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You’re not an Akyem and have no authority to speak for us – Osafo-Maafo told

Caleb Qwofi Right
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Concerned Citizens of Akyem State have criticised Presidential Advisor Nana Yaw Osafo-ethnocentric Maafo’s sentiments, which were captured on a covert tape.

In the purported audio, which has lately gone viral, the presidential advisor questioned the Ashanti people’s participation while praising the Akyem tribe for leading the fight for independence during a meeting with delegates of the New Patriotic Party in the Eastern Region.

The Concerned Citizens of Akyem State, in a press release signed by its convener, Evans Arkoh-Frempong Oware, pointed out that the senior presidential advisor is a known tribal bigot, as this is not the first time he has made such a declaration.

Mr Osafo-Maafo was secretly taped in 2016 in a meeting in the Eastern Region with Hackman Owusu Agyemang and Nana Akufo-Addo, saying that Akans deserve to reign over ethnic groupings in the country since their territories are resource endowed. This is the second time Mr. Osafo-Maafo has been caught on film in Ghana fueling tribalism, according to the group.

Concerned Citizens of Akyem State have questioned his legitimacy to make such statements as those heard on the hidden audio, claiming that Nana Yaw Osafo-Maafo is not a true Akyem and hence cannot make such statements.

“The man in issue must be thoroughly investigated to determine why he continues to stoke ethnocentric rivalries between Akyem and Asante, as well as Akans and other communities in Ghana.

“Opanin Kwabena Maafo of Akyem Awisa was his father. Madam Akosua Boatemaa of Assin Nsuta was his mother. Mr Jacob Kwakye Maafo, Mr Osafo’s elderly brother, is the Chief of Assin Nsuta, with the stool name Nana Ohemeng Awere V.

“Mr Osafo Maafo is not an Akyem, according to Akyem customs and traditions.” Since Akyems inherit matrilineally, he is an Assin, according to the group.

It went on to say that the presidential advisor “had no authority to speak for the Akyems because he is an Assin.” What if he’s saying things that others can’t?”

“Historically, the Asante Kingdom was free of British rule and autonomous,” the Akyem group said of Ashantis’ role in Ghana’s independence struggle. They did, however, chose to become Ghanaians in order to unite with their Akan brethren. What, then, makes Asante’s contribution to Ghana’s independence so minor?”

The group separated the people of Akyem from the presidential advisor’s comments, calling it as opposed to the promotion of Ashanti-Akyem unity.

“We the people of Akyem want to distance ourselves from such ethnocentric utterances that do not promote unity and development.” Akyem and Asante stand for unity and progress. Anything that goes contrary to the agenda must be eschewed, “the group insisted.

Read the full statement below:

Concerned Citizens of Akyem State Condemns Osafo Marfo Ethnocentric Comment.

Mr Yaw Osafo-Maafo, the Presidential Advisor to His Excellence Nana Addo Dankwah Akuffo Addo and Former Senior Minister, was heard on a secret tape on 10th June, 2022 saying the Akyem chiefs contributed significantly to the Independence of Ghana than the Asantes. This is not the first time such ethocentric comment has proceeded from Mr Osafo-Maafo.

In 2016, Mr Osafo-Maafo in a meeting in the Eastern Region with Hackman Owusu Agyemang and Nana Akufo-Addo, he was secretly taped, saying ethnic Akans, deserve to rule over ethnic groups in the country, since their areas are resource endowed than other ethnic groups in the country. This is the second time Mr Osafo-Maafo has been heard on tape stoking tribalism in Ghana.

Is Mr Osafo-Maafo An Akyem?

The man in question must be carefully scrutinised to know why he keeps stoking ethocentric feud between Akyem and Asante and Akans and other groups in Ghana.

His father was Opanin Kwabena Maafo from Akyem Awisa. His mother was Madam Akosua Boatemaa from Assin Nsuta. Mr Osafo’s elderly brother, Mr Jacob Kwakye Maafo, is the Chief of Assin Nsuta with the stool name Nana Ohemeng Awere V.

Per Akyem customs and traditions, Mr Osafo Maafo is not an Akyem. He is an Assin since Akyems inherit matrilinearly.

So traditionally, he has no right to speak for the Akyems as he is an Assin. What if he is saying what others can’t say?

Historically, Asante Kingdom was free from British rule and was independent. However, they decided to unite with their Akan brothers by accepting to be part of Ghana. So, what makes the contribution of Asante trivial in the independence of Ghana?

We the people of Akyem wants to distant ourselves from such ethocentric utterances that do not promote unity and development. Akyem and Asante stands for unity and progress, anything that goes contrary to the agenda must be eschewed.

Thank you

Evans Arkoh-Frempong Oware
Convener

Tel. 0244414107/ 0279091415

Chairman Wontumi obtains Order of Substituted Service against Afia Schwar

Caleb Qwofi Right
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Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and a business magnate, has obtained an Order for Substituted Service in the action brought against Ghanaian actress Afia Schwarzenegger.

Chairman Wontumi, through his lawyer, Maurice Ampaw, sued Afia Schwarzenegger for defaming the plaintiff, asking the court for damages of two million Ghana Cedis (GHC 2,000,000.00).

The petition also requested a permanent injunction prohibiting the defendant, her employees, servants, allies, agents, assignee, or anybody claiming or acting on her behalf from posting any defamatory material against the plaintiff.

The action was filed after the Ghanaian actress claimed in a viral Instagram video that she had sexual relations with Chairman Wontumi and that the latter farts during sex.

Attempts to serve her the suit in person, however, have been ineffective. In light of this, lawyer Maurice Ampaw has obtained an order for substituted service of litigation against Schwarzenegger, according to the Daily Guide.

Afia Schwarzenegger is considered served if Chairman Wontumi and his legal team meet the following conditions: serve the defendant by posting copies of the processes on the Tema High Court’s notice board, any adult member of the defendant’s family, and one publication, according to a Tema High Court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Ankamah.

The order will take effect eight days after it is posted at the different locations specified by the court, according to the sitting judge.

Kwadwo Poku has announced his candidacy for the NPP flagbearership

Caleb Qwofi Right
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Renowned energy expert Kwadwo Nsafoah Poku has announced his intention to contest the Presidential Primary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

He said he is waiting for the party to open nominations – after the national executive elections in July – to make his intentions official.

Speaking on 3FM‘s First Take on Friday, June 17, Mr Poku said he harboured the intention to aspire for the presidential candidacy in February and since then has engaged the grassroots of the ruling party.

“I think my message with the grassroots is being received gladly across the country,” he told host Nancy Vukania, adding that he will be the youngest aspirant if he files his nomination.

Kwadwo Poku will join the likes of Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Trades Minister Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto and most recently Kwabena Agyei Agyepong as members of the NPP who have shown interest to lead the party in 2024.

But he insists that he embodies the spirit of youthfulness in the rank and file of the party, citing the likes of John Boadu and Henry Nana Boakye as young members doing a lot for the party.

“I am a young guy who has been in business for the past 20 or so years. . .I don’t think I am a politician. I am an entrepreneur,” he said, adding that he has done “practical work” and has “practical knowledge” of how things should work in Ghana.

‘Corruption is key’

He envisioned renewed ways of practising democracy, pointing out that the current laws seem outdated and no more relevant to the way of governance.

No wonder, he maintains, people are clamouring for a review of the 1992 constitution.

“We need to put Ghana on a pedestal that it will be Ghana for the next 50 years [and] that will mean that some of the laws in the 80s may not be relevant in the next 20 years.”

He stressed: “Corruption is a key thing for me”, noting how he is sickened by greed and how he acts without fear or favour.

“I am a no-nonsense person.”

The NPP Presidential Primary is scheduled to be held in 2023.

Source:3news

National Cathedral: How a Court of Appeal Judge resigned in protest of his home being demolished

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The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, promised God before winning the 2016 elections that the National Cathedral would be built.

The Cathedral, as a national landmark, would have chapels and a baptistery, as well as a 5,000-seat main auditorium that could be expanded to 20,000 for national events and festivities.

Government buildings on 14 acres of prime Accra real estate were demolished to make space for the cathedral’s construction.

The structures comprised housing for justices of the Court of Appeal. The judicial system was also funding the development of additional of these facilities, which had to be halted in order for bulldozers to demolish the structure so that the land could be utilized to construct a ‘home for God.’

This government decision did not sit well with some of the facility’s residents, and as a result, Justice Saeed Kweku Gyan, a Court of Appeal judge, had to quit in protest.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the North Tongu MP, revealed this.

According to a post on his Facebook page, the departure has been a huge loss for Ghana’s legal system.

This is because, at its 2012/2013 Annual General Conference, the Ghana Bar Association bestowed a rare honor to Justice Saeed Kweku Gyan, honoring him for his “uprightness and desire to oppose corruption in the exercise of his duties.”

According to Okudzeto Ablakwa, “Other countries would have done everything they could to safeguard and promote a gem like Justice Saeed Kweku Gyan, but he was driven out of Ghana and his unblemished career on the bench was literally ‘demolished.’

“Let us not forget the countless careers, dreams, and multitudes of employment that have been equally devastated when we reflect on the many physical demolishments that have been carried out to fulfill the President’s personal vow.”

“Was this the best option, even though we should be building a cathedral?

The National Cathedral project has dominated press headlines in recent weeks due to suspicions that the government donated seed money for the project, despite earlier assurances that it would be funded entirely by the Church.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a North Tongu MP, claims that the Akufo-Addo administration has already allocated about GH190 million for the construction of the National Cathedral.

His remark came in response to a recent revelation that the government had set aside GH25 million for the project.

Mr. Ablakwa stated in a tweet on his social media account that the government had previously released about GH142 million, bringing the total money for the project to GH199,832,603.00.

He also revealed that Dr. Mensa Otabil, the creator of ICGC and a major member of the Board of Trustees, has resigned due to the project’s multiple breaches.

Below is the complete post by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

The NPP’s appeal challenging the election of an NDC MP has been dismissed by the court

Caleb Qwofi Right
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The case filed by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) challenging the election of National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Helen Adjoa Ntoso as Member of Parliament (MP) for Krachi West in the 2020 Parliamentary Elections was dismissed by the High Court in Hohoe.

Following the 2020 elections, the NPP filed a petition challenging her election as part of a series of challenges challenging the election of several NDC MPs.

“The Krachi West Constituency was one of the NDC Parliamentary seats that was contested after the 2020 election. We’ve been fighting the election petition at Hohoe’s High Court.
It’s been over two years since I’ve heard anything.

The petition was dismissed in its entirety today by the High Court, which was presided over by Justice Amarh Aryeetey.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the High Court.
“Congratulations to Hon Adwoa Helen Ntoso,” said Edudzi Tameklo, the lawyer for Hon. Ntoso.

After the 2020 Parliamentary Elections, about sixteen Parliamentary seats are up for grabs.

The sugar on display during the Komenda Sugar Factory’s commissioning was purchased– Carlos Ahenkorah

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The National Democratic Congress (NDC) bought 400 bags of sugar for exhibition during the inauguration of the Komenda Sugar factory in 2016, according to former Deputy Trades Minister Carlos Ahenkorah.

According to him, the NDC did so to deceive the Ghanaian people because the factory was not in good enough shape to manufacture sugar at the time of its opening.

The NPP government, led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, found this, he added, when sugar suppliers arrived to collect money owing to them from the government.

“What machine did they use to make the sugar that the media reported was ready to be inaugurated at the Komenda sugar factory?” The consultants went out and purchased 400 bags of sugar, which they packaged under the name Komenda Sugar Factory.

The suppliers came with their receipts that they were coming for their funds until John Dramani Mahama left government, when we realized that they only wanted to throw dust in the eyes of the Ghanaian people. They went for 35 million dollars, squandered it all, and lied to the Ghanaian people,” he claimed on Accra’s OKAY FM.

Mensa Otabil has been removed from the National Cathedral’s Board of Trustees

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The official website of the 5,000-seater project has updated its records following the announcement that the Founder of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC) is no longer a member of the National Cathedral Board of Trustees.

The photo of Pastor Mensa Otabil has been removed from the 13-member Board of Trustees. The pastor is no longer a member of the Board of Trustees, according to this.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Member of Parliament for North Tongu and Ranking Member of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, announced that he is no longer a member of the National Cathedral Board of Trustees on Sunday, June 12, 2022.

According to the MP, the ICGC’s chief quit because of the Akufo-Addo government’s illegal actions over the current project.

“I’m not shocked that the Board of Trustees is in a state of unease. I can also reveal that one upcoming priest has resigned from the Board; the esteemed Rev Mensa Otabil is no longer a member.

“He hasn’t been to any of their meetings for the past year. It’s unclear what his motivations are, but he’s made it apparent [that things aren’t going well]. That is why I am surprised that, as of this evening, Pastor Mensa Otabil, the General Overseer of the ICGC, is still listed on the National Cathedral’s website.

Tema Station floods, causing gridlock; areas of Osu are virtually drowned

Caleb Qwofi Right
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Following today’s downpour, some notable locations in the Greater Accra Region have been flooded.

Tema Station Junction and Osu are among the areas affected.

There is considerable traffic at the Tema Station Junction as motorists struggle to drive through the flood.

Gridlock as Tema Station floods; parts of Osu nearly submerged

Video footage from the Ghana News Agency also showed several vehicles stuck in the flood.

However, members of the Ghana Police Service’s Motor Traffic and Transport Department are yet to arrive on the scene to help commuters.

All 39 Islamic student-victims have been released from the hospital

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All of the pupils who were hospitalized after a conflict between protesting students from Islamic Senior High School and the police in Kumasi on Monday have been released.

On Monday, 22 of them were treated and released, while the remaining 17 pupils were released on Tuesday and reconnected with their classmates on campus.

When Simon Osei Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, spoke to the pupils, he revealed this.

He reaffirmed the Inspector General of Police, Dr. Akuffo Dampare’s earlier pledge that speed ramps would be built on the roadways.

Madam Mary Afriyie, the Ashanti Regional Director of the Ghana Education Service, praised the students for their cooperation following the terrible occurrence.

GCAA, Ghana’s Airports Company, will lose GH2.4 million per month as a result of BA’s flight cancellations – Report

Caleb Qwofi Right
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AviationGhana analyses show that the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) will lose a combined GH¢2.4 million per month in tax revenue, following the decision by British Airways (BA) to reduce its frequency on the London-Accra-London route from seven to five for the summer period.

British Airways operates a Boeing 777 on the London-Accra-London route that has about 300 seats on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

The reduction in frequency translates into about 600 seats hived off the Heathrow-based airline’s regular frequency on the route.

The least airport passenger service charge per passenger on international flights that goes to the GACL is US$100, and US$20 for aviation safety charge per passenger goes to GCAA.

The reduction in frequency, therefore, translates into a revenue loss of US$290,000 per month. An airline exchange rate of US$1 to GH¢8.25 on Monday, June 13, 2022, means the two entities will lose a combined total of GH¢2,378,000 in potential revenue per month.

British Airways announced changes to its Summer schedule on the London-Accra-London route effective June 1, 2022.

The reduction in flight frequency follows ongoing operational challenges encountered by the Heathrow-based airline in the past week that has resulted in travel chaos in major UK airports. Reports in the UK say a total of more than 100 BA flights were axed from Heathrow on June 6, 2022.

Staff shortages and a struggle to replace frontline staff by BA at its hub in Heathrow and other secondary airports due to the lack of expertise of many applicants.

This is further compounded by the stringent security scrutiny each applicant has to go through. Some UK airlines say delays in issuing security clearance for lists submitted for security checks are also not helping the situation. An applicant, it must be noted, must be cleared by UK security agencies before they can work as airport staff.

Source: aviationghana.com

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