Day: January 27, 2024

The ECOWAS Court of Justice has recorded yet another milestone in the number of Decisions delivered in 2023.

Statistics from the Court’s Registry Department indicate that 64 Decisions, comprising 59 Judgments and 5 Rulings were delivered in 2023, a remarkable progress from 41 judgments rendered in 2022 and 2021 consecutively.

This is highest number of Judgments delivered in a year since the Court’s inception in 2001.

In his New Year message, Justice Edward Amoako Asante, President of the Court, said the remarkable feat was an attestation to the diligence of the college of judges supported by staff’ ‘commitment, collaboration and focus.’

‘The other indices are also encouraging as we succeeded in reducing the number of pending cases to 165 at the end of 2023 compared to 180 at the end of 2022,’ he added.

Justice Asante also enjoined staff to brace up to an anticipated increase in number of human rights cases that may be filed before the Court following unrest in the sub-region including attempted coups in
Member States.

He expressed optimism that the Court would exceptionally deliver on its mandate in 2024 considering the recent additional recruitments and promotions to boost the productivity and performance of the Court.

From its inception in 2001, the Court has delivered 402 judgments on a total of 678 cases filed within the same period.

The statistics also indicate that since inception, the Court has held 1440 court proceedings, and rendered 29 Decisions on 41 Applications for revision of Judgment filed, while 168 cases including those filed at the beginning of 2024 are presently pending before it.

The Court which resumed activities on 8th of January, 2024 after its end of year break, will commence court sessions on 29th of January, 2024.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU)-Ghana has supported Organised Labour’s call for the removal of a 15 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) on electricity.

Mr Morgan Ayawine, the General Secretary, ICU-Ghana, at a media engagement, said there were already so many nuisance taxes in the system, and adding on to them would be unbearable for the Ghanaian workers.

Mr Ayawine said it was not right for the government to treat the citizenry in that manner.’Why do we pay VAT on electricity when the people are already

overburdened?’ he said.

He said if the government failed to remove the taxes on electricity after January 31, the Union would advise itself appropriately.

Mr Ayawine said it was important for the government to concentrate its energy on the recovery of the economy rather than imposing VAT on electricity.

‘The government is looking for trouble. Why should this thing come at this time? If there should be any trouble, then it is not from the Unions but from the government,’ he said.

Mr Ayawin
e said anytime such an issue came up and Organised Labour raised concerns, people read all kinds of meaning into the issue.

The ICU, he said, had started consulting its structure nationwide, and on January 31, it would join hands with Organised Labour to do what was appropriate.

Mr Ayawine said the Union did not have the luxury of time to engage the government on the matter.

‘We are not going to negotiate; our simple request is that the government withdraw the directive and stay with the status quo,’ he said.

He appealed to members of the ICU to adhere to any decision that would be taken by the leadership and gave the assurance that VAT on electricity would not succeed.

Dr Yaw Baah, the Secretary General of the Trade Union Congress, Ghana, recently gave the government a one-week ultimatum to withdraw the VAT on electricity for residential customers.

The labour Unions said the implementation of VAT on electricity for residential customers would worsen the plight of the ‘already burdened’ Ghanaians since
the cost of electricity would go up by more than 15 per cent.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A police patrol vehicle pursuing criminal suspects plunged into an abandoned mining pit in Kwawu, killing Police General Constable Prince Amoah and injuring three others.

The survivors, Constable Martha Ansah, General Corporal Frederick Cobbinah, the service driver, and General Constable Bright Adinkrah, were rescued by divers and taken to Kwawu Health Centre for medical care.

According to a police news brief, the victims and deceased were part of a Divisional taskforce team assigned to cover a special inter-schools sports and gala competition at Kwawu. They were also on routine mobile patrols.

The team leader stated that while monitoring the Enchi-Ellubo route, they were told of three unregistered motorbikes with suspicious backpacks on the pillion riders, who had failed to stop at the Asemkrom snap checkpoint and were heading towards Enchi.

The patrol team then spotted the suspicious motorcyclists coming from Omanpe and signalled for them to stop, but the riders disregarded the order.

The team pursued
the motorcyclist until they took a wrong turn on an adjourning road about two miles from Kwawu township. They became stuck in an improvised wooden bridge on a river near an abandoned mining pit, 150 meters from the main road.

The driver, General Corporal Cobbinah, attempted to reverse the service vehicle to safety, but the wooden bridge collapsed, causing the car to fall into the river with the occupants.

According to the report, information reached Nana Kabaah II, the Chief of Kwawu, and the police officers stationed at the inter-school gala competition.

Divers responded immediately to rescue the victims and recover the deceased’s body, which was trapped beneath the service vehicle in the river, according to the brief.

The survivors are currently receiving treatment at Samatex Hospital, Samreboi, while the body was transported to the Enchi Government Hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy to determine the cause of death.

According to the brief, the service vehicle and missing service rifles were r
ecovered from the site, and the damaged car was taken to a nearby fuel station for safety.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Former President John Dramani Mahama has described the late Major (rtd) Kojo Boakye Djan as an outstanding man who left an indelible mark on the pages of Ghana’s history.

‘Although he has passed on, we, today, celebrate this figure of great significance, a man who played a pivotal role in Ghana’s political landscape, leaving an enduring impact that shaped the course of our nation,’ he said.

Mr Mahama said this during a pre-burial and burial service of the retired military officer at the forecourt of the Statehouse in Accra.

‘It is with heavy hearts and a profound sense of loss that we bid farewell to a pivotal figure in Ghana’s history, Retired Major Kojo Boakye Djan, who left us painfully a few months ago,’ he said in his tribute.

Mr Mahama, also the Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), said Major Gyan was a close confidante, who always advised him when he (Mr Mahama) was Vice President and President.

‘Even when I was out of Office, he kept calling to encourage me and give advice. I wa
s in touch with him when he fell sick. We did all we could to ensure his recovery, but God knows best. Today, He has called our friend, comrade, father and grandfather home.’

‘Today, we express our gratitude for his service, our sorrow for his departure, and our appreciation for the role he played in shaping our nation Ghana’s destiny. May your soul find eternal rest, Major.’

Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, Chairman of the NDC, reading a tribute on behalf of the Party, said Major Djan was a close companion of late Flight Lieutenant J.J. Rawlings and shared many attributes with him.

‘He was the best man at the wedding of the Rawlingses. Like Rawlings, Boakye Gyan was a revolutionary, a patriot, a nationalist and a disciplinarian,’ he said.

He said despite the relationship between Major Djan and Rawlings becoming sour, the Major still joined the NDC when Ghana transitioned to civilian rule and remained a staunch member, was very passionate and voiced his opinions strongly on national issues.

‘Till his death, Ma
jor Boakye Djan remained active in Ghanaian politics and was never afraid to voice his opinions on national affairs. He will be sorely missed. May his soul rest in perfect peace, till we meet again. Fare thee well comrade,’ he said.

Apostle Dr Samuel Addai-Kusi, General Secretary, Christ Apostolic Church International, during the sermon admonished Ghanaians to be careful of their choices whilst on earth because it could affect where they would spend eternity.

He read a scripture from Luke 16:19-31 about Lazarus and the Rich man and explained that the major difference between the rich man and Lazarus was the choices they made whilst alive which landed Lazarus in Heaven and the rich man in hell.

Tributes were also read by his siblings, children, friends, and some retired military personnel such as Captain Nkrabeah Effah-Dartey (rtd).

After the burial service, the mortal remains of the late Major (rtd) Djan was taken to the Military Cemetery, Burma Camp for interment.

Osahene Major (rtd) Kojo Boakye Djan wa
s a journalist, soldier and politician, known to have planned the coup that brought Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings to power on June 4, 1979, with other junior officers.

He was born on September 24, 1952, in the middle of the Second World War, to the late Nana Kofi Twene Djan of Jaman and Obaapanin Akosua Henewaa.

Major Djan was the 19th of 56 children.

From primary school, he ended up at the New Drobo Catholic Middle School and later moved to join his elder brother Jonathan, who was teaching at Wamfie Presbyterian Middle School.

After his Common Entrance examination, he ended up at Opoku Ware Secondary School, in Kumasi and later entered Achimota School for his sixth form.

It was in Achimota that he developed his friendship with the late President Jerry John Rawlings and Kojo Lee.

He then entered the University of Ghana, where he studied English Literature, Linguistics, Sociology and African Studies.

After graduation, he applied and was employed at the Ghanaian Times, and that began his career a
s a journalist.

He later moved to join the Daily Graphic, but did not stay long because he applied to join the military as a Public Relations officer.

Soon after graduating from the Military Academy, the man who had chosen to be a public relations officer was moved to infantry and finally to military intelligence.

When Flt Lt Rawlings was arrested after his May 15, 1979, abortive coup, Osahene stepped in with his friends to release him from detention and the eventual announcement of the take-over of the country on June 4, 1979.

This led to the formation of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC).

Major (rtd) Djan died on August 30, 2023, just about a month before his 81st birthday.

He is survived by five (5) children.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Blessing Dosoo, an Estate Developer who collected GHC830,000 and a pickup truck from a Software Engineer in exchange for 24 plots of land and failed has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.

Dosoo, has been charged with three counts of fraudulent transaction of land.

He pleaded not guilty.

The court presided over by Mr Oheneba Kuffuor admitted Dosoo to bail in the sum of GHC 500,000 with five sureties, two to be justified with immovable property.

The matter has been adjourned to February 26, 2024

The prosecution led by Chief Inspector Benson Benneh named the complainant as Amponsah Freduah, a software developer and resident of Ngleshie Amanfrom.

The prosecution said Dosoo was a resident of Obeyeyie, near Amasaman, Accra.

In 2019, Dosoo sold four plots of land situated at Amasaman at the cost of GHC260,000 to the complainant.

The prosecutor said Dosoo handed over a site plan to the complainant and when a search was conducted at the Lands Commission, it was discovered that the land in question belong
ed to Nii Djan Family of Afiaman.

It stated that after a few months, the complainant discovered that the land had been resold and the same plot had been registered with the Lands Commission.

The prosecution said the complainant confronted Dosoo, who agreed to replace the four plots but failed.

In 2021, Dosoo sought the complainant and claimed that he owned ten plots of land in Akotoshie, near Amasaman.

According to the prosecution, the complainant gave his Ford pick-up truck worth GHC80,000 and an additional sum of 170,000 for the ten plots after inspecting the land.

‘The complainant went ahead to register 10 plots in his name.’

In June 2023, the complainant visited the area to begin building, but Betepe Selorm claimed ownership of four of the ten plots.

It said Selorm told the complainant that Dosoo sold four out of the 10 plots to him.

The prosecutor said in May 2021, Dosso sold another 12 plots at Ayikai Doblo at the cost of GHc40,000 per plot, totalling GHC490,000.

The prosecution said the compla
inant issued an indenture purported to be signed by the head of the Family and Elders of Adama Pataku Family of Ababnam.

It said the complainant met the Adama Pataku family and it was realised that the family never gave any land to Dosoo and one Nii Amoo Duodu aka Azonta.

The prosecution claimed that the alleged signatures on the indenture produced by the defendants were taken from another document and linked to fraudulent documents given to the complainants.

The complainant therefore went ahead to regularize with the rightful owners of the land and made payments.

On October 5, 2023, the complainant, after several demands for the refund of his money or replacement of the land, reported the matter to the Police.

Dosoo was arrested by the Police and during investigations admitted that he sold plots of land to the complainant but said the land at Abanman was 14 plots and not 12 as stated by the complainant.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A 22-year old man, Bright Larcey, and his girlfriend Linda Asare, are in the grips of the Awutu Bereku District police for murdering their three-weeks old baby.

They perpetrated the act on Monday evening, January 22, at Fetteh Kakraba in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region.

The Ghana News Agency (GNA) gathered that Larcey allegedly arranged with his girlfriend to sacrifice the baby for money rituals to make life better for them due to the hardship they had faced over the years.

He asked Linda to leave the house and leave the baby with him when an unnamed friend visited.

Afterwards, Linda was said to have expressed regret for leaving her baby behind and confided in a neighbour without disclosing her involvement in the act.

A resident told the media that Larcey’s friend took the baby out and Larcey followed up but the friend was apprehended after neighbours mounted a search for them.

However, the source disclosed that Larcey was nowhere to be found but the friend disclosed his whereabouts and h
e was apprehended when he had already killed the baby, allegedly.

He said he hid the body of the baby at the SDA school.

The two were sent to the police station where they confessed the crime upon police interrogation.

Larcey’s friend after the disclosure, was granted police enquiry bail.

A source at the Awutu Bereku police station confirmed the incident and said investigations were underway.

Source: Ghana News Agency