Road crashes claim 1, 585 lives in 8 months

A total of 1,585 people lost their lives to road accidents across the country from January to August, this year.

The carnage resulted from 9,205 crashes involving 15,459 vehicles over the eight-month period.

According to the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), motorcycles popularly known as “Okada” accounted for the highest number of deaths with 643 lives,  followed by commercial vehicles, 596 and private vehicles, 346.

The number comprised 1,275 males  310 females, the NRSA said.

Mrs May Obiri-Yeboah, Director-General of the NRSA, addressing journalists yesterday on the road safety situation on the back of the upsurge in crashes in the last few weeks, said the country had seen a marginal increase in the number of crashes, deaths and injuries compared to same period last year.

She said though the country recorded a 14-per cent reduction in fatalities from January to May, largely due to COVID-19 restrictions, the ease of them from June this year saw a rise in road accidents as with more motorists on the roads.

“Particularly disturbing is the number of child fatalities arising from the incidents, which has been quite low in the last 10 years. However, there is a 17.6 per cent reduction in pedestrian knockdowns,” she stated.

Ing. Obiri-Yeboah indicated that 70 per cent of the  accidents had occurred on “flat straight roads”, which emphasises the need for increased sensitisation of motorists  to road safety rules as stakeholders intensified steps of  implementing and enforcing regulations on road safety.

To this end, the Director-General said the Authority had renewed partnership with the media to roll out a campaign dubbed “Arrive Alive”, to increase visibility and information on road safety.

“We plan to complement this with opportunities that are available from social media to reach out to many road users as possible as we continue to deploy road safety inspectors at major road transport terminals to conduct checks of vehicles and drivers before journeys, to minimise risk of crashes,” she said.

Mrs Obiri-Yeboah called on politicians to appoint road safety officers in line with “Road Safety Code for Political Parties”, as they embarked on campaigns ahead of the general election.

“These road safety officers will have the responsibility to ensure internal controls and implementation of best practices on road safety protocols for the greater good of the campaign, protect their supporters and road users as well,” she urged.

Asked the position of the NSRA as regarded the legalisation or otherwise of “Okada”, the Engineer stated that the Authority will “go by any policy direction the government takes on the matter. Ours is to protect Ghanaians and make sure every road user is safe.”

DSP Alexander Obeng, the Director in charge of Education, Research and Training of the Motor Traffic Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, called for the dualisation of the country’s major international routes, which account for majority of the road crashes.

He mentioned major routes such as the Elubo-Accra-Aflao road, Nsawam-Suhum-Nkwakaw, Nkwakaw-Ejisu-Suame-Techiman, and Buipe-Paga as well as the N1 Highway as those which needed to be dualised.

Mr Affail Monney, the president of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA),  pledged the commitment of GJA members to the cause of road safety, explaining that the media “would use their power as watchdogs of the country to address road safety issues right from the root cause by naming and shaming authorities who fail to perform their duties and exposing factors that result in the loss of innocent lives”.

BY ABIGAIL ANNOH AND BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY

Post: ghanaiantimes.com.gh

Categories Breaking, Local News

Our client has COVID complications – Ken Agyapong’s lawyer tells court

The Members of Parliament for Assin Central Ken Ohene Agyapong who is a subject of contempt of court has suffered from complications of Covid-19, his lawyers told the High Court hearing his case.

Agyapong who is in court for allegedly scandalizing the court by describing a High Court judge with unprintable words pleaded not guilty to contempt after he was charged for scandalising the court and bringing its name into disrepute.

In court on Monday, where he and his lawyers are expected to open their defence of the charge, he was absent from the sitting.

Lead counsel for the legal team Kwame Gyan told the court that though at the last adjourned date, they together with the court had “mutual agreement for continuation of proceedings,” the client is absent.

He said after “we left the court on Friday, our client, Ken Agyapong suffered from complication of post-covid-19 conditions that he sufferred last month”

“We arranged for him to seek medical support and the report from the doctor who treated him and an attached excuse duty report” has been made available to the court.

According to him, his absence was not out of disrespect to the court or wilful conduct, but due to his ill health.

To buttress his point, Counsel said the court records will reflect that, “since the case started last month after the service of the Court Order of substituted service,” he has “consistently being in court and ahead of time.”

He, therefore, prayed for an adjournment for him to claim bail of health.

Court

The court presided over by Justice Amos Wuntah Wuni, after hearing counsel said the contemnor was not present in court for proceedings to continue.

“Indeed a medical excuse duty and attached form has been attached to a cover letter and medical report under the seal of counsel asking for a 14-day adjournment from, September 26 to October 10, 2020.

The court said, “under the circumstance granted the request and adjourned the case.”

Order

However, the court has summoned the medical doctor of Holy Trinity Medical Centre/Spa and Health to appear before it on October 1, to speak to the medical excuse duty of Ken Agyapong.

The court said “We have to create a good country for ourselves. The way excuse duties reports are written these days, somebody must speak to it.”

Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Muntalla Inusah

Categories Breaking, Local News

Contempt case: Court summons doctor who gave Ken Agyapong medical excuse

Mr Agyapong was billed to appear in court on Monday, 28 September

The Accra High Court Land Division has ordered the doctor who signed a medical excuse form for Assin Central Member of Parliament (MP) Kennedy Agyapong.

Mr Agyapong was billed to appear in court on Monday, 28 September 2020 but did not.

His lawyer presented the excuse form, which said he the lawmaker was suffering from post-COVID-19 complications.

Presiding judge, Justice Amos Wunta Awuni, on Monday, ordered the Holy Trinity Hospital doctor to make himself available to the court in connection with the excuse he gave to the MP.

Mr Agyapong, at the hearing of his contempt case by the Accra High Court on Friday, 25 September 2020, pleaded not guilty to charges of contempt levelled against him.

This followed the playing of an audiotape on which the lawmaker was heard attacking the judge presiding over a case involving a land dispute, to which Mr Agyapong is party.

Mr Agyapong is alleged to have scandalised and brought the court’s name into disrepute on a show on Net2 TV.

On Friday, 18 September 2020, the judge indicated that the High Court would proceed with the hearing despite a writ of certiorari filed at the Supreme Court by the MP.

Mr Agyapong has asked the Supreme Court to stop the contempt proceedings against him by the High Court.

Lawyers for the MP filed a judicial review application at the apex court on Thursday, barely 24 hours after he was supposed to appear before the High Court, to explain why he should not be punished for allegedly describing a judge as “stupid”.

The MP wants the Supreme Court to prohibit the High Court from hearing the contempt case and also quash the order of summons for him to appear before the court on the basis that the particular court (Land Court 12) that summoned him had no jurisdiction to do so.

In his affidavit in support, the MP avers that his comments were not against Justice Amos Wuntah Wuni of Land Court 12 but was rather against a different judge in another matter at Labour Court 2, for which he said he had duly apologised.

“The words uttered, which I deem uncomplimentary and I have since apologised [for], were not directed at the court presided over by His Lordship Amos Wuntah Wuni.

“The Court is not seized with jurisdiction to order the applicant to appear and to answer why he should not be severely punished for contempt of court,” the MP said in his affidavit in support.

Source: classfmonline.com

Categories Breaking, Local News

Pass Rent Bill, 2020 before Parliament dissolves

Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Samuel Atta Akyea

The Council of Indigenous Business Associations (CIBA), has appealed to Parliament to pass the new Rent Bill, 2020, to replace the existing, moribund Rent Act of Ghana (Act 220), which was passed in 1963 before the current Parliament is dissolved.

The association said the passage of the bill would make it more responsive to the current needs and circumstances of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Ghana.

“The proposed bill would allow for more enforcement and to deal with the whole issue of rent advance payment and its associated problems. That is killing a lot of our members.

“Imagine a business starter having to mobilise funds to hire a property for years be it shop or residential accommodation. That will mean more than half the amount will go into the rent,” CIBA stated in a media release issued in Accra.

CIBA also argued that the new Bill, if passed into law, would significantly reduce the burden of exorbitant rent advance on the working class, especially those in the urban areas such as Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi and Tamale among others.

The association has been advocating the passage of a new Rent Law since 2012, with support from the BUSAC Fund and its donor partners, DANIDA and USAID, all aimed at ensuring that its members get the needed support to grow their businesses to be able to contribute to national development.

According to CIBA, the revised Rent Act, 220, states that ‘a landlord who demands payment in advance of: a. more than a month’s rent in a monthly or shortest tenancy, or b. more than one year’s rent in a tenancy which exceeds six months ..as a condition of a grant, renewal or continuation of tenancy commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not more than 10 penalty units. Yet, landlords demand contrary to the law.

Also, due to the influx of foreigners in the retail sector, they are ready to pay any amount for rent to the disadvantage of the local businesses, CIBA said.

“We envisage a new rent regime that is very friendly to the circumstances of MSMEs across the country being strictly enforced by the relevant state institutions in eliminating all the illegalities currently being perpetrated in the housing sector against tenants and releasing significant pressure on the working capital of MSMEs in the country to thrive,” it emphasised.

Other challenges

The association expressed concerned that some critical issues remain unresolved between government and the Association of Landlords (AoL).

These include the call by government for a minimum rent advance of not more than three months, as against the minimum of one year (12 months) proposed by the AoL, the lack of clarity on the duration of subsequent renewals of tenancy agreements and the proposed need for separate set of rules and framework for tenancy for tenants of government buildings and those of private properties.

Proposal

The rest are a proposal by government to give the Rent Control Department, the sole mandate to prepare tenancy agreements that will be deemed as the only valid and legally enforceable undertakings between landlords and tenants under Ghanaian statutes, and to also give the department, the legal authority to adjudicate and provide final rulings on all rent-related issues and to deny the privilege of contesting such judgements in any other court of law in the country.

“Until now, no further action has been taken to resolve the impasse and move the process forward. CIBA believes strongly that if it does not act now, this process might just die a natural death,” it stated.

The association noted that the Rent Control Department was working under an old law passed in 1963 although so much had changed, thus the urgent need to pass the new Bill.

“The department should be resourced to be able to bite. It must be well positioned so they can adjudicate and take their own decisions and not always refer cases to court or else passing the law will be one of those fine ones and not bite,” it said.

CIBA is also advocating a strong institution to see to its implementation.

Post: graphic.com.gh

Categories Breaking, Local News

President cuts sod for Wiawso recycling, compost plant

President Akufo-Addo performing the sod cutting ceremony for the Western North Waste Treatment Facility

An integrated recycling and compost plant is to be built at Aboanidua in the Wiawso Municipality of the Western North Region.

The project, which is expected to be completed within four months, is a collaboration among Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL), its private partners and the government.

When completed, it will bring to five the number of waste treatment facilities in various regions of the country.

The solid waste treatment plant will have facilities for plastic waste recycling, finished products, compost and sorting workshops, among others, to handle the 200 tonnes of solid waste it will receive daily.

Partnership

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo last Saturday cut the sod for the construction of the project during his tour of the region.
The President said the issue of sanitation was a top priority for his government, hence the creation of the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources.

He said his government was determined to deal with waste management, and would partner and support any effort to effectively and efficiently deal with solid waste which would also provide employment opportunities.

“We are ready to partner the private sector, not only Jospong Group of Companies, but any company aimed at providing jobs and improving the economy,” he stressed.

SDGs

President Akufo-Addo said the country could achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 3, 8, 11 and 13, if waste treatment plants were sited in all the 16 regions.

“With facilities to help manage the waste we create, we will be on course to achieve the SDGs set by the United Nations as we will be able to promote good health and well-being of our people, provide clean water and sanitation as our water bodies would not be dumping grounds.

“Also, it will be a source of decent work and employment opportunity for people, which is the aim of the SDG 8, help preserve and sustain our cities and communities as indicated by SDG 11, and ultimately these, required by SDG 13, would help have a positive impact on the climate,” the President said.

Managing ­

The Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Ms. Cecilia Abena Daapah, said a research in 2017 showed that Ghana generated five million tonnes of refuse a day, 60 per cent of which could be turned into organic waste, while another 80 per cent could be recycled into plastics and other products.

Job creation

The Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, who doubles as the Chief Executive Officer of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Mr Joseph Siaw Agyepong, thanked the chiefs of Sefwi-Wiaso for making available a 100-acre plot for the plant.

He said the plant would create 250 direct and indirect jobs.

“After the sod-cutting by the President, we are starting the construction immediately. All the machines are ready to facilitate the project,” he affirmed.

Post: graphic.com.gh

Categories Breaking, Local News

Gov’t has failed in handling Western Togoland saga – Colonel Aboagye

Security analyst, Colonel Festus Aboagye, says government has failed in the handling of the Western Togoland incident.

Speaking on the Morning Starr Monday, Coloney Aboagye said the state must admit its shortcomings and seek to do better in order to nib the action of the group in the bud.

“The definition of certain technical terms is not the preserve of politicians, we need to get that from the start. We need to admit that we failed. The fact that we did not see what happened on Friday coming and prevent it, that is intelligence failure,” he told host Francis Abban.

He also blamed the feet-dragging posture of the government on previous incidents of similar nature for the current situation.

“The way and manner in which we have dealt with the issue of treason have emboldened other groups”.

It comes after Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah defended the performance of government in response to the insurgence attack.

“Government is taking steps to deal with threats of succession expressed by a group in the Volta region and in particular the events of Friday, September 25 2020. Now in recent months the activities of this group has gained notoriety even as government has been responding with appropriate force and the rule of law. The events on Friday morning have been as at now contained by the security agencies. Efforts are also underway to contain our standing threats from this group,” journalists at the Minister’s Press Briefing in Accra on Sunday

The HSGF, a group championing the secession of parts of Ghana along the border with Togo last Friday blocked roads and hoisted flags as parts of agitation for independence from Ghana.

However, reacting to the matter, the Minister condemned the act and called on all traditional, religious and political institutions to join hands to help combat the separatist activities even as government initiate measures to bring the situation under full control.

“We continue to encourage all well meaning Ghanaians especially traditional religious and political groups to express solidarity with the Republic and join in the efforts of holding the One Nation agenda while condemning these unfortunate developments. Now while the security agencies maintain a presence to avert any further developments, it will also be important to in the coming days provide more education, for example on the false basis for which the persons who are leading these exercises sort to mobilize support.

“Key actors who have been identified as ultimately responsible for these events are also on the watch list of the security agencies and actually wanted at this point in time. In the coming days the security agencies would I think be publishing some of the photographs and identities of persons who they are on a man for. Residents of these areas are encouraged to remain calm and to go about their daily lives without fear,” he added.

Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5fm/

Categories Breaking, Local News

Deal with separatist group – Togbi Sri III to security agencies

Togbi Sri III

The Awomefia of the Anlo state, Togbi Sri III and his chiefs, have condemned, in no uncertain terms, the recent disturbances on the Accra-Aflao and Accra-Ho roads by a secessionist group called the Homeland Study Group Foundation (HSGF).

HSGF is championing the secession of parts of Ghana along the border with Togo.

Its member, on Friday, 25 September 2020, blocked roads and hoisted their flags, as part of their agitation for independence from Ghana.

They captured police officers, exchanged gunshots with some security officials leading to the death of one of their members.

Reacting to this development, Togbi Sri III, in a statement, said the Anlo state does not approve of the action by the group and disassociated itself from their “subversive actions”

The chief reaffirmed the Anlo state’s support for the unity and sanctity of the sovereign state of Ghana and called on the security agencies to deal with members of the group according to the laws without fear or favour.

Categories Breaking, Local News