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Today’s Europa League Semi-finals First Leg

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Roma players

Roma welcome Bayer Leverkusen at Stadio Olimpico

Emerging triumphant from an all-Italian tie in the Europa League quarter-finals, Roma finished the job against AC Milan after earning a slim lead from the first leg at San Siro and then winning 2-1 on home turf one week later.

Gianluca Mancini struck for a second time in the tie, before Paulo Dybala produced the killer blow soon after, and despite Zeki Celik‘s subsequent dismissal, the Giallorossi held on; extending their quest to make a third straight European final – but the first without former boss Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho’s men eked out a 1-0 aggregate win over Leverkusen in last year’s semis before losing to competition specialists Sevilla in the final, only 12 months after lifting the inaugural Europa Conference League trophy.

There have still been no Serie A successes since the Europa League replaced the UEFA Cup in 2009, but Roma and Atalanta BC have been kept apart in the semi-final draw and could yet meet in this season’s decider.

Should they get that far, the Giallorossi will be led out by club legend and current coach Daniele De Rossi, who has overseen 13 wins and just three losses in 20 games since taking temporary charge in January, following Mourinho’s sacking.

Granit Xhaka, Jonathan Tah and Robert Andrich of Bayer Leverkusen

De Rossi recently extended his contract in the capital and is now trying to sign off for the season by claiming some silverware and securing a top-five place in Serie A, thereby securing Champions League football for next term.

His side still occupy fifth place in the standings, just ahead of Atalanta, but following a 2-2 draw in last week’s Derby del Sole, they still have plenty of work remaining.

Indeed, it took a late Tammy Abraham equaliser to salvage that point against Napoli, while Roma lost a recent clash with fourth-placed Bologna; yet they could still claim a place at Europe’s top table by winning the Europa League.

Though Leverkusen also drew 2-2 last time out, their domestic situation contrasts somewhat with Thursday’s hosts, as they were sensationally crowned German champions with several weeks to spare.

The Bundesliga winners struck a last-gasp equaliser for the third time running to deny Stuttgart at the weekend, taking their remarkable unbeaten streak to 46 games in all competitions, of which they have won some 38.

The 44th match in that sequence was the 1-1 draw at West Ham United that booked a place in the Europa League semi-finals, and Jeremie Frimpong‘s late leveller helped set a new all-time mark for games undefeated throughout Europe’s top five leagues.

Naturally, Die Werkself’s top-flight points and goals tallies – 81 and 77, respectively – are both club records to this point of a season, and the admirable leadership of Xabi Alonso has seen the club finally shake off their ‘Neverkusen’ tag.

Also awaiting a trip to Berlin for the DFB-Pokal final, in which they will start favourites against rank outsiders Kaiserslautern, an historic treble is on the cards – the minor matter of becoming the first team to go through an entire Bundesliga campaign without losing is still up for grabs too.

Like De Rossi, the much-sought Xabi Alonso has confirmed he will stay put at his current club for another year at least, and a fascinating duel between two up-and-coming coaches will unfold over the next week, with the first act taking place in Italy’s ‘Eternal City’.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

Marseille take on Atalanta BC for the first time

Ultimately aiming to reach the final of either the Europa League – or its predecessor, the UEFA Cup – for a fourth time, Marseille have a rich tradition in continental competition, having lost in the 1999, 2004 and 2018 deciders after being crowned champions of Europe back in 1993.

Marseille players

More recently, the French giants were eliminated by Feyenoord at this stage of the 2021-22 Europa Conference League, and they have now made it through to this season’s Europa League semis in the most dramatic of circumstances.

Burdened by a series of injuries and requiring academy players to fill in, Jean-Louis Gasset‘s side had suffered five straight defeats before taking on Benfica in the second leg of their quarter-final, but a 1-0 home win forced extra time: substitute Faris Moumbagna‘s late header kept OM in it, and after 30 more goalless minutes, they eventually prevailed 4-2 on penalties.

Shortly after being sacked mid-tournament by AFCON hosts Ivory Coast, Gasset stepped in to become Marseille’s third manager of the season, after Marcelino and Gennaro Gattuso both failed to last the pace, and the veteran coach has succeeded in steadying the ship.

The Mediterranean coast club have still not escaped choppy waters, though, as Sunday’s 2-1 win over Lens was their first in six Ligue 1 games: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang‘s first-minute opener and Pape Gueye‘s late goal kept them in the hunt for European qualification.

Of course, winning the Europa League would provide a route straight into next term’s new-look Champions League, but Atalanta stand in their way of making another final.

Having won their last five home games in UEFA competition but struggled on the road, gaining a first-leg advantage is surely essential ahead of next week’s trip to Bergamo.

Following Sunday’s 2-0 win over Empoli, secured by a Mario Pasalic penalty and Ademola Lookman‘s second-half strike, Atalanta have come out on top in 11 of their last 14 home matches across all competitions.

As if that were not enough to concern Marseille ahead of the second leg, the Italian side are also unbeaten in nine European away matches as they prepare for their springtime sojourn to Provence.

La Dea have already made Europe sit up and take notice by beating Liverpool 3-0 at Anfield in the quarter-finals, so Stade Velodrome should not hold too many fears, in spite of its notorious reputation.

Atalanta BC players

After enduring a mid-season sticky spell, Atalanta have been on the up since their last-16 defeat of Sporting CP, and having just booked a place in the Coppa Italia final, they are also in the race to earn Champions League qualification via Serie A.

Gian Piero Gasperini‘s men sit sixth in the standings with five games remaining, and Italy’s top flight has already assured five places at Europe’s top table for next season – partly thanks to Atalanta and Roma reaching the Europa League semi-finals and boosting their national coefficient.

For all his previous achievements, ‘Gasp’ would surely consider leading La Dea out in their first European final the greatest: to date, the Bergamo club’s biggest honour was winning the 1963 Coppa Italia, and they have now reached the semis of a UEFA tournament for just the second time.

They could even meet domestic rivals Roma in Dublin – both teams are also battling out for that fifth spot in Serie A – and then become the first Italian team to lift the Europa League trophy. However, two tough games against Marseille must be negotiated before such dreams can be realised.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

I’ll Use Digitisation To Fight Corruption … Says Bawumia

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ISAAC AKWETEY-OKUNOR
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Veep Mahamudu Bawumia

The flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, says the fight against corruption will never be won if the country fails to elect a committed leader like him in December.

According to the flagbearer, he has in the past years demonstrated quality leadership and now has the solid track record in the fight against corruption in Ghana, through the digitisation policy he suggested to the Akufo-Addo government, which is being implemented.

Even though he admitted that corruption has different layers and shapes, the surest way to fight against the canker, to him, is through digitisation, which has been tried and tested in other economies.

He contended that because of the decision to digitise most of the state institutions, there are no more ghost workers on the government of Ghana payroll.

“There are no more ghost workers because everybody is identified by their finger print through the Ghana card and a ghost cannot have fingerprints. That is the end of the story for ghost workers in Ghana,” Dr Bawumia said

He was speaking at a meeting with the leadership of faith-based groups at Presbyterian Church Grace Chapel at Akropong, as part of his campaign tour of the Eastern Region.

Dr Bawumia revealed that through the digitalisation policy, the Akufo-Addo government was saving GHS400 million every year because the ghost names had been deleted from government’s payroll.

Touching on transport, Dr Bawumia said the government had started negotiations for the Metro Mass Transit Company Limited to import the first 200 electric vehicles this year.

According to him, transport fares are going up due to increase in prices of petroleum products and thatsince the electric vehicles are not going to use fuel, transport fares will be stabilised, saying “we’re going to use electricity to drive vehicles.”

The National Electric Vehicle Policy is anticipated to set market signals and contribute to the transportation sector’s decarbonisation, in accordance with Ghana’s National Energy Transition Plan 2022–2070 and international climate change commitments.

SML contract is unlawful –NDC

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NAABENYIN JOOJO AMISSAH
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Mr Sammy Gyamfi addressing the media

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said that the transaction audit, external price verification and downstream petroleum audit contracts entered into between the government and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd. (SML) are unlawful.

The NDC says that in its view, the SML transactions “are duplicitous, needless and inimical to the interest of our dear nation,” adding that the payments made, “totaling GH¢1,061,054,778 are illegal.”

The National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, met the press on Monday, April 29, 2024 where he addressed the controversial SML deal.
According to Sammy Gyamfi, those who sanctioned the payments have occasioned a huge financial loss to the state.

He said that the NDC is appalled but unsurprised by the decision by the government to allow SML to continue the performance of the downstream petroleum audit services.
“This is the greatest abetment of crime yet again by the ruling New Patriotic Party and goes to fortify our suspicions that this scandal was cooked at the highest echelons of power,” Sammy Gyamfi said.

The NDC accused the government of a cover-up for not publishing the full KPMG investigative report on this matter, and for the decision to allow SML to continue performing the downstream petroleum audit services.

The NDC argued that at a time when the nation is faced with economic crises, the least duty-bearers could do was to use the meagre resources of the country judiciously and for the benefit of the people.

Sammy Gyamfi stated that the amount of money spent on SML could have been invested in social infrastructure, job creation ventures, education, healthcare delivery, or other productive sectors to improve the livelihoods of Ghanaians.

However, the NDC, in its statement to the press made some demands, including the immediate termination of all the illegal contracts entered into between SML and the GRA.
They also demanded the retrieval of all payments made by the government to SML, under the agreements, which have occasioned a huge financial loss to the state.

The NDC wants the immediate publication of the full KPMG investigative report on the dealings between SML and the GRA and the prosecution of all persons involved in the award of illegal contracts and the illegal payments thereof to SML.

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo, in response to the audit conducted by KPMG regarding the transactions directed for the termination of the upstream petroleum audit and minerals audit services.

The President also directed the termination of the transaction audit and external price verification services. The reason was that the GRA obtained only partial value or benefit from these services, partly due to a lack of monitoring.

“KPMG’s investigation found that GRA has introduced external price verification tools as part of ICUMS, among its other functions. This renders the reliance on SML for external price verification redundant,” the statement said.

Regardless, Sammy Gyamfi reiterated that the next NDC government will not recognise the illegal contracts between the government of Ghana and SML.

According to Sammy Gyamfi, the next NDC government shall launch credible and transparent investigations into the SML scandal, with the aim of retrieving for the state all illegal payments made to SML.

The NDC also said the investigations will aim at the prosecution of “all persons who are complicit in these illegal transactions.”

Otting tipped to win GSL SRC prez race

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Daniel Otting - winning the SRC election

A former University of Ghana Students Representative Council (SRC) President, Daniel Otting, has been tipped to win the Ghana Law School SRC Presidential Race.His support is coming from diverse students’ groups, who believe in his vision.The Law School will be electing its SRC executives today.

This decisionby Daniel Otting, according to most of the students, must not be taken lightly by any principled or patriotic mind, especially as to who leads the next Law School SRC body.

Barima Sarpong, a student at the Ghana Law School, told The Chronicle that all the three candidates vying for the position of SRC president are his good friends, “but it is not enough to have good intentions when it comes to carrying out a mandate like they are about to bestow.

“In my corporate and political endeavours, when the heat of the test is on, without experience and character, the verdict is uncontested, that the good intentions will surely melt to nothing. It must always be backed by character and experience. Experience, our elders say, is a good teacher.”

Admittedly, the three candidates have had some life experiences in many areas, however, Daniel Otting Awuah, having been elected SRC President of the University of Ghana in the 2017/2018 academic year stands out as the most experienced in what the three seek to be (SRC President).

“In the GSL SRC presidential election, where there is a higher stake within a shorter tenure, ‘trial and error’ SHOULD NOT be elected over ‘tried and tested’ leadership. Why not Otting?”

He said the student body is fortunate to have Otting, who is honest, humble, respectful and responsible.

He stated that: “In the crucial moments and situations of sensitive decisions and rival interests, it is the character and experience of the elected that come to aid the best interest of the electorates. Otting offers the value of both CHARACTER and EXPERIENCE. Why not Otting?

Otting’s honesty will come into play at the decision table where all eyes or no eyes will be on him. Why not Otting? His humility as always will drive him to listen and reason with you as the people who are the source of his power as president.”

Another cocoa smuggler jailed 7yrs

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The suspected cocoa beans being smuggled

The War against illicit activities of cocoa smuggling syndicates, which was launched by Ghana Cocoa Board, with support from the state’s security agencies, continues to yield positive results.

Few days after the Krobo Odumase Circuit Court in the Eastern Region sentenced a man to seven years in prison for attempting to smuggle bags of cocoa beans from Ghana into neighbouring Togo, the court has once again handed seven year jail term to another suspect, a 38 year old Electrician, for similar offences.

The suspect, Kingsley Kotto, an Electrician, aged 38, together with Eric Kwabena Darko, a driver, aged, 41, were arrested at Maame Wata community near Juapong, by personnel of the Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Task Force, whilst attempting to smuggle bags of cocoa beans to neighbouring Togo.

Facts of the case

According to the facts of the case, as presented in court by the police, on Thursday, April 25, 2024 personnel of the Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Task Force, whilst on routine checks on the Atimpoku-Hohoe Highway, suspected a Sprinter bus with registration number AS-4175-23, which was loaded with agro chemicals, en route from Kumasi towards Hohoe.

Upon thorough search of the vehicle, ten bags of dried cocoa beans concealed in rubber bags and sacks were found.

The driver of the vehicle, Eric Kwabena Darko, was subsequently arrested and handed over to the Akosombo Police, where a formal complaint was lodged.

In the course of interrogation, Kwabena Darko admitted in his caution statement and mentioned Kingsley Kotto as the one who contracted him to transport the beans from Nsutam in the Eastern region at a charge of GH₵100.00 per bag, for onwards smuggling into the Republic of Togo.

Armed with this information, the police consequently arrested Kingsley Kotto who also admitted ownership of the contrabands and stated in his caution statement that he purchased the cocoa beans from a friend in Koforidua.

Investigations further proved that the 10 bags of cocoa beans were not inspected, graded and sealed by any recognised Cocoa Inspector which is a criminal offence under the laws of Ghana.

Kingsley Kotto was, therefore, charged with offences of Purchase of Cocoa without authority, contrary to Sec 4 of Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 1984 (PNDCL81), attempting to smuggle cocoa beans, contrary to Sec 317 (i) of the Criminal and Other Offences Act 1960(Act29) and attempting to export cocoa beans which have not been inspected, graded and sealed by an Inspector of Cocoa, contrary to Sec 3 of Cocoa Industry Regulations Act, 1968 (NLCD278).

He was found guilty on his own plea and sentenced to seven years in prison by the court.

However, the driver, Eric Kwabena Darko, who charged with aiding and abetting, was later discharged after investigations revealed he did not conspire with Kotto to smuggle the items.

The arrest and prosecution of Kingsley Kotto brings to two, the second person sentenced to seven years in a week for cocoa smuggling.

On Wednesday, the Court, presided over by His Honour Judge Kwesi Apiatse Abaiddu, sentenced one Issifu Nyandi, to 7 (seven) years in prison after being found guilty for attempting to smuggle bags of cocoa beans from Ghana to neighbouring Togo.

Source: COCOBOD

Vote for Owusu-Aduomi -Ejisumanhene pleads with Zongo community

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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Oguakro Afrane Okese IV, Omanhene of Ejisu

The Paramount Chief of Ejisu, Oguakro Afrane Okese has appealed to the elders of Ejisu Zongo to massively vote for the independent candidate in tomorrow’s by-election at Ejisu constituency.

In a meeting with the Zongo Caucus, Nana Oguakro Afrane Okese said Aduomi is the people’s choice.

In the 2008, 2012 and 2016 elections, Mr. Kwabena Owusu-Aduomi polled 57,278 votes (82.34%), 51, 976 votes (80.52%), 54,508 votes (83.79%) respectively to maintain the seat for the NPP.

Nana Oguakro Afrane Okese told the leadership of Ejisu Zongo Caucus at his Palace over the weekend that Ing. Kwabena Owusu-Aduomi is his son and urged the good people of Ejisu to vote for him to come back and continue the developmental projects he initiated previously during his tenure as MP but have been abandoned.

The Omanhene stressed that “Owusu-Aduomi is the best person to turn things around to make Ejisu more attractive to both local and foreign investors”.

He also implored every constituent to support the former MP to make Ejisu great again.

The former MP is staging a comeback after the chiefs and people of Ejisu appealed to him to come and rescue the constituents from neglect.

The seat became vacant following the demise of the Member of Parliament, John Ampontuah Kumah, on March 7, 2024.

Lawyer Kwabena Boateng, Esther Osei and Beatrice Boakye are contesting on the tickets of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Convention People’s Party (CPP) and Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) respectively in tomorrow’s by-election.

Three other candidates, namely Kwabena Owusu-Aduomi, Joseph Fredua Agyemang and Joseph Atakora are contesting as independent candidates.

Political watchers say the by-election is between NPP’s Lawyer Boateng and Independent candidate Engineer Owusu-Aduomi.

Editorial: Darkness along the Accra-Tema Motorway not the best

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THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

Driving on the Accra-Tema Motorway and most parts of the capital at night can be a frightening experience. The road is shrouded in darkness and this makes it difficult for drivers and commuters to see the highway. The lack of streetlights along the motorway is a safety challenge that puts commuters at risk, leading to accidents and providing cover for crimes such as highway robbery.

The motorway has become a target for criminal gangs that use the dark as cover to rob and attack unsuspecting motorists. The police and the Ghana Highways Authority have made efforts to address the problems, but progress has been slow.

The Ministry of Roads and Highways has identified theft and vandalism by unknown individuals as the cause of the darkness along the Tema Motorway. Nasir Ahmad Yartey, the head of Public Relations at the Roads Ministry told Citi FM that the Ministry had repeatedly repaired the streetlights on six separate occasions, only to find them vandalised each time. Nasir Ahmad Yartey called on citizens to be vigilant to help protect the streetlights from vandalism and theft.

“Authorities have some responsibilities and citizens also bear the biggest part of the responsibility to protect state properties… We procure and install, and within a period of three to six months, they are gone. People have made it their business to always vandalise streetlights and traffic lights and it is a big challenge as to how to stop it.”

The persistent theft and vandalism of streetlights along the Tema Motorway is deeply concerning. It highlights a critical issue that demands immediate attention and concerted efforts from both authorities and citizens.

It is disheartening to learn that despite repeated repairs and replacements by the Ministry, the streetlights on the Tema Motorway continue to be vandalized and stolen. This not only poses a significant financial burden on the government, but also compromises the safety and security of road users.

Streetlights serve a vital purpose in ensuring visibility and safety on our roads, especially during the night. Their absence or malfunction due to theft and vandalism creates hazardous conditions for motorists and pedestrians alike. Moreover, the cost of repairing and replacing these lights divert resources that could be utilised for other crucial infrastructure projects.

The responsibility to protect public infrastructure, such as streetlights, does not rest solely on the shoulders of government. Citizens must also play their part in safeguarding these essential amenities. Vandalism and theft not only harm the community, but also reflect poorly on our collective responsibility towards public property.

The Chronicle holds the view that education and awareness campaigns are essential to sensitise the public about the importance of preserving public infrastructure. Communities must be encouraged to report suspicious activities and collaborate with law enforcement agencies to apprehend those responsible for such acts.

Additionally, technological solutions such as surveillance cameras and improved security measures can be explored to deter vandalism and theft. Strengthening penalties for such offenses can also serve as a deterrent. It is imperative that we protect and preserve the infrastructure that serves us all.

The Accra-Tema Motorway is an important commercial route, connecting businesses and industries in Accra and Tema and, therefore, it is imperative that long-term plans to develop street lighting policy that will help address concerns about standards for lighting the nation’s streets. It is crucial that we protect and preserve the infrastructure that serves us all.

 

CISA Ghana calls for a Foreign Fighters Act

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CISA

The Centre for Intelligence and Security Analysis (CISA)Ghana has bemoaned the absence of Foreign Fighters Act in the country.

According to CISA, more Ghanaian youth run to warzones, terrorist cells; and return as radicalised lone wolves or form sleeper cells.

CISA says Ghana needs to enact new counter-terrorism legislation – a Foreign Fighters Act (FFA) – that caters for the reintegration of radicalised youth and war returnees, the Centre for Intelligence and Security Analysis (CISA Ghana) has advocated.

At a sensitisation seminar for journalists on the theme: ‘The media and security in an election year”, organised by the Centre at its Adjiringanor headquarters in Accra on Friday, April 26, 2024, ahead of the 7 December 2024 general elections, the CISA Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Rasheed Inusah, who is a former Director-General of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), highlighted the importance of the Act and its role in mitigating and curbing the rising number of Ghanaian mercenary and extremist recruits.

Ambassador Inusah, who also served as Director-General of the Research Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, said the legislative lacuna is fostering the festering exploitative recruitment of local youth to fight foreign wars.

He recalled that in 2015, “a 25-year-old Ghanaian graduate, Mohammed Nazir Nortei Alema, was recruited by ISIS but later died in Syria.”

Similarly, Ambassador Inusah recounted how, in October 2017, there were reports that about 100 Ghanaian migrants joined ISIS in Libya, with some forcefully conscripted and others joining voluntarily for financial rewards and safety.

He noted that since January 2024, there have been reports of an unspecified number of Ghanaians being recruited into both sides of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Allegedly, he noted, “Some Ghanaians who are part of the foreign fighters are reportedly dead in the warzone.”

In the estimation of the CISA Chief Executive Officer, “The limited economic prospects of domestic opportunities have made the youth vulnerable to foreign exploitation to outside predation even in the face of tragic consequences.”

“It is now time”, he urged, “For most countries in Africa, especially Ghana, to consider the urgent need to address these concerns through the enactment of new counter-terrorism legislation (Foreign Fighters) Act.”

Such an Act, the former NIB boss noted, “Will make it an offense for intentionally entering a foreign country to engage in hostile activity.”

“The Act will also extend the scope of punishment to the maximum penalty of life imprisonment to any person found guilty to have entered a foreign country with intent to engage in hostile activity”, the security and intelligence expert added.

Ambassador Inusah stressed the “need to have adequate safeguards to strengthen the capabilities of the security and intelligence agencies to keep Ghana safe.”

CISA, he noted, “believes that the FFA will bestow the law enforcement agencies with the powers to take effective action in advance of any terrorist act being committed.”

“Significantly,” Ambassador Rasheed Inusah highlighted that “the law maintains the government’s focus on combating terrorism.”

The current situation, Ambassador Inusah pointed out, “remains worrying, as Ghana could be confronting more potential home-grown terrorists than ever before.”

The government, he insisted, “needs to institute measures to prevent young Ghanaians from being radicalised by leaving Ghana to join extremists overseas and to ensure those who return do not become involved in terrorist activity in the country.”

Winds Of Fate Confront Trump

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admin
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Donald Trump

“How does it feel to shape the wind to your will?” Doomed vassal Kashigi Yabushige asks warlord Yoshii Toranaga that question in the final episode of the FX series, “Shōgun.”

“I don’t control the wind,” replies Toranaga. “I only study it.” That pays off, enabling Toranaga to foil his rivals though his army is vastly outnumbered.

But even the wiliest 16th century Japanese feudal leader might struggle to predict which winds will prevail in the two biggest news stories of last week: former President Donald Trump’s many-layered encounter with the US court system and the protests roiling prominent US college campuses.

In the midst of what’s expected to be an extraordinarily close election, the spectacle of Trump tramping from courtroom to courtroom is unlike anything seen in American history. The Republican candidate’s odds of victory stand to be swayed by the decisions of judges and jurors in New York, Washington, and possibly even Florida and Georgia. A CNN poll released last week found that 24% of those backing Trump say they could reconsider their support if he is convicted of a crime.

In room 1530 of the Art Deco New York criminal court building, prosecutors began to methodically present their case that Trump interfered with the 2016 election through a covert scheme to buy the silence of porn actress Stormy Daniels.

In the US Supreme Court’s marble-walled chamber in Washington, several justices in the conservative majority appeared to give at least some credence to the former president’s argument that he deserved immunity from the 2020 election interference case brought by special counsel Jack Smith.

To Trump’s delight, the top court’s session dimmed the chances the federal case will go to trial before the election. “It became clear early in Thursday’s argument that there was little support across the bench for a narrow ruling that would be good for only this case,” wrote Steve Vladeck. “As Justice Neil Gorsuch put it at one point, the court needs to articulate ‘a rule for the ages’ … a forward-looking rule so that future presidents will know when they should be worried about future criminal prosecution, and when they shouldn’t.”

“How does it feel to shape the wind to your will?” Doomed vassal Kashigi Yabushige asks warlord Yoshii Toranaga that question in the final episode of the FX series, “Shōgun.”

“I don’t control the wind,” replies Toranaga. “I only study it.” That pays off, enabling Toranaga to foil his rivals though his army is vastly outnumbered.

But even the wiliest 16th century Japanese feudal leader might struggle to predict which winds will prevail in the two biggest news stories of last week: former President Donald Trump’s many-layered encounter with the US court system and the protests roiling prominent US college campuses.

In the midst of what’s expected to be an extraordinarily close election, the spectacle of Trump tramping from courtroom to courtroom is unlike anything seen in American history. The Republican candidate’s odds of victory stand to be swayed by the decisions of judges and jurors in New York, Washington, and possibly even Florida and Georgia. A CNN poll released last week found that 24% of those backing Trump say they could reconsider their support if he is convicted of a crime.

In room 1530 of the Art Deco New York criminal court building, prosecutors began to methodically present their case that Trump interfered with the 2016 election through a covert scheme to buy the silence of porn actress Stormy Daniels.

In the US Supreme Court’s marble-walled chamber in Washington, several justices in the conservative majority appeared to give at least some credence to the former president’s argument that he deserved immunity from the 2020 election interference case brought by special counsel Jack Smith.

To Trump’s delight, the top court’s session dimmed the chances the federal case will go to trial before the election. “It became clear early in Thursday’s argument that there was little support across the bench for a narrow ruling that would be good for only this case,” wrote Steve Vladeck. “As Justice Neil Gorsuch put it at one point, the court needs to articulate ‘a rule for the ages’ … a forward-looking rule so that future presidents will know when they should be worried about future criminal prosecution, and when they shouldn’t.”

Source:cnn

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s stance.

Jomoro MP rehabilitates another 17-km road linking four communities

By
KWESI ALFRED ADAMS
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One of the roads that has been reshaped by the MP

The Member of Parliament for Jomoro Constituency in the Western Region, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, has reshaped a 17 kilometer road linking four communities in the constituency.

The four communities are Allewule, Mpataba, Bonyere and Ezinobo Zone.

While Allewule had one kilometer road reshaped, Mpataba had two kilometers road rehabilitated. Bonyere and Ezinobo Zone had 14 kilometers worked on.

The Western File was told that the Allewule Junction road, which links the Junction to the town, was in a deplorable state, causing havoc to motorists, most especially tricycle riders.

Tricycle riders who ply the one kilometer road charge as high as GHȻ10 for short distances, due to the deplorable state of the road. However, after the reshaping of the road, the fare has been reduced to GHȻ5.

Some Okada riders and residents expressed gratitude to the MP for reshaping the roads and called for proper tarring of the road.

With the Mpataba by-pass, the 2-kilometre road, which links to the main Elubo road, residents and commuters from Half-Assini, Tekobo 1 and 2 and others communities have to travel all the way to the Samenyi barrier before they join the Elubo Road. But with the reshaping of the Mpataba by-pass, commuters are able to use the by-pass to the main Elubo road, making it shorter.

Some of the residents and drivers said the new road is really helping their businesses. They explained that their businesses were affected when the road deteriorated because they had to commute to the barrier before they join the main Elubo road. The residents are also calling for the proper tarring of the road.

The Bonyere and Ezinobo Zone 14-kilometre road also served the aforementioned communities in diverse ways.

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