Northern Regional NPP declare support for Bawumia as 2024 flagbearer
The struggle for who to replace President Akufo-Addo in the New Patriotic Party (NDC) as his tenure expires in the next four years, the Northern Regional Secretariat of the party have openly declared their support for Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to lead the party in 2024. According to the regional leadership of the party, their decision to openly rally behind the Vice President was that he had distinguished himself over the past years that largely brought the party to power. The group said when given the nod as the flagbearer of the NPP, Bawumia will give the party a resounding victory in the 2024 general elections. The Northern Regional Chairman of the NPP, Mr Mohammed Baantima Samba who announced this said, “the NPP currently want somebody who can lead us to break the 8 years string in 2024 and so far Dr Bawumia has demonstrated his capabilities as a person who can to lead us to victory. “Dr Bawumia has done a great job for the government and the party especially in the 2016 and 2020 elections, he has increased the Northern votes which is a clear sign that if he is given the opportunity, he can lead the party to retain power in 2024” he stated. Mr Samba made the open declaration at the final funeral rites of the late Upper East Regional Youth Organiser of the NPP, Mr Solomon Latif at Bongo in the Upper East Region last Sunday. Mr Solomon who was born in May 1978 passed on at the Tamale Teaching Hospital in the Northern Region on Friday, May 14, 2021 after battling with a short illness. In attendance of the funeral were Dr Bawumia, Minister for the Interior Mr Ambrose Dery, Deputy Minister for Transport Mr Hassan Tampuli, Deputy Minister of Works and Housing Abdulai Abanga, Deputy Majority Chief Whip, Member of Parliament for Tolon Mr Habib Iddrisu, Council of Elders Member Sule Yerimia, national and regional executives of the party. The Vice President who attended the funeral on behalf of the President expressed his sadness over the demise of the late Regional Youth Organiser, describing him as a young man who had love for the party and contributed greatly to its success. He prayed for the soul to rest in eternal life and assured the family that the party would cater for the children deceased left behind. Agenda 2024 Mr Samba said the time has come for members of the NPP to look beyond ethnicity and self-interests and support the Vice President to continue from President Akufo-Addo. “Right now our main agenda is breaking the eight years in 2024 and that can be achieved only if we collectively support someone who is well marketed and can unite the rank and file of the party”. He intimated that considering the current political dispensation, any attempt to “set aside Dr. Bawumia would spell an electoral disaster for the NPP in 2024.” The Regional Chairman, therefore, called on the rank and file of the NPP to rally behind the Vice President to improve on the fortunes of the party in the next elections. NPP tradition On his party, the Deputy Northern Secretary of NPP, Mr Yussif Danjumah said “if we want to break the eight then it means that we have to support the Vice President and the Northern Region NPP is solidly behind him for the utmost interest of the party. “When you look at NPP, our tradition is Danquah, Busia and Dombo. Now it is the turn of the Dombo’s to lead,” he noted. —Mohammed Fugu Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
July 14 is judgement day for Assin North MP’s Case
A resident of Assin North, Michael Ankomah Nimfah, petitioned the court that his Member of Parliament, Joe Gyaakye Quayson, did not qualify to contest the 2020 Parliamentary elections because he held dual citizenship: Ghana and Canada, at the time of filing to contest. The case has travelled for close to three months, and on Monday, the court presided over by Justice Kwasi Boakye announced the day for judgment after all ancillary matters have been dealt with. Before the court adjourned sitting, it dealt with two motions that had come before him: the application for stay of proceedings and application for the MP’s lawyer, Abraham Amaliba, to withdraw his services. Abraham Amaliba began his submission by saying he had no clue whether the MP has still not been served. The judge asked him to enquire from the court registry, and after he did, he indicated on June 10, there were two attempts to serve the MP but the attempts were unsuccessful because the potential recipients at Parliament said the Parliament was in session. Counsel for the petitioner, Frank Davies, represented to the Abraham Amaliba in the following words: “You’re a lawyer engaged by the MP-your client- to prosecute the case on his behalf. If you intend to withdraw your services, I would have thought the same way you were engaged would be the same way you would use in your withdrawal. “You communicate with him because you stand in for him, why should communicating to him that you can no longer be his lawyer a difficult issue?” Frank Davies intimated that for the past two months, the story has been that the MP has not been served and his believes it’s a calculated attempt to delay the case unduly. He added, “this is an election petition and time is of the essence and we believe in the expeditious trial of the case.” The judge, Justice Kwasi Boakye, read CI 47 order 75 rule 5(2) and granted Abraham Amaliba his wishes to withdraw from the case and set a day for judgement after he dismissed the application for stay of proceedings filed by counsel for the 1st respondent because he found no merit in the application. Mr Amaliba applied for a stay of proceedings because one of the issues he considers cardinal was not set down for trial. The judge also intimated that the MP has not been coming to court and being represented by his lawyer and so he bears the risk of whatever happens if his lawyer fails to communicate the happenings in court to him. After court proceedings, Abraham Amaliba told Joy news, the judge setting a date to deliver his judgment is irregular because his withdrawal from the case needs to be served on Joe Gyaakye Quayson, his client. He explains Order 75 requires that when an order of this nature is made then the client involved should be served so he takes steps to procure the services of another lawyer who would represent him. “This order has not yet been served on the first respondent, and so we wait to see whether this order would be served on the first respondent before July 14, when judgement has been scheduled. “If that is not done, then what happened in court flies in the face of order 75, but as it stands now, I see some indecent haste in this case, but at the end of the day, the rules must be applied, and we must all go by the rules.” Representative of the petitioner, Richard Tachie-Mensah expressed their side’s happiness about the decision in court on Monday, June 28. He says the delay tactics could not go on unabated and that they are happy finality is being brought to the matter He added, “Let us also bear in mind that this is an election petition and definiteness has to be brought on the issue. The delay tactics cannot be done in perpetuity. “The people must know the outcome of the case, whether their MP wins or he loses the case, so they could be clear in their minds who would represent them. Thank God that come the July 14, finality would be brought on the matter.” —myjoyonline Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
UER: Teenage pregnancy threatens girl-child education in Nabdam
Persistent increase in teenage pregnancy in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region is a major threat to girl-child education and women empowerment in the area. Stakeholders, who made the observation at a community forum at Kongo, said teenage pregnancy was compelling girls in the area to drop out of school while others were going into forced marriages. They, therefore, advocated a collective approach from parents and state authorities as well as organizations to help curb the problem and create a better future for improved girls’ education and women empowerment. The forum was organized by TEERE, a local Non-Governmental Organization, as part of its Local Government Forum. The forum is part of the “Women’s Voice and Leadership’ project being supported by Plan International Ghana with funding from Global Affairs Canada. It was held on the theme: “Women in decision-making in the community: why it matters!!” and brought together representatives from the Nabdam District Assembly, the Department of Gender, traditional authorities, parents and women, among others. Pognaab Elizabeth Atubiga, the Queenmother of Kongo Community, said recent records showed that teenage pregnancy was on the increase in the area and attributed the inability of parents to meet the needs of their daughters, compelling the girls to engage in transactional sex, leading to pregnancy. She noted that apart from parents disciplining their children appropriately, they also needed to create an enabling environment for the children to easily confide in them, especially regarding their sexual and reproductive health issues. Mr William Anamoo, the Gender Desk Officer, Nabdam District Assembly, said the increase in teenage pregnancy in the district was a big threat to women empowerment and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, especially goals four and six which emphasise quality education and gender equality respectively. He, therefore, called for a multisectoral approach to ending the canker to empower girls and women to achieve parity. Mr Maxwell Babilo Banu, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, TEERE, explained that over the years, there was an inadequate representation of women in the decision making process at household, community and national levels because their educational and confidence levels were low. Mr Banu, who is also the Monitoring and Evaluation Manager of the NGO, said the main objective of the TEERE Local Government Forum was to provide a common platform for citizens and practitioners in local governance in all districts in Ghana to actively participate in the decentralization process. He said TEERE was providing women in five communities, namely Pelungu, Kongo, Logre, Yakote and Zanlerigu economic empowerment through piggery, guinea fowls and livestock rearing, with support from Plan International Ghana. It was also embarking on gender awareness campaigns to empower women to participate in decision-making processes, he added. The Deputy CEO explained that when women were empowered economically to fend for themselves and their children and with adequate knowledge, it would enable them to contribute to bridging the gender discrimination among girls and boys. Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
‘I feared for my husband’s social media activism’ – Wife of deceased member of #FixTheCountry movement wants justice
Zahada Hudu, the wife of 40-year-old Ibrahim Muhammed, who lost died after he was allegedly beaten to a pulp by a mob, has told Citi News she had asked her husband to stop his social activism because he could be killed. The mother of six, now a widow, wants the Ghana Police Service to expedite investigations into the gruesome killing of her husband to ensure that the perpetrators are arrested. The deceased, who’s also believed to be a member of the Economic Fighters League, and recently the #FixTheCountry movement, is reported to have been attacked by a mob at about 1:30 am on Saturday, June 26, 2021. His shout for help drew the attention of some residents of Sabonline, a Zongo community in the Ejura township, but they came in late to find him lying unconscious. Ibrahim Muhammed, alias Macho Kaaka, was quickly rushed to the Ejura Sekyeredumase District Hospital. After assessing the degree of injuries sustained, he was referred to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. The social activist finally gave up the ghost on Monday, June 28, 2021. According to Madam Zahada Hudu, her late husband had been using social media to highlight challenges within Ejura, particularly abandoned government projects that he believes deserve attention from state actors. She believes his activities may have influenced some persons to attack him since he had been warned by some unknown persons prior to the attack. Zahada Hudu, who is saddened by the incident, demanded justice for her late husband. “In the early hours of Saturday, we heard a loud noise in the house. I thought my husband was driving away goats from the house at the time. Little did I know that he was being attacked. We saw him in a pool of blood. The people bolted as soon as we opened the door to check what was happening.” She indicated that, prior to the attack, her late husband told her he had been threatened to desist from his social media activities. “Before the attack, he told me that someone had warned him against posting some issues on social media. I even warned him to stop since that could lead to his death but he wouldn’t listen. I know the person that issued the warning to my husband. We want the police to thoroughly conduct investigations into it to ensure the perpetrators are arrested,” she told Citi News Meanwhile, the police in the area say they have begun investigations into the matter. They however say they have not been able to make any arrest yet. The police are thus asking residents to assist them with information that will lead to the arrest of the perpetrators. Macho Kaaka’s activism on Facebook With the name Macho Kaaka on Facebook; citinewsroom.com found out that the deceased usually comments on local developmental issues as well as major issues of national interest. His last Facebook post on Saturday; June 26, 2021, which is the day he was attacked, was specifically about the arrest of actress Efia Odo and other conveners of the FixTheCountry Movement at the court in Accra. It was merely another person’s comment on that issue which he shared on his wall. On June 17, 2021, he made a video post about the killing of the police officer in the Bullion van attack in Accra and called on the government to improve security for police officers and Ghanaians at large. Before that, on June 14, 2021, he showed a live video of a road that was being fixed in his locality, while on June 13, 2021, he posted about the rising cost of fuel in Ghana. He also had on his Facebook wall videos and posts of other social activists which he often shared. —citinewsroom Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Mary and Joseph were counted after giving birth to Jesus, you must be counted — Kufuor
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has described the ongoing enumeration exercises as very important as it will help provide accurate data for national development. He has, therefore, urged all citizens to get involved and be counted, saying, the Population and Housing Census transcended all tribal, gender and religious persuasions. “Knowing the number of a population is not new, it is an ancient thing occurring even in the Bible where Mary and Joseph went to their hometown to be counted and that was when Jesus Christ was born,” he said. Ex-President Kufuor said this at his residence at Peduase in the Akwapim South District of the Eastern Region, when officials of the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) went to get him and his household enumerated. He said every good citizen must avail him or herself to be counted to be able to assert his/her right and demand accountability from government. “To assert your right, you must be counted,” he said, adding that the nation must know the size of its population to facilitate governance and for the equitable distribution of social services. The ex-President cautioned people to properly check the identities of the census officials before allowing them into their homes to ensure their safety. Professor Robert Darko Osei, a National Field Monitor, who is also a Board Member of the GSS, led the team to enumerate the Ex-President and his household. He said the census, which was done periodically, would enable planning and projections with respect to the population to enhance the living conditions of the people. He urged the public to provide accurate answers to the questions with the assurance that all information collected would be treated as confidential. —GNA Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
NDC Cadres want IGP, Interior Minister, Kan-Dapaah, Nitiwul sacked over 26 crimes recorded in two weeks
The Cadres of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has said the only way the rising cases of crime in the country can be fought is to sack the Inspector General of Police, Interior Minister, National Security and the Defence Ministry for doing nothing. The group has listed 26 crime cases that have been recorded in the past two weeks in the country, an alarming situation that needs complete reform in the security set-up. The NDC Cadres are asking the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to replace the security leadership with more efficient and confident people who can employ modern ways to tackle crime tactically. “We call on the Akufo Addo / Bawumia government and their security advisors to as a matter of urgency call a crisis meeting to find immediate workable solutions and sack the IGP, National Security Minister, Interior Minister and the Defense Minister. The country needs fixing and it must be fixed NOW,” a release from the NDC Cadres noted. According to the group, it is clear that the country is witnessing regime security as opposed to national security as a result of leadership failure. The Cadres added that under the current NPP administration, Ghana has witnessed a surge in government-sponsored terrorist activities such as the Ayawaso West-Wuogon Constituency Parliamentary Bye-election, the Techiman South election shootings, the Ablekuma Central collation centre shooting, cross-border crimes, including arms peddling and weapons proliferation in Ghana, human trafficking, serial and contract killings, kidnapping and armed banditry as some of its major national security shortfalls that the government must urgently tackle to ensure safety and security of the citizenry. Raising red flags to the alarming rate of crime recorded this year particularly in June, the Cadres of NDC have made recommendations to government which they believe will help solve the insecurity in the country. Aside replacing the State Security leadership with more efficient and competent persons, they want recruitment into the security services to be transparent and not based on party and tribal lines. Find below the full release from the group: PRESS RELEASE To: All Media Houses We the Cadres of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have observed with concern and disappointment the rate of deterioration of the state of security in the country. Under this NPP administration, Ghana has witnessed a surge in government sponsored terrorists activities, such as the Ayawaso West-Wuogon Constituency Parliamentary Bye-election, the Techiman South election shootings, the Ablekuma Central collation centre shooting, cross-border crimes, including arms peddling and weapons proliferation in Ghana, human trafficking, serial and contract killings, kidnapping and armed banditry as some of its major national security shortfalls that the government must urgently tackle to ensure safety and security of citizenry. It is clear that the country is witnessing regime security as opposed to national security and surge in crime is as a result of leadership failure. Ghanaians now live in fear much about the situation.pronouncements that have the effect that they have given up and cannot do anything about the crime situation in the country. The threat of terrorism and violent extremism in Ghana has heightened discourse across the nation. Given the southward spread of extremist groups in Burkina Faso and the porous nature of our borders, there are concerns over cross border incursions into Ghana. Violent crime is on the rise, including broad daylight armed robberies across the country. Nationwide, violent crime results in more than 500 deaths per year. Criminals frequently carry weapons; the most prevalent are locally manufactured pistols, rifles, and shotguns, also a number of weapons are smuggled into the country while our border security personnel are not able to do much about the situation. Reliable sources estimate that there are 1.2 million unregistered guns in Ghana. The recent violence at the Ayawaso West-Wuogon Constituency Parliamentary Bye-election in January 2019 linked to State sponsored terrorist groups, such as Invisible and Delta Forces suggests the gravity of the threats it poses to Ghana’s democracy. Unfortunately, these groups have been absorbed into the National Security apparatus. The ability of these terror groups to seize public assets and interfere in court proceedings to free their colleagues from prosecution is also manifestation of the threat they pose. It indicates an attempt by the groups to entrench themselves as a semi-autonomous institution that threatens the legitimacy of the State. Recent crimes in Ghana – June 2021 The number of crimes that have occurred within two weeks of June 2021 are alarmingly very scary and this demands immediate action from government to curb the situation and ensure safety and security of our country. Some of the crimes within the last two weeks listed below: Armed robbers raid forex bureau close to Police headquarters CCTV footage of 23-year-old woman murdered by friend Four arrested over attacks on motorists at GIMPA Wife of KK Sarpong’s aide shot dead Woman, aged 27 stabs partner to death at Abesim Notorious armed robber grabbed at Assin Fosu Bullion van robbery and the killing of a Police Officer and a civilian The two police officers who robbed Indian businessmen of cash in a hotel Woman ‘kills’ son at Taifa 30-year-old man killed over GH₵10 debt Trader jailed eight years for child stealing Two suspected kidnappers arrested at Abeka Lapaz 17-year-old TV ‘thief’ beaten to death at Barekese Multiple defilements across the country on the increase Robbery attack at Paga leaves one dead, another injured 19 Burkinabes busted for unlawful entry into Ghana Retired Police officer, 72, arrested for defiling 6-year-old granddaughter in Central Region Kumasi: Suspected taxi driver killer grabbed 3 galamsey operators jailed 45 years by Takoradi Circuit Court Prime suspect in murder of 24-year-old-lady in Koforidua commits suicide Car snatcher allegedly ties taxi driver to the back of his car and drags him to death One killed, two others injured in robbery attack 27-year-old hairdresser stabs lover to death for being denied grasscutter soup 64-year-old man allegedly shoots himself in room at Ebiram Notorious Highway robbers block road, gun down woman Police arrest four suspected narcotics dealers in
Regional Minister’s Onion Sellers’ Relocation Exercise Records Theft & Others
It appears some corrupt elements in the Akufo-Addo government, together with officials at Ga-West Municipal Assembly and a local chief, are hiding behind preparations to relocate some traders in Accra from Agbogbloshie to the new Adjen Kotoku Market, to achieve their personal interests. Reports available to The Herald, indicate some persons from the Ga-West Assembly and Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) led by Henry Quartey, the Regional Minister, are taking over peoples lands and looting building materials from sites, in the name of demolition to create space for traders at Adjen Kotoku. Several building projects, at various stages of completion, being put up by private individuals who acquired their lands near the new market, have been pulled down without any lawful order. Cement blocks, gravels, sand and other building materials on these lands, have also been taken away to unknown locations in a very suspicious manner, using tipper trucks and Pick-Up vehicles; as owners look on helplessly. The exercise was undertaken and supervised by some heavily-built persons, claiming to be national security operatives, including officials from the Assembly, as well as their taskforce and some individuals from the Regional Coordinating Council, using official government vehicles with registration number, GV – 565 –18. The illegal demolition, which started somewhere last week, is still ongoing as legitimate owners of the lands, have not been informed by way of a notice prior to the exercise, let alone the Assembly or RCC hold any discussion with them for possible compensations. Indeed, this paper has gathered that some of the properties demolished by the marauding taskforce, were nowhere closer to the market, leaving many questioning the motive behind some of the individuals carrying out the exercise. This paper’s checks, revealed most owners of these properties in fact, have genuine documents covering their lands, after acquiring them from the Adjen Kotoku chiefs long before government decided to use a portion of the area for market. Some of the residents told The Herald, the Ga-West Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Clement Wilkinson, including some individuals in government, as well as the chief of the area by name, Nii Amoah VII, alias ‘Lion’ from Adjen Kotoku Amoaman, appear to have developed certain interests in some of the lands. The affected residents told The Herald that prior to the demolition, the Ga-West MCE, had lured them into a meeting where he told them that their properties are safe, since they do not fall within the demarcations of the market. Meanwhile, documents sighted by this paper, revealed there was an injunction granted by an Accra High Court in 2014 against Ga-West Municipal Assembly and the Chief, Nii Tackie Amoah, with respect to the lands and the properties which were demolished. This was after the landowners took the Ga-West Municipal Assembly and the chief to court, in a case between Isaac Lawrence Kpodzro, Joseph Yaw Fankibi, Noah Tsagli and others as the plaintiffs vrs the Ga West Municipal Assembly and Nii Tackie Amoah as the 1st and 2nd defendants. The injunction, dated April 10, 2014, was granted by Justice S. H. Ocran of the Accra High Court, Land Division One. The substantive case is still pending at the High Court in Accra. Responding to the issues on Accra-based Accra FM on Saturday, June 26, 2021, the MCE, Clement Wilkinson, insisted that the lands in question actually belong to the government. However, he said the government is making efforts to see how best it could compensate the land owners. He urged the affected landowners to submit documents covering the land and their values for cool heads to prevail and possible compensations. But the landowners say, both the Assembly and individuals in-charge of the exercise, have acted in bad-fate, because they failed to follow due process in the takeover of the lands. They stated that they just woke up one day and realized, everything on their land was gone without any prior notice, insisting that the issue could have been handled in a much better way. —theheraldghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Integration Of SSNIT & NIA Numbers Begins Today
The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), will today Monday, June 28, 2021, deploy systems that allow members of the Scheme to merge their SSNIT and NIA numbers (Personal ID Numbers on their Ghana Cards). A statement from the SSNIT, says the merger will provide convenience and comfort for members as they will only use one card, the Ghana Card, for all transactions with the Trust. The merger is also in compliance with directives from the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) and Regulation 7 (1) of the National Identity Register Regulations, 2012, L.I. 2111 which requires the use of the Ghana Card as identification for “transactions pertaining to individuals in respect of pensions”. From January 2022, the Ghana Card will be the only identification recognised by the Trust. All employers will also be required to use only the NIA numbers of their workers to process Contribution Reports and make payments. Voluntary contributors will have to pay their contributions using their NIA numbers. The Merger Process To merge their SSNIT and NIA numbers, Members should dial*711*9# and follow the prompts. Alternatively, Members may log onto the SSNIT website https://www.ssnit.org.gh/member/ and follow the instructions to merge their numbers. Members, can also visit the nearest SSNIT Branch with their Ghana Cards, valid email addresses and phone numbers to have the merger done. Notification will be sent to Members once the merger of their numbers is successful. Members of the Scheme who provided their SSNIT numbers during the NIA registration should note that their numbers, have been merged already. Such individuals may dial the short code *711*9# and select option 2 to check the status of the merger. Once the merger of the SSNIT and NIA numbers is complete, Members can use their Ghana Cards to transact business with the Trust. Thegeneral public should note, effective July 15, 2021, all new joiners to the SSNIT Scheme must provide their Ghana Cards as identification in order to enrol onto the Scheme. Management urges all Members of the Scheme to ensure that their numbers are merged for a smooth transition. —theheraldghana Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093