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CASFORD 2009 Alumni Year Group commissions renovated Aluta Square

The 2009 Alumni year group of Casely Hayford Hall on Saturday, September 3, 2022 commissioned the newly renovated Aluta Square at Casford Hall in the University of Cape Coast.

The Aluta Square which is regarded as the “Madison Square Gardens’ of Casely Hayford Hall is the central point within the hall. It is a symbolic place where Casfordians meet regularly to bond and interact.

The Aluta Square project was undertaken by the 2009-Alumni year group as part of project lined up for their 10^th Anniversary celebrations.

Speaking at the colourful event, Dr Hubert Danquah Nyarko, the hall master of Casely Hayford Hall said the Aluta Square is where most of the social gatherings take place so for that reason, the 2009 Alumni group seeing it significance, partnered with the Hall council to give it a facelift.

He said as part of the Hall Council and Junior Common Room Committee’s (JCRC) mandate to provide a secure and safe environment favourable for education, they have embarked on several projects which coincided with the Aluta Square Project undertaken by the 2009 Alumni year group.

Among these projects include painting of the hall, construction of a hybrid library and renovation of the Canteen space.

He added that it is the vision of the hall council to continue providing an enabling environment for education and development.

“We therefore admonish all students to play their role in making this vision a reality” He stated.

Dr. Nyarko appealed to the other year groups and corporate bodies to support the final phase of the library project embarked by the JCRC and the Hall Council.

He urged other year groups to take up projects such as the Casford 2009 Alumni has done in bid to provide a secure and serene environment that is conducive for academic and personal development.

On the physical development and general well-being of Casfordians, Dr. Hubert Danquah Nyarko said that, it is regrettable to note that deviant behavior displayed by some few students of hall tarnishes Hall’s image and compromises security on campus.

The Chairman for the 2009 Alumni year group, Awagah Terrance Yaw, on his part said the year group entered the hall at a time when the hall was facing a lot of difficulties and was in poor state, with shortage of water, power crises, dilapidated places of convience and a stench at the entrance that spreads all the way to Zongo.

He stated that they could not be happier than to come back and do something for the great hall during their 10th anniversary, as well as acknowledged the three faithful fellows; Fellow Lord Appiah-Kubi (Local Organizing Committee Chairman), Fellow Wilson Seyram Ameamu (1^st Vice Chair) and Fellow Solomon Paa Kwesi Efum (2^nd vice Chair) for their dedication, hard work and contribution throughout the entire project.

He pleaded with the Casford Fraternity and all Casford Alumni year groups to come and support the great Casely Hayford Hall in other projects which will inure to the benefit of the hall.

In his conclusion speech, Mr. Awagah Terrence Yaw beseeched all fellow Casfordians home and aborad to emulate this feat to ensure the great Casely Hayford hall attains the befitting status is has long dreamt of.

The students of Casely Hayford Hall were seen happy as they sang their hall anthem and also asked that, other Alumi year group follow the path of the 2009-Alumni year group and give back to the great hall.

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Ex-GIIF CEO and Prof. Ameyaw-Ekumfi charged over $2m Sky Train fiasco

The Attorney General’s Office has formally charged former Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) CEO Solomon Asamoah and ex-board chairman Prof. Christopher Ameyaw-Ekumfi for their roles in the controversial Accra Sky Train project, which allegedly cost the state $2 million without authorisation.

The charges, filed today at the High Court (Criminal Division), include wilfully causing financial loss to the state under the Criminal Offences Act, conspiracy to commit crime through intentional dissipation of public funds, and intentional dissipation of public funds under the Public Property Protection Decree.

Prosecutors allege that in February 2019, the accused authorised a $2 million payment from GIIF to Africa Investor Holdings Limited for preliminary work on the Sky Train project – a system that was never built. The payment was reportedly made without proper board approval.

The Sky Train project, initiated in 2018 as a public-private partnership for an urban rail system in Accra, involved a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Railways Development, Africa Investor Holdings, and GIIF. However, investigations revealed the $2 million disbursement lacked proper due diligence and violated GIIF’s governance protocols.

Attorney General Dr. Dominic Ayine stated the accused acted outside their mandate, causing significant financial harm to the state. “The payment was unauthorised, and the project never materialised. This is a clear case of financial misconduct,” the filing stated.

The case will proceed in the High Court, with the AG’s office indicating some GIIF board members have agreed to testify as prosecution witnesses.

This prosecution forms part of the government’s broader crackdown on financial malfeasance, following earlier warnings of pending charges in the Sky Train and NSS ghost names scandals.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

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Interdict Sammy Gyamfi immediately to allow for investigations – NPP urges Mahama

The National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, has called on President John Mahama to immediately interdict Mr Sammy Gyamfi from his role as acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), to allow for investigations into his conduct following his public gifting of dollars to a self-lifestyle preacher.

The incident in question occurred on Saturday, May 10, 2025, when Mr Gyamfi was seen in widely circulated videos gifting bundles of US dollars to controversial evangelist Nana Agradaa while seated in his Range Rover.

Speaking at a news conference held by the party on Tuesday, May 13, Mr Boakye emphasised the need for consistency in leadership and accountability, pointing to recent controversies involving senior public officials.

“We also call on the President to immediately interdict Mr Sammy Gyamfi as acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board — or at least, he should interdict him pending the conduct of the investigation by the criminal investigation authorities of the state,” Boakye said.

Drawing a sharp comparison with a previous incident involving former Sanitation Minister Cecilia Dapaah, Boakye noted that Madam Dapaah was compelled to resign after reports emerged of large sums of money allegedly stolen from her residence, despite her long-standing public service and reputable family background.

“We cannot but remember when huge sums of money were reported to have been stolen from the residence of Madam Cecilia Dapaah, a woman who had worked in high places for over forty years before the incident — an MP since 2001, a deputy minister and a minister — married to a well-known, wealthy architect and consultant with nearly sixty years’ experience,” he remarked.

Boakye highlighted that under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Madam Dapaah stepped aside promptly, enabling thorough investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

“Investigations were duly conducted by the OSP against Madam Cecilia Dapaah and her husband after what the OSP described as seven months of extensive investigation and four months of collaborative inquiry,” he added.

The NPP is now demanding similar action from President Mahama in the interest of transparency, good governance, and public trust.

Source: Myjoyonline.com