The prosecution said on October 10, 2021, at about 2200 hours, the victim returned home from town and was denied access to the room by his mother, a witness in the case.

He said in view of that, the victim went to Adofo’s house whom he used to spend the night with.

The Court heard that the victim met the accused persons and told Adofo that he wanted to spend the night with him, which he agreed to it.

The prosecution said Adofo slept on the bed whilst Arthur and the victim slept on the carpet on the floor.

The Court heard that on October 11, 2021, at about 1230 hours, whilst the victim was deeply asleep, Adofo, in his nakedness went to the victim, pulled his panties to his knee level, applied a cream on his penis and the anus of the victim and allegedly had anal sex with him.

The prosecution said after Adofo was done, Arthur also applied the same cream on his penis and forcibly had anal sex with the victim after, which the victim asked the accused persons for a place to ease himself.

In the process, he sneaked out and reported the case to Madina DOVVSU.

The prosecution said the victim led a team of Police to the scene of the crime where the accused persons were identified and brought to the Police Station at Madina.

The Victim’s mother was issued with a medical report form to send the victim to a medical facility for examination.

The report was finally endorsed and brought back to the Police.

The prosecution held that the accused persons confessed committing the crime.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Court sentences farmer, auto sprayer to 20 years in jail

Hohoe (V/R), Aug. 19, GNA – A Hohoe Circuit Court has sentenced Tumenyo Charles, an 18-year-old farmer and Afo Larry, 35, an auto sprayer to ten years each in prison.

The court on July 20, deferred sentencing of the two after their pleas were taken to enable Tumenyo to assist the police to arrest Desmond, his accomplice who is at large and retrieving the rest of the stolen items from the new residence of the Hohoe High Court Judge.

Tumenyo was sentenced on charges of conspiracy to commit crime, unlawful entry, causing unlawful damage and stealing while Afo was sentenced on a count of dishonestly receiving.

The Court presided over by Mr Michael Johnson Abbey, sentencing them noted that although they were first-time offenders, the sentence was to serve as a deterrent to others since it was becoming rampant how shops and houses were being broken into.

The sentence would also deter people from dishonestly receiving.

Chief Inspector Charles Aziati, who held brief for Prosecuting Chief Inspector Ebenezer Arthur, said the act of ‘dishonestly receiving’ was gaining currency and was responsible for the rising number of theft and robbery cases.

He told the court that Desmond was yet to be apprehended as well as retrieval of the rest of the stolen items.

Counsel for Afo prayed the court for any other sentence aside custodial sentence since he was a first-time offender, pleaded guilty without wasting the Court’s time and had dependents but the plea was not upheld by the court.

The court also ordered that the items retrieved should be handed over to the complainant.

Tumenyo pleaded not guilty with an explanation on counts of conspiracy to commit crime, unlawful entry, causing unlawful damage and stealing but was unable to raise a reasonable doubt as to his culpability when he first appeared in Court.

Afo also pleaded not guilty with an explanation on dishonestly receiving but failed to raise a reasonable doubt as to his culpability.

The police on July 12 had information that the newly built residence of the High Court Judge at Hohoe was burgled by thieves, who made away with some items, including a 50-inch Nasco television, a double door Nasco fridge, a queen-size mattress, two double bed mattresses, 2.0 HP air-condition, sink basin, sanitary ware, microwave and cables used for wiring the house.

Police intelligence led to the arrest of Tumenyo at his hideout at Hohoe Gborxome and he admitted the crime with support from Desmond.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Driver fined GHS3,000 for dangerous driving

Kasoa (C/R), Aug. 19, GNA – The Ofaakor Circuit Court has sentenced a driver, Daniel Amo Korankye, to a fine of GHS3,000 for driving dangerous driving on the Winneba-Kasoa Highway.

The convict drove in the middle of the road, facing oncoming vehicles, which almost resulted in an accident at Awutu Bereku on the highway in the Central Region.

He pleaded guilty to the charges of careless and inconsiderate driving, causing danger to other road users and dangerous driving.

The court, presided over by Mr Ebenezer Osei Darko, convicted him on his own plea.

Prosecuting, Chief Inspector Charles Annobil, said the convict was driving a Toyota Land Cruiser registered GT 9663 – 19, on Sunday, August 14, 2022 towards Kasoa with his wife and children on board.

He said upon reaching the Bereku Township around 1730 hours, Korankye dangerously overtook some vehicles, while driving in the middle of the road, which almost led to an accident.

His action, the prosecutor said, caused road obstruction and also interfered with the movements of pedestrians.

Chief Inspector Annobil said when Korankye was stopped by the Central East Regional MTTD Commander, ACP Agnes Caesar, who was on duty at the time, he hurled insults on her.

The convict was arrested, and his vehicle impounded.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Chale Wote Street Art Festival: Euphoria ahead of weekend revelry

Accra, Aug. 19, GNA – The Chale Wote Street Art Festival, a highly anticipated festival that brings art, music, dance and performance onto the streets of Jamestown, Accra’s old quarter, is sparking a wave of euphoria among revellers.

Some merrymakers, local and international tourists alike, have begun to throng Jamestown, reintroducing the distinct aliveness that had become accustomed to the community but was seemingly lost due to the Covid-19 invasion.

On entry to Jamestown, a predominantly fishing community, the common scent of fish and shrimp that one meets when entering the community like a perfectly choreographed ballet is absent but instead, the blaring street music from make-shift pub operators is heard.

That, Christain Mensah, operator of “Level 3” pub, says, brings life to the otherwise drudgery experience of Accra.

“This year’s Chale Wote festival seems promising, it’s been two years since Chale Wote was celebrated,” he expresses optimism as he quickly joins his workers to set up for the big weekend.

Some holidaymakers and tourists were taking strolls as exhibitors set up for the weekend, as were the children and other community folks traipsing in an excited manner.

Already, ahead of the weekend revelry, some businesses, vendors and exhibitors are pitching tents and other collapsible shelters along the Ussher Fort stretch all the way down to the Jamestown Lighthouse, which may beam its lantern across the dark night and the waves of the sea.

For Tafari Billa, a local accessories exhibitor, he looks forward to an exciting festival that will translate to higher sales this weekend.

Mr Elvis Amoah, a barbecue operator, youth participation to be high, but warns that COVID-19 is still lurking, and patrons must take precautions as they “chill” in moderation.

Meanwhile, a gridlock has begun to peak around the already busy Accra High Street, which leads to Jamestown.

In its 11th year, Jamestown, Accra’s oldest community, Mantse Agbonaa, has hosted what is axiomatically the biggest arts festival in West Africa as it brings together an alluring mix of artists, and musicians, designers, exhibitors.

Chale Wote literally translates to ‘Friend let’s go’ in Ga, the language of indigenes of Accra, but has come to stand for flip-flops.

The festival is a platform that brings art, music, design, dance and performance out onto the streets, taking the form of an exhibition and a carnival.

The community-based festival is an annual event which takes place in James Town one of Accra’s most historic communities and attracts Ghanaian and international artists who create, appreciate and connect through art.

The festival, among others, is to cultivate a wider audience for the arts in West Africa by breaking creative boundaries and using art as a venture.

The festival includes street painting, graffiti murals, photo exhibitions, theatre, spoken word, interactive installations, skate shows, a food and fashion marketplace, photography, live street performances, extreme sports, an African Cinema pavilion, street boxing, a fashion parade, a music block party, recyclable design workshops, design labs and much more.

It is the first to be organised in Accra, Ghana and has inspired similar events across the country.

The festival has grown over the years and attracts about 45,000 people every year.

Over 200 Ghana-based and international artists take part in the event every year and the number is expected to soar this year, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) has gathered.

Over the past years, Chale Wote has transformed the city of Accra into the most active cultural hub in West Africa.

The festival has also inspired possibilities in public space design through community-supported cultural production, which has attracted Yvan Rodic, a Photographer and Film Director from Switzerland to document this year’s festival.

“I am from Switzerland, but I live in Brazil; I’m here to create beautiful scenes of Chale Wote, Jamestown and Accra,” he says, as he shoots compelling photos of a dance ensemble at Brazil House in Jamestown.

Mantse Aryeequaye, Festival Director, Chale Wote Street Art Festival, says this year’s festival, which started on August 12, would explore oral tradition and literature as an artform on the theme: “Stargate of Africa.”

The annual festival is positioning African oral history to open opportunities and ideas for the development of the African continent, Mr Aryeequaye stated in an interview with the GNA.

In its 12th cycle and 11th year, the prospects of Chale Wote have been tremendous, he says, and explains that it has brought thousands of people onto the streets of Accra and Ghana, translating to direct jobs for people through vending and exhibition.

“The festival has been transformative for the over 10,000 businesses that have benefited from the festival activities over the period,” he adds.

MantseAryeequaye said: “in essence, it has been transformative for the city of Accra and for Ghana. It has been transformative for the artists who have been involved.” 

Indeed, the Chale Wote Street Art Festival has introduced a vibrant alternative visual and performance culture projected by artists with paintings, some of which speak to the soul, showing our troubles and hopes, and also our shared sense of togetherness as a people.

Source: Ghana News Agency

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Wildlife Division urges communities to adopt CREMA to restore wildlife?resources

Sunyani, Aug. 19, GNA – Mr Oliver Chelewura, the Principal Manager, Bono Regional Office of the Forestry Commission (FC), Wildlife Division (WD), has encouraged communities to adopt the Community Resource Management Areas (CREMA) as alternative means to restore wildlife reserves.

According to him, the wildlife species were gradually decreasing, and this could have a strong consequence on the existence of human living.

There is, therefore, the need for pragmatic measures, including the adoption of CREMA by communities and individuals who owned acres of vegetation.

Mr Chelewura was speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Sunyani about the closed-hunting season and measures to restore the gradually diminishing wildlife resources.

The CREMA, he said, was a concept developed by the WD to promote collaborative and participatory wildlife management in the country with the concept principally involving a group of communities agreeing on the management regime of a common area.

 The communities must understand the wildlife numbers in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions were declining, hence the need for them to support the Division to protect the remaining reserves from individuals with selfish desires to destroy the habitats of the wildlife, Mr Chelewura said.

He said once the communities decided to conserve the forest lands, the Division would collaborate and give them the necessary support to protect the forest resources in their interest.

He said the CREMA was one of the vital tools the Division had been encouraging people and communities to use to protect and increase the wildlife population.

Source: Ghana News Agency