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Feature: The Tale of Two Villains: A Traitor and a Murderer A Rebuttal to Hon. Johnson Asiedu Nketia (1) – The Traitor

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On the floor of Parliament, on February 4, 2025, Hon. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, described Dr. J.B. Danquah as a traitor and CIA agent, who helped overthrow Nkrumah and his CPP government. It was said that Hon. Zenator Agyeman Rawlings was urging him on and this provoked a voice on the NPP side to shout her down with the statement, “Daughter of a Murderer!”All hell broke loose!

The Anlo chiefs gave an ultimatum to the Speaker to fish out the owner of the voice which said Rawlings was a murderer. And the chiefs of Battor have also joined in.

Lately, Hon Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, on a Radio Gold programme came to falsely narrate events of the past, just to make a point that when Ghanaians are to talk about murderers, the direction of the accusing finger will always point to the camp of the UP Tradition. I will just pick some points and lay bare the facts.

As much as the socialists want Ghanaians to believe that the 1966 coup was masterminded by the UP and going on to accuse J.B. Danquah to have linked up with the CIA to overthrow Nkrumah, clearly shows that they want to cover up the facts.

In fact, there is no evidence that J.B. Danquah was a CIA agent who was involved in overthrowing Nkrumah. None of the classified reports from US archives mentioned his name. Rather documents, stated that the CIA was meeting with some senior army and police officers which led to the plotting and execution of the 1966 coup.

On October 3, 1961, J.B. Danquah was arrested under the Preventive Detention Act (PDA) on allegations of involvement with plans to overthrow the CPP administration and kill Nkrumah. With no evidence to further detain him, J.B. Danquah was released on June 22, 1962. But he was re-arrested on January 8, 1964, with no charges preferred on him. On February 4, 1965, he died in the cell after suffering heart attack.

In his lectures, The Man J.B. Danquah, Joe Appiah stated that his death was induced. J.B. Danquah was known to be very meticulous especially about his surroundings. He went out of his way to keep his cell very neat and tidy, but often, the prison officers would mess up his room in his absence. This always made him blow out in anger. On February 4, 1965, he again left his room very neat and tidy only to come to find it, in the untidiest condition.

Very much angry, he flared up and he suffered heart attack and died. It can be said that his death was deliberately induced, most likely by powers above, so all those who think J.B. Danquah died a natural death, have no bases. Someone who had being close to J.B. Danquah might know just what to do to make him crack up, which could lead to heart conditions. Who could that person be?

Meanwhile, the NDC and other socialists are always accusing the CIA and the UP Traditionalists, for overthrowing Nkrumah. What about the December 31, 1981 coup? This coup overthrew the only united socialist and Nkrumaist party after the CPP, to form government. And this coup was possible with the direct help of Libya.

After the coup, Libya had military bases in Ghana and their soldiers could descend on innocent Ghanaians and beat them up mercilessly, for reasons like merely walking across the road. The sovereign state of Ghana was “colonized” by Libya who sent down people to direct us on how to govern our country.

After the 1966 coup, USA did not set up army bases in Ghana, neither did the US send down delegations to assist in governing our country. Ghanaians fifty years and under, should know the difference between the 1966 coup, which came to restore our democracy, as Rawlings himself said, and the 1981 coup which sold us into servitude of another African nation.

There is no evidence that the UP was directly linked with the 1966 coup. Years before that time, Ghana was facing economic challenges and at one time went to beg the US for food but was denied. People started losing faith in Nkrumah and the military felt threatened when Nkrumah started interfering in its affairs.

Hon. Asiedu Nketiah mentioned that Kotoka and Afrifa were “NPP,” when NPP was not in existence, then. Why he failed to mention J.W.K. Harley’s name is quite obvious. Harley was a CPP man, put in charge of national security. He had lots of Ghanaians thrown into jail by using PDA. This law which frowned upon any act perceived to be anti-Nkrumah, would have the accused thrown directly to jail, without going through the courts.

Hon. Asiedu Nketiah was scared to tell Ghanaians that Nkrumah had enemies within his own CPP. Names that easily cometo mind are Ako Adjei, Tawiah Adamafio, cabinet ministers in Nkrumah’s government and C.S. Crabbe, a national executive officer of the CPP, who were found guilty of the Kulungugu bombing in the attempt on Nkrumah’s life.

Now let me draw more light on the Traitor (J.B. Danquah) and start from the killing of Nana Akyea Mensah, chief of Apedwa, on February 27, 1944, in Akyem Abuakwa. The chief was gruesomely murder and his blood was used for rituals in the burying of the late Omanhene, Okyenhene Nana Ofori-Atta I.

The killers were apprehended and taken to court. Dr. J.B. Danquah was the defense counsel and resolved to defend his cousins and have them set free.

Hon. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah was not factual with the truth when he said, J.B. Danquah insisted that it was no crime using the rites of human sacrifice in the burying of a chief. How could such a legal luminary not know that human sacrifice was against the law?

Looking at his team of prominent lawyers like Julius Sarkodie Adoo, Edward Akufo-Addo, both of whom were once chief-justices of Ghana, Nii Armaah Ollenu and Edward Akufo-Addo, it is impossible for such law-abiding people to seek argue in court for an illegality, like human sacrifice.

Secondly, Asiedu-Nketiah should tell Ghanaians, what happened during the burial rites of Akyem Abuakwa chiefs who died between 1844 and 1944. The twenty-fourth Okyenhene, Nana Ofori Atta Panyin was on the throne when the Bond of 1844 was signed. He died in 1859 and there was a succession of four chiefs with the fifth, Okyenhene Ofori Atta I who ruled from December 1912 to August 1943.

The question is, did the Traditional Council of Akyem Abuakwa offer human sacrifices for the burial of Nana Ofori Atta Panyin, Nana Atta Obuom, Nana Amoako Atta I, Nana Amoako Atta II and Nana Amoako Atta III, without the law getting to know? Asiedu Nketiah must come clean on this.

J.B. Danquah’s determination to have his cousins freed is in line with any lawyer defending criminals. They will do and say anything legally possible to set their clients free, even if it means delaying the court proceedings. In this our day and age, lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata is well known as a lawyer who will grab any opportunity to drag cases in court for long periods.

However, what J.B. Danquah did in court was not acceptable to many Akyems especially the people of Apedwa, whose chief was gruesomely murdered. The youth rose up and gave an ultimatum that if the case was not closed and the guilty ones not dealt with accordingly, then they would put the law in their hands and deal with the murderers as deemed fit.

Dr. J.B. Danquah played a pivotal role in our struggle for independence. The Bond of 1844 made the indigenes to surrender almost everything to the British. Chiefs no longer held sovereignty over natural and mineral resources and could not administer judgment over criminal cases in their jurisdiction. The power and authority our traditional leaders held were drastically reduced.

In 1897, a group of Ghanaians, namely J. W. de Graft-Johnson, Jacob Wilson Sey, J. P. Brown, J.E. Casely Hayford and John Mensah Sarbah founded the Gold Coast Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society (ARPS) which was an anti-colonialist organization, formed to remove the tenets of the Bond of 1844. They dug the foundation for independence.

J.E. Casely Hayford, who died in August 1930, had earlier formed the Youth Conference Movementwhich was administered by his protege, J.B. Danquah.

J.B. Danquah carried on with the fight against colonialism which his master started. His works, might have caught the attention of a wealthy merchant, Paa Grant, who invited him to help form a political movement. J.B. Danquah was asked to get top lawyers, which he did. The United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) was formed on August 4,1947, and J.B. Danquah was the First Vice Chairman.

J.B. Danquah continued working for the good of the people of this country. These included making the British to establish a university in the Gold Coast on August 11, 1948, which is known as University of Ghana.

Along with five others including Kwame Nkrumah, J.B. Danquah in efforts to draw the Crown’s attention of their readiness to administer affairs of the Gold Coast, ended with their incarceration on March 8, 1948 and they were called the Big Six.

How can he be a traitor, then? His works, letters and books showed how committed he was to the course of Ghana’s independence. His people from Akyem, especially Apedwa saw him as someone defending murderers and if they consider him as a traitor, they could be pardoned, because as a lawyer, he had the duty to defend his clients.

By the way, talking about traitors, how about the Nkrumaists who in December 1981, brought in the Libyans to help overthrow the regime of the Nkrumaist PHP, led by President Hilla Limann.

There is no basis to call J.B. Danquah, a traitor, because no record in history indicates, he was a traitor.

Hon. Daniel Dugan

 

Letter From God – Part 6: Hold On To What You Have

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Dr. Joyce Rosalind Aryee, Executive Director, Salt and Light Ministries

“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown”. – Revelation 3:11 (NIV)

INTRODUCTION

For the past few weeks, we have journeyed through the powerful letters in the book of Revelation—messages from Jesus Himself to the early churches of Asia Minor, now modern-day Turkey. As we explored the first five letters, we were reminded that God, the Alpha and Omega, sees not only our deeds but also the consequences of our actions and inaction.

What’s striking is how the spiritual struggles of these ancient churches mirror the challenges facing the Church today. Though centuries have passed, human limitations remain unchanged. With so much wisdom, instruction, and warning already given in these letters, one must ask: Do we truly need new messages from God, or should we be paying closer attention to what He has already spoken?

In today’s article, we turn to the sixth letter—addressed to the church in Philadelphia, a city about thirty miles from Sardis, founded by King Philadelphus of Pergamum. This is the same Pergamum that received the third letter and the same Sardis that received the fifth. These churches, though distinct, shared a common spiritual landscape, much like churches today.

This letter, like the ones before it, follows a clear pattern: a description of the church, a diagnosis of its spiritual state, and a divine prescription for revival. It was sent by the same Author—Jesus Christ—delivered through the same messenger, John the Revelator, and addressed to the same recipient, the angel or pastor of the church.

As we delve into this letter, may our hearts be open to the timeless truths it holds. What was written to Philadelphia may very well be a message for us today.

DESCRIPTION OF THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA

This letter begins with the following introduction “This is the message from the One who is holy and true, the One who has the key of David. What He opens, no one can close; and what He closes, no one can open.” -Revelation 3:7.Surprise!

The other letters had begun with the introduction of Christ using symbols from the vision John had in Revelation 1:12-16. But this was different. This was an introduction that went beyond a recent vision, back to an ancient prophecy that pointed to Christ.

One of the issues the early church in Philadelphia faced was the relationship between the Jews and Gentile converts, and the status of the latter in the temple. For several centuries, non-Jews could go only as far as the outer courts of the temple, not inside it. They were uncircumcised, regarded as second-class children of God. Some were not even thought to be of any consequence at all to God.  – But this partition and segregation ended when Christ declared with His last breath on the cross of Calvary: “it is finished.”

Many Jews did not believe in Jesus as Messiah, but this did not stop them from trying to keep some gentile converts out of the temples. They believed that they held the keys to God’s salvation and grace, and attempted to shut out those who did not have the tickets of circumcision that made them eligible to walk through.

As a result of these challenges the early churches faced, Jesus ascribed to Himself the Messianic prophecy of Isaiah 22:22 in the introductory part of His letter to this church.  No longer were these gentile believers subject to Jewish traditions and customs that were applied to keep them from the throne of God’s grace. The “door” Himself, who had the key of David, had sent them the important message in Revelation 3:7 & 8.

As believers, the Philadelphia church needed no further introduction of the author of their letter. They knew that it was Jesus Christ the Lord, being the One who can rightfully describe Himself as “Holy and True.” They were also familiar with the prophetic key of David and how it had unlocked first, the salvation of the world, then thereafter, daily blessings of sustenance, protection, guidance, and others that man enjoys. This same God, who some of their Christian brethren had said did not regard uncircumcised believers favourably, now sent a special message to them that He presented before them an open door no one could shut.

DIAGNOSIS OF THE SPIRITUAL CONDITION OF PHILADELPHIA CHURCH

What was it about this church then that made Jesus bestow such a blessing on them?  Surprisingly, unlike the earlier churches that had been diagnosed with spiritual conditions that were either killing, or had killed them, this was not the case with the Philadelphia church. They had no spiritual sickness, only spiritual viruses that could make them sick.

Their troubles were from within, in the form of fierce opposition from those who claimed to be on a spiritually higher plane than them, achieved only by their cultural heritage of Jewish ancestry. The Jerusalem Council of Church Leaders had sent important messages that no one should trouble the new believers – Acts 15: 23-29, but the decision had not been able to fully protect them from the overbearing Jews insisting on circumcision.

Jesus knew all they had gone through. He also knew the surrounding circumstances. These, He summarized in His diagnosis: “You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. Look, I will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue—those liars who say they are Jews but are not – to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.”– verses 8-9.

 

PRESCRIPTION FOR THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA

The holy and true God did not find any complaint against this faithful church. He knew that their past record and present faithfulness would not save them in the future.  He also knew that they could lose their faith, following the constant oppression of those Jews in their midst who belonged to Satan’s synagogue. Yet, the church was ready to be used, though it had little strength. So, He offered them the prescription for the future.

“Because you have obeyed My command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. – v.10-11.

And to keep their eyes on the reason of their faith and the Christian race they had to run, Jesus added the reward for not only the Philadelphia church, but all Christians:“All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of My God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of My God, and they will be citizens in the city of My God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from My God. And I will also write on them My New Name.” – verse 12.

They were not to be any longer in doubt about their faith. Or whether their lives and Christian service was acceptable to God. He who knew their deeds and saw everything; He who is a just rewarder of every work under the sun, the holy and true God had assured them that not only were they accepted on earth, if they remained faithful, they would have citizenship in God’s eternal kingdom. They would also have the names of Christ and God written on them. And they would be given permanent pride of place in the Temple of God in heaven, though men sought to exclude them from the one on earth.

 

A WARNING TO 21ST CENTURY BELIEVERS

This letter, like the others, closes with a warning: “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what He is saying to the churches.”– v.13. Its message is not only for Philadelphia, but for all believers living in this day and age, who are facing opposition from among brethren, and within the church. Take heart that nothing you do passes the scrutiny of the holy and true God. He bids you hold on, because neither your opponents, nor the form of their opposition will sweep you away and keep you from your crown.

The book of Revelation, and indeed the Bible, closes with the message: “Look, I am comingsoon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.” –Revelation 22: 7.The only thing we can do is to prepare ourselves and be ready. He has said: “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.”– Matthew 24: 36, 42

Think About this: Ellen White, the great 19thCentury American writer said: Those who are preparing for the coming of Christ should be sober, and watch unto prayer, for our adversary, the Devil, goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour; whom we are to resist steadfast in the faith.”

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.

Weekend European Leagues Fixtures & Previews

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Leicester players

Leicester, Brentford meet today to get the Premier League underway

Leicester City and Brentford get the Premier League weekend underway when they meet at the King Power Stadium on Friday night.

The Foxes remain rooted in deep relegation trouble, while recent positive form has moved Brentford a clear distance away from the bottom three. Despite suffering a ninth defeat in 10 league games last weekend, there were some positives for Leicester boss Ruud van Nistelrooy to take from their 2-0 defeat at home to Arsenal.

A win would take Van Nistelrooy’s men a point above 17th-place Wolves in the four-horse race for survival, and the hosts are unbeaten in their last four home league games against Brentford.

However, the tide could be turning in this fixture, because Brentford’s 4-1 win over Leicester earlier this season ended a 12-game winless run against the Foxes.

It also provides the Bees with an opportunity to do the league double over their upcoming opponents for the first time in a whopping 72 years, and their recent away form suggests that is a real possibility.

Another away trip here will give the Bees the chance to win four straight away league games for the first time since they were a League One club in September 2011, and it is something they have never managed in the top flight.

Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

 

Lecce and Udinese hope to extend their run today

Both on a three-game unbeaten streak, Lecce and Udinese will hope to extend their run on Friday evening, when the pair clash at Stadio Via del Mare.

Nikola Krstovic, Lecce

While the Salentini’s recent revival has edged them clear of the Serie A drop zone, their visitors are intent on claiming a top-10 finish.

While they may have been targeting victory given the circumstances, the Salento club still moved five points clear of 18th-placed Parma and further improved their survival prospects.

Along with Juventus, Lecce have now recorded the most goalless draws this season (four), following another stalemate at home to Bologna in their first February fixture.

While their hosts are still battling the grim spectre of relegation, Udinese are on track to secure mid-table safety this season – a sweet relief, after last year’s close brush with the drop.

The Bianconeri seek a repeat of October’s reverse fixture against Lecce, when Jordan Zemura scored the only goal in Udine. After suffering a mid-season dip, Udinese have recently put together an impressive run of results – and they now have the firepower to test teams of all statures.

Lecce are also improving, but their home record remains weak, so the visitors may prevail. Credit: sportsmole.co.uk

 

Aston Villa welcome inconsistent Chelsea to Villa Park

Aston Villa come into this one on the back of a 2-2 draw with league leaders Liverpool at Villa Park in an entertaining clash in midweek. After going behind, Villa went into half-time in the lead before Trent Alexander-Arnold equalised for the Reds in the second-half.

Rashford, Aston Villa

The Villains had to rescue a point against relegation battling Ipswich Town at home last weekend and there will be a growing frustration that the level of their performances varies so much dependent on the perceived importance of their fixture.

Heading into Christmas, Chelsea were very much involved in the Premier League title race but the Blues’ form has dipped majorly in the last couple of months to now mean they begin the weekend’s round of fixtures sitting outside of the top five in the English top-flight.

The Blues most recently suffered back-to-back defeats to Brighton and Hove Albion; firstly in the FA Cup and then in the league. They have earned just three victories in their last 11 matches across all competitions.

Chelsea are a bit of a mess and the clarity and cohesion that Enzo Maresca had seemingly found or built in the first-half of the season, both on and off the pitch, appears to have gone. Neither of these sides can necessarily be trusted to win a game at the moment but it should well be quite entertaining.

Credit: thestatszone.com

 

Barcelona in revenge matchup against Las Palmas 

Barcelona and Robert Lewandowski have a good-looking matchup versus Las Palmas on Saturday. Lewandowski is first in LaLiga with 20 goals, while UD Las Palmas ranks 19th in the league defensively allowing 41 goals.

Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski

Barcelona’s last game was a 1-0 victory at home over Rayo Vallecano. Barcelona was led by Lewandowski, who scored his side’s lone goal against Rayo Vallecano.

UD Las Palmas fell on the road 3-1 to Mallorca in its most recent game on February 16. Las Palmas’ Stefan BajceticMaquieira scored its only goal in the match.

Las Palmas won the last matchup between these teams, on November 30. The final score was 2-1.

Barcelona returned to the top of the table for the first time in two months after a tight 1-0 win against Rayo Vallecano. Robert Lewandowski converted a penalty.  Lamine Yamal did not start in Barcelona’s previous game against Las Palmas, which ended in a 2-1 defeat for the Catalans. Flick will know better than to underestimate this Canarian side. Having failed to score in that 2-1 defeat, Yamal will be eager to make an impact this weekend.

This will not be an easy match for the visitors.

Credit: news.22bet.com

Premier League

Friday, 21st February

Leicester City 20:00 Brentford                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Saturday, 22nd February

Everton 12:30 Manchester United

Bournemouth 15:00 Wolverhampton

Arsenal 15:00 West Ham United

Fulham 15:00 Crystal Palace

Ipswich Town 15:00 Tottenham

Southampton15:00 Brighton

Aston Villa 17:30 Chelsea

 

Spanish La Liga

Friday 21st February

Celta Vigo 20:00 Osasuna

Saturday 22nd February

Deportivo Alavés13:00 Espanyol

Rayo Vallecano 15:15 Villarreal

Valencia 17:30 Atlético Madrid

Las Palmas 20:00 Barcelona

Sunday 23rd February

Athletic Club13:00 Real Valladolid

Real Madrid 15:15 Girona

Getafe 17:30 Real Betis

Real Sociedad 20:00Leganés

 

Italian Serie A

Friday 21st February

Lecce 19:45 Udinese

Saturday 22nd February

Parma 14:00 Bologna

Venezia 14:00 Lazio

Torino 17:00 AC Milan

Inter Milan 19:45 Genoa

Sunday 23rd February

Como 11:30 Napoli

Hellas Verona 14:00 Fiorentina

Empoli17:00 Atalanta

Cagliari 19:45 Juventus

Health Benefits of Running

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Running is a popular form of exercise for a reason. It doesn’t need much equipment, and you can do it just about anywhere or anytime it is convenient for you. Plus, experts say it improves heart health. ‌

How Running Improves Your Health

Better cardio health. Running, or jogging, is one of the best cardio exercises you can do. Running for at least 10 minutes a day can significantly lower your risk of cardiovascular disease. Runners lower their chances of dying from heart disease by half.

It also lowers your resting heart rate, the number of times your heart beats per minute when you’re at rest. This is an important indicator of your overall health and fitness. The lower the rate, the more efficient your heartbeat.

Better sleep. Quality sleep is essential for your health. Your body repairs itself when you’re asleep, which is why you wake up feeling refreshed. But try to avoid running too late in the day. This can interfere with how well you sleep at night. Aerobic exercise triggers a release of endorphins, chemicals that help relieve pain or stress. These activate the brain and might keep you awake.

Improved knee and back health. A study of 675 marathon runners found that they had a lower arthritis rate than other people. The runners’ knees and backs were both positively affected. The more you run, the lower your odds of back problems as you age.

Improved memory. If you find that you have problems with your memory, get running. It affects your brain in the short and long term. Aerobic exercise gets your heart rate up and makes you sweat. This can boost the size of your hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory and learning.

Fewer colds. If you start to feel a little off, running for 30 minutes can trigger your immune system to help you feel better. When you do aerobic exercises like running at least 5 days a week, you lower your odds of upper tract respiratory infections by 43%.

Better mood and energy. Many people run because they want to feel better. The exercise helps boost your mood, concentration, and overall quality of life. Runner’s high is real.

Setting Running Goals for Success

Having a running goal in mind will help you stay committed. Be sure to set realistic, specific goals that you can measure. If a marathon seems like too much, try a 5K road race. Some tips to help you succeed:

  • Make a plan, and stay consistent.
  • Create a routine you can stick to.
  • Start with a mix of running and walking.
  • Combine your running program with other forms of exercise for variety.
  • Run with a friend, or join a local running club.

Talk with your doctor before making a running plan, especially if you have a medical condition or have not exercised in a long time. Your doctor will help you come up with a running program that won’t overstrain your body or mind.

Tips for Healthy Running

For the best results with your running program:

  • Eat a healthy and balanced diet.
  • Don’t run right after eating.
  • Drink plenty of water before, during, and after your run.
  • Don’t turn your music up too loud. Stay alert and aware of what’s around you.
  • Wear reflective clothes if running early in the morning or late in the evening.
  • Tell someone where you plan to run and when you expect to be back.
  • Avoid isolated and dangerous areas.
  • Take regular breaks to let your body rest.
  • If you get an injury while running, stop and get medical care right away.

Credit: webmd.com

Hamas releases bodies of four Israelis held captive in Gaza

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Hamas hands over bodies

Hamas has released the bodies of a woman, her two children and an 83-year-old Israeli man who were taken captive during the October 2023 attack.

The bodies were handed over to the ICRC in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, on Thursday. Four men carried the four coffins from the stage to the Red Cross vehicles, one at a time.

A large poster acting as the backdrop on the stage showed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with fangs and blood on his face, dripping onto the photos of the four Israelis whose bodies were released.

A spokesperson for the Palestinian group said all four were alive before the “Zionist occupation aircraft deliberately bombed the locations where they were being held”.

Hamas said in a statement it “preserved the lives of the occupation prisoners”, provided them with what it could, and “treated them humanely, but their [Israel’s] army killed them along with their captors”.

“Criminal Netanyahu is crying today over the bodies of his prisoners who returned to him in coffins, in a blatant attempt to evade responsibility for their killing in front of his audience,” Hamas said.

While addressing the families of the killed Israeli captives, it said: “We would have preferred your sons to return to you alive, but your army and government leaders chose to kill them instead of bringing them back.”

Credit: aljazeera.com

EU hits Russia with new sanctions ahead of Paris summit

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Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission

EU envoys agreed on a 16th package of sanctions against Russia on Wednesday, EU diplomats said, including a ban on primary aluminium imports, sales of gaming consoles and the listing of 73 shadow fleet vessels.

The package, which largely sticks to the European Commission’s proposal, is expected to be adopted by EU foreign ministers next week, to mark the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“The EU is clamping down even harder on circumvention by targeting more vessels in Putin’s shadow fleet and imposing new import and export bans,” Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on social media.

“We are committed to keep up the pressure on the Kremlin,” she added.

The aluminium import ban will be phased in a year from the official adoption of the package, which also adds 48 individuals and 35 entities to its sanctions list that includes asset freezes and a travel ban, diplomats said.

The French president contacted the US president on the phone before Monday’s mini-summit in Paris.

Emmanuel Macron still hopes to convince US President Donald Trump that nothing can be negotiated without the Ukrainians and that the Europeans must be able to “put forward their own solutions.”

The European Union along with other Western powers has been ratcheting up restrictions in recent months to squeeze Russia’s oil exports. In addition to the vessels, the envoys agreed to prohibit transactions with ports and airports in Russia used to circumvent the Group of Seven price cap on Russian oil.

The newly sanctioned ships will be added to the already listed 79 ships, mainly tankers, used by Russia to sell oil outside the price cap or vessels that help in Moscow’s war effort such as shipping ammunition from North Korea.

Credit: rfi

Search for missing India miners ends as bodies recovered after 44 days

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Indian rescue teams including military divers

Rescuers have ended a 44-day search operation after they found the bodies of five men who were trapped inside a flooded coal mine in India’s north-eastern state of Assam.

DNA tests will be conducted to identify the men as the bodies are in a decomposed state, a state official told the BBC.

On 6 January, nine miners were trapped after water flooded the so-called “rat-hole” mine, which is a narrow hole dug manually to extract coal.

Four bodies were recovered within the first week, and search operations had continued until Wednesday, when the remaining bodies were found.

“The process to identify the remains has been initiated,” Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on the social media platform X.

The families of the miners have also been called to identify the bodies. They will be given compensation by the state government, said Riki Phukan, an official from Assam’s District Disaster Management Authority.

The search operations – at the Umrangso coal mine in Assam’s Dima Hasao district – were jointly conducted by special disaster forces alongside the Indian Army, the Indian Navy, the state police and the district disaster authority.

Divers and helicopters were also deployed but the remote, hilly terrain of the mine had posed severe challenges.

Earlier, one of the men rescued from the mine had shared with the BBC a harrowing account of the moments after the tunnel was suddenly engulfed by water.

Ravi Rai, a worker from Nepal, said that he was working inside the mine when water entered the pit.

Credit: bbc.com

Arab leaders set to meet to counter Trump’s Gaza plan

By
admin
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0
Gaza

Arab leaders are set to meet Friday in Saudi Arabia to discuss countering US President Donald Trump’s plan for United States control of the besieged and bombarded Gaza Strip and the expulsion of its people, diplomatic and government sources have said.

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has invited the leaders of Gulf Arab countries, Egypt and Jordan for the meeting in the capital, Riyadh, according to Saudi state news agency SPA.

The meeting will be unofficial and held within “the framework of the close brotherly relations that bring together the leaders”, SPA added.

Trump’s plan has united Arab states in opposition, but disagreements remain over who should govern the enclave and how to fund its reconstruction.

Umer Karim, an expert on Saudi foreign policy, called the summit the “most consequential” in decades for the wider Arab world and the Palestinian issue.

Trump triggered global outrage when he proposed that the US would “take over the Gaza Strip” and that its 2.4 million people be relocated to neighbouring Egypt and Jordan.

“As for joint Arab action and the decisions issued regarding it, it will be on the agenda of the upcoming emergency Arab summit that will be held in the sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt,” SPA said, referring to plans for an emergency summit on March 4 to discuss Israel and Palestine.

Meeting Trump in Washington on February 11, Jordan’s King Abdullah II said Egypt would present a plan for a way forward.

A Saudi security source said the talks would discuss “a version of the Egyptian plan” the king mentioned.

Credit: aljazeera.com

Driver’s Mate Jailed 4yrs for Stealing a Sheep

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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0
Court

The Circuit Court in Accra, presided over by His Honour Samuel Bright Acquah, has sentenced a 32-year-old driver’s mate, Cephas Okine, also known as “Shatta,” to four years in prison for stealing a ram valued at GH¢50,000.

Okine pleaded guilty to charges of unlawful entry and stealing and was convicted on his own plea. Inspector Sheila Tetteh led the prosecution.

The court heard that the accused had previously been bonded by a court in Teshie for two years on November 19, 2024, after engaging in a similar offence. His latest crime violated the bond conditions, leading to his imprisonment.

Incident Details

According to the prosecution, the complainant, Richard Thompson, an IT engineer residing in Teshie, had recently purchased the ram for an upcoming programme.

On February 16, 2025, between 4:30 a.m. and 5:00 a.m., Okine unlawfully entered Thompson’s gated compound at Teshie-Nungua Estate. He attempted to drag the ram away but was spotted by residents, who apprehended him.

A search on the accused led to the discovery of a pair of scissors in his possession.

The accused was handed over to the police, where he admitted to the crime during interrogation. He was subsequently charged and brought before the court, leading to his conviction and sentencing.

Okine will serve his four-year sentence as a deterrent to potential offenders.

Kyei-Baffour Allegedly Defrauded Chinese Businessman of Over GH¢800k

By
BERNICE BESSEY
-
0
Court Gavel

A self-employed man, Jeffrey Kyei-Baffour, has been arraigned before the Dansoman Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding a Chinese businessman, Lu Jian Wan, of GH¢805,698.66 under the pretense of facilitating an international money transfer.

The accused, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of fraudulent breach of trust, was granted bail in the sum of GH¢620,000 with strict conditions, including two sureties who must be public servants earning at least GH¢2,000 and residing within the court’s jurisdiction.

Additionally, one of the sureties must justify the bail with title deeds matching its value.

Case Background

According to Chief Inspector Portia Nuarko, who presented the facts in court, the complainant, Lu Jian Wan, is a Chinese national residing in Mataheko, Accra. He imports and wholesales floor tiles and chemicals.

Earlier in 2024, Kyei-Baffour allegedly introduced himself to Wan as someone who could facilitate international money transfers at low costs through his bank.

Having engaged the accused for smaller transactions in the past, Wan entrusted him with two cheques totaling GH¢917,385.08 on October 10, 2024. The money was meant to be converted into $56,804 and sent to his suppliers in China.

However, investigations revealed that Kyei-Baffour only transferred GH¢111,686.34 ($6,304) to the supplier’s account and allegedly kept GH¢805,698.66 ($50,000) for personal use.

He then reportedly cut off all communication with Wan and went into hiding.

On November 28, 2024, Wan reported the matter to the police, leading to Kyei-Baffour’s arrest. During interrogation, the accused admitted to the offense and refunded GH¢200,000 to the police as evidence.

Court Proceedings

Presiding over the case, Her Honour Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit granted bail and ordered the case to be forwarded to the Attorney General’s office for advice. The case has been adjourned to May 28, 2024, for further proceedings.

If found guilty under Section 128 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), Kyei-Baffour could face severe legal consequences.

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