The Buduburam Camp, which, for over two decades, has served as home for Liberian refugees, is to be demolished to pave the way for the redevelopment of the area.
The place will be gentrified to have a senior high school, a residential community, and a modern market.
The camp, which was decommissioned as a refugee base by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in June 2010, has become a settlement and now bears the infamous credential as a hideout for social deviants, including alleged robbery gangs.
The District Chief Executive (DCE) for Gomoa East, Mr Solomon Darko-Quarm, told the Daily Graphic that the demolition of the camp was in response to a request by the Gomoa Fetteh chiefs over the increasing criminal acts in the Gomoa area, with the camp being turned into an abode for suspected criminals.
“The Buduburam Camp has become an albatross around the neck of the nation as it has become a den for many suspected criminals engaged in many criminal activities across the country,” he noted.
He indicated, however, that the exercise would be undertaken after the completion of the ongoing tarring of new roads at Buduburam meant to ease the traffic congestion on that stretch of the Accra-Cape Coast highway.
Buduburam camp
The camp is sited in the Gomoa East District and shares a boundary with Kasoa.
It was set up by the UNHCR in 1990 to serve as a safe abode for more than 12,000 refugees from Liberia who fled the country during the two Liberian civil wars (1989–1996 and 1999–2003).
It also housed refugees from Sierra Leone who escaped from their country’s civil war between 1991–2002.
Although the camp was decommissioned following the return of peace to the two countries, most of the refugees resettled in the neighbourhood.
On May 18, 2021, the chiefs of Gomoa Fetteh, at a news conference, expressed concern about the increasing crime rate at the Buduburam Camp and issued a three-month ultimatum to the government to pull down all makeshift structures — said to be the abode of those suspected criminals — in the area.
Redevelopment
Mr Darko-Quarm said the demolition would also pave the way to redevelop the area to befit the district’s status as the gateway to the Central Region.
“It has become a fast-growing community that needs social and economic amenities to befit its status.
“Among the amenities to be put up in the area will be the construction of a public SHS which will complement the St Gregory SHS which was recently adopted by the government but lacks the capacity to accommodate junior high school graduates in the area,” the DCE said.
Easing traffic
Meanwhile, the district assembly has commenced the expansion and tarring of roads on the Buduburam stretch of the Accra Cape-Coast road to ease the traffic congestion on that stretch.
It forms part of the first phase of the Buduburam redevelopment plan.
“This timely project, when completed, will be a huge relief for many road users, especially motorists plying the Accra-Cape Coast highway,” Mr Darko-Quarm told the Daily Graphic after inspecting the progress of work last Sunday.
He said it was totally unacceptable for road users to spend long hours in traffic on that stretch of the road
A Deputy Finance Minister, John Kumah, has rejected claims that the poor state of the economy is a result of mismanagement by the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government.
John Kumah insisted that the public expenditure on COVID-19 instead resulted in the current situation the country finds itself in.
The Ranking Member of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, at a Policy Dialogue on Monday, July 26, 2021, accused the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government of being responsible for 60 percent of Ghana’s total debt stock.
Dr. Forson said out of Ghana’s Public debt of GHS291 billion as of December 2020, President Akufo-Addo’s government accounts for GHS171.22 billion representing 60 percent.
“The main causes of the current hardships are the twin problems of the largest budget deficit (15.2%) in recent history, and a choking debt overhang that threatens the stability of the Ghanaian economy,” he stated, adding that “the hardships arising out of the deficit and debt situation is the direct result of mismanagement of the economy and misplaced populism by this government.”
Dr. Forson, who is also a former Deputy Finance Minister, cautioned that if the government does not pull the brakes on the current situation, the country will experience a decline in capital expenditure even as it spends more on interest servicing.
But John Kumah, who represented the Finance Minister at the Minority’s forum, does not entirely agree with the assertions espoused by Dr. Forson.
According to him, had the challenges faced by the Akufo-Addo government occurred under the erstwhile Mahama administration, more debt would have been incurred.
“If you check the reality of what happened under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s tenure, I am sure if it had happened under former President John Mahama, we would have jumped to $100 billion. There was no COVID-19 to warrant a lockdown for extra expenditures of the government.”
“So these are very difficult times that President Akufo-Addo has been in, but he has managed it so well that he has won the world commendation.”
Two separate applications filed by two NDC Members of Parliament whose elections are being challenged at the High Court have been dismissed by a Court of Appeal.
The Assin North MP, Joe Gyaakye Quayson, and the MP for Jomoro, Dorcas Affo Toffey, are facing a challenge to their election for allegedly possessing dual citizenships.
In the case of the Assin North MP, the court dismissed an appeal of stay of proceedings, while in the case of the Jomoro MP, an application to stay execution of the High Court’s order for her to produce documents evidencing the renunciation of her alleged Ivorian citizenship was dismissed.
This means the case against the two MPs would have to continue at the High Court.
The lawyers for the Assin North MP had earlier filed a motion at the Supreme Court to invoke the supervisory jurisdiction of the apex court to assume jurisdiction over the case at the Cape Coast High Court.
The Cape Coast High Court Three set Wednesday 14th, July 2021, to give judgement in the Assin North MP’s case, but had to adjourn due to the move by the defendants.
Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. John Kumah has refuted claims by the National Democratic Congress which suggests President Akufo-Addo’s government is heading back to the IMF for policy credibility.
John Kumah has noted that the NDC is just speculative and so Ghanaians should treat their claims with the contempt it deserves.
John Kumah who doubles as the Member of parliament for Ejisu Constituency admitted that there’s been an increase in Ghana’s total debt but it does not necessarily mean that Ghana could go back to IMF.
Speaking to Omanhene Yaw Adu Boakye on Kessben Maakye, he opined that the Covid-19 pandemic outbreak has contributed so much to the increase in Ghana’s debt rate.
He added that Akufo-Addo is committed to the Fiscal Responsibility Act which requires that the country’s fiscal deficit must not go beyond 5%.
But Dr. Ato Forson at the Policy Dialogue in Accra on Monday 26th July 2021 revealed that due to the bad management of the economy under the watch Akufo-Addo and Bawumia, Ghana is heading back to the IMF.Ato Forson
Mr. Ato Forson has described current Ghana’s economy as the worse in recent history.
Hon. Ato Forson who is the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee issued a warning to the government to as a matter of urgency put measures in place in dealing with the huge budget deficits.
Ato Forson noted that Akufo-Addo’s government alone is responsible for 60% of Ghana’s debt stock but John Kumah disagrees with some of the assertions raised by Ato Forson.
“If you check the reality of what happened under Nana Akufo-Addo government, like covid-19 and its associated challenges to deal with”
“Now, these are very challenging moment that President Akufo-Addo has been dealing with, but he has managed it so well that he has won the world commendation” Dr. John Kumah added
The Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin is the recipient of the 2021 coveted Parliamentarian of the Decade Award for his contribution to the growth of national development, sustenance of parliamentary democracy and good governance since the inception of the country’s Fourth Republican Parliament.
The accolade was conferred on the veteran politician and lawmaker who has been in Parliament since the advent of the 4th Republic and has served virtually in all positions available in the House by the Millennium Excellence Foundation (MEF) at a Special Sitting of Parliament on Monday, July 26, 2021.
Speaker Bagbin in his acceptance speech thanked the President, Board of Governors, and Advisory Technical team and programme managers for the honour bestowed on him and promised to uphold the high tenets and principles of parliamentary democratic proceedings.
He stated that though a Speaker from the Opposition party in a hung Parliament, he will not frustrate the Executive arm of Government with which he has already established a healthy working relationship as well as the Judiciary.
The Millennium Excellence Awards was established as a non-profit organization to celebrate successful enterprises in Africa by Ashim Morton, an Architect by profession and Entrepreneur who returned to Ghana after several years in the United States to give his quota to the development of his nation.
As a witness to the constant negative outlook and poor governance stories coming out of the African Continent daily, Ashim Morton, who is the great-grandson of the Asantehene Otumfuo Prempeh I, made it a decision to tell the successful enterprises and highlight individuals who were bringing about change in Ghana.
Now in their 20th year, the awards are organised by the Millennium Excellence Foundation to celebrate outstanding personalities championing key development initiatives in leadership, governance, and entrepreneurship Africa.
The Foundation focuses most of its resources in three key areas – agriculture and food security, water, sanitation and hygiene and science, innovation and technology.
It aligns also its objectives with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to reduce poverty, ensure accountability in Governance in key areas of attention that will lead to sustainable growth and development for the citizens of Africa.
The Millennium Excellence Awards is hosted once every five years and recognize institutions and individuals for their contribution to national development and the ceremonies are privately funded by corporate bodies and individuals who believe in Ashim’s vision.
The 2021 edition of the Millennium Excellence Awards was held on July 17th, 2021 at a ceremony in the Manhyia Palace, Kumasi where over sixty distinguished personalities and corporate bodies were honoured.
In attendance was President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo who was honoured with the Gold Award for his leadership, national cohesion and political stability in Ghana.
Music maestro Kojo Antwi who was also awarded for his immense contribution to the music industry and entertained guests with some tunes throughout the night.
Former President Jerry John Rawlings and late Kofi Annan, a former United Nations Organisation Secretary-General were former recipients of the prestigious awards
Parliament will not work to frustrate the business of the Executive Speaker Alban Bagbin has said.
Mr Bagbin said he has built a healthy working relationship with President Nana Akufo-Addo and also reached out to the Chief Justice and is happy with the harmonious working relationship between them.
He noted that the good working relationship has translated into the successes that they have achieved in resolving delicate and thorny issues that have confronted the nation.
He said: “While efforts are made to strengthen the independence of Parliament to give Ghanaians the true sense of the democracy that they voted for, Parliament will not work to frustrate the business of the Executive. As a fact, immediately after my election as Speaker of Parliament, through the initiative of the President, I have built a healthy and fruitful working relation with H. E. Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, the President of the Republic of Ghana. I have also reached out to the Chief Justice and I am happy with the harmonious working relations between the Legislature and the Judiciary. The synergy this has generated in the working relations of national leadership, translates into the successes that we have achieved in resolving very delicate and thorny issues that from time to time confront our dear nation.”
The speaker said development will be quickened when the various arms of government work together in harmony but independent of each other.
“Hon Members, indeed, evidence abounds throughout the developed world that the majority of them made tremendous strides in their development trajectories through the collaborative, yet principled role played by the respective arms of government. Parliament of Ghana, under my leadership, will strive to make this principle a governance culture in Ghana,” Mr Bagbin stated.
He further said under his leadership, he will also create space to bring the views of the generality of Ghanaians to bear on the governance of the country to ensure that decisions that affect the people of Ghana are borne out of processes that take into account the very needs of the people.
“We will equally work to ensure that there is value for every decision made and for every expenditure incurred in furtherance of the development agenda of our dear country. The era when Ministers of State and other government officials ignored the call of Parliament to account for their stewardship is gone and I believe, will remain as a thing of the past,” he added.
The speaker said these in his acceptance speech when he received a Millennium Excellence Award at a Special Sitting of Parliament on Monday, July 26, 2021 for his contribution to the growth of national development, sustenance of parliamentary democracy and good governance.
Read the speaker’s full acceptance speech below:
ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY THE RIGHT HONORABLE ALBAN SUMANA KINGSFORD BAGBIN, SPEAKER OF PARLIAMENT, AT THE CONFERMENT OF THE MILLENNIUM EXCELLENCE AWARD ON THE SPEAKER
The Hon First Deputy Speaker
The Hon Second Deputy Speaker
The Co-Leaders and Leadership of the House
Hon Ministers of State
Hon Members of Parliament
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Members of the Parliamentary Service Board
The Clerk to Parliament
Representative of His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene Members of the Board of Governors of the Millennium Excellence Foundation
Our revered Religious and Traditional Leaders
Management and Staff of the Parliamentary Service
Members of the Parliamentary Press Corps Distinguished Invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen!
I thank the Almighty God whose favor and mercies have brought me this far and for guiding the recognition of me for this prestigious award. His guidance over the years has given me the opportunity, needed strength and fortitude to serve this House in various capacities; first as a Member of Parliament, then as Chairman of various Committees, Minority Leader, Majority Leader, Second Deputy Speaker and today, the Speaker of this Parliament, an institution of might and majesty. I owe this award to His continuous grace and blessings.
Indeed, many individuals have contributed in diverse ways to the success of my political career which has culminated in this recognition. I recognize my immediate and larger family, whose love, prayers and support have helped me through thick and thin to weather the storms in the bumpy terrain of politics to see this day in its glory. I also recognize the positive impact of the Speakers, Leadership and Members of Parliament, both past and present, on my political career and I am indeed grateful to all. For the nearly three decades that I spent on the floor of this House as a Member of Parliament, I can say with certainty that I have immensely benefited from the wisdom, experience, and the constructive engagement of a significant majority of Members across the political divide in all the Parliaments in which I served. I have some truly good and dependable friends on both sides of the political divide. This has contributed to making me the Speaker and who I am today. To my guardian angels, here I mean, the good people of Nadowli/Kaleo whose mandate kept me in this House all these years and propelled me, in the end, to the High Office of Speaker of Parliament, I will forever remain indebted to you for your unflinching support. To the great National Democratic Congress, the platform that propelled me to stardom, you will forever grow from strength to strength and from victory unto victory to continue to give birth to more iconic leaders in the country and the world.
I cannot help at this point but to make reference to a quote from Johannes Alexander Gaertner, the German art historian, poet and theologian who said “To speak gratitude is courteous and pleasant; to enact gratitude is generous and noble; but to live gratitude is to touch Heaven.” I will continue to live in gratitude to those who have helped me along the way to get this far.
Hon Members, distinguished guests, it is with great humility and a deep sense of honor that I accept, from the Millennium Excellence Foundation, this prestigious award, the Millennium Excellence Prize for Leadership and Excellence. I am sincerely appreciative of this recognition that has been bestowed on me to crown my over 28 years in Parliament from 1993 to date. I dedicate it to the Almighty God and to the people of the Nadowli/Kaleo Constituency.
Seven months ago, after all the wrangling that greeted the declaration of the results of the general elections of December 2020, and having become manifestly clear that the Eighth Parliament would be a hung Parliament, many were those who were apprehensive about how our Legislature would fare in this uncharted territory in the history of our parliamentary democracy. With membership of the House equally divided – each of the two political parties represented in the House having 137 members apiece and with 20 female members’ representation on each side of the divide – some Ghanaians feared that a gridlock in political governance was imminent. My election as the Speaker of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic from the party not in government, the first ever in our post-independence political history, fortified this fear as it was received with shock by a section of the Ghanaian public who thought that government policies and programs would be imperiled. True to my inaugural statement to all Ghanaians to allay those fears and place expectations in their proper perspectives, and thanks to the maturity demonstrated by this august House with particular reference to the Leadership, we have proven as a collective that the growth and development of our democracy is paramount to us as representatives of the good people of Ghana. Indeed, the statement that my choice for this award was in recognition of my “unwavering pursuit of fairness, excellence and the developmental vision of the parliamentary affairs sector in Ghana” is candid and humbling as it reflects the principles which have guided me this far.
Hon Members, this award, to all intents and purposes, is a manifestation that our conduct both on the floor of the House and outside the precinct of Parliament is under scrutiny. Also, it is a reflection of the fact that the House is constantly being monitored and assessed in the performance of our duties by the generality of the public.
While this award has been won through the good work of not just myself but the entire House. The award represents a loud call to duty of all of us, to the extent that the aspirations of the electorate and the people of Ghana would be served. It is therefore imperative that our conduct both in and out of the House reflects the trust reposed in us by the citizenry. We owe it as a duty to the present generation and generations yet unborn, to ensure that as a people, we eschew unguided utterances and open vituperative attacks on one another to showcase leadership by example. It is also to convince our supporters that is the way to go in national discourse to advance the agenda of nation-building. Hon Members, we have to work together in harmony to preserve and enhance the peace and development of our dear country.
This award further represents a call on the general public to partner with the Legislature to ensure a broad participatory approach in our democratic dispensation. Thankfully, the passage of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989) and the adoption of the guidelines for the introduction of Private Members’ Bills in the Seventh Parliament provide opportunities for the public to actively engage in the governance of the nation through parliamentary processes. Through the collaborative work of the Leadership and Members of the House, the revised Standing Orders is before the House to provide further avenues for public-parliament engagement. New provisions have been included in the new Standing Orders to open up Parliament and make our work more transparent and understandable to the people. To this end, a Petitions Committee will be constituted to create the platform for channeling petitions to the House, while access to the proceedings of Committees would be made easy by reason of the fact that Committees of the House will generally sit in public except under exceptional circumstances where they will sit in camera.
In much the same way, while efforts are made to strengthen the independence of Parliament to give Ghanaians the true sense of the democracy that they voted for, Parliament will not work to frustrate the business of the Executive. As a fact, immediately after my election as Speaker of Parliament, through the initiative of the President, I have built a healthy and fruitful working relation with H. E. Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, the President of the Republic of Ghana. I have also reached out to the Chief Justice and I am happy with the harmonious working relations between the Legislature and the Judiciary. The synergy this has generated in the working relations of national leadership translates into the successes that we have achieved in resolving very delicate and thorny issues that from time to time confront our dear nation.
Hon Members, indeed, evidence abounds throughout the developed world that the majority of them made tremendous strides in their development trajectories through the collaborative, yet principled role played by the respective arms of government. Parliament of Ghana, under my leadership, will strive to make this principle a governance culture in Ghana. We will also create space to bring the views of the generality of Ghanaians to bear on the governance of the country to ensure that decisions that affect the people of Ghana are borne out of processes that take into account the very needs of the people. We will equally work to ensure that there is value for every decision made and for every expenditure incurred in furtherance of the development agenda of our dear country. The era when Ministers of State and other government officials ignored the call of Parliament to account for their stewardship is gone and I believe, will remain as a thing of the past.
Hon Members, our ability to widen the democratic space in this country and forge ahead as a united people with a common destiny would depend on how accommodating we are of the views of one another in the interest of the good people of Ghana. Ghanaians undoubtedly voted in the December 2020 elections against extreme partisanship characterized by acrimony and rancor in our debates on the floor of the House. Indeed, it is very obvious that the people of Ghana require both sides of the House to work closely with each other to help build the country. This is the concept on which the Parliament of Ghana was crafted. A unique Parliament, made in Ghana and though similar, it is different from all Parliaments in the world. This is found in the engrained meanings of the traditional symbols on the Mace of the House, the authority of Parliament and the horseshoe arrangement of seating in the House. This uniqueness demands of us to strive, in unity and wisdom, to build consensus more often without suppressing dissenting views or the views of the minority and the marginalized in our society. I am quite pleased to have observed that so far both sides of the House have performed creditably well, and I have been spared the ordeal of often overseeing a rancorous House, as witnessed in some Legislatures. The House, by this, has succeeded in sending a message of unity and an unflinching resolve to optimally explore available avenues in order to secure greater dividends for our democracy. To this end, I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to the Leadership and Members of the House and hope that this cordiality will be maintained to deepen our parliamentary democracy. To His Royal Majesty, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, whose mentorship has tremendously impacted on my performance and life in general, I am extremely grateful and I know the Almighty God will continue to heap His abundant blessings on you. I know it is your wisdom that has initiated this award program and together with the distinguished board of governors of the Millennium Excellence Foundation, you have made a bold statement to chart a path for the development of our dear country and Africa by the institutionalization of this award scheme. It is a scheme which identifies excellence and seeks to reward Ghanaians and Africans who have selflessly invested significantly by way of financial resources, time and knowledge, in various aspects of the socio-economic and political development of this country and Africa. You are indeed awakening the consciousness of the Ghanaian and the African to pursue excellence in whichever field they find themselves, which is a vital ingredient for the development and sustenance of any country or continent. I will humbly and respectfully, encourage you not to rest on your oars but to continue to knock on our doors and alert us whenever you find us falling short in the performance of our duties as is consistent with the old adage that he who charts a path does not always know that it is crooked.
Once again, I am humbled and grateful for this prestigious recognition and encouragement to continue to serve Ghana to the best of my ability. I am confident that I will continue to enjoy the unwavering support of the Leadership and all Members of Parliament as well as the Clerk, Management and Staff of the Parliamentary Service in this effort.
I seize this opportunity to encourage all Ghanaians to strive for excellence with integrity. Indeed, the meaning of integrity is so beautifully couched in the inspirational African proverb “A clean conscience makes a soft pillow”. That is my pledge to Ghanaians – to serve with integrity.
NDC Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee, Cassiel Ato Forson, is urging government to, as a matter of urgency seek debt relief from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to curb the country’s rising public debt.
Ghana’s total public debt stock as at the end of May 2021, stood at ¢332.4 billion, an increase of almost GH¢30billion from a previous GH¢304.6 billion recorded at the end of the first quarter of 2021, according to the latest Summary of Economic and Financial Data from the Bank of Ghana.
The new debt figure brings Ghana’s debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio to 76.6 per cent as of the end of May.
Speaking at a Policy Dialogue on the Economy organised by the Minority Caucus in Parliament in Accra on Monday, Mr Forson, described the country’s debt stock sustainability as worrying.
He said the IMF Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA), in 2019 prior to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic; put Ghana at a high risk debt distress, adding that the situation was likely to worsen this year if government did not take a relook at its borrowing plans.
The Former Deputy Minister of Finance under the erstwhile NDC government also noted that even though Ghana had not been declared as a Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) by the Bretton Woods institution, the debt sustainability indicators showed that the country was heavily Indebted.
“Comparing the debt sustainability indicators in the year 2020 to those in the year 2001, when Ghana was declared HIPC, it is clear that 2020 indicators are worse than those in 2001, even though the debt to GDP indicator shows an improvement,” he added.
Mr Forson, therefore, advised government to seek immediate assistance from the IMF to ensure that the rising public debt was halted.
“We expect the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government to seek an urgent debt relief from the IMF through the newly proposed Debt Relief Initiative known as the Common Framework for Debt Treatment beyond the Debt Service Suspension Initiative (DSSR) which can be likened to HIPC.
“We also submit that failure by the Akufo-Addo’s government to do so as recommended will mean that within 18 months from today, Ghana will be exposed to a high risk of default on its debt service obligation, which will plunge this country into a deeper economic crises,” he said.
On his expectations of government going forward, Mr Forson said capital expenditure was likely to reduce, adding that government would not be in a position to increase public sector wages, even to the minimum level of inflation. He also noted that government in the coming days would spend more on interest servicing, while the country’s international reserves was also expected to reduce.
“This is simple because I do not expect forex to come into the economy as expected, because government’s borrowing abilities will reduce in as much as we will be spending a little bit more as outflows being amounts that we will use in repaying our debts,” he explained.
Mr Forson, who is also the Member of Parliament for Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam, urged government to ensure that any newly imposed taxes targeted the right people.
“They should be taxes that will spur economic growth targeting the right people of the economy and should not disturb the running of the economy,” he said.
Mr John Kumah, a Deputy Finance Minister, speaking at the event was adamant the economy was on a strong footing.
“Just to remind us that as we speak Ghana has hit the highest in history of our cocoa production so the economy is on track,” he retorted. GNA
• Kojo Oppong Nkrumah says the anti-LGBTQI+ bill is yet to presented to Parliament
• He says it is a draft bill being sponsored by some MPs
• He wants Ghanaians to get the full fact of an issue before commenting on it
Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, the Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi has appealed to media practitioners and Ghanaians to exercise some restraint and get the full facts of an issue before running commentaries on them.
The Information Minister is concerned that some Ghanaians appears to always be in a haste to pass judgement on issues even when facts have not been presented to them.
Speaking on Okay FM, Oppong Nkrumah cited the case of the controversies around the anti-LGBTQ+ bill as an instance of how some Ghanaians have been misled on an issue.null
He disclosed that at this particular time, the “Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Families Values Bill, 2021” is not before Parliament.
Oppong Nkrumah explained that the document in circulation is a draft bill by eight Members of Parliament which is yet to be tabled before the house.
“There are reports of a bill before a parliament to deal with LGBTQI but one should ask if there is indeed a bill before parliament. I can tell you that there’s no such thing before parliament.
“When something comes up, we don’t make time to read and understand it, we just carry along but there is no bill before parliament. Eight MPs have written to Parliament about how they want to regulate LGBTQI issues. It’s called private members draft.
“They held a prayer meeting with Speaker of Parliament to inform him about the bill and the Speaker assured them of his backing. As we speak, there’s no such bill before Parliament,” he said.null
The controversial bill has sharply divided Ghanaians with people clashing heads on the matter.
Over the weekend the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George clashed with a number of high profiled persons on the proposed bill.
Sam George in a social media post commended his colleague MPs for their resolve in ensuring that activities of LGBTQ are criminalized in the country.
“I am proud of my 7 Colleague Members of Parliament with whom the Draft Bill for the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values was worked on.
“At a time when some may choose convenience and the alluring offers being made, these men and women have given true essence to the title the offices they hold bear. They have stood up for what is right, just, and noble.
“You have every right to disagree with our Bill. We can live and tolerate your disagreement. However, let your disagreement be based on law, fact, and science. Not your emotions or thoughts. We are open for anyone who has a memorandum on the Bill to submit same to the Parliamentary Committee when it calls for same. We are ready to debate the issues with anyone or group so long as it is based on law. We are Legislators,” he said.
But private legal practitioner Kofi Bentil has criticized the bill which he claims is ‘unconstitutional and a waste of time.’
“I’ll resist all invitation to discuss the pointless bill to regulate sex in Ghana. It’s patently unconstitutional and a waste of time. Whats saddest is that we used the first opportunity to do a private members Bill for this Brutum Fulmen!!” Bentil posted on Facebook on July 23.
•Captain Smart has condemned the attack on Erastus Asare Donkor by Kennedy Agyapongnull
•He is concerned with the attacks on journalists in the country
•He believes that the government must do more to protect journalists
Godsbrain Captain Smart, the host of Onua TV’s breakfast show has given an account of how he saved colleague journalist Afia Pokua (Vim Lady) from being lynched by a mob at Nima over a news item.
Captain Smart recounts his then Adom FM colleague was accosted by a group for filing a story that appeared to put the National Health Insurance Scheme in a bad light.
He disclosed on his show that he had to rush from the office of Adom FM to go rescue his colleague from the angry youth.null
“When Afia Pokua was at Adom FM, she was assaulted for a story she did on the NHIS. I had just come to Accra and heard that she was being beaten in a gutter so I had to drive from Multimedia to Nima with a club to save her.”
Captain Smart was speaking in response to a comment by the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, which comments have been criticized as seeking to instigate a public attack on journalist Erastus Asare Donkor.
Captain Smart warned that journalists ought to be protected and called on the Akufo-Addo government to call Kennedy Agyapong to order.
He said that the government can only claim it is not against the persecution of journalists if it condemns the attack on the LUV FM journalist by Kennedy Agyapong.
“Today, we are being told that a journalist should be beaten for a report he did. When we say it, they debunk that government is doing everything possible to protect journalists. If you think you are protecting journalist, then talk to Kennedy Agyapong and bring him to order,” he said.
Captain Smart cautioned Kennedy Agyapong to be guarded by his public utterances charging that he is prepared to take him on.
He said that the era where he only observed Kennedy Agyapong unleash verbal attacks on people is over.
“Kennedy Agyapong is becoming too much in this country but no one is scared of him. I was quiet because he was championing the cause of the youth so I had to keep quiet and support him.”
•A Plus says Kennedy Agyapong is the type leader the country needs at this time
•He says the Assin Central MP is unfazed by issues and will not hesitate to punish his own appointees
•He believes President Akufo-Addo is too loyal to some members of his government
Musician and activist Kwame A Plus has opined that Ghana’s current situation requires a leader cast in the mould of the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong.
A Plus said on Angel FM on Monday, July 26, 2021 that it has become imperative for the country to be governed by a leader with the courage and will to crack the whip on his own people.
He noted that Kennedy Agyapong who has been in the news lately for some comments he made against a journalist possesses the qualities needed to steer the affairs of this country.
“You may not like Kennedy Agyapong but we need someone like him as president. We need someone who is not shy and always prepared to crack the whip.”null
A Plus then passed a damning verdict on the governing skills of President Akufo-Addo, stating that he is a man who prefers loyalty over correctness.
He explained that President Akufo-Addo is overseeing a failed government due to his inability to punish appointees who misconduct themselves.
“Nana Akufo-Addo never forgets when you do something good for him. When an appointee of his does some things, he sometimes clears them because of some good they did for him in the past.
“Nana Addo is not bad person, he just lacks the courage to punish people. If you do something good for him, he will always depend and be loyal to you. When you do something, he’ll find it hard to reprimand you,” he said.
He described President Akufo-Addo as ‘peaceful’ man contrary to the ‘monstrous’ figure some persons have created of him.
“Nana Addo is not same. His anger is like the white man. That’s why when some people were making it look it Nana Addo was a monster, I said that Nana Addo is the ‘asomedwehene,” he added.
• MP Sam George has actively used Twitter in his strong anti-LGBTQ+ advocacy
• It turns out that one of his tweets violated platform rules
• It has since been deleted by the social media giants
Social media giants, Twitter, have deleted a tweet by Ningo Prampram MP, Sam George after it ruled that the views contained therein were in violation of platform rules.
The deleted tweet posted on July 24 read: “I have been overwhelmed by the massive show of support even here on a ‘liberal’ platform like Twitter for our Bill on the LGBTQ+ menace.
“Homosexuality is not a HUMAN RIGHT. It is a sexual preference. Preferences are not absolute or unregulated. We shall pas this Bill through
That post attracted a response from a British politician, Seb Dance, who engaged in a heated exchange on the issue of same-sex relationships and the wider topic of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexuals, Transgender, Queer, LGBTQ+.
Sam George is leading an 8-Member Private Members’ Bill which is titled: “The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values, Bill 2021.”
Last Saturday, the lawmaker posted a screenshot of a communication from Twitter which said a tweet of his had been reported but that the company was taking no action because “it is not subject to removal under Twitter rules.”
“Accordingly, we have not taken any action as a result of this specific report,” Twitter said.
Sam George captioned the post: “So they want us to accept their perversion but cannot accept our opinion of their perversion. Thankfully the folks at Twitter apply some common sense and logic.”
But as at Monday, July 26, GhanaWeb‘s checks showed that the said tweet could not be found on Sam George‘s handle. In place, Twitter posted a message which read: “This tweet is no longer available,” accompanied by a link to a page explaining their range of violation enforcement in the event of a breach of platform rules.
Currently, the 36-page anti-LGBTQ+ document is at the draft stage and will be laid before the house and subsequently expected to be referred to the appropriate committee for consideration.
Sam George spent the better part of Saturday (July 24) on social media defending the need for the bill which he insists is a necessity in preserving the moral and cultural values of Ghanaians in general.
The recent promotions in the Police Service by outgoing Inspector General of Police James Oppong-Boanuh appear to be creating tension in the service as some Chief Inspectors are unhappy over the move.
Mr. Oppong-Boanuh, for the first time in so many years, in consultation and approval of the police council, promoted one thousand, eight hundred and forty-two personnel with first degrees on and before 2008 to new ranks. The announcement was made last Friday.
This means any police personnel who passed out before 2008 and possess a first degree with or without study leave or permission qualifies for promotion.
So far seventeen (17) corporals are moving to the rank of sergeant, nine hundred and eighty-nine (989) officers are moving from sergeant to Chief Inspector, and eight hundred and thirty-six are moving from Inspector to Chief Inspector with increased salaries.
However the hope of Some Chief Inspectors who have been in the service for more than twelve (12) years with first degree and were hoping to be promoted to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) still hang in a balance.
“I actually don’t understand these promotions, look I am still Chief Inspector, someone who was my junior with the rank of inspector is now with the same rank with me with enhanced and better conditions of service which recognized institution will encourage this?,” an angry Chief Inspector told Empire FM’s Emmanuel Ohene Gyan in Takoradi on Monday.
Another also lamented, “ the new arrangement by Mr. Oppong-Buanoh means that I need to vacate my seat as a station officer for my junior to take over, this has seriously affected my morale.
The aggrieved Chief Inspectors who are concerned about the development want the anomalies corrected before it further dampens morale in the service as new IGP COP Akuffo Dampare prepares to take over
In a bid to protect police officers sent on escort duties with bullion vans following the recent attack that led to the death Constable Emmanuel Osei in Accra, the government says it has started providing adequate protective gears for such officers.
This is according to Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery.
The Minister said efforts are being made to provide bullet proof vests and helmets as well as body cams for officers.
Speaking to Citi News on the sidelines of the final funeral rites of the late officer, Ambrose Dery said the government will facilitate discussions between the banks and the police to ensure the safety of the officers.
“The government has started providing bulletproof vests, bulletproof helmets and we are also working towards providing body cams. Discussions are ongoing between the IGP and the banking systems, and we are going to facilitate that to see how we ensure that the bankers and the police personnel are better protected than they are now,” he said.
The outgoing IGP, James Oppong-Boanuh, following the killing of the officer suggested that the bullion van was substandard and therefore gave banks up to the end of June to provide fortified bullion vans or have no police officer escorting their cash.
Banks in the country however indicated that the deadline given them by the Police is not realistic.
They said it was too close to enable them make the needed changes.
The Ghana Association of Bankers in a statement on the matter said, “as a response, we have committed to comply with the “latest industry standards in compliance, and certification requirements of Cash in Transit (CIT) operations; strengthen dialogue with the providers of CIT service to develop a comprehensive infrastructure, and implement an aggressively proactive approach to staying at the forefront of the continually evolving security threats that the banking sector is exposed to.”
A few months before the unfortunate incident, the Bank of Ghana had issued a directive to all financial institutions to get bulletproof bullion vans to transit their cash.
It said the financial institutions have up to July 2023 to do that.
Asante Kotoko SC CEO, Nana Yaw Amponsah has surprisingly disclosed he rejected an offer from a club in the United Kingdom to take up the Kotoko job because of the huge respect he’s got for the club.
The Asante Kotoko Board’s decision coupled with an approval from His Royal Majesty, Otumfour Osei Tutu II, appointed Nana Yaw Amponsah in August last year to lead the club management as the new Chief Executive Officer. Before his appointment, there were series of reports that were also linking the enterprising football administrator to take up a job at English Championship side Queens Park Rangers, with him confirming that development but didn’t reveal the actual club. Nana Yaw Amponsah has confirmed the earlier speculations that, he turned down an offer from a club in UK just to accept the Asante Kotoko SC job. He said; “There’s a club in UK that wanted to employ me as director of Football. People should respect the institution Asante Kotoko. My salary was negotiated with the board.” Since taking over the club in less than a year, the renowned football agent managed to secure Hisense and Erea as a mega headline and kit sponsorships for the club and also landed a partnership agreement with English Premier League side Southampton- a deal which was launched few weeks ago.
Former Deputy General Secretary of the opposition NDC party, Koku Anyidoho has slammed the party’s immediate past flagbearer, John Mahama, for refusing to rebuild the deteriorating Asomwdee Park where late ex-President Atta Mills was laid.null
According to him, ex-president John Mahama has done nothing to honour the memory of his former late boss under whom he served as Vice President,
His comment follows the National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Saturday, July 24, commemorating the ninth anniversary of the demise of Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the third President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana.
A wreath-laying ceremony was held at his resting place, Asomdwee Park, near the Osu Castle, in Accra at 0700 hours
Many bigwigs of the Party, including former President John Dramani Mahama, National chairman, Mr. Ofosu Ampofo, Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary, including his widow, Mrs Ernestina Naadu Mills, and some party supporters graced the occasion.null
But in an interview with Okay FM monitored by Kasapafmonline.com Monday, Koku Anyidoho who was the Director of Communications during the Mills Administration stated that ex-President Mahama while in office did nothing to ensure that the resting place of his former boss, was put in good shape.
“I won’t go into details but we tried and tried. I will state publicly that John Mahama refused to rebuild Asomdwee Park. Out of millions of Ghanaians Late Prof. Mills picked you to be his running mate, we sold our manifesto and the millions of Ghanaians voted for President Mills to be the President and you became his vice. He passed on and you became President, I’m asking what has John Mahama done to honour the memory of late ex-President Attah Mills”?
Koku Anyidoho appealed to President Akufo-Addo to honour his promise of fully rebuilding the Asomdwee Park, adding that it will be great to have the park ready by the late Prof. Mills 10th anniversary to enable him to add that to his legacies.
Prof Mills died, while in office, on Tuesday, July 24, 2012, at the 37 Military Hospital, three days after his birthday
Member of Parliament for the Tamale North constituency, Alhassan Suhuyini, has expressed grave concern over the credibility of President Nana Addo Danka Akufo-Addo when he promised the country in his 25th COVID-19 public address to the nation that the country would receive about 1.3 million Sputnik V vaccines in the month of May.null
He said it is insulting that the president, after ten weeks of promising the whole country, comes back empty-handed and yet fails to say anything concerning that promise.
Mr. Suhuyini said he felt so insulted and helpless that the country could have a president like Akufo-Addo who could disrespect the whole country by making such dire promises and come back some ten weeks after and not brief the nation on the status of his promise.
He said even if there are problems with the procurement of the promised vaccines, all the president needed to do was to come back and explain to the country that there was a problem that is why the country couldn’t receive the promised 1.3 million vaccines.
To the Tamale North legislator, that is how a president shows respect to his citizenry but not the quiet approach President Akufo-Addo has taken on the said promise in his 25th address to the nation.null
Mr. Suhuyini made this pronouncement in an interview with Johnnie Hughes on the New Day show on TV3 on Monday, July 26.
He was reacting to the president’s 26th address to the nation on Sunday, July 25 concerning the state of the pandemic in the country.
“Unfortunately, just listening to the president was very depressing and my brother just talked about the Russian Sputnik V vaccines. This is the president who in his last address told us that we were going to get about 1.3 million Sputnik V vaccines by May. Isn’t it insulting to us that after ten weeks he returns and doesn’t even say a word about that?” Mr. Suhuyini wondered.
He continued: “I mean I felt so insulted and I felt so helpless that I have such a president that can just feel disrespect towards us. He told us about Sputnik V and he said 1.3 million will come in May. If there are problems all he needs to do to show respect to us is to explain to us but to disrespect us in the way he did, means he doesn’t care
• He stated that he and the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, have grown closer since his election as Speaker of Parliament
• He made this known during the conferment of a Special Award on him in Parliament
Alban Bagbin has said that the work of Parliament will not interfere with that of the executive.
The Speaker of Parliament explained further that the work of Parliament is not in any way intended to make the business of the executive, led by the president, a difficult one.
“While efforts are made to strengthen the independence of Parliament, to give Ghanaians the true sense of the democracy that they voted for, Parliament will not work to frustrate the business of the executive,” he said.null
He added that as evidence of that fact, he and the president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, have since built stronger ties, ensuring that they work together for the good of the nation.
“As a fact, immediately after my election as Speaker of Parliament, through the initiative of the president, I have built a hearty and fruitful working relations with His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the president of the Republic of Ghana.
Alban Bagbin made this known while delivering an address during a Special Sitting of Parliament to confer a Special Award on him as Speaker of Parliament.
The newly constituted council of the University of Ghana, Legon, has appointed Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo as the acting Vice Chancellor of the university.
A statement signed by the University’s Registrar, Mercy Haizel-Ashia today, Monday, 26 July 2021 indicated that Prof Amfo’s appointment takes effect from 1 August 2021 until when the University Council appoints a substantive Vice-Chancellor.
Earlier today, a new Council of the University of Ghana, Legon was inaugurated and sworn in by the Minister of Education at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Education, Accra.
The council has Justice Sophia A.B. Akuffo as Chair.
In a short meeting after the inauguration of the new Council, it considered Section 10 (2)(b) of the University of Ghana Act 2010 (Act 806), and Section 6(3) of the University of Ghana Statutes, and decided on the appointment of the senior of the two Pro Vice-Chancellors, to act.
Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo was the Pro-Vice Chancellor with responsibility for Academic and Student Affairs.
She is the first female to rise to the rank of Acting Vice-Chancellor.
The Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Mr Sam George, has said he and his colleague anti-LGBTQI+ legislators are ready to debate anyone who is opposing their anti-gay bill put before parliament but adds that the disagreement of those opposed to the bill must be based on law, facts and science rather than emotions.
He said people have the right to disagree with the stance they, the legislators, have taken to criminalise LGBTQI+ and are welcome to submit memoranda to the Parliamentary Committee when it calls for same.
In a Facebook post, Mr Nartey George said he is proud of his other colleague lawmakers with whom he drafted the bill for the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values.
The 36-page Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021, which is yet to be considered by parliament, seeks to unequivocally criminalise LGBTQI+ activities.
Among other things, it says people of the same sex who engage in sexual intercourse are “liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than seven hundred and fifty penalty units and not more than five thousand penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment of not less than three years and not more than five years or both.”
It covers any person who “holds out as a lesbian, a gay, a transgender, a transsexual, a queer, a pansexual, an ally, a non-binary or any other sexual or gender identity that is contrary to the binary categories of male and female.”
The bill is being sponsored by anti-LGBTQI+ legislators on either side of the aisle.
They submitted a copy of the draft to the Speaker of parliament on 29 June 2021.
The bill is not only targeting persons of LGBTQI+ orientation but also promoters of it.
Below is the full post from Sam Nartey George:
I am proud of my 7 Colleague Members of Parliament with whom the Draft Bill for the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values was worked on.
At a time when some may choose convenience and the alluring offers being made, these men and women have given true essence to the title the offices they hold bear. They have stood up for what is right, just, and noble.
You have every right to disagree with our Bill. We can live and tolerate your disagreement. However, let your disagreement be based on law, fact, and science. Not your emotions or thoughts. We are open for anyone who has a memorandum on the Bill to submit same to the Parliamentary Committee when it calls for same. We are ready to debate the issues with anyone or group so long as it is based on law. We are Legislators.
To those asking the essence of having a Bill, what is the value of plenty talk and promises if you are not interested in giving life to your words? Or are they empty words that do not portray the intents of your hearts? Let’s put our money where our mouth is.
I am so proud of my Colleagues and the overwhelming majority of Ghanaians who have stood with us so far. We shall succeed. We shall be victorious.
The Honuta Command of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has intercepted 1,550 parcels of suspected India hemp at the Klave border enclave.
Briefing the Ghana News Agency, Volta Regional Public Relations Officer of GIS, Assistant Inspector Felix Klu-Adjei, said Superintendent Bernard Kojo Nketiah, the Commanding Officer of the Service at the Honuta Border and his men made the arrest upon intelligence.
He said the driver and his accomplices, on the arrival of the Patrol Team, abandoned the goods and a Toyota Mini Bus with registration number GG 2314-20.
He said a search in the bush, revealed some 19 big sacks, which subsequent investigation by the Ghana Immigration (GIS), Police, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) and the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), showed 1,550 compressed parcels of Indian hemp.
Mr Klu-Adjei said a Ghanaian Voter Identification Card bearing the name Ganuvo Kwaku, a driver’s license, GRA Certificate and GRA Income Tax documents were found at the crime scene at Klave.
Deputy Commissioner of Immigration (DCI), Peter Claver Nantuo, the Volta Regional Commander of the Ghana Immigration Service, addressing the media, commended the Officer In-charge and the team for a great show of professionalism, high excellence and integrity in foiling the illegal operations of the cross-border syndicates.
He thanked the sister security agencies for their respective efforts and effective collaboration to actualise a common objective.
He praised the District Chief Executive of Ho West, Ernest Victor Apau, the Chiefs and the entire community for rendering their support to the operations of the security agencies.
The confiscated parcels were handed over to the Head of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) in the District, Rodger Vanderpuije, in the presence of the District Chief Executive, for further investigation.
The Command is also in the process of handing over the said vehicle to the appropriate authority for onward investigation.
Vice President Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has said sarcastically that there are ‘demons’ and ‘principalities’ working to impede the growth of the economy and the overall development of the country, but assured that the government is determined to take the fight to them.
The Vice President made the statement, which attracted spontaneous laughter and applauds, on Saturday, when he spoke as the Special Guest at the 13th Congregation of Nana Opoku-Ampomah University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
“As you enter the public sector,” he told the graduating class, “you will see that you will be challenged by demons and principalities. The demons and principalities are all over the place and you will have to fight them and we are going to fight them and we are going to win that fight too.”
He said the government’s effort towards building a robust economy through the application of ICT and digitisation, is on course and that will not be compromised in any way.
The Vice President said “some people have wondered, and said oh, Dr. Bawumia, you used to talk about the economy and now you are talking about digitisation, but they do not really see the link that the two are one and the same (sic) because we need to build the fundamentals of the economy and that building the fundamentals of the economy lies in putting in place a system that promotes transparency and accountability and fight corruption.”
Taxable Population
“In fact, we had only about 4% of our adult population registered for taxes that is our tax identification records at the end of 2016 that is from independence to that year and that tells you how narrow the tax base was. There were multiple sales of land, no database on properties, lack of transparency and so on. So we are dealing with a lot of these problems in the economy and in the society,” he pointed out.
He said that “what we basically said was that we have to attack these problems and find solution to these problems because, we have talked about them and talked about them for many years and therefore, the task that faced us was to build a system that was based on data and not on who you know or the discretion of individuals.”
He continued that “if you look at the system that we were inheriting, a lot of activities were based on discretion and on who you know culture. We need to build a system that promotes transparency and accountability, a system that eliminates corruption in the provision of government services and the system that works for the poor and the vulnerable and the excluded in the society.”
Digitising Economy “We decided that one of the best ways, as we entered this fourth industrial revolution, in the global economy, Ghana could really position itself in the global economy and as well address all of these problems, was to pursue a strategy of digitisation of the economy; and this is why over the last four years, under the leadership of the President, we have been focusing on this,” he added.
The Vice President said that “one of the key tools that we have implemented in this fight has been the national identification system, that is the biometric system and it is a unique system. So far, we have been able to register 15.5 million people under the national identification system, so we moved from zero to 15 .5 million. That is a major for us because now everybody has a unique ID which means that you cannot hide.”
Bank Loans
He said “there used to be a time you can go to a bank, borrow money and then you go and change your name and go to another bank to borrow money and then do that again and again. It used to happen but sorry it is no longer going to happen again because with the national ID we want to bring transparency and with the national ID we are linking all bank accounts.
“We have also implemented a nation digital property addressing system whereby every location in Ghana has a unique address. We had only about 10% or less addressing systems for properties in Ghana but today every property has a unique address and so we have 100% coverage.”
In pursuit of this agenda, the Vice President said that “we have identified 7.5 million properties including properties in the villages and as you can see, the process of placing addresses on all properties is ongoing and we hope to complete that process by next year. This is going to be very important for e-commerce, for deliveries and government services and so on.”
Momo Interoperability
He said “we have also implemented a very unique interoperability for our mobile money. 30% of our adult population have bank accounts and most people had mobile money accounts and we just decided that we should do the interoperability of the bank accounts and the mobile money account so that a mobile money account can function like a bank account. It is a simple idea. We put it together and our people have been able to do it.”
He narrated that “today, Ghana is the only country in Africa that has been able to do this so it has moved the number of people with access to financial services through an account, be it mobile money or bank account from the 30% to 90% and that is a major growth.”
Dr. Bawumia added that “mobile money interoperability has made Ghana the fastest growing mobile money market and last year mobile money transactions in Ghana total $100 billion dollars equivalent, so it is impacting on the economy.”
New Babies
He also said that “we have brought in the universal QR code. We have digitized operations at the DVLA, Passport Office. We are 80% done at the Births and Death Registry and by next year, anybody who is born in the country, regardless of where you were born, at birth you will be given national ID card number and then it will enter the database and that will follow you through school all the way till you die.”
“It will make our census down the road very easy because everybody who dies will get off the database and those born will get on the database and we will have much more accurate data as we move forward,” he added.
Linking ID
“Just by linking the national ID number and making it your tax identification number, we solved a little problem. Immediately we did that, as at June this year, we increased the number of people registered for tax purposes from 4% as at 2016 to 86%. By doing that we were expanding the tax base of the economy and we know that by next year we will be over 90%,” he said, adding “we have done a similar thing for the SSNIT, and NHIS. It is a new economy that we are building and it is going to be a major factor.”
“In the education sector, as we know, COVID-19 presented many challenges across several sectors of our economy but despite the challenges, a number of universities including UPSA have been able to leverage the technology and digitisation to support academic work. And access to internet and connectivity to ensure that academic work, commercial transactions and other social activities were uninterrupted.”
UPSA Boss
Vice Chancellor of the UPSA, Prof. Abednego F.O. Amartey, giving his report said 870 students graduated and the School of Graduate Studies alone presented 764 students comprising 55 for Master of Philosophy, 591 for Master of Business Administration, 107 for Master of Arts and 11 for Master of Science and Insurance Risk Management.
The UPSA Law School also graduated 106 students where 15 of whom obtained Second Class Upper, 47 Second Class Lower and 35 Third Class and one obtaining a pass.
“In 2017, our total student body count was about 11,500, today we are more than 18,000 students,” the Vice Chancellor said, adding “in 2017 we had a total of 20 academic programmes, and we have increased the number to 30. It is worth noting that we have about seven additional programmes in various stages of accreditation
Former President John Dramani Mahama is lacing his boots to contest the 2024 presidential election, barring any hitch.
He has, therefore, tasked Muslims in his hometown Bole in the Savannah Region, to pray for him, as he prepares to return into the contest once again after losing the 2016 and 2020 elections respectively to the NPP’s candidate Nana Akufo-Addo.
Radio Announcement
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Bole-Bamboi, Alhaji Yussif Sulemana, relayed the former President’s intentions on Bole-based Nkilgi FM during the 2021 Eid-ul-Adha celebration on Tuesday.
“Former President John Dramani Mahama who is from Bole here (sic) has asked me to tell the good people of Bole-Bamboi Constituency that he has not forgotten of the good things they have done for him over the years and that Inshah Allah (God willing) he is likely to come back to contest elections in his party and so they should use this special Eid-ul-Adha day to thank God and to ask for good health, success and victory for him,” the MP said.
He then said that Prophet Ibrahim was commanded by God to sacrifice his only son Ismael to Him and that Ibrahim made an attempt; which is the highest form of obedience to God and situated it to the political dispensation saying, “so former President Mahama entreats his Bole-Bamboi constituents to continue to be obedient to their creator, their parents, elders and also respect and love each other.”
Official Statement
Mr. Mahama, in his 2021 Eid-ul-Adha message, said there is the need for Ghanaians to be reminded of the value of obedience and sacrifice as Muslims celebrated Eid-ul-Adha across the world.
He had said Ghanaians should use Eid-ul-Adha to inspire people to give back to humanity, something that is bigger and then sent specific message to Muslims in Bole-Bamboi saying he has always cherished their support over the years and that they should continue to pray for him in all his endeavours.
Long Process
Before he becomes the NDC flagbearer once again, he has to cross the party’s hurdle at the primaries, which political pundits believe is a mere formality.
In 2012, Mr. Mahama, then Vice President, was seconded by the party to contest then impending December presidential election following the sudden passing of then President John Evans Atta Mills whose death occurred on July 24, 2012 and was buried on August 10, 2012.
Mr. Mahama won the controversial election which culminated in the landmark Presidential Election Petition of 2013 which verdict (5-4) narrowly went in his favour on August 29, 2019, after about eight months of trial.
The 2012 petition had been filed by then candidate Nana Akufo-Addo, his running mate Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and then NPP Chairman Jake Otanka Obetsebi-Lamptey, now deceased.
Then candidate Akufo-Addo after the court’s verdict announced that even though he did not agree with the judges, he was letting things die for the sake of the peace and development of the country.
He then went back to the drawing board planning how to win the 2016 contest, and by dint of hard work, the NPP overpowered the NDC subsequently.
2016 Drama
In 2016, whilst seeking a second term in office, Mr. Mahama was defeated heavily by then opposition candidate Nana Akufo-Addo, 72, by over one million votes, making him the first incumbent to lose an election to an opposition leader in the Fourth Republic.
While Nana Akufo-Addo’s votes appreciated significantly and NDC’s John Mahama dropped votes with then president-elect widening the gaps with 1,002,749 votes, when there was four more constituencies outstanding.
In the final analysis, candidate Akufo-Addo had polled some 5,755,758 representing 53.7% over Mr. Mahama’s 4,771,188, representing some 44.4%, to clinch one touch victory in 2016.
2020 Test
In 2020, there was another showdown between the two leaders but Mr. Mahama was fighting to become President from opposition with the same Nana Akufo-Addo as incumbent.
He was once again defeated by the incumbent President Akufo-Addo who polled 6,730,587, representing 51.303%, to beat the former President, John Mahama, who garnered 6,213,182, representing 47.359% in the eighth election of the Fourth Republic.
The votes’ gap by the president-elect over the former president, who was staging a comeback, was around 517,405 and Mr. Mahama’s 44% in 2016 appreciated to 47% in 2020.
Legal Tussle
Mr. Mahama subsequently launched a legal challenge, claiming he won the election but was denied victory, after he and his party had amassed their supporters to hit the streets to cause mayhem.
However, by the time the case was being heard, the NDC’s stance that Mr. Mahama was denied victory had shifted to whether or not none of the 12 candidates that participated in the 2020 Presidential Election got the constitutionally mandatory 50 per cent plus one of the total valid votes.
The NDC also pushed that the Supreme Court should determine whether the Electoral Commission (EC) had to organise a run-off election between Mr. Mahama as petitioner and President Akufo-Addo who was declared winner by the EC on December 9, 2020 after the crucial December 7, 2020 general election.
No Concession
A few hours after the petition was unanimously dismissed by the Supreme Court, Mr. Mahama refused to concede defeat, and rather launched blistering attacks on the judges, the President and some state institutions.
What was meant to be a criticism of the final judgment of his petition, spilled over to other issues that even had no bearing on the proceedings of the court.
He accused the Akufo-Addo-led government of discriminating against some tribes in the country, saying certain tribes have been sidelined, attacked and discriminated against for quite too long and even said the discrimination has been extended to Mr. Daniel Y. Domelevo, the Auditor General who retired from public service.
He said Mr. Domelevo was compelled to retire because he was from a certain tribe that he said had suffered great injustice and abuse under the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, and conveniently refused to explain the circumstances that made the presidency to ask Mr. Domelevo to retire because he had attained the retirement age of 60.
Interestingly, Mr. Domelevo was asked to retire because it had been found out that he tampered with his records at SSNIT in order to remain in government employment, but Mr. Mahama glossed over the facts and just attacked the government for political convenience.
“Others were falsely branded as foreigners and their citizenship called into question unjustly, an abhorrent nation-wrecking prejudice which had been directed against certain ethnic groups of this country and had continued till date, and had even recently visited cruelly on the Auditor General, Daniel Yaw Domelevo,” he had said in the no-concession speech.
Volta Propaganda
He also alleged that President Akufo-Addo’s government strategically used the military to create fear and panic in some targeted ethnic groups to discourage them from participating in the 2020 polls.
Mr. Mahama said the selective deployment of military personnel in some parts of the country was used as a tool to instill fear in citizens in those areas and prevent them from taking part in the voter registration and other electoral processes.
Mr. Mahama also alleged that the NPP government spent huge amount of state resources to launch unprovoked attacks on some people, leading to avoidable deaths of some innocent NDC members.
“In the last election, unprecedented levels of state funds were doled out by the ruling party and provoked deadly violence during and after the 2020 general elections,” Mr. Mahama said, adding, “in the process, eight of our compatriots were murdered in cold blood and several others maimed during the process of the elections.
“We have designated these compatriots whose bloods were shed just because they sought to participate in what was a purely civil exercise as Martyrs of Democracy, to whom we shall dedicate an appropriate monument when the time comes.”
Interestingly, the police administration in their post-election press conference said their preliminary reports indicated that almost all the incidents that resulted in deaths in particular constituencies were started by Mr. Mahama’s own NDC supporters
• The NDC says it wants all expenditure on the Coronavirus audited
• Haruna Iddrisu explained that the NDC wants the current government to also audit the monies spent before the elections
• He made this known at a forum in Accra
Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader in Parliament, has stated that they want, as a matter of urgency, a comprehensive audit of all expenditures that have been undertaken since the Coronavirus started in Ghana.
According to him, there is the need to know how much has been spent since the pandemic was recorded in the country, as well as every other spending that has been done towards the fight against the coronavirus.null
“The Minority is demanding a comprehensive audit of all COVID-related expenditure in the country, including and adding on the 21 billion that was spent prior to the elections,” he explained.
He made this known at an NDC Ranking Members Forum on the Policy Dialogue on the Economy in Accra addressed by Cassiel Ato Forson, who is a member of the Finance Committee of Parliament.
• The NDC in Parliament say they are worried about the future of Ghana’s economy due to the current borrowing of the incumbent government
• They explained that the debts we might leave for our children may never be repaid
• They, therefore, advise the government to begin to borrow smartly
The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns about the future of the country, based on what it says is the un-smart borrowing style of the current government, led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Cassiel Ato Forson, a member of the Finance Committee of Parliament and Member of Parliament for the Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam constituency, explained that with the borrowing streak that the government is on, it will leave huge debts for the future of this nation.
He added that if care is not taken, our children will have to carry such debts on their heads, and may never be able to repay everything.
“I agree with ** when he argued back in 1961 that national debt is a burden for the next generation, and this is especially when the debt is used for consumption expenditure instead of capital expenditure. What the NPP is seeking to do now, they are actually giving all of us – our kids, our next generation, a burden; a burden of carrying public debt, a debt that if we are not careful, we cannot repay,” he explained.
Addressing an NDC Ranking Members Forum on the Policy Dialogue on the Economy in Accra, he advised that the government, like many countries of the world, should borrow but do so smartly.
“So, I want to submit that everyone else borrows but please, borrow smartly. Borrow not for chop-chop, but borrow for things that can repay for itself,” he advised.
The forum is also being addressed by the Minority Leader in Parliament, Haruna Iddrisu.
Some 1,595 health workers in the Ashanti Region have been infected with the coronavirus pandemic.
The Regional Health Director, Dr Emmanuel Tinkorang, told the media at a press conference today, Monday, 26 July 2021 that 151 of the infected health workers are doctors while 868 are nurses with 576 being other health workers.
He said 1,593 of the infected health workers have recovered while two have died.
According to the Ghana Health Service (GHS), as of Friday, 23 July 2021, Ghana’s total number of active cases stood at 4,521.
A total of 1,406,011 tests have been conducted, out of which 102,103 persons have been infected with the virus, and 96,759 persons have recovered.
The daily infection rate for the past week is 350 cases.
Some 823 people have since died of the pandemic.
Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan areas remain the hotspots
The leaders of the #FixTheCountry movement have said they will still proceed with their planned demonstration against the government despite the surge in COVID-19 cases.
The group, which had intended to pour out on the street last month over the failure of successive governments to fix the prevailing challenges of Ghana, was restrained by the Ghana police service on grounds that the march could be a super spreader of COVID-19.
Given the fact that Ghana’s cases are much higher than before, there are worries that the planned protest slated for August could worsen the COVID-19 situation in Ghana.
However, the group’s spokesperson, Mr Anthony Morkeh, in an interview with Class News, said the group is resolved to go ahead with the demonstration while strictly complying with COVID-19 protocols.
Mr Morkeh said the group ought to be allowed to exercise its rights just as the largest opposition party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) did a few weeks ago.
He said: “…As of now, we haven’t been given any red light to stop our demonstration. The COVID is our concern but still the demonstration should come on”.
“It is the president or the police that can tell us not to demonstrate but we have had several demonstrations and funerals in this country and, so, will a #fixthecountry demonstration for just one or two hours burn down the country? I think things must be put in place to make sure we observe COVID-19 protocols”.
Meanwhile, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has stressed that the wearing of masks in public places is mandatory and anyone who flouts this law will have him/herself to blame.
He bemoaned and described as ‘troubling’, the drastic decline in the hitherto high compliance rate of mask-wearing.
Failure to adhere to the COVID-19 protocols, according to the president, had led to the upsurge in COVID-19 cases in the country.
Addressing the country on the pandemic for the 26th time on Sunday, 25 July 2021, Nana Akufo-Addo said: “It is extremely troubling to note that the high compliance rate with mask-wearing has fallen alarmingly. The wearing of masks in public places, fellow Ghanaians, continues to be mandatory. There are no exceptions to this rule, and strict conformity with this protocol will be enforced. Anyone found to be flouting this directive will have him or herself to blame. We cannot afford anyone’s recklessness to endanger the lives of the majority of persons in the country.”
As part of measures to stop the spread of the virus, the president announced a ban on all post-funeral receptions and said one-week funeral anniversaries should be “restricted solely to family members, and should not exceed a duration of two hours”.
He also directed that all funerals should not go beyond two hours.
He urged workplaces and their owners to run shifts as part of measures to stem the tide of the COVID-19 upsurge
The Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi constituency in the Eastern Region, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has handed over of a medical theatre to support the services of the facility’s first medical doctor.
The state-of-the-art facility comes on the back of the provision of an official residence and vehicle for the doctor at post so he can serve the over 100,000 people in the district.
The medical theatre has ultra-modern equipment including 1 Electrocardiography (ECG) machine, 10 ECG papers, two incubators, 2 oxygen concentrators, 2 delivery beds, 2 examination couches, 2 examination lamps, 10 hospital beds, 10 bedside cabinets, 5 intravenous (IV) stands, 2 nebuliser sets, 20 oxygen nasal prongs, and 2 vital sign monitors among others.
Speaking at a brief ceremony to open the health facility on Friday, 23 July 2021, Mr Oppong Nkrumah celebrated the work of Dr Prince Koranteng Ampaw and his team and encouraged them to take good care of the facilities.
He said the completion of the theatre will greatly improve health delivery in Brenase as other health facilities in the district are revamped to shore up the health infrastructure stock as part of efforts to close the equity gap as far as geographical access to health services is concerned..
Mr Oppong Nkrumah, who is the Minister of Information, said: “When I assumed office as Member of Parliament, one of the things that was missing in the constituency was an excellent health facility that will cater for the health needs of my constituents”.
“Accordingly, that was a top priority, so, […] the DCE, Mr Paul Asamoah, and I, channeled our energies into making sure the constituency has state-of-the-art health facilities”.
“Like we did for Ayirebi, today, I am happy to announce to the people of Brenase that they have a designated health facility that will see to their health needs”, he announced.
He also expressed his gratitude to the chiefs and people of the area for providing a conducive environment for the construction and completion of the project.
The ceremony also saw the opening of a permanent residence for the only doctor in the Akyemansa district.
The doctor, who is now stationed in the district, was also given a pick-up vehicle to help with his transportation needs.
In his remarks, the DCE also underscored the benefits of the medical theatre in improving healthcare delivery in the constituency and beyond.
Mr Asamoah said the completion of the theatre is further proof that the MP for the area is committed to providing health infrastructure to help improve healthcare delivery in the district.
For her part, District Health Director Gifty Sunu lauded the minister for listening to the call of his constituents and acting accordingly, in providing the health facility.
She, however, admonished managers of the facility to maintain it so it can adequately serve its intended purpose, stressing that “a lot of investment has gone into this project and we need to prevent the equipment [from] damages”.
Francis-Xavier Sosu has clarified his stance on a Private members’ Bill aimed at criminalizing the activities of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, LGBTQ+.
The Madina Member of Parliament last week made comments calling for challenges in the bill to be addressed and for Ghana to be ready to face the economic consequences that may arise from passing such a law.
His views on the poistion of the Speaker of Parlaiment on the issue and comments such as 10 year custodial sentence the bill proposed being highhanded and unresonable attracted some public backlash.
One of which was from former Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak, who described the Madnina MP’s stance as “courageous, fooolishly courageous,” stressing that most of his constituents will oppose his pronouncements on the issue.
In a Facebook post published late Sunday, July 25, Sosu clarified that he was in “Following the introduction of Private Member’s Bill titled: The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values, Bill 2021, from eight colleague Members of Parliament, there has been varied opinions and misleading reportage about my comments which have been completely taken out of context.
“It appears to me that many people have wrongly judged me when they have neither read the bill nor listened fully to the interviews I granted TV3 and Metro TV in Parliament on Friday, 23rd July, 2021 on the subject matter.
“I have seen and read how many have taken the issues out of context to imply that I am not in support of the bill and that I am even against the Right Hon. Speaker on this Bill.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I am not against The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values, Bill 2021 and I am not and will never be an advocate for gay rights although I have been a leading Human Rights advocate for over 10 years and counting.
“As President for Youth for Human Rights Africa, I have had several invitations to be a gay rights advocate but turned all of them down. This is because my personal beliefs as a Christian are against that position and the collective aspirations of the people I represent as a Member of Parliament is against this position as well.
“I believe in the position that, there is no human rights in homosexuality or lesbianism and all its variance now collectively known as LGBTQ+. I have made this position clear throughout my human rights activism and everyone can cross-check that.
“Both in my law practice and human rights advocacy, this position has been clear. If in doubt get the full videos from TV3 and Metro TV to properly understand my position. I also have immense previous records and public positions on this matter,” his rejoinder on the issue read in part.
Former lawmaker Ras Mubarak has described fellow party member and Madina MP Francis Xavier Sosu as courageously foolish over his seeming liberal stance on homosexuality.
It comes after the lawmaker told TV3 that the Speaker of Parliament’s extreme position on LGBT rights did not represent the position of Parliament on the matter.
The Speaker, Alban Bagbin, is on record to have said homosexuality is worse than COVID-19.
Commenting on the development on Facebook, Mr. Mubarak who is former MP for Kumbungu said the Madina MP must recognize that his constituents who voted him are against LGBT rights.
“The Madina MP is courageous but foolishly courageous. He’s in Parliament representing the people of Madina. If he’s minded, majority of the people he represents are very opposed to the things he seeks to defend.Madina MP Francis Sosu
“His is a lost cause and quite sad he’s not putting his constituents first. And for the record, I had called Sosu on Friday and Saturday to see if what had been attributed to him in the last 3days is true, but got no response”.
“This world was created by God as a society, is created for us to enjoy and commanded us to procreate and fill the world, now we know those who actually believe in God, now we know where religion actually started.
“This pandemic must be fought by all of us. I can tell you is worse than covid 19, now am happy our beloved country Ghana is together in this. The faint-hearted will soon be stranding to come back to join the fight. His Excellency the President has spoken, our traditional leaders have spoken, our religious leaders have spoken together, Ghanaians have spoken,” the Speaker said about the community last month in Parliament
Ten key things the Anti LGBTQ Bill is proposing before passage.
The official name for the draft legislation by Ghana’s parliament to criminalise LGBTQI+ practice and advocacy in the country is ‘The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021.’
The private members’ bill is being championed by eight members of parliament, namely;
Sam George (MP, Ningo-Prampram)
Della Sowah (MP, Kpando)
Emmanuel Bedzrah (MP, Ho West)
John Ntim Forjour (MP, Assin South)
Alhassan Suhuyini (MP, Tamale North)
Rita Sowah (MP, La Dadekotopon)
Helen Ntoso (MP, Krachi West)
Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (MP, South Dayi)
The 36-page document is to ensure proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values; proscribe LGBTQ+ and related activities; proscribe propaganda of, advocacy for or promotion of LGBTTQQIAAP+ and related activities; provide for the protection of and support for children, persons who are victims or accused of LGBTTQQIAAP+ and related activities.”
It comes at a time when there is raging debate on the subject of LGBQI+ activities in the country, and the tolerance of the country’s laws to persons in the queer community.
The idea for ‘The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021’, was mooted when it became clear that the often-quoted existing laws used to argue against LGBTQI+ activities in the country including Section 104 of the Criminal Code “Unnatural Carnal Knowledge; (c) of any animal is guilty of a misdemeanour; (2) Unnatural carnal knowledge is sexual intercourse with a person in an unnatural manner or with an animal,” does not necessarily ban persons in the LGBTQI+ community from carrying out their campaign activities.
The proponents of the bill in their memorandum stated that many national leaders including President Akufo-Addo and ex-presidents such as John Agyekum Kufuor and Prof. Evans Atta-Mills have denounced LGBTQI+ activities.
“We believe the time is ripe for Parliament to actualize the intentions of the framers of our Constitution by providing a legal framework for the promotion of the values that define our nationhood,” the promoters of the bill indicate.
Below are some 10 key things the bill is proposing:
Individuals of the same sex who engage in sexual intercourse are to be fined between 50 and 5,000 penalty units or face a jail term of between 3 years and 5 years, or both.
Persons who use any medium or technological platform to produce, procure, market, broadcast, disseminate, publish or distribute materials with the intention of promoting LGBTQI+ activities face a jail term of between 5 and 10 years.
All LGBTQI+ groups, associations, clubs and organizations to be disbanded. Anyone found guilty to be jailed between 6 and 10 years.
Proscription of sex with or marriage to an animal
Ban on same-sex marriage and marriage to someone who has undergone sex reassignment
Anyone who funds or sponsors activities of LGBTQI+ groups or individuals to be jailed between 5 and 10 years
LGBTQI+ persons not to be granted application to adopt or foster a child or children
Persons of the same sex who make public show of amorous relationship to face jail term of between 6 months and a year.
Anyone who physically or verbally assaults, abuses or harasses a person accused of being LGBTQI+ to be fined between 500 penalty units and 1,000 penalty units or to be jailed between 6 months and a year.
Persons accused of being LGBTQI+ should be granted access to medical assistance if they make such a request during the period of their incarceration.
LGBTQI rights in Ghana
Some persons have called for a specific law in Ghana to make homosexuality a criminal offence.
Although there are some provisions in the Criminal Code under which a homosexual can be prosecuted, especially for having intercourse with a partner, the belief is that a specific law must be enacted to declare homosexual relationships illegal.
Others have also called for a review of Ghana’s laws to be more accommodating of minority groups, as many countries are decriminalizing homosexuality.
In February 2020 for instance, the then Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye, warned the World Bank against homosexuality conditions in development assistance to Ghana.
The current Speaker of Parliament has also spoken about his commitment towards the passage of a new law to deal with homosexuality.
Ghana’s total public debt stock has increased once again according to new data released by the Bank of Ghana.
The debt stock which ended the first quarter of 2021 at GH¢ 304.6 billion, increased by almost GH¢ 30 billion in April and May.
This saw Ghana’s total public debt as of the end of May 2021 rising to GH¢ 332.4.
The new debt figure brings Ghana’s debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio to 76.6% as of the end of May.
This is the highest recorded so far in the past year, slightly higher than the debt to GDP ratio of 76.1% recorded at the end of 2020 according to data from the central bank.
External Debt
A breakdown of the debt numbers shows that the component of the debt secured outside the country after remaining relatively stable in the first quarter rose significantly by about GH¢ 20 billion from GH¢ 141 billion at the end of March 2021 to GH¢ 161.5 billion at the end of May this year.
The external debt component as of the end of May 2021 made up 37.2% of the total value of the economy, which is projected to be about GH¢ 434 billion for 2021.
Domestic Debt
On the other hand, the component of the debt secured locally increased steadily in the first 5 months of 2021.
When compared with the figure recorded at the end of the first quarter, Ghana’s domestic debt rose by about GH¢ 7 billion, bringing total domestic debt to GH¢ 170.8 billion at the end of May this year from the GH¢163.6 billion recorded at the end of March this year.
The new figure represents 39.4% of the projected GDP for 2021.
The domestic component of the total public debt contains the financial sector resolution bond, which was GH¢ 15.2 billion at the end of May 2021.
According to the International Monetary Fund’s 2021 article IV consultation press release, which contains their staff report and statement by the Executive Director for Ghana, the IMF’s Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) shows that Ghana remains at high risk of external and overall debt distress under the baseline, even though public debt is assessed as sustainable going forward.
The Bretton Woods institution is meanwhile projecting Ghana’s Debt-to-GDP ratio to rise to 83.5% by the end of 2021
Police at Akatsi are yet to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of a pastor and his wife at Ayitikope, a farming community near Akatsi in the Akatsi South Municipality of the Volta Region.
The lifeless bodies of the two, Apostle Augustine Gbedema and Comfort Gbedema were found in a pool of blood in their gated four-bedroom-house last Saturday morning, July 24, 2021. Whereas the Apostle was lying in the compound, the wife was found in the living room and in a supine positon.
The bodies which had multiple wounds suspected to have been caused by a machete, were discovered in an advanced stage of decomposition and diffusing a pungent smell. Suggesting their death happened more than three days before discovery.
Although Police investigation has just started, the hundreds of residents who thronged the house to see the bizarre incident say, they suspect murder.
Family members and residents are unable to come to terms with what they describe as horrific murder of a good couple who were great examples in the community and their church, the Harmony with Jesus Ministry International.
Mr. George Gbedema, an elder of the church and a nephew to Apostle Gbedema narrated that the last time they were seen was on Sunday, July 18, 2021 during church service. He spoke to him the following day on phone and that was it.
He said the couple lived alone in their four-bedroom house located on the outskirts of the community. To this end, apart from Church services and programs, they were hardly seen in the main community. Phone calls were the usual means of checking up on them.
However, since last Thursday, July 22, 2021, several calls made to the phones of the couple were not returned and at some point not reachable. Some members of the Church decided to visit them on Saturday morning.
One reaching there, they saw the main gate locked with a padlock from outside and the small gate locked with a metallic material. However the pastor’s vehicle was parked inside. After knocking the gate several times, they suspected something was not right.
They forcibly entered and found the lifeless body of the pastor outside the house, while the wife was found inside. They secured the house and alerted the Police accordingly. According to George Gbedema, his uncle was his 70s, while the wife was in her late 50s.
With teary eyes, he and other church members said “We are in a state of shock, this is sad and heartbreaking. It is hard to believe that this is true. It is a tragedy.” They described the couple; who left behind a daughter as generous, loving, caring and good shepherds of God’s ministry.
The Akatsi South Municipal Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Joseph Atsu Dzineku who confirmed the incident said investigations have commenced to unravel the mysterious death of the couple. The bodies have since been conveyed to the morgue for preservation and autopsy.
Meanwhile, the Church of the deceased, the Harmony with Jesus Ministry International did not have service last Sunday, July 25, 2021. Instead, the church members and residents joined the family in the house of the couple to mourn and begin preparations for burial
President Nana Akufo-Addo has urged workplaces and their owners to run shifts as part of measures to stem the tide of the COVID-19 upsurge.
In his 26th address to the nation on Sunday, 25 July 2021, Mr Akufo-Addo said: “With workplaces currently witnessing a resurgence in COVID-19 infections, I want to admonish businesses, workplaces and their owners and management to observe staff management and workplace protocols, such as the use of a shift system and technology, with the view to achieving social distancing and hygiene protocols”.
The Ghana Health Service, he noted, “has moved to fortify its contact tracing, testing and treating campaigns, especially across the hotspots of Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan areas. COVID-19 treatment centres continue to be resourced with medical supplies, personal protection equipment, and health workers”.
The president said the upsurge in cases clearly shows that Ghana is experiencing a third wave, which he put down to the relaxing of adherence to the safety protocols.
“As per data available from the Ghana Health Service, it appears that, unfortunately, our nation is experiencing a third wave of COVID-19 infections”, the president noted.
“These increased infections have largely been driven by the Delta Variant of the virus, which, according to the World Health Organisation, has increased transmissibility rates, and, in our case in Ghana, has led, in recent weeks, to a rise in hospitalisation and ICU bed uptakes, and, tragically, deaths”, he noted.
Indeed, he said, in Update No.25, “the last update I rendered, our total active case count stood at one thousand, three hundred and fourteen (1,314), with our daily infection rate standing at one hundred (100). One million, one hundred and twenty-one thousand, one hundred and sixty-eight (1,121,168) COVID tests had been conducted, out of which ninety-two thousand, four hundred and sixty (92,460) persons had been infected, ninety-one thousand, one hundred and forty-six (91,146) persons had recovered, with a total of seven hundred and eighty-three (783) deaths”.
As of Wednesday, 21st July 2021, however, “ten (10) weeks later, the Ghana Health Services is now reporting that our total number of active cases stands at four thousand and ninety-four (4,094). A total of one million, three hundred and ninety-four thousand, five hundred and forty (1,394,540) tests have been conducted, out of which one hundred and one thousand, one hundred and seventy (101,170) persons have been infected with the virus, and ninety-six thousand, two hundred and fifty-five (96,255) persons have recovered”.
“Sadly”, he bemoaned, close to 40 more people have died from COVID over the last 10 weeks, with Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan areas remaining the hotspots of infections. “This entire development is very alarming, especially as we are being told by officials of the Ghana Health Service, that the recovery rate is on the decline”.
“Fellow Ghanaians, it is obvious from the data that we have let our guard down, with many going about their daily duties in clear breach and disregard for the protocols”.
“At a time when the economy is on the rebound, and business activities picking up, we must do everything possible to contain this outbreak”, he urged, adding: “We cannot afford to return to the days of partial lockdowns, which brought considerable hardships and difficulties for all of us”.
The president announced a ban on all post-funeral receptions and said one-week funeral anniversaries should be “restricted solely to family members, and should not exceed a duration of two hours”.
He also directed that all funerals should not go beyond two hours.
The 26th COVID-19 address comes 24 hours after the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) warned that fully-vaccinated persons are testing positive for the fast-spreading Delta variant with very high viral loads.
In a statement issued on Saturday, 24 July 2021, the Institute said the “positive cases have very high viral loads indicated by low cut-off thresholds (CT values) obtained in the real-time RT-PCR assay”.
The CT values for the majority are between 15 and 20 compared to higher values above 30, seen previously, NMIMR noted.
The Institute also said it has observed that “the positive individuals are taking longer to clear the virus”, explaining: “This is evident in the number of retests that still test positive”.
NMIMR also revealed that its recent sequencing of SARS-Cov-2 has revealed an “increased circulation of the Delta variant in Ghanaian communities compared to the earlier Alpha variants”. “The higher viral loads observed in recent cases are attributable to the Delta variant”, the statement said.
Transmission of SARS-Cov-2 is directly linked to how much virus is shed in droplets during sneezing and coughing, which also determines the spread through talking, singing and other related activities.
The Delta variant has been reported to spread faster than the other variants and our testing observations confirm that.
The statement said some clinical specimen submitted to the Institute have tested positive with high viral loads. “Also, 7.34 per cent (840/6,538) of the positive cases recorded from asymptomatic persons who visit the walk-in centre to test for travel, work- or school-related purposes from 1 June to 22 July 2021, have equally high viral load”, NMIMR noted.
Noguchi warned: “With a population of more than 80 per cent unvaccinated, the country must be concerned that if these, apparently healthy carriers, transmit the virus to the unvaccinated, we may have a more serious outbreak to deal with as a nation”.
Some of these positive cases, it noted, “have taken the full dose of COVID-19 vaccines”.
“It is, therefore, recommended that the government take a second look at the state of adherence to COVID-19 preventive protocols and appropriate restrictions”. Currently, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Ghana has shot up to 4,094, the latest figures from the Ghana Health Service indicate.
Some 423 new cases have been confirmed.
The death toll has also risen to 821.
Since March 12, 2020, the total number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Ghana up to date is 101,170. Out of that number 96,255 have recovered.
A few days ago, President Nana Akufo-Addo said the rising number of active COVID-19 cases shows that “we’ve let our guard down”.
Addressing Muslims at the Eid-ul-Adha celebration at the National Central Mosque at Kanda, Accra, President Akufo-Addo said: “The COVID-19 pandemic is still with us – unfortunately”.
“This means that for the second year running, we are having to hold a subdued Eid celebration”, he observed. “As we continue to count on the grace of God to protect our country from the ravages of the pandemic like he has since its outbreak, we can only minimise its health effects and avoid a full-blown third wave if we continue to be responsible and observe the safety and hygiene protocols.”
He noted: “The recent increase in the number of infections is a source of worry for me and, indeed, for all Ghanaians”.
“From the rising numbers, it is safe to conclude that we have let our guard down and are beginning to live our lives and conduct our businesses as though we are in normal times”.
“It is important to repeat that the virus is still with us and until each one of us receives a dose of the vaccine, the protocols must continue to be a part and parcel of our daily activities,” he added
President Nana Akufo-Addo has urged workplaces and their owners to run shifts as part of measures to stem the tide of the COVID-19 upsurge.
In his 26th address to the nation on Sunday, 25 July 2021, Mr Akufo-Addo said: “With workplaces currently witnessing a resurgence in COVID-19 infections, I want to admonish businesses, workplaces and their owners and management to observe staff management and workplace protocols, such as the use of a shift system and technology, with the view to achieving social distancing and hygiene protocols”.
The Ghana Health Service, he noted, “has moved to fortify its contact tracing, testing and treating campaigns, especially across the hotspots of Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan areas. COVID-19 treatment centres continue to be resourced with medical supplies, personal protection equipment, and health workers”.
The president said the upsurge in cases clearly shows that Ghana is experiencing a third wave, which he put down to the relaxing of adherence to the safety protocols.
“As per data available from the Ghana Health Service, it appears that, unfortunately, our nation is experiencing a third wave of COVID-19 infections”, the president noted.
“These increased infections have largely been driven by the Delta Variant of the virus, which, according to the World Health Organisation, has increased transmissibility rates, and, in our case in Ghana, has led, in recent weeks, to a rise in hospitalisation and ICU bed uptakes, and, tragically, deaths”, he noted.
Indeed, he said, in Update No.25, “the last update I rendered, our total active case count stood at one thousand, three hundred and fourteen (1,314), with our daily infection rate standing at one hundred (100). One million, one hundred and twenty-one thousand, one hundred and sixty-eight (1,121,168) COVID tests had been conducted, out of which ninety-two thousand, four hundred and sixty (92,460) persons had been infected, ninety-one thousand, one hundred and forty-six (91,146) persons had recovered, with a total of seven hundred and eighty-three (783) deaths”.
As of Wednesday, 21st July 2021, however, “ten (10) weeks later, the Ghana Health Services is now reporting that our total number of active cases stands at four thousand and ninety-four (4,094). A total of one million, three hundred and ninety-four thousand, five hundred and forty (1,394,540) tests have been conducted, out of which one hundred and one thousand, one hundred and seventy (101,170) persons have been infected with the virus, and ninety-six thousand, two hundred and fifty-five (96,255) persons have recovered”.
“Sadly”, he bemoaned, close to 40 more people have died from COVID over the last 10 weeks, with Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan areas remaining the hotspots of infections. “This entire development is very alarming, especially as we are being told by officials of the Ghana Health Service, that the recovery rate is on the decline”.
“Fellow Ghanaians, it is obvious from the data that we have let our guard down, with many going about their daily duties in clear breach and disregard for the protocols”.
“At a time when the economy is on the rebound, and business activities picking up, we must do everything possible to contain this outbreak”, he urged, adding: “We cannot afford to return to the days of partial lockdowns, which brought considerable hardships and difficulties for all of us”.
The president announced a ban on all post-funeral receptions and said one-week funeral anniversaries should be “restricted solely to family members, and should not exceed a duration of two hours”.
He also directed that all funerals should not go beyond two hours.
The 26th COVID-19 address comes 24 hours after the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) warned that fully-vaccinated persons are testing positive for the fast-spreading Delta variant with very high viral loads.
In a statement issued on Saturday, 24 July 2021, the Institute said the “positive cases have very high viral loads indicated by low cut-off thresholds (CT values) obtained in the real-time RT-PCR assay”.
The CT values for the majority are between 15 and 20 compared to higher values above 30, seen previously, NMIMR noted.
The Institute also said it has observed that “the positive individuals are taking longer to clear the virus”, explaining: “This is evident in the number of retests that still test positive”.
NMIMR also revealed that its recent sequencing of SARS-Cov-2 has revealed an “increased circulation of the Delta variant in Ghanaian communities compared to the earlier Alpha variants”. “The higher viral loads observed in recent cases are attributable to the Delta variant”, the statement said.
Transmission of SARS-Cov-2 is directly linked to how much virus is shed in droplets during sneezing and coughing, which also determines the spread through talking, singing and other related activities.
The Delta variant has been reported to spread faster than the other variants and our testing observations confirm that.
The statement said some clinical specimen submitted to the Institute have tested positive with high viral loads. “Also, 7.34 per cent (840/6,538) of the positive cases recorded from asymptomatic persons who visit the walk-in centre to test for travel, work- or school-related purposes from 1 June to 22 July 2021, have equally high viral load”, NMIMR noted.
Noguchi warned: “With a population of more than 80 per cent unvaccinated, the country must be concerned that if these, apparently healthy carriers, transmit the virus to the unvaccinated, we may have a more serious outbreak to deal with as a nation”.
Some of these positive cases, it noted, “have taken the full dose of COVID-19 vaccines”.
“It is, therefore, recommended that the government take a second look at the state of adherence to COVID-19 preventive protocols and appropriate restrictions”. Currently, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Ghana has shot up to 4,094, the latest figures from the Ghana Health Service indicate.
Some 423 new cases have been confirmed.
The death toll has also risen to 821.
Since March 12, 2020, the total number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Ghana up to date is 101,170. Out of that number 96,255 have recovered.
A few days ago, President Nana Akufo-Addo said the rising number of active COVID-19 cases shows that “we’ve let our guard down”.
Addressing Muslims at the Eid-ul-Adha celebration at the National Central Mosque at Kanda, Accra, President Akufo-Addo said: “The COVID-19 pandemic is still with us – unfortunately”.
“This means that for the second year running, we are having to hold a subdued Eid celebration”, he observed. “As we continue to count on the grace of God to protect our country from the ravages of the pandemic like he has since its outbreak, we can only minimise its health effects and avoid a full-blown third wave if we continue to be responsible and observe the safety and hygiene protocols.”
He noted: “The recent increase in the number of infections is a source of worry for me and, indeed, for all Ghanaians”.
“From the rising numbers, it is safe to conclude that we have let our guard down and are beginning to live our lives and conduct our businesses as though we are in normal times”.
“It is important to repeat that the virus is still with us and until each one of us receives a dose of the vaccine, the protocols must continue to be a part and parcel of our daily activities,” he added
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Sunday, July 25, 2021, updated Ghanaians on the country’s enhanced response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
In his 26th address, the President announced a review of safety protocols for public gatherings, especially funerals.
The President said the wearing of masks remains mandatory, adding that funeral services should not go beyond two hours.
He said all post-event receptions are also banned, adding that one-week pre-funeral eevens should be restricted solely to family members and held within a time frame of two hours.
He also announced the government’s plan to invest $25 million seed money towards the setting up of a National Vaccine Institute.
Below is the full statement:
ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO, ON UPDATES TO GHANA’S ENHANCED RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, ON SUNDAY, 25TH JULY 2021.
Fellow Ghanaians, good evening.
I have not come into your homes for some time, because I had hoped that the next time I did so, I would come to announce that we were ready to lift the restrictions and protocols, and get our lives and economy back to normal. Alas, that is not the case, so it has become necessary for me to come to your homes this evening, after a ten (10) week absence, to provide you with an update on our nation’s COVID-19 situation.
As per data available from the Ghana Health Service, it appears that, unfortunately, our nation is experiencing a third wave of COVID-19 infections.
These increased infections have largely been driven by the Delta Variant of the virus, which, according to the World Health Organisation, has increased transmissibility rates, and, in our case in Ghana, has led, in recent weeks, to a rise in hospitalisation and ICU bed uptakes, and, tragically, deaths.
Indeed, in Update No.25, the last update I rendered, our total active case count stood at one thousand, three hundred and fourteen (1,314), with our daily infection rate standing at one hundred (100). One million, one hundred and twenty-one thousand, one hundred and sixty-eight (1,121,168) COVID tests had been conducted, out of which ninety-two thousand, four hundred and sixty (92,460) persons had been infected, ninety-one thousand, one hundred and forty-six (91,146) persons had recovered, with a total of seven hundred and eighty-three (783) deaths.
As at Wednesday, 21st July 2021, ten (10) weeks later, the Ghana Health Services is now reporting that our total number of active cases stands at four thousand and ninety-four (4,094). A total of one million, three hundred and ninety-four thousand, five hundred and forty (1,394,540) tests have been conducted, out of which one hundred and one thousand, one hundred and seventy (101,170) persons have been infected with the virus, and ninety-six thousand, two hundred and fifty-five (96,255) persons have recovered. Our daily infection rate is ……… and, sadly, thirty-six (36) more people have died from COVID over the last ten (10) weeks, bringing the cumulative number of deaths to eight hundred and nineteen (819) since the onset of the pandemic. Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan areas remain the hotspots of infections. This entire development is very alarming, especially as we are being told by officials of the Ghana Health Service, that the recovery rate is on the decline.
Fellow Ghanaians, it is obvious from the data that we have let our guard down, with many going about their daily duties in clear breach and disregard for the protocols. At a time when the economy is on the rebound, and business activities picking up, we must do everything possible to contain this outbreak. We cannot afford to return to the days of partial lockdowns, which brought considerable hardships and difficulties for all of us.
You returned me to office in the elections of 7th December with a clear and decisive mandate to protect lives and livelihoods, and steer our nation out the grips of the pandemic, and onto a path of sustained economic growth and progress. Fortunately for us, we have tried and tested response protocols which we have implemented since March 2020. They have stood us in good stead, and we have no choice but to return to the strict implementation of some of them.
It is extremely troubling to note that the high compliance rate with mask wearing has fallen alarmingly. The wearing of masks in public places, fellow Ghanaians, continues to be mandatory. There are no exceptions to this rule, and strict conformity with this protocol will be enforced. Anyone found to be flouting this directive will have him or herself to blame. We cannot afford to allow the recklessness of a few to endanger the lives of the majority of persons in the country.
The COVID-19 Taskforce, which I chair, has recommended that a second look be taken at the protocols that have been put in place for the holding of funerals across the country. I have, in previous updates, emphasised the need for the strict observance of safety protocols at funerals, and the following measures are a set of enhanced protocols which must be adhered to by all at funerals:
all events associated with funerals must be held in open air spaces;
there must be observance of the one (1) metre social distancing rule by sympathisers;
the wearing of masks is mandatory, and persons must respect the enhanced hygiene protocols;
funerals should not go beyond the two (2) hour time duration;
post-funeral receptions are banned;
handshakes must be avoided; and
one-week funeral celebrations are restricted solely to family members, and should not exceed a duration of two (2) hours.
With workplaces currently witnessing a resurgence in COVID-19 infections, I want to admonish businesses, workplaces and their owners and management to observe staff management and workplace protocols, such as the use of a shift system and technology, with the view to achieving social distancing and hygiene protocols.
The Ghana Health Service has moved to fortify its contact tracing, testing and treating campaigns, especially across the hotspots of Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan areas. COVID-19 treatment centres continue to be resourced with medical supplies, personal protection equipment, and health workers.
We will continue to ensure that all arriving passengers at the Kotoka International Airport are in possession of a negative PCR test result upon their arrival in Ghana, a test which should have been conducted not more than seventy-two (72) hours before the scheduled departure from the country of origin. In addition, all passengers will continue to be subjected to a mandatory COVID test on arrival.
Fellow Ghanaians, Government stands by its commitment to vaccinate twenty million Ghanaians, i.e., the entire adult population, by the end of this year, in spite of the huge global demand for vaccines by countries, and the surge in infections the world over. So far, one million, two hundred and seventy-one thousand, three hundred and ninety-three (1,271,393) vaccine doses have been administered, with eight hundred and sixty-five thousand, four hundred and twenty-two (865,422) persons having received a single jab, and four hundred and five thousand, nine hundred and seventy-one (405,971) persons have received their full dose of two (2) jabs.
Indications are that, in the course of the third quarter of this year, the availability of vaccines for our country will ramp up. We are expecting, through the COVAX facility, one million Pfizer vaccines from the United States of America, two hundred and twenty-nine thousand, six hundred and seventy (229,670) Pfizer vaccines from the African Union, and two hundred and forty-nine thousand (249,000) AstraZeneca vaccines from the United Kingdom. Government is also in the process of procuring seventeen million (17 million) single dose per person Johnson & Johnson vaccines, through the African Medicine Supply Platform, in this quarter.
We have, as such, upgraded our national, regional and district cold chain facilities in order to widen our access to vaccines like Pfizer and Modena, that require minus seventy degrees Celsius (-70℃) cold chains. These include sixteen (16) ultra-low cold freezers, fifty-eight (58) units of ultra-low freezers, fifty (50) normal vaccine refrigerators, three hundred (300) boxes to be filled with ice packs, three hundred (300) ice packed freezers, ten (10) cold chain vans, and one hundred and twenty (120) temperature monitoring devices. I thank, in particular, UPS, the American multi-national shipping, receiving and supply chain management company, for their generous donation towards this development.
Fellow Ghanaians, it is important to stress, once again, that all the vaccines to be used in the country have been certified as safe-for-use by our national regulatory agency, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA). There should, therefore, be no hesitancy amongst the population who are yet to be vaccinated. As the oft-cited saying goes, it is better to be safe than sorry.
The global shortage of vaccines means that we must develop our capacity to produce our own vaccines domestically, and reduce our dependence on foreign supplies. We must be self-sufficient in this regard in the future, and prepare ourselves better to deal with any such occurrences in the future. To this end, the Committee I established, under the leadership of the world-renowned Ghanaian scientist, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, to investigate Ghana’s potential as a vaccine manufacturing hub, to meet national and regional needs, has presented its preliminary report which, amongst others, recommends the establishment of a National Vaccine Institute to spearhead this development. Government has committed to inject seed funding of some twenty-five million United States dollars (US$25 million) this year into this whole enterprise.
The Institute will be charged with delivering six clear mandates:
establishing local vaccine manufacturing plants;
deepening Research & Development (R&D) for vaccines in Ghana;
upgrading and strengthening the FDA;
forging bilateral and multilateral partnerships for vaccine manufacturing in various areas, such as funding, clinical trials, technology transfer, licensing, and assignment of intellectual property rights;
building the human resource base for vaccine discovery, development, and manufacture; and
establishing a permanent national secretariat to coordinate vaccine development and manufacture.
Anuanom, bosomi mienu ntem ni, yareɛ no asan ama nihoso biom, enam sɛɛ yendi nhyihyɛ niso, ni titriw, yegyai mask no hyɛ. Mesrɛ mo, nhyihyɛ aa yayɛ ɛfa masks noho, mondiso. Sɛ wofri efiye aa, hyɛ mask. ɛno ena ɛbɛbɔ yɛhu ban, ama yetumi apam yareɛ efri yeman mu.
[Ga]
Fellow Ghanaians, we must remember that the virus continues to jeopardise our lives and livelihoods. Without doubt, God has been gracious to us. Nonetheless, I ask this evening that we remain steadfast in our adherence to the protocols, so we can overcome this third-wave of infections. If we do so, we will soon be able to return to our normal way of life.
Zero active cases must remain the overarching goal, and I have no doubt that, together, and with the help of God, this too shall pass, for the Battle is still the Lord’s.
May God bless us all and our homeland Ghana, and make her great and strong.
One million, Two Hundred and Seventy One Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety-Three (1,271,393) doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far.
Out of that number, 865, 422 persons have received a single jab, whereas 405, 971 people have received their full dose of two jabs.
This was announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Addressing Ghanaians on the measures put in place to reduce the rising COVID-19 cases in the country in his 26th update, President Akufo-Addo further indicated that the availability of vaccines will ramp up in the course of the third quarter of this year.
The President said, “we are expecting through the COVAX facility, one million Pfizer vaccines from the United States of America, 29,670 Pfizer vaccines from the African Union, and 249,000 AstraZeneca vaccines from the United Kingdom.”
He also indicated that government is in the process of procuring 17 million single dose per person Johnson & Johnson vaccines, through the African Medicine Supply Platform, in this quarter.
“We have, as such, upgraded our national, regional and district cold chain facilities in order to widen our access to vaccines like Pfizer and Modena, that require minus seventy degrees Celsius (-70°C) cold chains. These include 16 ultra-low cold freezers, 58 units of ultra- low freezers, 50 normal vaccine refrigerators, 300 boxes to be filled with ice packs, 300 ice packed freezers, 10 cold chain vans, and 120 temperature monitoring devices. I thank, in particular, UPS, the American multi- national shipping, receiving and supply chain management company, for their generous donation towards this development.”
He stressed that all the vaccines to be used in the country have been certified as safe-for-use by the national regulatory agency, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
“There should, therefore, be no hesitancy amongst the population who are yet to be vaccinated. As the saying goes, it is better to be safe than to be sorry,” he noted.
Ghana’s COVID-19 situation
There has been a surge in Ghana’s COVID-19 case count in the month of July, with more than 2,500 new cases recorded.
This has sparked concerns about a looming third wave of COVID-19 in Ghana.
The Ashanti and Bono regional directorates of the Ghana Health Service have expressed worry about the astronomical increase in cases in their regions.
The government has urged the public to strictly comply with the COVID-19 preventive protocols and indicated that it is working to secure more vaccines to vaccinate all citizens.
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA), has also expressed concern about the current trend of positive COVID-19 cases in the country.
The Association says it fears that the country’s health system will not be able to accommodate the rising cases should the trend continue
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has directed that, henceforth, funeral ceremonies should not exceed two hours.
He has also banned post-event reception services.
He said this forms part of measures put in place to curb the upsurge in COVID-19 cases in the country.
Addressing Ghanaians on strategies put in place to reduce the rising COVID-19 cases in the country in his 26th update, the President said: “funerals should not go beyond the two (2) hour time duration.”
He said the directive is part of recommendations made by the COVID-19 Taskforce.
“The COVID-19 Taskforce, which I chair, has recommended that a second look be taken at the protocols that have been put in place for the holding of funerals across the country,” the President said.
The President also said all events associated with funerals must be held in open-air spaces, adding that sympathizers at funerals must strictly observe the one-metre social distancing rule.
He said one-week observations should also be down within a two-hour period but restricted to only family members.
The wearing of masks and observation of enhanced hygiene protocols is also mandatory, while the duration for one-week funeral celebrations has been limited to just two hours.
These measures have been announced amid growing fears of a third wave of COVID-19 believed to have been caused by a new strain of the virus, the Delta variant.
There has been a rise in Ghana’s COVID-19 case count in the month of July, with more than 2,500 new cases recorded.
This has sparked concerns about a looming third wave of COVID-19 in Ghana.
The Ashanti and Bono regional directorates of the Ghana Health Service have expressed worry about the astronomical increase in cases in their regions.
The government has urged the public to strictly comply with the COVID-19 preventive protocols, and indicated that it is working to secure more vaccines to vaccinate all citizens.
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA), has also expressed concern about the current trend of positive COVID-19 cases in the country.
The Association says it fears that the country’s health system will not be able to accommodate the rising cases should the trend continue
The Volta River Authority has honored four exceptional contributors towards energy generation in Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa as path of the Authority’s 60th Anniversary celebration.
The four, who were former Chief Executives of the Authority; spanning the period 1966 to 2001 were credited with attributes and initiatives that has made the Authority one of the best in the world and a reference point for many African countries.
They are, Ing. Dr. Emmanuel Lord Quartey who served from 1966 to 1980. Ing. Dr. Louis Casely-Harford served from 1980 to 1990. Followed by Mr. Erasmus Alexander Komla Kalitsi, 1990 to 1998 and then Ing. Gilbert O. Dokyi who served from 1998 to 2001.
To immortalize their memory, replica live-sized busts were mounted in their honour at some notable landmarks of the authority in the country. The Anniversary which is a year-long celebration is under the theme; Celebrating 60 years in the Power Business; Our Legacy, Our Future.”
Speaking at the honouring ceremony, the current Chief Executive, Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa said the gesture is to remind current and future generations of the vision and contribution of these heroes in making VRA a model of excellence globally.
He narrated that when Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President thought about the dream to build the Akosombo Power Generation Station, he brought in some foreigners to begin the work alongside some Ghanaians.
However after a while it was these forebears (honourees) who charted the vision of Dr. Nkrumah into reality, following the establishment of the Volta River Authority under the Volta River Development Act, Act 46 of 1961.
As the first Ghanaian Chief Executive, Ing Dr. Emmanuel Lord Quartey (Ing) who is otherwise known as ‘Father of VRA,’ he oversaw the completion and expansion of the Akosombo Power Plant. He initiated the Building of the VRA Headquarters, West Africa Power Pool, Akosombo Township project, Volta Lake Transport Company among others. In all, he served under seven Presidents. His bust was mounted at the Power Generation Station at Akosombo.
Ing. Dr. Louis Casely-Hayford was also instrumental in the completion and expansion of the power plant and ensured that the initiatives he inherited were considerably completed as he added new expansion drive. He also ensured the interconnection with Togo, Baukina Faso and Benin and tie-in with Ivory Coast were sustained to generate income for the Authority. His bust was mounted at the Akuse Power Generation Plant.
Mr. E.L. Kalitsi among other things was instrumental in the re-settlement and compensation programme for over 80,000 residents who had been displaced by the project. This feat made VRA a reference point for many similar resettlement programmes across the world. His bust was mounted at a central location in the Akosombo Model Township.
Ing. Gilbert O. Dokyi consolidated the gains and ensured that there was adequate reforms to make VRA evolve and fit into the ever changing energy generation industry. His bust was mounted at the Aboadzi Thermal Plant at Takoradi in Western Region.
The VRA Boss, Mr. Antwi-Darkwa said, the extraordinary commitment and initiatives of these past Chief Executives and the staff they worked with have not only sustained VRA operations, but also made it possible for VRA to evolve from hydro power generation to a diverse portfolio involving thermal and solar photovoltaic generating assets.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Energy Minister who commended the gesture urged the current leadership and staff to move the VRA far and beyond as they had no excuse not to do so. He tasked the Authority to seriously expand the Solar Power generation programme into the biggest on the continent. He assured VRA of his personal support and that of the entire government in that regard.
Mr. Erasmus Kalitsi and Madam Catharine Quartey, daughter of Ing. Dr. Quartey and who spoke on behalf of the recipients urged the current management and staff to be focused. They also urged the government to keep VRA from political interference.
Also in Attendance were the Paramount Chief of Akwamu, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, Chiefs of Akuse, Kpong and Togorme, Former Chief Justice, Georgina Woode among others.
The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), University of Ghana, has expressed concern over the recording of high viral load among those who test positive for the Covid-19 Delta strain.
According to communication released by the institute, its testing centre since April 2021 has observed some characteristics of the Delta variant including samples containing high viral loads.
“The positive cases have very high viral loads indicated by low cut-off cycle thresholds (CT values) obtained in the real-time RT PCR assay.
The CT values for the majority are between 15-20 compared to higher values above 30 seen previously. The higher viral loads observed in recent cases are attributable to the Delta variant,” the NMIMR said.
It further noted that 7.34% (840/6538) of the positive cases recorded from asymptomatic persons who visit the walk in centre to test for travel work-related or school related purposes from 1st June to 22 July 2021 have equally high viral load.
It indicated that with a popopulation of >80% unvaccinated, the country must be ‘concerned that if these apparently healthy carriers transmit the virus to the unvaccinated, we may have a more serious outbreak to deal with as a nation.’
“Some of these positive cases have taken the full dose of Covid-19 vaccines,” it noted.
It further noted that those who test positive for Covid-19 Delta variant are taking longer to clear the virus as there is a high number of re-tests that still test positive.
‘Transmission of SARS-CoV 2 is directly linked to how much virus is shed in droplets during sneezing and coughing, which also determines the spread through, talking, singing and other related activities.
The Delta variant has been reported to spread faster than the other variants and our testing observations confirm that.
With the spread the Covid-19 Delta variant increasing in Ghanaian communities as compared to the earlier Alpha variant the institute is calling on the government to take a second look at the state of adherence to Covid-19 preventive protocols and appropriate restrictions
Former Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, Gabby Otchere-Darko has said the activities of homosexuals are already illegal in Ghana.
He said the new anti-gay bill that has been sent to Parliament will only lead to Ghana being blacklisted for promoting hate.
“Gay+ activities are already illegal in our country. But, we aren’t known to hate. The President has given his word he won’t legalise it.
“This Bill only serves one purpose: to get Ghana blacklisted for promoting hate! Surely, the promoters of the Bill can’t say they aren’t aware,” the leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) said in a tweet.
Ningo Prampram lawmaker Samuel Nartey George and some other lawmakers are sponsoring an anti-LGBT+ Bill in Parliament.
Portions of the bill reads “A person who, by use of media, technological platform, technological account or any other means, produces, procures, markets, broadcasts, disseminates, publishes or distributes a material for purposes of promoting an activity prohibited under the Bill, or a person uses an electronic device, the Internet service, a film, or any other device capable of electronic storage or transmission to produce, procure, market, broadcast, disseminate, publishes or distribute a material for purposes of promoting an activity prohibited under the Bill commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a term of imprisonment of not less than five years and not more than ten years.”
Sam George is receiving flak from some quarters for sponsoring the anti-LGBT+ agenda.null
For instance, Ghanaian musician Sister Derby who is also a known advocate of LGBT+ rights in Ghana “obsessed with people’s sexual orientation” and tagged him as a pervert and backward thinker.”
But he has said he is opened to intellectual debate on the anti-LGBT+ Bill he and some of his colleague lawmakers are sponsoring.
Speaking on TV3’s News 360 on Friday, July 23, he said emotional outbursts have no place in legislation.
“We are opened to intellectual criticisms or criticisms and suggestions grounded in law. Emotional outbursts, emotional comments have no place in legislation.
“If anybody has intellectual suggestions or addition we are willing to debate the issue.
Ace broadcaster with Onua TV and Onua FM, Captain Smart has said former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu performed abysmally when he was in office.
In the view of Captain Smart, the appointment of Mr Amidu as Special Prosecutor by President Akufo-Addo was even a mistake because he knew that the Former Attorney General under the Mills’ administration was not going to deliver.
Speaking on the Onua Maakye Morning show ahead of the vetting of Mr Kissi Agyebeng as the Special Prosecutor nominee, Captain Smart said “I predicted that Kissi Agyebeng was going to be nominated as the Special Prosecutor even when Amidu was yet to resign. A lot of people asked whether I knew Amidu was going to leave the post.
“Martin Amidu failed. From the very first day he was nominated, I said Nana Addo had made a mistake in nominating him.”
Mr Amidu resigned on Monday, November 16 after citing a number of reasons including interference by the President, an allegation the president denied.
He said in his letter to the president: “It is essential for me to state for the purpose of the records, and contrary to public perceptions, that my appointment letter was received on 5th February 2020 (almost two (2)-years after my appointment).
“The copy addressees made no efforts to honour any of the conditions of appointment in terms of emoluments and benefits of the appointment ever since my warrant of appointment was issued on 23rd February 2018 to the date of my letter of resignation. The Deputy Special Prosecutor has also not been paid any emoluments since her appointment, and there is the need to redress that situation for her now that I am out of the way.null
“The events of 12th November 2020 removed the only protection I had from the threats and plans directed at me for undertaking the Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions anti-corruption assessment report and dictates that I resign as the Special Prosecutor immediately.
“I should not ordinarily be announcing my resignation to the public myself but the traumatic experience I went through from 20th October 2020 to 2nd November 2020 when I conveyed in a thirteen (13) page letter the conclusions and observations on the analysis of the risk of corruption and anti-corruption assessment on the Report On Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions and Other Matters Related Thereto to the President as Chairman of the National Security Council cautions against not bringing my resignation as the Special Prosecutor with immediate to the notice of the Ghanaian public and the world.
“The reaction I received for daring to produce the Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions anti-corruption report convinces me beyond any reasonable doubt that I was not intended to exercise any independence as the Special Prosecutor in the prevention, investigation, prosecution, and recovery of assets of corruption. My position as the Special Prosecutor has consequently become clearly untenable.”
Following his resignation, Mr Kissi Agyebeng, also a private legal practitioner was nominated as the new Special Prosecutor.
He was vetted by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Thursday July 23.
During his screening, Mr Agyebeng said it will not be possible for him to stop corruption in Ghana.
Rather, he said, if he is approved by Parliament, he will make the practice a high-risk activity in order to deter people from indulging in it.
“There is no way I can stop corruption, God himself will not acclaim to that. I am going to make corruption costly, a high-risk activity,” he said.
He added “I will institute what I call pressure for progress. The will be a systemic review of public agencies.”
Captain Smart said he believes Mr Agyebeg will perform in office.
“I have followed Kissi Agyebeng’s exploits for a very long time and I know he can deliver,” he said
The Pride of the North are back to the domestic top flight after eight years in the second-tier league.
Real Tamale United qualified to play Ghana’s Premier League next season after beating Unity FC 2-0 at the Aliu Mahama Stadium in Tamale after Bofoakwa drew goalless with Berekum Arsenal at the Golden City Park.
Tied on 65 points, RTU secured promotion over Bofoakwa with a better head-to-head after drawing goalless with the Otobila Boys in Sunyani and winning 2-0 in Tamale in the reverse fixture.https://www.youtube.com/embed/hWi-OC1E4I8?feature=oembed
RTU were relegated from the Ghana Premier League in April 2013 after losing 4-1 to New Edubiase United with seven matches to the end of the season. The Pride of the North ended the season without a win in 30 matches – five draws and 25 defeats.
Real Tamale made their debut in the topflight in the 1978 season and finished 3rd on the league log and had since been a force to reckon with.
However, Real Tamale United now joins Bibiani Gold Stars and Accra Lions FC who walk into the ‘table of men’ where ‘kings and Queens dine
Vice President Bawumia has assured a digital address for every house by 2022.
Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says government will by 2022 complete the fixing of unique addresses on all properties as part of the National Digital Property Address System.
Speaking at the 13th Congregation ceremony at the University of Professional Studies, Dr. Bawumia highlighted the essence of this initiative to the government’s development agenda.
“We have implemented a National Digital Addressing System in Ghana. We have only about 10 percent or less of addresses of properties in Ghana, and this is a big problem. Today, with the National Addressing System, every property or location in Ghana has a unique address. We have identified 7.5 million properties including properties in villages and as you can see the process of putting address plates on these properties is ongoing, and we expect to complete that process by next year.”
The National Digital Property Address System, otherwise known as GhanaPost GPS, is a global addressing system launched in October 2017 by the President to provide effective means of addressing every location and property to facilitate the implementation of key government policies.
The GhanaPost GPS forms part of the government’s agenda to digitise the economy.
The essence of the project is to have a digital database of all properties to assist the government in revenue generation as well as planning for improved service delivery.
The service was executed by Vokacom Limited, in partnership with the Ghana Post Company Limited, with the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) hosting the data.
Management of Ghana Post begun a door-to-door registration exercise to register Ghanaians onto the Ghana Post digital addressing system in 2018.
Initially, the tagging plates were to be given to residences for a fee upon request. Ghana Post was charging GHS50 for residential buildings and GHS100 for commercial offices.
But after facing much criticism from the public, the company rescinded its decision to charge money.
The number of active COVID-19 cases in Ghana has shot up to 4,094, the latest figures from the Ghana Health Service indicate.
Some 423 new cases have been confirmed.
The death toll has also risen to 823.
Since March 12, 2020, the total number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Ghana up to date is 101,170.
Out of that number 96,255 have recovered.
A few days ago, President Nana Akufo-Addo said the rising number of active COVID-19 cases shows that “we’ve let our guard down”.
Addressing Muslims at the Eid-ul-Adha celebration at the National Central Mosque at Kanda, Accra, President Akufo-Addo said: “The COVID-19 pandemic is still with us – unfortunately”.
“This means that for the second year running, we are having to hold a subdued Eid celebration”, he observed.
“As we continue to count on the grace of God to protect our country from the ravages of the pandemic like he has since its outbreak, we can only minimise its health effects and avoid a full-blown third wave if we continue to be responsible and observe the safety and hygiene protocols.”
He noted: “The recent increase in the number of infections is a source of worry for me and, indeed, for all Ghanaians”.
“From the rising numbers, it is safe to conclude that we have let our guard down and are beginning to live our lives and conduct our businesses as though we are in normal times”.
“It is important to repeat that the virus is still with us and until each one of us receives a dose of the vaccine, the protocols must continue to be a part and parcel of our daily activities,” he added
Ningo Prampram Member of Parliament, Sam George, has hailed what he says is a crucial clause in the anti-gay bill that is currently being considered by parliament.
According to him, the bill – despite being at the drfat stage – is extremely detailed and contains a clause than bans any LGBTQ couple from seeking for adoption or fosterage of children in Ghana.
“If your way of life does not support procreation, who should procreate for you to adopt?” he quizzed during a meeting on Saturday, July 24 in Parliament.
He expressed Speaker Alban Bagbin‘s strong leadership on the issue and cited his strict response to the Australian ambassador, Gregory Andrews, who in April 2021 asked that Ghana drops the idea of a law banning same-sex relationships.
The 36-page draft document is a Private Member’s Bill titled: “The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values, Bill 2021.”
It is led by the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, and seven (7) other MPs.null
Currently, it is at the draft stage and will be laid before the house and subsequently expected to be referred to the appropriate committee for consideration.
Sam George spent the better part of Saturday (July 23) on social media defending the need for the bill which he insists is a necessity in preserving the moral and cultural values of Ghanaians in general.
• Speaker of ParliamentAlban Bagbin has warned persons threatening MPs over an anti-LGBTQ+ bill
• He specifically mentioned diplomats who he cautioned to desist from trying to teach Ghanaians how to live our lives
• Bagbin says the bill will be passed soon because it had the support of all Ghanaians
Speaker of ParliamentAlban Bagbin has stressed that come what may, a bill seeking to criminalize same-sex relationships and its associated variants will be passed into law.
During a meeting in Parliament with a cross-section of Christian leaders, Bagbin warned that whiles the house will not threaten anyone for their beliefs, it will also not sit by to be threatened.
“We will not threaten anybody but we shall also not be threatened. Those threatening Members of Parliament who are leading this bill, please be warned.
“We cannot be threatened in our homes, this must be stated loud and clear to those who have come to do business in Ghana. Those who represent their countries and think that they are right, we also represent our country,” he added.null
According to him, the bill had the united voice of all Ghanaians who the house represents and it will be passed into law ‘as soon as possible.’
“And they (diplomats) will never, they can never dictate to us as to how to live or not live in this world. And I am very clear in my mind that this house, the parliament of Ghana will pass this bill as soon as possible,” the speaker stressed.
In April 2021, Bagbin had cause to state emphatically during a meeting with the Australian ambassador that Ghana will enact laws to preserve her norms and culture. Ambassador Gregory Andrews and the EU representative in Ghana were present at the opening of an LGBTQ+ facility in Accra which has since been shut down.
“Our laws abhors any forms of discrimination. We also have the decision of the European Court on Human Rights to guide us in whatever we do…and so on the issue of LGBTQI+ definitely we already have a legal framework within which to work. We will not legislate to infringe on the Human Rights of people, but we will legislate to ensure that culture and traditions are not violated.
“This is something that we see as an abomination, it is something that we abhor and therefore, we will continue to go according to our culture,” Bagbin said at the time.
The 36-page draft document is a Private Member’s Bill titled: “The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values, Bill 2021.”null
It is led by the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, and seven (7) other MPs.
Currently, it is at the draft stage and will be laid before the house and subsequently expected to be referred to the appropriate committee for consideration.
Sam George spent the better part of Saturday (July 23) on social media defending the need for the bill which he insists is a necessity in preserving the moral and cultural values of Ghanaians in general.
Today, we recognise not only Professor Mills, but also our Founder, Jerry John Rawlings, and also our former Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, who have since passed away.
I invite you to pay a minute’s silence for their souls. May their souls rest in perfect peace.
We are all gathered here, at the Asomdwee Park, today – as citizens, family, friends, sympathizers and members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) – to celebrate the life and legacy of President Professor John Evans Atta Mills.
Prof., as we all fondly called him, is our departed hero and inspiration who continues forever to live in our hearts and minds.
Nine years ago, even the heavens themselves displayed the ominous signs when the skies, which were previously bright, suddenly darkened as though about to rain. A gripping cold enveloped the whole nation.
Yes, it was a Tuesday afternoon. Our nation was in shock when news came through confirming the unprecedented event of the death of our sitting President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills. It is a tragedy we all pray would never befall our nation ever again.
Nine years have passed but anytime we celebrate the anniversary of his departure, we are reminded of the values and principles he extolled and lived-by: a Leadership of Service, Compassion, Integrity, Humility, Sacrifice, and Unity.
Nine years ago, his family lost a God-fearing, devoted father, brother and husband; our country lost a priceless gem, a true servant leader; Africa lost an exemplary illustrious son, the NDC lost a torchbearer, and I lost not only my superior, but a friend and mentor.
Although his Presidency was unexpectedly short-lived, his legacy and record remain unmatched in the annals of our nation’s history. I am honoured to have played a humble part as his Vice President and Head of the Economic Management Team.
He was a team leader and it was under his guidance that the NDC administration chalked most of its notable achievements, including the longest period of single digit inflation in the history of Ghana for two years continuously, the highest economic growth record of 14.4%, placing Ghana at the top of the World Bank ease of doing business survey for West Africa, making Ghana the number one preferred destination in West Africa for investors.
This was not all. Every sector of our national life, including education and health received massive boosts and growth, particularly through investments in socio-economic infrastructure and human resource development.
Yet, being the humble achiever that he was, Prof. in tandem with the tradition of the NDC derived no satisfaction or desire to reel off his unmatched economic statistics in self-praise, when his work was there to speak for him.
He was more concerned with seeing to the upliftment of the socio-economic circumstances of the people of Ghana so they could live in dignity and prosperity, irrespective of where they were coming from or belonged.
Yes, he was a father for all!
Indeed, as a social democratic party founded on modesty and not bragging, it must be obvious to all sincere minds that only the party that achieved that feat knows what it takes and can take the country to those heights again.
The leadership of President Mills, together with the hardworking and resourceful team in government, gave our nation a blueprint of excellence- the NDC, having laid a strong socio-economic foundation, would utilize in its next government in service to the people of Ghana and in honour of President Mills.
President Mills demonstrated that one could rise to the highest positions in life – Professor, scholar, expert in his field, and President – and still be a humble learner.
Power never changed him. He changed the direction of power by giving it back to the people whom he led and saw as key partners towards the realization of an open and transparent government. His ultimate aim was to achieve a better Ghana of shared prosperity for all.
Like an open book, he was transparent and saw as important the need to account to the people of Ghana. He respected Ghanaians. Professor Mills was passionately concerned about wastefulness, profligacy and arrogant dissipation of public funds and resources. He didn’t just espouse his principles; he lived by them.
His strong abhorrence for corruption energized and encouraged anti-corruption agencies to come out and expose all persons found to have been involved in the canker in every strata of society. He saw anti-corruption campaigners and activists as partners in the fight against corruption rather than enemies of the state.
President Mills strongly abhorred politics of insults. He saw politics as a contest of ideas and was constantly concerned about the need for leaders to be proper role models to the younger generation who are keenly watching and may end up emulating the actions of the political class.
Unfortunately, he was attacked viciously by opponents even when he was unwell, but the NDC has continued to live by his tolerant nature.
It is imperative that we, as members and sympathizers of the NDC, continue to be guided by the values of truth, humility, transparency and accountability that are exemplified in Professor Mills.
I lived it, and while some, including from within our party will criticize me for it, I believe that our politics must be a platform and opportunity to ensure total development and a general improvement in the lives of the Ghanaian, and not an opportunity for wickedness, trampling on the rights of your people, the destruction of businesses of perceived political opponents, pushing the parochial interests of your family and friends, etc.
It is especially critical for the survival of our nation that the NDC as a social democratic party restores these values and principles that have been lost in our country in order to be distinct from the NPP, and above all, in order that our people can begin to hope again and trust in our institutions once again.
In closing, as we are all gathered here in celebration of this great icon, I wish to paraphrase the eternal words of the incomparable bard, Shakespeare, who noted centuries ago that the memory of heroes like Professor Mills will never fade as it is etched on our hearts.
Centuries will come and go, and monuments will rise and fall, but your name and memory, Prof., will last throughout the ages.
Long live your memory, long live the NDC, long live Ghana. Thank you
Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, has appealed to the Ghanaian populace to support the work of security agencies.null
This he believes will foster good collaboration between citizens and agencies in curbing criminal activity.
Speaking at the funeral service held in honor of Constable Emmanuel Osei who lost his life in the June 14 bullion van attack near Jamestown, the minister said, “When citizens fail to be friends with the security agencies, we condone the actions of criminals and that makes us all of subject to the insecurity in the country.”
He eulogised the deceased serviceman and assured his family of the government’s commitment to bring the perpetrators of the crime to book.
The brutal shooting of the policeman and another civilian by armed robbers has raised concerns about the state of security of bullion van services in the country.null
The incident also sparked reactions about the rising insecurity in the country amid a spate of robbery attacks and killings.
Constable Emmanuel Osei until his demise was serving as a police officer with the National SWAT Headquarters but was killed by suspected armed robbers at Adedenkpo, near Jamestown while on escort duty.
The outgoing Inspector General of Police, James Oppong-Boanuh, on his part, earlier threatened to withdraw police escort services should the financial institutions not provide safer and more secure bullion vans for escort services.
The Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, has revealed that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will soon address the nation again on the measures outlined to deal with the pandemic.
He made this revelation on Saturday July 24.
The last time Mr Akufo-Addo addressed the nation on the pandemic was in March 2021.
There have been calls on him to speak again.
For example, Ranking member on the Health Committee Kwabena Mintah Akandoh is surprised that the President has not spoken on the increasing rate of the infections.
Mr Akandoh said government must be proactive and innovative in its dealings with the ravaging virus.
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh who is also lawmaker for Juaboso told the journalists that “I have heard about the Ghana Medical Association and other institutions speaking and it is clearly indicated that there are a lot of people who are worried out there.
“What is clearly missing is the political direction. I recall the last time the President addressed the nation on COVID-19 was somewhere on the 28th of February we have recorded new variants but the president is quiet.
“The numbers are skyrocketing and the no president is quiet. It looks as if we have no plan in place, nobody is speaking to us. We need a clear direction from the Political head or the President as he consistently was addressing the nation on issues of Covid.
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh
“I do not know whether or not it is the fact that he himself is guilty of the Covid protocols and so that is probably what has occasioned his huge silence on developments so far.”
But Dr Asiedu Bekoe said Mr Akufo-Addo will soon address the nation.
He further revealed that celebrities, influencers and high profile chiefs are going to be used to campaign for adherence of coronavirus protocols especially the face mask wearing.
He said the time has come for this approach to be adopted in ensuring that the people comply with the measures.
“We are going to have a very heightened campaign on promoting and enforcement of the mask wearing. Promotion is the use of influencers, the celebrities, the champions, high profile chiefs. The enforcement is going to be done at different levels.
“When you are going to sit in commercial transport (trotro) the station master must ensure that you have a mask before you sit, when you are going to the super market they must ensure you have the mask.”
Ghana has recorded, cumulatively, 100,250 cases of COVID-19 with 819 deaths since March 2020.
The Delta variant has also been detected in Ghana.
It is reported to be currently concentrated in the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions.
The Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) Appeals Committee ruled in favour of Nana Yaw Amponsah, Asante Kotoko’s CEO following his appeal against a decision banning him from all football-related activities in the country.
The adjudicating body overturned the Disciplinary Committee’s decision to ban Amponsah, a shareholder of Division One side Phar Rangers for the next five years after the club decided to withdraw from all GFA competitions without a just cause.
And per the Appeals Committee ruling, shareholders of Phar Rangers are not recognised within the statutes of the GFA and as a result cannot be banned.
The ruling stated, “We note from the Appeal record that the Disciplinary Committee has in addition to imposing sanctions on Phar Rangers as a club, also imposed sanctions on its directors and shareholders on the basis of Article 13 (3) of the GFA Division One League Regulations.
“The Appeals Committee does not see any reference to shareholders in the provision of Article 13 (3) of the GFA Division One League Regulations, thus, officials of the football club cannot be interpreted to include shareholders.”
It added that, “In applying Article 13 (3) of the regulations it is only the capacity of a director that can be subject to sanctions.”
Consequently, and as a matter of urgency, the Appeals Committee has tasked the GFA to consider reviewing Article 13(5) at the earliest convenience to promote fairness and also dismissed the sanction imposed on the directors and shareholders of the club
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Sissala West in the Upper West Region, Mohammed Adama Sukparu, says he escaped unhurt with other occupants of his car when unknown armed men attacked them in his constituency.
The incident happened between Jefisi and Bulu at about 7:50 pm on Friday, when the MP was returning from a funeral he attended at Jefisi.
Confirming the incident to Citi News, Mr. Adams Sukparu said “we were returning from a funeral at Jefisi, all of a sudden some armed men, numbering about five stopped us and started firing into my car”.
He added that “my bodyguard returned fire and I saw one of them falling down. But the driver sped off, so we could not stop to know what happened to him”.
According to the MP, he and all the other occupants of his car escaped unhurt.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sukparu has reported the incident to the Sissala West District Police Command for investigation.
According to him, he is at a loss as to the exact motivation of the eight lawmakers who are behind the Private Members Bill.
Gabby posted a UK Guardian development which according to the news portal had generated outrage in the country.
He added the following comment to his post: “I am struggling to understand what the promoters of this Bill seek to achieve. Perhaps, it is what will fix the myriad of problems we are facing as a country like finding jobs for the youth and fixing our roads.”
His view as usual has triggered varied reactions from people who believe the bill is a non-starter and others who are harshly rebuking him for his stance on the issue.
“Prior to this bill,what’ve you been doing?Apart from Agyapa, PDS, Ameri deal & the recent Oyerepa (salary 4 ur wives) etc, did you consider jobs and fixing roads? Does this bill prevent you and don little from delivering on your mandate?I thought u guys say there’s nothing to fix,” one user @Black4rina tweeted.
“I shock sef! Let’s focus on solving pressing issues facing us as a nation! We play too much!” user @Pharm_Bash tweeted.
@CadreFidelis on the other hand had a question for Otchere-Darko, “Jobs nti, we shd b concerned aba our identity as human? Wat has changing names of public universities done to the youth?”
The Private Member’s Bill which is currently at the draft stage is titled: “The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values, Bill 2021,” and seeks to make the practice of homosexuality illegal.
It is led by the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, and seven (7) other MPs.
When passed into law, it will become the clearest law in the country banning activities of the same-sex community.
The 36-page bill which has been making the rounds among others advances that sex shall ONLY be between a man and woman. Anything else is illegal.
That anyone who participates, promotes, supports, advocates gay sex commits an offense and could be jailed for a minimum of 3 yrs.
The law completely makes illegal, any form of advocacy, group, or discussions on the practice of homosexuality.
It is an offense to use any media to discuss the subject. These include individual social media accounts and mainstream media. A media person can be jailed for 5-10 years, while the owner of a media platform may also be jailed.
• Madina MP Francis-Xavier Sosu says Ghana should tread cautiously with a new anti-LGBTQ+ bill
• He is concerned about the negative impact of the proposed law which is still at the draft stage
• He also believes the proposed jail term of 10-years is highhanded and unreasonable
Francis-Xavier Sosu, Member of Parliament for Madina, is concerned about portions of a Private Member’s Bill which is seeking to criminalize activities of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, LGBTQ+.
He is particularly worried about a proposed upper bar of 10-year jail term for infractions which in his view is highhanded and unreasonable.
In an interview with TV3’s Parliamentary correspondent on Friday, July 23, Sosu – who is also a human rights lawyer – averred that Ghana should at this stage be gravitating towards alternative sentencing arrangements instead of custodial terms which have led to choked prisons.
“I believe that this bill is work in progress, let us not be in a hurry to pass it, let us do the needful, let’s take all views into consideration, let us look at the bigger picture.
“Let us look at the sentencing regime, 10 years imprisonment in my view is a bit highhanded, it is unreasonable, so we need to look at that, we should be looking at community service, we should be looking at alternative sentencing regime,” he added.
The 36-page draft bill has proposed several punitive actions for persons indulging directly in the act as well as those promoting it via social or traditional media and funding the activities of the LGBTQ+ community.
Persons found liable according to the bill risk summary conviction to a prison term with a lower bar of six years and highest threshold of ten years.
About the draft bill
The Private Member’s Bill is titled: “The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values, Bill 2021.”
It is led by the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, and seven (7) other MPs.
Currently, it is at the draft stage and will be laid before the house and subsequently expected to be referred to the appropriate committee for consideration.
Some major highlights of the bill include:
– Sex shall ONLY be between a man and woman. Anything else is illegal.
– Anyone who participates, promotes, supports, advocates gay sex commits an offense and could be jailed for a minimum of 3 yrs.
– The law completely makes illegal, any form of advocacy, group, or discussions on the practice of homosexuality.
– It is an offense to use any media to discuss the subject. These include individual social media accounts and mainstream media. A media person can be jailed for 5-10 years, while the owner of a media platform may also be jailed.
Mr Kwesi Anin Yeboah, the Chief Justice, has urged auctioneers to uphold the integrity of the profession.null
He asked them to conduct their activities with professional integrity that eschewed wrongdoings and negligence.
“As per the dictates of your licensing regime, it must never be lost on you that your conduct and undertakings as auctioneers are strictly regulated by law,” Mr Justice Anin Yeboah stated in a speech read on his behalf at the inauguration of The Professional Auctioneers Society, Ghana in Accra.
“Do remember that honor, dignity, and reputation are earned and not demanded.”
The motto of the newly inaugurated Professional Auctioneers Society, Ghana is “Service with Honesty”, with Mr Calvis Okine of Noble Mart as the Chairman of the Executive Council.
Chief Justice Anin Yeboah noted that as stakeholders in the system of administration of justice, the system held auctioneers in high esteem and expected them to discharge their duty with diligence, ethical considerations, and values to avoid perceptions of collusions or wrongdoing.
“You cannot be auctioneers worthy of trust without being professional, ethical, honest, and diligent exuding respect for the courts, execution creditors and debtors and purchasers as well as the society at large,” he said.null
“You must be men and women of integrity and in good standing. You must appreciate that you are in a fiduciary relationship with all stakeholders as applicable to the law relating to your practice.”
He intimated that civil society, corporate entities, and the international community at large, placed much value on transparency, statutory compliance, and ethical conduct; saying “corrupt and fraudulent practices are criminal conduct and have no place in your noble practice”.
The Chief Justice said as licensed auctioneers, their contribution to the development of the nation was to practice their profession without fear, favoritism, and bias while upholding the law at all times.
“All persons who hold the mallet (hammer) whether as judges or auctioneers are regulated by the constitution of the land and other laws.”
“There are temptations for wrongdoing that come with most offices and professions. Yours is no exception. The only way of escaping the tag of corruption and incompetence is your ability to discharge the dictates of your license with integrity and competence,” the Chief Justice said.
He reminded the auctioneers that in as much as their work came with privileges, it also carried responsibilities.
“Be guided by the law. Avoid any unnecessary underhand dealings and shortcuts. The law regulating your practice has made provision for your remuneration and sanctions, which include being subject to criminal and civil prosecution. Be mindful and do the needful. Your profession is a noble one.”
Mr Okine, in his inaugural address, said The Professional Auctioneers Society, Ghana, would become a beacon of hope to all auctioneers in the country and solve challenges facing the industry.
“The Professional Auctioneering Society, Ghana will modernize auctioneering. It will be a vital force, a new and dynamic body to assume full responsibilities for the coordination of all aspects of research and learning and ready to represent auctioneers in any government activity in the country,” he said.
Mr Kweku Y. Paintsil, a private legal practitioner, who chaired the function, formally launched The Professional Auctioneers Society, Ghana
The Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, has revealed that plans are underway to ensure the operationalisation of the Komenda Sugar Factory before the end of 2021.
The minister made this known while answering questions on the subject in Parliament on Thursday, July 22, 2021.
According to him, the transaction advisor has been asked to ensure the roadmap for the opening of the factory is finalized by the end of August 2021.
“I have instructed the transaction advisor to ensure that the condition precedent to the concession agreement and the roadmap for the opening of the factory is finalized by the end of August 2021 to enable operational activities at the factory to commence before the end of the year,” Alan Kyerematen said.
A Ghanaian-Indian company, Park Agrotech Ghana Limited, is the new investor who will take over the operations of the factory.
The government in 2019 said the company was expected to inject $28 million into the factory between 2020 and 2023.
$11 million was to go into sugarcane cultivation, $6 million to upgrade plant and machinery and $11 million as working capital to bring the ailing factory back on its feet.
The Ghana-based company is a subsidiary of the Skylark Group of Companies of India, one of the largest integrated farming businesses in India.
The Komenda Sugar Factory was built at a cost of $35 million from an Indian EXIM Bank facility.
It was inaugurated by then-President John Mahama in May 2016.
A group called the Concerned Citizens of the Komenda Traditional Area is sceptical about the Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen’s promise toensure the operationalization of the Komenda Sugar Factory before the end of 2021.
Convenor of the Group, Samuel Awudzah said he is not optimistic that the factory will be operationalized anytime soon, as the government had failed to fulfil similar promises in the past.
“We’ve heard this before. We do not believe the mere rhetoric coming from him [Alan Kyerematen]. The only thing that will make us believe him is when the factory is actually working,” Mr. Awudzah said on Eyewitness News.
Defunct Komenda Sugar Factory
Giving a vivid picture of the state of the Komenda Sugar Factory, Mr. Awudzah said: “you cannot see the silver colour of the building again. It has turned brown. The place is weedy, and it is just recently that they cleared the weeds.”
It was estimated that the factory could employ 7,300 people along the value chain, boosting employment prospects in Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem municipality.
But the factory has developed a reputation as a white elephant after not being fully operational for the past five years.
In June 2020, the government said the ban on foreign travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic affected the processes of reviving the Komenda Sugar Factory.
In June 2019, Cabinet approved Park Agrotech as the strategic investor to revive the factory after a technical audit by Price Waterhouse Coopers.
Park Agrotech was named as the strategic investor in the project, with a financial commitment of US$28 million.
“I have instructed the transaction advisor to ensure that the condition precedent to the concession agreement and the roadmap for the opening of the factory is finalized by the end of August 2021 to enable operational activities at the factory to commence before the end of the year,” Alan Kyerematen to Parliament on July 22, 2021.
Ghanaian singer and LGBTQ+ rights advocate Sister Deborah has described the new LGBT bill drafted by the MP for Ningo–Prampram Sam George and 7 other MPs as one to “only score political points”.
The bill, which seeks to criminalize LGBTQ+ identification and advocacy in Ghana has sparked several conversations on the freedom and rights of queer people in Ghana.
After a draft of the bill was leaked on Thursday, July 22, social media has been buzzing.
Reacting to the feedback, Sam George on Twitter stated that he is happy that the bill has received positive feedback and support.
According to him, homosexuality is not a human right, hence, the lawmakers of Ghana will do everything in their power to push the bill through.
“I have been overwhelmed by the massive support even here on a very ‘liberal’ platform like Twitter for our Bill on the LGBTQI+ menace. Homosexuality is NOT a human right. It is a sexual preference. Preferences are not absolute or unregulated. We SHALL pass this Bill through,” he tweeted.
Reacting to the tweet, Sister Derby called the lawmaker “shameful” for trying to pass a bill that seeks to cause harm to queer people.
“You are only doing this to score political points forgetting the harm you are causing queer folk. Tell us what else you will personally gain from passing this bill if not political points??? Shame on you!” Sister Derby replied to Sam George’s tweet.
In another tweet, she wrote “You are rather full of perversion. So obsessed with people’s sexual orientation. Shame on you, you backward thinker!!!”
Two out of three persons remanded into police custody by a Ho District Magistrate Court 1 for the unlawful possession of firearms have been identified as the same persons who broke into an electrical appliance shop at Mamfe Akwapem in the Eastern region on the night of Sunday, July 4, 2021.
The accused persons Nervis Otu Laryea, 33, Ebenezer Osei aged 38, and Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, 37 were arrested on July 6, by a police Rapid Deployment Force patrol team along the Kpando-Have road onboard a Toyota Corolla with registration number AC 1621-18.
After a thorough search by the police, three foreign pistols with 40 rounds of 9mm ammunition, two Toshiba laptops, and 27 assorted mobiles phones were found in the car.
All 27 mobiles phones had price tags, while other items including two hoody pullovers were retrieved from the suspects.
During police interrogation, suspect Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak told the police that he obtained the mobile phones from a man he does not know at Alavanyo Wudidi in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta region. He, however, failed to provide any receipts for the transaction.
Meanwhile, suspects Nervis Otu Laryea and Ebenezer Osei claimed to have offered a lift to suspect Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak on their way from Alavanyo, where suspect Ebenezer Osei claimed to had gone to visit a shrine for spiritual assistance in his business.
Further investigation by the police revealed that the Toyota Corolla with registration number AC 1621-18 was also acquired by suspect Nervis Otu Laryea at Afienya from someone from Togo but without documents.
But after media publication of the arrest, a team of police officers and a shop owner (name withheld) from Mamfe Akwapem in the Eastern region, followed up to Ho and identified the mobile phones as stolen items in an operation that took place two days earlier before the arrest of the three in the Volta region.
The public relations officer of the Volta regional police command, Sgt. Prince Dogbatse, told Starr news’ Faisel Abdul-Iddrisu that two of the suspects have admitted taking part in the operation.
“Two of the suspects -Nervis Otu Laryea and Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak who are in custody have admitted that they were involved in breaking into the electrical appliances shop in Mamfe Akwapem in the Eastern region where they made away with 60 assorted mobile phones, two sets of a 32′ inches flatscreen television and two sets of a 42′ inches flatscreen television.”
He added that “by their own admission, the operation conducted by four of them, including one Evans and David who are currently at large. The owner of the shop who came here in the company of the police has provided serial numbers that correspond with all 27 phones retrieved from the accused. The three foreign pistols retrieved from them were also used by David, Mubarak, and Laryea on the night of the burglary.”
Sgt. Dogbatse, however, stated that the police are yet to establish the involvement of the third suspect, Ebenezer Osei in the crime as investigations continue ahead of their next appearance in court scheduled for Tuesday, 17th August 2021
Former Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Small Scale Mining, Charles Onuawonto Bissue has petitioned the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) over the Anas Aremuyaw Anas expose that led to his exit from office.
Although details of the petition are not readily available, sources say the petition among other things explains the circumstances leading to his recording by someone who had sought to compromise his fight against corruption.
He had argued that he was set up by a team member he had sacked for corruption.
According to him, one Francis Owusu Akyaw who was introduced to him by former Science and Environment Minister, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng set him up because he had refused to accede to his constant request to engage in illegal mining.
“Prof. introduced him to me as a geologist, later I found out he was none of that. Along the line, he kept pestering me that we should get some concession and engage in illegal mining. I told him I stood for none of that because my commitment to the job won’t allow me to compromise myself. I believed in the mandate given me by the President and I wanted to deliver on it so eventually, I sacked him from that office”, he said.
Speaking on Starr Chat Wednesday he added: “I’ve known for two years that the video of me taking money was a setup. If you’re asking that we do mining illegally and I refuse as your buddy, it’s obvious I’m an impediment”
The Police CID which investigated allegations of corruption against Mr. Bissue in July 2019 cleared him of any wrongdoing.
“Mr. Bissue was not found to be culpable of any offense, a parallel investigation by the office of Special Prosecutor is however still ongoing,” the Graphic quoted the police report as saying. The report also reportedly cleared all individuals captured in the Anas video taking bribes
Haiti’s murdered president, Jovenel Moïse, has been laid to rest today, July 23, 2021, more than two weeks after he was assassinated in a late-night raid.
Pallbearers in military attire carried late Haitian President Jovenel Moise’s body in a closed wooden coffin as his funeral got underway.
Moïse’s casket was draped with the Haitian flag and adorned with white flowers.
The bearers placed the polished casket on a dais garlanded with flowers in an auditorium. Four stood guard as a Roman Catholic priest blessed the coffin and a Haitian flag was unfurled.
Among those in attendance were Helen La Lime, special representative of the U.N. secretary-general for Haiti. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, is leading a delegation from the United States.
Ahead of the funeral, there was tension in Haiti’s north, where Moïse was born as demonstrators set up roadblocks and demanded accountability for the president’s death.
The Associated Press reported that one man appeared to have been shot dead Wednesday in Quartier-Morin, a commune outside Cap-Haïtien.
In the early hours of July 7, gunmen stormed into his home and shot him dead. Moïse’s widow, Martine Moïse, also sustained injuries in the attack that killed her husband.
Police have arrested more than 20 people, including two Haitian Americans and several former Colombian soldiers, but the precise motive for the killing remains unclear.
The assassination also led to confusion about who would lead Haiti in the event of a president’s death, with three politicians claiming they were the rightful leader. On Tuesday, Ariel Henry was sworn in as the country’s new prime minister after interim prime minister Claude Joseph agreed to step aside.
Eight of the remaining 26 persons who have been charged in Western Togoland Restoration Front case have pleaded not guilty to eleven charges.
The accused persons, John Gbedemah, Godwin Awudza, Gabriel Godfred Govina, Benjamin Gbadago, Excel Liberty Aheto Kuegbesika, Divine Nyadzinyor, and Richard Doglo Ametepe are part of the 26 persons arraigned last Monday, but had plea reserved for today.
Seven of them have since been remanded into prisons custody to reappear before a vacation judge on August 10.
In court on Friday, July 23, before Justice Mary Maame Ekue Nsenkyire, the accused persons were charged with an offense to wit; being members of a prohibited organization, attending meetings of prohibited organization, and accepting contribution of a prohibited organization.
Lawyers of the accused persons were asked by the court to make a formal application for bail after prosecution prayed that, the accused persons be remanded into lawful custody.
However, Godwin Awudza, the second accused person was admitted to bail in the sum of GHc200,000 with two sureties to be justified on health grounds.
The sureties the court said must deposit their valid national Identification Card to the registrar of the court.
The prosecution was ordered to file disclosures and witness statements within two weeks.
Last Monday, July 19, the State dropped charges of treason against the accused persons, when the fresh charges were read to the first batch of 17 who were arraigned.
This was after the Accra High Court (differently constituted) was informed by state prosecutors that, the charge of Treason has been withdrawn with new charges pressed against the accused persons.
As it stands, 26 persons out of the remaining 38 that the Attorney General’s Department had advised to be charged have been brought to court.
Earlier, sets of 11 and 38 totaling 49 were respectively discharged by the Kaneshie District Court upon the AG’s advice on the case docket.
Some journalists following the Ashanti Regional Minister’s tour of that part of Ghana have been involved in a road crash at Pakyi No2.
The vehicle carrying seven journalists from UTV, Daily Graphic, The Multimedia Group, Wontumi FM, Ash FM, among others, was in the Minister’s convoy when it crashed today, Friday, 23 July 2021.
The Regional Minister, Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, had inspected work on the Obuasi-Anwia Nkwanta road and was returning to the regional capital, Kumasi, to continue the tour.
The accident occurred when a private Nissan saloon car with registration number GN-6280-15 rammed the press bus with registration number GT-9695-19.
The journalists were rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for medical attention.
One of the journalists with UTV, who had serious injuries, is still on admission while the rest, in addition to the driver of the press bus, have been treated and discharged
Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has urged the Ghana Olympic Team to make the nation proud as the Tokyo, Japan games begin today, July 23, 2021.
Ghana’s contingent is made up of some 14 athletes representing the country in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Dr Bawumia in a tweet shared on Friday, July 23 extended his best wishes to the Ghanaian athletic team who will partake in different sports at the games.
“As the Olympic Games start in Tokyo today [July 23, 2021], I extend my best wishes to the Ghanaian athletes representing our country at the tournament. Ghana is solidly behind you” the vice president wrote.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s contingent has already made its way through the opening ceremony parade. Nadia Eke led the team as the flagbearer with a delegation of other athletes and team coaches.
The team don white clothes with a touch of Kente to represent Ghana as they marched triumphantly into the stadium, waving flags.
Some notable names part of the Ghana Olympic team are Benjamin Azamanti, Safo Ansah, Joseph Oduro, Samuel Takyi, Christian Amoah, Unilez Takyi, Joseph Paul Amoah, Sean Sarfo Antwi, Emmanuel Yeboah, Sulemana Tetteh, Shakul Samed, Kwadjo Anjani and Abeku Jackson all representing Ghana.
As the world is battling the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic opening ceremony had a beautifully choreographed spectacle from the host country, Japan, with a touch of celebrating its art and traditions in a virtually empty stadium to depict the current times.
Former President John Dramani Mahama in his 2021 Eid-ul-Adha message said there is the need for Ghanaians to be reminded of the value of obedience and sacrifice as Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Adha across the world.
The former President also sent a specific message to Muslims in the Bole-Bamboi constituency of the Savannah stating that he has always cherished their support over the years and that they should continue to pray for him in all his endeavours.
The message former President Mahama to the Chiefs, Queenmothers, the Imams and the people of the Bole-Bamboi constituency was delivered by the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bole-Bamboi constituency Alhaji Yussif Sulemana on Bole based Nkilgi FM on the 2021 Eid-ul-Adha day.
The Bole MP said; “former President John Dramani Mahama who is from Bole here has asked me to tell the good people of Bole-Bamboi Constituency that he has not forgotten of the good things they have done for him over the years and that Inshah Allah (God willing) he is likely to come back to contest elections in his party and so they should use this special Eid-ul-Adha day to thank God and to ask for good health, success and victory for him”.
Former President John Dramani Mahama is extremely popular and always receiving massive votes in his home constituency of Bole-Bamboi where he effectively served as the MP for 12 years (1997 – 2009) before rising to become a Vice-President and President of the Republic of Ghana.
In the 2020 Presidential elections John Dramani Mahama polled 30,443 out of 38,392 valid votes representing almost 80% of the votes of the Bole-Bamboi constituency.
This is in contrast to President Akufo-Addo’s 21,872 votes out of 32,196 valid votes representing almost 68% in his Abuakwa South backyard.
Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General – Ghana Health Service
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has warned that the country is at risk of experiencing a third wave of COVID-19 infections if the current surge and community spread continue.
The GHS said currently, “15 out of the 16 regions have active cases of COVID-19, with 3,608 active cases as at July 18,2021.”
There has been increased in severe and critical cases with about 300 daily infections while the cumulative cases stood at 99,979 and 1.4 million tests conducted so far.
The positivity rate stood at 7.2 per cent, 29 severe cases, 139 moderate to mild cases, with 818 deaths.
Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of GHS, addressing the media in Accra, to provide update on the Covid-19 situation, said there was a gradual increase in Covid-19 cases in the past few weeks, especially in some communities in Accra and Kumasi.
Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has asserted that Parliament will do all it can to pass the controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill to criminalise the act.
This comes after portions of the 36-page proposal was shared on various social media platforms with varied sentiments already making rounds on some sections of the bill proposal.
Among some of the actions contained in “The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values, Bill 2021” proposal will see culprits face a jail term of up to ten years depending on the crime if passed in its current state.
Additionally, individuals of the same sex who engage in sexual intercourse will be “liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than seven hundred and fifty penalty units and not more than five thousand penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment of not less than three years and not more than five years or both.”
This means that any person who “holds out as a lesbian, a gay, a transgender, a transsexual, a queer, a pansexual, an ally, a non-binary or any other sexual or gender identity that is contrary to the binary categories of male and female.” commits an offence.
While there’s an ongoing public discourse on portions of the bill proposal, the Ningo Prampram lawmaker, Sam George has reiterated that homosexuality is “not a human right but a sexual preference” hence the need to criminalise the act.
In a tweet shared on Friday, July 23, 2021, Sam George wrote, “I have been overwhelmed by the massive support even here on a very ‘liberal’ platform like Twitter for our Bill on the LGBTQI+ menace. Homosexuality is NOT a human right. It is a sexual preference. Preferences are not absolute or unregulated. We SHALL pass this Bill through”
Meanwhile, Section 14 of the bill is proposing the prohibition of funding or sponsorship for LGBTQ+-related activities.
This would, however, “prohibit a person who funds or sponsors an activity prohibited under the Act commits an offence and is liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment of not less than five years and not more than ten years.”
Aside from these, the Bill is also proposing the disbandment of all LGBTQ+ groups, societies, associations, clubs and organizations. All groups in existence before the Bill came into existence and are intended to promote such activities are to be disbanded among others.
THE ASOKWA District Court in Kumasi yesterday, once again remanded the three persons who were arrested in connection with the murder of Ibrahim Mohammed, aka ‘Macho Kaaka’, a social media activist at Ejura.
The trio namely Fuseini Alhassan, Issaka Ibrahim and Idi Mohammed, believed to be the brother of the deceased, appeared before the court charged with conspiracy and murder.
The prosecution had told the court, presided over by Her Worship Akua Adu Boahene that it needed more time to finish its investigations so the case should be adjourned.
The court was convinced by the passionate appeal made by the prosecution team so it remanded the three suspects into police custody to reappear on August 12, 2021.
How Kaaka Was Killed
Kaaka, a loyal member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ejura, in the Ejura/Sekyedumase District of the Ashanti Region, was attacked on June 26 and he died on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi on June 28.
He was said to be returning home at a later hour, when he was allegedly ambushed by his killers, who for reasons best to known to themselves, attacked him till he became unconscious and was rushed to the Ejura Government Hospital before being referred to KATH where he died.
Violent Scenes
Following Macho Kaaka’s death on Monday, June 28, the irate youth on Tuesday, June 29, clashed with the military cum police on the streets of Ejura, leaving two more people (Abdul Nasir Yussif and Murtala Mohammed) dead and four others injured.
The four that got injured were first sent to the Ejura Government Hospital where two were treated and discharged but the others were referred to the KATH for further treatment.
Public Enquiry
To help bring lasting peace in Ejura and stop the reoccurrence of the troubles, President Akufo-Addo ordered the Minister of the Interior, Ambrose Dery, to set up a committee to publicly probe the incident.
The minister then set up a three-member committee chaired by Court of Appeal judge, Justice George Kingsley Koomson, with Security Analyst, Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso, and the Executive Director of Penplusbytes, Juliet Amoah for civil society organisations, while Marie Louise Simmons, a Principal State Attorney, served as secretary to the committee.
The committee has been working on the incident and in total, 22 people from various backgrounds, particularly from Ejura, and some security and public officials have appeared before the committee.
Peace Efforts
In a related development, the Chief of Ejura, Barima Osei Hwedie II, seemed determined to work assiduously to help bring lasting peace in Ejura and the surrounding communities.
As part of his efforts, the traditional leader on Wednesday, engaged the Ejura community where he appealed for calm in the area as they await the report of the committee
The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Mavis Hawa Koomson has assured that the Elmina Fish Processing Plant will be revamped soon.
The plant, commissioned in 2016 by former President Mahama has remained closed for years, following some technical challenges.
But speaking to the media after answering questions from the MP for Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem Samuel Atta-Mills, the minister disclosed the Indian government pledged financial support to replace the faulty equipment to ensure resuscitation of the factory.
She said, “… and so there were some few monies left in the account that they have decided to release for the works of the plant to be operational.”
“I’m waiting for the consultant, he’s currently in India and I’m told he’ll be coming in August, so when he arrives. Without him, we cannot do anything on the plant. He started the project and he knows what the issues are. Himself and the contractor.”
She added that “they promised to come hereby 15th of August. The ambassador is ready to release the funds but he can’t just release the funds because it’s funding that was released to Ghana and when we see the consultant and he writes his report, based on his report is what the ambassador will use to release the funds for the ministry to do the work.”
She affirmed her assurance to ensure the plant was revamped saying “yes, I said yes because when I had the interaction with the ambassador, he gave me the assurance. I know some of the funding was still in the account, but we can’t just go in for it because it’s not our money per sey. They also wanted to know if the remaining money can cover everything.”
On whether the project was her ministry’s priority, she indicated “yes, it is because it’s going to serve a lot of people in the central region. Apart from storing the fish, they would also be producing ice blocks and through that, we can also create jobs for the youth in the area.”
“it’s not the only cold house that I’m working on. All the cold houses around the country are what I’m trying to take charge of. As we speak, the Prampram one has been revamped” she noted
Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyeremanten, has told Parliament that the government has through the implementation of the one District one Factory (1D1F) programme created 150,975 since it was started in 2017.
The Minister also noted that so far, 278 factories are at various stages of implementation.
“Since the beginning of the programme till date, there are 278 1D1F projects which are at various stages of implementation. Out of this number, 104 companies are currently in operation, 150 are under construction and 24 are at the mobilization stage. 165 out of the 278 companies are new projects, representing 60%, whilst 113 companies are existing projects that are being supported, representing 40%,” he said.
The Trade Minister added that over 280,000 jobs would be created if all the factories are completed.
“The companies that are currently operational have created a total number of 150,975 direct and indirect jobs. When the additional 150 companies under construction are completed, the cumulative number of direct and indirect jobs that would be created will amount to 282,792.”
The ID1F initiative is a key component of the industrial transformation agenda of the NPP government.
The programme seeks to address the challenge of severe poverty and underdevelopment among rural communities, through the establishment of an institutional framework that will attract private sector investments in rural development activities.
It also seeks to promote local participation in economic development and encourage new community-based public/private partnerships.
The initiative aims to achieve this through a massive private sector-led nationwide industrialization drive, which will equip and empower communities to utilise their local resources in manufacturing products that are in high demand both locally and internationally.
Ghana spent over 53 million cedis in evacuating some stranded Ghanaians during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The amount covered airfare, quarantine, food, and insurance.
This was revealed by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey in parliament while answering questions from North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
The minister further disclosed in total, some 10,025 stranded Ghanaians were evacuated during the exercise that spanned between May 23, 2020 and September 18, 2020.
Speaking on the floor of parliament, the Foreign Affairs Minister said “It would be recalled that cabinet at its meeting on Friday 22nd May 2020 approved a strategy paper presented by the ministry of foreign affairs and regional integration with a further directive to develop an evacuation implementation plan for the evacuation of Ghanaians who had become stranded in other countries across the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“The implementation plan was put into effect on the 23rd of May 2020 in close collaboration with the COVID-19 task force to bring home these stranded Ghanaians.”
She added: “before proceeding to provide details of the evacuation exercise, I wish to place on record that the evacuation exercise was executed in collaboration with other government agencies. As such, the information I will provide this august house particularly those regarding amounts spent by the government on the quarantine of evacuees were provided to my ministry by the national security secretariat which was in charge of quarantine.”
She revealed that the evacuation exercise was grouped into four categories namely; ability to pay, government-funded evacuation, distressed and the destitute, and deportees and returnees.”
She told the House that “the sums of GHC8,725,000 and $1,866,934 were approved by the government to cater for the cost of quarantine and air tickets of stranded Ghanaians in China and the UAE respectively.”
“In addition, 475, 895 was expended on the evacuation of stranded Ghanaians in West and Central Africa.”
She disclosed that “the government of Ghana also spent a sum of GHC44,460,530 on quarantine of various evacuees in eighty-five hotels spread across Accra, Prampram, Bolgatanga, Takoradi, and Kasoa. The cost of hotel accommodation for the evacuees included three meals and water per day for the fourteen-day quarantine.”
The amount spent on airfare for evacuees from the UAE, China was $463,118. Those from West and Central Africa was $475,895, whiles the rest from Lebanon was $634,150, totaling $1,573,163.
The total expenditure that was borne by the government on the quarantine for 650 evacuees from the UAE was GHC3,500,000, 517 persons from China was GHC4, 725,000, 506 persons from West and Central Africa; GHC2,156,000 whiles those from Europe and other parts of Africa totaled GHC 13,006,000
Also, insurance for the Ghana Airforce Charter c 295 that was used to evacuate Ghanaians was 73,530. That for 2,350 evacuees from Lebanon was GHC21,000,000. The total of expenditure on quarantine borne by government amounted to GHC44, 460,530.
The minister noted that some private individuals also made donations to support the effort of the government including the MP for Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong, who donated $428,000, and a personal donation of 200,000 to support evacuation from Lebanon.”
Also, a GHC200,000 cash donation was given Sethi Brothers to subsidize the cost of quarantine from evacuees from the UK.
She added that “the countries from which our compatriots were evacuated included the UAE, UK, South Korea, USA, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, China, Israel, Kuwait, Germany, Qatar, Japan, Ukraine, Canada, Netherlands, and Egypt.”
Others were from “Nigeria, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Benin, Cote D Ivoire Turkey, India, Togo, Ethiopia, Senegal, Angola, Kenya, Belgium, and Russia.
The rest were Cuba, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, The Gambia, and Libya.”
Airlines used included KLM, Ethiopia Airlines, Middle East Airlines, and Emirates.”
The Ghana Airforce plane was used to transport evacuees from West and Central African Countries
The Management of Takoradi Technical University may not be able to undertake their second-semester examination following an injunction secured by two rusticated students.
Starrfm.com.gh has gathered that the Sekondi High Court suggests the two aggrieved students through their lawyers secured an interlocutory injunction to stop TTU from undertaken examination for Higher National Diploma (HND) LEVEL 300 students of the Procurement department.
One of the uncles to the students, Kingsley Fredricks, who confirmed the court injunction told Empire News’ Emmanuel Ohene-Gyan several attempts to get a fair hearing for his sibling was unsuccessful after the TTU failed to respond to a petition they sent early this month (July) 2021.
Constance Asante together with her other colleagues were handed two semesters of rustication for misconduct among other things planning a demonstration against the school, unlawful usage of TTU’s school logo.
However, when contacted, Registrar of Takoradi Technical University Dr Moses Maclean Abnory said the school is yet to be served with the writ.
TTU is expected to commence its second-semester examination on Friday, July 23, 2021.
Rahman lived with his missing girlfriend for 11 years in the same house with his family but none recognised.
A woman who was reported missing for 11 years has been found living with her boyfriend 500 meters away from her parent’s house.
According to the couple, they kept their relationship a secret because of their religious differences.
In 2010, 18-year-old Sajitha was reported missing from her home in Ayalur village in India. However, it turns out that she has been hiding in her boyfriend’s house, located only 500 meters away from her house.
According to Indian Express, Sajitha lived with her boyfriend for over a decade. Although her boyfriend, Rahman lived with his mother, they kept the charade going for 11 years.
Rahman always locked his bedroom and would react violently whenever someone tried to enter his room. He preferred eating inside his room.
Sajitha entertained herself with the TV in his room and wore headphones to muffle the noise. When the others went to work, Sajiha would come out of the room to stretch her legs.
Three months ago, Rahman fought with his family when they tried to find him a bride. So he left the house with his girlfriend to another village to start a new life.
Unfortunately, his brother found them, and that was when the truth about Sajitha’s was also exposed.
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mr Joseph Osei Wusu has said the Member of Parliament for Tamale North Alhassan Suhuyini who petitioned the Speaker against his colleague lawmaker for Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong will appear before the Privileges Committee to testify.
Speaking to journalists in Parliament on Thursday, July 23, the Bekwai lawmaker said the matter will be heard as if it is a court trying an accused person.
“It is a member (Alhassan Suhuyini) of the House who petitioned the Speaker so it is the petitioner who will appear before us. If the petitioner decides that he needs somebody else to assist him to prosecute his case, why not.
“Remember that when it comes to the privileges committee, it is more or less a trial so our process is no different from the court.
Whatever or however you put your case, you will be guided by the rules of the house, nothing else.
“A committee of parliament is only a committee of parliament, we make recommendations to the House so yes, under the rules of parliament whichever recommendations that are permissible under the rules can be made by the committee, decisions are made by the committee.”
Meanwhile, Mr Suhuyini has said he felt obliged to raise the issues against his colleague Member of Parliament for Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong on the floor of the House because of his background as a journalist.
This comes after Speaker Alban Bagbin has referred Mr Agyapong to the Privileges Committee of Parliament for his utterances against a journalist with the Multimedia Group, Erastus Asare Donkor.
Mr Agyapong on Friday, July 9, is reported to have allegedly threatened to attack Mr Asare Donkor, “for the journalistic work that the latter undertook during the recent shootings and killing incident at Ejura” on his television station.
The Multimedia Group filed a formal complaint against Mr Agyapong.
On Wednesday, July 14, Alhassan Suhuyini raised the issue on the floor of the house and asked the Speaker to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee.
He said “Mr Speaker, I think that as a former journalist I feel obliged to draw the House’s attention to this conduct of an Honorable colleague of this house which in my view, brings this house into disrepute.
“Mr Speaker, I urge you to exercise your powers under 27 and refer this conduct of the Honorable which is becoming unacceptable, to the Privileges Committee to ascertain the veracity of the comments that were made and recommend sanctions if possible that will act as a deterrent to other members who may be tempted to act like him.”
In response to his request, the Speaker accordingly referred Mr Agyapong to the committee.
He said he cannot take a decision on Mr Agyapong over his utterances against a journalist in Ghana.
That decision to determine whether or not the conduct smacks of abuse of privileges, he said, rests with the lawmakers as a House, to take.
“As it is now, I am compelled to refer it to the Privileges Committee. I want to emphasize that it is the House that will take the decision, it is not the speaker, it is not any other person apart from the House.
“That will be your collective wisdom that come to the conclusion whether what is alleged is just a mere allegation or is supported by facts and whether those facts constitute contempt of the House and abuse of a privilege of members.
“It is important for me to emphasize here that the privilege and immunity of free speech apply in full force in plenary session and committee sessions, not when members are outside debating issues or on radio and TV. You don’t have that right, that privilege, that immunity to just say anything because you are a member of parliament.
“We are not above the law. It is for good reasons because you represent a large number of people, you should be given the full immunity to be able to say what the people say they want you to say. That is why you say it here and you are covered.
“That immunity doesn’t extend to you in anywhere else. So pleased the committee should go into the matter, submit the report.”
The Accra regional police command has launched an investigation into the murder of a 34-year-old man at Tantra Hill, Accra.
The physical instructor, Mr Stephen Akowuah, was shot dead around 1 am on Thursday, 22 July 2021 in his apartment.
The police said it received a distress call and responded accordingly.
Upon getting to the crime scene, the police said the caller directed its personnel to the room of the victim.
The said its personnel were informed that the three armed muscled men stormed into the residence and shot Mr Akowuah to death without any provocation.
They then ransacked other apartments and robbed the tenants of their mobile phones and various sums of money.
During the robbery, a tenant was hit on the head and sustained injuries.
The injured victim has been sent to the hospital for medical assistance while the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Police Hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy
• The Special Prosecutor nominee was vetted Thursday by the Appointments Committee of Parliament
• In less than an hour, his nomination has been approved by the Committee
• The Committee’s report will be laid before the House on Friday or next week Tuesday
The Appointments Committee of Parliament has recommended the nomination of Kissi Adjebeng as Special Prosecutor by consensus.
This comes after he was questioned for about 4 hours on Thursday, July 22, 2021.
According to the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joseph Osei Owusu, the members were pleased with the answers Kissi Adjebeng provided during his vetting, hence, his approval.null
“He (Kissi Adjebeng) met all the requirements that we were looking for in a nominee for the Office of the Special Prosecutor. So, the committee unanimously agreed to recommend him to the House for approval,” Joe Wise said.
He added that the Committee’s report will be laid before the House either on Friday, July 23, 2021, or next week Tuesday.
“We will put our recommendation [forward] for the House to determine whether to approve or disapprove of our recommendation. As to how other people view his [Kissi Agyebeng’s] answers, I’d rather leave it to them and stay within the rules to make recommendations to the House,” Joe Osei Owusu said.
Former Central Regional Chairman for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Allotey Jacobs says his prayer is that COP George Akuffo Dampare will not be changed by the system.
According to him, the Dampare he has known is a professional Police Officer who discharges his duties earnestly and has gone through the ranks until his current position.
He believes that he will deliver and make a great impact if no hidden hand controls him while he is in office.null
“He’s a professional policeman and he respects everyone regardless of your age. When he was the ADC, he always found a way of talking to party people so that they don’t get angry…I’ve known him, he’s a very good man, the word good can be ascribed to George Dampare but I hope the system will not in a way change his life.
“He’s gone through all the ranks to get to where he is now and I think that he was the second in succession so you can’t add politics as an ingredient to his appointment. There are bad nuts and the police is a hard organization because it’s a service but we hope he can make a change and the change will reflect in our social life and we will be protected against armed robbery,” he said on Asempa FM.
As part of his ‘Let’s Make Accra Work’ campaign, Greater Accra Regional Minister Henry Quartey, is rallying support from both aisles of parliament to push for the passage of a by-law to compel households, individuals and institutions, to be responsible for keeping their immediate environments clean.
Commenting on the move, the Executive Director of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), Prof H Kwasi Prempeh, said: “In the business of doing what whole Ministries for the Beautification of the Capital City, etc. couldn’t do”, the initiative by the regional minister “proves that it does not take the creation of new ministries or agencies or authorities or offices to solve old problems”.
For example, he wondered, “why do we have to establish a new so-called Hydraulic Authority – with a board, etc., etc., – to solve our perennial flooding problem, when we can have the relevant RCC hammer out a plan between NADMO, the Fire Service, Field Engineers Regiment, EPA, and MMDAs”.
Prof Prempeh noted: “Henry Quartey’s focus on bringing some order and discipline to our capital city’s chaotic and ugly built environment marks him out as one politician who gets the big importance of seemingly ‘small’ things”.
“He would be my choice for Accra’s first elected mayor”, Prof Prempeh said.
Joshua Emuah Kofie, the petitioner who is challenging the eligibility of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Jomoro, has prayed the Court of Appeal to strike out the MP’s application for a stay of execution.
The opposition NDC MP, Dorcas Afo Toffey, had been ordered by a Sekondi High Court to produce documents of her renunciation of Ivorian citizenship but the MP said the trial judge was wrong in giving the order and appealed against the decision.
The petitioner is challenging the MP, Dorcas Afo Toffey, to produce documents showing that she indeed renounced her Ivorian citizenship before filing to contest the 2020 parliamentary election, at a Sekondi High Court.
The High Court recently ordered the Jomoro MP to produce her renunciation certificate in 10 days after the MP had admitted that she had an Ivorian citizenship but renounced it prior to contesting the last parliamentary election.
However, Ms. Afo Toffey filed a writ on June 29, 2021 praying the court to set aside the order by the Sekondi High Court.
On her grounds of appeal, the MP indicated that the Sekondi High Court presided over by Justice Dr. Richmond Osei Hwere, erred in law when he made the order to produce for inspection or copying the renunciation certificate of her Ivorian citizenship.
She noted that the High Court wrongly exercised its discretion in ordering her to produce the certificate of renunciation because she said the petitioner failed to establish the necessity for the production of the certificate.
She also stated that it was erroneous the misapprehension on the part of the High Court that the renunciation of citizenship must necessarily be documentary.
The petitioner has also responded to the writ filed by the MP, saying it is rather bizarre for the MP to try to evade the directive by the Sekondi High Court, to produce the document to prove her case.
He stated that contrary to the deposition in the MP’s affidavit in support, he is resolute that there has been no misplacement of the burden of proof by the Sekondi High Court as the appellant alleged.
The petitioner averred that the appellant, who has clearly indicated that she has indeed renounced her Ivorian citizenship in November 2019, should be able to adhere to the court’s orders to produce any such certificate of renunciation.
“The applicant has woefully failed to establish any exceptional and/or special circumstances, to warrant a stay of execution of the Sekondi High Court’s order to produce the document,” he further averred, adding “by reason of the matters aforesaid, I pray the court to dismiss the application as being not only frivolous and vexatious, but devoid of any merit.”
Kissi Agyebeng tells the Appointments Committee of Parliament that he is no surrogate of anybody and that he is his own man
Kissi Agyebeng, the Special Prosecutor nominee has said he was never involved in the Agyapa transaction.
Agyebeng says he considers those making such claims as coming from an uninformed position.
In April this year, Martin Amidu, the former Special Prosecutor described Agyebeng as a surrogate of people who defended the controversial Agyapa Mineral royalties transaction.
Amidu said he is looking forward to “see how independently and impartially” Agyebeng will handle the Agyapa Royalties Transaction.
“Anybody deeply knowledgeable about the Agyapa Royalties Transaction Corruption Risk Assessment report which resulted in my eventual resignation as the first Special Prosecutor knows that one of the beneficiaries of the Agyapa Royalties Transaction is Africa Legal Associates whose contract to participate in the transaction was found to be contrary to the Public Procurement Act and tainted by bid rigging.
“Until 20th March 2020 Agyapa Royalties Limited was incorporated as Asaase Royalties Limited on 5th November 2019 in Jersey, the United Kingdom. Anybody who cares to know, knows that the alter ego of Africa Legal Associates is a cousin of the President who also established Asaase Radio which began official transmission on 14th June 2020.
“The Agyapa Royalties Transaction records show the role the President’s cousin who established Africa Legal Associates, and Asaase Radio played with White & Case LLP, of London, one of the foreign law firms in the suspected corruption transaction,” Amidu wrote.
But reacting to this assertion by the former Special Prosecutor, Agyebeng told the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Thursday that “…whoever says I’m a surrogate of a law firm, implicate me in the Agyapa transaction clearly does not know me because if you know me you wouldn’t make such allegation. And so all these things that came up, I took it as coming from uninformed position because I was not involved in Agyapa transaction in any form or manner or any stretch of the imagination however fertile.
“As for relationships as I just disclosed, if I was so close to you at some point in our lives does not mean you will give me a free pass because of that relationship and that is why I’m here…if there is a matter I’m not going to say because I know one person or the other I’m going to give the person a free pass. I will certainly investigate because the truth of the matter ought to be told,” Agyebeng said.
He added, “I wasn’t involved in the deal; I was nowhere near it. Indeed, until it started coming up, I didn’t even know what it was. For the record, that is the truth. So I’m no one’s surrogate. As I said earlier I’m my own man and I prefer to wear my own shoes
• Kissi Agyebeng is before the Appointments Committee of Parliament to be vetted as Special Prosecutor
• He has stated that he cannot stop corruption
• He explained that not even God can stop corruption
The Special Prosecutor nominee, Kissi Agyebeng, has said that there is no way he will be able to stop corruption in the country.
He explained that he has no power to be able to do, further stating that even for God, it will be difficult for him to claim to be able to do that.
“Honourable Chair, there was a reference made to heavy shoes of a known individual. Honourable Chair, I’d like to state that I’d prefer to wear my own shoes in the sense that I am my own man and I’m coming with my own experiences and professional training
“In this quest, my conscience and my learning of the law are going to be my guide,” he explained.
“My strategy is that, Honourable Chair, I’m not naive to assume that I’m coming to stop corruption. There is no way I can stop corruption. God, Himself, will not even acclaim to that but I’m going to make corruption very costly – very very costly to engage in,” he declared.
He was responding to a question posed him by Haruna Iddrisu, the Ranking Member on the Appointments Committee of Parliament, during his vetting.
The new Special Prosecutor nominee, Kissi Agyebeng, has declared that he will walk in his own shoes in the execution of his work.null
He explained that there is no pressure on him to walk in the shoes of anyone, and most especially that of his predecessor, Martin Amidu.
“Honourable Chair, there was a reference made to heavy shoes of a known individual. Honourable Chair, I’d like to state that I’d prefer to wear my own shoes in the sense that I am my own man and I’m coming with my own experiences and professional training
“In this quest, my conscience and my learning of the law are going to be my guide,” he explained.null
Kissi Agyebeng is before the Appointments Committee of Parliament to be vetted for Special Prosecutor per section 13 (8) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).
The Ministry of Health has dismissed a statement attributed to the sector minister to the effect that he will not resign his post after revelations at the ongoing inquiry by the nine-member bi-partisan committee of Parliament probing the Sputnik V vaccine procurement.null
“I wish to state unequivocally, the Minister of Health has nowhere made this statement and humbly beseech the general public to disregard this malicious and roguish agenda by some detractors,” a disclaimer issued by Communications Officer at the Ministry Naphtali Awuah Kyei-Baffour on Wednesday said.
Kwaku Agyeman-Manu has come under fire recently for revelations he made to the committee about the procurement of the vaccines.
He had told the Afenyo-Markin-chaired committee on Monday, July 19 that the times were not normal when he made the decision to engage an Emirati middleman to procure the Russian vaccines, which were overpriced for Ghana.null
“Those were not normal times and I was seriously in a situation that didn’t make me think properly, the way you think that now I will actually abreast myself with the situation,” he had told the committee.
This heightened calls for Mr Agyeman-Manu to resign from his post.
But the statement from the Ministry said: “The Hon. Minister of Health continues to remain resolute and poised to protect the lives of Ghanaians in this era of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Some eleven of the 23 universal banks operating in Ghana, have been given the green light by the Bank of Ghana to pay dividends to their shareholders for the 2020 financial year.
The central bank put a moratorium on the payment of dividends by the banks following the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on the economy since mid-March 2020.
The Deputy Head of Banking Supervision at the Bank of Ghana, Mr Ismail Adam, announced the decision at the UPSA Law School Quarterly Banking Roundtable webinar.
He said it is meant to help build a robust post-COVID-19 banking sector.
Some of the beneficiary banks such as Ecobank Ghana, GCB Bank and CAL Bank have already paid dividends to their shareholders.
Mr Adam said: “The idea is to make the institutions more robust and resilient such that they wouldn’t suffer because of the pandemic”.
“So, one of the main things we did was to say that we are putting a hold on payment of dividend so that we build enough capital to withstand the shocks that will emanate from the pandemic.”
“But it was not cast in stone”, he said.
“We also said that if you [banks] are meeting certain requirements, as we said, you will be allowed to pay dividend. So, as we speak, [of the] 23 banks that we have, I think eleven of them, which is almost 50%, we have given approval to them to pay some dividend”, he noted.
“From our interaction with the board, the issue came up and yesterday, I think I made that point somewhere, some were even threatening to take us to court for infringing their rights under the Companies Act”, he indicated
The Hon. deputy majority leader and MP for Efutu, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin has described the press conference held by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzato Ablakwa just after the response from the finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta as political mischief, political point-scoring, and propaganda.
He explained that the finance minister was clear in his answers by directing Mr. Ablakwa’s question to the national security minister instead of himself and the fact that the finance ministry releases funds to the various ministries and agencies does not mean that Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta must be the one to answer to all financial questions under every ministry or sector, be it Works and Housing Ministry or Sanitation and water resources ministry.
The deputy majority leader used the occasion to urge Mr. Okudzato Ablakwa to use the Parliamentary platform under the rules of the House to file a question specifically to the national security minister to appear before the House and provide details on the expenses with respect to President’s travels to Belgium, France, and South Africa.
Mr. Afenyo further added that the North Tongu MP was just out of order, especially where the Rt Hon Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin overruled all supplementary questions which were asked by Mr. Ablakwa, clearly shows that, there were no reasonable follow-up questions which could attract Speaker’s attention but to rule all supplementary question out and allows Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta to go.
He made these remarks in a press conference yesterday soon after Mr. Samuel Okudzato Ablakwa had finished addressing his dissatisfaction and disappointment over the answers provided by the finance minister, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta at the plenary
A 31-year-old nurse at the Zebilla Hospital in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region, Ishmael Bashiru Pumi, popularly known as Prince, has died after a gunshot received from suspected armed robbers at about 2am on Tuesday.
The Ghana News Agency (GNA) gathered that the Nurse, who was driving from Bolgatanga to Zebilla, unknowingly drove into an ongoing robbery incident at the Tilli forest where armed men, suspected to be Fulanis, blocked the road with their cattle and robbed their victims.
Paul Asio, a close friend of the late nurse, who was in the car with him, told the GNA that Pumi on reaching the robbery scene, tried to by-pass an articulated truck parked on the road unknown to them the occupants of the truck, a driver and three mates were being robbed.
“When we were approaching the truck, I told Prince that it was a broken down vehicle so he should be careful. Immediately we by-passed it, the Fulani people shot directly into the head of Prince. He lost control, and the car stopped. I lowered down myself so the bullet grazed my forehead,” he narrated.
He said the robbers were about five in number, with two holding guns, “They came to the car, pulled Prince out, in a pool of blood, they pulled me out, searched our bags took our monies and phones.
“When they saw the way Prince was bleeding one of the robbers spoke the Kusaal language saying that they should give my phone back to me to call for Prince to be taken to hospital else he will die. I called a friend to go to the Police station and report, so within 30 minutes the Police came and picked six of us to the Zebilla Hospital.”
Denis Kpireu-Ib Benyuur, the Bawku West District Chairman of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) confirmed to the GNA that Mr Pumi was subsequently referred from the Zebilla Hospital to the Tamale Teaching Hospital where he passed on.
He said the late nurse worked at the Paediatric Unit of the Zebilla Hospital, adding that he was actually for morning shift on the day of the attack.
The Chairman said “He was brought to the Hospital in an unconscious state, he was transfused with two units of blood and referred to TTH, where he died. “This is very sad news to us, as an Association, we just buried a nurse last two weeks who was involved in an accident. It’s really a big blow to us.
Nurses at the Zebilla Hospital are heart broken and down spirited, even though we are still carrying out our duties as professionals.”
Mr Benyuur called on the Zebilla Police Command to beef up security on the Bolgatanga-Zebilla road which he said had recorded several robbery attacks over the years, and urged nurses and midwives in the District not to relent on their mandate in spite of the challenges.
The Upper East Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) David Fianko Okyere who confirmed the robbery incident said “Investigation is ongoing, it is too early for us to come out with any other details, at the appropriate time, we will come out with information,” ASP Fianko Okyere told the GNA.
Some colleagues of the late nurse at the Hospital described him as a hard working nurse and doubled as a popular musician who used to perform at entertainment shows across the Region and beyond to the admiration of his audience.
NDC National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo has suggested that the appointment of Police chiefs be done in a way that they can act professionally at a times.
The former Local Government Minister who made this statement on XYZ Tonight on TV XYZ also advised that a tenure of office be well defined for every Commissioner of Police who will be appointed into the office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
To him, when that is done occupants of the cop high office would discharge their duties in the interest of the state and not to please their appointing authorities.
“I propose that appointment of the IGP should be based on fixed tenure to promote professional integrity,” Ampofo told host Prince Minkah.
His comment was in relation to the appointment of new IGP, COP Dr George Akuffo Dampare.
He was hopeful Dampare would not been seen as an appendage of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).null
Most Ghanaians believe his predecessor, James Oppong Boanuh, who is due retirement after leaving office on August 1, 2021, was quite manipulated by the NPP.
“It is good that this new IGP is young. With his age, I think he will challenge himself,” Ampofo added and acknowledged he has seen some professional police officers speak highly of Dampare.
Who is Dampare?
Dampare has served in the Ghana Police Service for close to 30 years
He joined the service as a Constable and has risen to the highest rank of Commissioner of Police, becoming one of the youngest Police Officers to have attained this in recent years.null
The 51 year old has served in many leadership capacities in the Service including; Director-General (Finance), Director-General (Welfare), and Director- General (ICT).
He was also the Commandant of the Police Command and Staff College, and Accra Region Police Commander.
Until his appointment, COP Dr George Akuffo Dampare, like COP Kofi Boakye had been tipped among the most qualified to take over the highest position in the Ghana Police Service.
The Editor-In-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr has revealed that the biggest lesson he gleaned from his legal battle with the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong is that ‘he is a giant with clay feet.’
According to Kweku Baako, whiles on radio and television Kennedy Agyapong sells the posture of being abrasive and tough yet he was calm and meek during cross-examination in the defamation suit he filed against him.
He stresed that the process taught him that whiles Kennedy Agyapong brags on television and radio, he is unable to back any of his claims with cogent evidence.null
Baako on the Wednesday, July 21 edition of Peace FM’s Kokrokoo show admitted that like every other human being he is not above reproach and will welcome critique from Kennedy Agyapong but never will he sit by and allow his reputation to be slandered and maligned.
Baako says he will defend himself by also criticizing the MP or taking the legal route which he is convinced is more effective.
“I made a critique of his conduct relative to that threat which was the subject matter of discussion. He is entitled to criticize my opinion of him mercilessly and violently but he is not entitled to go out there and slander and think I will let it slide. I didn’t care previously but for him particularly, you can either criticize or drag him to the court of law.
“The experience I had with him at the High Court told me the he is a giant with clay feet. He is empty, porous with the thing he says. On radio on TV he goes haywire but in court, he is an embarrassment. I even felt some sympathy for him. I’ve heard him say that he won’t pay a dime but who say I’m interested in his money? He has even paid GHC80,000 but the point really is the apologies,” he said.
Baako also served a reminder to Kennedy Agyapong that come what may, he will apologize to him as initially ordered by the High Court.null
“The twelve times apology is his headache but no matter what he does, due process will take its course. If the truth is on your side, there is nothing on my side and I know truth is on my side. It was an embarrassment and I will publish the transcript for people to know who has the truth on his side,” he said.
Kennedy Agyapong however served Baako a reply on The Seat show. As usual he made a number of allegations against Baako and challenged him to take drag him to court again.
Kennedy Agyapong insists Baako has an ‘evil agenda’ against the Akufo-Addo government and he will expose him.
“He is a very vicious and corrupt guy. NPP should listen to me very well, he is not on our side. They think Kweku Baako supports us but he does not. He’s a very wicked guy. He walks with his stomach. He can go to court, I’m saying he is a wicked man.
“In the Anas video, you see him. If a so-called ace journalist is supporting such a wicked boy then NPP must be careful. I will show Kweku Baako that he is corrupt. He is corrupt because he has openly defended this guy everywhere,” he charged.
Kweku Annan, host of The Seat Show on Net2 TV on Wednesday, July 21; published a document that supposedly exposed the fraudulent academic history of Onua TV host, Captain Smart (Real name Godsbrain Smart Blessed Yirenkyi).
Annan and Net2 owner Kennedy Agyapong slammed Captain Smart while discussing issues on ‘The Seat’ program which aired on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, which was monitored by Kwesi tv 24
According to Annan, Captain Smart had his admission cancelled by a Kumasi-based private institution, the Christian Service University College, where he was pursuing a degree program.
A letter dated October 30, 2020, and signed by Professor Samuel Afrane, president of the university, stated that the admission of Captain Smart had been revoked over entry irregularities and other malpractices.
The letter titled: “Ineligibility for Bachelor of Arts Communication Studies Degree,” read in part: “We write in reference and as a follow up to the various communiqués with you during 2008 regarding yourself imposed and ill-motived appraisal of yourself from Level 100 to Level 200 coupled with the irregularities on the document/certificates you presented as admission required, which we later identified as fake and not representative of your good self.
It continued: “We regret to notify you that the University College is unable to award you its prestigious BA Communications Studies degree as we deem you ineligible on the basis of wrong and fraudulent entry requirements you presented and your refusal to regularize same during the period.”null
The university which is affiliated with the University of Ghana added that it had communicated the decision to UG with the said letter also copied to UG Vice-Chancellor, National Accreditation Board among others.
Kweku Annan stressed that with this history, Captain Smart had no right to be insulting people who had fought hard to make a name accusing him of instigating protests in the country.
He had earlier charged that the Ghana Police Service must get involved in the issue and pick up Captain Smart for the illegalities that he engaged in.
The back and forth between Captain Smart and Net2 TV owner, Kennedy Agyapong, has been raging for the past few months.
Agyapong, who is a Member of Parliament for Assin Central, insists that Captain Smart still owes him monies after buying a home appliance from one of his shops. The last Captain Smart responded to the allegation, he asked Ken Agyapong to come to his house for his money.null
The Finance Minister has stated categorically that the government has not taken any loan or loans to finance the free senior high school policy.null
He was responding to a question asked by Dr. Clement Apaak, the Member of Parliament for Builsa South.
The legislator who is also a Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament asked him if the government has taken a loan or loans to finance the policy.
The Minister in his response said since the inception of the policy, the government has never taken any loan to finance it.
Rather, the policy he indicated has been financed from the annual budget funding and the government of Ghana funding sources.null
Over the past five years, a total of 7.6 billion Ghana cedis has been allocated towards the implementation of the policy, he said.
Out of the amount, over 4 billion was sourced from GoG funding sources representing 54.76% whereas 3.44 billion cedis was sourced from the annual budget funding representing 45.24%.
“Mr Speaker, government has taken no loan specifically finance Free SHS”
•Ken Ofori-Atta has deferred a question on President Akufo-Addo’s trip to France, Belgium and South Africa to the National Security Minister
•He claims it’s a national security issue
•Okudzeto Ablakwa says his actions amount to contempt of Parliament
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu is not pleased with the conduct of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta over the issue of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s trip to Belgium, France and South Africa in May.
Okudzeto is fuming that Ken Ofori-Atta is treating Parliament with impunity with his seeming lackadaisical attitude in furnishing the house with the financial details of the trips.
He is incensed that Ken Ofori-Atta is slapping Parliament in the face as members of the house look on unconcerned.null
Speaking in a Citi News interview, Ablakwa bemoaned that Parliament being the house of the people’s representatives ought to be treated better by the Finance Minister.
“It was a very embarrassing spectacle. This is a minister who was due to appear in Parliament on June 17. The question was published in the Provisional Order paper on June 16 only for him to come the next day and plead for time. He has subsequently requested for more (time)on a couple of times.
“It has been a struggle to get him and I had to write to the Business Committee of Parliament to remind them not to be complicit in the contemptuous treatment he was meting to the honorable house. Then he comes today (July 21) only to tell us that we should now look into the direction of the National Security Ministry as he doesn’t know and its now a National Security matter. At what point did he realize that he didn’t have the information.
“This is not how we protect the public purse. This is not how we promote good governance and accountability. Imagine if we were in power and conducted ourselves this way, what will President Akufo-Addo and the NPP MPs say? This is totally wrong. It’s contemptuous of Parliament and an insult to the people of this country,” he said.
Ken Ofori after weeks of postponements with the excuse of putting together the expenditure, turned up in Parliament on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 only to defer the question to the National Security Minister.null
He told Parliament that it is not within his remit to make the disclosure as his ministry did not effect payment.
“Mr Speaker, the President’s domestic and international travels are matters to do with National Security. Therefore, the National Security Minister is best placed to furnish this Honorable House with the details needed,” he said.
Ablakwa believes that there is an attempt to keep that information from Ghanaians and has served a warning to the National Security Ministry not to show up in the house with the excuse that the details of the president trip is a ‘National Security issue.’
He has vowed to use the appropriate channel to ensure accountability and transparency from the government
•He has a video which he claims supports his allegations
•He has dared Baako to take him to court
Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central has challenged veteran journalist Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr to take legal action against him over some comments he has and continues to make against him.
Kennedy Agyapong stated on Net2 TV’s ‘The Seat’ show that he is prepared to face Kweku Baako in court as he is certain that he has a good case.
Agyapong warned the leadership of the ruling New Patriotic Party to be cautious of their dealings with Kweku Baako as he does not have the interest of the party at heart.
Agyapong, who is also the chairman of Parliament Defense and Interior Committee revealed that he had in his possession a video that captures a plot by Kweku Baako and his protégé Anas Aremeyaw Anas to unsettle the NPP government as far back as 2018.
He exclaimed that Kweku Baako and Anas have been plotting against the NPP government and seeking the downfall of the party.
“He is a very vicious and corrupt guy. NPP should listen to me very well, he is not our side. They think Kweku Baako supports us but he is not. He’s a very wicked guy. He walks with his stomach. He can go to court, I’m saying he is a wicked man.
“In the Anas video, you see him. If such a so-called ace journalist is supporting such a wicked boy then NPP must be careful. I will show Kweku Baako that he is corrupt. He is corrupt because he has openly defended this guy everywhere,” he said.
Baako in the strongly-worded statement and later an appearance on Accra-based Peace FM, dismissed the allegations made against him and threatened to seek redress in court.
Baako also dared Kennedy Agyapong to release a video which he purports incriminate him and Anas in some corrupt dealings.
“I am told he claims he has some “video evidence” of my involvement in some corrupt, illegal and criminal activities. He had none to support his bogus, malicious and mischievous allegations at the High Court. If he is truly a man of COURAGE OF CONVICTION, I challenge him to make his so-called evidence public for all to see and hear!
“However, he should note that I will certainly not hesitate to cure his apparently incurable mischief and mendacity at the appropriate forum, as I did the last time! And I can assure him that he would lose again! He would lose because he doesn’t tell the truth! And I have no cobwebs of corruption in my wardrobe for him to unearth! If he has evidence, he’s challenged to publicize it and abate his crude and cheap public stunts! I am immune to those useless, ugly and noisy antics of his!,” parts of Baako’s statement read
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Prices of major staple foods in the Eastern Region, maize, millet, and beans, have moved up in the first two weeks of July 2021, following increases in transport fares.
The market price upturn has stimulated increases in the prices of foods prepared, using maize and beans.
The traders, largely women, interacting with the Ghana News Agency during a survey conducted in the New Juaben South and Abuakwa South municipalities, called for swift government intervention to stabilize food prices.
The market survey at Juaben Serwa, Agatha, Koforidua Central, and Kyebi markets showed that a maximum bag of maize is selling for GH¢600.00 and the mini bag at GH¢350.00.
A bowl, locally known as “Olonka”, is going for GH¢12.00.
Madam Alice Ahenkorah, a maize seller, told GNA that since January the price of maize had seen a steady rise and attributed the recent increases to the marginal hike in transportation fares.
She said the price of a bag of maize hovered around GH¢450.00 from January to March while Olonka was sold at GHS8.00 but in May a bag rose from GH¢450.00 to GH¢480.00 with Olonka moving up to GH¢9.00.
Other traders blamed the upsurge on the high cost of farm inputs, including agrochemicals forcing farmers to adjust prices upwards to cover the cost.
Ms. Mary Jonhson, a maize wholesaler, who has been in the business for many years, explained how she procured maize through long travels sometimes to Upper East Region, stressing that persistent fuel price increases were influencing transportation costs.
She said the retail maize prices had to go up to commensurate the farm gate price so that sellers could break even and stay in business.
Apart from transportation costs, she said maize farmers had increased their prices due to the rising cost of inputs.
Ms. Philomina Ofori, a Kenkey seller, said the price of maize had compelled her to either reduce her kenkey sizes or sell a ball at GH¢2.00 as against the previous price of GH¢1 or GH¢1.50.
Even with the GH¢2.00, she added, the size had to be reduced to be able to make a profit and cover costs of other items such as pepper, plastic carrier bags for wrapping Kenkey, corn husk, and firewood.
The survey also established that prices of legumes were not different as a bag of beans was sold between GH¢1,100.00 and GH¢1,180.00 and Olonka at GH¢35.00 to GH¢40.00 on average, depending on beans type and quality.
Madam Haji Abubakari, a seller, said she got her supply from Techiman in the Bono East Region at prices ranging from GH¢1120.00 to GH¢11800.00.
At Kyebi in the Abuakwa South Municipality, buyers and sellers were equally worried about the hike in prices of rice, millet, maize, oat, and wheat, which were blamed on the onset of rains and new crop harvest season.
The prices had remained high in recent weeks as compared to last month due to the depletion of old stock.
Some traders have taken advantage of the situation and sharply increased prices, according to the market women as Ms. Naana Yeboah, a maize seller, said a bag of maize that used to sell at GH¢200.00 was currently between GH¢320.00 and GH¢350.00.
She said many maize farmers in the local communities had not started planting because of the unpredicted rainfall pattern, saying if the trend continued then there might be a shortage of maize this season.
Mrs. Grace Osei, a trader, called for a uniform price for maize so that some traders would not capitalize on the shortage to dupe unsuspecting customers and appealed for market sheds for maize sellers at the Kyebi market.
Ms. Zenabu Alhassan, a wheat and oat seller, said that wheat was very affordable, unlike oat.
“A cup of wheat costs GH¢3.00 previously and was still sold at the same price.” She blamed the price variations on transport charges, fuel increases, and unpredictable rainfall.
The women called on the government to initiate actions that would ensure stable prices at the pump, standardize local food prices and regulate prices of farm inputs.
Speaking to GNA on Thursday, Mr. Edmond Quaynor feeds production farmers, corroborated the prices quoted by the traders, stressing that the cost of agrochemicals, labor, and transportation had gone up.
He said maize bags were of different sizes as some weigh 150Kg and 50 Kg, adding, the price variations were understandable because areas, where lands were being destroyed by illegal mining activities would likely record lower prices due to lack of market.
However, he said the prevailing market prices were good for farmers as they would stimulate high production and insisted the forces of demand and supply should be allowed to dictate the economic prices of food crops. GNA
A Chief has been arraigned before the Koforidua Circuit Court for allegedly defiling and impregnating a 15-year-old girl.
Mark Koranteng, 65, Dademantse of Mpanmu near Dedeso was arrested by Begoro Police in the Eastern region after the parents of the victim made a former complaint to the police.
According to the parents, they observed strange physical changes and symptoms of pregnancy on the victim.
According to the parents, in February this year, the accused who used to call the victim “my wife ” sent someone to call her for him for an errand but allegedly took advantage and had sexual intercourse with her.
The parents alleged that the victim indicated that, the chief subsequently had sexual intercourse with her again the same month.
They made an official report to Begoro Police but the case was referred to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) at Regional Police Headquarters in Koforidua.
The medical Doctor endorsed the medical report form issued to the victim stating that “pregnancy has been confirmed with a urine pregnancy test. Abnormal examination reveals palpable uterus up to umbilicus which is mildly tender “.
The Chief was arrested and during the caution, statement admitted inviting the victim to his house twice to give her money but has never slept with her.
Prosecuting officer Chief Inspector Benard Annor charged the chief with the offence of defilement.
He has been granted bail by the Koforidua Circuit court to reappear on July 26, 2021.
This comes after the Eastern Regional Manager of Glo Ghana telecommunication company was arrested by Police for also allegedly defiling a 14-year-old Junior High School student in Koforidua.
The accused -Awoseni Akinyemi, 30, a Nigerian allegedly defiled the JHS2 student three times in his house at Abrewa-Nkwata a suburb of Koforidua and gave her contraceptives each time.
He has been put on remand.
The Girls Education Unit of Eastern Regional Police Command has expressed worried over increasing sexual abuses against teenage girls leading to an increase in teenagers.
Over 17,000 teenage pregnancies were recorded in 2020 in the Eastern region making it the second-highest nationwide after Ashanti Region.
Most of these girls have dropped out of school. The Ghana Education Service is therefore implementing a ” back to school” project to ensure these pregnant students go back to school after delivery
The International Monetary Fund, (IMF) has commended government’s digitization drive, saying it will have a significant impact on Ghana’s econony.
In a press release issued by the IMF, following its assessment of the impact of Coronavirus on the Ghanaian economy, and what the government is doing to recover, the IMF listed digitization as one of government’s postive initiatives which will play a key role in Ghana’s post covid-19 economic recovery.
“Directors emphasized that the authorities’ structural transformation and digitalization agendas are critical to support the recovery,” the IMF noted.
Ghana’s digitalization, the IMF opines, will reduce corruption, enhance service delivery and boost revenue in this critical period.
“The structural transformation can be complemented by the ongoing energy sector review, diversification in tourism, and the digital transition, which has the potential to reduce corruption, boost tax revenues, and improve service delivery.”
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who jas spearheaded government’s acclaimed digitalization drive, has often spoken of the positive impact digitization will play on the Ghanaian economy, in the same manner the IMF has highlighted.
Government’s digitization drive has seen the massive digitalization of several government services, including the ports, NHIA, application of passports and drivers licences, registration of businesses, among many others.
Ghana’s successful digitization drive has been built on a solid foundation of a remarkable delivery of over 15 million digital national identification cards in 4 years, digital addressing system and mobile money inter operability, which has made it possible for Ghanaians to be able to access government services online and pay for same using their mobile phones.
The IMF assessment revealed in detail, how the pandemic has affected Ghana’s economy, which it said was growing remarkably before the pandemic.
It however, added that Ghana’s economy is seeing encouraging signs of recovery as a result of pragmatic steps by the government, with digitization as a key player
President Akufo-Addo has appointed the Director-General in charge of Administration of the Ghana Police Service COP Dr George Akuffo Dampare as new Inspector General of Police (IGP).
He takes over from James Oppong-Boanuh who has been IGP since August 14, 2019.
COP Dampare will officially take over as head of the Police Service on August 1, 2021.
Profile of Dr. George Akuffo Dampare
Dr. George Akuffo Dampare is the youngest Acting Inspector–General of Police (IGP) to be appointed in the fourth Republic and the eighth youngest since Ghana gained independence. Prior to this appointment, he was the most senior police officer after the just retired IGP.
Dr. Dampare joined the Ghana Police Service (GPS) as a Constable in December, 1990 at age 20 and rose through the ranks to become Commissioner of Police (COP) 24 years later at age 44 in 2014, the rank he held until his appointment.
In 1991, on completion of his recruit training, Dr. Dampare was adjudged the overall Best Recruit at the National Police Training School and won all awards except the award for the ‘Best Marksman’. Again in 1996, he emerged the overall Best Cadet for the 32nd Cadet Officers’ Course at the Ghana Police Academy (formerly, Police College) and won all awards, including Excellence in Professional Police Subjects and Excellence in Academic Subjects.
During his over thirty-year career as a police officer, Dr. Dampare has made significant contributions to policing in Ghana and beyond as enumerated below:
At the leadership and management level, Dampare has had the rare privilege of serving as the Head (Director-General) of almost every major department, giving him greater insight into the administration of policing in Ghana. Specifically, Dr. Dampare has been Director-General for Administration and Director-General for Welfare twice. He has also served as Director – General for MTTD, Director-General for Research & Planning, Director-General for Operations, Director-General for ICT, Director-General for Finance and Director-General for National Patrol Department (Police Visibility Department).
Other leadership positions Dr. Dampare previously held include Commandant of the Police Command and Staff College, Accra Regional Police Commander, Regional Commander for Railways, Ports and Harbour (now Police Marine Department), Municipal Commander for Cape-Coast and Chief Internal Auditor of the GPS.
Between 2010 and 2015, under the leadership of two IGPs, Messrs. Paul Tawiah Quaye and Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, Dampare led and coordinated the ‘National Anti-armed Robbery Reward to Informant Initiative’, which saw the arrest and prosecution of many notorious armed robbers across the country.
As the Director-General for National Operations, Dr. Dampare created an efficient system where fragmented units were consolidated to create effective and complete departments such as the establishment of an Anti-armed Robbery Unit (the COMBAT Unit) to aggressively fight robbery and other violent crimes. He also created the Intelligence Unit within the National Operations Department, which later informed the creation of a Police Intelligence Department at the national level.
As Accra Regional Police Commander, Dampare introduced an innovative and proactive policing strategy called the “Continuous Stakeholder Engagement Programme” where all stakeholders were included and involved in policing the Region. For the first time, through this initiative, the Ghana Police Service under his leadership, visited Political Parties in their offices to engage them.
As Director-General in charge of Welfare, Dr. Dampare introduced an innovative social welfare scheme where he led officers from the Department to visit the homes of scores of sick and bedridden police officers across the country, and also introduced strategic medical interventions to facilitate their wellness.
Still at Welfare, Dampare initiated a process at Dodowa and Kasoa to reclaim lands owned and paid for by police officers. The matter had become a national security threat as many officers were angry at the failure of the leadership of the police administration to intervene in the situation which had lasted for close to a decade.
In 2013, under the leadership of the then Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, Dr. Dampare led a team of officers, working day and night, to restructure the Armoured Car Squadron (ACS) Unit into the Formed Police Unit (FPU) within a record time of ten (10) weeks. This task had remained impossible for over fifteen years. The FPU has now become one of the police units undertaking internal police operations and international peacekeeping missions under the United Nations and African Union.
As the Director-General of the National Patrol Department (Police Visibility Department) and under the leadership of the then IGP, Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, Dampare supervised the implementation of the novel “Police Visibility” programme which saw the presence of police personnel at most intersections and communities in Ghana.
Again, during the implementation of the vision of the then IGP, Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, for the creation of the Police Service Command and Staff College at Winneba and the Police Service Public Safety Training School at Pwalugu, Dr. Dampare was the leader of the technical teams that ensured the full operationalization of these two specialist training institutions.
Dampare is credited with the idea that led to the establishment of the office of the Armourer-General which serves as the central point for accounting for arms and ammunitions within the Ghana Police Service as well as the establishment of the Service Enquiry Monitoring Unit (SEMU) with the responsibility of managing the GPS disciplinary system.
As Coordinator of the National Inter-Ministerial Task Force for the 2007 Ghana Floods which was under the overall leadership of Dr. Mrs. Mary Chinnery-Hesse (then Chief Advisor to H.E. President J.A. Kufuor), Dr. Dampare led a team, within a seven-month period, to develop and implement a National Disaster Management Model, which brought all United Nations Agencies, Red Cross and Civil Society organizations, among others, together, to successfully manage the disaster.
As Director-General for Finance, Dampare led a Police Technical Implementation Team to work with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, to migrate the Police Service onto the Single Spine Salary Structure as the first institution in the country to successfully complete the migration.
Still as Director-General for Finance, Dampare also introduced the payment of recruits’ allowances through the bank by getting them bank accounts as well as ATM cards. He also engaged the banks and got them to build ATMs at the Police Training Schools at no cost to the Government.
Under the visionary instructions of the then IGP, Mr. Paul Tawiah Quaye, Dampare also led a team to establish the Procurement Unit of the GPS and ensure full implementation of the Procurement Act. He introduced cost-saving measures in the repair of Service vehicles and the use of hotel accommodation, among others.
Dampare led a team of officers to use mostly donations from the private sector to give a facelift to the Police Headquarters by constructing a Public Affairs building, the Integrity Square, the Police Fitness and Social Centre and a Helipad. The CID Headquarters building was also refurbished under his leadership.
As Accra Regional Commander, Dampare raised sufficient capital from the private sector to complete a new office complex and re-roofed 90% of all office buildings at the Regional Headquarters which had been in a deplorable state for years.
During his policing career, Dr. Dampare has undertaken numerous law enforcement courses at tactical, operational, strategic leadership and management levels, making him an all-round police officer with the required skills and competences commensurate with his rank.
Aside his policing, Dr. Dampare previously worked as a Research Fellow and lecturer at King’s College London, University of London. He also lectured at the University of Cape-Coast (UCC), Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Regent University College and the Data Link University College. He is also one of the pioneer lecturers at the Business School of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi.
Having passed the GCE Ordinary and Advanced level examinations as a private candidate in 1989 and 1992 respectively, Dr. Dampare proceeded to study accountancy and became a Chartered Accountant in 1996 at age 25. He also holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree in Finance and Management from the King’s College, London, University of London, and has two Master of Science degrees with distinction in Accounting & Finance, from London South Bank University, UK and Business Systems Analysis & Design from City University of London, UK.
Dr. Dampare also has a certificate in High Impact leadership from the Institute for Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge, UK and a certificate in Leadership and Management from the Aresty Institute of Executive Education, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, USA.
Dr. Dampare is a member of a number professional associations including the International Association of Chiefs of Police (ICP), International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICA) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).
Dr. Dampare has also served and continues to serve on several boards including the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) Governing Board, Data Link University College Council, Police Central Disciplinary Board and the Pumpkins Foundation Board (a philanthropic organization for underprivileged children, including those with autism).
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has said President Nana Akufo-Addo’s trips are a matter of national security and, thus, any questions regarding the cost of such trips should be directed at the Ministry of National Security.
“Mr Speaker, the president’s domestic and international travels are matters of National Security”, Mr Ofori-Atta told parliament on Wednesday, 21 July 2021, adding: “The National Security Minister is best placed to furnish this Honourable House with the details needed.”
He said in line with the 2021 budget implementation instructions, “the Ministry of Finance did not release any funds to the Chief of Staff, especially for His Excellency, the President’s trip to France, Belgium, and South Africa”.
Mr Ofori-Atta was expected to give an account of how much was expended by the state on President Nana Akufo-Addo’s nine-day international trip a few weeks ago.
When he appeared in parliament in mid-June for that purpose, Mr Ofori-Atta asked the house to give him more time to gather his figures so he could account to the people of Ghana about the trip to France, Belgium and South Africa.
The question was filed by North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul answered his part of the question on Wednesday, 16 June 2021 on the floor.
While answering the question, Mr Nitiwul said Ghana’s presidential jet is not fit for purpose for President Nana Akufo-Addo’s international trips, thus, the president’s resort to chartering a private jet.
The Bimbilla MP said: “This aircraft will carry a load of 11 persons minus the crew. When this aircraft is travelling to the eastern part of the USA or Asia, it will not load a crew of more than eight plus the luggage”.
“So, it depends on where it is going”, he noted.
Secondly, he added, “I have also said the aircraft has to do refuelling stops and, also, in this COVID-19 [era], when you are travelling to multiple destinations like the president’s recent travels, the Falcon couldn’t have been taken because he would have had to do technical stops, which are not desirable”.
“And when he is travelling with more than 20 people like he has been doing for business trips that brought huge sums of money to this country, he will need more than just a Falcon, otherwise, the others would have to go a day ahead before the president to prepare themselves.”
“In fact, the president would also have to go a day ahead because no president can shower in this aircraft. He cannot move from this aircraft straight into a meeting”, Mr Nitiwul said.
A few weeks ago, Mr Ablakwa accused the president of spending GHS 2.8 million on the trip.
In the heat of the controversy, the Minority in Parliament said President Akufo-Addo could have used Ghana’s “airworthy” presidential jet, Falcon 9Gexe, instead of chartering the £15,000-per-hour “lavish, ostentatious and extravagant” AJC320neo flight he recently used for his 9-day trip abroad that cumulatively cost the Ghanaian taxpayer £345,000 (GHS2,828,432.80).
“Today, we want to present to you further evidence that we are definitely certain that the presidential jet is available, in good shape”, Mr Ablakwa told journalists on Friday, 28 May 2021.
According to him, on 11 May 2021 – five days ahead of his 9-day trip – the president used the presidential jet to Uganda to attend the ceremony swearing-in of President-elect Yoweri Museveni.
Denying claims that the Falcon cannot travel long hours without refueling, Mr Ablakwa said the president’s Uganda trip on the presidential jet was 5h:4m while his Paris trip took six-and-a-half hours.
“The Minority insists that the Falcon could have been used”, Mr Ablakwa stressed.
“One, the Falcon is airworthy and it took this same president to Uganda only a few days prior to the 16th of May when the president departed to Paris with this rather luxurious monster; the most outstanding, extravagant, luxurious airbus aircraft to be manufactured – the Airbus AJC320neo, which originally was manufactured to take 150 people at the minimum but it has been reconfigured to take only 17 people so a luxurious empire can be created”, he said. In the Minority’s view, instead of the president using the chartered flight, which has a master bedroom, an en-suite bathroom with showers, dining facilities for all 17 passengers and sophisticated IT connectivity installations, he could have opted for other chartered flights from the same company, Acropolis Aviation.
“First of all, our contention is that the Falcon is available”, he stressed, emphasising: “It’s airworthy”.
“If it can take you to Uganda safely, it can take you to Paris safely and Brussels, Belgium safely”, he argued.
“So, the point we are trying to emphasise is that in this time of austerity, where the president himself has said: Times are rough; let’s bear with him’, … the president himself embarked on this trip to go and beg for debt forgiveness and this is how you go and beg for debt forgiveness when the person you are going to beg for debt forgiveness from doesn’t travel in such luxury, in such ostentation”, noting: “The level of extravagance, the extreme opulence that the president displayed is condemnable, unconscionable”. “How do you think these western leaders will perceive African leaders? No wonder they have very little respect for a lot of our leaders but we cannot continue this way”, Mr Ablakwa said
• Some executives of the NDC at Techiman South want their party leadership to withdraw the case against the current MP at the court
• They say there are more pressing internal party matters to deal with
• This was made known by Kwadwo Adjei while addressing the press
The prolonged election dispute between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Techiman South constituency could just see an end soon as calls have been made by the latter for the withdrawal of the court case.
Leading this call, Kwadwo Adjei, one of the branch executives of the NDC in the constituency, urged the leadership of his party to call back the case that is currently at the Wenchi High Court.
He added that it would be more prudent for the NDC to concentrate its energies on resolving its internal differences, while working towards victory in the general elections of 2024, reports 3news.com.
Speaking with a cross-section of the media on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, Kwadwo Adjei explained how daunting a duty this current petition at the court has had on the NDC party in resolving its internal wranglings.null
He explained that the continuation of this position by the party puts its future chances of winning elections in a difficult place.
“The internal problem is very big, so we want the leadership to look back at the toil of branch executives like us which even led to the defeat and concentrate on the internal issues to get resolved so that we can secure victory,” he said to the journalists in Twi.
It will be recalled that the NDC was for the second time in a month, slapped with a total of GH¢16,000 in charges by the Wenchi High court in the case of the Party versus the Member of Parliament for Techiman South, Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, and the Electoral Commission.
The NDC dragged Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, the substantive MP, and the EC to court to contest the results of the 2020 parliamentary elections in Techiman South.
Christopher Beyere Baasongti, who was the parliamentary candidate of the NDC for Techiman South in 2020, as part of the suit against Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah and the EC, is praying the court to quash the declaration of the MP as the winner of the elections.
Kwadwo Adjei explained further that it had come to his attention that many branch executives of the NDC are not happy with the turn of events and would have had their party focused on more progressive things.
He added that among that is their unhappiness with the way their party General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, is dealing with the matter.
They, therefore, called on the national and regional executives to persuade the 2020 Parliamentary Candidate, Christopher Beyere Baasongti, to “forget” about the case and move on to strategizing for the next polls.
3news.com reports further that some other branch executives present lamented that, they as the youth, who are at the grassroots, make up an integral part of the party and as such, their voices must be heard.
The Wenchi High Court last heard the case on Wednesday, July 14, 2021, and will sit again on Friday, July 30, this year.
Seasoned Journalist, Kweku Baako Jnr has taken a swipe at the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu over his recent statements regarding the purchase of Sputnik V vaccine for Ghana.null
Ghana entered into an agreement with a middleman named Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and SL Global to supply 3.4 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine.
The controversial contract saw Ghana procuring the vaccine at a unit cost of 19 dollars as against the ex-factory price of 10 dollars per dose.
But this agreement is said to have been sealed without Parliamentary approval, hence calling for the Minister to face a Parliamentary Committee probe.
Answering questions at the sitting of a bi-partisan probe by the Committee, the Health Minister stated that he failed to seek an approval because he wasn’t thinking properly and also out of frustration.null
He said, “I was in a desperate and helpless situation with the management of the covid numbers. In February, we had 78 deaths; by March, we had 56 deaths, and these were the numbers that pushed me to act…if you were the Health Minister, I think you might have taken certain decisions that in hindsight you may not have done those things. The country was not in normal times…this was the environment I found myself in and out of desperation, frustration, and so many things.”
“I relied on the Executive Instrument 61 passed by Parliament and hid behind emergency clauses that have been invoked to do that and come to Parliament and inform the House that this is what I had done and, therefore, I need regularisation and need the approval to provide it.”
“I was seriously in a situation that could not make me think properly. I dealt with the Sheikh before the frantic efforts to get the vaccines from the right source. I made efforts, but I did not juxtapose the timing with the efforts that I made. I made that error and in hindsight, it won’t happen again.”
Health Minister must resign
Touching on the issue, Kweku Baako sent a subtle message to the Minister saying he should resign for infracting the laws as required in Article 181(5) of the 1992 Constitution.
Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’, Mr. Baako stated that if Agyeman-Manu “is minded to resign, I think I will vote for him”.
According to him, “elsewhere the culture is such he would resign voluntarily. It’s almost a culture elsewhere, but here, there are a few people who have resigned before from office for whatever reasons but it’s not everyone who does that. If he is minded to resign, I think I will vote for him”.
Seemingly offering an advice to the Health Minister, Mr. Baako emphasized, “the fact that we want to save people because dead men don’t talk, dead men don’t work, we need us to be alive but it doesn’t mean then you can push aside all laws and regulations because you’re desperate and frustrated,” he said.
Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo with officials of First Atlantic Bank, KBTH and the Ministry of Health in a group picture inform of the newly opened waiting area.
First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has opened the First Atlantic waiting area for visitors and relatives of patients at the Emergency wards of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).
The waiting area, built by the First Atlantic Bank as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, (CSR) will serve relatives of patients at the Accident Emergency Department, the Trauma Unit as well as the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
The building, which can sit 150 people, offers a decent waiting area providing comfort, safety, peace of mind and protection against adverse weather conditions for the relatives of patients.
Opening the building yesterday, Mrs Akufo Addo said during the commissioning of the Rebecca Akufo-Addo Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in May 2019, she observed relatives of patients and visitors sitting under trees and other uncomfortable places.
“I expressed my desire to Dr Okoe Boye, who was the Board Chair of Korle Bu at the time, to find a solution. We approached some corporate institutions, including the First Atlantic Bank, to build a waiting area for Korle Bu. Fortunately, our proposal for a waiting area was in line with the Corporate Social objectives of the bank. The Managing Director of the First Atlantic Bank, acknowledged the enormous relief that such a project would bring to citizens, who have to wait as their relatives and friends undergo medical care,” she said.
The First Lady expressed her appreciation to First Atlantic Bank for ‘showing the human face of your business’ and charged the Management of Korle Bu to ensure the place is well maintained.
“I also entreat visitors, who use this waiting area to keep it clean and adhere to the required protocols for the use of this place,” she added.
First Atlantic Bank Board Chairman, Amarquaye Amar, said the bank did not hesitate when it was approached to undertake the project, indicating that the project falls in line with First Atlantic’s Corporate Social Objectives.
“Today we have a beautiful place which has facilities including wash rooms, as well as banking solutions for those who might require financial services. Indeed, this facility will bring a huge relief to visitors, as well as the management of Korle Bu,” he said.
He said the facility is the third CSR undertaking of the bank that is focused on enhancing access to health and education for women and children.
CEO of Korle Bu, Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah expressed his gratitude to Mrs. Akufo Addo and First Atlantic Bank for kind gesture saying the building has come to address a huge challenge in the health facility.
“I also thank the Board and Staff of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for their support during this project,” he said.
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