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Sam George locks up NDC executives in his home

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Sam George locks up NDC executives in his home

 

Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress [NDC], together with some branch executives of the party in the Ningo Prampram Constituency and a Citi FM Journalist, were on Wednesday afternoon locked up in the residence of the Ningo Prampram MP, Sam George for nearly an hour.

According to Citi News’ Tema Correspondent, Elvis Washington, he was locked up together with all the party executives on the instructions of Mr. Sam George as some heavily built men believed to be land guards threatened to beat them up.

Elvis Washington said the party officials and branch executives were in the house of the MP because some re-registration booklets that were to be handed over to the constituency executives from the national headquarters, had been allegedly diverted to the MP’s house, a situation that did not go down well with the branch executives who stormed the house to demand explanations.

According to Washington, he together with the branch executives were initially prevented from entering the premises, just when Madam Sherry Ayittey arrived with a team to deliver the booklets.

However, the delivery was halted after the branch executives protested against it.

At this point, the former Minister categorically stated that she was unable to deliver the books due to the confusion, and would thus take them back to the national headquarters.
Washington said the Member of Parliament then called the former Minister and other party executives into a meeting for about an hour in his house.

He said after the meeting, the branch executives were called into the house, where he also joined.

“As soon as we entered, there were these land guards who locked up the gate behind us. Honourable Sam George was having issues with the Greater Accra Regional Secretary, Victor Quarshie, and they were arguing seriously and the man was raising his voice saying that Sam George had attacked his personality, suggesting that he was nobody but for politics they are colleagues. And information I picked from the ground was that, Mr. Sam George asked Mr. Quarshie to come and address the people, insisting that the branch executives were not invited at that meeting.”

This back and forth over whether or not the branch executives should be part of the meeting, escalated the confusion between the two men, and Mr. Quarshie opted to leave the house.

“So Mr. Quarshie said he was not going to tell the people any lies but the truth. So Mr. Quarshie opted to leave the house and we all decided to follow him because we sensed danger. When he got to the gate, upon the instructions of Mr. Sam George, they [Land guards] said they will not allow us to leave. So we were all in there begging and there are sound bites I have to that effect. We pleaded with the land guards but they said they will not allow us unless Sam George instructs them to do so” Elvis narrated.

At this point however, the former Minister Sherry Ayitey, was outside the house

Elvis Washington added that, when the police was called into to calm the situation and rescue them from the house, they were eventually disregarded by the MP.

“The police then came in and spoke to the MP. But according to the police, Mr. Sam George damned them. In one of the sound clips, I was even begging the police to help us out of the house but they didn’t. The Land guards only allowed the police to leave and locked us again, and then we begged repeatedly before the MP finally allowed us to leave the premises” Washington added.

Sam George denies the narration

When the MP, Sam George was called on Eyewitness News, he blatantly denied any such incident saying he was not available in the house and could not confirm such an incident.

When he was reminded that Citi News’ Correspondent had evidence of his presence in the house, Mr. Sam George said he was unaware, and that the journalist would have been trespassing if indeed he was in his house.

In what appears to be a clear contradiction, Sam George later said he only had a meeting with some party executives on internal party matters that he could not divulge.

Victor Quarshie exposes Sam George’s ‘lies’

When the party’s Greater Accra Regional Secretary, Victor Quarshie, who he had the altercation with at his residence was called on Eyewitness News, he confirmed Elvis Washington’s narration of events, saying the MP was not being truthful.

Mr. Quarshie said he was only forced to speak to the due to the MP’s blatant denial. He also said the incident was embarrassing, as he criticized Mr. Sam George’s arrogant posture towards party executives in times past.

It will be recalled that, Mr. Sam George’s election at the NDC’s primaries that saw him defeat long-serving MP E.T. Mensah prior to the 2016 election, was an acrimonious process that ended in fisticuffs among their followers.

He has often been accused by his political opponents as an arrogant and violent person, but he has often denied these tags.


Citifmonline
 

Kenya begins free SHS

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Kenya begins free SHS

 

The government of Kenya has released Sh37 billion (about $357,790,000) to all public schools towards the implementation of free education, a day after they reopened for the 2018 first term.

Sh29.5 billion (about $280,430,000) has been paid to all the public secondary schools for Free Secondary Education (FSE) that has been rolled out as part of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s 2017 pre-election pledge.

The remaining Sh7.5 billion will go to the printing and supply of textbooks for both secondary and primary schools.

As part of efforts to implement FSE, the government increased the capitation fund for secondary boarding schools to Sh22,244 which will be paid directly to the school.
A breakdown of the distribution of the Sh22,244 released Wednesday by the Ministry shows the government has allocated Sh5,122 per student for tuition, which brings the total to Sh13.4 billion.

Similarly, the capitation for cost of operations is Sh6,000 per student, totalling Sh15.7 billion a year.
In a statement, the ministry said a portion equivalent to the cost of the six core course books has been recovered from each learner towards payment for the books under the tuition vote item.

Under the arrangement, pupils in Standard Seven and Eight will each receive four books for English, Kiswahili, science and mathematics, while all students in secondary schools will receive six core textbooks for English, Kiswahili, mathematics, physics, biology and chemistry.

“Schools are expected to acknowledge receipt of the grant by issuing official receipts to the principal secretary for each of the two vote heads followed by receipts to each student for the capitation after they have signed form to be attached to payment voucher as per accounting procedures,” the ministry said in a circular to school principals.

GUIDELINES

The statement was signed by the director of secondary and tertiary education at the Ministry, Mr Robert Masese, on behalf of the principal secretary.
Mr Masese directed all schools to adhere to the guidelines as detailed in the circular issued by the Ministry on the implementation of Free Day Secondary Education.

“For the avoidance of doubt, all national schools and extra-county Schools in Mombasa, Nakuru, Nairobi, Kisumu and Eldoret will charge Sh53,554.00 per year. Any other boarding school will charge Sh40,435.”

In the 2017/18 budget, the government has set aside Sh33 billion for free secondary education and another Sh14 billion for free primary schooling.
 

Source: Daily Nation

OccupyGhana: Repeal ‘obsolete’ TV licence regime  

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OccupyGhana: Repeal ‘obsolete’ TV licence regime  

 

Governance group, OccupyGhana has called for the existing television license regime to be repealed and replaced.

In a statement, the group said the entire TV Licence regime that was established in 1966 (with just a few amendments) has become obsolete adding, “what is required is not a forcible re-implementation of it, but a root-and-stem review that repeals the existing law and regime, and, if necessary, introduces a new statute and regime that takes the current realities in broadcasting into account”

Below is the full statement:  
 
4th JANUARY 2018

OCCUPYGHANA® PRESS STATEMENT

OccupyGhana® Calls For The Existing Television Licence Regime To Be Repealed And Replaced

OccupyGhana® has followed the recent discussions regarding TV Licence Fees, particularly the announcement that specific courts have been established to try defaulters. 
We disagree with these moves for two reasons:

1. There is no constitutional or statutory basis for the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), simply as the designated “licensing authority,” retaining the revenue from what is essentially a tax, and then determining how to use it, outside laws passed and appropriations made by Parliament, and

2. The entire TV Licence regime that was established in 1966 (with just a few amendments) has become obsolete. What is required is not a forcible re-implementation of it, but a root-and-stem review that repeals the existing law and regime, and, if necessary, introduces a new statute and regime that takes the current realities in broadcasting into account.

We will address these matters in turn:

UNCONSTITUTIONALITY AND ILLEGALITY

The Television Licensing Act, 1966 (NLCD 89) and the various Television Licensing Regulations passed under it, provide for the payment of TV Licence Fees for the licensing of the installation and use of “television receiving sets.” These are to exist and operate under the auspices of a “licensing authority” that would be either “the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation or any other statutory corporation appointed by the Minister by legislative instrument.” Every contravention of the Act (including the non-payment of the fee) is an offence punishable by up to a fine of 250 penalty units (GHS3,000) and/or up to one year’s imprisonment.

The TV Licence Fee is simply a tax for owning or dealing in the affected apparatus. GBC is merely the currently designated body to administer the licences and collect those taxes, as an agent of the government. We are not aware of any statute that gives GBC the power to retain the revenue derived from the tax and then use it for its operations, developing content, sharing with other broadcasters or for any other purpose.

That tax revenue is also not listed as one of the sources of funds of the GBC under section 10 of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation Act, 1968 (NLCD 226). Although that section provides that GBC’s funds include “moneys accruing to the Corporation in the course of the performance of its functions,” tax revenue does not accrue to the GBC and does not fall under this rubric. Similarly, if the Minister were to designate another statutory corporation as the “licensing authority” under the Act, that entity would not have the right to use the revenue.

Further, that revenue does not constitute GBC’s “internally generated funds” (IGF). Article 176 of the Constitution demands that “all revenues or other monies raised or received for the purposes of, or on behalf of, the Government;” and “any other monies raised or received in trust for, or on behalf of, the Government,” must be mandatorily paid into the Consolidated Fund. Exceptions, particularly retentions, are only permitted under an Act of Parliament.

That is why statutes such as the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (Retention of Funds) Act, 2007 (Act 735) and the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) contain strict rules on the use of IGFs, and our statute books are replete with specific statutes (too many to be listed here) in which Parliament expressly allows entities to keep all or part of IGFs. We are not aware of any such statute with respect to the GBC.

It is on these bases that we believe that the automatic retention of the TV Licence Fees by the GBC for its purposes is unconstitutional and illegal and we therefore call for that practice to cease forthwith. Absent a specific enabling legislation, all TV Licence Fees collected should be immediately deposited in the Consolidated Fund.

OBSOLENCE
We further contend that both the regime and the law on TV licensing are obsolete for three main reasons:

(i) The Act defines “television receiving set” as “an apparatus CONSTRUCTED SOLELY for the reception of pictures, with or without sound transmitted by radio” [Emphasis added.] This means that if the apparatus in use, by its manufacture and technology, is not restricted to only receiving pictures (with or without radio-transmitted sound), but is capable of receiving other signals, that apparatus is not the subject of licensing and consequently the payment of the fee. We think that contrary to your expressed view, the law expressly rules out the vast majority of apparatuses (Smart TVs, phones, pads, tablets, etc.) that are currently in use, and which are manufactured to receive and process more than just pictures. Indeed what may even be called “TVs” today are not mere linear broadcast receivers and translators of pictures. They are also used to play games, watch movies, project presentations, display location adverts and browse the Internet. The reality is that a strict application of a law that is based on 1966 technology, to 2017 apparatuses would leave the licensing authority with precious little or almost nothing to enforce the licence against.

(ii) With over authorized 505 radio stations (392 operational) and 75 television stations, Ghanaians have a lot of media sources to consume both local/public and international content. This ensures competition that should result in producing quality content. Also, Ghana has recorded a tremendous growth in the number and diversity of media channels, with Ghanaians having countless media sources such as radio, newspaper, magazines, websites and other online platforms. Further, online platforms such as YouTube, Hulu, Netflix, Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video and Google ChromeCast are redefining content broadcasting online and pointing to the future of TV broadcasting. All these are available and consumed in Ghana, driving the growth of data usage. There are also cable-TV services in Ghana who broadcast local channels through set-top boxes. Some of these have become the first choice channels for media content consumption, thereby reducing the audience share for traditional TV transmission. Evidently, GBC is not the only TV media source where public information is consumed for it to warrant an automatic right to TV Licence Fees and to be able to produce and broadcast public information. Further, not all Ghanaians or TV owners in Ghana will consume GTV’s content.

(iii) GBC (managers of GTV) is a commercial broadcaster. For years, it enjoyed an absolute monopoly in television broadcasting and the income from adverts and sponsored contents. Now it has competition and is faltering. Compelling Ghanaians to pay TV Licence Fees to GBC is grossly unfair and anti-competitive. Announcing the setting up of a court for these purposes sends the wrong signal to Ghanaians, that draconian steps are being taken to use the judiciary a tool of enforcement of a grossly unpopular tax. If GBC is unable to be profitable, in spite of years of government subvention and TV Licence Fees, then it may be time to consider selling it.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the world of television has moved from being analogue to the digital sphere. The rules have changed. In a world of digitisation, Ghana should be thinking of laws and policies that look into the future, and seek to create the enabling smart digital environment for prosperity and opportunities for all. You cannot, in 2017, be seeking to implement laws based on obsolete and currently inapplicable 1966 technology and then seek to punish Ghanaian for not complying with it. 
That is why we are advocating the repeal of the 1966 law and regime, and if necessary, the enactment of new laws that take the new realities into account.

Yours in the Service of God and Country.
OccupyGhana®

Ghana | Atinkaonline.com 
 

Free SHS: Don’t be disillusioned by your critics- Father Campbell to Akufo-Addo

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Free SHS: Don’t be disillusioned by your critics- Father Campbell to Akufo-Addo

 

A Parish Priest of the Christ the King Church, in Accra, Rev. Father Andrew Campbell, has congratulated the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on some of the policy decisions he has taken since assuming office on 7th January, 2017, and urged him not to be disillusioned by his critics.

Congratulating President Akufo-Addo on the implementation of the Free Senior High School Policy, Rev. Father Andrew Campbell indicated that “as people involved in providing support to several needy children to get education, we are well placed to assess the impact of such a transformative policy on most families in Ghana, and also offer some comment.”

He continued, “Please, do not be disillusioned by your critics and the implementation difficulties you will encounter. Sir, you are on the right path and do have our full support.”

Rev. Father Campbell made this known on Wednesday, 3rd January, 2018, when he paid a courtesy call on President Akufo-Addo, at the Flagstaff House.

Touching on the President’s decision and action on illegal mining, popularly referred to as galamsey, Father Andrew Campbell acknowledged that though a very difficult decision to take, President Akufo-Addo has managed to implement it, and deserves commendation.

“Please see it to the very end, which includes restoring degraded environment, including the water bodies and the vegetation, and facilitating the young ones involved to get skills training and sustainable employment. Importantly, make sure that Ghana never experiences this menace again by enforcing rules and regulations without fear or favour,” he added.

Rev. Father Campbell also congratulated the President on programmes such as Planting for Food and Jobs, and the 1-District-1-Factory initiative, adding that “we are very interested in these programmes because of their employment generation potential, especially for our youth”.

The Parish Priest urged the President not to relent in his resolve to eliminate indiscipline, especially bribery and corruption from Ghanaian culture.

“We urge you not to look at persons, positions, relations and status in enforcing rules and regulations. This is the only way that the habit of discipline will be built. Additionally, Sir, as you punish wrong doing, try to reward right or honest behaviour, especially in public office. This, we believe, is a sure path to bringing about change.

“The change that Ghana needs, in our view, is about each and every Ghanaian behaving differently, and starting with those in leadership. We are solidly behind you.”

We won’t follow any corrupt persons to court – Koku Anyidoho 

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We won’t follow any corrupt persons to court – Koku Anyidoho 

 

A Deputy General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Mr. Koku Anyidoho has served notice the Party will not follow any accused persons to court for whatever it may be worth.

This directly contradicts an earlier call by former President Mahama on party supporters to solidarise with members charged with any offences.

Speaking at the 31st December Revolution Anniversary held in the Volta Regional capital, Ho recently, the Mr. Mahama remarked saying “We must be prepared to face any prosecution that this government throws at us, but we must do so with commitment and solidarity; solidarity with our colleagues who may fall foul of the law because the law says you are innocent until proven guilty by a competence and justice of the court”.

But Mr. Anyidoho argues that persons who may fall on the edges of the Special Prosecutor’s knife have associates, family members and friends who may deem it necessary to follow them to court but not the NDC as a political party or its executives.

“Why should I wake up in the morning and say a particular individual has been sent to court so I must follow him to court?”, he asked

“Of course, such persons have families, friends and loved ones who are free to follow them to Court and of course who may want to follow them to court and nothing stops them but to mass up as party executives, stop our jobs and follow them to court, no”, he added.

Koku was commenting on the passage of the law on the office of a Special Prosecutor on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem show with Kofi Adoma Nwanwani.

Explaining the former president’s comments further, however, Koku Anyidoho said what he did was to caution the rank and file of the NDC from joining the NPP to castigate people who have been accused out of political malice.

“As a political party, we shouldn’t fall for the propaganda of the NPP and that we all support hundred percent”, he indicated.

Myjoyonline

Concerned Christians appeal to government to re-consider stance on Jerusalem

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Concerned Christians appeal to government to re-consider stance on Jerusalem

 

Concerned Ghanaian Christians have appealed to government to reconsider its stance on the proposal that Jerusalem should be the political capital of Israel.

They have however agreed with government’s stance on the need for “Palestinians” to have their own state but not to take a stand that rejects Jerusalem as the undivided, eternal capital of Israel.

“It was a gross error of judgement, a blatant refusal to learn from history, a gravely and costly mistake.”Dr Samuel Ofori, the spokesperson for the group stated at a news conference in Accra.

He said, a Saudi academician, Abdul Hameed Hakeem, the Director of Middle East Centre for Strategic and Legal Studies in Jedda, recently on Saudi Television mentioned that “Arabs should accept Israel’s historic right to Jerusalem.

“We have to adjust and realise that Jerusalem is a religious symbol, which is just as holy to Israel as Mecca and Medina are for us Muslims.”

According to Dr. Ofori, the Holy Scriptures explained that even the New Jerusalem, the capital of the new heaven and earth which is yet to come would maintain its Jewish flavour, with twelve gates named after the twelve tribes of Israel.

“Jerusalem has been and is a divinely chosen religious and political capital of the Jewish people”

He said the divine position of Jerusalem as an indivisible city chosen by God for the Jewish people is incontrovertibly made clear in Psalm 122:3-4 which reads; “Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together; where the tribe go up, the tribes of the Lord, to the testimony of Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord.

“We will like to state unequivocally, that government’s vote is totally unacceptable to the Ghanaian Christian community who believe in the prophecies concerning Jerusalem in Zechariah 12:1-9.” He added.

Dr. Ofori indicated that three successive American Presidents who preceded President Donald Trump spoke emphatically that they see Jerusalem as the permanent undivided capital of Israel.

He said President Donald Trump is the fourth who had boldly taken the decision beyond political rhetoric to move the American Embassy to Jerusalem where it belonged.

“We will like to point out that every sovereign nation has the right to decide where it places its capital and Israel chose Jerusalem three millennia before the UN was born.”

He gave examples of Nigeria that moved her capital from Lagos to Abuja; Cote d’Ivoire from Abidjan to Yamassoukro; Ghana from Cape Coast to Accra; Tanzania from the Dar Es Salam to Dudoma and after the reunification of Germany, Berlin was retained as her capital.

Pastor of Anton World Harvest, John Gordon Egyir, said majority of Christians had distanced themselves from government’s position on Jerusalem and urged Christians to educate fellow Christians to establish the divine fact associated with Jerusalem.


SOURCE: GNA

Group appeals to Okyehene not to meddle in Okuapeman chieftaincy matters 

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Group appeals to Okyehene not to meddle in Okuapeman chieftaincy matters 

 

A group calling itself, Concerned Youth of Akuapeman, has urged the Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin, not to use his position as President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs to meddle in the Okuapeman chieftaincy issues.

After the death of Oseadeyo Addo Dankwah III in 2015, the late Okuapehene who ruled for 41 years, the process to select a new Okuapehene to succeed him has been fraught with dispute. Some  influential persons  in society have been accused of secretly supporting one faction against the other, thereby heightening tension in the area . 

In a statement issued Tuesday (January 2, 2018), the group said, “we, the natives of Okuapeman urge and honorably plead with you to refrain from meddling in the processes leading to the nomination, acceptance, confinement and eventual installation of the next Okuapehene.

According to the group, the tenure of Okyehene as President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs has so far been characterized by countless chieftaincy disputes,  adding that any attempt to meddle in the current  Akuapeman chieftaincy crisis will further deepen conflicts in the area.

 “We have realized that under your tenure as the President of the Eastern Regional looming chieftaincy disputes have increased in the region, as concerned Youth of Okuapeman we recognize that the role of the chieftaincy institution is relevant as ever and we would always want to see Nananom, as a role models as we continue to see and emulate you Sir,” the group alleged.

Below is the  full statement:

CONCERNED YOUTH OF OKUAPEMAN

JANUARY 2ND, 2018

PETITION: OKYEHENE MUST STAY AWAY FROM OKUAPEMAN CHIEFTAINCY ISSUES

PRESIDENT OF THE EASTERN REGIONAL HOUSE OF CHIEFS SHOULD NOT MEDDLE IN THE OKUAPEMAN CHIEFTAINCY ISSUES.

Happy New Year Nana may you live long.

i.    Okyehene Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin ever since you were re-elected as the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs.Working for another four-year term as President .We for the first time want to congratulate you for the position and urge you on to greater heights. 

ii.    Nana as we congratulate we the natives of Okuapeman urge and honorably plead with you to refrain from meddling in the processes leading to the nomination, acceptance, confinement and eventual installation of the next Okuapehene. 

iii.    This petition has become imperative for the following reasons: 

i.    We have realized that under your tenure as the President of the Eastern Regional looming chieftaincy disputes have increased in the region, as concerned Youth of Okuapeman we recognize that the role of the chieftaincy institution is relevant as ever and we would always want to see Nananom, as a role models as we continue to see and emulate you Sir. 

ii.    Last year as the President of the Regional House of chiefs you attended the Odwira festival marked by one of the faction chiefs of the Gyase Division of the Akwapim Traditional Area in Amonokrom by name Osim Kwatia, whilst you knew that the issue was before the Court. 
 

iii.    As the President of the Regional House of chiefs we humbly advise you to stay away from attending programmes of chiefs who haven’t been gazzeted. 

iv.    We are also aware that the judicial committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs is headed by its President, Osaagyefuo Amoatia Ofori Panin II. 

v.    The President of the Eastern Regional house of Chiefs (who is also the occupant of the Ofori Payin Stool of the Akyem Abuakwa Traditional Area) is not a member of the Sekyiabia Royal Family of the Asona clan and, therefore, has no locus within the traditional setup to meddle but can advise after the installation of Okuapehene. 

vi.    We are aware of your invitations and subsequent meeting with the Okuapehemaa and some of the Kingmakers to try and settle the matter. Since some of them are citing you as an authority. 

vii.    These activities since the commencement of the process of installing the next Okuapehene have tended to instigate and fuel the litigation over the confinement of two separate candidates by the same royal House as a prelude to the installation of a new Okuapehene. 

viii.    We are calling on Osagyefo Amotia Ofori Payin to rather look into the criminal act of breaking broke into the Omanhene’s Palace, the deafening silence of the President seemed to have legitimised the criminal act. 

ix.    The purported installation of Odehye Kojo Kesse under the supervision of the Chief of Amonokrom who has not been gazzeted breached the Public Order Act which enjoins organisers of such activities to obtain police permission. 

x.    We are also calling on you to caution Acting President of the Akwapim traditional Council Osahene Offei Agyeman on his activities. 

xi.    At a recent press conference held in his palace by some kingmakers purporting to legitimise the installation of Odehye Tatoo candidate Kojo Kesse gives credence to the fact that the Acting President Osahene Offei Agyeman supports the criminal act, particularly, when he used his palace as a conduit. 

xii.    It has also come to our notice that some of the chiefs who met at his palace have not been gazetted, an act which indicates that the Acting President is using illegitimate persons to instigate and fuel chieftaincy dispute in the traditional area. One of such persons is Nana Osim Kwatia II, Chief of Amanokrom. 

xiii.    We also call on you to caution the Chief of Amanokrom to stop stoking the fires and allow the legitimate Odehye, chosen by the Old ladies in the Sakyiabea Royal Family, to exercise their authority. 
 

xiv.    As the youth of Okuapeman, we are concerned about the consequences of the imminent protracted litigation in the Traditional Area. 

xv.    The looming chieftaincy dispute could negatively affect the development of the entire Akuapem Traditional Area and a possible domino effect in the Eastern Region as a whole. Already, this litigation has led to the virtual dwindling of paramountcies in the Eastern Region under your watch. 

xvi.    We the natives and the Concerned Youth of Okuapeman will do everything legally-possible to protect the legacy of the immediate-past Omanhene, the late Oseadeeyo Addo Dankwa III, who ascended the throne in 1974 at the age of 44 and brought honour and dignity to the area when he reigned continuously for 41 years before passing in August 2015. 

xvii.    We have resolved not to allow any self-conceited persons to send the area back to the era when the Akuapem paramountcy was characterized by strife and dissension since 1907. 

xviii.    Against this background, we humbly urge you to advice the Acting President, his agents and assigns to refrain from using your name in interfering in the authorized, legitimate traditional roles of the Asona clan. 


Signed:

Bomoden Okamafo Asamani Addo (Convenor) 


Ghana| Atinkaonline.com 

Man, 50, jailed 20 years for defiling  12 -year-old niece

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Man, 50, jailed 20 years for defiling  12 -year-old niece

 

 Daniel Tettey Ashitey, a 50 year old painter has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court for defiling his 12 year old niece at Nungua, a suburb of Accra.

Tettey charged with defilement pleaded guilty but blamed his actions on the devil.

Tettey however intermittently kept giggling whilst answering questions pertaining to why he defiled his niece.

The court presided over by Mrs. Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku held that considering the convict’s age and the fact that he (Tettey) had not shown any remorse for his conduct it therefore handed down a 20 year jail term on him

The facts as presented by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Agnes Boafo are that the complainant is a seamstress and an elder sister of the victim.

The convict, prosecution said is an uncle to the complainant and the victim and they all reside in a family house at Nungua.

ASP Boafo said on December 13, last year, the victim attended nature’s call and on her return met Tettey.

Prosecution said Tettey dragged the victim into his room after covering her mouth with a handerkerchief and had bouts of sex with the victim.

According to prosecution, the victim informed her grandmother who also informed the complainant. A report was made to the Domestic Violence and Victim’s Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service in Nungua and Tettey was picked up.

A medical report form was issued to the victim to seek medical assistance upon which the convict was charged.

GNA

Freed rapists 'sing for Tanzania's leader'

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Freed rapists 'sing for Tanzania's leader'

 

Tanzania's President John Magufuli has met two musicians whom he pardoned about three weeks ago, despite the fact that they were serving life prison sentences for raping 10 primary schoolgirls in 2003.

Nguza Viking, known as Babu Seya, and his son Johnson Nguza, known as Papii Kocha, thanked Mr Magufuli for pardoning them, and sang for him during their visit to State House, Tanzania's The Citizen newspaper reported.

It quoted Mr Magufuli as saying:

You shouldn't thank me. Rather you should thank God, who is the only one with the power to forgive."
Children's rights activists have condemned the pardon of Viking and Nguza.

They had served 13 years of their sentence when they were released for raping the 10 girls, aged between six and eight years.

The two were among 61 prisoners pardoned by the president in his Independence Day speech.


BBC

GBC to address public concerns over TV Licence Jan. 3

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GBC to address public concerns over TV Licence Jan. 3

 

The management of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, (GBC) will on January 3, address concerns being raised by the public relating to the TV Licence fee on its Breakfast Show on TV and Uniiq Breakfast Drive programne


The Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has set up courts in all the regions of Ghana to prosecute TV licence defaulters.

A letter dated December 11, said the courts will sit every Thursday effective January 4, 2018 until otherwise directed.

However, there have been strong reservations from the public particularly from social media users after the announcement was made.

Their argument has been that GBC has over the years failed to feed its audience with compelling content.

But the Director General of the Corporation Dr Kwame Ntow Akuffo-Anoff has defended the position of GBC on the matter.

In an interview Dr. Akuffo-Anoff said the argument of compelling content is flawed as GBC should not be assessed on just the main channel, which is GTV.

Meanwhile, there appears to be panic reaction following the announcement of the setting up of a special court to prosecute defaulters of the TV license fee.

There is a steady rise in the number of people who want to pay up.

The program to educate the public on the need for TV Licence fee will be aired live on radio and TV in all the regional FM stations of GBC.

GBCONLINE

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let's gets interactive

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