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We are not against you -Judge tells alleged coup plotters

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Court

Justice Stephen Oppong, one of the three members of the panel of judges trying the alleged coup plotters, has urged the accused persons to disabuse their minds that the court was working against them.

According to him, the panel was only there to do its job, therefore, the accused persons should desist from portraying that the judges were against them.
His comment follows a request by two of the accused persons – Lance Corporal Ali Solomon and Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon – that they wanted to testify in the Buli language.

The panel, presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, yesterday declined the request, explaining that they did not indicate that when their pleas were being taken.
The trial High Court indicated that it was only Bright Alan Debrah and Kafui Donya who requested for their plea to be taken in Twi and Ewe respectively, and the rest in English.

Hitherto, LAC Ali Solomon (A8) and Cpl Sylvester Akanpewon (A9) had insisted that they wanted to testify in Buli, and even had a discussion with their counsel.
It was at this instance that His Lordship Oppong told the accused persons: “You people want to portray we are against you. We are only doing our job.”

LAC Ali Solomon and Cpl Sylvester Akanpewon are standing trial with eight others, of which one, Dr. Frederick MacPalm (A1), is now deceased.

The other accused persons are Donya Kafui aka Ezor (A2), Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu aka Bright Alan Yeboah aka BB (A3), Johannes Zikpi (A4), Col. Samuel Kodzo Gameli (A5), WOII Esther Saan Dekuwine (A6), Corporal (Cpl) Seidu Abubaka (A7) and Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Benjamin Kwasi Agordzo (A10).
Second accused (A2) opens defence

Kafui Donya alias Ezor has told the court that he was invited to Accra to repair guns and manufacture pipes for musketry by the prosecution third witness (PW3), Sergeant Award Sulley.

He said Sergeant Awarf Sulley told him that the guns were for the Military High Command.
According to him, it was PW3 who also brought two guns to be test fired with him and the late Dr. MacPalm for which they were arrested and the guns seized.
As a result, he indicated in his evidence-in-chief, led by the court, because his counsel was not present, that the guns he repaired and the pipes for musketry were not for the purpose of committing a crime.

Prior to giving his evidence-in-chief, Her Ladyship Asare-Botwe explained the options available to him as an accused person – that by law Ezor was not under any obligation to say anything or remain silent to give an unsworn statement, in which the prosecution would not ask questions, and/or give a statement on an oath, and for which all the other lawyers and the prosecution would be free to cross-examination him.

A2 chose the last option – to give a statement on oath – to open his defence.
The court also explained to the other accused persons, whose counsel were not present at the court due to various reasons, that per the court practice direction, any lawyer who absents him/herself, his/her client would go on to conduct his own cross-examination.

On these bases, the accused persons – Cpl Seidu Abubaka, LAC Ali Solomon Cpl Sylvester Akanpewon and ACP Benjamin Kwasi Agordzo (A10) – without legal representation were asked by the court to conduct their own cross-examinations.

The following was how the court led A2 to give his testimony:

Q. Can you repeat your name to the court?
A. My name is Kafui Donya.
Q. Do you have any other name?
A. Ezor.

Q. Where do you live?
A. Alavayo.
Q. What work do you do?

A. I’m a welder, steel bender and blacksmith.
Q. On the 30 January, 2023, a witness statement was taken on your behalf.
A. Yes.

Q. Kindly have a look?
A. Yes it is my witness statement.

A2 reading his witness statement: I’m a farmer and a blacksmith. I was nominated the Best Farmer in 2011 in Hohoe Municipality. Because of my expertise I render wielding services… In July 2019, I had a call from a soldier in Accra… Dr. Sulley. He picked me up at 37 bus stops and he took me to Dr. MacPalm’s house. It was when I got there that Sulley Awarf informed me to repair some guns for him.

Sulley Awarf asked that I lodged with him at Burma Camp, but I declined, and I was taken to the Citadel Clinic… I started cutting the pipes for the musketry and Sulley Awarf also brought me some guns to repair. He said it was for the Military High Command. In September… Sulley Awarf brought two guns to test fire with Dr. MacPalm.
Suley fired the guns and we were arrested by the military and the guns were seized… I never heard of Sulley Awarf again… I have not manufactured any weapons for the purpose to commit [a] crime.

Cross-examination by Rita Kutin Ali, counsel for A3
Q. Kafui, do you know A3, in this matter Bright Alan Debrah Ofosu?
A. Yes.
Q. Mr. Kafui, can you tell the court how you know Mr. Alan Deborah?
A. I got to know A3, Mr. Bright Alan, when Sulley took me to Dr. MacPalm’s house.
Q. If I understand you, the first time you met A3 was in A1’s house. Is that correct?

A. That is so.
Q. Do you remember the date you met A3 in A1’s house?
A. I don’t recollect the exact date, but it was a Sunday.
A. So on that Sunday, when you met A3 in A1’s house, who else was there at A1’s house?

A. We were only four people there.
Q. Mr. Kafui, can you name these people in the house?
A. Sulley, Dr. MacPalm and Alan Debrah and myself.

Q. When you met that Sunday at A1’s house, did A3 discuss with you any plan regarding overthrowing the government?
A. No my lady.

Q. Was that the only time you met A3 in Accra when you arrived?
A. I met him twice.
Q. When was the second time you met A3?
A. I’ve forgotten the exact date, but I met him again when he visited the hospital.
Q. When you say hospital, which hospital are you referring to?

A. Dr. MacPalm’s hospital.
Q. When you met A3 for the second time, did he discuss plans with you to overthrow the government?
A. No.

A. Did A3 discuss with you plans of producing weapons which were going to be used to overthrow the government?
A. No.
A4 to A10, no cross-examination
Cross-examination by Prosecution
Q. Mr. Ezor, you have stated in your evidence-in-chief that you are a blacksmith and a welder?

A. Yes.
Q. Can you tell the court how long you have done this work?
A. For about 30 years.
Q. Who do you work with?
A. When I get jobs that are intensive and require more labour, I get people to help me.
Q. So do you work alone?

A. Yes.
Q. How often do you get jobs outside Alavayo?
A. Many times.
Q. So what do you normally do?

A. Mostly I travel to do steel bending works.
Q. Now you have said you travel a lot. Can you tell the court which part of Ghana you have traveled to do the steel bending work?
A. I travel to Kpeve, Ho, Juapong and Accra.

Q. In your evidence-in-chief, you talk about coming to Accra to repair guns, and also for funeral musketry. How many times you have traveled to Accra to repair guns and pipes for funeral musketry.

A. As I previously mentioned, I travel to other places to do steel bending works.
Q. You stated that you came to Accra to repair guns and cut pipes for funeral musketry?
A. That was the first time I did such a job.
Q. As a blacksmith in Alavayo do you manufacture guns and pipes for musketry?

A. I don’t manufacture guns, but I repair them. I repair locally manufactured gun and single bar (barrel).
Q. You also talk about funeral musketry, which kind of funeral musketry guns do you manufacture?
A. My lady, with funeral musketry we cut the pipes by one foot.
Q. And what do you normally put in the pipes?

A. Only gun powder.
Q. Now you also stated that PW3 was the one who called you and invited you to Accra to work for him. Is that correct?

A. Yes.
Q. That is not true, it was rather Dr. MacPalm who invited you to work for him?
A. No, my lady.

Beige Bank declared it was insolvent -Witness

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Michael Nyimaku, former Chief Executive Officer of the Beige Group

George Akrofi Addo, an Assistant Director at the Banking Supervision Department of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), has testified that loans amounting to about GH¢300 million were unclassified at the Beige Bank, per the Central Bank report.
As a result, Mr. Addo said, the Beige Bank was declared insolvent at the revocation of its license on August 1, 2023.

Testifying as second prosecution witness (PW2) in the trial of Michael Nyimaku, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Beige Group, Mr. Addo indicated that the accused admitted his bank’s challenges two days before the revocation.

He told an Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, yesterday, that the accused wrote to the Central Bank requesting liquidity support, since Beige Bank was not a viable business.

The witness, while being cross-examined by Thaddeus Sory, Counsel for the accused, indicated that Beige Bank was not meeting the withdrawals of depositors, hence, putting it in an emergency situation.

According to him, BoG had a responsibility to regulate and supervise orderly an exit of any bank that was failing.
However, Mr. Sory raised concerns over why BoG would revoke the bank’s license on the strength of a letter the accused had written.

He further stated that if an emergency was the silver lining for its letter dated July 31, 2018, it did not just revoke the licence of the bank, but rather gave it an additional 10 days to make some specific adjustments.

The witness, in response, said the bank’s license was revoked on two grounds – insolvency and emergency situation – which were contained in both the BoG report and Beige letters.
Mr. Nyimaku is facing 43 counts of stealing, fraudulent breach of trust, and money laundering, involving the siphoning of a total of GH¢1.2 billion.

He has been granted bail in the GH¢200,000.

Q. Please, give your full name to the court?
A. My name is George Akrofi-Addo.
Q. Where do you live?
A. I live at Haatso in Accra.
Q. Where do you work?

A. I work at Bank of Ghana, at the Banking Supervision Department, as Assistant Director.
Q. Do you know the accused person?
A. Yes.

Q. On 7th December, 2020, you have a witness statement in this matter. Is that so?
A. That is so.
Q. Kindly identify if it is your signature?
A. It is my signature.

Prosecution: I will like to tender the witness’ statement.
Defence: No objection.
(Document tendered)
Witness reading: Loans amounting to GH¢300 million were improperly classified and not in accordance with Bank of Ghana classification…
Cross-examination

Q. Please, look at Paragraph 2 of your witness statement. Now indicate where you live at Haatso.
A. …Mabey Street.
Q. Take a look at Paragraph 13. It reflects that the bank was written to, and the findings of the Bank of Ghana made available to him. You still stand by that?
A. Yes.

Q. Exhibit AF is a confirmation of Paragraph 13 of your witness statement that the bank was written to…?
A. Yes.

Q. The BoG gave the Beige Bank, at least, 10 days within which to rectify some of the findings that the BoG made against the Beige Bank.
A. That is not so. Bank of Ghana indicated to the bank that it had up to 10th August to pass the adjustments that were reported in the letter, but not to rectify for findings.

Q. Per your witness statement at Paragraph 14, you indicate that a day after the letter of 31 July, 2018 was written to the bank, the bank’s license was revoked?

A. That is so. But on 30 July, 2018, BoG received a letter from the Beige Bank signed by the CEO indicating that there was going to be a run on the bank by 31 July, 2018, and the letter was requesting for liquidity support from the BoG, and it was going to affect other financial institutions, because the bank was not meeting withdrawals of depositors, and that Bank of Ghana should intervene or else the bank cannot function again.

Bank of Ghana has apart from regulating and supervising the banks, has [a] responsibility to ensure that there is an orderly exit of any bank that is failing. The letter received by the Bank of Ghana informed the Bank of Ghana of an emergency situation upon which the Bank of Ghana acted by revoking the licence of the bank.

Q. The BoG revoked the bank’s license on the strength of the accused person’s letter, because they believe what the accused person wrote?
A. That is not so. The report declared Beige Bank insolvent, which means the assets of the bank was less than the liabilities of the bank. The bank was not able to meet depositors’ withdrawals so Bank of Ghana revoked the licence of Beige in accordance with Act 930.

Q. If the report of the Bank of Ghana was the reason for the revocation of the licence, can you explain why on 31 July, 2017, the BoG wrote to the bank; you did not just revoke the licence but rather directed it to make specific adjustments?

A. My Lord, the report declared Beige Bank insolvent, which the law requires that insolvent banks should be revoked, and in addition to that the bank also wrote a letter to call on Bank of Ghana to act in order not to create crippling effects on the liquidity challenges on banks. Act 930 requires the BoG to revoke the licence of a bank if it is insolvent and having liquidity challenges in an emergency situation.

Q. If emergency was the Bank of Ghana’s reason, why did the Bank of Ghana not, by the letter of 31July, 2018, just revoke the licence of the bank, but rather gave it [an] additional 10 days to make specific adjustments?

A. It is both the insolvency as well as the emergency situation which informed the Bank of Ghana to revoke the licence of the bank. Because of the emergency, the Bank of Ghana could not wait for the 10 days.
Q. As at the 31 July, 2018, when the Bank of Ghana wrote this letter, it had received the bank’s letter of 30 July, 2018. Is that correct?

A. Yes.
Q. A reading of the Bank of Ghana’s 31 July, 2018 letter will confirm that no reference was made to the bank’s earlier letter of 30 July, 2018?

A. That is so. Bank of Ghana sent the letter of the report to Beige Bank on 31 July, 2018, but before then the report had been discussed with the CEO on 25 July, 2018, so the final report was just submitted to the bank on 31 July, 2018. However, Beige Bank informed Bank of Ghana on 30 July, 2018, that there was going to be a run on the bank by 31 July, 2018.

In [the] revocation of a bank’s licence, Bank of Ghana will need some time to prepare in order to allow the bank exit orderly, and not to create systemic problems affect to other bank, so that was why Bank of Ghana revoked the license on August 1, 2018.

Q. So, by reference to your testimony that you just gave, the Bank of Ghana thought it was sufficient time between 31 July, 2018, when it wrote to the bank to make specific adjustments, and the 1 August 2018, which was just to revoke the licence of the bank, it was sufficient time to make the orderly transition. Is that so?

A. My Lord, Bank of Ghana informed Beige Bank of its findings, which had declared the bank insolvent, so the bank is already insolvent. As to the adjustment to the books, it will only inform the bank that it is insolvent. Once a bank is insolvent, Bank of Ghana did not need to wait for adjustments to be passed before revoking the licence of the bank.

Q. From your testimony in P6 and 7, the Bank of Ghana had upgraded the bank’s licence status from savings and loans to universal bank. Is that correct?
A. Yes.

Q. Can you tell the court what requirements a savings and loans company must meet before the Bank of Ghana would upgrade it to universal bank?

A. The Bank of Ghana has a very stringent bank licensing procedures before any license is issued for a bank to be established. Bank of Ghana requests for particulars of the shareholders, directors, key management personnel, and review to ensure that they are fit and proper to manage a bank.

Bank of Ghana requests for feasibility reports, which include financial projection for five years, business plan, and these documents are reviewed to ascertain the viability of the banking business. There is also a capital verification process, which ensures that the bank to be licensed meets the minimum capital requirements.

Q. The document shown to you, dated 25 July, 2017, is a letter from the bank to the BoG?
A. That is correct.
Q. The introduction talks about the steps of the approval of the status of the bank as a universal bank?

A. Yes.
Defence: I want to tender the document.
(Document tendered in evidence)
Q. This letter addresses two main issues related to the licensing of the bank to operate as a universal bank. These are the launch of full operations and its deposit book strategy. Is that correct?

A. Yes, my Lord.
Q. If you read below the explanations of what is roadmap for the launch of full operation are you will find in items 4,5, and 6 – the rebranding of its officers, launch of Accra operation, and regional operations. Is that correct?

A. Yes, my Lord.
Q. If you look at the second page of the document, in the last paragraph, the first sentence informs the BoG that there was likely to be a steep decline in the bank’s deposit book following the upgrade of the bank to a universal bank. Is that so?

A. Yes, my Lord. It is so.
Q. The next sentence then informs the BoG of the strategy it will adopt to deal with the situation, which includes the gradual reduction in the bank’s deposit rates. Is that correct?

A. Yes.
Q. On 22 February, 2018, from the bank to the BoG?
A. Yes.
Q. The first sentence refers to a letter dated 25 July, 2017?

A. Yes.
Q. In the banking industry, savings and loans companies deal with their customers at higher interest rates than universal banks?
A. I do not have any information in that respect.
Q. In your 23 years of work at the Bank of Ghana, are you aware that a number of the universal banks operate within a corporate group?

A. Yes.
Q. Within the banking rules are there any rules which prohibit any individual which form part of a corporate group?
A. We call this related party transactions, and the law has made a limit on exposures to related parties.

A. Related party transactions are generally not prohibited?
A. That is so.
Q. In normal banking business funds available to the bank come from various sources?
A. That is so.

Cocoa Farmers ready for Pension Scheme … as COCOBOD begins registration

By
KWESI ALFRED ADAMS
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Cocoa farmers line up to register for the coca pension scheme

COCOBOD has begun sensitising cocoa farmers in the Western Region on the importance of the newly introduced Cocoa Pension Scheme for the Ghanaian cocoa farmer.
The Pension Scheme is a three tier scheme and would be under the supervision of the National Pension Regulatory Authority (NPRA).

The cocoa farmers would contribute a minimum of five percent anytime they visit cocoa sheds to sell their produce. COCOBOD would also contribute one percent in support of the scheme that is being managed by the Trustees.
At a sensitisation exercise at Tarkwa, Wassa Manso and Anoma Wobedi, which are all cocoa farming communities, the Head of Public Affairs of COCOBOD, Fiifi Boafo, explained the significance of the Pension Scheme to the farmers.

COCOBOD meetings with the cocoa farmers on the sensitization exercise

He explained that the importance of the Scheme was to ensure that farmers benefit from their contribution to the economy.
Mindful of the fact that most cocoa farmers were beyond the age of 50 years, the arrangement was such that, those beyond 50 years would contribute for a period of 5 years, after which they would be entitled to reap their contributions.

However, the contribution would last for a minimum of 15 years for farmers who are far below the age of 50 years.
After contributing for 15 years, the Head of COCOBOD Public Affairs explained that the contributor would be entitled to recoup his investment.

According to Fiifi Boafo, the Scheme has a clause, where in times of difficulty, the contributor could withdraw a portion of his contribution to attend to emergency cases, such as payment of school fees and health matters amongst others.
In the event of death, the beneficiary of the contributor would have the opportunity to also reap the benefits.

“It’s impressive and apart from questions about the sustainability of the Scheme, farmers do not have doubt about the scheme”, Fiifi Boafo told journalists.
For instance, he mentioned that in Ashanti Region, 90% of the cocoa farmers have decided to join the scheme. COCOBOD is expecting to register about 800 thousand cocoa farmers for the Pension Scheme.
“It is ongoing, the Cocoa farmers Pension Scheme has come to stay and will serve the farmers until there is no need for pension.

“It is imperative we put in place this Scheme that will ensure farmers have different life after retirement. Most farmers fail to go on retirement because of the realisation that there is nothing to fall on,” he said.
In all the cocoa farming communities that the COCOBOD Team visited for the sensitisation exercise, one thing was clear – the farmers are ready for the Pension Scheme.
At WassaManso, the cocoa farmers applauded COCOBOD for the introduction of the Pension Scheme.

During an open forum, they asked questions bordering on who would manage the scheme and how the scheme would fare in the likely event of a change of government.
Nana Kofi Opoku, chief farmer at WassaManso, entreated cocoa farmers in the area to go all out and register for the scheme.
At AnomaWobedi in the Ahanta West Municipal, the cocoa farmers also welcomed the scheme and urged COCOBOD to speed up the start of the scheme.
Opayin John Kwame Dwinzamereye, a farmer, used the occasion to appeal to COCOBOD to help put their road in shape.

According to him, the road to the area is in a deplorable state and becomes worse during the raining season.
He said the area produces about 1000 bags of cocoa for the economy and there is the need for government to attach importance to the cocoa community.

Woman allegedly kills husband and flees with 3 kids

By
admin
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Agyei Banga, the deceased

Logre, a village in the Nabdam District of the Upper Region was thrown into a state of shock and mourning when one Bogpoka Banga, allegedly killed her 39 year-old husband last Saturday.

Agyei Abanga, a 39 year-old mason, met his untimely death in the wee hours of Saturday when Mrs. Banga, his wife, reportedly hit him multiple times with a pestle in their bedroom.

The renowned building contractor was found in a pool of blood in their abode, when one of his family members rushed to the house after the deceased’s first child had escaped from her mother to inform her grandmother, who lives with the extended family, that Mrs. Abanga had hit her father with an object and had fled with three of their children to Walewale.

Several accounts have it that Mr. Abanga was hit to death with a pick-axe. The Chronicle’s visit to the bereaved family on Sunday, however, revealed that Mrs. Banga allegedly killed the deceased with a pestle.

According to the bereaved family, who confirmed the news to A1 News, the first child (daughter) of the deceased ran to the extended family in the early hours of Saturday to report that her mother had hit her father with an object, locked him up in the house and asked them to leave with her to Walewale.

Bawa Dagal-kurug, head of the bereaved family said the young girl, after following her mother out of the house for a few minutes, subtly told her a lie that she was going to meet a friend, and used that opportunity to ran away.

Mr. Dagal-kurug said shortly after Mrs. Abanga had carried out the barbaric act, the family inquired from Sheaga, her father’s house, to find out about her whereabouts.

Her family then phoned some of her relatives at Walewale, who confirmed that she had reached Walewale.

Shocked and devastated about the incident, Mr Bawa Dagal-Kurug assured the public that Mrs. Abanga, when found, would be handed over to the police to face justice for committing the heinous crime.

“He lives in his house with his wife alone, though he used to live in the extended family with us. He still has a room here. His name is Agyei, a building contractor. He has four kids; the eldest among them came to the extended family to report that their mother woke them up early at dawn and told them she was going to Walewale with them (the kids). The kid told her grandmother that she had seen the mother lock up their father in a room, with blood all over the place.

“Alarmed with the report, the grandmother sent one of the family members to the deceased’s house to find out what had happened. When he got to the house, the gate to the house was locked, he scaled over a wall and entered the compound to see the room of the deceased locked. He broke the door and entered the room only to see the deceased lying in a pool of blood, with a pestle stained with blood beside him.

“We reported the incident to the police and they came to pick up the corpse and deposited it in the mortuary. I called from his father’s house to find out her (the prime suspect) whereabouts and the family said she was in Walewale.

“So, I have sent people to go to Walewale and bring her back. We will hand her over to the police for her to face justice as soon we find her. I was very shocked and speechless upon receipt of the news,” he recounted in Nabdam.

Police Inspector in the Nabdam District, Inspector Amado Zakaria, confirmed to The Chronicle that the incident had been reported to his outfit and that he would work hand in hand with the bereaved family to ensure that the prime suspect is arrested and brought to book.

Meanwhile, the  body has since been deposited at the Upper East Regional Hospital morgue for autopsy and preservation.

From Beyeni Elijah, Bolgatanga

Rainstorm curtails electricity supply to Krobo enclave

By
INUSAH MUSAH
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Some of the ripped-off roofing which interrupted the power supply to parts of the Yilo and Lower Manya Krobo

The Tema Region of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has explained the cause of the interrupted power supply to parts of Yilo and Lower Manya Krobo areas in the Eastern Region last Saturday evening.

According to Ms Sakyiwaa Mensah, the Public Relations Officer of the Company, the cut in supply of power to the Krobo enclave was as a result of a rainstorm.

The major destruction had to do with a roof that ripped off and fell on parts of the ECG’s overhead line conductors, as well as damaging a pole in the process at Kpong junction.

“It affected one of the two main network lines that supply power to these two municipal areas. Unfortunately, our customers in Kpong Quarters, Makrosec, Nuaso (New and Old Town), Kpongunor, Abanse, Agormenya Market and Township had their power supply curtailed,” the Tema Region ECG PRO said in a release copied to The Chronicle.

On the evening of the accident, some customers migrated onto the other supply line which had not been affected, while work continued to restore the broken pole and conductors.

“Due to the extent of damage and its attendant repair works, some customers have remained off supply since the incident happened, as they could not be migrated onto the unaffected supply line,” she added.

To restore power supply to all the affected areas, Miss Sakyiwaa said the ECG Tema Region and Krobo District were working assiduously to fix the problem “and it is hoped that all repair works will be completed immediately.”

The Company cautioned the public to be careful, as the rainy season approaches, which could have some storms as well.

Lastly, it urged landlords to ensure the integrity of the roofs of their buildings to avoid such incidents and outages resulting from such incidents, as happened at Kpong on Saturday.

Chief advocates stakeholder, gov’t collaboration against illegal mining

By
ERNEST BEST ANANE
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Nana Osei Kwame - Atwima Agogohene

Nana Osei Kwame I, Atwima Agogohene in the Atwima Mponua District of Ashanti region has appealed to stakeholders to collaborate with the government to fight against illegal mining.

The partnership, he said, would contribute to the sanitisation of our water bodies, forests and farm lands.

According to Otumfuo Brempong, it is incumbent on every Ghanaian to rally behind the government and complement its effort to save the environment from degradation.

Nana Osei Kwame noted that the destruction of our water bodies, forests and farmlands is a threat to food security, hence the need for the citizenry to get involved in the fight against illegal mining.

The chief said illegal mining is a threat to national security and should be the concern of all Ghanaians.

Nana Osei Kwame, who was addressing an engagement of stakeholders and leadership of Atwima Mponua District Assembly at a community durbar, noted that the fight against illegal mining should not be put on the shoulders of the government alone.

He pleaded with the security agencies, chiefs and Assembly and Unit committee members to join in the crusade against illegal mining, irrespective of their political affiliation or sentiment and religious beliefs.

The Agogohene also expressed worry over the continued operations of illegal miners on the Offin River at Kotokuom.

Mr. Isaac Kofi Marfo, the District Chief Executive for Atwima Mponua commended Nana Osei Kwame for his singular effort at ensuring that illegal mining is effectively checked for sanity to prevail at Kotokuom and surrounding communities.

Rev. Anthony Badu heads Mid-Ghana Baptist Convention 

By
ERNEST BEST ANANE
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Rev. Anthony Yaw Badu being decorated at the induction ceremony by Rev. Charles Oppong Osei

Rev. Anthony Yaw Badu has been inducted as the sector Mid Head of Ghana Baptist Convention (GBC).He oversees the activities of the church spanning Ashanti region and parts of Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions.

Rev. Charles Oppong-Poku, Vice president of Ghana Baptist convention in a sermon at the Ascension Baptist Church at Bomso, in Kumasi, reminded the new mid head that

Spiritual leadership is not a position to acquire but a responsibility to serve others.

The theme for the induction was:”Serving as a faithful Christian leaders in the 31st century”.

Rev. Oppong-Poku stated that a faithful Christian leader puts the needs of others ahead of personal gains and that a Christian leader must be humble and follow the shining examples of Jesus and to exhibit humility, empathy, love, peace and trustworthy to effectively serve God and others.

Rev. Enoch Nii Nar Thompson, the Executive President of Ghana Baptist convention, also stated that, the duty of the Christian leaders and members is to ensure development in the lives of the people.

He urged the Christian leaders to ensure that, the citizenry becomes useful and responsible individuals while preparing souls for Christ.

The Executive President disclosed the world would have been worse without churches, which help to prepare communities to do what is right and love one another.

Rev. Anthony Yaw Badu, the newly inducted sector mid head of the Ghana Baptist convention assured that Christianity would keep reshaping the lives of the society for a common goal of living in righteousness through the principles of Christ.

Editorial: Kudos to Ghana Armed Forces, manufacturing of illegal explosives must end now!

By
THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

The Daily Graphic yesterday published a story about how the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) busted a syndicate of 13 foreigners allegedly engaged in the manufacture of explosives in Tarkwa, in the Western Region. Over 20,000 pieces of illegal explosives were seized from the suspects, made up of eight Chinese, three Togolese, an Ivorien, and a Nigerian.

According to the story, the explosives, which were seized on the premises of Mohammed Brothers Company Limited and Dakete Mines in Tarkwa, included about 10,000 kilogrammes of ammonium nitrate, and about 20,000 explosive charges in the form of dynamite, which had been prepared from ammonium nitrate.

The GAF, in a statement, said “most of the ammonium nitrate was concealed in flour and rice sacks.”

According to the statement, the operation, led by personnel of the 2nd Infantry Battalion, “was premised on detailed intelligence aimed at clamping down on the manufacture, sale, and use of illegal dynamite in parts of the country, especially mining areas.”

According to Daily Graphic the suspects had been screened and handed over to the National Security Ministry in Accra for further investigations.

The members of the community where the explosives were found were alarmed by the operation carried out by the syndicate, especially, as terrorists are threatening the northern border areas of the country.

First, The Chronicle would like to commend the GAF for embarking on such an operation. For some time now, terrorists have been threatening the northern border areas of the country, and if such activities are not nipped in the bud, unscrupulous persons might take advantage of the situation to move across the border.

The GAF took a bold step to seize over 20,000 pieces of illegal explosives, which will go a long way to prevent terrorists from using the country as launch pads for their illicit activities.

Also, the seizure of the illegal explosives in the heart of Tarkwa, which is not far from a Senior High School, with other social and economic activities going on in the area, we can say pose a threat to lives and properties. This proliferation of illegal explosives is a very serious issue that must not be taken lightly, especially when they are done in densely populated areas which become dangerous to lives and property.

An example is what happened last year in the Apiatse community. The explosion of the 10-tonne dynamites being transported to a mining site at Bogoso killed 13 people and destroyed properties in the community. In fact, the whole community was destroyed and the government had to spend millions of cedis to rehabilitate and build a new community.

The Chronicle is, indeed, happy that the military got a tip off and acted swiftly, meaning the wildly advertised “see something, say something” message by National Security is actually working.

The security services cannot do it all without the support of the civilian populace. If we report situations that appear suspicious it will go a long way to help the security services.

We urge the military to keep the public in the loop on any development on this issue. Also, if the suspects are found guilty, they should be dealt with according to the law. This, we believe, will serve as a deterrent to others who engage in such illegal activities in the country.

Two natives of Chiraa living in the USA donate to Chiraa Health Centre

By
FRANCIS OWUSU-ANSAH
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Mr Atta Frimpong(3rd right) making the donation to staff of the facility

Two natives of Chiraa living in the United States (US), Mr. Atta Frimpong and Mr. Patrick Appiah Boateng, have donated a brand new patient monitoring machine to the Chiraa Health Centre in the Sunyani West Municipality of the Bono Region.

The donation was to support the development of the Centre in health care delivery.

According to Mr. Atta Frimpong, the donation was necessitated by the need for natives of Chiraa to support the Centre and what others had done to stock the facility with quality equipment to enhance health care delivery for the people.

He said: “The plan to donate to the hospital is one sure way to serve the people, because doing this is a service to mankind and life.”

Mr. Frimpong added that this would not be the last time they will be donating to support the Chiraa community development, but would keep coming to the aid of the town.

He urged his brothers and sisters in the diaspora to also assist the Health Centre.

Deputy A-G, Abesim youth appreciate Stephen Appiah

By
FRANCIS OWUSU-ANSAH
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0
Mr Tuah Yeboah(3rd right) presenting the citation to Stephen Appiah

The Deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney-General, Mr. Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, has joined the chiefs and people of Abesim in the Bono Region to honour former Black Stars Captain Stephen Appiah for his contributions to soccer in Ghana.

The occasion, which was on the theme: “Celebrating the Legends,” was to acknowledge the celebrated Stephen Appiah for his dedication and exemplary performance during his era as the Captain of Ghana’s senior national football team, the Black Stars.

It coincided with the annual football gala competition, which featured five community teams, namely, Abesim Youth; Badolo Stars; Agape Down; Ohene Gyan, and Komkom, all of which competed for the trophy.

This year’s competition saw in attendance many dignitaries, including the Bono Regional Minister, Justina Owusu Banahene; the Sunyani East Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Frank Musah Damtarl; retired footballers/legends, and football administrators, among others.

Mr. Appiah, who hails from Chorkor, a suburb of Accra, in the Greater Accra Region, was selected to be honoured during the seventh edition of the annual event, aimed at recognising personalities for their contributions to the football industry in Ghana.

As part of the celebration, the Deputy Attorney-General, who hails from Abesim, the Regional Minister and other dignitaries present presented citations to Mr. Appiah.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Stephen Appiah gave the assurance that he would continue to contribute to the development of young talented footballers in the country.

He encouraged young people who had chosen football as their career not to give up because of challenges such as poor pitches and others associated with the game.

He thanked the organisers for choosing him among many equally important and hard-working football personalities, and the entire people of the country, who gave him the opportunity to play for Ghana.

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