According to a professor at the University of Ghana (UG), Ransford Gyampo, the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Adutwum, lacks the authority to compel universities to lower the cost of their tuition.
The only minister with such authority, according to Professor Ransford Gyampo, is the finance minister. Act 1080, which oversees public universities, he claimed, established this.
“It is important for us to point out the fact that in Act 1080, the only minister that is given the authority over fees is the Minister of Finance and not the Education Minister,” he said in an interview with Citi FM.
Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, the Minister of Education, issued a directive on January 5 ordering Management of the University of Ghana (UG) to abide by the 15 percent increase in tertiary fees.
His instruction came after a meeting over the tertiary fees kerfuffle with all public universities.
Recall that the Ghana Tertiary Education Council (GTEC) ordered all public tertiary institutions to increase fees for the upcoming academic year by no more than 15%.
However, some University of Ghana students claim that the school’s administration is charging more than the permitted rates for the upcoming academic year.
The resumption of the strike is due to the stakeholders’ lackadaisical attitude towards meeting their over two-year demands, the Association revealed in a release dated January 5, 2023.
“Following a meeting held between the Government Team and CETAG on January 4, 2023, over the outstanding issues of CETAG, the National Council of CETAG met to evaluate what transpired and concluded that the strike action, which was suspended on December 17, 2022, shall resume on Friday, January 6, 2023, if the two-day grace period given to the Minister expires without a resolution of the outstanding issues,” a part of the statement read.
CETAG has embarked on several strike actions on a number of occasions over the “non-finalization of Conditions of Service (CoS) negotiations,” the unilateral determination of April 2023 by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) as the effective date for placing First Degree Holders of CENTSAG on 17H on the SSSS, and the undue delay by the Ministry of Education in responding to their request for payment of compensation, among others.
The very recent strike action was announced on November 14, 2022, following delays by the government.
CETAG expressed their displeasure over the Education Minister’s undue delay in meeting the two-week ultimatum to address their grievances, adding that the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) did not seek a financial mandate from the Finance Ministry for the three outstanding generic allowances.
Further, it rejected the effective date for the conditions of service negotiated in August 2021, which were to take effect in January 2023.
“The effective date of January 2023 that the government team wants to unilaterally impose on CETAG instead of the mutually agreed effective date of January 2022 is totally unacceptable,” they added.
CETAG no longer trusts the assurances given to it by stakeholders since all previous assurances saw no fruition.
The recent release also stated that “Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) failed to disclose to CETAG the amount it is proposing to be paid for all-year-round work compensation and the date on which it will pay it.”
It will be recalled that on December 17, 2022, CETAG called off its five-week industrial action over their conditions of service after 19 out of the 35 colleges voted in support to call off their strike in exchange for an assurance from the Education Minister that their concerns would be addressed within two weeks of suspension.
Allegations that the Ghana Police Service and Ghana Immigration Service were at odds over the whereabouts of roughly 48 accused terrorists have been rejected.
The publication was untrue and should be ignored, according to a statement jointly released and signed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Director of Public Affairs, and Chief Superintendent of Immigration Micheal Amoako-Atta, Head of Public Affairs.
“The attention of the Police Service and Immigration Service has been drawn to a publication by the Ghanaian Times Newspaper – on the front page and page 12 – of Thursday, January 5, 2023, which story has also since been carried by other media houses alleging that there is a blame game between the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Immigration Service over the whereabouts of some 48 alleged terrorists.”
It said that unlike what the Ghanaian Times Newspaper had “falsely claimed,” no alleged terrorists had been detained by the Police or Immigration, and there was undoubtedly no blame-shifting between the two state security services.
In two separate operations at Ekyem, Achiase, and Akokoamong near Ejisu in the Ashanti Region in September 2022, the Police and Immigration detained 48 foreign people for engaging in illicit Network Marketing (QNET), according to the statement, per reports from the Ghana News Agency.
It stated that between September 26 and September 29, 2022, all 48 individuals were returned to their various home nations after being profiled in accordance with the two institutions’ established operating protocols.
The statement advised the general public, in particular the media, to use caution when referring to “terrorists” and to refrain from doing so in a way that would incite unnecessary fear and panic in a peaceful country.
However, the statement stated that the two state security organizations would continue to cooperate and work together in order to fulfill their separate mandates for Ghana’s benefit.
Bank of Ghana (BoG) has written to some banks in the country not to accept guarantees issued by the Ghana Exim Bank (GEXIM) to support businesses to enable them access credit facilities from financial institutions.
The government’s plans to develop the industrial sector through its flagship programme One District One Factory may suffer major setbacks.
According to the Central Bank, all other assurances do not meet the requirements for suitable collateral under Section 62(9) of Act 930, with the exception of those from Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs).
The Ghana Exim Bank issues guarantees, just like all other Exim Banks and Export Financing Agencies (ECAs), to either make it easier for firms to obtain credit from commercial banks or to ensure that they will be paid back for a business transaction.
According to sources, such a mandate to the banks is likely to have an impact on Ghana Exim Bank’s reputation both nationally and globally. The many SMEs around the world that lack sufficient collateral to receive financing from commercial banks would feel the full impact of it.
It is very important to note that every guarantee institution is accepted based on credibility of its Guarantee Certificate, therefore anything that seeks to tarnish the credibility of such institutions is to be avoided.
The objective of Ghana EXIM Act, Act 911 is to support and develop directly and indirectly trade between Ghana and other countries, and also build Ghana’s capacity and competitiveness in the international market-place.
Ghana Exim Bank support businesses directly through credit facilities, and indirectly through Guarantees and other financial instruments, business advisory services, research, etc.
The companies that Ghana Exim Bank has referred to banks for credit facilities to be backed by Ghana Exim Bank’s guarantee, include those who have already benefited from the Exim Bank’s guarantee cover which would not be affected in anyway by the directives from Bank of Ghana because of the credibility of the Guarantee Certificates.
Ghana Exim Banks works with all commercial banks in Ghana, although has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with 10 selected banks, as well as international banks and financial institutions. Ghana Exim Bank is currently on a guarantee application in favour of an international financial institution, and therefore any pronouncement that seeks to attack the credibility and validity of the bank’s Guarantee Certificate presents a dire consequence for SMEs trying to access credit facilities from such institutions using guarantees from Ghana Exim Bank.
For the year 2022, the bank has worked on 17 guarantees to the tuned of ¢347.4 million. This resulted in ¢468million credit facilities from commercial banks to businesses.
Ghana Exim Bank is a member of an international body including Berne Union which has membership of Exim Banks, Export Credit Agencies and the Investment Insurance Industry. They include credible institutions like Export-Import Bank of the United States, The Arab Investment & Export Credit Guarantee Corporation, Export Development Canada, Denmark’s Export Credit Agency, The Saudi Export-Import Bank, China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation (Sinosure) and UK Export Finance (Export Credit Guarantees Department).
Ghana Exim Bank was a creation by the Parliament of Ghana through the enactment of Act 911. It was established through the merger of Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund (EDAIF), Eximguaranty Ghana Company Limited (EGCL) and Export Finance Company Limited (EFC).
Before becoming part of Ghana Exim Bank, EGCL has since 1994, been issuing guarantees to commercial banks in Ghana for the purpose of serving as collateral to enable SMEs have access to credit from these banks.
Two vehicles carrying 119 bags of suspected Indian hemp were stopped by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) at Dabala, in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region.
The compacted dry substance, packed in bags, was detained as it was being driven to a place close to the Togo border in a Ford passenger van.
The van carrying 26 bundles of Indian hemp was stopped at Wute, close to Akatchi, in the Volta Region by the division’s Eastern Corridor Monitoring Task Force.
The car was impounded after the driver was caught trying to flee.
Investigations revealed that a truck with a foreign registration was hauling some of the dried leaves that were damaged at Avadre, close to Ziope.
According to Alhaji Iddrisu Iddisah Seidu, the Eastern Corridor Monitoring Task Force of the Customs Division’s acting commissioner, the interception was the product of an intelligence-led operation.
“The interception of the van and the arrest made led to the discovery of another consignment kept in a thatch house as the truck transporting the items broke down,” the Customs boss explained.
He stated that additional group members who are now evading capture are being sought after by the police.
Along the border regions, which are frequently used as a route for drug trafficking, significant amounts of contraband are being found more frequently.
However, the Customs supervisor claimed that the interception demonstrated their expanding capacity to halt drug trafficking and aid in the prosecution of the traffickers.
“We are making drug trafficking unattractive and expensive to venture in. You will not succeed and the law will deal with you. I hope persons involved in the enterprise will desist and those considering to get involved will also think again,” Alhaji Iddrisu cautioned.
The Customs Division of the GRA handed over the suspected Indian hemp to the Narcotics Control Commission after a joint examination conducted in collaboration with the Bureau of National Investigation, National Security, Defence Intelligence and the Food and Drugs Authority.
The head of the Eastern Corridor Monitoring Task Force, Abdullah Dari appealed to the public to support the fight against drug trafficking through information sharing.
The new guidelines from the Ghana Airport Company Limited (GACL) for travelers coming from China and other nations takes effect as of today, Friday, January 6.
48 hours prior to departure from the nation of origin, passengers must show a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test result.
Once more, they will be subject to free COVID-19 testing upon arrival at Kotoka International Airport (KIA).
A valid negative COVID-19 PCR test result must be presented 48 hours prior to departure from the place of origin for all other passengers traveling from destinations other than China, whether they are vaccinated or not.
Non-Ghanaians arriving at KIA with counterfeit or phony vaccination certificates will be quarantined and sent to the point of embarkation at their own expense. Passengers may also be randomly chosen and administered tests upon arrival.
It said similarly, all arriving passengers would undergo temperature screening, Yellow Fever Card verification and COVID-19 vaccination certificate verification.
The GACL also said children less than 18-year-old are exempted from the mandatory vaccination.
It said all persons arriving in Ghana fully vaccinated would be exempted from any form of testing done either prior to boarding from originating country or on arrival in Ghana except passengers originating their journey from China.
Meanwhile, the KIA has warned that Airlines that bring in passengers who are not fully vaccinated to KIA or passengers originating their journey from China without a valid negative COVID-19 PCR test result 48 hours prior to departure would be surcharged $3500.
However, passengers transiting and transferring through KIA would be required to fully adhere to COVID-19 testing requirements at the destination countries.
These directives are part of measures undertaken to ensure the country does not witness a spike in cases.
Dr. Eric Nkansah, who had been serving as the Ghana Education Service’s (GES) acting Director General, has been appointed to the position officially.
All official communications and memoranda are to be addressed as such, according to a letter sent to all GES regional directors on January 4 and signed by the GES’s director of human resources, Angela Frimpomaa Nkansah.
“Congratulations to Dr. Nkansah, Director-General, Ghana Education Service” the letter noted.
He was the Technical Advisor/Director in charge of Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education before his appointment.
His appointment became effective on October 19, 2022, after the President terminated Prof. Kwasi Opoku-secondment Amankwa’s agreement and requested that he return to his prior position at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
Many teacher unions objected to Dr. Eric Nkansah’s appointment on the grounds that he is not a teacher and urged the government to revoke it.
At one point, the unions threatened to go on strike if the government didn’t revoke Dr. Nkansah’s appointment.
Over the past 13 years, Dr. Eric Nkansah has devotedly worked as a banker, professor, researcher, and financial consultant. He was a Senior Lecturer at the Kumasi Technical University’s Department of Banking Technology and Finance.
He joined the university in 2012 and has since made a substantial contribution to its growth (in the areas of teaching, research, program creation, etc.). He worked as the Sales Manager at the Krofrom Branch of Barclays Bank of Ghana (now Absa) for more than five years before attending the university.
Trade Minister Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen has reportedly resigned from the government.
Sources say Mr Kyerematen tendered his resignation letter to President Nana Akufo-Addo on Thursday, January 5, 2023.
Mr Kyerematen popularly referred to as ‘Alan Cash’ has long been rumoured to be nursing the ambition to contest the flagbearership slot of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
It is however unclear if the resignation is to allow him to concentrate on that ambition.
In 2007, Mr. Kyerematen ran for the NPP leadership and received 32.3% of the votes cast.
He came in second place behind Nana Akufo-Addo, who received 47.96% of the vote.
In his subsequent bids for the party’s leadership in 2010 and 2014, Mr. Kyerematen came in second to Akufo-Addo, who had won the primary elections.
To replace departing Director-General Pascal Lamy, Ghana submitted Kyerematen for the position of WTO director-general in 2012, and the African Union (AU) supported his candidacy.
A collision on the Accra-Tema Motorway’s Tema-bound side has claimed the lives of two people.
The incident took place on Thursday, January 5, 2023.
The motorist was overspeeding and swerving past other vehicles, according to an eyewitness who spoke to newsmen.
The driver lost control and collided with a parked articulated vehicle, the eye witness continued.
BREAKING NEWS: Gory accident on the Tema bound side of the Accra-Tema Motorway claims 2 lives on the spot.
Eyewitnesses say the driver was speeding and weaving through other vehicles when he lost control and crashed into a parked articulated truck. pic.twitter.com/B8Do29RGzR
Yaa Jackson, a teenage actress, singer, and socialite from Ghana, delivered successfully after initially keeping her pregnancy a secret from the internet until lately, when she realized she could no longer conceal her baby bump.
A couple of weeks ago, internet images revealed that the famous actress had tied the knot to her longtime lover.
The young celebrity could be seen with a bulging tummy while wearing a white maternity dress in the images that were seen online for about a week.
Following the unfounded reports, her father, Mr. Jackson Bentum, a seasoned film producer and director, publicly denied the claims that her daughter had wed her longtime partner.
Mr. Bentum claimed he simply asked that the man bring some family members to formally meet himself and his wife because he has been dating his daughter for some time in an exclusive interview with Zionfelix.
Director Jackson said that rather than Accra, where they first met and had their photos taken, the two young lovers will wed there, in Kumasi, where their families are based.
Josko Gvardiol, a World Cup champion for Croatia, was supposedly a player the Blues intended to sign but were unable to reach an agreement on a transfer fee with RB Leipzig.
Wesley Fofana, a former Leicester City defender, joined Chelsea in August for £75 million, but the player has struggled with injuries.
With 106 Ligue 1 matches for Monaco under his belt, Badiashile provides a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to a defense that also has Kalidou Koulibaly and seasoned veteran Thiago Silva.
He joins David Datro Fofana as Chelsea’s second acquisition of the summer window, while Andrey Santos, a promising Brazilian player, is also expected to sign.
“I’m very happy to be here at Chelsea,” Badiashile told the club’s official website. “I’m so excited to start playing for this club. I can’t wait to see the fans and start playing in the best league in the world.”
Chelsea co-owner and chairman Todd Boehly added: “We’re delighted to welcome Benoit to Chelsea. He’s an excellent young player who has quickly established a strong reputation for himself and has a huge amount of experience for his young age.
“We are sure he will form an important part of our team in the years ahead.”
Enzo Fernandez, a midfielder for Benfica, has drawn interest from Chelsea after performing well for Argentina in Qatar.
A deal seemed likely earlier this week, but on Thursday, Benfica coach Roger Schmidt criticized Chelsea’s negotiating strategy, saying the Blues had shown disrespect in their approach.
The founder and leader of Glorious Word Power Ministry International, Apostle Isaac Owusu Bempah, has described as shocking a statement from the office of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Shaributu.
The church said that their attention was initially attracted to a GhanaWeb article in which the head pastor was supposed to have made disparaging words about the Chief Imam in a statement dated Thursday, January 5, 2023 and signed by a Senior Pastor of Glorious Word, Rev. Dr. Emmanuel A. Annorbah.
“To begin with, the press statement arises from a misleading and false article published on https://www.ghanaweb.com on 3 January 2023 with the caption ‘Chief Imam, other leaders visit us to look into their destinies – Owusu Bempah claims’.”
“Our attention was drawn to the misleading caption and false article by https://www.ghanaweb.com in the late afternoon of 3rd January, 2023 when an official from the office of the Chief Imam by the name Sheikh Aremeyaw, spokesperson of the National Chief Imam, called to inform the office of the church of the publication on https://www.ghanaweb.com and sought to ascertain its veracity.
“We explained to Sheikh Aremeyaw, that the caption of the article was misleading and the content littered with falsehoods. We urged the spokesperson to listen to the statement himself and form an independent opinion of the remarks of Apostle Dr. Isaac Owusu Bempah. The conversation was very friendly and he seemed to have appreciated the position of the church on the misleading caption and false article by https://www.ghanaweb.com,” the statement.
The Chief Imam’s Office requested that the Inspector General of Police summon Apostle Bempah for making Sheikh Shaributu the focus of contentious prophesies in a statement on January 4.
The Church, however, responded to the remark by saying it was somewhat surprising that the Chief Imam’s Office had made such an offensive statement despite the earlier clarification.
“It comes as a shock to us that despite the cordiality and harmony which exists between the office of the National Chief Imam and Apostle Dr. Isaac Owusu Bempah and after all assurances given by us, the former issued a strong worded press statement with very unpleasant descriptions of Apostle Dr. Isaac Owusu Bempah.
“We wish to state emphatically that Apostle Dr. Isaac Owusu Bempah has not at anytime claimed that the Chief Imam visits or consults him to look into his destiny. The publication was clearly actuated by malice, a desire for profit, sensationalism, and calculated to disrupt the peaceful and cordial relationship between the Chief Imam and Apostle Dr. Isaac Owusu Bempah,” it added.
Read the full statement by Owusu Bempah’s church below:
Despite the fact that only poor countries are qualified for the G20 Common Framework program, Ghana is planning to request a debt relief through it.
The nation has reportedly asked for assurances that the negotiations can move quickly before continuing.
According to the report, Ghana contacted the Paris Club of Creditor Nations in December 2022 to request guarantees that the Common Framework process, established by the Group of 20 Leading Economies in 2020 in response to COVID-19, might be sped up.
According to a source who spoke to Reuters under the condition of anonymity, if the assurances are positive, the government would quickly sign up the Common Framework.
While declining to provide any information, a Paris Club representative told Reuters that the organization had received a letter from the government of Ghana.
It is difficult to imagine Ghana doing anything other than agreeing to the Common Framework because they have given themselves no other options, according to a source with knowledge of Ghana’s debt restructuring.
According to Reuters, a third person who is acquainted with the IMF’s thinking said Ghana participating in the Common Framework program was under consideration and would likely be the best option for the Paris Club.
Only less wealthy countries are permitted to apply for a Common Framework initiative. As a result, a formal creditors committee was formed, and the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund supported the negotiations.
However, a nation seeking to restructure its debt might also do so by engaging in one-on-one discussions with each creditor.
The Common Framework, designed to allow for speedy debt reworks, has been widely criticised for its glacial progress.
Chad, Ethiopia and Zambia signed up in early 2021. While Chad secured a deal with creditors in November, Zambia is still locked in talks. Ethiopia’s progress was held up by civil war.
Ghana’s public debt hits ¢467.4bn in September 2022
Ghana’s public debt stock hit ¢467.4 billion ($47.7 billion) in September 2022, of which about $4 billion was bilateral. $1.9 billion was held by Paris Club countries and $1.7 billion by China.
President Akufo-Addo in July 2022 directed the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, to begin formal engagements with the IMF for a Fund-support.
A statement signed by the Information Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, and dated July 1, 2022 indicated that there had already been a conversation between the IMF boss, Kristalina Georgieva and President Akufo-Addo, conveying the government’s decision to engage the Fund.
The IMF-support programme will inject $3 billion into the country’s economy as balance of payment support.
Ghana must restructure its debt to get the final approval to access the IMF funds.
In December 2022, Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta launched a domestic debt exchange and later said it would default on nearly all of its $28.4 billion of external debts.
Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has directed the University of Ghana (UG) Management to abide by the 15 percent increase in tertiary fees.
Following a meeting with all public universities on the tertiary fees controversy on Thursday, the Education Ministry issued its directive.
Recall that the Ghana Tertiary Education Council (GTEC) ordered all public tertiary institutions to increase fees for the upcoming academic year by no more than 15%.
However, some University of Ghana students claim that the school’s administration is charging more than the permitted rates for the upcoming academic year.
According to the Ministry’s findings, UG is implementing a fee increase of around 37%.
The University announced that it will consult with its Council to discuss the 15% increase and whether or not the school could adopt it.
“We have also heard from the University of Cape Coast about fees that they have taken in cases where fees were over 15%, they are doing refunds. They want to move within the 15% as mandated by Parliament,” Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum told JoyNews after the meeting on Thursday.
Three other public universities; the University of Cape Coast, the University of Education, Winneba and the University of Mines and Technology have all complied with the directive on fee charging.
The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has addressed the President’s remarks regarding Akonta Mining.
Speaking in Koforidua at the National Union of Ghana Catholic Diocesan Priests Association’s 28th National and 16th Biennial Congress, President Akufo-Addo stated that as of now, the mining company cannot be held liable for unlawful activities endangering water bodies and forest reserves.
“I want to assure you all that Akonta Mining is not engaged in any form of illegal mining anywhere in Ghana as we speak,” he stated.
The Lands Minister believes there is no cause for worry since the president’s comment was not to shield Akonta Mining Limited from further investigation and possible retribution if found culpable.
“The President was not speaking about the wrongdoing or otherwise of Akonta Mining in the past, the criminality or otherwise of Akonta Mining in the past. He was not commenting on what happened in the past. He was giving an assurance of the state of affairs as of the time he was addressing the conference,” the minister told the media.
However, responding to the president’s remarks, Convener of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, noted that current investigations being carried out by the Special Prosecutor against the company to find out some activities it may have engaged in in the past may be compromised.
Worried and disappointed by the president’s comments, he stated that “the Minerals Commission which is the independent regulatory body responsible for issuing licenses also said that Akonta Mining is engaged in illegal activities and so it is worrying the president is saying Akonta Mining is not engaged in illegal mining as we speak.”
“The President may be right when he says Akonta Mining is not engaged in illegal mining activities as we speak, it may be because maybe Akonta Mining has left the forest reserve but the question we must be asking is, was the firm not in the forest sometime last year?” he further questioned.
The Ghana Irrigation Development Authority’s (GIDA) acting CEO is now Richard Oppong-Boateng.
On the advice of the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, the Board of Directors of the Authority appointed him.
Ing. Boateng served as the Authority’s Director of Irrigation Technology and Innovation before to his appointment.
His appointment became effective on January 1st, 2023.
He takes over from Wilson Darkwah whose tenure ended on December 31, 2022.
The newly appointed Acting Chief Executive has a wealth of professional experience in agricultural water management technology and irrigation infrastructure management.
Since joining the Authority in 1996 as an assistant geodetic engineer, Mr. Oppong-Boateng has amassed more than 25 years of work experience.
He is also a graduate of the Maastricht School of Management in the Netherlands, where he earned a diploma in project appraisal and management.
The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) president, Kristalina Georgieva, has indicated that her organization has contacted debtor countries’ creditors to try to resolve their debts.
She claims that the major argument behind their campaign is the urgency of preventing the spread of financial crisis at a critical juncture for the world economy.
Debt resolution is the process of working with your creditors to come to a deal that will satisfy the debt for less than what is outstanding.
Georgieva identified the struggling countries in an interview with an American broadcaster, CBS, which included Lebanon, Suriname, Sri Lanka, Ghana, and three other African states.
“So far, the countries that are in debt stress are not systemically significant to trigger that crisis (debt distress contagion globally), let’s just look at the map. Which are these countries, Chad, Ethiopia, Zambia, Ghana, Lebanon, Suriname and Sri Lanka.
“It is very important for their people that we find a resolution to the debt problem but the risk of contagion is not as high,” she assured.
However, she emphasized that the IMF will need to recalculate some of its statistics and take more drastic measures to safeguard the world economy if the risk persists and 25% of emerging markets are wading in debt trouble.
Last November, when the budget was presented by Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta, Ghana officially acknowledged its debt-distress status. In order to stabilize the economy, the government has also reached a staff-level agreement for a $3 billion facility.
The Paris Club is an informal alliance of creditor nations that meets once a month in the French capital to discuss practical solutions to the debtor nations’ financial issues.
The original eleven members have now become twenty: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA.
The National Chief Imam’s office strongly disagrees with a claim made by Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah, the head pastor of the Glorious Word Power Ministries International, that he looks to him for spiritual protection.
He contends that the allegations are false and ought to be utterly disregarded by all sincere Ghanaians.
In a press release on Wednesday, January 4, the office said the Chief Imam does not seek spiritual protection from “charlatans on the pulpit.”
Therefore, it has requested assistance from the Christian community and the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) to prevent Reverend Owusu Bempah from issuing any more contentious and erroneous prophecies regarding His Eminence, Shiekh Osman Nuhu Sharabutu.
“We wish to state that all the claims of Rev. Isaac Owusu Bempah contain no iota of truth, but represent the figment of his own imagination.
“Undoubtedly, His Eminence is a champion of interfaith harmony and peaceful co-existence. But he does not seek protection and prosperity from charlatans on the pulpit.”
“Conclusively, we stand – at all times – for interfaith solidarity and national unity, as we contribute our quota to the building of a prosperous democratic state of diverse religious communities.
According to reports, Rev. Owusu Bempah on December 31, 2022, during his church’s watch night session stated that the National Chief Imam turns to him for spiritual protection.
The body of Benedict XVI will now be returned to St. Peter’s Basilica at a later time for a private funeral. It will first be positioned in a miniature coffin constructed of zinc and wood.
After that, Benedict will be buried at the Vatican Grottoes, a huge underground cemetery or crypt beneath the basilica that contains the resting places of former popes.
When Pope John Paul II was beatified in 2011, his body was relocated from its original resting site, and his bones will now be interred there.
The first phase of the Appiatse community is anticipated to be finished by the end of this year, according to the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor.
He claims that the administration wants to finish the project on schedule and that community reconstruction is proceeding according to plan.
“God willing all things being equal, ending of this year, we will finish phase one of the Appiatse community reconstruction and that will enable us to resettle the displaced people of Appiatse,” he said.
The Minister stated that upon completion of the project, the neighborhood will have roads, markets, schools, hospitals, clinics, community centers, and access to electricity and potable water.
The Damongo MP expressed his admiration for the development of the construction on Wednesday during a ceremony to inspect it at Appiatse.
He claimed that 124 housing units, including 104 at the foundation stage, are currently being built, ranging in size from two to seven-bedroom homes.
According to Mr. Jinapor, the project will create a community that will serve as a model for other rural villages across the nation.
He also commended the government for its efforts to ensure that Appiatse residents may resume their regular way of life.
“Indeed, what has happened in the Appiatse community is a clear testimony that we have a government that walks the talk,” he said.
The Minister reiterated that the government is fully determined to make sure that they complete the reconstruction and ensure that people are resettled properly.
In the interim, he donated Gh₵15,000 along with relief items like 50 bags of 25kg rice, 20 cartons of tomato tins, 8 cartons of tinned fish, 5 cartons of oil and 20 packs of water
It would be recalled that about 13 persons died in an explosive-induced fire when a vehicle carrying mining explosives crashed at Appiatse on January 20, 2022.
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia is qualified to serve as the substantive president, according to Samuel Atta Akyea, a Member of Parliament representing Abuakwa South.
Speaking on the January 3, 2023 episode of Metro TV’s Good Evening Ghana show, the lawmaker emphasized that Bawumia’s background as an economist was one of his greatest assets and that he would make no excuses for failing to rescue the nation from any economic difficulties.
“I am of the humble view that Dr. Bawumia will be the first president who is an economist and therefore nobody is going to say that the president didn’t understand the economy that is why the economy is a mess.
“Now, he is in the saddle…now you are president, deliver us from the economic mess. Who understands the economy better than the one who is an economist himself? So, in terms of competence, I am persuaded that he has it and he is over the top,” he told host Paul Adom-Otchere.
Atta Akyea also urged the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to choose competence over ethnicity, geography, or religion when selecting their flagbearer.
He reaffirmed his position that Alan Kyerematen, minister of trade and industry, should pair Bawumia with him as his vice and choose him as the consensus candidate.
Later this year, the NPP is anticipated to choose a flagbearer for the elections of 2024.
Alan and Bawumia have been replaced by prominent figures such Kennedy Agyapong, MP for Assin Central, and Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, former general secretary of the NPP.
President Akufo- Addo’s defense of Akonta Mining over its suspected involvement in illegal mining activities in the nation has upset the convener of the Media Coalition Against Illegal Mining, who says he is disappointed.
The President’s remark, according to Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, is concerning and might obstruct current inquiries into the company’s operations.
He claims that the company’s involvement in the conduct has already been established by official organizations tasked with monitoring mining operations in the nation, making the President’s defense weak.
Thus, the CEO of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications questioned President Akufo-Addo about whether the mining company was present in the country’s forest reserves the previous year.
“Some media works had been done and some reportage in the media revealed the clashes between workers of Akonta Mining and residents of the Samreboi community where the residents prevented the miners from mining in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.
Also the Minerals Commission which is the independent regulatory body responsible for issuing licenses also said that Akonta Mining is engaged in illegal activities and so it is worrying the president is saying Akonta Mining is not engaged in illegal mining as we speak.”
IKen Ashigbey
“The President may be right when he says Akonta Mining is not engaged in illegal mining activities as we speak, it may be because maybe Akonta Mining has left the forest reserve but the question we must be asking is, was the firm not in the forest sometime last year?”
Speaking in Koforidua at the National Union of Ghana Catholic Diocesan Priests Association’s 28th National and 16th Biennial Congress, President Akufo-Addo exonerated the mining company of all wrongdoing.
The President claims that the company is not currently engaging in any criminal activity.
Emmanuel Waki, a 21-year-old Okada Rider, was sentenced to 15 years in prison after admitting to robbing a bystander of his cellphone in front of the Police CID Headquarters.
According to reports, the Inspector General of Police and his bodyguards were returning from their regular observing duties on December 19 when the event happened.
Emmanuel Waki, known as Pocket, was given a furious pursuit that resulted in the arrest of Salifu Alhaji, another Okada rider, who in turn helped the police apprehend Waki in Old Fadama.
On December 23, Waki appeared before the Circuit Court and entered a plea of guilty simpliciter (without any further explanation). He was found guilty based on his own admission, and his sentencing was postponed until today, Wednesday, December 4, 2023.
According to Section 296 of the Penal Code, robbery is punishable by up to life in prison, according to the court’s ruling on Wednesday, January 4, which was presided over by His Honor Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah.
The defendant, who had admitted guilt on two counts of conspiracy and robbery, received a 10-year sentence for conspiracy and a 15-year sentence for robbery. He would serve the maximum of 15 years under the concurrent sentence that the court considered appropriate.
Salifu Alhaji, the first defendant and an Okada Rider, 24, was charged with conspiracy but denied it and was placed on detention.
Prosecution’s address
Addressing the court prior to sentencing, Inspector Isaac Babayi, the Prosecutor said the second accused pleaded guilty simpliciter when the charges and the consequences of his plea were explained to him.
He said the plea of the convict was voluntary and the court in sentencing him must take into consideration the “intrusive seriousness” of the offense – robbery and conspiracy.
He said the robbery is a first-degree felony offense and more importantly the circumstances of which the incident happened.
He told the court that per the police records, robbery is on the increase, and the pre-meditation and violent manner the crime was committed required a hefty punishment.
Inspector Babayi said the crime on the innocent bystander took place in front of the CID Headquarters and the accused, knowing about that, threw every caution to the wind and snatched the mobile phone from the innocent bystander.
He prayed the court to hand down a sentence that should deter others who habbour a similar intention to shy away from such crimes.
Mitigation
Gregory Kwadwo Asiedu, defence counsel while making a plea for mitigation said his client is a first-time offender and a lighter punishment would serve the best interest of justice.
Brief facts
IAccording to Starr FM, Inspector Babayi told the court that, on Monday, December 19, last year, at about 20:10 hours, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) with his bodyguards on return from their routine observational duties while on the main road in front of the Police CID Headquarters spotted a motorbike rider riding interchange.
According to the Prosecutor, the rider suddenly diverted from the approved lane that he was supposed to use to the opposite lane facing oncoming vehicles.
He told the court that, upon reaching the pedestrian pavement opposite the CID Headquarters, the suspicious rider robbed the cellular phones of a pedestrian who was waiting for a vehicle and sped off.
The Prosecutor said, the victim attempted to chase the rider but failed to catch up on him. The bodyguards of the IGP who witnessed the crime from a distance quickly pursued the motorbike and in a few minutes, accosted the first accused, Salifu Alhaji.
He said, the first accused who was using the Apsonic motorbike, red colour with registration number M-20-GR6987 whose personality had semblance with the perpetrator they saw committed the crime and handed him over for investigation.
He said, the first accused during investigation denied the offence but mentioned the second accused as the one who robbed the phone because he spotted him on his motorbike moving towards the direction of the robbery scene with similar motorbike as his.
Confession
The prosecutor said, the first accused on December 20, 2022, led police to the residence of the second accused at Old Fadama and pointed him out leading to his arrest for investigation.
During investigation, the second accused admitted that he was the one who robbed the pedestrian of his cellular phone on the pavement about 20:10 hours on December 19, 2022.
He confessed to having sold the mobile phone to one Mohammad at a price of GHc300.00 and they were arraigned whilst investigation continued to apprehend others connected to the crime.
Due to FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s stated wish for every country to rename a site after the late forward, Cape Verde has decided to rename its national stadium after Pele.
The 82-year-old Brazilian legend, who won the World Cup three times, is still widely regarded as the best player in football history.
Infantino urged each member of the federation to honor Pele by naming a stadium for him when he spoke at the attacker’s memorial earlier this week.
According to the nation’s prime minister Ulisses Correia e Silva, Cape Verde will now rename its 15,000-seat Estadio Nacional de Cabo Verde, which is situated just outside the capital Praia, as the Pele Stadium.
“As a tribute and recognition to this figure that makes us all great, I manifest the intention of naming our national stadium as Pele Stadium,” he said in a statement on Facebook.
“[This is] an initiative that, I believe, will be followed by several countries around the world.
“With the physical disappearance of Edson Arantes de Nascimento, King Pele, who soon became a planetary figure, it is now our wish to pay tribute to him.
“Cape Verde and Brazil have a history and culture that go hand in hand, considering they are two sister countries, linked by language and very similar identities.
“Pele was and always will be a reference in Brazil, in our Portuguese-speaking countries and in the rest of the world, being an idol that links several generations.”
Pele was laid to rest on Tuesday after a procession. His 77 goals for Brazil remain a joint-record for the men’s national team.
For verbally harassing a nurse at the Manhyia Government Hospital, the director of the National Service Scheme (NSS) in the Ashanti Region, Alex Opoku Mensah, has been suspended for two months without pay.
Following an emergency meeting after the incident in November 2022, the NSS on December 1, 2022, temporarily suspended him to allow for investigations.
However, according to a recent instruction from the NSS, Mr. Opoku-Mensah has been placed on paid leave for a period of two months. The suspension is effective right away.
This occurred when a committee finished its task and turned in its report to Management.
According to reports, Mr. Opoku-Mensah verbally assaulted a nurse over how the medical professional interacted with his daughter, who works as a doctor at the facility.
Because the medication the house officer had ordered wasn’t available at the pharmacy, the nurse had to call him to change a prescription.
The house officer reportedly objected because of how the nurse spoke to her, according to the Medical Superintendent, Dr. Hussein.
When the house officer called the nurse on the phone, Dr. Hussein said that she just so happened to be with her father. As a result, Mr. Opoku-Mensah was furious about the situation and went with his daughter to the hospital.
Alex Opoku-Mensah has since apologised for his actions and said he is not known to be abusive or violent.
In an audio recording that has gone viral, Mr Opoku-Mensah said, “you are very frustrated…Who born dog?…you envy her, and you don’t respect. Are you a doctor? Who are you? Are you mad? Is the hospital yours? Stupid idiot.. that your useless nursing that you do, useless woman… Do you know who I am? I am the Regional Director of the National Service Scheme. Some of you are under me.”
But the headquarters of the scheme would have none of that as the situation triggered an uproar from some health associations.
The latest development also demands that the embattled Ashanti Regional boss apologises to the NSS for bringing its name into disrepute through his action.
According to President Akufo-Addo, Akonta Mining Company Limited is not currently engaged in any unlawful mining activities in Ghana.
The President made this statement on Wednesday at the National Union of Ghana Catholic Diocesan Priests Association’s 28th National and 16th Biennial Congress in Koforidua.
For alleged illegalities the company allegedly committed in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve in the Western North Region last year, numerous groups and individuals have called for punitive measures against the company and its owners, led by the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwo-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi.
When asked by the event’s chair, Ing. Ken Ashigbey, why Chairman Wontumi is still free to go about his business when he ought to be under investigation and prosecuted, President Akufo-Addo said that Akonta Mining is not now engaging in any criminal activity.
“Let me respond briefly to the chairperson on the issue of illegal mining. I want to assure him and all of you that Akonta Mining is not engaged in any illegal mining anywhere in Ghana as we speak.
“Further, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has through the agency of the Forestry Commission, with the assistance of the military, made the effort to cordon off all 294 sites of forest reserves in the country and rid them of illegal mining as we speak.”
The Lands Ministry forbade the Company, which is owned by Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, the chairman of the New Patriotic Party for the Ashanti Region, from mining in the Tano Nimiri forest reserve in October 2022.
The Ministry claims that despite Akonta Mining Limited having a mining lease to conduct mining activities in specific areas of Samreboi outside the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, the company lacked the mineral rights necessary to conduct any mining operations there.
The Special Prosecutor is currently investigating the matter.
The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service is now setting up the docket to start the prosecution of all defaulting businesses charged for various Value Added Tax (VAT) breaches, according to a statement from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
This comes after hardship operations that were carried out throughout the holiday season to compel VAT compliance as part of initiatives to increase the state’s revenue collection.
According to Joseph Annan, the Head of Enforcement Unit at the GRA’s Accra Central, offenders will be sent to court to answer for their crimes.
He promised that the GRA and CID would collaborate closely to provide positive role models that would discourage business owners from engaging in tax evasion.
“Currently, the CID is putting together a docket and once that is done, it will be forwarded to our legal unit for possible prosecution”, he affirmed.
According to Mr. Annan, violators who responded to the GRA’s call after being invited do so in compliance with the law.
He insisted that the authority would uphold its obligations and implement the tax rules rigorously and fairly in order to collect the intended funds for national development.
He claimed that the GRA’s primary goal is to collect taxes rather than idly squander money and effort.
According to him, this is essential to how the GRA functions, which is why there are penalties in place to make sure that violators have a chance to mend their ways.
“Those that we invited to our offices are complying. We have raised our assessment and all of them have paid in accordance with the law”, he said.
The GRA, as part of its operations to improve revenue collection commenced a series of exercises that saw the authority visit quarry sites in the country to enforce the VAT laws.
The authority in December, 2022 during the festive season also embarked on an exercise in the tourism and hospitality enforce the E-VAT laws.
According to the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, his office has started an investigation into the circumstances surrounding an anonymous, wealthy businessman’s alleged effort to bribe several New Patriotic Party lawmakers to soften their demand for the resignation of Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
This information can be found in the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s half-year report (OSP).
“The Office has triggered a liaison with the Office of the Speaker of Parliament in this regard,” the report revealed.
The OSP says that the report’s distribution complies with Section 3(3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).
The 13-page report provides information on the corruption cases that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has looked into and brought to justice as well as highlights of the Office’s work from August 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022.
The Special Prosecutor, Mr. Kissi Agyebeng, outlined the cases that are currently being prosecuted, those that have been resolved, and ongoing investigations in the report.
The anonymous wealthy businessman’s alleged effort to bribe the NPP MPs is one of the continuing instances being investigated.
“The Office has commenced investigation into allegations of an attempt by an unnamed and wealthy businessman to bribe some members of the majority caucus of Parliament,” part of the report read.
It would be recalled that in October last year, some New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentarians demanded the sacking of Ken Ofori-Atta as Finance Minister for alleged poor performance.
The MPs, numbering about 80, held a press conference to impress upon the President to relieve his cousin of the responsibility of managing the national purse or risk losing their support for government business going forward.
They also asked that the Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance, Charles Adu Boahen, be subjected to a similar fate.
It was addressed by MP for Asante Akyem North, Andy Appiah-Kubi.
According to him, the call had been communicated to the Presidency through the leadership but to no avail.
“Notice is hereby served that until such persons as aforementioned are made to resign or removed from office, we members of the Majority caucus here in parliament will not participate in any business of government by or for the President [or] by any other minister,” he explained.
Later, in an interview on JoyNews PM Express, the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonso revealed that an unnamed businessman visited Parliament house to mediate the impasse.
He explained that in the heat of the arguments in Parliament, the said businessman met some of the legislators.
“I’m told on authority that some businessman came here and tried to do something,” he told Evans Mensah.
The Suame MP insisted that it was meant to help persuade the members of the house against nudging the Minister out of office.
“I was told that he came here and tried to mediate in his own way what he thinks the problem is,” he said.
“He further narrated that “he was repelled by the people and was told not to involve himself. So he went away.”
This assertion was confirmed by Mr. Andy Appiah-Kubi in a blow-by-blow narration of how the wealthy Ghanaian businessman attempted to influence the Majority Caucus to back off on their request.
The MP in an interview on Top Story, said the wealthy businessman on the day after the Press conference was held to demand Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta’s dismissal, requested to meet the 80 NPP MPs in Parliament.
His request was subsequently granted. According to Mr. Appiah-Kubi, during the meeting, the business tycoon tried to influence the MPs to rescind their request.
The lawmaker said he offered a ‘fat’ envelope which contained some undisclosed amount of money for the MPs to back off from their demand.
However, Mr. Appiah-Kubi noted that the MPs turned down the affluent man’s request and asked him to stay off the matter.
Mr. Kissi Agyebeng says he is poised to find out who the businessman is and take the necessary action.
The administration of the University of Ghana has dared anyone who believes that its increased fees are unlawful to sue.
Professor Gordon Awandare, the pro vice chancellor of the UG, defended the raise by stating that the institution is prepared to take anyone who disagrees with it to court.
He claims that the institution won’t tolerate any unjustified accusations.
“…To go on air and start talking about illegal increase and all that, that is a complete approach for any student to take because there is nothing illegal, if you feel there is an illegality, the court is there, we will meet you there,” he said.
It would be recalled that Parliament recently authorized a 15% increase in university fees over the prior academic year.
As a result, some universities have announced preliminary tuition with unusually large percentage increases for the upcoming academic year.
Both current and former students have voiced opposition to the most recent 15% raise that Parliament approved.
But the University of Ghana has received particular criticism for reportedly exceeding the 15% benchmark with what it claims to be a 5% backlog.
Dennis Larbie, the president of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS), also criticized the action as unfair.
“If it is an appeal to the look at how we can soften the blow, we will consider it. Our SRC met us and made some of those appeals, especially for fee-paying and some special programmes and we have taken steps on some of those,” he said.
Meanwhile, following a petition from aggrieved students, the Ministry of Education has invited the management of the public universities and Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) to a meeting on Thursday to resolve the misgivings on the fees.
“The Ministry has picked information, especially referencing the concerns that came from the student leadership that some of the universities are not complying with this directive and so consequently the Ministry has invited all the parties involved. The universities involved refer to KNUST, UCC, University of Ghana and cumulatively we have five universities in this category.
“University of Ghana, for instance, they are not denying the fact that they have indeed usurped what Parliament has decided but they are giving us the justification explaining why they are unable to go by the directive of Parliament,” he said.
The management of the public universities and the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC) have been invited by the Minister of Education, Dr. Yaw Adutwum, to a meeting on Thursday to discuss the concerns about the price increase.
The Commission has ordered all public tertiary institutions to increase tuition for the upcoming academic year by no more than 15%.
This instruction comes in response to many complaints voiced by university administrators and students regarding the increase in tuition charged by public colleges.
Students at the University of Ghana claimed that administrators charged more than the fee increase that Parliament had authorized.
Kwesi Kwarteng, the ministry’s public relations officer, claimed in an interview with Joy News that the ministry had stepped in to help fix the issue.
“The Ministry has picked information, especially referencing the concerns that came from the student leadership that some of the universities are not complying with this directive and so consequently the Ministry has invited all the parties involved. The universities involved refer to KNUST, UCC, University of Ghana and cumulatively we have five universities in this category.
“University of Ghana, for instance, they are not denying the fact that they have indeed usurped what Parliament has decided but they are giving us the justification explaining why they are unable to go by the directive of Parliament,” he said.
The University of Ghana’s administration has challenged anyone who believes the university’s increased fee rates are unconstitutional to sue them.
Professor Gordon Awandare, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University, defended the raise and stated that they are prepared to take anyone who disagrees with them to court.
North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will choose its flagbearer for the 2024 elections in March of this year.
According to him, “the functional executive committee (FEC) and the National Executive Council (NEC) will meet and agree with the publication of the timetable for the election of the flagbearer”.
“In March we are going for an election. An election to choose the flagbearer after the flagbearer is elected, he has to choose his running mate, but let me be clear here, the time timetable isn’t out yet, but these are the discussions going on behind the scene”.
Mr. Ablakwa also stated that the election of the flagbearer should have taken place on December 7, 2022, a delay he feels is a violation of the party’s constitution.
He is confident that former President John Mahama will receive 95% of the valid votes cast.
“Remember that, our constitution says when we are in opposition we must elect our flagbearer 2 years before the main election, so technically speaking we are late, we should’ve done this election on December 7, 2022… For this reason, I don’t expect it to go beyond March,” he told the morning show host of Kumasi-based Oyerepa TV Kwesi Parker-Wilson.
During the polls for the flagbearership competition, former Finance Minister Kwabena Duffuor and former Mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly Kojo Bonsu are anticipated to challenge former President Mahama.
Births and Deaths Registry clients have been left stranded for the previous three weeks as a result of the head office’s operations ceasing due to a lack of power supply.
According to a Citinewsroom story seen by GhanaWeb, the institution’s Central Registry has been unable to print and issue certificates for more than three weeks as a result of the power outage.
The Birth and Death Registry management claims that it is making every effort to guarantee that the facility’s power is restored.
“We have a power issue. First, it was a precautionary measure we were having by cutting down power to prevent anything untoward from happening. But it has retracted a little by now. They are working on it, trying to make sure that the light is resolved within the week,” the Public Relations Officer for the Registry, Adam Abdulai assured.
For services connected to births and deaths, the public has been urged to use the institution’s internet portal.
“This is a great opportunity for people to know that we have an online platform they can access, and you don’t need to come to any births and deaths registry office to start your process. All our services are online at https://www.ghana.gov.gh. Look for the births and deaths registry when you go there.
“I would want to inform the public that our services are best accessed at the district levels when people are born than to walk to the head offices,” the Public Relations Officer for the Births and Deaths Registry stated.
Sir David Adjaye of Adjaye & Associates has responded to investigations being carried out on the institution for their involvement in the National Cathedral project.
According to Sir Adjaye in an interview of JoyNews, the probing is “sad” and “boring”.
He said: I just think that there is nothing wrong with healthy debate. Everybody should have an opinion and talk about how they feel about everything. Things should be allowed to be investigated and checked till everybody feels comfortable. There is nothing hidden or opaque. Everything is going through the system that can be checked through the government”.
“Fake investigations are just really reflecting badly on the people who are investigating”, he said, adding: “I think all the information is in the public realm and people are ignoring to look at the information and they are saying things that are counter to what is out there in the public realm,” Sir Adjaye added.
In June 2022, opposition MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said: “Documents from the Office of the President confirm that in 2021 alone, President Akufo-Addo authorised an astonishing GHS32million of taxpayer funds to be paid to Sir David Adjaye & Associates Ltd for consultancy on his National Cathedral project. “GHS57 million so far; more to come”.
Deputy Finance Minister John Kumah later confirmed that the money was from the budget of the Office of the President.
He said: “Even though it may not be captured as a budget item because it is not under any specific MDA, it can form part of government expenditure as long as we have captured it in the budget that we were going to provide seed funding”.
National Cathedral: Your ‘fake’ investigations ‘boring’ – Adjaye lunges at accusers; says ‘nothing hidden’ January 04, 2023
General News Sir David Adjaye Sir David Adjaye of Adjaye & Associates has said the “fake” investigations being conducted by his accusers regarding his contract to design the National Cathedral are “sad” and “boring”.
In an interview with Accra-based Joy News, Sir Adjaye said: I just think that there is nothing wrong with healthy debate. Everybody should have an opinion and talk about how they feel about everything. Things should be allowed to be investigated and checked till everybody feels comfortable. There is nothing hidden or opaque. Everything is going through the system that can be checked through the government”.
He lamented, however: “What is really sad and boring is when people just make accusations based on anything; that is not actually investigating”.
“Fake investigations are just really reflecting badly on the people who are investigating”, he said, adding: “I think all the information is in the public realm and people are ignoring to look at the information and they are saying things that are counter to what is out there in the public realm”.
In June 2022, opposition MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said: “Documents from the Office of the President confirm that in 2021 alone, President Akufo-Addo authorised an astonishing GHS32million of taxpayer funds to be paid to Sir David Adjaye & Associates Ltd for consultancy on his National Cathedral project. “GHS57 million so far; more to come”.
Deputy Finance Minister John Kumah later confirmed that the money was from the budget of the Office of the President.
He said: “Even though it may not be captured as a budget item because it is not under any specific MDA, it can form part of government expenditure as long as we have captured it in the budget that we were going to provide seed funding”.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the National Cathedral Secretariat, Dr Paul Opoku Mensah, recently said the amount paid directly to the Consultant, Adjaye Associates was GHS113.040.54.67 million.
Speaking at a bible-reading marathon on Monday, 2 January 2023, Dr Opoku Mensah clarified that all the funds allocated to the construction of the edifice have been accounted for to the pesewa and none has gone missing.
He said GHS339 of state funds has been expended on the cathedral as of December 2022.
Dr Opoku Mensah reported to President Akufo-Addo and the media at the event: “For purposes of clarity, I want to report a verbatim memo I sent on this issue dated 19 January 2022 and addressed to the Clerk of Parliament”.
“The indication was that the government has given us GHS339 million and we could account for GHS225 million leaving GHS114 million missing”, he noted.
“Here, I quote what I wrote to the Clerk: ‘As we indicated to the Committee on Thursday, December 15, 2022, the total amount paid by the government of Ghana to the National Cathedral project is GHS339 million. This total is made up of the following: the amount paid directly to the National Cathedral Secretariat is GHS225 million. The amount paid directly to the Consultant, Adjaye Associates & Design Team is GHS113.040.54.67 million. The two payments total GHS339.003.064.86’.”
Dr Opoku Mensah, thus, dispelled claims that some monies allocated for the construction of the cathedral cannot be accounted for.
“So, there are no missing funds that could not be accounted for. Secondly, the detailed account for these funds was provided to Parliament on 15 December 2022 by the Secretariat”.
“In the case of the accounting from the Secretariat, this involves among others, total payments made to the contractor, and total payments made to the Bible Museum and Biblical Gardens Design Team.”
He also expressed the secretariat’s displeasure at the “misrepresentation” of facts on the project by some Members of Parliament.
“While projects of this nature will always have discontent, we are nonetheless concerned about the misrepresentations, particularly when it comes from Members of Parliament”, he mentioned.
“For instance, the continued misrepresentation of the contract to the consultants is worrying as none of the amount bandied around comes anywhere near the contract amount.
“Rather than 34% that they said we’d paid the architect, actually, the contract figure is 12.5% when the Ministry of Works and Housing allows for 15.5%. And the 12.5% will not change irrespective of what happens to the total cost”.
“More critically, the contract is not for an architect, but for a set of consultants’ services involving 15 international and Ghanaian firms of which Sir David Adjaye Associates is the lead consultant.”
In the 2023 budget, the government allocated a sum of GHS80 million toward the construction of the cathedral, however, the minority caucus succeeded in disapproving it.
The money was, however, reallocated to the communications and road sectors.
Cristiano Ronaldo claims that his “work is done” in Europe and is unconcerned by the criticism he has received for joining Saudi Pro League team Al Nassr.
Ronaldo’s contract with Manchester United was terminated in November as a result of his criticism of the team in an interview with Piers Morgan. Last week, he finalized his transfer to Al Nassr.
Many were startled by his decision to join the Riyadh-based team, especially because Ronaldo had just tried to quit United in quest of Champions League action.
The 37-year-old claims he rejected down offers from numerous clubs to sign his two and a half-year contract with Al Nassr, but he feels he has nothing left to prove in European football.
“I’m so proud to make this big decision in my life and in football,” Ronaldo said at his unveiling on Tuesday.
“In Europe, my work is done. I won everything and played for the most important clubs in Europe.
“This is a great opportunity for me, not only in football but to change the mentality of the new generation in Saudi Arabia.
“I had many opportunities in Europe, in Brazil, in the United States and even in Portugal, but I gave my word to this club, for the opportunity to develop football in this amazing country.”
The attacker responds to those who have questioned the reasons for his transfer by saying that competing in the Saudi Pro League is a true challenge.
“Many people speak and give their opinions, but really they know nothing about football,” Ronaldo said.
“If you give the example of the World Cup, the only team who beat the champions [Argentina] was Saudi Arabia, don’t forget that.
“For me, it’s not the end of my career. I wanted to change and I don’t worry about what people say. I took my decision and I have responsibility for it.
“I’m happy to be here and I know the league is really competitive, I saw many games. I’m ready to play tomorrow [against Al Ta’ee] if the coach thinks it’s good!
“I beat all records in Europe, so I want to beat all records here. This contract is unique, because I’m a unique player. So for me, this is normal.
“I’m coming here to win, to play, to enjoy, to be part of the success of the country and the culture of the country. What I want is to enjoy, to smile and to play football.”
The final suspect in the 20th December 2022 mobile money robbery incident in Kasoa has been detained, according to the Ghana Police Service.
Ahmed, the suspect (also known as ARRESTED), was detained on January 2, 2023 in the Central Region in Nyanyano close to Kasoa.
A statement issued in Accra on Tuesday said “With reference to our earlier publication on the Kasoa Mobile Money robbery which occurred on 20th December, 2022, we are pleased to announce, as promised, that through sustained Police intelligence operations, the last suspect has also been arrested.”
The statement added that Ahmed, “is currently in Police custody assisting investigation and will be put before court accordingly.”
“Meanwhile, as reported earlier, the two other suspects who were also arrested in connection with the case were remanded by the court to reappear on 12th January, 2023,” the Police said.
The Police assured the public of their “commitment to keep our society safe.”
In the municipality of Awutu Senya East’s Bigman Town, a neighborhood of Kasoa, a mobile money dealer was robbed and shot.
Armed thieves attacked Mr. Calvin Nii Kpakpo Allotey on Tuesday in his container store, shooting him in the right arm before fleeing with an undisclosed sum of money.
The patient is responding to therapy at the Winneba Trauma and Specialists Hospital where he was sent in an emergency.
In the Western North region, Sehwi Agyemadiem Community Health and Planning Services (CHPS) Compound is experiencing difficulties that are impairing the effective delivery of healthcare there.
The Juaboso District’s about 15 settlements are served by the CHPS compound, however there are few water sources there since the staff must go great distances to acquire water.
Agyemadiem CHPS’ senior midwife stated that the facility is dealing with numerous issues that are hindering the provision of healthcare.
According to Agatha Amadu, their task has been made difficult by the lack of a placenta pit, a small labor hall, and other factors, according to Adom News.
However, the Midwife, Agatha Amadu appealed to the government especially non-governmental organisations and individuals to come to their aid.
At Yohe, an agricultural town in Lower Manya Krobo Municipality in the Eastern area, a young guy, said to be around 26 years old, was discovered hanged dead on a tree.
On January 3, 2023, about 6:00 pm, the incident took place.
Citing Kasapa FM Online, GhanaWeb reported that the victim, who went by the name of Teye, was a local.
He was discovered with his legs touching the ground while hanging from a rope attached to a branch of a tree that was about 15 feet tall.
After making an inventory of the crime scene to help with future inquiry to determine the cause of death, police have removed the deceased’s body to the mortuary.
Following a gold purchase deal, Gold Fields Ghana has sold 26,000 ounces of gold to the Bank of Ghana (BoG) in December 2022.
The cedi, the local currency, was used to pay for the gold.
“Our Tarkwa and Damang mines sold 19,000 and 7,000 ounces of gold, respectively, to the Bank of Ghana at the prevailing market price,” said Joshua Mortoti, Executive Vice President and Head of Gold Fields West Africa.
“Through the Chamber of Mines, we engaged the government and agreed to the gold purchasing programme in November, which enabled the central bank to acquire the gold.”
The domestic gold purchase program, which was started by the BoG in June 2021, is meant to strengthen the nation’s foreign exchange reserves and support the local currency.
The industry requires a stable fiscal climate for investment to flourish, Mr. Mortoti continued.
“We will continue to support and engage government on initiatives in these critical times to arrive at mutually beneficial outcomes, with consideration to conditions in our Development Agreement,’’ said Mr Mortoti.
The mining industry is crucial to the nation’s economy because it accounts for over 40% of GDP and more than one-third of all export earnings.
A furniture showroom shop at DVLA Junction in Winneba caught fire on Monday, January 2, 2023.
The Winneba Fire Station received a call at 1350 hours on Monday.
The firefighting team led by STNO II Anthony Nyarko was quickly dispatched to the fire scene.
The crew were able to contain the raging fire and prevented it from spreading to nearby shops including a pub when they got to the scene at 1353 hours without recording any casualty.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire was caused by some children who went around the affected furniture shop to play with lit matches which ignited available combustibles nearby and spread into the affected furniture shop while destroying its contents.
The Samreboi Youth have said that they are prepared to oppose any plans to resume mining operations on concessions within the Tano Nimri Forest Reserve.
At a news conference on January 3, 2023, the youth declared that they will resist mining corporations, particularly Akonta Mining, a business owned by Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP).
They assert that reliable evidence in their possession revealed that plans were afoot for the restoration of mining operations in the forest reserve, according to a Joy News report that GhanaWeb reported.
Among other things, they are upset that the youth who were affected by a fight between the kids and some miners in September 2022 have not received justice.
They claim further that Akonta Mining and others were planning to attack the forest reserve today, January 4, 2023, and that their intelligence shows that the dishonest efforts intended to turn their community into a ghost town are still active.
In response to reports of an altercation between young people and mine workers, the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources requested the Forestry Commission to order Akonta Mining and other companies to have their licenses frozen in September 2022.
An Ethiopian man is contesting a BBC story that names Sulemana Abdul Samed, also known as Awuche, of Ghana as the tallest man in the world.
Negewo Jima claims he is taller than Sulemana, a claim he originally made on January 3, 2022 via a Facebook post. He posted a picture of himself and Sulemana side by side with the remark, “Never give up.”
“Bring him if you want – this guy will not be taller than me,” he had said in an earlier post.
“From what I see on the pictures, I can say he’s not taller than me,” Mr Negewo later told the BBC.
Sulemana’s height was initially reported by the BBC as 7 feet 4 inches, which is less than that of “contender” Negewo, who is unquestionably the tallest man in Ethiopia at 7 feet 4.6 inches (225 cm).
World’s tallest man is Turkish
According to the globally-acclaimed Guinness Book of World Records, the tallest man alive record is held by Turkish man Sultan Kösen who in 2009 became the first man over 8 ft to be measured by Guinness World Records for more than 20 years.
In fact, Guinness World Records only knows of ten confirmed or reliable cases in history reaching 8 ft or more.
The part-time farmer from Turkey was found to be a towering 246.5 cm (8 ft 1 in) in height and he took the iconic title of Tallest living man.
Two years later, the 26-year-old was measured again in Ankara, Turkey, by which time he had grown to a staggering 251 cm (8 ft 2.8 in).
The Volta Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service has announced that vehicles without effective fire extinguishers will be refused access to fuel and Gas Filling Stations in Ho by the end of January 2023.
Drivers who fail to have fire extinguishers also risk being arrested.
This was made known by the Volta Regional Fire Commander, ACFO I Joy Ameyibor Ayim during a routine fire safety inspection and sensitization exercise in Ho during the Christmas holidays.
In this light, drivers with vehicles without functional and befitting fire extinguishers have up to the end of January, 2023 to comply.
The Ghana National Fire Service is implementing this initiative to curtail fire outbreaks in the country.
Ghana while commemorating the Christmas festivity recorded a total of 226 fire outbreaks in a span of seven days, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has revealed.
A breakdown of the total fire cases recorded shows that 91 were domestic fire, 54
bush fires, 33 commercial fires, 24 vehicular fires, 15 electrical installations, 6 crown and refuse dump fires, and 3 Institutional fires. There were a total of 55 out of arrival cases.
Rescuers from the Sekondi Metro Fire Station have retrieved the lifeless body of a 38-year-old pregnant woman from a well behind the wall of Nab Gas Filling Station, around Essikado Round about in Sekondi (Western Region).
Employees of Nab Gas during change over, discovered the lifeless body in the well when they went to fetch water from the well.
They raised an alarm and informed Connect FM host, Paa Kwesi Simpson to contact GNFS for assistance.
The Rescuers brought out the lifeless body of the pregnant woman a few minutes after arriving at the scene and handed the body over to the Police who assessed the body.
The remains of the deceased has been deposited at the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital morgue for preservation and investigation.
It is not clear how the pregnant woman who is known for fetching water from the said well regularly fell into it.
Investigations have begun to unravel the mystery behind the unfortunate incident.
Bernard Oduro Takyi, a member of the Old Vandals Association of Commonwealth Hall, has requested that the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and the National Investigation Bureau (NIB) look into the proprietors of hostels near the University of Ghana (UG).
His request follows a mandate on student housing from the University of Ghana, effective with the 2022–2023 academic year.
All continuing male students in Mensah Sarbah Hall and Commonwealth Hall would not go back to their dorms, according to the UG Registrar.
However, the instruction will not apply to current female students in Mensah Sarbah Hall or to students with special needs who are enrolled in both halls.
Speaking on the matter on the Morning Starr with Francis Abban, the former president of the Commonwealth, Mr. Oduro Takyi claimed that the university’s action is pressuring students to stay in the hostels nearby.
“90 percent of the hostels around the University of Ghana are owned by University Officials. I am calling on the National Investigation Bureau and Economic and Organized Crime Office to investigate and know those behind the hostels,” he added.
He further stated that “we are protecting the rights of the poor people,” adding that education is a right and not a privilege.
According to Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng, his office needs additional funds to handle the country’s complex corruption and corruption-related offenses.
He claims that the enhanced methods by which offenders now carry out their corrupt operations have made it necessary.
According to him, technology has made corruption more difficult, necessitating the use of more resources to combat more cunning perpetrators.
This information was provided by Mr. Agyebeng in his half-yearly report for 2022, which is presently available.
In the concluding paragraphs of the report, he said “As technological advancement ushers in marvels hitherto unknown, perpetrators of corruption and corruption-related offences device sophisticated ways adapted to avoid detection”.
The OSP continued, “It is this clear and ever-present danger that dictates full funding for the Office for investment in technology, equipment, and personnel to avoid the situation of law enforcement always being a step or several steps behind malefactors”.
The Special Prosecutor’s remarks about the need for better funding support his past appeals for support for his office.
Kissi Agyebeng, who succeeded Martin Amidu, has repeatedly urged others to help his organization fight the canker since taking control.
His argument has been that, despite his own zeal, eliminating corruption goes beyond his office, necessitating the involvement of other crucial authorities in the fight against it.
Mr. Agyebeng stated that in his opinion, neither the government nor the general public are prepared to combat the corruption threat just yet.
This, he claimed, was because of the meager support he had thus far gotten.
Therefore, his statements in his report from December 31 support his earlier opinions.
One of the largest challenges in the nation is still corruption, which is a hot topic of conversation.
President Akufo-Addo was consequently driven to establish the Office of the Special Prosecutor in 2018 because to the significant public concern.
But since its founding, the Office has not brought any criminal charges against an offender, which has drawn a lot of criticism and resentment.
The critics contend that the unit’s inability to charge at least one perpetrator since its inception is evidence of its failure and insignificance.
Mr. Kissi Agyebeng has stated that his organization will continue to take the danger seriously.
“The Office is resolute in its vision of rendering corruption and corruption-related activities an ultra-costly adventure in Ghana through the deterrence of a culture of illegal and unfair gain”, the 2022 Half Yearly Report concluded.
He made this known after stating the current number of cases being investigated in his report.
A half-year report on the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) operations in 2022 has been made public.
The 13-page report provides information on the corruption cases that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has looked into and tried, as well as highlights of the Office’s work from August 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022.
Two cases are listed as having been resolved in the report that Special Prosecutor Mr. Kissi Agyebeng signed. One of these is the investigation into charges that Charles Bissue, a member of the presidential staff, used his position for financial benefit.
According to the report, “The Office has concluded investigation into allegations of the use of public office for profit against Charles Bissue, during his tenure as Secretary to the erstwhile Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), arising from an investigative documentary titled Galamsey Fraud Part I published by Tiger Eye P.I. and the investigative journalist, Anas Aremeyaw Anas.”
It noted that, “The Special Prosecutor or an authorised officer will issue directives and further action on the matter in due course.”
The OSP claims that the report’s distribution complies with Section 3(3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).
It should would be recalled that the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, began looking into several public officials in October of last year because of their alleged involvement in illicit mining.
Some employees of the Lands Ministry, the Forestry Commission, and the disbanded Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining are the subject of the investigation (IMCIM).
Charles Bissue is accused of using his position as secretary to the IMCIM for personal advantage, according to a news statement from the Office of the Special Prosecutor on Monday, October 10. The investigation is still ongoing, according to the press release.
However, in December, Mr. Charles Bissue secured an injunction at an Accra High Court to stop the Special Prosecutor from investigating him.
The former Secretary of the defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) prayed the court to prevent the Office of the Special Prosecutor from investigating him.
In a writ dated December 23, the court ordered the interlocutory injunction to prevent pending the determination of the suit.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has declared that the Ghana National Electronic Pharmacy Platform, also known as the e-Pharmacy platform, officially launches today across the country.
The Ghanaian public can easily upload and purchase prescription medications on the platform and have them delivered to their locations once they register on it using their Ghana card.
Ghana’s nationwide e-pharmacy platform is one of the few in the world and the first of its kind in any African nation.
Dr. Bawumia, who led the e-pharmacy initiative with stakeholders in the pharmaceutical industry after a successful six-month pilot, announced the initiative’s full operationalization on his Facebook page.
He expressed delight at the convenience it will bring to Ghanaians as well as its anticipated boost to the pharmaceutical industry.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) government has successfully implemented a number of digitalization initiatives over the previous six years, and the e-pharmacy platform is just one more.
Key among them are: the digital national identification system (Ghana card), national digital property address system, mobile money interoperability, universal QR Code, as well as digitisation of government services at the ports, registrar general, DVLA, passport application, and many others.
In the health sector, the e-pharmacy platform adds to the successful medical drone delivery service, which delivers essential drugs in real time through drones to remote parts of the country.
The management of the University of Ghana, Legon, has been given a week to reconsider its decision to remove enrolled students from the Commonwealth and Mensah Sarbah halls.
The Old Vandals Association claimed that if the school’s administration did not reverse the decision, they would look into other options to persuade the university council to act.
This morning, the Old Vandals Association barged onto campus to express their support for current students impacted by management’s choice.
All continuing male students of the all-male Commonwealth Hall and Mensah Sarbah Hall would not be allowed to return to their residence halls or any of the traditional halls, according to the ruling.
“They are to be randomly assigned to available rooms in any of the UGEL and private hostels,” a communique on December 14, said.
Students who are upset claim that this is the school administration’s most recent effort to stifle student activism on campus and create divide freshmen and continuing students.
Additionally, they have requested that the management make public the findings of the investigation into the altercation between the two male halls last year.
Vice Chancellor of the institution Prof. Gordon Awandare responded to the Old Vandals by calling the group’s bluff.
“I’m not sure in which world that former Vandals want to run a university. The University is run by the University council. Former vandals are not part of the running of the university.
“We don’t owe them any report. This is not how to ask for documents from the university. To incite students to demonstrate. Please, they should do better than that,” he said.
A far-right Israeli minister’s visit to a contentious holy site in Jerusalem has been denounced by Palestinians as a “unprecedented provocation.”
Itamar Ben-Gvir, the minister of national security who has argued for a tougher stance against the Palestinians, toured the area while being guarded by law enforcement.
Israel and the Palestinians are profoundly divided by competing claims to the site.
With the election of Israel’s new nationalistic cabinet, tensions have increased.
Since the administration, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, was sworn in five days ago, Mr. Ben-visit Gvir’s was his first public appearance.
“The Temple Mount is open to everyone,” he tweeted, accompanied by a photograph of him surrounded by a security cordon with the golden Dome of the Rock in the background.
The #Israeli far right wing minster Ben Gvir visited in Al-Aqsa compound for 13 minutes for the first time since election, pic.twitter.com/IP2xk4bsTJ
Ahead of November’s election, Mr Ben-Gvir said that he would demand that Benjamin Netanyahu introduce “equal rights for Jews” there.
However, Mr Netanyahu has sought to reassure Israel’s allies that he will not allow any changes. A clause in his coalition deals states that the status quo “with regard to the holy places” will be left intact.
Mr Ben-Gvir was given the go-ahead for the visit after consulting Mr Netanyahu and security officials.
Following the 15-minute walkaround, the Palestinian foreign ministry denounced what it described as “the storming of al-Aqsa mosque by the extremist minister Ben-Gvir and views it as unprecedented provocation and a dangerous escalation of the conflict”.
Palestinian Prime Minister Muhammad Shtayyeh called for “thwarting the raids that aimed at turning the al-Aqsa Mosque into a Jewish temple”, saying Mr Ben-Gvir’s visit was “a violation of all norms, values, international agreements and laws, and Israel’s pledges to the American president”.
A spokesman for the Palestinian militant Islamist group, Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, called it a “crime” and vowed the site “will remain Palestinian, Arab, Islamic”, AFP news agency reported.
In his tweet, Mr Ben-Gvir sent a message of defiance to Hamas, declaring: “No Israeli government that I’m a member of is going to bow to a despicable and murderous terror organisation… and if Hamas thinks that I’ll be deterred by its threats, it needs to accept that times have changed and that there’s a government in Jerusalem.”
Tensions between Israel and Palestinians which escalated into violence at the site in May 2021 saw Hamas fire rockets towards Jerusalem, triggering an 11-day conflict with Israel.
A visit to the site in 2000 by Israeli right-winger Ariel Sharon, then opposition leader, infuriated Palestinians. Violence which followed escalated into the second Palestinian uprising, or intifada.
The Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif is the most sensitive site in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Situated in East Jerusalem, it was captured by Israel from Jordan in the 1967 Middle East war. Under a delicate set of arrangements, Jordan was allowed to continue its historical role as custodian of the site, while Israel assumed control of security and access.
Muslim prayer continued to be the only form of worship allowed there, although a bar on Jewish visits was lifted. Palestinians argue that in recent years, steps have been taken that undermine the status quo, with Orthodox Jewish visitors often seen praying quietly without being stopped by Israeli police.
The number of visits by Jews has swelled in the past few years, something Palestinians claim is part of a surreptitious attempt to take over the site.
