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Editorial: Decisive Action Must Be Taken To Curb Student Violence

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Editorial

A student of Christian Methodist Senior High School in Weija, Ga South Municipal District, , has been brutally attacked by his colleagues over an alleged mobile phone theft. A video shared on social media captures several male students assaulting the accused student and vandalising property, while bystanders scramble for safety.

According to the story, the incident occurred on Thursday, 27th February 2025, when the accused student was allegedly attacked, forcing him to flee to a nearby shop. Another segment of the video shows the victim with a disfigured face, an injured mouth and a blood-stained shirt, sitting in a provision shop, as he narrated his ordeal.

According to his account, he was merely instructed by an unnamed individual to take the phone in question on their behalf. However, he was later accused of theft by his colleagues. Reports indicate that in the aftermath of the attack, some students proceeded to vandalise the shop and even stabbed a community member in the eye with a pair of scissors.

This incident at the Christian Methodist Senior High School adds to the growing trend of indiscipline and mob justice among students lately. This brutal assault, which was captured in a viral video, not only resulted in severe physical injuries but also sparked broader violence, including property destruction and a retaliatory attack by community members.

In recent months, Ghana has witnessed a surge in violent clashes among students in various senior high schools. For example, on February 23, 2025Sokode Senior High Technical School in the Volta Region was temporarily closed following violent confrontations between students and local youth. The unrest reportedly began when students were attacked while attempting to buy provision in town, sparking retaliatory violence.

Similarly, on January 28, 2025 a viral video depicted chaotic scenes of violent clashes between students of Accra High School and Kinbu Senior High School. Additionally, on February 5, 2025 twenty students from Salaga Senior High School in the East Gonja Municipality were arrested, following a violent fight that left one individual with multiple stab wounds.

These incidents paint a worrying picture of the current state of discipline and conflict resolution among students. The increasing frequency of student-led violence suggests that the problem extends beyond individual schools and reflects deeper systemic issues.

Several factors contribute to this growing menace, including weak disciplinary measures in schools, peer pressure, exposure to violent content on social media and a lack of effective conflict resolution mechanisms. If left unchecked, this trend threatens not only the safety of students and staff but also the very essence of academic environments as places of learning and personal development.

The rise of mob justice and student violence poses a significant threat to the rule of law and democratic values in the country. When individuals or groups take justice into their own hands, it undermines the authority of legal institutions and promotes a culture where violence becomes an acceptable means of conflict resolution.

It is high time school authorities wake up and take decisive action to curb student violence, while the justice system must work diligently to restore public confidence and discourage vigilante actions. The time to act is now, before such unchecked violence becomes an accepted norm rather than an exception.

 

Land guard activities force closure of Bokankye School

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Bokankye DA Basic School

The local D /A Basic School at Bokankye in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District of Ashanti Region has been closed down.

The closure is at the instance of Otumfuo Akyeamehene’s Akyeame, Nana Yaw Poku of Bokankye and the people in the area, in consultation with the Ashanti Regional Ghana Education Service (GES).

The order comes at the heels of threats to the lives of the residents, including pupils, by land guards in the area.

Nana Yaw Poku claimed the land guards have been engaged by a known chief to take over a section of acres of land near Owabi, without proper documentations as a result of which the

Land guards stormed the community, ordering residents to flee if they value their lives.

The Assistant Headmaster of Bokankye D/A Basic School, Mr. Francis Karikari, confirming the closure of the school said the land guards fired gun shots causing fear and panic among the school pupils and authorities, hence the call for interim closure of the school to avert danger to the lives of the school children.

KATH rewards longest serving and Best Staff

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An award winner receiving her award

Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi has held its Annual Thanksgiving Service, Long Service and 2024 Best Staff Awards ceremony.

One of the longest serving staff posing with Refrigerator prize

The annual ceremony sought to recognise and celebrate the remarkable display of loyalty by longest serving members of staff, some of whom had been with the hospital for 40 years and those who distinguished themselves during the year under review.

This edition of the ceremony honoured 20 long serving members of staff across all the professional classes; with each receiving a double-decker refrigerator and a certificate, as well as 19 other category winners for excelling in their various fields of endeavour, with each receiving a 43” Television and a plaque.

Out of the 19 categories, the Over-all Best, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Runner-ups and Best Staff received GHC20,000, GHC15,000, GHC10,000 and GHC5,000 cash prizes respectively.

Dr. Divine Aseye Yao Amenuke, Head of Respiratory Unit and Lead Clinician, Directorate of Medicine, was adjudged the Over-all Best Staff with the Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) Directorate as the Most Innovative Directorate at the hospital.

Dr. Divine Aseye Yao Amenuke displaying his citation

Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah, Chief Executive Officer, KATH, expressed his immense gratitude and joy for the success and growth KATH has experienced, noting that it has been a year of “progress, transformation and achievements”.

The Chief Executive disclosed that it is the outstanding contributions, dedication, innovation, leadership and hard work of members of staff that have raised the “standards of excellence” at the hospital, propelling it to reach “new heights”.

Prof. Addai-Mensah indicated that each “award” presented does not only represent a job well done, but also lives saved, resolved challenges and the tireless pursuit of better healthcare service for all, noting that “a nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for”.

The Chief Executive announced that KATH is 70 years old this year having commenced formal operations in 1955, disclosing that a comprehensive programme is expected to be launched in the course of the year, to celebrate the outstanding contributions of KATH, to the delivery of specialist clinical services, training and research in the country.

Prof. Otchere Addai-Mensah extended his heartfelt appreciation to the hospital’s invaluable benefactors, stakeholders; the Asantehene, Osei Tutu II, members of the last board, partners and donors, among others, for their tireless support, partnerships, and trust in KATH’s mission.

The Over-all Best Staff winner, Dr. Divine Aseye Yao Amenuke, thanked God for the feat and

expressed appreciation to the management of KATH for acknowledging the endeavours of its staff. He noted that when people get recognised for their work, it encourages and motivates them and others to continue to be hard working and called for the sustenance of the laudable initiative.

From Oswald Pius Freiku, Kumasi

Deputy Senate President Backs Creation Of Karaduwa State

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Senator Jibrin Barau

The Deputy Senate President, Senator Barau Jibrin, on Saturday pledged to work with Senator Muntari Dan-Dutse, the Senator representing Funtua Senatorial District in Katsina State, to ensure the creation of new state called “Karaduwa”.

He described the creation of new states as apt, saying it would bring meaningful development for the good people of the state besides the economic prosperity attraction.

“I will work with my brother, Senator Muntari Dan-Dutse, to ensure the creation of a new state in Katsina called Karaduwa. I welcome the agitation by Karaduwa people, they are agrarian and they have all it takes to have a state. The agitation is apt and germain and I am supporting them despite the fact that it’s a bit difficult but is possible,” he stated.

Jibrin spoke at the Funtua township during the official flag off of the distribution of Ramadan food items and empowerment of thousands of women and youth performed by Senator Muntari Dan-Dutse, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TetFund and Senator representing Katsina South Senatorial District, Katsina State.

In his remarks, the Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, appealed to the beneficiaries not to sell the items given to them, urging them to continue supporting the government with prayers especially in this holly period of Ramadan.

Credit: channelstv.com

Customers groan as banks begin implementation of new ATM fees

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Automated Teller Machine

Banks have commenced the implementation of the new Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transaction fee charge on customers following the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s directive.

A NAN correspondent who monitored some banks’ ATM galleries in Abuja and its environs on Sunday reports that some customers were lamenting about the increase.

It was observed that all the banks’ ATMs visited had money loaded in them.

Banks have commenced the implementation of the new Automated Teller Machine (ATM) transaction fee charge on customers following the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN’s directive.

A NAN correspondent who monitored some banks’ ATM galleries in Abuja and its environs on Sunday reports that some customers were lamenting about the increase.

It was observed that all the banks’ ATMs visited had money loaded in them.

Mr Luke Abudu, a customer seen at First Bank along Nyanya-Jikwoyi Road, said the implementation would only affect the poor masses who were struggling to make a living.

Abudu said the move would discourage customers from lodging money in banks.

“I came to withdraw N20,000 but found out that I was charged N100 for the withdrawal.

“This is too much for a small business owner like me,” he said.

Another customer, Mrs. Victoria Adejo, seen at Zenith Bank, Mararaba branch, said that withdrawing from a Point of Sale, PoS, agent was now cheaper than using an ATM.

“It is unfortunate that our government formulates policies without feeling the pulse of the people.

“I read that the CBN said the decision is in response to rising costs and to improve the efficiency of ATM services, but banks still bill us for service charges.

“They (banks) declare profits in billions and trillions from our money, and the CBN does not consider that.

“This is not good enough at all,” she said.

Credit: dailypost.ng

Turkey-bound Angolan businessman nabbed at Kano airport with 120 wraps of cocaine

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NDLEA

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, said its operatives arrested a 42-year-old Angolan businessman, Mbala Dajou Abuba at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano, for attempting to traffic a large consignment of cocaine to Istanbul, Turkey.

NDLEA stated that Abuba, who is from the Zaire province in Angola, was arrested on Tuesday 25th February 2025 at the screening point of the Kano airport while trying to board Egypt Air flight MS 880 to Istanbul, Turkey via Cairo.

This is contained in a statement by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media & Advocacy
NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja.

Babafemi said the suspect was placed under excretion observation during which he expelled 120 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.829 kilograms in seven excretions after his body scan result confirmed he ingested illicit drug.

According to the NDLEA, the suspect also in his statement claimed he was into the business of township delivery services in Angola before delving into the illicit drug trade.

Babafemi also announced that NDLEA operatives thwarted a similar attempt by an auto spare parts dealer, Okeke Ebuka Igwe, to send two parcels of 1.10kg cocaine concealed in vehicle propellers to Angola through the export shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, MMIA, Ikeja Lagos.

According to the statement, NDLEA arrested the suspect on Monday 24th February following credible intelligence, adding that during an interview with the suspect, he claimed that he is a businessman selling auto parts in ASPANDA, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo area of Lagos.

Credit: dailypost.ng

Tinubu Pays Tribute To Late Namibian Leader Nujoma At State Burial

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President Bola Tinubu.

President Bola Tinubu has paid tribute to the late founding President of the Republic of Namibia, Dr. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma, describing him as a warrior who galvanised Nigeria and other African nations to fight for his country’s freedom.

Nujoma was a revered figure who led his country to gain Independence, steering the nation on the path towards democracy and stability. He died on February 8, 2025, at the age of 95 at a hospital in Windhoek, where he had been confined for weeks due to an illness.

Speaking on Saturday during a state burial for the late Namibian leader held at Heroes’ Acre in Windhoek, Namibia, President Tinubu, said that Nujoma’s demise is not an exit from space and time, but the wake of his immortality in the minds of Africans.

Represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Nigerian leader, in the company of several African Heads of Government, joined President Nangolo Mbumba of Namibia at the state burial where he paid Nigeria’s last respect.

Tinubu eulogised the foremost African statesman, saying he was not just a national hero but a warrior who defied oppression and inspired an entire continent.

“Nigeria was not a bystander in the Namibian struggle. When the world turned its back, we stood. When your voice was drowned by the guns of apartheid, we spoke,” Tinubu said.

“Dr. Sam Shafiishuna Nujoma was not just the founding father of a nation that needed a hero; he was a warrior in the age of chains. He looked into the face of oppression in the most dangerous time to do so and declared that no African shall ever be a second-class citizen on his own soil.”

Credit: channelstv.com

Workers plead with Mahama to hand over operations of Tema PSC Shipyard to GPHA

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The vessel that would allegedly pay a paltry 20 per cent to the Tema Shipyard and Drydock Corporation for renting the facility for its maintenance work

The dire absence of business activities at the Tema PSC Shipyard and Drydock Corporation has left the multi-million Ghanaian investment a white elephant.
Presently, the facility is active only when the drydock is rented out to expatriates for a meagre charge to carry out some maintenance work on their vessels.

When the work is completed and the vessel sails out, the facility, like the cemetery, becomes dormant.

FLASHBACK A section of the Tema Shipyard workers demonstrating when the Minister for Transport visited the company a month ago

The company, which used to boast of hundreds of active permanent workers has barely a skeletal staff who hardly go to work because when they do, they will only idle about.
To revive the Tema PSC Shipyard and Drydock Corporation, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, when he was the Minister for Transport in 2015, was humbled by a mammoth demonstration by the workers, who said they wanted the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, which has the financial muscle to turn the fortunes of the maritime ‘sleeping giant’ around.

The workers embarked on the move when Mr Kwetey visited the yard to listen to their concerns.

Carrying placards, the workers of the Tema PSC Shipyard and Drydock Corporation pleaded with President Mahama to implement the recommendation by the Chris Ackumey Committee’s Report that said in part that, the proposal by workers of the Shipyard that GPHA should take over the running and management of the shipyard is worth considering.

Raising eight significant reasons that, to them, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority had what it takes to upgrade and turn around the shipyard, the Tema Shipyard workers predicted that the company could collapse in a year if the government failed to allow GPHA to take over the ‘dead’ company.

According to them, for the Shipyard to achieve the vision of the founder of the Port of Ghana, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, as per the original master plan of the Tema Port, President Mahama should task GPHA as the best strategic investor that had the requisite capital and expertise to turn the Shipyard around.

The workers, in 2015, established the fact that the Tema Shipyard, which they described as a ‘sleeping giant’ in the marine industry, had the GPHA as its landlord, explaining that the handling of incoming and outgoing vessels at the Tema Shipyard was under the ambit of the GPHA. Again, they said power distribution at the Dock II and its operational areas were still under the control of the GPHA.

Listening to their patriotic arguments, the government, in June 2016, gave the Shipyard to the GPHA to manage and from July to December 2016, when the GPHA Management took over the Shipyard, 18 vessels were worked on. Before the taking over by the GPHA, January to June 2016 saw the Shipyard work on only six vessels.

In 2017 and 2018, a total of 68 ocean-going and fishing vessels were called at the Drydock for either minor or major repair works, and the success was a result of some new modern equipment the shipyard could boast of, as well as the commitment and dedication of the staff.

The combination of the expertise and capital strength of the GPHA, which is a well-established maritime industry that does not depend on the consolidated fund, but enormously contributes to it, injected about 600,000 Euros in the facility for the procurement of three pieces of equipment to facilitate its operations.

The pieces of equipment were a 45-tonner crane and two Cherry pickers, and these, in no time, revived the Drydock.

Indeed, the Tema Shipyard, under the then interim management of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, which sank reasonable capital and provided modern machinery to enhance the operations of the facility, which neared collapse, saw life.

The workers at the facility were equally relieved to give their best because the GPHA was taking very good care of their needs.

However, on Friday, February 28, 2025, when The Chronicle visited the facility, the entire premises were virtually deserted with just a handful of workers.

The heavy machine shops were dead with no activity. Some of the machines were rusty.
The Chronicle was told that a vessel, which had called to the Drydock for some maintenance works for about three months now, would pay a paltry twenty per cent to the company for renting the facility.

The Chronicle gathered that in 2019, the GPHA was allegedly asked by the government to take its hand off the operations of the Drydock and since 2019, the facility has been on bended knees with very little or no activity.
John Mahama is the President again and the few workers at the yard pleaded with him to visit the facility to have a real feeling of their predicament.

Lastly, they pleaded with him to allow the GPHA, which is financially well-positioned, to adopt the Shipyard, as he did in 2016 to put portions of its fortune at the disposal of the Tema Shipyard, to breathe new life into it again.

COVID-19, VAT levies ‘killing’ port trade -GPHA

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Brigadier-General Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono, the Ag. Director-General GPHA with the Transport Minister

Brigadier-General Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono, the Ag. Director-General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, has called on the relevant authorities to immediately scrap some of nuisance taxes, including the COVID-19 levy and VAT on certain imports.

He told his guest, Joseph BukariNikpe, the Transport Minister that these nuisance taxes are the reasons most freight forwarders from Ghana’s landlocked countries have relocated to Lomé and Abidjan where they find the factors of doing business more favourable.

He said, “We need to be strategic through collaborative compliance with our transit partners to enhance operation to increase revenue. We are using digitalisation and accountability to promote fairness and discipline to meet our future expectations.”

To revive the dead trade in the ports, Brigadier-General Tanye-Kulono said a team had been sent to Lomé to understudy their port operations for a replication in Ghana “because Lomé is our main competitor.

“We can start the 24-hour policy when we get things right and the government scraps some of the nuisance taxes that have made our ports unattractive,” he said.

The Director-General told the Minister that he had initiated plans to dredge the Tema Port, which had delayed for three years to 12 feet from eight feet to receive more vessels.

In addition, he said the GPHA was collaborating with the Highways Authority to rehabilitate most of the access roads to the port.

Excited to hear the plans by the GPHA to put the port in a good shape to start this government’s 24-hour economy policy, Joseph Bukari Nikpe told the D-G, “The President is confident in you and with your military background, he hopes to see discipline at all fronts to elevate the GPHA.”

Seconding the scrapping of some of the nuisance taxes that have made the port unattractive, Mr Nikpe said his Ministry would partner with the Finance Ministry to work to cut some levies and charges at the port.

“The GPHA is one of the strategic agencies that grows the economy. Therefore, for services and activities to improve, I agree with you that some of these concerns must be looked at.”

Joseph Bukari Nikpe gave his blessings and support to the Director-General for his bold initiatives to keep the port alive.

Kumasi Cycle 2 of City Cancer project kicks-off

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Members of the Kumasi City Executives Committee of CCAN

The Second Phase (Kumasi Cycle 2 programme) of the City Cancer Project, dubbed C/CAN 2025 Project has been launched as a sequence of the first cycle of the project, which started from 2018 to 2024.

The City Executives Committee (CEC) endorsed the completion of the first phase after its successful validation and endorsement by all stakeholders to kick-start the second phase over two years (2025 and 2026).

Participants at the launch of Kumasi Cycle 2 programme

The City Cancer Project, dubbed C/CAN 2025 Project, being undertaken by the Geneva-based Union for International Cancer Control, UICC aims to control cancer all over the world and thereby reduce cancer mortality by 25 percent by 2025.

The UICC initiative is a multi-sectorial project, supporting selected cities to take the lead in the design, planning and implementation of cancer treatment solutions.

The selection of Kumasi was announced at the World Cancer Leaders’ Summit, which was held at Palacio De Mineria, Mexico City, Mexico in South America from November 13 to 14, 2017 making Kumasi the first city in Africa and the fourth city in the world after Paraguay, Columbia and Myanmar to host the C/CAN 2025 Project.

Its selection was based on the strategic central location of Kumasi, the presence of a Cancer Registry at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), the treatment of cancer and cancer care also at KATH and the Peace and Love Hospital, amongst other factors, made Kumasi a strong candidate for the project.

The C/CAN Kumasi City manager, Mr. Abubakari Jaliu, during a project Overview presentation last Friday said the Cycle 2 programme implementation comprises four projects to be managed by project coordinators and project teams.

Prof. Eric Addison, Dr. Ernest Adjei, Dr. Ernest Osei Bonsu and Dr. Ishmael Kyei would head the project teams as Project Coordinators.

Launching the Kumasi Cycle 2 implementation programme of C/CAN in Kumasi last Friday,   Mr. Francis  Dwira-Darko, the Metropolitan Coordinating Director and acting mayor of Kumasi pledged the commitment of the KMA and the CEC to the success of the Phase two of the project.

He also assured that the CEC will continue to give all the project coordinators and team members the maximum support and guidance to facilitate execution of all the proposed projects.

Mr. Dwira-Darko hoped the Kumasi Cycle 2 programme will enjoy collaborative work to improve access to cancer care services and enhance the quality of service delivery.

Director Dwira-Darko thanked major sponsors and partners of the programme for the immense support since the inception of the project as far back as November, 2017 when a Memorandum of Understanding to that effect was signed between the stakeholders in Mexico.

Major stakeholders including Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, HopeXchange Hospital, Peace and Love Hospital and the School of Public Health and KNUST hospital were represented at the launch of the Kumasi Cycle 2 programme.

The Ghanaian Chronicle