Day: June 17, 2023

Wuni Tuunaaba, an 80-year-old woman has been shot dead by her biological son in Guabulga in the West Mamprusi Municipality of the North East Region.

The incident happened on Thursday June 15, 2023 between the hours of 6 PM and 7 PM where the suspect, Wuni Haruna had a misunderstanding with his son’s wife.

The mother (the deceased) intervened by asking her son to stop acting in that manner as a breadwinner of the family, but Wuni Haruna run to his room and brought out a single-barrel gun, and shot his mother dead.

The Assemblyman for the Guabulga electoral area, Bugri Gabriel who confirmed the incident to GhanaWeb said “Truly it happened, we were also hit with this news. I got a distress call from a family member that an uncle shot the mother and the mother passed on.

“When I made inquiries, I was told that he was influenced and mistakenly shot the mum. He said he intended to give a warning shot but unfortunately, the bullets had the mother,” he said.

Wuni Haruna (suspect) was subsequently arrested by the West Mamprusi Municipal Police command in his hideout in a nearby village after the incident.

Meanwhile, the body remains of the 80-year-old mother have been buried.

However, the police have declined to comment on the matter citing the centralised way of passing information to the media.

Source: Ghana Web

A 28-year-old man accused of misappropriating GH¢251,116.70 belonging to his employer has been remanded into Police custody by an Accra Circuit Court.

Gideon McWilliams has denied stealing the amount belonging to “God Has Found Us Company Limited”.

He will be brought back to the Court on June 27, 2023.

Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Maxwell Oppong told the Court presided over by Mr Samuel Bright Acquah that Mr Richard Nyanator, the complainant, was an Accountant and a resident of Avenor Carprice in Accra.

He said the accused person, McWilliams was a manager of “Grace Has Found Us Company Limited” and a resident of Dansoman. The complainant is also an Accountant of “Grace Has Found Us Company Limited,” Distributors of Airtel Tigo credit or recharge cards at their head office located at Dansoman Asoredanho in Accra.

ASP Oppong said the accused person was the manager of the company’s branch at Tip-Toe Lane near Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange in Accra.

Prosecution said in April 2023, the Complainant went on his routine checks at Tip- Toe Lane branch where he detected a huge sum of cash embezzlement.

Complainant, the Court heard, questioned the accused person being the branch manager, but he could not give any good response.

The accused person told the complainant that he should give him some time to explain, thus, the complainant after a week engaged the services of internal auditors to audit the books as well as the accounts of the accused person, ASP Oppong said.

He said the audit report submitted indicated that the accused person had embezzled GH¢251,116.70, hence, he was invited to the company’s Head office at Dansoman Asoredanho to explain to management the shortfall, but he could not offer any tangible reason.

The prosecution said the accused person was given the opportunity to also engaged his own external auditors, but their report came out with the same figure.

He then met the management and promised to refund the said amount within a stipulated time frame but he failed.

ASP Oppong said on April 25, 2023, the complainant made a report to the Police, leading to the arrest of McWilliams.

The accused person in his cautioned statement admitted the offense and offered his 2017 Hyundai Elantra unregistered saloon vehicle valued at GH¢80,000.00 to defray part of the debt with an outstanding balance of GH¢171,116.70.

Source: Ghana Web

Every June in every year is set aside for the acknowledgment and appreciation of fathers around the world, just as it is done for mothers in the month of May. It is well noticed that the attention span of the celebration of Mother’s Day cannot be compared to that of the fathers, who are originally known to be the “backbones” of every family.

As this year’s Father’s Day celebration draws near, we throw light on a man who has been in the meat roasting business, popularly known as the “abokyi” for over two decades.

Joseph Saman, a father of six, explained on the GTV Breakfast Show on June 16, 2023, that he had his first child at the age of twenty-six with initial plans of having a total of ten children before he passed on. He stated that he grew up as an orphan, and that made his growth period a very difficult one.

According to him, he started his kebab business in Tema and has now relocated to Mile 7 in the Ga-North Municipality, still doing what he does best with his meat joint. He revealed that after having his first three kids, who all happened to be girls, he encountered the challenge of having to marry another woman who could bear him a male child in addition to the female children he had.

He shared the experience he had to go through raising his kids as one that was very challenging, especially when his first daughter had entry into the higher educational level.

Mr. Saman mentioned that he had to at some point switch from his “abokyi” business into the private security field in order to raise some funds for himself and the upkeep of his six children and wife.

He added that, though selling meat was his main job, he added security when things went down.

He further revealed that, he sometimes made above GHS 1000 during festive seasons per day and at times too sees a reduction in his daily sales.

He advised that fathers should desist from sending their wards to stay with relatives because it does lots of harm than good to both the children and their future.

Source: Ghana Web

Referees Manager Alex Kotey and two other instructors, Emmanuella Grace Aglago and Augustina Fugah, are currently participating in the FIFA/CAF FUTURO III instructors’ course in Cairo, Egypt.

The course, which commenced on Monday, June 12, 2023, is set to conclude on Friday, June 16, 2023. The primary aim of the course is to enhance the skills and knowledge of top regional referee instructors by utilizing FIFA materials and concepts.

The selected instructors are expected to play an active role in the advancement of refereeing both prior to and following the completion of the course.

The comprehensive curriculum spans five days and includes a combination of theoretical and practical sessions, all of which are led by experienced FIFA technical instructors.

By participating in this course, the attendees are positioned to contribute significantly to the improvement and development of refereeing within the Ghana football ecosystem.

Alex Kotey and his team are expected to add the knowledge gained from the course to better Ghana’s referee department.

Source: Ghana Web

Madam Doris Duodu, Deputy Director for Renewable Energy at the Ministry of Energy, says Ghana is well positioned to lead the charge for the transition into an electric mobility regime in Africa.

She said the nation’s wealth of electrical energy would play to its advantage in the promotion and success of an electric vehicle.

Speaking at the first Regional Consultative meeting on the draft Electric Vehicle Policy in Ho, Ms. Duodu said the coming EV regime would help provide demand for the huge chunk of excess electrical power generated and thus a Drive Electric Initiative by the Energy Commission and its stakeholders to promote patronage.

“Our current installed capacity of over 5,400 megawatts is significantly more than our current peak demand of about 3,700 megawatts. At this current rate, Ghana will need to create demand within the system to take the excess supply of electricity.

“Ghana will be one of the first to set an example that West Africa and for that matter Africa can be part of the success story of electric mobility,” she said while touting the benefits of the “Drive Electric Initiative” campaign.

The Deputy Director said the campaign, which stood upon the nation’s renewable energy resources including solar, would help save the country from the inundation of internal combustion engines, which are being phased out, and would secure an of green and sustainable technology for the future.

“With our ambitious target of achieving our renewable energy commitment under the Paris agreement, Ghana will not only be spearheading the drive for electric vehicles but leading Africa into a clean and sustainable energy production and utilisation.”

Ms. Duodu said the world faced a timeline of less than a decade to avert “catastrophic climate change” according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and that, “it is not so much a lifestyle choice but a necessity for survival for everyone to switch to electric vehicles in the next few years to contribute to the reduction of global warming”.

She said the adoption of EVs had increased as major auto manufacturers and markets moved to address carbon emissions, with some countries such as China, France, and the UK considering a radical ban on the production and sale of internal combustion engines (ICEs).

“It is time for Ghana and Africa to follow suit and make plans towards embracing electric vehicles ourselves in order to harness our enormous solar energy potential productively to meet our climate emission targets while simultaneously providing clean and affordable means of transport,” the Deputy Director added.

She said the “enormous savings” on using an EV owing to its low energy cost, had become a pull factor, and that a baseline study by the Energy Commission made bare the prospects and the outlooks for the country.

The study said Ghana currently had four level 2 charging stations all concentrated in Accra, and that the skills base for the emerging technology were in “short supply” with only three adequately resourced EV dealerships and maintenance outlets available.

The study also reported a “huge gap” in public awareness on the prospects of EVs, and which was evident in the reactions of Ghanaians to the possibility of owning the vehicles built on the platform.

The report said about 17,000 plug-in EVs were imported into the country from 2017 to 2021, while the Ghana Revenue Authority observed a 91 per cent representation of hybrid electric vehicles among the EV category 2021.

Mr. Frederick Obeng Adom, Deputy Minister for Transport, who opened the meeting, said the nation’s transport sector continued to own a significant share of greenhouse gas emissions, with 99 per cent of the about 3.2 million registered vehicles being powered by petrol and diesel burning ICEs.

He said it was crucial that Ghana took advantage of opportunities in new energy regimes towards a net-zero emission future, which was being made possible through the development of the National Electric Vehicle Policy which evolved from an Electric Mobility Framework developed in 2022.

The Deputy Minister said extensive stakeholder consultation was needed in producing the best national policy, and which would cater for the interests of all including the various Ministries, Agencies and Departments, and also focal groups such as vehicle manufacturers, transport operators, repair and maintenance outlets and civil society organisations.

He gave the assurance that the Government would not hasten the transition, and that the cost buildup at the ports over vehicle importations was one of strategies to limit the influx of older vehicles for environmental safety.

“It is actually going to be very gradual as we build into the system of electric vehicles,” Mr. Adom stated, and assured also that stranded human resources within the transition would be taken care of.

There were presentations on the draft National Electric Vehicle Policy, which offered the wide representation at the meeting the opportunity to seek clarifications and provide input and suggestions to its improvement.

The policy document, built upon international best practices, is expected to transform transport in the country, and would be forwarded to Cabinet for approval after completing nationwide consultations.

Source: Ghana Web

The government of Ghana says it would pay all mature coupons of members of the Individual Bondholders Forum (IBF) and Individual Bondholders Association of Ghana (IBHAG) on Friday, 30 June 2023.

A memorandum of understanding has been signed to that effect between the Ministry of Finance, on the one hand, and the Individual Bondholders Forum (IBF) and Individual Bondholders Association of Ghana (IBHAG), on the other hand.

The signing took place on May 16.

“Accordingly, to address this issue, the parties pursuant to the outcome of the engagements referred to in recital (A) above record, the understanding reached by them as follows:

1. The Government will complete payment of coupons in arrears, as of 31 May 2023, by 30 June 2023.

2. The Government undertakes to pay promptly all coupons that fall due from 1st June 2023,

3. Reprofile maturing bonds as and when they fall due into T-Bills at prevailing interest rates

4. Distribute the outstanding maturing bonds in the proportion of 35% for 91-Day, 35% for 182-day, and 30% for 364-Day treasury bills.

5. The migration of the outstanding maturing bonds into Treasury Bills will be issued using the current mode of issuance mechanics of the Government securities. For the avoidance of doubt, there will be no distinction between the reprofiled Treasury Bills, and the regular Treasury Bills issued by the Government.

6. That Government and the CIBG work together in the spirit of mutual understanding to resolve all outstanding issues to meet the immediate cash needs of individuals who did not partake in the DDE programme; give certainty of payments, and efforts toward the restoration of macroeconomic stability and economic recovery.

7. The Ministry of Finance will issue an offer memorandum with these terms to all individual bondholders who opted out of the DDEP”.

Source: Ghana Web

The ousted MP for Assin North, James Gyakye Quayson has been spotted campaigning massively in his constituency despite his earlier appearance in court over criminal charges on Friday.

In a video and some pictures posted on Twitter by a political influencer, Annan Perry, Gyakye Quayson could be seen interacting and dancing with some constituents of Assin North.

The politician could be seen relating heartily with the electorates in the video posted.

This follows an earlier appearance at the High Court on June 16, 2023.

The unseated MP of Assin North is standing trial for five counts; deceit of a public officer, forgery of a passport, knowingly making a false statutory declaration, perjury, and false declaration.

He was charged by the State on February 12, 2022, and appeared in court.

The MP is expected to return to the court on June 20, 2023, as his trial will be heard daily.

The lawyer of Gyakye Quayson, Justin Teriwajah, however, pleaded for the adjournment of the hearing date to allow his client to participate fairly in the Assin North by-election which is slated for June 27, 2023.

But the Accra High Court denied him the plea for adjournment after the Attorney General countered him by expressing that the politician is not supposed to vie for public position as he has been charged with criminal offences.

From court to campaign field. Hon James Gyakye Quayson isn’t resting because of his love for Assin North. pic.twitter.com/n7DD8aQFtf

Source: Ghana Web

The High Court in Accra has ruled that the ongoing criminal trial of ousted Assin North Member of Parliament, James Gyakye Quayson, will be heard daily starting from Tuesday, June 20, 2023.

The court decided to hear the case daily upon the request of the lawyer of Gyakye Quayson, Justin Terriwajjah, after the presiding judge, Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh, turned down an application for the trial to be adjourned.

Teriwajah prayed that the court postpones the hearing until after the by-election, set for June 27, 2023, to give his client a fair chance to contest since he was carrying out a national assignment, graphic.com.gh reports.

But, the Attorney General, Godfred Dame, opposed this suggestion saying that no one sent the former MP on a national assignment.

Lawyer Teriwajah then pleaded that the trial should proceed daily but after the by-election.

Justice Maame Ekue Yanzuh rejected the plea of Gyakye Quayson’s lawyer and ruled that the trial would proceed daily a week before the by-election.

The Court has since fixed June 20, 21, and 23 for the trial to continue.

Quayson was recently ousted from parliament after the Supreme Court of Ghana ruled that he was ineligible to contest in the 2020 parliamentary election because he failed to renounce his Canadian citizenship in time.

But there is still one case the former MP has to face in court after the Office of the Attorney General accused him of deceiving public officers to acquire state documents.

On February 12, 2022, the State charged James Gyakye Quayson with five counts; deceit of a public officer, forgery of a passport, knowingly making a false statutory declaration, perjury, and false declaration.

Source: Ghana Web