Man lost his life after a thorough dog chase
A man in Kwara State of Nigeria identified as Mohammed Faworaja has visited his maker in Ilorin, while running for his away from a dog. According to some information available to this platform, the incident happened on Thursday near Asa Dam, the Warah-Osin area in the Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state. “The dog, a German shepherd, got loose and chased the deceased who hit his chest on an electric pole. He died of internal bleeding and the canned fish (Sardine) which he went to buy dropped and was seen beside the pole at the scene of the incident. A man did not want to disclose himself explained “He was a very friendly man and cannot be more than 33 years of age. He was the breadwinner of the family. The police are involved in the matter. “You need to hear the dad speak during one of the prayers organized for his repose. The father, having retired from service, handed everything over to him. The family is devastated.” Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed the incident. The police spokesperson said, “The owner of the dog has been arrested and the matter is being investigated”. Apexnewsgh.com/Ghana Please contact Apexnewsgh.com on email apexnewsgh@gmail.com for your credible news publications. Contact: 0256336062
Minority warns governor of BoG to stay off National Investment Bank
The Minority in Parliament has warned the government against any attempt to collapse the National Investment Bank (NIB) arguing that the consequences will be dire. Governor of the Bank of Ghana Dr. Ernest Addison at the Monetary Policy Committee Press Conference early this week disclosed the viability of the NIB is under review. He disclosed the bank and other institutions with liquidity challenges will be critically looked at to determine their continuous existence. Addressing the media in Parliament, Bolgatanga Central MP and ranking member for the Finance Committee, Isaac Adongo charged the government to find money to capitalize the bank rather than collapse it as it did to other banks under the banking sector clean-up. Mr. Adongo further warned that the Ghana Armed Forces is a big stakeholder in the operations of NIB with many of its members saving at the institution and thus care must be taken in order not to incur their anger. “The Bank of Ghana concluded its Monetary Policy Meeting and briefed the press. When I listened to the Governor of the Central Bank I got very, very worried. The last time he spoke the way he spoke, he collapsed four financial institutions, so don’t take him lightly at all. “Today I want to serve a warning to the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Addison, to stop the reckless loss talk and save our financial sector. I want him to know that it is none of his business to determine the viability of existing financial institution other than new ones that are seeking licenses,” Mr. Adongo stated. He continued: “So I want to tell the Governor of the Central Bank that he does not own the National Investment Bank and that the NIB has been the most resilient and our national pride over the years. It has served us so that we will not allow him to run that bank down.” Starrfm.
Third community mining scheme launched in Amansie West
The government has launched an innovative and responsible small-scale mining initiative in Banko, a town in the Amansie West District of the Ashanti Region. Endorsed by the World Bank and mining experts, this module aims to create employment opportunities for 2000 men and women in the region. The Banko Community Mining Scheme (CMS) was officially launched on Wednesday, July 26, 2023, with the presence of George Mireku Duker, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, alongside traditional authorities and other government officials. During the launch, Mr. Mireku Duker, representing the Sector Minister, Samuel A. Jinapor, revealed that the government is fully committed to the success of this project. Logistics and personnel support will be provided by the government to ensure the scheme’s smooth operation. As part of their efforts to promote responsible mining practices, the government has procured a number of mercury-free machines to aid in the recovery of precious minerals, with one such machine allocated to the Banko CMS. To ensure environmentally friendly operations, regional officers, a geologist, and a mining engineer will be assigned to the concession to oversee operations and minimize adverse effects on staff and the environment. During his speech, the Deputy Minister reiterated his concerns about illegal mining and warned that those found engaging in such activities will face severe legal consequences upon apprehension. He urged the local chiefs and residents to play their part in fighting illegal mining, emphasizing that they have the authority to arrest individuals involved in such unlawful practices. Mr. Mireku Duker, who is also the lawmaker for the Tarkwa-Nsuaem constituency, expressed optimism that the Banko township and nearby areas will experience significant development following the implementation of the Community Mining Scheme. Mr George Obeng Takyi, the Member of Parliament for Manso Nkwanta Constituency, hailed the project as a great initiative that will alleviate poverty and unemployment in the region. He urged his constituents to refrain from illegal mining activities and emphasized the importance of protecting Ghana’s valuable resources. The Banko Community Mining Scheme is the third of its kind in the Amansie West District and brings the total number of CMS concessions in the country to 22. With the support of the government and various stakeholders, this responsible mining approach is expected to have a positive impact on the local community and contribute to Ghana’s sustainable development. Classfm
TAMA Foundation organizes a paralegal training workshop for 50 participants from selected mining communities in the north
Executive Director Center for Public Interest Law (CEPIL) Lawyer. Augustine Niber has taken a group of Civil Society and Community based Organizations and individuals from the 5 regions of the north through extensive legal training on mining laws, regulations, and policies. Engaging with the media, during a 2 days Paralegal training workshop organized by TAMA Foundation Universal for Members of Community Action Groups in Northern Ghana under NaRAING phase 2 project, Lawyer Niber expressed that the programme is to provide participants with a basic overview of the law that governs the mining sector. “It was geared towards looking at how Gold, particularly as a resource in the country, the legal laws governing this resource, and how mineral applications are made. Particularly, we tried to reiterate that gold or any form of Natural resource or mineral that is found is vested in the President on behalf of the people of Ghana and that harnessing these resources is to be geared towards the overall development and benefits of these communities”. Explaining further he said, the communities were taken through the Mineral and mining act particularly Act 703 and the provisions related to the Act, and also, “we looked more specifically at the issue of the revenue stream as provided under the Mineral and Mining Act, how those resources are generated and the fact that a legal regime is the one that governs the amount of physical resources we get from the operations of the mining sector”. “We also looked to a larger extent the benefits that accrue for the mining companies and the benefits that accrue to the government at large and we zero it down specifically to issue of compensation as a basic requirement under the law, that before a company goes unto a land that belongs to a community, individual or a family that the entry of into the land is subject to the payment of compensation. Then, we had the opportunity to closely look at issues of compensation, the principles that guide the determination of compensation”. According to Lawyer Niber, what was important, is to let participants know that in times of determination of compensation, it is through negotiations between the owner or lawful occupier and that of the mineral lands holder and this is to be done and where there is any disagreement, a reference should be made to the Minister for the first attempt to be solved before any attempt to seek another judicial process in resolving the level of compensation that is due the people. “So generally, the programme is intended to equip them basically with the aspect of the laws and regulations that govern the minerals and the mining sector and to better equip them within their communities to look out to many of the issues that arise in these mining-related communities”. And very importantly, an attempt is to try to prevent the issues of mining-related conflict that occur in other areas from happening in the communities and usually, it is at the inception stages of mining that creates most of the legacy issues and issues that bring about conflict. And once a community or group of people are knowledgeable about the law, at least they are able to ensure that the entry requirements and any other related mining issues are addressed at the early stage. Participants who spoke to Apexnewsgh.com, could not hide their joy, they extended their gratitude to TAMA Foundation Universal, CEPIL, and Ford Foundation, especially for the education they received during the training workshop. One of the participants from Bongo District of the Upper East Region Hon. Philemond Ataba, Assembly member for Soe Tamolga Electoral Area said, he enjoyed the training because his community Bongo Soe is one of the community’s things are going on wrongly and community members are not happy about it. “We have learned a lot of things that will guide us as a community to work with these small-scale miners. There are some laws Lawyer Niber mentioned when he was presenting especially with compensation and now, we understood some of the activities”. He said Osman Kanton Luriwe, Executive Director, ASUDEV, said the workshop has been very significant, he expressed satisfaction for being part of the paralegal training on mining which will their communities. “Where I come from, the Sisaala Area there is no particular mining company operating there but we have a few illegal mining activities going on in some communities. But once we have minerals there, it means there is a possibility that in the near future, some mining licenses may be issued and the training we have undergone today has given me enough information about mining laws in this country, about the rights of communities in term of their engagement with government for the release of area for mining”. The acting President of the Upper East Youth Association Adingo Francis described the paralegal training workshop as an eye-opener. “With what we have learned today, is a great eye-opener for us and I just pray that we implement it in our communities. Because we realized that companies are coming into our various communities and all we see, is that opinion leaders like the chiefs, the DCE, and the Assemblyman are the beneficiaries but, if you go into the community the people that the activities of these mining companies affect there is nothing for them. “Per the laws we have seen, in this 21st century, we shouldn’t have those laws again in our books. Because, per what is currently in the book, it was made to give more incentives to foreign companies because of their technical know-how. But yet, the resources are with us. You can imagine depending on a portion of land where your house is, where you farm and all of a sudden they say the lands and the minerals are all vested in the hands of the President in trust for the people. I think the people that draft the constitution did that thinking we will have good leaders who think about the