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EOCO hunts for Lebanese national jailed for fraud
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has launched a manhunt for a Lebanese national who was sentenced to jail for five years over fraud.
Naji Khalil was on 5th August 2020 arraigned before the Accra Circuit Court 4 presided over by His Honour M.E. Essandoh after having been investigated for serious offences.
The accused at the time of investigation was a member of a notorious international organised criminal group including Nabil Zayani (Lebanese), Abraham Faouri (Jordanian) and Tony Michaelis.
They were charged with conspiracy to defraud by false pretence, defrauding by false pretence, participating in an organised criminal group, and conspiracy to commit a crime to wit money laundering.
On 22nd June 2022, His Honour M. E. Essandoh sentenced Naji Khalil to five (5) years imprisonment with hard labour on two counts of Conspiracy to Defraud by False Pretence and Defrauding by False Pretence.
The convict was tried in absentia because he jumped bail during the trial and the court issued a bench warrant for his arrest.
The three (3) others were at large at the time of the court action and therefore were not available to take their pleas.
EOCO has therefore appealed to the general public for assistance towards the arrest of the said convict to serve his just prison terms.
Facts of the case
In April 2019, the victim Dr Khadidja Katir, an Algerian national, reported to EOCO and alleged that she had been defrauded by an organised crime group based in Ghana comprising four (4) suspects Naji Khalil, Nabil Zayani, Abraham Faouri and Tony Michaelis to the tune of USD138,000.
This was done under the pretext of airlifting ‘rough crystals’ worth USD 4 billion to her in Malta.
Following several telephone calls after the victim had transferred the money, the accused persons refused to pick up calls from her. However, on one occasion when they finally picked up her call, they threatened to kill her if she ever set foot in Ghana.
Despite the threats, the victim Dr Khadidja Katir arrived in Ghana where she lodged a complaint at EOCO for investigation.
Investigations confirmed that the suspects are members of an international organised crime syndicate that defrauds members of the unsuspecting public.
Source: citinewsroom.com
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Seek healthcare at facilities where nursing services are available – Ministry of Health
As a result of the ongoing strike action by the Ghana Registered Nurses and
Midwives Association (GRNMA), it has become imperative for the Ministry of
Health to implement additional measures to mitigate any inconvenience that has been caused.
According to the Ministry, in a statement, it has through all appropriate channels, led negotiations to ensure the smooth approval and implementation of the
new Conditions of Service.
Against this backdrop, the statement added that in line with the Ministry’s policy to ensure healthy population for national development, it has become necessary to make provisions to fill the gaps created as a result of the strike.
Consequently, the Ministry has urged the general public to continue seeking healthcare services at various health facilities, including those where nursing services remain available, to ensure their health needs are met.
They Ministry also attached a link of health facilities across the country in the statement.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Check the statement below
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MTN, Telecel & AT to increase value of data bundles effective Tuesday, July 1, 2025
The Minister for Communication and Digital Innovation, Sam George, has announced an increase in the value of data bundles by all telecommunication networks in the country.
Speaking at a Meet The Press held today, he said the new directive will take effect from July 1, 2025.
According to him, the implementation date of July 1, is to allow the telcos to recalibrate and reconfigure their systems to reflect the agreed-upon value increases.
He said The new directive will ensure that “AirtelTigo Ghana (AT Ghana): A 10% increase in all data bundles currently offered by the network, additionally, the GH₵400 bundle, which currently offers 195GB, will now offer 236GB.”
Touching on Telecel Ghana, he said, “A 10% increase in data bundles currently offered by the network, their GH₵400 bundle, which currently offers 90GB, will offer 250GB, effective from July 1.”
On MTN Ghana, the minister said, there would be “a 15% increase in all data bundles currently offered by the network and I am pleased to announce the restoration of GH₵399 bundle, which currently has been changed to GH₵350 that offers 92.88GB, will hence be reinstated to 214GB for GH₵399.”
Sam George has also urged the operators to invest in the quality of their network to ensure customers are better served.
He charged the regulator National Communication Authority (NCA) to strictly monitor the changes.
The minister expressed appreciation to the CEOs of the various companies for close collaboration over the last four months.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
