Hearts of Oak’s new signing, Gladson Awako trained with his new teammates for the first time on Thursday since joining the club. The former TP Mezembe midfielder joined the Phobians in the transfer window after leaving Great Olympics. Awako reported for his first training on Thursday, three days after the club officially announced his signing. Hearts of Oak have started preparations for their CAF Champions League game against C I Kamsar of Guinea. Awako is expected to play a key role for the Phobians in the 2021/2022 season. Credit: Abdul Wadudu Osman

The National Chief Imam of Ghana, Sheik Osmanu Nunu Sharubutu, has donated GHS50,000 towards the construction of the National Cathedral. The Chief Imam made the announcement when the chairman and members of the board of trustees of the National Cathedral paid a courtesy call on him to congratulate him on the successful completion of the National mosque today, Thursday, August 26, 2021. The spokesperson for the Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shuaibu in a Citi News interview said the gesture was to further deepen the peaceful coexistence between Christians and Muslims in the country. According to him, the donation by the Chief Imam is to demonstrate the mutual cooperation that exists between Ghanaians of all religious faith. “As Ghanaians, we are all practitioners of a different faith, and we are able to sit around the same table and have an opportunity to discuss things and whatever comes by way of disagreement to really work and maintain our harmony, and we should not do anything to disturb our relationship. In fact, he said we should not use politics to disturb our relationship, and that we should keep politics aside and rather, as practitioners of different faiths, let’s all get united and see what we can do in the interest of our country.” “He also said we should be mindful of that fact that God has given us peace at the time when nations around us have been plunged into conflict, and he said it is in the spirit of solidarity and mutual cooperation that he donated the GHS50,000 as a token contribution towards the construction of the National Cathedral.” The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral, Apostle Opoku Onyinah, who was pleased with the contribution, called on Ghanaians to emulate the gesture. "We are extremely grateful to the Chief Imam for the contribution and also to those who haven’t understood the concept to exercise patience and follow the advice of the National Chief Imam that we should not begin to accuse one another and that religion should bring us together and should not divide us" he added. Credit: Citinewsroom

The Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Kwesi Ofori has hinted that police has begun an investigation into alleged police misconduct which occurred at Begoro in the Eastern Region. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/accra-ghana-police-service-commissions-motor-traffic-accident-monitoring-surveillance-center In a statement signed by ACP Kwesi Ofori, the Police Administration has intercepted an audiotape involving some personnel of the Begoro District Police Command of alleged gross misconduct and has since directed that Eastern Regional Police Command to investigate and report on the matter" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/2021-police-recruitment-we-have-not-engaged-any-middlemen-for-the-recruitment-acp-kwesi-ofori The Police through the statement have assured that any personnel found culpable will be sanctioned accordingly. Below is a copy of the letter: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Ministry of Information says it will be holding a conference with Development Partners and other Stakeholders to rally support for the Ministry's Media Support Programmes on Monday, August 30. In a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Munira Karim, Government through the Ministry has introduced two media support programmes aimed at creating a conducive and safe environment for media practitioners and enhance their capacity to effectively play their role in consolidating the country's democratic gains. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/daasebre-oti-boateng-joins-ancestors The statement said "This conference seeks to rally the support of Development Partners and Stakeholders to compliment the efforts of the Government in executing these media support initiatives" It is emerging that the programme will come off at the Alisa Swiss Spirit Hotel in Accra. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/agenda-111-hospital-projects-are-repackaged-npp-lies-alex-segbefia Below is a copy of the release: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Executive Director of the Crime Check Foundation (CCF), Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng has revealed that the absence of non-custodial law in Ghana makes the imprisonment of vagrants illegal. According to him, vagrants who get dragged to court, find it difficult to patronize the services of lawyers hence they end up being slapped with outrageous fines of which they are unable to pay. Speaking to Journalists in Accra, he said “In our visits to the Prisons, we found that these are things that should engage the attention of stakeholders. That is why this project is on course. Another thing that is worth sharing is that a group of Pan-African lawyers took the issue of vagrants been jailed to the African Court on Human and People’s right in Arusha, Tanzania, and the advisory opinion that has come out is that it is illegal to imprison vagrants rather, you could commit them to some community service but do we have a non-custodian law in this country, no!” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures He added that once Ghana is a signatory to the Human Rights and Charters and Conventions, it should not do the contrary of the non-custodial law. The Executive Director further mentioned that it seems Ghana is criminalizing poverty stressing that such a situation is unfortunate. “We are all witnesses to what the Greater Accra Regional Minister is doing but as Moomen said, do we ask questions? Where are they going? Do we have safety in place? Didn’t we bus them to go and vote and promised them that we were going to make life heaven for them” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco He explained that as much the country is pushing for its streets to be cleaned, has the government made enough provisions for prisoners to be sent out to serve community sentences. Mr. Kwarteng charged the government to equip its various Institutions to be able to function effectively for the citizens and the nation. “So these people sleeping at unauthorized places, the State should have made provision. Go to Libya. When covid came, many people could not comply because they were not having sleeping places. The government has also promised one district one factory so why should people continue to come here. We should be careful so that we do not decriminalize poverty” he noted. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/amplified-will-focus-on-amplifying-mentoring-youth-dev-t-activities-in-various-quarters-gov-t The Executive Director told Journalists that the non-custodial bill has been in Parliament for more than seven (7) years. He later revealed that if Ghana had passed the non-custodial law, the prisoners instead of being thrown to cells could be redirected and used for planting foods and jobs among others. On his part, celebrated Ghanaian Journalist, Abdul Hayi Moomen charged the media to own their space and not succumb to the dictates of its viewers. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco He said “It is time the media takes power back its power to feed its viewers with what it wants to feed them and not what the viewers want to see, read or hear. The viewers must not dictate to the media on what it must air on daily basis” He hit hard on most media outlets saying the sensationalism must stop. Abdul Hayi Moomen also mentioned that since ethics are a set of moral principles that govern an individual’s lifestyle, he reminded the media that morality is always subjective. He was off the view that whatever is morally accepted by a section of people cannot be acknowledged by another faction. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures “One cannot be objective when dealing with ethics,” he said. Mr. Moomen further expressed disappointment on how most media outlets run their agenda saying instead of Journalists complimenting each other, media personnel are rather competing with one another. “We have given the power to the audience. Instead of complimenting each other as media people, we compete with each other. The media is losing focus” He hinted that instead of the media priding itself as the newsmaker, it has rather succumbed and allowed the politician to dictate what to report. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/covid-19-coda-donates-ppes-to-ga-traditional-council-ahead-of-homowo-celebrations “If we have made a pledge to decriminalize poverty in the country, let us report on what is the real news and not what will please politicians” he concluded. Investigative Journalist, Ohemeng Tawiah charged Journalists to stop being lazy with their work. “Journalists should stop being lazy. Who says Journalists are poor. We are not poor. If you take your work seriously and do not allow politicians or some persons to influence your decisions with money, you will make it” “It is also about time; Journalists also go the extra mile. Look ahead. Try and liaise with the international media. It is not all stories that must sit here, let it cross the international scene. You will be amazed at how the foreign media will appreciate your efforts, work with you and you will make money” he noted. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-donates-5000-facemasks-150-hand-sanitizers-to-gaam-pictures He advised Journalists to learn how to be each other’s keepers in the industry. A Legal Practitioner with Dery & Co, Doris Bangfu Esq. said “Vagrancy laws tend to criminalize the status of individuals as being poor or homeless as supposed for certain specifical criminals” She further explained that prisoners are punished invariably not because they have committed certain crimes but because they were unable to pay the fines slapped at them. “The ruling of the African Court on Human and People’s right says that laws that tend to criminalize the status of persons should be amended to be in conformity with the Human Rights Chatter” she noted. “So the focus is not to encourage deviant behavior but rather to hold Institutions accountable such that once you provide social amenities then you are justified for punishing people when they offend the law” READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/national-youth-council-of-tuc-mark-int-l-youth-day-with-inmates-at-senior-correctional-centre-video Lawyer Bangfu hinted talks are underway on alternative forms of pushing people as supposed to imprisonment. “We can have non-custodial for now, there is nothing of that sort so it is another imprisonment or fine and we are noticed that most of the victims of these offenses are the poor and homeless, invariably, they are unable to pay the fines ending up serving prison sentences and we already know the situations in the prisons” she added. She hinted that provision of amenities for citizens likewise punishments which are appropriate for the offense in order to strike a balance. Project Background The penal codes of many African countries define a ‘vagrant’ as any person who does not have a fixed abode, a means of subsistence, and who does not practice a trade or profession. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/chelsea-win-super-cup-kepa-goes-from-penalty-villain-to-hero-pics Currently, about 22 African countries are said to have laws that penalize a vagrant, and equip the police with powers to enforce ‘vagrancy laws’. Ghana is among these countries where due to poverty and ignorance, many poor and voiceless citizens constitute the greater proportion of victims of vagrancy laws. Some of these laws relate to loitering, ‘head potting’, selling on the street, and other bye-laws enforced by the Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies in Ghana. Under these laws, vagrants are arrested, harassed, fined, or imprisoned. This situation contributes to a high remand population, human rights violations, and increased poverty. On 4th December 2020, the African Court on Human and People’s Rights came to the rescue with a ruling against vagrancy laws. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/these-athletes-have-redeemed-the-image-of-ghana-at-the-olympics-ben-nunoo-mensah Ruling against Vagrancy Laws On 4th December 2020, the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights delivered a landmark Advisory Opinion against ‘vagrancy laws’ (laws that appear to criminalize activities/actions of the homeless, and other poor and voiceless citizens as opposed to specific criminal acts). The court held that ‘vagrancy laws’ are incompatible with African human rights instruments such as the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (Children Rights Charter), and the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women (Women’s Rights Protocol). The CCF-OSIWA Decriminalizing Vagrancy Laws & Advocacy project gives effect to the ruling on vagrancy laws by the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the vagrancy laws. Ghana’s prisons are full, and the conditions are terrible. There is the need to ensure that citizens are aware of the MMDA bye-laws and MMDAs live up to their responsibilities to ensure more citizens do not end up in jail for ‘minor crimes’. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/support-implementation-of-ccf-osiwa-decriminalizing-vagrancy-laws-advocacy-project-ccf-to-chraj About CCF The Crime Check Foundation (CCF) is a crime prevention advocacy organization that uses Life in Prison Documentaries to sensitize the public to the dangers of crime. Its time with the Prisons Series which most of you are aware of has brought to the fore the congested nature of our 44 prisons and other infractions perpetrated by some members of the justice delivery chain. Its Petty Offenders project has resulted in the release of over 700 inmates, while our Ex-convict Reintegration project has successfully reintegrated most of them into society. Its Health Check, Street Charity, General Charity, and Educational Support Series have brought immense relief to the many who may have died or dropped out of school. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/land-surveyors-schooled-on-land-act-videos-pics About OSIWA Established in 2000, OSIWA is a grant-making and advocacy organization focused on equality, justice, democratic governance, human rights, and knowledge generation. It is part of the global network of Open Society Foundations spread across 37 countries around the world. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area in the Eastern Region, Daasebre Professor Emeritus Oti Boateng, has passed on, aged 83. He died about two weeks ago after a short illness. Multiple sources close to the New Juaben Palace and also the family, which confirmed the incident to the Daily Graphic, said the New Juaben Traditional Council was expected to officially announce the death today. A visit to the palace yesterday showed the place was very quiet, with no activity at all. Although some traditional leaders were sighted within the palace, visitors were, however, not allowed to enter. Internationally acclaimed The late Daasebre Oti Boateng was not only a distinguished traditional ruler but also an academician and internationally recognised statistician who worked at various times with the United Nations and other international organisations. One of the key crusades he launched in recent times was the Root-Based Model (RBM), an innovative development model to reduce poverty and inequality in Ghana and on the African continent. He wrote a book to support his internationally acclaimed and award-winning development model. Also, he offered key support to the Graphic-Zoomlion National Sanitation Project when it was launched in the Eastern Regional capital, Koforidua, last July. The Omanhene was the chairman during the Sanitation Dialogue, at which he underscored the need for inclusiveness in the national bid to make the country clean. At the event, Daasebre called for a change in attitude towards environmental sanitation by stressing the need for people to always keep their surroundings tidy. “Also, there is the need for a continuous campaign on proper sanitation practices to drum home the consequences of filth on the health of the people. There must be a sustainable social intervention on sanitation by the government as well,” he emphasised. Traditional rule Daasebre Oti Boateng acceded the New Juaben Stool in 1992, succeeding his elder brother, the late Daasebre Nana Kwaku Boateng II. There were plans to launch the celebration of his 30th anniversary on the stool next year. He was a member of the Yiadom-Hwedie Royal Family of Juaben, Ashanti, and New Juaben. His mother was the queenmother of Juaben in Ashanti. As a traditional ruler, Daasebre Oti Boateng strengthened the New Juaben Traditional Council as a local institution for the prosperity of the people. He institutionalised the first traditional festival in post-independence Ghana – the Akwantukese or the Great Migration – which brings into contemporary prominence a missing but critical and major event of Asante history in Ghana. He was also a former president of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs. Career Known in private life as Professor Emeritus Emmanuel Oti Boateng, he was acknowledged as a global authority in statistics and was the recipient of many national and international awards, including a recognition as one of the greatest minds of the 21st century by the American Biographical Institute. In 1982, he was appointed to the high office of Government Statistician and served with distinction for a record period of nearly 18 years until 2000. As Government Statistician, he successfully conducted the 1984 population census, amid great challenges of an entire country under military curfew. In March 1987, he was elected the first African Chairman of the United Nations Statistical Commission and was again elected the first African Chairman of the International Conference of Labour Statisticians at its 15th Session in Geneva in 1993. From 2003 to 2018, Daasebre served as a United Nations Commissioner on the International Civil Service Commission, representing Africa south of the Sahara. Academic life As a true academician, Daasebre Prof. Emeritus Oti Boateng authored six books, including Barack Obama- Africa’s Gift to the World and AKWANTUKESE Festival 2017. His three-volume series: “Development In Unity Volumes I, II, & III”, completed in January 2019, is a compendium of his research works and exploits spanning over four decades written to revolutionise development thoughts and inspire a new generational philosophy of development. His latest book, Implementing the Root-Based Development, presents a practical implementation plan for his award-winning RBD of development and the results of the first baseline survey conducted under the model in 2020 to ensure sustainable community development. He has over 100 technical publications to his credit in the areas of population and health, statistics, governance, disaster management, economics and policy issues. He holds a Bachelor of Science with honours degree in Economics from the University of Ghana, a Master of Science in Statistics from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a Doctor of Philosophy in Statistics from the University of Liverpool, United Kingdom. Before his tertiary education, he attended the Konongo/Odumasi Senior High School for his secondary education Until his death, he was the Chancellor of the All Nations University in Koforidua. Credit: Graphic Online

The Leadership of the NPP Constituency Officers Welfare (NCOW) paid a surprise visit to the National Treasurer of the New Patriotic Party, Mr Kwabena Abankwah- Yeboah at the New Patriotic Party Headquarters. The leadership thanked him for his immense contributions towards the establishment of the welfare body and were grateful for his presence, together with the National Chairman, Hon. Freddie Blay and Sammy Awuku National Organiser ,during the inauguration at Koforidua. The leadership promised him that, the ( NCOW) has come to stay and membership contributions will be put to good use for the betterment of all Constituency Officers of our great Party. The National Treasurer, Mr Kwabena Abankwah-Yeboah thanked the executives of ( NCOW) for appreciating him. He commended them for the foresight and good heart in establishing such a welfare initiative and advised the leadership to be transparent in their service to entire Constituency Officers across board. He said that being the first executives of the first ever established welfare body for Constituency Officers of our great party, the most important thing to do now as leaders is to sacrifice and work hard not for their own benefit but for the survival of ( NCOW ) so that they will leave a lasting legacy as those Constituency Executives who helped in the establishment of the welfare system for the Constituency Officers of the Party. He reiterated his cardinal view that the constituencies, indeed the grassroots, remain the heartbeat of NPP and hence their welfare is of utmost importance to the leadership of the party in ensuring a strong, loyal and united base ever ready to advance the agenda of the party. To his pleasant surprise, the leadership of the welfare body (NCOW) presented a citation to the National Treasurer, Mr. Kwabena Abankwah- Yeboah in recognition for his outstanding support and contribution towards the establishment of NCOW in particular and in general , his long-standing and undisputable commitment to enhancing the wellbeing of party executives at all levels and pursuing policies that offer opportunities fairly across board. The leadership that called on the National Treasurer were made up of the following ; 1.Constituency Chairman of North Tongu, Nyadudzi Saviour Kudzo (Vice Chair - NCOW), 2.Constituency Chairman of Ayawaso West Wuogon, Osei Jeffrey Edward ( Secretary- NCOW), 3.Constituency Chairman of Nkoransa South, Clement Adjei Owusu ( Deputy Secretary- NCOW), 4. Constituency Chairperson of South Tongu, Grace Panyin Kutu - Acheampong ( Treasurer- NCOW), 5.Constituency Chairman of Akuapem South, Micheal Ahwireng (Organizer - NCOW), and 6.Constituency Chairman of Ablekuma North, George Kofi Nkrumah ( Operations- NCOW). Below are pictures: Credit: John Awuni

The Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Professor Kwasi Opoku Amankwa has assured that textbooks for the newly developed Standard Based Curriculum will be ready by the next academic year beginning January 2022. According to him, the processes for procuring materials for the new curriculum had begun and would be ready for use by the beginning of the academic calendar. The Standard Based Curriculum was developed for Kindergarten 1 to Primary 6, however, the textbook materials for its implementation were delayed. Addressing Journalists in Accra on Thursday, Prof Opoku-Amankwa said the service anticipated this challenge and that was why Teachers' Resource Pack were prepared for teachers at all the levels. "In anticipation of the delays, the Ministry of Education and the GES developed, trained and distributed Teachers' Resource Park for each grade level and subject for all 150,000 plus KG one to Primary six teachers. "Procurement processes commenced. It is expected that books will be available for use next academic year," he emphasised. Similarly, he said the implementation of Common Core Curriculum (CCC) which was developed for Junior High School (JHS) as a sequel to the SBC for primary would also commence from next academic year. "The implementation has stalled because we couldn’t do the training of the teachers during the CoVID19 period" he explained. "Training of teachers on the use of the curriculum could not be completed. The curriculum has therefore not been introduced into the school system," he said. Prof Opoku-Amankwa explained that it was the plan of the service to ensure that all teachers were properly trained in the use of the CCC before its introduction. Currently, he said the JHS was using the old curriculum and the textbooks for that were still available in the schools. Touching on on teaching and learning, he said as part of the Free Senior High School (FSHS), the government had supplied each student with textbooks on all the core subjects as well as several copies of textbooks on the elective subject in all Senior High Schools. He praised the four hundred and eleven (411) Ghanaian students who attained A1 after Ghana competed with her sister African countries in an exams recently. "I want to state emphatically that our educational system is not losing its value. If it is, 411 out of 465 Ghanaian students would not attained A1 in an exams Ghana partook with some sister African countries" The Director-General advised students and teachers to continue to adhere to the covid-19 protocols to avoid the spread of the virus. He, however, debunked claims that there are cases of food shortages in various schools across the country. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

A Communication specialist and a member of the National Communications Team of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwasi Kwarten has been appointed as the spokesperson for the Ministry of Education. He replaces Hon. Vincent Ekow Essafuah who until his election to parliament handled the same role. As a regular panelist on radio and television political programs, Kwasi Kwarteng has been seen projecting and defending the Nana Addo Dankwa led government and the New Patriotic Party at all times until his appointment. Until his appointment was an Associate member of the Institute of Public Relations Ghana. Profile Mr. Kwarteng holds a Master of Public Administration from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, a bachelor of Education in Health Sciences from the University for Development Studies, a Post graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Environmental Safety from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. In addition, he holds a certificate in Public Relations from the Institute of Public Relations Ghana. Mr. Kwarteng is also currently pursuing a Bachelors degree in Law (LLB) at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration. Leadership Role At the students front, Mr. Kwasi Kwarteng served as the National President of the University Students Association of Ghana; the mother umbrella of all university students in Ghana from 2017 to 2018. Among other roles he also served in other capacities at the National front as a member of the Ghana Youth Federation Committee at its initial establishment. Mr. Kwarteng’s appointment comes as joy for the teeming youth of who believes that they should be given the opportunity to serve the country in diverse roles. Whilst others see his appointment as recognition of the youth front, many also view it as a reward and affirmation of his prowess in communication displayed as a communicator of the ruling government. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Acting Director-General of the Public Affairs Department of the Ghana Police Service, ACP Kwesi Ofori has sent a strong warning to the general public to desist from engaging the services of fake middlemen following the announcement of the Police Recruitment for 2021. According to him, the Ghana Police Service has not engaged the services of such persons. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures Speaking to Journalists in Accra on Wednesday, ACP Kwesi Ofori said "It will start effectively on the 27th August where people can access the site provided for the recruitment. We are making it clearer that we have not engaged any middlemen for the recruitment. Nobody has been tasked to go from one community to the other, to sell any form, to collect any money on behalf of the police administration" He further added that all laid down procedures and regulations have been properly indicated in the advertisement where people are to go to the Commercial Bank and follow the necessary procedures. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco The Acting Director-General of the Public Affairs Department of the Ghana Police Service also hinted that no code has been given to any private person to use in transacting business on the Service's behalf. "I say those who come from these communities, those who visit communities, those who go out there to transact their nefarious business as if they have been tasked should be immediately arrested and sent to the nearby police station for investigations" https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/amplified-will-focus-on-amplifying-mentoring-youth-dev-t-activities-in-various-quarters-gov-t He stressed that should any member of the public fail to heed his advice and engage the services of the fake middlemen, do so at their own risk. ACP Kwesi Ofori noted that the scammers are even trying to use names and offices to go out there to defraud people. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco "Mentioning specific police officers, all those things do not hold water and therefore, we are urging the public to challenge those people. Arrest them or make a report to the police. Ever since the advertisement came in, we have seen lots of fraudsters using all mechanisms, and let me make it clear that our advertisement was placed in the Daily Graphic and Ghanaian Times" he told Journalists. The Acting Director-General of the Public Affairs Department of the Ghana Police Service stressed that his outfit has not opened any other or published the advertisement on any other platform therefore, the public should take note. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/covid-19-fighter-akufo-addo-wins-chieftaincy-title-okogyeaman-odomankoma-in-bono-region-pics "The official site is going to be active on the 27th August 2021 and that is the official site to access your application. People should take note and should not permit themselves to be swindled by any person or group of persons" he concluded. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Ghana Police Service have today commissioned a Motor Traffic and Accident Monitoring and Surveillance Center at the Joint Operation Center (JOC) inside its headquarters in Accra. According to the Police, the newly established center is expected to assist police personnel conduct real-time assessments of road traffic offenses, accidents, and other related issues. Addressing Journalists at the commissioning, the Director-General of the MTTD, DCOP Francis Aboagye Nyarko said "This is a flagship programme of the Inspector-General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare. We are here to let you know that we have such a monumental project within the Police enclave. This project is to make sure that indiscipline is totally reduced to the bearest minimum on our roads" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco He further explained that the project will also ensure that the carnage, the country is experiencing on its roads are also dealt with. DCOP Aboagye Nyarko stressed that the project will help the MTTU Department to monitor indiscipline on the various roads across the country. The Director-General of the MTTD said "The essence of this project is that it captures all road network within the country. When an offense is committed, it is immediately detected and the jurisdiction in which that offense was conducted is notified and immediately the person is apprehended. It is going to help us clear the roads of miscreants who have decided not to comply with the road traffic acts" https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/amplified-will-focus-on-amplifying-mentoring-youth-dev-t-activities-in-various-quarters-gov-t He, however, warned drivers who ply the country's roads to adhere to all roads directives to avoid falling victim to petty offenses. "The Surveillance Centre is so monumental in such a way that whatever you do on the road, that goes contrary to the road traffic regulations, you will be arrested" He revealed that about 40 vehicles were impounded at Aflao in the Volta Region stressing that 20 were arraigned before court on Monday adding that the remaining 20 are currently in court. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco He noted that the offenders were fined GHc960 each. On his part, Superintendent of Police responsible for traffic law enforcement,training ,research at the Motor Traffic and Transport Department, Dr. Samuel Sasu-Mensah said "This system is in place because day-in and day-out, we witness an upsurge of traffic accidents on our major roads and highways and our major intersections. The cracks of the issues are that drivers are becoming increasingly dangerous, increasingly reculcetrant whiles using our roots" He attributed that to the spate of increasing numbers of various road accidents and congestion. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures "Lastweek, we realised that 19 people died as a result of infractions on the roads and as a police institution, we cannot let it go, unattended to. So it is against this backdrop that the IGP has developed this system to make sure that we downsize the problem" SP Dr. Sasu-Mensah revealed that within two weeks, the Police Service has been able to spot about two hundred vehicles according to the new project. He stressed that the Police Service does not need the services of an officer on the road before it enforces traffic rules and regulations. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/homowo-may-this-year-s-festive-season-unite-us-as-one-people-king-tackie-tsuru-ii-videos-pics "We are as at now going to use this system to make sure that as and when people flout the rules and regulations, are arested and prosecuted. The system at 6am this morning, arrested 31 vehicles at the East Legon tunnel. They are all being processed at the law court" The General Supervisor of the Traffic and Accident Monitoring and Surveillance Center, Chief Inspector, Joseph Zano disclosed that the cameras used for the project are far advanced adding that its special security features makes capturing of information on vehicles very easy. "As soon as someone commits an offence, the agents at the surveillance centre takes a snapshot of the offender, looking at the car-made, registration number and the colour. Haven taken the shots, it goes ahead to take a video of the offender's car so this could be tendered in as evidence at the law court" READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/finance-ministry-clarifies-600-million-cedis-budget-allocation-on-agenda-111 Thinknewsonline.com has gathered that the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service and Citi TV has embarked on the ‘War Against Indiscipline (WAI) campaign to curb indiscipline among motorists on the roads. Below are some pictures: Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Some Ghanaians living in Germany have been seen in a video accosting President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo with #FixTheCountry chants. The incident, a video of which has gone viral, reportedly happened on Monday, August 23, 2021, when the President delivered a speech in Düsseldorf, in Germany, as part of the 75th-anniversary celebrations of North Rhine-Westphalia. The protesters started chanting immediately after President Akufo-Addo’s convoy arrived at the venue for the ceremony. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/finance-ministry-clarifies-600-million-cedis-budget-allocation-on-agenda-111 President Akufo-Addo initially stopped to acknowledge them (protesters), before he left for the auditorium when the protesters started chanting at him. One of them said “Nana Akufo-Addo fix the country. We love you, but fix the country.” One also said, “Nana Addo we beg you, fix the country.” “Nana, fix the country, so we can come back home. We want to come back home. We are not here for life. We want to return home,” another person also said. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/homowo-may-this-year-s-festive-season-unite-us-as-one-people-king-tackie-tsuru-ii-videos-pics Another Ghanaian also said, “We have oil, we have gold and cocoa, but we are suffering here. Fix the country for us, so we can be better people. We are not a poor country.” About #FixTheCountry earlier demo Some #FixTheCountry protesters took to the streets of Accra on Wednesday, August 4, 2021, to demonstrate against what they say is the government’s poor handling of social and economic situations in the country. The protest was to impress upon the government to address Ghana’s numerous challenges, including youth unemployment, poor infrastructure, and high cost of living. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/local-news-coda-outdoors-credit-union-to-support-informal-sector-pictures Clad in red-head and armbands, the protesters held placards with inscriptions some of which read, ‘A nation without patriotism is a dead nation’, We aim for waakye, they aim for V8s’, ‘Fix the Country, ‘A new Constitution for the People’, among others. A few months ago, the campaign started on social media, with a lot of Ghanaians jumping on the trend. According to the conveners of the campaign, the demonstration is just the first of many to happen in the coming days. READ ALSO: https://www.thinknewsonline.com/post/bui-power-ceo-is-wrong-the-energy-minister-has-not-been-misled-by-gridco Watch the video below: Credit: Citinewsroom