One person is confirmed dead following an attack by bees on members of a Roman Catholic Church at Owuoso, a suburb of Asante Agona in the Ashanti Region.
The Reverend Father and his congregants were holding the Good Friday Easter Mass when the swarm of bees invaded the auditorium to attack the congregation.
They were subjected to several stings by the bees, halting church service, as members ran helter-skelter to save themselves.
Many sustained injuries in the process.
The injured were sent to the hospital, where one man was pronounced dead.
Assembly Member of Owuoso Electoral Area, Akwasi Tawiah a.k.a Odorna, explained the incident to AdomNews reporter Amansankyeame.
“They were praying and were attacked. Even people who are not part received their portion. Many have been hospitalized and one is confirmed dead”, Akwasi Tawiah explained.
John, a church member who was a witness to the ordeal, also narrated what he observed.
“We were praying and others decided to move out while praying and all of a sudden the bees attacked us while praying”, he said.
Though the Church is located in a bush area, what triggered the bees to attack remains unclear to the people.
Bee stings can lead to anaphylactic shock and sudden death. Therefore, it is necessary for patients who suffer from being envenomated by a bee sting to be referred to medical centers promptly and receive appropriate treatments to prevent undesirable complications
The family of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, has announced the passing of his wife, Hajia Ramatu Sharubutu, in the early hours of Wednesday, March 27, 2024.
A statement issued by the Chief Imam’s spokesperson, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, has confirmed that a Janazah prayer and burial will be conducted at 2 pm, following Islamic traditions, at the Chief Imam’s residence.
Sympathizers are kindly requested to arrive at 1 pm to participate in the prayer and extend their support to the grieving family during this challenging time.
The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has urged President Nana Akufo-Addo and Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin to collaborate in ensuring the implementation of the people’s will regarding the controversial Human Sexual Rights and Ghana Family Values Bill, also known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.
Currently, there is an impasse over the transmission of the Bill from Parliament to the Presidency.
The President halted the transmission of the anti-gay bill, while the Speaker of Parliament suspended the approval of new ministerial nominees citing a court case.
This deadlock has left many Ghanaians disheartened, questioning why two organs of state cannot work together to safeguard the country’s values and cultural systems.
In a media interview, Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, emphasised the need for both the Executive and Legislature to collaborate in the public interest.
He stated that the Bill is supported by the majority of Ghanaians and urged President Akufo-Addo to respect the decision of the people as expressed by their representatives in Parliament.
“We’re surprised that at this time the President has not signed it yet. People can go and make their cases anywhere, anytime but as to whether the President should listen to Supreme Court orders of some individuals’ presentations, before he assents or not we don’t know if the law provides for that.”
“When this law has come from the people and it has been passed by Parliament, I do not find any basis the President will stand on it and say he will not assent to the Bill.”
“We call on them to do what is law, what the Constitution provides because they are making all of us worried. This one is a novelty, that is why we are not sure whether there’s a provision for that. If there’s no provision why should the President wait,” Reverend Gyamfi quizzed. Source: Myjoyonline.com
The leader and founder of the Caravan of Prayer Outreach Ministry at Gyinyase in the Asokwa Municipality of Ashanti, Apostle Johnson Ackah Braimah, has urged the President, Nana Addo Dankea Akufo-Addo to assent the anti LGBT+ Bill that has been passed by the Parliament without delay.
He said almost all Ghanaians are against the activities of LGBTQ+ and wondered why the President seems not showing any interest of assenting to the Bill.
Apostle Braimah in an interview with “THE NEW TRUST”, said though,the President Akufo-Addo,has categorically stated that he is awaiting for the outcome of the Supreme Court before making his clear decision on the Bill recently passed by Parliament.
Aps.Johnson Ackah Braimah
He said it was the President, who was moving from churches to churches assuring Ghanaians that LGTBQ+ would not happen under his watch.
” The President had already assured us that, promoters of LGBTQ+ would have no room to operate in Ghana, why then is he adopting this tactics to delay approval or otherwise if the Anti-Gay Bill?.
According to Apostle Braimah, though,there would be foreign pressures and intimidations to the President not to assent to the anti LGBT+ Bill,but he should stand firm not to yield to them.
He reiterated that, the activities of LGBTQ+ persons and their advocates are inimical to the existence of the human race and a threat to Christian values.
He explained further that, “the Holy Bible clearly teaches us that all things are lawful for men but not all things edify”.
He observed that, as Christians, we are enjoined by human values and dignity consistent with the Holy Bible to live expedient. Apostle Braimah, said the practice and promotion of LGBTQ+ is in complete conflict of the teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ and against the values and norms of Ghanaian culture”,he stressed..
The Dean of the Law School at the University for Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Prof. Ernest Kofi Abotsi, has underscored that no single entity can unilaterally direct Parliament in its legislative functions.
According to him, while the court can intervene in matters of external legal compliance, the principle of separation of powers mandates that each arm of government operate autonomously within its jurisdiction.
He also highlighted the principle of checks and balances as a mechanism to foster cooperation among different branches while maintaining their independence.
“No one can direct Parliament on how it does its job…The executive arm of government cannot direct Parliament in the conduct of its legislative business.
“However, the checks and balances ensure that sometimes, cooperation happens between the various organs,” Prof. Abotsi said during a discussion on JoyNews’ PM Express on Wednesday.
He further explained that while the executive may offer suggestions or preferences to Parliament, it cannot dictate legislative outcomes, otherwise, each branch retains the authority to assert its position.
“Perhaps it is in that context at best that one can say that the executive may want to nudge Parliament in a particular direction and hopes that Parliament takes the bait. And if Parliament doesn’t take the bait, then the Executive can assert itself.
“However, where the cooperation between the organs fails, each asserts its authority, and in the process, there is a collapse of the machinery of government,” he told host Aisha Ibrahim.
This comes after the Presidency in a letter on Tuesday, instructed Parliament to refrain from transmitting the recently passed Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill also known as the Anti-LGBTQ+ bill to President Akufo-Addo.
The correspondence which was signed by Nana Bediatuo Asante explained that the decision was due to two pending applications for an order of interlocutory injunction before the Supreme Court.
Meanwhile, tensions have been high since Parliament received the letter from the Presidency.
Parliament has also suspended the consideration of the nomination of Ministers and Deputy Ministers of State by President Akufo-Addo.
With a similar justification, the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin explained the legislature could not approve the President’s appointees because of an interlocutory injunction filed at the Supreme Court by MP for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor.
Touching on the constitutional process of bill passage, Prof. Abotsi noted that while the executive’s participation is important, Parliament maintains the final say in legislative matters.
“Parliament can pass the bill without the participation of the Executive, but it is a collaborative process and the expectation is that they will not over-rule each other but cooperate,” he said.Source: Ama Cromwell
The family of late Ejisu MP and Deputy Finance Minister, John Kumah has officially informed the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin of his death.
This was during a courtesy call on Tuesday, March 19, 2024.
First Deputy Speaker and Bekwai MP, Joseph Osei Owusu received the bereaved family on behalf of Mr Bagbin and Parliament.
John Kumah died on Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the Suhum Government Hospital after a short illness.
He leaves behind a legacy as a devoted family man, being survived by his wife, Apostle Mrs. Lilian Kumah, and six children.
Dr. Kumah served as the inaugural Chief Executive Officer for the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), where he played a crucial role in positioning NEIP as a key player in Ghana’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Under his leadership, NEIP trained 7,000 startups in 2018 through the Presidential Business Support Programme and provided financial support to 1,350 beneficiaries.
Before his government role, Dr. Kumah was a founding member and Managing Partner of Aduaprokye Chambers, a law firm, and also established Majak Associates Ltd, a building and construction company.
Almost 700 people have been rendered homeless, and the roofs of 87 houses ripped off at Debibi, a farming community in the Tain District of the Bono region, following a downpour.
The downpour, accompanied by strong wind and thunder, caused massive destruction to public and private properties.
The situation has forced displaced persons to seek temporary shelter with relatives and neighbours who have not been affected.
According to the Assembly Member for the Debibi Electoral Area, Amoako Atta, some schools have the roofs of their classrooms ripped off, exposing books and other educational materials to the vagaries of the weather.
The schools, he indicated, include Debibi Roman Catholic (RC) Kindergarten and Primary, Faith Preparatory Primary and Junior High and Debibi Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Primary ‘A’.
“Debibi SDA Church, Capstone Church and the palace of the late Chief of Debibi, Nana Nangor, also had their roofs ripped off,” Mr Amoako explained.
He said the devastating rainstorm lasted for two hours, and about nine people sustained various injuries.
Mr Amoako indicated that officials from the Tain District Assembly and the District Coordinator for the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) have visited the community to ascertain the extent of damage.
Mr Amoako emphasised the need to assist the victims to get back to their homes, although friends and families have offered them shelter.
“We appeal to benevolent individuals and organisations to help these displaced people with relief items so they can also resume normal life,” he stressed.
The disaster victims have also appealed to the government, donor agencies, the Tain District Assembly as well as philanthropists to aid them in rehabilitating their houses.
The US Embassy, in collaboration with Dubawa (a fact-checking organisation) and UniMac, has organised a workshop on disinformation and misinformation for media practitioners in the Ashanti Region, and it is expected to be replicated in the Greater Accra Region.
The training workshop, which was held on Tuesday, 12th March 2024, at American Corner at Top Martins, Asokwa, in Kumasi, forms part of the efforts of the US Embassy and its partners to ensure violence-free 2024 elections in Ghana.
The workshop was under the theme: ”Navigating the Modern Information Landscape: The Crucial Role of Effective Communication in the Media and Information Ecosystem for Combating Information Disorder”.
The panel members shared their thoughts and answered questions on the following topics: Unravelling the Threads of Information Disorder; Inspiring Team Efforts in Countering Information Disorder in Ghana, and Unravelling the Threads of Information Disorder.
The panel members
The key panel members included Sarah J Wachter, US-based Communication Expert; Dr. Winnifred Nafisa Mahama, acting Director, Information Services Department (Ministry of Information); Mrs. Diana Bempong-Marfo, the Principal Civic Education Officer and Head of Programmes, National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), and Kingsley E. Hope, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), who doubles as the Ashanti Regional Editor for the GhanaianTimes newspaper.
US Embassy Press Attache’, Kevin J. Brosnahan
In his welcome remarks, Kingsley E. Hope entreated media practitioners to always take their time to cross-check and verify any piece of information they receive before publishing it.
“I wish to urge my colleague journalists to always be circumspect in their reportage, especially in this election year,” he stressed.
He advised journalists to always be guided by the GJA code of ethics in all their endeavours in order not to spread misinformation and disinformation.
He took the opportunity to commend the US Embassy for its commitment to ensuring sanity in the media space and its continuous support for capacity building-related projects for Ghanaian journalists.
The US-based Communication Expert, Sarah J Wachter, urged journalists in Ghana to change their ways and work together to cross-check facts.
She encouraged media houses and journalists to use necessary tools to enable them to cross-check facts of information they receive before allowing themselves to be used to promote misinformation and disinformation
US-based Communication Expert, Sarah Wachter,
On his part, A. Kwabena Brako-Powers ESQ made a presentation on “Navigating Information Disorder: Changing Narratives in Ghana in 2024 & Beyond”.
According to him, there are four elements involved in information disorder: originator(s), content, audience and medium.
He noted that information disorder has negative impacts on governance, elections, human rights, general health and well-being of citizens, and humanitarian response during emergencies.
Lawyer Brako-Powers indicated that truths and facts are the tools that are used to disarm disinformation weapons. He said in order to tackle information disorder ahead of Ghana’s 2024 Polls, the media must stick to the facts, prioritise research and build alliance/coalition with fact-checking organisations.
He emphasised that the media should also be accountability-focused, build their capacity and follow verified social media handles of key figures. “Let’s join hands to disarm promoters of information disorder,” he urged.
He said in working towards a healthy information ecosystem, journalists need to prioritise fact-checking. “We must remember that as leaders, organisations, families and journalists, we owe a sacred duty to our constituents, not only to inform them but also to ensure that the pieces of information they receive are accurate,” he added.
In an interview, the US Embassy Press Attache’, Kevin J. Brosnahan, stressed the commitment of his country to support Ghana to ensure peaceful elections in December.
He noted that many African countries would be holding elections this year, including Ghana, for which reason the US is committed to ensuring peaceful elections. “Therefore, a series of engagements with various stakeholders as well as the media will be held to alert them of misinformation and disinformation in order to help combat information disorder which has the potential to create confusion before, during and after the polls,” he added.
Objectives of Dubawa:
The main objectives of Dubawa are to encourage, engage, inform and liberate citizenry capable of making informed decisions to equip newsrooms with the skills to make fact-checking and truth a norm in media houses through training and fellowships.
Dubawa is supposed to conduct research and build technological tools that adequately identity, analyse and counter information disorder.
Also, it is supposed to partner newsrooms and data-driven agencies to obtain and digitalise factual information on politics, economy/statistics and health so that Dubawa becomes the hub for verified information.
The widow of John Kumah, the late Deputy Finance Minister and Member of Parliament for Ejisu has stated that her husband did not die from food poisoning, contrary to circulating reports.
Instead, she clarified that he courageously battled a severe illness for over a year.
Speaking in an interview with Asaase News, Apostle Lilian Kumah said her late husband had been battling with a terminal disease for nearly a year now since it was discovered by his doctors in Germany and that is what her husband succumbed to on Thursday, 7 March 2024, and not food poisoning.
Stop the speculation
In a very sobering and grieving voice, Apostle Mrs. Lilian Kumah, who is also the General Overseer of Disciples of Christ Ministries, asked all those speculating about the cause of the death of her husband to put a stop to it because it is exacerbating the pain of her immediate family and the larger Kumah family.
Apostle Mrs. Lilian Kumah
She also called for swift police action against known persons such as Blessed Godsbrain Smart, popularly known as Captain Smart, who has publicly stated that her late husband was poisoned but has not been made to provide any evidence to prove the wild claim he has made about the death of John Kumah.
“Why is it that someone (referring to Captain Smart) has been this bold to claim that he knows for a fact that a person like John Kumah who has served his country virtually all his life, was poisoned, while he was working for his country and party (New Patriotic Party, NPP), why should we sit down and not bring that person to book.
“If it is true that a person who is not dead but alive claims that he knows how my husband (John Kumah) died and that he was poisoned, and that person is still moving around for the past three weeks, it hurts me, it saddens me and I do not know how best to express my frustrations about these false claims by Captain Smart,” Apostle Lilian Kumah said.
Apostle Lilian Kumah and her late Husband,Hon.Dr.John Kumah
“If there are laws in this country concerning such false claims, I think this is the time for the leadership of the land to bring that wicked person (Captain Smart) to book to prove his false claims and to point out the persons who were involved in the poisoning of my late husband,” Mrs. Kumah further stated.
The August diagnoses
Speaking about the real cause of the death of her husband, Apostle Lilian Kumah pointed out that John Kumah was diagnosed with a blood-related disease sometime in August 2023 in Germany when she accompanied her husband for a medical check-up.
Mrs. Kumah added that throughout all the medical check-ups of her husband in Germany and Ghana, not once did any of the medical doctors they encountered, ever mention the issue of poisoning in the blood vessels of her husband, the late John Kumah.
“My husband went through pain but he never showed that he was in pain. He went through all the pain to do everything he needed to do during the period of his ill-health.
“He was motivated by a particular motto that he always operated by which is, ‘We don’t do what is convenient, we do what we are commanded to do. So [despite] all the pain, he endured,” Mrs. Kumah remarked.
“Right from day one since he was diagnosed in Germany, I have been part of the medical processes my husband went through, and no one, none of the doctors ever told me that my husband’s medical situation was because of poisoning.
“I have all the medical reports both from Germany and Ghana and food poisoning has never been mentioned in any of the reports,” the late John Kumah’s widow added.
Last moments
Dr. John Kumah died at about 12:40 PM at the Suhum government hospital after an ambulance he was travelling in together with his wife and medical doctor, from Ejisu to Accra was diverted to the Suhum medical facility when the doctor on board noticed that Mr Kumah’s condition was fast deteriorating.
On arrival at the hospital, a little after 11:00 am on Thursday, 7 March 2024, the medical team tried to stabilise him so could continue with his journey to Accra for his onward planned journey to Germany where he has been receiving treatment for his health challenge. However, the Suhum government hospital’s efforts failed to keep him alive.
The Energy Minister and Manhyia South Member of Parliament, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, popularly known as Napo, has paid tribute to the late Deputy Finance Minister, Dr John Kumah.
Late Dr.John Kumah
He described Dr Kumah’s death as an immense tragedy and a big blow to the New Patriotic Party and the Government.
Napo
Dr Kumah’s passing was disclosed on Thursday, March 7, following a short illness.
On his Facebook page, Napo celebrated the accomplishments of the late Deputy Finance Minister and commiserated with his wife, children and the entire family.
