Ghanaian Musician, Kwesi Arthur has lauded protestors who partook in Thursday's #OccupyJulorbiHouse demonstration in Accra. According to the Musician, he was prooud Ghanaias are taking steps to make a change. In a tweet sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, he tweeted "Frustrated by what dey happen in Accra today. Besides the fact say we dey taya now more than ever in a country with so much resources, democracy is clearly out the window too" "Proud my people are taking steps to make a change and I support the fight 💯. We are stronger together" "Free the youth!" Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Ghana Police Service says it has arrested Forty-Nine (49) persons in connection with what it calls unlawful assembly and violation of Public Order Act. According to the Police, the 49 suspects are currently in custody and assisting in investigation. In a communique signed by Head, Public Affairs, Ghana Police Service, Supt. Juliana Obeng, it said "The 49 suspects, who were currently in custody assisting in the investigation, were arrested within the vicinity of the Jubilee House and the 37 Military Hospital area" The communique also noted that the arrest was a result of the flagrant disregard of the court process served on the organisers of the Democracy Hub group, which sought to prohibit them from embarking on a planned demonstration. Below is a copy of the communique: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Ghanaian Journalist, Bridget Otoo, has faced her fair share of manhandling at the “Occupy Julorbi House” protest which was intercepted by the Police on Thursday, September, 21, 2023. The popular Metro TV Journalist was present at the Police station where scores of protestors were arrested and detained. In a video that has been shared online, Bridget was seen waiting and protesting the arrests with other media outside the premises of the Police Headquarters. She was then manhandled, and dragged by a handful of men into the Police Station and the gate locked. The protest, organised by pressure group Democracy Hub proceeded on Thursday, September 21, despite an injunction from the Ghana Police. Protestors are reported to have been arrested by the Police, and bused down to the Accra Regional Police Headquarters. Protestors have been split into sub-groups, and sent to various Police stations in the city. The media has been prevented from interacting with them. Meanwhile, Lawyers have been invited to come down to the various stations to help with legal matters. Some Lawyers have showed up and are currently assisting with legal assistance. Credit: Ameyaw Debrah

According to the most recent court records submitted by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Cecilia Dapaah’s deceased brother’s bank account was actively transmitting money to the former sanitation minister. The Office has made several attempts to corroborate the confiscation of allegedly tainted properties belonging to Madam Dapaah, but this is the most recent. Recently, the OSP froze various bank accounts with over 40 million transactions and seized millions of dollars in cash from the former Minister. The OSP was told to return the money to Cecilia Dapaah by the Accra High Court after it declined to confirm the seizures and freezing order. The Special Prosecutor complied but is now back in court to request confirmation of the seizure. The former Minister is believed to have millions of cedis, according to documents submitted to the court by the Office of the Special Prosecutor, albeit the OSP claims it was unable to determine the source of those funds. Additionally, there are new allegations in the petition that money was still being sent to Cecilia Dapaah’s accounts from an account that belonged to the deceased brother of the former Minister. The first respondent’s (Cecilia Dapaah) bank account’s statements underwent analysis, and the results showed very dubious activities involving the deceased first respondent’s brother, Nana Akwasi Essan. The aforementioned Nana Akwasi Essan passed away in January 2022, and neither a probate record nor letters of administration for personal representatives are housed at any banking institutions. “Strangely, there are active transfers from the deceased person’s bank account to that of the first respondent’s account”, the filing alleges. The OSP further allege that “as recently as September 19, 2022, and May 23, amounts of ¢10,450 and ¢11,280 respectively were transferred, supposedly by the deceased brother to the first respondent (Cecilia Dapaah).” On October 18, 2023, the High Court will hear the case as the Special Prosecutor makes another effort to confirm the amount of money that has been seized and the freezing of the Bank accounts. Source: Starrfm

Presidential Hopeful for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has revealed that he used to go to farm during school holidays to support himself. He made these remarks on his campaign tour. He said "When I was in secondary school in Tamale, I used to go to the farm during holidays to support myself" He also revealed that he drove taxis and cleaned dormitories to earn some money to pay his fees when he had the opportunity to study abroad. "All these teach me to be humble, ro respect people, and to also create opportunities for people" Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is one of the contestants contesting the Flagbearer race in the NPP party. The party has scheduled November 4, 2023 to elect its Flagbearer ahead of the 2024 Presidential elections. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Protestors who showed up within the vicinity of the Jubilee House for the #OccupyJulorBiHouse demonstration have been arrested. A video on social media posted by Oliver Barker Vormawor showed the protestors in black and red seated in a bus. “We don’t know where they are taking us,” he said. He noted that they were disappointed in the actions of the police. He stated that the country had weaponised the police to suppress demonstrators adding “they have no right to arrest demonstrators in the country. This is not the democracy we signed up for. This is not a democracy.” Mr Vormawor called on legal practitioners to show up at the police headquarters to provide legal assistance to the arrested demonstrators. He also called on the public and media for support. The Accra-based civil society group organising the protest, Democracy Hub, had earlier notified the Ghana Police Service of their planned demonstration on Nkrumah Memorial Day to call on “the President and members of the Economic Management Team to #FixTheCountry in light of the level of economic mismanagement and theft that has engulfed our government from the highest levels.” But on the eve of the event, the police secured an injunction from the court barring the protest from moving forth. In response the organisers revealed that they had not been served the court documents and as such had the right to stage the demonstration. However, the police insisted it had served the lawyers of the organisers and urged members of the public to avoid participating in an “unlawful” demonstration. On Thursday, the demonstration came off but was short-lived. Following the arrest, the police have maintained a heavy presence at the Jubilee House. Scores of police personnel in crowd control vehicles and riot gear have lined up on the streets in front of the seat of government. Credit: Myjoyonline

A seven-member delegation, comprising of officials of World Health Organisation (WHO) Frame work Convention on Tobacco Control Secretariat (FCTC), WHO Country Office and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), have paid a courtesy call to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in Accra. The purpose of the visit was to unpack the challenges faced by the country in dealing with illicit trade in tobacco products and to highlight particularly enforcement measures required to address the menace, which has dire economic and health implications. Speaking at the gathering, the Head of the Tobacco and Substances of Abuse Directorate of Food and Drugs Authority, Dr. Olivia Agyekumwaa Boateng said "The secretariat seeks to do a needs assessment to ascertain the level of illicit tobacco trade in the country" "Taking into consideration the dangers of tobacco usage, its trade across borders despite strict legitimate supply chain, and the health implications of uncertified tobacco been smuggled" The assessments she noted, was necessary to gather workable recommendations and enforce the articles of the Illicit Trade Protcol hence the call on EOCO to be able to spell out roles for collaboration. On her part, Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office, COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo Danquah reiterated the office’s commitment to collaborating with the relevant authority to ensure strict compliance with the laws. Touching on the legal framework of the office, she said "The EOCO office has the mandate to monitor, detect, prevent and prosecute serious offences where money laundering, tax evasion and other criminal activities could be embedded in illicit tobacco trading" The Coordinator and Development Assistant of FCTC, Andrew Black added that despite the profitable nature of illicit tobacco trade, there was a huge global problem with trading illicit tobacco and its risk was large. He added that despite the high profits made by the criminal perpetrators, the government loses out on huge tax revenues. "Illicit trade in tobacco also poses a serious public health threat as it increases access to cheaper alternatives thus fueling tobacco epidemic. Hence, government will have to strengthen the supply chain controls" Technical Coordinator for Tobacco Control at WHO, Dr. William Maina rehashed the dangers of Tobacco saying that it is very addictive and one of the causes of most non-communicable diseases like cancer. He bemoaned the unwavering efforts placed on reducing demand, purchase and distribution but not much to reduce the supply. He added that uncertified tobacco is detrimental to one’s health. Present at the meeting were Dr. Joana Ansong, WHO country representative for Non Communicable Diseases and other officials of World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Secretariat, the UNDP, and some Unit Heads of EOCO. Credit: EOCO

A ten-member team from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and Department of Justice (DoJ) has commended EOCO on successes chalked in the fight against organised crime and romance fraud in Ghana. This was said in a meeting held at the EOCO Head Office in Accra on 11th September 2023. The team led by Arun G. Rao, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division of the US Department of Justice, were on a familiarisation visit to Ghana to meet with key Partner Agencies. The meeting was to discuss ways to strengthen collaboration between the Agencies and chart a course for future interaction and support to fulfil their individual mandates. Some key pointers included shortening the time it takes to access Mutual Legal Assistance from the USA and the need to be able to acquire evidential material timeously for successful prosecutions. The Team pledged their support to EOCO by facilitating prosecution of EOCO cases involving persons in their jurisdiction. There were also discussions to assist with evidence from the US to assist with EOCO prosecutions in Ghana and further support with information and facilitate asset recovery in Ghana. Present at the meeting were both Deputy Executive Directors responsible for Intelligence and Operations, Aba J. Opoku Esq. and Bashiru Dapilah Esq respectively, and some select Unit Heads. Credit: EOCO

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has reiterated its commitment to the identification and tracing, seizure, forfeiture, confiscation and management of proceeds of crime. This was hushed during a visit by a 5-man delegation from the Asset Recovery Inter-Agency Network for West Africa (ARINWA) to the Management of the EOCO on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. The Team led by the Chief Executive Officer of the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), Mr. Kwaku Dua, one of the Focal points of ARINWA, had a meeting with Management of EOCO to discuss matters relating to the asset recovery climate in the West African sub-region. The President of ARINWA, Mr. Jacinto Fernando dos Canto, in his remarks noted that all levels of Asset recovery are very complex and require meticulous work and collaboration on all fronts. It was for this reason that ARINWA was formed to promote information sharing and also to strengthen the essential bodies in the fight against trans-border crimes within the sub-region. The team citing a recent report, noted that Ghana has comprehensive laws on asset forfeiture and recovery albeit scattered in different statutes. It however has much to do in the area of management of these assets. The Deputy Executive Director/Intelligence & Monitoring of EOCO, Aba J. Opoku Esq., in her response, educated the team on the National Asset Recovery Task force launched in Accra in 2022 and EOCO’s role as the lead in the recovery and asset management charge in Ghana. Following from that, the team from EOCO suggested that ARINWA also direct some of its training toward the Judiciary to help them better appreciate the importance of non-conviction based forfeiture and how they can assist law enforcement agencies like EOCO to fulfill their mandate. The meeting concluded with both institutions reiterating their commitment to working together to create a united front in the fight against trans-national organised crime in the West African sub-region. ARINWA is an informal network established in 2014 for information exchange on asset recovery, confiscation and money laundering in West Africa. They also advise on and facilitate mutual legal assistance, share good practice, and raise awareness with appropriate law enforcement and judicial authorities on the importance of developing all aspects of tackling proceeds of crime. Credit: EOCO

Comptroller-General, Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Kwame Asuah Takyi has reminded Senior Leadership and Management of the various security institutions in the country that it is their responsibility to empower individuals, teams and organisations through effective training. He made these remarks while speaking at the opening ceremony of a 5-day Senior Leadership and Management programme being held in Accra. He said "As leaders, our role is pivotal in shaping the capabilities and the potentials of those we lead and it our responsibility to empower individuals, teams and organizations through effective training" "Over the next five days, we will delve into various aspects of leadership, good governance, conflict and conflict management, strategic planning and management, emotional intelligence and we will explore latest trends and best practices in leadership and management" He revealed that throughout his tenure as Comptroller-General, he has made it a priority to strengthen bonds with sister security organisations and key stakeholders in the country. Mr. Takyi stressed that systematic collaborative learning helps the security agencies to consolidate its experiences and unique knowledge bases to strengthen the various individual organisations. On her part, Chief Director, Ministry of Interior, Madam Adelaide Anno-Kumi said "I am particularly impressed to see personalities from sister Security and allied agencies gathered under one roof to learn, share experiences and ideas. This is a testament of the kind of leadership that has brought about this level of unity and collaboration amongst you" "Ladies and Gentlemen, This gathering represents a significant commitment to enhancing your skills and knowledge in the crucial field you all find yourselves and a demonstration of your dedication to fostering a culture of continuous improvement" "As a Ministry, we understand the vital role you play in ensuring the safety, security and the wellbeing of citizens and therefore the importance of learning and growth cannot be overemphasized" "It is through initiatives like these that you equip ourselves with the knowledge and skills needed to face the challenges of today and prepare for the opportunities of tomorrow" "The challenges we face in today's changing world require that you adapt, innovate and collaborate effectively. This training programme has been meticulously designed to sharpen your expertise and to empower you with the tools and insights necessary to operate more efficiently in your various areas of operation" Taking his turn, Public Sector Governance Expert, Head of Commonwealth Secretariat, UK, Prof. Roger Koranteng said "I am confident that this training programme will rwtool and enable you perform that difficult task in your organisation which contribute to combating insecurity, domestic and cross bother crimes" "As a developing country continues to combat national crimes, insecurity and law enforcement challenges" "It is prudent to acknowledge that our task are quite significant as domestic and cross border crimes and insecurities and law enforcement agencies have become more sophisticated in our technologically driven world" He stressed that following this, senior management from the various security institutions must always be abreast with happenings around the country and world. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

New Patriotic Party flagbearer-hopeful and chairman of the Defense and Interior Committee of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong has cautioned government against any plot to remove the current Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare since it will affect the ruling party. According to him, the the significant reduction in robberies across the country is due to the changes being introduced into the police service by the IGP Dr George Akuffo Dampare. He said even though he has had disagreement with the IGP in the past, he believes his performance as police chief has been outstanding. “If you go to the police headquarters, you will realise that the man (Dr Dampare) has done well… I have fought with him once because of his refusal to act when the killer of JB Danquah confessed to him, but he has done really well. “How many times have you heard of armed robbery since Dampare was made IGP? People were being killed and their money was being stolen in broad daylight. How many times have you seen this since Dampare came into office? I have called one of the guys (in the leaked tape) who is from my village and blasted him. We don’t like change,” the NPP firebrand told Kumasi-based Kessben FM. He also noted the transformation at the police headquarters is an indication of the foresight of the IGP. “Since I became the head of the defence and interior committee, we have had a number of IGPs, and this man (Dampare) what he has done, I don’t think we are being fair to him… Don’t make the mistake of removing him. Under him, the rate of armed robbery has reduced drastically; he has transformed the police headquarters; the place looks so clean and beautiful”. The comments by the lawmaker comes in the wake of the public interest in the work of the special parliamentary committee set up to investigate the alleged plot to remove the IGP by some senior police officers as captured on tape. Credit: Starrfm.com

Teachers and Educational Workers Union (TEWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has accused the government of dragging its feet in the payment of Continuous Professional and Skills Development Allowance (CPSDA) to non-teaching staff of the Ghana Education Service (GES). According to TEWU, negotiation for this allowance started three years ago with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission; however the government is yet to approve payment is made to its members. Speaking to Starr News on the sidelines of the 13th Eastern Regional Quadrennial Delegates Conference of TEWU, General Secretary of TEWU, Mr. Mark Denkyira said the government must be fair to non-teaching staff in the education sector to pay the allowance by November this year to avoid consequences. “When you come to the non-teaching staff, there appears to be some feet dragging in the approval of allowances to such non-teaching staff. We have battled this issue and one such key allowance is the continuous professional development allowance which has been on the drawing board for over three years since 2020 that this allowance was first paid to the teaching staff the non-teaching staff have not enjoyed their share of it and that is what we are calling on government that we seems to have reached far with the discussions so we expect to see the approval letter given so that by November when our teaching counterparts are being the non-teaching staff will also be paid the allowance so there will be no agitation and there will be no rancor,” Mr. Denkyira stated. He said productivity will be maximized if the government treats TEWU members fairly. “We believe that if fairness is meted out to the non-teaching staff as well we are able to offer our best of service for the development of education in Ghana,” the General Secretary indicated. Eastern Regional Director of Education Ivy Owusu Asantewaa urged members of TEWU to help curb sexual abuse cases in schools in the region. The Vice Chancellor of Koforidua Technical University, Prof.David Kofi Essumang,stated TEWU members and stakeholders must take steps to address equity challenges in enrollment of students, particularly girl-child in rural areas. He also bemoaned inequalities in educational infrastructure in the country. Credit: Starrfmonline