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Effutu: Independent Parliamentary candidate granted GHC50,000 bail.

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The Winneba District Court presided over by Her Worship Josephine Abigail Fosuaa Appiah, has granted bail of GHC 50,000 to Louisa Buabeng, an independent candidate contesting the Effutu parliamentary elections, and her campaign coordinator, Dauda Murtalib Monkaizil.

As part of the bail conditions, both individuals are required to present three sureties, each of whom must be a police officer serving within the district and holding a rank not lower than Chief Inspector.

The case was heard in the absence of both the candidate and her campaign coordinator.

Louisa Buabeng had earlier been remanded into police custody on November 28 by the Winneba High Court following her arrest on November 20 at the court premises after a hearing related to an election matter she had filed.

On Wednesday evening, she was re-arrested, and the following morning, the court considered her case.

According to Citi News, the re-arrest was linked to the discovery of multiple voter identification cards at the residence of one of her aides, raising concerns about possible election-related violations.

Be aware of economic realities and vote for change—Prof. Opoku-Agyemang.

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The vice presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has called on the security services, media practitioners, and other agencies participating in Monday’s special voting exercise to consider the economic hardships in the country and vote for the NDC.

Speaking to journalists, following an open day with Muslim students in Cape Coast In the Central Region, she encouraged all those taking part in Monday’s special voting to reflect on the prevailing economic hardships when casting their votes, suggesting that these conditions should guide their decision-making.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said press freedom was held very high during the erstwhile Mahama administration, but the same cannot be said under the NPP government as many journalists have fled the country for fear of being attacked in their line of duty by the government and its officials.

She therefore urged media practitioners who are voting in Monday’s special voting to be guided by the dangers they are facing in their profession and vote massively for NDC’s presidential candidate, Mr John Dramani Mahama, to reset the country.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also emphasised the importance of fair and accurate coverage of the elections and urged the Electoral Commission to be transparent and fair in its conduct of the general elections.

“We don’t expect the elections to be in the news for the wrong reasons and we are calling on everybody, including the media, to provide fair coverage and for the security to be as fair as we all expect them to be,” she said.

56 dead in Guinea soccer stadium stampede.

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Fifty-six people were killed and several injured in a stampede at a soccer stadium in southern Guinea, following clashes between fans, Guinea’s government said Monday.

Authorities are conducting an investigation to establish those responsible for the stampede on Sunday, Communications Minister Fana Soumah said in a statement read on national television.

The stampede erupted in the packed stadium as security forces attempted to control clashes among fans, local media reported. Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah addressed the tragedy on the platform X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Victims were recorded during the stampede.” While he did not specify the death toll, Bah assured that regional authorities are working to restore calm in the area.

The National Alliance for Alternation and Democracy, a coalition of political parties, issued a statement confirming that the disaster resulted in numerous deaths and injuries.

This tragic event highlights ongoing challenges with crowd management and stadium safety in Guinea. Investigations are expected as families and the community mourn the loss of lives.

Local media reported that security forces tried to use teargas to restore calm after the chaos that followed a disputed penalty.

“This (the disputed penalty) angered supporters who threw stones. This is how the security services used tear gas,” the local Media Guinea reported. It said several of those killed were children while some of the injured being treated at a regional hospital are in critical condition.

Videos that appeared to be from the scene showed a section of the stadium shouting and protesting the refereeing before the clashes broke out as fans poured onto the field.

People were running as they tried to escape from the stadium, many of them jumping the high fence.

Videos also showed many people lying on the floor in what looked like a hospital as a crowd gathered nearby, some assisting the wounded.

The National Alliance for Alternation and Democracy coalition called for an investigation. It said the tournament was organized to drum support for the “illegal and inappropriate” political ambition of the military leader.

The military has led Guinea since soldiers ousted President Alpha Conde in 2021. It is one of a growing number of West African countries, including Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, where the military has taken power and delayed a return to civilian rule.

Doumbouya overran the president three years ago, saying he prevented the country from slipping into chaos and chastised the previous government for broken promises. He has, however, been criticized for not meeting the expectations that he raised.

‘Bawumia Will Sustain STEM Education’.

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Minister for Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has affirmed Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s commitment to sustain and advance STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education as a means of transforming Ghana into a leader in innovation.

Speaking at the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) graduation ceremony in Tarkwa, where 31 of his sponsored students received degrees in various engineering programmes, Dr. Adutwum cited Dr. Bawumia’s leadership in digitalisation as evidence of his commitment to innovation and education.

“I have no doubt in my mind, given his pedigree in the digitalisation space, that championing the STEM agenda is a matter of course,” Dr. Adutwum stated.

“Digitalisation and STEM are symbiotic. To digitalise, you need a critical mass of people who can develop digital tools. The continuation of STEM under his presidency will ensure this cycle of innovation thrives,” the minister said.

He called for a concerted effort from all stakeholders, including universities, to build a critical mass of STEM professionals ready to tackle the nation’s challenges with innovative solutions.

“STEM is the future,” he said, and continued, “We must innovate ourselves out of poverty and create a prosperous Ghana. Under Dr. Bawumia’s leadership, this vision can become a reality.”

Catalyst

Dr. Adutwum emphasised that STEM education is critical in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where knowledge and innovation drive global economies.

Citing South Korea’s success in championing STEM education in the 1970s, he urged Ghana to follow suit to achieve socio-economic transformation.

“In this knowledge economy, STEM equips individuals to look at age-old problems with a fresh perspective, bringing innovation to resolve challenges facing our continent. It’s about breaking the vicious cycle of poverty and replacing it with a virtuous cycle of prosperity,” he said.

According to him, STEM education will ensure Ghana’s participation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution, an era defined by the integration of digital, physical, and biological systems.

He urged the graduates to recognise the significance of this revolution and Ghana’s need to actively drive it.

“We cannot afford to be mere observers in this Fourth Industrial Revolution,” he said. “We must be active participants and drivers of this change.”

“You were not created to be average citizens,” he remarked and added, “Invest in yourselves, change the destiny of your communities, and uplift your nation. The better days of Ghana are ahead of us, not behind us.”

UMaT

The Education Minister commended UMaT as a leader in STEM education, noting that nearly 100% of its graduates are trained in STEM-related fields.

He also lauded the university’s efforts to align its programmes with the government’s STEM-focused Senior High School (SHS) initiatives, which include disciplines like aerospace, biomedical sciences, and manufacturing engineering.

“UMaT is setting an example by increasing enrollment in STEM-related fields and responding to the government’s agenda of equipping senior high schools with engineering and science labs,” Dr. Adutwum said.

“Now, universities must continue this trajectory by developing practical, oriented STEM programmes that ensure seamless continuity from high school to tertiary education,” he added.

Personal Commitment to Education

Dr. Adutwum shared his personal commitment to promoting education, revealing that over 150 students from his constituency are pursuing STEM degrees through his sponsorship, with 31 among the graduating class this year at UMaT.

“These students come from villages where they had never seen an engineer before,” he said. “I paid their fees, provided accommodation, and gave them stipends so they could thrive.”

He also announced plans to build a hall of residence at UMaT to support future students, underscoring his vision to transform his constituency into a hub for engineers.

Government’s Commitment

Dr. Adutwum reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering STEM education, whilst outlining its achievements in education, including the establishment of STEM-focused SHS, the introduction of Free SHS, and the construction of modern Junior High Schools and STEM academies.

These initiatives, he said, aim to address inequality and tap into the full potential of Ghanaian youth.

He also showcased the Accra STEM Academy, which is nearing completion, as an example of the modern, well-equipped facilities being developed to foster innovation and learning in Ghana.

Stakeholders discuss strategies to prevent cross-border FGM practice.

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Stop female genital mutilation sign on white crumpled paper.

Stakeholders have met to discuss and brainstorm strategies and interventions to prevent the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in the Upper East Region. 


The discussion was among other things to dialogue on how relevant stakeholders and institutions could work in unison to curb the cross-border activities of the practice and enhance the well-being of girls and young women. 


The stakeholders met in Paga in the Kassena-Nankana West District as part of activities to mark this year’s 16 days of activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV) and the elimination of all forms of abuses against women and girls. 


It was organised on the theme “unifying voices against FGM: a stakeholder dialogue,” by the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council and the Department of Gender with funding support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). 


The dialogue brought together state and non-state actors, traditional and religious leaders, opinion leaders, men and boys’ groups, women and girls’ networks aimed to discuss their roles in preventing and responding to FGM in the Kassena-Nankana West District. 


Mr James Twene, Acting Upper Regional Director of the Department of Gender, speaking at the event, noted FGM was not only a human right abuse but also a gender-based violence and gender discrimination against women and girls and the practice needed to be curbed. 


According to the 2023 Baseline survey report on FGM Prevalence in Northern Ghana launched by UNFPA Ghana, nine out of 1,000 females had undergone FGM in the Pusiga District while 20 out of 1,000 females had undergone the practice in the Sawla-Kalba-Tuna District in the Savannah Region. 


Similarly, the report regretted that 30 out of 1,000 females had suffered FGM practice in the Kassena-Nankana West District, and in Wa East District in the Upper West Region, about 10 out of 1,000 females had undergone the practice. 


The report also revealed that cross-border activities were found to be major drivers of the practice in the border districts, particularly those sharing borders with Burkina Faso, where the practice was still prevalent. 
This, Mr. Twene indicated, was worrisome and posed obstacles to the achievement of gender parity and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and called for concerted efforts to eliminate the canker. 


“To stop the spread of this harmful practice from the borders of Burkina Faso to all parts of the regions in Ghana, there is a need to intensify sensitization and engagements with community members on the health implications of FGM in tandem with engagement of young people, parents or guardians, and traditional leaders,” he added. 


Madam Belinda Akwata, Public Health Nurse, Ghana Health Service, Kassena-Nankana West District, said FGM posed serious health implications on victims and there was the need for stakeholders to intensify education at the community levels.

 
Madam Rebecca Kape Alugivala, Queen Mother of Nakolo, noted that women and girls had suffered the practice, which continued to persist, and pledged to lead advocacy that would influence the abolishment of the practice in her area. 


Pastor Christopher Afire, Member of the Christian Council, called for decentralised education that involved activities to create awareness and empower communities on the dangers of the practice. 


FGM is a practice that involves the partial or total removal of the external female genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. 


According to the UNFPA, it is estimated that 230 million girls and women globally have undergone FGM, while 68 million girls are at risk of suffering the practice between 2015 and 2030 if the current levels of practice continue. 

Volta is NDC’s heart—Fifi Kwetey.

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Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has described the Volta Region, specifically Ketu South, as the heart of the party, serving as its core base of support and loyalty.

He said the region and the constituency were where the NDC had its strongest roots, and the residents identified with the party’s values and ideologies, consistently providing strong support to the party, which was crucial to its electoral success.

Mr Kwetey who made these comments at Ketu South NDC’s final rally on Friday, emphasised the region’s significance to the party’s history and development and appealed to the people of Ketu South and the region not to denounce their loyalty to the NDC.

“The last elections, Ketu South gave the NDC over 86,000 votes. This year, we want to cross 100,000 votes.

We won’t pretend that we have invested heavily in the region, providing infrastructure, social services, and economic opportunities that have fostered this sense of love for the party. Late President Jerry John Rawlings, a native who founded the NDC might not have concentrated on the region because he wanted to develop Ghana.

Perhaps he felt what he couldn’t do for Volta and Ketu South, his successors would do. It’s now our time. Let’s vote NDC to secure our future.”

The former Member of Parliament (MP) for Ketu South described the current state of affairs in the country as worse than it was some decades ago which brought former President Rawlings onto the political scene with the June 4th uprising and said only the NDC could cause Ghana’s economy to rebound.

Mr Sammy Gyamfi, NDC National Communications officer, asked the electorate to take the December 7 general elections personally and ensure the victory of the NDC and its Flagbearer, former President John Dramani Mahama.

“We don’t want to win for the sake of winning but for Ghana because Mr Mahama and the NDC are the only hope. Instead of the economy growing, the opposite is happening. Ghanaians are suffering… Times are hard.”

He called on Ketu South residents to be the real heroes, delivering victory to the NDC by giving the party over 100,000 votes, telling them that only Mr. Mahama and the NDC would protect them from tidal wave destruction, work on the Denu-Keta and Denu-Ho roads, construct astroturfs, a big market at Aflao, a port at Keta and bring tertiary institution to Ketu South.

Mr Mathias Alagbo, NDC Volta Regional Youth Organiser rallied the youth behind the NDC, saying the party dedicated a manifesto to the youth and that both students and apprentices alike stood the chance of benefiting immensely in the next NDC government.

Edudzi Tamakloe, Director of Legal Affairs of the NDC, charged, “NDC is Ketu South, Ketu South is NDC. Ghanaians await your vote. You must vote the NDC to abolish E-levy, COVID levy and betting tax.”

Foga Nukunu, a tutor, said there was the need to vote NDC into power to review the Free SHS, saying the programme in its current form needed fine-tuning.

Abla Dzifa Gomashie, MP for Ketu South, said the prices of goods in the market were telling and asked her constituents not to be deceived but to have confidence that the next Mahama administration would address their needs and so, must vote for the NDC.

Election 2024: We’ve corrected our mistakes and are ready for victory—Dumelo.

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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon, John Setor Dumelo, has expressed optimism about his chances of winning the constituency seat in the December 7 elections.

His remarks come as the Special Voting exercise commenced on Monday, December 2, at the Legon Police Station within the constituency.

The exercise allows eligible voters, including election officials, security personnel, and media practitioners involved in election duties, to cast their ballots ahead of the general polls.

Speaking to Citi News, Dumelo expressed satisfaction with the smooth conduct of the voting process and reiterated his confidence in securing victory when the final results are declared.

“My expectations are great. We know we are going to be victorious at the end of the day. We made some mistakes in 2020, and we have corrected those mistakes.

“We have seen our opponent’s weakness, so we are using that as our strength. On the 7th of December, which is in a few days, by the end of the day, we know we are going to be victorious. We are well prepared for victory.”

Joseph Paintsil helps LA Galaxy clinch MLS Western Conference trophy.

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Ghanaian forward Joseph Paintsil played a key role in LA Galaxy’s 1-0 victory over Seattle Sounders to claim the MLS Western Conference title, securing their spot in the MLS Cup final.

Paintsil, who joined Galaxy this season from Belgian club Genk, has been in fine form, recording 10 goals and seven assists in 29 appearances. In the playoffs, he added three goals and one assist, further cementing his impact.

Though the game against Seattle was challenging for the Ghanaian forward, managing just one successful dribble and an 88% passing accuracy without registering a shot on target, his teammate Dejan Joveljic stepped up to score the decisive goal in the 86th minute.

With this win, LA Galaxy will face Eastern Conference champions New York Red Bulls in the MLS Cup final on Saturday, December 7, 2024. The match will take place in Los Angeles, allowing Galaxy to secure their sixth MLS Cup title on home turf.

Paintsil will aim to join fellow Ghanaians Jonathan Mensah and Harrison Afful, who won the MLS Cup in 2020, as the third Ghanaian to lift the coveted trophy.

President Akufo-Addo presents aviator wing badges to 12 new pilots.

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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has at the 2024 Wings Parade, presented Aviator Wings or Air Crew Badges and Awards to twelve pilots at the Ghana Air Force Base.

The new pilots who received their honours upon completion of the requisite training, are Flt. Lt. Christopher Yaw Asuka, Flt. Lt. Wisdom Seshie Deku, Flt. Lt. Akrashie Appoe, Fg Offr Papa kojo Ayensu Abrokwa, Fg Offr Manaen Twum Ampadu and Fg Offr Isaac Tuobewere Tanle.

The rest are Flt. Lt. Abdul-Baasit Salifu, Flt Lt. Michael Adjei-Banin, Flt Lt. Obil Paa Kwesi Grant, Fg Offr. Selase Akotia, Fg Offr. David Afo-Kangah and Fg Offr Julius Etroo.

Attending in his capacity as the reviewing officer, President Akufo-Addo, said upon the culmination of the rigorous journey of the new pilots, the country is reminded of the “Ghana Air Force’s indispensable role in safeguarding our sovereignty and advancing the developmental aspirations of our beloved nation” and charged the “new Wing Officers to make our Ghana Air Force an enduring symbol of strength, resilience and progress.”

“You carry with you the hopes and expectations of a grateful nation. The path ahead will not be without its challenges, but I am confident that you will rise to the occasion with courage, integrity and an unyielding commitment to our great Republic,” he said.

Commending the accomplishment of the new officers as not merely a reflection of their technical and professional prowess, he said, “it is proof of your perseverance, resilience and unyielding commitment to excellence.”

He touched on government’s unshaken commitment to the retooling and modernisation of the Ghana Armed Forces to ensure that they are equipped to execute their mandate with precision and efficiency.

In recent years, he said, we have prioritized investments in the Armed Forces, with specific attention to enhancing the operational capacity of the Ghana Air Force.

“The refurbishment of our fleet, coupled with the planned procurement of advanced fighter aircraft, represents an impressive stride toward realising the vision of a “Smart Air Force”—an Air Force poised to defend our territorial airspace with unmatched capability, while contributing meaningfully to national development,” he added.

The President lauded the contribution of the Air Force aside their military mandate, in areas of disaster relief, search and rescue operations, and support for critical national infrastructure, and underscored its versatility and value to our nation.

He noted their collaboration the Air Force’s collaboration with entities, such as the Volta River Authority and Ghana Gas as instrumental in safeguarding Ghana’s energy infrastructure and the consistent demonstration of its commitment to democracy by facilitating the seamless transport of personnel and electoral materials during national elections.

Flt. Lt. Christopher Yaw Asuka, received the Speed Bird Trophy, for attaining the highest standard in flying and airmanship, and the JE Barnor Award for being the officer with the most outstanding flying skills on the rotary wing aircraft. 

Flt. Lt. Abdul-Baasit Salifu, also received the JA Bruce Award, which is also presented to the officer with the most outstanding flying skills on the fixed wing aircraft.

Mahama pledges to boost business and trade in Ashanti Region.

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John Dramani Mahama, Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing trade and business activities, particularly in the Ashanti Region.

During the “Enti Asanteman Aseda Ni” walk in Kumasi on Sunday, December 1, Mahama promised to introduce a fixed rate scheme aimed at stabilising the dollar-to-cedi exchange rate, which he believes will improve business operations in the region.

Mahama also emphasized that while the Ashanti Region is traditionally seen as a stronghold of the NPP, it is an important base for both major political parties.

He pledged that the NDC would work diligently to secure as many votes as possible in the region.

“NDC has good plans and policies for traders and business people in the Ashanti Region. We will bring five banks that will aid in port clearance. So if your goods are in and you don’t have the resources you just go to the bank and indicate the kind of goods you are bringing.

“The bank will foot the bills and keep your container in their yard. You will be made to pay the bank little by little so that you can go with your goods after you complete payment.

“We will introduce a ‘fixed break scheme’ which will help stabilise the exchange rate for some time for the importers. Ashanti Region contributed to the NDC’s victory thus we don’t consider it somebody’s stronghold.  We will ensure to bring all the jobs, resources and logistics that the region needs.”

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