OccupyGhana writes to AG over ban on “Nii, Nana, Naa” at Birth and Death

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Pressure group, OccupyGhana, has petitioned the Attorney General over the Births and Deaths Registry decision to ban local names such as “Nana, Nii, Owura, Naa, Maame” among others. 

Officials at the state institution have defended the decision, saying they are empowered by the Birth and Death Act, 1965 (Act 301) to take such actions.

However, in a strongly worded statement, OccupyGhana said the action of the Registrars  is illegal.
  
Is illegally, adding “We have however checked that Act and all relevant laws including the Regulations passed under the Act. We have not seen any provision that either supports this policy or gives the Registrars of Births and Deaths any power to refuse to register any name.”

Below is the full statement:

January 26, 2018

The Attorney-General & Minister for Justice
Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General’s Department
Accra

Dear Madam,
REFUSAL TO REGISTER NAMES AT THE BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRY – NOTICE OF ACTION
Our attention has been drawn to the implementation of an alleged policy by the Registrars of the Birth and Death Registry that refuses to register the birth of children whose names include names such as “Maame,” “Pappa,” “Nana,” "Naa," "Junior," “Nene,” “Nii” and “Ohemaa” as well as determine the order in which names must be written, giving prominence to foreign names over indigeneous Ghanaian names. The Registrars claim that they are empowered to do this on the basis of the Registration of Birth and Death Act, 1965 (Act 301).

We have however checked that Act and all relevant laws including the Regulations passed under the Act. We have not seen any provision that either supports this policy or gives the Registrars of Births and Deaths any power to refuse to register any name. We believe that this stance is a gross violation of the rights of Ghanaians to choose names (particularly Ghanaian names) as they deem fit for their children, subject to the right to change one’s name at any time later in life.

We therefore write to put you on notice, in accordance with section 10 of the State Proceedings Act, 1998 (Act 555), that we intend to commence civil action against the Republic within thirty (30) days of the date of this letter if this illegality is not addressed forthwith.

We however believe that this cause of action will not be necessary if all Registrars of the Births and Deaths Registry will be directed to desist from these acts and stop refusing to register such names as they have no basis in law.

Yours faithfully,
OccupyGhana®
cc. The Minister
Ministry of Local Government
Accra
The Registrar
Births and Deaths Registry
Accra

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 
 

Police officer assaults spare parts dealer at Sekondi 

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A Police officer with Sekondi Police Command in the Western Region, Lance Corporal Bright Appiah, has allegedly assaulted a Spare parts dealer.

The victim, Osei Tutu, 29, was assaulted by the policeman at a Bus Terminal in Sekondi Wednesday for allegedly breaking traffic rules.

According to the victim, the police officer first hit him with a plastic object and later with a stick during the confrontation.

He added: “The police officer attempted to push me into the police vehicle but I refused because I hadn’t done anything to warrant the  arrest .He then punched me, hit my head  and hand with a stick  until  some onlookers came to my rescue.”

The victim told Atinka News  that, he had  lodged a complaint with the Sekondi Police .

Meanwhile  the officer, Bright Appiah, has denied the allegation, saying Osei Tutu rather assaulted him.


Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 
 

Ghanaian PHD Student wins two prestigious awards in UK

Daniel Opare
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A Ghanaian PhD student has been awarded the prestigious Delegates' Choice poster prize for scientific research posters by the Division of Occupational Psychology (DOP) of the British Psychological Soceity (BPS) in the United Kingdom.

Mr Ernest Darkwah first picked up the Runner Up award for poster prizes before going on to win the overall Delegates' Choice poster prize at the conference held from 10-12th January at the Crowne Plaza, Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom.

This 2018 edition of the DOP's annual conference attracted hundreds of delegates from across the world and involved oral and poster presentations from researchers and practitioners in the field of occupational psychology.

Mr. Darkwah participated in the poster sessions and competed against 29 other research posters presented by scholars, researchers and practitioners from around the world.

Mr. Darkwah's poster presented his PhD research project which explores work-related stress-resource experiences of care workers in children's homes in Ghana.

Every year all delegates are asked to choose the best presented poster and the winner receives the Delegates' Choice award.

Presenting the award this year at the annual end-of-conference dinner and awards gala in the grand ball room of the prestigious Crowne Plaza Hotel located in the historic birth place of Britain's William Shakespeare, the DOP's Fiona Beddoes-Jones (Conference Committee Co-chair) said: "no one else came close" in the competition to Mr. Darkwah's research poster.

Mr. Darkwah is currently a full scholarship final year PhD student at the Faculty of Psychology, University of Bergen in Norway and was attending the conference for the first time.

In 2011, Mr. Darkwah won the Cadbury Prize for Best Graduating Student in Psychology when he graduated with a first class honours in his bachelor's degree at the University of Ghana.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

 

Direct EC bosses to step aside – AFAG tells Akufo-Addo

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Pressure group, Alliance for Accountable Governance (AFAG) has called on the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo to as matter of urgency direct the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei and her Deputies Georgina Opoku Amankwah and Amadu Sulley to step aside. 

The leadership of the Commission has been under fire for quite some time now due to allegations and counter-allegations levelled against themselves and workers of the Commission on grounds of misappropriation, procurement abuses, embezzlement amongst others.

AFAG is of the view that since a prima facie case has been established against the Chairperson it is proper and prudent that she steps aside since her continued stay in office undermines the credibility of the Electoral Commission.

Addressing a press conference at the SSNIT Guests House, the Vice President, Henry Haruna, argued that Madam Charlotte Osei’s presence also undermines the principle of fair trial and as well stampedes the availability of witness hearing.

Her presence they say intimidates her workers at post who also double as witnesses or accusers. 

And that the EC Chair, having leveled allegations of malfeasance against her two deputies, all three persons should be interdicted to pave way for justice to take its course.

According to Henry Haruna Asante, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo should follow the precedent where former Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Madam Lauretta Lamptey was suspended by former President John Dramani Mahama.

This was when a prima facie case was established against her by the former Chief Justice Her Ladyship Georgina Theodora Wood on grounds of professional misconduct. She (Lauretta Lamptey) was found to have spent GHC 180, 000 to renovate her official residence.

AFAG therefore sees the allegations hovering around Charlotte Osei and her deputies as so grievous in nature than that of Madam Lauretta Lamptey, but the three Commissioners are still at post.

“We strongly hold the position that the outcome of whatever investigation that would be conducted could be compromised if she continues to remain in office – hence the need for their interdiction. 

“Mr. President, we AFAG humbly urge you to take the honourable executive step by asking Madam Charlotte Osei and her two Deputy Commissioners to step-aside for fair and equitable investigation to be carried out,” Henry Asante mentioned.   

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 

I’ll marry your father and you’ll be my stepson – Lydia Forson fires errant fan 

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Controversial actress, Lydia Forson, has re-enacted Ebony’s hit tack, “Date Your Father” in a Twitter banter with a “disrespectful” fan.

Ms Forson was engaged in a nasty confrontation with a police officer last Sunday after the latter prevented her from taking pictures.  

A gentleman with the name Ba4 on twitter, suggested that the officer should have beaten the actress to pulp. 

“Just don’t take pictures is that too much to ask? If it were me I will beat you to pulp with I know my rights thing. You will soon be 40 with no husband or a child ooo. Be humble and submissive kakra,” he tweeted.

However, Lydia Forson, a strong advocate for feminism, hit back, jabbing where it hurts most.  

“I can always marry your father and make you my stepson,” Forson replied.

 

 

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com  | Isaac Nuamah Yeboah
 

Gitmo 2 attained refugee status in 2016 – Ghana Refugee Board

Daniel Opare
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The Ghana Refugee Board has  said the 2 Guantanamo Bay detainees attained  refugee status in July 2016.

Mahmud Umar Muhammad Bin Atef and Khalid Muhammed Salih Al-Dhuby, were  brought  to Ghana from the United States' infamous Guantanamo Bay after President Obama moved to close down the detention center.

A diplomatic agreement reached between the Mahama government and the US in January 2016 required Ghana to take a decision on their stay after two years.

Speaking to Ekourba Gyasi on Atinka AM Drive, Programmes Coordinator  for the Ghana Refugee Board, Tetteh Paddy, stated that one can only attain refugee status based on Nationality, race, political affiliation, membership of a social grouping.

According to him, the two met those qualifications and were accepted as refugees in Ghana.

“We all know about the infamous Guantanamo Bay and the fact that the lives of the two will be in danger when they return to their country,” he added.

However, the Deputy Foreign affairs minister, Charles Owiredu also in an interview with Ekourba Gyasi, explained that the current administration was putting measures in place to  repatriate the Gitmo Two detainees only for them to chance upon a  document suggesting that the two had been granted refugee status.

“There was nothing in the handing over statement suggesting that the two had been granted refugee status in the handing over notes submitted by the then government”, he added.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com | Vivian Adu Boatemaa

Mahama: Akufo- Addo behind "Free SHS" attacks on me

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The office of Former President John Dramani has accused President of Akufo-Addo of orchestrating attacks based on lies and pedestrian propaganda. 

The accusation follows claims that President Mahama  had contracted , AfricaWatch magazine to run down  free SHS policy, which instituted last September .

However, in a hard-hitting  statement,  the former President  accused the current  president of sponsoring such attacks explaining that , the former President’s suggestion and advice to Government on the Free SHS policy  has been a call for a National Stakeholders Dialogue to chart a better and befitting way forward.  

President Akufo-Addo should heed that call, instead  of  orchestrating  attacks based on lies and pedestrian propaganda. 

Below is the full statement:
  
STATEMENT IN REACTION TO MALICIOUS PUBLICATIONS  AGAINST H.E. THE FORMER PRESIDENT  

 The Office of HE John Dramani Mahama has taken note of a false publication by two Government sponsored tabloids, Daily Guide and Statesman, that the former President of the Republic of Ghana has contracted a magazine, the AfricaWatch to publish what it says are damaging reports about the Free SHS policy.  

 The said false claim, which has been attributed to the Ministry of Education, has been reproduced by some online news portals, in yet another sponsored attempt by Government to use false and malicious publications to bring the name of the former President into disrepute.  
 We wish to place on record that:  

1.   Neither  President  John  Mahama  nor  his  office  has,  any,  interest  in  or  working 
relationship with the AfricaWatch Magazine. 
 
2.   We  have  not  seen  or  been  offered  an  advance  copy  of  the  said  publication  to 
know what they have even written about the government’s Free SHS Policy. 

3.  The claims by the two government sponsored tabloids and the alleged Ministry of Education statement are nothing but part of the usual set of lies conveniently being told to sway the attention and interest of the Ghanaian people from the dangerous   developments   of   corruption,   insecurity,   hardships   and   poor governance by President Nana Akufo-Addo. 


4.  President Mahama holds the enviable record as a Ghanaian leader who has done more to broaden the frontiers of SHS education than many before him. He began with the implementation of the Progressively Free SHS, implemented the Secondary Education Improvement Programme (SEIP), built Community Day Senior High Schools- the largest addition to our school stock since independence, expanded infrastructure in hundreds of existing Senior High Schools among other interventions. 

5.  Like most Ghanaians, Mr. Mahama is  deeply concerned about the horrible conditions under which SHS students are living and studying, out of which deaths have been recorded.  

6.   The Former President’s suggestion and advice to Government has been a call for  a National Stakeholders Dialogue to chart a better and befitting way forward.  

7.   President Akufo-Addo should  heed  that  call,  instead  of  orchestrating  attacks 
based on lies and pedestrian propaganda. 

This Office would also like to point out that it has noted a pattern of spreading ridiculous untruths and a general smear campaign by assigns of government intended to malign the former President to satisfy an obvious political motive.  

 We condemn this approach and demand an immediate end to it. The media must also know that deliberately spreading such concocted falsehood and helping promote smear campaigns against the former President is worsening the dent and the characterisation of the Ghanaian media as unprofessional and partisan.  
 We encourage the Ghanaian public to continue  to  demand  from  the  Akufo-Addo 
government, an improvement from the poor governance it is serving this country. 
 
 
SIGNED  
Joyce Bawah Mogtari  
Special Aide  
Thursday, January 25, 2018 
 
Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 
 

Samira: My husband is doing well; he’ll return to work soon

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Second Lady, Samira Bawumia, has assured the country that, her husband, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, is doing well and that, he would return to work soon.

The Vice President is currently enjoying his medical leave in the United Kingdom following doctors’ advice.

“My husband @MBawumia and I, are grateful to all Ghanaians and well wishers from across the world for your prayers, support and best wishes. He is doing very well and we thank Allah for His grace. He looks forward to returning to work soon,” Samira Bawumia tweeted Thursday.


Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 
 

Girl, 9, defiled by two brothers; parents of culprits attempt to destroy evidence

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Reports reaching Atinka News indicate  that two boys aged 15 and 13, have defiled another minor in Krofu, a suburb of Mankessim in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region.

Narrating her ordeal, the  nine –year old victim, 9, said, she was playing with her sister and the younger sister of the culprits when the thirteen-year boy came and bundled her friend away on the instruction of the elderly one.

And sooner than later, the two boys who are also siblings came for her and the elderly boy took off her under panties. 

According to the victim, she cried during the alleged intercourse when the mother heard of her screaming and came to her rescue. 

Immediately the culprits eloped, but were later found. However, the parents of the boys according to reports were not located.

The victim said after visiting the police station and was directed to attend to the hospital, families of the boys decided to insert medicine into her private part.

They even gave her medications without a prescribed medicine from a doctor. However,  the victim’s mother, Ama Kunuwa, resisted.

Ama Kunuwa  said she sent the girl to Mankessim Hospital where doctors confirmed that the little girl had been defiled.

And that even though the police came for the boys to interrogate them, they are still minors hence they (police) said they could not lock them up.

Ama Kununa also said she rejected a proposal from parents of the boys  for an amicable settlement.

Ghana  Atinkaonline.com 
 

DCOP Tiwaa Addo-Danquah now substantive CID  boss

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Acting Director-General of the Criminal Investigative Department (CID), DCOP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah  is now  the substantive Director-General.

The Acting Director General/ICT, DCOP/Mr Anthony Tennyson Aidoo, is now the substantive Director-General.

A statement signed by the  Inspector General of Police, David Asante-Apeatu, confirmed the positions of the two officers .
“DCOP/Mr Anthony Tennyson Aidoo Ag Director General/ICT Is hereby confirmed Director General ICT. DCOP/Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, Ag Director-General CID is hereby confirmed Director-General /CID,” the statement said.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

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