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Military Given Free Hand To Fight Galamsey

By
AGNES ANSAH
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Minister Jinapor addressing the media yesterday

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Mr. Samuel Abu Jinapor, says Ghanaians should blame the Military High Command if the renewed fight against illegal mining fails.

According to Mr. Jinapor, the Command, which is in charge of Operation Halt II, a group of soldiers deployed to rid the country’s water bodies off illegal miners, has authority from the President to deal with all matters that would arise during their operations.

He said the group had been charged to be blind to all manner of considerations that would arise from the political, business, traditional, or religious spaces.

This directive, the Minister viewed as enough grounds for Ghanaians to blame the Military High Command instead of his Ministry, should they fail in the fight.

“The soldiers have this comprehensive list of licensed small scale mining operations across the country. So a politician is not allowed to intervene…Not only politicians, nobody is allowed to intervene.

So I, as the Minister, I am not allowed to intervene; I am not allowed to call the Military High Command to say this concession, please don’t get there or go to that concession.

“That discretion is not given to anybody. They are to use their own professional security expert judgment to take on this matter…

“So if things go wrong in the cause of the operation, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to a large extent will not be held accountable.

It is the Military High Command which will be held accountable because nobody, not a minister; not a politician, not a religious leader, not a chief is allowed to call the commanders in the field to say do this or do that,’ Mr. Jinapor emphasised.

The Minister made these comments when he updated the media on the re-launching of the Operation Halt team, as well as other measures being pursued by the government in the fight against galamsey.

It would be recalled that the government, in May 2021, launched Operation Halt II, where 400 soldiers of all ranks were deployed to rid the country’s water bodies off illegal miners.

The operation was, however, halted for months, but has now been revamped due to the government’s renewed fight in combating the menace.

Speaking yesterday, Minister Jinapor said the reason why the military had been given the free will to operate in this current fight was due to complaints it received from the military concerning politicians, businessmen, and all class of people, which consequently affected the fight.

“That has also been some of the problems; and that were some of the complaints that the military people came with.

All manner of people, not only politicians; all manner of people; influential people in society intervening on behalf of illegal miming people; and we don’t want that to happen again. So this is the other major decision we have taken in respect of this operation…

“They are to be blind to all manner of consideration; political considerations; status what have you. If the mining operation is unlawful they are to be closed down. They have the full authority of the President to do so,” the Minister said.

Mr. Jinapor stated that he would not interfere with the work of the military, and believed that his colleagues, and all other influential people, would do same.

Speaking on other measures that had been put in place to make the work of the military easier and efficient, the Minister said that the Military High Command had been provided with a comprehensive list of all licensed, lawful, small scale mining operations across the country.

He said this would enable the soldiers to distinguish the lawful operators from the illegal ones and deal appropriately with the latter.

Another measure the Minister made was the addition of professional bodies such as the Criminal Investigation Departments (CIDs) and Chief Inspectors of Mines to the team.

He indicated that while the CIDs had been assigned to collect evidence for purposes of prosecution, the Chief Inspectors of Mines were to ensure that any licensed small scale miner, who is not operating within the ambit of laid down rules and regulations, would be brought to book.

On resources, Mr. Jinapor indicated that in order to ensure nothing halted the operation, issues of funding and logistics had been addressed. He said sufficient funding had been put aside to take care of logistics.

“We just want to make sure that this is sustainable so the issue of funding, logistics, finance does not arise. …We have sufficient funding and logistics to support this operation… The operation will be on until the government is satisfied with the gains,” Mr. Jinapor said.

We will contest 2024 with our own referee -JM

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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John Mahama

The former President, John Dramani Mahama, has hinted that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) would approach the 2024 general elections with its “own referee.”

According to the two-time defeated presidential candidate of the umbrella family, the NDC has learnt its lessons from the 2020 polls and has resolved to rely on its own fate.

Mr. Mahama stated, this week, in an interview with Voice of America (VOA) that a democratic country requires a sufficiently independent electoral commission, but Ghana does not have one.

“So, a lot of things went wrong. We have done our post-mortem. We realised that we have to go into the ring with our own referee,” he asserted.

AZUMA NELSON COMES TO THE RESCUE

When pressed by the interviewer on what he meant by that statement, the eloquent communicator and historian, after a brief pause, managed to cite how there was no space on the pink sheet to record the number of people verified biometrically.

He later said he made the statement “…going into the ring with our own referee” as a metaphor, because of a boxing bout that former World Champion Azuma Nelson had with Jeff Fenech in 1992 in Australia.

Azuma had stated that his referee would be his gloves, so once he knocked down the opponent, the fight had been decided by him.

“It means we must take advantage of the systems that are given to political parties to police the poll. And so, it means that we must be extra vigilant at the polling station level, at the collation level and at the final tally level.

“We are going to be much more vigilant than we were in the past. You expect that the Commission is neutral, so there are some things you take for granted, but this time we are not going to take anything for granted,” he cautioned.

NO PINK SHEET COURT

The premises for his statement was the 2020 general elections, which the NDC took to court, but suffered a humiliating defeat.

For the first time, however, the NDC, through Mr. Mahama, explained the rationale behind the party not adducing a single pink sheet as evidence in their election petition.

According to him, it was because the pink sheet did not make allowance for the number of people that were biometrically verified.

“And that’s why we went to court and they were saying why didn’t you bring the pink sheets – it would have been useless [because] you bring the pink sheets and there is no recording of the number of people verified,” Mr. Mahama told the host.

He continued that it was only when you had the recording, which must match up with the number of ballots in the box, that you had a case to pursue.

“And so, if the Electoral Commission gives you a form that does not make provision for people verified, then what is the need for us putting our fingers on that verification machine?” he quizzed.

NO CONFIDENCE IN EC

Mr. Mahama added that the NDC could no longer have confidence in the current Commission because in the party’s estimation, the EC is not “sufficiently independent and neutral because of certain things that have happened.”

Mr. Mahama cited that the NDC has withdrawn from the Interparty Advisory Committee (IPAC) because the current Electoral Commission has stated that decisions made at IPAC are only advisory.

Mr. Mahama further noted that there have been moves by the Ghana Peace Council to bring the NDC back to IPAC, but the EC is dragging its feet.

LEAD NDC 2024

Meanwhile, former President John Mahama says he has not decided whether he will lead the opposition NDC in the 2024 elections, stating that the party is yet to make that decision in 2023.

According to him, “It’s good to keep your opponent guessing, so even if I am not running, I am not going to say I am not running.

“A decision would be taken early next year in the first quarter; that’s when we hold our party’s primaries for the presidential candidacy and we’d see,” he added.

JUSAG gets new President

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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JUSAG new executives swearing the Oath of Office

Alex Nartey, President of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG), has passed on his mantle of office to Samuel Afotey Otu.

The ceremony took place at the Supreme Court of Ghana, where the newly-elected executives of JUSAG were sworn in by a Justice of the Court of Appeal, Mrs. Irene Charity Larbi.

The swearing-in ceremony, which was graced by the Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin Yeboah, had Samuel Afotey Otu and Samuel Larteylai Lartey respectively sworn-in as President and Vice, Abdullai Yakubu, General Secretary, Joyce Assan, deputy General Secretary, Hannah Boakye, Women Commissioner, and Owusu Kankam, Treasure, to serve a four-year mandate.

Addressing the new JUSAG executives, Chief Justice Anin Yeboah urged the Association to remain united, as within it lay strength.

He advised that the essence of their election into office was not to superimpose or lord over the members, but to represent their interests.

“Lead your membership in truth, honesty, and integrity. Keeping in mind they are just like you, staff of the judicial Service. Never try to over impose yourself on them. The association exist because of it members…,” he admonished.

He reiterated that the cardinal rules of leadership were service and listening to the members at all times, because wisdom was not the sole preserve of any person.

The Chief Justice congratulated the executives and pledged the support of management in the discharge of their duties.

Samuel Afotey Otu thanked the members for granting him the opportunity to serve them.

He assured the Judicial Service Staff that the new executives would do everything legally right to improve upon the working conditions of the members.

According to him, the good of JUSAG depends on every little contribution from each member, although “we are the leader, we need each and everyone’s co-operation to be able to lead well.

“Every thought, suggestions and experience are all welcome to make JUSAG more resilient and beneficial to all. We will keep an open door policy.”

Alex Nartey, first and foremost, thanked Chief Justice Anin Yeboah for his exemplary leadership before proceeding to give account of his stewardship.

He said under their tenure of office, the living standards of JUSAG members had improved more than they met it.

According to him, directors of the various departments of the Judicial Service, at the assumption of office of the past executives, were earning about GH¢3,000 monthly, but through their effort, the salaries have appreciated astronomically.

Mr. Nartey added that the salary increment and other benefits have had a ripple effect on the other members of association.

He mentioned that all outstanding arrears and allowances have been paid, including securing study leave for about staff to become lawyers.

The out-gone president urged the Judicial Service to reflect deeply into the appointment of court registrars, saying, “We need to be careful about who is selected to become a registrar going forward.

“We should not appoint anybody at all just because he understands what we do. His character is critical. He must be that person who is able to supervise the court and control his workers, ensuring that their work ethics and disciplinary issues are adhered.

“They must be people who understand they are in the office not for themselves but to serve the people of Ghana so that we can by that rebuild the image.”

Agradaa’s hope for bail dashed – to spend weekend in police cells

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Patricia Asieduaa Oduro Koranteng, alias Nana Agradaa

The quest of Fetish Priestess turned Evangelist Patricia Asieduaa Oduro Koranteng, alias Nana Agradaa, to be granted bail by an Accra Circuit Court has been dashed, as she would spend the weekend in police cells.

Nana Agradaa, who entered the court amid singing and praises, went back disappointed, after the court, presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah, refused her bail for the second time this week.

Mr. Acquah refused the bail application on the grounds that the complainants are vulnerable and the accused, if given bail, could pay them off.

He, therefore, charged the prosecution to start putting its house in order, thereby remanding the accused into police custody to reappear on Monday, October 17, 2022.

Meanwhile, the Defence Counsel for the accused, Reindolf Twumasi, prayed the court to be magnanimous and grant the accused person bail while awaiting trial.

He added that the court should consider the current charges before it and not consider the previous life and past deeds of the accused person in taking that decision.

Furthermore, her counsel argued that the accused person had exhibited to the whole world that she was a born-again Christian, and whether or not she was born-again it was divine, and that she should be judged not on her past life, but the present.

“We are enjoined by the law to see her as innocent under Article 14, which guarantees the liberty of accused persons.  The accused person is not ready to run away from the jurisdiction of the court. In fact, she willingly drove to the police station when she received a call from the police,” her Counsel told the court.

The defence counsel further stated that Nana Agradaa was ready to fight the case and clear her name, since the facts captured were all accusations and should not sway the court’s decision to deny the accused bail.

He contended: “She will appear to stand trial; the court is empowered to grant bail; nothing suggests that she will not appear to stand trial; even if she is given ten sureties, she will provide them. The police know her house and she has children who are minors and are going through mental agony and need the accused person.”

Mr. Twumasi alleged that although Nana Agradaa had already spent five days in custody, the prosecution was not doing any investigation, saying, “they are only fishing for information.”

The prosecuting officer, Deputy Superintendent Prosecution (DSP) Sylvester Asare, opposed the bail application, as the accused would interfere with investigations or evidence collection.

He added that out of the seven charges leveled against Nana Agradaa, six (defrauding by false pretences) were considered felonies. The other was charlatanic advertisement.

He continued that contact made with management of Today’s TV revealed that their reportage was based on the instruction of the accused, and this made it clear that she would hamper investigations.

DSP Asare said detaining the accused would be in the interest of the public, as “we have 30 complainants and we are still taking statements.”

Editorial: Advocacy against child marriage must be stepped up

By
THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

Wednesday marked the 10th Anniversary of the International Day of the Girl-Child, with Ghana joining the world to mark the special day.

The event is usually used to observe and celebrate the achievements of the girl-child in a patriarchal world, where the male usually has the upper hand in every decision of the family and state than the female.

It is also used to highlight challenges such as early marriage and lack of access to education and other challenges which prevent young girls from reaching their full potential.

The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) made a startling revelation based on research it had carried out on the girl-child in its 2021 Population and Housing Census.

The report said that almost 80,000 girls in Ghana, aged between 12 and 17 years, were already married or living with a man. The report further revealed that nearly 26,000 of these figures were girls in Junior High School and aged between 12 and 14 years.

The Chronicle finds it hard to believe that in this day and age, parents still give their young girls out for marriage when there are so many opportunities for them to exhibit their full potentials and become great persons in society.

Programmes such as Girls in ICT (Information and Communications Technology); Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), Sports and many more, have been deliberately designed to enable the girl-child exhibit her God-given skills and talents, and to contribute their quota to society.

Girls who receive education are less likely to marry young and are more likely to lead healthy and productive lives. They would earn higher incomes, participate in the decisions that mostly affect them and build better futures for themselves and their families.

In Ghana, there are examples of women who have demonstrated to the world that if the girl-child is given education, she can thrive in any area of life if only the right resources required for such growth are available.

We can mention the likes of Regina Honu of Soronko Solutions and Lucy Quist, former Chief Executive Officer of Airtel, in the area of technology. There are also women who are Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) in banks, media organisations and industry among others.

It is, therefore, surprising that some parents continue to give out their girl-child in marriages in this day and age.

We believe it is high time government enacts laws to deal with such parents who destroy the future of their girls. If the laws already exist then they must be enforced.

The other leg of the GSS data which came as no surprise was the situation of the girl-child in Northern Ghana.

The report showed that regions with the highest percentage of girls in marriage are in the North East (13.0%), Savannah (10.9%) and Northern (10.6%) regions, all with rates more than twice the national average (4.0%).

Also, despite the free and compulsory universal basic education, almost a quarter of a million girls (244,731) aged 6 to 14 years have never attended school at all and indicated that three out of every 10 of these girls are in the Northern Region which has the highest number of girls who have never attended school (73,516) followed by the Savannah (27,930) and North East (22,857) regions.

This comes as no surprise to us, since child marriage in the North and its resultant effect on education is something that many have spoken about.

Maybe it is time to have the conversation the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, spoke about when he addressed Ghanaians who attended the Global Citizen Festival.

The President, who is the Co-Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and an AU gender champion, said he is committed to putting in place policies and programmes aimed at improving the development of the girl child in Ghana. He, therefore, called for a collective commitment of all major stakeholders to put in place measures that would protect the girl child.

We at The Chronicle are calling on the President and all stakeholders to come to the consultation table, fashion out a plan to deal with this child marriage canker that is robbing our young girls of their bright future.

Letter to Senior Opupulepu (205) When Multiplication of Abolo Failed to Manifest!

By
admin
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Opinion

Dear Senior Opupulepu,

How are you do? As for me and my shordies, we are all do fine.

Senior, you remember, that Sunday school classes you attended? And you remember the sweet stories you were telled, sorry I mean to say tolded or is it told?

Senior, I am sure you remember the story about how Yesu Christus Emmanuel took like two abolo and five Keta Schoolboys, no they were rather, Chorkor Rascals, and just look in the sky to find out whether it was going to rain.

When it showed that no rain was going to rain, He smiled at His Father, Yahweh and hi and behold, all the abolos being baked in the whole village of Judah, reported to duty in front of Yesu Christus Emmanuel.

Same about all the Chorkor rascals. Even those who were playing chass-kele stopped and run to the Begotten Son of Yahweh.

Senior, those Chorkor rascals chasing baela as in field mice, abandoned field and rushed to mark register in front of Yesu Christus Emmanuel.

Senior, when the full battalion of abolos and Chorkor rascals assembled for deployment in front of Yesu Christus Emmanuel, He then paired one abolo and one Chorkor rascal, like that as if He was perming lotto numbers and assigned them to each and every homo sapiens present there. These included babies suckling their mothers’ breasts and even those yet to be born who were enjoying time in their mothers’ womb. Of course, the men also had their share.

Senior, as you must be aware too, this same Yesu Christus Emmanuel, look pure water in the face and said to it. “Chaaiii, your face no fine and ino strong!” Then looking at His Father’s face in Heaven, He blinked an eye and smiled, looked at the pure water’s face again, and it became handsome and strong. In short, it changed its name from Water to Brukutu.

Senior, ever since Yesu Christus Emmanuel did these wonders and even though He entrusted powers to His aplankes assuring them that once He gets back to His Father, according to Johannes’ Love Letter paragraph 14, line 12, they will be able to do greater than or equal to whatever He did, none of them did I ever hear, was able to assemble together, all the abolos and Chorkor rascals in the any vicinity not to talk about the entire village.

Neither has any of them been able to this very day and age, take Water’s Ghana Card and change his name.

Senior, while I was wondering when someone who fits the description of the one who will do things greater than or equal to what Yesu Christus Emmanuel did, a certain Sasa Abosam high priestess, called Adadaa, no relations to lie-lie, who Yesu Christus Emmanuel, out of very much disappointment in His present day and age aplankes, decided to remove all the demons in her and throw them into a galamsey pit.

Senior, to show appreciation this Adadaa woman, decided that she must be a priestess forever in the line of Melchizedek, so she converted by going to Kowus Bumper, where she was received into the Lord. She quickly attended Sunday School and started chopping first in Bible Studies.

Senior, in less that no time she was robbed and anointed Bishopwaa, as in female bishop and founded her own chapel called Heaven Way Mosquito Chapel International, even though it has no branch chapel anywhere in this, ewiase.

Senior, with her new responsibilities, duties and assignment, Adadaa, changed her name and christened herself, Osofo Mama Tricia. Then instead of waiting small for the Spiritus Sanctus to settle down in her, Osofo Tricia, decided to do what her elders before her could not do.

Senior, she decided to wear soldier uniform and stand at a park and shout a command out for all abolos and Chorkor rascals, around to come and stand attention in front of her, and they did. The abolos came from all the abolo bakers   and sellers in and around her chapel and the Chorkor rascals came from all the fishermen and fishmongers, in and around her chapel.

Senior, the problem is she did not exactly know how Yesu Christus Emmanuel did his wonders. She just fasted for forty days and forty nights in the hope that the abolos and the Chorkor rascals will increase and multiply and subdue the chapel.

Senior, when nothing happened, she remembered that she should have prayed alongside the fasting. And, since she had already fasted, she decided to pray for forty days and forty nights.

Senior, another problem exhibited its head. She was so hungry that during the forty days and forty nights of prayers she started eating the abolos and the Chorkor rascals. Lo and behold, when it got to Day Twenty- Seven, she had finished everything.

Senior, now the owners of the abolos and Chorkor rascals decided that as for this they will throw aside their I Believe in Yahweh, Oil-Mighty, and deal with Osofo Mama Tricia, the way they know best, via Aluta.Chapels are known for miracles, so why not theirs?

Senior, and after, they dragged her to a certain old man sitting on a bench doing nothing and told him, they would want to disturb him small.

Senior, as for me I am Dan, sorry I am done.

It’s Me!

7th Agrofood & Plasticprintpack Trade Show takes place in Nov

By
JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
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Dignitaries and some stakeholders of the Trade Show in a Picture

The Managing Director of Fairtrade, Paul Marz, has disclosed that the 7th Agrofood and Plasticprintpack Trade Show is expected to take place from November 29 to December 1, this year at the International Conference Centre in Accra.

He made this known at a news conference in Accra yesterday.

According to Mr. Paul Marz, the event follows up on the success of the 6th edition in 2019, which had 87 exhibitors from 17 countries participating and providing targeted solutions to thousands of trade visitors, investors, and buyers from Ghana and neighboring West African countries.

He added that between 80 and 90 exhibitors from 15 to 20 countries, such as Belgium, China, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Italy, Jordan, Morocco, Netherlands, Nigeria, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tunisia and Turkey, would be present.

He continued that the West African market for agricultural technology was growing in importance, as imports of this technology reaches about €200 million yearly, and West Africa makes significant investments  in food and beverage technology, ranging from €496 million in 2015, to €641 million in 2020.

“There have also been significant prospects in the areas of food trade. With well over 420 million inhabitants, which, according to the World Bank, will rise to 800 million by 2050, West Africa is a huge food market.

West African food imports have reached around US$16 billion and exports US$14 billion. Thus, food trade with West Africa is a US$30 billion business.” He added.

The trade exhibition, Mr. Marz said, was predicated on the following facts when it comes to the plastprintpack portion of the occasion: “West Africa spent €21 million on plastics technology in 2020; €95 million on printing and paper technology, and €309 million on packaging technology, an increase of 3.3% from the previous year, and consistent growth even in the Corona year.”

The conference brought together key players and supporters such as the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA), Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA), Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Ghana Export Promotion Authority(GEPA), Association of Italian Manufacturers of Machinery for the Graphic, Paper and Converting Industry, a delegation of German Industry and Commence in Ghana, the Association of the German Trade Fair Industry (AUMA) and many others.

About Fairtrade                   

The Fairtrade, which was established in 1991, has long been a top organizer of agrofood and plastic Packaging trade shows in Africa and the Middle East.

Over the decades, more than 36,000 exhibitors and 1.5 million trade visitors have expressed their confidence in Fairtrade. The Fairtrade takes innovative ways to connect emerging markets with solution providers from across the globe. Facilitating valuable business contacts between exhibitors and trade visitors, that‘s what Fairtrade stands for.

As a member of UFI the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry, Fairtrade strives for high customer satisfaction with excellent service and innovative products.

Hearts to invoke ‘Miracle of El-Wak’ against Réal de Bamako

By
JOHN BEDIAKO
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Hearts of Oak

The Mighty Oak Tree will on Sunday attempt yet another herculean task of miracle performance when Hearts of Oak come face to face with AS Réal de Bamako at the nation’s Wembley, Accra Sports Stadium, in the second leg of the Confederation Cup of Africa Football (CAF) second round.

After going down by three goals without a reply in the first leg encounter in Bamako last Saturday, the teeming fans are as sure as the second coming of Christ, that the rainbow will appear by 18:00hours on Sunday after the end of the game, with the chorus; ….”Arose AroseArose, We are the famous Hearts of Oak, Be quiet and cheer us up, We never say die”, permeating every corner of the country.

It is a truism that the current form guide of Accra Hearts of Oak is nothing to write home about, compared to the days of the ‘64 Battalion’ that conquered Africa in 2000; and the ‘Fearsome Fivesome’ that enacted the Miracle of El-Wak in the Africa Club Champions Cup in 1977.

On that fateful day, Sunday November 6, 1977 Hearts lined up a formidable squad consisting of  Robert Hammond, Mama ‘Bomber’ Acquah, Peter ‘Goal Thief’ Lamptey, Anas ‘Thunder’ Seidu and Mohammed ‘Dribbling Magician’Polo(the ‘Fearsome-Fivesome’).

They had one objective of overturning an earlier 5-2 defeat, suffered at the hands of Mufulira Wanderers of Zambia, during the first leg of the semifinals.

Hearts needed three unanswered goals to sail through to meet Hafia Club of Guinea in the finals.

The game traveled seventy-five minutes before the Phobians scored the first goal, followed by the second and finally crowned their effort in the 88th minute with the third goal.

Those were the days of G.W. Amarteifio and B.B. Bismarck at the helm of affairs of the rainbow shirted team.

Today, the oak tree needs redemption and all hands must be on deck. All true Phobians must avoidinternal squabbles to enable the team achieve the feat chalked by their predecessors in the Continental competition, which has eluded the country for quite some time now.

Going to the battlefront on Sunday are; Fatawu Mohammed, Daniel Barnie Afriyie, Enock Asubonteng, Konadu Yiadom, Kwame Obeng Junior, GladsonAwako, Mo Alhassan and Dennis Korsah, among a host of other dependable lads who are willing to die for club and country.

Information from the Hearts camp indicates that the morale of the players is on the ascendancy and they are ready to write their names in gold, like the all-conquering 64 Battalion Squad of the early two thousand.

What the team needs now from the teeming supporters is undiluted support by turning out in their numbers to cheer them up to victory.

The rainbow is expected to be cast over the Accra Sports Stadium after the annihilation of AS Réal de Bamako. Phooooobia.

Fighting transnational crimes needs cooperation -Nitiwul

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Defence Minister Nitiwul Dominic Nitiwul (m) cutting tape

The Minister for Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, says there is a need for international and regional cooperation in dealing with criminal issue related to terrorism, and designation of the relevant authorities to direct such cooperation.

Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul (2nd r), CDS Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, IGP Dr George Akuffo-Dampare, and Ranking Member of Defence in Parliament Dr. Zenator Rawlings at the exhibition

He suggested that establishing strong cooperation agreements among member states would help facilitate requests for mutual legal assistance and extradition, which play an important part in the prosecution of cases transcending national borders.

According to him, cooperation was paramount, particularly at a time nations seek to readjust and realign themselves in respect of trade, development and economic growth, but was being drawn back by transnational organised crimes.

These crimes, he noted, also present a great challenge to the rule of law, economic and social development, and the protection of human rights and security.

“They undermine people’s quality of life, and threaten their human security by limiting access to employment and educational opportunities. They further directly affect the public financing capabilities of states, and can obstruct economic development through tax evasion,” he stressed.

Mr. Nitiwul made the suggestion at a two-day International Defence Conference and Exhibition held in Accra this week, under the theme: “Strengthening International Collaboration to Combat Terrorism and Transnational Organised Crimes.”

He added that the use of electronic surveillance, undercover operations, and informants has proven to be effective techniques that had assisted the investigative agencies to combat organised crime and transnational crimes were of great essence.

“We need to develop and strengthen legislation to criminalise the laundering of proceeds of crime, train officials and increase the ability to identify and interdict cross-border transportation of illegal cash or other negotiable instruments as a major step in stopping organised crime in the sub-region and the world at large,” he stated.

He opined that tackling insecurities in the sub region was of urgent importance to the Government of Ghana, because they hindered the continent’s economic development, include, public borrowing, trade deficit, military expenditure, low level of technological innovation, political turbulences and corruption.

The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Vice Admiral Seth Amoama, echoed the importance of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime in member states’ efforts to subdue crime.

He finds the Convention crucial to modern day security, as it propagated the need to prevent, suppress and punish trafficking in persons, especially women and children, smuggling of migrants by land, sea and illicit manufacturing of and trafficking in firearms, parts and components, and ammunition.

Vice Admiral indicated that the convention represents a major step in the fight against transnational organised crime and signifies the recognition of Member States of the seriousness of the problems posed by it, as well as the need to foster and enhance close international effort.

As a result, he said, the 2-day conference and exhibition presented opportune time for participants to discuss terrorism and transnational organised, crimes as well as initiatives to counter-terrorism and transnational organised crimes at an off-site location.

Court grants striking lecturers conditional leave to appeal

By
admin
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ASUU

The Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja has granted leave to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to appeal the decision of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria delivered on the 21st of September.

In a ruling delivered by Justice Hamman Barka on October 7, 2022, and made public today, the court granted ASUU seven days to file its notice of appeal before the National Industrial Court on the condition that the order of the lower court is obeyed immediately.

ASUU had on September 28, 2022 applied to the court to grant it leave to appeal against the interlocutory order of Justice Polycarp Hamman of the National Industrial Court.

ASUU also asked for an order staying execution of the decision of the National Industrial Court pending the hearing and determination of its appeal.

ASUU brought the application both on grounds of law and on fundamental human rights and amongst other things, it asked the court not to shut out thousands of its members who are desirous of ventilating their grievances.

ASUU also held that the ruling of the National Industrial Court affects its members’ right to fair hearing and it would be in the interest of justice to stay the execution of the decision pending the hearing and determination of its appeal.

Credit: channelstv.com

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The Ghanaian Chronicle