North Koreans face a daily struggle to make ends meet due to a “vicious cycle of deprivation, corruption and repression”, a new report says.
The United Nations human rights report also accuses Kim Jong-un’s government of economic mismanagement, leaving its people fighting to get the basics.
Everyday survival is further hampered by officials demanding bribes, it adds.
North Korea has rejected the report as being “politically motivated for sinister purposes”.
The report, entitled The Price is Right, is based on interviews carried out with 214 defectors in 2017 and 2018.
“If you just follow instructions coming from the state, you starve to death,” one of the defectors said.
But the markets exist in a legal grey area, which leaves people vulnerable to officials wanting bribes.
Those who try to earn money this way “face arrest and detention”, the UN report noted. Women wanting to earn money are particularly vulnerable, it adds.
Yet those with the resources “can get away with anything, including murder”, another North Korean defector told the report’s authors.
The UN report also criticises the economic management of the country under Mr Kim, who has ruled since his father’s death in 2011.
North Korea blames its economic woes on sanctions, which were imposed over its nuclear weapons programmes.
But, the report notes, the military still receives priority funding over ensuring people have enough food.
The World Food Programme estimates that 10.1 million people are now suffering from severe food shortages, while the worst harvest in a decade has left the country short of more than a million tonnes of food.
“I am concerned that the constant focus on the nuclear issue continues to divert attention from the terrible state of human rights for many millions of North Koreans,” Michelle Bachelet, the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights, said.
“The rights to food, health, shelter, work, freedom of movement and liberty are universal and inalienable, but in North Korea they depend primarily on the ability of individuals to bribe state officials.”
North Korea responded angrily to the allegations laid out in the report.
“Such reports are nothing more than fabrication…as they are always based on the so-called testimonies of ‘defectors’ who provide fabricated information to earn their living or are compelled to do so under duress or enticement,” its Geneva mission told Reuters news agency.
Source: BBC
North Korea: UN report says people 'trapped in cycle of corruption'
Obinim, Obofour are ‘fraudsters’ – Sam Korankye Ankrah
The Founder and Leader of Royal house Chapel international, Reverend Sam Korankye Ankrah has described the founder and leader of Anointed Palace Chapel, Reverend Obofour and the founder and leader of the International Godsway Church (IGWC) Bishop Daniel Obinim as fraudsters who manipulate their members to enrich themselves.
An incensed Rev Korankye Ankrah said they deceive their congregations to acquire their ‘filthy’ wealth.
According to him, Rev Obofour and Angel Obinim flaunt their vehicles, mansions and other properties on social media because they are illiterates.
He observed that the two pastors show off their wealth because they didn’t suffer to acquire them.
In a video sighted by MyNewsGh.com, he said Rev Obofour and Angel Obinim show off publicly just to get attention.
‘These illiterate pastors buy big cars, when one person buys then another person also buys,…when you are an illiterate, there is a big vacuum and emptiness in your life, you tend to envy people who are educated. You want to be like them but you know what, that to be educated is not easy. They are empty so the only way to show that they have assembled wealth is to show off, which they got through manipulations and ignorance,’ he fumed.
Rev Korankye Ankrah observed that educated people and market women who struggled before making some monies do not boast about their wealth but rather ’empty barrels’ like Angel Obinim and Rev Obofour do.
‘People who work hard for their monies are humble, people who get monies through cheap ways want people to hear from them, empty barrels, from today don’t be intimidated by their boasting and noise,’ he pointed out.
The founder of Royal house Chapel said the two pastors got their monies through cheap means hence are always making noise about it.
‘When you get it through cheap means, manipulations, prostitution, you want people to feel that you haven’t lost anything. So the only way is to speak big and get attention for yourself, God says they deserve to die’, he said.
Source: Mynewsgh.com
Media expose of corrupt officials must be fair-Kuffour
Former President of Ghana, John Agyekum Kuffour has urged journalists to ensure that media exposes of corrupt officials are done appropriately and in a free and fair manner.
He also advised journalists who in the course of their duty offend others to make amends by being humble and apologise to those they offend.
The Former President was speaking at the launch of the 70th anniversary of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) which was held in Accra on Tuesday, May, 28th 2019.
The ceremony was attended by GJA officials, both past and present, Top Ghanaian journalists, government officials, and Executives of the National Media Commission.
Former President Kuffour noticed that some journalists intimidated and blackmailed some prominent people with their work, a situation he observed could mar the democracy of the country.
However, he urged journalists to conduct themselves honourably in their line of duty while they maintain a peaceful media environment.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com
Ghana bans chilli pepper exports
The authorities in Ghana have banned the export of some vegetables, including chilli peppers and aubergines, over fears they are contaminated with pests.
According to Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the ban will take effect next week and will last indefinitely.
The ban comes in the wake of an European Union (EU) directive to all countries to provide a report on the management of harmful bacteria.
The Vegetable Producers and Exporters Association of Ghana has asked the government to postpone the ban, arguing it will affect the businesses of about 4,000 farmers.
But the authorities want to avoid restrictions being imposed by the EU, which only lifted its last ban on contaminated vegetables from Ghana last year.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com
Copa America: Neymar stripped of Brazil captaincy
Neymar has been stripped of the Brazil captaincy for next month’s Copa America and will be replaced by his Paris St-Germain team-mate Dani Alves.
The 27-year-old forward, given the role eight months ago but under pressure after recent disciplinary issues, was informed by manager Tite on Saturday.
Alves, 36, will also lead the side in friendlies against Qatar and Honduras.
He has captained Brazil four times, most recently in a 1-0 win over Germany in March 2018.
This month, French football authorities banned Neymar for three matches after he hit a fan following PSG’s defeat by Rennes in the Coupe de France final.
He was also reportedly involved in a dressing room incident with his PSG team-mates.
The Copa America takes place in Brazil from 14 June to 7 July, with the hosts taking on Bolivia, Venezuela and Peru in Group A.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com
NPP is becoming attractive to us by its deeds – Sampa Zongo Chief
The policies, programmes and works of the NPP Government under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has shown that the party cares more about the Zongo community than other parties in the country, a senior member of the Zongo community has declared.
According to Alhaji Idrissa Alla Kabo, Zongo Chief of Sampa in the Jaman North District of the Bono Region, the NPP government, in its short period in office, has proven to be more dedicated to meeting the development needs of Zongo dwellers and Muslims than previous governments, and the party is becoming attractive to members of the Zongo community.
Alhaji Kabo made the observation when the Vice President of the Republic, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, interacted with the Zongo community in Sampa as part of the 2019 edition of the nationwide Ramadan tour on Monday 27th May, 2019 at Sampa.
“At first we thought it was the NDC that had the Muslim community and Zongos at heart, but what the NPP government have done shows that it is the NPP that really cares about Muslims” Alhaji Kabo stated.
“In the past, Islamic education was not recognised. We also thought anyone who goes for secular education will stop being a Muslim. But today, we see that the NPP loves Islam and Muslims. We saw it under (late former Vice President) Aliu Mahama, and today under Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia. We can see that the NPP really cares about Muslims, by their deeds”.
He urged government to support both secular and Islamic education, indicating that it would help build the human resource base of the country.
“Now that we have all seen that NPP accepts and loves Muslims, I will ask that government helps Muslims to acquire the best and highest possible knowledge, we can also contribute to Ghana’s development and who knows, one day we may have a Muslim President.
Vice President Bawumia urged the Muslims of Sampa to continue praying for the government and people of Ghana, particularly President Nana Akufo-Addo, as he works to with members of his team to take Ghana to the next level of her development.
The Vice President’s trip to Sampa formed part of his visit to the Bono region, which also included visits to, and prayers with, Muslims in Sampa, Menji and Banda Ahenkro.
Vice President Bawumia’s nationwide Ramadan tour has already taken him to the Ahafo, Oti, Volta, Eastern, Central, Western, Western North, Ashanti and Upper East Regions. He was accompanied by the Minister for Inner City and Zongo Development, Hon Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid; Minister of State at the Office of the Vice President, Hon Boniface Abubakar Siddique; the two Deputy Chief Executives of the Zongo Development Fund, Alhaji Baba Sadick and Hajia Aisha Salifu; Registrar of the Pharmacy Council, Pharm (Dr) Audu Rauf; and the Deputy Minister for Bono region, Hon Siaka Steven.
Gattuso quits as AC Milan
Gennaro Gattuso has stepped down as manager of AC Milan, after missing out on Champions League qualification by a single point.
The club’s sporting director Leonardo is expected to follow Gattuso out of the door, disgruntled by CEO Ivan Gazidis’ decision to tighten the reins on spending in order to comply with Financial Fair Play constraints.
Gattuso told La Repubblica that he will leave behind the money owed to him by the club, saying he could not let his time at Milan come down to a question of money.
“Deciding to leave Milan’s bench is not easy. But it’s a decision I had to make. There was not a precise moment in which I made it, it was the sum of these 18 months as coach of a team that for me will never be like the others. Months that I lived with great passion, unforgettable months.
“Mine is a painful but thoughtful choice. Am I giving up a two-year contract? Yes, because my story with Milan can never be a question of money.”
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com
Man jailed 10 years for defiling 12 year old girl
A Cape Coast Circuit has sentenced a 36-year-old unmployed man to 10 years imprisonment for defiling a 12-year-old girl.
Joseph Crentsil, the convict, pleading guilty to the charge of defilement and was convicted on his own plea.
Prosecuting, Sergeant Iddrisu Yakubu told the Court presided over by Mrs. Dorinda Smith Arthur, that the complainant, who is the mother of the victim and a teacher, lives at Bakaano a suburb of Cape Coast, whilst the convict lives at Acquarium, where the victim normally goes to fetch water.
He said some time in September 2018, Crentsil went to the complainant’s house and beckoned the victim whilst she was washing and lured her into a plantain farm behind the victim’s house and had sexual intercourse with her.
He said, that same day, the complainant sent the girl to go and buy her medicine from a nearby chemical shop, where she again met the convict who lured her into a nearby drinking spot and had sex with her, when the victim returned, the complainant inquired from her why she had kept that long and she narrated her ordeal to the complainant.
The complainant reported the matter to the Domestic Violence Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) in Cape Coast leading to the arrest of Crentsil.
Source: GNA
“Ghana Now Austria’s Most Important Business Destination In Africa” – Austrian President
The President of the Republic of Austria, His Excellency Alexander Van der Bellen, has described Ghana as the most important destination in Africa currently for Austria and Austrian businesses.
According to President Alexander Van der Bellen, the management of the Ghanaian economy, especially over the last two years, for which Ghana is projected to be the fastest growing economy in the world in 2019, has made the country very attractive for investors from Austria.
The Austrian President made this known on Monday, 27th May, 2019, when he held closed door bilateral discussions with the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Welcoming the increasing participation of Austria businesses in Ghana’s economy, President Akufo-Addo, who is also in Austria to participate in the R20 Austrian World Summit on Climate Change, urged Austrian firms invest in clean energy initiatives in Ghana.
On the fight against terrorism, and the increasing activities of terrorists in the Sahel, the President called for more support in aid of efforts by the African Union and the G5 du Sahel in combating the menace.
He stressed that “the co-ordination of activities between the armies and the intelligence agencies of our countries is absolutely essential to a successful battle against terrorism.”
Already, the Austrian Federal Army is involved in training co-operation with the Ghana Armed Forces on “Combat Dog Training”. As part of this co-operation agreement, the Austrian Army supports dog handlers from the Ghana Armed Forces, and will set up a regional training centre in Ghana.
Touching on the purpose for his presence at the R20 Summit, President Akufo-Addo assured his Austrian counterpart of Ghana’s preparedness to tackle the climate change phenomenon.
Climate change, the President stressed, is the biggest threat to the realisation of the SDGs, and has become an issue of grave concern to most leaders across the world, as it has considerable impact on the fundamentals required for the survival of the human race on earth, i.e. rise in sea levels, severe and extreme weather conditions, such as droughts, floods and erratic rainfall patterns, and growing desertification.
“It is in own interest to act to salvage the economic fortunes of the continent, and, more so, step up our collective efforts to fight decisively climate change,” he added.
R20 Summit
The President is in Austria to attend the R20 Austrian World Summit – an initiative which is helping regions, countries and cities to implement the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to meet the global climate protection targets outlined in the Paris Agreement.
He is attending the Summit in his capacity as co-Chair of the UN Secretary General’s Group of Eminent Advocates on the 2030 SDGs, and will, on Tuesday, 28th May, participate in the high-level panel discussion on the need for leadership to take responsibility in the global process on sustainable development and international co-operation.
Whilst in Austria, the President will also hold bilateral talks with the Austrian Chancellor, Sebastian Kurz; with the President of Hungary, His Excellency János Áder; and with the CEO of the World Bank, Kristalina Georgieva.
He is also expected to meet members of the Ghanaian community resident in Austria.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com
Hazard: EL win the 'perfect farewell'
Eden Hazard says victory in the Europa League final against Arsenal would be the “perfect farewell” to Chelsea if he is to leave the club this summer.
Hazard revealed at the end of the season that he had made a decision on his future and expected it to be resolved following the final in Baku.
Sky Sports News understands Chelsea want £130m for Eden Hazard but Real Madrid – who are confident of signing him – value the Belgium international at no more than €100m (£88m) due to the fact that he is entering the final 12 months of his contract at Stamford Bridge.
Source: skysports
