Home Blog Page 2185

French court hands down jail terms to attackers of first lady’s relative

By
admin
-
0
France first lady Brigitte Macron

A French court on Monday sentenced two men to jail after convicting them on charges of beating up the great-nephew of France’s first lady Brigitte Macron last month outside her family’s chocolate shop.

The court in the northern city of Amiens sentenced one of the accused to 12 months in prison and the second to 15 months for the attack on Jean-Baptiste Trogneux. A third defendant was acquitted.

The attack on Trogneux was widely condemned by French politicians, including President Emmanuel Macron who called it “unacceptable,” while pointing the finger at his opponents, whose “verbal violence” he suggested had encouraged the assault.

The attack on Trogneux in Amiens on 15 May came on the sidelines of an unsanctioned demonstration against the government’s pension reform, which the president signed into law without a parliamentary vote.

The three suspects, aged 20, 22 and 34, were originally to be tried in a fast-track process two days after the attack, but their lawyers asked for more time to prepare a defence.

Credit: rfi

Deadly earthquake kills three after Haiti floods

By
admin
-
0
Haiti earthquake

At least three people have been killed in an earthquake in the Haitian city of Jérémie, just days after floods left at least 42 dead. The 4.9-magnitude quake struck in the early hours of the morning, the US Geological Survey said.

It came in the wake of torrential rains that have displaced more than 13,000.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry said his government and international partners were taking “urgent measures” to deal with the flooding.

The World Food Programme, an agency of the United Nations, said that it would start providing hot meals to the displaced.

Haitian authorities said the three people who died were crushed when their home collapsed. More than a dozen people have also been injured.

Jérémie is a coastal city in the southwestern Grand’Anse department. Two years ago, the region was also badly hit by an earthquake which killed more than 2,200 people.

Credit: bbc.com

Prince Harry gives testimony in historic courtroom battle against British media

By
admin
-
0
Prince Harry is shown giving evidence in a courtroom sketch

Prince Harry became the first senior British royal to give evidence on a witness stand in 132 years, as his bitter fight against the UK’s tabloid press came to a head in tense courtroom showdown on Tuesday.

Harry answered questions in a measured, almost hushed tone. He appeared nervous at first, and was at one point asked to raise his voice. The duke is suing a big British newspaper group, Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), alleging the publisher’s journalists hacked his phone and used other illicit means to gather information about his life between 1996 and 2009.

He faced forensic and detailed questioning from MGN’s lawyer, Andrew Green, who probed him on the specifics of his claims and occasionally left him scrambling to recall sections of his written statement or find pieces of evidence.

But after a nervous start that exposed gaps in Harry’s knowledge regarding the minutiae of the case, the prince increasingly asserted himself – clashing at times with the publisher’s lawyer as they dissected reams of press coverage about his childhood, his school years and his relationships.

Credit: cnn.com

Hundreds flee floods after Ukraine dam breached

By
admin
-
0
Nova Kakhovka dam breached

Hundreds of people have been evacuated from settlements along the southern stretch of Ukraine’s Dnipro River after water burst through the breached Nova Kakhovka dam, submerging streets and town squares.

 

The collapse of the structure at the southern tip of the vast Kakhovka Reservoir on Tuesday unleashed a torrent of water, adding to the misery of thousands of people who have been caught on the front lines of the war between Ukraine and Russia.

 

Kyiv accused Russian forces of blowing up the dam and hydroelectric power station in an area of southern Ukraine that Moscow has controlled for more than a year while Russian officials blamed Ukrainian bombardment. It was not possible to verify the claims.

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the dam breach is the “biggest man-made environmental disaster in Europe in decades”.

Footage posted on social media shows severe flooding in the Russian-controlled town of Nova Kakhovka, which is next to the dam.

 

Credit: aljazeera.com

UK orders China to close ‘secret police stations’ on British soil

By
admin
-
0
British Minister of State for Security Tom Tugendhat

The UK government has ordered China to shut down secret police stations operating on British soil, Security Minister Tom Tugendhat says in a written statement to parliament.

 

Britain has previously said reports of undeclared police stations in the country were “extremely concerning” and that any intimidation on British soil of foreign nationals by China or other states was unacceptable.

 

British police have investigated claims made by the non-governmental human rights organisation Safeguard Defenders that such police stations were operating at three British sites, Tugendhat said on Tuesday.

 

“I can confirm that they have not, to date, identified any evidence of illegal activity on behalf of the Chinese state across these sites,” he said.

“We assess that police and public scrutiny have had a suppressive impact on any administrative functions these sites may have had.”

 

US federal agents arrested two New York residents in April for allegedly operating a secret Chinese police station in the Chinatown district of Manhattan.

The British government has said it was aware of about 100 such stations around the world.

 

Credit: aljazeera.com

Iran’s claims to have created hypersonic missile alarm Israel

By
admin
-
0
Iran Minister of Defense, Brigadier General Amir Hatami

Iran has alarmed Israel by unveiling what it claims is its first domestically made hypersonic missile. It had previously said it would be able to hit Israel within 400 seconds.

The Iranian president, Ebrahim Raisi, attended the unveiling of the missile, named Fattah, or “conqueror” in Farsi. It is claimed to have a range of 870 miles (1,400km), to be able to travel at up to 15 times the speed of sound and to bypass air defence systems.

Hypersonic missiles can fly at least at Mach 5 – five times the speed of sound – and their speed and claimed manoeuvrability is believed to make them difficult to intercept. Only four other countries claim to have them in their arsenals.

Iran said in November it was on the way to building a hypersonic ballistic missile that could manoeuvre in and out of the atmosphere. “It can bypass the most advanced anti-ballistic missile systems of the US and the Zionist regime, including Israel’s Iron Dome,” Iran’s state TV said.

Raisi claimed in a segment on Iranian state TV unveiling the Fattah that it was a deterrent that would be “a point of security and stable peace” for the region.

Credit: theguardian.com

12 Home Remedies for Stomach Pain

By
admin
-
0
Gastric

There are several popular home remedies for indigestion. Some may also help ease stomach upset from other sources, such as irritable bowel syndrome.

  1. Drinking water

The body needs water to efficiently digest and absorb nutrients from foods and beverages. Being dehydrated makes digestion more difficult and less effective, increasing the likelihood of an upset stomach.

Additionally, drinking water may help reduce heartburn.

The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics says that although the general rule of thumb is drinking eight 8-ounce glasses of water daily, a person’s fluid needs can vary. Activity levels, elevation, extreme temperatures, general health, and size can all make a difference in fluid needs.

Around 20% of a person’s fluid intake will come from food, with the rest coming from beverages. For most people, a suitable figure to aim for is approximately 8 or more cups of water daily.

Pros and cons

Drinking water can help with digestion and prevent dehydration.

However, some people may forget to drink water throughout the day. Additionally, some may prefer the taste of other beverages.

Products, such as water bottles and flavor enhancers, can make drinking water throughout the day more convenient and enjoyable.

  1. Avoiding lying down

Avoiding lying down may prevent indigestion from becoming heartburn.

When the body is horizontal, the acid in the stomach is more likely to travel backward and move upward, which can cause heartburn.

Therefore, people with an upset stomach should avoid lying down or going to bed for at least a few hours until it passes.

Pros and cons

Avoiding lying down may be a convenient remedy if a person performs daily activities.

However, this remedy may be unsuitable if someone experiences stomach pain during the time they rest or sleep.

  1. Ginger

Ginger may help reduce nausea and vomiting in people who are pregnant or those who undergo chemotherapy.

Individuals with an upset stomach could try adding ginger to their food or drinking it as tea. Some all-natural ginger ales may also contain enough ginger to settle an upset stomach.

Ginger tea is widely available to buy in supermarkets and online.

Pros and cons

Research suggests that ginger may help reduce nausea in those who are pregnant.

However, larger doses of ginger may cause side effects, such as gas, heartburn, indigestion, and abdominal discomfort.

Many different products containing ginger are available commercially and may help manage nausea. These include ginger tea, ginger chews, ginger lollipops, and ginger supplements.

  1. BRAT diet

Doctors may recommend the bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (BRAT) diet to people with diarrhea.

BRAT foods may decrease the number of stools a person passes and help ease their diarrhea.

As these foods are bland, they do not contain substances that irritate the stomach, throat, or intestines. Therefore, this diet can soothe the tissue irritation resulting from the acids in vomit.

Many of the foods in the BRAT diet are also high in nutrients, such as potassium and magnesium, and can replace those someone loses through diarrhea and vomiting.

Pros and cons

The BRAT diet may help harden stool and reduce diarrhea and dehydration. This may help reduce stomach cramps due to loose stool.

However, this diet may not be suitable for the long term, as people may not consume all the necessary nutrients through the food in this diet.

  1. Avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol

Smoking and alcohol may trigger indigestion and other gastrointestinal conditions, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Pros and cons

Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol intake improves people’s quality of life and reduces the risk of certain health conditions, such as cancer.

However, avoiding smoking and drinking alcohol can be difficult, and individuals may require extra support.

Learn more about quitting smoking and drinking:

Five ways to quit smoking

11 tips for giving up smoking

Best apps for quitting smoking

How long does it take to detox from alcohol?

Best apps to stop drinking alcohol

8 of the best alcohol support groups

Was this helpful?

  1. Avoiding difficult-to-digest foods

Research suggests that the following foods may increase the risk of indigestion:

fatty or acidic foods

wheat products

fruit and fruit juices such as watermelon

spicy foods

greasy foods

Pros and cons

Avoiding difficult-to-digest foods may help ease the stomach and reduce discomfort and pain. Additionally, more easily digestible foods, such as fruit and vegetables, may help promote a nutritious, balanced diet.

However, avoiding richer or heavily preserved foods may be more difficult for people who do not have the time to source fresher food or those who live in a food desert. Food deserts are regions where individuals have limited access to nutritious and affordable food

  1. Baking soda

Some healthcare professionals suggest that baking soda can help relieve heartburn and indigestion by reducing stomach acidity.

Pros and cons

While this home remedy may help with an upset stomach, it may not taste pleasant. Additionally, consuming too much baking soda may lead to:

shallow or slow breathing

muscle twitching

muscle spasms

diarrhea

vomiting

irritability

  1. Figs

Figs contain substances that act as laxatives to ease constipation and encourage healthy bowel movements. Figs also contain compounds that may help to ease indigestion.

Pros and cons

However, if people are also experiencing diarrhea, they should avoid consuming figs due to this food’s laxative effects.

Figs are available in several forms, such as fig leaves, food, and paste.

  1. Aloe juice

Aloe vera may help reduce symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and colitis, although the evidence for these benefits is slight and needs further research.

Pros and cons

Healthcare professionals state that drinking aloe vera juice can yield multiple benefits, including providing relief from the following symptoms of GERD:

heartburn

flatulence and belching

nausea and vomiting

acid and food regurgitation

However, ingesting aloe vera may cause abdominal pain and cramps.

Aloe vera juice is widely available commercially.

  1. Basil

Basil contains substances that may reduce gas. Its leaves also contain levels of high linoleic acid, which has anti-inflammatory properties.

Pros and cons

Basil is usually available to purchase in grocery stores, gardening stores, and online.

However, those in food deserts may have to rely on online stores if they find it difficult to source fresh basil.

  1. Licorice

Products that contain licorice root may help relieve digestive symptoms. However, experts are uncertain about the role of licorice in these products.

Someone with an upset stomach could try drinking licorice root tea several times daily until their symptoms improve.

Pros and cons

Licorice root teas are widely available online, but it is possible to make them at home by mixing 1 or 2 teaspoons of licorice root powder with boiling water.

However, licorice can cause side effects, such as an increase in blood pressure and a decrease in potassium levels. This may be especially dangerous for those with high blood pressure or kidney or heart disease.

  1. Rice

Plain rice may be beneficial for those with stomach pain due to irritable bowel syndrome, along with other low FODMAP food.

Rice is also part of the BRAT diet that doctors may recommend.

Pros and cons

Rice is available in bulk at many grocery stores and is often one of the more affordable foods available.

However, there is some evidence that white rice consumption may increase the risk of metabolic syndrome. However, the risk may increase with regular or frequent consumption and may not affect those who consume white rice to help with stomach pain.

Prevention tips

The following tips may help prevent stomach pain:

eating slower

eating less fatty or processed foods

identifying food intolerances and allergies

drinking more water

reducing stress, where possible

taking part in regular exercise

However, if a person has stomach pain that does not resolve itself or pain that interferes with their quality of life, they should contact a qualified healthcare professional for testing and treatment.

Source: www.medicalnewstoday.com

Feature: Daring the Supreme Court; The NDC and Dual Citizenship

By
admin
-
0
Feature

During the drafting of the 1992 Constitution, the Consultative Assembly in Article 8 (1) allowed Dual Citizenship when it stated that, a citizen of Ghana may hold the citizenship of any other country in addition to his citizenship of Ghana. Going on the Assembly stated clearly in Article 94 (2a) that, A person shall not be qualified to be a Member of Parliament if he, (a). owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana.

This is an irony. A Ghanaian is permitted by law to become citizen of another country and yet when he does, certain benefits reserved for Ghanaians would be denied him.

Now since the 1992 Constitution was drafted by a Consultative Assembly made up of at least 85% coming on board, directly appointed by the PNDC (33%) and at least 52% from the local government assemblies and other revolutionary organs in the country attached to the assemblies, the Constitution can be said to have been drafted by the predecessors of the NDC. And it is therefore an NDC show piece.

Ghana had a constitution which was in effect largely drafted by interested stakeholders, the PNDC and Jerry John Rawlings.

Today, the Supreme Law of the Land is saying that Ghanaians in the Diaspora can send down resources in the form of cash and logistics to help build Mother Ghana, but as far as the direct management of this country is concerned, they are outcasts or aliens.

In 2008, a fine and handsome gentleman, Adamu Dramani Sakande, aged 46 at that time, stood on the ticket of the NPP and won the Bawku Central seat.

His victory was challenged in court and in July 2012, he was sentenced to jail, for false declaration of office, perjury and deceit of a public officer. Adamu had failed to deny UK citizenship before contesting the Bawku Central seat.

In jail, he fell seriously ill and was pardoned in 2013 by President John Mahama. He voluntarily flew abroad to the UK to take care of his health. Sadly, in September 2022, Adamu died after persistent heart problems.

In the sight of the NDC, the law had worked and justice had been delivered when Hon. Adamu Sakande was found guilty and thrown out of Parliament and into jail. This party jubilated over this.

In 2020, the NDC presented a parliamentary candidate in the person of James Gyekye Quayson to contest the Assin North seat. Like Adamu Dramani Sakande did in 2008, James won the seat and become MP.

And like Adama Dramani Sakande’s case, his election was contested in court. He was also found to have unconstitutionally stood elections in his constituency.

According to the Supreme Court of Ghana, upon a true and proper interpretation of Article 94 (2a) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, James Gyekye Quayson was not qualified at the time of filing his nomination forms between 5th to 9th October, 2020 to contest the 2020 Parliamentary elections for the Assin North Constituency as Member of Parliament.

Can one clearly see that the Supreme Court, in the case of Gyekye Quayson spoke the same words as the Court did in the case of Adamu Dramani Sakande?

Words like, not qualified at the time of filing, mean false declaration, perjury and deceit of public officer, unless I have serious challenges in the English Language. So may someone help me here. Thank you.

The Supreme Court went on to state that the decision of the NDC to permit Gyekye Quayson to contest the elections, violated the Constitution. The very act of lawlessness the NPP might have committed in Adamu’s case in 2008.

At least the NPP could be pardoned here, because of oversight. But the NDC had electoral history to guide them.

And did I read right, when a certain publication attributed NDC Allotey Jacobs of the NDC to have said he warned against making James Gyekye Quayson the parliamentary candidate because he was a dual citizen, but his pleas fell on deaf ears?

The Supreme Court went on to nullify both his election and swearing in as MP, declaring these two events as unconstitutional.

The NDC’s communication officer, My Sammy Gyamfi, has torn the Supreme Court’s decision to shreds, claiming the Apex Court acted against Section 20 (d) of PNDC Law 284.

This law according to him, states that a parliamentary candidate must be qualified at the time of election. And the Supreme Law of the country, which is superior to all other laws, is saying that a person is not qualified to be MP if he or she owes allegiance to another country.

Maybe I need help here again, oh bother English language again. I take it here to mean that, to qualify to be an MP is a process, which begins from filing to contest party’s parliamentary primary, filling to contest the constituency seat, contesting the constituency seat and winning the seat, which qualifies you as MP. Now, if during the process, you show course to be disqualified, then you do not qualify to be MP.

Is the NDC saying, a foreigner who had applied to become a citizen of Ghana, can contest parliamentary primary, file to contest constituency elections, when all along he is not yet a Ghanaian and only becomes one just before the elections, so can be said to have done the appropriate thing?

And by the way, the Supreme Court is dealing with the 1992 Constitution which is the Supreme Law and which states clearly in Article 1 (2) that, This Constitution shall be the Supreme Law of Ghana and any other law found to be inconsistent with any provision of this Constitution shall to the extent of the inconsistency, be void.

And here is the NDC quoting from another law which is inferior to the 1992 Constitution and they want all of Ghanaians to follow them blindly. Justifying the unjustifiable and always defending a lie, and in this case, daring the Supreme Court.

The NDC MPs in Parliament are said to have indicated that unless they read what Chief Justice nominee, Mrs Torkonoo, had written as her verdict, they would hold on to her appointment as Chief Justice.

Strangely, is this how the nation should be run? When NDC’s interest is not fulfilled then Ghana can go bonkers. And these are a group of people who claim to be for the suffering masses, even if there are such masses, anyway.

The NDC’s determination to relaunch the parliamentary ambitions of Mr James Gyekye Quayson is an interesting one. For someone whose case in court is not completed, as the case of perjury and others are yet to be determined, why is the NDC daring the Court by presenting Mr Quayson again?

Assuming My Quayson wins the by-election and weeks later he is found guilty for perjury, false declaration, etc., there would be another by-election, won’t it?

Back to Sammy Gyamfi, assuming Mr James Gyekye Quayson, who had filed to contest the Assin North seat, but had not been cleared by the Canadian authority to be non-citizen of that country before the elections, would the NDC had revoke his candidacy at that late hour, knowing well the party would not be able to contest that seat? Your guess is as good as mine.

The NDC would have gone ahead and broken the law and come out to defend what cannot be defended.

The NDC’s predecessors wrote the 1992 Constitution and put in laws which is hurting everybody now, including themselves. This Article 94 (2a), was deliberately put there to make sure Ghanaians in the Diaspora do not have any hand in governance.

In the eighties and right through the nineties, there was this perception by the PNDC and NDC, that majority of Ghanaians abroad belonged to the UP family. And so, to make sure that they do not take over the Executive and Parliament they must be banned by law to take up such offices.

While Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution, allows every citizen of Ghana of eighteen years of age and above and of sound mind, the right to be registered as a voter and the right to vote, this did not extend to majority of Ghanaians living abroad.

So in 2006, Representation of the People (Amendment) Act (Act 699) to allow all eligible Ghanaians abroad to vote was passed.

On the day the bill was passed in Parliament, all NDC MPs walked out, resolving never to be part of what they perceived would spell doom for this nation.

Again, in the minds of the NDC, over 85% of Ghanaians abroad support the NPP and with Ashanti region giving the party lots of problems in General Elections, they cannot afford another Ashanti region.

Today, the NDC are admitting that these are problems in Article 94 (2a) and are praying that this dual citizenship law should be amended. Anyway, before that, they should insist on the full implementation of ROPA (Act 699) of 2006.

It is only fair that if Ghanaians abroad with dual citizenship can be allowed to be MPs, then every eligible Ghanaian abroad must be allowed to directly determine who should lead this country.

The NDC cannot push this Constitution on us and when it adversely affects them, they will come out daring the courts.

Hon. Daniel Dugan

Today’s Europa Conference League Final: Fiorentina, West Ham aim to end long trophy drought 

By
admin
-
0
Fiorentina players

Both clubs aim to end a long trophy drought in Wednesday’s Europa Conference League final, as Fiorentina take on West Ham United at Prague’s Fortuna Arena.

The teams convene in the Czech capital, with the Viola’s last silverware coming some 22 years ago and the Hammers having waited almost twice as long. One will now succeed inaugural winners Roma, as the competition’s top scorers clash with unbeaten opponents.

FIORENTINA

Three decades after their most recent European final appearance – a defeat to Serie A rivals Juventus in the 1990 UEFA Cup showpiece – Fiorentina will become the first club to feature in all four UEFA club competition finals when they stride out on Wednesday night.

Vincenzo Italiano‘s men will also follow in the footsteps of Viola sides that have featured in the European Cup and Cup-Winners’ Cup deciders, having forged their own path to Prague in impressive style this season.

Comfortably the Europa Conference League’s leading scorers, Fiorentina have racked up some 36 goals in 14 games during the process – nine more than second-ranked West Ham, albeit having played two more matches.

With Brazilian striker Arthur Cabral setting the pace on seven strikes so far, 21 of those goals were scored away from home, and the Viola have netted at least three times on each of their last six European road trips; winning on each occasion.

ROAD TO THE FINAL

The Tuscan club have actually lost three matches already: finishing runners-up in Group A, before brushing aside Braga, Sivasspor and Lech Poznan to make the semi-finals, where Basel lay in wait. It took extra time to see off the stubborn Swiss side, and Antonin Barak‘s late winner helped avoid the lottery of penalties; setting up the chance to become Italy’s second successive Conference League winners.

By rallying towards the end of their domestic season, Fiorentina finished eighth in Serie A when the campaign concluded last weekend, and a run of three wins from four ended with Friday’s 3-1 win at Sassuolo.

Nonetheless, only if Juventus are ultimately banned from UEFA competition will the Viola qualify for more European football next term, so with Wednesday’s winners gaining direct entry to the 2023-24 Europa League group stage, the stakes are even higher when they meet West Ham.

While Italiano has been lauded for introducing a slick style of play and reviving Fiorentina’s flagging fortunes, the pressure is now on to secure silverware for a club whose last major trophy was the Coppa Italia of 2001. Failure in this year’s cup final versus Inter saw one shot at glory come to nothing, so everything now rides on the season finale.

WEST HAM UNITED

Fiorentina have not won a continental title since the 1961 European Cup-Winners’ Cup, while West Ham won the same trophy four years later, when they beat 1860 Munich 2-0 at Wembley. Neither side has lifted a UEFA trophy since, but it is the Hammers who have had to wait longest for silverware of any sort.

Few would have thought FA Cup victory in 1980 would be followed by a 43-year drought, but that is what transpired at the East London club, who in addition to several domestic near-misses fell in the Europa League semi-finals last season.

David Moyes has since managed to navigate some stormy seas while several colleagues at other Premier League clubs were fired for underperformance, and the experienced Scot has now taken West Ham one step further in the Conference League.

ROAD TO THE FINAL

Despite not always fielding his strongest side on Thursday evenings, Moyes has seen his team put together an impressive unbeaten record throughout Europe’s third-tier competition – with only one draw blotting an otherwise perfect return from 12 matches.

West Ham United players

Their route to the final took in winning Group B last autumn, before beating both AEK Larnaca and Gent quite comfortably in the knockout stages; a 3-1 aggregate defeat of AZ Alkmaar in the semis featured some ugly scenes in the away leg, but despite crowd trouble threatening to mar the moment, a final place was secured.

The Hammers’ continental campaign, though, has developed in contrast to dismal domestic form for most of the 2022-23 season, and they had to settle for a 14th-place finish after losing 2-1 to Championship-bound Leicester City on the Premier League’s final day.

Some have suggested that the future of Moyes and his coaching staff could still depend on the outcome in Prague, as over £150m was spent last summer to little effect. Surely shifting the burden of going generations without a trophy would make him untouchable though.

WHO’S IN WHO’S OUT

Once again, Vincenzo Italiano rotated his Fiorentina squad at the weekend, in order to keep key men fresh for Wednesday’s showpiece occasion, and with most players available he will be tasked with settling on his strongest XI.

Only back-up goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu is sidelined by injury, while Nicolas Gonzalez should be fit to start despite crashing into the goalpost in scoring the Viola’s final goal of the Serie A season.

Having also netted twice in last month’s win over Basel, the Argentina winger should support central striker Arthur Cabral from the right, but other places in Italiano’s attacking unit appear up for grabs.

Czech playmaker Antonin Barak is among those in contention: the semi-final matchwinner played for final hosts Slavia Prague prior to moving to Italy.

RICE FINAL GAME?

Both Tomas Soucek and Vladimir Coufal also turned out at the Fortuna Arena during their time at the same club, and the pair should feature for West Ham in midweek.

Joining Soucek in the English side’s engine room, captain Declan Rice will most likely sign off on his Hammers career before departing for pastures new this summer. Elsewhere, cup goalkeeper Alphonse Areola replaces Premier League first-choice Lukas Fabianski.

Gianluca Scamacca – recently linked with a loan move back to Serie A in the summer – is set to be West Ham’s sole absentee, having recently undergone knee surgery. With his place almost uncontested, then, Michail Antonio starts up front.

PREDICTION

As Fiorentina are not likely to compromise on their principles and could take the game to West Ham, an intriguing encounter is in prospect. Both teams are desperate to claim silverware, though, and it may be a tempestuous affair.

It could be the Hammers’ greater capacity for defensive discipline which proves the deciding factor – in addition to a distinct threat from set-pieces.

 

POSSIBLE STARTING LINEUP

Fiorentina:
Terracciano; Dodo, Martinez Quarta, Milenkovic, Biraghi; Amrabat, Mandragora; Gonzalez, Bonaventura, Ikone; Cabral

West Ham United:
Areola; Kehrer, Aguerd, Zouma, Cresswell; Soucek, Rice; Bowen, Paqueta, Benrahma; Antonio

Jinapor talks tough in Obuasi: AngloGold Mines Will Always Be Protected … Gov’t will not condone illegality

By
RICHARD OWUSU-AKYAW
-
0
Samuel Jinapor · Minister of Land and Natural Resources, touring the mine
One of the pits the illegal miners used to enter AGA underground mine

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has made it clear that the fact that one is unemployed does not mean the person can illegally enter AngloGold Ashanti underground mine to dig for gold.

Such a conduct, according to him, frowns upon the laws of the country and that the government will take every step to ensure protection of the mine.

The minister gave the warning when he led a team from his ministry to visit Obuasi Mines, which was invaded by a group of illegal miners last week.

Samuel Jinapor · Minister of Land and Natural Resources

The illegal miners, popularly known as ‘galamseyers’, had gone to the underground mine of the mining conglomerate but were exposed by security.

When they realised that their cover had been blown, the illegal miners claimed to have been trapped underground, but those who eventually came out were arrested and later granted bail.

This development led to mayhem in the mining town, with the ‘galamseyers’ blocking major roads in Obuasi and burning lorry tyres. They also pelted military personnel protecting the mines with stones, but they (soldiers) did not retaliate.

Addressing the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners GNASSM) after a closed door meeting with the Obuasi Municipal and Obuasi East District Assemblies, Traditional leaders, Senior Management of the AGA and touring the northern concession of the mine, Jinapor disagreed with the idea of using  unemployment as an excuse to cause illegality.

“The lack of employment can never be a justification for illegally attacking the concession of AGA and that I think I should make it abundantly clear,” he said.

He appealed to all the miners in Obuasi to respect the laws of the land.

The minister touring the mine

“That is government’s position and we need to find alternative means of employment for the youth in Obuasi and we are working with AGA and other stakeholders to actualise this objective, including responsible and regulated community mining and so on and so forth “, he told them, adding that government is working to get the national economy back on track for life to get back to normalcy.

Mincing no words, Jinapor who was accompanied by his Deputy, Mireku Duker and the Chief Executive Officer for the Minerals Commission, Martin Ayisi, underscored the importance of AGA to the national economy of Ghana.

According to the minister, the AGA was put under care and maintenance sometime in 2016, primarily because of the same problem that is at play today. Jinapor said it was through the instrumentality of President Akufo-Addo and His Royal Majesty Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and other stakeholders that the mine was revived.

“I want to underscore the importance of this asset to the economy of this country… I should say so forcefully that it is government’s policy that AngloGold’s concession be protected through any legal means”, he said.

The Minister also tasked the Deputy Minister responsible for Mines, George Mireku Duker to Chair a committee to, among others, examine the Internal Security Architecture of the company, as well as provide Alternative Livelihood opportunities for the teaming Youth through the creation of Community Mining Schemes (CMS) and ensure a healthy and closer collaboration among all stakeholders in the Municipality.

The management of AngloGold Ashanti thanked the Minister for his interest in the matter. They said all 86 illegal miners who went underground have come out and been handed over to the police.

They pledged their commitment to work with Government to ensure a healthy collaboration between the company and the community.

1...2,1842,1852,186...3,046Page 2,185 of 3,046

EDITOR PICKS

POPULAR POSTS

POPULAR CATEGORY

©
The Ghanaian Chronicle