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Mourinho aims to extend perfect record in European finals against Feyenoord today

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Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho will aim to extend his perfect record in European finals when his Roma side face Feyenoord in the inaugural Europa Conference League final on Wednesday.

The Portuguese has won all four of his finals – two with Porto and one apiece with Inter Milan and Manchester United.

He will become the first manager to lead four teams in a European final. “If I win I will become the first one to win all European trophies, but that’s only if I win,” said Mourinho.

He led Porto to Uefa Cup success in 2003 and a stunning Champions League triumph the following season. He claimed Europe’s top club prize again with Inter Milan in 2010 and took Manchester United to the Europa League title, formerly the Uefa Cup, in 2017.

Mourinho famously dubbed himself “a special one” when he first took charge of Chelsea in 2004, a moniker he now seems keen to leave in the past.

“The ‘Special One’ story is an old story,” added Mourinho. “It was when I was at the beginning [of my career]. When you have more maturity and stability, you think more about the people and less about yourself.

“When you arrive at a final after a season of work, the work is done. It’s the team’s moment, not the moment of an individual.

“I don’t believe in magical potions, I don’t believe in magical spells. There’s nothing special to be done, just us to be us as a team. Knowing the qualities we have, knowing the limitations we have.

“For me, no matter how the final ends, this is a positive season for us.”

Credit: bbc.com

Anas & partners opens safe haven for journalists, whistleblowers

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AGNES ANSAH
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Anas Aremeyaw Anas (m) launching the Centre

In order to protect whistleblower journalists, ace Investigative Journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas yesterday launched the Whistleblowers and Journalists’ Safety International Center (WAJSIC) in Accra.

With support from the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF), the Center would provide shelter, communication, advocacy, and legal services to persons who will be in need of its services.

On shelter, WAJSIC will provide accommodation to individuals and groups who will need it as a result of threats from perpetrators of crime, and also provide professional training for such persons while they continue to lodge them.

The communication services would ensure that platforms and audience are provided for these whistleblowers and journalists to enable them relay the information for which they are being sought after by their assailants.

The advocacy and legal support will ensure that persons who seek asylum at WASJIC and face legal suits will be well represented by astute lawyers.

Addressing dignitaries and media personnel who gathered at the Alisa Hotel yesterday to witness the launch, Anas indicated that many a time some journalists were lucky to get protection when their lives were being threatened, but same cannot be said about whistleblowers, hence, the establishment of the Center.

He again said that there were individuals in the civil, public and state institutions who would want to volunteer information about foul play in their institutions, but since their safety was not guaranteed, they shelved the information.

He also noted that some journalists from other countries who faced threats and as a result run to Ghana for safety, usually come to him for help, and that was why he thought it wise to establish the Center in order to be able to help more of such people.

He, therefore, called on all and sundry to support the organisation in cash and in kind to help provide safety for journalists, whistleblowers, and other players in the information ecosystem.

Sharing experiences on the cost involved in sheltering journalists and whistle blowers who flee their countries as a result of threats on their lives, the Executive Director for Media Foundation for West Africa, Mr. Sulemana Braimah, said the cost was expensive.

He also noted that aside the cost, the difficulty one goes through to secure accommodation and visas for the asylum seekers are very frustrating and hence commended the brains behind the center for the yeoman’s job they had done since it would corroborate the work the MFWA is also doing with regards to the safety of journalists.

He said the center will enable the target group have easy access to a place that would guarantee their safety.

President of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr Roland Affail Monney on his part said that the establishment of the center is timely because some journalists in the country are not having it easy with persons they have uncovered of which some are drug barons and politicians.

He made reference to Ahmed Suale’s murder and noted that if such a center existed, Mr Suale may have sought refuge there and would not have been shot.

He therefore appealed to individuals and organizations home and abroad to support the work of WAJSIC to help avert the risk that whistleblowers and journalists face in their line of duty.

The Director for PPLAAF, Mr. Henry Thulliez commended Anas and his partners for establishing the center and assured them of his organizations support.

Mr. Thulliez noted that since PPLAAF performs a similar function like WAJSIC, he was of the hope that the two institutions will change the safety of journalist’s narrative on the African continent.

From the government’s side, the National Media Commission and the Ministry of Information also assured the team of their support.

Other individuals and organisation who gave solidarity messages at the event were ace Investigative and Anti-Corruption Journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, the Netherlands Embassy and European Union and the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Others who graced the event with their presence were individuals from the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the US Embassy.

Presidency: Ghana Mozambique condemn Russia Ukraine war

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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President Filipe (L) and President Akufo-Addo (R) briefing the Presidential Press Corps
President Akufo-Addo (M), Secretary General AfCFTA (R) presenting locally made kente to President Filipe when he visited the Secretariat

Ghana and Mozambique have jointly condemned Russia’s attack on Ukraine, and have also called for an immediate cessation of the conflict.

The presidents of both countries expressed concern over the happenings at a joint press conference at Jubilee House in Accra yesterday.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the President of Mozambique, Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, lamented over the effects of the war on their countries, at a time the losses from the pandemic were still being counted.
Mr. Filipe Jacinto Nyusi is on a four-day official visit to Ghana, the first of its kind by a President from Mozambique.

Both Presidents, at a tête-à-tête, discussed a wide range of issues bordering their two nations, including the effects of the war in Ukraine on the economies of Ghana and Mozambique.
“We both condemn Russia’s invading of Ukraine, and have called for its immediate cessation, as its effects, together with the ravages of Covid-19, have proven to be devastating to the entire world, particularly for those of us on the African Continent,” President Akufo-Addo said.

UN Reforms
Briefing the Presidential Press Corps at Jubilee House after their private conversation, President Akufo-Addo and his counterpart underscored the essence of reforming the composition and structure of the Security Council of the United Nations (UN).

Their advocacy was to give Africa a permanent seat, especially in the wake of current global challenges.

The duo stated that the current global circumstances called for an urgent need to put back on the global agenda the demand for the reform of the UN on the basis of Africa’s common position on UN reform.
According to them, given the multiple threats to the territorial integrity of several countries on the continent, it would not be right for the UN to reduce its peacekeeping operations in Africa.
They noted that many of the civilian population in Africa were currently under serious threats, and urged the UN to support the countries to address terrorism and other security challenges on the continent.
Ghana to support Mozambique
President Akufo-Addo thanked the Mozambiquecan government for supporting Ghana’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, adding that Ghana working to ensure Africa’s voice was “loud and clear on matters affecting the continent.”
“I want to assure you that when the vote is taken in June in the membership for Eastern and Southern Africa, Ghana will be a firm supporter of Mozambique for the seat,” he said.

Agreements signed
The two countries signed a joint permanent cooperation agreement to govern their relations.
The agreement is to enable the governments of both countries to boost political and economic relations, cultural and people to people exchanges, as well as cooperation at the continental and global fronts.
The two leaders discussed collaboration in the areas of education, trade and industry, agriculture, defense cooperation, immigration, environment, energy, science and technology and tourism.

Visit to Nkrumah Museum, AfCFTA Office
President Nyusi as part of his visit to the country, was at the Kwame Nkrumah Museum, where he laid wreath under the monument of the first president of Ghana, mounted at the museum.

Later, he visited the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Accra, where he was joined by President Akufo-Addo and they toured the building.

At a brief ceremony after the tour, the two Presidents and the Secretary General of the AfCFTA, Wamkele Mene, and the Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen addressed a gathering.
State Banquet
As diplomacy requires, President Akufo-Addo, later in the evening, held a state banquet at Jubilee House for his guest, who is in the country upon the invitation of Ghana.

The two Presidents separately proposed toasts to a better future for both countries.

Girl sentenced for hiding ‘wee’ in waakye for boyfriend in cells

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Accra Circuit Court

21 years old Freda Ibrahim has been sentenced to a fine of 200 penalty units (GH¢2,400.00) or in default six months imprisonment, for hiding Indian hemp (wee) in waakye for her boyfriend who was in police cells.

Freda, a waitress and resident of the Arts Centre, was sentenced last week by an Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Susana Eduful, after being found guilty of unlawful possession of narcotic drugs.

The brief facts presented to the court by the prosecuting officer, Chief Inspector C. Baah, indicated that the police was the complainant in the case.

According to him, on August 12, 2021, Freda went to the Osu Police Station Charge Office to give food to her boyfriend, Gyamfi George, who was in custody for the offence of robbery.

He said the Station Orderly took the food to examine before handing it over to the accused in the cell, but in the process three wrappers of dried leaves, suspected to be Indian hemp, were found in a black polythene bag concealed in the food (popularly called Waakye).

The prosecutor added that the accused was immediately arrested by the police officers who were on duty at the Charge Office.

C/Inspt Baah stated that officers on duty immediately informed the Station Officer, Inspector Rockson Dogbe.

He said during interrogation, accused claimed a friend of her boyfriend brought the food for her to send to him (boyfriend) in cells.

The prosecuting officer stressed: “However, she failed to lead Police to arrest the said James. Several attempts by Police for accused and the one in cells to show the whereabouts of James failed.

“They also failed to assist Police with the contact number of the alleged James. After investigation, accused was charged with the offence to appear before this honourable Court. Meanwhile, the exhibit has been forwarded to the Police Forensic Laboratory for examination and report.”

Appolonia stool elder put before court for causing damage

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Court

Samuel Nuetey Abotsi, a self-acclaimed stool elder at Appolonia in the Greater Accra region has been arraigned before an Accra Circuit Court for causing unlawful damage to the property of a businesswoman, Grace James Ocloo.

The court, presided over by Samuel A. Acquah, was told yesterday by DSP Augustus Anim Yirenkyi, that although a claimed stool elder at Appolonia, he lives at Nungua, also in the Greater Accra region.

He said in 2016, Madam Ocloo acquired 23 acres of land from F.A. Global Company Limited at Appolonia.

The Prosecuting Officer narrated to the court that before acquiring the said land, the businesswoman conducted a search at the Lands Commission and found out that, the land is registered in the name of the said F.A. Global Company Limited.

He continued that Madam Ocloo, after acquiring the land, constructed a fence wall and pillars on the said land to ward off encroachers.

Unfortunately, he added that in March 26, 2021 at about 11:00 pm, Abotsi and Haruna Tetteh (at large) sent a Pay Loader machine to Grace’s land and without any court order demolished the entire fence wall and the pillars.

The Prosecuting Officer added that on March 29, 2021 Grace reported the matter to the Police for investigation and on the same day, the Police visited the scene to assess the situation.

He informed the court that the damage allegedly caused by the accused persons was valued at GH¢150, 000.00.

DSP Yirenkyi indicated that on April 21, 2022 Abotsi was arrested and admitted the offence in his caution statement.

The accused was said to have admitted that they demolished the fence wall on the land in order to know the claimant of the land.

The prosecuting officer added that, “meanwhile, he was told to submit his document on the land to assist investigation but he failed to do so.”

He further stated that the case is still under investigation and efforts are being made to arrest the other accused person on the run.

Abotsi has pleaded not guilty to the charges and was granted bail in the sum of GHC15,000 with two sureties, one should be a salary worker earning not less than GHC2,000.00 and with a landed property worth GHC15,000.

The case has been adjourned to May June, 2022.

Editorial: Enough of the public universities

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THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

President Akufo-Addo on Friday, May 20, 2022 cut the sod for the commencement of construction of the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences (UEAS) at Bunso, in the Eastern Region. It will be recollected that, in this year’s State of the Nation Address delivered in March, this year, President Akufo-Addo did indicate that steps were being taken to turn the planned Bunso campus of the University of Environment and Sustainable Development into a standalone, independent University dedicated to the study of Engineering.

“I also indicated that construction of this campus will begin within the next three (3) months. As you already know, President Akufo-Addo does not make promises he cannot fulfill, and I am happy that we are all gathered here at Bunso to cut the sod for the construction of the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences, which will be a Centre of Excellence in Engineering, Agricultural Sciences, Applied Sciences and Built Environment,” the President said.

First of all, The Chronicle congratulates the president for honouring his promise to establish the university. Since education is the foundation for the development of every economy, any country that downplays the role of education does so at her own risk. Because the level of education is low in Africa, most people are poor and can barely afford one square meal in a day. Our first republican president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, realised this and decided to introduce free education in the northern half of the country.

Years after his demise, free education has now been extended to all parts of the country, thanks to President Akufo-Addo and his government. Unlike in the past, majority of the youth today have at least Senior High School level of education. Our quest to open up the frontiers of education has also resulted in the establishment of so many public and private universities. Though this is a healthy development, it is at the same time creating problems for the country.

As we put this piece together, there are thousands of university graduates walking on our streets without jobs, and year in and year out the number keeps increasing. Clearly, looking at the size of our national economy, there is no way these thousands of graduates will get work to do in order to feed their families. It is upon the basis of this that The Chronicle is calling on the government to put a freeze on further establishment of public universities in the country.

In our opinion, money that will be used to open new universities should be channelled into the establishment of companies that will help to absorb our youth who are roaming the streets without jobs, though most of them are university graduates. In the current situation we have found ourselves as a country, the supply of graduates to the job market appears to have far exceeded what the market can absorb. This, in our opinion, is what is increasing the unemployment situation in the country.

The government should, therefore, not exacerbate the already precarious situation by establishing more universities when the graduates will not, at the end of the day, get work to do after completing their courses at these tertiary institutions. Enough of opening new universities – attention should now be focused on job creation. We wish to, however, put it on record that this opinion we are expressing does not mean we, the staff of The Chronicle, do not value education- far from that. Our concern is the unemployment situation and steps we should all take to address the unfortunate development.

PERISCOPE: THE IMPLEMENTATION OF E-LEVY

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Godfried K. Arhen-Kumi

– Government must not fail Mother Ghana   

In my write-up on the E-Levy headlined: “Mother Ghana’s Lamentation – Will the E-Levy dry her falling tears?” published in The Chronicle of Thursday May 12, 2022, I indicated that the E-Levy would “dry the falling tears of Mother Ghana” and so it must be supported so that she would be counted among developed nations and further discourage some of her children from taking risks in seeking greener pastures abroad.

The Electronic Transfer Levy, affectionately called the E-Levy, had run the gauntlet of bitter criticisms, before its implementation, which started on May 1, 2022. The criticisms even still, go on at a frightening speed of 500 kilometres per minute! This is to be expected in a country where not many taxpayers can be found in the tax net.

The “harm” has already been done; the E-Levy is being collected by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). To implement the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) is one thing and to make it serve its relevant purpose is quite a different thing altogether.

Herein lies the importance of the admonition given by the Supreme Court to the Ghana Revenue Authority “TO KEEP ACCURATE RECORDS OF THE AMOUNTS DEDUCTED” … (Emphasis mine).

At the moment, there is a salubrious breeze of expectancy among Ghanaians that they are going to enjoy development projects and provision of amenities such as potable water, health facilities, good roads, modern school buildings etc. This great expectation has encouraged Ghanaians to draw the attention of the government to their needs through demonstrations, TV programmes, etc.

The government should not ignore the concerns of the communities,which have already been assured that the E-Levy is, truly, going tolay golden eggs to be used to saturate Ghana with modern development projects.

To help the government to know which communities need help, I suggested in my previous conversation that a committee comprising Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), Presiding Members of District Level Assemblies and Traditional rulers in the Districts and towns should be set up todraw lists of the developmental needs for the attention of the government. This is to avoid discrimination in the sharing of the national cake to be baked by the E-Levy in superfluity.

The government is left with about two and a half years to convince Ghanaians that the E-levy is meant to transform Ghana. To this end, priority attention should be given to road networks in the rural areas. This is because it is from the rural areas that foodstuffs are conveyed to the buying centres.

When the roads are bad, post-harvest losses are recorded, leading to high prices of foodstuffs.

Sick people, including pregnant women suffer a lot, when being driven on bumpy roads to health facilities. This may lead to miscarriages; other sick people too may suffer worsened health problems.

There are some communities whose schools buildings are death traps while at the same time, the school children sit on the floor to write and study. Against his background of the fact that education is the main index of civilization, improving educational infrastructure must be among governmental concerns.

Also, in some communities, impure water is their main problem; they drink from coloured streams and need urgent attention from the government.

I have enumerated some of the urgent demands of communities with the hope that, if by the end of 2023 everything has been put in place as some of the legacies of the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) and that, others will have their turn in 2024, they will be convinced of the usefulness of the E-Levy and put their full support on it.

If, however, by 2023 ending, NOTHING is there in favour of this novel E-Levy, nobody should be made responsible for the death of Antwi; it was Antwi who killed himself.

However, some colleagues are of the strongest conviction that all communities in Ghana will be proud beneficiaries of this Asantrofi Anoma E-Levy, and so may it be.

For those who do not know this bird and what it stands for, a little explanation is relevant. The full proverb in the Twi language is “Asantrofi Anoma, wofa noa, w’afa mmusuo; se wogyae no nso a, w’agyae sradee” to wit (if one picks up the bird called Asantrofi, one has picked an object of taboo and when one ignores it too, one missesa fortune). What a bird!

Well, this bird will make us dizzy. Let’s leave it to the Economic Management Team of the government to deal with it decisively. Over to you then, Your Excellency Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Head of Government Economic Management Team.

His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, former president may appreciate the proverbial warning positing that “A ball thrown at a wall bounces back to the thrower with ferocious force.”

Brother Mahama may find another target for criticism and leave the E-Levy, which Ghanaians indeed, secretly admire with great expectation of being capable of solving their developmental and infrastructural needs.

By Godfried K. Arhen-Kumi

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

4Ward Development provides safe water for 10 communities

By
UMAR FAROUQ
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Mr. Ahmed Yekini, the Upper West and Savannah Regional Director of 4ward Development West Africa
Mr. Matt Hangen, CEO of Water4 and 4WardWA

4Ward Development West Africa, a private water utility service provide, has provided more than 100,000 people with access to safe water services that ensures sustainability through a carbon neutral water distribution system in 10 communities in two regions of the North.

The model thrives on an economics of scale, through a modular, purpose approach and offers convenience and builds costumer aspiration with over 175 people, mostly women who work as vendors, technicians and marketers, which provide a range of water services that focus on job creation as a core corporate mission.

The commission of the Numa water system

The Upper West and Savannah Regional Director of 4Ward Development West Africa (4WardWA), Mr. Ahmed Yekini, made this known last Friday, at Nyoli in the Wa West District, when the Commission Numa Water System, under the Enhancing Wash Project with the Theme: Sustainable Water In Yipien-Bor (Nyoli), the first of its kind in the district, and that the initiative was to complement the government’s efforts in providing potable water to the people towards achieving the Sustainable Develoment Goal Six.

Mr. Yekini said the intervention, which was estimated to cost US$700,000, would benefit about 25,000 people in 10 communities, and plans were advanced to invest another US$1,500,000 in the water infrastructure next year, which has been estimated to reach over 45,000 people.

Dignitaries

According to him, ten communities have benefited in the Upper West and Savannah region in the supply of safe and sustainable water this year, and the communities are Blema,  Tuna, Gindabour and Kulmasa, in Sawla-Tuna Kalba District, Ponyetanga, Ga, Kundue and Nyoli, in Wa West, Loggu community in Wa East District and Boli community in the Wa Municipal.

The Regional Director of 4Ward Development said the community water build infrastructure is designed to provide safe water delivery options tailored to consumer demand that includes walk-up public fetch station operated by vendors, and private connections for households, schools, businesses and clinics.

He indicated that the water was tapped from underground, treated and distributed to the people in 40 households in the Nyoli community, connecting it to their homes.

The Chief of Yipieni Bor (Nyoli) and his people

The Chief Executive Officer of Water4 and 4WardWA, Mr. Matt Hangen, said the water intervention would not only alleviate the plight of the people, particularly women and children in accessing water, but rather provide over 170 job opportunities for the community.

“Our lives should not begin on our mothers backs as they haul 30 kilometres for dry water only to, at the end of our lives, find ourselves made sick and frail from hauling and drinking that same water,” he stated.

The Wa West District Chief Executive, Madam Vida Diorotey, said the intervention would save the district its meager resources to provide potable water for the smaller communities in the area.

Police arrest man for allegedly trafficking wife, son in Ogun

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Police arrest man

The Ogun State Police Command has arrested a man for allegedly trafficking his wife and two-year-old son to Mali. Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, identified the suspect as Kingsley Essien.

He was nabbed for selling his son for N600,000 while moving his wife out of the country for prostitution. “The suspect was arrested following the report lodged at Agbara divisional headquarters by his wife, Bright Essien, who reported that sometime in October 2021, her husband, Kingsley Essien, informed her that he had secured a job for her in Bamako Mali and that he has assisted many people to that country for greener pastures before,” the statement issued on Thursday read in part.

“She explained further that being her husband, she didn’t suspect any foul play until she got to Mali only to discover that she has been sold to a human trafficker cartel headed by a woman at the rate of One million four hundred thousand naira.”

Oyeyemi said that while in Mali, the suspect’s wife was forced into prostitution, but later found her way to the Nigeria embassy in Bamako where she was assisted back to Nigeria.

The police spokesman explained that on getting to the country from Mali, Bright discovered that her son who was in the care of the suspect was nowhere to be found.

After lodging the report, the Divisional Police Officer in the Agbara division, Abiodun Salau, dispatched his detectives to go after the suspect and he was eventually arrested.

Upon interrogation, Oyeyemi said the suspect confessed to the commission of the crime, admitting that he sold the boy to somebody at the rate of N600,000.

Credit: channelstv.com

Anambra Police frown at refusal to give information over gunmen

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Police in Anambra State address press conference

Police in Anambra State have frowned over the reluctance of indigenes of various communities in the state to volunteer information about the activities of criminals in their areas.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Echeng Echeng, stated this in a press conference on Monday, saying that there was nothing unknown about the gunmen terrorising Anambra State to warrant the ‘unknown gunmen’ tag.

The commissioner also, while reacting to rumours that the slain Anambra lawmaker, Hon Okey Okoye was killed because of refusal to pay ransom, said there was no truth in the insinuation.

Echeng said: “I’m not aware that any ransom was demanded, or any ransom paid.”

He said: “We have been saying unknown gunmen is not the right name for these criminals. We are trying to mystify something that is not just there.

“It is time we go into demystifying those people. These people are not spirits, they live with us, they are our nephews, our cousins, our brothers, and they live in communities. We know who they are. The problem of security is that of total silence, nobody sees something, nobody hears something and nobody says something.

“Security is collective and everyone has a part to play. Crimes are localized, and they happen in our communities. We should be able to come up with information about what is happening in our communities, not glorifying them and tagging them as unknown gunmen, otherwise, we will end up not making headways.

“We know them, we have actually arrested some of them and they are human beings. I want us to also shift the narrative that these criminals are Fulani. We have arrested some and taken out some during gun duels. So, when the community who should help to contribute to security decide to stay quiet, that is not a good sign”.

Credit: dailypost.ng

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