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Leaked tape on IGP: My interest was to protect NPP – Bugri Naabu

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A former Northern Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Daniel Bugri Naabu, says his decision to record the conversation about a proposed plot to remove the Inspector General of Police from office, was to safeguard the interest of the party.

Mr Naabu, who confirmed the authenticity of the secret tape, indicated that his plan was to forward the same to President Akufo-Addo regarding the officers’ concerns over the party’s fate with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) George Akuffo Dampare at the helm.

“I think that was my main interest, to protect the party,” he said on Monday, August 28.

He made this statement when he appeared before the Committee set up to probe the tape, where he also mentioned the names of the other persons who were in the meeting.

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According to him, the sensitive nature of the issue warranted that he briefed the President in a detailed manner, hence his decision to secure a recording gadget for the activity.

“The reason for recording this tape is that they are coming to tell me to go and tell the President something that they know what they are saying, and it is either I don’t go to tell the President and then I and my party suffer for it, and if I also go to talk to the President, it is good to tell him the right thing and since I cannot keep everything they were telling me at that point, it was very good to record, and I know the President that if I go and tell him something, and it turns not to be true, next time he won’t give me respect,” he said.

This comes weeks after the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin tasked a seven-member committee to probe the leaked audio recording proposing the clandestine removal of the IGP from office.

The conversation on the recording suggests solicitations by an unnamed influence-peddling policeman suggesting that the current Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare be ousted from office so that someone more sympathetic to the cause of the ruling party replaces him.

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The whole plot, per the conversation, is to get the police to support the rigging of election 2024 in favour of the governing NPP.

The Minority MPs have protested vehemently against the alleged plot, and have called for a forensic probe to fish out those engaged in the unhealthy conversation so they may face the law.

MPs on the Majority side have doubted the authenticity of the recording and have also denied any association with or desire to rig any election, saying the NPP will win the 2024 polls fairly.
Source:Myjoyonline.com

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African leaders urged to end preventable maternal deaths, AIDS

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The delegates after the opening ceremony

African leaders have been urged to strengthen political commitment and domestic investment to end preventable maternal deaths and AIDS by 2030. 

The call comes as African health ministers and policymakers meet in Accra to deliberate on health financing, health security and universal health coverage across the continent. 

Mr Edouard Bizimana, Burundi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation, made the call on Tuesday at the opening of the African Union’s (AU) 25th Extraordinary Summit on Health in Accra. 

He said Africa needed increased domestic investment to build resilient health systems as it continued to grapple with infectious diseases and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). 

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Mr Bizimana, who is also Chairperson of the AU Executive Council, said although Africa accounted for nearly 17 per cent of the world’s population, it bore 24 per cent of the global disease burden while having less than three per cent of the global health workforce and only one per cent of global health expenditure. 

“Despite maternal mortality declining by nearly 40 per cent since 2000, Africa still accounts for about 70 per cent of maternal deaths globally, while almost two-thirds of people living with HIV reside on the continent,” he said. 

Mr Bizimana said the growing burden of NCDs was placing additional pressure on already stretched health systems. 

“These figures are not merely statistics. They represent painful human realities, preventable losses and unacceptable inequalities, they remind us that health is not an expense it is a strategic investment and a prerequisite for our sovereignty and development. “he said. 

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Mr Bizimana said recent global health emergencies had exposed Africa’s vulnerability and underscored the need to expand local production of medicines and vaccines, strengthen the health workforce and improve emergency preparedness. 

“Our citizens expect resilient health systems where every mother can give birth safely, every child has access to essential healthcare and every African enjoys quality health services regardless of where they live,” he said. 

The two-day summit, being held ahead of the 20th Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, has brought together health ministers, policymakers and health stakeholders to identify solutions to Africa’s health financing and security challenges. 

Madam Florence Samizi, Tanzania’s Deputy Health Minister, called for stronger collaboration among AU Member States to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage. 

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The summit is being held on the theme: “Advancing Justice, Equality and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, Tuberculosis, Improving Maternal Health, Addressing Endemic Non-Communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa.” 

The meeting is expected to adopt the Accra Declaration, a roadmap to strengthen Africa’s health systems and advance health sovereignty by 2030. -GNA 

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Wontumi judgment must lead to wider fight against galamsey- Dr. Zaato

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Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Department of Political Science, Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato says the imprisonment of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, will have little meaning unless it leads to a broader crackdown on illegal mining.

In a post on his Facebook page on the July 21, 2026, Dr. Zaato said the judgment should mark the beginning of efforts to completely eradicate galamsey and hold all those involved accountable, regardless of their political affiliation.

He said the country must work towards restoring polluted rivers, protecting forests and ensuring that people implicated in illegal mining activities are prosecuted.

According to him, those the President has publicly acknowledged to be involved in galamsey should face prosecution.

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He called for the prosecution of district chief executives (DCEs), members of Parliament (MPs) and senior political party officials who have been accused of engaging in or supporting illegal mining.

Dr. Zaato further urged the government to take decisive action to end the destruction of the country’s forests caused by galamsey.

He maintained that the imprisonment of Chairman Wontumi would only have a lasting impact if it results in a comprehensive and impartial fight against illegal mining across the country.

By: Jacob Aggrey

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