Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application he was the beloved son of John and Ruth (Wagner) Komenda and the devoted husband of Annette (Massoni) Komenda with whom he shared a lifetime of love and partnership since their first meeting on New Year’s Eve of 1973 Larry honorably served his country as a member of both the U.S Air National Guard and Army National Guard His career in law enforcement spanned decades beginning as a deputy sheriff for Baltimore County before continuing with the Cecil County Sheriff's Office where he retired after a distinguished tenure spinning vinyl and bringing joy through music he loved watching games with family and friends Known for his infectious humor and larger-than-life personality Larry had a remarkable ability to light up any room and his love for his family and friends was unwavering Larry was the ultimate protector and provider always placing others’ needs before his own and Kevin Komenda; and his cherished grandchildren Larry also leaves behind many loving nieces great-nieces and nephews and godson Tony Scilipoti and goddaughter Beth Arbaugh who will always remember his warmth and humor Larry was preceded in death by his father John Komenda and his sister-in-law The family asks that any memorial contributions be made to the Ronald McDonald House at https://rmhcmaryland.org/honor-memorial-donations/ Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors The Sugarcane Farmers Association of Ghana is demanding urgent action from the Minister of Trade to revive the long-idle Komenda Sugar Factory the Association expressed disappointment with the Ministry’s recent response to their appeal calling it “unconvincing” and lacking urgency must avoid repeating the inaction seen during the previous NPP government’s tenure which they accuse of failing to operationalize the factory despite multiple promises “We campaigned and voted for John Mahama because we believed he could revive this factory to improve our livelihoods,” the Association stated two months after the Minister’s visit to Komenda there has been no visible activity at the factory nor was it captured in the 2025 national budget The Association is calling on the government to immediately constitute a board of directors for the factory stressing the need for competent leadership and the inclusion of a farmers’ representative “We are ready to feed the factory with sugarcane All we need is government commitment,” they said the morning show on Onua FM hosted by Nana Yaa Brefo Danso reiterated the frustrations of the farmers But there’s nothing happening on the ground,” he said “The livelihoods of hundreds of sugarcane farmers depend on the revival of this factory but the silence from the government side is worrying.” Nana Joshua also stressed the need for farmers to be included in the decision-making process “We are not just suppliers—we are stakeholders Our representation on the factory board is non-negotiable.” The farmers reminded President Mahama of his public assurance to make the Central Region a major sugar-producing hub the four-year mandate will end with the factory still lying idle.” and website in this browser for the next time I comment Stay informed with the most relevant stories shaping Ghana and the world By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy Featured in the background of a Hy-Vee Athlete of the Week presentation the Rockhurst High School midfielder wasn’t the honoree is one of just a handful of returning players from last year’s Rockhurst lacrosse team widely considered one of the most talented groups to ever take the field in Kansas City That squad claimed its fourth consecutive championship before handing the reins to a new core “He’s one of the only returning starters,” Head coach Tim Reidy said “They kind of passed the baton from last year’s team to him It was a natural transition for his teammates.” Komenda has done more than keep the flame alive — he’s ignited something new He leads the undefeated (8-0) Hawklets in assists and ranks second on the team in total points “I feel like I see the field pretty well,” Komenda said “I like that it gives other people chances.” That selfless play has become a hallmark of this year’s team “Last year we had a number of star players,” Reidy said A lot of guys like Sam want to spread the ball around.” Rockhurst is currently ranked eighth in the Midwest Region Report a typo Trent addresses how Christians should engage extreme views related to science and how to sensibly separate good and bad science Do you remember when we were told to trust the science during the COVID-19 pandemic And now I find that many Christians are skeptical if not downright hostile to the findings of modern science given how proponents of science acted during the pandemic in dishonest ways I want to talk about how Christians should approach modern science and that we should avoid two extreme positions on the issue So the first extreme is believing anything A scientist says you should believe Now this is embodied in Anthony Fauci who served as the chief medical advisor to the president during the pandemic Fauci had the audacity to even consider himself the science They’re really criticizing science because I represent science Fauci and his partners of the CDC unleashed many draconian restrictions during the pandemic that we now know caused more harm than good It’s why some writers are now asking for a COD amnesty and even lives that these unnecessary policies ruined during the pandemic I practiced civil disobedience because I knew many of these so-called scientifically backed recommendations were stupid I took my children to closed public parks because kids were not at serious risk from covid and playing outdoors is one of the safest things that you could do Someone even called the police on my family while we were at a park and I asked the officers who responded why I wasn’t allowed to take my children to the park But thousands of people were at that time allowed to be in downtown San Diego rioting after the death of George Floyd The police officers said they didn’t have a good answer and they told me to have a nice day Fauci even admits that they just made up the six foot social distancing rule without any scientific support at all I was saying that there was no trial that looked at 10 versus six versus three versus not even worrying about it at a Washington Post writer paraded around a single study which downplayed the importance of time that mothers spend with their children This led to articles with stupid titles like it doesn’t matter how much time parents spend with their kids Justin Wolfers in the New York Times noted that this non finding largely reflects the failure of the authors to accurately measure parental input the study does not measure how much time parents typically spend with their children it measures how much time each parent spends with children on only two particular days It did not prove what it said that it proved I remember reading one author who said that white collar liberals were happy to promote such a flawed study because it took away some of the guilt that they had over having jobs that often took away from quality time with their own children this single study contradicts the massive amount of studies that we do have which say things like the more time parents spent with their children the higher their children’s wellbeing will be So that’s one extreme believing anything a single scientist like Fauci or a single study says and it’s easy to have outrage at bad science that leads you to the other extreme which rejects science altogether But this is like saying a few cases of bad religion means you’re going to quit religion entirely And we can see this mistake in extreme in a July Candace Owens podcast episode where she said that she was leaving the pagan faith of science Owens later clarified her view when she appeared on Don Lemon’s podcast It was just last week as we continued this conversation It’s about flat earth and round earth and conspiracies If there’s a bunch of people that believe something I now want to know what it is that they believe And of course he pushed me on this and he was talking about the earth curvature and science and I said to him Actually what I am is I am somebody who has left the cult of science I have left the megachurch of science because what I have now realized is that science what it is actually think about it is a pagan faith do you actually believe this stuff or are you saying it because you want to generate outrage and you want more attention and you want people to sort of click on your show You’re not a flat earth or a round earth sometimes I think you’re a very bright and very intelligent woman did you watch the full episode or did your producers pull a clip out of context I’m happy to put it into context because that’s the beauty of the media It’s just always a clip and then people go So that was an episode we were talking about birth control I’m very passionately against the birth control because of all the women who in my life are suffering side effects And I realizing that inserting copper IUDs into your body over time can have an impact And women were sharing their stories online about how the doctor told ’em it was safe and effective and it obviously wasn’t safe and effective long-term because people just simply accept what the experts tell them without thinking the experts say six piece social distancing works And so everyone starts walking around with six feet social distance between them So fauci comes around like he did recently and say I agree with Candace that a lot of the so-called Science during the pandemic was wrong but the way we know it was wrong is through science we can use scientific studies to see that countries which did not implement lockdowns like Sweden fared just as well or even better than countries that did use Lockdowns Owens also gave the example of friends who were told that IUDs were safe but they’re now permanently infertile but some women still die while giving birth in the United States How many women who use IUDs become permanently infertile Only science can tell us what that percentage actually is because we need data to reach a conclusion on the matter or maybe we don’t need data Here’s Owens sharing a clip from Andrew Tate and what he’s has to say about data I think it was maybe just me and the Tate brothers He’s the second most Googled man in the entire world and a lot of people feel that they don’t understand why he has the platform that he has but I found this clip to be extremely interesting If you’re listening to this on podcast please know I’m trying hard to not bust out laughing because Andrew Tate is basically in his underwear in front of a sports car desperately trying to prove his own insecure masculinity You should just know street smart people don’t need data I just know things because I’ve just been around Let’s just get our advice on understanding the world from a guy who the closest he’s come to a PhD is the pimping hose degree he offered as part of his hustler’s online university course Only art that matters in this world is pimping The problem is that while there are some things we can know with common sense in many other cases we need data from specialists in some cases science helps Christians when non-religious people prefer what they think is common sense Common sense might tell them that the universe is just a huge empty space that’s always been here But science points towards the beginning of the universe coming out of an expansion which was pioneered by the Belgian physicist It was later derisively called the Big Bang Theory by critics who thought it was a case of religion intruding into science And this is sort of what happened when on Monday I did this whole long episode about why I am now rejecting the cult of science So many things that they’ve lied to us about vaccines people that are being injured and we just accept everything the experts say and we’re sacrificing our own bodies It feels wrong when you look further in the history They just keep lying and getting away with it What I said was that science has become a pagan faith And I said if I don’t get it from the Bible and I can’t observe it with my own eyes So is Candace Owens going to stop believing in Adams or viruses because she can’t see them with her eyes and they’re not found in the Bible But many people appeal to common sense or their own eyes and will say things like A two celled embryo is not a human being science reveals what your human eyes may not see which you can’t see with your own eyes that proves this human embryo is a complete human being And what’s interesting is that even when scientists are totally biased on a question like the issue of abortion the truth still comes out in their research Steve Jacobs surveyed over 5,000 biologists on the question of when life begins I found that 5,337 biologists or 96% of the survey affirmed that a human’s life begins at fertilization Jacobs also said that 85% of the biologists were pro-choice 63% were non-religious and 92% of them identified as Democrats Yet the data could not be contradicted that the life of a human being begins at conception Now it’s true that science has been used to justify evils like lobotomies eugenics and so-called sex change surgeries but science can also catch up and be the tool that exposes these lies which we’re seeing in Europe where the data has moved lawmakers to ban So-called sex change surgeries for children Now that science has shown how harmful they are So we have the one extreme that treats all of science as being infallible even when it’s just a single study or a single scientist’s opinion and we have the other extreme that treats all of science as being an unreliable pagan faith Both views are wrong because it treats scientific truths as if they all have the same level of authority It treats keeps six feet of social distancing and the earth is round as all having the same authority coming from the pagan faith of science It’s actually an ellipsoid or a spheroid The earth looks like a basketball someone sat on and causes the middle the equator to bulge This LED science fiction writer Isaac Asimov When people thought the earth was spherical But if you think that thinking the earth is spherical is just as wrong as thinking the earth is flat if you think science is just believing some pagan faith and so thinking that six feet of social distancing is as sketchy to believe as the earth is round So our attitude towards scientific claims cannot be either extreme acceptance or extreme rejection But what’s the sensible middle ground there’s no clear answer to know which science you can trust and which you can’t because there are so many different circumstances where scientific findings come up I just want to offer a few tips that I hope will guide Christians and really anyone listening to this episode towards fruitfully navigating science Scientism is the view that all truth or even the most important truths only come from science The physicist Stephen Hawking and letter M LA know wrote in their book The Grand Design Philosophy is not kept up with modern developments in science Scientists have become the bearers of the torch of discovery in our quest for knowledge The arrogance in this quote is astounding because philosophy is what distinguishes science from pseudoscience Science can’t even tell us what science is Philosophy also grounds assumptions like the uniformity of the laws of nature or the reliability of our senses that make science even possible such as in the atheist Sam Harris’s book the Moral Landscape which tries to ground morality completely in science the book was widely panned even by atheists because science only tells us what is not what ought to be When people try to use science to say certain behaviors are normal your alarm bells should definitely be ringing Science can only say what is statistically normal or what is commonplace Science can also tell us what is normal for the biological function of an organ But science cannot tell us which common behaviors are morally good or morally evil Which ones make you a morally good person or a morally bad person Science may be able to explain why people commit evil acts such as mental illnesses that lessen their moral culpability but science cannot tell us which moral acts are evil and which are not So if science tells you an intrinsically wrong act is normal or right then it’s the science that’s wrong in that case distinguish scientific facts from political applications Just as science cannot answer philosophical questions or ethical questions science can’t answer political questions during the Covid pandemic Some people said that science says we need lockdowns and vaccine mandates but science cannot answer the question of what public policies are best for society because that’s not a scientific question science says that you’re far less likely to die in automobile collisions under 25 miles per hour but that doesn’t mean science says we need a universal 25 mile per hour speed limit that would reduce the harm of traffic deaths It would cause greater harms in disrupting traffic and commerce shipping All public policies involve trade-offs and science cannot tell us which trade-offs are worth it because that’s a value question just because some political proposals during the pandemic were dumb that doesn’t mean that science is dumb like the six foot rule had no scientific backing whatsoever blame bureaucrats and in other cases mandates for things like vaccines They might’ve been imprudent or wrong but they don’t tell us whether the vaccines are effective or not What’s important to remember is that science could be right about something but the implementation of that scientific truth could be wrong or it even could be evil Every scientific innovation needs to be examined on a case by case basis and thank God he gave us rational minds to create so much lifesaving medicine The Book of SERAC puts it Well honor the physician with the honor The Lord created medicines from the earth and a sensible man will not despise them Some people think there are only two sides to an issue you were either on the side that wore three masks and got 18 booster shots or you were on the side that thought Cvid 19 was just the flu and there was no grave danger to anyone A sensible middle ground position might be that early strains of COVID-19 were more dangerous than the flu for some people like the elderly the risk of the disease outweigh the risks of getting the vaccine and this justified them voluntarily getting vaccinated even if it didn’t justify mandating the vaccines for everyone I’m not saying you have to hold to that view I’m just saying that you should watch out for debates over science that devolve into two extreme positions that leave out more sensible middle ground positions or consider climate change For some people you either think climate change is a gigantic hoax or you think that if we don’t all buy electric cars next week the world’s going to end in 12 years The world is going to end in 12 years if we don’t address climate change And your biggest issue is your biggest issue is how are we going to pay for it on the subject of Catholics and climate change I said There is good evidence that the climate is changing humans are causing this and it will have positive and negative impacts climate change is an apocalyptic and many political proposals to combat climate change are wrongheaded and actually harm human flourishing You can check out our dialogue in the link below and stay tuned for a future episode that I’m releasing on what’s wrong with so-called Green Energy and why Catholics don’t have to support it I’m not saying you have to hold my view on climate change I’m just saying that it’s a middle ground position which often gets overlooked With great freedom comes great responsibility We shouldn’t follow scientific claims that contradict what the church teaches which happens most often when science tries to do ethics but many scientific claims have nothing to do with faith and morals so Catholics are free to accept or reject them and we should respect people’s freedom I’m personally convinced that life on earth evolved over the course of billions of years God made our first parents and gave them immortal souls but the church also allows you to reject evolution and believe the earth is only thousands of years old Catholics have to reject scientific consensus They don’t have to follow science like they have to follow church teaching if you choose to publicly go against the consensus and especially if you ridicule people who follow it then you should be prepared to explain why you’ve done that because the scientific consensus is usually correct That doesn’t mean it’s always correct but science works and so we should at least give it the benefit of the doubt If you’re going to go against the consensus especially when it involves issues where people’s lives and health are at stake then at a bare minimum you should examine a good defense of that consensus position and be able to say what you find lacking in it you might read Don P’s book Evolution what the Fossils Say and Why it Matters and say Why you’re not convinced Or for vaccines You might read Paul OITs book Deadly Choices When I ask atheists what’s the best book defending God’s existence and what’s wrong with it many of them can’t give me an answer They haven’t bothered to engage the best defense of the historical consensus among humanity on God’s existence that atheism is false and that makes me question if they’re really open-minded truth seekers but that means Christians should be willing to model that same open-mindedness at least on matters related to science where there isn’t a divinely revealed answer And so we have to follow evidence apart from magisterial guidance avoid unnecessary conflicts between science and faith the first Vatican Council said the following there can never be any real disagreement between faith and reason since it is the same God who reveals the mysteries and infuses faith and who has endowed the human mind with the light of reason God cannot deny himself nor can truth ever be an opposition to truth The appearance of this kind of species contradiction is chiefly due to the fact that either the dogmas of the faith are not understood and explained in accordance with the mind of the church or unsound views are mistaken So notice that one source of the alleged conflict is holding a mistaken view about what the church teaches and saying that mistaken view contradicts science not what the church actually teaches Thomas Aquinas said something similar when he said that a superficial reading of the book of Genesis could lead one to think there was an infinite body of water above the heavens There is no such infinite body of water above us And so Genesis could not possibly be saying that it’s a misinterpretation of Genesis to say that it’s saying that and what Aquinas said about that matter can also be applied to other mistaken interpretations of scripture if it could be shown to be false by solid reasons it cannot be held to be the sense of holy scripture It should rather be considered that Moses was speaking to ignorant people and that out of condescension to their weakness One modern case of this would be applied to geo centrism There are Catholics even today who believe that the plain sense of scripture and older magisterial teaching mean that we must infallibly believe geo centrism is true or that the earth does not move and that not just the sun but the entire universe revolves around the earth every 24 hours which would require the stars to travel faster than the speed of light Hugh Owen from the Colby Center says the following about centrism Robert Beman pointed out to Galileo’s party from the time of King Solomon the entire tradition of the people of God has maintained that the Bible teaches Geostatic centrism there was a tradition more than 2,500 years old continuous that every time scripture spoke about anything regarding the relationship between the earth and the sun and the relative motion that it was the earth that was stationary and it was the sun that was moving in relation to the earth then why does Facult pendulum spin in a circle in 24 hours and not simply stay in the same place Georis something the rest of the universe must be pulling it why do hurricanes spin counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere There’s these strange forces in the universe affecting each hemisphere differently or maybe there’s a simpler explanation The earth actually rotates and scripture simply uses the language of appearance when it talks about the sun moving even though the sun’s rising is caused by the earth’s rotation the supposed conflict between faith and science disappears because geo centrism is not an article of the Catholic faith Cardinal Caesar Barones once said During the Galileo controversy avoid unfounded conspiracy theories in order to get around scientific consensus and the massive amounts of evidence for certain scientific positions I’ve seen some fundamentalists resort to conspiracy theories Flat Earthers will say that there is a conspiracy about how fast airplanes travel and the governments of the world won’t let people travel to Antarctica and find the edge of the flat earth even though people have done that to debunk flat earth theory how can NASA and private companies like SpaceX reliably send probes into space and even to other planets like Mars If Mars was really moving around the earth once a day why don’t probes calculate to reach it based on a much slower heliocentric model I’ve heard geocentric say in response that We haven’t sent anything into space and no one’s even maed it to the moon there’s more alleged conspiracies involving astronomy than you might think and I’m not just talking about the moon landing which is a silly conspiracy because you can fire lasers off the photo reflectors that astronauts left on the moon The conspiracy arises because Catholic georis deny the theory of relativity because their model requires stars to move faster than the speed of light and they actually weren’t the first to challenge the theory of relativity and those who did challenge it reveal the foolishness in going against the consensus for dumb reasons a book was published called a hundred Authors Against Einstein that tried to refute his theory of relativity Albert Einstein allegedly asked why a hundred were needed because if I were wrong then one author would’ve been enough Some of the criticisms were that relativity must be false because Einstein was a Jew and his new theory was simply part of a Jewish conspiracy a Nobel prize winning German physicist called Einstein’s theory of relativity Jewish physics He said The Jew wants to create contradictions everywhere and to separate relations so that preferably the poor naive German can no longer make any sense of it whatsoever antisemites propose a new science they called German or Aryan physics the man behind the Heisenberg Uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics as being a white Jew in spite of the fact that Heisenberg was a non-Jewish Lutheran Aryan science is dead and the theory of relativity is a bedrock principle in modern physics but assuming a conspiracy is not the same as proving a conspiracy and making outlandish accusations well That’s why I was so disappointed to see Candace Owens respond to criticism of her views on science by trying to paint NASA as part of a satanic conspiracy She spent most of the episode where she does this sharing true facts about Jack Parsons one of the founders of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory These include things like Parsons involvement with El Ron Hubbard the founder of Scientology and his other acts of sexual occultism That’s the origins of NASA and the program the we’re going to make it to space mission it would be totally crazy for you guys to think that Satan worshipers are still involved in nasa everything’s great and everything is normal One evil person helps create a company JPL which gets absorbed into NASA years after that person’s death that the people at the new company all share his satanic views the guy who discovered neutron stars and later oversaw the company Parsons founded wanted nothing to do with Parsons and he helped to get Parsons fired and his government security clearance revoked Owens also claims that Parsons invented rocket technology because of his desire to promote Satanic beliefs to get people into space and that this is now permeated in NASA For Jack Parsons enters the scene in America The scientific consensus was that we would never enter space that that was an impossibility but this rich kid who also happens to be an occultist and who also would perform sex rituals and blood sacrifice to some in demons well now he expressed the belief that they could fundamentally alter humanity and he had a vision the occult world of Jack Parsons Parsons gave up on rockets after World War ii He didn’t see them as a viable form of space travel Parsons thought he could use his payout money to open a chain of laundromats It was during this period when he didn’t work at JPL anymore that Parsons did all this weird stuff with El Ron Hubbard NASA wouldn’t even be founded for another 14 years long after Parsons death and JPL the group Parsons started is run by the California Institute of Technology And while Parsons made improvements to rocket fuel technology he didn’t single handedly give the world rockets or space travel through some kind of satanic influence Parsons isn’t even mentioned in the Wikipedia article on rocket history It was Robert Goddard who launched the first liquid fuel rocket in 1926 it was many people using the ingenuity God gave them that developed tools that would change the world by giving us things like reliable orbiting satellites and man spacecraft Another technology that makes my podcast and Candace Owens podcast possible I have a link in the descrip below to an interview I did with my father-in-Law who was a NASA rocket scientist and is one of the most fateful Catholics that I know or maybe he’s in on the conspiracy too He worked at NASA when it started in 1958 and he became the head of NASA’s Goddard Institute for Space Studies in 1961 named after Robert Goddard While he remained an agnostic gastro admitted the following in his book now we see how the astronomical evidence leads to a biblical view of the origin of the world but the essential elements and the astronomical and biblical accounts of Genesis are the same for the scientists who has lived by his faith and the power of reason He’s about to conquer the highest peak as he pulls himself over the final rock He’s greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries number seven becomes scientifically and logically literate The best way to sift through good and bad science is to become good at applying reason and basic scientific truths to different claims Just as Catholic doctrine has different levels of authority ranging from infallible dogma to permitted theological opinions which could be shown to be wrong in the future science has different levels of authority ranging from well-established theories like the theory of gravity or the germ theory of disease to a hypothesis supported by maybe a single study that might be disproven later By understanding how to think as well as the basics of fundamental scientific theories Catholics can help people sift truths from falsehoods this is something Catholic thinkers have been doing for centuries Thomas Aquinas said in the Summa Contra Gentiles that science or what he called CIA was the knowledge of things from their causes everything including theology was considered science What we call science today was called natural philosophy it was the Catholic church that invented the concept of the university in the Middle Ages to study things like natural philosophy and it subsidized the study of things like astronomy in order to better understand the calendar and worship God Cathedrals were even built specifically with this knowledge gained from universities of where the sun would be shining throughout the year in stained glass windows the Roman Catholic Church gave more financial and social support to the study of astronomy for over six centuries from the recovery of ancient learning during the late Middle Ages and in the Enlightenment than any other and probably all other institutions the Franciscan Friar Roger Bacon helped promote breakthroughs in the science of optics He even proposed in the future there could be submarines and flying machines Andrew Gordon was an 18th century Scottish monk who invented the electric motor the 19th century Augustinian Friar Gregor Mendel’s experiments with pea plants resulted in what are now known as the Mendelian Laws of inheritance This is why Mendel has been called the father of modern genetics and St Albert the Great who lived at the same time as St Thomas Aquinas became famous for his discoveries in the fields of botany Albert even pioneered the study of minerals and he said it is the task of natural science not simply to accept what we are told but to inquire into the causes of natural things in order to know which science is new and controversial and which is well-established based on decades or even centuries of evidence We need to learn about science to apply it and we can do that through magazines or watching documentaries or even reading discounted used science textbooks from universities they can help identify bad science that leads people away from the truth and good science that leads people towards God the sky proclaims the greatness of the Lord I’d recommend Catholic Chemist Stacey KO’s book and don’t forget to like this video and subscribe to our channel Thank you guys so much and I hope you have a very blessed day Source: starrfm.com.gh « Prev Next » Comments (10) Listen to Article Minister of Trade The government plans to soon reactivate the Komenda sugar factory with the goal of creating around 7,500 jobs visited the factory on February 26 to assess its current condition and gather firsthand information on the challenges preventing its progress She emphasized that the government is focused on ensuring the factory resumes producing sugar from locally grown sugarcane The Minister also expressed concern over the factory’s current state “This is a large facility that has unfortunately fallen into disrepair and we are committed to restoring it to full operation,” she said Adjare further highlighted that the factory would be part of the “24-hour Economy” initiative and pledged to work with other stakeholders to ensure its successful operation as per the directives of President Mahama assured that the concerns of local sugarcane farmers would be addressed as the government moves forward with plans to revitalize the factory He noted that a special high-yielding variety of sugarcane would be provided to farmers to support the initiative the Member of Parliament for the Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem Constituency expressed confidence that the factory’s reopening would tackle youth unemployment in the area “Many of our young people have to leave for places like Takoradi despite having this factory here that can provide at least 7,500 jobs and we are determined to ensure it serves the people of Komenda,” he stated has expressed her commitment to restoring operations at the Komenda Sugar Factory Speaking during her vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on January 22 she addressed the factory’s long-standing challenges and emphasized its importance to the nation’s economy “I’ve been informed that the Komenda Sugar Factory is not operational One of the major issues has been the lack of raw materials to sustain production along with missing parts and other unresolved problems,” Ofosu-Adjare stated launched in 2016 with significant national investment was envisioned to reduce Ghana’s reliance on sugar imports and boost employment persistent operational challenges have led to repeated shutdowns Ghana currently spends approximately $500 million annually on sugar imports—a figure the minister-designate described as unsustainable “It’s clear that we need this factory to function effectively The cost of importing sugar is too high for our economy,” she remarked highlighting the urgent need to revive the facility Ofosu-Adjare revealed that funds had previously been allocated to address the factory’s issues but its current condition remains uncertain “I understand that resources were released to resolve these challenges A thorough evaluation of the factory’s state is necessary to determine what needs to be done and I am committed to ensuring this happens,” she assured the minister-designate plans to collaborate with stakeholders to restore the factory to full operation “I will work closely with the ministry and other stakeholders to assess the factory’s condition and ensure it benefits Ghanaians as originally intended,” she concluded The Komenda Sugar Factory remains a symbol of hope for reducing Ghana’s dependence on imports and creating local jobs and the minister-designate’s commitment offers a renewed promise of progress President John Dramani Mahama has affirmed his government’s dedication to revitalizing the Komenda Sugar Factory in the Central Region with the goal of establishing the region as Ghana’s primary sugar producer Speaking at a “Thank You” rally in Cape Coast President Mahama assured that the project would proceed to benefit the people of the Central Region “We are determined to proceed and continue with that project so that the Central Region will become the biggest producer of sugar in Ghana” Mr The factory has over the years faced challenges The previous government secured a $35 million loan from the Indian Export-Import Bank along with an additional $24 million investment President Mahama has directed the Minister of Trade and Industry to provide an update on the factory’s status to facilitate the necessary actions He also expressed his government’s commitment to supporting farmers in the region through improved irrigation and modernized agricultural policies More Stories Here Source: www.ghanaweb.com « Prev Next » Comments (6) Listen to Article Komenda Sugar Factory « Prev Next » Comments (17) Listen to Article Komenda Sugar Factory will be leased to investors for a period of 15 to 20 years Source: classfmonline.com « Prev Next » Comments (3) Listen to Article Komenda Sugar Factory The Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights has welcomed with satisfaction today’s judgment of the Supreme Court in which the Court acquitted Tomasz Komenda on all counts this case should give rise to reflection and lead to conclusions that would reduce the future risk of unjust convictions What needs to be changed so that innocent persons are not convicted in criminal cases the HFHR observes that the extent of the phenomenon of unjust convictions in Poland is still unknown Cases of criminal defendants finally convicted and later acquitted appear with an annual frequency which shows that they are not as rare as we would like them to be the HFHR urges the authorities of the Republic of Poland to take notice of the problem of unjust convictions and address this problem accordingly the justice system should be organised in a way that minimises the risk of unjust convictions The criminal justice system should be able to identify unjust convictions and ultimately redress any harm caused by such convictions by the strengthening and development of the procedural guarantees afforded to criminal suspects and in particular by providing the suspects with more effective access to counsel already at the arrest stage of criminal proceedings Another thing that needs to be changed is the way in which criminal law is legislated The HFHR suggests abandoning the long-used penal populism and advocacies the adoption of the model of legislation based on a diagnosis of needs and legislative impact assessment A Criminal Law Codification Commission should also be appointed so that experts are involved in the process of criminal lawmaking Legal regulations on the appointment of expert witnesses should also be amended The HFHR calls for the adoption of a law that would establish a comprehensive set of requirements that prospective expert witnesses should meet in order to be officially appointed This law should also set out a procedure of assessing their professionalism and certifying specialist institutions that submit expert reports in criminal proceedings Another aspect that needs to be analysed is the current system of reinstating criminal proceedings It is necessary to answer the question about whether this system is able to ensure that a criminal case can be reopened in all cases in which there are reasonable doubts as to the accused’s guilt The HFHR suggests that the issue may be remedied by the proposal of the Commissioner for Human Rights who proposed to appoint an independent advisory and consultative body specialising in unjust convictions cases of unjust convictions of innocent persons should be extensively reviewed by law enforcement authorities and specifically by prosecutors of non-military prosecutor’s offices The HFHR is convinced that that approach would contribute to the better implementation of a key objective of the prosecution service namely the safeguarding of the rule of law increase public confidence in this institution and decrease the number of unjustly convicted persons serving their sentences in prisons The case of Tomasz Komenda shows that such an attitude change is possible Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights Wiejska 16 Street 00-490 Warsaw Tel: +48 22 556 44 40  (Monday to Friday from 10.00 PM to 2.00 PM) Fax: +48 22 556 44 50 e-mail: hfhr [at] hfhr.pl Privacy policy GDPR « Prev Next » Comments (2) Listen to Article Komenda Sugar Factory will be leased to investors for a period of 15 to 20 years « Prev Next » Comments (0) Listen to Article President John Dramani Mahama « Prev Next » Show Video Comments (15) Listen to Article play videoKomenda Sugar Factory the Member of Parliament for the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem (KEEA) Constituency and a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has successfully retained his seat with 30,220 votes Dennis Percyval Quaicoe of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) the parliamentary candidate for the Progressive People's Party (PPP) It was however clear that there was "skirt and blouse" voting as the presidential candidate of the NDC John Dramani Mahama of the NDC polled 37,410; 7,000 more votes than the parliamentary candidate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia of the NPP polled 15,424 votes Our newsletter gives you access to a curated selection of the most important stories daily Connect With Us : 0242202447 | 0551484843 | 0266361755 | 059 199 7513 | — WMAR-2 News is committed to improving the lives of Veterans in Maryland by giving light to their stories Every week a local veteran will be featured in our Veteran Spotlight contest This week we are honoring Air Force veteran Kevin Komenda of Harford County He served eight years as an E4 in the Air Transportation Unit and was deployed during Operation Iraqi and Enduring Freedom Komenda works at the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station He is a loving son and incredibly proud uncle His family is very proud of him and his service to our country Thank you for your service and dedication to our country The Minister-Designate for Food and Agriculture has announced plans to work closely with the Ministry of Trade and Industry to revamp the Komenda Sugar Factory and ensure its effective operation While addressing the current state of the sugar factory during his vetting as minister-designate Eric Opoku emphasised the importance of local sugar production to reduce Ghana’s dependence on imports Parliament had approved funding for sugarcane farmers to ensure a continuous and uninterrupted supply of raw materials for the factory we can recall that parliament had approved some facility for the farmers to produce sugarcane to feed the factory We wanted to make sure that we produce sugarcane from January to December so that we can ensure a continuous and uninterrupted supply of sugar to reduce the huge sugar import bill confronting our nation Opoku further stressed the need for collaboration even though it falls within the Ministry of Trade we will work with them to revamp to ensure effective implementation and operationalisation of the factory.” The Komenda Sugar Development Company Limited the previous NDC government secured a $35 million loan from the Indian Export-Import Bank supplemented by an additional $24 million investment the factory has struggled to meet domestic demand the Akufo-Addo-led government attempted to lease the facility to an Indian-based firm explained that the initiative aimed to revive the company’s operations and reduce Ghana’s reliance on imported sugar the then NDC flagbearer John Dramani Mahama reaffirmed his commitment to revamping the processing and manufacturing sectors At the launch of the NDC’s manifesto in Winneba he pledged to operationalize the Komenda Sugar Factory and revive other key industries including the Pwalugu Tomato Factory and the Zuarungu Meat Factory He also promised to build tomato processing plants in the Bono Region The Komenda Sugar Factory remains a symbol of Ghana’s efforts to enhance local production and reduce its import dependency With renewed focus and collaboration between ministries there is optimism about the factory’s future and its potential contribution to the economy CitiNewsroom.com is Ghana's leading news website that delivers high quality innovative alternative news that challenges the status quo © 2024 All Rights Reserved Citi Newsroom. The government is set to finalize a 20-year lease agreement with a new investor to restore and sustain operations at Komenda Sugar Development Company Limited Trade and Industry Minister Mr Kobina Tahir Hammond announced on Wednesday following his visit to the sugar mill which has been out of operation for over seven years since its commissioning is currently importing about 550 tonnes of raw sugar to refine into sulphurless white sugar The company aims to transition to producing sugarcane sugar within three years Mr Hammond disclosed that the government has invested approximately GHS 45 million to refurbish the company which has attracted the investor’s interest “We are leasing our assets to the company which will operate them and compensate us accordingly… I am considering a lease term of 15 to 20 years with an extension option,” he said the company will focus on refining imported raw sugar “Documentation suggests that we should expect some refined sugar from sugarcane production in about three years.” sufficient sugarcane will be cultivated on 31,000 hectares of land including 6,000 hectares on the project site This development is expected to lead to full-scale factory operations shifting from raw sugar refining to processing sugarcane into sulpherless white sugar “We are committed to seeing the plant become operational and avoid it becoming a white elephant,” Mr adding that a Board has been established to oversee the company’s success only managed to conduct a test run that produced inedible sugar The test run was incomplete due to operational issues including failures to meet melt clarity standards If you want to read more about the news about the Sugar Industry, please continue reading Chinimandi.com The Central Regional Minister-designate Eduamoah Ekow Panyin Okyere says he is resolved to get the Komenda Sugar Factory running as quickly as possible will create jobs and help reduce unemployment in the Central region The Regional Minister-designate who spoke to OnuaOnline following his nomination by President Mahama finds it unacceptable that the factory has been abandoned even after a massive investment by government we have no option than to bring it with a military speed…in fact If you look at the amount of money that has gone into this factory and where it is now I think it is in the heart of President Mahama to bring it back,” he said He has also assured to give attention to other abandoned projects in the region and ensured that they will be completed before initiating new ones His nomination has been greeted with excitement by residents of the Central region Eduamoah Ekow Okyere Panyin served as two-term Member of Parliament for the Gomoa East Constituency and is currently the Central Regional Vice Chairman of the NDC « Prev Next » Comments (39) Listen to Article Komenda Sugar Factory Residents of Komenda are gearing up to protest against the plan to lease the local sugar factory to an Indian firm They argue that this decision will eliminate the job opportunities they had hoped for when the factory was initially established Hammond’s announcement that the Komenda Sugar Factory will be leased to West African Agro Limited representatives from the Concerned Citizens of Komenda Traditional Area voiced their expectation that the government would buy sugarcane from local farmers the new management intends to import semi-refined sugar for processing into white sugar instead of supporting local sugarcane production “The work that the farmers here are supposed to be doing you are outsourcing that work to Indian farmers.” “We believe the government is about to take away our jobs We are farmers who have always cultivated sugarcane Many people even took out loans to expand their farms with the expectation that the Komenda Sugar Factory would provide job opportunities.” “If you are going to replace these jobs with imported brown sugar from India what kind of employment are you creating?” he questioned on Tuesday Awudza added that the group has already informed the police about their plans Although the police have advised against the strike sugar cane out-growers have given the government a one-week deadline to discuss how it plans to procure their sugarcane for the Komenda factory held an emergency press conference to strongly oppose the government’s decision to import semi-refined sugar without prior consultation with them Continue reading Chinimandi.com for more news about the Sugar and Allied Sectors. President John Dramani Mahama has assured that the Komenda Sugar Factory in the Central Region will be made operational under his government He stated that his administration was committed to ensuring that the project proceeds as planned to make the Central Region the country’s largest sugar producer Addressing hundreds of people at a "Thank You" rally in Cape Coast on February 6 President Mahama said the Minister of Trade and Industry had been directed to provide an update on the status of the factory to facilitate the necessary action who was accompanied by Vice President Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang was met at Victoria Park by hundreds of enthusiastic residents from across the region The then-NDC government secured a $35 million loan from the Indian Export-Import Bank followed by an additional $24 million investment to revamp the factory’s operations The facility was inaugurated by former President Mahama in May 2016 but ceased operations shortly after which was expected to employ 7,300 people along the value chain has remained largely non-operational since then The NPP government made several efforts to revive the factory with inadequate raw material supply cited as a critical challenge announced plans to lease the Komenda Sugar Factory to West African Agro Limited This announcement followed his disclosure to Parliament that the factory’s retooling was 98 per cent complete often expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of transparency in the factory management’s engagement with them arguing that the true state of the factory was not being disclosed President Mahama reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting farmers in the region and introducing policies to modernise agriculture in the Central Region and beyond The President also expressed concern over the prolonged delay in completing the Anomabo Fisheries College was at an advanced stage when the NDC left office in 2016 He assured that budgetary allocations would be made in March this year to ensure the project’s completion and inauguration before the end of the year President Mahama highlighted the Central Region’s historical significance and immense contribution to national development beyond its prominence in tourism and education the region held vast potential for agriculture and agribusiness serving as a major food production hub for the country would invest in agricultural development and agribusiness to improve the livelihoods of the people in the region He also expressed gratitude to the region for voting for him and his vice-presidential candidate saying their support affirmed their belief in a united President Mahama further pledged to fulfil all his campaign promises to the nation particularly to the people of the Central Region I also identify as a son of this region and commit to recognising and honouring its importance whether in the area of educational infrastructure We will work together to elevate the lives of all who call this region home," he stated He emphasised that the region would receive its fair share of national development « Prev Next » Comments (6) Listen to Article Komenda Sugar Factory will be leased to investors for a period of 15 to 20 years « Prev Next » Comments (3) Listen to Article Komenda Sugar Factory recently shed light on the ongoing challenges in reviving the Komenda Sugar Factory which was constructed during John Mahama’s administration has not been operational due to substandard construction and the lack of a guaranteed supply of raw materials The Komenda Sugar Factory was inaugurated in May 2016 by former President John Mahama funded by a $35 million facility from the Indian EXIM Bank The initiative aimed to transform Ghana into a sugar-producing nation saving millions of dollars on sugar imports and creating approximately 7,300 jobs along the value chain the factory ceased operations shortly after its inauguration Minister Hammond criticized the previous administration for the factory’s poor construction He announced that the government plans to lease the factory to an Indian company for 20 years signaling a new phase in its operationalization the government revealed plans for a $28 million investment in the factory allocating funds for sugarcane cultivation and no significant investor had taken up the project until recently while introducing his running mate to the elders and chiefs of the Central Region assured that the factory would become operational should he win the upcoming election Minister Hammond dismissed Mahama’s chances of winning and reiterated the current administration’s commitment to revitalizing the factory The Komenda Sugar Factory has a storied history having once been a symbol of Ghanaian enterprise it provided sugar to various schools and state organizations employing over 200 locals and others from across the country leading to widespread unemployment in the area The factory’s closure has had a significant impact on the local community leaving many without jobs and hoping for a turnaround The recent interest from an investor offers a glimmer of hope for the community which longs for the factory to resume operations and alleviate their economic struggles The Komenda Sugar Factory’s journey from a thriving enterprise to a dormant facility highlights the complexities of industrial revitalization As the government moves forward with plans to lease the factory the community and the nation at large watch with anticipation hoping for a successful revival that will bring jobs and economic growth to the region Receive smart business insights and economic analysis to help you make better decisions « Prev Next » Show Video Comments (45) Listen to Article play videoKomenda Sugar Factory Ed Komenda, who has served as our reporter in Las Vegas since 2019 will step into a new role as the Reno Gazette Journal's investigations editor.  Since he came to work for the Reno Gazette Journal Komenda has proven to be one of the most versatile and talented journalists I've had the pleasure to work with He's been on the front lines of civil unrest on The Strip the fallout from the 2020 election and many only-in-Nevada stories he's told in our pages.  Komenda will help elevate the Reno Gazette Journal's coverage by helping our journalists tell stories that change lives and laws for the better.  I sent him a few questions to help you all get to know him a little better you can contact him at ekomenda@rgj.com.  Your career has taken you to many places around the country — from Chicago to Florida When people ask you what it was like being a journalist in Las Vegas of all places Las Vegas is one of the best places on Earth to be a journalist Most people there came from somewhere else Many came with intentions to reinvent themselves Las Vegas is a place known to blow up the old to make way for the new in spectacular fashion It’s a place of constant change and tension It’s a fast-paced city with a fluid identity that hasn’t quite figured itself out Discovering and showing humanity in Las Vegas was my favorite part of the job what we need to improve –– it’s all there.  What are some of your favorite Nevada stories you’ve worked on since coming to the RGJ in 2019?  Local journalism has changed dramatically in the last decade as a result of many economic factors What keeps you motivated to continue doing this kind of work?  Telling stories that show what it’s like to be alive today and helping people better understand the world is more vital now than ever journalism is demanding and challenging and ever-changing –– but that’s always been true I spent more than a decade as a reporter in newsrooms big and small across the country I have found endless inspiration from reporters and editors who care deeply about their communities and wake up every morning to work at this fine Collaborating with talented storytellers to help people understand what’s really going on in their communities and how it affects them is the best job there is.  What kind of stories do you hope to work on in your new role?  Whether it’s documenting the housing crisis or holding powerful people accountable or illustrating the human experience in hard times the goal is always to do journalism with real impact that readers can’t find anywhere else I most look forward to collaborating with reporters to dig up these stories and tell them the best we can with all the tools we have available.  I’ve already asked you if a hot dog is a sandwich Brian Duggan is the executive editor of the Reno Gazette Journal. Do you care about democracy? Then support local journalism by subscribing to the Reno Gazette Journal.  Editor's note: Reporter Ed Komenda writes about his memories growing up in the house of his grandmother The Reno Gazette Journal wishes everyone a happy Mother's Day.  I think of the Blue Room and Grandma’s hands Stiff bundles of swollen knuckles that gifted me  — broke and too proud to ask  —  a twenty-dollar bill to buy gas Guides that taught me spaghetti sauce secrets Shirt collar grips that tossed mouthy teenagers into snow drifts.  A welcome home when Dad got custody and we didn't see Mom anymore Grandma’s hands have seen years of ups and downs Some days she feels like she’s waiting to die unearth a heavy Prudential Ware cooking pot from a bottom cabinet and lug it onto a burner.  A disheveled salesman pitching pots made with metal stripped from military airplanes.  "Please," he says. Sweat pours down his face Grandma feels bad – and a little scared.   She spent the next year on a payment plan those pots remain the best investment she ever made There's a new jug in the Blue Room The Blue Room is under the basement stairs because the walls and shelves were painted a shade between baby blue and robin’s egg blue.  The Blue Room is a place of canned vegetables folding chairs for family parties that don’t happen here anymore In it floated pumpkin pie filling and sauerkraut beans and corn, the subterranean hideaway of a sweet-toothed Jolly Green Giant The Blue Room is where I got lost in the ingredients like Grandma's hands The Blue Room is what came before Grandma learned wisdom and sadness are the same color When I think of coming home and leaving home and the search to find a new home Grandma’s hands – knots and scars of a baker Grandma’s hands – pickers of pennies goodbyes on the caskets of two dead children Grandma’s hands – a greeting beneath the armpits of an eight-pound granddaughter To enter the Blue Room is to enter the heart To pick and stock and know the ingredients like Grandma's hands is to learn how to make yourself full.  Ed Komenda writes about Las Vegas for the Reno Gazette Journal and USA Today Network. Do you care about democracy? Then support local journalism by subscribing to the Reno Gazette Journal right here.  Located in the remote Dunagiri area of the Himalayas the village of Chari cannot be found on any regular map It is situated 400 km or a 12-hour drive north of New Delhi in the district of Almora of the Indian state of Uttarakhand The nearest train station is a five-hour drive and the nearest full hospital is about three hours away the village is in danger of falling through the cracks of India’s COVID-19 crisis response are fighting to make sure that doesn’t happen.  with a PhD in religious studies and Sanskrit Indian philosophy and yoga. She has lived full time in Dunagiri since 2013 Kumar is an engineer who worked with the World Bank for 10 years in Washington before returning to contribute to his home country He ran a software development company in New Delhi before moving to Dunagiri and devoted himself to sustainable development may get the credit for sparking her interest in South Asia who is senior marketing manager at Worcester Art Museum worked at Clark University’s International Office at the time and brought home an international student from India when her younger sister was in high school Komenda and Kumar have run Dunagiri Retreat an eco-yoga retreat center where visitors participate in programs including meditation The retreat also generates a livelihood for the surrounding villages who are now at the back of the line for COVID aid the area has significant spiritual history that spans thousands of years and the villagers are simple hill people or "pahadis" — small farmers Referring to the devastation of the COVID emergency in India “the truth is that the entire medical system has collapsed in India.” In rural areas where the medical infrastructure was already minimal it is now nonexistent. So Komenda and her husband are helping the district magistrate establish a response from the ground up starting with a COVID facility in Dwarahat a slightly larger village about an hour away on which Dunagiri is completely dependent for basic healthcare and medicine.  Official aid has been slow in coming for Dwarahat let alone Dunagiri and the other smaller villages Knowing it would be months before any meaningful help arrived the couple began reaching out to their own network “We’ve been on the phone all day to help our [local government] get oxygen concentrators and supplies,” said Komenda The situation is a microcosm of what is playing out all over the country as the healthcare system buckles under the sheer weight of numbers “[People] have to do it family to family and even getting a hospital bed is through connections and networking.” Their friends and well-wishers from all over the world are arranging donations Kumar and Komenda are using these funds to bridge the last mile gap in effective delivery of aid They have an India Dunagiri Region COVID relief effort at a GoFund Me page where they have raised almost $10,000 Frost is admiring of the way that her sister and Kumar try to take care of their local community. “I think they really care very much for the wellbeing of their neighbors I’m so proud that they are trying to get medical equipment and supplies to the area.” has always been resilient and absolutely fearless “I don’t know if I would be that way I think it’s amazing that she has been able to really integrate into India and Indian culture,” Frost said Dunagiri’s location acts as a double-edged sword — on the one hand the remote location initially acted as a buffer to slow the spread of COVID infections mimicking social distancing on a geographic level and assistance has been similarly slowed by the distance The community of about six villages with a combined population of about 1,200 was doing relatively well after the first COVID wave last year before we heard about cases hundreds of miles away in early April,” explained Komenda.   It was only when Kumar’s family in New Delhi began to fall ill about the same time he and Komenda began to make preparations for the second wave which proved difficult in a society that refused to believe such a thing was imminent.  was the government aggressively pushing the narrative that India had “won the war” against COVID and encouraging people to believe the danger had passed It is true that strict social distancing and economic shutdown measures did halt the spread in 2020 massive crowds gathered for religious festivals and political rallies — all of which became super spreader events throughout the country criticizing the government response can result in being charged with treason and sedition.  India reported more than 4,529 deaths from COVID on Wednesday May 19 — the worst single-day death toll in any country since the pandemic began and a bleak indicator of the scale of the outbreak More than 314,000 new coronavirus infections were logged on Thursday the highest number of single-day cases reported globally since the pandemic began India is reporting about 307,000 new infections on average each day There have been 25,496,330 infections and 283,248 coronavirus-related deaths reported in the country since the pandemic began authorities say that it is just a portion of the true toll and that the real numbers are far higher The exact case numbers and death counts are elusive making it problematic to mount an effective grassroots response.  “If we don’t gather accurate data how do we make informed decisions?” asked Komenda Efforts to track the rate of COVID cases and deaths are often stymied not only by government obfuscation When a death is deemed to be COVID-related a practice that clashes with the Hindu funerary ritual of cremation doctors often do not report the cause of death as COVID — which allows the family to claim a member who has passed on While a comfort to the families in allowing them to mourn their loved ones in a culturally appropriate manner people in the community are reluctant to have COVID tests The number of people complaining of coughs fevers and other symptoms is rising but officially there are no COVID cases due to the absence of testing In Dunagiri and other parts of India’s vast rural areas people are dying with COVID symptoms without being tested.   the COVID crisis also highlighted India’s existing social inequalities causing some groups to be hit harder than others even beyond the initial danger of contracting the life threatening infection Economic and societal fallout will affect communities for years to come loss of primary breadwinners and failed businesses all while the prices of essential commodities “are shooting up through the roof.” Regarding challenges in terms of sending relief materials both Komenda and Kumar explain that it is hard to communicate “All the money in the world doesn’t help if the medications and supplies aren’t available,” said Komenda “we’ve got donations sitting in an account but trying to buy the supplies during a catastrophic shortage is a nightmare.” Despite that they are aware that monetary donations may be the simplest way for Americans to provide aid at the moment.   While COVID was an unprecedented strain on the American healthcare system the breakdown in India approaches a completely new level “Americans don’t really understand what it means to have an entire health infrastructure collapse,” said Komenda This was what many feared would be the case with COVID in India “What is happening right now is the worst possible pandemic scenario.”  “It’s hard for us to imagine what they’re going through because we’re in a very different situation,” said Frost “here we are about to go back to normal at the end of the month.” Though both Komenda and Kumar have the first shot of the vaccine the vaccination drive in India has faltered as vaccine shortages become more pronounced and second shots prove hard to find Two reasons have contributed to this — one of the largest manufacturers of vaccines in the world has run into a wall regarding the ingredients and the Indian government exported large quantities of vaccines when the country’s own numbers were more promising. “When we got our initial shots about a month ago," Komenda said "we were praising the vaccination program but the supplies have evaporated now.”  Even as her adopted country struggles with the dire straits of the pandemic Komenda feels that they are relatively safe due to the remoteness of their area. What they wish to do is “communicate to the world on behalf of those who are at the back of the line” that times are tough and help is desperately needed “The normal trade routes of shipping companies have been disrupted due to international tensions [between China and India] and the inevitable manufacturing slowdowns at this time Talking about loved ones at home in Worcester Komenda indicated it has been difficult to stay in touch. “It’s been a challenge and WIFI connectivity is spotty but we are fortunate this landline is working so they can call me Everybody is extremely worried but I’ve been traveling in India for 30 years of my life and they’re used to me being in precarious situations though this may take the cake.”  Government has announced plans to lease the Komenda Sugar Development Company Limited to West African Agro Limited This strategic partnership aims to revitalise the Komenda Sugar Factory’s operations ensuring it can meet the growing domestic demand for sugar.  shared this development during a facility visit to the factory in the Central Region He said the initiative is part of broader efforts to boost the local sugar industry More stories here This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page Feb 9, 2021 | Society A man who was wrongly imprisoned for 18 years for the rape and murder of a teenage girl that he did not commit has been awarded almost 13 million zloty (€2.9 million) in compensation the highest such payout ever granted in Poland The ruling means that “my nightmare is over” who was released from prison and acquitted in 2018 at the age of 41 after forensic evidence confirmed his innocence emphasised that nothing can truly compensate for his client’s lost years in prison A man who spent 18 years wrongly imprisoned for a murder he did not commit before finally being released and exonerated last year has filed a demand for almost 19 million zloty compensation: 1 million for each year in prison plus 800,000 in lost earnings https://t.co/mjii1QI8Is — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) April 17, 2019 accused of the rape and murder of 15-year-old Małgorzata Kwiatkowska whose body had been discovered in Miłoszyce After a police composite sketch of a man linked to the victim was broadcast on a television programme about her murder Komenda was identified as a suspect in the case Experts also suggested that hair and tooth marks from the scene could be linked to him although they noted that they might belong to other people too Komenda initially confirmed he had been in Miłoszyce on the night in question and had had consensual sex with a girl there But later he said he had been forced to confess under duress Twelve people had provided alibis saying he was at his home in Wrocław on the night in question Komenda was found guilty and sentenced to 15 years in prison which was later increased to 25 years on appeal Tomasz Komenda, the Polish man recently released after being wrongly imprisoned for 18 years for the rape and murder of a teenage girl that he did not commit, has been granted an audience with Pope Francis in the Vatican @Pontifex @Pontifex_pl https://t.co/fGkgA9zWn7 — Notes from Poland 🇵🇱 (@notesfrompoland) June 13, 2018 revealed that Komenda was in fact not linked to the murder New forensics on traces from the crime scene showed that the original findings were unreliable and witness testimonies were also re-evaluated Komenda was provisionally released in March 2018 and the Supreme Court quashed his conviction in May of that year said his sentence had been the result of “a wave of errors and mistakes” He also suggested that courts “may have operated under some pressure,” reported Polityka Polish resistance fighters’ daughter born in communist prison loses court battle to 25 years in prison for Małgorzata Kwiatkowska’s murder after new evidence from her clothes and body linked them to the scene Komenda launched a claim for almost 19 million zloty compensation from the state: one million for each year spent in prison plus 800,000 for lost earnings announced at the time that he was authorising a special payment of 4,000 zloty per month to Komenda until his compensation case was decided Nic nie wynagrodzi Panu Tomaszowi Komendzie cierpień jakich doznał przez niesłuszne skazanie i pobyt w więzieniu Ale sprawiedliwe państwo musi działać i musi mu pomóc Podjąłem więc decyzję o przyznaniu Panu Tomaszowi renty specjalnej — Mateusz Morawiecki (@MorawieckiM) March 29, 2018 Komenda and his family were required to give information regarding his experiences in prison and his difficulties in readjusting to life outside jail said that no compensation could restore the years his client had spent in prison He stressed that Komenda had suffered a “real nightmare” behind bars where he was mistreated by prison staff and his fellow inmates the court awarded Komenda 12 million zloty compensation Lawyer Ryszard Kalisz told TVN24 that it was “the highest amount of compensation in the history of the Polish judiciary” but it seemed “fair” given the nature of the case Komenda said he did not have any concrete plans about an appeal “Some time has to pass and then I will know what to do next,” he added he expressed satisfaction that he would now be able to “finally start to live” He also said that he would be spending time with his son Couple find biological son after 34 years following death of boy they raised as their own Main image credit: Krzysztof Cwik / Agencja Gazeta Juliette Bretan is a freelance journalist covering Polish and Eastern European current affairs and culture Her work has featured on the BBC World Service , , The proportion of Poles saying the US has a positive influence on the world has also fallen to its lowest recorded level , , Poland has recorded the strongest rise in consumer sentiment across the EU this year , , , The stunt has also been criticised by Ukraine’s ambassador to Poland as well as politicians from Poland’s main ruling party Apr 30, 2025 | , , , That response will include “large Polish and NATO exercises in Poland” Apr 29, 2025 | , , , Those employed in Poland work on average the third-longest hours in the European Union Apr 28, 2025 | , , , , Westinghouse and Bechtel were first chosen in 2022 as partners on the 192 billion zloty ($51 billion) project please consider helping us to continue and expand it [email protected] Copyright © 2025 Notes From Poland | Design jurko studio | Code by 2sides.pl Senior Research Fellow at the Global Europe Centre ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Weronika Strzyżyńska is currently studying journalism at Goldsmiths as a Scott Trust Bursary recipient She  has written on issues immigration and Brexit for New Statesman and Prospect Agnieszka Wądołowska is managing editor of Notes from Poland She has previously worked for Gazeta.pl and Tokfm.pl and contributed to Gazeta Wyborcza ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Daniel Tilles is editor-in-chief of Notes from Poland and assistant professor of history at the Pedagogical University of Krakow He has written on Polish affairs for a wide range of publications The Independent and Dziennik Gazeta Prawna ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Stanley Bill is the founder and editor-at-large of Notes from Poland.He is also Senior Lecturer in Polish Studies and Director of the Polish Studies Programme at the University of Cambridge Stanley has spent more than ten years living in Poland He founded Notes from Poland in 2014 as a blog dedicated to personal impressions cultural analysis and political commentary He is committed to the promotion of deeper knowledge and understanding of Poland He is the Chair of the Board of the Notes from Poland Foundation ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Professor of European Studies at Oxford University ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Professor at the Institute of History of the Jagiellonian University ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Executive Director of Taube Family Foundation ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR Associate Professor at the Institute of Political Studies of the Polish Academy of Science ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR ARTICLES BY THIS AUTHOR has underscored the urgent need to revitalize the Komenda Sugar Factory to benefit the Ghanaian populace The factory has remained dormant due to a shortage of raw materials a persistent challenge that has significantly impeded its operations During her appearance before the Appointments Committee of Parliament on January 22 Ofosu-Adjare stressed the importance of revamping the factory as a crucial step towards reducing the nation’s reliance on sugar imports She committed to working closely with the relevant ministries to assess the factory’s current condition and ensure its transformation into a fully operational and valuable asset for the country the Komenda Sugar Factory is not operational and one of the major challenges the factory has suffered is the lack of raw materials to feed that industry and some missing parts “I have also been told that monies were released to solve these problems And the total health of the factory should be done after an evaluation So I will work to ensure we know the actual health of the factory “But it’s obvious we need that factory to work for the benefit of Ghanaians because we are importing about half a million dollars worth of sugar into the country I will work together with the ministry to ensure we assess the health of the factor and ensure Ghana benefits from that monumental project.” OmniBSIC Bank sponsors 2025 Heritage Caravan for second year running Click on the link to join the Citi Newsroom channel for curated, meaningful stories tailored just for YOU: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaCYzPRAYlUPudDDe53x The government is set to lease Komenda Sugar Development Company Limited to an Indian-based firm West Africa Agro Limited for a renewable term of 15 to 20 years Hammond states that this initiative aims to revive the company’s operations to meet domestic demand was established in 1964 but halted operations for an extended period followed by an additional $24 million investment to revamp the operations of the factory The factory is currently undergoing a test run in preparation for full production Hammond announced that the government is prepared to lease the factory to West Africa Agro Limited for up to 20 years “It’s a company which has a board We are leasing our assets to a company that is going to work on it we’re not going to have shares in their products thinking of giving it to them for 15 to 20 years with an option of an extension or some sort of renewal,” he noted KT Hammond highlighted the government’s commitment to revitalizing the factory and criticized the previous administration for its lack of diligence It was commissioned and hasn’t worked since A lot of things went wrong with this factory here I explained the genesis of this and why it hasn’t worked how much money has been expended in this edifice and how much should have been the actual cost “I told the whole country that a factory of this capacity even now should be costing about 18 million or so dollars Explore the world of impactful news with 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