The Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, responsible for Mines, Hon. George Mireku Duker has disclosed that Ghana's newly constructed Gold Refinery, Royal Gold Ghana is set and ready to be Commissioned latest by August 2022 by the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. The Deputy Minister made this known when he paid a working visit on behalf of the Sector Minister, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor to inspect the Refinery at the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) premises in Accra, on Tuesday, 28th June, 2022. Hon. Duker highly commended the team at PMMC saying that he is impressed with the work done and particularly happy that the vision of the President Akufo-Addo led government, to add value to the various Minerals produced in Ghana is on course with the completion of the Refinery. "As we have a Refinery here in Ghana, the value addition goal of the President will be met and this tells you that we are going to expand the base, we are going to add more value and more importantly, Gold would not be exported in the raw form." He assured that government through the Lands Ministry will tick all boxes to ensure that the state-of-the-art refinery is not a "white elephant" but is put to the intended purpose for the country to benefit fully from it's proceeds. Hon. Duker hoped that the Refinery although currently being operated by foreign Nationals, will soon create more jobs for the Ghanaian youth through knowledge sharing and also add value to gold produced in Ghana as is the goal of the President Akufo-Addo led government. The Mines Deputy Minister stressed that the Ministry is interested in building local champions to set up and own Mines that will rob shoulders with those of international standards like Newmont and Anglo Gold Ashanti. He hammered on traceability and charged officals of PMMC to ensure that the Minamata convention on Mercury is met at all cost in the process of utilising the refinery. Having taken a quick tour of the premise, he disclosed that the Refinery has already taken a test of processing the raw gold "and the result I must say are of very good standards, 99.9% pure. Very similar to what we saw in South Africa on our last trip to a Gold mine there" The Managing Director of Precious Minerals Marketing Company, Mr. Nana Akwasi Awuah on his part, expressed his appreciation to the Deputy Minister for his involvement and efforts in securing the reduction of the 3% withholding tax on Gold exports. He reported to the Deputy Minister that the reduction from 3% to 1.5% has been of immense benefit as the industry has seen a good increment in production and profit since the beginning of the year. "In December 2021, we did less than 200 kilograms of Gold but when the reduction took effect in January this year, that figure shot up to over 100% where we did over 400kilograms which means that it is having a positive impact." He added that he is also elated that through the efforts of H.E the President, the country has the first working gold refinery with state participation in-country which will add value to the ore mined. The Refinery, known as the Royal Ghana Gold Refinery whose construction begun in 2019, has the capacity to Refine from 300 to 500 kilograms per a day through chemical and electrical methods. Some facilities available at the Refinery include the Control room, the Scanner, the Refinery section which has the Electrolycis machine, the Moulding room and the Assay laboratory, among others. Below are some pictures: Story by: Nadia Aidoo

I have never seen a group of indisciplined Police like I saw today. They were carefully selected to put fear in people, but they failed. Their shameful acts were exposed today. The demonstration continues tomorrow at the Elwak stadium at 9AM. It is sad the man who organised almost 200 demonstrations before becoming president is now afraid of demonstrations. Never sit on the fence and see the economy suffer, the insecurity is worsening, corruption is at its all time worse. Stand up for your rights!!! Stand up and fight the impunity. Stand up and be counted. We have only one Ghana. Akuffo Addo must not destroy it for us and our children. We must meet tomorrow. We must continue the demonstration, it will yield results!!! *Kun fa Yakun* Credit: Godwin Ako Gunn, Deputy National Communications Officer NB: Views expressed are solely those of the author and does not represent that of Thinknewsonline.com. Thinknewsonline.com cannot be sued for defamation.

The Police fired shots at some demonstrators after they were pelted with stones during the Arise Ghana pressure group protest in Accra on Tuesday June 28. TV3’s Eric Mawuena Ebegta who witnessed the scenes reported that “The Police are still firing as individuals are still throwing stones at the Police. “They are insisting on using the Ring Road through to the Presidency and the Police are refusing to allow them to do that which has resulted in the firing of tear gas and the use of water canon against the demonstrators. That is the current situation at the Obra spot in Accra.” In the early hours of the demonstration, Ningo Prampram lawmaker, Samuel Nartey George said that members of the pressure group will continue to put pressure on the government to do the right things. He called on the President to stop renting jets for his trips outside the country and resort to the Presidential jet which was used by his predecessor Former President John Dramani Mahama. Addressing members of the pressure group during their demonstration in Accra on Tuesday June 28, he said “The President should stop flying in rented and luxurious jets and use the presidential jet that President Mahama used" “One day, we assure all and like the Bible says, weeping may endure for a while but joy comes in the morning. Our joy will come on the 7th of January 2024/ But between now and December 7 2024.” The purpose of the demonstration, according to them, is to protest against persistent and astronomical hikes in fuel prices by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government that has imposed excruciating economic hardships on Ghanaians. It is also to protest against the imposition of “the obnoxious E-Levy on the already-burdened Ghanaian people by the insensitive Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government. “Demand a full scale and bi-partisan parliamentary probe into COVID-19 expenditures; Protest against the grabbing of State lands by officials of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, particularly the de-classification of huge portions of the Achimota Forest reserve. “Protest against the increased rate of police brutalities and state-sponsored killing of innocent Ghanaians, as well as the growing culture of human rights abuses under the watch of President Akufo-Addo and Alhaji Bawumia.” Watch the video below: Credit: 3news.com

The Police have described as shameful alleged attack on them by members of the Arise Ghana pressure group during the demonstration on Tuesday June 28. The Police in a tweet said “Attack on Police in the Ongoing Arise Ghana Demonstration What a shame, we were there to protect you and ensure your safety, but you throw stones at us, injure and hurt us. This behaviour is unacceptable and must be condemned.” The Police fired shots at some of the demonstrators after they were pelted with stones. TV3’s Eric Mawuena Ebegta who witnessed the scenes reported that “The Police are still firing as individuals are still throwing stones at the Police. “They are insisting on using the Ring Road through to the Presidency and the Police are refusing to allow them to do that which has resulted in the firing of tear gas and the use of water canon against the demonstrators. That is the current situation at the Obra spot in Accra.” In the early hours of the demonstration, Ningo Prampram lawmaker, Samuel Nartey George said that members of the pressure group will continue to put pressure on the government to do the right things. He called on the President to stop renting jets for his trips outside the country and resort to the Presidential jet which was used by his predecessor Former President John Dramani Mahama. Addressing members of the pressure group during their demonstration in Accra on Tuesday June 28, he said “The President should stop flying in rented and luxurious jets and use the presidential jet that President Mahama used. “One day, we assure all and like the Bible says, weeping may endure for a while but joy comes in the morning. Our joy will come on the 7th of January 2024/ But between now and December 7 2024.” The purpose of the demonstration, according to them, is to protest against persistent and astronomical hikes in fuel prices by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government that has imposed excruciating economic hardships on Ghanaians. It is also to protest against the imposition of “the obnoxious E-Levy on the already-burdened Ghanaian people by the insensitive Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government. “Demand a full scale and bi-partisan parliamentary probe into COVID-19 expenditures; Protest against the grabbing of State lands by officials of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, particularly the de-classification of huge portions of the Achimota Forest reserve. “Protest against the increased rate of police brutalities and state-sponsored killing of innocent Ghanaians, as well as the growing culture of human rights abuses under the watch of President Akufo-Addo and Alhaji Bawumia.” Below are some pictures: Credit: 3news.com

Ningo Prampram lawmaker, Samuel Nartey George, has said members of the Arise Ghana pressure group will continue to put pressure on the government to do the right things. He called on the President to stop renting jets for his trips outside the country and resort to the Presidential jet which was used by his predecessor Former President John Dramani Mahama. Addressing members of the pressure group during their demonstration in Accra on Tuesday June 28, he said “The President should stop flying in rented and luxurious jets and use the presidential jet that President Mahama used. “One day, we assure all and like the Bible says, weeping may endure for a while but joy comes in the morning. Our joy will come on the 7th of January 2024/ But between now and December 7 2024.” The purpose of the demonstration, according to them, is to protest against persistent and astronomical hikes in fuel prices by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government that has imposed excruciating economic hardships on Ghanaians. It is also to protest against the imposition of “the obnoxious E-Levy on the already-burdened Ghanaian people by the insensitive Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government. “Demand a full scale and bi-partisan parliamentary probe into COVID-19 expenditures; Protest against the grabbing of State lands by officials of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, particularly the de-classification of huge portions of the Achimota Forest reserve. “Protest against the increased rate of police brutalities and state-sponsored killing of innocent Ghanaians, as well as the growing culture of human rights abuses under the watch of President Akufo-Addo and Alhaji Bawumia.” Story by: Laud Nartey

Over Five Hundred (500) members of pressure group, Arise Ghana have stormed Obra Spot in Circle to embark on the much-awaited demonstration dubbed 'Krom ay3 shi'. According to the members, they are embarking on the demonstration to register its displeasure on what they call a heartless and clueless Akufo-Addo administration. Clad in red, the angry youths say if government fails to heed to their concerns, it will kick them out come 2024. Some plaques read 'a gallon of oil is now GHc500', 'krom ay3 shi', 'Mr. President, where is our money' among others. As part of its promise of ensuring a peaceful demonstration, the Ghana Police Service has deployed its men to observe, maintain law and order. Thinknewsonline.com will be updating readers on new developments. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

A motorist suspected to be a staff of Ghana Revenue Authority at the Birem Central Municipal Assembly has drowned. His private vehicle, a Benz car, with registration number GW 9000-W veered of its course and plunged into the Boti River along the Oda-Ofoase-Ayerebi road. He was said to be heading to Akyem Oda. Residents along the stretch narrated how they noticed the vehicle take a sharp turn before it veered and plunged into the river. He was unable to come out of the vehicle whiles many looked on helplessly. The onlookers said they feared for their lives as they are unable to swim to rescue him. Help from other residents from the next town, Oda Nkwanta, however, arrived but it was too late. The body has been deposited at the Oda Government Hospital after doctors there officially declared him dead. Residents bemoaned the delay in the construction of the Oda-Ofoase-Ayerebi road and demanded that it is fixed immediately. Story by: Yvonne Neequaye

At least 13 people are killed and 50 others wounded in a Russian missile strike on a shopping mall in central Ukraine, senior officials say. Rescuers work at the site of a shopping mall hit by a Russian missile strike in Kremenchuk, Ukraine [Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine via A Russian strike has killed at least eight civilians in the eastern Ukrainian city of Lysychansk as they were out collecting water, Luhansk’s region governor says. Russian shelling in the city of Kharkiv in northeast Ukraine has killed five people and wounded 22, including five children, regional governor says. In the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk, a Russian missile strike has hit a crowded shopping centre, killing at least 13 people and wounding 50, senior Ukrainian officials say. NATO will increase the strength of its rapid reaction force nearly eightfold to 300,000 troops, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says. The US will provide an advanced air missile defence system to Ukraine, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan confirms on the sidelines of the G7 summit taking place in southern Germany. Russia’s “brutal” missile strike on a crowded shopping mall in central Ukraine constitutes a war crime, G7 leaders have said, vowing that Putin and those responsible would be held to account. “Indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime,” the leaders said in a statement as they “solemnly condemn the abominable attack” in Kremenchuk city. Ukraine has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council over recent Russian strikes on civilian targets, the presidency of the UN body has said. The missile strike on a shopping centre in Kremenchuk “is the main focus” of the meeting, set for Tuesday at 19:00 GMT, said a spokesman for the Albanian mission, which currently holds the rotating Security Council presidency. The “shelling all over Kyiv” on Sunday, which hit a residential complex, will also be discussed at the meeting, the spokesman said. Turkish defence firm Baykar has said it will donate three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Ukraine, after a crowdfunding campaign there raised enough funds to buy “several” of the Bayraktar TB2 model. The TB2 has been hugely popular in Ukraine, where it helped destroy Russian artillery systems and armoured vehicles. It even became the subject of a patriotic expletive-strewn hit song in Ukraine that mocked Russian troops, with the chorus “Bayraktar, Bayraktar”. Baykar said the crowdfunding campaign in Ukraine had reached the milestone in a few days and that business leaders as well ordinary people contributed to the fund. “Baykar will not accept payment for the TB2s, and will send three UAVs free of charge to the Ukrainian war front,” the company said in a statement. “We ask that raised funds be remitted instead to the struggling people of Ukraine,” it said. Russia must answer for the deadly missile strike on a crowded Ukrainian shopping centre, France’s Foreign Ministry has said, condemning the attack. “Russia must answer for these acts. France supports the fight against impunity in Ukraine,” the Foreign Ministry’s spokeswoman said in a statement. The Foreign Ministry in Greece has slammed Russia’s decision to expel eight Greek diplomats as a “decision without a foundation”. The remaining Greek diplomats would “continue their mission under particularly difficult conditions,” the ministry said in a statement. Greece expelled 12 Russian diplomats at the beginning of April. Relations between Athens and Moscow are at their lowest since the collapse of the Soviet Union, due to Greece’s participation in sanctions imposed on Russia due to the war, as well as weapons deliveries to Ukraine. At least eight civilians have been killed and 21 wounded in a Russian missile attack on Lysychansk, Serhiy Haidai, governor of the Luhansk region, has said on the Telegram messaging app. “Today, when the civilian people were collecting water from a water tank, the Russians aimed at the crowd,” Haidai said. There was no immediate comment from Russia, which denies targeting civilians. Russian shelling in the city of Kharkiv, northeast Ukraine has killed five people and wounded 22, including five children, the regional governor has said. There was no immediate comment from Russia, which denies targeting civilians. “All of them are civilians of Kharkiv, who were walking on the streets, on playgrounds,” Oleh Synehubov, governor of the Kharkiv region, said on the Telegram messaging app. “My sincere condolences to their families.” Dmytro Lunin, governor of the central Poltava region, has said on Telegram that 11 people have now been confirmed killed by the strike, adding that rescue workers will keep searching through the smouldering rubble, with more bodies likely to be found. Lunin also wrote on Telegram that 21 people had been hospitalised, and 29 others had been given first aid without hospitalisation. “It’s an act of terrorism against civilians,” he said separately, suggesting there was no military target nearby that Russia could have been aiming at. The shopping centre in Kremenchuk, Ukraine is seen burning after it was hit by a missile. Speaking at a joint briefing with his Moldovan counterpart Maia Sandu, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine will respond to any attempted attacks from the territory of a Russian-backed breakaway region outside the control of Moldova’s capital, Chisinau. After Sandu visited Kyiv and its suburbs, Zelenskyy said that any attempts to strike Ukraine from Transnistria, which broke off from Moldova in 1992 and continues to host Russian troops, would be “a mistake on a global scale”. “These people from the temporarily occupied territories of Moldova should know that for us it will not be a blow, but a mere slap in the face and we will respond to this slap in the face with a blow,” Zelenskyy said. US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has voiced horror at Russia’s deadly strike on a crowded mall and vowed to hold Moscow responsible. “The world is horrified by Russia’s missile strike today, which hit a crowded Ukrainian shopping mall – the latest in a string of atrocities,” Blinken wrote on Twitter. “We will continue to support our Ukrainian partners and hold Russia, including those responsible for atrocities, to account.” UN spokesman says attack on Ukraine shopping mall ‘deplorable’ The United Nations is concerned about the intensifying fighting in Ukraine and the “deplorable” attack on a shopping mall, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric has said. “It is deplorable, to say the least. Any sort of civilian infrastructure, which includes obviously shopping malls, and civilians should never ever be targeted,” Dujarric told reporters. At least 10 killed in Russian missile strike on shopping mall: Governor At least 10 people were killed in a Russian missile strike on the shopping mall in Kremenchuk, regional governor Dmytro Lunin has said. Lunin, the governor of the Poltava region, said that 40 others had been wounded. Three killed, 40 wounded in Kremenchuck attack: Officials Two Russian missiles that hit the Kremenchuk shopping centre have killed at least three people and wounded 40, senior Ukrainian officials have said. Credit: Aljazeera

As part of plans for the upcoming season, GFA recently announced that the registration and signing period for teams would begin on Friday, July 1, 2022. Starting next month, Premier League, Division One League, and Women’s Premier League clubs will be able to register their players and make transfer deals with the window closing in the middle of August. The Ghana Card is one of the requirements for teams to be allowed to register their players for the upcoming season. The authorities in Ghana are actively working to digitally integrate all systems and cards, and the Ghana Card is essential to those efforts. The Ghana Card, according to the GFA, will be the only evidence of identification for registration; renewals, transfers, and new registrations. The GFA’s 8 rules for the Registration and Transfer Window are as follows: 1. All queries for 2021/2022 season on the club’s dashboard when vetted after July 1, 2022 will revert to 2021/2022 season and therefore clubs will have to renew the registration of the players again for the 2022/2023 season. 2. Payment of registration licenses must be made before applications are submitted for vetting otherwise such applications shall not be vetted and shall be rejected in the system. 3. Wrong, fake, unreadable documents in their application, SHALL be rejected in the system. 4. The GHANA CARD shall be the only proof of identity for registration both renewals, transfers and new registration. 5. All transfers both domestic and international must be done in the TMS before registration can be completed in the registration system. 6. Clubs are to ensure that they check the player’s name in the system, before registering a player as a new player and taking full responsibility and consequences for the new registration. 7. Club that refuses to release an amateur player to the new club, the GFA shall release the amateur player to the new club to ensure smooth registration of such a player. 8. Club that refuses to counter instruct a transfer request in the DTMS when there is a transfer agreement, the player involved will be declared free and all the benefits in the transfer agreement will be nullified. Credit: Myjoyonline.com

The Ghana Police Service says it will provide the necessary protection to demonstrators who will be embarking on the Arise Ghana demo slated for Tuesday and Wednesday in Accra. According to the Police, it will do so in line with the court's ruling. In a statement signed by Director, Public Affairs, CSP Grace Ansah-Akrofi, she said "We have since contacted Arise Ghana and reiterated our commitment to provide the necessary protection for the demonstration in line with the court's ruling. They have in turn given the assurance that they will get back to us later today" The statement also mentioned that the demonstrators are to converge at the Obra Spot (Circle) and terminate the demonstration at the Independence Square. The statement also added that the demonstration is expected to commence at 8am and end at 4pm. "The Court after considering the application by the Police in respect to the intended demonstration by the Arise Ghana group and the Affidavit in opposition which was filed by lawyers of the group has ruled as follows" Thinknewsonline.com has gathered a representative from the Office of the President will receive the petition, if any. The Police is reminding the organisers of the mega demonstration to ensure strict compliance with the Public Order Act. Below is a copy of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Drunkards Association of Ghana has introduced an E-Drink app, in a bid to protect its members from being knocked down and killed by vehicles while crossing roads in their drunken states. This was disclosed by the president of the association, Moses Onyah, also known as Dry Bone, in an interview with Kofi Adoma on his Kofi TV. According to him, the initiative will make it unnecessary for members of the association to walk long distances to buy alcohol, and get involved in accidents while crossing the roads on their way home. Dry Bone added that from the comfort of their homes, his members would be able to order any kind of drink, and the quantity, and it would be delivered to their doorsteps. "The E-Drink will allow the members to request alcoholic from the nearby drinking spot by going to the Drunkards Association Facebook portal, click on the E-Drink, select the nearby drinking spot and choose the kind of drink you want. "When the app is activated, it will reduce the death rate among our members who are killed by moving vehicles, in an attempt to cross roads due to over-drinking," Dry Bone said. He urged alcohol lovers to register through the association’s Facebook portal by uploading their pictures and personal details, to enable them to access the E-Drink app. He is hopeful that the app will help reduce avoidable deaths among their 6.6 million members. He went further to advocate that the government should create an insurance program for his members that would be some form of pension for them in their old age. He asserted that he and his members drink about 1.6 million gallons of alcohol every year, and that helps to create employment for many Ghanaians who work in the alcoholic beverage production industry. He added that by drinking alcohol, members of his association contribute to the country’s economy, and hence the government must not take its eyes off them. Story by: Andreas Kamasah

An Accra High Court has ruled that pressure group, Arise Ghana can stage its protest only between the hours of 8am to 4pm. The court additionally directed that the protest should commence at the Obra Spot here in Accra and end at the Independence Square. This was the decision of the court in connection with a case filed by the Ghana Police Service. The Service filed the case seeking to halt the two day protest set to commence on Tuesday. This was after it alleged in a statement that the group, Arise Ghana, had refused to begin and end the demonstration before night fall. The group, however, contends it reached an agreement with the Police and is therefore surprised at the turn of events. DSP Sylvester Asare on Monday urged the court to adjourn the matter since the Police Service was yet to receive documents filed by the protestors. He asked for a two-day adjournment. But lawyer for the protestors, Godwin Tameklo accused the Police of bad faith; adding that the protest was to take place on Tuesday. He told the court that granting an adjournment will effectively mean putting the protest on hold. The group, he continued, informed the Police of the demonstration as far back as June 2. The Court presided over by Justice Comfort Tasiame adjourned proceedings to 11:30am to enable the Police to study the documents. At 11:30 am on Monday, DSP Asare once again asked for an adjournment. He explained that the Police needed more time to study the documents. On his part, Mr. Tameklo urged the court to dismiss the application, arguing that granting this request will empower the Police to use such processes to frustrate the rights of citizens to protest. Justice Comfort Tasiame subsequently dismissed the request by the Police and directed that lawyers for the Service justify why the protest should be halted. DSP Asare then told the court, the proposed timelines as put forward by the protestors have the potential to affect effective policing. He explained that it is on this basis that the Police was asking for a restraining order. He insisted the Police have no power under the law to determine at which time a protest should take place. He accused the Police yet again of acting in bad faith and going against its arrangement with the group. He said the organizers had initially wanted to stage a 48hour non-stop protest but later conceded to end at 3pm and 5pm on day one and two respectively. The Court presided over by Justice Tasiame decided to grant the request by the Police partially by fixing the said timelines and routes. Source: Joseph Ackah-Blay