The Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi constituency in the Eastern Region, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has handed over of a medical theatre to support the services of the facility’s first medical doctor.
The state-of-the-art facility comes on the back of the provision of an official residence and vehicle for the doctor at post so he can serve the over 100,000 people in the district.
The medical theatre has ultra-modern equipment including 1 Electrocardiography (ECG) machine, 10 ECG papers, two incubators, 2 oxygen concentrators, 2 delivery beds, 2 examination couches, 2 examination lamps, 10 hospital beds, 10 bedside cabinets, 5 intravenous (IV) stands, 2 nebuliser sets, 20 oxygen nasal prongs, and 2 vital sign monitors among others.
Speaking at a brief ceremony to open the health facility on Friday, 23 July 2021, Mr Oppong Nkrumah celebrated the work of Dr Prince Koranteng Ampaw and his team and encouraged them to take good care of the facilities.
He said the completion of the theatre will greatly improve health delivery in Brenase as other health facilities in the district are revamped to shore up the health infrastructure stock as part of efforts to close the equity gap as far as geographical access to health services is concerned..
Mr Oppong Nkrumah, who is the Minister of Information, said: “When I assumed office as Member of Parliament, one of the things that was missing in the constituency was an excellent health facility that will cater for the health needs of my constituents”.
“Accordingly, that was a top priority, so, […] the DCE, Mr Paul Asamoah, and I, channeled our energies into making sure the constituency has state-of-the-art health facilities”.
“Like we did for Ayirebi, today, I am happy to announce to the people of Brenase that they have a designated health facility that will see to their health needs”, he announced.
He also expressed his gratitude to the chiefs and people of the area for providing a conducive environment for the construction and completion of the project.
The ceremony also saw the opening of a permanent residence for the only doctor in the Akyemansa district.
The doctor, who is now stationed in the district, was also given a pick-up vehicle to help with his transportation needs.
In his remarks, the DCE also underscored the benefits of the medical theatre in improving healthcare delivery in the constituency and beyond.
Mr Asamoah said the completion of the theatre is further proof that the MP for the area is committed to providing health infrastructure to help improve healthcare delivery in the district.
For her part, District Health Director Gifty Sunu lauded the minister for listening to the call of his constituents and acting accordingly, in providing the health facility.
She, however, admonished managers of the facility to maintain it so it can adequately serve its intended purpose, stressing that “a lot of investment has gone into this project and we need to prevent the equipment [from] damages”.
Francis-Xavier Sosu has clarified his stance on a Private members’ Bill aimed at criminalizing the activities of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, LGBTQ+.
The Madina Member of Parliament last week made comments calling for challenges in the bill to be addressed and for Ghana to be ready to face the economic consequences that may arise from passing such a law.
His views on the poistion of the Speaker of Parlaiment on the issue and comments such as 10 year custodial sentence the bill proposed being highhanded and unresonable attracted some public backlash.
One of which was from former Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak, who described the Madnina MP’s stance as “courageous, fooolishly courageous,” stressing that most of his constituents will oppose his pronouncements on the issue.
In a Facebook post published late Sunday, July 25, Sosu clarified that he was in “Following the introduction of Private Member’s Bill titled: The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values, Bill 2021, from eight colleague Members of Parliament, there has been varied opinions and misleading reportage about my comments which have been completely taken out of context.
“It appears to me that many people have wrongly judged me when they have neither read the bill nor listened fully to the interviews I granted TV3 and Metro TV in Parliament on Friday, 23rd July, 2021 on the subject matter.
“I have seen and read how many have taken the issues out of context to imply that I am not in support of the bill and that I am even against the Right Hon. Speaker on this Bill.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I am not against The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values, Bill 2021 and I am not and will never be an advocate for gay rights although I have been a leading Human Rights advocate for over 10 years and counting.
“As President for Youth for Human Rights Africa, I have had several invitations to be a gay rights advocate but turned all of them down. This is because my personal beliefs as a Christian are against that position and the collective aspirations of the people I represent as a Member of Parliament is against this position as well.
“I believe in the position that, there is no human rights in homosexuality or lesbianism and all its variance now collectively known as LGBTQ+. I have made this position clear throughout my human rights activism and everyone can cross-check that.
“Both in my law practice and human rights advocacy, this position has been clear. If in doubt get the full videos from TV3 and Metro TV to properly understand my position. I also have immense previous records and public positions on this matter,” his rejoinder on the issue read in part.
Former lawmaker Ras Mubarak has described fellow party member and Madina MP Francis Xavier Sosu as courageously foolish over his seeming liberal stance on homosexuality.
It comes after the lawmaker told TV3 that the Speaker of Parliament’s extreme position on LGBT rights did not represent the position of Parliament on the matter.
The Speaker, Alban Bagbin, is on record to have said homosexuality is worse than COVID-19.
Commenting on the development on Facebook, Mr. Mubarak who is former MP for Kumbungu said the Madina MP must recognize that his constituents who voted him are against LGBT rights.
“The Madina MP is courageous but foolishly courageous. He’s in Parliament representing the people of Madina. If he’s minded, majority of the people he represents are very opposed to the things he seeks to defend.Madina MP Francis Sosu
“His is a lost cause and quite sad he’s not putting his constituents first. And for the record, I had called Sosu on Friday and Saturday to see if what had been attributed to him in the last 3days is true, but got no response”.
“This world was created by God as a society, is created for us to enjoy and commanded us to procreate and fill the world, now we know those who actually believe in God, now we know where religion actually started.
“This pandemic must be fought by all of us. I can tell you is worse than covid 19, now am happy our beloved country Ghana is together in this. The faint-hearted will soon be stranding to come back to join the fight. His Excellency the President has spoken, our traditional leaders have spoken, our religious leaders have spoken together, Ghanaians have spoken,” the Speaker said about the community last month in Parliament
Ten key things the Anti LGBTQ Bill is proposing before passage.
The official name for the draft legislation by Ghana’s parliament to criminalise LGBTQI+ practice and advocacy in the country is ‘The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021.’
The private members’ bill is being championed by eight members of parliament, namely;
Sam George (MP, Ningo-Prampram)
Della Sowah (MP, Kpando)
Emmanuel Bedzrah (MP, Ho West)
John Ntim Forjour (MP, Assin South)
Alhassan Suhuyini (MP, Tamale North)
Rita Sowah (MP, La Dadekotopon)
Helen Ntoso (MP, Krachi West)
Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (MP, South Dayi)
The 36-page document is to ensure proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values; proscribe LGBTQ+ and related activities; proscribe propaganda of, advocacy for or promotion of LGBTTQQIAAP+ and related activities; provide for the protection of and support for children, persons who are victims or accused of LGBTTQQIAAP+ and related activities.”
It comes at a time when there is raging debate on the subject of LGBQI+ activities in the country, and the tolerance of the country’s laws to persons in the queer community.
The idea for ‘The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill 2021’, was mooted when it became clear that the often-quoted existing laws used to argue against LGBTQI+ activities in the country including Section 104 of the Criminal Code “Unnatural Carnal Knowledge; (c) of any animal is guilty of a misdemeanour; (2) Unnatural carnal knowledge is sexual intercourse with a person in an unnatural manner or with an animal,” does not necessarily ban persons in the LGBTQI+ community from carrying out their campaign activities.
The proponents of the bill in their memorandum stated that many national leaders including President Akufo-Addo and ex-presidents such as John Agyekum Kufuor and Prof. Evans Atta-Mills have denounced LGBTQI+ activities.
“We believe the time is ripe for Parliament to actualize the intentions of the framers of our Constitution by providing a legal framework for the promotion of the values that define our nationhood,” the promoters of the bill indicate.
Below are some 10 key things the bill is proposing:
Individuals of the same sex who engage in sexual intercourse are to be fined between 50 and 5,000 penalty units or face a jail term of between 3 years and 5 years, or both.
Persons who use any medium or technological platform to produce, procure, market, broadcast, disseminate, publish or distribute materials with the intention of promoting LGBTQI+ activities face a jail term of between 5 and 10 years.
All LGBTQI+ groups, associations, clubs and organizations to be disbanded. Anyone found guilty to be jailed between 6 and 10 years.
Proscription of sex with or marriage to an animal
Ban on same-sex marriage and marriage to someone who has undergone sex reassignment
Anyone who funds or sponsors activities of LGBTQI+ groups or individuals to be jailed between 5 and 10 years
LGBTQI+ persons not to be granted application to adopt or foster a child or children
Persons of the same sex who make public show of amorous relationship to face jail term of between 6 months and a year.
Anyone who physically or verbally assaults, abuses or harasses a person accused of being LGBTQI+ to be fined between 500 penalty units and 1,000 penalty units or to be jailed between 6 months and a year.
Persons accused of being LGBTQI+ should be granted access to medical assistance if they make such a request during the period of their incarceration.
LGBTQI rights in Ghana
Some persons have called for a specific law in Ghana to make homosexuality a criminal offence.
Although there are some provisions in the Criminal Code under which a homosexual can be prosecuted, especially for having intercourse with a partner, the belief is that a specific law must be enacted to declare homosexual relationships illegal.
Others have also called for a review of Ghana’s laws to be more accommodating of minority groups, as many countries are decriminalizing homosexuality.
In February 2020 for instance, the then Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Prof. Mike Oquaye, warned the World Bank against homosexuality conditions in development assistance to Ghana.
The current Speaker of Parliament has also spoken about his commitment towards the passage of a new law to deal with homosexuality.
Ghana’s total public debt stock has increased once again according to new data released by the Bank of Ghana.
The debt stock which ended the first quarter of 2021 at GH¢ 304.6 billion, increased by almost GH¢ 30 billion in April and May.
This saw Ghana’s total public debt as of the end of May 2021 rising to GH¢ 332.4.
The new debt figure brings Ghana’s debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio to 76.6% as of the end of May.
This is the highest recorded so far in the past year, slightly higher than the debt to GDP ratio of 76.1% recorded at the end of 2020 according to data from the central bank.
External Debt
A breakdown of the debt numbers shows that the component of the debt secured outside the country after remaining relatively stable in the first quarter rose significantly by about GH¢ 20 billion from GH¢ 141 billion at the end of March 2021 to GH¢ 161.5 billion at the end of May this year.
The external debt component as of the end of May 2021 made up 37.2% of the total value of the economy, which is projected to be about GH¢ 434 billion for 2021.
Domestic Debt
On the other hand, the component of the debt secured locally increased steadily in the first 5 months of 2021.
When compared with the figure recorded at the end of the first quarter, Ghana’s domestic debt rose by about GH¢ 7 billion, bringing total domestic debt to GH¢ 170.8 billion at the end of May this year from the GH¢163.6 billion recorded at the end of March this year.
The new figure represents 39.4% of the projected GDP for 2021.
The domestic component of the total public debt contains the financial sector resolution bond, which was GH¢ 15.2 billion at the end of May 2021.
According to the International Monetary Fund’s 2021 article IV consultation press release, which contains their staff report and statement by the Executive Director for Ghana, the IMF’s Debt Sustainability Analysis (DSA) shows that Ghana remains at high risk of external and overall debt distress under the baseline, even though public debt is assessed as sustainable going forward.
The Bretton Woods institution is meanwhile projecting Ghana’s Debt-to-GDP ratio to rise to 83.5% by the end of 2021
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has sent a strong warning to people who despite the rise in COVID-19 cases in the country are not adhering to the key safety protocol of mask wearing.null
Addressing the nation for the 26th time on measures taken against the spread of the deadly virus, Akufo-Addo blamed non-wearing of mask for the recent increase in infections and warned that people who are found guilty will have themselves to blame.
“It is extremely troubling to note that the high compliance rate with mask wearing has fallen alarmingly. The wearing of masks in public places, fellow Ghanaians, continues to be mandatory.
“There are no exceptions to this rule, and strict conformity with this protocol will be enforced. Anyone found to be flouting this directive will have him or herself to blame. We cannot afford to allow the recklessness of a few to endanger the lives of the majority of persons in the country.”
Akufo-Addo confirmed that Ghana is experiencing a third wave of infections as a result of the Delta Variant of the virus, which, according to the World Health Organisation, has increased transmissibility rates.
Ghana’s active cases, as of Wednesday, 21 July 2021 stands at 4,094.
Police at Akatsi are yet to unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of a pastor and his wife at Ayitikope, a farming community near Akatsi in the Akatsi South Municipality of the Volta Region.
The lifeless bodies of the two, Apostle Augustine Gbedema and Comfort Gbedema were found in a pool of blood in their gated four-bedroom-house last Saturday morning, July 24, 2021. Whereas the Apostle was lying in the compound, the wife was found in the living room and in a supine positon.
The bodies which had multiple wounds suspected to have been caused by a machete, were discovered in an advanced stage of decomposition and diffusing a pungent smell. Suggesting their death happened more than three days before discovery.
Although Police investigation has just started, the hundreds of residents who thronged the house to see the bizarre incident say, they suspect murder.
Family members and residents are unable to come to terms with what they describe as horrific murder of a good couple who were great examples in the community and their church, the Harmony with Jesus Ministry International.
Mr. George Gbedema, an elder of the church and a nephew to Apostle Gbedema narrated that the last time they were seen was on Sunday, July 18, 2021 during church service. He spoke to him the following day on phone and that was it.
He said the couple lived alone in their four-bedroom house located on the outskirts of the community. To this end, apart from Church services and programs, they were hardly seen in the main community. Phone calls were the usual means of checking up on them.
However, since last Thursday, July 22, 2021, several calls made to the phones of the couple were not returned and at some point not reachable. Some members of the Church decided to visit them on Saturday morning.
One reaching there, they saw the main gate locked with a padlock from outside and the small gate locked with a metallic material. However the pastor’s vehicle was parked inside. After knocking the gate several times, they suspected something was not right.
They forcibly entered and found the lifeless body of the pastor outside the house, while the wife was found inside. They secured the house and alerted the Police accordingly. According to George Gbedema, his uncle was his 70s, while the wife was in her late 50s.
With teary eyes, he and other church members said “We are in a state of shock, this is sad and heartbreaking. It is hard to believe that this is true. It is a tragedy.” They described the couple; who left behind a daughter as generous, loving, caring and good shepherds of God’s ministry.
The Akatsi South Municipal Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Joseph Atsu Dzineku who confirmed the incident said investigations have commenced to unravel the mysterious death of the couple. The bodies have since been conveyed to the morgue for preservation and autopsy.
Meanwhile, the Church of the deceased, the Harmony with Jesus Ministry International did not have service last Sunday, July 25, 2021. Instead, the church members and residents joined the family in the house of the couple to mourn and begin preparations for burial
President Nana Akufo-Addo has urged workplaces and their owners to run shifts as part of measures to stem the tide of the COVID-19 upsurge.
In his 26th address to the nation on Sunday, 25 July 2021, Mr Akufo-Addo said: “With workplaces currently witnessing a resurgence in COVID-19 infections, I want to admonish businesses, workplaces and their owners and management to observe staff management and workplace protocols, such as the use of a shift system and technology, with the view to achieving social distancing and hygiene protocols”.
The Ghana Health Service, he noted, “has moved to fortify its contact tracing, testing and treating campaigns, especially across the hotspots of Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan areas. COVID-19 treatment centres continue to be resourced with medical supplies, personal protection equipment, and health workers”.
The president said the upsurge in cases clearly shows that Ghana is experiencing a third wave, which he put down to the relaxing of adherence to the safety protocols.
“As per data available from the Ghana Health Service, it appears that, unfortunately, our nation is experiencing a third wave of COVID-19 infections”, the president noted.
“These increased infections have largely been driven by the Delta Variant of the virus, which, according to the World Health Organisation, has increased transmissibility rates, and, in our case in Ghana, has led, in recent weeks, to a rise in hospitalisation and ICU bed uptakes, and, tragically, deaths”, he noted.
Indeed, he said, in Update No.25, “the last update I rendered, our total active case count stood at one thousand, three hundred and fourteen (1,314), with our daily infection rate standing at one hundred (100). One million, one hundred and twenty-one thousand, one hundred and sixty-eight (1,121,168) COVID tests had been conducted, out of which ninety-two thousand, four hundred and sixty (92,460) persons had been infected, ninety-one thousand, one hundred and forty-six (91,146) persons had recovered, with a total of seven hundred and eighty-three (783) deaths”.
As of Wednesday, 21st July 2021, however, “ten (10) weeks later, the Ghana Health Services is now reporting that our total number of active cases stands at four thousand and ninety-four (4,094). A total of one million, three hundred and ninety-four thousand, five hundred and forty (1,394,540) tests have been conducted, out of which one hundred and one thousand, one hundred and seventy (101,170) persons have been infected with the virus, and ninety-six thousand, two hundred and fifty-five (96,255) persons have recovered”.
“Sadly”, he bemoaned, close to 40 more people have died from COVID over the last 10 weeks, with Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan areas remaining the hotspots of infections. “This entire development is very alarming, especially as we are being told by officials of the Ghana Health Service, that the recovery rate is on the decline”.
“Fellow Ghanaians, it is obvious from the data that we have let our guard down, with many going about their daily duties in clear breach and disregard for the protocols”.
“At a time when the economy is on the rebound, and business activities picking up, we must do everything possible to contain this outbreak”, he urged, adding: “We cannot afford to return to the days of partial lockdowns, which brought considerable hardships and difficulties for all of us”.
The president announced a ban on all post-funeral receptions and said one-week funeral anniversaries should be “restricted solely to family members, and should not exceed a duration of two hours”.
He also directed that all funerals should not go beyond two hours.
The 26th COVID-19 address comes 24 hours after the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) warned that fully-vaccinated persons are testing positive for the fast-spreading Delta variant with very high viral loads.
In a statement issued on Saturday, 24 July 2021, the Institute said the “positive cases have very high viral loads indicated by low cut-off thresholds (CT values) obtained in the real-time RT-PCR assay”.
The CT values for the majority are between 15 and 20 compared to higher values above 30, seen previously, NMIMR noted.
The Institute also said it has observed that “the positive individuals are taking longer to clear the virus”, explaining: “This is evident in the number of retests that still test positive”.
NMIMR also revealed that its recent sequencing of SARS-Cov-2 has revealed an “increased circulation of the Delta variant in Ghanaian communities compared to the earlier Alpha variants”. “The higher viral loads observed in recent cases are attributable to the Delta variant”, the statement said.
Transmission of SARS-Cov-2 is directly linked to how much virus is shed in droplets during sneezing and coughing, which also determines the spread through talking, singing and other related activities.
The Delta variant has been reported to spread faster than the other variants and our testing observations confirm that.
The statement said some clinical specimen submitted to the Institute have tested positive with high viral loads. “Also, 7.34 per cent (840/6,538) of the positive cases recorded from asymptomatic persons who visit the walk-in centre to test for travel, work- or school-related purposes from 1 June to 22 July 2021, have equally high viral load”, NMIMR noted.
Noguchi warned: “With a population of more than 80 per cent unvaccinated, the country must be concerned that if these, apparently healthy carriers, transmit the virus to the unvaccinated, we may have a more serious outbreak to deal with as a nation”.
Some of these positive cases, it noted, “have taken the full dose of COVID-19 vaccines”.
“It is, therefore, recommended that the government take a second look at the state of adherence to COVID-19 preventive protocols and appropriate restrictions”. Currently, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Ghana has shot up to 4,094, the latest figures from the Ghana Health Service indicate.
Some 423 new cases have been confirmed.
The death toll has also risen to 821.
Since March 12, 2020, the total number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Ghana up to date is 101,170. Out of that number 96,255 have recovered.
A few days ago, President Nana Akufo-Addo said the rising number of active COVID-19 cases shows that “we’ve let our guard down”.
Addressing Muslims at the Eid-ul-Adha celebration at the National Central Mosque at Kanda, Accra, President Akufo-Addo said: “The COVID-19 pandemic is still with us – unfortunately”.
“This means that for the second year running, we are having to hold a subdued Eid celebration”, he observed. “As we continue to count on the grace of God to protect our country from the ravages of the pandemic like he has since its outbreak, we can only minimise its health effects and avoid a full-blown third wave if we continue to be responsible and observe the safety and hygiene protocols.”
He noted: “The recent increase in the number of infections is a source of worry for me and, indeed, for all Ghanaians”.
“From the rising numbers, it is safe to conclude that we have let our guard down and are beginning to live our lives and conduct our businesses as though we are in normal times”.
“It is important to repeat that the virus is still with us and until each one of us receives a dose of the vaccine, the protocols must continue to be a part and parcel of our daily activities,” he added
President Nana Akufo-Addo has urged workplaces and their owners to run shifts as part of measures to stem the tide of the COVID-19 upsurge.
In his 26th address to the nation on Sunday, 25 July 2021, Mr Akufo-Addo said: “With workplaces currently witnessing a resurgence in COVID-19 infections, I want to admonish businesses, workplaces and their owners and management to observe staff management and workplace protocols, such as the use of a shift system and technology, with the view to achieving social distancing and hygiene protocols”.
The Ghana Health Service, he noted, “has moved to fortify its contact tracing, testing and treating campaigns, especially across the hotspots of Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan areas. COVID-19 treatment centres continue to be resourced with medical supplies, personal protection equipment, and health workers”.
The president said the upsurge in cases clearly shows that Ghana is experiencing a third wave, which he put down to the relaxing of adherence to the safety protocols.
“As per data available from the Ghana Health Service, it appears that, unfortunately, our nation is experiencing a third wave of COVID-19 infections”, the president noted.
“These increased infections have largely been driven by the Delta Variant of the virus, which, according to the World Health Organisation, has increased transmissibility rates, and, in our case in Ghana, has led, in recent weeks, to a rise in hospitalisation and ICU bed uptakes, and, tragically, deaths”, he noted.
Indeed, he said, in Update No.25, “the last update I rendered, our total active case count stood at one thousand, three hundred and fourteen (1,314), with our daily infection rate standing at one hundred (100). One million, one hundred and twenty-one thousand, one hundred and sixty-eight (1,121,168) COVID tests had been conducted, out of which ninety-two thousand, four hundred and sixty (92,460) persons had been infected, ninety-one thousand, one hundred and forty-six (91,146) persons had recovered, with a total of seven hundred and eighty-three (783) deaths”.
As of Wednesday, 21st July 2021, however, “ten (10) weeks later, the Ghana Health Services is now reporting that our total number of active cases stands at four thousand and ninety-four (4,094). A total of one million, three hundred and ninety-four thousand, five hundred and forty (1,394,540) tests have been conducted, out of which one hundred and one thousand, one hundred and seventy (101,170) persons have been infected with the virus, and ninety-six thousand, two hundred and fifty-five (96,255) persons have recovered”.
“Sadly”, he bemoaned, close to 40 more people have died from COVID over the last 10 weeks, with Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan areas remaining the hotspots of infections. “This entire development is very alarming, especially as we are being told by officials of the Ghana Health Service, that the recovery rate is on the decline”.
“Fellow Ghanaians, it is obvious from the data that we have let our guard down, with many going about their daily duties in clear breach and disregard for the protocols”.
“At a time when the economy is on the rebound, and business activities picking up, we must do everything possible to contain this outbreak”, he urged, adding: “We cannot afford to return to the days of partial lockdowns, which brought considerable hardships and difficulties for all of us”.
The president announced a ban on all post-funeral receptions and said one-week funeral anniversaries should be “restricted solely to family members, and should not exceed a duration of two hours”.
He also directed that all funerals should not go beyond two hours.
The 26th COVID-19 address comes 24 hours after the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR) warned that fully-vaccinated persons are testing positive for the fast-spreading Delta variant with very high viral loads.
In a statement issued on Saturday, 24 July 2021, the Institute said the “positive cases have very high viral loads indicated by low cut-off thresholds (CT values) obtained in the real-time RT-PCR assay”.
The CT values for the majority are between 15 and 20 compared to higher values above 30, seen previously, NMIMR noted.
The Institute also said it has observed that “the positive individuals are taking longer to clear the virus”, explaining: “This is evident in the number of retests that still test positive”.
NMIMR also revealed that its recent sequencing of SARS-Cov-2 has revealed an “increased circulation of the Delta variant in Ghanaian communities compared to the earlier Alpha variants”. “The higher viral loads observed in recent cases are attributable to the Delta variant”, the statement said.
Transmission of SARS-Cov-2 is directly linked to how much virus is shed in droplets during sneezing and coughing, which also determines the spread through talking, singing and other related activities.
The Delta variant has been reported to spread faster than the other variants and our testing observations confirm that.
The statement said some clinical specimen submitted to the Institute have tested positive with high viral loads. “Also, 7.34 per cent (840/6,538) of the positive cases recorded from asymptomatic persons who visit the walk-in centre to test for travel, work- or school-related purposes from 1 June to 22 July 2021, have equally high viral load”, NMIMR noted.
Noguchi warned: “With a population of more than 80 per cent unvaccinated, the country must be concerned that if these, apparently healthy carriers, transmit the virus to the unvaccinated, we may have a more serious outbreak to deal with as a nation”.
Some of these positive cases, it noted, “have taken the full dose of COVID-19 vaccines”.
“It is, therefore, recommended that the government take a second look at the state of adherence to COVID-19 preventive protocols and appropriate restrictions”. Currently, the number of active COVID-19 cases in Ghana has shot up to 4,094, the latest figures from the Ghana Health Service indicate.
Some 423 new cases have been confirmed.
The death toll has also risen to 821.
Since March 12, 2020, the total number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Ghana up to date is 101,170. Out of that number 96,255 have recovered.
A few days ago, President Nana Akufo-Addo said the rising number of active COVID-19 cases shows that “we’ve let our guard down”.
Addressing Muslims at the Eid-ul-Adha celebration at the National Central Mosque at Kanda, Accra, President Akufo-Addo said: “The COVID-19 pandemic is still with us – unfortunately”.
“This means that for the second year running, we are having to hold a subdued Eid celebration”, he observed. “As we continue to count on the grace of God to protect our country from the ravages of the pandemic like he has since its outbreak, we can only minimise its health effects and avoid a full-blown third wave if we continue to be responsible and observe the safety and hygiene protocols.”
He noted: “The recent increase in the number of infections is a source of worry for me and, indeed, for all Ghanaians”.
“From the rising numbers, it is safe to conclude that we have let our guard down and are beginning to live our lives and conduct our businesses as though we are in normal times”.
“It is important to repeat that the virus is still with us and until each one of us receives a dose of the vaccine, the protocols must continue to be a part and parcel of our daily activities,” he added
The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Sunday, July 25, 2021, updated Ghanaians on the country’s enhanced response to the Coronavirus pandemic.
In his 26th address, the President announced a review of safety protocols for public gatherings, especially funerals.
The President said the wearing of masks remains mandatory, adding that funeral services should not go beyond two hours.
He said all post-event receptions are also banned, adding that one-week pre-funeral eevens should be restricted solely to family members and held within a time frame of two hours.
He also announced the government’s plan to invest $25 million seed money towards the setting up of a National Vaccine Institute.
Below is the full statement:
ADDRESS TO THE NATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC, NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFO-ADDO, ON UPDATES TO GHANA’S ENHANCED RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, ON SUNDAY, 25TH JULY 2021.
Fellow Ghanaians, good evening.
I have not come into your homes for some time, because I had hoped that the next time I did so, I would come to announce that we were ready to lift the restrictions and protocols, and get our lives and economy back to normal. Alas, that is not the case, so it has become necessary for me to come to your homes this evening, after a ten (10) week absence, to provide you with an update on our nation’s COVID-19 situation.
As per data available from the Ghana Health Service, it appears that, unfortunately, our nation is experiencing a third wave of COVID-19 infections.
These increased infections have largely been driven by the Delta Variant of the virus, which, according to the World Health Organisation, has increased transmissibility rates, and, in our case in Ghana, has led, in recent weeks, to a rise in hospitalisation and ICU bed uptakes, and, tragically, deaths.
Indeed, in Update No.25, the last update I rendered, our total active case count stood at one thousand, three hundred and fourteen (1,314), with our daily infection rate standing at one hundred (100). One million, one hundred and twenty-one thousand, one hundred and sixty-eight (1,121,168) COVID tests had been conducted, out of which ninety-two thousand, four hundred and sixty (92,460) persons had been infected, ninety-one thousand, one hundred and forty-six (91,146) persons had recovered, with a total of seven hundred and eighty-three (783) deaths.
As at Wednesday, 21st July 2021, ten (10) weeks later, the Ghana Health Services is now reporting that our total number of active cases stands at four thousand and ninety-four (4,094). A total of one million, three hundred and ninety-four thousand, five hundred and forty (1,394,540) tests have been conducted, out of which one hundred and one thousand, one hundred and seventy (101,170) persons have been infected with the virus, and ninety-six thousand, two hundred and fifty-five (96,255) persons have recovered. Our daily infection rate is ……… and, sadly, thirty-six (36) more people have died from COVID over the last ten (10) weeks, bringing the cumulative number of deaths to eight hundred and nineteen (819) since the onset of the pandemic. Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan areas remain the hotspots of infections. This entire development is very alarming, especially as we are being told by officials of the Ghana Health Service, that the recovery rate is on the decline.
Fellow Ghanaians, it is obvious from the data that we have let our guard down, with many going about their daily duties in clear breach and disregard for the protocols. At a time when the economy is on the rebound, and business activities picking up, we must do everything possible to contain this outbreak. We cannot afford to return to the days of partial lockdowns, which brought considerable hardships and difficulties for all of us.
You returned me to office in the elections of 7th December with a clear and decisive mandate to protect lives and livelihoods, and steer our nation out the grips of the pandemic, and onto a path of sustained economic growth and progress. Fortunately for us, we have tried and tested response protocols which we have implemented since March 2020. They have stood us in good stead, and we have no choice but to return to the strict implementation of some of them.
It is extremely troubling to note that the high compliance rate with mask wearing has fallen alarmingly. The wearing of masks in public places, fellow Ghanaians, continues to be mandatory. There are no exceptions to this rule, and strict conformity with this protocol will be enforced. Anyone found to be flouting this directive will have him or herself to blame. We cannot afford to allow the recklessness of a few to endanger the lives of the majority of persons in the country.
The COVID-19 Taskforce, which I chair, has recommended that a second look be taken at the protocols that have been put in place for the holding of funerals across the country. I have, in previous updates, emphasised the need for the strict observance of safety protocols at funerals, and the following measures are a set of enhanced protocols which must be adhered to by all at funerals:
all events associated with funerals must be held in open air spaces;
there must be observance of the one (1) metre social distancing rule by sympathisers;
the wearing of masks is mandatory, and persons must respect the enhanced hygiene protocols;
funerals should not go beyond the two (2) hour time duration;
post-funeral receptions are banned;
handshakes must be avoided; and
one-week funeral celebrations are restricted solely to family members, and should not exceed a duration of two (2) hours.
With workplaces currently witnessing a resurgence in COVID-19 infections, I want to admonish businesses, workplaces and their owners and management to observe staff management and workplace protocols, such as the use of a shift system and technology, with the view to achieving social distancing and hygiene protocols.
The Ghana Health Service has moved to fortify its contact tracing, testing and treating campaigns, especially across the hotspots of Greater Accra and Greater Kumasi Metropolitan areas. COVID-19 treatment centres continue to be resourced with medical supplies, personal protection equipment, and health workers.
We will continue to ensure that all arriving passengers at the Kotoka International Airport are in possession of a negative PCR test result upon their arrival in Ghana, a test which should have been conducted not more than seventy-two (72) hours before the scheduled departure from the country of origin. In addition, all passengers will continue to be subjected to a mandatory COVID test on arrival.
Fellow Ghanaians, Government stands by its commitment to vaccinate twenty million Ghanaians, i.e., the entire adult population, by the end of this year, in spite of the huge global demand for vaccines by countries, and the surge in infections the world over. So far, one million, two hundred and seventy-one thousand, three hundred and ninety-three (1,271,393) vaccine doses have been administered, with eight hundred and sixty-five thousand, four hundred and twenty-two (865,422) persons having received a single jab, and four hundred and five thousand, nine hundred and seventy-one (405,971) persons have received their full dose of two (2) jabs.
Indications are that, in the course of the third quarter of this year, the availability of vaccines for our country will ramp up. We are expecting, through the COVAX facility, one million Pfizer vaccines from the United States of America, two hundred and twenty-nine thousand, six hundred and seventy (229,670) Pfizer vaccines from the African Union, and two hundred and forty-nine thousand (249,000) AstraZeneca vaccines from the United Kingdom. Government is also in the process of procuring seventeen million (17 million) single dose per person Johnson & Johnson vaccines, through the African Medicine Supply Platform, in this quarter.
We have, as such, upgraded our national, regional and district cold chain facilities in order to widen our access to vaccines like Pfizer and Modena, that require minus seventy degrees Celsius (-70℃) cold chains. These include sixteen (16) ultra-low cold freezers, fifty-eight (58) units of ultra-low freezers, fifty (50) normal vaccine refrigerators, three hundred (300) boxes to be filled with ice packs, three hundred (300) ice packed freezers, ten (10) cold chain vans, and one hundred and twenty (120) temperature monitoring devices. I thank, in particular, UPS, the American multi-national shipping, receiving and supply chain management company, for their generous donation towards this development.
Fellow Ghanaians, it is important to stress, once again, that all the vaccines to be used in the country have been certified as safe-for-use by our national regulatory agency, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA). There should, therefore, be no hesitancy amongst the population who are yet to be vaccinated. As the oft-cited saying goes, it is better to be safe than sorry.
The global shortage of vaccines means that we must develop our capacity to produce our own vaccines domestically, and reduce our dependence on foreign supplies. We must be self-sufficient in this regard in the future, and prepare ourselves better to deal with any such occurrences in the future. To this end, the Committee I established, under the leadership of the world-renowned Ghanaian scientist, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, to investigate Ghana’s potential as a vaccine manufacturing hub, to meet national and regional needs, has presented its preliminary report which, amongst others, recommends the establishment of a National Vaccine Institute to spearhead this development. Government has committed to inject seed funding of some twenty-five million United States dollars (US$25 million) this year into this whole enterprise.
The Institute will be charged with delivering six clear mandates:
establishing local vaccine manufacturing plants;
deepening Research & Development (R&D) for vaccines in Ghana;
upgrading and strengthening the FDA;
forging bilateral and multilateral partnerships for vaccine manufacturing in various areas, such as funding, clinical trials, technology transfer, licensing, and assignment of intellectual property rights;
building the human resource base for vaccine discovery, development, and manufacture; and
establishing a permanent national secretariat to coordinate vaccine development and manufacture.
Anuanom, bosomi mienu ntem ni, yareɛ no asan ama nihoso biom, enam sɛɛ yendi nhyihyɛ niso, ni titriw, yegyai mask no hyɛ. Mesrɛ mo, nhyihyɛ aa yayɛ ɛfa masks noho, mondiso. Sɛ wofri efiye aa, hyɛ mask. ɛno ena ɛbɛbɔ yɛhu ban, ama yetumi apam yareɛ efri yeman mu.
[Ga]
Fellow Ghanaians, we must remember that the virus continues to jeopardise our lives and livelihoods. Without doubt, God has been gracious to us. Nonetheless, I ask this evening that we remain steadfast in our adherence to the protocols, so we can overcome this third-wave of infections. If we do so, we will soon be able to return to our normal way of life.
Zero active cases must remain the overarching goal, and I have no doubt that, together, and with the help of God, this too shall pass, for the Battle is still the Lord’s.
May God bless us all and our homeland Ghana, and make her great and strong.
One million, Two Hundred and Seventy One Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety-Three (1,271,393) doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered so far.
Out of that number, 865, 422 persons have received a single jab, whereas 405, 971 people have received their full dose of two jabs.
This was announced by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Addressing Ghanaians on the measures put in place to reduce the rising COVID-19 cases in the country in his 26th update, President Akufo-Addo further indicated that the availability of vaccines will ramp up in the course of the third quarter of this year.
The President said, “we are expecting through the COVAX facility, one million Pfizer vaccines from the United States of America, 29,670 Pfizer vaccines from the African Union, and 249,000 AstraZeneca vaccines from the United Kingdom.”
He also indicated that government is in the process of procuring 17 million single dose per person Johnson & Johnson vaccines, through the African Medicine Supply Platform, in this quarter.
“We have, as such, upgraded our national, regional and district cold chain facilities in order to widen our access to vaccines like Pfizer and Modena, that require minus seventy degrees Celsius (-70°C) cold chains. These include 16 ultra-low cold freezers, 58 units of ultra- low freezers, 50 normal vaccine refrigerators, 300 boxes to be filled with ice packs, 300 ice packed freezers, 10 cold chain vans, and 120 temperature monitoring devices. I thank, in particular, UPS, the American multi- national shipping, receiving and supply chain management company, for their generous donation towards this development.”
He stressed that all the vaccines to be used in the country have been certified as safe-for-use by the national regulatory agency, the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA).
“There should, therefore, be no hesitancy amongst the population who are yet to be vaccinated. As the saying goes, it is better to be safe than to be sorry,” he noted.
Ghana’s COVID-19 situation
There has been a surge in Ghana’s COVID-19 case count in the month of July, with more than 2,500 new cases recorded.
This has sparked concerns about a looming third wave of COVID-19 in Ghana.
The Ashanti and Bono regional directorates of the Ghana Health Service have expressed worry about the astronomical increase in cases in their regions.
The government has urged the public to strictly comply with the COVID-19 preventive protocols and indicated that it is working to secure more vaccines to vaccinate all citizens.
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA), has also expressed concern about the current trend of positive COVID-19 cases in the country.
The Association says it fears that the country’s health system will not be able to accommodate the rising cases should the trend continue
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has directed that, henceforth, funeral ceremonies should not exceed two hours.
He has also banned post-event reception services.
He said this forms part of measures put in place to curb the upsurge in COVID-19 cases in the country.
Addressing Ghanaians on strategies put in place to reduce the rising COVID-19 cases in the country in his 26th update, the President said: “funerals should not go beyond the two (2) hour time duration.”
He said the directive is part of recommendations made by the COVID-19 Taskforce.
“The COVID-19 Taskforce, which I chair, has recommended that a second look be taken at the protocols that have been put in place for the holding of funerals across the country,” the President said.
The President also said all events associated with funerals must be held in open-air spaces, adding that sympathizers at funerals must strictly observe the one-metre social distancing rule.
He said one-week observations should also be down within a two-hour period but restricted to only family members.
The wearing of masks and observation of enhanced hygiene protocols is also mandatory, while the duration for one-week funeral celebrations has been limited to just two hours.
These measures have been announced amid growing fears of a third wave of COVID-19 believed to have been caused by a new strain of the virus, the Delta variant.
There has been a rise in Ghana’s COVID-19 case count in the month of July, with more than 2,500 new cases recorded.
This has sparked concerns about a looming third wave of COVID-19 in Ghana.
The Ashanti and Bono regional directorates of the Ghana Health Service have expressed worry about the astronomical increase in cases in their regions.
The government has urged the public to strictly comply with the COVID-19 preventive protocols, and indicated that it is working to secure more vaccines to vaccinate all citizens.
The Ghana Medical Association (GMA), has also expressed concern about the current trend of positive COVID-19 cases in the country.
The Association says it fears that the country’s health system will not be able to accommodate the rising cases should the trend continue
The Volta River Authority has honored four exceptional contributors towards energy generation in Ghana and Sub-Saharan Africa as path of the Authority’s 60th Anniversary celebration.
The four, who were former Chief Executives of the Authority; spanning the period 1966 to 2001 were credited with attributes and initiatives that has made the Authority one of the best in the world and a reference point for many African countries.
They are, Ing. Dr. Emmanuel Lord Quartey who served from 1966 to 1980. Ing. Dr. Louis Casely-Harford served from 1980 to 1990. Followed by Mr. Erasmus Alexander Komla Kalitsi, 1990 to 1998 and then Ing. Gilbert O. Dokyi who served from 1998 to 2001.
To immortalize their memory, replica live-sized busts were mounted in their honour at some notable landmarks of the authority in the country. The Anniversary which is a year-long celebration is under the theme; Celebrating 60 years in the Power Business; Our Legacy, Our Future.”
Speaking at the honouring ceremony, the current Chief Executive, Emmanuel Antwi-Darkwa said the gesture is to remind current and future generations of the vision and contribution of these heroes in making VRA a model of excellence globally.
He narrated that when Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President thought about the dream to build the Akosombo Power Generation Station, he brought in some foreigners to begin the work alongside some Ghanaians.
However after a while it was these forebears (honourees) who charted the vision of Dr. Nkrumah into reality, following the establishment of the Volta River Authority under the Volta River Development Act, Act 46 of 1961.
As the first Ghanaian Chief Executive, Ing Dr. Emmanuel Lord Quartey (Ing) who is otherwise known as ‘Father of VRA,’ he oversaw the completion and expansion of the Akosombo Power Plant. He initiated the Building of the VRA Headquarters, West Africa Power Pool, Akosombo Township project, Volta Lake Transport Company among others. In all, he served under seven Presidents. His bust was mounted at the Power Generation Station at Akosombo.
Ing. Dr. Louis Casely-Hayford was also instrumental in the completion and expansion of the power plant and ensured that the initiatives he inherited were considerably completed as he added new expansion drive. He also ensured the interconnection with Togo, Baukina Faso and Benin and tie-in with Ivory Coast were sustained to generate income for the Authority. His bust was mounted at the Akuse Power Generation Plant.
Mr. E.L. Kalitsi among other things was instrumental in the re-settlement and compensation programme for over 80,000 residents who had been displaced by the project. This feat made VRA a reference point for many similar resettlement programmes across the world. His bust was mounted at a central location in the Akosombo Model Township.
Ing. Gilbert O. Dokyi consolidated the gains and ensured that there was adequate reforms to make VRA evolve and fit into the ever changing energy generation industry. His bust was mounted at the Aboadzi Thermal Plant at Takoradi in Western Region.
The VRA Boss, Mr. Antwi-Darkwa said, the extraordinary commitment and initiatives of these past Chief Executives and the staff they worked with have not only sustained VRA operations, but also made it possible for VRA to evolve from hydro power generation to a diverse portfolio involving thermal and solar photovoltaic generating assets.
Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Energy Minister who commended the gesture urged the current leadership and staff to move the VRA far and beyond as they had no excuse not to do so. He tasked the Authority to seriously expand the Solar Power generation programme into the biggest on the continent. He assured VRA of his personal support and that of the entire government in that regard.
Mr. Erasmus Kalitsi and Madam Catharine Quartey, daughter of Ing. Dr. Quartey and who spoke on behalf of the recipients urged the current management and staff to be focused. They also urged the government to keep VRA from political interference.
Also in Attendance were the Paramount Chief of Akwamu, Odeneho Kwafo Akoto III, Chiefs of Akuse, Kpong and Togorme, Former Chief Justice, Georgina Woode among others.
The Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), University of Ghana, has expressed concern over the recording of high viral load among those who test positive for the Covid-19 Delta strain.
According to communication released by the institute, its testing centre since April 2021 has observed some characteristics of the Delta variant including samples containing high viral loads.
“The positive cases have very high viral loads indicated by low cut-off cycle thresholds (CT values) obtained in the real-time RT PCR assay.
The CT values for the majority are between 15-20 compared to higher values above 30 seen previously. The higher viral loads observed in recent cases are attributable to the Delta variant,” the NMIMR said.
It further noted that 7.34% (840/6538) of the positive cases recorded from asymptomatic persons who visit the walk in centre to test for travel work-related or school related purposes from 1st June to 22 July 2021 have equally high viral load.
It indicated that with a popopulation of >80% unvaccinated, the country must be ‘concerned that if these apparently healthy carriers transmit the virus to the unvaccinated, we may have a more serious outbreak to deal with as a nation.’
“Some of these positive cases have taken the full dose of Covid-19 vaccines,” it noted.
It further noted that those who test positive for Covid-19 Delta variant are taking longer to clear the virus as there is a high number of re-tests that still test positive.
‘Transmission of SARS-CoV 2 is directly linked to how much virus is shed in droplets during sneezing and coughing, which also determines the spread through, talking, singing and other related activities.
The Delta variant has been reported to spread faster than the other variants and our testing observations confirm that.
With the spread the Covid-19 Delta variant increasing in Ghanaian communities as compared to the earlier Alpha variant the institute is calling on the government to take a second look at the state of adherence to Covid-19 preventive protocols and appropriate restrictions
Former Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, Gabby Otchere-Darko has said the activities of homosexuals are already illegal in Ghana.
He said the new anti-gay bill that has been sent to Parliament will only lead to Ghana being blacklisted for promoting hate.
“Gay+ activities are already illegal in our country. But, we aren’t known to hate. The President has given his word he won’t legalise it.
“This Bill only serves one purpose: to get Ghana blacklisted for promoting hate! Surely, the promoters of the Bill can’t say they aren’t aware,” the leading member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) said in a tweet.
Ningo Prampram lawmaker Samuel Nartey George and some other lawmakers are sponsoring an anti-LGBT+ Bill in Parliament.
Portions of the bill reads “A person who, by use of media, technological platform, technological account or any other means, produces, procures, markets, broadcasts, disseminates, publishes or distributes a material for purposes of promoting an activity prohibited under the Bill, or a person uses an electronic device, the Internet service, a film, or any other device capable of electronic storage or transmission to produce, procure, market, broadcast, disseminate, publishes or distribute a material for purposes of promoting an activity prohibited under the Bill commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a term of imprisonment of not less than five years and not more than ten years.”
Sam George is receiving flak from some quarters for sponsoring the anti-LGBT+ agenda.null
For instance, Ghanaian musician Sister Derby who is also a known advocate of LGBT+ rights in Ghana “obsessed with people’s sexual orientation” and tagged him as a pervert and backward thinker.”
But he has said he is opened to intellectual debate on the anti-LGBT+ Bill he and some of his colleague lawmakers are sponsoring.
Speaking on TV3’s News 360 on Friday, July 23, he said emotional outbursts have no place in legislation.
“We are opened to intellectual criticisms or criticisms and suggestions grounded in law. Emotional outbursts, emotional comments have no place in legislation.
“If anybody has intellectual suggestions or addition we are willing to debate the issue.
Ace broadcaster with Onua TV and Onua FM, Captain Smart has said former Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu performed abysmally when he was in office.
In the view of Captain Smart, the appointment of Mr Amidu as Special Prosecutor by President Akufo-Addo was even a mistake because he knew that the Former Attorney General under the Mills’ administration was not going to deliver.
Speaking on the Onua Maakye Morning show ahead of the vetting of Mr Kissi Agyebeng as the Special Prosecutor nominee, Captain Smart said “I predicted that Kissi Agyebeng was going to be nominated as the Special Prosecutor even when Amidu was yet to resign. A lot of people asked whether I knew Amidu was going to leave the post.
“Martin Amidu failed. From the very first day he was nominated, I said Nana Addo had made a mistake in nominating him.”
Mr Amidu resigned on Monday, November 16 after citing a number of reasons including interference by the President, an allegation the president denied.
He said in his letter to the president: “It is essential for me to state for the purpose of the records, and contrary to public perceptions, that my appointment letter was received on 5th February 2020 (almost two (2)-years after my appointment).
“The copy addressees made no efforts to honour any of the conditions of appointment in terms of emoluments and benefits of the appointment ever since my warrant of appointment was issued on 23rd February 2018 to the date of my letter of resignation. The Deputy Special Prosecutor has also not been paid any emoluments since her appointment, and there is the need to redress that situation for her now that I am out of the way.null
“The events of 12th November 2020 removed the only protection I had from the threats and plans directed at me for undertaking the Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions anti-corruption assessment report and dictates that I resign as the Special Prosecutor immediately.
“I should not ordinarily be announcing my resignation to the public myself but the traumatic experience I went through from 20th October 2020 to 2nd November 2020 when I conveyed in a thirteen (13) page letter the conclusions and observations on the analysis of the risk of corruption and anti-corruption assessment on the Report On Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions and Other Matters Related Thereto to the President as Chairman of the National Security Council cautions against not bringing my resignation as the Special Prosecutor with immediate to the notice of the Ghanaian public and the world.
“The reaction I received for daring to produce the Agyapa Royalties Limited Transactions anti-corruption report convinces me beyond any reasonable doubt that I was not intended to exercise any independence as the Special Prosecutor in the prevention, investigation, prosecution, and recovery of assets of corruption. My position as the Special Prosecutor has consequently become clearly untenable.”
Following his resignation, Mr Kissi Agyebeng, also a private legal practitioner was nominated as the new Special Prosecutor.
He was vetted by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Thursday July 23.
During his screening, Mr Agyebeng said it will not be possible for him to stop corruption in Ghana.
Rather, he said, if he is approved by Parliament, he will make the practice a high-risk activity in order to deter people from indulging in it.
“There is no way I can stop corruption, God himself will not acclaim to that. I am going to make corruption costly, a high-risk activity,” he said.
He added “I will institute what I call pressure for progress. The will be a systemic review of public agencies.”
Captain Smart said he believes Mr Agyebeg will perform in office.
“I have followed Kissi Agyebeng’s exploits for a very long time and I know he can deliver,” he said
The Pride of the North are back to the domestic top flight after eight years in the second-tier league.
Real Tamale United qualified to play Ghana’s Premier League next season after beating Unity FC 2-0 at the Aliu Mahama Stadium in Tamale after Bofoakwa drew goalless with Berekum Arsenal at the Golden City Park.
Tied on 65 points, RTU secured promotion over Bofoakwa with a better head-to-head after drawing goalless with the Otobila Boys in Sunyani and winning 2-0 in Tamale in the reverse fixture.https://www.youtube.com/embed/hWi-OC1E4I8?feature=oembed
RTU were relegated from the Ghana Premier League in April 2013 after losing 4-1 to New Edubiase United with seven matches to the end of the season. The Pride of the North ended the season without a win in 30 matches – five draws and 25 defeats.
Real Tamale made their debut in the topflight in the 1978 season and finished 3rd on the league log and had since been a force to reckon with.
However, Real Tamale United now joins Bibiani Gold Stars and Accra Lions FC who walk into the ‘table of men’ where ‘kings and Queens dine
The Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has challenged Ghana’s youth, particularly the large number of graduates, to take advantage of Government’s various initiatives and interventions, particularly in the area of digitalization, to make a positive difference in their lives and the nation as a whole.
Reminding the youth that they are the future of Ghana, Dr Bawumia urged them to fully utilise their innate and learned abilities to “step up, do something great, and be counted.”
Vice President Bawumia made the call at the 13th Congregation of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) on Saturday 24th July, 2021 during which 870 graduands, drawn from the UPSA School of Law and School of Graduate Studies, were awarded various degrees after years of study.
The University also conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree on the Minister for Energy and MP for Manhyia South, Hon Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, for his meritorious service while serving as Minister for Education, during which he implemented a number of epoch-making policies and programmes, including the Free Senior High School (FSHS).
“A good society requires men and women ready to use their intellect and knowledge to addressing society’s problems and finding solutions to the benefit of the many. A good society requires a generation of citizens who are always looking for opportunities to lift up the weak in society, opening doors wider for the less privileged in society.
“And it also requires respect for our fellow citizens and a desire to brighten the corner where ever you are. Mother Ghana needs you – your intellect, your knowledge, your discipline and your dedication to work” he urged the graduates.
Commending the authorities of UPSA for leveraging technology in adapting to the ‘new normal’, including plans to migrate to a smart and paperless electronic platform for its day-to-day administration in the wake of Covid 19, Dr Bawumia said the pandemic has presented many challenges across several sectors of our economy, including the educational sector, and it is important that all stakeholders support Government’s digitization drive.
“Access to internet connectivity ensured that academic work, commercial transactions, social interactions and other academic and administrative activities were uninterrupted.
“Government initiated a free-wifi project to provide Wi-Fi connectivity to 722 public Senior High Schools, 46 Colleges of Education, 16 regional offices and 260 District Education Offices. So far, 13 public universities have joined.
“The benefits of a Free Wi-Fi Project for promoting education is enormous; not least, it will ensure continued learning. More importantly, lecturers, teachers and students will have access to the necessary educational information to enhance teaching, learning and research in our Universities and Colleges across the country.
“Education is the heartbeat of his Excellency President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. He is passionate about producing citizens who are productive, problem solvers, innovators and have the nation at heart.
“Digitization is a catalyst for reaching every youth with quality education and we are determined not to leave anybody behind.”
Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh
Vice President Bawumia commended the authorities UPSA for recognizing the many accomplishments of Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh aka Napo, “the hard-working, former Minister of Education, who executed Government’s bold flagship programme: Free SHS with distinction.
“In recognition of his many accomplishments, Hon. Prempeh was recently invited by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) to serve on its Mission 4.7 High-Level Advisory Group as an Honorary and Meritorious Member.
“I am very happy that he has also been recognised and honoured at home by UPSA. A well-deserved honour, and it reinforces the high regard many have of him for his remarkable leadership role in the promotion of quality education in Ghana.”
UPSA
Established in 1965 as a private institution, UPSA was taken over by the Government of Ghana in 1979. The Institute attained fully fledged university status on 1st September, 2008, when it was granted a Presidential Charter. On 9th October, 2012, the Institute was renamed the University of Professional Studies, Accra following the Presidential assent to the University of Professional Studies Bill passed by Parliament on 31st July of the same year to bring into effect the University of Professional Studies Act, 2012 (Act 850).
Vice President Bawumia has assured a digital address for every house by 2022.
Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia says government will by 2022 complete the fixing of unique addresses on all properties as part of the National Digital Property Address System.
Speaking at the 13th Congregation ceremony at the University of Professional Studies, Dr. Bawumia highlighted the essence of this initiative to the government’s development agenda.
“We have implemented a National Digital Addressing System in Ghana. We have only about 10 percent or less of addresses of properties in Ghana, and this is a big problem. Today, with the National Addressing System, every property or location in Ghana has a unique address. We have identified 7.5 million properties including properties in villages and as you can see the process of putting address plates on these properties is ongoing, and we expect to complete that process by next year.”
The National Digital Property Address System, otherwise known as GhanaPost GPS, is a global addressing system launched in October 2017 by the President to provide effective means of addressing every location and property to facilitate the implementation of key government policies.
The GhanaPost GPS forms part of the government’s agenda to digitise the economy.
The essence of the project is to have a digital database of all properties to assist the government in revenue generation as well as planning for improved service delivery.
The service was executed by Vokacom Limited, in partnership with the Ghana Post Company Limited, with the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) hosting the data.
Management of Ghana Post begun a door-to-door registration exercise to register Ghanaians onto the Ghana Post digital addressing system in 2018.
Initially, the tagging plates were to be given to residences for a fee upon request. Ghana Post was charging GHS50 for residential buildings and GHS100 for commercial offices.
But after facing much criticism from the public, the company rescinded its decision to charge money.
The number of active COVID-19 cases in Ghana has shot up to 4,094, the latest figures from the Ghana Health Service indicate.
Some 423 new cases have been confirmed.
The death toll has also risen to 823.
Since March 12, 2020, the total number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Ghana up to date is 101,170.
Out of that number 96,255 have recovered.
A few days ago, President Nana Akufo-Addo said the rising number of active COVID-19 cases shows that “we’ve let our guard down”.
Addressing Muslims at the Eid-ul-Adha celebration at the National Central Mosque at Kanda, Accra, President Akufo-Addo said: “The COVID-19 pandemic is still with us – unfortunately”.
“This means that for the second year running, we are having to hold a subdued Eid celebration”, he observed.
“As we continue to count on the grace of God to protect our country from the ravages of the pandemic like he has since its outbreak, we can only minimise its health effects and avoid a full-blown third wave if we continue to be responsible and observe the safety and hygiene protocols.”
He noted: “The recent increase in the number of infections is a source of worry for me and, indeed, for all Ghanaians”.
“From the rising numbers, it is safe to conclude that we have let our guard down and are beginning to live our lives and conduct our businesses as though we are in normal times”.
“It is important to repeat that the virus is still with us and until each one of us receives a dose of the vaccine, the protocols must continue to be a part and parcel of our daily activities,” he added
Ningo Prampram Member of Parliament, Sam George, has hailed what he says is a crucial clause in the anti-gay bill that is currently being considered by parliament.
According to him, the bill – despite being at the drfat stage – is extremely detailed and contains a clause than bans any LGBTQ couple from seeking for adoption or fosterage of children in Ghana.
“If your way of life does not support procreation, who should procreate for you to adopt?” he quizzed during a meeting on Saturday, July 24 in Parliament.
He expressed Speaker Alban Bagbin‘s strong leadership on the issue and cited his strict response to the Australian ambassador, Gregory Andrews, who in April 2021 asked that Ghana drops the idea of a law banning same-sex relationships.
The 36-page draft document is a Private Member’s Bill titled: “The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values, Bill 2021.”
It is led by the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, and seven (7) other MPs.null
Currently, it is at the draft stage and will be laid before the house and subsequently expected to be referred to the appropriate committee for consideration.
Sam George spent the better part of Saturday (July 23) on social media defending the need for the bill which he insists is a necessity in preserving the moral and cultural values of Ghanaians in general.
• Speaker of ParliamentAlban Bagbin has warned persons threatening MPs over an anti-LGBTQ+ bill
• He specifically mentioned diplomats who he cautioned to desist from trying to teach Ghanaians how to live our lives
• Bagbin says the bill will be passed soon because it had the support of all Ghanaians
Speaker of ParliamentAlban Bagbin has stressed that come what may, a bill seeking to criminalize same-sex relationships and its associated variants will be passed into law.
During a meeting in Parliament with a cross-section of Christian leaders, Bagbin warned that whiles the house will not threaten anyone for their beliefs, it will also not sit by to be threatened.
“We will not threaten anybody but we shall also not be threatened. Those threatening Members of Parliament who are leading this bill, please be warned.
“We cannot be threatened in our homes, this must be stated loud and clear to those who have come to do business in Ghana. Those who represent their countries and think that they are right, we also represent our country,” he added.null
According to him, the bill had the united voice of all Ghanaians who the house represents and it will be passed into law ‘as soon as possible.’
“And they (diplomats) will never, they can never dictate to us as to how to live or not live in this world. And I am very clear in my mind that this house, the parliament of Ghana will pass this bill as soon as possible,” the speaker stressed.
In April 2021, Bagbin had cause to state emphatically during a meeting with the Australian ambassador that Ghana will enact laws to preserve her norms and culture. Ambassador Gregory Andrews and the EU representative in Ghana were present at the opening of an LGBTQ+ facility in Accra which has since been shut down.
“Our laws abhors any forms of discrimination. We also have the decision of the European Court on Human Rights to guide us in whatever we do…and so on the issue of LGBTQI+ definitely we already have a legal framework within which to work. We will not legislate to infringe on the Human Rights of people, but we will legislate to ensure that culture and traditions are not violated.
“This is something that we see as an abomination, it is something that we abhor and therefore, we will continue to go according to our culture,” Bagbin said at the time.
The 36-page draft document is a Private Member’s Bill titled: “The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values, Bill 2021.”null
It is led by the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, and seven (7) other MPs.
Currently, it is at the draft stage and will be laid before the house and subsequently expected to be referred to the appropriate committee for consideration.
Sam George spent the better part of Saturday (July 23) on social media defending the need for the bill which he insists is a necessity in preserving the moral and cultural values of Ghanaians in general.
Today, we recognise not only Professor Mills, but also our Founder, Jerry John Rawlings, and also our former Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, who have since passed away.
I invite you to pay a minute’s silence for their souls. May their souls rest in perfect peace.
We are all gathered here, at the Asomdwee Park, today – as citizens, family, friends, sympathizers and members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) – to celebrate the life and legacy of President Professor John Evans Atta Mills.
Prof., as we all fondly called him, is our departed hero and inspiration who continues forever to live in our hearts and minds.
Nine years ago, even the heavens themselves displayed the ominous signs when the skies, which were previously bright, suddenly darkened as though about to rain. A gripping cold enveloped the whole nation.
Yes, it was a Tuesday afternoon. Our nation was in shock when news came through confirming the unprecedented event of the death of our sitting President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills. It is a tragedy we all pray would never befall our nation ever again.
Nine years have passed but anytime we celebrate the anniversary of his departure, we are reminded of the values and principles he extolled and lived-by: a Leadership of Service, Compassion, Integrity, Humility, Sacrifice, and Unity.
Nine years ago, his family lost a God-fearing, devoted father, brother and husband; our country lost a priceless gem, a true servant leader; Africa lost an exemplary illustrious son, the NDC lost a torchbearer, and I lost not only my superior, but a friend and mentor.
Although his Presidency was unexpectedly short-lived, his legacy and record remain unmatched in the annals of our nation’s history. I am honoured to have played a humble part as his Vice President and Head of the Economic Management Team.
He was a team leader and it was under his guidance that the NDC administration chalked most of its notable achievements, including the longest period of single digit inflation in the history of Ghana for two years continuously, the highest economic growth record of 14.4%, placing Ghana at the top of the World Bank ease of doing business survey for West Africa, making Ghana the number one preferred destination in West Africa for investors.
This was not all. Every sector of our national life, including education and health received massive boosts and growth, particularly through investments in socio-economic infrastructure and human resource development.
Yet, being the humble achiever that he was, Prof. in tandem with the tradition of the NDC derived no satisfaction or desire to reel off his unmatched economic statistics in self-praise, when his work was there to speak for him.
He was more concerned with seeing to the upliftment of the socio-economic circumstances of the people of Ghana so they could live in dignity and prosperity, irrespective of where they were coming from or belonged.
Yes, he was a father for all!
Indeed, as a social democratic party founded on modesty and not bragging, it must be obvious to all sincere minds that only the party that achieved that feat knows what it takes and can take the country to those heights again.
The leadership of President Mills, together with the hardworking and resourceful team in government, gave our nation a blueprint of excellence- the NDC, having laid a strong socio-economic foundation, would utilize in its next government in service to the people of Ghana and in honour of President Mills.
President Mills demonstrated that one could rise to the highest positions in life – Professor, scholar, expert in his field, and President – and still be a humble learner.
Power never changed him. He changed the direction of power by giving it back to the people whom he led and saw as key partners towards the realization of an open and transparent government. His ultimate aim was to achieve a better Ghana of shared prosperity for all.
Like an open book, he was transparent and saw as important the need to account to the people of Ghana. He respected Ghanaians. Professor Mills was passionately concerned about wastefulness, profligacy and arrogant dissipation of public funds and resources. He didn’t just espouse his principles; he lived by them.
His strong abhorrence for corruption energized and encouraged anti-corruption agencies to come out and expose all persons found to have been involved in the canker in every strata of society. He saw anti-corruption campaigners and activists as partners in the fight against corruption rather than enemies of the state.
President Mills strongly abhorred politics of insults. He saw politics as a contest of ideas and was constantly concerned about the need for leaders to be proper role models to the younger generation who are keenly watching and may end up emulating the actions of the political class.
Unfortunately, he was attacked viciously by opponents even when he was unwell, but the NDC has continued to live by his tolerant nature.
It is imperative that we, as members and sympathizers of the NDC, continue to be guided by the values of truth, humility, transparency and accountability that are exemplified in Professor Mills.
I lived it, and while some, including from within our party will criticize me for it, I believe that our politics must be a platform and opportunity to ensure total development and a general improvement in the lives of the Ghanaian, and not an opportunity for wickedness, trampling on the rights of your people, the destruction of businesses of perceived political opponents, pushing the parochial interests of your family and friends, etc.
It is especially critical for the survival of our nation that the NDC as a social democratic party restores these values and principles that have been lost in our country in order to be distinct from the NPP, and above all, in order that our people can begin to hope again and trust in our institutions once again.
In closing, as we are all gathered here in celebration of this great icon, I wish to paraphrase the eternal words of the incomparable bard, Shakespeare, who noted centuries ago that the memory of heroes like Professor Mills will never fade as it is etched on our hearts.
Centuries will come and go, and monuments will rise and fall, but your name and memory, Prof., will last throughout the ages.
Long live your memory, long live the NDC, long live Ghana. Thank you
Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, has appealed to the Ghanaian populace to support the work of security agencies.null
This he believes will foster good collaboration between citizens and agencies in curbing criminal activity.
Speaking at the funeral service held in honor of Constable Emmanuel Osei who lost his life in the June 14 bullion van attack near Jamestown, the minister said, “When citizens fail to be friends with the security agencies, we condone the actions of criminals and that makes us all of subject to the insecurity in the country.”
He eulogised the deceased serviceman and assured his family of the government’s commitment to bring the perpetrators of the crime to book.
The brutal shooting of the policeman and another civilian by armed robbers has raised concerns about the state of security of bullion van services in the country.null
The incident also sparked reactions about the rising insecurity in the country amid a spate of robbery attacks and killings.
Constable Emmanuel Osei until his demise was serving as a police officer with the National SWAT Headquarters but was killed by suspected armed robbers at Adedenkpo, near Jamestown while on escort duty.
The outgoing Inspector General of Police, James Oppong-Boanuh, on his part, earlier threatened to withdraw police escort services should the financial institutions not provide safer and more secure bullion vans for escort services.
The Director of Public Health at the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr. Franklin Asiedu-Bekoe, has revealed that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo will soon address the nation again on the measures outlined to deal with the pandemic.
He made this revelation on Saturday July 24.
The last time Mr Akufo-Addo addressed the nation on the pandemic was in March 2021.
There have been calls on him to speak again.
For example, Ranking member on the Health Committee Kwabena Mintah Akandoh is surprised that the President has not spoken on the increasing rate of the infections.
Mr Akandoh said government must be proactive and innovative in its dealings with the ravaging virus.
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh who is also lawmaker for Juaboso told the journalists that “I have heard about the Ghana Medical Association and other institutions speaking and it is clearly indicated that there are a lot of people who are worried out there.
“What is clearly missing is the political direction. I recall the last time the President addressed the nation on COVID-19 was somewhere on the 28th of February we have recorded new variants but the president is quiet.
“The numbers are skyrocketing and the no president is quiet. It looks as if we have no plan in place, nobody is speaking to us. We need a clear direction from the Political head or the President as he consistently was addressing the nation on issues of Covid.
Kwabena Mintah Akandoh
“I do not know whether or not it is the fact that he himself is guilty of the Covid protocols and so that is probably what has occasioned his huge silence on developments so far.”
But Dr Asiedu Bekoe said Mr Akufo-Addo will soon address the nation.
He further revealed that celebrities, influencers and high profile chiefs are going to be used to campaign for adherence of coronavirus protocols especially the face mask wearing.
He said the time has come for this approach to be adopted in ensuring that the people comply with the measures.
“We are going to have a very heightened campaign on promoting and enforcement of the mask wearing. Promotion is the use of influencers, the celebrities, the champions, high profile chiefs. The enforcement is going to be done at different levels.
“When you are going to sit in commercial transport (trotro) the station master must ensure that you have a mask before you sit, when you are going to the super market they must ensure you have the mask.”
Ghana has recorded, cumulatively, 100,250 cases of COVID-19 with 819 deaths since March 2020.
The Delta variant has also been detected in Ghana.
It is reported to be currently concentrated in the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions.
The Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) Appeals Committee ruled in favour of Nana Yaw Amponsah, Asante Kotoko’s CEO following his appeal against a decision banning him from all football-related activities in the country.
The adjudicating body overturned the Disciplinary Committee’s decision to ban Amponsah, a shareholder of Division One side Phar Rangers for the next five years after the club decided to withdraw from all GFA competitions without a just cause.
And per the Appeals Committee ruling, shareholders of Phar Rangers are not recognised within the statutes of the GFA and as a result cannot be banned.
The ruling stated, “We note from the Appeal record that the Disciplinary Committee has in addition to imposing sanctions on Phar Rangers as a club, also imposed sanctions on its directors and shareholders on the basis of Article 13 (3) of the GFA Division One League Regulations.
“The Appeals Committee does not see any reference to shareholders in the provision of Article 13 (3) of the GFA Division One League Regulations, thus, officials of the football club cannot be interpreted to include shareholders.”
It added that, “In applying Article 13 (3) of the regulations it is only the capacity of a director that can be subject to sanctions.”
Consequently, and as a matter of urgency, the Appeals Committee has tasked the GFA to consider reviewing Article 13(5) at the earliest convenience to promote fairness and also dismissed the sanction imposed on the directors and shareholders of the club
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Sissala West in the Upper West Region, Mohammed Adama Sukparu, says he escaped unhurt with other occupants of his car when unknown armed men attacked them in his constituency.
The incident happened between Jefisi and Bulu at about 7:50 pm on Friday, when the MP was returning from a funeral he attended at Jefisi.
Confirming the incident to Citi News, Mr. Adams Sukparu said “we were returning from a funeral at Jefisi, all of a sudden some armed men, numbering about five stopped us and started firing into my car”.
He added that “my bodyguard returned fire and I saw one of them falling down. But the driver sped off, so we could not stop to know what happened to him”.
According to the MP, he and all the other occupants of his car escaped unhurt.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sukparu has reported the incident to the Sissala West District Police Command for investigation.
According to him, he is at a loss as to the exact motivation of the eight lawmakers who are behind the Private Members Bill.
Gabby posted a UK Guardian development which according to the news portal had generated outrage in the country.
He added the following comment to his post: “I am struggling to understand what the promoters of this Bill seek to achieve. Perhaps, it is what will fix the myriad of problems we are facing as a country like finding jobs for the youth and fixing our roads.”
His view as usual has triggered varied reactions from people who believe the bill is a non-starter and others who are harshly rebuking him for his stance on the issue.
“Prior to this bill,what’ve you been doing?Apart from Agyapa, PDS, Ameri deal & the recent Oyerepa (salary 4 ur wives) etc, did you consider jobs and fixing roads? Does this bill prevent you and don little from delivering on your mandate?I thought u guys say there’s nothing to fix,” one user @Black4rina tweeted.
“I shock sef! Let’s focus on solving pressing issues facing us as a nation! We play too much!” user @Pharm_Bash tweeted.
@CadreFidelis on the other hand had a question for Otchere-Darko, “Jobs nti, we shd b concerned aba our identity as human? Wat has changing names of public universities done to the youth?”
The Private Member’s Bill which is currently at the draft stage is titled: “The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values, Bill 2021,” and seeks to make the practice of homosexuality illegal.
It is led by the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, and seven (7) other MPs.
When passed into law, it will become the clearest law in the country banning activities of the same-sex community.
The 36-page bill which has been making the rounds among others advances that sex shall ONLY be between a man and woman. Anything else is illegal.
That anyone who participates, promotes, supports, advocates gay sex commits an offense and could be jailed for a minimum of 3 yrs.
The law completely makes illegal, any form of advocacy, group, or discussions on the practice of homosexuality.
It is an offense to use any media to discuss the subject. These include individual social media accounts and mainstream media. A media person can be jailed for 5-10 years, while the owner of a media platform may also be jailed.
• Madina MP Francis-Xavier Sosu says Ghana should tread cautiously with a new anti-LGBTQ+ bill
• He is concerned about the negative impact of the proposed law which is still at the draft stage
• He also believes the proposed jail term of 10-years is highhanded and unreasonable
Francis-Xavier Sosu, Member of Parliament for Madina, is concerned about portions of a Private Member’s Bill which is seeking to criminalize activities of Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, LGBTQ+.
He is particularly worried about a proposed upper bar of 10-year jail term for infractions which in his view is highhanded and unreasonable.
In an interview with TV3’s Parliamentary correspondent on Friday, July 23, Sosu – who is also a human rights lawyer – averred that Ghana should at this stage be gravitating towards alternative sentencing arrangements instead of custodial terms which have led to choked prisons.
“I believe that this bill is work in progress, let us not be in a hurry to pass it, let us do the needful, let’s take all views into consideration, let us look at the bigger picture.
“Let us look at the sentencing regime, 10 years imprisonment in my view is a bit highhanded, it is unreasonable, so we need to look at that, we should be looking at community service, we should be looking at alternative sentencing regime,” he added.
The 36-page draft bill has proposed several punitive actions for persons indulging directly in the act as well as those promoting it via social or traditional media and funding the activities of the LGBTQ+ community.
Persons found liable according to the bill risk summary conviction to a prison term with a lower bar of six years and highest threshold of ten years.
About the draft bill
The Private Member’s Bill is titled: “The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values, Bill 2021.”
It is led by the Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George, and seven (7) other MPs.
Currently, it is at the draft stage and will be laid before the house and subsequently expected to be referred to the appropriate committee for consideration.
Some major highlights of the bill include:
– Sex shall ONLY be between a man and woman. Anything else is illegal.
– Anyone who participates, promotes, supports, advocates gay sex commits an offense and could be jailed for a minimum of 3 yrs.
– The law completely makes illegal, any form of advocacy, group, or discussions on the practice of homosexuality.
– It is an offense to use any media to discuss the subject. These include individual social media accounts and mainstream media. A media person can be jailed for 5-10 years, while the owner of a media platform may also be jailed.
Mr Kwesi Anin Yeboah, the Chief Justice, has urged auctioneers to uphold the integrity of the profession.null
He asked them to conduct their activities with professional integrity that eschewed wrongdoings and negligence.
“As per the dictates of your licensing regime, it must never be lost on you that your conduct and undertakings as auctioneers are strictly regulated by law,” Mr Justice Anin Yeboah stated in a speech read on his behalf at the inauguration of The Professional Auctioneers Society, Ghana in Accra.
“Do remember that honor, dignity, and reputation are earned and not demanded.”
The motto of the newly inaugurated Professional Auctioneers Society, Ghana is “Service with Honesty”, with Mr Calvis Okine of Noble Mart as the Chairman of the Executive Council.
Chief Justice Anin Yeboah noted that as stakeholders in the system of administration of justice, the system held auctioneers in high esteem and expected them to discharge their duty with diligence, ethical considerations, and values to avoid perceptions of collusions or wrongdoing.
“You cannot be auctioneers worthy of trust without being professional, ethical, honest, and diligent exuding respect for the courts, execution creditors and debtors and purchasers as well as the society at large,” he said.null
“You must be men and women of integrity and in good standing. You must appreciate that you are in a fiduciary relationship with all stakeholders as applicable to the law relating to your practice.”
He intimated that civil society, corporate entities, and the international community at large, placed much value on transparency, statutory compliance, and ethical conduct; saying “corrupt and fraudulent practices are criminal conduct and have no place in your noble practice”.
The Chief Justice said as licensed auctioneers, their contribution to the development of the nation was to practice their profession without fear, favoritism, and bias while upholding the law at all times.
“All persons who hold the mallet (hammer) whether as judges or auctioneers are regulated by the constitution of the land and other laws.”
“There are temptations for wrongdoing that come with most offices and professions. Yours is no exception. The only way of escaping the tag of corruption and incompetence is your ability to discharge the dictates of your license with integrity and competence,” the Chief Justice said.
He reminded the auctioneers that in as much as their work came with privileges, it also carried responsibilities.
“Be guided by the law. Avoid any unnecessary underhand dealings and shortcuts. The law regulating your practice has made provision for your remuneration and sanctions, which include being subject to criminal and civil prosecution. Be mindful and do the needful. Your profession is a noble one.”
Mr Okine, in his inaugural address, said The Professional Auctioneers Society, Ghana, would become a beacon of hope to all auctioneers in the country and solve challenges facing the industry.
“The Professional Auctioneering Society, Ghana will modernize auctioneering. It will be a vital force, a new and dynamic body to assume full responsibilities for the coordination of all aspects of research and learning and ready to represent auctioneers in any government activity in the country,” he said.
Mr Kweku Y. Paintsil, a private legal practitioner, who chaired the function, formally launched The Professional Auctioneers Society, Ghana
The Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, has revealed that plans are underway to ensure the operationalisation of the Komenda Sugar Factory before the end of 2021.
The minister made this known while answering questions on the subject in Parliament on Thursday, July 22, 2021.
According to him, the transaction advisor has been asked to ensure the roadmap for the opening of the factory is finalized by the end of August 2021.
“I have instructed the transaction advisor to ensure that the condition precedent to the concession agreement and the roadmap for the opening of the factory is finalized by the end of August 2021 to enable operational activities at the factory to commence before the end of the year,” Alan Kyerematen said.
A Ghanaian-Indian company, Park Agrotech Ghana Limited, is the new investor who will take over the operations of the factory.
The government in 2019 said the company was expected to inject $28 million into the factory between 2020 and 2023.
$11 million was to go into sugarcane cultivation, $6 million to upgrade plant and machinery and $11 million as working capital to bring the ailing factory back on its feet.
The Ghana-based company is a subsidiary of the Skylark Group of Companies of India, one of the largest integrated farming businesses in India.
The Komenda Sugar Factory was built at a cost of $35 million from an Indian EXIM Bank facility.
It was inaugurated by then-President John Mahama in May 2016.
A group called the Concerned Citizens of the Komenda Traditional Area is sceptical about the Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen’s promise toensure the operationalization of the Komenda Sugar Factory before the end of 2021.
Convenor of the Group, Samuel Awudzah said he is not optimistic that the factory will be operationalized anytime soon, as the government had failed to fulfil similar promises in the past.
“We’ve heard this before. We do not believe the mere rhetoric coming from him [Alan Kyerematen]. The only thing that will make us believe him is when the factory is actually working,” Mr. Awudzah said on Eyewitness News.
Defunct Komenda Sugar Factory
Giving a vivid picture of the state of the Komenda Sugar Factory, Mr. Awudzah said: “you cannot see the silver colour of the building again. It has turned brown. The place is weedy, and it is just recently that they cleared the weeds.”
It was estimated that the factory could employ 7,300 people along the value chain, boosting employment prospects in Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem municipality.
But the factory has developed a reputation as a white elephant after not being fully operational for the past five years.
In June 2020, the government said the ban on foreign travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic affected the processes of reviving the Komenda Sugar Factory.
In June 2019, Cabinet approved Park Agrotech as the strategic investor to revive the factory after a technical audit by Price Waterhouse Coopers.
Park Agrotech was named as the strategic investor in the project, with a financial commitment of US$28 million.
“I have instructed the transaction advisor to ensure that the condition precedent to the concession agreement and the roadmap for the opening of the factory is finalized by the end of August 2021 to enable operational activities at the factory to commence before the end of the year,” Alan Kyerematen to Parliament on July 22, 2021.
Ghanaian singer and LGBTQ+ rights advocate Sister Deborah has described the new LGBT bill drafted by the MP for Ningo–Prampram Sam George and 7 other MPs as one to “only score political points”.
The bill, which seeks to criminalize LGBTQ+ identification and advocacy in Ghana has sparked several conversations on the freedom and rights of queer people in Ghana.
After a draft of the bill was leaked on Thursday, July 22, social media has been buzzing.
Reacting to the feedback, Sam George on Twitter stated that he is happy that the bill has received positive feedback and support.
According to him, homosexuality is not a human right, hence, the lawmakers of Ghana will do everything in their power to push the bill through.
“I have been overwhelmed by the massive support even here on a very ‘liberal’ platform like Twitter for our Bill on the LGBTQI+ menace. Homosexuality is NOT a human right. It is a sexual preference. Preferences are not absolute or unregulated. We SHALL pass this Bill through,” he tweeted.
Reacting to the tweet, Sister Derby called the lawmaker “shameful” for trying to pass a bill that seeks to cause harm to queer people.
“You are only doing this to score political points forgetting the harm you are causing queer folk. Tell us what else you will personally gain from passing this bill if not political points??? Shame on you!” Sister Derby replied to Sam George’s tweet.
In another tweet, she wrote “You are rather full of perversion. So obsessed with people’s sexual orientation. Shame on you, you backward thinker!!!”
Two out of three persons remanded into police custody by a Ho District Magistrate Court 1 for the unlawful possession of firearms have been identified as the same persons who broke into an electrical appliance shop at Mamfe Akwapem in the Eastern region on the night of Sunday, July 4, 2021.
The accused persons Nervis Otu Laryea, 33, Ebenezer Osei aged 38, and Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, 37 were arrested on July 6, by a police Rapid Deployment Force patrol team along the Kpando-Have road onboard a Toyota Corolla with registration number AC 1621-18.
After a thorough search by the police, three foreign pistols with 40 rounds of 9mm ammunition, two Toshiba laptops, and 27 assorted mobiles phones were found in the car.
All 27 mobiles phones had price tags, while other items including two hoody pullovers were retrieved from the suspects.
During police interrogation, suspect Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak told the police that he obtained the mobile phones from a man he does not know at Alavanyo Wudidi in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta region. He, however, failed to provide any receipts for the transaction.
Meanwhile, suspects Nervis Otu Laryea and Ebenezer Osei claimed to have offered a lift to suspect Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak on their way from Alavanyo, where suspect Ebenezer Osei claimed to had gone to visit a shrine for spiritual assistance in his business.
Further investigation by the police revealed that the Toyota Corolla with registration number AC 1621-18 was also acquired by suspect Nervis Otu Laryea at Afienya from someone from Togo but without documents.
But after media publication of the arrest, a team of police officers and a shop owner (name withheld) from Mamfe Akwapem in the Eastern region, followed up to Ho and identified the mobile phones as stolen items in an operation that took place two days earlier before the arrest of the three in the Volta region.
The public relations officer of the Volta regional police command, Sgt. Prince Dogbatse, told Starr news’ Faisel Abdul-Iddrisu that two of the suspects have admitted taking part in the operation.
“Two of the suspects -Nervis Otu Laryea and Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak who are in custody have admitted that they were involved in breaking into the electrical appliances shop in Mamfe Akwapem in the Eastern region where they made away with 60 assorted mobile phones, two sets of a 32′ inches flatscreen television and two sets of a 42′ inches flatscreen television.”
He added that “by their own admission, the operation conducted by four of them, including one Evans and David who are currently at large. The owner of the shop who came here in the company of the police has provided serial numbers that correspond with all 27 phones retrieved from the accused. The three foreign pistols retrieved from them were also used by David, Mubarak, and Laryea on the night of the burglary.”
Sgt. Dogbatse, however, stated that the police are yet to establish the involvement of the third suspect, Ebenezer Osei in the crime as investigations continue ahead of their next appearance in court scheduled for Tuesday, 17th August 2021
Former Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Small Scale Mining, Charles Onuawonto Bissue has petitioned the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) over the Anas Aremuyaw Anas expose that led to his exit from office.
Although details of the petition are not readily available, sources say the petition among other things explains the circumstances leading to his recording by someone who had sought to compromise his fight against corruption.
He had argued that he was set up by a team member he had sacked for corruption.
According to him, one Francis Owusu Akyaw who was introduced to him by former Science and Environment Minister, Professor Kwabena Frimpong Boateng set him up because he had refused to accede to his constant request to engage in illegal mining.
“Prof. introduced him to me as a geologist, later I found out he was none of that. Along the line, he kept pestering me that we should get some concession and engage in illegal mining. I told him I stood for none of that because my commitment to the job won’t allow me to compromise myself. I believed in the mandate given me by the President and I wanted to deliver on it so eventually, I sacked him from that office”, he said.
Speaking on Starr Chat Wednesday he added: “I’ve known for two years that the video of me taking money was a setup. If you’re asking that we do mining illegally and I refuse as your buddy, it’s obvious I’m an impediment”
The Police CID which investigated allegations of corruption against Mr. Bissue in July 2019 cleared him of any wrongdoing.
“Mr. Bissue was not found to be culpable of any offense, a parallel investigation by the office of Special Prosecutor is however still ongoing,” the Graphic quoted the police report as saying. The report also reportedly cleared all individuals captured in the Anas video taking bribes
Haiti’s murdered president, Jovenel Moïse, has been laid to rest today, July 23, 2021, more than two weeks after he was assassinated in a late-night raid.
Pallbearers in military attire carried late Haitian President Jovenel Moise’s body in a closed wooden coffin as his funeral got underway.
Moïse’s casket was draped with the Haitian flag and adorned with white flowers.
The bearers placed the polished casket on a dais garlanded with flowers in an auditorium. Four stood guard as a Roman Catholic priest blessed the coffin and a Haitian flag was unfurled.
Among those in attendance were Helen La Lime, special representative of the U.N. secretary-general for Haiti. Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, is leading a delegation from the United States.
Ahead of the funeral, there was tension in Haiti’s north, where Moïse was born as demonstrators set up roadblocks and demanded accountability for the president’s death.
The Associated Press reported that one man appeared to have been shot dead Wednesday in Quartier-Morin, a commune outside Cap-Haïtien.
In the early hours of July 7, gunmen stormed into his home and shot him dead. Moïse’s widow, Martine Moïse, also sustained injuries in the attack that killed her husband.
Police have arrested more than 20 people, including two Haitian Americans and several former Colombian soldiers, but the precise motive for the killing remains unclear.
The assassination also led to confusion about who would lead Haiti in the event of a president’s death, with three politicians claiming they were the rightful leader. On Tuesday, Ariel Henry was sworn in as the country’s new prime minister after interim prime minister Claude Joseph agreed to step aside.
Eight of the remaining 26 persons who have been charged in Western Togoland Restoration Front case have pleaded not guilty to eleven charges.
The accused persons, John Gbedemah, Godwin Awudza, Gabriel Godfred Govina, Benjamin Gbadago, Excel Liberty Aheto Kuegbesika, Divine Nyadzinyor, and Richard Doglo Ametepe are part of the 26 persons arraigned last Monday, but had plea reserved for today.
Seven of them have since been remanded into prisons custody to reappear before a vacation judge on August 10.
In court on Friday, July 23, before Justice Mary Maame Ekue Nsenkyire, the accused persons were charged with an offense to wit; being members of a prohibited organization, attending meetings of prohibited organization, and accepting contribution of a prohibited organization.
Lawyers of the accused persons were asked by the court to make a formal application for bail after prosecution prayed that, the accused persons be remanded into lawful custody.
However, Godwin Awudza, the second accused person was admitted to bail in the sum of GHc200,000 with two sureties to be justified on health grounds.
The sureties the court said must deposit their valid national Identification Card to the registrar of the court.
The prosecution was ordered to file disclosures and witness statements within two weeks.
Last Monday, July 19, the State dropped charges of treason against the accused persons, when the fresh charges were read to the first batch of 17 who were arraigned.
This was after the Accra High Court (differently constituted) was informed by state prosecutors that, the charge of Treason has been withdrawn with new charges pressed against the accused persons.
As it stands, 26 persons out of the remaining 38 that the Attorney General’s Department had advised to be charged have been brought to court.
Earlier, sets of 11 and 38 totaling 49 were respectively discharged by the Kaneshie District Court upon the AG’s advice on the case docket.
Some journalists following the Ashanti Regional Minister’s tour of that part of Ghana have been involved in a road crash at Pakyi No2.
The vehicle carrying seven journalists from UTV, Daily Graphic, The Multimedia Group, Wontumi FM, Ash FM, among others, was in the Minister’s convoy when it crashed today, Friday, 23 July 2021.
The Regional Minister, Mr Simon Osei-Mensah, had inspected work on the Obuasi-Anwia Nkwanta road and was returning to the regional capital, Kumasi, to continue the tour.
The accident occurred when a private Nissan saloon car with registration number GN-6280-15 rammed the press bus with registration number GT-9695-19.
The journalists were rushed to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital for medical attention.
One of the journalists with UTV, who had serious injuries, is still on admission while the rest, in addition to the driver of the press bus, have been treated and discharged
Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has urged the Ghana Olympic Team to make the nation proud as the Tokyo, Japan games begin today, July 23, 2021.
Ghana’s contingent is made up of some 14 athletes representing the country in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Dr Bawumia in a tweet shared on Friday, July 23 extended his best wishes to the Ghanaian athletic team who will partake in different sports at the games.
“As the Olympic Games start in Tokyo today [July 23, 2021], I extend my best wishes to the Ghanaian athletes representing our country at the tournament. Ghana is solidly behind you” the vice president wrote.
Meanwhile, Ghana’s contingent has already made its way through the opening ceremony parade. Nadia Eke led the team as the flagbearer with a delegation of other athletes and team coaches.
The team don white clothes with a touch of Kente to represent Ghana as they marched triumphantly into the stadium, waving flags.
Some notable names part of the Ghana Olympic team are Benjamin Azamanti, Safo Ansah, Joseph Oduro, Samuel Takyi, Christian Amoah, Unilez Takyi, Joseph Paul Amoah, Sean Sarfo Antwi, Emmanuel Yeboah, Sulemana Tetteh, Shakul Samed, Kwadjo Anjani and Abeku Jackson all representing Ghana.
As the world is battling the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic opening ceremony had a beautifully choreographed spectacle from the host country, Japan, with a touch of celebrating its art and traditions in a virtually empty stadium to depict the current times.
Former President John Dramani Mahama in his 2021 Eid-ul-Adha message said there is the need for Ghanaians to be reminded of the value of obedience and sacrifice as Muslims celebrate Eid-ul-Adha across the world.
The former President also sent a specific message to Muslims in the Bole-Bamboi constituency of the Savannah stating that he has always cherished their support over the years and that they should continue to pray for him in all his endeavours.
The message former President Mahama to the Chiefs, Queenmothers, the Imams and the people of the Bole-Bamboi constituency was delivered by the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bole-Bamboi constituency Alhaji Yussif Sulemana on Bole based Nkilgi FM on the 2021 Eid-ul-Adha day.
The Bole MP said; “former President John Dramani Mahama who is from Bole here has asked me to tell the good people of Bole-Bamboi Constituency that he has not forgotten of the good things they have done for him over the years and that Inshah Allah (God willing) he is likely to come back to contest elections in his party and so they should use this special Eid-ul-Adha day to thank God and to ask for good health, success and victory for him”.
Former President John Dramani Mahama is extremely popular and always receiving massive votes in his home constituency of Bole-Bamboi where he effectively served as the MP for 12 years (1997 – 2009) before rising to become a Vice-President and President of the Republic of Ghana.
In the 2020 Presidential elections John Dramani Mahama polled 30,443 out of 38,392 valid votes representing almost 80% of the votes of the Bole-Bamboi constituency.
This is in contrast to President Akufo-Addo’s 21,872 votes out of 32,196 valid votes representing almost 68% in his Abuakwa South backyard.
Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General – Ghana Health Service
The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has warned that the country is at risk of experiencing a third wave of COVID-19 infections if the current surge and community spread continue.
The GHS said currently, “15 out of the 16 regions have active cases of COVID-19, with 3,608 active cases as at July 18,2021.”
There has been increased in severe and critical cases with about 300 daily infections while the cumulative cases stood at 99,979 and 1.4 million tests conducted so far.
The positivity rate stood at 7.2 per cent, 29 severe cases, 139 moderate to mild cases, with 818 deaths.
Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, Director-General of GHS, addressing the media in Accra, to provide update on the Covid-19 situation, said there was a gradual increase in Covid-19 cases in the past few weeks, especially in some communities in Accra and Kumasi.
Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has asserted that Parliament will do all it can to pass the controversial anti-LGBTQ+ bill to criminalise the act.
This comes after portions of the 36-page proposal was shared on various social media platforms with varied sentiments already making rounds on some sections of the bill proposal.
Among some of the actions contained in “The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values, Bill 2021” proposal will see culprits face a jail term of up to ten years depending on the crime if passed in its current state.
Additionally, individuals of the same sex who engage in sexual intercourse will be “liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than seven hundred and fifty penalty units and not more than five thousand penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment of not less than three years and not more than five years or both.”
This means that any person who “holds out as a lesbian, a gay, a transgender, a transsexual, a queer, a pansexual, an ally, a non-binary or any other sexual or gender identity that is contrary to the binary categories of male and female.” commits an offence.
While there’s an ongoing public discourse on portions of the bill proposal, the Ningo Prampram lawmaker, Sam George has reiterated that homosexuality is “not a human right but a sexual preference” hence the need to criminalise the act.
In a tweet shared on Friday, July 23, 2021, Sam George wrote, “I have been overwhelmed by the massive support even here on a very ‘liberal’ platform like Twitter for our Bill on the LGBTQI+ menace. Homosexuality is NOT a human right. It is a sexual preference. Preferences are not absolute or unregulated. We SHALL pass this Bill through”
Meanwhile, Section 14 of the bill is proposing the prohibition of funding or sponsorship for LGBTQ+-related activities.
This would, however, “prohibit a person who funds or sponsors an activity prohibited under the Act commits an offence and is liable, on summary conviction, to imprisonment of not less than five years and not more than ten years.”
Aside from these, the Bill is also proposing the disbandment of all LGBTQ+ groups, societies, associations, clubs and organizations. All groups in existence before the Bill came into existence and are intended to promote such activities are to be disbanded among others.
THE ASOKWA District Court in Kumasi yesterday, once again remanded the three persons who were arrested in connection with the murder of Ibrahim Mohammed, aka ‘Macho Kaaka’, a social media activist at Ejura.
The trio namely Fuseini Alhassan, Issaka Ibrahim and Idi Mohammed, believed to be the brother of the deceased, appeared before the court charged with conspiracy and murder.
The prosecution had told the court, presided over by Her Worship Akua Adu Boahene that it needed more time to finish its investigations so the case should be adjourned.
The court was convinced by the passionate appeal made by the prosecution team so it remanded the three suspects into police custody to reappear on August 12, 2021.
How Kaaka Was Killed
Kaaka, a loyal member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Ejura, in the Ejura/Sekyedumase District of the Ashanti Region, was attacked on June 26 and he died on admission at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi on June 28.
He was said to be returning home at a later hour, when he was allegedly ambushed by his killers, who for reasons best to known to themselves, attacked him till he became unconscious and was rushed to the Ejura Government Hospital before being referred to KATH where he died.
Violent Scenes
Following Macho Kaaka’s death on Monday, June 28, the irate youth on Tuesday, June 29, clashed with the military cum police on the streets of Ejura, leaving two more people (Abdul Nasir Yussif and Murtala Mohammed) dead and four others injured.
The four that got injured were first sent to the Ejura Government Hospital where two were treated and discharged but the others were referred to the KATH for further treatment.
Public Enquiry
To help bring lasting peace in Ejura and stop the reoccurrence of the troubles, President Akufo-Addo ordered the Minister of the Interior, Ambrose Dery, to set up a committee to publicly probe the incident.
The minister then set up a three-member committee chaired by Court of Appeal judge, Justice George Kingsley Koomson, with Security Analyst, Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso, and the Executive Director of Penplusbytes, Juliet Amoah for civil society organisations, while Marie Louise Simmons, a Principal State Attorney, served as secretary to the committee.
The committee has been working on the incident and in total, 22 people from various backgrounds, particularly from Ejura, and some security and public officials have appeared before the committee.
Peace Efforts
In a related development, the Chief of Ejura, Barima Osei Hwedie II, seemed determined to work assiduously to help bring lasting peace in Ejura and the surrounding communities.
As part of his efforts, the traditional leader on Wednesday, engaged the Ejura community where he appealed for calm in the area as they await the report of the committee
The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Mavis Hawa Koomson has assured that the Elmina Fish Processing Plant will be revamped soon.
The plant, commissioned in 2016 by former President Mahama has remained closed for years, following some technical challenges.
But speaking to the media after answering questions from the MP for Komenda Edina Eguafo Abrem Samuel Atta-Mills, the minister disclosed the Indian government pledged financial support to replace the faulty equipment to ensure resuscitation of the factory.
She said, “… and so there were some few monies left in the account that they have decided to release for the works of the plant to be operational.”
“I’m waiting for the consultant, he’s currently in India and I’m told he’ll be coming in August, so when he arrives. Without him, we cannot do anything on the plant. He started the project and he knows what the issues are. Himself and the contractor.”
She added that “they promised to come hereby 15th of August. The ambassador is ready to release the funds but he can’t just release the funds because it’s funding that was released to Ghana and when we see the consultant and he writes his report, based on his report is what the ambassador will use to release the funds for the ministry to do the work.”
She affirmed her assurance to ensure the plant was revamped saying “yes, I said yes because when I had the interaction with the ambassador, he gave me the assurance. I know some of the funding was still in the account, but we can’t just go in for it because it’s not our money per sey. They also wanted to know if the remaining money can cover everything.”
On whether the project was her ministry’s priority, she indicated “yes, it is because it’s going to serve a lot of people in the central region. Apart from storing the fish, they would also be producing ice blocks and through that, we can also create jobs for the youth in the area.”
“it’s not the only cold house that I’m working on. All the cold houses around the country are what I’m trying to take charge of. As we speak, the Prampram one has been revamped” she noted
Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyeremanten, has told Parliament that the government has through the implementation of the one District one Factory (1D1F) programme created 150,975 since it was started in 2017.
The Minister also noted that so far, 278 factories are at various stages of implementation.
“Since the beginning of the programme till date, there are 278 1D1F projects which are at various stages of implementation. Out of this number, 104 companies are currently in operation, 150 are under construction and 24 are at the mobilization stage. 165 out of the 278 companies are new projects, representing 60%, whilst 113 companies are existing projects that are being supported, representing 40%,” he said.
The Trade Minister added that over 280,000 jobs would be created if all the factories are completed.
“The companies that are currently operational have created a total number of 150,975 direct and indirect jobs. When the additional 150 companies under construction are completed, the cumulative number of direct and indirect jobs that would be created will amount to 282,792.”
The ID1F initiative is a key component of the industrial transformation agenda of the NPP government.
The programme seeks to address the challenge of severe poverty and underdevelopment among rural communities, through the establishment of an institutional framework that will attract private sector investments in rural development activities.
It also seeks to promote local participation in economic development and encourage new community-based public/private partnerships.
The initiative aims to achieve this through a massive private sector-led nationwide industrialization drive, which will equip and empower communities to utilise their local resources in manufacturing products that are in high demand both locally and internationally.
Ghana spent over 53 million cedis in evacuating some stranded Ghanaians during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The amount covered airfare, quarantine, food, and insurance.
This was revealed by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey in parliament while answering questions from North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
The minister further disclosed in total, some 10,025 stranded Ghanaians were evacuated during the exercise that spanned between May 23, 2020 and September 18, 2020.
Speaking on the floor of parliament, the Foreign Affairs Minister said “It would be recalled that cabinet at its meeting on Friday 22nd May 2020 approved a strategy paper presented by the ministry of foreign affairs and regional integration with a further directive to develop an evacuation implementation plan for the evacuation of Ghanaians who had become stranded in other countries across the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
“The implementation plan was put into effect on the 23rd of May 2020 in close collaboration with the COVID-19 task force to bring home these stranded Ghanaians.”
She added: “before proceeding to provide details of the evacuation exercise, I wish to place on record that the evacuation exercise was executed in collaboration with other government agencies. As such, the information I will provide this august house particularly those regarding amounts spent by the government on the quarantine of evacuees were provided to my ministry by the national security secretariat which was in charge of quarantine.”
She revealed that the evacuation exercise was grouped into four categories namely; ability to pay, government-funded evacuation, distressed and the destitute, and deportees and returnees.”
She told the House that “the sums of GHC8,725,000 and $1,866,934 were approved by the government to cater for the cost of quarantine and air tickets of stranded Ghanaians in China and the UAE respectively.”
“In addition, 475, 895 was expended on the evacuation of stranded Ghanaians in West and Central Africa.”
She disclosed that “the government of Ghana also spent a sum of GHC44,460,530 on quarantine of various evacuees in eighty-five hotels spread across Accra, Prampram, Bolgatanga, Takoradi, and Kasoa. The cost of hotel accommodation for the evacuees included three meals and water per day for the fourteen-day quarantine.”
The amount spent on airfare for evacuees from the UAE, China was $463,118. Those from West and Central Africa was $475,895, whiles the rest from Lebanon was $634,150, totaling $1,573,163.
The total expenditure that was borne by the government on the quarantine for 650 evacuees from the UAE was GHC3,500,000, 517 persons from China was GHC4, 725,000, 506 persons from West and Central Africa; GHC2,156,000 whiles those from Europe and other parts of Africa totaled GHC 13,006,000
Also, insurance for the Ghana Airforce Charter c 295 that was used to evacuate Ghanaians was 73,530. That for 2,350 evacuees from Lebanon was GHC21,000,000. The total of expenditure on quarantine borne by government amounted to GHC44, 460,530.
The minister noted that some private individuals also made donations to support the effort of the government including the MP for Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong, who donated $428,000, and a personal donation of 200,000 to support evacuation from Lebanon.”
Also, a GHC200,000 cash donation was given Sethi Brothers to subsidize the cost of quarantine from evacuees from the UK.
She added that “the countries from which our compatriots were evacuated included the UAE, UK, South Korea, USA, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Lebanon, China, Israel, Kuwait, Germany, Qatar, Japan, Ukraine, Canada, Netherlands, and Egypt.”
Others were from “Nigeria, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Benin, Cote D Ivoire Turkey, India, Togo, Ethiopia, Senegal, Angola, Kenya, Belgium, and Russia.
The rest were Cuba, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mali, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, The Gambia, and Libya.”
Airlines used included KLM, Ethiopia Airlines, Middle East Airlines, and Emirates.”
The Ghana Airforce plane was used to transport evacuees from West and Central African Countries
• Kweku Baako says he was disappointed that Ken Ofori-Atta did not provide figures to Parliament
• He however agrees with his decision to defer the question to the National Security Ministry
• He is hopeful that the National Security Ministry will make the disclosure
Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr, the Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper has opined that Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta did not commit any administrative error with his decision to defer a question on President Akufo-Addo’s trip to France, Belgium and South Africa to the National Security Ministry.
Baako disclosed on the Good Morning Ghana show on Metro TV that Ofori-Atta was only following due process.
According to him, budgets and expenditure for foreign trips by President Akufo-Addo are done by office of the Chief of Staff in partnership with the National Security Secretariat.
Baako said that the two institutions collaborate to plan the trip by the President hence his conviction that the Finance Minister made no mistake in referring Parliament to the National Security Ministry.
“The important thing is to look at the substance of the answer the minister gave. First of all, he has redirected the question to the National Security Minister. I hear Ken Ofori-Atta make a case that the president’s travels, especially the foreign ones are the responsibility of National Security and office of government machinery. Is that valid or not? Is there any document to that effect?
“My own checks are that when it comes to foreign travels, there is a unit known as Foreign Travels Unit that takes care of these things. National Security Ministry are all components of the government machinery. Monies are released in terms of budgetary line. When the President is travelling, the budget has already been given to the office of government machinery.
“They, in collaboration with National Security, will deal with the issues. The budget outline will come from the office of government machinery and the Ministry will be aware because of the collaborations between them so in terms of the framework, the Minister of Finance is not entirely wrong” he said.
Baako however said like most Ghanaians he was unhappy that Ken Ofori-Atta did not mention figures when he appeared before Parliament.null
He expressed disquiet that Ken Ofori-Atta could have spared Parliament the time he demanded to prepare the answer for the question if he had just communicated to the house that it is the National Security Ministry that is in charge of Presidential travels.
“A lot of people were expecting the Finance Minister to provide figures relative to the President’s trip to France, South Africa and Belgium. When the Finance Minister appeared before Parliament and did not give figures, it’s natural that a lot of people were disappointed and I don’t have a difficulty with that. If I may be honest with you I was also expecting figures.” Ken Ofori-Atta on Wednesday courted the anger of some minority MPs after he declined to speak to issue of the amount government spent on the president’s trip.
“Mr Speaker, the President’s domestic and international travels are matters to do with National Security. Therefore, the National Security Minister is best placed to furnish this Honorable House with the details needed,” he said.
The Management of Takoradi Technical University may not be able to undertake their second-semester examination following an injunction secured by two rusticated students.
Starrfm.com.gh has gathered that the Sekondi High Court suggests the two aggrieved students through their lawyers secured an interlocutory injunction to stop TTU from undertaken examination for Higher National Diploma (HND) LEVEL 300 students of the Procurement department.
One of the uncles to the students, Kingsley Fredricks, who confirmed the court injunction told Empire News’ Emmanuel Ohene-Gyan several attempts to get a fair hearing for his sibling was unsuccessful after the TTU failed to respond to a petition they sent early this month (July) 2021.
Constance Asante together with her other colleagues were handed two semesters of rustication for misconduct among other things planning a demonstration against the school, unlawful usage of TTU’s school logo.
However, when contacted, Registrar of Takoradi Technical University Dr Moses Maclean Abnory said the school is yet to be served with the writ.
TTU is expected to commence its second-semester examination on Friday, July 23, 2021.
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has identified over 14 million people, who are qualified to pay tax after the successful integration of the Ghana Card and Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TIN).
The GRA and the Registrar-General’s Department in collaboration with the National Identification Authority started the exercise effective April 1, 2021, where the Ghana card Personal Identification Number (Ghana card PIN) will replace the TIN of individuals issued by the GRA for tax identification purposes.
This change is in line with the Government’s policy on the use of a unique identifier for all transactions where the identification of an individual is required.
GRA Commissioner–General, Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, said 6.6 million people currently file their tax returns with the recent data available to them.
Speaking at “the time with the Commissioner-General of GRA” event organised by the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), Mr Owusu-Amoah said initially only 4 million people were filing their tax returns but with the integration, they had another 2.6 million people.
He said analysis from the date indicated that almost 8 million people were not filing their tax returns annually and the aim of the data was to help people to become compliant, because the data showed the age profile of the people, the professional profile and their residential addresses.
The Commissioner-General said there was no evidence from the data available to them that a number of the people, who are in the legal profession, Accountants and the medical fields had been filing their tax returns.
He said it did not mean that those people were not paying their taxes, “maybe they only pay their PAYE and do not pay any other taxes they were supposed to pay.”
Mr Owusu-Amoah hinted of engaging the persons involved to find out why previously there was no evidence that they had filed their tax returns.
He encouraged all Ghanaians whether employee or self-employed to file their tax returns, saying it was important that everybody became compliant in filing and paying of taxes.
The Commissioner-General also indicated that the data showed that people above the ages of 35 years and below the 65 years lived and resided in the top 10 affluent places in the capital like the Cantonments, East Legon and Labone but yet their names were not in the database.
On the issues of tax waivers, he said the requirement was that any taxpayer, who currently outstanding taxes to pay and had penalty and interest computed had up to the end of the 2020, could apply before the end of September 2021 and make arrangements to pay before the end of 2021.
He said by end September, applications needed to be received by the Authority and discussions held with amicable arrangements made to pay and once it was paid before December 2021, “we will waive all the penalties and interest.”
“l want to encourage you all to take advantage of the arrangement that had been made by the government as part of the COVID-19 alleviation initiatives,” he added.
Victoria M.E Hajar, the First Vice President of GNCCI, expressed appreciation to the GRA for the partnership to address key tax issues affecting businesses as well as sensitize and dialogue with the business community on tax administration and its implications.
She said the timely response in paying overdue duty drawback and significant effort in addressing the technical challenges had ensured improved confidence in the process.
The First Vice-President said the Chamber had identified three issues that needed the attention of the Commissioner-General, which were the delay in refund application, requirement to pay 30 per cent of a tax assessed during tax audit before a taxpayer could make any objection to the assessment and lack of clear procedural rules in the application of some of the provisions in the tax laws.
She said the GNCCI was committed to serving as the link between the private sector and government at the various levels, while offering its members business support services.
Rahman lived with his missing girlfriend for 11 years in the same house with his family but none recognised.
A woman who was reported missing for 11 years has been found living with her boyfriend 500 meters away from her parent’s house.
According to the couple, they kept their relationship a secret because of their religious differences.
In 2010, 18-year-old Sajitha was reported missing from her home in Ayalur village in India. However, it turns out that she has been hiding in her boyfriend’s house, located only 500 meters away from her house.
According to Indian Express, Sajitha lived with her boyfriend for over a decade. Although her boyfriend, Rahman lived with his mother, they kept the charade going for 11 years.
Rahman always locked his bedroom and would react violently whenever someone tried to enter his room. He preferred eating inside his room.
Sajitha entertained herself with the TV in his room and wore headphones to muffle the noise. When the others went to work, Sajiha would come out of the room to stretch her legs.
Three months ago, Rahman fought with his family when they tried to find him a bride. So he left the house with his girlfriend to another village to start a new life.
Unfortunately, his brother found them, and that was when the truth about Sajitha’s was also exposed.
The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mr Joseph Osei Wusu has said the Member of Parliament for Tamale North Alhassan Suhuyini who petitioned the Speaker against his colleague lawmaker for Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong will appear before the Privileges Committee to testify.
Speaking to journalists in Parliament on Thursday, July 23, the Bekwai lawmaker said the matter will be heard as if it is a court trying an accused person.
“It is a member (Alhassan Suhuyini) of the House who petitioned the Speaker so it is the petitioner who will appear before us. If the petitioner decides that he needs somebody else to assist him to prosecute his case, why not.
“Remember that when it comes to the privileges committee, it is more or less a trial so our process is no different from the court.
Whatever or however you put your case, you will be guided by the rules of the house, nothing else.
“A committee of parliament is only a committee of parliament, we make recommendations to the House so yes, under the rules of parliament whichever recommendations that are permissible under the rules can be made by the committee, decisions are made by the committee.”
Meanwhile, Mr Suhuyini has said he felt obliged to raise the issues against his colleague Member of Parliament for Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong on the floor of the House because of his background as a journalist.
This comes after Speaker Alban Bagbin has referred Mr Agyapong to the Privileges Committee of Parliament for his utterances against a journalist with the Multimedia Group, Erastus Asare Donkor.
Mr Agyapong on Friday, July 9, is reported to have allegedly threatened to attack Mr Asare Donkor, “for the journalistic work that the latter undertook during the recent shootings and killing incident at Ejura” on his television station.
The Multimedia Group filed a formal complaint against Mr Agyapong.
On Wednesday, July 14, Alhassan Suhuyini raised the issue on the floor of the house and asked the Speaker to refer the matter to the Privileges Committee.
He said “Mr Speaker, I think that as a former journalist I feel obliged to draw the House’s attention to this conduct of an Honorable colleague of this house which in my view, brings this house into disrepute.
“Mr Speaker, I urge you to exercise your powers under 27 and refer this conduct of the Honorable which is becoming unacceptable, to the Privileges Committee to ascertain the veracity of the comments that were made and recommend sanctions if possible that will act as a deterrent to other members who may be tempted to act like him.”
In response to his request, the Speaker accordingly referred Mr Agyapong to the committee.
He said he cannot take a decision on Mr Agyapong over his utterances against a journalist in Ghana.
That decision to determine whether or not the conduct smacks of abuse of privileges, he said, rests with the lawmakers as a House, to take.
“As it is now, I am compelled to refer it to the Privileges Committee. I want to emphasize that it is the House that will take the decision, it is not the speaker, it is not any other person apart from the House.
“That will be your collective wisdom that come to the conclusion whether what is alleged is just a mere allegation or is supported by facts and whether those facts constitute contempt of the House and abuse of a privilege of members.
“It is important for me to emphasize here that the privilege and immunity of free speech apply in full force in plenary session and committee sessions, not when members are outside debating issues or on radio and TV. You don’t have that right, that privilege, that immunity to just say anything because you are a member of parliament.
“We are not above the law. It is for good reasons because you represent a large number of people, you should be given the full immunity to be able to say what the people say they want you to say. That is why you say it here and you are covered.
“That immunity doesn’t extend to you in anywhere else. So pleased the committee should go into the matter, submit the report.”
The Accra regional police command has launched an investigation into the murder of a 34-year-old man at Tantra Hill, Accra.
The physical instructor, Mr Stephen Akowuah, was shot dead around 1 am on Thursday, 22 July 2021 in his apartment.
The police said it received a distress call and responded accordingly.
Upon getting to the crime scene, the police said the caller directed its personnel to the room of the victim.
The said its personnel were informed that the three armed muscled men stormed into the residence and shot Mr Akowuah to death without any provocation.
They then ransacked other apartments and robbed the tenants of their mobile phones and various sums of money.
During the robbery, a tenant was hit on the head and sustained injuries.
The injured victim has been sent to the hospital for medical assistance while the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Police Hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy
Ashanti Regional Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sam Pyne has dissented to the calls on Health Minister, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu to resign from office.
There are calls for the Health Minister to vacate his office or be sacked by President Nana Akufo-Addo following his responses to a Parliamentary Committee probe into the purchase of Sputnik V vaccine.
Answering questions before the Committee, the Minister said, “I was in a desperate and helpless situation with the management of the covid numbers. In February, we had 78 deaths; by March, we had 56 deaths, and these were the numbers that pushed me to act…if you were the Health Minister, I think you might have taken certain decisions that in hindsight you may not have done those things. The country was not in normal times…this was the environment I found myself in and out of desperation, frustration, and so many things.”
“I relied on the Executive Instrument 61 passed by Parliament and hid behind emergency clauses that have been invoked to do that and come to Parliament and inform the House that this is what I had done and, therefore, I need regularisation and need the approval to provide it.”
“I was seriously in a situation that could not make me think properly. I dealt with the Sheikh before the frantic efforts to get the vaccines from the right source. I made efforts, but I did not juxtapose the timing with the efforts that I made. I made that error and in hindsight, it won’t happen again,” he added.
Critics like seasoned journalist Kweku Baako, politicians; James Kwabena Bomfeh and Allotey Jacobs have all called for the Minister to resign or his dismissal to be effected by the President.null
But to Sam Pyne, it’s premature for the Minister’s head to roll.
He asked if the Minister’s action has caused any financial losses to the State for which he should resign.
Sam Pyne asked for the Committee’s final report regarding the issue before any punitive action is taken against Kwaku Agyeman-Manu.
“In condemning or in applauding, we should wait for the Committee to finish its work,” he asserted.
He said this during a panel discussion on Peace FM’s ”Kokrokoo”
• The Special Prosecutor nominee was vetted Thursday by the Appointments Committee of Parliament
• In less than an hour, his nomination has been approved by the Committee
• The Committee’s report will be laid before the House on Friday or next week Tuesday
The Appointments Committee of Parliament has recommended the nomination of Kissi Adjebeng as Special Prosecutor by consensus.
This comes after he was questioned for about 4 hours on Thursday, July 22, 2021.
According to the Chairman of the Appointments Committee, Joseph Osei Owusu, the members were pleased with the answers Kissi Adjebeng provided during his vetting, hence, his approval.null
“He (Kissi Adjebeng) met all the requirements that we were looking for in a nominee for the Office of the Special Prosecutor. So, the committee unanimously agreed to recommend him to the House for approval,” Joe Wise said.
He added that the Committee’s report will be laid before the House either on Friday, July 23, 2021, or next week Tuesday.
“We will put our recommendation [forward] for the House to determine whether to approve or disapprove of our recommendation. As to how other people view his [Kissi Agyebeng’s] answers, I’d rather leave it to them and stay within the rules to make recommendations to the House,” Joe Osei Owusu said.
Former Central Regional Chairman for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Allotey Jacobs says his prayer is that COP George Akuffo Dampare will not be changed by the system.
According to him, the Dampare he has known is a professional Police Officer who discharges his duties earnestly and has gone through the ranks until his current position.
He believes that he will deliver and make a great impact if no hidden hand controls him while he is in office.null
“He’s a professional policeman and he respects everyone regardless of your age. When he was the ADC, he always found a way of talking to party people so that they don’t get angry…I’ve known him, he’s a very good man, the word good can be ascribed to George Dampare but I hope the system will not in a way change his life.
“He’s gone through all the ranks to get to where he is now and I think that he was the second in succession so you can’t add politics as an ingredient to his appointment. There are bad nuts and the police is a hard organization because it’s a service but we hope he can make a change and the change will reflect in our social life and we will be protected against armed robbery,” he said on Asempa FM.
As part of his ‘Let’s Make Accra Work’ campaign, Greater Accra Regional Minister Henry Quartey, is rallying support from both aisles of parliament to push for the passage of a by-law to compel households, individuals and institutions, to be responsible for keeping their immediate environments clean.
Commenting on the move, the Executive Director of the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), Prof H Kwasi Prempeh, said: “In the business of doing what whole Ministries for the Beautification of the Capital City, etc. couldn’t do”, the initiative by the regional minister “proves that it does not take the creation of new ministries or agencies or authorities or offices to solve old problems”.
For example, he wondered, “why do we have to establish a new so-called Hydraulic Authority – with a board, etc., etc., – to solve our perennial flooding problem, when we can have the relevant RCC hammer out a plan between NADMO, the Fire Service, Field Engineers Regiment, EPA, and MMDAs”.
Prof Prempeh noted: “Henry Quartey’s focus on bringing some order and discipline to our capital city’s chaotic and ugly built environment marks him out as one politician who gets the big importance of seemingly ‘small’ things”.
“He would be my choice for Accra’s first elected mayor”, Prof Prempeh said.
Joshua Emuah Kofie, the petitioner who is challenging the eligibility of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Jomoro, has prayed the Court of Appeal to strike out the MP’s application for a stay of execution.
The opposition NDC MP, Dorcas Afo Toffey, had been ordered by a Sekondi High Court to produce documents of her renunciation of Ivorian citizenship but the MP said the trial judge was wrong in giving the order and appealed against the decision.
The petitioner is challenging the MP, Dorcas Afo Toffey, to produce documents showing that she indeed renounced her Ivorian citizenship before filing to contest the 2020 parliamentary election, at a Sekondi High Court.
The High Court recently ordered the Jomoro MP to produce her renunciation certificate in 10 days after the MP had admitted that she had an Ivorian citizenship but renounced it prior to contesting the last parliamentary election.
However, Ms. Afo Toffey filed a writ on June 29, 2021 praying the court to set aside the order by the Sekondi High Court.
On her grounds of appeal, the MP indicated that the Sekondi High Court presided over by Justice Dr. Richmond Osei Hwere, erred in law when he made the order to produce for inspection or copying the renunciation certificate of her Ivorian citizenship.
She noted that the High Court wrongly exercised its discretion in ordering her to produce the certificate of renunciation because she said the petitioner failed to establish the necessity for the production of the certificate.
She also stated that it was erroneous the misapprehension on the part of the High Court that the renunciation of citizenship must necessarily be documentary.
The petitioner has also responded to the writ filed by the MP, saying it is rather bizarre for the MP to try to evade the directive by the Sekondi High Court, to produce the document to prove her case.
He stated that contrary to the deposition in the MP’s affidavit in support, he is resolute that there has been no misplacement of the burden of proof by the Sekondi High Court as the appellant alleged.
The petitioner averred that the appellant, who has clearly indicated that she has indeed renounced her Ivorian citizenship in November 2019, should be able to adhere to the court’s orders to produce any such certificate of renunciation.
“The applicant has woefully failed to establish any exceptional and/or special circumstances, to warrant a stay of execution of the Sekondi High Court’s order to produce the document,” he further averred, adding “by reason of the matters aforesaid, I pray the court to dismiss the application as being not only frivolous and vexatious, but devoid of any merit.”
Qatari side Al Sadd SC have announced they have reached an agreement To sign Ghana forward Andre Dede Ayew.
Ayew is expected to arrive in Doha on Thursday morning to complete the routine procedures, followed by the signing of the contract and the official announcement.
The 31-year-old will be joining the 7th club of his illustrious career which has seen him play in France, England and Turkey.
He left Swansea for free after losing 2-0 to Brentford in the Championship play-off final.
Check the official tweet below
The Black Stars captain was Swansea’s top scorer for the past two seasons, with 35 goals since returning from a loan spell at Fenerbahce.
The former Marseille player is expected to have a take-home salary of around $220,000 a month at his new club.
Ayew will now have the opportunity of working with Barcelona legend Xavi Hernandez, who is the coach of Al Sadd.
Kissi Agyebeng tells the Appointments Committee of Parliament that he is no surrogate of anybody and that he is his own man
Kissi Agyebeng, the Special Prosecutor nominee has said he was never involved in the Agyapa transaction.
Agyebeng says he considers those making such claims as coming from an uninformed position.
In April this year, Martin Amidu, the former Special Prosecutor described Agyebeng as a surrogate of people who defended the controversial Agyapa Mineral royalties transaction.
Amidu said he is looking forward to “see how independently and impartially” Agyebeng will handle the Agyapa Royalties Transaction.
“Anybody deeply knowledgeable about the Agyapa Royalties Transaction Corruption Risk Assessment report which resulted in my eventual resignation as the first Special Prosecutor knows that one of the beneficiaries of the Agyapa Royalties Transaction is Africa Legal Associates whose contract to participate in the transaction was found to be contrary to the Public Procurement Act and tainted by bid rigging.
“Until 20th March 2020 Agyapa Royalties Limited was incorporated as Asaase Royalties Limited on 5th November 2019 in Jersey, the United Kingdom. Anybody who cares to know, knows that the alter ego of Africa Legal Associates is a cousin of the President who also established Asaase Radio which began official transmission on 14th June 2020.
“The Agyapa Royalties Transaction records show the role the President’s cousin who established Africa Legal Associates, and Asaase Radio played with White & Case LLP, of London, one of the foreign law firms in the suspected corruption transaction,” Amidu wrote.
But reacting to this assertion by the former Special Prosecutor, Agyebeng told the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Thursday that “…whoever says I’m a surrogate of a law firm, implicate me in the Agyapa transaction clearly does not know me because if you know me you wouldn’t make such allegation. And so all these things that came up, I took it as coming from uninformed position because I was not involved in Agyapa transaction in any form or manner or any stretch of the imagination however fertile.
“As for relationships as I just disclosed, if I was so close to you at some point in our lives does not mean you will give me a free pass because of that relationship and that is why I’m here…if there is a matter I’m not going to say because I know one person or the other I’m going to give the person a free pass. I will certainly investigate because the truth of the matter ought to be told,” Agyebeng said.
He added, “I wasn’t involved in the deal; I was nowhere near it. Indeed, until it started coming up, I didn’t even know what it was. For the record, that is the truth. So I’m no one’s surrogate. As I said earlier I’m my own man and I prefer to wear my own shoes
• Kissi Agyebeng is before the Appointments Committee of Parliament to be vetted as Special Prosecutor
• He has stated that he cannot stop corruption
• He explained that not even God can stop corruption
The Special Prosecutor nominee, Kissi Agyebeng, has said that there is no way he will be able to stop corruption in the country.
He explained that he has no power to be able to do, further stating that even for God, it will be difficult for him to claim to be able to do that.
“Honourable Chair, there was a reference made to heavy shoes of a known individual. Honourable Chair, I’d like to state that I’d prefer to wear my own shoes in the sense that I am my own man and I’m coming with my own experiences and professional training
“In this quest, my conscience and my learning of the law are going to be my guide,” he explained.
“My strategy is that, Honourable Chair, I’m not naive to assume that I’m coming to stop corruption. There is no way I can stop corruption. God, Himself, will not even acclaim to that but I’m going to make corruption very costly – very very costly to engage in,” he declared.
He was responding to a question posed him by Haruna Iddrisu, the Ranking Member on the Appointments Committee of Parliament, during his vetting.
The new Special Prosecutor nominee, Kissi Agyebeng, has declared that he will walk in his own shoes in the execution of his work.null
He explained that there is no pressure on him to walk in the shoes of anyone, and most especially that of his predecessor, Martin Amidu.
“Honourable Chair, there was a reference made to heavy shoes of a known individual. Honourable Chair, I’d like to state that I’d prefer to wear my own shoes in the sense that I am my own man and I’m coming with my own experiences and professional training
“In this quest, my conscience and my learning of the law are going to be my guide,” he explained.null
Kissi Agyebeng is before the Appointments Committee of Parliament to be vetted for Special Prosecutor per section 13 (8) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).
The Ministry of Health has dismissed a statement attributed to the sector minister to the effect that he will not resign his post after revelations at the ongoing inquiry by the nine-member bi-partisan committee of Parliament probing the Sputnik V vaccine procurement.null
“I wish to state unequivocally, the Minister of Health has nowhere made this statement and humbly beseech the general public to disregard this malicious and roguish agenda by some detractors,” a disclaimer issued by Communications Officer at the Ministry Naphtali Awuah Kyei-Baffour on Wednesday said.
Kwaku Agyeman-Manu has come under fire recently for revelations he made to the committee about the procurement of the vaccines.
He had told the Afenyo-Markin-chaired committee on Monday, July 19 that the times were not normal when he made the decision to engage an Emirati middleman to procure the Russian vaccines, which were overpriced for Ghana.null
“Those were not normal times and I was seriously in a situation that didn’t make me think properly, the way you think that now I will actually abreast myself with the situation,” he had told the committee.
This heightened calls for Mr Agyeman-Manu to resign from his post.
But the statement from the Ministry said: “The Hon. Minister of Health continues to remain resolute and poised to protect the lives of Ghanaians in this era of the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Some eleven of the 23 universal banks operating in Ghana, have been given the green light by the Bank of Ghana to pay dividends to their shareholders for the 2020 financial year.
The central bank put a moratorium on the payment of dividends by the banks following the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on the economy since mid-March 2020.
The Deputy Head of Banking Supervision at the Bank of Ghana, Mr Ismail Adam, announced the decision at the UPSA Law School Quarterly Banking Roundtable webinar.
He said it is meant to help build a robust post-COVID-19 banking sector.
Some of the beneficiary banks such as Ecobank Ghana, GCB Bank and CAL Bank have already paid dividends to their shareholders.
Mr Adam said: “The idea is to make the institutions more robust and resilient such that they wouldn’t suffer because of the pandemic”.
“So, one of the main things we did was to say that we are putting a hold on payment of dividend so that we build enough capital to withstand the shocks that will emanate from the pandemic.”
“But it was not cast in stone”, he said.
“We also said that if you [banks] are meeting certain requirements, as we said, you will be allowed to pay dividend. So, as we speak, [of the] 23 banks that we have, I think eleven of them, which is almost 50%, we have given approval to them to pay some dividend”, he noted.
“From our interaction with the board, the issue came up and yesterday, I think I made that point somewhere, some were even threatening to take us to court for infringing their rights under the Companies Act”, he indicated
The Hon. deputy majority leader and MP for Efutu, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo Markin has described the press conference held by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzato Ablakwa just after the response from the finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta as political mischief, political point-scoring, and propaganda.
He explained that the finance minister was clear in his answers by directing Mr. Ablakwa’s question to the national security minister instead of himself and the fact that the finance ministry releases funds to the various ministries and agencies does not mean that Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta must be the one to answer to all financial questions under every ministry or sector, be it Works and Housing Ministry or Sanitation and water resources ministry.
The deputy majority leader used the occasion to urge Mr. Okudzato Ablakwa to use the Parliamentary platform under the rules of the House to file a question specifically to the national security minister to appear before the House and provide details on the expenses with respect to President’s travels to Belgium, France, and South Africa.
Mr. Afenyo further added that the North Tongu MP was just out of order, especially where the Rt Hon Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin overruled all supplementary questions which were asked by Mr. Ablakwa, clearly shows that, there were no reasonable follow-up questions which could attract Speaker’s attention but to rule all supplementary question out and allows Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta to go.
He made these remarks in a press conference yesterday soon after Mr. Samuel Okudzato Ablakwa had finished addressing his dissatisfaction and disappointment over the answers provided by the finance minister, Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta at the plenary
A 31-year-old nurse at the Zebilla Hospital in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region, Ishmael Bashiru Pumi, popularly known as Prince, has died after a gunshot received from suspected armed robbers at about 2am on Tuesday.
The Ghana News Agency (GNA) gathered that the Nurse, who was driving from Bolgatanga to Zebilla, unknowingly drove into an ongoing robbery incident at the Tilli forest where armed men, suspected to be Fulanis, blocked the road with their cattle and robbed their victims.
Paul Asio, a close friend of the late nurse, who was in the car with him, told the GNA that Pumi on reaching the robbery scene, tried to by-pass an articulated truck parked on the road unknown to them the occupants of the truck, a driver and three mates were being robbed.
“When we were approaching the truck, I told Prince that it was a broken down vehicle so he should be careful. Immediately we by-passed it, the Fulani people shot directly into the head of Prince. He lost control, and the car stopped. I lowered down myself so the bullet grazed my forehead,” he narrated.
He said the robbers were about five in number, with two holding guns, “They came to the car, pulled Prince out, in a pool of blood, they pulled me out, searched our bags took our monies and phones.
“When they saw the way Prince was bleeding one of the robbers spoke the Kusaal language saying that they should give my phone back to me to call for Prince to be taken to hospital else he will die. I called a friend to go to the Police station and report, so within 30 minutes the Police came and picked six of us to the Zebilla Hospital.”
Denis Kpireu-Ib Benyuur, the Bawku West District Chairman of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) confirmed to the GNA that Mr Pumi was subsequently referred from the Zebilla Hospital to the Tamale Teaching Hospital where he passed on.
He said the late nurse worked at the Paediatric Unit of the Zebilla Hospital, adding that he was actually for morning shift on the day of the attack.
The Chairman said “He was brought to the Hospital in an unconscious state, he was transfused with two units of blood and referred to TTH, where he died. “This is very sad news to us, as an Association, we just buried a nurse last two weeks who was involved in an accident. It’s really a big blow to us.
Nurses at the Zebilla Hospital are heart broken and down spirited, even though we are still carrying out our duties as professionals.”
Mr Benyuur called on the Zebilla Police Command to beef up security on the Bolgatanga-Zebilla road which he said had recorded several robbery attacks over the years, and urged nurses and midwives in the District not to relent on their mandate in spite of the challenges.
The Upper East Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) David Fianko Okyere who confirmed the robbery incident said “Investigation is ongoing, it is too early for us to come out with any other details, at the appropriate time, we will come out with information,” ASP Fianko Okyere told the GNA.
Some colleagues of the late nurse at the Hospital described him as a hard working nurse and doubled as a popular musician who used to perform at entertainment shows across the Region and beyond to the admiration of his audience.
NDC National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo has suggested that the appointment of Police chiefs be done in a way that they can act professionally at a times.
The former Local Government Minister who made this statement on XYZ Tonight on TV XYZ also advised that a tenure of office be well defined for every Commissioner of Police who will be appointed into the office of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
To him, when that is done occupants of the cop high office would discharge their duties in the interest of the state and not to please their appointing authorities.
“I propose that appointment of the IGP should be based on fixed tenure to promote professional integrity,” Ampofo told host Prince Minkah.
His comment was in relation to the appointment of new IGP, COP Dr George Akuffo Dampare.
He was hopeful Dampare would not been seen as an appendage of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).null
Most Ghanaians believe his predecessor, James Oppong Boanuh, who is due retirement after leaving office on August 1, 2021, was quite manipulated by the NPP.
“It is good that this new IGP is young. With his age, I think he will challenge himself,” Ampofo added and acknowledged he has seen some professional police officers speak highly of Dampare.
Who is Dampare?
Dampare has served in the Ghana Police Service for close to 30 years
He joined the service as a Constable and has risen to the highest rank of Commissioner of Police, becoming one of the youngest Police Officers to have attained this in recent years.null
The 51 year old has served in many leadership capacities in the Service including; Director-General (Finance), Director-General (Welfare), and Director- General (ICT).
He was also the Commandant of the Police Command and Staff College, and Accra Region Police Commander.
Until his appointment, COP Dr George Akuffo Dampare, like COP Kofi Boakye had been tipped among the most qualified to take over the highest position in the Ghana Police Service.
The Editor-In-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr has revealed that the biggest lesson he gleaned from his legal battle with the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong is that ‘he is a giant with clay feet.’
According to Kweku Baako, whiles on radio and television Kennedy Agyapong sells the posture of being abrasive and tough yet he was calm and meek during cross-examination in the defamation suit he filed against him.
He stresed that the process taught him that whiles Kennedy Agyapong brags on television and radio, he is unable to back any of his claims with cogent evidence.null
Baako on the Wednesday, July 21 edition of Peace FM’s Kokrokoo show admitted that like every other human being he is not above reproach and will welcome critique from Kennedy Agyapong but never will he sit by and allow his reputation to be slandered and maligned.
Baako says he will defend himself by also criticizing the MP or taking the legal route which he is convinced is more effective.
“I made a critique of his conduct relative to that threat which was the subject matter of discussion. He is entitled to criticize my opinion of him mercilessly and violently but he is not entitled to go out there and slander and think I will let it slide. I didn’t care previously but for him particularly, you can either criticize or drag him to the court of law.
“The experience I had with him at the High Court told me the he is a giant with clay feet. He is empty, porous with the thing he says. On radio on TV he goes haywire but in court, he is an embarrassment. I even felt some sympathy for him. I’ve heard him say that he won’t pay a dime but who say I’m interested in his money? He has even paid GHC80,000 but the point really is the apologies,” he said.
Baako also served a reminder to Kennedy Agyapong that come what may, he will apologize to him as initially ordered by the High Court.null
“The twelve times apology is his headache but no matter what he does, due process will take its course. If the truth is on your side, there is nothing on my side and I know truth is on my side. It was an embarrassment and I will publish the transcript for people to know who has the truth on his side,” he said.
Kennedy Agyapong however served Baako a reply on The Seat show. As usual he made a number of allegations against Baako and challenged him to take drag him to court again.
Kennedy Agyapong insists Baako has an ‘evil agenda’ against the Akufo-Addo government and he will expose him.
“He is a very vicious and corrupt guy. NPP should listen to me very well, he is not on our side. They think Kweku Baako supports us but he does not. He’s a very wicked guy. He walks with his stomach. He can go to court, I’m saying he is a wicked man.
“In the Anas video, you see him. If a so-called ace journalist is supporting such a wicked boy then NPP must be careful. I will show Kweku Baako that he is corrupt. He is corrupt because he has openly defended this guy everywhere,” he charged.
Kweku Annan, host of The Seat Show on Net2 TV on Wednesday, July 21; published a document that supposedly exposed the fraudulent academic history of Onua TV host, Captain Smart (Real name Godsbrain Smart Blessed Yirenkyi).
Annan and Net2 owner Kennedy Agyapong slammed Captain Smart while discussing issues on ‘The Seat’ program which aired on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, which was monitored by Kwesi tv 24
According to Annan, Captain Smart had his admission cancelled by a Kumasi-based private institution, the Christian Service University College, where he was pursuing a degree program.
A letter dated October 30, 2020, and signed by Professor Samuel Afrane, president of the university, stated that the admission of Captain Smart had been revoked over entry irregularities and other malpractices.
The letter titled: “Ineligibility for Bachelor of Arts Communication Studies Degree,” read in part: “We write in reference and as a follow up to the various communiqués with you during 2008 regarding yourself imposed and ill-motived appraisal of yourself from Level 100 to Level 200 coupled with the irregularities on the document/certificates you presented as admission required, which we later identified as fake and not representative of your good self.
It continued: “We regret to notify you that the University College is unable to award you its prestigious BA Communications Studies degree as we deem you ineligible on the basis of wrong and fraudulent entry requirements you presented and your refusal to regularize same during the period.”null
The university which is affiliated with the University of Ghana added that it had communicated the decision to UG with the said letter also copied to UG Vice-Chancellor, National Accreditation Board among others.
Kweku Annan stressed that with this history, Captain Smart had no right to be insulting people who had fought hard to make a name accusing him of instigating protests in the country.
He had earlier charged that the Ghana Police Service must get involved in the issue and pick up Captain Smart for the illegalities that he engaged in.
The back and forth between Captain Smart and Net2 TV owner, Kennedy Agyapong, has been raging for the past few months.
Agyapong, who is a Member of Parliament for Assin Central, insists that Captain Smart still owes him monies after buying a home appliance from one of his shops. The last Captain Smart responded to the allegation, he asked Ken Agyapong to come to his house for his money.null
The Finance Minister has stated categorically that the government has not taken any loan or loans to finance the free senior high school policy.null
He was responding to a question asked by Dr. Clement Apaak, the Member of Parliament for Builsa South.
The legislator who is also a Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament asked him if the government has taken a loan or loans to finance the policy.
The Minister in his response said since the inception of the policy, the government has never taken any loan to finance it.
Rather, the policy he indicated has been financed from the annual budget funding and the government of Ghana funding sources.null
Over the past five years, a total of 7.6 billion Ghana cedis has been allocated towards the implementation of the policy, he said.
Out of the amount, over 4 billion was sourced from GoG funding sources representing 54.76% whereas 3.44 billion cedis was sourced from the annual budget funding representing 45.24%.
“Mr Speaker, government has taken no loan specifically finance Free SHS”
•Ken Ofori-Atta has deferred a question on President Akufo-Addo’s trip to France, Belgium and South Africa to the National Security Minister
•He claims it’s a national security issue
•Okudzeto Ablakwa says his actions amount to contempt of Parliament
Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament for North Tongu is not pleased with the conduct of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta over the issue of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s trip to Belgium, France and South Africa in May.
Okudzeto is fuming that Ken Ofori-Atta is treating Parliament with impunity with his seeming lackadaisical attitude in furnishing the house with the financial details of the trips.
He is incensed that Ken Ofori-Atta is slapping Parliament in the face as members of the house look on unconcerned.null
Speaking in a Citi News interview, Ablakwa bemoaned that Parliament being the house of the people’s representatives ought to be treated better by the Finance Minister.
“It was a very embarrassing spectacle. This is a minister who was due to appear in Parliament on June 17. The question was published in the Provisional Order paper on June 16 only for him to come the next day and plead for time. He has subsequently requested for more (time)on a couple of times.
“It has been a struggle to get him and I had to write to the Business Committee of Parliament to remind them not to be complicit in the contemptuous treatment he was meting to the honorable house. Then he comes today (July 21) only to tell us that we should now look into the direction of the National Security Ministry as he doesn’t know and its now a National Security matter. At what point did he realize that he didn’t have the information.
“This is not how we protect the public purse. This is not how we promote good governance and accountability. Imagine if we were in power and conducted ourselves this way, what will President Akufo-Addo and the NPP MPs say? This is totally wrong. It’s contemptuous of Parliament and an insult to the people of this country,” he said.
Ken Ofori after weeks of postponements with the excuse of putting together the expenditure, turned up in Parliament on Wednesday, July 21, 2021 only to defer the question to the National Security Minister.null
He told Parliament that it is not within his remit to make the disclosure as his ministry did not effect payment.
“Mr Speaker, the President’s domestic and international travels are matters to do with National Security. Therefore, the National Security Minister is best placed to furnish this Honorable House with the details needed,” he said.
Ablakwa believes that there is an attempt to keep that information from Ghanaians and has served a warning to the National Security Ministry not to show up in the house with the excuse that the details of the president trip is a ‘National Security issue.’
He has vowed to use the appropriate channel to ensure accountability and transparency from the government
•He has a video which he claims supports his allegations
•He has dared Baako to take him to court
Kennedy Agyapong, the Member of Parliament for Assin Central has challenged veteran journalist Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr to take legal action against him over some comments he has and continues to make against him.
Kennedy Agyapong stated on Net2 TV’s ‘The Seat’ show that he is prepared to face Kweku Baako in court as he is certain that he has a good case.
Agyapong warned the leadership of the ruling New Patriotic Party to be cautious of their dealings with Kweku Baako as he does not have the interest of the party at heart.
Agyapong, who is also the chairman of Parliament Defense and Interior Committee revealed that he had in his possession a video that captures a plot by Kweku Baako and his protégé Anas Aremeyaw Anas to unsettle the NPP government as far back as 2018.
He exclaimed that Kweku Baako and Anas have been plotting against the NPP government and seeking the downfall of the party.
“He is a very vicious and corrupt guy. NPP should listen to me very well, he is not our side. They think Kweku Baako supports us but he is not. He’s a very wicked guy. He walks with his stomach. He can go to court, I’m saying he is a wicked man.
“In the Anas video, you see him. If such a so-called ace journalist is supporting such a wicked boy then NPP must be careful. I will show Kweku Baako that he is corrupt. He is corrupt because he has openly defended this guy everywhere,” he said.
Baako in the strongly-worded statement and later an appearance on Accra-based Peace FM, dismissed the allegations made against him and threatened to seek redress in court.
Baako also dared Kennedy Agyapong to release a video which he purports incriminate him and Anas in some corrupt dealings.
“I am told he claims he has some “video evidence” of my involvement in some corrupt, illegal and criminal activities. He had none to support his bogus, malicious and mischievous allegations at the High Court. If he is truly a man of COURAGE OF CONVICTION, I challenge him to make his so-called evidence public for all to see and hear!
“However, he should note that I will certainly not hesitate to cure his apparently incurable mischief and mendacity at the appropriate forum, as I did the last time! And I can assure him that he would lose again! He would lose because he doesn’t tell the truth! And I have no cobwebs of corruption in my wardrobe for him to unearth! If he has evidence, he’s challenged to publicize it and abate his crude and cheap public stunts! I am immune to those useless, ugly and noisy antics of his!,” parts of Baako’s statement read
Controversial Ghanaian comedienne, Afia Schwarzenegger, has disclosed that she smokes GH¢5,000 worth of weed every week.
Her comments come after Ayisha Modi accused her of begging for money to fund her daughter, Adiepena’s, lifestyle.
Ayisha during a live video alleged that Afia Schwarzenegger constantly bugs her for money to foot her daughter’s bills.
“The weed I smoke every month exceeds GH¢5,000. You personally decided to gift Pena some money and I did not deprive you. Stop parading lies that I come to you for money to take care of my daughter. On her birthday, we booked a first class trip to Dubai. How much did you contribute for that? Did we come to you for money? You gave my daughter 2,000cedis on her birthday and I sent you a voice note to show gratitude. What was wrong with what I did? Can you care for my daughter’s lifestyle?”
Describing Ayisha Modi as a pauper who has nothing to offer, Afia established that anytime she is in dire need of money, she contacts the likes of Dr. Osei Kwame Despite, Kweku Oteng, and Father Dickson; all business moguls.
Although it is unclear what their banter is about, reports say the two have been involved in series of social media ‘wars’ over Moesha Boduong’s recent suicide attempt.
It can be recalled that Afia has been throwing subtle shades at Ayisha Modi for attacking Moesha’s Pastor and Ghanaian model, Victoria Michaels with accusations that they hypnotized the actress
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Prices of major staple foods in the Eastern Region, maize, millet, and beans, have moved up in the first two weeks of July 2021, following increases in transport fares.
The market price upturn has stimulated increases in the prices of foods prepared, using maize and beans.
The traders, largely women, interacting with the Ghana News Agency during a survey conducted in the New Juaben South and Abuakwa South municipalities, called for swift government intervention to stabilize food prices.
The market survey at Juaben Serwa, Agatha, Koforidua Central, and Kyebi markets showed that a maximum bag of maize is selling for GH¢600.00 and the mini bag at GH¢350.00.
A bowl, locally known as “Olonka”, is going for GH¢12.00.
Madam Alice Ahenkorah, a maize seller, told GNA that since January the price of maize had seen a steady rise and attributed the recent increases to the marginal hike in transportation fares.
She said the price of a bag of maize hovered around GH¢450.00 from January to March while Olonka was sold at GHS8.00 but in May a bag rose from GH¢450.00 to GH¢480.00 with Olonka moving up to GH¢9.00.
Other traders blamed the upsurge on the high cost of farm inputs, including agrochemicals forcing farmers to adjust prices upwards to cover the cost.
Ms. Mary Jonhson, a maize wholesaler, who has been in the business for many years, explained how she procured maize through long travels sometimes to Upper East Region, stressing that persistent fuel price increases were influencing transportation costs.
She said the retail maize prices had to go up to commensurate the farm gate price so that sellers could break even and stay in business.
Apart from transportation costs, she said maize farmers had increased their prices due to the rising cost of inputs.
Ms. Philomina Ofori, a Kenkey seller, said the price of maize had compelled her to either reduce her kenkey sizes or sell a ball at GH¢2.00 as against the previous price of GH¢1 or GH¢1.50.
Even with the GH¢2.00, she added, the size had to be reduced to be able to make a profit and cover costs of other items such as pepper, plastic carrier bags for wrapping Kenkey, corn husk, and firewood.
The survey also established that prices of legumes were not different as a bag of beans was sold between GH¢1,100.00 and GH¢1,180.00 and Olonka at GH¢35.00 to GH¢40.00 on average, depending on beans type and quality.
Madam Haji Abubakari, a seller, said she got her supply from Techiman in the Bono East Region at prices ranging from GH¢1120.00 to GH¢11800.00.
At Kyebi in the Abuakwa South Municipality, buyers and sellers were equally worried about the hike in prices of rice, millet, maize, oat, and wheat, which were blamed on the onset of rains and new crop harvest season.
The prices had remained high in recent weeks as compared to last month due to the depletion of old stock.
Some traders have taken advantage of the situation and sharply increased prices, according to the market women as Ms. Naana Yeboah, a maize seller, said a bag of maize that used to sell at GH¢200.00 was currently between GH¢320.00 and GH¢350.00.
She said many maize farmers in the local communities had not started planting because of the unpredicted rainfall pattern, saying if the trend continued then there might be a shortage of maize this season.
Mrs. Grace Osei, a trader, called for a uniform price for maize so that some traders would not capitalize on the shortage to dupe unsuspecting customers and appealed for market sheds for maize sellers at the Kyebi market.
Ms. Zenabu Alhassan, a wheat and oat seller, said that wheat was very affordable, unlike oat.
“A cup of wheat costs GH¢3.00 previously and was still sold at the same price.” She blamed the price variations on transport charges, fuel increases, and unpredictable rainfall.
The women called on the government to initiate actions that would ensure stable prices at the pump, standardize local food prices and regulate prices of farm inputs.
Speaking to GNA on Thursday, Mr. Edmond Quaynor feeds production farmers, corroborated the prices quoted by the traders, stressing that the cost of agrochemicals, labor, and transportation had gone up.
He said maize bags were of different sizes as some weigh 150Kg and 50 Kg, adding, the price variations were understandable because areas, where lands were being destroyed by illegal mining activities would likely record lower prices due to lack of market.
However, he said the prevailing market prices were good for farmers as they would stimulate high production and insisted the forces of demand and supply should be allowed to dictate the economic prices of food crops. GNA
A Chief has been arraigned before the Koforidua Circuit Court for allegedly defiling and impregnating a 15-year-old girl.
Mark Koranteng, 65, Dademantse of Mpanmu near Dedeso was arrested by Begoro Police in the Eastern region after the parents of the victim made a former complaint to the police.
According to the parents, they observed strange physical changes and symptoms of pregnancy on the victim.
According to the parents, in February this year, the accused who used to call the victim “my wife ” sent someone to call her for him for an errand but allegedly took advantage and had sexual intercourse with her.
The parents alleged that the victim indicated that, the chief subsequently had sexual intercourse with her again the same month.
They made an official report to Begoro Police but the case was referred to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit (DOVVSU) at Regional Police Headquarters in Koforidua.
The medical Doctor endorsed the medical report form issued to the victim stating that “pregnancy has been confirmed with a urine pregnancy test. Abnormal examination reveals palpable uterus up to umbilicus which is mildly tender “.
The Chief was arrested and during the caution, statement admitted inviting the victim to his house twice to give her money but has never slept with her.
Prosecuting officer Chief Inspector Benard Annor charged the chief with the offence of defilement.
He has been granted bail by the Koforidua Circuit court to reappear on July 26, 2021.
This comes after the Eastern Regional Manager of Glo Ghana telecommunication company was arrested by Police for also allegedly defiling a 14-year-old Junior High School student in Koforidua.
The accused -Awoseni Akinyemi, 30, a Nigerian allegedly defiled the JHS2 student three times in his house at Abrewa-Nkwata a suburb of Koforidua and gave her contraceptives each time.
He has been put on remand.
The Girls Education Unit of Eastern Regional Police Command has expressed worried over increasing sexual abuses against teenage girls leading to an increase in teenagers.
Over 17,000 teenage pregnancies were recorded in 2020 in the Eastern region making it the second-highest nationwide after Ashanti Region.
Most of these girls have dropped out of school. The Ghana Education Service is therefore implementing a ” back to school” project to ensure these pregnant students go back to school after delivery
The International Monetary Fund, (IMF) has commended government’s digitization drive, saying it will have a significant impact on Ghana’s econony.
In a press release issued by the IMF, following its assessment of the impact of Coronavirus on the Ghanaian economy, and what the government is doing to recover, the IMF listed digitization as one of government’s postive initiatives which will play a key role in Ghana’s post covid-19 economic recovery.
“Directors emphasized that the authorities’ structural transformation and digitalization agendas are critical to support the recovery,” the IMF noted.
Ghana’s digitalization, the IMF opines, will reduce corruption, enhance service delivery and boost revenue in this critical period.
“The structural transformation can be complemented by the ongoing energy sector review, diversification in tourism, and the digital transition, which has the potential to reduce corruption, boost tax revenues, and improve service delivery.”
The Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, who jas spearheaded government’s acclaimed digitalization drive, has often spoken of the positive impact digitization will play on the Ghanaian economy, in the same manner the IMF has highlighted.
Government’s digitization drive has seen the massive digitalization of several government services, including the ports, NHIA, application of passports and drivers licences, registration of businesses, among many others.
Ghana’s successful digitization drive has been built on a solid foundation of a remarkable delivery of over 15 million digital national identification cards in 4 years, digital addressing system and mobile money inter operability, which has made it possible for Ghanaians to be able to access government services online and pay for same using their mobile phones.
The IMF assessment revealed in detail, how the pandemic has affected Ghana’s economy, which it said was growing remarkably before the pandemic.
It however, added that Ghana’s economy is seeing encouraging signs of recovery as a result of pragmatic steps by the government, with digitization as a key player
President Akufo-Addo has appointed the Director-General in charge of Administration of the Ghana Police Service COP Dr George Akuffo Dampare as new Inspector General of Police (IGP).
He takes over from James Oppong-Boanuh who has been IGP since August 14, 2019.
COP Dampare will officially take over as head of the Police Service on August 1, 2021.
Profile of Dr. George Akuffo Dampare
Dr. George Akuffo Dampare is the youngest Acting Inspector–General of Police (IGP) to be appointed in the fourth Republic and the eighth youngest since Ghana gained independence. Prior to this appointment, he was the most senior police officer after the just retired IGP.
Dr. Dampare joined the Ghana Police Service (GPS) as a Constable in December, 1990 at age 20 and rose through the ranks to become Commissioner of Police (COP) 24 years later at age 44 in 2014, the rank he held until his appointment.
In 1991, on completion of his recruit training, Dr. Dampare was adjudged the overall Best Recruit at the National Police Training School and won all awards except the award for the ‘Best Marksman’. Again in 1996, he emerged the overall Best Cadet for the 32nd Cadet Officers’ Course at the Ghana Police Academy (formerly, Police College) and won all awards, including Excellence in Professional Police Subjects and Excellence in Academic Subjects.
During his over thirty-year career as a police officer, Dr. Dampare has made significant contributions to policing in Ghana and beyond as enumerated below:
At the leadership and management level, Dampare has had the rare privilege of serving as the Head (Director-General) of almost every major department, giving him greater insight into the administration of policing in Ghana. Specifically, Dr. Dampare has been Director-General for Administration and Director-General for Welfare twice. He has also served as Director – General for MTTD, Director-General for Research & Planning, Director-General for Operations, Director-General for ICT, Director-General for Finance and Director-General for National Patrol Department (Police Visibility Department).
Other leadership positions Dr. Dampare previously held include Commandant of the Police Command and Staff College, Accra Regional Police Commander, Regional Commander for Railways, Ports and Harbour (now Police Marine Department), Municipal Commander for Cape-Coast and Chief Internal Auditor of the GPS.
Between 2010 and 2015, under the leadership of two IGPs, Messrs. Paul Tawiah Quaye and Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, Dampare led and coordinated the ‘National Anti-armed Robbery Reward to Informant Initiative’, which saw the arrest and prosecution of many notorious armed robbers across the country.
As the Director-General for National Operations, Dr. Dampare created an efficient system where fragmented units were consolidated to create effective and complete departments such as the establishment of an Anti-armed Robbery Unit (the COMBAT Unit) to aggressively fight robbery and other violent crimes. He also created the Intelligence Unit within the National Operations Department, which later informed the creation of a Police Intelligence Department at the national level.
As Accra Regional Police Commander, Dampare introduced an innovative and proactive policing strategy called the “Continuous Stakeholder Engagement Programme” where all stakeholders were included and involved in policing the Region. For the first time, through this initiative, the Ghana Police Service under his leadership, visited Political Parties in their offices to engage them.
As Director-General in charge of Welfare, Dr. Dampare introduced an innovative social welfare scheme where he led officers from the Department to visit the homes of scores of sick and bedridden police officers across the country, and also introduced strategic medical interventions to facilitate their wellness.
Still at Welfare, Dampare initiated a process at Dodowa and Kasoa to reclaim lands owned and paid for by police officers. The matter had become a national security threat as many officers were angry at the failure of the leadership of the police administration to intervene in the situation which had lasted for close to a decade.
In 2013, under the leadership of the then Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, Dr. Dampare led a team of officers, working day and night, to restructure the Armoured Car Squadron (ACS) Unit into the Formed Police Unit (FPU) within a record time of ten (10) weeks. This task had remained impossible for over fifteen years. The FPU has now become one of the police units undertaking internal police operations and international peacekeeping missions under the United Nations and African Union.
As the Director-General of the National Patrol Department (Police Visibility Department) and under the leadership of the then IGP, Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, Dampare supervised the implementation of the novel “Police Visibility” programme which saw the presence of police personnel at most intersections and communities in Ghana.
Again, during the implementation of the vision of the then IGP, Mohammed Ahmed Alhassan, for the creation of the Police Service Command and Staff College at Winneba and the Police Service Public Safety Training School at Pwalugu, Dr. Dampare was the leader of the technical teams that ensured the full operationalization of these two specialist training institutions.
Dampare is credited with the idea that led to the establishment of the office of the Armourer-General which serves as the central point for accounting for arms and ammunitions within the Ghana Police Service as well as the establishment of the Service Enquiry Monitoring Unit (SEMU) with the responsibility of managing the GPS disciplinary system.
As Coordinator of the National Inter-Ministerial Task Force for the 2007 Ghana Floods which was under the overall leadership of Dr. Mrs. Mary Chinnery-Hesse (then Chief Advisor to H.E. President J.A. Kufuor), Dr. Dampare led a team, within a seven-month period, to develop and implement a National Disaster Management Model, which brought all United Nations Agencies, Red Cross and Civil Society organizations, among others, together, to successfully manage the disaster.
As Director-General for Finance, Dampare led a Police Technical Implementation Team to work with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, to migrate the Police Service onto the Single Spine Salary Structure as the first institution in the country to successfully complete the migration.
Still as Director-General for Finance, Dampare also introduced the payment of recruits’ allowances through the bank by getting them bank accounts as well as ATM cards. He also engaged the banks and got them to build ATMs at the Police Training Schools at no cost to the Government.
Under the visionary instructions of the then IGP, Mr. Paul Tawiah Quaye, Dampare also led a team to establish the Procurement Unit of the GPS and ensure full implementation of the Procurement Act. He introduced cost-saving measures in the repair of Service vehicles and the use of hotel accommodation, among others.
Dampare led a team of officers to use mostly donations from the private sector to give a facelift to the Police Headquarters by constructing a Public Affairs building, the Integrity Square, the Police Fitness and Social Centre and a Helipad. The CID Headquarters building was also refurbished under his leadership.
As Accra Regional Commander, Dampare raised sufficient capital from the private sector to complete a new office complex and re-roofed 90% of all office buildings at the Regional Headquarters which had been in a deplorable state for years.
During his policing career, Dr. Dampare has undertaken numerous law enforcement courses at tactical, operational, strategic leadership and management levels, making him an all-round police officer with the required skills and competences commensurate with his rank.
Aside his policing, Dr. Dampare previously worked as a Research Fellow and lecturer at King’s College London, University of London. He also lectured at the University of Cape-Coast (UCC), Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Regent University College and the Data Link University College. He is also one of the pioneer lecturers at the Business School of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi.
Having passed the GCE Ordinary and Advanced level examinations as a private candidate in 1989 and 1992 respectively, Dr. Dampare proceeded to study accountancy and became a Chartered Accountant in 1996 at age 25. He also holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree in Finance and Management from the King’s College, London, University of London, and has two Master of Science degrees with distinction in Accounting & Finance, from London South Bank University, UK and Business Systems Analysis & Design from City University of London, UK.
Dr. Dampare also has a certificate in High Impact leadership from the Institute for Sustainability Leadership, University of Cambridge, UK and a certificate in Leadership and Management from the Aresty Institute of Executive Education, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, USA.
Dr. Dampare is a member of a number professional associations including the International Association of Chiefs of Police (ICP), International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA), the Institute of Chartered Accountants (ICA) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).
Dr. Dampare has also served and continues to serve on several boards including the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) Governing Board, Data Link University College Council, Police Central Disciplinary Board and the Pumpkins Foundation Board (a philanthropic organization for underprivileged children, including those with autism).
Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta has said President Nana Akufo-Addo’s trips are a matter of national security and, thus, any questions regarding the cost of such trips should be directed at the Ministry of National Security.
“Mr Speaker, the president’s domestic and international travels are matters of National Security”, Mr Ofori-Atta told parliament on Wednesday, 21 July 2021, adding: “The National Security Minister is best placed to furnish this Honourable House with the details needed.”
He said in line with the 2021 budget implementation instructions, “the Ministry of Finance did not release any funds to the Chief of Staff, especially for His Excellency, the President’s trip to France, Belgium, and South Africa”.
Mr Ofori-Atta was expected to give an account of how much was expended by the state on President Nana Akufo-Addo’s nine-day international trip a few weeks ago.
When he appeared in parliament in mid-June for that purpose, Mr Ofori-Atta asked the house to give him more time to gather his figures so he could account to the people of Ghana about the trip to France, Belgium and South Africa.
The question was filed by North Tongu MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul answered his part of the question on Wednesday, 16 June 2021 on the floor.
While answering the question, Mr Nitiwul said Ghana’s presidential jet is not fit for purpose for President Nana Akufo-Addo’s international trips, thus, the president’s resort to chartering a private jet.
The Bimbilla MP said: “This aircraft will carry a load of 11 persons minus the crew. When this aircraft is travelling to the eastern part of the USA or Asia, it will not load a crew of more than eight plus the luggage”.
“So, it depends on where it is going”, he noted.
Secondly, he added, “I have also said the aircraft has to do refuelling stops and, also, in this COVID-19 [era], when you are travelling to multiple destinations like the president’s recent travels, the Falcon couldn’t have been taken because he would have had to do technical stops, which are not desirable”.
“And when he is travelling with more than 20 people like he has been doing for business trips that brought huge sums of money to this country, he will need more than just a Falcon, otherwise, the others would have to go a day ahead before the president to prepare themselves.”
“In fact, the president would also have to go a day ahead because no president can shower in this aircraft. He cannot move from this aircraft straight into a meeting”, Mr Nitiwul said.
A few weeks ago, Mr Ablakwa accused the president of spending GHS 2.8 million on the trip.
In the heat of the controversy, the Minority in Parliament said President Akufo-Addo could have used Ghana’s “airworthy” presidential jet, Falcon 9Gexe, instead of chartering the £15,000-per-hour “lavish, ostentatious and extravagant” AJC320neo flight he recently used for his 9-day trip abroad that cumulatively cost the Ghanaian taxpayer £345,000 (GHS2,828,432.80).
“Today, we want to present to you further evidence that we are definitely certain that the presidential jet is available, in good shape”, Mr Ablakwa told journalists on Friday, 28 May 2021.
According to him, on 11 May 2021 – five days ahead of his 9-day trip – the president used the presidential jet to Uganda to attend the ceremony swearing-in of President-elect Yoweri Museveni.
Denying claims that the Falcon cannot travel long hours without refueling, Mr Ablakwa said the president’s Uganda trip on the presidential jet was 5h:4m while his Paris trip took six-and-a-half hours.
“The Minority insists that the Falcon could have been used”, Mr Ablakwa stressed.
“One, the Falcon is airworthy and it took this same president to Uganda only a few days prior to the 16th of May when the president departed to Paris with this rather luxurious monster; the most outstanding, extravagant, luxurious airbus aircraft to be manufactured – the Airbus AJC320neo, which originally was manufactured to take 150 people at the minimum but it has been reconfigured to take only 17 people so a luxurious empire can be created”, he said. In the Minority’s view, instead of the president using the chartered flight, which has a master bedroom, an en-suite bathroom with showers, dining facilities for all 17 passengers and sophisticated IT connectivity installations, he could have opted for other chartered flights from the same company, Acropolis Aviation.
“First of all, our contention is that the Falcon is available”, he stressed, emphasising: “It’s airworthy”.
“If it can take you to Uganda safely, it can take you to Paris safely and Brussels, Belgium safely”, he argued.
“So, the point we are trying to emphasise is that in this time of austerity, where the president himself has said: Times are rough; let’s bear with him’, … the president himself embarked on this trip to go and beg for debt forgiveness and this is how you go and beg for debt forgiveness when the person you are going to beg for debt forgiveness from doesn’t travel in such luxury, in such ostentation”, noting: “The level of extravagance, the extreme opulence that the president displayed is condemnable, unconscionable”. “How do you think these western leaders will perceive African leaders? No wonder they have very little respect for a lot of our leaders but we cannot continue this way”, Mr Ablakwa said
• Some executives of the NDC at Techiman South want their party leadership to withdraw the case against the current MP at the court
• They say there are more pressing internal party matters to deal with
• This was made known by Kwadwo Adjei while addressing the press
The prolonged election dispute between the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Techiman South constituency could just see an end soon as calls have been made by the latter for the withdrawal of the court case.
Leading this call, Kwadwo Adjei, one of the branch executives of the NDC in the constituency, urged the leadership of his party to call back the case that is currently at the Wenchi High Court.
He added that it would be more prudent for the NDC to concentrate its energies on resolving its internal differences, while working towards victory in the general elections of 2024, reports 3news.com.
Speaking with a cross-section of the media on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, Kwadwo Adjei explained how daunting a duty this current petition at the court has had on the NDC party in resolving its internal wranglings.null
He explained that the continuation of this position by the party puts its future chances of winning elections in a difficult place.
“The internal problem is very big, so we want the leadership to look back at the toil of branch executives like us which even led to the defeat and concentrate on the internal issues to get resolved so that we can secure victory,” he said to the journalists in Twi.
It will be recalled that the NDC was for the second time in a month, slapped with a total of GH¢16,000 in charges by the Wenchi High court in the case of the Party versus the Member of Parliament for Techiman South, Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, and the Electoral Commission.
The NDC dragged Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah, the substantive MP, and the EC to court to contest the results of the 2020 parliamentary elections in Techiman South.
Christopher Beyere Baasongti, who was the parliamentary candidate of the NDC for Techiman South in 2020, as part of the suit against Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah and the EC, is praying the court to quash the declaration of the MP as the winner of the elections.
Kwadwo Adjei explained further that it had come to his attention that many branch executives of the NDC are not happy with the turn of events and would have had their party focused on more progressive things.
He added that among that is their unhappiness with the way their party General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia, is dealing with the matter.
They, therefore, called on the national and regional executives to persuade the 2020 Parliamentary Candidate, Christopher Beyere Baasongti, to “forget” about the case and move on to strategizing for the next polls.
3news.com reports further that some other branch executives present lamented that, they as the youth, who are at the grassroots, make up an integral part of the party and as such, their voices must be heard.
The Wenchi High Court last heard the case on Wednesday, July 14, 2021, and will sit again on Friday, July 30, this year.
Seasoned Journalist, Kweku Baako Jnr has taken a swipe at the Minister of Health, Kwaku Agyeman-Manu over his recent statements regarding the purchase of Sputnik V vaccine for Ghana.null
Ghana entered into an agreement with a middleman named Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum and SL Global to supply 3.4 million doses of Sputnik V vaccine.
The controversial contract saw Ghana procuring the vaccine at a unit cost of 19 dollars as against the ex-factory price of 10 dollars per dose.
But this agreement is said to have been sealed without Parliamentary approval, hence calling for the Minister to face a Parliamentary Committee probe.
Answering questions at the sitting of a bi-partisan probe by the Committee, the Health Minister stated that he failed to seek an approval because he wasn’t thinking properly and also out of frustration.null
He said, “I was in a desperate and helpless situation with the management of the covid numbers. In February, we had 78 deaths; by March, we had 56 deaths, and these were the numbers that pushed me to act…if you were the Health Minister, I think you might have taken certain decisions that in hindsight you may not have done those things. The country was not in normal times…this was the environment I found myself in and out of desperation, frustration, and so many things.”
“I relied on the Executive Instrument 61 passed by Parliament and hid behind emergency clauses that have been invoked to do that and come to Parliament and inform the House that this is what I had done and, therefore, I need regularisation and need the approval to provide it.”
“I was seriously in a situation that could not make me think properly. I dealt with the Sheikh before the frantic efforts to get the vaccines from the right source. I made efforts, but I did not juxtapose the timing with the efforts that I made. I made that error and in hindsight, it won’t happen again.”
Health Minister must resign
Touching on the issue, Kweku Baako sent a subtle message to the Minister saying he should resign for infracting the laws as required in Article 181(5) of the 1992 Constitution.
Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’, Mr. Baako stated that if Agyeman-Manu “is minded to resign, I think I will vote for him”.
According to him, “elsewhere the culture is such he would resign voluntarily. It’s almost a culture elsewhere, but here, there are a few people who have resigned before from office for whatever reasons but it’s not everyone who does that. If he is minded to resign, I think I will vote for him”.
Seemingly offering an advice to the Health Minister, Mr. Baako emphasized, “the fact that we want to save people because dead men don’t talk, dead men don’t work, we need us to be alive but it doesn’t mean then you can push aside all laws and regulations because you’re desperate and frustrated,” he said.
Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo with officials of First Atlantic Bank, KBTH and the Ministry of Health in a group picture inform of the newly opened waiting area.
First Lady, Mrs. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, has opened the First Atlantic waiting area for visitors and relatives of patients at the Emergency wards of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH).
The waiting area, built by the First Atlantic Bank as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, (CSR) will serve relatives of patients at the Accident Emergency Department, the Trauma Unit as well as the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).
The building, which can sit 150 people, offers a decent waiting area providing comfort, safety, peace of mind and protection against adverse weather conditions for the relatives of patients.
Opening the building yesterday, Mrs Akufo Addo said during the commissioning of the Rebecca Akufo-Addo Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in May 2019, she observed relatives of patients and visitors sitting under trees and other uncomfortable places.
“I expressed my desire to Dr Okoe Boye, who was the Board Chair of Korle Bu at the time, to find a solution. We approached some corporate institutions, including the First Atlantic Bank, to build a waiting area for Korle Bu. Fortunately, our proposal for a waiting area was in line with the Corporate Social objectives of the bank. The Managing Director of the First Atlantic Bank, acknowledged the enormous relief that such a project would bring to citizens, who have to wait as their relatives and friends undergo medical care,” she said.
The First Lady expressed her appreciation to First Atlantic Bank for ‘showing the human face of your business’ and charged the Management of Korle Bu to ensure the place is well maintained.
“I also entreat visitors, who use this waiting area to keep it clean and adhere to the required protocols for the use of this place,” she added.
First Atlantic Bank Board Chairman, Amarquaye Amar, said the bank did not hesitate when it was approached to undertake the project, indicating that the project falls in line with First Atlantic’s Corporate Social Objectives.
“Today we have a beautiful place which has facilities including wash rooms, as well as banking solutions for those who might require financial services. Indeed, this facility will bring a huge relief to visitors, as well as the management of Korle Bu,” he said.
He said the facility is the third CSR undertaking of the bank that is focused on enhancing access to health and education for women and children.
CEO of Korle Bu, Dr. Opoku Ware Ampomah expressed his gratitude to Mrs. Akufo Addo and First Atlantic Bank for kind gesture saying the building has come to address a huge challenge in the health facility.
“I also thank the Board and Staff of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital for their support during this project,” he said.
The government through the Ministry of Education has released a total of Gh316,402,165.00 to the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO).
The amount, released in batches since January for onward distribution to Heads of Senior High Schools (SHS) across the country, was to enhance their operations.
According to a release signed by the Ministry’s Press Secretary, Felix A. Baidoo, all the payments made at different times of the year were to help make funds available to suppliers of food to SHS as well as Heads of SHS for the purchasing of perishables and other needs in the school.
Giving a breakdown of the list of payments made so far, the release indicated, “The Ministry on 9th July 2021, released an amount of Gh88,053,148.80 to the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) and Headmasters of Senior High Schools (SHS) across the country to enhance their operations.
The Ministry, on 14th May 2021 released Gh125,998,145.00 of which Gh83,184,673.00 went to the Buffer Stock Company and Gh42,813,472.00 also going to Headmasters of SHS for the payment of perishable components of the feeding to the schools.”
Again, it said on the 28th of April 2021, a total of Gh102,350,871.20 was paid to the Buffer Stock Company and Headmasters (for perishables) for the 1st semester.
“The Ministry is once again assuring all parents and other stakeholders that the Free Senior High School (FSHS) initiative is not under stress and government would continue to provide the needed resources to keep it running for the benefit of all,” it stated.
Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has indicated that the new Conduct of Public Officers Bill, 2021, has been designed to strengthen the fight against corruption in Ghana.
According to him, “the current legislation on corruption in Ghana is inadequate to deal extensively with public accountability, hence the need for a legislation which meets the minimum standards contained in the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, regarding public officer accountability and corruption.”
Mr. Dame was speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop on the Conduct of Public Officers Bill, 2021 in Accra on Monday.
The bill seeks to provide a clear understanding of the role a public officer is expected to play in the discharge of duties and performance of functions.
Mr. Dame underscored the need for public officers to protect the public interest against their personal interest, stressing that “unethical behaviour in public office has been a major cause of political instability in Ghana,” adding “the bill underscores the fundamental point that the principal test of ethics is the public interest. When public officials act in breach of the public interest, they have acted unethically.”
He said “the need to lay down a set of far-reaching and perhaps, a more fit for purpose set of regulations for the conduct of public officers cannot be gainsaid. It is to this urgent need that the Conduct of Public Officers Bill 2021, seeks to respond. The Conduct of Public Officers Bill is to give a more consequential effect to Chapter 24 of the 1992 Constitution.”
Mr. Dame stated that the bill will serve the purpose of legislations in other jurisdictions like the United States Ethics in Government Act of 1978 and the Officers Ethics Act of Kenya.
He expressed the hope that the process of enacting the bill into law commencing with the stakeholders’ meeting will be rapid and culminate in the enactment of a law to address issues regarding financial portfolios held by public officers before assuming office, for instance link to family business, professional practice, property and other assets, among others.
“The bill also seeks to address matters relating to sexual harassment and provides a gamut of stringent administrative measures and sanctions to deal with violations of the law, ranging from a bar against holding public office to penal measures,” Mr. Dame stressed.
Again, he said the bill seeks to strengthen the role of the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) in the investigation of allegations of contravention of or non-compliance with the Code of Conduct for Public Officers, including conflict of interest, non-declaration of assets and illicit enrichment.
He added that the bill addresses the conditions under which a person is qualified or disqualified from holding public office; the declaration of assets and liabilities in accordance with Article 286; legal proceedings against public officers; the Code of Conduct for adherence to guiding principles by public officers.
Mr. Dame added that the passage of the bill into law should not prevent other public institutions from further improving accountability and ethical conduct at the work place by enacting specific code of discipline to meet the peculiar demands of their establishment.
The workshop was attended by officials of the National Media Commission, the AG’s Office, Public Services Commission, CHRAG, Ghana Integrity Initiative, the Judicial Service, Ghana Immigration Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Bank of Ghana, Electoral Commission, Ghana National Fire Service, and the Ghana Police Service
The National Women Organiser of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kate Gyamfua, has called for collaboration among women in leadership towards the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) on gender equality.
According to her, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 5, women must begin to collaborate and not see themselves as competitors.
The SDG Goal 5 talks about Gender Equality and the goal is among other things, to ensure that at least 30 per cent of top management position would be occupied by women by 2030.
Speaking at a special orientation and leadership workshop organised for women leaders in smaller political parties, Ms. Gyamfua said there are many opportunities for women on the echelons of power but they needed unity and hard work to get there.
She stated that the time had come for women to see themselves as partners in development and not competitors, urging them to work collaboratively and create space and opportunities for other women.
Self-Development
She also called on women getting opportunities to continue to develop themselves in order remain relevant at all times, saying “the world is constantly changing and one’s refusal to grow with the changing speed of the world will make her lose out.”
The workshop brought together female leaders in all the smaller political parties in the country and they were taken through the programme by experienced resource persons with diverse backgrounds.
The women were trained on party mobilisation and the role of women in effective political organisation.
They also received training in effective communication strategies, rallying support for women, management of ladies’ groups, among others.
Participants at the workshop expressed appreciation to Ms. Gyamfua for organising the event and said the training had come at the right time and will help them in their lines of duty
The police in the Eastern Region have arrested four young men for possessing and discharging firearms and ammunition without permission at Sekesua in the same region.
The four, who earlier fled from the police at Sekesua and Otrokper checkpoints, were arrested at Akatekpor with the help of the youth. They are Enoch Donkor, 22, John Ashiley, 22, Adema Eugene, 35 and Kwaku Asare, 22 years.
According to the Police, the suspects fired sporadically at a burial service of a young woman at Sekesua resulting in distress calls from mourners to police but suspects fled in a Toyota Corolla saloon car with registration number GG 1226-16 when they saw the Police arriving at the service.
At Otrokper police checkpoint, the suspects were signalled to stop but they rather opened fire and fled into a nearby bush abandoning their car.
The Police said with the help of some youth of Akatekpor, a neighbouring community, they arrested the four suspects who will be charged with all the crimes committed.
“This is another wake-up call to those who possess firearms without authority to return them to the Police or as directed by the Small Arms Commission”.
“Also, people are reminded that unauthorised firing is a crime, be it at burials, funerals or any other event”.
“The police will continue to count on well-meaning citizens and residents such as the youth of Akatekpor to weed out criminals”, the law enforcement agency stated in a statement
The 37 Military Hospital has been slapped with GHS1,075,000 in damages for the negligent death of a 27-year-old woman during childbirth in November 2015.
The General Jurisdiction 6 Division of the High Court awarded the father and husband GHS400,000.00 each for loss of expectations of life; GHS50,000.00 in damages of mental distress also to them, GHS100,000.00 to the baby, Yaw Nyamekye in damages for pain and suffering.
The court also awarded GHS50,000.00 to Yaw Nyamekye in damages for disfigurement; GHS50,000.00 in damages to primary caregivers and additional GHS25,000 in damages.
The woman, Helena Brema Nyamekye, who was a PhD student at the University of Ghana at the time of the incident, is said to have opted for a caesarean section as her preferred mode of childbirth.
Doctors however denied her the option and put her through normal labour. In the process, however, Mrs. Nyamekye bled profusely at the theatre and died.
Her baby, Yaw Nyamekye, also suffered a deformity to his right arm upon delivery.
The husband of the deceased, Captain Nyamekye (Rtd), and the father of the deceased subsequently sued for damages for loss of life, trauma and negligence, as well as General damages.
In their defence, doctors argued that Mrs. Nyamekye had earlier agreed to a vaginal delivery upon medical advice, but changed her mind and opted for a caesarean section.
According to the defence, the request for a CS came rather too late, and the doctors could not have done otherwise.
The court however found from the evidence that the request for a CS was made on the morning of November 11, 2015, and could not have been said to have come late.
Trial Judge, Justice Kwaku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo, noted that the Hospital did not provide any “plausible or reasonable explanation” as to why the request for a CS was not met.
He also observed that though experts in the field knew what was best for the deceased, there were no doctors or house officers during Mrs. Nyamekye’s labour to review the process and so no proper monitoring was done on her in the process.
The deceased also suffered High Blood Pressure in her lifetime, and the doctors admitted that she bled to death.
According to Justice Ackaah-Boafo, “her death was a preventable one”.
“The only logical confusion the court ought to come to is that the deceased died out of injuries caused her.”
He also observed that blood that was requested to the theatre during the process, and was subsequently delivered, had not been used in the procedure.
The judge, subsequently, concluded that the doctors and nurses on the patient were negligent in the discharge of their duties.
The 37 Military Hospital, the judge said, is liable for the negligence of its staff that resulted in the death of Mrs. Nyamekye.
Justice Kwaku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo lamented the increasing cases of lack of attention in the country’s medical facilities and admonished that health caregivers, like drivers on the road, must be attentive to duty and discharge their burden with the best possible care.
A Professor at the University of Ghana Business School who is also a Human Resource Specialist, Kwasi Amponsah Tawiah, has said the First Lady Rebecca Akufo-Addo should not have returned the allowances paid her to the state.
In his view, Mrs Akufo-Addo should have held on with the decision until a committee is put in place to determine whether or not First and Second Ladies should be paid those allowances.
His comments come after Mrs Akufo-Addo has refunded all the allowances paid her since 2017.
On Tuesday, July 13, she issued a Consolidated Bank Ghana Limited cheque for GH¢899,097.84 as a refund of all allowances received since 2017.
She had announced on Monday, July 12, that due to the “extremely negative opinions” which have laced conversations on her allowances, she was refunding every pesewa.
She also served notice not to receive any monies that have been allocated to be paid to her pursuant to recommendations of the Professor Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu Committee, which was tasked in 2019 to review emoluments of Article 71 officeholders.
She found the public debate “distasteful, seeking to portray her as a venal, self-serving and self-centered woman who does not care about the plight of ordinary Ghanaian”.
Barely 24 hours after that, her office has written to the Chief of Staff, Frema Osei Opare, to present the cheque number for the full refund of the monies.
“Her Excellency, the First Lady remains committed to her role as First Lady and is devoted to her charity work championing the wellbeing of women and children in Ghana,” wrote Mrs Shirley Laryea of the Office of the First Lady.
Professor Amponsah Tawiah told TV3’s Abena Tabi that “I don’t think that it will resolve the issues.
“We all know that the First Lady the Second Lady occupy offices and they have staff who work with them.
“I guess what is actually happening now is because of the hullabaloo surrounding it, as a first step in trying to create some sanity in the system they decided to return it.
“But I would have thought that that could have been held on for some critical look, because at the end of the day perhaps if a committee is put in place and we look at all these things and say yes it was right for them to be paid and now we are going to back them back?”
The Ghana Armed Forces have shortlisted some 3, 000 applicants from the Volta and Oti Regions for screening as part of an ongoing recruitment exercise.
The screening exercise, which is ongoing at the Ho Sports Stadium, was segmented in line with the coronavirus protocols.
The Military Command had adopted measures to deny fraudsters access to the screening grounds, which included the introduction of an identification system issued to all potential recruits.
Lt. Col. Edward Sarpong Appiah, Commander of the 66 Artillery Regiment, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA), that recruits for the navy and the air force were screened last week while those for the army began on Monday, July 19.
He said a shortlist list of applicants, who passed the body selection and documentation stages, would be released on Saturday, July 24, to participate in a nationwide examination on Sunday, July 25.
Sunday’s examination results would be released on Tuesday, July 27, and those who passed would proceed to Accra to continue with the recruitment process.
Lt. Col. Appiah told the GNA that recruitments were to fill vacancies in the system and that the quota for the Volta and Oti Regions was based on the 2010 national population and housing census.
He said an increase in the number of potential women recruits into the armed forces was expected as the old perception that the force was reserved for males, was “fading out.”
“More females are joining the infantry unlike in the past when they enlisted for the stores, supply or clericals,” the Commander said.
He met with the applicants at the Ho Sports Stadium and encouraged them not to allow themselves to be “outwitted by anyone,” as the recruitment process did not include any third party and was free of charge.
“The recruitment is free and is not paid for. You must go through the system and nobody should engage any third party. Just cooperate with the directives and all will be fine,” Lt. Col. Appiah said.
He said the exercise, although very competitive, had been peaceful so far and that the armed forces maintained its code which denied intake of persons with tattoos, body piercings, physical mutations and some medical conditions.
The Commander noted that the various Regional Coordinating Councils, the Municipal and District Assemblies and traditional authorities were alerted at the beginning of 2021 about the commencement of the exercise, which was also advertised to the public
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said “an economic recovery is underway” in Ghana, adding: “Growth is expected to rebound to 4.7 per cent in 2021 supported by a strong cocoa season and mining and services activity and inflation remaining within the Bank of Ghana target”.
The current account deficit is projected to improve to 2.2 per cent of GDP, supported by a pick-up in oil prices, and gross international reserves are expected to remain stable.
The 2021 budget, the IMF said, “envisages a fiscal deficit of 13.9 per cent of GDP in 2021, including energy and financial sector costs, and a gradual medium-term fiscal adjustment which would support a decline in public debt starting in 2024”.
However, the IMF warned, “this outlook is subject to significant uncertainty, including from new pandemic waves and risks associated with large financing needs and increasing public debt”.
Read the IMF’s full statement below:
IMF Executive Board Concludes 2021 Article IV Consultation with Ghana
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC–July 20, 2021:The Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concluded the Article IV consultationwith Ghana on July 19, 2021.
Ghana was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. The government response helped contain the pandemic and support the economy, but at the cost of a record fiscal deficit. The economic outlook is improving, even though risks remain, including from the evolution of the pandemic and rising debt vulnerabilities.
The pandemic had a severe impact on economic activity. Growth slowed to 0.4 per cent in 2020 from 6.5 per cent in 2019, food prices spiked, and poverty increased.
The fiscal deficit including energy and financial sector costs worsened to 15.2 per cent of GDP, with a further 2.1 per cent of GDP in additional spending financed through the accumulation of domestic arrears.
The current account deficit widened slightly to 3.1 per cent of GDP as the decline in oil exports was partially offset by higher gold prices, resilient remittances, and weaker imports.
The Ghanaian cedi remained stable against the US dollar, partly due to central bank intervention, and gross international reserves remained at 3.2 months of imports.
External and domestic financing conditions tightened considerably at the start of the pandemic, but have improved since, and Ghana successfully returned to international capital markets for a US$3 billion Eurobond issuance in March 2021.
An economic recovery is underway. Growth is expected to rebound to 4.7 per cent in 2021, supported by a strong cocoa season and mining and services activity, and inflation remaining within the Bank of Ghana target.
The current account deficit is projected to improve to 2.2 per cent of GDP, supported by a pickup in oil prices, and gross international reserves are expected to remain stable.
The 2021 budget envisages a fiscal deficit of 13.9 per cent of GDP in 2021, including energy and financial sector costs, and a gradual medium-term fiscal adjustment which would support a decline in public debt starting in 2024.
However, this outlook is subject to significant uncertainty, including from new pandemic waves and risks associated with large financing needs and increasing public debt.
Executive Board Assessment Executive Directors agreed with the thrust of the staff appraisal. They noted that the pandemic had a severe impact on Ghana’s economy, with slower growth, higher food prices, and increased poverty.
Directors commended the Ghanaian authorities for their proactive response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which mitigated its economic impact, but contributed to a record fiscal deficit and increased public debt vulnerabilities.
While there are encouraging signs of an economic recovery, they noted that it remains uneven across sectors. In this context, Directors stressed the importance of entrenching prudent macroeconomic policies, ensuring debt sustainability, and pressing ahead with structural reforms to deliver a sustainable, inclusive, and green economic recovery.
While noting that risks to Ghana’s capacity to repay have increased, Directors concurred that they are still manageable and that Ghana’s capacity to repay the Fund remains adequate. Directors welcomed the fiscal adjustment envisaged in the 2021 budget. They stressed that fiscal consolidation is needed to address debt sustainability and rollover risks, as Ghana continues to be classified at high risk of debt distress. To protect the most vulnerable, considerations could be given to more progressive revenue measures and a faster return to the pre-pandemic level of spending, with a shift towards social, health, and development spending. Directors also encouraged the timely completion of the planned audit of COVID‑19 emergency spending and new expenditure arrears.
Directors agreed that the monetary policy stance remains broadly appropriate, while noting that tighter policy would be needed if inflationary pressures materialise. Although gross international reserves are relatively high, Directors stressed the need to guard against erosion of external buffers and remain committed to a flexible exchange rate regime. Directors also encouraged the authorities to limit monetary financing of the deficit.
Directors noted that the financial sector cleanup had made the sector more resilient but stressed that banks’ growing holdings of sovereign debt creates risks and crowds out private sector credit.
In this regard, they took positive note of ongoing supervisory and regulatory reforms, which are important steps to protect financial stability. Directors also welcomed the improvements in the AML/CFT framework that allowed Ghana to exit the FATF “grey list”. Directors emphasised that the authorities’ structural transformation and digitalisation agendas are critical to support the recovery.
They noted that the structural transformation can be complemented by the ongoing energy sector review, diversification in tourism, and the digital transition, which has the potential to reduce corruption, boost tax revenues, and improve service delivery. Directors supported continued capacity development efforts in these areas.
It is expected that the next Article IV consultation with Ghana will be held on the standard 12-month cycle
The management of Puma Energy Ghana Ltd and Blue Ocean Investment Limited led by its Group Managing Director, Henry Osei on Monday, 19 July 2021 paid a courtesy call on the Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority, Dr Mustapha Abdul-Hamid.
The visit was to among others, welcome the new Chief Executive of NPA and also congratulate him on his assumption into office.
The meeting deliberated on the Group’s investment in the Petroleum Downstream industry such as; being the first company to establish a cylinder bottling plant which is at 95% completion stage and the enhanced Kotoka International Airport aviation fuel depot which added storage capacity of 10,000 metric tonnes to the existing 750 metric tonnes.
Dr Abdul-Hamid assured the industry he was going to ensure players were abiding by the rules in the industry
Mr Osei said the Group was looking forward to strengthening its relationship with the NPA and indicated that “as a key stakeholder of the industry, we will lend our support to you as you take over as the new chief executive
The Producer Price Inflation (PPI) rate for June 2021 was 10.1 percent the Ghana Statistical Service has said.
This rate indicates that between June 2020 and June 2021 (year-on-year), the PPI increased by 10.1 percent. This rate represents a 1.7 percentage point decrease in producer inflation relative to the rate recorded in May 2021 (11.8%).
The month-on-month change in producer price index between May 2021 and June 2021 was 1.1 percent.
The producer price inflation in the Mining and Quarrying sub-sector decreased by 3.2 percentage points over the May 2021 rate of 12.7 percent to record 9.5 percent in June 2021.
The producer inflation for the Manufacturing sub-sector, which constitutes more than two-thirds of the total industry, decreased by 1.8 percentage points to record 12.8 percent. The utility sub-sector recorded no inflation rate for June 2021.
In June 2020, the producer price inflation rate for all industry was 9.5 percent. The rate decreased to 9.0 percent in August 2020. It increased to 9.7 percent in September 2020 but declined consistently to record 7.0 percent in December 2020.
In March 2021, the rate increased to 13.0 percent. However, in April 2021, it declined to 10.9 percent. In May 2021, the rate rose to 11.8 percent but decreased to 10.1 percent in June 2021
Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia has called for enhanced national dialogue on the sustainable exploitation of Ghana’s minerals, forest and wildlife resources to ensure that the lives of the living and generations yet unborn are not adversely affected by unregulated exploitation.
Warning that the nation risks losing its forest cover, as well as the many beautiful rivers and streams if negative practices such as illegal mining and indiscriminate wood harvesting and burning are not curtailed, Dr Bawumia called for increased collaboration and engagements with stakeholders, especially those directly affected by such activities, to address the looming danger.
The Vice-president made the clarion call at the 2nd Regional Consultative Dialogue on Small Scale Mining and Deforestation held in Tamale on Monday, 19 July 2021.
The first dialogue was held in Kumasi, following the National Dialogue in Accra, opened by His Excellency the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
Organised by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources under the theme “Sustainable Small Scale Mining and Forest Conservation for National Development”, the Dialogue brought together traditional authorities, Regional Ministers of all five northern regions, Members of Parliament, Leadership of the Parliamentary Select Committees on Lands, Forestry, Environment and Mining, representatives of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners and Captains of the Mining and Forestry Industries.
“Many livelihoods depend on mining and the exploitation of forest resources. The contribution of the mineral and forest resources to our national development agenda can, therefore, not be overemphasised. However, the exploitation of these resources have not been without certain negative impacts on the natural environment because of the unsustainable practices that we employ, leading to pollution of water bodies, chemical pollution”, he indicated.
“The northern sector of Ghana lies within a fragile ecological setting and, therefore, has its own peculiar challenges as far as natural resource exploitation is concerned. The north is particularly challenged with forest degradation as a result of overexploitation of trees, especially, rosewood for export, excessive reliance on fuel-wood, and charcoal production.
“These continue to be major challenges, including rampant annual fires which have dire consequences on climate change and its adverse impacts on our livelihoods and the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he pointed out.
Politics
A discussion on sustainable exploitation devoid of politics is the best way to arrive at a national solution, Vice-president Bawumia emphasised.
“Sustainability is key, in our quest to exploit our diverse minerals, forest and wildlife resources, to ensure that we are able to meet our present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
“Ghana has beautiful and majestic rivers and streams. Unfortunately, today, there is not much to celebrate about our water bodies and wildlife habitats because of unacceptable mining and logging practices and other drivers of deforestation.
“The call for the national dialogue is to enable us to have a national consensus on sustainable methods of using the minerals and forest resources of our country without appealing to partisanship. Indeed, issues relating to the exploitation of our natural resources are aspects of our national life which must be insulated from partisan politics.”
He reminded the participants: “Illegal mining and logging on our lands and in our forests happen within communities. We are aware of these illegal activities as members of these communities”.
“While recognising that those engaged in illegal mining and logging activities have livelihood concerns, we should equally recognise that their activities have an adverse impact on farmers, on our food security, and on our common survival. Everyone here today should be, and is, concerned about this dangerous menace
The students on Monday demonstrated against the refusal of the school officials to allow them to go on a mid-term holiday.
The police in the Ashanti Region have dismissed reports suggesting they assaulted some students of the Kumasi Girls Senior High School and St Louis Senior High School on Monday (19 July) following agitation at the two schools.
The students on Monday demonstrated against the refusal of the school officials to allow them to go on a mid-term holiday destroying properties in the process.
A statement issued by the police said the stories and videos being circulated on social media about the incidents are false and a fabrication to bring the police service into disrepute.
“The Ashanti Regional Police Command has monitored the media space and taken note of reports published by a number of media houses accusing the police and the military of assaulting students of Kumasi Girls SHS on the night of 19 July 2021. The reports are unfortunate, false and a fabrication.
“It will be recalled that on the night of 19 July 2021, at around 21:00 hrs, Police received a complaint from the headmistress of Kumasi Girls SHS that the students were demonstrating and were destroying school property. The Bohyen Police District and Suame Police Division responded to the incident. At about the same time students of St Louis SHS had also started agitating and the KNUST Police District and Manhyia Police Division also responded to that incident,” the statement said.
The police has refuted claims suggesting the military were also deployed to bring the situation under control.
“It is also untrue that the military was involved in bringing the situation under control. The only military officers who were present at Kumasi Girls Secondary School were part of a joint patrol team who were close to the school and had gone there to verify what was happening.”
The Overlord of the Wala Traditional Area, Naa Fuseini Seidu Pelpuo IV, has said the few challenges facing the country cannot be a premise for it to be described as a failed state.
Naa Pelpuo, who made the observation during a visit to his palace in Wa by the Defence and Interior subcommittees of Parliament, cited Parliament as one of the institutions that was working for the progress of the country and said, “If for nothing at all, there are institutions that are working and Parliament is a perfect example.”
The committee, which was led by its Chairman, Mr Kennedy Agyapong, was at the palace in Wa on a fact-finding mission on the recent military assaults on some of the residents.
Context
The Wa Naa said the people were saddened by the incident but had found it necessary to forgive because of the actions taken so far by the government and the Military High Command.
Naa Pelpuo was hopeful that the investigations by Parliament would in the end, result in very key decisions being taken to ensure that such incidents do not recur in Wa or other parts of the country again.
Response
Mr Agyapong, for his part, told the overload about their main objective for the visit which he said was to investigate what happened on July 1, 2021, between the military and some civilians to aid in an informed action.
To that end, he said members of the committee found it necessary to call on the Wa Naa to plead for forgiveness on behalf of the military and the country.
The Upper West Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, assured the committee that whatever information they needed from the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) would be readily provided.
He said the Military High Command and the police were equally carrying out separate investigations and said when Parliament concluded its investigations, the three reports would be put together and those found culpable would be dealt with.
“There’s no way anybody can be shielded,” the regional minister assured. —GNA.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Tuesday expressed worry about the surge in COVID-19 cases nationwide, saying the nation cannot afford another hit of the pandemic.
Thus, everyone in Ghana, should adhere strictly to the set protocols on hygiene and social distancing, as well as other coronavirus restrictions, until the country attains a very appreciable level of COVID-19 vaccination.
In an address to mark this year’s Eid-ul Adha celebration, at the newly-commissioned Ghana National Mosque Complex at Kanda in Accra, President Akufo-Addo Akufo-Addo noted that the current numbers in infection and mortality rates of the disease, was a realism that the country was heading for a full blown third wave.
“From the rising numbers, it is safe to conclude that we have let our guards down, and we are beginning to live our lives and conduct our businesses as though we are in normal times.
“It is important to repeat that the virus is still with us, and until each and every one of us receives a double dose of the vaccine, the protocols must continue to be a part and parcel of our daily activities
He stressed that even with the global shortage of vaccines, the Ministry of Health was ensuring that the target to innoculate the adult population of the country was achieved on schedule.
“Until that goal is achieved, I will continue to count on the support of the Ghanaian people to ensure our collective security,” he stated.
He stressed that government was determined and would ensure that 20 million Ghanaians were innoculated for the disease before year end.
Whilst urging the Muslim community in Ghana to subdue all celebrations associated with the Islamic feast, he implored all to keep up their guard in order for the country not to erode the gains it made due to the measures taken by government to contain the effect of the disease when it broke out early last year.
“As we continue to count on the grace of God to protect our country from the ravages of the pandemic, like we have done since its outbreak, we can only minimise its health effects and avoided a full blown third wave, if we continue to be responsible and observe the hygiene protocols’” he said.
Ghana, he noted, was recovering from the scourge of the pandemic, and was faring better than most other country’s devastated by disease, and all must be done to preserve those gains, which had kept investors confident in the nation’s economy, with many more intending to pitch camp in Ghana.
Drawing on the lessons of the Eid-ul Adha, the President said the sacrifice of prophet Ibrahim which was being celebrated, “must spur us on to sacrifice for the progress and development of our society in our various areas of endeavour.”
“We must make matters of national.interest paramount in anything we do,” he emphasised.
The President asked the Muslim community to to use the period of devotion to “remember our nation” and pray for wisdom and guidance for the government “so that we can steer the ship of state in manner that allows us to navigate the stormy and turbulent economic and other challenges that confront our nation and the world.”
He affirmed that he (President) was on the side of Ghana and would never act in any manner that would serve as a disadvantage for the Ghanaian people.
President Akufo-Addo spoke on the need for Ghanaians to maintain the peace and religious harmony existing in the country.
He urged all in the country, especially the religions, to be tolerant of each other, “so that we can create a free, conducive atmosphere for the development of our nation.”
The President pledged to support the development of Zongo communities.
He urged the youth in the Zongo communities to take advantage of the many empowerment initiatives and opportunities by government to develop their talents and contribute to national development.
“We see Zongo communities as a place of great talent which can be harnessed for the development of the Zongo communities and the entire country.
“Zongo residents have a proud history of contributing to the development of our country, and I urge you to follow in the footsteps of your forebears,” he implored.
President also harped on the need for respect for free speech, but called to order those who use incendiary language to stoke divisions in the country.
“We must all bear in mind that words can be as incendiary as guns. The Bible tells us that death and life are in the power of the tongue,” urging Ghanaians to be mindful of their speech to preserve national unity and cohesion.
The Chief Iman, Sheikh Nuhu Sharubutu, in his sermon, called on Muslims across the country to live in harmony and peace to enhance national development.
He prayed Allah to enable the Muslim community to sacrifice personal interests for the common good of society.
Eid-Ul-Adha is an important religious festival on the Islamic calendar during which Muslims pray and meditate in commemoration of “The Duty of Sacrifice” dating back to the era of Prophet Abraham.
Senior journalist Malik Kweku Baako has threatened to expose Assin Central Member of Parliament Kennedy Ohene Agyapong and take him him to court like he did sometime back.
He said he has heard reports that Ken Agyapong is threatening to release videos of him involved in corruption deals to undermine the Akufo-Addo-led government.
“I am told he claims he has some ‘video evidence’ of my involvement in some corrupt, illegal and criminal activities,” Mr Baako wrote on Tuesday, July 20
“He had none to support his bogus, malicious and mischievous allegations at the High Court. If he is truly a man of COURAGE OF CONVICTION, I challenge him to make his so-called evidence public for all to see and hear!”
Find his write-up below:
It is very sad how some people make ugly allegations against others in the public space but fail abysmally to substantiate the allegations when they are provided with an opportunity in a court of law (competent jurisdiction).
Kennedy Agyapong and his “star witness” , Nana Kwaku Badu, the NPP Constituency Chairman for Amenfi East were “unmitigated disasters” during cross-examination in the High Court. Kennedy Agyapong, as Defendant, failed to subpoena Frimpong-Boateng as he had indicated to the Court he would; claiming I(Plaintiff)had threatened the Minister, hence the latter’s refusal and/or failure to show up in Court to testify on his(Kennedy Agyapong’s) behalf! What crude nonsense!null
After suffering a humiliating defeat at the High Court, and pending the outcome of his weak and incompetent appeal at the Court of Appeal, this man appears to have grown “some balls” and has re-started spewing the usual ugly noises of allegations of me being involved in corruption and clandestine activities to undermine the Akufo-Addo Administration; similar allegations he proved chronically incompetent and unable to substantiate in the Court of Competent Jurisdiction.
I shall be serializing the transcripts of the cross-examination and excerpts of the judgment of the High Court to illustrate the depths of incompetence and poverty of intellect and logic of this noise maker for all to appreciate the kind of person we are dealing with.
I am told he claims he has some “video evidence” of my involvement in some corrupt, illegal and criminal activities. He had none to support his bogus, malicious and mischievous allegations at the High Court. If he is truly a man of COURAGE OF CONVICTION, I challenge him to make his so-called evidence public for all to see and hear!
However, he should note that I will certainly not hestitate to cure his apparently incurable mischief and mendacity at the appropriate forum as I did the last time! And I can assure him that he would lose again! He would lose because he doesn’t tell the truth! And I have no cobwebs of corruption in my wardrobe for him to unearth! If he has evidence, he’s challenged to publicize it and abate his crude and cheap public stunts! I am immune to those useless, ugly and noisy antics of his!
Somebody should remind Kennedy Agyapong that he has a MISSED CALL!
• Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah says terrorist groups are currently recruiting in Ghana
• He said the GoG is paying attention to the security situation in West Africa
• He indicated that more troops, more equipment have been moved up North
Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, Information Minister, has revealed that, terrorist groups operating with the West African sub-region are currently recruiting some Ghanaians to aid their cause.
According to him, activities along the borders of Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast are being heightened in recent times due to the killing of some civilians, therefore, the government of Ghana is beefing up security along the country’s borders to prevent any possible attacks.
Speaking on Asaase radio, Monday, July 19, the minister explained, “I am sad to say that our security situation in West Africa is getting a bit more precarious and we are having to pay a lot more attention to it than before.null
“Terrorism and piracy are some of our biggest security threats today around West Africa. If you look at the numbers and how close, it is getting home…”
He added: “And the fact that now we have reason to believe that some recruitments have gone on here in Ghana, participating in the West Africa terrorism enterprise, there is a lot more that needs to be done.”
Oppong-Nkrumah noted that, the government under the leadership of President Nana Akufo-Addo has done a lot, “more troops, more equipment have been moved up North.”
In May, there were various reports of some armed pirates kidnapping at least five crew members onboard a fishing vessel at Tema harbour.
According to eyewitnesses, the vessel was approached by a skiff with eight persons onboard.
Five of the alleged armed pirates according to the report seized the vessel for at least six hours, disembarking with five crew members onboard, which includes the captain, chief officer, second chief officer, chief engineer and boatswain’s mate.
“They also stole belongings and valuables of the crew,” a security source told Asaase radio.
President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has made a passionate appeal to journalists, political commentators and the Ghanaian population at large not to abuse the prevailing atmosphere of free speech in the country as any such mishandling could lead to a negative impact on the territorial integrity of the nation.
Ghana is noted for its vibrant media landscape and its endorsement of freedom of expression particularly under the fourth republican constitution which has been in force for the last twenty-nine (29) years. However, recent developments of disinformation and misinformation on the country’s media space has been a source of worry for many well-meaning Ghanaians.
Addressing Muslim faithful at the National Mosque of Ghana Complex at Nima, on 20th of July 2021, to commemorate Eid Al-Adha celebrations in Ghana, President Akufo-Addo says he and his administration are firm believers of free speech, however, the entire country must be mindful of the fact that unguided utterance could compromise the security of the state as witnessed in other part of the African continent such as Rwanda.
“I am a firm supporter of free speech. The government I lead is also a firm supporter of free speech amply evidenced by the culture of free speech prevailing in the country. However, we must all bear in mind that words can be as incendiary as guns. The Bible tells us that “death and life are in the power of the tongue”. All it took was the mating of words by an irresponsibly journalist amplified by the power of radio to ignite the tragic genocide in Rwanda” President Akufo-Addo said.
“It is important for all of us to recognize that there is only one country we call home and that is Ghana. We must protect our way of life in the words of the national pledge, with all our strength and with all our hearts. We should not allow the actions and utterance of a few misguided persons to jeopardize and destroy the united Ghana we currently possess which is the envy of many on the continent and in the world” the President added.
COVID-19null
In his address, President Akufo-Addo noted with concern, the recent increase in numbers as far as the COVID-19 circumstances of the state is concerned. According to the Ghana Health Service COVID-19 online portal, (www.ghanahealthservice.org/covid19), there are three thousand, one hundred and twenty-four (3,124) active cases in the country as at today, the 20th of July 2021 and sadly, eight hundred and fifteen (815) persons have lost their lives as a result of the pandemic.
Overall, ninety-nine thousand, one hundred and sixty (99,160) cases have been recorded since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus in the country in March 2020 and some ninety-five thousand, two hundred and twenty-one (95,221) persons have thankfully recovered from the viral infection. The new infections over the reporting period is at an alarming rate of three hundred and forty-three (343).
“As we continue to count of the Grace of God to protect our country from the ravages of the pandemic like we have done since its outbreak, we can only minimize its health effects and avoid a full-blown third wave if we continue to be responsible and observe the safety and hygiene protocols” the President said.
“The recent increase in the number of infections is a source of worry for me and indeed a source of worry for all Ghanaians. from the rising numbers, it is safe to concluded that we let our guard down and we are beginning to live our lives and conduct our business as though we are in normal times. It is important to repeat that the virus is still with us and until each and every one of us receives a double dose of the vaccine, the protocols must continue to be a part and parcel of our daily activities” Akufo-Addo further indicated.
Eid Al-Adhanull
Eid Al-Adha, the ‘festival of sacrifice’ commemorates the prophet Ibrahim’s devotion to God. It is the second significant religious festival of Islam. The first of the two observances is Eid al-Fitr, which was observed in May to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
During the festival of Eid Al-Adha, Muslims acknowledge the devotion of Ibrahim, who was willing to sacrifice his son, Ismail, under the order of Allah SWT (God). Ibrahim, also known as Abraham, is a prominent figure in Islam, Judaism and Christianity.
President Akufo-Addo in his remarks, congratulated the Muslim community as they celebrate Eid Al-Adha. He called on all Muslims to emulate the example of the Prophet Mohammed and to sacrifice for the building of the Ghana we all want.
What may have started to some as an ordinary desire to acquire academic laurels for the sake of faster rise in the corridors of political power, will today go down in the history of achievements as an inspiration to generations yet unborn.
Graduating for his first degree at age 64 years, MBA at 67 years, and a PhD at 75 years, we celebrate Ghana’s former Ambassador (High Commissioner) to South Africa, Dr. George Ayisi Boateng for a feat worth etching in gold and telling for many years to come.Dr Ayisi Boateng with his family
Known to his numerous admirers as “Onipa Nua”, Dr. Ayisi Boateng started humbly as a media philanthropist who would readily help media men in Kumasi get around with free gallons of fuel from his petrol station at Asafo. When he opted to pursue a university education, many of his classmates were way younger than his children. He would brush shoulders with them as peers and turn around to help them with free fuel as a father.
Today we celebrate “Dr. Onipa Nua” as an icon in history and a beacon of hope for his luminary achievement. We pray his achievement will go a long way to concretize the government’s effort at getting every Ghanaian youth to go to school. Ayekoo Onipa Nua!
President Nana Akufo-Addo says government will be announcing projects and programmes in the upcoming mid-year budget to help in creating some one million jobs.
The Minister of Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta Atta, is expected to present the mid-year budget review for the 2021 Financial Year in Parliament on Thursday, July 29, 2021.
The jobs, according to the President, will come under the Ghana COVID-19 Alleviation and Revitalization of Enterprises Support (Ghana CARES) programme, and will be created over a three-year period.
President Akufo-Addo made the announcement during his Eid message, as part of this year’s Eid-ul-Adha celebrations at the National mosque on Tuesday, July 20, 2021.
“As has been well-publicized, a few days ago, the Ministry of Finance granted financial clearance to the Ministry of Education and the security services for the recruitment of some 11,800 people to beef up their operations. It does not end there. We will through interventions to be set out in the mid-year budget review announce plans for the creation of some one million more jobs under the Ghana CARES ‘Obaatampa’ project over the course of the next 3 years.”
“We are determined to pursue our agenda for jobs creation in order to give opportunities for our youth to nurture their talents for the development of our country,” he added.
GHS100 billion Ghana CARES program to be financed through FDIs and PPPs
Government had said it is looking forward to funding its ambitious GHS100 billion Ghana CARES programme and other initiatives through Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) and Private Public Partnerships.
Speaking on The Point of View on Citi TV, Mr. Ofori-Atta said,“I think we are looking more at PPPs and FDIs directly into that. We certainly will then determine each of these transactions, whether government will have to do something with tax waivers or others
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