Officials from GCERF and the Ministry of National Security at the presser

GHANA is set to receive about $3 million in funding from the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) to help in the country’s efforts at fighting terrorism and extremism.

This was announced at a joint press briefing between the Ministry of National Security and the GCERF in Accra by the Chairman of the governing board of GCERF, Stefano Manservisi.

In showing the Fund’s commitment to this cause, Ghana has consequently received an initial disbursement of $350,000 in emergency funding, while engagement with civil society organizations, donors and government are underway to develop an investment strategy for the country.

In his remarks, Mr. Manservisi intimated that the funding was aimed at complementing the government’s efforts in dealing with extremism and terrorism.

“We are starting this summer, and we are going to make an initial investment of $3 million, which will be very small grants to various local community-based organizations. We intend to continue that investment for the next 10 years with increasing amounts,” he announced.

According to him, the work of GCERF would lead to a wider and more direct engagement with communities impacted or facing threats of extremism, especially in the northern part of the country.

Chief Director of the Ministry of National Security, Ambassador Sena Siaw-Boateng, stressed on the need for enhanced efforts into Ghana’s fight against extremism, which he hinted was increasing n the sub-region.

“It is imperative that we address the pressing issue of terrorism and violent extremism that continues to plague our sub-region and now threatens to trickle down far south towards Ghana. The rise in terrorism in neighboring countries poses a significant threat to our national security and stability,” she stated.

Noting the need for collaborative efforts in the fight, the Ambassador Siaw-Boateng underscored the importance of employing softer means of dealing with the phenomenon.

“It is crucial that we recognize the interconnectedness of the threats, and we need a collaborative effort to be able to combat them effectively. We are also trying to prevent any radicalization of our citizenry in the border community areas.

We must employ non-kinetic approaches, that are the soft approaches, to address the root causes of these issues, including social, economic disparities, marginalization, and ideological grievances,” she added.

Executive Director of the West Africa Centre for Counter-Extremism, Muktar Mumuni Muktar, highlighted the threats of terrorism confronting Ghana, especially at the various border communities in Northern Ghana.

He highlighted factors such as religious clashes, chieftaincy and ethnic disputes, ethnic marginalization as some of the driving forces posing threats of terrorism in Ghana.

“The reason unresolved conflicts are a big driver or a big factor is that extremist groups are very exploitative. They take advantage of existing conflicts either to recruit or to aid in attacks,” he disclosed.

He, however, opined that some initiatives already being undertaken by the government of Ghana, including the ‘See Something, Say Something’ campaign are a great step at combating the menace while expressing belief that the GCERF support would help make such initiatives more effective in the battle against terrorism.

By Nii Adjei Mensahfio

A beneficiary receiving her cash donation

MORE than 1,100 underprivileged residents of Mepe in the Volta Region have received cash donations from businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Seidu Agongo, to cushion them against the devastating impact of the Akosombo Dam spillage.

Each of the 1,158 aged, single mothers, widows and persons with disabilities received a minimum of GH¢200 from the founder of the Class Media Group (CMG), as part of his and the group’s charity efforts aimed at alleviating poverty from society.

The beneficiaries received the cash amounts last Friday at a special donation exercise held at the Royal Masito Palace at Mepe.

It was a spectacle of joy and excitement for each of the beneficiaries, who included students, as they took turns to receive their share after which they heaped praises on Alhaji Agongo and the CMG for coming to their aid.

The exercise was jointly organised by the CMG and the Mepe Development Association, under the auspices of the Manklalo of Mepe Traditional Area and guest of honour, Torgbe Korsi Nego VI.

In a speech read on behalf of Alhaji Agongo, the business development manager of CMG, Agyemang Oppong Peprah said the exercise cost more than GH¢231,000.

He said the gesture was to help residents recover from the flooding and its effects.

“I am a product of difficulty, and with it came the lesson that the essence of our existence is not what we achieve ourselves, but how we help others achieve their goals,” he said, adding that, “As your brothers and sisters across the country, we deeply share in the pain and frustrations that these floods inflicted on you and your livelihoods.”

Torgbe Nego VI, who graced the occasion with his subjects, was full of praise for Alhaji Agongo and the CMG which comprises CTV, Accra FM, Class FM and Ho FM.

“We thank you for coming to our aid, we are very grateful to Alhaji Agongo and we are grateful to the Class Media Group,” he said.

An octogenarian beneficiary, Adayo Fiawoyife, said she did not only lose her farm, which is her main source of livelihood, but returned home after the flood to meet the debris of her collapsed house.

“I thank him (Alhaji Agongo) and I pray that God blesses him for his good heart and help him to get more, so he can support people like us,” she said.

An 83-year-old retired teacher, Madam Patience Gli, who is currently housing five families in her less affected apartment, was also awed by the gesture and quantum of money given out by Alhaji Agongo.

“I didn’t know Ghanaians can be that generous. God richly bless him and others for the support,” she remarked.

Present at the event included traditional leaders of Mepe, the business development manager of CMG, Mr. Agyemang Oppong Peprah, among others.

A Daily Guide Report

The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, says his advice to the Auditor-General not to publish its report before sending it to Parliament was not an interference.

In a statement released today, the A-G said as the principal legal advisor to the government, he has the constitutional mandate to give legal advice to all Public Services of Ghana including the Audit Service.

According to the A-G, the independence of the Auditor -General in its operations does not preclude him from legal advice from the Attorney -General.

“It ought to be pointed out that the functional independence of the Auditor-General under article 187(7)(a) of the Constitution does not confer immunity from legal advice.
Legal advice to a constitutional body cannot under any circumstance be construed to amount to interference with the performance of its constitutional functions.

A view to the contrary implies that an “independent constitutional body” has absolute freedom to act in any manner it desires, except when a court of law has ordered, even when its legal adviser (whether public or private) is of the opinion that its actions are in conflict with the law. This sounds in absurdity and is the product of unbridled sensationalism,” the A-G said.

A-G’s advise

The A-G’s statement was in response criticisms by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), over a letter by the Attorney-General advising the Auditor -General to withdraw a publication on its website about an audit report on COVID -19 funds.

Mr Dame had described as unconstitutional the publication of the Auditor-General’s report on the COVID-19 expenditure before Parliament completes considering it.

Leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) says the party will channel its energy into ensuring that the country is governed well by the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

According to the National Chairman of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, all members of the party must support the agenda following the resolution of the issue of the leadership change in Parliament.

The party has indicated that the challenges confronting the reshuffle of the Minority leadership in Parliament have been addressed after a meeting among the national executives, the Council of Elders and the Minority caucus on Monday.  

Speaking to the members of the caucus, Mr. Asiedu Nketiah urged the new leadership to work assiduously. 

“We are going to refocus on the issue of bad governance in the country including works on the National Cathedral.  We’ve cautioned the new leadership that, the record of the performance of the old leadership serves as a yardstick to the measurement of their own performance.”

Chairman of the Council of Elders for the NDC, Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu said the party must win the next polls. 

“From the reception the new leaders have received, this is not the beginning but the end of the meeting. The excitement shows that the issue has been resolved. There is no problem now. Our problem is to win the 2024 election.”

The meeting which took place at the DF Annan Auditorium in Parliament had stalwarts of the party including the Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah and his General Secretary, Fifi Kwetey, Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi, among others present.

Others at the meeting included former Deputy Minority Leader, James Klutse Avedzi, and former Speaker of Parliament, Edward Doe Adzaho.

“You can see from the enthusiasm that the challenges that arose from the announcement of the new leadership of our Caucus have all been resolved”, Johnson Asiedu Nketia added. 

A 34-year-old man, who forged a Bank of Ghana (BoG) License to operate a microfinance company at Suhum in the Eastern region and its environs, has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court.

Kofi Asante, aka Davis, pleaded guilty to the charge of engaging in deposit-taking without license and was sentenced to four years imprisonment.

On the charge of forgery of an official document, Asante pleaded guilty and was sentenced to eight years imprisonment.

The sentences are to run concurrently, the court presided over by Joojo Amoah Hagan, said.
The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emmanuel Haligah, said the Police picked up intelligence that the convict, had established microfinance business centres in the name of KM Community Bank and Prym Capital within the Suhum and its environs.

It said the convict, after establishing the business, went ahead to collect deposits from people without license.
The prosecution said intelligence indicated that the KM Community Bank had branches in Anum Apapam, Akorabo, and Amanase, while Prym Capital had its headquarters in Suhum.

The prosecution said on June 30, 2023, Asante was arrested for investigations and when his offices were searched, copies of documents purported to be issued by the Bank of Ghana in the name of KM Community Bank were found and retrieved for investigations.

It said investigations revealed that Asante had forged the Bank of Ghana License between April and January 2023 and had about 24 youths working as representatives within Suhum and its environs.

It said during the period, Asante had successfully convinced about 950 persons, who made daily deposit of GHc56,000 with his business.

The prosecution said during interrogation, Asante admitted that KM Community Bank and PRYM Capital were neither registered by the Office of the Registrar of Companies nor licensed by the Bank of Ghana to undertake deposit-taking business.

It said Asante confessed that he forged the Bank of Ghana license retrieved from his office.