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Alberto Mario Norreti wins GJA Best Crime and Court reporter award
The Spectator’s Alberto Mario Norreti over the weekend was adjudged Best Crime and Court reporter at the just ended 25th Ghana Journalists Association Awards held at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra.
Mr Norreti last year, wrote series of stories exposing a couple who engaged in child trafficking on the Volta Lake.
The stories blew the cover of these illegal activities and brought relief to the children involved, whereas the culprits were jailed.
In a statement read on behalf of the Chief Justice, Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, at the ceremony, he urged the media to exhibit professionalism in their practice to promote the country’s democracy ahead of the general elections.
The Chief Justice also called for an enhanced media ethics in this election season, adding that, “Let’s not indulge in sensationalism. Let’s distance ourselves from misreporting and let’s sanitise our pages and airwaves”.
“I can assure you that the judiciary is committed to media freedom and working with you, indeed, with all of you to grow our democracy and improve the lives of our people.
According to him, relationship between journalists and the judiciary can often take a sour turn and there have been times when they have had to lay down the law and step in to check some of the excesses that are inevitable in any public endeavour such as media practice.
He said, “For journalists, who may have found themselves on the wrong side of a judicial pronouncements, I am here to tell you that it was not personal.”
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Ghana’s First Lady, Lordina Mahama, has made a generous donation to the country’s national female Under-17 and Under-20 teams – Black Maidens and Black Princesses- as they continue preparations for major international assignments.
The donation, made on Friday, May 22, was presented on behalf of the First Lady by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, at the GFA Technical Centre in Prampram.
The gesture forms part of efforts to motivate and support Ghana’s young female footballers as they prepare to represent the country on the international stage.
The donation included essential food items and toiletries aimed at supporting the welfare and well-being of the players and technical teams.
The donation included cartons of Milo, T-rolls, soft drinks, toiletries, and a range of essential supplies aimed at supporting the welfare of the players, enhancing camp conditions, and easing preparations ahead of their respective assignments.
The Black Maidens are currently engaged in preparations for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers and are set to take on Liberia women’s national under-17 football team in the second-leg encounter in Liberia this weekend.
Meanwhile, the Black Princesses have already secured qualification to the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup after overcoming Uganda in the qualifiers, extending Ghana’s remarkable record to eight consecutive appearances at the tournament.
The donation by the First Lady was expected to boost morale within both camps while reinforcing national support for the young female footballers who continue to make the country proud.
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
