We’ll not honour police summons to appear in court on Monday – Minority MP
National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Kunbungu, Ras Mubarak, says his minority colleagues will not honour a police summon served on them to appear before the Accra Magistrate Court on Monday. The police have charged 20 NDC MPs including Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu with two offences against the state for walking to the headquarters of the Electoral Commission on 22nd December 2020 to present a petition. Clad in red and black, the MPs walked from parliament house, broke through a police barricade at the Ridge Roundabout and marched to the EC headquarters with the petition. The petition demanded a collation of the 2020 Techiman South parliamentary elections results. The police in a statement of offence accused the minority MPs of failing to notify the police before holding a special event contrary to sections 1, 2 and 9 of the Public Order Act. The police have also charged them with unlawful assembly contrary to section 202 of the Criminal Offences Act. The statement of offence claims the MPs did unlawfully assemble with a common purpose and conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause persons in the Ridge neighbourhood reasonable fear. It also accuses them of acting in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace. “You are hereby commanded in the name of the republic to appear before this court at Accra on the 4th of January 2021,” the summons distributed in the pigeonholes (shelves) of each of the 20 MPs read. The MPs affected by the summons include Deputy Minority Leader James Klutse Avedzi, Minority Chief Whip Muntaka Mubarak, Ningo Prampram MP Samuel George, former Deputy Interior Minister James Agalga, John Jinapor, Rockson Dafiamekpor, Adam Mutawakilu, Ebenezer Terlabi, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, A. B. A. Fuseini, Kofi Buah, Rashid Pelpuo and Richard Quarshigah. The rest are Collins Dauda, Yussif Jahja, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, and Kunbungu MP Ras Mubarack. NDC Deputy General Secretary Peter Otukunor is the other individual charged in connection with the alleged offences. Ras Mubarak tells Joy News the police is committing an illegality by executing a criminal summons on serving members of parliament without the permission of the speaker. Article 117 of the 1992 Constitution states that “civil or criminal process coming from any court or place out of Parliament shall not be served on, or executed in relation to, the Speaker or a member or the clerk to Parliament while he is on his way to, attending at or returning from, any proceedings of Parliament.” “In any case, parliament is sitting tomorrow (Monday) at 10am. And they of all people should know better that when parliament is sitting, unless the speaker explicitly releases any MP, no one can summon them to any court. So, this is an illegality,” Mr. Mubarak said. “They should follow the Constitution. They should contact the speaker to inform him of what they want to do, the speaker will give directions, invite the parties, and discuss it before any such service can be served on MPs. “But you don’t send these things to MPs and leak it to the media and expect that any MP will take you seriously. They are taking us into the abyss,” he told Joy News. The Kunbungu MPs says he and his colleagues will not be in court tomorrow. “Personally, I will not be in court. Because the proper thing has not been done. I get the indication that is the position of my colleagues too. “I have not seen any letter from the speaker’s office permitting them to serve me as an MP,” he explained. Myjoyonline Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Government reintroduces free water and electricity for lifeline customers
President Akufo-Addo has announced that government will be renewing its free utility package for the poor and needy only for the three more months. This, the President, said reflects government’s continuous dedication to shield Ghanaians from the harsh effects of the coronavirus. Government in April last year announced its intention to absorb electricity and water tariffs to make up for lost income as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and its attendant lockdown and restrictions. However, following an easing of restrictions in the country and the free utility package reaching its time limit on December 31, 2020, government has decided to renew the package only for lifeline customers. The President in his 21st address to the nation said, “With the continuing difficulties occasioned by the pandemic, I want to state that government intends to continue to support the most vulnerable in our society. “Government will, thus, continue to pay the electricity bills for our nation’s one million active lifeline customers for the next three months, i.e. January, February and March. “Additionally, all one million, five hundred thousand customers of the Ghana Water Company, whose consumption is not more than five cubic metres a month, will not pay any bills for the next three months, i.e. for the months of January, February and March.” He however stated that the package will be reviewed at the end of March. Myjoyonline Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Halt demo against EC, Jean Mensa – High Court orders NDC
The Cape Coast High Court in the Central Region has placed an interlocutory injunction on the much-anticipated Effutu Constituency demonstration against the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) over what they described as a stolen verdict. This was after the Ghana Police Service applied to the court for an Ex Parte injunction. The Effutu constituency, led by its 2020 parliamentary candidate, Dr. James Kofi Annan and the constituency executives, planned a massive demonstration against the Jean Mensa-led Electoral Commission, in solidarity with their flag bearer, John Dramani Mahama, and also against what they called “the Effutu ECOWAS Register “in the Effutu constituency. They believed the Effutu constituency voters’ register was hugely over-bloated with voters imported from the neighbouring constituencies, and that the true winners of the 2020 parliamentary and presidential elections are James Kofi Annan and John Dramani Mahama respectfully. According to the organisers but for the Effutu ECOWAS register and Jean Mensa’s lack of transparency in the declaration of the presidential results, the NDC should have been declared winners In the latest press release signed by the Effutu Constituency Secretary of NDC, Mr. Abraham Arthur of the intended demonstration slated for January 5, 2021, sighted by MyNewsGh.com, he revealed that the party has called for a general meeting with all branches to discuss and agree on the way forward, and other courses of action. My News GH Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Akufo-Addo announces date for reopening of schools
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said that the government is convinced that it is safe to reopen schools this month. Delivering his 21st address on the coronavirus pandemic on Sunday, January 3, 2021, President Akufo-Addo officially announced the reopening of schools, expressing the conviction that the circumstances are rife for such a move. President Akufo-Addo mentioned January 15, 2021, as the reopening date for basic schools. “We are satisfied that in the current circumstances the reopening of our schools is safe. So, from 15th January our children in Kindergarten, Primary and Junior High in both private and public schools will be back in schools. “All SHS 1 students will start class from 10th March and all the students embarking on the single track academic calendar , their seniors in SHS 2 and SHS 3 will however, return to school from 18th January.” President Akufo-Addo further stated that students in the first year of second cycle institutions will no longer experience double track “I must stress that SHS 3 students like SHS 1 students will no longer run the double track system,” he said. He added “The expansion of infrastructure at the various senior high schools over the last three years has brought us this favorable position. However the double track system will still be applicable to SHS 2 students that are in it. Students in the universities and other tertiary institutions are to be in school from Saturday 9th of January.” Ghanaweb Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
LIVESTREAMED: President Akufo-Addo’s 21st address on coronavirus pandemic
Watch live as President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo delivers his 21st address on the coronavirus pandemic. With schools set to be reopened, President Akufo-Addo’s speech will focus on the measures ought to be put in place before students across the various levels of education return to school. The President will also touch on whether pubs, cinemas, night clubs and beaches will remain closed or be opened for business. In his last address, President Akufo-Addo said that the country’s sea-land borders remain closed and there will be update on it. He is also expected to speak on the vaccine and whether Ghana is in a position to make purchases. President Akufo-Addo will also touch on the safety protocols and remind Ghanaians on the need to let their guards down. The country’s Coronavirus case count as of December 20, 2020, is 53,653, with 52,331 having recovered from the virus. 331 deaths have been recorded so far per data available on the Ghana Health Service website. Ghanaweb Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Awutu Senya East NDC accuses Hawa Koomson of ordering assault on constituency secretary
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Awutu Senya East Constituency of the Central Region is demanding justice for its constituency secretary, Tauriq Amadu, who is alleged to have been assaulted by incumbent MP, Mavis Hawa Koomson. The NDC says the MP ordered her men to assault Tauriq Amadu after she accused him of “disturbing her social media.” When he tried to talk back to Mrs. Koomson, some men with her got upset and she allegedly ordered the assault. “She told the boys that they shouldn’t even engage me. They should beat me up. So upon her orders, the boys descended on me. They were about five,” Mr. Amadu recounted They are therefore urging the police to swiftly investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators to book. The MP was reportedly in the area to inspect a road project. Meanwhile, the New Patriotic Party in the Constituency has denied the claims. It has rather accused the NDC of mischief. Charles Kojo Odom, the Communication Officer for the NPP in the Awutu Senya East Constituency said Mrs. Koomson only offered some season greetings to one of the men Mr. Amadu was with. “She went closer to the chairman and gave some greeting and wished him a Happy New year.” Mr. Odom added that the MP was not even around for the alleged assault. “The honourable minister left before the incident happened so it is not true that the honourable minister commanded people to beat the general secretary of the NDC.” Citinewsroom Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Bono East NDC searches for party activist after alleged arrest by National Security
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Bono East Region says the whereabouts of Adbul-Latif Seidu Harrison, an NDC activist in Kintampo, is still unknown, days after his alleged arrest by National Security Operatives. Mr. Seidu Harrison was arrested on Friday for threatening the lives of families of President Akuf-Addo and the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa on social media. “They [National Security] took him to Tamale. We made a follow up to Tamale and they said they have transported him to Accra,” the Bono East Regional Secretary for the NDC, Mohammed Shamsudeen Ali said to Citi News. The Bono East NDC secretariat in a press release on Saturday alleged that the arrest is an attempt by the incumbent government to “gag and oppress people who openly condemn the killings and police brutalities perpetrated against Ghanaians mostly supporters of NDC.” “On this note, we wish to call on the National Security Minister Hon Kan Dapaah to call his guys to order and ensure that DJ Proddy is set free with immediate effect,” the statement added. With regards to the threats, the party said Mr. Seidu Harrison “perhaps out of youthful exuberance made these funny threats.” Find below the full statement BONO EAST NDC CONDEMNS THE ARREST OF DJ PRODDY FOR EXPRESSING HIS ANGER AGAINST PRESIDENT AKUFO ADDO AND JEAN MENSAH Our attention has been drawn to the arrest of one Mr. Adbul-Latif Seidu Harrison (DJ Proddy) by national security operatives following comments he is alleged to have made against the immediate families of President Akufo Addo and Mrs. Jean Mensah, Ghana’s Electoral Commission Chairperson. Our checks further revealed that, the guy made these comments on his Facebook page and same shared on some WhatsApp platforms. The party wishes to state that, though we have not established contact with the said DJ Proddy to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the events leading to his arrest as reported in the media, we condemn his arrest in no uncertain terms. It is most unfortunate that, the young guy who perhaps out of youthful exuberance made these funny threats have attracted the attention of the National Security. It is particularly intriguing that, some prominent people in Ghana notably Hon Kennedy Agyapong who is a sitting member of parliament and Chairman Wontumi, Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman have made worse comments and yet our security forces have not arrested them or initiated legal actions against them. Hon Kennedy Agyapong for instance on Net2 TV insulted His Excellency John Dramani Mahama and declared that he will order his thugs to locate His Excellency, John Mahama, Hon. Asiedu Nkatiah, Hon. Baba Jamal, Col. Gbevlo houses and burn them. Same Kennedy Agyapong attacked and insulted a sitting Judge of High Court and yet is walking free and taking a second wife. With all these threats against a former president and NDC flag bearer, National Security has not gone after him. So why the poor boy from Gulumpe in Kintampo? There is only one conclusion that we draw from the arrest of DJ Proddy; President Akufo Addo is using the National Security to gag and oppress people who openly condemn the killings and police brutalities perpetrated against Ghanaians mostly supporters of NDC. This is unfortunate and must be condemned by well-meaning Ghanaians. You cannot choose to set free Kennedy Agyapong and arrest DJ Proddy for similar offence. On this note, we wish to call on the National Security Minister Hon Kan Dapaah to call his guys to order and ensure that DJ Proddy is set free with immediate effect. As long as Hon Kennedy Agyapong and Chairman Wontumi remain free citizens, same way must DJ Proddy be set free without further delay. -Signed- Mohammed Shamsudeen Ali Regional Secretary Citinewsroom Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Armed robbers attack travellers at Walewale
The night patrol team at Walewale was called by the station master, Inspector Amos Bour, to the scene of an ongoing robbery in the Banawa village on Nalerigu Highway on Saturday at about 2:50 am. The team immediately proceeded from Nasia-Tamale Highway to the crime scene to meet one Kanlan Kambarib, a driver in charge of a 39-seater Neoplan mini bus with registration No. U-1162-C, aged 40. There were about 20 passengers on board travelling from Techiman to Bunkpurugu. According to the driver, when he got to a section of the road between Walewale and Banawa village, 4 masked men believed to be of Fulani extraction, wielding two guns emerged from the nearby bush, fired at his windscreen, and ordered him to stop. After complying, the robbers managed to rob them of their belongings and a cash amount of Gh¢2000. Fortunately, nobody was hurt. Mr. Kambarib added that robbers hurriedly escaped through a nearby bush upon noticing the police presence. The patrol team combed the scene and found a BB cartridge shell which has been retained for evidential purposes. The case is currently under investigations. Eliasu Tanko Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Concede defeat, congratulate Akufo-Addo – Reverend Oppong tells Mahama
UK-based Ghanaian pastor, Dr. Evans Oppong has called on former President John Dramani Mahama to concede and congratulate president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as president-elect in the just ended Ghana presidential elections, held on December 7, 2020. The founding pastor of City of Faith Ministry -Worldwide said that Ghana needs peace and tranquillity in advancing progress and prosperity to its people, therefore the former president, who stood as a candidate for the opposition NDC should focus on the enhancement of peace in Ghana to make that bold decision of concession. In his special 2021 “state of the nation address” to Ghanaians, Dr. Oppong prayed for peace to reign. “If that’s what it would take to get peace in Ghana, then my advice to the former president, H.E. John Dramani Mahama is to concede. We don’t have to stifle creativity and the development of Ghana” – he reiterated. On the part of the NPP, Dr. Evans Oppong called on the president of Ghana, H. E. Nana Akufo-Adoo to do well to ensure all reported errors and uncertainties in the general elections are rectified because, there cannot be peace without justice. We can’t just advocate for peace when justice is not attained. We cannot trade our destinies for the ambitions of individuals. We cannot trade the great achievements of Ghana for selfish ambitions so we are calling on the EC chairperson, Jean Mensa to do well to enhance the integrity of the institution. – Dr. Oppong stressed. General elections were held in Ghana on 7 December 2020. Incumbent President Nana Akufo-Addo of the New Patriotic Party was re-elected in the first round after securing a majority of the votes. Former President John Dramani Mahama says he will contest the results. On December 30, Ghana’s opposition NDC Party filed a petition to the Supreme Court of Ghana to officially contest the election results. Ghana’s Electoral Commission announced that President Akufo-Addo had polled 51.59% of valid votes cast as against former President John Mahama’s 47.36%. All opposition protests have been banned in Ghana’s capital, Accra following a spike in post-election demonstrations. The Ghana Police Service secured a court order restraining all protests earlier. It’s in this light that Dr. Evans Oppong made these statements and called for focus, calmness and peace because Ghana has become a model for other countries to emulate. According to the man of God, what our leaders and citizens must concentrate on is the movement of the nation. He also advised Ghanaians to pick their swords to work for the good of Ghana. Kelly Nii Lartey Mensah Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications
Minority MPs to face court on Monday over protest march
Minority Leader and ten other NDC MPs will face the Accra Circuit court on Monday, January, 04, 2020 over the Minority’s protest march to the headquarters of the Electoral Commission. They have been charged with unlawful assembly for failing to notify the Police of holding of a special event contrary to Section 1(1) and (2) and 9(a) of the Public Order Act, 1994(Act 491). The lawmakers mentioned in the suit are Asawase MP, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak; Ningo-Prampram MP, Sam George; Yapei Kusawgu MP, John Abdulai Jinapor; South Dayi MP, Rockson Dafeamekpor and Kumbungu MP, Ras Mubarak. The others are Damongo MP, Adam Mutawakilu; Lower Manya Krobo MP, Ebenezer Terlabi; Pru East MP, Dr. Kwabena Donkor; Sagnarigu MP; Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini; Juaboso MP, Kwabena Minta Akando. This follows the NDC MPs breached a security barricade to present a petition at the Electoral Commission headquarters on December 23, 2021. The MPs were also sued for failing to notify the police about their march. Kasapa Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications