A group of schoolchildren waiting for a bus have been attacked by a knife-wielding man in a Japanese city just south of Tokyo.
At least 18 people were injured on a residential street in Kawasaki. Two of them, a 12-year-old girl and a 39-year-old man, are dead.
A suspect, a man in his 50s, reportedly stabbed himself in the neck and was later detained. He has now also died from his injuries.
The motive for the attack is unknown.
Sixteen of those injured are said to be schoolgirls, according to news site Kyodo.
Police responding to the incident recovered two knives at the scene, said NHK.
A spokesman for the Kawasaki Fire Department told AFP news agency that an emergency call was received at 07:44 local time on Tuesday (22:44 GMT Monday) stating that a number of schoolchildren had been stabbed.
A school bus driver told NHK that he had seen the suspect approach a queue of students who were reportedly waiting to board their bus to the nearby Caritas private school in a residential area in Kawasaki.
The suspect began stabbing the children and then boarded the bus and stabbed children inside as well, the BBC’s Rupert Wingfield-Hayes in Tokyo reports.
A male eyewitness told NHK: “I saw a man lying near a bus stop bleeding.”
“I also saw elementary schoolchildren lying on the ground… It’s a quiet neighbourhood, it’s scary to see this kind of thing happen,” he added.
The deceased man sustained four neck wounds, according to local reports.
Footage broadcast on local news stations showed emergency services arriving at the scene – near the Noborito First Park – and setting up medical tents to treat the wounded.
US President Donald Trump, who is in Japan on a state visit, offered his “prayers and sympathy” to the victims.
Japan has one of the world’s lowest rates of violent crime but in recent years has experienced a handful of attacks involving knives.
In 2016, 19 people at a care centre for people with mental disabilities were stabbed by a former worker. He reportedly said he wanted those with disabilities to “disappear”.
Eight students were killed in a 2001 attack after a man entered an elementary school in Osaka and began stabbing students.
Source: BBC
Japan attack: Child among three dead in Kawasaki stabbing
VIDEO: Ghanaian abroad disgraces Ghana over misuse of water bodies
A Ghanaian man believed to live in abroad, has disgraced Ghanaians to a ‘white man’ he saw using the lagoon at the place as means of transportation.
While he cheered the white man on, he specifically mentioned how Ghanaians misused it’s lagoon instead of making it a tourist site or a means of transportation.
He narrated to the white man that in Ghana, people defecated in the lagoon, the sea or gutters, while they dumped rubbish into water bodies.
This is how the Ghanaian man mocked the country of not being able to utilise it’s lagoon but rather misused it.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com|Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
Sammy Gyamfi sued by NPP’s Ekow Ewusi
The Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has been sued by the First Vice Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Central Region, Horace Ekow Ewusi, for allegedly defaming him.
Mr. Ekow Ewusi told Accra-based radio station Peace FM that he filed the suit at the Accra High Court (General Jurisdiction).
The NPP executive alleged that Sammy Gyamfi has damaged his hard-earned reputation.
He claimed Sammy Gyamfi called him names and accused him of conspiring with foreigners to undertake illegal mining in the country as a member of the Galamsey Team.
According to information gathered by Daily Guide, on May 10, 2019, Mr. Ekow Ewusi prayed the high court to serve Sammy Gyamfi with the summons for which he (Gyamfi) is expected to enter appearance within eight days, failure of which default judgment would be given against him.
Reports suggested that Sammy Gyamfi was also making efforts to secure an out-of-court settlement.
Meanwhile, he stated that he would squarely face the NPP man in court.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com
Akufo-Addo has devalued significance of AU Day – Kwesi Pratt
The Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr says the Akufo-Addo administration has devalued the significance of the African Union (AU) Day by reducing it to a mere commemorative day.
President Akufo-Addo on 16th April 2019 approved the Public Holidays (Amendment) Act 2019, (Act).
In December 2018, a bill was laid before parliament to amend the Public Holiday Act 2001 to provide for three different holidays.
Under the new Holiday Act, 7th of January will be observed as the Constitution Day, the 4th of August will be observed as the Founders Day and 21st of September will be observed as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day.
In 2017, President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, proposed that August 4 should be observed as Founders Day in memory persons who contributed to the liberation of the country from colonial rule and September 21 set aside as a memorial day for Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President who was instrumental in the fight for the 6th March independence.
New Year’s Day- 1st January, Constitution Day- 7th January, Independence Day- 6th March, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Eid-Al-Adha (Hajj), Eid-Al-Fitr (Ramadan), Workers’ Day- 1st May, Founders’ Day -4th August, Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day- 21st September, Farmers, Day- 1st Friday in December, Christmas Day- 25th December, Boxing Day- 26th December days will be observed as Statutory Public Holidays.
African Union Day- 25th May and Republic Day- 1st July are commemorative days which would only be observed but not as holidays.
But speaking to Kaakyire Ofori Ayim, the Insight Newspaper Editor said that a holiday is the highest level of observation and hence reducing the AU Day to a mere commemorative day amounts to devaluation.
He added that the Republic Day, 1st July, has also been deliberately devalued by the Akufo Addo led administration.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa
Strike out assault charges against Ofosu Ampofo – Lawyers
The legal team for the National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, have filed an application seeking to have the Accra High Court strike out two counts of assault charges leveled against him.
At today’s (Monday, May 27, 2019) hearing, lead counsel for the NDC Chairman, Tony Lithur, argued that its necessary for the court to make a determination on the application before the continuation of the trial of his client.
Ampofo and Kweku Boahen, a Deputy National Communications Officer of the NDC, were dragged to the court by the Attorney-General for allegedly inciting NDC party communicators to rain verbal insults and also incite violence against the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) and the National Peace Council (NPC).
The two are on bail in the sum of Gh¢100,000 each with one surety after they pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy to cause harm and assault on a public officer.
Lawyers for Boahen have raised an alibi that he was not at the said meeting where the A-G claims the comments inciting the party communicators were made.
Boahen’s application
Meanwhile at today’s hearing, counsel for Boahen, Dr Abdul Basit Bamba, also filed an application urging the court to order the prosecution to make available the diary of action relating to the case.
The dairy of action is a documentary evidence relating to all aspects of the investigations.
In her response, the Director for Public Prosecutions (DPP), Mrs Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, opposed the two applications and said the state had concluded investigations on the whereabouts of Boahen during the said meeting where the comments were made.
According to her, the prosecution had filed the investigative report at the court’s registry and the report will speak for itself.
Hearing continues on June 7, 2019 at the court, presided over by Justice Samuel Asiedu, for the defence lawyers to move their applications.
Airport Hills roundabout to be named after Major Mahama
The Airport Hills roundabout by approval of the government will soon be named after murdered solder, Major Maxwell Adam Mahama.
Expectedly, a ceremony will be held to unveil his statue on Wednesday, May 29, at the roundabout at Airport Hills, exactly two years after his horrible murder.
The activities will mark his second year anniversary after he was gruesomely killed by residents of Denkyira Obuasi in the Central Region in 2017.
Hero
Capt. Mahama, was Commander of about 100 officers who were sent to the Denkyira Obuasi Township to assist the government in the fight against illegal mining.
He was stoned to death and burnt by the youth of the area who mistook him for an armed robber.
Capt. Mahama left his wife, Barbara Mahama and their two sons behind.
He was promoted posthumously to the full rank of Major by the President, Nana Akufo-Addo when he attended the one-week remembrance ceremony of the late soldier.
The president assured his family of government’s commitment to ensure that all persons who took part in the lynching will be prosecuted.
Some 14 persons, including the Assembly Member of Denkyira Obuasi, William Baah, are standing trial at an Accra High Court over the killing of Major Mahama.
As sighted on myjoyonline.com, the ceremony to unveil his statue will be attended by his family, the Military High Command, Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul as well as other state officials, according to a statement signed Monday, May 27, by Commander A. La-Nyane for Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com
Ada: Private detectives educate students on kidnapping
In a bid to augment efforts by the security agencies to nip the recent increase in kidnapping in Ghana in the bud, a security organisation, the Association of Private Detectives has held a workshop for students of the Ada Senior High School on the subject.
The workshop which was replicated at the Ada College of Education sought to bring students up to speed on the various modes of kidnapping, how to avoid falling prey to such criminals and what one must do in the unfortunate even of being kidnapped.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Association, Anthony Kpangdza Kabanda told Atinka News that, kidnapping though rare, long existed for ritual purposes and to pay back political opponents or public figures in the past, but has now turned a lucrative business.
According to him, the growing phenomenon partly stems from the high unemployment rate and economic hardship.
Mr. Kabanda noted that though everyone is susceptible to kidnapping, young people, especially ladies easily fall prey chiefly due to unwise use of the cyber space, unbridled thirst for material things and little or no education on the modus operandi of actors.
He advised students to peruse backgrounds of people who send them friend requests and desist from being wooed by unfettered wealth or luxury.
The Ada East District Police Commander, DSP James Asiedu who graced the occasion charged the media and the general public not to exaggerate or fake kidnapping cases, and must ensure that the incident actually happened before reporting it to the police to avoid misleading personnel.
The Commander who admitted that the issue of kidnapping is taking a centre stage of daily discussions promised to replicate such workshops for schools in the area to help sensitize pupils on kidnapping.
As the most tourist destination in the region, DSP Asiedu charged hoteliers in the area to be observant of strangers who call at their premises in order to swiftly apprehend such criminals when spotted.
Some students who hitherto knew nothing about the subject but only heard it in the airwaves shared their views and contentment of the workshop.
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Edward Sebbie
NCCE's Annual Citizenship Week starts today
The National Commission for Civic Education, (NCCE) is set to roll out its Annual Citizenship Week from today, Monday, 27th May to Monday 3rd June, 2019.
The Citizenship Week is an annual flagship programme to educate and sensitise pupils on issues of national concern with relevance to the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
Instituted in 2012, it is celebrated each year to engender civic consciousness among young citizens of Ghana.
As part of the programme, the NCCE and its volunteers will move across the length and breadth of the country to exceed their visit of eight thousand and eighty-two (8,082) schools in 2018 to ten thousand (10,000) selected schools this year.
This year’s Citizenship Week is on the theme; ‘A Clean Ghana, Our Responsibility’.
In a statement signed by the Chairman of the NCCE, Ms Josephine Nkrumah, the NCCE noted that the issue of sanitation is high on the agenda of the Commission’s Citizenship Week celebration because of the adverse effect of plastic waste and general filth in our environment.
According to the NCCE, the theme for the celebration is crucial because of the challenges and dangers poor sanitation practices pose to the environment.
“Filth continues to engulf our cities and towns and there is a growing concern regarding the indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste with its attendant flooding, loss of lives and properties during the rainy seasons,” it stated.
“Ghana’s fight to address sanitation issues is also in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6 that entreats all to “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” and Goal 14, which demands that “we conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources to drive global systems to make the earth habitable for humankind,” the NCCE noted.
The Commission therefore called on all Ghanaians to play their role in making Ghana a clean country by consciously contributing to reducing choice in plastics and opting for biodegradables.
“Citizens are encouraged to choose alternative packaging for food, foodstuff and beverages such as paper shopping bags, straw baskets, reusable bowls, flasks and water bottles to help fade out the use of polythene and other single use plastics. As global citizens, it behoves on us to play our part in adopting life styles that ensure the sustainable management of our environment and commit to helping build a clean Ghana,” it stated.
Below is a statement by the NCCE
27th May, 2019.
PRESS RELEASE
ALL IS SET FOR 2019 CITIZENSHIP WEEK – NCCE
The National Commission for Civic Education, NCCE is poised to roll out its Annual Citizenship Week from Monday 27th May to Monday 3rd June, 2019. The NCCE and its volunteers will move across the length and breadth of the country to exceed their visit of eight thousand and eighty-two (8,082) schools in 2018 to ten thousand (10,000) selected schools this year. Citizenship Week is an annual flagship programme to educate and sensitise pupils on issues of national concern with relevance to our 1992 Constitution. Citizenship Week was instituted in 2012 and is celebrated each year to engender civic consciousness among young citizens of Ghana.
This year’s Citizenship Week is on the theme ‘A Clean Ghana, Our Responsibility’. The issue of sanitation is high on the agenda of the Commission’s Citizenship Week celebration because of the adverse effect of plastic waste and general filth in our environment. The theme is crucial because of the challenges and dangers poor sanitation practices pose to the environment. Filth continues to engulf our cities and towns and there is a growing concern regarding the indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste with its attendant flooding, loss of lives and properties during the rainy seasons.
Article 41 (g) and (k) of the 1992 Constitution enjoins all citizens “to contribute to the well-being of the community in which they live” and “to protect and safeguard the environment.” It is the duty of all citizens to contribute in making Ghana a clean country through sustainable public education and awareness creation as well as change in lifestyle with respect to the use and disposal of plastics and general waste management.
Ghana’s fight to address sanitation issues is also in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6 that entreats all to “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” and Goal 14, which demands that “we conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources to drive global systems to make the earth habitable for humankind.”
The Commission calls on all Ghanaians to play their role in making Ghana a clean country by consciously contributing to reducing choice in plastics and opting for biodegradables. Citizens are encouraged to choose alternative packaging for food, foodstuff and beverages such as paper shopping bags, straw baskets, reusable bowls, flasks and water bottles to help fade out the use of polythene and other single use plastics. As global citizens, it behoves on us to play our part in adopting life styles that ensure the sustainable management of our environment and commit to helping build a clean Ghana.
Implementation of the 2019 Citizenship Week has been made possible with support from the European Union (EU).
God Bless Our Homeland Ghana And Make Our Nation Great And Strong!
Josephine Nkrumah (Ms.)
(Chairman)
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
BNI wants to kill Afoko – Family
The family of Gregory Afoko, the prime suspect in the trial of the murder of former Upper East Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) Adams Mahama has accused the Bureau of National Investigations(BNI) of a deliberate attempt to kill him.
According to the family, Mr Afoko is still confined in the cells of BNI despite satisfying the bail condition set out by an Accra High Court.
The family is set to petition two more international bodies over what it says is the unlawful holding of Mr Afoko.
It has already petitioned Amnesty International and says it will send another one to the Human Rights Without Frontiers and Human Rights Watch.
Spokesperson for the Ayeta family, Robert Asebkata in an interview with Starr News said the move is to save Geregory Afoko.
“We intend to petition Human Rights Without Frontiers and Human Rights Watch, these are the institutions we’ll be petitioning. He’s presently in the BNI office, they don’t even allow us to visit him any longer and apart from that his blood was taken forcefully and they did some analysis and we said why such a blood test because he didn’t complain about any sickness. Who the medical doctor is we don’t know, why won’t you allow our attorney to se him, his relatives we were not even allowed to see him.
So as at now, we believe he’s in a worse situation. His life is really threatened if he’s been sent to the hospital heavily guarded and armed men, we don’t understand the situation. You’ve held this man for almost five years and found no reason for that. We are afraid for his life and we believe that those who are concerned simply want to take away Gregs life.”
Source: Kasapafmonline.com
