The Corruption Combat International (CCI), a non-governmental organisation, has appealed to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to intervene in an impasse between members of the Aduana Family at Pakyi No. 2.
The Executive Director of the CCI, Nana Kwadwo Amoah Ampem Okogyeabuor, said a case between Opanin Jonas Akwasi Afrifa Yamoah and Opanin Kwasi Yamoah, Kofi Frimpong and others currently pending before the Queenmother’s court is generating disunity and rancor among the said family members.
He referred to an arbitration by a Kumasi High Court on February 15, 2007, during which the case was settled amicably.
According to the CCI Executive Director, the terms of settlement by the court indicated that “it was unanimously agreed between Opanin Kwasi Afrifah, alias Jonas Kwasi Yemoah, the plaintiff, and Opanin Kwasi Yamoah, Kofi Frimpong, Abena Pokuaah, Abusuapanin Kwasi Poku and Owusu Bonsu, the defendants.
The court determined that the land at Pakyi No. 2 at a place called Appiamu on Pakyi No. 2 stool land was the property of the offspring of Nana Needi and Nana Niana.
As part of the settlement, it was also agreed that the head of the family (Abusuapanin) shall manage the land for the two families, and that no family member had the right to cultivate a portion of the land without consulting the head of the family.
The CCI Executive said an attempt at resettling the same case would be a contempt of the 2007 arbitration by the High Court which was endorsed by the plaintiff and defendants before witnesses, including Opanin Kofi Twumasi, Nana Kwame and Agya Atta Kakra, all of Pakyi No.2.
Nana Kwadwo Amoah Ampem Okogyeabuor has, therefore, called for the withdrawal of the case pending before nananom, noting that Otumfuo’s intervention by revoking prejudgment in the same case that has already been adjudicated by an arbitration of a High Court would foster unity among the Aduana Family members at Pakyi No. 2, and ensure peace in the community.
Nana Afrakoma Serwaah Kusi Obuadum, Queenmother of Asante Akim Agogo
A section of the industrial machines, equipment
Nana Afrakoma Serwaah Kusi Obuadum, Queenmother of Asante Akim Agogo in the Ashanti Region, has appealed to the government and stakeholders for support to expand a vocational school project she has initiated for the community.
The school project is among several other development projects the Queenmother has single-handedly initiated to complement government efforts to improve the living standards of the citizens and reduce unemployment among the youth in the town.
She announced that Mr. Owusu Bempah of the Ghana Gas Company in collaboration had provided an Astro Turf pitch for the community, while she had also embarked upon the construction of a modern durbar ground.
Vocational school project under construction
Nana Afrakoma Serwaah Kusi Obuadum told media that her vision was to help the unemployed youth, especially the school dropouts and the less privileged with employable skills to enable them fend for themselves and their families.
According to her, she had already provided some of the basic equipment, including knitting machines, industrial machines, standing fans, television screen to be used by teachers, and ironing board worth millions of cedis for the start of the vocational school.
The Queenmother expressed worry over the unemployment rate in the country among the youth, hence the initiative to enhance employable skills to make the teeming youth self employed and to reduce social vices in the Agogo area, and hoped the government, through the District Assembly, Members of Parliament, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other stakeholders would support the infrastructural development of the area.
The staff of ECG installing a prepaid meter in a house at Lorlornyo, Kpong
The staff of ECG installing a prepaid meter
The Tema Regional office of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has commenced the installation of smart meters (pre-payment meters) in all towns and villages in the two Krobo traditional areas in the Eastern Region.
The smart meter installation exercise started at Kpong and is expected to be rolled out in Odumase, Somanya and other towns in Kroboland.
As of Friday, May 6, 2022 over 100 smart meters had been installed in residential and non-residential areas.
The Tema Regional Manager of ECG, Ing Emmanuel Akinie, who revealed this during an engagement with stakeholders in Odumase-Krobo on Thursday, said they were gradually doing the installation, so that “if there are problems, we will be able to identify them and solve them.”
Emmanuel Akinie noted that they had so far not encountered any challenge since the beginning of the exercise, commending the people of Krobo for their cooperation.
“Some customers have purchased credit successfully,” he said.
Ing Akinie told the gathering that management had decided to waive the internal protocols for acquisition of the meter, such that post-paid customers who would be migrated onto the prepaid meters will be given flexible terms to pay part of their outstanding debt anytime they purchase credit.
He said those who have purchased credit onto their prepaid meters at Kpong could attest to the fact that there were no deductions made to settle their outstanding debts, when they purchased the credit.
“ECG will not use the prepaid meters to manage the payment of debts,” he assured the customers.
Touching on the four year outstanding bills owed by the residents, Ing Akinie said upon further engagement with stakeholders and the national security, management had extended the two years duration to five years, to make it more flexible for them to pay.
The ECG also used the opportunity to educate the gathering about the importance of using prepaid meters.
For example, with smart or prepaid meters, consumers could manage their electricity consumption.
Again, with the prepaid meters, customers would no more suffer disconnection as compared to the post-paid meters, which allowed for disconnection from the grid for non-payment of bills.
With the prepaid meters, customers can now decide to put some of their appliances like refrigerators and air conditioners off at regular intervals to save cost.
Nene Asada Author, PRO of Manya Krobo Traditional Council, who was the chairman for the occasion, urged residents to allow ECG to carry out the installation of the prepaid meters since it would be of help to them. He, however, urged ECG to resolve any issue the residents may raise.
The Krobo District ECG team, with support from the Metering and Technical Services (MTS) from the national head office, Accra, undertook the prepaid meter installation.
The Managing Director (MD) of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Kwame Agyeman-Budu, is expected to go on retirement Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
Sources within the company say the Board of ECG reminded the MD of hitting his retirement age, 60 years, this year, for which reason he has to start preparing his handing over notes.
Mr Agyeman-Budu succeeded Ing Samuel Boakye Appiah in November 2019, after serving the company as MD for three years.
Before his appointment, Mr Agyeman-Budu was the Deputy Managing Director in charge of Corporate Services and he brought on board over 28 years of experience in the energy industry.
Under his tenure, ECG constructed several sub-stations and expanded its distribution network.
Also, the ECG ICT staff designed ‘ECG Power’, which makes it possible for 2.8 million out of the company’s 3.8 million customers to make electronic payment for power purchased and services rendered by the company.
Again, under his tenure, ECG has been able to take tough decisions by disconnecting electricity supply to government and foreign agencies, such as the Kotoka International Airport and Tema Oil Refinery, for defaulting in paying their energy bills.
Lastly, under his tenure, the ECG and the residents of Odumase, Somanya and other towns in the Eastern Region have smoked the peace pipe after years of unresolved quagmire between the two parties.
His administration and leadership has succeeded in getting the ECG to instal meters to almost all houses, shops, filling stations and religious institutions in the area.
The Upper West Regional Minister and the CGI in a group photograph with the members of the REGSEC and the CGI's delegates
Members of the Upper West Regional Security Council
The Comptroller-General of Immigration (CGI), Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi, has paid a courtesy call on the Upper West Regional Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin Salim at the Regional Coordinating Council at Wa.
The Immigration boss is on a duty tour of the Upper West Region to visit Immigration installations and also interact with officers in the Region.
The Regional Minister praised Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi for his sterling leadership qualities that have propelled the Immigration Service to where it is now.
The Regional Minister, Dr. Hafiz Bin Salim with CGI Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi
Dr. Hafiz Bin Salim called on the Comptroller-General to post more officers to the Region to maintain peace and strengthen security at unapproved routes along the Ghana Burkina Faso boundary.
He further praised the efforts of the Immigration Service for contributing to the peace and security in the region.
The Comptroller-General, on his part, averred that the transformation currently ongoing in the Service is due to government’s continuous commitment in retooling the Immigration Service, which has led to the GIS expanding its mandate into Sectors, Districts and Communities across the country.
“Never in the history of the Ghana Immigration Service has the institution seen such astronomical governmental support in the provision of arms and ammunitions, vehicles, uniform and its accoutrements, residential and office accommodation and most importantly more than doubling its human resource base”, the CGI said.
Immigration Boss calls on the Upper West Regional Minister
Mr. Kwame Asuah Takyi appealed to members of the Upper West Regional Security Council, who were present at the meeting, to seek for greater collaboration amongst themselves in order to win the support and confidence of the people in the Region.
The CGI cited the Aflao Sector Command as a good example of this collaboration amongst the various border agencies. He informed the meeting of the GIS allocating office space to members of the various border agencies at the new departure and arrival offices that the Service recently put up.
This would have been impossible in the past where turf war and working in silos was the order of the day.
“The terrorist will not differentiate officers in blue or green uniforms, but will see you all as targets for attack. So working together in the interest of the country is the better option”, he averred.
The Comptroller-General was accompanied on the visit by Assistant Commissioner of Immigration (ACI) Mr. Lawrence Agyei Agyapong, the Chief Staff Officer, ACI Thomas Ewuntoma, Head of Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation (PPMED), ACI William Andoh, Upper West Regional Commander for Immigration, ACI Emmanuel Asheley, Special Aide to the CGI, Chief Superintendent of Immigration (C/Supt.) Christopher Attivor, the Deputy Upper West Regional Commander and C/Supt Michael Amoako-Atta, Head of Public Affairs.
Dr Yeboah- Boateng, a representative from NCA making his presentation.
A panel discussion being moderated by Dagbjartur Brynjarsson from NETHOPE
In order to ensure prompt and efficient response to emergencies, stakeholders in the telecommunication space have held a day’s workshop to jaw-jaw and come up with solutions.
The program, which was held in Accra last Friday, was put together by the Internet Society Foundation (ISOC) and NETHOPE.
Organisers of the program noted that technology plays a very vital role in emergencies. They indicated that to enable more impactful and humanitarian response, one has to ensure that there is internet connectivity for effective communication hence the bringing together of these individuals who were mostly the Information Technology (IT) experts in their respective organisations to proffer workable solutions.
Some of the organisations who participated in the program were the National Communications Authority (NCA), National Information Technology Agency (NITA), United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation, World Food Porgram, Ghana Red Cross, World Vision International, National Disaster Management Organisation and SES Networks.
Addressing the gathering, Dr Osei Yeboah-Boateng, from the NCA, expressed his delight for being part of the workshop because the NCA, as regulator of the telecommunication sector in Ghana, plays a key role when it comes to emergencies.
He exemplified the important role technology plays in emergencies using the Covid-19 pandemic, which struck the world including Ghana in the year 2020.
Dr Yeboah-Boateng indicated that the NCA in order to protect Ghanaian citizens used technology to arrange security passes for telecommunication employees to enable them work during the pandemic.
Again, Dr Yeboah-Boateng noted that the NCA continually monitored the various networks to ensure that they were providing efficient services despite the pandemic.
He said ICT was also used to promptly brief and communicate with the citizens on issues of concern and, therefore, charged other participants not to downplay the important role technology plays in emergencies.
On his part, Prof Nii Quaynor, Chairman of ISOC, Ghana, noted that the needs of emergency situations far exceed normal times and proposed that there should be in existence, a framework for the coordination of emergencies.
According to him, knowing what assets are in place, their capabilities and their roles would enable one to respond to emergencies quickly and safely.
Giving insight as to how his organisation uses technology to handle emergencies, Mr Patrick Enyan, from the World Food Program noted that during emergencies, the IT teams in his organisation are deployed to undertake initial scoping of the affected area in order to ascertain the extent of the disaster.
He noted that the team then collaborates with stakeholders in order to collate information on how best the affected people can be helped.
Richard Okyere Fosu, the representative from NITA noted that in order to respond efficiently to the needs of citizens during emergencies, the government is developing an App known as the Citizen App.
According to Mr Fosu, the App will aid in the dissemination of information by way of targeted broadcast. He said by targeting the broadcast, affected areas and individuals will be able to know where and how they can get relief.
Dagbjartur Brynjarsson from NETHOPE, one of the organisers of the program, indicated how excited he was about the workshop because of its intended impact.
He noted that his organisation and ISOC will continue to collaborate with NGOS, private sector and government organisations to train more people in responding to emergencies, in order to build a strong Ghana.
Professor Edmund Nminyem Delle, immediate past National Chairman and Leader of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), has bowed out of political circles following his being enskinned and gazetted as the Paramount Chief of Nandom in the Upper West Region.
On April 19, this year, hundreds of Nandomers and non Nandomers across the country traveled to Wa the Upper-West Regional capital to witness the momentous occasion.
In a statement issued by the family which has been sighted by the The Chronicle, it explained that on April 11, 2019, Professor Edmund Nminyem Delle was duly nominated, selected, and enskinned through the laid down customs, traditions and usages by the Elders and Kingmakers, led by then Head of the Gbullu Chiir Royal Family of Nandom, Alhaji Issifu Botug Benni.
As such, it continued that Professor Edmund Nminyem Delle, as known in private life, was given the stool name Naa Professor Edmund Nminyem Delle, Chiir VIII, and went into confinement.
According to the statement, the Nandom Traditional Council, which by law and usage oversees to matters of chieftaincy and tradition, was duly informed, and upon satisfying due process facilitated the commencement of his gazetting in accordance to practical laid down procedures of the Chieftaincy Act.
“The Upper West Regional House of Chiefs, after satisfying its procedures and practices, made its recommendation to the National House of Chiefs for finalisation,” the statement said. “The respected and revered House, after subjecting the matter through its processes, APPROVED, and hence, Naa Professor Edmund Nminyem Delle, Chiir VIII, on 25th March 2022 was gazetted as mandated by law as the new substantive Paramount Chief of the Nandom Traditional Area.”
As required by the Chieftaincy Act, the statement indicated that the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs proceeded to induct Naa Professor Edmund Nminyem Delle, Chiir VIII, into the Upper West Regional House of Chiefs as the Paramount Chief of the Nandom.
Naa Professor Edmund Nminyem Delle, Chiir VIII, succeeded the late Naa Dr. Puoure Puobe Chiir VII – Paramount Chief of the Nandom Traditional Area, who was known in private life as Dr. Charles Imoru Puoure Puobe.
Until the Royal Family’s call on Naa Professor Edmund Nminyem Delle, Chiir VIII, he was the immediate past National Chairman and Leader of the Convention People’s Party, Founder and Owner of Rabito Clinic with over 20 branches nationwide, an astute Entrepreneur of all time, Investor, Philanthropist, Lecturer and a Statesman with over 45 years in practice as a Medical Doctor.
The Convener of Law Express Pre-Season Forum and host of the Law Express, Madam Seidu Nuhela, has said the program was aimed to educate the public on their rights and responsibilities to enable them seek justice when the need arose.
According to her, the forum would transcend from supporting the introduction of the law programme at the Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) to ensuring that the department thrives to become one of the best in the country.
The event was organised by the Law Express, in collaboration with the SDD-UBIDS, to encourage people to consider taking up career prospects in the field of law, as well as to create a platform for stakeholders to discuss the introduction of a law programme at the university.
It was on the theme: “Educational and Career Prospects in the Law,” and brought together legal persons in the region to share their experiences in the law profession with the participants.
The Vice Chancellor of the SDD-UBIDS, Professor Philip Duku Osei said plans were far advanced for the commencement of the law programme and urged for support of the stakeholders to let it come to fruition.
He commended the organisers of the forum for creating the platform for discussion on the introduction of the programme and said it was part of fulfilling their mandate as a university.
The Upper West Regional President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Mr. Ubeidu Siddique, has advised persons desiring to pursue career opportunities in law not to allow material things to be their motivation.
He said lawyers must exhibit high personal integrity and discipline to serve saying, “If money is your motivation, you will be exiting just as you are entering.”
Mr. Siddique, who is also the Upper West Regional Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice said “As a lawyer you have to be diligent, skillful, ethical, honest and hardworking. If you want to become a lawyer and you are lazy, forget it.”
Talking on the prospects in law, the Regional GBA President observed that there were many opportunities in the study of law saying, “One thing good about law is that you can work in any setting. Every setting needs a lawyer.”
He, therefore, pledged the support of the association to the SDD-UBIDS in its quest to commence a law programme at the university to propel the growth of the faculty.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Nadowli/Kaleo Constituency of the Upper West Region, Anthony Mwinkaara Sumah, has committed an amount of GH¢58,000 to support three communities towards completing health care delivery projects.
The beneficiary communities, Pennintobo, Tangasia and Kulpieni, in the Nadowli/Kaleo District received support of GH¢30,000, GH¢25,000, and GH¢3,000 respectively to enable them complete their self-help delivery room projects initiated by the communities some years ago.
Sumah, who donated the amount in cash at separate meetings with chiefs, opinion leaders and residents of the three communities, disclosed that there was no doubt that a safe delivery facility closer to the communities with the requisite staff was important to enhancing maternal health care.
“It is my fervent hope that work on the projects will be completed as soon as possible, in order to bring some relief to pregnant women in these communities,” Mr. Sumah added.
They said it would help improve maternal health care in their areas and reduce the woes and difficulties pregnant women go through by walking several kilometres to have access to health facilities for maternal health.
The District Director of Health Services, Madam Phoebe Balagumyetime, said the completion of the delivery rooms project by the MP would go a long way to reduce the numbers of maternal and neonatal deaths recorded by the district every year.
After narrowly missing out on the ‘Artiste of the Year’ award to Diana Hamilton at the 2021 Vodafone Ghana Music Awards, Afrobeats star KiDi has finally gotten his recognition. The Lynx Entertainment artiste was adjudged the artiste of the year under the year in review and he didn’t let the heartache from last year’s near-miss go. Accepting his award on the night, KiDi said “delay is not denial, Glory be to God. I want to thank MTN hitmaker for introducing me to Ghana. To the media, my fans, my friends, to my big boy Zane, to my mother, Ghana thank you so much.”
Sefa performs to the crowd
KiDi beat stiff competition from Black Sherif, King Promise, Kuami Eugene, Sarkodie and Joe Mettle to emerge winner.
His popular hit song ‘Touch It’ also won him the Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year, Vodafone Most Popular Song (Touch It).
He also walked away with the Album of the Year (The Golden Boy) and the Afrobeats Artiste of the Year.
In another category, Fameye has dethroned Kofi Kinaata as the best songwriter in Ghana at the 23rd edition of the Vodafone Ghana Music Awards.
King Promise performing
Fameye won the coveted Songwriter of the Year award ahead of Kinaata, the award winner for each of the past four years.
Kinaata’s reign finally came to an end courtesy of Fameye’s strong year musically with songs such as Praise.
Meanwhile, Black Sherif also took home the Best New Artiste award and the Hip-hop Song of the Year award as well.
Joe Mettle also took home the Gospel Artiste of the Year award. Kofi Kinaata won the Highlife Song of the Year award with Thy Grace.
Stonebuoy wins dancehall artist
Gambo won the ‘Unsung Act of The Year’ by beating competition from Bryan The Mensah, Nautyca, Ama Nova, King Maaga, Vanilla, Rcee, Chief One, Roy X Taylor and ShugaLord to claim the spot. Gambo, though controversial sometimes, is fast becoming one of the most loved emerging acts in Ghana.
Full list of winners below:
Artiste of the Year – KiDi
Vodafone Most Popular Song of the Year – Touch It (KiDi)
Album/EP of the Year – (Golden Boy) KiDi
Best New Artiste – Black Sherif
D Black
Record of the Year – Sad Gurlz Luv Money (Amaarae)
Audio Engineer of the Year – Chris V. Rootselaar and Jaap Wiewel
Best Rap Performance of the Year – Lyrical Joe
Reggae Dancehall Artiste – Stonebwoy
Afropop/Afrobeat Artiste – KiDi
Afrobeats Song of the Year – Sefa
Gyaki
Collaboration of the Year – Enjoyment Minister (D Black)
Reggae/Dancehall Song of the Year – Touch It (KiDi)
Afropop Song of the Year – Praise (Fameye)
Best Highlife Artiste of the Year – Akwaboah
Highlife Song of the Year – Thy Grace Part 1 (Kofi Kinaata)
Gospel Artiste of the Year – Joe Mettle
International Collaboration of the Year – Forever Remix (Gyakie)
Hip hop Song of the Year – Second Sermon (Black Sherif)
Kofi Kinata acknowledges his award
Hiplife Song of the Year – Yeeko (Okyeame Kwame)
Hip hop/Hiplife Artiste of the Year – Sarkodie
Gospel Song of the Year – Ote Me Mu (Ohemaa Mercy)
African Artiste of the Year – Wizkid
Producer of the Year – MOGBeatz
Music for Good – Greedy Men (Stonebwoy)
Instrumentalist of the Year – Joshua Moszi
Music Video of the Year – Bosom PYung – Nyinya
Songwriter of the Year – Fameye (Praise)
Male Vocal Performance – Kwaisey Pee (Amazing God)
Female Vocal Performance – Niella (Where You Are)
Traditional Artiste – Nii Tettey Tetteh
Vodafone Green Award – Stonebwoy
Industry Awards;
Traditional Artiste of the Year (Non-voting Category) – Nii Tettey Tetteh
Instrumentalist of the Year – Joshua Moszi
Male Vocal Performance of the Year – Amazing God by Kwaisey Pee
Female Vocal Performance of the Year – Where You Are by Niella
