- Advertisement -
Home Blog Page 872

Dr. Apaak asks Colleges of Educ. not to pay GHS 6.8 million for “non-functional” Busy Internet service

0
Dr. Clement Apaak

Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa South Constituency and Deputy Ranking Member of Parliamentary Committee on Education, Dr. Clement Apaak, has asked the 46 public colleges of education in the country not to pay for the promised free internet service that never benefitted them.

 

The Ministry of Education in a letter directed the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GETEC) with Colleges of Education to pay GHc6.8 million for benefitting from its free WiFi service installed by Busy Internet, an internet provider.

 

But Dr. Apaak has raised concerns over why the 46 educational institutions should pay for the supposedly free WiFi service.

 

According to him, his checks at the various colleges of education revealed that the free wifi services were not functioning and there was no memorandum of understanding between the Colleges and Busy Internet.

 

He said “…No official discussion was held with Principals of the Colleges of Education nor their National Executives on what the provision of free Wi-Fi connectivity provided via Busy Internet entailed. Even GTEC was not aware of the facility and the terms of agreement for the provision of free WiFi. College authorities were never engaged in terms of operation by the Internet service provider (Busy Internet); e) Internet provider (Busy Internet) installed the equipment in the Colleges regimentally, the technical teams arrived on campuses without notification.

 

Further checks, he said indicate that “No official letter was received by Colleges on the installation, operation and the terms of the internet service. The only official letter the Colleges have seen mentioning Busy Internet service is the one by the Ministry announcing a decision to bill all Colleges that supposedly benefitted from free WiFi service to public educational institutions. The facility, WiFi by Busy Internet, never worked for even a day in the Colleges till date. They claimed they were directed to install the facility and threatened to go back if Colleges were not prepared.”

 

Below is his full writeup asking colleges of education not to pay the GHc6.8 million:

 

 

“COLLEGES OF EDUCATION DO NOT OWE BUSY INTERNET GHC6.8 MILLION AND OUGHT NOT TO PAY FOR PROMISED FREE WIFI SERVICE WHICH HAS NEVER FUNCTIONED

 

This article has been necessitated by a letter written by the Minister for Education to the Director-General of Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GETEC) with the directive to Colleges of Education to pay the 6.8 million for “benefitting” from the government’s promise to provide free WiFi to public educational institutions. Indeed, citizens expect that when political parties and their leaders make promises and get their mandate, such promises are given effect. Before I expose in more detail what now looks more like a campaign fraud rather than a campaign promise, it is important to present what the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia campaign team said in their 2016 and 2020 Manifestos regarding free WiFi to public educational institutions.

 

On page 32 of the NPP 2016 Manifesto, it states; In collaboration with the private sector, provide free WiFi coverage for senior secondary and tertiary institutions nationwide dedicated to learning, administration and enhancing the capacity to do research. The same promise was repeated in the 2020 NPP Manifesto. On page 57, item 118 of the 2020 Manifesto, two columns are provided with the headings “promises and what we have done so far”. Here is what is captured, “Collaborate with the private sector to provide free WiFi coverage to senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions; Contract awarded to provide free Wi-Fi connectivity to all 722 SHSs, 46 Colleges of Education, 16 Regional Offices, and 260 District Education Offices”.

 

The Vice President, the proclaimed arrowhead of the government’s digitalisation efforts, on several occasions, referred to the promises (2016/2020) to provide free WiFi service to academic institutions. Dr Bawumia is on record to have noted the following, “We promised free Wi-Fi and we are going to deliver…The program is going to kick off this year.” Dr Bawumia said this at the government’s 2020 town hall meeting held in the Ashanti Regional capital, Kumasi in September 2020. Below are further pronouncements by Dr Bawumia on the provision of free WiFi to public educational institutions.

 

On September 29th 2020, Dr Bawumia announced that over 80% of SHSs, Teacher Colleges were connected to free Wi-Fi. He made this known when he inaugurated a Library and an ICT centre at Abossey Okai as part of his tour of the Greater Accra Region. He added that all schools, universities, colleges of education as well as district education offices will be connected to free Wi-Fi by next year (2021). He was emphatic when he said “We have understood the importance of digitization in the development of this country and especially in the education sector and so the President tasked the ministers responsible for education and communication to make sure all our Senior High Schools, as well as all the 46 colleges of education, are all connected to the internet (Wi-Fi) ..this has been started, and I am happy to report that so far 80 percent of all our Senior High Schools have now been given free Wi-Fi. It’s a major investment and in addition, all the 46 colleges of education also have the same. I think it will be launched soon.”

 

Again, in a Daily Graphic story written by Chris Nunoo, dated 21st November 2020 under the headline “Govt rolls out WiFi project – public institutions connected”, the Vice President is reported to have tested WiFi equipment at the new facility at the new campus of the GIJ at North Dzorwulu in Accra. Bawumia who inaugurated the facility is quoted in the story to have said “the success of the pilot programme would lead to the extension of the system to other institutions including Technical Universities, Colleges of Education and Nursing Training Colleges”. Mr Bawumia continued, “work to extend the WiFi to senior high schools, all 46 Colleges of Education and District Education Offices are ongoing through the collaborative effort of Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, and the Minister of Communications, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful”

 

Having given an extensive background I now bring to the public attention a difficult to justify directive to the 46 Colleges of Education to pay Busy Internet, an internet service provider, Ghc 6.8 million for the provision of internet services supposed to be free as promised by the NPP in both its 2016 and its 2020 Manifestos. Even more intriguing is the established fact that the said free WiFi service the Colleges of Education are being asked to pay for has not functioned since installation.

 

As a matter of fact, even before the provision of the so-called free, non-functional WiFi service, the Colleges had their arrangements in place to satisfy their internet needs. Colleges have, through their own resources, paid and continue to pay for the internet as I write. So why would a government which has failed to provide a functioning so-called free WiFi service to public Colleges of Education direct the colleges to pay for: a) A promised and launched free WiFi service; b) An installed free WiFi service which has never worked, and c) To take over the payment of a free WiFi service which is not functioning going forward.

 

For the avoidance of doubt, it’s important to share the full contents of the letter directing the colleges to pay Busy Internet ghc 6.8 million for a supposedly free and yet to function WiFi service. The letter is dated 23rd July 2021, signed by the Hon. Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, and addressed to the Director-General, Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GETEC). The heading of the letter is “Notification Of Changes In Payment Of The Contract Price Of Busy Internet WiFi Provision And The Monthly Recurring Cost To Colleges of Education” (see attached). The content of the letter received by GTEC on August 12, 2021, is as follows.

 

“Upon a review of the contract for the provision of Internet Service to pre-tertiary schools, we noticed that Colleges of Education were also benefitting from the facility, meanwhile the cost is being borne by Free SHS. This has overburdened the funding of Free SHS. To free the Free SHS allocation, we have taken the following decisions: 1) Colleges that have already benefitted from the Busy Internet service provider will refund the initial cost of installation paid back to Free SHS; 2) Busy Internet will be instructed to start billing the Colleges of Education directly; 3) The original cost of Ghc6,824,000.00 paid for the 46 Colleges will be shared for the Colleges to pay. The Director-General, GTEC, is by this letter directed to inform the colleges of Education about this decision. Counting on your usual cooperation” (see letter attached).

 

Based on the foregoing, and privileged information available to me, I hereby state emphatically on the specific points listed below that there can not be any justification for government through the Ministry of Education to direct GTEC to ask the 46 Colleges of Education to pay Busy Internet ghc 6.8 million (148,347 per College), pay for the installation for a supposedly free WiFi service which is yet to function, and to takeover payments for a none functional free WiFi service: a) No MoUs were signed between the Colleges and Busy Internet, the Internet provider; b) No official discussion was held with Principals of the Colleges of Education nor their National Executives on what the provision of free Wi-Fi connectivity provided via Busy Internet entailed; c) Even GTEC was not aware of the facility and the terms of agreement for the provision of the free WiFi; d) College authorities were never engaged on terms of operation by the Internet service provider (Busy Internet); e) Internet provider (Busy Internet) installed the equipment in the Colleges regimentally, the technical teams arrived on campuses without notification. They claimed they were directed to install the facility and threatened to go back if Colleges were not prepared; f) No official letter was received by Colleges on the installation, operation and the terms of the internet service; g) The only official letter the Colleges have seen mentioning Busy Internet service is the one by the Minister (see attached) announcing a decision to bill all Colleges that supposedly benefitted from free WiFi service to public educational institutions; h) The facility, WiFi by Busy Internet, never worked for even a day in the Colleges till date.

 

It is useful restating a few issues and asking a few questions. Clearly, the Colleges of Education are included in public educational institutions identified to enjoy free WiFi as promised by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government. So, a) Why have these institutions been asked to pay for the installation and use of the WiFi services they have not used; b) Where doe government expect the Colleges of Education to get the money from to pay for a free service they never used; c) Will students are billed to pay for a free WiFi service that they have not used; d) Why should Colleges of Education and likely, students are billed to pay for a free WiFi which is not functioning going forward; d) Given the narrative, why should the government not be held liable and accountable instead of the Colleges, and likely the students?

 

Providing free WiFi to public Senior Secondary Schools and Universities, and asking public Colleges of Education to pay for the same WiFi, which they have sadly not used raises many questions. I restate, the 46 Colleges of Education do not owe Busy Internet ghc 6,824,000.00 and ought not to pay for promised free WiFi service which has never functioned. I intend to pursue this in addition to asking for accountability with regards to the policy to provide free WiFi services to all public educational institutions.

 

Dr Clement Apaak

MP Builsa South and Deputy Ranking Member, Committee on Education”

 

Source: A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Moses Apiah|Ghana

Rev Owusu Bempah granted bail

0

The Founder and Leader of Glorious Word Power Ministries International, Reverend Isaac Owusu Bempah, has been granted bail of GH¢200,000 with two sureties.

This comes two days after a Circuit Court in Accra denied the popular pastor and three others the request for bail.

Few hours after the first hearing on Monday, September 13, Rev Bempah took ill and was hospitalised at the Police Hospital in Accra.

He was subsequently discharged and returned to cells for Police to resume their investigations.

The controversial cleric has been charged with offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace and threat of death.

On Sunday, September 12, Rev. Owusu Bempah and three others were arrested by the Police for issuing threats, brandishing weapons and attacking Police officers.

When he appeared in court on Monday, the Leader of Glorious Word Power Ministries International and the other suspects, pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.

Legal counsel for the suspects, Gary Nimako Marfo, therefore, urged the court to grant his clients bail.

But the Prosecutor, Chief Inspector Dennis Terkpetey, opposed the petition noting that the defendants need to be remanded to facilitate ongoing investigations.

After hearing both parties, Judge Afia Owusuaa Appiah, presiding over the case, noted that the suspects could not be granted bail. This is to enable the Police to complete their investigations.

JoyNews

NYA encourages youth to be ambassadors of ASRHR

0

The Upper East Regional Directorate of the National Youth Authority (NYA) has called on the youth to be concerned about increased cases of teenage pregnancy and recommend Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (ASRHR) in their communities.

Mr Francis Takyi-Koranteng, Regional Director of the NYA who admonished the youth observed that teenage pregnancies in recent years was on the rise in the region and attributed the cause to lack of accurate information on sexual and reproductive health and rights among adolescents.

He said sexual and reproductive health education was key to curbing the pregnancies and noted and the youth had critical roles to play in educating their peers and making great influence on their sexual life.

The Regional Director made these known at a review meeting of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) advocates including 50 young people from six districts.

It was organized by NYA) in collaboration with the Regional Coordinating Council as part of the implementation of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Government of Ghana a five-year adolescents and reproductive health rights project.

The project sought to empower young people from Builsa South, Kassena-Nankana West, Bongo, Talensi, Nabdam and Bawku West Districts to act as peer educators to contribute to sensitizing their respective communities on sexual and reproductive health and rights for a reduction in teenage pregnancy, child marriage and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).

Mr Takyi-Koranteng said poverty was identified as one of the major factors that compelled the adolescents to fall victim and urged the youth to identify viable economic ventures to empower them to be able to fend for themselves.

This, he said, when the youth were economically stable, would be able to stand for their rights and it would go a long way to prevent them from indulging in risky behaviours that could lead to teenage pregnancies and other sexually related problems.

Mrs Mary Azika, a Public Health Nurse at the Bolgatanga Municipal Health Directorate, said parents needed to pay attention to the changes in their adolescent children and always find time to speak to them about their sexual and reproductive health life.

She explained that apart from the need for parents to develop effective communication mechanisms with their adolescent children, parents needed to always endeavour to provide the basic needs of their children especially the girls to prevent them from giving themselves to men in exchange for money.

The Public Health Nurse also called on authorities to take urgent steps to the emergence of child prostitution in the region and explained that it was only small girls within the ages of 14 and 15 years were usually involved in the act.

GNA

Wash wounds thoroughly as first aid to prevent rabies – Vet Officer

0
Dr Emmanuel Kwao Pecku, Tema West Municipal Veterinary Officer

Dr Emmanuel Kwao Pecku, Tema West Municipal Veterinary Officer, has advised that people wash wounds immediately with soap and detergent when bitten or scratched by an animal, particularly dogs.

“This is the first emergency care to prevent rabies. Rabid-animals, especially dogs, over the period, had bitten their owners or people around and resulted in human cases, thus, considerable care was needed as a first aid step requiring that water was used to flush the wound thoroughly for about 15 minutes,” he said.

Dr Pecku who also has oversight responsibilities in the Tema Metropolitan and Kpone Municipal said, washing the wounds immediately was a critical step before pre-exposure vaccination was administered and it helps in preventing rabies-related deaths.

Dr Pecku, who was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tema, said rabies was viral zoonotic disease, which caused progressive and fatal inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, and affected animals and humans globally including Ghana.

He said: “if a dog is infested by rabies, the virus multiplies in the nerves and goes into the salivary glands and is excreted as saliva, so if an infested dog or cat bites or scratches you, it creates an opening and the virus passes through the saliva and goes into your body”.

However, “when first aid is undertaken instantaneously, it reduces the amount of virus that reaches the body before the victim gets professional medical attention, thereby increasing their chances of survival.”

According to Dr Pecku, the signs would begin to show depending on the amount of virus released at the wounded site, and the closeness of the spinal or the brain, and explained that, for the first week, the virus would multiply and further result in debilitating effects.

“That is why we advise that as a first aid, when you have a dog bite, the wounded area is washed thoroughly with running water to reduce the amount of virus at the site of bite,” he said.

The Veterinary Officer said 99 per cent of rabies were acquired from the bites of an infected dog, and noted that, although rabies was 100 per cent fatal once clinical signs appeared, it was avoidable through vaccination to prevent deaths.

“Dogs are the main source of human rabies deaths, contributing up to 99 per cent of all rabies transmissions to humans,” he emphasised.

He said risk of rabies was especially high in communities with large stray dog population, adding that such free-roaming dogs played a major role in spreading rabies among animal and human populations.

He, therefore, appealed to dog owners to make their dogs available to be vaccinated at designated centres in the ongoing vaccination exercise across the Tema Region.

The Tema West Municipality has reported four cases of rabies in three dogs and a goat at Community Five over a ten-month period with an increase in dog bite cases of 151 from January to July, 2021.

GNA

Builsa youth advised against land and chieftaincy disputes

0

The Builsa North Municipal Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), Mr Jeffery Adda has admonished the youth in Buluk to stay away from land and chieftaincy disputes.

He said it was rather profitable for the youth of Buluk to channel their energies to peace building, discipline, patriotism, nation building, hard work and also eschew acts of violent extremism in the Municipality.

Mr Adda gave the advice in Sandema, the Builsa North Municipal capital, when he addressed stakeholders at a youth activists engagement workshop on violent extremism.

The programme, on the theme; “Preventing electoral violence and providing security to the Northern Border Regions of Ghana (NORPREVSEC),” was sponsored by the European Union (EU).

The NCCE Director said there was the need for citizens, especially the youth to inculcate in themselves, the spirit of patriotism, and not allow themselves to be recruited by terrorist groups and movements to perpetuate crimes and violence.

He observed that strange people were sometimes seen in communities in the Municipality, but some residents were not bothered to get details about their visit to the Municipality, “but rather even offer them accommodation without any background checks.

“We are advised to look out for strange and suspicious characters in our communities who are likely to cause troubles, and report them to law enforcement agencies for investigations.”

Mr Adda said the Commission had begun public awareness on national cohesion in communities within the Municipality, and as part of the awareness creation, highlighted the dangers that activities of violent extremists posed to Ghana’s peace and security.

He appealed to religious leaders to use their platforms to preach messages of peace and national cohesion to promote religious harmony and forge peace and unity.

“I equally appeal to the traditional leaders to also employ local mechanisms of maintaining peace and peaceful co-existence between and among communities and ethnic groups,” he said.

Mr Pontius Pilate Baba Apaabey, the Upper East Regional Director of the NCCE in a brief address, called for tolerance among residents in the area, saying there would be peaceful co-existence if the people of Buluk continued to tolerate each other as they did over the years.

Mr David Amoabil Afoko, the Builsa North Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) urged the youth who were usually influenced by their peers, to ensure that such influences were positive for the development and peace of the area.

He said there was development in peace, adding that the future generation depended on the existing generation, “So if we want to have a very peaceful country, we those living now must help to bring peace to the land.”

GNA

GSS to release provisional results of 2021 PHC on September 22

0

Accra, Sept. 15, GNA- The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) will on September 22, 2021 release provisional results for the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC).

That will be the first-time provisional results will be released within three months of the Census Night.

This was contained in a statement from the Service copied to the Ghana News Agency, which published the Product Release Calendar for the 2021 PHC.

The Calendar previews the data products that would be generated from the 2021 PHC.

The purpose of the Calendar, the statement said, was to provide information to stakeholders and data users on when data products from the census would be made available to the public to promote extensive usage of the census figures.

The Calendar features six different types of publications and eight interactive and user-friendly products to be released within the next two years to meet the diverse needs of data users.

The publications are; the Preliminary Report, Residential Proximity to Essential Services Report, General Report, Thematic Reports, Analytical Reports, and the Census Atlas.

Other products are; policy briefs, interactive census results dashboard, infographics, dissemination seminars, webinars for data users, videos, fact sheets, and one per cent Public Use Microdata Sample.

The 2021 PHC will provide updated demographic, socio-economic and housing data for research, policy, and planning over the next decade.

The 2021 PHC, is the nation’s first fully digital census utilising technology to enhance census implementation and data quality.

The use of technology helped in capturing real-time data, quality monitoring and facilitated faster data processing and results for early release.

GNA

Guinea: West African CSOs calls for restoration of democratic governance

0

West African civil society groups have called for an inclusive dialogue for the restoration of democratic governance in Guinea.

The civil society groups, in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency, said they were mindful of the Region’s past, which was characterized by coup d’etats and autocratic rule and “deeply” concerned about recent political developments in Guinea.

“While we acknowledge with dismay and disappointment the erosion of democracy in Guinea during the last few years leading to the September 5th, 2021 coup d’etat, we remain resolute in our disapproval of unconstitutional and undemocratic changes of government.”

The Civil Society Organizations include; the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Accra, Ghana; the West Africa Civil Society Institute (WACSI), Accra, Ghana; the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Accra, Ghana; and the West Africa Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), Accra, Ghana.

The rest are; Afrobarometer, Accra, Ghana; Stat View International, Conakry, Guinea; Centre for Democracy and Development, West Africa (CDD West Africa), Nigeria; National Election Watch, Freetown, Sierra Leone; and Council on Foreign Relations-Ghana, Accra.

The statement said the history of the Region demonstrated that an unconstitutional termination of democracy was not the path to social or economic progress; instead, such events turned back the clock of progress and sowed seeds of further instability, conflict, and underdevelopment.

“We are aware that, since the National Rally and Development Committee (CNRD) took over the reins of government, there have been expressions of support for the September fifth coup d’état from sections of Guinean society,” it said.

“We hasten to emphasize, however, that the popular sentiments that have greeted the coup d’etat do not represent a rejection of democracy or an approval of military rule by the Guinean people; they merely reflect the widespread disappointment and betrayal that Guineans felt about the ousted Government of President Alpha Conde.”

It said Afrobarometer findings showed consistently that large majorities of Guineans preferred democracy (77 per cent) to any other kind of government and rejected authoritarian alternatives, including military
rule.

Significantly, roughly eight in 10 Guineans (82 per cent) endorsed free, fair, and honest elections as the best way to choose leaders.

“We, therefore, call upon CNRD to embrace and initiate dialogue with diverse sections of Guinean society and chart an inclusive process – with a clear transition timetable – to restore Guinea to the democratic path,” it said.

“We further implore CNRD to put in place appropriate safeguards and processes to ensure respect for human rights and the rule of law, protection of the rights of media, journalists, and civil society, and absence of attacks or excesses by the military against citizens and
politicians.

“We also urge our fellow sisters and brothers in Guinean civil society to redouble their commitment to the ideals of democracy and constitutionalism and stand and work in unity to ensure an orderly and a peaceful return to democratic government.

They called on the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Union (AU), United Nations (UN), and the international community to work with CNRD and the Guinean people to help the nation navigate its way back to a democratic and constitutional status.

The statement said ECOWAS having acted swiftly to condemn the coup and called for the restoration of democracy, the regional Body should ensure that all relevant national actors, including civil society groups, women associations, youth networks, and the opposition were given every opportunity to participate fully in any ensuing dialogue and transition process.

It said while immediate attention was rightfully focused on the crisis at hand, the West African civil society groups believed it was also important that regional leaders and stakeholders be reminded of and acknowledged the democratic breaches and ensuing crisis of legitimacy in Guinea that led to the current unfortunate political crisis.

The statement urged ECOWAS and other regional mediators to adopt an approach in their engagement with CNRD and other Guinean stakeholders that took full cognisance of the preceding abuses of power and other authoritarian actions, including the unpopular incumbent prolongation of tenure and related human rights violations.

The groups, therefore, implored ECOWAS to take a firm stance against leaders who abused their incumbency to manipulate constitutions or engineer constitutional changes to remove or modify presidential term limits to cling to power.

The statement said a resolute stance by ECOWAS against such self-serving constitutional changes by incumbents would not only prevent some of the unwarranted, unconstitutional, and unjustified changes of government in the Region, but help strengthen democratic development and advance the interest and aspirations of Community citizens.

“We stand in solidarity with the people of Guinea who want to see a democratic, safe, and prosperous future for their nation and are ready to assist good faith efforts towards the realisation of that goal,” the groups said.

GNA

Suspend toll collection at Buipe – Road Minister orders

0
Kwasi Amoako-Atta, Minister of Roads and Highways

Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Atta, has ordered for the suspension of collection of tolls at the Buipe toll booth in the Central Gonja District of the Savanah Region.

A statement signed by Mr Christian Nti, Acting Chief Executive of the Ministry, said the suspension would take effect from 0600 hours of Wednesday, September 15, 2021.

It said the directive was to ease traffic flow and mitigate discomfort to the traveling public.

The statement said the suspension would also allow the Ghana Highway Authority to carry out its periodic maintenance repair works on the approaches to the bridge and the toll booth area.

It said the repair works would last for four weeks and urged motorists to comply with all traffic management and safety measures that would be put in place during period.

GNA

GJA demands swift action against Owusu Bempah’s loyalists for attacking journalists

0

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) is demanding swift action against loyalists of Reverend Isaac Owusu Bempah, Head Pastor of Glorious Word Power Ministries International for attacking journalists.

It said the Ghanaian media community was “again enduring excruciating pain following “shameful attacks”” perpetrated by loyalists of the Head Pastor at the premises of an Accra High Court, where he had been standing trial for alleged assault and other offenses.

A statement signed by Mr Affail Monney, President of the Association and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said “muscled men” of the Church reportedly prevented court reporters from gaining access to the room to perform their legitimate duty, and visited mayhem on those who dared them, with brazen impunity.

It said “GJA vehemently condemn the latest desecration of the rights of journalists, an affront of press freedom and demands swift justice against the uncouth men of Rev Bempah”.

“While we welcome the apology of the Police Administration and assurance of future protection for journalists, the GJA principally holds the view that the timely gesture of the rebranded Ghana Police does not and should not absolve the offenders from tasting the biting edge of the law as articulated by Article 17(1) of the Constitution which simply says no one is above the law,” it said.

The statement noted that on Friday, March 15, 2019, Rev Bempah stormed the premises of Radio XYZ in the company of four-gun wielding “thugs” in search of a radio presenter at the station, resulting in the molestation of the administrator and staff of the station.

It said nothing punitive happened to the ‘Man of God’ and on December 13, 2018, he vandalised equipment at Hot FM, and thereafter, walked a free man.

The statement said, Rev Bempah and his followers did, and said “anything with careless abandon and impunity until the air of untouchability surrounding them was punctured” with the latest arrest.

The GJA urged the law-and-order community not to allow the latest attacks against journalists be swept under the carpet and that justice must manifestly and expeditiously be done the victims to amplify the message that no one was above the law.

GNA

Fire razes down large part of Akim Oda market

0

Traders at Akim Oda market have been thrown into a state of shock after a larger part of the main market was razed down by fire on Tuesday morning.

The cause of the fire was not immediately known as fire service and disaster management officials among other state authorities were still assessing the situation to determine the cause and also the extent of damage.

However, officials have described the destruction caused by the inferno as beyond description and promised to get to the bottom of the matter and ensure safety and security of traders.

Some traders told the Ghana News Agency that it had been long since a similar outbreak occurred in Akim Oda, saying, it was approximately 18 years ago (2003) since a similar thing happened at the Oda main market.

Briefing the media, Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Jennifer N. Y. Quaye, Commander for Eastern Regional Division of the Ghana National Fire Service, said on September 13, 2021, at about 2050 hours, Akim Oda Fire Station received a call that the Akim Oda main market was on fire.

She said the Officers rushed to the scene with a fire tender and called for more assistance from other fire stations to help extinguish the fire.

The Commander said due to the lack of easy accessibility to the market, it took many hours to quench the fire, and added that the situation was brought under control at about 03:15 hours on September 14, 2021.

There was no casualty, she said, and called on traders to outline clear pathways when putting up structures by consulting the appropriate authorities and the Assemblies.

Ms Victoria Adu, the Birim Central Municipal Chief Executive, consoled the victims and assured that efforts would be made to ensure their safety after a thorough assessment of the situation.

Mr David Okyere, Birim Central Municipal Director for National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), said assessment was ongoing to know the extent of damage.

GNA

1...871872873...1,826Page 872 of 1,826

Editor Picks

Site map

Useful Links

- Advertisement -