Mahama accuses Pres. Akufo-Addo of piling the judiciary with NPP sympathisers | JoyNews Prime
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00:00 Hello, good evening and welcome to join news prime coming up in the next half hour former president John Jumani Mahama
00:06 Accuses president akufo-addo and his government of piling the judiciary with judges sympathetic to the new patriotic party
00:14 And
00:18 Governing MPP justifies police decision to amend proposed routes for the minorities occupied
00:24 BoG protest describing it as proactive intervention to forestall any unforeseen danger
00:30 Plus some state institutions responsible for protecting Ghana's natural resources and preserving its
00:41 Environmental heritage continue to look on for the upper Pramat Forest to be dissipate
00:46 We have more coming up shortly I am Beverly broom, please stay with us
00:53 You
00:55 Thanks for choosing us we go straight into our stories now and former president John Jumani Mahama has accused president
01:15 Akufo-addo and his government of piling the judiciary with judges sympathetic to the new patriotic party. Mr
01:22 Mahama insists the current government has deliberately and consciously appointed its cornice to the second arm of government
01:28 Speaking at the closing ceremony of the third annual lawyers conference of the National Democratic Congress on Saturday September 2
01:36 He said the party has done this to help them avoid accountability when they are out of office
01:42 According to him there are about 80 of such judges in the system and the number may cross hundred
01:50 Can be the judiciary is packed with NPP
01:53 inclined judges
01:57 because the this government has carried out a deliberate policy of putting
02:02 Their people on on the bench. It's
02:05 More than 80 towards hundred and counting is back the courts
02:10 and we know that they've packed the courts because they want to avoid accountability after they have left office and so
02:18 All manner of people who are known to have been partisan to have been executives of their party who and illegal
02:24 profession have been
02:27 leapfrogged in
02:28 The superior courts and other places we must be prepared as NDC
02:33 Legal persons to also go on to the bench so that we can balance out
02:39 You know the judiciary and so I encourage some of you to look at careers on the bench so that we can balance out
02:46 What's the current situation?
02:48 Now the minority in Parliament is insisting that it's planned occupy BOG demonstration
02:55 Posts is no security threats to the public the NDC and PC the Ghana Police Services does applying the Public Order Act
03:03 injuriously according to the Boko Central MP Mahama Yaga
03:08 The caucus will oppose the injunction application on Monday
03:11 He added that the police has demonstrated bad fate as they have been engaging them throughout their plan for the process
03:18 You are speaking on news file
03:20 You know very good law
03:23 and we used
03:26 Injuriously by very bad people
03:29 The Public Order Act as the name suggests is to assist ensure public order
03:36 but clearly
03:40 You need to establish that there's a real threat to public order
03:45 This is a protest much in which we have not had one single Ghanian
03:51 make a statement that
03:54 They are going to challenge
03:58 the protesters
04:00 That they are going to organize a counter
04:02 demonstration
04:05 Nobody I said they're going to organize a counter demonstration
04:09 So there's really no threat
04:11 Secondly this is a protest much led by members of Parliament
04:20 and so we're also very interested in a peaceful and orderly much to the central bank and to
04:28 Present our petitions and then to depart peacefully because our repetitions are also on the line
04:34 In fact, we'll be watching the police more than they would watching us
04:39 and
04:40 For every demonstration that I have participated in we've made sure that the entire
04:44 Much is covered every angle of it by our own cameras
04:49 So that when there's a problem anywhere, we will all be able to detect who caused it
04:54 Because again, you must always look out for infiltrators
04:58 You must look out for sometimes the infiltrators can actually be you know, sponsored state security actors
05:03 So you can't assume that all the people wearing uniforms are standing there
05:08 You know mean well for the demonstrators clearly
05:11 We have done this before we've done this severally what has happened today
05:16 What has degenerated about the Ghana Police Service that they cannot police citizens
05:23 Too much along the same roads that they could match to several years ago
05:27 if anything at all
05:29 These past demonstrations who serve as experience for the police service in how to process
05:36 How to police people to along those same roads?
05:40 So if you could do this several years ago, why can't you do it today?
05:44 Now the communications director of the governing new patriotic party Richard
05:50 I have a says the decision of the Ghana police to alter the routes for the minorities
05:55 Occupy POG protest does not affect the essence of the protest. Mr.
06:00 Higua says the decision is appropriate as it will enable the police protect the Bank of Ghana and other state
06:07 Institutions from unforeseen incidents on news file. He has Ghanians to discuss the issue
06:12 Dispassionately and urge the police to be consistent and apply the same principles to other demonstrations in the future
06:20 the conversation should be looked at dispassionately to say that the spirit the essential spirit of
06:26 demonstration is not
06:29 Hurt by saying go here if that is a conversation
06:33 We should look at it now the decision of the demonstrators to want to go to a particular destination
06:38 and the position of the police saying that maybe it might be a security zone and
06:45 The headquarters if you've been there recently, I think we all know where it's at. It's a very crowded place. And so for me
06:53 And we're beginning to see an instance where the police is trying to manage
06:59 the crowd situation and to prevent unforeseen situations happening the fact that
07:04 The fact that it's already a crowded place right does not defeat their arguments
07:09 Well, you couldn't you couldn't possibly avoid the organic crowd that is there, but this one you can prevent it, right?
07:16 so that's really the logic there, but I think that if
07:19 On whole we are going to understand that. Okay. Well for certain reasons
07:23 We can designate that independence as the converging point for all
07:28 Demonstrate you'll be fine with I'll be okay with it
07:31 But the only thing is that it has to be consistent and and and in doing that
07:35 Something I think you agree with me
07:38 It doesn't take away the inherent value and right of citizens to demonstrate
07:43 But it is only helping the police manage the unintended outcomes of you know
07:48 Crowd coming together and possibilities of anything happening. I think we should focus on
07:54 Now on the plot to ask the IGP executive director of the Ghana integrity initiative blamed politicians for the
08:01 politicization of the Ghana Police Service
08:04 especially in the appointment of top officers Mary
08:07 Awolani had I explained politicians have infiltrated the service with their members and not necessarily
08:13 persons with the interest of serving the nation and doing so professionally at all times
08:19 Her comments come at a series of claims by the director-general of operations of the Ghana Police Service
08:25 COP George Alex Mensah when he appeared before an ad hoc committee of Parliament. I
08:32 Believe that this is an opportunity for the service itself to begin to then put in place
08:41 measures to sanitize itself it
08:45 admittedly the
08:48 politicians from the
08:50 Minority and minority party as we have are the ones who have read this monster for us
08:56 It is a fact that is being spoken over time that they have
09:01 infiltrated the service with their
09:04 Supporters and we have seen a lot of things happening in service
09:10 which showed that it's not people who are interested in serving this nation and
09:16 promoting service with integrity that have gone into the police service
09:21 However, the service itself can do something to ensure that they begin to sanitize
09:27 them and one would be
09:30 Recruitment
09:34 However, they are the same people behind the scenes pushing their constituents to wear during the police service
09:40 And I'm not leaving out the other parties
09:43 Both equally guilty and culpable in business. All right
09:47 Begin to allow our systems and institutions to work
09:52 Moving on the
09:58 Apamprama forest invites our forest reserve in the country now finds itself on the cliff of
10:04 destruction due to the relentless activities of
10:07 illegal mining the forest nestled in the lush landscape of Ghana was once a citadel of
10:13 biodiversity and ecological significance in our latest hotline documentary
10:18 Erastus Asari don't call reports how state institutions including regulatory bodies and law enforcement
10:25 Agencies were responsible for protecting Ghana's natural resources and preserving its environmental heritage
10:32 Look on for the forest to be dissipate
10:35 This is the Cobra community an old town which sits deep within the Apamprama forest reserve
10:43 Residents still have fresh memories of how the destruction of the Cobra section of the reserve
10:50 started in 2018
10:52 One by one they tell me of how the late chief executive of the Forestry Commission said John in
11:02 2018 convinced the townsfolk that the government was undertaking a reclamation exercise in the forest
11:09 Initially they said they were covering pits, but then they started building settlements
11:18 We wondered why they were setting up shelters. They were just covering pits
11:23 Then a number of machines were brought in so we mobilized to demonstrate
11:28 But Sir John came in and assured us they were just planting trees
11:33 But after a month when we went back the forest was crawling a lot of mines
11:38 That began a series of events that marked the woes and destruction of the once beautiful natural forest
11:52 A forest entry permit was granted to Unique Starpoint Company Limited to carry out
11:58 reclamation activities on some portions of the forest reserve in November 2017
12:04 In the same year a forest entry permit was granted to Heritage Imperial Company Limited to conduct
12:13 prospecting activities in December 2017
12:18 Unique Starpoint Company Limited and Heritage Imperial Company Limited
12:23 belong to Emmanuel Donald Ntuya and Reynolds Kwabi
12:27 Contrary to mining regulations what was supposed to be
12:32 prospecting and reclamation of the Apamprama Forest Reserve turned out to be
12:38 active mining of the reserve with over 18 excavators and a number of bulldozers
12:45 The forest became a no-go area. We could not enter the forest. They mounted huge barriers. They brought in bodyguards.
12:52 I used to drive some miners into the forest. We had to endure drills from the military.
12:59 We concluded that these people were sent from the top.
13:05 The illegal activity in the Cobras section of the Apamprama Forest Reserve went on for months
13:14 under the watch of the Forestry Commission
13:17 So this devastation went on
13:20 And the Apamprama Forest Reserve sites are right here
13:25 The Forestry Commission says it had no evil. It did not see anybody bringing in heavy equipment
13:32 This has lasted for close to a year
13:35 No government official got wind of it or nobody was prepared to even face them.
13:42 After failed attempts by Operation Vanguard and other security agencies to stop the illegality
13:49 the Inter-Ministerial Tax Force on Illegal Mining moved in to stop the pillaging of the forest
13:55 Now the Cyber Security Authority says it has recorded an estimated
14:05 49.5 million Ghana Cedi as direct financial losses through cyber fraud activities
14:13 from January to June 2023
14:15 The Director General of the Authority, Dr Albert Ntribwesiakwu, speaking at a press launch
14:21 of the 2023 National Cybercrime Awareness Month, said the amount represents only 20%
14:28 of possible losses due to the inability of the Authority to be visible across the country
14:34 to track cybercrime cases
14:37 Somebody maybe somewhere in the Upper East or Bronx half or Eastern region
14:44 suffers cyber incident, the person goes to report the incident to the district court, police
14:52 If you ask me, the Authority has no visibility as I speak now
14:57 And there is also a system being run at the judiciary, the case tracking system
15:02 that seeks to record every cybercrime and it runs through, if it's being investigated and prosecuted
15:11 that system has not fully been implemented
15:14 So I think we are at a certain level of maturity to have full visibility across the entire chain
15:22 since there are multiple players
15:24 So that is the stage as far as answers on arrests, prosecution and conviction
15:28 It is my expectation that within the next two years, we should be able to harmonize these processes
15:33 and be able to provide 360 degrees in this particular area
15:38 But that is one area that requires a bit of work to be done
15:42 But in terms of losses, yes we have, even though what I'm going to share with you will be a fraction
15:50 because of the earlier problem
15:54 But in terms of the financial losses, yes we have to be able to harmonize
15:59 and we have to be able to document the financial losses
16:03 Because once you have all the agencies collating this information
16:08 then you can also tax them to document how much in case there are financial losses
16:13 So that place in terms of harmonization and integration is not complete
16:17 Therefore, it means there are gaps
16:19 So from January to June of this year, in terms of financial losses
16:25 we are estimating about 49.5 million Ghana cities as direct financial losses
16:32 This is again a fraction based on the report that is received by the authority
16:38 I don't think this will be possibly above 15-20% of the direct financial losses
16:49 Indirect financial losses hasn't been recorded
16:52 Because cyber attacks affect availability
16:55 So if your system is not running, like ECG in this particular case
16:59 If availability goes up, I don't get power
17:03 It affects almost everyone
17:05 Even the person running a cool store in a certain hinterland
17:09 So again, quantifying losses in the cyber domain
17:13 I think that's why this is a PhD question
17:17 But I think the figures I've given to you is a starting point
17:21 and I think we need to do more
17:23 The Deputy Minister of Communication and Digitalization, Amapoma Bwati
17:29 reiterated that with the expansion of Ghana's internet access rate
17:33 there is the need for stakeholder collaboration to ensure digital safety
17:38 The rapid advancement of digital technologies has transformed the way we live
17:45 work and interact with each other and the world around us
17:51 However, as the digital age brings numerous opportunities
17:55 so are its risks to individuals, organizations and societies
18:01 Cyber threats, such as cyber bullying, privacy breaches, misinformation and disinformation
18:09 have become prevalent and of urgent concern
18:13 Ghana is no exception to these risks
18:18 particularly as the country scales up connectivity and takes on greater strides
18:24 in achieving the country's digitalization agenda
18:28 Ladies and gentlemen, according to the group
18:31 Special Mobile Associations Connectivity Index 2023 report
18:37 which measures the performance of 170 countries
18:41 against the critical enablers of mobile internet adoption
18:48 Ghana is ranked third in Africa with a score of 51.4%
18:56 marking significant progress in our internet penetration in the last five years
19:03 The same report highlights Ghana's score of 86.69% in online security
19:12 a key dimension of the index
19:15 which is consistent with the country's score on the ITU's Global Cyber Security Index
19:21 Currently, Ghana's internet access rate stands at 23.05 million
19:28 representing 68.2% of the population
19:33 Of this number, 6.6 million, which is 19.5%
19:38 are active social media users
19:41 contributing to the country's 13th place in the world on the list of countries
19:47 that spend a substantial amount of time on the internet
19:51 Now, Echobank Ghana, as part of its corporate social responsibility
19:59 has donated food and other items to the Portes village orphanage
20:03 According to the acting managing director of Echobank Ghana, Joanna Mensah
20:08 the donation is aimed at making a social impact
20:12 and giving back to the societies in which they operate
20:16 Echobank Ghana, under its employee volunteerism initiative
20:20 has donated items amounting to 280,000 Ghana cedis
20:24 to the Portes village orphanage and other institutions
20:27 The items include food, drinks, sanitary tissues, stationary, malaria and typhoid testing kits
20:33 According to acting managing director, Joanna Mensah
20:36 the gesture forms part of the bank's commitment towards the development of the country
20:40 As Echobank, as part of our corporate social responsibility
20:45 we like to, you know, every year, annually, we donate to institutions
20:50 and by this time around we felt that let's also make a social impact
20:54 so we identified a number of underprivileged people
20:59 and this is one of them, we are at five places
21:01 and really we are very happy to be here
21:04 to make an impact, to make people smile, you know, at the end of the day
21:08 I mean once you are blessed and you make that kind of impact
21:12 people appreciate it and they are also happy at the end
21:15 Executive director of the orphanage, Nanama Edusu
21:19 expressed appreciation to Echobank for the gesture
21:21 This donation is so timely
21:24 Now many of our children, you know, students are vacating and they are coming home
21:29 and the numbers are increasing
21:31 because often when they vacate and they go, the numbers come down a little
21:34 but when the university students, the SHL students vacate, we have the huge numbers
21:38 Food, you can't keep these children and starve them
21:41 The food we have here, the oil, the corn, everybody knows in Ghana
21:45 how expensive these food items are right now
21:48 So for us to receive them is a big relief on us
21:52 because we know that in the next few weeks
21:54 at least we are settled, the children can eat comfortably
21:57 So thank you Echobank staff for supporting the Portes village
22:00 to also support these vulnerable children
22:03 Echobank also made donations to the Waja Leprosarium
22:06 Pentecost Hospital in Medina, Suntresol Hospital and Second D prisons
22:11 We do some more stories now
22:16 As food inflation continues to surge
22:18 traders at the Central Business District say
22:21 food prices on the market have stabilised
22:24 The Ghana Statistical Service pegged food inflation for the month of July at 55
22:29 a slight increase from the 54.2% recorded in June
22:34 Traders at the Malamata market are however decrying the low petrol needs
22:39 Linda Ayan's report, right to you
22:41 In July, food inflation as reported by the Ghana Statistical Service was at 55%
22:48 indicating a slight increase from the previous month's rate of 54%
22:53 This uptick in inflation raised concerns about the cost of living in the country
22:59 and its potential impact on consumers and businesses
23:03 The hike in food prices got many lamenting
23:06 resulting in low patronage of foodstuff in various markets
23:10 But while the numbers in the book of the Statistical Service show an increase in food inflation
23:16 traders at the Malamata market are portraying a different picture
23:20 According to them, there has been stability in the prices of foodstuff
23:25 amidst the upwards adjustment in inflation over the past few months
23:31 The prices are good, unlike before
23:34 This was sold at 100 sedes but it's now sold at 45 or 50 sedes
23:40 The prices are good, unlike before
23:45 This was sold at 100 sedes but it's now sold at 45 or 50 sedes
23:52 The prices are good, unlike before
23:57 This was sold at 45 or 50 sedes
24:02 The prices are good, unlike before
24:05 Plantain is very expensive in abundance
24:08 We get about 6 or 7 fingers of plantain at 10 sedes
24:13 and sell 5 or 6 fingers at 10 sedes
24:18 The prices are now affordable
24:21 We get about 6 or 7 fingers of plantain at 10 sedes
24:27 and sell 5 or 6 fingers at 10 sedes
24:30 While other traders have said foodstuff are now affordable
24:34 this trader at the market believes otherwise
24:37 The prices are good, unlike before
24:43 Initially the prices were okay
24:47 but now the prices have increased
24:50 But I can't tell the reason behind the hikes
24:54 The prices have increased
24:57 The transport has increased
25:00 because we have more customers
25:05 For many consumers, they may side with this line of observation
25:10 A consumer who spoke to JOIN News expressed concerns
25:13 about the prices of commodities at the market
25:16 To her, prices should be cheaper
25:20 considering the bumper harvest recorded this year
25:23 We are in a season of bumper harvest
25:29 but the prices are not as good as it's supposed to be
25:33 The dollar hasn't appreciated
25:36 so I don't know why prices still keep increasing
25:39 The dollar hasn't appreciated
25:42 so I don't know why prices still keep increasing
25:46 On that note, we end JOIN News Prime tonight
25:49 You can read more of our stories when you log on to myjoyonline.com
25:54 I am Beverly Broome, enjoy the rest of our program
25:57 Thanks for watching, I'll see you next time
26:00 (music)