Day: March 1, 2024

Members of the Minority Caucus in Parliament Friday, appealed to the leadership of the House to invite Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh, the Minister of Energy, to the House to give an update on steps taken by the government to fix the recent power cuts.

Mr Alhassan Suhuyini, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale North lamented how an alleged power outage experienced by the public affected households and businesses.

‘Mr Speaker, many people and businesses are unable to plan their activities and their programmes and they also sometimes have to find extra money to power their generators for their businesses and many people do not know what is happening.

‘I, therefore, appeal to the leadership of the House to summon the energy minister to come and answer the public,’ he said on the floor.

‘They are told that there are planned and unplanned programmes and load is being shed, so it is important that the leadership of the House makes it possible for the Energy Minister to brief the
House next week on the power situation and why fellow countrymen and women have to deal with the on and off situation. Ghanaians need to understand why they sleep in darkness,’ Mr Suhuyini.

Supporting the appeal, Mr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, the NDC MP for Tamale Central, narrated an incident where an alleged National Service Personnel was trapped in one of Parliament’s lifts due to a power cut on Thursday.

He, therefore, urged that Ghanaians be made aware of happenings in the power sector.

‘Mr Speaker, my issue has to do with the erratic power supply. Just two days ago, there was a National Service Personnel who was trapped in one of the lifts when the power went off. She was traumatized when she finally exited the lift and so are we able to quantify the psychological trauma that people go through because of this and so it is essential that the Minister for Energy responds to this House to explain to us so we can explain to our constituents,’ Mr Suhuyini said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Kwame Akoto-Bamfo, Ghanaian multi-disciplinary artist, has called for African Traditional Religion to be ‘undemonized’ and recognised as an integral part of Africans.

He said it was time to end the seeming discrimination against ancestral beliefs and embrace the diversity of religious expressions in Africa.

Mr Akoto-Bamfo was speaking at a final event organised by the US Embassy in Ghana to mark Black History Month on the theme: ‘Through the Eyes and Hands of the Mounted Abstract: A look at the ‘Image’ of African Traditional Religion and Arts during and after the Trans-Atlantic Trade.’

The cultural activist said there was a need to promote harmony, understanding, and mutual respect among followers of diverse religious traditions.

Black History Month is marked each February as a time to honour the contributions of African Americans who have shaped the history, culture, character, and diversity of the United States of America.

American Spaces through the American Center of the U.S. Embassy and the America
n Corner Agobogba Kumasi hosted participatory, educational, and informational events throughout February to commemorate Black History Month.

The activities included Screening and discussions of films including ‘Tell them We Are Rising: The Story of Historically Black Colleges and Universities’ and ‘Great Unsung Women of Computing: The Past, Present and Future of Women in STEM’ as well as a discussion Combatting Human Trafficking and Sexual Abuse: The Situation in Kumasi and Approaches to Restore balance.

Mr Akoto-Bamfo said, ‘We have a lot in us as Ghanaians, Africans and Black people and we need to be tolerant. We need to undemonized African Traditional religion. To demonize it is to see our own religion and our own selves through the lenses of other people.’

‘We need to learn to see ourselves through our own lenses. Let’s be tolerant,’ he emphasized and said, as Africa continued to navigate the complexities of religious pluralism and cultural diversity, it was important to foster greater understanding, r
espect, and tolerance among religious communities.

While underscoring the significance of religious tolerance in promoting social cohesion and peaceful coexistence, Mr Akoto-Bamfo said, ‘it is better to find out the truth about African Traditional Religion than what is projected through negative movies and the media.’

He said, ‘There is the need for tolerance and acceptance. Officially Ghana accepts African traditional religion and there is absolutely no need for someone to say, these people are demons.’

‘That is a disturbance of the peace we have in Ghana and that is a disturbance of the Ghanaian’s very psyche. To tell me that everything I am doing in respect to my ancestors is evil and demonic when you don’t understand it and have never been exposed to it…is absolutely wrong. The least we can do is to give ourselves time to discover the brotherhood of religion and greatness that can come through religious tolerance.’

Kwame Akoto-Bamfo, also the founder of the Nkyinkyim Museum in Ada, who has archived or
al history and traditions through his sculptures since 2009, said, ‘we have demystified progress as a country by shrouding it foreign language; we need to demystify knowledge and intelligence and uphold our indigenous languages as Africans’.

‘It is about time the elite gave way for traditional language and tradition belief systems for our own good,’ he stated.

Funded by the U.S. Department of State and hosted at U.S. embassies, consulates, and various local partner institutions, approximately 600 American Spaces in 140 countries host programmes and events that foster learning, discussion, and civic engagement around democratic principles.

American Spaces offer modern and welcoming environments equipped with advanced technologies, helpful staff, and innovative programming.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Ya-Na Abukari II the Overlord of Dagbon has commended the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) for their efforts at educating the citizens on their rights and responsibilities.

He expressed personal gratitude for benefiting from civic education, particularly as his grandson served as the Yendi Municipal Director of NCCE in the Municipality.

Ya-Na gave the commendation when the new Northern Regional Director of NCCE Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed called on him at the Gbewaa Palace at Yendi in the Northern Region.

He said the Yendi NCCE regularly briefed him on the progress of NCCE activities, emphasising the impact of the Commission in the Municipality despite the challenges they were facing in educating the entire municipality.

Ya-Na assured the NCCE of his continuous support and affirmed that his palace doors were always open to the Commission.

He pledged to collaborate closely with them to enhance effective civic education in the region.

Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed for his part indicated that his courtesy
call on Ya-Na formed part of engagement with key stakeholders in the region and to strengthen the collaboration between the NCCE and the key stakeholders.

He said the visit was also to monitor and assess the progress of Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism (PCVE) activities being undertaken by NCCE with funding from the European Union.

The Director said the aim of the activity was to prevent and contain violent extremism by promoting peaceful coexistence and inter-faith tolerance, raising awareness of violent extremism at various locations identifying signs of radicalization and providing strategies to prevent radicalization among youth.

Alhaji Aliyu said the significance of the upcoming Presidential and Parliamentary elections emphasising the need to hold political leaders accountable for their actions to ensure peaceful elections.

He applauded Ya-Na for his recent admonishment of political figures such as Vice President Alhaji Mahamudu Bawunia and former President John Dramani Mahama urging them
to conduct clean campaigns.

He expressed his concern about the reckless riding of motorbikes in the region without crash helmets and appealed to Ya-Na to intervene and lend his voice to encourage citizens to prioritise wearing them to reduce the risk of sustaining serious head injuries during accidents.

In a related development in briefing the media, Mr Osman Kassim the Yendi Municipal Director of NCCE said the Commission was faced with a number of challenges to carry out effective civic education in the Municipality.

He said the lack of vehicles and publicity vans were their major challenges and appealed to Ya-Na to intervene and appeal to the government to allocate a publicity van to the Commission in Yendi for dedicated and effective work in educating the citizens on their rights and responsibilities.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A High Court in Ho has sentenced three individuals to life imprisonment for shooting four people to death.

They are Kwabena Aduam, Amanpene Gyane, and Kwabena Asante.

The three were sentenced after being found guilty of the charges of conspiracy to commit murder, murder, and abetment of crime.

They were said to have shot the four persons at the Omanhene’s Palace at Pai Kantanka in the Oti Region as a result of a chieftaincy conflict.

The seven jurors appointed to adjudicate the case unanimously returned a guilty verdict for all three charges pressed against the convicts.

Justice Mr George Buadi, the sitting Judge, said he found inconsistencies in the witness statements and cross-examination of all three.

‘They tried to act clever by pleading alibi but evidence from the investigator proved beyond reasonable doubt that they indeed committed the crime,’ he said.

Asante, who has been in prison custody on remand, appeared in court in handcuffs, while Aduam and Gyane, who were on bail, were accompanied to t
he court by their friends and relatives.

Mr Moses Asampoa, Senior State Attorney, commended the court, especially the jurors, for upholding the principle of justice.

He said the ruling would send a warning to anyone who intended to take the laws into their own hands.

After the judgment was read, Aduam and Gyane broke down in tears in the courtroom, wailing uncontrollably, while Kwabena Asante showed indifference.

In November 23, 2019 gunmen said to be wearing masks stormed the installation ground at Katanga, at the Palace of the late Nana Diawuo Bediako II, and shot into the gathering.

Four persons lost their lives while several got injured and were taken to the WoraWora Government Hospital for treatment.

Police investigation led to the arrest of Aduam and Gyane, while Asante was picked up in Togo after a few months.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Kofi Amankwa-Manu, the Deputy Minister of Defense has inaugurated a US$1 million Forward Operating Base (FOB) constructed for the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) at the Bui Power Generating Station (BPGS) in the Banda District of the Bono Region.

The Bui Power Authority (BPA), Managers of the BPGS constructed the first phase of the FOB, a facility to provide support for military operations around the dam’s enclave.

It serves as a logistical hub, command centre and staging area for troops, and also houses personnel, equipment, supplies and infrastructure necessary to sustain military forces in the enclave.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony held at Bui, Mr Amankwa-Manu, also the Member of Parliament for Atwima-Kwanwoma in the Ashanti Region said the facility resonated with the Ministry’s strategic direction of the GAF’s expansion drive and the project of force into every corner to defend the country.

Additionally, ‘Bui FOB location complemented the network of bases we had approved and initiated at the Ministr
y regarding the Northern Border Project’, he said the strategic location of the Base to the dam would help to protect the national asset.

The closer proximity of the military will always ensure situational awareness and effective coordination against potential threats to the security of the Bui Dam, Mr Amankwa-Manu said.

He said that in the past seven years, the Ministry, with enormous support from the government, had made considerable investments in retooling and the development of infrastructure in response to the operational needs of the troops.

‘Knowing the economic challenges of the last few years, the Ministry, just like many, has been challenged financially, but occasionally enjoys the benevolence of some key strategic partners who provide us with some facilities’, Mr. Amankwa-Manu stated.

He therefore expressed appreciation to the BPA and charged the Military High Command, especially the troops who would occupy the facility, to display the utmost duty of care and the military maintenance culture i
n the usage of the base.

The decision to construct the FOB was prompted by the imminent terrorist threats from the Sahel Region, which were gradually descending southwards necessitating swift response measures, said Mr Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, the Chief Executive Officer of the BPA in a speech read on his behalf.

He expressed worry that the ‘Dollar Power’, an illegal mining community situated in the Bole District of the Savannah Region, served as a flourishing hub for criminal activities, gangs, illegal miners and potential terrorist groups.

Mr Dzamesi said the close proximity of the dam’s reservoir to the border heightened security concerns, prompting the immediate need for measures to safeguard lives and properties within the Bui enclave.

He said FOB represented a significant achievement for the BPA’s corporate social responsibility for enhanced security, increased productivity, and reduced logistic costs for the military stationed at the ‘Dollar Power’ area, generating local employment opportunities and th
ereby stimulating economic growth.

‘It further exemplifies our commitment to ensuring the security and integrity of the Bui enclave by upholding law and order, protecting vital national assets and safeguarding the well-being of all residents’, Mr Dzamesi stated.

Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister said the Bui Dam has not only opened up the area for economic growth but also pushed the development of the entire Banda District to the next level.

She said protecting the dam remained a shared and collective responsibility and therefore entreated communities around the enclave to continue to ensure peaceful co-existence with the BPA to help improve security in the area.

Mad. Owusu-Banahene expressed optimism that with peaceful co-existence, the livelihoods of the people around the dam’s enclave would be enhanced as the BPA worked hard to help alleviate their plight.

Source: Ghana News Agency

James Andani Yedi, a 20-year-old welder, who inflicted multiple cutlass wounds on a co-tenant has appeared before the Achimota Circuit Court.

Yedi, charged with causing harm, pleaded not guilty.

The court presided over by Mr Isaac Addo ordered the Police to send Yedi to the Accra Psychiatric Hospital for examination.

The court said looking at Yedi’s demeanour in the courtroom, the accused may have ‘mental challenge’.

It asked the medical officer in charge to submit a comprehensive medical report on the accused person and determine whether Yedi was fit to stand trial.

The prosecution led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Stephen Ahiale said the complainant Stephen Gyamesi was a mason.

It said the accused person and the complainant resided at Pokuase- ACP in Accra.

The prosecution said on February 19, 2024, at about 3:00am, the complainant came out to relax on the verandah of Yedi.

Suddenly Yedi also came out of his room with a cutlass and started attacking the complainant with the cutlass wi
thout any provocation.

The prosecution said the complainant started shouting for help and people rushed to the scene.

According to the prosecutor, the accused person and the complainant were sent to a police station.

The prosecution said the complainant reported the incident formally and a medical form was issued to the complainant to seek medical attention.

The prosecutor said the complainant, after seeking medical assistance, brought the medical report fully endorsed by Raymond Freeman Dzansi, medical officer of the Ga- West Municipal Hospital, Amasaman.

In Yedi’s statement, he admitted having attacked the complainant with a cutlass.

Source: Ghana News Agency