Author: lwadmin

A robbery suspect, who stabbed a policeman after he had robbed a woman, is assisting police in investigations.

Francis Addo, who could not get away with the GHC2,400.00 and iPhone 14 pro max he allegedly robbed one Lovia Narh of inflicted knife wounds on General Constable Foster Alipoe Ablerh, who pursued and arrested him.

A police brief said on February 12, 2024 at about 0940 hours, General Constable Ablerh of Accra Regional C.T.U with a deep cut in his left palm assisted by victim Narh, a resident of Obundankadi, Ashaley Botwe, who also had bruises on both knees and complained of headache, arrested and brought to the Lakeside Community 8 Police station, suspect Addo.

Narh reported that same day at about 0440 hours, suspect Addo, who was riding a blue motorbike attacked her with a knife at Obundankadi, Ashaley Botwe, assaulted and robbed her of GHC 2,400.00 and an iPhone 14 pro max valued at GHC18,000.00 whilst on her way to the market.

The brief said the General Constable, who also lived in the neighbor
hood heard of the robbery attack and quickly chased the suspect with his personal motorbike and intercepted him at Nmai Dzorn.

The suspect allegedly slashed the Police Officer’s left palm with a knife when the Officer tried to arrest him.

The brief said Addo was, however, overpowered by the Police Officer, arrested and sent to the station.

It said both the Police Officer and the complainant were issued with police medical forms to attend hospital.

Two knives and a blue Royal motorbike with the registration number M-23-GT 3577 retrieved from the suspect had been retained at the station for evidential purpose.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Cocoa Processing Company of Ghana (CPC) has encouraged Ghanaians to make the country’s cocoa products a staple to derive their full health benefits.

Nana Agyemang Ansong, the Sales and Marketing Manager for CPC, speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview, said cocoa products must be inculcated in the daily meals of Ghanaians, especially for children, due to the numerous benefits that cocoa provides.

Mr. Ansong described cocoa as the gold of the forest, saying it contains nutritional elements that help in the cognitive development and dental health of children; therefore, there was a need to encourage them to consume more cocoa products.

He said for people battling diabetes and high blood sugar, cocoa products were the best remedy, as research had confirmed their ability to reduce blood sugar and control insulin in the body.

He said it also contains anti-cancer elements that help in preventing cancer, and that it was also perfect for asthmatic patients, while it boosts the production of br
east milk in lactating mothers.

‘I will advise the young ones to start taking in chocolate and cocoa products now, instead of waiting to be in their 50s and above, and then start fighting sicknesses and desiring to have a wrinkle-free face,’ he added.

He said that to make it easy for the public to consume cocoa products, CPC had come out with different varieties in the form of chocolate bars, spreads, pebbles, spreads, drinks, nutty, and many others.

Mr. Ansong said its all-time chocolate drink and Royale natural cocoa powder, which used to be in 400-gramme jars, have now been packaged in small sachet quantities in grammes of 10, 40, and 250 to make it easier for everyone to buy as well as consume at their own convenience.

He said CPC, in collaboration with its stakeholders, was working towards projecting Ghana as a country of the best quality chocolate to attract people all over the world, adding that, this must, however, begin with those in Ghana increasing their consumption of cocoa products.

Source:
Ghana News Agency

A consortium of four is strategising in Ghana on ways to address the inequalities in the cocoa, mining and salt sectors to provide decent income for the poor in the value chain.

Oxfam, Third World Network-Africa (TWN-Africa), SOMO, and the Huairou Commission, are holding a four-day ‘fair for all’ conference to increase civil society efforts in that regard.

Among others, they would work with the private sector to find alternative business models, increase pressure on actors for a responsible financial system, improve governmental regulation, and advocate for fiscal and trade reforms.

Countries participating in the conference include Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda, South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique, with support from Brazil, Italy, Palestine, and the Netherlands.

Speaking with the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday, February 13, Mr Francis Agbere, Just Economy Lead, Oxfam Ghana, said the priority of the consortium was to deconstruct existing value chain systems that did not work in favour of the poor.

‘The strategy is to
ensure that the value chains of cocoa, mining, and salt are organised in a way that people who everyday sees the reality and impact of these resources benefit and dealing with the injustices and inequalities that take from the poor and give to the rich,’ he said.

‘We will look within and outside, adopt strategies to ensure that the poor person in a community get a fair price for the commodity that they depend on for their livelihood and point to tangible benefits from the extraction made,’ he stated.

Mr Agbere explained that a multifaceted approach would be used to provide the space for host communities of resources to share their specific needs, while engaging corporate entities to have fair prices for farmers to earn decent income.

‘We’ll also work to provide the policy space that would crack the whip on multinational entities that operate within these value chains and respond to the UN guiding principles for businesses on respect for human rights,’ he noted.

Mr Sylvester Bagooro, Programme Officer, Thi
rd World Network-Africa, explained that while Africa had enormous resources, it had not seen the needed transformation over the years, and the dividend thereof for the poor.

‘This project has been conceived to empower citizens and organisations alike, so that we can see how much value our Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) can also capture from the resources that are often exported by transnational corporations,’ said, Mr Bagooro.

He stated that the project would be keen on value addition, and addressing the systemic challenges associated with rules, which were detrimental to the progress of SMEs and the poor in various resource-rich communities.

‘It is through value addition that we can have the kind of employment, skills, and technology you’re looking for, and that’s how we build a transformational economy,’ he said.

The fair for all initiative is part of the global Power of Voices?with a budget amounting to 71 million euros and to be implemented between January 2021 and December 2025.

Source:
Ghana News Agency

The Tarkwa-Nsueam Municipality will this year benefit from twenty kilometres of roads under the Mining Sector Road Project to facilitate road infrastructure in mining communities and ensure sustained development,

Mr Derrick Obeng, Municipal Urban Roads Engineer, who was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Ahwetieso, said the project would be implemented across all mining communities in the country.

He said although the project was at the preparation stage, twenty kilometers of roads within the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality would be worked on as most of them were in deplorable state.

Mr Obeng said, Tarkwa a mining community would get 20 kilometres: 10 kilometres within Tarkwa township, and the remaining 10 kilometres would be shared among Benso, Dompim, Simpa and Nsuaem communities.

He said: ‘In Tarkwa township, the project would cater for Cyanide-Nsukese Road, Alimens bypass. Brenuakyim, Traditional Council, Classlink and Brofoyedur Roads. We also hope to cover roads within Senyakrom
enclave and Akyem.

‘For the Tarkwa town roads, we insisted that it should be asphalted, but with the roads in Benso, Nsuaem and the others, because of the low traffic volumes, we will be doing surface dressing.

‘We will construct drains, road pavement and sealing but for Tarkwa the final layer is going to be asphalt.

‘Now we are at the preparatory stage and when everything is completed, we will inform the residents of Tarkwa Nsuaem as to when the project will actually start.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Arnold Asamoah Baidoo, a celebrated entertainment pundit, has posited that the four elements captured in Dr Bawumia’s vision under his Presidency for the creative arts industry are more than relevant.

Sharing his views on a ShowBiz programme, Mr Baidoo said the NPP Flagbearer’s vision for the creative arts industry was truly relevant to the modern trends in the sector.

He said: ”I would vehemently reject anybody who says that any of the four elements Dr Bawumia mentioned is not relevant. All the four elements mentioned are relevant.

Mr Baidoo believed that the policy proposals by the NPP Flagbearer would build on the Year of Return, Beyond the Return, December in Ghana.

”So, which person chosen as flagbearer in his right sense of mind would not build on these laudable projects?” Mr Baidoo quizzed.

He noted that the four elements are more than relevant.

”It goes without saying that these elements are super relevant. Dr Bawumia said he would introduce e-visas for foreign visitors, how is that not r
elevant?’ he said.

The e-visa system, Mr Baidoo believed, would cut bureaucracy and inconvenience as well as corruption once there was an improved system.

‘Someone would apply for a visa with the help of a computer for whatever purpose for the visitation without sweating,’ he added.

He charged critics of Dr Bawumia to look at what pertains in South Africa where there were tax incentives for players in the creative arts industry and said that Vice President Bawumia’s pledge to incentivize stakeholders in the industry is more than feasible.

”There is absolutely nothing wrong if digital streaming platforms are created to help market the works of Ghanaian musicians. Apple, Spotify and Boomplay were in existence but that didn’t prevent Jay-Z and his business partners to set up Tidal,’ Mr Baidoo said.

He reminded those who said such platforms for local artists to market their works aren’t important.

”Over the years, as we are all aware there are challenges with the existing platforms. Artists have been comp
laining about how they were shortchanged when it comes to revenue sharing,’ he said.

‘In fact, a couple of years ago, the UK Parliament told streaming services they were cheating the artists whose songs were marketed by them.

‘Therefore, if Bawumia intends to set up streaming platforms to help change this sad situation, why shouldn’t we embrace the idea?’ he asked.

He said that though those policy proposals were not the panacea for solving all the challenges facing the creative arts sector, they are still relevant in addressing some major issues.

He also prayed that the issues of legislation and funding and the dormant broadcasting bill would be given attention to help liberate players in the entertainment industry to realise the maximum benefits from their creative works.

In his address to the nation on his vision, Vice President Bawumia pledged to change the dwindling fortunes of the entertainment sector and implement innovative measures to create more jobs, if elected President of Ghana.

‘I will also
have a major focus on policies, tax and other incentives to increase private and public investment in tourism, creative arts and sports for more job creation. Tax incentives will also be provided for film producers and musicians.

‘We will also introduce other initiatives such as digital and streaming platforms for our artists to make tourism, and the creative arts, a growth pole in Ghana,’ Dr. Bawumia averred.

The NPP Flagbearer further said that some of the policies rolled out under President Akufo-Addo’s government were already yielding dividends and would continue to enhance them under his tenure.

‘We will build on the Year of Return, Beyond the Return, December in Ghana.’

‘A Visa-on-arrival policy will be introduced for international tourists to enhance growth in the industry. To boost tourism and job creation, my government will implement a visa-on-arrival policy for all international visitors to Ghana as has recently been implemented by Kenya,’ Dr Bawumia added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

MTN Ghana is seeking to collect about 6,000 units of blood nationwide as a way of showing love to Ghanaians on Valentine’s Day.

The goal is to restock blood banks across the country to enable health facilities to respond to emergency and critical cases where blood transfusion is needed to save lives.

Over 27,000 units of blood have so far been collected by the telecommunication giants in collaboration with health facilities since 2011 when the annual event commenced.

In the Ashanti Region, students of three Senior High Schools – Prempeh College, Serwaa Nyarko Girls SHS, and Kumasi High School have donated blood to mark the day in Kumasi.

Some teachers of the various schools and staff of MTN also donated during the exercise supervised by health professionals from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH).

Nii Adotey Mingle, General Manager (Sales) of MTN Ghana in charge of the Northern Sector, said the company for the past 13 years had been organising blood donation every Valentine’s Day as part of its co
rporate social responsibility.

He said the motivation for the exercise was to improve healthcare delivery in Ghana by ensuring availability of blood to save lives.

‘You will notice that getting blood to the blood bank is usually voluntary and what they get constitutes about 36 per cent of the required blood in the blood banks so we come in to fill the gap,’ he noted.

He said since it was a voluntary exercise, they always chose places where they could get as many people as possible to donate hence the decision to conduct the exercise in schools.

Dr. Lesley Osei, Head of Transfusion Medicine Unit of KATH, said having adequate blood in the bank was critical to saving the lives of accident victims, cancer, sickle cell patients as well as pregnant women.

She said stocking the KATH blood bank would not only inure the benefit of patients in the facility, but those in other facilities in the region who were also supplied through the Zipline services.

She applauded MTN Ghana for organisisng the life-saving event
every year, saying that donating blood was the best gift anyone could offer on Valentine’s Day.

Source: Ghana News Agency