According to the report, 300m rand ($22m; £16m) was redirected from a development fund to help with costs.

It had been earmarked for things like “sanitation, the replacement of mud schools and the refurbishment of hospitals,” the report stated.

Instead, the authorities allegedly spent it on items like $24 T-shirts.

Allegations of misuse first emerged in 2014, months after Mr Mandela’s funeral in Qunu, Eastern Cape, in December 2013, which was attended by heads of state from around the world.

Now, nearly four years after Mr Mandela’s death at the age of 95, the country’s public protector, Busi Mkhwebane, has asked President Jacob Zuma to pursue the allegations further using the special investigations unit.

The 300-page report describes how officials in the Eastern Cape pocketed funds, ignored basic rules, and inflated costs.

Ms Mkhwebane described the failure to follow regulations on the spending of public money as “very scary” and “appalling”, according to South Africa’s Mail&Guardian newspaper.

“It is very concerning that we can use a funeral to do such things,” she told a press conference. “How do you charge or escalate prices or even send an invoice for something you have not delivered?”

Ms Mkhwebane said disorganisation had a role to play in the misuse, but also hit out at how South Africa’s ruling ANC party had apparently issued instructions to officials on how the money should be spent.

“There are invoices we are showing with letterheads from the ANC. And monies were paid but again services were not rendered,” she was quoted as saying by South Africa’s EyeWitness News.

She added: “We are hopeful whoever has committed these acts will be taken to task.”

This is not the first scandal to surround official events commemorating the apartheid struggle hero’s life.

The man tasked with providing a sign language interpretation at the memorial service was accused of making up gestures, while a fight for control over Mandela’s legacy within his own family mired the last months of his life.

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Source: BBC

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Three years following his demise, the late Nakpaa-Naa Salifu Dawuni was finally buried in line with the customs and traditions of the Nanung traditional area.

[contextly_sidebar id=”jTgyjJb3S9xFei9UjIYq3l6E2JqJQm8J”]The family, in a Citi News interview, thanked the government and other relevant stakeholders mediating the chieftaincy dispute in the Nanung traditional area, for bringing finality to the late chief’s burial.

The family members reaffirmed their commitment to zealously uphold and sustain the peace and stability in the area.

They have also called for genuine reconciliation and unity to move the Nanung traditional area forward in the right direction.

The Spokesperson for the family, Bihi-Naa Amadu Mustapha Zakari, said, “On behalf of the late Naa Salifu Dawuni family, I want to use this opportunity to thank the government for the support granted us leading to the peaceful burial of the late Naa Salifu Dawuni.”

“We want to thank the security institutions for heavy deployment of security personnel to guarantee public safety and all the other relevant institutions for their support.”

“We declare our cooperation with the security institutions and indeed government to ensure the peaceful conduct of individuals within the traditional area.”

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By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Bimbilla: Late Nakpaa-Naa’s family lauds gov’t support for burial appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The affected roads are Castle Road, from AU Roundabout towards Osu Cemetry traffic light to the State House will be closed to motorists from the early hours of Friday 9^th June, 2017, and opened after the event.

While motorists using the Osu cemetery road towards the AU Roundabout will be directed through the Accra Sports Stadium to the Ministries through National Theatre to the Central Business District (CBD).

The Police Service in a statement “entreated motorists to observe the arrangements and plan for alternative routes before embarking on their respective journeys. Moreover , police personnel will be positioned at vantage points to assist with traffic direction and diversions for a successful event.”

Adam Mahama was lynched and partly burnt by some youth of Denkyria-Obuasi in the Central Region, who claimed they thought he was an armed robber.

About 40 persons have so far been arrested in connection with the murder.

Monument to be erected in honour of Major Mahama

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has also announced plans to erect a monument in honour of Major Mahama aside the state burial.

The President made this announcement when he visited the family of the deceased. He also announced  the setting up of a Ghc500,000 Trust Fund to cater for the education of the late military officer’s children.

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

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He had been previously laid in state from Tuesday, February 28, to March 4.

Numo Borketey Laweh was enstooled on May 9, 1987, and passed away on November 24, 2015. He ruled for nearly 29 years as the landlord of the Ga-Dangme State.

The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture and MP for Krowor, Elizabeth Afoley Quaye, spoke at the ceremony and said the death of the Wulomo should bring unity among all Ga states.

According to Mrs. Quaye, this unity would be needed for much development within the Greater Accra Region.

The Nungua Traditional Council had warned residents in the catchment area of Spintex Road, Sakumono, and Baatsonaa to adhere to the traditions of the Ga-Dangme State ahead of the funeral rites of its late overlord.

Prior to the funeral rites, there had notably been a curfew imposed by the Nungua Traditional Council on Nungua, Spintex road, and nearby communities.

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By: Philip Nii Lartey/citifmnline.com/Ghana

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Kwabena’s burial service was held at the forecourt of the State House, where mourners filed past his body.

The Thirty-year old was later buried at the Achimota Cemetery in Accra. Hundreds of mourners from across the country, mostly members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), attended the funeral.

Delivering a tribute to a young man who had worked with him since 2011,  Dr. Bawumia overcome with emotion, described his late aide as a brilliant and hardworking man.

Kwabena Boadu was found dead in his hotel room in Wa, Upper West Region, whilst on the campaign trail ahead of the 2016 general elections.

The deceased, popularly called KB, was reportedly electrocuted in his hotel.

Listen to Dr. Bawumia’s tribute below

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Bawumia pays tribute to late aide Kwabena Boadu [Audio] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Y3jbUwDhr1SooZMGdFcn64E3Av2QMnE0″]The low patronage has been attributed to the ongoing funeral of the late Asantehemaa which commenced today [Monday].

The development has left scores of passengers at the VVIP bus stations in Accra heading to Kumasi stranded.

Long winding queues of passengers were seen at the various VVIP stations at Circle at the time Citi Business News visited the bus terminals.

The queues were only present at the Accra-Kumasi route.

Passengers who spoke to Citi Business News said they had been waiting in the queue since morning.

“I can’t really explain it myself, the queue is quite long, It’s longer than usual and I think we can relate it to the funeral of the Asantehemaa. Majority of people want to go to Kumasi for the funeral so that is probably causing the unexpected number we are seeing here,” a stranded passenger said.

Meanwhile, a passenger who was waiting for a bus to attend the funeral in Kumasi also told Citi Business News that,“The shortage of the buses is as a result of the funeral. Everybody wants to go including those of us here. There are no buses available but I know that we will definitely go.”

Most bus drivers have been forced to ditch the route due to the low patronage of passengers from Kumasi to Accra.

“The problem is that, most of the cars are in Kumasi and according to them, there are no passengers in Kumasi so all the buses are locked up there because of the funeral and it seems like nobody is coming to Accra, so that’s why there are long queues here.” a manager at the VVIP station stated.

Another instructor said “People are just not coming. I don’t know if there’s a curfew, there but the people are just not coming so the buses are coming empty to pick the passengers from Accra.”

Meanwhile officials say the situation is expected to be return to normal in a few hours.

“There are five buses coming empty as we speak, they are on the way so passengers will soon be out of here”.

Business boom for others

It appears however that the fashion industry is recording some gains following the funeral rites of the late queen-mother.

Citi Business News checks reveal sale of black cloth in the Ashanti Region, specifically Kumasi, has picked up tremendously.

Some traders who spoke to Citi Business News say they intend to cash in heavily following the development.

“People are really purchasing the cloth. Six yards goes for GHc90, and one yard for GHc15, they are available in red and black, white and black, yellow and brown. People are purchasing all the colors; but the one in brown are limited as compared to the other colors.”

Another trader confirmed the boost, saying “For the clothes, we have them in red yellow and white; and sales are really good because everybody wants to purchase some. We will not run out of the cloth because we made them after the news of her death and everybody wants to buy it,” she added.

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By: Jessica Ayorkor Aryee/Anita Arthur/citibusinessnews.com/Ghana

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According to the youth, Dr. Nsoh’s dismissal is likely to cost the NDC in the 2016 election.

Dr Ephraim Avea Nsoh was relieved of his post as the Upper East regional minister in President Mahama’s latest reshuffle.

Speaking to Citi News, Citi FM’s Upper East Regional Correspondent, Fred Awuni said the demonstration started around 11: 30 am.

He however stated that no violence had so far been recorded since the demonstration took off.

“The police are numbering over 120 and so for security, everything is okay here, the security men are in their numbers and so far we have not recorded any violence yet,” Fred Awuni explained.

He stated that demonstrators converged on the region’s sports stadium from all  its 13 districts .

Fred Awuni reported that the demonstrators will finally present their grievances through the Upper East Regional Minister to President Mahama.
By: Marian Efe Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Addressing the Bolgatanga Municipal Assembly, he told the Assembly members that as frontiers of development, they should not allow their political differences to influence them negatively when it comes to development issues.

“Let us all bury our political differences and think about the people we serve particularly our children and women in our constituencies who are the most vulnerable and need more development and support to alleviate their plight”, Dr Nsoh said.

He expressed his dissatisfaction about the slow pace of development and the poor manner in which some projects were being executed in the Municipality and mentioned the Rural Electrification Project (REP), the Sustainable Water and Sanitation Project and the Persons With Disability (PWD) Fund as some of the examples.

Dr Nsoh said he was worried about the delay in the execution of the REP and that funds had been provided for the project and wondered why its execution was so slow.

He said more communities in the Upper West Region had been hooked to  the national grid under the REP and wondered why the Assembly members in the Region  who were the frontiers of development should sit down to allow the contractor to  delay the project.

Another area the Regional Minister mentioned as one of the challenges facing the Region was the poor sanitation in the Municipality and unplanned layouts and called on the Assembly to ensure that physical structures which were not cited at proper place were removed.

He mentioned kiosks, signboards and improper packing as some of the factors that cause road accidents and floods in the area and blamed the officials of the Lands Department for giving such persons permit.

Dr Nsoh said plans were far advanced to open up access roads in the Municipality and to maintain more roads.

Source: GNA

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