Category: General

The Coalition for an Effective African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (also referred to as the African Court Coalition) has inducted into its membership the Communication for Development and Advocacy Consult (CDA CONSULT) based in Tema, Ghana.

The African Court Coalition is a membership-based organisation made up of Civil Society Organisations, independent human rights institutions, and individual members and based in Arusha, Tanzania.

The key purpose of the establishment of the Coalition is to advocate an effective and independent African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights to provide redress to victims of human rights violations and strengthen the human rights protection system in Africa.

The CDA Consult is a development communication non-governmental advocacy group that seeks to empower citizens through relentless public education, sensitization, and attitudinal transformation.

It also undertakes broad-based advocacy, engages in monitoring and evaluation of projects, promotes human rights, advocates
for the recognition of minority rights, and builds capacity across diverse professional fields.

Mr. Francis Ameyibor, Executive Director of CDA Consult, applauded the African Court Coalition for acknowledging its viable contributions to strengthening the pillars of human rights advocacy and relentless promotion of the works of the African Court.

He said the CDA Consult Board of Directors and staff would commit and contribute their expertise towards the achievement of the goals and objectives of the African Court Coalition.

Ms. Sophia Ebby, Coordinator, African Court Coalition, commended the CDA Consult for its valuable advocacy over the years and dedication to the African Court and classified its full membership in the Coalition a great accomplishment.

‘On behalf of the Executive Committee of the African Court Coalition, I welcome you into full membership,’ Ms. Ebby stated.

As a full member of the African Court Coalition, CDA Consult is entitled to attend and participate in the African Court Coalition’s
General Assembly held every three years; attend awareness-raising events organised by the Coalition; and participate in advocacy events and legal assistance to victims before the African Court if Pan African Legal Empowerment Initiatives has that expertise.

CDA Consult is also qualified to apply to be a focal point or a member of the Executive Committee of the Coalition.

Ms. Ebby explained that the African Court Coalition believed in access to justice for all, particularly individuals, stressing that in light of the complimentary relations between the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the African Court, the Coalition works towards a strengthened complementary relations between the two institutions.

She said the African Court Coalition was formed during the first conference for the promotion of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, establishing the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Niamey, Niger, in May 2003.

It was formally registered as an NGO in
Tanzania in September 2007, and its secretariat is in Arusha, Tanzania, where the African Court is also based.

The African Court Coalition has seven focal points, which are responsible for, among other things, organising awareness-raising and advocacy events in their respective sub-regions or thematic groups.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Parishioners of the Saint Augustine, Holy Rosary, Holy Trinity and Corpus Christi Roman Catholic churches at Hohoe have commemorated this year’s Palm Sunday with a procession through some principal streets of the town.

Palm Sunday is marked by Christians to remember the triumphal entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem, days before His crucifixion.

Reverend Father Paschal Afesi, the Parish Priest, St Augustine Parish, in a homily said human beings had no strength, power and authority on their own except in the one from God.

He said although mankind would use their power, strength and authority to suppress and make others uncomfortable, Jesus Christ used the power, strength and authority He received from God for the salvation of mankind.

Rev. Fr. Afesi said the celebration and joy of Christians on Palm Sunday signified the fact that Christ’s death was not the end; there was resurrection!

He urged Christians to encourage themselves and others in moments of difficulties.

Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre, the Parish Pri
est of the Holy Rosary Parish, said the victory of Christians was in God and not the problems they faced because they had already been declared victorious through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Palm Sunday, also known as ‘Passion Sunday,’ is the final Sunday of Lent, and the beginning of the Holy Week on the Christian Calendar.

It is known as Palm Sunday because the faithful often use palm fronds for the re-enactment of Christ’s arrival in Jerusalem.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A Tanzanian delegation has visited Ghana to understudy the operations of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) in the downstream sector.

The five-day visit by the Tanzanian Ministry of Energy and the fuel agency was focused on NPA’s effective regulation and administration of the petroleum downstream, which according to them, proved to be convenient, cost-effective and worth emulating.

They were in Ghana from Monday, March 18, 2024, to Friday, March 22, 2024, and were received by the Chief Executive of the NPA, Dr. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, who welcomed them at an opening session held at the NPA.

In attendance were the Deputy Chief Executive, Perry Okudzeto, Directors, Heads of Department and some staff of the Authority.

In his welcome remarks, the Chief Executive expressed excitement to host the delegation and assured them that the NPA was more than willing and ready to share the NPA experience with them particularly in respect of how the Authority was administering the Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF), w
hich was a key area of interest to the Tanzanians.

He added that the Authority had put everything in place to make their five-day visit including the scheduled field-tours, worthwhile.

On his part, Head of the delegation, Mr. Msafiri Mtepe of the Energy and Water Utilities Regulatory Authority, Tanzania, commended the Authority for the warm reception and expressed optimism that they would, indeed, have the best of learning experience on the Ghanaian model of petroleum regulation, which he said, had become the envy of many countries in Africa and beyond.

He stated that the primary objective of their study visit was to appreciate the successful implementation of Ghana’s Unified Petroleum Price Scheme and other pricing mechanisms instituted in Ghana.

In the course of their stay in Ghana and with the NPA, many formal engagements and sessions were held with technical persons at the Authority focusing on wide range of subjects on relevant aspects of Ghana’s petroleum value chain.

There were presentations on va
rious subjects including Ghana’s pricing policy objectives, the Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF), legal framework for petroleum regulation among others.

The delegation, whilst in Ghana, visited the Ministry of Energy, where they were taken through Ghana’s petroleum downstream policies.

They were received by the Chief Director, Mrs. Wilhelmina Asamoah, on behalf of the Minister of Energy.

The delegation also embarked on field visitations to the BOST terminals in Tema and Akosombo to acquaint themselves with some of the practical operations of NPA and other key actors in Ghana’s petroleum.

Source: Ghana News Agency

By Charity Nginyu

In a recent statement issued by His Royal Majesty Fon Ngum IV, concerns over the abuse and misuse of traditional titles have been raised within the Oku community.

Addressing the public via his official Facebook handle, the Fon expressed grave concern over the sudden surge of individuals proclaiming themselves as title holders without proper authorization.

‘It has come to notice that several persons have suddenly proclaimed themselves as title holders ranging from appellations such as Shey, Ebchuo Shey, Yaah, Ebchuofai, Bantock, Tantoh just to name a few of such abusive use of titles,’ the Fon stated.

Highlighting the significance of traditional titles within Oku society, the Fon emphasized that titles are bestowed singularly by the Kwifon and the Fon of Oku, and no individual has the authority to self-proclaim or upgrade existing titles.

Furthermore, the Fon highlighted the importance of upholding noble character and behavior among title holders, stating, ‘Title holders are supposed to
be noble in their characters and actions, including behavior. This is what sets the premise for norms and standards within the context of the Oku Society and this must be respected.’

In light of these concerns, His Royal Majesty Fon Ngum IV issued the following directives:

The practice of self-proclamation of titles should cease immediately; All current traditional title holders should adhere to the original title nomenclature as proclaimed by the Kwifon or the Fon and display exemplary lifestyles to sustain the dignity of Oku culture and tradition.

The Traditional Institutions will take drastic measures should the abuse, misuse, and self-proclamation of titles continue to trend.

The Fon concluded by reaffirming the importance of wisdom and stewardship among titleholders, stating, ‘They are supposed to listen more and speak less. This is the foundation of wisdom and our customs put a lot of emphasis on this.’

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Dr Joe Anokye, Director General of the National Communications Authority, says the cause of the undersea submarine cable disruption is yet to be known.?

He said cable landing operators were close to reach the cables to determine exactly what caused the disruption.

‘At the meeting held on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at the NCA Tower, the Cable?

Landing Operators indicated that it would take a minimum of five weeks to repair the faults.

‘Reports from the Operators indicate that the repair vessels are on their way to the problem areas in the high seas of Côte d’Ivoire,’ he said.

Dr Anokye said this during a media briefing on the current state of internet connectivity in the country after March 14 nationwide internet blackout.

He said the internet situation was improving.

Dr Anokye said the three major mobile network operators in Ghana – MTN, Telecel and AT were advised to connect to submarine cables in the subregion as a backup alongside the ones they were connected to in the country’s territory.

He said t
hat would enable them to run their operations effectively anytime they were faced with undersea cable hitch by falling on other connections in the subregion.

Dr Anokye said the NCA as of last year 2023 had licensed a fifth cable landing operator, 2 Africa Cable , which would be in full operations in the first quarter of 2025.

He said the Cable was the only one that circled the entire African continent providing geographical diversity and was far away from the other cables in the high seas.

He added that they were also in the process of licensing broadband network for domestic use to complement those provided by the network operators.

Dr Anokye said those interventions were being put in place by the Authority to ensure that data and internet services did not get disrupted anytime there was an undersea cable challenge.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Reverend Father Theophilus Addo-Botchway, Assisting Priest, Saint Anne Anglican Church, Abeka, has urged Christians to live life of sacrifice as they commemorate Palm Sunday.

In his message themed: ‘My Expensive Sacrifice,’ based on Mark 14: 3, he said Mary Magdalene, who was seen as a sinner, sacrificed expensive oil to prepare for Christ’s death and burial.

That remarkable act, he said, served as an example for Christians to follow by sacrificing something precious unto God.

‘So, as God is about to sacrifice His Son for us, we also have to sacrifice something for Him,’ he said.

He added: ‘In the olden days, the Israelites sacrificed human beings and animals. In our days, Christ has died for us, so we don’t need to sacrifice animals and human beings again.

‘Whatever God has blessed us with, we have to sacrifice that thing for Christ,’ he said.

Rev Addo-Botchway noted that God had blessed His people with many gifts and talents that Christians could apply to serve God.

He urged Christians to help th
e work of God by giving their money, time, and possessions.

Rev Addo-Botchway stressed that: ‘As a Christian, for your sacrifice to be acceptable unto God, you must go deep within your heart and search for the most expensive thing that you can sacrifice unto the Lord.’

Rev Fr Dr Samuel Quartey, the Parish Priest, St Anne Anglican Church, said Palm Sunday signified the bold decision that Jesus took to enter Jerusalem regardless of the consequences that awaited him.

He said Christians must also be bold witnesses for Christ so that others may know the victory of the sacrifice that Christ had brought to mankind.

‘Palm Sunday also teaches us to be humble, loving and steadfast in the Lord, as Christ’s victory is an assurance that even though the Christian life will be full of trials, persecutions and tribulations, through it all, God will be there to save us and bless us,’ he noted.

As Ghana prepared for the 2024 General Election, Rev Quartey called on the country’s political party leaders to let Christ be the
ir example by humbling themselves.

He said: ‘In elections, is either you win or you lose. So when you win, you give glory to God. When you lose too, you give glory to God.

‘It’s God that appoints leaders. It’s God that appointed Jesus to come and die for mankind.

‘As we go into elections, Christians must pray to God for Him to grant the nation victory as He granted Jesus Christ victory over the devil.’

Rev Quartey urged Christians to be channels of peace and unity throughout the elections to maintain the nation’s stability and speed up growth and development.

The Church Choir led the congregation to sing the Passion according to Saint Mathew with meditations on Jesus’ trial, death, victory over sin, and mankind’s reconciliation with God.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Ghana Navy Special Boat Squadron, the Ghana Army Special Operations Brigade, and the Fighter Squadron of the Ghana Airforce, on Friday, 22nd March 2024, embarked on a joint operation exercise.

The exercise, which formed part of 2024 Exercise Sea Lion, included an amphibious landing where armed navy troops from the special boat squadron descended from sailing ships into fast boats to simulate an offensive, search and rescue efforts on the shore at the Naval Base in Sekondi, Western Naval Command.

The simulation exercise involved the kidnapping of a Minister and his family by terrorists who held them hostage in a building at the shore.

Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu, Chief of Naval Staff (CNS)

It illustrated how the boat squadron with help from the other two squadrons of the armed forces, subdued the acting terrorists and eventually rescued the Minister and his family.

In his address to troops, Rear Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu, the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), stated how the operation involving various un
its of the tri-service was a living proof of the competence of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) and its commitment to overcome any security challenges.

‘The completion of this major military amphibious exercise involving the Army Special Operations Brigade, the Special Boat Squadron of the Ghana Navy and the Fighter Squadron of the Ghana Airforce stands as a testament to the extraordinary capabilities of the Ghana Armed Forces,’ he said.

The CNS commended all personnel and civilians, who made the naval voyage to cross the equator (latitude zero degrees) and underwent the navy traditional initiation supervised by the various ship captains.

‘To our distinguished passengers who crossed the equator and were initiated by King Neptune as abled-bodied seamen and joining the league of the few sailors who have achieved this feat, your presence on this journey has been invaluable..,’ he said.

The personnel and civilians were awarded certificates and King Neptune Badges for successfully crossing the equator.

Source: G
hana News Agency