Twitter rejected FG’s demand that Nnamdi Kanu’s account be blocked – Lai Mohammed
Micro-blogging platform Twitter rejected the Nigerian government’s demand that the account of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu be blocked, Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed disclosed on Tuesday. Mohammed stated this when he featured on ‘Politics Nationwide,’ a Radio Nigeria call-in programme in Abuja, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). The minister insisted that Twitter was suspended in Nigeria because the platform was being used to promote the views of those who wanted to destabilize the country. Mohammed said that it was unfair to conclude that Twitter was suspended because it deleted a tweet posted by President Muhammadu Buhari. “Twitter has become a platform of choice for a particular separatist promoter,” he said. “The promoter consistently used the platform to direct his loyalists to kill Nigerian soldiers and policemen, run-down INEC offices and destroy all symbols of Nigeria’s sovereignty. “Every attempt to persuade Twitter to deny its platform to this separatist leader was not taken serious.” The minister added that the Nigerian government had no apology to offer to those who were unhappy with the suspension of Twitter’s operations in the country. He argued that a country must exist in peace before citizens could exercise freedom of speech. Speaking further, Mohammed blamed the violence and destruction of property recorded in parts of the country during the #EndSARS protests on Twitter and its founder, Jack Dorsey. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
MTN Foundation handover GH¢300,000 blood bank building to Cape Coast Teaching Hospital
MTN Foundation committed to improving health, education, and economic empowerment in Ghana, has presented a blood bank building to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH). The ceremony to present the facility, meant to support effective patient care, coincided with the commemoration of World Blood Donor Day which fell on Monday, as well as MTN’s 25 years of existence in Ghana. The building has a reception, screening room, blood store room, refrigerators, a laboratory, a waiting area, and a washroom. Mr Samuel Koranteng, the Chief Corporate Officer of MTN, said the role of blood ineffective health care delivery could not be overemphasized. He indicated that the blood bank would help manage the hospital’s bloodstock which includes maintaining an inventory for each blood group, ensuring an average age of blood at the time of issue, and monitoring the amount of blood that becomes outdated. The Chief Corporate Officer said one key area his outfit was very particular with, was the sustainability and maintenance culture that would be adopted by the management of the hospital to ensure that the facility served its intended purpose. “Five years from now, when we come back to visit, we hope to meet the facility well maintained and possibly in the same state as presented to benefit generations to come” he stated. Mr Koranteng announced that the Company had rolled out several promotions as part of programmes to appreciate its customers for their commitment to the network and urged all customers to take advantage of them. Dr. Eric Kofi Ngyedu , Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Hospital, said the donation of the blood bank to the hospital was very timely and would immensely augment and improve blood donation services. He said the unacceptable rate of maternal deaths, mostly caused by post-partum hemorrhage informed the management’s decision to seek support from the MTN Foundation to help secure lives and stop all preventable deaths. Expressing gratitude, the CEO thanked MTN for what he described as ‘historic’ and promised that the hospital would take very good care of the facility for future generations to feel MTN’s generosity. Dr Leticia Lokko, a hematologist at the Hospital, outlined the importance of blood donation and stressed that safe blood was a critical resource for infants with severe anemia, pregnant women who experience postpartum hemorrhage, cases of trauma, surgeries, treatment of malaria, sickle cell disease and a host of others. She further urged the public to freely walk to the facility and willingly donate blood to help save lives and curtail all preventable deaths. —GNA Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
BoG, IGP clash over attack on bullion vans
A statement issued by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) on December 24, 2020 shows it directed all Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and Specialized Deposit-Taking Institutions (SDIs) to secured armoured bullion vans in a move to combat robbery attacks. All DMBs and SDIs had up to July 2023 to comply with the BoG directive, the statement indicated. This follows series of attacks on bullion vans carting cash which most often results in the death and injury of drivers and police officers. “Following the Bank of Ghana’s (BoG) meeting with Cash Operations Managers of banks held on Thursday, 15t October 2020, Bank of Ghana hereby directs all Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) and Specialized Deposit-Taking Institutions (SDIs) to acquire armoured plated bullion vans for its cash operations,” BoG statement signed by its secretary Mrs. Alethea Godson-Amamoo has said. Although all DMBs and SDIs have up to July 2023 to comply with the BoG directive, they were expected to take immediate measures to secure the armoured bullion vans to prevent loss of lives, currency, and destruction of sophisticated equipment which then became a national security concern. “BoG further directs all DMBs and SDIs should comply with the above directive by 1st July, 2013 after which BoG will not admit any soft-skinned CIT vehicle into its premises nationwide,” the statement emphasised. However, following Monday’s armed robbery attack on a bullion van at James town in Accra, the Inspector General of Police, James Oppong-Boanuh has asked banks to provide armoured vehicles for carting money. Whiles BoG directive says July 2023, the IGP said DMBs and SDIs have up to the close of June 2021 to satisfy all the directive. He added that failure on their part will compel the Police to withdraw its officers for escort duties. “The IGP is also reminding the Association of Bankers to provide fortified armoured vehicles for carting currencies by the close of June 2021 as earlier agreed between them and the Police Service, else the Police withdraws its officers for escort duties,” the IGP warned in the statement. Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), James Oppong-Boanuh, has instructed the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), to take over investigations into the armed robbery attack on Monday’s bullion van incident at James town in Accra. “The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mr. James Oppong-Boanuh has directed the Director-General Criminal Investigation Department to take over the investigation into the attack on a bullion van at Adedenpo, a suburb of James Town in Accra on 14June 2021, which led to the murder of a police officer.” Police had said the unidentified armed men, on not less than three motorbikes, crossed the bullion van and started shooting sporadically. The police officer onboard was shot dead, the diver of the vehicle sustained gun wounds and a woman was killed by a stray bullet. By Eric Nana Yaw Kwafo Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
CDD-Ghana initiates a network of West African Parliamentary monitoring organisations
The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) has initiated steps to establish a network of Parliamentary Monitoring Organizations (PMOs) in West Africa to work towards enhancing parliamentary openness, transparency and accountability within the sub-region. According to CDD-Ghana, the West Africa PMOs’ network will, among other things, advocate for the adoption of the ‘Declaration on Parliamentary Openness’ by their respective national legislatures and campaign for inclusive social policies and programs that will positively enhance the lives of marginalized groups in their respective countries. Further, the network will advocate for strong and open Parliaments that embody citizens’ voices, especially those of marginalized groups, by enhancing their capacity to demand inclusive policies, responsiveness and accountability. In line with this initiative, CDD-Ghana disclosed it is hosting a four-day conference for PMOs operating across West Africa from June 15 to 18, 2021 in Accra. The conference, which forms part of activities under the Center’s project titled “Strengthening Parliamentary Monitoring Organizations (PMOs) in West Africa and Ghana to Enhance Parliamentary Openness, Inclusive Policies, Transparency and Responsiveness,” seeks to strengthen West Africa and Ghana-based PMOs. Regina Oforiwaa Amanfo Tetteh, Senior Programs Officer at CDD-Ghana, is optimistic that the conference will contribute to sharpening the skills of participating organizations to enable them advocate issues, policies and programmes that impact the lives of marginalized groups. “The ultimate aim is to set up a West African network of PMOs and to ensure the effectiveness of this network, its members must be equipped to enable them to contribute meaningfully to help achieve the objectives for which it was established,” she said. At the end of the project, CDD-Ghana hopes the participating organizations will be able to find innovative ways of documenting, assessing and sharing research findings on parliamentary performance in their respective countries. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093