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Sanitise your populist approach to arrests – Ahiagbah to OSP
The National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has heavily criticized the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, for arresting the Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Kofi Ofosu Nkansah.
Mr. Nkansah was arrested on January 10, 2024, by the Special Prosecutor for allegedly campaigning with NEIP money ahead of the NPP parliamentary primaries.
Mr. Nkansah was taken into custody and subsequently transported to his office in Accra to assist in ongoing investigations. He was later released.
Reacting to the development in an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on January 11, 2024, Mr. Ahiagbah lashed out at the OSP, describing his arresting approach as ‘populist’.
He stated that the days of such arrests are a thing of the past, advising the OSP to sanitize its approach when effecting arrests on persons suspected to be engaged in corruption and corruption-related activities.
“I think that the Special Prosecutor is working; we want him to work. I support him to work, but he needs to sanitize his approach a little bit. The days when these kinds of siege attacks and the rest of them happened are in the past. It’s a democracy; invite the gentleman; he will come. Whatever the concerns are, I think you can have a civil, democratic conversation about how to deal with it. But these kinds of populist invitations and attacks, I think, are a thing of the past.”
The National Communications Director of the NPP pointed out that the work of the OSP and other institutions tends to drag the country’s name in the mud if not handled properly.
“We will encourage all the institutions to work. But they must understand that they need to sanitize their approach so they don’t create a public spectacle. The appearance of something that has happened, which perhaps may not be of that magnitude. The process of the invitation will generate for the public creates a very negative public perception of the individuals and the process.”
He expressed satisfaction that the issue has been resolved among the parties involved.
“My understanding is that the issue has been dealt with. Is all for the best of democracy. I’m happy he’s gone home, if any further investigations should be done but, the OSP should sanitize the way it does its work,” he said.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
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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!