Day: May 26, 2023

Officials in Somalia say Al-Shabab militants early Friday stormed a military base manned by African Union forces from Uganda, multiple sources said.

The dawn attack took place in Bulo Marer, an agricultural town in Lower Shabelle region, about 110 kilometers south of Mogadishu.

The militants detonated four to six explosions, including improvised bombs in vehicles driven by suicide bombers, three sources, including a local official and a security commander requesting anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to the media, told VOA Somali.

According to the sources, the militants penetrated perimeters of the base after the explosions, which were followed by a fierce firefight. The militants were also seen inside the town. The base is just outside town.

The situation of a second base manned by Somali forces not far from the AU base that al-Shabab claims to have attacked is unclear.

The group sent a message via Telegram early Friday claiming they were “overrunning” the base. The Africa Union military command and the Somali government have not yet commented on the attack.

An al-Shabab attack on the same base in April 2018 failed after the Ugandan forces held their positions. Somali officials said dozens of militants were killed at the time.

This latest attack comes as the Somali government prepares the second phase of military operations against al-Shabab. The first phase, launched in August, drove al-Shabab from vast territories in central Somalia.

The Somali government said it will raise enough forces to takeover security responsibilities from the AU peacekeepers by Dec 2024.

Source: Voice of America

The management of Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited, subsidiary of Shandong Gold, a Chinese mining firm, has reiterated the company’s commitment to engaging in responsible ecological mining to benefit the people and the governments of Ghana and China.

‘We have given our promises to the Ghanaian Government that with our investment, we can create more job opportunities for the communities we work in and change their lives, give more tax incomes to the Government whiles we also benefit as a country,’ it said.

Mr Zhenjiang Tang, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited, made these remarks at Bolgatanga when a delegation from the Ghana News Agency (GNA) paid a working visit to the operation area of the company in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.

The visit, led by the Director of Editorial, GNA, Mrs Beatrice Asamani Savage, was to get first-hand information on the operations of the company and their impact on the surrounding communities.

It was part of an agreement signed between the mining company and the GNA to enable the Agency’s reporters to monitor the activities of the company to ensure responsible mining, which would benefit the communities and Ghana as a whole.

The Cardinal Namdini Mining Ltd, through Shandong Gold, acquired mining concessions to engage in surface mining for a period of 15 years at Digaare (Accra site) and Biung in the Talensi District.

These areas are green fields and expected to generate 150 million tonnes of ore to give five million ounces of gold within the 15 years.

Currently, the company is investing about US$520 million to construct its infrastructure base, including operational offices and staff accommodation, processing plants, and tailings storage facilities, to allow for full mining operations to begin in 2024.

Mr Tang noted that the company was investing heavily in its mining infrastructure to build the biggest mining industry in Ghana and one of the biggest in Africa, which would benefit the governments of Ghana and China equally.

He said it was guided by the mining laws and regulations of Ghana and was committed to ensuring its operations did not destroy the environment, the communities and nation in general.

‘The project can only be successful with the contribution of all stakeholders, including the media, and we are also determined to stay close with the support of the society and the Government, and very soon we will witness a new mining company in northern Ghana,’ he said.

Mr Steve Ofori, the Project Manager, Cardinal Namdini Mining Limited, explained that local content policy had been developed to engage more locals and Ghanaian nationals when the mining begins.

He said 1,200 jobs was created during the construction phase and 90 per cent were Ghanaians.

Mrs Savage, on her part, commended the management of the firm for recognising the significant role of the media in its operations, which would go a long way to enhance its activities and address the concerns of the communities.

She said Ghana and China had a long-standing relationship dating back to the 1960s, and that ignorance and misinformation, due to lack of communication, were factors that must be addressed to ensure successful operations.

‘This partnership will only be successful if there is information flow, openness and transparency, and if things are done right for a win-win situation,’ Mrs Savage said.

‘We hope that you will be open to us, for we will support you when things are done to benefit our people because they are our primary responsibility.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

Members of the Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSAG) in the Western Region have joined the nationwide strike action, which has crippled court sittings in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis.

A visit by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to the Takoradi Harbour Courts showed an absence of the usual busy hive ‘paperwork’ and there were also no sittings at both Circuit Courts A and B. The premises were also unusually quiet with doors closed.

There were people who claimed they were unaware of the strike action, despite the media publications

‘Actually, we are on strike and there are no sittings,’ a source at the registry told the GNA.

A similar situation occurred at the Sekondi High Court where State Attorneys and other lawyers were barred from accessing the premises.

‘All doors were locked and the JUSAG members did not allow us to enter the courts. It’s a nationwide strike,’ an unnamed state attorney reported.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Four people on Friday lost their lives in an accident at the Akatsi Yaluvi Junction stretch of the Accra-Aflao Highway.

The deceased, Rita Foli and Dzodzi Agbemenya, both residents of Torve within Akatsi South, and two other unidentified males were crushed by a Lexus 4×4 vehicle with registration number UW 200-22.

Chief Superintendent Isaac Baah, the Akatsi South Municipal Police Commander, who confirmed the fatal accident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), said Rita Foli, onboard a tricycle with registration number M-19- GW 467 died on the spot.

The remaining two unidentified males; one on board the tricycle and the other riding the motorbike, and Dodzi, who was riding the tricycle, were pronounced dead upon arrival at the St Paul’s Hospital at Akatsi.

Mr Baah said the tragedy, which happened at about 0800 hours, involved a Lexus 4×4 vehicle, an unregistered Boxer-type motorbike, a tricycle, and one stationary tipper truck.

He said investigations were ongoing to establish the cause of the accident.

However, Assistant Divisional Officer Grade II, Mr Clemence Kponyo, the Akatsi South Municipal Operations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, during their rescue operation, disclosed to the GNA at the scene of the accident that the Lexus vehicle was moving from Accra towards Aflao.

The five passengers onboard escaped unhurt when the accident occurred.

He said the driver in charge of the Lexus, in an attempt to swerve an object, hit the motor rider before running into the tricycle, and finally hitting the tipper truck in the process.

The tipper truck driver, who sustained some injuries, is currently receiving treatment, whilst the bodies of the deceased had been deposited at the St Paul’s Hospital Morgue awaiting autopsy, Mr Kponyo said.

Source: Ghana News Agency

The Krachi-Nchumuru District Office of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), with support from the European Union (EU), has sensitised artisans at Banda on the need to promote peace and tolerance.

Mr. Abass Yussif, Krachi-Nchumuru NCCE District Director, speaking at the programme advised the artisans to work to build national cohesion which would lead to peace and development of the district and Ghana as a whole.

He said chieftaincy, land, religious and tribal conflicts are common in the district, so they should help in ending them.

The District Director said the Krachi-Nchumuru District Assembly spent a colossal amount of its Internally Generated Funds which should have gone into development projects on Security agencies to maintain law and order in some communities fighting among themselves.

Mr Yussif said violent extremist groups could infiltrate these chieftaincy and tribal conflicts to cause more harm to life and property, so they should stop those acts.

He also advised them to be mindful of visitors they received and do background checks on them as most terrorists camouflage themselves as visitors and carried out their activities unnoticed.

The District Director said they must be careful of strange items they found in market squares, mosques, Church premises, hospitals, and schools as terrorist groups target those popular places for attack.

Mr Martin Asiam Atta, a Principal Field Officer of the NCCE, urged the artisans to concentrate on learning their profession since it would help them earn a decent living.

He also asked the female artisans to check the backgrounds of males who proposed love to them so as not to harbour terrorists ignorantly.

Similar engagements were held at Borae, Chinderi and Boafri communities.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Vice President of China, Han Zheng stated that the Ethio-China comprehensive and strategic cooperation partnership has yielded tangible results.

He made the statement today during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke Mekonnen in Beijing.

The Chinese Vice President said that Demeke’s visit will provide a better opportunity to strengthen Ethiopia-China relations.

He also stated that China will provide the necessary assistance to Ethiopia’s efforts to consolidate peace and rebuild infrastructure.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Demeke for his part thanked China for its comprehensive support.

Demeke also praised China for taking principled positions in international fora by supporting Ethiopia over the last three years.

He said it is critical to strengthen bilateral relations and collaborate on international issues.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency