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Millions evacuated ahead of super cyclone
India and Bangladesh are evacuating millions of people from coastal areas ahead of a super cyclone which is approaching from the Bay of Bengal.
Cyclone Amphan is expected to make landfall in an area near the border of the two countries later on Wednesday.
More than 20 relief teams have already been deployed, and several more are on standby, Indian officials say.
The coronavirus outbreak is making it harder for officials in both countries to evacuate people in these regions.
Amphan is expected to hit the coast with winds gusting up to 185km/h (115mph), forecasters say.
Officials in Bangladesh fear it will be the most powerful storm since Cyclone Sidr killed about 3,500 people in 2007. Most died as a result of sea water surging in.
While the storm’s current wind speed is likely to reduce slightly before it makes landfall, India’s weather department is predicting the surge of water caused could be as high as 10-16 feet (more than 3-5 metres).
The cyclone comes as tens of thousands of migrant workers flee cities for their villages during India’s lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus.
West Bengal and Orissa (Odisha) are among the Indian states that are seeing a larger number of them return.
Orissa has now cancelled trains which were due to arrive with thousands of migrants between May18 and 20.
And some district officials have barred entry into their areas and requested the state government to accommodate the migrants – many of whom are walking home – elsewhere until the storm passes.
The evacuation is expected to continue into Wednesday morning. Bangladesh’s disaster management minister has told the BBC that they plan to evacuate about two million people to safety.
Extra shelters have been prepared to allow for social distancing. Masks are also being distributed.
State officials in India are also struggling to find shelters for evacuees. In Orissa, for instance, 250 of the more than 800 existing shelters are being used as coronavirus quarantine centres.
So both states have asked for schools and other buildings in the areas likely to be hit by the super cyclone to be turned into temporary shelters – they need more than the usual numbers in order to house people while enforcing social distancing norms.
Around 50,000 people have been evacuated from areas near the Sunderban islands in India. -BBC
The Attorney General has filed an application at the High Court seeking to set aside an earlier order that allowed Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, the first accused in a pending criminal case, to travel to the United Kingdom for specialist medical treatment.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice said the application was filed on behalf of the Republic after new information came to the attention of prosecutors following the court’s decision on June 29, 2026.
According to the Office, the new developments significantly change the circumstances under which the court granted Mr. Aludiba permission to travel.
The Attorney General said court documents filed in support of the application allege that Mr. Aludiba attempted to use an order from a differently constituted High Court in a separate case to access money held in bank accounts that remain frozen under valid orders obtained by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
The Office said the bank reportedly declined the attempted withdrawal and informed the investigative authorities.
According to the statement, the alleged attempt happened shortly before Mr. Aludiba was scheduled to leave Ghana.
It said the development raises concerns about compliance with existing court orders, the integrity of the ongoing criminal trial, and the possibility that he may not return to face trial if allowed to leave the country.
The Attorney General said these facts were not before the court when it granted the travel request and could influence its decision if they had been known.
It said the application is asking the High Court to reconsider its earlier decision in the interest of justice.
The Office stressed that the application is part of the normal legal process under Ghanaian law and does not seek to determine the outcome of the criminal case.
It noted that Mr. Aludiba continues to enjoy the constitutional presumption of innocence until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction.
The statement further disclosed that following his arrest, Mr. Aludiba has been granted bail by the Economic and Organised Crime Office.
The Office of the Attorney General said it will not comment further because the matter is currently before the High Court.
It reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the rule of law, protecting the integrity of criminal proceedings and ensuring due process for all accused persons.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has denied reports suggesting that GH¢308,000 was stolen from the Authority by one of its personnel.
In a statement, the DVLA said the money at the centre of the alleged theft case does not belong to the Authority and was not taken from any of its accounts.
According to the Authority, the case involves a personal dispute between two individuals, one of whom is a former National Service Personnel who currently works with the DVLA on contract.
It explained that although the individual is attached to the Authority, the alleged offence has no connection with its operations, finances or official duties.
The DVLA said it has not suffered any financial loss as a result of the incident and described media reports suggesting otherwise as inaccurate and misleading.
The Authority was reacting to a media publication with the headline: “DVLA Service Personnel allegedly steals GH¢308K to purchase Hyundai Elantra saloon car, a Samsung 50-inch television set and pay sibling’s school fees.”
It urged media organisations and the public to report the matter accurately to avoid creating the false impression that public funds belonging to the DVLA had been stolen.
The DVLA assured the public that its financial systems remain secure and that its operations have not been affected.
The Authority reaffirmed its commitment to integrity and accountability, adding that it has confidence in the legal process and will fully cooperate with the police if required.
By: Jacob Aggrey
