The Lighthouse Chapel International (LCI) in Ghana has revoked a car gift to a former bishop, Kwame Yirenkyi Ampofo. The automobile, a Chevrolet Tahoe, has become the subject of a police investigation following allegations of car theft made against the ex-bishop after he allegedly refused to return it.

According to a report filed by myjoyonline.com, Kwame Ampofo, an engineer by profession was gifted the said car which was originally used by Adelaide Heward-Mills, the wife of the church’s founder, from 2013 to 2016 and afterward, the Healing Jesus denomination, a part of Lighthouse Chapel, gave him the vehicle as a gift in 2022.

However, he was subsequently dismissed from the church due to a disagreement with its leadership.

According to the report, the bishop then mounted an attack on the church after his dismissal, and in response to his alleged attacks, Lighthouse Chapel International decided to revoke the car gift in a letter dated July 4, 2023, signed by Bishop Dr. Kofi Hene Asare, the Convener of the Bishop’s Council. In the letter, sighted by GhanaWeb, the church expressed surprise and disappointment at Ampofo’s behavior, citing a history of kindness and honor extended to him.

The church emphasized that it had not yet transferred the ownership of the car to the former bishop and was entitled to change its mind regarding the gift. As a result, Lighthouse Chapel International stated that it would not transfer ownership of the vehicle to Ampofo and upon his refusal landed them in the police station to ascertain the rightful owner of the vehicle.

“Before we could actually affect the transfer of the ownership of the car to you legally, you began to attack and insult the church which has been so benevolent to you. This was both a surprise and a shock to the Lighthouse Chapel International in the light of the long history of kindness and honour shown to you,” the church said in a July 4, 2023.

“… The church is entitled to change its mind on decisions about its intentions on any subject. The church no longer wishes to give you the car because we have had a change of mind and because we never actually transferred ownership to you. We WILL NOT transfer the ownership of this car to you,” myjoyonline.com quoted the bishop to have said.

In December 2022, the church dismissed Ampofo based on their internal investigations and organizational values. Having served as a bishop in charge of the Nsawam area since 1995, Ampofo had devoted himself entirely to the church, having resigned from his previous job in 2006. However, following his dismissal, he renounced the bishop title and turned to social media to counter what he regarded as false accusations by prominent bishops within Lighthouse Chapel.

In January 2023, a lawyer representing Lighthouse Chapel, Kweku Y. Pantsil, notified Ampofo of the revocation of the car gift. The church took issue with Ampofo’s characterization of the vehicle as a compensation package rather than a gift, leading them to consider the offer null and void.

Efforts by Lighthouse Chapel to retrieve the car from Ampofo proved unsuccessful, leading them to involve the police in determining the rightful owner.

Source: ghanaweb.com

The University of Education Winneba (UEW), continues to encounter leadership controversies as a new group calls for the head of the chairman of the university’s council.

An association calling itself the Concerned Staff of UEW is urgently appealing to President Akufo-Addo to immediately withdraw the appointment of Nana Ofori Ansah I as Chairman of the University Governing Council.

Describing the chairman’s continued stay in office as a threat to peace and stability of the university, the group also called for the dissolution of the Council, accusing it of poor leadership.

In a statement dated June 1, 2023, the association claims that the several actions of the Chairman of the Council has created unhealthy university environment which is marring the peaceful atmosphere on campus.

The statement signed by Prof George Kankam Snr, argues that the “actions and inactions of Nana Ofori Ansah, whose continuous autocratic tendencies, coupled with his arbitrary disregard for laid down procedures in the running of the University, has led to heightened tension in the University, which can explode at any moment.”

Among other claims, they accused the chairman of “gross leadership weakness since he was sworn into office, nurturing uneasiness and further nursing and growing adequate plans to destabilize the peace of UEW, and disregarding UEW Statutes and other laid down and established procedures.”

“The call for the immediate dissolution of the UEW Governing Council and the subsequent dismissal of Nana Ofori Ansah 1 from office as Council Chairman of UEW is justified without doubt. He pursues his personal interest and the interests of other UEW saboteurs and saboteurs of Ghana at large at the expense of the entire UEW and Ghana as a whole. His continued stay in office as is a threat to the peace and stability of the University,” the staff group claims.

Press Statement by Concerned Staff of UEW

The Board and Management of the Koforidua Senior High Technical School (Sectech) have indefinitely suspended 85 students of the school following the brutal attack on students and teachers of the New Juaben Senior High School.

The attack, which happened on Sunday, May 14, 2023, left four students of the New Juaben Senior High School and the school’s chaplain badly injured.

Personnel of the Ghana Police Service who were called in during the attack managed to arrest four students of Koforidua SecTech to commence their investigations.

The school’s disciplinary committee, which also began independent investigations into the attack while liaising with the police, identified six students who masterminded the attack and were immediately handed their sanctions.

According to Citi News sources within the school, the disciplinary committee met all 85 students to interrogate them before submitting a report to the school’s board, which then recommended and sanctioned the decision to suspend the students indefinitely.

Majority of the affected students, who are final year students, will however be given the opportunity to write their final WASSCE exams.

The fate of a student who is hospitalised after suffering a machete wound on the head, hangs in the balance as the disciplinary committee awaits his full recovery before he takes his turn at the committee.

In addition, the board of governors also recommended the demotion of all prefects in the school for failing to pick up signals of the brutal twin attack that faithful day.

Source: Citinews

Tension is mounting between the management of St Gregory Catholic Hospital at Gomoa-Buduburam in the Central-Region, and its Muslim nurses over the wearing of Hijab by the Muslim nurses.

While the management is prohibiting the wearing of Hijab, which is the Islamic veil or hair cover worn by female Muslims, the nurses are resisting the prohibition, insisting on their right to freedom of religion and its expression.

Currently, a total of 12 Muslim nurses who were posted to the hospital by the Ghana Health Service, have been ordered to stop wearing the Hijab, otherwise they would be prevented from working in the hospital.

The management claims it is implementing an existing policy by the National Catholic Bishops’ Conference, which prohibits the wearing of the Hijab by workers in the church’s over 130 health institutions due to safety reasons.

The order to the nurses has triggered a series of petitions by Muslim leaders to the management of the hospital, National Catholic Secretariat, Ghana Health Service and Ministry of Health.

For instance, a petition dated April 27, 2023 by the Gomoa Buduburam Zongo Chief, Sariki Nuruden Khalid, to the hospital, Ministry of Health and the National Chief Iman, yielded no positive result as the management maintains that the wearing of the Hijab violates the hospital’s policy.

The latest petition dated May 25 is by Ibrahim Mohammed Asamoah, an Islamic leader, to the Health Minister, and copied to the Director General of the Ghana Health Service, National Chief Imam among others, is calling on the intervention of the State to protect the constitutional right and freedom of the nurses.

According to the nurses (names withheld), some of whom have served at the hospital for over 5 years, they were not informed about the prohibition before their commencement of work.

They said the hospital didn’t have any issue with their Hijab over the years, until recently when their new Matron, madam Mercy, who took office a few months ago, started insisting that they stopped wearing the Hijab.

Rev. Father Paul Annan, Chaplain in charge of the hospital, when contacted, confirmed the policy, saying the matron is only implementing an existing policy.

“She is not doing anything new,” he said, claiming that Muslim nurses in all other Catholic health facilities, adhere to the policy against the wearing of Hijab, adding that the Hijab is not part of the prescribed dressing code for their health workers.

Giving the reasons as explained in the prohibition policy, Rev Father Annan, said the wearing of hijabs in the hospitals poses a danger to the nurses and patients.

He said “it can scare patients who may become hysterical and frightened in the process, and patients may hold on to the hijabs and use the same to strangle those wearing them.

On why the Muslim nurses are not informed of the policy before commencing work, he noted that the dressing code is usually explained to new workers during orientation.

In 2019, the Ghana Health Service, following disputes of the wearing of Hijab by health workers, issued a statement reminding managements of health facilities of the existing GHS policy that allows the wearing of Hijab by Muslim health workers.

Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer of the Mental Health Authority in 2019, issued a directive for Muslim workers in the psychiatric hospitals to be allowed to wear their Hijab.

By Edmund Mingle/ adrdaily.com

The Medical Laboratory Professionals Workers Union (MELPWU) is demanding Conditions of Service for medical laboratory workers in Ghana as it threatens to embark on an industrial action over the issue.

According to the union, which is joined the May Day parade in Bolgatanga today for the first time, it will soon advice itself if the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) continues to ignore its request to negotiate the Conditions of Service.

In a statement to mark International Workers Day, the General Secretary of MELPWU, Cephas Kofi Akortor, said “we are not enthused by the Commission’s half-hearted approach to our formal requests and proposals submitted for negotiations of our Conditions of Service, as our right under the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651).”

In view of the lack of response contrary to provisions of the Labour Act, the Union has formally reported the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to the National Labour Commission in line with Section 104 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651) for the necessary actions, the statement said.

“We shall continue to use the laid down channels, but as a Union, which bears the concerns and increasing frustrations of medical laboratory professionals in the Country, we appear to be running out of patience and we will advise ourselves.

“Our Collective Bargaining Certificate is not complete unless it is supported by our Conditions of Service,” it said.

“As essential service providers, we have sacrificed over the years and we will continue to sacrifice to serve our clients and the nation, but we will not allow our Conditions of Service and other legitimate benefits due us as workers to be sacrificed for anything”, Cephas Kofi Akortor declared.

MELPWU, which is joining the May Day parade for the first time after becoming an independent union, pledged that professional laboratory workers would continue to deliver on their mandate to sustain and enhance quality health care delivery in the country.

“As we pledge on our honour, we urge the employer, being the government to also deliver on its responsibilities and provide the necessary working tools and conditions for us to work more effectively and productively,” it said.

The union which broke away from the Health Services Workers Union to become an independent body to represent the interests of over 5,000 medical laboratory professionals, described its involvement in the May Day parade as a milestone in highlighting the contributions of medical laboratory professionals and the need for their improved conditions of service.

“We consider our involvement in the celebration as a milestone in our struggle to secure the wellbeing for our teaming members in the health sector,” the union said, and assured the membership of continuous effort to secure the best working conditions to protect their welfare, and enable to them to enhance their performance.

The members of MELPWU who joined the national May Day parade in Bolgatanga and the regional parades, held placards some of which  read; “Be fair to medical laboratory professionals,” “Give us Conditions of Service,” “Give financial clearance to unemployed Medical Lab graduates and IGF staff working the lab,” “Medical Laboratory Science Council Now,” Don’t try PPP in the Lab,” Don’t privatize Medical Lab Services in Ghana,” “Don’t Touch our Pension Funds,” and “Pay Lab Frontline Workers their COVID-19 Insurance Benefits Now!”

By:Edmund Mingle/adrdaily.com

The Chief Justice-designate, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, has called for well-defined workplace regulations to promote productivity.

According to her, adherence to and fair administration of clear workplace regulations lead to strong organisational cultures that promote quality productivity.

Justice Torkornoo made the call in a presentation on the topic, “Harnessing good work ethics for higher productivity” at an International Labour Day public lecture organised by the Institute of Work, Employment and Society, (IWES) of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) in Accra today.

Her lecture, which is her first public address after her nomination for the Chief Justice position by President Akufo-Addo two days ago, also recommended effective communication, technology adoption, and appreciation of ethical values at the workplace as tools for enhanced productivity.

According to Justice Torkornoo, the quality of workplace regulations determines the level of ethical behavior and work performance and therefore urged employers to use effective communication to promote quality workplace behavior in line with the objectives of their organisations.

“The success of law and regulations at the workplace lies in the assurance of fairness in administrating the regulatory process,” she added.

In addition, Justice Torkornoo advocated effective measurement of performance targets to determine the level of productivity, adding that a mismatch between the organisational objectives and productivity measurements tends to create tension at between employers and employees.

Dr. Mary Naana Essiaw, Director of IWES, in her welcome address, noted that the topic was derived from the national May Day theme, which inquires about the “responsibility of workers” to protect incomes and pensions.

According to her, the topic of the ethical aspects of workers’ responsibility is to serve as a reminder of the need for workers to guard against unethical work attitudes and practices that impede productivity which in the long run can adversely affect incomes and pensions.

“To protect incomes and pensions, workers must be productive and ethical,” she stated.

The forum, which is the 6th International Labour Day public lecture organised by IWES, was attended by Judges, labour experts, policymakers, leaders of organised labour, civil society organisations, and academia.

The May Day celebration, also known as International Workers’ Day is observed annually on May 1st. It is a day set aside to celebrate the contributions of workers to the development of the country and to advocate better working conditions and welfare for workers.

The theme for this year’s May Day celebration is, “Protecting incomes and pensions in an era of economic crisis: our responsibility.”

By Edmund Mingle/ adrdaily.com

President Akufo-Addo has nominated Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, a member of the Supreme Court, as the new Chief Justice.

If approved by Parliament, she is to replace the current Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah who has a month more to hit the retirement age.

In a letter to the Council of State, dated April 25, the President said the nomination is to avoid any vacuum that would occur following the retirement of the current Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah on May 24.

“Chief Justice Kwasi Anin Yeboah is due to retire from the bench on May 24, 2023, his 70th birthday. In order to avoid a vacuum and ensure that a new Chief Justice is immediately in office after his retirement, I have decided to begin the process of appointment now.

“Article 144 (1) of the constitution, which governs the appointment of a Chief Justice, requires that, I, first consult with the Council of State before seeking the approval of Parliament.

“Consequently, I am nominating Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo, a member of the Supreme Court, as the new Chief Justice,” the President’s letter said.

per this nomination, will be If she successfully goes through the Parliamentary vetting, Justice Mrs Torkornoo will become the third female Chief Justice in the history of Ghana after Justices Georgina Theodora Wood and Sophia Akuffo.

Profile of the nominee

Sixty year-old Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, who hails from Winneba in the Central Region, graduated from the Ghana School of Law in 1986.

In 2001, she obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in International Law and Organization from the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS), part of Erasmus University in the Netherlands. Thereafter, in 2011, she graduated from the Golden Gate University, USA with an LLM in Intellectual Property Law.

Career

Prior to becoming a joining the Judicial Service, Justice Justice Torkornoo worked as a private legal practitioner, first working as a volunteer at the FIDA Legal Aid Service.

She became a director of Fugar & Co. a law firm in Accra in 1994, and in January 1997, she co-founded Sozo Law Consult where she worked as Managing Partner until 14 May 2004 when she was appointed a Justice of the High Court of Ghana. She worked as a High Court judge until October 2012 when she was elevated to the Court of Appeal. Justice Torkornoo was sworn into office as Justice of the Supreme Court on 17th December 2019.

Leadership profile

Justice Torkornoo has held several leadership roles in the Judicial Service including been the chairperson of E-Justice Committee, during which led the planning of automation of all levels of courts, procurement and incorporation of the use of electronic resources and software in the work of the Judicial Service.

She has also served as the Supervising Judge of Commercial Courts since 2013 where she has set the agenda for and chaired the meetings and programmes of the Users Committee of the Commercial Courts.

 

The caseload for the courts in the Greater Accra region was reduced significantly as 1,171 cases were settled through mediation last year.

The 1,171 cases are out of some 3,011 cases that were mediated, representing a closure rate of 39 percent for the region.

Statistics from the Judicial Service show that 749 unresolved cases at mediation, were returned to the courts, while 1,205 were pending before court-connected mediators at the end of 2022.

As part of the Court-Connected ADR (CCADR) Programme by the Judicial Service, 23 District and Circuit Courts in the region has been designated as ADR-Connected Courts where mediators have been attached to mediate cases referred to mediation by the Judges.

The Amasaman District Court is the best performer for 2022. It mediated 746 cases out of which 425 cases were settled amicably, representing a closure rate of 57 percent.

It is followed by the Family and Juvenile Court which mediated 244 cases and had 137 settled, representing 56 percent.

The Weija District Court follows with the settlement of 114 disputes out of 228 cases, showing a 50 percent closure rate.

The Kaneshie District Court takes the fourth spot with 86 settled cases, out of 405 mediated cases, followed by the Madina District Court, which mediated 104 cases, out of which 54 were settled successfully.

All the ADR- connected courts in the region mediated a significant number of cases despite a number of logistical challenges the mediators continue to grapple with.

Chiefly among the challenges is inadequate space for mediation sessions, and ADR analysts believe that the court mediation process can yield more positive results with the provision of good facilities for mediators, such as well-furnished mediation rooms.

That, according to the analysts, would inspire public confidence in the mediation system at the courts.

Currently, 132 Courts across the country, comprising 33 Circuit Courts and 99 District Courts, are designated ADR Courts as part of the CCADR Programme. Some 635 trained mediators have been engaged by the Judicial Service, with at least five mediators assigned to each of the 132 ADR-connected courts.

The Judicial Service has also initiated a special initiative to open 100 new ADR-connected courts.

By Edmund Mingle/ www.adrdaily.com

Justice Angelina Mensah-Homiah, a Court of Appeal Judge has called on lawyers to support the promotion of Appropriate Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Ghana by advising their clients to opt for ADR mechanisms to resolve disputes instead of court litigation.

By doing so, she said lawyers would secure best results for their clients through the expeditious, inexpensive, confidential, and amicable settlement of cases by using ADR mechanisms, especially mediation.

Justice Mensah-Homiah, who has oversight responsibility for the Court-Connected ADR Programme of the Judicial Service, made the call when she launched the 2023 ADR Week for the Legal Year Term at the Achimota Circuit Court in Accra today.

Describing the perception that ADR does not yield revenue for lawyers, as a misconception, she noted that adopting ADR could rather help lawyers to generate more income.

She explained that opting for ADR could enable lawyers to have more cases settled swiftly, adding that “as they use ADR to settle more minor cases quickly, more time and other resources, can then be devoted to major cases.”

“ADR will enable lawyers to rather earn more,” she stressed, and urged them learn about ADR so they can effectively advise their clients on the various ADR mechanisms and respective processes.

The annual week-long event, held three times in a legal year with the aim of promoting public awareness of ADR benefits and services at the courts,  has the theme, “Improving access to justice in a post- pandemic through the use of ADR.”

In line with the theme, Justice Mensah-Homiah encouraged stakeholders in the CCADR process to be innovative in providing ADR services to the public, and called for the introduction of an Online Dispute Resolution system.

“With the rise in remote work, virtual communication and virtual courts,  I advocate a Hybrid CCADR which will combine in-person and virtual ADR processes to accommodate the varying needs and preferences of parties.

“In a post-pandemic era, ADR service providers will need to be more flexible, creative and adaptable in order to effectively resolve disputes,” she stressed.

In addition, she urged her colleague Judges to continue to promote ADR practice by offering the needed support to court users and mediators.

“To my fellow Judges, I say that our role as Judges should not preclude us from facilitating or promoting CCADR. Let us be drive and be dedicated to the CCADR process,” she stated.

Justice Mensah-Homiah commended the court mediators for their contribution and sacrifices for the growth of the CCADR Programme, and assured them of the necessary logistical support from the Service.

The Judicial Service has currently engaged 635 trained mediators, with a least five mediators assigned to each of the present 132 ADR-connected courts, made up of 99 District and 33 Circuit Courts. The newly opened Achimota Circuit court would be connected to the CCADR programme during the Week.

The courts across the country are expected to devote the ADR week for the settlement of cases using ADR mechanisms, particularly mediation.

The launching ceremony was attended by Judges from various courts in Greater Accra, Court Registrars, Heads of Departments of the Judicial Service, Lawyers, Mediators and disputants.

By Edmund Mingle/ adrdaily.com

 

In the quest to enhance access to justice, the Judicial Service of Ghana has rolled out a special initiative to open 100 new ADR-connected courts across the country.

The courts, which would have modern facilities for ADR services, consist of 100 District Courts being gradually inaugurated by the Judicial Service.

When completed, the number of ADR-connected courts will increase from the present 132 to 232 District and Circuit Courts.

Justice Angelina Mensah-Homiah, a Justice of the Court of Appeal with oversight responsibility on the Court Connected ADR (CCADR) Programme, announced the special initiative when she launched the ADR Week for the Legal Year Term at the Achimota Circuit Court in Accra today.

The annual week-long event, held three times in a legal year with the aim of promoting public awareness of ADR benefits and services at the courts,  has the theme, “Improving access to justice in a post- pandemic through the use of ADR.”

“Measures are being taken to expand the CCADR scope to ensure that every Ghanaian everywhere accesses it, and more importantly sustain it for a greater impact,” said Justice Mensah-Homiah.

According to her, in spite of challenges, the CCADR programme continued to make progress with more court users opting for ADR mechanisms to resolve their cases, although the patronage of ADR remains low.

She, therefore, urged all stakeholders to support in promoting a mass adoption of ADR for the resolution of disputes.

Justice Mensah-Homiah particularly encouraged the business community to adopt ADR mechanisms for the settlement of commercial disputes, describing ADR as cost effective, expeditious, confidential, and offers control to parties.

“Litigation is expensive, and ADR can help businesses to avoid costly litigation,” she added.

She commended the court mediators for their contribution and sacrifices for the growth of the CCADR Programme, and assured them of the necessary logistical support from the Service.

The Judicial Service has currently engaged 635 trained mediators, with a least five mediators assigned to each of the present 132 ADR-connected courts, made up of 99 District and 33 Circuit Courts. The newly opened Achimota Circuit court would be connected to the CCADR programme during the Week.

The courts across the country are expected to devote the ADR week for the settlement of cases using ADR mechanisms, particularly mediation.

The launching ceremony was attended by Judges from various courts in Greater Accra, Court Registrars, Heads of Departments of the Judicial Service, Lawyers, Mediators and disputants.

By Edmund Mingle/ adrdaily.com