The President of the National House of Chiefs, Togbe Afede (XIV), made the remarks when the Minister for Railways Development, Joe Ghartey paid a courtesy call on the House during its first general meeting in Kumasi.

[contextly_sidebar id=”peqwxWqrffVdckvQO68QHDBguMaaOf3v”]“I am also happy about the interest in accountability that has been demonstrated so far because we cannot develop if don’t account. Which is why I congratulate the President of the Republic for his bold choice of Martin Amidu as our first special prosecutor,” he said

Togbe Afede also commended Parliament’s Appointments Committee for the generally positive reception given to the nominee when he appeared before them to be vetted last week.

“I also want to commend the Appointments Committee of Parliament for endorsing his nomination,” Togbe Afede added.

Martin Amidu appeared before the Committee earlier in the week and was subjected to a 7-hour-long gruelling session where he was queried on a range of issues, including comments he made in the past, his dismissal as Attorney General and his plans for the Special Prosecutor’s Office.

Majority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu has since indicated that the House will take a decision on the Mr Amidu’s nomination next week, on Tuesday, February 20, 2018.

This he said on Friday when he was delivering business statement for next week on the floor of Parliament.

“The appointments committee may submit their report, the report on the president’s nomination of Mr Martin Alamisi Benz Kaiser Amidu as Special Prosecutor. Mr Speaker, the report may be adopted by the House on the same day or perhaps the ensuing day,” he added.

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By: Farida Yusif & Ann-Shirley Ziwu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Members of the Atwima Kwanwoma District Assembly recently called for a probe into events that left three people dead and several others injured at Foase.

The members have questioned the use of live ammunition by police in controlling rioting residents allegedly armed with sticks and stones over the relocation of the district capital.

The angry youth in the area last week mounted roadblocks and burnt car tyres to protest the relocation of the District capital from Ofoase to Twedie.

A confrontation between the youth and police officers who were deployed to the area to maintain order led to the death of three of the protesters.

One person died instantly, while the other two who were rushed to the hospital died some days later.

The Regional Minister who heads the Regional Security Council and the DCE for the area, among other members of both REGSEC and DISEC, are part of the meeting.

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By: Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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As a result of that, the chiefs have set up a development council to champion the cause of development from the national kitty to the region.

[contextly_sidebar id=”oVYSPXA9HivQyhFEBKhJSSfI6I46cM1B”]Members of over 70 suburban and divisional chiefs, said the region has been stifled of development despite its huge contribution to national growth.

Divisional chiefs are the steering committee members of the council which has kicked-started its operations.

According to them they would continue to demand from government specific development projects within the framework of a proposed 20-year blue-print.

Bantamahene, Baffuor Owusu Amankwatia VI, who has been speaking to the issue, told journalists in Kumasi that, “they (chiefs) are appalled by poor road networks and general lawlessness in Kumasi.”

“It’s not fair that when you go Accra, what you see in Accra [and] you come to Kumasi and its diferent.”

Sometimes when somebody tells you that Kumasi is the second city after Accra, you don’t believe it. We had the chance to look at the road development for the whole of Ghana in terms of ratings when you start from the bottome, Kumasi is the number three,” he disclosed.

According to him, the chiefs were worried about what they said, was the widening development gab between Kumasi and Accra.

Asantehene, Otumuo Osei Tutu II, has designated two Thursdays in every month for council meetings.

Baffuor Amankwatia said, “Kumasi has suffered years of neglect despite playing a major role in national economic development agenda.”

“Seriously when you look at the resources that come from Kumasi [Ashanti Region], I don’t think we deserve that.”

“We produce cocoa, we produce timber; we produce gold and now we are going into bauxite so I believe that we deserve the fair share of the national cake,” he said.

According to Baffuor Amankwatia VI, chiefs in the region will, hence forth, demand and accept projects only if they meet expectation and requirement of Kumasi Development Council.

“Nananom [chiefs] are putting up a 20-year development plan; how we want Kumasi to look like in the next 20-years so that whatever development that we are going to do in Kumasi will follow that blueprint. It’s not going to be like we are doing a fly over then the government will come [and say] we can’t do the flyover so we are doing a small street for you here. No. Nananom are not going to accept it anymore.”

“If you can’t do the flyover, you stop it. That’s the only way that we can bring Kumasi to the level that it used to be,” added.

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Source: Today Newspaper

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Mr. Ayariga however admitted that this has been the trend for successive governments.

The Akufo-Addo government, in its latest move on the creation of new districts has presented a Legislative Instrument (LI) to Parliament, for the creation of 38 new districts and municipalities.

[contextly_sidebar id=”ihCbFORUp6ttTP57q7xtxCjCvqvk0QmV”]Speaking to journalists on Thursday, the Local Government Minister, Hajia Alima Mahama, said the LI will also give legal backing to other districts and municipalities which have been elevated or split.

In assigning reasons to government’s decision, Mr. Ayariga explained that, political leaders, particularly Presidents, tend to “yield to the pressure” from community leaders and chiefs for the creation of new regions and districts.

Mr. Ayariga indicated that, these leaders are very keen in pushing for this creation due to its implications on resource allocation.

“I have argued several times that if the problem is about reach, then we should be looking at investing in infrastructure, transportation and communication, to ensure that we are able to reach all the corners of the country easily and not necessarily creating new regions. But of course you have political pressure from regions that feel they should be divided into two and you have pressures from chiefs and community leaders asking for new districts to be carved out because as districts are carved out it has implications for resource allocation.”

New districts won’t strain public purse

Mr. Ayariga emphatically stated however, that the creation of new districts will not put a strain on the public purse.

“ I doubt if they [Ghanaians] can make a case really that it puts pressure on the public purse because what will happen is that, the same public purse will just be realigned in its distribution. The District Common Fund will still be the same amount. The Common Fund will not increase because the number of districts has increased. It is the distribution of the Common Fund which will be realigned in a way that meets the new alignment of districts.”

Some of the new assemblies to be created after the passage of the LI by Parliament, include Ayawaso East and North, carved out of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, and Kwadaso and Oforikrom, from the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly.

Others are the Nanton district, which will be created from the Savelugu-Nanton district, whilst Savelugu will be given a municipality status.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

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He has also cautioned all chiefs and landowners(Tindaanas) within the traditional area, not to lease out lands for any mining activity without the approval of the Talensi traditional council.

[contextly_sidebar id=”6Y2QmF3mBubtzjtrJR4ooA9OCWGI53AC”]This decision according to Tongoraa, is to allow for comprehensive investigations into all mining activities in Gbane in order to curb the precarious mining practices that have led to the loss of lives and environmental degradation.

“We the Talensi traditional council have extended the temporary ban beyond the Shaanxi Ghana Mining company limited to cover all licensed and illegal miners in Gbane. We are doing it through the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources John Peter Amemu, the Minerals Commission and the Upper East Regional Police command…”

Addressing a press conference at his palace in Tongo, Tongoraan Kulgbilsong Nanlebegtang said the perilous nature of mining in the area has not only polluted water bodies and destroyed farm lands, but the use of mercury and cyanide by the miners also has a serious effect on humans and the soil water.

“The top soil of farms in the area have been destroyed by graders and bulldozers. There is so much degradation of the land and water such that if it is not stopped now, future generations will curse us for not catering for them.”

The Tongraan blamed the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency for failing the fight against Galamsey in the area.

“The Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency have not been able to effectively play their roles as regulators and policing agencies collectively to curb Galamsey destruction of farm lands and water bodies within the mining areas,” he said.

The Minerals Commission has approved over 30 small scale miners in the Talensi traditional area.

“The situation has led to an increase in land boundary disputes and the incessant deaths of over 100 young people through collapsed pits and explosive toxic chemicals since 2006,” the Tongraan stated.

Tongraan Kugbilsong Nanlebetang also disclosed that, the Minerals Commission has never involved the Talensi traditional council before issuing permits or licenses to mining companies operating in the area.

Gov’t suspends Chinese mining firm’s operations in Talensi 

This comes after the government temporarily suspended the operations of Shaanxi Ghana Mining Company Limited operating at Gbane in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.

According to a letter signed by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, John Peter Amewu, the suspension is to allow for thorough investigations into the company’s underground operations, and the alleged death of about seven miners in the area.

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By: Frederick Awuni/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The Chief of Tamale, Naa Dakpema Dawuni Alhassan, Gukpegu Naa, Alhaji Alhassan Abdulai and Lamashegu Naa, Ziblim Abdulai among others,expressed their excitement about Salifu Saeed’s appointment.

They however implored the regional Minister to act as a unifier and galvanize all citizens in the area for constructive purposes.

Salifu Saeed,who officially took over office on Thursday January 23, 2017, paid courtesy calls on some traditional leaders, the clergy, and later interacted with party supporters.

He assured citizens of quality leadership desirous to fight poverty and youth unemployment considered as the region’s commonest enemies.

He pleaded with the citizens to be law abiding and liaise with his administration and law enforcement agencies to sustain peace and unity that are missing in some identified areas of the the region.

Salifu Saeed appreciated the role of development partners in the region’s transformation and promised to build cordial relations with them.

He said the Nana Addo-Bawumia led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is committed to fulfill the party’s 2016 campaign promises.

He is scheduled to visit the overlord of Mamprugu, overlord of Gonjaland, the Dagbon Regent among other traditional leaders in the region.

He is touring the region with party bigwigs including the regional Chairman, Daniel Bugri Naabu, regional chief Scribe Sule Salifu, and Chairman of the NPP regional council of elders, Alhaji Musah Mima.

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Chiefs declare support for Northern Regional Minister appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

You are deemed powerful and influential in many facets of our lives. You have, and continue to be the face of tradition whenever our culture is mentioned. You are the ones we resort to for wisdom when political systems appear to fail us. It is you we run to, when family matters seem unsolvable.

In fact, our heritage glitters to the world when you adorn yourselves in that colourful Kente cloth, necklaces, bracelets and other rich regalia.

Nananom, simply put, you are the unifiers of the spirit and soul our ancestors left to keep.

But Nananom, some of you in the last few decades have shown, by your decrees and actions that you are disappointing.

Some of you have disgraced yourselves and the very thrones you sit on. You have brought into disrepute the thrones your forefathers spilled bloods to pave way for your occupancy today. Some of you have brought into question, the dignity, the respect and the honor our tradition has long enjoyed.

It is regrettable to see many of you in the Western, Ashanti and Eastern regions engaging and defending ‘galamsey’ [Illegal mining] silently. Some of you own Changfans used to pollute ancestral rivers your grandparents guarded jealously.

For those of you Nananom involved in this, whichever way you look at galamsey, its negative and long term effects are damaging than the short-term happiness you pursue.

I just don’t get it! It is from you we heard for the start that “nsu a nsu, nsa a nsa”. [If it is water, let it be, if it is alcohol, let it be].

But let me respectfully ask, Nananom that, can drops of water from Pra, Ankobra, Tano or Birim; rivers of old, be used to perform these naming ceremonies these days?

It is shocking all this while that some of you have been accused by political figures that you are involved in the practice, no chief across the country has taken the bold step forward to amass support to end it. It is very shocking!

National House of Chiefs; please be concerned. Be concerned because many of your members in these three regions are fast losing the respect of the middle class and their very own local subjects.

When your subjects go wayward, see how you unleash traditional punitive measures to correct them! Why is it so hard for the National House of Chiefs to clean its house when some of its members are involved in activities that threaten the very people from whom they draw their powers?

Another thing! Is it not a shame that water pots in your chambers are now filled with sachet water? Your ancestors use to fill their pots from the riverside. The cool rivers that your ancestors used to fetch water while in their farms have been polluted.

Your ancestors knew some of the major rivers have alluvial gold in them. But did they choose their personal interest over their people? Absolutely not! They knew the over 2,000 communities dotted around major rivers depend on them for everyday well-being.

Nananom, take a tour, for example, to the Daboase Water Treatment Plant and see for yourselves whether you will drink tap water again if you return.

Go and see the turbid yellowish raw water that end in your kitchens at home and see if you will be convinced to take it. It’s very disappointing Nananom.

The Changfans and excavators you have bought just like the politicians and other businessmen, and have given them to desperate unemployed youth to head into cocoa farms and river bodies are open to Nana Nyame [God].

We have heard of those of you too who demand that ‘galamseyers’ visit your palaces and pay monies to you before you give them the go ahead.

Nananom, will you be men enough to stand tall to your predecessors should they wake up today to question your deeds? Hmm!

Finally Nananom, please stop facilitating foreigners and other people from mining in the Upper Wassa, Fure River and the Tonton Forest Reserves in the Western Region.

As we speak, the Forestry Commission and the Minerals Commission have given permission to people to prospect for gold in these reserves.

Question: When the gold is found in commercial quantities, will the forest reserve be depleted because of the gold?

Must we mine gold no matter where it is found? How many of the reserves have been added by the present generation to warrant taking down the previous?

God is watching us all, and he speaks of destroying those who destroy the earth at Revelation 11:18. Read it!

Nananom, I respect tradition and people who stand for it. Forgive your son if you find my submissions offensive. Those of you who are not involved, please get your colleagues to stop it OK? It’s not good.

For some traditional heads to be losing their respect because of these things, it will be disappointing if tradition collapses under your watch. Thank you.
Your son,

Obrempong Yaw Ampofo/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Email: [email protected]

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“I assure every Ghanaian that the evidence of criminal and unconstitutional conduct is overwhelming, but unconstitutional attempts are being made through influential chiefs and elders to let bygones be bygones contrary to the demands of the Constitution for accountability, transparency and fairness in governance. May the 7th Parliament and the President remember that even walls have ears and we hear the attempts at trying to compromise the President’s anti-corruption agenda in the name of reconciliation. The President’s anti-corruption drive will be still-born with such compromises and reconciliations.”

Mr. Martin Amidu made this revelation in his latest write-up, in which he exposed alleged corruption in the 5th and 6th parliaments, and called on the 7th parliament to restore citizens’ confidence in the honour and integrity of the legislature.

The man, who has earned the nickname citizen vigilante for vigorously protecting the public purse, urged President Akufo-Addo to remain steadfast in his anti-corruption agenda, by resisting the pressure on him not to crack the whip in the name of reconciliation.

“The massive thrashing of the incumbent Looter Government of John Dramani Mahama (may God never give Ghana a corrupt and looter President like him again) by the President, Nana Akufo Addo and the New Patriotic Party, is a clear expression of the sovereign will of Ghanaians for accountability, transparency and fairness in governance to all citizens without fear or favour. The people voted against patronage, cronyism, ethnicity, and political party cryptocracy in bringing the President and the 7th Parliament into office.”

Mr. Amidu said he is counting on President Akufo-Addo’s firm assertions to protect the public purse, by saving the country from further bleeding, and punishing wrongdoers.

He thus reminded the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of its promises to tackle corruption, to keep faith with the people of Ghana, whose massive vote against the Mahama-led administration, shows they were fed up with corruption and mismanagement, and expect a new breath of hope.

“Unlike previous elections in the annals of our history, the pivotal and critical issues were between electing a corrupt, bankrupt, inept, incompetent, abusive, impudent, and Looter incumbent Government, and electing one of the contesting candidates dedicated to fighting all these unconstitutional capricious evils and protecting the national purse.”

He noted that “Ghanaians therefore expect, and demand a total brake with the immediate past practices of the parliaments which were reduced into appendages of the executive chariot in looting the national purse. Ghanaians have demanded and expect that the mandate of the 7th Parliament will be consistent with the letter and spirit of the 1992 Constitution; and the promises by the President to protect the national purse and be impartial in the governance of our dear country. The promises of the President upon whose steam of anti-corruption agenda the NPP in Parliament had such a beautiful majority, meets Citizens Vigilance for Justice’s agenda of putting Ghana First. I dare say that the reasonable number of members of Parliament returned and voted to the 7th Parliament was the result of the electorate’s perception of their ability to put Ghana First in holding the executive to account.”

According to him, “The rape of this country by the Looter Government with the active cooperation of the 5th and 6th Parliaments are well known and the welcome disapproval shown publicly by the then Minority Leader, Honourable Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu on 6th January 2017 is, therefore, good news and a harbinger of the anticipations for the positive changes to come. Happily, Hon. Mensah-Bonsu who is now the Majority Leader of the 7th Parliament, has the burdensome duty to help the President to pursue any past criminal infractions of the Constitution and laws of Ghana by investigating and dealing with them as the first step to demonstrating commitment to the anti-corruption agenda of the President and his Government, and of Parliament.”
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Chiefs are begging Nana Addo to be soft on corruption – Amidu appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the chiefs, Nana Akufo and the NPP remains the country’s best bet for good governance hence their decision to endorse him.

[contextly_sidebar id=”pTyzUV9HdJUG8tWGPVrqwvKaAFYDlcaM”]Speaking on behalf of the chiefs, Otumfuo’s Mpaboahene, Nana Yaw Owusu further indicated that Nana Addo will spearhead Ghana’s development when voted into power.

“This is your family, we are always with you. In good times or in bad times, we support you. We always remember you in our prayers. When we pour libation , we remember you because you are one of us.Let us all here vote for him and the NPP because he will deliver on his promises. We know him, it is our own Nana. Like we do every four years, let’s vote for him.”

This is not the first time the NPP Presidential Candidate has been endorsed by a chief.

Paramount Chief of the Tumu endoreses Nana Addo

The Paramount Chief of the Tumu Traditional Area, Kuoro Richard Babini Kanton VI, endorsed the ‘1-District-1-Factory’ and the ‘1-Village-1-Dam’ policies of the 2016 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

According to him, “we have been following governments, since time immemorial, and, still, we have not gotten a dam. So I believe that if you give us a dam, it will really help us so much. And we are looking forward to you coming to office, so you give us a dam.”

Garu Chief backs Nana Addo’s presidential bid

Nana Akufo-Addo was also endorsed by the Chief of Garu, Naba Asuguru Akuntam Wini, who declared his support for the NPP flagbearer in this year’s elections.

According him, the NPP has a rich history of delivering on its electoral promises, and is no doubt that voting for Nana Akufo-Addo will only bring progress and prosperity to his people.

“Our problem, in the past, was a district. President Kufuor, before the 2000 elections, came here and told us that if he won the election, it will be done. True to his word, the creation of the district was done. When NPP promises you something, it will be done. Thanks to his Excellency, President Kufuor, for giving us the district,” he said.

Chief of Bawku declares victory for Akufo-Addo

The Chief of Bawku, Naba Asigiri Azoka Abugrago II, on the visit of NPP flagbearer Nana Akufo-Add said “this is the proper endorsement I want to make. God willing this year, you will get what you want and become the President of Ghana.”

The flagbearer had visited his palace as part of his campaign tour of the Upper East region.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @EfeAnsah

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