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Editorial: North Tongu MP must be commended

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THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

The rate of unemployment in the country is very worrying, to say the least. Governments have over the years worked to reduce the country’s high unemployment rates, particularly since the establishment of the second republic.

Ghana’s population increased to 30.8 million in 2021 from 24.7 million in 2010, according to the census.

The 2021 population and housing census reported by the Ghana Statistical Service on its website, shows that more than 1.55 million people, or 13.4% of the country’s population are out of work.

Research information website, Statistica, estimated the proportion of people out of work at 4.5%, Bloomberg reported.

If the minimum age of 15 years is applied, the proportion of people without work is 7.8%, the Statistical Service said.

According to their report, the proportion of economically active males aged 15 and older, was 63.5% compared with 53% for females.

These statistics come on the back of global economic crisis and policy decisions of governments, with their accompanying ramifications.

We, therefore, consider any effort from whatever quarters to create jobs commendable. It is on this basis that we wholeheartedly commend the Member of Parliament for the North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, for negotiating a deal to employ some of his constituents.

A post he made on his official Facebook page yesterday attracted our attention. It read, “As Government ends NaBCo today, September 1, 2022, I am delighted to announce that I have successfully negotiated with the Chinese management of Sinostone Bioethanol Manufacturing Ltd. (SBML), located in my beloved North Tongu, to immediately employ all our 97 NaBCo beneficiaries. We shall continue to look out for each other with our best efforts.”

We are not going into the politics of the Nation Builders Corps initiative, because what the MP has done confirms that politics must be seen as a tool for development, whether in power or opposition.

The NaBCo program engaged some one hundred thousand unemployed graduates over a three-year period, with an exit plan.

While some beneficiaries were lucky enough to have exited for other opportunities and others maintained at places of work, there were still some NaBCo personnel who had to go back to their unemployment status, following the end of the program yesterday, September 1, 2022.

We do not have the numbers for those who could not continue working, but our delight is that an MP has thought it wise to come to the rescue of those in his constituency.

This is definitely a worthy course which merits emulation, and it is our hope that others like him will see the need to support their constituents even more.

There are 275 MPs across the country, so if they should each make a step to negotiate for NaBCo trainees in their respective constituencies to secure jobs, it means, as a country, we would have ensured that all the one hundred young people who enrolled in the program will get employed.

We are not saying that the other MPs are not playing their part. We are only citing the case of Mr. Ablakwa as an example to the rest, to continue to support their constituents.

We believe that Mr. Ablakwa looked beyond the fact that it was not his party that introduced the program and that is something our politicians can take a lesson from.

At the end of the day, it is one Ghana we aspire to develop and as politicians who have the mandate of the people, you can only use the power from the people to empower them.

Letter to Senior Opupulepu (199) The Twenty-Fifth Station… And Veronica Slapped Judas in the Face

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admin
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Opinion

Dear Senior Opupulepu,

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

Senior, I wonder if you are still a Roman Katholici. Even if you have stopped, I still believe that you remember what members of this church do during Lent and Good Fridays, which they call, the Stations of the Cross.

Senior, I am not referring to a trotro station or thief slappers’ station. To refresh your memories, it is that holy ritual, where these Katholico people will kneel down fourteen times during fourteen chapters of stories which tell of how the Only Son of Yahweh, Yesu Christus Emmanuel, took fourteen steps to save sinners, like you.

Senior, it came to past, “kekeniegbaashike bah o,” that in a certain Katholico church in a hamlet in Ogyakrom, the Papa Osofo was leading this Stations of the Cross, when he was signalled by his houseboy that he had an urgent call.

It was the bishop, to whom he had sworn obedience, that whether rain or shine, night or day, food time or siesta time, watching soccer time or watching Osofo Dadzie, and he is called by the bishop and he fails to promptly attend to the call, he will willingly accept his demotion from Papa Osofo to altar boy.

Senior, and this Stations of the Cross must continue, so he handed over to the senior catechist to proceed from where he had reached.

They had gotten to the Tenth Station, where Yesu Christus Emmanuel’s suit, trousers and shirts were stolen by bow and arrow professionals. Five stations to go, so he left the worshippers in the grace and mercy of the Lord.

Senior, Papa Osofo and his bishop talked for a while and he was dismissed to go and carry on with what he was doing. Papa Osofo looked at his time and knew that the Stations of the Cross must end by now. He all the same proceeded to where the worshipers were gathered.

Senior, he met them still doing the Stations of the Cross and what shocked him most was what he heard. The Senior Catechist, pronounced loud and clear, “The Twenty-fifth Station…. And Veronica slapped Judas in the face…. We adore You and we praise You…”

Senior, where from came twenty-fifth station when the stations end with the fourteenth? Papa Osofo asked in thoughts and wonders.

Senior, you see, Senior Catechist, did not know how to end the Stations of the Cross. The prayer book he was carrying had the end part torn off and missing.

So, his intentions were that no matter how long it took, Papa Osofo himself must come and close the Stations of the Cross, himself. So, he kept going on before Papa Osofo came to rescue the worshipers from bondage.

Senior, it is this slap-slapping that has resurrected in a church, this time not book-book slap-slapping but real-life anointing slap-slapping.

Senior, in one of those numerous churches, where their pastors claim to always spend weekends in Heaven, with Yesu Christus Emmanuel, the Daddy Sofo called St. Anthony of Buade decided to social distance himself from his congregation, because they were sinners and he was very holy, filled with Spiritus Sanctus to the brim, so he must not mix with, eat or drink with sinful, gineful, wineful Gentiles, like you.

Senior, this church is called the Assembly of the New Generation of Born-Again Die-Again Resurrected Again Power Supply Ministries.

Senior, this Sofo St. Anthony had a revelation from Spiritus Sanctus Himself, that he must get a white donkey and always sit on it whenever he is going anywhere and Satan and his demons will never near him.

Senior, our local St. Anthony revealed this revelation to his congregation via WhatsApp and told them that if they also want to go to Heaven, then they must buy him a white unblemished donkey who has not known any woman donkey before, for him to possess.

Senior, on the day of the fundraising, Auntie Antionette, the Till Something Do We Part, of Sofo St. Anthony of Buade, decided to play the Dampare and watched over the collation and counting of the money gathered.

Senior, because there was plenty-plenty money, Sofo Mami Auntie Antionette’s eyes started seeing two-two, three-three and in the visions, she thought she saw one of her husband’s disciples, Dada Boat’s left his hand lifted from the table carrying the money and going directly into his pocket.

Senior, filled with what she believed to be Spiritus Sanctus, she decided that the man needed deliverance. Satan must be bonded and thrown out into the abyss in hell fire.

But instead of laying hands on the backtracking disciple, she decided that the demon in that disciple was the most stubborn. In fact, it was only after his birth in hell that stubbornness came into existence.

Senior, Sofo Mami Auntie Antoinette, landed some heavy anointing slaps on the disciple who started seeing all the stars in the universe and started naming them one by one, until he fell asleep out of tiredness from enduring such macho slaps.

Senior, now this Veronica slapped Judas in the face, has become, Antionette slapped Dada Boat in the face. Anointing slaps are now available for deliverance.

In fact, I am Dan, sorry I am done.

It’s, me!

Obuasi Assembly supports 44 PWDs

By
ERNEST BEST ANANE
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MCE Elijah Adansi- Bonah presenting start-up business items to PWDS

Mr. Elijah Adansi-Bonah, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Obuasi, has heaped praises on Persons Living with Disability (PWDs) who had benefited from the Assembly’s share of the Disability Fund for the productive use of the items given them.

Some of the beneficiaries waiting for their items

Speaking at a short ceremony to handover the items to some of the beneficiaries in Obuasi, the MCE indicated that reports from the Monitoring Team assigned by the Assembly to assess how the items were being used by the beneficiaries, pointed to the fact that most of them were put into productive use by the PWDs.

About 44 Persons with Disability were supported at the event, while 33 of them were given items to boost their businesses, with six others getting educational support, and four getting medical support at a total cost of GH¢115, 047.

The MCE expressed his profound gratitude to the beneficiaries for making good use of the items, and disclosed that the Assembly’s Assessors had given management positive feedback regarding how items had been put into productive use.

According to him, he was overwhelmed, because it was rare to see PWDs begging on the streets in the Municipality.

The PWD Act, 2006 (Act 715) set up the Disability Fund which requires that two per cent of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) be set aside for PWDs to minimise poverty among members and enhance their social image through dignified livelihoods.

Mr. Bonah stated that, the Obuasi Municipal Assembly had been proactive in disbursing the fund immediately it hit the accounts as a strategy to cushion PWDs in the Municipality to have an improved standard of living.

He said the Assembly would continue to create a congenial environment for businesses, including those owned by PWDs, to thrive in the Municipality.

The MCE stressed that, the Assembly is considering the possibility of giving tax relief to PWDs who are into businesses to enable them thrive in the competitive business space.

Mr. Karim Idrisu, Secretary of the Obuasi chapter of the Ghana Federation of Disables, appealed to the Assembly to, as a matter of urgency, considers giving tax waiver a reality to the members who are into businesses.

He was of the view that exemption from paying rates and taxes in the next fee fixing resolution, would help them to compete favorably in the business environment.

Mr. Karim disclosed that, their members are struggling to compete in the highly competitive business space because Disability comes with a cost in the face of high cost of doing business.

He commended the Assembly for always releasing the fund timely and implored beneficiaries to always put the items into productive use.

KATH registers post-Covid-19 rebound of operations

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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Dr. Oheneba Owusu-Danso, CEO-KATH

The Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) has announced that it is fast recovering from the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the hospital, Dr. Oheneba Owusu-Danso, stated that the evidence was in a rebound of its operations at the 2022 Mid-Year Performance Review Conference of the hospital in Kumasi on Wednesday.

The Head of facility said Specialised Outpatient Department attendance recorded 125,897 cases  against 114,783 for the same period in 2021, representing an increase of 8.83%, while emergency admissions for the first half of the year was 9,768, against 9,324 the previous year, a marginal increase of 4.45%.

Dr. Owusu-Danso reported that in-patient admissions were 15,350 at a 1.17% rise over the 15,078 cases in 2021, while both minor and major surgical operations recorded 8,217 cases against 6,968 for the same period of the previous year, a 17.92% increase.

He continued that Physiotherapy services recorded 5,924 cases (a 9.66% increase) against 5,402 in the first six months of last year, while laboratory services improved by 30.22% and recorded 120,102 cases against 92,231 for 2021.

While radiology services saw an increase of 10.32 %, from 27,432 cases  in 2021 to 30,263 cases in the period under review, other Radiology investigations recorded at the respective  directorates outside the Radiology Directorate was 5,795 cases against 5,562 cases in the same period last year, representing an increase of 4.19%.

With regards to Radiotherapy services, the CEO announced that 3,159 cases were recorded in the first half of the year, against 2,660 in the same period last year at 18.75%, with 9,505 cases of blood screening  recorded  by the Transfusion Medicine Unit for the same period for both last year and this year.

Dr. Owusu-Danso mentioned that to improve quality of clinical care to the public, KATH procured a number of critically needed equipment and facilities including seven Ventilators, 150 Ventilator circuits, X-ray digital detectors, among others, from the hospital’s Internally Generated Funds.

The KATH CEO further announced that work on the 500-bed capacity Maternity and Children’s Block project was steadily progressing, and that the 138.5 million Euros project, being executed by Contracta Limited, would be completed by May 2024 as stipulated.

In May this year, a US$234,231 state-of-the-art Laparoscopic Training Centre established with funding by the Korea Foundation for International Healthcare (KOFIH) was inaugurated to boost specialist surgical services to the public.

Following the establishment of this facility, Dr. Owusu-Danso disclosed that 15 doctors, nurses and other staff had benefited from lectures, simulation laparoscopic and live animal laboratory training, and further revealed that six members of staff, comprising doctors, nurses  and Biomedical  Engineer, had returned to beef up the pool of experts  in laparoscopic services, having just returned from the Republic of Korea from further training.

“A set of two doctors and two nurses have been selected for training in Korea this month (September),” Dr. Owusu-Danso announced.

We will help PDP lose election; Governor Wike

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admin
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Rivers State Governor, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike

The Rivers State Governor, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has threatened to help the Peoples Democratic Party lose the 2023 presidential election.

The governor issued the threat at the commissioning of the internal road in Omerelu community in Ikwerre local government area of Rivers on Thursday.

The governor who was responding to recent comments by the National Chairman of the PDP, Iyorchia Ayu said the chairman is exhibiting arrogance.

He said “Doctor Ayu said we are children. Yes, the children brought you from the gutter to make you chairman.

“Now we have seen that you don’t want the party to win election, we will help you.

“These children you said we are, that brought you from nothing.

“Ayu, you said you founded this party, but you left the party in 2007. You founded a company, you left the company, people stood and brought out the company to what it is today, you have no moral right to still come and claim that you founded that company, you left with your shares.

“You want to show integrity, you want to show a party to Nigeria that we want to take over, you must convince Nigerians that we have the integrity.

“You are the driver that will drive the vehicle to convey us to go our destination. That is the victory we are looking for.

“If the driver has no integrity and cannot show honesty, how do you convince Nigerians?

“If you tell Nigerians something and cannot do it, is it when you enter into power that you will do it?

“Nigerians have seen how ungrateful some of you can be, and that’s why Nigerians also want to be careful, if we give these people power, are you sure they will also be grateful to Nigerians”.

Credit: dailypost.ng

EFCC Arrests Ogun Assembly Speaker Oluomo

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Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr Olakunle Oluomo

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo.

He was arrested around 9 am on Thursday at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos.

Sources told Channels Television’s judiciary correspondent, Shola Soyele, that he was picked up by officials of the EFCC to answer questions bordering on alleged financial crimes.

The leadership of the Commission has kept mum over the arrest but they are expected to issue a statement shortly.

But a source within the Commission admitted that the Ogun State Speaker had been invited by the EFCC several times but failed to honour the invitations.

Oluomo has been taken to the EFCC’s Lagos office for further questioning.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State House of Assembly has remained calm after the arrest of the Speaker by anti-graft operatives.

Although the situation remains calm, the gate leading to the assembly complex remains closed as men of the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps manned the entrance gate.

Similarly, the entrance to the area was restricted as visitors in and outside the complex were turned back.

Credit: channelstv.com

Okada ban defaulters risk 3-yrs jail term -Lagos Govt

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admin
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Commercial motorcycles

Defaulters of the ban on commercial motorcycle operators (Okada) in Lagos State risk a three-year jail term as enforcement for the phase two ban starts on Friday.

This is according to the Lagos State Commissioner for Transport, Dr Frederic Oladeinde, who spoke during a news conference in Ikeja. He said the phase two okada ban was in four local government areas and six local council development areas (LCDAs).

“We implore the general public to comply, as both the rider and passenger are both liable to three years in prison if prosecuted,” Oladeinde said.

“Their motorcycles will be impounded and crushed in the public view, in line with the provision of Section 46, sub-section 1, 2 & 3 of the Transport Sector Reform Law (TSRL), 2018.

“We implore the general public to join hands together with the state government by complying with the decision geared towards combating the monster that okada operation has created so that sanity can return to our state.”

According to the commissioner, 200 officials of the Lagos Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) have been deployed alongside other security agencies to enforce the ban. He stated that the extension is in the right direction to ensure the security of the lives and properties of Lagosians.

“As a responsive government, we are not leaving the affected passengers stranded without any viable means of transportation, that is why we have made available alternative and sustainable means of transportation.

“The decision and position of the government on okada is very clear, and we are not compromising on this decision, which is to further consolidate on the achievements made so far with particular reference to the decrease in accidents and crime,” the commissioner added.

The state government had in August declared a total ban on four more LGAs and six LCDAs mainly in Kosofe (Ikosi-Isheri and Agboyi-Ketu LCDAs); Mushin (Odi-Olowo LCDA); Oshodi (Oshodi-Isolo and Ejigbo LCDAs), and in Shomolu (Bariga LCDA).

Credit: channelstv.com

We appear confused about Nigeria –Bola Tinubu

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Bola Ahmed Tinubu

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general elections, Bola Tinubu, has said that Nigerians appear to be in confusion about the state of the nation.

He stated this on Wednesday in Abuja during the 70th birthday celebration of Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto.

“I listened to the panelists, we appear to be in confusion about our nation,” the ex-Lagos State governor said. “We inherited speaking in tongues from the Bible but our diversity is a promise for prosperity.”

Tinubu hailed him for his contributions to the growth and development of Nigeria, describing him as a great man who is endowed with resilient intellectual abilities.

In commending the cleric for building an institution on his 70th birthday anniversary, he charged the Sokoto Bishop to also build the nation.

The APC candidate, who pledged to contribute to the completion of the Kukah project, charged Nigerians to also contribute to the development of the nation.

He added, “You are building an institution in honour of your 70th birthday. I am 70 too. Bishop, you will build not just the institution but the greatness of a nation.

“It is on your shoulder; it is on mine and we must build it together. I must and I will contribute handsomely personally to build and see to the completion of that institution because it reflects something.”

On his part, Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, described Kukah for his undying love for the country.

Credit: channelstv.com

Cedi recovers from 10 lowpoint as Afreximbank loan arrives 

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admin
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Cedi

The Cedi recovered against the dollar this week, trading at 9.86 from 9.95 at last week’s close, having briefly touched a record low 10.03, as funds from Afreximbank’s recent $750m loan arrived with the Bank of Ghana.

The proceeds of the loan will be used for infrastructure projects and boosting Ghana’s FX reserves, which have fallen as the central bank has attempted to slow the Cedi’s slide against the dollar.

The country has been shut out of global capital markets as the US Federal Reserve has lifted interest rates to fight inflation, pushing Ghana’s borrowing costs higher and putting its debt sustainability in the spotlight.

We expect the Cedi to continue strengthening marginally against the dollar in the near term as the effect of Ghana’s recent rate hike—which took interest rates to 22%—begins to filter through.

Angola joins Kenya in election dispute
Africa is facing its second challenge to an election in a month, after Angolan opposition leader Adalberto Costa Junior rejected the result from last week’s poll, which saw incumbent President Joao Lourenco claim just over half of the votes. Costa Junior, leader of the UNITA party, said there were “brutal” discrepancies between the electoral commission’s count and the party’s own tally.

The party has submitted a legal complaint.

The European Union urged Angolan authorities to respond. Angola’s currency, the Kwanza, has weakened marginally against the dollar since the election, trading at 429 from 428 on the day of the vote.

In Kenya, the Shilling passed a record low 120 to the dollar as markets await a decision from the country’s Supreme Court about August’s disputed election result.

Profit-taking may boost Naira at 700

Naira

The Naira declined against the dollar again this week, sliding to 698 from 690 at last week’s close amid elevated greenback demand.

The Nigerian government this week announced its spending proposals for the 2023 fiscal year, with NGN3.36tr being made available for the fuel subsidy, which is expected to remain in place until the middle of next year.

Nigeria’s national oil company is also set to receive funding to refurbish its derelict refineries to boost capacity for when the fuel subsidy ends.

We expect to see some Naira buying activity as the currency touches the 700 level, with speculators likely to take profits on the recent dollar gains.

Fed inflation fight to keep Rand under pressure

Rand

The Rand weakened against the dollar this week, slipping to 16.99 from 16.89 at last week’s close as the greenback strengthened in response to the US Federal Reserve’s announcement that rates will remain at elevated levels for longer as it battles to slow down inflation.

On the domestic front, South Africa is pushing ahead with plans to create a new state-owned power company to help improve energy supply, the country’s Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe told Bloomberg.

The country has suffered persistent power outages as existing state-owned power company Eskom’s ageing infrastructure has struggled to meet demand. With the broader risk-off sentiment likely to persist in the near term, we expect the Rand to continue trading around the 17 level.

Egyptian Pound hits six-year low on debt concerns

Egypt

The Pound slipped to a six-year low against the dollar this week, trading at 19.25 from 19.21 at last week’s close as investors increasingly fret about the potential of Egypt defaulting on its debt.

The country’s probability of defaulting within the next 12 months rose to a nine-year high this week, Bloomberg data show. Amid growing debt concerns, Egypt’s central bank this week said it plans to issue $500m-worth of bonds dominated in Chinese Yuan.

After the surprise resignation of the central bank Governor Tarek Amer in August, it remains uncertain whether the bank will devalue the currency further—thought to be one of the conditions of the IMF agreeing a fresh loan. Against that backdrop, we anticipate further pressure on the Pound in the near term.

Kenyan Shilling passes record low 120 amid wait for election verdict

Kenya

The Shilling slipped to a fresh record low against the dollar this week, trading at 120.06 from 119.99 at last week’s close, extending the currency’s recent slide against the greenback.

The latest weakness comes amid elevated month-end dollar demand from manufacturers, importers and oil marketers and as markets await a decision from the country’s Supreme Court about August’s disputed election result.

Annual inflation hit a five-year high of 8.5% in August from 8.3% in July as food and fuel prices continue to rise.

A coffee crop failure in Brazil that is expected to push coffee prices higher and translate into higher earnings for Kenyan coffee exporters could boost the Shilling in the medium term.

However, we expect the Shilling to remain under pressure in the coming days due to the election uncertainty and ongoing FX demand from the energy and manufacturing sectors.

Ugandan Shilling under pressure amid climate concerns

Uganda

The Shilling weakened against the dollar this week, trading at 3816 from 3808 at last week’s close. Recent flooding in eastern Uganda has heightened concerns about the effect of climate change on the country.

The African Development Bank says climate change-related impacts could cost Uganda 2.8% to 4.5% of GDP a year between now and 2050, with existing energy infrastructure and agriculture particularly at risk given the increased frequency of extreme weather events and relatively limited climate adaptation efforts to date.

Uganda signed an agreement last month with the Global Green Growth Institute and other development partners to improve Uganda’s climate resilience and promote green growth.

Shilling steady as Tanzania economy shrugs off Ukraine war impacts 

Tanza

The Shilling was little changed at 2332 per dollar from 2331 at last week’s close. Tanzania’s economy grew 5.4% in the first quarter, shrugging off the impact of Russia’s war in Ukraine, with agriculture accounting for almost a fifth of GDP during that time.

Meanwhile, Tanzania looks set to miss out on China’s planned debt relief for some of Africa’s poorest countries.

China announced plans to write off 23 interest free loans to 17 countries, without initially revealing who would qualify—raising expectations in Tanzania that it could be among the beneficiaries.

However, Tanzania missed out because of its status as a lower middle-income country since July 2020. We expect the Shilling to remain relatively stable in the coming days supported by foreign investment and tourism activities.

Credit: www.azafinance.com 

Confusion in Christian Divine Church over sacking of trustees

By
KWESI ALFRED ADAMS
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Rev Jerry John Nana Appiah, one of the pastors of the church

The decision allegedly taken by the Chairman of the Christian Divine Church (CDC), Apostle Ebenezer Boahen, to revoke the appointment of members who constitute the Executive Council of the church and that of the Trustees, despite a civil suit challenging his eligibility to hang on as leader, has sparked tension in the church.

The Chronicle understands that a meeting called at the headquarters of the church at Tarkwa, on August 27, 2022 and attended by pastors from all corners of the country ended abruptly, after Apostle Boahen reportedly informed them about the revocation of the apartments.

Though majority of the pastors who attended the meeting argued that the revocation of the appointments was illegal and that their leader did not follow due process, Apostle Boahen went ahead  to appoint Pastor Samuel Awuah, head of the Offin-Dunkwa branch, as General Secretary of the church.

Pastor Jerry John Nana Appiah, a branch Pastor at Ahanta Abura, near the Takoradi branch of the church, confirmed the August 27 meeting that ended abruptly and argued that they would have had fruitful deliberations at the meeting, had their Chairman not taken the decision to revoke the appointments of the executive council members.

“He revoked the powers of the Executive Council Members and the Trustee of the church and went ahead to appoint a General Secretary for the church, in the person of Offin-Dunkwa head of the church, Pastor Samuel Awuah,” he told The Chronicle.
According to Pastor Jerry John Nana Appiah, the revocation of the appointments meant their leader wanted to turn the church into a “one man church” and continue to stay in office and that, the decision he has taken breaches the constitution of the church.

The pastor further told The Chronicle that their constitution stipulates four year tenure of office for every Chairman and that the current chairman’s mandate came to an end in January this year.

“As heads of the various branches, we (pastors) have vowed to resist the revocation and continued stay in office by the Chairman”, he said.

Attempts made by this reporter to speak to the chairman of the church proved futile. When the reporter called for the first time, the call went through alright but he did not pick up. When the reporter tried calling him the following day, the phone was off.

NOTICE OF LIABILITY FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT
Meanwhile, K. Archy & Co. Ltd., lawyers for Trustee of the church, Mrs Rosina Aryee, have served the current leadership of the CDC with a notice of liability for contempt of Court.

A statement released by the legal firm, with the headline “Re; Notice of Liability for contempt of Court” and signed by Kwaku Owusu Agyemang reads: “the attention of the Trustee of the church have been drawn to an invitation letter dated 18th of August, 2020 issued by Apostle Ebenezer Boahene, Rev Augustus A. Agyemang and Rev. John Brown, inviting all pastors and various leaders of the church to a purported emergency meeting on the 27th August 2020.

The statement reminded the candidates of the pending Court injunction order against the church, in the case of Ekow Dadzie vs. Andrews Antwi, Obadiah Sampson Awortwe and Christian Divine Church (suit no. E12/3/2022).

According to the statement, the injunction order, dated 22nd November, 2021 restrained the church and its officers from holding any such meeting as described in the invitation letter, especially on matters relating to holding of any elections of one form or another in the church, until the case was finally determined by the Court.

“Furthermore, in the two High Courts cases of Rosina Aryee & Annor vs. Ebenezer Boahen, Augustus Achina, Christian Divine Church & 2 others (suit No. GJ/0428/2022) & David Agyekum & Anor vs. Apostle Ebenezer Boahen, Ps. Augustus Achina & 2 Others (suit No. GJ/0114/2022), there are pending operative injunction motions against the above persons from interfering with the administration of the church especially on election matters and their tenure of office”.

The statement warned that any action by the candidates in question participating in the purported emergency meeting which itself was inconsistent with the dictates of the constitution of the Christian Divine Church was an obstruction of the administration of the Court pending the final determination in the aforementioned cases.
Against this background, the Lawyers strongly advised that their attendance at the purported emergency meeting of 27th August 2020, or any such meeting of that nature makes them liable for contempt of court.

As a result, the relevant contempt proceedings may be issued against them accordingly without recourse to them.

Nevertheless, the leadership of the Christian Divine Church despite the injunction notice, in a letter invited all branches to an emergency meeting called by the Interim Administration Committee.

In a letter of invitation headlined “Invitation To an Emergency Meeting Called by Interim Administration Committee” signed by Apostle Ebenezer Boahen, Rev. Augustus A. Agyeman and Rev. John Brown, they wrote “by the authority giving to us by the High Court, Tarkwa and in the light of matters arising, we are calling this 1st meeting (emergency meeting) dated 27th August 2022 at Headquarters at 10:00am prompt.

BACKGROUND
It would be recalled that one Kwame Bedu-Anor issued a writ against embattled Chairman Ebenezer K. Boahen, Augustus Agyemang Achina, John Brown and Registered Trustees of the Christian Divine Church (defendants) seeking a declaration that 1st and 2nd respondent terms of office as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Christian Divine Church has expired, as at 28th of January, 2022.

The plaintiff also sought for  an order directed at the 1st and 2nd defendants to vacate the position as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Christian Divine Church and further order directed at the 1st and 2nd respondents to render account of all funds administered by them for the entire period of assuming the role as Chairman and Vice chairman of the church.

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