Executive Director for Harm Reduction Alliance, Samuel Codjoe Hanu, has advocated for the decriminalisation of the use and possession of drugs. Rather, efforts should be made to improve treatment and harm reduction services to reduce the harms of drug misuse to ensure public safety and health. Mr Hanu made the call at Nima during an engagement session organised by Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), an international non-profit organization to enlighten the youth about the effects of using drugs and how to minimise its harms. SSDP focuses on drug policy, the war on drugs, marijuana legalization, psychedelics, juvenile justice and youth rights, drug decriminalization, criminal justice reform. Mr Hanu said the call to decriminalise the use of drugs had been necessitated because public drug policies have been poorly designed and have failed to reduce the availability and use of drugs. ”We believe that public policies like the war on drugs are an utter failure. It was meant to keep our society drug-free, but drug use is increasing…so we are advocating that it is impossible to have a drug-free society so we should focus on harm reduction,” he said. Thus, there was a need to review and introduce alternative drug policies such as the decriminalisation of drugs or the regulation of drug use. Mr Hanu further urged the government to identify opportunities in making money from the industrial and medicinal use of some drugs such as cannabis to create employment. Country Lead for SSDP, Mr. David Ansah said the engagement was geared towards educating the youth on the services available for drug users and how to ensure harm reduction. “This project is to educate drug users on harm reduction activities and how to protect themselves and how they can seek services.” He urged the government to come to the aid of drug users “to help make them assets and not liabilities.” Source: GNA

Former Minister for Education, Professor Dominic Fobih has refuted claims that he had nine wives as speculated. According to him, he has only one wife. He said "I don't have nine wives, I have one wife, I just got married" "I didn't have a wife before so I've just got married" "Who in Ghana has nine wives" He added that those claiming he has nine wives have been misled. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has extended its profound condolences to the families and friends of the victims and the entire football family who lost their lives at the Accra Sports Stadium on May 9, 2001. In a release sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, the the GFA said "Today is a day of grief as we once again remember the incident that claimed the lives of 127 football fans at the Accra Sports Stadium following a stampede during a Ghana Premier League match between Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko in 2001" "On this sad day, we remember our fallen friends, heroes, colleagues, and comrades who lost their lives in that manner whilst supporting the game they truly love" The GFA says it remains committed to honour the memory of its fallen friends by continuing our efforts to improve safety standards at match venues. "The GFA wishes to appeal to all football administrators, security officers, medical professionals and indeed football-loving Ghanaians to co-operate with the federation and other stakeholders to ensure we don't experience such incidents in our game ever again" "We call on clubs to join the Association to continue educating their fans on the laws of the game and to remain law-abiding before, during, and after league matches" "Let us constantly remind ourselves that never again should such a tragedy befall our beautiful game and our beloved nation. May the souls of our departed football enthusiasts continue to rest in perfect peace" Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Information reaching Thinknewsonline.com indicates that some church members of Word in Action Church are trapped after the edifice collapsed on them during a Tuesday service. It is emerging that the edifice is a storey building. The cause of the collapse is yet to be known. So far some worshippers have been rescued and are receiving treatment at the surrounding health centres. The Ghana National Service and the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) including other security agencies are on site to rescue the people under the debris. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Ghanaian Hip-hop and Trap musician, Mohammed Ismail Sherif also known as Black Sherif or Blacko was crownedthe Artiste of the Year at the recently held Vodafone Ghana Music Awards held in Accra. The 21-year-old was tipped to win the ultimate following his hard works over the years. Born on January 9, 2002, the young Artiste who hails from Konongo-Zongo had a run for his man as he got into a keen contest with Celebrated Ghanaian Gospel Musician, Piesie Esther for the ultimate. Here is the Full List of Winners of the #VGMA24 ; *Highlife Song of The Year Epixode – Atia (ft Kwabena Kwabena) AK Songstress – My Proposal Adina – Adi Dede Kwesi Arthur – Adom Kelvynboy – Down flat — WINNER Kofi Kinaata – Have Mercy *Best Gospel Song Celestine Donkor – Final Say Piesie Esther – Way3 Me Yie — WINNER Diana Hamilton – My Meditation Joe Mettle – Kadosh Perez Muzik – Hewale Lala Bethel Revival Choir – Tegbe Tegbe (Edwin Dadson) Awura Abena – This Far MOG Music – Mala *Best Hip Hop Song Black Sherif – Kweku The Traveller — WINNER Amerado – Obiaa Boa Sarkodie – Country Side (ft Black Sherif) Malcolm Nuna – Benzo Kwesi Arthur – Drama Medikal – Scarface *Best Afrobeats Song Camidoh – Sugarcane Remix (ft King Promise & Mayokun) — WINNER Gyakie – Something Kidi – Champagne D Jay – Balance it King Promise – Ginger FBS – Jo (ft Mr. Drew) *Best Afropop Song Stonebwoy – Therapy — WINNER Wendy Shay – Survivor Black Sherif – Oil in my head Dopenation – Gboza King Promise – Ten Toes (ft Omah Lay) Kuami Eugene – Take Away Kidi – Blessed (Ft Movado) Fameye – Thank You *Best Reggae/Dancehall Song Konkarah Jahvybz – A Go Dey (ft Kelvyn Boy) Ras Kuuku – 33in1 Epixode – Atia — WINNER Black Sherif – Don’t forget me Rocky Dawuni – Never bow down (ft Blvk H3ro) Maccasio – Eyes on you (ft Stonebwoy) *Audio Engineer of the Year Chops – Yaa Asantewaa (King Promise) Qube – Beginning Again (Adomaa) Perez Muzik – Hewale Lala (Perez Muzik) Supa Dups – Therapy (Stonebwoy) Possigee – Country Side (Sarkodie) Altra Nova – Far Away (Gyakie) – WINNER *Producer of the Year MOG Beatz — WINNER Atown TSB Phantom Shadrach Yawson Guilty Beatz Killbeatz Liquid Beatz Samsney *Best Music Video Black Sherif – Konongo Zongo (Babs Direction) — WINNER Stonebwoy – Therapy (J Willz) Piesie Esther – Way3 Me Yie (Skyward Videos) Stonebwoy – Gidigba (Labi) Sarkodie ft King Promise – Labadi (Coublon) Kidi – Touch It Remix ft Tyga (Rex) Scott Evans – Best Side (Rex) Kwabena Kwabena – Afraid to lose you (Andrew Kumi) *Best Male Vocal Performance Camidoh – Waiting Kyei Mensah – Nothing is Too Hard Perez Muzic – Hewale Lala — WINNER Stonebwoy – Therapy King promise – Run To You *Best Female Vocal Performance Piesie Esther – Way3 Me Yie Niella – Nothing’s Too Hard — WINNER Cina Soul – Waiting Abiana – Shika Adomaa – Beginning Again *Best Rap Performance Medikal – Scarface Strongman – Goated Amerado – Obiaa Boa – WINNER Lyrical Joe – 5th August 5 TeePhlow – 6Feet *Best Gospel Artiste Piesie Esther — WINNER Joe Mettle Perez Muzik Diana Hamilton Celestine Donkor MOG Music *Best Reggae/Dancehall Artiste Stonebwoy – WINNER Ras Kuuku Epixode Rocky Dawuni Samini *Best Afrobeats/Afropop Artiste King Promise — WINNER Wendy Shay Camidoh Gyakie Kelvynboy Kidi *Best Hiplife/Hiphop Artiste Black Sherif Sarkodie – WINNER Kwesi Arthur Medikal Amerado Strongman *Best Highlife Artiste Kofi Kinaata — WINNER Akwaboah Kuami Eugene Abiana *Songwriter of the Year Piesie Esther – Way3 Me Yie Fameye – Thank You Black Sherif – Oh Paradise Perez Muzik – Hewale Lala — WINNER Diana Hamilton – My Meditation Ewura Abena – This Far *Collaboration of the Year FBS – Jo (ft Mr. Drew) Sarkodie – Country Side (ft Black Sherif) — WINNER Epixode – Atia (ft Kwabena Kwabena) Amerado – Grace (ft Lasmid) DJ Breezy – Abonten (ft Mugeez, Black Sherif, Kwesi Arthur) Bethel Revival Choir – Tegbe Tegbe (ft Edwin Dadson) Sarkodie – Labadi (ft King Promise) Dj Vyrusky – Body 2 Body (ft Kidi, Camidoh) *International Collaboration of the Year Camidoh – Sugarcane Remix (ft King Promise & Mayorkun) — WINNER Kidi – Touch It Remix (ft Tyga) King Promise – Ten toes (Omah Lay) Kidi – Blessed (ft Mavado) Mz Vee – Dumebi (ft Yemi Alade) King Promise – Run to You (ft Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa) Sarkodie – Better Days (ft BNXN fka Buju) *Best African Artiste Ayra Starr Libianca Burna Boy Asake — WINNER Kizz Daniel The Therapist *Record of the Year King Promise – Yaa Asantewaa (ft Frenna) Adomaa – Beginning Again Perez Muzik – Hewale Lala Stonebwoy – Therapy Sarkodie – Country Side (ft Black Sherif) Gyakie – Far Away – WINNER *Album of the Year Black Sherif – The Villain I Never Was Sarkodie – Jamz Gyakie – My Diary King Promise – 5 Star – WINNER Kwesi Arthur – Son of Jacob Joe Mettle – The Kadosh *Best New Artiste Lasmid – WINNER DJay Malcolm Nuna Jay Bahd Ewura Abena DJ Azonto Chief One *Vodafone Most Popular Song Camidoh – Sugarcane Remix (ft King Promise & Mayorkun) Sarkodie – Country Side (ft Black Sherif) Black Sherif – Kweku the Traveller – WINNER Lasmid – Friday night Kelvynboy – Downflat Gyakie – Something Wendy Shay – Survivor Kidi – Blessed (ft Mavado) Stonebwoy – Therapy Piesie Esther – Way3 Me Yie *Artiste of the Year Camidoh Sarkodie Stonebwoy King Promise Kidi Piesie Esther Joe Mettle Black Sherif – WINNER Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Jospong Group of Companies (JGC) has entered into a historic international partnership with ZeroNox Inc., a leading provider of sustainable, off-highway vehicle electrification Company with the formal signing of the Joint Venture (JV) agreement to provide electric vehicles in Ghana. The JV agreement which was signed at ZeroNox headquarters in the USA aims at advancing clean technology solutions in Africa. Representatives from the Ghanaian government and other leaders from the U.S. Legislature joined ZeroNox Co-Founder and CEO Vonn Christenson, Co-Founder and President Robert Cruess, COO Jason Eggett, and CTO Jacob Gotberg in commemorating this step toward a cleaner future for all. The Ghanaian delegation comprises Dr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group, Hon. Hassan Tampuli, Hon. Kennedy Nyarko Osei, MP for Swedru and Chairman of the Roads and Transport Committee, George Walker, CEO of TechWorld Mrs Florence Larbi, COO of the Environment and Sanitation Cluster, Mr Alex Attakora, COO of the Technical and Logistics Cluster, Noah Gyimah, Chief Investment Officer, Sophia Kudjordji, Chief Corporate Communication Officer, Patricia Ofori Atta, Assistant Communications Manager, Strive Kakraba, Loworki Ahulu, Legal Manager and Strive Kakraba, Senior Communications Officer . The unveiling of the world’s largest fleet retrofit electrification project and the signing of the JV agreement between Jospong Group and ZeroNox mark significant milestones for both companies and leverage Ghana as the gateway to electric vehicle and related technology distribution throughout Africa. Through this agreement, 1,000 refuse trucks from the Jospong Group subsidiary, Zoomlion, will be converted from diesel to electric power utilizing the ZeroNox Electric Powertrain Platform (“ZEPP”). A prototype of the all-electric refuse truck -- the first of its kind and a significant achievement in the Refuse Truck Electrification Project made its premier during the event as well. The electrification of Jospong’s 1,000-refuse truck fleet by ZeroNox is projected to reduce the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere by 400,000 metric tons over five years, the equivalent of 18 million mature trees. Estimated savings are $323 million over five years, and as a result Jospong will generate a return on their investment in less than three years. Executive Chairman of Jospong Group, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong who was particularly elated said "what started as a dream and unreachable goal is today being unveiled before our very eyes". He noted that in 2022, the Jospong Group established a collaborative arrangement with ZeroNox to pilot retrofitting three of its waste trucks into an electric vehicle in line with its vision of promoting clean energy and sustainability to drive the Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) agenda. He added that, in line with its mission of improving the lives of people, "we seek projects and investments that focus on improving the environment and general well-being of our populace, and the electrification project fits perfectly into that agenda." “We are excited to partner with a global leader like the Jospong Group in executing the world’s largest fleet retrofit electrification project,” said Vonn Christenson, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founded of ZeroNox. “This partnership emerged out of an alignment in the missions of our two organizations – a desire to deliver a better and more sustainable future and one where we can reduce carbon emissions without diminishing vehicle performance. We look forward to fostering similar, high-impact strategic partnerships in the future.” Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Transport, Hon. Alhassan S. Tampuli, hinted that the Ministry of Transport and the Energy Commission are in the process of rolling out key policy initiatives to over see the transition of combustible engines to electricity vehicles. “The business man that he is, he has taken the lead so we need to catch up with him by setting up all the necessary ground rules to support the roll up," he mentioned. The Mayor of Porterville (where ZeroNox is located), hon. Martha A. Flores, observed that these two companies are bringing clean technology into Ghana and promoting sustainable development across Africa. The Mayor noted that the city was proud to recognise the global impact that results from Jospong Group and ZeroNox’s partnership. "New opportunities for economic growth, and environmental stewardship are being created," she emphasized. “These two companies are leaders in the development of clean energy, sustainability, and technology.” “The city of Porterville currently operates sustainable and clean public transportation and innovation on demand for community services”. "We are grateful to have ZeroNox to support these endeavours," she commended. During the event, Jospong Group and ZeroNox were presented with awards by the Ghana Government recognizing their contributions to global carbon emission reduction and the education of Ghana’s youth about green technology solutions. Jospong Group of Companies The Jospong Group of Companies is one of the most diversified holdings companies in Ghana with operations in other African countries , Asia and USA. The company has business interest in about 14 sectors of the economy with with over 60 subsidiaries and its biggest operations in Waste management, ICT and Banking and Finance as well as Automobile and Equipment. ZeroNox ZeroNox is leading the electrification of off-highway commercial and industrial vehicles, with best-in- class LFP batteries and an electric powertrain platform (“ZEPP”) that is cleaner, high performing, and cost effective. As a first mover in the advanced off-highway electric vehicle (OHEV) powertrain market, ZeroNox is proudly designed and engineered in America, with offices in Porterville, California. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Survey and Mapping Division, Lands Commission says it is set to hold a National Retreat 2023 from 8th to 12th May in the Ashanti Region. According to organisers, the National Retreat will be held at the Anita Hotel, Ejisu, Ashanti Region. In a release signed by Surveyor Naa Abukari Abudulai, Director of Survey and Mapping, he said "The Survey & Mapping Division of the Lands Commission is holding a national retreat from Monday, 8th May to Friday 12th May 2023 at Anita Hotel (Ejisu). He added that the speakers will speaking on the theme “Repositioning surveying and mapping in the era of digitalization for socio-economic development” The press release further hinted that the official opening is slated for May 9, 2023. Thinkneesonline.com has also gathered that the Guest of Honour will be Simon Osei-Mensah , Ashanti Regional Minister. The retreat seeks to assess the Division’s current performance, find ways of improving service delivery, and reshape staff mindset to improve efficiency and productivity in the Division and ultimately, support the vision and mission of the Lands Commission. The retreat will as well seek to provide various key management staff with opportunities for knowledge sharing and brainstorming in various thematic areas and will as well draw participants from all 16 Regions. "Topics to be treated at the retreat include; Overview of the Public Financial Management Act 2016, Act 921, The Land Act 2020, Act 1036, The role of SMD in the development of relevant Legislative Instruments for Act 1036, Internal Controls (Effective Monitoring and Supervision) and Introduction to Corporate Governance" Further discussions will touch on Leadership and Social Influence, The surveyor and the era of digitalization, Health, Safety at the Workplace, and Lifestyle. Re-evaluating the Division’s relationship with key stakeholders as well as Marketing the Division in the era of digitalization for socio-economic development Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Napoli won its first Serie A title in 33 years after coming from behind to secure a 1-1 draw against Udinese at the Dacia Arena, Udine, on Thursday. The league title is the club's first since 1990, when the late Diego Maradona -- after whom the team's home stadium is named -- inspired it to the Scudetto. It's only the third time Napoli has won Serie A and the club's success sparked jubilant celebrations among the players and also in the southern Italian city, many of whom had congregated at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Sandi Lovric's shot gave Udinese a first-half lead, but Napoli forward Victor Osimhen made it 1-1 early in the second half, guiding the ball home after Khvicha Kvaratskhelia's shot was saved following a corner. Osimhen, who is Serie A's leading goalscorer this season, has been key to Napoli's success and this was his 22nd league goal of the campaign. The 24-year-old Nigerian scored his goal in front of the traveling Napoli fans, who celebrated the equalizer deliriously. Thousands of fans watched the match on large screens at the Diego Armando Maradona stadium. Fireworks and flares Even before kick-off, Napoli fans flooded the streets of Naples with thousands of supporters making their way into the club's home stadium to watch the action in Udine unfold on big screens. Others set off fireworks and flares in the streets as crowds gathered together in the hope of watching their side finally secure the title -- Napoli had squandered an opportunity on Sunday after it unexpectedly drew against Salernitana in front of home support. Had Napoli won that game Luciano Spalletti's side would have become the earliest team to win the Serie A title in history -- with six games remaining in the league season. Thursday's first-half didn't go to plan for Napoli, though, when it found itself 1-0 down at the break after Lovric's brilliant strike in the 13th minute. Napoli fans gathered in Naples to watch the match against Udinese. Napoli fans celebrate the equalizer in the streets of Naples. But Napoli knew a point would be enough to secure a historic title and came out in the second half rejuvenated, buoyed by the traveling fans who created a brilliant atmosphere inside the ground. According to the BT Sport broadcast, nearly 11,000 Napoli supporters had traveled to the Dacia Arena to witness such a long-awaited moment for their team. Those fans were rewarded when Osimhen, so often the hero for Napoli this season, scored the equalizer in the 52nd minute. The celebrations in Udine were only matched by those back in Napoli with the city exploding with excitement -- videos showed flares being let off alongside a light show at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Napoli manager Luciano Spalletti celebrates winning Serie A. The draw was all that was needed for the visitors who left Udine with the biggest prize in Italian football. Napoli fans ran onto the pitch to celebrate when the referee blew the full-time whistle, with players being mobbed in jubilant scenes. "Seeing Neapolitans happy is enough to give you a sense of that joy they are feeling," Napoli coach Spalletti, who at 64 became the oldest manager to win Serie A, told DAZN after the game. "These people will look to this moment when life gets hard, they have every right to celebrate like this. You feel a bit more relaxed knowing that you've given them this moment of happiness." Credit: CNN

The National Cathedral Secretariat has described scandals being raised by the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as distortions of information on projects. The National Cathedral Secretariat made these remarks in a press release sighted by Thinknewsonline.com. Executive Director of the National Cathedral of Ghana, Dr. Paul Opoku-Mensah said "But, this distortion is neither the result of an accident, nor of ignorance. It reflects the modus operandi of the MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. All his so-called "National Cathedral scandals" are distortions of information on the project" "As we have consistently argued, and repeated in our Press Release of yesterday May 3, 2023, "the National Cathedral Project has been implemented with integrity, and with no criminality. As with the recklessly-populist and reputationally-damaging accusations of the McCarthy era in the USA, the misinformation and distortions on the National Cathedral project will — ultimately — unravel" The release also that the unrveling of the so-called "Identity Theft" is just the beginning! "Following the publication of the Vol 1 of the of the so-called "bombshells" on the National Cathedral's activities in the USA, the MP for North Tongu and Ranking member on Foreign Affairs in Ghana's Parliament, Hon Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa followed up with "Episode 2" this morning, Thursday May 4, 2023 at 6.09am" "Titled "Episode 2 of "National" Cathedral Scandals — America Edition", it is prefaced, once again, by such lack of knowledge of the US system. As a Ghanaian, I find it extremely embarrassing to see these expressed by the Ranking Member of Foreign Affairs in the Country's Parliament. The main body of Episode 2, however, is the malicious accusation that the National Cathedral is guilty of the serious crime of "identity theft" in the registration of the National Cathedral Foundation in the USA" The release also mentioned that jn arriving at this so-called Identity theft, the MP distorted the information on the registration documents by taking the Taxpayer ID number: 86-3859197 (Appendix I ), and disingenuously changes it to the social security number, SSN: 863-85-9197 belonging to a deceased named, Jose Salgado (Appendix 2). He, therefore accused the National Cathedral of using the "stolen" identity of the deceased to register. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mines, George Mireku Duker has met with the equipment tracking committee of the Minerals Commission in Accra. The meeting was to provide updates on the activities of the newly commissioned situational room. The newly commissioned situational room is set to monitor illegal mining activities. The leadership of equipmenttracking committee updated the Deputy Minister on progress being made. They also assured that more improvement will be made. In other developments, Mr. Mireku Duker also engaged the organizers of the Ghana Mining Week. It is emerging that the Ghana Mining Week has been scheduled for May 13th - 15th 2023. "I indicated the Ministry’s expectations and assured them of our maximum cooperation towards a successful event this year" The Deputy Minister also revealed that subsequent meetings will be held at the Ministry. Later in the day, the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in charge of Mines chaired the Planning Committee of the Ministry's upcoming Stakeholders Dialogue on Managing Ghana's Natural Resources slated for May 11th - 12th 2023 in collaboration with Graphic Communications. Mr. Mireku Duker later received a delegation of German investors who are interested to establish a glass factory in the Western Region of Ghana. He indicated the Ministry’s readiness to provide all the needed support to enable them to acquire the necessary licenses and permits to mine the main raw material, silica, for their operations. "The government will continue to provide an enabling environment for such companies to thrive" "Together, we shall build a resilient mining sector" Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, responsible for Lands and Forestry, Hon. Benito Owusu-Bio has urged communities residing along the Ghana/Togo Boundary lines to prioritize peace and foster good neighbourliness irrespective of the side of the boundary they belong. He admonished that rather than being barriers, the international boundary line should serve as a bridge for promoting economic and social growth in the communities. Adding that "Ghana and Togo have always maintained good standing relations through mutual respect, shared cultural and social beliefs, and the need to jointly safeguard the peace and stability of both countries" The Deputy Lands Minister was speaking at the Joint Ghana/Togo Community Sensitization at Agortime-Kpetoe on Thursday, 4th May, 2023, when he explained that the gathering seeks to educate and inform all stakeholders on the need to maintain the common boundaries shared between the two countries and seek support, as custodians of the areas where boundaries are located. In his speech, he pointed out that the joint community sensitisation programme is not a new one but rather part of a series of sensitisation programmes being undertaken jointly by Ghana and Togo. "Around same time last year, Phase One of this programme was successfully launched at Aflao and Akanu in the Ketu North District; and today, the two Boundary Commissions are here to continue with this important exercise" he clarified. "The fact remains that most of the boundary markings that define the land boundaries between Ghana and Togo have been displaced due to several factors such as erosion, tampering or outright removals. Effects of these have been the eruption of conflicts in many communities along the international boundary line" he continued. He opined that the management of the common boundary is a shared responsibility, while urging that "ensuring that boundary markers are in good shape does not reside in the Ghana Boundary Commission and the Land Boundary Commission of Togo alone but rather every person seated here today has a role to play; and this is why every member here is being involved in the reaffirmation exercise through this sensitisation programme." He utilised the opportunity to commend both Commissions for their dedication towards ensuring the proper management and safeguarding of the Ghana/Togo land boundary, while encouraging them to continue with the good work. He also extended gratitude on behalf of the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor to the leaders and people of all communities along the Ave Dakpa - Wli Afegame stretch, saying that the overwhelming representation from the two sides clearly demonstrates their commitment for ensuring the success of the joint Ghana/Togo reaffirmation exercise (to be conducted) and indeed, the proper management of the common boundary between Ghana and Togo. Hon. Owusu-Bio entreated the traditional rulers, opinion leaders, and residents living along the International boundary line to accord members of the joint Ghana/Togo Land Boundary Reaffirmation Technical Committee maximum support and cooperation. He asked that they receive them as one of their own, be proactive in identifying issues regarding the boundary line and communicate with them freely. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

International media organisation, Al Jazeera says it will not apologise to President Akufo-Addo over its recent investigative documentary, ‘Gold Mafia’. Al Jazeera said it does not owe the president nor his office any apology since it did not allege the issues raised in the letter from the Jubilee House demanding a retraction and apology. The Doha-based company made this known in a reply to JoyNews’ Kwaku Asante’s email on Thursday, May 4, requesting a copy of its response to the presidency over the matter. “We have responded to the letter from the president’s office, correcting some parts of its content and clarifying various points. “Since the documentary did not actually allege what the president’s Office has suggested it did, we will not be apologising or removing it from publication,” excerpts of the Al Jazeera response said. However, it did not share copies of its response to the presidency stating it’s confidential. “Our reply to the president’s office was by way of a confidential letter,” the reply concluded. The Jubilee House, in an April 25 letter, demanded an unqualified apology from Al Jazeera over its depiction of President Akufo-Addo in its damning documentary. The letter signed by Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante stated that; “I am instructed by the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to demand formally that Al Jazeera Media Network (Al Jazeera”) retract immediately and apologise for airing an inaccurate and unfair documentary that contained spurious and unsubstantiated allegations against the President and the Government of Ghana.” But Al Jazeera stated that it has corrected and also clarified some of the contents in the letter from the Jubilee House. How Ghana Appeared in Al Jazeera’s ‘Gold Mafia’ Documentary Earlier in April, Ghana popped up in a damning investigative documentary conducted into some of Zimbabwe’s gold smuggling and money laundering syndicates. In the concluding episode, undercover journalists posing as Chinese gangsters interact with one of the key parties, Alistair Mathias to help clean their dirty money. Mr Alistair who is described in the piece as a Financial Architect told the reporters posing as criminals that he had a track record of successfully orchestrating such syndicates. Essentially, he is said to be instrumental in designing money laundering schemes for many corrupt politicians in Africa. Alistair named Ghana as one of the countries where he had executed similar schemes adding that he is good friends with its President who he also claims used to be his lawyer. “Ghana’s President is a good friend of mine, in fact, he was my lawyer,” he told the undercover reporters. Mr Mathias added that he used to be the biggest smuggler in Ghana at one point, raking out about $40 million to $60 million worth of gold a month from the West African country. During the documentary, Alistair outlined his modus operandi to the undercover journalists suggesting that the most important credential of his operations in Africa comes from the trust that some dubious politicians have in him to keep their siphoned resources safely tucked away. He revealed that in doing this, the politicians involved do not keep assets in their own names, but rely on proxies. Citing government infrastructure as an example, he indicated that he is able to take huge contracts on behalf of Ghanaian politicians, inflate the cost and subsequently split the profit afterwards. “In Ghana, I take tenders, road construction, procurement, supplying different things, oil, this that. There, all the politicians get taken care of, indirectly because it allows me to do all my other stuff freely. He explains further in the documentary; "For example, Ghana government, Mathias Holdings, I get the contract. I subcontract it to you, $100 million contract. Ghana government pays me $100 million. I give it to you and you say it’s $80 million” he told the investigative reporters who secretly recorded the interaction. In this scenario, the outstanding $20 million out of the inflated $100 million is shared per an arrangement reached between Alistair and the said politician. “I’ll have an arrangement with them and they get 15… I’ll probably get 5 million,” he added. “I keep all of it in Dubai. Whenever they want it, they just tell me and I send it.” Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo says had no recollection of acting as a lawyer for Alistair Mathias or his company. Mr Mathias has also denied ever being awarded any tender by the Ghanaian government or entering into any government contracts in any African country. Credit: Myjoyonline.com