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New Life District SDA donates to Koforidua Local Prisons
DSP Ballans (left) receiving the items from Ms Kwadade
The Young Ladies Ministries Department in the New Life District of the Seventh Day Adventist (S.D.A) Church has donated items worth GH¢18,000 to the Koforidua Local Prisons last weekend.
The items included 40 bags of sachet water, religious and evangelistic books, assorted nonalcoholic beverages and drugs, kenkey, bottles of shito, fried fish among other undisclosed items.
Presenting the items, the District Young Ladies Ministries Coordinator, Ms. Stella Afriyie Kwadade encouraged the inmates to put their trust in God.
She said in their last visit to the prison, the inmates requested for cooked food and some drugs to sustain them so the Young Ladies in the district thought of it and honoured their request.
The Pastor in charge of the Church, Ps. Osei Bonsu Sarpong advised the public to embrace ex-convicts with love to help them reform totally.
He noted that many incarcerated people worry about living situations beyond jail and added that anyone who is in jail or out of jail needs love and encouragement because they may look at the future based on their current circumstances.
He said most of the inmates found themselves behind bars through
No fault of theirs but they could not get helpers to speak for them.
Pastor Sarpong, who is also the District Pastor indicated that there were characters in the Bible who were sent to prison but were able to endure and became victorious.
“Where you find yourself today is a correction centre to reform you; have this mindset and you will shine like a star when you come out”, he said.
The Staff and Duty Officer of the Koforidua Local Prison, Deputy Superintendent of Prisons (DSP) Joshua Ballans received the items and expressed gratitude to the women for their generosity.
He noted that the visit would bring happiness to the inmates and help their reformation process speedily.
He urged other churches, groups and organisations to assist the inmates
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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.
