The Central Regional Minister, Justina Marigold Assan, will represent Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia at this year’s Akwanbo Durbar, slated for Saturday, September 9, 2023, at the Atakwaa School Park.
She was nominated by the Vice President, who wished to attend personally, but had other equally pressing agenda for that weekend.
He was invited to a durbar of the chiefs and people of the Nyimfa Division of the Ekumfi Traditional Area.
Just before the durbar, the Regional Minister, on behalf of the Vice President, would commission the K.T. Hammond Community Centre at Ekumfi Ekrawfo.
As part of the Akwanbo Festivities, there will be Ekumfi Awards to honour citizens of Ekumfi who have distinguished themselves in their fields of endeavour.
The awards take place at the K.T. Hammond Community Centre at Ekumfi Ekrawfo on the night of Friday, September 8. Miss Akwanbo will follow on Saturday at the same venue.
On Sunday, September 10, Accra Great Olympics will take on local lads Ekumfi United at Ekrawfo in a challenge match for the Nana Kwatse Cup. Last year, the Olympics beat Ekumfi United 3-2 to win the cup.
The Accra Circuit Court, presided over Mrs. Susan Eduful, has remanded the Kas Estate Site Supervisor, Wahab Tetteh, into lawful custody till the end of the trial.
Wahab is being tried for allegedly defrauding Pastor Samson Andoh off GH¢32,000.00 by means of false pretences.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge when he appeared before the court on Monday, this week, after which his application for bail was denied.
The court was told by the police prosecuting officer, Chief Inspector Princess Tetteh Boafo, that on August 19, 2021, the complainant expressed interest in acquiring two plots of land and was introduced to Wahab (accused) by Collins Kwasi Asante and Kofi Mensah.
She said the accused also assured the complainant that he could get him the plots of land at Danchira in the Ga South Municipality in Accra at the cost of GH¢50,000.00.
The accused subsequently took the complainant, together with the two others serving as witnesses in the case, to the site and showed them the land.
The complainant became interested and made a part payment of GH¢32,000.00 whilst waiting to get the documents covering the land before he would pay the balance of GH¢18,000.00.
The accused again demanded and collected GH¢6,000.00 in order to process the land documents for the complainant, and eventually handed over a purported photocopy of the land document to the complainant.
Upon that the complainant proceeded to commence work on the land, but was confronted by someone who also claimed ownership.
The accused was duly informed and he admitted that the land in question did not belong to him, but rather one Madam Hannah, on whose behalf he sold the land.
The accused further stated that because the complainant delayed in paying the balance of GH¢18,000.00, Madam Hannah had re-sold the land to a different person.
The matter was reported to the police and the accused was arrested, and in his statement admitted receiving an amount of GH¢20,000.00 from Madam Hannah.
Investigations established that the accused, upon receipt of the GH¢32,000.00, gave only GH¢20,000.00 to Madam Hannah and spent GH¢12,000.00.
Madam Hannah, after re-selling the land, refunded the GH¢20,000.00 she received to the accused who claimed to have used it to purchase different land at Obom in the same Ga South Municipality for the complainant, but could not produce any evidence of the purchase.
In the course of investigations, an amount of GH¢3,000.00 was retrieved from the accused on April 3, 2023, which was retained for evidential purposes. The accused was subsequently charged with the offence after investigations and put before the court.
President Akufo-Addo has touted the achievements his government has chalked with the ban on illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. According to him, the ban has helped the country reduce its carbon emissions.
Addressing the 2023 Africa Climate Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, he said over 20,000 Ghanaians have been employed to plant trees to help the country restore degraded lands. He indicated that the aim is to sustain positive results the government has achieved in this endeavour.
President Akufo-Addo also added that several flagship policy initiatives such as planting for food and jobs, one village, one dam and the ban on illegal mining have all contributed to reducing carbon emissions. Nana Akufo-Addo insisted that these policies have helped the country build resilience to the impact of climate change.
He thus advised other African countries to take similar steps to reduce their carbon emissions and help the continent build resilience to the impacts of climate change.
The country, over the years has been faced with a grave environmental and social crisis due to the uncontrolled and illegal mining activities known as “galamsey.” Galamsey operations were notorious for their indiscriminate use of toxic chemicals, deforestation, and the pollution of water bodies. These activities not only degraded the land but also contaminated vital water sources, endangering both human and aquatic life.
To tackle this issue head-on, the Ghanaian government implemented a ban on illegal galamsey operations. Now, as the ban continues to yield positive results, it is imperative to emphasize the importance of maintaining and strengthening these measures for the long-term benefit of the nation.
Even though the ban on galamsey, initiated several years ago was not an easy decision, as it affected thousands of small-scale miners and their communities, it was a necessary step to protect Ghana’s environment, natural resources and the health of its citizens. One of the most notable achievements of the ban has also been the gradual restoration of Ghana’s water bodies.
Moreover, the ban has created opportunities for the government to formalize and regulate small-scale mining activities, thereby generating revenue, enhancing transparency, and ensuring that the benefits of mining are equitably distributed.
While the ban on galamsey has undoubtedly produced positive results, there are challenges that must be addressed to sustain these gains. First and foremost, the government must remain committed to enforcing the ban rigorously.
Galamsey operators have shown resilience in evading the law, often returning to their illegal activities once the spotlight dims. To combat this, the government must maintain a strong presence in mining regions, implement stricter penalties for illegal mining, and improve surveillance and intelligence gathering to dismantle illegal operations swiftly.
The government must use this opportunity to develop and implement comprehensive mining policies that protect the environment, respect the rights of local communities and ensure that mining activities contribute to the overall development of the nation. Encouraging responsible mining practices, investing in mining technology and providing training and support for small-scale miners can help strike a balance between economic development and environmental preservation.
The Chronicle commends Ghana’s ban on galamsey which has yielded significant positive results for the environment, society and the economy. However, it is crucial to maintain and strengthen these measures to ensure that the progress made so far is not undone.
Osagyefo Ampem Ani Amoapong Tabraku II, the Wenchihene
The Omanhene of Wenchi in the Bono Region, Osagyefo Ampem Ani Amoapong Tabraku II, has promised to develop Wenchi into an agriculture hub.
According to him the Wenchi farm institute with over 500 students learning agriculture related subjects and the Crop Research Centre with a vast land for future use hence can help the agric industrialization drive of Wenchi.
“My vision for Wenchiman is to promote agriculture because agriculture is the key for the development of Wenchi”, he said adding that he likes farming so he will do his best to promote farming activities in Wenchi.
Osagyefo Amoapong Tabraku disclosed this after he was admitted as a member of Bono Regional House Chief.
He stated that apart from agriculture, tourism is another sector that he will look at because there are some tourist attraction sites in Wenchi which are under developed. “Apart from agriculture, tourism is another area I would like to develop”, he said.
He called on the government to improve the Wenchi town roads since it is the municipal capital.
He commended Dormaahene and members of Bono regional house of chiefs for their leadership roles in solving the over 20 year old Wenchi chieftaincy dispute.
Aggrieved family members pouring libation against encroachment on their land
Members of the Nentene Family at Kato in the Berekum East Municipality in the Bono Region are up in arms against the authorities of Municipal Assembly over a portion of land that they had earmarked for redevelopment for a car park close to the Berekum roundabout.
The Spokesperson for the aggrieved family, Madam Joyce Addae Boakye, said that the land that the Assembly wants to develop belonged to their family, but they were not consulted in respect of the proposed development on the land.
She explained that the said land around the roundabout was given to their forefather, Nana Baanie, who later handed it over to Nana Kwakye, who was then serving the Berekum Chief and had been in their possession ever since.
According to her, “The land has now been fenced for redevelopment,” but said the Assembly did not consult any member of the family and had forcibly taken it from them.
She added that the family members were embarking on a series of demonstrations to register their protest, since the land belonged to the family and nobody could take it from them without their consent.
Madam Addae Boakye led the family to pour two bottles of schnapps on the land to scare anyone who had been tasked to develop the car park.
The Berekum East Municipal Assembly Engineer, Mr. Adu Boateng, speaking on the issue, explained that, “the said land close to the Berekum roundabout has not just been taken away by the Assembly, but they are developing it to beautify the center of Berekum and use that place as a car park to enable cars that park in front of banks and on the roadside to have spacious places to park to avoid any unforeseen circumstances that may occur around the area in the future.”
He added that the Assembly had no problem with the family, but would ask the family to produce their evidence of ownership, since the assembly needed the land for development.
The MCE (Second left) with Hannah Forkuo and other assembly officers
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Berekum East in the Bono Region, Mr. Kofi Adjei, has commended Hannah Forkuo of the Biadan Methodist Junior High School (JHS) for her excellent performance in the just-ended 2023 School Sanitation Solution Challenge that was held at the National Theater.
The Form Two student, who represented the Northern Sector, placed third in the national competition.
Mr. Adjei, who supported the team in their travel to Accra, received them back at his office on Wednesday 30th August 2023, and congratulated Forkuo and her team for the wonderful performance.
He advised Forkuo to keep focusing on her education and never relent on the level she had reached.
The Public Relations Officer for the Berekum Education Directorate, Mr. Joseph Yeboah, together with the Child Coordinator, Mr. Abraham Owusu, the Headmaster of the school, Mr. Johnson Badu, the teachers and the girl’s parents presented the trophy to the MCE as an honour for the work they did to support Hannah Forkuo to reach that level in her education career.
Nigeria Labour Congress members protest on the street in Lagos
The Nigeria Labour Congress has begun a two-day “warning strike”, their second in more than a month, to protest against the growing cost of living caused by the government’s removal of petrol subsidies.
The union, the largest association of government workers nationwide, on Tuesday threatened to “shut down” Africa’s largest economy if their demands for improved welfare were not met. During a meeting last week, it said the decision of Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu to remove petrol subsidies in May has “unleashed massive suffering on Nigerian workers and masses”.
Last-minute efforts to avert the strike failed on Monday evening after the labour unions’ leaders shunned a meeting called by the Ministry of Labour. Drawn from all sectors including health and electricity, the workers’ strike is expected to disrupt activities in many offices, further hit by declining government revenues and oil theft.
The president of the labour association, Joe Ajaero, said there would be a “total and indefinite shutdown of the nation” in two weeks unless the government fulfils the workers’ demands including an increase in wages. The union had called off an August 2 strike after meeting Tinubu for negotiations.
At his inauguration in May, the president had promised to reset the economy, raising hope among investors and citizens after a series of policy missteps that led to two recessions under the eight-year tenure of his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
Since the subsidy was removed on his first day in office, petrol prices have nearly tripled in Nigeria, angering unions and causing a spike in transport costs. The price increase has also hit small businesses and millions of households who rely on petrol generators for power due to intermittent grid supply. The government’s devaluation of the currency further increased the prices of basic goods.
Critics have accused Tinubu of not acting quickly enough to cushion the effects of his policies.
Ahead of the Wednesday’s judgment to be delivered by the Presidential Election Petition Court, the Nigeria Police Force has said that policemen across the country are “fully prepared” to maintain law and order.
In a statement on Tuesday by Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO), Muyiwa Adejobi, the police warned politicians and mischief makers against misinformation and unguided utterances capable of inciting violence.
The police said deployment across the length and breadth of Nigeria have been strengthened to forestall law and order in the country.
“The Police wish to reiterate the commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property before, during, and after the judgment,” Adejobi said.
“The NPF has diligently emplaced all necessary deployments and security measures during this critical period as officers and men are fully prepared to maintain order and enforce laws while respecting the rights and freedoms of all citizens.”
The police “strongly cautions all individuals, including mischief makers and political gladiators, to be cautious in their actions and statements as the Force will not condone activities capable of inciting violence or causing a descent into anarchy”.
The police urged citizens to embrace peace and maintain calm, regardless of their political affiliations.
Earlier on Monday, the Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Umar Bangari, said the Tribunal will deliver its judgments on the cases before it challenging the victory of President Bola Tinubu, the then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25, 2023 poll.
The court also said the proceedings will be open to live broadcast by interested television stations.
President Bola Tinubu has arrived New Delhi, India, for the G-20 Leaders’ Summit. The President arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday after departing Abuja for the summit in India on the special invitation of Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
The President’s trip took place hours to a warning strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) over palliatives to cushion the effect of the removal of petrol subsidy.
While away, the the Presidential Election Petition Court will also deliver judgments in the petitions by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP) as well as their presidential candidates challenging the victory of Tinubu, the then candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 25, 2023 poll.
At the G20 Summit, the Nigerian leader is expected to share Nigeria’s perspective on the theme, ‘One Earth-One Family-One Future’ with focus on global unity required to address the challenges facing humanity and the planet.
“While Nigeria’s membership of the G-20 is desirable, the government has embarked on wide-ranging consultations with a view to ascertaining the benefits and risks of membership.
“Once consultations are concluded, the government will decide whether or not to apply to join as appropriate. The participation of President Tinubu at the G-20 Summit in India is, in part, in furtherance of this objective,” his spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, said in an earlier statement.
The President travelled to India alongside the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar; Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy Bosun Tijani; and Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite.
The Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has commissioned the Legacy Court, a newly built housing project of the State Housing Company Limited in Accra.
Speaking at the event held yesterday, September, 5, 2023, the Minister recounted the discouraging beginning of State Housing, saying the story was one that has to be applauded by all.
The Minister for Works and Housing, Hon. Asenso -Boakye (middle) handing over the key the building unit to a client
Taking attendees through the rough beginning, he said State Housing was created as a state parastatal many years ago under the government of late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to provide much affordable houses for Ghanaians, but went through several difficulties over the years to a point where it lacked developments, even as a developer.
“They are developers, but they were not able to even develop a new residential unit,” he bemoaned.
According to him, until the assumption of President Akuffo Addo, State Housing was nearly moribund to the point where it was not able to effectively operate as expected, until there was a change of management by President Akufo-Addo, led by Kwabena Ampofo Appiah, who was then working in the United State.
With his directives and support from the hardworking staff, together with management and board members, the Minister gladly expressed that the deteriorating story of State Housing has changed for the better.
The Member of Parliament further added that “State Housing Company (SHC) Limited is now back on its feet in full responsibility of providing affordable housing for the good people of Ghana just as it should.”
He revealed that in the history of State Housing, it was at one point privatized and made a limited liability company and not under public convention. This, he said, meant the company had to use their own funds for its developmental projects without any assistance from the state.
Even as a limited liability Company, State Housing is still state owned, as a result profitable work must still go on for the state to benefit, for the sustainability of the business.
As a Ministry, it falls in their responsibility to formulate policies and developing programs with the aim in providing quality and affordable housing for the Ghanaians populace.
This can go a long way in affecting the subsidy pricing of their units, as compared to the prevailing market price.
“A unit like these being sold or developed by a typical private developer will have a way higher pricing than this, which is very high above the average Ghanaian. “The Minister said.
For this reason, Francis Asenso-Boakye revealed that, the Ministry has come up with a new program that seeks to support private developers with some subsidy, to help cut down their high housings rate for the working Ghanaian, civil servants, public servants, traders, teachers, and bankers etc. to also have the opportunity to own their own homes.
The government, in its share is proving free incumbent lands and horizontal infrastructure, being it water, electricity, sewage, roads, drainage etc. which will constitute a larger part of the housing project and also invite the private sector developers to come in through for an effective contribution to create more affordable homes for Ghanaians.
These infrastructure and lands, he said constitute a big part in the housing construction cost, so government absorbing that cost and inviting the private sector to come will contribute the cost of construction for about forty percent.
The first project under the government revised affordable housing project is the Pokuase Project, which is supposed to have a very subsidised reduced rate for many Ghanaians to afford.
The private sector when involved will not only be part of the development, but also in the marketing and the sale of the units. The Minister said.
He then encouraged all Ghanaian workers to show interest in patronizing the units by visiting the offices of the five developers who are State Housing Company Limited, Devtraco, Rehoboth, Frank Pauls Ventures and Addoha Group Limited for all sales.
The Managing Director of State Housing Company Limited, Mr. Kwabena Ampofo Appiah in his address explained that the project is the seventh development that has been commissioned under the leadership of the Akuffo Addo government.
The rest he said are, Mallow Court, Club Court, Urban Premier Court and Seasons Court, all in the Greater Accra Region, Bumangama Estate in the Western North Region, the Sunyani Estate in the Bono Region.
Mr. Kwabena Ampofo added that other housing projects will be commissioned in Accra, Cape Coast, Takoradi, and Kumasi by end of the year.
He said Legacy Court has been incorporated with a lot of technologies especially with the constructed American Enzyme road, treated with a bio degradable enzyme that can last for up to twenty years, something that in first of its kind in the country.
He thanked the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, the Board of Directors, Management team for all the dedication and contribution towards the growth of State Housing Company Limited over the past years.
