Category: General

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has issued a 10-day ultimatum to the Ghana Police Service to cause the arrest of persons who attacked a reporter of Accra-based Citi FM/TV, Mohammed Amin Alabira, in Yendi, in the Northern Region. It has also called on the media to blacklist Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama, Member of Parliament for Yendi, who is alleged to have led the assault on the said journalist. Mr Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, President of the GJA, made the call at a joint news conference by GJA, the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), Private Newspapers and Online Publishers Association, Ghana (PRINCIPAG) and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), in Accra, on Tuesday. Mohammed Amin Alabira, a Citi FM/TV Correspondent, was allegedly assaulted during the New Patriotic Party's Parliamentary primaries at Yendi, in the Northern Region, on Saturday, January 27, 2024. The said assault is alleged to have been led by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Yendi, Alhaji Farouk Aliu Mahama. Mr D wumfour said the Association was shocked that more than a week after the assault on the journalist, no arrest had been effected. He, therefore, demanded that the Police ensured that the perpetrators were arrested in the next 10 days, failure of which would compel the Association to advise itself. 'The GJA, GIBA, PRINPAG and MFWA are really shocked that after a week of this dastardly gangstarism no arrest has been made when the Regional Police Commander also tasted the ruthless actions of the thugs,' he said. Mr Dwumfour bemoaned the increased attack on journalists in recent years, indicating that, within the first two months of this year, two journalists had been assaulted. Over the past five years, from 2019 to 2023, the GJA has documented a total of 45 cases of assault and attacks against journalists and media institutions. The GJA President said within the last quarter of 2023, more than ten journalists were assaulted while four more spent days behind bars on the orders of the court for no apparent le gal reasons since 2021. 'All these cases have not seen any closure and the perpetrators are free while the law enforcing agency, the Police, seemingly looks on unconcerned.' Mr Dwumfour, therefore, warned that the Association would not countenance any assault on journalists, indicating that, it would blacklist any political actor or party whose members attacked media practitioners in their line of duty. While calling on the Speaker of Parliament to haul before its Privilege Committee, Alhaji Farouk Mahama, MP for Yendi, to answer for the alleged assault, Mr Dwumfour called on the Judiciary to issue punitive punishments to persons who attacked journalists. Mr Selorm Adornu, Journalist with Citi FM/TV, who represented management of the Station, said the Station was pained and disappointed by the actions of the MP. 'It is embarrassing, it is disappointing that the Member of Parliament will attack a journalist in the line of duty, ' he said. He assured of management's resolve to pursue the matter to its log ical conclusion and ensure that justice was delivered. He, therefore, called on the Attorney General to place premium on the case, currently before him. Mr Muheeb Saeed, Manager for Freedom of Expression, MFWA, called on the Judiciary to do more to protect journalists. Source: Ghana News Agency

WINDHOEK: Members of the Namibian arts scene have said the late President Hage Geingob's appreciation for the arts and promotion of inclusivity will be missed. Geingob, 82, succumbed to cancer in a Windhoek hospital on Sunday. Award-winning singer-songwriter and stage actor, Lize Ehlers, expressed her profound grief in an interview with Nampa, stating that the late Geingob was not only a leader, but also a patron of the arts. 'His support and appreciation for Namibian culture and talent were unparalleled. His passing leaves a void that will be difficult to fill,' she said. Echoing Ehlers's sentiments was singer Kalux, known for his soulful and popular music, who said the late President Geingob understood the transformative power of art in society. 'He championed initiatives that promoted creativity and cultural expression, paving the way for Namibian artists to thrive on both the national and international stages,' he said. Both musicians stated that the late president recognised them by name, which had a significant impact on them. They also called him a unifying figure who worked tirelessly to bridge divides and promote inclusivity. Theatre director Sandy Rudd recounted her memories of Geingob during Namibia's independence celebration in 2015, where she led a theatrical production that depicted Namibia's road to independence. She said that as the concert progressed, President Geingob was visibly moved by the dramatic portrayal on stage. 'His passion was evident as he engaged in the celebrations, dancing alongside the performers with great energy. The sight of the president participating fully in the celebratory atmosphere drew cheers and applause from the crowd,' she remarked. Rudd said Geingob's legacy of visionary leadership and unwavering dedication to the arts will forever be remembered and cherished by the nation which he served with distinction. Source: The Namibia Press Agency

WINDHOEK: Namibia, as a country, can empathize with the pain that the British population is currently suffering because they, too, have lost their late President to cancer. This was said by Rolf Hansen, Chief Executive Officer of the Cancer Association of Namibia (CAN) in the wake of a recent announcement from Buckingham Palace regarding the cancer diagnosis of His Majesty King Charles III. Hansen in an interview with Nampa on Wednesday said 'CAN extends its heartfelt sympathies and support to the royal family and the people of the United Kingdom during this challenging time. CAN, a leading organization dedicated to cancer awareness, prevention and support, stands in solidarity with all those affected by cancer, including prominent figures such as the late president and the King.' In addition to expressing solidarity with the King and his family, CAN acknowledges the recent loss of its president, a respected figure in Namibia's fight against cancer. Hansen said that the loss compounds the grief felt with in the organisation, as members mourn the passing of a dedicated leader and advocate for cancer patients and their families. 'Our thoughts are with the royal family and the people of the United Kingdom as they navigate the challenging journey. We understand firsthand the impact of a cancer diagnosis, and we stand ready to offer our support and resources to those in need,'' he said. The announcement from Buckingham Palace, he added serves as a reminder of the importance of early detection, access to quality care, and ongoing research to improve outcomes for all individuals affected by cancer. 'CAN remains committed to its mission of raising awareness, providing support services and advocating for policies that promote cancer prevention and treatment,'' he said. As the global community rallies behind the King and his family, CAN emphasizes the importance of unity and collaboration in the fight against cancer, he said. ''In the face of adversity, CAN reaffirms its commitment to supporting cancer patients, s urvivors and their loved ones. The organization encourages individuals to seek information, resources and support to navigate the challenges of cancer diagnosis and treatment,' Hansen concluded. Source: The Namibia Press Agency

The Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) says the West African market is integral to unleashing the country's destination portfolio and diversifying its tourist source markets. The Board said Nigeria and Ghana had shown improvements of 6 per cent and 48 per cent, respectively, in 2023 and ranked among Kenya's potential markets on the African continent. The Kenyan government has launched the 'West Africa Roadshow' to promote the richness and diversity of the country's travel destinations. Madam Fiona Ngesa, the Marketing Manager- Business Development, Kenya Tourism Board speaking at Roadshow Business to Business Meetings in Accra, said the event was to encourage people to travel more within Africa and understand the travel market. KTB and Kenya Airways are leading over 15 travel trade companies for in-market activations scheduled for February 5 to February 9, 2024, in various cities in Nigeria and Ghana. She said it was to boost tourist arrivals from West Africa by promoting business and leisure travel. She said th e idea was to enable people to benefit from travel and see what Kenya had to offer for their leisure and business. Madam Ngesa said the Roadshow was to foster collaboration, build relationships and together the continent could improve its travel system. 'It is to showcase what Kenya had to offer their Ghanaian counterpart and make the Ghanaian travel market to understand the products being offered,' she added. The Marketing Manager said the strategy for the next five years was to grow the African arrivals Ghana and Nigeria being key market operators in the region. She said Ghana because of the previous relationships on a government-to-government basis and the journey for both countries had decided to continue in that direction. Mr Eliphas Barine, High Commissioner of Kenya to Ghana, said there was the need to strengthen and build institutions that would continue to pursue growth and development in Africa. He said it was some of these institutions that would continue to connect and link organisations to industries to take care of businesses. He said the Kenyan Government was committed to growing all existing relationships already established to develop and grow the various sectors of the economy. He said the two countries had existing instruments and signed an MOU to foster growth and development, it was now the turn of the private sector to hold hands towards actualizing the objectives and making these better for the people. 'Government needs from us because this is a journey and I am very happy because my conversation with the officials and in particular the Minister for Tourism is very keen to be able to grow skills and improve customer experience,' he said. 'So, the road show present is a tremendous opportunity to share insight, collaborate and promote tourism between our two countries,' he added. The High Commissioner said what needed to be done was to sustain the conversation for growth and development while bettering the lives of the people. Mrs. Susan Ongalo, Chief Executive Officer of the Keny a Tourism Federation, said the Federation was the link between the private and the public sectors and the partnership was to foster growth and development. She said the mandate of the Federation was to advocate for a conducive business environment and promote sustainable tourism through effective representation of the private sector. She said the tourism industry in Kenya had traditionally eight active private sector bodies representing the Associations of Tour Operators, Hotelkeepers and Caterers, Travel Agents, Air Operators and Mombasa and Coast Tourism. Others are The Pubs Entertainment and Restaurants Association of Kenya, Ecotourism Kenya, and Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association. Source: Ghana News Agency

Golden Star Wassa Limited (GSWL), through the Golden Star Development Foundation, has cut the sod to commence a series of development projects in its host communities in the Western Region. The beneficiary communities are Akosombo, Akyempim, Brofoyedur, Kubekro, Odumasi, Accra Town, Old Subri, Juaben and Anyinabriem. The projects, estimated to cost more than US$ 1 million, would include the provision of a mechanized water system at Akosombo and the expansion of mechanized water facilities at Akyempim.?? The rest are one-bedroom 6-unit teachers' quarters each at Brofoyedur, Kubekro, Odumasi and Accra Town, and two 300-capacity community centres to meet the social needs of the Anyinabriem and Juaben communities.? In addition, an existing one-bedroom 10-unit teacher's quarters at Old Subri will be completed to help with the accommodation needs of teachers.? Works on the various projects would start immediately and are expected to be completed by the end of 2024. Funding for the projects is by 0.1% of Golde n Star Wassa's net pretax profit, 1 USD for every ounce of gold produced and sold by GSWL, contributions of third-party contractors as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), as well as yields from investments of Golden Star Development Foundation. The selection of the projects was based on the socio-economic needs of the communities as captured through their engagement structures with Golden Star in the forms of the Community Consultative Team (CCT) and Community Mine Consultative Committee (CMCC).? Mr. Shaddrack Adjetey Sowah, the Vice President and Managing Director of GSWL, told the stakeholders that: 'The sod cutting for these projects symbolizes our commitment to our mission to benefit more people through the development of Chifeng Gold…' '…And to contribute to a brighter and more prosperous future for our host communities, whose importance to our operations cannot be overemphasized'.? Mr Emmanuel Boakye,?the District Chief Executive, Wassa East, noted the immense impact of Golden Star Resources as a development partner to the Government within its host communities.? He urged the communities to continue to provide the social license needed by Golden Star Wassa to thrive and contribute to the area's economic development.? The Member of Parliament for Wassa East, Mr Isaac Adjei Mensah, commended Golden Star for its support to host communities over the years and for always going beyond their tax and regulatory requirements to do so. Mr David Gyapong, a Member of the Board of Trustees, Golden Star Development Foundation, reiterated that Chifeng?Gold, the new owner of GSWL, had demonstrated its commitment to the development of host communities and assured that the projects taken off would be completed as scheduled. Nana Teng Amoakoh, the Acting Divisional Chief of Anyinabriem, who chaired the function, was full of praises for Golden Star for being consistent in its engagement and support to the community. He assured the company of community support in its endeavours and encouraged the contr actors to recruit more local people from the beneficiary communities to work on the projects. Source: Ghana News Agency