Day: March 14, 2023

Chief Justice, His Lordship Kwasi Anin-Yeboah has inaugurated four newly built court buildings in Osino in Fanteakwa South District Akyem Tafo in Abuakwa North Municipality and Koforidua in New Juaben South in the Eastern region to enhance dispensing of justice The projects are part of the 100 courthouses and accompanying residential facilities for Magistrates being built nationwide through the district assembly common fund. In his address during the commissioning of Akyem New Tafo District Court complex, His Lordship Kwasi Anin-Yeboah said the judiciary is the backbone of rule of law and democracy and a strong judicial system is essential to democracy and good governance. He stressed that the primary duty of the court is to administer justice without fear or favour, therefore, urged the judiciary to be fair and effective to reflect the needs and concerns of everyone including the poor and the rich. Additionally, he advised the magistrate and the staff to eschew acts that are inimical to the promotion of justice. He urged the public to use Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanism to settle non-criminal cases. The MCE for Abuakwa North Municipality, Alhaji Umar Bodinga said the District Court had operated in makeshift structures for years including an ICT center therefore the new court complex will provide permanent and convenient place for justice delivery. He emphasized trite legal phrase that ‘justice delayed is justice denied’ to remind the judiciary to expedite action on cases brought before the court to ensure effective justice delivery in discharge of the court duty. Akyem Tafo District Commander Superintendent Isaac Ampofo told the media that court facility will give impetus to the fight against crime through accessibility to justice and for punishment regime to persons found culpable of crime.

Source: Ghana Web

A man of God has reportedly hired ‘macho men’ to beat a traditional priest after he discovered the latter was having a sexual affair with his wife. The incident reportedly occurred at Nkawie Wioso in the Atwima Nwabiagye South Municipality. Rainbowradioonline.com gathered that the man of God, Rev. Dr. Robbin Boamah, suspected the wife was having an affair with the priest, who is known as ‘Great Nana Kumsaba’. However, the wife denied it and swore she was not cheating on the husband. The husband then investigated and found that the wife had exchanged love messages to the point that the traditional priest told the wife of the reverend minister that she was extremely good in bed. The traditional priest was allegedly beaten by ‘macho men’ hired by the man of God who was enraged by the messages and the affair. The reverend minister went on to complain that her wife was taking money from him and giving it to the rival. Meanwhile, the traditional priest has threatened to sue God’s man for assault.

Source: Ghana Web

An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a scrap dealer to 500 penalty units equivalent to GHS6,000.00 for possessing and selling cannabis popularly known as ‘wee’. In default, Augustine Mensah, the convict, would spend 15 months in prison in hard labour. Mensah pleaded not guilty to the offence but was found culpable after trial. Police Chief Inspector Christine Bansah told the Court presided over by Susanna Eduful that the Police were the complainant, adding that Mensah was a scrap dealer and lived at Striker, close to Kasapreko Junction on the Spintex Road. She said on October 19, 2020, the Police, acting upon intelligence, gathered that the convict was dealing in narcotic drugs in a kiosk and proceeded to the area and arrested him. The prosecution said a search was conducted in the kiosk and one and a half slabs of dried leaves were found in his microwave, 66 wraps of the same substance and some quantity of similar dried leaves were also found in a black polythene bag. Chief Inspector Bansah said Mensah in his charge statement admitted the offence and stated that he had been selling the substances. He mentioned one ‘GH’ at Ashaiman as the one who supplied him with the dried leaves but failed to lead the Police to arrest the said ‘GH’. The Court heard that the exhibits were forwarded to Police Forensic Laboratory for examination. The prosecution said on February 20, 2021, it received the result from the Forensic Science Laboratory, Ghana Police Service, Accra, which indicated that the exhibits tested positive as cannabis.

Source: Ghana Web

Businessman and brands specialist, Israel Kwaku Mensah Susuli has set his sight on the Dome Kwabenya seat come 2024. Mr. Susuli has picked forms to contest the impending parliamentary primaries of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). The CEO for Susuli Group, will however have to contend with the 2020 candidate for the NDC Faustina Elikplim Akurugu. The seat currently occupied by Sara Adwoa Safo has always been held by the governing New Patriotic Party since its creation. The fortunes of the NPP in the constituency have however been dwindling. In 2020, the incumbent Sara Adwoa Safo secured 58% of the votes to win the seat as against the NDC candidate Faustina Elikplim Akurugu’s 41%. Adwoa Safo’s votes were however markedly less than the 68% she secured in 2016 against Nurudeen Mohammed of NDC’s 32%. The above dynamics coupled with the troubles the incumbent MP is having with the constituency leaders, government and the party in general for her continuous absence from parliament has given the NDC some renewed confidence with some more work and the right candidate, the seat might be in the bag come 2024. It is however unclear as to whether Adwoa Safo will seek for re-election given current happenings where some party bigwigs have publicly called for her removal as a result of her absence from the lawmaking chamber. CEO for the Free Zones Authority and son of former speaker of parliament Prof. Aaron Mike Oquaye, Mike Oquaye Jnr. who contested the incumbent MP in 2019 is also lacing his boots to snatch the NPP slot. Mr. Susuli believes he is the right candidate with what it takes to put in the work to clip the Dome Kwabenya seat for the NDC. NDC delegates in Dome Kwabenya will however decide when the primaries eventually take place. Profile Israel Kwaku Mensah Susuli is a Communications, Project / Events specialist. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Susuli Group (Sales and Marketing Agency / Farms). Israel holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Project Management from the Ghana Institute of Public Administration (GIMPA). He also holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing Management from the Central University College – Accra. He spent his teens working as Youth Programs coordinator at the National Theatre of Ghana and has been part of the success of most major National youth events in the early 2000s. Israel worked with Promasidor Ghana limited as National Events and Sponsorship / Category Manager and later joined Nestle Ghana Limited as Category Development Manager for Nescafe. For over twenty (20) years since Israel launched into Ghana’s marketing communications industry, he has led major Brand Campaigns for top local and international firms including Yup by SG Bank, Cowbell, Onga, Chivas, Jameson, McVities and Nescafe. Aside his current achievement of successfully running the Susuli Marketing Agency and Distribution Company for the past 6 years, Israel Kwaku Mensah Susuli is also an Award-winning Poultry/ Livestock Farmer.

Source: Ghana Web

An economic and financial analyst, Korsi Dzokoto, has called on the government to show leadership or risk losing out on an IMF deal by close of April. Ghana is seeking a US$3 billion External Credit Facility (ECF) from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), but must first restructure its debt in order to secure the credit facility. Also, the country has officially requested debt relief from its bilateral creditors under the G-20 Common Framework Initiative, which includes members of the Paris Club (including the United States) and non-Paris Club members such as China, with China and its agencies holding about $1.7 billion of Ghana’s $5.5 billion bilateral debt. However, it remains uncertain as to whether Ghana can leverage on its ties with China to speed up the process. Speaking on Monday, March 13th, 2023, edition of the Class Morning Show with Korku Lumor, Mr. Dzokoto blamed Ghana’s inability to secure the facility on poor leadership regarding management of the country’s economy and the continuous stay of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta in office. ‘Ghana’s Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, benefits directly from the economic crisis, hence his reluctance to step down,’ he alleged. He stated that ‘The finance minister should have accepted responsibility for his actions. All countries experiencing debt crisis had their finance ministers step aside, but in our case, the opposite is true. All capital markets have closed on Ghana, but the finance minister remains unwavering.’ According to him, the country’s economy will have seen a turnaround if Mr Ofori-Atta had resigned. ‘There’s a point where we have to slow down on borrowing, and weak debt management is the problem. Borrowing is good, excessive borrowing is bad. Our finance minister had been cautioned several times that our debt level is unsustainable, but the government kept borrowing,’ he lamented. Touching on the government’s quest for a slow debt repayment plan from China, Mr Dzokoto stressed that the country has not been able to put forth a credible plan to merit Chinese support as far as debt cancellation is concerned. ‘The Paris Club and the Chinese are both aware of the misappropriation of funds originally borrowed for economic development. China is a powerful financial contributor, but the Chinese have always had a commercial mindset. ‘The Chinese will have to do an equity swap. This means that they will acquire some assets from Ghana for a number of years,’ he noted, adding that ‘Creditors consider a variety of factors before granting a release. Factors such as people’s risk, how the process works, the governance structure, systems in place, and liquidity risk, among others, but Ghana is unwilling to comply with the measures laid out by the Chinese.’ Mr. Djokoto concluded by calling on Ghana’s leaders to learn more from the country’s current situation, by adopting home-grown solutions in order to create the needed changes. ‘Let’s look back at the resources we have and make the most out of it. The IMF is not the best option,’ he said.

Source: Ghana Web

A development economist Dr. Sam Ankrah has criticised President Nana Akufo-Addo for failing to touch on pragmatic steps his government will take to return the economy on track while delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA). Akufo-Addo addressed the nation in parliament last Wednesday as the constitution demands but Dr Ankrah believes the president went to the law-making chamber and ‘sang praises to a mediocre and painful past, instead of setting steppingstones into the nation’s future.’ Dr Ankrah, an independent presidential aspirant, in a reaction to the address of the president highlighted how Ghanaians have been impoverished for the past 30 years under the leadership of the NPP and NDC who make the citizens believe that they have transformed the country whereas the economy keeps struggling. In his description of the SONA, Dr Ankrah indicated, ‘ As usual, this SONA made a mockery of our bitter and bleak economic circumstances by gaslighting Ghanaians to accept the illusion that, our lives and livelihoods are far better off – in direct opposition to the harsh realities we wake up to every day.’ He chastised the Minority, saying their response was ‘nothing but a playful walk over the address, instead of laying building blocks for our future.’ Below is his statement; DR. SAM ANKRAH’S REACTION TO THE STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS Typical of the NPP-NDC Administrations for the past 30 years, this year’s State of the Nation Address sang praises to a mediocre and painful past, instead of setting stepping stones into the nation’s future. As usual, this SONA made a mockery of our bitter and bleak economic circumstances by gaslighting Ghanaians to accept the illusion that, our lives and livelihoods are far better off – in direct opposition to the harsh realities we wake up to every day. Again, as usual, the opposition’s response has been nothing but a playful walk over the address, instead of laying building blocks for our future. Worse still, in the coming weeks, Ghanaians will be subjected to a free-for-all drinking-bar-styled parliamentary banter, which amounts to no change at all in the woeful plight of Ghanaians: Our healthcare systems would remain chronically impaired, our children’s education and future would remain uncertain, and our youth’s unemployment status gets more depressing year after year, with some remaining jobless 5 painful, wasted years after leaving school, because there’s zero effort by those at the helm of affairs towards mass industrialization. And as at our 66th independence anniversary, just a couple of days ago, we’re in deep prayers, sheepishly awaiting loan approval from our long-time creditors. Yet, at the end of it all, two situations shall be guaranteed: (1) The NPP-NDC would pay themselves in full, their huge ex-gratias, in addition to all that they’re enjoying with their families and allies now; (2) Our situation would remain unchanged or even worse. The time to wrestle our independence from the self-serving NPP-NDC fraternity is long overdue. They should NOT be the ones leading our nation into our 70th post-independence milestone. We are exhausted! We are tired! We are worn out! We want out of this painful, empty relationship! Enough Is Enough!

Source: Ghana Web

Within the ruling New Patriotic Party, there are those who believe that persons who played active roles in the current Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led government should not come close to the party’s flagbearership for 2024. Such is the thinking of musician and activist, Kwame Asare Obeng alias A Plus who believes the president and all his appointees must leave office together. This list according to A Plus includes Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia who is a key contender in the race for the NPP’s flagbearership contest. ‘Akufo-Addo must go with all his people. When Kuffour left power, did you see Kojo Pianim lurking about? Akufo-Addo must go with his people. NPP party was given to Nana since 2017 till now. What else? Don’t exclude Bawumia, he should go. He is young,’ A Plus told Kofi Adoma in a recent interview. In December 2022, A Plus stated that he will only support the New Patriotic Party in the 2024 elections if the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, is made the party’s flagbearer According to A Plus who describes himself as a disgruntled member of the NPP, he is unsatisfied with the work of president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, whose presidential bid he supported in 2016. “Nana Addo is someone I like; I have never been more pained by a person’s action than Asamoah Gyan. Asamoah Gyan is someone I like but I am pained that he missed the penalty but that doesn’t make him a bad person. So for Nana Addo, I like him but there are shortfalls in his work and that doesn’t make him a bad person or someone I hate. It is his work that I have issues with,’ A Plus told Afia Amankwa Tamakloe on her Máhy3ase3 TV Show. “I am a disgruntled family member. Today Nana Addo is aware that Chairman Wontumi’s company is mining at an unapproved location and he is not doing anything about it,’ A Plus added. Asked by the host if he will support the NPP in the next elections, A Plus said he will only do so if Kennedy Agyapong is the flagbearer of the party. ‘If Kennedy Agyapong will be the flagbearer… Everyone in Ghana knows honourable Ken is my man, he is just like me. Every guy man in Ghana likes him because he is the president of all guymen. It is not me alone, a lot of people also expect him to be the flagbearer,’ he stated. Vice President Dr Mahamamudu Bawumia is tipped to contest the party’s flagbearership but according to A Plus, he has equal affinity for the vice president as he is also part of the government. ‘Bawumia is with those I don’t like. He is with the current government and I don’t like the current type of governance. I can’t be a liar and I can’t keep mute because I am enjoying,’ he said He added that the NPP has no chance against the NDC if any candidate apart from Kennedy Agyapong is fielded as the party’s flagbearer. ‘NPP’s chances will depend on their flagbearer. I am sure the NDC will bring Mahama again; John Mahama versus Kennedy Agyapong is El Classico, Real Madrid versus Barcelona. ‘With Kennedy, the fight will be fair and equal,’ he added.

Source: Ghana Web