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Avoid making foul religious and tribal comments -Lawra NCCE Director
The Director of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) in the Lawra Municipality of the Upper West Region, Mr Jesurun Ninge Mornah has advised the public to avoid making foul religious and tribal comments that had a tendency to fuel dissentions and violence.
He said unfavourable comments against people’s religion, tribe, culture and tradition which were tied to their identity, incited violence and therefore cautioned against the use of uncouth language to denigrate such social groupings.
The director made this known at a meeting by the Commission at the Brifoh Senior High School in the municipality to engage the students on violent extremism and counter terrorism and to also launch the Constitutional Week celebration in the municipality.
The engagement meeting formed part of efforts by the NCCE to create awareness on preventing and containing violent extremism under the European Union’s supported Preventing and Containing Violent Extremism Project (PCVE) by the NCCE.
“Religious, tribal and political issues are dear to the hearts of people so if they are not handled properly, they can degenerate into internal conflicts and attract extremists into the country because these are a group of people who are already peeved and feel they have not been treated right so they are tempted to join any force that promises to restore their dignity in society”, he elaborated.
In addition, Mr Mornah said issues such as environmental degradation that pushed herdsmen to settle in other countries, unemployment and nepotism as well as poverty, among others were some of the drivers of violent extremism.
The director suggested that communities created community-based surveillance groups to closely monitor activities of people and promptly report suspicious characters to appropriate authorities.
He also advised that there was the need for the use of peace building strategies to quell internal conflicts so that they did not serve as breeding grounds for extremist to recruit aggrieved persons into their scheme.
The Director used the opportunity to remind the students of the need to adhere to the constitution of the nation and to ensure that they did not flout it under any circumstance.
One of the facilitators at the meeting, Mr John Bosco Bedi, the Lawra Municipal Director of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) was more concerned about the exuberance of the youth recently and encouraged them to channel their energy to lucrative ventures and not into conflicts and violence.
He mentioned that extremist groups played on the vulnerability of the youth, particularly in the face of unemployment and low income to get them to join their cause and advised them to avoid juicy offers with huge financial benefits from unknown persons.
FROM LYDIA DARLINGTON FORDJOUR, LAWRA
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Prof. Mike Oquaye accuses gov’t of ‘secret trial’ of Chief Justice
Former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, has criticised the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) over what he described as the mishandling of the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo.
He is unhappy with the constitutional provision requiring the hearing of the Chief Justice’s case to be held in-camera.
“I am concerned about certain issues that I consider vital, particularly the trial in-camera provision. You will ask yourself what the rationale is for that provision in our constitution, what is its purpose, and if we are to give it a purposeful interpretation, where shall we go? The purpose is it to benefit the people of Ghana as a whole, that the Chief Justice must be trial in-camera…”
He added, “From the very beginning, the constitution tells us justice belongs to the people, it emanates from the people, justice belongs to all of us people, one may say that this provision could be advarance to the one that says trial must be done in-camera.” he said in an exclusive interview with JoyNews.
Prof. Oquaye also raised concerns about the transparency and integrity of the process.
He argued that the judiciary must be insulated from political interference, adding that the current handling of the matter risks eroding confidence in the rule of law.
The Chief Justice was recently suspended following allegations of misconduct, after which a formal petition was submitted to President John Mahama, prompting the formation of a committee to investigate the matter.
The proceedings, however, have largely been conducted in-camera, drawing criticism from sections of the public and some legal minds.
While the NDC government maintains that the suspension was carried out in accordance with constitutional provisions, Prof. Quaye argues that the secrecy surrounding the process undermines the principles of accountability and due process.
Source:Myjoyonline.com
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Committee on Roads and Transport engages Transport Ministry
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Roads and Transport has paid a familiarization visit to the Ministry of Transport and its agencies to perform its legislative oversight and foster collaboration in Ghana’s transport sector.
The visit by the 17-member Committee led by its Chairman, Isaac Adjei Mensah, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Wassa East Constituency in the Western Region, was aimed at getting updates on ongoing projects and foster direct dialogue with agencies under the Ministry’s purview.
The Chairman of the committee described the visit as “a strategic and symbolic gesture” and emphasized the importance of direct engagement with sector leadership to enable informed legislative support.
The Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe outlined some reforms including a framework to regularize commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as Okada by lowering the minimum rider age from 25 years to 21 years, which is near completion and will soon be presented to Parliament.
He also mentioned the reviving of Ghana’s national carrier via a public-private partnership, upgrading airport infrastructure, studying coastal routes to ease road congestion, opening a new DVLA branch in Adenta, and upgrading the Ghana Civil Aviation Training Academy.
The minister also disclosed that the ministry is in the process of procuring new buses for Metro Mass and STC.
The other Members of the visiting Committee were Chiwitey Dari Andrew, Vice Chairperson and MP for Sawla/Tuna/Kalba; Osei Nyarko Kennedy, MP for Akim Swedru and the Ranking Member; Francis Asenso-Boakye, MP for Bantama; Frimpong Kwame Ohene, MP for Asante Akim North; Cudjoe Doyoe Comfort, Ada MP; Marfo Ahenkorah Kofi, MP for Achiase; Mahama Toure Naser, Ayawaso East MP; Ziedeng Anwataazumo Bede, MP for Lawra and Mubarak Seid, MP for Sunyani East.
The Committee also visited the Civil Aviation Authority and the Civil Aviation Training Centre to be acquainted with its functions and operations.
