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Managing Director, and Head of regulations at the Railway Development Authority (RDA) Dr. Engineer Divine Okutu, has disclosed that the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) remains structurally intact and fit for purpose despite it crashing. He made these remarks while speaking to the media on Friday. He said "Despite visible damage to the front body, Dr. Okutu reassured the public of the train’s continued fitness for purpose" He stressed that further assessment done a day after the accident revealed that the only damaged part of the train was the front body. He noted that despite the setback, the train will soon be commissioned for use. It will be recalled that a Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) train which was on test-run crashed on Thursday after it ran into a truck parked on the rail line. The driver of the truck was later arrested and has been given a six month jail term. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Abel Dzidotor, the driver allegedly responsible for the train accident, has been sentenced to a six-month jail term. According to Citi News’ Benjamin Aklama, Dzidotor admitted guilt to three out of the four charges levelled against him. These charges include inconsiderate driving and causing unlawful damage. The first charge was for careless and inconsiderate driving, a violation of Section 3 of the RTA Act 683 (2004), as amended by Act 761 of 2008. Dzidotor pleaded guilty and received a sentence of 100 penalty units, equivalent to a potential 20-month prison term if not paid. The second charge was for unauthorized stopping, in violation of Section 19 of Act 683 of 2004, as amended by Act 761 of 2008. Dzidotor pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 20 penalty units, or a five-month jail term if unpaid. The third charge was for causing unlawful damage, contrary to section 172b of Act 2960. Dzidotor pleaded guilty and received a six-month sentence in hard labour. The fourth charge was for failing to produce a driver’s license, contrary to regulation 47(2) of LI 21(80). Dzidotor pleaded not guilty, asserting that his license was within the damaged vehicle. He has been instructed to present the license to the court by May 9, 2024, or face potential consequences.” The Ghana Police Service arrested the driver of the Hyundai truck with registration number GS 9018 – 20 for allegedly causing the accident involving the newly imported train on the Tema-Mpakadan railway line on Thursday. The newly imported train from Poland was involved in an accident during a test run. In a statement, the Police said their preliminary investigation had established that the suspect driver left the said vehicle unattended on the railway line, leading to a collision with the train. The truck driver is said to have gone to deliver cement blocks when the truck got stuck on the rail after he was unable to use a pass-through under the bridge. Credit: Citinewsroom

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Railways Development Authority, Yaw Owusu has revealed that manufacturer of the newly imported DMU train, Pesa Corporation, will bear the cost of repairs to the damaged parts. He made these revelations at the back of an accident which occurred on the Tema-Mpakadan railway line. Mr. Owusu said "The train has been taken to the station for an assessment of the damage" "The extent of the damage is yet to be determined.” “The cost of the repairs will be borne by the manufacturer. The train has not been formally handed over to the government of Ghana" “And I believe they have insurance to cover extra damages,” he added. “The train has officially not been handed over to the government yet and it’s still under the liability of the manufacturer. We are yet to ascertain what happened and how best we can go about it to ensure that this incident doesn’t happen again in the future.” Responding to whether there is local expertise to fix the train or it would be required to be transported back to the manufacturer, Mr. Yaw Owusu explained that “the train can be repaired here; the manufacturer has some personnel here on the ground as part of the site acceptance test so Pesa Corporation, who sold us the train, is still. “I believe that the trains can be repaired here. I don’t believe it’s a very expensive damage,” adding, “I cannot confirm that but I believe it can be repaired in Ghana.” Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Ghana Police Service says it has arrested the driver of a Hyundai truck with registration number GS 9018 - 20 for allegedly causing an accident involving a Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) train on the Tema-Mpakadan railway line. The unfortunate incident occurred on April 18 as the Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) train on the Tema-Mpakadan railway line was embarking on a test-run. The Ghana Police added that preliminary investigation has established that the suspect driver left the said vehicle unattended on the railway line, leading to a collision with the train. The Police further noted that investigation into the incident continues. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

News coming in indicates that the Asantehene, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II has maintained Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum as Headcoach of Kumasi Asante Kotoko. The decision comes after the Asantehene met with the Headcoach and some management members of the club on Thursday. The headcoach met with Asantehene, Otumfuor Osei Tutu II to discuss the abysmal performance of the club and way-forward. Later in the day, Dr. Ogum was allowed to lead the players to train after meeting with Otumfuor. Kotoko has been on the losing streak for sometime now. The Porcupine Warriors lost their last home game against Nsoatreman at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium. Dr. Prosper Narteh Ogum has come under pressure as some supporters have called for his sack. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Information reaching Thinknewsonline.com indicates that the newly acquired train scheduled to transport passengers from Tema to Mpakadan has crashed. It is emerging that the train was embarking on a test-run. No casualties have been recorded. It will be recalled that the new train which was assembled in Poland for railway transportation in Ghana was handed over to government weeks ago. The first batch of 12 state-of-the-art trains from Poland will mark a pivotal moment for Ghana's transportation sector. It will be used on the new Tema-Mpakadan standard-gauge railway line. It will transport passengers from Mpakadan through Kpong, Juapong, Doryumu all the way to Tema port and then the passengers can switch from the standard-guage line to a narrow-gauge line to take them all the way to the heart of Accra. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has cautioned the general public against the patronage and consumption of artificial ripening of mangoes. According to the FDA, its attention has been drawn to a social media video on the use of calcium carbide as a chemical for enhancing the ripening of mangoes. In a communique signed by its Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr. Delese A. A. Darko, she said "The video also seeks to indicate how to distinguish chemically ripened mangoes from naturally ripened ones" "After the video came to notice, the Authority embarked on a survey to sample and test mangoes from the major markets and sales points across the country" "Results obtained from the samples tested so far indicate that none of the samples contain calcium carbide" She stressed that the survey and testing are still ongoing alongside public education by the FDA on the hazards of using chemicals to enhance the ripening of fruits. "The FDA wishes to inform the public that calcium carbide is toxic and that using it to quicken the ripening of fruits is hazardous to consumers and therefore criminal" "The public is to note that the use of the supposed 'floating' test to ascertain whether a mango is naturally ripened or chemically ripened as shown in the video is not a proven standard test" "Scientifically, the cause of the floating of the fruit could be attributed to several other factors including pest infestation through the activities of fruit flies and mango moths" "The FDA wishes to seize the occasion to strongly caution traders and the public against the use of calcium carbide for ripening fruits or food processing because it is carcinogenic and hazardous both to the consumer and the handler" The communique further tasked the public to report to the Authority any incidents of chemicals being used to ripen fruits for appropriate action. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

An Accra High Court has remanded a businessman, Osumanu Yahuza for allegedly assaulting and robbing former Second Lady Matilda Amissah Arthur at gunpoint at her residence in Accra. According to the Prosecution, Yahuza who has been charged with 26 counts of robbery and money laundering also stole items belonging to renowned architect David Adjaye and others. In court on Tuesday, April 17, Osumanu Yahuza pleaded not guilty to the charges. Per the facts of the case, prosecution told the court that the accused person demanded money and valuables and he succeeded in robbing Mrs Amissah Arthur of GHC3,000, USD$2,200 and EUR 50.00. He also made away with a gold watch valued at GHC20,000 and necklaces valued at GHC5,000. Osumanu Yahuza additionally assaulted the former Second Lady by strangling and hitting her head repeatedly on the ground while demanding more valuable items. Madam Amissah Arthur lost consciousness momentarily and when she regained consciousness, the accused person had left with her safe and the booty. Justice Lydia Osei Marfo remanded the accused person into prison custody and ordered Prosecution to file the compliment of their disclosures. The case has since been adjourned to May 2, 2024. Below are facts of the case as presented by prosecution: Augustine Kwesi Okere is a businessman residing at Kacela Courts Apartments at Airport Residential Area, Accra. Complainants Daniel Kwame Osafo and Tracy Osei-Hyeaman are husband and wife residing at Zollink Apartments in Cantonments, Accra, Complainant Matilda Yaaba Amissah Arthur was the wife of the late Vice President of the Republic of Ghana residing at Tesano, Accra and complainant, Margaret Alice Shaw is a 76-year-old woman residing at Alexander Nest, Ridge, Accra. The accused person Yahuza Osumanu is a self-acclaimed businessman residing at Pokuase-ACP. Between the second quarter of the year, 2023 and December 2023, the Police CID received several complaints of residential robberies perpetuated by a single armed man around Airport, Cantonments, Tesano and Ridge. On the 17th of September, 2023, complainant, Augustine Okere reported to the Airport Police that at about 2:30am that morning, his residence at Kaecla Court Apartments, Airport Residential Area was robbed. On receipt of the complaint, a team of police personnel from the Airport Police Division was dispatched to the crime scene. The complainant told the police that the accused person, entered his room, pointed a pistol at him and demanded money and other valuables. He was robbed of two (2) Rolex wrist watches valued at $38,000.00 USD and $23,000.00 USD and cash in the sum of GHC2,000.00 and £3,500.00. On the 19th of September, 2023, the owner of the Kaeela Courts Apartments Dr. Abu Sakara Foster furnished the police with a pen drive which contained a CCTV footage of the accused person. On the 4th of December, 2023, the police received a distress call from the complainants Daniel Kwame Osafo and Tracy Osei-Hyeaman to the effect that they had been robbed. On receipt of the complaint, a team of police personnel was dispatched to the crime scene but on their arrival, the accused person had fled. They told the police that the accused person pointed a pistol at them whiles demanding money and other valuables and succeeded in robbing them of a Cartier wrist watch valued at Nine Thousand United States Dollars ($9,000.00USD), an iPhone Pro Max valued at One Thousand United States Dollars ($1,000.00USD), a Cartier black pen valued at Five Hundred United States Dollars ($500.00USD) and a gold chain valued at Five Thousand United States Dollars, ($5,000.00USD) all belonging to Daniel Kwame Osafo. The accused person also made away with jewelries valued at Fifty Thousand United States Dollars ($50,000.00USD) and a Cartier wristwatch valued at Ten Thousand United States Dollars ($10,000.00USD) belonging to Tracy Osei-Hyeaman. The CCTV footages at the premises were obtained and reviewed. On 5th of December 2023 at about 4:00am the Tesano Police Division received information to the effect that the complainant Madam Matilda Yaaba Amissah Arthur had been robbed. On receipt of the complaint, a team of police personnel was dispatched to the crime scene but on their arrival, the accused person had fled. The complainant told the police that the accused person was wielding a gun and he threatened to kill her if she did not comply with his instructions. She placed a call to the police guard on duty at her residence and asked him to look out for the accused. The guard spotted the accused person in the compound while he was trying to escape with the safe. He gave the accused a chase but the accused abandoned the safe and managed to escape. On the 8th of December 2023, the police obtained CCTV footages from the crime scene and reviewed same. The accused person was identified in the CCTV footage as Yahuza Osumanu, who had been on the police radar for his involvement in series of residential robberies at Cantonments, Airport Residential Area, Ridge and Tesano. On the 11th of December, 2023, the Papa 51 police patrol team received information about a robbery incident at Ridge. On receipt of the information, the patrol team proceeded to the crime scene. When they arrived at the scene, they met the complainant Margaret Alice Shaw who informed them that she was lying on her bed when the accused person entered her room, pointed a gun at her and instructed her to hand over all her money and valuables to him. She told the police that the accused person ransacked her room and made away with a Rolex watch valued at Seventy Thousand United States Dollars ($70,000.00USD), a Panerai watch valued at Fifteen Thousand United States Dollars ($15,000.00USD) belonging to her son-in- law, David Adjaye, jewelleries valued at Fifteen Thousand United States Dollars ($15,000.00USD) belonging to her daughter Asheley Shaw Scott and cash in the sum of One Thousand Five Hundred Ghana Cedis (GHC1,500.00). An initial assessment by the police revealed that the accused person gained ingress into the house through the victim’s window in the kitchen which was not properly locked. The police took photographs of the crime scene. That same day, the police returned to the crime scene with Crime Scene Management Experts. They processed the scene, reviewed the Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) at the premises and obtained copies of the CCTV footage. On the 12th of December 2023, the police gathered information that the accused person Yahuza Osuman was the one robbing inhabitants of Accra and that he was at Dome Pillar 2. On the 13th of December 2023, the police acting on a search warrant proceeded to House No. DNC 34, Dome Pillar 2, which was the hideout of the accused, but they met his absence. They proceeded to Tantra Hill and arrested one John Dela Sarbah, the shop keeper of the accused person. He led the police to a two-bedroom apartment where the accused person lived with his family but when they arrived there the accused person had escaped. The police opened the apartment forcefully and a search conducted revealed three power motorbikes, toy-gun, assorted jewelleries, some electronic devices, a jack knife, one unregistered Toyota Prado vehicle, one unregistered Lexus vehicle and three other motorbikes which were retrieved from the house. On the 15th of December 2023 the police received information that the accused person was hiding at Kasoa. The police proceeded to Kasoa and met the accused person seated in the front passenger seat of a grey Honda CRV vehicle. The police team stopped the vehicle, arrested him and took him to the CID headquarters to assist in investigation. During interrogation, the accused person admitted robbing the complainants. He told the police that he went on the robbery operations with a toy gun to prevent any resistance from the complainants. He identified himself in all the CCTV footages from the various scenes. He also led the police to the various crime scenes and demonstrated to the police how he gained ingress into the various houses to rob the complainants. Investigations have revealed that the accused has over the period acquired a number of properties through the unlawful activities of robbery. Credit: 3news

The immediate past Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Dr. John Ofori-Tenkorang, has expressed satisfaction with the level of work done at the Trust over the last seven years under his leadership. Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang underscored that he is a “proud man” looking back to what he has achieved with his team from 2017 to April 2024. The outgoing Director-General made these remarks in his parting engagement with staff of the Trust yesterday, Monday, April 15. “Fast forward to April 2024, I look at the SSNIT we have now and I must say I am a very happy man. Indeed, I am quite proud and you, my colleagues, should also be very proud of what we have achieved together,” said the former Director-General. He added, “Today we have managed to build a service-centred organisation which can anticipate and meet the needs of stakeholders at their preferred touch points.” Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang further revealed that the Trust has over the past seven years rolled out additional service delivery touchpoints to “improve customer service” such as Pensioner’s Priority Desk, DG-direct WhatsApp line, and an enhanced web portal, amongst others. Furthermore, he emphasised the successful rollout of the SSNIT and Ghana Card numbers merger. “Over 2.3 million members including inactive contributors, pensioners and beneficiaries have merged their numbers so far. The Ghana Card is now the primary identification document for all SSNIT transactions.” This has eliminated the cost of printing biometric cards for new Members, reduced impersonation and fraudulent activities in payment of claims to pensioners and beneficiaries. Also, the Trust successfully implemented the distribution of quarterly electronic statements of account to all members. The Trust, within the period, streamlined the payment platforms to facilitate easy payment access for clients. He added that SSNIT introduced and deployed a payment platform known as SSNITPAY to enhance contribution collection as well as a mobile money wallet (USSD code), SSNIT partner banks, direct debit cards, and mobile money options via the web portal and SSNIT branches. According to Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang, internal surveys show that the adoption of these business practices improved customer satisfaction to 82.9% in 2022, up from 69.7% in 2017. However, the outgoing Director-General asked the staff to offer their unwavering support to the newly appointed D-G, Kofi Bosompem Osafo Maafo, even more than they offered him. Background It would be recalled that President Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, April 9, terminated the appointment of Dr. Ofori Tenkorang. In his stead, the President appointed Kofi Bosompem Osafo-Maafo, the son of the former senior minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo. Osafo-Maafo’s appointment resulted in Pearl Nana Ama Darko, the Deputy Director General for Operations and Benefits, being reassigned to the role of Commissioner for Support Services at the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). Juliana Kpedekpo, therefore, took over from Pearl Nana Ama as the new Deputy Director General for Operations and Benefits. Credit: 3news

According to the outgoing Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Dr. John Ofori-Tenkorang, it was conflicting for him to have received board fees and sitting allowances since he decided the number of times meetings could be held. Against this background, Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang revealed that in his entire seven-year tenure, he didn’t take “a pesewa in board fees and sitting allowances.” Addressing staff of the Trust in his last formal meeting yesterday [Monday, April 15], Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang said, “I have made my fair share of personal sacrifices for the Trust.” “As a member of the Board of Trustees, I’m entitled to sitting allowances each time I attend a Board Meeting or a Subcommittee meeting.” He noted, “That is my entitlement, enshrined in law. But I saw a conflict because I, by and large, determine how many meetings to have in a particular month.” “And if each time I call for a meeting, I get paid, then as you can imagine, something that can be done in one meeting may spill into 2 or more meetings, because I’ll get paid more. “Therefore, because of this conflict that I saw, I have not collected one pesewa in board fees and sitting allowances during my 7-year tenure as the head of this institution,” he stressed. The public servant also maintained that, despite these benefits being enshrined in the law, he opted for a flexible term to cut down on the Trust’s expenditure bill. “The good book says all things are lawful but not all things are helpful. I revised down my approved conditions of service not to fly first class for my foreign travels, even though I was entitled to it,” said the outgoing SSNIT boss. He said, “I fly in the same class as all the executives. With the cooperation of the EXCO, we removed the so-called travel days’ provision where one collects full per diem when you’re in the air. In the case of the DG, I could be getting paid an extra 2 days per diem for my outbound flight and 2 for my return flight.” So I stood to benefit more if we kept that provision. Among others, which I do not wish to enumerate here, I have made my fair share of personal sacrifices for the Trust. Meanwhile, Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang urged the staff to “remain circumspect in your wishes and demands so that the confidence in the Trust that we have managed to build would not be eroded.” Credit: 3news

Outgoing Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Dr. John Ofori-Tenkorang, has assured staff of the Trust that he will remain part of them under the leadership of the newly appointed Director-General, Kofi Bosompem Osafo-Maafo. It would be recalled that President Akufo-Addo on Wednesday, April 9, terminated the appointment of Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang. In his stead, the President appointed Kofi Bosompem Osafo-Maafo, the son of the former senior minister, Yaw Osafo-Maafo. In his parting notes to the staff on Monday, April 15, the outgoing Director-General encouraged them to offer their utmost support to the incoming Director-General, even more than they offered him. Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang said that seven years of his life have been spent with the Trust, and thus he remains a part of them. “Seven years of my life is here, so I remain part of you”, said Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang. “I’ll be praying for you, cheering you on to attain higher heights. And I’ll be sharing and rejoicing in your triumphs and successes.  We must succeed and SSNIT must succeed and grow from strength to strength.  For the benefit of all those on whose sweat and toil this country is built,” he added. “And now to the DDGs, Managers, and Staff, I ask you to offer Mr. Osafo Maafo your full support as he executes his vision for the Trust as you did for me.  In fact, support him even more than you did for me so that we can consolidate and build on the successes that we have chalked so far together.” Ofori-Tenkorang touts achievements The outgoing Director General used the occasion to highlight some successes he chalked with the staff. Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang emphasised the expansion of service delivery options, including the creation of a Pensioners’ Priority Desk and a direct WhatsApp line for the Director General. He also highlighted the revamped web portal and social media presence, boasting a follower increase from 7,000 in 2017 to over 526,000 by March 2024. The introduction of SSNITPAY, a comprehensive payment platform, was another achievement Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang pointed to. SSNITPAY offers various options, like mobile money wallets, partner bank deposits, direct debit cards, and online payments. Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang underscored the successful merger of SSNIT and Ghana Card numbers, an initiative that has seen over two million members, including inactive contributors, pensioners, and beneficiaries, merge their accounts. We have “Successfully rolled out the SSNIT and Ghana Card numbers merger. Over 2.3 million members including inactive contributors, pensioners and beneficiaries have merged their numbers so far. The GhanaCard is now the primary identification document for all SSNIT transactions. “This has eliminated the cost of printing biometric cards for new members and reduced impersonation and fraudulent activities in payment of claims to pensioners and beneficiaries.” Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang expressed his sincere gratitude to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for the opportunity to serve the government. He acknowledged the trust placed in him and his team’s success in fulfilling their responsibilities. Credit: 3news

The High Court in Accra has handed a 10-year jail term to a former boss of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Tamakloe Attionu for causing financial loss of GH¢90 million to the state. Daniel Axim, a former Operations Manager of MASLOC, who was charged alongside his boss was also slapped with a five-year jail term for raising memos 23 times, under the direction of Attionu, for the collection of funds which were not used for the projects for which they were released. This comes after, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe found them guilty on 78 counts of causing financial loss to the state, stealing, conspiracy to steal, money laundering, and causing loss to public property in contravention of public procurement law. For instance, the two could not account for GH¢1,706,000 which was meant for a sensitisation and monitoring programme for 85,300 beneficiaries of MASLOC loans, and GH¢1,465,035 meant to support victims of the Kantamanto Market disaster. Trial in Absentia On February 24, 2023, the court granted an application by the prosecution to conduct the trial in the absence of Attionu, after the court allowed her to go to the United States in 2021 for medical attention but she has since not returned. Prior to the trial in absentia, the court had on January 24, 2023, ordered the former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Alex Mould, and actor, Gavivina Tamakloe, to pay the GH¢5 million bail bond to the state for their failure to produce the accused person whom they stood as sureties for. Prosecution’s facts Per the facts presented by the prosecution, in 2017, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) conducted investigations into certain fraudulent disbursement of MASLOC funds involving the first and second accused persons. The investigations, according to the prosecution, revealed that in June 2014, MASLOC invested a sum of GH¢150,000 in Obaatanpa Micro-Finance Company Limited (Obaatanpa), a licensed Tier II microfinance company located at Ejura in the Ashanti Region. Thereafter, Attionu offered Obaatanpa a further investment sum of GH¢500,000. As a result, a MASLOC Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) cheque dated July 24, 2014, in the sum of GH¢500,000 was drawn in favour of Obaatanpa. Soon after Obaatanpa received the MASLOC cheque, the first accused person informed the Board Chairman of Obaatanpa that the investment amount of GH¢500,000 would attract 24 per cent interest. Obaatanpa decided to return the amount to MASLOC since the interest rate being demanded by the accused person was too high and unprofitable for its business, and issued a cheque in refund of the loan amount. The facts further stated that upon the presentation of the cheque, the first accused person declined to accept the cheque and made a demand for a cash refund. A cash amount of GH¢500,000 was delivered to Attionu by the Board Chairman of Obaatanpa on the night of August 28, 2014, at the Baatsona Total Filling Station located on Spintex Road in Accra. By a letter dated August 28, 2014, the first accused person acknowledged receipt of the refunded sum. In 2015, per letters, some of which were under the hand of Attionu, MASLOC made demands on Obaatanpa for the payment of interest on the principal investment sum of GH¢500,000. In response to the demands, Obaatanpa wrote a reminder to MASLOC concerning the payment of the loan amount and drew Attionu’s attention to the unjustified demands whereupon the demands stopped. Investigations subsequently showed that MASLOC had no record of the amount having been paid to it, and that Attionu had appropriated the amount of GH¢500,000. Credit: Graphiconline