The couple, Ethan Michael Ram and Hilary Holt Ram, in February, 2017 secured a ruling by a Koforidua circuit court to adopt the 3-year-old child (name withheld).

They were however, denied the opportunity by Madam Otiko Djaba to travel with the child to the USA because the adoption did not go through the statutory processes.

Not satisfied with the decision, the couple, through their lawyer, Daniel Opare Asiedu, proceeded to an Accra high court presided over by Justice Justin Kofi Dorgu, which ordered the Gender Minister and the Director of Social Welfare to release the child to the new parents.

Ms Otiko Djaba subsequently filed for a stay of execution of that order, against the backdrop that it wanted to appeal the order.

The Deputy Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, moving the application, prayed the court to set aside its initial order, considering the effects it will have in the event that the appeal succeeds.

According to him, the couple did not comply with the statutory conditions stated in the Children’s Act before the order of Mandamus was granted by the court, which resulted in the order permitting the couple to travel with the child.

He averred that although the Koforidua high court granted the order, “in so far as the applicants (couple) failed to meet the conditions of the Act do not have any locus to file the application for mandamus to enforce the orders of the Koforidua high court.”

Mr. Dame indicated that the application for mandamus filed by the couple fell in the realm of the Children’s Act as amended by the Children’s Amendment Act 2016 (Act 937), and was premature because the application fell in the category of inter-country adoption.

Mr. Dame indicated that the court ought to have considered whether all the statutory preconditions were followed before granting the order of mandamus.

He therefore, prayed the court to set aside the ruling so that he could file an appeal, adding that if the principle is not applied, the Republic of Ghana, will be denied its statutory role of protecting the interest of children in accordance with Section 2 of the Children’s Act.

Lawyer for the couple, Daniel Opare Asiedu however, vehemently opposed the application, describing it “frivolous, vexatious, unmeritorious and in bad faith.”

He said the Gender Minister and the Director of the Department of Social Welfare disregarded the order of the court and therefore do not have any capacity to seek any favours from the court.

He averred that the state was asking the court to aid them in an illegal act of seizing the child from her adoptive parents, which is against the Constitution.

Mr. Asiedu added that the state has nothing to lose if the application is not granted, but the adoptive parents have suffered and continue to suffer as a result of the actions of the state.

He therefore prayed the court to refuse the application for stay of execution because the applicants have not shown any compelling reasons why the mandamus order must be stayed.

The presiding judge, Justice Dorgu, after listening to the arguments, adjourned the matter to March 8, 2018 to rule on the application.

–

Source: Daily Guide

The post Otiko Djaba ‘fights’ American couple over adopted baby appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to the court, it was unable to hear the case because the lawyer for the two plaintiffs, Godwin Tamakloe, did not possess a valid Solicitor General’s license at the time of issuing the writ.

[contextly_sidebar id=”h1W1dU5yEWzFoeV9z3UT0dTwUggqbCoW”]The seven-member panel of justices presided over by the Cheif Justice, Sophia Akuffo also described the writ as incompetent.

The decision by the court followed an objection by lawyers for the Minister, led by Nutifafa Kuenyehia, which accused the counsel for the plaintiffs, Godwin Tamakloe, of not holding a valid license to practice at the time he issued the writ.

In his response, Mr. Tamakloe told the court he had applied for a renewal of the license but had not received it when he issued the writ.

Two NDC Members of Parliament, Ashaiman’s Ernest Norgbey and MP for the Juaboso Constituency, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh went to court in February this year challenging the legality of Madam Djaba’s appointment as Local Government Minister due to her failure to undertake the mandatory National Service.

They prayed the court to declare the appointment and swearing-in of Madam Djaba as Minister as null and void due to the breach was certain aspects of the constitution pertaining to National Service Act.

The Minority in Parliament, earlier in 2017, boycotted the approval of Madam Otiko Djaba, over her failure to do her National Service and her purported bad temperament.

She was therefore approved by the Majority side who unanimously passed her prompting the two Minority MPs to proceed to court over the matter.

Otiko’s service waiver ‘temporary’ 

Although the Majority Leader had claimed on the floor of Parliament that the nominee had gotten her exemption from the National Service Scheme (NSS), it later emerged that Otiko Afisa Djaba’s exemption from the mandatory national service was only temporary.

According to the acting Executive Director of the National Service Scheme, Ussif Mustapha, Madam Djaba’s brief exemption, was because there is currently no Board in place for the NSS at the time.

–

By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Supreme Court dismisses suit challenging Otiko’s appointment appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The chief in Assin Adadientem was reported to have declared the suspect in the alleged defilement case innocent, after a ruling from the gods, and was accused of impeding investigations into the incident.

[contextly_sidebar id=”d2leVgCwEdUmnTG35USRq3SebZnNTas3″]The four-year-old was allegedly defiled by an 18-year old suspect, and is said to have bled for three days, according to her parents.

Madam Otiko, in a statement sympathizing with the four-year-old victim, stressed that the Police must have first say in these matters.

“We acknowledge the role of our traditional and opinion leaders; however, we would like to advise them not to arbitrate on such criminal matters. Defilement is a criminal offence and all such acts should first be reported to the Police.

The Minister has since directed officers of the Department of Social Welfare and the Children’s Department to visit the victim and her family “to ascertain the facts about her welfare for necessary action to be taken.”

“I am also preparing to personally pay a visit to the little girl and her family to affirm our readiness to support the victim to receive justice and restore her dignity,” she added in her statement.

This case of abuse has sparked outrage among the public, and has prompted campaigns in support of the alleged victim and awareness creation for the rate at which minors are being defiled.

Madam Otiko herself described the numbers as “extremely worrying”, noting that in 2015 alone, DOVVSU recorded defilement 1,196 cases, with only 16 not involving a girl-child.

“The Ministry wants to assure Ghanaians that we are very sensitive to issues concerning the welfare of the vulnerable in our society and will continue to promote their rights, their well-being and development. We are liaising with other agencies for justice to be carried out for this little girl to serve as a deterrent to such abusers.”

The Central Region Police Command has since taken over investigations into the alleged defilement but no arrests have been made so far.

Find below the full statement

THE MINISTER FOR GENDER, CHILDREN AND SOCIAL PROTECTION, HON. OTIKO AFISAH DJABA CONDEMNS THE DEFILEMENT OF 4-YEAR OLD GIRL AT ASSIN DADIENTEM

The defilement of any child is horrifying, traumatic and unacceptable. My attention has been drawn through media reports to the defilement case involving a 4-year old girl at Assin Dadientem in the Central Region. As Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, I strongly condemn what has happened in no uncertain terms since it violates the fundamental human rights and dignity of this innocent girl.

Whilst waiting for the Police Report, I have directed officers of the Department of Social Welfare and the Children’s Department of my Ministry to visit the victim and her family to ascertain the facts about her welfare for necessary action to be taken. I am also preparing to personally pay a visit to the little girl and her family to affirm our readiness to support the victim to receive justice and restore her dignity.

We are also collaborating with the Ghana Police Service to ensure the perpetrator and all those connected to this criminal act are brought to book.

To further demonstrate our commitment to the protection of children, our officers of the Domestic Violence Unit and Children’s Department, specifically; Madam Victoria Natsu and Madam Helena Obeng- Asamoah respectively, have condemned the act (Joy News TV- 24th October, 2017 and Executive Breakfast Show on Class Fm on 26th October, 2017).

The defilement of any child is extremely worrying, in 2015 alone DOVVSU recorded 1,180 cases of female defilement and 16 males.

The Ministry wants to assure Ghanaians that we are very sensitive to issues concerning the welfare of the vulnerable in our society and will continue to promote their rights, their wellbeing and development. We are liaising with other agencies for justice to be carried out for this little girl to serve as a deterrent to such abusers.

The public is advised to report cases of defilement, rape and all forms of sexual abuses to the nearest police station or any law enforcement agency for the necessary processes to be initiated so that the evidence required by the police for investigation is not destroyed.

Parents are advised not to leave their children alone and also be very mindful of who they leave their children with when they are absent, since the perpetrators of defilement are people close to the family and/or trusted relations.

I want to emphasise that the protection of our children is a collective responsibility and I thus entreat all members of our communities to be more vigilant.

We acknowledge the role of our traditional and opinion leaders; however, we would like to advise them not to arbitrate on such criminal matters. Defilement is a criminal offence and all such acts should first be reported to the Police.

The Ministry wishes to remind the public that the survivor is a minor and we should all make an effort to protect her identity and dignity.

I would like to thank the media and the general public and assure all Ghanaians that my Ministry is following up on this case seriously to its logical conclusion.

Signed:

Hon. Otiko Afisah Djaba

Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection

–

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

The post Leave defilement cases to Police – Otiko tells chiefs appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Chairman of the group, Kamel Yusif, explained that their protest was necessary due to what they describe as challenges bedeviling the school feeding programme under the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).

[contextly_sidebar id=”HJfvYMhtQCiLFxyiZXueSPzhmjDQy79u”]“The youth has realized that, the school feeding programme is not going the way we expected. We realized that when we sit down and allow things to go the way they are, the School Feeding Programme will not succeed particularly in the northern part of Ghana.

“When we conducted our investigations, those who have been given the monitoring appointment should be reporting to the Minister herself not the Regional Coordinator. We also have close to ten ethnic groups, but the monitoring appointment was given to about five individuals and one ethnic group. We thought that the appointment should have been fairly distributed,” Mr. Kamel explained.

The group on Monday October 16, 2017, chased out the Regional Coordinator and staff, and locked up the offices over what they call unfair allocation of schools in the region to caterers.

But Mr. Kamel on Eyewitness News strongly defended the group’s decision, saying “we know we are doing the right thing. We are not doing anything that is against anyone’s rights.”

“We love the party (NPP) and whatever we will do to make sure that the party succeeds, we will do it.”

He further dismissed suggestions that, the group has threatened to beat up School Feeding caterers who ignore their warnings, adding that the group locked up the regional office and not district offices of the programme as earlier suggested.

Group’s earlier concerns

The group’s Chairman, Mohammed Kamil, in a Citi News interview had early on, accused the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Otiko Afisa Djaba, of hijacking the allocation exercise.

He posited that, she allocated five schools each to her cronies, and also designated them as monitors.

This, according to Mohammed Kamil, has created tension in the region, hence the group’s action.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Pro-NPP group justifies locking of School Feeding office appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Shockingly, the police and the Regional Security Council have done very little to restore sanity in order for pupils who rely on the programme to continue to benefit from it.

Members of the Burma Camp Youth at Aboabo in the Tamale Metropolis, locked up the Secretariat on October 17, 2017.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Bs0yPJFpmDU1ejBu0CIT7M7xZUG4cNoN”]Spokesperson of the Burma Camp Youth group, Mohammed Kamil,  earlier in a Citi News interview, vowed that the Secretariat will be under lock and key until the mode of selection of the Caterers and Zonal Coordinators is reversed.

Staff of the Ghana School Feeding programme including the Regional Coordinator, Felicia Tetteh, have since not returned to work.

The group members have accused the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Miss Otiko Afisah Djaba, of hijacking the programme in the region, hence their action.

The group has thus petitioned the Northern Regional Chairman of the governing NPP, Daniel Bugri Naabu, and the party’s regional Council of Elders over the matter.

The group in that petition asked President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to call Otiko Djaba to order.

Over the weekend, they threatened to lock up district offices of the Ghana School Feeding Programme beginning Monday October 23, 2017, if the problem is not solved.

They warned caterers who have been allocated schools in the Tamale Metropolis not to cook or else they will be severely dealt with, but the Caterers ignored the threat.

The Zonal Coordinator for Tamale, Sagnarigu and Tolon , Suraya Abdul Manan, told Citi News that all Caterers under her supervision were at work.

She said no amount of intimidation or threats will compel the caterers to stop cooking. Suraya Abdul Manan encouraged the caterers to ignore any threats and continue to cook for the pupils.

Meanwhile, the Northern Regional Police Command appears not to be bothered about the Burma Camp Youth group’s action.

The police Public Relations Officer, Mohammed Yussif Tanko, on Eyewitness News claimed the matter had not been officially brought to the notice of the police administration.

His comment drew public condemnations from listeners who sent messages to the news programme via various social media networks.

–

By: Abdul Karim Naatogmah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post N/R: School feeding office still locked by pro-NPP group appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Her installation took place during this year’s national children’s day celebrations observed in the area. The stool name is Mama Dove Wonutefe I.

The move, according to the chiefs, is to appreciate the Minister for helping complete the construction of a Community Clinic which was started in 2008 as a local initiative. It is also to better position the minister to help bring sustainable development to the area and protect the rights of expectant mothers in the area.

The new Queen, honoured by the gesture, assured the people of government’s commitment through policy initiatives and legislations, to promote the rights of children and women in the country.

She said the new clinic forms part of steps to look into the traditional beliefs of the people which forbid women from birthing on the land.

Touching on this year’s theme for the celebration; “Education, the right to every child but not a privilege to few children”, the Minister said her outfit would ensure that all children of school going age enjoy access to affordable and quality education in a decent environment.

“The access to education is the right to every child regardless of sex, race, religion; their status whether rich or poor, in Minority or Majority, able or disabled, should not be a barrier to the attainment of basic school. Therefore government had taken several steps to ensure quality education is accessible and affordable to every child in the country under the Free and Compulsory Universal Basic School and Capitation Grant,” she stated.

–

By: King Nobert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Otiko enstooled queen in Mafi-Dove appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Gender Minister as part of her two-day familiarization tour of the Volta Region joined the long queue of pupils of Adaklu-Helekpe to be served Lunch.

Madam Otiko after her lunch with the children said her visit to the school was to learn at firsthand the operations of the Feeding Programme and to interact with caterers in the region including other stakeholders on ways to efficiently run the programme.

In attempt to reduce poverty and improve enrollment, Ghana government instituted the feeding program in schools to serve hot  meals for lunch in schools.

The programme currently feeds over 6 million pupils across the country and employs local farmers that supply foodstuffs to the caterers.

The pupils who for the first time saw the Minister in their school were outwardly excited to see her join them for lunch. The kids also had time to mingle with the Minister who was equally excited to have them around.

Sharing her experience after the meals, Madam Otiko Djaba stressed the crucial role the project plays in the child’s learning and performance in school, adding that her ministry is committed to running the Feeding Programme as a flagship project.

She noted the programme could be improved if kitchens and dinning halls are built for beneficiary schools to provide the needed comfort for the pupils and caterers.

Speaking to Caterers of the Programme, the minister asked them to remain committed to the Ministry’s efforts to stabilize the scheme.   

–

By: King Nobert Akpabli/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Otiko dines with pupils of Adaklu school[Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking on The Big Issue on Citi FM,  Mr. Casely Hayford said their war of words disgraced the authority vested in them, as they exhibited gross indiscipline.

He opined that, if the NPP “had a strong enough backbone. If they were sure of themselves and secure in the way they handled affairs, those two should have been dismissed. With Bugri, it will be a little difficult because he is elected, but to remove Otiko as a minister would not be difficult.”

Instead, as part of the fall out of the public fracas between Madam Otiko and Bugri Naabu, the National Council of the NPP directed all party officials serving in government to resign. Madam Otiko and Bugri Naabu were also ordered to apologize officially with written letters.

Among other things, their back and forth saw Bugri Naabu allege that the Upper East Regional Minister, Rockson Bukari, and Otiko Djaba, were involved in the murder the late Upper East Regional Chairman of the NPP, Adams Mahama.

The genesis of the tension, as we know, could be traced to the confusion at Modern City hotel in Tamale, where Bugri Naabu stormed and disrupted a meeting organised by Madam Otiko for some women, after an alleged dispute over the appointment of a Northern Regional Coordinator for the School Feeding Programme.

Ghana deserves better brand of politicians

Mr. Casely Hayford remained befuddled by the way the spat between the two NPP executives escalated, describing it as childish and ultimately an erosion of the offices they held.

“We are trying to create a certain quality of politician who will go into Parliament or be in a ministerial position where we will respect what they say and believe what they say. What this has done is to discredit them and discredit the whole political class because all that we are seeing now is childish behaviour.”

“I can’t for the life of me understand why two such prominent politicians in this country who expect to be respected for what they do, and expect us to listen to them, should go about saying such things about each other in public. These are a pair of very undisciplined persons. Even if you have something to say about that person, you should not do it on air. This was like a Montie three thing.”

–

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

The post “Disgraceful” Otiko, Bugri should have been sacked – Casely Hayford appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Amaliba believes the governing New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) failure to rebuke Otiko Djaba for criticizing former President Mahama during the elections, created what he calls a “monster”in the Minister, which is now affecting the party.

[contextly_sidebar id=”0rSv62gRdv4ETd2Y13PzTARqDR5ggsdr”]“When she attacked President Mahama and the Minority asked her to retract she refused, and the NPP hailed her as a brave woman. When you create a monster to eat up your opponents after the monster has eaten up your opponents, it will turn to you.”

On the same platform, Mr. Casley Hayford also criticized both the Minister and the Northern Regional Chairman, Bugri Naabu, over the fracas, saying they could have chosen a more dignified approach to resolving their issues.

Casley Hayford believes the development clearly shows the two are “undisciplined.”

“This issue between Bugri Naabu and Otiko Djaba for me is the most distasteful thing that you can have in our social discourse. I cannot understand why two such prominent politicians who should be respected for what they do should go about saying such things about each other in public. These are a pair of undisciplined persons. This is like a Montie three thing. You should respect each other enough to call each other and sort this out.”

Bugri Naabu and Otiko Djaba have been bickering in the past few days, exchanging abusive words on various media platforms in what many have described as a serious blot on the government’s image.

Otiko Afisa Djaba in a media engagement last week, accused the NPP Northern Regional Chairman, Bugri Naabu, of receiving goats and cows from individuals with the promise of securing appointments in public office for them.

Mr. Naabu in a subsequent media interview caused a stir when he reportedly suggested that Otiko Djaba and the current Upper East Regional Chairman, were involved in the murder of the former NPP Upper East Regional Chairman, Adams Mahama.

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post The “monster” in Otiko now eating up NPP – Amaliba appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking to Citi News, the NDC’s Deputy General Secretary, Koku Anyidoho, said, “Ghana is bigger than the NPP, so their internal apology means nothing to the larger Ghanaian populace…”

He said the NPP could swoop in and pretend on the matter, but urged Ghanaians not to accept “the lame apologies from within the belly of the elephant.”

His comments follow a directive by the National Council of the NPP for Bugri Naabu and Otiko Djaba to apologize with written letters, after their public spat which birthed claims that the Upper East Regional Minister, Rockson Bukari, was involved in the murder the late Upper East Regional Chairman of the NPP, Adams Mahama.

The National Council also directed all party officials serving in government to resign as soon as possible.

But Mr. Anyidoho said the country would be better served by President Nana Akufo-Addo forcing Otiko Djaba to resign from government, warning that “these utterances from his officials are the beginning of the end of his government.”

He however said President Akufo-Addo “will not have the courage to do so – mark my words.”

NPP trying to bury murder claims

Mr. Anyidoho also said the NPP was by this action covering up the allegations pertinent to the case involving the murder of Adams Mahama.

He questioned why “the Ghana Bar Association is dead silent on such a serious issue as Bugri Naabu pointing fingers at Otiko Djaba and Rockson Bukari for being complicit in the murder of Chairman Adams.”

“So the NPP can decide to pull a veil over the unfortunate, vulgar and dangerous utterances of Otiko Djaba and Bugri Naabu, but it does not stop Ghanaians from discussing the issues and will not stop the NDC from firing the right arrows and continuing to raise these issues till we get a proper conclusion of these matters.”

“Let us look up, ask the solid questions and demand answers. We will not accept this kind of thing from the NPP,” the NDC executive stated.

NPP stands by decision

The NPP has however stood by its directives, with the National Youth Organizer of the party, Sammy Awuku saying that the party took the best decision in sanctioning the two officers.

“It is not just an apology. They have been bonded, and it is no joke if you are bonded by the National Council in an indefinite manner because, at any point in time, when the national council feels you have gone against this bond, you might attract serious sanctions from the National Council.”

–

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

The post Ghanaians don’t care about Otiko, Bugri’s “lame” apology – NDC appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.