Directive to GBC, Crystal TV to reduce their channels amounts to usurping the powers of NMC – Boadu-Ayeboafo

July 23, 2020 by with 0 comment

The National Media Commission (NMC) has held an emergency meeting in Accra to consider issues relating to the directives issued by the Minister of Communications, Hon. Mrs. Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) and Crystal TV, regarding their broadcasting channels on the National Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platform. …

Hawa Koomson pulled the gun in self-defense – John Boadu

July 21, 2020 by with 0 comment

The General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), John Boadu, says he is at a lost why some Ghanaians are condemning the Minister of Special Development Initiatives and Member of Parliament of Parliament (MP) for Awutu Senya East for firing gun shots at the Step to Christ registration centre in her constituency when she came under mob attack. …

Banda murder case: Police arrest seven

July 21, 2020 by with 0 comment

The Ghana Police Service have announced that they have arrested seven (7) persons in connection with the killing of a teacher-trainee at Banda in the Bono Region.

The arrest comes after the family of the deceased gave two weeks ultimatum to the men and women in black uniform to act on the case.

The trainee-teacher was caught in a cross fire of attacks between supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

It is not clear which of the political parties’ supporters committed the act. However, the NDC has been quick to blame the NPP for the murder.

The police has since assured the general public of further digging into the incident and convey to them their findings.

GPRTU, GRTCC set up taskforce to monitor compliance of approved transport fares

July 20, 2020 by with 0 comment

A taskforce has been set up by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) of TUC and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) to monitor compliance of the recently approved transport fares for commercial transport operators.

The move by the two bodies follows the arbitrarily increase in transport fares by some commercial vehicle drivers against the approved transport fares which effect on Saturday, July 11, 2020.

Government on July 7, 2020, announced a 15% upward adjustment of transport fares, effective Saturday, July 11, 2020.

The announcement was as a result of a petition that was submitted to the Ministry of Transport by the various transport unions, requesting for an upward adjustment of transport fares.

The transport unions had contended that the novel coronavirus was impacting heavily on the activities of their members (commercial drivers) as a result of the reduction in the number of passengers per vehicle to conform to the social distancing protocols.

Explaining the justification for the increment to the press in Parliament, deputy Transport Minister, Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus-Glover stated “The transport unions made an application to the Ministry but because of the covid-19, government has asked them not to load full capacity, so because of that they are losing a lot of money [running cost of operations]”.

The transport unions, politicoghana.com understands, appealed to government to either allow them to run full sitting capacity or to increase transport fares.

However, government opted for the latter.

Despite the 15% upward adjustment of transport fares, some commercial drivers are still charging arbitrarily fares.

The taskforce is therefore expected to monitor and bring perpetrators to book.

“Any commercial vehicle driver who flouts this arrangement would be sanctioned. Union Executives, Company Directors, Station Managers and Masters are requested to ensure compliance by drivers to the approved fares”, the statement in part read.

According to the statement, the baseline for the calculation of the 15% increase was that of the first scheduled increase in Road Transport Fares which took effect from September 16, 2019.

The statement however, reminded all commercial drivers, commuters and the general public that the precautionary directives on social distancing in public transport vehicles and terminals and the safety protocols including the wearing of nose mask are still in force.

Four in the cooler over Kasoa shooting incident

July 20, 2020 by with 0 comment

Calm has been restored at the Step to Christ Voters registration centre in the Awutu Senya East constituency in the Central Region following a shooting incident that nearly marred the voters registration exercise being undertaken by the Electoral Commission (EC) of Ghana.

However, four people who are suspected to be behind the shooting incident have been arrested by the Kasoa Divisional Police. A gun was retrieved from the gang in the process. What triggered the incident is immediately not known.

They have been transferred to Cape Coast, the regional capital for further investigations.

The Kasoa Divisional Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Charles Ampem Koosonu, interacting with journalists over the incident revealed that his outfit moved in swiftly to douse the flame after they received information about the incident.

During the process, they also arrested four suspects who were escaping in a pickup.

“We have arrested four persons. We got information about the incident so we patrolled the town and met four men in a pickup vehicle which we arrested them to assist in the investigation. We retrieved one gun. We are transferring them to Cape Coast due to the tension in the Kasoa”, the Divisional Police Commander narrated.

The suspects are yet to be identified.

None of the political parties has claimed responsibility.

However, the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) say the suspects belong to the governing New Patriot Party (NPP).

Three motorbikes said belong to some members of the NDC were burnt to ashes during the violent attack.