Dan Botwe inaugurates Council of Institute of Local Government Studies

Mr Dan Botwe, the Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (MLGDRD) has sworn-in an 11-Member Council of the Institute of Local Government Studies (ILGS).

Members of the sixth Council, chaired by Professor Kwasi Kwafo Adarkwa, a Government Appointee, include: Dr. Nicholas Awortwi, Director of ILGS, Mr Samuel Seth Passah, a representative of the MLGDRD, Dr. Nana Kodjo Mensah-Abrampa, the Director-General of the National Development Planning Commission, and Mr Kokro Amankwah of the National Association of Local Authorities in Ghana.

The rest are: Mrs Evelyn Arthur of the Public Services Commission, Dr. Stephen Nana Ato Arthur of the Local Government Service, Professor Imoro Braimah of the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, and other Government Appointees-Mr Akwasi Darko Boateng, Madam Agnes Talata Chiravira, and Reverend Mrs Eva Asare Bediako.

The Council Members swore oaths of office, secrecy and allegiance to serve the country in the office of the ILGS, uphold, protect and defend the Constitution as by law established and to bear true faith by upholding the sovereignty and dignity of Ghana.

Mr Botwe said the inauguration was done at the time when there were discussions on the appointments of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives, generating a lot of public interest on whether they should be elected or not.

He said the local Assemblies had the highest political authority in their localities and charged members of the Council to let the political appointees work with that awareness for greater impact.

The Minister, on behalf of the Ministry, handed over three vehicles- Toyota Fortuner, Prado and Hilux to the Institute and gave them an assurance to support their work.

 

….DAN BOTWE…..

 

Achiase assembly member allegedly beaten to pulp over DCE confirmation

There was chaos at Akyem Achiase in the Eastern Region during the second confirmation of the District Chief Executive (DCE) nominee for the area on Sunday, October 3, 2021.

Some armed Police officers allegedly assaulted Assembly member for Dwirase Anamase Electoral Area, Daniel Yeboah, for demanding transparency in the electoral process.

The assembly member sustained injuries as a result and was rushed to the Oda Government Hospital.

Speaking to the media on his hospital bed, the assembly member explained that Assembly members surprisingly received letters on Saturday to assemble for a second confirmation exercise of the DCE nominee on Sunday.

This was after the renominated DCE, Richmond Kofi Amponsah, who is Dean of Municipal and District Chief Executives in the Eastern Region, failed to secure two-thirds votes during the first confirmation exercise on September 27, 2021.

He secured 13 out of 22 valid votes cast.

However, the second election, according to Mr Yeboah, was held in a “secluded” venue instead of the Conference Hall of the Assembly.

He said some Assembly members, who raised concerns, were heckled by one Francis Gyan, a Deputy Eastern Regional Organizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) who was present.

Mr Gyan attempted to throw him out of the venue but he [Mr Yeboah] resisted.

He alleged that some armed police officers, brought from an unknown area to the venue, attacked and beat him mercilessly just after he stepped out to make a phone call.

He added that, suddenly, the armed police came in and attempted to pull me out which I resisted leading to chaos but the Regional Minister intervened and calm was restored,” he alleged.

….HON. DANIELYEBOAH…..

 

It’s false for Ejura Committee to connect Kaaka’s death to a family feud – Family insists

The family of Mohammed Ibrahim’ Kaaka’ has debunked findings by a Ministerial Committee that the activist’s death may have been occasioned by a family feud.

According to their spokesperson, Abdul Nafiu Mohammed, it is false for the Ejura fact-finding committee to arrive at this conclusion without evidence of unrest among the family.

“At nowhere in the entire report did the Committee demonstrate or was there any evidence to show that the family of Kaaka was embroiled in any turmoil or feud,” he said on October 4.

The family, at a press conference on Monday, expressed their resentment for portions of the recommendations by the Ejura Committee Report.

The Committee was established bat the instance of President Akufo-Addo, to investigate the circumstances surrounding the disturbances in Ejura following the killing of Kaaka.

In its report, which was subsequently made public last month, the Committee concluded that the social media activism of Kaaka was not connected to his death.

According to the report, Kaaka’s death was more related to a family feud rather than his social life.

But speaking at the press conference, the family indicated that this observation is untenable.

They claim there is no way the Committee could have substantiated the assertion, especially when Kaaka’s death fell outside the scope of their mandate.

…..ABDUL NAFIU……

 

Current road development in Ashanti Region is the biggest in history – Akufo-Addo brags

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said denied claims the Ashanti Region which is the stronghold of the ruling party has been abandoned in terms of development.

Speaking on Pure FM in Kumasi today, Akufo Addo said the Ashanti Region has seen massive development under his governance which is the biggest in history.

He adds that this development is so obvious yet the opposition party are making unrealistic claims that the stronghold of the ruling party has abandoned the region.

He added that road development for instance as is happening now in the Ashanti Region, he has not seen anything like it before though is not perfect, there are many areas they can improve but overall road development in Ashanti Region, is the biggest in history and this is something reassuring to him and there’s more to come for instance, 80% of the roads in Nhyieso have seen asphalt, there’s more to come.

He revealed that, next year, there are two big developments that will be started, one is the Suame Interchange and Kumasi will have the second four-tier interchange in Ghana.

…..PREZ ON ROAD……

He again said, contractors are working on the road despite Ghanaians are accusing them (contractors) for abandoning their projects.

According to him, all these developments on the road will not be seen if they are not working.

He added that, some of the contractors are been owned huge sums of money but they are working very hard to construct the road.

…..PREZ ON CONTRACTORS……

Ghana now export foods to other countries- Akufo Addo

President Akufo Addo has hinted that, Ghana now export foods to other countries due to the Food and Job implementation.

Speaking on Pure FM in Kumasi today, Akufo Addo said, previously, Ghana imported foods from other countries but those have stopped now.

According to him, citizens from Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso now export food from this country because the agric business is in the process of changing in the country.

In May, last year, President Nana Akufo-Addo said his government intends to employ 500,000 farmers in 2018 under the Planting for Food and Jobs programme.

The Planting for Food and Jobs programme is one of the government’s flagship initiatives aimed at improving food production in the country.

The programme rolled out in all 216 districts of the country involves the supply of farm resources such as high-yielding and improved seedlings to participating farmers.

The Planting for Food and Jobs policy is hinged on five pillars; the supply of improved seeds to farmers at subsidized prices, the supply of fertilizers to farmers at subsidized prices, free extension services to farmers, marketing opportunities for produce after harvest, and E-Agriculture.

…..PREZ ON AGRIC….

 

 

 

 

Gov’t to revive Kumasi Neoplan with 100 Buses – Alan

The Minister for Trade and Industry Alan Kyeremanteng has announced that government will revive the defunct Kumasi Neoplan Ghana limited bus workshop which has not been active for some years now.

Addressing the media as part of President Akufo Addo’s working tour to the Ashanti region, Mr Kyeremanten said the government will absorb the workshop into the one district one factory agenda.

He revealed initial arrangement has been made for the government through the Metro Mass transit to order 100 buses from Neoplan Ghana Limited.

….HON. KYEREMATENG……

President Akufo Addo while addressing the workers of Neoplan Ghana limited assured the management of the company that his government is committed to reviving the company.

He said all the requests made by the company will be assessed and granted.

He added that, they revived Neoplan under President Kufuor, and if President Mahama had done something at Neoplan there would be no need to revive the company but he is committed to making sure Neoplan works again.

….PREZ AT NEOPLAN…..

 

 

 

‘Fake kidnapping’ case: Takoradi woman leaves police custody a week after being granted bail

Josephine Panyin Mensah, the woman accused of staging her pregnancy and kidnapping in Takoradi, has finally left police custody a week after being granted bail.

She had been granted GH¢ 50,000 bail on September 27 but remained in custody because of delays in verifying property documents to be used to cover the bail.

The lead counsel of the suspect, Philip Fiifi Buckman speaking to the media said, his client was able to leave the police custody exactly 2:30pm after they were able to meet the bail requirement.

According to him, the family members tried everything but none of the documents they produced on the said land was registered at the time.

He added that, the family members should seek health care for Mrs. Josephine Payin Simons because she looks sick.

Josephine Panyin Mensah has been charged with deceiving a public officer and publication of false news with intent to cause fear and panic.

Police said they were going to prosecute her because she wasted their resources by sending them on a wild goose chase.

The story recently dominated the news space in Ghana, with many recalling the disappearance and murder of four girls who went missing in Takoradi in 2019.

She pleaded not guilty in her first appearance in court, last week, Monday.

Josephine Panyin Mensah, who was believed to be pregnant, went missing on September 16.

She was then found in Axim on September 21 without the pregnancy.

…..LAWYER BUCKMAN……