22 arrested for causing damage during drivers’ strike

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22 arrested for causing damage during drivers’ strike

Twenty-two (22) persons were on Monday, December 6, 2021 arrested by the Ghana Police for various offences such as rioting, causing damage and blocking public road within the Accra Metropolis, during the nationwide sit-down strike by the members of the drivers union.

The Coalition of Commercial Transport Operators in Ghana including the Ghana Private Road and Transport Union (GPRTU) embarked on a sit down Strike on Monday, December 6, 2021.

This was to get the government scrap all the taxes on the pump price of petroleum products to ease the burden on Ghanaians.

Read Also: Drivers won’t reduce lorry fares even if fuel price is reduced- Omare Wadie

Few weeks ago, the GPRTU and other transport unions threatened to go on strike if government failed to ensure a reduction in the price of fuel.

They also gave indications that they would be forced to increase fares if nothing is done about the situation.

The transport unions were expected to embark on the strike on Monday, 29th November 2021, but they called it off because they said government promised to reduce the fuel price.

But after pushing for about two weeks, it appeared the drivers did not get what they sought from the government and went ahead to do a sit down strike.

It was observed that while many drivers parked their vehicles, few ones did not adhere to the instruction of the striking unions, and were seen picking passengers to and fro.

This got some of the drivers and mates who went on strike confront those who did otherwise.

According to the Police, the 22 suspects took advantage of the sit-down strike to disturb public peace notably at Anyaa, Sowutuom and Amasaman.

Meanwhile, the police said all 22 suspects will be put before the court today, Tuesday, December 7, 2021.

Ghana| Atinkaonlione.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
Writer’s email: [email protected]

Zoomlion, GES educate students on sanitation practices

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Zoomlion, GES educate students on sanitation practices

Students of St. Martin’s Senior High School in the Eastern Region have benefited from Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and waste management sensitisation programme organised by waste management company, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, in collaboration with Schools Health Education Programme (SHEP) of the Ghana Education Service (GES).

The programme, which is currently on-going in selected Senior High Schools (SHSs) across the country, seeks to intensify measures for good sanitary practices among students through education and donation of waste management logistics.

The Nsawam Municipal SHEP Coordinator of the GES, Mr. Stephen Dugbatey, in a presentation explained that “Children lose 272 million school days each year due to diarrhoea globally and an estimated one in three school-aged children in the developing world are infested with intestinal worms”.

He said Ghana was seriously lagging behind as total access to sanitation was just 13%, attributing this to the fact that 59% of the population use community or shared toilets.

Mr Dugbatey charged the students to develop good sanitary practices.

Read Also: 1.75% E-Levy remains unchanged for now -Ofori Atta

“Effective behaviour change programmes are critical to the success and sustainability of all water, sanitation and hygiene interventions. Schools must practise handwashing with soap, safe handling of drinking water, safe excreta disposal, environmental sanitation and personal hygiene including menstrual hygiene,” he emphasised.

A Senior Communications Officer of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Mr Adams Mohammed Mahama, explained to the students that a major challenge to waste management was the negative attitudes developed by citizens towards sanitation.

“Sanitation is a shared responsibility and it behoves all stakeholders to play their part for a clean country. Government has partnered the private sector to establish the needed infrastructure for waste management and this effort will be thwarted if we the citizens do not change our attitude towards the environment,” he said.

He indicated that “Zoomlion has established ultra-modern Integrated Recycling and Composting Plants (IRECoPs) in Accra, Kumasi, adding that these projects were also currently on-going in all the other regions to ensure that we create value out of the waste we generate by recycling them to help keep Ghana clean.”

He said “indiscriminate disposal of faecal waste into water bodies has been resolved by establishing a state-of-the-art sewerage treatment plant in Accra, Kumasi and other parts of the country.”

The Zoomlion team donated waste bins to the school and tasked them to use them to improve solid waste management on the campus.

The Head Master of St. Martin’s SHS, Rev. Benjamin Ohene, thanked Zoomlion and GES for the programme, assuring that the training and the logistics will help improve sanitation on the campus.

He urged the students to demonstrate good sanitation behaviours by ensuring that their dormitories were always kept clean.

He made an appeal to the Nsawam Municipal Assembly to relocate the site for the communal waste container which was closer to the school.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Nima: Islamic teacher,50, allegedly defiles 5-yr-old girl

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Nima: Islamic teacher,50, allegedly defiles 5-yr-old girl

A fifty- year-old Islamic teacher has allegedly defiled a five-year-old girl at Nima, a popular community within the Greater Accra Region.

According to mother of the victim (name withheld), on November 18, 2021, her child returned from school after 5pm which was very unusual. She questioned her and even threatened to beat her the next time she comes home late but the child said nothing.

On the morning of November 19, 2021, as she bathed her daughter to prepare her for school, the small girl resisted anytime she attempted to wash her private part. She became curious and asked her what was wrong but she did not say anything.

“I forced her and threatened to beat if she does not tell me why she will not let me wash her private her. She started crying and mentioned that her Islamic Teacher applied pomade on his fingers and inserted them into her vagina. I started shivering and as I tried to probe further, she started shaking and said, the Islamic teacher warned her not to tell anyone” the victim’s mother recounted as she wept uncontrollably.  

In order not to destabilize the victim, her mother managed to get her daughter to school without creating a scene.

Medical Examination

She then called a few family relatives and then borrowed some money, went back to the school around midday to pick her daughter to Mamobi Polyclinic in the Greater Accra Region.

It was at that point that the Medical Practitioner directed that the child be sent to the Police Hospital for further examination due to the extent of damage.

Read Also: 2022 Budget: Finance Minister writes to Speaker over “modifications”

“I took my daughter to the Police Hospital as directed and it was at that point that the Medical Doctor at Police Hospital requested I officially report at the Nima Police Station and submit the Police Report to them,” the victim’s mother explained.

After the medical examination at the Police Hospital, the Medical Doctor confirmed that the man did not only use his hands, he also attempted to penetrate my daughter but he did not succeed as my daughter was seriously injured already.

Arrest and Death Threats

The suspect was arrested the evening of Friday, November 19, 2021 as I had information that the suspect was likely to abscond. After the arrest, I received a lot of calls and death threats by unknown people within the Nima community who insisted I withdraw the case against the “noble” Islamic cleric.

“His family members offered me GHC3,500 for my daughter’s medical bills and promised to take care of my daughter for the next three months to conclude all the medical examination process. They as well promised to adequately take care of my daughter and should not have any worries as the MP for the area is solidly behind them. I declined the offer and since then I have known no peace. My landlady at Nima accused me of bringing shame unto the community because I caused the arrest of a supposedly quiet, calm and respectable Islamic teacher,” She lamented.

“No one seems to care about the welfare of my daughter. It appears they are all guarding the shameless reputation of this 50-yr-old Islamic teacher who might be doing the same thing to other school children. All I wanted was to ensure that my daughter was not infected with any deadly virus, then I can withdraw the case but now I have to leave the community [Nima] with my daughter because the death threats are unbearable”.

The suspect was later granted bail and was asked to present himself to the police on a scheduled date.  However, the suspect has been re-arrested after a non-governmental Organisation, INERELA+ Ghans reported the incident to the media.

Fight for Justice

Speaking in an interview with Atinka News’ Regina Asamoah, Country Director of INERELA+ Ghana , Mercy Acquah-Hayford disclosed  how this sad incident came to their attention and steps taken to ensure justice is served.

According to her, INERELA+ Ghana in partnership with Women in Law and Development Africa (WiLDAF) will provide legal assistance for the family aside other welfare support.

The case is expected to be heard at the Gender Court today 7th December, 2021.

Ghana together with the world is observing 16-days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence which span from November, 25 – December, 10. It is a period where there is increase advocacy on issues of Gender-Based Violence. The ordeal of this 5-yr-old is just one in a million of several abuse cases that are recorded on daily basis.

Article 34 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, charges State Parties to protect the child from all forms of sexual exploitation and sexual abuse. Similarly, Article 39 also calls appropriate measures to promote physical and psychological recovery and social reintegration of a child victim of any form of neglect, exploitation or abuse.

Justice for this 5-year-old victim of abuse, will deepen Ghana’s fight against Gender-Based Violence.

Ghana| Regina Asamoah| [email protected]

Governments must always ensure equitable distribution of national cake – NAPO

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Governments must always ensure equitable distribution of national cake – NAPO

Energy Minister, Hon. Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh says governments must ensure that Ghanaians are given a fair share of the national cake without recourse to any consideration. This according to Dr. Prempeh would make the people benefit from the resources of the country without hinderances.

Dr. Prempeh who spoke on Asempa FM’s late afternoon show Ekosiisen last week Thursday bemoaned the situation where governments in the past have allocated resources to Ghanaians on the basis of their voting pattern and loyalty to a particular party. This in the view of the energy minister is counter-productive to national development.

Dr. Prempeh further situated his opposition to the conduct where the Chiefs and people of a particular region would use ultimatums and blackmails to get governments to budget for developmental projects in their areas.

“I support governments distributing developments, fairly and rationally but for the Chiefs and people of a particular region to ask for funds to be allocated for projects in a national budget on the back of threats, blackmails and ultimatums is unacceptable and we must not countenance such behaviour” he said

Dr. Prempeh’s statement comes on the back of skewed arguments from the opposition National Democratic Congress and the minority in parliament, putting pressure on government to make allocation in the 2022 budget for the Keta Sea Defence Project amidst threats and inciteful remarks.

Read Also:  Zoomlion, GES educate students on sanitation practices

The Manhyia South law maker sought to make the point that a national budget cannot cater for all of a country’s needs at a particular time because the needs of the people in various parts of the country are insatiable. He said the problem of flooding in Kumasi is as pressing a need as the Keta Sea Defence Project and accused the minority in parliament of demonstrating bad faith in the matter only because the inhabitants have consistently voted for them.

The National cake

“A Budget is an important national business document that cannot solve all of our problems in a day. The issue of tidal waves existed even before the NPP came into office under President Kufuor. Between the period 1998 and 2000, the NDC squandered the money they themselves allocated for the project frivolously and the people continued to experience this problem. President Kufuor contracted another loan when he was in office for this same project before the NPP left office. Once again, the NDC came to office, squandered the funds and made the project a fiasco between 2009 and 2017 when they were in office.

He indicated his 100% support in favour of the Finance Minister finding the space in the national coffers to take care of the Keta Sea Defence project. But he continued “the NDC cannot come and put pressure on government to make allocation in the budget on the project just because the place is their stronghold. If that were to happen then anybody or myself could also lead a protest and a demonstration asking for government to also cater for the flooding problems in Kumasi in the national budget. Kumasi has flooded four times but I didn’t see the problem addressed in the budget. He who calls for equity must come with clean hands”

The minister further urged the people of Ghana to support government as the “Agyenkwa” Budget contains a clear road map to economic recovery and debt management in the country’s post COVID-19 efforts.

Ghana I Atinkaonline.com

2022 Budget: Finance Minister writes to Speaker over “modifications”

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2022 Budget: Finance Minister writes to Speaker over “modifications”

Finance Minister, Ken Ofori- Atta has announced some modifications made to the 2022 budget following concerns raised by a section of the public.

Ken Ofori Atta says he has officially written to the Speaker of Parliament with details of modifications in response to emerging concerns by all stakeholders including the Minority.

Parliament on Friday, November 26, 2021, rejected the 2022 budget after members of the Majority Caucus staged a walkout following disagreements over a vote on a last-minute request from Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to meet leadership of the house on the policy document.

Even though the Majority caucus has asked Ghanaians to disregard the said rejection of the budget, the Minority insisted that the document had been thrown out and there was nothing the Majority side could do about it.

In a statement issued on Sunday, November 28, 2021, the Minority asked government to abandon the proposed electronic transaction levy and Agyapa royalties deal in its revised budget.

The Minority also asked government to provide solutions to the ravaging tidal waves in Keta in the Volta Region and also review the benchmark values on imported products.

Read Also: 1.75% E-Levy remains unchanged for now -Ofori Atta

Responding to the concerns raised by the Minority Caucus and stakeholders in Accra, the Finance Minister said, he has officially written to the speaker of Parliament with details of modifications in response to emerging concerns by all stakeholders including the Minority.

With regards to Agyapa Royalties Ltd,Mr. Ofori Atta said, government shall amend paragraphs 442 and 443 to take out references to mineral royalties collateralisation.

He indicated that, it is important to note that, any reference to Agyapa was for informational purposes, and as such was not reflected in the fiscal framework.

Touching on the unfortunate tidal waves which rendered about 3,000 people homeless in Keta, the Finance Minister said government shall make the necessary budgetary allocations of at least GHS10 million to complete the Feasibility and Engineering studies for the coastal communities adversely affected.

He said, government will broaden the scope of the study to consider a more comprehensive solution to protect Ghana’s 540 Km  coastline, including the 149 Km between Aflao and Prampram. Meanwhile, NADMO has responded to the humanitarian crisis created by the tidal waves on the Keta coastline.

On the Aker Energy transaction, He said “we shall amend paragraph 829 of the 2022 Budget on the acquisition of a stake from Aker Energy and AGM Petroleum by GNPC, to reflect the resolution of Parliament dated 6th July, 2021 that “the terms and conditions of the loan for the acquisition of the shares shall be brought to Parliament for consideration pursuant to Article 181 of the Constitution.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com Vincent Kwofie.

1.75% E-Levy remains unchanged for now -Ofori Atta

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1.75% E-Levy remains unchanged for now -Ofori Atta


Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori Atta has refuted claims that government has reduced the 1.75% Electronic levy which was introduced in the 2022 budget statement and Economic Policy of Government.


According to him, the tax still remains 1.75% as stated during the budget reading in Parliament.


Recent reports in some quarters indicated that government had decided to reduce the E-Levy tax from 1.75% to 1.5% following public outcry.

Read Also: E/R: NLA swoops on illegal lotto operators; 6 arrested


However, addressing the press in Accra on Monday, the Minister of Finance denied such a move and asked the public to treat such stories as fabricated.


“On the matter of the E-levy, having regard to its serious fiscal implications, we will continue our consultations with the Minority Caucus in Parliament and other relevant stakeholders, with a view to achieving consensus and reverting to the House in the shortest possible time,” he said.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com |Vincent Kwofie

Cobra with head stuck in beer can rescued

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Cobra with head stuck in beer can rescued

Animal rescuers in India said they successfully freed a venomous cobra found with its head stuck inside a discarded beer can.

Rescuers with the Snake Helpline said they were summoned to a village in Odisha’s Puri district after local residents found the 4-foot spectacled cobra with its head stuck inside the opening at the top of an empty beer can.

A video from the scene shows a rescuer using a pair of scissors to carefully cut through the can and free the snake.

The rescuer said the cobra suffered only minor injuries and was treated with an antibiotic spray before being released back into the wild.

In other news:Robbery: Two arrested at East Legon Hills

robbery

The Ghana Police on Sunday, December 5, 2021, arrested two men, Samuel Agyel and Sumaila Mahama, on suspicion of their involvement in a robbery.

The two robbery suspects were arrested following a distress call received by a Police patrol team that some unknown men had invaded a neighbourhood at CPL Estate, East Legon Hills.

According to the Police, it rushed to the scene and with support from some of the residents, managed to arrest the two suspects.

On the spot search conducted on the men led to the retrieval of a 75-inch curved television set, an iPhone 12 pro max, one Techno smartphone and a revolver pistol with 4 rounds of ammunition.

The team also found a Kia Moming saloon car which the suspects had parked at the roadside to convey the booty.

Meanwhile the police said the two suspects are currently in custody and will be put before the court in due course.

“The Police Administration commends the Police-public partnership that helped to get the two suspects arrested. We continue to assure the public of our readiness to combat crimes in all forms for the safety of all Ghanaians,” it added.

Read Also: We’ll fast to get what we want- Transport Unions

Source: UPI

Police investigate death of eight children in car

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Police investigate death of eight children in car

Police in Nigeria say they are investigating the death of eight children – boys and girls – found dead in an abandoned car in the country’s biggest city, Lagos.

Police said the bodies of the children, aged between four and six years, had been taken to a mortuary and an autopsy would be carried out to establish the cause of their deaths.

The parents of the children are said to be Niger nationals who live in Lagos.

The chairman of an association representing Nigeriens in Lagos, Saidu Abdullahi, told the BBC that the children were from two families.

He called on the authorities to carry out a thorough investigation.

The children were found locked in the abandoned car on Saturday.

Read Also: GTBank Di Asa Season Five: Queens spared at eviction show

Nigerians demand #JusticeForSylvester

BBC News, Lagos

Police are investigating Sylvester Oromoni’s deathImage caption: Police are investigating Sylvester Oromoni’s death

More than 180,000 people have signed petitions asking for the prosecution of those allegedly responsible for the torture and death of a 12-year-old pupil, Sylvester Oromoni, at a boarding school in Nigeria’s main city Lagos.

His family has accused senior students at Dowen College of torturing him after he refused to join a cult group.

The school insists he died from injuries sustained while playing football.

#JusticeForSylvester has been trending on social media in Nigeria since last week, and a WhatsApp group has also been formed to demand justice.

As police investigations continue, Sylvester’s father said he wanted Dowen College to hand over the students accused of beating his son.

“All I want is justice,” he told BBC News.

The Lagos State government has closed the secondary school indefinitely. Many want it to remain closed, accusing it of negligence.

In a statement last week, the school said its “preliminary investigation showed there was no fighting, bullying or any form of attack on the boy”.

Source: BBC

E/R: NLA swoops on illegal lotto operators; 6 arrested

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E/R: NLA swoops on illegal lotto operators; 6 arrested

The National Lottery Authority as part of efforts to clamp down on illegal lotto operators across the country has apprehended 6 operators in the Eastern Region.

This comes after the Authority completed its license regime as part of measures to streamline the activities of lotto operators.

Speaking on the recent operation to the media at the Koforidua Central Police station, Mr. Goodfellow Dei Ofei who is the Public Relations Manager for the Authority said, “ as we indicated we will have these unannounced swoops to clear the system of these illegal operators”.

He continued “we gave them ample time to have their activities properly regularized but some of these people thought we were joking about our resolve to clear the system of illegal lottery activities. Today’s operations was very successful we apprehended 6 operators at their closing points and some cash which are proceeds from their activities. The police have been of tremendous support to us. We expect to prosecute these suspects as soon as possible”.

It will be recalled that in September this year, the management of the National Lottery Authority headed by its new Director General Mr. Samuel Awuku engaged the Association of Private Lotto Operators on the modalities to renewing their operational license for the year 2021/2022 which expired in June this year.

Read Also: Drivers suspend strike ahead of meeting with presidency

After the deliberations, both parties agreed on some modalities which culminated into the licensing procedure.

After the completion of the license regime, the NLA with the support of the security services set out to clamp down on the activities of persons operating Lotto illegally.

A series of such operations have occurred in some parts of the Greater Accra Region since the 1st of November this year. One such activity took the team to the Eastern Region which is regarded as the second largest sales region for the NLA. The operations were carried out in the Kwahu enclave ie. Nkawkaw, Abetifi, Atibei, etc.

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com

Ben Asante has transformed Ghana Gas as CEO

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Ben Asante has transformed Ghana Gas as CEO

The Chief Executive officer of Ghana Gas Company DR Ben Asante has been praised for putting the pieces together in his quest to ensure an efficient and productive management of the state institution.

His appointment to head the state firm has led to some strategic and tactical reform that have firmly repositioned Ghana gas to be productive and profit oriented.

President Akufo Addo on January 30, 2017, appointed Dr. Asante as the acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Gas Company based at Atuabo in the Ellembelle district of the Western Region.

“Since his assumption of office as CEO for a strategic national asset for the country, he has used competent locals in the operations and management of the company, which has in effect saved the country from paying millions of dollars to Chinese nationals and other expatriates who were managing the facility.

Upon assuming office Dr. Ben Asante realised that Ghana Gas workers were the lowest paid among the employees of the oil and gas industry players.

He therefore made recommendations and sought approval to increase their salaries and their conditions of service. Based on this the workers salaries were increased from 30-85 percent”. This is a remarkable achievement which ought to be commended.

Read Also: GTBank Di Asa season 5: Five More evicted

It is also remarkable to note that initially, the company had 150 workers, but can now boast of more 650 workers who have diligently been trained in health, safety and environment without recording any major incidents of which the company will soon pay close to 20 million cedis as dividend to the government.

“The company also recently commissioned an ultra modern Gas company at AB Bokazo to be used as an operational office, which was built from scratch; so Ghana Gas is better off under Dr. Ben Asante” he reiterated.

some of the company’s achievements include two successful tie-ins at Sanzule, which increased production of gas, the completion of the reserve flow project, and massive Corporate Social Responsibility projects in the Western Region and elsewhere among others.

In spite of all his hardwork and achievement in shaping and promoting sustainable power delivery with Ghana Gas, some people seems not to be happy , as usual and are doing everything they could to hunt the noble man who has given all he has for the country. Plans ,ploys and tricks are being hatched to get rid of this noble man with all sorts of allegations against him. However, Dr Ben Asante is not deterred by this manipulators and is determined to continue with his good works.

Dr. Ben Asante has over 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry.
He was the technical Director of Ghana’s first Gas Infrastructure project and also developed the gas infrastructure master plan for Ghana in 2008.

He has also served as a consultant to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and provided engineering services, project management and technical support for various projects across the world including UAE, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Mexico, Russia, Thailand and USA.

He has worked for major companies including Nova/TransCanada and Enron and Jacobs Engineering.

Dr. Ben Asante is a product of Mfantsipim school and holds a BSc in Chemical Engineering (KNUST, Ghana), and an MSc in Chemical Engineering from the University of Calgary, Canada.

He also has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Imperial College, London /University of Calgary and has taught gas processing and pipeline engineering at Imperial College, UK and KNUST, Ghana.

Source: Razak Kojo Opoku

Ghana| Atinkaonline.com

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