The incident occurred on Thursday night after the victims had finished with their evening Islamic prayers.

[contextly_sidebar id=”sm5WRiELmVrIzxwe0RPIEs9FOPpE6b7h”]According to eyewitnesses, two persons on a motorbike allegedly shot at them and sped off.

It is unclear what may have triggered the shooting.

Three people were killed while five others sustained various degrees of injuries.

The bodies of the deceased have been released to their families for burial and injured persons in the attack are responding to treatment.

Citi News’ Mohammed Alabira reported that security personnel have been positioned at vantage points in Bimbilla this morning, as a result of the incident.

Bimbilla, for the past decade, has been classified as a hotspot by the police due to recurrent conflicts in the area which have claimed several lives, including women and children.

Last December, the celebration of the annual Damba festival in Bimbilla was suspended as a result of rising tensions in the area.

The area has for several months been under a 4:00 pm to 6:00 am curfew due to the consistent gun attacks.

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By: Farida Yusif/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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The incident occurred on Thursday night when the victims had finished with their evening Islamic prayers, and were seated at a known public place.

According to eyewitnesses, two persons on a motorbike allegedly shot at them and sped off. It is unclear what may have triggered the shooting.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Pj3bu7HgYDKTUO7i8HDDtW036EzU4HyM”]Five of the injured victims with various degrees of injury, are receiving treatment at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, with three others at the Bimbilla Hospital.

The incident led to sporadic shootings in some parts of the troubled town of Bimbilla.

Bimbilla for the past decade has been struggling with a chieftaincy conflict which has claimed several lives including women and children.

Recently, a pregnant woman was shot dead, while her 14-year-old daughter was left injured after an unknown assailant opened fire on them.

The township has over the last few years been considered a crime hotspot leading to series of violent clashes involving the use of ammunition.

Last month, the celebration of the annual Damba festival in Bimbilla was suspended to prevent a potential conflict.

The area has for several months been under a 4:00 pm to 6:00am curfew due to the consistent gun attacks.

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By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Detective Corporal Adjei Shaibu last Saturday, gunned down 17-year old Lawrence Baidoo after supposedly mistaking the deceased and his friends for armed robbers, when they were in fact on their way to a concert.

[contextly_sidebar id=”iI1efrJUXZ9JBP0U4qIhijzCKGRyQO8N”]The family of the deceased is pursuing justice for their loss.

The Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Police Service in the Western Region, ASP Olivia Ewurabena Adiku, told Citi News the Police will not shield their own.

“The incident happened on Friday. The suspect, Detective Adjei Shaibu is in custody. One of the students who sustained injuries is in the hospital responding to treatment. He mentioned three other people who were with them and fortunately on Sunday evening, they were able to get the other two and they have also given their statements”.

“Currently, the investigation is ongoing and we hope that by the end of the investigation, we will be able to come up with what really happened. We want to assure the public that everything is being done to investigate the case and whoever is found culpable will face the law. The law will take its course so no one should feel the Police is trying to cover up for somebody.”

The second victim who sustained gunshot wounds and was admitted at the St. Benedict Hospital at Nchaban, has since been transferred to the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital for intensive care and treatment.

Detective Shaibu reportedly opened fire on five students when he came across them on their way to a rap concert at Shama Junction.

One of the five students, Caroline Daddie, who narrated the incident to Citi News, stated that the police officer, without any provocation, opened fire on them after he called them armed robbers.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

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Solomon Quarshie, was reportedly hit by a stray bullet around 4:00pm on Monday evening.

[contextly_sidebar id=”Jv0hoDoXyvxj1pkTjfDa5XoFe2HADslS”]A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of GAMLs, Dennis Adu-Gyasi, lamented the fact that no arrests have been made by the police so far over the shooting.

The Association also criticised Korle Bu for what it described as the hospital’s “unacceptable” response to the “emergency situation.”

“It is more than 24 hours since Mr. Solomon Quarshie, a medical laboratory scientist in the Central Laboratory with the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana received a gunshot through the glass windows on his shoulder while seated at his desk as the Quality Assurance Manager. No arrests of suspects have been made by both the national security and the local security of the hospital. Mr Quarshie is also the General Secretary of the Greater Accra Branch of the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS). He has in most cases played the role of our photographer for public activities,” the statement said.

“The response to the emergency situation and the expected assurances from the management of the nation’s tertiary hospital has not been acceptable as expressed by the entire staff of the Central Laboratory in an emergency meeting on the 12^th of September 2017 at 09:30 GMT.”

According to the group, it took almost three hours to get Mr. Quarshie into surgery to have the bullet removed with hospital officials insisting that documentation be completed, something GAMLs argues “could have been handled later considering the pain the victim was in.”

GAMLs has demanded a thorough investigation into the shooting as well as the possibility that it might not have been an accident.

“We demand holistic investigations into the matter from the national security and refuse the allegation of a “possible stray” bullet might have hit him unless proven beyond reasonable doubt,” the statement added.

Find below, the full statement from GAMLs:

TREAT MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTISTS WELL: WHAT IS GOOD FOR GOOSE IS …

Since when did what is good for the goose cease to be good for the gander?

It is more than 24 hours since Mr. Solomon Quarshie, a medical laboratory scientist in the Central Laboratory with the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana received a gunshot through the glass windows on his shoulder while seated at his desk as the Quality Assurance Manager. No arrests of suspects have been made by both the national security and the local security of the hospital. Mr Quarshie is also the General Secretary of the Greater Accra Branch of the Ghana Association of Medical Laboratory Scientists (GAMLS). He has in most cases played the role of our photographer for public activities. The response to the emergency situation and the expected assurances from the management of the nation’s tertiary hospital has not been acceptable as expressed by the entire staff of the Central Laboratory in an emergency meeting on the 12^th of September 2017 at 09:30 GMT.

The incident which happened circa 14:00 GMT on 11^th September 2017, was in no way handled as an emergency by all actions of the staff of the Accident and Emergency unit and the management of the hospital. It took almost three hours to get the staff of the hospital into the theatre to go through the procedure to remove the bullet. The staffs of the accident were interested to complete documentations which could have been handled later considering the pain the victim was experiencing. These were done to the detriment of losing a staff injured in the line of duty. It took demonstration from colleague medical laboratory scientists and later an intervention by a trauma consultant before the accident unit acted.

After the incident was reported, there was no dedicated security present at the hospital and even while the scientist was at the theatre and on the ward after the bullet from the gun shot was retrieved. If the perceived assailant had pursued the staff, his life would have been terminated within the hospital premises after the failed attempt.

It is of public knowledge that Korle Bu sadly lost one of its officers in his bungalow. The whole hospital got shook. That is expected to show solidarity to committed staff who have virtually dedicated their lives for patients. There are some roads that have been closed up to date because of that unfortunate incidence. What is different in the case of Mr Quarshie? Why is it that the management cannot be seen to be interested in the life of one of their staff who was shot while at work in the hospital premises? Is it because he is a medical laboratory scientist and not valued? What will it take to assure the remaining staffs of the necessary security measures put in place to beef up what exist after the incidence and even extend such pleasantries to the victim at home while investigations are initiated? The actions of the management have not been adequate and they should not wait to incur the wrath of the professionals in the hospital and Ghana as a whole.

If colleagues in the country’s premier hospital are not safe, then what becomes of those in lesser facilities? We call on the government to urgently step into the matter before it escalates beyond control.

We demand holistic investigations into the matter from the national security and refuse the allegation of a “possible stray” bullet might have hit him unless proven beyond reasonable doubt.

We thank the media and the general public for the concern shown to one of our members.

We are indeed together.

Signed:

GAMLS PR,

By Dennis Adu-Gyasi

12^th September 2017

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

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One person was killed and three seriously injured in the attack at about 04:30 (02:30 GMT) on Sunday.

The shooter targeted the Grey club in an industrial part of the city, on Max-Stromeyer-Strasse.

Police have ruled out a terrorist motive. A spokesperson told N-TV that the gunman was a 34-year-old Iraqi citizen, but not an asylum seeker.

He is believed to have lived in Germany for a long time.

Hundreds of revellers are thought to have been at the club. Police said they either fled outside in terror, or found places to hide as the shooting unfolded.

A doorman appeared to have been shot with an automatic weapon as he tried to stop the attacker, witnesses told broadcaster SWR.

One police officer was also wounded in the exchange of fire. The officer’s injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

Police and prosecutors said in a statement (in German) that special commando forces and a police helicopter had been deployed, as it was not yet known if the suspect had accomplices.

The motive for the shooting remains unclear.

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Source: BBC

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Kori Ali Muhammad shot 16 rounds in 90 seconds in the shooting spree on Tuesday, said Police Chief Jerry Dyer.

He shouted “God is great” in Arabic as police arrested him but this was a hate crime not terrorism, Mr Dyer believed.

Mr Muhammad, 39, was also wanted for the murder of a security guard outside a motel in the city last week.

The suspect had indicated on social media that he hated white people and expressed anti-government views, police said.

All four victims were white men, and one of them was shot sitting in a car.

“He wanted to kill as many people as he could and that’s what he set out to do,” said Mr Dyer.

“This was a random act of violence. These were unprovoked attacks by an individual who was intent on carrying out homicides today.”

Mr Dyer added that Tuesday’s attack “has nothing to do with terrorism in spite of the statements that he [Kori Ali Muhammad] made”.

“He did clarify that the reason he had made that statement was that in the event that anything did happen to him that he was in fact pledging his allegiance to God for protection.”

The shooting began around 10:45 local time near the headquarters for Catholic Charities.

Witnesses said they saw a man carrying a large handgun, which he reloaded several times between shots.

The gunman then fired at a utility vehicle belonging to the Pacific Gas and Electric Company, killing the passenger.

Mr Muhammad’s father later told the Los Angeles Times that his son believed he was part of an ongoing war between whites and blacks and that “a battle was about to take place”.

Mr Muhammad, who went by the nickname Black Jesus, now faces four counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder.

The latest shooting is also likely to reignite fresh debates about gun control in the US.

More than 30,000 people are killed by gun violence across the country each year.

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Source: BBC

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Officer Betty Shelby shot and killed Terence Crutcher last week while he was standing next to his broken-down car.

In Charlotte, North Carolina, a curfew went into effect to prevent a third night of violence after a black man was shot dead by a black police officer.

Keith Lamont Scott’s family deny police allegations that he was armed.

Demonstrators protesting against Mr Scott’s death in Charlotte have defied the curfew – running from midnight to 06:00 (18:00-00:00 GMT), some remaining on the streets singing gospel songs.

According to Cpt Mike Campagna, officers have not enforced the curfew as protests were largely peaceful.

However Charlotte police reported two officers were injured on Thursday night.

Hundreds of National Guard troops have been deployed on the streets. Some demonstrators demanded to see footage of the shooting which was released to Mr Scott’s family but has not been made public.

The family’s lawyer said the footage was inconclusive. But they have demanded its release to the public, which police have so far refused.

Officials say Keith Lamont Scott refused to drop his gun but his family say he was unarmed and holding a book.

It has also emerged that one man injured in gunfire in Charlotte died from his wounds.

The police use of force against black men has for two years been the subject of protests across the US, and now it has also become an election issue.

Four days before the first presidential debate, Republican Donald Trump said the violence was largely due to drugs.

“If you’re not aware, drugs are a very, very big factor in what you’re watching on television at night,” he said.

Democratic vice-presidential candidate Tim Kaine said the list of black men fatally shot by police had “grown too long” and the country needed to confront the issue of racial tensions.

Republican Congressman Robert Pittenger, of North Carolina, told the BBC the protesters hated white people because white people were successful, but he later apologised for his comments in an interview with CNN.

In the aftermath of the Tulsa shooting, Officer Shelby said Mr Crutcher had not followed her commands and she had opened fire when he began to reach into his car window.

Ms Shelby’s lawyer, Scott Wood, has said she believed Mr Crutcher was under the influence of the synthetic drug PCP. A vial of the drug was found in the car.

His family have disputed Ms Shelby’s claim, arguing that his window was closed at the time of the incident.

Police have said no gun was found on Mr Crutcher or inside his vehicle.

As well as being shot, Mr Crutcher was also struck with a stun gun by another officer.

His death sparked protests in Tulsa too but these have been peaceful.

Mr Kunzweiler said a warrant has been issued for Ms Shelby’s arrest. She faces a minimum of four years in prison.

The US justice department has also opened a separate investigation to see if Mr Crutcher’s civil rights were violated.

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Source: BBC

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Garu-Tempane is one of the beneficiary districts for the hospital project.

The initiative, which forms part of NMS International’s ‘giving back project’, was done in collaboration with authorities of the school.

The NMS funded project included the refurbishment of both external and internal parts of the structure; renovation of one classroom with a concrete floor; and the renovation of a football pitch with corner flags and goal posts among others.

Some NMS staff supported volunteers to carry out the renovation. The Headmaster of the school, Joseph Ayambila, said he was “extremely thrilled” to be have received the support from NMSI.

Caroline Young, the Corporate and Social Responsibility Manager at NMSI said the company is delighted at the support given to the community.

“This is what we enjoy doing. It is not just about bringing a new district hospital to the area; it is also about what we can also do for the community. I truly hope that the school benefits from the project co-ordinated by Jean Lausberg, Site Manager and Jim Adams, Assistant site Manager Garu Tempane and approximately the 20 workers who volunteered to help”.

The seven District Hospitals being constructed are being done at a cost of 175 million dollars, with funding from Barclays Bank Plc and Barclays Ghana.

The project will involve seven fully equipped district hospitals in Osu-Doku District Hospital of the Greater Accra Region; Abetifi in the Kwahu East District of the Eastern Region; Fomena in the Adansi Nunta District of the Ashanti Region, and Garu in the Garu-Tempane District of the Upper East Region.

The rest are Kumawu in the Sekyere District of the Ashanti Region, and in Sekondi in the Western Region, while NMS infrastructure will also upgrade the European Hospital in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly as well as the provision of hospital information technology and pharmaceutical management systems.

Mr. Peter Marks, Director for NMS International Group, speaking at a press briefing in Accra, said the six hospitals will each have 120 new beds, dedicated medical, surgical and maternity wards, modern and traditional treatment choices, and local public health programmes.

He said work is far advanced with the other hospitals in the regions and was optimistic that by the end of 2016 all the projects would be fully completed.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AfanyiDadzie

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According to her “the school is a public school and not a private property; it certainly is not a personal gift to me.”

But, Hanna Tetteh in a statement to respond to the story which was on citifmonline.com, insisted that the Awutu Bereku D/A Junior High School was not a gift.

She said the Chinese Ambassador’s promise to reconstruct the school was made during the week she celebrated her birthday.

“Now, it is a facility available to the JHS students in my District Capital and I trust that it will improve the learning experience for them. The Government of China has constructed other school facilities in other parts of the country and has supported Ghana with various grant projects. This is not the first time a project of this kind has been executed in Ghana and it is a really nice school,” she added.

Below is the full statement:

Really sometimes our journalistic standards never cease to amaze me. The Chinese Government has constructed a new Junior High School in my Constituency/District namely the Awutu D. A. JHS “B”. The project was funded as a grant project from the Government of China, and no indebtedness has been incurred in respect of this project by the Government of Ghana. Last week the school was handed over to the Awutu Senya West District Assembly. The Ambassador of China and I were both at the handing over ceremony and none of us referred to the project as a gift to me, and now it is being reported as such? Amazing!

For the record, I had previously discussed with Madam Ambassador that one of the challenges in my Constituency/District was access to education and that there were a number of communities that needed to have their facilities upgraded and I inquired as to whether it would be possible for the Government of China to support any of these schools and improve their infrastructure with grant funding.

Subsequently during the week in which I celebrated my birthday she informed me that they would be in a position to construct and furnish a school in my Constituency, and thereafter in consultation with the District Chief Executive we selected the Awutu D. A. JHS “B” for construction.

Awutu D. A. JHS “A” had previously been reconstructed but the “B” block was in very bad shape, it looked more like a chicken coop than a school.

Due to the fact that this was a Chinese Government Grant projected the contract was awarded and all the procurement was undertaken by the Embassy of China in Ghana, the school was constructed and furnished in 3 months, as previously stated it has been commissioned and handed over to the Awutu Senya West District Assembly. Additionally Awutu D. A. JHS “A” was also renovated under the same project and the two schools which are adjacent to one another, and their compound look very good.

The school is a public school and not a private property, it certainly IS NOT a personal gift to me. Now it is a facility available to the JHS students in my District Capital and I trust that it will improve the learning experience for them. The Government of China has constructed other school facilities in other parts of the country and has supported Ghana with various grant projects. This is not the first time a project of this kind has been executed in Ghana and it is a really nice school.

Hopefully with time the quality of news reporting in our country will improve and become more accurate and factual.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana

Follow @AlloteyGodwin

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The schools are St Stephen Catholic School, Odorkor 4 and 5, Salleria and Kwashieman cluster of schools.

Presenting the desks, Mr Appiah said his gesture was in line with his commitment to contribute to the education of children in his constituency.

The donation, he said, was the first phase of a programme he had lined up.

He had distributed 400 dual desks to the Kwashieman and Odorkor 4 and 5 cluster of schools some time ago under the HIPC Fund.

Mr Appiah said even though resources available to him are not enough as a MP, he has undertaken a number of development projects in the constituency to enhance the living standards of his constituents.

He mentioned the demolition of a wooden structure and construction of a six-unit classroom block at Otaten 4 and 5 school under the GETFUND, re-roofing of Odorkor four and five primary school and renovation of Odorkor 1 and 8 as well as the McCarthy primary schools.

Others are the construction of a kindergarten block at McCarthy school which is about 80 per cent complete and also an Information, Communication and Technology Centre for the Odorkor four and five cluster of schools, which he said would be completed and furnished with computers and accessories in 2016.

The MP said he had lobbied and secured scholarships from the scholarship secretariat for 20 students across the constituency and encouraged those eligible to apply for assistance.

The Accra Metropolitan Director of Education, Mrs Tena Angela Mensah commended the MP for his kind gesture and appealed to philanthropists, NGOs and individuals in the community to go to the assistance of schools since according to her government and parents alone could not shoulder all the needs.

The task of educating children she said is a collective responsibility of both parents and teachers whilst children’s role is to learn very hard and be obedient in order to grow to become responsible and useful citizens not only to themselves but to the society at large.

The Chief of Kwashieman, Nii Awuley Ahiaku, VI, urged parents to ensure the proper upbringing of their children.

Running from that responsibility, Nii Ahiaku said is very dangerous since it could lead some children to become criminals in the future.

He praised the MP for his good relationship with the traditional authorities in the area and also for his continued support to them.

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Source: GNA

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