Day: March 22, 2024

The Police have asked an Accra Circuit Court to review the bail conditions of one of the three persons accused of embezzling GHC328,221, being depositors’ funds, from a church credit union.

Superintendent of Police Augustus Yirenkyi, said Esther Ofori, a cashier and one of the accused persons was a flight risk because she now resided at Kumasi instead of Accra.

According to the prosecution, details of the bail conditions pertained to Accra and that the Police did not know her current location in Kumasi.

The prosecution also prayed the court to order Esther to furnish the court with her medical report for the court’s consideration.

Mr Michael Tetteh, defence Counsel for three accused persons, said Esther would furnish the court with her medical report by Tuesday March 19, 2024.

Mr Tetteh told the court that Esther was currently undergoing treatment and that she should be excused.

The court presided over by Mrs Kizita Naa Koowa Quashie maintained that Esther should come to court and counsel should repeat
his prayer before the court on March 19, 2024.

The court at its last sitting ordered defence counsel to produce Esther Ofori, the third accused person who was absent in Court,

The two other accused persons are Joseph Acheampong, a Consultant/ Manager and Kenneth Osei-Ansong, a Recovery Officer. The three accused persons worked at Christian Pentecostal Church (CPC).

The accused persons have been charged with conspiracy to steal and stealing. They have denied the charges and are on bail.

Meanwhile, the court has taken the evidence of Apostle Daniel Obeng, the first prosecution witness, and was being cross-examined by defence counsel, Mr Tetteh.

In Apostle Daniel Obeng’s evidence-in-chief, he admitted knowing the accused persons and that he made a complaint against them.

According to Apostle Obeng, the complainant, and head pastor of CPC, when the matter was brought to court, the prosecution assisted him to put together his witness statement dated June 22, 2022.

The court admitted the Apostle Obeng’s witn
ess statement in evidence and defence counsel did not oppose it.

Answering questions under cross-examination , Apostle Obeng denied that he gave the Police at Hong Kong, near Kwashieman in Accra, a gift (a Police signpost).

The case has been adjourned to March 19, 2024, for continuation.

Prosecution’s case is that Apostle Daniel Obeng, the head Pastor, CPC, is the complainant.

According to prosecution, in 2015, Acheampong joined the CPC and persuaded the leadership to establish the CPC Credit Union.

Prosecution said Acheampong convinced them that he was a banker and would successfully help CPC establish their credit union.

Acheampong was therefore given the mandate to set up and run the credit union, and he employed the two other accused persons, who visited church members at their homes and offices to collect contributions.

In 2018, prosecution said Kwabena Yeboah and Frank Mensah Bonsu, depositors at the Christian Pentecostal Credit Union, attempted to collect funds lodged with the credit union but w
ere unsuccessful.

Prosecution said they raised the issue to the complainant and then reported the matter to the Police. Police investigation revealed that the accused persons collected GHC382,212 from other depositors and failed to repay them.

The prosecution said Acheampong was arrested, and the Police retrieved documents from the credit union as well as GHC3,100 in cash during a search at his residence.

Apostle Daniel Obeng, the complainant, confirmed in his statement to the Police that the accused persons oversaw the operations of the credit union.

Prosecution said some statements were also taken from depositors.

Acheampong has denied any wrongdoing and explained that the credit union ran into ‘liquidity difficulties.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

The European Union says it is focused on supporting large investments that will bring about economic development in Ghana.

This it said will create more jobs in Ghana as well as the West African sub-region.

As part of the programming of the new European Union Neighbourhood, Development, and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI) 2021-2027, the European Union, the African Union (AU) and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) of Sub-Saharan Africa set up in November 2020 a dialogue platform to strengthen communication and consultation between stakeholders.

The first two meetings of this mechanism which were held in November 2021 and June 2023 respectively in Accra, Ghana saw experts from the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions in charge of regional development programmes in the priority areas of the NDICI and representatives of the European Union delegations in Burkina Faso and Nigeria.

Mr. Jérôme Boa, Director of External Relations of the ECOWAS Commission, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA
), at the third tripartite engagements in Accra, stated that there was the need to ensure that West Africa’s priorities were considered, without neglecting recent developments in the region.

He reiterated the importance of bilateral consultation by identifying gaps, clarifying issues, and developing common positions for the scheduled ECOWAS-UEMOA-EU tripartite meeting.

Massimo Mina, the Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Ghana, noted that, ‘This is very important for the neighbours and important in Ghana where we have a very strong focus on supporting large investments which can make structural changes that can be impactful to support the key problem that we have not only in Ghana but more generally in the region, which is job creation. So, through these instruments we can find the necessary resources to support job creation.

Mr Jonas Claes, chargé d’affaires at the EU Delegation in Ghana, expressed gratitude to ECOWAS and UEMOA for their commitment to supporting the programming and th
e implementation process of the 2021-2027 Multi-Annual Indicative Programme for Africa.

He indicated that the meeting would identify bottlenecks in the ongoing process and make recommendations aimed at positively impacting the region’s citizens, the main beneficiaries of the programmes.

Mr Arnaud Cédric Kiema, Director of Cooperation of the UEMOA Commission, said maintaining the framework for dialogue between the ECOWAS and UEMOA Commissions and the EU would enable the three organisations to present their common vision for the successful implementation of NDICI for the benefit of the people of West Africa.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has advised women in the mining industry to maximise the training opportunities available to build their capacities for occupying crucial decision-making positions.

It was important to create opportunities for women to participate in all aspects of the industry, especially in the ranks of administration, from entry-level positions to leadership roles, the Minister said, and highlighted training and education support in fields, such as geology and chemical engineering.

Mr Jinapor made the remarks at the National Policy Dialogue of Women in Mining Ghana, held in Accra on Thursday. The event was on the theme: ‘Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging: Actions for the Mining Sector’.

He expressed the Government’s commitment to partnering with women in mining, and other stakeholders, to drive meaningful changes towards ensuring more inclusivity and a prosperous mining sector.

‘So, I charge the Women in Mining to pay particular attention to training b
ecause part of inclusion is training and educating the women to become part of the process from the very beginning…,’ the Minister advised.

Expressing the determination to align the government’s policies with women in mining needs, Mr Jinapor called for collaborative efforts to enhance inclusivity and promote women’s success in the sector.

He said it was imperative to invest in women’s empowerment in line with the vision of International Women’s Day celebrations.

He underlined inclusivity and justice in broadening participation in the industry and applauded Women in Mining Ghana for its advocacy efforts and commitment to the core industry values.

‘There is the need to come together to promote policies and practices that are pro-gender equality, creating opportunities for women to advance their careers, and fostering a culture of respect and inclusivity within mining companies, ‘Mr Jinapor emphasised.

Highlighting Ghana’s rich mining history and its pivotal role in the national economy, the Minister state
d the government’s goal to position Ghana as the primary hub of Africa’s mining activities.

Regarding economic empowerment, Mr Jinapor pointed out the substantial contributions of women to the mining sector and cited that the local content initiatives, such as catering services, generated significant revenues, amounting to two million dollars annually.

Mrs Judy Nakuor Crayem, the Chief Executive Officer of Rapport Services, and board member of the Minerals Commission, who presided over the function, stated that women in artisanal mining constituted 50% of labour in the sector.

However, women in mining were mostly ignored in the critical decision-making processes.

She, thus, called for a level playing field without discrimination for all women in the mining sector.

Mrs Crayem announced that Women in Mining Ghana, in partnership with the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Mining (GNASSM), was offering women avenues for training in jewellery-making as an alternative livelihood.

Mrs Georgette Barnes
Sakyi-Addo, the President of Women in Mining, Ghana, in her welcome remarks, stated that lack of access to information, financial resources and inadequate policies to support their active involvement were some of the challenges them.

She urged the stakeholders to pursue the agenda of diversity, inclusion and belonging to make the relevant impact on the continent.

There were solidarity messages from the Association’s counterparts in Nigeria, Congo, Namibia and Niger.

Source: Ghana News Agency

EcoCare Ghana, a rights-based campaign and advocacy organisation, has urged the chocolate industry to continue to prioritise sustainability, fair labour practices, and environmental conservation.

This includes ensuring fair compensation to farmers, promoting responsible sourcing practices, reducing pesticide use, and safeguarding against any child or forced labour and deforestation.

Legislations such as the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and consumer awareness, which has led to demand for ‘better’ chocolate is driving positive change in the industry.

Mr Obed Owusu-Addai, the Managing Campaigner, EcoCare Ghana, said this at a press briefing in Accra on Friday to launch the 5th Edition of the Chocolate Scorecard, on the theme: ‘Making Sure the Chocolate You Eat is a Good Chocolate’.

The Chocolate Scorecard ranks and grades companies on key sustainability issues affecting the cocoa value-chain and to promote transparency, accountability, and responsible practices within the industry.

The co
mpanies are scored based on traceability and transparency, living income for farmers, child labour, deforestation and climate change, agroforestry and pesticides.

Mr Owusu-Addai said the 5th Edition of the Chocolate Scorecard revealed a significant improvement in the industry, but key challenges such as farmer poverty remained unaddressed.

However, the chocolate industry had the resources to address those challenges, based on its strength and lucrativeness.

He said forecasted revenue growth stood at 5.6 per cent, surpassing global economic growth estimates of 2.6 per cent, in 2024, expected to generate around USD254 billion.

The Managing Campaigner said it was encouraging to see the majority of respondent companies recognising a living income as a basic human right, though only six companies were paying 100 per cent to their farmers as Living Income Reference Price.

Improvements in traceability were evident in response to EU Deforestation Regulations (EUDR) yet achieving full EUDR compliance remained a ‘
work in progress’, he said.

The companies were increasingly aware of their responsibility to ensure that farmers got decent incomes from cocoa, but still too many farmers remained in poverty, Mr Owusu-Addai said, and that without additional financial support, that would continue.

The recently passed Cooperate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive by the EU has now recognised Living Income as a human right issue, compeling industries to begin realigning their purchasing practices to reflect the new paradigm.

Child labour responses were increasing in effectiveness mainly due to the lack of scale of programmes, hence all stakeholders, including producers, governments and the industry must work together towards a common goal targeting wider coverage and inclusivity, he said.

Environmental initiatives such as climate targets, ending deforestation and use of agroforestry were gaining momentum, partly due to emerging legislation requiring that companies seriously cared for the planet.

‘However, in Ghana issues
such as tree and land tenure are still posing limitations for uptake of agroforestry. There is the need for legislative and policy realignment to support the implementation of agroforestry initiatives,’ Mr Owusu -Addai said.

He urged governments, NGOs, companies and consumers to work together to ensure that farmers were supported to meet the requirements for EUDR compliance and were compensated fairly for their efforts.

He called for child labour interventions to be scaled up and to eradicate it in all supply chains, with enhanced traceability and focus on addressing the root causes such as poverty.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice has announced the death of its Deputy Commissioner, Mr. Richard Ackom Quayson.

The death was announced in a notice dated March 22, 2024, and signed by Mr. Henry Ashley, the Director of Human Resources and Administration, on behalf of the Commissioner.

The notice, made available to the GNA, stated: ‘It is with a heavy heart that we inform members of staff of the death of our Deputy Commissioner (APR), Mr. Richard Ackom Quayson, who passed away unexpectedly on the 21st of March 2024, after a short illness.’

Mr. Quayson was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Commission in August 2005, with oversight of the Commission’s anti-corruption mandate and public education and research.

He joined the Commission as a senior legal officer in 1993, having worked as legal officer of the predecessor institution of CHRAJ, the Office of the Ombudsman, from 1987 to 1993.

Before he was appointed Deputy Commissioner, he was the regional director for the Western and C
entral Regions.

He also chaired the National Working Group that developed Ghana’s National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) and was a member of the Commission with oversight for its implementation.

He was a lawyer by profession with expertise in human rights promotion and protection, administrative justice, and corruption prevention and investigations.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Abdul Raman Mohammed, Manager of the business wing, Akuafo Nketewa Company Limited, Tempane District of the Upper East Region, has attributed the high yield of sorghum to prompt intervention by aggregators to ensure availability of inputs for farmers to facilitate production.

He reiterated that Sorghum was a time bound crop and failure to follow each of the activities at the right time during cultivation could lead to total failure, which the company did not want to happen.

Akuafo Nketewa was able to arrange the right inputs at the right time for farmers, which contributed to the company exceeding its quota of supply by 20,000 metric tonnes of the crop to Guinness Ghana PLC between January to September 2023 and hoped to do more if given another quota, he said.

Mr Mohammed , also a member of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), who spoke to the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga, said the current arrangement with Guinness Ghana was the only way farmers had reliable means of assurance of income
from their produce.

Though in the open market, traders patronised the produce it was in low quantity and farmers were not able to sell in large quantities to get money on time to offset their loans, he said.

The company was dealing with more than 11,000 farmers in the Upper East Region, who were into Sorghum production in Tempane, Pusiga, Bongo, Bawku West and Builsa districts, the Kassena Nankana and Bawku Municipality.

Also, farmers at Gushegu, Saboga and Cheriponi in the North East Region, where there are aggregators mobilizing the sorghum produce, were part.

Mr Mohammed, however, noted that huge quantities of sorghum were still on the farms and ware houses.

The aggregators who were buying from the farmers were doing well, being able to manage the huge quantities involved and ready market available, he said.

He noted that there were challenges in dealing with farmers as loan recoveries were not so encouraging, explained that the company did not provide credit but linked the aggregators to sources of
farm inputs to give to their farmers.

Source: Ghana News Agency

In the heart of Ghana’s healthcare history, lies a treasure trove of natural remedies-traditional medicine.

This age-old practice, embracing plants, leaves, herbs, animals, and other gifts of nature, has been the cornerstone of healing long before the colonial era introduced us to modern medicine.

Prof. Kwame Benoit Nguessan Banga, a leading figure at the Institute of Traditional and Alternative Medicine (ITAM), University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), shared his insights during a chat with the Ghana News Agency (GNA).

He passionately argues for a revival of trust in traditional medicine, urging Ghanaians to rediscover their roots in natural healing.

‘Long before the advent of modern labs and medicine, our ancestors were their own healers, using the rich biodiversity around them,’ Prof. Banga notes.

Despite initial resistance from colonial perspectives that demanded scientific validation, traditional medicine has stood the test of time, proving both effective and safe.

The journey wasn’t always
smooth. Earlier practitioners relied on oral traditions to pass down their knowledge, leading to gaps in scientific documentation.

Today, however, Prof. Banga sees a bright future. ‘We’re now uncovering solid evidence that our traditional remedies work, but it’s crucial to share this knowledge widely,’ encouraging more people to embrace these practices.

Prof. Banga’s belief in traditional medicine isn’t just academic; it’s personal.

He recounts a transformative encounter with a plant-based remedy from Burkina Faso that cured him of what was once deemed an incurable disease.

This experience, validated by medical tests, underscores the potential for Science and tradition to collaborate, creating innovative solutions unique to Africa.

Encouragingly, some hospitals in Ghana have begun integrating herbal treatments, responding to patient demands after rigorous laboratory tests.

This growing acceptance signals a broader shift towards recognising the value of herbal medicine, not only in Ghana but globally.

T
he World Health Organization has supported traditional medicine for over two decades, recognising its widespread use and advocating for regulatory frameworks to ensure safety and efficacy.

The establishment of UHAS’s Institute of Traditional and Alternative Medicine, alongside efforts by other state institutions, marks a significant step forward.

By training future practitioners and conducting research, these institutions aim to provide the scientific backing needed to fully integrate traditional remedies into our healthcare system.

This move is also poised to boost medical tourism, attracting individuals from around the world seeking alternative treatments.

Yet, challenges remain. Prof. Banga highlights the need for proper preservation, preparation, and dosing of herbal medicines to avoid toxicity.

Collaborations with the Ghana Federation of Traditional Medicine Practitioners (GHAFTRAM), the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), the Traditional Medicine Directorate (TAMD), and the Traditional Medicine Practic
e Council (TMPC) are crucial in advancing the practice, but more support is needed.

‘To truly make strides in traditional medicine, substantial funding for research and development is essential. We have the expertise; we just need the resources,’ Prof. Banga concludes.

As we celebrate Ghana’s rich heritage, let’s not overlook the wisdom embedded in our traditional medicine.

By valuing and integrating these practices into our healthcare system, we not only honour our ancestors but also open doors to innovative, culturally resonant healing methods for future generations.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Three border communities in the Upper East Region hosting some asylum seekers from Burkina Faso because of the Sahel crisis, have benefitted from three solar powered mechanised and high yielding boreholes to help address water challenges.

The facilities, constructed at a cost of about GH?440,000.00, benefited Fatega and Kare, a suburb of Sapeliga in the Bawku West District and Kugri in the Garu District of the Upper East Region.

The facilities have been connected to overhead polytanks with multiple water collection points for the host communities and the asylum seekers.

Changing Lives in Innovative Partnerships (CLIP) in collaboration with Acting for Life (AFL) with funding from the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office of the United Kingdom High Commission provided the support.

It was under the Supporting Agropastoralism to reinforce Social Cohesion in the cross-border territories of the Ghana-Burkina Faso (SAPSOC) project’s third phase, which aimed at promoting peaceful coexistence between host commu
nities and transhumance.

The aid was also in response to the requests by the district assemblies to support them with sustainable water access for host communities, asylum seekers and pastoralists.

At the inauguration of the facilities at the different locations, Mr Lukman Yussif, the Director of CLIP, said the water facilities were to help address the water challenges as a result of the influx of the asylum seekers from neighbouring countries, particularly Burkina Faso.

He said due to the disturbances in the Sahel region, many people had been compelled to seek refuge elsewhere, particularly in Ghana, and the situation had put pressure on the limited resources of the host communities.

‘These communities are already deprived in terms of social amenities and the presence of the asylum seekers has further compounded their problems including putting pressure on the limited food and healthcare facilities among other things,’ he said.

The communities prioritised water challenges after series of engagements bet
ween them, the district assemblies and his outfit, and that necessitated the move to construct the water systems, Mr Yusiff said.

He explained that the gesture was to complement the efforts of the assemblies to address the water challenges, adding ‘although the Tarikom reception and resettlement centre is there, the reality is that we still have many of them at the communities’.

Alhaji Issah Salifu, the Board Chairman, CLIP, noted that apart from the water issues, the communities were still faced challenges including livelihood interventions and his outfit would work to support them in any way possible.

‘I will appeal to the indigenous people to still hold onto your Burkinabae colleagues and see how organisations can support as CLIP is doing its best to support the communities on other issues,’ he said.

Mr Anania Daniel Atampoba, the District Chief Executive for Bawku West, lauded CLIP and its partners for the intervention and that the asylum seekers had been registered moved to the reception centre at Ta
rikom.

Mr James Agaogo, the Assemblyman for Sapeliga Electoral Area, pledged the community’s resolve to maintain the facilities to last and serve the intended purposes.

Source: Ghana News Agency