Haruna Iddrisu Response to Ghana Police Service Invitation To Minority Mps Will Shock You…
The Ghana Parliament Minority leader Mr. Haruna Iddrisu has responded to what he described as a social media and confused invitation by Ghana Police Service. According to the Minority leader, while addressing the media, “I woke up this morning to some place of news that in the social media Haruna Iddrisu and minority MPs to appear before court, let me state it emphatically that the minority leader and members of NDC in parliament are an integral part and members of NDC party, the National Democratic Congress and we are law abiding citizens of Ghana. Regrettably, we don’t respond on and we will respond to social media invitation by the Ghana Police Service. I have not been personally served as is the requirement of the law and as many of my colleagues. Therefore, I should only be walking to the court, if there were personal service of that bridge of summons, but I should presume with fear or contradiction that the Ghana Police service is allowing itself to be use as a tool of manipulation. I have repeated told you that am not a coward and I don’t intend ever to be cowed by any machination by any person including the Ghana Police Services.” “There are some confusions in their mind, they should seek to resolve the confusion the Ghana Police Service. I have seen names like Dr. Zenator Rawlings she didn’t take part in the process, the Honorable Adongo of Bolga didn’t take part in the process, but somebody somewhere rehearsed enemies that they are targeting for the purpose of humiliation and to project us as if we are not law-abiding citizens. They should resolve those confusions in their mind and come back properly in accordance with law, but even what is more remarkable and significant, is that the criminals who so declared the results and denied us of our mandate in Techiman are walking free, what they did is in bridge of law, is in bridge of process and nobody is prosecuting them, nobody is prosecuting those who shot and killed the 3 persons acknowledge by the EC in Techiman that is criminal killing. Yet, Members of Parliament presenting a harmless petition and when I said the police is confused, you didn’t understand, they should go and gain some training in terms of the law.” “What Members of Parliament did was to embark on lawful procession nothing more, not a demonstration that why the constitution in Article 21 uses the word procession and demonstration. In any case, be informed that the NDC officially notified the Ghana Police Service that the party will embark on a number and series of actions, we are part of the NDC we took part in that action but we took part in lawful, harmless procession. Even tomorrow when you are processing to church, they will stop you thank you.” Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
How the shea tree can alleviate poverty and empower women in northern Ghana
The shea tree is promising to be a panacea to the abject poverty in northern Ghana. Since its discovery in the 14th century, the tree has helped to fight food insecurity, treat diseases, body care, among other uses. Regarded as “women’s gold”, over three million rural women in Ghana rely on the shea nut for their livelihood. The shea tree is arguably the most economic and utility tree in the north. The shea industry has the potential of addressing endemic poverty especially among women if government and its development partners pay maximum attention to address challenges in the sector. The government must build and reinforce the capacity of women in the shea sector if we want to end poverty and achieve the SDG 1. Poverty is endemic in the five regions of the north where women are the most vulnerable since they don’t have access to land. These regions continue to have the highest poverty rates; however, substantial progress has been achieved since 2006 in the Upper East region as poverty has dropped from 72.9 per cent in 2006 to 44.4 per cent in 2013. In the same report, the Northern region (now three regions) marginally reduced its poverty level from 55.7 per cent to 50.4 per cent. The statistics show that majority of the rural poor live in the northern part of the country and there is a need for sustainable programmes and policies to alleviate poverty among them. Shea butter offers the best solution. Shea butter has found a market niche, thanks to global capitalism. The market demand for shea butter is a good opportunity for Ghana to capitalize and modernize the shea sector to alleviate poverty in the north. In 2018, shea butter was valued at $1.12 billion and is expected to expand at a rate of between 6.6 per cent and 10.5 per cent CAGR for the forecast period between 2015 and 2025. Shea butter is a top commodity in the cosmetics, food, and the pharmaceutical industries. The food and beverages sectors are projected to be the fastest-growing application segment under the review period. In the food sector, it serves as a cocoa butter equivalent (CBE) due to the rise in world cocoa prices and supply decline in producer countries. For instance, in 2019, shea nuts became the most appreciated non-traditional export (NTE) commodity among the top 10 NTEs in Ghana, with a total value of $27,189,551, a tremendous increase from $14,103,332 in 2018. Despite the huge revenue that shea sector brings to the country in export trade, less than 40 per cent of the nuts are picked annually. The startling report shows that Ghana is operating below its capacity in the shea sector and should take advantage of global demand for the commodity to create more jobs for women. My mother who is an artisanal producer of shea butter doesn’t know the global demand of the commodity. Women dominate the laborious shea butter production system, but earn paltry returns. The government must boost the sector by regulating shea prices so that women benefit from their labor. The government should establish the Shea Development Board to regulate prices. Fair prices will encourage more women to participate at every stage of the supply chain. Producers are willing to invest additional attention in improved product quality if they are motivated by increased returns or some other tangible benefit. The government can buy at reasonable prices from the farmers during bumper harvests and resell at the international market. The government should also incentivize the private sector through tax breaks to create direct and indirect jobs. Research shows that women are disadvantaged in the shea business due to their non-participation in every stage of the supply chain because of illiteracy and lack of skills. The government and non-governmental organizations should build the capacity of women through workshops and trainings to occupy managerial positions. Developing the skills of the rural farmers in the shea butter trade is one of the potent ways of addressing the phenomenon of poverty in abundance of natural resources. When we capacitate women, we empower families and communities because they are the guardians of society. The government needs to invest in machinery to support rural women in the shea sector. Majority of women producers of shea butter in Ghana use traditional methods. In fact, in West Africa, 60 per cent of shea butter produced by women uses manual traditional methods and 30 per cent-40 per cent of the extraction uses semi-mechanized systems. My mother started artisanal production of shea butter before I was born but has never seen an extraction equipment. The government and development NGOs should help the women to acquire shea butter extraction machinery to relieve them of the labor-intensive nature of the job. The government has an opportunity to eradicate poverty in the north by investing in the shea sector. Solvable problems such as price fluctuations, lack of equipment, capacity building, etc. prevent the shea industry from flourishing and reducing poverty. The sector invites the private investors and NGOs to invest and create jobs for women. By Francis Abugbilla Author is a PhD Candidate in International Studies at the University of Washington’s Jackson School of International Studies and is currently pursuing a certificate in International Development Management and Policy. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: +233555568093.
Supreme Court to rule on Amewu’s case tomorrow
A five member of panel of the Supreme Court presided over by Justice Yaw Appau has fixed Tuesday January 5, 2021 to deliver its ruling on a the application challenging a High Court jurisdiction in granting an injunction against Peter Amewu’s gazzette as Member of Parliament for Hohoe. The ruling is expected to be delivered at 12noon after the parties have argued the Cases in court. The Deputy Attorney General, Godfred Dame on behalf of the state filed a motion at the Supreme Court to fight the injunction placed on Peter Amewu as MP-elect for Hohoe by the Ho High Court. The injunction was granted after some residents of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi (SALL) argued that the Electoral Commission’s failure to allow them to vote in the just-ended parliamentary elections amounted to a breach of their rights. They said, the creation of the Oti Region, coupled with a recent Supreme Court decision and failure of the EC to create a constituency for them, meant they did not vote for a parliamentary candidate in the just-ended election. It is the case of the state that John Peter Amewu’s victory in the Hohoe parliamentary election was gazetted a day before the residents of SALL went to the High Court to place an injunction on the process. Godfred Dame further argued that the High Court in exercising its human rights oversight had no jurisdiction to grant the injunction as the SALL residents did not go through the proper procedure. He further added that the residents of SALL do not belong to the Volta Region where the Hohoe constituency is found therefore cannot challenge the election of the Member of Parliament. On the other hand, lawyers of the residents of SALL argued that the action by the Electoral Commission to deny their clients from voting in the parliamentary election in Hohoe is a breach of the fundamental human rights, administrative justice and the right to equality before the law. Starrfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
8000 teachers fail licensure exams
Over eight thousand teachers have failed the mandatory Licensure Examination (NTLE) representing 30.75% of the total number who sat for the test. A statement by the National Teaching Council on Monday, January 4 said 27,455 candidates sat for the exams. According to the NTC, 19.013 candidates representing 69.3% passed the exams with the remaining results withheld pending investigation. The council has called on all candidates to check their results from the NTC online portal at exam.ntc.gov.gh by using either their pins given during registration or their examination index numbers using their phone numbers. Candidates were also advised to print their provisional certificates after checking their phone numbers. The NTLE was introduced by the government in 2019 backed by the Education Act of 2008, Act 778, with the first-ever teacher licensure exams taking place in September 2018. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Maintain Oquaye as speaker to calm the heated race – Prof Adei
Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), Professor Stephen Adei, has implored President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to maintain the current Speaker of Parliament rather than selecting a new face. This, he believes, is necessary to beat down the heat surrounding the race to the speakership. “There is too much turbulence at this time for you to go and bring a new Speaker [of Parliament], Professor Stephen Adei has said. The NDPC chairman who spoke Joy FM mentioned that, for “continuity” sake in the 8th Parliament, he will maintain Prof Aaron Mike Oquaye as Speaker of Parliament. “If I were in Akufo-Addo’s shoes, I would have maintained the present Speaker at least for now, and advise him that in about a year or two time, he should voluntarily resign.” Prof Adei justifying his position said “there is too much turbulence at this time for you to now go and bring a different person, “this is what I would have done straight away.” “But this is a case whereby I expect NDC will nominate somebody, NPP will nominate somebody, there will be a secret ballot, and then… but there are many candidates from Papa Owusu Ankomah to Alban Bagbin all of them can be very good Speakers,” he added. Ghanaweb Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
I’ll strip you naked after Akufo-Addo’s inauguration – Ken Agyapong starts new Amidu ‘beef’
Maverick politician and businessman Kennedy Agyapong has vowed to strip former Special Prosecutor Martin Amidu naked soon after the inauguration of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. “The things that are embedded in me are boiling. You, Martin Amidu, wait for Akufo-Addo to be sworn into office first. The way I will strip him naked…the plans he had against NDC. The NDC should be careful. He planned with Rawlings to make sure that Mahama loses the election then he Amidu and Zanetor will take over the party,” he revealed on NET2 TV monitored by MyNewsGh.com. It would be recalled the firebrand from the onset was averse to the appointment of Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Martin. A.B.K Amidu as the Special Prosecutor. The maverick politician who raised red flags over the choice of the personality who is a known member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), was at a loss as to why members of the party are hailing the appointment indicating that it is a looming disaster about to explode and could scuttle the fortunes of the party in future elections. “Celebrate Martin Amidu, he will soon come after the very party that appointed him. Martin Amidu is like Circuit Training based on Animal Flow Workouts. You train the animal and one day, one day it will attack and kill its owner. That is what will happen,” he revealed on Adom TV in January last year during a panel discussion. “Ghanaians are jubilating Martin Amidu. Wow! Because of what Ghanaians want I will not comment. You know how animals are trained in circuits, don’t you? We live in this country to see one day… I shall be vindicated. They do not know what is ahead of them. Go ahead and hail Amidu. The Man who made him a Minister see how he embarrassed him and now a prosecutor? No further comment,” he added. My News Gh Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Honyenugah must recuse himself from Amewu trial – Tsikata appeals
Tsatsu Tsikata has demanded that Justice Clemence Honyenugah recuses himself from the ongoing trial over the victory of Peter Amewu in the Hohoe parliamentary election. The five-member panel of the Supreme Court presided over by Justice Yaw Appau with support from Justice Clemence Hornyenugah, Justice Samuel Marful-Sau, Justice Gertrude Torkunor and Justice Amadu Tanko are expected to hear the substantive case today But when the case was called for the substantive case to be heard, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata asked Justice Honyenugah to recuse himself. According to him, should he fail to do so, they were going to raise an objection for him to recuse himself on grounds that he has a strong personal relationship with John Peter Amewu. After Justice Honyenugah had indicated to the panel that, he had no personal relationship with the Hohoe Member of Parliament-Elect and that he was not going to recuse himself, Lawyer Tsikata moved his objection. Moving his objection for Justice Honyenugah to recuse himself, Mr. Tsikata said the Supreme Court judge has “long-standing personal close relationship with Peter Amewu”. He argued that, they are willing to bring persons before the court to testify in that respect and that if the witnesses are heard, the court will agree with them on why he should recuse himself. He said Justice Honyenuga cannot be a judge in his own course and that their witnesses are prepared to testify on oath on these matters. AG objects Deputy Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame while opposing to the objection said, no basis has been established for recusal of any member of the panel. He said counsel owes it a duty to establish the case of bias against the said judge but has not done so, and that the claims are only premised on “speculative and conjecture.” Kasapa Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Ghana ranked 101 in Global Knowledge Index for 2020
Ghana placed 101 in the Global Knowledge Index for the year 2020, according to a disclosure from the United Nations Development Planning (UNDP). Conducted at a time when covid-19 has ravaged the global economy, the country’s position was however the 10th best in Africa and 1st in West Africa. In terms of the sectoral indices, Ghana was ranked 116th in Economy but did better in Information, Communications and Technology, placing 88th. For General Enabling Environment, it placed 92nd but was ranked lower at 111th in Research, Development and Innovation. With regard to Pre-Education, it was ranked 109th, whilst it placed 87th in Technical and Vocational Education and Training. In terms of Higher Education, it was ranked 92nd. The UNDP actually put Ghana’s population at 31 million even before the takeoff of the 2020 Population and Housing Census later in the year. The country’s Gross Domestic Product is however estimated at $66 billion. The 2020 Global Knowledge Index saw Switzerland placing 1st, followed by the United States of America and Finland in 2nd and 3rd respectively. Seychelles is the highest ranked country in Africa but at number 50 globally. The 4th edition of the Global Knowledge Index was published in an era where knowledge increasingly presents itself as a legitimate source of development and prosperity. African rankings (1st to 12th) Country Position (Global) Seychelles 50 Mauritius 55 South Africa 71 Egypt 72 Tunisia 82 Morocco 83 Kenya 88 Cape Verde 89 Botswana 99 Ghana 101 Algeria 103 Zimbabwe 104 Myjoyonline Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Some pastors visited shrines in Benin to ‘wipe out’ Akufo-Addo – Captain Smart
Popular radio presenter, Captain Smart has alleged that some men of God in the country visited shrines in Benin in their quest to eliminate President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Mr. Smart who made the accusations during his morning show on Angel FM indicated that the said pastors visited the West African country twice, that is, before and after the elections. He said the purpose of their first visit was to help them secure a win for a certain flagbearer but since that did not work, they stormed the place for the second time to completely ‘wipe out’ the president before his swearing-in ceremony. “The pastors that went to Benin before the elections and it backfired went back after the results were declared. This time around they tried to kill the president. They are very funny. There’s one that lives around my area. He went with one other prophet. Let me tell you, your plans have failed. Our president will be sworn in on January 7 no matter what you do,” he stated. He emphasized that no amount of ‘evil conspiracy’ can eliminate the president and even when he dies, the presidency will not be handed over to a different flagbearer. “On January 7, 2020, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will be sworn-in as president of the Republic of Ghana. He will not die and even when he dies we will not swear you in. You must get it straight; sometimes people need to understand certain principles in life. If I die to today my building at Tantra Hills will never be given to you. It is for my wife. I’m telling you that our president will not die,” Captain Smart stated. In a related development, two men of God including Prophet Elisha Salifu Amoako and Prophet Nigel Gaisie have also prophesied that there is an evil conspiracy and plot against the presidency. Prophet Salifu Amoako said during his 31st watch night service that some persons will attempt to poison the president half-way through his second term. Prophet Nigel Gaisie also said God revealed some dark clouds resting on the presidency to him. They have both asked for prayers to overturn the prophecy. Ghanaweb Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.
Death toll rises to 100 after attacks on Niger villages
Niger’s prime minister says 100 people are now known to have been killed in Saturday’s attacks by suspected jihadists on two villages. Brigi Rafini said 70 people were killed in the village of Tchombangou and 30 others in Zaroumdareye – both near Niger’s border with Mali. It was one of the deadliest days in living memory, as Niger grapples with ethnic violence and Islamic militancy. No group has said it carried out the attacks. According to local mayor Almou Hassane, those responsible travelled on “about 100 motorcycles,” AFP news agency reports. They split into two groups and carried out the attacks simultaneously. Former minister Issoufou Issaka told AFP that jihadists launched the assaults after villagers killed two of their group members, though this hasn’t been officially confirmed. Mayor Hassane said 75 other villagers were left wounded in the aftermath, and some have been evacuated for treatment in Ouallam and the capital, Niamey. Prime Minister Rafini visited both of the villages on Sunday. “This situation is simply horrible… but investigations will be conducted so that this crime does not go unpunished,” he told reporters. Niger’s Tillabéri region lies within the so-called tri-border area between Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, which has been plagued by jihadist attacks for many years. Niger’s Prime Minister Brigi Rafini visited the two villages on Sunday Last month, seven Nigerien soldiers were killed in an ambush in the region. Areas of Niger are also facing repeated attacks by jihadists from neighbouring Nigeria, where the government is fighting an insurgency by Boko Haram. As part of efforts to quell the violence, France has been leading a coalition of West African and European allies against Islamist militants in the Sahel. Coalition forces have become targets, and last week five French soldiers were killed in two separate incidents in Mali. The latest attacks in Tillabéri also come amid national elections in Niger, as President Mahamadou Issoufou steps down after two five-year terms. Election officials announced provisional results on Saturday, showing a lead for Mohamed Bazoum – a former minister and a member of Niger’s ruling party. A second round of votes is expected to be held on 21 February, once ballots have been validated by the country’s constitutional court. Source: BBC Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0555568093.