Day: January 24, 2024

The Second Infantry Battalion (2BN) of the Ghana Army has held a Drum-Head Parade to commemorate the 79th Anniversary of the Battle of Myohaung.

The parade which was held at the Myohaung Barracks at Apremdo in the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipality of the Western Region, in conjunction with the Veterans Administration of Ghana (VAG), is an annual event to honour and remember the sacrifices of the gallant soldiers during the Battle of Myohaung in second World War.

Contingents drawn from the Ghana Air Force, Army and Navy as well as the VAG participated in the colourful parade which was characterised by exceptional military drills.

Colonel George A. Biah (Retired), the Guest of Honour for the occasion, gave a brief history of the battle saying it was a significant military engagement against cruel and well-trained enemies during World War II.

He said it was, therefore, relevant to remember the contributions of those whose sacrifices had contributed to the peace and tranquility the country was presently enjoyi
ng.

‘While we use the occasion of the 79th Anniversary of the Battle of Myohaung to remember our gallant heroes of 1945, we also remember the sacrifices made by our soldiers and the personnel of other security services, particularly those who made the ultimate sacrifice, working day and night to maintain the safety and security of our nation,’ he noted.

Col. Biah (Rtd) commended the Ghana Armed Forces for maintaining the country’s democratic credentials saying, ‘For decades, Ghana has stood tall as a beacon of democracy in Africa. Our dear nation Ghana is the most peaceful country in the West African Sub-Region, so kudos to the Ghana Armed Forces and all the other security services for toiling relentlessly to maintain our democracy, peace and stability’.

Nonetheless, there was the need for security agencies to continue to strengthen their collaborations at the district, regional and national levels to collectively avert possible terrorist threats that had taken over some parts of the West African Sub-Regio
n.

‘In the face of terrorism and violent extremism, there ought to be enhanced intelligence sharing and joint training among our security services to help present a united front against this menace,’ Col. Biah (Rtd) added.

The Anniversary of the Battle of Myohaung has been chosen as an annual Day of Remembrance for the Royal West African Frontier Force who emerged victorious over the Japanese on the battlefield in Myohaung on January 23, 1945.

The parade was attended by Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, the Western Regional Minister, Mr Kojo Acquah, the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipal Chief Executive, some heads of sister security agencies and traditional leaders among other dignitaries.

Source: Ghana News Agency

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), has appointed Major General Thomas Oppong-Peprah as the new Chief of Defence Staff (CDS).

His appointment takes effect from February 1, 2024, a statement issued by the Communications Directorate, Office of the President, announced.

The appointment has been made subject to consultation with the Council of State, pursuant to the provisions of Article 212 of the Constitution.

The statement noted that the President had also appointed Major General Bismarck Kwasi Onwona as Chief of Army Staff, in succession to the newly-appointed CDS.

Until his new appointment, Major General Onwona was the Commandant of the GAF Command and Staff College.

Rear Admiral Issah Adams Yakubu and Air Vice Marshal Frederick Asare Kwasi Bekoe remain in their positions as Chief of Naval Staff and Chief of Air Staff, respectively.

The statement explained that the appointment of the new CDS followed the imminent completion of the tour of duty and
subsequent retirement from the GAF, on Thursday, February 1, of the current CDS, Vice Admiral Seth Amoama.

The President expressed deep gratitude to the outgoing CDS for his devoted and meritorious service to the Armed Forces and the nation.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Some residents in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis have called on the government and stakeholders in the sports sector to take deliberate steps to invest in sports infrastructure for its development.

They said it was time Ghana’s football management bodies committed more efforts into developing the sector ‘If we want to return to the old days when we were a football powerhouse’.

Ghana officially exited the group-stage of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote D’Ivoire for a second consecutive time, after not winning any of their last six group-stage games.

The Black Stars lost its opening group match against Cape Verde by a 2-1 scoreline, drew the second game in a 2-2 encounter with Egypt, and denied the opportunity to progress to the round of 16 by two late equalising goals during its game against Mozambique.

The results meant that Ghana finished third with just two points in its Group B stage.

Expressing varied views, some of the residents believed that the national team’s recent abysmal per
formances were down to management problems, while others thought it was lack of commitment by the players.

Mr Prince Owusu-Ansah, a resident, who could not hide his frustration in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) believed the Black Stars’ poor showing at the tournament was due to inadequate investment in sporting infrastructure by the government and other relevant authorities.

‘As a nation, I do not think we have any comprehensive development plan to nurture and grow our national teams at all levels, from the junior side to the senior team,’ he said.

He continued: ‘Look at the state of our football facilities… so poor that the football managers had to hire a private facility for the players to prepare for the AFCON.

I think the Ghana Football Association (GFA) must sit up and put the right policies and investment procedures in place, if we really want to return to being the football big boys we used to be’.

Mr Emmanuel Kobby Mensah, another resident, questioned the commitment of the players
in representing the nation in these tournaments.

He said player selection must be meritorious and not by names, and those chosen must be willing to go every length to die for the national colours.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Accra High Court trying nine persons for High Treason has acquitted and discharged Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dr Benjamin Agordzo.

He, together with Colonel Samuel Kojo Gameli and Corporal Seidu Abubakar, were found not guilty after trial.

The three-member Court made up of Justices of the Court of Appeal Hafisata Amaleboba, and Stephen Oppong and presided over by Mrs Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, said the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that they took part in the attempted plan.

Both ACP Agordzo and Colonel Gameli were charged with abetment of crime, to wit, high treason.

Corporal Seidu Abubakar was also charged with conspiracy to commit High treason which they all denied.

ACP Dr Agordzo was not proven to be part of TAG’s executive WhatsApp platform, the speech alleged to have been given to the late Doctor Mac-Palm was not authored by him nor did its content depict violence.

The GHC2,000.00 given to the late Dr Mac-Palm was in furtherance of TAG’s medical outreach and not
to fund the government’s overthrow plot.

The ‘big bang’ and ‘Arab Spring,’ Dr Agordzo mentioned to late Mac-Palm was taken out of context and that it was to begin something with enthusiasm and not to overthrow government, the Court found.

In the case of Colonel Gameli, the Court was told that he confessed knowledge of late Mac-Palm’s activities and the same was recorded on audio and diary of action of the Police but they were not put before the Court.

In a nearly four-hour judgment delivery, the Court said there was no evidence of confession by the Colonel to abet the crime.

However, Donya Kafui, Bright Alan Debrah, Johannes Zikpi, Lance Airforce Corporal Ali Solomon, Corporal Sylvester Akankpewon and Warrant Officer Class Two (WOII) Esther Saan Dekuwine were found culpable and sentenced to death by hanging for high treason.

The Court established that Debrah was tasked by the late Dr Mac-Palm to recruit others for the attempted overthrow, he held meetings with his accomplices, to discuss how to acquire w
eapons, the testing of the locally made weapons made by Kafui to that effect, trying to get recruits at GHC50,000.00 each, for their participation, as well as supplied them with cellular phones to ease communication.

He was also identified in videos captured by Staff Sergeant Sule Kwadwo Awarf, the prosecution’s star witness.

In one of the videos, he was heard and seen asking how the improvised explosives devices described by the late Dr Mac-Palm as bombs, made by Kafui, would be detonated on the day the President, Vice President, Chief of Defense Staff, among key government officials, would be captured at a function.

The Court said that there was no need for a non-governmental organisation such as Take Action Ghana (TAG) to acquire arms, recruit 20 soldiers, no need for roadblocks, sketch on key public installations just to help deprived communities as Debrah claimed they were to aid their philanthropic work.

His defence does not absorb him, and it was an afterthought, he conspired with the late Mac-Palm
and others and took steps to attempt committing the offence, the Court said.

In Zikpi’s case, the prosecution could not prove that he was employed to secure communication gadgets to jam radio and telecommunication networks should the plot succeed but he was convicted on his own confession statement.

The Court found Esther guilty on the grounds that she did not deny ever attending a meeting to plot the attempted overthrow.

She did not deny her Executive position in TAG, asked for unpaid allowances for ‘the boys,’ that is recruited soldiers, and was aware of the plot, hence, she facilitated the plot by recruiting some soldiers.

The prosecution has proven conspiracy charges against Esther and acquitted on high treason, said the court.

The Court said LAC Ali also attended meetings, seen, and heard in the videos produced in court by the prosecution, and actively participated in the meetings, thus, he was found guilty on a conspiracy charge but not guilty of High treason.

Sylvester Akankpewon attended meeting
s, contributed to how roads would be blocked on the D-day, which routes to take, asked of their allowances, and how many people were taking part, thus, the Court found that he agreed to act with the other participants.

Akankpewon was convicted on the conspiracy charge but acquitted of high treason.

There was heavy security presence as the convicts were swiftly taken away to await their punishment.

The Attorney General’s Detail made up of Mrs Yvonne Attakorah Obuobisa, Director of Public Prosecution’s, Mr Alfred Tuah, deputy attorney general and others, was led by Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame.

The Court said Mr Victor Kwadjoga Adawudu failed to file his written submission when the court ordered.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Former Ghana Cocoa Board Chief Executive Officer’s application to prohibit the trial judge from handling his case has been thrown out by the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

The five-member panel with Mr Justice Gabriel Pwamang, presiding, held that Dr Stephen K Opuni’s lawyer had not been able to convince the court that the trial Judge Justice Aboagye Tandoh exhibited any bias.

The apex Court therefore dismissed the application, invoking the inherent jurisdiction of the court to prohibit the trial judge on the basis of bias.

The former CEO of Cocobod, Seidu Agongo and the Managing Director of Agricult Ghana Limited, fertilizer manufacturing company, are being held for their alleged involvement in causing financial loss to the state in the purchase of fertilizers and alleged procurement breaches.

They have denied the various charges.

The Supreme Court said ‘We have read the processes filed and listened to the lawyers. We are not convinced that the trial judge exhibited any boas. Application for prohibition i
s dismissed.’

In his submission before the Supreme Court, Mr Samuel Cudjoe, counsel for Dr Opuni, argued that the trial judge declined to make further orders for the court proceedings to be made available to him.

Counsel for Dr Opuni held the judge only waived a document in court and they did not know the content of the documents.

He said there had been consistent acts of bias that showed that the trial judge would not be fair to them adding, ‘the trial judge had already taken position.’

According to him, what made him suspicious was when the trial judge said he was not going to make further orders in respect of the proceedings.

He said when they obtained the over 3,000 pages of proceedings, ‘It had a lot of errors.’

Chief State Attorney, Mrs. Evelyn Keelson, who was led by Godfred Yeboah Dame, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, opposed the application before the court.

Mrs. Keelson held that Dr. Opuni’s lawyer had not raised credible issues of bias.

According to the Chief State Attorney, c
ounsel had only raised allegations and complaints.

She said the trial gave orders to parties in the case to apply for proceedings.

Mrs Keelson contended that Dr. Opuni’s lawyer did not have the proceedings because he did not apply for it.

She was surprised that Dr. Opuni’s lawyer complained about errors in the court ‘s record of proceedings.

The Chief State Attorney held that they corrected mistakes in the proceedings because the same were displayed on the court’s various screens and proceedings were always available.

‘The applicant has failed to invoke the Supreme Court’s inherent jurisdiction, prohibiting the trial judge on allegation of bias.’ Mrs Keelson said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ms Angela List, Nguvu Mining and their lawyers have not been successful in their request to the High Court to make an application without notice to Adamus Australia and the lawyer for Adamus Ghana, appointed by the IMC.

In an affidavit filed on January 19, 2024, Nguvu Mining sought the Court’s permission to allow the management staff of Adamus Ghana to run the Company since Ms. List and the other directors had been restrained.

However, a statement copied to the Ghana News agency on Wednesday said the Court did not hear the application.

It said the High Court Accra, Commercial Division Seven, had previously issued an order on July 27, 2023, establishing a five-member Interim Management Committee to oversee the affairs of Adamus Resources Limited and restraining specific individuals from acting as directors and secretary of the company.

The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources appointed the independent chairperson for the committee.

‘If indeed Ms. List was in control of Adamus Ghana, and claiming there
was no interim management committee, why was she and her lawyers in court asking for the management staff to take over the company from members of the self-same IMC’?

The statement said the apparent contradiction had raised concerns among stakeholders and members of the public, and the Court’s decision highlighted the ongoing legal battle between Ms. List, Nguvu Mining, and the court that appointed IMC.

Source: Ghana News Agency