Lesotho Wire

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

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

Vivo Energy Ghana, the exclusive distributor and marketer of Shell-branded fuels and lubricants has donated medical equipment to the New Horizon Special School in Accra to commemorate this year’s Valentine’s Day.

The items are glucometers, pulse oximeter, thermometer guns, digital weighing scale, First Aid boxes, gloves, blood pressure monitors, face masks and sanitizers to support the day-to-day operations of the school.

This year’s Vivo Energy Ghana Valentine Day celebration is under ‘Energizing Hope Campaign’ with the theme: ‘Leaving No One Behind.’

Mrs Shirley Tony Kum, Corporate Communications Manager of Vivo Energy Ghana in a speech said the campaign was an annual initiative by the company for underserved communities and the underprivileged.

‘It is aimed at providing resources and opportunities to empower individuals and communities to overcome challenges, and access essential services towards building sustainable futures,’ she stated.

She said the company with a vision of becoming Africa’s leading
and most respected energy business, had made it an integral part of its activities to invest in the communities where it operated, stating; ‘We want to create lasting social and economic benefits for these communities and engage them to earn their respect and trust.

‘In line with this commitment and in the spirit of love, Vivo Energy Ghana is pleased to join the pupils and management of the New Horizon Special School to mark this year’s Valentine’s Day and donate items that will help with the day-to-day operations of the school,’ Mrs Kum said.

She added that the donation was to ensure the well-being and proper care of the pupils and expressed the hope that the supplies would enhance their quality of life, support medical needs and facilitate their educational development.

‘Additionally, it will also reduce the financial burden on the school and enable them to allocate resources towards other essential programmes and services.

‘As a company we believe in promoting diversity and inclusion as it fosters a mo
re equitable society by ensuring that all individuals, regardless of their abilities have access to opportunities and resources,’ she stated.

Madam Jocelyn Adoboe, the Deputy Principal of the school (Academic Section), on behalf of the management of the institution expressed gratitude to Vivo Energy Ghana for the support and appealed to other corporates bodies to emulate their example.

As part of the celebration, the employees of the company had fun with the pupils by distributing chocolates to them as Valentine gifts.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Some Islamic leaders in the Ashaiman Municipality have advised the Muslim youth not to partake in the Valentine’s Day celebration as the celebration is against the teachings of Islam.

Valentine’s Day is celebrated worldwide on February 14 with people taking advantage of the day to appreciate their loved ones through the sharing of gifts.

The Islamic leaders, however, indicated that the ‘love celebration day’ had no place in the Islamic religion as it contradicted fundamental teachings on modesty, chastity, and the holiness of marriage.

Mallam Mutawakil Ahmed, an Islamic leader at the Ashiaman Newtown Mosque, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said Valentine’s Day promoted a culture of materialism and romanticism that conflicted with the teachings of Islam.

The focus should be on strengthening family bonds and expressing love and appreciation within the religion’s framework.

He added that Muslims, especially the youth, must remain steadfast in upholding their Islamic values instead of follo
wing worldly celebrations.

‘For Muslims to abstain from Valentine’s Day festivities is not merely a matter of personal choice but a religious obligation. The Quran and hadiths are the sources of Islamic guidance that do not endorse the celebration of romantic love outside the bonds of marriage,’ he stated.

He reminded them that the Quran explicitly warns against the practice of other cultures and religions without critical examination.

Imam Abdul Rakib, another Muslim leader at the Mosque, said, ‘Quranic teachings emphasise the importance of adhering to Islamic principles and resisting the influence of practices that do not align with our faith.’

He said Valentine’s Day, which originated from non-Islamic traditions, encouraged behaviours and values contrary to Quranic teaching.

Such behaviours included materialism, premarital relationships, and the prioritisation of romantic love over devotion.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Nii-Armah Ashitey, Municipal Coordinating Director for Ga East Municipal Assembly (GEMA), has called on the newly-elected assembly members to eschew partisanship and cooperate with each other for the development of the Municipality.

He said the members must come together and work in tandem with the technocrats to achieve their collective vision and mandate in consonance with the stipulated functions enshrined in the constitution.

This, he said, would ensure the rapid development of the municipality.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the sixth Assembly of GEMA, in Accra, Nii Ashitey said the Assembly Members needed to be actively involved in team work to bring meaningful change in their electoral areas.

He pleaded with those returning to the Assembly after their re-election to demonstrate exemplary conduct so that the new members would emulate to facilitate good and speedy deliberations and work in the Assembly.

‘In furtherance to this, I wish to also appeal to you all to leave the past things behind
and let us, together, start on a fresh note, in the interest of the development of the Municipality,’ he added.

Nii Ashitey indicated that there would be various programmes, internally and externally, particularly for the new members to orient them to be acquainted with the operations of the Assembly.

This, he said would help them understand and appreciate the roles and responsibilities that were expected of them.

He urged them to put their shoulders to the wheels and push together to a successful end, adding that ‘we have a collective duty to advance the development of the Municipality.’

Alhaji Aminu Amadu, Member of Council of State, said government remained keen on building the leadership capacity and retooling the Institute of Local Governance Studies (ILGS) of the Assemblies.

‘The Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development (LGDRD) through the ILGS will in the next few weeks hold orientation and training for Assembly members to enable them to appreciate the expected roles an
d responsibilities,’ he added.

He said LGDRD had formulated several policies that contributed towards the national agenda which included national decentralisation policy and strategy, national urban policy and action plan, local economic development policy and action plan as well as national rural development policy, among others.

According to Alhaji Amadu government in its quest to address the major challenges relating to unplanned and haphazard development in Assemblies, would hold consultative meetings with ILGS and Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA) to apprise the citizenry on the guidelines for planning and development permitted in Ghana.

‘Let me remind you that your people require your selflessness, devotion to duty, accountable stewardship, and above all, the ability to articulate their needs to guide the district development agenda, and ultimately improve the quality of their livelihoods and wellbeing.’

Alhaji Amadu noted that good governance entailed active participation of the citiz
enry in the development process saying Assembly members must create an enabling platform, which includes town hall meetings, community durbars, among others for good development.

He said efforts were made by the government through the MLGDRD to improve on the mobilisation of Internally Generated Funds (IGFs) of the MMDAs.

He appealed to the public to work closely with each other to create innovative ways of mobilising the needed resources for the development of the various communities.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Nana Okese Essandoh IX, the Paramount Chief of Nkusukum Traditional Area in the Mfantseman Municipality of the Central Region, has called for the immediate arrest and prosecution of illegal miners destroying the Okyi River.

He said the river, instead of remaining colourless, had turned brownish and muddy, warning that: ‘If we do not stop it, posterity would judge us.’

The Paramount Chief was speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement on a scoping report on Ghana’s lithium exploration at Ewoyaa in the Central Region.

Arranged by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the forum assembled traditional leaders and the residents to deliberate on the impact of the imminent lithium exploration at Ewoyaa.

Regretting the situation, the Paramount Chief said: ‘I’m alerting the police and the EPA on the fact that illegal mining is taking place in river Okyi as I speak now.’

‘I have made similar complaints with the Central Regional House of Chiefs and I’m repeating it here that illegal mining is taking place in river
Okyi with impunity.’

‘This must be treated with the urgency it deserves by the right authorities to save my people from the obvious social, health, and economic dire ramifications,’ the chief stated.

River Okyi is one of the main tributaries of the Pra River and the country’s most important gold and diamond-producing area.

‘Illegal mining along the banks of the river has increased erosion and at times the soil in the mined area caved into the river, silting it,’ he said.

The Paramount Chief said the use of mercury to extract gold had been an issue of public health concern to most residents living in galamsey-prone areas.

He referenced recent research that linked various health issues, including kidney failures, to prolonged exposure to mercury.

‘Mitigating this problem necessitates a combination of environmental regulations, community education and healthcare measures to protect the well-being of the affected population. Let’s advocate against this menace,’ he said.

Mr Kofi Amoah, a vegetable farmer at
Mankessim told the Ghana News Agency that illegal gold mining was on the rise due to its lucrativeness.

He said the unregulated mining had come with hard consequences on sustainable agriculture and resilient food systems.

‘River Okyi used to be the main source of drinking water and irrigation, but we cannot use it again due to pollution. We are left with dugout wells and other streams that dry up during the dry season.’

‘The polluted water sources affect irrigation systems and reduce the availability of clean water for agricultural activities.’

Madam Justina Adwoa Amoasi, a homeowner at Mankessim, lamented how River Okyi overflowed due to the shallowness of its banks as a result of illegal mining activities.

‘When it rains for a few minutes, many homes in my area in Mankessim submerge due to flooding. The riverbed and banks are being eaten by galamseyers with impunity,’ she said.

The residents, therefore, called on the security agencies to strictly monitor the course of the river across the communities
and arrest the perpetrators to deter others.

Source: Ghana News Agency