Lightning strikes have killed 20 people across eight districts of the eastern Indian state of Bihar in just 24 hours.
More thunderstorm with lightning has been forecast in northern parts of the state for Wednesday and Thursday.
BiharChiefMinister Nitish Kumar has asked people to closely follow the advice of the state’s disaster management authority.
Hundreds die in India every year in lightning incidents during monsoon rains.
One of the reasons cited for the high number of deaths is the large number of people working outdoors in India compared to other parts of the world, which makes them more vulnerable.
On Tuesday, Mr. Kumar announced a compensation of 400,00 rupees ($5,008; £4,154) for the families of each of the deceased.
The chief minister had held a meeting last week and asked state officials to install lightning arresters at all government buildings, including schools and hospitals, The Times of India newspaper reported.
The geographical position of the state makes it particularly susceptible to frequent lightning strikes during the monsoons, the report said.
In February this year, theBBC reported that the number of lightning strikes in India had risen sharply in recent years.
Satellite data gathered by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology also shows that strikes had “increased rapidly” between 1995 and 2014.
India recorded more than 18 million lightning strikes between April 2020 and March 2021, according to a study by the non-profit Climate Resilient Observing Systems Promotion Council. This was a 34% rise over a similar period during the previous year.
A member of a gang of monkeys that has terrorized residents of a Japanese city for weeks has been caught and killed, officials say.
The macaques have injured almost 50 people in Yamaguchi.
The male primate was found on the grounds of a high school on Tuesday evening by specially commissioned hunters.
It was tranquilized and later put down when it was identified as one of the animals responsible for the attacks.
Authorities have been hunting the monkeys since the attacks began on adults and children about three weeks ago. Most injuries have been mild scratches and bites.
Incidents are still being reported and the search continues for other members of the gang, an official at the local agricultural department told AFP.
“Eyewitnesses describe monkeys of different sizes, and even after the capture, we’ve been getting reports of new attacks,” he said.
The captured monkey was estimated to be four years old and was about half a meter tall (1ft 7in).
Japanese macaques are common in large parts of the country and in some areas are considered a pest, eating crops and sometimes entering homes.
However, the attacks in Yamaguchi are unusual.
A city official said before the capture that it was “rare to see this many attacks in a short period of time”.
“Initially, only children and women were attacked,” they said, adding: “Recently, elderly people and adult men have been targeted too.”
Earlier efforts to capture the animals with traps failed and police patrols set up in early July have been unsuccessful until now.
Reports include a four-year-old girl scratched after a monkey broke into her apartment and one animal entering a kindergarten classroom.
Once a vulnerable species, Japanese macaques have recently seen a population boom.
This has led to “serious conflicts” with people, according to research from Yamagata University. Changes in human behavior and forest environments may be one cause.
Thomas De Fraye from north London was looking forward to the Women’s Euro 2022 semi-final between Germany and France in Milton Keynes – but now can’t get there because of the rail strikes.
“I was going to go after work,” he said. “Now there are no trains.”
The disruption comes as 40,000 RMT union members at Network Rail and 14 train companies take part in a fresh strike over pay, jobs, and terms.
Only 20% of train journeys are expected to go ahead on Wednesday.
Mr De Fraye said he booked his ticket for today’s Women’s Euro 2022 semi-final “many months ago before there was any news about strikes”.
He does not drive and a bus would not get him there in time for kick-off.
“I live in Enfield so it’s not even that far so I was going to go after work,” said the 37-year-old.
“Now there are no trains running and an Uber would cost me £90 one way. That price would surely increase on the day due to demand and I have to get back too.”
Mr De Fraye gave his ticket away on Twitter. “If I can help someone else go there that makes me happy,” he said.
Which trains are running?
The Department for Transport said the RMT was “hell-bent on creating further misery for passengers across the UK”.
But the RMT accused Transport Secretary Grant Shapps of not allowing the rail industry to do a deal with the union.
Network Rail chief executive Andrew Haines said, despite its best efforts to find a breakthrough, there would be more rail disruption due to strikes.
In addition to the members of the RMT, members of the Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) at Avanti West Coast, which operates some trains to Birmingham, are also going on strike on Wednesday.
The knock-on effects of the disruption are expected to roll into Thursday, Network Rail said.
Separately, on Saturday, about 5,500 members of the train drivers’ union Aslef at seven rail companies will strike.
Further RMT strikes are also planned for 18 and 20 August, with London Underground staff planning to strike on 19 August.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman had urged the RMT union to call off the strikes, saying on Tuesday: “We are concerned about the impact this will have on the public going about their everyday lives.”
Places including Blackpool, Portsmouth, and Bournemouth have no train services at all and elsewhere people are being told only to travel by train if necessary.
Network Rail has published a special timetable for Wednesday, with trains set to start later and finish earlier than usual, between 07:00 and 18:30 BST.
Passengers are being warned that the last trains from London will leave for Edinburgh at 14:00, for Birmingham at 15:43, and for Manchester at 15:40.
Network Rail’s Andrew Haines said: “I can only apologize for the impact this pointless strike will have on passengers, especially those traveling for holidays or attending events such as the Uefa Women’s Euro 2022 semi-final and the opening ceremony of theCommonwealth Games [on Thursday].
“It is frustrating to yet again ask our passengers to change their plans and only make essential journeys.”
Network Rail said its latest pay offer was worth more than 5%, but that it depended on workers accepting “modernizing reforms”. However, the RMT union said this was a “paltry sum” and represents “a real-terms pay cut”.
IMAGE SOURCE, PA MEDIA
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch, center, stood at picket lines during the first round of strikes in June
RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said: “The Department for Transport controls the 14 train operators we are in dispute with and Network Rail is a publicly owned company who does not have the final sign-off on any deal. That lies with the Secretary of State for Transport.
“We will continue to talk to the employers but there remains a huge chasm between us around pay, job security, and working conditions.”
A Department for Transport spokesperson said: “RMT’s actions will affect people in need of urgent care, hardworking families off on long-awaited holidays and day trips, and businesses.”
US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s rumored plan for a trip to Taiwan has infuriated China and left the White House with a serious geopolitical headache. How big a problem is this?
China has warned of “serious consequences” if Mrs. Pelosi were to proceed with her visit.
Second, in line for the presidency, Mrs. Pelosi would be the highest-ranking US politician to travel to the island since 1997.
This rankles China, which sees self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province that must become a part of the country. Beijing has not ruled out the possible use of force to achieve this.
Even the Biden administration has reportedly tried to dissuade the California Democrat from going.
Last week, President Joe Biden told reporters “the military thinks it’s not a good idea”, but his White House has called Chinese rhetoric against any such trip “clearly unhelpful and not necessary”.
The state department says Mrs. Pelosi has not announced any travel and the US approach to Taiwan remains unchanged.
While the US maintains what it calls a “robust, unofficial relationship” with Taiwan, it has formal diplomatic ties with China and not Taiwan.
Ms. Pelosi’s trip, if it were to happen, also comes amid increased tensions between Washington and Beijing – and ahead of a much-anticipated phone call between US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping.
Why would Pelosi want to visit Taiwan?
There is strong bipartisan support for Taiwan among the American public and in the US Congress.
And over a congressional career spanning 35 years, Speaker Pelosi has been a vocal critic of China.
Are the US and China heading to war over Taiwan?
The US watching China very closely on Taiwan – General
She has denounced its human rights record, met with pro-democracy dissidents, and also visited Tiananmen Square to commemorate victims of the 1989 massacre.
Mrs. Pelosi’s original plan was to visit Taiwan in April, but it was postponed after she tested positive for Covid-19.
She has declined to discuss details of the trip, but said last week that it was “important for us to show support for Taiwan”.
Why does China oppose the visit?
Beijing views Taiwan as its territory and has repeatedly raised the specter of annexing it by force if necessary.
What’s behind the China-Taiwan divide?
China and Taiwan: A really simple guide
Chinese officials have expressed anger over what they view as growing diplomatic engagement between Taipei and Washington. This includes a surprise visit to the island by six US lawmakers in April.
On Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian warned his country would take “firm and resolute measures” if Mrs. Pelosi went ahead with her visit.
“And the US will be responsible for all of the serious consequences,” he said.
A spokesman of the Chinese ministry of defense seemed to suggest there could even be a military response.
“If the US side insists on going ahead, the Chinese military will never sit idle and will take strong measures to thwart any external interference and separatist attempts for ‘Taiwan’s independence,” Colonel Tan Kefei told China Daily.
The meeting afforded ACFE the opportunity to familiarize itself with the functions of EOCO in order to establish ties for collaboration in fighting fraud
The executive director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah on Wednesday (20 July) met with members of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) to discuss ways of collaboration between the two institutions.
According to the President of the Association, the meeting was for the ACFE to familiarize itself with the functions of EOCO in order to establish ties for collaboration in the fight against Fraud in Ghana.
COP Addo-Danquah expressed her appreciation to the Association for its willingness to bring its expertise to bear on the operations of the Office.
She added that being an associate member of the association, she looked forward to the invaluable addition that a collaboration between the two organizations would bring.
Following a presentation by EOCO on the Functions of the Office amidst insightful interactions, the President of ACFE affirmed their readiness for a harmonious working relationship with EOCO.
Also in attendance were the deputy director of Operations, Nana Antwi, the director of administration,
and the special assistant to the executive director.
Egyptians were horrified after video footage went viral last month purportedly showing Mohammed Adel stabbing to death Nayera Ashraf, who had rejected his advances, outside her university
A court in Egypt has called for a legal amendment to allow live broadcasts of the execution of the killer of a female student.
Egyptians were horrified after video footage went viral last month purportedly showing Mohammed Adel stabbing to death Nayera Ashraf, who rejected his advances, outside her university.
In a letter to parliament, the court that sentenced the 22-year-old to death said the broadcast of even a part of the proceedings could achieve the goal of deterrence.
Egypt does not broadcast executions, which are always carried out by hanging inside prisons.
A 2015 United Nations survey said nearly eight million Egyptian women were victims of violence.
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Health has expressed concern about the low COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the Ashanti Region.
According to the Regional Health Directorate, 70 percent of the total population of the region was targeted to be vaccinated.
As of the 15th of this month, almost one-point-five million people, representing about 42 percent, had been fully vaccinated.Â
The concern was expressed during an interaction between the Select Committee and the Regional Health Directorate in Kumasi.
The meeting between the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health and the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate was to see how best the COVID-19 vaccination coverage in the region could be scaled up. 62-point-7 percent of the population in the Ashanti Region has at least taken one dose of the COVID vaccine.
According to the Health Directorate, Kumasi Metro has the highest COVID-19 vaccination coverage, while Kwabre East Municipality has the lowest.
The Ashanti Regional Health Director, Dr. Emmanuel Tinkorang, called on the media to lead the advocacy to get people more vaccinated, particularly those who have not taken the second dose of the vaccine.
The Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Health, Dr. Nana Yaw Afriyie, was not happy about the low vaccination coverage in the region, especially among the rural folk.
The concern was expressed during an interaction between the Select Committee and the Regional Health Directorate in Kumasi.
The University of Ghana’s Pro Vice-Chancellor for Students and Academic Affairs Professor Gordon Awandare has argued that it is improper for businesses to “import” foreigners to work for them. According to him, some industry players, import labor because they believe Ghanaian graduates lack employable skills His remarks follow arguments that suggest that Ghanaian universities are unable to train and produce employable graduates hence import labor.
“People get into this argument that the universities are not training the students right and that industry cannot employ them. You know this is one of the often repeated reasons we hear for high unemployment, but we really think that this is something we need to work on together.”
“There is no need to import labor into the country when we have brilliant, young people here who can be trained. So we just have to partner with each other, industry and academia to make sure that we are training the students to suit the needs of industry.”
However, Professor Awandare believes that this could be resolved when universities and employers partner “to train students to suit the needs of industries”. According to him, building a sustainable economy is hinged on producing things on our own and reducing the importation of almost everything. He believes this would impact the economy negatively if left unchecked.
“how do you think that bringing 1000 people from another country which some of the industry often do because they do not want the time to spend to train people.”
“But I think if you want to build a sustainable economy, we cannot keep importing everything including labor. We should be able to produce some of these things here and in producing our own labor force it is crucial in sustaining our own labor economy” he added”
Speaking to TV3 on the sideline of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the University of Ghana and Nestle Ghana, Professor Awandare said, “the University will continue to build more industry partnerships to give practical training to students.”
“The University of Ghana wants to train students for the 21st century and tailor the needs of graduates to meet the demands of the job market,” TV3 quoted Mr. Awandare to have said.
Renowned artiste manager Lawrence Hanson Asiamah, popularly known as Bulldog, has confirmed on 3FM that he is no longer working as manager of dancehall musician Shatta Wale.
For many years, Bulldog has been the pillar behind Shatta Wale. He has been carrying the dancehall musician through the tough music industry in the country.
Rumors surfaced a few months ago that Shatta Wale had sacked Bulldog from his camp as manager but both parties refused to confirm the viral news.
Bulldog spoke the truth into existence on Saturday, July 23 on Showbiz927 on 3FM.
He told host Caleb Nii Boi that indeed he is not working with Shatta Wale.
He, however, stated that the fact that he is no longer managing the artiste does mean they are enemies.
The leadership of artisans and spare parts dealers at Suame Magazine have rendered an unqualified apology to Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu for pelting sachet water and other items at him.
The leaders in a statement noted that the unfortunate incident on Monday was an act of spontaneity by a group of people and the leaders had no hand in it.
It says as leaders, they take full responsibility for what happened and wish to say the youth was wrong and should be condemned in no uncertain terms.
According to the leaders, although residents are frustrated about the poor nature of the road, the manner in which they expressed their displeasure is unrepresentative of the genuine people of Suame Magazine.
The apology comes at the backdrop of a demand for an apology by the NPP Ashanti Regional Members of Parliament on Thursday.
Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Caucus in Parliament, Kwame Anyimadu Antwi who spoke on behalf of the other MPs condemned the actions of Suame residents.
Mr. Anyimadu Antwi also urged the residents to exercise restraint as they lobby the government to fix the roads.
On Monday, some angry residents of Suame booed the MP, over the poor road network in the area.
The MP visited the Constituency to inspect the progress of work on various development projects.
His vehicle was also pelted with sachet water and other items such as coconut husk. It took the timely intervention of the Police to whisk him to safety.
The Kpone- Katamanso Municipal Education Directorate, in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service (GES) and its development agencies, has organized a maiden Municipal Reading Festival in Kpone.
The Reading Festival was on the theme: “Learn to Read, Read to Learn,†to inculcate the habit of reading into students, especially at the lower primary level.
Mr. Samuel Okoe Amanquah, the Municipal Chief Executive, in a speech read on his behalf, pledged that the Municipal Assembly would continue to support educational activities within the municipality to enhance teaching and learning in the various schools.
Mr. Amanquah stressed that the reading festival would also offer the pupils the opportunity to learn new words to improve their vocabularies, adding that being able to read and understand helps the student to perform well during examinations.
The Kpone-Katamanso MCE said due to the lack of intensive reading in the various basic schools, many students did not perform well during their final examinations, stressing that education was vital as far as development was concerned.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the fringes of the reading festival, Mr. Harry Evans Arthur, the Kpone-Katamanso Municipal Education Director, explained that the reading festival was also to highlight the importance of reading to the pupils.
Mr. Arthur said as part of the incentives to boost reading in the municipality, the best readers out of the lot would be allowed to represent the municipality at the regional level.
He urged stakeholders in the education sector, including parents, to support their children to enhance their reading capabilities.
He said the education directorate would ensure the reading festival expands its regime to include students from private schools within the municipality for effective and efficient competition.
The 2022 Kpone-Katamanso reading festival was sponsored by USAID.
The Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, Sam George has been urged to eat humble pie and apologize to the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu for calling him a liar, over an issue, which Sam George has rather been found to have lied.
The MP suggested on his Facebook page that Dr. Bawumia had said that holders of the Ghana Card could use the card to travel outside Ghana, and resulting from Sam George’s own claims, he went on and discredited the Ghana Card as a travel document and also insulted Dr. Bawumia with invectives.
However, following his insults to the Vice President, it has emerged that the Vice President has never said anywhere that the Ghana Card could be used to travel outside the country. What Dr. Bawumia has maintained, public records prove, is that the Ghana Card can be used by Ghanaians, and Ghanaian dual citizens, to travel back to Ghana from any part of the world.
Again, a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirming the Ghana Card as a travel document that Ghanaians, especially dual citizens, can be used to travel into Ghana, has further exposed Sam George’s claims, for which he insulted the Vice President and called him a liar.
It is this development that has drawn the attention of a political communication consultant, Dr. Ekow Acquah to call on Sam George to apologize.
In an article copied GhanaGuardian , Dr. Acquah described Sam George as one who has earned the title of honorable because of the people he represents and asked Sam George to do “what is expected of men of honor” and apologize to Bawumia after he was exposed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and public records.
“Following the Foreign Ministry’s press release and Ghana Immigration releasing data on the number of arrivals with Ghana Cards at the airport, will those who insulted Dr. Bawumia and called him a liar apologize to him”? Dr. Acquah asked.
“If nobody will apologize to the Vice President, at least Hon. Sam George, who has earned the title of Hon. by being the representative of the good people of Ningo Prampram , must do what is expected of men with honor and apologize to Dr. Bawumia for insulting him on his Facebook page on issues he Sam George was clearly wrong and has been exposed.”
“The Vice President has never stated anywhere that the Ghana Card can be used for travels to other countries. He has always maintained that following its recognition by ICAO, Ghanaians, especially dual citizen Ghanaians with foreign passports, can use it to board flights back to Ghana without needing a visa.”
“It was therefore disingenuous and mischievous for a whole honorable member of parliament to launch public attacks on the Vice President and call him names for something he has not said.”
“Indeed if we were in a decent political environment, Sam George in particular, and all those who joined him to insult Dr.Bawumia and bastardize the Ghana Card as a travel document, would have apologized, the moment the Foreign Ministry issued a statement to expose them.”
Below is the full article:
Will those who called Dr. Bawumia a liar over Ghana’s card as a travel document do the honorable and apologize after being exposed?
By Dr. Ekow Acquah (Political Communications Consultant)
One of the most profound development-oriented proverbs in Akan is the saying that; the one who climbs a good tree deserves a push.
In other words, a person embarking on any useful endeavor, whose outcome will benefit all, deserves to be encouraged and supported.
This thought-provoking adage has been part of the daily Ghanaian lexicon, bequeathed to us by our forefathers, to inspire and encourage good deeds and profitable ventures in our societies.
However, on the national scale, the opposite has now become the case. Instead of supporting and pushing people who climb good trees, our society now rather cuts down the tree to see the fall of both the tree and the climber.
The above scenario is the case in the commitment of the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to champion a digitized Ghana, using the Ghana Card launch pad.
Rather than providing a joint, patriotic effort to support the fruitful effort of Dr. Bawumia, some Ghanaians have become the proverbial crab that won’t allow any other crab to climb up the basin. Others are even cutting down the good tree Bawumia is climbing so that both the tree and the Vice President will fall.
For the umpteenth time in recent times, certain elements, within the media and political front, this week, launched a sustained campaign to vilify Dr. Bawumia – all because he enumerated the immense benefits of the Ghana card, at the launch of the ePharmacy platform on Monday.
Among the benefits of the Ghana Card Dr. Bawumia mentioned, was its recognition by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), as a travel document, thus making it possible for Ghanaians, especially dual citizen Ghanaians with foreign passports, to be able to use the card to board flights to Ghana without requiring a visa, as was the case.
This unique and remarkable function of the Ghana Card is public knowledge, following public ceremonies in Canada by ICAO earlier this year, and public directives by state institutions such as Ghana Immigration, Ghana Airports Company, and Ghana Civil Aviation, among others, that the Ghana Card has become a travel document.
In fact, Ghana Immigration recently held an event at the Kotoka International Airport to officially announce the setting up of special booths to process Ghanaians arriving in Ghana with the Ghana Card.
Despite all these facts, and the reality that Ghanaians based at home and in the diaspora, continue to return home using the Ghana Card, some people who ought to know better, including parliamentarians, launched scathing attacks on the Vice President and called him names, just for stating the true benefits and uses of the Ghana card.
People are so eager and desperate to run down Dr. Bawumia and the Ghana Card that, they even went to the extent of deliberately misinterpreting the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, to create a state that she had contradicted the Vice President of Ghana Card is a travel document for Ghanaians to travel back home.
Rightly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a statement to set the records straight and also to confirm that the Ghana Card, indeed, can be used by Ghanaians as a travel document to travel to Ghana from any airport in the world.
Following the Foreign Ministry’s press release and Ghana Immigration releasing data on the number of arrivals with Ghana Card at the airport, will those who insulted Dr. Bawumia and called him a liar apologize to him?
If nobody will apologize to the Vice President, at least Hon. Sam George, who has earned the title of Hon. by being the representative of the good people of Ningo Prampram, must do what is expected of men with honor and apologize to Dr. Bawumia for insulting him on his Facebook page on issues he Sam George was clearly wrong and has been exposed.
The Vice President has never stated anywhere that the Ghana Card can be used for travels to other countries. He has always maintained that following its recognition by ICAO, Ghanaians, especially dual citizen Ghanaians with foreign passports, can use it to board flights back to Ghana without needing a visa.
It was therefore disingenuous and mischievous for a whole honorable member of parliament to launch public attacks on the Vice President and call him names for something he has not said.
Indeed if we were in a decent political environment, Sam George in particular, and all those who joined him to insult Dr. Bawumia and bastardize the Ghana Card as a travel document, would have apologized, the moment the Foreign Ministry issued a statement to expose them.
How people take delight to bastardize the ongoing digital transformation in the country is amazing! But one has to understand the political critics. It is Bawumia leading it so since he will be credited for it, let us vilify him and also condemn the innovation, even if its benefits to the country and the people are immense.
That is what is happening! Attack Bawumia, vilify him, and attack the innovation. It is the reason every digital innovation he has led; Ghana Card, zipline drones, universal QR Code, mobile money interoperability, ePharmacy , and digitization of government services, among others, has been doubted and criticized.
In Dr. Bawumia’s own words, people with impossible mindsets have always doubted and frustrated every digital innovation he has announced.
I think the Vice President has been very charitable in labeling people with impossible mindsets. These are people with unpatriotic and destructive mindsets.
They don’t want to see anything good for the nation and the people, once it is not coming from them. No matter how beneficial every project, intervention, or innovation is, they will always attack and bastardize it.
I cannot understand how any progressive-minded person will attack Dr. Bawumia for being a champion of digitization, a new global phenomenon every serious country is pursuing.
As a country, we should be proud we have a passionate, committed, and smart leader in our Vice President making our country great in an area many African countries are way behind.
The full benefits of digitization won’t be realized now, but the glimpses we have seen, such as making things easy, boosting revenue, and helping in the fight against corruption, should encourage us to fully support him, regardless of political affiliation.
He is doing it for the country and generations to come, not for himself.
Despite all the vilifications, I am happy the Vice President has remained resilient and unfazed.
Continue to prove the naysayers wrong, Mr. Vice President. Progressive-minded citizens appreciate what you’re doing.
Remain focused and do it for God and your country.
Nigeria’s inflation rate has continued to soar, accelerating to 18.60% in June according to the latest Consumer Price Index report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
According to the CPI report which was seen by Business Insider Africa, the inflation rate increased by 1.82% month-on-month, jumping past the 17.71% that was reported in May.
“In June 2022, the inflation rate increased to 18.60 percent on a year-on-year basis. This is 0.84 percent points higher compared to the rate recorded in June 2021, which is 17.75 percent. This means that the headline inflation rate increased in the month of June 2022 when compared to the same month in the previous year (i.e., June 2021). Increases were recorded in all COICOP divisions that yielded the Headline index,” said a part of the report.
The report further revealed that food inflation accelerated to 20.6% in June 2022 from 19.5% in May 2022. The jump was due mainly to increases in the prices of different staples and essential food items.
“The composite food index rose to 20.60 percent in June 2022 on a year-on-year basis; the rate of changes in average price level declined by 1.23 percent compared to 21.83 percent in June 2021. The rate of changes in food prices compared to the same period last year was higher due to higher foods prices volatility caused by COVID 19. This rise in the food index was caused by increases in prices of Bread and cereals, Food products Potatoes, yam, and other tubers, Meat, Fish, Oil and fat, and Wine.”
Urban inflation also rose to 19.09% in June, marking a 0.74% increase when compared to 18.35% that was recorded in June 2021. Similarly, rural inflation rose to 18.13% in June, marking a 0.97% increase compared to 17.16% recorded in June 2021.
Like most African countries, Nigeria has been grappling with an inflation problem that keeps getting worse, exacerbated by many unfavorable internal and external factors. Some of these factors include the ongoing war in Ukraine and the forex crisis. Earlier this week, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) warned that these factors are pushing many African countries to the brink of economic collapse.
Formal education builds competitive approach and gives unique experiences which boost the confidence of children and expand their circle of knowledge. There are a few billionaires like Bill Gates, Ritesh Agarwal, and Gautam Adani who achieved success without having a college degree, but education played a crucial role in laying the foundation for their success.
The basic knowledge and experiences gained are what allowed the wider picture to emerge in their later life. It is against this background that President John Dramani Mahama saw the need to invest in the development of children at the basic level of education in Ghana.
In 2013, the Mahama-led government distributed 12.5 million English, Mathematics, and Science textbooks to public basic schools. This enabled Ghana to exceed the universal textbook-pupil ratio of three textbooks for one pupil.
By the time President John Dramani Mahama was leaving office, Ghana’s textbook-to-pupil ratio stood at 4:1 (four textbooks for one pupil.) Before this achievement, three pupils used to share one textbook.
Besides, 1,437,500 readers, 6,900 teaching manuals, and 9,200 teaching guides were distributed to facilitate teaching and learning.
Aside this, President Mahama made many other unprecedented interventions to improve basic education in the country.
For instance, about two million pupils were supplied with free school uniforms from 2010 to 2016.
Also, a total of 854,040 BECE candidates benefited from the payment of BECE subsidies.
The total coverage of the School Feeding Programme was increased from 441,189 children to 1,693,000 children. It was fully funded by the Government of Ghana after the Dutch Government withdrew its funding.
To improve ICT education, 60,000 free laptops were distributed to Basic School pupils in all the then ten regions, under the Basic School Computerization Program. Furthermore, 50,000 basic school teachers across the country benefited
from ICT training.
To further consolidate these gains and offer more opportunities for Ghanaian school children, the following interventions were made:
Ten thousand free locally produced school sandals were distributed to pupils in selected deprived districts.
Under the unequaled Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) Resit Policy, one thousand, one hundred and eighty-one (1,181) candidates had the chance to resit their BECE as private candidates in February 2015. These were persons who, but for this golden opportunity would have had their education terminated at the Junior High School level.
Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:8 of the Bible said: “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think of these things.”
In a similar vein, I want you to think of the above-mentioned achievements of President Mahama at the basic level of education in Ghana: whether they are true; whether they are honest; whether they are just; whether they are praiseworthy, and whether they are of good report.
Ghana Armwrestling President, Charles Osei Asibey, has become Vice President of the World Armwrestling Federation (WAF), a first by any Ghanaian in sports administration, after being elected President of the Armwrestling Federation of Africa (AFA) in Lagos, Nigeria.
He overwhelmingly beat his contender, Samuel Jackson, President of Nigeria Armwrestling Federation at his home grounds by a whopping 73 percent of total votes.
The elective congress was conducted and supervised by the Secretary General of the World Armwrestling Federation, Mircea Simionescu Simicel at the Media Center of the National Stadium in Surelere, Lagos.
The WAF scribe congratulated Charles Osei Asibey and the delegates for a peaceful election and urged all parties to come together and work for the development and growth of the sport on the continent.
President Charles Osei Asibey during his inaugural speech thanked the delegates for the confidence reposed in him and assured them of his commitment to the growth of the sport.
He seized the opportunity to invite all present to be part of the Africa Championship to be hosted in Ghana next year as well as the Africa Games also to be hosted by Ghana in 2023.
He pledged to promote, encourage participation, seek funding, create competitions, and make arm wrestling the Sport of choice in Africa.
He also said he would embark on the promotion and development of arm wrestling by engaging the media, training the trainers, encouraging participation at all levels, and building the capacity of athletes across Africa.
“I pledge to serve Africa Armwrestling with dedication, selflessness, sponsorships, bridging the continental gap and enhancing the sporting brand with quality whilst working with the people and for the people,†he said.
Charles Osei Asibey is a broadcast journalist with almost 30yrs years of working experience in the industry having worked with Radio Gold, Groove FM now Adom FM, Peace FM, Happy FM, Radio 360, and Asempa FM having contributed writing for Graphic Sports, Ghanaweb and other online portals.
Currently, the founder and President of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation, he doubles as the Chief Executive Officer of Legaci101 Limited, a sports marketing, and event company, United Media Consult, a PR and Media Management company, and 3C Ventures Ltd, a company responsible for General Services.
In a bid to promote Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and make the youth employable at Akwasiso, a mining community in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region, the chief of the area has built a multi-purpose vocational center to train at least 100 females in various trades and save them from indulging in social vices.
For a start, the chief, Nana Kwakye Gyimah Yeboah II, has recruited 41 females, mainly school dropouts and young mothers to undergo training in hairdressing and dressmaking.
The facility is also to serve as a practical training center for TVET students within the catchment area to build their capacities with employable skills.
Plans are also afoot to introduce some male-dominated programs including plumbing to engage some male youth.
Subsequently, a mining firm, Asanko Gold, has lent a helping hand with the provision of industrial sewing machines, tabletop sewing machines, hair driers, and accessories valued at hundreds of Ghana cedis.
Already the company has built similar facilities at Manso Nkran and Bontefufuo in the Amansie South and West districts of the region respectively training about 500 youth.
Stakeholder engagement and external relations of Asanko, Jerry John Dua, said the training of the youth was to make them competitive in getting employment in the mines.
He said the chief’s initiative tied into the vision and policy of the mines in reducing unemployment in its catchment areas.
The chief, Nana Yeboah II, called for more collaboration between the mine and the communities to duplicate such facilities to save the youth in indulging in unacceptable behaviors.
He said 61 females initially applied to be trained but only 41 showed up to begin the first phase with the hope of achieving its targets in the coming years.
The presence of metal contaminants in agricultural soils and subsequent uptake by food crops can pose serious human health risks.
In this study, the scientists assessed the levels of toxic metals like arsenic, chromium, copper, iron, manganese, nickel, and zinc in soils and some edible root tuber crops from two gold mining and two non-mining communities in Ghana to evaluate the potential human health risks associated with exposure to these metals.
They sought to evaluate the potential human health risks associated with exposure to these metals.
The concentrations of the metals in 154 soil and edible root tuber samples were then analyzed. The scientists found the levels of the metals were generally higher in the gold mining communities than in the non-mining communities.
The contamination indices indicated low to moderate contamination of the soil and food crops. Bio accessibility for the metals varied from 1.7% (Fe) to 62.3 (Mn),†lead scientist. Prof. Godfred Darko said.
They however concluded the levels of metals in the root tubers posed a low risk to humans.
“Overall, the risks posed by the metals upon consumption of the tubers were low,†he emphasized.
The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) has officially commenced the decommissioning of the Mr. Louie Platform in the Saltpond Oil Field which is estimated to last 12 months.
Being the first decommissioning project of its kind in Ghana, GNPC, the lead contractor, as well as other relevant stakeholders, have demonstrated their readiness to work hand-in-hand to ensure the success of the project.
Having obtained the majority of the statutory approvals and key permits, GNPC will provide both financial and technical support to fully execute the year-long project.
Oil field
The Mr. Louie Platform (commissioned in 1970) has reached the end of its operational life and is deteriorating.
GNPC has, therefore, engaged Hans & Co. Limited [a wholly Ghanaian- owned Company] to lead a consortium of industry experts in undertaking the project on a turnkey basis.
The release noted that the project would be supported by a project management consultancy firm to ensure that all aspects of the decommissioning, including well plugging and abandonment, and topside removal, are performed with strict adherence to Health, Safety, Security, and Environmental (HSSE) protocol.
In a release, the Chief Executive Officer of the GNPC, Opoku-Ahweneeh Danquah said the decommissioning of the first oil platform in Ghana was necessary to ensure that the marine ecosystem around the Saltpond area was returned to its pre-license condition.
With several oil and gas platforms expected to be decommissioned in the future, he said the GNPC personnel would gain additional hands-on technical capabilities by collaborating with other experienced industry experts during this exercise.
The CEO further noted that the field decommissioning process was preceded by pre-planning and a feasibility study that was endorsed by the Ministry of Energy.
“While we continue to work to meet all the technical and safety requirements, the corporation is also enhancing its social license to operate by continuously holding stakeholder and community engagements in coastal communities where the project is taking place.
“This is to sensitize fisherfolk about the importance and the need to observe safety measures and stay away from the restricted zone. We have also supported the traditional authorities to perform all the necessary customary rites for the project to kick off,†he stated in the release.
Mr. Danquah expressed his appreciation to the Ministry of Energy, Petroleum Commission, Ghana Maritime Authority, National Security, Environmental Protection Agency, and other key stakeholders whose representatives were present at the kick-off for their support in ensuring that the project took off successfully.
Parliament has passed the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, 2022, which seeks to regularize the fees being charged by some public service institutions.
The bill is also expected to review existing fees, impose new ones and provide for an annual adjustment of fees and charges levied by ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) in line with prevailing economic conditions.
Among other things, it will also establish a single schedule of all fees and charges for the delivery of goods and services rendered by the MDAs to the public.
The proposed adjustments of some of the fees and charges are expected to contribute significantly to meeting the revenue targets outlined in the budget for the 2022 fiscal year.
Background
In 2018, Parliament passed the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2018 (Act 983) which transferred the authority to determine fees and charges under an enactment to the minister responsible for finance.
Act 983 also mandates MDAs to conduct an annual review of the administrative efficiency of collection, the accuracy of past estimates, and the relevance of fees and charges to current economic conditions.
Additionally, the Public Financial Management Regulation, 2019(L.I 2378) directs a Principal Spending Officer responsible for collecting various types of fees and charges to conduct an annual review of the administrative efficiency of past estimates and the relevance of rates, fees, and charges and submit proposals through the minister responsible for finance to Parliament for approval.
The two enactments, therefore, mandate MDAs to adjust regular basis fees and charges collected for the delivery of goods and services to the public to keep pace with the current economic trends.
This new bill is to ensure a regular review of the fees and charges levied by the MDA, avoid a steep increase arising from long periods without review, bridge the growing gap between the cost of service delivery and approved fees and simplify the process for review of fees and charges to a single submission to Parliament as part of the annual budget.
Observation
Per a report submitted on the bill, the Chairman of the Finance Committee, Kwaku Kwarteng, said the committee noted during its deliberations that a number of government agencies and institutions responsible for the collection of non-tax revenues on behalf of the government failed to lodge revenues collected in gross in contravention of Section 46 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).
The report said many of the subvented agencies either retained part or paid the entire revenues collected directly into their operational accounts from which disbursements were made.
“Again, some institutions also collect revenues on the table or over the counter after which it is lodged into their operational accounts and disbursed directly in contravention of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016. The committee noted with concern that the practice does not give the Minister of Finance a complete or comprehensive view of the total revenue (non-tax) generated by all state agencies in each fiscal year,†he said.
Additionally, the practice could expose public funds to abuse and embezzlement by collecting officers, the committee observed.
“The committee, therefore, recommends that the Ministry of Finance should take immediate steps to ensure that all institutions captured in the Second Schedule of the bill collect their revenues through a designated commercial bank or through the Ghana.gov platform from which the funds collected are transferred in gross into the respective holding accounts at Bank of Ghana,†the report said.
