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Nii Lante Vanderpuye calls for punitive action against soldier who assaulted the Joy News journalist
The former Member of Parliament for the Odododiodio Constituency and National Coordinator for the Disaster Resilience Improvement Programme (DRIP), Nii Lante Vanderpuye, has called for strict disciplinary action to be taken against the soldier who allegedly assaulted a Joy News journalist during the demolition of a facility around Spintex in Accra on July 30.
The structures is said to belong to popular businessman, Daniel McKorley, popularly known as McDan.
Condemning the incident, Mr. Vanderpuye, stated that no one deserves to be assaulted in the line of duty.
He described the attack as unacceptable and insisted that it should not be excused under any circumstance.
“No government in its right sense would endorse, sanction, or approve of any wanton disregard for the rights of a journalist,”.
“I will never support, approve of, or justify any form of assault on any individual without cause” he affirmed.
He further explained that such misconduct is often the result of over-excited and irresponsible behavior by some security personnel, and it should not be viewed as a government policy or directive.
Mr. Vanderpuye stressed that even when security officers are provoked, their response must remain within legal and ethical limits.
“You don’t just attack someone and violate their fundamental freedoms and expect to walk away free,” he stated.
He emphasized that all forms of assault, whether from a civilian, a security officer, or even between civilians are wrong and must be condemned.
He urged the Ghana Armed Forces to follow the example of the Ghana Police Service, which interdicted an officer involved in a similar assault during the recent election at Ablekuma North in 19 polling stations.
He expressed confidence in the military’s disciplinary structure.
“I expect the military to act just as the police did. The army has always been a disciplined institution,” he said.
Mr. Vanderpuye urged the public and state institutions to take such matters seriously and ensure that justice is served, especially when it involves press freedom and the rights of ordinary citizens.
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana has signed a debt restructuring agreement with the Kingdom of Belgium as part of efforts to restore the country’s economic stability after the financial crisis that hit the nation in 2022 and 2023.
The Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, today disclosed that he signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Ghana.
He explained that Ghana experienced a very difficult period during the crisis, which forced the government at the time to declare a debt default.
However, he indicated that the country is now recovering and witnessing a significant economic turnaround.
According to him, stronger systems are also being put in place to ensure that Ghana does not return to such a situation again.
Dr Forson noted that the agreement with Belgium is the eighth deal Ghana has concluded with countries under the Official Creditor Committee as part of its external debt restructuring programme.
He expressed appreciation to the Government of Belgium for its support and partnership with Ghana during the process.
The Finance Minister thanked Carole van Eyll, Ambassador of Belgium to Ghana, for her role in strengthening relations between the two countries.
The agreement forms part of Ghana’s broader effort to restructure its external debts and stabilise the economy following the crisis.
By: Jacob Aggrey
