We will not shield any cocoa farmer found guilty of child labour – Deputy COCOBOD CEO

Deputy Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Dr. Emmanuel Opoku has said that his outfit will not protect any cocoa farmer found guilty of child labour.

Dr. Opoku said this while reacting to a latest JoyNews’ investigative report. The investigation reveals how children are trafficked for a sum of GH¢1,000 to work on cocoa farms at Elluokrom in the Western North Region.

Speaking in an interview with the media, Dr. Emmanuel Opoku said, this practice by cocoa farmers is criminal, thus COCOBOD will not shield anyone found guilty.

According to him, they will parade all guilty farmers on radio and television for the rest of the world and farmers to see that they have done enough.

Dr. Emmanuel Opoku noted that the unscrupulous actions of some cocoa farmers cannot be allowed to dent the image of COCOBOD.

The Deputy CEO said COCOBOD is willing to collaborate with the Child Labour Unit of the Ghana Police Service to redeem child victims from the insensitive act by some farmers.

…..DR. OPOKU…..

 

 

 

 

KATH sacks accountant who petitioned CHRAJ over COVID fund use

The Management of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has sacked the accountant who complained about how COVID funds were being used by the hospital.

Mr. Awuni Akyireba petitioned the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to investigate the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the hospital, Dr Oheneba Owusu Danso, over allegations of misappropriation of COVID-19 funds

He accused the Hospital’s management of misusing the COVID-19 funds that were accrued by the management of the health facility during the height of the pandemic in 2020.

However, management of the facility, according to sources, believe their former staff was just on a destructive mission with no evidence to back his claim.

The dismissal letter sighted by Silver News and signed by the board Chairman Nana Effah Ampenteng, the Omanhene of Bompata Traditional area, directed the hospital’s director of finance to pay him all his entitlements.

The dismissal letter again directed the director of finance to delete his name from the hospitals staff payroll effective 20th December, 2021.

Mr Awuni has confirmed receiving the dismissal letter on 30th December, 2021 from his immediate boss.

He told the media that he will take legal action against the hospital.

Sources at the hospital say the internal disciplinary committee of the hospital did not give him a fair hearing over the case.

Mr. Awuni Akyireba will join us on the line.

 

Constitution Day is not an idle holiday – Interior Minister

The Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery has dismissed claims that January 7, set aside by government to celebrate Ghana’s constitutional rule is an idle holiday.

Interacting with the media, the Minister said such assertions are false as the day creates the opportunity to reflect on the country’s democratic governance.

According to him, this is the 8th Parliament and probably when the President decided and they went to Parliament to declare January 7, Constitutional Day, some people thought it was an idle holiday.

He added that, “It is not an idle holiday. We want people to wake up from complacency that we think we have arrived as a multi-party democracy. Yes, within the region, we are a shining example but I believe the Constitutional Day should give us an opportunity to reflect, improve and consolidate”.

Mr Ambrose Dery, Ghanaians should work towards becoming more tolerant.

…..HON. DERY …..

 

 

 

 

 

 

Buildings that have encroached on land earmarked for dual-carriage road construction would be demolished – Roads Minister

The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako Attah has warned that any project that stands in the way of the construction of dual-carriage roads would be demolished.

He said no Ghanaian is bigger than the national interest, therefore, any project that stands in the way of the national interest will be taken off.

Addressing the media in Tamale after inspecting some major roads under construction in the Tamale Metropolis, the Minister said the government is embarking on a drive to dualise the country’s major highways adding that people have gotten wind of it and are deliberately siting projects on these highways.

He urged every potential developer that if they make that mistake and start their construction, they will get to them soon and when they get to them even if it is ten-story buildings they will demolish it.

He, therefore, called on Ghanaians to visit his Ministry or agencies under his Ministry for cross-checking on road reservations before constructing any project.

….AMOAKO ATTAH…..

The Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Shani Alhassan Shaibu on his part said the provision of the interchange would go a long way to relieve commuters of the stress they go through in the Metropolis.

….HON. SHANI…...

 

 

It is not legal to forfeit sim cards- A.B.A Fuseini to Govt and telcos

Ranking Member on Communication Committee in Parliament, Hon. A.B.A Fuseini has descended heavily on the government and telecommunications companies following the stressful sim re-registration experience.

The government through the Communication and Digitization Minister, Hon, Ursula Ekuful last year urged Ghanaians to re-register their sim cards with their Ghana Card before March 31^st 2022 or forfeit their sim cards.

Many Ghanaians after this directive have visited the various telcos center to have their sim cards re-registered before the due date.

Ghanaians have cried foul over the stressful biometric SIM re-registration experience they encounter at the center.

According to them, government should as a matter of urgency extend the date due to the long queues at the telcos centers.

But ABA Fuseini reacting to this said, it is not legal to make a law that, all sim cards that don’t get re-registered after the end of March will automatically forfeit their sim cards.

Speaking to the media, he added that, they cannot make a law today and make it have effect tomorrow.

According to him, majority of Ghanaians do not have the Ghana Card to re-register their sim cards since is the only recognize ID card that can be used throughout the process.

.…ABA FUSEINI….

Vice Chairman of the Communication Committee, Hon. Sylvester Tetteh pleaded with the telcos to have a strategy to deal with this problem.

….HON. TETTEH…..

 

12 suspects in Bawku disturbances granted GHS 20,000 bail each

An Accra High Court has granted bail to the 12 suspects allegedly involved in the Bawku Chieftaincy disturbances which led to the loss of lives and the destruction of property.

The 12 were granted bail to the tune of 20,000 cedis each with one surety.

The decision comes after several attempts by lawyers for the accused to be granted bail by the Circuit Court.

The suspects have been charged with unlawful assembly with offensive weapons and offensive conduct to the breach of peace.

They are expected to reappear before the court on February 12, 2022

The 12 suspects were arrested following a renewed chieftaincy clash in Bawku last Monday, January 3, 2022, which led to the loss of lives and the destruction of property.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Physical presence for SIM registration necessary to prevent fraud – NCA

The National Communications Authority (NCA), has justified the need for citizens to physically present themselves at the various outlets of their mobile network operators to complete the re-registration of their SIM cards.

The Director of Consumer and Corporate Affairs at the National Communications Authority, Nana Defie Badu, said this while reacting to complaints about long queues at re-registration centres and suggestions for the registration to be done digitally.

“[The previous registration] gave room for fictitious registrations and it also gave room for pre-registered SIM cards. This current registration is going a step further to make sure that the person who has linked their Ghana card to their SIM card is that same person who owns the Ghana card to prevent SIM fraud.”

In an interview with the media, Nana Defie Badu blamed registrants for the long queues and the slow pace of the registration process.

According to her, a number of the registrants failed to complete the first stage of the registration process hence spend a longer time with customer care representatives at the various telco centres to complete that stage before proceeding to complete the second stage.

She also said many registrants refuse to leave the premises of the mobile network operators even if they are advised to come the following day due to the limited number of persons that can be registered in a day.

“What is happening is that, even after they give tickets to these [limited] 100 customers, the costumers who are not included in the quota for the data collection refuse to go away. Most consumers fail to do the first phase of the exercise before they visit the mobile network operator or the agents. Going there without the first stage increases the time frame for engagement with the customer care representatives,” she explained.

 

 

Man found hanging dead at Awudome cemetery

An unidentified man, believed to be in his early 40s, has allegedly committed suicide by hanging, at Awudome Public Cemetery in Accra.

The deceased with well-shaved hair and beard, dressed in a pair of black trousers, a grey pullover and wearing a pair of black slippers, was found hanging from a tree at the cemetery.

He wore what appeared to be a wedding ring, red shorts under black trousers, while a dagger’s cover hung out of his back pocket and had his tongue protruded out of the mouth.

A few residents of Awudome Estate, in Accra, and passers-by, rushed to the cemetery in an attempt to catch a glimpse of the body.

When the Ghanaian Times arrived at the scene, at 6:40.am, a handful of people had gathered, discussing what might have triggered the alleged suicide.

While some of them suspected foul play, others opined that he might have ended it all “to run away from the pressures of life.”

Some motorists, who operate around the vicinity, said the deceased was not familiar to them.

The Kaneshie Divisional Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Edward Faakye Kumi, confirmed the tragedy to the media in Accra.

He said the police at about 7:00 am received information about the suicide, and a team of experts from the Criminal Investigations Department at the police headquarters were deployed to the scene.

He said the police at about 7:00 am received information about the suicide, and a team of experts from the Criminal Investigations Department at the police headquarters were deployed to the scene.

ACP Kumi said the team found the deceased hanging in nylon from a tree at the cemetery and conveyed it to the Police Hospital mortuary for investigations.

Woman granted bail for biting fisherman’s penis

The two were arrested for publicly fighting and disturbing public peace with Emanu 37, also granted GHC10,000.00 bail with two sureties by a Cape Coast Circuit Court.

They both pleaded not guilty to the charges of causing unlawful harm and disturbing public peace respectively and would re-appear in court on Monday, February 7, for trial to start.

Prosecuting, Inspector Emmanuel Annan told the Court presided over by Mrs Dorinda Smith Arthur that Emanu and Yankah were engaged in fishing activities and spent most of the time at the Legion Hall seashore area.

The Prosecutor, however, said on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at about 0700 hours, Emanu returned home from his fishing expedition and used a bucket belonging to Yankah to fetch water to wash his canoe without her consent.

This resulted in a confrontation between them and in the process, Emanu slapped Yankah, but they were separated.

The Prosecution said in some few minutes, Emanu who was angered by the turn of events became aggressive leading to another fight resulting in Yankah biting his penis.

He said Emanu bled profusely and was rushed to Ewim Polyclinic, where he was admitted, treated and later discharged.

Yankah reported the case to the police, and was issued a medical report form and after investigations, they were both arrested and charged.

 

 

 

 

 

Arrest culprits of Oda forest reserve invasion-GNASSM Secretary fumes:

Secretary to the Ashanti District of the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) is challenging government to effect the arrest and prosecution of those behind the invasion and mining of the Oda River Forest Reserve in Manso Aboaboso.

"I can't take government serious of his directives on mining in Red Zones if he fails to act on such instances when even allegation of political influence has been made", Kwaku Adu Gyamfi insists.

According to the Ashanti chapter Secretary of GNASSM, the approach to enter the Forest Reserve by the miners were wrong and deserves the resistance put up by the community.

The youth of Manso Aboaboso in an attempt to protect the Oda River Forest Reserve against illegal mining activities clashed with armed security guards providing security for small scale mining.

In retaliation to gunshots and cutlass attacks, two Excavators were burnt and two innocent boys were arrested.

This has in turn created a lot of controversy as the youth demand the release of their arrested youth.

It was initially alleged that the arrest was influenced by some political gurus within the illegal activities so that it could cow the boys from their continuous fight against the illegal mining activities.

The Ashanti chapter Secretary of the GNASSM is therefore throwing challenge to the government to effect the arrest of those illegal invaders of the Oda Forest Reserve to indicate its true commitment to fighting the illegalities.

Ashanti regional Secretary for GNASSM, Mr. Michael Adu Gyamfi will join us on the line 0244957700