Author: Amanda Cartey

The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has announced that it will not join the nationwide strike organized by Organised Labour, scheduled for October 10, despite supporting the ongoing fight against illegal small-scale mining, also known as galamsey.

In a statement issued on October 8, GMA President Dr. Frank Serebour emphasized that while the association stands with Organised Labour’s concerns about the environmental and societal damage caused by galamsey, its members will not participate in the strike. 

“The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has not declared a roadmap for industrial action. Therefore, all members are expected to continue providing full services without interruption,” the statement read.

The GMA’s decision follows an internal meeting, where the association highlighted the importance of uninterrupted medical care, especially given the challenges facing the healthcare system. However, it affirmed its full support for efforts to address the harmful effects of galamsey on the environment and livelihoods across the country.

The statement also noted that the National Executive Council (NEC) of the GMA would provide further updates if necessary.

This comes after a high-level meeting between President Nana Akufo-Addo and Organised Labour at Jubilee House, where both sides agreed on steps to tackle illegal mining.

 The key points of the discussion included stronger enforcement of laws banning mining in water bodies and forest reserves, the repeal of the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Regulations, 2023 (L.I. 2462), and enhanced collaboration between the government, labour unions, and stakeholders to combat galamsey. 

There was also a commitment from law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts to clear illegal miners from protected areas, alongside cooperation between the Attorney-General and the judiciary to fast-track the prosecution of illegal mining cases.

Despite these initiatives, Organised Labour remains unsatisfied with the government’s actions and will proceed with its planned strike, calling for more aggressive measures against illegal mining.

Meanwhile, Archbishop Bonaventure Kwofie, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, has spoken out against the strike. He emphasized the need for a comprehensive, non-partisan approach to solving the galamsey crisis. 

While acknowledging the legitimacy of Organised Labour’s concerns, Archbishop Kwofie called for greater dialogue to ensure that both the illegal mining issue and labor grievances are addressed constructively.

Gospel musician Diana Asamoah has voiced her strong belief in the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) prospects of winning the 2024 general elections, despite contrary prophecies.

Addressing recent predictions from several men of God, including Rev. Owusu-Bempah, who has prophesied a win for NDC’s flagbearer John Dramani Mahama, Diana Asamoah drew a parallel with the biblical story of King Hezekiah. In the story, Hezekiah’s fate of imminent death, foretold by Prophet Isaiah, was altered through prayer.

She expressed confidence that the NPP could experience a similar turn of events.

During an NPP campaign rally in the Ashanti Region on October 5, 2024, she highlighted the government’s accomplishments, such as the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, as factors that would contribute to their victory.

“2 Kings 2:1-7 tells us about how Isaiah prophesied to Hezekiah that he would die. Hezekiah cried out to the Lord to reverse it based on his service to God, and it was reversed; the Lord added 15 more years to his life.

“So the NPP government, including Akufo-Addo, Bawumia, and NAPO, will not accept defeat based on our good works like the Free SHS. Any doom prophecy against us will not stand, we will win the 2024 general elections,” she declared in Twi.

Her comments follow an incident where Rev. Owusu-Bempah prayed over Mahama during an NDC gathering with religious leaders on October 1, 2024.

In his prayer, the prophet declared that Mahama’s compassionate nature would win him God’s favor, potentially leading to his return to the presidency.

This prophecy has ignited a range of reactions on social media, with some users expressing surprise and skepticism over why Owusu-Bempah, who is widely associated with the NPP, would make such a prediction.

A 40-year-old air conditioning installer, Joshua Arhin, has been sentenced to 20 years of hard labor in prison by the Tarkwa Circuit Court for defiling a 13-year-old girl in Booboobo, located in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality.

He pleaded guilty and asked the court for mercy, vowing not to commit such a disgraceful act again.

Superintendent Juliana Essel-Dadzie, who led the prosecution, informed the court, overseen by Mrs. Hathia Ama Manu, that the complainant is a mechanic and the father of the victim, who is a Junior High School student.

She noted that both the complainant and the accused lived in Booboobo. On May 25, 2024, around 8:00 p.m., the victim visited her sister at a nearby drinking establishment and was later instructed to make her way home alone as it was getting late.

After a while, the victim’s sister, who is a witness in the case, called their mother to check if the victim had returned home, but the answer was no.

The prosecution stated that the complainant, along with the victim’s mother and sister, began searching for her. By approximately 9:30 p.m. that same evening, they spotted her emerging from behind an uncompleted school building in Booboobo. When they questioned her, she remained silent and went home.

On June 1, 2024, the victim, suffering from intense abdominal pain, disclosed to the complainant that on May 25, while walking home, Arhin had called her from behind an uncompleted school building. After engaging her in conversation, he lured her into his bedroom and sexually assaulted her. Following the assault, he gave her two pills and instructed her to swallow them.

The complainant then reported the incident to the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) in Tarkwa, where he was issued a police medical report form to take the victim to the hospital for examination and treatment.

She explained that the complainant returned the form, duly signed by the medical officer who treated the victim at the Apinto Government Hospital.

The court was informed that Arhin had gone into hiding after committing the crime, but he was apprehended on July 21, 2024, at the complainant’s house during a visit with some elders to offer an apology.

Online card payment platforms are now charging GH¢17 to the dollar as of October 4, 2024, significantly increasing the cost of services like Netflix, Apple Music, Spotify, and X Premium subscriptions, even though their original prices remain unchanged.

Ghana’s cedi has continued to depreciate against major currencies such as the US dollar.

While the cedi experienced some stability in July amid easing inflationary pressures, recent checks by GhanaWeb Business reveal that, as of 10:00 AM on October 4, 2024, the cedi trades at GH¢16.40 to the dollar, with the pound at GH¢21.44 in prominent forex bureaus.

The Euro is trading at GH¢17.97 in the retail market.

Bloomberg also reported a 0.1% weakening of the cedi to GH¢15.67 per dollar, adding to the financial strain on the Ghanaian economy as businesses continue to adjust their pricing.

Over the past month, the cedi has depreciated nearly 1% against the dollar, totaling a 24% decline for the year.

Additionally, Bloomberg noted that Ghana’s dollar bonds, set to mature in 2032, rose by 0.2 cents to 52.36 cents on the dollar on September 11, 2024, at 11:38 AM in London.

Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has urged the removal of Section 1 of Article 78 of the 1992 Constitution, which mandates the President to appoint the majority of ministers from Parliament.

Kpebu expressed this view during an appearance on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, October 3, in support of the call for a constitutional review. He noted that the constitution requires significant amendments.

He argued that MPs who also serve as ministers often use their influence to secure financial gains from private institutions to which they award contracts. He further claimed that ministers receive a cut of 10% or more from the payments made to contractors by the state.

Kpebu suggested that this practice drives many MPs from the ruling government to seek ministerial appointments as a means to accumulate personal wealth.

He said, “I hear nowadays it is becoming very clear that they don’t like deputy ministerial appointments because a deputy minister does not have much of a voice, doesn’t get much., right, so everybody wants to be a minister because that is where when you award contracts you will get 10% or more.”

“The members of parliament go to parliament in the hope of being appointed ministers of state because that is where they will make money. So, this is the one we want to amend so that an MP cannot be a minister.”

He further stated that Members of Parliament should not be appointed to serve on the governing boards of state institutions or organizations.

He explained that MPs who sit on these boards often act as intermediaries for private companies seeking contracts from state institutions.

“And number two, a very huge part- an MP cannot be a board member of the state-owned enterprises and institutions. Some of the MP’s when they [make] them chairman of let’s say National Petroleum Authority, just [as] board member alone, they become lobbyists for these institutions and that’s how they make money.”

Martin Kpebu consequently urged the removal of this law, along with others, should the constitution undergo revision.

The African Development Bank (AfDB) aims to produce 120 million more tonnes of food by 2025.

Dr. Abdul Kamara, Director-General of AfDB’s Nigeria Country Department, announced this at a side event during the 2024 West and Central Africa Regional Wheat Summit on Thursday in Abuja.

The theme of the summit was: “Prioritising Policy, Innovative Technologies, and Investments in Wheat Transformation towards Sustainable Food Security and Economy in West and Central Africa”.

Kamara stressed the urgent need to boost wheat production in West and Central Africa.

He noted that rising demand for wheat is driven by population growth, urbanization, and changing dietary preferences.

“However, in spite of this increasing demand, domestic production continues to lag far behind”

“Today, the sub-region relies heavily on imports to meet its wheat needs, which exposes our countries to the vulnerabilities of the global market.”

“Recent events, such as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and India’s wheat export ban, have only further highlighted the fragility of relying on external wheat supplies.

“The disruptions we have witnessed serve as a strong reminder that we must work towards reducing this import dependency and bolster local wheat production to secure our region’s food future,” he said.

Kamara said that the AfDB’s response to these challenges was encapsulated in its Feed Africa initiative, launched in 2016.

He said that the ten-year strategy was aimed at transforming agriculture across the continent into a competitive agribusiness sector.

“The Feed Africa’s Technologies for African Agricultural Transformation (TAAT) is a major, continent-wide initiative that aims to boost agricultural productivity in all parts of Africa.

“The TAAT contributes to Feed Africa’s objectives by improving agricultural productivity using the power of science, technology, innovation, and a knowledge-based agricultural approach.

‘The programme aims to double the productivity of crops, livestock, and fisheries by making proven technologies available to more than 40 million agricultural producers by 2025.

“This will produce an additional 120 million tonnes of food and lift 130 million people out of poverty,” he said.

Kamara encouraged stakeholders to engage in discussions aimed at building resilient agricultural systems capable of supporting Africa’s food security and economic growth.

“Together, we can turn the challenges we face into opportunities and create a prosperous wheat sector that serves the needs of our people,” he said.

Gov. Umar Namadi of Jigawa, who featured at the summit, shared the challenges and successes of wheat production in his state.

“We believe in our land, our people, and our determination,” he said.

Namadi, who reflected on efforts to allocate 40,000 hectares for wheat cultivation, said his administration had implemented programmes to support farmers.

He said this had resulted in a significant increase in land dedicated to wheat production.

Dr Solomon Gizaw, Head of the TAAT Clearinghouse, highlighted the pressing demand for wheat.

Gizaw said that wheat consumption in Sub-Saharan Africa had surged by over 6 per cent in the past decade.

He said that there was the need for strategic investments in the wheat value chain.

Gizaw said that that nations like Nigeria and Cameroon were formulating National Wheat Road Maps to enhance domestic production.

“Over the past six years, TAAT has successfully distributed heat-tolerant wheat varieties and other crops to over 12 million farmers, leading to an estimated increase in crop production of 25 million tonnes.”

Mr Zubeir Ibrahim, Managing Director, Nile Sun Seed Company Ltd, and Chairman of the Sudan Seed Trade Association, Saudi Arabia, shared same views.

He emphasised the opportunities presented by heat-tolerant wheat varieties and the growing market demand.

“This demand creates a pathway for success that we can leverage,” he noted.

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), through its 64 Infantry Regiment, has allegedly declared the withdrawal of its personnel stationed at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).

This withdrawal became effective on Wednesday, October 1, 2024.

As reported by dailyguidenetwork.com, the rationale behind GAF’s decision remains unclear, leading to speculation, particularly regarding Ghana’s electoral environment.

The security of GBC, a crucial organization for information dissemination in the country, has traditionally been managed by the Ghana Armed Forces.

GAF’s actions carry significant implications, especially since no detailed explanation has been provided.

The notice from management to staff of GBC dated September 30, 2024, read; “The Ghana Armed Forces acting by its agency, the 64 Infantry Regiment, has served the Corporation notice to withdraw its troops deployed to GBC with effect from Tuesday, October 1, 2024. All staff are to take note.”