The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) is set to respond to the press conference organised on Monday by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to discredit government.
The NDC, led by its National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, during the said press conference which was tagged ‘the true state of the nation address’ made some allegations against the Akufo-Addo-led government, describing the claim by the President to revive the country’s economy as a scam.
For the NDC chairman, the President and his appointees have plunged the country into a ditch due to recklessness and mismanagement.
However, reacting to the NDC press conference in a statement Monday evening, (March 20, 2023), the General Secretary of the NPP, Justin Kodua Frimpong, said the press conference was deliberately organised by the opposition party with the sole intention to throw dust into the eyes of Ghanaians.
The party has, therefore, served notice that it will also organise a press conference to correct the misconceptions that the opposition party has created in the minds of the public.
NPP Statement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MARCH 20, 2023
RE: THE TRUE STATE OF THE NATION ADDRESS; NEW PATRIOTIC PARTY TO RESPOND IN DUE COURSE
The leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken notice of a propaganda-laced press conference of the NDC, addressed by Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the Party’s National Chairman, on Monday, March 20, 2023, which was mischievously described as an address on the so called ‘true state of the nation’.
True to their unrepentant character, the NDC turned the press conference into a campaign platform, peddling blatant falsehoods, unsubstantiated allegations, and unprovoked attacks at the persons of the President, the Vice President and the Government of the NPP. Ordinarily, the NPP would not have dignified Asiedu Nketiah’s empty statement and unmeritorious effusions with a response since he is no stranger to Ghanaians when it comes to such political theatricals.
However, paying regards to the enormity of the allegations and falsehoods he spewed, the NPP has decided to set the records straight by responding to same with incontrovertible facts and data in order to assist discerning Ghanaians make an informed decision.
Details of the NPP press •conference to respond to the NDC’s misrepresentations on the state of the Nation would soon be made available. Notice is accordingly served. Signed JUSTIN KODUA FRIMPONG GENERAL SECRETARY
The Tamale District Court 1 has issued a stern warning against illegal power connections by sentencing Wahab Shiraz to six months in prison with hard labour, without the option of a fine.
Presiding over the case, His Worship Justice Derrick Annan also imposed a fine of 500 penalty units, equivalent to GHS 6,000, to be paid to the state.
Additionally, the court ordered Shiraz to pay GHS 10,096.55 to the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), which represents the estimated value of the electricity he had stolen.
The court stipulated that if Shiraz fails to pay the GH¢6,000 fine, he would face an additional seven months in prison, potentially extending his total jail term to 13 months.
Shiraz, a resident of Bulpella in Tamale, pleaded guilty to the charge of “interference with electricity distribution system” under Rule 41(2A) and 1(6) of the Electricity Supply and Distribution Rules 2005 (L.I. 1816).
His illegal activities were uncovered during NEDCo’s Mass Revenue Mobilisation Exercise in December 2023.
After receiving an illegal connection notice and failing to report for investigation, Shiraz’s case was referred to the Tamale police, leading to his prosecution and conviction.
Following the sentencing, NEDCo’s legal representative, Ms. Esther Yirbom, urged the public to avoid illegal power connections and to take advantage of NEDCo’s resolution options.
She highlighted that suspects who cooperate by paying for stolen power and signing a bond of good behaviour might face reduced penalties if their cases go to court.
Ms. Yirbom emphasised that while these measures do not absolve the offense, they could mitigate the severity of punishment.
She warned against illegal power connections to avoid severe consequences similar to those faced by Shiraz.
One person has been confirmed dead after a fishing boat capsized near the Ada West District in the Greater Accra Region.
The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in Ada West reported that the incident occurred on Wednesday, May 29, when a boat carrying ten individuals developed a leak and sank.
Initially, four of the ten people onboard, including two Ghanaians, were reported missing. However, three individuals were successfully rescued.
Tragically, one person was recovered deceased, and the remains have been deposited at the morgue.
Atlantic Lithium, an exploration and development company, has promised to channel one per cent of its mining revenue to develop the catchment communities in Mfantseman.
Aaron Monver, the Head of Operations at the Atlantic Lithium, said the company prioritised the wellbeing of its working environment, hence the need to assist the people to improve their livelihoods remained high on its agenda.
To succeed in that regard, the company had planned to establish a community development fund to support development projects in the community.
Mr Monver said this in the ‘scoping report and draft terms of the reference’ for the proposed Ewoyaa lithium mining and processing project by Barari DV Ghana Limited at Ewoyaa in the Central Region.
The meeting, organised by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), was to allow Atlantic Lithium to interact with the communities on lithium mining as part of the environmental process to secure operational permits.
It was also to solicit views, feedback and recommendations from the catchment communities on the proposed project for consensus building.
The Operation Manager entreated the people to embrace the new opportunities to be created through the project as the country believed in local participation and content.
Atlantic lithium, Mr Monver said, was focused on engaging in responsible mining to bring improvements to the locals and country as a whole.
He said stakeholders should collectively put in measures to support the project to achieve its objectives.
Lithium demand is forecast to grow exponentially in line with the adoption of electric vehicles to ensure energy storage to meet global climate change objectives.
Ghana has granted a lithium mining license to Atlantic Lithium Limited as the country positions itself to tap into the multibillion-dollar global industry.
The 15-year lease to Barari DV Ghana Limited, a unit of the Sydney-based company, enables it to start constructing a lithium mine at a 42.6-kilometre site at Ewoyaa in the country’s Central Region.
It comes after almost six years of exploration that has discovered high-grade lithium in commercial quantities as soon as the EPA and the Minerals Commission grant environmental permits to fully begin mining.
