Residents who accused him of being a thief say they suspect he was part of a gang who has been attacking and snatching the belongings of people in the area.

According to an eyewitness who was part of onlookers at the scene, the body had been lying since morning when they woke up to start their day.

He suspects the young man might have been beaten during the night while their lights were off.

It is not the first time such an incident has happened in the area. A suspected thief was equally lynched close to the Dogo Moro park at Asawase.

Kumasi is one of the areas in Ghana where the practice of what has become known as mob justice is very common.

–

By: Hafiz Tijani/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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What happened to Captain Maxwell Mahama has given me flashbacks of what happened five years ago. I missed an encounter with my greatest fear only by a hair’s breadth.

That Thursday evening in 2012, I was almost lynched for being a thief- a phone thief at the main Kasoa lorry station.

So many questions raced through my mind that evening while I sat in the bus I boarded from the Kasoa station, brooding over what would have made the headlines to my family that fateful night.

It was around 8:00pm, and the neighborhood lights were out. I waited edgily for a bus after leaving my aunt’s residence. I heard a driver’s mate shout “Awoshie, Ablekuma! Awoshie, Ablekuma!!” Immediately, I headed in the direction and approached him to lead me to the bus.

In fact, I can’t recall how she suddenly appeared behind me; but just a few steps into the bus, I felt a tap behind me and there she stood- my little angel of death.

She looked six or seven, virtually in tatters, looking very dirty with a sniveling face, wiping off herself as if she had survived a stampede.
“Sister! Give me the phone you just took from me when I fell down running” she demanded in Akan.

For a moment, I thought she got the wrong person and so I ignored; as if I knew all about the plan to get me a beating that night.
I paused for a moment, turned and yelled at her to dismiss her claim. “Phone? Get lost before I spank you! Don’t ever think you can use one of those tricks on me, thief!” I scolded her in the common language and sat in the bus.

Before any of the passengers could apprehend what was really happening, this little girl had already jumped in the half-full bus with teary eyes demanding I give her the phone. I entered the bus with my bag containing a laptop, my Samsung Ch@t GT E2222, and some cash as well. And I was decently dressed.

The puzzled passengers looked on as they took a quick glance at the brat and decided to cross-examine me. Standing right in front of me, this petite fraudster claimed the supposed phone was given to her by her mother minutes before I picked it up from the ground where she fell.

“Sister, if you have taken the girl’s phone, just give it to her so she can go back home to her mother. The bus is almost full.” One woman advised.
I was left in a state of shock and confusion; fully aware what this could generate into if not handled properly. I would have suffered a heavy blow on my face before given any chance to speak – considering how my accuser grew more persistent. So I remained calm and explained the situation to the other passengers.

“I have no idea what she is talking about. This little girl is telling lies. Please do not believe her” I pleaded, while trying to maintain my composure so I don’t raise any more suspicions.

Like they say “no thief admits ever stealing.” I persisted and finally got the passengers on my side.
Apparently, that imaginary mother of hers are the fraudsters lurking somewhere in the station waiting to hear any accusing tantrums of a phone theft so they could descend on whoever is being accused. The plan is to train, send and take over when their little trainee succeeds.

I was bowled over, left in a state of disbelieve as the passengers kept questioning the girl about the type of phone and the number of the said phone in order to verify the authenticity of her accusation. Within minutes, she ran out of words and swiftly dashed out of the bus threatening to go and call her mother.

When I fully regained consciousness from all that was happening around me, I searched my bag to ensure nothing of that sort had been slipped into it or taken out by any magical means. Everything was still intact except my sanity.

I showed commuters my phone, and explained that this was clearly a scheme of engaging little children in the act of robbery. Only some bunch of geniuses and heartless people would be able to come out with such a clever scheme. Anyone would have believed such skilled lass especially around that time.

Several minutes after the charade, the bus eventually got full; yet there was no sign of this baby thief and her supposed mother. No one even saw where she went in the dark; and it became patent that she was on a mission.

“Their medicine didn’t work today; you are very lucky sister!” yelled a nosy bread seller as the bus moved out of the station.
Now imagine the number of innocent lives that are being chased out of this world each day?

First, he was an armed robber, then a galamseyer; finally we learn he is a prominent soldier, a captain, a father and a husband. So why lynch and burn him after making him suffer such painful death. Why?

Is the so-called mob justice the best solution to deal with culprits?
Would I have also been disgraced, molested and lynched just because I had allegedly stolen a phone? What would have been my punishment if I wasn’t bold enough to rebuke this supposed six-year old trained liar?

Only God knows whether I may live to share this story or I would have been dictating from a wheel chair after five years. Let’s just say I wasn’t destined to depart this way- in the hands of a provoked mob.
–
By: Farida Shaibu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

email: [email protected]

Blog: makewegist.com

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Reports indicated that three Ghanaian men attempted to physically assault one of the Lebanese men at the premises.

They were separated, but the Ghanaians came back with more men to beat up the Lebanese. One of the workers, who spoke to Citi News said, the larger, reinforced group tried to vandalize property but were quickly stopped when police got to the scene.

Though at the time Citi News got there, work had resumed and patrons were still buying food, there was heavy police presence at the branch. The Police said they were there to protect life and property.

There had been some fears on social media the incident had escalated into a full-blown mob attack on the restaurant.

This incident followed the alleged assault of a female employee at the eatery by her Lebanese supervisor, although no direct connection has been established between the two incidents as yet.

The  Ghanaian female employee had her face shoved and held down in a bowl of pepper by her Lebanese supervisor on Sunday, February 26. News of this assault sparked outrage from sections of the public, but the backlash was mostly limited to calls for a boycott of the fast food chain.

Management of Marwako has since suspended the branch supervisor alleged to have physically assaulted the Ghanaian employee.

The supervisor in question, one Jihad Chaaban, was arrested and interrogated by police, but is currently on bail pending further investigations.

Marwako at the centre of similar mob action in 2014

Marwako’s Mamobbi branch similarly faced the wrath of a vengeful mob on July 6, 2014.

The restaurant gave shelter to a policeman, who was being sought by an angry mob for allegedly shooting and killing a taxi driver.

According to an eyewitness, the mob, consisting of about 30 people, attacked the policeman who was later rescued by some residents who took him to the restaurant for cover.

But the angry mob besieged the restaurant demanding action against the policeman, and ended up vandalizing the facility’s assets.

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

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Polytechnic teachers have been on strike since May in protest of the “unwillingness on the part of government to pay their Book and Research Allowance” for the 2013/2014 academic year.

POTAG, on Tuesday, met with members of the Parliamentary Select Committee to deliberate on the issue.

The President of POTAG, James Dugura, told Citi News that some headway has been made after the “peaceful and healthy” meeting with the Select Committee after previous unfruitful attempts to end the strike.

He admitted that the dispute would not be resolved until after a further interactions with the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance and the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission after they had been briefed by the Committee.

However, he stated that he was hopeful a favourable decision would be made in due course.

“From the previous meetings we have been holding concerning this issue, this one was very different and POTAG was very happy about it,” Mr. Dugura said.

By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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According to the Ministry, the road map will largely support needy and vulnerable students.

This was disclosed by the sector Minister; Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang who took her turn at the Meet the Press series.

President John Mahama in his State of the Nation Address early this year announced that his government will introduce a progressively free SHS education policy in 2015.

The President later indicated the implementation of the policy will cost Ghana approximately GHC 71 million.

Government was widely criticized for this decision as some believed there were no prior consultations with relevant stakeholders on the most effective way to implement the policy.

Others were also of the view that the current economic challenges in Ghana cannot support such a policy.

Some teacher unions complained that the free SHS policy will further reduce quality of education

However, the Minister of Education said although the road map is yet to receive cabinet approval, the policy will certainly be implemented.

She explained that there is a high demand for senior high school education in Ghana and the situation has compelled some schools to admit students beyond their capacity.

“This has led to circumstances in which some schools admit as many as 3,000 students and over. This is significantly higher that the prescribed average of between 1,200 and 1,500 per school,” the Minister said.

Prof. Opoku Agyeman noted that her outfit, following with stakeholders has prepared a report on the progressive implementation of the free SHS which is primarily targeted at underprivileged students.

She urged Ghanaians to anticipate that “fees for day students will be abolished at an estimated cost of GHC 71 million in the year of implementation.”

According to her, issues relating to boarding students will be announced soon.

By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @osamidan

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Government contracted the Ghana Publishers Association to supply books to various secondary schools in the country at a cost of 32 million dollars.

Government has however refused to pay for distribution of the books by the Association.

The publishers involved in the distribution include Winmat Publishers Ltd., Approachers (Publishers) Ghana Ltd., Sedco Publishing Ltd. and Adwinsa Publications (Gh).

Although the Chief Director at the Education Ministry, Enoch H. Cobbinah last year ordered the GETFund to pay these publishers, it has refused to do so.

The Association  noted that though they had fulfilled their part of the bargain by supplying text books to secondary schools in the country, government had refused to pay them.

Speaking to Citi News, the Executive Secretary of the Association, Fauna Frimpong said majority of the publishers are running out of business now, hence their decision.

Mr. Frimpong stated that the Association had “exhausted every avenue just to get the Ministry to heed to its concerns.”

“We have done everything that we can…what the Ministry is doing is way below the belt,” he added.

According to him, government had only paid 18 percent of the amount owed the Association, adding that the amount can only cater for the interest that has accumulated over the loan government took in executing the contract.

He therefore stated that the Association has resorted to seeking a legal action to have their concerns addressed

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

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According to them, the move will aggravate the already “perilous woes of tertiary students who are undeniably overburdened with extortionate cost of education in the country.”

Government has directed the public universities and polytechnics to pay their own utility bills; hence, public universities are deciding to pass the utility costs on to the students.

But a statement signed by the SRC executives of UDS stated that the plight of the Ghanaian student is worsening and “this move will further create a bleak future for our educational system.”

Below is the full statement

GOVERNMENT SHOULD RECONSIDER ITS DECISION TO REMOVE SUBSIDIES ON UTILITY BILLS FOR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

Governance is all about taking decisions to better the life’s of people, but when those decisions are rather going to worsen the situation and make the cost of education expensive, then we have to be circumspect and proper introspection as well as due diligence must be done to ensure that our living conditions are not exacerbated.

Our notice was drawn to the fact that Government is contemplating of removing all forms of subsidies and Subventions to Public Tertiary Institutions in the country especially the various Public Universities, they have started with Utilities Bills, a move that will only but succeed in aggravating the already perilous woes of tertiary students who are undeniably overburdened with extortionate cost of education in the country.

This Utility Bills will be transferred to Students and hence each Student will pay averagely an additional GH¢ 350.00 for Non-Residents and GH¢450.00 for Residents in addition to his or her fees.

Last academic Year, First Year Students pay GH¢1,092.00 as their admission fees. Ceteris Paribus, this year Students will pay GH¢1,542.00 and GH¢1442.00 without cost of Accommodation, cost of food, cost of Handouts etc.

This could serve as a deterrent to prospective University Applicant considering the cost involve. If aggresses remain as they are, then we fear of a low intake in the upcoming potential applicants. Government should consider proroguing its decisions.

This current position of Government will go against the backdrop of which University for Development Studies was established. UDS was established to make University Education accessible and affordable to the People in the North and the country at large.

We are therefore pleading with Government to re-consider its decision regarding the removal of these subsidies and subventions on tertiary Institutions.

The plight of the Ghanaian Student is worsening and this move will further create a bleak future to our educational system.

Ofosu Emmanuel                  SRC President, UDS                          

Hubert Adehokey Elorm       SRC, Vice President, UDS                

Mensah Enoch McRoyal,       Local NUGS President, UDS          

Karikari Kwabena Julius        PRO, SRC UDS                               

By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The directive which is contained in a statement issued by the Commission and initialed by its Director of Industrial Relations, Martin Didemudo, pointed out that POTAG failed to comply with the provisions of the Labour Act, 2003, (Act 651), regarding notification to embark on a strike action.

The statement said, after deliberations with representatives of the Association, the Commission has come to the conclusion that POTAG’s strike was illegal.

Source: GNA

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An agreement has been reached between the Conference of Heads of Special Schools (COHESS) and two state agencies for the release of outstanding grants to ensure the reopening of the special schools next week.

Source: Graphic Online

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Addressing a press conference in Accra, the Greater Accra Regional Chairman of the GNAT, Johnny Akpakli gave the government up to June 20, 2014 to implement the “other decisions contained in the said communiqué we shall inform our members as to the actions we shall take at the end of June 2014”.

The communiqué was signed by all three teacher unions and other stakeholders on May 15, 2014 after a meeting to resolve issues relating to the teachers of the Ghana Education Service.

According to Mr. Akpakli “there are no timelines on these issues”.

This, they think is a deliberate attempt by the government to delay in addressing the issues in the communiqué.

Issues addressed in the communiqué include: incremental credits where it was recommended that Fair Wages and Salaries Commission should liaise with Controller and Accountant General’s Department to let the Ministry of Finance know the total cost of the incremental credits for 2011 and 2012.

On the payment of not more than three months salary arrears, district directors of education were directed to “submit the completed templates for the payment of the remaining arrears to the Regional Directors latest by 16th May, 2014” said Mr. Akpakli.

These completed templates were in turn to be submitted to the Ghana Education Service Headquarters by May 22, 2014 while payment was to begin by the end of June 2014.

According to the signed communiqué, “District Directors were also mandated to collate data on transfer grants of qualified beneficiaries by end of May 2014”.

The communiqué further elaborated that “once Ghana Education Service Headquarters receives the data stakeholders would be invited for a verification and validation exercise for payment to be effected”.

On the second tier occupational Pension Scheme “the matter was referred to the National Tripartite Committee for consideration”.

In an interview with Citi News, Johnny Akpakli said: “Strikes certainly are one of the weapons that the unions use either to enforce demands or ventilate the grievances of their members. If the language our governments understand are strikes and threats of strikes then they should be prepared for more.”

By: Magdalene Larnyoh/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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