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About 12,000 persons internally displaced due to socio-political factors in Ghana – GSS
Findings from the 2021 Population and Housing Census indicate that there are 11,717 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Ghana.
The Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) in a press release issued in Accra on Monday to commemorate International Migrants Day, attributed the internal displacement to socio-political factors.
The findings also showed that one in every ten of the IDPs had stayed less than one year in their current place of residence with six in ten having been displaced for five years or more.
“More than half of 57 point three per cent of IDPs reside in four regions: Greater Accra 19 point 2 per cent, Northern, 14 point one percent, Ashanti, 13 point seven per cent and ten point two percent in the Central region,” it said.
The release said the adult literacy rate for IDPs was twice that of persons that were not displaced.
It said four in every ten IDP representing 41 point three IDPs aged 15 years and older were not literate compared to two in every ten non-IDPs.
The percent of children aged four to 17 years who have never been to school is three times higher for IDPs than non- IDPs.
The statement said the census also provided statistics on international migrants in Ghana.
It said the leading drivers of immigration in Ghana was employment, settlement and marriage or family unification.
For males, getting employment is the most frequent purpose for migration while for females, it is migration for marriage or family unification.
A greater share of migrants is male compared to females and almost half of international migrants have lived in Ghana for five years or more.
The statement said some migrants had moved from one community to another as a result of conflict in their previous community.
It said there were migrants who had moved into a different locality or country due to flood, famine, or drought.
GNA
The prosecution has officially rested its case in The Republic v Solomon Asamoah & Another, the high-profile legal battle commonly referred to as the “Sky Train” case.
The Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai announced the development, praising the state’s team of hard-working prosecutors for successfully anchoring the state’s evidence before the High Court.
The criminal trial centers on the former Chief Executive Officer and the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF).
The duo stands accused of illegally authorizing and paying out US$2 million to a foreign company without obtaining board directives or other mandatory statutory approvals.
State investigators have confirmed that the disbursed millions cannot be found.
Following the closure of the prosecution’s case, the accused persons moved the court for an opportunity to file a submission of no case.
The presiding judge granted the application, ordering the defense to submit their arguments by June 8.
The outcome of the June 8 filings will decide the fate of the trial:
With this, if the judge finds the defense’s submission convincing, the accused will be acquitted and discharged however, If the judge dismisses the submission, the court will order the accused officials to take the stand and explain why they should not face prison sentences.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Member of Parliament for Akuapem North, Sammy Awuku, has expressed deep sorrow following the sudden passing of Isaac Batsa, the constituency secretary for the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmaker issued a statement on Tuesday reacting to the news, which has shocked the local political community.
Mr.Awuku praised the late NDC secretary for his bipartisan approach to local governance.
He noted that despite their different political affiliations, Batsa consistently rose above party lines to serve the constituency with diligence.
The MP revealed that the news was particularly shocking given that he had last interacted with Batsa just three days prior on Saturday.
Concluding his statement, Sammy Awuku extended his heartfelt condolences to Batsa’s family, the constituency and regional executives, and the entire NDC fraternity, wishing the deceased peaceful eternal rest.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
