He said the project should no longer be delayed and that everything should be done to complete it.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu said this in a speech read for him at the inauguration of a US$10 million state-of-the-art Maternal and Babies Unit (MBU) complex built for the referral hospital.

The world-class facility comes with a maternity, neonatal and pediatric intensive care unit, nine birthing beds, three operating theaters and 130 baby cots.

[contextly_sidebar id=”QoO39TsNV0mbGEPNxCcfdijIiJZ2clPM”]Added to these are 15 incubators, two infant ventilators, 11 pediatric beds, filtered fresh air and independent post-delivery and post-operatory.

The First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, was instrumental in raising funds for the construction of the project.

She led the effort following a documentary by the Multimedia Group, putting the spotlight on avoidable deaths of mothers and their babies at the referral facility caused by combined factors of congestion and limited equipment.

The documentary stirred the emotion and conscience of the nation.

The project, completed in a record time of five months, has been designated by the World Bank as a “green building” due to the quality, sustainable materials and building techniques used.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu expressed concern that KATH, the nation’s second largest referral facility, providing care for patients not only the Northern sector of the country but other neighboring countries had not seen any major expansion since its establishment in 1955.

The net result has been severe congestion, something unhelpful to quality health care delivery.

The Asantehene commended the First Lady for the leadership she provided and also said thank you to all other individuals and corporate Ghana for the facility.

Mr. Simon Osei Mensah, the Ashanti Regional Minister, underscored the need for a strict maintenance regime to keep the place and equipment in good condition at all times.

Dr. Oheneba Owusu Danso, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), said they were grateful to Mrs. Akufo-Addo and Multimedia Group for the project, adding that, it had come to ease pressure at the MBU.

–

Source: GNA

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Speaking at the Chief Justice’s forum in Kumasi on Monday, the Asantehene referenced the GHc 1,800 fine imposed on members of 13 of the Delta Force members who assaulted the Ashanti Regional Security Coordinator after raiding his office.

[contextly_sidebar id=”3df8JZfsK7IHPL0OLTf9o6mZRKtp2M7w”]Eight of the 13 Delta Force members’ compatriots were arrested on suspicion of storming court proceedings and aiding the escape of the 13 from court custody.

But charges were controversially dropped and the eight walked free for what some considered the most heinous crime in the whole saga.

According to the Asantehene, such developments compared to hefty punishments slapped on offenders who commit misdemeanors and petty crimes undermine the confidence of Ghanaians in the quality of the justice delivery system.

“If someone steals a goat and is fined GHc 5,000 and is additionally slapped with a jail term, how can people who invade a courtroom, overpower a security, release suspects and put the lives of a judge and staff in danger, and as their punishment are given a paltry fine of GHc 1,800 and discharged. Has justice been served?”

“If such judgments come from the court, how can you prevent people from questioning the quality of justice delivered by our judges? Unfortunately, it takes only one case or very few cases for the quality of justice that you profess to deliver to be through into the woods.”

The Asantehene thus urged the judiciary to establish benchmarks to redeem the eroded confidence of the public in the legal system.

“I hope and pray that by the end of this forum, such ramification of quality justice will be more meaningfully appreciated so we can all be witnesses for the realization of the vision of quality judges delivering quality justice,” he said.

Pledge to build first-class judiciary

Speaking at the forum, the Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo said she was working to build a first-class judiciary system as she spoke on the theme: ‘Quality judges, delivering quality judgment’.

“My mission is to build a first-class judiciary for our dear country espoused on seven key policy factors; judicial temperament, competence, ethics, independence, judicial skills, health and character.”

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Notices were placed at the entrance of the office, demanding an immediate apology and retraction of the story by the newspaper.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, a reporter with Daily Guide , Ernest Adu, said : “we came this Wednesday]  morning to find our offices locked with notices saying that we should apologize to Otumfuo.”

According to Mr. Adu, there was a clear notice indicating that, the office will not be opened be if Daily Guide fails to apologize.

The Daily Guide story in question that has supposedly infuriated the youth, was titled “Otumfuo’s £350,000 pounds cash causes stir in UK.”

Checks by citifmonline.com established that, Daily Guide Newspaper, has for now pulled down the story from its website.

Background

The Asantehene’s name popped up in the UK media, in a suspected money laundering case, after he sent a bank official to deposit a cash amount of £350,000 on his behalf.

According to the UK’s Telegraph, when Osei Tutu II, summoned Mark Arthur to his multi-million-pound residence in Henley-on-Thames and handed him a bag containing almost £200,000 in sterling as well as $200,000 in US currency with consecutive serial numbers, the bank official felt it inappropriate to ask too many questions.

However, the subsequent deposit of the cash at the Ghana International Bank, triggered a money laundering alert in the City of London and cost Mr. Arthur his job.

According to the report, the King, who once worked at Brent council, summoned Mr. Arthur, the bank’s second most senior executive, to his home in August in 2016.

Mr. Arthur, the bank’s official, is currently in a legal tussle over his dismissal for allegedly breaking banking rules.

However, events unfolding suggests that the Bank has not accused the Asantehene of money laundering as has been suggested, and that it is only dealing strictly with its official who bend the rules in such transactions.

Asantehene money laundering claims baseless – Ghana Intl. Bank

The Ghana International Bank has since clarified that, the ongoing tribunal hearing that has captured the public’s attention, is not about whether the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II engaged in money laundering or not.

There is not even any suggestion of money laundering allegations against the Asantehene, the Ghana International Bank said.

A statement from the UK-based bank asserted that, the ongoing litigation between the bank and a former Executive Director, Mark Arthur, concerned breaches of the Bank’s internal policies and UK laws.

These breaches were said to have happened when Mr. Arthur carried out a transaction on behalf of the Asantehene, reportedly involving £350,000.

This transaction at Ghana International Bank triggered a money laundering alert and cost Mr. Arthur his job.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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Breached regulations within the  Ghana International Bank were noted when a transaction was carried out in August 2016, on behalf of the Asantehene, reportedly involving £350,000.

[contextly_sidebar id=”hYf2u0H8Ww0ZPme7x3XOfIxb0R4cBMo3″]The bank official involved, Mark Arthur, was subsequently suspended and later sacked for not following anti-money laundering rules.

Before a tribunal, where he is alleging wrongful dismissal, among others, Mark Arthur alleged that Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the holder of a diplomatic passport, told him the cash had been withdrawn from banks in Ghana and brought to the UK.

Despite the amount in question, Mr. Otuo Acheampong noted on Eyewitness News that there was no need for regulatory authorities like the Financial Intelligence Centre to pursue the matter because of the allegations.

As an example, Financial institutions are to report all cash transactions within Ghana with a threshold of GH¢20,000, or amounts as may be determined by the BOG from time to time, to the Financial Intelligence Centre.

The Financial Intelligence Centre is mandated by law to request, receive, analyse, interpret and disseminate financial intelligence in Ghana and abroad.

Preferential treatment

But Mr. Otuo Acheampong said customers could be “treated differently, therefore, whilst it [an amount] may be too much for me, because of my record, it may be okay for you because of your record.”

He couldn’t speak to whether there was permission sought or whether it was given for the alleged transactions by the Asantehene, but he said, “as far as the Ghanaian authorities are concerned, nothing sinister has been brought against the king. As far as the British authorities are concerned, nothing has been brought against him.”

“At the core is the breach of internal procedures at the Ghana International Bank,” Mr. Otuo Acheampong added, thus, the Financial Intelligence Centre did “not necessarily” have to look into the matter.

He also reminded that “we don’t know whether even that money was sourced in the UK or was sourced in Ghana. What you are alluding to is what the claimant [Mark Athur] proffered.”

The Ghana International Bank has since said there has been no suggestion of money laundering allegations in its litigation with its former employee, Mark. Arthur.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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There is not even any suggestion of money laundering allegations against the Asantehene, the Ghana International Bank said.

[contextly_sidebar id=”1ZVNZ6G2eWlg6djy68YjtnTFMA54iT5i”]A statement from the UK-based bank asserted that, the ongoing litigation between the bank and a former Executive Director, Mark Arthur, concerned breaches of the Bank’s internal policies and UK laws.

These breaches were said to have happened when Mr. Arthur carried out a transaction on behalf of the Asantehene, reportedly involving £350,000.

This transaction at Ghana International Bank triggered a money laundering alert and cost Mr. Arthur his job.

After first being suspended and then sacked following an investigation, Mr. Arthur is claiming wrongful dismissal, unfair dismissal and failure to protect a whistle-blower.

“The Tribunal’s proceedings and its findings will be about whether the Bank was entitled to dismiss Mark Arthur as it did, and not about the King, Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II. There has never been any suggestion by the Bank that the King was or is involved in money laundering. In fact, we have no evidence to that effect. The bank has also not in any of its submissions questioned the integrity of the King,” the statement said.

The bank had even attempted to put in place an anonymity order in September 2017, to keep the Asantehene’s name away from proceedings.

“With a focus on the substance of the matter, and for customer confidentiality purposes, the bank had applied for an anonymity order in September of this year [2017], ahead of the Tribunal Proceedings in October. This would have eliminated the mention of the name of the king in the proceedings of the tribunal.  Additionally, the Bank never mentioned the King nor identified him in any of the documents submitted to the Tribunal in its defense.”

Find below the full statement

Mark Arthur V. Ghana International Bank Public Liability Company

Ghana International Bank Plc’s attention has been drawn to certain misrepresentations in the matter above and wishes to clarify its position as follows:

• Ghana International Bank Plc.  operates in the United Kingdom and is subject to the regulations of the Prudential Regulatory Authority, the Financial Conduct Authority and the UK as a whole.
• These regulations guide the bank’s internal procedures, policies as well as the conduct of all of its employees.
• The Bank takes its legal and regulatory obligations very seriously as well as its duties and obligations to its customers. In this regard, staff are required under the bank’s whistle blowing policy and UK laws to report all suspicious transactions to the appropriate authorities. The consequences of the Bank not fulfilling its obligations can be far reaching at times. In some instances, staff seen to be liable could face a possible jail term and in extreme cases the Bank itself could face a withdrawal of its operating licence.
• The ongoing case which has caught public attention is about Mark Arthur’s breaches of the Bank’s internal policies and procedures as well as UK laws.
• The Tribunal’s proceedings and its findings will be about whether the Bank was entitled to dismiss Mark Arthur as it did and not about the King, Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II.
• There has never been any suggestion by the Bank that the King was or is involved in money laundering. In fact, we have no evidence to that effect. The bank has also not in any of its submissions questioned the integrity of the King.
• With a focus on the substance of the matter and for customer confidentiality purposes, the bank had applied for an anonymity order in September of this year ahead of the Tribunal Proceedings in October. This would have eliminated the mention of name of the king in the proceedings of the tribunal.  Additionally, the Bank never mentioned the King nor identified him in any of the documents submitted to the Tribunal in its defence.
• Mark Arthur had however contested this and had won thus exposing the identity of the king and his name in the proceedings.
• The Bank has maintained a long standing relationship with the King and has worked closely with him on initiatives such as the Otumfuo Education Fund, in providing IT education to children in deprived communities.  This is a project that the Bank is keen to continue supporting.
• “The bank also wishes to clarify that contrary to earlier media reportage, Mark Arthur had neither sought nor received authorization from the Chief Executive Officer of the Bank, Joe Mensah.”

THANK YOU

SIGNED

MYDDLETON COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED

(ON BEHALF OF MANAGEMENT OF GHANA INTERNATIONAL BANK PLC)

–

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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“I would wish that Parliament reconsiders and reviews that law for the sake of the future of our universities,” he said.

He pointed out that the nation should brainstorm to find a more sustainable funding regime for the universities.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu, who is also Chancellor of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), expressed concern at how most universities were finding it difficult to properly execute their core business given the limited allocation of funds.

He was addressing the 10^th session of the 51^st congregation of the University, Kumasi, on Saturday, and a total of 922 students graduated from the KNUST School of Graduate Studies.

Thirty-nine out of the number graduated with PHDs, and this brings to nine, the 160 the overall number of students who graduated from the six colleges of the University this year.

The 2016/2017 academic year saw a total of 83 doctors graduating.

KNUST, the premier science and Technology University in the country, has since 1964 when it started awarding degrees, worked assiduously to produce the critical human resource to spearhead the development of the nation in varied fields of endeavour.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu, highlighting on the KNUST Teaching Hospital project, said work on the facility had delayed unduly, and appealed to the government to initiate moves for its successful completion.

The facility, expected to augment medical research and education in general, had stalled for the last decade, a situation which had compelled medical students to rely on facilities at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for their practical work.

The Asantehene appealed to the government to consider as a matter of urgency the request of the University to allow for the recruitment of additional staff to enhance academic work.

He described as inadequate the high student-teacher ratio, following the government’s directive to state-owned universities not to recruit new staff until further notice.

“We should prevent a situation where improperly trained graduates would be produced for the job market to the detriment of the society,” he advised.

Dr Mathew Opoku-Prempeh, Minister of Education, in a speech read on his behalf, lauded the University for living up to its core mandate in addressing the science and technology needs of the nation.

Professor Kwasi Obiri-Danso, Vice-Chancellor of the KNUST, announced that female enrollment for the 2016/2017 academic year increased by 26 percent.

This was in consonance with their decision to encourage more females to pursue higher education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

–

Source: GNA

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The visit was to formally introduce the bank to the Asantehene ahead of the scheduled roll-out of a number of state-of-the-art branches in the Ashanti Region.

During the ensuing interactions, Mr. Patrick Fiscian took the opportunity to share the Bank’s vision and mission with the Asante King.

He stated that, Heritage Bank is a proudly indigenous Ghanaian bank, with a highly competent and vastly experienced team, poised to redefine convenient banking in Ghana through the provision of World-class, technology-driven and bespoke banking services to the Ghanaian populace.

He asserted that, “Our overarching aim is to create convenience for our customers and trigger widespread growth opportunities for individuals and businesses within the communities in which we serve. We are also on a mission to prove by example that it is possible to build a globally competitive business organization from the scratch right here in Ghana.”

In his response, the Asantehene noted that, though the number of banks in the industry continues to grow, a sizeable segment of the local population remains unbanked.

He thus congratulated Patrick and all the individuals behind Heritage Bank for taking a bold step to build a world class banking institution in Ghana.

He expressed confidence that with such an experienced team, Heritage Bank would be able to deliver on their stated mandate and provide innovative services and products that would improve the lives of everyday Ghanaians as well as local businesses.

He further expressed the hope that Heritage Bank would spearhead a technological revolution in Banking, thereby creating access for more people to take advantage of banking products and services to facilitate personal and business growth.

In his final remarks, Mr. Patrick Fiscian assured the Asantehene of the bank’s commitment to provide improved services to its customers, supporting their aspirations and meeting their needs.

He also extended his gratitude to the people of Asanteman for the hospitable reception accorded him and the members his entourage.

The Managing Director was accompanied by the bank’s General Manager for Human Resources, Mrs. Ama Lawson, the General Manager for Retail Banking, Mr. Mark Achiampong, the Head of Strategic Sourcing Mr. Simon Annan and Head of Brand Marketing and Communications Mrs. Wolasi Kanda-Akrong.

About Heritage Bank Limited

Heritage Bank Limited is a wholly owned indigenous Ghanaian bank. The bank has been granted a universal banking license by the Bank of Ghana.

The Bank’s commitment to creating deep relationships with clients and customers is borne from its mission to offer world class banking services and to create convenience for its customers, making it possible for them to fulfill their goals and aspirations.

The Bank’ss agenda is driven by the ‘HeritageWay’ operating framework of professionalism, responsiveness, innovation, customer centricity and integrity.

The Bank is headed by the Managing Director, Patrick Edwin Fiscian, who brings onboard a wealth of local and international experience from an array of industries and organizations such as PWC, Standard Chartered Bank Ghana and South Africa and ETI (Ecobank Transnational Incorporated) among others.

The bank’s Board Chairman, Prof Kwesi Botchwey, is Ghana’s longest serving Finance Minister and a prolific economist.

He is also the sitting Chairman of the African Development Policy Ownership Initiative (ADPOI) and the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC).

His extensive experiences include a long career in academia, public service and international development work, spanning over four decades.
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By: citifmonlibe.com/Ghana

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He made this known when Dr. Annor and other functionaries of the NHIA paid a courtesy call on him during the observation of Awukudae at the Manhyia Palace last Wednesday.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu expressed appreciation for the visit, and admonished Dr. Annor to keep faith with Ghanaians and work hard to meet their expectations.

[contextly_sidebar id=”DXzYylRuX0YXvqZlXxE1h3v3ldbITyIh”]He conveyed his hope in the new leadership of the NHIA to manage the health insurance scheme to the benefit of all Ghanaians.

Accompanying the Chief Executive, were Prof. Adu-Gyamfi and some directors of the scheme in the Ashanti Region.

Dr. Annor was at the Manhyia Palace to seek the blessing and support of Manhyia Palace in implementing the vision of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The NHIS is currently in a critical situation and owes its service providers arrears of over One billion Ghana Cedis.

Dr. Annor was appointed in March 2017 by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to replace Nathaniel Otoo who resigned in February.

Dr. Annor is a consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist and a partner of Lister Hospital.

He is the General Manager of the Birim Oil Mill, an oil palm factory at Kade in the Kwaebibrem district of the Eastern Region.

He was also the first Board Chairman of Ghana Airport Company Limited in 2007.
–
By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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He made the comment at the Manhyia Palace on Saturday, when he paid a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as part of his three-day tour of the Ashanti Region.

“It will not be under my watch that people will take the law into their own hands, neither will it be under my watch that the laws of our land will not be enforced. That will never happen. The law will work without fear or favour,” the President declared.

Vigilante group raids Regional Coordinating Council

President Akufo-Addo’s remarks come after a pro-NPP vigilante group, Delta Force, stormed the premises of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council, demanding the removal of the Regional Security Coordinator, George Adjei.

The group subsequently apologised to the President for the attack and pledged its support to the Regional Security Coordinator.

President Akufo-Addo subsequently summoned the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NPP, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, to answer questions on the circumstances that led to the raid. and he further assured the Asantehene that government was working to quell similar incidents.

During the courtesy call, the President further assured the Asantehene that government was working to limit the occurrence of similar incidents.

“I know this matter is a source of great worry for you, Otumfuo. Let not your heart be troubled. The incident has occurred, and I assure you that measures have been put in place to forestall the re-occurrence of this issue in Asanteman, and for that matter, in any part of the country,” he added.

Gratitude for vote of confidence

President Akufo-Addo told the gathering that his visit to the Ashanti Region was to thank the Asantehene and Asanteman for the massive show of confidence reposed in him and the New Patriotic Party in the 2016 elections

“The votes I got in Ashanti was unprecedented. I, therefore came to show appreciation, and to tell Asanteman of the policy initiatives we are putting in place to ensure that we bring relief to the people of this country, and thereby return the country onto the path of progress and prosperity,” he added.

The President is later expected to hold meetings with the leadership of transport unions in the region, visit the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, visit the Kumasi Central Market and have an encounter with the media.

–

Photos: Lauretta Timah

By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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This was revealed when the new Queen-mother was shown to the Gyaase clan in her palace.

The Asantehene appointed the new Queenmother in consultation with the Head of the royal family.

Ama Konadu will be succeeding the late Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, who died in November 2016, and was buried in January 2017.

She is the first daughter of the late queen mother.

Ama Konadu, together with the Asantehene, will plan the final funeral rites of the late Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem.

She will appear at the Asanteman Council before Otumfuo announces her as the new Queen Mother at a durbar.

Her stool name is yet to be announced.

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By: Lauretta Timah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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