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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

Alhaji Saalim Mansur Bamba, Ashanti Regional NPP Nasara Coordinator, has stressed the need for tribal communities to revive and promote their cultural heritage and identity.

This, he said, was the only way to trace their ancestral roots and be closer to their traditional and spiritual inclinations.

Alhaji Bamba was addressing a durbar to climax the Damba festival by the Gonja community in the Ashanti region.

The festival is celebrated to mark the birth and naming of Prophet Mohammed, but the actual content of the celebration is a glorification of Gonja chieftaincy.

Alhaji Bamba said promoting cultural and traditional people’s activities was the surest way of sustaining ancestral heritage, tribal lineages and unity among the people in that tribe.

Explaining the significance of the festival, he said aside from the merry-making, the Damba festival was meant to foster socialisation and unity among family members as well as settle their differences.

The Damba festivities according to him displayed beautiful
traditional dances and served as an occasion for the glorification of chiefs and royalty in Gonjaland.

He said the Damba festival was important in the daily lives of the people since its essence was to be displayed through traditional pageantry.

The Nasara Coordinator said there was a need to embrace cultural heritage to promote sustainable development.

Alhaji Bamba called on the people to commit themselves to peaceful coexistence and unity as the country prepared for the next general elections.

He advised them not to allow any political party to divide them.

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

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 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

Reverend Professor Joseph Osafo Adu, an expert in Health Psychology, says it is alright to seek help from the right persons when traumatised.

Prof. Adu said death, traumatic separation, rape, reduced satisfaction, over protections, divorce, abuse and bullying were some of the key causes of trauma among people, adding that all must however build resilience to withstand such tough times.

He gave the advice at the commencement of a two-day Trauma Healing Community of Practice Conference 2024 organised by The Bible Society of Ghana and the Trauma Healing Institute as the keynote speaker.

The conference is on the theme: ‘Strength from Weakness: The Path to Resilience.’

He said 20 per cent of every young man between 14 and 22 years, had at one time attempted suicide in the country, a situation that needed dire attention.

To build resilience to withstand the test of time, Prof Adu, also the Acting Director, Centre for Ageing Studies, University of Ghana, encouraged persons in such moments to build and maintain
social connections, share problems and seek support from others, find ways to

maintain a positive outlook, and embrace challenge as a learning experience to build a personal growth.

Adversities in life, he said, would continue to challenge humanity’s quest to live in dignity, however, adversities and challenges in life did not challenge the power of God.

‘Don’t let past adversities erase today’s joy but rather embrace opportunities,’ he said.

Prof. Adu entreated the public to set realistic goals, avoid stress, learn from past experiences, and tackle challenges with critical thinking and positivity.

The keynote speaker, also a Suicidologist, also called on citizens to be each other’s keeper, care for one another and make the burden on them easier to reduce thoughts of suicide.

‘We need to care for that child that feels unloved, that person that has lost confidence in God and that person who needs material support,’ he said

Madam Matilda Amissah-Arthur, the former Vice President, Bible Society of Ghana,
said no one was free from Trauma.

The most important thing is to empower people to recover from trauma themselves, she said.

She advised individuals who needed support to seek one from a clinical Psychologist or a Christian Counsellor to overcome their challenges.

The conference was also used to launch the ‘Updated Audio Healing Group Model’, a mobile app that allows individuals from across the globe to access trauma healing support.

Source: Ghana News Agency