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Dozens arrested, killed in West Bank and Gaza in Israeli raids overnight

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Palestinians walk on a damaged street, following an Israeli raid at the Jenin refugee camp on October 30, 2023

Israeli military incursions into Gaza and the West Bank have continued overnight, killing and injuring dozens.

A dozen people were reported killed during an air raid early on Wednesday in Gaza’s second-largest city Khan Younis. At least five Palestinians were killed and a senior Fatah leader was arrested in overnight raids in the occupied West Bank.

At about dawn, Israeli forces targeted two residential buildings in Khan Younis in the south of Gaza, where many have sought refuge after the Israeli army ordered the evacuation of the northern part of the besieged territory.

Medical sources told Al Jazeera 12 people died in the attack, and that more than two dozen were wounded.

Multiple Israeli raids were also staged overnight in the West Bank, where at least five more Palestinians were killed, bringing the death toll in the region to 130 since October, the Palestinian health ministry said.

The largest raid took place in the Jenin refugee camp, in the north of the West Bank, where at least three Palestinians were killed.

“It began around midnight and ended around 7am and was, by far, one of the largest raids we’ve seen since October 7,” Al Jazeera’s Imran Khan reported from Ramallah.

“The Israeli army came in large numbers,” Khan added. “We’re hearing at least 100 troops and multiple armoured vehicles.”

Source: Aljazeera.com

German President asks for forgiveness in Tanzania for colonial-era atrocities

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German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier lays a wreath at the monument in Songea's Memorial Park together with descendants of the heroes of the Maji Maji War on November 1

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier apologized Wednesday for colonial-era atrocities committed by German forces in Tanzania during a visit to the East African country.

“As German President, I would like to ask for forgiveness for what Germans did to your ancestors here,” Steinmeier, who began a three-day visit to Tanzania on Monday, told descendants of local war hero Songea Mbano

Mbano was hanged and beheaded alongside dozens of his fighters for staging an uprising, known as the Maji-Maji rebellion, against the Germans in the early 1900s.

An estimated 300,000 people – around one-third of the indigenous population at the time – were killed in the uprising, which was fueled by brutal repression of locals by their German colonizers.

Tanganyika, now present-day Tanzania, was first a German colony before coming under British control in 1919.

“This cruel deed has left its mark on many generations,” Steinmeier told the Mbano family at the Maji Maji Museum in Songea, southern Tanzania, according to a transcript of his speech provided by the German presidency.

“It shames me. I am ashamed about what German colonial soldiers did to your forefather and his fellow warriors,” he added, but made no mention of reparations.

Tanzanians have been reacting on social media to Steinmeier’s apology, with one commentator saying: “Apologizing isn’t enough … Germany has to pay reparation.”

Germany had previously acknowledged its colonial-era atrocities in Africa.

Source: cnn.com

Mali rebels say they have taken base vacated by UN peacekeepers

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The UN mission, known as MINUSMA, has until Dec. 31 to pack up after Mali's military junta ordered it to leave in June

Mali’s northern Tuareg rebels said they have seized a base in Kidal vacated by the United Nations on Tuesday, potentially leading to a showdown in the strategic city where Mali’s army is hoping to wrest back control.

The UN mission, known as MINUSMA, has until Dec. 31 to pack up after Mali’s military junta ordered it to leave in June. Its withdrawal from other bases has already prompted fighting between Mali’s army and the rebels, who are vying for control of areas vacated by the peacekeepers.

Kidal is the eighth MINUSMA base to close in central and northern Mali and is one of the most important. It lies in a zone historically controlled by the rebels that Mali’s junta wants to take back.

MINUSMA confirmed its departure in a statement in which it said that it had destroyed equipment before leaving.

“The conditions for departure from all of these bases were extremely difficult,” it said.

The rebel movement, the Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security and Development (CSP-PSD) said in a statement it “now has control of areas abandoned by MINUSMA in Kidal.”

Security analysts said that fighting could now break out in Kidal, adding to insecurity in the West African country where Islamist militants linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State also operate.

Source: cnn.com

Uganda court fines US couple $28,000 for child cruelty

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The couple's lawyer said they had little parenting experience

A US couple has been fined ($28,000; £23,000) by a Ugandan court after they pleaded guilty to child cruelty and “inhumane treatment” of their 10-year-old foster child.

Nicholas and Mackenzie Spencer accepted the charges under a deal which saw far more serious charges dropped.

They had been charged with child trafficking and torture, for which they could have faced life in prison.

The pair made the boy sleep on a wooden platform and fed him cold food.

Their nanny reported the “repeated unbecoming inhumane treatment” of the boy, who has special needs, to local police last December.

The boy had lived with the couple, originally from South Carolina, for two years before they were arrested last year.

They also pleaded guilty to degrading treatment, working illegally and unlawfully staying in Uganda without permits.

For this charge they were sentenced to two months in prison, which they have served after they were arrested last year.

High Court judge Alice Kyomuhangi also ordered them to pay the victim compensation of 100 million Ugandan shillings ($26,000: £22,000).

“The child was in need of help and support, having lost his father and having been abandoned by his own mother. Unfortunately the accused persons failed to manage his peculiar behaviours,” the judge said while delivering her ruling.

David Mpanga, the couple’s lawyer, told the Reuters news agency the boy had psychiatric issues and that the pair failed to look after him properly because they had no parenting experience.

The couple fostered three children in Uganda, where they moved in 2017 to work as volunteers.

Source: bbc.com

Communications Ministry trains girls in ICT

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ISAAC AKWETEY-OKUNOR
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Ursula Owusu in a group photograph with some of the students and their trainers

In the quest to break barriers in science and technology, and also improve Information and Communication Technology (ICT) knowledge among young ladies at the various schools in the country, the Ministry for Communications and Digitalisation has introduced Girls-In-ICT training programme for them.

The program forms part of strategic measures to ensure Ghana achieves the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5.

The Girls-In-ICT programme, which was introduced in 2012 by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU), was aimed at creating a global environment to empower and encourage girls and young women to consider studies and careers in the growing field of ICT.

These children could not hide their joy as they go through their work during the visit

The sector Minister, Ursula Owusu Ekuful, has paid a working visit to the Girls-In-ICT training centres in the Eastern region to monitor and evaluate the exercise, which is in collaboration with Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Kofi Annan ICT Centre of Excellence (KACE).

She visited Aburi Girls Senior High School (SHS), Aburi Presbyterian Secondary Technical, Mampong Presbyterian Senior High School (SHS), Koforidua Regional Library, Koforidua Ghana Secondary, Koforidua SDA and Senior High School during the Eastern Regional tour.

Addressing the media on the overview of the project, the Minister indicated that the Ministry has selected 100 teachers with 1,000 girls from across all the districts of the region for the Girls-In-ICT programme.

“It will continue with a mentorship session whereby women currently working in the ICT Field share their personal and professional experiences with the Girls to encourage and guide them in their future careers and endeavors,’’  Ursula Owusu added.

She explained that the ministry would finally present awards for best-100 performing girls in the region and that they have been deliberate and focused to enhance the knowledge of young girls in ICT programs.

“We have to demystify and introduce more girls to ICT and digital technology. We have to let women know that their jobs aren’t only in the Arts, but even with the Arts, they need some form of digital skills to be able to succeed,” she said.

“We seem to behave as if all things technical, mechanical, digital, engineering, science, mathematics, are a male thing so women cannot excel in it and such thoughts have contributed to the huge gap between men and women in ICT in Ghana,” she added.

Ursula Owusu Ekuful continued that due to technological advancement, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) decided to make a difference and expose more girls to the wonders of ICT.

“Ghana has to demystify ICT and Digital Technology as well as allow women and girls know that their jobs are not only in the Arts,” she stated.

The Minister had an opportunity to interact with the girls and encouraged them to build their abilities in digital skills, ICT Industry and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.

Ursula Owusu revealed that measures were also being put in place to ensure that every Junior High School (JHS) and Senior High School (SHS) student had his or her own laptop loaded with text books at the various schools in the county.

Nyankpala Customary Lands Secretariat inaugurated

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The Nyankpala-Lana, Ibrahim Mahamadu, says his traditional area is bent on setting the pace in land management and administration in Dagbon.

According to him, his Land Management Committee was ready to give quick services to all land users in the Nyankpala Traditional Area and that prospective land users who will acquire land in the area will get good land titles for every piece of land they acquire.

“With Nyankpala Customary Land Secretariat in place, there shall no longer be any haphazard development in Nyankpala Traditional Area. The area will be well planned by the Physical Planning Officers of the Tolon District Assembly and Tamale Metropolitan Assembly.”

Nyankpala-Lana Mahamadu said this at the inauguration of the Nyankpala Customary Lands Secretariat office in Nyankpala. He said Nyankpala had prime land for residential, commercial and industrial purposes, and that his area had taken steps to bring rapid development to Nyankpala township, and the traditional area at large, adding, “Today is a special day for me, my elders, villages chiefs and the people of Nyankpala”.

The Nyankpala-Lana Mahamadu noted that it was his knowledge of the facts about his Enskingment as Chief of Nyankpala by the King of Dagbon, Ndan Ya-Na Abukari Mahama II, that he felt that his area with its prime land should be properly planned for rapid development.

He said Nyankpala has been in limelight since the colonial days and the area came into limelight since the early 1950s when the British Colonial Administration established an Agricultural College at Nyankpala to train the people of the Northern Territories in Modern Agriculture.

“The Agricultural College has metamorphosed into Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI) which gave birth to the Nyankpala Campus of the University for Development Studies (UDS).”

He assure the Administrator of the Customary Stool Land Secretariat that she will hear of them in dispatches that their customary lands secretariat will excel in the management of and its handling of finances of the Secretariat and any assignment the Regional Office may give.

“I extend a Special Welcome to the Administrator of Stool Lands and the Assistant Controller of Stool Lands who in spite of their heavy schedules came to inaugurate the Nyankpala Customary Land Secretariat.”

Mrs. Maame Ama Edumadze Acquah, the Administrator of Stool Lands said it was disheartening that our land management practices were fraught with many worrying practices even in this century. She said issues of indeterminate boundaries, conflicts, multiple sales, improper record keeping and documentation were still with us.

Mrs. Acquaah said the Office of the Administrator of Stool Lands (OASL) is mandated by Article 267 (2) of the 1992 Constitution and the OASL Act of 1994, Act of the Act 481 to collect all rent, dues, tributes, royalties and other revenue whether in the nature of income or capital from stool/skin lands and disburse same according to prescribed formula for the benefit of stool/skins, traditional authorities and district assemblies.

“It must be emphasised that the passage of the Land Act 2020 (Act 1036) into law has now grounded the establishment and operations of the Customary Lands Secretariats (CLS) in law. Per section 14 (1) of the Land Act 2020, Act 1036, A stool, skin, clan or family that owns lands shall in accordance with the Act, establish a customary land secretariat as prescribed by regulations made under the Act for the management of its land.”

She said the provision has made the establishment of CLSs mandatory for all land owing communities and that before the passage of Act 1036, 98 CLSs had been establish throughout the country, “since the passage of the Land Act, about 10 have been establish bringing the total number of CLSs to 108 the.”

“It is worth nothing that seven (7) of the total number have been establish here in the Northern Region including Yendi, Savelgu, Gulkpegu, Sagnarigu, Banvim, Nanton, and Matambo. The establishment of these CLSs has brought orderliness, security of tenure, ease of access to land by minority groups such as women and accelerated development of the region.”

From Amadu Kamil Sanah, Nyankpala 

Source: GNA

12 Cilantro Benefits, Nutrition and Recipes

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Cilantro

Cilantro benefits are impressive, but it can be a pretty polarizing ingredient. While some love its refreshing flavor, others find that it leaves a soapy, unpleasant aftertaste.

Regardless of which end of the spectrum you fall on, there’s no doubting that it is packed with micronutrients, antioxidants and other medicinal compounds that can have a huge impact on overall health.

So what does cilantro do to your body? This article will take a look at the potential cilantro benefits and side effects, plus some easy ways to add this versatile, healing herb to your daily diet.

What Is Cilantro?

Cilantro is a popular herb popular around the globe that resembles flat leaf parsley at first glance, but at first sniff, it transports you to the Mediterranean, Mexico, Asia and India. It gives a fresh boost of flavor, without the addition of sea salt or other seasonings.

This versatile herb is used in everything from guacamole and salsa to curries, noodle dishes and chimichurri sauces of Argentina. Not only does this flavorful, bright herb have unlimited culinary applications, but surprisingly to many people cilantro benefits the body and has many known healing properties.

One of the reasons that it is so unique is due to its versatility. While green and leafy, it brings a fresh, nearly citrusy flavor to foods. Once it flowers, it produces the seeds, and the flavor of the leaves intensifies.

Plus, the coriander seeds that it yields contain their own health benefits. Although still citrusy in nature, coriander has a warm, almost nutty flavor, making it the perfect complement for pickling, sausages, breads and earning it a spot as one of the central spices in garam masala along with cardamom and others.

Cilantro Benefits

  1. Rids the Body of Heavy Metals

Arsenic, cadmium, aluminum, lead and mercury can become resident in our tissues. This can lead to heart disease, hormonal imbalances, neurological conditions, infertility and so much more.

Cilantro, also known scientifically as “Coriandrum sativum,” has been shown to bind these toxic metals together, loosening them from tissue and facilitating their elimination from the body.

One animal model found that Coriandrum sativum significantly decreased lead-induced oxidative stress, while another study found that it actually accelerated the removal of heavy metals from the body. In this study, the herb was used to help remove stubborn heavy metal deposits that continued to plague patients, even after initial infection symptoms had faded.

  1. Protects Against Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress is linked to a wide array of degenerative diseases, including some types of cancer, heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration and much more.

This herb’s strong antioxidant properties, in part due to the flavonoid quercetin, helps protect against the damage caused by free radicals in the body. An in vitro study found that Coriandrum sativum actually protects against oxidative stress thanks to its high content of antioxidants.

  1. Reduces Anxiety

This herb can help calm the nerves and improve sleep quality due to its natural sedative properties. An animal model published in the Indian Journal of Pharmacology found that high levels of cilantro extract produced the same anti-anxiety effects as the popular prescription drug valium (diazepam).

Some of the most common side effects of valium include confusion, hallucinations, risk-taking behavior, agitation, aggression, memory problems and muscle weakness. The extract of this herb could potentially help relieve anxiety and improve your sleep without these potentially dangerous side effects.

  1. Lowers Blood Sugar Levels

The leaves and stems of cilantro have been shown to help lower blood sugar levels in animal studies. One study published in the Journal of Food Sciences showed that when diabetes has been diagnosed, the plant helps support healthy liver function and balance blood sugar.

Researchers believe that the results support Coriandrum sativum as a remedy for diabetes. Chop the leaves and stems and add to salads, salsas and smoothies to lower your blood sugar levels and improve overall health.

  1. Supports Heart Health

Some research shows that this herb could help promote heart health by reducing several risk factors for heart disease. In fact, the results of one animal study indicated that cilantro benefits cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the body by helping lower them.

Another study published in Food and Chemical Toxicology found that the polyphenols and natural cardioprotective nutrients found in the herb can help prevent oxidative damage that is specifically associated with heart damage.

  1. Prevents Urinary Tract Infections

There are many factors that can contribute to urinary tract infections, including bacterial growth, sexual activity, genetics or diabetes. Cilantro’s antibacterial compounds could potentially help keep the urinary tract healthy and free from unhealthy bacteria in a healthy alkaline environment. In addition, coriander seeds are helpful in relieving symptoms if a UTI does occur.

Simply soak 1.5 teaspoons of dried coriander seeds overnight in two cups of water. Strain and drink, or just add to your morning smoothie. It’s believed to help relieve the discomfort and pain associated with the UTI and help speed your healing.

Cilantro Benefits

  1. Settles Digestive Upset

Cilantro benefits have been used throughout the world for thousands of years, including to settle nauseous tummies, prevent gas and bloating, relieve indigestion and heartburn, and ease stomach cramps. The herb also aids in efficient digestion by helping produce digestive enzymes that promote the breakdown of foods.

In many cuisines, fresh cilantro accompanies hot and spicy dishes because of its cooling effects.

Hot curry dishes, green chili and spicy Thai noodle dishes all are better tolerated by many people with the simple addition of just a touch of fresh, chopped cilantro. This cooling effect can help prevent heartburn after spicy meals.

If gas or bloating is a problem, try adding chopped cilantro as a garnish for legume dishes and to salads.

  1. Protects Against Food Poisoning

Cilantro benefits not only detox the body, but also protect it from infection and toxins. Its natural antibacterial properties may help protect against both food- and waterborne diseases, including food poisoning and dysentery.

Research published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology studied dill, coriander and eucalyptus and found that cilantro was particularly effective in fighting Listeria monocytogenes, a specific strain of bacteria that causes listeriosis.

  1. Supports Healthy Menstrual Function

Coriander seed from cilantro benefits healthy menstrual function by regulating proper endocrine gland function and the hormones that regulate menstrual cycles. In addition, coriander is believed to help reduce the bloating, cramps and pain during the cycle.

  1. Prevents Neurological Inflammation

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis, are associated with chronic inflammation.

A study published in Molecular Neurobiology found that diets high in turmeric, pepper, clove, ginger, garlic, cinnamon and coriander could potentially help prevent the inflammation associated with these devastating diseases. Researchers also noted that populations with diets rich in these herbs and spices showed lower incidences of neurological degeneration.

  1. May Help Protect Against Colon Cancer

Some promising research conducted on animals suggests that coriander could help protect against colon cancer by reducing cholesterol levels and increasing the excretion of sterol compounds and bile. This process decreases toxic levels in the colon, lowering the risk for cancer.

  1. Soothes Skin Irritation

Cilantro is used both internally and externally as a remedy for skin irritations, including hives, sunburns and poison ivy. Its natural antihistamines help calm the immune system response against allergens.

Fresh cilantro and coconut oil can be blended together and applied topically to soothe sunburns, dry skin, poison ivy and hives caused by an allergic reaction.

To get all the cilantro benefits, try blending with water instead of coconut oil, and strain. Apply it to the skin, and drink the remaining juice. This two-pronged approach is particularly helpful when seeking relief due to an allergic reaction.

Nutrition Facts

Cilantro benefits come from its rich supply of phytonutrients, flavonoids and phenolic compounds. It’s also low in calories and packs a good amount of vitamin K and vitamin A into every serving.

Source: https://draxe.com

Feature: Libya’s Dams Collapse vs. Ghana’s Dams Spillage: The Lesser of Two Evils

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Akosombo Dam

The decision to release water from a dam, knowing full well the effects on local communities and the economy, is never an easy one for the management of any dam. Dams are typically constructed to withstand periods of severe weather.

A dam’s design and construction account for all potential repercussions. But when a dam’s integrity is in jeopardy, even the smallest delay or action could be the difference between a localised problem and a global catastrophe.

 

Libya’s Dams’ Collapse: The Facts

  • More than 11,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands are missing following the catastrophic failures of two dams in Libya’s Derna City in the aftermath of hurricane-strength Storm Daniel on the night of September 10–11, 2023. It ravaged a quarter of the city, destroying entire neighbourhoods and sweeping people out to sea.

 

  • The first dam to collapse in the disaster was the Abu Mansur dam, 13 kilometres (eight miles) from Derna, whose reservoir held 22.5 million cubic metres (nearly 800 million cubic feet) of water.

 

  • The deluge then broke Al Bilad, the second dam, which had a capacity of 1.5 million cubic metres and is just a kilometre from the coastal city. The dams’ collapse released an estimated 30 million cubic metres (39 million cubic yards) of water, causing flooding downstream as the Wadi Derna overflowed its banks. The floods partially destroyed the city of Derna.

 

  • The event was the second-deadliest dam failure in history, after the 1975 Banqiao Dam failure in China. Decades of disregard for the area have been blamed for the severity of the calamity in Derna. Libyan prosecutors and dam engineering experts have blamed the disaster on “bad management” and negligence, for which eight managers of the dam responsible for water resources and dam management stand jail terms.

 

VRA’s Dam Spillage: The Facts

  • The Volta River Authority (VRA) on September 15, 2023, began controlled spilling at the Akosombo and Kpong Dams as a result of too much water in both reservoirs. A rough estimate of 26,000 people, as of October 17, 2023, had been displaced as a result of the spillage. Since the construction of the Akosombo Dam, which receives water from six separate tributaries, this is the largest magnitude of displacement and volume recorded.

 

  • The spilling was necessitated by the fact that the water level in the dams’ reservoirs had reached their safe operating level at this time of the year, thus the need to release water from the reservoir to make room to be able to accommodate incoming flows. Without overflowing, the water might topple the dam, jeopardising its structural integrity. The VRA is observing water levels both upstream and downstream of the Akosombo and Kpong dams.

 

  • In May 2023, prior to the ongoing spilling, the VRA held a simulation exercise dubbed “Da Wo Ho So 2023” to test its emergency preparedness plan and to ensure that all relevant stakeholders were well prepared for any incidence of flooding. The exercise involved over 10,000 people, including residents of communities downstream of the Akosombo Dam, government officials, and representatives of non-governmental organisations. The simulation, which was run to test the resilience and effectiveness of the EPP, took place in the Asuogyaman, Ada East, and North Tongu districts of the Eastern, Greater Accra, and Volta Regions.

 

  • Official accounts indicate that there have been no casualties (drowning, deaths, etc.) because those surrounding the banks heeded prior warnings and complied with evacuation measures. The VRA has committed to GHC 20 million cedis as relief efforts continue.
  • This is not the first time the VRA has spilled water from the dam. Spills were carried out in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1990s, with the most recent one being in 2010.

Avoiding dam failure

A dam’s failure can be prevented. That is, if the dam operators open the gates to discharge the water in a sensible, “controlled” manner, according to Technical Researcher Philip Faley. To disregard a heavy downpour like that in Libya meant calamity was inevitable, and that was what officials in charge of the dam’s water management should have avoided.

In Ghana, the VRA had planned to carry out the spill this October, but technical observations and meteorological warnings forced the Authority to do so in the middle of September. Delaying the spill for another day, according to the dam’s engineers, may have been disastrous.

Faley urges dam managers, the government, and key stakeholders to be directed by a dam’s design data to take measures to avoid any incident; they should also be aware of what to do in the event of a dam failure. The Volta River Authority, manager of both the Akosombo and Kpong Dams in Ghana, has an Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) in place to deal with crises like spills.

This plan is a thorough guide that specifies the duties that will be expected of all pertinent individuals in the case of an emergency, and it is in line with this that the organisation conducted the ongoing spillage and its attendant evacuation exercises.

Moreover, other safety precautions concern housing and other construction projects. Technical Researcher Faley says poor planning was seen in the case of Libya. It was improper to build homes in the areas downstream from the dams.

In the end, if the engineers on site had released the water from the reservoir as soon as the storm started, the disaster would have been avoided, or at the very least the damages might have been limited.

 

Protecting a Dam’s Integrity

Regardless of how they are built, dams contain safety features that allow water to be released during storms to prevent the maximum carrying capacity from being reached. Several researchers have identified foundation issues, inadequate spillways, subpar construction, and uneven settlement as the most common causes of dam breaches.

To avert any dangers, a dam should have all its components examined as part of a routine inspection schedule by the managers. In Faley’s expert opinion, dam management was the challenge in the Libyan situation.

For the VRA, regular inspections on the Akosombo and Kpong Dams have resulted in several retrofits over the years, the most recent in 2016. It involved upgrading the dam’s electrical and control systems, replacing the dam’s turbines and generators, upgrading the dam’s spillway gates, and strengthening the dam’s concrete structure. This retrofit project improved the dam’s performance and extended its lifespan by 30–40 years.

In his assessment of Libya’s situation, Faley explains that the collapse of the dams would have resulted in less damage if the gates had been opened to keep water within the dam’s carrying capacity.

In Ghana’s situation, however, the VRA exercised care and promptly opened the spill gates; even if the outcome is unpleasant, it could have been disastrous, considering what happened in Libya.

NDC mad over exoneration of Adu Boahen   

By
NAABENYIN JOOJO AMISSAH
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Sammy Gyamfi

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has expressed deep resentment against the decision of the Special Prosecutor (SP), Mr Kissi Agyebeng’s final conclusion on investigations into alleged commission of corruption and corruption-related offenses, involving former Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.

The party has, therefore, served notice that the next NDC government would institute criminal investigations into the conduct of the former government official and prosecute all those who would be found culpable in the “Galamsey Economy” documentary.

The NDC’s reaction was contained in a statement signed and issued by the party’s National Communications Officer, Lawyer Sammy Gyamfi, in a press release yesterday.

A private investigative firm, Tiger Eye PI, released an investigative piece in which the former Minister of State, Charles Adu Boahen, was captured demanding bribe from undercover agents of Tiger Eye P.I, who posed as investors.

In the secretly recorded documentary, which received massive public reaction, Adu Boahen demanded bribe of 20% of the value of the initial make-up investment by the agents.

This, among several others, triggered the concern of President Akufo Addo, who immediately called for the head of his appointee and tasked Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to commence investigations, following huge public outcry that greeted the documentary.

However, the SP, Kissi Agyebeng, has indicated his unwillingness to continue with the case, saying his office could not find Adu Boahene’s conduct in the subject under consideration to be a crime that his office could hunt, after six months of exhaustive investigations.

In a 14 paged release, lawyer Agyebeng disclosed the former government appointee, who got sacked after the documentary was aired, betrothed in influence peddling and, therefore, could not find any alleged corruption and corruption-related offenses against him.

As to whether the OSP has a mandate to further act, he said, “Though the conduct of Mr. Adu Boahen amounts to trading in influence or influence peddling, which is closely associated with corruption, there is no actual criminal prohibition of his acts”.

On that reckoning, the Special Prosecutor directed the closure, at this time, of the investigation in respect of allegations of corruption and corruption-related offenses involving Adu Boahen, to the uttermost surprised of many.

But NDC strongly disagrees with the SP

But the NDC has rejected the position of the Special Prosecutor that Mr Adu Boahen committed no criminal offence in the widely publicised investigative documentary titled “Galamsey Economy”.

The incontrovertible facts remained that Mr Adu Boahen was captured in the video clip as produced by the Tiger Eye P.I demanding bribe of 20% of the value of the initial investment or an upfront payment of 10% of the value of the proposed investment.

“For the avoidance of doubt, Charles Adu Boahen’s conduct as captured in the “Galamsey Economy” documentary of Tiger Eye P.I clearly amounts to the offense of Extortion, as provided under section 247 of the Criminal and Other Offenses Act, 1960 (ACT 29), as amended,” Sammy Gyemfi stated.

Explanation as to Extortion

Giving further explanation to its position on the matter, NDC insisted that a public officer commits extortion under the colour of office to demand or obtain from a person, whether for public purposes or for personal gain.

This, the party added, could be money or valuable consideration, which the public officer knows is not lawfully authorised or at a time at which the public officer knows is not lawfully authorized to demand or to obtain that money or valuable consideration.

In view of this, the party categorically stated that the SP’s report smacked of a cover-up and has the potential to dampen public confidence in the Office of Special Prosecutor if not reviewed immediately.

“The conduct of Charles Adu Boahen constitutes corruption of monumental proportions and must not go unpunished,” the release by Sammy Gyemfi insisted.

“We urge the Ghanaian public to treat this report with the contempt it deserves and demand a total reversal of this disappointing decision of the OSP,” it concluded.

 

Military brutality: Kan Dapaah summoned by Parliament

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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Mr Albert Kan Dapaah, Minister for National Security

The Minister for National Security, Albert Kan Dapaah, has been summoned by Parliament over the recent military brutality in Garu, Upper East Region, Ghana.

The Minister is to appear on Thursday, November 9, 2023 to brief the House on the Garu incident, including the casualties and those who gave the order.

The directive was given by the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Andrew Asiamah Amoako, following a statement from the Member of Parliament for Garu and subsequent comments from members on both sides.

“So, I am directing that the Minister [for National Security] appear before the House on Thursday, November 9, 2023, to brief the House concerning issues relating to the incident at Garu and Tempane,” the Speaker directed.

STATEMENT

The Member of Parliament for Garu Constituency, Albert Akuka Alazuuga, made a statement on the military brutalities against some people in his constituency.

He said he was concerned “about how the military officers brutalised and maimed my residents,” adding that “the incident by the military add to the long list of barbaric and inhumane actions carried out by our men in uniform on innocent civilians, whom they ought to be protecting as a matter of responsibility.”

He said some people were taken away by the military and his efforts to get them back proved futile, arguing that it was against their human rights.

COMMENTS

Members of Parliament took turns to comment on the statement, with some calling for a full parliamentary probe.

A member of the Interior and Defense Committee, Cletus Avoka, gave a report of what transpired.

According to him, the youth of Garu acted upon government’s ‘see something, say something’ campaign and thus engaged the people in the vehicle they had seen in the community to know their identity.

He said the occupants said they were operatives of the National Security, but being unsure, the youth demanded that they be taken to the police, where some ammunition were found in the vehicle.

He stated that the account of the Ministry of National Security about the incident was “inconsistent with the facts on the ground.”

Mahama Ayariga corroborated the account of Hon Avoka, but added that somebody who was not part of the youth that had gone to the police station with the strange vehicle, and “fired a shot” into the vehicle from afar.

He said that when he was made aware of the situation, he contacted the National Security Minister, who confirmed that indeed some operatives had been assigned on a special assignment in Garu.

However, after the soldiers invaded Garu, he called the minister again, “but he appeared unaware and said he would check.”

He added that later after the call, the soldiers retreated, but the question he asked on the floor was who ordered the soldiers to go to Garu.

He called for a full parliamentary probe, a plea that was supported by the Minority Chief Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim.

The members of parliament for Pusiga and Builsa North, Laadi Ayii Ayamba and James Aglaga, respectively made comments and condemned the military brutality.

Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Tema West, Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah shared in the sentiments of the maker of the statement.

However, he made the point that “it is important that no matter where you find yourself, you give respect to security.”

The deputy majority leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, argued that though he did not accept the action of the military, the youth should also be educated not to attack the security of the state.

He then called on the Speaker to direct the Minister for National Security to brief the House about the incident.

RETRIEVE WEAPON

According to the Ministry of National Security, the invasion by the soldiers was to retrieve weapons used by the irate youth.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of National Security, a team of five counter-terrorism intelligence officers deployed to Garu for a critical and special operation were attacked on Tuesday, October 24.

According to National Security, the youth, armed with guns and weapons, fired multiple gunshots at its officers in a Toyota Land Cruiser despite their initial attempt to introduce themselves.

“Following an escalation of the attacks on their vehicle, the officers drove to seek refuge at the Garu Police Station. The irate youth subsequently pursued the officers, encircled the police station and fired multiple shots at the same time with the intention of killing the officers.

“The timely intervention of the Ghana Armed Forces enabled the safe evacuation of the National Security personnel from the Garu Police Station,” parts of the statement read.

Following the attack, a joint operation was conducted on Sunday in Garu to seize weapons used by the perpetrators of the attack on the National Security personnel and arrest some perpetrators, the Ministry noted.

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