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Court directs OSP to respond to Charles Bissue’s claims
The Human Rights Court presided over by Justice Nicholas Mensah Abodakpi has ruled that a judicial review application brought by Mr Bissue must be heard on its merit.
Mr. Bissue has alleged that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has in its possession an arrest warrant from the Kaneshie District Court for his apprehension and is seeking an order from the Court to quash it.
He is also seeking an order from the Court to order OSP from declaring him a wanted man.
In response to this, state prosecutors presented a motion to have Mr. Bissue’s action dismissed on the basis that it lacked merit and did not present a viable course of action.
They argued that Mr Bissue had failed to provide the alleged arrest warrant as evidence and that the OSP possessed the authority to declare any individual they couldn’t locate as wanted.
During the hearing on Thursday, October 26, the court disagreed with the state prosecutor. It ruled that human rights actions must be heard on their merits rather than dismissed.
The court has directed OSP to file an official response to Mr. Bissue’s motion.
Charles Bissue has dropped several lawsuits it filed against OSP seeking to stop it from investigating and prosecuting him except two- Thursday’s case and one other.
In the other case, Mr. Bissue is seeking an order from the Human Rights Court to prevent the OSP from investigating and prosecuting him, unless investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas is also prosecuted since he allegedly offered the bribe that is under investigation.
In June 2023, the same Court placed an injunction on the OSP from arresting Mr Bissue after he was declared wanted for 10 days.
The Court was to deliver reasons for injuncting the OSP from carrying out its statutory duty in 7 days.
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Small-scale miners schooled on health hazards of mining with mercury
Mr Lovelace Sarpong (right) addressing the participants
Some Artisanal and Small-Scale Miners in the Ashanti and Central regions have been sensitised on the potential health dangers humans are exposed to with the use of mercury in gold processing.
The sensitisation which was organised by PlanetGOLD Ghana project was to raise awareness about the negative impacts on the use of mercury in mining activities.
According to the PlanetGOLD Ghana Project Coordinator, Mr Lovelace Sarpong, the use of mercury in artisanal small-scale mining pose health challenges that affects the nervous, digestive and immune systems, lungs and kidneys; and may be fatal.
Some Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) that benefited from the exercise were Amansie Central, Asante Akim North, Amansie South, Amansie West, Bekwai, and Adansi North in the Ashanti Region, and Upper Denkyira East (Dunkwa-on-Offin) and Upper Denkyira West (Diaso) in the Central Region.
Additionally, he said inorganic salts of mercury were corrosive to the skin, eyes and gastrointestinal tract, and may induce kidney toxicity if ingested.
He stated that the PlanetGOLD Project has conducted several initiatives to raise awareness on reducing mercury exposure among artisanal and small-scale gold mining actors in the country.
It was to promote mercury-free mining practices in line with Ghana’s obligations under the Minamata Convention on Mercury, support the formalisation of the ASGM sector while advocating the adoption of the CRAFT Code and responsible supply chains, and raise awareness on the availability of mercury-free alternatives.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Area Head for Konongo, Mr Dawood Abbas, underscored the importance of government’s environmental regulations and EPA’s role in ensuring compliance within the ASGM sector.
He encouraged miners to prioritise environmental stewardship to gain community trust and secure a Social License to Operate (SLO) and reaffirmed the Agency’s commitment to enforce its commitments under the Minamata Convention.
BY Cecilia Lagba Yada
Entertainment
Stonebwoy releases sixth studio album ‘Up & Running’
Ghanaian multiple award-winning musician, Stonebwoy is out with his sixth studio album dubbed ‘Up & Running.’
As part of the release Stonebwoy performed various songs on the album to patrons at a special listening party last night.
The listening party held at the Alora Beach in Accra brought together Industry players, musicians, actors, corporate Ghana, diplomats and fans of Stonebwoy among others.
The album is made up of songs like, Memories, Pray For Me, Jejereje, Overload remix, Shine, Psalm 23, Betta Tin, Your Body, Geography, Shine, Lovely Weather, Jiggle and White, Ekelebe and Fvck Up Summer.
‘Up & Running’ features the top musicians such as Duncan Mighty, Ir Sais, Spice, Amaria BB, Jahmiel, 10TIK, Larruso, Chi Ching Ching, Kaylan Arnold, and Blvk H3ro, Wyclef Jean and ODUMODUBLVCK.
The album, which includes diverse songs for different target markets, shows Stonebwoy’s calculated effort to reach out to wider and new audiences around the world.
Stonebwoy is expected to hit the road in a global tour with his new album, ‘Up & Running.’
The colourful event was attended by industry personalities like Fred Nuamah, Andy Dosty, Keche, Bullgod, Nadia Buari, Nana McBrown,Kwaw Kese,Robert Klah,D-Black, Larusso and many others.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Enjoy the album below
UP & RUNNIN6 – ALBUM OUT NOW!