The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ghana

  • Ghana’s Ashanti jewels stolen in Norway

    Ghana’s Ashanti jewels stolen in Norway

    Police in Norway are investigating the theft of some of the Ghanaian Ashanti crown jewels from a hotel in Oslo.

    The jewels were travelling with King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the ruler of the Ashanti, who is representing Ghana at a conference in the Norwegian capital.

    BBC reports that a suitcase was snatched from the lobby of the Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel.

    The jewels, amassed over generations and considered to be priceless, are used by the king when he performs ceremonial duties.

    Police are quoted in the Norwegian media as saying that they have “good” surveillance pictures, and are now trying to identify suspects in the footage.

    “Anyone carrying something of great personal value will understand what a great loss it is when it is stolen,” the king’s secretary Kofi Owusu Boateng was quoted as saying.

    “And for anyone who knows our tradition it will be clear that these crown jewels have tremendous value.”

    However, he later told the BBC’s Newsday programme it was “not such a big deal” and that only some rings and headgear were taken.

    King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II ascended the throne in 1999 as the 16th ruler, or Asantehene.

    The Asantehene is a revered figurehead for Ghana’s largest ethnic group. He adjudicates in disputes and is closely involved in local issues.

    However the king – like other traditional leaders – is barred by the constitution from taking part in Ghanaian politics.

     

  • Ivory Coast exiles set up strategic command in Ghana

    Ivory Coast exiles set up strategic command in Ghana

    Exiles supporting Ivory Coast’s former President Laurent Gbagbo have established a base in neighboring Ghana from which they are working to destabilize the current Ivorian government, according to excerpts from a new report by a United Nations expert panel.

    The supporters of Gbagbo, who is awaiting trial in The Hague for crimes against humanity, have a “military structure,” have hired mercenaries in Ghana and Liberia and have established several training camps in eastern Liberia, the report said.

    “They (Ivorian exiles) have established a strategic command in Ghana,” it said, adding that their goal was to “destabilize” the government in Ivory Coast and return to power.

    Reuters says the observations were in an interim report from the so-called U.N. Group of Experts, which monitors compliance with the Ivory Coast sanctions regime.

    The group plans to discuss its report with members of the U.N. Security Council’s Ivory Coast sanctions committee on Friday, diplomats said.

    Excerpts and information from the report, which also mentioned some less serious potential violations of the U.N. sanctions regime by the Ivorian government, were given to Reuters by a U.N. official and Security Council diplomats.

    The findings appear to add credence to allegations made by the Ivorian authorities that military and civilian officials of the former government, many of whom fled across the border at the end of a brief conflict last year, are continuing their fight against President Alassane Ouattara’s government from Ghanaian soil.

     

  • Nigeria, US, Ghana, others to collaborate

    The, United States (US), Ghana and Libya, among others, are to partner Nigeria on health care delivery.

    The partnership is expected to proffer solutions to common health problems in the country, in particular and West Africa, in general.

    The plan to work together emerged at the fifth International Exhibition and Conference of the West African Health (WAH) 2012 in Lagos, with the theme: Financing Healthcare Delivery in West Africa –Challenges and Opportunities.

    Health practitioners from some countries were present to exhibit medical equipment, machines and instruments.

    The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr Femi Olugbile, said well-equipped hospitals and laboratories are important in achieving effective health care delivery.

    “This is what the WAH aims to achieve with the coming of partners to Nigeria and West African sub-region,” he said.

    He stressed the need for the establishment of a strong collaboration between the public and private sector in health care, adding that public-private partnership is the way forward for Nigeria to improve on health care delivery.

    “Running medical practice is very expensive but with the partnering of the WAH in Nigeria’s health care, lots of things will be made easier in moving health care to greater heights,” he said.