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YEA supports Kizoo Fashion under Youth in Garment and Textiles with GH¢100,000

By
FRANCIS OWUSU-ANSAH
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Mr Baffour Awuah(m) with the beneficiaries

The Youth Employment Agency has fulfilled its promise of providing financial and apprenticeship support to beneficiaries under its “Youth in Garment and Textiles” module which was launched in August this year.

Delivering cheques to the beneficiaries under the master trainers who benefitted from the module in the Bono Region, the Minister for Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions, Mr. Ignatius Baffour, noted that, the module was to provide financial and equipment assistance for entrepreneurs in garment and textiles to expand their businesses and train more prospective trainees in the sector.

At a short ceremony to present seed money to the master trainers who were shortlisted to provide training for persons who wished to enroll in the fashion industry, Mr. Baffour Awuah said the module was to ameliorate the plight of many youth who dared to learn a trade in sewing but were hindered by financial constraints, and also cushion garment and apparel factories to widen their scope of operations.

“After a thorough study into the garment industry, the government realised there are many employment opportunities in there, which have not properly been harnessed. The government, therefore, through the YEA, created this module to help expand the existing fashion businesses and create the opportunity for persons who have the will but without the financial resources” the minister said.

Presenting a cheque of GH¢100,000 to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Kizoo Clothing, Mr. Kingsley Acheampong, who was selected for the category of Garment And Apparel Factories in the Bono Region, the Minister admonished him and his other colleagues who were also selected for the small and medium category to use the money judiciously as stipulated in their contract document, saying: “Maybe it is not by chance that you have been selected therefore I will plead with you to remain committed and respect the terms of the contract and engage the trainees that YEA will select for you.”

Mr. Baffour Awuah instructed the master trainers to instill disciplinary traits such as punctuality and regularity in their prospective trainees.

“This module only provides a six month and twelve month training period for trainees who will enroll under the “garment and apparel factories” and the “small and medium” categories respectively, of which they will be entitled to monthly allowance. Hence, we want you to respect them. But, I would like you to maintain a high standard of discipline. I don’t want anybody to think that they were brought by the government hence, they can do whatever they want,” he stressed.

He gave the assurance that recalcitrant trainees would be dealt with appropriately, and if it required dismissal, the authority and his Ministry would not hesitate to take that path.

The Minister, after the ceremony at the YEA office, visited the offices of Kizoo Clothing and was impressed at the apparels and work ethics of the company.

Expressing profound gratitude on behalf of his fellow beneficiaries, the CEO of Kizoo Clothing, Mr. Acheampong noted the kind gesture will help improve their businesses.

“We are very grateful to the government for this gesture. This has always been our heartfelt desire as entrepreneurs to expand our businesses to reach even the international market”, he said.

The Bono Regional Director for the YEA, Mr. Shadrach Abrefa Mensah, called on the youth to avail themselves to benefit from the various employment opportunities rolled out by the government.

“I will call on my fellow youth to identify some of these opportunities rolled out by the YEA and other government agencies to get themselves employed. These employment opportunities might not always be white collar jobs, yet very lucrative” he advised.

The YEA has exceeded its 2023 youth employment projection by 16% as it projected to engage 71,500 youths throughout its programmes.

However, as of May 2023, the agency had engaged 84,483 youths who are working and contributing to various sectors of the economy.

Alan resigns again from NPP

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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The former Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen has resigned for the second time from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He announced his resignation from the party a while ago at the press encounter currently underway in Accra.

Alan first resigned from the NPP in 2008 after failing to lead the party into that year’s general elections.

More soon

Alan Cash To Drop Political Bombshell Today? … Sources say a third force is on the cards

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admin
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Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen

A former presidential aspirant of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, popularly known as Alan Cash, will address the media this afternoon to announce his next political plans.

Sources close to the former Trade and Industry Minister have whispered into the ears of The Chronicle that Alan Cash, during his address to the media in Accra today, may announce his bid to contest the 2024 presidential elections, but not on the ticket of an already existing political party.

According to the last update from our sources at the time of going to press last night, Alan Cash may declare to contest as an independent candidate or form a new political party.

The event’s flyer, titled “Alan Speaks,” inundated social media platforms over the weekend, though attendance is strictly by invitation.

This comes weeks after an earlier in-person arrangement was aborted. He had earlier planned to address the press on September 5, 2023 to announce his pull-out from the presidential primary, but later deferred.

ALLIANCE

Last week, news broke that Alan Cash would collaborate with Ivor Greenstreet to contest the 2024 elections.

Though this paper was reliably informed and the same was published that no such meeting had occurred between the two, The Chronicle is aware Mr. Greenstreet, who contested the 2020 election for the Convention People’s Party, is not vying again.

The Chronicle cannot confirm whether the press engagement today would touch on alliances ahead of the 2024 elections, if any.

IMPACT

Political analysts are not ruling out the negative impact of Alan’s declaration today on the NPP’s desire to break the eight.

Several of the political watchers predict that Alan may decrease the vote of the NPP in 2024, particularly among the floating voters, who may have a soft spot for the NPP and love Alan.

By virtue of his former portfolio as Trade and Industry Minister, he liaised and worked with several traders and trade unions, some of whom may follow his decision to contest next on his own.

The argument has been that regardless of his dwindling votes in the NPP, Alan Cash has won the hearts of the masses from the four corners of the party.

He is thus tipped to perform better at the general elections than the internal contest, which critics say favour the establishment candidate.

Meanwhile, The Chronicle has not forgotten that in the 2007 contest, Alan Kyerematen was said to be the establishment candidate, owing to his connections with then President Kufuor.

PULL-OUT

Days after justifying his inclusion in the NPP battle for five, Alan Kyerematen withdrew from the contest with a press statement, citing violence, as one of his agents was assaulted.

“In the light of the foregoing, I wish to confirm that I am honourably withdrawing from the process that will lead to the Presidential Primaries to be held on the 4th of November, 2023.

In the upcoming weeks, I will provide an indication of the role that I will play in politics in Ghana, after consultations with my family and other well-wishers, various stakeholders and interest groups,” the statement read in parts.

Announcing his resignation as the Minister for Trade and Industry and his decision to contest to lead the NPP, Alan Kyerematen mentioned ten points on which he would transform Ghana if he becomes president.

He titled it the ‘Great Transformational Plan’, which mostly focuses on industrial drive, citing the one district, one factory as the foundation. It is not clear whether he will stick with his plan or announce some modifications today.

Meanwhile, others argue that if he would campaign with his records as a minister under the current regime, then he is not immune from any vote of no confidence, should the voters decide so.

Ofori-Atta leads the battle to achieving climate goals

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admin
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Mr Ken Ofori-Atta and President Akufo-Addo at the forum

The Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has disclosed that the decision to establish an Independent Secretariat for Climate Vulnerable Forum and the V20 Group of Finance Ministers was a giant step towards achieving climate prosperity objectives.

The Minister, who is the Chair of the V20 – the Finance Ministers of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, made these remark at a high-level leaders’ meeting during the 2023 United Nations General Assembly. The meeting was under the theme: “Advancing Climate Prosperity, Building a Resilient Global Financial Architecture for the Climate Vulnerable”.

The establishment of an independent Secretariat, the Minister said, would ensure that the coalition has a legal form that would facilitate the mobilisation of more resources to support member states in the development and implementation of their climate prosperity goals.

He added that it would also ensure the provision of policy guidance, facilitation of access to financial resources for adaptation, loss and damage, build the capacity of member states and empower them to effectively navigate challenges posed by climate change.

“Like all grand endeavours, if we are to become more effective and reach our full potential our growing initiatives will need a structured coherent organisation with a crystal clear mandate and the clarity of a forward looking vision,” he said.

According to him, the combined voice of the 68 member States of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, representing over 1.7 billion people, is not just impressive in number but powerful in intent, to drive and realise deeper global transformation.

Mr. Ofori-Atta was optimistic that the membership of the Forum would increase from 68 to 100 countries by the end of COP 28, to represent about 30 percent of the world’s population.

The Minister further noted that the approach to establish an independent Secretariat for the Climate Vulnerable Forum and the V20 Finance Ministers was a milestone and described it as “the coming of age of a formidable entity designed to sustain and amplify the efforts of our nations, to protect us from climate impacts, expand our adaptive capacity and enable us rise beyond our climate vulnerabilities’’.

This, he underscored, would provide a more formidable voice and intent on their advocacy for a Just Energy Transition, protect economies of climate vulnerable countries from Climate impacts, scale-up Accessibility Finance with urgency and also ensure debt sustainability.

President Akufo-Addo, who is the Chair of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, CVF, in his address conveyed the sympathy and solidarity of the group to the people of Morocco and Libya.

“As we struggle to overcome the combined stress of climate change and debt, it is important to remind ourselves that what binds us is more than our collective vulnerabilities and it is our capabilities that define us and our readiness to confront together our existential threat that set us apart,” he stated.

According to the Chair of the CVF,  a new deal on carbon financing was essential to achieve the Paris Agreement in the near term and underscored the need to strengthen the 2030 climate target for major polluting economies and the encourage ambitious positive climate action in low emitting developing economies.

The Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, H.E Amina J. Mohammed stressed on the need to acknowledge the leadership and ingenuity of the Climate Vulnerable nations which often bear the disproportionate burden of the climate crisis.

She regretted that, developing economies and vulnerable countries were severely hampered by debilitating debt burden, limited fiscal space, and high borrowing cost and highlighted that the solution to the difficulties was the formation of a robust global financial architecture.

Following that, the Deputy Secretary-General urged stakeholders, multilateral institutions, government leaders, businesses, civil society organisations, and individuals to join in the creation of a more resilient global financial architecture that would enable nations to thrive in a more prosperous and resilient world.

The Prime Minister for Barbados, Her Excellency Mia Amor Mottley, also stated that if ever there was a need for a group that was focused on vulnerability in a strategic way, this was the time and gave assurance of her country’s full commitment to working with all others in a way that shaped the organisation.

She further advised on the need to adopt country ownership of the transition strategies to facilitate the transition to low carbon economies, enable us realise our Nationally Determined Contributions and ultimately maintain the 1.5 degree temperature threshold.

The Prime Minister also officially indicated Barbados’s willingness to Chair the Forum after Ghana’s tenure ends in May 2024.

The meeting, geared at engendering strong support from member states to establish a climate-resilient global financial architecture as well as operationalise the consensus to establish an independent Secretariat through a Leader’s Declaration, was attended by leaders and ministers from Climate Vulnerable states, leaders from other climate conscious nations, Multilateral development organisations, international organisations, Philanthropies, civil society representatives and other relevant stakeholders.

Gov’t trains 2000 hospitality staff how to speak  French

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admin
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Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal

Government has begun the training of some 2,000 hospitality staff in French, as part of a comprehensive language training programme to enhance the country’s overall tourism experience for international visitors. This is in a bid to solidify Ghana’s position as a welcoming destination in the sub-region.

The move, part of government’s Ghana Cares Economic Transformation programme, seeks to ensure effective communication and provide exceptional, personalised services to Francophone guests, solidifying Ghana’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and culturally sensitive tourism industry.

Addressing journalists in Accra on Sunday September 24, 2023 Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr. Ibrahim Mohammed Awal said majority of tourists frequenting Ghana’s tourist sites originate from French-speaking nations.

Consequently, the language training programme has been strategically designed to empower frontline personnel across the tourism sector with bilingual proficiency to enable them engage effectively and cater to the specific requirements of visitors, particularly those hailing from French-speaking countries.

“Ghana is surrounded by francophone countries. As you know there are about 8 or 9 francophone countries in West Africa. West Africa’s GDP is about $880 billion dollars with 448 million people.

Ghana cannot achieve its target of international tourism with corresponding tourism receipt of $3.8 billion this year, if we don’t expand ourselves to the francophone countries. We have Cote d’Ivoire which is among the top 10 visiting countries to Ghana, we have Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, Benin, e.t.c. who always come to Ghana.

“For us in tourism, the most important thing is repeat tourism. If a tourist visits Ghana this year, next year, he brings his family and friends along and stays longer and spends more money that can support our economy.

We realised that we could get more tourists if we open ourselves in terms of French language and we are equipping our frontline staff, be it drivers, front desk attendants and tour guides so that once you become bilingual in English and French, we are able to attracts tourists,” the Minister said.

The training programme, he said, has been meticulously planned and organised into several phases. In the inaugural phase, which commenced this month and will continue until December 2023, a select group of 100 staff members from upmarket hotels in Accra are participating.

It serves as a pilot programme designed to ensure comprehensive training and assessment before the initiative is expanded on a larger scale.

Dr. Awal said government’s vision extends beyond this initial phase, stressing that the ultimate objective is to provide training to a total of 2,000 hospitality staff members in line with government’s broader objective of making Ghana a more appealing destination for a diverse array of tourists.

He said such investments in skill development are crucial for the long-term growth and success of the tourism sector, assuring Ghanaians of government’s unwavering dedication to enhancing service quality and improving tourist centres in the country.

Kwahu Pepease: Santase Bretuo family protests attempt to install new chief

By
ISAAC AKWETEY-OKUNOR
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Abusuapani Amankwah Britwum addressing the media during the press conference

It appears the chieftaincy litigations which have engulfed the chiefs and people of Kwahu Pepease in the Kwahu East District of the Eastern Region is far from over, notwithstanding the ruling given by the Judicial Committee of the National House of Chiefs (JCNHC).

Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV, chairman, Judicial Committee, NHC

It is being alleged that an attempt was made by a certain group of people, led by Nana Appiah Ofori II, one of the key traditional players in the area, to install a new chief.

Addressing the media at the forecourt of Kwahu East District Assembly, the head of the Santase Bretuo family, Abusuapani Amankwah Britwum, expressed grave concern over the actions and attempt by Nana Appiah Ofori II to install a new chief when he had no capacity to do so.

According to Abusuapani Amankwah Britwum, he has intercepted a letter dated September 16, 2023 and signed by Nana Appiah Ofori II, inviting Abusuapanin Yaw Bona, Abuasuapanin Kwaku Agyapong, Abuasuapanin Yaw Oduro and Abuasuapanion Kwabena Ofori for a meeting.

The invitation letter, which this reporter has a copy, states that “as ordered by the Judiciary Committee of the National House of Chiefs, Kumasi, the Pepease Royal family is to initiate the nomination process leading to the election and enstoolment of a chief to occupy the Nana Ampadu Stool, Pepease”.

It continued that “the meeting is scheduled on Saturday, 23 September, 2023 at the palace of Nana Appiah Ofori II, Pepease Kwahu, at 10am.

“You are, therefore, invited to attend as the main agenda will be the invitation of the various Abusuapanins to submit their subjects, who are eligible to contest the vacancy of Nana Ampadu Stool,” the letter stated.

Abusuapani Amankwah Britwum noted that Nana Ofori II’s invitation of some family members of Santase Bretuo, who are not Abusuapani  to initiate the process of appointing a new chief, did not only contradict the ruling given by JCNHC, but could result in  chaos.

Mr Seth Kwame Acheampong, Eastern Regional Minister and REGSEC Chairman

He averred that they only recognise Adehyiehene for Santase Bretuo Royal family at Kwahu Pepease, Nana Yaw Baah Dankyi, hence Nana Ofori has no locus to invite people for the process of appointing a new chief for Kwahu Pepease.

Abusuapani Amankwah Britwum of Kwahu Pepease Santase Bretuo royal family has, therefore, called on the Eastern Regional Security Council, District Security Council and all security agencies to intervene in the Kwahu Pepease chieftaincy dispute to avoid any clashes.

Abusuapani Amankwah Britwum and his family later presented a petition to the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Kwahu East, Mr Isaac Adgyapong.

When contacted to confirm the letter of invitation reportedly written by him, Nana Ofori argued that he does not exercise traditional and customary matters in the media and would, therefore, not like to talk about the matter.

Former Kwahu Pepease adehyiehene Nana Kwajo Agyepong

The District Chief Executive (DCE) of Kwahu East, Isaac Agyapong, on his part acknowledged the receipt of the petition but was quick to mention that he was yet to know the full content of the petition, because it was received on his behalf by his Secretary.

He explained that he was currently out of the district for an important assignment and would ensure that the right thing is done as soon as he returns.

The DCE continued that, even before he got back to the district, he had sent some personnel from the Ghana Police Service to the area to ensure law and order.

 

Background

The Judicial Committee of the National House of Chiefs (NHC) recently declared the enstoolment of Nana Bonsu Ayirepe, as Kwahu Pepeasehene, as null and void.

It subsequently asked the Queenmother, Nana Oforiwah Pokua, who is also the Kyidomhemaa of the Kwahu Traditional Area to follow due process to install the Chief, as prescribed by Akan custom.

The case of the appellants has been that the Pepease Stool belongs to the Santase Bretuo Royal Family and that members of the said royal family were eligible to contest the Stool.

Following the demise of the late Chief of Pepease on October 5, 2013 there was the need for the vacancy to be filled, but this resulted in the misunderstanding or dispute that has culminated in the appeal.

The appellants contended that it was the members of the said Santase Bretuo Family alone who had ascended the Pepease Stool from time immemorial, and that even though there were other branches of the larger Bretuo Clan, each of them had its own distinct heads of family and stools.

The appellants argued that, Kwaku Osei Bonsu was the son of Nana Osei Mensah, Asomenasehene, from the Osei Mensah Bretuo Family, and that the said Osei Mensah Bretuo Family was distinct and separate from the Santase Bretuo Family of Pepease.

They (appellants) have in the view that each of these families had its own head of families, they inter-married and do not share funeral debts.

The appellants contended that the brother of the Queenmother of Kwahu Pepease, Nana Oforiwah Pokua, called Opanain Yaw Sem married the sister of Kwaku Osei Bonsu called Serwaa and had six children and is, therefore, it was not possible for Kwaku Osei Bonsu and Osei Mensah to belong to the same Bretuo Family, to the extent that Kwaku Osei Bonsu would occupy the Stool.

It was further contended by the appellants that the procedures adopted to nominate, select and enstool Kwaku Osei Bonsu as the Chief of Pepease was in itself flawed and sinned against all known norms and practices of Kwahu Pepease, and in particular Akan tradition.

Notwithstanding all the issues raised by the appellants, the respondents argued that there was no distinct Santase Bretuo Family, and that they all belonged to one stock called the Bretuo Family.

According to the respondents, there was only one Bretuo Royal Family, which could inherit the Pepease Stool, and that this family had four gates, namely, Yaa Boadiwaa, Oforiwaa Pokua, Ama Gyafo and Nana Sawiri.

Judgement was however given in favor of the appellants against the judgement of the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, dated March 10, 2018, in favour of the respondents, Nana Bonsu and five others.

According to the judgment, the appellants – the Queenmother of Kwahu Pepease, Nana Oforiwah Pokua and Amankwaa Biritwum commenced the chieftaincy action at the Judiciary Committee of the Kwahu Traditional Council claiming the following reliefs, including a declaration that Kwaku Osei Bonsu and Nana Osei Mensah were not members of the Royal Santase Bretuo Family of Pepease and, therefore, the purported installation of Kwaku Osei Bonsu as Chief of Pepease was against custom and tradition.

The appellants, among other reliefs, placed a perpetual injunction restraining Kwaku Osei Bonsu from acting as the Chief of Pepease.

The respondents challenged the position of the appellants, since to them the appellants had no such capacity to place an injunction restraining Kwaku Osei Bonsu as Chief of the area.

A Trial Committee, which was constituted to look into the matter on June 3, 2019, delivered its judgment in favor of the respondents.

Dissatisfied with the judgment of the Trial Committee of the Kwahu Traditional Council, the appellants appealed against the same at the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.

On March 10, 2019, the Judicial Committee delivered its judgment again in favor of the respondents.

The appellants, who were again not satisfied with the judgement, appealed at the Judiciary Committee of the National House of Chiefs on March 24, 2021 where a five-member committee was constituted.

The five-member committee was made up of Oseadeeyo Akumfi Ameyaw IV as the Chairman, with Togbega Patomia Dzekley IV, Nana Mprah Basemuna III, Krachiwura, Osagyefo Kwame Akonu X and Osabarimah Okokyeredom Sakyi Ako, Drobohene as members.

The five panel members of the National House of Chiefs (NHC) unanimously pronounced their ruling by stating: “Consequently, we hereby direct and/or order that the whole process initiating the making of a Chief to occupy the Pepease Stool (to wit: the process of nomination, selection or election and enstoolment or installation) be commenced afresh and in accordance with the requisite customary law practice and usage.”

The panel declared the enstoolment of Nana Bonsu Ayirepe, Kwahu Pepeasehene, who is also the Kyedomhene of Kwahu Traditional Area, as null and void.

It, therefore, ordered the Queenmother of Kwahu Pepease, Nana Oforiwah Pokua, to follow the due process to install the Chief, as prescribed by Akan custom and tradition.

The order was given in October 2022 but information received by the media indicated that the issuance of the hard copy which would be the evidence for the various authorities to enforce the order was not produced by the Registrar of the National House of Chiefs.

The hard copy of the judgement has since been presented to both parties for the commencement of the installation of the Kwahu Pepease Chief.

Private security guard allegedly attacks trader with shovel

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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The victim, Kofi Thompson

A 35-year-old private security guard, Kofi Anane, has been dragged before an Accra Circuit Court for attacking a trader, Kofi Thompson, with a shovel.

The trader, aged 32, suffered severe wounds on the head, jaw and hand, and is currently receiving treatment at the 37 Military Hospital.

Kofi Anane has, therefore, been charged with causing harm, but pleaded not guilty, and had been released on conditions.

The conditions to be executed are GH¢50,000 with two sureties, and he should report to the investigator once every fort night (2 weeks).The next hearing of the case date is October 16, 2023.

Inspector Rosemond Anyane narrated the incident to the court and said the complainant is Nana Asare also a trader. She said the accused, as well as the complainant and the victim, are all residents of Alajo in the Accra Metropolis.

According to her, on September 9, 2023, at about 3:30pm, there was a football match at the Astroturf at Alajo. The football match attracted the victim and his friends, but they were refused entry by the security man at post. This refusal ended with the security man being assaulted by the victim and his friends.

When the news got to the accused, Kofi Anane, who claims to be a co-security personnel, he barmed himself with a shovel and went to Accra Newtown Racco Pub after the match.

He saw Thompson and attacked him with the shovel on the head, jaw and left palm, injuring him in the process. The victim was rescued by some people nearby and they rushed him to the Maamobi General Hospital while bleeding profusely.

Due to how severe the injuries were, he was referred to the 37 Military Hospital, where he has since been on admission at the Emergency Ward.

The accused was subsequently handed over to the Kotobabi Police and after investigations, he was charged with the offence and put before court.

AG to reduce number of accused persons standing trial in absa theft case

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Court

The Attorney-General’s (A-G) office has given an indication that the number of people charged in the absa Bank theft case would be reduced. However, the A-G, represented by Lawrencia Adika, did not let the cat out of the bag on the number of accused persons who would be standing trial after the final investigation.

She told the court trying the accused persons that not all the names of the 17 would probably be listed on the amended charge sheet.

She also applied for bench warrants for the arrest of four of the accused persons – Clinton Asamoah, Kwame Owusu Boadu, Daniel Osei and Boadu Nana Yaw.

These four have been at large since the case was brought before the Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Mrs. Ellen Ofei-Ayeh, in June, this year.

The court has repeatedly refused bail applications by the first accused (A1) Emmanuel Botwe and adjourned the next hearing to October 3, 2033.

Charges

Emmanuel Sakyi Afriyie, 25 and now a businessman, who was a former contract staff of absa Bank is facing 13 charges of conspiracy to commit a crime, stealing, forgery of other documents, and falsification of accounts.

Others, Cecil Nyamesem Agyarkwa (A2), Richard Aikins (A3), Michael Tweneboah Oppong (A4), Fouad Mohammed (A5) and Caleb Bandoh (A6), Clinton Asamoah (A7), Kwame Owusu Buadu (A8), Nicholas Nii Sai (A9), Nana Kwesi Gyimah (A10), Benjamin Adoari (A11), Daniel Osei (A12), Boadu Nana Yaw Adjei (A13), Joseph D. Anim (A14), Ernest Aryee (A15), and Isaac De-Heer (A16)and Othniel Amankwah Darkwa (A17) were charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and stealing.

All of the accused persons have pleaded not guilty to the charges, and with the exception of A1 and those at large, the rest are on bail.

Brief facts

The prosecuting officer narrated to the court that Nana Addo Ampem-Darko, Head of Fraud Detection and Operations at absa Bank Ghana Limited, is the complainant in the case.

According to him, A1 is a resident of Labone, and until May this year, he was contracted as Processing Officer at the bank.

He added that Cecil is 26 years old and a student at the University of Ghana, Legon; Richard, 31, a trader; Michael, 25, also a trader; Fouad, 32, a System Administrator, and Caleb, 25, an entrepreneur.

He told the court that Al was employed by absa Bank as a contract staff in the month of February 2022 and was posted to the Osu branch as a Processing Officer, whose job description was to assist customers in loan processing, T-bill processing, debit card processing, dormant account activation and customer account maintenance among others.

C/Insp. Anquandah said due to Emmanuel’s job description, he worked on several accounts, including that of Ekua Ewuduwa Dadzie’s bonus and savings accounts.

However, somewhere in February 2023, Al registered for an online coding course, which the renewable annual subscription fee was US$174.30, equivalent to GH¢2,287.69.

Unfortunately, instead of A1 to pay for the course out of his own pocket, he rather made the payment on Rev. Cynthia Patricia Asamoah’s Visa Card on February 6, 2023.

As a result, the complainant and the fraud team of the bank were gathering evidence on the matter to engage Al, but the latter made a swift move to tender in his resignation letter, effective May 31, 2023.

The sudden resignation and the alleged illegal transaction on the customer’s Visa Card by A1 made the bank officials more suspicious to investigate him in other areas.

The complainant, together with the fraud team, made up of the bank’s IT experts, detected that on April 20, 2023, Al usingy his own machination accessed one of his colleague’s User ID and password to change the contact number on another customer, Ekua Ewuduwa Dadzie’s accounts.

So, on April 21, 2023, Al personally set up an internet and mobile banking access on Ekua Ewuduwa Dadzie’s accounts, using his own User ID and password, after which he had access and started operating on the account without the victim customer receiving SMS alerts.

Therefore, from April 21 to May 12, 2023, Al, with full access to Ekua Ewuduwa’s account, fraudulently transferred a total of GH¢945,133.00, including charges, from the accounts to that of a number of people.

First and foremost, he transferred GH¢90,000.00 to Cecil’s girlfriend, Rhoda Abena Gransimaa PanyinQuansah’s Cal Bank and Fidelity Bank accounts; GH¢180,000.00 to Richard’s Cal Bank account; GH¢30,000.00 to Michael’s Cal Bank account, and GH¢30,000.00 to Fouad’s GT Bank account.

Caleb also received GH¢30,000.00 in his Cal Bank account; Kwame and Nicholas received GH¢30,000.00 and GH¢60,000.00 respectively in their Access Bank and Fidelity Bank accounts, and Nana Kwesi got GH¢90,000.00 in his Cal Bank account.

Benjamin had GH¢60,000.00 in his Ecobank account, Daniel received GH¢30,000.00 in his Fidelity account, Boadu, GH¢30,000.00 his GT Bank account, and Joseph, GH¢60,000.00 in his FNB account.

All of the transfers were done in tranches of GH¢30,000.00 on different dates within the said period.

On May 9, 2023, from 7:21am to 7:32am, he used another colleague and that of the branch Manageress, Felicia Mackenzie’s Users IDs to change and authorise the contact numbers of eleven customers’ accounts, including the account of the late Justice Anthony Kofi Abada, a former IGP, late Mr. Ernest Ako, Williams Joe Frimpong, Rev Theodora Baaba Hackman, Esther Marian Hackman and replaced them with only one contact number, 0531668674.

On May 11, 2023, Al transferred GH¢50,000.00 from Esther Marian Hackman’s account to the absa account of Ernest Aryee and did the same the next day by transferring GH¢50,000.00 each from the late Ernest Ako, Williams Joe Frimpong and Rev Theodora Baaba Hackman’s accounts to some other absa account holders.

The receivers of the transfers were Ernest, Othniel and Isaac. The court was told that Cecil, Richard, Michael and Fouad stated in their respective investigation cautioned statements that Clinton came to their shops to purchase Iphone 14 Pro Max and requested for their bank accounts details and forwarded the same to Al to effect those fraudulent transfers into their accounts.

On May 12, 2023, Al was arrested by the police in respect of the Visa Card theft and was granted police enquiry bail to be reporting.

On May 15, 2023, the complainant, on behalf of the bank, petitioned the Director General of CID in respect of GH¢1,207,017.00 theft detected in furtherance to the Visa Card case.

Interestingly, when Al was contacted to report himself to the police, he refused to show up, meanwhile, efforts to compel his surety to produce him also failed.

On June 4, 2023, A1, together with his girlfriend, Ivy Okertchiri, who stood surety for him, attempted to escape from the jurisdiction to Dubai, but he was arrested at the Kotoka International Airport by the Ghana Immigration Service and handed over to the police.

C/Insp. Anquandah stated that investigations revealed that Al, together with his accomplices, within the period of April and May 2023, stole a total amount of GH¢1,209,304.69 from the aforementioned customers’ accounts.

Corruption: The Powerful Nations and African Leaders

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Opinion

“It is probably also the time to return to that vexed subject of illicit financial flows out of the continent of Africa. I refer to the report of the panel chaired by the highly respected former South African President, Thabo Mbeki, on the illicit flow of funds from Africa, which states that Africa is losing, annually, more than eighty-eight billion United States dollars ($88 billion) through illicit financial outflows.

Yes, those monies too must be returned to the continent. It is difficult to understand why the recipient countries are comfortable about retaining such funds, and are happy to call those countries from whom the monies are taken as corrupt.

I believe that a joint taskforce of the African Union Commission and the OECD Secretariat, under the auspices of the UN, should be charged to find ways of stopping the damaging outflows,” H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at the 78th UN Session.

He spoke and said it rather too softly. All the same, our president told the powerful nations in the face that when it comes to corruption, it takes two to tango.

Many a times, we hear the Western nations tagging African nations high on the Corruption Index and making them highly risk to invest in. With this, they will buy our products at very low prices and at buy one get ten free.

Imagine that until recently France was buying uranium from Niger at €0.80 a metric tonne while the same product was on the world market at €200.00/MT.

France forced its colonies to undertake binding agreements that favoured only France. Among these, is what is strangely called Colonial Tax, whereby the fourteen independent Francophone countries in Africa are made to collectively repatriate $ 500 billion of their hard-earned money to France, every year. As if those nations applied to France to be colonized.

There is this beautiful non-UN called Switzerland which woke up one morning and decided it must earn money without working for it.

It set up a banking system where the accounts of customers will never be revealed to a third party. No law, no force, nothing whatsoever will make the Swiss banks to reveal what is on account, even to the legal next-of-kin.

It was an attractive trap. And many African heads of states and other leaders, will rush to deposit money in Swiss banks. It was very safe there and no one would ever know how much they had.

The powerful nations pretended they never knew the corruption in this, until they were hit hard with drug monies, money laundering and funding of terrorist operations. Fearing that if they are not able to trace the sources of monies deposited in Switzerland and find the faces behind these accounts, their countries will crumple to the forces and resources of drug barons and terrorists.

So, Switzerland was begged to relax its laws on the confidentiality of bank account holders. They could not sanction their own, but they rather begged.

Then laws were made that monies deposited by African leaders should be repatriated to their countries. But instead of doing so when that leader is in office, the West would apply the laws only after the leader exited office. And here again, Switzerland comes as the best-case study on stolen monies deposited there.

1998 came with the demise of Nigeria’s leader Sani Abacha. It was soon revealed that he had deposited billions of dollars in personal accounts abroad.

It was discovered that he had at least $1.023 billion in accounts in Switzerland. Now, assuming he had done this in 1998 before he died, he would have deposited this money in a long-term account which attracted an average interest of 2.2%% p.a,,from 1998 to 2022. Working things out with compound interest, from 1998 to 2017 when the Swiss decided to repatriate only $700 million to Nigeria, the interest accrued would have shot the balance on account up to over $1.580 billion.

Switzerland decided to remit the remaining principal balance of $323 million by 2020. Whether that was done or not, all we have to ask is what about the interest accrued on the principal? And we are talking about over $650 million.

It will not be good to repatriate the principal sum and pocket the interest after all these twenty-five years, after the “stolen” money was deposited in Switzerland.

The fact is that, if Abacha were still alive and had access to the accounts, he would be able to withdraw over $1.6 billion today and not $1.023 billion.

So, who is corrupt? It takes two to tango. A thief sells you a stolen item or may be even gifts it to you. Both of you would be charged on the crime of theft and taken to court. So, why is it that the powerful nations would accept “stolen” monies from our leaders and keep them, only to turn around and call them corrupt only after the leaders exit office?

The powerful nations must return immediately monies from our leaders they suspect were stolen, or they must know that they are more corrupted than any African nation.

H.E. Nana Akufo-Addo has said it all; the revolution begins. The powerful nations must return our monies plus interest and we will also sanctify our countries. Or they should accept that in corruption, it takes two to tango.

Hon Daniel Dugan

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

Editorial: What has Ghana learnt from Turkey and Morocco earthquakes?

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Editorial

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI, according to a BBC report, has revealed that his country will spend $11.6bn to rebuild the regions destroyed by the September 8, 2023 earthquake. The funds will also be used to support the more than 4.2 million people in the provinces most impacted by the earthquake. The Palace, on Wednesday, said that the funds would be used to “re-house affected people, reconstruct homes and restore infrastructure” over a five-year period.

It will be recalled that the 6.8 magnitude earthquake, the strongest to hit Morocco in more than 60 years, killed more than 2,900 people and injured over 5,000 others. The earthquake also destroyed infrastructure and more than 50,000 homes in the High Atlas Mountains. So far, Morocco has received $700m in donations to help with its earthquake recovery plan. The country plans to make up the deficit using funds allocated by the Moroccan government, international aid and continued donations to the earthquake recovery fund.

Already, President Akufo-Addo, using one of the platforms offered him in New York, USA, conveyed his personal sympathy and that of his government and the people of Ghana to his   Moroccan counterpart for the tragedy that struck the North African country. Though Ghana also experienced an earthquake as far back as 1939 when the country was still under colonial rule, the magnitude was not as big as what happened in Morocco, and earlier in Turkey and Syria.

But does it mean we should sit down and fold our arms because these kinds of disasters can never happen in Ghana? We will be living in a fool’s paradise if this is our mentality. As a country, we should start putting measures in place so that should this natural disaster happen in our motherland, the effect will be minimal. As earlier indicated, Morocco is going to spend about $11.6bn to rebuild the Provinces devastated by the earthquake.

Turkey, which had earlier suffered a similar fate, according to a report published by the Turkish Enterprise and Business Confederation, is going to spend a whopping $84.1 billion in its reconstruction. May God perish our thought, but should this happen in Ghana, how or where are we going to raise these huge sums of money for reconstruction?

This is the reason why we suggested that measures be put in place to minimise its impact should we experience it in future. One of these measures we are proposing is building code. Because it is not the state, but rather individuals, families and stools that are selling lands in Ghana, we are building haphazardly without following due procedure of town and country planning.

Though an earthquake of the magnitude witnessed in Morocco has not struck modern Ghana, the way and manner buildings are collapsing, especially in Accra and Kumasi, leaves much to be desired. Instead of contracting experts to build for them, land developers are rather hiring roadside masons to just dig out the laterite, pour concrete cement mixture in the ground and purport to start construction of buildings.

No test is done to determine if the soil is good to sustain the building – all what they are interested in is the pouring of  the concrete mixtures into the ground and start laying the blocks, in most of the cases, within one or two days. Again, God perish our thought, but should an earthquake strike, how can these buildings withstand the pressure without caving in?

The Chronicle is, therefore, appealing to the Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies to pay attention to how buildings are constructed in their respective jurisdictions, to ensure that developers strictly adhere to the building procedures.

Most buildings that are collapsing in Accra, in particular, are not those constructed by the well established companies, but those of individuals who are apparently not following the proper procedures. Ghana’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) is not even up to $60bn, but a country is going to spend as much as $84bn on reconstruction.

Since we simply do not have these kinds of resources, the right things must be done now to save the country in future. We are not trying to frighten the people, but it is too dangerous for a country that has been experiencing earth tremors to sit idle without preparing itself for any future disaster.

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