Day: June 19, 2024

The Government of Ghana has reaffirmed its ties with South Africa, pledging to continue working closely with that country to promote mutual development.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said the ‘bond of friendship between the two nations is strong’, consequently, the authorities ought to leverage the existing bilateral ties for mutual benefits.

‘Together, we can achieve the aspirations of our people for peace, prosperity, and sustainable development,’ he noted in a congratulatory message to South Africa’s seventh democratically elected President, Cyril Ramaphosa.

Ramaphosa was officially sworn in Wednesday for a second term in office, after his reelection by the South African Parliament last Friday during its first sitting.

Running on the ticket of the African National Congress (ANC), Ramaphosa, who is also the leader of the party, received 283 votes, defeating Julius Malema of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), who garnered 44 votes.

‘Your re-election is a vindication of the trust and confidence
reposed in you by the Members of the Parliament of South Africa, and by your party, the ANC,’ President Nana Akufo-Addo stated.

The message acknowledged that the people, through their vote, had demonstrated their commitment to unity and shared governance.

‘I am confident that under your leadership, South Africa will continue to reinforce her position as a champion of progress and prosperity on the African continent.

‘A strong, united, and prospering South Africa is indeed a great force for progress in Africa,’ the President said, and reaffirmed the need for close collaboration ‘to advance the collective interests of our beloved continent’.

The message reminded the reelected South African President that his assumption of office ‘comes at a crucial time when the continent is striving for economic recovery, social development and continental integration’.

‘I am confident that, under your continued leadership, South Africa will attain greater heights, and make significant strides towards the realisation of t
hese goals,’ President Nana Akufo-Addo added.

The ANC, once led by civil rights icon Nelson Mandela, had dominated South African politics over the last three decades until losing its majority in the May 29 national elections.

The party, with its 159 lawmakers in the 400-member National Assembly, found it difficult forming a government on its own, thereby proposing the formation of a government of national unity.

The ANC reached a deal to form a national unity government with the Democratic Alliance, Patriotic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party, among others.

Source: Ghana News Agency

With 325,000 square meters of exhibition area for the seventh China International Import Expo (CIIE) having already been booked by more than 1,000 companies around the globe, the 2024 edition of the world’s first national-level import-themed expo is expected to make an even bigger splash this November.

Global brands further expand business in China via the CIIE

As a frequenter of the CIIE, Ireland has over the past six editions of the event brought a range of high-quality food products, including milk powder from grass-fed cows, organic chocolate, whisky and gin, with many of them making their global debut at the annual trade fair. 

Over the years, companies from 173 countries and regions have made appearances at the CIIE and carried out tentative transactions worth over $420 billion. Nearly 2,500 new products, technologies and services have debuted at the event.

Greece’s Piraeus Port, the chief seaport of Athens and a key project in China-Greece cooperation, has participated in the expo every year since
2018.

‘Six-time participant Piraeus Port has further boosted its interaction with global maritime stakeholders and enhanced the creation of business opportunities,’ Greek Infrastructure and Transport Minister Christos Staikouras noted, hailing the fair as ‘significant and well-recognized globally’.

In addition to the Business Exhibition, the Country Exhibition proffers a platform where countries can improve their global image and increase their international presence.

As a major participant, the UK has showcased its world-leading technologies and services in areas like healthcare, finance, education food and agricultural products at the event.

According to the UK government website, the expo offers a unique platform for UK businesses to display some of the country’s most innovative technologies and connect with Chinese businesses, investors, and consumers.

Hongqiao Forum spotlights global issues

As a crucial part of the annual CIIE, the Hongqiao Forum invites worldwide high-profile government officials,
Nobel Prize laureates and senior executives of industrial pacesetters to discuss global issues.

The sixth Hongqiao Forum in 2023 saw a record attendance of more than 8,000 people and featured 22 subforums on a range of subjects such as financial reform and innovation, digital governance and green investment.

Organizers of the forum have held a series of symposiums and salons over the past few months and invited important figures, including UN representatives, government officials, scholars, and member companies to contribute to this year’s themes and topics.

CIIE 2024 expects more participants

The seventh CIIE will launch another series of global roadshows in the UK, Ireland and Greece from June 19 to 28 to attract more companies with an interest in exporting to China and highlight the CIIE’s supporting policies.  

In addition, registration for professional visitors, including buyers, for this year’s expo is now in full swing. A number of roadshows aimed at inviting buyers are now underway, motivating th
e trade missions to leverage the expo’s prospects and expand their trade partnerships with companies around the world.

With so many showing interest in the trade fair, be sure to secure your spot at CIIE 2024:

Source: Ghana News Agency

Election violence and auto crime require coordinated community and law enforcement responses.

The use of motor vehicles, bikes and political party involvement complicates the interaction, using tactics like clandestine support or overt engagement.

Effective preventive measures, combining legislation and law enforcement are, therefore, essential.

This article examines how auto crime prevention initiatives affect electoral violence, highlighting challenges and opportunities for stakeholders to enhance efforts aimed at reducing electoral violence.

What is Auto Crime?

Auto crime refers to the theft of motor vehicles or the fraudulent loss of money or property through illicit transactions involving the use of motor vehicles.

It includes motor vehicle theft, carjacking, and vehicular assault. Motor vehicle theft involves the unauthorized theft of vehicles, while carjacking involves forceful takeovers.

Vehicular assault, including vehicular homicide or manslaughter, involves the negligent use of a vehicle to
cause harm.

Factors Influencing Auto Crime Related Electoral Violence.

Economic Conditions

High unemployment rates, poverty, and other dire economic conditions can lead to prevalent auto crime.

Experienced criminals and recidivists are likely to take advantage of poor economic conditions and pounce on the slightest opportunity to indulge in criminal acts during elections to gain favour within the political establishment.

Criminals engaged in vehicle and motorbike theft are especially likely to make the most of the slightest opportunity to facilitate electoral violence (Herzog, 2002) to please their paymasters.

Legislative Environment

Enforcement of stringent laws or lax laws on auto crime, ownership of vehicles used in electoral violence, and inadequate punishment for perpetrators of auto crime-induced electoral violence can influence crime prevalence during elections and also reduce voter turnout.

Auto crimes, such as carjacking and theft, can sabotage electoral procedures and scare voters. 

Conduct
of Law Enforcement Agencies

High rates of vehicle crime can fuel further lawlessness and mistrust of the police, which can be exploited by political figures as justification for violent acts.

Auto crime affects election violence by supplying anonymity and enabling quick executions through the use of stolen automobiles.

Stakeholders may prevent auto crime and its potential to escalate into electoral violence by conducting themselves in a manner that builds public confidence in their ability to maintain law and order without bias.

Historical background

Areas notoriously known for electoral violence are likely to be influenced by how law enforcement agencies and the security apparatus reacted to previous occurrences.

The lack of punitive measures to serve as deterrence to previous offenders is likely to buoy and inspire the commission of more crimes in volatile areas.

Recommendation

In the lead-up to the upcoming election and beyond, it is imperative for a close collaboration between the major stakeholde
rs, such as the Ghana Police Service, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority, the National Insurance Commission, Car Dealers and Rental Associations to streamline and regulate all activities that lead to the purchase, importation, clearance, registration, and usage of motor vehicles and motorcycles.

It is important to develop a central motor vehicle database that is accessible to law enforcement agencies, especially the Ghana Police Service to contain relevant information about all vehicles and motorbikes that are plying our roads.

This will ensure that the police can rapidly zoom in on the ownership and usage of vehicles and motorbikes involved in crimes before, during, and after elections.

Due to the connection between auto crime and electoral violence, law enforcement, public policy, and community involvement must work together.

Using cutting-edge technologies, improving legislative frameworks, and increasing public awareness are some strategies that can help achieve optimum results.

By worki
ng together, we can lessen the effect that vehicle crime has on electoral violence while preserving and enhancing our democratic structures.

We need to play our individual roles as Ghanaians to build safer, better and more resilient communities.

The writer is a certified Vehicle Crime Specialist.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Madam Sandra Kyere, the Chief Executive Officer of Women in Water Sanitation and Climate Change , has advised the public, especially urban dwellers to embrace waste segregation.

She said the practice would prevent the leaching of waste into aquatic bodies.

The CEO explained that materials, including plastics, organic waste, and hazardous materials were resources that could be reused and that segregating them from general waste at the source would facilitated recycling.

‘It is also crucial for environmental protection, efficient resource management, economic benefits, public health, and fostering a sustainable future,’ she added.

Madam Kyere was speaking at a clean-up exercise at the Laboma beach as part of activities to celebrate the World Oceans Day (WOD), which was under the theme, ‘Awaken New Depths’.

The beach clean-up exercise was organised by the women in sanitation and climate change, in collaboration with its partners.

The United Nations General Assembly designated the day (WOD) to inform the pu
blic of the impacts of human actions on the ocean and promote public awareness on the importance of the ocean for all life forms on earth and actions for a sustainable ocean management.

She noted that the source of the waste seemed to be coming from communities upstream and that they were encouraged to show the way in contributing to ‘ocean free of pollution’.

‘So, this is a continuous process, creating awareness to everybody in Ghana, to be able to segregate our various waste streams and to be able to give our waste to the various waste collectors and not dump them anyhow, to cause the issues that we are facing here now…’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mrs Genevieve Ofosuhemaa Baah Mantey, Head of Material Science Department of the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA), has agreed that certain protocols must be followed in selecting samples for laboratory testing.

According to her, following those protocols was essential because they had a significant impact on the testing’s result.

Mrs. Mantey, a witness for Mr. Seidu Agongo who had been subpoenaed, was being questioned during cross-examination in the trial of Dr Stephen Opuni, the former chief executive officer of COCOBOD.

Dr Opuni and Mr Agongo are facing 27 charges, including defrauding by false pretences, willfully causing financial loss to the State, money laundering, and corruption by a public officer in contravention of the Public Procurement Act. 

They have both pleaded not guilty to the charges and are on a GHS300,000.00 self-recognizance bail each. 

Mrs. Mantey confirmed that the GSA’s final assessment of the lithovit testing revealed the sample in question to be fertilizer.

In further cross-exam
ination led by Mrs Evelyn Keelson, Chief State Attorney, the witness confirmed that she had never worked at the Forensic Science Department of GSA. 

She responded in the affirmative when asked if, during her time as the acting head of the Material Science Department, a liquid material known as lithovit was submitted for testing in July 2017.

She stated that the material was sent to an analyst for evaluation when it was submitted for testing, and Madam Gyamfi was the Laboratory Manager at the time.

The witness disagreed that the report simply addressed the question of whether the sample was fertilizer-one of the parameters for the lithovit fertilizer test.

The prosecution disagreed with Mrs Mantey’s assertion that the tests proved the samples to be fertilizer in composition, physical properties, and toxicological information.

The witness rejected the prosecution’s contention that the report contained no toxicology-related information.

She said the second page of the report indicated an attachment referri
ng to toxicology information.

Mrs Keelson suggested to the witness that there were no attachments, but the witness disagreed saying per their procedure they do not indicate the total number of pages, especially when there the testing was subcontracted.

‘Subcontracted reports are usually reports from other labs, which are attached to the original reports,’ she said.

Mrs Mantey stated that while GSA activities were based on standards, they lacked standards for some of the parameters specified in their requests to test the sample.

She further explained that often the Authority advised its clients of their rights and obligations before sample admission, and she assumed that the details were conveyed to the EOCO officials.

The witness agreed that one of the recommendations from the GSA on the testing of lithovit indicated that the sample was fertilizer. 

Source: Ghana News Agency

Tahiru Ahmed, the mason who is on trial with three other defendants in the Amasaman Circuit Court for allegedly stealing a car, Tuesday asked the court to vary his bail condition.

Ahmed, who faces charges of trying to sell a stolen Toyota RAV4 vehicle, was granted GHC200,000.00 bail with two sureties to be justified by a landed property, told the Court that he was still being held because his family was unable to meet the bail conditions.

The court presided over by Ms Enid Marful-Sau advised him to seek that relief in a higher court.

Meanwhile, Justice Ekow Annan Mensah, alias Nicholas Kofi Gyan or Ike-Naza, whose pleas were not taken on his initial court appearance, because he could only communicate in Fante, had his plea taken on Tuesday when the court found an interpreter.

The rest of the accused who are facing trial are also on remand.

They are facing varied charges including conspiracy to defraud, defrauding by false pretense, conspiracy to forge official documents and forging official documents, wh
ich they have pleaded not guilty to.

They will be brought before the Court on July 2, 2024.

Eric Yaw, another accomplice, is still on the run.

Police Sergeant Faustina Asamoah had earlier informed the Court that the accused persons all belonged to a syndicate whose strategy was to rent a car, steal it, sell it for less money, and then go into hiding.

She said they were arrested on a tip-off when some of them tried to sell a 2016 Toyota Rav4 with registration number GS 9947-22, valued at GHC170,000.00, which they were offering at GHC50,000.00.

According to Sergeant Asamoah, on April 28, 2024, Mensah consented to join the syndicate after Yaw Eric, who is currently at large, contacted Mensah and Abban and shared their money-making method.

The prosecution said that on April 29, 2024, Abban used an image of Mensah to forge a driver’s license and an ECOWAS Identity Card (Ghana Card) under the false Gyan Nicholas Kofi.

Yaw Eric then went to Trust Point Consult and Trading Enterprise; a car rental firm locat
ed at Teshie First Junction-Century Road and used that identity to get a 2016 Toyota Rav4 with the registration number GS 9947-22.

Abban had also sent transport fare for Ahmed to travel from Cape Coast to Buduburam, their hideout.

The Court was told that on that same day, Abban, Yeboah, Mensah, and Yaw met at Pokuase ACP and rented an overnight apartment, which they then presented to the victim, Eric Appiah, as Mensah’s place of abode.

Sergeant Asamoah said Mensah used the fake driver’s license and Ghana Card to rent the Toyota Rav4 and paid GHC1,400.00 to the victim to use the car two days to use it to pick up his brother, who was arriving from abroad at the Kotoka International Airport on the evening of April 29, 2024.

She said as soon as the victim left, Abban, Yeboah, Mensah and Yaw got together and planned to sell the vehicle for GHC65,000.00.

Yeboah then contacted Ahmed, informed him about the vehicle, and asked for a buyer.

The prosecution said Ahmed arranged for the buyer to pick up the vehicle
the next day after they decided to sell it for GHC50,000.00.

Sergeant Asamoah said the PID/Accra Region received intelligence regarding the plan and foiled the attempt to sell the stolen vehicle by apprehending Abban, Yeboah, and Ahmed at the Odogomor Senior High School point of sale after they attempted to escape.

The court heard that Abban, who was driving the vehicle crashed into a motorcycle that the PID had been using for the operation and tried to evade arrest by speeding away. However, the PID fired live bullets, immobilized the vehicle, and arrested Abban and Yeboah.

The prosecution said that both Abban and Yeboah were taken to a hospital after suffering injuries of varying degrees.

Abban was treated and discharged but Yeboah is still on admission.

Sergeant Asamoah said Abban later led PID/Accra Region to a guesthouse at Buduburam where Mensah was lodging, and he was also arrested in his hotel room.

She said the victim, Appiah, was later traced and invited to the station to assist in investigati
ons.

Efforts have been intensified to arrest other members of the syndicate; the Court was told.

The Court asked the prosecution to serve the accused persons with disclosures before their next appearance.

Source: Ghana News Agency