The Asante Akropong Circuit Court in the Atwima Nwabiagya North District, has sentenced a 44-year-old driver to five years imprisonment for stealing a low bed truck valued at GH¢300,000.00 at Pankrono, near Kumasi.

Kwame Oppong pleaded guilty and was convicted on his own plea by the court presided by Mrs Gloria Mensah Bonsu.

Police Chief Inspector Ruth Gborson prosecuting, told the court that complainant Stephen Kingsley Annor was a businessman and resident of Pankorono, while the convict resided at Adankwame, near Akropong.

She said in May 2023, the complainant engaged Oppong to drive his Man Diesel low bed truck with registration number GE 2113-11 at Pankorono.

She said two months later, the truck developed a fault so the complainant told the convict to park it at a spot at Kumasi Sofoline and remove the head to Suame Magazine for repairs.

Prosecution said the convict convinced the complainant that it should be parked in his mother’s house at Adankwame- Nsiakrom to prevent it from stealing and the complainant agreed with him.

According to Chief Inspector Gborson, the convict went behind the complainant and sold the truck to a scrap dealer, identified as Abubakar, at GH¢12,000.00 and went into hiding.

After unsuccessful attempts by the complainant to trace him, he reported the matter to the Abuakwa police.

Oppong was later arrested from his hideout at Offinso-Abofuor, his hometown.

In his caution statement, he admitted and led the police to the residence of the buyer at Afful Nkwanta but could not trace him.

After further investigations, he was charged and brought before the court.

Source: GNA

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A stakeholder policy engagement on fisheries governance implications of foreign-owned industrial vessels operating in the domain of Ghana has been held to promote transparency, accountability and local capacity.  

The discussions, learning, exchange of ideas and recommendations of the engagement are part of a project, titled “Promoting Transparency, Accountability and Local Capacity to Address the Destabilizing Impacts of Foreign-Owned Distant Water Fishing Vessels in the Gulf of Guinea and the Waters of Mauritania.”  

The focus countries for the project are Benin, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mauritania, Senegal and Sierra Leone and with funding from the Department of State, U.S. Embassy Ghana.  

Dr Kamal-Deen Ali of the Centre for Maritime Law and Security (CEMLAWS) Africa, who is also one of the Project Leads, said the engagement focused on draft reports on Ghana’s Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) Capability & Functionality, and Industrial Fishing Sector Repositioning for Greater National/Regional Ownership. 

The draft reports, which were done by CEMLAWS Africa, Centre for Coastal Management (CCM) and Africa Centre of Excellence in Coastal Resilience (ACECoR) and in collaboration with experts and industry stakeholders, also sought to shape policy directions to enhance the government’s efforts in sustainable fisheries management and governance. 

It is reported that over 90 per cent of registered fishing vessels in African countries are foreign-owned or have foreign beneficial interests and fly the flags of countries between Gabon and Morocco, with about 60 per cent of them registered in Ghana, Mauritania and Senegal.  

Dr Ali said the distant water fishing vessels (DWFVs), though may have legal authorization to fish in the region, they benefit significantly from destabilizing activities, including exploitation in coastal countries with limited institutional and human capacity.  

“The destabilizing impacts of these foreign-owned vessels in the Gulf of Guinea, include depleting fish stocks, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in some cases and dislocation of the livelihoods of artisanal fishers and others in the value chain,” he said. 

Dr Ali said on the average, West Africa alone loses about 790,000 tons of fish yearly to IUU fishing by foreign and domestic industrial fishing vessels. This has resulted in great income losses and economic impacts estimating over $2 billion annually. 

“Aside employment and growth, food security is important. Though a lot has been done in fisheries governance, a lot more is still required. It is clear per our discussion that increased Budgetary allocation for fisheries monitoring and enforcement is needed,” he said.  

Madam Justine King, Regional Environment Officer, Embassy of the United States, Ghana, said the partnership between Ghana and USA in the project was to promote local capacity.  

“We must encourage communities to actively monitor and report illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, create awareness of the harmful impacts. We must also continue to develop robust legal framework to strengthen monitoring, control and surveillance,” she said.  

The engagement was also attended by Madam Marian Kpakpah, Chief Director, Ministry of Fisheries and Aqua Culture; Mr Godfred Seidu Jasaw, Deputy Ranking Member, Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee in Parliament and other industry players.  

Source: GNA 

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Stakeholders within the road safety sector have urged the parliament of Ghana to expedite action to ensure the passage of the Road Traffic Amendment bill to enhance road safety efforts. 

The stakeholders said the current bill had the requisite regulations and frameworks, which reflected modern road safety management systems, and enhanced efforts aimed at improving road safety law enforcement and monitoring. 

The call was made during the National Drivers and Transport Conference held in Accra on the theme “Cultivating a Culture of Responsibility: Everyone’s Role in Road Safety.” 

The conference is a collaborative effort with the National Road Safety Authority, bringing together stakeholders in the transport industry to discuss critical issues, share experiences, and chart a path for improved road safety and transportation in Ghana. 

Chief Superintendent Alexander Kwaku Obeng, Director, Motor Traffic and Transport Department said the Road Traffic Amendment Bill would play an important role in enhancing road traffic enforcement in the country. 

He said enforcement of road safety regulations needed a behavioural policy that outlined the sanctions for some road safety behaviours that were inimical to road users.  

The Director said the emergence of technology, among other evolutions within the road safety space, made a case that the country must move from in-person to automated enforcement. 

He appealed to the Parliament to prioritise the passage of the amendment bill in their next sitting before its tenure ends. 

“The emergence of new technology within the transport space, such as hailing drivers and electric vehicles, among many innovative systems that Ghana intends to bring on board, is the reason why we appeal to Parliament not to neglect the bill before their tenure ends,” he said. 

Mr. Martin Owusu Afram, Director for Planning and Programmes, NRSA urged Parliament to introduce or support legislation aimed at improving road safety standards to reduce accidents during election periods, particularly the Road Traffic Amendment Bill. 

He advocated increased funding for road infrastructure projects, such as road repairs, traffic signage, and construction of pedestrian walkways, to enhance safety on the roads. 

The Director also advocated the establishment of victim support services and compensation schemes to ensure that those affected by road accidents receive the assistance they need. 

He called for providing support and assistance to victims of road accidents and their families, including access to healthcare, legal aid, and financial assistance. 

Mr Opaku Dennis Delali, Chief Executive Officer Drivex, said the current death rates associated with road crashes required the urgent need to make the county’s road safer, noting that we lose six people a day to road crashes.  

He said the social and financial impact of road crashes were dire, stating that families were significantly impacted as breadwinners usually lose their lives. 

Source: GNA 

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The Teachers and Educational Workers’ Union (TEWU) of Trade Union Congress (TUC) Ghana has suspended its industrial action, declared on November 18, 2024.

The Union urged its members to resume full work by Monday, November 25, 2024.

King James Azortibah, the General Secretary of the Union, announced this in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra.

“We assure our cherished members that the leadership of TEWU of TUC-Ghana is bent on ensuring that there will be finality to the issue of the conditions of service of the affected institutions for immediate implementation.

“Our members are being shortchanged with the continuous delay in concluding and implementing the Conditions of Service, and this cannot be allowed to continue,” the statement said.

TEWU of TUC-Ghana on Monday, November 18, 2024, embarked on an indefinite industrial action, over more than four years delay in concluding and implementing the Conditions of Service for its member institutions.

The institutions are the Ghana Education Service, the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, the Ghana Library Authority, and the Public and Technical Universities.

The National Labour Commission on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, issued a directive that the strike should be called off while the Union and its various managements concerned report back on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, for the Commission to hear the substantive case.

Source: GNA

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Ghanaian parliamentarians are on edge following the unfortunate murder of the grandson of J. B. Danquah; member of parliament for Abuakwa North, J. B. Danquah-Adu, and a subsequent close call experienced by Barbara Isha-Ayisi, a candidate for Cape Coast North.

According to sources within the parliament house and the Job 600 building, many MPs want swift and drastic measures to put the fear of God into the assassins and their paymasters, and many more dread the thought of having to depart this life without getting to make it more beautiful for a while, using the fortunes they are busily amassing in office.

Before hurrying off into the chamber during the course of the week, the MP for Tema East, Mr Titus Glover who called for better security for MPs after the murder, told our reporter: “I’m not sure where you heard these rumours from but it won’t stop me from demanding security. We urgently need bodyguards and I will repeat that like a damaged cassette on replay, until all 275 of us are given personal guards”.

Honourable Glover was flamboyantly and flippantly dismissive when quizzed about opposition to his call and the public’s concern for the general security of Ghanaians.

“Ghanaians always have their say and we on the other hand, always have our way. I don’t know why some people want to pretend that we’re all equal; MPs are more equal than others. We are the honourables, and our security is even in the national interest,” he quipped.

The MP added that even among Ghanaian parliamentarians, “the slightly more important” and “the very important” ones will need bodyguards that can go the full mile of standing still all night in immaculate decor like a Corinthian pillar, when MPs go to bed.

According to our reporters in the building, many a parliamentarian could be overheard whispering in hushed tones, the need for quick amendment of the country’s gun laws to allow parliamentarians to carry guns without hindrance.

“It should easily take only a few minutes, just like how we usually waive the standing orders of the House to approve those tortuously voluminous book-long contracts in a flash, or under a certificate of urgency”, one unidentified voice was captured saying.

“. . . and guns could make us famous just like Donald Trump, if we carry them and advocate well for their use,” another MP said.

Editor’s note: The ‘Inside the News by Mpakoo’ column which appears every Monday exclusively on ghanabusinessnews.com is satire.

Copyright © 2015 by Creative Imaginations Publicity
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Although they both have JM initials, President John Mahama is not President John Mills. And Mahama wants the whole world to be clear about this.

No wonder he goes about blaming all previous governments, his own former boss Atta Mills included, for the woes of his current government: ‘If previous governments had only laid up infrastructure… if previous governments had transformed the economy… if previous governments this, if previous governments that!’

So please bear with the president while he does all the good works which President Mills refused to do. As for the NPP government that Kufuor led, we all know that they’re terrible and useless, but Mahama wants you to know that our pious, Christ-like Atta Mills was as sinister as Kufuor, and didn’t do one single thing to help create jobs or solve the energy problem.

But if you want the strongest proof that Mahama is definitely not Mills, look no further than their respective choices of pastors: Mahama opts for Pastor Chris, while Mills selected TB Joshua.

TB Joshua is ‘colo’ and raw. TB Joshua can’t slang. TB Joshua sports an afro, just like they used to do when Kwame Nkrumah was chilling with the Big Six. Yes, the prophet is ‘colo.’ And he specialises in catching witches. No wonder President Mills took an instant liking to him.

Pastor Chris is modern and refined. Pastor Chris speaks sexy slangs even better than Jay-Z. Pastor Chris sports a tastefully permed hair. Pastor Chris is swanky and sexy. Yes, the pastor is modern and refined. And he doesn’t catch witches, no: he battles with demons, and works wonders, and makes the young ladies go wild! No wonder President Mahama opts for him.

Now, which of these pastors is capable of delivering the Government of Ghana from the series of crises (oops, challenges!) facing it? TB Joshua is macho. Pastor Chris is effete. TB Joshua has work experience in dealing with witches and other spiritual beings known in the West African area. Pastor Chris only works on the spiritual problems of the middle class and CEO club.

Now tell me: which of these two pastors can fight the thieving dwarves in the vaults of the Bank of Ghana?

The ‘colo,’ afro, macho TB Joshua can stand the Old Evil Dwarves in the NDC. As for Pastor Chris, he cannot even fight the Children with Sharp Teeth. And he stands no chance against the Dwarves. Even Kyeiwaa will floor him pasaa!

Editor’s note: The ‘Inside the News by Mpakoo’ column which appears every Monday exclusively on ghanabusinessnews.com is satire.

Copyright © 2015 by Creative Imaginations Publicity
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After her stunning defeat to Ivor Greenstreet, Samia Nkrumah has said that she blames no one but herself for ‘not doing enough susu to buy as many votes as my competitor did.’

‘I could petition the courts for a rerun, but I won’t do that,’ Samia told journalists after the results were announced, ‘I’ll instead make sure that I save enough to enable me make a splash at our next delegates’ conference.’

She addressed a message to their political rivals, in which she hinted that the CPP is going to cause a major upset this year: ‘For years, other parties thought they had the monopoly on vote-buying, but this year they better watch out, ‘cos Santa is coming to town…and he’s carrying a large sack of cash!’

Political scientists at the University of Ghana told our reporters that if Samia Nkrumah’s claim about the CPP’s newfound vote-buying capacity is true, it’ll signal great progress for Ghana’s electoral democracy: ‘It would mean that for the first time since 1992, the electoral playing field is finally being levelled and we’ll soon be seeing all the parties compete on equal terms.’

President Mahama also got a special message from Samia Nkrumah: ‘We’re going to give you a run for your money, no pun or irony intended. If you think you have enough money to buy votes, wait until you see the humongous pot of gold we have stashed up for November!’

But the NDC has reacted furiously to the claim that the CPP has laid in more money in store for vote-buying than they have, saying that they feel insulted by the claim.

‘We want to assure all NDC sympathisers that there is no need to panic at all,’ a government communicator said on radio Sunday night, ‘we have more money to buy votes than all the other parties put together, and multiplied and squared and tripled! And if that is not sufficient, there’s still enough time to raise more money by imposing another tax. Edey beeeee!’

Editor’s note: The ‘Inside the News by Mpakoo’ column which appears every Monday exclusively on ghanabusinessnews.com is satire.

Copyright © 2015 by Creative Imaginations Publicity
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On Friday, January 22, 2016, the leadership of Organised Labour in Ghana set record as the first Ghanaians in 2016 to claim without the faintest hint of irony or sarcasm that they wholeheartedly believe a promise made to them by government.

After meeting with government to negotiate a reduction of utility and fuel prices and salary increments, a spokesman for Labour announced to journalists proudly: ‘Government has promised to review the price increments.’

According to Labour, ‘the promise was made so passionately, so sincerely, so holily, so Mahamaically that we had no other option than believe that government is going to fulfil this promise.’

Representatives of Organised Labour also said they were waiting with bated breath for the next round of promises from government; but cynical Ghanaians have warned that ‘they might die of suffocation’ if they hold their breath waiting for those promises to be fulfilled:

‘It’s safe to hold your breath waiting for government to pronounce a new promise,’ a leading member of the Coalition of Cynical and Purposeless Lamentators cautioned, ‘but holding your breath for its fulfilment is an act of folly which would surely lead to asphyxiation!’

It will be remembered that President Mahama promised last year that as a Dead Goat, he wasn’t going to be moved by labour unrest.

‘But we believe that the Lord has worked a miracle: the Dead Goat has resurrected!’ a Labour representative said to a group of journalists before pulling out a white handkerchief and waving it in ecstatic praise to the Most High God.

Editor’s note: The ‘Inside the News by Mpakoo’ column which appears every Monday exclusively on ghanabusinessnews.com is satire.

Copyright © 2015 by Creative Imaginations Publicity
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The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon Hannah Tetteh, has responded to critics who accused her of failing to do due diligence before accepting two US Guantanamo Bay detainees in Ghana, by retorting that her full-time job does not allow her to devote ‘more than a few hours a week’ to the affairs of the Foreign Ministry.

‘My full-time job is Tweeting,’ Ms Tetteh lashed back, ‘and nobody can accuse me of being negligent on Twitter. That’s my main job and that’s where my priorities lie.’

Leading members of Occupy Ghana confirmed the truthfulness of Hannah Tetteh’s statement, saying that the minister ‘lost no time in taking to Twitter to caustically taunt us for low turnout at our demonstration two years ago.’

Diplomats at the American Embassy speaking on condition of anonymity have also informed our correspondents that they are still smarting from the prompt onslaught of Twitter from the Foreign Minister that forced them to quickly remove a Tweet critical of President Mahama.

Unsurprisingly, Hannah Tetteh’s announcement that Tweeting is her full-time job was made on… well, Twitter!

Editor’s note: The ‘Inside the News by Mpakoo’ column which appears every Monday exclusively on ghanabusinessnews.com is satire.

Copyright © 2015 by Creative Imaginations Publicity
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The government has used biblical language to admonish Ghanaians to embrace the new taxes, quoting Leviticus 11: ‘Cast thy bread upon the water: for thou shalt find it after many days. Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.’

Honourable James Avedzi, NDC MP and Chairman of the Finance Committee of Parliament, told journalists that although the NDC is a social democratic party, it doesn’t mean that the NDC government is a Father Christmas. And even if it is a Father Christmas, the season is over. The government needs money to provide the things that Ghanaians keep purposelessly lamenting for.’

Honourable Avedzi said that it does not make sense for Ghanaians to give offerings in church, to pay their tithes, and other kinds of payments in church and yet refuse to pay taxes.

‘Even Jesus Christ, the first social democrat in history, advised his followers to pay their taxes,’ the lawmaker waxed pious and biblical, ‘he asked them to “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar.”’

Religious leaders across the country have expressed agreement with the government’s interpretation of scriptures, but one pastor who we interviewed stated emphatically:

‘They should make sure they pay their tithes before paying their taxes!’

The taxes (and hikes in utility tariffs), introduced at the beginning of the year, according to Honourable Haruna Iddrisu, ‘are President Mahama’s own special New Year’s gift to Ghanaians, and is a clear indication that the Better Ghana Agenda is on course.’

Meanwhile, NDC members believe that with the introduction of these new taxes, increases in utility tariffs, and increase in fuel prices, Mahama is improving the lives of Ghanaians, making his one-touch victory in election 2016 assured.

Editor’s note: The ‘Inside the News by Mpakoo’ column which appears every Monday exclusively on ghanabusinessnews.com is satire.

Copyright © 2015 by Creative Imaginations Publicity
All rights reserved. This piece or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in reviews.

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