In a Facebook post, the former President chided the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and President Akufo-Addo for the manner in which Mr. Anyidoho was arrested and later charged with treason.

He however did not make mention of the comments by Mr. Anyidoho which has been widely condemned and considered treasonable.

[contextly_sidebar id=”0d4WhRitfpicw8Gj0sEhCgpHr740H4hj”]“As a party that prides itself in the non-criminalization of speech, with a self-acclaimed human rights activist as President, the arrest of K. Anyidoho with armed men in the middle of a press event is obviously disproportionate. Moreso, the high-handed police response to innocent citizens waiting at the CID HQ is condemnable,” he said.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID), on Tuesday afternoon picked up Koku Anyidoho at the International Press Center for making what has been described as treasonable comments.

He was picked up during a press conference by a group of opposition political parties known as the Inter-Party Coalition for National Sovereignty, who are kicking against the Ghana-US Defence Cooperation agreement ratified by Parliament last Friday.

Following his arrest, hundreds of sympathizers and supporters of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) including its leaders, massed up at the Police Headquarters in Accra, where Anyidoho was being interrogated.

The gathering, who appeared agitated, were challenged by some tens of armed police men who fired gunshots and used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd.

The development left some of the protesters sustaining various degrees of injuring including reports of rubber bullet wounds.

What did Koku Anyidoho say?

Mr. Anyidoho in an interview on Accra-based Happy FM, indicated that President Akufo-Addo will be overthrown just like his father and the late Dr. K. A Busia due to the ratification of the controversial defence cooperation agreement between the US and the government of Ghana.

“Somebody should tell Nana Addo that history has a very interesting way of repeating itself. On the 13th of January 1972, a certain Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong led an insurrection that removed the progress party from power. Busia was the Prime Minister and Akufo Addo’s father was the ceremonial President. Someone should tell Akufo-Addo that history has an interesting way of repeating itself,” Anyidoho warned.

When he was asked by the Host to clarify his statement, Koku Anyidoho maintained that “history has an interesting way of repeating itself.”

“There will be a civilian coup d’état. There will be a social revolution. We [NDC] are starting it on Wednesday. The movement is starting on Wednesday. Nana Addo will have sleepless nights. He will suffer diarrhea. He said he wanted to be president, but we will make sure he will be fed up on the seat,’’ he noted further.

Meanwhile, John Mahama has declared his support for a demonstration dubbed #GhanaFirst, which is in protest of the government’s decision to ratify the Ghana-US defence cooperation.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The students, who had wore red armbands on Tuesday, said they do not feel safe because they have received death threats from some of the encroachers.

“We are demonstrating because the school is not safe. Not long ago, a student was threatened by some community guys that if the headmistress does not stop protecting the school, they are going to kill the students”, one student demonstrator said.

The students thus want the encroachers to stop their activities that threaten the existence of the school and the lives of teachers and students.

Another student said, “Looking at the things happening in the school, we know that learning without a peaceful environment we can’t make it, so if we don’t speak for our right that the land is for us, people will take up the land”.

Government has awarded a contract for the construction of a twelve-unit classroom block on the school land, but the supposed violent encroachers have been frustrating the work of the of contractors.

The foreman at the site said, “three or four days ago, I started the profile and the people over here came and destroyed it; I did it again with police presence, but overnight they came and destroyed it again”.

The contractors have asked for security in order to continue with the project because they still fear for their lives as the threats from the local people continue.

Speaking to journalists, the Headmistress of the school, Madam Florence Siaw-Offei, lamented how the school land has reduced drastically from over 74 acres to less than 34 acres, while the school is actually occupying less than 20 acres due to encroachment.

She said the Central Regional Minister, Kwame Duncan, the Cape Coast Metropolitan Chief Executive, Ernest Arthur, and other authorities have been holding stakeholder meetings on the land saga, and some orders have been issued to the encroachers, but the threats continue.
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By: Kwamina Ackon/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to the Chamber, the demonstration, which is in collaboration with the Industrial and Commercial Workers Union (ICU), is to force government to further reduce taxes on petroleum products.

[contextly_sidebar id=”DjkxFhkKDJtxL69KPohecgNiodfhOeO3″]Consumers have had to pay more at the pumps for a better part of 2017, and in January 2018, prices went up due to rise in oil prices, and the cedi’s marginal depreciation.

Currently, a litre of both petrol and diesel, go for 4 cedis 62 pesewas at some major fuel stations.

This is despite assurances from the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) that prices will remain fairly stable at the pumps.

Speaking to Citi News, the Executive Director of COPEC, Duncan Amoah, called on government to review prices of petroleum products.

“We are paying close to five dollars in order to be able to get petrol to your tank. That clearly is not helping anything. We understand very well that some of the taxes were introduced as windfall taxes at the time that world market prices had dropped so low and Ghana needed a little more revenue in order to be able to cushion the world market prices that have gone down.”

“Today, the same dynamics are not at play. Unfortunately, the taxes that were introduced which should have gone by now, are still all in place. Ghana selling petrol above 20 cedis and it is still going up, it cannot be sustained. We need an immediate review of the price build up. We need some reduction. We need some stability in order to plan our spending on petroleum products in the country.”

Fuel prices to rise by 2% in February – IES

The Institute of Energy Security (IES), had earlier predicted that prices of fuel may go up by 2 percent in the first pricing window in February, between February 2, 2018 and February 15, 2018.

The IES further attributed the development to the constant rise in crude oil prices which is currently selling at 69 dollars per barrel on the international market, among other factors.

“Crude oil prices have gone up on the international market and it is still rising; as we speak the cost of a barrel of oil is averaging around 69 dollars from a previous average of 67.7 dollars. That’s a rise of about 2 percent. The finished product that’s gasoline and gas oil prices have also gone up on the international market,” Principal Research Analyst at the IES, Richmond Rockson had told Citi Business News in an interview.

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By: Marian Ansah & Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The students were also made to sign a bond to be of good behavior.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Z9IWfKQyR5jjxwEEs6407wZb2m02KqSc”]Parents and guardians of the students have also signed an undertaking after a four-hour meeting with school authorities on Tuesday, January 30, 2018.

The angry students on Sunday, January 22, protested against the headmaster, whom they say has prevented them from partaking in extra curricula activities such as inter-school sports competition, quizzes and entertainment.

Four of the students sustained injuries in the course of the riot. The students vandalized school properties including the vehicle of the headmaster and his apartment.

A five-member committee was set-up by the Ashanti Regional Education Directorate to investigate the cause of the disturbances.

At a meeting with parents on Tuesday, Board Chairman of the school, Stephen Anderson, announced that the District Engineer was directed to assess the damage caused by the students, and that each student was to be levied Ghc 100 to repair the damaged properties.

He also asked parents to sign an undertaking and allow their wards to sign a bond to be of good behavior.

Speaking to Citi News, Mr. Anderson said the parents were complying with the payment process.

“The committee has come out based on the estimate from the District Engineer that every student should pay 100 cedis…Because most of the parents were not aware, the committee has come out that those who have the money should pay and then sign the bond with their wards and leave their children to attend classes. But those who don’t have the money can still sign the bond and pay the money by next week”, he added.

Some parents who paid the levies condemned the action by the students.

The parents who were equally not happy about the incident, appealed to authorities to ensure that they do not occur.

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By: Hafiz Tijani/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The residents of Korleman City, an estate in the area, have raised concerns about how the activities of the company were affecting them.

They had planned to demonstrate on Saturday against what they describe as unlawful operations of Happy Sunshine, a tomato factory owned by Chinese nationals.

[contextly_sidebar id=”kM1tWOJI9HQGVwafOyg7omegAEevYE07″]The tomato factory operates in the heart of a residential area resulting in massive environmental pollution.

Despite an order from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for the company to shut down and relocate, the factory continues to operate, with the tacit support of the Assembly.

The residents say the protest is intended to get the appropriate authorities to act.

One resident, who expressed his frustration said: “Do you know the number of containers they brought? About ten articulated trucks, and what happens is that, even if you check with the District Assembly bye-laws, they have breached everything. That road is supposed to take us to the estate, but they have blocked that road.”

The EPA shut down the facility after a series of Citi News reports had revealed that the company was operating illegally in the residential area.

A notice of closure was posted on the doors and walls of the factory after officials of the EPA, accompanied by the Police went to the premises.

However, despite the order from the EPA and complaints from the residents, the factory has reopened and is operating again, with the support of the Ga West Municipal Assembly led by the District Chief Executive, Clement Wilkinson.

This has prompted the residents to threaten a suit against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the owners of the facility as well as the Municipal Assembly.

Relocation

The EPA had earlier held a closed-door meeting between management of the factory where the company was directed to move its operations to an industrial area, as their current location has not been zoned for such activities.

The Principal Programmes Officer at the Accra Regional office of the EPA, Sophia Vanderpuye, who confirmed the directive to Citi News on Tuesday, said: “At the meeting, it was made very clear to them that the site where they are operating is not appropriate for the kind of manufacturing activity that is going on there is wrong. We had got evidence of the thick smoke that was emanating from their chimneys into the atmosphere, and with the accompanying noise issues. Based on these, they were made to understand that the EPA cannot permit such an activity in a predominately residential area so they have to relocate.”

“They must find an appropriate location, most preferably, an industrial area where they can conveniently produce. The Assemblies have already zoned the areas.”

The tomato factory was fined GHc 15,000 by the EPA in August 2017 for operating illegally, while the company was also ordered to halt any form of production.

However, the management of the factory violated that order and resumed full production in November.

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

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Some officials of STC, who had visited the Asafo Market terminal to launch the Corporation’s new terminal were denied access to the venue by VIP bus officials.

[contextly_sidebar id=”X38A2yI9LKLfDP6honeowyg3EBvyMcfv”]The Deputy Managing Director for STC, Sintim Aboagye, on the Citi Breakfast Show condemned the move, saying they had met all legal requirements needed to begin operations at the said area.

“Their problem is they don’t want us to be here and they don’t want us to be in competition with them and which I believe has no legal basis because in every industry competition is key, and I thought that if we should allow them to do that then that becomes monopoly.”

“The place does not belong to STC. The place belongs to the Kokofu branch of GPRTU. They had a 25-year permit and they have exhausted only one year, so they have about 24 years outstanding. We have entered into the tenancy agreement with them and we have acquired the necessary legal documentation from KMA to protect us and everything that has to be done to allow us to start our operations has been done.”

STC failed to consult other GPRTU branches

But the Director of Finance for VIP, Prof. Lukemond Owusu Ansah, explained that his outfit staged the protest to oppose some GPRTU officials’ decision to give out part of its land to STC without the consent of other branches of GPRTU.

“This issue came up and there was a little bit of violence here and we told them and the matter was taken to Manhyia …They were told that the whole place was acquired by GPRTU and it was demarcated for the various branches… We have about 21 branches there and it is the property of GPRTU … One or two executives cannot sell the property of GPRTU to STC.

“It is the whole 21 union members who are just contesting that it is constitutionally wrong…We are only saying that STC cannot occupy GPRTU’S land. It is not a property of Kokofu Union. It is a property of GPRTU as a whole” he insisted.

He also denied suggestions that they VIP transport operators, are only resisting STC because they are scared of competition.

One arrested in STC, VIP fight over terminal in Kumasi

Meanwhile, one person has been arrested during a protest by workers of the Neoplan bus terminal at Asafo, Kumasi, in the standoff between them and the State Transport Company Limited (STC).

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The President of Concerned Farmers Association of Ghana Nana, Oboadie Bonsu alleged that over two thousand acres of cocoa farms have so far been destroyed to pave way for the cultivation of rubber, thus their apprehension and intended action.

He spoke to Citi News on the trend which he describes as unfortunate and a threat to their survival.

“They are lying to the farmers that cocoa is no more profitable. Rubber is more profitable than cocoa. We the concerned farmers are originally grassroots farmers who investigate; we are all over the country monitoring the cocoa in this country. There is no way government is going to get 1 million because cocoa plants are being destroyed. They are destroying cocoa plants each and every day.The demonstration is going to affect this country and it will tarnish the image of the President and it is not a small demonstration.”

NPP gov’t cheating cocoa farmers – Minority 

Last week, the Minority in Parliament accused government of offering cocoa farmers a terrible deal with its decision not increase the cocoa producer price due to a fall in world market prices.

The minority argued that, government must utilize the cocoa stabilization fund established by the previous government, to cushion farmers instead of the insensitive approach the COCOBOD intends to use.

Minority spokesperson on Agric and Cocoa Affairs, Eric Opoku had said the decision not to increase the price was not based on concrete consultation.

“We wish to state that, the Chief Executive officer of COCOBOD is not clothed with the mandate to determine the producer price of cocoa for farmers. It is the duty of the producer price review committee to determine producer price of cocoa taking into consideration several factors including the economic conditions prevailing in the country, in order not to inflict untold hardships on our farmers. We are therefore urging the CEO of COCOBOD to allow the committee established in 1984 which has since discharged its duties effectively and efficiently, to continue its work without any form of usurpation,” he said.

Erick Opoku further noted that, the erstwhile Mahama government established a Cocoa Stabilization Fund with annual contributions “as a risk mitigation mechanism against declines in international cocoa prices.”

“The primary objective of the stabilization fund was to apply it to sustain the earnings of cocoa farmers and to cushion them, should the market price begin to decline. The recent decline in the price of cocoa internationally must therefore trigger the use of the stabilization fund to put smiles on the faces of our farmers.

He also said the NPP had replaced a promising Cocoa fertilization programme the Mahama government introduced and is thus ripping off cocoa farmers.

“Surprisingly, the NPP government on assumption of office has replaced the free fertilization programme with a programme under which farmers pay (GHc80) for a bag of fertilizer. This is unacceptable, we cannot sit aloof for the government to cheat our cocoa farmers.”

“Under the free fertilization programme, the cocoa farmer was entitled to 7.5 bags of granular fertilizer per every hectare of cocoa farm. So a farmer who has 100 hectares of cocoa farm was given 750 bags of fertilizer free of charge. Today under President Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, the same farmer is to pay (GHc60,000) for the same 750 bags of fertilizer. This has exposed the Ghanaian cocoa farmer to intolerable levels of penury. We are therefore urging the NPP government to be sensitive to the plight of the Ghanaian cocoa farmer by halting the sale of the fertilizer and revert to the NDC’s free fertilization programme for the 2016/2017 cocoa season,” Eric Opoku added.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Residents say the roads are in a deplorable state and become unmotorable after heavy rains. They say the situation is affecting education and businesses in the area.

Addressing the media during the demonstration, Convener of the Concerned Youth of Battor [the group that led the demonstration] Amegbanu Wisdom, said motorist, as well as commuters, struggle to ply the roads, especially during the rainy season.

“Today we have taken a bold step towards becoming active citizens of this town of ours. Battor township link roads have become so bad over the years that commuters, students and workers find it difficult to use them for their daily activities especially when it rains. The few cases of heavy rains this year have rendered the roads worse, if not unmotorable.”

He lamented that several efforts to get the District Assembly to fix the roads had also proved futile.

“The district assembly has over the years turned a blind eye on the deteriorating situation at Bator where its headquarters is situated. On 5^th May 2017, the Concerned Youth of Battor wrote to the district assembly to as a matter of urgency to fix the roads because pupils could not go to school as a result of bad link roads. Children could easily get drowned in ponds that have developed on the main road leading to the Battor Senior high school and other schools in the area. The situation is affecting businesses in the town as guest houses located in these areas are losing customers due to the nature of the roads. Meanwhile, Battor generates the highest revenue for the assembly and the assembly could easily construct the roads,” Amegbanu Wisdom added.

Mr. Amegbanu also said efforts to petition the Member of Parliament of the area, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and the Paramount Chief to intervene have also not yielded any positive results.

The group is however calling on authorities to as a matter of urgency step in to quickly resolve their grievances.

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By: King Norbert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The President of the Group, Abubakar Suale, told Citi News their decision has become necessary following the failure of the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service, and the Controller and Accountants Generals’ Department to heed to their demands.

[contextly_sidebar id=”qaDePOW4sPj8nirGFRUI1VuOGe5JHfFk”]” We were expecting to be paid three months, which is a policy that was initiated by the immediate past President; but we were paid for just a month so we want the government to explain why they paid us for just a month. They are keeping quiet and that is just our problem. Nobody seems to understand what they are doing so we are embarking on this strike to attract their attention.”

A few weeks ago, the Coalition of newly trained teachers also threatened to lay down their tools, if the Nana Addo government does not pay them their accumulated salaries by the end of  this month.

The teachers, numbering over twenty thousand, said they had not been paid a dime since they were posted in September 2016.

Explaining their situation to Citi News, the President of the Coalition, Samuel Yeboah, said some of his colleagues who were posted to deprived communities had to depend on loans for rent and payment of other necessities.

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

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A statement issued by the US Embassy in Ghana said although they have not picked up information regarding any planned protests, US nationals should be cautious because such social disruptions “could occur with little or no warning throughout Ghana.”

“Exercise caution during the election process, particularly around polling locations in the weeks before and after the elections.  Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.  Avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place and exercise caution when in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations,” the statement added.

‘US condemns clashes in Ghana’

[contextly_sidebar id=”6JNjZiaBz2XXzK2VAkpLt6WeN6vvF1j1″]The US Embassy had earlier condemned some clashes between members of the governing National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party in front of the resident of flagbearer of the NPP, Nana Akufo-Addo.

The Embassy further threatened to revoke visas for persons who incite violence ahead of the elections.

The statement titled ‘Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Accra (Ghana), Safety Considerations and the Upcoming Elections’ also urged US nationals to stay off some selected areas in eight regions of the country.

Below is the full statement:

Security Message for U.S. Citizens: Accra (Ghana), Safety Considerations and the Upcoming Elections

The U.S. Embassy informs U.S. citizens that on Wednesday, December 7, 2016, Ghana will hold its presidential and parliamentary elections.  While the Embassy has no information regarding planned protests, it should be noted that social disruptions or protests could occur with little or no warning throughout Ghana.

Exercise caution during the election process, particularly around polling locations in the weeks before and after the elections.  Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence.  Avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place and exercise caution when in the vicinity of any large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations.

Review your personal security plans, remain aware of your surroundings, including local events, and monitor local news stations for updates.  Be vigilant and take appropriate steps to enhance your personal security and follow instructions of local authorities.

The Embassy identified the following locations in Accra as key areas where people converge to hold spontaneous political rallies and demonstrations:

• State House
• The Ministries
• Kwame Nkrumah Circle
• Independence Square
• Mantse Agbona (James Town)
• Kawokudi Park
• Nima Police Station Park

Embassy personnel are not permitted to travel at night outside of major cities and are encouraged to avoid the following areas outside of Accra:

Upper West:  Lawra, Wa Central

Upper East:  Bawku

Northern:  Tolon, Sagnarigu, Yendi

Volta:  Nkwanta South, Hohoe, Ho Central, Adaklu, Ketu South

Western:  Jomoro, Bia West

Brong Ahafo:  Techiman South, Tain, Berekum West, Berekum East, and

Ashanti:  Bantama, Asokwa, Nhyiaeso, Manhyia North, Manhyia South, Suame, Oforikrom, and Asawase.

We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens travelling to or residing in Ghana enrol in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).  STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy to contact you in an emergency.  If you do not have internet access, enrol directly with the U.S. embassy in Accra, Ghana, using the below contact information.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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