According to provisional estimates from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS), the country’s economy expanded by 3.2 percent in the second quarter of 2023 (April to June) compared to the same period in 2022.
When adjusted for seasonal variations, the real GDP in the second quarter of 2023 increased by 0.7 percent, which is 0.1 percentage point lower than the growth recorded in the first quarter of 2022.
The Services sector exhibited the highest growth at 6.3 percent, followed by the Agriculture sector with a growth rate of 6.0 percent, while the Industry sector contracted by -1.9 percent.
The GDP growth rate, excluding oil and gas (Non-Oil GDP), for the second quarter of 2023 stood at 3.2 percent, compared to a growth rate of 4.8 percent for the same period in 2022.
Dr. Ishmael Ackah, the Executive Secretary of PURC, made this appeal while also advising students to promptly settle their utility bills.
During his address to students at Koforidua Technical University (KTU) on August 29, 2023, Dr. Ackah emphasized the importance of paying utility tariffs and the role students can play in reporting unauthorized connections.
He also highlighted the incentive of a 6% reward on the recovered revenue from illegal connections for whistleblowers.
Dr. Ackah explained that by fulfilling their billing obligations, utility companies can generate the necessary revenue to enhance their service delivery to the public.
“In the Eastern Region alone, water consumers owed about GH¢46 million”, Dr Ackah said.
Alhaji Jabaru Abukari, the Eastern Regional Operations and Consumer Services Director at the PURC, encouraged consumers of utilities to report any grievances they have with their landlords to the PURC for resolution.
Professor David Kofi Essumang, the Vice-Chancellor of Koforidua Technical University (KTU), expressed his satisfaction with the program.
He noted that approximately 90% of his students resided in rental accommodations, and issues related to the payment of electricity and water bills often led to conflicts between landlords and students.
“We in KTU use more electricity in training our students and the way PURC is considering industries, we are also appealing to them to also consider the tertiary institution to help reduce utility bills since the universities are also training the human resource of the country”, he said.
Prof. Essumang commended the PURC for providing their students with education on how to calculate energy consumption and associated costs using the PURC Electricity Consumption Estimator (PECE) application.
The PURC visited the university to interact with, educate, and promote the payment of utility bills among the students. They also encouraged the students to educate their parents about the importance of paying utility bills.
The event, which was attended by university lecturers and administrators, provided students with the opportunity to ask relevant questions about utility services, and they received comprehensive answers to enhance their understanding of the topics discussed.
Fitch Ratings has upheld the Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) of United Bank for Africa (Ghana) Limited at ‘B-‘ with a Stable Outlook.
The bank’s Viability Rating (VR) has also been confirmed at ‘ccc’.
Fitch, a UK-based company, has explained that UBA Ghana’s Long-Term IDR is influenced by the potential support it could receive from its parent company, United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA), which has a rating of B- with a Stable Outlook. This support is reflected in the Shareholder Support Rating (SSR) of ‘b-‘.
The Stable Outlook is also in line with UBA’s Long-Term IDR. UBA Ghana’s Long-Term IDR corresponds to Ghana’s Country Ceiling of ‘B-‘, which reflects Fitch’s assessment of transfer and convertibility (T&C) risk in the country.
“UBA Ghana’s VR of ‘ccc’ reflects our view that failure remains a real possibility due to high exposure to the Ghanaian sovereign (‘RD’) through securities. This is despite losses incurred in the sovereign domestic debt restructuring, forthcoming external debt restructuring and impending loan quality issues being tolerable due to large capital buffers”, it pointed out.
Fitch Ratings believes that United Bank for Africa (UBA) has a strong inclination to provide support if needed to safeguard its Ghanaian operations, despite the sovereign default. This commitment is attributed to the attractiveness of the Ghanaian market and its contribution to UBA’s pan-African strategy, as well as the potential reputational consequences of a subsidiary default.
However, UBA’s capacity to offer support is constrained by its own creditworthiness. Fitch does not anticipate that authorities will impose controls that hinder banks from servicing their external debt.
Fitch also noted that Ghana’s domestic debt-exchange program (DDEP), which involved exchanging cedi government bonds for new bonds with lower coupons and longer tenors, concluded in February 2023, resulting in significant net present value losses for participating bondholders. Ghana has recently restructured other domestic debt instruments and is in the process of restructuring its external debt.
Sovereign exposure through fixed-income securities is substantial for UBA, accounting for 50% of total assets as of June 30, 2023, and 245% of total equity. This includes new bonds (rated ‘CCC’ by Fitch) received in the DDEP, treasury bills not subject to restructuring, holdings of recently restructured cocoa bills, US dollar local bonds, and unrestructured Eurobonds.
UBA Ghana’s impaired loans ratio increased to 26.3% as of June 30, 2023, from 9.7% at the end of 2022, primarily due to borrowers’ reduced resilience in the face of high interest rates and inflation. However, the bank’s loan book is relatively small, comprising 18% of total assets as of the first half of 2023, and its asset quality is closely linked to the sovereign’s creditworthiness.
Operating returns on risk-weighted assets declined to 2.2% in 2022 (compared to 5.2% in 2021) due to significant impairment charges associated with the DDEP. Fitch believes that profitability was supported by the use of a low discount rate in determining the fair value of the new bonds.
The National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Stephen Ntim, has characterized the public apology of the embattled Dome-Kwabenya MP, Sarah Adwoa Safo, to the party and her constituents as fitting and appropriate.
Mr. Ntim believes that the apology signifies the MP’s remorse for her actions. He further stated that Adwoa Safo fulfilled the necessary steps expected of her, and the party has received it with open arms.
“Adwoa Safo’s apology is in order; I really support her objective because she knows the NPP is the only party she belongs to. So, she is doing what is expected of her, I mean the apology and all that,” Chairman Ntim said.
However, Mr. Ntim added that Sarah Adwoa Safo remains a member of the party, and her return to Parliament will ultimately depend on the decision of her constituents.
“If the constituents accept her to be an MP once again despite all that has gone on, I as Chairman and the rest of the party leadership will back her with our spirits to become an MP.
“So, her fate rests in the hands of Dome-Kwabenya delegates, from polling station to the constituency level,” Chairman Ntim added.
In a video shared on Facebook on September 14, the former Gender Minister issued an apology to the NPP for the controversies that arose due to her prolonged absence from parliamentary duties.
She openly acknowledged that her actions were without justification and expressed deep regret, attributing her absenteeism to personal challenges.
During her apology, she extended her regrets to President Akufo-Addo, Dr. Mahamadu Bawumia, the Chief of Staff, parliamentary leadership, the party’s leadership, and her constituents.
“It was not my intention to disrespect you. There was a lot going on in my life and family. I’m using this medium to plead for your forgiveness in the name of God,” she said.
Adwoa Safo’s extended absence from parliament became one of the most widely debated topics in the country in 2022, causing division within both the legislative house and the party.
This discussion stemmed from her departure from the country in November 2021.
President of the Ghana Union Traders Association (GUTA), Dr Joseph Obeng, has bemoaned the high-tax environment businesses are currently operating in.
In his submission to discussions on tax payment and evasion during the Graphic Business/Stanbic Bank Breakfast meeting held at Labadi Beach Hotel on Tuesday, September 19, Dr Joseph Obeng noted that businesses are currently struggling as they are unable to reflect the exorbitant taxes they pay to the government on the cost of their commodities.
He explained that consumers form an integral part of the business cycle and, hence, cannot be made to bear the total cost derived from high taxes.
For him, it would be unwise to take such a decision as consumers are also being hit by the economic crisis characterized by high inflation, high interest rates, among others.
He said: “The taxes that we pay here are just too much compared to the sub-region. So taxes should be simplified and structured in a manner that will ensure compliance. That is why were are not getting the tax to GDP ratio to 20 percent, like our neighbours are doing. We are having difficulty as a business community to navigate through this turbulence of economic situation that we are having here.”
“We have to contend with high cost of doing business in this country. The duties that we pay, the high interest rates, the inflation. It makes businesses very difficult to do. While doing that, government is still compiling alot of taxes on us, even to the point of harassing us in tax payment. When we are trying to do all these things and navigate through, then the consuming public is also on us saying that we should reduce prices.”
According to Dr Joseph Obeng, businesses would have to shut down if they listened to the plea of the consumer and reduced the prices of goods. He added that businesses would not be able to generate profits, the primary reason for their existence.
“How do we break even in our businesses? That is the difficulty that we have to contend with. Because the purchasing power of the consuming public is so minimal because of the effect of inflation.
“We do not do the business in isolation, we do it with the consuming public. So we cannot also overburden them. We cannot overprice our goods so that the consumers cannot patronize them,” he stated.
In April this year, Parliament passed the following acts: Excise Duty (Amendment) Act, 2023 (Act 1093), Ghana Revenue Authority (Amendment) Act, 2023 (Act 1096), Growth and Sustainability Levy Act, 2023 (Act 1095), Income Tax (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2023 (Act 1094) and Revenue Administration Act, 2022 (Act 1086).
The Director of the Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER), Professor Peter Quartey, has highlighted the significance of Ghana learning from Zambia’s recent Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) during this year’s ISSER Development Dialogue.
Under the theme, ‘The Effects of a Second-Round Debt Exchange in Ghana,’ the event provided an opportunity for a valuable comparison.
Zambia successfully restructured its $6.3 billion debt owed to official bilateral creditors. This involved extending debt maturities by more than 12 years and reducing interest rates to 1.0% for 14 years, with a subsequent maximum rate of 2.5%. This strategic move was expected to save Zambia approximately $5.0 billion in debt service payments from 2023 to 2031.
In contrast, Zambia committed to repaying its official creditors about $750 million over the next decade, a substantial reduction from the initial debt of nearly $6 billion.
As Ghana progresses in its own debt exchange journey, Professor Quartey emphasized the importance of drawing lessons from Zambia’s experience.
Ghana is currently finalizing its bilateral debt agreements, and managing domestic debt poses additional challenges. One crucial lesson from Zambia is the need to safeguard domestic financial stability.
Zambia chose not to restructure non-resident holdings of local currency bonds and Treasury bills, prioritizing the health of its financial sector. This decision offers Ghana valuable insights:
The Scramble for Treasury Bills: High-interest rates on Treasury Bills can worsen the debt situation and cause financial stress.
Crowding Out of the Private Sector: Heavy government investment in Treasury Bills can discourage private sector investment, hindering economic growth.
Impact on Lending Rates: High lending rates deter private-sector borrowing, affecting businesses and economic growth.
Financial Sector Health: Protecting the stability of the financial sector is crucial for overall economic well-being.
Professor Quartey concluded by stressing the importance of Ghana’s ongoing debt exchange being informed by the insights gained from Zambia.
It is crucial to find the right equilibrium between securing favorable terms and ensuring the stability of the domestic financial landscape. This approach will pave the way for a more secure and prosperous economic future.
The Police have restored law, order, and security at Ofankor following a riot that resulted in the burning of tyres and blocking of public road.
In a social media post, the Police noted that investigation so far indicates that the riot was in relation to a land litigation issue.
An anonymous source close to The Independent Ghana says the squatters selling wood at Ofankor Timber Market were issued a 24-hour ultimatum to evict a portion of land.
POLICE RESTORE CALM AT OFANKOR
The Police have restored law, order and security at Ofankor following a riot which resulted in the burning of tyres and blocking of public road.
Investigation so far indicates that the riot was in relation to a land litigation issue. pic.twitter.com/vqUI9pYEjo
The landowner allegedly brought in land guards to ensure the eviction. A confrontation erupted as the squatters failed to move from the said piece of land.
The land guards reportedly received backup from police personnel. During the clash, the land guards are said to have fired at the protestors, injuring about two individuals who are said to be receiving treatment at St. John’s Hospital at Tantra.
Some affected motorists reached out to the Police Service for assistance.
Following calls, Police has strengthened security in the area and the road has been opened to normal traffic flow.
Investigation continues to get the perpetrators arrested to face justice.
Deputy General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Nana Obiri Boahen, has called for the expulsion of Member of Parliament (MP) for Dome Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, from the party.
Mr Obiri Boahen argued that the MP displayed a lack of professionalism and discipline as a politician when she held the party hostage.
He advised the NPP to dismiss her apology and attempts to reconcile with her constituency and party members and instead take the step of expelling her.
“In my opinion, anywhere you find yourself, there must be discipline. People have served the party but have not benefited, but for you, Adwoa Safo, you are an NPP member, you have become an MP, Deputy Minister and a Minister of State and as a party, we need your assistance in taking decisions to vote.”
“You kept saying you won’t come, the party pleaded, you insisted you won’t come, then you’re telling me that Adwoa Safo has pleaded for her actions and so we should do what? Should they accept her so that she returns to parliament again?”
“Impossible! We need to be disciplined. If you’re a politician and you are not disciplined, then there will be problems for you,” he stated.
During an interview on Okay FM, Mr. Boahen expressed his preference for the NPP to disregard Adwoa Safo and risk losing the Dome Kwabenya seat rather than forgiving and readmitting her to the party.
His statement came in the wake of Adwoa Safo’s public apology to her constituents and party members the previous week regarding her extended absence from parliament in 2022, which had sparked a nationwide debate.
The former Gender Minister acknowledged that her absence, although detrimental to the party, was not intentional. She clarified that her actions were a result of personal challenges she faced within her family during that period.
The Executive Director of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), COP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo-Danquah, has reaffirmed her agency’s commitment to collaborating with other organizations to ensure strict compliance with tobacco trade laws.
She emphasized that the illicit tobacco trade presents a significant challenge, as it can facilitate various criminal economic activities.
COP Addo-Danquah made these remarks during a meeting on Monday, September 18, 2023, when a delegation comprising officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Secretariat (FCTC) in Geneva, Switzerland, and representatives from the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) engaged with EOCO officials.
The discussions revolved around adopting law enforcement strategies in Ghana’s efforts to combat illicit tobacco trade and address the associated challenges.
Olivia Agyekumwaa Boateng, the Head of the Tobacco and Substance Abuse Department at the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and a member of the delegation, revealed that the FDA is conducting a needs assessment to gauge the extent of illicit trade and develop regulatory measures to address it effectively.
Various speakers at the meeting emphasized the dangers posed by illicit tobacco trade and underscored the importance of collaborative efforts among all stakeholders in combating this menace.
Andrew Black, the Coordinator and Development Assistant of FCTC, emphasized that despite the lucrative nature of illicit tobacco trade, it poses a significant global problem with substantial risks involved.
Dr. William Maina, the Technical Coordinator for Tobacco Control at WHO, reiterated the hazards associated with tobacco use, underscoring its highly addictive nature and its role in causing numerous non-communicable diseases, including cancer.
Dr. Maina expressed concern that while considerable efforts have been dedicated to reducing demand, purchase, and distribution of tobacco, there has been relatively limited focus on decreasing the supply. He also stressed that uncertified tobacco is detrimental to one’s health.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Joana Ansong, the WHO country representative for Non-Communicable Diseases, along with other officials from the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Secretariat, the UNDP, and several Unit Heads from EOCO.
Nana Appiah Mensah, also known as NAM 1, the founder of Menzgold, has pleaded not guilty for allegedly defrauding more than 16,000 individuals of GH¢1.6 billion through the company.
In his defense, NAM 1 denies any wrongdoing related to bypassing Ghanaian laws to operate an unlawful gold deposit-taking business.
NAM 1’s legal counsel, Kwame Akuffo, asserted in the High Court on Tuesday, September 19, that his client did not engage in any activities that violated the Banking and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions Act, 2016 (Act ).
Mr. Akuffo further contended that it was officials from the Bank of Ghana (BoG) who had advised NAM 1 to change the company’s name from Menzbank to Menzbanc.
“Indeed, in meetings with the BoG, it was the BoG that recommended that a third accused company (Brew Marketing Consult) be set up in order to ensure that the gold marketing business was kept distinct from the business of Menzgold,” the counsel said.
“I will skip the names because the court may take evidence from them in camera,” counsel said, reports Graphic Online’s Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson from the courtroom.
In the meantime, NAM 1 has entered a plea of not guilty to a total of 39 charges, encompassing violations of Act 930, defrauding by false pretense, fraudulent breach of trust, and money laundering.
The court proceedings, presided over by Dr. Ernest Owusu-Dapaa, a Justice of the Court of Appeal serving as an additional High Court judge, resulted in NAM 1 being granted bail in the amount of GH¢500 million, with the requirement of four sureties.
As part of the bail conditions, Justice Owusu-Dapaa also mandated NAM 1 to surrender his passport to the Court’s Registrar and to report to the headquarters of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) every Thursday.
Reports circulating on social media indicate that there is traffic congestion on the Ofankor-Accra road.
The reason for this development has been attributed to a protest by irate squatters who were allegedly evicted.
An anonymous source close to The Independent Ghana says the squatters selling wood at Moose were issued a 24-hour ultimatum to evict a portion of land.
The landowner allegedly brought in land guards to ensure the eviction. A confrontation erupted as the squatters failed to move from the said piece of land.
The land guards reportedly received backup from police personnel. During the clash, the land guards are said to have fired at the protestors, injuring about two individuals who are said to be receiving treatment at St. John’s Hospital at Tantra.
Some affected motorists have reached out to the Police Service for assistance.
Individuals heading to their workplace and school now face a hindrance.
The Member of Parliament (MP) representing Wa East, Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw, has taken steps to address the accessibility challenges confronting residents of the Wa East District during the ongoing limited voters’ registration exercise.
He has made an appeal to the Electoral Commission (EC) to consider establishing an additional registration center in a different area within the district that would be more convenient for the over 80% of the district’s population.
The MP has noted that the current location of the district’s EC office primarily serves the Sissala belt, leaving a substantial portion of the district’s population isolated due to impassable rivers or deteriorated roads leading to the district capital, where the EC office is currently situated.
“The situation we find ourselves in is a big constraint to us in accessibility and also for the exercise of registering new voters. The Wa East case is a unique one and the capital is in Funsi”
“Accessing Funsi is a very difficult situation and the road to the place has been cut off by the rivers, so that is our challenge now.”
“So the choice of district capital for this registration is a huge constraint. So I would like to call on the government and the EC to consider opening a new registration centre for the Wa East District otherwise most eligible voters cannot get the capital and register,” he said.
The Member of Parliament’s appeal comes in light of the severely deteriorated state of all roads leading to the district capital, where the Electoral Commission (EC) office is currently situated.
The MP expressed concern that the dismal road conditions have significantly impeded the ability of citizens to reach the registration center, thereby presenting a substantial barrier to their exercise of democratic rights.
Following an unsuccessful attempt to reach the EC office due to impassable waters between Yanyuoriyi and the Ambalara bridge, Dr. Jasaw addressed the media and emphasized the pressing need for an additional, more accessible registration center.
He underscored the principle that no citizen should be disenfranchised because of inadequate road infrastructure. The MP also lamented that the deplorable state of the roads leading to the district office not only hampers the electoral process but also obstructs overall regional development.
He emphasized that the issue goes beyond the electoral realm and extends to fundamental infrastructural development concerns.
As a result, the MP is urging the Electoral Commission to take immediate action by establishing an additional registration center that would be easily accessible to the other part of the district, which is currently cut off by rivers and the absence of passable roads. This step is aimed at eliminating the barriers that prevent potential registrants from effectively participating in the democratic process.
Kennedy Agyapong has identified an individual whom he alleges to be responsible for the tragic killing of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale, a former member of the Tiger Eye PI team.
According to the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, he believes that a person named Ansu Gyeabour, residing in Kumasi, is the alleged perpetrator in this case. He claims to have received this information from the police, who assured him of his innocence in the matter.
“Why is it that when someone kills a police, within three days, the person is caught? When a Ghanaian kills another citizen who is not a police personnel or part of the security agencies, the person is never arrested. Why? That is why I am saying that when I go, my Committee [Committee on Defense in Parliament] will invite the minister.
“And I have a typical example of Ahmed Suale when I condemned Anas, the person who killed him is in the Ashanti region. The police briefed me themselves that I am exonerated and that they don’t know why this thing happened and that I should stay away but I insisted, ‘how do I stay away when Anas, that thief, that murderer mentioned my name to the extent that a Congressman reported me so much that when I got to Houston in 2019 November, I was stopped that I had killed Ahmed Suale’.
“And then today, you have the report, you know. And the most painful aspect is that they told me that I should have patience and that the guy [suspected killer], whose name is Ansu Gyeabour – today, you are privileged, you are the first because it enrages me. I say he is in Kumasi. Yes! Yes! Ansu Gyeabour, and the police have shown me his pictures, asking me to be patient, for over one year yet my name is out there,” he explained.
He made this revelation in 2021 during an interview on Adinkra TV. The two-year-old footage has resurfaced after the Assin Central MP urged Ghanaian to seek answers from Vice President Bawumia due to his authority in the Police Service.
Since the unfortunate killing of Ahmed Suale in January 2019, Kennedy Agyapong has been linked to the incident. This connection stems from his prior mention of Ahmed’s name as one of the individuals collaborating with Anas Aremeyaw Anas, the celebrated undercover investigative journalist.
Notably, Ahmed had recently worked with the BBC on the renowned exposé titled “Number 12: When Greed and Corruption Become the Norm.”
Ahmed Suale’s tragic death occurred near his family residence in Accra. According to reports, tensions escalated after Tiger Eye’s latest investigative report, which unveiled widespread corruption in African football. Kennedy Agyapong openly expressed his hostility toward the team, objecting to their undercover methods and even calling for Anas to be punished publicly.
In the aftermath of the documentary’s screening, Kennedy Agyapong used his own television station to target Hussein-Suale, revealing the journalist’s previously undisclosed identity.
“That’s him,” said Agyapong, as images of Hussein-Suale appeared on the screen. “His other picture is there as well, make it big.”
Agyapong revealed Hussein-Suale’s name and the neighbourhood he lived in. “If you meet him somewhere, slap him… beat him,” he said. “Whatever happens, I’ll pay.”
Bawumia is the head of the Police Council, they know the killers of Ahmed Suale – Ken Agyapong
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has cautioned his campaign team members and spokesperson not to attack anybody, even if he is attacked by any aspirant, in the interest of the New Patriotic Party.
“This should be a contest of ideas not insults. So I have told all my staff not to insult or attack anyone. They should stick to sharing my vision and message to delegates. I have told them that even if I am attacked or insulted, they, should not respond because I am a unifier.”
According to Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, his main focus is to share his ideas and project the good works of the NPP Government to party stakeholders, as he tours around the country.
Speaking to NPP delegates in Asutifi in the Ahafo Region, Dr. Bawumia said he does not believe in attacking his opponents in an internal contest, when the ultimate objective of every member of the NPP is to see the party defeat the NDC in 2024.
“I don’t believe in attacking my opponents and I won’t do that because it will be toxic and won’t be good for our party,” Dr. Bawumia said.
“This is an internal contest to elect our flagbearer, so why should I attack my opponents or say something against our party? I am running a very decent campaign. I am selling my ideas to delegates and I do that with decorum, with humility, with respect and without mentioning anybody’s name.”
“I am selling my ideas to delegates and I do that with decorum, with humility, with respect and without mentioning anybody's name.” – Dr. Bawumia
Me. This is the kind of leader we want to lead our great party, the party needs a competent candidate who embodies unity and can… pic.twitter.com/dWN0pDiGZj
A member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Emmanuel K.K. Anyimah, has accused the Electoral Commission of acting in a manner that is unfair and unjust in the ongoing limited voter registration exercise.
He explained that registrants have been subjected to so much inconvenience, such as bearing the high cost of transportation despite being without jobs, and using an unstable network.
Mr Anyimah noted that it is the mandate of the Electoral Commissioner, Jean Mensa, and her commissioners to serve the country as stipulated in Articles 42 and 45 of the 1992 Constitution and not the other way around.
Speaking on Peace FM, he said: “So those who are registering are not people working. It is those who are 18, 19 years. They don’t work. If you come to our end, most of them don’t have the Ghana Card. So if they are coming they are come with two guarantors. The most annoying part of this thing is, EC uses just one network, MTN.
How many networks are in the country. Some villages only connect to Vodafone, AirtelTigo. So when the network goes bad, we just sit and wait. Why are Jean Mensa and the commissioners so wicked. What wrong have we done them. They have forgotten that their work is stipulated and enshrined in the constitution, Articles 42 and 45.”
Article 42 states that “Every citizen of Ghana of eighteen years of age or above and of sound mind has the right to vote and is entitled to be registered as a voter for the purposes of public elections and referenda”.
Whereas Article 45 lists the functions of the EC, which include:
to compile the register of voters and revise it at such periods as may be determined by law;
to demarcate the electoral boundaries for both national and local government elections;
to conduct and supervise all public elections and referenda;
to educate the people on the electoral process and its purpose;
to undertake programmes for the expansion of the registration of voters; and
to perform such other functions as may be prescribed by law.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has issued a warning to the Electoral Commission (EC) regarding its voter registration process, expressing concerns that it could jeopardize the nation’s progress in upholding democracy.
Mr Ablakwa criticized the EC’s choice to limit the registration to its district offices, deeming it undemocratic and potentially leading to the exclusion of numerous eligible voters.
He noted that disenfranchising voters is what has led to the tumbling of many democratic governments in Africa, hence such an approach may not augur well for the country.
“All of us don’t want coups to happen in our jurisdictions,” Ablakwa said. “But you see when public officials refuse to learn, it results in coups. The Gabon coup is an example and has ended in the disruption of their democracy. And we don’t want that in Ghana.”
“Look at the anger and outrage that the youth feel about these policies of Jean Mensa, Very autocratic, very undemocratic, no consultation whatsoever. And she is going ahead.”
In light of this, Mr Ablakwa has urged the Electoral Commission to engage in consultations with all relevant stakeholders regarding the ongoing voter registration process. Additionally, he encouraged the youth to actively register to vote and emphasized their role in holding the EC accountable should any registration issues arise.
Meanwhile, the EC has noted that it does not seek to disenfranchise any Ghanaian eligible to register. Madam Jean Mensa made this known when she engaged the press on Monday, September 18.
Leader of the Believers Worship Center, Prophet Stephen Adom Kyei Duah, has made an appeal to Christians, urging them to dismiss political candidates who resort to using insults during the forthcoming 2024 general elections.
The religious leader stressed that candidates who engage in insulting language do not have divine support, and he expressed his intention to play a significant role in announcing the election results.
During his message to his congregants, Prophet Stephen Adom Kyei Duah stated, “When it is time for the election, I will declare. Are you listening? When it is time for the election, I will declare.
“Every political party, if you have a message, go ahead and share it, but if you resort to insults, I will declare to Philadelphia members that everyone who engages in insults, don’t vote for him or her, as it will not bring blessings to the country.”
“Listen to me, anybody who insults, God is not on his side. Things will change in Ghana. Are you aware that He is dividing the country into three, and He is giving me one part because he knows what he intends to accomplish through me,” he declared.
The NPP, presently in office, is committed to breaking the conventional eight-year electoral cycle by aiming for victory once more.
Having won the presidency in 2016 and successfully retained it in 2020, the party has its sights firmly set on securing yet another term in the upcoming elections.
In the meantime, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is striving for a return to power. After losing to the NPP in the previous election, the party is placing its hopes on the leadership of former President John Mahama to lead its resurgence.
The University for Development Studies (UDS) has deployed 8,746 students to rural communities as part of the Third Trimester Field Practical Programme (TTFPP).
This initiative aims to provide these students with firsthand exposure to the challenges faced by these communities and enable them to propose appropriate solutions.
Among the students sent to various communities nationwide, 59 percent are from the level 100 cohort, while 41 percent belong to the level 200 group.
Professor Seidu Al-Hassan, the Vice-Chancellor of UDS, emphasized that TTFPP is a compulsory course for all students and is specifically designed to support the government’s efforts to alleviate poverty in rural areas.
Over the past 29 years, TTFPP has made a significant impact on the development of these communities. It has contributed to projects such as the construction of new school buildings, the establishment of hospitals, and the overall improvement of the livelihoods of the local residents. Moreover, it has led to an enhancement in the welfare of people living in rural communities across the country.
Professor Felix Kofi Abagale, the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of UDS, urged students to alter their perceptions of rural areas and collaborate closely with community members.
This collaborative approach is essential to producing valuable research outcomes that can contribute to the development of these communities.
The 2022 Auditor-General‘s report has revealed that the government spent more money on paying salaries and subsidies to its employees and institutions in 2022 than it had planned.
The report stated that the government had budgeted GH¢38,809 million for salaries and GH¢684 million for subsidies in 2022, but ended up spending GH¢44,333 million and GH¢927.25 million respectively.
This means that the government overspent by GH¢5,524 million on salaries and GH¢243 million on subsidies, representing 14.23 percent and 35.53 percent of the budgeted amounts respectively.
The report explained that salaries are the payments made to public servants for their work, while subsidies are the financial support given by the government to some institutions or sectors to reduce their costs or prices.
The report did not specify which institutions or sectors received the subsidies, but they could include education, health, agriculture, energy, transport, or others.
The report also showed that the government spent less money on other items such as goods and services, interest payments, other expenses and social benefits in 2022 than it had planned.
The report stated that the government had budgeted GH¢121,792 million for these items in 2022, but ended up spending GH¢105,906 million. This means that the government underspent by GH¢15,886 million on these items, representing 13.04 percent of the budgeted amount.
The report attributed the decrease in spending on these items to various factors such as improved debt management, enhanced internal controls, reduced wastage and corruption, and better allocation of resources. The report also noted that some of these items increased in actual terms compared to 2021, but they were still lower than the budgeted amounts for 2022.
The report commended the government for its efforts to control its expenditure and achieve fiscal consolidation in 2022. Fiscal consolidation is the process of reducing the government’s budget deficit and debt levels. The report also urged the government to implement its recommendations to ensure fiscal discipline and accountability.
The Deputy Attorney General, Alfred Tuah Yeboah, has revealed that his office intends to request daily hearings for the case involving Nana Appiah Mensah, also known as NAM 1, the former CEO of the now-defunct Menzgold Ghana Limited.
NAM 1 is currently facing 39 counts of fraud and money laundering charges, and the legal proceedings have been ongoing for several years.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, September 19, Tuah Yeboah explained that the proposal for daily hearings aims to expedite the case and provide closure for the victims affected by NAM 1’s alleged fraudulent activities.
“We are of the humble opinion that this is a matter that we must apply to the courts for an expedited hearing, so at the case management we will put up that application and request to the court, subject to the court’s convenience to have this matter heard on daily basis.”
In the latest development, Nana Appiah Mensah has been granted bail in the amount of GH¢500 million, with four sureties required, and none of them needing to provide justification. Additionally, he has been instructed to deposit his passport at the court registry as part of the bail conditions.
This decision comes after Nana Appiah Mensah pleaded not guilty to 39 counts of fraud and money laundering charges. He is currently on trial alongside Menzgold Ghana Limited and Brew Marketing Consult.
During the court proceedings, his lawyer, Kwame Akuffo, requested that the court maintain the bail condition of GH¢5 million without the need for justification, which had been previously set at the circuit court before the state entered a nolle prosequi.
New court documents from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) have brought to light that a bank account associated with the deceased brother of Cecilia Dapaah has been actively transferring funds to the former Sanitation Minister.
This development marks the latest effort by the OSP to confirm the seizure of suspected illicit assets linked to Madam Dapaah.
In a recent incident, the OSP seized a substantial amount of cash from the former Minister and imposed a freeze on certain bank accounts with transactions totaling over GH¢40 million.
An Accra High Court initially declined to confirm the seizures and freezing order, instructing the OSP to return the funds to Cecilia Dapaah, which the Special Prosecutor duly complied with. However, the OSP has returned to court, seeking confirmation of the seizure.
Exclusive documents obtained by media and subsequently submitted to the court by the Office of the Special Prosecutor indicate that the former Minister allegedly possesses millions of cedis for which she has been unable to substantiate the source.
Additionally, these filings contain fresh allegations that an account linked to the deceased brother of the former Minister continues to transfer funds to Cecilia Dapaah’s accounts.
“Analysis of the statements in the first respondent’s (Cecilia Dapaah) bank account revealed highly suspicious transactions involving the name of the first respondent’s deceased brother – Nana Akwasi Essan.
“The said Nana Akwasi Essan died in January 2022 and there is no record domiciled at the financial institutions of probate or letters of administration granted to personal representatives).
“Strangely, there are active transfers from the deceased person’s bank account to that of the first respondent’s account”, the filing alleges.
The OSP continue to allege that “as recently as September 19, 2022, and May 23, amounts of GH¢10,450 and GH¢11,280 respectively were transferred, supposedly by the deceased brother to the first respondent (Cecilia Dapaah).”
Meanwhile, the High Court is scheduled to review the case on October 18, 2023, as the Special Prosecutor makes another endeavor to secure confirmation for the seized funds and the freezing of the bank accounts.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of State Transport Company of Ghana, Nana Akomea, has urged presidential aspirant of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kennedy Agyapong, to be temperate in his utterances that pertain to the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
His appeal comes after the Assin Central MP made a bold statement over the murder of Tiger Eye investigative journalist Ahmed Suale.
He noted that Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia should know the person responsible for the killing of the journalist, rejecting assertions of any involvement in the crime. Mr Agyapong made this known during an interview on Kessben TV on Monday, September 18, 2023.
“Those who wrote the 10 sins (of Ken Agyapong) in support of Bawumia, he (Bawumia) is the vice president, he is the head of the police council, they know the killers of Ahmed Suale, why have they not spoken out? And they are coming to blame me for it,” he is quoted to have said.
This comment, according to Nana Akomea, who is also a part of the Bawumia campaign team, does not augur well with the ongoing investigations into the matter.
He noted that the death of Ahmed Suale is of national concern and must not be driven by propaganda.
“We all have to tone down. We are one party. Ken was saying the police know the intricacies of the issue and have not made it public. If he says it that way, it makes sense so we all ask if you are aware of this and Ken has been implicated, why has nothing been said.
But to bring Bawumia into the picture, all the good questions we need to ask the Police will now be about something else.”
However, he noted that probing must be done into the statement made by Mr Agyepong to ensure the truth about the matter comes to light.
“If indeed the police has spoken to him, we need to ask the police and find out the needed information and why nothing is being done,” he said.
The CEO of the now-defunct Menzgold Ghana Limited, Nana Appiah Mensah, has been granted bail amounting to GH¢500 million, with four sureties required, and none of them needing to provide justification.
As part of the bail conditions, he is also mandated to surrender his passport to the court registry.This decision follows Nana Appiah Mensah’s plea of not guilty to 39 counts of fraud and money laundering charges.
He is currently on trial alongside Menzgold Ghana Limited and Brew Marketing Consult.
Nana Appiah Mensah’s lawyer, Kwame Akuffo, requested that the court maintain the bail condition of GH¢5 million without the need for justification, which had been previously set at the circuit court before the state entered a nolle prosequi.
The state, represented by Deputy Attorney General Alfred Tuah Yeboah, did not oppose the bail application. However, he requested that the accused be required to deposit his passport.
Alfred Tuah Yeboah also urged the court to take into consideration the substantial amount of GH¢1.68 billion involved in the case.
After reviewing the application, the judge granted bail in the amount of GH¢500 million with four sureties, none of whom are required to justify their bail. Additionally, Nana Appiah Mensah must report to the CID headquarters every Thursday as part of his bail conditions.
Member of Parliament for the Bantama Constituency and the Minister of Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has responded to what he considers to be “personal” attacks from Ken Agyapong, who is seeking the position of flagbearer.
Asenso-Boakye continues to assert that all of Agyapong’s allegations are baseless and lack any substantiating evidence.
Specifically, he vehemently denied the recent allegation that he cohabited with a friend in Adenta.
“I bought that property at Adenta my own self,” he clarified on Kumasi-based Kessben FM on Tuesday, September 19.
“It was a property I was living in myself, but the way he presented it made it seem as though I was sharing it with his friend, in a manner intended to embarrass me. This is simply untrue; it was my own property,” Asenso-Boakye added.
President of the Ghana Union Traders Association (GUTA), Dr Joseph Obeng, has highlighted the challenges businesses will face in the country in their bid to make their commodities affordable to consumers amidst a high-tax environment.
In his submission to discussions on tax payment and evasion during the Graphic Business/Stanbic Bank Breakfast meeting held at Labadi Beach Hotel on Tuesday, September 19, Dr Joseph Obeng noted that businesses are currently struggling as they are unable to reflect the exorbitant taxes they pay to the government on the cost of their commodities.
He explained that consumers form an integral part of the business cycle and, hence, cannot be made to bear the total cost derived from high taxes.
For him, it would be unwise to take such a decision as consumers are also being hit by the economic crisis characterized by high inflation, high interest rates, among others.
He said: “The taxes that we pay here are just too much compared to the sub-region. So taxes should be simplified and structured in a manner that will ensure compliance. That is why were are not getting the tax to GDP ratio to 20 percent, like our neighbours are doing. We are having difficulty as a business community to navigate through this turbulence of economic situation that we are having here.”
“We have to contend with high cost of doing business in this country. The duties that we pay, the high interest rates, the inflation. It makes businesses very difficult to do. While doing that, government is still compiling alot of taxes on us, even to the point of harassing us in tax payment. When we are trying to do all these things and navigate through, then the consuming public is also on us saying that we should reduce prices.”
According to him, businesses would have to shut down if they listened to the plea of the consumer and reduced the prices of goods. He added that businesses would not be able to generate profits, the primary reason for their existence.
“How do we break even in our businesses? That is the difficulty that we have to contend with. Because the purchasing power of the consuming public is so minimal because of the effect of inflation.
“We do not do the business in isolation, we do it with the consuming public. So we cannot also overburden them. We cannot overprice our goods so that the consumers cannot patronize them,” he stated.
In April this year, Parliament passed the following acts:
Growth and Sustainability Levy Act, 2023 (Act 1095)
Income Tax (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, 2023 (Act 1094)
Revenue Administration Act, 2022 (Act 1086)
Since 2022, the country’s inflation has been relatively high. Recent information from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) indicates a fall in the inflation rate from July to August.
In August 2023, the year-on-year inflation rate saw a decrease to 40.1 percent, down from the 43.1 percent recorded in July 2033.
“Second Sermon” hitmaker, Black Sherif, has shown that he is not devoid of a sense of humour in a video that has gone viral on social media.
Many hold the assertion that the Ghanaian singer and rapper is free-spirited. They may not be wrong, as the 22-year-old rising star popularly referred to as Blacko gave an unexpected response when asked about plans to visit India during an Instagram Live.
Instead of answering the question right away, Blacko decided to show his numerous fans his dancing skills when it comes to Bollywood.
He gave his best performance as he twirled around on what became his dance floor. He attempted to imitate the background sound accompanied by such moves. Not being so successful, he burst into laughter.
After his ‘Indian moves’ Blacko said “We are coming to India.”
His dance moves can be seen in “Dola Re Dola” a song from the 2002 Indian period romantic drama film Devdas, directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and starring Shah Rukh Khan.
A fan asked Blacko on IG Live when he’s coming to India and see what he did😭😭🤦🏾♂️ pic.twitter.com/ek0Yc3SHdy
Pythons, said to be non-venomous snakes, can range from 23 inches to 33 feet in length, and they can weigh from 7 ounces to 250 pounds.
Pythons live in a wide range of habitats, depending on the species, but many seek shelter in trees and can hold onto branches with their tails.
According to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Explorers, pythons don’t chase after their dinner. They are ambush hunters that can locate warm-blooded animals by using heat-sensing “pits” or holes along their jaw.
They wait until the animal comes close, then a python grabs the prey with its sharp, backward-curving teeth, wraps coils of its body around the prey, and squeezes tight.
The snake is not trying to crush its prey; its goal is to stop its potential meal from breathing. After that, the python unfolds its flexible jaw, opens wide, and swallows its prey whole—usually head first—flexing and contracting its muscles to move the meal down its throat and into its stomach.
Pythons move forward in a straight line by stiffening their ribs, lifting a set of scales on their belly and moving them forward, so the loose ends grab the surface to push them ahead. They move slowly, though, at about one mile per hour.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the now-defunct Menzgold Ghana Limited, Nana Appiah Mensah, has entered a plea of not guilty to face 39 charges brought against him.
These charges relate to his alleged involvement in defrauding several Ghanaians to the tune of GHC 1.68 billion.
During a court appearance on Tuesday, Nana Appiah Mensah, popularly referred to as NAM1, along with Menzgold Ghana Limited and Brew Marketing Consult, were collectively charged with 39 counts.
These charges encompass 22 counts of defrauding by false pretense, seven counts each of money laundering and fraudulent breach of trust, along with additional counts for inducement to invest, operating an unlicensed deposit-taking institution, and selling gold without proper licensing.
According to the case’s details, Nana Appiah Mensah, acting through Menzgold Ghana Limited and Brew Marketing Company, allegedly persuaded Menzgold customers to part with GHC 1.68 billion. Some of these funds, as indicated in the charge sheet, were transferred to personal accounts belonging to NAM1, Zylophone Media, and an individual named Abigail Mensah.
Furthermore, Nana Appiah Mensah is accused of utilizing his media firm, Zylophone Media, to launder money that he knew to be proceeds of criminal activity.
Mr. Appiah Mensah is facing a total of 36 charges, which include abetment, defrauding by false pretences, conducting deposit-taking business without a license, unlawful deposit-taking, money laundering, and other related offenses.
Thus represents a reduction from the initial 61 charges that were filed against him, a change that occurred after Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame submitted new charges on August 30.
The legal proceedings against NAM 1 commenced in 2019, with accusations of defrauding numerous customers through his gold dealership company, resulting in substantial financial losses.
The case has encountered several adjournments until fresh charges were brought forward on Wednesday, August 30, 2023.
The amended charges followed Mr. Appiah Mensah’s announcement of intentions to release funds that had been locked up to Menzgold customers, contingent on the payment of approximately GH₵650 for verification purposes.
However, he subsequently reversed his decision to require former clients to purchase a verification Access Card for transaction validation and claims verification, following strong opposition from his customers and the public.
Former President and flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, is scheduled to address the Humanity Summit 2023 in Faro, Portugal, today.
The Humanity Summit serves as a platform dedicated to advocating for social change and social justice, with a primary focus on addressing global humanitarian issues.
In an interconnected world, the vulnerabilities of humanity have never been more apparent, making it imperative for all of us to participate in shaping and implementing sustainable solutions to both longstanding and emerging global challenges.
The annual Humanity Summit centers its efforts on promoting the well-being of humanity through core principles of Dignity, Equality, and Freedom. Its ultimate goal is to catalyze global collaboration towards forging a prosperous and secure future for all.
Former President Mahama will also attend the book reading event, reading from his memoir, My First Coup D’état: And Other True Stories from the Lost Decades of Africa, and share his views on what social interactions can do to bring about change.
Since concluding his term as President of Ghana in 2016, John Dramani Mahama has emerged as a prominent African figure on the global platform. He has actively engaged in diverse issues and dialogues spanning the African continent and the broader international arena.
Residents and business proprietors affected by the CMB fire incident have declined the National Disaster Management Organization’s (NADMO) offer to relocate to an alternative site in order to receive assistance.
NADMO has reported that roughly 800 individuals have been affected by the incident. However, efforts to convince them to relocate from their current location have proven unsuccessful, as they are concerned about the possibility of being forcibly evacuated.
In an interview with Citi News, Daniel Odei-Appiah, the Korley Klottey Municipal Coordinator of NADMO, said, “Individuals involved are about 805 now on our records. We need to do auditing on that and also the structure that has been destroyed by the fire.”
“We need to know the number of structures completely destroyed and items that were in the structures. A disaster like this, we don’t need you here, we need to move you to a safe place and provide you with those things, but you say you are not going. I should provide you with the things here which is against the protocols.”
The Assembly Member for the area, Frederick Quansah, pointed out that residents have lost faith in NADMO’s efforts to provide assistance due to past instances where the organization has fallen short in delivering aid.
“Always when NADMO officials come, they just write names, and they don’t bring us anything, we don’t see anything from them. On the four consecutive times that we have experienced fires, they didn’t bring us anything, that is why I don’t want to entertain them.”
The fire ignited at approximately 5:00 a.m. on Sunday and swept through numerous homes and shops, leaving hundreds of residents in a state of distress.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) dispatched firefighters to the scene, but by the time they arrived, the fire had already engulfed several shops.
When the fire was eventually extinguished, it had left numerous shops completely ravaged. Frustration and disappointment were palpable among the traders at the market, with many of them lamenting their devastating losses and stating that they had been left with nothing.
The Electoral Commission (EC) office in the Tamale Metropolis has raised serious concerns regarding what it perceives as efforts by political parties to include ineligible voters in the electoral register.
The Director of the Tamale Metro branch of the Commission, Bismark Nteh, expressed dismay over the persistence of this unlawful activity despite numerous engagements with political parties to discourage it.
Mr. Nteh is apprehensive about the potential repercussions for the individuals involved when their falsely claimed ages come back to haunt them in the future. Consequently, he advised parents to discourage their children from engaging in such fraudulent practices.
“I will plead with parents that they shouldn’t allow political parties to deceive them, that because they want a number of people to register, indeed they will have the number, these children are going to suffer in future. One day they will need their actual ages for something and it will affect them,” the Tamale Metro Director of the Electoral Commission in the Northern Region said.
“This is an artificial problem created by the EC, because people come there early, and they don’t get to be registered on time, the entire EC must be blamed,” the NDC Constituency Chairman for Okaikwei North said.
Nonetheless, the Greater Accra Regional Chapter of the NDC has taken the initiative to provide transportation for individuals who may face difficulties accessing registration centers.
Emmanuel Nii Ashie-Moore, the Regional Chairman, explained that this action is essential to ensure that a significant number of party members who are 18 years and older can get registered.
This move comes in response to appeals from various political parties urging the Electoral Commission (EC) to expand the number of registration centers for the upcoming voter registration exercise, scheduled to run from September 12 to October 2, 2023. These parties argued that the 268 EC district offices designated for the exercise were insufficient.
The turmoil within world champions Spain’s national football team has escalated as 15 members of the World Cup-winning squad have declined call-ups for international duty.
These players were originally included in the squad for the Nations League matches against Sweden and Switzerland, despite their earlier declaration of a boycott.
Three weeks ago, a group of 81 players, which encompassed the entire 23-member World Cup squad, announced their refusal to play for Spain as long as Luis Rubiales remained as the president of the Spanish football federation due to his conduct during the final.
Rubiales sparked a significant controversy by kissing midfielder Jenni Hermoso—now omitted from the latest squad—on the lips during the medal ceremony following Spain’s 1-0 victory over England. Hermoso has asserted that she did not consent to the kiss.
Under mounting pressure, Rubiales ultimately resigned from his position last week. However, on Friday, 39 players, including 21 World Cup winners, released a statement asserting that his resignation was insufficient to prompt their return to national team duty.
They maintained that they still did not feel “in a safe place” to make their return and contended that the issues within the Spanish football federation went beyond Rubiales.
Despite the players’ initial pledge to boycott, many of them were still named in the squad for Monday’s matches by the new head coach, Montse Tome, who cited Hermoso’s exclusion as a protective measure.
🗣️ @montse_tome: "The best way to grow is to build"
➡️ The new head coach of the @SEFutbolFem promises "a professional and ambitious working atmosphere": "We want to be part of the change."
The players released a statement on Monday night which explained: “What was expressed in our statement makes clear and without any option for another interpretation our firm will not to be summoned for justified reasons.
“These statements are still fully valid.”
Spain are due to face Sweden on Friday before returning home to host Switzerland on September 26.
Former presidential aspirant of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, has expressed his belief that the NPP will face a formidable challenge in the 2024 general elections.
During an interview on Citi TV’s program “The Point of View,” the former Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation remarked that the NPP’s performance over the past seven years has raised concerns.
He noted that the party had “over-promised and under-delivered” on its commitments to the Ghanaian people, which he believes will make it challenging for the NPP to secure victory in the 2024 elections.
Furthermore, Professor Frimpong-Boateng expressed his disappointment with the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), stating that neither of the two major parties appears to offer a promising option for Ghana’s future.
“It will be difficult for the NPP to win the 2024 elections. It is a fact that they [the NPP] have over-promised and under-delivered but everything is possible but the NDC is also not giving me any hope.”
Professor Frimpong-Boateng expressed his optimism in the past, believing that the NPP would maintain its grip on power for an extended period.
He based this optimism on his perception of how the NDC had mishandled the country before President Akufo-Addo assumed office in 2016. However, recent developments and a comparison of the two administrations have proven his optimism to be unfounded.
“When I was in government, I said the way the NDC had mismanaged the country, we were going to help the president and work so that the NPP would still be there even after forty years and there would be no romantic ideas about the NDC again and now look at where we are. I thought we were going to work and there would be no romantic ideas about Mahama and the NDC ever coming back.”
“There should be a change in the two political parties and how they do their things because there are very good people in the NDC same as the NPP,” he further proposed.
The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has initiated a comprehensive investigation to ascertain the origin of the fire that occurred on Sunday at the CMB Market in Accra.
This fire, which ignited at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday, resulted in extensive damage to numerous houses and shops, leaving a considerable number of individuals in a state of distress.
Upon receiving the alarm, GNFS firefighters promptly rushed to the location. However, by the time they arrived, the fire had already engulfed multiple shops.
ACFO I Timothy Osafo-Affum, the Director of Public Relations, confirmed in an interview with the Ghana News Agency that skilled investigators have been dispatched to the site to determine the precise cause of the fire.
“The first investigation was done by the firefighters but now a team of professional investigators have been sent to assist in finding out the actual cause of the fire,” he stated.
During a visit by the Ghana News Agency (GNA) to the CMB Market, scenes of distress and resilience unfolded. Victims were observed assessing their losses, some sifting through the debris in hopes of salvaging any remaining items.
Additionally, individuals with somber expressions gathered in groups, sharing their experiences and discussing their plans for the future in the aftermath of the fire.
Former vice-presidential candidate Madam Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, who ran alongside Mr. John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), also visited the site on Monday to engage with the fire victims.
In the midst of this challenging situation, the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) has taken steps to provide temporary accommodations for the victims of the fire.
Professor Peter Quartey, who serves as the Director of the Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER), has urged the Ghanaian Parliament to take swift action to reinstate the Fiscal Responsibility Act.
He emphasized the importance of this step in controlling discretionary spending, highlighting the potential exacerbation of Ghana’s debt situation, particularly as the country approaches the 2024 election year.
This concern persists despite the ongoing implementation of the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) US$3 billion loan-support program.
Professor Quartey made these remarks during a media interview following a forum held on Monday, September 18, in Accra. The forum’s theme was “Ghana’s public debt management: facts, impact, and the way forward.”
The Fiscal Responsibility Act, 2018 (Act 982), mandates the government to ensure that the overall fiscal balance, on a cash basis, for a given year does not exceed a deficit of five percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for that year. However, this Act was temporarily suspended in 2020 due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The government’s rationale for this move was the anticipation that it would not be able to meet the five percent deficit threshold until 2024.
While the primary objective of the Act is to uphold macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability by capping the fiscal deficit at five percent, the country had a fiscal deficit of 11.4 percent of GDP at the time of its suspension.
This situation, according to Prof. Quartey, significantly contributed to Ghana’s mounting debt problem, eventually leading to the 17th loan-support program with the IMF.
He urged Parliament to reinstate the suspended Act. Furthermore, Prof. Quartey emphasized that Parliament possesses the authority to oversee both the Central Bank and the Finance Ministry but fell short in exercising its oversight responsibilities.
“So, when they were faced with the challenge, the easier way was for the Central Bank to support the government,“ Prof Quartey said, adding that there should be rules on discretionary spending.
“Discretionary behaviour if not checked, can lead to crisis… We have the right to bring the Finance Minister and the Governor Bank of Ghana to Parliament to seek approval so why do we avoid this situation going forward,” he said.
He recommended that in times of financial difficulties, Parliament should ensure that its suspension of the Fiscal Responsibility was made temporal, and “give timeline, so that for example, in one year they can come back for another approval.”
Jenni Hermoso has accused the Spanish football federation of employing “intimidation” tactics and making “threats” in response to the governing body’s decision to call up several players who had previously declined national team duty.
Despite Spain’s triumphant Women’s World Cup victory, the 33-year-old striker found herself excluded from the squad’s latest selection. This exclusion raised eyebrows, especially as 15 of her World Cup-winning teammates were included in the 23-player roster announced on Monday, despite their prior announcement of a boycott.
Montse Tome, the new head coach of Spain, explained during a press conference that Jenni Hermoso’s omission from the squad was done with her well-being in mind. However, a new development emerged on Monday evening when the players collectively issued a statement rejecting their call-ups.
Jenni Hermoso, in response, took to social media to release a separate statement. In her statement, she asserted that the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) had resorted to tactics of intimidation and had made threats. She also conveyed her belief that nothing had changed within the RFEF since the departure of Rubiales from his position last week.
She said: “We have spent weeks, months, searching for protection from inside the RFEF that never came.
“The same people who ask us to trust them are those who today announced a squad with players who asked NOT to be called up.
“The players are certain that this is yet another strategy of division and manipulation to intimidate and threaten us with legal repercussions and economic sanctions.
“It is more irrefutable proof that shows even today, that nothing has changed.
Comunicado en relación a los últimos acontecimientos del día de hoy // Official Statement regarding today's latest events #SeAcabópic.twitter.com/OXMmfyPGz5
“I would like to make something very clear — a claim was made today stating the environment within the federation would be safe for my team-mates to rejoin, yet at the same press conference it was announced that they were not calling me as a means to protect me.
“Protect me from what? And from whom?
“I want to once again show my full support to my colleagues who have been caught by surprise and forced to react to another unfortunate situation caused by the people who continue to make decisions within the RFEF.
“This is why we are fighting and why we are doing it this way.”
The controversy is further fueled by an incident involving RFEF president Luis Rubiales, who kissed Hermoso on the lips during the players’ celebration of their World Cup final victory against England on August 20.
Hermoso maintains that she did not give consent for the kiss.
In a chilling case that has shocked the community of Sokoban-Apaaso near Kumasi, details have emerged about a househelp who allegedly murdered his employer.
According to court documents, the accused, John Allister, was hired just a day after applying for the position through an employment agency based in Accra. Shockingly, the murder occurred only six days after he began working at the victim’s residence.
John Allister submitted his job application on September 4, 2023, and commenced work the very next day. His duties included assisting the woman he would later be accused of murdering in Kumasi.
On September 11, 2023, around 11 a.m., a gruesome incident unfolded. Moments after the deceased had prepared a meal of fufu, which she shared with the accused, she was brutally attacked.
She suffered a stab wound to the stomach and was repeatedly struck on the head and face with a club. The absence of the victim’s 11-year-old daughter, who was at school at the time, provided the accused with an opportunity.
After committing this heinous act, John Allister allegedly contacted two other individuals, James Anokye and a person named Collins, and they visited the deceased’s home. Together, they absconded with a KIA Sportage vehicle bearing registration GS 307-21, a Samsung mobile phone, rice, cooking oil, and various other valuable items.
The perpetrators managed to escape to Accra, where they made arrangements to sell the stolen vehicle to a fourth accomplice named Biggy, who is currently at large. Biggy, in turn, planned to sell the vehicle to Christian Obu, a fifth accomplice who is also evading authorities.
John Allister, after successfully selling his late employer’s KIA Sportage car, used some of the proceeds to purchase a Toyota Vitz car registered as GS 3107-23.
John Allister(Right) & James Anokye made first appearance in court
As law enforcement agencies pursued the third, fourth, and fifth accomplices, James Anokye, the second accused person, abandoned the KIA Sportage vehicle at Oyibi Police Station and fled.
The discovery of the late Stella Osei’s body, also known as Princess Afua Ahenkan, was made by the Crime Scene Management team in the garage of her Apaaso residence following a report to the police. A blood-stained club, believed to have been the murder weapon, was also recovered at the crime scene on September 12, 2023.
In an intelligence-led operation, the police arrested the first and second accused persons in their hideouts in Accra on September 14, 2023. They were subsequently transported to Kumasi to face trial.
During their initial court appearance, Allister John, aged 22, and his accomplice, James Anokye, aged 27, stood before the Asokore Mampong District Court. Allister John, the primary suspect, surprised the court by acknowledging responsibility for the murder of 35-year-old Stella Osei, also known as Princess Afua Ahenkan.
Although the court did not immediately address the accused persons’ pleas, the main suspect, John Allister, expressed his remorse by raising his hand and requesting leniency from the court. He even went as far as asking for the release of the second accused person, James Anokye, whom he claimed had no involvement in the crime.
However, ASP Stephen Ofori, leading the prosecution, emphasized that due process would be followed during the trial, signaling that justice would be sought for the victim, Stella Osei.
“This is a case of murder and the due process must be followed. Even though he has told the court that he admits whatever happened, the due process must be followed,” he told journalists.
A father-in-law to the deceased, Kofi Yeboah, who witnessed proceedings in court says he was saddened to hear five persons were involved in the murder.
According to him, the husband of the deceased who is based in the United Kingdom, has been crying all day over the callous murder of his wife.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has disclosed that a total of 15,000 voters have been expunged from its voter register.
The Chairperson of the Commission, Jean Mensa, noted that these individuals were found to be ineligible voters, i.e., minors or foreigners.
She made this known during a press briefing on Monday, September 18, to update the public on the status of the Limited Voter Registration Exercise.
“Our experience with the 2020 registration exercise revealed that attempts by minors and foreigners to illegally get on our roll and it took great time, effort, and money to expunge them from our register. In all, we succeeded in deleting the details of 15,000 persons from our register.”
According to Madam Mensa, this justifies the Commission’s decision to limit the documentation for identifying a person’s citizenship to the Ghana Card for the ongoing exercise.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Constituency Youth Organizer, Courage Tetteh, has been arrested at Shai Osudoku Constituency for attempting to register minors.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission has cautioned guarantors to desist from vouching for minors and non-citizens.
According to the EC, it will now go after such guarantors, who will be prosecuted when found out.
“We use this opportunity to caution guarantors from guaranteeing for minors and non-citizens.
“In the past, they got away with this. This time, we intend to compile a list of defaulting guarantors and bring them up for prosecution,” she said.
To prevent this from happening, Madam Jean Mensa has encouraged citizens who observe these illegal practices to challenge them.
District Electoral officers serving as registration officers have also been charged with doing the same.
The Electoral Commission (EC) began the limited voter registration exercise in its municipal and district offices nationwide on September 12, 2023.
The purpose of the exercise is to enroll all citizens who are 18 years and older and of sound mind onto the electoral register, as mandated by the 1992 Constitution. This 21-day registration period is set to conclude on October 2, 2023.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced that it will be going after guarantors who assist minors and non-citizens register to have their names in the voter register.
According to the EC Chair, Jean Mensa, such individuals will be made to face the full rigor of the law when caught.
“We use this opportunity to caution guarantors from guaranteeing for minors and non-citizens.
“In the past, they got away with this. This time, we intend to compile a list of defaulting guarantors and bring them up for prosecution,” she said during a press briefing on September 18.
The EC today engaged the press to update the public on the Limited Voter Registration Exercise.
The Electoral Commission (EC) began the limited voter registration exercise in its municipal and district offices nationwide on September 12, 2023.
The purpose of the exercise is to enroll all citizens who are 18 years and older and of sound mind onto the electoral register, as mandated by the 1992 Constitution. This 21-day registration period is set to conclude on October 2, 2023.
Meanwhile, the EC notes that a total of 15,000 voters have been expunged from its voter register.
The Chairperson of the Commission, Jean Mensa, noted that these individuals were found to be ineligible voters, i.e., minors or foreigners.
“Our experience with the 2020 registration exercise revealed that attempts by minors and foreigners to illegally get on our roll and it took great time, effort, and money to expunge them from our register. In all, we succeeded in deleting the details of 15,000 persons from our register.”
According to Madam Mensa, this justifies the Commission’s decision to limit the documentation for identifying a person’s citizenship to the Ghana Card for the ongoing exercise.
The Country Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Dr. Wilfred Ochan, has called on the public to support the local economy by purchasing domestically produced goods.
During the Fashion Expressions Project event, Dr. Wilfred Ochan emphasized the importance of buying clothing designed and manufactured by Ghanaians. This, he believes, will provide significant support to small and medium enterprises within the fashion industry.
“In this meeting we brought a vast group of stakeholders to draw attention to these new entrants in the fashion industry. Our intention is to increase local patronage of clothes designed and made by Ghanaians. I would suggest that institutions that wear uniforms contact small and medium businesses like these people to help grow their businesses,” he said.
International Needs Ghana, in collaboration with UNFPA (the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency) and the PRADA Group, a prominent fashion industry player, launched the Fashion Expressions Project. As part of this initiative, International Needs Ghana organized a fashion show to mark the culmination of a one-year intensive fashion training program for 18 young women.
Cromwell Awadey, the Executive Director of International Needs Ghana, expressed optimism that the beneficiaries of this program would be able to secure a sustainable livelihood with the skills they have acquired.
“I believe the lives of these ladies have been transformed with the intensive training we gave them. Trainees of the Project spent first six months acquiring theoretical knowledge in Fashion and some minor elements of practicals. The second part of the training is industrial attachment with eight local Fashion Houses. The Fashion Show climaxes their industrial attachment,” he stated.
The project represents a distinctive Fashion Training Program designed to empower and mentor aspiring fashion professionals, providing them with the essential skills and resources needed for success. Several beneficiaries expressed their enthusiasm and gratitude for the opportunity.
One of the beneficiaries, Ruby Buah, said, “being part of such an initiative to make women employable is great. I am happy to be a part of it and do my bit in making sure that we have quite a percentage of women who can have a business of theirs, employ people and go ahead to train others”.
Another beneficiary, Pamela Afatsawo said “I am very excited because it has given me the opportunity to become the fashion designer I have always dreamed of”.
The Fashion Expressions Project, currently in its pilot phase in Ghana and Kenya, is dedicated to harnessing the socio-economic potential of the fashion industry as a means to advance women’s empowerment.
The Electoral Commission (EC) has refuted claims that it is disenfranchising eligible voters in the ongoing Limited Voter Registration Exercise.
The Minority Chief Whip, Governs Agbodza, has accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of intentionally creating difficulties in the limited voter registration exercise held at its district offices.
Agbodza claims that the EC is collaborating with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to facilitate the introduction of a Constitutional Instrument (CI) in Parliament. This CI would authorize the use of the Ghana Card as the exclusive registration document for the 2024 general elections.
The EC has faced widespread backlash from various political parties, civil society organizations, and the public for insisting on conducting the limited voter registration exercise solely at its district offices.
But engaging the press on Monday, September 18, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa noted that it is not in the interest of the EC to hinder Ghanaians from exercising their rights.
“We have the best interests of Ghanaians at heart. We do not intend to disenfranchise voters,” she said.
She used the opportunity to dispel claims that the EC has deliberately deployed faulty equipment to the stronghold of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
According to the EC Chair, all regions except the Savannah Region, experienced a delay in registration due to faulty equipment – a situation that has been addressed.
On why the exercise is being conducted at the EC’s district offices, Madam Jean Mensa noted that holding the exercise at the various electoral areas will pose a challenge to the Commission due to its constrained budget.
The EC Chair, however, revealed that it would hold another voter registration aside from its current one ahead of the 2024 general elections.
She says the Commisssion is targeting 700,000 Ghanaians, that is 52 percent of the registrable applicants
According to Madam Jean Mensa, those who are not able to participate in its current exercise will get the opportunity to do so in subsequent exercises. She made mention of the EC taken notice of areas that will not be able to access its district offices.
Meanwhile, the EC has charged Ghanaians to challenge any individual they believe are minors or foreigners who seek to participate in the limited voter registration exercise.
There are reports that National Democratic Congress (NDC) Constituency Youth Organizer, Courage Tetteh, has been arrested at Shai Osudoku Constituency for attempting to register minors.
The Electoral Commission (EC) began the limited voter registration exercise in its municipal and district offices nationwide on September 12, 2023.
The purpose of the exercise is to enroll all citizens who are 18 years and older and of sound mind onto the electoral register, as mandated by the 1992 Constitution. This 21-day registration period is set to conclude on October 2, 2023.
The Head of Operations at the Free SHS Secretariat, Richard Appiah Kubi, has announced his candidacy for the NPP parliamentary primary in the Afigya Kwabre South Constituency of the Ashanti region.
In connection with his candidacy, he has stepped down from his role as the party’s 2nd Vice Chairman of the constituency.
Mr. Appiah Kubi has a history of holding various political positions in the constituency, including serving as a member of the 2020 NPP Ashanti Regional campaign team, where he was involved in polling agent recruitment and training.
He also held positions as the Youth Organizer, Constituency Elections and Research Officer for Afigya Kwabre South, and has served as the Assembly Member for the Nkukua Buoho electoral area in Afigya Kwabre South Assembly for 12 years.
The Afigya Kwabre South constituency falls within the boundaries of the Afigya-Kwabre South District, which was established on November 1, 2007, and was carved out of the Kwabre East and Sekyere South Districts.
William Owuraku Aidoo of the NPP has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency since its creation in 2012, winning the 2020 Parliament election with 78.9% of the total votes cast.
In addition, Kumawood actor Kwadwo Nkansah ‘Lil Win’ recently announced his intention to run for the parliamentary seat in the Afigya Kwabre South constituency, but he intends to run as an independent candidate.
The Auditor-General has revealed that an amount of US$94,534,928.11 was remitted to Ghanaian Missions abroad for compensation and goods and services.
This is against US$111,747,076.83 reported in 2021, showing a decrease of US$17,212,148.72 or 15.4%.
Remittance refers to the act of sending money, often in the form of funds or payment, from one individual or entity to another, typically across borders or to a different geographic location. Remittances are commonly sent by foreign workers to their families or dependents in their home countries.
Embassy transfers of US$94,534,928.11 for the period represented 8.2% of the total invisible payments, according to the Auditor-General’s Report on the Consolidated Statements of Foreign Exchange Receipts and Payments of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) for the year ended 31 December 2022.
Total invisible payments for 2022 were US$1,149,652,107.37 compared with US$1,117,831,287.19 for the corresponding period of 2021, registering an increase of US$31,820,820.18 or 2.9%.
The increase resulted mainly from the rise in progress payment to contractors and non-surrender portion of the invisible payments made up of manpower, training and development, embassy transfers, progress payments to contractors, management and technical services fees, capital subscriptions and sundry payments.
Check out the table for Embassy transfers for 2022 and 2021 below.
The lifeless body of an 18-year-old apprentice was discovered in an unfinished building in Anwiankwanta, located in the Bekwai Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
According to reports from the scene, the young woman, Georgina Agyeman, did not return home after finishing work on Friday evening.
Concerned about her whereabouts, her family and members of the community initiated a search, ultimately leading to the grim discovery of her body in an alarming condition inside the unfinished building.
There is already speculation of potential strangulation and sexual assault, given the position in which the victim was found.
Some eyewitnesses, speaking to Adom News’ Isaac Normayo, expressed their fear and concern, stating that the incident has created an atmosphere of insecurity for women in the community.
They suspect that the perpetrator or perpetrators may be residents hiding among them.
The police have retrieved the body and taken it to the Bekwai Municipal Government Hospital for both autopsy and preservation. As investigations have commenced, no arrests have been made at this time.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has heaped praise on Belgium international of Ghanaian descent, Jeremy Doku, for his exceptional performance against West Ham United on Saturday.
Doku earned a spot in the starting lineup and played until stoppage time as the Premier League champions clinched a 3-1 victory over West Ham.
The former Stade Rennais star found the back of the net in his second appearance for Manchester City during the weekend’s match.
Goals from Jeremy Doku, Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland secured a 3-1 victory over West Ham as City fought back from a half-time deficit to maintain our 100% record in the Premier League.
Pep Guardiola’s side had an incredible 29 shots but a combination of missed opportunities, brilliant goalkeeping and brave defending kept the game in the balance until the dying minutes.
The Hammers went into the game unbeaten and, despite sitting back for large parts of the game, they offered plenty of threat and went in at half-time ahead thanks to James Ward-Prowse’s diving header after a quick break.
“It was an unbelievable game. He was a proper winger, have the ball, have the ability to go 1v1. Not just that, he has the quality to read when to make the press for the next player. I was very happy; it was a very good performance” Guardiola said after the game.
The Belgian winger of Ghanaian descent has made two appearances for the club since his arrival during the recently concluded transfer window, and he has already scored one goal.
A total of US$41,715,992.90 in transfers was paid by the government for allowances paid to its sponsored students and employees attending seminars and courses abroad.
This information is contained in the Auditor-General’s report on the Consolidated Statements of Foreign Exchange Receipts and Payments of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) for the year ended December 31, 2022.
There was a significant rise in the transfers paid between 2022 and 2021. In the corresponding period of 2021, an amount of US$35,468,086.78 was paid, indicating an increase of US$6,247,906.12, or 17.6%.
According to the report, this was a result of the “rise in payments for government-sponsored students and employees attending courses abroad.”
This cost forms part of Invisible payments made up of manpower, training and development, embassy transfers, progress payments to contractors, management and technical services fees, capital subscriptions and sundry payments.
Total invisible payments for 2022 were US$1,149,652,107.37 compared with US$1,117,831,287.19 for the corresponding period of 2021, registering an increase of US$31,820,820.18, or 2.9%.
The increase resulted mainly from the rise in progress payment to contractors and non-surrender portion of the invisible payments, the statement noted.
BoG’s projection for invisible payments was US$5,788,170,000.00 whereas actual payments were US$1,149,652,107.37 showing a favourable variance of US$4,638,517,892.63 or 80.1%.
Organizer representing the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Agona West constituency, Sam Toys, has been accused of causing severe cutlass wounds to a member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the ongoing limited voters’ registration process.
The victim, identified as a member of the NDC communication team, is reported to be in critical condition following a violent altercation that unfolded between NDC and NPP supporters at the Electoral Commission’s Agona West office in the Central Region.
Speaking with Adom News, Samuel Ametepey, the NDC’s Deputy Organizer in the constituency who claimed to have witnessed the incident, expressed his profound dismay.
He went on to place responsibility for the turmoil on the Electoral Commission (EC) and affirmed that his party would remain steadfast until the voter registration process was completed.
In the meantime, Isaac Somuah, the Communication Director for the Agona West NPP, has refuted the accusations made against their Organizer.
“Toys did not hit the victim’s head with GoTa. Zion’s account is false, he was not present… It was a fight between the two people and they both crashed into a car’s bonnet. That is how come his head hit something and resulted in the wound,” he said.
“Toys also fell from the car onto the floor and they were separated,” Mr Somuah added.
He also dismissed allegations that the NPP is receiving support from the police to take control of the registration process.
However, the NDC’s communication officer for the constituency, Wahab Mukaila, informed reporters that his party is prepared to safeguard its interests if law enforcement does not ensure their protection.
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) paid a colossal amount of US$117,150,255.37 to contractors for various projects in the country in 2022, when Ghana witnessed an economic crisis.
According to the Auditor-General in its report christened “Consolidated Statements of Foreign Exchange Receipts and Payments of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) for the year ended 31 December 2022”, the amount paid was 263.3 per cent higher than US$32,246,487.75 for the corresponding period of 2021.
“The upsurge was attributable to the construction of Bank of Ghana Corporate Office in Tamale and Sports infrastructure for the hosting and organization of the 13th African Games, Accra 2023 accounting for 30.7% and 30.5% respectively of the total amount of US$117,150,255.37,” the report added.
In a breakdown, it was revealed that Messrs Goldkey Properties Limited received payment of $35,909,067.50 for the construction of a new corporate head office for Bank of Ghana.
An amount of $35,701,405.64 was paid to Messrs Contracta Construction UK Limited for the Sports Infrastructure for the Hosting and Organisation of 13th African Games, Accra 2023.
Messrs Maripoma Enterprise Limited was paid $20,788,740.83 for the rehabilitation of Ofankor-Nsawam Road (Dual Carriageway)
Economic crisis in 2022
In early 2022, sovereign spreads on Ghana’s Eurobonds widened, and Credit Rating Agencies further downgraded Ghana’s sovereign debt rating.
This, the Central Bank noted effectively blocked Ghana’s access to the international capital markets in 2022, a resource which the budget had relied on to borrow about US$3 billion annually to help close the financing gap.
Losing access to the international capital market for new financing immediately triggered a liquidity crisis for Government, spilling over into a balance of payments crisis as the country had to continue to honour its debt service obligations, energy payments, and import bill.
In keeping up with these critical external payments, the Bank of Ghana lost US$500 million in external reserves in just two months, with no new inflows of foreign currency from the usual annual Eurobond issuance by Government to replenish its reserves.
Furthermore, to help address Government’s liquidity crisis, the Bank extended additional overdraft to the government to address auction failures and prevent domestic default, and enabled government to meet domestic debt obligations and other critical payments needed to avoid a disorderly halt to economic activity.
Throughout the first half of 2022, there was no new foreign financing until July when the Afrexim Bank stepped in to support with US$750 million.
These circumstances led the Government to approach the IMF for support in July 2022.
Among the corrective measures that were put into place in 2022 to manage the crisis, in particular the major policy effort designed to put Ghana’s debt on a sustainable path included the Domestic Debt Exchange (DDE) program, where the stock of Government of Ghana/public sector debt was to be halved from 105 percent of GDP to 55 percent of GDP by 2028.
Minority reacts
On August 9, the Minority in Parliament issued a twenty-one-day ultimatum for the Governor to resign, which has now elapsed. According to the minority, the Governor has overseen irresponsible government spending and has contributed to the persistently high inflation rate, which remained above 40% in August 2023.
Furthermore, the minority contends that the Central Bank engaged in extravagant expenditures in 2021 and 2022, leading to such a substantial loss. They pointed out that the Bank of Ghana’s foreign and domestic travel expenses amounted to a staggering GHS97.4 million, marking a 246% increase from the previous year.
Additionally, the Bank of Ghana allocated GHS8.6 million solely for Director’s remuneration, signifying an 87% increase from the previous year’s expenditure. Furthermore, the decision to invest $250 million in the construction of a new head office in Accra was questioned.
In contrast, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta believes that the central bank remains financially prudent, robust, and is operating efficiently.
The acting mayor of Juba, the capital city of South Sudan, has been dismissed from his position after a video surfaced showing him allegedly slapping a member of the public.
Emmanuel Khamis Richard had resisted calls to resign despite mounting pressure from fellow politicians after the video, in which he appeared to assault a female street vendor, went viral a week ago.
The governor of Central Equatoria state announced his removal on Friday evening, a decision that gained wider attention over the weekend.
This action came in response to a unanimous letter from Members of Parliament urging the mayor’s removal. Mr. Khamis Richard has neither confirmed nor denied the allegations of slapping the woman.
Before his dismissal, he had been summoned to appear before Juba city councillors to address the incident, but he did not attend and instead requested a two-week delay.
At present, no successor has been appointed. However, Martin Simon Wani, the head of Juba city council, has been tasked with overseeing the general operations of the municipality in the interim.
#Impunity? “Acting Mayor of Juba” Emmanuel Khamis Richard slaps a roadside vendor woman, while wielding a pistol at Seventh-Day roundabout in Juba. Lawyers and activists describe it as a a criminal offence under sections 223, 224, 224, 225, and 230 under panel code act pic.twitter.com/PmvUUzEs70
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of engaging in voter suppression, asserting that the decision to exclusively conduct the limited voter registration at district offices is not ideal.
As the voter registration process enters its sixth day on September 18, there have been numerous complaints about various challenges. The Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the NDC, Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, expressed dissatisfaction with the EC’s approach.
Furthermore, there is mounting pressure on the Electoral Commission to reconsider its methods for the ongoing voter registration exercise.
Member of Parliament for Anyaa-Sowutuom, Dr. Adomako Kissi, argued that confining registration to district offices is not the most effective approach.
In contrast, the National Youth Organiser of the New Patriotic Party, Salam Mustapha, expressed satisfaction with the first week of the limited voter registration.
The Electoral Commission commenced the registration on Tuesday, September 12, with the aim of registering first-time voters who have yet to obtain their Voter ID cards.
Despite opposition from the NDC and certain civil society organizations, the registration process continues to take place exclusively at the district offices of the Electoral Commission throughout the country.
Zambia’s former President, Edgar Lungu, has taken legal action against the government after he was purportedly prevented from traveling to South Korea for a conference.
It is alleged that Mr. Lungu had received an invitation to attend a world peace conference, but as he was preparing to depart, he was denied access to his plane due to a lack of government clearance for the trip.
Mr. Lungu has initiated a judicial review in the Lusaka High Court, where he is contesting the government’s decision to obstruct his travel to South Korea, as indicated in the court documents he has submitted.
His political party, the Patriotic Front (PF), has criticized the government’s alleged actions, deeming them illegal.
“If he is invited and the trip is paid for or he can meet the cost of his own trip and that of his entourage, he doesn’t need to inform governments,” argued Emmanuel Mwamba, the PF’s spokesperson.
Mr. Mwamba stated that the former president had encountered travel restrictions for a medical journey on a previous occasion, even though he had previously sought permission from the cabinet office.
“These draconian and dictatorial actions are a violation of fundamental rights of the former president and have no place in true democracy,” he said.
Mr. Lungu was defeated by the incumbent Hakainde Hichilema in 2021, leading to his loss of power.
Despite publicly declaring his retirement from active politics following his defeat, there is strong speculation that he is considering a return to the political arena and may potentially run in the 2026 elections.
