Category: General

Sedinam Tamakloe-Attionu, a former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), has been sentenced in absentia to ten years imprisonment in hard labour for willfully causing financial loss to the State.

Her accomplice, Daniel Axim, also a former Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the same Institution, was also incarcerated for five years in hard labour.

They were charged for stealing GHS3.19 million while at MASLOC and willfully causing GHS1.97 million financial loss to the State.?

The two were also accused of making unauthorised commitments resulting in financial obligations for the Government to the tune of GHS61.74 million.

Tamakloe-Attionu absconded during the trial after the High Court presided over by Justice Mrs Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe granted her plea to seek medical attention abroad.

They were found culpable after the trial though they denied conspiring to cause financial loss to the State, conspiring to steal, stealing more than GHS1.7m, money laundering, imprope
r payment and contravention of public procurement laws.

Passing judgement, the Court of Appeal Judge, with additional responsibility as a High Court Judge, considered the fact that the two convicts stole GHS1.7 million being part of an amount meant for a sensitisation exercise.

They also misappropriated monies for fire victims of Kantamanto traders and bought vehicles and mobile phones for MASLOC exceeding the market prices, among others.

To deter ‘professional criminals who engage in professional crime,’ as the judge described it, she directed prosecution to undertake forfeiture proceedings against Tamakloe-Attionu, the main culprit.

The prosecution earlier told the Court that in 2017, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) conducted investigations into certain fraudulent disbursement of MASLOC funds involving the first and second accused persons.

Investigations revealed that in June 2014, MASLOC invested a sum of GHS150,000 in Obaatanpa Micro-Finance Company Limited (Obaatanpa), a licensed Tier
II microfinance company located at Ejura in the Ashanti Region.

Thereafter, Tamakloe-Attionu offered Obaatanpa a further investment sum of GHS500,000.?

As a result, a MASLOC Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) cheque dated July 24, 2014, in the sum of GHS500,000, was drawn in favour of Obaatanpa.

Soon after Obaatanpa received the MASLOC cheque, the first accused person informed the Board Chairman of Obaatanpa that the investment amount of GHS500,000 would attract 24 per cent interest.

Obaatanpa decided to return the amount to MASLOC since the interest rate being demanded by the accused person was too high and unprofitable for its business and issued a cheque in refund of the loan amount.

The prosecution said upon the presentation of the cheque, Tamakloe-Attionu declined to accept the cheque and made a demand for a cash refund of GHS500,000, which was delivered to her by the Board Chairman of Obaatanpa on the night of August 28, 2014, at the Baatsona Total Filling Station located on Spintex Road in Accra.

By a letter dated August 28, 2014, Tamakloe-Attionu acknowledged receipt of the refunded sum.

?In 2015, she wrote letters demanding Obaatanpa for the payment of interest on the principal investment sum of GHS500,000.

In response to the demands, Obaatanpa wrote a reminder to MASLOC concerning the payment of the loan amount and drew Tamakloe-Attionu’s attention to the unjustified demands whereupon the demands stopped.

Investigations subsequently showed that MASLOC had no record of the amount paid to it and that Tamakloe-Attionu appropriated the GHS500,000.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Meaningful Life International, in partnership with Missions Church, Holmes, has constructed a borehole for the people of Noanyikpo.

Noanyikpo is a community in the Volta Region with a population of about 500 people, which lacks basic social amenities like pipe borne water, schools, hospitals, etc.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in an interview, Mr Godwin Kofi Ahlijah, Executive Director, Meaningful Life International, said the people of Noanyikpo depended on a stream in the community as their source of water.

He added that the stream which provided for both humans and animals in the community were filled with water related diseases with little resources to cure them.

The Executive Director said they attributed these diseases to anger from the gods and did their best to assuage them

‘Meaningful Life International and the Mission Church, Holmes, New York, USA, came into the scene and drilled a borehole for the community, and commissioned it on April, 13, 2024,’ he added.

Mr Ahlijah said the village not
only lacked fresh water but had just a school with a teacher, stating, ‘we believe that the support out there has gone a long way to bring life into this community.’

He said in addition, the team embarked on a medical outreach for the community, where the people benefited from free medications to help treat them from water related diseases.

‘There were free sunglasses and reading glasses to aid in proper vision, the community came in joy and happiness as they lined up to be treated, leaving the venue satisfied and happy, each adorning their beautiful sunglasses,’ he added.

The Executive Director thanked the entire Mission’s church for generously donating towards the commissioning of the borehole.

Mr Charles Agbeve, Member of Parliament, Agotime-Kpetoe, the capital of Adaklu-Anyigbe District, thanked the Meaning Life International and Missions Church for the kind gesture.

He assured that much care and attention would be given to the borehole to ensure that it lasted longer, calling for support from variou
s institutions for the people of Noanyikpo.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) will on Wednesday, April 17, launch a culinary event dubbed ‘Feast Ghana’ to celebrate Ghana’s culinary diversity.

The event, which will also be in collaboration with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Asanteman Queenmothers Association and the Public Service Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress (PSWU of TUC), is aimed at promoting local foods and showcasing the Ghanaian diversity.

‘It is part of the Ghana Cares Obatanpa project that continues to help resuscitate the Tourism and Hospitality sector.’

A release issued to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday, in Accra, said the inaugural edition of ‘Feast Ghana’ would celebrate Ghana’s rich culinary heritage under the theme ‘Flavours of Ghana, celebrating Ghana’s cultural diversity through food’.

It said the launch event would also feature the second edition of the ‘Rep your Region’ programme organised by the Ladies Club of GTA.

‘Following its
launch, Feast Ghana will travel to the Ashanti Region on April 22, in partnership with the Asanteman Queenmothers Association to honour the 25th anniversary of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

‘This extension of the event highlights the Region’s cultural significance and culinary contributions.’

Mr Akwasi Agyeman, Chief Executive Officer, GTA, said ‘Feast Ghana represents a unique opportunity to showcase the vibrant culinary richness of our nation and celebrate the unity and diversity that food embodies in our culture.’

He said the programme also aligned with the ‘See Ghana, Eat Ghana, Wear Ghana and Feel Ghana’ campaign launched by GTA a few years ago.

‘The grand celebration of ‘Feast Ghana’ will be held on May Day at the Accra International Conference Center, in collaboration with the PSWU of TUC.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Judicial Service has developed new Practice Directions and Administrative Guidelines to promote ethical behaviour by Judicial Service Staff and Judges.

The Directions and Guidelines are Practice Directions on Commercial Pre-Trial Settlement under order 58 as amended by CI 133, Practice Directions in Respect of Prerogative Writs Involving Chiefs and Chieftaincy Issues, Practice Directions on Award of Cost, Practice Directions on Plea Bargaining, Practice Directions on Adjournments and Adoption of Proceedings in Part Heard Trials and Practice Directions on Court Connected ADR under Order 32 as Amended by CI 133.

The rest are Practice Directions for Determination of Applications for Injunctions to restrain Burial of a Deceased Person, Administrative Directions to Aid Expeditious Disposal of Trial by Jury, Administrative Guidelines on Using the Supreme Court Registry, Administrative Guidelines on Generation of Suit Numbers, Administrative Guidelines for procedures For Online publication of judgments and rul
ings and Administrative Guidelines on Court room Proceedings.

The Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo made this known at the launch of an initiative dubbed ‘LEADing Justice’, a strategic framework for increasing Legality, Ethics, Assets, Digitalisation, and due process in justice delivery.

She said the purpose was to increase transparency, competence, due process, and integrity in court work.

‘I earnestly do not think that when dealing with such a national responsibility as justice delivery, anyone can even move fast when walking alone,’ she said.

She said that was why the Judiciary sought partners in developing effective programmes for culture change, and other interventions that would increase ethical models of work in the Judicial Service.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has inaugurated a multi-purpose event centre for the Manhyia palace in Kumasi.

The ultra-modern edifice christened ‘Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Jubilee Hall’ has a 2000 capacity fully air-conditioned and acoustically designed conference hall, 400 capacity cocktail lounge, a 150-capacity car park, a state-of-the-art kitchen and 60 washrooms.

The interior of the hall elicits an elaborate traditional design depicting the various ‘adinkra’ symbols and a replica of the golden stool.

The inauguration of the complex was part of the activities marking the 25th anniversary of the enstoolment of Otumfuo Osei II, Tutu as the 16th occupant of the golden stool.

Nana Otuo Serebuo II, the Juabenhene and Chairman of the anniversary planning committee, speaking at the ceremony, said the complex, which was solely funded by the Asantehene, would hold private Asanteman meetings, get-togethers, symposiums, cultural performances and other traditional functions.

He said it was named after Otumfuo
Osei Tutu II to immortalize the legacy of the king in future generations.

The event was attended by Lady Julia Osei Tutu, wife of the Asantehene, queens, chiefs and other traditional and religious leaders as well as some members of the public.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) can become counter-productive should it fail to honour regulatory sanctions after April 22, 2024, the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) has said.?

The counter-productiveness would arise through the payment of GHS5.868 million penalty, should ECG fail to comply with the payment of a three-day statutory charge of GHS36,000 to PURC.

‘For failure to comply with the three-day statutory notice required under Regulation 39 of L.I. 2413, the Commission, in accordance with Regulation 45 of L.I. 2413, hereby imposes a regulatory charge of 3,000 penalty units on ECG for each of the 163 breaches, amounting to GHS 5,868,000.00,’ PURC said in a regulatory order to ECG.

The Commission indicated that due to the nature of ECG’s ownership and business, the imposition of the penalty of GHS5,868,000.00 on the Company would be counter-productive.

The Commission said that would be so because the payment from ECG’s revenue would have a rebounding adverse effect on the quality of
service and consumers who paid tariffs to the Company.

‘In the interest of justice and to protect the interests of consumers, the Commission shall hold the Board Members of ECG who were in office from 1 January to 18 March 2024 liable for the payment of the (GHS 5,868,000.00,’ PURC stated.

‘These Board Members were at all material times responsible for providing strategic direction to ensure the provision of safe, adequate, efficient, reasonable and non-discriminatory service to consumers,’ the Commission noted.

This development is because of ECG’s non-compliance with the Cash Waterfall Mechanism, non-compliance with regulatory request for data, and non-compliance with the PURC Consumer Service Regulations, 2020 (L.I. 2413).

Specifically, the Commission indicted that ECG had failed to comply with an order on Tariff Revenue Allocation under the Cash Waterfall Mechanism (CWM), which was due on March 25, 2024.

Again, ECG failed to honour the provision of Regulatory Audit Data and Submission of Information R
elated to Operational Matters, March 27, 2024, as well as the provision of other Regulatory Audit Data due on April 2, 2024.

Source: Ghana News Agency