The National Identification Authority (NIA) has responded to reports about the possession of a Ghana card by Aisha Huang, a Chinese national tagged as a “galamsey queen or kinpin”. NIA in a statement explained that it does not have the name Aisha Huang captured in its database. “The National Identity Register (NIR) compiled by NIA does not contain any record of a person named Aisha Huang. Put differently, the name Aisha Huang does not exist in the National Identification System (NIS) database,” NIA said in the statement. It emerged that, Aisha Huang in the wake of her re-arrest over illegal mining activities in the country despite her deportation was found to be in possession of a Ghana Card bearing the name Huang En. Explaining the viral Ghana card image suggesting that the galamsey kingpin has been given the Ghana card, the authority said that the particular registration was done in 2014 with the name Huang En and was renewed in 2016 and 2018 in Kumasi. It said a Chinese national tried to register a new non-resident Ghana card in August 2022 with the name Ruixia Huang, but its system flagged it because the biometric details matched that of Huang En. Since she could not provide proper details to authenticate her new identity, NIA in the statement said: “Huang En opted to renew with the old details and then go through the affidavit and gazette process later, after which she would then provide the documents for the update to be done. Her renewed Non-Citizen Ghana Card was then issued to her on 25th August 2022, bearing the old name. This card is what is now impugned and trending on social media.” “It must be emphasized that possession of the Non-Citizen Ghana Card does not confer or amount to having Ghanaian citizenship,” NIA clarified. Below is how the NIA explained the controversy: 1. On 26th February 2014, a Chinese woman named HUANG EN registered as a first time applicant for a foreigner identity card at the Foreigner Identification Management System (FIMS) registration centre at Nhyiaeso, Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region (passport attached). Her biometrics were captured and she was issued with a Non-citizen Ghana Card. She subsequently did two more renewals on 31st August 2016 and 8th January 2018, using the same details and Chinese passport number G39575625. Throughout all these registrations her details remained unchanged as below. Forename: En Surname: Huang Date of Birth: 07-Jul-86 Personal ID Number: CHN-010039480-J Passport Number: G39575625. 2. On 25th August 2022 at 10:35 am, an incident occurred at the FIMS Registration Centre in Tamale, Northern Region, involving a Chinese national who visited the centre as a first-time applicant with the following details: Forename: RUIXIA Surname: HUANG Date of Birth: 07-Nov-75 Passport Number: EJ5891162. 3. The registration, however, went into a technical state known as 'RejectedDueAFIS', which meant that the biometrics of RUIXIA HUANG possibly matched that of an already existing person in the NIS database. The registration officer therefore sent a request to the technical support team for further investigations. This revealed that, based on the biometrics provided, “RUIXIA HUANG” had previously registered as EN HUANG in the FIMS record under the NIS database. When confronted by the registration officer with this information, she claimed to have changed her name. As per NIA's normal registration process, EN HUANG was asked to provide an official certified affidavit and a gazette as required by law to support the change of name if the details in the passport with number EJ5891162 were to be used to update her old records. 4. EN HUANG was then given the option of waiting to bring in the required documents before her details could be updated or renewing her old registration with her Personal ID Number CHN-010039480-J, without any change in details. She opted to renew with the old details and then go through the affidavit and gazette process after which she would then provide the documents for the update to be done. Her renewed Non-Citizen Ghana Card was then issued to her on 25th August 2022, bearing the details below: Forename: EN Surname: HUANG Date of Birth: 07-Jul-86 Personal ID Number: CHN-010039480-J. 5. HUANG EN opted to renew with the old details and then go through the affidavit and gazette process later, after which she would then provide the documents for the update to be done. Her renewed Non-Citizen Ghana Card was then issued to her on 25th August 2022, bearing the old This card is what is now impugned and trending on social media. 6. It must be emphasized that possession of the Non-Citizen Ghana Card does not confer or amount to having Ghanaian citizenship. 7. The NIA's verification system functioned as designed to enable NIA prevent HUANG EN from registering under a new name and date of birth for a new Non-Citizen Ghana Card, despite her being in possession of two Chinese passports. By Citi Newsroom

An Accra High Court has sentenced a Liberian national to ten (10) years imprisonment for attempting to smuggle cocaine, a narcotic drug through the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) to Bangkok, Thailand. The court presided by her Ladyship Justice Mary Ekua Yanzuh on Wednesday 31st August, 2022, after the conviction of Ms. Wolo Maikplay Margaret, also fined her ten thousand penalty units in default to serve three years additional term. The accused pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted exportation and possession of a narcotic drug without a Minister of Health licence, in violation of sections 36 and 37 of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019), respectively. The presiding judge, however, found her guilty on her own plea on each count to run concurrently. Ms. Wolo Maikplay Margaret was apprehended by Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) officers on the 14th of May, 2022, while transiting through Kotoka International Airport (KIA) from Monrovia to Bangkok-Thailand onboard Qatar Airways. A total of thirty (30) pellets containing cocaine weighing 277.2101grams were retrieved from beneath her breast and Vagina when commission officials conducted a physical search on her after receiving a tip from a sister security agency at Kotoka International Airport (KIA). The commission also emphasises that the possession and attempted transportation of narcotic drugs is still illegal and punishable under domestic law. It also assures citizens of its ongoing commitment to keeping the influx and smuggling of all types of narcotic drugs to a bare minimum through collaboration with the relevant stakeholders. Credit: Modern Ghana

Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Kristalina Georgieva has stated that a deal between Ghana and the IMF should be reached and finalized before the end of the year. In a closed-door meeting with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Monday, September 5, on the sidelines of the Africa Adaptation Summit, in Rotterdam, Netherlands, she told him “we understand the urgency, and we will move as quickly as possible”. Describing Ghana as a “superb country”, she reiterated the determination of the Fund to work with Government and the Ministry of Finance, and ensure that an agreement is in place before the end of the year. On his part, President Akufo-Addo indicated to the IMF boss that a lot of work has been done by Cabinet and the Ministry of Finance, and the document to be presented by the Ghana side “is ready for the scrutiny of the IMF”. Meanwhile, Kristalina Georgieva has emphasized that Ghana’s current economic challenges are not locally generated but from external shocks. Speaking on the sidelines of the Fund’s engagements with the Ghanaian delegation, Kristalina Georgieva stated that contrary to the narrative that Ghana is not in these challenges because of any bad policies of the Akufo-Addo administration, the IMF boss stated that the factors are exogenous. “We have started very constructive discussions already and to the people of Ghana, like everybody on this planet, you have been hurt by exogenous shocks,” she said. She mentioned the extraneous factors which have contributed to Ghana’s economic woes, leading to the West African country seeking a programme from the IMF. “First the pandemic, then Russia’s war in Ukraine. We need to realize thar it is not because of bad policies in the country but because of this combination of shocks, and, therefore, we have to support Ghana,” she said. She also indicated that Ghana is a member of the IMF, “a strong country with fantastic people”, and as such it is incumbent on the Fund to lend the country support. Kristalina Georgieva also indicated “we have to support Ghana because your strength contributes to the strength of your neighbours; it contributes to a stronger world”. Ghana is before the IMF for $3 billion to help the country navigate through the hostile economic crisis it finds itself in as a result of the adverse effects of the deadly coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Source: 3news

The Director of Public Relations of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), Superintendent Michael Amoako-Atta has admitted that the country's borders are porous. Supt. Amoako-Atta made these known in an interviewed with an Accra-based television station in the wake of the re-arrest of popular Chinese illegal mining operator in Ghana, Madam Aisha Huang. In the interviewed monitored by Thinknewsonline.com, Supt. Amoako-Atta said "But when it comes to our borders, we have not hidden the fact that our borders are porous especially the sub-regions and it is not peculiar to the West African sub-region alone but across the whole world" The Director of Public Relations further described that the entry of Madam Aisha Huang in the country after being deported as illegal. He, however, noted that since the National Security is handling the issue due to its sensitive, Madam Aisha Huang was taken to court and a remand given her. "So I believe that all the other agencies and the Attorney General will come in and we will find the appropriate charges to level against her. If she is convicted on the Immigration rules, she may go in for two years, that is what the law says" "We are currently building the case because her mode of entry is one that we want to clarify and what she got herself engaged in, also will have to be looked into then, we can build a proper case against her" Supt. Amoako-Atta disclosed that the Immigration Service has a mixed bag of operational strategies in place adding that it cannot depend on the just its officers at the point of entry. "Looking at the terrain and nature of our job, you cant say that we are at the the borders so that is all. Internal intelligence gathering led to her arrest. Immigration is not sleeping on the job, we are very much alert so at any of these strategic points that we have, definitely, anybody who enters, will be arrested" "It is not like she has entered and we are not safe, she has entered but has been intercepted" Responding to the number of moths Madam Aisha Huang has been in the country before her re-arrest, Supt. Amoako-Atta said "The information, I have from my officers is not the three months that you are talking about. She came in mid August and by 2nd September, she was incepted by our officers." Watch the video below: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Contrary to claims that the State cannot prosecute Nana Appiah Mensah, commonly called NAM 1, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the defunct gold collectible company, Menzgold, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame has revealed that dockets for financial crimes in the country are almost ready for prosecution to start. According to him, the delay is as a result of painstaking investigations which have conducted into these crimes to gather all the facts. Ghana recently experienced alleged financial crimes including the activities of the defunct gold dealership firm, Menzgold. The Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah was in the news recently over claims that the State was finding it difficult in gathering evidence against NAM1. But such claim was later refuted by the Asante Professional Club, the group that invited the anti graft czar who said the EOCO boss was misquoted in his submission and did not say so. Another financial crime witnessed in the country was the banking crisis, leading to the Bank of Ghana (BoG) spending over GHC25billion to clean up the sector and formation of Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG). However, speaking on the financial sector at Cambridge University, Mr Dame indicated that “Between August 2017 and January 2020, Ghana was hit by a severe banking crisis that affected several institutions, and several indigenous banks, as a result of which the central bank ordered a take-over of some of the banks by the Ghana Commercial Bank. “The Central bank cited the insolvency of the banks as a significant reason for revoking their license.” “Five indigenous banks were consolidated to form the Consolidated Bank Ghana Limited. A deeper examination of the banking crisis showed poor corporate governance, non-performing loans, breach of directors’ obligations, credit risks, and regulatory lapses. “Internal auditors who were required to superintend proper accounting practices were complacent and covered up Executive Directors. The recent banking crisis held ramifications for the entire economy. It was the most severe economic crisis to affect Ghana since independence. “Another phenomenon that afflicted the financial sector of Ghana between 2018 and 2020 was the emergence of many unlicensed entities operating illegally. The leaders of such entities often lived a lavish lifestyle on the proceeds of their illicit activities. “Prominent among such entities was an amorphous organisation operating a microfinance institution under the guise of – guess what – gold trading and illegally using the name of a bank. It called itself Menzbank. Apparently, Menzgold, as it was also called, had been dealing in the purchase and deposit of gold collectibles from the public and issuing contracts with guaranteed returns to clients without a licence from the relevant authorities. “Against caution from the Central Bank, tens of thousands of individuals got hooked on the scheme devised by the company. Following the close down by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the customers could not retrieve their funds. The company relied on the greed and ignorance of thousands of otherwise hardworking Ghanaians who were prepared to pay their life savings to the suspects in the case, resulting in losses worth millions of dollars. “The situation caused misery and distress to many homes and unleashed a social crisis as riots and demonstrations broke out on the streets of Accra and other parts of the country. In real terms, people lost their homes, and some marriages have even broken up as a result of the Menzgold saga. Indeed, one lawyer suggested that the story of Menzgold could cause a civil war in Ghana in a manner akin to the civil war in Albania in 1997 caused by aggrieved customers of a Ponzi scheme. By the Grace of God, Ghana was saved from such a situation as a result of the prompt action taken by authorities at the helm of the financial system. I am happy to state that after painstaking investigations, dockets on that financial crime are almost ready for prosecution to commence in earnest. “The Office of the Attorney-General is prosecuting other high-profile cases involving the offences of wilfully causing financial loss to the State, stealing, corruption, fraud, procurement breaches and money laundering. These cases have as their sole object the principle of holding public officers to account and involve sums of over $850 million.” Source: Daily Guide

Uganda Police on Monday, September 5, said a 22-year-old woman who was captured in a video torturing her two-year-old daughter, has three children for three different men. Dorothy Nabulime was arrested on Saturday, September 3, after a video went viral in which she was captured brutalizing her child in an incident that happened at Busula A in Katikamu Sub County in Luweero District. In the video lasting one minute and fourteen seconds, the mother was seen beating her naked child with a slippers. The mother continues to beat the two year old girl until she slips off a basin with water pouring out but Nabulime is not about to end the beating. She hits the baby continuously with a slipper on the arms, head, legs, back and hands from when the baby is on the ground to when she gets back to the basin but the cries for mercy from the baby fell on deaf ears of Nabulime. The video which was recorded by the concerned neighbour and shared on social media, has since led to wide spread condemnation and uproar from members of the public. Police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, in a statement on Monday September 5, said further investigations have indicated that Nabulime has three children aged four years, two years and four months all from different men. "She is a mother of three children from three separate relationships and could have been affected for having three failed relationships. Her first born of four years was from her relationship with Christopher Kivumbi, the second born of two years that she was victimizing was from a second relationship with a man she has refused to disclose. The third child of four months is from her third relationship with Isaac Male," said police spokesperson, Enanga. “We believe that her anger towards the two year old child is transferred from the broken relationship with the father in the second relationship whom she has concealed. We believe this because the other two children of four years and four months are treated very well by her unlike the two year old girl from the second relationship.” Enanga said police got concerned after the video went viral in which the suspect showed no sympathy and love towards the child as is expected of a mother He noted that after her arrest, Nabulime is set to be arraigned before court in Luweero to answer charges of torture. "The victim was examined and there are no grave internal injuries from prolonged acts of beating from the mother. Our child and family protection unit have got her new friends to play with." he said The police spokesperson added that the hunt for the identity of the father of the tortured child is on to see if he can be reunited with his daughter or the child can be taken to a safe place for custody. "If we find it is not safe to reunite the child with the father, we will find alternatives of identifying a shelter home for this two year old victim” Enanga noted that police is also hunting for Isaac Male, the father of the four months child with whom the suspect has been living, who he said is currently on the run. Police say neighbours informed them that the torture has been ongoing for at least a year and they want to interrogate the step dad to answer as to why he never reported to authorities. "Male Isaac is wanted because evidence we have shows this girl victim was being tortured for that entire period of about one year he was staying with the lady and as a step father he never intervened at whatever stage when the step daughter was being tortured.” Enanga said when the video went viral, Male escaped from the village but noted the hunt for him is still on. Watch the video below: Credit: Peacefmoline.com

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has said he would not rely solely on public opinion to sack his ministers. He said while he listened to public opinion, which was crucial in a democracy, the decision to fire or not to fire someone was his to make. He said his ministers were assessed on a daily basis and when he was satisfied that someone was not working hard enough, he would act on it. “If I am satisfied that the output is still strong, I know what to do,” he stated , adding that at the end of the day, he had to make the judgement whether or not one should stay on or go. Calls for Finance Minister sack He said this in particular reference to the Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, whom people had continuously called for his dismissal. The President said Mr Ofori-Atta was the same person who took the country out from the IMF programme and worked to push the economy from the 3.4 per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth to about seven per cent. The President made the remarks in a radio interview on Obaatampa FM at Kasoa, as part of his working visit to the Central Region and monitored by the Daily Graphic. He said it was worrying that people had forgotten Mr Ofori-Atta’s efforts due to the economic challenges the country was going through. The President said he believed Mr Ofori-Atta had the same determination to bring the economy back on track. He said Ghana was certain to come out of its economic crisis. President Akufo-Addo said his government took over an economy in crisis and managed to double its GDP growth from 3.4 per cent to about seven per cent and repositioned the economy to one of the fastest growing one. COVID/ war effect He said it was unfortunate that the COVID pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war had disrupted not only the Ghanaian economy but the world economy. He noted for instance that in November last year, the government budgeted realistically with estimates of $64 a barrel for crude oil. This year, he noted, the price of crude had been over $100 a barrel, while freight rates had shot up significantly affecting badly the economy, which also depended heavily on imports. He noted that the issue was not the difficulties but how to get out of them, adding that he was determined that by the time he leaves office, the economy would be back on track, saying it was the only way he could help his party to break the eight. Thank you He thanked the people of the Central Region for their support for the party, saying the New Patriotic Party is the party capable of bringing accelerated development to the region and the country as a whole. Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

Hearts of Oak's new signing, Konadu Yiadom will not be part of the squad that will travel to Dormaa. Hearts of oak will play Aduana Stars in matchday one in the Ghana premier league opener. Report coming says former WAFA and Tema United defender will missed the game and Hearts of oak is set to unveil the budding defender in a special way in Accra sports stadium. Konadu Yiadom will be ready for selection on matchday two against their arc- rivals Great Olympics where Hearts of oak will unveil him to the fans. Konadu Yiadom is an integral part of the squad that qualified the Black Galaxies to CHAN tournament in Algeria next year. Credit: 442.com

Liz Truss vowed to be 'bold' in cutting taxes and reviving the economy after defeating Rishi Sunak in the Tory leadership contest today. Ms Truss takes the helm of a country in the grip of a cost-of-living crisis after seeing off the former chancellor's challenge with support from 81,326 party members, compared to Mr Sunak's 60,399. The 57 per cent to 43 per cent result - closer than some had expected - was announced by 1922 committee chair Sir Graham Brady in a glitzy ceremony at the QE2 Centre in Westminster. Credit: Dailymail.co.uk

Edouard Mendy has knocked back Chelsea's opening offer of a new contract. The Senegalese goalkeeper is one of the lowest-paid players in the Blues squad but rejected the first proposal because the terms were inferior to his understudy Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is on £190,000 a week. According to the Evening Standard, the club are keen to tie the stopper down to fresh terms despite recent mistakes against Leeds and West Ham. On Tuesday, homegrown defender Reece James committed to the club long-term, signing a bumper new six-year deal worth £250,000 a week and making him the highest-paid defender in Chelsea history. The west London side are also said to be opening contract talks with fellow academy star, midfielder Mason Mount, too as new owner Todd Boehly looks to secure the club's top talent for the foreseeable future. Source: Dailymail.co.uk

A man, Terry Ampofo, has accused Vodafone Ghana of causing the death of his brother, Michael Ampofo, through the installation of their fibre broadband cables. Addressing a press conference on September 5, 2022, Terry Ampofo explained that Vodafone Ghana installed fiber broadband cable very close to an 11,000 volts Electricity Company of Ghana high tension – a move he contends is against industry practice. According to him, the Vodafone cables have metal stiffeners that conduct electricity making them dangerous. He indicated that his brother died as a result of touching these cables a year ago. “To make matters worse, experts have confirmed that the metal that runs along fiber cable should not enter premises exposed. Fiber cable on its own cannot carry electricity but these Vodafone fiber cables have metal stiffeners running along them. “When they touch an electric cable, the insulation material can be exposed and transmit electricity to the premises and its very easy for a customer to accidentally touch the exposed metal which are left very close to the routers. As showed in the next picture and video. Any person touching this exposed metal stiffeners ran the risk of serious injuries or even death which has happened to my brother,” Terry Ampofo said. A year on after the demise of his brother, Terry Ampofo says the loss has affected the development of Michael’s children – one of whom saw the charred body of his father. He says all attempts to get Vodafone to pay compensation to the family have proven futile, leading it to seek legal redress. “Just over a year ago, actions of Agents of Vodafone Ghana resulted in the death of my junior brother Michael Ampofo. This has led to a great lost to the family including his 3 young children who lost the dependency of their father and have been left with a great deal of emotional tremor. Sadly, the burnt body of the father was discovered by one of the children whose sleep and development has been greatly affected by this incident. “Since the incident, reports after reports has indicated that Vodafone Ghana was liable due to installing their fiber broadband cable too close to ECG 11,000 volts high tension cable, which is against industry and international standards. Vodafone has rebuffed every attempt by the family to seek compensation so the case is now in court,” he added. Terry Ampofo has advised the public to immediately check their fibre broadband installations in order not to be at risk. “For safety reasons, I will advise every Vodafone broadband customer to check immediately, how their cable is connected from outside to their house to make sure the fiber and ECG cable are not too close. They also need to make sure that there are no exposed metal running along the fiber cable in their house or premises,” he concluded. Read below the full statement of Terry Ampofo Good Morning ladies and gentlemen of the Press. Thank you all for coming to this conference at a short notice. My name is Terry Ampofo. Just over a year ago, actions of Agents of Vodaphone Ghana resulted in the death of my junior brother Michael Ampofo. This has led to a great lost to the family including his 3 young children who lost the dependency of their father and have been left with a great deal of emotional tremor. Sadly, the burnt body of the father was discovered by one of the children who’s sleep and development has been greatly affected by this incident. Since the incident, reports after reports has indicated that Vodaphone Ghana was liable due to installing their fiber broadband cable too close to ECG 11,000 volts high tension cable, which is against industry and international standards. Vodaphone has rebuffed every attempt by the family to seek compensation so the case is now in Court. I have called a press conference today because this bad installation that killed my brother may be all over the country, and others could be affected. The public need to know that the dangers are still prevalent because Vodaphone Ghana has done a similar type of installation in my house. Yes, in my own house after the death of my brother. Vodaphone used ECG high voltage cable to support the fiber broadband cable serving my internet. As could be seen in the picture, video. To make matters worse, Expects have confirmed that the metal that runs along fiber cable should not enter premises exposed. Fiber cable on its own cannot carry electricity but these Vodaphone fiber cables have a metal stiffeners running along them. When they touch an electric cable, the insulation material can be exposed and transmit electricity to the premises and its very easy for a customer to accidentally touch the exposed metal which are left very close to the routers. As showed in the next picture and video. Any person touching this exposed metal stiffeners ran the risk of serious injuries or even death which has happened to my brother. For safety reasons, I will advise every Vodaphone broadband customer to check immediately, how their cable is connected from outside to their house to make sure the fiber and ECG cable are not too close. They also need to make sure that there are no exposed metal running along the fiber cable in their house or premises. Thank you all for you patience and I will be happy to take any questions. Source: ghanaweb.com

A couple was left stranded and without clothes in the streets, after they were carjacked while having sex in the backseat of their car. Though the incident happened in August in Brazil, the video which captured it all started trending this September. The video shows three robbers approaching a white sedan that is parked on the roadside. In an instant, the robbers started knocking violently on the windows demanding for the vehicle occupants to open the doors. The left back door then opens before two of the robbers help themselves with the front doors to occupy the car. From the backdoor, a stark naked man and woman are seen frantically coming out of the vehicle as the third robber moves in to occupy their seats. Before the car takes off, the robbers throw the couple’s clothes at them leaving the distraught love birds with a little more dignity. Watch the video below... Credit: Peacefmonline.com