The arrest of six persons at Tema for allegedly importing arms and ammunition into the country from Turkey without proper documentation and the reduction in Ghana’s active COVID-19 cases are some of the leading stories in the Ghanaian press on Monday.
The Times reports that six persons, including a clearing agent were on Saturday, arrested at Tema for allegedly importing arms and ammunition into the country from Turkey without proper documentation.
They were arrested by the Marine Police Unit in Tema after a 20-footer container with a declaration number 40920230853 was found to have arms and ammunitions.
The container was loaded with 436 pistols and 26 packs of ammunition consisting of 50 pieces each in a pack were concealed in personal effects made up of clothing, shoes and bags, among other items.
Joseph Antwi-Ababio, Commander of the Marine Police Unit, confirmed the incident and noted that further investigations were being undertaken to identify the owners and ascertain the purpose for the importation of the firearms.
According to reports, the clearing agent who works with Crystal Shipping had attempted clearing the consignment at the Tema Port on Friday, October 9.
Following his arrest and interrogation, he, however, led the police to arrest five others he said were owners of the various parcels that were found in the container.
The Graphic says that Ghana’s active COVID-19 cases continues to drop significantly with 301 cases as of Wednesday, October 7, 2020.
According to the report, the Greater Accra still leads the COVID-19 hotspots with 195 active cases, according to data from the Ghana Health Service.
Five regions as of October 7 had no active cases. They are the Upper West, North East, Northern, Savannah and Bono Regions.
Ghana has since March conducted 497,782 COVID-19 tests, out of which 47,005 were positive.
Three persons are in critical condition and 12 in severe conditions. The number of recoveries/discharge is 46,398, while the total number of deaths is 306.
Following the resumption of international flights on September 2, Ghana has recorded 63 COVID-19 cases out of 23,725 tests.
The newspaper reports that General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Southern Command of the Ghana Armed Forces, Brigadier General Abraham Yeboah Nsiah, has said that the collaboration among the various security agencies in the country will help to ensure the country’s peace and security.
He said contemporary security provisions require multi-agency approach in resolving security issues, hence commending the country’s security agencies for their resolve to work together.
Speaking at the closing session of ‘Exercise Western Shield’, Brigadier-General Yeboah, who himself took part in some aspects of the exercise, said the objective of the exercise was to largely prepare troops for election security situations awareness and procedures, test the inter-operability of the security services, and provide insight into tactics.
That, he explained, the exercise “provided us the opportunity to test the interoperability of security services; provide insights on tactics, techniques and procedures of Election security, crowd management, control and dispersal in internal security settings in a coordinated, smooth and efficient manner.”
He said the exercise was relevant within the strategic context of election security, as it is intended to harmonise the roles of the various stakeholders towards the fight against terrorism as well as preparing the Ghana Armed Forces and its allied agencies for Operation Peace Trail.
The Graphic says that the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has admonished losing candidates in the December 7 general election who may be aggrieved to use legal means to challenge the results, instead of resorting to violence.
He said Ghana’s democratic credentials were at stake, but expressed the confidence that the country would pass the test once again.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu gave the advice when the Vice-President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi yesterday at the start of a four-day tour of the Ashanti Region.
While in the region, Dr. Bawumia will, among other things, inaugurate some projects undertaken by the Akufo-Addo administration.
The Asantehene said this year’s elections were crucial to the survival of West Africa, in view of the fact that five countries were due for elections this year.
He said the situation in Cote d’Ivoire, for instance, was not too clear, and added that it was time Ghana showed the way.
GIK/APA