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Samson’s Take: Punish the criminal ‘vigilante’ takeovers

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Ghana has a law called the Presidential (Transition) Act, 2012 (Act 845). It was passed to regulate the political transfer of power after an election. This became necessary because party foot-soldiers, in fact, so-called big men in the NDC and NPP appear to lose their sense of civility and patience to follow the law even to take over management of public toilets and tollbooths.

It is also the case that some political appointees, thieves, provoke the party thugs, wrongly labelled as vigilante groups. There have been allegations of destruction of documents and concealment of all sorts of things to cover up wrongdoing.

Yes, even high-rank officials faced unusual accusations of stealing fittings including carpets, and the famous and politically connected caught allegedly changing the identity of an expensive state vehicle in a garage in order to keep it. In 2017, the NPP-affiliated Delta and Invisible forces besieged offices and openly terrorised their victims. They even attacked a court to free their members standing trial but were treated with kid gloves for felonies.

The rampaging foot-soldiers invaded and locked up offices at the Tema Port and in other regions. The NDC thugs are visiting same places today. We were told to shut up when we condemned the criminal conduct. Party Chairman, a trained lawyer who had risen to become a Deputy Speaker of Parliament while an MP joined rather reckless leaders and members in defending the thuggery. “They are defending state property” – we were told by Freddy Blay. One other chairman of the party, Kwame Baffoe – alias Abronye led a team to seize cars on official instructions from the Jubilee House.

The NDC whose officials suffered the indignities are today encouraging and sponsoring the same wrong. The party thugs are all over the place and in some cases led by a party chairman, Joseph Yamin, to disrupt and imperil legitimate and official gold transactions.

They are locking up offices and official residences. In the Oti Region, they mistook three Catholic priests, (missionaries from India) for thieving public officers and beat them mercilessly on completely false allegations.

It is surprising these people who were later led by party officials to apologise have not been arrested to stand trial.

These thugs do not have to bear names like the Azorka Boys or Delta Force (supposedly disbanded) before they can be dealt with by the State. It is not only group conduct in vigilantism that is criminal in Ghana, their very acts are proscribed by the Vigilantism Act, 2019. Threat of harm, threat of death, assault, trespass and damage to property are all arrestable offences in Ghana. So, why are the police looking on and acting helpless despite complaints by NPP officials?

President John Mahama has issued a general condemnation of these acts, but that’s not enough. Sir, call the Yamins, the Basintales and their boys by name and it might bring the results we seek – an end to the impunity.

In 2017, I was the lawyer for Kofi Adams when they unlawfully invaded the privacy of his home and drove away his cars without basis. I have represented YEA staff employed under NPP who got sacked when the NDC took over. I have also represented YEA staff employed under NDC who were sacked when the NPP came into office. I have done the same for high-rank officers upon change in government. Just when will the silly circus end?

By section 14 of the transition law, the following appointees lose their jobs upon a change in government:

i. The persons holding office under the Presidential Office Act, 1993 (Act 463)

ii. Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State.

iii. Regional and Deputy Regional Ministers of State.

iv. Special Assistants, Special Aides to the President, to the Vice-President and to the Ministers of State, Deputy Ministers, Regional Ministers and Deputy Regional Ministers

v. Non-career Ambassadors and High Commissioners.

vi. Persons appointed by the President or a Minister of State as members of Statutory Boards and Corporations.

But in January 2017, Godwin Edudzi Tamekloe led his friend Theophilus Donkor to the Supreme Court and got the court to give a narrow reprieve for heads of public corporations, statutory boards and authorities – that is, they can only be removed in accordance with the terms of their contracts and law, specifically articles 195 and 191.

In Part II, next week, I will speak about how to effect responsible and lawful citizens’ arrest of suspected looters of state property and wrongdoers during such transitions. I shall also stress the need to resource the office of the Administrator-General and Estate Unit as part of effective measures to end the recurring violent takeovers.

And that is My Take.

Samson Lardy ANYENINI

January 11, 2025

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 Heritage Month Ghana trends

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Since the institution of the Heri­tage Month celebration in Ghana, it has offered citizens opportuni­ties of a lifetime to learn about their cultures and lifestyles.

Ghana’s version is observed in the month of March, coinciding with the country’s Independence Day celebra­tions on March 6.

Heritage Month features festivals, food fairs, arts, crafts, and music events to highlight the economic and social value of preserving national heritage.

Though a brainchild of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), the celebra­tion has been driven to greater heights by local media with the organisation of several events to create the needed euphoria.

Among the events are the Heritage Caravan and Back To Your Village Food Bazaar pow­ered by Accra-based Citi FM and Citi TV, Wear Ghana Festival and the Gɔbɛ festival powered by 3News.

The Heritage Caravan is a road trip which takes patrons across more than half of Ghana’s regions to offer a distinctive road trip that allows participants to explore the various re­gions of Ghana, providing an up-close encounter with the country’s histori­cal and cultural heritage.

In addition to these roles played by the media, news anchors and other presenters appear on screens immac­ulately garbed in locally made outfits, bringing out the beauty of our tradi­tions.

Today, The Spectator news­paper selected a few of the media personalities that are working to give the cel­ebration a global dimension to project the country.  

 By Andrew Nortey

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 MoMo vendor 24 murdered at Kwadaso

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• Mobile money shop
• Mobile money shop

 A disturbing crime has shaken the Kwadaso Onion market communi­ty in Kumasi, leaving family and friends grieving the loss of a young life.

Identified only as Junior, a 24-year-old mobile money vendor, was found murdered in his room on Saturday, March 8, 2025.

According to eyewitnesses, Junior had returned home the previous day with a substantial amount of money, over Gh¢20,000.

It was suspected that the killers might have been motivated by the large sum of money in Junior’s posses­sion.

A police source that confirmed this to The Spectator, said investigation has been launched into Junior’s mur­der, but so far, no arrests have been made.

The Kwadaso community is reeling in shock, calling for justice and an end to the atrocity that has claimed the life of a young and promising individ­ual.

Junior, is believed to be a native of Ejisu Onwe, and was known to his col­leagues and friends as a hardworking and diligent individual who worked at the Kumasi Race Course.

His tragic death serves as a stark reminder of the risks and challenges mobile money vendors faced.

The incident comes barely a month after Patricia Nimako, a 27-year-old Mobile Money (MoMo) vendor, was shot and killed at Krofrom, Kumasi in the Ashanti region by an unknown assail­ants.

The suspected armed robbers fled with the deceased cell phones and an amount of GH¢10,000 on Thursday, February 13, at approximately 3:00 p.m.

The two armed robbers reportedly stormed the kiosk where the deceased was operating and without any provo­cation shot her dead.

There has not been any arrest yet by the police.

 From Kingsley E. Hope , Kumasi

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 Learn how to prepare local dishes…Queen mothers urge young women

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• Some local dishes

 In a heartwarming display of inter­generational wisdom, queen moth­ers from local communities in the Obuasi enclave shared their expertise on how to prepare local diets with young ladies on the International Women’s Day event, courtesy of An­gloGold Ashanti, Obuasi Mine.

Beyond the fanfare, these revered women leaders took centre stage to impart a vital life skill: traditional cooking as they guided eager students and other young ladies through the art of preparing local delicacies.

In fact, the aroma of ‘Abunabunu’, ‘Aprapransa’, ‘Enuhu’, ‘Akaw’, ‘Tuo Zafi’ (TZ), among others, wafted through the air to the extent it could attract people from a distance, as the queen mothers entertained the young women with tales of resilience, entrepreneurship, and community building.

This year’s International Wom­en’s Day Celebration was under the theme: ‘Accelerate Action for Wom­en’s Equity.’

As the event drew to a close, the queen mothers gave words of wisdom upon their young guests.

From Nana Amoanima Dede, Queen mother of Adansi she stated that: “Never forget your roots, and always remember that the kitchen is not just a place for cooking, but for building connections and forging communi­ties.”

Nana Akua Dwum II, Queen moth­er of Edubiase, on her part urged the young ladies to learn how to prepare traditional dishes in order to preserve cultural heritage of the nation.

Earlier, the Managing Director of the mining company, Samuel Boakye Pobee, mentioned their readiness to roll out an “All-Women Apprentice­ship Programme, aimed at empow­ering young women in the Obuasi communities in entrepreneurship.”

He said the project would include women in basic technical skills and their capacity building to boost their employability to reshape perceptions of women’s roles in traditionally male-dominated industries.

According to the Managing Director, the mining company’s commitment “is to empower young people with specialised skills, and progressive knowledge to make them financially independent.”

The company, he indicated, was accelerating action towards wom­en’s equality at the Obuasi Mine and within host communities with the aim to build a foundation to create an inclusive and supportive business culture.

Mr Pobee expressed the need for innovative approaches and dedicated efforts to encourage and invest in women’s participation in all fields, including all levels of technical and operational areas and must be inten­tional and deliberate.”

 From Kingsley E. Hope, Obuasi

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