Martin Amidu: Ahwoi’s book was left at the gate of my residence

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Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, has disclosed how he was compelled to read Professor Kwamena Ahwoi’s controversial book, “Working with Rawlings.”

Critiquing the book in his latest epistle, Mr Amidu said “I did not, therefore, intend to look for let alone to read, my vandal-mate, Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi’s working with Rawlings. But fate is cruel. An autographed copy of the book was left at the gate of my residence on Sunday, 2nd August 2020 by a former associate during the PNDC Government, a former functional executive committee member of the NDC and Government appointee of the NDC Government from 2009 to 2016.”

Below is the full statement:

KWAMENA AHWOI’S WORKING WITH RAWLINGS – AMIDU’S CRITIQUE

INTRODUCTION

I have avoided reading books written by my former colleagues reporting on their observations or experiences in the Governments I served with them lest some contents in the books put temptation in my path to attempt a rejoinder or critique of the book and earn the displeasure of such a colleague.

I did not, therefore, intend to look for let alone to read, my vandal-mate, Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi’s Working with Rawlings. But fate is cruel. An autographed copy of the book was left at the gate of my residence on Sunday, 2nd August 2020 by a former associate during the PNDC Government, a former functional executive committee member of the NDC and Government appointee of the NDC Government from 2009 to 2016. Word was left alongside the book that, portions of it narrates on the authority of rumours, if ever rumours now constitute a source of authority for “Professors”, that the late Mr. Paa Kwasi Amissah-Arthur and I were members of the National Reform Movement. I was identified and baited by the author and Mr. Kofi Totobi-Kwakye, then the Minister for National Security, with the Vice Presidential candidacy in the 2000 election to breach the ranks of the movement. I am reported to have excitedly swallowed the bait. The narrative is an irredeemable lie because I can say and prove authoritatively in due course that neither the late Mr. Amissah-Arthur nor I was an associate or member of the National Reform Movement.

With hindsight, the uninvited copy of the autographed book was the real bait to get me to read the book, so I may as usual be tempted to refute and expose its subjectivity, figments of imagination, delusions, and breaches of all the ethics of acceptable standards of scholarly research, and report writing. I have always hated laziness in any professional work not to talk of the work of persons who hold themselves out as scholars, academics or mainstream professionals subjected to disciplinary proceedings by their professions for unethical products. Baiting me with Working with Rawlings is the real bait of the author I have willingly and knowingly decided to swallow like a fish to give rise to this exposition and critique. I served under the same regimes as a ministerial appointee and longer than the author served, played critical roles in them, lived them, kept some records of my observations and lived experiences. I can and will, therefore, contest some of the author’s or authors’ shoddy and unscholarly reported outcomes.

I have read Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi’s Working with Rawlings. I came away with the conviction that Mr. Kwamena Ahwoi may have presented himself as the primary author but others who are acknowledged and referred to in the book as knowing and living the same observations and experiences the primary author narrates, played the role of co-authors, editors and reviewers of the book. The author and/or co-authors claim the primary author is a scholar and a legal luminary. The author and his collaborative authors have thus set themselves to be judged by the high standard obtainable in the professions they profess to belong to. Any scholar or professional worth the name must be learned in the philosophy and methods of research including its ethics in his or her chosen field or the discipline he or she holds out himself or herself to be competent in.

For instance in the foreword to the book which is normally not an integral part of the book the reader is told by one Naana J. Opoku-Agyemang, PhD/FGA that:

“Written in clear, engaging prose, the writer invites the reader to receive the content of the narrative honestly delivered. The vivid, engaging and deeply reflective eye witness account couched in unencumbered prose, brings to the fore events narrated with open honesty and transparency.

The first person narrative perspective releases the reader from the potentially uncomfortable position of an intruder to that of a trusted addressee. This is especially so as the text grounds its content in verifiable fact, at times seeking and receiving the approval of non-fictive persons.” (Italics supplied)

Whilst the foreword is normally not an integral part of the book, no ethical academic will ever write a foreword to a scholarly book without first reading the book to make an objective assessment of its veracity because the writer of the foreword knows the invitation to write the foreword was based on the intention to use his or her reputation to entice the public to invest financial and human resources in purchasing and reading it. In this instance, the writer of the foreword is marketing the book with her credentials of PhD/FGA and has an ethical obligation to the public for integrity and truth in what she says with her credentials in the foreword.

Did the writer of the foreword play any significant role as an editor, a reviewer, and an institutional colleague of the primary author in his narratives and writing or authoring of the book such that by the ethics of scholarly and professional writing she or he should not ethically have written the foreword to the book? Did she or he conceal those facts which make for an accountable and transparent ethical foreword writing in her foreword to the book?

This same ethical standard applies to collaborators and consultants to the book who have been held out as substantially contributing to the book, reviewing, and editing it. For instance, is it ethical for a judge of the superior court of justice before whom the author alleges he appeared as a witness for one of the parties to a case participate in writing the book as a reviewer and/or editor of a book in which his decision as a judge has been patently twisted and presented as verifiable fact without the learned justice asking the author or co-author to expunge that manifestly false portion of the narrative from the book before it was published? How ethical can a contract signed on 4th December 1997 be attributed by a scholar author(s) to an Ishmael Ayittey when the judge reviewer and/or editor of the book had concluded ex cathedra in a reported judgment that it was Nat Amateifio who signed the contract?

Is it also ethical for professional lawyers and a Justice of the Superior Court to be consultants, reviewers and/or editors of a book in which they are unable to tell the Sir Cecil John Rhodes Scholar and author that Mr. Justice P. E. N. K. Archer was the Chief Justice of Ghana on 7th January 1993 and not Mr. Justice I. K. Abban who became Chief Justice on 22nd February 1995 after Mr. Justice P. E. N. K. Archer retired the previous day? A serving Justice of the Superior Court of Ghana and reviewer of the book who does not know who his Chief Justice was on 7th January 1993! To cap it all, the author who holds himself out as a professor, a governance and local government specialist has not yet mastered in his teaching career how to just pick up the Ghana Law Reports reporting 1993 cases to confirm for himself and his consultants, reviewers and/ or editors who was the Chief Justice of Ghana at a particular time in Ghanaian history such as the date of the coming into force of the very important 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution he professes to know and write about with pretentious scholarly erudition! Oh, even a simple Google search would have revealed it! Are Chief Justices Archer, and Abban not by now turning in their graves at this scandal of scholarship and judicial conduct exhibited in Working with Rawlings?

This is the book which the equally portrayed distinguished scholar Naana J. Opoku-Agyemang, PhD/FGA has put her reputation and integrity on the line to the whole world in the foreword when she stated that it is: “Written in clear, engaging prose, the writer invites the reader to receive the content of the narrative honestly delivered. The vivid, engaging and deeply reflective eye witness account couched in unencumbered prose, brings to the fore events narrated with open honesty and transparency.” (Emphasis supplied).

But wait until we get to examining how she could ethically have collaborated with the author and others to doctor an interview on Radio Gold with the President Emeritus, H. E., Flt Lt. J. J. Rawlings, to the public in 1996 which has shamefully been narrated in the book as a hallmark of integrity.

The person who brought the autographed copy of the book to my residence has brought me trouble and he knew that by my nature I will not shy away from an honest challenge when professional ethics of any profession is at stake. I have taken up the challenge: and time and the pressure of my already onerous work schedule permitting, I intend to deal with the foregoing issues and more in a series of presentations.

I intended to be guided in my presentations by the hallowed ethics of accountable and transparent writing which requires a professional or academic of any hue who writes very serious discourse for public education, guidance and consumption to disclose everything which the public must take into account in assessing the veracity of his work. My next presentation will, therefore, state any biases and any conflicts of interest my presentation may be tainted with to bring myself within the acceptable ethical standards empowering me to critique the author’s book. I shall be using my observations as a participant and my experiential learning therefrom spanning the period the author narrates as my background knowledge base in the exposition and critique I will be making. I will as far as practicable use the qualitative method of social research, analysis and reporting to arrive at my conclusions in my critique of Working with Rawlings.

It is important for everybody to take notice and I hereby serve notice that I do not lay any claims to being a scholar or an academic. I am not so self-conceited as to claim any intelligence or intellectual standing in society and I need none to function as any Ghanaian trying to live an honest life.

MARTIN A. B.K. AMIDU

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Statement: Okyenhene responds to Daasebre Oti Boateng over House of Chiefs brouhaha

Daniel Opare
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Daasebre Prof. (Emeritus) Oti Boateng

Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area.

Dear Nana,

RE: PROTESTATION AGAINST THE COMPOSITION OF THE RE-STRUCTURED EASTERN REGIONAL HOUSE OF CHIEFS

We communicate as the Solicitors for HM Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin with instructions to respond to your letters dated 25th June, 2020 and 14th July, 2020 on the above subject, addressed to the President of the National House of Chiefs and copied to our client and other prominent persons in Ghana.

Firstly, our client take note of the generally acerbic and vitriolic tone of language as well as the contemptuous imputations contained in your letters which are directed at him although addressed to the President of National House of Chief (NHC). Whilst observing that such language is inappropriate and unbefitting of communication between esteemed members of the august House of Chiefs, in the spirit of fostering harmony, accord and unity among noble brothers, we have been instructed to refrain from replying in similar tone.

The purpose of this rejoinder is to place on record a response to the unfortunate and, perhaps, deliberate misrepresentation by you of the circumstances culminating in the amendment to the composition of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs (ERHC) in your letter, contents of which have been published widely in both print and electronic media.

Your letter makes three broad allegations relating to:

  1. Breach of protocol by failing to consult or secure “agreement on the modalities” of admission of some Divisional Chiefs into the ERHC;
  2. Skewed asymmetrical allocation inuring to Akyem Abuakwa’s domination in the ERHC;
  3. Alleged exclusion of New Juaben from the Divisional allocation allotted to the Paramountcies into the ERHC.

Before proceeding to address these allegations, it is pertinent to indicate that your letter was clearly written in ignorance of relevant facts affecting the subject you purported to write about. The composition of all Regional Houses of Chiefs, including the ERHC, have duly been effected in accordance with the procedure prescribed by article 274(2) of the Constitution and section 6 of the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759). Article 274(2) of the Constitution  stipulates that a “Regional House of Chief shall consist of such members as Parliament may, by law, determine”. Further to this provision, section 6 of Act 759 provides thus:

“6. (1) In accordance with article 274 of the Constitution, the Regional House of Chiefs consists of members specified by legislative instrument made by the National House of Chiefs and issued under the signature of the President of the National House of Chiefs.” 

It is worthy to note that at the time of writing your first letter dated 25th June, 2020, a legislative instrument made by the National House of Chiefs and issued under the hand of the President of the National House of Chiefs was ready to be laid before Parliament in accordance with article 11(7) of the Constitution. The said legislative instrument was indeed laid in Parliament on 30th June, 2020. Following the lapse of twenty-one sitting days of Parliament required by article 11(7), the legislative instrument, the Chieftaincy (Membership of Regional Houses of Chiefs) Instrument 2020, came into force as L. I. 227.

Further, it is apparent that at the time you wrote your second letter in which more vitriol was unleashed on our Client and the august House (14th July, 2020) the legislative instrument regulating the membership of all Regional Houses of Chiefs issued under the signature of the President of the National House of Chiefs had long been laid in Parliament and going through processes required under article 11(7) of the Constitution.

We are not surprised by your lack of knowledge of these important matters of fact, because, indeed, you have failed or refused to attend meetings of the Regional House of Chiefs for the past seven (7) years (although your allowances for attendance is unfailingly paid and received). Your failure to either attend meetings of the ERHC for the past 7 years or conduct an enquiry on the issues raised in your letters explains the wild but unfounded allegations contained in your letters.

  • BREACH OF PROTOCOL BY FAILING TO CONSULT OR SECURE “AGREEMENT ON THE MODALITIES OF ADMISSION OF SOME DIVISIONAL CHIEFS INTO THE ERHC.

A brief background to the decision by the ERHC to admit some divisional chiefs to the ERHC is necessary to clarify the procedure adopted. Prior to the entry into force of the new legislative instrument, the ERHC was composed of only eleven paramountcies – Akyem Abuakwa, Akyem Bosome, Akyem Kotoku, Akwamu, Akwapim, Kwahu, New Juaben, Yilo Krobo, Manya Krobo, Boso and Anum. Only eight (8) of these paramountcies presently have paramount chiefs. Out of the 8 paramount chiefs, chieftaincy disputes and other factors have effectively ensured that only five (5) paramount chiefs have been active in the ERHC for the past 7 to 8 years i.e.

  1. The Okyenhene;
  2. Akyem Bosomehene;
  3. Kwahumanhene;
  4. Konor of Manya Krobo; and
  5. Bosomanhene.

In fact, attendance records will show that you have not attended any meeting of the ERHC for over 7 years.

This ERHC situation was in sharp contrast with what pertained in the case of other Regional House of Chiefs who were constituted and populated in big numbers by both Paramountcies and Divisional chiefs

Indeed, the ERHC, even though representing a region by no means the smallest, had, by far, the lowest number of chiefs. In a variety of ways, this situation severely impacted on the constitutional and statutory functions of the House, as well as, its prominence in chieftaincy affairs at the national level.

Foremost, the ability to meet as a House and the discharge of one of its most important fundamental tasks, the resolution of chieftaincy disputes, suffered enormous strain. The 5 active members of the House listed above (which excludes your good self), became the de facto members of almost every committee, particularly, the Judicial Committee. The absence or unwellness of some of the members rendered a sitting virtually impossible for lack of quorum. A chieftaincy dispute emanating from any of the “active Paramountcies” became near impossible to resolve as the Paramount Chief concerned had to recuse himself from the Judicial Committee, with its attendant challenge of forming a quorum.

Further, at the national level, the representation of the ERHC at the National House of Chiefs was affected with other regions having the flexibility to choose from a greater “pool” of chiefs to represent their Regions.

In light of the foregoing, discussions were opened among stakeholder institutions – the National House of Chiefs, ERHC and the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs on the mechanism to address the problems identified above. Series of meetings commencing from May, 2019 and culminating in the one of 25th May, 2020 alluded to in your letter (which was attended by the full complement of active members), were held by the ERHC to deliberate on the issue. We are not surprised about your seeming obliviousness of these meetings since, as indicated, you have not been attending meetings for over 7 years, in spite of due service of notice on you.

Your failure or refusal to attend meetings notwithstanding, the Hon. Minister for Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Mr. Kofi Dzamesi requested to pay homage to you and explain the all-encompassing need to reform the composition of the ERHC, and request you to nominate divisional chiefs from the New Juaben Traditional Area to the ERHC. Your response to the Hon. Minister on the subject matter of discussions was reported to the House. In the spirit of preservation of amity and cordiality of relations among chiefs in the Eastern Region, we would keep most of the points made by you confidential, save to say that you stiffly opposed the idea of Divisional Chiefs sitting in the ERHC.

Be that as it may, the National House of Chiefs proceeded to make suggestions on the proposed reform resulting in the inequitable decision to grant unto you the right to nominate as many as six (6) divisional chiefs from the New Juaben Traditional Area for representation at the ERHC and same found its way into the new L.I. 227, thereby becoming law. It is quite apparent that your allegation of an “exclusion of New Juaben” from the paramountcies from which Divisional Chiefs will be nominated to the ERHC is hugely false and mischievous. No Traditional Area in Eastern Region has been excluded. On the contrary, every Traditional Area in Eastern Region has been accorded the right to nominate Divisional Chiefs for the purpose of representation in the ERHC.

Page 2 (paragraph D) of your letter of 14th July, 2020 cautions about the seriousness of “lying to the National House of Chiefs”. I hope you apply this caution to yourself in the matter of the clearly proven false allegations contained in the 2 letters authored by you and do the needful by rendering an unqualified apology to both the ERHC and the NHC for peddling such falsehood in the public domain since July, 2020.

‘’SKEWED ASYMMETRICAL ALLOCATION INURING TO AKYEM ABUAKWA DOMINATION OF THE ERHC’’.

Of the deepest dye of mischief is the allegation by your good self that the inclusion of Divisional Chiefs is intended by “some Paramount Chiefs … to be prominent and promote their QUEST to be SUPREME”. You single out Akyem Abuakwa for attack and allege that “Akyem Abuakwa has submitted as many as Sixteen (16) Divisional Chiefs to be included in the New Structure.” This allegation is also laden with falsehood.

Quite clearly, from L. I. 227, Akyem Abuakwa has the right to nominate only eight (8) Divisional Chiefs, and not 16. The record of proceedings at the ERHC will show that the allocation of number of Divisional Chiefs to a Traditional Area was done based on a number of factors including, area or land size, number of towns and size occupied by the Paramountcies in the Eastern Region. It is a matter of public record that Akyem Abuakwa constitutes 5/8th of the total area of the Eastern Region and has 950 towns and villages. Of the 31 districts and 31 constituencies, Akyem Abuakwa has 13 districts and 13 constituencies (42%), Kwahuman has 5 districts and 5 constituencies (16%). New Juaben on the other hand, has only 2 districts and 2 constituencies (6%). (Not forgetting the fact that Akyem Abuakwa was originally the allodial owner of all the lands occupied by New Juaben and continue to enjoy a very cordial relationship with the Chiefs and people of the New Juaben Traditional area)

It would appear therefore, that, contrary to your assertion, the allocation of 6 Divisional Chiefs to New Juaben in comparison to Akyem Abuakwa’s 8 and Kwahu’s 2 is very unequitable andfar too generous. However, neither the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Council nor our client is complaining. We will therefore entreat you to eschew sowing seeds of conflict and discord amongst Nananom.

ALLEGED EXCLUSION OF NEW JUABEN FROM THE DIVISIONAL ALLOCATION INTO THE ERHC.

We have sufficiently demonstrated above that this allegation is utterly false and malicious as, from L. I. 227 (2020), the Paramount Chief of New Juaben Traditional Area has the prerogative to nominate as many as 6 Divisional Chiefs unto the ERHC.

In general response to your complaints, we cannot fail to recognise the under currents of your fear about the possible “take-over” by new comers in the ERHC. This clearly seems to be the inspiration for the spirited assault you mount on our client’s hard earned reputation, all arising out of the well-intentioned effort to include some Divisional Chiefs in the ERHC. On page 1 of your letter dated 25th June, 2020, you allege:

“The composition as it stands or as it is being proposed is a steamy reactive delivery and unpleasantly obtrusive. It is a take-over by the new-comers who have come in their huge numbers. Eventually, all the Paramount Chiefs will lose their say at the House and be voted out on all issues during deliberations.”

On page 3 (paragraph F) of your letter dated 14th July, 2020, you state that:

“Another critical issue to resolve is the role that the Divisional Chiefs will be playing in the ERHC. This has to be debated and accepted by all constituents BEFORE inserting an inclusion clause with an appropriate cap….”  

You did not sufficiently conceal your fears about the admission of Divisional Chiefs into the ERHC. I would urge you to look at the bigger picture, rise above those fears and support this move which will rather promote inclusion and development in the ERHC, as the purpose for which it was established by the laws of Ghana, has for far too long been adversely impacted by how it is presently constituted. We can take a cue from other Regional Houses of Chiefs which have long reformed their composition to include Divisional Chiefs. There has been no chaos or disruption of the roles and privileges of Paramount Chiefs as a result of the admission of Divisional Chiefs. It is to be noted that certain privileges of a Paramount Chief at the Regional House of Chiefs, like occupying the Presidency of a Regional House of Chiefs, are not extended to Divisional Chiefs.

We hope the foregoing will assuage you apprehension and tone down your resentment on this matter  

Thank you.

Yours faithfully,

Kwame A Boateng Esq.

Head of The Ofori Panin Fie Legal Team

cc.

The President, National House of Chiefs

The Speaker of Parliament

The Chief Justice

Group in Western North mobilizes support for Akufo-Addo

Daniel Opare
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A Pro-NPP Group in Western North Region has launched a campaign to rally support for President Akufo Addo in the upcoming 2020 general elections.

The group, NPP Entrepreneur Club, wants the youth in the Western North Region to rally behind President Akufo in-coming general elections.

The group also called the people of Western North to always continue to show their appreciation to the President for the creation of the region after 46 years of appealing.  

At the launch in Sefwi Wiawso on Saturday, the group resolved to embark on an education drive to solicit support for Nana Akufo-Addo government.

The Club which is founded by Nana Prempeh Okogyeabour Aduhene which boast of over 20 members said, they decided to throw our weight behind the President because they believe that with all his visions and campaign promises, if he has the support of all people, he would be able to achieve all his promises for the betterment of this Western North Region.

Nana Prempeh added that the group believes that they will not sit idle, but will call on the people of Western North to support the President for the betterment of the region.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Tema: GHS10 Million weighbridge commissioned

Daniel Opare
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The Minister for Works and Housing, Samuel Atta-Akyea, has urged private investors in the country to do well in investing in the housing sector to help reduce the housing deficit confronting the country.

According to him, the trend whereby investors are investing in other sectors at the neglect or the housing sector, was a bit worrying.

The Minister was speaking at the commissioning of an ultra modern state-private partnership weighbridge facility in Tema in the Greater Accra Region.

Samuel Atta-Akyea commended the Tema Metropolitan Assembly and Q&Q services for the initiative, which will ensure cargo trucks from the Port carry the right weight, and as well do not end up damaging the roads, which has become a major challenge for the government. 

He called for similar investment from investors to the housing sector, to help address the housing deficit facing the country.

He challenged investors to equally channel the same support into the sector in constructing more affordable houses for the masses Deputy Transport minister, Titus Glover, also reiterated governments commitment to give equal opportunity and support to private investors and businesses, to flourish and help create more jobs for the teeming youth.

Samuel Atta-Akyea said plans by the Quality & Quantity  company, to establish similar facility in Techniman will be supported by government.

The 10 million Ghs weighbridge facility, which is a joint venture between between the Tema Metropolitan Assembly and Quality and Quantity services, a subsidiary of the Kingdom Exim Group of Companies, has auxiliary offices and space for truck waiting in line to be weighed.

The project which will ease the pressure and congestion on existing weighbridge at the Tema Port, will see government taking 30% of revenue, accrued from the facility.

Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Philip Azu

Covid-19: Will the hot meals cure the virus? – Pratt quizzes

Daniel Opare
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Editor-in-Chief for the Insight Newspaper, Kwasi Pratt, has asked the government how the hot meals to be provided to students will help cure the Covid-19 virus.

Addressing the nation on the 15th Covid-19 update, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said he had instructed the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection to begin preparations to ensure that,  from 24th August up to 18th September, all five hundred and eighty-four thousand (584,000) final year JHS students, and one hundred and forty-six thousand (146,000) staff, both in public and private schools, be given one hot meal a day.

This development, according to the President is as a result of the reports he  received that some final year JHS students were going hungry, in complying with COVID-19 protocols.

This is to ensure full observance of the COVID-19 safety protocols.

In an interview with host of Atinka FM’s AM Drive, Ekourba Gyasi, Kwasi Pratt said the president’s speech created the impression that covid-19 has lost its “fear factor”.

According to Kwesi Pratt, government should be more concerned with testing more people, if it wants to continue with the fight against the virus instead of providing hot meals.

“What at all do we want to achieve? Are are we not concerned about how we can fight covid-19 to the end? What will the hot meal do? Let me know whether or not the hot meal is capable of curing the covid-19. I think we are joking with the covid-19. From what the president said, it seems the virus is no more scary”, he stated.

 Kwesi Pratt argued the Ghana isn’t doing enough testing as a country and that there are still backlog and others who still have not received their results.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa

Covid-19: Ghana's case management still poor – Biostatistician

Daniel Opare
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Dr. Duah Dwomoh, a Biostatistician, says although Ghana has made improvements in the fight against covid-19, the country’s effective case management is poor.

Dr. Duah Dwomoh made the comments after the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during the Covid-19 update, said the limit on the numbers of persons who can attend conferences, workshops and award events, has now been lifted.

The president added that the development is subject to the maintenance of social distancing amongst participants, fresh air ventilation of the premises, and a two-hour limit for each session.

Speaking on Atinka FM’s AM Drive with host Ekourba Gyasi, Dr. Duah Dwomoh noted that relative to the economic implications, the lifting of the ban on social gathering is fine.

He , however, added that in terms of Ghana’s  effective case management, the country has a lot more work to do.

“ It depends on how you really want to look at it. If it comes to the economic implications, of course people cannot be kept indoors forever, especially when the majority of the population are traders. But in terms of the effective case management of the country’s covid-19 cases, as it stands I can say is still poor, especially when those on admission over covid-19 infections are a bit serious. How many of the covid-19 patients recover? The number of deaths was 0 from the onset, but we currently have over 231. That means the probability of surviving an intense covid-19 infection is low  “, he added.

He cautioned the general public to strictly adhere to the covid-19 safety  protocols despite the relaxation of some restrictions.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa

Akufo-Addo commissions and hands over AfCFTA Secretariat to AU Commission

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The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has commissioned and handed over the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area to the African Union (AU) Commission, at a brief ceremony, at the Africa Trade House, on Monday, 17th August 2020.

Delivering a speech at the ceremony, President Akufo-Addo stated that Ghana had discharged all of her obligations towards the establishment and the setting up of the office, following the selection of Ghana, in 2019, by the AU Assembly to host the AfCFTA Secretariat.

“We are, today, handing over a fully furnished and befitting office space, in a secured and easily accessible location within the business centre of Accra, as the Permanent Secretariat of the AfCFTA. We have provided also an appropriate, furnished residential accommodation as the official residence of the Secretary-General of the AfCFTA,” he said.

With Africa’s low levels of intra-Africa trade, as compared to those of the European Union, the President explained that this situation hinders Africa’s prospects of bringing prosperity to her peoples.

“A large part of the growth and prosperity that we seek on the continent will come from us trading more among ourselves. We, in Ghana, believe that an increase in trade is the surest way to deepen regional integration in Africa,” he said.

An effective implementation of the AfCFTA, President Akufo-Addo told the gathering, will dispel the notion that the AU is not capable of executing its own decisions, explaining that Africa’s new sense of urgency and aspiration of true self-reliance will be amply demonstrated by the handing over ceremony.

The President, thus, appealed to all Member States, who are yet to ratify the AfCFTA Agreement, to take advantage of the postponement of the date for start of trading, and do so by December 2020, to enable AU Member States to trade fully among themselves, so Africa can harness the benefits of the AfCFTA together.

“The pandemic has heightened the importance of the success of the AfCFTA. The disruption of global supply chains has reinforced the necessity for closer integration amongst us, so that we can boost our mutual self-sufficiency, strengthen our economies, and reduce our dependence on external sources,” he said.

The President continued, “We are now the world’s largest free trade area since the formation of the World Trade Organisation, and we must make it count. Covering a market of 1.2 billion people, with a combined GDP of $3 trillion, across the fifty-four (54) Member States of the AU that have signed up to the Agreement, it will provide the vehicle for us to trade among ourselves in a more modern and sophisticated manner; it will offer a huge opportunity to exploit the abundant wealth and resources of our great continent for the benefit of all our people; and it will give us protection in how to deal with other trading blocks.”

New Secretary General
In welcoming the newly elected first Secretary-General of the Secretariat, Mr. Wamkele Keabetswe Mene, and his family to Ghana, President Akufo-Addo urged him to work towards building a strong, efficient and effective Secretariat, with the capacity to implement the various trade rules, in line with the text of the Agreement, to help build credibility, and reduce trade policy uncertainty in the continent.

“The world is watching to see whether the Secretariat will, indeed, provide the springboard for Africa’s economic integration and rapid growth, and I am confident that, under your tenure, it will. Mr. Secretary-General, be rest assured of the firm support of the Government of Ghana for your work and activities,” he added.

President Akufo-Addo, in concluding, commended the President of the Republic of Niger, His Excellency Mahamadou Issoufou, current Chair of ECOWAS, for the stellar work he has done in championing the African Continental Free Trade initiative.

He congratulated and saluted and congratulated His Excellency Cyril Matamela Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, and current Chair of the Authority of the Assembly of the AU, for the benign, progressive guidance and supervision he has offered to make handing over ceremony possible.

Ghana l Atinkaonline.com

Rawlings: My book, "The Triumph of Evil" will expose Ahwoi and his cohorts

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Former President Rawlings says his upcoming book,”The Triumph of Evil” will expose Professor Kwamena Ahwoi and his ilk when it is eventually released.

“There is nothing ill-timed about Kwamena Ahwoi serving dankwansere soup at this time. He needed to knock down Rawlings to preempt the exposure that Rawlings’ book, “The Triumph of Evil” promises to reveal about some of them. People like him do not expect the NPP to let go of 2020, so they are hoping to utilize the opportunity of a loss, to damage Rawlings with some vicious, manufactured stuff,” the former President said in a statement on Monday .

Professor Ahwoi’s new book,” Working with Rawlings” has caused a stir in the NDC especially Rawlings’ apologists, who believe the project is an agenda to taint Rawlings’ legacy.

The book makes several shocking revelations including the resignation of Late President Mills, which was triggered by the constant harassment by Mr Rawlings .

Below is the full statement By Rawlings:

“There is nothing ill-timed about Kwamena Ahwoi serving dankwansere soup at this time. He needed to knock down Rawlings to preempt the exposure that Rawlings’ book, “The Triumph of Evil” promises to reveal about some of them. People like him do not expect the NPP to let go of 2020, so they are hoping to utilize the opportunity of a loss, to damage Rawlings with some vicious, manufactured stuff.
Their cunning calculation is that Mahama and his running mate will step aside after 2020 while they consolidate their control over the party and provide their own flagbearer and running mate for 2024″

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Ghanaians descend on Lilwin for posting 'naked' videos

Daniel Opare
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A section of the public have descended hard on Kumawood Actor, Kojo Nkansah, popularly known as Lilwin, for posting videos of naked girls twerking to his new song in a challenge.

Although promoting the song, which a lot of women have danced to in videos, he posted the ones the women were almost naked, generating a lot of controversial comments on his page.

For some people, they could not believe the Kumawood actor could post such videos, with some suggesting that Lilwins page was being handled by someone else.

Others also expressed their disappointment in the posts, calling him to pull them down.

Meanwhile, he is yet to respond to the matter.

Below are some comments.

Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori

12 Nigerians arrested for trafficking and cyber crime

Daniel Opare
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Twelve Nigerians are currently in the custody of the Prampram Divisional Police Command, on charges of trafficking and cyber crime related offenses.

The suspects who also entered into the country illegally, were picked up from their hide outs after months of surveillance on their activities by the police.

The suspects, Samuel John 23, Akosi Buatsi 28, Happy Ebogum 20, Salami Shadrack 21, Julius Eluji 23, Michael Agli 30, Francis Edunuyi 21, Victor Osazi 22, Nosa Osunubum 27, Favour Edupolor 20, Albert Esawo 24, and Collins Osunubum 26, who are all Nigerian nationals, were picked up by the police on August 1st, from their hide out at the Emef Estate in Prampram.

Briefing the press, Divisional Police Commander, Chief Supt Foli Washington, said the arrests were effected after weeks of surveillance, following a report by six of the suspects, who had confessed to the police of being trafficked into the country last year by ring leader, Collins Osunubum, to work as cyber fraudsters.

According to commander, the six suspects had to escape from their masters and report to the police following the harsh treatment meted out to them, anytime they fail to collect monies from their victims.

He said items retrieved from the suspects, includes laptops and other gadgets used for their activities.

Chief Supt Washington, further advised Landlords and house owners to contact the police anytime they intend renting out their houses and rooms to foreigners, so they undertake the needed background checks, to prevent the influx of criminal minded illegal immigrants.

Meanwhile the 12 suspects are expected to be handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service for onward deportation.

Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Philip Azu

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