The Accra High Court has acquitted and discharged Assistant Commissioner of Police Benjamin Agordzo, Colonel Samuel Kodzo Gamali, and Corporal Seidu Abubakar over the alleged coup plot.
The judgement was given today, after the date was announced on November 22, 2023.
Meanwhile, the Court has convicted six of the alleged coup plotters on counts of conspiracy to commit high treason and committing high treason.
The court, according to The Chronicle’s Court Correspondent, Bernice Bessey, who is in court, has risen to write the sentences of those convicted.
The NPP Identifiable Groups of traders at the Kumasi Central market have debunked claims that members have decided to boycott the December 7, 2024 elections because the government has abandoned the Phase Two of the Kejetia Redevelopment project.
According to them, contrary to the reports, the projects have not been abandoned.
Last week, a section of the traders called on former President John Mahama to help complete the second phase of the Kejetia Project and Satellite markets in Kumasi, claiming the government had abandoned major projects in the Ashanti region. They also called for a boycott of the national elections.
Members of the Identifiable traders
But the leadership of the group has debunked the claims and position of the aggrieved group, saying members of the association have the civic right to vote.
Elder Emmanuel Gyeke, chairman of the NPP identifiable traders, explained at a news conference in Kumasi that no such decision or position has been taken by the association and that, no member should allow himself or herself to be influenced in the name of politics.
He emphasised that the group still identifies with policies and programmes by the government and that with time all projects would be duly executed.
The chairman of the group attributed the delay in executing the Kejetia project to the COVID-19 pandemic and that the decision was not intentional.
Nanabea Addo, Secretary for the group, on his part, explained that the government had not abandoned the project and that negotiations were still ongoing with the Contractor, following the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Abena Kwabena, the Organaiser, also noted that the Nana Akufo-Addo-led government has provided reliefs in many interventions for Ghanaians and cautioned detractors to stop throwing dust into the eyes of members of the general public.
“We will vote on Election day in support of government policies and programmes”, he stressed.
Elder Emmanuel Gyeke – chairman of NPP Identifiable market Groups
Madam Hawa Abdallah, a member of the group, maintained that the traders have confidence in the NPP government and called on traders to rally behind the government in the implementation of programmes and projects.
President Akufo-Addo cut sod for the construction of Kejetia Central Market phase 2 project on May 2, 2019 to boost economic growth in the region.
The redevelopment of the Kumasi Central Market at the cost of €248 million is being financed by Deutsche Bank of Germany, with export credit guarantee from the United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF)
The construction is being undertaken by Messrs Contracta Construction Ltd, UK, and it is expected to be completed in 48 months.
Upon completion, the redeveloped market will have 6,500 leasable commercial spaces; 5,400 closed stores; 800 kiosks; 50 restaurants; 210 fishmonger and butcher stores; forty 40 livestock stores and 1,800m square of community facilities.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has announced the national kick-off of the BizBox project by the Ghana Enterprises Agency and Mastercard Foundation.
The initiative, with a budget of USD 55 million, aims to foster entrepreneurship, empower the youth and create a substantial number of jobs across the nation.
Addressing the audience at an event at the Kofi Ohene Konadu Auditorium, UPSA, Accra, Vice President Bawumia emphasised the transformative nature of the BizBox Project, which builds upon the successful Young Africa Works – Youth Entrepreneurship and Employment program (YEEP).
The previous Young Africa Works Project impacted approximately 94,000 young people in Ghana, between 2020 and 2022.
“Now, armed with a budget of USD 55 million, the new BizBox Project sets an ambitious goal to empower 250,000 individuals, support 125,000 with start-up kits, provide market access support to 50,000 businesses and regulatory support to 40,000 businesses,” the Vice President stated.
“The BizBox Project will be implemented across all the 16 regions and 261 districts in Ghana, also benefiting diverse groups including youth, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), vulnerable females, majority women-owned businesses and female youth-led businesses’’, he added.
Underlining the importance of the BizBox initiative, Vice President Bawumia indicated that the project symbolises hope and opportunity, encompassing the tools, knowledge and support necessary to initiate, develop, own and grow successful businesses for young people in Ghana.
The project will be implemented by the Ghana Enterprises Agency under five pillars: Youth Skills Development, Access to Market, Access to Startup Kits, Youth Social Networks and Institutional Strengthening, Policy and Regulatory Support.
It will focus on sectors such as agriculture, agri-business, tourism, creative industry, building and construction among others, ensuring a comprehensive approach to address the root causes of unemployment.
Mrs. Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Enterprises Agency, expressed her commitment to the success of the BizBox Project, noting its alignment with existing government initiatives and policies.
“We recognise the importance of collaboration and partnership, to this end, BizBox will leverage partnerships with private sector BDS providers, industry associations, and various stakeholders to ensure the success and sustainability of this program.
We stand committed to supporting the dreams and aspirations of the youth, nurturing a generation of innovative and successful entrepreneurs who will contribute to the growth and prosperity of our nation”, she said.
The ceremony was attended by key government officials including – Kobina Tahir Hammond, Member of Parliament for Adansi-Asokwa and Minister for Trade and Industry; Ken Ofori Atta, Minister for Finance and Economic Planning; Henry Quartey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister; Sylvester Tetteh, Member of Parliament for Bortianor-Ngleshie Amanfro and the Board Chairman of GEA Enterprises Agency, and officials from the Mastercard foundation among others.
Alhaji Collins Dauda, former minster for Works and Housing, according to a Prosecution Witness, Rev. Stephen Yaw Osei, did not issue an interim payment certificate, regarding the Saglemi Housing Project.
He said this in court last week during cross examination.
Mr Collins Dauda and others have been accused of causing financial loss to the state concerning the Saglemi project.
They have pleaded not guilty to 72 counts of wilfully causing financial loss to the state, misapplying public property, issuing false certificates and dishonestly causing loss to public property.
Below is the cross-examination;
Q: As an Official of the ministries, I am aware that on occasions when business affecting a ministry is to be deliberated upon by Parliament, some of you will attend Parliament together with the Minister to observe proceedings just in case he needs your assistance. Can you confirm that to the court?
A: Yes my Lord. My Lord not all the time sometimes when the official is invited.
Q: In the particular case of the Credit Facility Agreement that was approved by Parliament in connection with the project that is in contention in these proceedings, did you happen to attend Parliament to observe proceedings and offer any help if required?
A: No my Lord.
Q: Take a look at Exhibit K, kindly go through the second page of Exhibit K and read for yourself the second paragraph, the one that ends with “the initial phase indicative timetable”?
A: Yes, I have read.
Q: Now the paragraph I have just drawn your attention to provides fora number of things. One of which is that the Contractor and the Ministry have now agreed that the project be executed in three phases, is that correct?
A: My Lord with the Exhibit K it is stated that. However what I know is the Agreement in Exhibit H. Therefore I still stand by the figures in Exhibit H.
Q: What figures were in Exhibit H?
A: My Lord if I can get the Exhibit H and quote it. My Lord per the Exhibit H, paragraph 5 which begins whereas the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing has agreed to provide the site located at Salgemi, Greater Accra with an area of 2,172 acres (the site), the Contractor and the Ministry have agreed that the project will be executed in four phases of approximately 500 acres each. So my Lord this is the figure I am referring to.
Q: And so if you look at the paragraph you just read in Exhibit H and compare that which I drew your attention to in Exhibit K, the difference is that in Exhibit K, the project was to be executed in three phases covering an area of 1,272 acres whereas in Exhibit H, it was to be executed in four phases covering 2,172 acres, that is the difference?
A: My Lord, the difference between the two is that one is talking about an area of 2,172 acres to be executed in four phases of approximately 500 acres each whereas Exhibit K was talking about 1,272 acres to be executed in three phases. My Lord the first example in the Exhibit H was to be executed for an amount of 200million United States Dollars. And with Exhibit K, whiles the acreage has been reduced by almost 1,000 acres the same 200million was to be applied for the same project. So that is the big difference between the two.
Q: Now in terms of the paragraph you have read in Exhibit K. It is clear that that paragraph never talked about the reduction in the number of houses. It only talked about the phases that the entire project will be executed?
A: My Lord, Counsel is talking about a portion of a whole, which does not give a whole description of what is under consideration.
Q: I am asking you just answer my question, which I asked you directly that the paragraph in Exhibit K, which we are dealing says nothing about the number of houses, but only talks about the number of phases in which the project will be executed?
A: Yes my Lord. That paragraph Counsel was referring to doesn’t talk about the number of houses, however the next paragraph is clear that they were to apply 200million dollars for the project.
Q: And did that next paragraph say there will be reduction in houses?
A:My Lord this document is not to be taken in isolation. There are a lot of other documents and annexures, which should be taken into consideration.
Q: Thank you for your vast knowledge of the volume of documents, which form part of Exhibit K, but the question I asked simply requires you to point to the paragraph you relied on and confirm to the court, which part of that paragraph reduces the number of houses?
A. My Lord, Counsel was talking about a paragraph. The paragraph does not refer to houses. It talks about acreage of land and the phases of the project to be executed.
Q: So I am putting it to you there is nowhere in Exhibit K where it is provided that there will be reduction in the number of houses to be constructed in the project.
A: My Lord if you take the whole Exhibit K into consideration including the annexures. The annex D, my Lord where we have the Saglemi Housing Project, Housing Units Phase. The table gives an indication of the number 1,502.
Q: Does the table have a heading?
A: The heading is ‘Saglemi Housing Project, Housing Units, First Phase’.
Q: So I am putting it to you clearly from your own annex D (of Exhibit K), the 1,502 are the houses that are to form part of only the first phase of the three phases?
A: My Lord I do not agree. From Exhibit H, the figure for the housing project was 5,000 housing units to be implemented in four phases for an amount of 200million dollars.
The memo to cabinet and cabinet approval to the Joint memo from the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing and the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning approved the figure of 5,000 housing units for $200million. My Lord, Parliamentary Approval, PPA Approval and the
Escrow Management Agreement all had the figure 5,000 units for 200million dollars.
Q: So I am putting it to you that Exhibit K did not deviate from any Parliamentary Approval in respect of number of houses and the price. All it did was to change the number of phases in which the project was to be executed to encompass the same number of houses at the same price?
A: My Lord, I don’t agree with what Counsel is saying. There is a huge difference. In the first place the scope of reduction did not ‘even receive Parliamentary approval. And my Lord the $200million dollars were meant for 5,000 housing units.
As I speak to you now, my Lord even if we are to take the Exhibit K as a working document and to use the number 1,502 housing units. My Lord the whole amount of 200million dollars is almost exhausted. However, according to figures produced by Ghana Institute of Surveyors, only 668 housing units has been completed. The rest are at various stages of completion, but the money is almost exhausted. .
Q: From the answer you just gave to the court, I am further putting it to you that even if we go by the Exhibit H, which is the only document you recognize in this court room, the money will still be almost exhausted. Exhibit K is not the reason. I put it to you?
A: My Lord it is not true. My Lord the Escrow Management Agreement was signed before other agreements were signed and the reason was that the financiers of the project wanted the funds to be solely applied to the project and to ensure value for money.
My Lord that is why when you look at the Schedule 3 of the Escrow Management Agreement, it shows clearly the milestones that are to be achieved by the Contractor and agreed upon by the parties involved before payments were made.
The Escrow Management Agreement made it clear that upon an achievement of a milestone the Contractor could raise his certificate to be confirmed by the Consultant stating in clear terms what milestone has been achieved, percentage of work done and then the amount of money to be paid. My Lord, I want us to look at the annex F of Exhibit H. I want us to juxtapose this with the Escrow Management Agreement, Schedule 3.
For instance annex F at page 27 gave the uses for the advance payment that was 40% of the contract sum. My Lord the breakdown is listed there. When advance payment are paid to contractors, it is like a loan to be paid in subsequent certificates raised by the contractor.
However, upon examination, upon various certificates presented by the contractor through the Consultant, nothing was mentioned about efforts made to reduce the 80million dollars that was advanced to the contractor and absolute figures certified by the Consultants were paid to the Contractor without deducting any percent of the advance mobilization.
Therefore Counsel’s assertion that even if the 200million had been applied to the 5,000 would have been the same is not correct.
Q: So I am putting it to you also that the answer you just gave to the court, funds were paid to the contractor under the Exhibit H, which was before Exhibit K was executed and even after Exhibit K, further funds were paid to the contractor under Exhibit P, which is the Second Restated Agreement at a time the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing was presided over by different ministers.
A: Even though the advance mobilization was paid before the 1stAccused assumed office. Governance is a continuous process so as a head, you assume both liabilities and assets and with contract management there should have been process to start deducting portion of the advance payment made to the contractor.
That is why when the certificates are raised by the contractor, a copy is sent to the Ministry and per the Escrow Management Agreement, the document I was referring to, there is a clear provision, which states the milestone achieved by the contractor for the corresponding amount to be paid to the contractor.
The Ministry when it receives such documents from the contractor, conducts internal checks by sending a team to the project site to ascertain the truthfulness of the certificate raised and if such thing had been done, the contractor would not have gone away with the deduction of the 80million advance mobilization payment made to him.
Q:From paragraphs 4 and 5 of your Witness Statement, you state that you were in the PPBME department of the Ministry, which among others is responsible for processing payments to contractors and consultants?
A.Yes my Lord and the PPBME is Policy Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring and Evaluation.
Q: From paragraphs 88 to 92 of your Witness Statement you confirmed to the court that several other payments were made from January 2017 up to June 2017. Why did that your department not either withhold payment or deduct it from the payment already made?
A: My Lord the PPBME Directorate will only act when documents are referred to Directors. The Honourable Minister received mails or letters from Consultants and the norm is that the Minister refers the documents to the Chief Director and then the Chief Director further directs the Director, PPBME to take the necessary action. The PPBME will only act when documents are referred to it and so if documents are not referred to it, there is no way the PPBME Directorate can work on any document.
Q: Are you suggesting to the court from the answer you just gave to the court that from January 2017 to June 2017, that the Minister at the time made those payments without reference to the PPBME Directorate of the Ministry?
A: My Lord, I said that when Minister receives the document, it is referred to the Chief Director. The Chief Director may refer to the PPBME Directorate.
Q: From the documents of the PPBME Directorate, there is no records of payments worked on by the PPBME Directorate. And if such reference were made to the PPBME Directorate, you would have been aware of it, isn’t it?
A: Yes my Lord.
Q: therefore means from your answer you just gave to the court, that no such reference was made to the PPBME Directorate in respect of the payments from January 2017 to June 2017. I am putting that to you?
A: No my Lord such references were not received by the PPBME Directorate. However the Ministry made payments to other contractor or Consultant.
Q: I am putting it to you therefore that in respect of the payments between January 2017 and June 2017 there were no deductions or retention of any monies for works done or not done by the contractor or the Consultant?
Law Court Complex, Accra
A: My Lord there was no deduction from the first payment certificate to the last one.
Q: Take a look at the Charge Sheet, if you look at Count 2 of the Charge Sheet, it charges the 1stAccused as having caused financial loss to the Republic in the sum of $27,789,981.73 and this is the amount you refer to in paragraph 58 of your Witness Statement. Do you confirm that to the court?
A. Yes my Lord.
Q: In that paragraph you testify that the request was made for payment in May 2014 and the 1st Accused requested the payment in June 2017 is that correct?
A. Yes my Lord.
Q: To prove this you tendered in evidence, Exhibit U series, which comprises the architect’s letter to the Minister dated 8th May 2014, a letter from the Consultant OAS dated 15th April 2014, and the Interim Payment Certificate number 001. Those are the documents, which comprise the Exhibit U series is that correct?
A: Yes my Lord. I was looking for the letter from the Ministry that forwarded this certificate from AESL. My Lord …
Q: So Exhibit U series doesn’t have any letter from the Minister to anybody is that correct?
A:Yes. My Lord I tendered in evidence a letter by the Ministry forwarding this certificate to the Ministry of Finance.
COUNSEL FOR 1st ACCUSED PERSON – Can I pray the court to confirm my concern on record that the Prosecution and the Defence have confirmed from the court that Exhibit U series does not have any additional documents regardless of the Witness’s belief.
BY COURT – There is no dispute about this. Let Counsel for Al continue with his cross examination.
COUNSEL FOR 1st ACCUSED PERSON – My Lord I am exceedingly grateful.
PROSECUTION – My Lord I just want to draw the court’s attention to Exhibit T. The amount involved, that certificate Reverend mentioned, he mentioned that he tendered together with a covering letter for Exhibit U, my Lord I think that was what was marked as Exhibit T.
The – covering letter he mentioned is what is tendered as Exhibit T. If you look at what we have here as our Exhibit T, it covers the amount that is written on that Exhibit U and that is the covering letter.
BY COURT: At this stage the court cannot do anything but you have the right of re-examination.
PROSECUTION – Very well my Lord.
COUNSEL FOR 1st ACCUSED PERSON – My Lord maybe let us confirm whether that is what the court has as Exhibit T first and then we can proceed from there.
BY COURT – “Re: Application for the release of funds for the construction of 5,000” is that what you have? It is supposed to be two paged document.
COUNSEL FOR 1st ACCUSED PERSON – Dated 20″…
BY COURT – 20th June 2014, “Re: Application for the release of funds for the construction of 5,000 housing units at Saglemi in the Dangbe East District of the Greater Accra Region.”
COUNSEL FOR 1st ACCUSED PERSON: My Lord, I now get what they are saying, but if you will recall, I approached the Bench with the D.P.P. on a particular occasion and we said the documents there was a problem with the marking so now I can understand their concern and I thought we agreed that we will remark them, but I think when we came, they couldn’t make the Exhibits available. That was what happened.
BY COURT – Yes, so what we have done is that we have done the Exhibit map.We can do the reconciliation on the official map.
COUNSEL FOR 1st ACCUSED PERSON – That is not a problem.
Q: If you look at the document marked Exhibit U1, which is the letter written by OAS to which is attached the Interim Payment Certificate, you don’t find the 1st Accused signature on any of them?
A. It’s not there my Lord.
Q. I am putting it to you that the 1st Accused did not issue the Interim payment Certificate?
A. My Lord, per the Escrow Management Agreement, which preceded the signing of the EPC Agreement, it made it clear that per the achievement of a milestone in the execution of the contract the contractor has a duty to issue a certificate to the consultant copied to the Honourable Minister.
My Lord the 1st Accused does not work for OAS and there is no way his signature will be on the OAS certificate. However, the Agreement was for the Contractor to issue a certificate to the Consultant copied to the Ministry.
Q. From the answer you just gave to the court, I am putting it to you that the Minister is not responsible for issuing the Interim Payment Certificate provided for by the agreement?
A. Yes my Lord. It is not the duty of the Minister to issue the Interim Certificate, however, it is the duty of the Minister to request for payment for a certificate issued. My Lord, if you look at the Escrow Management Agreement that stated clearly that whenever a certificate was to be issued, the milestones achieved should be clearly stated. What I am seeing is just the figure which doesn’t explain the work done as usually found on the payment certificate.
Q. On the 28th of November 2023, the 1st Accused person tendered through you, Exhibit 1D3. Exhibit 1D3 states the figure in the region of $27million at page 12, which is in paragraph 58 of your Witness Statement is that correct?
A. Yes my Lord.
Q. If you look at the last sentence, it talks about the Consultant’s analysis, which is the basis for the payment. It included the progress tracking report, site visits, measurements of work done on site?
A: I see a statement talking about the total amount for the certificate and after deduction of advance payment.
Q: From the answer you just gave to the court, you would now agree that the 1st Accused ensured that the advance payment made to the Contractor was deducted before the payment of this sum of about $27 million?
A. My Lord, the other day that Counsel presented this document, I told the court that I have not seen it. I will pray the court to do the necessary checks and get back to court to confirm the figures.
BY COURT – Are you saying that you need time to study it before you can answer the question or you … because his questions are around the document,
PW 1Yes.
BY COURT – So you need time to study it before you can answer the question?
PW 1: Yes my Lord.
BY COURT-So we should give you a bit more time?
PW1- My Lord today.
BY COURT – I think his question is referable to a particular portion of the document not the entire document. If the question is too general, then I will understand your request because you need to pinpoint or direct particular page. It is quiet bulky, but the question has pinpointed you so I can give you time to look at the particular page and then digest it and then you answer the question.
PW 1 – My Lord as I said, the document as I have said the document, I have to number one authenticate it and then also get to know whether what is here is also what is found in the book.
BY COURT – You see this document is already in evidence. You didn’t tender it. He tendered it through you. As to whether it is authentic or not authentic, it is a different matter and your lawyers know what to do.
PROSECUTION- My Lord I think he mentioned that he has not seen this document and when it was tendered through him he mentioned it at that time as well. He has repeated same now and it is just fair that he is given time to go through the documents before he can answer any questions put to him.
If he is asked to, it is as if he is being brought to answer questions to something that he says he has not seen. So it is just fair that he is given that opportunity to go through the document and familiarize himself with it.
BY COURT – Yes Counsel for A1 what is your reaction?
COUNSEL FOR A1- My Lord we are interested in assisting the court to achieve justice. If he needs time to look at a document he has boasted that they are all in his custody and in his Witness Statement, it is ok. We just want him to give the answers that will enable the court reach a fair determination of this matter. If that is their request, we only hope that if at a point in time, we also need such time they will be charitable as we have been to them that is all. It is fair play.
BY COURT – So the court will give you 24 hours, tomorrow afternoon you come back. So use tomorrow morning and all that.
COUNSEL FOR A2-My Lord the tomorrow date if my Lord will consider either Thursday or possibly next week, it will be preferable. My Lord respectfully tomorrow’s date will be so unhelpful. My Lord, respectfully.
COUNSEL FOR A3 – My Lord respectfully since the prayer has been made, my Lord, I will repeat my prayer that in order for Counsel at the Bar to be able to be guided and be able to project how our week will go, if the Court and the Bar can agree on selected days before hand so that I pick my diary on Monday, I know I am committed to this court on this day so I don’t have to commit myself in another court.
My Lord will notice that sometimes we have to rush and go to attend to other matters and come but it will be very helpful if we know before hand at least two, three clear days before today I am here. So we can agree to pick selected days and then we will come before you.
COUNSEL FOR A5 – My Lord indeed on this matter, I will like to humbly to associate myself with my friend, MrTamekloe. My Lord tomorrow and Thursday I am in Takoradi and I didn’t have any idea that after today we will do tomorrow.
Those dates were picked even before your Lordship fixed today’s date so if my Lord will kindly consider our circumstance. My Lord we are grateful.
BY COURT – I have taken concerns of Counsel at the Bar into consideration and the court is also taking its own concerns into consideration knowing that the court is manned by a Judge who sits in the Court of Appeal as well so I don’t have the luxury of time.
On that basis the suit is adjourned to 23rd January 2024, 24tj January 2024, 30th January 2024. 1st, 6th, 7th, 8th and 13 February and every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 1:30pm to 3:45pm until the case is completed or the court otherwise directs.
PROSECUTION – My Lord before you rise, my Lord in respect of this document, as we have already indicated to the court, the Witness says he has not seen it. We admit that we put it on a pen drive before Counsel as the court directed, but my Lord we didn’t put just this document.
There were several documents, we indicated that to the court that the documents they were requesting for were bulky documents and, therefore, they should come and look at those documents for them to do exactly what they wanted, but the court ordered that we should put all those documents on a pen drive for them and that is what exactly what we did.
What they have compiled in this booklet, we don’t know, which of the documents we have given them that they have put together.
So we think that it is just fair that when they did this compilation, they should have given us a copy so that we know we are all on the same page.
We know that what they have on their compilation is what we have and it is what the court has, but as at now we only have what the court has shown the Witness and we don’t have a copy so we would not be able to …
BY COURT – Learned Principal State Attorney, you know under the law, -even where you have documents that you don’t intend to use, you are enjoined by the Practice Direction to make available to the Accused or his Counsel.
PROSECUTION – We’ve done that my Lord.
BY COURT – So once you have made that available and they decide to pick and choose, which of the unused documents, they want to use that one it will be within their prerogative, but since you have also the whole document, you can also cross check and find out whether what they have put forward especially so if it is not coming from a different source. They just picked some of the documents you decided not to use, you can always cross check to make sure that there is that kind of collaboration.
PROSECUTION – My Lord, we agree with what you have said but here is the case they have that copy but we don’t have anything to compare with. We don’t have what they have compiled to compare with.
BY COURT – If I understand, you are saying that you don’t have a copy of Exhibit 1D3?
PROSECUTION – No we don’t, my Lord.
BY COURT – So you need a copy?
PROSECUTION – Yes.
BY COURT – Then that one is legitimate.
COUNSEL FOR A1 – My Lord it is fair to hear us before it becomes legitimate. This is not a document we conjured from the sky. It is extracted from their documents that they discovered on the 2nd of November 2023. When we tendered it in evidence, go to your pen drive and find out whether these were there or not that is all.
I shouldn’t provide a document you have given to me back to you. What is that? It is your own document. You tendered it, I have extracted what I need from it. I have put it in evidence as 1D3. If you even are not sure of it, just photocopy 1D3, it is already in evidence. I have no obligation to give it to you.
By court: Yes so you have to put in a request to the Registry. All parties are entitled to get a copies of the exhibit if you want to.
The Chief of Heman, Nana Apau Wiafe Ababio Sanwoansan, has quizzed the District Chief Executive for Afigya Kwabre South, Christian Adu Poku, over the delay in the construction of the road leading to the community, through to Ankaase and its environs.
The Chief, who had summoned the DCE to his palace last Friday, noted the project seemed abandoned because the Contractor after grading a few portions of the road. According to him, the dusty nature of the project is affecting the health status of residents as the community has been exposed to respiratory diseases.
The Chief also mentioned a CHIPs compound and a public place of convenience initiated some time ago by the District Assembly, only to be abandoned.
Nana Apau Wiafe Ababio Sanwoansan also complained that the Assembly had stifled his initiative to use his resources to establish a Health Centre for the community.
DCE Adu Poku addressing the Hemanhene
The chief told the DCE that the latter’s outfit claimed the said facility was meant for an ICT Centre and yet, almost eight years after his official request was turned down, not a single computer has been installed at the supposed ICT Centre.
The Hemanhene also complained about the uncompleted state of the electricity project in the township, even though the Member of Parliament, William Owuraku Aidoo, who is also the Deputy Minister of Energy also hailed from Heman.
According to him, the current state of the street lights had affected the installation of CCTV cameras in the community as a security measure, since the CCTV system would not capture good images in case of any eventuality.
Reacting to the probe at the Heman Palace, the DCE, leading a team of administrators from his outfit, said the Contractor had not abandoned the project and that he (Contractor) was back on site, fixing the roads in the locality.
He mentioned for the hearing of the Chief that this is the first time that JOSHOB has been contracted for the construction and commenced resurfacing of bad roads including that of Heman Town roads.
Nana Apau Wiafe Ababio Sanwoansan – Chief of Heman
DCE Adu Poku, also known as APC, said from interactions with the Contractor he could assure the Chief and people of Heman that the road project would be completed by March, this year.
He attributed the delay in implementing the street light project to the uncompleted road project.
The DCE explained that the provision of a public toilet by the Assembly was to be funded from the US$1 million constituency funding, but was affected by the takeover by the Middle Belt Authority from the Presidential Special Initiative, which initially regulated the funds.
He also promised to ensure that all ongoing projects including the CHIPS compound and the public place of convenience, are completed by March this year and called on residents of the community to exercise patience.
A parliamentary hopeful of the New Patriotic Party in the Sekondi constituency, Benjamin Paa Kwesi Moses has pledged to lead an industrial driven agenda that would rapidly accelerate the development of Sekondi, if he becomes the MP.
The intended development agenda, he explained, would be spearheaded by the youth in the constituency to turn the fortunes of Sekondi around to improve the standard of living among the constituents.
Speaking to the media, as part of his engagement with the delegates to canvass for votes, ahead of the primaries, ‘Sekondi Moses’ stated that transformation of Sekondi would be his topmost priority if he becomes the MP.
He said: “I am particularly focused on the youth because they will be our leaders in the near future so once we develop them, they will come back and develop the constituency”.
He hinted of a strategic development agenda that he intended to set in motion to trigger the rapid development of the area to the benefit of the constituents and, therefore, called on the delegates to trust him with their votes.
“All I need is the blessing of the delegates to lead the party and go to parliament to represent them as their MP. My ideas will definitely benefit all and make our constituency great.
As a business man, I am well connected with a lot of both local and foreign business partners who will gladly welcome my innovative ideas that could transform Sekondi when I get to parliament,” he stated.
Vision for the youth
According to the “Moses of Sekondi”, youth development would be high on his priority table once he eventually gets elected as the Member of Parliament for the area.
“I desire to help develop the youth in skills and vocational training so that each and every youth would be able to have their own businesses as a means to reduce unemployment among our brothers and sisters.
My tailor charges me GH₵1,200 per every dress he sews for me so imagine the amount of money he will make if he does this for about seven people in a month and this is why I am for skill and vocational training for the youth,”he said.
‘Sekondi Moses’ again indicated that the famous Sekondi Market and the Essie Beach would be given attention and fully renovated to meet modern standard and also facelift the Gyandu Park at Sekondi.
“For the Party, I will build a new party office which will create a convenient environment where our constituency executives would work comfortably for the development of our party and the constituency in general,” he added
In his bid to become victorious to represent his party in the general elections later this year, Benjamin Paa Kwesi Moses has been engaging the party delegates ahead of the constituency primaries slated for January 27th
Following his humility and the substance of his core message to the delegates, he has been nicknamed the ‘Moses of Sekondi’, as they expect him to come with innovative ideas that would improve their lives.
Responding to this, Mr Moses said: “Well it means that they have seen something good in me and there’s no doubt about that. Everyone needs someone to support their progress in life.
“Every constituency also needs an individual or dedicated individuals to move it forward therefore I am glad that the people already see me as such and trust me, I won’t disappoint them if they repose their confidence in me”, he said.
‘Sekondi Moses’ has previously worked for the party as a constituency driver, polling station youth organiser, constituency youth organiser, a member of the communications team and deputy Western Regional youth organiser.
Ghana conceded twice in stoppage time to throw away a two-goal lead to draw with Mozambique and almost certainly exit the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon). After picking up just one point in the 2021 Afcon edition, Ghana have fared little better in Ivory Coast and are now winless in their past seven Afcon finals matches – a huge fall from grace for the four-time champions.
The light has gone dim on the once Shining Black Stars of Africa after yesterday’s game. In fact, the Ghana Football Association (GFA) need to start building a new team all over again from the academy level. It might take years to get there, but we have to swallow the bitter pill that all is not well with the Black Stars team.
Ghana has ignominiously bowed out at the group stage of two successive Afcon tournaments and the sorry state of our football can’t get any worse than that. Even if we appoint Pep Guardiola, we do not have the quality to deliver with the current players we have.
The last time this nation made a conscious effort at graduating players from the academy level to the national team, it produced the Dede Ayew team that won the U-20 World Cup. Dede is the last man standing from that squad and this obviously is his last Afcon and marks the glorious exit of that golden generation.
The golden achievement of Under-20 World Cup winners in 2009 was not secured on a silver platter. There was a conscious effort to graduate the players from the feeder teams to the senior national football team. The team, made up of the likes of Dede Ayew, Dominic Adiyiah, Daniel Agyei,Samuel Inkoom,Jonathan Mensah,Emmanuel Agyemang Badu and Ransford Osei among others, conquered Africa and the world, beating football giants Brazil in the final.
The upcoming batch of players led by Mohammed Kudus are products of private football academies (like Dream Academy) with their own football orientation and training that is not aligned to that of the Ghana FA. This is where the nation and the FA have lost the plot.
There is also the contribution of football schools which have organized themselves into an association called National coordination of football schools (CONEF), which organizes competitions. A lot of Senegalese players playing in Europe come from these football schools. This is the case of Sadio Mané, the best African player. Senegal is now the third African nation to export the most players to Europe. This is proof of the good quality of their training infrastructure.
The winning team of Senegal’s Teranga Lions is an intentional collaboration between the world class French youth academy development and the Senegal FA. One reason for Senegal’s quality is that majority of their players have benefited from French football’s world-class youth development.
The Senegal model was built over time and needs patience.
What is the Ghana FA’s blue print for developing football in the next three to five years from now?
The education sector in Ghana has seen immeasurable transformational changes over the years. These encapsulate: the adoption of modern teaching methods, the revision of the curricula, and the introduction of technology in classrooms, to mention a few. The changes are steps towards ensuring that our educational system aligns with global standards. However, more needs to be done, particularly in the area of lesson planning.
Traditionally, teachers have been mandated to prepare their lesson plans manually in notebooks. A practice that has been in effect for decades. Despite its longevity, this method is fraught with challenges. It is undeniably labour-intensive, time-consuming, and imposes an unnecessary financial burden on both teachers and headteachers. Moreover, it is absolutely out of sync with the digital age we find ourselves in, where efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and technological integration are paramount.
On the contrary, it is commendable that leadership of the Ghana Education Service now permits teachers to submit printed or electronic lesson plans, should they choose to do so. But the time has come to take a more decisive step forward.
It is necessary to completely abandon handwritten lessons in the service and transition to a more tech-friendly method. Instead of handwritten or even printed lesson plans, it should be mandatory for all teachers within the service to submit their lesson plans in an electronic format.
What is the Argument about?
The shift to digital lesson planning will not only drastically alleviate the workload on teachers, who frequently spend their weekends engrossed in planning lessons, but it will also trim down the operational expenses of schools.
The financial implications of purchasing notebooks for lesson plans are considerable for headteachers. Taking into cognisance the number of teachers in a school, and the fact that a single teacher could utilize two notebooks within an academic year, the accumulative cost is astronomical. To advance the argument further, transitioning to electronic lesson plans would eliminate this expenditure.
Teachers could simply email their lesson plans to their head teachers. The headteacher will then review them and send them back to the teachers for implementation at the beginning of each week. The method will not just save money, but also time, as the process is far more streamlined and efficient.
Better still, the use of technology has become a necessity such that integrating technology into lesson planning will not only bring about cost and time efficiencies but will also provide an opportunity for teachers to be more innovative and creative in their lesson planning.
The use of technology will allow teachers to easily access and integrate a variety of resources and multimedia content into their lesson plans, thereby enhancing the learning experience for students. Furthermore, electronic lesson plans can be easily updated and modified, allowing for greater flexibility and adaptability in teaching.
Moreover, electronic lesson planning will lead to more transparency and accountability. Head teachers and SISOs will be able to easily monitor and evaluate the lesson plans and provide constructive feedback to the teachers. Additionally, electronic lesson planning will encourage collaboration among teachers. They can share their lesson plans, resources, and teaching strategies, fostering a collaborative and supportive teaching community.
Implementation Measures
The transition will necessitate meticulous planning and adequate training for both teachers and head teachers. It will be the responsibility of District, Municipal, and Metropolitan directors to ensure the training is provided within their respective jurisdictions, ensuring that all participants are equipped with the necessary skills to implement this cost-saving policy effectively.
Challenges for Consideration
The formulators and implementors of this policy should consider the following potential challenges and barriers. They include: accessibility of technology and internet connectivity, especially in remote and underserved areas, limited training, technological Infrastructure gaps, financial constraints, user-friendly platforms, evaluation, teacher Support, collaboration among others.
Recommendations
GES should formulate detail policy on E-lesson plans. It will enable teachers and head teachers understand the parameters within which they will operate. Directives may seem to be inadequate.
It is essential to provide comprehensive training to teachers, head teachers, and other relevant GES staff. This training should cover the use of the necessary software or digital platforms, as well as strategies for integrating technology into lesson planning effectively.
The government must prioritise improving the technological infrastructure in both urban and rural areas. This includes providing schools with computers or tablets, WIFI facility to ensure stable and reliable internet connectivity.
The digital platforms used for lesson planning should be user-friendly and easy to navigate for teachers. It should also allow for easy feedback, evaluation, and collaboration among teachers and administrators.
It’s important to regularly evaluate the effectiveness of digital lesson planning. This can be achieved through feedback from teachers and students, as well as through monitoring student performance and engagement by SISOs.
Schools should provide ongoing support for teachers during and after the transition. This could include technical support for dealing with issues related to the digital platforms, as well as emotional support to cope with the change.
The digital platforms for lesson planning should encourage collaboration among teachers. They should be able to share their lesson plans, resources, and teaching strategies, fostering a collaborative and supportive teaching community.
Care should be taken to ensure that digital resources and platforms are accessible to all, regardless of their geographical location or economic status. This might involve providing hardware to low-income schools, or ensuring that platforms are usable on low-cost devices.
Conclusion
It’s high time for Ghana’s education system to fully embrace digital transformation. The transition from handwritten to electronic lesson plans is a crucial and necessary. It promises to streamline processes, reduce costs, and ultimately, elevate the quality of education. It’s time to bid farewell to handwritten and printed lesson plans and usher in a new era of digital lesson planning in the Ghanaian Education Service.
By Wisdom Koudjo Klu
(wisdomklu@gmail.com)
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s stance.
Dr. Enyonam Kwawukume(right)receiving the items from Mr. Richard Opoku on behalf of the beneficiaries
Addapath Wellness, anNon-Governmental Organisation (NGO) in Obuasi has provided various food items worth GH¢17,000 for the upkeep of over 80 children living with HIV and AIDS in Obuasi and its environs.
The food items included; bags of rice, milo, cooking oil, canned fish, tin tomatoes, soya beans and eggs.
The food items
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Executive Director of Addapath Wellness, Mr. Okwan John K. Addae, said some of the parents of the said children have died, leaving them in the care of their grandparents who are unable to adequately provide food for them.
Mr. Addae said children living with HIV and AIDS hardly live beyond five years, for the mere fact that they do not get the right type of food to eat and as a result his organisation has since 2019 given food donation to them, with the help of its partners.
Touching on the mode of distribution of the food to the children, the Executive Director said on each drug refill visit, each child living with HIV and AIDS will be given some quantity of food items at the Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) Clinic.
The Obuasi East District Director of Health, Dr. Enyonam Kwawukume, who received the food on behalf of the four health facilities that dispense Anti-Retroviral drugs to the children, encouraged people living with HIV and AIDS to go to any health facility in Obuasi for Antiretroviral drugs.
She also urged pregnant women to attend ante-natal clinics so that those tested HIV positive could be given treatment that will prevent their unborn babies from getting the disease.
The Board Secretary of Addapath Wellness, Mr. Richard Opoku pledged the NGO’s preparedness to go to the aid of the vulnerable in the society and called on corporate bodies and individuals to partner the NGO to meet its objective.
Edmond-Aquah, President of the Fifty 50 presenting the to Mr the father of the beneficiary child
Fifty 50 Club, an Obuasi-based Non-Profit Making Association has donated an amount of GH¢10,000 to support the medical bill of Stephen Aboagye, a 8-year old boy suffering from congenital disorder, that causes the skull to grow abnormally large and heavy.
The condition affects the patient’s vision, hearing, speech and mobility and puts him at risk of serious complications such as infections, seizures and brain damage.
The latest World Health Organisation (WHO) data published in 2020 indicated that Encephalitis Deaths in Ghana reached 357 or 0.20% of total deaths.
She noted that the age adjusted Death Rate is 1.69 per 100,000 of population, with Ghana ranking 8th in the world.
Members of Fifty 50 Club include employees of AngloGold Ashanti and its subsidiaries, as well as employees of other corporate organisations across the country and abroad. The over 250 members of the club contribute monthly to support the Club’s objectives.
Madam Hannah Amponsah, the class teacher of Stephen Aboagye, explained that the boy was diagnosed with the rare condition, owing to the impact on his sense of vision and hearing which have affected his academic performance.
According to her, the parents of the innocent boy have struggled to find appropriate medical treatment for him, prompting her to seek assistance from the Fifty 50 Club.
Mr. Jacob Edmond-Acquah, the President of the Club, who gave details about Stephen Aboagye’s condition and support for the club, said Stephen was admitted to the hospital with a complaint of a progressive mass in the parietal capital region of his head.
He said the mass had been present since birth, but had increased in size and caused headaches and visual disturbances in the past few months.
He disclosed that an MRI Scan revealed a large, well-defined, cystic lesion with a solid component and enhancement after contrast administration.
He said the Club, known for similar support and donations over the years, decided to step in with an amount of GH¢10,000 to take care of the medical expenses and hoped the boy goes through the processes smoothly to enable him live a normal life.
Mr. Edmond-Acquah affirmed the Club’s resolve to continue to make impact in the lives of people, stressing that they have launched a survey to ascertain the impact of the plethora of support it has rendered to people since July 2020.
Founded in July 2020, the Fifty 50 Club has raised GH¢360,000 and made several donations over the past 3-and-a-half years, including contributing to the cost of surgeries or medical treatments for kids and other individuals with various heart medical conditions, supporting community clinics with medical equipment and supplies, providing scholarships to brilliant but needy students.
Stephen Aboagye’s case is the 12th donation by the Club, making it the third beneficiary at a total cost of about GH¢27,600.
The Club also donated GH¢9,200 covering tuition, hostel and other incidental costs for the 2024/25 academic year to Clifford Wilson, who is currently pursuing a BSc. Human Biology (Medicine) programme at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, and GH¢8,400 to David Ababio Awuni who is in the final year of his 4-year Computer Science Programme at KNUST.
