Day: April 8, 2024

The Police have arrested nine persons across the country for ‘publication of false news’ regarding the alleged disappearance of their genitals leading to fear and panic among the public and attacks on innocent citizens.

A statement issued and signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Director of Public Affairs said Police investigations, including medical examinations, indicated that all the claims were false.

It said six persons had been arrested at Kasoa, in the Central Region, two at Ashaiman, in the Greater Accra Region, and another at Nkawkaw, in the Eastern Region, for making such false claims of missing genitals.

The statement said five of them had been arraigned before court with three remanded into Police custody and two granted bails.

It said the rest were on Police inquiry bail and would soon be arraigned before court.

The statement said the Police had noted with concern the increasing trend of persons making false claims of the disappearance of their genitals and blaming
innocent bystanders that sometimes led to mob attacks.

The Police cautioned the public against such criminal conduct that was likely to harm innocent people and disturb the public peace.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Dr Godfred Kwabena Sarpong, the Western North Regional Director of health services, has expressed worry about the absence of specialized medical personnel in the region.

He said for instance, the region did not have specialists in Pediatrics, eye care services, skin care, ENT, radiology and rehabilitative among others and appealed to the Ghana Health Services to post specialist medical personnel to the region.

The Regional Director, who made this known at the 2023 Annual Regional Performance Review Meeting at Sefwi-Bodi, encouraged medical officers and nurses to take up relevant specialist training in these fields so as to improve upon health care delivery in the region.

The two-day Annual Review which was under the theme ‘Achieving Universal Health Coverage through the Networks of Practice: The Role of Stakeholders’, brought together. 

Municipal and district health directors, Health partners (WHO, USAID, JSI/UNICEF) and major stakeholders to brainstorm on the success chalked in the year under review and
the way forward.

Dr Kwabena Sarpong indicated that the health Directorate had instituted a ‘network – practice approach’ to strengthen sub-district health systems and also bring together all the health centers, CHPS zones, maternity homes and related private facilities to build a solid administrative and clinical management model for the region.

The Clinical Management model, according to him, primarily sought to deliver essential packages of quality public health and clinical services that meet the needs of individuals, families and communities in defined geographical areas.

He explained that 18 health centers from the Nine districts within the Region were set to commence the initiative and that they have established Regional and District implementation committees and have also started stakeholder engagements at the community, sub district and regional levels for smooth take off of the programme.

Dr Kwabena Sarpong lauded the staff and major stakeholders for their commitment to their duties and urged the
m to work harder to bring quality health care to the door steps of their clients.

The Regional health Director announced that the Wiawso government hospital emerged as the 2nd Best Hospital in Ghana in the use of the Ghana Integrated Logistics Management System platform for their supply chain efforts.

Dr Kwabena Sarpong, said the region continued to receive significant support from the Ghana Health Service and mentioned that three new hospitals were at various stages of completion under the agenda 111 project in the region.

He said the construction of a Regional Cold Room at Bodi and a Neonatal intensive care unit at Wiawso were also on going.

He, however, expressed concern about the region’s continued dependance on the Western Region for the supply of medicines and non-medical consumables and that the situation was impacting negatively on the health commodity supply chain system and affecting the efficient and timely supply of these commodities to health facilities.

He lauded the region’s improved disea
se surveillance and capacity building efforts, which contributed to the region not recording any significant outbreak of diseases.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A 47-year-old charcoal producer, John Ansah, who consistently assaulted his 13-year-old daughter, has been remanded into police custody by the Tarkwa Circuit Courts. 

Ansah, who was charged with causing harm, indecent assault and female genital mutilation, pleaded guilty. 

Although, the presiding judge, Mrs Hathia Ama Manu, convicted him on his own plea, the court deferred his sentence to Thursday, April 18, 2024.

In addition, it ordered for a social enquiry report from the Social Welfare and Community Development office in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality to aid its decision. 

Prosecuting, Police Superintendent Juliana Essel-Dadzie, told the court that the complainant was a supervisor at the Ghana Rubber Estate Limited (GREL) and resided at Agona Nkwanta, while the accused was the biological father of the victim. 

She said Ansah was a single parent and lived with his children, including the victim in a cottage at Kwapong located within the GREL planation. 

Prosecution said Ansah had been subjecting the v
ictim to all kinds of abuse with the accusation that she was going after men and was having sexual intercourse with them. 

Ansah felt he was fed up with her alleged promiscuous conduct and planned to deal with her. 

Superintendent Essel-Dadzie said on March 24, 2024, at about 2000 hours, he tied the legs and hands of the victim with a rope in their bamboo house. 

He then put two cutlasses into a fire and pushed same in the victim’s vagina in turns, as a result of which she sustained severe burns around her vagina and thighs. 

While Ansah was torturing the victim, she cried out loudly for help, and became weak and helpless, but she remained tired in the rope until the next day when she managed to free herself. 

After Ansah had carried out the act, he became frightened that the victim might sneak from the cottage and expose him, he therefore started monitoring her closely. 

Superintendent Essel-Dadzie said on March 26, 2024, the victim managed to escape from the cottage and was rescued by a witness in the
case, who rushed her to the Nsuaem Government hospital where she was admitted for treatment. 

A complainant was lodged at the Nsuaem police, and a medical form was issued to him on behalf of the victim for endorsement and same was returned to the police. 

Prosecution said the complainant later led the police to pick up Ansah and he was handed over to the Regional Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service for investigation. 

Source: Ghana News Agency

A 47-year-old charcoal producer, John Ansah, who consistently assaulted his 13-year-old daughter, has been remanded into police custody by the Tarkwa Circuit Courts. 

Ansah, who was charged with causing harm, indecent assault and female genital mutilation, pleaded guilty. 

Although, the presiding judge, Mrs Hathia Ama Manu, convicted him on his own plea, the court deferred his sentence to Thursday, April 18, 2024.

In addition, it ordered for a social enquiry report from the Social Welfare and Community Development office in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality to aid its decision. 

Prosecuting, Police Superintendent Juliana Essel-Dadzie, told the court that the complainant was a supervisor at the Ghana Rubber Estate Limited (GREL) and resided at Agona Nkwanta, while the accused was the biological father of the victim. 

She said Ansah was a single parent and lived with his children, including the victim in a cottage at Kwapong located within the GREL planation. 

Prosecution said Ansah had been subjecting the v
ictim to all kinds of abuse with the accusation that she was going after men and was having sexual intercourse with them. 

Ansah felt he was fed up with her alleged promiscuous conduct and planned to deal with her. 

Superintendent Essel-Dadzie said on March 24, 2024, at about 2000 hours, he tied the legs and hands of the victim with a rope in their bamboo house. 

He then put two cutlasses into a fire and pushed same in the victim’s vagina in turns, as a result of which she sustained severe burns around her vagina and thighs. 

While Ansah was torturing the victim, she cried out loudly for help, and became weak and helpless, but she remained tired in the rope until the next day when she managed to free herself. 

After Ansah had carried out the act, he became frightened that the victim might sneak from the cottage and expose him, he therefore started monitoring her closely. 

Superintendent Essel-Dadzie said on March 26, 2024, the victim managed to escape from the cottage and was rescued by a witness in the
case, who rushed her to the Nsuaem Government hospital where she was admitted for treatment. 

A complainant was lodged at the Nsuaem police, and a medical form was issued to him on behalf of the victim for endorsement and same was returned to the police. 

Prosecution said the complainant later led the police to pick up Ansah and he was handed over to the Regional Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service for investigation. 

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Executive Director of the David Douglas Leadership Forum, Mr David Douglas Tengey, has asked investors to take a keen interest in the sustenance of peace and stability in Africa to protect their investments.

He said without peace, investors could not enjoy the benefits of their investments and must, therefore, not be left in the hands of only politicians.

Speaking at the official launch of the ‘2024 Africa’s Peace, Investment and Tourism Summit,’ in Accra, on Monday, he urged investors to liaise with relevant stakeholders to formulate policies that ensured good governance, peace and stability.

‘Peace is the pivot for the drive of investment. You can’t talk about investment without talking about peace. There is no investor who is ready to invest in your country without first ensuring that the land is peaceful for investments,’ he said.

‘When it comes to peace, our politicians are not there truly, truly …It is you and I, it is about our investments, it is about our business, it is about what you set up
over here. If something happens as we speak today, the politicians will pack their bags and luggage and travel out of this country.

‘So, if we need people to talk about peace, it should not only be the politicians, but we the individuals, the CSOs, private sector,’ Mr Tengey added.

The Summit, organised by the David Douglas Leadership Forum in partnership with the Ga Traditional Council, is to foster unity among Ghanaians and Africans and promote peace, tourism and investment on the continent.

The event, slated for April 15 to 17, this year, is on the theme: ‘Importance of Peace for National Development’.

Mr Tengey said, since its inception some six years ago (2018), the primary objective of the Summit had been to cultivate a positive and inclusive environment where investment thrived while inspiring and empowering individuals and communities to contribute towards peace and security in Africa.

This year’s event, he said, would serve as a platform for stakeholders to foster collaboration and identify inve
stment opportunities, such as tourism potential to drive economic growth, create jobs and promote development.

Also, it would offer community, political and business leaders the opportunity to showcase their unique potential and engage investors to explore industrialisation possibilities to achieve economic growth and reduce unemployment.

Beyond the economic considerations, Mr Tengey said the Summit would emphasize the vital impact of leadership in championing peace and development at the community level.

Participants, he said, would have breakout sessions and speeches delivered by seasoned speakers, to inspire them to promote positive change.

In the area of peace, he said, the Summit would put the spotlight on the critical roles creative arts played in narrowing cultural differences and promoting social cohesion.

‘It will not only emphasize economic and leadership roles and contributions but also recognise the significance of tourism and cultural exchange, by promoting the rich cultural heritage of the
African continent,’ he explained

He added that ‘it will strengthen regional unity, collaboration, innovation, and knowledge transfer.’

The event is expected to attract participants from across Africa such as South Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo and Benin.

Other participating countries are Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Kenya, Niger, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States of America.

Organising partners include Star Galaxy Media UK, Enlightening and Empowering People with Disabilities in Africa (EEPD Africa), Luxurious Living USA, Sunday’s Group – Nigeria, Maurya Infotech Services – India and K-Pentag LLC – Finland.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Some crop and livestock farmers within the Central Tongu District have expressed optimism about a bumper harvest this year after the Akosombo Dam spillage destroyed their farms and livelihoods.

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the farmers attributed their positive outlook to favourable rain patterns and a more conducive climate for good yields.

Mr Awayevu Thomas, a seasoned maize and cassava farmer from Mafi Dove, one of the farming communities in the district, expressed relief after facing a challenging harvest last year.

He recounted the hardships brought about by the Akosombo dam spillage and adverse climatic conditions, which ravaged his 230-acre farm and diminished his yields.

‘Last year’s harvest was not encouraging. The flood situations and climate change inflicted significant losses on our crops and lands but I’m hopeful that this year would be good,’ he explained.

Mrs Agbey Renata, a livestock farmer in the district, said that she was hopeful for a turnaround this year.

She said despite
the setbacks of last year, she was confident of the farming season.

Other farmers in the district told the GNA that strategic interventions and assistance programmes would be needed to empower them and mitigate the impacts that the floods had on their farming businesses.

They called on the government to offer them any support to scale up their production this year to avert scarcity of food on the market.

Source: Ghana News Agency