Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has stated that President Akufo-Addo has secured a regrettable position in Ghanaian history due to his administration’s involvement in endorsing the most unfavorable variant of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) initiative for the citizens of Ghana.
Dr Ato Forson says “Ghanaians must clearly understand that it is not the IMF which imposed these horrible conditionalities and austerity on them” but “rather the government of President Akufo-Addo”.
The Minority Leader articulated this viewpoint during his presentation of the Minority’s counterarguments to the 2023 mid-year budget review in Parliament on Wednesday.
Dr. Ato Forson highlighted that the ongoing IMF program in Ghana marks a distinctive occurrence in the nation’s history as it is the sole instance to incorporate debt restructuring measures.
“This debt restructuring programme has impoverished the rich, the middle class and, to a large extent, the poor”, he added.
The Minority Leader noted that the debt restructuring has rendered the banking and financial institutions insolvent and bankrupt.
“Almost all our banks, non-bank financial institutions and insurance companies declared huge losses in 2022 as a result of governments recklessness and mismanagement which resulted in this debt restructuring”.
Dr Ato Forson said Ghana “is in distress, our people are in despair and most Ghanaians have lost hope in this incompetent NPP administration”.
He lambasted the government for imposing avoidable hardships on the people of Ghana.
“All the hardships we are seeing and experiencing were avoidable. These hardships are needless”, the Minority Leader said.
Leader of the recent military coup in Niger has strongly criticized the sanctions imposed on the country by the West African regional bloc, ECOWAS, labeling them as “illegitimate, unfair, and lacking compassion.”
General Abdourahamane Tchiani firmly asserted that his administration would not succumb to regional or international pressures to reinstate Niger’s elected President, Mohammed Bazoum.
During a televised address, General Tchiani also reassured that French citizens had no reason to be alarmed.
Following an attack on its embassy in Niamey by demonstrators on Sunday, Paris confirmed the successful evacuation of nearly 1,000 individuals, including 560 French nationals.
Late on Wednesday, the US State Department announced a partial evacuation of its embassy in Niger, urging non-essential staff and their families to depart.
In an effort to mediate with the coup leaders, an Ecowas delegation led by Nigeria’s former military head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, has arrived in Niamey, the capital of Niger. Concurrently, West African military leaders have convened in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, for discussions.
Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the spokesperson for Nigeria’s military defense, informed the BBC that they view a military resolution as the final resort.
The presentation of their military strategy is scheduled for Friday, to be showcased before the heads of state of Ecowas.
Subsequently, these leaders will determine the subsequent steps to be taken by the regional bloc concerning Niger.
President Nana Akufo-Addo has expressed his commitment to backing any aspiring flagbearer from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who can effectively unite the party and secure victory in the upcoming presidential elections next year.
In a tweet on Wednesday, August 2, he disclosed that he, like all polling station executives nationwide, has the privilege to vote for a single aspirant.
This statement was made during his meeting with NPP communicators at the Jubilee House.
I have just one vote, the same as any polling station executive anywhere in the country, and I will cast that vote for an aspirant who, I believe, can best unite the Party, and, above all, who can win the presidential election of 7th December 2024, and inflict a third successive… pic.twitter.com/vbLXXyUxSi
President Akufo-Addo noted that he will cast his vote for an aspirant who he believes can “inflict a third successive defeat on the perennial NDC Presidential Candidate, John Dramani Mahama.”
Furthermore, he highlighted the historical precedent of the ruling NPP, emphasizing that the party’s tradition has consistently rejected the notion of a president imposing a candidate. He underlined that the NPP has always steered clear of cultivating a cult of personality.
“The history of the NPP tells us that no President can foist a candidate on the party against its wishes. The NPP is not that kind of party. We have never subscribed to a cult of personality,” he said on Wednesday, August 2, when he met NPP communicators who called on him at Jubilee House.
“Indeed, our highly-respected former President, the first NPP President, John Agyekum Kufuor, in the aftermath of my election as NPP Presidential Candidate, by the 2007 National Congress, told the Congress that ‘the party has its spirit’, a spirit that cannot be ignored.”
A series of police raids targeting drug gangs across three Brazilian states have resulted in a reported death toll of at least 43 individuals.
In Rio de Janeiro, the most recent operation took place in the Complexo da Penha area, where police engaged in a shoot-out and reportedly killed at least 10 individuals.
Earlier, clashes during a five-day police raid in São Paulo state, known as Operation Shield, resulted in the deaths of 14 people.
In the state of Bahia, in the north-eastern region of Brazil, officials stated that 19 suspects have been killed since the start of the operations on Friday.
The São Paulo state operation led to the arrest of 58 individuals and the seizure of 385kg of narcotics, alongside firearms.
Despite these actions, the response of Brazilian authorities has faced criticism. Justice Minister Flavio Dino expressed concerns that the police’s reaction in Guarujá, São Paulo, was disproportionate to the crime committed.
Throughout these operations, clashes between heavily armed gang members and the police have caused disruption and casualties. The violence has also impacted communities, leading to the closure of schools and suspension of health services due to security concerns.
The raids signal a continuing effort to combat drug-related crime in Brazil, but they have also raised questions about the proportionality of the responses and the broader impact on affected communities.
Discussions hovering around government’s National Affordable Housing project at Pokuase on Twitter indicates that the goal of providing homes at a feasible rate may not be realised.
The project cost tens of thousands of dollars which can also be sold in cedis at the prevailing rate.
A studio goes for $13,800 (GHS165,600); one bedroom – $20,700 (248,400); two bedroom – $34,500 (GHS414,000) and three bedroom – $42,550 (GHS510,600).
The Ministry of Works and Housing says developers cannot sell above the agreed price ceiling but they can sell below.
According to a report by StatsGH on Twitter, majority of Ghanaians will not benefit from this project due to their current economic standing.
StatsGH indicates that about 90% of Ghanaians employed earn salaries below GHS5000, adding that “only 10% of Ghanaian workers have a salary above GHS5000.”
As section of the public have criticised the government over the matter, arguing that government should have invested in completing the Saglemi Housing Project began by the erstwhile Mahama government.
Sometimes you feel sad to be a Ghanaian, we are just wasting our resources. The government should have thought of how to complete the Saglemi project before starting any other housing project- Caller on the National Affordable Housing Programme#TV3NewDaypic.twitter.com/yX2VtJFVuB
“National Affordable Housing”.. pricing in dollars.. are the citizens a joke to these people?..my goodness, it gets more frustrating as each day passes by.. https://t.co/fYXddFdTm5
The Pokuase Affordable Housing Project saw its commencement marked by a sod-cutting ceremony held by the government on August 1, 2023.
The Ministry of Works and Housing highlighted that the government facilitated the affordability of the houses within the Pokuase Affordable Housing Project by subsidizing the expenses.
This was achieved through the allocation of land and the establishment of on-site infrastructure.
Reason for pricing in dollars
Communications director of the National Disaster Management and a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), George Ayesi, has justified why government has priced the Pokuase housing project in dollars.
According to him, the prices instill confidence in investors due to the stability of the currency, which contrasts with the uncertainties surrounding the local cedi.
Pokuase Affordable Housing Project
The project is structured into two phases. The initial phase will consist of 4,000 units and is projected to conclude within 18 months. Subsequently, the second phase will encompass the remaining 4,000 units and share a similar timeline of 18 months for completion.
Five reputable developers have been tasked with executing this endeavor: Rehoboth Properties, State Housing Company Limited, Devtraco Group Limited, FrankPauls Ventures Company Limited, and Douja Promotion Addoha Groupe Limited. Each of these entities boasts extensive experience, expertise, and ample resources.
The initiative boasts an authorized Master Plan designed to encompass a broader catchment area, extending beyond Pokuase to encompass the adjoining four local assemblies.
Within this scope, various amenities are envisaged, including football fields, tennis courts, volleyball courts, basketball courts, swimming pools, and children’s playgrounds, all intended to serve the neighboring communities.
Additionally, as part of the revised program, an additional 6,000 housing units will be constructed on a 200-acre plot in Dedesua, located in the Ashanti Region. This expansion is currently undergoing feasibility studies.
General Manager of Citi FM & Citi TV, Bernard Koku Avle, disagrees with the Finance Minister’s assertion that government has been able to turn the corner with respect to the management of the economy.
Addressing Parliament on the 2023 Mid Year Budget Review on Monday, July 31, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta indicated that the “investments and sacrifices government made during this difficult period since March, 2020, are “turning the corner.”
He further gave an assertive statement that “we have turned the corner” from the dire period of economic uncertainties and despondency Ghana faced.
The conclusion that government has turned the corner, according to Mr Avle is a hasty decision taken by the government.
He argued that the macro economic indicators remain troubling from their worsened state a year ago.
According to him, July 2022 was when Ghana’s economic mess came to light with the cedi depreciating further and inflation skyrocketing.
“In July, you had the dollar being bought for GH6, went to GH8 and by November it was around GH15.
“Inflation moved from the 20s to the 50s. Reserves eroded. The major economic indicators all went south.
“So if on 31st July 2023, the Minister of Finance comes and says we have turned the corner. Is he saying that from the context of the Economic managers or from economic agents,” he said.
He argued that the macro figures themselves “don’t point in my view to a serious corner being turned.”
“Inflation eased from January but it has started picking up slightly again. Currency depreciation has stabilized but some people say the reason for that is because we are not making payments. We have accumulated 20 percent in our debt from end of last year to now,” he added.
Inflation
The year-on-year inflation rate as measured by the CPI was 53.6 percent in January 2023. The inflation rate dropped to 52.8% in February; and further to 45.0% in March, 43.9 % in April; 42.2% in May.
Ghana’s annual inflation rate rose slightly to 42.5% in June.
Cedi depreciation stabilization
While presenting the Mid-Year budget review, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta noted that from February to July this year, the local currency has depreciated by “an impressive 1.84%”.
Cumulatively, the Ghana cedi depreciated by 22.1 percent against the US Dollar in the year to July 17, 2023.
This is in comparison to 21.1 percent depreciation recorded in the same period in 2022.
Statements from the Finance Minister indicates that in January 2023 alone, the cedi depreciated by 20 per cent.
According to the Minority, the success chalked is due to an external debt default.
“The Ghana cedi has stabilized relatively because we have defaulted in the payment of our external debt.
If you are to look into the budget, we should have serviced our external debt, approximately 11 billion Ghana cedi,” Minority leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson stated.
Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has hinted that he intends to set up a five-member Committee to investigate a petition by the aggrieved customers of Menzgold and report to the House for consideration.
According to the Speaker, the petition which has now gone through the right procedures of the House to become a motion, would be admitted before the House goes on recess and later set up a Committee to consider the concerns of the aggrieved customers and debate the report when the House comes back from recess.
The Speaker made these known when aggrieved customers of Menzgold paid a courtesy call on him.
Mr. Fred Forson, who is one of the Leaders of the group narrated the difficult situations the affected members are going through and how it has resulted into 210 deaths in recent times. He pleaded with the Speaker to work expeditiously on the motion.
The Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Hon. Rockson Nelson Kwame Etse Dafeamekpor, who submitted the motion to the Speaker, acknowledged the challenges being faced by the motion because the matter is before court but pleaded with the Speaker that it is only the criminal case which is before the court therefore the Speaker can admit the motion for the House to consider the report of the Committee.
The group expressed their gratitude to the Speaker and prayed that their concerns would be addressed and brought to finality soon.
Menzgold
Menzgold attracted a significant number of investors by offering high returns on their investments in gold trading.
The controversy erupted when regulatory authorities in Ghana, including the Bank of Ghana and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), raised concerns about the company’s operations and the legality of its investment model. The SEC ordered Menzgold to stop accepting new deposits and halted its trading operations in September 2018. The Bank of Ghana had also previously issued warnings about the company’s unlicensed operations.
Despite these warnings and regulatory actions, Menzgold continued to operate and attract investments. Many people, including celebrities and individuals from various walks of life, invested their money in the company, hoping to earn high returns on their investments.
As the controversy escalated, Nana Appiah Mensah faced legal troubles, including issues related to the company’s operations and allegations of money laundering. In January 2019, he was arrested in Dubai on unrelated charges. It took several months for him to return to Ghana after legal proceedings in both countries.
The Menzgold controversy led to protests and demonstrations by investors who were unable to access their funds. Many individuals claimed to have lost substantial amounts of money.
In a statement dated July 29, Menzgold announced its successful completion of the transaction validation process assuring to soon reimburse its customers.
A remarkable graduate of the University of Education, Winneba (UEW), Daniel Dadson, has brilliantly shown that physical impairment should never stand in the way of making a positive impact on others.
Residing in Kumasi Tafo alongside his grandmother, this young man dedicates himself to coaching the Invincible FC, a local football team nurturing young talents in the neighborhood.
Guiding a diverse group of players under the banner of Invincible Sporting Club, Daniel has nurtured remarkable talent within his fold.
His influence has even extended beyond Ghana’s borders, with some of his protégés, such as Alex Opoku, now excelling in professional football abroad, gracing the field with Aris Limassol Football Club in Cyprus, and Abu Francis showcasing his skills with Cercle Brugge.
From a young age, life has woven its intricate threads for Daniel. He was entrusted into the loving care of his grandmother, Maame Efua Mensah, when he was just two weeks old, and has since grown without the presence of his mother, who has been absent for more than half of his life.
Maame Efua Mensah, Daniel Dadson’s grand mother
“They gave birth to him somewhere and brought him to me when he was two weeks old. I cared for him for three months and realised he could not walk. When he was much younger, he enjoyed playing football. So we bought him a ball from the market. I pray God blesses his work,” his grandmother, Maame Efua Mensah, told TV3.
However, his personal journey has not deterred him; in fact, it has ignited a passionate fire within him.
Fueled by an unwavering love for football, Daniel channels his determination into supporting other children who harbor dreams of becoming future football legends. Each morning, he readies himself for his noble mission, embarking on a 20-minute walk from his home to the training field.
Now at the age of 30, Daniel firmly believes that his potential knows no bounds, disability notwithstanding.
“My dream is to become a top-notch coach in the near future. So I decided to start with the kids. We all know the stigma involved. When they see you as a physically challenged person, they always say you cannot do anything. Meanwhile, disability is not inability,” he said.
He draws inspiration from the likes of Prosper Narteh Ogum, the esteemed coach of Asante Kotoko, aiming not only to match his achievements but to surpass them.
“It is because of his style of play for me, I love Champagne football,” Daniel noted.
Daniel Dadson’s story is a testament to the human spirit’s boundless capacity for resilience and generosity.
He proves that life’s challenges can serve as stepping stones towards greatness, and his commitment to empowering young talents resonates as a beacon of hope, illuminating the path for aspiring footballers and dreamers alike.
It is the hope that many in Daniel’s shoes take a cue from his active life and shine bright in whatever corner they find themselves and challenge the status quo.
Former National Chairman of the People’s National Convention (PNC), Bernard Mornah, is of the strong opinion that Mr Ken Ofori-Atta is not best placed to head the Finance Ministry and take charge of the country’s economic activities.
In an interview on TV3 on Tuesday, Mr Mornah noted that until Mr Ofori-Atta is relieved of his position, calamity will continue to befall the country.
According to him, the Finance Minister, unlike his colleagues in the West African sub-region has failed to prove his worth – and the indicators such as the fallen Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and high inflation – are testament.
Mr Mornah also noted that Mr Ofori-Atta is unethically benefiting from loans gotten from the international market.
Data Bank, a company said to be owned by Mr Ofori-Atta, he says is the beneficiary.
In his words, Mr Mornah said: “Unless and until the Finance Ministry is liberated from Ken Ofori-Atta and the Data Bankers, we will continue to have this mess that we have.
That is why I am surprised that when President Akufo-Addo decided to move a Deputy Minister who is knowledgeable in finance from the Ministry of Energy to the Ministry of Finance, I was hoping that that would have been the basis for which Ken Ofori-Atta would have been shackled out.”
He continued: “… Ken is within the sub-Region. All his other colleagues are doing higher GDP. All his colleagues are doing inflation far lower than he is doing. None of his colleagues are benefiting indirectly from borrowing from the International institutions.”
In his view, “Ken is a disaster that this nation needs to vomit”, emphasising that “Ken is simply a calamity that has befallen this nation.”
During the presentation of the 2023 Mid Year Budget Review in Parliament on Monday, July 31, Mr Ofori-Atta noted that the total revenue generated and grants for the first half of 2023 was GH¢59.3 billion, representing 7.4% of GDP. This, he said, was 8.4 percent below the target of GH¢64.7 billion (8.1% of GDP).
Also, total expenditure of GH¢68.5 billion, which is 8.6% of GDP, was 26.3 percent below the programmed expenditure of GH¢92.9 billion (11.6% of GDP). This implies that government spent less.
“All other expenditure lines were contained within their respective targets for the period except for Compensation of Employees and Expenditure on Goods and Services,” the minister added.
In view of this, the Finance Minister noted that the overall Real GDP growth for 2023 has been revised to 1.5 percent from 2.8 percent.
Also, non-oil Real GDP growth has also been revised to 1.5 percent from 3.0 percent.
“The downward revision in projected growth for 2023 is an indication of a broad slowdown in the three sectors of the economy as a result of factors such as the fiscal consolidation plan and difficult global conditions,” the Minister explained.
This and many reasons some individuals are calling for the sector minister’s sacking.
#KenMustGo
The Finance Minister has been accused by the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of unethically and unlawfully benefiting from his position to siphon Ghana’s money.
The opposition Members of Parliament on Tuesday, October 25, 2022 filed the motion to trigger a process to revoke the minister’s appointment citing severe economic challenges.
The MPs cited the following reasons as justification to revoke Ken Ofori-Atta’s appointment:
Despicable conflict of Interest ensuring that he directly benefits from Ghana’s economic woes as his companies receive commissions and other unethical contractual advantage. particularly from Ghana’s debt overhang.
Unconstitutional withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund in blatant contravention of Article 178 of the 1992 Constitution supposedly for the construction of the President’s Cathedral;
Illegal payment of oil revenues into offshore accounts in flagrant violation of Article 176 of the 1992 Constitution;
Deliberate and dishonest misreporting of economic data to Parliament
Fiscal recklessness leading to the crash of the Ghana Cedi which is currently the worst performing currency in the world;
Alarming incompetence and frightening ineptitude resulting in the collapse of the Ghanaian economy and on excruciating cost of living crisis;
Gross mismanagement of the economy which has occasioned untold and unprecedented hardship.
Ofori-Atta stays
The vote of censure motion filed by the Minority against the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta failed.
This is because only 136 legislators on the Minority side voted to demand the removal of Mr Ofori-Atta thus falling short of the two-thirds constitutional requirement for the motion to pass through.
The proponents of the motion needed the votes of 183 legislators to have the motion passed against Mr. Ofori-Atta.
Prior to the vote, the New Patriotic Party MPs staged a walkout.
Actor, Jamie Foxx in an Instagram post on Tuesday expressed his gratitude towards his sister, Deidra Dixon following his recuperation from a “medical complication” that led to his hospitalization earlier this year.
The 55-year-old actor uploaded a picture of himself alongside his sister, and then shared a series of images as a tribute to Dixon on the occasion of her birthday.
“Happy birthday to my beautiful for sister,” wrote Foxx, adding “you are magical you are beautiful you are the courageous lionesses #leoseason And without you I would not be here… had you not made the decisions that you made I would’ve lost my life…. I love you forever and ever happy birthday sis.”
Before his recent post on Tuesday, the actor made his first video appearance in July since the health crisis he faced.
The Academy Award winner acknowledged that his sister and daughter played a pivotal role in “saving his life,” in addition to his faith in God and the expertise of “excellent medical professionals.”
“I cannot tell you how great it feels to have your family kick in in such a way, they kept it airtight, didn’t let nothing out. They protected me, and that’s what I hope everyone can have in moments like these,” Foxx said.
Following Foxx’s hospitalization in April, baseless rumors regarding his condition started circulating on the internet as the weeks went by without any updates.
“By being quiet, sometimes things get out of hand, people say what I got, some people said I was blind, but as you can see, the eyes are working just fine. Said I was paralyzed, I’m not paralyzed,” Foxx said. “I went to hell and back, and my road to recovery had some potholes as well. But I’m coming back, and I’m able to work.”
The Bank of Ghana‘s health facility, Bank Hospital, has met stern criticism by social media users over their services said to come at alleged exorbitant prices.
In a post shared by @StatsGH, the hospital was accused of charging an amount of GHS20,000 for a caesarean section – a surgical procedure in which a baby is delivered through an incision made in the mother’s abdomen and uterus.
The Independent Ghana is currently unable to verify this claim but several individuals have reacted to the matter and are concerned.
Some users noted that they did not need confirmation as the status of the facility speaks volume. Bank Hospital is located at Cantonment and according to some, such an area is known to be for the elite.
Others noted that it is not out of place for the hospital to charge above the average as it provides patients the best services and top-notch professionals.
“The location should tell you that, jokes aside it’s one of the best facilities in the area besides Euracare,” a user indicated.
But some social media users noted that despite the healthcare provided, such an amount is expensive.
Per reports, the average cost of caesarean section ranges from GHS2,500 – GHS5,000.
In July 2021, the Bank Hospital was opened to the public, with a pledge to provide quality service for clients, in line with best practices.
Constructed by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) at a cost of €80 million, the 65-bed facility, which is located at Cantonments in Accra, comes with a state-of-the-art intensive care unit, general wards and exclusive executive suites, a paediatric ward, maternity and nursery and neonatal intensive care units.
Chair of the Trade Committee in Parliament, Carlos Kingsley Ahenkorah, has expressed his apprehension regarding the sluggishness in the approval of tax waivers for companies participating in the One District-One Factory (1D1F) programme.
He conveyed his dismay, noting that this delay has resulted in certain investors opting to exit the country, a situation he characterized as “alarming and detrimental to industrial growth.”
Carlos Ahenkorah voiced these concerns during his speech on the floor of Parliament after the presentation of the business statement for the upcoming week.
“This House has deferred exemptions for One District-One Factory since 2021, which are still outstanding. We are going on another long recess, and there doesn’t seem to be any light at the end of the tunnel for these 1D1F companies. It is very interesting to note that because of such delays and hindrances, some industries are moving away from Ghana.
“It is becoming a bit worrying, if not too worrying – especially on the part of the trade committee which is bombarded by these complaints from 1D1F companies almost on a daily basis.”
Mr Ahenkorah’s strong reaction emerged from the Parliament’s failure to address the waivers prior to the approaching recess, set for the following week.
Presently, approximately 150 requests for tax exemptions from companies remain unresolved. These requests were initially presented to the House and subsequently directed to the committee for evaluation, with the intent of ensuring that exemptions are granted based on merit.
However, Kwaku Agyemang Kwarteng, the Chairman of the Trade Committee and Member of Parliament for Obuasi West, firmly asserted that waiting for two years to review these waivers is an excessive timeframe.
He expressed his concern about the financial implications these companies would encounter due to demurrage and freight expenses at the ports, as a result of the prolonged delay in granting these waivers for their projects.
“The finance committee has had that referral since 2021. Up till now, up till now nothing is happening. It is very funny for anybody to import containers into this country and let it sit in the ports for two years, paying demurrage and port freight.
“Are you telling me that any investor in this country who has borrowed money from the bank should sit down for two years before they get the exemption to clear their goods from the ports? What are you doing to industry? You are killing industry,” he said.
He added: “Government only has exclusive rights over the duties there on the cargo, but not the rent of containers on the real estate space that they occupy – the container proper which belongs to the shipping line that is supposed to use it to move cargo back and forth,” he said, urging the House to as a matter of urgency include the matter in the week’s agenda to be considered before the House rises.
Contributing to the matter, Minority leader Cassiel Ato Forson noted it is not true that the finance committee has deliberately declined to consider the matter.
“It is wrong for you to think that the finance committee has failed to sit on the referral. We sat on it and we brought it to this House. This House rejected those referrals and asked the finance committee of which I am a member to re-look and do further research into the matter, and that is why we have not been able to present the report yet.
“We are talking about 150 tax exemptions for companies amounting to billions of cedis,” the Minority leader stated.
In support of the claim, MP for Adaklu Kwame Governs Agbodza also intimated it is the case that the committee is deliberately stifling the passage of tax waivers.
According to him, tax waivers are not to be given just because people are demanding them, but must be granted based on merit.
“Let me remind you that we have granted tax waivers to many companies which are actually not doing anything; so encouraging us to give tax waivers just because the people have demanded them is not right,” he further stated.
The economy lost GH¢27billion to tax exemptions between 2008 and 2020, leading to passage of the Tax Exemptions bill last July. It provides for a tax exemption regime in the country with defined criteria for exemptions, and was expected to save the economy GH¢460million in 2022 according to Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta.
Since January 2022, a substantial number of criminal cases—119 in total—related to illegal mining (known as “galamsey“) have remained unresolved in the High Court and certain Circuit Courts throughout the nation.
These cases involve the prosecution of approximately 727 individuals.
The main regions where the legal proceedings against individuals involved in illegal mining are concentrated include the Eastern, Ashanti, Western, and Greater Accra Regions.
The Upper East and Northern Regions also have a smaller number of such cases.
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, presented this information to the media.
He highlighted that, on average, a typical galamsey case entails the apprehension and legal action against approximately six to seven individuals.
Consequently, the cumulative number of individuals facing trial across these 119 cases exceeds 727. The majority of these cases are prosecuted within the regions where the arrests initially occurred.
Mr. Dame conveyed that the ongoing trials encompass a variety of individuals, including Ghanaians, Chinese, Nigerians, Nigeriens, Burkinabes, and other West African nationals.
Out of the total, fifty (50) cases are pending in Koforidua in the Eastern Region, while thirty-three (33) are being prosecuted in Tarkwa and Sekondi within the Western Region. In the Ashanti Region, twenty-three (23) cases are spread across Obuasi and other locations, and an additional seven (7) are currently awaiting trial in the High Court in Accra.
Within the Upper East and Northern Regions, there are three (3) and one (1) pending cases in Bolgatanga and Tamale courts, respectively.
The accused individuals are facing charges related to operating mining activities without the required license, as well as engaging in the buying and selling of minerals without proper authorization under the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995).
Championed by the Akufo-Addo administration in 2019, the enactment of Act 995 brought about a significant strengthening of penalties for engaging in mineral trading or mining operations without the appropriate license.
For Ghanaian nationals, Act 995 now mandates a minimum imprisonment term of fifteen years and a maximum of twenty-five years, accompanied by a fine ranging from a minimum of ten thousand penalty units to a maximum of fifteen thousand penalty units.
Meanwhile, for non-Ghanaian individuals, the same Act has amplified the consequences for these violations to a minimum imprisonment term of twenty years and a maximum of twenty-five years, coupled with a fine ranging from a minimum of one hundred thousand penalty units to a maximum of three hundred and fifty thousand penalty units.
This new framework contrasts starkly with the regulations established under Act 703, which was passed in 2006. Under Act 703, the penalty for trading in minerals or engaging in mining activities without the appropriate license was either a minimum of three thousand penalty units or imprisonment for a duration of up to five years.
The Attorney-General highlighted several hurdles that have contributed to the relatively sluggish progress in prosecuting suspected illegal mining (galamsey) offenders.
He underscored that the issue of courts granting bail with lenient conditions has led to accused individuals easily meeting the terms and subsequently evading prosecution.
Across the country, numerous accused individuals who were granted bail have absconded, rendering the forfeiture of bail bonds ineffective as the sureties have also fled. Even in cases where they do not abscond, some offenders return to engage in illegal mining after being granted bail.
The Attorney-General emphasized the importance of the Judiciary’s cooperation in the fight against galamsey, urging cautious consideration when granting bail and the acceleration of legal proceedings to ensure prompt prosecution and penalties for offenders.
A lack of witness cooperation also poses a challenge. Securing testimonies from witnesses who initially provided statements during the investigative phase becomes difficult when they are required to appear in court. Witnesses in galamsey cases often reside in the same communities as the accused individuals, leaving them susceptible to threats and intimidation.
Mr. Dame further noted instances where investigators fail to seize the illegal mining equipment used in committing the crime, and even when such items are confiscated, they are not properly presented in court. This significantly hampers the prosecution’s case.
Additionally, arresting officers’ failure to apprehend suspects at the actual mining sites poses another obstacle, making it challenging to establish a direct link between the suspects and the offense.
The dearth of court interpreters proficient in the languages preferred by accused individuals has contributed to the deceleration of court proceedings, as exemplified in the trial of a Vietnamese national in Accra.
The Attorney-General (A-G) reassured the nation of his Office’s unwavering dedication to prosecuting and penalizing suspected offenders following thorough investigations.
Erroneous Sentencing by the Court
A significant challenge in prosecuting galamsey offenders arises from what the A-G characterized as a “peculiar and perplexing situation,” where some judges neglect to apply the new mandatory punishments for those found guilty, instead issuing fines exclusively.
For instance, a case involving the conviction of Chinese and Ghanaian nationals for galamsey in a Tarkwa Circuit Court in 2021 resulted in fines. Responding to this, the Western Region Office of the Attorney-General, in line with the A-G’s direction, pursued judicial review at the High Court to challenge the Circuit Court’s verdict. The High Court upheld the application, and the accused individuals were subsequently sentenced to the legally prescribed terms of fifteen and twenty years, now being served.
A similar circumstance emerged in the Upper East Region in 2022, where individuals prosecuted by the Police received only fines upon conviction. This came to the A-G’s attention, leading him to instruct the Upper East Regional Office of the Attorney-General to intervene by filing applications to annul the fines and enforce the mandatory minimum of fifteen years in prison.
Although Greater Accra is not a primary “galamsey region,” the High Court in Accra has become a focal point for prosecuting significant galamsey cases, particularly involving foreign nationals like the Chinese.
Notably, in September 2022, Attorney-General Godfred Dame revived the prosecution of the alleged prominent galamsey figure, En Huang, also known as Aisha Huang.
Her prosecution had been discontinued by the Republic in 2018, after which she was repatriated. The case against Aisha Huang is progressing steadily, with the prosecution expected to conclude its presentation by May 4th after summoning eleven witnesses.
Mr. Dame noted that many galamsey cases involving foreign nationals are often coupled with charges under Ghana’s immigration laws, due to these individuals frequently infringing upon those regulations.
However, most immigration offenses currently carry fines as penalties, which, according to the AG, has contributed to the persistent violations by foreign nationals. He stressed the necessity of fortifying Ghana’s immigration laws to impose stricter and more dissuasive penalties for violations.
Prosecution of Galamsey in the Eastern Region
Presently, fifty galamsey cases await resolution in the High Court and Circuit Courts of the Eastern Region. Roughly eight of these cases have concluded their prosecution phase, with the court determining a prima facie case for the accused individuals to begin their defense. As a result, the accused parties are presenting evidence in their favor.
Convictions in the Eastern Region
The Attorney-General lauded the exceptional contributions of the Eastern Regional Office of the Attorney-General for their commendable role in penalizing galamsey offenders.
In October 2022, the Attorney-General reported the conviction of 187 individuals, which included nationals from Niger, Nigeria, and China, for galamsey offenses between 2017 and October 2022. Many of the accused individuals were tried and sentenced under the previous section 99 of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), which allowed for penalties solely in the form of fines. This often led to defendants pleading guilty and receiving only fines.
The introduction of more stringent penalties for galamsey, including mandatory prison sentences of fifteen years for Ghanaians and twenty years for foreign nationals under Act 995, has prolonged trials as accused individuals resist pleading guilty and engage in various tactics to delay proceedings. Out of the 187 convicted individuals, thirty-three were tried and sentenced under Act 995 between August 2021 and September 2022, currently serving prison terms of fifteen to twenty years, alongside fines imposed by the court.
Galamsey Trials in the Western Region
As of now, twenty-three galamsey cases are pending, primarily in Tarkwa and Sekondi courts. This range of cases involves both foreign nationals and company officials who misused exploratory and prospecting licenses to unlawfully partake in mining activities.
Prosecution of Galamsey Offenses in the Ashanti Region
Since 2022, the Ashanti Region has recorded thirty-three ongoing galamsey cases. Historically, Ghana Police Service had exclusively handled these cases, a situation fraught with challenges. To address this, the A-G directed the Kumasi Office of the Attorney-General to consolidate and oversee the prosecution of all galamsey dockets, thereby enhancing the efficiency of the process in the Ashanti Region.
Former Executive Vice President of Unilever, Yaw Nsarkoh, has expressed concern that Ghana’s Fourth Republic could face the threat of a coup d’état if the nation does not address the fissures emerging due to poor governance.
During an appearance on PM Express on JoyNews, Nsarkoh emphasized that the persistence of inadequate governance can lead to an environment where populist forces gain traction and seize control, acting in their own interests.
While some may believe that Ghana is immune to such political upheavals due to its history, Nsarkoh argued that the underlying issues that previously led to military interventions in the country are resurfacing within the context of the Fourth Republic.
“So when the people of Ghana say, ‘no, we are not like that, as for us, it will always be okay’, It’s just a collective amnesia of things that have gone wrong in this society before. And let us remember that I was alive at that time.
“In 1979, I was 11. So I still remember these things that happened and we saw them. There are causative factors that created these disruptions. We have been through the First Republic, which the soldiers kicked out, a Second Republic, which again, the soldiers kicked out and a Third Republic, which the soldiers kicked out,” he stated.
Mr. Nsarkoh voiced his disapproval of coups, asserting that it is not within the mandate of the armed forces to govern a nation.
However, he emphasized that in order to safeguard the Fourth Republic from experiencing the same challenges as its predecessors, it is imperative to engage in discussions aimed at addressing the underlying issues that could potentially lead to its downfall.
“We must remember James Baldwin famously said ‘The most dangerous creation of any society is the man with nothing to lose’. And we in our society today have many who have nothing to lose. So, if we think that we can leave so many people out of the fruits of development and national building and somehow keep it stable, we deceive ourselves.”
“We are beginning to see the features of some of the things that went wrong (in earlier republics) and we must start to have the conversation now. We don’t want to go back to those days. If the Fourth Republic will endure and become the last, then we need to change some of the things that we did in the past that created those sorts of disruptions.”
Mr Nsarkoh noted that Ghana has a chance to make things right and learn from the mistakes of the past.
He stated that “I know that if you allow misgovernance, you create spaces for a populist. It is not necessarily even a military populist. You create spaces for a populist to emerge. So we must be as concerned about good governance as we are about condemning military coups and so on and so forth.”
On Tuesday, August 2, Sadio Mané finalized his formal transition to Al Nassr by signing the requisite documents.
The preceding day, July 31, 2023, he underwent medical examinations in Dubai as part of the process.
Having spent a year at Bayern Munich following his transfer from Liverpool the previous summer, the 31-year-old Mané has now officially joined Al-Nassr.
This transfer involves a transaction valued at approximately £34 million, surpassing the sum that the German club had paid Liverpool under a year ago, under Jurgen Klopp’s management.
In a four-year commitment, the Senegalese player has sealed a contract with the Saudi Arabian team, where he will be joining forces with Cristiano Ronaldo and Marcelo Brozovic.
According to Sadio, “leaving FC Bayern hurts me.”
“I would have wished for a different ending. I know that I could have helped the team this season. I wanted to prove it to everyone this season. Nevertheless, I only wish the club and the fans the best for the future,” he told Sky Sports.
On Tuesday, Parliament initiated discussions concerning the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the 2023 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.
This review had been introduced to the House by Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minister of Finance, on Monday, July 31.
Mr. Kwaku Agyeman Kwarteng, the Chairperson of the Finance Committee, commenced the debate and expressed his opposition to the practice of providing tax exemptions to both individuals and corporate entities.
He reiterated that exempting individuals in the name of investment promotion created two problems; “the first is that we deny Ghana the opportunity of communicating that our investment climate is friendly because the taxes are in place”.
“But more importantly, Mr Speaker, by encouraging the practice of selecting individuals and exempting them from taxation, we are creating the opportunity for corruption.”
“I take this opportunity again to call on not just the Government but also on ourselves to ensure we get everybody to pay taxes.”
He emphasized the importance of each individual contributing their equitable portion of taxes and underlined that any reduction in taxes should apply universally.
Mr. Kwarteng pointed out that the habit of delaying tax payments while simultaneously granting specific individuals exemptions from these obligations was counterproductive.
We should tell everybody, Mr Speaker, to contribute to our efforts at mobilising domestic revenue.”
He urged Ghanaians, especially politicians, to stop prophesying doom for the nation’s economy, adding; “whilst our government is making the effort to ensure a vibrant economy for us, we sit here and we make damning statements about our own economy, just because we want to achieve political ends”.
He encouraged fellow Parliamentarians to engage in constructive debates that promote the enhancement of the economy, rather than adopting a pessimistic outlook.
He urged them to concentrate on promoting Ghana’s economic strengths and garnering international backing to help the nation achieve sustainable self-reliance instead of depending solely on aid.
Recalling his earlier statement on July 19, 2022, Mr. Ofori-Atta informed Parliament that Ghana had incurred losses of GH¢27 billion due to tax exemptions between 2008 and 2020. This decline, he stated, led to the country’s revenue dropping to approximately GH¢1.8 billion in 2020.
Senegal’s interior ministry has declared its commitment to “safeguarding peace and tranquillity” in the midst of ongoing opposition protests in various parts of the country.
Minor demonstrations continue to unfold in Dakar, the capital, and Ziguinchor, a city where Ousmane Sonko, the opposition leader, holds the position of mayor.
These protests stem from the recent arrest of Mr. Sonko during the weekend and the subsequent dissolution of his political party. He remains in custody and initiated a hunger strike on Sunday.
On Monday, Interior Minister Antoine Félix Abdoulaye Diome announced the government’s decision to dissolve Mr. Sonko’s Patriots of Senegal (Pastef) party, citing its involvement in inciting unrest during violent protests that transpired last month in Dakar.
However, Pastef contends that Senegal’s stability is now in jeopardy, as they believe the people will not accept what they view as a significant power forfeiture against their favored candidate.
Social media videos depicted demonstrators pelting security forces with stones following Mr. Sonko’s arrest and the party’s dissolution.
Mr. Sonko has criticized his detention, asserting that it is based on false pretenses. He also intends to challenge the official notification of his party’s dissolution through legal means.
Remarkably, this marks the third instance of a political party being banned in Senegal since its independence from France in 1960, though the prior cases occurred prior to the introduction of multi-party democracy in the 1970s.
Supporters of Pastef have alleged that President Macky Sall’s ruling party is attempting to marginalize their popular opponent.
Mr. Sonko secured third place in the 2019 presidential election and is now facing what his supporters believe to be fabricated charges in anticipation of the February election.
LillyGold Energy Resources Limited, an Oil Marketing Company (OMC) owned by the Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Mohammed Adam Baantima Samba, has been closed down by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).
The NPA took this action due to the company’s illegal operations, even after their license was revoked in October 2022.
Earlier this year, the NPA issued a statement announcing the revocation of licenses for around 30 OMCs nationwide, including LillyGold Energy Resources Limited.
According to Mr. Rasheed Dauda, the NPA’s Northern Regional Manager, the company was legally required to cease its operations, and both its branding and logo were not supposed to be in use anymore.
“For some time now, this retail outlet in Kanvili and another one around the industrial area at Lamashegu have been operating under the name LillyGold. We’re here to come and shutdown the station and caution the public not to do business with LillyGold,” he noted.
“If you’re operating something that is illegal, it is illegal and so action should be brought to make sure that this illegality is remedy,” he added.
The Manager emphasized that this action is not influenced by the identity of the NPP Chairman; anyone discovered to be operating an unlawful site will face similar consequences.
In the meantime, the Manager of the Lamashegu branch stated during an interaction with the taskforce that their facility was operating under the license of an OMC named Famous.
However, the Northern Regional Manager responded, labeling this claim as illegal and challenging them to present supporting documentation, which they were unable to provide.
The Regional Manager advised the public to refrain from purchasing petroleum products from such Oil Marketing Companies, highlighting that no corrective measures are in place.
Furthermore, he noted that the authority would be unable to intervene in case of any issues arising from such transactions.
“By law since the National Petroleum Authority is in charge of the downstream industry, we’re to ensure that such illegal outlets do not operate,” he stressed.
There is the likelihood of a mass spread of the Human Immune Virus (HIV) in the country, according to the Ghana AIDS Commission, as over 100,000 individuals are oblivious to contracting the virus.
Director General of the Commission, Dr. Kyeremeh Atuahene, in an interview on JoyNews noted that the figure represents over 28% of HIV patients in the country.
“More than 28% of people living with HIV still do not know their HIV status because they have not tested. That represents about 100,000 people. They are spreading it unknowingly and that is not the best.”
According to him, the looming mass spread can be curtailed should citizens inculcate the habit of testing for HIV/AIDS frequently.
Doing so, he says, aids one’s treatment expeditiously.
“If you wait till you get AIDS before you go to the hospital, it will take a much longer time for you to recover in terms of boosting your immune system for it to regenerate and support your body, it takes a longer time,” he added.
Ghana AIDS Commission says it has mounted a search for the individuals who may be spreading the virus without being aware of it.
Meanwhile, the Commission is also looking at bringing HIV services to the doorstep of citizens and those in remote areas without adequate health facilities.
“There are people who are under-served when it comes to HIV services. Some are hard to reach and they may not have the opportunity to get any of the services so bringing the services to their doorstep will enable those who fear to know their status to at least start the process by testing to see whether they are reactive or not,” he added.
Ahead of the New Patriotic Party‘s (NPP) super delegates conference to sieve out the number of presidential hopefuls for the party’s primaries, a spiritual interpretation into the ballot numbers selected by each aspirant has surfaced.
On the ballot, Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong appears first, followed by former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen in the second position.
Essikado-Ketan MP Joe Ghartey comes in at number three, Energy Expert Kwadwo Poku at number four, while Dr Afriyie Akoto, former Minister for Food and Agriculture will take the fifth position.
Also, former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong is sixth on the ballot, former Member of Parliament for Mampong Constituency Addai Nimo takes the seventh slot, followed by former Trade Minister Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku at number eight.
Mr. Boakye Agyarko, a former Energy Minister is at number nine and lastly, the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is at number 10.
According to NPP stalwart, Rev. Dr Adom Tuffuor, each of the numbers has a spiritual connotation. He is said to be equipped in the study of numbers – numerology or numeration.
Prior to the explanation, he noted that the significance does not have any direct relationship with the associated aspirants and that “all candidates must work towards winning”.
Number 1 – This signifies creation or the beginning. According to Rev, Dr Tuffuor, this is a number that represents God Almighty. “It also depicts unity,” he added.
He recounted a revelation he had in 2020 where the NPP leadership and government officials had met at the Jubilee House to look at ways to combat corruption.
During discussions, he noted that all but one remained. According to him, the said individual who stayed put forms part of the 10 individuals contesting for the flagbearership position. He withheld the identity of the said individual.
Number 2 – This represents “Witness”. It can also stand for division or separation.
“The Bible says how can two walk together unless they agree,” he said.
Number 3 – The God-head. This, he said shows the trinity of God Almighty – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. For him, it symbolizes “divine completeness”. It also signifies obedience, imitate and likeness.
Number 4 – This number he said signifies Creation. It also stands for the four seasons as well as kingdom, with respect to power or dominance.
Number 5 – This signifies Grace. It also represents atonement, service. Individuals within this region, he says serve.
Number 9 – The number represents fruitfulness. This is an individual who he says will have a massive impact on the country.
Number 10 – This shows law and order. According to him, such an individual is law abiding and ensures all respect the law. This is also a number that represents trial, test and responsibility.
After the explanation, Rev. Dr Adom Tuffuor reiterated that each candidate must justify his inclusion as the numbers does not automatically have an effect on one’s life.
Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has charged his nine contenders in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential race not to lose focus of their goal in contesting for the flagbearership position.
According to the Vice President, the objective is for the NPP to beat the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) come December 7, 2024, hence all should work in unity irrespective of the outcome of the party’s primaries in November this year.
“As a family, all factions must recognize that a united front is necessary to confront the NDC,” Dr. Bawumia stated in Kumasi during a campaign tour to party delegates.
To ensure disunity does not rear its ugly head after the NPP primaries, the Vice President has entreated all presidential aspirants to thread carefully while campaigning.
He advised against the use of ill words and strategies that wreak of malice.
Depicting the adage that ‘Charity begins at home’, he said: “I have instructed all my supporters and spokespersons that we must conduct a clean campaign, avoiding any form of insults.”
The NPP is scheduled to elect its flagbearer for the 2024 elections on November 4.
Ten flagbearer hopefuls have been cleared to participate in the upcoming elections.
The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has completed the balloting for its ten presidential aspirants for the super delegates conference slated for August 26.
The balloting came off on Wednesday, July 26, at a meeting which sought to address the concerns of aspirants about the impending election.
On the ballot, Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong appears first, followed by former Trade Minister Alan Kyerematen in the second position.
Essikado-Ketan MP Joe Ghartey comes in at number three, Energy Expert Kwadwo Poku at number four, while Dr Afriyie Akoto, former Minister for Food and Agriculture will take the fifth position.
Also, former NPP General Secretary Kwabena Agyei Agyepong will be sixth on the ballot, Former member of Parliament for Mampong Constituency Addai Nimo takes the seventh slot followed by former Trade Minister Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku at number eight. Mr. Boakye Agyarko, a former Energy Minister is at number nine and lastly, the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is at number 10.
The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has officially launched Game Park Limited, a new lotto company in Ghana on Tuesday, August 1, 2023.
In attendance was former President John Agyekum Kufour who commended the National Lottery Authority (NLA) which plays the roles as a regulator and operator in the gaming space, for not monopolizing the space but opened it up for more companies.
According to former President Kufour, the coming of Game Park Limited will add variants of games for the Ghanaian public, adding that as a proponent of locally owned companies, he welcomes Game Park Limited, to the Ghanaian Commercial space and applaud them for venturing into the competitive lottery space to “dine with the big boys.”
He also averred that 17 years after passing the National Lotto Act, the NLA has transformed as an institution in working with third-party collaborators and private lotto operators to generate revenue for national development.
He recalled that during his tenure as President in 2006, the then Department of National Lotteries (DNL) was transformed into the National Lottery Authority (NLA).
He pointed out that the transformation reveals the significant role and immense support lottery plays through Good Causes worldwide, particularly in Health, Sports, Arts, Heritage, Education and the Environment.
“…the footprints of the NLA Good Causes Foundation, their Third Party Collaborators and Private Lotto Operators are dotted in our communities and institutions, touching more than 500,000 lives in the areas of Health, Education, Arts and Culture and Youth and Sports Development.”
Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor charged Game Park Limited to emulate the examples of NLA by setting up a foundation dedicated to supporting the good people of Ghana in the areas of Entrepreneurship, Mentorship Programs, Culture, Research and Science.
“Game Park Limited is a refreshing new addition to the lottery companies in Ghana, and I am confident you will succeed,” he said.
Director General of the NLA
On his part, the Director General of the NLA, Sammy Awuku who spoke largely on responsible gaming and compliance noted that the NLA recently attained its Level Two Certification in Responsible Gaming from the World Lottery Association and is working on achieving Level 3 Certification.
He said, as a regulator, the NLA is excited that Game Park Limited is committed to inculcating Responsible Gaming in their daily operations and urged Game Park to operate with the highest sense of integrity, ensuring that their players are always given the authentic results of their stakes.
Sammy Awuku commended Game Park Limited for fulfilling all their obligations with the National Lottery Authority to become a third Party Collaborator, promising to offer an even playing field for all NLA’s Third Party Collaborators.
Executive Director, Game Park Limited
In her welcome address, the Executive Director of Game Park Limited, Madam Bibi Bright said the journey of Game Park begun with a simple call from a Caribbean country to seek prospects in the Ghanaian Lottery space, amid several trips from Ghana to Jamaica and vice-versa, countless hours of phone conversations, satisfying obligations from the regulator.
She said, as a third party collaborator, licensed by the NLA, Game park is a wholly owned Ghanaian Company which draws its experience from its Technical Service Provider, Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL), which is a premier gaming and entertainment provider in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
“Game Park is here to provide Ghanaians with exciting new games that have the best odds, are easy to play, easier to win and offer more. On 26th July, we introduced our first Game PICK 4 to the Ghanaian public while unveiling our ultra-modern studio, the Black Star Studio, where our live Draws are held at 9:00 AM, 12 Noon and 6:00 PM. These Draws are also broadcast live on Adom TV and Facebook for our viewing public,” she said.
She added that Game Park Limited is the option players have been waiting for in the lottery space, and the company is here to satisfy that craving.
Supreme Ventures Group
Chairman of Supreme Ventures Group Mr. Gary Peart said the company officially recognize the launch of Game Park Limited, a new lottery company on the Ghanaian landscape that represents a partnership between Jamaica and Ghana that holds so much more than economic and commercial significance.
“Yes, we’re very excited to support bringing a new dimension of gaming to Ghana and by extension the expansion of the industry, however, we must also pause to reflect on and appreciate the magnitude of the historical significance of this day,” he said.
Former President John Agyekum Kufour has charged the newly launched lotto company, Game Park Limited to emulate the examples of its regulator; the National Lottery Authority (NLA) by setting up a foundation dedicated to supporting the good people of Ghana in the areas of Entrepreneurship, Mentorship Programs, Culture, Research and Science.
He said Game Park Limited is a refreshing new addition to the lottery companies in Ghana, and he is confident that the company will succeed.
Mr. John Agyekum Kufour said this when he addressed the official launch of Game Park Limited in Accra.
He said, the footprints of the NLA Good Causes Foundation are dotted in our communities and institutions, touching more than 500,000 lives in the areas of Health, Education, Arts and Culture and Youth and Sports Development.
According to former president Kufour the coming of Game Park Limited will add variants of games for the Ghanaian public, adding that as a proponent of locally owned companies, he welcomes Game Park Limited, to the Ghanaian Commercial space and applaud them for venturing into the competitive lottery space to “dine with the big boys.”
Former President Kufour also averred that 17 years of passing the National Lotto Act, the NLA has transformed as an institution in working with third-party collaborators and private lotto operators to generate revenue for national development.
He pointed out that the transformation reveals the significant role and immense support lottery plays through Good Causes worldwide, particularly in Health, Sports, Arts, Heritage, Education and the Environment.
He commended the National Lottery Authority (NLA) which plays the roles as a regulator and operator in the gaming space, for not monopolizing the space but opened it up for more companies.
Director General of the NLA
On his part, the Director General of the NLA, Sammy Awuku who spoke largely on responsible gaming and compliance noted that the NLA recently attained its Level Two Certification in Responsible Gaming from the World Lottery Association and is working on achieving Level 3 Certification.
He said, as a regulator, the NLA is excited that Game Park Limited is committed to inculcating Responsible Gaming in their daily operations and urged Game Park to operate with the highest sense of integrity, ensuring that their players are always given the authentic results of their stakes.
Sammy Awuku commended Game Park Limited for fulfilling all their obligations with the National Lottery Authority to become a third Party Collaborator, promising to we offer an even playing field for all NLA’s Third Party Collaborators.
Executive Director, Game Park Limited
In her welcome address, the Executive Director of Game Park Limited, Madam Bibi Bright said the journey of Game Park begun with a simple call from a Caribbean country to seek prospects in the Ghanaian Lottery space, amid several trips from Ghana to Jamaica and vice-versa, countless hours of phone conversations, satisfying obligations from the regulator.
She said, as a third party collaborator, licensed by the NLA, Game park is a wholly owned Ghanaian Company which draws its experience from its Technical Service Provider, Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL), which is a premier gaming and entertainment provider in Jamaica and the Caribbean.
“Game Park is here to provide Ghanaians with exciting new games that have the best odds, are easy to play, easier to win and offer more. On 26th July, we introduced our first Game PICK 4 to the Ghanaian public while unveiling our ultra-modern studio, the Black Star Studio, where our live Draws are held at 9:00 AM, 12 Noon and 6:00 PM. These Draws are also broadcast live on Adom TV and Facebook for our viewing public,” she said.
Supreme Ventures Group
Chairman of Supreme Ventures Group Mr. Gary Peart said the company officially recognize the launch of Game Park Limited, a new lottery company on the Ghanaian landscape that represents a partnership between Jamaica and Ghana that holds so much more than economic and commercial significance.
“Yes, we’re very excited to support bringing a new dimension of gaming to Ghana and by extension the expansion of the industry, however, we must also pause to reflect on and appreciate the magnitude of the historical significance of this day,” he said.
A presidential hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has called on the leadership of the party to establish businesses that would support the growth of the country and inure to the benefit of its supporters.
Speaking on JoyNews, the former Agric Minister noted that there are concerns by party faithful over lack of employment and economic hardship.
As a solution, Dr Afriyie Akoto entreated the party to venture into active businesses to provide jobs for its supporters, arguing that political parties such as the African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa has several companies providing job opportunities.
“We need to fix this party in order that we can sustain ourselves in power come December 2024. We have a lot of contracts. Government is the biggest business in this country.
“If the military can have companies to do business, why can’t political parties. The ANC in South Africa owns mines, manufacturing concessions, insurance companies and so on. We have to be more entrepreneurial.
“As a key to ‘we have nothing’ the party as a body should have some business edge to raise income for themselves,” he said.
The ANC has had a strong presence in various sectors of the South African economy, particularly through its investment arm, Chancellor House Holdings (Pty) Ltd.
Chancellor House was established to fund the ANC’s activities during the struggle against apartheid.
Over the years, it has invested in various business ventures, including energy, construction, and telecommunications.
During a meeting over the weekend, delegates in the Assin Central Constituency showed their defiance against the dictatorial orders of the Constituency Chairman Attakora Amaniammpong.
Despite being allegedly ordered not to accept and wear Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s t-shirts, the delegates resisted the chairman’s directives and chose to wear the t-shirts during their meeting with the Vice President.
Attakora Amaniammpong, the Constituency Chairman for Assin Central, had allegedly instructed the polling station executives and electoral area coordinators not to accept or wear Dr. Bawumia’s t-shirts when he visited Assin Central as part of his Central Regional tour on Sunday, July 30, 2023.
However, the delegates chose to exercise their own judgment and asserted their support for the Vice President by wearing the t-shirts despite the Chairman’s orders.
“We were told never to accept any t-shirt from the Bawumia campaign team for obvious reasons, but we have decided not to abide by this order” a polling station chairman stated.
Another delegate spoke about the order and why they had decided to defy it.
“This is democracy. We are one party and family. Why should we mistreat Dr. Bawumia because an aspirant comes from here? If Dr. Bawumia wins, how can we go out there to campaign for him to become president if we maltreat him today? This is why I am in his t-shirt,” he intimated.
The delegates heartily welcomed Vice President Bawumia as they praised him for his competent leadership.
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia is on his campaign tour in the Central Region and visited the Assin Central Constituency.
51-year-old carpenter, Solomon Boye Borquaye, has been remanded into police custody after allegedly collecting GHC300,000 from an entrepreneur with the promise of providing 9.81 acres of land in Oyibi for a factory project.
He faces charges of defrauding by false pretenses but has pleaded not guilty.
Borquaye’s bail plea, presented by Mr. J. K. Yeboah, stated that he has a fixed place of abode and would appear in court if granted bail.
However, the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Richard Amoah, opposed the grant of bail, citing Borquaye’s previous conduct before another Circuit Court, which suggested he might not be available for trial.
Consequently, the accused was remanded by the trial judge until August 10, 2023, when he is expected to reappear in court presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah.
The prosecution’s case states that in August 2020, the complainant, a 33-year-old entrepreneur from Osu, Accra, sought to purchase land for a factory project.
He was introduced to Borquaye by a land agent and agreed to purchase 9.81 acres of land in Oyibi for GHC1,200,000.
A deposit of GHC300,000 was made, but later, another individual, Sampson Aaron Dontoh, claimed ownership of the land, stating it was registered under his company’s name with Land Title Certificate number TDA 0567.
When informed about the situation, Borquaye offered the complainant an alternative piece of land, but another person, Ibrahim Mahama, also laid claim to it.
The complainant reported the matter to the police, and Borquaye failed to show up when invited for questioning. He was eventually arrested after investigations and admitted to the offense during his caution statement.
Interior Minister Ambrose Dery has refuted claims that 34-year-old Salahudeen Tafilu, who passed away in Dagombaline, was subjected to police brutality and killed by the police.
Relatives and friends of the deceased have leveled accusations against the police, alleging that Salahudeen was subjected to mistreatment, which ultimately resulted in his untimely death on Sunday, July 23, 2023.
The situation escalated when the police conducted a swoop in the Gooro community, leading to the arrest of numerous civilians, including Salahudeen.
Subsequently, after the police officers departed from the area, the lifeless body of Salahudeen was found, intensifying concerns and suspicions about the circumstances surrounding his demise.
But speaking on the floor of the House on Tuesday, August 1, 2023, in response to an invitation to address the matter, the Interior Minister, while recounting reports from the Police said: “The arresting officers allege that the deceased while running away hit himself against a wall and fell down.”
“Shortly after his arrest the deceased who was handcuffed together with other persons, exhibited some signs of sickness. As a result, the handcuffs were taken off him, and he was released by the police while the others were taken away to the Asawase police station. On the same day, one Alhaji Mohammed Salifu Ibrahim, father of the deceased reported to the Asawase Police Station that Salahudeen was one of the people arrested by the police during the operation and later released to go had been sent to Mahyia Government Hospital for medical attention but had been pronounced dead while being attended to by a medical officer,” he added.
According to the Interior Minister, his outfit is awaiting a report from the Police Professional Standard Bureau for further action.
An autopsy report, per reports from the media, says 34-year-old Salahudeen Tafilu died due to massive blood in his abdominal cavity.
The report also revealed that Salahudeen experienced a splenic rupture and blunt force trauma, which contributed to the tragic outcome.
Students at the Loggu Community Day Senior High School (SHS) in the Wa West District can now find relief from the challenges they faced in class due to eye problems.
Bliss Eye Care, a private eye clinic in Wa, conducted free eye screening and treatment services for the students under the Blissful Sight for Kids (BS4Ks) Project as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.
The project also extended its services to children in basic schools within the Loggu Circuit, in partnership with the Wa East District Education Directorate.
A total of 438 children were screened during the exercise, with 95 of them having normal eyes, 328 identified with pathological issues and provided medication, 14 found to have refractive errors and given eyeglasses, and one person screened for cataract and glaucoma.
The students expressed their gratitude to Bliss Eye Care and its partners for the free services, which would enable them to actively participate in their academic activities.
One of the students, Master Imoro Adams, shared his appreciation, mentioning that he was unsure how he could afford a new lens for reading after his old one expired.
However, through the screening, he received the necessary eyeglasses, alleviating his concerns and allowing him to study with ease.
Master Musah Inusah, another student said, “Sometimes when I am reading at a point, I will see the words blurred and I cannot read again so I must sit down for some time before I can see to read again.
Sometimes I must strain my eyes before I can read, so I am very grateful to the doctor and anyone who is supporting him,” he added.
Founder and Manager of Bliss Eye Care, Dr. Zakarea Al-hassan Balure, emphasized the significance of regular eye screening and proper treatment, particularly for children, to prevent avoidable vision impairment.
He expressed concern about children with eye problems receiving traditional medication instead of seeking proper medical treatment. Dr. Balure shared an instance of a child who had been suffering from eye issues for three years due to this practice.
Dr. Balure appealed to parents and guardians to prioritize seeking proper eye treatment from health facilities and eye specialists rather than relying on traditional remedies, which could lead to irreversible sight loss.
Mr. Sobo Abdul-Lateef Jabir, representing the District Education Director at the Wa East District Education Directorate, expressed gratitude to Bliss Eye Care for their intervention. He stressed the importance of good eyesight for children’s learning and highlighted the significance of early detection and treatment of eye problems in children.
Mr. Jabir further requested that the clinic also consider organizing eye screening exercises for teachers in the district to enhance teaching and learning.
Students of Ahantaman Girls’ Senior High School (SHS) in the Western Region have made a passionate plea to the government and corporate bodies for assistance in constructing a modern library complex with sufficient books.
During the 75th Anniversary celebration of the school, the Head Girl, Ms. Sheridan Sam Onuawontoh, conveyed the students’ request, highlighting the pressing need for a modern library facility to enhance the teaching and learning process.
The current library, which is an old classroom block, can only accommodate 40 students at a time, despite the school having a student population of 2,728.
Ms. Onuawontoh expressed concern that the existing books in the library were outdated and not suitable for the technologically inclined students of today.
She emphasized that the current library did not reflect the school’s status after 75 years of existence.
The Head Girl earnestly appealed to the government, corporate individuals, and institutions to urgently provide support in constructing a library complex.
Such an initiative would foster a reading and learning culture among students, ultimately improving their academic performances.
Headmistress of the School, Miss Ernestina Kankam, echoed the students’ sentiments and emphasized the importance of government and relevant authorities’ assistance in establishing a library complex, noting that the school had been without one for its entire 75-year history.
She said its absence affected the reading culture among students at the school and appealed to authorities to construct one for them.
“A library complex is a dire need in today’s 21st-century education. Imagine for a moment that Ahantaman Girls’ SHS is fully equipped with a modern library, we would make a much greater impact than we already have without a library”, Ms Kankam added.
In response to the students’ plea, the Western Regional Minister, Mr. Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, pledged to contribute GHC 50,000 and provide bags of cement to initiate the construction of a modern library facility.
In addition to the Minister’s pledge, other stakeholders, past students, and parents of current students also made monetary donations as part of their contributions to support the construction of the library complex.
The theme of the school’s 75th Anniversary celebration was “75 Years of Promoting Discipline as a Tool for STEM Education: The Role of Stakeholders.”
The event highlighted the significant role played by various stakeholders in promoting discipline and STEM education within the school over the past 75 years.
The Mayor of Houston, Texas, USA, Sylvester Turner, this week led an eleven-member delegation to pay a courtesy call on the Mayor of Accra and explore potential areas of trade and investment.
During their eight-day trip, the delegation aims to identify opportunities for collaboration and enhance the already existing political connections between Ghana and Houston.
The visit is part of a trade and investment drive to strengthen the bilateral relations between the two regions.
Mr Sylvester Turner, in his remarks, said, “We are looking at ways to further the relationship and build on it in several areas. This is a smaller portion of the 30-member delegation.”
“We have the Director of the Houston Sports Authority, people from the General Business Community, and the Energy Sector as well. We’re looking at ways that we can partner to establish mutual relationships that will be a win-win for both cities,” he said.
Mayor of Accra, Madam Elizabeth Kwatsoe Tawiah Sackey, expressed her appreciation for the decision to collaborate and leverage opportunities between Accra and the other city (not mentioned in the previous text) to promote various sectors such as arts and culture, tourism, investment, and education.
She highlighted that the Accra Assembly’s key areas of focus have been empowering women and children and creating opportunities for persons living with disabilities within the city.
To further emphasize the importance of environmental protection and encourage prompt action, Madam Sackey announced plans to install the first climate clock in the Central Business District of Accra.
This clock will serve as a countdown to raise awareness about preventing global warming from surpassing 1.5°C. She called for the support of all residents to keep the city clean and beautiful as part of the #ActInTime initiative.
Minister for Information, Mr. Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah, has emphasized the government’s commitment to creating an investment-friendly environment that fosters entrepreneurship and boosts productivity.
Speaking at the 23rd Graduation ceremony of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in Accra, the stressed the importance of enhancing collaborations with academia, industry, and citizens to ensure that education and training align with the changing needs of society.
The graduation event, held in three sessions starting from Friday, July 28, 2023, saw a total of 1000 graduates from various disciplines, including the Faculty of Law, School of Technology, School of Public Service and Governance, Business School, School of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, as well as PhD and Masters Degree students.
Mr. Oppong-Nkrumah emphasized the government’s reliance on data and empirical evidence to shape and implement policies and programs effectively.
Furthermore, he encouraged industry players to invest in education by offering scholarships, grants, and contributing to the infrastructural development of higher learning institutions in the country.
This collaboration between the private sector and educational institutions would play a crucial role in shaping a bright future for Ghana’s development.
According to the Minister, establishing a strong synergy between academia and industry is crucial in providing graduates with a well-rounded education that enables them to be effective in their work.
He emphasized that industry players have a significant role to play in this regard by investing in research and development, encouraging innovation, and addressing emerging challenges and opportunities.
“By creating an environment that encourages entrepreneurship and fostering innovation, we can unlock opportunities and generate sustainable employment for the graduates,” he added.
Professor Samuel Kwaku Bonsu, the Rector of GIMPA, revealed that the Institute has taken significant measures to establish itself as a Center of Excellence.
One of these steps includes the formulation of a new vision for the Institute, along with a proposed Strategic Plan. The development of this Plan involved extensive consultations with the Institute’s stakeholders and the wider community.
The primary objective of the Strategic Plan is to revitalize GIMPA’s legacy and secure its continuous growth and prominence in the years to come.
Prof. Bonsu emphasized that the past year was dedicated to laying the necessary groundwork to achieve the goals outlined in the Plan, with the ultimate aim of becoming a leading Institute of higher learning.
“We have emphasised building integrity and discipline in the system and have commenced a sensitization drive to emphasise quality and to develop a KPI-based performance culture, he added.
2020 National Democratic Congress (NDC) running mate to John Mahama, Professor Naana Opoku Agyemang, has offered valuable advice to the party’s Women’s Wing.
During the Ahafo Regional NDC Women’s Wing Conference in Goaso, Professor Naana Opoku Agyemang urged them to adopt a campaign strategy that avoids insults and disrespect as the party prepares for the 2024 elections.
Based on her research, Prof. Agyemang emphasized that political parties that resort to campaigns filled with insults and disrespect tend to struggle in winning power. She urged the women campaigning for the NDC to refrain from such behavior.
According to the Professor, insults and disrespect do not play a significant role in gaining political power.
Therefore, she called upon the party members to be mindful of their conduct and to focus on constructive and positive approaches in their efforts to unseat the NPP and attain victory in the upcoming elections.
“The respect shown me means a lot to me and we should accord one another with this same respect. Looking back at our history as a nation, respect forms an important part of us and so there’s a lot of work to be done,” she explained.
Charity Gardiner, the Ahafo Regional Women’s Organiser for NDC, expressed the party’s commitment to providing comprehensive training sessions for its members, with a particular focus on women. These training programs are aimed at equipping members with valuable insights and knowledge in the field of politics.
“The number of women in politics is quite few even in the parliament. We are empowering and encouraging our women so that we will have a lot of them participating in elections from assembly to parliamentary henceforth. Training of this nature is what I am undertaking to empower my women in my region.”
Dr. Louisa Hannah Bissiw, the NDC Women’s Organiser, expressed her concerns about the failures of the NPP government across various aspects.
She lamented that the current economic situation has adversely affected women, leaving them in a difficult situation. Additionally, Dr. Bissiw criticized the school feeding program, stating that students are not receiving the intended benefits from it under the current government’s administration.
The British International Investment (BII), which serves as the United Kingdom’s Development Finance Institution, has revealed its plan to establish a new platform named Growth Investment Partners (GIP).
With a substantial commitment funding of US$50 million, the platform aims to extend support to 150 Ghanaian Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
GIP will serve as an attractive alternative investment option, offering long-term and flexible loans ranging from US$500,000 to US$5 million in the local currency. This initiative is designed to address the pressing funding needs of local businesses effectively.
In addition to the financial assistance, SMEs availing themselves of GIP’s services will receive valuable support in the form of business support services and capacity building. These areas of support will encompass financial management, corporate governance, and environmental and social practices. The ultimate goal is to foster the growth of the sector in a sustainable, productive, and inclusive manner.
Mr. Chris Chijiutomi, the Head of Africa at BII, announced this significant initiative in Accra on Monday, expressing the belief that GIP will contribute significantly to overcoming SMEs’ key challenge of accessing adequate funding. Moreover, it is expected to unlock the economic potential within the country, stimulating growth and development.
“SMEs are important to the Ghanaian economy as they create jobs and make a significant contribution to the country’s gross domestic product.
However, they face many challenges with accessing growth capital through traditional funding sources including high interest rates, short-term loans, high collateral requirements and currency mismatches,” he said.
Mr. Chijiutomi, the Head of Africa at BII, stated that Growth Investment Partners (GIP) aims to collaborate with relevant stakeholders to offer funding through various financing options. These funds are intended to address the capital requirements, which are estimated to be around $4.8 billion, to support the economic reforms of local businesses in the country.
Chief Executive and Investment Officer (CEIO), Mr. Jacob Kholi, mentioned that GIP will provide investment tenors ranging from five years to 10 years, based on the specific needs of each business. This flexible approach ensures that businesses receive suitable financial support to meet their respective goals and objectives.
“GIP is not providing subsidised funding and will price its products to earn a risk-adjusted return with the Ghana Reference Rate (GRR) as the basis,” he said.
According to Mr. Kholi, Small and Medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) seeking qualification for GIP’s support must meet specific criteria. These include having a turnover equivalent to the local currency of up to US$15 million, total assets up to US$15 million in the local currency equivalent, and employing a workforce of between 10 and 300 individuals.
Furthermore, the business must be incorporated in Ghana, with its primary operations based in the country, and at least 50 per cent of its revenues generated from activities within Ghana.
Mr. Kholi also clarified that certain sectors, namely mining, oil and gas, as well as ammunition/hard liquor/tobacco, are excluded from the GIP initiative.
Chairman of Growth Investment Partners Ghana LTD, Mr. Albert Essien, emphasized the critical areas for productive, sustainable, and inclusive growth of SMEs, which include adhering to good corporate governance, environmental and social practices, and maintaining sound financial management practices.
To complement GIP’s operations, the BII introduced the Ghana Investment Support Programme, a technical assistance initiative that assists SMEs in becoming investment-ready and offers post-investment support.
Mr. Essien highlighted that the BII previously sponsored the establishment of the Ghana Venture Capital Fund (GVCF), a US$6 million fund, alongside various Ghanaian institutions and Direct Foreign Investment.
The GVCF was the first venture capital fund to be established in Sub-Saharan Africa, outside of South Africa, with BII playing a pioneering role at the time, similar to its current involvement with GIP.
Deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Mr. Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, has stated that it would have better approach for the Police to consult the Attorney General before investigating Madam Cecilia Dapaah over her ‘stolen’ funds from her home.
He emphasized that considering the nature of the case, the complaint, the substantial amount of money involved, and the high level of public interest, seeking the Attorney General’s input would have been prudent.
During a discussion on the topic, “CECE DAPAAH $1M: Lifestyle Audit, Money Laundering, Code of Conduct Bill,” on an Accra-based television station, Mr. Tuah-Yeboah expressed his opinion.
He clarified that although the Police had the authority to conduct investigations, involving the Attorney General in the process could have been beneficial in handling the matter more effectively.
“The AG has exclusive authority by the constitution to initiate all criminal prosecutions on behalf of the republic. However, He is not able to prosecute all the cases and in view of that various entities or bodies have been given the permission to prosecute cases on its behalf and one of such institutions is the Police.”
“The AG office does not investigate cases-that lie with the Police and other security bodies so in the event that a complaint is lodged with the Police, they would have to investigate and after that go to court and prosecute on behalf of the AG,” he said.
He said the AG’s request for the case docket would not interfere with the work of the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
Mr. Alfred Tuah-Yeboah highlighted that upon reviewing the docket, the Attorney General (AG) could provide valuable advice on the charges related to the case. The AG’s guidance might recommend maintaining, dropping, or amending the charges.
This means that the charges could either stay as they are, be removed, or modified, potentially leading to an increase or decrease in their severity. Additionally, the AG might suggest new charges if relevant evidence supports it.
Furthermore, Mr. Tuah-Yeboah pointed out that the AG could advise the Police to conduct further investigations in areas that may have been overlooked during the initial inquiry. This way, any crucial information or evidence that was missed could be properly addressed to ensure a more comprehensive and accurate investigation.
“The OSP Act allows the OSP to investigate corruption related matters, procurement, lifestyle audit, etc. We are rather looking at stealing, dishonestly receiving, conspiracy amongst others. So, there is no attempt whatsoever to be in conflict with the work of the OSP,” he said.
“Officers at the AG are still reviewing the docket and afterwards, any one of these options may be activated. Possibly, within about a week or two, the AG would issue a letter to give advice on what should be done,” he said.
Minority leader Dr Cassiel Ato Forson on Monday shared a jest to emphasise Ghana’s debt situation.
Addressing the media following the presentation of the 2023 Mid Year Budget Review by the Finance Minister, the Minority leader indicated that Ghana has defaulted its external debt.
According to him, Ghana has failed to pay the debt it owes to Euro bond holders and countries such as China, Saudi Arabia, India, UK, Japan, France, Czech Republic.
He noted that the list goes on and “I don’t know of Togo but it could be that we owe them.”
He attributed the stability of the cedi against the dollar to the external debt default.
“The Ghana cedi has stabilized relatively because we have defaulted in the payment of our external debt.
If you are to look into the budget, we should have serviced our external debt, approximately 11 billion Ghana cedi,” he noted.
While presenting the Mid-Year budget review, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta noted that from February to July this year, the local currency has depreciated by “an impressive 1.84%”.
Cumulatively, the Ghana cedi depreciated by 22.1 percent against the US Dollar in the year to July 17, 2023.
This is in comparison to 21.1 percent depreciation recorded in the same period in 2022.
Statements from the Finance Minister indicates that in January 2023 alone, the cedi depreciated by 20 per cent.
Minority Leader, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has stated that the Ghanaian economy is contracting following a revision of government’s macro economic projections.
He made the statement during a presser on Monday, July 31, following the presentation of the 2023 Mid Year Budget Review by Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
Addressing Parliament, Mr Ofori-Atta indicated that total revenue generated and grants for the first half of 2023 was GH¢59.3 billion, representing 7.4% of GDP. This, he said, was 8.4 percent below the target of GH¢64.7 billion (8.1% of GDP).
Also, total expenditure of GH¢68.5 billion, which is 8.6% of GDP, was 26.3 percent below the programmed expenditure of GH¢92.9 billion (11.6% of GDP). This implies that government spent less.
“All other expenditure lines were contained within their respective targets for the period except for Compensation of Employees and Expenditure on Goods and Services.
The higher-than-programmed Compensation of Employees outturn stems from higher payments for wage and salaries from the implementation of the 30 percent Base Pay increase for Public Sector Workers which was agreed to after the 2023 Budget was presented and approved by this august House last year. We need to protect our workers,” the minister added.
In view of this, the Finance Minister noted that the overall Real GDP growth for 2023 has been revised to 1.5 percent from 2.8 percent.
Also, non-oil Real GDP growth has also been revised to 1.5 percent from 3.0 percent.
“The downward revision in projected growth for 2023 is an indication of a broad slowdown in the three sectors of the economy as a result of factors such as the fiscal consolidation plan and difficult global conditions,” the Minister explained.
Reacting to the Minister’s statement, the Minority leader stated: “It is wrong for him to say he has successfully turned the corner. That can never be the case.
“What he has successfully done is to deepen the woes of the ordinary Ghanaian.
“I say this for a simple reason. He has revised economic growth from 2.8 per cent of GDP to 1.5 per cent of GDP. This clearly shows that the economy is contracting and it is declining. And obviously it is going to affect jobs and the welfare of the ordinary Ghanaian.”
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin has cautioned legislators to take note of the amount of money they spend in catering for the demands of their constituents.
According to the Speaker, the necessary records must be drafted by MPs as they would be called to account for the funds utilised.
The Speaker noted that this forms part of efforts to foster accountability in the country, beginning with the arm of government that demands accountability from others.
“The first step towards accountability begins with oneself. Charity begins at home. We must hold ourselves accountable first before we can hold others accountable.
As you utilizing your funds, Honourable Members take note. You will be called upon to account for the use of Common Fund, GETFUND, National Health Insurance and whatever is entrusted into your care,” he warned.
Speaker Alban Bagbin made this known during the launch of the Citizen’s Bureau on Monday, July 31, 2023.
The objective of the Citizens Bureau is to facilitate engagements and information sharing between Parliament and Civil Society Organisations.
The Bureau is equally responsible for the formulation, implementation and reporting on Open Parliament Initiative under the Open Government Partnership.
Meanwhile, Speaker Bagbin has noted that Parliament led by the Parliamentary Service Board will be submitting numerous reports on the performance of Parliament.
These reports will also touch on the audited accounts of Parliament which will be deliberated on the floor of the House.
Source: The Independent Ghana | Andy Ogbarmey-Tettey
On Monday, 31st July, 2023, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel A. Jinapor, teamed up with the United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, the Rt. Hon. James Cleverly, to launch an innovative program aimed at supporting Ghana’s efforts to combat illegal mining.
Named the UK-Ghana Gold Mining Programme, this initiative seeks to eradicate illegal activities associated with small-scale mining by enhancing community resilience, advocating for regulatory reforms, and bolstering law enforcement efforts.
The program’s implementation will focus on the Ashanti, Savannah, and Western Regions of Ghana.
The Minister expressed the historical bond between Ghana and the United Kingdom, highlighting their collaborative efforts in executing impactful socio-economic policies and initiatives for the benefit of their citizens.
The gold mining program represents another significant joint endeavor by the two nations to address an important issue.
Hon. Samuel Jinapor pointed out that this initiative will complement existing government measures in the fight against illegal mining, such as the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP), Community Mining Schemes, and various law enforcement strategies.
Furthermore, he emphasized the strategic importance of the small-scale mining sector in Ghana’s economic development. The government’s interventions aim to address the sector’s challenges and promote sustainable and environmentally-friendly small-scale mining practices.
“The relationship between Ghana and the UK has been long-standing. The Ghanaian government has taken the issue of illegal mining seriously because apart from the impact o on our economy, its impact on the environment is dire. The government has taken some very bold steps like NALEP, Community Mining Scheme to ensure that we have community miners who adhere to be highest level of operational measures,” he said.
He commended the UK Government for the initiative, describing it as a ‘huge impetus’ and boost to the fight waged by Government against illegal mining.
He assured the preparedness of his Ministry to work effectively with the UK team to deliver in the programme.
The UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs praised the Ghanaian government for its strong actions against illegal mining, recognizing it as a courageous effort to serve the best interests of Ghanaians and protect them from the adverse environmental effects of illegal mining.
Expressing pride in the association with Ghana’s fight, the UK government pledged its commitment to provide necessary resources and personnel to support the cause.
Under the newly launched illegal gold-mining program, the UK and Ghanaian governments will collaborate closely to enhance community resilience, advocate for regulatory reforms, and bolster law enforcement efforts.
Over the course of three years, the UK government will contribute £3.9 million to complement Ghana’s endeavors in curbing illegal gold-mining activities in the Western, Ashanti, and Savannah Regions.
To ensure the program’s success and effectiveness, experts and officials from the UK government will collaborate with a Technical Team at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. Together, they will work towards achieving the program’s objectives and creating a positive impact on the small-scale mining sector in Ghana.
Prepare to be inspired by a story of triumph, innovation, and unwavering passion.
Just so you know, it was a bitter pill to swallow in the beginning as it was filled with failure and stubbornness. But after a soul-searching initiative, the journey became clear.
Many youthful Ghanaians are breaking barriers and setting themselves apart from the lot. In this article, we explore the remarkable journey of Anthony Dzamefe and the rise of Caveman Watches.
Anthony Dzamefe is the Chief Executive Officer of Caveman Watches, a company he founded in 2018.
Before the creation of Caveman Watches
Anthony says he had a stern upbringing together with three other brothers. His mum took the responsibility of their upbringing while his dad took care of the finances. However, when his dad did not have much, it was a painful experience since he would pour his frustration on the family.
Definitely not pleased by this, Anthony promised to be at least financially state at age 30.
So after his dad passed in 2012, Anthony at the age of about 21/22 decided to move to Accra to get a job despite studying for a degree at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
“I wanted to start my life early. I didn’t want to waste time,” he said on JoyNews’ Drive On Joy.
He was able to calm his worried much after indicating that he would live with one Mr David, a family friend, in Accra.
First job
Anthony’s first job was at a hotel. He was with the company’s marketing team.
He recalled how his stubborn attitude got him into trouble several times.
“I was always in trouble. I think for me, if a rule didn’t make sense to me, I was going to break it.”
He juggled working at the hotel with his musical career. The calm-looking man had so much interest in dancehall. He went to the studio to rap.
“I had some songs with Gemini. I was doing a lot of dancehall music. We just tried our hands at lot of things,” he said.
During his one-hour break at the hotel, he would rush to have interviews. This he said got his superior’s nerves who then decided to move him.
For Anthony, his stay at the hotel was the worst-ever as he felt he was not appreciated. According to him, his ideas were shut down and this affected his confidence.
“Getting there, I felt my creativity was suppressed. I started holding back my ideas.”
One day, he was told he would be moving to the airport as the company has a lounge he would be operating. The catch was that he was social, hence would be able relate with the customers. Since he was fed up, this was good news.
But upon arrival at the airport, he realised there was no lounge and his position at the hotel had been occupied. The hotel authority assured him they were working on a lounge and would have settle with receiving guests heading to the hotel when they arrive at the airport.
“I go to the hotel, they give me the list of guests they are expecting and they add a placard. So you go to the airport, you go to the arrival hall and when you hear the flight land, you stand and hold the placard above your head.”
He did that for a year. During that period, he had an encounter that brought back his old self – an identity he had lost due to the negativity around.
“One day he was going to work and bought a book, Business secret from the Bible, ought of curiosity I just bought the book. While I sat at the airport waiting for the flights to arrive, I was just flipping through the book and reading. I started having this urge, a confidence I had lost in myself coming back somehow. I was getting ideas, writing things down on the pages,” he said.
After this, he resigned.
A new Chapter – Hope and a compass
Anthony resorted to street hawking. He started by selling suits he picked up from Circle.
“I didn’t have a job, I was trying to sell things. I’ll come to Circle and buy suits to sell to people to make some money. I’d sit in the trotro with my last money.”
He also tried to do business with some musicians where they would play for individuals who would be thrown surprise parties by their loved ones.
“It didn’t last because that is not what they wanted to do. They wanted to do music where they would be famous,” he recounted.
The encounter
In 2015, he one day walked into a shop to buy a wrist watch for the first time his life. He was hit with a bad news. The money he carried, 50 cedis, was far less than the watch he wanted to purchase – 150 cedis.
No other alternative left, he then decided to get a watch with the amount he had online.
After, he put the watch on my wrist and took a picture.
“I posted the picture on my WhatsApp DP. Somebody saw it and showed interest. He said nice watch, are you selling it, I said yes.”
That was the first wristwatch he sold. He bought two more watches from his source from the principal and profit he had made.
“That’s how I started selling watches. It was better than what I was earning at the hotel. I was earning GH500,” Anthony noted.
He sold watches about three years at people’s offices, car parks and in traffic.
Adding value and finding a loophole
During the time he sold wristwatches, Anthony found a gap in the market as no one was selling just watches. They either sold wristwatches with perfumes, shoes, others.
“I decided to do just that. I stuck to just watches so I could build that industry. I wanted to be the guy who deals in watches and nothing else in Ghana” – that was Anthony’s dream.
He then decided to learn watch repairs from experts at the roadside. He also took interest in fixing the leathers of watches.
“I went to Kantamanto and apprenticed for one shoe maker to learn leather craft to make leather straps. So everything about the watch industry was coming to me. I was gaining enough knowledge and experience in that field.
He literally became obsessed with wrist watches. He at that time called his business Time Piece GH.
Originating Caveman Watches
It wasn’t until 2018 that it dawned on Anthony that locally made wristwatches was not a thing – at least he couldn’t find any.
With the skills he had garnered, he decided to assembly what he had learnt so he practiced with faulty watches.
He took out their components and successfully created a new watch. “It was working,” he recounted.
So since then, he started making his own watches with the brand Caveman Watches.
It has been a lustrum since the creation of Caveman Watches and Anthony believes he has more to offer. He already has been recognised for his achievements.
Awards won by Anthony Dzamefe
100 most influential young leaders Africa-(2021)
Avance media-50 most influential young Ghanaians-(2021)
Africa Youth Awards- Entrepreneur of the year-(2020)
Global Icon Youth Entrepreneur- Honoree of the Hall of Excellence (YEA HONOREE) -(2019)
Technology and Innovation Entrepreneur of the year at the Ghana Forty Under 40 award- (2019)
The YCEO Top 50 young CEO’s-(2019)
Young Achievers Summit-Overall Entrepreneur of the year (2019)
Future of Ghana-Top 30 pioneers for (2019)
Awards won by Caveman GH
Emy Africa Awards – Brand of the year (2021)
Ghana Manufacturing Awards – Product of the year- The Blue Volta Watch (2021)
Ghana Manufacturing Awards – Watch manufacturing company of the year (2021)
Young Achievers Summit – Emerging Brand of the year (2019)
The Human Rights Division of the High Court in Accra has given the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) a 14-day ultimatum to produce its affidavit in response to an application filed by Charles Bissue concerning the enforcement of his fundamental human rights.
Charles Bissue, along with his legal representatives, has taken the OSP to court to address issues related to the protection of his fundamental human rights.
The court previously served the originating motion for the enforcement of fundamental human rights to the OSP on June 15, 2023, and according to Order 64, rule 4, the OSP was required to file an affidavit in response within 21 days. However, it has been more than 36 days since the OSP received the motion, and no action has been taken.
In the latest development, upon a plea from counsel for Charles Bissue, Nana Baffour-Awuah Agyei, the Judge, Barbara Tetteh Charway, has ordered the OSP to file its affidavit in response to the application within 14 days.
Furthermore, due to the OSP’s failure to submit the required affidavit, the court has imposed a GH¢1,000 cost against the OSP.
The case has been adjourned to 4th September 2023.
MP for Madina Constituency, Francis Xavier Sosu, says the passage of the bill that criminalizes the declaration, accusation, naming, or labelling of another person as a witch will result in the disbandment of witches camps across the country.
Mr. Sosu informed the media that the new law explicitly makes these camps illegal, rendering them unable to continue their operation.
“By the passing of this law, it means that all witch camps stand proscribed. The law also requires that within a period the Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection will take steps to reintegrate people who are being held in various camps,” he stated.
“The reintegration may take various forms because when we visited the various camps there were some of the camps that is essentially like a home for some of them. So their reintegration may probably be that providing support for them where they are. Others may require that they may go back to their homes,” the Madina MP added.
Mr. Sosu expressed his firm belief that, in any approach taken, the Gender Ministry and the Social Protection unit will diligently carry out their mandate to ensure the protection and secure reintegration of individuals branded as witches back into society.
On Thursday, Parliament approved a law that criminalizes the act of declaring, accusing, naming, or labelling another person as a witch in Ghana. The amendment also prohibits the practice of witch doctors or witchfinders.
As a co-sponsor of the bill, Francis Xavier Sosu, the MP for Madina, expressed his enthusiasm, stating that this legislative passage is excellent news for all.
“The reason is that for all the 539 persons who are locked up in witch camps currently, they are looking forward to us taking some decisive steps to deal with this situation. This problem has lived with us for over 100 years to the extent that this 8th Parliament has found it needful to pass this law into law.”
“For me, it is definitely going to bring about a very serious mind shift. It is going to correct a lot of the ills in our society and I am confident that we are just building a better society for ourselves.”
In 2021, three Members of Parliament introduced the Private Members’ Bill to amend the Criminal and Other Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) to prohibit the practice by any person as a witch doctor or witchfinder.
The sponsors are MPs for Madina, Pusiga and Wa East constituencies, Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu, Hajia Laadi Ayii Ayamba and Dr. Godfred Seidu Jasaw respectively.
On Friday, July 28, 2023, Parliament successfully passed the Wildlife Resources Management Bill 2022 after its third reading.
The motion was presented by Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources responsible for Lands and Forestry, Benito Owusu-Bio, on behalf of the Sector Minister, Samuel A. Jinapor.
The main objective of the bill is to revise and consolidate all laws pertaining to Wildlife and Protected Areas, aligning them with existing policies and emerging trends in the natural resources sector. Furthermore, the legislation will facilitate the effective implementation of International Conventions on Wildlife, to which Ghana is a signatory.
The newly passed legislation will also grant legal support to local communities in wildlife management through the establishment of Community Resource Management Areas (CREMAs).
Additionally, the bill introduces stricter penalties and sanctions for wildlife offenses, aiming to serve as a deterrent and protect wildlife resources effectively.
The Government, represented by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, expresses its gratitude and commendation to all stakeholders and key actors for their valuable contributions and support throughout the review process, culminating in the successful passage of the Bill as a new piece of legislation.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram, Sam Nartey George is calling for a defamation suit against his colleague, Dr. Kingsley Nyarko, the MP for Kwadaso.
He wants former Deputy Information Minister, Felix Kwakye Ofosu to take legal actions against Dr Nyarko for disseminating rumours that the former government official acquired huge sums of money through illegal channels.
During a discussion centering on the amount of money allegedly stolen from the house of former Sanitation Minister on Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV, the Kwadaso MP claimed that Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu bought 2 houses at the cost of $3 million with illegal funds.
He cited the late Jerry John Rawlings as the source of the information.
“Our own good friend, Felix Kwakye-Ofosu, Rawlings said he was able to buy 2 houses, one costing $1.5m. I am quoting a source that Rawlings said that. I have the video. Felix got those monies illegally,” he said.
Displeased by the comment, Mr Sam George asked Dr Nyarko to provide evidence to his claim. With the absence of evidence, he suggested that Felix Kwakye-Ofosu takes legal action against the Kwadaso MP.
Do you have any proof? I think Felix should begin to sue people like you. You should stop peddling falsehood. Do you know where Felix lives?
Did you hear Rawlings say that? Felix did not pay such monies. Stop that,” Mr George noted.
With regards to the Cecilia Dapaah looted cash case, Dr Nyarko noted that it is unwise for politicians in the opposition NDC to create the idea that politicians with money acquired them illegally. According to him, it may haunt them in the future.
“The political class, we have to be mindful. We don’t have to create the impression that any politician who has some form of money, that money was gotten through political maneuvering,” he advocated.
In response, the Ningo-Prampram MP said: “The politicians in your party who are giving politicians a bad name.”
Rawlings VS Kwakye Ofosu
The late J.J. Rawlings, 2018’s June 4th celebration, alleged that a member of the erstwhile Mahama administration, bought two mansions worth 3 million US Dollars.
Without mentioning Kwakye Ofosu’s name, the former president said the minister was a ‘small little character’ who served as a deputy minister.
Many political watchers suspected it was the former deputy communications minister the ex-president was referring to.
Felix Kwakye Ofosu, descended heavily on former President Jerry John Rawlings.
“…You cannot say you are an elderly person and yet when you are informed that someone has done something wrong, you won’t even investigate the matter thoroughly before commenting openly, accusing the person wrongly just like that.
“Because he is an elderly person whose words are taken as the gospel truth, that is the reason why he should have been mindful of his utterances in order not to malign someone on the basis of allegation without proof and that is why Ghanaians ought to be disappointed,” he stated.
Cecilia Dapaah
Former Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour, are reported to have been robbed by two of their house helps in their home in Abelemkpe, Accra.
The two, 18-year-old Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei are said to have undertaken their operation between July and October 2022.
At an Accra Circuit Court, Patience and Sarah are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing, which include amounts of US$1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana Cedis.
Clothes valued at GH¢95,000, handbags, perfumes, and jewelry worth US$95,000 were reportedly stolen as well.
Three other individuals have also been charged in connection with the theft being investigated.
Renowned Kenyan lawyer and activist, Professor Patrick Lumumba, has praised former President Prof John Evans Atta Mills for his dedicated service to Ghana, despite his relatively short time in office.
Prof Lumumba highlighted that unlike some other leaders, the late president was not tainted by corruption or arrogance.
He eulogized Atta Mills on Thursday, emphasizing that his presidency demonstrated that true leadership is not solely about the duration of one’s tenure but rather about the quality of leadership and the impact made during that time.
“To commemorate the life and times of President Atta Mills, a number of questions must come to mind. History recalls, and will continue to do so, until it is otherwise proven, that he was the shortest serving President of Ghana.”
“But his footprints in the sands of time tell us that it’s not how long you serve that matters but how well you serve. So the first message that we are sending out today to Africans is that longevity in office in and of itself is not what makes one great but the quality of service.”
He called out leaders who refuse to leave power, stating that “their refusal to leave the stage has made Africa the poorer.”
Prof Lumumba called on other leaders to be more like the former president, adding that one of Atta Mills’ greatest claims to fame was humility.
“We are reminding them that Atta Mills was the personification of humility and if Africa is to be great we must have men and women who are humble because humility is the mother’s milk of servant leadership,” he stated.
Experts such as Rachael Elward, who has a Ph.D in the cognitive neuroscience of memory, say a child should usually be able to start remembering this consistently at the age of about 4.
This is because, that is when the hippocampus, a part of the brain found in the temporal lobe which aids in learning and memory should be ready.
It appears there is an exception because a 3-year-old Ghanaian boy who studies at home primarily is able to recall things that even an adult may find it difficult to memorize.
In a video shared by Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), this minor, whose identity is currently unknown, correctly names the current national executives of the party.
In the video, a female voice poses the questions and he answers them correctly one after the other.
Right from the National Chairman to General Secretary and his deputy, Communications Officer, he names the respective name being Asiedu Nketiah, Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, Barbara Serwaa Asamoah and Sammy Gyamfi.
He also knows who the MP for Tema East, in the person of Isaac Ashai Odamtten.
Mr Sammy Gyamfi is mesmerized by the kid is currently searching for his whereabouts.
Previous studies led scientists to believe that the hippocampus was fully formed around age 6.
But new research from the Max Planck Institutes in Germany and the University of Stirling in Scotland found that the hippocampus is actually still forming until the early teens.
Former Central Regional Chair of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Allotey Jacobs, says the controversary surrounding former Sanitation Minister, Cecilia Dapaah, over missing cash from her home, has dealt a big blow to the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Mr Allotey Jacobs argues that the former minister has easily handed over the NPP to the NDC to be devoured due to her decision to take the issue of her missing funds to the police.
According to him, she should have thought twice of being the complainant in the case currently before the court as she is a leading member of the NPP.
He also cited the current economic crisis exacerbated by the ruling government as another reason Madam Dapaah should have made her husband, Daniel Osei-Kufuor, a sole complainant in the case and not a co-complainant.
“It is the fault of Cecilia Dapaah herself. For me, I won’t be nice to her. This is a collateral damage to the NPP. She is a leading member of the party once she is a cabinet Minister.
“A situation like this, she might be rich, I don’t know her background, but not this situation. You go and report to the police. She should have let her husband lodge the complain that my house helps stole from me, not you
“You are a politician and you know when these things come out, knowing currently what is happening in the country, then the opposition has vowed that whatever means it will take propaganda to win, then you give them the knife to stab your party at the back,” he said in an interview on Peace FM Kokroko Show with Kwame Sefa Kayi on Friday, July 28.
He likened the current situation of Madam Cecilia Dapaah to the Woyome case in 2015\2016 where the NDC government was trolled by the NPP, who then was in opposition.
“This is a collateral damage and opposition has taken up because of what happened in 2015 and 2016. It came to a point that Woyeme, Woyeme, gargantuan “mon ky3 nni” to wit “loot and share”.
That same music is being played back to you in another form,” he stated.
Woyome saga
Businessman Alfred Agbesi Woyome was paid GH¢51 million for helping Ghana raise funds to construct stadia for purposes of hosting the CAN 2008 Nations Cup.
The Auditor-General’s report released in 2010 said the amount was paid illegally to him.
The report resulted in nationwide controversy, with operatives of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who were in government during the CAN 2008 tournament claiming Woyome did no work to be paid that whopping sum of money.
The then Attorney-General, Joe Ghartey, said Woyome was contracted to help in raising money for the construction of the stadia but he failed to meet the deadline.
In 2019, the Supreme Court ordered that properties belonging to Alfred Agbesi Woyome in the controversial GH¢51 million judgment debt paid to him to be sold.
Cecilia Dapaah robbed?
Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, and her husband, Daniel Osei Kuffour, are reported to have been robbed by two of their house helps in their home in Abelemkpe, Accra.
The two, 18-year-old Patience Botwe and 30-year-old Sarah Agyei are said to have undertaken their operation between July and October 2022.
At an Accra Circuit Court, Patience and Sarah are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit a crime and five counts of stealing, which include amounts of US$1 million, €300,000, and millions of Ghana Cedis.
Clothes valued at GH¢95,000, handbags, perfumes, and jewelry worth US$95,000 were reportedly stolen as well.
Three other individuals have also been charged in connection with the theft being investigated.
29-year-old plumber, Benjamin, is accused of dishonestly receiving GH¢180,000, whereas Kweku Botwe, a 65-year-old trader, has been charged for dishonestly receiving GH¢50,000.
The third, Malik Dauda, 23, who is unemployed, is said to have dishonestly received GH¢1 million.
It is alleged that the accused used the stolen funds to finance various properties and purchases, including renting a 3-bedroom apartment and a store in Tamale, buying vehicles, and funding other personal expenses.
In court on Thursday, July 20, Judge Susana Ekuful granted Sarah bail in the amount of GH¢1 million with two sureties.
The court has adjourned the case to August 2, 2023.
Consequence of theft case
Cecilia Abena Dapaah on July 23, 2023, resigned from her position following pressure from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament after it was revealed that she had lost millions of dollars and cedis in her home.
On July 24, 2023, she was arrested by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) over suspicions of corruption and corruption-related offences, revolving around the alleged theft of significant amounts of money and valuable items from her residence in Accra.
She has been granted bail and the OSP is still investigating the matter.
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of Wagner, was recently spotted in St. Petersburg during the Africa-Russia summit.
A photograph captured him shaking hands with Ambassador Freddy Mapouka, a high-ranking official from the Central African Republic (CAR). The image was shared on Facebook by Dmitri Syty, who is believed to manage Wagner’s operations in CAR.
This sighting marks the first confirmed appearance of Mr. Prigozhin in Russia since Wagner’s unsuccessful mutiny in June. The meeting between Prigozhin and Mapouka occurred at the Trezzini Palace hotel in St. Petersburg, which was verified by BBC using facial recognition software and matching details from the background of the photo. The hotel is reportedly owned by Prigozhin.
Mr. Mapouka’s lanyard in the photo perfectly matches the official lanyards worn by delegates at the summit, further supporting the authenticity of the image. Notably, this photograph has only recently surfaced online, as no earlier copies were found during searches.
Wagner, a mercenary group, has a presence of several hundred fighters in the diamond-rich CAR, assisting the government in its fight against rebel groups. Recently, the UK imposed sanctions on two heads of Wagner’s operations in CAR, accusing them of committing atrocities against civilians.
Additionally, Mr. Prigozhin made an appearance in Belarus last week, where he was seen welcoming fighters and discussing developments on the frontline in Ukraine. He hinted that Wagner might rejoin the war at a later date.
During the Africa-Russia Summit, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed readiness to replace Ukrainian grain exports to Africa both commercially and as aid to prevent a potential “global food crisis.”
“We will be ready to provide Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Mali, Somalia, Central African Republic and Eritrea with 25-50,000 tonnes of free grain each in the next three to four months,” Putin said. These are all Russian allies, except Somalia which is suffering a severe humanitarian crisis.
Russia recently withdrew from a deal under which Ukrainian grain exports passed through the Black Sea to reach global markets, including Africa.
The EU said it believes Mr Putin is misleading African countries over his promise to send free grain to the continent. The European Commission said Russia was unlikely to honour its pledge.
Chief Executive Officer of the McDan Group of Companies, Dr. Daniel Mckorley, shared valuable advice for entrepreneurs during a fireside chat with Thelma Tackie at the 9th edition of the What I Wish I Knew (WIWIK) Conference,
He stressed the importance of employers giving more weight to the attitude of potential employees rather than solely focusing on their certificates when making hiring decisions for their businesses.
Dr. Mckorley revealed that he personally follows this practice in his own businesses.
He said: “I don’t employ degrees, I employ attitudes. My biggest problem is Human Resource (HR), at the organic level you see growth but what will bring you down is your HR”.
According to Dr. Mckorley, Human Resource can be a significant challenge, and focusing on the right attitudes is crucial for sustainable growth.
In addition, he expressed concern about the extravagant lifestyle prevalent among the youth and young entrepreneurs today.
Drawing from his own early entrepreneurial days, he shared the importance of simplicity and avoiding unnecessary show-offs.
“In my early years as an entrepreneur, I had a lot of money, but I was simple. The problem we have today is show off,” he said.
Furthermore, Dr. Mckorley advised entrepreneurs not to prioritize personal recognition over their companies.
He highlighted his 20-year journey with the McDan company, where he remained behind the scenes, allowing the brand to speak for itself and garner recognition.
As an annual event, the WIWIK Conference has become one of the largest personal development conferences on university campuses. Its primary aim is to educate, advise, and inspire final year undergraduate students.
The conference also featured Capt Rtd. Kofi Amoabeng (President, UT Holdings) who also shared his entrepreneurial journey with participants.
Kofi Amoabeng at WIWIK 2023
Distinguished panelists for this year’s edition included Dr. Dennis Oteng (CEO, Ravens Consulting Gh), Prof. Carol Javis (Professor in Knowledge Exchange and Innovation, Bristol Business School – UK), Sammy Gyamfi (Politician), Audrey Naa Dei Kotey, Esq, FCCA (Managing Partner, Audrey Grey & Chairperson, ACCA Ghana Network Panel) and Doris Ahiati (CEO, Crescendo Consult).
This year’s conference was on the theme “Thriving in uncertainty; a conversation on intrapreneurship and entrepreneurship”.
Speaking to the media on the side, the convener of the WIWIK conference Dr. Bernard Tawiah mentioned that “these past years have been marked by shifting narratives and unexpected outcomes. These year’s conference has equipped our participants with a toolkit of simple, practical, evidence-based techniques that can apply in their intrapreneurship or entrepreneurship journey in these challenging times”.
During the WIWIK Conference, Hannah Ashiokai Akrong, Vodafone Ghana’s Human Resources Director, delivered the keynote address, emphasizing the significance of cultivating an entrepreneurial spirit within organizations. She referred to this concept as “intrapreneurship” and stressed the need for creating an environment that fosters innovation and doesn’t penalize failure.
Dr. Dennis Oteng, the Chief Executive Officer of Ravens Consult Gh, urged participants to prioritize the growth of their family businesses rather than solely seeking employment opportunities, especially considering the challenges of the current business climate.
The WIWIK Conference was organized by the WIWIK Foundation, a non-profit organization, in partnership with the University of Ghana Business School and the Graduate Students Association of Ghana (GRASAG), along with Crescendo Consult.
The 2023 edition of the conference received sponsorship from Ravens Consulting Ghana, ACCA, Akosombo Textiles, MPA, and Benchmark Professional Institute. The event was powered by Order Consult.
Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Ernest Addison, has provided reassurance that the second round of the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) will not significantly impact the fortunes of banks.
The government is presently carrying out this program to restructure the domestic dollar bonds and cocoa bills. Some concerns have been raised that this exercise might affect the positive performance of banks, which recorded half-year profits exceeding ¢5 billion.
Nevertheless, Dr. Addison, addressing journalists after the Monetary Policy Committee Meeting of the Bank of Ghana, expressed confidence that the banks’ performance would remain sustainable despite the ongoing debt exchange programme.
“We don’t expect any negative impact on the books of the bank with this next exercise. The data submitted by banks for the first half of 2023 reflected the lingering effects of the DDEP, notwithstanding the strong rebound in profitability following significant losses incurred at year end 2022 on account of impairments of holdings in GoG bonds”, he said.
He added that the banking industry’s total assets as at June 2023 was ¢242.4 billion, showed a moderation in growth of 21.2 percent from 22.8 percent in June 2022.
“Total deposits grew significantly by 42.8 percent to ¢187.6 billion in June 2023, relative to ¢131.3 billion, representing 19.1 percent growth in June 2022. Total borrowings however contracted by 39.1 percent to GH¢16.0 billion compared with ¢26.4 billion a year earlier”.
The Governor of the Bank of Ghana announced that the banking industry witnessed a significant increase in investments, mainly driven by substantial growth in deposits.
Total investments surged to ¢89.9 billion in June 2023, up from ¢81.0 billion in June 2022.
This increase comprised short-term investments, which experienced a remarkable growth of 149.6 percent, reaching ¢39.9 billion compared to ¢15.9 billion the previous year.
However, medium-to-long-term investments declined to GH¢50.1 billion from ¢65.0 billion due to portfolio rebalancing following the DDEP (Domestic Debt Exchange Programme).
Furthermore, the banking sector’s profitability showed improvement in the first half of 2023.
Net interest income saw a significant increase of 41.4 percent, amounting to ¢9.9 billion, compared to a 12.4 percent increase recorded a year ago. Net fees and commissions also grew by 30.6 percent to ¢2.2 billion, compared to 27.0 percent growth over the same period last year.
Consequently, the operating income surged sharply by 46.1 percent, surpassing the 22.6 percent growth recorded in the previous period.
Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has successfully installed a new Chief for Seikwa in the Tain District of the Bono Region.
The chieftaincy position had been vacant for a decade after the tragic murder of the then Paramount Chief, Nana Kwaku Dwoma Ankoana, in 2013.
In a video shared by the Royal Palace Multimedia, Nana Deborah Adjei II, the newly appointed chief, was seen taking an oath in the presence of the Asantehene.
During the enstoolment ceremony, Nana Deborah Adjei II was given a ceremonial sword, which he raised as a symbol of his allegiance to Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
In his oath, Nana Deborah Adjei II pledged to serve the Ashanti Kingdom with the same dedication as his ancestors did.
The tragic incident that led to the vacancy of the chieftaincy occurred on November 4, 2023, around 8 pm when Nana Kwaku Dwoma Ankoana was shot and killed at close range, resulting in an atmosphere of mourning in Seikwa.
The youth in Seikwa expressed their grief by wearing red armbands and chanting war songs in response to the unfortunate incident.
