Further deaths and instances of the deadly Marburg disease are being reported in two African nations.
The World Health Organization (WHO) revealed on Thursday that eight brand-new confirmed illnesses had been discovered in Equatorial Guinea.
Since the outbreak began last month, there have been a total of 20 documented deaths, nine laboratory-confirmed cases, and 20 suspected cases.
The virus, which is a viral hemorrhagic fever like Ebola, can cause fever, vomiting that is tinged with blood, diarrhea, and exhaustion in its victims.
There are no vaccines or antiviral treatments and it can have a fatality rate of up to 88%, according to the WHO. The average case fatality rate is around 50%.
Experts have warned efforts to stop the spread must be intensified as the new cases in Equatorial Guinea are around 93 miles apart.
Of the eight infections, two were in the province of Kié-Ntem, four from the Litoral and two from Centre- Sur provinces.
Efforts have been launched to stop the virus from spreading further.
‘The confirmation of these new cases is a critical signal to scale up response efforts to quickly stop the chain of transmission’, WHO Africa Director Matshidiso Moeti said in a statement.
Yesterday, Tanzania announced its first ever outbreak of the disease with five deaths reported in Kagera.
Emergency teams have been sent to the area in the country’s north-west region as three further cases were reported at a hospital.
Last month, Cameroon health officials said two teenagers were suffering from suspected cases.
But the nation’s health ministry dismissed the reports, with movement currently restricted along the border to avoid contagion.
The Egyptian rousette fruit bat often carries the virus, but African green monkeys and pigs can also harbour it.
Marburg virus disease was initially detected in 1967 after simultaneous outbreaks in Marburg and Frankfurt in Germany and in Belgrade, Serbia.
The Egyptian rousette fruit bat often carries the virus, but African green monkeys and pigs can also harbour it.
It spreads through human-to-human transmission via direct contact with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials contaminated with these fluids, the WHO says/
Both Marburg and Ebola – which sparked an epidemic centered in Western Africa from 2013 to 2016 – are members of the Filoviridae family (filovirus).
They are caused by different viruses, but the two diseases are clinically similar.
Ghanaian musician, Denning Edem Hotor, popularly known as Edem, has stated that he was only conducting a social experiment when he shared flyers indicating that he was venturing into politics.
According to the VRMG boss, he sought to admonish partisanship and fan apathy with such posts.
Earlier on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, Edem shared a flyer with the official colours and logo of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), hinting at offering details at 4 PM on Wednesday.
Wednesday morning, he shared another flyer with the official colours and logo of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and his image again, prompting bemusement.
At 4:38 PM Wednesday afternoon on Twitter, the ‘Nyedzilo’ hitmaker explained the flyers.
“Social experiment!!!” he captioned a picture of him laughing, head thrown backwards, the official colours and logos of the NDC and NPP behind him.
On his image was the inscription: “Edem Goget’em. I love you Ghana.#NoVex.”
He proceeded to ask four questions: “1. Are Ghanaians tolerant of divergent views in politics, and do media houses verify facts on information gotten before making it news?
“2. Are people excited to see more young people take up political positions?
“3. How do individuals of diff[erent] political parties react towards each other? Do people’s political views influence their attitudes, behaviours, & decision-making?
“4. Does intolerance, bias, & prejudice affect individuals and their interactions with others who have different political views?”
In the three-part tweet, he concluded with a “Fun opinion!!
“Followers of both parties [NDC & NPP] should use the same energy to support creatives on social media and both parties are invited to #Edemfest23 [dancing emoji].
“I need same energy for my upcoming songs [smile emoji],” he said. “Those [who] unfollow[ed] me on party line, abeg follow [me] back [laughing emoji].”
“I love you all [Ghana flag emojis],” he concluded.
He, however, seized the moment to announce his impending annual event ‘Edemfest’ which has been scheduled for November 2023.
The traditional authorities in Asikesu and other parts of the Upper West Akim District are demanding that the Adeiso Police Commander, DSP Baffour Awuah, be transferred immediately.
The chiefs have accused DSP Baffour Awuah of acting unprofessionally. He has no regard for traditional leaders, according to them.
The chiefs accuse him of making illegal arrests and intimidating people.
They have since urged the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, the Regional Minister, and others to step in.
Speaking to the press, the district’s spokesperson, Nana Berima Adjei Konadu Yiadom, chief of Asikesu, stated that they could not continue to be intimidated by the commander.
He accused the commander of orchestrating the arrest and detention of Okurase chief, Nana Berima Twum Ampofo, and remanded him in prison cells for a week because Nana Twum Ampofo was fighting to protect his land from encroachers.
He claimed that the commander sends the police after any chief who opposes the activities of illegal sand winners.
“We are requesting intervention from the President, the IGP, the Regional Minister, the DCE, and the Regional Commander. Illegal sand-winning activities are taking place. They storm the area with machomen in order to intimidate us and collect sand. We investigated and discovered that the district police commander is to blame.
“We want him transferred right away. If you mention it to the chief, he will send the cops after you. If we don’t want to entertain him any longer, what he’s doing is disrespectful”, he told the press.
An Accra Circuit Court has remanded a customs officer and two others accused of stealing gold valued at USD4,303,234.00 belonging to GND Global Trading LLC.
Emmanuel Dwamena, 37, the Customs Officer, Abdul Karim Lakoh, 38, and Seth Dzamesi, 43, both businessmen, denied conspiring to steal the 75 kilos of gold bars.
They would be brought back to the Court on March 27, 2023.
Meanwhile, their accomplice, George Asamoah, is on the run.
Prosecuting, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Evans Kesse, said the Complainants: Abdallah Ali, Farhad Sami, and Zev Volf, were citizens of the United Arab Emirates and Australia, respectively. Lakoh is a Sierra Leonean, as Dzamesi, a Ghanaian, claimed to be a businessman, residing at Tantra hills, and Dwamena, the customs officer, also a Ghanaian, resided at Kasoa, and Asamoah was at large.
He said in March 2023, the complainants went to Sierra Leone to buy Gold, and Lakoh, who was among the people who sold the gold to the complainants, promised to assist the complainants from Sierra Leone through Ghana on transit to Dubai with the gold.
DSP Kesse said on March 16, 2023, the Complainants and Lakoh arrived at the Kotoka International Airport with Sky Airline with their personal belongings, including 75 kilos of gold bars.
However, when the complainants landed at Kotoka International Airport Ghana, Lakoh managed to come out from the arrival hall, and Asamoah, now at large on cell phone 0269736510 and Asamoah came to the Airport in a black Range Rover vehicle to pick Lakoh out of the arrival hall.
The Court heard that they met Dzamesi, who was also using customs branded Toyota Hilux Pickup with registration number GX stole the bag containing the 75kg of the gold bars and kept it in the Toyota pickup.
He said whilst the complainants were at the transit arrival hall, an Immigration officer sneaked the complainants from the arrival hall and handed them over to Dwamena at the departure hall and he drove them to a supposed customs bonded warehouse at East Legon, Accra with House No.18 Shamo Kwei Avenue, to meet Dzamesi who posed as a customs officer.
The prosecution said the bag containing the 75 kilos of gold bars was sent to his office, where Dzamesi forced the complainants out of his office after taking the gold. Dwamena drove the complainants back to the Airport and abandoned them.
At the Airport, the Court heard that Lakoh attempted to escape but he was arrested and handed over to the Airport Police for investigation.
Further background checks on Lakoh indicated that the whole gold scandal started in Sierra Leone and with the help of Dwamena and Asamoah who happen to be their Ghanaian accomplices, they succeeded in stealing the 75 kilos of gold bars from Kotoka International Airport.
He said the accused persons admitted the offence in their cautioned statement that they hatched the plan from Sierra Leone and with the assistance of the Ghanaian accomplices in Ghana to steal the gold. Efforts are being made to arrest the other accomplices.
Ghanaian businessman cum entrepreneur, Fred Nuamah, has disclosed that he has finally been able to complete the filing process that will enable him to contest in the National Democratic Congress (NDC) election primaries.
The Ghana Movie Awards founder who earlier picked forms to contest the Ayawaso West Wuogon parliamentary seat on the ticket of the NDC, took to social media to lament about not being able to complete the filing process.
Fred Nuamah who lamented that the problem had been persistent for three consecutive days said he was being hindered from even making payments for the filing fees as the party requested.
“For the past 72 hours, I have not been able to complete the filing of my nomination electronically, as well as make payment for the filing. All efforts have proven fruitless. All efforts have proven futile after my engagement with the relevant personnel behind the party’s electronic platform. I have found this to be another Machiavellian tactic to prevent me from successfully filing my nomination,” Mr. Nuamah wrote on social media.
But in the latest development, Fred Nuamah has found an alternative means to resolve the issue as according to him, he has filed the process and submitted it manually.
“I have filed it manually and submitted it. I did it manually so it’s okay,” He exclusively disclosed to GhanaWeb’s Elsie Lamar.
Fred Nuamah and John Dumelo ‘fight’ over NDC primaries, Ayawaso Wuogon seat
John Dumelo and Fred Nuamah have seemingly not looked ‘eye to eye’ since they both announced their bid to contest in the 2023 elections on the ticket of the NDC at the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency.
Fred Nuamah in a discussion on United Showbiz had said he was surprised Dumelo decided to join the Ayawaso race again, claiming that the actor had told him he was picking forms to contest at SALL in the Volta Region.
He also claimed his friend gave him his blessings and approval to contest in the NDC primaries at Ayawaso West Wuogon.
However, in a later interview, John Dumeo denied all the claims, emphasizing that Fred Nuamah knew he (Dumelo) would contest to represent the constituency once again in the 2024 election but he (Nuamah) went to pick the forms anyway.
John Dumelo noted that despite Mr. Nuamah’s decision, he would still contest and win the NDC primaries to vie for elections in 2024.
Fred Nuamah had also expressed confidence that he will emerge victorious, adding that 80% of respondents in a recent poll conducted, have tipped him winner against John Dumelo who pulled just 20% of the endorsements from the constituents.
Member of Parliament for Yendi, Farouk Aliu Mahama, is advocating for Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia to become the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to show that the party does not discriminate.
He, thus, has appealed to delegates of the party to choose Vice President Dr.Mahamudu Bawumiaas the flagbearer of the party for the 2024 presidential elections.
According to him, choosing Bawumia as the NPP’s presidential candidate will help break the notion that the NPP, as a party, discriminates.
Speaking in an interview on Happy FM on Monday, the MP added that leading figures in the NPP have realised that it is time to show Ghanaians that the party is for all people and not just a selected few.
“It is time for us to make sure that we clean up the perception that the NPP is for a few. The NPP is for everybody.
“We now want to work in a way that shows that the NPP is a party that accepts all. And Bawumia is the unifying person we can use to show that we accept every person.
“Bawmia will bring Northerners, Akans, Ewes, everybody together. He is a humble person, and he will be a listening president. Also, with his economic background, he will move the country to a different level,” he said in Twi.
The likes of former Trade and Industry Minister Alan Kyerematen Assin, Central MP Ken Agyapong, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the former Food and Agriculture Minister Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto, ex-Mampong MP Francis Addai-Nimoh, and ex-Regional Cooperation Minister Dr. Kofi Konadu Apreku are expected to face off in the race for the flagbearership position of the NPP.
Parliament is expected to consider the passing of three new revenue measures into law today March 23, 2023.
According to the Ministry of Finance, the new proposed taxes will increase the country’s domestic revenue by almost GH¢5 billion and also boost the country’s Ghana’s fiscal position.
The revenue measures include the Income Tax Amendment Bill, Growth and Sustainability Bill, and the Excise Amendment Bill.
According to the government, minimum wage earners would be exempted from taxes under the Income Tax Amendment Bill, which is anticipated to bring in GH¢1.2 billion.
Income Tax Amendment Bill
The Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2022 is to amend the Income Tax Act, 2015 (Act 896) to revise the rates of income tax for individuals and introduce an additional income tax bracket, introduce a withholding tax rate on the realization of assets and liabilities and on winnings from the lottery, unify the loss carried forward provisions and revise the treatment of foreign exchange losses.
The bill when passed will increase the optional rate for individuals on the gain from the realization of an investment asset, revise the upper limits for the quantification of motor vehicle benefits and increase the concessional income tax rates.
Growth and Sustainability Bill
The object of the Bill is to impose a special levy on profit before tax of companies and institutions and on production in the case of mining, and upstream oil and gas companies.
Excise Amendment Bill
The object of the Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, 2022 is to amend the Excise Duty Act, 2014 (Act 878) to revise the excise tax rates for cigarettes and other tobacco products to conform with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocols and raise revenue to mitigate the harmful effects of these excisable products.
This is to increase the excise duty on wine, malt drinks and spirits; and impose excise duty on sweetened beverages and electronic cigarettes, and electronic liquids to increase revenue.
This bill has been opposed by various labor groups and unions.
Following Wednesday’s unexpected increase in inflation, the Bank of England declared that interest rates had increased for the eleventh time in the previous two years.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank voted seven to two to raise rates from 4% to 4.25%.
In contrast to the 0.4% GDP decline that the Bank had predicted last month, they said they now expect the economy to increase somewhat in the second quarter of the year.
Furthermore, inflation is set to come back down this year despite a surprise increase in Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation last month, to 10.4% from 10.1% in January, driven by surging food and drink prices.
The decision marks the 11th time in a row the Bank has hiked interest rates.
It comes after inflation hit a 41-year high at 11.1% in October last year.
The BoE faced a difficult balancing act, weighing up the need to rein in inflation with the worries over banking woes and the possibility they may start to clamp down on lending.
Yesterday’s data – showing inflation rising to 10.4% in February rather than continuing its descent – immediately turned today’s announcement into an almost one-way bet on a quarter-percentage-point increase in Bank Rate.
Last month the raise in interest rates meant it was the highest in 14 years.
The Monetary Policy Committee has voted by a majority of 7-2 to increase the interest rates (Picture: EPA)
A spokesperson from the Bank of England said: ‘Global growth is expected to be stronger than projected in the February Monetary Policy Report, and core consumer price inflation in advanced economies has remained elevated. Wholesale gas futures and oil prices have fallen materially.
‘There have been large and volatile moves in global financial markets, in particular since the failure of Silicon Valley Bank and in the run-up to UBS’s purchase of Credit Suisse, and reflecting market concerns about the possible broader impact of these events.
‘Overall, government bond yields are broadly unchanged and risky asset prices are somewhat lower than at the time of the Committee’s previous meeting.
‘The Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC) has briefed the MPC about recent global banking sector developments.
‘The FPC judges that the UK banking system maintains robust capital and strong liquidity positions, and is well placed to continue supporting the economy in a wide range of economic scenarios, including in a period of higher interest rates. The FPC’s assessment is that the UK banking system remains resilient.
‘Reflecting these developments, bank wholesale funding costs have risen in the United Kingdom and other advanced economies.
The Bank of England said the rise has gone up to 4.25%
‘The MPC will continue to monitor closely any effects on the credit conditions faced by households and businesses, and hence the impact on the macroeconomic and inflation outlook.
‘Additional fiscal support was announced in the Spring Budget. Bank staff have provisionally estimated that this could, relative to the February Report, increase the level of GDP by around 0.3% over coming years.
‘A full assessment, including the extent to which these measures could affect supply as well as demand in the medium term, will be conducted ahead of the May Monetary Policy Report.’
China wants to improve communication with Ghana in order to find a proper solution to the country’s debt problem, according to the Foreign Ministry.
Spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remark in response to a question on Ghana’s finance minister visiting Beijing for a proposed restructuring of Ghana’s debt.
Ghana’s finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta has travelled to Beijing to meet Chinese officials to discuss a proposed restructuring of Ghana’s debt.
“The talks are expected to focus on ways to reduce Ghana’s debt burden and secure additional financing assurances for the country’s economic programme,” a source said, asking not to be named because the talks are private.
An economist, Professor Lord Mensah, has stated that Ghana’s credit rating could see further upgrades if fiscal discipline is prioritized and goes through a successful debt restructuring with its external creditors.
The issue ratings on local-currency bonds issued domestically that have not matured yet have also been upgraded to ‘CCC’ from ‘D’.
Prof. Lord Mensah noted that “If the government will listen and try as much as possible to reduce expenditure, that will improve, probably, the rate we find ourselves in. We can even do better.
“So, there is always room for improvement. Let’s see what comes out in the coming weeks when we get our external debts restructured and then get the IMF programme which could improve the ratings further,” he was quoted by citinewsroom.com.
The upgrade of the ratings on Ghana’s LC-denominated debt follows the completion, effective 21 February 2023, of the domestic debt exchange programme by the Republic of Ghana. Fitch viewed this transaction as a distressed debt exchange in a context of heightened fiscal pressures, with interest costs amounting to 54% of revenues in 1H22, and a lack of access to international capital markets.
Fitch noted that Ghana’s ability to secure an IMF bailout may be dependent on a number of factors including the country’s ability to achieve a debt-to-GDP ratio of 55%.
It added that the government’s ability to get financial assurances from external creditors.
A statement by Fitch said: “IMF support for Ghana will likely depend on the government’s ability to show a path towards bringing the present value of debt to 55% of GDP over the forecast horizon on the basis of the IMF/World Bank debt sustainability analysis and the ability of official bilateral creditors to provide financing assurances in the context of the Common Framework external debt restructuring that authorities have requested.”
On Thursday, as part of a national day of protests, French workers upset with President Emmanuel Macron and his proposal to raise the pension age blocked entry to a terminal at Paris’ main airport, forcing some travelers to get there on foot.
Wildcat activities by small groups of protestors, who assembled with signs reading “No to the pension change,” stopped roads and access to schools at the Roissy-Charles De Gaulle airport and across the nation.
Smoke was seen rising from smoldering debris heaps blocking traffic on a highway near Toulouse, in the southwest. According to BFM News footage, unions also stopped the train lines at the Gare de Lyon station in Paris.
Opinion polls have long shown that a majority of voters were opposed to delaying retirement age by two years to 64.
Voters were further angered by the government’s decision last week to push the pension changes through parliament without a vote, and by Macron’s defiant comments on Wednesday.
The president broke weeks of silence on the new policy to say he would stand firm and the law would come into force by the end of they year, at one point comparing the protests to the January 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol.
Macron’s comments “increased the anger,” Laurent Berger, the head of France’s biggest union, the moderate CFDT, told BFM TV.
“He’s the one setting the country on fire,” Celine Verzeletti of the hardline CGT union, told France Inter.
Electricity output was also cut on Thursday as unions raised pressure on the government to withdraw the law. Flight services will continue to be reduced at the weekend, France’s civil aviation authority said.
Protests also targeted oil depots and blocked an LNG terminal in the northern city of Dunkirk.
A protester, wearing a CGT labour union vest, holds red flares as he attends a demonstration during the ninth day of nationwide strikes and protests against French government’s pension reform, in Nice, France, March 23, 2023. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard
ANGER
Protests against the new law, which also accelerates a planned increase in the number of years one must work to draw a full pension, have drawn huge crowds in rallies organised by unions since January.
Most protests have been peaceful, but anger has mounted since the government bypassed a vote in the lower house of parliament, where it does not have an absolute majority and was not sure to get enough support.
Since then, the past seven nights have seen demonstrations in Paris and other cities with rubbish bins set ablaze and scuffles with police.
The latest wave of protests represents the most serious challenge to the president’s authority since the “Yellow Vest” revolt four years ago.
“It’s a good thing that people are still mobilising, and that people stand up for their beliefs,” 26-year old engineer Jean Walter said at the Paris Saint-Lazare train station, where many trains were cancelled.
Macron said on Wednesday that he had tasked his prime minister, Elisabeth Borne, with finding more support for the government. He said he wanted to involve unions more on upcoming policy changes on issues including schools, health or the environment.
Labour Minister Olivier Dussopt said the government was not in denial about the tensions but wanted to move on.
“There are many subjects which make it possible to renew a dialogue,” he said, including how companies share their profits with workers.
Also, beneath the photos, she writes, “I groomed him and watch him grow.”
A lot of people have dragged the woman to filth for having an affair with a boy underage. However, the unperturbed teacher commented under the post saying, “People be out here hating like it’s a new thing. I am happy I did and yes no regrets.”
Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Finance Committee, Isaac Adongo, has slated the recent Fitch upgrade of Ghana’s Long-Term (LT) Local-Currency (LC) Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘CCC’ from ‘RD’ (Restrictive Default).
According to him, there is nothing worthy to celebrate about the development as the current economic crisis in the country persists with Ghana on the brink of debt default.
In an interview with Accra-based Citi FM, Isaac Adongo pointed out that although Fitch has stated recent gains made by Ghana on the back of the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, the government has only postponed the problem of debt default as the external debt restructuring is yet to take place.
“Fundamentally, there is nothing worthy to celebrate about the upgrade because what they have simply done is deny poor people and pensioners their monies and Fitch is celebrating that as a gain but to the people affected, they will not be happy and will not celebrate such a rating,” Isaac Adongo stressed.
The Bolgatanga Central lawmaker further described Fitch’s upgrade as a postponement of the country’s debt situation which has offered the government some breathing space.
“It is not about the economic recovery or improvement but about the implementation of the domestic debt exchange programme where we have engaged creditors on different terms which have created some room for breathing and so, that cannot be something that we should be celebrating,” Adongo is quoted by citinewsroom.com
Meanwhile, on March 22, 2023, Fitch upgraded Ghana’s Long-Term (LT) Local-Currency (LC) Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘CCC’ from ‘RD’ (Restrictive Default).
It explained that the development follows the completion Domestic Debt Exchange Programme on February 21, 2023.
Fitch however said it viewed the transaction as a distressed debt exchange within the context of heightened fiscal pressures, with interest costs amounting to 54 percent of revenues in 1H22, and a lack of access to international capital markets.
Actress cum politician Tonto Dikeh has eulogized her colleague Funke Akindele for being bold enough to stand for Lagos State during the elections.
A few days before the elections, Tonto Dikeh and her principal, Tonte Ibraye stepped down from running for the governorship and deputy governorship position to join APC.
Tonto Dikeh has taken to her page to express her gratitude to all who supported her political career and also campaigned for her; adding that she is not giving up. She further eulogized Funke Akindele pushing her way through irrespective of the political structures that favor men mostly.
She wrote; “Dear fellow citizens,
The 2023 General Election has been an incredible journey, filled with both triumphs and disappointments. But as I reflect on the experience, I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of it all, especially for being considered the Deputy Governorship candidate under the prestigious platform of Africa Democratic Congress (ADC) with his Excellency, Hon. @tonteibraye I do not take this for granted.
I want to express my deepest appreciation to everyone who supported me throughout this campaign. First to Almighty God for granting me the grace, second to my family, I am indebted for their unwavering love and support, thirdly To the good people of Rivers State, I am humbled by your belief in me, and I promise to continue fighting for you in any way that I can.
I also want to extend my gratitude to the entire official, members, and volunteers of our great organization, @cymsnigeria. Led by the Director General, Chief Obinna Nwaka, I am grateful for your understanding, support, and presence all through this struggle.
To my local and international fans, The Tonto Dikeh Foundation, media, bloggers, celebrities, and all those who showed me love, publicity, and support, thank you from the bottom of my heart. The journey has been ours together, and I am proud of what we have achieved.
4thly I would to love to give @funkejenifaakindele her flower for standing up for LAGOS STATE. For me, it has always been about integrity, not PARTY
As a woman, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to participate in politics. But I urge my fellow women not to be discouraged. Instead, let us support each other, regardless of political affiliation. Also, I know I may have offended some people during this course, hence I ask for forgiveness.
As the 2023 Election concludes with a newly elected leader, I want to urge everyone to ensure we prioritize the peace and prosperity of our darling Rivers State over our emotions. for the unity and development of our country Nigeria. because only together, we can make a difference.
I AM NOT GIVING UP…
Thank you all, and God bless.🤲🏻 Her Excellency, Amb Tonto Dikeh, ADC Deputy Governorship Candidate Rivers State. “
Following the closure of all offices in order to embark on a nationwide disconnection exercise to recover debts owed to individuals, private and public institutions, the Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana, Samuel Dubik Mahama, has stated that some people are dissatisfied with the situation.
According to him, he has received calls from some people including politicians, friends, and power brokers, among others to abruptly end the exercise.
He said all the calls that come through end with “can you hold [disconnection exercise] off?”
Making this known on JoyNews, Mr. Mahama wondered how his outfit will settle its outstanding debts owed Independent Power Producers (IPP), VRA, GRIDCo if it doesn’t retrieve unpaid debts from its clients.
He noted that the power distribution company risks shutting down if it doesn’t settle the $1 billion debt owed to some IPPs.
“How do we pay the Independent Power Producers? How do we pay GRIDCo? How do we pay VRA? It is a shared responsibility,” the Managing Director of ECG stated.
He added that “Please let’s just do the right thing because I don’t even have the moral right after sending somebody out of the office to pick up the phone and call him and say ‘hello, can you cut X, Y and Z slack? No’ then what is the moral of the exercise?”’
The ECG embarked on a nationwide disconnection exercise on Monday, March 20, 2023.
The exercise, which is expected to end on April 20, 2023, aims at retrieving GH¢5.7 billion debt from its debtors.
Meanwhile, Mr Mahama has indicated that all payments should be made through mobile money transfers or pay-in slips at the bank.
He stressed that ECG will not accept cash or cheques during the exercise.
In the first instance of its sort, a Nigerian politician was found guilty of organ trafficking in Britain.
In an effort to obtain a young man from Lagos’ kidney, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, 60, his wife Beatrice, 56, and “middleman” Dr. Obinna Obeta, 50, formed a plan. All three were found guilty of the crime.
It is the first time defendants have been found guilty of an organ harvesting conspiracy under the Modern Slavery Act.
As the jury, which deliberated for over 14 hours, acquitted their daughter Sonia of the same allegation, she sobbed uncontrollably.
The victim, a 21-year-old street trader from Lagos, was brought to the UK last year to provide a kidney to Sonia in an £80,000 private transplant at the Royal Free Hospital in London.
The Volta Regional branch of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), has reconnected some institutions that were disconnected on Monday as part of its one-month-long nationwide revenue mobilization exercise after settling their debt.
The Company on Monday, March 20, 2023, disconnected the Ho Airport, Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and other institutions during the exercise for their indebtedness.
Mr Benjamin Obeng Antwi, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of ECG in the Volta Region, at a media briefing in Ho, announced that some institutions had been reconnected after settling their arrears.
The Ho Airport, he said, had made a payment of 100,000 Cedis, which was more than what they owed the Company, while KFC paid its arrears of 123,000 Cedis.
The Ghana Revenue Authority after crunch talks with the company had also settled all arrears for its regional office in Ho and the Customs Training School at Kpetoe.
“We thank these institutions for cooperating with this exercise by settling their arrears and also urge other debtors to emulate this patriotic act to enable the company to achieve its target,” the PRO said.
The Company also commended companies like GCB and the National Communication Authority for not owing the ECG at the time the revenue officers visited them.
The Company also visited the Ho Teaching Hospital and the Ho Municipal Hospital respectively and found out that they had not paid any bills for over two years.
The ECG has appealed to both hospitals to pay their bills since it was a sensitive area and carrying out a disconnection might affect a lot of people.
Mr Antwi said, “as a company, we don’t take delight in disconnecting customers as that is mostly the last resort to prevent the customer from accruing more debt and to enable the company to gather more revenue to keep the electricity supply chain running.”
ECG is appealing to all customers to settle their arrears to avoid any form of embarrassment.
A Nigerian woman has cried out online after using her entire savings to sponsor her boyfriend overseas, only to get dumped in the end.
She lamented that one month after he landed abroad, he sent her a breakup message to end their relationship.
Following this, he immediately blocked her from all his social media platforms.
In her words:
“I used all my savings to sponsor my boyfriend overseas only for him to send me a breakup message and blocked me a month after getting there 😭.”
Reacting to the post, @Omooba said: “I’ve never seen what can make me sponsor husband or boyfriend for me to do that I will rather sponsor my brother, husband and boyfriend ke pare 😂😂.”
@weirdo___001 wrote: “Awon my man is different😂.”
@successful44 commented: “After everything way we Dey do for this app u still go Dey trust man😂sorry oh.”
@walybeez stated: “My dear it’s okay it’s not your fault he doesn’t deserve you a deserving person will come and wipe your tears karma is real he will be served his.”
It registered the highest out-migration rate of 27 percent, followed by the Upper West and Upper East regions with 21 percent and 20.4 percent respectively. The Eastern Region had an out- migration rate of 19.7 percent, Ahafo Region, 17.7 percent and Central Region, 17.2 percent.
Meanwhile, Greater Accra had the highest gain of migrants amongst the six regions that saw a net gain of migrants at 35.1 percent, this was contained in the 2021 Population and Housing Census (PHC) Thematic report on migration by the GSS, in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Ahafo had the second highest gain with 21.2 percent, followed by Western North, 19 percent and Western Regions (17 percent. The Upper East attracted 2 percent of migrants, North East, 2.1 percent and Upper West, 3.4 percent, making the three regions the lowest gainers.
On gender migration, the report revealed that most females migrate for the purpose of marriage and family reunion, whereas males migrate for economic reasons and these migrants settle mostly in Europe and America.
The Chief Director at the Ministry of Interior, Adelaide Anno-Kumi, underscored the importance of the report’s findings, adding that the data lays out the groundwork for planning, especially regarding conditions surrounding the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“The data provides the basis for planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluating the needs of the population within the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 10.7.
“The Ministry of the Interior counts so much on the rich data emanating from the 2021 Population and Housing Census to address issues relating to migration in the country to move forward with our sectorial policies and programmes,” she added.
Mrs. Anno-Kumi pledged the ministry’s readiness to work hand in hand with the GSS to produce analytical reports that respond to relevant research questions on migration.
Government Statistician, Prof. Samuel Kobina Annim, in his remark, touched on the positive impact of data utilisation in line with the “leaving no one behind” sustainability development agenda. He added that it was important to include the Ghana Immigration Service and the Ministry of Arts and Culture when tackling migration data, in order to be able to correctly show the problems relating to travel and tourism.
The Chief of Mission for Ghana, Togo and Benin at IOM, Fatou Ndiaye Diallo, stated that: “Ghana requires up-to-date migration data to facilitate reporting and evidence-based policymaking as a country of origin, transit and destination. While this has been identified as a key need by the Government of Ghana through the national migration policy, the achievement of this goal has proven to be a challenge”.
“This report provides the very much-needed data to interrogate the state of play of migration in Ghana to inform the right policy engineering. Additionally, the data will support the review of the migration profile of Ghana”. Mrs. Ndiaye Diallo added.
Prof. Stephen Owusu Kwankye of the University of Ghana Regional Institute for Population Studies, in a presentation, highlighted that 30 percent of Ghanaians are classified as migrants (i.e. persons whose place of birth was different from the place of enumeration).
Former President John Dramani Mahama is against assertions that the state financing political parties.
In his view, the country is broke and cannot absorb additional expenditure streams.
Instead, Mr. Mahama is suggesting political parties broaden their funding sources through technology powered by electronic crowdfunding platforms.
In his address at a public lecture on political financing in Ghana and the launch of the JM 2024 fundraising platform at the UPSA in Accra on Wednesday, March 22, 2023, the former president said, “as a key actor in our political space since 1996, I can attest to the relevance of ethical campaign financing in Ghana. Whereas some political actors have advocated state sponsorship for political parties, the truth is Ghana is, today, broke. Ghana is struggling to secure an IMF programme lest the economy collapses totally by end of March 2023, according to the Minister for Finance. This being the case, Ghana cannot, at the moment, absorb additional expenditure streams.”
He noted that, “truth be told, the state already supports political parties in many ways—many political parties have on many occasions had their filing fees returned to them after elections because they attained the minimum threshold of votes. This means the state finances filing fees.”
Also, in the past, he indicated that the government, through the Electoral Commission, procured and distributed vehicles to political parties in proportion to their share of votes in the immediately past election.
“With the possibility of further state financing shut, at least for now,” he said his aim is to “re-open the conversation on political party financing in Ghana, with emphasis on needed reforms and regulation to promote transparent and broad-based financing options for parties.”
Mr. Mahama said in the future, if the state wants to continue to finance political parties, there should be an independent and credible institutions that should be mandated to ensure fairness in sharing the funds to beneficiary parties.
“Ghana today is broke. International credit rating agencies have placed us on junk status. Additional state financing can, therefore, not be a viable option on the table. Even if that becomes an option in the future, I recommend that we put in place explicit public funding of political parties bill in a bipartisan and inclusive manner.
“I further recommend that should public funding of political parties be scaled up in the foreseeable future; then, an independent and credible institution must be selected to administer the state resources advanced to political parties.
“In that regard, a sharing formula could be established to ensure fairness and specific disclosure requirements on beneficiary parties. This must be complemented by auditing and publication of party accounts,” the former president suggested.
Nigerian multimillionaire businessman and philanthropist Tony Elumelu has seen the market value of his stake in United Bank for Africa (UBA) plummet by more than $4 million in just three weeks, as shares in the Lagos-based financial services group slumped by more than nine percent on the Nigerian Exchange.
The Nigerian businessman is widely recognized as one of Africa’s most influential business executives, with a significant 6.96-percent stake in UBA, amounting to 2,380,941,756 ordinary shares, valued at approximately $40 million as of the time of this report.
As a substantial shareholder in the Lagos-based financial services group, UBA, Elumelu has seen a sharp decrease in his net worth in the past three weeks.
According to Billionaires. Africa, the value of his stake in UBA has dropped from N20.95 billion ($45.51 million) on March 1 to N19.04 billion ($41.37 million) on March 22, which is mainly due to the decline in the bank’s share prices on the Nigerian Exchange.
Despite the N1.9 billion ($4.13 million) market value loss suffered by Elumelu, the leading businessman retains his position not only as one of the wealthiest investors on the local bourse but also as one of the richest individuals in the country.
UBA, one of Nigeria’s leading financial services groups, is a pan-African powerhouse in 24 countries across four continents, including the UK, the United States, France, and the United Arab Emirates. The bank is considered one of the most influential institutions in the African financial services industry and is a major player in Nigeria’s financial sector.
In the past three weeks, UBA’s share price has experienced a decline of 9.09 percent, dropping from N8.80 ($0.019) to N8 ($0.0174) due to increased selling pressure on the Nigerian Exchange as investors book gains made earlier this year.
As a result of the recent price slump, UBA’s market capitalization has declined to N275 billion ($597 million), ranking it as the 16th most valuable company on the Nigerian Stock Exchange.
Sensational Afrobeats star, Divine Ikubor popularly known asRema, marks four years anniversary in the Nigerian music industry.
Rema became a music sensation after releasing his hit single Dumebi after he signed a contract with Jonzing World, an offshoot of Mavin Records in 2019, and has since then been releasing hit tracks on a steady.
The talented music artist took to his Twitter page to reveal that it’s the fourth year since he hit the spot light in the Nigerian music space.
He thanked his fans for sticking with him through the four years and listening to his songs.
Sharing his photo, he wrote:
“4 years in the game, so many records to my name, catalogue insane, thanks for sticking w my crazy ass now let’s go AGAIN! 👊🏾💥”
Popular singer and music producer, Don Jazzyhas git the gym after songstress Tiwa Savage described him as a handsome man.
Songtress Tiwa Savage in the early hours of yesterday morning expressed her love for her former boss, Don Jazzy.
Tiwa Savage shared a video of Don Jazzy dancing to the new song titled “Stamina” and said that his handsomeness was beginning to ‘enter her eyes’ and she couldn’t hide it anymore.
“Ahh Ahh let me not talk before they misinterpret my words but it’s as if Don Jazzy dey enter person eye like this”, Tiwa Savage said.
In a new development, Don Jazzy has hit the gym after he was eulogized by Tiwa Savage.
Don Jazzy wrote under the comment section, “Ahaa @Tiwasavage I don reach gym like this. #stamina loading. No Run o”.
In response, Tiwa commented, “Somebody cannot play with you again. Dis small waist that I am managing”.
The Interbank forex rates from the Bank of Ghana today, March 23, 2023, have shown that the Ghana Cedi is trading against the dollar at a buying price of 11.0089 and a selling price of 11.0199.
At a forex bureau in Accra, the dollar is being bought at a rate of 12.00 and sold at a rate of 12.60.
Against the Pound Sterling, the Cedi is trading at a buying price of 13.4760 and a selling price of 13.4917.
At a forex bureau in Accra, the pound sterling is being bought at a rate of 14.30 and sold at a rate of 15.30.
The Euro is trading at a buying price of 11.8815 and a selling price of 11.8932.
At a forex bureau in Accra, Euro is being bought at a rate of 12.50 and sold at a rate of 13.30.
The South African Rand is trading at a buying price of 0.6008 and a selling price of 0.6014.
At a forex bureau in Accra, South African Rand is being bought at a rate of 0.45 and sold at a rate of 1.10.
The Nigerian Naira is trading at a buying price of 41.8280 and a selling price of 41.8734.
At a forex bureau in Accra, Nigerian Naira is being bought at a rate of 14.00 Naira for every 1 Cedi and sold at a rate of 19.00.
For the CFA, it is trading at a buying price of 55.1540 and a selling price of 55.2083.
At a forex bureau in Accra, CFA is being bought at a rate of 17.00 CFA for every 1 Cedi and sold at a rate of 21.00 CFA for every 1 Cedi.
Our forex bureau rates are provided by Afriswap Bureau De Change in Osu, Accra.
Following Wednesday’s unexpected increase in inflation, the Bank of England is predicted to increase interest rates for the eleventh time in less than 18 months.
It will make its most recent judgment at midday as it attempts to balance the UK’s bleak economic prospects with a global banking crisis.
The BoE must strike a delicate balance between the need to control inflation and concerns about the state of the banking system and the potential for lending restrictions.
Last month the raise in interest rates meant it was the highest in 14 years.
Yesterday’s data – showing inflation rising to 10.4% in February rather than continuing its descent – immediately turned today’s announcement into an almost one-way bet on a quarter-percentage-point increase in Bank Rate.
Financial markets widely expect a 0.25 percentage point hike to 4.25%.
It comes after inflation hit a 41-year high at 11.1% in October last year.
The Bank of England will make an announcement at noon today (Picture: EPA)
As recently as Tuesday, investors were split almost 50-50 on whether the BoE would leave Bank Rate unchanged for the first time since November 2021.
Bets earlier this week on the BoE halting its run of rate hikes were further bolstered by the rescue of Credit Suisse and the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank which showed how some global banks were struggling to adjust to higher borrowing costs.
Any increase in Bank Rate would be part of a series of measures to reduce inflation, but would inevitably increase pressure on many people, particularly mortgage holders, already being squeezed by the cost-of-living crisis.
The European Central Bank also raised its three main interest rates by 50 basis points last week despite financial market turmoil engulfing Credit Suisse and the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank.
While some of the inflation rise can be blamed on one-off factors such as vegetable shortages, the underlying measures that the Bank of England tracks have also increased.
It was the first major central bank to start raising interest rates in December 2021.
NG economist James Smith said he expected any rate hike was likely to prove the last in the Bank of England’s run.
He said: ‘Assuming the broader inflation data continues to point to an easing in pipeline pressures, then we suspect the committee will be comfortable with pausing by the time of the next meeting in May.’
Shares on Wall Street tumbled sharply overnight on the Fed’s decision and its comments suggesting it does not expect to cut rates anytime soon, highlighting the fragility of stock market confidence.
After three days of bounceback gains, the S&P 500 fell 1.7%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 1.6% and the Nasdaq composite dropped 1.6%.
Some of the sharpest drops again came from the banking industry, where investors are worried about the possibility of more banks failing if customers pull out their money all at once.
Craig Erlam, a senior market analyst for Oanda, said: ‘Whatever flexibility the Bank of England may have thought it would have on Thursday was wiped out by Wednesday morning’s inflation data.’
He added there is ‘nothing that would justify a pause’ in raising interest rates, ‘even against the backdrop of financial stability concerns and the knock-on effects of aggressive rate hikes’.
It also threw into question whether higher interest rates are putting too much pressure on smaller lenders, which could be buckling under the weight of losses on their investments.
ING Economics suggests the Bank of England will want to see more evidence that inflationary pressures are easing up more broadly before ending its cycle of rate rises.
Meanwhile, Investec Economics predicts the Bank will opt for a ‘wait-and-see approach’ and keep rates at 4% while it assesses the situation.
Economist Ellie Henderson said: ‘The MPC will have to assess which is the lesser of two evils: the risk of inflation being higher for longer or the current threat to financial stability stemming from the rapidly evolving fears of a banking crisis.’
The Food and Beverage Association of Ghana (FABAG) is up in arms over some tax proposals currently in Growth and Sustainability Bill.
The Association’s Executive Director, John Awuni is urging Parliament to pull the brakes on the proposal as it will further deepen the woes of producers.
The Growth and Sustainability Bill forms part of measures by the government to rake in GHS 2.2 billion for the country by the end of this year.
However, the development will see taxes slapped on the profit before tax of companies and institutions operating in the country, including firms in the extractive sector, such as mining and upstream oil and gas firms.
Mr Awuni says “if the government really has their ears on the ground and properly researched they will not go further to bring even 1% or 0.5% of any type of tax in the name of the fact that the companies will bear it.”
“Companies will pass it on to the consumers. Consumers’ disposable income is very low so how can they afford it? So it goes back to the fact that the companies cannot even meet their budget or sales targets.”
The taxes will be spread across three categories dubbed A, B and C who are expected to pay 5% on Profit before tax, 1% of gross production, and 2.5% of Profit before tax respectively.
But ahead of its debate and possible passage, Food and Beverage producers are kicking against the bill over its propensity to kick many of its members out of business.
According to John Awuni, many of their members are already reeling under the implications of the economic turmoil and another imposition will throw them out of gear.
Speaking on Accra-based Citi FM, FABAG boss urged government to rather widen the tax net instead than worsen the burden on tax-compliant businesses.
“So clearly what we are looking at is that let the government ensure that people who are outside the tax bracket [are roped in],” he said.
Economists such as the University of Ghana Business School’s Prof. Godfred Bokpin are worried that excessive tax burden on the populace will impede the economic growth expected.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, he noted that there are already existing tax avenues that can be explored to generate more income for the nation.
Prof Bokpin believed that the ineffective implementation of tax policies causes great loss to the nation.
“You get the sense that the players in the economy are overburdened with taxes. When you interact with the private sector, and households you get that impression. In as much as we support the need to generate more revenue, we need to be mindful not to undermine private sector competitiveness.
“To do so, we can increase domestic revenue without increasing existing rates or introducing new tax handles. Ghana’s VAT efficiency rate is around 45%.”
Today, Parliamentarians probing charges that Boris Johnson purposefully misled Parliament about the “Partygate” affair will grill him live on television.
Johnson, who is attempting to rescue his career, will be questioned by the Commons Privileges Committee for about four hours.
The former prime minister will be questioned over a number of lockdown-invading parties hosted at Number 10 during the pandemic, including his own birthday.
If he is found to have deliberately misled the House then he could be suspended as an MP, potentially leading to a by-election in his west London constituency.
Boris Johnson pictured at a party in Downing Street on November 13, 202, where he was seen holding a drink in his hand (Picture: PA)Johnson will have a busy day ahead of him as he faces the Commons Privileges Committee over the Partygate scandal (Picture: EPA)He gave a thumbs up to reporters outside his London home (Picture: Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)
Yesterday the ex-PM said some of the statements he made when the story first broke had been wrong but insisted they had not been ‘intentionally or recklessly’ misleading.
He made claims no rules or guidelines had been broken and that any parties had been ‘in good faith’ based on assurances he had been given by his advisers, including former No 10 communications director Jack Doyle.
Mr Johnson has already added fuel to the fire and this morning said he will vote against Rishi Sunak’s Windsor Framework deal later, when MPs get a chance to have their say on the Stormont brake.
In a statement reported by the Daily Telegraph, he said: ‘The proposed arrangements would mean either that Northern Ireland remained captured by the EU legal order – and was increasingly divergent from the rest of the UK – or they would mean that the whole of the UK was unable properly to diverge and take advantage of Brexit.
‘That is not acceptable. I will be voting against the proposed arrangements today. Instead, the best course of action is to proceed with the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, and make sure that we take back control.’
A report by the committee earlier this month noted Mr Johnson had been present at a series of gatherings when it would have been ‘obvious’ to him that social distancing guidelines had been breached.
The Privileges Committee initially came under fire for not publishing the report sooner, but it was confirmed that the final written evidence did not arrive until 8.02am yesterday.
It released internal Downing Street messages showing advisers ‘struggling’ to explain how such conduct was within the rules.
Boris yesterday admitted he misled Parliament over the Partygate scandal
In a bullish statement issued last night, the ex-premier however insisted he was ‘very much’ looking forward to his appearance before the committee.
He said: ‘I believe that the evidence conclusively shows that I did not knowingly or recklessly mislead Parliament. The committee has produced not a shred of evidence to show that I have.’
It followed the release of a 52-page dossier in which he argued there was ‘nothing reckless or unreasonable’ about relying on the assurances of his advisers, even though they were later shown to be wrong.
After the committee published more photographs of Mr Johnson at lockdown gatherings, he said it was ‘implausible’ that the events would have been ‘immortalised’ by the official No 10 photographer if it had been known they were against the rules.
He also took a potshot at the committee – chaired by Labour grandee Harriet Harman – criticising the ‘highly partisan tone and content’ of its report and accusing it of going beyond its remit in a way that was ‘obviously inappropriate, impermissible, and unfair’.
On June 19, 2020, Boris was joined by other members in the Cabinet Room at 10 Downing Street to celebrate his birthday. (Picture: PA)
Despite having a Tory majority, the seven-member committee has come under fire from Mr Johnson’s allies with accusations that it is no more than a kangaroo court.
Ms Harman has also faced calls to stand down after she had previously said that she believed Mr Johnson had misled the House.
If the committee concludes that he is in contempt of Parliament it can recommend sanctions – depending on how serious it considers the offence to be which would then be voted on by the whole House.
A penalty in excess of a 10-day suspension would trigger a recall petition, which could lead to a by-election in his Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat.
Rishi Sunak has already indicated that he will not whip Tory MPs to vote to spare the former prime minister if he does face sanctions, making clear it will be a free vote.
Mr Johnson will be accompanied at the hearing by his barrister, Lord Pannick KC, who will be able to pass him advice – but will not be allowed to address the committee himself.
Ahead of the evidence session, the committee will release a ‘core bundle’ of documents that may be referred to in the course of the hearing.
He is concerned that the economy in its current state risks collapse if the IMF deal is not sealed by the end of March 2023.
Mahama made the comment while delivering a lecture on political party financing in Ghana.
The lecture took place on Wednesday, March 22 at the University of Professional Studies-Accra (UPSA) auditorium.
“Whereas some political actors have advocated state sponsorship for political parties, the truth is, Ghana is today, broke.
“Ghana is struggling to secure an IMF programme lest the economy collapses totally by end of March 2023, according to the Minister for Finance. This being the case, Ghana cannot, at the moment, absorb additional expenditure streams,” he stressed.
Ghanaian musician Regina Lamisi Awiniman Anabilla Akuka, has been awarded in the Kingdom of the Netherlands for her exploits in alternative music and for promoting the rich Ghanaian culture to her global audience.
The musician was part of several distinguished individuals and other professionals in the diaspora awarded for flying high the flag of Ghana and contributing their quota to the country’s development in various ways.
The recognition by the Representative Council of Ghanaian Organisations in the Netherlands (RECOGIN) and the Embassy of Ghana in the Kingdom of the Netherlands was made on Saturday 11th March 2023 at Schepenbergweg in Amsterdam.
Presenting a plaque to Lamisi, His Excellency Francis Danti Kotia, Ghana’s Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands commended her for her great success over the years in representing her people and staying true to her culture, which is evident in her music, costuming, and performances.
Lamisi
“It is important we are doing this today as it shows great respect for you, the others, and the rules you have decided to live by. Honour helps us act in a way that lives up to high ideals, looks out for vulnerable people, and makes a way forward that is better than what has come before; better for everyone. We are convinced this is going to urge you to do more and we also believe that greater things are yet to come for you,” he added.
Plaque of honour to Lamisi
The ceremony was part of activities to mark the celebration of Ghana’s independence anniversary dubbed “Ghana @ 66 Celebration”, organised by RECOGIN and supported by the Embassy of Ghana in the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Akwaaba Holland.
Lamisi gave an outstanding performance to crown the ceremony.
A recently-appointed member of Ghana’s Electoral Commission, Rev Akua Ofori Boateng, has recounted how the collapse of her marriage drew her closer to God.
Providing an account of her spiritual journey with God, she disclosed that despite being a Christian and regularly attending church, she did not truly fall in love with church activities and “God’s things” until she went through a divorce, which caused her to place greater emphasis on her relationship with Christ.
Speaking in an interview with Joy Prime, on March 22, 2023, Rev. Ofori Boateng, the first female programme director of the Anglican Diocese, stressed that she felt as though her life had come to an end after going through the divorce, becoming a single parent, and even losing her job.
“Actually, what brought me to the place of really paying attention to God was that I went through a divorce. I used to be a regular churchgoer, I drive my mother to church, and hang out outside, when it’s time for communion, I go inside and take communion, come back outside.
“I didn’t belong to Scriptural Union (SU), I wasn’t a server, I was nothing, I remember when I went to seminary and we were introducing ourselves, everybody was a youth pastor, you know people were in the church, me I’m a member of my church, I pay dues and that’s it,” she said.
She explained that she would love to give love another chance when the time is right.
Rev Akua Ofori Boateng was one of the three new members of the Electoral Commission sworn into office by President Akufo-Addo. The other two are Dr. Peter Appiahene and Salima Ahmed Tijani.
Their induction took place on Monday, March 20, 2023 at the Jubilee House.
Akufo-Addo appoints NPP man, two others as EC commissioners
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Monday (March 20) swore in three new Electoral Commissioners at the Jubilee House in a brief ceremony.
The three were: Dr. Peter Appiahene, Salima Ahmed Tijani and Rev Akua Ofori Boateng.
Out of the three, the appointment of Dr. Appiahene in particular has drawn a lot of political controversy.
This is because of his known role as a patron of the New Patriotic Party’s tertiary institutions wing, TESCON, specifically the University of Energy and Natural Resources branch.
Some Civil Society Organizations including the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) Ghana, have expressed misgivings over the appointment of Dr. Appiahene calling on the president to withdraw his appointment.
In his comments on the appointment, Bright Simons of Imani Ghana tweeted: “Seeing how Ghana’s Electoral Commission is always on the defensive about being totally independent & professional, I expect the top bosses to inform the Prez that they’d rather resign than work with partisan activists as that’ll sully the EC’s reputation!”
Radio presenter and disc jockey, DJ Slim, says rapper and singer Jay Bahd is above the 24th VGMA Best New Artist category.
According to him, the ‘See No Evil’ rapper sprouted into the music scene during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2019 and had already gained nationwide recognition, therefore, he cannot be listed among the new artists in the 2022/2023 year under review.
Speaking on Daybreak Hitz on Hitz FM, he said: “Jay Bahd is bigger than the 2023 Best New Artist category.”
As expected, DJ Slim’s comments generated mixed reactions on-air and on social media, where some pundits and a cross-section of the public sided with him, whereas the rest opposed him.
One of the opposing figures was Showbiz pundit and talent manager, Nana Asiamah Hanson, also known as Bullgod, who noted that Jay Bahd earned a nomination in that category because he was among the new artists who were recognised in 2022/2023, as per the VGMA board.
DJ Slim also argued that the ‘Condemn’ hitmaker had tracks with the Asakaa Boys (Akatafoɔ, Ma Drip, Sɔre and Yɛ Yɛ Dɔm) among many others that were hit songs spanning between 2020 and 2022.
Jay Bahd has accumulated 30 million streams on Boomplay. His album, ‘Return of Okomfo Anokye’ has 8 million streams on the same platform.
His catalogue has chalked a total of 39.5 million plays with monthly listeners of 348,000 on Audiomack.
This according to DJ Slim sets Jay Bahd above the aforementioned category.
However, Bullgod countered DJ Slim’s argument by saying that artists do not necessarily earn nominations in the Best New Artist category in their first year of music release.
“You can be doing music for 30 years. Once the scheme recognizes you in the following year, you earn your nomination.
“Let’s say somebody has been doing music since 1999. You only got to hear it now in 2023. Wouldn’t you consider the musician a new artist?” Bullgod quizzed.
DJ Slim, however, held firmly to the point that for an artist whose songs chalked millions of streams on digital stores; multiple airplay on radio and TV over the years, Jay Bahd had been reduced to a new artist by the VGMA scheme in 2023.
For clarity, the ‘Best New Artist’ category definition states that: “The Best New Artist is the artist(s) adjudged by the Academy, Board and the General Public as the most promising and talented emerging artist(s). The award goes to a relatively new artist(s) who released a single/EP/album that establishes the public identity of the artist within the year under review.”
Therefore, according to the scheme, Jay Bahd is “relatively a new artist,” but DJ Slim begs to differ on the scheme’s take.
But according to the Go Get rapper, he didn’t know he needed to file for nomination to be given a spot. He revealed this in a conversation with a popular content creator, Kwadwo Sheldon.
Gwyneth Paltrow was “distracted” when she crashed into a retired eye doctor on a ski slope, inflicting brain damage and breaking his ribs, a court heard.
A lawyer for Terry Sanderson told the jury in Utah that the Hollywood actress’s “reckless” actions had caused the collision on a slope in 2016.
Ms Paltrow has countersued. Her lawyer said the crash was Mr Sanderson’s fault and his claims are “utter BS”.
Mr Sanderson, 76, is seeking damages of $300,000 (£245,000).
He dropped a previous claim for $3.1m.
The 50-year-old Oscar winner’s counterclaim seeks $1 in damages, plus legal fees.
The actress-turned-lifestyle-influencer sat impassively in court during opening statements on the first day of the trial in a Park City court on Tuesday.
The incident occurred in February 2016 on the beginners’ slope at the Deer Valley resort where Ms Paltrow was skiing with her family.
She and her children are expected to testify.
(Getty Images)
“Distracted skiers cause crashes,” said Mr Sanderson’s attorney, Lawrence Buhler.
“She knew that skiing that way, blindly skiing down a mountain while looking up and to the side, was reckless; she knew that continuing to ski that way… she would crash into somebody below her.”
Mr Buhler said Ms Paltrow crashed into his client and then quickly skied away, leaving him prone and unconscious without calling for help or checking to make sure he was OK.
“Before this crash, Terry was a charming, outgoing, gregarious person,” Mr Sanderson’s lawyer said.
“He was living a full life, travelling the world – doing everything possible to enjoy his life and guard his health. But after the crash, he’s no longer charming.”
Steve Owens, Ms Paltrow’s lawyer, dismissed Mr Sanderson’s claims as “utter BS”.
He told the jury his client had just begun descending the slope when a pair of skis suddenly appeared between her legs and a man collided into her back.
Terry Sanderson accuses Ms Paltrow of being distracted while skiing (Getty Images)
Ms Paltrow’s lawyer argued that Mr Sanderson, who suffers from vision and hearing loss as a result of a previous stroke, may not have seen the actress before he collided with her.
Mr Owens said his client initially suspected she was being assaulted and was so shaken by the incident she chose not to ski for the rest of the day.
“She may have sworn at him. It rattled her and it physically hurt her,” he said.
The case appears to hinge on which skier – Ms Paltrow or Mr Sanderson – was uphill at the time of the accident. According to Deer Valley safety policies, skiers “ahead or downhill of you have the right of way. You must avoid them.”
Craig Ramon, who is a friend of Mr Sanderson, was the first witness to take the stand in the case.
At times Ms Paltrow attempted to hide from the cameras in court (Getty Images)
He testified that he heard a scream and turned his head to see Ms Paltrow crash into Mr Sanderson.
But on cross-examination, Ms Paltrow’s lawyers noted that Mr Ramon is colour-blind, arguing he could not have distinguished which skier caused the crash from his or her clothing alone.
Ms Paltrow’s lawyers allege that GoPro footage and a social media post that corroborate her version of events have “disappeared”.
The original claim, filed in 2019, said: “This case involves a hit-and-run ski crash at Deer Valley, Utah, where defendant Gwyneth Paltrow skied out of control and hit the back of Terry Sanderson, another skier, who was downhill, knocking him down hard, knocking him out, and causing a brain injury, four broken ribs and other serious injuries.”
The proceedings are scheduled to last for eight days.
The passage of outstanding revenue bills by Parliament remains critical to government programmes as well as to enable the state to complete four of the five agreed prior actions in the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Staff Level Agreement.
The outstanding bills are the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, Excise Duty and Excise Tax Stamp (Amendment) Bills as well as the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill. These bills, according to the government, are necessary for effective budget implementation. They will also boost efforts to increase tax-to-GDP from less than 13 percent to the sub-Saharan average of 18 percent.
Together, if approved, the bills will lead to a revenue yield of approximately GH¢3.96 billion this year.
So far in addition to the domestic debt exchange programme – awaiting completion of the external debt operation – government has completed three prior action – tariff adjustment by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), publication of the Auditor-General’s Report on COVID-19 Spending, and onboarding of Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND), District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) and Road Fund on the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) – as established in the Staff Level Agreement.
In an engagement with the media on the passage of these bills, the Director of the Revenue Policy Division at the Ministry of Finance, George Swanzy Winful, noted that government programmes are largely based on these revenue measures and that if not approved, will be of dire consequences to budget implementation.
“The passing of these bills is critical as it will have serious consequences on the management of public funds if not achieved. If the bills are not passed, there may be a need to revise the revenue estimate, which will affect the mobilisation of domestic revenue,” he said.
“The government is working with the IMF in this regard and has indicated what it can contribute to show its commitment to mobilizing domestic revenue. Without the support of parliament in passing these bills, the nation may find itself in a difficult situation,” he added.
Although the situation is gradually normalising, there are still hurdles to cross to get the country to a better position. The government needs parliament’s support in passing these bills to secure a brighter future for the nation.
Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill, 2022
This bill is to impose a special levy to be known as the Growth and Sustainability Levy to raise revenue for growth and fiscal sustainability of the economy. The levy is to be imposed on profit before tax of the companies and institutions and. on· production in the case of mining, upstream oil and gas companies.
The estimated revenue for 2023 is approximately GH¢ 2.216 billion. The Levy is subject to review by the minister responsible for finance in 2025.
Per the government, this comes on the back of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic which led to a significant reduction in revenues and increased expenditure, as well as the Russian-Ukraine war which has also resulted in unprecedented global crises – depreciation in currencies and impacted living conditions and inflation levels.
The Ghanaian economy has not been spared these shocks. Further interventions are required to raise additional revenue for national development and social protection for the vulnerable. The introduction of the Growth and Sustainability Levy is part of the government’s efforts to raise funds for carrying out these interventions.
Income Tax (Amendment) Bill
The Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2022 is to amend the Income Tax Act, 2015 (Act 896) to revise the rates of income tax for individuals and introduce an additional income tax bracket, introduce a withholding tax rate on the realisation of assets and liabilities and on winnings from lottery, unify the loss carried forward provisions and revise the treatment of foreign exchange losses and increase the optional rate for individuals on the gain from the realisation of an investment asset.
Others include revising the upper limits for the quantification of motor vehicle benefits and increasing the concessional income tax rates.
The individual personal income tax bands have been reviewed to accommodate the minimum wage for 2023 as the basic tax free income and an additional band at 35 percent as part of the high net worth taxation policy. The upper limits for quantification of motor vehicle benefits have not been revised since 2015. Government has revised these upper limits to account for inflation.
These amendments are considered necessary to support the growing economy and will lead to a revenue yield of approximately GH¢ 1.29 billion.
Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, 2022
The Excise Duty (Amendment) Bill, 2022 is to amend the Excise Duty Act, 2014 (Act 878) to revise the excise tax rates for cigarettes and other tobacco products to conform with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Protocols and raise revenue to mitigate the harmful effects of these excisable products; increase the excise duty in respect of wine, malt drinks and spirits; and impose excise duty on sweetened beverages and electronic cigarettes and electronic liquids to increase revenue.
The government expects to raise about GH¢455 million from this bill.
The singer-songwriter said that he has always been a very musical person and singing has always come naturally to him. Growing up, his family, especially his father, influenced him musically.
Though he is popular for making music and has been in the industry for a while now, Kelvyn Boy indicated that he loves listening to music rather than recording music.
He made the comments while talking to KMJ on Prime Morning.
“I love to listen to music than to record. I am very musical. I was born into a musical home. I didn’t learn how to sing but I adapted singing from my dad because I had just found myself singing. I didn’t know how,” he said.
The ‘Mea’ hitmaker also indicated that the Ghanaian music industry has made a lot of progress because a lot of things have changed in the music industry.
According to him, Ghanaians have acquired a new taste for good music, pushing artistes to also step up their music game.
“I feel like lately, a lot of things have changed…from how they consume the music and the kind of songs that the masses allow to get attention is amazing and it’s changing. Lately, I hear a lot of proper and beautiful songs. It’s like the talent is really strong. Not like before when any song can just blow because it has the hype. It doesn’t really happen lately,” he said.
The Afrobeat artiste says that he has seen growth in his music career, and according to him, it is not easy to balance being famous with making music. But he is working hard to put out good content while trusting the process and he has seen how his music career is taking good a turn.
The Afrobeat King said that he listens to every music genre and every musician including himself. He also revealed that he was largely influenced by reggae music, afrobeat music and musical genius Osibisa on his journey to becoming the artist he is now.
The exercise, which is scheduled to commence from April 1, 2023, aims to sanitise the public sector payroll by identifying and expunging existing fraud and anomalies on it.
“It is also aimed at ensuring that only approved Salaries and Allowances are paid,” the commission stated in a circular.
According to the commission, all boards/councils and heads of public sector institutions are, therefore, being entreated to conduct their own payroll audit and clean-up ahead of the national payroll monitoring exercise.
The exercise must cover basic salaries and all types of allowances and benefits, the commission instructed.
The commission further urged banks and individuals in receipt of fraudulent salaries and allowances to take steps to refund same and cease from further “fraudulent practices or face the full rigors of the law.”
GH¢8m lost in payroll irregularities
According to the 2021 Auditor-General’s report on public accounts, the country lost a total of GH¢8,24 million in the year 2021, due to payroll irregularities related to public boards, corporations, and other statutory institutions.
One major cause of such irregularities, the report cited, was management’s failure in exercising due diligence in supervising officers in charge of payroll validation and reviewing payment vouchers to ensure salaries were paid to only those who were entitled.
The report also cited that the management of these public institutions failed to notify banks to stop payment of unearned salaries. The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department also did not promptly delete the names of separated staff when notified to do so.
The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation was responsible for over GH¢2.9 million of the total amount lost to payroll irregularities.
“Contained in the total irregularity of GH¢8,243,954 is an amount of GH¢2,992,444 attributed to Ghana Broadcasting Corporation in respect of avoidable pending judgment debt due to the termination of appointment of a former Director-General, judgment debt for the failure to pay long service award to employees, payment of unearned salaries and the late payment of 1st and 2nd tier pension contributions,” part of the report reads.
It is noteworthy that in 2020, the Auditor-General’s report revealed that the country lost over GH¢9.5 million to payroll irregularities.
Ghanaian musician sensation Medikal, has hit back at claims that his wealth is ill-gotten.
Speaking on TV3’s NewDay show on March 22, 2023, the rapper made it clear that he only uses legitimate means to make his money.
“I hustle for my money,” he declared, adding that it’s probably because he’s young and came into the scene not so long ago that people assume he’s not doing things the right way.
However, Medikal went on to explain that he makes his cash through a variety of means, including endorsement deals, influential deals, shows, and streaming.
“I move correctly,” he asserted. “I won’t be anywhere if it’s not work or something that’s going to help me.”
According to Medikal, his success is also down to smart branding, which has helped him bag numerous endorsement deals. He advised others to follow suit and focus on branding themselves well in whatever industry they find themselves in.
“I feel like every human being, not just persons in the music industry, whatever you find yourself doing you should brand yourself well,” he thus advised.
Pension funds are setting their sights on investing in the real sector, according to the 2023 outlook survey by Axis Pension Trust, amid the economic woes which is driving investors to seek diversification away from government securities.
According to the survey, investors are now looking to diversify their portfolios in alternative assets, which will set the stage for pension funds to finally invest in the real sector of the economy. This is seen as a positive step towards addressing the structural weaknesses in the Ghanaian economy.
Amidst the limited investment alternative, market analysts are of the view that investors could consider real estate investments and exposure to agriculture and energy-focused private equity (PE) funds as alternative investments, as well as commodities such as gold and other precious metals, infrastructure and cryptocurrencies.
“It is crucial to note that developed countries allocate a significant percentage of pension fund assets to the private sector to drive economic growth. Government expenditure should also be directed towards capital expenditure, generating investments that can drive growth,” the Chief Executive Officer of Axis Pension Trust, Afriyie Oware told the B&FT.
“It is necessary to redefine the direction of the country for the next economic cycle by efficiently allocating resources to the private sector and implementing proper investment guidelines. This will attract private sector investments, drive economic growth, and avoid excessive investing in government debt,” he added.
Nonetheless, effectively harnessing these opportunities will require changes to the existing investment guidelines from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the National Pensions Regulation Authority. The changes to the existing investment guidelines will be to increase the investment ceilings on other asset classes as the current ceiling assigns heavyweights to the sovereign debt.
However, the survey further established that the domestic debt exchange programme could be disruptive to both the financial and real sectors for years to come. The growth outlook and its consequential impact on asset prices are highly negative, with the central bank losing credibility in its ability to control inflation and liquidity being drained out of the system.
Economic growth
Money managers who were surveyed say they expect the country to have a challenging 2023, growing at below trend pace of between 2-3 percent. This is due to rising inflation and elevated interest rates, slowdown in government capital expenditure and a decimated consumer population suffering from the effects of the domestic debt exchange programme.
“With the central bank losing credibility in its ability to control inflation and with liquidity being drained out of the system, the growth outlook and its consequential impact on asset prices is highly negative,” the outlook stated in part.
The central government has forecasted the economy to grow by 2.8 percent in 2023, but the heightened uncertainty surrounding the debt exchange programme and its consequential impact on local currency and inflation may necessitate a downward revision of the projection.
“Beyond the domestic debt exchange programme, the government will have to think of bolder and more transformative policies to build fiscal buffers towards a path of sustainability. This includes addressing weaknesses in enforcing compliance and improving tax administration to mobilise domestic resources to support economic recovery,” the report suggested.
Axis Pension indicated that improving the efficiency of revenue collection through institutional reforms such as improved governance and adopting digitisation and e-governance will improve transparency and reduce illicit financial flows.
As the battle approaches what has been called a “now-or-never” moment, the Ukrainian military is expected to launch a wave of drones with a shark design.
The high-end unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are paid for by a philanthropic project that uses donations from sales at a nation-wide network of gas stations.
These will give the military of Kiev greater surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, supplying information for weapons such as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. A counteroffensive is anticipated for this spring (HIMAR).
The eastern city of Bakhmut has become the focal point of a conflict where Ukraine’s military has been utilising Western lethal aid and improvised drone systems to exact heavy losses on Russian forces ahead of the expected push-back.
The sharks have been rapidly designed and put into production by a Ukrainian aerospace company during the full-scale invasion.
A total of 25 intelligence complexes consisting of 75 ‘birds’ overall are due to be deployed on the frontline through the initiative run by Come Back Alive, a charitable foundation which supports the armed forces.
Two UAVs are already on the battlefield, with the supporting complex including associated equipment such as command and control systems, ground vehicles and launch ramps.
The UAVs have a striking shark design and a camera able to track moving targets (Picture: Come Back Alive/@BackAndAlive)
The ongoing collaborative effort has so far raised 287 million hryvnias (£7.2 million) towards a target of 325 million, with the newly deployed kit being the first results of the amount raised to date.
Mykola Bielieskov, senior analyst at the foundation, told Metro.co.uk: ‘The shark intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance UAVs have critical importance because they will provide data for the most formidable rocket systems like HIMARS and M270 MLRS at a range of 75-plus kilometres.
‘As HIMARS and MLRS can target the enemy at a range of 85 kilometers we need to have the comparable intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance equipment. The UAVs are also being provided in preparation for a possible upcoming counter-offensive.
‘Private enterprise and charity are combining behind this window of opportunity so that our artillery systems can be utilised to the fullest possible extent. This project and others run by the Come Back Alive foundation are examples of how civil society is mobilising behind the military and as you can see, the work is bearing fruit.
‘All Ukrainians pay taxes which go to the Ministry of Defence’s budget but all Ukrainians realise that it is not enough. They are also ready to spend money to purchase fuel and to buy these incredible UAVs.’
The first of the new UAVs have been deployed with the aim of eventually providing 75 drones (Picture: Come Back Alive/@BackAndAlive)
The funding was raised through a partnership with the Ukrainian OKKO fuel station network whereby a hryvnia from every litre of premium Pulls petrol and diesel sold goes to the shark project.
Ukrainian firm Ukrspecsytems has entered the drones into production during the full-scale invasion, equipping the systems with encrypted communications, a 30x optical zoom camera and 150mph top speed.
The Kyiv-headquartered foundation has already provided large consignments of high-tech equipment, together with training, to troops.
Donations have included a strike drone complex, armoured vehicles, pick-up trucks and thousands of pieces of thermal imaging kit.
‘The birds were designed and produced in the space of a year, during the war, from the drawing board, to prototypes, to testing and now to the battlefield,’ Mr Bielieskov said.
The drones have been made from a blueprint drawn up by a Ukrainian company during the full-scale invasion (Picture: Come Back Alive/@BackAndAlive)
‘The private enterprise drew on their previous accumulated expertise, knowledge and experience going back to 2014 when Russia began its war on Ukraine to produce the UAVs, which are incredible not only in terms of range but with their high quality cameras and ability to operate day and night and track moving targets.
‘They are state of the art in terms of what Ukrainian private enterprise can produce for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and tactical range. The project was made possible because our charity is constantly finding the best ways to raise money and use it to the greatest effect.
‘We are now entering a period of “now or never” with this upcoming half a year going to be the most critical time yet to double down.
‘There’s a window of opportunity to provide assistance to the military as Ukraine prepares for a possible counter-offensive before Russia enters another round of mobilisation. It’s not the end of the confrontation but we now have an opportunity to do things right and begin the end game of what started on February 24, 2022.’
The supplied kit includes intelligence complexes with take-off ramps and guidance systems (Picture: Come Back Alive/@BackAndAlive)
Phillips O’Brien, professor of Strategic Studies at the University of St Andrews, described the foundation’s work as a matter of life and death.
Professor O’Brien said: ‘As Ukraine is gearing up for a counter-offensive, it needs to arm its soldiers with both the new heavy equipment being supplied by its friends, but also a large number of smaller systems, from UAVs to SUVs to body armour. Come Back Alive is an organization that has strong support across Ukraine to get such systems in the hands of their soldiers as they prepare for this vital action.
‘In the case of some Ukrainian soldiers, the support of Come Back Alive will make the difference between life and death.’
The sharks are part of what the Come Back Alive foundation anticipates could be a critical phase in the war (Picture: Come Back Alive/@BackAndAlive)
Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited troops near the frontline in the eastern Donetsk region today, presenting medals to ‘heroes’ who he said had protected ‘the sovereignty of our country’.
The Ukrainian president’s visit came as Chinese leader Xi Jinping landed back in Beijing after meeting Vladimir Putin in Moscow, a meeting said by Western analysts to mark an aligning of their interests against the US.
On the battlefield, there were signs of Ukrainian forces shoring up their ground in Donetsk, with fighting near embattled Bakhmut reported by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The update on Twitter stated: ‘Over recent days Ukrainian forces initiated a local counterattack to the west of the Donetsk Oblast town Bakhmut, which is likely to relieve pressure on the threatened H-32 supply route.
‘Fighting continues around the town centre and the Ukrainian defence remains at risk from envelopment from the north and south.
‘However, there is a realistic opportunity that the Russian assault on the town is losing the limited momentum it had obtained, partially because some Russian MoD units have been reallocated to other sectors.’
Education Minister, Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum, has disclosed that government from 2017 to 2021 spent GHS 5,119,794,501.22 on its flagship Free Senior High School Program.
He said the ministry’s approved budget for the full implementation of the Free SHS program amounted to GHS 7,623,783,456.00.
However, during the period under review, the ministry of finance released a total of GHS 5,182,205,131.91.
“Mr. Speaker, the Government of H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo introduced the Free Senior High School program to improve access and quality of secondary education in Ghana. The program since its inception, has contributed to improving learning outcomes in our Senior High Schools.
“For the period under review (ie. 2017- 2021), the Ministry’s approved budget allocation for the implementation of the Free SHS program amounted to Seven Billion, Six Hundred and Twenty- three Million, Seven Hundred and Eighty- three Thousand, Four Hundred and Fifty-six Ghana Cedis (GHS7,623,783,456.00).
“During the period under review, the Ministry of Finance released a total of Five Billion, One Hundred and Eighty-two Million, Two Hundred and Five Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty- one Ghana Cedis, Ninety-one pesewas (GHS5,182,205,131.91) to the Ministry of Education for the execution of the Free SHS program.
“The total expenditure for the period amounted to Five Billion, One Hundred and Nineteen Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety-four Thousand, Five Hundred and One Ghana Cedis, Twenty-two pesewas GHS5,119,794,501.22),” he said.
This answer was in response to a question by the Akatsi North MP, who asked the minister to provide information on how much the Government has spent on the Free SHS Program between 2017 and 2021 in view of the conflicting figures on how much government has committed so far.
Former Deputy Minister of Works and Housing and Member of Parliament for Subin Constituency, Eugene Boakye Antwi, has stated that the government’s IMF programme may be delayed until May.
According to him, government seems not to have met the conditions of the IMF to enable them secure the US$3 billion dollar facility to cushion the ailing economy.
Speaking on Okay FM’s ‘Ade Akye Abia’ programme, he explained that though some Members of Parliament want the Finance Minister removed, the President has once again prevailed on them to exercise restraint for the IMF negotiation to go through by the end of May.
“We will take the President for his word and allow the negotiations to end by May, but we still want the Finance Minister to go and that nobody can silence us. The party belongs to us and we will not be cowed into submission when things are not going on right in this country,” he said.
“Ghanaians are reeling under hardship and it affects us as members of parliament who are burdened by the needs of our constituents. The Finance Minister must go to pave way for fresh minds who can help resuscitate the economy from further collapse,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Finance Minister, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, is expected to arrive in China on Wednesday for debt negotiations, a source close to the finance ministry told the Ghana News Agency.
The Minister is leading a high-level government delegation for bilateral talks on debt restructuring and financing assurances on Thursday and Friday, the source said.
The delegation includes other government officials as well as technical teams from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Managing Director of the Electricity Company Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Mahama, has said that he has been receiving calls from some prominent Ghanaians to stop the disconnection exercise his outfit is undertaking to retrieve arrears owed them.
According to him, some of the calls are from figures in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who are afraid that the exercise will destroy the party’s base.
He said that the request made is: “can you hold off?”
He, however, indicated he does not see the exercise his outfit is carrying out as political but as an action needed for the company’s and the country’s growth.
“How do we pay the Independent Power Producers? How do we pay GRIDCo? How do we pay VRA? It is a shared responsibility.
“Please let’s just do the right thing because I don’t even have the moral right after sending somebody out of the office to pick up the phone and call him and say ‘hello, can you cut X, Y and Z slack? No’ then what is the moral of the exercise?” he questioned in an interview on JoyNews.
Background:
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) on Monday, March 20, 2023, closed all its district, regional and head offices to embark on a month-long nationwide revenue mobilization exercise.
The exercise is expected to end on April 20, 2023, a statement from ECG stated.
Following this announcement, some top institutions in the country have been brought to bear by the power distribution company for owing them huge sums of money.
Below is a list of some of the defaulting companies:
Parliament of Ghana
Parliament of Ghana, according to ECG, owes them GH¢13 million. After holding a crunch meeting with them on Monday, Parliament paid GH¢8million out of the total amount to escape ECG disconnection.
Ghana Airports Company
The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) on Monday, March 20, 2023, paid GH¢10 million out of the GH¢28 million debt it owes the Electricity Company of Ghana to avoid disconnection from the national power supply.
The Airport Company promised to pay the remaining balance it owes ECG within two weeks.
Ho Airport and Ho Technical University
ECG disconnected the power supply of Ho Airport for owing GH¢63,000. Ho Technical University, on the other hand, experienced ‘dumsor’ for being in debted to ECG of the tune of GH¢402,000.
GRA
In the same vein, the GRA office in the Volta region was also cut from the national grid for owing GH¢55,000.
B Plus Steel company
In the latest development, B Plus Steel company which owes ECG an amount of GH¢48 million has made a part payment of GH¢20 million.
Meanwhile, ECG has noted that they do not accept cash or cheques for debt collection.
According to the Managing Director of the Company, Samuel Dubik Mahama, all payments should be made through mobile money transfers or via pay-in slips at the bank.
Ghanaian rapper Medikal has revealed that Giovani Caleb of the Media General Group has been instrumental in his music journey.
According to the rapper, Giovani was the first person to ever play his music on radio.
Speaking in an interview on TV3’s Newday, the ‘Omo Ada’ hitmaker disclosed that this was during his early days in his music career when he had attained no fame.
“It was about 15 years ago. Those days I used to listen to YFM a lot. I was listening to the radio station when I heard a [freestyle] I had recorded playing. I didn’t believe it. And it was Geovani. I didn’t know him, I hadn’t met him before,” he recounted and said he owed Giovani a lot for this.
Prior to this interview on Newday, he had visited Onua FM for a similar interview; this time with Giovani Caleb. It was a beholding sight at the radio station as Medikal sprayed bundles of Ghana cedis on Giovani.
Medikal said the gesture was in appreciation for what he (Geovani) did for him years ago.
“You are one of the reasons I’ll never give up in the (music) game. I say this all the time that you’re the first person to ever play my song on radio and I owe you a lot for this. I tell myself that the next time I see you, any money I have on me, I’ll spread on you,” he said and indeed, he fulfilled his word.
Economist and former Board Chairman for the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Professor Stephen Adei has revealed that he was forced to resign on principle from the Ministry of Finance’s advisory board because his views on the economy were not sought.
According to him, he was appointed to the advisory board of the ministry during the administration of late president John Evans Atta-Mills.
He said since then he had been playing an advisory role for the ministry.
He added that the position was just advisory and as and when the minister deemed it appropriate “you are called to proffer a piece of advice.”
The economist and former rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) made this disclosure about his role in government while speaking in an interview on Accra-based Citi FM’s eyewitness news on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.
He explained he had to resign from the position because, for the past year, his views on the management of the economy were not sought.
“I didn’t want to be seen as ‘Simpapayin’,” he said; to wit he did not want to be seen as useless on the advisory board.
He said he did this in the interest of serving the nation.
He revealed that the only time his views were sought “was when the government was about implementing the Free SHS policy and I gladly gave it out.”
“As board chairman of GRA, I never took a dime but I worked diligently for GRA to meet its revenue targets.
”With this, many saw me as being in government when I was not in government but only working for the good of the country,” he corrected.
“Even as the chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), I prepared a document dubbed [email protected] and wanted the buy-in of the government. To date the government is not meeting me,” he said.
Speaking on the economic downturn in a separate interview earlier, Prof Stephen Adei had said over borrowing is one of the biggest mistakes of the Akufo-Addo government.
The former board chair of theGhana Revenue Authority (GRA) told journalists on the sidelines of the Signature Market Pre-launch campaign at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, that excessive borrowing has exacerbated the economic crisis.
“I think the biggest mistake they [government] made is that they borrowed beyond our capacity to service it.
“If you are a country and you borrow beyond your capacity, you will be in trouble, of course, COVID-19 came in, and the Russia-Ukraine [war, too],” he stated.
“But the reason why things got worse is because of these underlying mistakes they made and they must admit it”, Prof Adei explained.
He added: “If not, they won’t be going to IMF.
“If you are a government and you go broke you re-negotiate with your debtors. I think the debt restructuring will go through”.
“We have to learn and not repeat our mistakes by going on a borrowing spree”, he advised, noting: “We should become watchdogs”.
“The leakages should be reduced, the level of corruption, the wastage from the government after government is high, so, we don’t get value for money,” he stated.
There is nothing special about a man marrying many women, but the reverse, polyandry, is unheard of.
A woman who sells cars for a living has become famous in her area, with three husbands living in the same house.
Village record holder with three lovers
Jimmy, Danny, and Hassan have no choice but to become best friends as they share the same woman under one roof.
“My name is Nellie, and I am the village record holder in this area with three husbands. I have lived with these three men as my husbands for three years. I had a husband with whom we were together for eight years who died in a car accident.
After he died, I was left with his brother, Hassan, and we continued living in the same house as before my late husband died. He showed me love, and I ended up falling for him,” she told Afrimax English.
Man stressed by love
Danny had just finished his studies and had not secured a job when he met Nellie, who showed him love and took her to his house, where the other two men welcomed him.
Nellie found Jimmy sitting alone, stressed by love, and asked him to talk to her because she saw he had many problems.
“I needed someone to comfort and say kind words to me, and I also needed someone to talk to. She told me about her life. That day we went our different ways, but continued being friends. We accepted each other with our background and live as husband and wife,” he said.
Woman discloses she makes her men happy
Nellie prides herself on satisfying the needs of their husbands and brags they cannot cheat because she treats them all equally.
Since everyone has their bedroom, they plan how each of them gets to spend time with her.
“Living with three men makes me feel very happy, and I can confirm that my men are also happy because they have everything they want, and I’m sure they wouldn’t cheat on me because I believe I satisfy their needs,” Nellie shared.
After a boy was fatally stabbed in Northampton, a murder inquiry has been established.
The 16-year-old was discovered today in the town’s Kingsthorpe neighborhood.
At around 3.35 p.m., officers were summoned to Harborough Road, at the intersection with The Cock Hotel, in response to claims that a boy had been stabbed.
He passed away soon after despite the paramedics’ best attempts.
Four men aged 49, 21, 16 and 14, have been arrested in connection with the boy’s death and remain in police custody at this time.
A police cordon is expected to remain in place overnight and house-to-house enquiries are being carried out.
Senior investigating officer, Detective Inspector Simon Barnes, said: ‘This is an exceptionally sad and tragic incident in which a young boy with his whole life ahead of him has died and I want to reassure the public that we are absolutely determined to bring the people involved to justice.
‘Arrests were promptly made this evening, and enquiries are continuing to move at a fast pace however I would still appeal for any witnesses or anyone with information who has not yet come forward, to please do so.
‘Whilst we do believe that this was an isolated incident, high-visibility police patrols will be taking place in the Kingsthorpe area to reassure the local community.
‘I would encourage anyone with concerns in the area to approach one of our officers who will be happy to help.’
The bills, the Income Tax Amendment Bill, and the Excise Duty Tax, which, according to the Nana Addo-led government, will help shore up Ghana’s revenue, should be rejected by parliament in all manner.
We, as an association, believe these two taxes are just a lazy approach by the government that campaigned on moving away from taxation to production to rake in monies with the hope of stabilizing the economy.
It is refreshing to hear the leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) calling on its members of parliament to vote outrightly in rejection of the said bills since it will not in any way inure to the benefit of the ordinary Ghanaian and businesses who are already being folding out of business due to the already existing draconian taxes.
We urge the majority of MPs to also follow suit in rejecting these two bills that will compound the very challenges facing local businesses to thrive.
As we indicated after the President’s state of the Nations Address by the president on the 8th of March 2023, it is high time the business community rises to demonstrate their displeasure and anger against the Akufo-Addo government for toying with their fortunes which their mismanagement of the country’s economy.
We also call on the speaker of parliament to ensure voting on these two bills is made public should they be adopted for passage.
The Fair Wages and Salary Commission (FWSC) has declared that it will launch a nationwide payroll monitoring exercise in April as part of its measures to improve the public sector payroll,
According to the Commission, the exercise will be carried out in consultation with the appropriate parties.
The effort is geared to find and eliminate any fraud and abnormalities that may already exist in the public sector payroll, according to a public notice released by the Public Affairs Unit of the Commission.
“It is also aimed at ensuring that only approved salaries and allowances are paid,” the notice said.
Ahead of the exercise, the Commission has called on all boards and councils as well as heads of public sector institutions “to conduct their own internal payroll audit and clean-up ahead of that of the Commission”.
“This exercise should cover basic salaries and all types of allowances and benefits.
“By this communication, banks and individuals in receipt of fraudulent salaries and allowances are also advised to take steps to refund same and cease from further fraudulent practices or face the full rigours of the law.”
This exercise has become necessary according to the institution some unscrupulous persons may have been alleged to have been unduly paid.
Chris Hughton, the head coach of the Ghana national team, Black Stars, is optimistic of footballer lovers in Kumasi turning out in their numbers to support the team as they face Angola in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The new coach who took over after Otto Addo has assured of entertainment for supporters who will come watch the first Leg of the doubleheader against Angola at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium on Thursday, March 23, 2023.
He touted the city of Kumasi as a support base for the Black Stars describing the fans as “vocal supporters”.
The head coach outlined the importance of having a big crowd at the stadium on match days.
“I was involved with the team when we came to Kumasi for the Nigeria game and I what the difference it’s made to the team. It is a very passionate support, It’s a very vocal support and any team that wants to do well wants a big crowd behind them and this I am quite sure will happen,” he said.
Addressing the media at a presser on March 22, Chris Hughton, clarified that could not guarantee a win against Angola but assured that the Black Stars will give their very best.
“Whatever the number is, I know we’ll have a very vocal crowd but we also have the responsibility as a team and players to return this. The supporters must enjoy what they see and mostly, we can never guarantee early results but mostly, they want to see a team that is giving everything to get the results,” the head coach stated in a video captured by GhanaWeb.
Nigerian life coach, influencer, and writer, Solomon Buchi has opined that the act of having sex before getting married is “abnormal”.
He wrote this on Twitter while advising unmarried people to abstain from sex. He stated that couples can date without getting intimate.
According to him, anyone who stays away from sex during dating will have a clear mind to walk away when the need be.
He added that abstinence is also an honour to God and to one’s body.
You can date without sex. You should do it. Your head will be clear; your mind won’t be fogged by orgasms. It will be easier to walk away, and most importantly, you honor your body unto the Lord. Sex before marriage is not normal. It’s not fun. It’s human depravity.
He wrote: “You can date without sex. You should do it. Your head will be clear; your mind won’t be fogged by orgasms. It will be easier to walk away, and most importantly, you honor your body unto the Lord. Sex before marriage is not normal. It’s not fun. It’s human depravity.”
Leader of the Universal Spiritual Outreach, Prophet Kwabena Boakye Asiamah who is popularly known as Ajagurajah, has stated that angels are envious of humans because of freedom and access to sex.
He claims that while it is acceptable for people to have sex with their female partners, it is not permissible for angles to have an affair with another angle despite the fact that angels have feelings for one another.
Ajagurajah also claimed that some female angels come down to the earth from heaven in order to have affairs with men.
Speaking in an interview with Neat FM, on March 20, 2023, he explained: “If there was happiness up there, will they have come down here? …they don’t have the power to sleep with colleague angels…an angel cannot sleep with a fellow angel but they can sleep with demons. They don’t have the power to intermarry.
“Angels have sperms and female angels have vaginas and breasts. Female angels have also been descending to sleep with men and giving birth.
“Why is it that God doesn’t want angels to have sex? That’s why angels are envious of us, angels don’t like us…and most of them don’t like us … I have angels that are part of my (things) but they don’t like me…because we get some to eat (sex) and they don’t get some to eat. We’ve freedom and they don’t have freedom,” he stressed.
