Mr. Apea Fenteng was arrested by police yesterday [Monday], for allegedly extorting monies from traders and aiding them to smuggle goods from Togo into the country. He was said to have been picked up by the police at Tsito were he was escorting a vehicle loaded with goods that had not been taxed to Accra.

Although National Security operatives per the rules of their engagement do not speak publicly to such matters, Mr. Apea Fenteng told Citi News that the nature of the allegations borders on his integrity and image, hence the need for him to speak out.

In an exclusive interview with Citi News, the Regional Security Coordinator who was released after few hours of interrogation, said the false claims are part of a grand scheme by his detractors to frustrate him in the discharge of his duties as required by law.

According to him, since he assumed his duties as the Regional National Security Coordinator, he has refused to compromise on dealings that seek to rob the state of its deserved revenue, and this he said has created some disaffection between him and dubious businessmen including some prominent personalities in the region.

Recounting the most recent event that led to his arrest, Mr. Apea said he has declined directives from some prominent persons to allow some traders evade tax, and while ensuring due diligence is adhered to, he was rather held up in the process.

I was never sacked from police service, I resigned

Responding to claims that he was sacked as an officer of the Ghana Police Service over an alleged robbery case, Mr. Apea challenged those making the claims to provide proof or face legal action.

He explained that he voluntarily left the service after several failed attempts to grant him a study leave to further his education.

Mr. Apea has asked the general public to ignore any such claims against his person or his work at a security coordinator of the Volta Region.

He has reiterated his mandate to collaborate with the various security agencies in the region to keep surveillance at the country’s eastern frontiers and ensure the country’s income generating sources are not short-changed.
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By: King Norbert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post V/R Security Coordinator denies extorting money; aiding smuggling appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The residents there are accusing Kensington of drying up their wells and destroying their water bodies with their operations.

The residents in these communities who share the same lagoon with residents of Adina, are blaming the company for drilling water underground instead of drawing from the sea; which has resulted in the reduction of water at the water table that feeds their wells and lagoons.

Speaking to Citi News, some of the demonstrators called on government to help evacuate the company from the area.

One Ernest Lumor lamented that, the sea sometimes floods its boundaries due to activities of the company.

“The man came to our land, we were not informed and now the man is using the sea. Because of that, we have the sea covering our walls. Now we don’t have good water, our coconut trees are dying, we have too high temperature hence we are all feeling uncomfortable in the area. So now we want everyone to know that we are sacking the Whiteman and the job he is bringing. We have had this salt here always, but we are not seeing any benefit from the new salt he is producing,” he added.

Another resident, Mensah Lawson Kofi, said “as I speak, there is no water in our wells, during rainy season, our source of water is the wells, but it has not rained here for some time now.”

“We are demonstrating to petition the government to come to our aid because although our politicians promise to come to our rescue, they don’t honour their promises when we vote for them. We want government to help remove this mining company from this community. If a company is in your community, it comes with development, but we are not seeing any developmental projects in our community. They are also not going according to the contract they signed with our chiefs.”

It would be recalled that some weeks ago, angry Adina residents attacked staff of the company, leading to the death of one of the angry youth.

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By: King Norbert Akpablie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post 2 Volta communities protest against Indian salt mining firm     appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The Magistrate said it could not hear the case against the group of persons advocating for the secession because it is outside its jurisdiction.

The Homeland Study group Foundation has in the last one year, been campaigning for the separation of parts of the Volta, Northern and Upper East regions to form the Western Togoland state, which they claim existed before Ghana’s independence in 1957.

Founder of the group, Charles Kormi Kudjordji, and two others, Martin Asiama Agbenu and Divine Odonkor, were arrested on Tuesday and charged with treason, after their latest event to drum home their demand for a separation.

The Magistrate in Ho on Thursday morning, however asked the state to proceed to a higher court with the matter because it lacked jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, counsel for the accused persons, Lawyer Atsu Agbakpe, says the allegations against his clients will not hold.

According to him, he is fully prepared to face the police in court.

“The meaning that carries across the definition is that, when you wage war against Ghana, or you use violent means or you assist someone to use violent means to overthrow the Republic of Ghana that amounts to treason. What you see over here is that some people are wearing T-shirts on which is written our day, and 9th May is our day. We all know the meaning of our day in local parlance, so if the Police say that amounts to treason, we can all witness the humiliation they have faced in court. We will follow them to see what they will do in court. ”

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By: King Nobert Akpabli/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ho Court declines jurisdiction in Volta breakaway case appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Making a case for his election, the Member of Parliament for the Keta Constituency, Richard Quarshigah, who also speaks for the Caucus, argued that Mr. Avedzi is the most qualified MP to lead the NDC at this stage.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Quarshigah said the NDC needs a strong person to put the incoming government on its toes; a skill he sees in Mr. Avedzi.

“Avedzi for instance has been the chairman of the Finance Committee for eight years, and he has demonstrated himself in a very excellent and appreciable manner on that committee. People on the other side tried to torpedo a lot of business from government but as chairman he was very astute and resolute. Avedzi is very deep and reflective. He is one who appears to be a unifier,” he added.

The NDC has reportedly asked the various regional caucuses to submit possible names to lead the opposition party in Ghana’s next Parliament, which will commence on January 6, 2017.

Mr. Quarshigah is however hopeful that Mr. Avedzi will be selected for the position.

“The various regional caucuses were asked to submit preferred names for the leadership for the seventh Parliament and then the Volta Regional Caucus submitted the name of James Klutse Avedzi, and I’m sure other regions have done same. It is not as if Richard Qaurshigah is out there insisting that the leadership must be from the Volta Region, no. I believe strongly that all the names that have been submitted by the various regional caucuses will be deliberated upon and there would be a meeting with the MPs elect. I would also imagine that there would be consultation with very important stakeholders such as the outgoing president and leader of the party, council of elders,” he clarified.

One other nam that has come up strongly for the position includes Haruna Iddrisu, MP for Tamale Central.

Mike Oquaye is next Speaker 

The NPP on the other side per information available to citifmonline.com, will select Professor Mike Aaron Oquaye, a former Member of Parliament for the Dome-Kwabenya constituency as next Speaker of Parliament, whilst Minority Leader, Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu, will become the Majority Leader.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonlin.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post NDC Volta Caucus pushes Avedzi for Minority Leader appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

He said this is because the Party had taken the region for granted with the show of gross disrespect to the chiefs and the people.

Togbe Afede said this when the Regional Executive and some members of the Regional Election Taskforce of the NDC paid a courtesy call to introduce themselves to him.

[contextly_sidebar id=”SAfkHOXbr6DDgwn4Gku3KXoxTqm5Krnx”]Togbe Afede said he did not understand why politicians only frequent chiefs when elections approached and described that act as show of insolence to traditional authorities.

He said chiefs in the Region had tried on several occasions to seek audience with government appointees in the Region on development issues to no avail and questioned their commitment to the development of the area.

“I have tried severally to engage political heads from the local level to the regional to discuss development in our areas but unsuccessful. I personally called and sent text messages but they were not honoured. Many other chiefs in the Region complained of same and you call us your world bank just for votes.

“If you don’t meet the chiefs and deliberate on development issues then it means you are representing yourself in government and not the people,” he stated.

Togbe Afede also chastised politicians for having reduced politics to enriching themselves at the expense of the people, with the struggle for contracts and small jobs being the order of the day.

“Politics is not an end in itself, it must bring development and happiness to the people, not a select few. It must create opportunity for all, whether in NPP or NDC,” he said.

Togbe Afede called on the parties to shun tribal politics and unite the country for peace and development.

Mr Kofi Attoh, Chairman of the Regional Election Taskforce for NDC said the introduction of the Taskforce to Togbe Afede was to pave way for the launch of the Party’s 2016 campaign launch and activities in the Region.
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By: GNA

The post NDC’s ‘world bank’ tag derogatory to Volta region – Togbe Afede appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.