News
Slain soldier’s family demands justice from US Army

The family of a US Army trainee who was killed by his colleague is demanding answers from the military high command on the true cause of his death.
Relatives say, the Army has been anything but forthcoming and transparent with information regarding the cruel and unfortunate murder of the soldier training to serve his country.
The family maintains that the obvious tight-lipped posturing of the Army is evident in the way information reaches them since the January 10 incident that left Pvt. Abdul-Muksit Nafsudeen Latifu deceased under strange circumstances.
Military officials claims, 21-year-old soldier with Ghanaian roots was killed in a supposed “altercation with another soldier” at the Alabama Army post, Fort Rucker where he was training to become an Army air traffic control operator. But scars on his head and face together with other defensive wounds on his body shows he was hit with an entrenching tool, which can also be used as an axe by the military more than eight times. “My brother does not fight,” Mohammed Latifu, brother of Pvt Latifu, said in an interview with News 12, a local channel in New York.
“I have never seen my brother fight, his whole 20 years of life that I have known him… for you to say he got into an altercation with somebody, and he suffered a head injury and later pronounced dead at the hospital, that is some BS.”
He said the family is “still stuck” without answers 13 days after his brother’s murder. News about his demise was first published on local websites in Alabama as early as 11:30 am CST, even though his next-of-kin was officially called four (4) hours later to report that he had been hospitalized and in critical condition. A situation that feeds worries of foul play and or cover-up.
“When something of this kind happens, especially in a military base, the press is the last resort to share information. What was the hurry in publishing news of an altercation; which turns out to be a lie even before calling the family, What do they intend hiding with that cooked story?”, a clearly enraged friend questioned.
Identity of the murderer was also first released to the press and social media hours after the family questioned why they are being kept in the dark in an interview before his body was released to the family in New York. The killer soldier, Pvt. Brian Jones, Jr. is said to be in custody and will remain so by order of a military magistrate following a pretrial confinement hearing in connection with the killing. There are not signs of injuries or bruises suffered by Pvt. Brian to support the military’s narrative of an “altercation”. “His leaders said nothing suggests that they fought before it happened. It was a premeditated murder” his older sister, Baraka Abdullah said.
The deceased soldier has been buried in accordance with Islamic tradition at the Forest Green Park Cemetery in New Jersey. But the family wants answers to get closure on the brutal murder of the 21-year-old promising son and soldier. “Right now I’m stuck at the point where I feel like he’s not gone, I keep feeling like he is still here” the visibly sorrowful sister added.
The case is expected to proceed under the Uniform Code of Military Justice in accordance with the Manual for Courts-Martial. However, events and the posturing of the military subsequent to the incident leaves the family with more questions about the transparency and fairness of the trials.
“We get to put him to rest, but we still want answers. The family is still struck, my father is here but he is in the car. He can’t even come to the cameras because it’s a heart-breaking tragedy”, Muhammed Latifu said at the funeral. Another member of the family, Al-haj Mohammed Murtala said “We’re still in darkness, we haven’t been properly informed as to what really transpired”. “We need to get down to the root of whatever transpired”, he added. His comments follow similar demands for justice by loved ones and people across different communities and race, including veteran associations.
The military, through Maj. Gen. Michael McCurry, the commander of Fort Rucker extended condolences to Pvt. Latifu’s family, friends and community, but the family says, “you can keep your condolences, we don’t care about that, we want justice!”.
Pvt. Latifu was a trainee in the Army’s Advanced Individual Training program at Fort Rucker where he was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 13th Aviation Regiment, 1st Aviation Brigade.
- Work begins on major policy for downstream aluminum industry – 29 March 2023
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News
Work begins on major policy for downstream aluminum industry

For the first time in Ghana’s history, government is developing a comprehensive policy to make Ghana an attractive destination for investment in the downstream aluminum industry.
Areas of focus
The final policy will cover a wide range of areas including incentives, taxation, cost of electricity, tackling cheap imports, address dumping and how to manage the value chain and the relationships among others.
Policy to address cheap imports
The policy will also address cheap imports to make local companies thrive to meet local demand and export to other countries.
Utilisation of locally produced aluminum
The aim is to attract more companies to set up in Ghana and utilise locally produced aluminum to produce all kinds of products.
Why aluminum industry is essential to the economy
The aluminum industry is essential to the economies of modern countries and it provides a range of highly differentiated products, from the intermediate semis required for many high-tech industries to parts and components for final applications.
Stakeholders
Under the auspices of the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) stakeholders in the aluminum industries attending a 2-day workshop on downstream aluminum industry are reviewing extensive research, data collection and technical analysis of best practices across the world carried out by GIADEC and Overseas Development Institute (ODI), formerly known as the Overseas Development Institute with funding from the United Kingdom Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)
Policy options and implementation plan
Participants are deliberating on policy options and implementation plan for the downstream aluminum industry.
Electricity constitutes over 32% of production cost
The Cost of electricity constitutes over 32% of production cost in the aluminum industry.
Therefore, how to get electricity at the right price to support the industry will feature prominently in the policy.
Industrial transformation
Downstream is the heart that will drive industrial transformation and involves utilization of primary aluminum produced in Ghana.
Policy environment
GIADEC is preparing the policy environment for the incentive framework that will support the downstream industry.
Locally produced aluminum to be utilised locally
The policy will make sure that majority of locally produced aluminum is utilised locally to grow the economy for the benefit of Ghanaians.
Steady progress of integrated aluminum industry
Opening the workshop, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, is optimistic that government’s quest to build an integrated aluminum industry in the country is on course, and progressing steadily.
Adding value to Ghana’s mineral resources
He emphasised the need to add value to Ghana’s mineral resources to ensure optimal benefit from these resources.
Big price differentials of raw ore and primary aluminum
He pointed out that while the raw bauxite ore sells for around $60 per metric tonne while primary aluminum produced from bauxite sells for over $2,000 per metric tonne.
900m metric tonnes of bauxite
The Minister puts Ghana’s estimated bauxite resource base at over 900 million metric tonnes.
2m jobs, one trillion US Dollars
According to him, the total deposit is capable of creating some two million sustainable jobs, and generating over one trillion US Dollars in revenue if fully integrated.
Robust, functioning and vibrant downstream aluminum industry
Jinapor urged participants at the workshop to bring their expertise to bear, and fashion out with policy options and plans that will help build a robust, functioning and vibrant downstream aluminum industry that contributes, meaningfully to the economy.
Tertiary products are the most important
Board Chairman of GIADEC, Dr. Anthony Oteng-Gyasi pointed out that converting bauxite into tertiary products constitutes the most important step in the entire value chain.
Mass production necessary
According to him, mass production is required to achieve the expected benefits and urged participants to develop a policy that will deliver results.
Modernization and retrofitting VALCO
GIADEC’s Master plan will lead to the modernization and retrofitting VALCO smelter to produce about 300,000 metric tornnes of primary aluminum each year.
Importance of aluminum to global economy
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of GIADEC, Michael Ansah pointed out that the global economy is headed towards how aluminum is utilized and what is being done will propel Ghana to lead across Africa.
How aluminum will benefit vehicle assembling plants
He said the nine vehicle assembling plants operating in the country will need aluminum to produce and use Ghana as a launch pad to export to the rest of Africa and the world at large.
3-3.5 cent per kilowatt hour of electricity targeted
He disclosed that the industry is looking for electricity price of three to three and a half cents per kilowatt hour to make Ghana’s industry competitive globally.
Cheap power to benefit downstream industry
When this is achieved, he said the benefit of cheap power will be passed on to local downstream industry.
Environmentally friendly aluminum
Ansah also revealed that Ghana is planning to use green energy to produce environmentally friendly aluminum which attracts higher price.
VALCO producing 50,000 metric tonnes of aluminum
The GIADEC CEO said out of the about 50,000 metric tonnes of aluminum VALCO currently produces each year, only 7,000 metric tonnes is utilized by downstream while the rest is exported.
40,000 metric tonnes of aluminum products imported annually
This he noted is happening at a time the country imports about 40,000 metric tonnes of aluminum products each year.
Role of AfCFTA
Dr. Max Mendez-Parra of ODI explained that the policy should focus on targeted policies for specific downstream industries and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is a critical framework to achieve that.
ODI roadmap to 2035
Derrick Abudu of ODI said his outfit has developed a roadmap from now to 2035.
According to him, the roadmap seeks to achieve energy deal with competitive cost structure by 2025 which will in turn attract enormous investments from 2030 to 2035.
He noted that low cost of electricity will result in cheap aluminum supplied to the downstream.
He said cheap inputs will automatically attract more investment since returns will be much higher.
Abudu stated that 20, 000 jobs can be generated while raking in revenue from exports of final products.
- Work begins on major policy for downstream aluminum industry – 29 March 2023
- MTN cuts sod for $25m ‘Ghana ICT Hub’ – 28 March 2023
- Dr Addison appeals to MPs to prioritize revenue bills – 28 March 2023
News
Soldier slaps policeman provoking violent clash in Accra Central

A violent scuffle ensued between Police and Military personnel near the Accra Regional Police Command yesterday creating fear and panic among the public.
An eye witness told The Finder that the scuffle was provoked by members of a military patrol team escorting a bullion van who slapped a police personnel not in uniform for not giving them way.
The eye witness who spoke on condition of anonymity explained that upon the bullion van reaching the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) area, the soldiers in the patrol vehicle screamed at a motor rider to give them way.
The eye witness said the motor rider responded that he is a police officer and this response infuriated the military personnel.
The eye witness told this paper that one soldier alighted from their vehicle and slapped the policeman who was not in uniform.
The police officer quickly raise alarm and his colleagues at the Accra Regional Command premises rushed to his rescue.
According to the eye witness, the police personnel then detained the military personnel who slapped the police man.
The soldiers escorting the convoy attempted to resist the arrest of their colleague resulting in violent scuffle.
As at the time of going to press, details were still emerging but The Finder could not get the names of the police personnel slapped and the military personnel involved in the assault.
The Police and Military could not be reached immediately for their response.
The Finder learnt that the soldier was granted bail yesterday evening.
The conflict between the military and police is not uncommon in Ghana and in most cases, it the soldiers who attack the police.
In 2010 for instance, tensions flared between soldiers and police officers in Kumasi, when separate assaults carried out by soldiers within two days left 12 police personnel injured and police property destroyed.
The attacks began after a police officer attempted to arrest a soldier riding an unlicensed motorcycle.
In 2019, police personnel and some soldiers clashed at the Suame Roundabout in Kumasi.
This was after some police officers allegedly manhandled a plain-clothed military officer and handcuffed him.
The plain-clothed military officer was using an unregistered motorbike.
The military officer also called his other colleagues, who then attacked the police officers.
The soldier threatened to return with reinforcements and attack the police officer and made good on the threat later that day.
Over the next two days, more than a dozen police officers across the city were assaulted by soldiers.
In 2018, some soldiers and police officers in the Upper East region flexed muscles Sunday in a row over a military uniform.
In the same year, a group of soldiers angry over the arrest of their colleague stormed Tamale in the Northern Region and viciously pummeled police officers on duty at various points and banks.
Personnel of the Counter Terrorism Unit of the Ghana Police Service and personnel of the Military on the Operation Motherland at Juapong and on the Adomi bridge also clashed in 2021.
There has been a long-standing split tension between police and soldiers which some security experts partly blames on the outdated nature of the security legislation governing their operations.
Due to some of these disagreements between police and military personnel in the past, there have been calls for reform to establish clear oversight mechanisms and delineate security roles for the police and armed forces in Ghana.
Among the resolutions arrived at were the setting up of Police and Military memberships in all regions that host military bases, ‘for the purposes of overseeing the peaceful co-existence of both services,
The personnel are the custodians of arms meant to protect and defend ordinary people and not to attack each other.
It appears there is a deep seated animosity between personnel of the two institutions.
It is untenable for them to turn the area into a battleground to settle personal scores.
- Work begins on major policy for downstream aluminum industry – 29 March 2023
- MTN cuts sod for $25m ‘Ghana ICT Hub’ – 28 March 2023
- Dr Addison appeals to MPs to prioritize revenue bills – 28 March 2023
Finance
Kamala Harris: US to engage Ghana’s creditors for debt reduction

Vice-President of the United States of America Kamala Harris pledged the commitment of her country to engage the Paris Club of behalf of Ghana which is seeking debt forgiveness as part of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) balance of payment support.
According to her, the US will help Ghana with all the support it needs to ensure that it scales through its current economic crisis.
US fully support Ghana’s engagement with IMF
She indicated that the US is fully in support of Ghana’s engagement with the IMF and will push for debt reduction by the country’s bilateral creditors.
Biden administration to push for meaningful debt reduction
She insisted that the Biden administration “will continue to push for all bilateral creditors to provide meaningful debt reduction for countries that needed including Ghana.”
“We must work together as an international community to ease the debt burden that is facing far too many countries,” she added.
Joint Press Conference
The US Vice-President announced this at a joint Press Conference with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, at Jubilee House, Accra, after closed door discussions.
3-day state visit
Harris, who arrived in Ghana on Sunday for a three-day state visit, is on a week-long trip on the African continent that would take her to Tanzania and Zambia.
US pledges support for economic recovery
She expressed the commitment of US to supporting Ghana to revamp its post-COVID-19 and Russia-Ukraine conflict impacted economy.
“We welcome Ghana’s commitment to reform its economy for sustainable and inclusive growth. “We support Ghana’s engagement with the IMF, and we will continue to push all bilateral creditors to provide meaningful debt reduction for countries that need it.
“It is critical to do so to build long-term economic growth and prosperity and to increase US investments. Our partnership is already strong, and I believe that today we have strengthened it,” she stated.Harris believes this will enable Ghana successfully negotiate the bailout it is seeking from the IMF.
Factors that adversely affected Ghana’s macroeconomy
The COVID-19 pandemic, rising global food prices, rising crude oil and energy prices; and the Russia-Ukraine war adversely affected Ghana’s macroeconomy, with spillovers to the financial sector.
Combination of adverse external shocks
The combination of adverse external shocks had exposed Ghana to a surge in inflation, a large exchange rate depreciation and stress on the financing of the budget, which taken together have put public debt on an unsustainable path.
$54bn total public debt stock
Ghana’s total public debt stock stands at $54 billion, out of which $28 billion is owed to foreign creditors.
Ghana owes China $1.9bn
Out of Ghana’s $8.5 billion bilateral loans, about $1.9 billion is owed to China.
$3bn staff-level agreement reached in December 2022
In December 2022, the government reached a staff-level agreement with the fund and is now left with board-level approval before it can access the $3 billion support.
America’s investment in wellbeing and prosperity of people
Harris assured that the US stands by its commitment to building on existing relations with Ghana, and working together to advance America’s investment in the wellbeing, health and prosperity of the people,” she stated.
US resident advisor to assist Finance Ministry
According to her, the Department of Treasury’s Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) will deploy a full-time resident advisor to assist the Ministry of Finance to develop and execute medium-to-long-term reforms needed to improve debt sustainability and support a competitive, dynamic government debt market.
Building on debt restructuring efforts
The project, according to the USA will complement and build on Ghana’s debt restructuring efforts.
To further support Ghana’s debt management, USAID is funding fellowships for a team of ten specialists to work within the Ministry of Finance, providing surge support for a two-year period.
The Fellows are all young, qualified Ghanaians and recent university graduates.
Strengthening public financial management
This project is part of OTA’s ongoing engagement to strengthen public financial management and financial sector oversight across sub-Saharan Africa.
For 2023, OTA will execute 25 projects in 15 African countries.
This includes eight new projects in Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Tanzania, The Gambia, and Zambia in revenue policy and administration; budget and financial accountability; government debt issuance and infrastructure financing; banking and financial services; and economic crimes.
$100m to fight violent extremism and instability
The US Vice-President also announced the US government plans to commit $100 million support package for Ghana, Benin, Guinea, Cote d’Ivoire and Togo, as part of efforts to promote stability in the sub-Region.
At least $86 million in funding over three years will specifically be dedicated to the implementation of the new 10-year plan.
The package forms part of President Joe Biden’s strategy to cushion the beneficiary countries financially to address violent extremism and instability.
The package, the U.S., Vice President explained, complemented an earlier strategic plan announced by President Joe Biden, for coastal West Africa, to prevent conflict and promote stability.
Harris praises President Nana Akufo-Addo
Harris praised President Nana Akufo-Addo for his leadership in response to recent democratic backsliding in West Africa and standing up for democratic principles around the world.
“Under your leadership, Ghana has been a beacon of democracy and a contributor to global peace and security,”
“Your leadership in particular and personal engagement have strengthened the ties between the diaspora and the continent. President Joe Biden and I are grateful to have you as a partner,” she said.
Strengthening partnerships across the African continent
The US Vie-President said the United States was strengthening partnerships across the African continent and “we are guided not by what we can do for Africa, but by what we can do with Africa and African partners on this continent.”
African voices critical to global peace and security
With African nations playing significant roles in global issues such as food security, climate crisis and resilient supply chains, she stressed that African voices, including that of Ghana, “are critical to global peace and security, including the defence of the United Nations charter.”
President Akufo-Addo says meeting was successful
President Akufo-Addo described his meeting with the US Vice-President as “successful,” as both sides reaffirmed the commitment to collaborate further and provide mutual support at both bilateral and multilateral levels.
He said Harris pledged America’s support for Ghana’s transformative agenda, adding, “it is this transformation that would give us the best opportunity to derive maximum benefit from our abundant natural resources and enable us to create a firmer foundation for a meaningful long-term economic and commercial relations with the United States of America.”
The President said Ghana will continue to collaborate with the US at all levels towards the peaceful resolution of conflicts and in the search for global peace and security to promote sustainable development and growth
“My meeting with the US Vice-President this afternoon has further boosted the steadfast cooperation between the two countries,” he affirmed.
He pointed out that although he was concerned about terror groups, he had no formal confirmation that al-Qaida was present in Ghana.
On a question on the operations of the Russian mercenary force, Wagner, in the region, President Akufo-Addo said he worried that the group could expand its footprint in West Africa.
“It raises the very real possibility that once again our continent is going to become the playground for a great power conflict,” Akufo-Addo said.
The President also rejected concerns about China’s influence in the region, insisting that Ghana’s relations with were separate from one another, and said the ties with America “is a relationship that has been close over several decades.”
Ghana determined to add value to its abundant natural resources
President Akufo-Addo said the country was determined to add value to its abundant natural resources in order to lift the economy from dependence on foreign aid to a self-reliant one.
Harris inspects a guard of honour
On her arrival at the Jubilee House, Harris inspected a guard of honour mounted by the Ghana Airforce, and took the national salute, whilst a 21-gun salute boomed in the background.
President Akufo-Addo met her at the foyer of the Presidency, where the two exchanged pleasantries and retired to the ceremonial room for a tete-a-tete.
Both parties reaffirmed the strengthening of the relations and long-standing ties between the peoples of Ghana and the United States and affirmed their resolves to bolster those bonds of friendship and cooperation.
The two leaders, with their delegations, held bilateral talks, where discussions centred on a range of global and regional issues, including democracy, good governance, and human rights; regional security; long-term economic growth and macroeconomic stability.
Harris and her husband, Douglas Emhoff, were hosted at a State Banquet at the Jubilee House by President Akufo-Addo in the evening.
- Work begins on major policy for downstream aluminum industry – 29 March 2023
- MTN cuts sod for $25m ‘Ghana ICT Hub’ – 28 March 2023
- Dr Addison appeals to MPs to prioritize revenue bills – 28 March 2023
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