The loan was procured in 2007 and handed over to the John Mills administration after 2009, but 10 years later, Alhaji Saddique says “you can’t trace it [the loan].”

[contextly_sidebar id=”YgMgWxxDuYuvmKNofrazUZjs7f4wrlbq”]”This place as I stand here today, over the last 10 years, should have been a changed place. In 2007, I signed a loan for 73 million euro to change this place and move the whole of this place to Adjen Kotoku,” he said at a Town Hall meeting organized by Gh One Television for residents of Old Fadama in Accra

Alhaji Saddique, who was then the Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, said he had invited the leadership of the entire area to his office and also “created a market for the Konkombas to start before we finish Adjin Kotoku, but they politicized it. Today, where are we; One step forward, five steps backward.”

Adjen Kotoku, on the outskirts of Accra in Ga West Municipal District, has long been earmarked for the relocation of the market, and it was secured under the Kufuor administration for their relocation.

The issue of the relocation came up in April 2017, after clashes between Konkombas and Dagombas at the Agbogbloshie Yam Market. It is believed the relocation will ensure stability in the area.

Alhaji Saddique also spoke on the Korle Lagoon Restoration Project initiated under the Kufuor administration, for which he had envisioned the Konkombas gaining employment because the project was taking place in their vicinity, and “the very people who will enjoy the facility must be made to work.”

“…But unfortunately, for the project, nobody knows where it is. I was there last two weeks with the World Bank people and most of the items there have been stolen,” he said.

Alhaji Saddique reminded that, ultimately Ghana was going to suffer because “any government which comes will pay for it [the loan]. Your children and children’s children are those who are going to pay for it” he said.

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

The post €73m loan for Old Fadama transformation ‘missing’ – Boniface appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to Citi News’ Kojo Agyeman who was at the scene, the fire started around 1pm and is currently raging towards other parts of the market, which is located behind the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC).

It is believed that the blaze was started by a scrap dealer who was improperly disposing of some scrap metals.

“The refuse contains so many combustible materials like scraps from fridges and computers that it’s spreading much quicker than it normally would,” he reported.

“There are some mechanic shops behind the ICGC that might be affected,” he added.

An eyewitness stated that despite attempts by some youth to douse the flames, their efforts were hindered by the large amounts of refuse that were present.

“We saw the fire far away from the Church. I asked the boys who started it but they said they didn’t know who did. We tried to stop the fire but unfortunately, there is a lot of rubbish here which led to it spreading.” he said.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Photos and report by: Kojo Agyeman

The post Old Fadama: Parts of Onion Market in flames appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to them, a group named Odododiodioo Youth for Accountability (OYA) is spreading falsehood, claiming that the MP sponsored thugs with ammunition to attack NPP supporters at Old Fadama.

[contextly_sidebar id=”1SdnRlDbj2wOqsA1CYfmItBz6NUVKya2″]This follows clashes between two factions; Konkombas and Dagombas, at Agbobloshie, leaving two persons dead, and about eight others in critical conditions.

The confusion was allegedly started after an alleged mobile phone theft in the area.

Addressing the press, the convenor of the Concerned Youth Of Odododiodoo, Mustapha Nettey called urged all those smearing the legislator and accusing him of fueling the troubles to desist from peddling the falsehood or risk facing them in court.

“The members of Concerned Youth of Odododiodioo (CYO) will, therefore, like to use this opportunity to call on OYA to stop the peddling of falsehood and lies against the person of Nii Lante Vanderpuye and render and an unqualified apology to him without any reservation.”

“Our next option would be legal. This nonsense must stop now,” he said.

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By: Philip Nii Lartey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nii Lante didn’t sponsor Old Fadama troubles – Group appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The police were acting on intelligence they had picked up, along with a community member’s collaboration, leading to the arrest of the two on the afternoon of Tuesday, April 18.

[contextly_sidebar id=”CqpkJCcy2d1F6q65l649cCPpNQSyP8lk”]Addressing journalists in Accra today [Wednesday], the Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, ASP Effia Tenge, explained that police were currently carrying out further investigations to ascertain and establish the intent of the two persons.

The arrest follows follow deadly clashes at the Agbogbloshie Yam Market last week, where reports indicate that feuding factions are in possession with a wide range of illicit arms.

ASP Tenge explained that, the two suspects, Imoro Abdul Wahab, 25, a scrap dealer, and Kwaku Amankwa, 58, who claims to be a registered arms dealer, were involved in a transaction which saw the scrap dealer purchase the ammunition valued at GHc 1,000.

Abdul Wahab was arrested first, and subsequently led the police to the second suspect at a place called Arena in Accra.

“The police retrieved 250 rounds of BB cartridges and 250 rounds of AA cartridges summing up to the 500 pieces of cartridges,” ASP Tenge noted.

“Both suspects are being detained for investigations, and shall soon be put before the court when our investigations and the intent has been established.”

Police trying to keep peace

ASP Tenge indicated that, some nefarious persons may look to capitalize on the tensions in the area to sell some arms, and thus advised the public not take advantage of the disturbances, warning that “the Police will not hesitate to arrest and prosecute any such persons to face the full rigours of the law.”

She added that, the police is still promoting dialogue between the two feuding factions “with the immense support of key stakeholders such as leaders of the various sub-groups whose collaboration to a larger extent has eased the tensions.”

Agbogbloshie must be purged of illicit arms – Nii Lante

Following the renewed communal clashes that led to the death of two persons, Member of Parliament for Odododiodio, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, said there had been a failure of security and authorities culminating in the proliferation of military-grade arms in the Agbogbloshie area.

In a Citi News interview, Mr. Vanderpuye lamented the insecurity in the area, which he says puts the lives of vulnerable residents at risk.

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

The post Two arrested at Agbogbloshie with 500 rounds of ammunition appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Bugri Naabu, like the community leaders of Old Fadama, believes the police service should investigate the tensions and find a lasting solution to it instead of relocating the residents.

Renewed clashes there has taken two lives, and left several others injured.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante Apeatu, who rekindled the relocation debate, explained that, it will help in policing the area, and guarantee some stability, following the clashes which is said to have deep-seated ethnic undertones.

“Where should they be relocated to? They are here, in the market, selling their food products to the people of Ghana. They cannot relocate,” he stated firmly during a press briefing at Old Fadama after a visit to the area.

“They [the police] should speed up by arresting those people and go into the case to see the true picture of the case. But why relocate? No relocation will be done,” Bugri Naabu added.

He further assured residents of Old Fadama of government’s support to ensure lasting peace in the area, and indicated government’s resolve to bring to book all persons behind the clashes.

Gov’t looking at mass relocation 

Meanwhile, government has said it will soon begin the mass relocation of traders and residents at Old Fadama to decongest the area, which is considered to be Ghana’s largest slum.

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Ishmael Ashitey, has said the Accra Metropolitan Assembly has been charged to lead a process to relocate some markets in the area.

The markets will be moved to Adjen Kotoku on the outskirts of Accra, per arrangements made under the Kufuor administration for their relocation.

The AMA’s immediate task will be to assess the feasibility of a relocation before initiating moves to actually move them.

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

The post NPP’s Bugri Naabu protests against relocation of Old Fadama residents appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The exercise is to decongest the area, which is considered Accra’s biggest slum.

[contextly_sidebar id=”gdv9PCUyCZSLzLsRhe2UUobJBsiset0f”]Relocation plans for residents there has been under planning for about a decade.

Following recent clashes in the area between some Dagombas and Konkombas which left at least 2 people dead, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Ishmael Ashitey, has said the Accra Metropolitan Assembly has been charged to lead a process to relocate some markets in the area.

He said the markets will be moved to Adjen Kotoku on the outskirts of Accra; a location secured under the erstwhile Kufuor administration for their relocation.

“The market has to be relocated to Adjen Kotoku. That project started long ago under Kufuor, but [there were] delays in sending them there. I learned the place is okay to receive them. It is not as big to accommodate all of them… But I am saying if we can take at least 2 or 3 markets [from here to Adjen Kotoku] let’s do that,” he said.

“It is the markets that we want to move to that place. And when we move the market to the place, I’m confident that those who are benefiting or who are actually working at the market would like to go close to where the market is,” he added.

The Minister revealed that, the Accra Metropolitan Assembly has been tasked to spearhead the relocation process and it would start work after the Easter holidays.

He however noted that, the AMA’s immediate task would be to assess the feasibility of a relocation of the people before initiating moves to actually move them finally.

“We have spoken to AMA to lead this operation; whether it is conducive now for them to go there. So they will do that after the Easter. They will move to the site and see how conducive that will be,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the Inspect General of Police, David Asante Apeatu, has suggested that relocating residents of the area will help avert troubles such as what was witnessed last Tuesday.

He said the structure of the slum made it difficult to maintain law and order.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We’ll relocate Old Fadama residents – Ishmael Ashitey appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

At a press conference on Thursday, the Secretary of the Old Fadama Development Association, Fredrick Opoku, said the police should be focusing on addressing the core tensions, which he intimated were deep seated in the Northern Region.

[contextly_sidebar id=”33QXZ69BMuyer7di1uAKaEF6HYnocyKt”]The Inspector General of Police (IGP), David Asante Apeatu on Wednesday explained that, relocating residents of Old Fadama will help in the policing of the area and guarantee some stability following the clashes which claimed two lives.

The IGP noted that, the unfavourable terrain of Ghana’s biggest slum made policing and intelligence gathering there difficult.

But Mr. Opoku said, “I think the IGP is wrong this time and I think we have to sit and resolve the matter at the core of the issue and I can tell you that relocation is never the issue. If you move Konkombas here and Dagombas there, what about the rest?”

“If they are not ready, they should let us sit down around a table and discuss issues that can resolve the matter because this is a very sensitive issue that is brewing up in the North so we shouldn’t talk about relocation now. The IGP should sit up and let us come to the table to talk about the issue.”

In any case, Mr. Opoku said there were human right issues to be taken into account before any relocation, but expressed doubts that government has any well-structured plan for the relocation.

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

The post Moving us won’t solve tensions – Old Fadama residents fume appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The group, predominantly of Dagomba descent, has been accused of seizing properties and threatening lives since the NPP’s 2016 election victory.

In February 2017, there was an eruption of violence that left several injured and led to the arrest of 14 persons.

In a Citi News interview, an NPP polling station chairman at Old Fadama, Malu Samuel, said an intervention from the current NPP government would be their last resort before they take the law into their hands.

Malu Samuel said it was even common to see people with assault rifles in the community during the day, which he described as baffling given that such weapons were not easy to purchase.

There have also been incidents of rape in the community, he added.

“The community leaders have organised a press conference against it before, but we are coming out because we think since we are [NPP] party members and the government in power is NPP, if they see their own party is complaining then they will be serious.”

“It is because of the law we are knocking on the door of government, if it were not the law, we would have stopped this thing once and for all. Because of the law, we are giving the government this ultimatum.”

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By: Felicia Osei/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Deal with post-election troubles now – Old Fadama residents to gov’t appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

His seven-year prison sentence has now been thrown out by judges in Milan, in the so-called “Ruby” case.

Last year a court found that he had paid for sex with a 17-year-old nightclub dancer, Karima El-Mahroug, known as “Ruby the Heartstealer”.

Berlusconi is doing community service after being sentenced for tax fraud.

That was a separate case involving his business empire Mediaset. Berlusconi, 77, helps out once a week at a home for people with Alzheimer’s disease.

He began doing that service in May – and so far it is the only final judgment against him, despite various other court cases.

‘Bunga-bunga’ reports

In the Ruby case both Berlusconi and Ms El-Mahroug denied having had sex.

During the trial reports emerged of raunchy “bunga-bunga” parties at his private villa attended by showgirls. Some of the female guests however described them as “elegant dinner parties”.

Berlusconi was also acquitted of a charge that he abused his prime ministerial powers by pressuring the police to free Ms El-Mahroug when she was in custody.

In another separate case he is accused of having bribed a senator.

As a result of the conviction over Mediaset he was banned from holding political office for two years and expelled from the Senate.

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Source: BBC

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The Central Americans fully warranted their win at Arena Pernambuco, which was sealed by a Bryan Ruiz header shortly before half-time.

The former Fulham striker watched his effort hit the crossbar and bounce over the line. Goal-line technology confirmed the decision.

This result proved Costa Rica’s victory over Uruguay in Fortaleza had been no fluke and they might have won more comfortably had they been awarded a penalty when Arsenal striker Joel Campbell was clearly fouled in the penalty area.

Italy were a shadow of the side that beat England comfortably in Manaus and now drop into second place in Group D, behind Costa Rica. Uruguay are third on goal difference.

The result confirmed what England had feared after Thursday’s 2-1 defeat to Uruguay in Sao Paulo and means Roy Hodgson’s side will be eliminated whatever the result against Costa Rica in Belo Horizonte on Tuesday.

Italy face Uruguay in Natal at the same time.

History was not on England’s side going into this contest. Italy had failed to win their second group match at any of the previous three World Cups.

One man who had been present on all three occasions was goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. Having missed Italy’s opening game against England, the Juventus captain was passed fit to play in his fourth World Cup, becoming only the fifth Italian to do so.

On his return, there were signs of rust as Costa Rica controlled much of the first half.

The Italy goalkeeper came for a corner but missed, only for Celso Borges to head just over. Buffon got down smartly to save a low shot from the excellent Christian Bolanos but the real drama was still to come.

The half burst into life shortly before the interval with two key incidents.

In the first, Arsenal striker Joel Campbell checked back onto his left foot and ran at the Italian defence with his typical vigour. His run was ended in the penalty area, as defender Giorgio Chiellini cut across the 21-year-old as he prepared to shoot.

It looked a clear penalty, but referee Enrique Osses from Chile waved played on to the disbelief of those in the Arena Pernambuco.

Costa Rica would not be denied, though.

Within a minute, they came forward again. Bolanos swung the ball wide to the left flank where Junior Diaz curled an inviting ball towards Brian Ruiz at the back post. The former Fulham forward connected with a header that first struck the crossbar and then bounced down, beyond the dive of Buffon, and over the line.

The Costa Ricans exploded with joy. It was no more than they deserved.

Italy could only get better and but any improvement was marginal. Andrea Pirlo tested Navas with a free-kick that wobbled and dipped, while Matteo Darmian thumped a rising shot that was tipped over the bar by the Costa Rica goalkeeper.

But their best chance had fallen to Mario Balotelli much earlier in the game. It went to waste.

The opportunity in question came after a majestic lofted pass by Pirlo. The former Manchester City striker controlled it but could only loft his shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

Costa Rica will now face any one of Ivory Coast, Colombia, Greece or Japan in the next round.

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Source: BBC Sport

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