Day: April 12, 2023

The national administration jointly with the Judiciary in Makueni County torched 567 kilograms of cannabis sativa worth Sh17 million at Kizingo in Makindu sub-county on Tuesday evening. The exercise was led by Makueni County Commissioner (CC) Kaburu Kaimba and the Makindu Law Courts Senior Principal Magistrate (SPM) Benson Ireri who were accompanied by the county security team and Regional heads from DCI and NACADA. Kaimba lamented that the continued use of bhang has impacted negatively on the education whereby some students have dropped out of school besides being involved in other criminal activities. Consequently, the County Commissioner said the drug menace has also affected the economy as those involved could not do any meaningful engagement that would help them earn a living. In this regard, the administrator said there was a need for all people to come out and fight the vice in a bid to minimize its effects on the county. ‘The destruction of this bhang is going to serve as a warning to those engaged in this illegal business that has affected our children, the economy and the education sector. Urge all to come out and fight this vice,’ said Kaimba while addressing wananchi and government officials who came to witness the destruction of the bhang at Kizingo. Addressing the same function, Ireri said that he has used the law of Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (Control) which takes measures for preventing, combating and regulation of the drugs. ‘The law states that when such drugs have been found, it should be destroyed and overseen by the Magistrate handling the case. He should make sure the drugs are burnt completely,’ he said. He further said that the suspects who were transporting the bhang disappeared and were yet to be arrested but the vehicle and bhang were impounded on April 5, 2022 when the incident occurred. Ireri disclosed that the prosecution did apply for the destruction of the bhang and also want the vehicle forfeited to the State. ‘The Office of the Director of Prosecution did an application to the court to burn the drugs and the vehicle be forfeited to the government. The case is ongoing and we shall make a ruling once it is complete,’ said Ireri while speaking to the media. On his part, the DCI Regional Coordinator Eastern Lenny Kisaka who represented the Regional Commissioner called for concerted efforts by all departments to create awareness among wananchi in order to combat the vice. In this regard, he urged wananchi to work closely with the security agencies and volunteer information that could be used in confidence to fight the use and sale of drugs along the busy Mombasa-Nairobi highway which is being used to transport the illegal drugs. ‘There is a need to carry out awareness in schools, mosques and churches to combat the use of drugs in the region. Chiefs and their assistants and wananchi need to work closely with the security agencies to end this vice,’ said Kisaka. The vehicle carrying the bhang, a White Nissan Vanette 200 Reg. KDG 245D, was abandoned at Syengoni murram road in Makindu April 5, 2022 by the suspects whereby several sacks were recovered including number plates. Also present at the torching was Eastern Regional head NACADA Alex Njeru.

Source: Kenya News Agency

The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) and the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) have called for a re-engagement on the recently passed revenue bills before the President’s assent.

Just before its recession, Parliament passed three new revenue taxes; Excise Duty Amendment Bill 2022, the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill 2022, and the Income Tax Amendment Bill 2022, which is currently awaiting presidential assent for its implementation.

The IEAG and the GFL have however called on the President not to assent to the bill as it was against the interests of the growth of businesses, both manufacturers and importers.

Mr Samson Asaki Awingobit, the Executive Secretary of the IEAG, and Mr Abraham Koomson, Secretary General of the GFL, were speaking respectively on the topics, “Perspective of Importers and Exporters on the three newly approved taxes,” and “What makes the three new taxes bad from the perspective of organised labour.”

They said this when they appeared on the Ghana News Agency-Tema Industrial News Hub Boardroom discussions, which provides the platform for both state and non-state organisations to deliberate on national topic issues.

Mr Awingobit said, “We want to engage the President, “this is the only tax bill that collectively all business organisations have come together to oppose, therefore the President must take it seriously.”

He said should the President go ahead and sign, the business community would meet and decide the way forward and what actions to take, as implementing the bills would lead to suffering for businesses, government revenue, and the public.

Mr Koomson, for his part, said since the government did not engage the unions and businesses before pushing for the passage of the bill, it would not even rake in a quarter of the projected annual revenue of GHS 4 billion it hopes to collect.

He said it was not too late for the President to hold on to the assent, as doing so against the will of the people would backfire and not benefit the economy.

He described it as unfortunate that the Members of Parliament passed the bill even though they petitioned them on the consequences of such taxes, reiterating that it would lead to the folding up of many companies and the redundancy of workers who were members of labour unions such as the GFL.

According to him, already workers were being laid off and businesses were folding up due to the unfavourable economic situation in Ghana, therefore adding all three would compound issues.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Akuapemhene, Oseadeyo Kwasi Akufo III, has directed the five Divisional Chiefs and Traditional Authorities within the Akuapem Traditional Area to resolve all disputes and differences in six months.

He urged them to present a dispute resolution report to the Akuapem Traditional Council with the assurance that the council would intervene if and when it is necessary in the settlement of the disputes.

Speaking at a durbar to climax his tour of the five Divisional Councils, Nana Akufo III said the disputes and differences hindered the development of the area.

The situation, he said, created unnecessary tension, conflict and clashes, leading to the use of scarce resources to manage them.

He explained that, an environment characterised by disputes could not yield the desired development and stability.

“I have come to the realisation that development cannot take place in an environment devoid of peace and unity.

I am aware of the various squabbles among chiefs within the Traditional Area, and I urge the Divisional Chiefs to address these matters,” he added.

The Akuapemhene said the disputes unleashed pain and derailed development in the affected communities, urged the traditional council to do more to promote the peace, safety and development of the area.

The durbar which was preceded by a tour of the Okuapemhene to the five Divisional Areas from April 9, 2023, also marked the celebration of the fifth Awukudae in Akuapem.

The durbar brought together the five divisional chiefs from Aburi, Adukrom, Amanokrom, Akropong and Larteh, the Council of Elders and dignitaries amidst the display of its rich and beautiful culture.

Present at the ceremony were the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; the Okyenhene, Amoatia Ofori Payin; the Akwamuhene, Odeneho Kwarfo Akoto lII; the New Juabenhene, Daasebre Kwasi Boateng lII and the Acting Boso Hene, Nana Kwasi Anyane.

Source: Ghana News Agency

A Cameroonian student, Samuel Nkongho Tanyi, has been sentenced to 8 years imprisonment for importing 9.5 kilos of drugs to Cyprus from Cameroon. The verdict was passed on April 11th 2023.

The high court Judge Murat Soytaç together with two other judges noted that the accused came into the country as a student and imported 9.5 kilograms of cannabis-type drugs through the Ercan Airport because he did not have enough money to cover his education. He also stated that this portrays weaknesses in the student admission policy of foreigners by the state.

“It raises serious questions about the issue, and also points to serious weaknesses in the student admission policy of the State,” the North Cyprus News Agency reported.

He highlighted that importing drugs into North Cyprus, which is claimed to be the “country of universities”, through Ercan Airport also raises serious questions as to how well students can be protected.

“The fact that such a large amount of drugs can be brought into the country from Ercan Airport in a suitcase without taking any additional measures shows us a picture as grave as the crime committed.”

The High Court Judge has criticized the management of foreign students and says

urgent measures are needed to address the problem of African students who arrive in North Cyprus and become either the perpetrators or victims of crimes.

The online news for North Cyprus had reported in September last year that most African students, mainly from Nigeria, are lured to North Cyprus by agencies who promise them the opportunity to work while they study. There have been incidences where some have been kidnapped and forced to work as sex workers.

While Others have been unable to pay for their tuition because they cannot find employment to help pay for their studies and thus they resort to selling drugs.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

International Conference on Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) praised Wednesday in Luanda the role of parliamentary diplomacy in pacifying spirits and uniting peoples for a common future .

The recognition was expressed by ICGLR Executive Secretary while speaking to the press at the end of a meeting with the speaker of the National Assembly, Carolina Cerqueira.

The ICGLR official noted that parliaments are institutions of great importance in the constant search for debate on the establishment of peace and security in the Greater Lakes.

He stressed, however, the work done by the female speakers of the parliaments of the ICGLR organisation (Angola, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia) in promotion of peace in the region.

“We have female speakers of parliaments, so we are using this condition to also show the world the role of female speakers of National Assemblies and what they can do for peace”, he expressed.

The Angolan diplomat, at the service of the ICGLR, stressed that the meeting with the speaker of the Angolan Parliament is part of a plan of visits to entities in the member countries of the Great Lakes Region.

“I am proud, as an Angolan, to work towards strengthening cooperation relations not only with the Angolan Parliament, but with all the parliaments of the Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region”, stressed João Caholo.

The meeting highlighted the role of the parliamentarians of the countries of the region in the mediation and resolution of conflicts, in the promotion of peace through dialogue and coordination, to guarantee the necessary stability and security for the pacification and an effective peace.

The participants also addressed the importance of cooperation between the National Assembly and the ICGLR, in the area of specialty commissions, in addressing issues relating to human rights, defence and security and international relations.

Recently, the speaker of the National Assembly participated, in Juba, South Sudan, in the FP-ICGLR meeting that addressed, among other issues, the need for parliaments to be involved in efforts in favour of peace in the Great Lakes Region.

The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) comprises Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Republic of Congo.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

Senators making up the third legislature will have as challenges: the implementation their institutional mission, which is to decently represent their decentralized territorial collectivities and to actively participate in the implementation of democracy as mentioned by the Head of State.

These challenges were revealed on April 11th 2023 as the 100 senators who were recently elected and appointed, met at the Yaounde Conference Center for the solemn opening of their first ordinary session as of right. The session was presided over by the eldest Senator, René Ze Nguele together with his youngest colleagues, Senators Jeanne Caroline Afane and Michel Kotoko.

New Senators during the opening session expressed satisfaction and also revealed what their plans are.

“I am proud and satisfied to be here to participate in the writing of a new page in the history of the Senate in Cameroon and I hope we shall all have convergent points of view to participate in the construction of our country,” Senator Laurent Charles Boyomo Assala of the Centre region said.

“Our regions and the population in general are really expecting much from us. We should initiate development from the senate. We are also expected to bring our touches in decentralization. I think it is a mandate of revolution. We are determined to accompany the Head of State in this mandate,” Senator Grégoire Mba Mba of the South region added.

After the solemn opening of the Senate, the Senators are expected to continue their session as of right during which their compatibilities will be verified by various executive bodies that will be put in place, they will also be handed over their attributes and general committees will be formed.

Source: Cameroon News Agency

Angolan head of State João Lourenço Wednesday in Luanda discussed with his counterpart from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Félix Antoine Tshisekedi the security and peace process in the Eastern region of this country, which faces an internal armed conflict.

Félix Tshisekedi, who had been in Luanda for a few hours, discussed with President João Lourenço, among the matters, the cantonment of the M23 forces, according to the understandings reached as part of the mediation exercised by the Angolan Head of State.

The Angolan mediation of the conflict in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) resulted in a ceasefire agreement in that region, since March 7 this year.

The Angolan National Assembly approved last month, at the request of the President of the Republic, unanimously, the deployment of a contingent of 500 soldiers from the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) to the DRC for a 12-month period.

The staff integrates a battalion of the FAA and their respective components, as well as financial means estimated at 11.2 billion kwanzas, within the framework of the budget of Defence and Security sector.

A contingent of the Angolan army should secure the cantonment areas of the M23 rebels and protect the members of the ad hoc verification mechanism, following the ceasefire between government troops and the rebels.

At a mini-summit on peace and security in the Great Lakes region, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 17, 2023, the African Heads of State and Government mandated” Angola, in coordination with the former President of Kenya, Uhuru Kennyatta, a facilitator appointed by the East Africa Commission, to hold contacts with the leadership of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group.

The M23 was created in 2012 when DRC soldiers revolted over the loss of power of their leader, Bosco Ntaganda, accused by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of war crimes and for alleged breaches of the peace agreement of March 23, 2009, which gives the name to the movement.

Source: Angola Press News Agency