The apex court consequently adjourned the cases indefinitely. The cases, which were called separately, were filed by broadcaster and lawyer, Richard Sky, and a human rights activist, Dr Amanda Odoi.

The business of the day was to deal with fundamental issues standing in the way of the substantive suits. 

Motions

When Mr Sky’s case was called yesterday, his legal team, led by Paa Kwesi Abaidoo — who had originally filed an application for an interlocutory injunction to prevent the transmission of the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill to the President for consideration and subsequent assent pending the final determination of the substantive case — notified the court of two motions.

The first motion sought leave of the apex court to amend the reliefs sought in the interlocutory injunction, while the second sought leave to file supplementary affidavits in support of the injunction. 

Objection

Counsel for the Speaker of Parliament, Thaddeus Sory, raised a preliminary legal objection to the first motion on grounds that his affidavit in opposition to the interlocutory application objected to the relief the plaintiff was seeking leave to amend.

He added that allowing the plaintiff to amend it would defeat his objection, which he had raised earlier in his affidavit in opposition to the interlocutory application. “He (Mr Sky) cannot avoid the consequences of that objection by filing a motion for leave to amend those reliefs and render my objection redundant,” he said.

The Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, opposed the objection, stating that the rules of the court did not allow for such a process to be undertaken without the permission of the court.

Mr Dame further questioned the grounds for the objection as the new reliefs in his view were not any different in material fact except for a grammatical correction.  “I do not see any error in procedure adopted by counsel for Mr Sky in seeking leave to amend a relief.

A close look at the relief shows no material difference from the reliefs originally sought,” he argued. 

Court’s view

The court dismissed the preliminary objection, saying it was unnecessary and did not seek to help the court in any way. “Every party has an inherent right to present the appropriate formulation of their reliefs or other process before the court to enable the court to determine the real matters in controversy,” the Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, who was the President of the panel, said.

Other members of the panel were Justices Mariama Owusu, Professor Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Ernest Gaewu and Yaw Darko Asare. They subsequently directed lawyers for Mr Sky to file a fresh motion paper for the interlocutory injunction with supporting affidavit and statement of case by May 17.

The panel also gave lawyers of the Speaker of Parliament and the Attorney-General up to seven days after May 17 to respond. 

Language

Before the second case was called, the panel expressed worry over the choice of words used by both the plaintiff and lawyers for the Speaker of Parliament in the suits, describing them as inappropriate and scandalous.

Specifically, Justice Torkornoo cited the description of the private members in one of the plaintiff’s processes simply as “these persons”. “It is inappropriate to refer to the private members as ‘these persons’,” she said.

The Chief Justice also cited the use of “despicable” and “desecration” in processes filed by lawyers for the Speaker of Parliament when the second case was called. She, therefore, urged the parties to employ courteous language in their processes, give lawyers for the Speaker of Parliament the chance to change the wording of their legal documents and re-file their affidavit in opposition. 

In a writ invoking the jurisdiction of the apex court to interpret and enforce the Constitution, Mr Sky is seeking an order from the court to restrain the Speaker and Clerk of Parliament from presenting the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill to the President for his assent.

He is further seeking an injunction against any attempt to enforce the Bill, especially the aspect that criminalises same sex relationship. The writ filed at the Supreme Court on March 5, 2024, contends that the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill contravenes many provisions in the Constitution such as Article 12 (1) which enjoins 

all arms of government to respect and uphold the fundamental human rights of all persons, Article 15(1) which protects the dignity of all persons, and Article 18(2) which protects the privacy of people.

Other provisions, he argues, are Article 17(1) which provides for equality before the law, and Article 21(a) and (b) which protect freedom of speech and thought. The plaintiff is, therefore, seeking a declaration from the Supreme Court that the Bill sins against all the above stated provisions, as well as Articles 106 and 108, which dictate the mode by which Parliament can pass a Bill.

Again, Mr Sky is seeking a declaration from the court that at the time the Bill was passed, Parliament lacked the requisite quorum as stipulated by Articles 102 and 104 of the Constitution.

Dr Odoi

Dr Odoi, on the other hand, is also at the Supreme Court with a case that the Speaker of Parliament and Parliament in general had violated the Constitution. It is her case that the Speaker of Parliament breached Article 108 of the 1992 Constitution by not giving an opinion on whether the Bill when implemented could lead to financial consequences on the country through a charge on the consolidated fund.

Source: Graphic Online, Author: Justice Agbenorsi

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Arabic will, however, be optional for candidates in Islamic basic schools.

Days extended

Due to the introduction of the new subjects, the 2024 examination will be taken in six days instead of the previous five days — Monday to Friday. The examination will start on Monday, July 8, 2024, and end the following Monday, July 15, 2024.

Throwing more light on the 2024 examination, the Head of Public Affairs of WAEC, John Kapi, told the Daily Graphic that new subjects could be introduced any time since it was an examination that was solely Ghanaian, and so it was the government that determined what it wanted to be taught and students examined in.

Mr Kapi said the council had just finished the registration of candidates and was now going to do the breakdown of candidates writing the various subjects. WAEC, he said, was ready for the examination as all meetings related to it had been concluded, adding that sample questions had been sent to schools and posted on the council’s website.

“The printing exercise will start very soon, and so we are on course,” he emphasised. In the case of Arabic, he said it was the first time the subject was being examined at the BECE.
He said the subject could be  best  described as an elective, and could also be written by persons who believed they were proficient in it and wanted a certificate to that effect.

Timetable

Per the official timetable released by WAEC, candidates will write English Language and Religious and Moral Education on Monday, July 8, 2024. On Tuesday, July 9, 2024, candidates will write Science and Computing, which was previously Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), and then write Social Studies and Creative Art and Design on Wednesday, July 10, 2024.

The candidates will write Mathematics and Ghanaian Language on Thursday, July 11, 2024, while French and Career Technology will be written on Friday, July 12, 2024.
Arabic will then be written on Monday, July 15, 2024.

Before the registration for the BECE for School Candidates, the Ghana Education Service indicated that the mandatory subjects were English Language, Mathematics, General Science, Social Studies, Religious and Moral Education, Career Technology and Creative Art and Design.

Ghanaian languages, it said, were classified under elective subjects, with French, Arabic and Computing being the optional subjects.

Curriculum

This year’s BECE candidates will be the first batch to sit the examination under the Common Core Curriculum. In view of that, WAEC said school and private candidates would be examined differently as a result of the introduction of the curriculum.

The curriculum attempts to address the quality aspect in the form of improved learning experiences. The new curriculum seeks to shift learners away from rote learning to acquiring critical learning skills.

Related video

Source: Graphic Online, Author: Emmanuel Bonney

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Most of our cells have a genetic code that, when deciphered, tells our body how to make the proteins we need for survival. With the passing of time and experience of hardship, small modifications are added to act like ‘genetic switches’, affecting the way our cells interpret the instructions without changing the code itself.

Accumulations of these so-called epigenetic changes are often used to estimate the biological age of our cells and tissues. But researchers in Lithuania have now shown that the edits can fluctuate throughout the day, suggesting tests based on a single tissue sample aren’t as accurate as they could be.

The team studied multiple blood samples from a 52-year-old man taken every three hours over 72 hours, looking at 17 different epigenetic clocks within each specimen’s collection of white cells.

What they found was surprising. Thirteen of the 17 epigenetic clocks showed a substantial difference throughout the day, appearing ‘younger’ in the early hours of the morning and ‘older’ around midday, with relative differences equivalent to around 5.5 years’ worth of changes. This daily cycle is similar to what other scientists found in a 2020 study.

“The majority of the aging studies investigating epigenetic clocks use whole blood as the tissue of interest. However, experiments in our lab and from other groups have shown that white blood cell subtype counts and their proportions oscillate with a 24 hour periodicity,” statistician Karolis Koncevičius from Vilnius University and colleagues write in their published paper.

This means a single epigenetic test at one time of day might not give the whole picture.

Relying on just a single individual’s samples meant the team could focus on a single set of changes, at the cost of being able to generalize across a larger population. Further analysis of different blood samples taken over five hours from a small group also found age fluctuations, however.

Some of these cellular age changes might be because our blood contains different types of white blood cells at different times of the day. However, some measures still showed this age fluctuation even when the researchers focused on just one type of white blood cell.

The findings suggest that to get the most accurate picture of how old your cells are, scientists might need to take multiple samples at varied times of day in the future. A more complete measure of epigenetic age range might allow more precise predictions about risk of age-related diseases  in populations too.

“Our findings indicate that age predictions of epigenetic clocks oscillate throughout the day,” the authors write “Failure to account for daily oscillations may hamper estimates of epigenetic age.”

The research has been published in Aging Cell.

Source: Sciencealert.com, Author: Rebecca Dyer

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In an interview with AfricaWatch Magazine, Dr Bawumia highlighted the cedi’s resilience under the President Akufo-Addo administration, emphasizing his position on stabilizing the cedi’s value.

He remarked that despite ongoing global economic challenges, the depreciation of the cedi has been managed effectively, especially when contrasted with the previous NDC administration.

“Why not? We use averages to measure progress in statistics and economics all the time. It is a valid comparison of the management of the exchange rate under our government versus under the NDC government. The point is that notwithstanding the major global and domestic challenges we have been through, it is remarkable that whereas the exchange-rate depreciation between 2009-2016 averaged 13.9%, between 2017-2023 it averaged 13.1%. That is a fact,” Dr Bawumia stated.

The data shows that from 2009-2016, the cedi depreciated cumulatively by 71.1%, and between 2017 and 2023, the cumulative depreciation was 64.6%. So, whether you look at the average or the cumulative, the depreciation of the cedi has been lower under our government, notwithstanding the severe global shocks we have endured. That is the basic truth.”

Dr. Bawumia also defended a remark he made during the NPP’s 2016 campaign, reaffirming his view that an exchange rate reflects a government’s strength when its fundamentals are robust.

He attributed the current exchange rate’s fluctuations to global crises such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the 2019 COVID pandemic.

“Absolutely! It is still true, and I will continue to stand by that statement. We saw that between 2017 and 2021 when the fundamentals in terms of the fiscal deficit, inflation, GDP growth, external balances, and international reserves were fairly strong, the exchange rate was relatively stable,” he said.

“But following the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, the banking-sector crisis, the excess-capacity energy payments, and the lack of access to international capital markets, the fundamentals of the economy were weakened, and the fiscal deficit and debt levels increased.

“Inflation reached some 53% at the end of 2022 and you saw the exchange rate depreciate by some 30% in 2022. The fundamentals have strengthened recently, with the declining fiscal deficit, declining inflation, improved external reserves, and so on, and this has resulted in relative stability of the exchange rate. So, my statement still holds true.”

Source: Graphic Online

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The charges, which were filed at the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra last Wednesday, are eight counts of using public office for profit and indirectly influencing procurement processes to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of procurement contracts.

The court, presided over by Justice Maries-Louis Simmons, admitted Adjei to bail in the sum of GH¢4 million with two sureties, both to be justified. As part of the bail conditions, the Registrar is to confirm from relevant authorities the authenticity of documents from the sureties, who are to deposit their Ghana Cards.

Mr Adjei is to produce every passport he has in his possession to the Registrar. The case has been adjourned to May 14, 2024, for a Case Management Conference. 

Earlier in the day, Mr Adjei and his brother-in-law, Francis Kwaku Arhin, were discharged by a different court where they had been standing trial for the past one year and 11 months.

That was after a prosecutor from the OSP, Adelaide Kobiri-Woode, notified the court of her intention to withdraw the case involving 18 counts of using public office for profit and nine counts of directly and indirectly influencing the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of a procurement contract against the two.

Justice Mary Maame Ekue Yanzuh struck out the old charges as withdrawn. The withdrawn charges were filed in May 2022.  

Before he was discharged, the prosecution’s star witness, Manasseh Azure Awuni, who conducted the investigation leading to the interdiction of Adjei, was under cross-examination by lawyers for the accused.

The former PPA boss’ lawyer, Kwame Acheampong Boateng, expressed disappointment at the move by the OSP, adding: “Having gone through trial we thought the matter would be extremely expeditious

The facts accompanying the charges are that by a letter signed by his Secretary, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo referred allegations of corruption against Adjei to the OSP.

The referral was on the back of and based on an audio-visual documentary titled “Contracts for Sale” – an investigative journalistic piece conducted by Mr Awuni and aired by the Multimedia Group.

It said evidence established that Adjei was at all material times the Chief Executive of the PPA, a member of the Governing Board of the PPA and a member of the Due Diligence Unit of the PPA (by virtue of his position as the Chief Executive of the authority).

The accused and another person incorporated Talent Discovery Limited in Ghana as a company limited by shares on June 19, 2017, three months after he was appointed as the Chief Executive of the PPA.

It said at all material times, the accused was the majority shareholder and a director of Talent Discovery Limited. It added that during the tenure of the accused as the Chief Executive, Talent Discovery Limited participated in several restricted tenders in respect of public works contracts awarded by the Ministry of Works and Housing, Ministry of Education, and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority.

“The accused, in his capacity as the Chief Executive, a member of the Governing Board and a member of the Due Diligence Unit of the PPA, conducted the procurement processes in respect of tenders in which Talent Discovery Limited was shortlisted.

“He actively participated in the due diligence and decision-making processes leading to the selection of Talent Discovery Limited as the contractor in respect of the tenders, without disclosing his personal interest as the majority shareholder and a director of the company,” it said.

The prosecutor said Mr Adjei also employed his position as the Chief Executive of the PPA to improperly alter the decision of the Governing Board of the PPA in respect of two Ministry of Education contracts in favour of Talent Discovery Limited, allegedly leading to the improper award of the contracts to Talent Discovery Limited.

“The accused benefited personally and pecuniarily through the use of public office for profit and influencing the public procurement process to obtain unfair advantage in favour of Talent Discovery Limited, in respect of which he had a financial interest as the majority shareholder,” the prosecutor told the court.

Source: graphiconline.com.gh, Author: Justice Agbenorsi

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Led by the Awafiaga (War Lord) of Asogli, Togbe Adzie Lakle Howusu XII; Dufia of Ho-Ahoe, Togbe Kasa III, and Dufia of Ho-Heve, Togbe Anikpi III, they marched from the Asogli Palace in Ho-Bankoe, in defiance of the scorching sun, to the Volta Regional Coordinating Council where their petition was received by the Chief Director, Augustus Awity.

Mr Awity informed the chiefs the Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa was away on an official duty, and gave an assurance that he would present the petition to him as soon as returned later in the day.

They chiefs later continued their procession to the Ho Municipal Assembly to present a copy of the petition to the Ho Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Divine Bosson, and then to HTU to present a copy to the authorities of the university.

At a news conference which preceded the protest march, Togbe Howusu said the decision to name HTU was arrived at without any consultation with the chiefs and people of Ho, who played a crucial role in the establishment of the institution.

“The Asogli State Council views the decision of the government and the Governing Council of the university to rename HTU without due consultation with the major stakeholders, including the Asogli State Council, the custodians of the land, as unfortunate, misplaced and disrespectful,” he said. 

Togbe Howusu, who is Divisional Chief of Ho-Dome, maintained that HTU was an esteemed institution in the public domain, holds a special pride of place in the Volta Region, particularly for the people of the Asogli State, on whose land the university was situated.

For that matter, he said, the people of Asogli had a strong attachment to HTU, which was steadily gaining special recognition nationally and internationally.

Source: graphiconline.com, Author: Alberto Mario Noretti

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Visitors to the Barbican centre in London will see swathes of pink and purple across the building this spring rather than the usual concrete exterior thanks to the Ghanian artist Ibrahim Mahama.

His large-scale public art piece, Purple Hibiscus—made of 2,000 square metres of woven cloth—covers the lakeside façade of the brutalist structure, creating a vivid contrast against the grey building and sky.

The work was sewn together by more than 1,000 weavers and seamstresses at the Aliu Mahama sports stadium in Tamale, Ghana (an accompanying film gives an idea of the scale of the work, showing a plethora of craftspeople knitting the piece together on the football pitch).

“The period for the commission was quite short—roughly seven months to produce the entire work so we had to get a lot of people in order to get the work. I had to rent the stadium also; the days when they weren’t playing football games, we were playing [art] games!” Mahama tells The Art Newspaper, outlining how the commission helped bolster the local economy. “There is a lot of unemployment; we had to use the money that came from the commission to pay these people over seven months.”

When the work is deinstalled in August, the entire piece will go back to Ghana. “There are certain projects I did such as the National Theatre [the venue in Accra was covered in a blanket of jute sacks]… so I think it might be interesting to use the material to wrap this building.”

Mahama has also incorporated into the fabric more than 130 traditional Ghanaian robes known as batakaris, which are handed down through families across numerous communities. These garments reflect “Mahama’s deep interest in the life cycles of textiles and what can be learnt from the historical memories embedded within them”, a statement says.

“I’ve never made a work in this colour and on this scale,” Mahama says. “When I came here, Shanay [Jhaveri, head of visual arts at the Barbican] was telling me about the history of the site; they used to sell rags here [in the Cripplegate district] before the Second World War.

I’ve always believed materials contain spirits and souls. So I thought, if they were selling rags here, then historically the site still contains those spirits in a way. I thought why not work with these materials from Ghana which have been worn over the body and contain the sweat of the body.”

He highlights the global, geo-political aspect of the Barbican project. “The threads [for the covering] are coming from China… I was interested in what [the work] represents on a global scale in terms of politics… art has that responsibility and power—[we are] able to take something that seems very local and then open up the connections within it on a global stage.”

Mahama’s piece forms part of the exhibition Unravel: The Power of Politics & Textiles in Art (until 26 May) which has sparked controversy after two collectors, and the artists Yto Barrada and Cian Dayrit, removed works from the show over the Barbican’s decision to cancel a talk on Palestine and the Holocaust.

Asked about the boycott, Mahama says: “I am coming from ground zero… a lot of these histories [linked to the Global South] are tied to debt and these debts all come back to Europe. I would say that we should have boycotted Europe a long time ago because the politics in Europe has put the Global South in a bad way [condition]… I want to further understand; art is not about withdrawal but about re-inserting yourself, even as problematic as things are, and then within that go much deeper into the politics.”

Mahama is having a moment; last month he won the inaugural Sam Gilliam Award, a prize created last year by Dia Art Foundation and the Sam Gilliam Foundation in honour of the late artist’s legacy (Mahama will receive US$75,000 and feature in a public programme at Dia in autumn of this year). Meanwhile, Mahama will present a new body of work at the Fruitmarket gallery in Edinburgh later this year (22 June-6 October).

Source : asaaseradio.com, Author: Fred Dzakpata

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Speaking in an interview with TV3 Ghana, Ms. Abubakar highlighted Ofori-Atta’s proficiency in offering guidance and advice within the financial sector, asserting that his skills remain valuable despite his transition from the role of Finance Minister.

His capacity to guide or to advise in the financial sector is not lost just because he is no longer Finance Minister. If his skills are required elsewhere and the President feels he can help us with negotiations or can advise, I don’t think there should be a big problem about that,” she said in an interview with TV3 Ghana.

Addressing concerns about the justification of Mr. Ofori-Atta’s appointment, Ms. Abubakar affirmed his qualifications for the position, stating, “Of course.”

Mr. Ofori-Atta’s new role in the President Akufo-Addo administration was unveiled as part of a significant reshuffle by the President.

According to a letter dated February 15, 2024, and signed by Chief of Staff Frema Osei-Opare, Mr. Ofori-Atta has been designated as the Senior Presidential Advisor and Special Envoy for International Finance & Private Sector Investments.

The letter, which conveyed the President’s congratulations to Ofori-Atta on his reassignment, expressed confidence in his abilities to excel in his new role.

Source: Graphic Online

Send your news, stories or articles to info@chrife.com.gh or via WhatsApp +2332550144803

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For many, the desire to expand horizons, gain a global perspective, and immerse oneself in a diverse cultural environment through studying abroad is a cherished dream. However, financial constraints and various challenges often pose significant barriers. The Study Abroad Expo seeks to address these issues, offering a unique opportunity for attendees to be inspired and educated on overcoming obstacles to studying abroad.

Representatives from renowned universities and institutions worldwide will be on hand to provide genuine and well-prepared answers. It is advised that attendees come prepared with questions to receive comprehensive responses and gain insights into available scholarships and financial aid opportunities.

The complimentary event serves as a valuable platform for those contemplating pursuing a degree, language course, or cultural exchange program on a global scale. With the goal of promoting accessibility and awareness, the Expo aims to bridge the gap for individuals who may find studying abroad seemingly impossible.

The Study Abroad Expo is a fantastic opportunity for attendees to kick-start their global journey and connect with experts who can guide them on this transformative path. Whether considering a degree program, language course, or cultural exchange, this event promises to provide valuable insights and practical solutions.

Don’t miss out on this exceptional experience that can shape your educational future. Remember, admission to the event is FREE! Mark your calendars and join us at the Accra City Hotel to explore the world of possibilities in education. Click here to register.

Author: Bright Agbelengor

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The focal point of this year’s conference is a profound exploration of strategies to foster resilience through the integration of technology and the embracing of humanism. With an overarching goal of contributing to sustainable development, the event will serve as a platform for in-depth discussions on the intersection of technology and human values.

A key agenda item is the examination of strategies to harness the potential of the digital economy, emphasizing the need for enhanced digital literacy in response to the rapidly changing technological landscape. By addressing these critical topics, the conference aims to contribute valuable insights to promote sustainable growth and development.

The outcomes of the conference deliberations will be meticulously documented and presented to relevant authorities for potential policy interventions, ensuring that the wealth of knowledge shared during the event translates into actionable initiatives.

The grand opening ceremony, scheduled for Tuesday, will be graced by the presence of His Excellency President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Joining him will be esteemed figures such as the Chancellor, Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse; Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo; Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu Ekuful; and Vice-Rector, Research Tallinn University, Professor Katrin Niglas.

The conference, designed to address challenges faced by institutions, seeks to underscore the importance of developing resilience, leveraging technology, and promoting human values and dignity. In a nod to the current global landscape, the event will be accessible both in-person and virtually, ensuring widespread participation.

The 75th Annual New Year School and Conference is slated to conclude on Thursday, January 11, 2024. The organizers anticipate that the insights generated during this milestone event will set the stage for transformative advancements in both academia and national development.

Author: Bright Agbelengor

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