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Don’t Undermine Democracy: Govt Urges Political Actors
The government has called on political actors to feel free to differ in opinion on national policies.
It has, however, underscored the need for people to be circumspect and refrain from issues that have the tendency to undermine the country’s burgeoning democracy.
The caution was contained in a statement issued by the Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, in response to comments by the Dean of the University of Ghana Law School, Professor Raymond Atuguba.
He said while the government had no problem with people expressing divergent views on policies and national developments, it abhorred attempts by some Ghanaians to lace their commentary with anti-democratic comments and insinuations that undermined the country’s democracy.
“Comments to the effect that some conditions are rife for a coup are most unfortunate and disappointing. They are disappointed because, despite COVID-19, Ghana’s current economic status is far better than the days of yesteryear when there was no global pandemic.
“Even if they were worse, the Constitution provides legitimate means for advocating and executing a change. For respected persons to be purporting that such conditions legitimise coups is a terrible attack on our democracy itself and should not be condoned,” the minister said.
Context
At a forum on the review of the 1992 Constitution last Monday, Prof. Atuguba, among other things, said that the challenges confronting the economy and its attendant hardship on Ghanaians could create fertile grounds for a coup.
Prof. Atuguba said the country’s debt had moved into deeper distress, nearing a debt crunch.
However, some senior citizens, notably a former Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Obed Asamoah, have described the comment as “childish” and coming from someone who was unaware of the consequences of military takeovers.
Similarly, Speaker of Parliament, Alban S.K Bagbin, expressed worry about the comments from the renowned professor.
He said comments like that were in bad taste and did not augur well for the progress of the country.
Source: graphiconline.com
The Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has disbursed GHS134,000 to 22 students under the latest round of his Scholarship and Bursaries Programme.
According to a statement from his office, the 22 beneficiaries are enrolled in 16 tertiary institutions across the country.
They are studying various courses, including medicine, marketing, law, public health, midwifery, business administration, education, and secretaryship.
The MP’s office commended the beneficiaries, especially the five students currently studying medicine and physician assistantship, encouraging them to remain committed to their studies.
The statement indicated that the scholarship initiative, which began in 2017, aims to support brilliant but needy students from the Ofoase Ayirebi Constituency to further their education. So far, about 700 students have benefited from the program.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Four tricycle operators, popularly known as ‘Pragya’, have been prosecuted and fined GH¢600 each equivalent to 50 penalty units by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) Sanitation Court for obstructing public roads at the Agbogbloshie Market.
The offenders, who were arrested by Public Health Officers of the AMA during a routine enforcement exercise, pleaded guilty to the offence and were subsequently convicted by the court.
The four operators were among the 21 offenders recently arrested at the Agbogbloshie Market for various sanitation and public order violations, including selling on open drains, obstructing walkways, and trading at unauthorised locations.
Speaking after the court proceedings, the Head of Public Health at the AMA, Madam Florence Kuukyi, said the court was lenient with the offenders since it was their first appearance, hence the fine, and warned that subsequent offenders would face stiffer penalties, including imprisonment.
