Day: June 10, 2024

Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, Volta Regional Minister, has urged cooperation between the public and security agencies to uphold mutual trust and ensure safety.

He said to provide everyone with the security needed to go about their regular business operations, effective cooperation between security forces and civilians was a must.

Dr Letsa, speaking at the Volta Regional Coordinating Council meeting, emphasised that the Regional Security Council would continue to fulfil its mandate to maintain law and order.

He said the region remained peaceful, and there was virtually little crime, and people continued to go about their daily lives and business in a safe and secure environment.

However, the Minister revealed that the region’s chieftaincy and land disputes continued to pose serious security risks.

Dr Letsa urged the parties to the disputes to resolve their issues through the judicial system and avoid taking the law into their own hands.

He appealed to the Regional House of Chiefs to settle matters that were br
ought to their notice as quickly as possible, adding that some of the parties believed that delays in the resolution of their disputes benefited the opposing side.

Dr Letsa stated that the national security campaign ‘See Something, Say Something’ was still in place and that extremists and other terrorist groups, especially those from the Sahara, remained a threat to the country.

He stated that civilians must assist in promptly and vitally providing the security services with information on any suspected security concerns, including terrorism, since the security forces could not be everywhere and there was a significant risk of local collaborators.

The Minister urged the Municipal and District Assemblies to continuously increase awareness about the campaign to help the public understand the possible threats the nation faced and to motivate them to exercise their civic responsibility by reporting any suspicions to state security.

Source: Ghana News Agency

World Vision Ghana, a Christian relief and advocacy organisation, has underscored the need to strengthen and enforce the legal systems against environmental destruction as part of efforts to sustain the natural resources and the environment.

Mr Francis Gumah, the Northern Regional Operations Manager of World Vision Ghana, said human activities such as illegal mining, felling of trees without replanting and bad farming practices continued to destroy the environment especially across Northern Ghana.

However, there were laws and legal frameworks when enforced by government and the institutions responsible would not only punish perpetrators of environmental destruction to deter others but would enhance environmental sustainability across all levels.

‘The clarion call is on government to ensure that some of the laws that deter people from abusing the land and destroying the environment are enforced,’ he said.

The Northern Regional Operations Manager was speaking to the media on the sidelines of tree planting e
xercise at Bolgatanga to mark this year’s Green Ghana Day on the theme ‘Growing for a greener tomorrow.’

The exercise was organised by World Vision Ghana in collaboration with Vision Fund Ghana and the Akayet Hotel in Bolgatanga to plant trees in and around the hotel.

Mr Gumah noted that environmental sustainability was at the heart of World Vision’s operations and over the years it had worked to restore degraded landscapes and forest reserves while increasing livelihoods of rural communities.

He said the Northern Ghana, particularly Upper East, Upper West, North East and Northern continued to bear the brunt of environmental destruction and urged increasing efforts to inculcate the spirit of restoration to reverse degraded lands.

‘For World Vision, we have implemented Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) to make sure that we allow some of the indigenous tree shrubs to be able to grow on their own because we believe that tree planting alone will not solve the problem.

‘So, we need to encourage peopl
e to imbibe the habit of planting trees, especially at the household level to help restore degraded lands while pruning existing ones to regenerate naturally,’ he added.

Currently, World Vision Ghana with funding from the European Union (EU) is implementing a four-year project dubbed ‘Landscapes and Environmental Agility across the Nation (LEAN) in selected communities in the Kassena-Nankana West District and West Gonja Municipality.

The aim of the project is to support national and local efforts to conserve biodiversity, improve livelihoods of smallholder farmers, build climate resilience and reduce emissions from land use change across Ghana’s high forest, Savannah and transition zones.

Mr Joseph Edwin Yelkabong, the EU LEAN Project Manager, World Vision Ghana, noted that the project through the FMNR approach was helping to conserve biodiversity, restore degraded landscapes and forest reserves, improve agriculture productivity and had provided alternatives livelihoods to smallholder farmers in rural comm
unities.

Under the LEAN project. about 120,000 seedlings had been planted within the last three years in the Savannah landscapes and about 411 hectares of degraded parklands had been restored through the FMNR concept.

‘We have established eight nurseries and for this year, we have raised about 40,000 seedlings and we have supplied to institutions, individuals and schools for free and have built their capacities to ensure survival,’ he said.

On her part, Ms Leticia Bukari, a Staff of the Akayet Hotel, noted that green environment was the hallmark of the hospitality facility as it had planted and nurtured trees and grass around the facility to provide conducive atmosphere for clients.

She commended World Vision Ghana and Vision Fund Ghana for the partnership and stressed that the facility would continue to prioritise environmental sustainability in its operations.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Madam Magdalene Kannae, a Board Member of the National Peace Council, has called on the public to avoid hate speeches and discourage violence in any form ahead of the 2024 general elections.

She said the 2024 election has different and special dynamics that needed to be understood.

She said the two major political parties (National Democratic Congress and New Patriotic Party) had keen interests and there was the need to work together to ensure that their activities did not mar the election and jeopardize the peace of the country.

‘We all know the stake up for the ticket. With the two big political parties wanting to come to power, one is saying that we want to break the eight and the other is saying it is ok, go and let us come, so it is like a tug of war with each of them pulling and wanting to win, and we all must avoid hate speeches and discourage violence towards the election,’ she stated.

Madam Kannae made the call when she addressed opinion leaders, youth groups, women, and other minority groups at
a two-day workshop on conflict resolution in Zebilla in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region.

The engagement aimed at enhancing their capacities to detect and address the root causes of localized and spillover conflicts and vulnerabilities in their communities.

It formed part of the project dubbed ‘Enhancing Social Cohesion and Social Contract through Empowering Women and Youth in Northern Ghana’ being implemented by the Peace Council in Bawku West, Garu, and Bongo Districts of the Upper East Region. 

It is being funded by the United Nations (UN) Peace Building Fund through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA). 

Mr. Labilla James Agogo, the Assemblyman of Sapeliga Electoral Area, said the capacity-building workshop was ‘top notch and revealing,’ stressing that the Peace Council and donors of the peacebuilding project ought to be applauded for inculcating in them the need for peace. 

‘They have made us understand and appreciate that th
e Fulbes are not our enemies, as we may perceive, and that alone means everything to us because of the seasonal problems we have with them.

‘From the look of things, we can live in harmony, and they can actually be helpful to us,’ he emphasised.

Source: Ghana News Agency

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo vowed on Monday that he would not compromise due process or natural justice in the fight against corruption.

He emphasized that he remained a firm believer in the need to fight corruption in society, but that he would do that following due process and the rules of natural justice.

‘For my part, and let me state it against for the record, I would not set aside due process and rules of natural justice on the altar of the fight against corruption no matter how much opprobrium this position incurs for me,’ he stressed.

The President said this when he commissioned the new office complex for the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice in Accra.

The ten-storey state-of-the-art edifice, christened ‘The Law House,’ will house the Attorney-General’s office, the Ministry of Justice and other key legal bodies.

President Akufo-Addo said the opening of the Law House was not just a celebration of a new building, but a collective commitment to the rule of law and justice in the cou
ntry.

He said the importance of the building went beyond its physical structure but also symbolized the government’s strong dedication to upholding the tenets of the rule of law, which is the bedrock of any thriving democracy.

‘The rule of law ensures that no one is above the law, that is the concept of equality before the law is respected, that justice is administered fairly and impartially and that the rights and freedoms of every citizen are protected. It is the foundation upon which we build an equitable, free, and just society,’ he said.

The President said his administration had made considerable strides in strengthening the rule of law in Ghana.

‘We have embarked on a journey of digitization and modernization of our legal and judicial systems, recognizing that in this digital age, the efficient administration of justice must keep pace with technological advancements,’ he said.

President Akufo-Addo said the capacity of the Attorney General’s office had been boosted, enabling it to handle numerous in
ternational arbitration cases without recourse to foreign or external counsels.

This represented a marked departure from previous practice, where external legal expertise was often sought.

According to the President, the strengthened Attorney General’s Office had demonstrated notable success, effectively advocating Ghana’s interest on the international stage and achieving favourable outcomes in various arbitration proceedings, including reducing the cost of proceedings for the state.

‘These strategic enhancements not only underscore the government’s commitment to self-reliance in legal matters but also showcase the proficiency and competence of domestic legal talent in managing complex international disputes,’ he said.

President Akufo-Addo said his government had enhanced judicial infrastructure by providing resources to ensure the safety and security of judges, who often face threats in the line of duty.

‘My government has made unprecedented progress in the provision of core buildings and residences for
judges around the country,’ he stated.

The President reassured Ghanaians that the state’s law enforcement authorities, including the Attorney General’s Office, will do everything in their power to maintain peace and order in the country at all times, particularly during this year’s election.

‘We will not allow the peace, security and stability of the nation which has made Ghana a beacon of democracy on the African continent to be compromised on the altar of the ambitions of any political party or presidential candidate…It will not happen,’ the President stated.

President Akufo-Addo indicated that existing laws, particularly those of vigilantism, would be strictly and vigorously enforced to maintain the country’s tranquillity and peace.

‘We owe that to the good people of Ghana, who have demonstrated so consistently and openly their deep attachment to peaceful democratic values.

‘We must remember that the rule of law is not a static concept. It is a living principle that requires constant nurturing and vig
ilance, he said,

The President urged the judiciary to adapt and evolve the country’s legal system to meet the changing needs of the society.

‘In so doing, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to justice, fairness, and equality for all,’ he said.

Mr Godfred Dame, the Attorney-General, said the Law House represents a modern public legal service fully equipped to carry out its onerous constitutional and statutory duties of providing competent legal advice to the country and representing the State in the complexities of modern-day local and international transactions.

He was optimistic that the facility would mark the beginning of the endeavour to establish an efficient, contemporary public legal service.

The complex includes offices for state attorneys. It features a large conference room, a canteen, two libraries, and space for pupils, interns, and researchers.

Source: Ghana News Agency

An indefinite nationwide strike declared by the Divisional Executive Council of Public Services Workers’ Union of TUC (Ghana), National Identification Authority (NIA) Division, has hit the Hohoe Municipal office of the Authority.

The Council at a meeting on May 23, 2024, unanimously resolved to embark on an indefinite industrial action effective Monday, June 10, 2024 after it deferred an intended strike scheduled for March 24, 2024 based on the intervention of the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations.

A visit by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to Hohoe’s NIA office saw the office locked with few people who came for services but were left without help as most of them described the strike as something they had no information about and were not informed earlier.

In a letter dated June 9, 2024 and signed by Mr Kwabena Adu Kyeremeh and Mr Francis Bangfudeme Nyuzaghl, Council Secretary and Chairman respectively, the Council noted that the condition for the deferment of the strike action was that the governmen
t represented by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FSWC) and the management of NIA facilitated the negotiation and implementation of better conditions of service for staff of the NIA among others.

‘However, the government has not shown good faith in the negotiation process,’ the Council added.

It said the indefinite strike was in response to the heightened agitation of its members on the need to embark on an industrial action to drum home their poor and demeaning conditions of service

The Council noted that the strike was premised on the failure of government represented by the FWSC, NIA, Ministries of Employment and Labour Relations and Finance as well as collaborators to adhere to a Pre-Negotiation condition provided for in section 2 (v) of the Rules of Engagement.

It said the strike was also due to government team’s undue delays in the negotiation process, posturing and reluctance in granting the NIA, Institution Specific Allowances and also failure of management to implement the approved scheme
of service for the staff of NIA, following the announcement of its approval in March 22 this year.

The Council said until the government and management respected the policy framework enacted to guide the administration of public institutions and the labour laws, its officers would not return to their various offices at the instance of the financial and economic hardship that NIA staff were experiencing.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Wepia Addo Awal Adugwala, National President of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG), has called on the government to increase investment in mechanisation centres to provide support and technology access for smallholder farmers across the country.

He said mechanisation enabled smallholder farmers to have access to technology to expand their production and improve their livelihoods and food security.

The National President of PFAG was speaking at the Non-State Actors Consultation on the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Post-Malabo Agenda in Accra.

The CAADP is Africa’s policy framework for agriculture transformation, wealth creation, food security, nutrition, economic growth and prosperity, which aims at reducing levels of poverty, ending hunger on the continent and promoting food security and economic development.

‘it also reduces post-harvest losses and preserves more produce for the market,’ he added.

Mr Adugwala said by embracing mechanisation, Ghana could t
ransform its agriculture sector and drive economic growth with food security as a top priority.

He said stakeholders needed to prioritise sustainable farming, empower farmers, invest in infrastructure and create access to markets and technology, unlocking the full potential of agriculture and creating a prosperous future.

The National President urged African countries to allocate resources for the radical transformation of the agriculture sector to create jobs and wealth for the teaming youth.

He said for Ghana to achieve some of the objectives of CAADP, it must invest in irrigation infrastructure such as the construction of the Pwalugu Multipurpose Dam in the North East region to provide water to over 15,000 smallholder farmers for all year-round farming.

Mr Adugwala urged the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) to deploy more national service personnel to assist the extension officers in carrying out the exercise to build a comprehensive database for the farmers, a requirement to benefit from the Pl
anting for Food and Jobs 2.0 programme input credit system.

‘This is very crucial because the farmers are waiting for the farm inputs considering the fact that the rainy season has started and farmers can no longer wait for the delayed registration to be completed,’ he added.

He said the government had promised to support onion farmers and dealers to produce more onions in Ghana to make the country self-sufficient.

He added that these farmers had not received any form of support from the government to produce the onion, making Ghana still relying on Niger and Nigeria for the supply of onion.

Six million trees were supposed to be planted in forest reserves across the country on Friday, June 7, 2024, as part of Green Ghana Day.

‘If this project succeeds, there is no doubt that it will conserve the environment and help to mitigate the effects of climate change in Ghana,’ he added.

He said the project was being threatened by the activities of illegal miners, popularly called Galamsey and the activities of i
llegal chain saw operators in forest reserves, hence the government must sit up on the fight against Galamsey to save our lands and forest reserves.

Mr Charles Ayueboro Adana, a Representative from MOFA, said the Ministry in collaboration with the stakeholders implemented various programmes and projects in the past two decades.

He said the Ministry committed to implementing certain agreed actions in the first 10 years under the Maputo declaration, renewing efforts and recommitting to certain objectives.

‘Registration of farmers is ongoing, we are making efforts to improve upon that, so we welcome feedback that will help in that regard,’ he added.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Friends of the Nation (FoN), a socio-environmental advocacy non-governmental organisation (NGO), has called on fishers to adopt sustainable fishing practices to help protect the oceans and marine mammals.

A statement signed by the Executive Director of FoN, Mr Mevuta Donkris, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, said: ‘Our oceans face unprecedented threats from pollution, over-fishing and climate change putting the health and viability of our planet and our communities at risk.’

It said there was a need for collective action from all stakeholders to protect Ghana’s marine mammal population, stop land-based pollution, promote sustainable fishing practices and address the devastating impacts of climate change on the oceans.

It said FoN remained dedicated to monitoring and studying Ghana’s oceanic waters, supporting sustainable fishing practices, educating communities on oceanic conservation and collaborating with international partners to address global oceanic challenges.

‘FoN recognizes the importance
of inclusivity in oceanic conservation and commits to engaging citizens in the decision-making process, fostering multi-stakeholder conversations, dialogue and collaboration, developing inclusive policies and programmes, building capacity for oceanic conservation, ensuring transparency and accountability and adopting an intersectional approach to address diverse needs,’ the statement noted.

While FoN saluted its community environmental monitoring and advocacy volunteers and scientists for catalysing local actions for a cleaner ocean, it called on the government, marine stakeholders and community leaders to join in the critical effort to advance the course.

The NGO further urged the government to take immediate action to protect and restore marine habitats, and ecosystems, and support marine research and innovation to ensure fair, complimentary and environmentally conscious access for all oceanic resources.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, says the dreadful infrastructural and logistic hardship facing his ministry were legendary as some state attorneys had to operate from shipping ‘containers.’

‘I considered it very deplorable. I deem it unacceptable for attorneys who assist important institutions of state navigate the myriad of legal challenges they are confronted with, and some of whom were Ivy League Scholars to be using containers as their offices.

I daresay that the era where regional offices of the Office of the Attorney and Ministry of Justice and other agencies of the Ministry perch in the corner of buildings belonging to other government institutions or were sometimes thrown out of premises in which they are licensees should be over soon.’

Mr Dame said this at the commissioning of a 12- storey building, named, The Law House, which will function as the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, in Accra.

The construction of the edifice commenced 24 ye
ars ago.

He held that every regional office of the Ministry of Justice ought to own at least a three-storey office.

According to him, he has commenced discussions with the World Bank about the possibility of funding the projects.

The AG said he would spearhead efforts to obtain funding for the construction of a modern permanent office for the Legal Aid Commission.

Mr Dame said he would relinquish the use of the former office block of the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice for the Legal Aid Commission to use as its office.

He said the ministry would strengthen the litigating capacity of attorneys to match the demands of civil litigation, including international arbitration and cases in foreign courts and tribunals.

According to him, the quality of representation of the state by the Office of the Attorney General has considerably increased as the state holds its own in most international arbitration without the aid of foreign counsel.

‘Even though the last four years has seen an extra
ordinary upsurge in international arbitration cases against the state, conspicuously , the state has emerged victorious in all the awards.

He said Ghana could not have a modern legal service without a fully functional digitized working environment, adding, it had commenced the operationalization of the Integrated Information Management System for the Office of the Attorney – General and Ministry of Justice.

‘We cannot allow paper to clutter our working environment and destroy the beauty of what we have done with the Law House.’

He said it was important that the industry of the state attorneys be properly complemented with resources to discharge their duties.

‘It is my hope that today marks the beginning of the realization of the quest to set up an efficient modern public legal service.’

Mr Yaw Boafo, President, Ghana Bar Association (GBA), said the Law House edifice was one of the biggest investments ever made in the Office of the Attorney General.

Mr Boafo said the edifice should serve as a reference p
oint and a beacon of excellence and called for similar infrastructure in regions and districts.

According to him, the state of the Offices of the Attorney General across the country were ‘not fit for purpose.’

‘We should break away from the phenomenon of development only in Accra. The time has also come for the establishment of district and regional offices of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice.’

The GBA President called for the employment of more attorneys to take away some prosecutorial functions from the Police.

According to him, some cases handled by the Police have led to the discharge of some accused persons, adding that if those matters were handled by State Attorneys the outcome would have been positive.

Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo called for the replication of similar edifices across the country.

Source: Ghana News Agency