A court in Guinea has sentenced former military leader Moussa Dadis Camara to 20 years in jail for crimes against humanity.
Guinea’s criminal court announced its verdict on Wednesday after a two-year trial over the leader’s deadly suppression of an opposition rally at a stadium in the suburbs of the capital, Conakry, in 2009, which saw his forces kill at least 156 people and rape 109 women, according to a United Nations-mandated commission of inquiry.
The court had announced the charges, which included murder, rape, torture and kidnapping, would be classified as crimes against humanity before sentencing Camara and seven other military commanders. Four other defendants were acquitted.
More than 100 survivors and victims’ relatives testified in the trial that started in 2022, more than a decade after members of Camara’s presidential guard, soldiers, police and militias committed the massacre.
The court ordered compensation to be paid to the victims, running from 200 million to 1.5 billion Guinean francs ($23,000 to $174,000).
Some of the victims’ relatives lauded the verdict as justice at last while others said the penalty for Camara, who escaped from prison in November last year during an armed jailbreak but was later recaptured, was not enough.
Anwar (L) shared a photograph of his meeting with Hamas leaders
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has accused Meta of “cowardice” after the social media company removed his Facebook post on the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
Malaysia is a supporter of the Palestinian cause, and Anwar has repeatedly condemned Israel’s war on Gaza and its actions in the occupied West Bank.
Following Haniyeh’s killing in Iran, the Malaysian leader posted a video recording of his phone call with a Hamas official to offer condolences, which was later removed by the company owned by US billionaire Mark Zuckerberg.
A similar post published on Anwar’s Instagram account was also removed by Meta, which owns the photo and video-sharing social media application.
“Let this serve as a clear and unequivocal message to Meta: cease this display of cowardice and stop acting as instruments of the oppressive Zionist Israeli regime,” Anwar was quoted as saying by state news agency Bernama on Thursday.
The removal of the posts was accompanied by the caption, “Dangerous individuals and organisations.”
Anwar, who met Haniyeh in Qatar in May, has said he has good relations with the Hamas political leadership but no links on a military level.
Japanese skateboarding star Coco Yoshizawa with her gold medal and mysterious carboard box
If you’ve been watching the Olympics, many of the world’s top athletes have made a great start to the Games so far.
We’ve been keeping an eye on the medal ceremonies for the bling, of course, but have you noticed when athletes have a medal hung around their necks, they are handed something else too?
It’s a long cardboard box with no markings on it…
So what is it? Well, it’s a very special Paris-themed poster.
When you open the box and unfurl the poster, it shows a cartoon version of Paris, with a picture of a big red Eiffel Tower and Paris’ main river, the Seine, surrounded by sports taking place.
It also has the words XXXIII Olympiade referencing the fact that Paris 2024 is the 33rd edition of the Games.
Designed by illustrator Ugo Gattoni, the aim of the artwork is to show the full story of the Paris 2024 games.
Athletes also get a plush version of this summer’s mascot as a cuddly toy, and don’t forget the medals themselves which include tiny pieces of Eiffel Tower!
Thousands have turned out for the funeral procession in Iran of the Hamas political chief, Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in a strike in Tehran on Wednesday.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, led prayers for the Hamas leader, whose body will be buried in Qatar.
US media have quoted Iranian officials as saying the supreme leader has ordered a direct attack against Israel, which it says was responsible for the attack on Iranian soil.
Israel has not commented on the assassination directly.
Hamas’s armed wing said the death of Haniyeh, who was widely viewed as the group’s overall leader, would “take the battle to new dimensions” and have major repercussions.
While Haniyeh’s funeral was still taking place, Israel’s military said it had confirmed that Hamas’s military chief, Mohammed Deif, was killed in an air strike in the Gaza Strip last month.
Deif was targeted in the strike on a compound in the Khan Younis area on 13 July. Hamas is yet to confirm his death.
Israel says Deif was one of the figures responsible for planning the 7 October attacks in southern Israel in which 1,200 people were killed. Since the attack, Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas.
Haniyeh, who played an important role in negotiations over a ceasefire in Gaza, was killed hours after attending the inauguration of Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, in Tehran.
A senior Hamas official told the BBC the killing took place in the same building where Haniyeh had stayed during previous visits to Iran.
Three Hamas leaders and a number of guards were with him in the same building, they said.
Track and field competitions are arguably the jewel in the crown of every Olympic Games and the most eagerly awaited event for millions of viewers.
For hundreds of athletes, years of hard work and preparation will culminate when they step out for their respective events in Paris.
What are track and field events?
Track and field events include a wide array of running, walking, jumping and throwing competitions that form an essential part of the Olympic Games.
Races are generally held on the event’s main track which is divided into eight lanes, while throwing events take place on a field surrounded by the track. Walking and marathon races are held on the road.
What’s the schedule?
Track and field competitions will get under way from August 1, starting with the men’s and women’s 20km race walks.
Preliminary and qualification rounds for other events will begin on August 2. The women’s 100m final will be held on August 3, while the men’s 100m final is scheduled a day later.
The women’s marathon on August 11 will bring the track and field events to an end on the final day of the Games.
Favourites athletes
India’s Neeraj Chopra, who won gold in men’s javelin in the last games, will come up against the world’s current top-ranked athlete Jakub Vadlejch of Czechia in Paris.
In men’s shot put, American athletes Joe Covacs and Ryan Crouser will battle for gold.
Qatar’s Mutaz Barshim will be up against his closest rival and friend Gianmarco Tamberi in the men’s high jump competition after both athletes famously shared gold in the last games.
The long-distance running events will offer stiff competition among the world’s best athletes, most of whom will be from Africa.
Kenya’s “Queen of 1,500m” Faith Kipyegon will look to complete a hat-trick of Olympic golds in her main middle-distance category but also in the 5,000m race in a bid to win a double in the same games.
Kipyegon will undoubtedly be one of the biggest stars on the track in Paris.
The Netherlands’s long-distance running champion Sifan Hassan has entered the 1,500m, 5,000m and 10,000m races in addition to her favoured marathon category.
In the women’s marathon race, Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia, the world record holder in the category, will be one of the favourites for gold.
In men’s competitions, Kenya’s Eliud Kipchoge will look to sign off from possibly his last Olympic Games with a third gold in Paris. He will be running alongside compatriot Peres Jepchirchir and against longtime rival Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia.
Kenya’s Alexander Munyao will also challenge for the long-distance medals.
Donald Trump has questioned Kamala Harris’ racial identity during a heated exchange at a convention for black journalists.
Trump falsely claimed the vice-president and presumptive Democratic nominee had only emphasised her Asian-American heritage until recently when, he claimed, “she became a black person”.
“I didn’t know she was black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn black and now she wants to be known as black,” he said at the National Association of Black Journalists convention in Chicago on Wednesday.
“So I don’t know – Is she Indian? Or is she black?”
Ms Harris said Trump’s remarks were “the same old show” of “divisiveness… and disrespect”.
“The American people deserve better,” she told a meeting of the historically black sorority Sigma Gamma Rho in Houston. “We deserve a leader who understands that our differences do not divide us – they are an essential source of our strength.”
Ms Harris is the first black and Asian-American vice-president, with Indian and Jamaican-born parents. She attended Howard University, a historically black university, and joined the predominantly black Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority.
She became a member of Congressional Black Caucus after entering the Senate in 2017.
Trump’s claims prompted a heated exchange with ABC News’ correspondent Rachel Scott, one of the moderators of the Chicago event.
“I respect either one,” the Republican said in reference to Harris’ racial identity. “But she obviously doesn’t because she was Indian all the way and then all of a sudden she made a turn and she became a black person.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said no-one “has any right to tell someone who they are, how they identify. That is no-one’s right.”
The Republican nominee and former president has a history of attacking his opponents on the basis of race.
He falsely accused Barack Obama, the country’s first black president, of not being born in the US.
Trump attacked the former UN ambassador and his Republican primary opponent Nikki Haley by falsely claiming she could not be president because her parents were not US citizens when she was born.
Ms Harris has faced a series of attacks since becoming the presumptive Democratic nominee. Republicans have criticised the decision, saying she was chosen only because of her race.
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has commissioned a fleet of 2,240 road maintenance equipment, as part of the ambitious District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP).
All the 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) will have a set of equipment to improve their roads.
As The Chronicle had earlier reported, the equipment include motor graders, backhoes, rollers, wheel loaders, bulldozers, tipper trucks, concrete mixers, water tankers and low beds.
These machines are expected to play a crucial role in the nationwide improvement of road infrastructure.
President Akufo-Addo commissioned the equipment, which were displayed at the Black Star Square in Accra, on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
DRIP
The District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP), which was launched on Wednesday, is a significant move towards bolstering Ghana’s road infrastructure.
President Akufo-Addo, in his address, remarked that the initiative marks a pivotal milestone in the government’s ongoing efforts to decentralise development and improve the quality of life for Ghanaians.
The DRIP is designed to empower MMDAs with the necessary resources and equipment to rehabilitate and maintain roads within their areas and align with the government’s commitment to decentralisation, providing local authorities with the tools to effect meaningful change.
Some of the trucks
A four-member committee at each MMDA will oversee the implementation of the programme, ensuring high standards of quality and accountability.
The committees will include technical officers from the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development and the Ministry of Roads and Highways, along with a representative from the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) will chair these committees.
The President, in his address, highlighted the job creation potential of the DRIP, projecting the creation of 10,000 jobs for mechanics, engineers and artisans.
COLLABORATION
President Akufo-Addo called for a collaborative approach to the success of the DRIP by urging MMDCEs to adhere to the operational manual issued by supervising ministries and stakeholders, ensuring proper use and maintenance of the equipment.
He also called on the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development to establish monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track progress and ensure accountability.
Some of the equipment on display
ACHIEVEMENT
The President noted that from 2017 to December 2023, his administration completed 12,830 kilometers of roads and added six interchanges.
This, he said, was a significant increase compared to the 4,636 kilometers and five interchanges completed during the Mills/Mahama era from 2009 to 2016.
Current projects include ten new interchanges, with five expected to be completed by the end of the year and five more by 2025.
DEDICATION
The Minister for Roads and Highways, Francis Asenso Boakye, noted that the programme demonstrates the government’s dedication to building a robust infrastructure that drives growth and prosperity.
He opined that the DRIP initiative ensures that no region is left behind, as the impact of poor roads in rural areas cannot be overstated with regards to development. He urged all stakeholders to embrace the programme as a collective effort.
“Enhancing our district road network is crucial for connecting communities, facilitating trade and ensuring access to essential services,” the minister noted.
He stated that through DRIP-24, “we aim to create safer, more efficient roads that will significantly boost local economies and improve citizens’ quality of life.”
On his part, Martin Adjei Mensah Korsah, Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development highlighted that improved roads facilitate efficient service delivery, enhanced connectivity and promoted mobility of people and goods.
However, the Minister noted that the biggest threat to the programme’s success is poor maintenance. But added that to address the issue, a maintenance component has been added to the programme.
Some of the equipment on display
MASSIVE UPGRADE
The Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), Irene Naa Torshie Addo-Lartey, the brain behind the initiative, said the government was “confident that we will see massive upgrading of the road infrastructure, which will in turn boost local businesses, improve accessibility and stimulate regional economies, among others.”
She said that investing in the capacities of MMDAs has become crucial for sustainable development and progress at the district level and the country as a whole.
She opined that as the government empowers the MMDAs to improve road infrastructure, it is not only improving the lives of their constituents but also creating more resilient and self-sufficient communities to promote local economic development.
President Akufo-Addo shaking hands with Group Chairman of Jospong Group, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong
SUSTAINABILITY
The Executive Chairman of Jospong Group, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, explained that J.A. Plant Pool, a member of the Jospong Group’s involvement in the DRIP programme, encompasses a comprehensive suite of services and the sustainability of the project.
He said that the company aims to continue to facilitate seamless project execution and long-term sustainability.
He acknowledged that the DRIP programme promises a remarkable increase in infrastructural development, which is critical in facilitating better access to markets, reducing wastage, enhancing profitability of agricultural activities and also creating sustainable jobs.
Mr. Zeng Guang’an, Chairman and CEO of Guanxi LiuGong Machinery Company Limited, the company that manufactured the equipment but assembled it here in Ghana, announced the establishment of 16 service centers across the country to provide after-sales services for the project.
The Minister for Local Government, Decentralization and Rural Development, Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah giving his address
Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development officially launched the District Road Improvement Programme (DRIP) at the Independence Square in Accra.
The event also marked the handover of critical earth-moving equipment and ancillary tools to the country’s Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) yesterday.
The DRIP is set to revolutionise road maintenance and development across Ghana by facilitating the upkeep, rehabilitation and upgrading of both urban and feeder roads.
This initiative is expected to significantly enhance mobility and accessibility, addressing widespread frustrations due to inadequate road networks.
“Today signifies a pivotal moment in our governance system,” said Mr. Korsah.
“The DRIP represents not just an investment in infrastructure but also a deep commitment to improving service delivery and advancing decentralisation.”
The programme has been described as the most substantial decentralisation effort in Ghana’s history, as it aims to empower District Assemblies with the necessary tools and resources to manage road maintenance effectively.
This initiative comes with a job creation component, potentially providing employment for over 10,000 Ghanaians.
Minister Korsah emphasised the programme’s innovative approach, which goes beyond previous efforts by equipping Assemblies with a comprehensive suite of tools, rather than just graders.
He acknowledged the skepticism from some quarters but stressed that the DRIP’s scale and scope mark a significant departure from past practices.
To ensure the sustainability of the programme, stringent monitoring and maintenance protocols have been established.
Training programmes for operators, drivers and technicians are part of the implementation strategy to ensure proper use and longevity of the equipment.
“We have put in place rigorous monitoring controls, both digital and physical and will demand strict compliance to guarantee the success and sustainability of DRIP,” Mr. Korsah added.
He also called on all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs), and other stakeholders to adhere to the operational structures set out to prevent misuse and ensure the efficient use of the provided equipment.
According to him, the DRIP represents a bold step by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration in its ongoing effort to decentralise power and resources, aiming to foster more effective local governance and infrastructure development.
The Majority Caucus in Parliament has commenced the process to have the Speaker, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, recall members from recess.
A memo addressed to the Speaker, sighted by The Chronicle, underscored the need for Parliament to reconvene to attend to matters of national importance.
Fortified with Article 112(3) of the 1992 constitution, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Majority Leader, who also leads government business in the House, wrote to the Speaker to recall parliament.
Article 112(3) allows fifteen percent of MPs to convene a parliamentary session. This is reinforced by Standing Orders 53(1) and 53(2), stressing the Speaker’s obligation to summon Parliament within seven days after receipt of the request.
The Chronicle understands that the Majority Caucus has formally requested an extraordinary session of Parliament.
AGENDA ITEMS
The MPs have outlined several urgent government matters that necessitate immediate parliamentary deliberation, including a financing agreement, legislation and tax exemptions.
The government, through the majority caucus, will be seeking approval of a $250 million agreement between the Government of Ghana and the International Development Association for the Ghana Energy Sector Recovery Programme.
The House will also consider tax exemptions for beneficiaries under the One District, One Factory Programme.
Another item is the Ghana Financial Stability Fund, where there will be discussion of a $250 million facility from the International Development Association.
The government will also move for deliberation on several key bills, including the Budget Bill 2023, Rent Bill 2023 and University of Local Governance and Development Bill 2024.
The other legislation will be the Environmental Protection Bill 2024, the Social Protection Bill 2024, the Intestate Succession Bill 2022, the Chartered Institute of Reconstruction and Insolvency Practitioners Bill 2023, the Ghana Industrial Property Office Bill 2024 and the National Petroleum Authority Bill 2024.
ADJOURN SINE DIE
Parliament on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 adjourned sine die to the disappointment of the Majority Caucus, whose leader described it as “abrupt.”
In his letter calling for the extraordinary session of Parliament, he said that the urgency of the matters listed above compels the recall to ensure the government can meet its constitutional responsibilities and address pressing national issues effectively.
The majority has stressed the importance of this requisition, highlighting its basis in good faith and national interest.
They urged the Speaker to act within the seven-day period as stipulated, underscoring the urgent need to reconvene Parliament.
The Right Honourable Speaker is expected to respond to this requisition promptly, as the majority had expressed their readiness to provide any further information or clarification required to facilitate the convening of the extraordinary session.
The Presidential Aspirant of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Bernard Anbaatayela Mornah, has vowed to break the long-existing duopoly of the two main political parties in Ghana, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Bernard Mornah reflected on the visionary leadership of Nkrumah and President Hilla Liman, contrasting it with the current state of governance in Ghana, which he described as lacking vision and care for its people.
“Today, more than ever, Ghana needs leadership like Nkrumah’s,” Mr Mornah stated.
“This is why I offer myself for service to the Ghanaian people. My vision is to create a Ghana where everyone, including the youth and women, can achieve their full potential,” he remarked.
Bernard Mornah, the former national chairman of the PNC launched his presidential ambitions on Wednesday, July 31, 2024.
He outlined his vision for Ghana, invoking the legacy of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
JOBS AND MORE
Outlining his vision for a “New Ghana,” Mr. Mornah emphasised the need for a new direction, new leadership and professional management of the nation.
He promised to provide decent work opportunities, curtail the need for Ghanaians to seek opportunities abroad and address pressing issues such as unemployment, inflation, corruption, and the deteriorating quality of public services.
EXPERTISE
Mornah highlighted his extensive experience in leadership roles, including his tenure as the National Youth Organiser and General Secretary of the PNC, his contributions to the Kwame Nkrumah Centenary Planning Committee and his work with the Arise Ghana Movement and the Pan African Federalist Movement.
He also noted his community engagements, such as running a farm and a football club in Sankana, which have created jobs for the youth in Upper West region.
These experiences and expertise, he noted, would come in handy during his presidency to change the fortunes of the nation.
NINE-POINT AGENDA
In addressing the current challenges facing Ghana, Bernard Mornah listed high unemployment rates, inflation, corruption and the decline in public services as key issues.
He presented a nine-point agenda to transform the nation, focusing on food security, skilled manpower, a robust economy, rule of law, healthcare, prudent economic management, connectivity and industrialisation.
He concluded his speech by appealing to the Ghanaian people for support in the upcoming December 2024 elections, pledging to serve with honour, respect, integrity and excellence.
He invoked the words of Kwame Nkrumah, expressing his commitment to leading Ghana towards a future where every citizen is well fed, well clothed, well housed and well empowered.
“This country is not poor, but it is poorly led,” Mornah asserted, adding that “the forthcoming December 2024 elections offer a providential opportunity to revolutionarily transform this country in its desired and expected direction.”
He said that his candidature promises a new era of leadership for Ghana, inspired by the legacy of Nkrumah and Limann and committed to addressing the real struggles and aspirations of the Ghanaian people.
