Former Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen stated that Ghana had no choice but to seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund.
He claims that because Ghana’s debt levels had surged and the country’s international reserves at the Central Bank were depleted, it was critical that the country have some cushion.
“We went to the IMF, and they agreed to have a package of support for us. Part of the condition was for us to reduce our debt-to-GDP ratio from 105% to 55%. The condition to expect from you to be able to enjoy a bailout is for you to bring your debt to sustainable levels.
It was clear that as a country, we had overextended ourselves. However, if we had prioritized my recommendations for industrialization and the kinds of things I’m talking about today in my GTP, we would have laid the groundwork for a resilient economy,” he remarked.
Alan Kyerematen admitted that the Russian-Ukraine war and COVID-19 have long-term consequences for Ghana’s economy.
“These two external factors exposed the structural vulnerabilities in our economy. There are matured economies that suffered the impact of the same external shocks but were able to deal with the shock much better because they have resilient economies.
“In our case the fact that we are not exporting enough and producing enough, the fact that we end up importing all the things we can produce in this country creates a certain challenge for our economy to withstand external shocks.”
The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has urged members of the ECOWAS Parliament to address the emerging challenges threatening democracy in the region.
He highlighted three significant threats: the re-militarization of governance, the manipulation of constitutional rules by elites to seize power, and the destructive ambitions of terrorist groups and armed criminal gangs.
President Akufo-Addo emphasized the perilous state of democracy in West Africa, calling for intensified efforts to uphold democratic accountability among citizens.
He decried the subversion of democracy by elites who manipulate constitutional rules to retain power, the re-emergence of the military in politics without a mandate from the people, and the threat posed by terrorist groups and armed criminal gangs seeking to establish lawless zones.
Drawing upon Winston Churchill’s famous quote that “democracy is the worst form of governance, except for all the others,” President Akufo-Addo highlighted the resilience of democracy in the face of tyranny and oppression. He acknowledged the region’s challenging economic, political, social, and security situation, noting a decline in democratic credentials.
Speaking at the 2nd ECOWAS Parliamentary Seminar with the theme “Challenges Relating to Unconstitutional Changes of Government and Presidential Term Limits in West Africa – Role of the ECOWAS Parliament,” President Akufo-Addo expressed concern over military governments in four ECOWAS Member States due to coups, leading to anxiety and regional instability.
He condemned the culture of violence and disputes during elections.
He emphasized the importance of leaders obtaining legitimacy through free, fair, and transparent elections, warning against manipulation of democratic rules for partisan gains, which erodes legitimacy and creates social tensions. President Akufo-Addo called for a focus on achieving free government, shared prosperity, equitable justice, and lasting peace through democratic governance.
He urged ECOWAS legislators to analyze the root causes of democratic regression and political instability in the region, advocate against the extension of presidential term limits used to consolidate power, and prevent discontent that could be exploited by military interventions.
President Akufo-Addo emphasized that regional stability relies on legality and legitimacy combined to ensure the wellbeing of citizens.
The leadership of customers affected by the now-defunct Menzgold Company Limited has approached former President John Mahama, seeking his assistance in recovering their funds that remain locked within the illicit gold dealership and investment firm.
These customers have endured significant hardships since the company’s closure in 2018, with 217 individuals losing their lives and some experiencing blindness and mental health challenges as a result.
Now, these customers are appealing to the former President to guide their efforts in securing financial aid from the government to alleviate their dire circumstances.
During a meeting held at Mr. Mahama’s Cantonments office on Friday, Mr. Fred Forson, the group’s leader and spokesperson, passionately implored Mr. Mahama, emphasizing the gravity of their situation and their urgent need for a government bailout.
“We believe that when Your Excellency adds your voice, it will help. Where we are now, we need a bailout from the state, so we humbly call on you to lead us in calling on the state to give us a bailout plan. Because life is very, very unbearable for us”, he cried out.
The Menzgold customers convener added, “The state has wasted over four years on this small matter. There was no action. I am sure everybody will attest that it was the resilience of the customers — we kept on pressing, pressing — and now the Attorney-General has moved the matter from the lower court to the High Court. However, the civil aspect, which is the retrieval of our money, is still pending.”
President Mahama extended his condolences to the victims, characterizing it as one of the most unfortunate incidents in the nation’s history. He believed that such fraudulent schemes often find success due to the government’s inadequate regulatory oversight, making it responsible for citizens who become victims.
Additionally, he questioned why the government had not yet taken control of the company’s accounts, seized its assets, and conducted auctions to allocate a portion of the proceeds toward reimbursing customer investments.
In response to the appeal from Menzgold’s customers, President Mahama pledged his commitment to support their cause and amplify awareness of their plight. He urged the government to be transparent and provide comprehensive information regarding its efforts to address the situation.
With the backing of the former President, the customers hold hope that they can retrieve their funds and recover from the losses they have endured.
A group of investors who had put their money into the now-defunct Menzgold Company Limited has reached out to former President John Dramani Mahama for assistance in recovering their locked-up funds from the illegal gold dealership and investment firm.
Since the closure of Menzgold in 2018, these investors have endured significant hardships, with some facing severe financial difficulties, vision impairment, and mental health challenges.
Tragically, there have also been reported cases of deaths among their ranks.
In a bid to address their dire circumstances, the affected investors are now calling on the former president to lead their efforts in seeking financial assistance from the government.
During a meeting held at Mr. Mahama’s Cantonments office on Friday, September 29, 2023, Fred Forson, the spokesperson for the group, made an emotional plea to the former president, underscoring the urgency of their situation and their desperate need for government intervention.
“We believe that when your Excellency adds your voice, it will help.
“Where we are now, we need a bailout from the state, so we humbly call on you to lead us in calling on the state to give us a bailout plan. Because life is very, very unbearable for us,” he expressed.
Mr. Forson also underscored the group’s unwavering commitment throughout the years to seek justice and retrieve their investments. He emphasized that their relentless efforts had resulted in the case being elevated from a lower court to the High Court.
President Mahama, on his part, expressed his condolences to the victims and acknowledged the unfortunate nature of the situation, attributing the success of such fraudulent schemes to a lack of robust government regulatory oversight. He questioned why the government had not taken control of Menzgold’s accounts, confiscated the company’s assets, and auctioned them off to provide partial compensation to the affected customers.
In response to the customers’ plea, President Mahama pledged his support for their cause and promised to raise awareness about their plight. He urged the government to be transparent in its efforts to alleviate the situation.
With the backing of the former president, the Menzgold customers remain hopeful that they can recover their funds and embark on the journey of rebuilding their lives after enduring substantial losses.
Bulk Energy Storage and Transportation Limited Company(BOST) has issued a clarification regarding the cost of acquiring 18 iPhones in May 2022, following reports circulating in certain media outlets.
In a statement dated September 30, 2023, BOST confirmed the purchase of the specified number of iPhones but emphasized that the figure mentioned in the trending document was significantly inaccurate compared to the actual expenditure.
The reported amount of over 28.5 million cedis was deemed “both erroneous and mischievous.” Instead, the accurate sum paid amounted to 234,000 cedis, which subsequently increased to GHC285,412.00 after accounting for taxes.
This means that each individual phone was acquired at a rate exceeding 15,800 cedis. BOST further emphasized that the transaction underwent the requisite tender processes and has been officially approved as above board in official audit reports.
“The amount is captured in the financial reports of the company and the Auditor General who audits the company, at least over the past three years, vetted the decision and the value and made no adverse findings about same,” the statement added.
It also clarified the reasons for which the specific quality and brand of phones were bought, among others;
“The reason for the purchase of the devices was to equip the team to stay in touch with the management information and business intelligence systems of the company for efficient decision making.
“In the petroleum storage and transportation space, a split second can make the difference between success and failure. The results so far attest to the efficiency of the systems put in place which includes the access points for key members of the team to access processed information for efficient decision making,” it added.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE RE: BOST BUYS EIGHTEEN (18) IPHONES AT TWENTY-EIGHT MILLION GHANACEDIS (GHS28 MILLION)
Accra-September 30, 2023-The Bulk Energy Storage and Transportation Limited Company has noted with dismay a section of a procurement report making rounds in the traditional and social media space claiming the company bought 18 iPhones at a cost of Twenty-Eight Million, Five Hundred and Forty-One Thousand, Two Hundred and Sixty-One Ghana Cedis (GHS28,541,261.00) for some critical officers of the company.
We would like to respond to the misinformation as follows:
1. The company bought eighteen (18) pieces of iPhone 13 Pro Max phones for our corporate executives in May 2022.
2. The total cost of the phones stood at Two Hundred and Thirty-Four Thousand Ghana Cedis (234,000.00) grossed up for taxes at Two Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand, Four Hundred and Twelve Ghana Cedis, Sixteen Pesewas (GHS285,412.16).
3. The amount is captured in the financial reports of the company and the Auditor General who audits the company, at least over the past three years, vetted the decision and the value and made no adverse findings about same.
4. The reason for the purchase of the devices was to equip the team to stay in touch with the management information and business intelligence systems of the company for efficient decision making.
In the petroleum storage and transportation space, a split second can make the difference between success and failure. The results so far attest to the efficiency of the systems put in place which includes the access points for key members of the team to access processed information for efficient decision making.
5. The Twenty-Eight Million, Five Hundred and Forty-One Thousand, Two Hundred and Sixty-One Ghana Cedis (GHS28,541,261.00) in the report may be due to a typographical error of placing the dot(.) two steps to the right which on the face of the document converted the GHS285,412.61 to GHS28,541,261.00
6. The public is hereby entreated to ignore the claim that the company bought eighteen (18) phones at 28 million. It is both erroneous and mischievous.
7. The information is available on the website of the Public Procurement Authority through the link below https://tenders.ppa.gov.gh/contracts/12301
8. We would urge our stakeholders who stumble upon bits and pieces of information on the company to reach out to the Corporate Communications Department for any clarification before proceeding to make such statements which in the end could amount to misleading the public. This is unpardonable in a right to information regime where Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, are by law required to provide information stakeholders may require for their purposes.
Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Dr. Nana Agyemang Badu II, has declared his indifference to the possibility of the United States denying him a visa due to his stance against LGBTQ+ rights. He made this statement in response to remarks made by the US ambassador earlier this year.
In August of this year, Virginia Palmer, the US Ambassador to Ghana, cautioned Ghana to exercise caution when considering a bill aimed at prohibiting LGBTQ+ activities in the country. She emphasized that the enactment of such a bill could have ramifications for trade and investment in Ghana.
Ambassador Palmer pointed out that numerous American companies were gearing up to invest in Ghana, and any legislation perceived as discriminatory against LGBTQ+ individuals could tarnish the country’s reputation and reduce its appeal to investors.
“Lots of ethnic communities make Ghana strong, stable, and attractive for investments. I hope it stays that way with regard to the LGBTQ community.
They should be managed to be made the colour of the money green or red if it’s Ghanaian, but if it is discrimination, then that will send a signal not to [only] LGBTQ investors and exporters but to other American companies. Then Ghana will be less welcoming…so I hope it stays that welcoming,” the US Ambassador to Ghana Virginia Palmer said.
The Dormaahene said Ghana would rather stay poor than take assistance from other countries who will demand that the country practices LGBTQ+.
He said: “We don’t need their money; we prefer to be in our poverty than to promote the LGBTQ. What have we gotten from them? How much aid did they bring?… People like her cannot talk the way she’s talking. She cannot. If you want to go to the US, or UK, use the way. Me, one day if I decide to go but if you refuse me the visa, mm I care less. I don’t need that. I can’t exchange the custom of our people with pittance.”
I will resign the day judges are told to accept LGBTQ – Dormaahene
A greater investment in skill development in solar market technology, according to a United Nations organization, might help create jobs in nations such as Kenya through collaborations with multinational businesses that control the industry.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has urged governments to create skills that will enable young people to find work and to promote local enterprises’ participation in solar panel supply chains.
“Growth in the solar panel market provides a vast opportunity for the economy through private sector development and job creation. However, much of the market is held by internationally owned companies,” UNCTAD said in a new report.
“Most domestic companies operate in services, offering project-development services, consultancy, and after-sales services.”
A greater investment in skill development in solar market technology, according to a United Nations organization, might help create jobs in nations such as Kenya through collaborations with multinational businesses that control the industry.
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) has urged governments to create skills that will enable young people to find work and to promote local enterprises’ participation in solar panel supply chains.
“Future expansion in industrial parks promises to grow business opportunities for domestic companies and employment in the solar panel supply chain,” UNCTAD states.
The United Auto Workers (UAW) union is extending its strike at major American car companies, entering its third week of protests over pay and benefits.
Union leader Shawn Fain announced that an additional 7,000 employees at Ford and General Motors factories will join the strike, bringing the total number of striking workers to about 18,000. Notably, this action does not include Stellantis, indicating progress in those negotiations.
The dispute has cast a shadow over the US economy, drawing attention from both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, who is seeking re-election.
Both leaders visited the Detroit area this week to address the ongoing labor tensions, which are reflective of broader worker unrest in the country.
The union’s demands include a substantial 40% pay increase over four years and an end to practices that result in lower pay and reduced benefits for newer employees.
In response, the companies argue that these demands would impede their long-term investments and have offered a 20% pay raise along with other concessions.
On the picket lines in Michigan, many workers expressed their readiness for a prolonged battle.
“People are fed up. We want there to be a middle class,” said Emily Yettaw, who has worked at GM for 17 years. “They’re making billions in profit and we deserve better.”
Image caption,Emily Yettaw, right, is among the GM workers on strike in Ypsilanti Michigan
The union, which represents 146,000 workers at the three companies, has been slowly ratcheting up pressure on the car makers to strike a deal since labour contracts expired on 14 September.
The latest action expands the work stoppages to a Ford factory in Chicago that makes Explorers, and a GM factory in Michigan which makes large crossover SUVs such as the Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave.
The union’s prior targets included 38 facilities that distribute parts to dealers and three factories – one at each company.
In a message to employees, General Motors said “calling more strikes is just for the headlines, not real progress”.
The company said it had not received a “comprehensive” reply since it put forward a proposal on 21 September. It said that offer provided workers with “historic wage increases and job security while not jeopardizing our future”.
“We continue to stand ready and willing to negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement that benefits you and doesn’t let the non-union manufacturers win,” said Gerald Johnson, executive vice president for global manufacturing.
The economic impact of the action remains limited, but is building. In just its first week, the stand-off had led to an estimated $1.6bn (£1.3bn) in economic losses, including more than $100m (£81m) in lost wages – a cost that is weighing on local economies.
Jennifer Romero owns the Karma Coffee & Kitchen in Wayne, Michigan. Her shop, with a flier in the window supporting the strike, is located just down the road from a closed Ford factory. Jennifer says sales have been noticeably slow at her store.
Image caption,Jennifer and David Romero said they supported the workers but could see the economic hit from the strike
“Our neighbourhood is mostly blue collar workers,” she said. “If they’re not working, they’re not spending money and if they’re not spending money, we’re not making money.”
For the car companies, which are facing heavy investment costs and intense competition as the industry ramps up production of electric cars, the timing of the dispute “could not be worse”, said Wall Street analyst Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities.
“This UAW debacle strike trajectory is like watching a slow moving car crash take place on black ice,” he wrote in a note on Friday.
“This is a defining period for Detroit and the future of the auto industry as we firmly believe that if GM, Ford, Stellantis accept anything close to the deal on the table the future will be very bleak for the US auto industry.”
For now, workers on the picket line in the Detroit area this week said they remained committed to the fight, despite the loss of income for many that will come from receiving just $500 (£410) in strike pay a week.
“It’s ramen noodles and mac and cheese time,” GM workers in Ypsilanti joked. “No more Red Lobster.”
“I don’t think anybody is scared to be out here,” added Kemi Hooker, 53, who has worked for GM for 24 years. “We’ll do what it takes”.
A mine shaft collapse in Zimbabwe has resulted in six fatalities and the entrapment of 15 others, according to state media reports.
The incident occurred at the Bay Horse gold mine in Chegutu, located 100km (62 miles) west of the capital Harare on Friday morning, leaving over 30 individuals trapped.
Thirteen miners have reportedly escaped or been rescued, while efforts to reach those still underground are ongoing, as reported by the television channel ZBC.
The cause of the collapse remains unknown. The Zimbabwe Miners Federation has announced that its secretary general and the chairman of the Chegutu Miners Association will visit the site to investigate the incident.
Zimbabwe, rich in gold, platinum, and diamond reserves, frequently experiences mining accidents due to rudimentary mining methods and lax safety standards.
In 2019, heavy rain led to the drowning of numerous miners in the Silver Moon and Cricket mines near the town of Kadoma in the country’s center.
TheIMF expects Ghanaian authorities and the Official Creditor Committee to reach an agreement soon.
According to Julie Kozack, the IMF’s Director of Communications, it is critical for Ghana to complete debt restructuring talks with both domestic and external creditors.
“The next steps on debt restructuring are for the Official Creditor Committee to agree with the authorities on the specific modalities of debt relief and for the authorities to continue to engage with their external private creditors for relief on their external debt. These discussions are ongoing, and we hope that the OCC, the Official Creditor Committee, and the Ghanaian authorities will find an agreement soon. The government has recently finalized the restructuring of its domestic debt,” Julie Kozack said.
Over half of Ghana’s total debt, which includes Eurobond obligations, is attributed to external creditors, totaling approximately $52.3 billion. This underscores the vital need for the country to ensure the sustainability of its debt.
Despite being formed in May 2023, the creditor committee has not yet reached definitive decisions regarding the extent of debt reductions (haircuts) to be offered to Ghana.
Meanwhile, an IMF delegation is presently in Ghana, evaluating the nation’s economic performance. They are also preparing a report that will determine Ghana’s eligibility for the next installment of the $3 billion loan.
Ghana’s debt owed to external creditors makes up more than half of the country’s total debts, including Eurobond holders.
External debts add up to about $52.3 billion of the country’s total debts, making it a necessary requirement for the country to make its debts sustainable.
The creditor committee, which was formed in May 2023, is however yet to reach concrete conclusions on how much haircuts to give Ghana.
However, an IMF team is currently in Ghana to assess the country’s performance and also to present a report to qualify the country for the next tranche of the $3 billion loan.
The Minority in Parliament has claimed that the government’s decision to merge the National Investment Bank and the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) will result in the loss of numerous jobs.
According to Isaac Adongo, Member of Parliament for Bolagatanga Central, the government’s decision is rash and a plan to seize full control of the bank.
He noted that, rather than handing over the bank to ADB, the government has alternative options for improving its viability.
“I want to tell you that the bank itself was not established by the Companies Act, it was established by a National Investment Bank Act 612, and that Act is very clear under Section 22 under liquidation proceedings that nobody can liquidate or take any action that will ultimately lead to the demise of NIB unless it comes back to parliament for parliament to pass a law giving direction as to how that process should be pursued.
“So, there’s clearly a legal mandate, and that legal mandate rests with the people who set up NIB and it is the parliament of Ghana. So, we don’t expect anything other than a poor regulation action by the Central Bank under Act 930 either to bring it under administration, to revoke the license, or to place it under receivership as provided because they have a license from the Bank of Ghana,” he said while addressing the press on September 28, 2023.
Adongo also claimed that the government is finding a way to acquire NIB and ADB through inappropriate means.
“But it’s quite clear that’s not the action the Bank of Ghana wants to take, it is not the action the government is interested in, the only action left now is to come under Act 612 and particularly under Section 22 of the Act.
“It is clear that this is not about the interest of NIB. This is the last step towards passing through the back door to acquire NIB and ABD for themselves in a state capture,” he said.
The indictment of a former gang leader for the 1996 murder of Tupac Shakur is described as a “pivotal moment” by the late rapper’s sister.
Tupac Shakur, the celebrated hip-hop icon from New York, was shot four times at the age of 25 in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas.
On Friday, a grand jury in Nevada charged 60-year-old Duane “Keffe D” Davis with one count of murder with a deadly weapon.
Sekyiwa Shakur remarked that “today marks a victory,” but she also stated that she would withhold judgment until the legal proceedings were concluded.
“It’s important to me that the world, the country, the justice system, and our people acknowledge the gravity of the passing of this man, my brother, my mother’s son, my father’s son,” she posted on Instagram.
“There have been multiple hands involved and there remains so much surrounding the life and death of my brother Tupac and our Shakur family overall. We are seeking real justice, on all fronts,” she continued.
Mopreme Shakur, Shakur’s step-brother, said the charging of Mr Davis was bittersweet.
“We have been through decades of pain,” he told CNN. “They have known about this guy, who been running his mouth, for years.
“So why now? For us, this is not over. We want to know why, and if there were any accomplices.”
Police say Mr Davis planned the deadly shooting after his nephew was involved in a fight with Shakur in a casino.
Mr Davis was arrested near his Las Vegas home early on Friday, and will appear in court within days. Las Vegas police (LVMPD) have shared his mugshot.
In court, prosecutor Marc DiaGiacomo described Mr Davis – a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips street gang – as the “on-ground, on-site commander” who “ordered the death” of Shakur.
At a news conference later on Friday, police officer Jason Johansson said it became obvious very quickly that this was a gang-related crime, and the case had been reviewed multiple times.
But it was not until 2018, when new information came to light, that the case was “reinvigorated”.
Mr Johansson also mentioned Mr Davis’s “own admissions” to media outlets that he was in the vehicle where the shots were fired from.
Shakur was shot in Las Vegas on 7 September 1996. He died in hospital a few days later.
The United States government teeters on the verge of another shutdown as Congress appears set to miss the Saturday midnight deadline to allocate funds for federal agencies.
This potential fourth shutdown in the past decade could have far-reaching consequences, impacting various aspects of daily life such as air travel, access to national parks, and the issuance of marriage licenses.
A majority of government employees would face unpaid furloughs, and essential nutrition programs would come to a halt.
The looming shutdown stems from a conservative rebellion within the US House of Representatives. With Republicans holding a narrow majority in the House and Democrats maintaining a single-seat edge in the Senate, bipartisan support is essential to pass spending bills that would keep the government operational and send them to President Joe Biden for approval.
What happens in a US government shutdown?
However, a dissident faction of conservative legislators on the right has disrupted negotiations in the House, the lower house of Congress. They are demanding substantial spending cuts, including the cessation of US funding for the war in Ukraine.
Former President Donald Trump has publicly endorsed this group, and their stance has derailed Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s attempts to guide the necessary legislation through the House to resolve the deadlock.
Although the Speaker could theoretically seek votes from Democrats to pass a spending bill, this action would probably provoke an attempt by the dissident faction to remove him from his influential leadership position.
Kevin McCarthy’s job on the line as shutdown looms
Mr McCarthy has also refused to take up a short-term funding bill making its way through the Senate. The bill, which includes $6bn (£4.9bn) for Ukraine and $6bn for disaster aid, is a last-ditch effort to avert a lengthy shutdown and appears to have strong bipartisan support in the upper chamber.
On Friday, House Republicans’ short-term funding measure, which included strict border policies championed by the hardliners, was rejected by as many as 21 members of the party and failed to pass.
In a closed-door meeting, Mr McCarthy said that Republicans would have to opt for the House bill or the Senate’s version, or risk being blamed for a shutdown.
But the rebel lawmakers asserted they would not budge for anything less than a long-term spending bill with their priorities addressed.
“This take it or leave it or I’ll blame you won’t work on us,” South Carolina Congresswoman Nancy Mace, a moderate who voted against the House bill on Friday, wrote on X.
“I’m in this for the long run and have no problem taking on DC to do it.”
Image caption,Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz (centre) has publicly threatened to oust Kevin McCarthy (right) as Speaker
Chuck Schumer, the Senate Majority Leader, slammed Mr McCarthy for bringing up “truly radical” proposal that could not make it through both chambers.
“The Speaker needs to abandon his doomed mission of trying to please [Republican] extremists,” he said.
The White House backed Mr Schumer’s calls for the House to get behind his spending bill.
“The path forward to fund the government has been laid out by the Senate with bipartisan support – House Republicans just need to take it,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre wrote in a statement on Friday.
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said: “The failure of House Republicans to act responsibly would hurt American families and cause economic headwinds that could undermine the progress we’re making.”
Ms Yellen warned that “key government functions”, including loans to farmers and small businesses, food and workplace safety inspections, and major infrastructure improvements would all be affected.
Shutdowns take place when Congress is unable to approve the roughly 30% of the federal budget it must approve before the start of each fiscal year on 1 October.
This means that, on Monday, hundreds of thousands of federal workers except those deemed “essential” will be at home without pay. Many of these employees live paycheque to paycheque, according to the American Federation of Government Employees.
More than 1.4 million active-duty members of the military and tens of thousands of air traffic controllers will be among those working, without pay.
It is a troubling development for any federal workers holding student loan debt. Loan repayments for over 40 million people will restart on Sunday after being paused since the start of the pandemic.
Image caption,Federal workers stood in lines for food during the 2018-19 government shutdown, which lasted 34 days
The shutdown will also have an immediate impact on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC), which provides grocery assistance to seven million pregnant women and new mothers.
A prolonged shutdown could also affect the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a grocery benefit known as “food stamps” that serves 40 million low-income Americans, and hinder the implementation of a new programme to serve free breakfast and lunch to students in high-need school districts.
Museums, national parks, research facilities and communities health centres with federal government oversight or funding are likely to suspend operations for the period of the shutdown.
Additionally, the government agency at the helm of relief and recovery from natural disasters is currently scrambling to conserve cash in the event a shutdown collides with an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season.
Budget disputes that cause this kind of disruption do not occur anywhere else in the world and has been criticised as an example of Washington’s growing dysfunction and partisan divides.
The last government shutdown, under Mr Trump in 2019, lasted a record 34 days.
It erased $11bn in economic output, according to the Congressional Budget Office, and federal workers were seen standing in line at food banks.
US law enforcement has pressed charges against a former gang leader in connection with the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur, marking a significant development in a long-standing case that continues to captivate the public.
Tupac Shakur, a renowned hip-hop icon born in New York, was fatally shot at the age of 25 in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas.
On Friday, a grand jury in Nevada indicted 60-year-old Duane “Keffe D” Davis on a murder charge with a deadly weapon. Police assert that he orchestrated the fatal shooting following a confrontation between Shakur and his nephew at a casino.
Davis was apprehended near his residence in Las Vegas early on Friday and is scheduled to appear in court in the coming days. The Las Vegas Police Department (LVMPD) has released his mugshot.
Greg Kading, a retired detective from the Los Angeles Police Department who spent years investigating Shakur’s murder, expressed that he is not surprised by Mr. Davis’ arrest, as reported by the Associated Press.
“All the other direct conspirators or participants are all dead,” Mr Kading said, calling Mr Davis “the last man standing” in the case.
In court, prosecutor Marc DiaGiacomo described Mr Davis – a former leader of the South Side Compton Crips street gang – as the “on-ground, on-site commander” who “ordered the death” of Shakur.
At a news conference later on Friday, police officer Jason Johansson said the force’s persistence in the investigation had “ultimately paid off”, before explaining what led to the breakthrough.
He said Orlando Anderson, the suspect’s late nephew, and Shakur had been involved in a fight in a casino shortly before the rapper was shot on 7 September 1996. He died in hospital a few days later.
Mr Johansson showed reporters hotel security camera footage of Anderson being beaten. He said this ultimately led to the retaliatory shooting of Shakur as he was waiting in his car at a red light.
The officer added it became obvious very quickly that this was a gang-related crime, and the case had been reviewed multiple times.
But it was not until 2018, when new information came to light, that the case was “reinvigorated”.
Mr Johansson also mentioned Mr Davis’s “own admissions” to media outlets that he was in the vehicle where the shots were fired from.
At the same press conference, a visibly emotional Sheriff Kevin McMahill said that “for 27 years the family of Tupac Shakur have been waiting for justice”.
“There have been many people who did not believe that the murder of Tupac Shakur was important to this police department. I’m here to tell you: that was simply not the case.”
“Our goal at LVMPD has always been to hold those… responsible for Tupac’s violent murder accountable,” the sheriff added.
Shakur, whose stage name was stylised as 2Pac, released his debut album in 1991.
One of the most acclaimed names in hip-hop, his death inspired several documentaries.
He sold more than 75 million records worldwide, enjoying chart success with hits including California Love, All Eyez On Me and Changes.
He also found success acting in films like Juice, Poetic Justice, Above The Rim, Gridlock’d and Gang Related.
In June this year the rapper received a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The Minority Caucus of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Parliament has made a call on Thursday for the government to undertake a substantial overhaul of the reportedly struggling National Investment Bank (NIB) in order to prevent the possible dissolution of the bank.
During a press conference held at Parliament House, Mr. Isaac Adongo, who serves as the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee, challenged the government’s contemplation of liquidating NIB.
He suggested that there might be undisclosed reasons driving the government’s decision.
Mr. Adongo pointed out that there is a viable alternative to address the bank’s challenges, as proposed by the NDC and the Minority.
They advocate for the government to restructure NIB’s financial position by converting all of NIB’s debts owed to the government into equity.
“The government should just restructure the balance sheet of NIB to swap all the NIB debts that it owes the government and give the government equity but the government says it doesn’t have money to capitalise the bank but it has given 500 million bonds to NIB and it has given 800 million debt to NIB the two will give you 1.2 billion…commit to say that is your commitment to recapitalisation so we issue shares for you,” Mr Adongo alleged.
The Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, told the press that the Caucus would only support the ratification of the $250 million World Bank facility for the financial stability fund if ailing state banks were given priority.
Dr. Efua Asabea Asare, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), has disclosed that Ghana’s strategic focus on investing in and nurturing the coconut industry has firmly established the country’s presence in the global market.
She highlighted that Ghana’s recognition for coconut-related products like coconut oil and coconut water on the international stage has significantly bolstered the country’s standing in the global coconut market.
Dr. Efua Asabea Asare conveyed this message during the third installment of the international coconut festival held in Takoradi.
Ghana possesses favorable climatic conditions, particularly in the tropical rainforest zone and along the coastal belt, including the Greater Accra, Central, Volta, and Western Regions, which make it ideal for the increased cultivation of coconuts for both domestic consumption and international markets.
In the Western Region, the majority of coconut production occurs in three districts: Jomorro, Nzema East, and Ellembelle.
The advantages of the coconut industry are diverse, with Ghana ranking ninth globally in desiccated coconut production.
In an effort to showcase the extensive benefits of the coconut trade, the third International Coconut Festival was held under the auspices of GEPA, featuring the theme: ‘Invest in Ghana’s coconut sector for inclusive economic transformation and improved climate and social resilience.’
“The government should just restructure the balance sheet of NIB to swap all the NIB debts that it owes the government and give the government equity but the government says it doesn’t have money to capitalise the bank but it has given 500 million bonds to NIB and it has given 800 million debt to NIB the two will give you 1.2 billion…commit to say that is your commitment to recapitalisation so we issue shares for you,” Mr Adongo alleged.
The Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA), representing property developers, is calling on the government to reconsider its strategy for affordable housing projects involving its members.
GREDA pointed out that the government’s direct involvement in the development of affordable housing projects has, over the years, resulted in a lack of substantial progress in delivering such housing.
They expressed concern that when the government does engage private developers, it often chooses foreign partners over local developers.
To ensure that the state-sponsored affordable housing initiative fulfills its commitment to providing quality and affordable housing for low-income workers, Sammy Amegayibor, the Executive Secretary of GREDA, emphasized the need for the government to transition into a facilitator role rather than competing with private developers.
“Government’s role in affordable housing must be the facilitation. GREDA believes that government must strongly remove itself from direct involvement in the delivery of housing and facilitate the private sector by fixing the land acquisition bottlenecks, access to funding and basic infrastructure, among others.
“State organisations are either confused or not consulting properly. Most of the time we only get to hear in the news that government has secured foreign partners without any consultation with local players; and when they decide to consult GREDA after the engagement, nothing we suggest is taken into consideration.
“Local players like Lakeside Estate and the other big brands have proven several times that they are capable of delivering 5,000 to 20,000 housing units with state-of-the-art facilities within a short period of time. So, it’s beyond imagination why government is still ignoring us the local developers,” he said.
He went on to emphasize that when comparing the quality of projects undertaken by local developers and their pricing with what the government produces, it becomes evident that the government has not successfully delivered a single affordable housing project.
Consequently, he is urging the government to collaborate with local developers and adopt a facilitative role. This could involve granting tax incentives, offering input incentives, providing land, or meeting other essential requirements that would enable private developers to carry out the main infrastructure development projects at affordable rates for the general public.
These remarks were made during the launch of the Lakeside Hills housing project, a new lifestyle community developed by Lakeside Estate, which aims to provide over 5,000 homes in multiple phases.
The first phase of the Lakeside Hills project will encompass 200 homes, specifically four-bedroom, multi-story houses.
The project is envisioned as a comprehensive community that will encompass social and community experiences, including shopping, recreation, work, and leisure activities.
Dr. Prince Joseph Ayiku, the Managing Director of Lakeside Estate, explained that the project’s concept is to redefine housing and accommodation by offering more luxurious living options at reasonable prices.
“We are faced with a big task of how to create a development with elegance and green environment capable of satisfying the necessary elements of a luxurious family home,” he said.
The complex includes a cutting-edge sports facility created with clients’ health and fitness in mind. It has lawn tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts, as well as a football pitch and a green space for children’s amusement.
Past state affordable housing projects
GREDA pointed out that the tradition of the government offering housing units to citizens and state employees is not a recent occurrence. It noted that prior to the Fourth Republic, preceding administrations had undertaken similar affordable housing initiatives, including developments in areas like Dansoman, Adenta, and the Sakumono Estate, which was initiated during the tenure of the first President of the Fourth Republic, Jerry John Rawlings.
He emphasized that all these earlier developments were executed by local entities. However, current governments have encountered challenges in this regard due to their preference for involving foreign partners.
Mr. Amegayibor stressed that subsequent administrations in the Fourth Republic have lacked the same level of commitment, with a focus on symbolic ground-breaking ceremonies and ceremonial launches taking precedence over substantive progress.
Nollywood star, Funke Akindele has recently opened up about the valuable lessons she gained from her recent marriage with JJC Skillz, which ultimately ended in separation.
In a recent interview with Chude Jideonwo, the mother of two candidly acknowledged the hurdles she faced and how she persevered through them.
Funke Akindele candidly shared her own life as a poignant example, revealing how she succumbed to societal pressure and hastily entered into marriage to meet expectations.
Regrettably, her expectations weren’t met, resulting in a highly publicized divorce. Funke reflected on the aftermath of her divorce, which included missed business opportunities and significant emotional turmoil. She expressed deep gratitude to her mother for providing unwavering support during these challenging times.
In her words of wisdom to young women, Funke emphasized the importance of learning from her own mistakes and cautioned against rushing into marriage without careful consideration.
She said: “Take your time, if you rush in you will rush out. You know, I just wanted to get married. I want to do things right, have children, and all that. When I went into the marriage, it didn’t work fine. And it ended in a very bad way, in social media, the noise was everywhere. I was actually filming and somebody called me and told me, I wanted to die!”
“You know I cried, lost some good deals then. But I didn’t let it break me. Thank God for my mum who encouraged me to put more effort to work. I channeled the energy to work and I kept saving more. I didn’t let the situation break me down.”
The US embassy in Zambia has dismissed 10 employees for alleged fraud, misconduct, and corruption.
While the statement did not disclose their names or nationalities, it emphasized that no organization is exempt from corruption, which has detrimental effects on public services, national unity, and economic development.
The embassy highlighted its commitment to combating corruption in Zambia despite facing similar challenges in the United States.
This move doubles the number of American and Zambian staff terminated by the US government in the last 18 months due to fraud or corrupt practices.
Former chair of South African Airways, Dudu Myeni, faces corruption charges, including receiving bribes and home security upgrades from Bosasa, a company implicated in various corrupt deals during Jacob Zuma’s presidency.
A Commission of Inquiry found that Myeni had influenced Zuma to favor Bosasa, which received over $100 million in government contracts.
Trevor Mathenjwa, a Bosasa subsidiary director, also faces corruption charges. Both have been released on bail, with a court appearance scheduled for November.
The urgency to improve the living and working conditions of Ghanaian fishermen on fishing vessels abroad has become increasingly evident.
Many Ghanaian fishermen face inadequate training, low wages, and harsh working conditions, rendering the profession unappealing.
In response, the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA) is collaborating with organizations like the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to advocate for decent working conditions in the fishing sector.
While Ghana has yet to ratify the ILO C188 Work in Fishing Convention, the GMA is proactively implementing its provisions ahead of official national endorsement.
The Principal Maritime Administration Officer at GMA, Awudu Enusah, has disclosed that the Authority is engaging stakeholders, enforcing the acquisition of medical and safety training certificates, and establishing a hotline for crew members to report improper working conditions.
These measures aim to ensure that fishermen enjoy equitable working conditions, similar to their onshore counterparts.
During a discussion on the Eye on Port TV program, Mr. Emmanuel Kwame Mensah, National Program Coordinator for the 8.7 Accelerator Lab Programme at the International Labour Organisation, commended the GMA’s preliminary groundwork.
He emphasized the importance of ratifying the Work in Fishing Convention, which would provide clear mechanisms and measures to address laborissues in the sector. He expressed hope for ratification before the 2024 national elections.
Mr. Mensah highlighted the significance of addressing forced labor in the fishing industry and stressed the need for voluntary, productive, safe, and secure labor conditions for fishers and their families.
46 men and 4 women from the Customs Division’s Preventive Unit at the Ghana Revenue Authority have completed a 3-week counter-terrorism training program at the 64 Infantry Regiment Training School in Asuatuare.
This brings the total number of officers trained since the program’s inception in 2017 to 250.
The training covered military drills, weapons proficiency, and armed combat, aiming to enhance the officers’ ability to detect, deter, and disrupt illegal activities related to the movement of goods, funds, and individuals that could support acts of terrorism across the country’s borders.
Kenneth Baye, Chief Revenue Officer in charge of the Preventive Unit, emphasized the importance of such training in the ongoing fight against terrorism, particularly at border points where they serve as the first line of defense.
Benjamin Bekai, Commander of the Customs Counter Terrorism Unit, reiterated the unit’s commitment to its specialized mandate of preventing illegal flows that might aid terrorism within Ghana.
Daniel Osei Bonsu, Deputy Director of the National Counter Terrorism Center of the Ministry of National Security, noted that this training aligns with the government’s goal of safeguarding the nation and its citizens.
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has announced its intention to expand its tax compliance measures to generate the necessary revenue for development. To identify tax infractions by companies or customers, the GRA has utilized a test-purchase approach.
Companies that fail to comply with these measures may be subject to a fine of GHC50,000 or face prosecution. In addition to these measures, the GRA will extend its tax operations to cover Personal Tax Income, Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax, Tax Stamps, and Affixed Stamps on products.
Customers are expected to adhere to Section 41 of the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act, which mandates them to issue tax invoices consistently.
The GRA taskforce recently conducted an operation to enforce tax compliance, resulting in the invitation of eight shop operators and the arrest of two hotel managers. The establishments visited during the operation include Golden Key Hotel, Royal Cockpit Hotel, Kingsbridge Hotel, Floresent Boutique, Look & Pick Company Limited, Safcal Lodge, Adez Mart, Kidis B Mother Care, Mandamond, and Les Fam Company Limited, all located in the Ayawaso West Municipality.
Some of these businesses were found to be non-compliant with the Commissioner’s tax invoice requirements, while others were not registered for VAT.
Joseph Annan, Area Enforcement Manager of GRA in charge of Accra Central, emphasized that failing to issue VAT when registered with the Authority constitutes a violation of tax laws. The two individuals arrested during the operation will undergo assessment for a pre-emptive fine of GHC50,000 at the Customs Office Division of GRA in Accra, while eight shop owners were invited to the GRA head office.
Annan noted that these shop owners had clearly violated VAT regulations, and the Authority had expanded its scope by including general tax compliance tests.
“It looks like we have more grounds to cover beuacuse a lot more businesses are not registered and those who are registered are doing selective insurance of VAT invoice.”
“What it means is that we have to do a lot more complaince checks,” he said.
Mr Annan said to achieve the target of full compliance, all tax types would be checked depending on your business operations.
“We may come to your shop on the strength of test purchase but we will look at other tax types that you are required to pay to ensure full compliance,” he added.
He advised the public to demand VAT invoices while urging tax payers to comply with the law or face prosecution.
Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL) has declared a dividend of ¢0.016 per share for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 2023.
This dividend declaration is contingent upon approval by shareholders during the upcoming Annual General Meeting.
It’s important to note that shareholders registered in GGBL’s books as of the close of business on Monday, October 23, 2023, will be eligible for the final dividend.
To determine eligibility, the ex-dividend date has been scheduled for Thursday, October 19, 2023. Consequently, investors who acquire GGBL shares prior to this date will be entitled to the final dividend.
However, investors purchasing GGBL shares on or after Thursday, October 19, 2023, will not be eligible for the final dividend.
Assuming approval, the final dividend is set to be disbursed on Friday, December 29, 2023.
The US has imposed sanctions on former Sudanese Foreign Minister Ali Karti and two companies, including one in Russia, for destabilizing peace in Sudan.
Karti, a key figure in the pro-military Sudanese Islamic Movement and a former official in President Omar al-Bashir’s government, is accused of obstructing efforts to achieve a ceasefire between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), according to the Department of Treasury.
The Sudanese Islamic Movement responded by viewing the sanctions as a “badge of honor.”
Additionally, GSK Advance Company, a Sudanese firm, has been targeted with sanctions for acting as a procurement channel for the RSF. The US alleges that GSK collaborated with Aviatrade LLC, a Russia-based military supply company, to facilitate the procurement of parts and supplies.
The Department of Treasury affirmed its commitment to targeting individuals and entities that perpetuate the conflict for personal gain.
These sanctions mark the latest in a series of actions by Washington following the outbreak of war between the army and the RSF in mid-April.
Earlier in the month, the US imposed financial sanctions on RSF deputy leader Abdel Rahim Dagalo and placed a travel ban on Gen. Abdul Rahman Juma, the RSF commander in West Darfur state, over allegations of human rights abuses. Both individuals denied the accusations made by the US.
In June, Washington also imposed sanctions on firms owned by warring Sudanese military factions.
One person lost their life, and 11 individuals sustained injuries as a result of an accidental explosion of a rocket-propelled grenade held by a Congolese soldier.
The incident occurred when the vehicle the soldier was in struck an object on the road, near Unity Stadium in Goma.
The casualties included civilians and the soldier himself, and they are currently receiving medical treatment at the local provincial hospital.
The governor of North Kivu, Maj Gen Cirimwami Nkuba Peter, conveyed his condolences to the affected families and urged the public to remain calm during what has been a tense period.
Since early September, a military court has been conducting hearings related to the killing of at least 50 civilians the previous month.
Six soldiers and officers from the elite presidential guard are facing charges in connection with this incident, which occurred during a crackdown on a planned peaceful protest against UN peacekeepers in Goma. Human Rights Watch criticized the action as “extremely callous” and “unlawful.”
Since 2021, the provinces of Ituri and North Kivu have been under the supervision of security forces, with civilian authorities replaced by the military and police. This move was implemented to combat armed groups operating in the region.
A tragic incident occurred at the Akoon Community Mining, a part of the Tarkwa Community Mining Programme, resulting in the feared loss of five lives as a mining pit collapsed.
The bodies of the deceased have been recovered and are now at the Tarkwa Morgue. The company responsible for the mining operation has stated its commitment to enhancing safety measures.
Although the incident took place on Wednesday, September 13, it appears to have gone unnoticed by the media. According to a miner at the site of the accident, “we got to work, but felt the atmosphere had changed. No one could say anything so, we stayed around for a while. It was then that one of our people came to hint us of the extent of the accident that had happened underground and right in front of us they brought four boys who had died, and we thought that would be all but unfortunately, we heard more people were involved.”
He went on to clarify that the actual number of confirmed fatalities exceeds the five that have been reported by media outlets.
The miner disclosed, “Someone had sent a gang of 15 who were going to bring their load to the surface. But those people cannot be accounted for after the incident so, none of the people who had come there to bring their loads and the items survived meaning there could be more people underground.”
Nevertheless, the General Manager of the mining company contradicted the miner’s assertions. He explained that those individuals involved in the accident had ventured into a restricted area, and regrettably, they met a tragic end.
The General Manager said, “It is true that is where we have restricted workers not to go and mine. That is where some people went illegally to work. They unfortunately mined the pillar that supports the ceiling leading to it caving in on them.
“We got four persons who were injured. They were taken to Redeemer Hospital to be cared for but unfortunately, five people also lost their lives. This is the biggest fatality since we started.”
The Akoon Community Mining Project is a major component of President Nana Akufo-Addo’s Tarkwa Community Mining Programme, which was launched in 2021.
Since the program’s inception, 4,887 persons have worked directly in the mine, according to available data.
The US oil benchmark briefly surged to $95 per barrel due to concerns over decreasing stockpiles at a crucial storage hub, which raised worries about a global drop in crude oil supplies.
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) reached its highest level since August of the previous year before stabilizing. This increase in oil prices was primarily driven by a reduction in inventories at Cushing, Oklahoma, which serves as the delivery point for US futures.
As supplies at Cushing approach minimum operational levels, significant price indicators are experiencing sharp increases, driven by concerns of scarcity. This trend is having a ripple effect worldwide, with WTI and the global benchmark Brent displaying extremely bullish pricing structures. Traders are willing to pay substantial premiums to secure local crude oil supplies.
“It really all boils down to concerns over supply tightness continuing and even exacerbating going into the northern hemisphere winter months,” Vandana Hari, founder of consultancy Vanda Insights, said on Bloomberg TV. “You have a market which is very tightly strung right now, almost on the verge of panic.”
Official data released on Wednesday revealed that overall US crude stockpiles experienced a more significant decline than anticipated. This underscores the rapid tightening of the market due to supply reductions from major oil producers such as Saudi Arabia and Russia.
WTI crude oil prices have surged by approximately one-third since the end of June and are poised to record the most substantial quarterly gain since June 2020, a period marked by price fluctuations in the early stages of the pandemic. Brent crude has also exceeded $97 in intraday trading this week.
Earlier this month, OPEC predicted a potential deficit of up to 3 million barrels per day in crude oil supply during the fourth quarter. With robust demand persisting in the US and China, many market observers now view the possibility of oil prices reaching $100 as inevitable, even in the face of a strengthening US dollar and concerns about elevated global interest rates.
The tightening of physical oil markets is evident in the futures curve. The prompt spread for WTI, which represents the price difference between the nearest futures contract, has surged to as much as $2.60 per barrel within the bullish backwardation structure.
This is a significant increase from just 61 cents observed in the middle of the previous week. Additionally, options trading is reflecting concerns about larger price fluctuations.
A Kenyan senator has expressed strong criticism towards sports organizations for their lack of action following an incident in which a dog chased Robert Kimutai Ng’eno during the Buenos Aires marathon in Argentina last week.
Reports indicate that Ng’eno, a Kenyan runner who was leading the race with just 4km (2.5 miles) to go, was unexpectedly pursued by the canine.
Despite attempts by some spectators to chase the dog away, the encounter reportedly disrupted Ng’eno’s concentration, ultimately causing him to finish in third place.
His compatriots, Cornelius Kiplagat and Paul Kipngetich Tanui, claimed the first and second positions.
A widely shared photo of the dog chasing Ng’eno has ignited discussions on social media, with some questioning why more wasn’t done to protect the athlete.
Kenyan Senator Samson Cherargei voiced his concerns, stating, “The athlete was stripped of his dignity and subjected to unwarranted ridicule.”
He further argued that both Kenya’s Sports Minister, Ababu Namwamba, and Athletics Kenya had let the runner down, emphasizing their failure to advocate for an investigation by Argentine authorities.
Wife of Gabon’s ousted President Ali Bongo, Sylvia Bongo, is facing charges of money laundering, receiving stolen property, forgery, and using forged documents.
Public prosecutor Andre Patrick Roponat made the announcement on Friday, revealing that Sylvia Bongo’s case was presented to an investigating judge the day before. He also confirmed that her house arrest order would remain in effect.
These charges come after several weeks of uncertainty regarding Mrs. Bongo’s whereabouts, as she had been placed under house arrest on August 30th when her husband was removed from power by the military.
In addition to Sylvia Bongo’s charges, her son Noureddin Bongo Valentin has also been charged with corruption and embezzlement, leading to his placement in pre-trial detention.
Notably, Ali Bongo, the deposed President with a history of corruption allegations, has been released by the military junta and granted permission to seek medical treatment abroad if he chooses to do so.
A morning altercation inside a commercial vehicle, commonly referred to as a trotro, erupted when a passenger was accused of pilfering GH¢3,000 from the bag of the individual seated next to him.
The accused passenger was apprehended and subjected to harsh words from fellow passengers.
In a video obtained by GhanaWeb Business, one passenger was heard condemning the accused: “You are stealing this early morning. Shame on you.”
Another passenger inquired, “Someone is holding his bag, and you’ve opened it to take all the money. How can an elderly man like you do this?”
A market woman, donned in an apron tied around her waist, can also be seen in the video confronting and urging the suspected thief to confess.
Throughout the incident, the driver appeared unfazed and continued driving to their destination, with the bus conductor sitting quietly, observing the passengers‘ reaction to the suspected thief.
It should be noted that GhanaWeb Business cannot confirm the exact location and date of this incident as of the time of reporting.
An elderly man was caught by the occupants of a public bus(Trotro) after he stole 3,000 cedis from a young passenger. pic.twitter.com/1ymqDYCQ55
The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) has successfully restored its software application system, which had been temporarily offline since September 25, 2023.
This development follows the ORC’s previous announcement regarding the temporary shutdown of the system, which is primarily used for facilitating, upgrading, and registering businesses due to technical difficulties.
In a statement released by the ORC and shared with GhanaWeb Business on September 29, it was confirmed that “the system has now been fully restored, and the Office has resumed all of its services as of today, September 29, 2023.”
The ORC expressed gratitude to its clients and stakeholders for their patience and reaffirmed its commitment to being a reliable business partner in Ghana.
The ORC, a statutory entity derived from the Registrar-General’s Department, is entrusted with the vital responsibilities of company and business registration, as well as providing advisory services.
As an autonomous body, the ORC handles the registration of various types of businesses, including private and public companies limited by shares, private and public companies limited by guarantee (including churches, schools, NGOs, CSOs, associations, unions), external companies, and professional bodies.
Security Policy Expert, Anthony Acquaye, affiliated with the Centre for Security Dialogue and Peace Advocacy, has urged the Ministry of National Security to adopt a proactive strategy in preventing potential terrorist attacks within the country.
This call follows the recent arrest of individuals believed to be terrorists by the police in Burkina Faso on September 28, 2023. These alleged terrorists have reportedly been hiding in Fatchu, located in the Sissala West District of Ghana.
In a statement, Anthony Acquaye emphasized the necessity of close collaboration and intelligence-sharing with neighboring countries, particularly Burkina Faso, to effectively address the shared threat of terrorism that impacts the entire sub-region.
Highlighting the importance of robust border security, the expert stressed the need to fortify security measures along Ghana’s borders, especially in regions with porous borders.
“Much as the security and intelligence architectures of the state are doing their best to safeguard citizens from the threat of terrorism, it is important to strengthen the country’s border security to prevent terrorists from entering the country.
“Having studied the modus operandi of the terrorists, who look for weak and porous areas to operate, and with Ghana having so many unapproved roots at our various borders which can make it easy for terrorists to have their way into the country, through the northern enclave, which is very tricky due to rise in terrorists’ operations in Burkina Faso, in which Ghana shares border with at the north. It is important to deploy strong interoperability security measures and a critical collaborative proactive intelligence network among the two countries, and their other neighbouring countries to help tackle the common threat of terrorist attacks that have engulfed the sub-region,” he noted.
While recognizing Ghana’s security and intelligence services’ efforts to protect residents from terrorist threats, Anthoney Acquaye advocated for the adoption of comprehensive interoperable security measures and proactive intelligence networks across Ghana and its neighbors.
“The Ministry of National Security is not helping the general public by not informing and educating them about the actual type of threats of terrorism identified or anticipated by their outfit that Ghana seem to be facing, including its threats level at the district bases, regional bases and the nation at large, through their website, social media Platforms or their normal text massaging mechanism,” the statement read.
This approach, he said, will help the public to remain more alert of the danger, and the actual type of threats posed to them and to tell any suspicious activities to the state security agencies through an active phone number.
Also, Security Policy Expert also criticized the Ministry for adopting a terrorism awareness slogan that he believes do not align with Ghana’s specific threat landscape.
“Let me register my disappointment with the laziness approach of the Ministry of National Security in not being able to create its own Strategic Terrorism Awareness Campaign Slogan coupled with active contact number for citizens to reach up in any event of suspicious activities, but chose to copy the slogan proposed by executive Allen Kay from New York City which was used by the United States after their 9/11 terrorism attack, and adding to it an inactive (999) phone or contact number, which can be reach when citizens call.
“Until the Ministry proves that the type of terrorism threat, identified or anticipated to be faced by Ghana is the same as that of the United States, there is no point in adopting a Plagiarized slogan which does not concur with the combating of Ghana’s type of terrorism threat. In the United Kingdom, for instance, the M15 created their own terrorism threat campaign awareness slogan, termed (SCaN) meaning See, Check and Notify. In that, if you see anything check and notify the security agency,” he stated.
He continued “It is also imperative to state on record that, the Ministry of National Security is doing its best to help prevent any act of terrorism that may befall the country through the launch of the Terrorism Awareness Campaign slogan “If you see something, say something” with gospel musician Empress Gifty as the brand ambassador, which I have my reservation on her appointment,” he added.
A video circulating on social media depicts an unconscious man aboard a public transport vehicle commonly referred to as a “trotro.”
The specific destination of the bus is not clear from the video.
But according to reports, the man tragically passed away while seated in the moving vehicle.
The bus conductor (mate), initially tried to wake the man up, thinking he might be asleep, but received no response.
It was at that point that both the bus conductor and the passengers came to the unsettling realization that they were traveling alongside a deceased individual.
The cause of death is unknown but some social media users are asserting that the man gave up due to the current hardship in the economy while others are just speechless over the shock of event.
The imprisoned leader of Tunisia’s primary opposition party has declared his intention to commence a hunger strike until the restrictions imposed on him and other detainees are lifted.
Rached Ghannouchi, aged 82, who leads the moderate Islamist Ennahda party, was apprehended in April and sentenced to a one-year prison term on charges of incitement.
He is the most prominent among the more than 20 critics of Tunisia’s President Kais Saied who have been detained this year.
Since dissolving the country’s parliament, restricting the judiciary’s authority, and granting himself decree-based governance powers, President Saied, elected in 2019, has faced allegations of consolidating power and undermining democratic institutions.
Gabon’s military leaders have eased the curfew that was imposed in the aftermath of President Ali Bongo’s overthrow.
The newly announced curfew, declared by the Committee for the Transition and Restoration of Institutions (CTRI) on Wednesday, will now be in effect from midnight to 05:00.
Previously, the curfew varied by location, starting between 18:00 and 22:00 and ending at 06:00.
The junta has introduced this new curfew as part of their efforts to reinvigorate economic activities in the country. Unlike the previous modified curfew, which had exemptions for certain areas, this one will apply uniformly across the entire nation.
Colonel Ulrich Manfoumbi Manfoumbi, the junta’s spokesperson, explained that the purpose of the new curfew is to “support economic operators in all sectors.”
Additionally, the transition committee has cited the start of the school year as a contributing factor to their decision.
Kenya ranks among the top 10 countries worldwide in terms of monthly active users of Truecaller, a caller identification service, according to a company announcement.
Truecaller, which aids users in identifying potential spam calls, boasts a presence in 175 countries and a global user base of 356 million active monthly users.
In Africa, other leading users of the platform include Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria, and South Africa. Truecaller has offices located in seven different regions, spanning Sweden, India, Israel, Egypt, and Kenya.
“Truecaller’s 10 largest markets (are) India, Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria, South Africa, Malaysia, Iraq, Kenya, Colombia, and Jordan – based on monthly active users (MAU),” said the company.
Truecaller identifies a caller, detects and prevents spam calls and texts, allows call recording, allows users to search for the identification of a mobile number, and checks the availability of the person they are attempting to contact.
Local and international criminals, marketing firms, and digital credit providers (DCPs) are among the most prominent sources of spam calls and SMS in Kenya.
Member of Parliament representing BolgatangaCentral, Isaac Adongo, expressed deep concern over the National Investment Bank’s (NIB) financial crisis, attributing it to inadequate oversight.
He cited an instance where the bank’s Managing Director, Samuel Sarpong, was absent for more than a year, managing the bank remotely from Canada.
As the Deputy Ranking Member of the Finance Committee of Parliament, Adongo highlighted this situation as one of the issues contributing to the bank’s difficulties.
“We haven’t given NIB the kind of attention that it deserves given that it has been in crisis… the Managing Director sat in Canada and zoom-managed NIB for almost a year. How can we be serious about that?
“A bank that requires arm holding, proper nurturing, the Managing Director sat in Canada for one year and what he was doing was Zoom managing that bank. Even very good performing banks cannot be managed by Zoom for one year so clearly there are issues,” he said on JoyFm.
Earlier reports said that the government was planning to transfer NIB operations to the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB).
However, the minority has aggressively opposed the merger, alleging that it will result in job losses and other concerns.
According to Isaac Adongo, proceeding with the merger without the assent of parliament is unconstitutional.
“I want to tell you that the bank itself was not established by the Companies Act, it was established by a National Investment Bank Act 612, and that Act is very clear under Section 22 under liquidation proceedings that nobody can liquidate or take any action that will ultimately lead to the demise of NIB unless it comes back to parliament for parliament to pass a law giving direction as to how that process should be pursued.
“So, there’s clearly a legal mandate, and that legal mandate rests with the people who set up NIB and it is the parliament of Ghana. So, we don’t expect anything other than a poor regulation action by the Central Bank under Act 930 either to bring it under administration, to revoke the license, or to place it under receivership as provided because they have a license from the Bank of Ghana,” he said.
He explained further: “But it’s quite clear that’s not the action the Bank of Ghana wants to take, it is not the action the government is interested in, the only action left now is to come under Act 612 and particularly under Section 22 of the Act.”
In a coordinated effort between the Ghana Police Service and the Data Protection Commission, five business executives have been apprehended for violations related to data privacy.
The arrests took place at various locations, including Care Flight Ghana, Morning Star School, Embassy Gardens, the Darkuman branch of Kabfam Ghana Limited, and Grace Homeopathic Clinic.
This operation signifies the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that businesses comply with data privacy regulations. Quintin Akrobotu, the Director of Regulatory Compliance at the Commission, emphasized in an interview with GhanaWeb Business that businesses must submit their data collection procedures for supervision by the Commission.
He stated that the detained executives would face legal action and issued a warning that anyone else found involved in data breaches would not be exempted from consequences.
Akrobotu also noted that the Commission would intensify efforts to enforce registration of data collection activities for non-compliant institutions.
In Parliament, the Minority is sounding a cautionary note to the management of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC). They are advising against seeking approval for a $431 million loan facility.
The concern raised by the NDC MPs revolves around suspicions that the government is pressuring GNPC into obtaining this loan from a company called Litasco, using oil as collateral.
Isaac Adongo, the Ranking Member for the Finance Committee, addressed the media on September 28, asserting that this arrangement runs afoul of the conditions set by the existing IMF program.
Specifically, it violates the stipulation prohibiting the government from acquiring commercial loans with collateral.
“They should not even dare to invite parliament to consummate the illegality they are about to undertake. The conduct so far suggests that they are keen to breach the agreement they signed with the IMF. Otherwise, they would not even go to the GNPC Board to approve any term sheet, go to Ministry of Energy [to] go and get no objection, go to Ministry of Finance…and Ken Ofori-Atta you don’t even read the agreement you signed then you give no objection and the president approved it… They can do it there.”
He added, “They don’t even respect the laws of Ghana. So they should just stay there and do it. Then we will know that they don’t respect Parliament. But they should not even invite us to be part of that process that “
Minority Leader Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, for his part, has warned that his party will not vote on an agreement that he claims is in flagrant violation of Ghana’s 17th IMF plan.
New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer aspirant, Kennedy Agyapong, has warned his party against engaging in ethnic politics.
He warns that doing so will be detrimental to the party’s long-term survival and development, echoing his broader plea for fair treatment of all candidates in the next flagbearership competition.
He claimed that there have been unacceptable incidents in which certain northerners have vowed not to vote in the 2024 elections unless Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia is named NPP flagbearer.
“Assuming the Vice President becomes the flagbearer… northerners go out there to say that without one of them, they won’t vote. Let Akans say the same and let’s see what happens.
“You have some elders saying that Mahama is challenging the NPP to present a northerner against the argument that NPP uses and dumps northerners. So those behind Bawumia seem to be listening to Mahama,” he submitted during a September 24 interview on US-based Kings Radio.
Agyapong also noted the possibility of northern candidates flooding the ballot paper in 2024, citing former President John Dramani Mahama’s nomination with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Hassan Ayariga of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“Mahama is a northerner, assuming he wins; he is a northerner, Ayariga is a northerner and you’d get other northerners. Does it mean the face of Ghana politics will be only northerners? What at all is this?
“Things people cannot say is what I say, because the NPP must be careful with the tribal politics being played in the north, I am drawing their attention,” Agyapong added.
After winning the preliminary round of voting on August 26, Bawumia is in pole position to become the NPP’s flagbearer.
He received more than 68% of total votes cast, finishing first out of a field of ten candidates.
The final election is scheduled for November 4, with Bawumia competing against three other candidates: Kennedy Agyapong, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and Francis Addai-Nimoh.
Ghana has now become part of South Africa’s e-Visa program.
This addition permits Ghanaian citizens to apply for South African visas using an online platform, removing the necessity to visit the South African High Commission in person for visa applications.
In an official statement, the South African High Commission highlighted that this inclusion would lead to a beneficial transformation in the visa application process.
Furthermore, the introduction of the e-Visa program is expected to improve and simplify the visa application process, providing greater convenience for Ghanaian travelers.
“The High Commission of the Republic of South Africa wishes to inform you that Ghana has been added by the government of the Republic of South Africa to the E-Visa list, which means that the Ghanaian can apply online for a visa to South Africa without visiting the High Commission,” part of the statement read.
For more information, the commission advised Ghanaian visitors to visit the Department of Home Affairs of the Republic of South Africa’s homepage.
“The information is available on the portal of the Department of Homes Affairs of the Republic of South Africa. The Ghanaians are urged to visit the following website https://www.dha.gov.za to obtain more information.
“It should be noted that the normal requirements such as passport details, letter of invitation/ proof of accommodation and bank statement would be verified on arrival at a point of entry,” the commission added.
Individuals who have been waiting for their passports for more than three months owing to this change can now pick them up at the VFS Global Office, according to the announcement.
“Passports that have been more than 3 months at the High Commission could be collected at the VFS Global Offices,” it stated.
Prospective flagbearer for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Agyapong, has again attacked Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia with allegations of securing vice presidential slots for some MPs in the Ashanti Region.
During an interview on US-based Kings Radio on September 24, 2023, Agyapong expressed apprehension regarding the internal political dynamics, which have often resulted in escalating violence.
He lamented the concerning rise in violence during intra-party elections, noting that certain NPP members become increasingly aggressive during these contests.
The Member of Parliament for Assin Central alleged that seven Ashanti Regional MPs had been promised the vice presidential nomination by another flagbearer contender, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Agyapong argued that if Bawumia were to become the party’s flagbearer, it could potentially lead the NPP into the opposition. He emphasized his determination to resist any actions that could jeopardize the NPP’s chances of remaining in power.
He continued, “What they are doing in the Ashanti region, 47 MPs have been intimidated, all because of one vice president position. They have promised 7 of the Ashanti regional MPs for the vice president’s slots, and they are pushing everybody because they want the vice president position.”
He added: “One vice president, 17 people are contesting for the slot and because of that they have been blinded, they know they will lose, because how can the vice president beat Mahama?
“It is not possible upon all his utterances. Yet, because of greed and selfishness they want us to go into opposition and I will resist that, I won’t allow us go into opposition.”
Kennedy is set to vie for the party’s flagbearer position, competing against three other contenders: Dr. Bawumia, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, and Francis Addai-Nimoh.
The NPP has scheduled the leadership succession vote for November 4, 2023, to determine President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s successor as the party’s leader.
In a tragic incident on Wellesley Road in Croydon, a sizable town in South London, a 15-year-old girl lost her life in a daylight stabbing.
The victim, Elianne Andam, whose parents are of Ghanaian descent, has garnered significant international media attention following the incident.
According to reports, the tragic event occurred on the morning of Wednesday, September 27, 2023, as Elianne was en route to school with a friend. They had just disembarked from a bus when her friend was approached by a former romantic partner bearing flowers.
Elianne, a student at the Old Palace of John Whitgift School, valiantly shielded her friend from the assailant, a young man known to both of them, and was fatally stabbed in the neck with a knife measuring approximately one foot in length.
A Metropolitan Police stetment said of the incident: “Elianne Andam was on her way to school when she was attacked in Wellesley Road at approximately 08:30hrs on Wednesday, 27 September.
“Officers were at the scene within two minutes of the call being received. They worked with emergency service colleagues to provide first aid. Despite their efforts, the 15-year-old sadly died at the scene.”
On her Ghanaian parentge, the UK Guardian wrote: Elianne’s father is a writer of Christian teachings, while her mother works as an NHS specialist nurse safeguarding children. Both are of Ghanaian heritage and are active in the Christian community.
Further investigation by GhanaWeb revealed that her mother’s name is Dorcas and her father’s name is Michael.
The UK Mirror stated in their reprt: “Her mum Dorcas broke down in tears as she visited the scene this evening, supported by approximately 30 family members. Elianne’s father Michael was also present.”
Family spokespersonn speaks:
A spokesperson for Elianne’s family said: “Our hearts are broken by the senseless death of our daughter. Elianne was the light of our lives. She was bright and funny, with many friends who all adored her.
“She was only 15 and had her whole life ahead of her, with hopes and dreams for the future.
“All those dreams have now been shattered. Our lives have fallen apart, along with that of our wider family. We ask the media to please respect our privacy as we try to grieve the short life of our beautiful child.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and London Mayor Sadiq Khan have all lamented the murder.
Police announce arrest:
Within 75 minutes of the incident, a 17-year-old boy was arrested in New Addington on suspicion of murder.
A 12-hour extension to his custody time limit was granted by a senior officer this morning and he remains in custody at a South London police station.
Detective Chief Inspector Rebecca Woodsford, who is leading the investigation, said: “My thoughts and the thoughts of my team are with the Elianne’s family. This is a deeply upsetting time for them and we will do everything we can to support them.
“Our investigation continues and we are making good progress. We have recovered CCTV from the area and have spoken to a number of witnesses. Forensic scientists have also examined the scene.
“From these enquiries we are now confident Elianne was attacked outside in Wellesley Road near to the bus stop rather than onboard the bus.
“We know many people were in the area at the time and would have witnessed the attack. This would have been distressing and traumatic and I would encourage anyone who needs support to contact us and we will help to arrange this.
“I know that Elianne’s death has left many people feeling upset and I would like to thank the people of Croydon for the support they have shown us as we have carried out our enquiries in the town centre. I know this work has been disruptive, however, it has been vital and your patience is appreciated.”
According to reports, a post-mortem examination was performed on Thursday, September 28th, in the afternoon.
The suspect was acquainted with the victim. More research is being conducted to determine their exact relationship.
The Minority in Parliament, has strongly opposed the Bank of Ghana’s (BoG) proposal to transfer control of the National Investment Bank (NIB) to the Agricultural Development Bank (ADB).
According to the NDC MPs, this move raises concerns of a conflict of interest due to the fact that the Bank of Ghana holds a majority stake of over 60% in ADB.
During a press conference held in Parliament, Isaac Adongo, the Ranking member for the Finance Committee, accused the Akufo-Addo administration of attempting to surreptitiously hand over NIB to political allies.
The Bolgatanga Central MP also presented alternative solutions to the government, which he believes could help NIB overcome its challenges without resorting to a sale.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, it is instructive to note that every viable and constructive alternative proposals by well- meaning Ghanaians aimed at resolving the problems of NIB to retain and revive a largely systemic Bank were bluntly ignored.
“NIB’s biggest problem is that it is suffering from capitalization deficit of GHC2.4 billion. However, a casual review of NIB’s balance sheet shows that a restructuring of the balance sheet can generate in excess of GHC2.75 billion to wipe of the GHC2.4 billion and leave a free shareholders fund and equity of about GHS350 million towards recapitalization and a total cash injection of GH2.8b. It is therefore puzzling that anybody sitting on this gold mine will attempt to give it out to somebody for peanut.
“I wish to state here, that some of the proposals that were ignored are still very important today to remedy the situation.
Among these include, but are not limited to, the following:
“Sale of NIB’s 24% shares in Nestle Ghana acquired at Ghc50 million a long time ago, that were given a conservative value of Ghc500million in 2018. This singular proposal would have generated a risk-free cash of Ghc500million to NIB and provided a realized capital gain of Ghc450 million for ecapitalisation. Strangely, this was either ignored or lost on Hon. Ken Ofori Atta, who rather opted to take the shares in Nestle and swap it with a Ghc500 million government bond plus a further Ghc800million government debt as deposit for shares. As it turned out, those bonds have since been impaired through the poor conduct of the Finance Minister in the infamous and unending DDEP consistent with IFRS 9.”
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has highlighted the alarming factionalism and division within the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
In an interview with TV3 on September 28, 2023, the statesman expressed his concerns about the departure from the party’s original liberal democratic values, which he noted had become diluted compared to its state in the early 1990s.
According to Kufuor, the party’s dedication to liberal democratic principles has waned over time, deviating from the pure commitment that characterized the NPP around 1992.
He emphasized that the fervor and dedication to these principles seemed to have diminished, comparing the earlier commitment to a religious conviction that he no longer senses within the party.
When asked about the cause behind this shift, Kufuor pointed to excessive emphasis on factionalism within the party. He argued that genuine democracy is inclusive and should not promote divisive factions. Kufuor also underscored the significance of internal elections, expressing his regret over how these votes have, over the years, led to the formation of factions and divisions within the NPP.
“During elections across the party, you wouldn’t be so divisive and be emphasizing factions. He belongs to that side so no cooperation. If you do that you are diving the force. The numerical force that you need for any democratic practice,” he stressed.
The NPP is currently grappling with the departure of former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen, who has established a new political movement with the intention of running as an independent presidential candidate in the 2024 elections.
Alan Kyerematen made the announcement of his independent candidacy on September 25, formalizing his resignation from the NPP.
This decision came after he withdrew from the NPP’s flagbearer race, a move attributed to the difficulties he faced during a Super Delegates Conference held within the party in August 2023.
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has announced its intention to expand its tax compliance measures to generate the necessary revenue for development. To identify tax infractions by companies or customers, the GRA has utilized a test-purchase approach.
Companies that fail to comply with these measures may be subject to a fine of GHC50,000 or face prosecution. In addition to these measures, the GRA will extend its tax operations to cover Personal Tax Income, Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax, Tax Stamps, and Affixed Stamps on products.
Customers are expected to adhere to Section 41 of the Value Added Tax (VAT) Act, which mandates them to issue tax invoices consistently.
The GRA taskforce recently conducted an operation to enforce tax compliance, resulting in the invitation of eight shop operators and the arrest of two hotel managers. The establishments visited during the operation include Golden Key Hotel, Royal Cockpit Hotel, Kingsbridge Hotel, Floresent Boutique, Look & Pick Company Limited, Safcal Lodge, Adez Mart, Kidis B Mother Care, Mandamond, and Les Fam Company Limited, all located in the Ayawaso West Municipality.
Some of these businesses were found to be non-compliant with the Commissioner’s tax invoice requirements, while others were not registered for VAT.
Joseph Annan, Area Enforcement Manager of GRA in charge of Accra Central, emphasized that failing to issue VAT when registered with the Authority constitutes a violation of tax laws. The two individuals arrested during the operation will undergo assessment for a pre-emptive fine of GHC50,000 at the Customs Office Division of GRA in Accra, while eight shop owners were invited to the GRA head office.
Annan noted that these shop owners had clearly violated VAT regulations, and the Authority had expanded its scope by including general tax compliance tests.
Growing concerns surround Sudan’s deteriorating healthcare situation amid a surge in seasonal epidemics, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
The Sudanese Ministry of Health has officially recognized the emergence of dengue fever, malaria, and cholera cases across various regions of the country. In a statement posted on its Facebook page on Tuesday evening, the ministry reported 21 cholera-related fatalities in Khartoum and Gedaref states.
According to the ministry, “Gedaref State has reported 265 suspected cholera cases, resulting in 18 fatalities, while Khartoum State recorded 13 cholera cases, including 3 deaths.”
Sudan Tribune, an independent news source, reported on Wednesday that dengue fever cases in Gedaref State have surged to at least 700, with 8 fatalities, citing Sudan’s Acting Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim.
“The dengue fever epidemic is spreading in 8 states, including the Red Sea, Kassala, Gedaref, Gezira, Sinnar, North Kordofan, South Kordofan, and North Darfur,” the minister stated, attributing the disease’s spread to an increase in mosquito breeding due to continuous rainfall.
The ministry initiated a mosquito and disease vector control campaign in Gedaref State two weeks ago, receiving support from the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Children’s Fund (Unicef), and the federal support team in Gedaref State.
The Sudanese minister also mentioned that Gedaref received essential supplies from WHO and the federal health ministry, including intravenous solutions and blood transfusion bags. In North Darfur State, malaria cases have surged to approximately 80,000, according to Sudan Tribune.
Ahmed Mohamed Al-Doma, deputy director-general of the Ministry of Health in North Darfur State, also reported 25 cases of dengue fever in the state, with no fatalities.
On Tuesday, the WHO reported cholera and dengue fever outbreaks in eastern Sudan, with 162 suspected cholera cases admitted to hospitals in Gedaref and other border areas near Ethiopia.
Previously, Sudan’s health ministry reported that the RSF had taken control of the country’s primary medical supplies warehouse, resulting in the loss of medicines and medical equipment worth 500 million US dollars, along with a 70-percent loss of specialized center equipment in Khartoum.
Last week, the United Nations revealed that approximately 1,200 children under the age of 5 in nine refugee camps in Sudan had died over the past four months due to a suspected measles outbreak and malnutrition, particularly in the White Nile State.
Sudanese epidemiologist and community medicine specialist Hamza Awadalla expressed concerns about a potential widespread epidemic due to the deteriorating health sector’s inability to address the crisis.
“The ongoing war has affected the health sector’s ability to decisively respond to epidemics as nearly 100 hospitals have become out of service amid restrictions on movement for doctors and medical staff,” Awadalla told Xinhua on Wednesday.
Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the SAF and the RSF in Khartoum and other areas since April 15, resulting in at least 3,000 deaths and more than 6,000 injuries, according to figures released by the Sudanese Health Ministry.
Political Scientist Dr Amoako Baah has pronounced doom on on the current government, the National Democratic Party (NPP), saying it will soon hit the rocks.
He expressed his view that the party is presently under the control of individuals whom he considers corrupt and “rascals” who do not genuinely work towards the party’s advancement.
He pointed to President Akufo Addo as being the driving force behind this situation.
In a time of media engagement, Mr Baah expressed, “the party is in the wrong hands. You cannot correct if from within. The party must die and its going to die. You watch it and see. Its going to die. it will be divided in into two. The Kumasi people will have the bigger power. The other one will die. Then we will get raid of all the rascal running the party down. Raskles!”
Alan Kyerematen’s departure from the NPP has initiated discussions about his prospects as an independent candidate and the NPP losing a dedicated member.
While a section of Ghanaians believe that Alan is going to succeed as an independent candidate of the new Movement for Change party, his supports also see the the NPP crashing entirely in no time.
Former Central Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bernard Allotey Jacobs, has stated that the wife of Alan Kyerematen, a political figure, is now using a slogan or motto that is originally associated with Vice President Bawumia.
When you hear “it is possible” or “The signal is strong” especially within the NPP circle, you know it is referring to Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.
In a strong display of unwavering support for her husband, Alan Kyerematen, a prominent figure in Ghanaian politics, his wife Patricia Christabel Kyerematen embraced the well-known slogan ‘It is possible.’ in an interview.
“I’m giving him every support that God has given me. The signal is clear. And it is more than possible that this will happen,” she told the media, Monday September 25, after her husband announced he would contest the 2024 presidential election as an independent candidate.
Reacting to the comment, Allotey jacob opined that it saddens his heart to hear Mrs Kyeremateng borrowing the words of Bawumia to promote her husband.
This slogan was originally coined by Ghana’s Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, but with a slight modification.
“Alan’s wife was interviewed by a TV station, and what saddened me was her statement, ‘Oh, the signal is high.’ It made me think that she might be adopting the motto or symbol of someone else for her own purposes. By doing so, she essentially endorses that person.”
The wife of Alan Kyerematen, Patricia Christabel Kyerematen, expressed her endorsement of her husband’s choice to depart from the party.
Following Alan’s announcement of leaving the NPP and running as an independent candidate in the 2024 election, Patricia Christabel Kyerematen conveyed her full support for his independent candidacy in the upcoming elections during a media interaction.
“I’m giving him every support that God has given me. The signal is clear. And it is more than possible that this will happen,” she told the media, Monday, after her husband announced he would contest the 2024 presidential election as an independent candidate.
“Alan Kyerematen is a good man, he’s an honest man, he’s the man with vision; he’s what Ghana needs at this time. There’s nothing impossible if God permits it,” she declared.
