You can’t treat Sosu like a criminal – NDC MP to Police
Bole Member of Parliament, Yusif Suleimana, has said the Police are trying to intimidate opposition lawmakers by seeking to arrest his colleague MP for Madina Francis-Xavier Sosu He told TV3’s Komla Kluste in an interview that “You would have seen that the Office of the Speaker has put out a press release and that is exactly what the position of this Parliament is, nothing more, nothing less. “The Police cannot intimidate us. Is that how to arrest a sitting member of parliament like a criminal? [Sosu] can’t run out of this country.” His other colleague MP for Wa West, Peter Lanchene Toobu, also criticised in the way and manner they are handling Sosu. He described the action by the Police as an exercise in futility. “I think that this whole show is some exercise in futility. The MP is not going to appear before court until he is released by the Speaker of Parliament. The Speaker is saying as we speak , we are very tight in Parliament and he cannot release the MP and there is a procedure to arrest an MP, there is a procedure to serve court proceedings on an MP and the Police know that.“ “As for charging him, the thing that he has contributed to causing damage to public property or he is cause damage to public property ,if they are trying to show power., Parliament has the authority but it is not about showing authority, it is about complementing each other’s effort and checking and balancing each other’s roles to ensure that Ghana develops.” Meanwhile, Private legal practitioner, Mr Kofi Bentil has said the Police have the right under the laws of Ghana to arrest anyone they suspect to have gone contrary to the laws of Ghana. He called on all Ghanaians, irrespective of their status in the society, to submit themselves to the laws and law enforcers in the country. Speaking in an interview in relation to the attempt to arrest Sosu after his alleged involvement in a violent protest in his constituency, Mr Bentil who is also the Vice President of Imani Africa said “To the extent that the Police feel the need to invite any member of the this society to question them about the probable cause that a crime has been committed or something wrong has been done, that person ought to respond to the Police positively, and that person ought to submit to the Police processes. If the police do anything untoward we will all come and defend that person . “It is just not right for any person to assume any kind of immunity that effectively poses them above the law . In this particular matter we think that at this point the Police have a right to effect arrest and to effect an investigation. If they think that they have to proceed they will go ahead and proceed, if anybody has a problem we will all back that person to court to the court and vindicate themselves.” The Police were seeking to arrest Sosu for allegedly involving in a violent protests in is constituency. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP had led some of his constituents to embark on a demonstration against deplorable roads in his constituency. The demonstration started peacefully at Danfa around 6:00am but later saw demonstrators burning tyres and mounting roadblocks on the Ayi Mensah-Danfa Road. Sosu has however denied saying “That any allegation of the Police about my involvement in unlawful blockade of road and destruction of public property is false and an afterthought carefully manufactured by the police to shift attention of the people of Ghana from the key issues of bad roads raised by our protest and demonstration.” The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin also denied a request by the Police to release Mr Sosu to them for arrest. In a letter dated October 28, addressed to the Deputy Director-General of Criminal Investigation Division, F.K. Agyei, the Speaker indicated that due to limitations of Articles 117 and 118 of the 1992 Constitution, Mr Sosu could not be released. “I am directed by the Rt. Hon. Speaker to inform you that proceedings of the 3rd Meeting of the 1st Session of the 8th Parliament commenced on Tuesday 26th October, 2021 and having regard to the limitations of articles 117 and 118 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic, he is unable to release the Member of Parliament as requested in your letter,” Deputy Director of Legal Services, Nana Tawiah Okyir wrote on behalf of the Clerk of Parliament. The Police have officially charged Madina Member of Parliament, Francis-Xavier Sosu for causing damage to public property. The Director General, Public Affairs Directorate of the Police Service, ACP Kwasi Ofori, said on Wednesday November 3 that he is expected to appear in court on November 8, “The Police has obtained a criminal summons and has been duly served for him to appear in court on November 8…as we enumerated the charges includes obstructing the highway, causing damage to public property,” he said. —3news Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Law practice a privilege, not a right – Godfred Dame
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has resurrected the debate on access to Legal Education and the law profession in the country. Speaking at the Induction Ceremony of new executives of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), the Attorney General also bemoaned the falling standard and ethics with the legal profession in recent times. “Mr. President and new executives, you owe a duty to drive home the point that the practice of law is not a right, it is a privilege. Along with it comes a moral obligation and a legal duty to uphold the dignity of the profession to ensure that the privileged call to the bar is not abused through unprincipled and disreputable conduct. “Standards of practice have declined to their lowest depths, and I speak from experience of what I witnessed in the Supreme Court last week in the conduct of some lawyers in certain cases that they handled. Ethics is virtually thrown to the dogs in the dishonorable quest of some lawyers to win a case,” he advised. His comment comes in the wake of disagreements between the Attorney General and Parliament on the 499 students who were disallowed admission into the Ghana School of Law (GSL) despite their 50% pass mark. Parliament last Friday passed a resolution for the General Legal Council to compel the Ghana Law School to admit the 499 students who sat for the 2021 entrance exams and passed in accordance with the marking scheme as advertised. This follows a motion moved by deputy minority whip Ahmed Ibrahim, fine-tuned by the first deputy speaker who was presiding Joseph Osei-Owusu and repeated by Effutu MP and deputy majority leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin. In a sharp rebuttal, the Attorney General rejected the resolution by Parliament for the General Legal Council to intervene so that GSL will admit the 499 law students. In a statement to Parliament on Monday, November 1, the Attorney General said Parliament is “devoid of the power through the use of Parliamentary resolutions, to control the process of admission into the Ghana School of Law. The mode of exercising legislative power enshrined in article 106 of the Constitution does not admit resolutions.” —Starrfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Thieves make away with 27 laptops belonging to Kori Junior High School
Thieves have allegedly made away with 27 laptops belonging to the school • The store of a school in the Upper East region has been burgled • Other items were stolen from the school’s storeroom • The Sandema Police have launched investigation Thieves have allegedly made away with 27 laptops belonging to Kori Junior High School in the Builsa North Municipality of the Upper East Region, Asaase News has reported. According to the portal, the yet-to-be-identified persons broke into the storeroom of the school and burgled other items such as four rechargeable lamps, a solar power inventor, two gallons of liquid soap and an amount of GH¢80 belonging to the Parent Teacher Association of the school. Head Teacher of the school, Albert Anyaana providing details of the incident to the Asaase News said authorities of the institution arrived on Thursday morning to see their store room in disarray. A rather dejected headteacher intimated that the burglary might have been carried out on the night before Thursday morning. “When it happened like that, I quickly had to place a call to my circuit supervisor, then my PTA chairman, SMC chairman who doubles as the chief of that very community and the assemblyman of the area. I quickly called on them, then I and the assemblyman together went to the police station and reported the case.” “Two personnel were sent to the school to see things for themselves in order to aid them in their investigation,” he added. Meanwhile, Albert Anyaana told the news portal that one of the laptops, which might have dropped while the thieves were making their way out after the operation, was however retrieved from a nearby bush on the school’s premises. Investigations into the incident have since been launched as the school has made a formal report to the Sandema Police in the region. —Ghanaweb Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Ambulance conveying patient to KATH involved in an accident
The ambulance driver and medics sustained injuries, as well as the patient An ambulance conveying a burnt woman to the hospital was involved in an accident at Agyamasu in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday evening. According to reports, the Obuasi East Ambulance was contracted to transport a woman with burns to Obuasi Government Hospital. The Ambulance was ordered to head straight to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital(KATH) due to the serious nature of the injuries after she had been given first aid. But on their way to the hospital, a KIA Rhino after engaging in a wrongful overtaking collided head-on with the ambulance. The ambulance driver and medics sustained injuries, as well as the patient. They are all currently receiving treatment at Obuasi Government Hospital except the woman who was transported to KATH by the Jacobu District Ambulance. —rainbowonilne Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
I’m the destiny carrier for this nation – Ato Essien tells court
The Founder and former Chief Executive Officer of the defunct Capital Bank William Ato Essien has told the High Court in Accra that he is a “destiny and nation builder.” Ato Essien who was unable to conclude negotiations with the state to pay compensation under section 35 of the courts act and was ordered to open his defense, said, he is the talk of the drive of the finance minister, a true entrepreneur who created out of nothing. While being led by his Counsel Baffour Gyau Bonsu Ashia, to give his testimony to the court presided over by Justice Eric Kyei-Baffour, the accused said he is a risk taker. Asked to tell the court what he does for a living he said, “I am the talk of the drive of the finance minister, a true entrepreneur that creates out of nothing businessman with capacity to assume risk in other jurisdictions. He went on to add that, “What I do is called a risk taker and in other common reference they refer to what I do as the engine of growth for economies. And so my lord, I could have easily said I am an entrepreneur but what I do is bigger than that.” “My lord I could’ve said I’m a businessman but what I do is more than that. My lord, I could’ve said I’m one of the anchors as an active player, as an engine for the Ghanaian economy, but my lord, I rather submit to refer to myself as a destiny carrier for this nation. According to him, “…I am a determined Ghanaian who believes that the true test of nation building cannot happen without the businessman, deep risk taker, deep entrepreneur but a destiny carrier and a nation builder carries and all these. “My Lord, my answer is taking this time and with the greatest of respect, I will like you to permit me to finally say I am a destiny and a nation builder. That is what I live for, that is what I pant for and that is what I stand for.” EIB Network’s Court Correspondent Murtala Inusah reports that the case has been adjourned to November 11 for continuation. The former CEO of the Capital Bank William Ato Essien together with Tetteh Nettey and Fitzgerald Odonkor have been asked to open their defence to respond to some 23 charges including stealing. About Section 35 of the Courts Act -Offer of Compensation or Restitution (1) Where a person is charged with an offence before the High Court or a Regional Tribunal, the commission of which has caused economic loss, harm or damage to the State or any State agency, the accused may inform the prosecutor whether the accused admits the offence and is willing to offer compensation or make restitution and reparation for the loss, harm or damage caused. (2) Where an accused makes an offer of compensation or restitution and reparation, the prosecutor shall consider if the offer is acceptable to the prosecution. (3) If the offer is not acceptable to the prosecution the case before the Court shall proceed. (4) If the offer is acceptable to the prosecution, the prosecutor shall in the presence of the accused, inform the Court which shall consider if the offer of compensation or restitution and reparation is satisfactory. (5) Where the Court considers the offer to be satisfactory, the Court shall accept a plea of guilty from the accused and convict the accused on his own plea, and in lieu of passing sentence on the accused, make an order for the accused to pay compensation or make restitution and reparation. (6) An order of the Court under subsection (5) shall be subject to such conditions as the Court may direct. (7) Where a person convicted under this section defaults in the payment of any money required of the person under this section or fails to fulfil any condition imposed by the Court under subsection (6), any amount outstanding shall become due and payable and upon failure to make the payment, the Court shall proceed to pass a custodial sentence on the accused. [As substituted by the Courts(Amendment) Act, 2002 (Act 620). —Starrfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
AfDB High 5s agenda changing millions of lives in Africa – Adesina
African Development Bank Group President, Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina, has said that the Bank’s High 5 agenda is positively changing lives for millions in Africa. The Bank’s High 5 priorities involve lighting up and powering Africa, feeding the continent, industrializing Africa, integrate Africa, and improve the quality of life for the people of Africa. Adesina was delivering a lecture last Thursday at the 21st NECCI Public Relations Roundtable on Social Media, National Security and Social Change in Lagos. He said the African Development Bank was investing heavily in quality infrastructure to transform the backbone of Africa’s technological revolution. The Bank president said: “We are a people-centered bank – a solutions bank for Africa, and our efforts are being recognized globally…The African Development Bank has maintained its stellar AAA-rating by the major global credit rating agencies for the past six years. Since I was first elected president of the African Development Bank six years ago, together with our partners, we have made a difference in the lives of 335 million people across the continent.” In the last five years, the African Development Bank has helped to connect 21 million people to electricity. More than 76 million have benefitted from access to improved agricultural technologies for food security. Some 12 million people have received access to finance, and 69 million people have benefitted from access to improved transportation. And over 50 million people have benefitted from access to improved water and sanitation. Adesina said the Bank recognized the value and power of social media and would continue to leverage it to share information about the Bank’s programs to win even more support for its High 5 agenda on its various social media platforms. Each platform has shown steady growth over the past four years, in terms of followers and engagement. Twitter has especially been an important podium to disseminate information rapidly to a large global audience. “Today, social media has become the place where positions are claimed, disputes and discussions are led, communities are built, business is conducted, and information is shared,” Adesina said. He added: “Its influence and reach in terms of real-time communication and messaging are unprecedented. The ability to reach millions of people in an instant is already well established by the ‘twitterati,’ ‘glitterati,’ businesses, public servants, political figures, and the public alike.” Adesina urged governments, individuals, and businesses who depend on social media to put adequate vulnerability assessments and cyber security measures in place to protect their data from being compromised. As part of its support to Nigeria, the African Development Bank is preparing a $500 million investment program in the country’s Digital and Creative Enterprises (i-DICE) initiative, which is to be co-financed with several partners. The i-DICE initiative will promote entrepreneurship and innovation in the digital technology and creative spaces. It will help create sustainable jobs and make Nigeria a global powerhouse in these industries. The program will boost innovation, especially in the tech-enabled business and e-commerce space, where new and successful ventures are being launched in Nigeria. —classfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
BREAKING NEWS: Court issues warrant to arrest NAM 1 and 2 others
The Adentan Circuit Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Nana Appiah Mensah, aka, NAM 1 and two others after failing to appear in court to answer to charges against them. Nana Appiah Mensah, Chief Executive Officer of the defunct Menzgold, Gabriel Kwamigah, aka, Gabby and Eric Amponsah Bediako, aka, Cana, have been charged with conspiracy to defraud by false pretenses. On Tuesday, November 2, the Court ordered the accused persons who had failed to appear before it to show up today. This was after the Court had earlier issued a criminal summons to be served on them. The accused person did not honour the invitation. In court on Thursday, the accused persons who are represented by Lawyer Yaw Danquah, did not show up. —Starrfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
First Lady raises over GH₵1m for women’s football
The First Lady Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo has raised over one million cedis (GH₵1,250,000) for the development of women’s football in the country. The funds will be among others be used to establish the First Women’s School of Soccer Excellence in West Africa and organise the inaugural edition of the First Lady’s Cup, a tournament billed as the female version of the Ghana League Clubs Association’s (GHALCA) Presidents Cup. Addressing the launch of the inaugural First Lady’s Cup on Wednesday in Accra, Mrs Akufo-Addo said the School which is to be constructed in Ghana will train women’s coaches and other technical staff to upgrade the capacity of women in the footballing industry. She added that she was eagerly looking forward to the day when dug-outs across the country would be filled with only women during women’s football matches. “If we must develop women’s football, we must start with building a solid foundation. I am excited that the Ghana Football Association, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Education are pursuing a school programme to develop the girl child’s football talent In line with FIFA’s book for boots project,” Mrs Akufo-Addo said. Commending GHALCA’s efforts to make football administration more inclusive by adding a woman to its Executive Council, the First Lady also called for the introduction of quota’s in women’s football administration in the country. She urged GHALCA to consider appointing two vice-chairpersons in the future with one position reserved for women. Donors who pledged to contribute towards the development of women’s football included; MD GOIL, Lawyer Kwame Osei Prempeh- GH₵100,000 Vodafone Ghana CEO, Patricia Obo Nai – unspecified Former Ledzokuku MP, Dr Okoe Boye – $1500 Akim Oda MP, Alexander Akwasi Acquah – GH₵10,000 Nhyiaeso MP – Stephen Amoah – GH₵10,000 Commissioner, Gaming Commission, Peter Mireku – GH₵10,000 Chief Executive Officer (CEO) · Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah – GH₵10,000 APEX BANK – unspecified Ghana Shipping Authority – GH₵5,000 GNPC – 200,000 advertising package for First Lady’s Cup CODA CEO, Jerry Ahmed Shaib – GH₵20,000 GHACEM – unspecified National Petroleum Commission – GH₵50,000 Ghana Commercial Bank – GH₵200,000 Agricultural Development Bank – GH₵100,000 TOTAL Petroleum – unspecified Nana Dr ATO Arthur – GH₵10,000 Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority – $20,000 ARB Apex Bank- Unspecified COCOBOD – GH₵250,000 Delese Mimi Darko, Chief Executive FDA – GH₵10,000 Vice President’s wife, Samira Bawumia – GH₵30,000 The Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Mrs Akosua Frema Osei-Opare – GH₵20,000 First Lady Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo – GH₵50,000 SIC MD, Mr. Stephen Oduro – GH₵9,000 —Graphic Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Nigerian banks may stop accepting old £20 and £50 notes by end of 2021
Nigeria deposit money banks would stop the acceptance of the old £20 and £50 notes as the legal tender status of these notes expire in less than a year. This is as a result of the announcement by The Bank of England to withdraw the legal tender status of the paper £20 and £50 paper notes and replace them with their polymer equivalent, with a deadline of September 30, 2022. With the move in progress, Nigeria banks have a small window to discontinue acceptance of these notes, as some banks have already contacted their consumers about the development. What the Bank of England is saying According to a press release by the Bank of England, the bank stated that it will be withdrawing the legal tender status of the paper £20 and £50 notes after 30 September 2022, and is encouraging anyone who has these notes at home to spend or deposit them at their bank or Post Office. The Bank stated, “There are approximately £9 billion worth of paper £20 and £15 billion worth of paper £50 notes still in circulation. As they are returned to the Bank of England, these are being replaced with the new polymer £20 notes featuring J.M.W. Turner, and polymer £50 notes featuring Alan Turing. After 30 September 2022, the new polymer notes will be the only ones with legal tender status. “After 30 September 2022 people with a UK bank account will still be able to deposit withdrawn notes into their account. Some Post Offices may also accept withdrawn notes as payment for goods and services or as a deposit to an account accessed via them.” Why the change? According to the Bank of England’s Chief Cashier, Sarah John, the new polymer notes are more difficult to counterfeit and have more durability. “The introduction of polymer banknotes allows for a new generation of security features which make them even harder to counterfeit. The notes are also resistant to dirt and moisture and so remain in better condition for longer. These notes also have tactile features that allow the blind and partially sighted to use them,” John said. Nigerian deposit money banks’ response Following the announcement by the Bank of England, Nairametrics confirmed from a source in Nigeria’s Zenith Bank that the bank is already making efforts to inform its customers that it would soon discontinue acceptance of the old £20 and £50 notes. Fidelity Bank Plc disclosed on Wednesday, November 3, 2021, via an email sent to its customers titled ‘Withdrawal of old 20 and 50 GBP notes from circulation’ advising them to use or deposit the referred paper notes into their domiciliary account on or before December 31, 2021. “The Bank of England has announced the withdrawal of paper £20 and £50 notes after September 30, 2022. A year’s notice has been provided to customers and the global banking community. “Given this, Fidelity Bank, alongside other Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria, has issued a deadline of December 31, 2021, for acceptance of the stated denominations from the public to enable the proper conclusion of cash evacuation. “Thus, we advise you to use or deposit your paper GBP notes into your Fidelity Bank domiciliary account by December 31, 2021, to avoid a loss in the value of your money,” Fidelity bank stated in the email. What you should know about polymer notes in Nigeria Nigeria has had its own season of transition of some denominations of its legal tenders from paper notes to polymer notes. On February 28, 2007, as part of its economic reforms, the N20 was issued for the first time in polymer substrate by the Central Bank of Nigeria. Following the successful performance of the N20 (polymer) banknote, on September 30, 2009, the N50, N10 and N5 banknotes were converted to polymer substrate. Today, all of Nigeria’s lower denomination banknotes (N5, N10, N20 and N50) are now printed in the polymer substrate. —nairametrics.com Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093
Francis Sosu-Police fracas avoidable – Peter Tuubo
The Member of Parliament for Wa West, Peter Lanchene Tuubo has stated the impasse between the Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis Xavier Sosu and the Ghana Police Service would not have happened if both sides understood themselves from the onset. Speaking to Starr FM Parliamentary Correspondent, Ibrahim Alhassan the Ex-Executive Secretary to the former Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante-Apeatu reiterated that the Police Administration and the MP have what it takes to handle the situation better than what Ghanaians are witnessing now. “Collectively, we could have done it better, if the Police Officers at the scene decided to walk away and say honourable when the demonstration is over, come. In Act 4, 9, 1 it is clearly stated that the Organizers would be surcharged for any damage caused during the demonstration,” he revealed. The Police Administration has filed charges against Madina MP Francis Xavier Sosu over the protest which the Police say led to illegal road blockades and destruction of properties. The MP, who has refused to respond to the Police invitation, is expected to appear in court on November 8, 2021. “The Police still stands by its position on the matter and the MP is expected to appear in court on November 8 over the charges we have filed against him. We maintain that we have behaved in a manner consistent with democratic principles and in line with democracy such as ours,” Director of Public Affairs for the Police ACP Kwasi Ofori told Starr News Naa Dedei Tettey Wednesday. However, the Former Superintendent of Police described the Madina situation as a misdemeanour from both sides adding that the Member of Parliament with over 100,000 people could not have run away from any action of his. “On the 25th of October there was a meeting for Ranking Members and Deputy Ranking Members and honorable Sosu is a Deputy Ranking Member. But he has taken time to go and support his constituents to motivate them to exercise their constitutional right of demonstrating. After that he wanted to go to Parliament and that was the moment they (Police) wanted to arrest him. “He said ‘I really don’t have a problem assisting the Police in anything but as I am speaking, I am late for a meeting in Parliament so please let me go and come and they (Police) say no.’ And obstructing a Member of Parliament in the process to exercise his right as an MP is contempt of the Parliament of Ghana,” he disclosed. Background The Madina MP had complained on the floor of Parliament about how he was manhandled by the Police when he was about addressing his constituents who were demonstrating over bad roads in the area. Meanwhile, the Police Service has denied reports that officers were dispatched to arrest the Madina MP Francis Xavier Sosu while he was at church on Sunday. According to the Police, the plained-clothed officers who may have been seen at the MP’s church were there to gather intelligence and not to arrest him. The Police further stated that the lawmaker has been invited to assist in investigations over an illegal road blockade during a protest over bad roads in the area last Tuesday. —Starrfm Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 05555568093