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End galamsey to save our country 

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It is an SOS message! Galamsey activities have corrupted our farmlands, forests and water bodies: “We must end galamsey to save our nation!”

The Religious Leaders gathered in Accra this week to hold a press conference to send out this message. Their intention and actions are completely non-partisan politics; they are only citizens who are engaged in a godly and patriotic SOS call. The Religious Leaders “are deeply concerned about the devastation that illegal mining (galamsey) has caused, and continue to cause our nation, as well as the associated negative health and socio-economic effects it brings”.

“Our ecosystem is being destroyed irreversibly”. It is like we have an ecological terrorist attack being inflicted on the nation. And the Religious Leaders want the President of the Republic of Ghana, Parliament, the Judiciary, the National House of Chiefs, and all citizens and residents in Ghana to respond.

The Religious Leaders presented the following eight primary, and necessary, action points:
1. We are calling for a week of fasting and prayers to pray for change of hearts and for God’s mercy upon our nation for the destruction we have caused the environment.

2. We call for an IMMEDIATE BAN on all small-scale mining. We have taken notice that many groups or companies hide behind a legal licence to wreak havoc to the environment. To that end, we call for an immediate ban on all forms of small-scale mining, whether licensed or not, until a workable and satisfactory road map has been established to ensure responsible mining in our country.

3. We call for an immediate national stakeholder’s dialogue under the auspices of religious leaders (while the ban is in place) to dialogue with all political parties, mining technocrats, the media, traditional leaders and all stakeholders to commit to a non-partisan National Strategy to sustainably deal with this national canker before we sink as a nation.

4. We call on government to swiftly arrest and prosecute all those involved in galamsey activities in Ghana without fear or favour, to serve as a deterrent to others. Those who desire to be rich at the expense of the future of our country should face the full rigours of the law. 

5. With immediate effect, we call on religious leaders to wear red armbands to show our deep concern for the destruction of our environment through galamsey.

6. We call for the arrest and immediate prosecution of any chief who permits galamsey activities within his jurisdiction for any reason.

7. We give ULTIMATUM to metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) in the country to ensure that water bodies that have been polluted because of illegal mining activities, within their sphere of governance, are clean by June 30, 2023. The Religious Leaders in the country are ready to mobilise our legal team to go to court on this matter and have MMDCEs who have allowed such menace in their jurisdiction to be removed from office.

8. We have realised that galamsey is preventing the youth from going to school. We call on all well-meaning Ghanaians to immediately report any child of school going age who is involved in galamsey activities in their communities to the appropriate authorities and also to their respective religious leaders.

The Religious Leaders concluded by saying: “We assure the citizenry of our nation that we are committed to leading a sustained national moral crusade and public education in partnership with all other stakeholders in our various Churches and Mosques across the country to appeal to the moral conscience of Ghanaians for a change in attitude towards the environment.

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General News

Ghanaian fibre optics inventor, Dr Thomas Mensah passes on

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The Adisadel College Old Boys Association's official X account also announced Dr. Mensah's death.

Dr. Thomas Mensah, a renowned Ghanaian-American scientist and developer of fibre optics, died at the age of 74.

According to a statement published by the family on Thursday, March 28, the renowned innovator, who played a key role in revolutionising telecommunications and technology, died of sickness at Kumasi Catholic Hope Exchange Hospital.

“Dr. Thomas Mensah died on March 27, 2024, in Kumasi Catholic Hope Exchange Hospital. Dr. Mensah died from a brief illness.


“The family hereby informs the wider public of the unfortunate event. “Dr. Thomas Mensah died at the age of 74,” the announcement added.

The Adisadel College Old Boys Association’s official X account also announced Dr. Mensah’s death.

“He was known on the global stage for his significant contributions in the field of fibre optics and nanotechnology.”

Dr. Mensah’s ideas have had a significant influence on global communications networks, making substantial contributions to the field of technology.

His major innovation in fibre optics enabled high-speed data transport, revolutionising several sectors and contributing to the digital age’s success.

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General News

Good news for teachers: 1 teacher, 1 laptop

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His remarks came after the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) expressed reservations about the Ghana Smart School Project, which debuted on Monday, March 25, 2024. According to GNAT, since 2021, when the government launched a similar scheme for teachers dubbed as the "1 Teacher 1 Laptop" project, over 100,000 instructors in public schools have yet to receive theirs. However, Dr. Adutwum, a teacher himself, told teachers that his Ministry has their best interests at heart and will never fail them. He indicated categorically that the instructors will receive their computers by the end of June.

Teachers in public schools will receive the laptops promised by the government in 2021 by the end of June 2024.

Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education, said this on Adom FM’s morning broadcast, Dwaso Nsem, on Tuesday.

“I can tell you that the instructors will receive their computers by the end of June, as promised. They’ve already met with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and are figuring out how to get their laptops,” he said.

His remarks came after the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) expressed reservations about the Ghana Smart School Project, which debuted on Monday, March 25, 2024.

According to GNAT, since 2021, when the government launched a similar scheme for teachers dubbed the “1 Teacher 1 Laptop” project, over 100,000 instructors in public schools have yet to receive theirs.

However, Dr. Adutwum, a teacher himself, told teachers that his Ministry has their best interests at heart and will never fail them.

He indicated categorically that the instructors will receive their computers by the end of June.

Speaking about the Ghana Smart School Project, Dr. Adutwum emphasised its significance as a component of the Free Senior High School (SHS) programme, which aims to improve the quality of teaching and learning in public second-cycle schools.

He stated that these tablets, packed with necessary textbooks and previous questions, will be great instructional aids, improving students’ access to information critical to their academic endeavours.

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Create your own ‘dumsor’ timetable – Energy minister to critics

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However, speaking to media at the launching of the NPP campaign team in the Ashanti Region, Dr. Opoku Prempeh urged detractors to create their own timeline if required. He questioned the point of defining a timeline since ECG said that there is no such strategy in place. "Ask those who desire it to bring it, if any. I have not seen any timeline. The ECG claims there is no timeline coming; why do you wish to bring one, and for what purpose? Why would someone wake up and want wicked and awful things for the country? You can't inform the individual when it's unplanned."

Energy Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh has challenged those lobbying for a load-shedding timeline from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to submit their own proposals.

His statements came amid the country’s current electricity issues, particularly in the Greater Accra Region, which affect both residents and companies.

Despite rising calls for a systematic load-shedding plan, ECG has maintained its opposition to creating one, citing the lack of a formal “dumsor” scenario and so judging a timetable unnecessary.

The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and numerous important personalities have repeatedly urged ECG to give a timeframe. They also urged the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to address the present power situation.

However, speaking to the media at the launching of the NPP campaign team in the Ashanti Region, Dr Opoku Prempeh urged detractors to create their own timeline if required.

He questioned the point of defining a timeline since ECG said that there is no such strategy in place.

“Ask those who desire it to bring it, if any. I have not seen any timeline. The ECG claims there is no timeline coming; why do you wish to bring one, and for what purpose? Why would someone wake up and want wicked and awful things for the country? You can’t inform the individual when it’s unplanned.”

Dr. Opoku Prempeh told the public that measures are underway to solve the difficulties facing the electricity industry.

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