US prosecutors have charged 12 Chinese nationals for being part of an alleged hacking scheme, which sold data of US-based dissidents to the Chinese government.
The “state-sponsored” operation also targeted government agencies including the Treasury, according to the Justice Department (DOJ).
Hackers also allegedly targeted an American religious organisation, and a newspaper in Hong Kong, the statement added.
China has not responded to these specific allegations, but have strongly denied other accusations in the past.
In December, the Treasury Department reported a “major” breach by Chinese -sponsored hackers, saying they were able to access employee workstations and some unclassified documents.
At that time, China denied any involvement, calling the accusation “baseless” and saying it “consistently opposes all forms of hacking”.
It is unclear when the latest DOJ charges were issued – but they were unsealed in a federal court in Manhattan on Wednesday.
Who is being charged?
Among the individuals charged were two officers of China’s Ministry of Public Security.
The DOJ said that hackers, which appeared to represent a private company, i-Soon, charged Chinese agencies between $10,000 and $75,000 for each “exploited” email inbox.
They allegedly “conducted computer intrusions” under the direction of Chinese ministries and on their own initiative, and were “paid handsomely for stolen data”.
“Today, we are exposing the Chinese government agents directing and fostering indiscriminate and reckless attacks against computers and networks worldwide,” said Sue J Bai, who heads the DOJ’s National Security Division.
“We will continue to fight to dismantle this ecosystem of cyber mercenaries and protect our national security,” she added.
Who was targeted?
No further details on the targeted US-based dissidents were provided.
The religious organisation hit by hackers was described as one which “previously sent missionaries to China and was openly critical of the PRC government”. PRC is short for the People’s Republic of China.
A Hong Kong newspaper was also on the list. While it was not named, the statement said that it was “considered as being opposed to the PRC government”.
Besides US agencies, hackers were said to have targeted the foreign ministries of Taiwan, India, South Korea and Indonesia.
Earlier last year, seven Chinese nationals were charged with running a hacking operation that lasted at least 14 years and targeted foreign critics of China.
Operations linked by Western governments to China have also targeted the UK’s Electoral Commission, and the UK and New Zealand parliaments.
As part of its long-running rewards programme, the US State Department said it was offering up to $10m for information on i-Soon, its employees and Chinese officials “engaged in malicious cyber activities highlighted in the Department of Justice’s indictments”
US President Donald Trump has issued what he called a “last warning” to Hamas to release the hostages being held in Gaza.
“I am sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job, not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say,” Trump said in a lengthy post on his Truth Social platform.
Hamas accused the US president of encouraging Israel to break the ceasefire deal currently in effect between the two sides.
Trump’s statement came just hours after the White House confirmed it was holding direct talks with Hamas over the remaining hostages.
Washington has until now avoided direct engagement with the group, and there is a longstanding US policy against having direct contact with entities it lists as terrorist organisations.
In his social media post, Trump said there would be “hell to pay” if the hostages were not released, while not specifying the nature of the support he was sending Israel.
“Release all of the hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you,” he added.
“For the leadership, now is the time to leave Gaza, while you still have a chance.”
He also appeared to issue a wider threat: “Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!”
Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem said in a statement that such threats “complicate matters regarding the ceasefire agreement and encourage the occupation [Israel] to avoid implementing its terms”.
The post came after Trump met with a group of hostages in the White House who had been recently released under the ceasefire.
Meanwhile, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the US has been negotiating directly with Hamas to try to secure the release of the hostages.
Israel had been consulted prior to the talks, she added.
President Trump believed in doing what was in the best interest of the American people, Leavitt told reporters.
The work of the special envoy for hostages, Adam Boehler, work was a “good faith effort to do what’s right for the American people”, she added.
“Two direct meetings” have taken place between Hamas and a US official, “preceded by several communications”, a Palestinian source told the BBC.
News of the talks was first reported by Axios, which said the two sides were meeting in Qatar to discuss the release of US hostages as well as a wider deal to end the war.
The Israeli military launched a campaign to destroy Hamas in response to an unprecedented cross-border attack on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage.
At least 48,440 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
Israel says there are still 59 hostages being held in Gaza, with up to 24 believed to be alive.
Five US citizens are among the captives. One of them, Edan Alexander, is believed to be alive and the other four are presumed dead.
If you’re like many people, you probably have a fitness tracker or a smartwatch on your wrist or finger. As of 2023, a little more than a third of the population uses wearable trackers. They flood us with data, hours and quality of sleep, resting heart rate, exercise heart rate, calorie expenditure, time spent standing, step count, step length, step asymmetry, how fast you do stairs, and more.
Sneak Exercise Into Your Day
Stretch
It helps your blood flow through your body, increases your range of motion, and may help prevent an injury. And you can do it anywhere, even at your desk during the workday. But keep it gentle. Don’t push to the point of pain.
Tense Your Muscles
No time for the gym? No problem. You can do this almost anywhere and in very little time. A typical example: Tighten your stomach muscles for 3 to 10 seconds. Repeat 4 times. Your co-workers won’t even know you’re working out. These exercises may lower your blood pressure as well.
Get a Jogging Stroller
Don’t feel trapped in the house with the kid. Take them with you! A stroller can make your jog an adventure for everyone. So strap in the munchkin, bring some emergency supplies, and get out into the world.
Have Leash, Will Walk
Fido isn’t the only one who needs his daily walk, but the fact that he does can get you moving. Owning a dog makes you more likely to be physically active. The guilt of that unused gym membership is nothing compared to the look he gives you when he wants a walk. So grab a leash, and maybe a Frisbee, and save that gym membership money for doggie treats.
Walking Meetings
Need 30 minutes to catch up with a co-worker? Do it on foot and kill two birds with one stone. Not only will you get some exercise, but you may also do your job better.
Take the Stairs
In 1 minute, a 150-pound person burns 10 calories walking up stairs, compared with 1.5 calories taking the elevator. If you’re headed to the 35th floor, you don’t have to tromp all the way up (unless you just want to). Take the elevator to the 30th floor and walk up the last five. And take the stairs one at a time. It actually burns more calories than taking them two at a time.
Park Farther Away
Whether you’re at the grocery store, the office, or the post office, park at the back of the lot. You’re less likely to get in a fender bender, and you’ll get closer to your exercise quota for the week.
Sprint!
A Canadian study found that three 20-second sprints, with a 2-minute break in between, followed by a 3-minute cooldown, had the same fitness benefits as a sustained, moderate 48-minute workout. Going all out and then cooling down not only burns a lot of calories but improves insulin sensitivity and muscle function. You could do that on your lunch break — and still have time for lunch. Just make sure to warm up first. And ask your doctor if you’re not sure if you’re healthy enough for vigorous exercise.
Use Public Transportation
In one city, the average commuter added about 15 minutes of physical activity per day — mostly walking to and from buses and trains — when they took public transportation. That’s 105 minutes of the recommended 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity recommended per week. Plus, you’ll save on gas.
Take the Long Way Home
It’s trash day — you’re going to have to put your coat and shoes on anyway. Why not take a stroll around the block while you’re at it? If the weather’s fine and you’ve got the time, give it a shot whenever you have to be out on foot.
Bike to Work
Local message boards or a bike commuter group can help you find the safest route. There’s lots of help out there. Many companies even have somewhere for you to clean up after your ride.
Power Chores
As the person you live with will tell you, you have any number of chances to be active around the house and yard. Scrub the tub a little harder than usual. It can get your heart rate up. Does the car need a detail? Do it yourself: You’ll save some money and get a workout at the same time.
Walk-Mail
Need to send a message to a co-worker across the office? Don’t email it, walk it over. It’s a chance to bond with colleagues, and it gets you out of your seat and on your feet for a bit. Do that a few times a day and you’ll be surprised how many steps you can get in.
Stay off the Couch
Don’t settle in with a bowl of ice cream to watch TV. Put the remote across the room so you have to get up to change the channel. Ride an exercise bike or run in place while you watch, do pushups during commercial breaks, or just tidy up around the living room. You’ll burn calories and be more likely to stay out of the fridge.
Dr. Joyce Rosalind Aryee, Executive Director, Salt and Light Ministries
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” – Revelation 3:19, 20
INTRODUCTION
Last week we ended that the Laodicea church, whose members had once burned with zeal were not aware of their spiritual decline and true condition. Lukewarm from complacency, they then claimed the wealth of their city into their spiritual life and saw themselves as rich, wealthy, and in need of nothing. After all, they had gold, black wool, and produced eye salve for customers far and wide.
Rich in earthly goods they might have been, as citizens of a prosperous city with wealthy neighbors, but in the sight of God they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked. The gold that was in abundance in their banks were not enough to buy their salvation. The black wool they spun into many rich garments was the wrong color and type for their nakedness. And the eye salve they produced had no power to open their eyes to discern the spiritual things of God. They were blind, wretched, naked, and poor, but arrogantly saw themselves as rich and in need of nothing. Alas so are some of our churches today.
We bring you the concluding part of Letter # 7
So, what was Christ’s prescription for this lukewarm and wretched church?
PRESCRIPTION FOR THE CHURCH IN LAODICEA
Christ was not content to leave this church alone in their spiritual death. “As the resurrection and the life”- Revelation 1:18, He could raise them back to life again, and transform them back to health from the wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked state they were in.
Malachi had earlier testified that God is the Master Refiner of gold – Malachi 3:3. Paul had reminded that true wealth comes from the poverty Christ endured for our sake – 2 Corinthians 8:9 and that even nakedness cannot separate anyone from the love Christ has for us – Romans 8:35. David had also testified that God is the One who gives sight to the blind – Psalm 146:8.
Against this background, what did Christ prescribe for this wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked, and lukewarm church that believed they were fine and needed nothing from God?
“I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”– Rev3:18.
But if they were truly wretched and poor, how would they buy their prescription?
The prophet Isaiah had earlier introduced us to the Lord who sells in a currency that is different from that which we know: “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.” – Isaiah 55:1,8.
The cost of the healing and restoration that this dead, complacent Laodicean church needed was actually free! Jesus loves us too much to ask of us what He knows we cannot afford, so He offers it to us free of charge. When He rebukes, as He did the Laodiceans, it is not because He hates us. There is a reason for it: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.”– Rev. 3:19
All the Laodiceans needed to do was to promptly repent from their long-term neglect of the One who had once been their Lord and Master, and Whom they had pledged to love and obey. Through their complacency, Jesus had departed from their midst, and they had not even realized it.
Fortunately, the Lord had not departed fully. He was still standing at the door of their church and hearts. They had not heard Him, hence the letter to them. Whatever they were doing within the doors did not matter as long as the One in whose name they gathered was no longer in their midst. So, He told them: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him,and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.” – Rev 3:20, 21. What comforting and encouraging words!
A WARNING TO 21ST CENTURY BELIEVERS
This letter, like the others, closes with the famous warning: “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” – Rev. 3:22Perhaps the spiritual condition of the Laodicean church more accurately describes the spiritual condition of many Christians today. How many profess Christ in name but do not make Him a part of their lives? How many believe Him to live in their hearts but are actually spiritually wretched, blind, naked, and poor? How many churches still open their doors to sing and pray but are spiritually dead and grievous to the heavenly hosts?
The message is not only for the 1st Century Laodicea Christians, who have all been long dead and buried. The message is for us in this 21st Century who are as lukewarm as they were. What challenge do we face that Jesus did not experience? Yet He overcame. And He said “To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
We can fool ourselves that we are still Christians, but the “True and Faithful Witness” knows the real Christians from fake ones. We can rely on our past conversion experiences when we burned with zeal and fervent heat for the Lord, but God is concerned about now, not yesterday. He cannot tolerate lukewarmness and He will spew us out of His mouth if we are. He cannot handle the spiritual arrogance that puffs us up to believe that we have no need of Him, and He calls us urgently to repent. We might be dead, but He can raise us up to life again. Why not respond to His knock now?
THINK ABOUT THIS: Francis Chan, American Pastor and writer, reframed God’s poignant warning: “Lukewarm living and claiming Christ’s name simultaneously is utterly disgusting to God.” Why should our lives make Him feel that way?
Let us therefore strengthen our resolve to serve the Lord with this prayerful hymn by Albert Midlane, (1825-1909)
Revive thy work, O Lord, Thy mighty arm make bare;
Speak with the voice that wakes the dead,And make thy people hear.
Refrain
Revive thy work, O Lord,While here to Thee we bow;
Descend, O gracious Lord, ascend! Oh come and bless us now.
Revive thy work, O Lord,Create soul-thirst for thee;
And hungering for the Bread of Life;O may our spirits be.
Revive thy work, O Lord,Exalt thy precious Name;
And, by the Holy Ghost, our love,For thee and Thine inflame.
Revive thy work, O Lord,Give power unto Thy word;
Grant that Thy blessed Gospel may, In living faith be heard.
Revive Thy work, O Lord, And give refreshing showers;
The glory shall be all Thine own, The blessing, Lord, be ours.
Stay Blessed!
Please note that the preaching program on Sunny 88.7 FM – Tuesdays at 5:30 am has been temporarily put on hold. However, please continue to join us on Asempa 94.7 FM – Sundays at 5:30 am and YFM 107.9 – Sundays at 6:30 am for our Radio Bible Study, as well as on Sunny 88.7 FM every Sunday at 3:30 pm for Hymns and Their Stories.
The more abstract the truth you want to teach, the more you must reduce the senses to it – Friedrich Nietzsche
WHAT! – The slur would not come out, because the professional ethics would not welcome pejorative discourse. But the word was the opposite of “sensible”, “intelligent”, “prudent”, and “clever”.
A day before the State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday, 27th February, 2025, the vetting of the Deputy Minister of Justice and Attorney-General-elect, Hon. Srem-Sei took a dramatic turn. In days of yore, a film show would have “comedies” or a “foreword” (NOT forward) of a book.
Was it not quixotic to ask Hon. Srem Sai to demonstrate a particular Ewe dance? Were they vetting someone for the Culture Ministry OR was Afenyo-Markin acting like the clown (fool) in Twelfth Night or King Lear? Hon. Bernard Ahiafor overruled the question, deeming it inappropriate. A lawyer and a Deputy Attorney General – what about questions relating to “nolle prosequi”, “amicus curiae”; “independence of the Judiciary”, “emoluments of labourers in the Judicial Service”, “abolition of legal vacation for judges of superior courts”…
Hon. Afenyo-Markin: “Your action is whimsical and capricious”. Hon. Ahiafor: “Withdraw the words whimsical and capricious”. Hon. Afenyo Markin: “I won’t withdraw”. Hon. Ahiafor: “Withdraw ‘rudely’. Hon Afenyo Markin: “I won’t withdraw”. Hon. Ahiafor: “To demonstrate to you I am the Chairman of this Committee this will be your last question…” AND the vetting ended abruptly… so, was the whole period wasted? And the Vetting Committee will take their allowances, and Ghanaians will pay for this Jaguar Jokers’ play (NOT concert). Are these theatricals what Ghanaians sent MPs to do? How many MPs return to their Constituencies to share ideas with the electorate?
Then came the day for the State of the Nation Address (SONA) -Article 67: delivered at the beginning of each session of Parliament and before a dissolution of Parliament, Sweet-flowing President got a hiccup when he addressed the Speaker: “Mr. Mensah (ei), Mr. President (ha) Mr. Speaker… the “nkoko-nketenkete” (small chickens) was to whet the appetite of Ghanaians to rear poultry – for home consumption, if not for export. Imagine all schools with their large farmland having a poultry farm. As for guinea-fowls, they would fly to Burkina Faso.
The President swore to “fix the economy”, bad as it was, and the yeah-yeah was loud. He had to make sure to avoid Akufo-Addo’s “mistake” of a 2-hour SONA which led to his bodyguard’s swoon. BUT he could not hide the reality that the economy he inherited was worse than originally anticipated. There were updates on the work of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) as well as the Agenda III, without a single hospital of that category being operational.
With the size of the Cabinet reduced from 120-plus to 60, his government was set to cut down the cost of running the government, because “our economy is in crisis and our people are suffering unprecedented hardship”. Why should the President “lament” when he knew the state of the economy before he accepted to lead the NDC to a historic victory?
Unbelievably, the public debt which stood at GH¢721 billion had a component of GH¢68 billion owed by State Owned Enterprises including the Electricity Company of Ghana and Ghana Cocoa Board – A case of the staff pay always rising with the CEOs paid in billions of cedis every month.
His government would have a place for “consultation and consensus building”. Not the “tintin-tininti” like the President before Free SHS was to stay.
Government was to revamp the energy sector upstream. The paradox of having fertile lands, abundant water and human resources yet facing a huge food import bill? “The nkoko-nketenkete project will cover 55,000 households”. The Adwumawura Project to be rolled out will actualize his plans for job-creation, especially among the youth.
To the micro-minority NPP MPs, the SONA was full of lamentations and had a foreboding of “taxes galore”. Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, the short-lived ex-Minister of Finance, argued: “Does it make sense to scrap the e-levy and betting taxes and replace them with new taxes on the mining, telecommunication, financial sector and real estate industries which will all be passed on to the customers? (We) should wait for the deception of the NDC government when they present the 2025 budget-taxes galore. “This is how they intend to tax Ghanaians to collect their target of GH¢200 billion in tax revenue this year”.
Which will be the “true”, “truer” and “truest” SONA? To Dr. Adam “halving inflation within a year is no small feat” and that the disinflation process is well under way and that the minor deviations observed are within an acceptable range given global economic pressures (the Russian-Ukraine war, COVID-19, the Gaza-Israeli conflict, the Los Angeles fires with floods in Spain, France, Thailand, Nepal, Japan, Morocco, Algeria, Tanzania, Kenya, Libya, the Canadian cold snap and the Australian Cyclones or tornadoes- emphasis ours).
Dr. Stephen Amoah (Sticka) MP for Nhyiaeso is reminded of Macbeth’s soliloquy: “… this even-handed justice commends th’ingredients of our poison’d chalice to our own lips…” How did Sticka eclipse Kennedy Kankam to win the Nhyiaeso primaries?
He would say: “…Our President, John Mahama, is respectfully creating a picture as if the economy is in coma, Totally, it is not true”. The National Economic Dialogue as a follow-up of the Senchi Forum? But what do we do with the recommendations of the National Development Planning Commission (GNPC) at the seat of government per Article 86 and 87 of the 1992 Constitution.
Dr. George Domfeh will call TV3 to urge “ignorant” Mr. Joe Jackson, a veteran financial expert and Chief Executive Officer of Dalex Finance to “learn” the true state of the economy! What did Joe Jackson say? “If you can’t pay your debt, are you not broke? We feed SHS students on less than GHc2.00 a day, so what are we talking about… what has been done to the cocoa sector is almost criminal and such that any attempt to hold the value of the cedis this year is going to be severely hamstrung by what has happened in the cocoa sector”.
Martin Kpebu gets hurt by Dr. George Domfeh “consistently insulting” panelists, and refers to Article 36 of the 1992 Constitution: “The State shall take all necessary action to ensure that the national economy is managed in such a manner as to maximize the rate of economic development and to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every person in Ghana…“If you see us criticizing the NDC’s Hajj Village Project, it is only because we don’t want a reincarnation of the NPP National Cathedral project.
The post-script would be on eccentric Kwame Baffoe a.k.a. Abronye, the Bono Regional Chairman of the NPP, a student- lawyer, had not seen the word “confidential” written on his invitation letter and blew up the story to the media: “You have revoked people’s appointments take their GH¢550 million and put it in a bullion van”.
After honoring an invitation to the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) he came back to say “… I posed a question seeking to understand the whereabouts of the funds if the workers’ appointments had been terminated…” Irony or sarcasm? Parody or burlesque. If you have such a person as Chairman of a political party in a region…?
Must we take the socialists serious when they say February 24, is the Day of Shame? These are the people who honour and hallow the name of Rawlings, the same person who canonized Kotoka and called him a hero for overthrowing Nkrumah. The one who said all Kwame Nkrumah did for Ghana was to give us a national flag and a national anthem. How can these same people honour both Nkrumah and Rawlings?”
Accra-Tema Motorway
Every February 24,theygo into competition to see who would condemn the first successful coup most, with the signature tune, “Ghana’s Day of Shame”.
Then we will be given a litany of Nkrumah’s achievements and be informed that no one had achieved what Kwame Nkrumah achieved for Ghana. It was all good and rosy during Nkrumah’s reign, and anyone who challenges his government, is condemned.
I will never say that Nkrumah achieved nothing for this country. I will be ungrateful and untruthful if I ever suggest that. But wait! Take a journalist around New York and show him the beautiful skyscrapers and infrastructures. The journalist will show you the underbridges and alley-ways where the homeless tramps live.
We always judge other leaders of Ghana, based on human rights records and standard of living, completely relegating developments made, by saying, “Is it development, we will eat?” So, let us for once place Nkrumah in this category and find out which position he would place when ranking our leaders.
Nkrumah was the only leader who started ruling this country with a credit balance and without inheriting any loan. He started with £240 million ($669.9 million) credit. However, all the major developments under his reign, like the Akosombo Dam, Tema Harbour, the Tema Motorway, were achieved with external loans. The Akosombo Dam, cost us $258 million, of which we contracted a loan, of $64.5 million to complete its construction. What happened to our initial $669.9 million?
Kwame Nkrumah spent lots of our money, funding anti-colonial movements in some other African countries, at Ghana’s expense. In 1958, he gifted the newly independent, Guinea, £10 million ($28 million) for deciding not to be part of Francophone Africa.
Nkrumahspent recklessly and reduced our credit balance to £500,000.00 by 1965, while we registered red balances from loans we acquired.
Tema Harbour
According to World Bank data for 1965, Ghana’s deficit on current account was $228 million, and public foreign debt was almost $700 million. Our annual inflation rate (consumer prices) was 26.4 % and annual GDP growth was 1.4 %. Ghana’s total debt at the time of Nkrumah’s overthrow in February 1966,was $1 billion.
We are reminded of Nkrumah’s achievements and always told he did more than any other. Records show otherwise.
Nkrumah constructed Akosombo dam; Acheampong and Kufuor also constructed Kpong and Bui Dams, respectively. Nkrumah constructed Kaneshie housing estates; Acheampong constructed Dansoman and Teshie-Nungua Estates. Nkrumah constructed Tema Motorway; Nana Addo constructed Pokuase, Tema, Obetsebi-Lamptey, Tamale and Flower Pot interchanges, and begun the Accra-Tema beach road project. Pokuase interchange is the largest in West Africa.
For anything that Nkrumah constructed, others after him improved upon that record. So, if we are told that no one did anything apart from Nkrumah, then how can we explain the expansion of our cities and communities?
Now after Nkrumah’s developments, what about his human rights records? There were draconian laws, which will never be accepted in this day and age. There were PDA, which empowered the president to put anyone in prison without court trial; False Report Bill, which put to jail without trial, anyone who made comments that were perceived to be against the reputation of the state and government and the Chief (Recognition) Bill, which mandated only the president to enstool or destool chiefs. Nkrumah established the Young Pioneer Movement, and enlisted children who were brainwashed that they reported on their parents and have them thrown to jail, should they say minor things like, “These days, times are hard!”
Ghanaians lived worse than they did during the colonial days.
Any person who made adverse statements were thrown into jail and this included some CPP members. A CPP minister, a staunch Catholic, Hon. P.K.K. Quaidoo, was dismissed from government, sacked from Parliament and imprisoned, without trial, when he questioned the immortalization of Nkrumah on the floor of Parliament on May 22, 1961.
Finance Minister Hon. K.A. Gbedemah, who managed a strong economy from 1954 to 1961, spoke against Nkrumah’s introduction of socialism and controlled economyand condemned the implementation of the Seven Year Development Plan, adding that Ghana would suffer economic challenges. He was removed from the Finance ministry to Health. Even there, he would still not keep his mouth shut.
The propaganda machinery was set in motion saying Gbedemah was planning to overthrow Nkrumah. He denied this by saying “I would be sorry to have to do it but country has had enough of Nkrumah’s arrogance, whims and madness.” He was dismissed in September 1961 and had to flee into exile.
The much touted Seven Year Development Plan, which Nkrumaists claim to this day could have turned this country into a First World nation, was implemented on October 1, 1963, but by 1965, the economy, as predicted by Gbedemah, was in serious crisis. Pervasive corruption exacerbated problems and Ghanaians lived as if in slavery.
Meanwhile, Nkrumah was the Law. What he said or desired was Law. He had powers to dismiss judges who passed judgments he did not like and he could order re-trials.
When, on December 11, 1963, the Chief Justice Sir ArkuKorsah announced a verdict of Not Guilty on the Kulungugu Bombing case, it came as a bombshell to Nkrumah. He swiftly over-reacted. Two days after the verdict, he dismissed the Chief Justice, and rushed a bill through the Assembly which gave him the power, in the national interest, to set aside any judgement in the country’s courts. This rapid demolition of the independence of the judiciary did more than anything else to convince the world that Nkrumah had embarked on a course leading to dictatorship.
Three Justices of the Supreme Court, Edward Akuffo Addo, Kofi Adumua Bossman and Robert Samuel Blay, were dismissed on March 2, 1964. Exactly two weeks later,a High Court, judge, Justice Henry K. Prempeh, son of Asantehene Otumfuo Agyeman Prempeh I, was dismissed.
A proposal was made at the CPP Conference at Kumasi in 1962, just before Kulungugu, that Ghana should become a one-party state. The referendum on the one-party state was held in January 1964. The CPP claimed a 99 per cent vote in favour, but reports showed that the votes were shamelessly rigged. In some areas the ‘No’ votes were simply emptied into the ‘Yes’ boxes. In others the ‘No’ boxes were sealed to prevent any votes going in, or party stalwarts threatened anyone voting ‘No’.
In the whole of Ashanti, the NLM stronghold, not a single ‘No’ vote was recorded. These figures convinced no-one, but they showed how more and more power was being concentrated in the hands of Nkrumah, and how completely the opposition was being eliminated.
There was an atmosphere of terror in Ghana. Even students who applied for visas to visit Britain were told that if they spoke one word of criticism while in abroad, they would go straight to Nsawam prison when they returned to Ghana.
On the issue of corruption, Nkrumah did little to punish his cabinet minister, Krobo Eduseiand make him to account for illegal funds used in purchasing a golden bed worth, $8,400.00 and acquiring other properties home and abroad worth over $1.4 million while he was on an annual salary of $13,550.00. Nkrumah dismissed him from the position of cabinet minister of Transport and Communication, on April 18, 1962only to re-instateback to cabinet as Minister of Agriculture on September 3, 1962.
Nkrumah was touted as never being corrupt, but some historians have facts to prove that he was. In Kwame Nkrumah: The Conakry Days by Tierno Siradiou Bah, it was speculated that Sekou Toure refunded the £10 million, the state’s money, to Nkrumah and he also had lots dollars and pounds sterling, sent to him from Ghana in diplomatic bags. Whose money was this, if not Nkrumah’s. And if he took the state’s £10 million for himself, then what was he?
Moreso, in the Krobo Edusei’s case, Kwame Nkrumah clearly protected a corrupt person and so he can be said to be a corrupt leader.
Ghanaianshad freedom from colonial rule on March 6, 1957, but unfortunately, we got into the worse kind of servitude where our rights and liberties were taken away under the banner of Freedom and Justice.
February 24, should be marked as our Second Independence but if Ghanaians think it is a day of shame, then in all honesty, we should bring back, the PDA, False Report Bill, Chief (Recognition) Bill, a One-Party State and a president who will rule for life. The president should be the Law. Everything he says and desires must be granted without question. Dictatorship must be legalised with the president having full control of every aspect of life, even including the domestic family.
Today, Ghanaians condemn the Executive when it is perceived to be influencing the decisions of the courts. In the First Republic, that was legal. If we feel justifiedin condemning February 24, then we must amend our 1992 Constitution and bring back the First Republican laws.
Parliament, which must be the thumb of the President must take over the Judiciary.
In truth and in conclusion, Nkrumah ranks lower than he is being perceived. Thank You!
Two Premier League teams battling for a top-four finish lock horns at the City Ground on Saturday lunchtime as third-placed Nottingham Forest play host to fourth-placed Manchester City.
The Citizens are looking to complete the double over the Tricky Trees for the second successive season after securing a comfortable 3-0 victory in the reverse fixture at the Etihad Stadium in early December.
After fighting to avoid relegation last season, not even the most ardent of Nottingham Forest supporters would have envisaged their side battling for a top-four finish this term as well as being just one game away from reaching Wembley in the FA Cup.
A return to winning ways for Forest is not a given on Saturday, as they are winless in their last nine league encounters against Man City (D2 L7) since securing a 3-2 victory at Maine Road in the second tier back in December 1997.
Pep Guardiola‘s side are the bookmakers’ favourites to win the FA Cup, but they will now shift their focus back to the Premier League and their battle to qualify for next season’s Champions League; they can consolidate their place in the top four and are guaranteed to end the weekend in third place if they beat Forest in Saturday’s early kickoff.
Man City have had almost a full week to rest and gain some valuable time on the training ground and will hope to have a refreshed side firing against a well-organised Forest backline.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Manchester United welcome Arsenal in big clash
Manchester United host Arsenal on Sunday in what is always a monster clash in the Premier League calendar. But with United in the bottom half of the table, expectations levels will be low amongst the home faithful at Old Trafford as Ruben Amorim continues to struggle to implement his ideas and injuries have hit the Red Devils hard.
Arsenal players
With their season hinging on the UEFA Europa League and their last 16 ties against Real Sociedad coming up either side of this game against Arsenal, will Amorim rotate? He really doesn’t have that many options off the bench due to injuries.
Arsenal aren’t really in the title race anymore after a damaging week saw them cough up five points and Liverpool accelerated away from them. Still, Mikel Arteta’s side are coming off the back of a huge 7-1 win at PSV in the UEFA Champions League in midweek and that will give them some extra confidence in attack.
Arteta has the luxury of knowing Arsenal are basically already in the Champions League quarterfinals given their thumping win at PSV in midweek, so he will go with his full-strength side and aim to control the tempo in midfield. We could see Jorginho start instead of Partey in midfield but more likely is that Arteta will go with Odegaard, Partey and Rice from the start and that trio have been so good in recent weeks.
Arsenal will hope to score early and keep the pressure on United as they’ll plan for their entire midfield and attack to move up the pitch seamlessly just like they did in midweek.
Barcelona‘s pursuit of the La Liga title will continue on Saturday evening, with Osasuna their opponents at EstadiOlimpic Lluis Companys.
Gavi
Blaugrana have been victorious in each of their last six fixtures in Spain’s top flight, with a total of 57 points leaving them at the top of the La Liga table, while Osasuna, who are winless since the start of February, occupy 11th position.
Barcelona are unbeaten across all tournaments since December 21, and it could be an incredibly successful end to the campaign for the Catalan giants, who are looking strong in each of the three competitions that they are involved in.
Barcelona are on a six-game winning run in the league, including a 4-0 success over Real Sociedad last weekend, while they have only conceded three times in La Liga this year, with the team looking incredibly strong.
The Catalan outfit will enter this match off the back of a 1-0 victory over Benfica in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League clash in Portugal, with Flick’s team in a strong position to reach the next round.
Osasuna are a quality side, and there is enough attacking talent in their squad to cause Barcelona problems, but it is difficult to overlook the Catalan giants, who have so many players in excellent form.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Inter Milan faceoff with relegation-bound Monza
Defending champions Internazionale are chasing the treble this season with the Nerazzurri performing well ahead of relegation-bound Monza making the short trip to San Siro this week.
Inter Milan players
Inter defeated Feyenoord by two goals to nil in a professional and impressive display in the first-leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie at De Kuip thanks to a goal in either half from each member of their strike partnership Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram.
The Nerazzurri could have gone well clear at the top-of-the-table last weekend but they were pegged back to a 1-1 draw by Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona thanks to a late equaliser from Philip Billing.
They face a Monza side that most recently suffered a 2-0 loss at home to Torino last week with Salvatore Bocchetti, who replaced Alessandro Nesta in January, overseeing a side that begin this weekend’s round of fixtures sitting rock-bottom in Serie A and nine points adrift of safety. A comfortable Inter victory is to be expected at San Siro this weekend.
Ahead of the trip to Milan this weekend, Monza are dealing with a few key doubts for this one with long-term absentees Roberto Gagliardini and Stefano Sensi still likely to be sidelined alongside winter signings Jean-Daniel Akpa Akpro and Gianluca Caprari.
The embattled former deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority (NSA), Gifty Oware-Mensah has returned to Ghana, despite the alleged scandal emanating from the office she once held.
She arrived in Ghana on Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at a time when the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) had commenced a probe into an alleged fraud, said to have been done when she was at post.
Following the commencement of the investigation by the NIB, news broke that Gifty Oware-Mensah was out of the jurisdiction, making it impossible for the NIB to question her over the alleged crime.
However, it is expected that she would make herself available to assist the NIB investigation into the alleged illegality at the NSA.
NO HARASSMENT
Meanwhile, the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who spoke to journalists yesterday, moments after she arrived in the country, confirmed that she was not harassed by the state security.
He also indicated that her lawyers had been in touch with the NIB and would make herself available to assist with investigations.
“I think the understanding basically is that we are a country of rule of law and there should be no such Rambo-Style approach to arrests and all. I’m aware that Gifty arrived this afternoon. I’ve been in touch with her. She’s here in Ghana. She arrived this afternoon.
“Her lawyers are in touch with the National Investigation Bureau and I’m sure that she’s going to make herself available. And then whatever the State’s investigation authorities have, they would have to pursue within the due process of law.”
WITCH-HUNTING
The Minority Leader avoided the temptation to think of a possible witch-hunting of former appointees by the new government.
According to him, the NPP respects the rule of law and would want all due processes to be followed in ensuring accountability.
“Well, I would not rush in drawing certain conclusions. My view is that NPP is not against accountability, I included. We’ve been in public service. We are out of the office. Obviously, if the new government needs former officials to explain certain matters in one way or the other, it’s within their right to pursue it.
“And if it means investigating, there should be no problem. What is important is to follow that due process. And once due process is being followed, why not?” he stated.
The NIB recently detained and questioned Kwaku Ohene Djan, also a former Deputy Executive Director of the National Service Authority, over the raging allegation.
BACKGROUND
The NIB is probing Gifty Oware-Mensah over allegations that thousands of ghost names were inserted into the payroll of the NSA. The alleged fraud is reported to have cost the state a staggering GH¢50 million each month, but it is not clear how long the alleged crime went unnoticed.
The government says it has uncovered a significant discrepancy in the National Service payroll, revealing 81,885 suspected ghost names.
This figure represents the difference between the actual number of active personnel and the payroll data submitted by the previous management of the National Service Authority.
According to the latest findings, there are currently 98,145 active service personnel, a stark contrast to the 180,030 names presented for allowance payment in 2024.
“This figure is 81,885 less than the 180,030 names presented by the previous management of the Authority for allowance payment in 2024,” the statement read.
The 81,885 names that have been flagged as potentially fraudulent or inflated could represent a major misuse of public funds.
As the Deputy Executive Director, Gifty Oware-Mensah had responsibility for the administration and finance of the NSS and is suspected to be a key witness in the ongoing investigations.
Samuel Abu Jinapor, former minister for Lands and Natural Resources
The immediate past Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and the Member of Parliament for Damongo in the Savannah Region, Samuel A. Jinapor, has called on Government to explain issues relating to the proposed Gold Board.
According to him, the concept raises more questions than answers and the Government must come out to clarify the issues to sustain the investor confidence in the mining sector of the country.
The Gold Board is one of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto promises for the mining sector.
Despite it being described as one of the Government’s top priorities for economic revitalisation, the concept still remains unclear to several actors in the mining industry.
On 27th January, 2025 the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, inaugurated a technical committee to develop a framework for setting up the Gold Board.
Speaking at the inauguration, Dr. Ato Forson said the Gold Board aims to regulate the gold industry, stabilise the cedi and maximise revenue from gold exports.
The President, in his maiden State of the Nation Address (SONA) also said the Board would ensure effective governance of the gold industry.
But some of these statements, according to Mr Samuel Jinapor, have raised concerns among industry players on what will be the function of the Gold Board, given that specific state institutions have been given the mandate by law to regulate this sector.
In a statement posted on his Facebook page, the former Minister responsible for the sector questioned the relevance of this proposed Gold Board.
He said the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Minerals Commission, the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and the Bank of Ghana are the principal agencies of state responsible for regulating the exploitation, management and utilisation of our gold resources and proceeds therefrom.
“So now, what will be the mandate of this proposed Gold Board? How will it co-exist with the time-tested and cardinal institutions such as the Minerals Commission?” he quizzed.
Mr. Jinapor also asked whether the Government intends to take away the statutory functions of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in the granting of licences for the export of gold, and the role the Bank of Ghana plays in the gold trade and give all to the proposed Gold Board.
This comes on the back of comments by the Governor of the Bank of Ghana that the Gold Board will take over the Bank’s Domestic Gold Purchase Programme once it is established.
Also of concern to the former Minister is the suggestion that the Gold Board will be solely responsible for the purchase and export of gold, which is likely to affect private sector actors who have invested in gold trade. He called on Government to bring more clarity to the concept and avoid duplication of the functions of state institutions.
“While it is welcoming to implement additional measures and/or interventions to have maximum benefit from our mineral resources, it is, also, important not to duplicate the mandate of institutions, which are already performing these functions,” the statement said.
Mr. Jinapor noted that Ghana has come far with her mining regulatory regime, which is highly respected across the globe and, therefore, nothing should be done in secrecy or surreptitiously to destroy Ghana’s hard-won reputation in this sector.
Regional Minister Joseph Nelson (middle) being ushered to the chamber of the House
The Western Regional House of Chiefs (WRHC) has declared its support for the Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, to fight against illegal mining, popularly known as ‘Galamsey’.
WRHC President, Nana Kobina Nketsiah IV
The chiefs have, however, advised the minister to approach his work in a non-partisan way.
Nana Kobina Nketsiah IV, the president of the House delivered the message to Regional Minister Joseph Nelson, when he paid a courtesy call on them.
“The Chiefs have asked me to assure you, just as they assured the President during his visit, that we will provide the necessary support for any measures your administration takes to combat galamsey.
“The biggest challenge we face, aside from the chieftaincy issue, is the persistent problem of galamsey – illegal mining,” he said.
Recognising the devastating impact of the practice of illegal mining on both the environment and communities, the chiefs assured Minister Joseph Nelson that they were committed to working together to find a lasting solution to the menace.
In adopting a non-partisan approach towards both combating illegal mining and developing the region, the chiefs emphasised the need for inclusive decision-making, prioritising the region’s growth over political affiliations.
“We, the chiefs, do not think in terms of partisanship. Although you were appointed by the NDC administration, we urge you to adopt a non-partisan approach to developing the Western Region.
After all, the party’s purpose is to serve the entire region. We advise you to remain humble and stay connected with your people, and also remember that the chiefs represent the voice of the people,” President Nana Kobina Nketsia advised the minister.
Addressing the chiefs, Minister Joseph Nelson expressed his heartfelt gratitude to them for resolving the long-standing leadership crisis that had hindered the House’s progress for years.
He acknowledged the numerous challenges facing the region, but remained optimistic that with the chiefs’ support the region would flourish once again.
“Nana, as your son, I acknowledge the enormity of the task ahead. Past ministers have made significant contributions and now it’s my turn to build upon their efforts. What will set my tenure apart is the guidance and advice you’ll provide.
“I’m committed to maintaining open communication, ensuring our ideas align to drive the region’s development. I’m humbled to seek your counsel and direction, especially regarding the challenges we’ve previously discussed. Our shared goal remains the development of the region”, he added.
