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Ato Forson Trial: Richard Jakpa to call eight witnesses

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Mr Thaddeus Sory, the lawyer for Mr Richard Jakpa, the third accused person in the trial of Dr Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, and former Deputy Minister of Finance, is to call eight witnesses.

  
The Court presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe directed the lawyer to endeavour to file all witness statements by April 30, 2024.

 
The Court also directed that for those whose witness statements would not be filed, their lawyers must ensure that the documents to rely on were filed.

 
Dr Forson was granted a self-recognisance bail of GH¢3 million for allegedly willfully causing financial loss of 2,370,000 euros to the State.

 
He is also facing an additional charge of “intentionally misapplying public property contrary to section 1 (2) of the Public Property Protection Act, 1977 (SMCD 140).”

 
Mr Jakpa was granted bail of five million Ghana Cedis with three sureties, one of whom must be justified with documents of landed property.

 
Justice Asare-Botwe said any document to be tendered by the third accused person, who started testifying and was under oath, was to be filed by April 16, 2024.

 
The case has been adjourned to May 2, 2024.

 

Teachers held over GHC394,500 employment Scam

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Three teachers held for alleged employment scam have been granted a GHC350,000.00 bail each by an Accra Circuit Court. 

Samuel Mensah Amelikpo, David Bacha Ntenyam and Daniel Ofori Boateng are to get two sureties each who from the Ghana Education Service (GES) teaching profession or family members. 

They are to report to the Police every Wednesday. 

The case has been adjourned to April 30, 2024. 

All the three denied conspiring to defraud 42 persons of GHC394,500.00 under the pretext of securing jobs for them into the GES. 

Police Chief Inspector Daniel Danku told the Court presided over by Mr Samuel Bright Acquah that Sumaila Awueidze, the complainant was unemployed and resident of Kukurantumi in the Eastern Region.  

He said Amelipko lived at Awoshie, a suburb of Accra, Bacha, resident of Asamankese, Eastern Region, while Boateng stayed at Effiduase in the Ashanti Region. They are all teachers. 

In August 2023, Amelikpo communicated to the complainant that GES recruitment slots were available and that he had protocol to recruit people. 

Amelipko during the conversation allegedly gave full assurance and promised to make refund when the recruitment failed.  

The prosecution said due to such representation, the complainant became convinced and organised forty-two (42) interested applicants.  

It said on August 29, 2023, Amelikpo demanded and collected GHC394,000.00 from the complainants to get them the jobs but failed to do so and went into hiding.  

The Court heard that all efforts made by the complainant to reach Amelikpo proved futile thus, a report was made to the police.  

The prosecution said on October 18, 2023, Amelikpo was arrested at Odorgonno Accra and in his investigation cautioned statement, he admitted having collected the above-mentioned amount of money from the complainant to secure jobs for his applicants but failed.  

Amelikpo mentioned Bacha and Boateng as his accomplices, leading to their arrest on November 10, 2023, at Asamankese and Asante Effiduase respectively.  

The prosecution told the Court that Bacha in his cautioned statement admitted the offence and told the Police that he only received GH¢388,000.00 from Amelikpo and same was handed over to Boateng and one Reuben Bempoh for the recruitment.  

Boateng in his cautioned statement also admitted having received monies from Amelikpo and Bacha but paid into the Vodafone Cash wallet accounts produced by Bempoh, whom he met online and also claimed working at GES, National Headquarters Accra.  

During investigation, the police retrieved GHC70,000.00 from Boateng and same was handed over to the complainant. 

The police are still investigating the matter. 

Ato Forson Trial: Richard Jakpa to call eight witnesses  

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Mr Thaddeus Sory, the lawyer for Mr Richard Jakpa, the third accused person in the trial of Dr Ato Forson, the Minority Leader, and former Deputy Minister of Finance, is to call eight witnesses.  

The Court presided over by Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe directed the lawyer to endeavour to file all witness statements by April 30, 2024. 

The Court also directed that for those whose witness statements would not be filed, their lawyers must ensure that the documents to rely on were filed. 

Dr.Forson was granted a self-recognisance bail of GH¢3 million for allegedly willfully causing financial loss of 2,370,000 euros to the State. 

He is also facing an additional charge of “intentionally misapplying public property contrary to section 1 (2) of the Public Property Protection Act, 1977 (SMCD 140).” 

Mr.Jakpa was granted bail of five million Ghana Cedis with three sureties, one of whom must be justified with documents of landed property. 

Justice Asare-Botwe said any document to be tendered by the third accused person, who started testifying and was under oath, was to be filed by April 16, 2024. 

The case has been adjourned to May 2, 2024. 

GHS urges media to promote local foods

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The media has been called upon to promote local foods in a bid to ensure quality nutrition among the populace.

 
 
Ms Catherine Adu-Asare, Programmes Manager of the Diet and Healthy Life Programme of the Ghana Health Service, said the nutrition landscape was changing from healthy diets to unhealthy foods as nation witnessed a shift from traditional to modern foods. 


 
She said the increase in lifestyle diseases and obesity connected to mostly ultra processed foods, had majority lacking key components such as fiber.

 
 
Ms Adu-Asare made the call while engaging media practitioners in the Volta Region at a three-day workshop on nutrition organised by the Africa Catalysing Action for Nutrition, a non-for-profit organisation with a focus on delivering a “healthy and well-nourished Africa.”

 
 
She noted a growing trajectory of undernourishment and obesity and said young people registering Non-Communicable Diseases showed the shift in disease burden.

  
 
“We are gradually transitioning into a triple burden – Obesity, iron deficiency, over nourishment, undernourishment among the under five children.

 
 
The concept of locally available foods is very important. It is very sustainable and so, the media should promote these local foods.”

 
 
Ms Adu-Asare said the seasonability and price should be considered in promoting local delicacies, adding that there existed lots of wild fruits that should be publicised to help enhance food security.

 
 
Among reasons for malnutrition, according to the Programme Manager, were low physical activity, cultural influences, and traditional food practices that affected consumption.

 
 
Food taboos, economic factors, peer influence, and changing environmental patterns counted among factors limiting food availability and choices, and the media’s role in buying habits was also emphasised.

 
 
AfriCan’s three-day training workshop brought together media practitioners from across the various fields of practice and provided enhanced education on the various facades of nutrition, including production, processing, and climate related developments.

 
 
Professor Francis Zotor, Trustee of the AfriCan, that the initiative hoped to position media as key proponents of enhanced nutrition in the communities and formed part of a broadened stakeholder focus towards improving the outcomes.

 
 
Professor Lydia Aziato, Vice Chancellor of the University of health and Allied Sciences who opened the workshop, said there were prevailing hold of customs and imposed taboos on the nation’s feeding regime, and there was the need to “disabuse mindsets so that our people can feed well.

 
 
“In all these, the important thing is that we want our people to stay healthy and not come for admission,” the Vice Chancellor said and commended AfriCan for the essential education.

 
 
Emmanuel Agbaxode, Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association in the Volta and Oti Regions, asked beneficiaries to use the opportunity to build their knowledge to enable them effectively deliver on the frontlines of the nutrition campaign.

 

Over 13,000 projects listed on gov’t performance tracker with geolocations-Oppong Nkrumah

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The Government on Wednesday unveiled a performance tracker that captured the various infrastructure projects executed under the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led government since 2017.

It is aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability of all government projects implemented so far.

The performance tracker is an upgraded version of the delivery tracker launched in 2020 by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

The public can access the tracker on this website: www.performancetracker.gov.gh or download the app on the playstore or app store.

At the launch of the performance tracker at GIMPA in Accra, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Minister of Works and Housing, said the tracker was a database of government projects scattered across the 261 metropolitan, municipal and districts.

It captured more than 13,000 projects executed by the Government as of June 2023 with their geolocations and photographs for easy validation and analysis by individuals and corporate entities.

Mr Nkrumah, who unveiled the tracker on behalf of the Vice President, said the performance tracker continuously updated itself and had been organised into five major parts for easy navigation and comparison.

It had also been broken down into 22 thematic areas, 105 categories of all the infrastructure projects being executed and ongoing across the 28 Ministries and Office of the Government Machinery as well as in the 16 regions and 261 districts.

He mentioned some of the categories as roads and transport, education, health, extractives, job creation, sectoral reports, and regional and district reports with the necessary matrix for easy identification, analysis, comparison and validation by individuals and corporate entities.

Mr Nkrumah said the tracker was a tool for empowering the taxpayers to check, validate and be informed on how the government had utilised their resources and promote transparency and accountability from duty bearers.

The Minister mentioned that as of June 2023, government had created two million and eighty-seven thousand jobs since 2017, with 5.7 million beneficiaries under Free SHS and Free TVET, 17.7 million people enrolled onto the National Health Insurance Scheme and 1,448 rural telephony sites constructed across the country to enhance communication in the underserved communities.

The Minister lauded the collaborative works of the metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives, regional coordinators, chief directors, ministers, and head of the Civil Service for providing relevant information ensuing the overall success of the initiative.

He also commended the staff of the Information Services Department for providing photographs of the various projects and a special team that worked tirelessly to tag the addresses and locations of the listed projects.

The Minister believed that the tracker would inform the citizens on how the Government had been utilising the public funds and minimise the misinformation and negativity on many social media platforms about alleged misappropriation of state resources.

Madam Fatimatu Abubakar, the Information Minister Designate, in her welcome remarks, said the tracker would ensure transparency and accountability of infrastructure projects executed by the government.

The platform, she said, would also help to address the long-standing concerns about the accuracy and reliability of project implementation, as well as serving as a reliable mechanism for showcasing the progress and impact of infrastructure projects nationwide.

Professor Kwaku Appiah-Adu, Head of the Delivery Unit, Office of the Vice President, took the audiences through the various templates of the tracker, noting that the President assembled a team to put the data structures of the tracker in the last quarter of 2022.

He said the team worked collaboratively with the chief directors, ministers of State, MMDCEs, Ghana Statistical Service and Head of the Civil Service for cross-checking and validation of facts and inputs to ensure accuracy of all the projects listed on the tracker.

TTU to celebrate 70 years of life

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Effia(WR) April 10, GNA – The Management of the Takoradi Technical University (TTU) is embarking on a year long planned activities to herald the journey of seven decades of academic excellence.

  
The platinum jubilee with five pillars of activities: Education, Sanitation, sports, health, and entertainment/ Arts would tell the TTU story from its birth through the changing phases to its present status as well as showcasing the many laurels, growth, and advancement.

 
Reverend Professor Frank John Eshun, the Vice Chancellor of the University said this in an engagement with the media within the Sekondi Takoradi to open up on the plans for the celebration and solicit publicity and fund raising support to make the anniversary a memorable one.

 
He said, the transformational impact of the University on the social, moral, and economic lives of many Ghanaians who had either passed through the walls of the university or associated with it could not be quantified.

 
“We exemplify excellence, Innovation and quality academic services,” the VC added. 
Rev. Professor Eshun said there were many milestones to praise the good Lord for and appreciate stakeholders, alumni, and the students’ body for standing with the University to gather the rich heritage despite some challenge.

 
“We are confident in our modest gains and look forward into the future with more hopes to become the centre of Excellence in Technical Education not just in Ghana but across the subregion.” 


Professor Micah Bondzie, the Pro VC and Chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee said the celebration would consolidate gains made for the many years of existence, enhance industrial/CEO relationships to better produce qualified graduates for the job market, while improving Teaching and Learning methodologies.

 
“We also hope to engage all our alumni from far and near…obviously we want to inspire the future with more growth poles for the University.” 


MESTI launches project to develop health information mobile App

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The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) is undertaking a project to develop mobile applications to disseminate health information in the country.

The ‘MESTI mHealth’ project, which is being undertaking in collaboration with the Colleges of Science and Health Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), seeks to contribute to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) three, which emphasizes on good health and well-being of all people, especially, those in the marginalized and underserved communities.

Dr Rose-Mary Gyening, Principal Investigator to the Project, speaking at the project’s inception workshop in Kumasi, said the project would lead to poverty reduction and also solve some of the climate-related health conditions of the people.

Explaining the distinctive features and functions of the mobile application, Dr Gyening, said the App was going to be used to collect and analyse data to do forecasting, make predictions to help prevent or avoid outbreak of diseases, as well as take proactive measures to deal with emerging health challenges.

“We are looking at a point where people will use the App, provide some information or symptoms.

There will be medication reminders, where people can log in the drugs, they are supposed to take so that they will be given reminders when there is time to take them and when the drugs are running out” she explained.

She said one very notable feature of the App would be the language translation, adding that, the project would look at reaching under-served communities and finding innovative ways of ensuring that the App contained notable languages which would be understood by many ordinary Ghanaians.

Dr Gyening said the application would be in two folds – the part where Ghanaian populace could use and the part solely for medical personnel adding that there would be an avenue for virtual consultations.

Professor Mrs. Rita Akosua Dickson, Vice-Chancellor of KNUST, said the outdooring of the MESTI Mobile Health Application Project was a very significant move aimed at improving healthcare access for underserved communities in Ghana.

Technology, she indicated, had become more useful in solving everyday problems, adding that “if we have all the technology and we cannot leverage on to find everyday solutions, then technology will be in vain.”

She said scientists were very much aware of the challenges being faced by people in the remote and marginalized areas and the launch of the project indicated a significant step towards addressing disparities and bridging the gaps in healthcare access.

Prof. Mrs. Dickson urged the partners to make sure the initiative was successful and long lasting by the effects that it would have on the individual.   

Muslims urge Prez Akufo-Addo to accent to LGBTQ+ Bill

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 Azulenloanu (W/R), April 10, GNA-The Western Regional Chief Imam Sheikh Suleymana Ahmed  Mozu has called on President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo to assent to the anti LGBTQ+ bill to make the practice of homosexuality and lesbianism criminal in the country.

 
He reminded the President that these alien anti-social practices frowned upon the culture, customs, and traditions of Ghana.

 
Sheik Mozu said this when he led Muslim  faithfuls to observe Eid prayers at Azulenloanu to mark the successful end of the holy month of Ramadan and inauguration of a new independent Eid-al-Fitr Center for Muslims at the Azulenloanu mosque.

 
For the past 50 years, Muslims at Azulenloanu have observed Jummah prayers but seized along the line and had always joined their counterparts at the District Mosque at Kamgbunli for the Eid-al-Fitr celebrations.

 
Sheik Mozu reiterated that the Muslim Community would never endorse the LGBTQ+ bill because that behaviour was unIslamic and barbaric.

 
The Regional Chief Imam wondered why countries such as America restricted men to practice monogamy yet exert pressure on other countries such as Ghana to practice LGBTQ+ which is against their religion and culture.

 
Sheikh Mozu observed that the human race would become extinct since marriage of the opposite sex and procreation would also come to a halt.

 
He said the Muslim Community prayed earnestly for President Akufo-Addo to sign the LGBTQ+ bill into law during the holy month of Ramadan.

 
He said for peace and tranquility to prevail in the country, he asked the Muslim Community to pray for President Akufo-Addo, Vice-President Mahmoud Bawumia, Member of Parliament for Ellembelle, Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah and District Chief Executive for Ellembelle, Mr Kwasi Bonzoh.

 
He advised Muslims to desist from unIslamic attitudes such as fornication, weed smoking, gay, lesbianism, stealing and other forms of immoral practices in Zongo Communities.

 
Sheik Mozu asked them to pray for forgiveness and reconciliation to enter Heaven. 
On the upcoming general elections, sheikh Mozu reminded the Electoral Commission of Ghana to ensure a level-playing field for all parties as another test case of Ghana’s democratic credentials.

 
He prayed that Azulenloanu would grow great and be the Mecca of Ghana and asked Allah to prosper people in the town.

 
The Chief Imam of Azulenloanu,Zakaria Ahmed urged them to unite and live in peace and harmony in the town. 


MTN gives to Muslims in Sekondi to mark Eid ul-Fitr

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MTN Ghana has donated the Muslims Community of Sekondi some food items, drinks, and a ram to spice up this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr celebration after the Ramadan.

 
Mr. Prince Owusu, the MTN Senior Manager for South West Business District, said the company recognised the important roles that the Muslim community played in Ghana.

 
“We are committed to supporting you in meaningful ways. Ramadan is a time of joy and celebration, and we are privileged to be part of this special occasion,” he said 
The Western Regional Chief Imam, Ustaz Zulkifli Abdul-Waahid, was grateful for MTN’s continued support over the years.

 
“We pray Allah continue to bless you abundantly and pray that the relationship with the Muslim community will be solidified,” he added.

 

Government to observe final funeral rite for late Rashid Bawa

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The Government will on Saturday, April 20 hold the final funeral rites for the late Alhaji Rashid Bawa, former Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria.

A release issued on Tuesday, April 9 with the caption, “Final funeral arrangements for the late H.E Alhaji Rashid Bawa”, read: “It is announced to the general public that there will be a secular final funeral rite of the late Ghana’s High Commissioner to Nigeria, H.E Alhaji Rashid Bawa on the 20th of April, 2024 at Kadjebi”.

The release, which was signed by Mr. Adjei Worlanyo Frank, Akan Constituency Communications Officer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and copied the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said the President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E Nana Addo Dankwa-Akuffo Addo will lead a high-powered government delegation to the funeral and that the President will first visit Hajia Suwera Bawa, the mother of the late Alhaji Rashid Bawa to commiserate with her and other family members.

The release said the President will then move to where he was buried, and he will later sign the Book of Condolence and finally joining mourners at the funeral grounds for the final funeral rites.

The statement said the Diplomatic Corps, the National, Regional and Constituency Executives of NPP party as well as the rank and files of the Party in the Akan Constituency will be in attendance.

Alhaji Rashid Bawa died on Thursday, March 14, 2024, in Abuja, Nigeria, flown to Ghana and buried on Friday, March 15 at Kadjebi in accordance with Islamic customs and traditions.

Alhaji Bawa, a Legal Practitioner was the first Independent Candidate MP for Akan Constituency, winning with 12, 306 votes out of the 22,533 valid votes cast, representing 54.9 per cent in year 2000 polls in the Constituency, former Ghana’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from 2005-2008, Deputy Minister of Youths and Sports 2001-2002, among others.

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