In relation to the auction sales of vehicles and other products by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority between July 1, 2016, and August 15, 2022, the Office of the Special Prosecutor has started an investigation into possible corruption and offenses related to corruption.
The Commissioner of the Customs Division was instructed to deliver some relevant documentation to aid the investigation on or before September 39, 2022, according to a statement dated August 22, 2022, and released by the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng.
The office requests the specifics and a detailed description of all objects that have been auctioned, their quantity, the prices at which they were sold, the date of each auction sale, and the full names, addresses, and phone numbers of the bidders who have won each auction.
Until the inquiry is finished, the Special Prosecutor has “further directed the Commissioner of the Customs Division to immediately cease and discontinue any auction sales.”
The Special Prosecutor has also started a wider investigation into the issuance of customs advance rulings and markdowns of benchmark values between July 2017 and December 2021 in response to the investigation that cited Labianca Company Limited for acts related to corruption.
The NDC minority caucus in parliament has cautioned the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to yield to Parliamentary oversight in its dealings, particularly in relation to money printing to finance government spending.
A statement issued by the minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu on Friday, August 19, 2022 said the fiscal dominance regime the bank is superintending is dangerous for the future and undermines the fight against inflation.
The minority leader in his statement said his side is taken aback by the controversial monetary printing that the BoG sneaked into its MPC Press Statement dated August 17, 2022, but had earlier denied as per its statement dated July 26, 2022.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the Caucus has noted with utter surprise the contents of the BOG MPC Press Statement dated August 17, 2022. Paragraph 6 stated, “In the absence of access to the international capital market and given the constrained domestic financing, central bank overdraft has helped to close the financing gap as reflected in the mid-year budget review. The Bank of Ghana is working with the Ministry of Finance to agree on a cap on the overdraft”.
“First, the Caucus wishes to state that Central bank overdraft is the same as monetary printing in the technical sense, which BOG tried to deny earlier as per its statement dated July 26, 2022.
“Second, given that BOG is now “working with the Ministry of Finance to agree on a cap on the overdraft”, BOG is acting in utter disregard for provisions in the Bank of Ghana Act, 2002 (Act 612) and the Bank of Ghana (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 918).
The minority leader further argued that there is nowhere in the Bank of Ghana Act, 2002 (Act 612) and the Bank of Ghana (Amendment) Act, 2016 (Act 918) where the BOG is mandated to arbitrarily grant central bank overdraft when there is lack of access to the international capital markets coupled with constrained domestic financing.
“Parliament has oversight and must mandate such an exceptional financing of government by the Central bank before execution,” he added.
Mr Haruna Iddrisu noted that most of the BoG’s actions in recent times are schemed to accommodate financing of government, without regard to the negative impacts of such dominance.
He warned that this is largely undermining the credibility of the Central Bank’s policy decisions and needs to be curtailed.
“It is as though the governor has been appointed a Minister by the Executive Arm of Government,” Mr Haruna Iddrisu suggested.
Background
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) denied allegations that it has printed GH¢22.04 billion in new money to finance the 2022 budget without recourse to Parliament.
It said the amount being referred to represented claims on government, and not new currency printed to support the government’s budget.
In a press statement dated July 26, 2022, the central bank said it found it necessary to provide clarity to the matter that was first raised by the Ranking Member of the Finance Committee, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
“The amount of GH¢22.04 billion represents net claims on government, and not new currency printed to support the government’s budget,” it said, noting that the net claims of GH¢22.04 billion comprised the stocks and bonds sold by banks, the country’s allocation of special drawing rights (SDRs) by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), drawdown of government balances with the central bank and negative on the government’s account owing to auction failures.
Kojo Kurankye, a Ghanaian musician better known as Ras Kuuku in the entertainment industry, has vehemently criticized the prohibition on celebrities supporting betting companies.
“It’s really difficult because we’re in Ghana and we’ve forbidden celebrities from performing an advertisement for a betting firm, but when we watch football on TV, we see people like Okocha and other Nigerians doing an advertisement for betting companies,” he said.
This comes after the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and Nigerian entertainer Mr. Eazi reached a deal to sponsor the Ghana Premier League (GPL) through his bookmaking business, betPaWa.
In Cape Coast, he said on Kastle FM, “And we watch these commercials with our kids when people promote betting, but when a Ghanaian celebrity does it, we would be told that we are spoiling the kids and we’re here for a Nigerian like Mr. Eazi to utilize money from betting to sponsor our football.”
Ras Kuuku stated during an appearance on the Kastle Drive Show with Amansan Krakye that it is unfortunate for a Nigerian celebrity to utilize money from a betting company to promote our league.
“It’s a big-time shame to us for Mr Eazi to sponsor the Ghana Premier League with his betting company and using money that he has made from betting but musicians in Ghana are banned from doing an advert for a betting company,” Ras Kuuku said
The two, Austin Amos and Nicholas Porter, both 20 years old, are said to have turned themselves in.
They have been charged among others, with gang assault, manslaughter and theft.
The NYPD said it is still searching for the three other suspects.
CBS2’s Natalie Duddridge spoke to the cabbie’s heartbroken family outside their home in Co-Op City in the Bronx.
It was extremely emotional. The New York State Federation of Taxi Drivers was at a news conference in support of Kutin Gyimah’s wife, who, sobbing, said her husband was her backbone, her soulmate, and she wants justice for him.
The distraught widow, Mrs. Abigail Gyimah
Meanwhile NYPD has released new surveillance video, which appears to show 52-year-old Gyimah being attacked by five passengers who investigators said refused to pay their fare and tried to rob him in Far Rockaway early Saturday morning.
The family at a Press Conference
He fell to the ground and hit his head, causing severe head trauma, and later died.
The assailants beating late Kutin Gyimah
“My husband was a good man, he was everything we had. He was our Children’s hero. His life has been cut short just like that. I am telling them to turn themselves in, because we want justice to be served.” Mrs. Gyimah said.
The assailants fleeing the scene
Meanwhile the Federation of Taxi Drivers is said to has raised $130,000.00 to support the family.
In an altercation between students from Unity Hall “Continental” and University Hall “Katanga,” rambunctious students on the KNUST campus have damaged cars and other property.
The fighting students vandalized a number of the automobiles that were parked in front of Conti.
The collision caused damage to three automobiles.
It’s thought that the conflict was started by Unity Hall students trying to stop University Hall students from utilizing their façade in a parade.
A few minutes after stones were thrown between the two Halls, the police who were on the site were able to restore peace.
Luv News As part of a Hall Week celebration, the University Hall, according to Nana Yaw Gyimah, has organized what they call a zulu parade around the university.
They had traveled through the main thoroughfares of the university.
The two factions threw stones at each other when they attempted to use the Unity Hall’s facade.
The two Halls agreed to never leave the peace Junction while in procession for more than ten years.
In order to stop more property destruction, a police force had to step in.
In related news, the Ashanti Regional Security Council has issued a statement requesting that students refrain from breaking the law.
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“The REGSEC is informing all students and residents of the university community that, all actions intended by any person or group of persons to disturb the current peaceful security in the university will be addressed with the legal instrument of the state,” the release stated.
George Akuffo Dampare, the Inspector General of Police, has implemented strict steps to bolster national security.
The IGP claims that these actions are just a small fraction of the service’s extensive efforts to increase security and ensure everyone in Ghana is secure.
The IGP stated that the police have created a variety of policies and tactics in that respect while speaking at a public lecture at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) on Thursday, August 11, 2022.
The IGP claims that the measures, which include hotspot policing, welfare, and professionalism rules, will, among other things, enhance the service, assure effective and moral policing, and lower crime rates nationwide.
A realistic leadership-driven command and control culture has been established at all levels of the service, according to the IGP, so that all employees are aware of what has to be done and make sure the proper steps are taken to ensure that it is done.
The IGP has implemented the following new regulations to transform police and lower crime in Ghana:
– All police officers are being sensitized and conscientious about the way they relate with the public.
– All name tags on police uniforms are permanent, and cannot be removed.
– All Police officers to introduce themselves with names, stations, etc. before they interact with any member of the public.
– Response time to emergencies or calls was reduced to an average of fewer than 10 minutes.
– Established regional intelligent departments across all regions to ensure safety
– Police hotline to be made active
– Hotspot policing with special forces or deployment to ensure reduced crime
– All cases that come to the police are investigated, and families are supported, and seeing the case through.
– Proactive engagement through community policing – using dogs, 2000 motorbikes, horses, etc.
– Reactive engagement – Judicial commander, regional, IGP to visit victims and scenes involving major cases and victims are called and spoken to.
– Cultivation of informants across to provide information, when it is processed, informants are paid about 1000 or 5000.
– To allow every police officer to go for United Nations Peacekeeping to encourage international exposure and give equal opportunities to everyone.
– Regional welfare directorates are established across the country to ensure the welfare of all police officers is covered.
– All indisposed police officers will be visited and measures have been put in to secure their welfare
– Retirement planning policy to help transit into retirement to help make the process stress free
– Established police emergency medical intervention funds to assist police officials who get injured in the line of duty get assistance anywhere they are without having to be financially burdened.
– Established police emergency medical intervention funds to assist police officials who get injured in the line of duty get assistance anywhere they are without having to be financially burdened.
– Establishment of a police medical center for all police officials to access medical care from any police hospital.
– Retirement planning policy to help transit into retirement to help make the process stress free
– Pension processes are decentralized to ensure that person doesn’t have to travel to process their pension benefits.
– Measures are put in place to ensure that police who die in the line of duty are replaced with qualified relatives during recruitment into the police service as a way of pacifying the family.
A 15-year-old girl has come up with a bizarre way of proving her love to her HIV-positive boyfriend – injecting herself with his blood.
The unnamed girl is said to have injected herself with her boyfriend’s blood, knowing full well that he was HIV-positive.
The news which broke last week has thrown the entire nation in shock.
The teenager allegedly hails from Suwal Kuchchi, a village in Assam, India.
She and her boyfriend had been together for about three years, after originally meeting on Facebook.
The HIV-positive boy, from the town of Hajo, had tried to elope with his beloved a couple of times in the past, but the girl’s parents had tracked them down and brought her back home.
This time around, instead of running away with her lover, the 15-year-old found a way of proving her love for him.
She allegedly used a syringe to inject herself with his HIV-infected blood, knowing the risks she was exposing herself to.
It’s unclear if the boy was aware of her intentions.
Police in Hajo has already detained the girl’s boyfriend after her parents have filed a complaint against him.
Meanwhile, the victim is currently being monitored by doctors.
The Electoral Commission (EC), according to Dr. Eric Bossman Asare, Deputy Chairman, has no plans to use the Ghana Card to cast a ballot in the elections of 2024.
He claims that the Ghana card is merely a prerequisite for obtaining a voter’s card.
“We are not going to use the Ghana Card for voting. No, we are not going to use it for voting. The Ghana Card is only for registration as a new voter and when you register, we will issue you with our voter’s card. So let’s encourage our children from 16 years to go for their Ghana Card so that by 2024, when that child is 18 before 60 days to the elections, he or she can walk to our district office or constituency and register for his or her voter’s ID”, Graphic.com.gh quoted Dr Eric Bossman Asare
In the meantime, lawyer Kwame Jantuah asserted that for efficient planning, the EC and all political parties need to work together.
He has also urged the EC to see to it that Ghanaians are properly informed about the Ghana Card’s debut as a valid form of voter identification.
“I don’t know what all the fuss is about. The coordination of efforts between the EC and political parties is, in my opinion, of utmost importance. This back-and-forth doesn’t help,” he said to Asaase Radio anchor Kwaku Agyeman Budu.
“The people of Ghana and the EC ought to work together strategically. They must be strategic in the sense that they must inform us, listen to people’s arguments, and not wait for political parties, he said.
The largest cannabis farm ever has been discovered in Afram Plains in the Eastern Region.
The 80-hectare cannabis farm was discovered in the Obuo Akroma Forest Reserve in the Afram Plains North District by the Forestry Commission on Saturday.
Five people including an agric science teacher have been arrested by a team of Forestry Commission personnel who had swooped on the suspects on the farm acting on a tip-off.
The suspects had been identified as Michael Anakpo, the Agric teacher and alleged leader in charge of the farm, Normenyo Blewu, Korsi Mawuena, Charles Kale, and Emmanuel Kojo.
The suspects have since been handed over to the Police for investigation.
According to the District Manager of the Forestry Commission in Afram Plains, Mr. Richard Amoateng who led the operation at the weekend, three maxi-sacks of harvested cannabis, six medium size sacks, three cutlasses, two hoes, a knife, five plastic containers filled with the harvested stuff and alcoholic drinks mixed with the narcotic substance were retrieved.
Briefing the media, Mr. Amoateng said “we had a tip-off about the activities of the suspects in the forest reserve and quickly mobilized my team to the said reserve where we met the suspects and several others on the farm”.
The suspects, he said attacked “us but my men overpowered them while others managed to escape being arrested”.
The District Manager added that the team had also discovered that the suspects have nursed many of the seedlings waiting to be planted.
According to him the team also found 13 tents on the farm that accommodated the suspects as they had erected a warning signpost with the inscription: “Don’t attempt.”
Mr. Amoateng assured that the Commission would soon intensify its operations to curb down on such illegal cultivation of herbs in the area.
It is recalled that Ghana’s new Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019) passed by Parliament on March 20, 2020, and assented to by the President on May 11, 2020, seeks to treat drug use and dependency as a public health issue rather than focusing on law enforcement, incarceration, punishment, and repression. The new law has converted prison term for drug possession for personal use into a fine of between 200 to 500 penalty units equivalent to GH¢2, 400 to GH¢6000 respectively.
Section 43 of Act 1019 of the Narcotic Control Commission Act, 2022 (Act 1019) stipulates that “the Minister on the recommendation of the Commission, may grant a license for the cultivation of cannabis popularly referred to as “wee” in Ghana, which is not more than 0.3 percent content on a dry weight basis for industrial purposes for obtaining fibre or seed for medicinal purposes.”
However, in a 4-3 majority decision Wednesday (July 28, 2022), a seven-member panel of the apex court held this section violates Article 106 of the 1992 Constitution, which details the processes a bill must go through before it is passed into law Parliament by, and was therefore null and void.
After a video of her husband ignoring her request for a kiss during their wedding ceremony went viral, Ghanaian media star Bridget Otoo has finally answered.
She claims that she and her husband agreed that, regardless of how excited or loving they get toward one another at their wedding ceremony, there wouldn’t be any public kissing.
She said in a tweet that she was adamant about that because she didn’t want them to violate her rule for reasons she knew better.
She disobeyed her own rule when her feelings for him got deeper and she was unable to restrain herself in front of others. She tried to kiss her husband in front of others, but he turned away despite the fact that they were both in public.
Recall that Bridget Otoo wed at Sekondi-Takoradi over the weekend. It is alleged that she married the former partner of Abena Korkor
