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EU holds talks amid fear that Trump-Putin meeting will sideline Ukraine

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European Union has insisted that Kyiv and European powers should be part of any deal to end the war

European foreign ministers are holding emergency talks to discuss their next steps before a meeting between United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday, as Europe fears Ukraine will be excluded and forced into unacceptable territorial compromises to end the Russia-Ukraine war, now in its fourth year.

In a pre-US-Russia summit push aimed at consensus, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz invited Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the NATO secretary general and several European leaders to a virtual meeting on Wednesday.

The European Union’s top diplomats held a meeting by video link on Monday with their Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha.

“The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine,” leaders from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Britain and Finland, and EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said in a joint statement ahead of the call.

Zelenskyy said on Monday that concessions to Moscow would not persuade it to stop fighting and that there was a need to ramp up pressure on the Kremlin. “Concessions do not persuade a killer,” he said.

Zelenskyy insists he will never consent to any Russian annexation of Ukrainian territory nor give up his country’s bid for NATO membership. European leaders have also underscored their commitment to the idea that international borders cannot be changed by force.

The EU has insisted that Kyiv and European powers should be part of any deal. The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said “the US has the power to force Russia to negotiate seriously”, but “any deal between the US and Russia must have Ukraine and the EU included, for it is a matter of Ukraine’s and the whole of Europe’s security.”

Credit: aljazeera.com

Trump says he will deploy US National Guard in Washington

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Local residents rally against US President Donald Trump's plans to activate federal law enforcement in Washington

United States President Donald Trump has announced that he is placing the nation’s capital under direct federal control and will be sending in the US National Guard.

At a press conference on Monday, Trump announced it was “liberation day” in DC, claiming a crime spree that is not supported by evidence.

“I’m officially invoking Section 740, of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. You know what that is, and placing the DC Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control,” he said.

“I’m deploying the National Guard to help re-establish law, order and public safety in Washington, DC. They’re going to be allowed to do their job properly.”

Trump said 800 National Guard troops will be deployed and that the government “will bring in the military if needed”.

Critics have said the plan would trample on the rights of residents in a city where advocates have for decades pushed for more autonomy, including statehood.

Trump said that under the newly declared “public safety emergency”, US Attorney General Pam Bondi is taking control of Washington, DC’s Metropolitan Police Department.

While Washington, DC has for years grappled with high crime rates, violent crime has been on the decline since 2023.

The city’s crime rates in 2024 were already their lowest in three decades, according to figures produced by the Department of Justice before Trump took office.

The news conference on Monday comes after Trump surged federal law enforcement across the city last week, deploying agents from several federal agencies to work alongside the local Metropolitan Police Department.

Credit: aljazeera.com

NPP Opts Out of Tamale Central By-Election in Honour of Late MP

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JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
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NPP

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has announced that it will not participate in the upcoming Tamale Central Parliamentary by-election to replace the late Member of Parliament, Alhaji Dr. Murtala Mohammed, who tragically lost his life in the August 6 helicopter crash that claimed eight government officials.

In a statement signed by General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, the party said the decision was reached at its National Steering Committee meeting on August 11, 2025, in accordance with Article 10(10)(1) of the NPP Constitution.

According to the party, the circumstances surrounding the vacancy in Tamale Central and the potential for heightened political polarization influenced its choice to step aside. “It would be inhumane and unconscionable to subject the nation to a competitive process in search of a replacement for the departed MP,” the statement read, noting that by-elections often come with tension and acrimony that should be avoided at this sensitive time.

The NPP emphasized that the most fitting tribute to the late MP and other victims of the crash is to win the fight against illegal mining (galamsey) and ensure a smooth, peaceful replacement for the people of Tamale Central.

The party concluded that when the Electoral Commission opens nominations in line with Article 112(5) of Ghana’s Constitution, it will not file a candidate for the contest, describing the decision as one made “in accord with the national interest.”

Soldier, Others Arrested For Robbery

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JOHN BEDIAKO
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IGP Mr Christian TettehYohuno congratulating Chief Inspector Patience Kotoka

Police have arrested a seven-member gang of robbers including a soldier, posed as National Security operatives and snatched a tanker loaded with 54,000 litres of fuel, valued at approximately GHC 766,800.00 (Seven Hundred and Sixty-Six Thousand, Eight Hundred Ghana Cedis) at a spot near Nsawam, on the Accra-Kumasi highway.

The suspects

Information available to The Chronicle from deep-throat security sources reveal that, the bandits, led by Corporal (Cpl) Christian Bortey Bernard of the Training and Doctrine Unit (TRADOC) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), on the night August 6, 2025 allegedly stopped the Bulk Road Vehicle (BRV) with registration number GT2493-20 at a place near Nsawam and demanded to inspect the documents covering the fuel product they were transporting, for it was highly suspected to have been diverted.

When the documents were submitted to them, the supposed operatives immediately handcuffed the two drivers and bundled them into a green pickup vehicle.

Even though the drivers appealed to the gangsters, some of whom, including Cpl Bortey Bernard, wore military uniforms, for their boss to be contacted, they refused to listen.

Few minutes later, the bandits, having gotten what they wanted, moved the pickup and headed towards Accra direction, while the loaded bulk carrier, driven by one of the attackers, also took off in the opposite direction

In the early hours of Thursday August 7, 2025 at about 12.30am, Police personnel and their Community Police Assistants (CPAs) from the Anyah District Command on snap checkpoint duties at AblekumaBorkorborkor, intercepted a green vehicle carrying three passengers in the open bucket.

The two fuel tankers

Suddenly, two of the said passengers jumped down and shouted for help, informing the officers that they were attacked earlier that night near Nsawam, during robbery, and their loaded tanker with registration number GT 2493-20 snatched from them. The officers acted swiftly, rescuing the victims and Cpl Bortey Bernard in uniform also jumped down and took to his heels.

The police chased and arrested him, not without fierce resistance from the soldier.

The other occupants moved the pickup vehicle at top speed, leaving the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) to his own fate.

Acting on coordinated intelligence, the Kibi Divisional Police arrested six suspects at Asiakwa Junction, near Bunso, where the stolen tanker was found alongside an empty tanker with registration number GN 804-13.

Also found at the scene were a pumping machine being used to transfer the product into the empty tanker and a private car, VW Golf, with registration number GW 5185-Z, highly suspected to be linked to the suspects.

The suspects, Mark Abito, Shaibu Adams, Awini Ibrahim, Muniru Ayeba, Barnabas Atiga and Abdullah Ganiu have since been placed in custody, together with the soldier, Cpl Bortey Bernard, pending further Police investigation to completely smash the robbery gang.

Meanwhile, for their diligence and bravery, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Christian TettehYohuno has promoted the two Police Officers, Constable Joseph Akondoh, to the rank of Lance Corporal (L/Cpl) and Chief Inspector Patience Kotoka, recommended to join the next Police Cadet Course at the Police Academy, to be commissioned into the Senior Officer Corps of the service, after a successful completion of the course.

IGP Yohuno, during a brief ceremony at the Police Headquarters on Friday August 8, 2025 commended the officers and the five CPAs on duty, for their exemplary performance.

The Chief Constable urged all personnel to emulate their professionalism, vigilance and commitment to duty.

He reaffirmed the Police Administration’s dedication to recogniing and rewarding personnel who distinguish themselves in the line of duty.

Ghanaians Must Reflect On Helicopter Tragedy -Napo

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JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
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Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh

The Presidential Running Mate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 general elections and immediate past Minister for Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also known as NAPO, has urged Ghanaians to extend their compassion to the families of the recent helicopter crash victims well beyond the official mourning period.

Speaking at the Jubilee House Gardens during a solemn wreath-laying ceremony, held as part of the three-day national mourning, Dr. Opoku Prempeh reflected on the magnitude of the tragedy, which claimed the lives of gallant citizens, including two serving ministers of state.

He described the moment as a call for unity and a renewed commitment to building a stronger nation. “Very soon, when the heat of the moment passes, the bereaved families will be left alone with their pain,” he cautioned, urging Ghanaians to provide ongoing love, compassion and tangible support long after the ceremonies end.

In an emotional tribute, Dr. Opoku Prempeh remembered the late Dr. Edward Omane Boamah as both a junior colleague in medicine and a trusted friend, while describing the late Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed as a close ally with whom he regularly exchanged ideas during political campaigns.

Reflecting on his long-standing relationship with the late Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Dr. Opoku Prempeh recounted how, over the past 25 years, he had attended every Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly meeting, to which Members of Parliament were invited by Dr. Sarpong, describing their bond as deeply personal and enduring.

He noted that while the nation grieves collectively in this period of mourning, “very soon, when the heat of the moment passes, the bereaved families will be left alone with their pain.”

He, therefore, called on Ghanaians to continue showing love, compassion and tangible support to the families long after the ceremonies have ended.

“This is a time for sober reflection,” he said, “a time to stand together, to comfort the grieving, and to commit ourselves once again to building the Ghana our fallen brothers and sisters dreamed of.”

Duker: I’m Under Attack Because Of My Prez Potential

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JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
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George Mireku Duker

Former Tarkwa Nsuaem MP, George Mireku Duker, believes that the hostility he is facing from certain quarters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) leadership stems from fears about his potential to one day occupy the highest office of the land.

Addressing party faithful at his Tarkwa residence, Mr. Duker argued that some party figures at the national level view his political rise, coupled with the strategic influence of the Western Region as a threat to their own ambitions.

Taking a swipe at his predecessor, Gifty Kusi, whom he claimed was “only regarded as valuable for serving meals to colleagues in Parliament,” Mr. Duker questioned why a capable leader from Tarkwa should automatically be seen as dangerous to the party’s political hierarchy.

“People from Kyebi, Bole, and other areas have gone on to become President. Why should it be different for Tarkwa or the Western Region? This bias is unfair,” he stated.

His remarks follow his recent appointment by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the NPP’s Western Regional Coordinator a move that has sparked both support and backlash.

Some regional executives have rejected the appointment, branding him a “divisionist” and insisting the party needs a unifier at this crucial stage.

They pointed to his loss in the 2020 parliamentary race in what has long been considered an NPP stronghold as proof of his inability to rally the base. They maintain that the defeat was not due to voter defection but to what they described as his “deeply divisive character.”

In response, Mr. Duker dismissed the criticisms as politically motivated, saying they are driven by anxiety over his growing influence. He stressed that his priority is to solidify grassroots structures in the Western Region and ensure the party’s victory in the 2026 general elections.

P.K. Foundation Partners Kantanka to Create 10K Jobs

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BERNICE BESSEY
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Kantanka

In a bold move to address Ghana’s growing youth unemployment crisis, the newly launched P.K. Foundation has announced a strategic partnership with Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, to create job opportunities through local automobile production.

The announcement was made on Saturday, at Chorkor, Accra, during the official launch of the foundation by its founder, Prosper Kwame Appiah.

Speaking to journalists, Mr. Appiah emphasised that the collaboration aims to train and employ young people in the manufacturing of motorbikes, tricycles, popularly known as “Pragyia” – or “Aboboyaa” – and other affordable automobile technologies.

“Our goal is to create at least 10,000 jobs for the youth by 2029 under the PK2 project,” Mr.Appiah stated.

“Skills development through job creation is critical to national development and we believe that partnering with Apostle Safo, a pioneer in Ghanaian technology, will help harness the talents of our youth while promoting values grounded in Christianity.”

Mr.Appiah expressed concern over the moral foundation of youth development, stressing that skill acquisition must go hand in hand with spiritual growth.

“A skill acquired without the fear of God may become a weapon against society. History teaches us this – from Adolf Hitler to Joseph Stalin. But when youth are spiritually grounded, their talents become tools for national progress,” he added.

He reaffirmed his belief in the capabilities of African youth, stating “Our young people are not inferior to those in the West or Asia. They only need a little push and proper guidance to unleash their God-given talents.”

The partnership will see the birth of a new automobile brand — PK2 — focused on producing locally made vehicles and machinery for commercial use, such as Okada motorbikes and cargo tricycles.

This initiative is not only aimed at creating employment but to boost local industry and reduce reliance on foreign imports.

Saturday’s launch was also marked by a community outreach programme that included free health screenings and the distribution of food and essential items to widows, orphans and persons living with disabilities.

Mr. Appiah concluded by stating that the P.K. Foundation’s mission extends beyond just job creation.

“We are leading a generation to Christ through acts of kindness and ministry. The person who can be trusted to do good is one who fears God. That is our foundation.”

The collaboration has been widely welcomed by residents and youth groups, who see it as a timely intervention to curb rising unemployment and inspire a new generation of faith-driven, skilled entrepreneurs.

Murtala, Alhaji Muniru Laid to Rest

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JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
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National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu and President Mahama

A solemn Islamic burial ceremony was held yesterday, August 10, 2025 at the Forecourt of the State House for Dr. Ibrahim Muhammed Murtala, former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and Alhaji MuniruLimuna Mohammed, former Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator.

The two were among eight people who perished in the August 6 Ghana Air Force helicopter crash in the Adansi-Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.

In keeping with Islamic tradition, Janazah prayers were offered before their remains were conveyed to the Military Cemetery, near Burma Camp, for interment.

The burial service drew high-profile dignitaries, including President John Dramani Mahama, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, National Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, Members of Parliament, government officials, the Muslim community, family members and the public, all gathered to pay their last respects.

The mortal remains of Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed and Alhaji Muniru Lumina

The government has scheduled an inter-denominational state funeral for all eight victims on Friday, August 15, 2025 at the Black Star Square.

The national mourning period, declared on Thursday, August 7, 2025 began with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Ceremonial Gardens of Jubilee House. That event brought together leaders from across the political spectrum, members of the security services and citizens, united in grief for the tragic loss.

As part of the mourning activities, a “Night of Memorial and Reflections” was held at the Forecourt of the State House on Friday night. Former President John Mahama, addressing the gathering, urged Ghanaians to rise above grief and embrace unity.

“They were dedicated public servants, united by their commitment to Ghana’s success,” he said, paying tribute to all eight victims, including Flight Officer Chumam Pedu, Squadron Leader Peter Anala, and Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed.

He encouraged the nation to focus on truth, prevention, and resilience rather than blame, and to let the victims’ legacy inspire a commitment to justice, opportunity, and prosperity for all.

Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George also delivered an emotional tribute to the late Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, describing him as “humanity personified” and recalling his unmatched attention to detail, his mentorship, and his deep love for family and country.

National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu and Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin

The crash claimed the lives of Dr. Boamah; Dr. Murtala Muhammed; Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed; NDC National Vice Chairman Dr. Samuel Sarpong; former parliamentary candidate for Obuasi East Samuel Aboagye and three Ghana Air Force personnel — Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

As preparations for the state funeral continue, the government and security agencies have launched investigations into the cause of the crash.

The tragedy remains one of the darkest moments in recent national history and leaders continue to call for compassion, unity and support for the bereaved families.

The Definition of Death: Blessing or Curse

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admin
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Opinion

The tragic death of our two ministers, Dr Omane Boamah and Alhaji Mutula Muhammed, three other government officials and three dedicated serving personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces, who perished in a helicopter crash on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 and the death of the sixteen members of the Saviour Church of Ghana, Obogu branch, who died in a head-on collision on July 29, 2025, should make us think about this most inevitable aspect of life called death.

In Sacred Scriptures, when a prophecy of death comes from God, it means both the physical and the spiritual, with the soul thrown to hell. This is called death.

On the other hand, death that leads the soul to eternal life in Heaven, is defined as life. In John 11: 25, Jesus spoke these words of eternal life when He said: “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.”

Life can be compared to schooling. No matter what happens, anyone who enters school will one day, surely be out. So, is it that everybody’s life will end one day.

Is death that sends the soul to hell, of God? Or is death the will of man? Some humans try to show how powerful they are by cursing people with death and even killing some.

God in Ezekiel 33:11, solemnly declares that He has no pleasure to see the wicked die. So, if God does not want the wicked to die, why should some humans wish death for others? God does not will the soul to go to hell, it is rather the unfortunate misuse of the gift of free will, that make the soul end up there.

So, people who take delight in cursing others with death or ending lives of others, have no idea what it is like to be in hell, a place they unknowingly, prepare for themselves.

Death can come in so many ways;insofar as the body is separated from the soul, death has taken place. Dedicated men and women of God, who have been given the sight to see beyond the physical, tell of this separation. It is the most painful as the two inseparable beings, the body and the soul, are to be apart. It is like love ones, example a child and mother separating, for good. This usually happens at departure lounges when flights are called or during wars when enemy troops invade a community and start separating people.

The body and soul cannot withstand this inevitable separation, but it has to happen and when it does, the body goes still and lifeless and the soul proceeds to the next level, where it would either go to Heaven or to hell.

For the love of God, souls of those who died in His love but have some scars of sin, are not fit to be go to hell. He purges these souls through purgatory. It is like this; no parent would allow their beloved infant child who is so dirty to sleep in bed with them. The child will be purged off the dirt, by way of been given a strong bath to remove all dirt, so he becomes neat and clean.

Why did God allow these twenty-four people to die the way they did?It does not matter how one dies, the most important thing is to die in the state of grace, so as to enter into Heaven. Many believers and saints died more horrible deaths by way of being eaten alive by lions or thrown into boiling oil, among others. The process of death may look horrifying to humans, but that could be a grace from God, remember His Son Jesus, died a horrifying death on the Cross.

God may allow someone to die, when they are in state of grace, because if they were to live a bit longer, they may commit grievous sins against Him, which would lead them to hell.

As the nation is mourning the death of Omane Boamah, Mutula Muhammed and the other six, let the nation honour the memory of the sixteen members of the Savior Church of Ghana, who also perished in a horrible accident.

The most terrible thing to happen to any person, is when death separates them from their love ones. As we mourn these twenty-four Ghanaians who met their tragic end within eight days apart of one group and the other, let us pray for their love ones and ask God to console them. They need our prayers; they need our attention for they in a painful state of loneliness and sorrow.

Death is a blessing when one is in the state of grace but a curse when one is in the state of mortal sin. As we mourn the dead, let us remember that one day we will also be mourned. Let us keep that hour in mind and strive to do what pleases God, especially forgiving one another. Let us sacrifice to make the other person, especially those in need, get what they pray for, so that they will look up and say “Thank You, Jesus!” These three words will return divine favours on us.

May all the souls of the departed find favour in the sight of God and Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar.

Amen

By Hon. Daniel Dugan

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

Editorial: When National Security, Media Drop Massive Cultural Clanger!

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THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

The Wednesday, August 6 helicopter crash, which took the lives of Dr Omane Boamah, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Alhaji Mohammed Lemuna, Dr Samuel Sarpong and the three military men shook the foundation of this country. These are people who served Ghana to the best of their ability, but within a split of second, they were all gone. In the case of Dr Omane Boamah, our information is that he was the only ‘child’ of his mother – what a loss!

But, despite this painful tragedy, some of our colleague media houses were not sensitive enough to the issue at stake and rather embarked on what we consider to be reckless reportage. Looking at the sensitive nature of the tragedy, these media houses ought to have been careful about the way they report from the accident scene, but regrettably, this did not happen. In our Ghanaian culture and tradition the dead are supposed to be accorded dignity and respect.

Some of the television stations focused their cameras on the sacks containing the mortal remains of our departed country men, as they were being evacuated from the thick forest to the nearby village. The Chronicle must be brunt here: this is not good journalism – and one would have expected those in the newsroom in Accra to edit some of the pictures – but strangely, they also allowed it to go on air.

Now, because of this reckless reportage, Ghanaians are questioning why the bodies were not put in body bags, but rather cocoa sacks. Intelligence we are picking up indicates that the rescuers were not reckless – there was a genuine reason why the bodies were put in sacks,  but the cameramen who were not sensitive to what had happened, decided to show it to the whole world. Sometimes, we the media (The Chronicle inclusive) must bear in mind that we also have families and if our loved family members are treated the way the former ministers were treated, we certainly will not be happy.

Yes, The Chronicle believes in healthy competition, but it does not mean that we should throw the ethics of our profession to the dogs. It is not rushing to show such sensitive pictures to the outside world that makes a television station the best among its competitors. We need to accept the fact that our cultural practices frown on some of these issues.

In fact, because the traditional media failed to properly play their roles, the reckless social media also saved the pictures and started distributing them with careless abandon. But can we blame social media – no, we think so – because about 99% of the users of the new media have no training in journalism and, therefore, do not know the ethics of the journalism profession.

The big question is: where was our National Security when all these pictures were being recklessly shown on television screens and also distributed on social media? In our view, National Security could have prompted managers of the television stations who were involved in showing the pictures ofthe sensitive nature of the situation and the need to be circumspect in their reportage.

Calling the television station on phone to advise them against the showing of the pictures pertaining to the bodies of the deceased ministers and other victims would nothave amounted to interference in their work.

Another leg of our argument is the failure of the same National Security to stop the circulation of the pictures on social media. The Chronicle is NOT, and we repeat NOT trying to teach the National Security how they should go about their work. But in a situation such as what we are discussing, it should have occurred to them that the circulation of the bodies being carried in cocoa sacks was not only insensitive to our culture, but not in the interest of the country as well, and ought to have been stopped. It is our contention that such a decision would not amount to suppression of press freedom because it is done in other jurisdictions.

It has become hackneyed nowadays to see Ghanaians taking pictures of accident victims with the intention of circulating them on social media, instead of helping with the rescue efforts. This practice is very bad but it is only education of the masses that can address the negative development. We need to be sensitive to the plight of people instead of rushing to publish their pains.

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