A Kenyan Magistrate has been shot and injured by a senior Police officer during an open court session in the capital, Nairobi.
The chief inspector opened fire on the Makadara Principal Magistrate, Monica Kivuti as soon as she had made a ruling.
The case allegedly involved the Policeman’s wife.
The officer is said to have been angered by the court’s decision to cancel bail to his wife.
The angry officer then fired shots at the Magistrate, injuring her.
Other officers in court responded immediately, with one of them shooting the offending Policeman and killing him.
In the process, three other officers were injured, a Police situation report noted.
The magistrate and the injured officers are being treated in hospital.
The judiciary said the Magistrate had “cancelled the bond for an accused person who had jumped bond and had failed to offer satisfactory explanations for jumping bond”.
“Immediately this decision was pronounced, a person shot at the Magistrate and injured her on the hip,” it said in a statement.
It noted initial reports that indicated “that the shooter is a police officer who is married to the suspect”.
Investigations into the incident are continuing.
The judiciary has said it will enhance security measures and has assured judicial staff and other court users of their safety and security.
“As the judiciary family, we wish our colleague a quick recovery. We also send our condolences to the family of the officer who lost his life in this unfortunate incident,” said Chief Registrar of the judiciary Winfridah Mokaya.
Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana (C-DAG) says it welcomes former President, John Dramani Mahama’s idea of establishing a comprehensive pension scheme for drivers.
The driver group is elated and has promised to campaign and ensure that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) wins the upcoming December 7, general elections to enable Mr. Mahama to fulfil the promise.
The flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, engaged the leadership of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) on Friday, June 7 to hear their concerns and ideas.
Mahama acknowledged the pivotal role of the GPRTU and reiterated the NDC’s commitment to establish a comprehensive pension scheme, ensuring their social security in their retirement years.
He promised that the next NDC administration will modernize transport terminals and lorry parks through private partnership to enhance the transport sector.
The Leadership of Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana (C-DAG), reacting to this at a press conference on June 13, lauded the former President stressing that the pension scheme would transform the transportation sector and improve their living conditions.
Below is the full press statement by the concerned drivers.
PRESS STATEMENT BY CONCERNED DRIVERS ASSOCIATON ON JOHN MAHAMA’S PROMISES TO DRIVERS
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, we’d like to thank you for showing up to listen to our message.
We hope that this message shall be effectively trumpeted based on the trust we’ve developed for you as a result of the much attention you have always given us.
We the Concerned Drivers Association of Ghana, invited you to this conference to discuss with you our resolve to accept and support some policy initiatives announced by the NDC flagbearer Former President John Dramani Mahama which will be implemented by his future government to help transform the transportation sector and also improve our living conditions.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, amidst our despair as a result of current conditions in the country, the NDC flagbearer John Mahama has mentioned some policies offering a gleaming hope to us which include the following.
1. Hire purchase vehicles: we trust this intervention to make vehicle ownership much easier for players in the transportation sector.
It means that drivers can possibly acquire their own vehicles and save us from the distress and pressure we go through to meet our sales demands. It is an undeniable fact that it has become almost impossible for us to even buy what we describe us ‘third hand’ Ghana used vehicles not to talk of acquiring home used or brand new ones. We therefore find this intervention to be a one that will bring so much relief.
2. Pension Scheme. Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, among the most impoverished group of workers in Ghana currently are drivers.
The stories of our old and retired comrades are even worse and not palatable for the ears. We can unequivocally say that it can never be contested that drivers have no future.
We live from hand to mouth and so we become subjects of penury the very day we step off the steering wheel.
Almost 99 percent of drivers go on retirement with an unplanned future. Isn’t it therefore good news that for once a possible president of the country has had us in thought and declared his intention to set up a pension scheme for us? At least it will help save many of us from the psychological battles we deal with when we forecast our future without hope resulting in road crashes.
All that every worker requires is a secure future.
3. Ultra Modern bus terminals: John Mahama’s promise to build ultramodern bus terminals across the country is positive news.
Presently, most of our terminals are in awful conditions and are even worse during the rainy season. There are no proper waiting areas for passengers, not to mention some for drivers where we can relax and take a nap ahead of our trip.
It is therefore on a good note that JIM is promising ultramodern bus terminals that will come with ancillary facilities.
4. Drivers’ Day: in recognition of hard work JM has also pledged to institute the Drivers’ Day which will be set aside to celebrate us for the gallant task we perform by moving the nation.
If there’s ever going to be a day where drivers would feel important it’ll definitely be on the day this promise will be honored and we trust JM to surely do that.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the much awaited hope is here. It’s really the first time a key political figure announced clearly to drivers policy interventions that would not only be beneficial to our sector but to also ensure our welfare.
While we commend the NDC’s flagbearer for exhibiting much concern about us we wish to caution him against turning his back on us after winning the elections.
We urge all stakeholders to join us in supporting John Mahama’s vision for a better Ghana.
Accra High Court, which is hearing the case against Minority Leader, Dr Caisel Ato Forson, and two others for causing financial loss to the state in the purchase of ambulances, has admitted the tape recording between Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame and businessman, Richard Jakpa into evidence.
The ruling on Thursday, June 13, followed an intense debate over the admissibility of the controversial recording, which has sparked widespread public and media interest.
The audio, which surfaced online last month, captures conversations between the Attorney General and Japka discussing sensitive legal matters, but the office of the Attorney General rejected the relevance of the audio to the main trial.
Critics argue that the content of the recording could have far-reaching implications for the ongoing legal proceedings and the integrity of the justice system.
The presiding judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe ruled that the audio would be considered valid evidence, emphasizing that it goes to the root of the motives behind the prosecution’s case, as averred by A1 in his application for a mistrial.
“This recording provides crucial insights into the case,” the judge emphasized, adding that she would attach the necessary weight to the evidence when delivering the final judgment.
The Attorney General’s office, alongside the 3rd accused, Richard Japka, has been under the spotlight since the leak.
Critics and supporters alike have debated the legality and ethical implications of the audio’s content and its potential impact on current affairs. The decision by the High Court to admit this evidence marks a pivotal moment in the case, potentially influencing its outcome.
The Attorney General’s office has yet to release an official statement regarding the High Court’s decision. However, sources close to the office indicate that there will be a formal response addressing the implications of this new development.
The staff of the National Identification Authority (NIA) has called off the strike which began on Monday, June 10.
In a press release shared, on Wednesday, the NIA staff indicated that their decision was influenced by interventions from various stakeholders including the Minister for National Security, Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC), the National Labour Commission and the public outcry of decerning Ghanaians.
The staff stated that FWSC assured them of their willingness to act in good faith in subsequent engagements over their conditions of service.
“However, this gesture will be put to the test on Friday, June 14, 2024. Members are therefore assured that, if at the close of negotiations on Friday, the government fails to demonstrate true faith by granting us Institution Specific Allowances, we would not be hesitant to return to our industrial action; this must be noted,” they added.
“We hereby appeal to all members to report to work tomorrow Thursday, June 13, 2024, and professionally discharge our duties,” the NIA staff noted
NIA workers declared the strike on June 10 to demand better conditions of service, citing poor conditions of service and government delays in concluding negotiations on their allowances.
The union noted that it had postponed an initial strike notice in March 2024, following the intervention of the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations.
Despite this, the government’s lack of progress in the negotiation process has compelled the union to proceed with industrial action.
As a result, from Monday all NIA offices, including district, regional, and premium centres, ceased operations, leaving applicants frustrated and in limbo.
Meanwhile, the NIA staff noted that they are hoping for a favourable outcome during the negotiations on Friday urging the FWSC and other stakeholders to act in the interest of industrial harmony.
Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Lydia Seyram Alhassan, has commissioned Zoomlion’s transformative Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant at Sunyani in the Bono Region.
Addressing the colourful durbar of chiefs, people, and departmental heads of state institutions at Nwawasua near Sunyani, the Minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Ayawaso West Wugon Constituency took the opportunity to praise the chiefs and people of the Bono Region touting the resilience of the region in always keeping their environment clean.
She said when it comes to cleanliness Bono Region, particularly Sunyani is always clean by all standards.
She believes that it was partly because of the concern and frantic efforts taken by the traditional rulers and the people themselves to maintain a clean environment.
Ms Lydia also mentioned that the time has come for Ghana to celebrate the successes chalked in waste management infrastructural transformation following Jospong Group’s construction of 16 waste treatment and recycling plants across the regions in the past four years with 10 of them being operational while six are at various levels of completion.
She showered praises on the Executive Chairman and the entire management and staff of the Jospong Group of Companies for transforming the waste management industry of Ghana.
According to her, the strategic establishment of the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources by the President, H. E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to spearhead policy formulation and create an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive towards a cleaner Ghana was anchored by the likes of Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong.
This has resulted in the many waste infrastructure springing up in Ghana today.
The Minister further appealed to the people of Sunyani to embrace the facility and channel their waste to it for processing and recycling especially composting the organic waste for agricultural purposes and the recycling of plastics for household and recreational uses.
Minister Ophelia Mensah Hayford of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) and Member of Parliament for Mfamsipim stated that global warming is a significant contributor to climate change, impacting the environment.
She highlighted that the initiatives by the Jospong Group of Companies exemplify effective climate change mitigation.
She was not surprised that, due to these efforts, the Swiss government invited Ghana to participate in the carbon trading market, which is anticipated to boost the country’s economy.
Madam Hayford encouraged Ghanaians to actively combat indiscriminate waste disposal and other practices contributing to climate change.
The Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, reminisced about the modest beginnings of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, which started in Bolgatanga with just a manual tricycle.
He attributed the company’s growth to prayers, commitment, and resilience, expressing gratitude to God.
Dr. Agyepong thanked the chiefs and people of the Bono Region, particularly the Nwawasua Chief and Queen Mother, for providing land for a new facility serving the entire Bono Region.
Reflecting on Ghana’s history, Dr. Agyepong compared the current industrialization efforts to those led by Nkrumah in the 1960s, which significantly boosted the economy.
He expressed support for President Nana Addo’s One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative, seeing it as a means to industrialize Ghana and expand opportunities in sectors where he excels.
The new facility, set to produce 150,000 tons of organic fertilizer annually, aims to enhance agriculture in Bono Region and nationwide.
Dr. Agyepong sees waste as a “misplaced resource” and encourages others to repurpose waste into valuable assets.
He assured that the facility would include a research center for local tertiary institutions to study waste components and applications, promising that most workers would be locally employed.
The Bono Regional Minister, Justina Awo Owusu-Banahene, lauded President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffu-Addo and Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong for situating the facility in her region, anticipating it would create jobs and process regional waste efficiently.
She noted that the plant could handle up to 400 tons of waste per day, aligning with the region’s daily waste generation.
This plant is expected to foster tourism and other opportunities in the region.
Additionally, the facility will include 1,000 motor kings from Jospong for waste collection in Sunyani, providing jobs for many young people.
The event was attended by notable traditional leaders, including the acting President of the Regional House of Chiefs, and Vice President of the Bono Regional House of Chiefs and Drobohene, Okokyeredom Sakyi Ako II, along with Nana Akosua Dua Asor Sika Brayie II, the Queen Mother of the Sunyani Traditional Area, and the Omanhene of Nwawasua, who praised Dr. Agyepong and the Jospong Group for their contributions.ompaniesfor the beautiful edifice.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Women’s Organiser for the Mfantseman constituency in the Central Region, Naomi Efua Acquah has resigned.
Her resignation on Tuesday, 12th June, 2024 follows what she describes as difficulties in going about her duties, intimidation, insults, segregation, discrimination and denial.
“…The past few months have been challenging and I have faced a lot of intimidation, insults, segregation, discrimination, denials and personal struggles to survive first that have made it difficult for me to continue in this role,” Madam Acquah declared in his statement to the party.
She also siad in the statement that, “Despite my passion, commitment, and dedication to the cause, I can no longer continue in this condition pretentiously. The entire indiscriminate negative energy has taken a toll on any well-being and I must prioritize my safety and health before anything at all”.
The Women’s Organiser emphasised that, she needs to focus on her health and safety due to the hurdles she is facing in the party.
“I appreciate the opportunities I have had to serve and empower women in our community. I am proud of the work we have done together and I will also hold unto the memories as samples of partisan politics,” she added.
The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Parliamentary Candidate for Amenfi East, Ernest Frimpong, has been arrested by the Tarkwa Police Command in the Western Region.
This follows a viral video in which Mr Frimpong is captured urging miners to attack police officers and soldiers who extort money from them.
Mr Frimpong had earlier refuted allegations that he and Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah have endorsed illegal mining and encouraged miners to resist military personnel.
He said he was taken out of context from the two-hour engagement with artisanal small-scale miners.
In a statement dated Saturday, June 8, 2024, Mr Frimpong clarified that the Regional Minister emphasised the importance of responsible mining practices and warned against mining in prohibited areas, such as forest reserves and rivers.
He claims that he also urged miners to report any instances of extortion and harassment by unauthorized individuals claiming to be law enforcement officers.
But Frederick Korankye, Municipal Chief Executive, Wassa Amenfi East confirmed to Umaru Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Wednesday that the NPP PC has been arrested.
“I can confirm that Mr Ernest Frimpong is currently [in] police custody at Tarkwa Regional Police Command. In fact, the regional police command placed a call on him on Monday morning but because he was not within the municipality, he had to travel from where he was in Kumasi.”
“So yesterday evening he reported himself and then today as I speak to you now about 30 minutes ago he has finished writing his statement and he is seeking bail. So I can confirm to you that he is at the regional police command at Tarkwa,” he stated.
The World Bank is affirming Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth for 2024 at 2.9%.
According to its June 2024 Global Economic Prospects, economic activity in the country remained subdued, reflecting the dampening effects of fiscal consolidation and high inflation on domestic demand.
However, growth is expected to improve in 2025 to 4.4%.
This is because ongoing fiscal revenue and expenditure reforms gradually bear fruit.
“Growth is expected to improve in Ghana in 2025, after weak growth in 2024, as ongoing fiscal revenue and expenditure reforms gradually bear fruit. However, current account deficits in industrial-commodity exporters are expected to widen further.”
Nonetheless, it pointed out that risks to the outlook are tilted to the downside. Downside risks include increasing global geopolitical tensions, especially an escalation of conflict in the Middle East; a further deterioration in regional political stability; increased frequency and intensity of adverse weather events; among others.
Growth in SSA to hit 3.5%in 2024
Meanwhile, growth in Sub Saharan Africa is projected to pick up from 3.0% in 2023 to 3.5% in 2024 and about 4.0% annually in 2025-26.
“Growth in the region’s three largest economies [Nigeria, South Africa, Egypt] is expected to accelerate from 1.8% in 2023 to 2.4% in 2024 and an average of 2.6% in 2025-26. However, this is markedly below the region’s average growth, and historical trends.”
It added that non-resource-rich economies are forecast to maintain growth above their historical average rate, while resource-rich economies recover from their slow growth in 2023, as metal prices stabilise.
The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), in collaboration with the UK National Crime Agency, has successfully intercepted a significant drug trafficking attempt at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra.
Acting on intelligence, officers seized 166.88 kilograms of suspected cocaine on Monday, June 10, 2024, from the luggage of two British passengers traveling together.
According to a NACOC statement, the estimated street value of the confiscated narcotics is $6.48 million.
The detainees, identified as Hall Shamin Ethline and Graham Omar Adel, were scheduled to board a British Airways flight bound for Gatwick when their luggage raised suspicion.
Upon further inspection, all six suitcases belonging to the two passengers—three each—were found to contain a total of 72 slabs of suspected cocaine.
A breakdown of the seizure reveals that Hall Shamin Ethline’s luggage contained approximately 83.44 kilograms of the illicit substance, mixed with personal belongings.
Similarly, Graham Omar Adel’s luggage also contained roughly 83.44 kilograms of suspected cocaine alongside his personal items.
Both individuals have been arrested and are currently assisting with investigations to determine the full extent of the trafficking operation.
Inflation for May 2024 has dropped significantly to 23.1%, down from 25.0% in April 2024.
This represents a 1.9 percentage point decrease between April and May 2024.
The Ghana Statistical Service which announced these figures said food inflation contributed to the overall drop in the rate of inflation, recording a rate of 22.6% compared to 26.8% last month.
Within the period, non-food inflation increased slightly to 23.6% in May 2024, up from 23.5% in April 2024.
Inflation for locally produced items and imported items fell to 24.7% and 19.6%, respectively.
Speaking to journalists in Accra, Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim urged policymakers to focus on transportation, which recorded a month-on-month inflation of 10.5%, rather than on food inflation as a primary driver of inflation.
“In this case what I want the media and policymakers to engage is not food inflation but in this case, transport where we are seeing month-on-month transport inflation of 10.5% when overall month-on-month is 3.2% and we all do appreciate how transport permits across the other items that we have in the basket for the competition.
“So the conversation that I really wish will be on the table going forward is how do we ensure that the consistent but slow increases in prices of food at other points would slow down and possibly see reduction going forward.”
The Founder and Presidential Candidate for the Movement for Change, Alan Kwadwo Kyeremanten has reiterated his pledge to waive import duties on spare parts in the first two years of his leadership should he be voted as President in the upcoming 2024 elections.
Meeting with artisans at the Tamale Industrial area as part of his Northern Regional tour, the Movement for Change leader said the spare parts industry has collapsed due to high import duties.
As such, Mr Kyerematen believed that his policy would benefit consumers by making replacement parts more affordable.
“The work that you do depends on the availability of spare parts, but the cost of spare parts alone is keeping you out of business.
“And that is why I have made a commitment that if Alan becomes President by the grace of Allah, within the first two years, there will be no duties on spare parts,” he said on Tuesday.
The Movement for Change leader is in the Northern Region to kick start his regional tour with a series of meetings with various groups.
He said that even though the country is blessed with natural resources, little has been done to transform these resources into finished products
“Those of you who are into fabrication, you need metal sheets to fabricate the things that you produce. Ghana has bauxite, out of bauxite we can get aluminum. Ghana has iron, out of iron we can get steel, Ghana has oil and gas out of these we can get plastics.
“So if we can add value to bauxite, aluminum and iron, we can get all the raw materials you need for your work and this is what Alan is going to do for you,” he stated.
Mr. Kyeremanten said the two major political parties have failed the masses, therefore, there was a need for a change.
He added that it’s not true that an independent candidate can not win an election
“It will depend on you to make history and make Alan Kyerematen the first independent candidate to become president in Ghana,” he assured.
The Akufo-Addo government is expected to introduce the Free Senior High School (SHS) Bill in Parliament soon, aiming to formalize and ensure the sustainability of the policy.
Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, says the bill aims to make the policy more effective and sustainable, aligning with the Constitution’s aspirations in Chapter 5.
He explained that while these provisions are not legally enforceable, the government seeks to make them justifiable through legislation.
The Education Minister will present the bill to Parliament, which will make the policy’s aspirations in the Constitution enforceable through legislation.
This move comes amid concerns about the program’s potential cancellation by future governments due to the challenges the pro-poor programme faces.
Educational stakeholders, including EduWatch, suggest that parents who choose boarding facilities should cover the associated costs.
EduWatch also recommends targeting the policy at children from low-income households, using data from the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) program as a reference.
Source: Myxyzonline.com
Ghana HomePage, Your Source of Breaking News in Ghana, Sports, Showbiz, Opinions.
