Cocoa farmers at Ohiampeanika in the Amenfi West District of the Western Region have vehemently denied using child labour on their farms. They have, therefore, threatened to sue Al Jazeera, an international media organization that published a television story to the effect that cocoa farmers in the area engage children to work on their farms. The TV report by the Qatar-based media organization which went viral indicated, among others, that a visit to the farming community revealed children working on cocoa farms. The farmers, who are infuriated by the video circulating, have described the news item as stage-managed. "The Al Jazeera video circulating is false. They visited us and told us they were from Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and that they were to listen to our problems to help solve them not knowing they had ulterior motives “, they lamented. The visibly angry farmers asserted that what the international media organization did has dented the country’s cocoa sector in the eyes of the international community, adding: “We will go all out to sue them”. A former Assembly member for the area, Samuel Ofori Asare, who featured in the Al Jazeera video, said the media house never told them they were going to do a news story. "We were here one Sunday when they came and said they were from COCOBOD and that they want to meet the farmers to know their challenges and the kind of support they (the visitors) could offer.“ After listening to the farmers, the Al Jazeera pressman indicated that they wanted some of the farmers whose farms were nearby to go with them to demonstrate how the cocoa is planted and harvested,” he noted. He said one of the farmers called Owusu Gyan alias Daffa, whose farm was nearby, opted to go with them. "As they were going, the pressmen from Al Jazeera asked if they could get some children to go with them so they can carry the baskets into which the cocoa pods would be harvested,” he added. He said Daffa’s brother’s three children who are all in school and had closed from church on that Sunday were asked to change quickly and went to the farm with them. He continued: “So in the farm, the Al Jazeera journalists who spoke through a Ghanaian interpreter, would tell the farmers what to do as they were filming.“ "So they will tell a farmer to use the cutlass to harvest the pods from the tree and give it to the children to open them and the journalists were filming.“ "So as for us, we are here waiting for the support they promised only to hear that there had been an Al Jazeera TV report indicating that farmers in this community use child labour on their farms.“ In fact, we were surprised and we want the whole world to know that cocoa farmers here do not engage children to work on their farms and so all should disregard that report. Ghanaian cocoa farmers don’t use child labour on their farms,” he stressed. The Director of Special Services at COCOBOD, Charles Amenyaglo said what transpired was criminal and that a report had subsequently been lodged with the police. He appealed to all those who played a part in the story to cooperate with the police particularly when they are called to give their statements. Source: 3news.com

Eight people have been killed and four others injured during a mass shooting at a birthday party in Gqeberha city in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province. Two unidentified gunmen “randomly shot at guests” who were dancing and mingling at a house party in Kwazakhle township, police say. No arrests have been made but a manhunt is under way. Those killed and injured have not been identified but police said the owner of the attacked house was among them. “These victims were killed by criminals, and we will not rest until we find out what happened and who was responsible for [this] callous and cold-blooded attack on these unsuspecting victims,” said Eastern Cape Police Commissioner Nomthetheleli Lillian Mene about Sunday afternoon’s attack. The police minister and the national police commissioner are expected to visit Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth, on Monday. South Africa has one of the highest gun crime rates in the world but random mass shootings are uncommon. Last year, the country saw a string of shootings in separate taverns which left more than 20 people dead. Those shootings are still under investigation. Credit: BBC

When the Ministry of Education set up a resolution centre at the Bediako Conference Room of the GNAT Hall in Accra, it was meant to address anomalies and mistakes in the placement of students into senior high schools. Investigations by The Fourth Estate, however, revealed that the GNAT Hall had been turned into a market where placements into top senior high schools could be bought like commodities. Top officials linked to the placement executed their trade through a network of intermediaries, mostly security guards and cleaners at the GNAT Hall. It was easy to mistake them for scammers blowing hot air about their connections, but, as our investigation revealed, a cleaner who took your money at the GNAT Hall was capable of placing a student you presented in a school which only two top officials in Ghana’s educational system–the Minister of Education and the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (GES)–had the password to effect such placements. Parents who paid and got their wards placed in the country’s top and well-resourced schools were unwilling to cooperate with us on this story, so we went undercover to ascertain the veracity of the allegations. At the GNAT Hall, we found a parent who wanted her ward’s school changed from Apam Senior High School, a category B school to Mfantsiman Senior High School, a category A school. She, however, had no money to pay the amount the placement officials, through their intermediaries, were demanding. L-R: Nathaniel Aggrey, and Eric Aggrey, both biological brothers demanded and took GH₵ 8,500 for placement into Aggrey Memorial AME Zion Senior High School. We spotted a neatly dressed security man who was about to deliver a brown envelope to a man and his daughter outside the GNAT Hall. We approached him and asked if he could help us with placement into a top secondary school. “I can help you, but it’s money. You have to pay,” he said. We agreed and asked to be introduced to the individuals involved. This security man, who we later got to know as Isaac Adorkor, led us to a seat near one of the conference halls at the GNAT Hall. After about forty-five minutes of waiting, a man in a bright-blue shirt with “UAS Specialist Cleaning Services” embossed on the left breast appeared. We later got to know his name as Eric Aggrey, a janitor at the GNAT Hall. He made a call after a short conversation with us and informed a supposed Ghana Education Service (GES) staff, whose phone number he saved as Biggie, of our need for a placement. When the call ended, Eric told us Biggie’s charges were too high, but he had another person who could be trusted. He later called one Rachel, who he said could help. “Wesley Girls is GH₵10,000 but Mfantsiman is GH₵ 7,000,” he told. He assured us that he could lead us to Rachel’s house should she renege on her promise to secure the placement we needed. Eric said aside from being a staffer at the Ministry of Education, Rachel worked with the Education Minister’s secretary. Rachel also made this claim, but when we pushed for evidence, she could not prove it. Eric charged GH₵ 7,000 to change the placement of our student from Apam Senior High to Mfantsiman Girls Senior High School. When the money was ready, he said Rachel had changed her mind. Rachel demanded GH₵8,500 and ended the call when we asked for a reduction. After several pleas, Eric, Rachel’s middleman, eventually settled on GH₵ 7,500 to change placement from Apam Senior High School to Mfantsiman Girls Senior High School. When the placement was delayed and we called Eric for answers, he introduced us to a man he said was called Nathaniel to reassure us that the placement would be effected. Our investigations would later reveal his true identity to be Simon Bessa Aggrey, Eric’s younger brother, a deacon of the Apostolic church, Kwashieman, last stop branch. Simon revealed that the student had already enrolled in Apam Senior High School, and it would be difficult for the placement to be changed. Due to the difficulty we encountered in changing the placement of the student who had already enrolled, we presented another student who wanted her placement changed from Accra Wesley Girls’ High School in Kaneshie, Accra, to Aggrey Memorial AME Zion Senior High School in Cape Coast. Her parents wanted her placed in a school in Cape Coast, closer to Takoradi where the family lived. She had not selected Aggrey Memorial as part of the six schools during the school selection process. But when we contacted Eric, he assured us that he could make the change. He charged an extra GH₵ 1,000 to top up the GH₵ 7,500 he had demanded to change the placement to Mfantsiman Girls. The reporter agreed to pay only after the change was made. In less than 24 hours, Eric made the change. At 9:16 am on Tuesday, April 12, the student’s phone beeped. It was a congratulatory message from Aggrey Memorial Senior High School and a directive on her registration. According to officials of the school placement system, schools like Aggrey Memorial, KSTS and Ghana National are more sought-after than some category A schools. Placement slip of the student whose placement Eric and the cartel changed from Accra Wesley Girls to Aggrey Memorial AME Zion School. At 9:16 am on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, the student received a congratulatory message from Aggrey Memorial Senior High School and a directive on her registration. Eric and Nathaniel called to find out whether the change had reflected and demanded the remaining GH₵ 1,000 to be paid. We transferred the money to them through mobile money. Placement from Aburi Presby High School to Mfantsiman Girls We presented another student who was placed at Aggrey Memorial Zion Senior High School but wanted Wesley Girls Senior High School, one of the most prestigious senior high schools in Ghana. School had reopened for two weeks, but she had not enrolled because she hoped to get her school placement changed. Eric demanded GH₵ 11,000 cedis from a previous GH₵ 10,000 to make that change. He said a parent had decided to sell a slot, the reason for the increment in the price. He took the money and assured us that the deal would be done the following day. He failed to place the student in Wesley Girls. Nathaniel claimed it was because a higher authority was in charge of placement into that school. He indicated that some “top officials at the education ministry have hijacked the system, making it impossible for people like me in the strong room to make any change.” He offered an option. There was vacancy at the Holy Child Girls Senior High School in Cape Coast. It is also an A school, but he had access to it. “If a new person was to be presented for the placement to Holy Child, you need to pay more,” Nathaniel said. He claimed the contract terms had changed and would not accept a new girl until more money was paid to him.  We refused the offer. Nathaniel, in his bid to shore up his credibility, spoke extensively about his role in the Apostolic church, a reason for which he could not be a cheat. On Easter Sunday, we went to the Mount Olive Assembly of the Apostolic church, Kwashieman District.  In the midst of singing and dancing in the church, Nathaniel was busy on the phone and his laptop. It was during our visit to the church that we established contact with him for the first time and got to know he was known as Deacon Simon Bessa Aggrey, and not the Nathaniel he used when dealing with us during the school placement. Eric and Simon said there was a vacancy at Holy Child, so we had to present another student who was interested in that school. She was initially placed at Aburi Presbyterian Senior Technical High School. They demanded more money for this, but we refused to pay. After two weeks, they failed to change the placement of the student in Holy Child. They kept giving excuses until we confronted Eric, who then led us to Rachel’s house. In our presence, she made some calls and said the available category A slot at the time was Mfantsiman Girls’  Senior High School. Within a week after visiting her, the change of placement was done. Placement slip of student whose placement Eric and the cartel changed from Presbyterian Senior High Technical School. Placement slip of student whose placement Eric and the cartel changed from Presbyterian Senior High Technical School to Mfantsiman Girls. In all, Eric and his network demanded and took GH₵ 19,500 for placing two candidates at Aggrey Memorial and Mfantsiman Girls, both in the Central Region. A rejection, GH₵ 5000, and the demand for higher fees While the changes were ongoing, another network of security personnel was also engaging in other deals to get students placed in their schools of choice. We met Emmanuel Sowatey and Kaba Navaro, both security personnel stationed at the main entrance to the GNAT Hall. Seated in Kaba’s small office, was a middle-aged woman, who was there to change her ward’s placement. When we presented the placement slip of a student who wanted placement at Apam Senior High School, Kaba with confirmation from Emmanuel charged GH₵ 4,000 to secure placement at the category B Apam Senior High School in the Central Region. He listed the successes he had chalked since the placement portal was opened for the selection of schools to assure the reporter of his capabilities. A few minutes later, Kaba forwarded the student’s documents through WhatsApp, to one Alex, who he said works at the CSSPS in Accra. Subsequently, Kaba introduced the reporter to Eric after his failure to place the student. Eric showed us all the vacancies available in the category ‘A’ schools to prove that he could help with the placement. While going through the schools, we told Eric we could only raise GH₵ 5,000, leaving GH₵ 3,500 shy of the GH₵ 8,500 he demanded. We wanted the candidate to be placed at Archbishop Porter Girls in Takoradi. Eric said it would come at a cost. He said we had to part ways with GH₵ 8,500 each to have placement in the school. With a phone in one hand and another itchy-empty palm, Eric took the brown envelope containing GH₵ 5,000. When Eric counted the money he had demanded from The Fourth Estate reporter, he remarked, “your money is small and she [ Rachel] will not accept it.” “Just this morning, I changed someone’s placement for her, “Eric tooted his own horn. He said he was ready to effect the change but our GH₵ 5,000 was too small to cause the seismic change from Presbyterian Senior High Technical School, Aburi to Aburi Girls in the Eastern Region, Mfantsiman Girls in the Central Region, or Archbishop Porter Girls in Takoradi, Western Region. According to the Education Minister, the protocol list is what some unscrupulous people sell to those who want their wards placed in high-category schools. “For example, headmaster’s protocols, we don’t question where those children are coming from. All that we do is approve it when they upload it on their portal”. A former coordinator of the CSSPS, Dr George Atta Boateng says the protocol system used to be a 30 per cent quota for communities within the catchment area of the school. That system has now been changed. The protocol system of placing candidates is now 10 per cent, which is shared equally between the Ministry of Education and the Schools. This means people like Rachel who are able to place students either have links to the ministry or the schools. We could not get evidence of her links to the schools, but we established she had links to the Ministry of Education. She was in charge of the canteen at the Ministry of Education, until the canteen was shut down for refurbishment. Our sources at the ministry of education also say Rachel constantly called some of them asking for placement vacancies. Whatever her source of vacancy was, only two persons had the passwords for placement into category A schools. Only two persons have password to category A schools Although the minister said GES Director-General’s office and the Education Ministry had access to Category A schools, our checks revealed that full access to such protocol placement was limited to only two individuals. “In reality, we have two; the Director-General’s office and the Ministry of Education. Last year, those are the two people with access. “If only two people have access to category A schools, you are able to tell who did the placement for a certain student so if these allegations that a parent has paid money, and this student has found himself in this school, you go into the system IT people are able to tell which of the two people did the placement so it becomes much easier. And you know this is the area where people are scamming parents because they are the most desirable schools,” the minister said. A Ministry of Education memo indicates that only the minister and the Director-General had access to category A senior high/ technical schools such as Mfantsiman Girls, where our undercover agents got a student placed at a fee. A memo that was circulated within the Ministry of Education on the 2022 placement shows that only the Director-General of the GES, Prof. Kwasi  Opoku-Amankwa, and the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, had full access to the most sought-after category A schools. This means the placement made by Rachel into Mfantsiman Girls had to be approved by either the minister or the GES Director-General. Prof Opoku-Amankwa, however, told The Fourth Estate that just a week after placement had commenced in 2022, his access to the backend of the placement system was revoked. “In 2021, initially, I had access, but my access was revoked for a period to ensure that some updates were done and when it was restored, the opportunities were taken away,” he said. “For 2022, I only had access to the backend and the opportunity to do changes and to see whatever was going on in the system for just about the first week of the placement. Subsequently, my access was blocked,” he added. Prof Opoku-Amankwa requests for investigations and obstacles During the 2022 placement process, Professor Opoku-Amankwa, who was unhappy about corruption in the placement, wrote to the National Intelligence Bureau and the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service to investigate allegations of corruption in the placement process. Part of his letter to the two-state security agencies reads: “In some instances, fingers have been pointed at top officials of the Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service/Computerised School Selection and Placement System and the Free SHS Secretariat. Management of Ghana Education Education Service will be grateful if your office could launch a full-scale investigation into these allegations to establish their authenticity or otherwise.” Professor Opoku-Amankwa, who was unhappy about corruption in the placement, wrote to the National Intelligence Bureau and the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service to investigate allegations of corruption in the placement process. The Fourth Estate understands that the NIB initially agreed and started the investigation, but exactly one month later, it wrote to the GES asking: “You may redirect your request to the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service for the necessary action.” The NIB initially agreed and started the investigation, but exactly one month later, it wrote to the GES asking: “You may redirect your request to the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department of the Ghana Police Service. The GES had already also petitioned the police CID the same day it wrote to the NIB. When asked about the progress of investigations, the minister of education said he did not have any data to speak to the issue immediately but said the security agencies were working on it. Prof Opoku-Amankwa said aside from the first day he was interviewed by the CID as part of the investigations, the probe into the school placement fraud did not progress any further. “The NIB responded first,” he told The Fourth Estate. “They brought a gentleman, Francis, and his team to start investigations on the system, but somewhere along the line, they pulled out of the investigations and then exactly a month after my letter, they sent me a note to indicate that I should rather refer the issue to the CID. Two weeks later, the CID also came in with the team to start their investigations. They did the entry interview with me and that was where it ended.” The Fourth Estate sources say these investigations were stopped by “powers from above.” Prof. Opoku-Amankwa could not pursue this matter to the end. He was removed from office that same year. Dr Opoku Amankwa could not pursue this matter to the end as he was removed from office the same year. When The Fourth Estate concluded our investigations and wanted the police involved in arresting the perpetrators, the CID headquarters agreed to work with us. A team from the Financial Forensic Unit was assigned to work with us. But there was a sudden withdrawal of the team and we were directed to report the matter to the Ministries Police Station. The minister and I should take responsibility Prof Poku-Amankwa said he and the Education Minister, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, should be held responsible in the case of any fraud associated with the placement of students into senior high schools. “If there is fraud in the matter, then I, as the Director-General, and the minister, should take responsibility. I fully accept and agree, but I knew that I was part of it and I wanted to actually make sure that there were no challenges with it. I took measures to ensure that the issues relating to corruption and payment of money have been dealt with and I wrote to the CID and BNI.” Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum and Professor Kwasi Opoku Amankwa, former Director-General, Ghana Education Service. The arrest of the computerised school placement fraudsters In all, the police have arrested eight suspects in connection with the school placement fraud uncovered by The Fourth Estate. None of them is from the Education Ministry, GES or the FREE SHS Secretariat as mentioned in Professor Opoku-Amankwa’s letters to the CID and NIB. It is also evident that Rachel could not have placed a student into Mfantsiman Girls without the approval of the Minister of Education or the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, the only two individuals with passwords to Category A schools. How the names of students got to the Education Minister or the GES Director-General for placement into category A school is easy to find, according to the Minister’s explanation. It is, however, not clear if the police will follow this case to the top since there is evidence that the top hierarchy of the security agencies failed to investigate the matter when the GES Director-General requested the investigation. Eight suspects face prosecution 8 suspects facing prosecution at an Accra Circuit Court for school placement fraud. Eric shook his head in the courtroom and stamped his feet while casting a menacing look at The Fourth Estate team members present in court. Eric Aggrey, 36, had been behind bars for four days. Eric and Rachel were arrested at Awoshie Busia by policemen from the Accra Central Police Station after we presented the evidence gathered. We had lured Eric to Rachel’s house for their “reward” for changing placement for the two students when the police arrested them. Rachel shouted “Jesus” while Eric was seated and uttered no words until he was handcuffed. When we asked Eric what his role was in the placement, he said he had helped in the placement of the two students. He confessed to taking money from some people and helped to change the placement. He also admitted to receiving a list of vacancies at schools from Rachel. Rachel also admitted and mentioned another person, a private security guard at a basic school opposite her house as the facilitator for everyone she had assisted to get placement changed. Rachel said the security guard, called Isaac Mensah, also gave the money he collected to his friend whom she (Rachel) had never met. Isaac was arrested by the police to assist with investigations. Isaac told the team about his role in the placement process and later mentioned the name of another person, Sebastian, also known as Thriller. Sebastian Appram,28, was subsequently arrested. Gilbert Afriyie Nkrumah, 23, a member of the syndicate who works at the Fisheries Commission, Tema regional office, was invited to the Accra Central Police station and was subsequently arrested on October 28, 2022. Two suspects on the run Atta Kuffuor Snr, a Lab Technician, and Atta Kuffuor Jnr, an IT expert. The twins were already on the run for a similar offence, Daniel Opoku told the Police in his statement. Three other members have been arrested: Bernard Kusi Agyemang, an operations Manager with a logistics company; Eugenia Abigail Ahiable, an administrator and Daniel Opoku, a foreman. Daniel Opoku also named twin brothers, Atta Kuffuor Senior, a Lab Technician and Atta Kuffuor Junior, an IT expert as the ones who finally effected the placement to Mfantsiman. The twins were already on the run for a similar offence, Daniel Opoku told the Police in his statement. The court granted four of the members a GH₵ 30,000 bail with three sureties. Chief Inspector Benneh, who is the state prosecutor, read the charges out and said though the suspects were not public servants, they have conspired with a public servant who used his/her office for private gains. “Using public office for profit [ inserted by act 458, sec 3] contrary to section 179C [B] of the criminal offences act 1960[Act 29],” the charge read. The court granted all eight of them GHS 80,000 bail each, with 3 sureties. Background of Computerised School Placement System The Ministry of Education introduced the Computerised School Placement System in 2005 to eliminate corruption in the placement process into Senior High Schools across the country. It was also to promote efficiency, fairness, and transparency and speed up the placement process. This process was also introduced to make education accessible to all according to Article 25 clause 1(b) of the 1992 constitution which states that “secondary education in its different forms, including technical and vocational education, shall be made generally available and accessible to all by every appropriate means.” “Heads of school usually hold regional conferences where they select the students based on their grades. But there was this controversial issue as to how we could be so sure about two students who obtained grade six. If you and I obtain grade 6, and we all choose to do science at Prempeh College, then it means Prempeh has to choose one if they only need one student. In this case which one would you choose because the grades are the same?” Seventeen years after its introduction, however, corruption continues to eat away the integrity of the system, enabling those who can afford to pay huge amounts to get access to the choicest of schools. Those who are paid to resolve the problem have become the problem as The Fourth Estate found during its investigations. Some heads of Senior High Schools report constant fluctuations in admission numbers as a yearly occurrence. At the Wesley Girls Senior High School, for instance, a source told The Fourth Estate that the numbers were no different from the previous years when the government was using the double track system. However, the science classes which were usually 14 had increased to 15 classes. At Mfantsipim Senior High School, the school had enrolled 1100 first-year students in 2021 for both tracks but in the 2022 single track, the number had increased to 1406. This compelled school authorities to increase the number of science classes from 14-17. The number of classes for the General Arts programme had also gone up by two. The treasurer for the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), Emmanuel Fiemawhle, told The Fourth Estate that there was a need to have a review of the current CSSPS to ease the burden on heads of Senior High Schools. The Executive Director of the education think-tank, Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare chastised the Ministry of Education for the role it continues to play in fueling the challenges and called for a more transparent placement system. “The point we have gotten to now is worse than 15 years ago when headmasters were doing admissions. The reason we brought in CSSPS was that many headmasters had become corrupt. It was a gold mine for admissions, and we wanted to end that system and bring in a much more meritorious and equitable system that all citizens could trust. “But we have gotten to the point where the essence to end the old so-called corrupt system has been defeated. The current one is without a doubt more corrupt than the previous one and people are not too happy but the few are happy because they are able to pay GHS 10,000, GHS 15,000 for placement etc.” Source: THE FOURTH ESTATE

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has launched a manhunt for a Lebanese national who was sentenced to jail in 5years over fraud. EOCO, on 5th August, 2020 arraigned one Lebanese National by name Naji Khalil before the Accra Circuit Court 4 presided over by His Honour M.E. Essandoh, after haven been investigated for serious offences. The accused at the time of investigation was a member of notorious international organized criminal group including Nabil Zayani (Lebanese), Abraham Faouri (Jordanian) and Tony Michaelis. They were charged with Conspiracy to Defraud by False Pretence, Defrauding by False Pretence, Participating in Organised Criminal Group, Conspiracy to Commit Crime to wit Money Laundering and Money Laundering. On 22nd June, 2022, His Honour M. E. Essandoh sentenced Naji Khalil to five (5) years imprisonment with hard labour on two counts of Conspiracy to Defraud by False Pretence and Defrauding by False Pretence. The convict, Naji Khalil was tried in absentia because he jumped bail during the trial and the court issued bench warrant for his arrest. The three (3) others were at large at the time of the court action therefore were not available to take their pleas. This Office is hereby appealing to the general public for assistance towards the arrest of the said convict to serve his just prison terms. Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of the convict should contact the Office directly or through EOCO helpline 0257044779 or our Official WhatsApp Line 057979066. FACTS OF THE CASE In April 2019, the victim Dr. Khadidja Katir, an Algerian national, reported to EOCO and alleged that she had been defrauded by an organised crime group based in Ghana comprising of four (4) suspects Naji Khalil, Nabil Zayani, Abraham Faouri and Tony Michaelis to the tune of USD138,000. This was done under the pretext of airlifting ‘rough crystals’ worth USD4Billion to her in Malta. Following several telephone calls after the victim had transferred the moneys, the accused persons refused to pick calls from her. However, on one occasion that they finally picked her call, they threatened to kill her if she ever set foot in Ghana. Despite the threats, the victim Dr. Khadidja Katir arrived in Ghana where she lodged a complaint at EOCO for investigation. Investigations confirmed that the suspects are members of an international organised criminal syndicate that defrauds members of the unsuspecting public. Credit: EOCO

Former Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu has appealed to the rank and file of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and general public to ignore with contempt comments posted on social media by some fake accounts bearing his name. According to the Former Minority Leader, those comments are mere attempts by distractors to sow seeds of discontent between him and the party. In a release signed by him, he said "I therefore entreat the general public, particularly the rank and file of our great NDC party, to ignore the posts with the contempts they deserve" "The creation of the accounts and the posts therein are mere attempts by distractors to sow seeds of discontent withing the hierarchy of the party and to smear my person but they shall definitely fail" "Indeed, I have never been on social media" Below is a copy of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Government of Ghana and the Ghana Insurers Association (GIA) have reached an agreement on the participation of insurance companies in the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP). In a release sighted by Thinknewsonline.com, under the agreement, insurance companies will participate in the Exchange on similar terms as the banks. The release said "That the Government through the solvency window of the Ghana Financial Stability Fund (GFSF) will provide support for the insurance companies that are seriously affected by the DDEP" It added that the objective is to protect jobs and the stability of the industry. Below is a copy of the release:

Afrobeats and dancehall star Stonebwoy has revealed that Asamoah Gyan took care of the cost of his knee surgery seven years ago. Stonebwoy says Asamoah Gyan paid for his knee surgery 7 years ago It will be recalled that, in 2016, the award-winning singer underwent surgery in Germany to fix his limping knee. Stonebwoy's right leg was left deformed after he was involved in an accident about two decades ago. Reports suggest the same accident took away his twin brother’s life. Having been limping for many years, the BET award winner finally went under the knife seven years ago to fix his knee and has now revealed that Gyan paid for the procedure. Ina post on Twitter, Stonebwoy thanked the former Black Stars captain for his benevolence and said he was grateful. “Asamoah Gyan you came through for me around this same time 7 years on. You decided to take my surgery cost, I'm forever Grateful,” he wrote. The veteran footballer replied: “Oh woooow. 7 years already? I’m happy to be part of this. It’s all from the heart,” with Stonebwoy adding: “Time flies but I can never forget. 5 months after the passing of my mum.” Stonebowy and Gyan have been very good friends for some years now, with the pair even recording some songs together. The song ‘Dirty Enemies’ was released in 2018 by Stonebwoy, who featured Gyan on it. The song talks about how one’s enemies have no say in what God has already decided. Stonebwoy sang the chorus, while Gyan joined at the tail end of the song with his own unique lines. The song became a massive hit within and outside Ghana, with former Ivory Coast international, Didier Drogba even spotted jamming to it. Credit: Pulse Ghana

News coming in indicates that Mr Ernest Kwasi Nimako has been relieved of his duties at the First Atlantic Bank. According to reports, First Atlantic Bank has fired Deacon Nimako on the back of Deborah Adablah’s controversial lawsuit. The former Chief Finance Officer of First Atlantic Bank, Mr Nimako is apparently unemployed after publicly being exposed for his romantic relationship with a former National Service personnel at the bank, Deborah Adablah. A few days ago, a strange writ found its way onto the internet. The writ exposed that Mr Nimako used his influential position as the CFO to cultivate a romantic relationship with his subordinate Deborah Adablah. Deborah Adablah dragged him to court over claims that he has been dishonest in providing for her needs. According to her, Mr Nimako took back a car he bought for her and also failed to pay for her 3 years’ rent after making payment for one year. Deborah Adablah also disclosed that Deacon Nimako was supposed to be giving her GHC 3000 monthly stipend but he stopped paying in the course of time. And he also refused to give her a lump sum capital to start her own business although they agreed on that. Deborah Adablah has therefore sued him to take the car back, and get back pay of her monthly stipend among other things. Meanwhile, she has already cost the man his job! Check out the post below; Source: GhanaCelebrities.com

Ghana has become the second country in Africa after Mozambique to receive payments from a World Bank trust fund for reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, commonly known as REDD+. The World Bank’s Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) paid Ghana $4,862,280 for reducing 972,456 tons of carbon emissions for the first monitoring period under the program (June to December 2019). “This payment is the first of four under the country’s Emission Reductions Payment Agreement (ERPA) with the World Bank to demonstrate potential for leveraging results based payments for carbon credits,” said Pierre Laporte, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. “Subject to showing results from actions taken to reduce deforestation, Ghana is eligible to receive up to $50 million for 10 million tons of CO2 emissions reduced by the end of 2024.” These actions are within a six-million-hectare stretch of the West Africa Guinean Forest, where biodiversity and forests are under pressure from cocoa farming and unsustainable harvesting, and small-scale mining. Ghana is one of 15 countries that have signed ERPAs with the World Bank. "The many years of dialogue, consultations, and negotiations with local communities, traditional authorities, government agencies, private sector, CSOs, and NGOs have paid off,” said Samuel A. Jinapor, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. “This emission reductions payment will further promote confidence in Ghana’s REDD+ process for action to reduce deforestation and forest degradation while empowering local community livelihoods. The road to global 1.5 degrees cannot be achieved without healthy standing forests, and Ghana is committed to making it possible.” Ghana is the world’s second-largest cocoa producer. Cocoa drives the economy, but it is also one of the main causes of deforestation and forest degradation in the southeast and western regions of the country. Stakeholders are working to help some 140,000 Ghanaian farmers increase cocoa production using climate-smart agro-forestry approaches, rather than slash and burn land-clearing techniques that decimate forests. More sustainable cocoa farming helps avoid expansion of cocoa farms into forest lands and secures more predictable income streams for communities. Ghana’s Cocoa Board is participating in the REDD+ process, as are some of the most important cocoa and chocolate companies in the world, including World Cocoa Foundation members like Mondelēz International, Olam, Touton, and others. Their combined actions are not only helping bring change to the cocoa sector, but they are also helping Ghana meet its national emissions reductions commitments under the Paris Agreement. This level of collaboration is also reflected in the benefit sharing plan underpinning Ghana’s’ ERPA with the World Bank. Prepared through extensive consultations with local stakeholders and civil society organizations throughout the country, the plan ensures all participating stakeholders are fairly recognized and rewarded for their role in reducing emissions. The Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) is a global partnership of governments, businesses, civil society, and Indigenous Peoples' organizations focused on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, forest carbon stock conservation, the sustainable management of forests, and the enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries, activities commonly referred to as REDD+. Launched in 2008 the FCPF has worked with 47 developing countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean, along with 17 donors that have made contributions and commitments totaling $1.3 billion. Credit: World Bank

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has pledged her renewed commitment to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the government of President Akufo-Addo. Speaking at a meeting with the leadership of the NPP at the Party’s headquarters, Madam Adwoa Safo said her absence from Parliament in 2022 was not deliberate. Adwoa Safo was the subject of many media discussions last year following her long absence from the House and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection. The former Deputy Majority Leader requested for leave of absence in 2021 to attend to personal issues but in a statement dated Wednesday, October 6, 2021, signed and issued by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, it was explained that Adwoa Safo’s leave was to have ended August 31, 2021, but was further extended indefinitely. Efforts by Parliament’s Privileges Committee to get the legislator to give reasons for her continued absence from the House failed to yield any positive results. The Committee had failed to achieve a consensus in its recommendations on whether absenting herself for more than the mandatory 15 days without permission warranted her seat being declared vacant. President Akufo-Addo subsequently relieved her of responsibilities as Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection. Upon her return from the U.S, she expressed her desire to remain in Parliament and represent her constituents. Source: Citinews

Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources on Tuesday, January 24, 2023 launched the Bongo-Soe Community Mining Scheme (CMS) at Bongo-Soe in the Upper East Region. At a colorful ceremony graced by the Upper East Regional Minister, Hon. Stephen Yakubu and some traditional authorities in the area, Hon Samuel A. Jinapor commissioned the Bongo-Soe Community Mining Scheme (CMS)which is expected to provide direct and indirect jobs to the people of Bongo and its environs. Addressing the gathering, Hon. Jinapor disclosed that the Northern part of the country has been blessed with rich mineral deposit. He reference the presence of some mining companies such as Cardinal Namdini Resources, Perseus Mining among others as justification that this part of the country is blessed with rich minerals resources particularly gold. He stressed on the importance of correcting the mistake of the past by ensuring the exploitation of the resources in a responsible and sustainable manner. According to the Lands Minister, H. E President Akufo-Addo’s government is bent on revamping the mining sector and raising local giants in the small scale mining industry and the Community Mining Scheme is an ideal way of achieving that. He believes that the Community Mining Scheme will create employment in the area and improve the livelihoods of the people. The Minister, cautioned that there is a manual for the Community Mining Scheme and must therefore be religiously adhered to whiles warning that the Ministry will not hesitate to revoke the license if the CMS is found not to be following the measures stipulated in the manual. He urged the management of the Scheme to work effectively with the stakeholders in the area including the DCE and the traditional authorities to ensure that royalties are paid, local jobs are created, reliefs and overall progress in the area is achieved. Hon. Stephen Yakubu, the Upper East Regional Minister said he was elated that the job creation project has been instituted in his region. He assured that they will implement the measures contained in the CMS manual and employed the youth in the area to commit to the project for it to succeed. He also assured that the gold katcha which was donated by the government will be used for its intended purpose. The paramount chief of the Bongo Traditional Area Naba Baba Salifu Atamaale was optimistic that the scheme will provide the necessary employment in the area and added that mining must be done within the confines of the law and he will in his capacity as the chief ensure that the laws are adhered to. The Bongo- Soe CMS is the first CMS to be launched in Upper East region. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

A Former National Service personnel of First Atlantic Bank in Accra has filed a suit against one of the bank’s manager, Ernest Kwasi Nimako, after the latter allegedly failed to uphold commitments made in their supposed intimate relationship. A Director of Finance, Mr Kwasi Nimako, was sued by Deborah Seyram Adablah and he is expected to appear before Friday, January 27.The First Atlantic Bank has also been joined to the suit. According to the writ of summons sighted by 3news.com, the plaintiff, whose national service period came to an end in July 2021, admits to be in a relationship with the married Ernest Kwasi Nimako following the fact that her happiness at the workplace was under threat had she failed to give in to the relationship. She further states that she had turned down an opportunity to be a permanent staff after her National Service due to the manager’s promise of making life comfortable for her by paying her rent, capital for business, getting her a new car and even divorcing his substantive wife for her among others. It was captured in the writ, however, that the manager did well to deliver some part of his obligations until their relationship got complicated. She is now demanding that the rest of the promises be fulfilled including the payment of a remaining two-year rent as well as changing ownership of the car he bought for her as part of the promises. The First Atlantic Bank, which was joined in the suit, has been accused of allowing senior officers to enter into relationships with unwilling subordinates while using the females as baits to win customers for the company. Meanwhile, management of the Bank is in a crunch meeting over the issue. Below are some pictures: Credit: 3news.com