News
Redemption at last! …as taxi driver freed after wrongfully serving 12 years in prison
A taxi driver who was jailed 45 years by the Tema Circuit Court on November 25, 2014, on trumped up charges has finally gained his freedom after spending 12 years in the Maximum Security Prison at Nsawam in the Eastern Region.
The convict, Kwame Ameyome, who was 28 years at the time of his sentence was asked by a businessman to take him from Accra to Prampram at GH¢20.00 but upon arrival at his destination, the passenger (businessman) rather turned round and accused the cabbie of attempting to rob him of his 39,000 dollars.
But for the intervention of the Public Defence Division of the Legal Aid Commission, which took up the matter before a three-member Court of Appeal – panel of judges led by Mr Justice Victor Ofoe at Ho last Friday, the taxi driver would have still been languishing in prison.
The freedom of Mr Ameyome was through the instrumentality of Mr Nelson Mawutor Kporha of the Legal Aid Commission in the Volta Region who was his defence counsel.
The facts as presented were that a businessman by name Ben Mensah, hired Kwame Ameyome to take him in his taxi from Nungua to Prampram and agreed to pay the taxi driver (Ameyome) GH¢20.00
Instead of paying the cabbie the agreed fare, the businessman, allegedly drew a dagger and chopped the cabbie’s ear off and also inflicted deep cuts on his face.
Ameyome who was bleeding profusely staggered back into his vehicle and managed to drive to the Tema General Hospital where he spent two weeks on admission before he was discharged.
His ordeal did not end there as the assailant smartly reported to the police that the cabbie attempted to rob him of his foreign currency i.e. USD 39,000.
Based on that false complaint, Ameyome was sentenced to 45 years imprisonment by the Tema Circuit Court, presided by Madam Lorenda Owusu (as she then was), on November 25, 2014.
At the hearing, Ameyome who had already spent six years behind bars on remand and who did not understand the seriousness of the offence for which he was charged, pleaded guilty with explanation, expecting a lenient sentence from the court, because he had no legal representation.
In his explanation, Ameyome told the court that he only stretched his hand towards the businessman’s wallet which was on his lap to take out the GH¢20 he was supposed to pay him, when it became clear that the businessman was not willing to pay the money.
His sentence was later reduced to 20 years on appeal at a Koforidua High Court, presided by Mr Justice Kenneth A. Kwabi on March 2, 2016.
Finally it took the intervention of the Public Defence Division of the Legal Aid Commission for Ameyome to walk free from the Nsawam Maximum Security Prison.
A three-member Court of Appeal panel sitting at Ho, chaired by Mr Justice Victor Ofoe last week Friday upheld the submission by Defence/Appellant’s counsel, Mr Nelson Mawutor Kporha who argued that the cabbie did not have a weapon and that it was rather the complainant who pulled a dagger to inflict injuries on the appellant before it turned into a fight between them.
It emerged that the cabbie was provoked by the complainant’s refusal to pay him the fare and that the complainant’s claim that he had USD39, 000 in his wallet was doubtful as that was mentioned only for the first time in court, although that was not contained in the facts.
The Court of Appeal panel said that Ameyome had suffered a miscarriage of justice which had adversely affected him.
From Alberto Mario Noretti, Ho
News
VRA Senior Staff picket against proposed merger with Bui Power Authority
Senior staff of the Volta River Authority (VRA), along with members of the Public Services Workers Union (PSWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), staged a protest at the VRA headquarters in Accra on Wednesday, September 18, 2024.
The protest was in opposition to a proposed merger between the VRA and the Bui Power Authority, which the group believes would undermine the operations of the VRA.
The draft bill currently in Parliament also seeks to consolidate the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) with the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) and create an independent Thermal Power Authority from VRA’s thermal plants.
Speaking to Citi News during the protest, Theophilus Tetteh Ahia, Chairman of the VRA Senior Staff Association, called for the immediate withdrawal of the merger bill, citing concerns about the future viability of the VRA under the proposed changes.
“Our demand is just for the bill to be withdrawn for a peaceful existence. Because VRA has been established for all these years…The bill that has been laid in parliament should be withdrawn and that is all we are looking for,” he stated.
He continued: “We will continue praying seeking the face of God and we will do everything possible to resist it.”
Source: Citinewsroom.com
News
Africa Remittance Conference UK scheduled for September 21
The much anticipated Africa Remittance Conference UK 2024 dubbed “Market of Remittance” will be hosted in London, the capital of the United Kingdom on Saturday September 21, 2024.
It is scheduled to take place at the Canary Riverside Plaza Hotel (E14 8RS) in East London from 12noon to 6pm.
The event is being organized by Akwaaba UK in collaboration with Emergent, OmniBSIC BankGhana Limitedand Unity Link, under the theme“Leveraging Fintech and Banking Partnership for Growth”.
According to the organizers, Akwaaba UK, Africa Remittance Conference UK 2024, is a premium networking brand and the largest gathering of leading players, key and relevant stakeholders in the Remittance industries in the United Kingdom, across Europe and Africa.
Speaking on the rationale behind the event, the Chief Executive Officer of Akwaaba UK, Mr. Dennis Tawiah, indicated that the annual event is the first of its kind and a platform created for all recognized players in the Remittance Industry in the United Kingdom, Europe and Africa.
“We are excited to be hosting the Africa Remittance Conference UK 2024 after years of working with key players within the sector within the UK, Europe and across the African continent,” he said.
According to him, “We have identified the need to enhance growth and development in the sector. Remittance contributes to ending poverty and hunger, promoting good health, quality education, clean water and sanitation, decent work and economic growth, and reducing inequalities.”
On his part, the International Relations and PR Manager for Akwaaba UK, Chris Koney, highlighted the importance of the Africa Remittance Conference UK 2024and the need for corporate entities to be interested in the conference.
“Strategic partnerships and progress on remittances go hand in hand. Participants at the Africa Remittance Conference UK 2024 will acquire valuable insights, new trends and get to know opportunities in the sector. In addition, the event provides an avenue to explore ways of developing the industry, practitioners and other professionals within the value chain,” he further stated.
In addition to the list of distinguished resource persons and speakers, there will also be Networking and Business-to-Business sessions, Deal Room for Negotiations, Investor Pitching sessions and Exhibition of Innovative Financial and Fintech products and services
