John Dramani Mahama

Former President John Dramani Mahama is laying claim to the much-talked-about Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) programme which the Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) initiated in 2017 as part of measures to ensure food security in the country.××

He said he started the programme and his opponents, the NPP, came in and changed the name to PFJ and are taking credit for it.

Similar to the claims he made on the free SHS last year when the 2020 general election was approaching, Mr. Mahama said it was the NDC’s programme which they started with funding from the government of Canada for the agriculture sector.

His sensational PFJ claim is coming in the wake of his ‘Do or Die’ threat ahead of the 2024 election, which many have condemned, but he had justified and decided not to offer any apology for it.

Speaking in Dormaa in the Bono Region on Wednesday during his ‘Thank You’ tour, Mr. Mahama said specifically that “before this government came in, we had an arrangement with Canada. They were giving us funding for agriculture because they had realised that it was the sector creating more jobs.”

When they came into office, they named it PFJ. It was originally a programme that we were working on. They just came and continued it.”

More Attacks

He then said the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative has failed and that there is going to be food shortage in the country next year.

“Planting for Food and Jobs has failed. There will be famine in Ghana next year. The Canadian funding has been exhausted and we need to find alternative funding to sustain the programme but there is no money at the Ministry of Finance.”

He said that “prices for food crops are going up astronomically,” adding “one of my siblings is a farmer. He is telling me this year there is no fertiliser. He had to buy his own fertiliser and a bag of fertiliser is expensive now. He normally cultivates 300 acres of maize but this year he had to reduce it to 80 acres. It shows that there is going to be hunger because the PFJ has failed.”

Agric Ministry

The Minister of Food and Agriculture’s Press Secretariat reacted to the former President’s claims, saying “Ghana is not facing food shortage. Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) is very much on course.”

“Our attention has been drawn to rather unfortunate comments by the former President, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, on his ongoing campaign tour across the country. The former President, in an attempt to shift public discussion from his rather reckless and infamous ‘Do or Die’ comment which has attracted public backlash, has decided to attack one of government’s most successful flagship policies Planting for Food and Jobs.

“In fact, apart from becoming desperately notorious for making reckless comments in recent times, the former President is now also engaging in scare-mongering, thriving on lies and falsehoods just to put fear in Ghanaians,” the statement said, adding “in a meeting in the Bono Region, former President Mahama is on record to have made several false claims about the PFJ programme which was introduced by the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo-led administration in 2017.”

Setting Records

“The former President claimed in his speech that the Planting for Food and Jobs programme was an initiative of the previous NDC administration and that his regime secured funding from the Canadian Government for its implementation. This is completely false. The fact is that the Planting for Food and Jobs is a wholly Government of Ghana (GoG) funded programme.

“Mr. Mahama has in fact, confused the Modernising Agriculture Ghana (MAG) programme, which involves a $100M Canadian Grant, exclusively meant for the expansion of extension services programme with that of the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative which involves five major areas the Food Crop Model, Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD), Rearing for Food and Jobs (RFJ), Greenhouse Villages (for Vegetable production and Export) and Mechanisation for Food and Jobs,” the statement said.

The statement said that “this grant from the Canadian Government under the MAG programme, was supposed to be released in four tranches, over a four-year period. This translated into 25million Canadian Dollars every year,” adding “however, it is instructive to note that since 2017, Government of Ghana has spent over $400m Dollars on the PFJ, expenditure of which had gone into subsidies of improved seeds and fertilisers for farmers.”

Expenditure Plan

The ministry said that the advisors of former President Mahama failed to explain to him the real story behind this Canadian Grant which it said “had strict expenditure plan,” adding that “the funds could not be spent on any other programme apart from extension support.”

Poor Record

“It must also be stated that the previous administration of the NDC led by Mr. John Dramani Mahama, left the agriculture sector in a state of moribund and comatose,” the statement said, adding “Ghana was importing virtually every food item; including thousands of tonnes of maize, plantain, banana etc. from neighbouring countries.”

“Available data in 2016 indicates that Ghana imported about 113,855 and 79,771 metric tonnes of maize respectively in 2015 and 2016, and same could be said of other major staple foods such as yam, plantain and soyabean. The food situation of this country was so bad that farmers could not afford fertiliser for their crops, leading to low yields.”

It said, “Planting for Food and Jobs therefore, came to reverse this trend and by the end of 2017 and mid-2018, Ghana became the hub of food supply in the West African sub-region. In fact in 2017, a total of 81,193 tonnes of food items including maize, yam, rice, plantain and soyabean were exported to neighbouring countries. This trend has continued up to now.”

More Recognition

The statement said that “Ghana has since 2017 gained international recognition for its success in revamping the agricultural sector. Global organisations such as World Bank, Alliance For Green Revolution Africa (AGRA), African Development Bank (AfDB), Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), amongst others, have all commended Government of Ghana for the implementation of  the Planting for Food and Jobs initiative.

“In 2019, Ghana placed 3rd in the Global Food Security Index by the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU). In the 2020-21 Report by The Permanent Interstate Committee for drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), Ghana was recognised as the only country in the West African sub-region with stable food security situation, thanks to the successful implementation of the Planting for Food and Jobs programme.”

It said “today, farmers in the country are better off, in terms of their production capacity, purchasing power and economic situation, than they were in 2016. This has been largely due to the implementation of deliberate policies and programmes by the President Nana Akufo-Addo-led administration of the NPP.”

Scare-Mongering

The statement said it is needless for the former President to say that Ghana is likely to face food shortage leading to hunger in the coming year, saying “it is only an act of scare-mongering,” adding that “perhaps, he is being haunted by his long held incompetent title which has led to his obsession for failure.”

The statement said that before the arrival of COVID-19, supply of inputs including fertilisers under the PFJ programme never experienced any challenges but the pandemic posed serious challenges on government’s revenue generation capacity, leading to the effects on general subsidy of fertilisers under the programme.

“It is however, important to make a distinction between government subsidised and open market fertilisers. Despite the fall in local revenue mobilisation which forced government to reduce the subsidy capacity, general supply of fertiliser on the market has not been disrupted and many more farmers have had easy access to them,” the statement pointed out, adding that “we believe that one of the major objectives of the PFJ programme, which was to introduce farmers to the adoption of fertilisers and improved seeds, has been significantly achieved.”

The statement reiterated the fact that “the country is very safe from any threats of food shortage and that the former President is only engaging in a desperate scare-mongering just for political expediency

Contractors working on the new Administration Block of the Regional Co-ordinating Council of Oti Region, have assured President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that construction will be completed in November this year, and will be handed over to the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development in December.

This was made known to President Akufo-Addo on Thursday, 9th September 2021, when he paid a familiarisation visit to the site of the construction, as part of his working visit to the Oti Region.

Accompanied by the Oti Regional Minister, Hon. Joshua Makubu, and Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Hon. Dan Botwe, the President expressed satisfaction with the progress of work, and urged the contractor to ensure it is completed according to schedule.

When completed, the administration compex will house all the departments of the Oti Regional Co-ordinating Council and other institutions to ensure effective and efficient administration of the Region.

The administration block of the Oti Regional Co-ordinating Council is amongst six new administration structures being constructed for the six newly created Regions, and the first to be completed for use.

It will be recalled that on Sunday, 5th September 2021, the President commissioned the newly constructed office complex for use by the Western-North Regional Co-ordinating Council building. It is the first of the six (6) RCC buildings to be completed.

Oti Compost Plant

In Dambai, the President inspected ongoing work on the Oti Compost Plant, whose sod he cut on 22nd October 2020, which has so far created some two hundred (200) jobs for youth in the region.

With civil works 80% complete, beneficiary districts that will benefit from the plant include Krachi East, Nkwanta South, Biakoye, Kadjebi, Jasikan and Krachi Nchumuru.

The CEO of Jospong Group of Companies, Joseph Siaw Agyepong, told the President that the equipment required to operationalise the facility have arrived in the country, and will be installed in the coming weeks.

Once completed, he told the President that some 120 people will be employed directly at the facility.

The facility will include a solid waste treatment plant (compost plant), medical waste treatment plant, plastic recycling plant, tire recycling plant, laboratory, offices among others.

TheCompost Plant has an 80% waste recovery rate, and has the capacity to process 400 tons of solid waste on a sixteen (16) hour shift. The plant is designed to additionally process 60 tons of compost per day.

The 60 tons of compost that would be produced daily at the plant would displace over 864,000 bags of chemical fertilizers imported into Ghana. This would be a major savings on the country’s foreign exchange requirement.

It is anticipated that about 216,000 bags of compost would be produced annually per plant with additional 600,000 seedlings raised for distribution to commercial farms, mines reclamation and Governmental planting for food and jobs programme

The Paramount chief of Krachi Traditional Area, Nana Mprah Besemuna, has apologised to President Akufo-Addo for the failure of the Oti Region to win seats for his government in the 2020 general elections.

“It is sad that the Oti Region could not produce even one parliamentary seat, but we apologise,” the chief regretted in a speech he read when the president met with some traditional leaders of the Krachi East Municipality, Krachi West, and Biakoye Districts in Dambai on Thursday, 9 September 2021 during his regional tours.

The chief noted: “That is the beauty of the democracy. Being an astute politician, I believe you will appreciate the dynamics of the issues”, he added.

“We can apologise and urge you to put this behind you and focus on the vision of your developmental agenda for the Oti Region”, the traditional leader noted.

Oon development in the area, he said: “There has been a fair spread of resources and regional offices”.

“[The] feeder roads office is at Kete Krachi. Health Directorate at Worawora. Agric Department at Nkwanta. Education Service at Jasikan. NHIS at Kadjebi and Regional Coordinating Council and High Court at Dambai. These will not have happened without the creation of the region”, he said.

Responding to the chief, President Nana Akufo-Addo said: “We couldn’t win a parliamentary seat in the 2020 election but we did our best in the presidential [poll] even though it was not enough”.

“I urge you all to be reminded of the good things the government did for you and be appreciative”, the president told the chiefs.

Concerning his promise to build a bridge over River Oti, the president said: “I have made the promise and I am going to see to it that it is done”.

“I will make sure it is my legacy for this region”.

“We will do it; the bridge, as well as the technical university. We will ensure they are done,” he added

President Nana Akufo-Addo has told the people of the Oti Region that the construction of bridge over River Oti will be his legacy project.

The president, who is on a two-day tour of the Volta and Oti regions, told the chiefs of Dambai, Krachi and Nchumuru that he is determined to fulfil that promise.

“For the Oti bridge, I am determined, I made the promise and I am going to see to it that it is done. If you talk about legacy, I want the Oti bridge to be my legacy project”, the president said.

Meanwhile, contractors working on the new administration block of the Regional Co-ordinating Council of the Oti Region have assured the President that the works will be completed in November this year, and will be handed over to the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development in December.

This was made known to President Akufo-Addo on Thursday, 9 September 2021, when he paid a familiarisation visit to the site of the construction, as part of his working visit to the Oti Region.

Accompanied by the Oti Regional Minister, Mr Joshua Makubu, and the Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, Mr Dan Botwe, the president expressed satisfaction with the progress of work, and urged the contractor to ensure it is completed according to schedule.

When completed, the administration complex will house all the departments of the Oti Regional Co-ordinating Council and other institutions to ensure effective and efficient administration of the Region.

The administration block of the Oti Regional Co-ordinating Council is amongst six new administration structures being constructed for the six newly created Regions, and the first to be completed for use.

It will be recalled that on Sunday, 5 September 2021, the President opened the newly-constructed office complex for use by the Western-North Regional Co-ordinating Council building. It is the first of the six RCC buildings to be completed.

Oti Compost Plant

In Dambai, the President inspected ongoing work on the Oti Compost Plant, whose sod he cut on 22 October 2020, which has so far created some 200 jobs for youth in the region.

With civil works 80% complete, beneficiary districts that will benefit from the plant include Krachi East, Nkwanta South, Biakoye, Kadjebi, Jasikan and Krachi Nchumuru.

The CEO of Jospong Group of Companies, Joseph Siaw Agyepong, told the President that the equipment required to operationalise the facility have arrived in the country, and will be installed in the coming weeks.

Once completed, he told the President that some 120 people will be employed directly at the facility.

The facility will include a solid waste treatment plant (compost plant), medical waste treatment plant, plastic recycling plant, tire recycling plant, laboratory, offices among others.

TheCompost Plant has an 80% waste recovery rate, and has the capacity to process 400 tons of solid waste on a 16-hour shift.

The plant is designed to additionally process 60 tonnes of compost per day.

The 60 tonnes of compost that would be produced daily at the plant would displace over 864,000 bags of chemical fertilisers imported into Ghana.

This would be major savings on the country’s foreign exchange requirement.

It is anticipated that about 216,000 bags of compost would be produced annually per plant with additional 600,000 seedlings raised for distribution to commercial farms, mines reclamation and Governmental planting for food and jobs programme

Level 400 UEW student dies after failed acrobatic move

A final year student of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) has died after a failed acrobatic move during wild jubilations.

Saani Majeed is said to have broken his neck while backflipping as part of a mini-performance while jubilating after writing his final exam.

Benjamin Oppong a friend and coursemate, who witnessed the ordeal, told Adom News that young Majeed, a gymnast, was actually the best in the field as far as UEW was concerned.

However, he added that backflipping is an exercise that can cause dizziness and requires brief rests, an essential he said the student failed to observe.

After successfully doing five backflips, he said the Physical Education student felt dizzy, but he proceeded to do two more, which led him to fall flat.

The 31-year-old is said to have been unresponsive after he broke his neck due to the failed acrobatic move. First aid was administered.

Benjamin continued that he was rushed to the Winneba Hospital where he spent three days before he was transferred to the 37 Military Hospital where he passed on.

The deceased was transported to Grupe, where he hails from, for burial in accordance with Islamic rite.

Mourning has taken over UEW as they remember their late colleague today, as he was billed to perform at a campus show.

• President Akufo-Addo’s will to fight corruption is unmatched in Ghana’s history

• This is the view of his spokesman Eugene Arhin

• Government has come under a barrage of corruption allegations from the NDC and John Dramani Mahama

Director of Communications at the presidency, Eugene Arhin, has said no president in the history of Ghana has fought corruption as much as his boss, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Arhin made the comment whilst addressing journalists at the Jubilee House on Tuesday, September 7, 2021.

His views were in response to a Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) survey that concluded that respondents did not believe in the president’s ability to fight corruption.

“The report is not one we can easily dismiss. Yes, they have conducted their survey but we, on the other hand, believe that in the fight against corruption, no President has done more than Nana Akufo-Addo and there are facts to back it.

“If we are to consider the funds that were sent to the five accountability institutions of states, there was a 25% increase in their funding in 2017. In 2018, there was a 34% increase across the board,” he added.

He further mentioned the Office of a Special Prosecutor, OSP, as a key plank in the president’s commitment to fighting corruption before stating that the presidency disagreed with the findings of the survey.

“The establishment of an independent institution to fight corruption, that is the office of the Special Prosecutor, was in fulfilment of a campaign result by the President.

“We thus disagree with the survey results. No President in the history of the country has fought corruption as much as Akufo-Addo has,” he stressed

Back in 2017, Arhin told TV3 that the Akufo-Addo-led government will call for investigations into any allegation of corruption made against any official on an as and when basis.

“We are not going to allow any single case of corruption [allegation] to be swept under the carpet,” Eugene Arhin said at the time.

His views were in response to corruption allegations levelled against then deputy chiefs of staff Francis Asenso-Boakye and Samuel Abu Jinapor by musician and New Patriotic Party (NPP) sympathizer A-Plus.

The two of them were subsequently cleared after an investigation and have since won seats in Parliament.

Recently, the government and the New Patriotic Party, NPP, have been on the defensive repelling corruption allegations levelled against the government by former President John Dramani Mahama on his ‘Thank You Tour

.’Source: www.ghanaweb.com

The Education Ministry says there is no food shortage in Senior High Schools (SHS’s) across the country.

According to the Deputy Minister for Education, Reverend John Ntim Forjour, speculations being peddled around that there was food shortage in certain SHS’s were unfortunate and an attempt to create a negative impression against the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo flagship programme which had been accepted by the nation and the rest of the world.

The Deputy Minister made the denial on Monday to the media after an unannounced visit to some selected SHSs in the Greater Accra region.

Some of the schools visited by the Deputy Minister were O’ Reilly SHS, Tema SHS and Achimota SHS.

The visit was aimed at ascertaining the fact about speculations by a section of the media that some SHS had run short of food.

Again, the visit was also used to wish candidates writing the ongoing West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) well and encourage them to work hard to get the best results at the end of the examinations.

Background

The General Secretary of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), Mr Thomas Musah in 2018 granted an interview on TV3 where he complained about the shortage of food in some SHSs in the country then.

Three years after the interview, the said video keeps popping up and creating the impression that there is food shortage in the schools.

Denial

When the Education Ministry called the General Secretary of GNAT to pinpoint the specific schools for a follow-up, he denied granting such an interview again and expressed surprise at the video and admitted that the circulating video was an old tape.null

He was upbeat that with the current response measures put in place by the Ministry, the issue of food shortage had not been a challenge again.

In a related development, the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, last Thursday evening embarked on a surprise visit to the Presbyterian Boys Senior High School (PRESEC) Legon to interact with the students and staff.

It was fun seeing the Education Minister spend time with first-year students of the school during prep.

The visit gave the Minister the opportunity to assess how their evening studies were organized as he had the opportunity to teach mathematics in one of the classrooms.

Source: gbcghanaonline.com

The Kumasi Circuit Court has sentenced a 45-year-old woman, Theresa Asamoah to six years in prison with hard labour for her involvement in a baby theft incident at the Kumasi South Hospital.

Her daughter, 21-year-old Priscilla Appiah, who pleaded not guilty, has been granted a GHS100,000 bail with three sureties to be justified.

According to the Police, their investigations show that Theresa Asamoah and Priscilla Appiah on June 10, 2019, tricked a nursing mother who had just delivered at the hospital and took away her baby.

The police say the woman who had just delivered, migrated from Nandom and was a head porter staying with Theresa Asamoah and her daughter who at the time had faked a pregnancy to her husband.

During the court hearing on Thursday, the prosecutor Inspector Oparebea stated that Priscilla Appiah then took the baby home and informed her husband that she had given birth while the head porter, Sylvia Pime, was told that her baby died shortly after she gave birth and was sacked from the house.

The prosecutor added that Sylvia Pime, after receiving that news, went back to her hometown, Nandom only to return in two years time to Kumasi to realise that her baby was still alive.

She then reported to the police.

Speaking to Citi News, the Ashanti regional coordinator of the Domestic Violence and Victim’s Support Unit, (DOVSU) of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Susana Dery says they launched investigations immediately which led to the arrest of the suspects.

• Sammy Gyamfi has affirmed that former President Mahama will not retract or apologise for his ‘do or die’ comment

• Mahama in a recent interview said the NDC in 2024 will consider the election to be a ‘do or die’ affair at the polling station

• There has been several demands for the former president to retract his statement which many see as a call for violence

National Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress, Sammy Gyamfi, has affirmed that there will not be any apology for former president John Dramani Mahama’s recent comment on the party’s position going into the 2024 general elections.

Former President Mahama in a recent interview, stated that the NDC will consider the 2024 election a ‘do or die affair’ in terms of the protection of ballots and the collating of results.

The comment has received widespread condemnation with many of his critics equating his statement to a call for violence. There have since been various calls demanding the former president to retract his statement and issue an apology.

But speaking on the Thursday edition of Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, Sammy Gyamfi who was defensive of the former president said “President Mahama will not retract the statement today, tomorrow or forever.”

He explained that the statement by Mr Mahama made, was only borne out of events in the 2020 elections, which the NDC maintains was rigged by the ruling New Patriotic Party, hence, the resolve of the NDC to be extra vigilant in the next election.

Sammy Gyamfi maintained that there was a clear distinction between Mr Mahama’s statement and what critics say was a call for violence by then opposition candidate, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who declared the 2012 elections an ‘all die be die’ affair.

Speaking on the comparison of the two statements, Sammy Gyamfi said “There is no parallel between ‘do or die’ as said by (former) president Mahama and the infamous ‘all die be die’ statement then opposition leader, President Akufo-Addo made. These two statements are not the same. They are worlds apart. When you are interpreting something, you interpret it as a whole. If you look at what President Mahama said that at the polling station, it will be ‘do or die’ because the right things must be done. But with the ‘all die be die’ statement that candidate Akufo-Addo made in the round up to the 2012 elections, it was the first time that a candidate from in opposition will stand on a platform and publicly advocate for violence.

“Here, President Mahama is not saying go and engage in violence or lawlessness, he even said that we will not engage in cheating so nobody will cheat us. So unless the NPP intends to steal the election in 2024, unless they want to do the wrong things at the polling station, unless they intend to resort to intimidation, lawlessness and violence which led to the death of 8 Ghanaians in the just ended 2020 elections, unless they want to repeat that again, we don’t think there should be any issues,” he said.

Meanwhile, investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni has condemned former President Mahama for the comments he made. According to Manasseh, Mr Mahama stands a better chance of winning the 2024 elections, hence, his party must focus on robust and effective means of protecting and collating results come 2024 instead of resorting to violence.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

U.S Ambassador, Stephanie Sullivan, cutting the tape to commission the oxygen plant.

The United States (U.S) government has provided oxygen support system to the country to facilitate the provision of live-saving care for Covid-19 patients.××

The system, including four oxygen plants, each with the capacity to produce 250 litters of oxygen per minute for approximately 25 severely ill patients per day, was presented to the Ministry of Health (MoH) at a ceremony at the Ghana Infectious Disease Centre (GIDC), in Accra.

The package also includes the supply of oxygen cylinders, pulse oximeters and the training of health staff and engineers on how to properly use and maintain the equipment.

U.S Ambassador to Ghana, Stephanie Sullivan, handing over the system to the government said the support addresses the immediate and medium-term effects of Covid-19 on the health, agriculture, education and hard-hit private sectors.

“This oxygen support is critical in the short-term to address Ghana’s Covid-19 critical care needs and in the long-term, strengthen Ghana’s provision of oxygen, intensive care, maternal and new born care,” she said.

Ambassador Sullivan said the U. S government will continue to support the country’s response to curb the spread of Covid-19, save lives and strengthen its health system.

“Later this month we will commission three additional plants at Cape Coast Municipal Hospital, Kumasi South and Temale.

The U.S government is also providing 28 high-flow, high pressure oxygen concentrators to healthcare facilities across the country. Each specialized concentrator can provide oxygen for three severely ill patients at a time,” she added.

She said the U.S government is taking the lead role in the global pandemic response indicating that no nation can act alone in the face of a pandemic.

The Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu in a speech read on his behalf said the oxygen system will help stabilize the health system to manage effectively Covid-19 patients.

“In managing Covid-19, we will use oxygen as some point indicating that although health staff can easily deal with using portable oxygen concentrators, for Covid-19 they are found to be less effective.

Therefore, this is coming in at a time we really need it and we thank God and the U.S government,” he said.

Acting Director of the GIDC Dr. Joseph Oliver-Commey, said the gesture will go a long way in helping the country achieve its goal of providing safe, quality, and affordable health care to its unfortunate loved ones during the pandemic.

“We know the American government always delivers on its promises. as part of this donation, we have been promised other oxygen consumables,” he said

Fire has ravaged the Gary Marvin Memorial Hospital, a private maternity hospital at Kotwi.

The hospital is located within the Atwima Kwanwoma district.

According to personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service, the inferno started around 10:45 am on Thursday, September 9, 2021. The personnel were overwhelmed by the fire.

They stated that the fire was out of control by the time they got to the Hospital, leading to the destruction of the entire last floor of the health facility.

Speaking to the media, Public Relations officer for the Ashanti Regional Ghana National Fire Service, DO 3 Desmond Ackah, indicated that management of the facility was however able to evacuate all patients from the hospital before the situation got out of hand.

He urged the public to desist from waiting for fire outbreaks to explode before reporting to the fire service to minimize the losses and fatalities.

The hospital currently has 36 in-patient beds with an average survey of 3000 patients/month attendance.

The cause of the fire was still unknown as at the time of filing this report.

The NPP’s Yaw Buaben Asamoa has said Mahama’s admission that elections are won at the polling station vindicates the EC for any charges he levelled against the electoral body at the Supreme Court.

The Director of Communications for the governing New Patriotic Party, Yaw Buaben Asamoa, is the latest to take on former President John Dramani Mahama over his “do or die” comment.

Mr. Asamoa on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News said it is disappointing that the former President made comments likely to incite violence in Ghana.

“His comment is not edifying. When you say do or die, where does it end and on what basis? Should we shed blood because of your particular desire? It just demonstrates to all of us that John Mahama has a deficit in his leadership skills,” Mr. Asamoa said.

While on his ‘Thank You’ tour in the Bono Region, this week, the 2020 presidential candidate of the NDC on Tuesday said his party will be more vigilant during the 2024 general elections.

“The 2020 elections were rigged for the NPP. We have however accepted the ruling of the Supreme Court for the sake of peace. However, come 2024, the NDC will be extra vigilant at the polling stations because that is where the elections are won.”

“So at the polling station [in the next election], it will be do or die. I am not saying all die be die. I’m saying it will be ‘do or die’ because the right thing must be done,” Mahama said.

He has since been criticized by many who believe his statement was in bad taste.

But Mr. Mahama has strongly justified his comment, insisting that it was an idiomatic expression.

“It is an idiomatic expression. In the English Language, we have idioms in there. I think those who left school early do not understand idiomatic expressions. Do or die means a critical assignment you have, and you must do the needful or perish. What it means is that [officials of the] NDC shouldn’t wait and go to the Supreme Court again.”

Mr. Asamoa said the former President’s comment nullifies his claim that the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) failed to ensure a free and fair election.

“It [his comment] demonstrates that he has been misplacing his angst against the Electoral Commission. He has now realised that elections are won at the polling station, so all the struggle to damn the Electoral Commissioner, where does it lead now? Perhaps the EC deserves an apology from him.”

Source: Citinewsroom

Nana Yaw Amponsah

The Chief Executive Officer for Asante Kotoko, Nana Yaw Amponsah has revealed that he can never work for their sworn-rivals Hearts of Oak after his tenure at the Porcupine Warriors comes to an end.

The former GFA Presidential hopeful in an exclusive interview with Starr FM disclosed that it will be impossible for him to ever cross-carpet to join the year 2000 CAF Champions League winners in any capacity.

It’s been widely reported that the 38-year-old football administrator was an ardent fan of Hearts of Oak before accepting the Chief Executive Officer role at Asante Kotoko. He has however debunked that assertion and further stated that he can never work for the reigning champions of the Ghana Premier League.

“After delivering my mandate at Asante Kotoko, if Great Olympics comes for my services I’ll surely do a professional job there but I’ll never go to Hearts of Oak” Amponsah told Nana Aba Anamoah on StarrChat.

“It is impossible to work for Kotoko’s rivals, Accra Hearts of Oak, I don’t think it will ever happen” he concluded.

Nana Yaw Amponsah took over as the CEO for the porcupine Warriors about a year ago and led the team to a runner up spot in the Ghana Premier League last season

STAR FM

Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has dismissed Sky News report on a supposed partnership between Ghana and UK on a third country asylum.

According to the Ministry, Ghana is not interested in any third country asylum partnership with the British government.

The ministry further stated that it has not held any discussion or received any proposal from the British government centered on third country asylum partnership.

Sky News UK reported that the recent meeting between Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and the UK Minister for Africa, James Duddridge, had addressed a partnership for third country asylum.

However, a statement issued by the Foreign Affairs Ministry September 8,2021 stated that “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration wish to clarify that at no point in the discussion was a partnership on a third country asylum addressed.

“As part of the discussion between the UK Minister and Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, the UK Minister informed Ghana Foreign Minister that the UK would be submitting a draft proposal for a partnership in areas of security and migration. So far, no such proposal has been shared with Ghana side.”

The ministry categorically stated Ghana is not interested or has no intention to consider any proposal on third country asylum

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has commissioned Oti Region’s first One District One Factory project.

The factory which is located at Adonkwanta in the Krachi East Municipality, is a wholly owned Ghanaian company.

CH Global Limted Food Processing factory, processes yam and cassava into chips and balls as well as animal feed.

Currently, it has the capacity to process over 800 tubers of yam per day, a raw material, which is abundant in the Oti enclave.

The factory which currently employs 252 workers including casuals is expected to double its staff when the factory scale up operations.

Residents in the area expressed delight for the project and hoped more will be established to make use of the many other food crops that go waste on their farm lands.

A farmer, Diahmatu Kpapu who is also a nurse in the area said, “this will surely create jobs and give those of us farming ready market for our produce.”

The President as part of his tour for the day interacted with traditional leaders in Krachi West, Krachi East, Krachi Nchumuru and Biakoye Dostricts.

He is expected to inspect ongoing infrastructural and road projects in the region.

Government functionaries a accompanying him include, Minister of Agriculture,Dr  Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Deputy  Minister for Trade and Industry, Herbert Krapa, Oti Regional Minister, Joseph Makubu, the Oti NPP Chairman, Evans Dapaah  and a host of others

Joseph Yamin

Former deputy Minister of Youth and Sports under the erstwhile NDC administration, Joseph Yamin has threatened to deal with any member of the Peace Council and other Christian bodies in the country who dare to speak against former President John Mahama’s infamous do or die proclamation.××

According to the former Deputy Sports Minister, the Peace Council members are hypocrites and in the pockets of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), hence they dont have locus to speak against the twice defeated former President.

He indicated that the Peace Council only comes out to bash the NDC when they make any statement they do not agree with.

Joseph Yamin who takes the Peace Council to the cleaners on Happy Fm, political talk show lamented that “the Peace Council which has been sleeping in the wake of the destruction the NPP has set Ghana on, should “keep on sleeping and not dare comment on former President Mahama’s to do or die statement.”

He claimed “The Peace Council and other Christian bodies should not dare make any statement criticising former President Mahama over his do or die statement. They will only incur the wrath of Ghanaians if they make any comment on this”.

He added that “Whatever the NPP does or says is good to them but when the NDC does it, they all come rushing to condemn it”.

He described the culture of these bodies glorifying the NPP and seeing them as saints while demonizing the NDC as an affront to nation-building insisting, “The culture where no one condemns the NPP even when they act negatively but are quick to condemn the NDC is not something we should keep promoting. We must change.”

During his election 2020 ‘Thank You’ tour, John Mahama made the controversial statement on Tuesday, September 7, that; “we were robbed, but we accepted the verdict for the sake of peace.”

“But I want to state here that the next elections would be won or lost at the polling station. So at the polling station, it will be doing or die. I am not saying all die be die. I’m saying it will be ‘do or die’ because the right thing must be done,” he told Techiman-based Akina FM.

This comment has received condemnation from a cross-section of Ghanaians who have called on the former President to retract his statement as it is unbecoming of a statesman, which he has refused.

He says his utterance regarding a ‘do or die’ affair at polling stations in 2024 is an idiomatic expression that has been misconstrued by the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP)

Scores of youth have massed up at the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) Job Fair in search of jobs from several employers.

The youth, numbering over 1,000, were seen standing in long queues at the Accra International Conference Centre, with many of them struggling to enter the building to secure jobs with companies.

The primary objective of the YEA Job Fair is to provide opportunities for job seekers to go through live interview sessions to get employed by the participating companies from the private sector.

Some of the job seekers spoke to Citi News.

One of them said, “I was here as early as 8:00am, and it’s almost 1:00pm. The experience has been very tough because there is no organization at the place, and we are all just here rushing in and coming out.”

“I got here around 9:30 am and it is almost 1:00pm. When we got here, we were asked to do registration, but things are not working here. It is now left to who is strong that can enter,” another also said.

The various security agencies have recently begun processes to enlist more persons.

Thousands of Ghanaian youth thronged the El Wak Sports Stadium in Accra to participate in a documentation and medical screening process for recruitment into the Ghana Armed Forces.

However, this has been the trend for some years now, depicting the growing levels of youth unemployment in the country.

From as early as 4:00am, applicants started a queue that stretched for over four kilometres.

This was after the announcement from the Ghana Armed Forces informing the public of the commencement of a recruitment exercise back in May.

Scribe of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has told those having issues with John Mahama’s Do or Die comment to blame their English teachers and check their dictionaries.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it is unfazed by criticisms of the ‘do or die’ comment made by its 2020 presidential candidate, John Dramani Mahama.

It says, despite the huge pressure on the former president to retract his comment, the remark is without malice.

There has been widespread controversy following the pronouncement by John Mahama after he said the NDC will be more vigilant during the 2024 general elections.

Mr. Mahama subsequently justified the comment, explaining that it is an idiomatic expression, hence he will not retract or apologize.

General Secretary of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News sided with Mr. Mahama.

The NDC chief scribe said Mr. Mahama was emphasizing the need for party folks to give off their utmost in protecting the party’s interest in the elections to come.

“What has Mahama done wrong? I think people want to disrupt us from the good things we are doing. When we say ‘do or die’ assignment, it means you must use all your energies to do something, I don’t see how this is problematic unless for those who do not understand or fail to understand the obvious. He was communicating in English language. And in the English language, there are idiomatic expressions. Whoever does not understand it, may look it up in the dictionary. It is the Queen’s language.”

Arguing more in favour of the party’s leader, Asiedu Nketiah was also of the view that the comment many have described as inflammatory is just being blown out of proportion.

“We don’t think this should be something people should be worried about at all. So if no one is interested in destroying the results,  why should that statement scare anybody? I don’t see why people should make a fuss about this thing at all. I am so surprised about this hypocrisy. People are trying to make mountain out of a molehill.  If someone has issues with this, he should go and blame his English teacher, he should not be worrying us”, he added.

Mahama’s defence

Mahama explained that the comment was meant to be a piece of advice to members of his party to urge them to sit up and not wait to be cheated at the polling stations before running to the Supreme Court to litigate election results.

However, his critics believe the statement is in bad taste and demanded a retraction.

“The 2020 elections were rigged for the NPP. We have however accepted the ruling of the Supreme Court for the sake of peace. However, come 2024, the NDC will be extra vigilant at the polling stations because that is where the elections are won.”

“So at the polling station [in the next election], it will be ‘do or die’. I am not saying ‘all die be die’. I’m saying it will be ‘do or die’ because the right thing must be done,” Mr. Mahama explained.

Source: Citinewsroom

Former Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak and his ex-wife, Portia Rasheeda Adams are at each other’s throat over the payment of school fees for their kids, sum to sixty-three thousand Ghana cedis (GHC63,000).

In a Facebook post on Wednesday night, the National Democratic Congress ex-MP stated categorically that he can’t pay the latest admission fees for the kids.××

He explained that it was because the ex-wife enrolled the kids into a new school with exorbitant fees without his consent.

According to him, he “would not be forced to pay for something I cannot afford” especially when he didn’t sign up for it.

Ras Mubarak was responding to an alleged abrasive message he received from the ex-wife, Rasheeda Adams who has threatened to take him on in court if he dares refused to perform his fatherly duties.
The alleged text message he shared on his Facebook page read:

“So you, you don’t have shame? Bill of 63 you went to pay only 10k, even that one in small small bits.

Then you will finish and be making noise that you’re paying school fees and your kids are in Roman Ridge school. Aboa! Church rat like you. You’re jobless and useless and instead of you to behave well so I have time to work and look after kids you can’t look after, all you know how to do is to open your smelly mouth and be talking nonsense on social media. Go and pay the remainder of your half (which is 31k). Or wait and pay it in court. Useless man. Also I’m going to make new birth Certificates and passports for them bearing my name since you’re useless as a father. And you better not show your shameful face in that school to embarrass my kids. Stupid man.”

In a lengthy response to the alleged message on his Facebook wall, he described Rasheeda as someone who lives a fake life but he does not fake.

He wrote: “The worst thing a man can do to himself is to have kids with the wrong woman. A scheming manipulator who should have been exposed for the fraud she is if the journalists who give her their platforms took their job seriously.

At least some of us don’t make a living from lying and claiming to be who we are not. I walk proudly with my chest high and my head up; unlike this phony self loathing character – Portia Rasheeda Adams, who parades as an influencer and claims to have sold houses worth millions of dollars in and out of Ghana, yet lives in a one bedroom rented apartment which rent she struggles to pay, yet has the nerve to call me names.

A liar who claims she has 10years’ experience as a realtor, and none of the journalists who gave her platform to lie to the country bothered to even double check on that.

Millions of dollars worth of houses sold, she claims. Well, if our society was working, the tax man would have taken an interest.

A woman who has changed 4 residences in 5years, changed 4 schools in 4years without consulting or at least agreeing with the father who pays the children’s fees. And she has the nerve, to send me such a message?

For the record, in all the kids previous schools (Brainy Bairn, Dolly Memorial, Victoria Grammar), any journalist interested in the truth can go find out how my daughters’ fees was paid. As a responsible father, I paid every Cedi or dollar with my sweat, but of course as a matter of principle refused to have anything to do with admission fees as I was not consulted about the changes in school and or my concerns completely ignored.

On this latest school she took the kids to where admission fee is over twenty thousand cedis per child, I would again not pay a dime in admission fees since phony Ms. Adams decided to be a “rich girl.” For someone with a notorious and ignoble record of changing kids’ school every year and three months, I won’t throw away my money. Moreover, I would not be forced to pay for something I cannot afford. Unlike phony Ms. Portia Adam, I don’t live a fake life.

Let me remind fake Rasheeda Adams if she’s soon forgotten where I picked her from. She was an ambulance chasing reporter way down the ladder at Metro TV in 2013 where she lied that she had a BA degree in English from a University in Nigeria just so they could employ her. She cried and begged me to marry her because she was carrying my baby.

And with all her “mouth mouth” about not living off men, she’s currently driving an old rusty thing she calls car bought for her by a man who’s supposed to be her lawyer in a divorce case. Do your worst Rich Girl. Don’t threaten me. Go ahead and change my kids names and passports.

Former acting General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), James Kwabena Bomfeh, popularly referred to as ‘Kabila’, has censured former President John Mahama for stating that the 2024 general elections will be a “do or die” affair.

‘Do Or Die’ Affair

Ex-President John Mahama, embarking on a ‘Thank You’ tour in the Bono-East Region, stated categorically that his party – the National Democratic Congress – will not petition the Supreme Court on election rigging like they did after the 2020 Presidential elections but rather “it will be a do or die affair at the polling station. The right thing must be done. We will win our election at the polling station”.

“We learn from the past so we [NDC] have learned our lessons from the 2020 election. The next elections will be won or lost at the polling station.”

“We will do everything to make sure the election is transparent and fair. We don’t want to cheat them, so they shouldn’t. We won’t wait for any Supreme Court, no!”, he told an utterly shocked Presenter on Akina Radio at Techiman.

The former President however quickly clarified that he didn’t mean ”all die be die”, a phrase which was made by President Nana Addo, then Presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) said prior to the 2012 elections and received lots of condemnations.

Mahama Clears The Air

Also after receiving a public backlash, Mr. Mahama further cleared his ”do or die affair” comment saying the comment is only an idiomatic expression.

“ . . they don’t understand do or die. Do or die is an English idiom. In Africa, we have many proverbs and we sometimes don’t say things in the straight format, we use proverbs. In English, we have idiomatic expressions. Those who left school early don’t understand idiomatic expressions. Do or die means a critical assignment you have and so you must do the needful or perish.

“What I mean is that the NDC should not wait and go back to the Supreme Court, whatever has to be done at the polling stations and collation centres must be done. And so I don’t retract, the next election for NDC is going to be a do or die affair. I’m telling all our party executives that you must be at the polling station to make sure that the right thing is done. Don’t abdicate your responsibility at that level and expect that after somebody has stolen the election we’ll go to Supreme Court to see if they would turn the election for us, they won’t do it,” he elucidated on Sunyani-based Moonlight FM.

Kabila ‘Bites’ Mahama

But Kabila doesn’t see the idiom in what Mr. Mahama said.

Noting down the gravity of the former President’s comments, he explained the ”do or die means either my way or death. So, there’s only way that we should declare him, John Mahama, President”.

Speaking on Peace FM’s ”Kokrokoo”, he recollected similar actions and statements the Ex-President made after losing the 2020 Presidential elections.

To Kabila, Mr. Mahama should be rectifying his mistakes but not to make seditious statements to re-incite his supporters.

“If people are indeed getting disappointed or are disappointed in our politics, you are a key contributory factor. Former President John Dramani Mahama, your inconsistencies are just too glaring. Be consistent! Do you believe in the Electoral Commission and the constitution? And I want to make it clear here and I’ve said it here over and over again; nobody in this age and time can rig an election, win and get away with it. It’s not possible!!”

https://www.youtube.com/embed/Txiq9HsJArA

Source: peacefmonline.com

Assin Central Member of Parliament says he is in the United States of America to sue Ekow Kevin Taylor for various defamatory comments made about him by the US-based vlogger.

According to him, Ekow Kevin Taylor has described him as a murderer and has said he is sure of his involvement in the murder of Ahmed Suale and J.B Danquah Adu.

To him, he wants Ekow Kevin Taylor to prove with evidence his involvement in the murder of the two persons.

“I am taking him to the court because I want him to come and prove with evidence where he saw me killing the persons he claims I’ve killed. He is bragging about writing to the Congressman and has also written to the Worchester Mayor that I killed Armed Suale and J.B Danquah. The guy should come and prove, it is simple,” he said in an interview on an online-based television station.

Kennedy Agyapong said he is sad that Ghanaians abroad believe in Ekow Kevin Taylor and other uneducated Ghanaians living abroad.null

On his allegations against the National Democratic Congress’ plans to kill a Multimedia Group Journalist and pin it on him, Kennedy Agyapong indicated that the NDC is an evil political party that schemes and does everything to ensure they have power.

He said after he leaked the information, the party has decided to run a check on the phones of people who were part of the meeting to catch the mole among them.

Kennedy Agyapong indicated that the plan is to destroy him because he has the youth of the country on his side.

Source: mynewsgh.com

A former Member of Parliament for the Ketu South constituency, Fiifi Kwetey has endorsed former President John Dramani Mahama’s ‘do or die’ comment and described same as nothing extraordinary.

According to the former Minister of State, the comment by NDC’s 2020 flagbearer was a clear demonstration of the party’s resolve to stop all forms of electoral fraud in the 2024 elections.

This, he said, would not be achieved through violence but vigilance on the part of party agents across the polling stations and the strongroom of the Electoral Commission.

In a statement by former and MP and copied to Starr News, the vociferous politician referenced the vigilance of the NDC in the Electoral Commission’s strongroom during the 2008 general elections as what prevented the NPP from stealing the elections.

“What happened in the strongroom of the EC in 2008 which compelled Afari Djan to rush in to stop the NPP’s desperate attempt to steal the 2008 elections was the spirit of Do or Die. Taking that spirit from the strongroom to each polling station to enable the triumph of truth and democracy is not asking for anything extraordinary. We have done it before and we would do it again,” Fiifi Kwetey wrote.

Mr. Fifi Kwetey believes that “only thieves, crooks and criminals fear determination to stop wanton thievery.”

The former President, who is currently on a thank you tour in the Ashanti and Bono regions, served notice on Tuesday that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will not take chances with the 2024 elections insisting polling stations will be a “do or die.”

According to Mr. Mahama, the Electoral Commission deliberately took measures to ensure that President Akufo-Addo and the NPP won the 2020 elections

.Source: starrfm.com.gh

• Kwesi Pratt Jnr has urged both the NDC and NPP to stop the political struggle for power and think about the welfare of Ghanaians

• He also said he is tired of the two major political parties and their gimmicks

• He said this on PeaceFM’s Kokrokroo programme

Editor-in-Chief of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has averred that Ghanaians are more concerned about their living conditions than which party wins the elections in 2024.

According to him, he is fed up with the political talks of both the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) as far as votes garnering is concerned.

Speaking on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ programme on Wednesday, September 8, 2021, Kwesi Pratt Jnr said,

“Ghanaians are not as much concerned with what party comes to power in the next elections as they are about their living conditions being improved”.

“I am tired of the two parties and the political talks,” he added.

Mr. Pratt further bemoaned the current state of the economy and how government has had to go for loans before embarking on any developmental projects in the country.

“128% of total national revenue is used to pay debts and public officials. There’s no money for road constructions. We don’t have money to do anything; in fact, everything we do demands that we go for loans before we are able to do it. This is the state of the national economy…For me, voting isn’t my priority. What’s important to me is to find ways to alleviate the hardships and financial problems to ease the burdens on Ghanaians,” he stated.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Military leaders who’ve seized power in Guinea have released about 80 prisoners ahead of a summit of the West African grouping Ecowas.

The leaders of the Ecowas bloc are due to meet virtually on Wednesday to discuss the Guinea coup and the political transition in Mali.

The prisoners had been opponents of President Alpha Condé, who was ousted by special forces under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Mamady Doumbouya.

He has accused Mr Condé, 83, of rampant corruption, human rights abuses, and mismanagement.

Ismaël Condé, a member of the opposition UFDG party, said his time in prison had been difficult, but he was now hoping for a better future for his country:

“It’s a feeling you can’t explain, to be deprived of your freedom for 12 months for such trivial things and to be released under these conditions, you can’t explain,” he said.

Dr Mamady Onivogui, a democracy, and human rights activist, told reporters after his release that had no regrets and was looking move to a better future:

“I hope that the junta will do something so that Guineans can get along so that Guineans can move forward because we are more than 60 years into our independence and it’s dragging on.”

Guinea is rich in natural resources – including bauxite needed to make aluminum – but years of unrest and mismanagement mean it is one of the world’s poorest countries.

Bauxite prices have hit a 10-year high since the coup.

Source: BBC

Ghana’s President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has hailed the country’s economy as one of the best in the world.

He said despite the coronavirus pandemic, Ghana’s economy is one of the fastest growing in the world.

Speaking at the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre’s (GIPC) Summit, dubbed ‘Spark up’, Nana Addo said his government has built a very resilient economy.

“Government, since 2017 has put in place measures to reduce the cost of doing business, improved the business environment and made the Ghanaian economy not only one of the business-friendly economies in Africa but also one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.”

“Indeed, the economies of many countries around the world were in a recession, having recorded negative growth as a result of the pandemic. Ghana’s economy was one of the very few that still managed to record positive GDP growth,” he said.

Despite touting Ghana’s economic growth, the President urged Ghanaians to assist in the government’s efforts to build a business-friendly economy.

“This will enable our nation to get to the stage where the exploitation of the opportunities that are available to us will help us build an optimistic, self-confident, self-reliant and prosperous nation. A Ghana Beyond Aid,” the President added.

President Akufo-Addo’s comments comes after former President John Mahama criticized the government for a shambolic economic performance.

John Mahama, in an address to the NDC Professionals Forum at the Cedi Conference Centre of the University of Ghana on Monday, September 6, 2021 said the Ghanaian economy is in shambles.

“Yes, COVID-19 affected the economy, and no one can dispute that. It is however not the main reason why we are in the current hole we find ourselves. COVID19 only became a pretext for reckless election-related spending, which produced the largest-ever budget deficit in the recent economic history of Ghana last year,” he said.

The South Dayi MP, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor has sued government over what he calls irregularities on the award of the Agenda 111 project to the Adjaye and Associates.

The Attorney General has been sued over government’s decision to construct 111 health facilities across the country.

South Dayi MP, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, in a writ filed at the High Court says government ignored Ghana’s procurement laws when it awarded a building design contract to Adjaye and Associates.

He alleges an amount of $6 million of public money has already been paid to the company as consultancy fees. This he argues breaches portions of Ghana’s constitution.

The MP also proceeds to list various government actions he finds contrary to law. These are stated in the writ issued on his behalf by his lawyer Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo as follows:

“The Plaintiff says that the Government of Ghana contracted iRisk Management Limited, a company led by one Dr Alolo as the insurance broker in charge of the project to build 111 District, specialist and Regional hospitals across the country.

The Plaintiff says that government, iRisk Management Limited to handle correspondence with the insurance company and any claims that may arise and provide risk management advisory services.

The Plaintiff says government also contracted Enterprise Insurance as the insurance company responsible for the insurance of the Agenda 111 project. 

The Plaintiff says that the Defendant, in contracting iRisk Management Limited and Enterprise Insurance, ignored the procurement processes laid down  by law, in particular, the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).

The Plaintiff says that the Ministry of Works and Housing, which was the entity responsible for procuring the services of an insurance broker and insurance company in relation to the Agenda 111 project was mandated by the Public Procurement Act, 2003, Act 663 to do so by competitive tendering process, save under exceptional circumstances.

The Plaintiff says that the Ministry of Works and Housing was mandated to undergo a two-stage procurement process by sending out invitation documents calling upon insurance brokers and insurance company to submit, initial tenders which contain the proposals of interested persons but failed to do so.

The Plaintiff says that the manner in which the Defendant contracted iRisk Management Limited and Enterprise Insurance could not be said to be under the restricted tendering as it did not satisfy the conditions and requirements provided under Section 38 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).

The Plaintiff states that at the time of Procurement contract for Agenda 111, iRisk Management Limited and Enterprise Insurance were not the only available insurance broker in the business of providing insurance brokerage and have no exclusive rights in relation to insurance brokerage contracts for public building designs in Ghana.

The Plaintiff says that reasonable alternatives exist and such similar insurance brokerage and insurance companies should have been given the opportunity to bid and submit tenders to work on Agenda 111 to provide competition and value for money.

The Plaintiff says that the need for an insurance brokerage firm and an insurance company to the Agenda 111 project could not be classified as an “urgent need for services” and as such could not form a basis for sole sourcing.

The Plaintiff further says that it was practicable for the Defendant to engage in tender proceedings or any other method of procurement as no unforeseeable circumstances giving rise to urgency had been communicated.

The Plaintiff says that the Defendant could only procure services for a contract by inviting a proposal or price quotation from a single supplier or contractor where the conditions under section 40 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) have been met.

The Plaintiff says that the failure of the Defendant to announce and call for invitation to bid for the insurance brokerage contract and the insurance company constitutes a breach of Article 36(2)(b) of the 1992 constitution.

The Plaintiff says that the Government has a duty to take all necessary steps to establish a sound and healthy economy including affording ample opportunity for individual initiative and creativity in economic activities and fostering an enabling environment for pronounced role of the private sector in the economy.”

He is therefore asking for the following reliefs

• A declaration that the Defendant’s failure to award the contract for the design of the hospitals forming the Agenda 111 by competitive tendering was unlawful and contrary to Section 35 and 36 of the Public Procurement Act,2003 (Act 663).
• A declaration that the failure of the Defendant to comply with the laid down procedure provided under Section 35 and 36 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003, Act 663 when it awarded the contract to Adjaye and Associates renders the design contract null and void with no effect.
• A declaration that the failure of the Defendant to comply with the laid down procedure provided under Section 35 and 36 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003, Act 663 when it awarded the contract to Adjaye and Associates is in contravention of Article 36(2)(c) of the 1992 Constitution.
• An order directed at the Government of Ghana to terminate the building design contract with Adjaye and Associates.
• An order directing the Defendant to engage in a competitive two-stage tendering procurement process in order to award the contract as provided under Sections 35 and 36 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).
• An order that the Thirty-Six million Ghana Cedis (GHC36,000,000.00) advanced to Adjaye and Associates as payment for consultancy fees for the design. Project management and coordination under the building design contract be refunded to the State.
• A declaration that the Defendant’s failure to award the contract for the insurance brokerage of the Agenda 111 project by competitive tendering was unlawful and contrary to Section 35 and 36 of the Public Procurement Act,2003 (Act 663).
• A declaration that the failure of the Defendant to comply with the laid down procedure provided under Section 35 and 36 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003, Act 663 when it awarded the insurance brokerage contract to iRisk Management Limited renders the award null, void and of no effect.
• A declaration that the failure of the Defendant to comply with the laid down procedure provided under Section 35 and 36 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003, Act 663 when it awarded the insurance brokerage contract to iRisk Management Limited is in contravention of Article 36(2)(c) of the 1992 Constitution.
• An order directed at the Government of Ghana to terminate the insurance brokerage contract with iRisk Management Limited.
• An order directing the Government of Ghana to engage in a competitive two-stage tendering procurement process in order to award the insurance brokerage contract as provided under Sections 35 and 36 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).
• An order that all moneys advanced to iRisk Management Limited as payment for fees under the insurance brokerage contract be refunded to the State.
• An order directing the Defendant to charge and prosecute the Minister of Health and all officials involved in the unlawful award of the insurance brokerage contract to iRisk Management Limited for causing financial loss to the State under Section 179A of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, Act 29.
• A declaration that the Defendant’s failure to award the insurance contract of the Agenda 111 project by competitive tendering was unlawful and contrary to Section 35 and 36 of the Public Procurement Act,2003 (Act 663).
• A declaration that the failure of the Defendant to comply with the laid down procedure provided under Section 35 and 36 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003, Act 663 when it awarded the insurance contract to Enterprise life Insurance Company renders the award null, void and of no effect.
• A declaration that the failure of the Defendant to comply with the laid down procedure provided under Section 35 and 36 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003, Act 663 when it awarded the insurance contract to Enterprise Life Insurance Company is in contravention of Article 36(2)(c) of the 1992 Constitution.
• An order directed at the Government of Ghana to terminate the insurance contract with Enterprise Life Insurance Company.
• An order directing the Government of Ghana to engage in a competitive two-stage tendering procurement process in order to award the insurance contract as provided under Sections 35 and 36 of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).
• An order that all moneys advanced to Enterprise Life Insurance Company as payment for fees under the insurance contract be refunded to the State.
• An order directing the Defendant to charge and prosecute the Minister of Health and all officials involved in the unlawful award of the insurance contract to Enterprise Life Insurance Company for causing financial loss to the State under Section 179A of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960, Act 29.
• Costs including legal fees.

Source: Joseph Ackah-Blay || Myjoyonline

The 2020 Presidential candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) John Dramani Mahama says he does not regret his “do or die” comment and will not retract.

The ex-President in an interview on a Techiman-based radio station on Tuesday stated that the NDC has learnt lessons from the 2020 polls that elections can only be won at the polling station for which reason the party will not let its guard down.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-8731784857660975&output=html&h=343&adk=2747955761&adf=809699547&pi=t.aa~a.86673156~i.5~rp.4&w=412&lmt=1631115733&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=6320142137&tp=site_kit&psa=0&ad_type=text_image&format=412×343&url=https%3A%2F%2Fkasapafmonline.com%2F2021%2F09%2Fi-stand-by-my-do-or-die-comment-mahama%2F&flash=0&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=310&rw=372&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1631115733549&bpp=20&bdt=12450&idt=-M&shv=r20210901&mjsv=m202109010101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&prev_fmts=0x0%2C300x600&nras=2&correlator=7965357466330&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1374081233.1631115730&ga_sid=1631115731&ga_hid=955390201&ga_fc=0&u_tz=0&u_his=1&u_java=0&u_h=892&u_w=412&u_ah=892&u_aw=412&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=0&ady=869&biw=412&bih=797&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=31062369%2C31062422%2C31062483%2C31060475%2C31062297&oid=3&pvsid=4236589144516006&pem=987&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C412%2C0%2C412%2C797%2C412%2C797&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=3&uci=a!3&btvi=2&fsb=1&xpc=OnMcaRzN3q&p=https%3A//kasapafmonline.com&dtd=76

Mr Mahama’s comment has drawn strong condemnation from a section of the public who say the former first gentleman’s comment is incendiary and likely to incite the party’s youth during the next general election.

But following the flak, Mr Mahama speaking on the matter again on Sunyani-based Moonlight FM said he simply used an idiomatic expression.

“…they don’t understand do or die. Do or die is an English idiom. In Africa, we have many proverbs and we sometimes don’t say things in the straight format, we use proverbs. In English, we have idiomatic expressions. Those who left school early don’t understand idiomatic expressions. Do or die means a critical assignment you have and so you must do the needful or perish.

He added: “What I mean is that the NDC should not wait and go back to the Supreme Court, whatever has to be done at the polling stations and collation centres must be done. And so I don’t retract, the next election for NDC is going to be a do or die affair. I’m telling all our party executives that you must be at the polling station to make sure that the right thing is done. Don’t abdicate your responsibility at that level and expect that after somebody has stolen the election we’ll go to Supreme Court to see if they would turn the election for us, they won’t do it

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, has said the government’s resolve to clean up the Small-Scale mining and root out illegalities in the sector is unflinching.

He said the current clean up exercise in the sector will ensure decent and a well regulated mining for the development of the country.

The Minister stated this when he addressed the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale miners at Dunkwa-on-Offin at the end of his two-day tour of the Central Region on Tuesday, 7 September 2021.

“Our efforts so far is seeing some level of results and you need sustain efforts to get results,” he said.

The Small-Scale mining sector, according to him, contributed about 40 percent of total gold production out of the country and to the Gross Domestic product (GDP), helping also to boost local economies.

“We will, therefore, continue to use broad-base support to regulate Small-Scale mining”, Mr Jinapor said.

Government, he indicated was not relenting its efforts to root out illegal mining, assuring that the ban on illegal mining was forever.

He admonished small scale miners to mine right to attract the needed benefits and asked them to adopt what he described as ” Peer regulation” to help push the sector forward.

Mr Jinapor dismissed claims that the government has given up the fight against illegal mining, saying ” we have not given up the fight”.

He assured Ghanaians that the government was determined to sustain its efforts to curb the menace and promote peace and harmony in the sector

• Mr Mahama has said that Ghana’s crisis should be blamed on the NPP

• He has asked govt to stop blaming their ‘failure’ on COVID-19

• Mr Mahama again termed the govt as the luckiest under the Fourth Republic

The 2020 presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has asked the Nana Addo-led government to desist from blaming their mismanagement of the country on the impact of Coronavirus.

The former president has reiterated that the ruling government has failed to deliver their promises to the Ghanaians due to their corrupt practices.

Speaking at the NDC’s Professionals Forum at the University of Ghana on Monday, September 6, 2021, Mr Mahama noted that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) during the 2020 polls spent huge sums of money to win the elections.

This he said has plunged Ghana into crisis and not necessarily the negative impact of Coronavirus which has affected economies in the world.

“COVID-19 has become the convenient whipping boy and has been cited as the reason for the crisis we face now and the attendant economic hardships. Yes, COVID-19 affected the economy, and no one can dispute that. It is however not the main reason why we are in the current hole we find ourselves. COVID-19 only became a pretext for reckless election-related spending, which produced the largest-ever budget deficit in the recent economic history of Ghana last year.

“Our debt has ballooned to unsustainable levels- topping 80% of GDP- exposing us to very high risk of debt default. Almost all of our tax revenue is used to service our debt and the effect has been the introduction of several new taxes. This has led to rampant increments in the prices of goods and services. This is primarily responsible for the hardships Ghanaians are going through now,” said the former president.

Mr Mahama in his address added that Nana Akufo-Addo’s government is the “luckiest under the Fourth Republic”. But according to him, they do not have enough to show for when it comes to developmental projects despite all the available resources.

“This has been the luckiest government under the fourth republic. They have benefitted from 60% of all the oil revenue accruing to Ghana since we began producing oil, they have had more than twice the total tax revenue available to us and have enjoyed unprecedented support from our development partners.”

He furthered: “This government must accept that it is their mismanagement of the economy, their thirst for consumption expenditure and the desire to spend beyond our means in order to win elections that have plunged us into the current crisis, not necessarily COVID-19.”

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Former President John Dramani Mahama says he cannot change his calm and welcoming nature even in the most testing of circumstances.

According to him, his family and religious upbringing do not permit him to depart from the kind of person he is, explaining that he was in the church before he entered politics.

Answering a question on Akina FM in Techiman, on perceptions that under him the NDC has become a church instead of a political party, the former President said that wasn’t the case.

“We all have our beliefs and we all have different upbringings. I was not raised to be a ruffian. I was raised to be polite, gentle and civil to every human being. To be sensitive to people irrespective of who you are. That’s how I was raised” he explained.

He also added, “I can’t change that character and say I am going to be macho, ruffian or fight.”

Mr. Mahama, who is on the second phase of his tour to thank Ghanaians, also rejected the suggestion that he must change, insisting that no life is worth being lost because of power.

“The point is not everyone can do it. But you must not change your character because of politics. For the sake of the peace of the country you must let go of somethings. Otherwise, when one says I won’t agree and another disagrees, people will die… and you have to be responsible” he stated.

On why the NDC before, during and after the 2020 elections complained about wrongdoing and yet remained law abiding, Mr. Mahama stated that it would have been irresponsible to ask people to go on the streets or pick up arms in protest because of the disputed 2020 elections in which 8 Ghanaians were killed.

“It would be irresponsible to do that. For the sake of peace for our nation, we decided to follow the constitutional route and go to court” he explained.

The other regions to be visited by Mr. Mahama in the second phase of the tour are the Bono, Ahafo, Western North and Ashanti regions.

As of 3 September 2021, Ghana’s COVID-19 death toll was 1,083, the latest figures from the Ghana Health Service (GHS) have indicated.

Some 420 new cases were also recorded within that period.

The active caseload has, however, fallen to 6,539.

Out of that number, 44 are critical and 126 severe.

Since mid-March 2020, a total of 122,157 cases have been recorded in Ghana.

Of that number, 114,535 have recovered.

Regional breakdown:

Greater Accra Region – 65,613

Ashanti Region – 20,271

Western Region – 6,923

Eastern Region – 6,144

Volta Region – 4,721

Central Region – 4,373

Bono East Region – 2,425

Bono Region – 2,060

Northern Region – 1,704

Upper East Region – 1,390

Ahafo Region – 1,033

Western North Region – 967

Oti Region – 773 Upper West Region – 607

North East Region – 256

Savanna Region – 205

• John Boadu claims John Dramani Mahama and Seth Terkper are the worst to have managed Ghana’s economy

• He said the duo were bereft with ideas, thereby, leaving the economy in its worst state

• He made this known at a press conference in Accra

John Boadu, General Secretary, NPP, has argued that former President John Dramani Mahama and Seth Terkper, former finance minister, are the worst pair to ever manage the economy of the Republic of Ghana under the Fourth Republic.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, September 7, organized to respond to some comments made by John Dramani Mahama at a recent forum in Accra, Boadu indicated that, the duo [Mahama and Terkper] were bereft with ideas, thereby, leaving the economy in its worst state by the time Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo became President of Ghana in 2017.

“Former President John Mahama and Mr. Seth Terkper are on public record as being the worst duo to have ever been in charge of the Ghanaian economy at the same time. Yet in their public forum on the 6th of September, 2021, the duo sought to create the impression that they had the best of times running the Ghanaian economy. Unfortunately for them, the facts show otherwise.

“Much as John Mahama seeks re-election on a campaign platform of ‘going back’ to the IMF, he attempts to confuse history by painting a rosy picture of his disastrous management of the Ghanaian economy between 2012 and 2016. Indeed, he put the economy in free-fall after extreme reckless expenditure in excess of some GH¢12 billion in pursuit of election victory in 2012,” John Boadu said.

He added: “His economy, under Seth Terkper, never recovered, leading to unheard of taxation measures on condoms and cutlasses. This period of economic mismanagement was marked by rising inflation and downward growth, with growth declining steeply from 14% in 2011 to 3.9% in 2016.

“One of the most barefaced assertions he makes in his remarks at the public event hosted by Seth Terkper is that, he inherited a bad economy. Of course, he did. From himself. Having ruined the economy, he presided over as Vice President to the late President Mills, he stood before Parliament at his swearing in and proudly admitted running down the economy to the bone.

“This was an economy that had been moved from HIPC, with substantial debt relief, grown from 3.7% in the year 2000 to over 8% at handover in 2008, including newly discovered oil in commercial quantities and a revamped cocoa sector.”

John Boadu further stated that, John Dramani Mahama cannot deceive Ghanaians by lying his way back into power.

“Perhaps former President Mahama has forgotten so soon his abysmal record reflecting incompetence, corruption and greed for power.

“After eight elections, the Ghanaian electorate has become very sophisticated at reading between the lines. The half-truths and outright lies will fail to pass electoral scrutiny in 2024.

“The NPP is urging former President Mahama to up his game as we continue with the serious business of resolving Ghana’s development challenges with a focus on investing in people and a supportive environment for growth,” he stressed.

https://cdn.jwplayer.com/players/1kOQ04DK-eqk5XVg5.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

• Reactions trail ‘do-or-die’ comments made by former president John Dramani Mahama

• Whiles most NDC people find the call apt, NPP members are condemning it

• A former deputy minister is wondering why NPP members are incensed having defended ‘all die be die’ mantra by President Akufo-Addo when he was in opposition

Former Deputy Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, has waded into the recent proclamation by former president John Dramani Mahama, that the 2024 election will be strictly monitored per available electoral laws.

His use of the term ‘do-or-die’ whiles speaking on a local radio station on his ‘Thank You’ tour of the Bono region has, however, generated a lot of backlash from the governing New Patriotic Party.

Reacting to the backlash, Ato Forson posted a tweet on September 9 which read: “Those that defended “all die be die” not long ago are now criticising “do or die” Interesting!”

His message is accompanied by a screenshot from “theidioms.com” spelling out different meanings of the term “do-or-die.

Those that defended “all die be die” not long ago are now criticising “do or die”.

Interesting! pic.twitter.com/iHUMVLfe2R— Cassiel Ato Forson(PhD) (@Cassielforson) September 8, 2021

Speaking on Akina Radio as part of his tour, the former president said: ”we all recognize that President Akufo-Addo is the recognised leader of Ghana. We have accepted the Supreme Court judgement.

“But whatever happens, you have to learn your lessons. We have learnt our lessons with elections 2020. The 2024 elections would be won or lost at the polling stations. It would be a “do or die” affair at the polling stations,” he added.

He clarified in his submission that his “do or die” affair comment is not the same as Nana Addo’s infamous “all die be die” mantra.

One of the first to condemn Mahama was Nsawam-Adoahyiri MP, Frank Annoh-Dompreh who tweeted: “It beats understanding how Mr. Mahama’s ‘Thank You Tour’ has degenerated into a platform for reckless commentary. How does a former President & former ECOWAS chair threaten electoral violence while belittling the ability of laws and the Supreme Court to deliver justice?

“Mr. Mahama must own up to his irresponsible statements and offer an unqualified apology to the people of Ghana: the people he hopes to lead.”

Dompreh’s colleague from Builsa South won’t have any of his attack on Mahama. ”Nonsense! Apologise for what. If you and your NPP think we will sit by for vigilantes to kill innocent Ghanaians and for persons you have appointed to head public/state institutions to subvert the true will of the people in 2024 like happened in 2020, you better think again. It will be “do or die,” Clement Apaak stressed.

“Just like we insisted that the right thing be done on the dawn of January 7th, 2021 which saw the election of ASK Bagbin as the Speaker of Parliament, so will we ensure that the right thing is done at every polling station on December 7th 2024,” he said.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

• Eugene Arhin has denied President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo using LX-DIO for his recent trips to the UK and Germany

• He never indicated which flight the President travelled in

• Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa had written that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during his recent trip abroad hired yet another luxurious aircraft LX-DIO

Eugene Arhin, Director of Communications at the Presidency, says the MP for North Tongu lied about President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo hiring another luxurious aircraft on his recent trips to the UK and Germany.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, September 7, Arhin indicated that the President did not use a Luxembourg-based aircraft registered as LX-DIO as Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa wants the public to believe.

“Let me put it on record that the Member of Parliament for North Tongu who made this disclosure put out the information that the President travelled on a jet with the number LX-DIO.

“I travel with the President on every single trip and on the trip to the UK first, for the Global Education Summit, and subsequently to Germany, the President did not use this jet. I don’t know where he got his information from,” he said

Eugene Arhin in dismissing the claims by the MP, did not give details on the flight President Akufo-Addo travelled on, but he categorically said, that the flight mentioned by Okudzeto Ablakwa, was not used by the President.

The Director of Communications’ comment follows a recent allegation by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa that President Akufo-Addo had again hired a luxurious aircraft on his recent foreign trips.

According to the North Tongu MP, the trips on the hired jet cost the state £14,000 per hour and a cumulative ¢3.46 million.

In a post on his social media pages, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa called for a national policy on presidential travels akin to what pertains in other jurisdictions.

“For his recent travels to the UK on the 27th of July, 2021, to attend the Global Education Summit and last week’s state visit to Germany, he blatantly refused to travel on the presidential jet.

“Instead, he opted for another top of the range VIP luxury charter jet specifically known to industry players as the Boeing 737-900ER BBJ3,” he alleged.

He said, the Luxembourg-based aircraft is registered LX-DIO and operated by Global Jet Luxembourg. Its Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) is 62515 with Line Number 5659.

“The 19-seater luxury jet, which has a HEX code 4D0213 is configured VIP, has 2x CFMI engines and was delivered to the current operators in November, 2015.

“Very few luxury jets boast of its features. Its manufacturers say the cabin is divided into multiple sections to guarantee exceptional comfort. It provides a VIP lounge for relaxation, Five-Star dining facilities, Royal Master bedroom, Cinema Room, specially delineated for watching movies, which is a separate accessory from other in-flight entertainment systems, and of course, just as you predicted correctly, complete with a luxury shower (apparently, the sky bath continues unabated – all royalties paid to Defence Minister, Nitiwul).

“If our government is dealing directly with the operators of the LX-DIO, then it is costing the Ghanaian taxpayer at least, $14,000 per hour. However, if our government is leasing the aircraft via brokers or middlemen, as it has gained notoriety in many sectors, you shouldn’t be surprised the Ghanaian taxpayer is being billed between $18,000 and $22,000 per hour.

“Using the conservative rate of $14,000 per hour, the two trips to the UK and Germany which require some 28 hours of travel distance in and out plus an additional 13 hours of pick up and drop off time, the taxpayer has been burdened again to the colossal tune of $574,000. At the current exchange rate, that is a staggering GH¢3.46 million,” the Facebook post read.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will today, Wednesday, September 8, 2021, chair a virtual emergency Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) meeting to deliberate on happenings in Guinea.

President Akufo-Addo, who is Chairman of ECOWAS will lead his colleague Heads of State to address the coup that has toppled the regime of Alpha Conde.

This was announced by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin.

He said the meeting will try to find a lasting solution to the Guinea crisis.

According to him, ECOWAS will also use the opportunity to reaffirm its belief that “ballots and not the bullets should be the only legitimate means of effecting change in the political leadership of any country within the ECOWAS community.”

“The president will chair an emergency virtual summit of heads of state and governments of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) basically to reaffirm the long term held belief that the ballots and not the bullets should be the only legitimate means of effecting change in the political leadership of any country within the ECOWAS community.”

About the Guinea coup

After gunfire in Guinea’s capital, a group of soldiers announced the dissolution of the constitution, the closure of the borders, and a nationwide curfew in a broadcast on state TV on Sunday evening [September 4, 2021].

The soldiers, led by a Special Forces Colonel, Mamady Doumbouya, had said regional governors had been replaced by military commanders and that Mr. Condé was under arrest.

The UN, African Union, and ECOWAS have condemned the coup and called for a return to civilian rule.

The coup in Guinea was the fourth attempted coup in West Africa in the last year with two military takeovers in Mali and a failed coup in Niger

Pollster and Managing Editor of Dispatch, Mr Ben Ephson has said that winning an election in Ghana is not a do-or-die affair

He explained that winning an election requires trained party loyalists as polling agents who will ensure that vote numbers are properly collated and filled on the pink sheets.

His comments come after Former President John Dramani Mahama has said that the 2024 election is going to be a do-or-die affair at the polling stations.

Mr Mahama said that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has learned lessons from the 2020 general elections.

Speaking on Techiman-based Akina FM’s on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, as part of his thank-you tour, Mr Mahama said “This current president has made elections life and death for him, he uses his Delta forces and invisible forces enrolled in the security agencies.

“You see some Military and police officers and ask whether these are indeeuall sort of things and you can’t tell whether this is a police officer or a soldier. We know they have infiltrated the security with some of their people

“Look at what happened at Techiman South the ways they shot at the crowd, it was intended to kill people. We hope that the next elections we won’t see scenes like that again.

“We have learnt our lessons from happenings during the 2020 polls. The 2024 elections will be won or lost at the polling station. It will be do-or-die at the polling stations. The right thing must be done during the polls. We will win the elections at the polling station and won’t wait for collation centre results nor petition the Supreme Court if aggrieved,” he said.

Reacting to this, Mr Ephson said “I think it is too early to warm up for elections in 2024. If you understand elections, if Nana Akufo-Addo decides to make his brother the Electoral Commissioner or John Mahama decides to make his brother Ibrahim the electoral commissioner, I will not be bothered. The eating of the pudding is at the polling station, you just need to train about 50,000 educated and loyalists who will be there.

“You don’t go and pick anybody on the street, tell the person I will make you a polling agent, I will give you GHS200 a day, I will give hundred, at the end of voting and counting I will give the other hundred. By 2pm that person who is not loyal to your party will take double the balance and sign the pink sheet and he leaves.

“So it is not a matter of dying at polling station, it is a matter of just getting educated and loyal polling agents and that will be it.”

“I think that Mahama is appealing to the base of the party. The 2020 elections were very close, virtually a hung parliament and for example, the election of an NDC’s past Minority Leader Alban Bagbin as the speaker, the impression is that maybe NDC is in control of parliament and they will be able to do a few more things. You can protect your ballot at the polling station without dying.

“With only eight months, you have got three years and four months more to 2024, I think that all the politicians will be exhausted in a year and a half. They are flexing their muscles far too early,” he told Joy News on Tuesday September 7.

Source: 3news.com

Nsawam-Adoagyiri law maker, Frank Annoh-Dompreh has condemned former President John Dramani Mahama for indicating that the 2024 general elections will be a do-or-die affair.

Mr Annoh-Dompreh described the comments by the presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in last year’s elections as irresponsible.

Mr Mahama had said that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has learned lessons from the 2020 general elections.

He said the next elections in 2024 will be a do-or-die affair, especially at the polling stations.

Speaking on Techiman-based Akina FM’s on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, as part of his “Thank You Tour”, Mr Mahama said “This current president has made elections life and death for him, he uses his Delta forces and invisible forces enrolled in the security agencies.

“You see some Military and police officers and ask whether these are indeed officers. They wear earrings and all sort of things and you can’t tell whether this is a police officer or a soldier
We know they have infiltrated the security with some of their people

“Look at what happened at Techiman South the ways they shot at the crowd, it was intended to kill people.

“We hope that the next elections we won’t see scenes like that again.

“We have learnt our lessons from happenings during the 2020 polls. The 2024 elections will be won or lost at the polling station. It will be do-or-die at the polling stations. The right thing must be done during the polls. We will win the elections at the polling station and won’t wait for collation centre results nor petition the Supreme Court if aggrieved,” he said.

Reacting to these comments in a tweet, Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh said “It beats understanding how Mr. Mahama’s ‘Thank You Tour’ has degenerated into a platform for reckless commentary. How does a former President & former ECOWAS chair threaten electoral violence while belittling the ability of laws and the Supreme Courts to deliver justice?

“Mr. Mahama must own up to his irresponsible statements and offer an unqualified apology to the people of Ghana: the people he hopes to lead.”

It beats understanding how Mr. Mahama’s “Thank You Tour” has degenerated into a platform for reckless commentary. How does a former President & former ECOWAS chair threaten electoral violence while belittling the ability of laws and the Supreme Courts to deliver justice?

— Hon. Frank Annoh-Dompreh (@FAnnohDompreh) September 7, 2021

Mr. Mahama must own up to his irresponsible statements and offer an unqualified apology to the people of Ghana: the people he hopes to lead.

— Hon. Frank Annoh-Dompreh (@FAnnohDompreh) September 7, 2021

Former Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC) slammed Government for prioritizing the distribution of laptops to teachers when textbooks have not been provided two years after the introduction of a new curriculum.

For him, the absence of laptops has never been a concern for teachers who have threatened to strike over the non-provision of textbooks.

Speaking on GTV’s Breakfast show Monday, September 6, 2021, Bernard Mornah wondered how teachers in rural areas without electricity were going to use the laptops since they rely on electricity for charging.

“If you come from a community called Kparitinga, where they do not have electricity. And you’re a teacher there and you’re given a laptop, you should go and set fire on it to charge it? How are you going to use it?…So the laptop will be roasted so that it will be used?

“…The problem that the teachers of today are confronted with, for which reason, they have threatened many times to go on strike, is not the issue of the absence of laptops…They are talking about the availability of even the textbooks so as to complement the so-called curriculum that you[ the Government ] have brought,” he explained.

The Government has launched One Teacher, One Laptop Project through which all teachers are expected to receive one laptop each to facilitate their work as teachers.

The Vice President recently handed over the laptops to the Ghana Education Service for distribution to the teachers.

While many have hailed the project, others are critical of it, saying it is a misplaced priority given the current circumstances where textbooks and other essentials for effective teaching and learning are inadequate or totally lacking.

Former President John Dramani Mahama has claimed that hooligans belonging to the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) were enrolled into the Army and the Police service to cause mayhem in the 2020 elections.

He said these persons were unprofessional during the election and deliberately shot to kill innocent people during the polls.

“This current president has made elections life and death for him, he uses his Delta forces and invisible forces enrolled in the security agencies.

Speaking on Techiman-based Akina FM on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, as part of his thank you tour, Mr Mahama, said “You see some Military and police officers and ask whether these are indeed officers. They wear earrings and all sort of things and you can’t tell whether this is a police officer or a soldier.

“We know they [NPP] have infiltrated the security with some of their people. Look at what happened at Techiman South the way they shot at the crowd, it was intended to kill people. We hope that the next elections we won’t see scenes like that again.“We have learnt our lessons from happenings during the 2020 polls.

“The 2024 elections will be won or lost at the polling station.

“It will be do-or-die at the polling stations. The right thing must be done during the polls.

“We will win the elections at the polling station and won’t wait for collation centre results nor petition the Supreme Court if aggrieved,” he said.

Source: 3news.com

• President Nana Akufo-Addo addressed the 2021 Spark Up Investment Summit in Accra

• He says his government did well in managing the economy during the pandemic

• The president says he has the blueprint to make the economy even better

Ghana’s president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has declared that his government has what he calls the “blueprint” necessary to bring back the country’s economy to an appreciable level following the ravages of the novel Coronavirus.

Speaking during the 2021 Ghana Investment Promotion Center’s Spark Up Investment Summit in Accra, the president trumpeted his government’s ability to have steered the country’s economy on track even when the rest of the world was badly hit by the pandemic.

“Despite the ravages of the pandemic, we are working to grow the economy at a much faster pace this year. Our target being a 5% GDP growth-rate which will enhance the prospects of a win-win environment for both private sector and country,” he explained.null

He added that it is their hope to better those chances and do even more to enhance a favourable environment for businesses to thrive.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo also boasted that they have the manual to ensure that the right sectors receive the right support and investments, so as to get them on track to properly drive the economy to a much more resilient place.

“We’ll create an environment where companies do not survive, but actually thrive. In the first quarter of this year, the GDP of the economy grew at 3.1%, in the second at 8.9%. Government has a blueprint for the revitalization of the Ghanaian economy from the effects of COVID-19. We have identified the relevant sectors of our economy requiring the needed investment and will help accelerate the rebound and growth of the Ghanaian economy as was witnessed in the immediate years before the pandemic struck,” he stated.

The Spark Up Investment Forum Summit is the ultimate trade and investment summit to experience a comprehensive display of high-level government officials, business leaders and key industry players under one roof.

The summit also provided network opportunities with investors in the Ghanaian market, showcased the advantages of foreign direct investments in the country, and shared investment practice know-hows and valuable knowledge

.Source: www.ghanaweb.com

The driver of the Member of Parliament for Suhum Samuel Kofi Agyei alias Jamalo, 43, has been admitted to Ghc80,000 bail with two sureties by the Koforidua Circuit Court ‘B’ Presided by Her Honour Mercy Adei -Kotei on Tuesday.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing harm with an offensive weapon contrary to section 70 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 ( Act 29) .

The defence counsel Sulemana Musah prayed the court to grant the accused person bail on basis that he was struck with stone hence injured therefore needs medical attention.

He argued that the accused person is a driver by profession and a married man living with his children therefore not a flight risk, that, he is eager to stand trial to prove his innocence and clear his name of the allegations and accusations which has implications on his vision to contest a national election.

He accused the Attorney General of abusing the court processes by filing a motion for nolle Prosequi at the District Court to discontinue the case when ruling on a bail application was to be held at the same court today.

In opposing the instant application for bail by the Defence counsel, Prosecution stated that the charge pressed against the accused is a second-degree felony, and additionally, there is tension in Suhum which if the accused is granted bail it may lead to reprisal attack.

The prosecution said the victim has been referred from Suhum government Hospital to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital due to worsening health conditions.

The Presiding Judge Her Honour Mercy Adei Kotei however admitted the accused to bail and adjourned the case of October 8, 2021.

Background

The accused Samuel Kofi Agyei alias Jamalo who allegedly inflicted machete wounds on the NPP communication officer for Lower West Akyem Benard Kwasi Amoani during a violent clash at a funeral was arrested Wednesday, September 1, 2021, after he was accompanied by a member of the ruling New Patriotic Party to turn himself into the Suhum police.

Four persons sustained injuries during clashes between two rival groups of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Suhum Constituency of the Eastern Region at a funeral rite.

The injured including Bernard Kwasi Amoani, 51, a communication officer for lower West Akyem NPP who was inflicted deep knife wound on the forehead were admitted at Suhum Government Hospital.

One of the victims Alexander Odei also suffered a minor injury on the upper lip.

The chaos was triggered when Frank Asiedu Bekoe, popularly known as Protozoa and some party communicators and Serial Callers attended the funeral of the late father of one of the communicators identified as Opare on Saturday, August 28, 202

While at the funeral, the Member of Parliament and his entourage led by the Constituency chairman Frederick Ofosu also arrived

At that material moment, we were left with no option than to ask for permission to leave the funeral grounds for other equally important engagements. Our Spokesperson was therefore asked to seek permission for us to leave the funeral grounds. Upon seeking permission, our spokesperson expressed our deepest displeasure and dismay by the position of the Suhum MP and his team to disrespect hardworking grassroot communicators of our dear party in that denigrating manner

In the process of reiterating our displeasure, disappointment and resentment on the position of the MP, our Spokesperson was forcibly attacked by a mob of supporters of the MP who manhandled him in an uncharitable manner”

The driver of the MP Kofi Agyei alias Jamalo allegedly pulled a machete to struck the forehead of victim Benard Kwasi Amoani

“These despicable individuals also turned their attention to innocent leading members of the Eastern Regional Grassroot Communication’s Team of the NPP in an attempt to rescue our Spokesperson from harm. In the process, the driver of the MP grabbed a Machete from the vehicle of the MP and slashed the forehead of our colleague Bernard Kwasi Amoani, who was immediately rushed to the hospital for medical attention”.

Later in the day, Charles Gyasi, Suhum Constituency Youth Organizer accompanied by Martin Odei and Ernest Lartey, all executive members of the NPP went to the Suhum Police station to report the incident

Police together with complainants proceeded to Suhum Government Hospital where victim Kwasi Amoani was seen at the Emergency ward under stable conditions responding to treatment.

Nolle Prosequi by AG

The Attorney General filed a motion for nolle prosequi at the District Court on Tuesday.

The Eastern Regional State Attorney Emily Addo-Kyereh who argue during the maiden appearance in Magistrate court that the nature of the offence comes with severe punishment and therefore the accused may not avail himself to stand trial when admitted to bail.

The Presiding Judge His Worship Eric Daning asked the counsel on both sides to approach the bench.

Subsequently, the Magistrate court judge adjourned the case to Tuesday, 7th September 2021, for the ruling on the bail application.

However, on Tuesday, it was revealed that AG has filed motion to discontinue the case at the Magistrate court.

The suspect was discharged but re-arrested to face fresh charges at the circuit Court

Former President John Dramani Mahama has said that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has learned lessons in the 2020 general elections.

He said the next elections in 2024 will be a do-or-die affair, especially at the polling stations.

Speaking on Techiman-based Akina FM’s on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, as part of his thank-you tour, Mr Mahama said “This current president has made elections life-and-death for him, he uses his Delta forces and invisible forces enrolled in the security agencies.

“You see some Military and police officers and ask whether these are indeed officers. They wear earrings and all sort of things and you can’t tell whether this is a police officer or a soldier

We know they have infiltrated the security with some of their people

“Look at what happened at Techiman South the ways they shot at the crowd, it was intended to kill people.

“We hope that the next elections we won’t see scenes like that again.

“We have learnt our lessons from happenings during the 2020 polls. The 2024 elections will be won or lost at the polling station. It will be do-or-die at the polling stations. The right thing must be done during the polls. We will win the elections at the polling station and won’t wait for collation centre results nor petition the Supreme Court if aggrieved,” he said.

• Mr Mahama has described the ruling government as the luckiest under the Fourth Republic

•He however says that the government has nothing to show for it despite the advantage

• Mr Mahama has attributed the current hardship to government’s mismanagement of the economy

Former President, John Dramani Mahama has stated that despite the abundance of resources under the Akufo-Addo-led government, not much has been attained under his leadership.

Mr Mahama has described the ruling government as “the luckiest government under the fourth republic” but according to him, the New Patriotic Patry (NPP) has blown the state funds through their mismanagement and corrupt practices.

According to him, Ghana’s current crisis is not a result of the impact of COVID-19 but rather the mismanagement of the economy by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Speaking at the NDC’s Professionals Forum at the University of Ghana on Monday, September 6, 2021, the former president noted that Akufo-Addo’s government has enjoyed “more than twice the total tax revenue” under the NDC but still can’t account for the monies he claims they (NPP government) have spent beyond their expenditure.

He said: “This government must accept that it is their mismanagement of the economy, their thirst for consumption expenditure and the desire to spend beyond our means in order to win elections that have plunged us into the current crisis, not necessarily COVID-19.

“This has been the luckiest government under the fourth republic. They have benefitted from 60% of all the oil revenue accruing to Ghana since we began producing oil, they have had more than twice the total tax revenue available to us and have enjoyed unprecedented support from our development partners.”

Mr Mahama furthered: “Within a space of 12 months, they have received up to GH¢11 billion from the IMF alone and over $200 million from the World Bank and other donors. They had access to over $200 million from the Stabilization Fund we set up and got Central Bank Financing of GH¢10 billion whereas we had zero financing from the Central bank in 2016 despite all our challenges.

They have also increased our debt by almost twice the total amount of all previous governments put together. All of this notwithstanding, they have the least to show in terms of tangible gains or capital investments.”

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

 GNAT

Members of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT) have served notice to embark on an industrial action if the government does not meet their demand for better working conditions.

The teachers said they want issues regarding their salaries, allowances and other related matters addressed by the government immediately or they lay down their tools in the first week of October.

The Deputy General Secretary, Administration & Labour Relations, GNAT said at a Regional Conference that they have waited for their issues to be resolved by the government for far too long.

They also asked the National Labour Commission (NLC) not to intervene when they embark on their planned strike until their demands are met.

“We have some issues as teachers which remain unresolved,” for which there is going to be a strike by the teachers if they continue to remain unresolved, Mr Affedu said.

To the NLC, he said, “when they see this looming, they will not talk until we start.”

SOURCE: adomonline

 John Kumah

Deputy Finance Minister John Kumah says the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has no solution to challenges facing the Ghanaian economy.

According to him, despite the consistent ‘lamentation’ by the opposition party, they offer no fresh ideas for the resolution of the problems.

“John Mahama has come on a complaining spree and he’s shown that he doesn’t have any master plan as far as economic growth is concerned. We know that he [John Mahama] is not coming with any new ideas. We have stayed on course and have shown competence in the management of this country. The NDC is not giving us any answers. All they’re doing is crying. They should tell us what new ideas they have.

“We know the banking crisis he [ John Mahama] left behind and graduates couldn’t be employed. We have the answers and we’re working at it. John Mahama has shown that he doesn’t have any new ideas,” Mr Kumah told the media on Tuesday.

The comments come on the back of the economic forum organized by the NDC on Monday. The forum addressed by former President John Mahama and former Finance Minister Seth Terkper criticised the handling of the economy under President Akufo-Addo.

Mr Mahama said the NPP government must accept that the mismanagement of the economy, and the desire to spend beyond the means of the government in order to win elections have plunged the country into the current crisis.

“Yes, COVID-19 affected the economy, and no one can dispute that. It is however not the main reason why we are in the current hole we find ourselves. COVID19 only became a pretext for reckless election-related spending, which produced the largest-ever budget deficit in the recent economic history of Ghana last year”.

Mr Mahama stressed: “Our debt has ballooned to unsustainable levels- topping 80% of GDP- exposing us to very high risk of debt default. Almost all of our tax revenue is used to service our debt and the effect has been the introduction of several new taxes. This has led to rampant increments in the prices of goods and services.

“This is primarily responsible for the hardships Ghanaians are going through now. A comparison with our neighbours and peers in Sub-Saharan Africa, all of whom were also affected by COVID-19, shows they have been able to protect their citizens from COVID-19 in ways that are similar to ours. They have however avoided increasing their debts and deficits because of more prudent management of their economies.

“This government must accept that it is their mismanagement of the economy, their thirst for consumption expenditure and the desire to spend beyond our means in order to win elections that have plunged us into the current crisis, not necessarily COVID-19. This has been the luckiest government under the fourth republic.”

SOURCE: starrfm

 Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has said that if steps are not taken quickly by African leaders to right the wrongs in the society, the era of military takeovers may return.

He stated that factors that build fertile grounds for coup d’états are emerging in most African countries, a situation he said, must be dealt with immediately in order to sustain the democracies of these countries.

Unwarranted thirst for third term, corruptions, joblessness, poverty, manipulation of constitution, profligacy of the ruling elite and impunity are what give rise to military takeovers.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-6359669600040540&output=html&h=343&adk=2673199636&adf=2184461763&pi=t.aa~a.23905774~i.5~rp.4&w=412&lmt=1630957839&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=1135190008&tp=site_kit&psa=0&ad_type=text_image&format=412×343&url=https%3A%2F%2Fkessbenonline.com%2F2021%2F09%2F06%2Fera-of-coups-may-return-if-ablakwa%2F&flash=0&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=317&rw=380&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1630957837929&bpp=17&bdt=7387&idt=-M&shv=r20210831&mjsv=m202108240201&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D733f7e624956f290-228774a8e1ca000b%3AT%3D1630957835%3ART%3D1630957835%3AS%3DALNI_MbeUKM_hfTiB4bP-tVQgsS1jkQvZQ&prev_fmts=0x0%2C412x343&nras=3&correlator=3189181262647&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1578206174.1630957836&ga_sid=1630957836&ga_hid=1740542712&ga_fc=0&u_tz=0&u_his=1&u_java=0&u_h=892&u_w=412&u_ah=892&u_aw=412&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=0&ady=1538&biw=412&bih=797&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=44747621%2C31062388%2C31060475%2C31062297&oid=3&pvsid=2198996457575927&pem=859&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C412%2C0%2C412%2C797%2C412%2C797&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=3&uci=a!3&btvi=2&fsb=1&xpc=UvuNTAtC3n&p=https%3A//kessbenonline.com&dtd=1370

He was commenting on the response by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to the coup d’états that occurred in Guinea on Sunday September 5.

ECOWAS in a communique on Sunday condemned “with the greatest firmness this coup attempt on Sunday, September 5, 2021.”

“ECOWAS demands respect for the physical integrity of the President of the Republic, the Professor Alpha Condé and his immediate and unconditional release as well as that of all the personalities arrested.

“It also demands the return to constitutional order on pain of sanctions. ECOWAS reaffirms its disapproval of any unconstitutional political change.

“She asks the defense and security forces to remain in a posture. Republican and expresses its solidarity with the Guinean people and Government,” the communique signed by ECWAS Chair, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said.

Soldiers appeared on national TV in Guinea claiming to have dissolved the government of President Alpha Condé.

However, the defence ministry said the attempted takeover had been thwarted by the presidential guard.

This follows hours of heavy gunfire near the presidential palace in the capital, Conakry.

Commenting on this in a tweet, Mr Ablakwa said “The disturbing development s in Guinea which comes after a similar undesirable military interventions in Mali, Chad, Sudan must remind African leaders that the coup era of the 1960s and 80s may sadly returned if the unwarranted thirst for third term, corruptions, joblessness, poverty manipulation of constitution, profligacy of the ruling elite and naked impunity are not

“Instead of waiting late in the day to hearten sanctions on failed democracies and cub regional blocs such as AU, ECOWAS, SADC and EAC should be boldly proactive in calling out their peers on the wrong track and demanding good governance that meets the expectations of the masses, particularly African youth.”

SOURCE: 3news

On Friday 3rd September 2021, First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo inaugurated the Childhood Cancer Society of Ghana.

The society will have a leading role as practitioners and advocates, to ensure children can access effective, quality, lifesaving care anywhere in Ghana.

The First Lady said the society’s vision of “Cure for all children affected by cancer in Ghana” is a charge to make a difference in the outcomes for Ghanaian children.

The membership of the society includes medical professionals, psychologists, nutritionists, social workers, teachers, Chaplains and Imams.

“Indeed, if we want to overcome the challenges associated with childhood cancers, we have to work together. No one person can do it. We must each play our roles while complementing each other. We must recognise that we are all fighting on the same side, in the same battle. The only outcome is to win,” Mrs Akufo-Addo stated

Former President John Mahama has taken aim at the ruling New Patriotic Party saying “the problems facing our country and the solutions to them cannot be reduced to a handful of fancy slogans and poorly conceived and implemented half-measures aimed at obtaining short-lived political gratification”.

Mr. Mahama who was speaking at an economic forum organised by the NDC in Accra said governance is not about sloganeering and PR stunt.

“Governance is not about empty sloganeering and PR stunts. It should be about methodical steps that are well-conceived and thought through to address our problems holistically and permanently. It should be about crafting and rolling out a vision that transforms society in meaningful ways with clearly benefit all our people.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-8731784857660975&output=html&h=343&adk=3268642797&adf=87467513&pi=t.aa~a.86673156~i.9~rp.4&w=412&lmt=1630957459&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=7938084553&tp=site_kit&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=412×343&url=https%3A%2F%2Fstarrfm.com.gh%2F2021%2F09%2Fgovernance-not-about-empty-sloganeering-and-pr-stunts-mahama-to-npp%2F&flash=0&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=310&rw=372&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1630957459755&bpp=25&bdt=4859&idt=-M&shv=r20210831&mjsv=m202108240201&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D461c9c309e1d9189-22230c42e2ca00d2%3AT%3D1630957381%3ART%3D1630957381%3AS%3DALNI_MZCbO75ejDAzxV6LZVxNZflY_Wn7g&prev_fmts=0x0&nras=2&correlator=5060593359254&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=559552382.1630957381&ga_sid=1630957457&ga_hid=1521223845&ga_fc=0&u_tz=0&u_his=1&u_java=0&u_h=892&u_w=412&u_ah=892&u_aw=412&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=0&ady=1297&biw=412&bih=797&scr_x=0&scr_y=0&eid=44747621%2C31062388%2C31060475%2C31062297&oid=3&pvsid=843862528933192&pem=340&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C412%2C0%2C412%2C797%2C412%2C797&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=2&uci=a!2&btvi=1&fsb=1&xpc=xtW9qS2gok&p=https%3A//starrfm.com.gh&dtd=104

“The seemingly intractable problems we face and the vicious cycle they continue to perpetuate, should compel us to create room for more consultation and deliberation among competing political forces and ideologies as we demonstrated when we convened the Senchi economic forum leading to the formulation of Senchi Consensus,” he said.

He stressed: “Sitting with political opponents to find common ground and thinking through national problems is not an admission of defeat nor helplessness. It is a demonstration of maturity and statesmanship, oozing out of a shared desire to see our nation progress irrespective of the colour of those who govern at a particular point in time”.

Mr Mahama said the government has plunged the country into economic crisis.

“COVID19 only became a pretext for reckless election-related spending, which produced the largest-ever budget deficit in the recent economic history of Ghana last year. Our debt has ballooned to unsustainable levels – topping 80% of GDP – exposing us to very high risk of debt default

Former President John Mahama has reiterated his call for the NPP to be voted out by Ghanaians in 2024 saying it is the only way to protect the public purse from corruption and mismanagement.

According to him, the latest Auditor General’s report is an indication that corruption and wastage in public administration is getting out of hand.

“When I called for a change in government in 2024 as the first step towards halting this hemorrhage of badly needed resources through corruption and holding offending officials to account, our friends in government took offense but it remains the only viable way to save the public purse in the face of abundant evidence that nothing will be done about the situation.

“Today, we have heard a lot of numbers and these numbers tell a story. We politicians like to recite them with aplomb, believing that they show our superior performance. Our people have often questioned the relevance and importance of these numbers by retorting that they do not reflect in their lives or pockets,” Mr Mahama said at an economic forum in Accra Monday.

He stressed: “Our people are beginning to question, whether this whole democratic effort is not only a ruse to grant access to the resources of a country to a few privileged elites to do as they please with it and satisfy their creature comforts to the detriment of the masses who should be the ultimate beneficiaries.

“The much-heralded democratic dividend is fast turning into a mirage far beyond the reach of the people for whom it was intended. There can be no denial of the fact that Ghana is caught in the throes of deep socio-economic problems. Mounting unemployment, affecting millions of our youth, ever declining quality of education, problems with healthcare and agriculture, decaying infrastructure, corruption, weakening and politicization of state institutions, insecurity and unreliable public services continue to make life very difficult for the average Ghanaian”.

Mr Mahama noted “The speed with which hundreds of thousands of young people spontaneously took over social media and demanded that this country be fixed is a cautionary tale on how exactly the people feel about the way this county is being governed

John Dramani Mahama has told president Akufo-Addo not to blame the economic hardship on Covid-19 but rather on poor management by his government.

The former President, John Dramani Mahama has once again taken a swipe at President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his management of the economy which he says has brought “hardship in the country.”

Mr. Mahama is of the view that the Covid-19 pandemic has become the convenient excuse for President Akufo-Addo and the NPP government for their mismanagement of the economy.

The 2020 Presidential Candidate for the NDC, speaking at the NDC Professionals Forum on Monday, September 6, 2021, at the Cedi Conference Centre of the University of Ghana, said even though the pandemic has affected the economy, it is not the main reason for the hardships Ghanaians are currently facing.

He insisted reckless spending in the 2020 polls by the president and the government is the cause of the difficulties Ghanaians have been plunged into.

According to him, spending in the 2020 polls produced the largest-ever budget deficit in the recent economic history of Ghana last year.

“COVID-19 has become the convenient whipping boy and has been cited as the reason for the crisis we face now and the attendant economic hardships. Yes, COVID-19 affected the economy, and no one can dispute that. It is however not the main reason why we are in the current hole we find ourselves.”

“COVID-19 only became a pretext for reckless election-related spending, which produced the largest-ever budget deficit in the recent economic history of Ghana last year.”

He has thus charged the government to accept that it is their mismanagement of the economy and thirst for consumption expenditure is what has plunged the nation into the current crisis.

“This government must accept that it is their mismanagement of the economy, their thirst for consumption expenditure, and the desire to spend beyond our means in order to win elections that have plunged us into the current crisis, not necessarily COVID-19.”

This is not the first time Mr. Mahama is accusing President Akufo-Addo of mismanaging the economy, leading to what he calls unprecedented levels of hardship in the country.

Mr. Mahama thus slammed the governing New Patriotic Party for suggesting that he’s the one fueling a perception of hardship in the country.

He thus charged the government to admit the difficulties Ghanaians are currently facing and find ways of alleviating those hardships.

“Times are hard even though, the New Patriotic Party, still insists times are not hard and that I am the one giving Ghanaians the impression that times are hard. This makes me wonder what kind of logic they have that Ghanaians cannot feel hardship unless I come and tell them.”

Source: Citinewsroom

The high court in Cape Coast wanted the speaker to declare the Assin North seat vacant, in order to conduct a bye election.

But speaker Alban Bagbin has refuse the order because according to him, the embattled NDC MP, Hon. Quayson, has shown him a court process he has started to challenge the high court ruling.

More update soon…..

I will never go to Kimpiski to eat there even as an MP and deputy Minister. I live my life as i used to be as medical doctor.

Make life as simple and not to compare yourself to others. I can’t compare myself to Kennedy Agyapong when it comes to money. So why should i allow myself to be influenced by Kennedy agyapong when i see him eating at Kempiski? Because we are both MPs so we should live the same lifestyle? No.

Youth of today know all the latest cars in the world, from interior to cost. So when they get a job that could afford them Toyota corrola, they will reject the job offer because they want a job that could offer them latest Benz and Bentley.

Accept whatever you have and begin from somewhere.

• Dr. OKO BOYE!

May GOD be sufficient for us all.
Amen 🙏🏿

ECOWAS demands respect for the physical safety of the President of the Republic, Professor Alpha Condé, and his immediate and unconditional release, as well as that of all arrested persons. ECOWAS also demands a return to constitutional order on pain of sanctions.

ECOWAS reaffirms its objection to any unconstitutional political change. We ask the Guinean defense and security forces to remain in a constitutional posture, and express our solidarity with the Guinean people and their Government.

Done in Accra, Sunday, September 5, 2021

H.E.M. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
President of the Republic of Ghana and
Current Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority”

Via Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

Government has condemned attempts by some people to undermine and discredit the AGENDA 111 project which seeks to transform the country’s healthcare system. President Akufo-Addo last month launched the AGENDA 111 Hospital Project, which has come under severe criticism from the Opposition and some Ghanaians.

The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, described the criticisms against the project ranging from the cost to its execution as without basis and merit. Speaking at a media briefing in Accra, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah, denied claims of inflated costs of the project. He welcomed healthy conversations around the project, but condemned any act that sought to politicize it.

“Government notes recent attempts by some persons to deliberately and without bases, whip up political anger against the country’s agenda 111 project which is aimed at closing the gap in the availability of healthcare and infrastructure nationwide. Disappointingly we also notice deliberate politically motivated claims of impropriety being cooked up against the project. This includes a recent claim by the Member of North Dayi that the projects were illegally awarded and the contract prices inflated. The projects were legally granted in accordance with approvals from the Public Procurement Authority. We encourage a healthy public conversation on the project, but we strongly discourage any attempts to undermine it with the hope of making some partisan political gains”, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah stated

Communications Director for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Yaw Buabeng Asamoa is of the belief that the outcome of a recent research by Center for Democratic Development Ghana (CDD-Ghana) is an indication that the people of Ghana like the governance style of the NPP but want more to be done.

Center for Democratic Development Ghana (CDD-Ghana), in its post-election research revealed that the majority of Ghanaians are not confident in the ability of the Akufo-Addo government to protect financial resources and curb corruption over the next four years.

The survey which was carried out between May 3, and June 3 this year, involved 2,400 adults respondents from all 16 regions in the country.

But speaking to the research and its findings on Joy FM, NPP’s Communications Director said; “for me, I think it’s an indication that the people of Ghana believe in our governance style but they want more from us

His only challenge on the research is adding people who believe things have not changed in the country’s fight against corruption to those who said they do not trust the government in the fight against corruption.

This he said, is because prior to the election 2020, CDD’s research indicated that the people of Ghana had trust in the NPP to fight corruption and therefore if they think that nothing has changed, it means such people still believe in us and not the other way round.

Source: www.mynewsgh.com

The NPP social media team defeated their NDC counterparts by a-two-goal to nil in friendly football encounter.

The Opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been defeated by two goals by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in a friendly football match in Accra.

The much talked about football match between the NPP Social Media team and their NDC counterparts was played on Saturday morning at the Madina Astroturf Park constructed by the Akufo-Addo government.
 
 The two teams; Akufo-Addo and Bawumia Babies (of the NPP) and Mahama Babies (NDC) were composed of players of the social media handlers and influencers of their respective parties.

The match came to an end with the NPP team defeating their opponents (NDC) by 2 goals to nil. 

The National Youth Organiser of the ruling party, Henry Nana Boakye after the peaceful match congratulated the NPP Social media team members.

He posted on his Facebook page “As head of the NPP management & Technical Team on the field today, I commend the coach Charles Nii Tieko Tagoe and the playing body Captained by Ernest Owusu Bempah aka Aboa Apapo for rendering the NDC team useless on the field. Cliq (Manteaw), a solid event put together. The support from Kow Essuman was magical”

He expressed that “In fact, it was a scene of pity as Yayra Koku (Head of NDC Social Media), who was the NDC goalkeeper couldn’t stop the ball from passing in between his legs into the goalpost.

Source: dailyguidenetwork

The Ghana Airports Company says investigations have commenced into the birdstrike incident which prevented a KLM flight from flying at the Kotoka International Airport Friday evening.

The incident led to the cancellation of the flight and passengers disembarked and lodged in hotels in Accra.

A statement by the KIA said rescue teams at the airport immediately sprung into action and ensured passengers were safe.

A bird strike sometimes called birdstrike, bird ingestion (for an engine), bird hit, or bird aircraft strike hazard (BASH)—is a collision between an airborne animal (usually a bird or bat)  and a moving vehicle, usually an aircraft. The term is also used for bird deaths resulting from collisions with structures such as power lines, towers and wind turbines (see Bird–skyscraper collisions and Towerkill).

A significant threat to flight safety, bird strikes have caused a number of accidents with human casualties. There are over 13,000 bird strikes annually in the US alone.^[4] However, the number of major accidents involving civil aircraft is quite low and it has been estimated that there is only about 1 accident resulting in human death in one billion (10⁹) flying hours. The majority of bird strikes (65%) cause little damage to the aircraft; however, the collision is usually fatal to the bird(s) involved

• Assin Central MP says the NDC is planning to kill a journalist

• The journalist in question is the same person Agyapong had recently insitgated the public against

• Agyapong says the plan is to murder the journalist and turn around to blame him

Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong, has alleged on radio that the main opposition National Democratic Congress, NDC, plans to kill a journalist.

The journalist in question is Kumasi-based Luv Fm’s Erastus Asare Donkor, who he (Agyapong) had threatened recently over Erastus’ coverage of violent disturbances in Ejura in the Ashanti Region.

According to him, the NDC’s plan was to kill the journalist and turn around to blame it on him because of his recent threats.

“They have penetrated the youth, they can’t get them. (They targeted the youth) because I have popular youth support and whoever I support in the NPP thrives, they want to destroy me. So they are going to find a way to kill that Joy FM journalist I threatened.

“Yesterday they went to a meeting saying they will beat and kill the guy and hang the blame on me. So if you are at Joy FM and support the NDC, you see how stupid you are, because they will sacrifice you easily,” he added whiles making submissions on Oman FM last Friday, September 3.

He is certain, however, that his detractors will be deceiving themselves if they think there won’t be evidence of their actions. “If you kill the guy, you think there will be no evidence so that you will come and blame it on me,” he stressed.



He alleged further that pro-NDC commentator Kevin Taylor had sent some goons to be threatening him with foreign telephone numbers. He promised to report them to National Security and have them arrested.

The NDC, meanwhile, issued a strongly worded statement on September 4 dismissing Agyapong’s claims. They pointed to how a similar threat on journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale ended up in a deadly incident stressing that the lawmaker does not seem to learn his lessons.

“Clearly, the NPP’s Frankenstein’s Monster is on the prowl again looking for blood. We therefore urge all well-meaning Ghanaians to be watchful in order to stem his blood-thirsty antics from manifesting again.

“We on our part as a responsible Political Party will formally report this matter to the Police and our Diplomatic partners and foreign missions. Ghanaians have had enough of the buffoonery and irresponsible comments and actions of Mr. Kennedy Agyapong,” the statement signed by deputy National Communications Officer, Godwin Ako Gunn read in part.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Abronye DC of the New Patriotic Party has emphatically stated that people who believe in former President John Dramani Mahama are a step closer to hell.

He has therefore cautioned against believing in the 2020 flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) noting that he is a person who does not care sacrificing human life to win political power.

“If you are a Ghanaian who believes in Mahama, you are a step closer to hell. He is ready to sacrifice human life for money”, Chairman Abronye warned on Wontumi TV.

Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC is the Bono Regional Chairman and a communicator of the New Patriotic Party.

He is currently in his 40s and was the former youth organizer of the defunct Brong Ahafo Region of the NPP.

Abronye is popular on Twi speaking radio stations and is known for attacking the opposition NDC. He is famously known for always attacking John Mahama with his words and has been embroiled in several controversies in the media.

Source: www.ghbase.com

• President Akufo-Addo says he wants to appoint the right people

• He maintains that no vacuum has been created since MMDCEs in his first term are still at post

• He hints of a change in narrative by the end of the month

President Nana Addo Danwka Akufo-Addo has justified the delay in announcing his second term Municipal, Metropolitan and District Chief Executive appointments.

With his second term presidency almost at the end of its first year, President Akufo-Addo has yet to announce his list of MMDCEs and this has led to some Ghanaians expressing various misgivings about the development.

But the president said the delay is to offer him the opportunity to scrutinize his list of appointees in order to come out with individuals who would have won his conviction.

“I want to be sure about the people that are going to help me at the local government level to be in place all through the rest of my mandate,” the President stressed.

President Akufo-Addo in his interview with Skyypower monitored by GhanaWeb noted that having instructed MMDCEs of his first term to be at post until the new appointments are announced, it cannot be said that a vacuum has been created by the delay.

“They (MMDCEs) are there already. The impression is being given that there are no MMDCEs in the system, it is false. All the people who were MMDCEs in my first term are still at post. I instructed the Chief of Staff who is the administrator of all of these people to extend their tenure in an acting capacity because the President has that power in the constitution. If there is that vacancy, people can act to fill that vacancy pending the appointment of substantive officeholders. So there is no vacuum in local government in Ghana as we speak today,” he said.

The president, however, expressed that he had originally hoped that plans to amend the constitution to give room for the election of MMDCEs by citizens, would have materialized to give the appointing power to Ghanaians.

He assured that matters surrounding the list and appointment of MMDCEs will be resolved by the end of the month of September.

https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fweb.facebook.com%2Fskyypower93.5fm%2Fvideos%2F364821991972982%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

The Finance Ministry has released GH31 million to pay arrears owed school feeding caterers in the various regions.

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said this on Takoradi-based radio, Sky Power FM on Saturday, September 4, 2021, while answering questions on threats by caterers to strike.

The President who was speaking before the start of his second day tour of the Western Region admitted that there were initial challenges with insufficient funds.

He however expressed the hope that the problem will be addressed, following the intervention of the Ministry of Finance.

“I am happy to announce that payments have been made to caterers in all the regions. It is true that caterers in the Western and Western North were not paid due to insufficient funds. That has been resolved. The Ministry of Finance has released GHS 31 million cedis for the payment of caterers.”

A few days ago some aggrieved caterers working under the Ghana School Feeding Programme threatened to stop cooking for students if the government fails to increase the feeding grant to three cedis per head.

The caterers said the GHS1.00 allocated to children under the programme is woefully inadequate and unfair.

The women, who are part of a group calling itself ‘Touch one Touch all’ Caterers Association, say they were disappointed in the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Adwoa Safo, for failing to address their concerns.

One of the aggrieved caterers who spoke to Citi News on condition of anonymity said they have vowed not to cook until they hear from the government.

“We do not even know where Adwoa Safo is. She does not do anything about school feeding. You call for meetings and she will not come. We worked since January, and we were paid just on the 25th of this month

A crack team of officers from the Special Weapon And Tactics (SWAT) Unit of the Ghana Police Service on Thursday, September 2 arrested one Samuel Asante for reportedly trading in narcotics.

The officers swooped on the suspect, 38, at the Christianburg Castle Junction in Accra upon a tip-off.

A thorough search on Samuel Asante and his room revealed seven sacks of dried leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp and 10 bottles of alcoholic drinks brewed with some of the materials in the sacks.

According to the police, with this arrest, they will “continue to adopt strategies to rid communities of criminals, in a bid to prevent crimes and to ensure law and order in the country”.

“The general public is encouraged to assist the Police with information on criminal activities,” the police said in a post on Friday, September 3.

The suspect will be arraigned before court soon

The taxi the alleged snatcher attempted to steal

E/R: Car snatcher gives taxi driver spiked drink, admit him in hospital but arrested

The Eastern Regional Police Command has arrested a suspected car snatcher who allegedly spiked a drink for a taxi driver and sent him to hospital for admission and attempted to run away with his car.

The incident occurred in Koforidua at about 5:30 pm on Friday.

The suspect, Evans Ahenful,31, hired the taxi driver in charge of a taxi cab with registration number GG 2729-21 and as part of the modus operandi allegedly gave him a drink laced with an unknown substance.

The driver began reacting to the drink spike by exhibiting wooziness, weakness, slurring among others.

The suspect took the driver to St. Joseph’s Hospital for treatment but while the victim was on admission at the ward, the suspect attempted to run away with the taxi cab but was noticed by a vigilant security man on duty who became suspicious and reported the incident to the Effiduase District Police.

The Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Regional Police Command DSP Ebenezer Tetteh, told Starr News, “yes, the Eastern Regional Police Command has arrested suspect one Evans Ahenful, 31, who snatched a taxi cab from Koforidua and attempted to cross the main Koforidua-Accra checkpoint at Tinkong Barrier but based on intelligence he was intercepted. This suspect snatched the Taxi cab from his victim (driver) in Koforidua at about 5:30pm. The taxi cab with registration number GG 2729-21 was snatched from the Taxi driver after the suspect had taken the victim to the St. Joseph’s Hospital”

He continued “the security man who saw the said suspect having brought the driver to the said Hospital on the same day saw the suspect driving the taxi out of the facility without the Victim. The victim who was at the ward was later brought to the police station at Effiduase with bruises on his body having allegedly been subjected to beating and given a malt drink suspected to have been laced”.

DSP Ebenezer Tetteh said because the driver was slurring among others” Police was unable to get meaningful information from him as a result of his condition. Based on few information that was received, intelligence was passed through various checkpoints in Koforidua Municipality and on the same day the driver pullout at the checkpoint attempted to cross to Accra with the said taxi cab”.

He said police is hoping that the victim recovers to provide more information to help police Investigation to facilitate Prosecution

The factory, which is a 100% Ghanaian owned company, has the capacity to process 20 tons of rubber per day for export to countries such as Turkey, Malaysia

 President Akufo-Addo unveiling the plaque to signify the commissioning the $2.1 million rubber processing factory

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Friday 3 September 2021 commissioned the Narubiz Rubber Factory, a company operating under the government’s 1-District-1-Factory initiative, at Wassa Dompim, in the Wassa East District of the Western Region.

The factory, which is a 100% Ghanaian owned company, has the capacity to process 20 tons of rubber per day for export to countries such as Turkey, Malaysia, and Hong Kong. It is expected that a total of 6,240 tons of processed rubber per year will be exported, which will generate some US$9.6 million of foreign exchange into the country.

Commissioning the factory, at the commencement of his two-day tour of the Western Region, Akufo-Addo said that the total investment for the factory is US$2.1 million, with GCB Bank providing a US$1.38 million loan facility to the company, under the 1D1F initiative being implemented by the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

In addition, the factory has enjoyed import duty exemptions on plant, equipment, and machinery from the government which among other incentives, have been designed to boost the competitiveness of the companies operating under the 1D1F programme.The US$2.1 million rubber processing factory

The factory, whose construction began on 10 February 2020, currently offers direct and indirect employment to over 1,340 employees including out-growers, latex harvesters, farm maintenance workers and transporters.

The president noted that the siting of the factory in the Western Region will encourage more Ghanaians to engage in the cultivation of natural rubber in the catchment area, as well as other neighbouring regions to feed the state-of-the-art factory.

With Ghana’s emerging automobile industry, he was confident that factory will play a critical role in the development of component parts for the auto industry, such as vehicle tyres, car seats and fan belts, which could be produced from the raw materials currently being manufactured from Narubiz Rubber Factory.

Akufo-Addo commended the business promoters and traditional authorities of the area for their unflinching support for the project, as well as GCB Bank for providing the loan facility for the establishment of the factory.

Phase 3 KEDA ceramics factory

In Shama, the President commissioned Phase 3 of the KEDA Ceramics factory, whose construction started in September 2019, and was completed in June 2021.

The factory has generated some 2,000 direct and 5,000 indirect employment opportunities, with the company having invested some $150 million in all three phases, resulting in an increased production capacity of 150,000 square metres of tiles per day. Currently, the company exports 60% of tiles produced to the West African market.

It will be recalled that the President on Tuesday 23 July, 2019, cut the sod for the thirs phase of expansion works of the factory, a company operating under Government’s “One District, One Factory” initiative.

President Akufo-Addo stated, at the time, that “the operations of the company have also seen a significant reduction in the import of tiles by as much as 14%. The contribution that this company is making in the industrialization agenda of the country and the transformation of our economy is significant.”

Particularly happy about the decision of the company to source their raw materials locally, the President noted that “many of those things we can do here in Ghana, we intend to begin the process of doing them here in Ghana. That is the way we can develop our economy and begin to address the living standards of our people

A former Deputy Minister of Information under the Mahama administration, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has responded to the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church Rt. Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, for saying that persons who are against the construction of the agenda 111 hospitals are witches.

Rt. Rev. Prof. Obiri Yeboah Mante urged Pastors who want to exorcise witchcraft to tackle persons who are against the agenda 111 project because their attitude smacks of witchcraft.

“We’ve allowed politics to dominate our lives to an extent that we do not have good hospitals… If someone says he is coming to construct 111 hospitals and you are angry about it, you are a witch. For the pastors who want to exorcise witchcraft, deal with those critics,” he told the gathering.

But in a Facebook post reacting to this development, Mr Kwakye Ofosu said “Apparently, you can unwittingly earn the tag of a witch or wizard for being a critic of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government.”

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday August 17 commissioned the Agenda 111 project which will ensure the construction of 111 hospitals across the country.

During the commission of the project in Trede in the Ashanti Region the President said among other things that the project will be providing 20,000 jobs for health professionals when completed.

He said the Ministry of Health is going to recruit more doctors, nurses and pharmacists when the project is done.

He also said that more indirect jobs are also going to be created by the project implementation.

The president further indicated that the Covid-19 pandemic has exposed years of under investment in Ghana’s health sector.

To that end, he said his administration is improving on the investment in the health sector of the economy.

He said “I am glad that the biggest ever investment  in the nation’s healthcare  is being made .We have met this morning  because of the ravages of Covid 19  which has affected every country  on the planet . For us in Ghana not only has the pandemic disrupted our daily lives, but it has also  exposed the deficiencies  with our healthcare system  because of the  years of under  investment and neglect

Health Minister Kwaku Agyeman-Manu said during the event that the surest way for the government to improve on the healthcare delivery is to provide infrastructure.

To that end, he said the government is committed to providing the needed health infrastructure.

He said “As you know, a healthy people guarantee a healthy  nation  and government  being mindful of this fact has proved to show to the people  its commitment  to improve the health status of all residents in the country.

“The surest way to improve healthcare  sis through providing new  infrastructure  or improving just  existing ones across the length and breadth of the country.”

Former Minister of Health under the Mahama administration, Mr Alex Segbefia, said after the commissioning of the project that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo packaged the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ideas to build hospitals in each district and named it the Agenda 111.

He said the NDC, during the campaign season brought the idea of establishing hospitals in the districts across the country.

Mr Segbefia said “Firstly, it is not new. When we talk about three regional hospitals in the Psychiatric area, when I was in government we were talking of Psychiatric hospital in  Kumasi, Psychiatric hospital in Tamale, we were also talking of even expanding Pantang by giving the land to a private developer in Accra. And then, these developers had come up with another plan that we should use the land as collateral basically, and they will pay for the expansion of Pantang.”https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?client=ca-pub-2623005858729319&output=html&h=343&adk=3559006387&adf=3974360050&pi=t.aa~a.2816640267~i.53~rp.1&w=412&lmt=1630740919&num_ads=1&rafmt=1&armr=3&sem=mc&pwprc=2278969447&psa=1&ad_type=text_image&format=412×343&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.peacefmonline.com%2Fpages%2Fpolitics%2Fpolitics%2F202109%2F451359.php%3Futm_source%3Ddlvr.it%26utm_medium%3Dfacebook&flash=0&fwr=1&pra=3&rh=319&rw=382&rpe=1&resp_fmts=3&sfro=1&wgl=1&fa=27&dt=1630740919022&bpp=17&bdt=5182&idt=-M&shv=r20210831&mjsv=m202109010101&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D13f06c662440c3ac-225d12337dca007a%3AT%3D1630740805%3ART%3D1630740805%3AS%3DALNI_MbCMSMuVGH907kwyIbTCvD1xxvXiQ&prev_fmts=0x0%2C412x343%2C412x343%2C412x343&nras=4&correlator=337777025737&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=785876714.1630740806&ga_sid=1630740806&ga_hid=851832403&ga_fc=1&u_tz=0&u_his=1&u_java=0&u_h=892&u_w=412&u_ah=892&u_aw=412&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=0&ady=4511&biw=412&bih=797&scr_x=0&scr_y=2954&eid=44747621%2C31060475%2C31062297&oid=3&pvsid=514148319971325&pem=543&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2F&eae=0&fc=1408&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C412%2C0%2C412%2C797%2C412%2C797&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7Cs%7C&abl=NS&fu=128&bc=31&ifi=5&uci=a!5&btvi=3&fsb=1&xpc=5RLr54qRH0&p=https%3A//www.peacefmonline.com&dtd=290

“So, all these issues, one regional hospital, go and look at our campaign [message] it is there. One hospital in every district is something that has been there from time immemorial and so all you have now is packaged it.  The reason why you couldn’t go about doing the things we are talking about even though you said this is your intension, it was because you needed to be sure that when you are planning you know where the money is coming from.

“We all know we wanted a hospital in every district , we have been building hospitals in districts  for a long period  from the time of Rawlings  in Bono Ahafo we got some district hospitals  right to the time of Mills  and to the time of Mahama.

“So this idea of every district should have a hospital is not new. So you have now decided to package it differently and call it Agenda 111,” he reporters on Wednesday August 18.

Source: 3news.com/facebook

President Nana Addo Akufo-Addo says Ghana is ready to partner any well-meaning entity towards industrialisation for more jobs and economic empowerment under the One District, One Factory initiative. 

“Our country doesn’t believe in discrimination… be it a Ghanaian or foreign business, we are prepared to support, under our 1DIF, to grow our local economies,” the President explained, when he commissioned the third phase of KEDA Ghana Ceramics Company.  

He also cut the sod for the fourth phase for the operational expansion of the project. 

The third and fourth phases are to provide 2000 more jobs to the locals. 

The President, consequently, lauded the visionary leadership, the enterprising approach and hard work of the management of the Company, which had brought the business thus far. 

Keda (Ghana) Ceramics Company Limited, formerly called Twyford Ghana Ceramics, is located in the Shama District of the Western Region.  

It produces and distributes assorted tiles and plans to add basins and other sanitary wares to the production line.  

President Akufo-Addo said, “We appreciate your commitment to our country…we shall justify that confidence in us”. 

He urged them to continue to expand their frontiers, especially with the African Continental Free Trade Area, headquartered in Ghana, to penetrate the ECOWAS market and even beyond. 

He pledged to lead a focused country, with a cause to implement good economic policies that would inure to the well-being of all citizens.  

He thus prayed for industrial harmony to ensure that the sky became the stepping stone for Ghana’s industrialisation drive. 

The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mr. Michael Okyere Baafi, emphasized the Government’s commitment to ensure that more industries were established to create jobs. 

“We are ready and open to private sector engagements in furtherance of this,” he added. 

The Western Regional Minister, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, lauded the company for employing over 2000 locals to give hope to the hitherto unemployed individuals. 

The Managing Director of the Company, Mr. Lorry Li, expressed gratitude to the President for the continual support, saying, “This demonstrates your personal interest in our company and the industrialisation drive for the good people of Ghana.” 

The vision of the company, he said, was to become the premier producer of ceramic tiles and to make Ghana the industrial hub of Africa in order to meet the demand for Africa, America, and the European Markets.  

“This vision was a promise we made to you and the good people of Ghana during the commissioning of our first phase and second phase in January 2018 and September 2019, respectively.” 

The completion of the fourth phase will increase production capacity to 150,000 square meters per day, which is expected to increase revenue generation for the government through the payment of taxes. 

The factory, which is into the production and distribution of tiles, would operate at a designed production capacity of 14.4 million square metres per year with annual sales. 

The factory, a subsidiary of Sunda (MU) Holdings Limited, a Chinese company, is a boost to the 1D1F initiative.

Source: GNA

Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Right Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante

The Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), Rt. Rev. Prof. Joseph Obiri Yeboah Mante, has described those who are not enthused about government’s Agenda 111 as witches.

For him, the country lacks good healthcare infrastructure and if government has now decided to construct more hospitals, he cannot understand why people should be pessimistic about the initiative.

Agenda 111 is a government initiative which aims at making Ghana the centre of excellence in health care by 2030.

The President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday, August 17, 2021 cut the sod for the commencement of the construction of the Trede District Hospital in the Atwima Kwanwoma district of the Ashanti Region.

The ceremony formed part of the Agenda 111 to construct 101 district hospitals in districts without district hospitals, two psychiatric hospitals for the middle and the southern belts, seven regional hospitals and the rehabilitation of the Accra psychiatric hospital.

Each of the hospitals would be built at the cost of $12.8 million and another $4.8 million would be spent to equip them bringing the total cost of each of the hospitals to $17.60 million and it is expected to be completed within 18 months.

According to the president, about $6 billion is spent annually by Africans to seek medical care abroad and was hopeful that when completed, the sector could generate about $2 million to the country’s GDP annually.

Rt. Rev. Prof. Mante, who was speaking at a programme in the Central Region, expressed worry over how some Ghanaians have allowed politics to clout their thoughts on good initiatives

A man in custody shocked officers at the Tafo Pankrono Divisional Police Command in the Ashanti Region, when he chewed off the testicles of another inmate during a fight in a holding cell.

It still remains unclear what sparked the Thursday morning brawl at the station’s charge office.

A police incident report said the inmates, Jafaru Boakye, a remand prisoner, and one Awudu Abdulai, were engaged in a scuffle.

In the ensuing melee, Abdulai reportedly bit the testicles of Boakye, leaving him with life-threatening injuries.

He was rushed to the Tafo Government Hospital where he was instantly operated on, the police report said.

Suspect Abdulai is scheduled for court today, September 3, 2021, the report added.

Source: Dailymail.gh

A two-year-old child has been crushed to death by a car at Akyem Kukurantumi.

The victim identified as Essien Acheampong was with his mother who was selling food by the roadside but sneaked onto the road leading to him being knocked down by a car driven by a female teacher of Kukurantumi Methodist M/A basic School.

The accident occurred on September 1, 2021, at about 9:00 am.

The body of the deceased has been deposited at the Kukurantumi Community morgue while the suspect female driver is in police custody assisting with investigations.

Road crashes killed a total of 342 passengers in the Eastern region from January to July this year.

Out of the number, 130 persons were killed in 345 crashes which involved motorcycles and motorized tricycles popularly known as Pragia compared to 108 passengers killed in 627 accidents cases which involved commercial vehicles during the same period

Accidents involving private cars claimed 50 lives while 54 pedestrians were crushed to death

Former Head of Monitoring at the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu, has waded into discussions regarding a recent survey conducted by the Center for Democratic Development (CDD) about the Akufo-Addo administration.

The new survey reveals that majority of Ghanaians lack confidence in President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to fight corruption.

Sixty-two (62) percent of 2,400 Ghanaians interviewed in the CDD post-election survey conducted between May 23 and June 3, 2021 indicate a lot of the citizens don’t trust the President to “protect the country’s financial resources and curb corruption in the next four years.”

“While Ghanaians are split (48% vs. 48%) on the government’s ability to ensure that rule of law is upheld in the next four years, majority [of them] are not confident in its ability to protect the country’s financial resources (53%) and curb corruption and official impunity (62%).”

Making his submissions on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ programme, Charles Owusu raised concerns about the corrupt practices not resolved by the incumbent administration.

To him, the government should be seen practically tackling corruption, but in reality, the government is not doing much as those who have to be punished are left off the hook.

He singled out the former National Coordinator of the defunct Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA), Abuga Pele who was sentenced to a six-year jail term but has been pardoned and freed by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

Mr. Pele, a former Member of Parliament for Chiana/Paga in the Upper East Region and a businessman, Philip Akpeena Assibit were both sentenced to a total of 18 years in prison on February 23, 2018 for their involvement in the GH¢4.1 million GYEEDA scandal.

Charles Owusu believed the Presidential pardon sends a wrong signal to the public.

He questioned why high-profile personalities found guilty of corruption are pardoned while ordinary Ghanaians who commit offences rot in prisons.

Speaking to host Nana Yaw Kesseh, Charles Owusu admonished the government to treat corruption with extreme seriousness and punishment saying, “corruption should be like death sentence. When we weigh corruption, it should be just as death sentence”.

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

National Communications Director of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Yaw Buaben Asamoa, has welcomed the CDD report on corruption involving the Akufo-Addo administration.

CDD’s new survey indicates a majority of Ghanaians have lost confidence in President Nana Akufo-Addo to fight corruption.

According to the survey, 62% of 2400 Ghanaians interviewed by the CDD lack confidence in the government.

“While Ghanaians are split (48% vs. 48%) on the government’s ability to ensure that rule of law is upheld in the next four years, majority [of them] are not confident in its ability to protect the country’s financial resources (53%) and curb corruption and official impunity (62%).”

But to Yaw Buaben Asamoa, the survey is rather an indication that Ghanaians have noticed the good works of the government.

Speaking during Peace FM’s ”Kokrokoo” programme Friday morning, Mr. Buaben Asamoa noted that the government is tackling corruption head-on.

He asked Ghanaians to continue to be confident in President Akufo-Addo, not pay attention to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) who he argued has nothing better to offer Ghanaians.

”We know what NDC can do, nothing!”, he stated, adding, “we’re solving corruption. We’re not afraid to say we’re working about it . . . continue to have confidence in the NPP, for we will cause a major transformation in the country”.

Watch video below

https://www.youtube.com/embed/kFpNF72s9hQ

Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana

Leading Global ICT Company, Huawei has donated an ultramodern intelligent Video Conferencing Facility to Ghana’s Ministry of Communications to facilitate effective remote communication and meetings as well us support its activities and operations to aid the Ministry’s digital transformation agenda.

The donation which took place on Friday, August 20, 2021, at the Ministry of Communication Office Complex saw the unveiling of a fully installed video conferencing facility with all the needed accessories to facilitate clear interaction between the ministry staff and stakeholders in any virtual session.

Receiving the items on behalf of the Ministry, Mrs. Ursula Owusu Ekuful (MP), expressed gratitude to Huawei for their continuous support of the sector and Ghana’s digitalization drive. “We are pleased to have Huawei as the Strategic ICT Partner of the Government of Ghana and as the Ministry at the forefront of Ghana’s digital transformation drive, we will continue to engage with Huawei to leverage on their wealth of global expertise to develop our ICT Infrastructure and skills of the citizenry to make Ghana the ICT Hub for the Sub-Region.

Managing Director at Huawei Ghana, Tommy Zhouwei said; “As a responsible corporate citizen, Huawei is actively participating in Ghana’s digital strategy, promoting the development and prosperity of the digital economy, and contributing to the realization of the vision of a “Ghana Beyond Aid.

Under the guidance of the Ghana Government’s development strategy, Huawei continues to work with partners to introduce cutting-edge ICT technologies and actively participate in Ghana’s ICT infrastructure development and this donation is a testament to our commitment towards a Smart Ghana. “

Mr. Zhou added that, through the donation, Huawei hopes to support the activities of the Ministry, at the same time aiding the fight against COVID-19 by reducing physical meetings while promoting remote communications and interactions between the Ministry and stakeholders.

Source: Peacefmonline.com

Police are on a manhunt for the alleged kidnappers of a 9-year-old boy, Philip Ametepey at Kasoa Transformer in the Awutu Senya East District of the Central Region.

The boy was reportedly forced into a sack by his kidnappers while on an errand but managed to escape.

The incident happened on Thursday, September 2, 2021, at 7:30 pm.

Narrating the incident to Kasapa News’ Yaw Boagyan, the nine-year-old boy said, his mother sent him to buy blade when the unfortunate incident happened on his way home.

According to him, he was tied up and placed in a sack by the gang, but he was saved by the razor in his pocket which he used to cut the sack and eventually managed to escape.

“I was suffocating and really suffering in the sack. It was a terrifying moment but in the midst of my situation, I remembered that my mum’s blade I’d bought for her was in my pocket. So I quickly removed it and used to cut the sack and I escaped without their notice” he told Yaw Boagyan.

No arrests have been made so far.

But the Kasoa Police has launched an investigation into the matter to track the persons behind the kidnapping

Five more people have been confirmed dead from Covid-19 as of August 30, 2021.

This is according to the Ghana Health Service (GHS), in its latest case management update.

The latest fatalities have pushed the death toll to 1,052.

The GHS website also revealed that 449 new cases have been recorded.

Some 112,460 persons have also been clinically discharged. This brings the number of active cases down to 6,940 from the initial 7,151 as of the last update.

Out of the active cases, 147 are in a severe condition while another 60 are in a critical state.

Cumulatively, 120,452 Ghanaians have been infected with Covid-19 since the first two cases were recorded in March 2020

• Haruna Iddrisu has warned that minority will oppose the decision to set up Development Bank of Ghana

• He said, like any public bank, Development Bank of Ghana needs an Act of Parliament

• He said, the minority will not support public resources dedicated to the bank without legislation

Haruna Iddrisu, the Minority Leader, has warned the government that the minority will oppose any attempt to establish a Development Bank of Ghana without an Act of Parliament.

Speaking to the media on Thursday, September 2, 2021, the Tamale South MP cited the Agricultural Development Bank which was established in 1965 and said it was set up by an Act of Parliament.

He said, due to the challenges within the banking sector, the government will need Parliament to regulate the objective of the bank and its functions among others to ensure it does not engage in fiscally irresponsible acts.

“So it is the kind of defeatist for me, for the Ministry of Finance to want to establish this bank without recourse to Parliament. But, will they come for Parliament to provide funding for it? What will be the basis for parliament approving money for such a bank? Already it means the GHC300 million allocation is clearly illegal,” Iddrisu explained.

He added, “we will not accept any public resources dedicated to that bank until it is supported by legislation. We in the minority are opposed to even the concept of a new national development bank.”

Haruna Iddrisu made these remarks after it was made known that the government has decided it will not seek parliamentary approval and for that matter an Act of Parliament in setting up of the Development Bank of Ghana.

The government stated that it will use the Registrar General’s Department for the necessary approval.

This, the minority believes that there needs to be parliamentary legislation in place before the bank is set up as pertains to other development banks in the country.

Iddrisu further questioned the ongoing recruitment process to fill key positions at the bank stating that it has been shrouded in secrecy.

“You hear them saying that the determination of a board and the determination of a CEO was competitive, show me an advert inviting interested Ghanaian’s applicants of repute with enormous financial experience to lead this process, that has not happened,” he stressed.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

On Thursday, 2 September 2021, the government of Ghana received 244,800 doses of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine from the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT) initiative.

Also, the government will take delivery of 1,229,620 Moderna vaccines on Saturday, 4 September.

An additional 1.3 million Pfizer vaccines are also expected in Ghana by the end of this month, the Ministry of Information has said.

Ghana is also expecting to receive some 1.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine from Germany to bolster the vaccination drive against the COVID-19 pandemic, the Director of Communication at the presidency, Mr Eugene Arhin, revealed recently.

The consignment is one of the outcomes of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s recent visit to Germany and negotiations with Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Mr Arhin told the presidential press corps on Monday, 30 August 2021 at the Jubilee House: “The German Chancellor has made it known that, at least, Germany will be helping Africa with 70 million vaccines”.

“The president had a bilateral meeting with the German Chancellor – one of the things that came out was the vaccine”, he said.

“I am happy to inform Ghanaians that the German Chancellor made it known to the President that a total of 1.2 million AstraZeneca vaccines were to be given to Ghana”, Mr Arhin announced.

“A few moments ago, I got confirmation from the President that this has increased to 1.5 million”.

“According to the president, he is dispatching a plane to Germany to take delivery of the vaccines,” Mr Arhin said.

So far, a little more than 1.2 million Ghanaians have been vaccinated.

Out of that number, over 800,000 have received the first dose and about 400,000 have taken both doses

The case of the Chief Executive Officer of Gold dealership firm Menzgold Ghana Limited Nana Appiah Mensah has been adjourned to October 11, 2021.

This was because the prosecution was yet to file any processes on how the case should proceed. At the last court sitting on July 6, the court was informed that the accused person was coughing and was asked to see his doctor.

When the case was called ASP Sylvester Asare was not present but the lawyers of the accused person indicated to the court that, they were yet to receive any processes from the prosecution.

The Circuit Court in Accra presided over by Her Honour Mrs Evelyn Asamoah subsequently adjourned the case to October 11, 2021.

Background

It was the same situation on May 27, when the matter was called with prosecution indicating that, it was unable to file processes as per the court orders.

Earlier, the court presided had ordered the prosecution to file the necessary processes prior to the May 27 sitting.

The court then warned it would be forced to strike out the case should the prosecution fail to do so.

But, ASP Asare said, the prosecution was unable to file the processes on time as directed by the court and “we submit that in all humility this is no deliberate attempt to delay this court.”

According to ASP Asare, “the records will show that at the last sitting, we indicated and pleaded with the court as it is in the interest of justice” and that “this morning we are again on bended knees, although standing, we ask that you give us the necessary ear.”

He said Prosecution will ensure that “we file the necessary processes. We pray that in the interest of justice, my Lady grant an adjournment to enable parties put their house in order.”

On March 2, the court warned it would be forced to strike out the case.

The court said it was unhappy about the delay on the part of the prosecution to file the necessary documents to commence the trial.

On that day, ASP Asare, the prosecutor in the case, again prayed to the court, to give them more time be to able to file their witness statement and other documents.

It was the case of the prosecution that, the number of victims involved in the case is over 16, 000 people and therefore more time would be required by the prosecution to do the necessary investigations.

ASP Asare prayed with the court for time and begged the court not to strike out the case.

Charges

NAMI was initially charged with abetment of crime, defrauding by false pretences, carrying on a deposit-taking business without a licence, sale of minerals without a licence, unlawful deposit-taking, and money laundering.

It is alleged that the accused had taken various sums of money, totalling GH¢1.6 billion from customers.

The State had previously on June 24, 2020, filed new charges against the CEO of Menzgold, also known as NAM 1 at the Accra Circuit Court.

ASP Sylvester Asare then told the Court that his directives were that he should hold on to the new charges and the plea taking of the accused.

Bail

The Circuit Court on July 26, 2019, granted NAM 1 bail in the sum of GH¢ 1 billion cedis with five sureties, three to be justified.

He had pleaded not guilty to all initial 13 charges levelled against him by the State. The state had since amended its charged sheet which is yet to be moved.

He is also to report to the police every Wednesday at 10:00 hours.

Lawyer and member of the ruling New Patriotic Party Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has been appointed the new chair of the Ghana hub of the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC).

CWEIC is a commercial, not-for-profit membership organisation with an official mandate from the Commonwealth Heads of Government to facilitate trade and investment throughout the 54 Commonwealth member nations.

Otchere-Darko is one of the leading transactional lawyers in the country and the senior partner of Africa Legal Associates, a Ghanaian law firm with a pan-African vision. A solicitor and barrister trained in the UK and Ghana,  Otchere-Darko is also the former chief executive of a UK-based consulting company which specialised in facilitating business for companies and organisations with an interest in Africa.

Touching on his new appointment, Otchere-Darko said: “I thank Lord Marland [chairman of CWEIC] and the entire CWEIC leadership for the confidence shown in me for assigning me this dignified and strategic role as chair of the CWEIC Ghana hub.”

He added: “I am excited about the timing of this assignment as I see a revival of the old Commonwealth bond but of a more confident and assured partnership of 54 member countries this time, and particularly at a time that Africa is finally realising the old vision of economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area and its 54 member countries.

“I appreciate the centrality of Ghana in this emerging economic order and will do my very best to promote the objectives of CWEIC, which, in my view, are mutually complementary to the objectives of AfCTFA.”

Marland expressed optimism that Otchere-Darko’s experience will help boost the image of the organisation.

“As chairman of CWEIC, I am delighted to welcome our new Ghana chair. It is a great honour to have someone of the calibre of Mr Otchere-Darko join our organisation. Ghana is a dynamic force in the Commonwealth of nations and I am confident that we can now build on the success of Ghana to capitalise on future opportunities under Gabby’s leadership.”

Samantha Cohen CVO, chief executive of CWEIC said: “CWEIC is fortunate to have Mr Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko as our new chair of the Ghana hub. Mr Otchere-Darko brings to CWEIC his professional brilliance as the senior partner and co-founder of Africa Legal Associates and one of the country’s leading lawyers. In addition, he brings many years of business experience and his expertise in the area of political risk analysis.

“This is a crucial time for Ghana and the Commonwealth as the world recovers from the COVID crisis. Ghana’s place as a vibrant hub abundant with global trade and investment opportunities and home to the AFCFTA Secretariat, will be further enhanced by Mr Otchere-Darko’s commitment to this role.”

CWEIC’s network includes roughly 100 business and government strategic partners (members), including Standard Chartered, Zenith Bank, Trade and Investment Queensland and the Government of the Maldives from across 30 countries and territories.

Every two years, CWEIC hosts the Commonwealth Business Forum in association with the host country of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM)

The University of Cape  Coast (UCC) has for the first time been ranked as the best University in Ghana, according to the Times Higher Education (THE) 2022 world universities ranking.

UCC was the highest-ranked new entrant out of 138 universities that made their debut on the global universities ranking league table this year.

The institution also ranked the 4th highest university in Africa.

UCC is also ranked number one globally in terms of field weighted citation impact (research influence) of Times Higher Education’s scholarly research outputs.

“The formidable reputation of our scholarly research outputs each year is indicative of the solid track record of UCC during the past six decades, and definitely contributed to this achievement.”

By this feat, UCC has demonstrated that its pedigree in higher education and the impact of its scholarly research are unparalleled in Ghana and Africa.

About the recognition 

The annual Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings (WUR), is the most prestigious global ranking.

It aims to provide the definitive list of the best universities (1622 institutions in 99 countries in 2021), evaluated across five key areas of Teaching, Research, Citations, International Outlook and Industry Income.

It is the only global university rankings league table to judge research-intensive universities across each one of their core missions: teaching (the learning environment); research (volume, income, and reputation), international outlook (staff, students, and research); citations (research influence); and industry income (knowledge transfer).

Times Higher Education (THE) uses 13 carefully calibrated performance indicators to provide the most comprehensive and balanced comparisons, and all data are independently audited by professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), making the Times Higher Education World University Rankings the only global university rankings, which is subjected to full, independent scrutiny of this nature.

Times Higher Education’s data are trusted by governments and universities, and it’s a vital resource for students, helping them choose where to study.

The rankings are also widely used by faculty to inform career decisions, by university leaders to help set strategic priorities and by governments to help monitor policy.

Some funders also use the rankings for institutional funding decisions.

“The entire University of Cape Coast fraternity particularly the Chancellor, Chairman of the University Council, past and present university management, the Vice-Chancellor, Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, the Director and staff of the Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy (DRIC), the Times Higher Education ranking committee, faculty, administrators, students, alumni, friends and family, local and international partners are very proud of this remarkable achievement that positions UCC as a university that is breaking new grounds in higher education.”

“This achievement gives expression to the vision of UCC—To be a University with worldwide acclaim that is strongly positioned for innovative teaching, research, outreach and professional development”, the management of the University said in a statement to celebrate the achievement.

Profile of UCC

The University of Cape Coast is one of the rare sea-front universities in the world. It was established in October 1962 as a result of a recommendation of an international commission appointed by the Ghana government in December 1960 to advise on the future of University Education in the country and the possibility of
establishing a third University at Cape Coast. The College was formally inaugurated on December 15, 1962, and placed in a special relationship with the University of Ghana.

In 1964, the government assigned to each of the country’s three Public Universities specific fields of operation, and in line with the emphasis then being placed on Science Education, the College was renamed ‘The University College of Science Education and entrusted with the task of training graduate teachers in Arts and Science, but especially the latter for secondary schools, teacher training colleges, polytechnics, and technical institutions in Ghana.

In 1966, following a change of government, the College reverted to its original name of ‘University College of Cape Coast’.

The University of Cape Coast Act, 1971 (Act 390) was promulgated for granting full university status to the College with effect from October 1, 1971. This was later reinforced with the University of Cape Coast Law, 1992 (PNDC Law 278).

The University of Cape Coast has restructured its degree programmes by decoupling the study of professional education courses from the main degree courses.

The University is organised into five (5) Colleges headed by Provosts, namely: the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences; College of Humanities and Legal Studies; College of Education Studies; College of Health and Allied Sciences, and College of Distance Education.

SOURCE: citinewsroom

The founder of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Akwasi Addai Odike, has indicated that the 1992 Constitution has no hope and healthy future for the youth in Ghana.

He has underscored that the youth in Ghana would remain desolate irrespective of who becomes the next president if the constitution is not reviewed or changed.

Odike, speaking on the Maakye morning show on Onua TV on Wednesday, September 1, expressed fret over the prerogative powers given to the President by the constitution at the detriment of the masses.

He disclosed that the late former president, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, after succeeding in a coup d’état, formed a constituent assembly to draft and enact the 1992 constitution to help the practice of democratic governance in Ghana.

He opined that the late former head of state constrained the constituent assembly members to empower the presidency with extensive prerogative powers so that he could rule Ghana completely.

This, according to him, activated the boycott of the 1992 parliamentary elections by the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

“The 1992 constitution has no hope or future for the youth; there are portions if not changed or reviewed the youth would remain poorer and miserable irrespective of who becomes the next president.”

Odike stated that the 1992 constitution simply protects the executive arm of government from stringent investigation and prosecution after misappropriating or embezzling funds.

All former heads of state, according to him, have failed to review the constitution after serious criticism in opposition due to the fact that they enjoy the presidential entitlements.

He is, therefore, demanding the repeal of the president’s prerogative powers, which allow him to appoint the Auditor General, Inspector General of Police (IGP) and other relevant positions in Ghana.

Reviewing of the 1992 constitution and repeal of the prerogative powers given to the president, he believes, would make the members of the executive arm accountable to the people.

By Maxwell Otoo|Onua FM|3news|Ghana

Police detectives who are fond of speaking the local language, Twi while giving evidence in court have been advised to desist from that act because it brings disgrace to the police profession.
The Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), COP Isaac Ken Yeboah, said some of the detectives during cross-examination in court as witnesses, prefer speaking in local dialect instead of the Standard English.

He is of the view that speaking English should be a source of pride to any police detective as should be critical interrogation of subjects and report writing.

“When you go to court, to testify, don’t go and say, My Lord, please I will speak Twi. It should be out of the question. It brings disgrace to the service,” he is quoted to have said.

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor has asked management and staff of the Lands Commission to, as a matter of urgency, ensure a robust land administration anchored on integrity, for the benefit of all Ghanaians.

The Minister stated this when he interacted with the staff and management of the Commission, today, 1st September, 2021 in Accra.

He said, the country cannot make progress if the lands administration system cannot be trusted.

He, therefore, entreated the management and staff to work diligently to help Ghana make progress in her developmental agenda.

In as much as it is the Government’s duty and by extension his duty as the Minister for Lands to preserve and protect public lands, the Hon. Minister said, the onus is equally on all members of staff to ensure same “because individual landowners depend on them, the public depends on them and Ghana depends on them to preserve and protect their lands.”

The Minister touched on interventions being made by the Ministry and by extend the government to improve the lands sector adding that these interventions, including lands digitization will not only change the operational activities of the Commission but also improve the welfare of staff.

He tasked the Executive Secretary of the Commission to ensure the full implementation of the land digitization process for an efficient lands service delivery.

On his part, the Ag. Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, Mr. James E. Dadson said, the focus of merging the four divisions and the introduction of a new search system to eliminate controversies on land administration will commence today, September 1st and be fully implemented by October 1st, 2021.

He assured staff of prompt promotion and upgrading stressing that “we are determined to move the lands commission forward.

The Executive Secretary also applauded the Minister for inaugurating all 16 Lands Commissions in the regions and added that a Regional Operations Unit has been set up at the Head office to deal with issues from the various regions and ensure standardisation in all operations of the Commission

Source: Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources

Former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and CEO of Atta Mills Memorial Institute, Samuel Koku Anyidoho, has said that he will expose his former boss who is currently the General Secretary of the party, Johnson Asiedu Nketia following his sacking

The NDC expelled him for ‘misconduct and anti-party behavior’, an allegation he has denied.

In responding to the allegations on ‘Pae Mu Ka’ on Onua FM, Mr. Anyidoho accused General Secretary of the NDC, Asiedu Nketia, of masterminding confusion in the party, and will expose and deal with him accordingly.

“The NDC does not have a problem with me, it is Juhen this whole thing is over, we shall know the idiots in Ghana”, Koku Anyidoho said.

He has said that Asiedu Nketia thanked him for not contesting him for the General Secretary position of the party.

Mr. Anyidoho explained that when he announced that he was going for the Deputy General Secretary after the party opened nominations in 2018 at the branch, constituency, regional and national levels ahead of the 2020 elections, scores of party members called him and said that position was too low for him.

These people, he said, suggested to him to contest for the General Secretary position but he declined.

Learning that Anyidoho had declined to go for the General Secretary position, Asiedu Nketia called him and thanked him for that decision, Koku told host Yaa Titi Ocrah.

“When I decided to contest as Deputy General Secretary of the party, a lot of people called me to tell me that was a lower position that I was going in for and so I should rather aspire for the General Secretary position but I declined.

“Asiedu Nketia came to me to thank me for not contesting him because he had heard that I had resisted the pressure to do so. He told me he was not going for the fourth time.

”Source: 3news.com

Energy Minister Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh on Tuesday, 31 August 2021 inaugurated the newly-constituted governing board of the Energy Commission at the Ministry.

In his remarks, Dr Prempeh charged the board to serve faithfully and diligently in order to make meaning of the trust and confidence reposed in them by President Akufo-Addo.

He also urged the board to give meaning to the government’s commitment to developing and elaborating national policies and strategies for all renewable resources such as biomass, solar, geothermal, water and wind.

Dr Prempeh said he was gratified by the assurance given by the Chairman of the Board and former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Prof. Ebenezer Oduro Owusu of their readiness to tackle the challenges of the industry and the Commission

Energy Minister Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh has charged the newly constituted governing Board of the Volta River Authority (VRA) to ensure that the lights are stable to support Ghana’s economy.

Ghanaians have in the past and quiet recently been enduringblackouts caused by power supply shortage and expansion works.

This led to constant backlash from the citizenry.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of the new governing board of the VRA on 31 August 2021, Dr Prempeh stressed the importance of constant electricity for the daily lives of the citizenry and, therefore, charged the board to ensure the lights are on.

He also addressed the key area of intra-sector debts and made known his determination to ensure that it is eliminated, in order to enhance the liquidity of entities within the sector.

He pledged his utmost support to tackling of managerial, financial and technical challenges within the VRA

• President Akufo-Addo is superintending over a corrupt government, a former Deputy Minister has averred

• His cousins and relatives within and outside of government are profiteering

• A change of government is the best way to hold the NPP government to account according to Felix Kwakye Ofosu

Felix Kwakye Ofosu, a former deputy minister and aide to former president John Dramani Mahama, has accused President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of woefully failing to protect the public purse despite having promised so to do and claiming to be doing so till date.

In the view of Kwakye Ofosu, the president has rather opened up the purse for rape by members of his close family who are within and outside of the government.

“Akufo-Addo has opened up the public purse for systematic rape and abuse by a colony of cousins and relatives in his government

“It appears that the president doesn’t appreciate that mandate (i.e. winning the 2020 elections by a close shave), but he believes that in spite of the misgivings that Ghanaians have about his stewardship, he will do absolutely nothing,” Kwakye Ofosu said in an interview on Joy FM.

He cited the case of the Sputnik V vaccine procurement scandal where a bi-partisan Parliamentary committee proved that the Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, violated the Constitution and all procurement regulations, only for Akufo-Addo to go to Dormaa and make light of the issue.

He also cited the unresolved cases of the Australian visa fraud, stealing and selling of 500 excavators, and the botched PDS deal.

“You and I do not need a soothsayer to aver that it will only take electoral defeat for the NPP to be held accountable for the corruption that they are supervising. Why is the NPP so afraid of accountability?” he quizzed.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

Communications Officer the National Democratic Congress Sammy Gyamfi has ridiculed NPP’s Yaw Buaben Asamoah for his “ludicrous display of willful blindness”, likening him to the late Comical Ali, the legendary Iraqi Information Minister, infamous for his denial of very obvious facts and truths.null

Mr Gyamfi believes the NPP communication officer only displays amusing and disturbing comics anytime given the opportunity to speak.

His statement comes in reaction to the some recent press conferences held by the NPP to respond to comments made by former president John Mahama on his “thank you” tour, one of which was addressed by Mr Asamoah.

Addressing Journalists at a press conference in Accra on Monday, August 30, 2021, to respond to some press conferences held by the NPP, Mr Gyamfi said Mr Buaben Asamoah’s denial of economic hardships in the country in only seek to confirm that the NPP “are living in their own world of luxury and comfort, far removed from the realities in the country today,”.

“….. Yaw Buabeng Asamoah, who staged a performance reminiscent of the hey days of Comical Ali, the legendary Iraqi Information Minister, infamous for his denial of very obvious facts and truths,” he said.

“Mr. Asamoah inexplicably claimed that the excruciating economic hardships Ghanaians are going through has only been spoken into place by President Mahama and that it was not being felt by Ghanaians.

“In other words, all the taxes introduced by this government since 2017 and the rampant increases in fuel prices and every other commodity on the market leading to hardships are just the words of President Mahama. Ladies and gentlemen, I must say that Mr. Buabeng’s comical display is as amusing as it is disturbing.It is amusing because it demonstrates the willingness of this government to trivialize the suffering of people, and it is disturbing because it shows that the NPP and their leaders have completely detached themselves from the very harsh economic conditions of Ghanaians and chosen to dwell in a delusional bubble.

According to Sammy Gyamfi, the NPP are dazed and agitated by the factual statements by H.E John and will only would only employ elements like Yaw Buaben Asamoah to come and deny.

He said it is obvious that NPP are very worried about how President Mahama is exposing the true character of President Akufo-Addo, a man who rode on the back of a self-proclaimed propaganda of incorruptibility into power, only to turn around and supervise the most obscene abuse of the public purse ever witnessed in the history of this country.

“Clearly, they are living in their own world of luxury and comfort, far removed from the realities in the country today,” he said.

“It bears reminding the Akufo-Addo government that the current economic difficulties of Ghanaians are not the product of any imaginary or delusional fantasy of members of the opposition.

“The economic hardships Ghanaians from all walks of life are experiencing, are the direct effects of the mismanagement of the economy through reckless squandering of scarce resources to secure re-election in 2020 which has left our finances in shambles.

“The excessive and reckless borrowing of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has ensured that we are barely able to service our debts, pay the salary of Public sector workers and have anything significant left to meet critical expenditure.”

Mr Gyamfi stated that these taxes coupled with other bad policies of the government have conspired to increase prices of fuel, food commodities, building materials and cost of living in general to unbearable proportions without any commensurate increment in incomes.

He said the NPP must take responsibility for the consequences of their insensitive and poor economic management decisions and refrain from the ludicrous display of willful blindness put up by Yaw Buaben Asamoah.

Source: ghanaguardian.com

• Peter Mac Manu claims a recent survey of CDD-Ghana is more propaganda

• He said it does not represent what is on the ground

• CDD-Ghana’s survey reveals that Ghanaians have lost confidence in Akufo-Addo’s fight against corruption

Peter Mac Manu, a former National Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party, NPP, has indicated that the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo led government is on course with its fight against corruption.

According to him, he disagrees with any survey that claims that the public has lost confidence in the President’s fight against corruption.

Mac Manu told Joy FM in an interview monitored by GhanaWeb that, “The pre-election survey had I think 55 percent of Ghanaians saying that the government was on track in attacking corruption, that’s why I was asking Dr Selormey, in this one, they are saying there are three issues, and then the green was 39 or 30 and ‘same’ was 27.null

“So, I asked her what is the meaning of ‘same’? Was it in the ‘same’ that people thought that we are in the same track of attacking corruption? And if you add the yellow to it, then we are way above fifty-something. So, they should have explained to us the meaning of the ash colour which they noted as ‘same’.”

A recent research conducted by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) reveals that most Ghanaians do not believe that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has the capacity in dealing with corruption menace in the country.

The 2400 adult respondents for the research which was carried out between May 3 to June 3 across the 16 regions of Ghana stated that, they are also less optimistic about the administration’s ability to reduce crime.

Peter Mac Manu described the findings of CDD-Ghana’s research as propaganda being carried out by the government’s detractors.

“If you look at the hullabaloo people are talking about you will be amazed. I mean look at what people are saying, it means that there is so much propaganda than the actual work that is going on. That’s the way that I see it from the result and we must look at actuals than propaganda,” he said.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

• Captain Smart has revealed that he has never taken bribes

• He has promised to commit suicide the day he accepts a bribe

• The Morning Show host added that most journalists take monies from political parties

Morning Show host, Captain Smart, has stated that he has never taken a bribe in his entire career as a professional journalist adding that he will commit suicide the very day he accepts a bribe from anyone.

The host of Onua Maakye on Wednesday, September 1, 2021, mentioned that he has no interest in any political party in the country.

According to Captain, his only desire is to see Ghana prosper and ensure that leaders who have been voted into office do the right thing by performing their mandate.

He added that, unlike most journalists who have sold their conscience and reputation for monies from political parties, nobody can say that he has ever taken a bribe from them.null

“I don’t have any interest anywhere, up till now in my professional life, I have never collected bribe, never. I will never accept any bribe in my professional life. Right from the time, I started radio work from Radio Peace till date. I will kill myself, I will commit suicide the very day I take a bribe,” he said.

He further added: ” I will commit suicide, the very day I will do something for people to say I am corrupt, I will not shoot myself, I will stab myself with a knife in the stomach and die. I will rather shoot myself in the head if I ever do something against the country. I can hit my chest and say that I, Kwadwo Smart is not corrupt. I have never blackmailed anybody in my life.”

Meanwhile, Captain Smart has also promised to release the outcome of the 2024 election results following a message he had from Dr Kwame Nkrumah in his dream.

According to him, there will be major surprises in the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections.

“This coming October, I will reveal the outcome of the 2024 elections, forget about EIU Research, it is bogus. I am the one who predicted that Nana Addo was going to win the elections if he got 90 votes in Wa, Roman Primary B polling station. Go and check the tapes, I said this with only two days to the elections,” he said.

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

A survey by the Centre of Democratic Development has revealed that majority of Ghanaians do not believe President Akufo-Addo can fight corruption in the country.

The report which sampled the views of over 2000 Ghanaians from all 16 regions of the country between May 23 and June 3 also blamed the reduction of the President’s vote in 2020 polls on his own performance and that of NPP MPs.

“Fewer than half of Ghanaians are optimistic that, in the next four years, the Akufo-Addo NPP-led government will perform “much better or better” in addressing educational needs (45%), providing reliable supply of electricity (44%), maintaining roads and bridges (44%), and providing water and sanitation services (43%). Only one-third (35%) are optimistic about government’s ability to reduce crime.

Press Release – CDD-Ghana 2020 Post-Election Survey Results_Final (2)

“Only about three in 10 Ghanaians or fewer are optimistic about government’s ability to fight corruption (30%), and promote collaboration between the ruling and opposition parties (25%),” the report said.

It further noted: “While Ghanaians are split (48% vs. 48%) on the government’s ability to ensure that rule of law is upheld in the next four years, majorities are not confident in its ability to protect the country’s financial resources (53%) and curb corruption and official impunity (62%).

“Ghanaians are evenly split in their confidence in government’s ability to consolidate the gains made in the planting/rearing for food and jobs program in the next four years, but a majority (61%) express lack of confidence in the government’s ability to expand the onemillion-dollar per constituency initiative,” the report said.

It however noted most Ghanaians are hopeful that some things will get better in the second term of the akufo-Addo government.

“In general, most Ghanaians expect changes in the way the Akufo-Addo led-NPP government handles a number of national development issues in the next four years.  Majority of Ghanaians (52%) are confident that the second Akufo-Addo led-NPP government will consolidate the gains of the Free SHS program, but a similar proportion (57%) have no confidence in government to expand the 1D1F initiative across the country

A shop attendant is feared dead while over 20 persons including a pregnant woman have been injured in a multiple vehicular crash at Adeiso in West Akyem District in Eastern Region.

Three of the injured including the pregnant woman are in critical condition hence referred to Nsawam government hospital.

“About 21 and over victims have been rushed here, we are referring 3 including a pregnant woman to Nsawam hospital because two had a compound fracture. We are managing the rest of the cases here,” Kudji Wissih Principal Physician Assistant at Adeiso Health Center told the media.

The crashes occurred at about 4:00 pm Tuesday, August 31, 2021, when a Kia truck with registration number GW 1364-12 transporting Sachet water failed to brake when descending from Adeiso Police station to town crashing three cars with registration numbers GG 2043, GT-5911-18 and GT -5175-12

The impact of the crash forced one of the cars to ram into a shop killing a female occupant.

According to an eyewitness, “the KIA Rhino truck which was transporting Sachet water had brake failure from the Police station area so when it got to the exit of the lorry station it crashed the gate of a sprinter bus vehicle, crashed two other vehicles. The impact forced one of the vehicles to run into a shop killing a female occupant in the shop. The KIA Rhino violently surged forward and crashed another vehicle getting to Bawdjiase Junction. Many people are injured. There were some Okada riders parked at the roadside” .

Road accidents have killed a total of 342 passengers in the Eastern region from Janua

A former deputy general secretary of the main opposition National Democratic (NDC) has wondered how the party will win the 2024 general elections when it has been “antagonising all the small political parties”.

“Today, all the small political parties are your enemies”, Mr Koku Anyidoho told Kwame Appiah Kubi on Accra100.5FM’s Ghana Yensom on Tuesday, 31 August 2021 in an interview.

“What happened to our traditional allies as a political party?” he asked.

“You have alienated and isolated all your traditional allies”, Mr Anyidoho complained.

He wondered: “How do you win an election?”

“And when we are saying it with a passion that: ‘Go back and build bridges, go back and build alliances’, then they say you are a bad person, then today they have sacked this one, tomorrow they have suspended this one, tomorrow they have isolated this one; how do you win an election like that?”

In his view, “this business called governance is not a joke, is not a tea party”.

“President Mills set up this Constitution Review Commission in 2010. There’s a white paper. If NDC should just even take this report, white paper, and decide to turn it into its manifesto, who says that the 2024 election configuration will not change for them?” Mr Anyidoho, who is contesting his suspension from the party, said.  

He observed: “There’s IPAC. You won’t attend IPAC meetings yet now you want to propose reforms to the EC”.

 

Source: classfmonline.com

Kissi Agyebeng

The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has assured the new Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng that he will not hesitate to collaborate with him in big corruption-related issues that are still unresolved.

He said issues like the infamous Airbus scandal which rocked the country in early 2020 and all others outstanding, that were filed before the Office of the previous Special Prosecutor will be worked on.

The Attorney General (AG) gave the assurance when the new Special Prosecutor called on him yesterday to discuss issues affecting the anti-graft office.

He said, “I am aware that there were certain cases referred to the Office of the Special Prosecutor that have been left untouched. The Airbus scandal is one of such cases. It is unhealthy for democracy and the rule of law if such issues are not settled. It erodes public confidence. It is in the interest of the public for all the issues to be unraveled.”

Fair To All

The AG admonished the Special Prosecutor to be fair to all those who appear before him to be investigated; be able to utilise the budget for the office, and also be able to work with the Public Service for the benefit of the country.

The AG said that the Special Prosecutor working with the Public Service should not be misconstrued as an interference in the work of that office.

He said the Special Prosecutor as a matter of urgency could seek clearance from the Minister of Finance to recruit staff, but added that in the interim, his ministry was prepared to lend him some lawyers for the office to function effectively.

President’s Initiative

Mr. Dame said President Akufo-Addo took the bold initiative of ceding some of the prosecutorial powers of the Attorney General to the Special Prosecutor and it was the most important effort by any government to fight corruption and other corruption-related offences.

“It is a very important office as far as the vision of the President to fight corruption is concerned,” the AG said.

He also disclosed that Mr. Agyebeng has the required integrity and academic fortitude to do the work, and said the government was expecting so much from him.

SP’s View

In his response, Mr. Agyebeng said the office lacked resources and was soliciting the AG’s support to push for more resources for the office to function effectively.

He said the office currently has one investigator and one prosecutor, but would need more hands to be able to deliver to the satisfaction of the public.

He also said the Airbus scandal like any other issue that would be filed at his office would be investigated dispassionately.

Airbus Scandal

The global aeroplane manufacturing giant, Airbus SE, in February 2020, was fined a record three billion pounds in penalties by the UK Crown Court of Southwark, London, after admitting it had paid huge bribes on an “endemic” basis to land contracts in 20 countries, including Ghana.

In the United States, the damages against Airbus SE, with Case No.: 1:20-cr-00021 (TFH), was being assessed after the historic judgment at the District Court of Columbia.

UK’s Serious Fraud Office (SFO), in documents sent to court, quoted at least five million euros as payment of kickbacks to a top Ghanaian official through an intermediary who is a close relative of “a high-ranking elected Ghanaian government official” during the Mahama administration.

Clear View

In the UK Crown Court documents, the SFO named an elected NDC guru as Government Official 1 (GO1) and that powerful official was the same person referred to as Individual 1 in the US court documents.

In the same vein, Intermediary 5 (I5) in the UK court documents, who has been described as the brother of the powerful elected official in Ghana, was the same person being referred to as Consultant 4 by the US authorities.

Per both documents, GO1 or Individual 1 was not content with having I5 (his brother) handle his alleged bribe-collection arrangements and as a result, was in “direct repeated contact with senior Airbus SE executives.”

There are six key actors involved in the corruption-infested case regarding Ghana and the UK investigators from the SFO, who have lined them up as GO1 (high ranking and elected), I5 (British national and close relative of GO1), Company D (corporate vehicle for I5 – shareholder), Intermediary 6 (British national and associate of I5), Intermediary 7 (British national and associate of I5) as well as Intermediary 8 (Spanish company and front for I5).

GO1 Unveiled

In the ensuing heat, then Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu, said categorically that Government Official 1 was former President John Dramani Mahama and the Intermediary 5 was Samuel Adam Forster, also known as Samuel Adam Mahama, believed to be the junior brother of the former President.

Mahama Fire

In June 2020 when the political parties were gearing up for the December general election, Mr. Mahama appeared to have removed the mystery surrounding the GO1 tag scandal when he commented on the matter for the first time after news broke that Airbus SE officials paid about five million euros in bribes to a top Ghanaian leader during his tenure.

Speaking on the issue publicly for the first time, he dared the NPP government to prosecute him if they thought he had committed any crime as far as the Airbus scandal was concerned.

He had said that the Akufo-Addo-led NPP administration was only interested in doing propaganda with the Airbus bribery scandal and had no genuine interest in the case.

According to him, the posture of the NPP government on the matter showed it was not acting in good faith and was only pushing it to score political points.

Vehement Denial

He then denied vehemently that he took bribes during the transaction to procure aircraft for the Ghana Armed Forces when he was in office in spite of mounting forensic evidence against him.

“Let me state without any equivocation that no financial benefit accrued to me. Neither was there any form of inducement in the purchase of the aircraft,” he claimed, adding “my singular motivation was to equip and retool the Ghana Armed Forces in a manner that would make the discharge of their national and international roles efficient and less burdensome; and for all the sacrifices that our men and women in uniform make; they do not deserve less.”

“I am happy that the said aircraft had become the backbone of the Ghana Air Force and its operations. They used it for troop transportation, logistics deployment and medical evacuation (sic),” he said.

No Invitation

Mr. Mahama then said the Office of the Special Prosecutor then headed by Martin Amidu, which had been tasked to investigate the matter, had not invited him for any questioning concerning the scandal.

It is on record that his brother, who was mentioned in the Airbus scandal as being an Intermediary in the five million euros kickback payments, was invited by the Office of the Special Prosecutor at the time but never made any appearance.

According to the former President, because the issue was referred to the Special Prosecutor, he decided not to respond to the allegations, saying, “I recognised that it was the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor in Ghana, following the almost immediate referral to that body by the President

The Multimedia Group says it is dragging Assin Central MP Kennedy Agyapong to court for what it describes as defamatory statements the lawmaker made against the media house and its CEO Mr Kwasi Twum.

The media conglomerate will also sue two online portals for publishing the defamatory story.

Mr Agyapong, according to a statement issued by The Multimedia Group on July 2nd, 9th and 19th, made and repeated defamatory statements about the media group on his media platform.

The broadcast and publication, according to the statement, sought to portray the plaintiffs as unethical, unprofessional and criminal.

Below are details of the statement:

Source: Classfmonline.com

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) is not for government workers alone, but rather all workers willing to join and contribute part of their legitimately earned income to secure their retirement, Dr John Ofori-Tenkorang, Director General of SSNIT has said.

He said “SSNIT is not for government workers. As self-employed, you can join SSNIT and also enjoy the benefits that government workers enjoy as SSNIT contributors.”

He added that “With SSNIT, you are not only saving towards retirement but also for contingencies; incapacity to work due to unforeseen situation.”

Dr Ofori-Tenkorang said this during the launch of the SSNIT Mobile Service Week in Tamale to woo the self-employed and informal sector workers to join the SSNIT to secure their retirement.

The event, held on the theme: “Retirement Security for the Self-Employed: Join SSNIT today as a Voluntary Contributor,” was attended by artisans such as sprayers, carpenters, masons, and traders, amongst other players in the informal sector.

A section of the population believes that SSNIT is for public sector workers alone, hence Dr Ofori-Tenkorang’s advocacy to clarify the issue to ensure that all workers, especially the self-employed join the SSNIT Scheme.

According to the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, only three percent of workers in the informal sector belong to any structured social security scheme.

Also, less than one percent of the 232,960 pensioners receiving monthly pensions from SSNIT were self-employed.

This means over the years, very few workers in the informal sector have signed on to the SSNIT Scheme or any other private scheme, thereby painting a very gloomy picture of the future of those workers, hence the move by SSNIT to woo the self-employed to join its Scheme.

Dr Ofori-Tenkorang encouraged the informal sector players to join SSNIT telling them “Know that one day, you will become old. You cannot continue doing what you are doing today. You will need support. Will you be ready? Why don’t you join SSNIT and insure your income?

He mentioned the four main benefits of the SSNIT Scheme as Old Age Pension, Invalidity Pension, Survivor’s Lump Sum Benefit and Emigration Benefit, and said the calculation of the SSNIT benefits was not complicated, adding it only depended on the amount of money you contributed and the length of period of the contribution.

Mr Mohammed Abdul Jawad, a sprayer, who was a participant, said he was now convinced that joining the SSNIT Scheme was important and he would take the necessary steps to register as a contributor to secure his retirement

.Source: GNA

A man has killed his wife and himself afterwards at Gbetsile.

A woman has allegedly been mutilated and hacked to death by her husband at Gbetsile Soldier Line in the Kpone Katamanso Municipality of the Greater Accra Region.

The husband, Thomas Kontoh, a man believed to be in his mid-50s, allegedly hanged himself after the incident early on Tuesday, August 31, 2021.

The woman in her 40s, identified as Lydia Amponsah, had her ears cut off and suffered multiple cutlass wounds.

Speaking to Citi News, the traumatised niece of the deceased, Michaela Okata, who witnessed the incident, narrated that at around 1:30 am Tuesday dawn, Thomas Kontoh allegedly broke into their room with a cutlass and butchered Lydia Amponsah.

“I heard someone knock on our door at dawn. It was my uncle who was calling out to my aunt. He forced his way into the room. He had a cutlass in his hand. After a little disagreement, he slashed her with the cutlass.”

“My auntie asked me to call for help so I took to my heels. I returned to meet my auntie dead,” she recounted.

She also said Thomas Kontoh subsequently chased her in an attempt to also kill her.

Officers from the Atadeka Zenu police were deployed to the scene.

Source: Citinewsroom

The North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is alleging President Akufo-Addo spent a total of GHc3.46million on flight during his recent trips abroad.

The North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, is alleging that President Akufo-Addo hired another luxurious aircraft on his recent foreign trips to the UK and Germany.

According to the NDC legislator, the trips on the hired jet cost the state £14,000 per hour and a cumulative ¢3.46 million.

Earlier this year, Okudzeto Ablakwa stirred controversy when he alleged that President Akufo-Addo hired a private jet at the cost of ¢2.8 million on his travels to France, Belgium and South Africa at the expense of tax-burned Ghanaians.

He filed a question, and Parliament summoned Defence Minister, Dominic Nitiwul, to answer questions on the cost and why Ghana’s own presidential jet was not used.

The Minister justified the president’s decision to rent the aircraft, arguing that the capacity of the presidential aircraft can no longer carry the president’s entourage without re-fueling.

“The decision to travel particularly to long and multiple destinations such as the president travelling to France, Belgium, South African and back to Ghana especially during this covid time will always require a larger capacity aircraft such as a DBKJ or an aircraft ATJ 319 even when the Falcon is air ready,” the Defense Minister told Parliament on June 16.

He told the House that regarding the cost incurred on the trip, the Finance Minister is best to provide those details.

Not satisfied with this answer, Mr Ablawa filed another question to summon the Finance Minister person to speak to the cost.

Ken Ofori-Atta appeared before Parliament and noted that questions on the cost and travels of the president will be best answered by the National Security Ministry.

Although the nation is yet to be provided with answers regarding the cost, the former Deputy Education Minister is making a yet allegation.

On Tuesday, the North Tongu lawmaker wrote on his Facebook page called for a national policy on presidential travels akin to what pertains in other jurisdictions.

“For his recent travels to the UK on the 27th of July, 2021, to attend the Global Education Summit and last week’s state visit to Germany, he blatantly refused to travel on the presidential jet.

“Instead, he opted for another top of the range VIP luxury charter jet specifically known to industry players as the Boeing 737-900ER BBJ3,” he alleged.

According to him, the Luxembourg-based aircraft is registered LX-DIO and operated by Global Jet Luxembourg. Its Manufacturer Serial Number (MSN) is 62515 with Line Number 5659.

“The 19-seater luxury jet which has a HEX code 4D0213 is configured VIP, has 2x CFMI engines and was delivered to the current operators in November 2015.

“Very few luxury jets boast of its features. Its manufacturers say the cabin is divided into multiple sections to guarantee exceptional comfort. It provides a VIP lounge for relaxation, Five-Star dining facilities, Royal Master bedroom, Cinema Room specially delineated for watching movies which is a separate accessory from other in-flight entertainment systems, and of course, just as you predicted correctly, complete with a luxury shower (apparently, the sky bath continues unabated – all royalties paid to Defence Minister, Nitiwul).

“If our government is dealing directly with the operators of the LX-DIO, then it is costing the Ghanaian taxpayer at least $14,000 per hour. However, if our government is leasing the aircraft via brokers or middlemen as it has gained notoriety in many sectors, you shouldn’t be surprised the Ghanaian taxpayer is being billed between $18,000 and $22,000 per hour.

“Using the conservative rate of $14,000 per hour, the two trips to the UK and Germany which require some 28 hours of travel distance in and out plus an additional 13 hours of pick up and drop off time, the taxpayer has been burdened again to the colossal tune of $574,000. At the current exchange rate, that is a staggering ¢3.46 million,” the Facebook post read.

Source: Myjoyonline

Communication Director for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Yaw Buaben Asamoa says the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) is making a grave mistake by comparing former President John Dramani Mahama to President Akufo-Addo, on the issue of corruption.

According to him, fighting corruption in the country is not about who can shout the loudest in the media, but rather, about implementing measures to make corruption an unattractive venture for people to engage in.

Veiled Attack

His remarks appear to be a veiled dig at the NDC’s press conference held Monday, August 30 where the opposition party took the current administration to the cleaners for instituitionalising the canker.

That press conference – by the opposition – was in response to an earlier one organised by the ruling party last week, which was a reaction to some allegations made by the NDC 2020 Presidential candidate, Ex-President John Dramani Mahama on his Thank You tour.

Unbridled Corruption & Plain Thievery Under NPP

The NDC’s Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, was of the opinion that failure to vote against the NPP in 2024 will lead to further dissipation of the public purse.

“Former President Mahama echoed the sentiments of the vast majority of Ghanaians who feel scandalized by the unbridled corruption and plain thievery that has become the hallmark of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia NPP government.

“The alarming case of corruption under this government is such that Ghanaians cannot wait to exact accountability by voting out the NPP after their eight year tenure in 2024.

“Anything short if that will spell doom for the public purse which will be subjected to further abuse should their mandates be renewed beyond 2024.”

International Recognition As Gov’t Official 1

But speaking on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia‘ Morning Show, the former Adenta Member of Parliament touted the government’s achievement in the fight against corruption.

He maintained that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government led by President Akufo-Addo has put measures in place which are gradually preventing corruption in the country; thus, Ghanaians can attest to the things the Akufo-Addo government is doing openly to put a stop to corruption in the country.

“However, when it comes to the person who is mostly tagged with corruption if you put John Mahama and Nana Addo on the scale, John Mahama has international recognition when it comes to corruption. Was it not John Mahama that a court in the UK has tagged him as the government official one in an Airbus scandal which today, the office of the Special Prosecutor is investigating? Has Nana Addo been tagged with such a scandal?”, he asked.

“Was it not John Mahama then Vice President under late former President Mills administration that the issue of Embraer plane scandal hit to the extent that then President Mills set up a committee to investigate him?”, he rhetorically asked.

Watch video below

https://www.youtube.com/embed/di9A6qnR4Co

Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com

President Akufo-Addo has paid the full cost of the surgery of the conjoined twins at the Ridge Hospital in Accra.

The Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Opare on Tuesday presented a cheque of GHc 14,394, 397.58 to the management of the Gt. Accra Regional Hospital(Ridge Hospital).

This follows concerns about the undue delay in the release of the cash as promised by the President.

The EIB Network on Thursday, 05, 2021 begun a public campaign to raise funds to support the surgery. The campaign which was led by the General Manager of the English Cluster of the media conglomerate Nana Aba Anamoah had already raised over GHC500,000.

Surgeons at the Ridge Hospital say it will cost a whopping GHC3,000,000 to separate the twins who are joined in the head to enable them to live independently.

They explain that this is the first time doctors in Ghana will be conducting such a specialized operation.

A Neurosurgeon at the Ridge Hospital, Dr Samuel Kaba Akoriyea has indicated that the operation will be done in various phases, adding that a minimum of 4 to 5 stages of surgery will be required.

He noted, “there is a bone defect because the brains are attached and you need to work on that. If we are able to separate them successfully, which we hope to, then we should have enough skin to cover up.”

Again, they have a lot of blood vessels that are now coming up and the more you wait, the more they get intertwined, and it becomes more difficult,” he added.

The phenomenon of twins conjoined at the head is said to occur once in every 2.5 million births.

The type of surgery to be performed is not common and it comes at a very high cost.

“The cost is quite expensive and very relative. When we did our search, this can cost between $1.5 million and 4.6 million dollars out there,” Dr. Kaba said.

About 60 percent of twins conjoined at the head, unfortunately, die in the womb and another 35% dies within 24 hours after birth leaving only 5% who survive until surgery

The Ghana Education Service has revealed that names submitted for the free Teacher Laptop project included fake names with fake IDs.

A statement by the GES asked District Directors of Education and Headteachers to validate the list sent and warned that such actions constitute fraud.

“The attention of the Management of Ghana Education Service has been drawn to the fact that some Metro/Municipal/District Directors of Education in submitting the name of teachers for the laptops have added names of persons who do not qualify, including non-teaching staff and retired or separated staff.

“The indications are that in some instances some strange names have been added with fake staff IDs. District Directors of Education are requested to ask Headteachers to be responsible for the names being submitted. District Directors of Education and Headteachers are reminded that such conduct constitutes FRAUD.

“All District Directors of Education are therefore requested to validate the list which has been sent and submit an updated list by close of work on Tuesday, 31st August 2021.”

The Ghana Education Service in May this year took delivery of two hundred and eighty thousand laptops to be distributed to teachers across the country.

As part of government plans for a teacher to own a laptop, the government has taken seventy(70) percent of the cost of the laptops. Teachers are to pay the remaining thirty(30) percent for a period of twelve(12) months.

The laptop project is one of the measures by the government to promote digital literacy among teachers and students, Ghana Education Service will organize in-serve training for teachers on digital literacy.

SOURCE: starrfm