Local News Archives - Page 16 of 85 -

UG student sues University and others over reinclusion of Guru, others in SRC election

A second-year student at the University of Ghana (UG) has filed a lawsuit at the Circuit Court in Adentan, Accra, against the University, its senior officials, and the Electoral Commissioner of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC). Joseph Mawuli Asioh’s lawsuit challenges the inclusion of two disqualified candidates in the 2024 SRC elections, citing procedural violations by the University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor and Dean of Student Affairs. The defendants in the suit are the University of Ghana, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Professor Gordon A. Awandare), the Dean of Students Affairs (Professor Rosina Kyerematen), and the SRC Electoral Commissioner (Mudassir-Ibn Ibrahim). Background The legal dispute began when the SRC Vetting Committee disqualified two aspirants, Emmanuel Owusu Amponsah and Maradona Adjei Yeboah (popularly known as Guru), for not meeting the residential requirement stipulated in the SRC Constitution. The disqualified candidates subsequently appealed their disqualification to the SRC Court.The SRC court ruled against the disqualified candidates and upheld the decision of the Vetting Committee. However, despite the hearing of the case by the Judicial Board, the plaintiff contends that the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gordon Awandare instructed the Dean of Students Affairs to convene the SRC Appeals Board to hear the case. The Appeals Board, which typically handles appeals and does not have original jurisdiction, controversially heard the matter. In a decision that the plaintiff describes as unlawful, the Appeals Board overturned the Judicial Board’s ruling and reinstated the disqualified candidates, allowing them to contest in the upcoming SRC elections. Reliefs Sought Joseph Mawuli Asioh is seeking several declarations and orders from the court, including: a. A declaration that the decision of the Vetting Committee to disqualify the two candidates was lawful and binding. b. A declaration that the Appeals Board had no jurisdiction to overturn the Judicial Board’s ruling, especially in the absence of a formal appeal. c. An order to restrain the defendants from interfering with the SRC electoral process. d. An order preventing the inclusion of the disqualified candidates in the SRC elections. The plaintiff is also seeking costs, including solicitor’s fees. JoyNews understands that the defendants have been served with the writ of summons, and the case is expected to be heard in the Circuit Court in Adentan. Additionally, Mawuli has filed for an interlocutory injunction to prevent the disqualified candidates from participating in the elections until the court delivers a final ruling. myjoyonline.com

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Four Ghanaian students arrested in U.S. for forging transcripts to enter Lehigh University

Four Ghanaian international students have been arrested in the United States for allegedly forging high school transcripts to gain admission to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The students; Otis Opoku, Evans Oppong, Cyrilstan Nomobon Sowah-Nai, and Henry Dabuo are facing charges of forgery and theft of services and are currently being held in Northampton County Jail on $100,000 bail each, according to court records. The arrests stem from a criminal investigation launched by the Lehigh University Police Department (LUPD) after concerns were raised by the university’s Vice Provost of Admissions and Financial Aid, Dan Warner, regarding suspicious discrepancies in a transcript submitted by a fifth student, Jude Dabuo, Henry Dabuo’s older brother. The transcript, marked by unusual formatting and spelling errors, led to the rescission of Jude Dabuo’s admission. This discovery prompted further scrutiny into the credentials of other Ghanaian students at the university, eventually revealing falsified transcripts in the applications of Opoku, Oppong, Sowah-Nai, and Henry Dabuo. Court documents show that the students received substantial financial aid packages as part of their enrollment at Lehigh. Otis Opoku, who has been enrolled at the university since 2022, was awarded $212,933 in aid, while Sowah-Nai and Dabuo, both starting in 2023, received $127,213 and $129,244, respectively. Lehigh University’s student newspaper reports that LUPD Detective Lieutenant David Kokinda filed criminal complaints against Opoku, Sowah-Nai, and Dabuo on September 6, with Evans Oppong’s complaint still being processed. The four students were arraigned on September 9 and are awaiting preliminary hearings scheduled for September 24. While the university and LUPD have not made official comments, the case has gained attention in the local community. A GoFundMe campaign, launched by friends of the students, has raised $9,075 towards legal defence, bail reduction, and commissary expenses, with a revised fundraising target of $30,925. According to the campaign, Opoku and Oppong had earned spots on Lehigh’s prestigious Dean’s List, which requires a GPA of 3.6 or higher. The students remain in custody without legal representation, as the case draws significant scrutiny regarding admissions practices and fraud in international student recruitment. Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Emmanuel Mensah

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BOST $3m scandal case: Journalist discharged after court strikes out charges

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The District Court at Achimota has discharged Yahaya Alhassan, President of the Ghana Social Justice Forum and a journalist, after striking out charges against him related to his protest over the alleged $3 million scandal at Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST). Alhassan was arrested, along with two others, by the police and charged with offenses including offensive conduct conducive to a breach of peace. The prosecution’s failure to call witnesses despite several opportunities given by the Magistrate, His Worship Prince Osei Owusu, influenced the court’s decision. When the case was called, the prosecution did not appear, prompting the accused’s counsel, Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, to request that the charge sheet be struck out for want of prosecution. The Magistrate, who had previously warned in August that failure to call witnesses would result in the case being struck out, did indeed strike out the charge sheet and discharged the accused persons due to the prosecution’s inaction. According to the Auditor-General’s 2021 report, irregularities at BOST were uncovered, including allegations that the BOST board chairman created three companies to compete for BOST contracts, leading to scandals amounting to $3 million. The accused persons were arrested for failing to alert the police about their intended demonstration. Alhassan pleaded not guilty to the charge of failing to notify the police of a special event, contrary to Section 1 of the Public Order Act, 1994 (Act 491) when he led a demonstration at BOST’s Dzorwulu premises without prior notice. Alhassan, along with Ali Shaku and Osman Salia, both porters, faced charges including conspiracy. Shaku and Salia also faced additional charges of abetment. They all denied the charge of offensive conduct conducive to a breach of peace, contrary to Section 207 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). Brief Facts: According to the brief facts presented to the court by the prosecution, the complainant, Mr. Emmanuel Darko, is the Facility Manager of BOST Company, Dzowulu. Yahaya Alhassan, the first accused, is a journalist residing in Mamobi, while Ali Shaku (second accused) and Osman Salia (third accused) are porters living in Mallam Atta. The prosecution stated that on November 22, 2022, the accused persons drove into the premises of BOST Company and requested to see the Director of BOST, Mr. Edwin Alfred Provencal. When informed that he was unavailable, they began making noise. Alhassan shouted and displayed a banner with the caption “The New Ghana Social Justice Forum” and the inscription “High Fuel Prices mean Ghana Can’t Drive; Edwin Alfred Provencal, MD of BOST, Come Clean for the $3M Fraud and Loot Shared at the Expense of the Mass Unemployed Youth and Kayaye Girls.” Shaku allegedly shouted in Hausa, while Salia filmed the scene with a camera. Their actions attracted workers and outsiders to the premises. The complainant attempted to calm them down, but Alhassan became infuriated, insulting him and saying, “Go away, you are all thieves; you will be exposed one way or another.” A police patrol team was called, and the accused persons were arrested and taken to the Kotobabi Police Station. During the investigation, it was revealed that Alhassan, as the leader of the group, had not notified the police of his intention to hold the demonstration. Based on this, the accused persons were charged with the offenses and arraigned.

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Driver accused of defrauding businessman of GH¢120K remanded

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A 39-year-old driver who allegedly defrauded a businessman of GH¢120,000 has been remanded into police by an Adentan Circuit Court. Paul Kwabena Duku allegedly collected the money from the businessman under the pretext of selling a Kia Rhino truck to him but failed. Charged with defrauding by false pretences, Duku in the company of his lawyer, pleaded not guilty. He is expected to reappear before the court on September 16, 2024, for bail consideration. The facts as read by Chief Inspector Anim Darko before the court presided over by Mrs Sedinam Awo Kwadam are that the complainant in the case is Mr Francis Adebor. The accused person, the prosecution said, was a resident of Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. The prosecution said in March 2024, the complainant saw a KIA Rhino truck with registration number GR 6222-24 advertised on Jiji, an online platform for sale. The Court heard that the complainant contacted the number displayed on the truck and was assured by someone that the truck was available for sale. The prosecution said the complainant requested to inspect the truck before purchasing. The complainant therefore called again, but he was given another phone number purported to be that of the owner of the truck. The prosecution said the complainant again contacted the supposed owner who also gave him the number of Duku as the one who would lead him to inspect the truck. The Court heard that Duku and two other accomplices now on the run posed as owners of the truck and they led the complainant to inspect same at a location at Ritz Junction, Madina in Accra. Prosecution said the complainant after inspecting the vehicle, expressed interest in the truck and bargained with Duku and his accomplices and arrived at the cost of GH¢120,000. The Prosecutor said Duku stood by the truck with the view of securing the vehicle while his accomplices led the complainant to a location at Pantang Hospital to meet the other accomplices for payment to be made. It said the complainant made full payment of GH¢120,000 to Duku’s accomplices who issued to him with a receipt of payment and forged documents covering the truck. The Court heard that the complainant was then directed to go for the truck with one of the accomplices at the location where Duku was waiting. The prosecution said on the way, Duku’s accomplices bolted and left the complainant behind. The prosecution said the accomplices quickly called Duku to also leave his location and he did. The Court heard that when the complainant got to the location of the truck, he realised that he had been swindled. The prosecution said Duku and his accomplices later shared the money among themselves. The complainant therefore reported the matter to the Police and investigations led to the arrest of Duku from his hideout at Agbogba, Accra. Prosecution Duku in his caution statement admitted the offence and stated that he only received GH¢2,000 out of the booty. The Prosecutor said Duku has failed to show the Police the whereabouts of his accomplices. GNA/MYJOYONLINE

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Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ faces federal charges in New York, his lawyer says

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Sean “Diddy” Combs faces federal charges in New York, his lawyer said late Monday. Details of the charges weren’t immediately announced by prosecutors, but Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, issued a statement saying: “We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.” He added that Combs had gone to New York last week in anticipation of the charges being brought. “He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal,” Agnifilo said. Criminal charges would be a major but not unexpected takedown of one of the most prominent producers and most famous names in the history of hip-hop. The federal investigation of the 58-year-old Combs was revealed when Homeland Security Investigations agents served simultaneous search warrants and raided Combs’ mansions in Los Angeles and Miami on March 25. His defense attorney Aaron Dyer the day after the raids called them “a gross use of military-level force,” said the allegations were “meritless,” and said Combs was “innocent and will continue to fight” to clear his name. (Getty Images) Combs, then known as Puff Daddy, was at the center of the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop battles of the 1990s as the partner and producer of the Notorious B.I.G., who was shot and killed in 1997. But like many of those who survived the era, his public image had softened with age into a genteel host of parties in Hollywood and the Hamptons, a fashion-forward businessman, and a doting father who spoiled his kids, some of whom lost their mother in 2018. But a different image began emerging in November, when his former protege and girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, became the first of several people to sue him for sexual abuse with stories of a steady stream of sex workers in drug-fueled settings where some of those involved were coerced or cajoled into sex. In her November lawsuit, Cassie alleged years of abuse, including beatings and rape. Her suit also alleged Combs engaged in sex trafficking by “requiring her to engage in forced sexual acts in multiple jurisdictions” and by engaging in “harboring and transportation of Plaintiff for purposes of sex induced by force, fraud, or coercion.” It also said he compelled her to help him traffic male sex workers Combs would force Cassie to have sex with while he filmed. The suit was settled settled the following day, but its reverberations would last far longer. Combs lost lingering allies, supporters and those reserving judgment when CNN in May aired a leaked video of him punching Cassie, kicking her and throwing her on the floor in a hotel hallway. The following day, in his first real acknowledgement of wrongdoing since the stream of allegations began, Combs posted a social media video apologizing, saying “I was disgusted when I did it” and “I’m disgusted now.” Cassie’s lawsuit was followed by at least a half-dozen others in the ensuing months. In February, a music producer filed a lawsuit alleging Combs coerced him to solicit prostitutes and pressured him to have sex with them. Another of Combs’ accusers was a woman who said the rap producer raped her two decades ago when she was 17. Another woman who filed a lawsuit, April Lampos, said she was a college student in 1994 when she met Combs and a series of “terrifying sexual encounters” with Combs and those around him began that lasted for years. Combs and his attorneys denied nearly all of the lawsuits’ allegations. While authorities did not publicly say that the lawsuits set off the criminal investigation, Dyer said when the warrants were served that the case was based on “meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits.” The AP does not typically name people who say they have been sexually abused unless they come forward publicly as Cassie and Lampros did. As the founder of Bad Boy Records, Combs became one of the most influential hip-hop producers and executives of the past three decades Along with the Notorious B.I.G. he worked with a slew of top-tier artists including Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Faith Evans and 112. Combs’ roles in his businesses beyond music — including lucrative private-label spirits, a media company and the Sean John Fashion line — took major hits when the allegations arose. The consequences were even greater when the leaked beating video emerged. Howard University cut ties with him, and he returned his key to the city of New York at the request of the mayor. MYJOYONLINE

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University student jailed for defrauding woman on fake admission promise

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The Winneba District Magistrate’s Court has sentenced a 30-year-old student of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) to 13 months’ imprisonment for defrauding by false pretences, contrary to section 131 of the criminal and other offences 29/60. Frank Anderson Junior pleaded guilty and appealed to the court to give him time to refund the money, however, the Court presided over by Madam Josephine Fosua Appiah, convicted him on his own plea and sentenced him accordingly. Presenting the facts of the case, Detective Police Inspector Dorinda Azuma, the Prosecutor told the court that the complainant, Ms Emeta Cecilia Odarno, is unemployed, while the convict Frank Anderson Junior is a student of UEW, both residing in Winneba. The prosecutor said in 2023, the complainant needed admission at UEW and as a result she contacted Simon Alhassan a witness in the case also a student of UEW for assistance. She said the witness then informed Anderson Junior the convict, whom he knew could help the complainant to get the admission and the convict asked the complainant to pay GHc2,500.00 for the admission form and subsequent admission. Ms Odarno, then paid the money through Alhassan the witness to the convict Anderson. The prosecutor stated that on August 6, 2024, Ms Odarno received an admission letter for 2023/2024 academic year from UEW in a PDF form on her phone from the witness who sent it to her from the convict. The prosecutor said on receipt of the admission letter, the complainant intended to pay the school fees but had challenge due to the index number given to her on the admission letter. The prosecutor said the complainant contacted one Samuel Teye Dei also a witness, for assistance who then contacted the convict, and the latter instructed that the complainant send him the fees of GHc2,300.00 through Teye Dei, which she did. He said the convict later forwarded a UEW official receipt from Zenith Bank Ghana limited, Winneba Branch with Number 240207876A480F dated February 7, 2024, to the complainant through Teye Dei. The prosecutor said all this while the complainant was attending lectures in the university, but later detected that the receipt given her was fake. Ms Odarno went to the Students Center for verification, and it was confirmed that the admission letter was forged, hence her name was not in the system. She reported the case to the police and the convict was apprehended and during investigation he returned the cash of Ghc2,230.00 electronically to Mohammed Samuel Alhassan who is the twin brother of witness Simon Alhassan, and cash of GHc4,850.00 was later retrieved from him. After investigation, Anderson Junior was arraigned before the court charged with the offence. GNA

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Man who attacked Comoros president dies in cell

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The man who was arrested for attacking the Comoros president with a knife on Friday has been found dead in prison, the authorities there say. The attack took place during a funeral for a well-known religious leader and injured President Azali Assoumani’s hand. National prosecutor Ali Mohamed Djounaid said that after being arrested the attacker had been isolated in a cell to calm him down. He said a lifeless body was found lying on the floor of the cell on Saturday morning. “A doctor declared him dead. An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of his death,” Mr Djounaid told a press conference in the Indian Ocean archipelago’s capital, Moroni. As for the 65-year-old president, he was “doing well. He has no health problems, he is out of danger. A few stitches were given,” energy minister Aboubacar Saïd Anli is quoted by the AFP news agency as saying. He was also at the press conference, which was attended by almost all government ministers. The motive for Friday’s afternoon’s attack is not clear but the authorities are looking into it. They have identified the knifeman as a 24-year-old soldier called Ahmed Abdou, AFP reports. Witnesses told AFP they saw the man in the room where well-wishers were paying their respects to the deceased. They say the attacker injured the president’s hand in the stabbing, before being stopped by one of the mourners. President Azali first came to power in a military coup in 1999. After a decade out of office, he won a disputed election in 2016 and was re-elected last January. The vote was marred by allegations of ballot stuffing and was followed by two days of deadly protests. Azali has been accused of growing authoritarianism. He served as president of the African Union between 2023 and 2024. myjoyonline

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TikTok to begin appeal against being sold or banned in US

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TikTok will start making its case on Monday against a law that will see it banned in the US unless its Chinese owner ByteDance sells it within nine months. The measure – signed into law by President Biden in April – has been prompted by concerns that US users’ data is vulnerable to exploitation by China’s government. TikTok and ByteDance have always denied links to the Chinese authorities and have described the law an “extraordinary intrusion on free speech rights.” The social media firm, which claims to have more than 170 million American users, will make its arguments before a three-judge panel at an appeals court in Washington DC. Company representatives will be joined by eight TikTok creators, including a Texas rancher and a Tennessee baker, who say they rely on the platform to market their products and make a living. Lawyers from the Department of Justice (DoJ) will then proceed to lay out their case. In addition to data concerns, DoJ officials and lawmakers have expressed alarm at the prospect of TikTok being used by the Chinese government to spread propaganda to Americans. However, advocates of America’s powerful free speech rights, enshrined in the First Amendment of the US Constitution, say upholding the divest-or-ban law would be a gift to authoritarian regimes everywhere. “We shouldn’t be surprised if repressive governments the world over cite this precedent to justify new restrictions on their own citizens’ right to access information, ideas, and media from abroad,” said Xiangnong Wang, a staff attorney at Columbia University’s Knight First Amendment Institute. It has filed an amicus brief – legal documents submitted by someone not a party to the case but with an interest in it, offering information or expertise, usually with the hope of influencing the outcome. Mr Wang also criticised lawmakers for being vague about the specific national security threats that they say TikTok poses. “We can’t think of any previous instance in which such a broad restriction on First Amendment rights was found to be constitutional on the basis of evidence that wasn’t disclosed,” he said. But according to James Lewis, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, the law was drafted to withstand judicial scrutiny. “The substance of the case against TikTok is very strong,” Mr Lewis said. “The key point is whether the court accepts that requiring divestiture does not regulate speech.” Mr Lewis added that the courts usually defer to the president on national security matters. Regardless of how the appeals court rules, most experts agree the case could drag on for months, if not longer. “Nothing gets resolved next week,” said Mike Proulx, vice president and research director at analysis firm Forrester. “This is a high stakes and very complicated conundrum that will likely go all the way to the Supreme Court.”

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Accountant jailed two years for stealing Ghana Police Church money

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An accountant who dishonestly appropriated GHC40,433.50 from the Ghana Police Church has been sentenced to two years in prison by an Adentan Circuit Court. Edward Unicorn, 32, told the court that he used the money to wager bets and asked for the court to grant him bail to work and pay it off. Unicorn was charged with stealing. He pled guilty with an explanation. “I spent the money by playing Aviator (an online betting game). I staked it and never won. I was desperate to win but lost. “I was addicted to Aviator, so my brother referred me to a doctor at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. I called him twice and I never went to see him. “I put in the GHC40,000 bit by bit. I was desperate to win,” he explained. The court, presided over by Mrs. Sedinam Awo Kwadam, convicted him on his own plea. It directed that Unicorn’s should pay GHC5,000, and an amount of GHC2,775 retrieved from the accused be given to the Ghana Police Church. The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Anim Darko, said the complainant is a police officer and the chaplain of the church. It said Unicorn worked as the accountant for the church. In June 2024, Unicorn was employed by the church. He was responsible for the collection of cash from ushers who received the offertory in church. Unicorn also oversaw the management of the church’s mobile money accounts, preparation of payroll, and monthly reports to the Financial Committee. The prosecution said that because of the position he held at the church, he always had access to the church’s mobile money, enabling him to have direct control over the cash flow into the church account. The court heard that on August 17, 2024, at about 1900 hours, Unicorn left work and carried the church Mobile Money phone with him. According to the prosecution, Unicorn proceeded to Jerry’s Pub and met a friend, Wishwell Kofi Yorke, for a drink. Unicorn then hired two Nigerian prostitutes, and then went to the Purple Pub in Osu to continue their fun. The prosecution said Unicorn made a GHC136 payment from the church Momo account at the Purple Pub between 0100 hours on August 17, 2024, and 0722 hours on August 18, 2024. Investigations found that on August 18, 2024, Unicorn deposited GHC18,303 to Wishwell Kofi Yorke’s Momo account and GHC13,588 to his personal Momo account, and used all of it to play Aviator, an online betting game. The prosecutor said Unicorn, knowing he would be caught, pretended to have a mental condition, and was taken to the Ghana Police Hospital before being directed to the Accra Psychiatric Hospital, where he was treated and discharged. It said that on August 19, 2024, the complainant detected the theft and lodged a complaint with the East Legon Police Station. The court heard that Unicorn was arrested and remanded for further investigations. The prosecution said that following the reconciliation of the church’s accounts, it was discovered that on July 14, 2024, only GHC5,000 of the GHC7,000 collected as offertory was deposited into its bank account. Also, the prosecution said that on July 21, 2024, an offering of GHC6,500 was collected, but only GHC6,000 was deposited into the church’s account. The prosecution said Unicorn failed to account for a second offertory of GHC3,143.50 collected on August 18, 2024. GNA

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Government forms adhoc Ministerial committee chaired by Kan-Dapaah to tackle illegal mining

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On the instruction of the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, an adhoc Ministerial committee has been set up to engage all stakeholders to assess government’s efforts in dealing with illegal mining. The five-member committee is led by the National Security Minister, Albert Kan-Dapaah. Other members of the committee are the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, the Minister for Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, the Minister of Employment, Labour Relations and Pensions, Ignatius Baffour Awuah and the Minister of information, Fatimatu Abubakar. The move follows the recent calls from various stakeholders urging the President to act on the menace of illegal mining. In a statement dated September 13, 2024 and signed by Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar it was explained that the committee’s mandate is to engage with key stakeholders including local communities, traditional rulers, and industry experts and assess the effectiveness of current government measures aimed at curbing illegal mining. The move signals the government’s renewed commitment to finding a more robust solution to the galamsey menace, which has had devastating effects on Ghana’s environment and natural resources. “The creation of this ministerial committee is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to tackle the galamsey issue head-on, ensuring that sustainable and effective measures are in place,” the statement said.

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