Day: April 22, 2023

The Concerned NPP Akyem Swedru delegates led by Danso Richard, reacted to what it describes as frivolous allegations levelled against the Member of Parliament, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, by some disgruntled persons.

According to the group, they would not have responded to the fabrications, but they deem it fit to set the records straight, and expose the individuals who are hell-bent on sowing seeds of division in Akyem Swedru to further their personal agenda of elevating one of the candidates in the NPP parliamentary race.

Below Is A Full Statement From Concerned NPP Akyem Swedru delegates:

We wish to inform these divisionists to focus on selling their unmarketable candidate rather than rubbishing the impeccable achievements of Hon Osei Nyarko, who has, since coming onto the scene in 2012, enhanced the fortunes of the party in the constituency.

These supporters need to appreciate that, through the hard of Hon Osei Nyarko, the NPP has consistently witnessed an increased percentage in parliamentary and presidential votes.

We know the dirty propaganda spewed by these individuals who have never cast a ballot for our current MP, Osei Nyarko.

These handful of supporters’ claim to fame is to undermine the party for their selfish, parochial interest.

They only surface during primaries and general elections to cause mayhem and disaffection for the governing NPP.

Most of them were expelled from the party in the past for going contrary to the party directives and constitution. It took the efforts of our ‘unifier’ Hon Osei Nyarko to get the party to rescind its decision to ensure they return to the great elephant party.

We thought they would see reason and rally behind our MP, but as selfish as they are, these individuals are back again and unsurprisingly pitched camp with one of the potential aspirants in the upcoming primaries.

We warn them to focus on their disastrous campaign and leave our hardworking MP alone.

Democrats as we are, we welcome competition aimed at building general consensus in the party, not the path of division, name-calling, propaganda and mudslinging they are currently embarking on.

Since the Akyem Swedru seat was created, no individual has singlehandedly lobbied and brought developments in the area more than Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko.

Regarding Roads, Health, Educational and Sports infrastructures and many other projects no constituency in the Akyemansa Districts comes close to the Akim Swedru constituency and will be the third after Koforidua and Abuakwa South. All this development of roads took place under the able leadership of our indefatigable MP, and we’re sure more are currently under construction as we speak.

Since our MP was elected, he has made several unity-building and peace moves. Still, these individuals don’t want to see reason with us and have surfaced again as they usually do during elections.

We, the NPP delegates, know no other person than our sitting MP – Hon. Kennedy Osei Nyarko, not just because of his likeability but his ability to increase the party’s fortunes again and position us to break the 8.

We challenge these faceless individuals to be bold and come out for a debate on the performance of our Hon. Member of Parliament, who is roaring to a resounding victory in our upcoming primaries.

Source: Ghana Web

The Akyempimhene of Suhum, Barima Amoako Darko has called for the destoolment of traditional leaders engaged in illegal small scale mining (galamsey).

“You ought to be destooled. Our President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has taken a strong position against illegal mining. So every chief who does not put in place good mining proposals including reclamation efforts must be destooled because that is a disrespect to the president,” he told Oman Channel in an interview.

According to Barima Amoako Darko, chieftaincy should be of benefit to subjects and not a detriment to the people’s welfare.

“Ghana cannot be developed by the president and the ruling party alone. We need to have leaders who can support the government to elevate the status of the nation. Chieftaincy is not about wearing clothes, drinking schnapps and going about living an unworthy lifestyle. Chieftaincy is about using your position to seek the welfare of your people,” he stated.

Illegal mining in Ghana has led to the destruction of several forest reserves and water bodies across the country despite various efforts by the government to clamp down on the menace.

The Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin has been vocal against illegal mining and has gone ahead to take drastic action against his subchiefs who have been found culpable of engaging in illegal mining.

Addressing a Council of State meeting at his palace in late 2022, the overlord of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional area warned that any chief found culpable will be destooled or demoted.

“We are united by ecology, we need to respect nature, our forefathers engaged in mining, but not in the manner we are doing now, they were not struck down by constant disease outbreaks. They lived to be 85, 90 years and above. We are living longer, but we are getting sick because of these activities.

“The mercury used in galamsey activities is having implications on our health, stop the illegal mining, any chief who engages in galamsey will be destooled or demoted,” he warned.

Source: Ghana Web

Former secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Mining (IMCIM), Charles Onuawonto Bissue, has called out Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng asking him to come clean with regards to illegal mining in the country.

Mr. Bissue, expressing his disappointment in his former boss, stated that Prof Frimpong-Boateng also had some dent to his name regarding the issue, adding that he’s aware he [Bissue] knows a lot.

Speaking as a guest on TV3’s Ghana Tonight, Bissue said “Prof. himself is not clean and he knows I know a lot. People like him should come out with the truth.”

His statement comes on the back of the former minister’s report on illegal small-scale mining.

The former Minister, while submitting a report on the work of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), not only cited the challenges the committee faced, but also persons he believes contributed to the frustration of his work.

The report, which was addressed to the Chief of Staff and the Ghana Police, implicated some New Patriotic Party (NPP) members, including MPs and top government officials, as having been involved in the galamsey menace.

But Charles Bissue, who was once under fire from a TigerEyePi exposé which cited him for using his office for extortion, claimed that Prof Frimpong-Boateng did not present the entire facts on the menace in the report.

He made it clear that while he is aware of some of the reported facts, he is unaware of others.

Mr. Bissue was surprised that the report has become public after the Committee Chair was invited by the Criminals Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service for investigation in response to some of the contents of a report on the IMCIM submitted to the President and written by then Chairman, Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng.

“…And then you’re made the Chairman of a committee, you only come out to speak when you’ve been actually directed to the CID to be investigated, this is where my problem is.”

He added that “The facts are okay, it is not all of them…Even when the Anas exposé came out, Kweku Baako had the audacity to warn the president to be careful, these are things we have to look at because for me in the spirit of defending this country, I will always speak the truth and there are so many things that one day might come out but not to damage this country but individuals who seem to portray that they are protecting this country and are really not. So Prof, I am disappointed in him because he knew the whole truth about everything but he kept quiet.”

Source: Ghana Web

The National co-ordinator of Boundary Commission Major General Emmanuel Wekem Kotia and other officials on 18th, 2023 visited a small Scale Mining Community in the western part of the Bole District on the Ghana Cote d’ivoire called ‘Dollar Power’ but originally known as Sindi.

The other members of the team included the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry commission, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Mineral Commission Mr Samuel Tika, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Bole and other dignitaries.

In a speech at the Dollar Community, Major General Kotia said thaty had reports about the tempering of and displacement of the boundary in the community and that they came for a section and verified a number of boundary pillars along the international boundary lines between Ghana and Cote d’ivoire were removed.

Major General Kotia said; “As a result of that we engaged the Chiefs and Community leaders of Dollar Power, then we were able to identify some of the underlying reasons why this has happened and its partly because of illegal mining that was going around , just because people do not understand the reason the pillars are there”.

The National co-ordinator of Boundary Commission Major General Emmanuel Wekem Kotia added that after a Community sensitization during visits in subsequent periods the people at Dollar Power Community came to understand and recognise that the pillars are very important landmarks for the country.

He said; “I can happyly announce that there has not been any tempering of the pillars since those that were identified in 2021 and I must say that the sensitization that went on during that period was very significant and helped to achieve this”.

Major General Kotia added; “Today, we are in here to make a further assessment of the area and to inform you that very soon we are going to conduct a reaffirmation of the land boundary with our counterparts from Cote d’ivoire.

“It is important for the Community to cooperate with the various agencies at the Ghana boundary commission who will be here to undertake this assignment.

“We also want to appeal to you to continue to be watch dogs of the boundarys markings and the thick plantations that has been used to reinforce the boundary markings in this area.

“We want to say that as a result of the Ghana boundary commissions intervention, a feeder road is being construct by the Minister of Roads and Highways from Ntereso river along the international boundary line to this place, and our main aim for this road is to use it to regularly inspect our boundary lines and as well as meet the needs of the Community so far as the collaboration of this community is concerned”.

Major General Kotia further said; “Invariable, I want to say that, this is a sensitization that has been contributed by the forestry commission, mineral commission and what have you and as I mention earlier on, the tempering of the pillars that we identified in 2021 was as a result of illegal mining and we want to appeal to all of you to guard against tempering with these pillars because these are international landmarks that serves both Ghana and Cote d’ivoire oire”.

He added; “I want to thank you so much especially the Traditional leaders and Community leaders for the cooperation you’ve given to us over the period and we want to assure you that we will continue to come to this community to undertake the various activities that will take to secure our international land markings”.

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Mineral Commission Mr Samuel Tika on his part promised to enroll the Small Scale Miners into the Community Mining Scheme in the shortest possibly time.

He said; “If you are not accepted by the Community mining leaders it means that you cannot do the mining here because those of you who come from far away mostly are the ones who cause the problems.

Mr Tika added that; “because you think that the people within the Community do not know you, so if you want to be part of the Community mining scheme or be part of the mining that is going to be regularize here then you make sure that you become a known person within the Community so that they can identify where you live, identify where you are so that you cannot hit and run, you cannot do thinge illegally, pollute our water bodies, destroy the environment and go away free”.

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Bole Madam Veronica Alele Heming said President Nana Akufo-Addo never said he will stop galamsey or small scale mining but to regularise it and put the people into Community Mining Schemes.

She said the team was not there to put fear into anyone but to help them. She said the area would be developed for the benefit of the small Scale Miners around the area.

In an address the Secretary of the Dollar Power Community Mr Mahama Tahiru said the community also known as Sindi has been in existence for a very long time just like any other communiry in Ghana but lost its inhabitants through invasion by Samori Toure a noted slave raider from 1895 to 1897 and so the land was left farming by Ivorian farmers and herdsmen.

He said the community was however rejuvenated by Mohammed Seidu aka Dollar Power and team after realizing that Ivorians are mining gold on the land so being controlleg by Ivorians rebels around the year 2013.

The Secretary of the Community said Mr Mohammed Seidu aka Dollar Power who is a business man and his team realised that the land is in Ghana and belongs to Gonjas and so stopped the rebels at Code d’voire from coming there to mine though it was not an easy zimce there were always scuffles between the rebels and the team Mohammed Seidu (Dollar Power) since they make a fortune there but the Ghanaians ultimately succeeded in driving them out of the land.

Tahiru Mahama said in the course of time whenever the illegal miners were sneaking to the Ghana land they will say they were going to ‘Dollar Power’ since he was in charge of the affairs of the area hence the name ‘Dollar power community’.

According to Mr Mahama Tahiru, Mohammed Seidu aka Dollar Power later hinted the late Paramount Chief of the Bole Traditional Area Bolewura Awuladese Pontonprom (I), about the rich and abandoned land and the Bolewura subsequently enskin the current Chief Mr Mahama Awudu Abott to take charge of the affairs of the land with a current population of about 8000 inhabitants.

He said; “The activities here in Dollar power include micro -medium small scale farming, business and commercial animal rearing, large scale farming, cash crop farming and petty gold mining.

On the concerns of the Community Mahama Tahiru said, First of the security of the community is second to none and apart from the local security at the Chief Palace, we have zero security from the government that lives with us or close to us”.

He said; “We however experience security once a year by operation Kandilugu and also by the recent diligence of your men that visit in respect to the boundary lines”.

Mahama Tahiru said; “We are therefore vulnerable to the invasion of any armed groups since we are at the boundary line with no security.

“We are appealing to the government that we are also Ghanians and deserve this fundlamental rights and so we need a Police post, Immigration, military and any other relevant security presence”.

Mr Tahiru added; “Secondly, Roads are another major challenges that hamper the securty of the town. None of the roads leading to Dollar power is motorable. The shortest root is from Bole to Ntereso across the Black Volta river and to Dollar Power and its environs.

“We propose a bridge to be constructed over the Ntereso river and road to be constructed for the first time from Ntereso to Dollar Power in order to enhance easy movement of goods and essential services in the enclave and also properly link the boarders of Ghana and La Cote D’voire”.

The Secretary of the Dollar Power community further said; “We also want network coverage for easy commumication to the outside world and can always say something when we see somethng as the call being made by the natiomal security Secretariat”.

He added; “Lastly and most importantly, water is another challenge”

He said; “The unly source of water there was a dugout borehole at a Community near the Ivorian border called Dablakuro done the Chairman of this community Mr Mohammed Seidu Dollar power which was destroyed and vandahied by the Ivorian soldiers that are stationed at the border”.

Mr Tahiru said; “Their action was triggered after operation calm life visited the area and this left us with no option than to seek water from our counterparts at Cote D’voire at their own will and sometimes they refused us at any little misunderstanding”.

Mahama Tahiru said; “Finally we urge the Government to enroll us into the Government Flagship “Community Mining Scheme” considering our large population and to curb the galamsey menace as law abiding ciizens”.

Source: Ghana Web

The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Bole in the Savannah Region, Madam Veronica Alele Heming on 20th April 2023 was at the Palace of the Paramount Chief of the Bole Traditional Area, Bolewura Sarfo Kutuge Feso (I) to officially inform him that all is set for the Ghana Armed Forces to start work on the Bole to Ntereso road and as well construct a bridge on the Black Volta river at Ntereso on the border between Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire.

The DCE told the Bolewura this when she led a team of contractors from the Ghana Armed Forces together with members of the Bole District Security Committee to pay a courtesy call on the Bolewura Sarfo Kutuge Feso (I) and to formally inform him about the project.

The Paramount Chief of the Bole Traditional Area, Bolewura Sarfo Kutuge Feso (l) on his part gave his blessings and approval to the Ghana Armed Forces constructors.

Bolewura Kutuge Feso (I) however urged the military men to deal with his sub-chief of the area, known as Sindiwura directly for the onward smooth execution of the project.

The Paramount Chief of Bole Traditional Area told the delegation that, as custodians of the land, it was necessary to deal with the Chiefs directly without focusing on a third party.

The Bolewura thanked the Ghana Armed Forces for coming to develop his jurisdiction through the Ghana government.

The DCE Madam Veronica Alele Heming later in the day led the team from the 48 Engineering Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces to survey and start work on the projects.

She said the project when completed will allow Ghana to have access to the international boundary line between Ghana and Cote d Ivoire, improve the security of the area and open up a road network between the district capital and the small-scale mining communities within the enclave.

She said the feeder road project will include the construction of a bridge over the Ntereso River (black Volta) making it more accessible and safer for motorists.

“This project when completed will improve the nature of development in this part of the district and will also make it easy for security operatives to monitor criminal activities in Dollar Power ad other mining communities here”; she added.

The DCE has, therefore, entreated opinion leaders and community members in the various communities within the catchment of the road project to cooperate with the contractor to speed up the construction and timely completion of the project.

Madam Veronica Alele Heming added that the project, when executed, will open up the district economically, protect the district and the nation against security threats and provide many jobs for the youth.

The Bole DCE appealed to the Armed Forces constructors to engage the youth locally whenever they need labor as part of the construction of the road and the bridge at Ntereso.

Source: Ghana Web

A Nigerian pastor, identified as Iniobong Obot, has cautioned men not to get married if they do not have a stable income,

The clergyman made this known on Thursday, April 20, on his Facebook page.

He advised men to focus on acquiring a sustainable job instead of getting married.

According to him, a man who cannot provide for his family is worse than an infidel.

“As a man if you don’t have something that is giving you daily or monthly income, At this point what you are looking for is not wife but work. Leave spiritual aside, understand what is priority in life, because a man who can’t provide for his own house is worst than infidel.”

Source: Ghana Web

Reggae musician, Ras Kuuku, has criticized Ghanaian TikToker, Asantewaa for saying she is a necessary ‘spice’ in the creative space.

Earlier in an interview with Kwaku Manu, Asantewaa likened herself to salt, adding that she is an essential product in music promotion in the country.

“I’m like salt in music promotion, your songs can’t trend without me”.

However, Ras Kuuku has joined the list of netizens to criticize the Tik Toker’s statements.

“Before the emergence of TikTokers, a lot of artistes were making hits upon hits and even now that they are around there are a lot of hits without them,” he fumed.

According to Ras Kuuku, Asantewaa must learn to humble herself.

He continued “Those TikTok influencers bragging must learn to humble themselves because if the musician don’t do the song where do you stand?

“None of my songs have so far been given to any TikToker to hype it but my songs reign on TikTok because people use Me Mpaebo every day to do morning devotion.

“They are not those to determine which songs become hits and so they should humble themselves to feed on the app that has come. They can’t say that they are the people who control Ghana music but maybe they control some section and not we the real people who do sensible songs,” he ended.

Source: Ghana Web

Some Ghanaians at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle have assessed the performance of the Ghana Police Service in the last few months.

The police, as everyone knows, exist to ensure safety in the country as well as make sure that laws that are being implemented in the country are abided.

In the latter part of 2022 through to the beginning of 2023, the police have been seen on the streets and some areas with the aim of ensuring security as well as reducing crime rate and accidents in Ghana.

The police have received both praise and condemnation from Ghanaians due to their actions and inactions.

GhanaWeb, in this report, got the views of some Ghanaians on the performances of Ghana Police in recent months.

A number of traders who spoke to the news team had varied opinions.

For some the Police Service has seen some improvements in recent times but for others some bad nuts within the service are destroying its image.

“Our current IGP, Dampare has really made the police work interesting. He has assigned a number of polices into every area in Ghana especially in Accra and Kumasi. I think the police deserve to be applauded for their good works nowadays. We can’t deny the fact that they are really doing well and moreover, their works this year are far better as compared to the previous years. Look at which the crime rate in Ghana has been reduced. If I am to rate them, I’ll give them 75%,” one person said.

Another however was of the view that “From what I have witnessed, almost half of the policemen do not abide by the rules. As I am speaking to you now, the wicked policemen are more than the good ones. There are some days that one gets shocked at what a policeman as done. The other policemen who have decided to work hard for the country and are doing so should keep up with the good work.”

Source: Ghana Web