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Police, military avert bloodbath in Bawku

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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The bomb police and the military prevented from exploding

The timely intervention of a Ghana Police Service Patrol team in Bawku foiled an alleged bomb threat by unknown assailants, who took to their heels, leaving the bomb behind.

The unexploded ordinance has since been retrieved by Ghana Police and handed over to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) for safe custody at the 11 Mechanised Battalion Magazine in Bazua, Upper East.

The two unknown assailants, according to the GAF, in the early hours of Thursday, January 18, 2024 attempted to bomb a Goil Filling Station in Bawku.

The GAF, in a statement dated Saturday, January 20, 2024 said the two were spotted attempting to light up a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) at about 05:30 hours last Thursday.

“In another development, at about 05:30 hrs same day, a Ghana Police patrol team spotted two locals attempting to light up a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) bomb at a Goil Filling Station in Bawku,” Director General, Public Affairs, GAF, Brigadier General E Aggrey-Quashie said in the statement he signed.

“The suspects fled upon sighting the patrol team, leaving behind the bomb. Ghana Police retrieved the Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) and handed over same for safe custody at 11 Mechanised Battalion Magazine at Bazua,” the release continued.

CHANGING DYNAMICS

The GAF said the presence and attempt to detonate high explosives such as RPG bombs in the operational environment signpost the changing dynamics of the threat profile.

This is the second attempted bombing in the north in barely a year. In February 2023, criminals up north tried to blow up a bridge. They used improvised explosives.

The government already dreads the growing violent spillover from a jihadist war across the border in Burkina Faso.

The Minister for Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, informed Parliament on Wednesday, February 8, 2023 three days after the incident had happened the previous Sunday, and warned the nation against the conflict.

DON’T JOKE

He said that “for the first time, Mr Speaker, three days ago, an improvised explosive device was used to blow a bridge. Don’t let us joke with Bawku. And that is how terrorists operate.”

According to the minister, the threat of terrorism hanging around Ghana through the corridors of Bawku is real.

As such, the security agencies are working within Bawku and its precincts with the mindset that if the Bawku conflict does not stop now, “we risk the situation where Ghana can be thrown under terrorist attacks.

“What is happening today is not about chieftaincy. It is criminality. Those operating are criminals,” the minister said.

SHOOTINGS

The Thursday, January 18, 2024 incident was another development in the seeming escalating security tension in the town.

On Wednesday, January 17, 2024 unknown gunmen attacked members of the public behind Bawku Divisional Police Station, killing two victims and injuring four others.

The GAF statement chronicled the turn of events, which it said began on Friday, January 12, 2024 with the murder of a 40-year-old man.

The GAF said troops dispatched to the scene retrieved two 7.62 x 39mm live rounds from the deceased’s pocket.

The release also said that in the early hours of Saturday, January 13, 2024 sporadic gunshots were heard at New Station, Daduuri, and Maziama.

The statement also describes an incident worth mentioning where GAF troops conducting night foot patrols around Hasania School at Sabongari were fired upon by four gunmen.

The statement said the troops returned fire spontaneously, neutralising three of the assailants and the fourth suspect managed to escape.

DEBUNK

The GAF statement basically addressed allegations that soldiers deployed on Operation Maida Buuri to restore calm in Bawku had killed three innocent Kusasi youth at Sabongari, a suburb of Bawku.

It also debunked allegations that the assailants were initially held in custody by its troops and subsequently executed.

WARNING

The statement sternly warned and instructively noted that “directly engaging the military is a development that could result in fatal consequences, as troops will spare no opportunity to defend themselves, as well as protect residents of Bawku.”

The GAF, therefore, cautioned factions in the Bawku conflict against drawing the military into direct armed confrontation while efforts are undertaken to resolve the current impasse.

Ghana records over 60% reduction in Malaria Prevalence

By
JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
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Dignitaries present at the launch showcasing a copy of the GDHS report

Ghana has made a significant improvement in the fight against Malaria prevalence among children under-5 years, as it records 67% reduction, thus over 26% in 2014 to 8.6% in 2022.

This was revealed during the launch of 7th Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), in collaboration with the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and other development partners last Friday, in Accra.

The objective of the report is to achieve health-related Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 targets, which require acceleration of efforts and investments.

The main report of 2022 GDHS presents an updated statistics on basic demographic and health indicators.

The launch marked the beginning of a series of dissemination activities aimed to engage key stakeholders involved in policy decision-making, planning, monitoring, and evaluation.

While Most of the regions in Ghana, especially the Greater Accra region, recorded a significant reduction of 11.2% to 2.0% – Northern region moved down from 38% to 10.6% – all in the 8 years span. Upper East Region continues to record a surge in Malaria prevalence, recording 11.7% to 12.2% increment.

The USAID Ghana Health Office Director, Dr. Zohra Balsara, who also addressed the gathering, indicated thatthe United States had worked with the Ghana Health Services’ National Malaria Elimination Program to deliver millions of bed nets, rapid malaria test kits and malaria medication – including malaria therapy for pregnant women and children under 5.

She further stated that they have scaled up laboratory diagnostics, trained health staff to improve the quality of malaria services and supported social and behaviour change, and together are making strides to prevent malaria and encourage early treatment.

The Government Statistician, Prof. Samuel Kobina Annim, who presented the survey highlighted that significant progress had been made over the 8-year period with about a third drop of the rate in 2014, which should be commended.

Emphasising on the increase in the Upper East Region, he advised that the country’s decentralisation efforts must be strengthened.

Other areas he highlighted from the GDHS Main report included access and behaviour viewpoints, where health improvements are a shared responsibility between individuals and the state.

“With respect to health seeking behaviour, for instance, about one-third (32.4%)of women 15 to 49 years visited a health facility or health provider in the six months period preceding, while one-fifth of men in this age range (20.4%) did so”, he added.

Prof. Kwabena Annim bemoaned the retrogression of some health indicators over time, citing an example from the survey report, which said childhood vaccination coverage remains lower than in previous surveys.

“Currently, 75% of children are vaccinated against all basic antigens, which is a decrease from 79% in the 2008 GDHS. The 2022 GDHS also shows a slight increase in the percentage of children with no vaccinations from 1% in the 2008 GDHS to 2% in 2022.Sexual violence increased by 1.1 percentage points between 2008 and 2022”, he disclosed.

According to him, based on the findings of the report, it is evident that achieving the Sustainable Development Goals 2, 3 and 5 targets will require acceleration of efforts and investments.

In a related development, in pursuit of attaining #zeromalaria for the nation, the Ministry of Health and the Ghana Health Service, with support from its partners, have unveiled the National Malaria Elimination Strategic Plan (NMESP) of Ghana for the years 2024 to 2028.

Under the theme: “Zero malaria starts now:Launching Ghana’s path to elimination”, the four year plan will not only outline the achievements made so far, but also underscores the interventions to be integrated with ongoing efforts for the realization of a malaria-free Ghana.

The primary objectives of the strategic plan are; to achieve a 90% reduction in malaria mortality by 2028, decrease malaria case incidence by 50% by the same year, and eradicate malaria in 21 districts characterized by very low malaria burdens.

So, indeed the NDC is a Religion!

By
admin
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0
Opinion

At first, Fifi Kwetey asked all Voltarians to convert to the religion called NDC. Then social media splashed a news item, supposed to have taken place in 2020, of NDC executives taking an oath with a sword in hand and swearing on their lives and the lives of their firstborns, that should they sell the party in the General Election, they should die.

If the executives, only swore on their lives, I will not have any problem. But to involve the lives of their innocent firstborns, it’s a very serious issue. And swearing with a sword in hand is a very serious thing because it is swearing on one’s life.

The NDC has a tradition of blood sacrifice. In 1979, the AFRC started it all when Rawlings killed eight senior military officers including three former heads-of-state. Over forty-years later on Asaase Fm, he confessed that those he killed were innocent, but had to be sacrificed to spare the lives of eighty or so guilty ones.

In 1981, when the PNDC illegally toppled the only united Nkrumaist’s party, PNP, with the help of some Nkrumaists, more innocent blood was shed to entrench the military government. In March 2003, W.O.1 Joseph Adjei Buadi, one-time close friend of Rawlings and a member of the PNDC confirmed this at the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC), when he said adults and children were sacrificed to sustain the June 4 Uprising and the 1981 coup.

The video, coming out again in an election year, is to inform Ghanaians about NDC’s intentions. To win at all cost, as in “Do or Die!!!” H.E. John Mahama’s comment, about Election 2024 to be a Do-or-Die affair, is a serious and dangerous one. Do-or-Die is a situation in which one has to do something, or they will fail, lose, etc. And here that “something,” can include evil.

Prior to Election 2000, ritual murders were rampant. When the culprit was jailed during the NPP regime, NDC top officials went to visit him in jail. Any links?

This “Do-or-Die,” statement and the oath taken in party head office may support the fact that the NDC is an occultic religion, that accepts blood sacrifices of innocent souls, including the firstborns.

In some texts, firstborns are of great spiritual significance to the family. They absorb most of the family karma and transform them into something new. So, to willingly sacrifice a firstborn, is to desire to achieve a greater feat at all cost. God who never condoned the sacrificing of firstborns, willingly gave up His Only Son, to be sacrificed for man to be freed from Satan. It showed how He so much loved the world.

In the case of the NDC, it is all the obvious that the intention of sacrificing firstborns is based on selfishness and greed for power. Power, which if it gets in their hand, will be used to selfishly enrich themselves and not to improve the lot of the ordinary Ghanaian. There was a video on social media, where at an NDC gathering with some of the top members including Hon Ofosu Ampofo and I think H.E. John Mahama, someone stood up and said that next time the NDC comes to power, it will think only about the welfare of its members and not of Ghanaians.

So, the NDC is a religion, like the religious practice of ‘fiashidi’ or ‘trokosi’, where innocent young virgins of the family, are sacrificed to become perpetual vestal slaves in shrines, to atone for crimes they knew nothing about. The question is what if some of these firstborns do not belong to the NDC? This is evil and must not be condoned.

Ghana is certainly shrouded in a dark mist of evil. Below are words the NDC high priest made executives to recite after him, when signing that pact with Satan: “As I held this sword, I make a vow, that if I compromise and sell my party the NDC, out for money for this coming elections, may I die and my firstborn, die in my place. So, help me God.”

The words, “So, help me God,” do not in any way refer to the Triune God. It is to an unknown spirit, which the NDC high priest refers to here, as god. God as we know does not accept human sacrifices. In Genesis 22: 1-19. He tested Abraham to know how deeply the man loves Him and when Abraham passed the test, He replaced Isaac with a ram.

In Judges 6:29-40, God ignored Jephthah who vowed to sacrifice the first person who comes to welcome him when he returns home, victorious over the Ammonites. Jephthah’s daughter was the first to welcome him.

He became downhearted and broken and he had to do, what he had vowed to do. Will he have been depressed if an unrelated person came to welcome him? Wishing evil for someone, could unfortunately turn round and hit one in the face. These NDC members should be careful what they are wishing for.

NDC is an occultic religion and all the firstborns of the party’s executives must take note. They must submit themselves to God and ask for protection. To Ghanaians, we must all pray for this country and ask God to cleanse the NDC.

Fifi Kwetey has spoken and what he said is the truth, the NDC is a religion.

By Hon. Daniel Dugan

Editorial: We need academic stability on our university campuses

By
THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

According to a citinewroom.com report, the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS) is urging the government to swiftly address the demands of the Senior Staff Associations of the universities in the country.

Senior Staff Association of the Public Universities in Ghana (SSA-UoG) and the Federation of Universities Senior Staff (FUSSAG) on Wednesday, 17 January, 2024 declared an indefinite nationwide strike over the blatant disregard for their welfare by the government. According to the Association, their call for the payment of their two-tier pension and overtime allowances requests have gone unheeded, resulting in the strike.

The strike has led to the withdrawal of various services including healthcare, administration and security, affecting final-year students who require strict supervision from senior technicians during their practical sessions. The decision to embark on an indefinite strike, a potent expression of dissatisfaction, speaks volumes about the perceived neglect of the welfare of our esteemed educators.

At the heart of this agitation are reasonable requests of payment of the two-tier pension and overtime allowances. The government’s alleged disregard for these fundamental demands has left the academic workforce with no recourse but to down their tools.

Such a situation not only undermines the morale of those entrusted with molding the minds of our future leaders but also disrupts the delicate ecosystem of higher education.

The ramifications of this strike are profound, extending beyond the confines of university campuses. The withdrawal of vital services, including healthcare, administration and security casts a pall over the academic landscape. Final-year students, in particular, find themselves caught in the crossfire, with practical sessions disrupted.

This jeopardizes the quality of education and the timely progression of students set to enter the workforce. It also goes a long way to disrupt the academic calendar which the Ghana Education Service is working tirelessly to reset to Pre COVID-19 era.

The Chronicle calls for an expeditious and amicable resolution to this impasse. A nation’s progress is intricately tied to the development of its human capital and the educators are the architects of that development. We implore the government to engage in constructive dialogue with the Senior Staff Associations, recognising the pivotal role they play in shaping the future of our nation.

Education is the bedrock upon which nations build their destinies. Neglecting the needs and concerns of those who impart knowledge weakens the very foundation of our educational system. The government must not only address the immediate demands but also reevaluate its commitment to prioritizing education as a cornerstone of national development.

The future of our students, the integrity of our educational institutions and the progress of our nation hinge on a collective commitment to resolving this crisis. Let the halls of learning echo once again with the exchange of ideas and the pursuit of knowledge, unhampered by the specter of discord.

Prefos Ltd celebrates 19 workers for excellence

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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Mrs. Britwum presen ting the items to Mad. Rosita Okyere at the Tikrom Health Centre

Nineteen employees of Prefos Limited, an electrical and civil engineering Company have been honoured for hard work, commitment and contribution to the growth of the company, established 32 years ago.

The awardees were drawn from the Northern and Southern sectors and recognised under eight award categories.

Angelina Oppong Agyeiwaa and Emmanuel Fletcher were adjudged the Overall Administrative Officer for Northern and Southern sectors respectively and received cash prizes of GH60,000 each.

The Awardees in the Northern sector include; Grace Afrako (Best Sanitation Officer); Alhassan Iddris (Best Security man); Amma Ampong (Best  factory  support  worker); Nicholas Ababio (Best Vehicle  maintenance driver); Ebenezer Oppong (Most promising electrician); Yaw Adjei (2nd Best electrician) and Lucky Amo ( 2nd Best Administrative officer).

Angelina Oppong Agyeiwaa receiving her prize from the Queenmother of Baworo

Frank Arhin (Overall Best driver); Jonathan Sackey (Overall Best electrician); Robert Abbas (2nd Best driver) received cash prizes of GH50,000 each.

From the Southern sector, K. Owusu emerged the Best Vehicle Maintained driver while Komla Dodo was the Most Promising electrician, with Joshua Adjei and Ama Pokuaa as the 2nd Best electrician and second Best administrative officer.

Nathaniel Bediako, Saviour Ganyo and Zakari Abubakar received GHc50,000 each as the overall best electrician, second best driver and Overall Best Driver respectively.

Rev. Dr. Michael Boadi Nyamekye of the Makers House Chapel International presented the awards, including certificates, plagues, double decker fridges and Samsung TV sets to the awardees.

Meanwhile, the company also made donations to the Tikrom Health Centre and the Adako Jachie CHPS Compound to climax this year’s Annual thanksgiving programme.

The items included detergents, liquid soap, toiletries, plastic buckets, drinks, baby food and sweets.

Mrs. Pearl Ann Karikari Britwum, a Medical officer of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and a Director of Prefos Limited, presented the items on behalf of the company while Rosita Okyere, a senior Physician Assistant at the Tikrom Health Centre received the items and thanked the company for the gesture.

She called for support in the area of infrastructural development to ensure 24-hour delivery service at the facility.

 

AGA, Otumfuo Foundation Donate 47,825 Science, ICT Books to Obuasi Basic Schools 

By
admin
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AGA, Assembly and Education Directorate officials at the presentation ceremony

Committed to positively impacting the communities in which it operates, AngloGold Ashanti Obuasi Mine, in collaboration with the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation has donated 47,825 ICT and Science books, valued at over GHC1.9 million, to basic schools in Obuasi.

Presenting the books at a short ceremony, Mrs. Mavis Nana Yaa Kyei, Social Development and Gender Superintendent of AGA noted that the company’s partnership with Otumfuo Foundation has seen tremendous improvement in basic school education in Obuasi.

Boxes of books ready for distribution

She stated that the pass rate of students in BECE in Obuasi has improved, following the various interventions of AGA and the Otumfuo Foundation.

She called on heads of schools and parents to collaborate effectively to ensure that the books are well maintained to prolong their lifespan.

Mr. Eric Aboagye Mensah, the Obuasi East District Co-ordinating Director, who received the books on behalf of the Education Directorates and the District Assemblies, expressed gratitude to the donors.

Mr. Kwabena Owusu Ababio, Head, Stakeholder Relations of the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Foundation, noted that the Asantehene wanted to see improvement in standards of education, hence the partnership with AGA to promote the distribution of books to schools.

He stated that the presentation of books was the fourth, since the collaboration with AGA two years ago and that, about 100,000 books of various subjects have been given out to the 52 Basic schools in Obuasi.

From Frederick Danso Abeam, Obuasi

Manhyia South MP donates to St. Louis College, 47 basic schools

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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Napo presenting the desks to the Principal

The Member of Parliament of Manhyia South, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as NAPO, has presented 150 lecture hall desks to the St. Louis College of Education in Kumasi.

Mrs. Monica Konnie Mensah, the Principal of the College, who received the items on behalf of the Council and Management of St. Louis College of Education, thanked the MP for the support.

She noted that the donation came at the right time, because it would adequately cater for the students.

The Principal acknowledged that the MP has previously supported the College with boreholes and polytanks.

A pupil of the St. Louis Demonstration JHS receives exercise books from the minister

In another development, the Manhyia South MP, who doubles as the Minister of Energy, has presented over 14,000 exercise books to be shared among the 47 Basic schools within his constituency.

He also donated 20 tables and chairs for the teachers at St. Louis Demonstration JHS.

The items were received on behalf of the schools by Mr. David Oppong, the Kumasi Metropolitan Director of Education, for onward distribution to the pupils.

He thanked the MP for his contribution to promotion of education within the constituency.

Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh was  accompanied by constituency executives and other leading members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), including Mr. Richard Ofori-Atta (TomTom), Manhyia South NPP Constituency Chairman and Mr. Kwasi Nti, former Fomena Constituency NPP Chairman.

Delta APC accepts Supreme Court judgement, congratulates Oborevwori

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admin
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Francis Sheriff Oborevwori

The Delta State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has accepted the judgement of the Supreme Court, which upheld the return of Francis Sheriff Oborevwori by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the governor of Delta State in the March 18, 2023 governorship election.

This was contained in a statement signed by the APC Chairman in Delta State, Elder Omeni Sobotie.

The APC also congratulated Oborevwori on his judicial victory.

According to the APC, “Let us be clear. The APC as the leading opposition party in Delta State shall be a beacon of light and remain a responsible and firm in engaging the government to align its policies with the dictates of the law, equity and good governance for the benefit of our people.

“We shall do all that is necessary to obviate arbitrariness in governance and protect the rights of our citizens.

“In a show of exemplary leadership candour and humility, our gubernatorial flagbearer, Obarisi, Senator Ovie Omo Agege, has, in a swift reaction to the Supreme Court judgement, issued a press statement abiding by the verdict.

“He also quite commendably congratulated His Excellency, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori for the judicial decision and wished him well. As a party, we are in full alignment with this strong democratic leadership step.

“Delta State belongs to us all. We must all work together to build it for this and future generations. In the light of the foregoing, we call on all Deltans to do whatever they can to sustain peace, security and unity in our dear state.”

Credit: dailypost.ng

I won’t run for any office again after my tenure –Gov Sule

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admin
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Nasarawa State Governor Abdullahi Sule

Nasarawa State Governor, Governor Abdullahi, has said that he has no plan to run for any political office after finishing his second tenure as the governor of the North-Central state.

The 64-year-old politician was elected governor in 2019 and is currently serving his second term following his victory in the March 18, 2023 polls.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today hours after the Supreme Court affirmed his electoral victory, Sule told his rival, David Ombugadu, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in last year’s election, to wait for his time.

“I came in only to be a governor. I did not come in to be a chairman, a senator or a member of the House of Representatives. I don’t have any dreams for those offices,” he stated.

“I have no dream of becoming even president. I have no dreams of that. I can tell you categorically that Abdullahi Sule would not go for Senate after leaving office. By the time I finish my eight years I can do whatever I want to do.

“You can take it from me confidently that I have no intention to run for the office of a senator. You can keep this tape and play it one day.”

He also expressed his joy that the election litigation is over.

The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal of the PDP governorship candidate against Sule’s election as the governor of Nasarawa State.

Reacting to his victory at the apex court, Sule said, “I am happy it is over. It is finished, that is the end of it, and we can now focus on the job and move on.”

Credit: channelstv.com

Police arrest Abuja kidnappers, parade 16 suspects

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admin
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Some of the suspects paraded

Following the recent launch of the Special Intervention Squad (SIS) by the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, the police have apprehended 16 notorious criminals and recovered arms and ammunition in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). 

Amongst the suspects paraded on Saturday were three Bwari-based kidnappers- Idris Ishaku, m, 27 years; Bala Umar, 27 years; and Dahiru Salisu, m, 27 years, who have been responsible for series of armed robbery cases and kidnappings in the Bwari Local Government Area and other parts of Abuja.

In a statement, Force Spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the combined team of operatives arrested 13 suspects for various other crimes.

“Amongst the achievements recorded is the foiling of another kidnap plot through technical intelligence resulting in the arrest of the above-named Bwari-based kidnappers, and weapons recovered from them,” the statement read.

Outrage trailed the abduction of six siblings and their father in the Bwari Area Council of Abuja on January 3, 2024. The kidnappers reportedly killed one of the sisters identified as Nabeehah after their parents couldn’t meet the deadline for payment of N60 million ransom. Adejobi said policemen have been on the trail of criminals and some arrests have been made.

“In a proactive move, following a report on the abduction of a victim from his house along with his Hilux Van with Reg. No. RBC 90 DL Gray colour by four armed men who disguised in a white Mercedez Benz 230 car, Police Operatives in an intelligence-propelled investigation discovered that the victim was being taken to Kano State, but was dispossessed of his ATM cards at Kaduna while the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000.00) was transferred from his account,” he said.

Credit: channelstv.com

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