Month: July 2023

The Accra High Court trying nine persons for treason has sentenced Colonel Samuel Kwadzo Gameli to sign a bond to be of good behaviour for six months for contempt. Colonel Gameli, one of the accused persons facing abetment of High treason charge, was caught playing audio of the Court's proceedings whilst Court was in session. Justice Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, President of the three-member-panel court, whose voice was heard on the audio, called for a warrant officer to seize the cellular phone of Colonel Gameli. He was then asked how long he had been recording and he confessed that since Wednesday, July 19, 2023. Asked why he did that and whether he knew whether his action amounted to contempt of court, the accused person said he knew it was contempt, but he had to record the proceedings down for his lawyer, Mr Eric Senyo Pongo, who had not been around. Justice Stephen Oppong, another Judge on the panel, enquired that had the Court not been telling the court users not to record the Court and Colonel agreed with him. 'Is it the first time your lawyer has been away, then why are you doing this now,' Justice Oppong further probed and Colonel Gameli answered that he did not know why. That was when Justice Afia Serwaa said with Ghana's history whereby some judges were martyred, producing and sharing judges' photos, audio recordings and others with the public was unsafe. 'We don't feel safe, I feel unsafe,' she added. She asked why with his calibre, knowing the security implications of the act, would do that. At the time when the Court was contemplating detaining him till the final determination of the case, Mr Victor Kwadjoga Adawudu, who stood in for Mr Pongo, pleaded with the court to temper justice with mercy because the Colonel was the only one among the accused persons who had not done anything to incur the wrath of the Court since the trial began. Justice Afia Serwaa was certain it was not the first time the accused had done that, but Lawyer Adawudu insisted Colonel Gameli was remorseful and assured the Court that whatever was on his phone had been deleted. 'I am so scared right now, how are we supposed to know where he has shared the audio recording?' She questioned. The phone was then handed over to an IT (Information Technology) expert of the Judicial Service and after checking the phone, he informed the Court that nothing had been shared during that period. Mr Adawudu, pleading for mitigation, said, 'Forgive us our trespasses.' The Court after finding him guilty, asked him to sign the bond to be of good behaviour, adding that it should be a lesson to everyone in the courtroom. Justice Afia Serwaa threatened to report the incident to the Chief Justice, adding that in the era of Artificial Intelligence (AI), just a sentence from someone could put him in trouble. Justice Hafisata Amaleboba is the third judge on the panel, and they are all Justices of the Court of Appeal with additional responsibilities as High Court judges. Colonel Gameli is standing trial with Donya Kafui, Bright Alan Debrah, Johannes Zikpi, WOII Esther Saan Dekiwine, Lance Airforce Corporal Ali Solomon, Corporal Sylvester Akankpewu, Corporal Seidu Abubakar and Assistant Commissioner of Police Dr Benjamin Kwasi Agordzo.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Government of the United Kingdom has injected 3.9 million pounds to support the Government of Ghana's efforts to regularise the small-scale mining sector and enhance sound environmental practices. The UK government is providing the funds under a project dubbed the 'UK-Ghana Gold-Mining Programme'. The project was jointly launched by Mr James Spencer Cleverly, the UK's Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs and Mr Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources during a brief ceremony at the National Assay Laboratory located at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra on Monday. The implementation of the initiative was agreed by the two countries at the UK-Ghana Security Dialogue in London last year. The three-year programme seeks to augment the existing interventions rolled out by the Government to sanitize the small-scale mining sector including the Community Mining Schemes and the Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programmes for artisanal small-scale miners. The project would be implemented in the Western, Ashanti and Savannah regions, and serve as an impetus for promoting responsible and sustainable mining practices. It would also enhance regulatory reforms, increase community resilience, and law enforcement in the mining communities. During a media interaction after the launch of the Project, the UK's Foreign Secretary of State, Mr James Cleverly commended the government of Ghana for instituting various measures to crackdown on illegalities in the gold mining industry, attempted smuggling of gold and illicit drug trafficking in Ghana and thus, pledged the UK's readiness to work collaboratively with Ghana to promote lawful practices. 'I'm proud that the UK is working alongside you, helping you to do what is right and the people of your country to ensure that criminality cannot and will not thrive here,' Mr Cleverly assured. The UK's Foreign Secretary of State gave the assurance that the UK would partner Ghana in protecting the environment and crackdown on illicit drug trafficking. 'The environmental impact of unregulated mining practices is huge, damaging agricultural lands that can be put to better use. 'We are proud to be a partner and support the work you chose to do. It is your project, it is your passion, it is your government's focus, and the UK stands ready to support you in the work you want to do, giving alternative livelihoods to the people of your country,' he said. Mr Jinapor, on his part, said the Lands Ministry had set up a Technical Committee to work collaboratively with the UK Government, through its High Commission in Ghana, to ensure effective implementation of the initiative. 'The project will become an impetus to augment the existing measures rolled out by the Government for responsible and effective environmentally sound small-scale mining sector to contribute meaningfully towards national development of the country. 'The government will, therefore, do everything possible to regularise and sanitise the small-scale mining sector,' Mr Jinapor assured. The Minister explained that the project would also ensure traceability of the gold produced in Ghana, enhance regulatory provision, and ensure effective alternative livelihoods programmes for the people as well as supporting law enforcement in the mining industry. He recalled the long-standing bilateral relations between Ghana and the UK and lauded the UK Government's support in promoting responsible and sustainable mining in Ghana. The lands minister led the UK delegation to tour the National Assay Laboratory to familiarize themselves with its operations. The team also inspected a photo exhibition mounted by the Ministry, highlighting some of the mining sites across the country.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Three aspirants have picked nomination forms to contest the Wenchi Constituency primaries of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Bono Region. They are Mr Kojo Frempong, a former broadcaster, Mr Alfred Ofori Annye, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Operations, Produce Buying Company Limited and Mr Albert Ameyaw, a businessman. Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency () at Wenchi, Alhaji Abdul-Rahman Suwaari, the Wenchi Constituency Secretary of the NPP said only Mr Annye had submitted his nomination form. He said the Election 2024 remained crucial to the NPP and advised the aspirants and their followers to remain decorous in their campaign in order not to cause division that could affect the chances of the Party. Mr Suwaari said the Party was working in identifying and tackling pertinent challenges that confronted it in the last general election and implored the members and supporters to support the constituency executives in their effort to build a formidable front. In a related development, Mr Frempong has appealed to the Wenchi NPP delegates to endorse him to lead the Party to recapture the constituency seat. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) won the seat in the 2020 general election, but in an interview with the , Mr Frempong promised to regain the seat for the Party, if the delegates give him the nod. 'It's very unfortunate we lost the Wenchi constituency seat in the last general election, but my campaign team in the constituency is re-strategizing to help the NPP to regain the seat in the Election 2024. 'Taking back the seat from the NDC is a project I have initiated and that is why the Party people must endorse me to lead for resounding victory', Mr Frempong stated.

Source: Ghana News Agency

President Kais Saied discussed the outcome of the Russia-Africa summit held in recent days, as well as bilateral meetings that took place on the sidelines of the summit, during a meeting on Monday with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Migration and Tunisians Abroad, Nabil Ammar. Saied reaffirmed Tunisia's position of adhering to the constants of its foreign policy while maintaining its national sovereignty, which stems from the will of its people, and its position in favour of a new, fairer world order. He was quoted in a press release by the Presidency as saying that the peoples of the so-called developing countries were still suffering from the previous world order, «which had reached its limits, and that it was time for these countries to become active on the international scene.» The President of the Republic expressed Tunisia's «pride in the respect it enjoys in all international forums as a result of its principled positions based on this new approach.» The meeting also discussed the diplomatic and consular reshuffle and the need to speed it up so that the new ambassadors and consuls can take up their posts as soon as possible. The need to apply objective criteria in the selection process was stressed so that the ambassadors «best represent Tunisia and put the interests of the homeland and the sovereignty of the state above all considerations,» according to the same statement.

Source: Agence Tunis Afrique Presse

The Governing Board of the Busia Institute for Rural and Democratic Development (BIRDD) has congratulated the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) on its 88th anniversary. 'We also salute the present and former leadership and staff of the giant media organisation for their dedicated services, which have kept the GBC's brand intact,' a statement issued and signed by Mr Anane Agyei, Executive Director, said. It said today represented the beginning of the birth in Ghana of the blessings in mass media, such as education, information and entertainment through news, documentaries, dramas, current affairs programmes, public service announcements, and several others, which made life pleasurable and purposeful. The statement said the GBC had been remarkable in those roles over the decades. It said the Corporation reflected the country's pride as a nation united in its diversity of cultures and was also synonymous with ethical standards, which ought to reflect in the work of every media house worth its salt. The statement commended the government for continually supporting the GBC and encouraged the citizenry as individuals, groups and organisations to support the national broadcaster to enable it to remain relevant in its services to Ghana. It said, according to Prime Minister K. A. Busia, 'We in Ghana are determined to show that we value freedom and that we are capable of learning and displaying the discipline, the tolerance, the responsibility, and the restraint required to make democratic life a success.' 'May the words of the late Ghanaian Leader guide the GBC in championing the culture of responsible media practice in Ghana by disseminating relevant and credible information that would always make Ghana a beacon of democratic governance,' the statement said.

Source: Ghana News Agency