Flagbearer of the Ghana Freedom Party, Madam Akua Donkor is alleging that Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan’s legal action brought against her earlier this month was conspired by the opposition New Patriotic Party(NPP).

According to her, the NPP lured the Shanghai SIPG attacker to set that legal suit against her and also fingered the largest opposition for being behind the mischief schemed against her in the public domain.

“I was amazed that Asamoah Gyan went ahead to sue me, when this contempt issues came up and the NPP conspired for you[Gyan] to drag me to court when indeed I have defended you in the past. When you were accused of rape and sodomy I waded into the matter and defended you in court; the same applies to Castro’s case, when you were alleged to have killed the hiplife musician, but I was on countless occasion on different platforms defending you that the Lady might have crossed the river while menstruating and as such that will be the reason why she got drowned with Castro,” Akua Donkor said in a latest interview with a local journalist based in Brong Ahafo.

She was reacting to an alleged fake news stories planted on various news portals over her plea for pardon of two panelists and host of Montie FM, Mugabe who were incarcerated for contempt charges last week.

She had reportedly insisted that the judges had no right to sentence “the president of Zimbabwe” because it will mar the relationship between the two countries, hence if care is not taken, all Ghanaian in Zimbabwe will be killed.

The report also said that if Mugabe is not released to go back to his country, Mahama will also be arrested and jailed when he travels to Zimbabwe.

But Akua Donkor denied making such intervention in public for the contemnors who are currently serving a 4-month jail term in Nsawam and rained curses on those behind the mischief.

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The Head Pastor of ICGC Paraku Estate in Accra, Stephen Yedu Padmore, has said any husband or wife who leaves his or her marriage because the other partner has committed adultery is immature for marriage.

According to him, such a person shouldn’t have ever thought of getting married as the person is not fit to enter into the institution of marriage, adding that his position on the subject is based on principles of scripture.

The Bible in Matthew 5:32, outlines the basis on which a man can divorce his wife which include sexual immorality or adultery but Pastor Yedu Padmore appears to have a different thought on the matter.

Speaking on Kasapa FM’s Afisem programme on Saturday, the man of God stated that people should go into marriage having in mind that their spouses are not saints or angels and as a result may fall victim to sexual immorality.

“Even there are risks in entering into an agreement with angels. Are they not angels who descended from Heaven onto the earth and refused to leave the earth simply because they had seen beautiful ladies? I’m not saying spouses should involve themselves in sexual outside marriage, but all I’m saying is that some of these things happen in marriage and all should bear it in mind before entering into marriage.”

He added: “Marriage is a risk because you don’t marry God but man; we all know that every human being is susceptible to sin.”

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The Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II would on August 15 2016,  give a major lecture on Africa’s democratic advances and development under the title,  Africa’s Democratic Path and the Search for Economic Transformation at the Attlee Pontius Suit of the British Houses of Parliament in London.

The lecture would have a select audience of two hundred that would include some Members of both Houses, the London diplomatic community, leading policy institutions and faculty of some United Kingdom universities.

A release from the Office of the Shadow Secretary of State for Health and MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, Hon. Diana Abbott in London and the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi said, Lord Paul Boateng of the  House of Lords would be the introductory speaker  of the Asantehene .

The event has as Special Guest of Honour, the Nigerian Nobel Laureate, playwright and poet,  Prof. Wole Soyinka  who would reflect on Governance and the literary arts.

The high profile event would also see the launch of two major literary works on Africa:May Their Shadows Never Shrink- Wole Soyinka and the Oxford Professorship of Poetry  written by literary historian, author and development specialist,  Ivor Agyeman-Duah and a professor of English Language and Literature and Fellow of St Edmund Hall of the University of Oxford, Lucy Newlyn . It is forwarded by leading Harvard University historian and literary scholar, Henry Louis Gates, Jnr.

The other book, a ground-breaking five hundred page is, All the Good Things Around Us- An Anthology of African Short Stories  edited by Agyeman-Duah and  the most comprehensive new writing by among others, some of Africa’s most influential and award-winning authors: Ben Okri, Ama Ata Aidoo, Chimanmanda Ngozi Adichie, Sefi Atta, Tope Folarin, Tsitsi Dangaremba , Taiye Selasi,  Chika Unigwe, Yvonne Owuor, Ogochukwu Promise, Monica Arac de Nyeko, Peggy Appiah, Martin Egblewogbe  and Ellen Banda-Aaku .

Both books would be launched by  Dr. Augustus Casely-Hayford, the British  Curator and Lecturer in World Art at Sotheby’s one of the world’s largest brokers of fine and decorative art and  presenter of the BBC TV Series, Lost Kingdoms of Africa  and chair of the 2013 Jury of  the Caine Prize for African Writing.

The South African-Dutch biographer of Nelson Mandela and Booker Prize jurist  -professor of World Literature at Oxford, Elleke Boehmer,  has described the anthology as “wordsmiths from across the continent standing in dynamic and memorable conjunction.” The Publishing Director of Ayebia Clarke Publishing (the publishers), Nana Ayebia says  the writers “ display their dexterity in a manner in which they deploy language and images to engage their readers’ attention and imagination.”

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Leaked confidential documents from Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca show how the Kufuor administration committed Ghana to an agreement with a foreign company for the development and operation of a five-star luxury hotel in Accra before seeking parliamentary approval.

According to the leaked files, suspended chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) Paul Afoko received over half a million dollars for fronting as a “nominee director” for the offshore company.

Documents show that on 15 February 2006, the government of Ghana entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the development of the 300 000m² decommissioned Accra Racecourse site. Under former president John Kufuor, the Ghanaian government committed Cascade Development Company and its affiliates, the firm that constructed the Kempinski Hotel, to a preliminary outline plan to develop the site into a user complex. The site, once inhabited by squatters, would see development of a five-star hotel, along with an office building, residential buildings and a shopping mall.

Former chief of staff under the Kufuor administration, Kojo Mpiani, says he signed the MoU because the developers showed serious intent. The supporting agreement between the government and Cascade Development Company was given executive approval afterwards. Mpiani explains that the deal didn’t go through cabinet approval because the president had the power to approve such agreements if he was satisfied with the details after review, which explains why the support agreement sent to Parliament for approval was given executive approval.

The leaked confidential document from the office of the president dated 21 October 2008 says:

I refer to your request for executive approval on the above subject matter dated 14 October, 2008. His Excellency the President has given Executive approval for the support agreement between Government of Ghana and Cascade Development Company for the development of a five-star hotel at the Accra Race Course.

50-YEAR SUBLEASE

In the agreement, the government committed to sublease the land for 50 years. The agreement also required Cascade Development Company to manage the Accra International Conference Centre. The final agreement was signed on 11 January 2007. Article 181(5) of the Ghanaian Constitution says that parliamentary approval is required in respect of “international business transactions” which the state of Ghana is a party to. The parliamentary approval, however, was sought a year after the government signed an agreement with the Cascade Development Company. Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Finance, James Avedzi, whose party was in opposition during the period, says the government erred in signing the agreement before seeking parliamentary approval.

In the supporting agreement approved by Parliament, the government indemnified the Cascade Development Company and Gold Coast Resort International “from any liability to pay any tax on the income, profits, whether actual or accrued, earned or made by Cascade Development Company and its affiliates in respect of each sub-phase for a period of five years from the completion of such relevant sub-phase.” Avedzi says these exemptions were granted in line with government’s vision of making Ghana a preferred tourist destination.

TAX EXEMPTIONS

The exemptions also touch on imports of necessary materials and equipment for the project, as well as the withholding tax on dividends, royalties, license fees, rental payments and management fees paid by Cascade Development Company. But, lecturer at the University of Ghana Business School Dr Ibrahim Bedi is raising questions about the exemptions on the withholding tax paid by the developer and its affiliates with effect from opening of each sub-phase and continuing for a period of five years from the date of completion of each sub-phase. According to Bedi, this exemption is meant for real estate developers constructing apartments for low and middle income earners, and not the developer of luxurious hotel.

This means, it gives Kempinski Hotel undue advantage over its competitors, such as Paloma Hotel, Labadi Hotel, Golden Tulip, Alisa Hotel and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel among others. The exemptions will enable the management of the hotel to improve their services or cut down cost of production, Bedi argues.

The Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Finance disagrees. He says the exemptions must not be singled out but must be seen as a package to attract investors.

The exemptions were granted under the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre incentives (GIPCI). Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Domestic Tax at the Ghana Revenue Authority Edward Gyamera explains that even though Cascade Development Company and its affiliates were granted all of the exemptions, incentives and tax concessions provided for in the GIPC, it is not possible for investors to enjoy all exemptions.

Two months after the government of Ghana signed the MoU with the developers, Gold Coast Resorts International was incorporated, on 19 April 2006. It appointed Cascade Development Company. through its Ghana subsidiary, to develop the five-star hotel complex. Gold Coast Resorts is a web of offshore entities, with the largest shareholder of the company (45%) being Zakhem International SA, an entity registered in the tax haven of Luxembourg. At least two other shareholders of the Gold Coast Resorts – Bethana Investments Inc and Uridor Investments SA – were registered in Panama, another known tax haven. The government of Ghana, through the Ghana Tourist Board, owns 10% of Gold Coast Resorts.

The Panama Papers confirm that Afoko, a leading member of the NPP and close friend of Kufuor was a shareholder in Gold Coast Resorts International. However, he transferred his shares to Zakhem International on 15 July, 2009. The transfer value of the shares was $640,000. The reason for the transfer is unclear, but Mr. Afoko is believed to have played a lead role in negotiations on behalf of an offshore company and the government during the period the NPP was in power. Afoko declined to comment on the story.

HOTEL MANAGER

The extent of the relationship between Afoko and Marwan Zakhem, a manager at Kempinski Hotel, are unclear, but Mossack Fonseca’s records show that Zakhem’s name appears on the register of directors and officers of Afoko’s oil firm, the West African Petroleum Company.

Afoko and Zakhem are shown in the documents as registered members of the company, which was registered in the British Virgin Islands. Zakhem had 250 shares, which were received on 13 January 2005. However he ceased to be a member of the company on 12 August 2010 and transferred his shares on the same date. Curiously, the Z2 Group Limited, which Zakhem is a director of, entered the register as member on 12 August 2010. In the leaked files, Zakhem is listed as a director GCC Resorts Limited, Zakhem Construction (Ghana) Limited and Cascade Development Company, the entity that constructed the five-star luxurious hotel. When officials of Kempinski Hotel were contacted, they too declined to comment, saying they only offer technical expertise to owners of the facility.

On 15 July 2009, two months after Afoko was allocated his shares, he transferred them to Zakhem International SA for $640,000. Files show, however, that Afoko is still a shareholder in the company. When the company files were updated by on 26 November, 2012 by Bryan Scatliffe, the assistant secretary for and on behalf of Mossack Fonseca, Afoko’s name was still on the list with 576,000 shares.

According to the records available at the registered office, the shareholders of the company are:

Shareholders No of shares
Zakhem International SA 5,760,000
Funsho Moses Kupolokum 2,205,000
Bounville Holdings Ltd 2,295,000
The Government of Ghana 1,280,000
Uridor Investments SA 1,260,000
Bethana Investments Inc 900,000
Paul Afoko 576,000
Ghana Tourist Board 1,280,000
Mossack Fonseca’s records show the shareholding structure of Gold Coast Resort International:

Shareholders No of shares % represented
Zakhem International S.A. 5, 760 000 45%
Funsho Moses Kupolokun
(former aide to Nigeria President Olusegun Obasanjo) 1, 800, 000 14%
Bounville Holdings Limited (Seychelles) 1, 800 000 14%
Ghanian Government 1, 280, 000 10%
Uridor Investments S.A. 1, 260, 000 9.84%
Bethana Investment Inc (Panama) 900, 000 7%
Paul Afoko 576, 000
The shareholders provided funds for the financing of the project. The government was allotted the shares in terms of the support agreement signed on 15 July 2009. One of the emails between Mossack Fonseca and Gold Coast Resorts International states that “the activity of this company is a holding company of a Ghanaian subsidiary. GCRI has invested in the Ghanaian subsidiary for the development and operation of a five-star luxury hotel in Accra, Ghana.”

George Kwatia, Ghana tax partner at PWC, said the benefits for the offshore companies far outweighed the benefits for Ghana’s economy.

Tax justice campaigner Bernard Adjei argued that incorporating offshore companies is a mechanism deployed by businesses to either pay low tax or avoid paying revenues to the government in the countries where they operate.

Adjei wants government to plug legal loopholes that give offshore companies one-sided advantages of bilateral agreements that are signed. – Panama Papers

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President John Mahama is asking the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), to throw out allegations of conflict of interest levelled against him.

Counsel for President, Mr. Tony Lithur, in a letter to CHRAJ stated that his client was innocent of allegations leveled against him.

The letter is responding to three petitions filed against the President over his acceptance of a Ford expedition car gift from his Burkinabe friend and contractor, Djibril Kanazoe.

The petitioners are praying  CHRAJ to hold that President Mahama has violated Article 284 of the 1992 constitution which states: “A public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts or is likely to conflict with the performance of the functions of his office.”

However lawyer for the President, argues that the facts adduced does not support the false allegations of conflict of interest made against the President.

“At the earliest opportunity, he [president Mahama] instructed the vehicle to be added to the official presidential fleet and it has since been used for official purposes.

“It is important to point out that at the time the vehicle was delivered to the Presidency, my client was not aware that Mr. Kanazoe’s company had been awarded a contract to construct the perimeter wall around the Ghana mission in Ouagadougou.

“He could, therefore, not have played any role whatsoever in, or exercised any influence over the award of the contract.

“In the circumstances, I submit that the complaints made by all three complainants are absolutely without any basis whatsoever, either in law or in fact, and, therefore, should be dismissed,” Tony Lithur averred.

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The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey has described whoever is condemning the sentencing of the three persons in the Montie 3 saga, as nation wreckers.

Salifu Maase aka Mugabe, a presenter on NDC affiliated radio station Montie FM and two panelists Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn, who recently appeared on the Pampaso show, were found guilty of scandalizing the court, defying and lowering the authority of the Supreme Court and bringing it into disrepute.

The two on June 29, warned judges of Ghana’s highest court to be wary of their conduct in the case involving the Electoral Commission and Mr Abu Ramadan if they did not want to suffer the fate of the three members of the bench who were shot to death and burnt on June 30, 1982 in the era of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).

The Supreme Court last week handed a four months jail term each to the three men. They were additionally fined GHC 10,000 each.

The NDC has described the sentencing as harsh with party supporters mounting pressure on leaders of the party and President John Mahama to use his executive powers as enshrined in Article 72 of the constitution to grant the three jailed persons pardon.

Supporters of the NDC who believe the sentencing is harsh have mounted pressure on leaders of the party and President John Mahama to use his executive powers as enshrined in Article 72 of the constitution to grant the three jailed persons pardon. The supporters besieged the party Headquarters in Adabraka on Thursday, demanding the immediate release of the three, during which some supporters defaced President Mahama’s posters in anger.

National Chairman of the NDC, Dr Kofi Portuphy has admitted to Kasapa FM that there is huge pressure on the National Executives to ensure the release of the trio.

Several Ministers and high ranking government officials have signed a book opened to gather signatures to be presented to the President in this regard.

But speaking at the 50th anniversary celebration service of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Logos Congregation at Achimota College, Rt. Rev. Prof. Martey stated that the court was right in exacting the four-month jail term to the trio, adding that the rule of law must work at all times.

“A nation is an entity, a people ruled by law; so if there are any people who are a lawless society then they are doomed. A country like America, when you break the law even if you are the President or a Presidential candidate and they get you, you’ll go to jail. I hear some people are saying what the Judges did was not right. Look, threatening to kill a Judge, it has happened before in Ghana, whoever has issues with the sentence of these three people are nation wreckers who must be condemned and not entertained.”

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The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has accused leading women in the Mahama-led Administration and ruling NDC party who have signed the petition book urging President John Mahama to pardon the jailed Montie Trio, of undermining the fight for women’s right in Ghana.

According to the party, these women by their actions have demonstrated to the whole world that they are interested in defending the rights of only women affiliated to the NDC.

High ranking women in government and NDC such as such as Nana Oye Lithur, Minister for Gender and Social Protection, whose job is to protect and defend all the women of this country, a former gender activist and member of FIDA; Betty Mould Iddrissu, former Attorney–General, and Past President of FIDA, an organisation which is at the forefront of the fight for the promotion and protection of women’s rights, Professor Jane Opoku Acheampong, respected academic and Minister for Education and Valerie Sawyerr, Presidential Staffer and former member of FIDA have also signed the petition.

The jailed trio, Alistair Tairu Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn during a show hosted Salifu Maase, aka Mugabe host at NDC affiliated radio station, Montie FM on June 29, warned judges of Ghana’s highest court to be wary of their conduct in the case involving the Electoral Commission and Mr Abu Ramadan if they did not want to suffer the fate of the three members of the bench who were shot to death and burnt on June 30, 1982 in the era of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).

The Supreme Court sentenced them to four months imprisonment and fined them GHC 10,000 each. But moments after their jailing, several members of the ruling party including ministers started clamouring for the release of the trio.

But the NPP’s Social Development Committee in a press statement signed by its Chairperson, Hon. Ursula Owusu Ekufful said these influential women must rather be leading the charge to fight for women’s right in Ghana.

“They support the Montie 3 and don’t see anything wrong with their vile utterances which have landed them in jail. They have forgotten that they committed the inexcusable error of threatening to rape and murder the Chief justice, the woman occupying the highest position in this country. They don’t see anything wrong with what they did and think they should be released. They have demonstrated to the world by this singular act that only NDC activists deserve their defence and protection.

“We expected them to use this case as a teachable moment to educate the public about women’s rights and rape as gender based violence which constitutes a heinous assault on the physical, psychological and emotional well being of victims. Instead they are leading the charge to pardon the convicts. This is indeed a sad day for women and the fight for women’s rights in Ghana.”

The statement added: “A few weeks ago these same women jumped to the defence of the EC chairperson whom they consider a friend but they don’t think the Chief Justice and Sophia Akuffo JSC deserve their attention. This attitude smacks of the highest level of hypocrisy and is contemptible. Every woman in this country who is unfairly attacked, regardless of her status, political affiliation or background, deserves the protection of all who have elected to speak up and defend the women of Ghana, particularly those who are paid with our taxes to work for all of us. Selective protection is no protection at all for a chain is as strong as its weakest link.”

Below is the full statement

IN DEFENCE OF OUR ILLUSTRIOUS FEMALE JUDGES… LEST WE FORGET

Three young men sat in the studios of Montie FM on the eve of Matyrs Day, a day set aside by the legal profession to remember the 3 High Court Judges who were abducted and murdered by operatives of the PNDC in 1982, some 34 years ago. One of the murdered judges was a woman, a breast feeding mother, Justice Cecilia Koranteng Addo.

The recurring theme for Matyrs Day is ‘LestWe Forget’. The three young men, egged on and encouraged by the host of the show, Mugabe, threatened the Supreme Court Judges hearing the Abu Ramadan case with death claiming they knew their homes, would hunt them down and murder them if they delivered a verdict that did not favour their political party, the NDC. They went further to threaten to rape the Chief Justice, a distinguished female jurist, Georgina Theodora Wood. One of the Three, a Member of Parliament, further accused the Chief Justice of packing the court with NPP members, doing the bidding of the NPP and attempting to kidnap the child of one of the lawyers of the President during the election petition.

These comments, calculated to interfere with the administration of justice by intimidating the judges into giving a favourable verdict and which also scandalised the court were considered contemptuous and the 3 of them were hauled before the court and appropriately sentenced to a term of imprisonment and a fine after being given a hearing. The sentence reflected the gravity of the offence and was meant to deter other would be loose talkers who abuse the freedom of speech. The judge who chaired the panel, Justice Sophia Akuffo, one of the finest legal minds on the bench today, has also been subjected to considerable abuse and insults by the friends and sympathisers of the convicted trio.

Shockingly, we have witnessed the appalling spectacle of Ministers of State and other NDC members, sympathisers, functionaries, government appointees and others falling over themselves to sign a petition for clemency, calling on the President to exercise the prerogative of mercy under article 72 of the Constitution to either set the contemnors free or reduce their sentence. By this conduct, all those signing the petition have demonstrated to the world that they approve of, condone and support the reprehensible conduct of the Montie 3. The sad fact is that the radio station was set up for the sole purpose of denigrating, insulting, vilifying and running down anyone they consider an opponent of the President and the NDC. No section of society has escaped their insults and they have been operating for almost 2 years. None of those appealing for mercy now ever saw the need to caution them and call them to order. They actively encouraged them to continue on their destructive path of demonising everything decent in our society.

Nana Oye Lithur, Minister for Gender and Social Protection, whose job is to protect and defend all the women of this country, a former gender activist and member of FIDA; Betty Mould Iddrissu, former Attorney–General, and Past President of FIDA, an organisation which is at the forefront of

the fight for the promotion and protection of womens rights, Professor Jane Opoku Acheampong, respected academic and Minister for Education and Valerie Sawyerr, Presidential Staffer and former member of FIDA have also signed the petition. They support the Montie 3 and don’t see anything wrong with their vile utterances which have landed them in jail. They have forgotten that they committed the inexcusable error of threatening to rape and murder the Chief justice, the woman occupying the highest position in this country. They don’t see anything wrong with what they did and think they should be released. They have demonstrated to the world by this singular act that only NDC activists deserve their defence and protection.

We expected them to use this case as a teachable moment to educate the public about women’s rights and rape as gender based violence which constitutes a heinous assault on the physical, psychological and emotional well being of victims. Instead they are leading the charge to pardon the convicts. This is indeed a sad day for women and the fight for women’s rights in Ghana.

A few weeks ago these same women jumped to the defence of the EC chairperson whom they consider a friend but they don’t think the Chief Justice and Sophia Akuffo JSC deserve their attention. This attitude smacks of the highest level of hypocrisy and is contemptible. Every woman in this country who is unfairly attacked, regardless of her status, political affiliation or background, deserves the protection of all who have elected to speak up and defend the women of Ghana, particularly those who are paid with our taxes to work for all of us. Selective protection is no protection at all for a chain is as strong as its weakest link.

We stand with the Chief Justice, Justice Georgina Wood. We stand with Justice Sophia Akuffo, Supreme Court Judge. We stand with all women of Ghana everywhere who have ever suffered abuse and proclaim to the world that they all deserve our protection and we will defend them with every fibre of our being. They have done no wrong and were only doing their job to the best of their ability. Those vile creatures who threatened to rape, harm and kill them are the lowest of the low and deserve every minute of their 4 months behind bars, removed from decent society. All those lining up to show solidarity with them are no better than the Montie 3 and should be ashamed of themselves. If this is the society they prefer to associate with, God help them.

PRESIDENT, THE WOMEN OF GHANA ARE WATCHING YOU. LEST WE FORGET!

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, MP

Chairperson, Social Development Committee New Patriotic Party

02/08/2016

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Professor Kwamena Ahwoi has been sworn-in as Chairman of the University of Ghana Council; the highest decision making body of the University. Professor Ahwoi was appointed by President Mahama and other four distinguished individuals to take over from Justice Samuel Kofi Date-Bah led administration.

The appointees to the Council include Professor Mahama Duwieju, Archbishop Duncan Williams, Ambassador Fati Habib-Jawula as well as Dr. William Abayaawien Atuilik.

Other new members joining the University of Ghana Council include Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Ebenezer Owusu Oduro; SRC President, Ms. Esinam Afi Seade; GRASAG President, Mr. Nana Asafo- Adjei Ayeh and the UTAG President, Dr. Harry Lawson Agbanu.

The University of Ghana Governing Council is responsible for the effective running of the Premier University by ensuring that the aims and objectives are realized.

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The former president of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Mr. Sam Okudzeto, has lambasted his accusers in the National Democratic Congress (NDC), arguing his statement that President John Mahama would be planning his own funeral if he grants pardon to the Montie three has been misconstrued.

The renowned legal luminary on Monday cautioned the president against pardoning the jailed Montie three, Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase alias ‘Mugabe’ saying President Mahama’s acceding to the pardon calls will mark his own funeral.

But in a swift response,  NDC in a statement described the comments by Mr. Okudzeto, as baseless and a threat on the life of President John Mahama.

The statement signed by the party’s General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah Tuesday stated that “…the NDC considers this statement from Mr. Okudzeto not only as a threat to President Mahama’s life but also, a danger to the very foundation of the country’s Constitution, the people, and democracy, especially when such baseless and dangerous pronouncement is coming from a supposed seasoned and experienced legal practitioner of no mean repute.”

However explaining his comments, Mr Okudzeto stated that interpretation of his comments showed members of the NDC understanding of English language is very weak.

“This morning, I was surprised I saw on Metro TV, somebody was there saying I was threatening the president, which means that even English language, the simple language that we all speak, people don’t even know the language. To say that if somebody says when you do that it’s your own funeral, it means that you yourself you bear the consequences of it, that is simple English. …If you don’t know the language, ask somebody else, I’m sure they will explain it to you,” Mr. Okudzeto told Class News in an interview.

He added: “They are all running to sign a petition, I suppose they want to bring pressure on the president to go and act, well, that’s their own business, so far as I am concerned, what the court has done, nobody can flout the court to say that it does not have the power to convict for contempt because that is enshrined in the constitution and it was put there in order to protect the judges, to protect the institution.

“If none of us is prepared to respect the highest court of the land or just the courts in the administration of justice, it means that all of us will take the law into our own hands. I think law is meant to bring order and decorum to society. All of us should inculcate that into our heads and begin to appreciate and respect laws.”

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President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday verified his name on the voters register to ensure he’s eligible to vote in the December 7 general elections.

Mahama, who is seeking re-election, visited his hometown Bole to confirm his name in the voters’ register.

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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Parliamentary Candidate for Klottey Korle, Zanetor Rawlings has said incumbent MP for the area, Nii Armah Ashietey’s withdrawal of case against her comes as no surprise.

According to her lawyer, Edudzi Tamakloe, he saw the discontinuance of the case coming as he knew Mr Ashietey’s legal team will hit a snag due to the manner in which they were handling the matter in court.

Nii Armah Ashietey, former Greater Accra Regional minister, went to court challenging the eligibility of Dr. Zanetor as the NDC nominee for the upcoming parliamentary polls but threw in the towel, withdrawing his lawsuit against his contender on Wednesday.

Nii Armah Ashietey has been in court since last year challenging the process and the eligibility of the winner of the NDC primary in the area.

The decision to stop the legal battles against Rawlings comes on the back of recent losses he suffered at the Supreme court over aspects of his case in court.

But speaking to TV3 News, lawyer Edudzi Tamakloe, stated that Nii Armah’s latest action is a welcome news to both the legal and campaign team of Zanetor Rawlings, as their focus will now be fully focused on working to win the upcoming election.

“At all times Zanetor is ready to cooperate with anybody in the constituency to work for the NDC ensure that the party emerges victorious during the polls. At the end of the day the seat will not belong Zanetor but will be in the name of the NDC.”

By: Newstube24.com

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Police at Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo Region have detained a forty eight year old farmer who murdered his own brother for allegedly stealing his cockerel.

The man, Sombona Nimbole was apprehended by the youth of the town after news broke that he’d committed the heinous crime.

The incident threw the town into a state of shock as resident could not believe why a man could kill his own relative over a cockerel.

The Wenchi Divisional Police Crime Officer DSP Vincent Addotey who confirmed the incident stated that the suspect admitted slashing his brother’s throat when a confrontation ensued over the whereabouts of the cockerel.

He said, the suspect will soon be arraigned before court to face the law.

By: Newstube24.com

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Workers of the Volta River authority(VRA) have temporarily backed down on their intended industrial action following a Ministerial intervention Thursday, August 4,2016.

Deputy Minister of Power, John Jinapor who was part of the Ministerial team that met with the irate workers over their concerns disclosed Friday.

The workers had earlier in a statement registered their displeasure over attempts by government to cede off two of its key plant they operate and a parcel of land to external parties.

The plants included the T3 plant in the Aboadze thermal enclave, MRP at the Tema Thermal Power station and a parcel of land at the Kpone Thermal Power Station.

The external parties, AMERI, Sunon-Asogli and the Ghana Power Generation Company (GPGC) were cited as the ones to benefit from the development.

The staff in a letter addressed to the Chief Executive of the VRA, this week said they’d  “resolved to utilize all available lawful means to resist the perpetration of unwarranted dissipation of the Authority’s assets as well as  “embark on a series of legitimate actions effective Thursday, 4th August 2016.”

But moments after the crucial meeting Thusday, John Jinapor indicated that government has intervened to head off the planned industrial action by workers.

“There would not be any strike. On August 15, we’ll have a meeting and the minister of finance will be part of it, Energy commisiion and other stakeholders as well. So to the best of my knowledge they would continue to work and we shall continue to also reciprocate by engaging them towards finding an amicable solution to the issues that they have.”

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The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey has said politicians who threaten Pastors for being critical of happenings in the country will be fought spiritually.

According to him, unlike the Supreme Court Judges who are clothed with the legal power to jail whoever attack them and the court, Pastors will resort to fervent prayers asking God to avenge their attackers.

Rt. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey was speaking at a thanksgiving service to mark the 50^th Anniversary of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Logos Congregation at Achimota College last Sunday.

In a sermon themed: “The Year of the Lord’s Favour” the Moderator stressed that Ghana has no reason to face economic challenges as God has favoured and blessed the country with all the natural resources to make it a rich nation.

“Ghana is not poor, look, God has endowed Ghana with all that we need. The material wealth, solid wealth…cocoa, gold, tell me any country in the world that has been called a Gold Coast before and then the liquid wealth of this world has been given to us, they call it black gold (oil). Why should we discover oil and things rather should go worse? My friends, it is time we have to wake up as a country.”

He added: “When you talk, what they say is …we’ll do to you same as we did to the Supreme Court Judges. Eii, you are playing with Supreme Court Judges…then you’ll go to where you never wanted to. Amazingly it’s not only the Supreme Court Judges they said they will kill, they also mentioned three ministers (Pastors). But the Judges have put them in prison, what about the pastors? You see Pastors we’ll keep quiet…where this rich man went (parable in the Bible, Lazarus and the rich,) hahahaa…they will go.”

Several men of God such as Pastor Mensah Otabil, former Bishop of the Obuasi Diocese of the Methodist Church, Rt. Rev. Stephen Richard Bosomtwe-Ayensu’s and the Moderator himself have come under scathing attacks from members of the ruling NDC after they have criticized certain happenings in the country they consider wrong.

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Government has released an amount of GHC 1.6m which is expected to hit the account of the Accra Psychiatric Hospital by Monday to settle the debt owed by the mental health service facility.

The hospital last week suspended admission of patients into the facility due to the crippling debt. It warned that the hospital was likely to experience food shortage in the coming days due to the unavailability of funds to restock.

The decision was taken following several failed attempts by management of the facility to get government to meet its budgetary obligation for more than three years.

The hospital is Ghana’s premier facility for persons with psychiatric and mental disorders among other related health complications.

Ministry of Health, believes the said amount will clear the GHC 1.2m debt the hospital owes its suppliers and will also help in its effective running.

Speaking to Accra FM, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Health, Tony Goodman stated that government will continue to finance the operations of the hospital to ensure the safety and care of the mentally challenged patients.

He emphasized the need for persons seeking psychiatric care to visit other major hospitals for such services as mental health care has been decentralized.

“Every major public hospital or district hospital has a psychiatric unit and so people don’t need to travel all the way to the major psychiatric hospital across the country to seek healthcare and thereby causing huge pressure on the facilities.”

Mr Goodman also cautioned hospital authorities to desist from turning patients away due to lack of funds, adding that if such patients should get onto the streets it will amount to a national security threat.

By: Newstub24.com

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Embattled minister-designate John Oti Bless says he was somewhat ‘misled’ to make the derogatory comments against the Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood because he was carried away on the platform – Montie FM.

“That is not my nature, that’s not how I was  brought up, I’ll plead that it won’t happen again. This will be the last time. They should kindly forgive me in the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” he added.

The deputy Local Government Minister-designate has apologized unreservedly to the Chief Justice after he was directed to do so by the Speaker of Parliament Edward Doe Adjaho.

“I wish to sincerely state that I am really sorry for everything that has happened. Let me use this opportunity to render an unqualified apology to the Chief Justice who is my mother and the entire Judiciary, judges, Parliament, good people of Ghana and my constituents.

“I am really sorry and this will be the last time, It’s an experience. I have had my first baptism in politics. I thank the Speaker for his advice, the Minority Leader, my leader, Alban Bagbin – infact he’s a wonderful leader, he’s done a lot for me,and gave me guidance – and all the other leaders in Parliament. I also thank all Ghanaians for their sympathy and for understanding,” he said in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM.

The approval of the Nkwanta North MP as a minister is hanging in a balance after a tape recording exposed his verbal attacks on Mrs. Theodora Georgina Wood accusing her of colluding with the opposition NPP in a botched attempt to reverse the election results in 2008 and in 2012.

Although the under fire MP has issued a public apology to the CJ it’s unclear if the apology will suffice the need for the House to approve his nomination withheld temporarily.

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Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper, Kweku Baako Jnr has urged President John Mahama to withdraw the nomination of the Nkwanta North MP, John Oti Bless following his disparaging remarks against the Chief Justice, Theodora Georgina Wood.

According to him, in spite of the fact the Parliament has vetted the nominee, the gravity of his comments disqualifies him from even being considered for the high office of a deputy minister.

Embattled deputy minister-designate for Local Government and Rural Development, John Oti Bless has been found to have shared the same platform on Montie FM with the jailed Presenter, Salifu Maase aka Mugabe and two other panelists Godwin Ako Gunn and Alistair Nelson who made contemptuous statements against Justices of the Supreme Court especially against Chief Justice.

Oti Bless, accused the CJ of plotting war on Ghana together with the opposition New Patriotic Party.

“Today we have a CJ who because of a Political favour done her will do anything to help the NPP. It is an agenda. The electoral commission should stop working and give it to Georgina Woode. Why? Meddling in the affairs of the Electoral Commission. And we have a whole CJ, look at how old you are; you have kids and grandchildren and yet you are at the Court doing politics; you deliberately appoint NPP Judges to do politics and scheme with NPP to give biased rulings. Are you not calling for war? Are you not calling for civil war? Are you not destroying this country?”, he said

John Oti Bless, made further derogatory remarks and stated that the CJ has to be watched, claiming she was part of a plot to kidnap a child of Tony Lithur, who was Counsel for John Mahama during the 2013 Election Petition case.

“ We have to watch this Chief Justice. My brother Mugabe, I am telling you, when you go to the Supreme Court today, the Chief Justice is fighting one worker all because of politics. Let me give you a last filla. Do you know that during the Election Petition case, these people made a plot to kidnap a child of Tony Lithur, who was lawyer for our Excellency John Mahama so he would not concentrate on the case?”

He comment which has been roundly condemned by a large section of the public and has delayed approval of his nomination by Parliament.

Speaker of Parliament Edward Doe Adjaho on Friday ahead of Parliament rising, asked Oti Bless who is one of the youngest Parliamentarians to publicly apologize to the Chief Justice for his unsavoury remarks.

He has since rendered an unqualified apology to the CJ, claiming he was ‘misled’ to make the comments.

“That is not my nature, that’s not how I was brought up, I’ll plead that it won’t happen again. This will be the last time. They should kindly forgive me in the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.” he added.

“I wish to sincerely state that I am really sorry for everything that has happened. Let me use this opportunity to render an unqualified apology to the Chief Justice who is my mother and the entire Judiciary, judges, Parliament, good people of Ghana and my constituents.

“I am really sorry and this will be the last time, It’s an experience. I have had my first baptism in politics. I thank the Speaker for his advice, the Minority Leader, my leader, Alban Bagbin – infact he’s a wonderful leader, he’s done a lot for me,and gave me guidance – and all the other leaders in Parliament. I also thank all Ghanaians for their sympathy and for understanding,” he said in an interview with Accra-based Citi FM.

But commenting on the matter on Joy FM’s News analysis show Newsfile, Kweku Baako Jnr stated that President Mahama should show that he does not countenance such terrible statements and will not have such characters serving in his government.

“The gentleman is damn lucky, how he escaped this whole Supreme Court scrutiny is weird i can’t believe it. He ought not to be a deputy Minister, the President should just forget it, his is so serious…worse than the three jailed gentlemen. Indeed Parliament should do what the executive failed to do in the Montie 3 case which the Supreme Court hinted at, Parliament should not approve his nomination, but he should go ahead and retract and apologize for his own sake and integrity.”

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Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho has cautioned Members of the Legislature to desist from engaging in any physical and verbal attacks on constitutional bodies as they return to their various constituencies to campaign ahead of the December 7 general polls.

Attacks on State institutions, he noted, causes the citizenry to lose confidence in the country’s governance structures, thereby, creating instability and undermining the West African nation’s democratic credentials.

“If you feel provoked or have a grievance, you may use the due process to seek redress in the appropriate forum”, he note in his closing remarks prior to adjourning the House sine-die on Friday.

The Speaker’s worry is in connection to recent attacks on the Judiciary and the Electoral Commission and some other State bodies where some Members of Parliament have been cited as led crusaders of such attacks.

MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong is on record to have attacked the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Charlotte Osei with unprintable words while John Oti Kwabena Bless, MP for Nkwanta North, is also on record to have verbally assaulted the Chief Justice of the country in the Montie FM saga.

Oti Bless’ comments have since landed him into trouble, causing his ministerial appointment to hang in the balance.

Although he has since rendered unqualified apology to the Chief Justice upon advice by the Speaker and leadership of Parliament, his compatriot, Kennedy Agyapong is yet to do the honourable thing despite mounting pressure from a cross section of the public.

Speaker Adjaho commenting further urged the MPs to the circumspect with their utterances and strive to uphold the dignity the august House.

“I urge all honourable Members of this House to uphold the dignity of this august House during the upcoming election campaign period by exhibiting the highest level of maturity and restraint in the face of provocations. I advise all aspirants to conduct their campaign devoid of acrimony, insults and vile attack”, he added.

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