A former Deputy Minister of Education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, had alleged that the said relocation was without recourse to Parliament hence making it illegal.

[contextly_sidebar id=”2rPW3JGrQOZFObEVGI9ORCByj2VXxJC4″]Speaking in an interview with Citi News, the former deputy Education Minister said, “the program which Parliament had already approved was that, there will be two main campuses, the Somanya campus and the Donkorkrom campus in the Affram Plains area. The information I have, which is unimpeachable, credible, is that, this government has changed the second campus from Donkorkrom in Afram Plains to Bunso in Kyebi, and that is why they did not want to answer the question. The facility that this house approved in 2016 has to do with funding for two campuses, there is reasonable proximity.”

He said although he tried to seek clarification from the Education Minister, Matthew Opoku Prempeh on the matter, the former did not give details about the development, noting that “they know what they have done, for which reason they are hiding from the people of this country.”

The Ministry of Education in response described such claims as false.

However, speaking to Citi News, the Eastern Regional Communications Officer of the NDC, Jamal Konneh, said they will resort to demonstrations and a possible legal action to get government to back down on such a decision.

“When you pick the constitution, every citizen has the right to defend his case if his right is being violated or an individual is trying to cheat on him or her. If a government is trying to cheat, we have the right to demonstrate, we will do that and I know the sitting President believes and understands demonstration because he has led several demonstrations before and demonstration is a language that he understands. Apart from that, we can battle this case in the law court which we will not relent on at all if all avenues are used without us achieving our goal” Mr. Konneh said.

The Education Minister had told Parliament that the construction of the proposed Somanya Campus of the University would begin next month, but did not give details about the construction of the second campus.

The construction of the University was part of the Mahama administration’s vision to ensure each region in the country had a public university.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The former Deputy Minister of Education had alleged that the said relocation was without recourse to Parliament, although the house originally approved the construction of two campuses for the school at Donkorkrom and Somanya.

[contextly_sidebar id=”qtnwjM2eIKpc0dYABwhIs86DbV1zNemJ”]Speaking in an interview with Citi News, the former deputy Education Minister said, “the program which Parliament had already approved was that there will be two main campuses, the Somanya campus and the Donkorkrom campus in the Affram Plains area. The information I have, which is unimpeachable, credible, is that, this government has changed the second campus from Donkorkrom in Afram Plains to Bunso in Kyebi, and that is why they did not want to answer the question. The facility that this house approved in 2016 has to do with funding for two campuses, there is reasonable proximity.”

He said although he tried the seek clarification from the Education Minister, Matthew Opoku Prempeh on the matter, the former did not give details about the development, noting that “they know what they have done, which they are hiding from the people of this country,” hence the failure to disclose the move.

However, the Ministry of Education, in a statement, has denied these claims , saying “Ablakwa’s claim that an agreement had been reached to set up the university with Donkorkrom as one of its campuses and that government has reneged on it by relocating it to Bunso is completely false, preposterous and without merit.”

The statement further indicated that, the previous government rather reneged on this agreement by “bringing in a contractor from Brazil to do the work Exim Bank had been contracted to do. Exim Bank protested strongly against the breach of faith and decided to abandon the project as it did not intend to share the site with the Brazilian contractor.”

Background

The construction of the University was part of the Mahama administration’s vision to ensure each region in the country had a public university.

The Education Minister had told Parliament that the construction of the proposed Somanya Campus of the University would begin next month, but did not give details about the construction of the second campus.

–
By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ablakwa’s Eastern University relocation claims false – Educ. Ministry appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Detective Sergeant Devine Tornu, investigator of the case made this known when he followed up to the Attorney General’s office to ascertain whether or not the advice on the case docket is ready.

Detective Sergeant Tornu said he presented the docket to the Attorney General before State Attorney’s embarked on their recent strike action in the last quarter of 2016 which dragged on until January this year.

[contextly_sidebar id=”0zly5pcvckMewcYlXvY8DoF6o2WRHnDG”]He told the District Court that, he would follow up again and prayed the court for an adjournment.

Chief Inspector A. Nartey, who held the brief, reminded the court that “this is a murder case and we have sent the docket to the AG for advice. We are still waiting for the advice of the AG”.

The court presided over by Mr Ebenezer Kweku Ansah, however asked the Police to make the name of the schedule officer at the AG Department available to the court.

The matter was adjourned to February 23.

The three accused persons includes, General Corporal Solomon Elvis Mensah; General Lance Corporal Daniel Kissi Abrokwa; and Hafisu Mohammed, aka Danjuma, a mechanic.

The two Police officers are being held on the charges of attempted robbery, conspiracy and murder while Mohammed has been charged with conspiracy.

The pleas of the accused persons have been reserved by the court.

The facts, as presented by prosecution earlier stated that the police officers were stationed at Donkorkrom.

The officers hatched a plan of robbing the bullion van and on August 16.  The police officers, who were on duty at the GN Bank and GCB bank discussed the robbery with Mohammed, who was a friend to the two and also a taxi driver.

The officers then armed themselves with AK 47 rifles and laid ambush at a spot between Tease and Mame Krobo at about 1030 hours on that fateful day.

Mohammed drove his taxi towards Ekye Amanfrom to monitor the arrival of the bullion van.

According to GNA report, the prosecution said 20 minutes after the bullion van arrived, Mohammed signaled the police officers who then opened fire, killing the driver of the van.

Prosecution said a police officer on board the van who got injured managed to return fire compelling the two robbers to take cover in the bush.

The attackers called Mohammed who picked them with his car in their bid to escape.

The Police Command at Donkorkrom got wind of the robbery incident and mobilised men who arrested the three accused persons on board the cab.

The prosecution said two AK 47 rifles, 23 rounds of ammunitions, a cutlass, and two metal bars were retrieved from the taxi.

The deceased’s body had since been deposited at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital awaiting autopsy.

Three other occupants of the bullion van, however, escaped unhurt while the policeman on guard was treated and discharged at the Donkorkrom Presbyterian Hospital.

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Source: GNA

The post Donkorkrom robbery: AG yet to assign prosecutor appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to General Corporal Solomon Elvis Mensah and General Lance Corporal Daniel Kissi Abrokwa, although the ballistic report was in the custody of the Police, they have not been given the opportunity to have a look at it.

Appearing before a District Court in Accra on Wednesday, the two officers who took turns to speak in court also contended that they are unable to comprehend the state of affairs in another trial taking place at Mpraeso in the Eastern Region.

Apart from murder case, the two officers and a civilian are being tried for escaping from lawful custody at Mpraeso.

Mensah said he believes the Police was hiding so many things from them, although a Circuit Court at Mpraeso was to pass its judgement on November 24, this year.

However on the said date, Mensah said they were not sent to the court at Mpraeso, and when their parents went to the court they were informed that the case was not called.

When the court presided over by Mr. Stephen Owusu asked the case investigator, he told the court that he had been away on a two week course and did not know what had transpired in his absence.

The case investigator explained that, the representative of the Attorney General had informed his Commander that the judgement should be suspended because state attorneys were on strike.

Mensah said the case investigator who appeared before the Police Investigation Panel, had indicated that the Ballistic Report was ready and did not understand that the report was before the court.

In the case of Abrokwa, he questioned the Police as to why they should have in their custody the original docket while a duplicate was rather forwarded to the Attorney General.

“My Lord, the original docket is before the Police officer. I want the Police officer to swear that the Original docket is in court and not with the Attorney General.

The court presided over by Mr Stephen Owusu told the accused persons who do not have legal representation, that the Police had concluded investigations and forwarded a duplicate docket to the AG’s office.

According to the court, all “evidences gathered against you would be made available to you and you will also be informed accordingly.”

The trial Judge said: “You cannot be ambushed. There is no trial of ambush; you will be informed adequately so you could prepare for your defence. It is not right to poke your nose into the affairs of the Police. Don’t worry, evidence against you would be made available.”

The court therefore urged them to secure lawyers so they could go to a superior court for a bail application to be made.

“I strongly advise you to consider that option” the Judge said.

Chief Inspector Robert Gyamfi who held brief of DSP A.A.Annor, earlier said the Police was awaiting the advice from the Attorney General’s Department hence prayed for a date.

The matter was adjourned to January 10.

The officers, General Corporal Solomon Elvis Mensah and General Lance Corporal Daniel Kissi Abrokwa, allegedly led the attack that caused the death of Daniel K Sarpong, the driver of the bullion van.

The other accomplice in the dock is Hafisu Mohammed, aka Danjuma, a mechanic. The two officers are being held on the charges of attempted robbery, conspiracy and murder.

Mohammed has been charged with conspiracy. The pleas of the accused persons have been reserved by the court. The facts, as presented by DSP A.A Annor earlier on, indicated that the police officers were stationed at Donkorkrom.

He said the officers hatched a plan of robbing the bullion van and on August 16 the police officers, who were on duty at the GN Bank and GCB respectively, discussed the robbery with Mohammed, who was a friend to the two and also a taxi driver.

The officers then armed themselves with AK 47 rifles and laid ambush at a spot between Tease and Mame Krobo at about 1030 hours on that fateful day.

Mohammed drove his taxi with registration number 1860-09 towards Ekye Amanfrom to monitor the arrival of the bullion van.

The prosecution said 20 minutes after the bullion van arrived, Mohammed signaled the police officers who then opened fire, killing the driver of the van.

DSP Annor said a police officer on board the van who got injured managed to return fire compelling the two robbers to take cover in the bush.

The attackers called Mohammed, who picked them with his car, in their bid to escape.

The Police Command at Donkorkrom got wind of the robbery incident and mobilised men who arrested the three accused persons on board the cab.

The prosecution said two AK 47 rifles, 23 rounds of am munitions, a cutlass, and two metal bars were retrieved from the taxi.

The deceased’s body has since been deposited at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital awaiting autopsy.

DSP Annor said three other occupants of the bullion van, however, escaped unhurt while the policeman on guard was treated and discharged at the Donkorkrom Presbyterian Hospital.

–

Source: GNA

The post Donkorkrom robbery suspects demand ballistic report appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

General Lance Corporal Daniel Kissi Abrokwa said he has no money to buy food in cells and was compelled to fast.

Abrokwa said he cannot have access to his money, which was taken by the Police as part of his exhibits and that the Police does not provide him food.

[contextly_sidebar id=”LXGokB1tJbsfgm564BM1knrVJKBCSCSX”]He informed the court that he has money in his account and needs his ATM card to enable him to withdraw money.

This came to light when the Judge, Mr Stephen Owusu enquired from Daniel how he was doing and whether everything was alright.

The court also mentioned that it had in its possession, a letter from a solicitor, acting on behalf of Hafisu Mohammed aka Danjuma.

According to the court the lawyer was praying the court to furnish him with the court proceedings to enable him to defend the accused.

The investigator explained that the exhibits in the bag were not related to the trial.

However, he said the Police was making internal arrangement to address his case.
Prosecuting Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) A.A. Annor told the Court that the Police was almost done with their investigations, that they would be handing over the docket to the Criminal Investigation Department for onward transfer to the Attorney General’s office.

DSP Annor said General Corporal Solomon Elvis Mensah one of the accused could not attend court because he has been taken ill and gone to the Hospital.

The alleged attack by the officers – General Corporal Solomon Elvis Mensah and General Lance Corporal Daniel Kissi Abrokwa – led to the death of Daniel K Sarpong, the driver of the bullion van.

The other accomplice in the dock is Hafisu Mohammed, aka Danjuma, a mechanic.

The two officers are being held on the charges of attempted robbery, conspiracy and murder.

Mohammed has been charged with conspiracy.

The pleas of the accused persons have, however, been reserved by the Court.

The facts, as presented by DSP Annor, indicated that the Police officers were stationed at Donkorkrom.

He said the officers hatched a plan of robbing the bullion, and on August 16, the Police officers, who were on duty at the GN Bank and GCB, decided to rob the bullion van.

The officers, therefore, discussed the robbery with Mohammed, who was a friend to the two and also a taxi driver.

The officers, therefore, armed themselves with AK 47 Rifles and laid ambush at a spot between Tease and Mame Krobo at about 1030 hours.

Mohammed drove his taxi with registration number 1860-09 towards Ekye Amanfrom to monitor the arrival the bullion van.

The Prosecution said 20 minutes later, the bullion van arrived and Mohammed signaled the Police officers who then opened fire, killing the driver of the van.

DSP Annor said a Police officer on board the van who got injured managed to return fire compelling the two robbers to take cover in the bush.

The Police officers then called Mohammed, who picked them with his car, in their bid to escape.

The Police Command at Donkorkrom got wind of the robbery incident and mobilised men who arrested the three accused persons on board the cab.

The Prosecution said two AK 47 rifles, 23 rounds of am munitions, a cutlass, two metal bars were retrieved from the taxi.

The deceased’s body has been deposited at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital awaiting autopsy.

DSP Annor said three other occupants of the bullion van, however, escaped unhurt while the Policeman on guard was treated and discharged at the Donkorkrom Presbyterian Hospital.
Source: GNA

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