TIG Post

Author: Andy Ogbarmey-Tettey

  • “Bawumia’s Tap-and-Go bus monitoring system exposes Ghanaians to cyber fraud attacks – Software engineer

    “Bawumia’s Tap-and-Go bus monitoring system exposes Ghanaians to cyber fraud attacks – Software engineer

    The Tap and Go Transport Service, which allows passengers to conveniently pay for their fares using a reloadable card, which can be tapped on designated devices installed on buses or rails, has proven to be a medium that makes Ghanaian commuters susceptible to Cyber fraud attacks.

    Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, launched the Tap and Go Transport Service in Accra on Monday, February 19, at the Head Office of Metro Mass Limited.

    Dr. Bawumia highlighted that the new Tap and Go digital system is not confined to intra-city transport like Aayalolo. Instead, it is expansive and designed to support various public transport services. This includes parcel deliveries and tracking, taxi hailing, inter-city bus services, as well as inner-city bus services such as Metro Mass and Aayalolo.

    Following this, Yayra Koku, reportedly affiliated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC), voiced apprehensions suggesting potential privacy risks for commuters utilizing the service.

    Another X user, Edward Adjei, a Software Engineer & Site Reliability Engineer took it upon himself to expose the vulnerability of the newly launched system.

    He managed to gain access to 1,079 user logins and details with different role levels, and he also accessed panels (three different websites for this project) and some video recording from the monitoring software’s server.

    He managed to also get access to the financial details of these users, including their bank accounts, code, mobile money among others.

    According to Mr Adjei, his sole purpose is to lay bare the flaws of the systems and how several citizens risk being defrauded or having their bank accounts hacked.

    “Web server is pretty old and could crash with certain specially crafted payload sent to it. Can easily deny services for all services. Here’s one of the issues. It’s a high vulnerability. Fix now,” he added.

    Mr Adjei noted that after gaining access to the server, he got access to a lot of other Asian recordings, compelling him to find out if the Tap and Go Transport Service is made solely for Ghana.

    https://twitter.com/Er_dward/status/1760273347298861484

    The flaws in the Tap-and-Go bus monitoring system contravene the general data protection regulation (GDPR), which is the strongest privacy and security law in the world.

    The GDPR defines:

    • individuals’ fundamental rights in the digital age
    • the obligations of those processing data
    • methods for ensuring compliance
    • sanctions for those in breach of the rules

    Obligations for businesses and organisations

    The GDPR establishes the general obligations of data controllers and of those processing personal data on their behalf (processors).

    These include the obligation to implement appropriate security measures, according to the risk involved in the data processing operations they perform.

    Controllers are also required in certain cases to provide notification of personal data breaches. All public authorities and those companies that perform certain risky data processing operations will also need to appoint a data protection officer.

    Individuals can lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority and have the right to judicial remedy and compensation. They have the right to have a decision by their data protection authority reviewed by their national court, irrespective of the member state in which the data controller concerned is established.

    Severe sanctions are provided for against controllers or processors who violate data protection rules. Data controllers can face fines of up to €20 million or 4% of their global annual turnover, according to the EU.

  • I will never be a Vice President; I don’t want to be a mate – Ken Agyapong

    I will never be a Vice President; I don’t want to be a mate – Ken Agyapong

    Former presidential aspirant candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Agyapong, has noted that he will never settle for the role of Vice President.

    In an interview on the KSM show, the Assin Central MP was asked if he would accept an offer by NPP flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to be his running mate and, upon winning the 2024 elections, the Vice President.

    He replied, “No, I wouldn’t do it. To tell you the truth, why I cannot be a Vice President is that I will speak my mind and I’m not going to be mate.”

    This comes after Dr Bawumia delivered his vision speech as the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) at the UPSA auditorium on February 7, 2024, where he used the analogy of a mate and a driver, where the mate had limited control over driving; hence, in his position as a vice president.

    He expressed how limited his powers and authority over decisions are, hence his desire to become president to be able to run the affairs of the country well.

    But National Chairman of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Nana Ofori Owusu, during an appearance on Kwame Sefa Kaye’s Kookrokoo morning show on Peace FM on February 20, believes this narrative is a ‘dangerous’ one to hold on to.

    As stated by Mr. Owusu, a vice president is a co-driver and not a mate. As mandated by the constitution, a vice president is one who is eligible to step in as president in the absence of the president.

    “But the nature of a vice president is that you are ready when the president is not there; you are there. That is why the constitution of the land says that when the president is not there, you are there. You are ready for the possibility. So a mate is not ready but vice president, you are ready.”

  • Privacy of commuters at risk over Bawumia’s Tap-and-Go bus monitoring system – Netizen

    Privacy of commuters at risk over Bawumia’s Tap-and-Go bus monitoring system – Netizen

    Yayra Koku, reportedly affiliated with the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has voiced apprehensions regarding the security ramifications of the recently introduced Tap and Go Transport Service, spearheaded by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

    Taking to X, Yayra Koku expressed concerns about the hosting of the Tap-and-Go bus monitoring system in China, suggesting potential privacy risks for commuters utilizing the service.

    The Tap and Go Transport Service allows passengers to conveniently pay for their fares using a reloadable card, which can be tapped on designated devices installed on buses or rails.

    Despite Vice President Bawumia’s assurance of a CCTV monitoring system developed domestically, Yayra Koku disclosed that the surveillance software was procured from China and is managed on Chinese servers. This revelation, as per Yayra, presents a notable security vulnerability for passengers and the nation at large.

    Yayra Koku criticized the rollout of the system without adequate consideration of its security implications, urging both the vice president and national security agencies to promptly address these concerns to ensure the privacy and safety of passengers.

    “This is a plug-and-play software that can be purchased and used for CCTV monitoring. However, Bawumia launched it yesterday, claiming that it was developed in Ghana.

    “So, a whole country, Ghana, with its national security apparatus and intelligence, sat down to allow Bawumia to commission such a system without first addressing the underlying security concerns about the vehicle monitoring system?” he asked.

    Yayra Koku expressed concern that the software used in the Tap and Go Transport Service could potentially allow the Chinese government or hackers to access passengers’ facial images and personal data. This could lead to unauthorized surveillance of the buses’ activities and movements.

    “This software is hosted in China and is available for purchase by anyone who can afford the hardware (CCTV) it powers. My concern is whether we are now entrusting our safety to the Chinese.

    “Consider China’s mass surveillance and human rights violations. Anyone who boards the new bus is automatically monitored by CCTV, and their facial images are sent directly to Chinese servers. We do not know what the retention policy is with these companies. Data privacy concerns? Just to name a few,” the post said.

    Dr. Bawumia highlighted that the new Tap and Go digital system is not confined to intra-city transport like Aayalolo. Instead, it is expansive and designed to support various public transport services. This includes parcel deliveries and tracking, taxi hailing, inter-city bus services, as well as inner-city bus services such as Metro Mass and Aayalolo.

    https://twitter.com/YayraKoku/status/1759889094061031711
  • Fix ‘Ayalolo’ before digitalising it- Bright Simons tells gov’t

    Fix ‘Ayalolo’ before digitalising it- Bright Simons tells gov’t

    Bright Simons, a prominent advocate for technological innovation in Africa, has urged the government to prioritize fixing the Ayalolo Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system before digitalizing it.

    Mr Simons emphasized that while it is commendable for senior African politicians to embrace digital solutions, addressing the current operational challenges of the Ayalolo system should take precedence.

    He remarked that out of the 245 buses procured with a loan from Sweden in 2016, only around 70 are currently in service, with a mere 45 operational. This stark underutilization of the buses underscores the need for immediate attention to rectify the situation.

    Transport Minister Kwaku Ofori Asiamah in 2023 acknowledged that the current model of running the Aayalolo BRT system in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area is not meeting expectations set by the World Bank. He assured that the Ministry of Transport, in collaboration with other key stakeholders, is actively developing a new model to revive the operations of the transport company.

    The Aayalolo BRT system was introduced in 2016 with the aim of improving public transport accessibility for the masses at subsidized rates. However, its implementation has faced challenges, including insufficient operational buses and ineffective route management.

    Mr Simons’ call for prioritizing fixing the Ayalolo system before digitalization aligns with ongoing efforts to enhance public transport services in Ghana.

    Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia recently launched the Tap and Go Transport Service, a digital platform aimed at streamlining multiple public transport services. This initiative includes the introduction of digital payment cards and mobile app options, providing commuters with convenient and efficient payment solutions for transport fares.

    While digital innovation in the transportation sector shows promise for improving efficiency and accessibility, addressing existing operational challenges, such as those faced by the Ayalolo BRT system, remains crucial for ensuring sustainable and effective public transport services in Ghana.

  • Tap-and-Go bus monitoring system is being hosted by China – Netizen ‘exposes’ Bawumia

    Tap-and-Go bus monitoring system is being hosted by China – Netizen ‘exposes’ Bawumia

    Yayra Koku, said to be a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has expressed concerns over the security implications of the Tap and Go Transport Service recently launched by Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

    In a post on X, Yayra Koku raised alarm over the hosting of the Tap-and-Go bus monitoring system in China, stating that it could jeopardize the privacy of commuters using the system.

    The Tap and Go Transport Service enables passengers to pay for their fares using a reloadable card, which they can tap on a device installed on buses or rails.

    While Vice President Bawumia highlighted that the service includes a CCTV monitoring system developed in Ghana, Yayra Koku revealed that the software for CCTV monitoring was actually purchased from China and is hosted on Chinese servers. This, according to Yayra, poses a significant security threat to passengers and the nation as a whole.

    Yayra Koku criticized the launch of the system without addressing the security implications, calling on the vice president and national security agencies to take immediate action to safeguard the privacy and security of passengers.

    “This is a plug-and-play software that can be purchased and used for CCTV monitoring. However, Bawumia launched it yesterday, claiming that it was developed in Ghana.

    “So, a whole country, Ghana, with its national security apparatus and intelligence, sat down to allow Bawumia to commission such a system without first addressing the underlying security concerns about the vehicle monitoring system?” he asked.

    Yayra Koku expressed concern that the software used in the Tap and Go Transport Service could potentially allow the Chinese government or hackers to access passengers’ facial images and personal data. This could lead to unauthorized surveillance of the buses’ activities and movements.

    “This software is hosted in China and is available for purchase by anyone who can afford the hardware (CCTV) it powers. My concern is whether we are now entrusting our safety to the Chinese.

    “Consider China’s mass surveillance and human rights violations. Anyone who boards the new bus is automatically monitored by CCTV, and their facial images are sent directly to Chinese servers. We do not know what the retention policy is with these companies. Data privacy concerns? Just to name a few,” the post said.

    Dr. Bawumia highlighted that the new Tap and Go digital system is not confined to intra-city transport like Aayalolo. Instead, it is expansive and designed to support various public transport services. This includes parcel deliveries and tracking, taxi hailing, inter-city bus services, as well as inner-city bus services such as Metro Mass and Aayalolo.

    https://twitter.com/YayraKoku/status/1759889094061031711
  • VIDEO: Sawla-Tuna-Kalba students study on cement blocks

    VIDEO: Sawla-Tuna-Kalba students study on cement blocks

    Students of the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District in the Savannah Region of Ghana are facing challenging conditions in their quest for education, as they are forced to study on cement blocks due to inadequate furniture in their classrooms.

    A video circulating on social media shows students of the local school sitting on cement blocks, using them as makeshift desks while writing notes and engaging in learning activities.

    The lack of proper desks and chairs has been a longstanding issue in many schools across Ghana, depriving students of a conducive learning environment. The situation not only affects their comfort but also their concentration and overall academic performance.

    On the subject, Member of Parliament for the Old Tafo constituency, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, has emphasized his belief that it is better for students to study under trees without the necessary infrastructure than to go without formal education.

    This statement was made as he strongly defended the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, asserting that it should not be subjected to a review. Mr Assafuah expressed this viewpoint during an interview on CitiTV’s Eyewitness News with Umaru Sanda Amadu.

    “For me, it is better for a young person to sit on the floor without a desk to learn rather than not being educated. It is better for a young person to go to school without a slipper and be educated than not being educated at all,” he said.

    This statement comes in response to recent calls for a review of the Free SHS policy. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education, has also opposed these calls, asserting that the policy does not require any revision.

    Mr Assafuah acknowledged challenges in the education sector but maintained that reviewing the policy is not the solution. He emphasized the need for collective leadership support for the policy, underscoring that despite challenges, students are receiving education, which he deems crucial.

    Assafuah stressed the importance of providing education for the future generation and urged all Ghanaians to collaborate in addressing challenges instead of advocating for a review of the Free SHS policy.

    Executive Director of Africa Education Watch, Kofi Asare, has disclosed that the government needs to build an additional 5,000 additional school blocks to achieve parity in the provision of educational infrastructure for basic education in the country.

  • Ghana has only 45 out 245 Ayalolo buses in operation – Bright Simons

    Ghana has only 45 out 245 Ayalolo buses in operation – Bright Simons

    Vice President of IMANI Africa, Bright Simons, has highlighted a concerning issue with Ghana’s Ayalolo Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

    Out of the 245 buses procured with a loan from Sweden in 2016, only around 70 are currently in service, with a mere 45 operational.

    While acknowledging the importance of embracing digital solutions, Mr. Simons emphasized that addressing the current operational issues should take precedence.

    Transport Minister Kwaku Ofori Asiamah in 2023 acknowledged that the current model of running the Aayalolo BRT system in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area is not meeting expectations set by the World Bank. He assured that the Ministry of Transport, in collaboration with other key stakeholders, is actively developing a new model to revive the operations of the transport company.

    The Aayalolo BRT system was introduced in 2016 with the aim of improving public transport accessibility for the masses at subsidized rates. However, its implementation has faced challenges, including insufficient operational buses and ineffective route management.

    Mr Simons’ call for prioritizing fixing the Ayalolo system before digitalization aligns with ongoing efforts to enhance public transport services in Ghana.

    Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia recently launched the Tap and Go Transport Service, a digital platform aimed at streamlining multiple public transport services. This initiative includes the introduction of digital payment cards and mobile app options, providing commuters with convenient and efficient payment solutions for transport fares.

    While digital innovation in the transportation sector shows promise for improving efficiency and accessibility, addressing existing operational challenges, such as those faced by the Ayalolo BRT system, remains crucial for ensuring sustainable and effective public transport services in Ghana.

  • Energy Minister heads delegation to Trinidad and Tobago to explore partnerships

    Energy Minister heads delegation to Trinidad and Tobago to explore partnerships

    Energy Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, along with officials from Ghana’s Petroleum Commission (PC), Bulk Energy Storage and Transportation Company (BEST), and GOIL PLC, is currently in Trinidad and Tobago.

    The purpose of the visit is to gain insights into best practices, explore advanced technologies, and identify potential partnerships in the energy sector.

    This visit is part of efforts to strengthen the linkage between Ghana’s upstream and downstream petroleum sectors, with the aim of maximizing and retaining value.

    Dr. Opoku Prempeh, who is also the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, views Trinidad and Tobago as a viable partner due to its expertise in hydrocarbon exploration, production, refining, and transportation, which can support Ghana’s industrialization agenda.

    During the visit, the delegation will visit oil refineries, storage terminals, and transportation facilities. They will also hold meetings with government officials, industry executives, and technical experts to discuss mutual interests between the energy sectors of both countries.

    On February 20th, 2024, the Minister’s delegation visited Lake Asphalt of Trinidad and Tobago (1978) Limited, a state enterprise responsible for the commercial development of the Pitch Lake, the world’s largest deposit of natural asphalt. Following discussions and a tour of the lake, there were indications of further discussions on collaboration for mutual benefit.

    “We are here in Trinidad to foster knowledge exchange and collaboration between Ghana and Trinidadian oil and gas stakeholders and we intend to enter to a marriage that benefits our two countries”. Management of the company expressed their readiness to engage Ghana on a long-standing commercial partnership for the collective growth and advancement of the parties

    This working visit beyond the opportunity to also explore advanced technologies in various areas of the oil and gas value chain, is expected help foster stronger ties and collaboration between the energy sectors of Ghana and Trinidad and Tobago.

  • Stop sharing fake news using our name, colours – The Fourth Estate warns Pro-NPP Twitter account

    Stop sharing fake news using our name, colours – The Fourth Estate warns Pro-NPP Twitter account

    Tensions have erupted on the social media platform X as the Pro-NPP E-Newsletter, The NPP’s TESCON Informant, engages in a dispute with The Fourth Estate over the alleged cloning of the latter’s design.

    The conflict arose when The NPP’s TESCON Informant utilized a graphic design featuring the logo “Fact Check Ghana” to challenge the claims made by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, regarding inflated contracts for road projects.

    In response, The Fourth Estate swiftly denounced the act, labeling it as fake and urging The NPP’s TESCON Informant to cease cloning their designs.

    However, The NPP’s TESCON Informant defended its actions, arguing that The Fourth Estate, known for its investigative journalism, had failed to conduct proper fact-checks on the comments attributed to Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

    “When Okudzeto lied, you couldn’t come out with a fact check now you are here claiming this is fake! Tell us what is fake here! You do rubbish fact checking in this country and when people do proper fact checking, you are claiming it is fake. Provide evidences showing the information on the artwork is fake!” it wrote.

    Mr Ablakwa, the NPP E-Newsletter said, had alleged that findings from an Audit Report on Cocoa Roads Improvement Projects showed inflation in contracts awarded for the Effutu – Abirem Agona Road and the Kyiboso – Hasowodze Bungalow Feeder Road projects.

    However, the “Fact Check Ghana” design by The NPP’s TESCON Informantclaimed that a review of the Audit Report did not support Ablakwa’s allegations. It stated that the Auditor General did not indicate in the report that these road projects were overpriced.

    Interjecting into the argument, an X user, @_Fiifi_Sage, noted that there is a difference in the design.

    “Stop posting FAKE NEWS! “FactCheckGhana” is not the same as “Fact-Check Ghana”,” he wrote.

    The Fourth Estate replied, “Mis/disinformation merchant, STOP IT! You cannot use our name, colours and our template for your propaganda.”

    The NPP E-Newsletter waded into the conversation again, buttressing the point raised by @_Fiifi_Sage. It further elaborated that the use of the colours of the national flag can be used by all.

    “Name? FactCheckGhana=Fact-Check Ghana? Logo? Now the Ghana flag is your individual property colours? Red, yellow, green, black are colours every Ghanaian is associated with because those are the colours that defines us! Template? You clearly are clueless as to how your template looks like!

    “Propaganda? Who proves a what a propaganda is? Fourth Estate? You must be kidding us. Bring facts to disprove the propaganda you are talking about!” it added.

    Fact-Check Ghana itself commented on the issue after an X user asked whether the concern was the information provided or the logo used.

    The media house noted that its name, logo and colours have been used on a flier it did not churn out, and therefore called for a halt.

    “The flyer you have published bears our name, our logo and our colours. But it did not come from us. This is IMPOSTER CONTENT. Desist from it. Disinformation poses a menacing threat to credible elections, peace, stability and the consolidation of the Ghanaian democracy. STOP IT!”

    The NPP E-Newsletter believes that The Fourth Estate is clueless of its job.

    “Do you even understand your job? Fourth Estate, m’adi mo ho yaw paa! If you don’t know your job, then let me help you out understand what you do, you prove with evidences why a news is fake, you don’t just say a news is fake. Since you’ve deviated from what you do, we will give you a grace period to go back and do a proper homework and come back with evidences to disprove the information on the artwork you claim has been cloned is Fake. Feel free to ask for assistance when you are finding this difficult, we will all come to your aid!” it wrote.

  • Has Bawumia imposed over 40 new taxes on Ghanaians?

    Has Bawumia imposed over 40 new taxes on Ghanaians?

    On Saturday, February 10 2024, the National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi said on TV3’s The Key Point that over 40 new taxes have been slapped on Ghanaians by the government. 

    He made this statement while presenting his views on the recent public lecture delivered by the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, about his vision for the country. 

    Claim: He [Bawumia] has slapped over 40 taxes on Ghanaians as chairman of the Economic Management Team.

    In this explainer, Fact-Check Ghana presents a breakdown of all the taxes introduced and reviewed by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government.

    New taxes introduced by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government 

    • Covid levy – 2021

    In 2021, the government introduced a 1% COVID-19 Health Levy on the supply of goods or services made in the country other than exempt goods or services as well as on the import of goods or services other than exempt imports to support COVID-19 expenditures.

    • Electronic Levy – 2022

    In May 2022, the government introduced a tax of 1.5% on electronic transactions but later reduced it to 1% in March 2023.

    • 5% Financial Sector Clean-up Levy – 2021

    The government imposed a 5% levy on the pre-tax profit of banks, known as the Financial Sector Clean-Up levy. The government said it was a temporary measure to generate revenue to help settle outstanding commitments related to cleaning up the financial sector in 2017. The levy is expected to be reviewed this year, 2024.

    • Energy Sector Cleanup levy – 2021

    The government introduced a 20 pesewas energy sector recovery levy on every litre of diesel or petrol.

    • Sanitation and Pollution Levy – 2021

    The government introduced the Sanitation and Pollution levy on Petrol and diesel at a charge of GH¢ 0.10 per litre.

    • Growth and Sustainability Levy – 2023

    Ghana’s Parliament on Friday 31st March 2023, passed three (3) tax bills which are expected to rack up about GH¢4 billion annually (Income Tax Amendment Bill, The Excise Duty Amendment Bill, and the Growth and Sustainability Amendment Bill).

    The Growth and Sustainability Levy is a new tax which came to replace The National Fiscal Stabilization Levy Act 2013 (Act 862) which has already been repealed. The levy is calculated as a percentage of the business’s Profit Before Tax (PBT) or Gross Production, regardless of any existing concessions or agreements. 

    • Withholding tax on the realisation of assets and liabilities- 2023

    This is a 3% and 10% tax withheld by residents and non-residents respectively when making payment for considerations regarding assets and liabilities realised.

    • Betting Tax 2023

    This is a 10% tax on all lottery and sports betting winnings

    • VAT Flat Rate Scheme (VFRS) introduced for retailers and wholesalers under VAT, NHIL, GETFUND – 2017

    In 2017, a 3% VAT Flat Rate Scheme was introduced for retailers and wholesalers.

    • Emissions Levy Act, 2023 (Act 1112)

    The Emissions Levy Act, 2023 (Act 1112) has been enacted to impose charges on carbon dioxide equivalent emissions originating from specific sectors and emissions produced by internal combustion engine vehicles (See here for the rates payable).

    Taxes reviewed upwards by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government 

    1. An increase in BOST Margin from 3% to 9% in 2022.
    2. About 11% increase in Special Petroleum Tax (from 41 pesewas to 46 pesewas) on every litre of diesel and petrol.
    3. The 12 pesewa Price Stabilisation and Recovery Levy on petrol and 10 pesewas of diesel and LPG were increased to 16 pesewas on petrol and 14 pesewas on diesel and LPG
    4. Increase in Fuel Marking Margin (from 3 pesewas to 5 pesewas) per litre of petrol and diesel.
    5. Increase in Primary Distribution margin from 8 pesewas to 10 pesewas.
    6. 36% increase in Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF) from 22 pesewas to 30 pesewas.
    7. Increase in Road Fund Levy from 46 pesewas to 48 pesewas on every litre of diesel and petrol.
    8. Energy debt recovery levy was increased from 42 pesewas to 49 pesewas on petrol and imposed on petrol and diesel. 
    9. Excise Duty (Amendment) (No.2) Act, 2023, Act 1108 was amended. The Act was expanded to include certain items and commodities such as processed fruit juice, cigars, mineral water, spirits, wines, and sparkling wine. 
    10. Stamp Duty (Amendment) Act, 2023, Act 1109 was amended and gazetted on 29th December, 2023 to increase the rate of stamp duties. The new rates range from as low as Ghs18 to as high as Ghs896.30 for duties assessed on specific basis whilst as low as 0.25% to 0.5% on duties assessed on ad valorem basis. The revised rates of income tax for individuals introduce an additional income tax bracket.
    11. Income Tax (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2021, Act 1071. The Act was amended to increase the rates of income tax applicable to individuals (See here for chargeable incomes and rates).
    12. Income Tax Amendment Bill – 2022. The Income Tax (Amendment) Act, of 2023 (Act 1094) introduced a 10% withholding tax on lottery and winnings. 

    Taxes reviewed downward by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government 

    – National Electrification Scheme Levy has been reduced from 5 per cent to 3 per cent.

    – Public Lighting Levy has been reduced from 5 per cent to 2 per cent.

    – The 17.5 VAT/NHIL rate has been replaced with a flat rate of 3 per cent for traders; and

    – Tax credits and other incentives for businesses that hire young graduates have been instituted.

    –The withholding tax rate for the sale of unprocessed gold by small-scale miners has been reduced from 3% to 1% under the Income Tax (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2021, Act 1071.

    While some politicians argue that an upward adjustment in current taxes increases the tax burden on Ghanaians, tax experts contend that categorising an increased existing tax as a new tax is incorrect.

    In conclusion, even with the addition of the increased taxes to the tax list, the new taxes introduced by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government do not exceed 40. This makes Sammy Gyamfi’s claim that the NPP has introduced 40 new taxes false.

    DISCLAIMER: TIGPost.co will not be liable for any inaccuracies contained in this article. The views expressed in the article are solely those of the author’s, and do not reflect those of The Independent Ghana.

  • ‘Do you understand your job? M’adi mo ho yaw’ – Pro-NPP Twitter account to The Fourth Estate

    ‘Do you understand your job? M’adi mo ho yaw’ – Pro-NPP Twitter account to The Fourth Estate

    There is tension on social media platform X, as Pro-NPP E-Newsletter, The NPP’s TESCON Informant banter with The Fourth Estate over alleged cloning of the latter’s design.

    The NPP’s TESCON Informant in a post on X used a graphic design with the logo “Fact Check Ghana” to dispute Ablakwa’s claims regarding inflated contracts for road projects.

    In response, The Fourth Estate labeling it as fake and calling on TESCON Informant to stop cloning their designs.

    The NPP’s TESCON Informant, however, sees otherwise. It accused The Fourth Estate, deemed to be a credible media house that churns out investigative pieces, of failing to do the necessary checks on the alleged comments made by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

    “When Okudzeto lied, you couldn’t come out with a fact check now you are here claiming this is fake! Tell us what is fake here! You do rubbish fact checking in this country and when people do proper fact checking, you are claiming it is fake. Provide evidences showing the information on the artwork is fake!” it wrote.

    Mr Ablakwa, the NPP E-Newsletter said, had alleged that findings from an Audit Report on Cocoa Roads Improvement Projects showed inflation in contracts awarded for the Effutu – Abirem Agona Road and the Kyiboso – Hasowodze Bungalow Feeder Road projects.

    However, the “Fact Check Ghana” design by The NPP’s TESCON Informantclaimed that a review of the Audit Report did not support Ablakwa’s allegations. It stated that the Auditor General did not indicate in the report that these road projects were overpriced.

    Interjecting into the argument, an X user, @_Fiifi_Sage, noted that there is a difference in the design.

    “Stop posting FAKE NEWS! “FactCheckGhana” is not the same as “Fact-Check Ghana”,” he wrote.

    The Fourth Estate replied, “Mis/disinformation merchant, STOP IT! You cannot use our name, colours and our template for your propaganda.”

    The NPP E-Newsletter waded into the conversation again, buttressing the point raised by @_Fiifi_Sage. It further elaborated that the use of the colours of the national flag can be used by all.

    “Name? FactCheckGhana=Fact-Check Ghana? Logo? Now the Ghana flag is your individual property colours? Red, yellow, green, black are colours every Ghanaian is associated with because those are the colours that defines us! Template? You clearly are clueless as to how your template looks like!

    “Propaganda? Who proves a what a propaganda is? Fourth Estate? You must be kidding us. Bring facts to disprove the propaganda you are talking about!” it added.

    Fact-Check Ghana itself commented on the issue after an X user asked whether the concern was the information provided or the logo used.

    The media house noted that its name, logo and colours have been used on a flier it did not churn out, and therefore called for a halt.

    “The flyer you have published bears our name, our logo and our colours. But it did not come from us. This is IMPOSTER CONTENT. Desist from it. Disinformation poses a menacing threat to credible elections, peace, stability and the consolidation of the Ghanaian democracy. STOP IT!”

    The NPP E-Newsletter believes that The Fourth Estate is clueless of its job.

    “Do you even understand your job? Fourth Estate, m’adi mo ho yaw paa! If you don’t know your job, then let me help you out understand what you do, you prove with evidences why a news is fake, you don’t just say a news is fake. Since you’ve deviated from what you do, we will give you a grace period to go back and do a proper homework and come back with evidences to disprove the information on the artwork you claim has been cloned is Fake. Feel free to ask for assistance when you are finding this difficult, we will all come to your aid!” it wrote.

  • What shows that this is fake? Prove it! – Pro-NPP Twitter account challenges The Fourth Estate

    What shows that this is fake? Prove it! – Pro-NPP Twitter account challenges The Fourth Estate

    There is tension on social media platform X, as Pro-NPP E-Newsletter, The NPP’s TESCON Informant banter with The Fourth Estate over alleged cloning of the latter’s design.

    The NPP’s TESCON Informant in a post on X used a graphic design with the logo “Fact Check Ghana” to dispute Ablakwa’s claims regarding inflated contracts for road projects.

    In response, The Fourth Estate labeling it as fake and calling on TESCON Informant to stop cloning their designs.

    The NPP’s TESCON Informant, however, sees otherwise. It accused The Fourth Estate, deemed to be a credible media house that churns out investigative pieces, of failing to do the necessary checks on the alleged comments made by North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.

    “When Okudzeto lied, you couldn’t come out with a fact check now you are here claiming this is fake! Tell us what is fake here! You do rubbish fact checking in this country and when people do proper fact checking, you are claiming it is fake. Provide evidences showing the information on the artwork is fake!” it wrote.

    Mr Ablakwa, the NPP E-Newsletter said, had alleged that findings from an Audit Report on Cocoa Roads Improvement Projects showed inflation in contracts awarded for the Effutu – Abirem Agona Road and the Kyiboso – Hasowodze Bungalow Feeder Road projects.

    However, the “Fact Check Ghana” design by The NPP’s TESCON Informantclaimed that a review of the Audit Report did not support Ablakwa’s allegations. It stated that the Auditor General did not indicate in the report that these road projects were overpriced.

    Interjecting into the argument, an X user, @_Fiifi_Sage, noted that there is a difference in the design.

    “Stop posting FAKE NEWS! “FactCheckGhana” is not the same as “Fact-Check Ghana”,” he wrote.

    The Fourth Estate replied, “Mis/disinformation merchant, STOP IT! You cannot use our name, colours and our template for your propaganda.”

    The NPP E-Newsletter waded into the conversation again, buttressing the point raised by @_Fiifi_Sage. It further elaborated that the use of the colours of the national flag can be used by all.

    “Name? FactCheckGhana=Fact-Check Ghana? Logo? Now the Ghana flag is your individual property colours? Red, yellow, green, black are colours every Ghanaian is associated with because those are the colours that defines us! Template? You clearly are clueless as to how your template looks like!

    “Propaganda? Who proves a what a propaganda is? Fourth Estate? You must be kidding us. Bring facts to disprove the propaganda you are talking about!” it added.

    Fact-Check Ghana itself commented on the issue after an X user asked whether the concern was the information provided or the logo used.

    The media house noted that its name, logo and colours have been used on a flier it did not churn out, and therefore called for a halt.

    “The flyer you have published bears our name, our logo and our colours. But it did not come from us. This is IMPOSTER CONTENT. Desist from it. Disinformation poses a menacing threat to credible elections, peace, stability and the consolidation of the Ghanaian democracy. STOP IT!”

    The NPP E-Newsletter believes that The Fourth Estate is clueless of its job.

    “Do you even understand your job? Fourth Estate, m’adi mo ho yaw paa! If you don’t know your job, then let me help you out understand what you do, you prove with evidences why a news is fake, you don’t just say a news is fake. Since you’ve deviated from what you do, we will give you a grace period to go back and do a proper homework and come back with evidences to disprove the information on the artwork you claim has been cloned is Fake. Feel free to ask for assistance when you are finding this difficult, we will all come to your aid!” it wrote.

  • Cybersecurity Authority gives accreditation to over 1400 institutions, individuals

    Cybersecurity Authority gives accreditation to over 1400 institutions, individuals

    The Cybersecurity Authority (CSA) has reported that approximately 1,400 individuals and businesses in Ghana have obtained accreditation since the implementation of the cybersecurity regulatory regime in March 2023.

    According to a statement released on February 20, 2024, the CSA revealed that as of February 19, 2024, a total of 1,383 Cybersecurity Professionals (CPs), 194 Cybersecurity Service Providers (CSPs), and 52 Cybersecurity Establishments (CEs) had been registered with the Authority.

    Despite the increase in registrations, the CSA highlighted that many businesses still operate without the required accreditation. The deadline for operators to secure the license was December 2023, as per sections 3(a), 4(k), 49, 50, 51, 57, and 59 of the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038).

    The Authority reiterated its commitment to enforcing the deadline and prohibiting individuals and businesses without the necessary licenses or accreditation from operating in Ghana.

    The CSA has warned all cybersecurity operators offering services without accreditation to obtain the license or face penalties, including administrative penalties and criminal prosecutions, as per sections 49, 92, and 95 of the Act.

    Additionally, the CSA is collaborating with the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) to ensure that public sector institutions comply with the rules established under Act 1038. Furthermore, they are working with the Judicial Service of Ghana to enforce the provisions of the Cybersecurity Act in courts.

    Press-release-PGH-DC-2024-photospeak-AA-Edit-1-1Download
  • Ghana is doing far better than other countries; control your spending – Hawa Koomson

    Ghana is doing far better than other countries; control your spending – Hawa Koomson

    During a recent interview on Onua FM’s morning show, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mavis Hawa Koomson, highlighted Ghana’s relative economic stability compared to other countries, urging citizens to control their spending.

    Koomson pointed out that even in developed countries like Germany, people face challenges such as limited access to electricity, which affects their daily routines.

    She noted that in Germany, many people only bathe twice a week due to electricity rationing, emphasizing that she was referring to Germany and not Nigeria.

    The minister emphasized that while times are tough everywhere, Ghana is faring better in comparison to other countries.

    “Today, go to Germany, many people don’t bath regularly due to electricity. They bath twice a week, because there is no light, no water. There is a time given them to use electricity. I’m talking about Germany and not Nigeria.

    “Things are difficult everywhere but when you compare Ghana to other countries, Ghana is doing far better,” she said.

    She urged Ghanaians to be mindful of their spending habits and to appreciate the relative stability and access to basic amenities they enjoy in Ghana.

  • Ministry of Finance owes ECG over GHC1m debt

    Ministry of Finance owes ECG over GHC1m debt

    The Ministry of Finance is facing disconnection from the national grid due to an outstanding electricity debt of GHc1 million.

    Despite consuming power for the past ten months, the ministry has not paid its monthly bills, resulting in an accumulated debt of GHc1,025,918.00.

    In addition to this, the ministry has also failed to release funds to various municipal and district assemblies to settle their electricity debts.

    Sources within the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) indicate that the issue needs to be addressed promptly, leading to the decision to disconnect the finance ministry to send a clear message to authorities.

    It has been reported that a team from the ECG will engage with the Minister for Finance, Dr. Amin Adam, to discuss the outstanding debt and reach a resolution.

    Furthermore, the ECG is pursuing Ghana’s Parliament over a debt of GHc23 million. The ECG national task force has warned that parliament will be disconnected from the power grid if the debt is not settled promptly.

  • Senior High Schools owe us a tune of GHC45M – ECG

    Senior High Schools owe us a tune of GHC45M – ECG

    Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Mahama, has disclosed that Senior High Schools across the country owe the company over GH₵45 million collectively.

    He explained that the recent disconnection of Accra Academy was part of a larger nationwide effort to recover outstanding debts.

    Mr. Dubik Mahama expressed concern about the increasing debt from various customers, highlighting the importance of taking prompt action to address the issue.

    “Currently, the schools’ bill is pushing towards almost GHC45m in arrears,” Mr Dubik Mahama told TV3 in an interview, adding “Across the nation, put everything together we should be in the region of GH₵2.5bn debt based on debt stock that I am seeing.”

    Mr. Dubik Mahama apologized for any inconvenience caused and assured that the disconnection at Accra Academy was not the primary objective of the company.

    “For Accra Academy and co, I am sorry for what happened yesterday, I know it was a traumatizing experience. That was not the main aim of the company. I had a conversation with the Director General of the Ghana Education Service, and he has promised to have a meeting with me before the end of this week, so we can find a long-lasting solution to these issues and how to treat them going forward,” Mr Mahama stated.

    On Tuesday, February 21, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) disclosed that Accra Academy Senior High School was disconnected from the power grid due to an outstanding debt of GH¢400,000.

    Paul Agraga, the head of prosecution at ECG, explained in an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show that the disconnection is part of an ongoing initiative to recover outstanding payments owed to the company.

    “Normally, we have a team that goes around once a while to inform our customers of their debts so they do not accumulate and so if you take Accra Academy for example, they owe in excess of GH¢400,000 to the ECG.”

  • One dead after clash between Osino and Nsutem SHS students

    One dead after clash between Osino and Nsutem SHS students

    Violence erupted at Osino Presby Senior High School in the Fanteakwa South district of the Eastern Region, resulting in the tragic death of an individual.

    The incident, which took place on Monday, February 19th, also involved the burning of a vehicle amidst escalating tensions.

    The clash reportedly began when students from Osino Presby Senior High Technical allegedly assaulted a student from Nsutem Senior High Technical School who was walking near the boys’ dormitory on Monday. This incident reignited long-standing tensions between the two schools.

    Following the assault, three relatives of the assaulted student, accompanied by two community members, sought redress from teachers at Osino Presby Senior High School. However, they were met with aggression from the students, forcing them to retreat back to the community.

    An individual who was passing through the boys’ dormitory to the Nsuapemso community, tragically became a victim of the escalating violence and was fatally lynched by the Offinso students.

    In response to the situation, the Fanteakwa South District Security Council (DISEC) has deployed heavily armed police personnel to the scene to deescalate tensions and ensure the safety of both the community and students.

    The body of the deceased has been transported to the Police Hospital in Accra for autopsy as investigations into the incident continue.

    The Ghana Education Service and the DISEC are considering temporarily shutting down the school to de-escalate tensions and take necessary actions.

  • Parliament to face total blackout over GHC23M ECG debt

    Parliament to face total blackout over GHC23M ECG debt

    The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is contemplating disconnecting power supply to the Parliament of Ghana on Wednesday, February 21, over an unpaid debt exceeding GH₵23 million.

    This action is part of the ongoing “Operation Zero Balance” initiative aimed at recovering outstanding debts from various customers.

    The inclusion of Parliament in the disconnection targets has raised concerns given its crucial role in national governance.

    Sources indicate that the accumulated debt poses a significant challenge for ECG’s operations and impairs its ability to meet the demands of power producers.

    This potential move comes after a similar disconnection at Accra Academy Senior High School on February 19th, where power was cut due to an outstanding debt of GH¢400,000.

  • Citizens agitated as NHIS fails to cover expensive treatment for diseases

    Citizens agitated as NHIS fails to cover expensive treatment for diseases

    Since its inception in 2003, the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has been designed to provide equal access and financial coverage for basic health care services to all Ghanaians. However, more than two decades later, the scheme seems to be facing challenges.

    At the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the country’s largest referral health center, patients from all over come for medical care. Despite having a valid NHIS card, patients often find that quality healthcare comes at a cost.

    Cecilia Borden, a mother whose son was involved in a car accident in the Central Region, experienced this firsthand. She had to transfer him to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital due to the severity of his injuries. However, she was surprised to find out that the NHIS did not cover most of the medication needed for his treatment, leading to unexpected expenses.

    Similarly, a pensioner and former staff of the hospital expressed concern that his NHIS card does not cover the cost of most of his medications. This often forces him to postpone doctor’s appointments due to financial constraints, risking complications.

    In 2022, the NHIS added treatment for four childhood cancers to its benefit package. However, concerns persist about the scheme’s effectiveness and its failure to cover the costs of some basic diseases.

    Belinda Quaye, another mother, faced a similar situation when her daughter needed treatment at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Despite having an NHIS card, she was informed that most of the prescribed medications were not covered by the scheme.

    Overall, patients at the hospital continue to face financial challenges as they either have to pay extra for services or find that the NHIS does not cover some basic services they expected it to.

  • We won’t allow Majority to delay passage of anti-LGBTQ bill – Minority

    We won’t allow Majority to delay passage of anti-LGBTQ bill – Minority

    The Minority Caucus in Parliament has issued a stern warning, stating that it will not tolerate any further attempts to delay the approval of the bill on the promotion of proper human sexual rights and Ghanaian family values, commonly known as the anti-gay bill.

    The warning comes in response to Deputy Majority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin’s motion last week, calling for a second consideration of the bill. Afenyo-Markin’s proposed amendment sought to replace imprisonment with community service.

    As a result, the House was compelled to continue amending approximately thirteen clauses in the bill on Wednesday, February 21.

    Minority Chief Whip Governs Agbodza has urged Afenyo-Markin to conclude any necessary consultations regarding his proposed amendments before Wednesday.

    He cautioned that the Minority would not tolerate any actions perceived as prolonging the process beyond that date.

    “We should also be clear in our minds that we will not unduly always find a reason to postpone the progress of this bill to another day. Because, as we said the other day, everything that he [Afenyo-Markin] has raised in his proposal, he took about an hour here speaking about it, but he keeps giving reasons why we cannot deal with it. So we are giving him ample time to do the consultation because there will be no more filibustering after Wednesday.”

  • Fourth Estate exposes NPP for cloning design to spread propaganda against Ablakwa

    Fourth Estate exposes NPP for cloning design to spread propaganda against Ablakwa

    The Fourth Estate, a reputable media organization, has exposed the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for allegedly cloning its design to spread propaganda against Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Hon. Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa.

    The NPP’s TESCON Informant in a post on X used a graphic design with the logo “Fact Check Ghana” to dispute Ablakwa’s claims regarding inflated contracts for road projects.

    Mr Ablakwa had alleged that findings from an Audit Report on Cocoa Roads Improvement Projects showed inflation in contracts awarded for the Effutu – Abirem Agona Road and the Kyiboso – Hasowodze Bungalow Feeder Road projects.

    However, the “Fact Check Ghana” design claimed that a review of the Audit Report did not support Ablakwa’s allegations. It stated that the Auditor General did not indicate in the report that these road projects were overpriced.

    The design also refuted Ablakwa’s claims against Resource Access Limited, stating that the company was not mentioned in the audit findings for abandoning contracts, delaying execution, or over-bloating contracts as alleged.

    The Fourth Estate reacted to this use of its design, labeling it as fake and calling on TESCON Informant to stop cloning their designs.

    Also, Fact-Check Ghana has distanced itself from the report, indicating that “This is fake. We have not published any report or flyer on this.”

    The media house has entreated the public to disregard the information.

  • Watch your needs and how you spend – Hawa Koomson tells Ghanaians

    Watch your needs and how you spend – Hawa Koomson tells Ghanaians

    Ghanaians are being urged to prioritize their needs and be mindful of how they spend their money, particularly in light of rising food prices.

    Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mavis Hawa Koomson, emphasized the importance of adapting to changing economic circumstances, noting that what may have been affordable in the past may not be the case today.

    Hawa Koomson highlighted that while food prices have increased, food remains available. She cautioned against expecting to spend the same amount as in previous years, pointing out that as people’s tastes change and the economy evolves, the cost of living naturally rises.

    During a recent interview on Onua FM’s morning show, Yɛn Nsɛmpa, she cited the instance where Gh50 might have been sufficient to prepare a meal like fufu with fish last year, adding beef or goat meat to the dish this year would come with an additional cost.

    “Food is expensive but it is available. Don’t expect that last year you were able to purchase cassava for Gh50, you can do same this year. No, that is not how it works. The world is progressing.

    “So what you were spending 2 or 3 years ago, you should not expect to be spending the same thing this year. This shows that you are not progressing. Because your taste has changed. So if 50gh could help you prepare fufu with some fish last year, now you want to add some beef or goat meat. Is that not coming with an additional cost.

    “We need to look at our lives,” she said.

  • Don’t expect to spend the same money you did two years ago – Hawa Koomson on economy

    Don’t expect to spend the same money you did two years ago – Hawa Koomson on economy

    Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mavis Hawa Koomson, has weighed in on the current economic landscape, cautioning against expectations of spending the same amount of money as in previous years.

    During a recent interview on Onua FM’s morning show, Yɛn Nsɛmpa, Koomson emphasized the need to adapt to changing circumstances in the face of rising costs.

    “Food is expensive but it is available,” Koomson stated. “Don’t expect that last year you were able to purchase cassava for Gh50, you can do same this year. No, that is not how it works. The world is progressing.”

    The minister pointed out that evolving tastes and preferences contribute to changes in spending habits. She explained that if individuals were spending a certain amount of money on food two or three years ago, they should not expect to spend the same amount today.

    “So what you were spending 2 or 3 years ago, you should not expect to be spending the same thing this year,” Koomson remarked. “It shows that you are not progressing. Because your taste has changed.”

    Hawa Koomson used the example of preparing fufu with fish, stating that if Gh50 could cover the cost in the past, adding beef or goat meat to the meal would naturally come with an additional cost.

    The minister’s comments come amid concerns about the rising cost of living in Ghana, with many grappling with the impact of inflation and other economic challenges.

  • If rent is expensive in Ghana, then go to Canada – Hawa Koomson

    If rent is expensive in Ghana, then go to Canada – Hawa Koomson

    Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Mavis Hawa Koomson, has defended Ghana’s rental prices amid increasing concerns about the high cost of living.

    During a recent interview on Onua FM’s morning show, Yɛn Nsɛmpa, hosted by Nana Yaa Brefo and JB, the Awutu Senya East Member of Parliament encouraged Ghanaians to consider rental rates in comparison to those in Canada.

    She emphasised her recent trip to Canada, pointing out that even renting a single room there could exceed 2,000 Canadian dollars per month, which is considerably higher than in Ghana.

    “People have been complaining that rent is expensive in Ghana. They should go to Canada. For a month, you pay over 2,000 Canadian dollars. That’s for a single room, not even a chamber or hall.

    “Things are hard now, and there is a high cost of living everywhere, and when you compare Ghana to other countries, Ghana is doing far better,” she said in Twi.

    Mavis Hawa Koomson, Ghana’s Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture, staunchly defended the nation’s affordable rental rates amidst global economic challenges.

    She attributed this affordability to the government’s diligent efforts.

    Addressing criticisms comparing living conditions between Ghana and Canada, Koomson refuted claims that Canada offered superior living standards. She argued that the cost of living in Canada doesn’t necessarily outweigh that of Ghana.

    In defence of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Koomson highlighted the distribution of food items to citizens as a critical intervention.

    She explained that, unlike in Canada, where financial stipends were provided, Ghana opted for food distribution due to resource constraints.

  • Man rapes, kills 65-year-old at her Kwahu residence

    Man rapes, kills 65-year-old at her Kwahu residence

    The community of Kwahu Aseseɛso in the Kwahu East District is gripped with fear and sorrow following the rape and murder of a 65-year-old blind woman, Gladys Gyamfa, in her home.

    Akuamoah Boateng, a PTA chairman in the community, revealed that the woman lived alone and often relied on children in the area to help her fetch water due to her blindness. She had promised to pay the children the next day for their assistance.

    However, when the children returned the next morning, they found her unresponsive to their calls and knocks on her door. Concerned, they informed their parents, who, upon checking, discovered her lifeless body in a pool of blood in her room, covered with her clothes by her attacker.

    The tragic incident occurred around 4:30 am on Monday. The police, upon arrival, confirmed that the woman had been raped before being killed.

    According to Mr. Akuamoah Boateng, the community member, the woman had a habit of playfully screaming for help, which may have led to her calls being ignored by neighbors who thought it was one of her pranks.

    The community is now reeling from the shock of the brutal crime, and authorities are investigating to bring the perpetrator to justice.

  • Provide Akosombo dam spillage victims new ID cards, passports – Ablakwa

    Provide Akosombo dam spillage victims new ID cards, passports – Ablakwa

    Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on the government to promptly replace all national identity cards, passports, and other essential documents lost by victims impacted by the Akosombo dam spillage.

    Ablakwa stresses the urgency of replacing crucial identity documents such as birth certificates, health insurance cards, voter ID cards, passports, and Ghana cards for those affected.

    He argues that this measure is essential on humanitarian grounds to ease the burden faced by these individuals.

    Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, Ablakwa said, “I’m calling on the government to replace thousands of lost Ghana Cards, Health Insurance Card, Voter ID Cards, Birth Certificates and Passports. For victims of far-reaching catastrophic consequences of the September 5, 2023 spillage, from the Akosombo and Kpong dams by the Volta River Authority.

    “The time has come for the relevant public institutions to carry out a special and comprehensive exercise in all affected constituencies to immediately replace these important documents.”

    He expressed gratitude to Ghanaians for their support in assisting the victims during this challenging time.

    However, in response, the Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, stated that such requests should be directed to the appropriate institutions for proper redress.

    “The call should be made to the EC, National Health Insurance Authority and others. We cannot narrow everything to the government, and we may not be getting the solution.

    “Let’s move from our offices beyond the talk on the floor of the house and move there, they are our colleagues. Let’s direct this appropriately so that we get solutions.”

  • Asantehene destools Kotwi Chief for disregarding encroachment directive

    Asantehene destools Kotwi Chief for disregarding encroachment directive

    Kotwi Chief, Nana Asare Asiedu Kotwi, has been destooled over his repeated defiance of orders from Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

    The chief had violated a crucial directive by demolishing a fence wall surrounding a sacred forest, a symbol of their forefathers’ legacy meant to ward off encroachment.

    Nana Kwadwo Amoah Ampem Okogyeabour, the Executive Director for Corruption Combat International, shed light on the reasons behind the destoolment. He explained that the orders came directly from Otumfour Osei Tutu himself, emphasizing the importance of respecting the customs and traditions of the Ashanti kingdom.

    The chief’s refusal to heed the directives, despite repeated warnings, led to his downfall. It became evident that he considered himself above the authority of the king and the sacred traditions of the Ashanti people.

    In Kotwi, it is the head of the family who holds the ultimate authority over community lands, as dictated by centuries-old customs. Any chief who dares to disrespect the throne and the sacred Golden Stool, the emblem of Ashanti unity, faces the consequences of destoolment.

    Nana Ampem Okogyeabour warned that autocratic chiefs who flout tradition and disrespect the throne will not be tolerated. The message was clear: in the Ashanti kingdom, the reverence for tradition and the authority of the king are paramount, and those who dare to challenge them will face the repercussions.

  • Promasidor Ghana rewards top-performing distributors at 2024 PGH Partners Dialogue & Awards

    Promasidor Ghana rewards top-performing distributors at 2024 PGH Partners Dialogue & Awards

    Promasidor Ghana (PGH) over the weekend honored its top performing distributors at its annual Partners Dialogue & Awards event held at the plush Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.

    The event was in two-fold; Business Meeting in the morning and Awards/Gala Night in the evening. The morning session provided an opportunity to review 2023 performance and communicate volume projection with action plan for 2024.

    Also, there were presentations from three financial institutions namely ABSA, UBA and Access Bank on tailor-made financial support and facility that our distributors can leverage on. We wrapped up the session with a Town Hall meeting.

    Managing Director, Mr. Festus Tettey in his welcome address at the Award Night, shared his heartfelt gratitude to the distributors for their continuous dedication and commitment to the common values and goals shared as business partners. 

    He encouraged the partners to adopt the best management practices in their business operations and uphold the highest possible standards that will protect the integrity and ensure the continuity of the businesses despite any obstacle. 

    Mr. Tettey also took the opportunity to congratulate all awardees for standing out in their performance and urged other distributors to strive for such feat in the future.

    Several awards were presented at brand, area, and national levels. Tonifel Enterprise, Accra East emerged as the 2023 Overall National Best Distributor and took home the ultimate prize of a KIA truck  while the 2nd and 3rd position went to Maaltima Enterprise (North) and Kranby Enterprise (Accra East) respectively.

    Special awards were presented to Sheridash Enterprise who received the National Fastest Growing distributor for the year. Some of the distributors in their commentaries after the event, shared their excitement about the awards event and thanked Promasidor for the token of appreciation and further pledged their commitment to the business. 

    Enjoy moments captured in photos

    Managing Director- Mr. Festus Tettey gives an overview on 2023 business performance.

    Commercial Director- Mr. Abiodun Ayodeji gives an overview of 2024 Strategic Direction

    A Presentation from a representative of ABSA bank.

    A distributor making an enquiry and contribution during the Partners’ Dialogue

    Sales Control Manager, Mr. Happy Dzah addressing distributors during the Town Hall meeting.

    MCs: Gideon Kodo and Jacinta Ocansey welcoming the guests to the Partners Awards Ceremony

    Managing Director – Mr. Festus Tettey delivering his welcome address.

    Ashanti based ‘Atta Owusu Trading’ receiving award for 2nd Best Cowbell VitaRich/Premium Distributor

    A group photo with Overall National Best Distributor

  • No one in the NPP is out to get Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu – Haruna Mohammed

    No one in the NPP is out to get Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu – Haruna Mohammed

    Deputy General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Haruna Mohammed, has dismissed claims of a conspiracy to change the leadership of the majority caucus in Parliament.

    His comment follows rumors suggesting that Majority Leader Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu could be replaced by his Deputy, Alexander Afenyo-Markin. Mr. Mohammed asserts that these rumors are false.

    Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on February 20, he said, “There has not been any plot within the NPP to oust any leader within any of the setup either government or within the party setup or Parliament.”

    Earlier on Tuesday, a group of NPP MPs led by First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu warned that they would not accept any changes to the current leadership.

    They expressed satisfaction with the work of the current leadership, led by Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu. Addressing concerns raised by Mr. Osei-Owusu, Mr. Mohammed emphasized that nothing in the First Deputy Speaker’s comments indicated a plot to change the leadership.

    “When I listened to him, he never agreed that there was a plot. He never said there was a plot that he knows, and I am unable to speak to the fact that he has actually indicated that there is a plot somewhere because his answers were very clear when questions were posed to him,” he added.

  • Police Chief under investigation after JoyNews interview

    Police Chief under investigation after JoyNews interview

    The Ghana Police Service has described as ‘unfortunate’ comments made by DCOP Mr. Gabriel Prince Waabu, Director-General of Research and Planning, who claimed on Tuesday that the Police Service would take the lead in providing security for the 2024 elections.

    DCOP Waabu made these remarks during a panel discussion on Monday, 19th February, 2024, at the launch of Elections Headquarters, a JoyNews’ program for comprehensive coverage of the 2024 general elections.

    He mentioned that the GPS had learned valuable lessons from policing past elections, including the peaceful nature of policing the internal primaries of the New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress.

    He contrasted this with the pockets of violence that occurred during the 2020 elections, which were policed by the combined security agencies.

    “We’re not maybe going to involve the military, as it were, because it was not even the police that came out with this issue. So, it’s going to be only the Police, the Prisons, Fire and then Immigration that are going to conduct this election. They are going to support us; it is our baby,” he had said, and explained that elections are internal matters over which the police have a clear-cut mandate. “It’s a clear-cut issue. Every internal issue is the police duty, and that is for sure in place.”

    He suggested that the police would devise strategies from these lessons to ensure a peaceful 2024 election, implying that the military may not play a role.

    The Service issued an apology to the Ghana Armed Forces for DCOP Waabu’s comments and issued a disclaimer to disassociate itself from his claims.

    “The statements made by DCOP Mr Gabriel Prince Waabu concerning election security are unfounded and do not represent the position of the Ghana Police Service. We would therefore like to dissociate the service completely from the statements and apologize to the Ghana Armed Forces. The conduct of the officer is being subjected to internal disciplinary processes of the Ghana Police Service.

    “We want to state that under the National Elections Security Taskforce Architecture, the Ghana Police Service works with all other security services including the Ghana Armed Forces to ensure peace, security, law and order, before, during and after elections. The approach to the 2024 General elections will be no different,” said the statement issued by the police.

  • Ghana, 27 developing countries broke; no escape anytime soon – World Bank

    Ghana, 27 developing countries broke; no escape anytime soon – World Bank

    The World Bank has revealed that 28 developing economies, including Ghana, with the weakest credit ratings, are currently trapped in a cycle of debt with little prospect of breaking free in the near future.

    The Bretton Woods institution noted that these countries had an average debt-to-Gross Domestic Product ratio of nearly 75% by the end of 2023, which is 20 points higher than the average for developing economies.

    In an article, “A silent debt crisis is engulfing developing economies with weak credit ratings”, however, it said some developing economies are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, global inflation is receding and global interest rates appear to have peaked, prompting a bond-issuance rush by these economies to refinance their debt before the opportunity vanishes.

    “In early January, Mexico, Indonesia, and several other developing economies easily raised more than $50 billion from bond investors. Yet 28 developing economies—those with the weakest credit ratings— remain stuck in a debt trap with no hope of escape anytime soon. Their average debt-to-GDP ratio was nearly 75% at the end of 2023—20 points greater than the typical developing economy”.

    “They account for a quarter of all developing economies with credit ratings and 16.0% of the global population. However, their collective economic activity constitutes a mere 5.0% of global output, which makes it easy for the rest of the world to ignore their predicament. Their debt crisis, as a result, is silent—and it could intensify”, it added. 

    The World Bank emphasized that these economies require urgent assistance from the international community.

    This assistance should include debt relief for some countries and an improvement in the global debt restructuring framework, as the current framework has provided little relief to the countries most in need.

    “A good start would be to build the fiscal space necessary for economic growth and resilience. Overlapping crises of the past five years deepened the debt challenges, but fiscal imprudence was often the original cause of their troubles. Before they lost access to capital markets, their governments had borrowed too much, especially in foreign currencies—the equivalent of nearly 30% of their GDP on average”, it added. 

    Meanwhile, Ghana, one of the affected countries, remains in debt distress, according to the Debt Sustainability Analysis. Additionally, the analysis by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund indicates that Ghana’s debt is unsustainable.

    “Given the ongoing debt restructuring and large and protracted breaches to the DSA thresholds, Ghana is currently in debt distress and the debt sustainability analysis shows that debt is unsustainable.”

    It continued that “Ghana lost international market access in late 2021, and the macroeconomic situation became more challenging in 2022, with large losses in international reserves, sharp depreciation of the exchange rate, and soaring inflation. The deterioration of market sentiment widened Eurobond spreads to above 2900 basis points at end-December 2022, and they have remained in distressed territory”.

    However, with the existence of the IMF program, there are expectations that Ghana’s debt situation will change and become sustainable by 2026.

  • $9,000 – Comedian Waris shares highest revenue earned from Facebook

    $9,000 – Comedian Waris shares highest revenue earned from Facebook

    Ghanaian comedian Abdul Waris Umaru, popularly known as Comedian Waris, has revealed that he earned his highest revenue of $9,000 per month from content generation on Facebook.

    Additionally, he disclosed that in December of the previous year, he made between $5,000 to $6,000 weekly from TikTok.

    Comedian Waris shared these insights during an interview on TV3’s The Afternoon Show with Anita Akufo and Godwin Namboh.

    “My highest I have taken from Facebook can be in the $9000 monthly. Facebook pays more than that that is why Sabinus is who he is and Nigerians buy houses like that…. There are other social media pages that makes more money. In December I was on TikTok and within a week I clocked close to $5000 to $6000.

    While acknowledging the lucrative nature of content creation on social media, he highlighted Ghana’s challenges with monetizing social media spaces. This has led some content creators to collaborate with their Nigerian counterparts.

  • He had a knife, I had a stick and I beat him mercilessly – Woman recounts how she fought armed thief

    He had a knife, I had a stick and I beat him mercilessly – Woman recounts how she fought armed thief

    In a display of what appears to be remarkable courage, a young woman bravely faced off against an armed robber in a harrowing encounter after work.

    Recalling the terrifying ordeal on social media, she described how the assailant approached her, brandishing a knife with menacing intent. Rather than succumb to fear, she boldly decided to confront the threat head-on.

    In a quick and instinctive move, she seized a nearby stick, ready to defend herself against the attacker. Surprised by her fearlessness and determination, the robber hesitated, momentarily taken aback by her boldness.

    Despite the imminent danger, she stood her ground, refusing to back down in the face of adversity. Her unwavering resolve and defiance left the robber unsettled, prompting him to reconsider his actions.

    In a surprising turn of events, the would-be assailant relented, allowing the courageous woman to continue her journey unharmed. However, not without consequences, as she sustained an injury to her eye during the intense confrontation.

  • Alert: Public health crisis looms as heavily contaminated water is used to process cassava dough

    Alert: Public health crisis looms as heavily contaminated water is used to process cassava dough

    Residents of Takoradi, Accra, and other towns could be consuming contaminated food products made from cassava, as some traders at Gwira Dominase in the Evalue-Ajomoro-Gwira Municipality of the Western Region are reportedly using water from the galamsey-contaminated Ankobra River to prepare cassava dough.

    This contaminated dough is then sent to market centers in Takoradi, Accra, and beyond.

    The Ankobra River, which serves several communities in the Nzema area of the Western Region, flows about 190 kilometers south to the sea, acting as the boundary between the Ellembelle District and the Nzema East Municipality.

    Despite its socioeconomic importance to the region, the river is heavily polluted due to illegal mining activities, according to the environmental NGO Hen Mpoano, which is working on the conservation of the Amanzule area, including the Ankobra and surrounding water bodies.

    “Our research shows it is highly polluted with lead, mercury and cyanide which are used by the illegal miners”, said David Osei, the project officer.

    The women at Gwira Dominase, who use water from the highly polluted Ankobra River to prepare the dough, say they add “alum” to purify or decrease its turbidity before mixing it with the cassava.

    “The turbidity is terrible. We buy alum to purify the water so we can use it to mix the cassava dough for akyeke and that’s what we at Gwiraman eat. We send some to Takoradi, Accra, Kumasi and in fact all across the country”.

    “We are pleading with government for an intervention. This is what we drink. You can imagine the chemicals we are consuming,“ they said in an interview.

    The women at Gwira Dominase not only sell the Nzema delicacy, akyeke, but also send some of the cassava dough in its raw state to market centers across the country. These are used in making banku and other dishes in many households.

    Evans Asamoah Gyimah, the Water Quality Manager at the Western Regional Office of the Ghana Water Company, expressed concern about the wrongful use of alum or potassium aluminum sulfate, which could result in brain health damage and the generation of diseases like Alzheimer’s. He also highlighted the presence of untreated pathogens in the water, aside from heavy metals. Without intervention, these women will continue to use the contaminated water, putting people’s lives at risk.

    https://twitter.com/sikaofficial1/status/1759913493703082163?s=46
  • VIDEO: NDC’s Hohoe parliamentary candidate peels cassava for votes

    VIDEO: NDC’s Hohoe parliamentary candidate peels cassava for votes

    The National Democratic Congress (NDC) parliamentary candidate for Hohoe, Thomas Worlanyo, has taken his campaign to a unique level by engaging in everyday activities with the residents.

    In a recent campaign effort, Worlanyo was seen peeling cassava for women at Hohoe Zongo as part of his house-to-house campaign strategy.

    In a video, Worlanyo skillfully rotates the cassava as he keeps peeling of its skin.

    His gesture was warmly received by the women, who appreciated his efforts to interact with them in such a meaningful way.

  • Man curses NDC, NPP members who plot evil against him

    Man curses NDC, NPP members who plot evil against him


    A Ghanaian man took to a river to curse the two major political parties in Ghana, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as well as some of their supporters who had been harboring negative thoughts about him.

    In a video that has since gone viral, the man, identified as Alex, cannot be seen but is rather heard addressing the river in a traditional ritual.

    He called upon the water, which he refers to as “Kyiglimi,” and declared his submission to its power.

    Alex then went ahead to pronounce curses on anyone who harbors ill will towards him, regardless of their political affiliation.

    He specifically mentioned the NPP and NDC, stating that he leaves those individuals to face misfortune, including road accidents, and wishes for the collapse of their parties and the perishing of their descendants.

    “Water, speak, you have power. Anyone in this world drinks water. Anyone who thinks badly of me, either NPP or NDC, I leave the individual to a road accident. Let their descendants perish. Let the party collapse,” he said.

  • Japan govt provides 6 Toyota Hilux pick-ups to GEA for MSMEs growth

    Japan govt provides 6 Toyota Hilux pick-ups to GEA for MSMEs growth

    The Ghana Enterprise Agency (GEA), under the close leadership of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, has received support in the form of six Toyota Hilux pick-ups, alongside essential office equipment, a significant boost to Ghana’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

    This support, provided by the Government of Japan with technical assistance from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), aims to enhance GEA’s capacity to deliver training services across the nation using the Kaizen Approach, a testament to the collaborative efforts aimed at economic development and MSME support in Ghana.

    The support forms part of the “Expanding the Kaizen Initiative by Enhancing Sustainable Agri-Business” project, funded by Japan.

    This initiative underscores the commitment to scale national efforts for MSME promotion, focusing on sustainable and continual enhancement of business quality and productivity across Ghana.

    Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Hisanobu Mochizuki, highlighted Japan’s dedication to Ghana’s development journey during the ceremony.

    “This support to GEA reaffirms our unwavering commitment to Ghana’s growth, particularly in improving economic prospects and enterprise performance through efficient resource maximization,” stated Ambassador Mochizuki.

    Acknowledging the challenges posed by global disruptions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, Charles Abani, UN Resident Coordinator, emphasized the timeliness of this project.

    He noted, “MSMEs play a crucial role in Ghana’s economy, driving societal development and generating employment. Through capacity building, the UN’s support in Ghana aims to facilitate MSME growth, market access, and international trade.”

    Stavros Papastavrou, representing UNIDO in Ghana and Liberia, pledged continued support using UNIDO’s expertise in Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) to promote the Kaizen approach and industrial development in Ghana.

    Expressing gratitude for this international cooperation, Kosi Yankey, Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Enterprises Agency, highlighted the government’s prioritisation of MSME development as a cornerstone for job creation and economic development.

    “The support from the Government of Japan and UNIDO is invaluable to our Industrial Transformation Agenda and the post-COVID recovery efforts,” said Madam Kosie.

    She added: “Recognizing the pivotal role of MSMEs in driving economic growth, the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) and UNIDO have forged a strategic partnership, focusing on empowering women — a vital component of Ghana’s economic fabric.”

    Launched in September 2022, the project aims to improve the quality and productivity of Ghana’s MSMEs through Kaizen practices and UNIDO’s digital dashboard system, “Smart and Sustainable Agri-Business (SSAB),” illustrating a commitment to revitalizing the economy and transforming industry and agriculture in line with Ghana’s national goals.

  • Accra Academy owes us over GHS400,000 – ECG

    Accra Academy owes us over GHS400,000 – ECG

    Accra Academy was disconnected from the power grid by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) due to an outstanding debt of GH¢400,000, according to ECG officials.

    The disconnection, which led to a campus-wide power outage on Monday, February 19, also affected some on-campus teachers.

    A teacher, speaking anonymously, clarified that the school is not directly responsible for settling the debt and that they are unaware of the specific amount owed to the power distribution company.

    Paul Agraga, the head of prosecution at ECG, explained in an interview with Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show on Citi FM that the disconnection was part of an ongoing initiative to recover outstanding payments owed to the company.

    “Normally, we have a team that goes around once a while to inform our customers of their debts so they do not accumulate and so if you take Accra Academy for example, they owe in excess of GH¢400,000 to the ECG.”

    He further explained and dismissed allegations that the ECG is deliberately targeting the school. He stressed that the company also owes its partners, which it has to pay, indicating that the disconnection was part of the company’s broader efforts to manage its finances and recover outstanding debts.

    “We did not specifically target Accra Academy, it is an ongoing operation we are conducting, and a number of homes, businesses, and institutions have also suffered the same fate.

    “The no-free consumption does not discriminate at all and once you owe, you will be disconnected. It does not matter whether it is Parliament or a security service because we also owe people that we have to pay.”

  • NDC Manhyia South Organiser who issued electoral threats granted bail

    NDC Manhyia South Organiser who issued electoral threats granted bail

    The Manhyia South Constituency Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alhassan Mustapha, has been granted bail by the police after being charged with offences related to his conduct.

    Mustapha was charged with Offensive Conduct conducive to a breach of peace and making threats of death.

    The arrest followed a viral video in which Alhassan Mustapha was seen making inflammatory remarks, specifically challenging the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and threatening violence if they attempted to manipulate the elections.

    The video raised concerns about potential unrest.

    After being charged, the police granted him bail, allowing for his release pending further legal proceedings.

    The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the NDC, Augustus Nana Kwasi, insisted after his release that there was nothing wrong with the Constituency Organizer’s statement.

  • Police Director General to be penalised for false election security measures report against GAF

    Police Director General to be penalised for false election security measures report against GAF

    The Ghana Police Service has described as ‘unfortunate’ comments made by DCOP Mr. Gabriel Prince Waabu, Director-General of Research and Planning, who claimed on Tuesday that the Police Service would take the lead in providing security for the 2024 elections.

    DCOP Waabu made these remarks during a panel discussion on Monday, 19th February, 2024, at the launch of Elections Headquarters, a JoyNews’ program for comprehensive coverage of the 2024 general elections.

    He mentioned that the GPS had learned valuable lessons from policing past elections, including the peaceful nature of policing the internal primaries of the New Patriotic Party and National Democratic Congress.

    He contrasted this with the pockets of violence that occurred during the 2020 elections, which were policed by the combined security agencies.

    “We’re not maybe going to involve the military, as it were, because it was not even the police that came out with this issue. So, it’s going to be only the Police, the Prisons, Fire and then Immigration that are going to conduct this election. They are going to support us; it is our baby,” he had said, and explained that elections are internal matters over which the police have a clear-cut mandate. “It’s a clear-cut issue. Every internal issue is the police duty, and that is for sure in place.”

    https://backend.theindependentghana.com/election-2024-the-military-wont-be-involved-this-year-ghana-police-service/

    He suggested that the police would devise strategies from these lessons to ensure a peaceful 2024 election, implying that the military may not play a role.

    The Service issued an apology to the Ghana Armed Forces for DCOP Waabu’s comments and issued a disclaimer to disassociate itself from his claims.

    “The statements made by DCOP Mr Gabriel Prince Waabu concerning election security are unfounded and do not represent the position of the Ghana Police Service. We would therefore like to dissociate the service completely from the statements and apologize to the Ghana Armed Forces. The conduct of the officer is being subjected to internal disciplinary processes of the Ghana Police Service.

    “We want to state that under the National Elections Security Taskforce Architecture, the Ghana Police Service works with all other security services including the Ghana Armed Forces to ensure peace, security, law and order, before, during and after elections. The approach to the 2024 General elections will be no different,” said the statement issued by the police.

  • Court slaps man with 5-year jail term for killing cousin over side chick

    Court slaps man with 5-year jail term for killing cousin over side chick

    A man, Godwin Kotey, has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and has been sentenced to five years in prison for causing the death of his cousin, Fredrick Nii Oko Sackey.

    Initially charged with murder, Kotey changed his plea to manslaughter after negotiations with the state.

    He activated the Plea Bargaining Act and entered into an agreement with the Attorney General to plead guilty to manslaughter for a reduced sentence.

    The confrontation between Kotey and his cousin arose over Kotey’s girlfriend, who had been entrusted to the care of the deceased.

    This altercation resulted in the death of Fredrick Nii Oko Sackey.

    “My Lady, respectfully, we have entered into plea negotiations with the Attorney General, and we would respectfully like to change the plea of the accused person from not guilty to murder but guilty to manslaughter,” Edwin Hoffman Counsel holding brief of Kwame Appiah told the Court while pointing to section 239(2) of Act 30.

  • G-Met threatens to sue GACL, Civil Aviation Authority over $10M indebtedness

    G-Met threatens to sue GACL, Civil Aviation Authority over $10M indebtedness

    The Ghana Meteorological Agency (G-Met) has announced its intention to take legal action against the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) over a 10-million-dollar debt.

    The debt, which has accumulated over a four-year period, is for services rendered by G-Met to the two institutions. Despite an undertaking from GACL to pay the service charges moving forward, G-Met is pursuing legal options to recover the outstanding amount.

    This decision was disclosed by the Director-General of the Ghana Meteo Service, Eric Asumang, during his appearance before the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on Monday.

    “I want to believe that when they call them they will comply and that may settle the court matter. If that fails then probably legal action will be taken. But even when it is resolved and they give us this letter it will be for the money that is to come to us, not the arrears.

    “As for the arrears, at the latter part of the year, the board gave permission to use legal means to collect those arrears,” he told the Committee.

    Meanwhile, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has launched a Self-Employed Enrolment Drive to increase enrollment from the informal sector into the scheme.

    Director-General of SSNIT, Dr. John Ofori-Tenkorang, has emphasized the importance of allowing people to join the scheme from their homes.

    “If I look at the February payroll which was just paid; out of some two hundred and forty-five thousand pensioners that we pay only six hundred and thirty constituting 0.03% are people who have retired as self-employed persons.

    “We see that we have a long way to go and this is the narrative that we want to change.”

  • You will stay in darkness unless you pay 50% of what you owe us – ECG to Accra Academy

    You will stay in darkness unless you pay 50% of what you owe us – ECG to Accra Academy

    The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has noted that Accra Academy will remain disconnected until it meets certain conditions in line with the company’s revenue collection efforts.

    ECG’s External Communications Manager, Laila Abubakari, while engaging the media, noted that one of these conditions is the settlement of at least 50% of the outstanding bills by the school authorities.

    Another solution she floated would be that “someone has to guarantee for them” that “payment will be made “within the shortest possible time.”

     “The problem ECG finds itself in is consistent debt. And every month, our debt profile is different. So we have to be more aggressive because we have bills to pay.

    “We have issues so we have to be less compassionate, unfortunately,” she said.

    Accra Academy reportedly owes around GHS500,000 in post-paid electricity bills dating back to July 2023.

    The company explained that it was compelled to disconnect Accra Academy from the national grid on Monday due to unpaid electricity bills.

    This resulted in a total blackout on the senior high school’s campus, forcing students to resort to torchlights for studying.

    The disconnection sparked concerns among guardians and stakeholders, highlighting broader issues regarding utility payments in second-cycle institutions nationwide.

    Meanwhile, a staff member of the school expressed concern about why pre-paid users were also disconnected if the issue was about arrears.

    However, Mrs. Abubakari explained that this was a strange development and that ECG would investigate how it occurred.

  • EC discontinues court case against Barker-Vormawor

    EC discontinues court case against Barker-Vormawor

    The Electoral Commission has withdrawn its suit against FixTheCountry movement convener, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the Chief Justice, and the Attorney General at the apex court to stop the ongoing impeachment process on her removal and her deputies over their handling of the SALL issue.

    In January this year, the group, #FixTheCountry Movement submitted a petition signed by the convener, Oliver Barker, to President Akufo-Addo invoking the constitutional procedure for the removal of the EC Chair and her deputies over their handling of the SALL issue.

    In their petition, the group contended that the EC Chair and her deputies, per their conduct, intentionally denied the people of Santrokofi, Akpafu, and Likpe (SALL) the right to vote in the 2020 elections.

    They, therefore, held in light of the above that the conduct of the EC bosses meets the threshold of stated misbehavior and or incompetence as defined under Article 146 of the Constitution 1992 and thus should be removed.

    However, in the back of the petition, the EC boss, Jean Mensa, and her 2 deputies, filed a suit against Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the Chief Justice, and the Attorney General at the apex court to stop the ongoing impeachment process.

    Per recent reports from Oliver Barker-Vormawor, his “lawyers informed me that Jean Mensa and other EC officials have finally discontinued their case at the Supreme Court against me.”

    In a post on X, Tuesday, February 20, he expressed his appreciation to Samuel Alesu-Dordzi and the entire AudreyGrey law firm for picking up this matter pro-bono at great cost to them.

    Mr Barker-Vormawor also reminded the government that “SALL still has no representation in Parliament.”

    SALL representation

    The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, in November 2023, said there may be either the revocation of the creation of the Guan District or an annulment of the 2020 Parliamentary General Election for the Buem constituency if residents of Santrokofi, Akpafu, Likpe, and Lolobi, also known as SALL, desire representation in the current Parliament.

    The Electoral Commission (EC) presented to Parliament a constitutional instrument seeking to create the Guan constituency, offering residents of SALL the opportunity to elect a Member of Parliament in the 2024 general elections.

    Responding to questions on the floor of Parliament regarding the government’s legal position on the plight of SALL residents, Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame provided alternative steps toward the election of a representative by SALL residents in the 8th Parliament.

    “Alternatively, the representation of the people of SALL in this term of Parliament is desired, and the way to go is to do the two things that are prescribed. Respectfully, one, there must be a revocation of LI 2416 establishing the Guan district, which will imply that the residents of SALL will remain under the Jasikan District. Or two, there must be an annulment of the 2020 Parliamentary elections organized for the Buem constituency to allow residents of the four SALL communities to qualify to exercise their rights to vote and elect a Member of Parliament to represent them, since CI 128 used for the conduct of the 2020 Parliamentary elections had already placed the SALL areas within the Buem constituency.”

  • NDC Organiser declared wanted to appear before Police today

    NDC Organiser declared wanted to appear before Police today

    Mustapha Alhassan, the Manhyia South constituency organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Ashanti Region, is expected to report to the police headquarters today.

    This follows the police declaring him wanted after a viral video showed him issuing threats of electoral violence.

    The regional executives of the NDC have expressed their dissatisfaction with the summons and have stated their intention to accompany Mustapha Alhassan to the police station with a legal team to provide him with the necessary representation.

    Dr. Frank Amoakohene, the NDC’s Ashanti regional secretary, stated in an interview on Eyewitness News on Citi FM that the party is well-prepared for any challenges at the police headquarters.

    He also mentioned that they are prepared to seek the arrest of the NPP official who was on the show with Mustapha Alhassan if necessary.

    “We are going with our lawyers, and we are ready for whatever legal tussle. If we need to file a counter-complaint for them to arrest the NPP official, we will do the same, and if we need to perform a citizen’s arrest and bring the NPP official to the police, we will do that.”

    “Even if the audio is out there without an edit, the person is still innocent until proven otherwise by a court of competent jurisdiction saying otherwise, and so we cannot be prejudicial in this matter,” he told host of Eyewitness News, Umaru Sanda Amadu.

    He also added that Mustapha Alhassan was a victim of misreporting, as he was simply responding to his co-panelist and had no intention of threatening harm to anyone.

    “From our investigations and checks, the officer was only serving notice to the NPP official that anybody who rigs the 2024 elections is only preparing a platform for blablabla… and so it was a response to the NPP official, and we can’t be prejudicial condemning someone without hearing him out.”

  • “What did you buy today with your Ghana Card?” – ‘Silly’ journalist asks Peter Otokunor

    “What did you buy today with your Ghana Card?” – ‘Silly’ journalist asks Peter Otokunor

    Former Deputy Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Boamah Otokunor, has been critical of the Ghana Card, which Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has highlighted as one of the government’s achievements.

    In July 2022, Otokunor took a jab at Vice President Bawumia during the New Patriotic Party’s Delegates Conference at the Accra Sports Stadium. He sarcastically mentioned that due to the harsh economic conditions, he was only able to buy a ball of kenkey for GH¢5.

    Vice President Bawumia has emphasized the government’s commitment to addressing challenges within the informal economy through the implementation of the Ghana Card as part of the digitalization agenda. He highlighted issues such as age cheating, identity fraud, and the proliferation of fake documents that the Ghana Card aims to combat.

    “What did you buy today with your Ghana card?” the journalist asked Mr Otokunor in response to his earlier claim of buying food with the Ghana card.

    Peter Otokunor replied, “Incidentally, I have realized that a lot of people are tired and it is not working. So I have advised that anytime you try and it is not working, let them call the Vice President.”

    “When you go and buy fuel and you give them a Ghana card, I saw one video, they said they would not collect.”

    In recent times, the Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, has touted the significant contributions of the erstwhile John Mahama administration in developing the Ghana Card system.

    According to him, the NDC government started the implementation process of the Ghana Card as far back as 2016, arguing that the NPP government only continued with the system developed by the Mahama government.

    He claimed that the Mahama administration in 2016 collected biometric and demographic data on about 16 million Ghanaians and processed about 4.7 million cards.

    Commenting on Dr Bawumia’s address to the nation, Sammy Gyamfi claimed that the Mahama administration distributed about 900,000 cards before leaving office in 2016.

  • Full list of Bawumia’s campaign team

    Full list of Bawumia’s campaign team

    The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has completed its campaign structure for the upcoming 2024 national elections by appointing members to various national campaign committees.

    This decision was reached during the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) and National Council meetings held on Monday, February 19, 2024, where the party’s flagbearer, Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia was present.

    Below is the list of Dr Bawumia’s campaign team ahead of the 2024 general elections slated for December 7.

    ADVISORS

    President Nana Akufo Addo

    Former President John Agyekum Kuffour

    Freddie Blay

    Peter Mac Manu

    Elizabeth Ohene

    Rev. Joyce Aryee

    Frema Osei Opare

    CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN – Dan Botwe

    Deputies – Fred Oware and Nana Akomea

    CAMPAIGN MANAGER – Opare Ansah

    Deputies – Adjei Sowah and Habit Idrisu

    OPERATIONS

    Justin Kodua Frimpong

    Deputy – Nana B

    LOGISTICS

    Chairman – Butey

    Deputy – Archibald Cobbina

    FUNDRAISING

    Dr. Apolo

    COMMUNICATION

    Dennis Miracle Aboagye

    Deputies – Adomako Baafi

    Krobea Asante

    Akbar

    SPOKESPERSONS

    Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah

    Gideon Boako

    Antoinett Tsibu Darko

    SPECIAL ADVISORS

    Sammy Awuku

    Abayifa Karbo

    Paapa Owusu Ankomah

    Kofi Dzamesi.

    2024 NPP CAMPAIGN COMMITTEESDownload
  • Homeless Ghanaian living in New York begs for money for food

    Homeless Ghanaian living in New York begs for money for food

    A heartbreaking encounter unfolded on the streets of New York when a homeless Ghanaian man, Yaw Kennah, approached a fellow Ghanaian brother, begging for money to buy food.

    The homeless man, who has been living on the streets without a job for years, shared his harrowing story with his compatriot.

    According to him, he arrived in the United States about 16 years ago to attend a conference. However, he never returned home and instead sought employment at a car wash company in Virginia.

    He hoped that previous governments would pass an immigration bill that would allow him to obtain the necessary documents to stay legally in the country.

    Unfortunately, his plans did not materialize, and he found himself without a home, sleeping at shelters, train stations and on trains at times.

    Despite his efforts to make a living, the man’s dreams were shattered, leaving him destitute and in desperate need of assistance.

    “Please I am struggling. Can I get some money to buy food,” Yaw told his fellow brother.

    Yaw’s mum hails from Sehwi Bekwai in Western Region and his father, Koforidua, Korantumi in the Eastern Region.

  • Agyapa deal not criminal; poor judgment or not – Atta Akyea tells NDC

    Agyapa deal not criminal; poor judgment or not – Atta Akyea tells NDC

    Chairman of the Mines and Energy Committee of Parliament, Samuel Atta Akyea, has advised the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) against making divisive statements in its quest for political power.

    His remarks come in response to the NDC’s National Communications Officer, Sammy Gyamfi, who has vowed that a future NDC administration will take legal action against government officials and individuals implicated in the $12 million expenditure on the suspended Gold Royalties Monetisation Transaction, also known as the Agyapa deal.

    Mr. Akyea emphasized that while the opposition is determined to win the election, it should avoid making statements that could jeopardize the peace and security of the country.

    Speaking on JoyFM’s Top Story on February 19, he said, “Bear in mind that in this feverish pitch to succeed Akufo-Addo, NDC should not sort of make a fetish of every issue as if everything is criminal. 

    “This nation is not safe with this level of propaganda and press conferences are not just conclusive evidence of culpability and criminality as it were. I want to stress also let’s be careful. If there is a poor error of judgment in the investment in Agyapa, it will not be tantamount to criminality.

    The Agyapa deal was enacted through the Minerals Income Investment Fund Act, 2018 (MIIF Act 978) with the primary objective of leveraging the nation’s mineral resources to benefit its citizens and ensure the sustainable receipt of royalties from gold mining companies.

    However, the deal faced significant criticism and was ultimately suspended by President Nana Akufo-Addo in 2021 following concerns raised by civil society groups and the main opposition.

    During the same discussion, Mr. Gyamfi maintained that the investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor demonstrated that the Agyapa deal was not advantageous to the state, leading to its suspension.

    “If the Special prosecutor was not a court and the President does not agree with the position of the Special Prosecutor, why suspend the bill?” he quizzed.

    However, Mr. Atta Akyea argued that it would be more appropriate for the NDC to address the issue in court rather than assuming guilt on the part of individuals.

    “If you convert the thinking of NDC to the decision of a court of competent jurisdiction, we know what the law is like.

    “The accused persons will have a right to stand, they present the evidence and the rest of it, and it will culminate in a decision. If we don’t go this route and we still believe that in the name of propaganda, let’s turn the laws of Ghana upside down and in the convenience of a one-sided press conference let’s denigrate others, I am afraid that is not democracy, that is propaganda,” he added.

    Mr. Akyea emphasized that in criminal matters, the passage of time does not invalidate a criminal case.

  • Ban on noisemaking to be enforced by Tema Traditional Council in April

    Ban on noisemaking to be enforced by Tema Traditional Council in April

    The Tema Traditional Council (TTC) has announced the annual customary ban on noisemaking within the Tema Traditional Area, which will be in effect from April 26 to May 18, 2024.

    In a press statement issued by the registrar and circulated to all religious bodies, sports facilities, bars, pubs, and the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the Traditional Council emphasized that during the ban period, activities such as burials, funerals, music, drumming, and any form of noisemaking would be prohibited within the traditional area.

    The Tema traditional area includes Tema Newtown, as well as all communities in Tema, Ashaiman, Saasabi, Klangon, Adjei Kojo, Sakumono, and Adjeiman.

    The TTC urged all residents and groups within the traditional area to adhere to the directive to prevent any confrontation between the council representatives and individuals or groups.

    “All individuals and groups in the Traditional Area are respectfully entreated to bear with the council during this period and abide by the directive to forestall confrontations between representatives of the council, and individuals or groups, as have occurred sometime in the past,” the statement said.