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Opuni Trial: l am not aware of directives to shorten testing period for fertilizer 

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Dr Francis Baah, a former Executive Director of Cocoa Health, and Extension Division (CHED) of COCOBOD, says he was not aware of any directive to shorten the testing period for chemicals and fertilizers. 

He said he did not recall being in any meeting where Dr Stephen Opuni, a former Chief Executive of COCOBOD, gave any such directives for the testing period to be shortened.  

Dr Baah, who was a subpoenaed witness for Mr Seidu Agongo, a Businessman, was answering questions in a cross-examination in a trial involving Dr Opuni, led by Samuel Codjoe, Counsel for Dr Opuni. 

Dr Opuni and Mr Agongo, a Businessman are facing 27charges, including defrauding by false pretences, wilfully causing financial loss to the State, money laundering, and corruption by a public officer in contravention of the Public Procurement Act. 

They have both pleaded not guilty to the charges and are on a GH¢300,000.00 self-recognizance bail each. 

Mr Codjoe told the witness that Dr Franklin Amoah, a former Executive Director of Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) informed the Court in his evidence that Dr Opuni upon resumption of Office issued a directive for the testing period for chemical and fertilizer to be shortened in a meeting. 

The Counsel said according to Dr Amoah, in attendance at the said meeting where the directives were given were Dr Baah and Mr James Kofi Kutsoati, the Deputy Chief Executive in Charge of Operations, COCOBOD. 

The witness disagreed, saying he did not recall being in that meeting.   

Dr Baah said he could not recall Dr Amoah having any private meetings with Dr Opuni being the Office manager for Dr Opuni. 

He said the only meeting he could recall was when Dr Opuni invited Dr Amoah for a discussion regarding bad press about CRIG and his person. 

“Any other private meeting between the two individuals l am not aware of,” he added. 

The witness told the Court presided over by Justice Aboagye Tandoh that when Dr Opuni visited CRIG as part of his working visit, there was an exhibition organised in his honour and he met all staff at the recreation centre, where he was introduced to the entire staff. 

He said he could not confirm whether there were any separate meetings for the staff and senior managers and scientists as claimed by Dr Amoah. 

Dr Baah said, “What l can confirm is that the event was held in the open, in front of all scientists and senior managers.” 

He said during the Dubar, Dr Opuni did not address any issue with the testing of fertilizer, which would have been unusual. 

“Dr Opuni only addressed the entire staff to work hard and sustain the industry,” he added.  The case has been adjourned to Thursday, April 18, 2024 

Asamoah Gyan lights torch for All Regional Games 

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Asamoah Gyan former Black Stars Captain was among the torchbearers of the maiden All Regional Games Torch Relay event at the Black Stars Square in Accra on Thursday. 

The inaugural All Regional Games, a multi-sporting event spearheaded by Gyan, seeks to revitalize grassroots sports while unearthing talented athletes for the nation.  

The ceremonial torch was graced by the Director General of the National Sports Authority, Mr. Dodzie Numekevor, alongside some great Ghanaian sportsmen, including Braima Kamoko (Bukom Banku), ex-Black Stars players Agyemang Badu, Samuel Inkoom, Kwadwo Asamoah, and Baffour Gyan. 

The symbolic torch event marks the beginning of an inspirational journey to promote and nurture sporting talent at the grassroots level. 

A float was later held on the principal streets of Accra, with participants carrying the illuminated torch to prominent landmarks, effectively raising awareness for the upcoming All Regional Games. 

The All Regional Games aim to traverse all 16 regions of the nation, scouting for promising athletes across eight sporting disciplines, including soccer, athletics, boxing, tennis, basketball, arm-wrestling, volleyball, and table tennis. 

The All Regional Games festival and trials is slated for June at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, while the main event is expected to be held in November 2024.  

Zenith Global Health to host 4th Africa Healthcare Awards and Summit in Accra

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Zenith Global Health is to host the 4th Africa Healthcare Awards and Summit (AHAS 2024) in Accra.

A statement by the Organisation indicated that, the Summit would take place at the Accra International Conference Centre from April 22, 2024 (summit) to April 23, 2024, (Awards Gala).

It will be on the theme: “Advances in Population Health – Tackling Inequalities and Access: A One Health Approach”.

AHAS 2024 would bring together healthcare professionals, policymakers, innovators, and stakeholders from across Africa to discuss pressing issues in healthcare and foster collaboration for sustainable solutions.

The Summit would feature engaging panel discussions, keynote presentations, and interactive side sessions focused on addressing the challenges of population health through a holistic approach.

Topics would include healthcare financing, manufacturing and supply chain management, community engagement, and the role of technology in improving healthcare access and delivery.

“We are excited to host the 4th Africa Healthcare Awards and Summit in Accra, Ghana. This event serves as a platform for stakeholders to come together, share insights, and explore innovative approaches to advancing population health in Africa.

“We look forward to productive discussions and meaningful collaborations that will drive positive change across the continent,” Mary Akangbe, President and Founder of Zenith Global Health, said.

The statement said AHAS 2024 would also include the prestigious Africa Healthcare Awards ceremony, recognising excellence and innovation in various sectors of the healthcare industry.

Awards categories would span healthcare delivery, medical research, technology, and community health initiatives, among others.

“We are honoured to celebrate the achievements of healthcare professionals and organisations making a difference in the lives of people across Africa. The Africa Healthcare Awards showcase the dedication and commitment of individuals and institutions working tirelessly to improve healthcare outcomes and promote wellness in our communities,” Dr Imane Kendili, President of Africa Global Health, Morocco, said.

The statement said registration for AHAS 2024 was open, and encouraged interested participants to visit the official website https://zenithglobalhealth.com/ahas-africa-ticket/ for more information and to secure their spot at the event.

Zenith Global Health was founded in 2016 by the President, Mary Akangbe, a British Nigerian Specialist Nurse Practitioner with over 30 years of experience in the United Kingdom (UK) health system and about 15 years of transforming health across Africa.

Her passion for patients and health systems enabled her to attract support from diverse colleagues and partners to bring Zenith Global Health’s vision to life.

Nutritionist advises Ghanaians to invest in healthy eating

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Mr Raphael Kwabena Angmortey, the Ada East District Nutritionist, has advised Ghanaians to invest in nutritious meals to promote their well-being.

Mr Angmortey, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said proper nutrition was one of the important pillars that could influence the overall well-being of an individual.

He explained that a healthy diet could reduce the risk of contracting chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, adding that it also promoted brain function among many other benefits.

He said poor diet had detrimental health effects on individuals and families, stressing that spending on healthy meals could reduce visits to health facilities for medical care.

Mr Angmortey said a healthy diet must contain more greens, lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and must have reduced salt and sugar.

He insisted that fruit and vegetables were important components of a healthy diet, especially for children, as they help them grow by supporting their body functions, including their physical, mental, and social well-being.

He said healthy diets could further prevent all forms of malnutrition in all manner of persons, especially children, pregnant women and the aged.

NGOs engage stakeholders on sustainable livelihood plan on iron mining in Kadjebi

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GNA-ActionAid Ghana, in partnership with the Network Of Communities In Development (NOCID), a Kadjebi-based non-profit organisation, has engaged stakeholders on sustainable livelihood plan against iron ore mining at Kadjebi.

The communities were Asato, Wawaso, Gyamonome, Kosamba and Ketepii communities with the participants, including Chiefs, Assembly members, Unit Committee members, COMBAT members, and youth groups, among others.

Speaking at the programme at Asato, Madam Agnes Afua Obour, Co-ordinator, NOCID, said ActionAid goal was to create a just equitable and sustainable world in which every person enjoys the right to a life of dignity, freedom from poverty and all forms of oppression.

She said a “Geological Survey led to the discovery of large blocs of iron ore deposit in the Kadjebi District.”

She said the findings contain 55.22 per cent weight and in a higher grade with possibility in five communities; in Asato, Wawaso, Gyamonome, Kosamba and Ketepii communities.

Madam Obour said this discovery might have positive and negative impact on their livelihood, hence ActionAid Ghana’s decision to create awareness on the prospects and effects of its exploration.

Mr. Elorm Kpotosu, Kadjebi District Environmental Health Officer (DEHO), said for the start of mining, there should be stakeholder engagement to increase public confidence in the Environmental Impact Assessment, improve transparency and also provide an opportunity to influence project design in a positive manner.

He said such engagement also helped obtain local and traditional knowledge that might be useful and also for participants to canvass their inputs and concerns.

The Environmental Officer said there should also be negotiation between the proponent and key stakeholders to build consensus and reach mutually acceptable resolution of issues.

Mr. Kpotosu, who spoke on the effects of mining on the environment and health challenges, said though mining had good aspects, it also had negative consequences on human health, including respiratory complications such as pneumonia, asbestosis, and silicosis.

Mr. Bernard Osei, a Public Relations Officer with the Ghana Education Service, said mining might have an effect on school attendance and performance as some students might join their parents to work in the mines.

Mr. Osei, who spoke on the effects of mining on education, said there would also be school drop outs, low attendance, rise in social vices in those mining communities.

He said there would also be high cost of living in those mining areas.

Mr. Rashad Shaibu, Kadjebi District Director of the Department of Food and Agriculture, said there were many effects of illegal and legal mining for the communities.

He said legal mining led to an improvement in social and physical infrastructure such as good school blocks, hospital, and inflow of money, among others in those mining communities.

However, illegal mining led to food insecurity as land and water quality loss, he said.

The participants lauded the engagement and commended the benefactors and the facilitators for their presentations.

Private sector suppliers schooled on Ghana Electronic Procurement System

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As part of efforts to ensure transparency in the use of the Ghana Electronic Procurement System, more than 70 private sector suppliers on Thursday, April 18, underwent training in Accra to navigate through the e-Procurement system.

The suppliers, who procure goods and services for public sector entities, registered to take part in the training, including road and building contractors and consultants.

During an interaction with the media to explain the rationale of the training, Mr Kwame Prempeh, the Deputy CEO at the Public Procurement Authority, said the e-Procurement system became operational in 2019 and had since trained most of the public sector entities on its usage.

Therefore, it had become prudent to sensitise private sector suppliers of goods and services to government entities on the use of the e-procurement system in order to ensure efficiency and productivity, he explained.

“It is increasing transparency within the procurement space, reducing the cost of doing business with the government and improving efficiency and productivity,” Mr Prempeh stated.

“As a nation, it’s helping us to ensure fiscal discipline and avoiding implementing projects without budgetary allocation,” he added.

Since its roll-out in 2019, about 4,000 suppliers have been trained on the e-Procurement system out of the estimated 28,000 nationwide.

Mr Prempeh said the government would not function properly without the private suppliers responding to tenders, hence, it was imperative to sensitise them to navigate through the platform efficiently.

“Once a tender has been published it is the private sector that must respond in order to provide goods and services to the government,” he said.

The Deputy CEO of PPA noted that the e-Procurement system had made it possible and easier for suppliers to prepare and submit their tenders or documents electronically without rushing to the entity’s Office.

That, he said, had ensured value for money and saved most suppliers from the drudgery of travelling long distances to government offices to submit their tenders.

On challenges the e-Procurement system had faced so far, Mr Prempeh said since people were more familiar with the manual way of doing business, they became repulsive towards embracing change or new ways of doing things.

However, Mr Prempeh said, with the continuous sensitisation of the private sector suppliers, it would eradicate the e-procurement hurdles in the near future.

Ms Lilian Amponsah Boafo, a participant at the training workshop from Sekondi-Takoradi, said the training had enlightened her knowledge on e-Procurement processes and making bidding for tender competitive.

Dr George Femakor of Equatorial Health Services, Tema, said the training had created positive mindset among suppliers and eradicating human contacts during bidding for tender.

More training sessions will be conducted for suppliers next month, therefore interested suppliers can register to take part in the training.

Man Utd superstar urged to secure £100m move to ‘better team’ amid triple concern

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Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has been told he must join a more elite side if he is to get back to his best, with three major concerns arising.

Rashford has once again endured a disappointing season, despite Erik ten Hag getting the best out of him last campaign. The winger’s record stands at eight goals and five assists from 39 appearances, a clear downturn when compared with the 30 goals and 10 assists he managed last term.

Rashford is clearly lacking confidence and is squandering some good opportunities when they are presented to him.

He has enjoyed small patches of good form, such as goals in three consecutive Premier League games between December 30 and February 1, as well as back-to-back league goals versus Manchester City and Everton in March.

But Rashford is not sustaining that form for long periods, which will worry both Ten Hag and Man Utd part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe.

The 26-year-old will be seriously concerned about rising star Alejandro Garnacho taking his place on the left flank, something which has already happened at times this season.

Rashford is also at risk of losing his place in the England squad, as Gareth Southgate has plenty of other forwards at his disposal.

Former Man Utd midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger is worried Rashford’s team-mates are not helping the Englishman get back among the goals.

Pundit ‘would love’ to see Rashford back at his best

Due to this, Rashford has been told to consider a shock move to a ‘better team’.

“I would love to see him in a better team where he gets the balls in the right moment,” Schweinsteiger said on The Overlap.

“I’d love to see that. In the years in the past, you don’t really see that.

“If he would play for a different team, maybe he would also increase his level a little bit more. He’s still the player who can decide their games but he doesn’t show it many times.”

Schweinsteiger’s comments follow Man Utd reportedly setting a huge £100million price tag for Rashford, should any top club try to sign their academy graduate. Paris Saint-Germain have long been linked with Rashford, and they will need to replace Kylian Mbappe in the summer.

Schweinsteiger is not the only former Man Utd player to suggest Rashford might leave. Rio Ferdinand said recently: “I think it’s a pivotal moment in his career now, he’s not a kid anymore.

“I think there’s a big decision to make, from him. He’s got to look at who’s around him, who are the external people? Are they the right people?

“Are they enabling him to make excuses for himself behind closed doors? Or are they saying, ‘Look at yourself and be accountable for what you are doing’? He needs to look at that, own that and make big decisions.

Three teenagers arrested for allegedly gang-defiling fellow student

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The police have arrested three male juveniles, aged between 15 and 17 years, for allegedly gang-defiling a 15-year-old girl at Aboabo in the Akuapim North Municipality of the Eastern Region.

Following the incident on January 27, 2024, the Police arrested the suspects, who have since made two appearances before the Mampong Magistrate Court to face prosecution for their alleged actions.

The case has sent shockwaves through the community and raised concerns about the safety and well-being of children in the community.

In Ghana, the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (29),

prohibits any “natural or unnatural knowledge of a child less than sixteen years of age,” consequently, any person, regardless of their gender, who engages in sexual intercourse with a child, with or without their consent, is found liable to the crime.

The heart-wrenching case has sparked a conversation about the importance of educating young people about such offences and the consequences of their actions.

As the trial proceeds, the community grapples with the complexities of this tragic event and its implications for the future.

Investigations reveal that one of the suspects is the survivor’s classmate, with the others being school dropouts.

The survivor, who lived with her 63-year-old grandfather, had gone to her friend’s (one of the suspects’) house together with her younger sister in the evening to borrow his book.  

After waiting for her friend (the suspect) to return

home from purchasing food from the neighbourhood, she became tired and decided to take a walk around.

Unfortunately, she run into the suspects on the way.

The two other suspects attempted to talk to the survivor, but she refused to engage them as they were making their way back to the house with the two friends.

But they had planned to assault her, so they lifted her and carried her to a nearby bush, where two of the boys defiled her one after the other, while one fingered her.

The victim fought back desperately, trying to make noise to draw attention and signal for help, but the perpetrators had firmly blocked her mouth.

However, in the struggling process, the survivor managed to yell a call for assistance and was rescued by a nearby couple, who promptly brought her to the families of the boys

and eventually to the police station, where a report was lodged for the suspects’ arrest.

According to reports, the survivor’s parents have unique health issues – while her mother is dealing with mental illness, her father, who resides, is paralysed due to a stroke.

Owing to the vulnerability of the victim and her sibling in society due to their living conditions, there is a plea by community members to ensure justice prevails.

Opportunity International Savings and Loans organises exhibition for head porters

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Opportunity International Savings and Loans Ltd (OISL) has organised an exhibition for some beneficiaries of their Kayayie project in Accra and Kumasi. 

The exhibition brought together 20 beneficiaries, who have undergone skills training through the Institution’s Kayayie project, supported and funded by the Medicor Foundation. 

The project seeks to empower women, particularly Head Porters (Kayayie ladies), who have migrated from the Northern part of Ghana to the South in search of economic opportunities. 

Since the inception of the project in 2019, it has transformed 262 ladies with livelihood and life skills.

The exhibition provided an opportunity for the beneficiaries to present and market their products to the public.

Featured among the array of items displayed were Hand Sanitizers, Liquid Soaps, Floor Cleaners, Powdered Soaps, Antiseptics, Earrings, Bangles, Beaded Slippers, Shower Gels, among others.

The atmosphere was charged with excitement, as Senior Management and Staff from OISL joined to celebrate the accomplishments of the dedicated and hardworking ladies. 

Mr Kwame Owusu-Boateng, Chief Executive Officer of Opportunity International Savings and Loans Limited, commended the ladies for their achievements and hard work, assuring them of the Company’s continual support.

 He expressed gratitude to all participants for their support. 

The results of the events were impressive, as clients, staff, and the public showed their support by purchasing the majority of the products on display. 

Opportunity International Savings and Loans Limited is one of the leading Financial Institutions in the country and currently has 38 branches in 10 out of the 16 regions of Ghana serving over 660,000 clients across the country.

 It is a subsidiary of Opportunity International, a global organisation with its Head Office in Chicago, USA.  The Institution delivers services and programmes to clients of 30 countries across the globe, serving over 20 million customers with Micro Banking, Micro Insurance, Agriculture, Education Finance, and Innovative Non-Financial Services.

Let your pens, voices promote peace-Sir Sam Jonah to Journalists

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Sir Sam Jonah, Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, has asked journalists to use their pens and voices to uphold peace, fairness and democratic principles as Ghana goes to the polls in December 2024.

Citing previous incidents in Ghana’s elections, he said the sad saga of the people of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lipke, and Lolobi (SALL), the killing of innocent voters at Techiman and the unprecedented electoral violence at Ayawaso should not occur again, as they remained a scar on the country’s collective conscience.

“We must all resolve that these unfortunate chapters in our more recent history will never be repeated,” he said, adding that, journalists “should endeavour to be the bridge over troubled waters, ensuring that every Ghanaian, irrespective of political allegiance, finds solace and strength in the truth”.

Sir Jonah said this when he delivered the keynote address in Accra on Wednesday at the launch of the 75th anniversary celebrations of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) on the theme: “75 years of excellence in journalism: Honouring the past, embracing the present, shaping the future”.

He raised concerns about the “perceived weaponisation of State agencies against opponents, the creeping assault on freedom of the press, the perceived lack of trust in the dispensation of justice, and the pathetic lack of accountability in the protection of the public purse”.

Those issues, Sir Jonah noted, required journalists to be patriotic, fearless and courageous in their fight to defend the interest of the nation.

He reminded journalists that, as the Fourth Estate of the nation’s democracy, they wielded a lot of power, with their ability to frame political discourse, influence public opinion, and hold leaders to account.

That, he said, meant that, journalists should exercise their power with highest level of responsibility and ethical rigor.

“I implore you to be the standardbearers of objectivity, the architects of informed discourse, and the unyielding defenders of freedom and truth,” he said.

Sir Jonah entreated members of the GJA to bear in mind that the Association was more than a collection of individuals, stressing that, it served as a symbol of the nation’s resilience, aspirations, and unwavering pursuit of progress.

He charged journalists to take inspiration from the gallant men and women who laid the foundations of the Journalism profession and defined its ethos in the country.

“As we move forward, let us remember the sacrifices made by those who came before us, journalists who laid down their lives for the pursuit of truth and justice.

“It is upon their legacy that the future of Ghanaian Journalism will be built—a future where truth prevails over sensationalism, integrity over corruption, and where the pen remains mightier than the sword in the fight for democratic integrity and national unity,” Sir Jonah said.

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