In a statement on social media, he noted some concern that some persons may be orchestrating the upsurge in crime for parochial motives.

“Let us hope the recent robbery and killings is downright plain robbery and not a politically motivated action from within or without, calculated to undermine those in charge of the security machinery in order to pave the way for certain parochial ambitions,” the former President stated.

Despite this, Mr. Rawlings said the security agencies owe Ghanaians “the responsibility of keeping the nation safe and secure.

“Let us all confront this menace with utmost confidence and professionalism while ensuring that no one, high or low takes advantage of our vulnerabilities,” he added in his statement.

There has been a dramatic surge in robberies and violent crime in the past month.

A number of these robberies have been carried out in broad daylight and have resulted in multiple casualties.

Most recently, on the morning of Wednesday, February 28, a Lebanese national was robbed of GHc 200,000 and killed at the Tema Industrial area in the Greater Accra Region.

The victim, Ahmed Safiadeen, aged 54, was a cashier of Delta Agro Company and had gone to withdraw the amount of GHC 200,000 from the bank for the salaries of workers, and other factory expenses of the company.

Beyond the killing of the Lebanese, there was a daylight attack on a Forex Bureaux at Spintex and two robberies in the North Kaneshie area this past week.

In one of the incidents, about 10 armed men stormed Royal Motors, an automobile company in Accra, making away with the company’s sales.

Eyewitnesses reported that the robbers trailed a bullion van that had entered the Industrial Area premises of the company to collect the company’s sales made the previous day.

‘We’re ready to die’

Despite these attacks, the Director of Operations for the Ghana Police Service, DCOP George Akufo Dampare, has said although his outfit is logistically deficient, they are ready to put their lives on the line to ensure the safety of every Ghanaian.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, DCOP Dampare also noted that the support of the citizens will go a long way to help the Police Service combat the increasing rate of crime in the country.

“We want to give them [citizens] the assurance that we will go every length, including losing our lives to make them safe. We understand that we are not there yet, in terms of the full complement of our equipment. We also understand that over the years, government after government has made an attempt to bring us to a particular level in terms of equipment,” he said.

Over 20 robbery suspects have been arrested this week in connection with robberies in areas like Spintex, Tema and Kanashie.

According to the police, several of such robbers who have been arrested since Monday are currently undergoing screening.

COP Dampare, 10 others reassigned amidst soaring robbery cases

Mr. Rawlings’ comments came shortly before a major reshuffle hit the service.  Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, Director General of Police Operations, has been reassigned by the Inspector General of Police, David Asante-Apeatu, to head the Research and Planning Department.

He is to be replaced immediately by the Eastern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Simon Afeku.

Nine others have also been reassigned to take up various positions across the country. Whilst the reasons for the latest reshuffle are unknown; it comes at a time when the police service has come under severe criticism following an increase in robbery cases across the country.

Below is s full list of the transfers

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

The post I hope recent robberies are not politically motivated – Rawlings appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The collapsed walls, sighted by Citi News, resembled the remnants of an Accra Metropolitan Assembly demolition exercise.

There are currently at least four police officers at the residence, but the former President’s security detail declined to speak to Citi News.

Many parts of Accra were submerged in flood waters, curtailing vehicular movement after the hours of rain.

Drivers were forced to make detours while others parked their vehicles due to the pool of flood waters on major highways.

Areas such as Teshie-Nungua, Lapaz, Shiashie, Darkuman and Kaneshie were some of the heaviest affected.

The flood waters also brought to the fore the capital’s sanitation troubles with all kinds of debris and filth being washed onto the streets.

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By: Duke Mensah Opoku/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Wall of Rawlings’ Ridge residence toppled after downpour appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The group condemned Valerie Sawyerr’s comments as reckless and called on the NDC leadership to call her to order or expel her from the party “for her treachery”.

[contextly_sidebar id=”bGF9pb3ZwoQsZe2Y8pun6zUAf5ehgx19″]Valerie Sawyerr, in her article which has been castigated by some NDC personalities, slammed Mr. Rawlings for his criticism of the NDC and accused him of turning a blind eye to perceived failings under the governing New Patriotic Party, including the BOST saga and the fallout from AMERI deal investigation.

“This level of inept wanton folly by Valerie Sawyer beats our imagination and we want to state categorically that, John Mahama and his close associates are behind this ridicule to discredit agenda against Mr. Rawlings,” the group exclaimed in a statement.

“We find Valerie Sawyer’s belligerence, and utterances on our party founder, to be very reckless and we are convinced that such unprovoked attack on the former president could only be part of that grand scheme orchestrated by the Mahama bloc to once again ridicule the party founder.”

“We are by this statement sending a signal to all those clowns around Mahama who constantly spew a bunch of wheat due to ignorance in an attempt to make us believe that Mahama is the best thing that has ever happened to the NDC to be wary of the repercussions of their unguarded attacks on JJ Rawlings,” the group warned.

Find below the full statement

Sack Valerie Sawyer now- Action Movement tells NDC

The Action Movement of the NDC wishes to register our indignation at Madam Valerie Sawyer, a discredited and tainted Mahama loyalist who launched scathing attacks on the NDC founder- Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings in an article she released to the media last Tuesday.

In the said article, Valerie Sawyer, a former policy advisor to President Mahama cast aspersions at the personality of former President Rawlings describing him as an ‘agitated mosquito’ and other cat-calls.

This level of inept wanton folly by Valerie Sawyer beats our imagination and we want to state categorically that, John Mahama and his close associates are behind this ridicule to discredit agenda against Mr Rawlings.

We find Valerie Sawyer’s belligerence, and utterances on our party founder, to be very reckless and we are convinced that such unprovoked attack on the former president could only be part of that grand scheme orchestrated by the Mahama bloc to once again ridicule the party founder.

We are by this statement sending a signal to all those clowns around Mahama who constantly spew a bunch of wheat due to ignorance in an attempt to make us believe that Mahama is the best thing that has ever happened to the NDC to be wary of the repercussions of their unguarded attacks on JJ Rawlings.

We were fooled to believe the claim that Rawlings has outlived his usefulness. It cost us the 2016 elections. Yet Mahama and his ilks have not learnt any lessons. They are obsessed with the Rawlings and their sense of criticism is only limited to tearing the NDC founder apart.

The NDC cannot afford the cost of any human folly that has the potential of keeping the Party in perpetual opposition. Even after such a humiliating electoral defeat and the aftermath of Kwesi Botchwey fact finding committee report, Mahama loyalists are still living in the past.

Valerie Sawyer is just one of the many wretched comedians and among a bunch of noisy ducklings who have lost touch with reality and will do anything to protect the Mahama status quo and their long pockets.

Valerie Sawyer is anti-NDC. She hates to see the NDC succeed. This is the same woman who is alleged to have actively campaigned for an independent candidate against the NDC’s candidate in the last elections at the Klottey Korley constituency. We are calling on the party hierarchy to call Valerie Sawyer to order, or better still sack her from the party for her treachery.

Long Live Founder

Long Live the NDC

SIGNED

Kodzo Hamenya Keglo (0244608497)

NDC Action Movement.

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

The post Mahama behind Valerie Sawyerr’s attack on Rawlings – NDC group appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

It said it takes a ‘serious view’ of the recent ‘false reports’ which has been widely circulated on social media.

A fake online publication over the weekend said the former President died after collapsing at his Ridge residence in Accra.

But a statement from the Office of President Rawlings said the reports were untrue.

It cautioned the faceless persons behind the publication of such falsehood to desist from the “reckless and insensitive actions as they have the potential of causing harm to family, friends and sympathisers of the former President.”

It further warned that publishers of such information could be liable for prosecution if they are arrested over the malicious activity.

The statement further called on media personnel seeking clarification on matters related to the former President from his office to avoid being misguided by some baseless reports online.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Rawlings upset over fake death reports appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

She said this when she shared Ghana’s progress story and challenges in its efforts to ensure universal access to cervical cancer prevention with her colleague African First Ladies and participant

A statement issued by the presidency stated that the strategy would roll out various interventions that would help manage and control breast and cervical cancers as well as other cancers in the country.

It said for the past eight years, the fight against cancers, especially those of Cervical, Breast and Prostate in Africa, had intensified.

“Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women, worldwide, with an annual incidence of almost 500,000 new cases and 275,000 deaths. About 85% of the women who die from cervical cancer live in developing countries, due to inadequate resources, infrastructure, and denied access to early diagnosis, treatment and palliative care”, it said.

The statement said over the years First Ladies had hosted the conference in their countries with the first call being made in Abuja, Nigeria, in 2007, when a Nigerian cancer advocate, Princess Nikky Onyeri, initiated the Forum of African First Ladies against Breast, Cervical and prostate Cancer, and convened the first Stop Cervical, Breast and Prostate Cancer in Africa, SCCA Conference in July, with 15 African First Ladies.

“They have also been working to bring on board both regional and international attention to cancer and its burden on Africa, and push for the integration of the treatment of non-communicable diseases, especially cancers into their respective primary healthcare systems”, it said.

The statement said Mrs Mahama said during a presentation that there was an on-going government negotiation with GAVI to increase the HPV vaccine support period to 10 years and clinical breast examination screening at various health facilities and family planning centres in the country.

Apart from these, she would support other interventions that would be rolled out under a five-year National Strategy for Cancer Control with her campaign on breast and cervical cancers and HIV and AIDs, which the Lordina Foundation is already implementing in some regions in the country, to ensure that universal access to prevention and treatment of cancers were made available” it noted.

Mrs. Mahama urged African governments to join hands with the First Ladies so that together, they would demonstrate a shared responsibility in making the health of women, especially in Africa, a priority.

The conference hosted by the First Lady of Namibia is a campaign focusing on the “Move Forward To End Cervical Cancer by 2030” and has brought First Ladies from various African countries together to share their stories about interventions they have made in a bid to achieve the forum’s basic objective.

The statement said all the First Ladies noted that though some successes had been chalked in the awareness creation about breast, cervical and prostate cancers, lack of adequate resources, infrastructure, and lack of access to early diagnosis, treatment and palliative care still remain a challenge in many African countries.

Source: GNA

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According to her the pain and agony these women are enduring is something no mother should ever have to experience.

” Despite that they [Mothers of the kidnapped girls] have shown strength and courage in the face of this terror. Let us show their mothers that they are not alone in their suffering,” she said in a Mother’s Day statement.

Mrs Mahama said in honour of the mothers of the kidnapped girls she prays and hopes for the safe return of the stolen girls.

Below is the statement by the First Lady

As a mother, the moments I most cherish are those spent with my children. It is a great privilege to be able to watch them grow and become their own individuals and know that they will one day make a contribution to this great nation of ours.

Every year it brings me pleasure to celebrate all of the women who have been entrusted with the care of our children, Ghana’s future, with a heartfelt Mother’s Day wish.

This year my wish for Mother’s Day is that the young girls kidnapped in Nigeria will be returned to their mothers, and that the grief of the mothers of others massacred in Buni Yade in Yobe State, also in Nigeria, be somehow lessened.

The pain and agony these women must be going through is something no mother should ever have to experience.

Despite that they have shown strength and courage in the face of this terror. Let us show their mothers that they are not alone in their suffering.

This Mother’s Day, as we draw our children near and give thanks for the blessing of their lives, let us show solidarity with these mothers, and with all mothers who are without their children.

Let us honour them by praying for the souls of their murdered sons, and for the safe return of their stolen girls.

May God bless the mothers in Ghana with the safety, good health and happiness of all our children.

By: Evans Effah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Mother’s Day: Lordina Mahama celebrates mothers of kidnapped girls appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.