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Nkoranza riot: Police brief families over death of suspects

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The Police, on April 14, 2023 met with the families of Victor Owusu, who died in a rioting incident at Nkoranza and a deceased robbery suspect, Albert Donkor, to give them an update of Police Investigation into the occurrences of 25th April, 2022 that led to the death of the two.

At 12.35am on April 25, 2022 the Nkoranza Police received distress call from a Pragia rider, to the effect that some armed men had blocked the Nkoranza-Jema highway and were robbing road users of their belongings.

The Nkoranza District patrol team, on board Service Vehicle No GP 226, was dispatched to the robbery scene and arrived around 1:00am. The robbers opened fire at the police, who also returned fire. During the exchange of fire, the Police service vehicle at the site was damaged.

The robbers then fled the scene into a nearby bush and were pursued by the Police team, which conducted a search in the bush and found BB cartridges and some mobile phones that were retrieved as exhibits.

Police identified the victims at the robbery scene and escorted them to the police station, to assist with investigation.

At the police station, one of the robbery victims gave a vivid description of the robbers who attacked them. He described the attire worn by one of the robbers as a ‘grey-like hoodie.’

Police subsequently mounted Intelligence operations and subsequently arrested Albert Donkor, the deceased, in his house and a ‘grey-like hoodie’ was retrieved from his room.

The deceased, during interrogation, admitted that he had taken part in the robbery and mentioned some of his accomplices.

The deceased led the Police to the hideout of his accomplices, but they came under fire, as they approached the location. The Police returned fire and after the exchange, Albert Donkor was found with gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but was pronounced dead on arrival.

A team of Investigators from Accra, including a Crime Scene Management team was dispatched to Nkoranza to assist the local Police to investigate the incident and the leadership of the Police Service also followed up to Nkoranza to engage with the affected families and other key stakeholders in the community, as part of the investigation process.

The Crime Scene was reconstructed and the relevant crime scene formalities were ascertained. The electronic devices, including an ITEL W6004 A56 mobile phone, retrieved at the scene, were subjected to forensic examination.

As part of the investigation, it became necessary to conduct an autopsy on the body of deceased Albert Donkor.

The Police offered the family the option of using an independent pathologist or a police pathologist and the family opted for an independent pathologist to conduct the autopsy.

The body of the deceased was, therefore, conveyed to the Korle Bu Teaching hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

The autopsy was conducted on 8th August, 2022 by the independent pathologist at the Korle-Bu Teaching hospital. Police are still waiting for the autopsy report from the independent pathologist.

While awaiting the report of the autopsy, the case docket was forwarded to the Attorney General’s (AG) office for study and advice, in line with investigation and prosecution procedures.

 

Key findings of the Police investigations into the death of Albert Donkor confirmed that the deceased, Albert Donkor was one of the robbers, who mounted the road block and carried out the robbery on April 25, 2022.

Analysis of the deceased’s Call Data Records [CDR) established that the deceased was at the scene of robbery on 25th April, 2022.

One of the victims of the robbery also identified the deceased to the Police at the Nkoranza Police Station, as one of the robbers who attacked them.The deceased had also admitted to the robbery after he was identified by one of the victims.

The Forensic examination established that the ITEL mobile phone retrieved at the robbery scene belonged to the deceased.

An examination of the ITEL W6004 A56 mobile phone revealed the following;

  • a picture of the deceased’s Voters’ ID card.
  • a picture of a rugger pistol with serial number 310-23294 taken by the deceased himself, with the weapon in his hands, taken at 1:23 am on August 15, 2021.

The forensic analysis [DNA] of the grey-like hoodie retrieved in the course of the investigation has confirmed that the hoodie belonged to the deceased.

The deceased led the Police to the hideout of his accomplices where they came under fire.

The Police, therefore, returned fire and after the exchange, the deceased was found with gunshot wounds and was rushed to the hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Investigation by the Police Professional Standards Bureau (PPSB) into the incident revealed that despite the suspect’s involvement in the robbery, on hindsight, if the Police officers who took the deceased to the hideout of his accomplices had acted a little more professionally, they might have been better able to protect him from the gunshots that led to his death.

The AG, after a study of the case docket, has advised that Police intensify their effort in apprehending the deceased’s accomplices to face justice.

 

ATTACK ON THE NKORANZA DISTRICT POLICE HEADQUARTERS AND THE SUBSEQUENT DEATH OF VICTOR KWADWO OWUSU 

When the news of the death of Albert Donkor was announced to the family, some youth of Nkoranza, numbering about 400, armed with stones, clubs and other offensive implements converged on the road in front of the District Police Headquarters,Nkoranza, on 17th May, 2022 and started burning lorry tyres and wood on the road, and also blocked movement of traffic and pedestrians

The mob forcibly entered into the Charge Office, broke into the cells and freed all the suspects in custody.

During the course of the protest, they also caused damage to the following;

  • Police Service Vehicle No.GP 3325, belonging to Nkoranza District Police
  • The Divisional Headquarters building
  • A VW Touareg with registration number GE1071-11 belonging to the District Commander
  • One KIA Sportage with registration number GW 7895V, belonging to D/C/Inspector Frederick Appiah Korang,
  • One exhibit TICO Taxi cab
  • One exhibit motor bike and LG Television for the District.

 

The mob also made away with two mobile phones and unspecified amount of money from the charge office.

A police reinforcement team responded to the incident and successfully restored law and order and a feel of security.

On the same day, eight (8) of the irate mob, namely Stephen Baffoe, Augustine Duodu, Eric Appiah, Iddrisu Ishmael, Rockson Donyina, Philemon Yaw, Raymond Agyei and Victor Kwadwo Owusu who sustained injuries were sent to St. Theresa’s Hospital, Nkoranza for treatment.

Unfortunately, one of the eight suspects, Victor Kwadwo Owusu was pronounced dead at the hospital. The body of the deceased was deposited at the same hospital morgue for autopsy.

Police, therefore, initiated investigations and necessary arrangements were made with his family for the post-mortem to be conducted.

The family was given the option to either get an independent pathologist to conduct the autopsy or for the autopsy to be conducted by the police. They agreed for the police to conduct the autopsy.

On the 6th June, 2022 the autopsy was conducted by a police pathologist in the presence of the father of the deceased, Mr. James Boamah and the Investigator. The pathologist gave the verbal cause of death as severe head injury, fall and brain tumor. The pathologist again informed the family about the option to get a second opinion on the matter, if they so wished

On the 23rd June, 2022, a copy of the written Post mortem report, together with a copy of the Coroner’s form, were handed over to the deceased’s family.

However, the family expressed dissatisfaction at the outcome of the Post mortem examination and requested for a second opinion.

On 27th November, 2022 the body was conveyed to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital for re-examination and on the 30th November, 2022 the deceased’s body was re-examined by an independent pathologist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

The police are yet to receive a copy of that Post mortem report. The body has since been released to the family for burial.

The key finding of the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of Victor Owusu is that he died as a result of a head injury, fall and brain tumor, and not as a result of a gunshot.

GPHA continues engagements with potential investors for Keta Port project

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Dr. Alexander Yaw Adusei, Director of Keta Port, addressing the Kedzi community

The Director of the Keta Port Project, Dr. Alexander Yaw Adusei, has disclosed that the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority had, since 2022, began preliminary engagements with parties who have expressed interest in developing the port facility.

He said out of about 16 companies engaged, the Authority believed about 6 had demonstrated prospects for further engagements.

In the meantime, the Director of the Port Project is hopeful that by September this year, the environmental and social impact assessments would be completed to make way for the next necessary steps towards building the port.

He was speaking during a forum in the town of Kedzi, where the port project will be situated.

The aim of the forum was intended to sensitize the Kedzi Community and its surroundings about the realities of the port project and to debunk certain misconceptions surrounding it in the community. It was also an opportunity for the indigenes themselves to ask questions pertaining to the project.

Dr. Alexander Adusei Jnr. emphasised the desire of the Port Authority and the government of Ghana to ensure that the port project is strategically phased out to ensure the port becomes the catalyst for the economic development of the area.

“This port is a well thought-of plan. It is not going to be built in a day, it is a gradual process. It starts from somewhere, it will be added on and 20, 30, 40 and even 50 years down the line, we will still be building because new ideas will come.”

The Dufia of Kedzi, Togbui Acolatse V, assured the indigenes of his faith in the port project.

“From what I have seen so far and my engagement with GPHA, I have full faith that a project like this will come to fruition. It is not a nine-day wonder project, people are expecting more and we should understand them but what we should always guard against is the politics around it. Let us put the politics aside,” he urged.

Chief of Naval Staff rejects data by International Maritime Bureau

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Rear Admiral Issah Yakubu, Chief of Navy Staff

The Chief of Navy Staff (CNS), Rear Admiral Issah Yakubu, has rejected data released by the International Maritime Bureau that Ghana recorded the highest number of piracy incidents globally last year.

“Let me state categorically that the impression created is utterly misleading and disingenuous,” he stated. “Let me state categorically that none of the incidents of petty thefts that occurred on some vessels at the Takoradi Port and anchorage fit any of the two definitions [of piracy].”

He said in none of those incidents was violence used, and none of those vessels reported seeing any intruders onboard, but all they reported was the detection of missing petty items such as paints and ropes stowed on the upper decks, which were outside of Irving spaces of the vessels.

Speaking at a handing over ceremony of two vehicles from the Danish government to the Ghana Navy on Friday, he said: “It is clearly the responsibility of every vessel to keep proper watch onboard to ensure that miscreants do not sneak onboard to steal petty items and sneak out without being detected.”

He indicated that what exacerbates the problem was that most of the vessels do not report such incidents to the local authorities on detection, but chose to report to their parent companies overseas, thereby denying the local authorities the opportunity to act swiftly on the incidents.

Rear Admiral Yakubu stated that the report was at the backdrop where the Ghana Navy was working in collaboration with other agencies to nip piracy of its waters.

He added that over the last two years, the Ghana Navy and its international partners were building capacity and information sharing, increased presence at sea, and the deployment of armed guards on fishing vessels.

“Let me repeat that no violent attack or kidnapping has occurred against vessels in our waters in the last two years,” he stressed.

He explained that the donation of the vehicles to the Special Boat Squadron of the Navy was to enable it build a robust force capable of conducting all kinds of specialised operations at sea.

According to him, the donation would further improve the logistics support towards a 5-year Development Plan, as the Danish government had taken a decision to relocate its prefabricated mobile camp from Mali to the Naval Training Command to serve as the Special Boat Squadron training camp.

Rear Admiral Yakubu thanked the Danish Ambassador to Ghana for the support and gave him the assurance that the vehicles would be well maintained.

The Danish Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Tom Norring, added that the vehicles were to support the Navy’s operations.

He urged the Navy to work on a limited budget as it was crucial to get most resources.

Editorial: Reckless utterances from politicians can plunge Ghana into chaos

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THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

Following the recent statement made by the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr. Bryan Acheampong, about the incoming 2024 election, some leading members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by Abraham Amaliba, decided to report him to the police. The petitioners want the Inspector General of Police (IGP), George Akuffo Dampare’s men to arrest the Mpraeso Member of Parliament (MP), because his statement is seen as a threat to the peaceful conduct of the 2024 election.

Barely 24 hours after the NDC members had reported the case to the police, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) also reported former President John Dramani Mahama to the same police, over an alleged statement he made three years ago, about the already conducted 2020 national elections.

According to the NPP, crime has no expiry date and that the former president must be arrested for questioning over the comments he made, which we do not want to repeat here. The police are yet to officially respond to the two requests they have received from the two leading political parties in the country.

But, as we wait for the police response, The Chronicle is surprised that leading members of the two combatants (NPP and NDC) have been moving from one radio station to the other trying to justify comments made by both John Mahama and Bryan Acheampong. Looking at the tribal and election-related conflicts that happen in Ghana, and other parts of the African continent, one would have expected that our politicians will be careful with their public utterances.

Unfortunately, this is not what we are seeing – our politicians rather see it as normal when they threaten fire and brimstone before any major elections in Ghana. To them, this is what will put the fear of God in their opponents to stop them from ‘stealing the elections’.

They also fail to appreciate the fact that some of these inflammatory statements can be swallowed hook line and sinker by their supporters, who may act upon them in a way and manner that can undermine the security of our dear nation. During the election-related violence that occurred in Ivory Coast over ten years ago, many innocent people were killed for committing no crime.

As we put this editorial together, Sudan, an African country, is on fire with many of the civilian population being killed. We can also recall the Liberia and Sierra Leon civil wars, where limps of people were chopped off. Through the prayers of religious leaders of this country, these kind of wars have never occurred in Ghana. This does not, however, mean that it can never happen – we will be laughing at the wrong side of our mouths if our politicians continue to make reckless public statements in their quest for governance.

The Chronicle is, therefore, appealing to our religious and traditional leaders to call out these politicians anytime they make such public statements that have the potential to undermine our national security. Some of them have got the financial wherewithal to fly their families out of the country should there be any disturbances, but what about the rest of the population?

A word to the wise is enough!

Accurate Giant Co-op Credit Union branch opens at New Edubiase

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The New Edubiase Co-Operative Credit Union office

A new branch office of Accurate Giant Co-operative Credit Union Limited has been opened at New Edubiase in the Adansi South District of the Ashanti Region.

The Executive Director of Giant Co-operative Credit Union Limited, Mr. Alex kwofie Hanson, charged entrepreneurs to open more businesses to absorb the teeming unemployed youth in the country.

Kwofie Hanson [middle] speaking at the inauguration
He noted that the move would help absorb the teeming unemployed youth and lessen the burden on the government over unemployment.

He also said the central government was saddled with a lot of problems, and that it was time entrepreneurs went to its aid to open more businesses to help boost the economy.

Mr. Kwofie Hanson said since the establishment of his enterprise some four years ago, he had been able to employ over 130 young boys and girls, and added that he planned to employ more youth in New Edubiase so that they would be able to support themselves financially without relying on their parents for their needs.

The Adansi South District Chief Executive, Mr. Francis Ankomah, commended the Executive Director for spreading his business to the district, and said the Assembly encourages private businesses to flourish so that it could cash in to collect taxes to improve its finances.

The Edubiasehemaa, Nana Akua Dwun II, advised the staff to do honest and diligent work. She recounted instances where some employees of companies, after ‘chopping’ the entire finances of the company, clandestinely set fire to the entire establishment, and hoped such nefarious acts would not happen at the New Edubiase branch of Accurate Giant Co-operative Credit Union Limited.

From Frederick Danso Abeam, New Edubiase

NHIA embarks on free registration for the aged in Kwabre

By
ERNEST BEST ANANE
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Mr. Edward Frimpong

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has embarked on a free registration exercise for the aged above 70 years on to the scheme to enable them access quality healthcare free of charge.

The exercise was under the theme: “Co-payment at providers’ sites: Barrier to the sustenance of NHIS”.

Mr. Edward Frimpong, Kwabre District Manager of the NHIA, said during the registration exercise that the initiative was not limited to the aged, but would provide services for clients who had misplaced their cards, and those who were yet to register for the first time.

He said the NHIA would use the opportunity to educate or sensitise the general public on the NHIS App, Mobile renewal using*929#, Ghana Card linkage to the NHIS, Free maternal registration, and the free registration for the aged above 70 years.

He disclosed that the exercise also provides instant active cards for pregnant women, the aged, and children less than five years.

Mr. Frimpong appealed to the service providers to desist from taking monies from their clients who are on the National Health Insurance Scheme, because such an attitude discourages the victims from registering, which leads to non-renewal of their cards, and eventual collapse of the scheme.

He expressed worry about extortion of monies by some healthcare providers from vulnerable clients and billing the government for the same service they had already charged.

Mr. Seth Adu- Adjei, Public Relations Officer for the Kwabre NHIA, also took the public through the process of registering with My Mobile App and its benefits.

He also explained to them the importance of being linked to the Ghana Card with the National Health Insurance.

Chief, fetish priestess clash over mining site …Youth resist galamsey in Dwenewoho enclave

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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Nana Sarfo Kantanka Appiah - Chief of Asante Akropong

Nana Sarfo Kantanka Appiah, the chief of Akropong, in the Nwabiagya South District, has allegedly stopped the operations of Nana Akosua Konadu, a fetish priestess at Dwenewoho, in the Ahafo Ano South West District of Ashanti Region.

Deserted Asikasu shrine

The chief summoned the priestess to his Palace recently and ordered her to move out from the area because she is not an indigene.

Nana Sarfo Kantanka Appiah reportedly told the fetish priestess, in the presence of Nana Twumasi Ampofo, the Odikro of Dwenewoho community, that she has no right to stand in the way of miners in the area.

Nana Twumasi Ampofo, the Odikro of Dwenewoho community, however, told this reporter that, contrary to the information made available to The Chronicle, he was not present when Nana Kantaka allegedly told the fetish priestess that she could not stand in the way of mining in the area.

Nana Konadu’s shrine was later attacked and destroyed by illegal miners, including three Chinese nationals,to prevent her from operating as a fetish priestess in the community.

The Akroponghene has also asked the fetish priestess not to lodge any complaint about the attack on her shrine, and she must not go against his decision in her own interest.

The Asikasu river at Dwenewoho

There have been destruction of farmlands and river bodies due to illegal mining in the area. River Asikasuand River Betinkohave become polluted and dry due to their beds been dug out by excavators. This causes flooding after the slightest downpour.

Nana Akosua Konadu is yet to lodge a complaint with the Union of Fetish Priests and Priestesses, headed by Alhaji Abass, after which Otumfuo’s Nsumankwahene would be notified about the conduct of the Akroponghene and his agents.

The development has incensed the youth of Dwenewoho, who kicked against proposals of DwenewohoOdikro, alias Kofi Jeff, a fortnight ago, to allow mining in the area to aid the community’s development.

Kofi Asante, a native of Dwenewoho, during a meeting with the stool elders of Dwenewoho said the youth expressed anger over the complicity of the chiefs in the operations of illegal mining at the expense of development of the area.

They realised that the Odikro, who had convened the meeting, wanted to mine in the area,under the pretext that he wants to reclaim mined areas.

Even though the meeting ended in a stalemate, as the youth questioned his motive, excavators have already been deployed to the area.

One Kofi Owusu of Anyemsemkrom complained that he had once been summoned before the Akroponghene and accused of interfering with exploration and operations of illegal miners in the area.

The youth have, therefore, appealed to the government and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to intervene and stop the chiefs behind illegal mining in the Dwenewoho area, saying galamsey is not in the best interest of the youth and, therefore, not beneficial in any way.

Meanwhile, Nana Sarfo Kantanka Appiah, the Akroponghene, has not returned calls to his cell phone for his reaction to the complaints. He has also not responded to smstext and WhatsApp messages sent to him.

Nana Twumase Ampofo, the Odikro, through whom the Akroponghene, his overlord, invited the priestess, has denied ever meeting the priestess at the Akropong Palace.

When pressed further, he declined to comment until he knows the source of our information.

In September last year, Nana Twumasi Ampofo, while responding to allegations, told The Chronicle on tape that in consultation with his elders and his overlord, theAkropong chief, he allocated a one acre parcel of land to the youth for mining, after the youth had approached him for a concession.

Mining activities near the Shrine

According to him, he consented to the request by the youth because thegovernment is not against mining, if it is done responsibly.

He said his position is to help create employment and decent livelihood for the youth.

Nana Twumasi Ampofo explained that the one acre land released is for the purposes of prospecting for minerals so that the community could engage experts to do responsible mining under a community mining project, to avoid influx of illegal miners in the area and promising to reclaim the mined areas.

Ho Market women demonstrate against MCE …for disrespecting the traditional authorities

By
SAMUEL AGBEWODE
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The Ho Central Market women at the VRCC, where they presented the petition for the Regional Minister

Traders in the Ho Central Market, who are mainly women, have staged a peaceful demonstration against the Ho Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr. Divine R.K. Bosson, over his alleged disrespect to the traditional authorities.  According to them, the MCE had decided not to recognise the Acting Market Queen, and that he had also made several attempts to create confusion in the market.

The traders, who were clad in red clothes, sang war songs while parading through the major streets of Ho. They also carried placards, some of which read: “MCE must go for harassing our Market Queen”, “You cannot disrespect our tradition and culture”, and “Ho Central Market was there before local government started in Ghana,” among others.

The traders, led by the Acting Market Queen, Madam Rejoice Norvixoxo, converged at the forecourt of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC), where they presented a petition to the Volta Regional Minister, Dr. Archibald Letsa, which was received by the Regional Coordinating Director (RCD), Mr. Isaac Adzah Tetteh.

Mr. Tetteh assured the market women that the petition would be given to the Minister, and the necessary action would be taken to promote peace in the market.

Mr Isaac Adzah Tetteh Volta Region Coordinating Director receiving the petition from the Market Queen, Madam Rejoice Norvixoxo

According to the petition, since Mr. Bosson took over as the MCE, he had been harassing the Acting Market Queen, who was appointed by the Paramount Queenmother of the Asogli Traditional Area, Mamaga Akua Dei II.

According to them, the conduct of the MCE showed gross disrespect to the chiefs of Asogli, queenmothers, and elders.

The market women in their petition said, the appointment of Madam Norvixoxo by the traditional authorities was done long before Mr. Bosson was appointed as the MCE, and cautioned that they would not allow the MCE to continuously ridicule their chiefs and queenmothers.

The statement continued that the MCE had been using the security agencies such as the police and National Investigation Bureau (NIB) to harass the Market Queen. According to them, the two security agencies arrested the Market Queen and detained her for days without any charge, under the alleged instruction of the MCE.

The MCE was also alleged to have made a public announcement that the traders should disregard Madam Norvixoxo as the Market Queen, because the Assembly did not recognise her. This conduct, they argued, was a violation of traditional norms and practices, which the MCE had directly countered the appointment made by the chiefs.

The market women said they would not allow any government official to either insult their chiefs or show any act of disrespect towards them, as was being carried out by the Ho MCE. They alleged that the MCE was planning to also appoint a new Market Queen to undermine the appointed by the traditional authorities, and that they (market women) would not allow that to happen.

The statement further alleged that the MCE, at the recent 66th Independence Day celebration, paraded party foot soldiers and named them as traders in the Ho Market.

The market women have, therefore, appealed to the Regional Minister to intervene to establish the role of the Assembly and that of the Market Queen, as has been the practice in the region and the country in general, to ensure peace in the market.

When contacted, MCE Bosson denied all the allegations levelled against him, and described the demonstration as a calculated attempt to tarnish his hard-earned reputation.

Mr. Bosson explained that when he became the MCE, he, in collaboration with key officers of the Assembly, identified loopholes in revenue collection and decided to put in place measures to increase revenue on market days from GH¢2,000 to GH¢8,000.

The development, he noted, had affected some of the market women, including the Market Queen, who were engaged in illegal collection of money from the traders.

He said the Ho Central Market land was leased and the Assembly continues to pay a fee every month to the land owners. Apart from this, the stores and sheds in the market were built by the Assembly, therefore, they had the responsibility to ensure smooth revenue collection and effective management of the market.

Mr. Bosson believed that the measures put in place to increase revenue might have infuriated the market women, hence, the demonstration.

Mistrust the obvious, NDC

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OPINION

The largest opposition party in Ghana, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has on its political agenda, May 13, 2023 to hold presidential and parliamentary primaries. Knowing what this party is capable of, Ghanaians are praying that these elections will go on peacefully in the spirit of brotherliness.

Apart from the presidential aspirants being made to cough out over $42,500.00, sorry GH¢ 500,000.00, which does not relate to the NDC’s cry that times are hard and money is not in the system, there are one or two issues which need interrogation.

Before I express my opinion on the other matters, it is very pleasing to hear that after all, money is still in Ghana as the NDC has recently demonstrated.

With the presidential aspirants, each was made to buy nomination forms at GH¢50,000.00 (over $4,250.00) and pay filing fee of GH¢500,000.00 ($42,500.00). If I remember right, four gentlemen picked forms but only three returned them and paid the filing fee. That makes it that the NDC, just overnight bagged GH¢200,000.00 plus GH¢1,500,000.00, totalling GH¢1,700,000.00(over $144,500.00).

Enter the so-called poverty-stricken parliamentary aspirants, each was made to buy nomination forms at GH¢5,000.00 and filing fee of GH¢50,000.00, or GH¢55,000.00 ($4,680.00) in total. And a total of 872 persons have so far picked forms and paid the filing fees, making the NDC bag almost GH¢47,960,000.00or $4,078,038.00 to be precise.

So, today as we speak, the NDC who are proclaiming that all Ghanaians are poor, and are suffering just as all Ghanaians are, could just get 876 members of the party to voluntarily, without stress or force, without selling family land or cocoa farms, bring GH¢49,660,000.00 or almost $4,222,589.00, to the table.

The USD/GH¢, rate applied here is 1USD to GH¢11.76. If only 876 NDC members can just go under their pillows and bring out such an amount, then what amount of money will be gotten from 6,000 dye-in-the wool supporters, who will represent at less than0.1% of the total votes John Mahama had? That will be GH¢287,760,000,000.00 or over $24 billion.

Hei…Ghana is not a poor country after all, with the very poor people bringing out such monies. And we need just $3 billion from IMF to stay afloat, which the NDC can produce eight times that. Chai…. There is God.

Recently, the NDC national executives placed travel ban on all MPs and instructed that they should relocate and stay close to the Parliament House, in case they will be called to vote on delicate issues, they should only be a walk away from the House.Top on the targeted list were the approval of president’s nominees for ministerial and deputy ministerial appointments and justices for the Supreme Court.

According to the NDC, the current NPP government is bloated and so government can do without, ministers for Trade and Industry and Food and Agriculture.

Come Friday, March 24, 2023, the chamber of the House had august visitors in the persons of H.E. John Mahama and Chairman Asiedu Nketia, who used their presence to remind the NDC MPs, how to vote.

Everything went on well, except that some MPs still do not know how to vote, hence rejected ballots appeared. When the results were collated and declared, it came out that about thirty NDC MPs decided to vote with their conscience. So, in the end all the ministerial nominees and justices sailed through.

All hell broke loose and and that poured out of some NDC gurus including H.E. Mahama were very frightening.

Those MPs who betrayed the course of the party were traitors.

Those MPs will be, smoked out and made to lose their seats.

But was it not about two years ago, that Parliament voted to elect Speaker of the House? With 137/137/1, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) were hanging on all it members plus the Independent MP to beat the NDC by at least one vote. In the end NDC’s Alban Bagbin won with 138 votes.

It clearly meant that one or two NPP MPs voted against the Party’s choice of Prof. Mike Ocquaye. While the NPP went crestfallen, the NDC was full of praise for the two NPP MPs who voted based on conscience. So, how come, the NDC is not praising their thirty or so MPs who also voted on conscience? If to the NDC, those two NPP MPs were not traitors, then why call its MPs who voted the other way on March 24, traitors.

The NDC has decided to conduct forensic audit to fish out those who voted against the party’s direction and when found out, they will be made to lose their primaries.

This is what will hurt the NDC the most. For an MP to hang on in Parliament for eighteen months, knowing he or she will never come back again, thanks to the party, they can surely join the majority NPP and make the NDC irrelevant and unattractive to vote for, in 2024.

If an NDC MP is not returning, then the NDC party must not return. Having said that whenever the NDC constitutes the search operations, it must mistrust the obvious. Because, it may certainly not be those who look like elephants who voted for the NPP. More search and DNA must be done to find out those who actually relate any of the appointees by blood or by love.

With the NDC, Ghanaians, must mistrust the obvious..

Hon. Daniel Dugan

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

Corpse missing in Ogun mortuary

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Ogun mortuary

Plans by the family of an 86-year-old deceased man to give him a befitting burial hit a snag as the mortuary could not produce the corpse when asked to do so.

DAILY POST learnt that the corpse of late Pa Joel Omiran, who died a month ago, was deposited at the mortuary of Sacred Heart Hospital in Lantoro, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

The old man had died at the private hospital where he was rushed to for treatment. His children were said to have kept their father’s body in the mortuary till burial arrangements were concluded.

It was gathered that the family checked back three weeks ago and confirmed that the body was still well-preserved in the morgue.

However, trouble started when the children visited the mortuary during the week to take delivery of the body of their late father, but the corpse was nowhere to be found.

DAILY POST learnt that four persons have been arrested following the mysterious disappearance of the corpse.

A reliable source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity told DAILY POST: “The children of Pa Omiran kept the body of their father in the mortuary a month ago.

“But, they were shocked when they visited the hospital this week after they called to inform them they will be taking away the body for burial. They cleared all necessary bills.

“[But] on getting to the hospital, they could not find the body. Every effort to get the body proved abortive.

“Two mortuary attendants, an auditor and a plumber have been arrested.”

Credit: dailypost.ng

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