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No Planned Demo Against Naa Torshie; It’s All Politics -MMDCEs

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Naa Torshie Addo, Administrator of DACF

The Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) do not have any qualms with the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), Irene Naa Torshie Addo, The Chronicle has been told.

The Common Fund secretariat in Accra

The National Dean of all the 261 MMDCEs, who is also the Eastern Regional Dean and the District Chief Executive for Achiase, Richmond Kofi Amponsah, disclosed in a telephone interview with The Chronicle that there was no tension between the Administrator of the Fund and the MMDCEs, as some publications have claimed.

When asked if the MMDCEs had planned a demonstration against Naa Torshie Addo for her activities as the Administrator of the Fund to be probed, Richmond Amponsah told this paper to disregard that assertion.

“It is not true. We do not have such intentions [to demonstrate against Naa Torshie],” he said in a telephone conversation yesterday.

DIFFERENT NEEDS

The Achiase DCE, who doubles as the Eastern Regional Dean, debunked claims Naa Torshie, without consulting the MMDCEs to ascertain the peculiar needs of the assemblies, makes procurements from Accra.

He explained that, the various assemblies draw their plans and submit as “the needs of Achiase are different from Adentan.

“I may need a borehole in Achiase, but Adentan may not need a borehole, so we have different needs in the various assemblies.”

He, however, explained that the execution of those plans is mostly dependent on release of funds.

CENTRAL PROJECTS

According to the National Dean of MMDCEs, there are projects that also emanate from the central government to the various MMDAs, which have to be executed as directed.

He explained that, the government would have done its feasibility study and as such, the assemblies would have to ensure the execution of such projects from the central government.

PROPAGANDA

Responding to what could warrant such reports of a nationwide demonstration, when he claims there were no problems, Mr. Amponsah said it was a propaganda gimmick.

He explained that some elements were bent on foiling the goodwill of Naa Torshie in the contest of a running mate to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, flag bearer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

RACE

The Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund, Irene Naa Torshie Addo, is in the contest to partner Dr. Bawumia in the December 2024 presidential elections.

Among the top five listed, she is said to be leading the pack. The list has the Minister for Education, Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum, the Chief of Staff, Fremah Osei-Opare and the Energy Minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.

The flag bearer of the NPP, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is yet to announce his choice of a running mate, months after pleading for additional time to consult broadly.

Meanwhile, there are advocacies from political analysts, political Think Tanks and Civil Society Organisations for a female running mate to be named to partner Dr Bawumia in the December presidential polls.

A/R has a candidate to partner Bawumia –COKA

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Odeneho Kwaku Appiah also known as COKA

Odeneho Kwaku Appiah, also known as COKA, has made his contribution to the ongoing talks of a viable running mate to partner the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahmudu Bawumia in election 2024.

The former Afigya Kwabre South Constituency Chairman, COKA, has in the past made it known that a running mate from the Ashanti Region will help the party’s strives in the election.

This is because the Ashanti Region is the political “world bank” of the party and has the highest electorate in the country, apart from the Greater Accra Region.

He believes that a high win for the NPP in the Region means an easy win in the general election.

COKA believes that of all the names making rounds as the possible running mate to Dr. Bawumia, there is only one individual from the Ashanti Region who is loved by many and can do a good job in securing that big Ashanti victory for the party.

The former chairman is of the view that in the Ashanti Region NPP, 99.9% support that grassroots person who has touched a lot of lives.

“Democracy is about numbers. When you go to social media, market places, churches, funeral grounds and ask whose name they have been hearing for funeral donations and also ask those around you, it will inform you that 99.9% of Ashanti Region are behind one name,” he said in a statement on his Facebook wall.

Talking more about numbers, he assessed the popularity of the person in question in the party, which he ranked from Regional and Constituency Chairmen to Ministers and Members of Parliament.

“I can boldly tell you that based on research data that l am privy to, out of the 16 regional ministers, only 1 is uncomfortable with that particular person, who is the preferred candidate of Dr. Bawumia.

“Of all the majority MPs, only 8 are uncomfortable with the person. Out of the 16 Regional chairmen, only 2 are uncomfortable with the choice and out of 275 constituency chairmen, only 17 are uncomfortable. Those with eyes will see, those with pen know and those with ears will hear.

“The person has changed a lot of lives and if we want an Ashanti to break the 8, then it should be Bawumia and the person on the ticket,” he added.

He further suggested to the Vice President to be resolute in his selection, and that he should not listen to naysayers because whoever he will pick, Ghanaians will have something to say about the person.

“Whoever Dr Bawumia selects as his running mate, Ghanaians will talk about it, negatively or positively. Even Jesus Christ was criticised for doing good to mankind.

“His Excellency, Dr Bawumia, please ask your boss, Nana Akufo-Addo when it was time for him to select his running mate in 2008, if he had listened to some people in and out of NPP, could we have had digitalization and many other achievements spearheaded by Dr Bawumia everywhere in Ghana?” He quizzed.

New cocoa price is a rip-off –Minority

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Eric Opoku, MP for Asunafo South

The Minority members in Parliament say the newly announced producer price of GH¢33.120 per ton, which translates into GH¢2,070 per bag, constitutes a paltry 25.47% of the world market price of cocoa.

Once again, we wish to reiterate that this is a rip-off of our hard working cocoa farmers, as it constitutes the lowest percentage of the international market price of cocoa ever given to Ghanaian cocoa farmers as farm-gate price in the history of this country”, the Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Food, Agric & Cocoa Affairs, Eric Opoku said in a statement.

The following is his full press statement;

On Tuesday, 2nd April, 2024, the Minority in Parliament issued a press statement demanding an immediate increase in the producer price of cocoa to ameliorate the plight of Ghanaian cocoa farmers.

This demand was predicated on the recent surge in the world market price of cocoa to an all-time high of averagely, US$10,000 per ton, which is equivalent to GH¢130,000 at a conservative exchange rate of US$1 to GH¢13. This amount translates into GH¢8,125 per bag of cocoa on the international market.

It is sad to note that the newly announced producer price of GH¢33.120 per ton which translates into GH¢2.070 per bag, constitutes a paltry 25.47% of the world market price of cocoa.

Once again, we wish to reiterate that this is a rip-off of our hard working cocoa farmers, as it constitutes the lowest percentage of the international market price of cocoa ever given to Ghanaian cocoa farmers as farm-gate price in the history of this country.

The current increase in the producer price of cocoa, which constitutes a trifling 25.47% of the international market price, contradicts an earlier pledge by President Akufo-Addo to give Ghanaian cocoa farmers a farm-gate price, constituting a minimum of 70% of the international market price.

The Minority is appalled by the continuous swindling of Ghanaian cocoa farmers by the insensitive and corrupt Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government. Never in the history of our country has any government shortchanged our gallant cocoa farmers this way.

At a time when our national cocoa output has sharply declined from 969,000mt in 2016 to a paltry 450,000mt in 2024, the least expected of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government is to give our already-impoverished cocoa farmers a fair increment in the farm-gate price of cocoa to compensate for the huge losses they have recorded in their incomes.

We hold the view that any increase in the farm-gate price of cocoa below 60% of the prevailing international market price is a monumental rip-off of our suffering cocoa farmers. In other words, any increment in the farm-gate price of cocoa below GH¢5,000 per bag is grossly unfair and unacceptable.

The Minority wishes to serve notice that we shall haul the Minister for Agriculture before Parliament to answer for this broad daylight robbery perpetrated against our gallant cocoa farmers. While at it, the Minority shall, in the coming days, hold a series of engagements with cocoa farmers and other industry players on the way forward for Ghana’s dying cocoa industry.

SIGNED.

ERIC OPOKU (MP)

(Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Food, Agric & Cocoa Affairs and Member of Parliament for Asunafo South)

Unprecedented cocoa price …. From GH¢1,308.99 to a whopping GH¢2,070

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Joseph Boahen Aidoo, COCOBOD boss in a cocoa farm

The producer price of a bag of cocoa has jumped from GH¢1,308.99 to GH¢2,070 for the 2023/2024 crop year. This translates into an increase of 58.26 per cent (%) from GH¢20, 928.00 per metric ton to GH¢33, 120.00 per metric ton.

According to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), the new price took effect from April 5, 2024 per a press release it issued.

The release, signed by the Chief Executive, explained that the increase was necessary to enhance the incomes of cocoa farmers, which also reflects the price of the commodity on the international market.

It said the welfare of cocoa farmers was dear to the heart of the president and had since 2017 increased the producer price from GH¢7,600 per metric ton to the current price.

COCOBOD described their achievement as unprecedented. It also stated that the Board has equally approved the buyer margin of GH¢2,989.00 per ton for the year under review.

The Board expects that the increase will soften the financial burdens of the Licenced Buying Companies (LBCs).

Editorial: Kudos to Police for busting fake kidnap, erring students must be punished

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Editorial

The Ghana Police Service last week announced the arrest of six people, who allegedly staged a fake kidnapping of a Presbyterian Boys Senior High School (PRESEC) student in Accra. In a press release dated April 5, 2024 the security agency revealed that the six persons include four juveniles, all PRESEC Legon students and two adults, Isaac Kissi Adjei and Courage Teiko.

This comes days after reports went viral about the kidnapping of a PRESEC student on his way home from school. The reports indicated that the alleged kidnappers were demanding a ransom from the student’s family. They allegedly threatened to sell his organs should the parents fail to pay the ransom.

However, the police said that their preliminary investigation revealed that the kidnapping was the alleged victim’s attempt to extort money from his parents. The young boy, according to the police, had planned to travel abroad with the money and thus conspired with the others to stage the kidnapping incident. In the process, they demanded an amount of Three Hundred and Forty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH₵340,000.00) as ransom from the alleged victim’s parents.

The Investigation further disclosed that the juveniles, together with the two others, succeeded in collecting an amount of Twenty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH₵20,000.00) of the total ransom demanded.

First and foremost, the prompt response from the Ghana Police Service, following reports of the alleged kidnapping is commendable. It reflects their readiness and capability to address such sensitive matters with urgency and precision. The speed at which they initiated investigations and apprehended the suspects showcases their dedication to ensuring the safety and security of citizens, especially vulnerable individuals like school-going children.

Furthermore, the thoroughness of the police’s preliminary investigation is worth applauding. By delving deep into the circumstances surrounding the incident, they were able to uncover the true motives behind what initially appeared to be a fake kidnapping scenario.

The revelation that the purported victim had conspired with others to stage the kidnapping as a means of extorting money from his parents is not only shocking, but also underscores the importance of diligent police work in unraveling complex criminal schemes. The transparency exhibited by the Ghana Police Service in sharing key details of the investigation with the public is commendable. It not only keeps the public informed but also enhances trust and confidence in law enforcement agencies.

Moreover, the collaboration between the police and other relevant stakeholders, including the parents and guardians of the students involved, reflects a coordinated and comprehensive approach to resolving the case. This collaborative effort underscores the importance of community engagement in combating crime and maintaining a safe environment for all.

While we commend the Ghana Police Service for their exemplary performance, we also call for punishment for the erring students. It is imperative that the students involved, including the four juveniles, face appropriate consequences for their actions. This should serve as a deterrent to others and reinforce the message that criminal behavior, regardless of age or background, will not be tolerated in our society.

The Chronicle calls on relevant authorities, including the police and educational institutions, to ensure that those responsible for the fake kidnapping are held accountable to the full extent of the law. This includes not only legal consequences but also disciplinary measures within the school. It is essential to send a clear message that unethical and criminal behavior will have serious repercussions.

Racism in LGBTQ+

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OPINION

“On Transgender Day of Visibility, we honor the extraordinary courage and contributions of transgender Americans and reaffirm our Nation’s commitment to forming a more perfect Union — where all people are created equal and treated equally throughout their lives.  

I am proud that my Administration has stood for justice from the start, working to ensure that the LGBTQI+ community can live openly, in safety, with dignity and respect…. Transgender Americans are part of the fabric of our Nation…. They deserve, and are entitled to, the same rights and freedoms as every other American, including the most fundamental freedom to be their true selves.”

This statement was made by US President Joseph Biden on the Proclamation on Transgender Day of Visibility, 2024 on Easter Day, March 31, 2024.

For a statement like this to come out of the most powerful man in the world, is very problematic. Besides, the insults to Jesus Christ, whose resurrection was celebrated that day, the highest event in Christendom, the statement itself has racial undertones.

He is telling us that America’s commitment to forming a more perfect Union, where all people are created equal and treated equally throughout their lives, is only fulfilled by declaring Transgenders, free.

In American history, the 13th Amendment abolished slavery, in December 1865. It was meant to set all Blacks free, but to this date, racism has made the Blacks to be unequally treated as humans in the USA. They do not enjoy the same rights and freedom as the White Americans do.

Today, President Joe Biden has given equal rights and justice, that is denied Black America to the LGBTQ+ persons. This is a clear case of racism.

The question which the LGBTQ+ advocates like US Ambassador Virginia Palmer are failing to answer, is this, “why is it that the US and other Western nations that support LGBTQ+, are not placing sanctions on countries like Saudi Arabia and Russia that disallow LGBTQ+ activities in their country, but are rather daring us, accept LGBTQ+ or face economic and political sanctions?”

It all bothers on racism. The average Caucasian, does not believe that Blacks must exist in this world. So, by any means possible, Blacks must be getting ride off.

With the knowledge that in unity lies strength, the Whites came to our land and sold seeds of discord among us. To this day, ethnocentrism has created divisions among tribes, and for solutions we always go to the source of the problem, the White man.

Black nations are turned against one another, as in the case of Black South Africans, who were made to believe that other Black Africans are worthless. This resulted in xenophobia attacks on Black African migrants.

Let us look at a few ways adopted to eliminate Black Africans.

King Leopold II of Belgium in 1885, claimed he founded and owned Congo Free State, now DR Congo, and for twenty-years, he killed about 15 million indigenous Blacks. Adolf Hitler killed about 10 million people across Europe during the Second World War but he is rated higher among evil leaders than Leopold II, who is even hardly mentioned. Black life does not matter.

In the seventies, Family Planning scheme was introduced by the Whites to reduce the Black population. Even though, we had natural forms of birth control, we were lured into taking drugs, inserting rubbers at the neck of the womb and other methods to prevent pregnancy.

This seemed to fail, as the Black population in Africa kept growing.

Then came 2019, as if by design, a deadly virus, the Corona Virus (Covid-19) attacked the world. Up to now, we are yet to get confession from the West or the East as to who bred this virus.

With all health facilities brought down to the knees, all across the world, and despite things going very worse in their countries, the Whites found time to celebrate that soon, dead bodies will litter the streets of Black Africa. Covid-19 was introduced to kill off Black Africans.

Madagascar found a cure, but quickly, the West used covert means to make that cure ineffective.

It turned out that, God had His eyes favourably on Black Africa. Out of the over 705 million cases with a little over seven million deaths, world-wide, Africa, suffered 12.9 million cases with almost 259,000 deaths. In Covid-19 cases the continent placed thirteenth behind powerful nations like the USA, France, Germany, Japan, UK and Russia, whose health delivery system can be classified as the best in the world. With the little that we have, Africa was able to come out, very strong.

So, this time round, ever determined to cleanse Blacks off the surface of the world, the West is bent on forcing LGBTQ+ down our throats.

Should we accept this unnatural way of life which is against the divine laws of God, our population will start to nosedive coupled with conflicts among our various ethnic groups, religions and ideologies. Africa, yes, Black Africa will go down and never to rise again. Then, it will not be long for the everlasting black-out to black-out the existence of the Beautiful Black Race.

Unless, we wake up and view LGBTQ+ activities as a danger to us and that could create conflict between us and God, we shall be choked to death. LGBTQ+ activities, being forced on us, is a racist approach to exterminate Black in Africa.

Hon. Daniel Dugan

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

KMA, KCARP donate 30 waste containers to Manhyia Palace

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Baffour Kwame Kusi II, Otumfuo Gyaasehene (Buabas), Nana Aduboffuor Kwaw II and Mr. Kofi Badu received the bins

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), in collaboration with Kumasi Compost and Recycling Plant Limited (KCARP), Africa’s largest compost plant, which is a subsidiary of the Jospong Group has donated 30 waste containers to the Manhyia Palace.

The waste containers were jointly presented to the Palace by Mr. Francis Dwira Darko, the Metro Coordinating Director and Mr. Eugene Amo-Asamoah of KCARP.

Some of the waste containers

The gesture is to support maintenance of cleanliness and keeping the Palace tidy, in the course of events during the 25th Enstoolment Anniversary celebration of Otumfuo.

The bins were presented to the Palace by representatives of the donors on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 slated for the 25th Anniversary celebration of the King of the Asante Kingdom, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

Mr. Francis Dwira Darko, the Metro Coordinating Director speaking on behalf of the Chief Executive of the Assembly underscored the significance of the bins in maintaining hygienic conditions in the Palace as the events for the anniversary set in.

Otumfuo Ankobeahene, Baffour Kwame Kusi II, Otumfuo Gyaasehene (Buabasa) Nana Aduboffuor Kwaw II and the Chief of Staff of the Palace, Mr. Kofi Badu received the waste containers on behalf of the Manhyia Palace.

Nana Buabasa expressed Manhyia Palace’s appreciation to the stakeholders for their support towards the anniversary.

Kumasi market women donate 220k to Heal KATH project

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Nana Afia Kyeiwaa presents the dummy cheque to KATH CEO

Traders from Bantama Race Course and Suame markets and those from Kejetia Central and Abinkyi Markets in Kumasi have contributed a total of GHc220,000 to the Heal KATH project.

Prof. Addai-Mensah receives the cheque from Nana Yaa Foriwaa

While the women from Kejetia Central and Abinkyi Markets, led by Nana Yaa Foriwaa contributed GHc100,000, the Bantama Race Course and Suame market traders headed by Nana Afia Kyeiwaa donated GHc120,000 – after they had contributed GHc5,000 at the launch of the project in November last year.

Nana Yaa Foriwaa, the Market Queen for Kejetia, Central and Abinkyi Markets expressed appreciation to the traders who made the contributions and hoped every single individual would come on board and help in his or her own small way.

Nana Afia Kyeiwaa on behalf of the Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, also thanked traders from her domain who contributed towards the $10 million project initiated by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II in November 2023, towards the renovation of the 70 year health facility.

The two market queens display the money at the presentation ceremony

The CEO of KATH, Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah, who received the donations on behalf of the Project Committee, said the contributions of the traders give them a sense of ownership and noted it would help with the objectives.

Mr. Samuel Adu Boakye, chairman of the Heal Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital project, urged members of the public to respond positively to the call to help Heal KATH.

He said it is not too late to contribute to the project and that nothing is too small.

Otumfuo donates $5 million towards KATH renovation

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Otumfuo Osei Tutu II - Overlord of Asante Kingdom

His Royal Majesty, Opemsuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, has sealed his enthusiasm to see the 70 year old Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) renovated to save lives.

The Ashanti Overlord has set the pace and shown leadership by example by donating a whopping $5 million (the equivalent of 660 billion old Ghana cedis or GHc66 million) to the $10 million Heal KATH project, which he initiated and launched in November 2023 as part of activities marking his 25th anniversary on the Golden Stool.

A representative of Manhyia Palace, Nana Poku Bra, has confirmed the said donation by the Ashanti King, during a discussion on Sompa FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ radio show, with host Omanhene Adu Boakye.

Nana Poku Bra in obvious reaction to criticisms that the Asantehene is ‘pleading for funds’ for the project, said the donation is Otumfuo’s personal support, adding “Otumfuo is capable of building that hospital alone. It is just nice to see others support a worthy cause”.

Meanwhile, Head of KATH Public Affairs Department, Mr. Kwame Frimpong, says the hospital is halfway through the estimated $10 million needed to renovate the facility.
He said the ‘call for support’ by Asantehene to renovate the 70-year-old Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital is yielding results, as individuals and corporate institutions have continued to donate to the initiative.
Mr. Frimpong disclosed this after one of the private institutions, OFI Ghana, donated GH¢300,000 to support the initiative.

Police arrest suspected ritualists with gallon of human blood in Zaria

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Nigeria Police

The Kaduna State Police Command has apprehended a nine-man gang of suspected ritualists under the name of ‘Neo Black Movement, NBM, at a Cemetery in Dutsen Abba Ward along the Zaria -Kaduna expressway with one full jerry can of human blood,

ASP Mansur Hussaini, Public Relations Officer of the Command, while making the confirmation of the arrest on Sunday, explained that their arrest followed a tip-off after a source drew the attention of the service formation that some group of people were sighted at the said cemetery, which in turn Saye Lowcost Division was alerted.

He added that those arrested for alleged involvement in ritual activities are, Samson Ezekiel (32), Samuel Francis (27), Usman Nura (34), Gabriel Sheba (23), Haruna Sa’id (37), Bala Lukman (27) and Jabir Rilwan (37).

The PPRO explained, “A search was conducted on their vehicle, a Lexus sedan, with registration number RSH 712 CW, where two locally made pistols, one Beretta pistol, two jacket knives, two calabashes and a jerrycan, full of human blood were recovered.”

He said the suspected ritualists, comprising the new and old members, were apprehended while initiating the new members, saying the gang confessed to getting the human blood after slaughtering an aged man and disposing of his body along the Jaji military cantonment, in neighbouring Igabi Local Government Area,

The suspects also confessed that the man’s vital body parts were dismembered but were taken away by another gang which came from Kaduna.

Credit: dailypost.ng

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