The new tax plan, he said, won’t determine Ghana’s future, but it will give Ghana independence.
He said, “It is not that we are hanging our whole future on E-Levy but we know that E-Levy is even expanding more,” during a town hall gathering in Tamale.
Read the complete article as it appeared on ClassFM on February 22, 2022.
Ghana’s future is independent of the proposed tax on electronic transactions, according to Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
“It is not that we are hanging our whole future on E-Levy but we know that E-Levy is even growing more,” the Finance Minister said while speaking at the government’s town hall meeting on Thursday, 10 February 2022 in the Northern Regional capital, Tamale.
The Minister also questioned those opposed to the levy.
Mr Ofori-Atta said: “Should we just let it go? Do you just not want to participate in the reconstruction of our country? Is that what it is about? Or is it because you’re another party, you don’t want this to happen?”
He indicated that, although Tamale is not one of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) stronghold, it does not mean the government will not invest in its development.
“I don’t know the last time we won seats in Tamale. I think Mustapha Ali won it twice or something, but it does not mean we are not going to put resources in Tamale or the Northern Region, that does not mean that”, Mr Ofori-Atta.
The town hall meeting is the third being held by the government to sensitize citizens on the E-levy.
It is expected that the feedback received from the town hall meetings will help the government in its implementation of the levy.
He claimed that the projects of Jospong are supported by the government since they help the economy flourish.
“Some people have asked why Dr. Siaw Agyepong and I are friends. We are business partners, not friends. I discovered that he is doing good for Ghana, which is why the government is supporting him. He is not the only one we are rooting for. The government is ready to assist businesses and entrepreneurs who are doing something positive to help the economy grow,” President Akufo-Addo said at the memorial service of the late Opanin Samuel Kwame Agyepong, father of Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong.
Read the full story originally published on September 11, 2022 by www.ghanaweb.com.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has disclosed the relationship between himself and the Chief Executive Officer of Jospong Group of Companies, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong.
He quashed claims that he is friends with the Ghanaian business mogul, stating categorically that, their relationship is strictly business.
Speaking on why government is supporting his business partner, President Akufo-Addo said the projects of Jospong stimulates growth of the economy
He pointed out that government is ready to assist businesses and entrepreneurs as their success will boost the development of the local economy.
“Some people have asked why Dr. Siaw Agyepong and I are friends. We are business partners, not friends. I discovered that he is doing good for Ghana, which is why the government is supporting him. He is not the only one we are rooting for. The government is ready to assist businesses and entrepreneurs who are doing something positive to help the economy grow,” President Akufo-Addo said at the memorial service of the late Opanin Samuel Kwame Agyepong, father of Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong.
Opanin Kwame Agyepong died in June this year after battling short illness.
The 98-year-old deceased was buried on Saturday, September 10, 2022.
He added that the IMF initiative would reaffirm investor faith in the economy.
“I have no doubt that the projected International Monetary Fund (IMF) Support Package will restore confidence in our economy and bring it back to the pre-COVID levels,” Alan Kyerematen remarked in a speech on January 10, 2023.
Ghana is targeting $3 billion over a three-year period from the IMF once an agreement on a programme is finalized.
On December 13, 2022, the International Monetary Fund announced that it has reached a staff-level agreement with Ghana on economic policies and reforms to be supported by a new three-year arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) of about US$3 billion.
It is the latest age fraud scandal to hit the Central African Football Federations’ Union (UNIFFAC) qualifiers after 32 players from host nation Cameroon failed age tests ordered by Samuel Eto’o, president of the country’s governing body, Fecafoot.
After a race against time, BBC Sport Africa understands Cameroon has found 30 replacement players who have all passed Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) tests in Douala.
But as the Indomitable Lions’ opening fixture in Limbe was supposed to be against DR Congo, they will not now be able to kick off the tournament on 12 January as scheduled.
A statement by the Congolese football federation (Fecofa) said it was forced to withdraw after “only 15 were eligible and 25 failed of the 40 players submitted for MRI testing.”
However, of the 15 players who passed the age test, the statement also revealed “only five managed to complete the necessary administrative formalities” that would have allowed them to travel to Cameroon.
Four countries – Cameroon, Congo-Brazzaville, Chad and Central African Republic – will now take part in the qualifying competition, with UNIFFAC rescheduling fixtures between 12 and 24 January.
Two teams will progress to April’s Under-17 Nations Cup finals in Algeria.
“It’s an organisational nightmare because we have to quickly come up with a new format that will involve four nations instead of the original five,” a UNIFFAC official told BBC Sport Africa.
“We are happy that after the MRI scans, all four nations now have a team.”
The Confederation of African Football (Caf), which enforces the MRI age scans, has been contacted for comment.
The fight against age cheats
Many of Africa’s international successes in junior tournaments have been clouded by allegations of the use of overage players.
Fifa banned Nigeria from all international fixtures for two years after finding that the birth dates of three of their players in the 1988 Olympics were different from those used by the same players in previous tournaments.
In 2003, Kenya’s Under-17 team was dissolved by the government after some players admitted to age fraud.
Seven months ago, Ghana were banned from the next two editions of qualifying for the Women’s U-17 World Cup and fined $100,000 after being found guilty.
Djibouti, Sudan, Somalia and Congo-Brazzaville have all also suffered disqualifications from major tournaments whilst Ivory Coast, Liberia, Guinea, Benin, Sierra Leone and Uganda have all been notable offenders.
Cameroon legend Eto’o promised to take action to combat the long-running problem when he was elected Fecafoot president in December 2021.
Ghana international Antoine Semenyo has reacted after scoring in a second successive game for Bristol City in the English FA Cup.
Semenyo was on target on Sunday when his side shared the spoils with Swansea City.
The Black Stars striker got the equalising goal for Bristol as they came from behind to draw 1-1 with Swansea at the Ashton Gate Stadium in the third round of the FA Cup.
Swansea struck first in the match through Joel Piroe who benefitted from a huge defensive mistake to put the visitors ahead in the 15th minute.
The Black Stars striker put Bristol on level pegging in the 77th minute after getting his head on a cross from Andreas Weimann to find the back of the net.
In a post sighted by Footballghana.com, the enterprising forward has reacted to scoring in two consecutive games for Bristol City.
“Back2Back” he posted on Facebook.
Semenyo now has 6 goals in 24 appearances in all competitions for Bristol this campaign, four in the Championship, one in the FA Cup and the other in the EFL Cup.
Three-fourths of teens say they have watched pornography online and more than half say they were exposed to it by the age of 13, a new survey suggests.
The report, “Teens and Pornography,” released Tuesday by the nonprofit organization Common Sense Media, found the average age reported for first viewing online pornography was 12.
But 15% said they had seen online pornography by age 10 or younger. For the report, more than 1,350 teens aged 13-17 were surveyed in September 2022.
The survey helps address a lack of research into teens and their exposure to pornography “and establishes a critically important baseline,” Common Sense Media founder and CEO James Steyer told USA TODAY.
The report also highlights that parents should address pornography in discussions about sex, relationships, birth control, and other difficult topics, he said. “It’s time for all parents to tackle these tough conversations and help kids navigate online spaces more effectively,” he said.
What is online pornography?
Common Sense Media defined online pornography in its report as any nudity or sexual acts in videos or photos viewed on websites and on social media apps such as Instagram or TikTok. Pornography often features explicit pictures of body parts including the genitals and sexual acts.
How likely were teens to have seen online pornography?
Nearly three-fourths (73%) of those surveyed said they had watched pornography online.
Exposure could be relatively common: 63% of those who reported only seeing pornography accidentally said they were exposed to it in the past week, the survey found.
Online media has led to many teens seeing pornographic content unintentionally, the report said. Slightly more than half (58%) of those surveyed said they had encountered pornography accidentally, while 44% said they had intentionally viewed online pornography. (Note: The percentage adds up to more than 100% because many respondents had seen pornography both accidentally and intentionally.)
Where were teens most likely to view pornography?
Among teens who said they intentionally viewed porn:
44% said they found it on porn websites such as Pornhub.
38% used social media such as TikTok and Instagram.
34% used video sites such as YouTube
16% used subscription sites such as OnlyFans.
18% used livestreaming sites.
How did teens feel about online pornography?
The majority of the teens who reported in this survey that they had seen pornography said they feel “OK” about the amount of pornography they watch (67%). Still, half (50%) reported feeling guilty or ashamed after watching pornography.
Nearly half (45%) of teens said they thought online pornography provided “helpful” information about sex, while fewer (27%) thought it accurately shows sex.
About half (47%) of teens said they were far more likely to have learned about sex from a parent, caregiver or trusted adult than from pornography (27%).
Less than half (43%) of teens said they have had conversations about pornography with a trusted adult, but most who had these conversations said it encouraged them to find other ways to explore their sexuality besides pornography, the survey found.
LGBTQ+ teens were more likely to view pornography intentionally
Two-thirds (66%) of LGBTQ+ teens in the survey said they consumed pornography intentionally, a finding that suggests pornography may play a larger role in exploration for them than for other teens, researchers said.
Also, boys were more likely to say they consumed pornography intentionally, with 52% saying they had done so, , compared to 36% of girls.
Are there any laws against pornography and minors access to it?
Federal law protects children from obscene or harmful material on the Internet, and makes content depicting minors in sexually explicit conduct illegal.
The state of Louisiana also recently enacted a law requiring commercial porn sites to verify their users are 18 or older or risk being sued.
Similar legislation, introduced in the U.S. Senate, would require the Federal Communications Commission enforce regulations for commercial porn sites to prevent children from accessing the content.
“The landscape has changed a lot with the push of online pornography and there’s access to these online spaces in ways that kids have never had before,” Steyer said. “The platforms themselves must take far more responsibility to help keep our kids safe, and the platforms must be held accountable.”
He claims that certain prominent public officials and civil servants are unable to pay a $30,000 property off over the course of a ten-year mortgage.
“How can we promote the business if we don’t have a government that is willing to support local building materials?
We need to figure out a way to construct sturdy homes here affordably, according to Mr. Amegayibor.
Read the full story originally published on April 11, 2022 by www.ghanaweb.com.
Executive Secretary of Ghana Real Estate Development Association (GREDA), Samuel Amegayibor, has asked his sector players to find solutions on how to build strong houses at affordable rates in the country.
According to him, some senior public and civil servants cannot afford a $30,000 house over a ten years mortgage period.
He said unless these individuals have other sources of income before they can purchase the $30,000 house.
Mr Amegayibor also entreated government to force local contractors to make use of local building materials for their projects.
“A profiling of people who buy houses will show that even senior public and civil servants cannot afford a thirty thousand dollars ($30,000) house over a ten years mortgage period unless they have other streams of income,” he stated.
He however asked government to put measures in place to reduce the cost of building materials.
Mr Amegayibor noted that the prices of cement and iron rods have gone up by 27%.
This, he said, has made construction more expensive in Ghana.
Ghana FA Communications Director Henry Asante Twum says his outfit were not involved in the e-ticketing initiative by the National Sports Authority (NSA).
There have been low turnouts recorded at some stadia over the weekend in the Ghana Premier League.
A chunk of Ghanaians and football administrators has blamed the low attendance at the various stadia across the country to the e-ticking initiative by the NSA.
In an interview with Asempa FM, Henry Asante Twum disclosed the Ghana FA were not consulted by the NSA on the e-ticketing initiative.
He has therefore called on the NSA to more education on e-ticketing to enlighten football fanatics.
“I have even forgotten how to purchase ticket through E-Ticketing so how much more a fan of Kotoko who is a Yoghurt seller.
“The NSA should be doing more education on the E-Ticketing to help the fans.
“In terms of the publicity I believe it’s a shared responsibility but the one who brought the initiative must do more education”
Why is Professor Twumasi crying? He is crying because there is no money. Why are you crying? You have not done anything but you want money from gate proceeds.
“There was no consultation with the Ghana Football Association (GFA). Nothing of that sought.
“They tried to engage us at the start but they were not ready to negotiate. They brought it as take it or leave it. So there was no room to experiment, look at it, address the challenges and do this and do that”
The assumption, it said, is that the basket is bought each month, therefore as the price varies each month, the overall cost of the basket will also vary.
A curfew has been put in place for Bomaa in the Tano North Municipality with immediate effect by the Ahafo Regional Security Council (REGSEC).
This was decided upon after speaking with the Regional Security Council, the Interior Minister, and the National Security Minister.
The decision of the Ahafo REGSEC follows violent clashes that claimed one life and caused injuries to five others on Sunday, January 8, 2023.
“The curfew shall be in force from 5 pm to 7 am daily, pending periodic assessments and reviews.” a statement from the Regional Minister George Boakye said.
One person was reportedly shot dead at Bomaa following a chieftaincy dispute in the community.
The shooting occurred as a result of contention between two families in the town over who succeeds the late chief of the town.
Several others also got injured in the incident and were sent to some nearby health facilities for treatment.
Ghanaian rapper, Kwaw Kese, has reacted to Kanye West’s absence at the Black Star festival held at the Independence Square in Accra.
Earlier, rumors were rife that the American rapper had touched down into the country for the concert and this triggered a lot of excitement on social media.
But the concert took place and fans who were looking forward to seeing Kanye West had their expectations squashed.
There were performances from the likes of T-Pain, Jeremih, Erykah Badu, Chance the rapper, Vic Mensa but Kanye wasn’t seen on stage.
Kanye took 2 puffs of Acapulco and got knocked out. He just woke up 😂😂
The concert which took place on January 6, 2023, ended at about 6am the following morning, yet there were no traces of the American rapper at the event.
This triggered massive reactions from netizens to an extent, the blogger who informed the public about Kanye’s purported appearance was heavily lambasted online.
Reacting to this, Kwaw Kese who made a jest out of the issue took to Twitter and wrote;
“Kanye took 2 puffs of Acapulco and got knocked out. He just woke up. Y’all wanted Ye for a free show.”
After his national address on Tuesday night, January 10, 2023, New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer candidate Alan Kyerematen received trolling on Twitter from a known Ghanaian journalist who bases in the United States.
During a nationally broadcast television address on Tuesday, Mr. Alan Kyerematen formally announced his candidacy for president.
He did this after leaving his position as Minister of Trade and Industry in the Akufo-Addo-led administration.
The former ambassador of Ghana to the United States declared in his speech that he would be a transformational leader who would implement a bold plan to make Ghana the shining star of Africa.
“To achieve this strategic goal of transforming our dear country to become the shining star of the new Africa, I will as President, launch and lead the execution of the Great Transformational Plan, GTP, of Ghana which will span the period 2025 to 2030.”
He declared that a brand-new program called “Alan K Prime Time Talk Show” will debut in the upcoming months to provide additional details about this Plan.
“The execution of the GTP will require our collective efforts, irrespective of political orientation, ethnicity or religion,” he stated in the nationwide broadcast.
However, Kevin Taylor, the CEO of Loud Silence TV and the host of the political talk show #WithAllDueRespect, has responded by saying that he doesn’t see any differences between Alan K and the leader he wants to replace.
The outspoken journalist wrote in a tweet that the former Trade Minister is just a “tall” version of his boss.
“@AlanKyerematen after listening to your speech tonight ebi like you are a tall version of @NAkufoAddo,” he tweeted in pidgin.
The Black Galaxies‘ friendly game against Mozambique on Tuesday afternoon ended abruptly when the Mozambican coach ordered his players to walk off the pitch.
Mozambique took the lead in the game in the 39th minute as Ghana failed to make their initial dominance count.
There were no goals as the first half ended 1-0 in favour of Mozambique but things unraveled in the second half when Ghana strongly came into the game.
The Black Galaxies were awarded a penalty in the 72nd minute after an infringement in the penalty area but the Mozambique technical bench disagreed with the decision as they walked onto the pitch and called off their players.
The Ghanaian players stood on the pitch for several minutes as they waited in vain for the Mozambicans to have a change of mind but it never happened as the match was called off.
The home-based national stars drew goalless with tournament hosts Algeria in a friendly match last Saturday in a game that was also to officially open the newly constructed Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algiers.
Prior to their arrival in Algiers, the Black Galaxies beat Egypt’s U20 team(2-0) and Al Ahly FC(3-1) during the first phase of their pre-tournament tour in Cair
The group joins a large number of others who are attempting to reject and file class action lawsuits against the government about the debt exchange scheme as part of the debt restructuring initiative suggested by the IMF bailout.
“In an unfortunate oppressive fashion, government has shown total disregard for the contractual rights of Individual bondholders and has made no effort to structure reasonable consultations with individual bondholders,” portions of the statement read.
“In the process, we (IBF) have been presented with painfully stark, impoverishing and unsustainable choices – a situation deeply troubling and wholly untenable. This is only possible because of the absence of effective representation and the perceived ease of oppressing a dispersed section of investors into submission,” it added.
The IBF added that the arrangement under the DDE programme irreversibly takes away the wealth and livelihoods of direct and indirect individual bondholders whose only crime, they say, has been to place trust in government with their investments.
“The medium-to-long-term prospect and outlook of the domestic investment culture in Ghana is going to be affected by this DDE initiative and we call on government to demonstrate the needed sensitivity to enable a constructive resolution in the best interest of all,” the statement stressed.
The IBF however urged labour unions to join in efforts aimed at rejecting the debt exchange programme toward the preservation of hard-earned savings invested by the Ghanaian public.
Fear and panic have gripped residents of Dominase in the Assin South District of the Central Region following the murder of a 28-year-old man.
The deceased identified as Kwaku Emmanuel before his demise worked with a renowned Cocoa Purchasing Company in the Assin South District as a cocoa carrier.
The mother of the deceased, Yaa Mansa, 65, in an interview with Kasapa News, disclosed that her son left home around 10 PM on Monday, 9th January 2023 to Assin Fosu after taking his supper.
She added that to their shock, they found out the next day (Tuesday, January,10,2023) morning that the deceased has been brutally murdered and dumped on the outskirt of the town with bruises on his face and blood oozing from the nostrils, mouths and ears.
A plier, blocks, sticks and metal was also found near his dead body an indication that he might have been murdered.
Further checks found a school bag 60 meters away from the dead body, containing 3 balls of kenkey, a stabilizer, and a Bluetooth speaker and same have been kept as exhibits.
A team of Police Officers led by Chief Superintendent Cephas Arthur, the Assin Fosu District Police Commander upon hearing the news went to the crime scene to convey the body to the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital mortuary.
The Police have commenced investigation into the death and have appealed to the residents to assist them with information that could lead to the arrest of the perpetrators.
Learn when you’re typically safe to exercise while sick and when you should skip your workout for the day. Plus, find tips on how to stay safe as you train.
When a dead-of-winter cold — with its totally pleasant symptoms such as a runny nose and non-stop sneezing — hits you like a ton of bricks, you might debate whether continuing with your daily exercise routine is a good idea. While a bit of movement after lounging on the couch all day sounds rejuvenating, is working out while sick actually what the doctor would order?
Here, an exercise physiologist answers that very question. Plus, she breaks down how to stay safe and recover properly if you do decide to exercise while sick.
Should You Work Out When You’re Sick?
If you’re itching to get in a workout while ill, there’s good news: For the average person, it’s typically safe to exercise while sick if you’re experiencing symptoms that occur above the neck, such as runny nose, headache, nasal congestion, or sneezing, says Heather A. Milton, M.S., R.C.E.P., C.S.C.S., a board-certified clinical exercise physiologist at NYU Langone Health’s Sports Performance Center.
In fact, working out while sick may actually help you feel better, says Milton. As you exercise, your body releases the hormones and neurotransmitters epinephrine and norepinephrine, both of which increase your heart rate and contractility (the force of your heart’s contractions) and elevate your respiratory rate, she explains. Your muscles will receive more blood flow and oxygen, and your airways will open up to take in more oxygen, according to the Cleveland Clinic. And this fluid movement can simply make you feel more sprightly, says Milton. Your workout will also give you a hit of dopamine, a neurotransmitter and hormone that can boost your mood, which can be exactly what you need after sneezing in bed all day, she says. (It should go without saying, but you shouldn’t exercise with others while you’re sick with a contagious illness, so stick with solo workouts if that’s the case.)
That said, you’ll want to skip your workout if you’re experiencing chest congestion or a hacking cough, according to the Mayo Clinic. The same rule of thumb applies if you’re dealing with a fever, says Milton. ICYDK, when you’re dealing with an infection, your body may temporarily elevate your temperature in an attempt to kill the harmful virus or bacteria, according to the National Library of Medicine. “If you have a fever, you are temporarily immunocompromised,” adds Milton. “And there’s a very, very short window of time after exercise where your immunity is decreased.” This dual layer of immunocompromise can make you more susceptible to other illnesses, so you’re best off staying home, she explains. (FTR, exercise does improve your immune system over time, so this temporarily compromised state shouldn’t be a reason to skip your workouts entirely, she adds.)
How to Safely Exercise While Sick — and Recover Properly
Even if your symptoms are occurring above the neck and you feel well enough to exercise while sick, you shouldn’t tackle an incredibly demanding workout. Instead, stick with low- to moderate-intensity exercise (think: a light jog, a basic strength training session, a yoga practice) that’s simple to complete, as you may be feeling a bit more fatigued than usual. Plus, the higher the intensity of your workout, the more likely you’ll experience a temporary dip in immunity — and thus have a greater chance of catching another illness — afterward, says Milton.
You’ll also want to avoid deviating from your usual routine, suggests Milton. “You can do a slow, steady, hour-long workout if you’re used to doing that, but this is definitely not a time to try to do anything outside of your normal,” she adds. Translation: Hold off on your first powerlifting training session or an intense round of treadmill sprints until you’re illness-free.
As you ease your way through your workout, keep tabs on how you feel; if you develop lightheadedness, increased shortness of breath, nausea, or a racing heart, that’s your cue to stop exercising, says Milton. During and after your training session, remember to stay on top of your H2O consumption. “It’s always recommended to increase fluid intake when you’re sick,” says Milton. “When your immune system is fighting an infection and you’re using metabolism [physical and chemical processes in the body that convert or use energy] to do that, you do utilize water,” she explains.
This fluid use, combined with the water you lose through sweat while exercising, means staying hydrated is particularly important. The exact amount of fluid you need varies from person to person, depending on the infection, your body weight, and other factors, says Milton. Your best bet: Aim to consume at least 11.5 cups of fluid per day, the baseline recommendation for an average, healthy adult living in a temperate climate, then bump up your intake to account for your sweat and immune system processes. Generally, you’ll want to take in an extra 16 ounces of fluid for every pound of sweat you lose, as Shape previously reported.
Whether you’re suffering from a snotty cold or you’re simply feeling under the weather, prioritizing sleep is a must, says Milton. Getting just four hours of sleep for one night significantly reduces the activity of natural killer cells, a type of immune cell that can kill cells infected with a virus and tumor cells, which can increase the risk for viral infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And sleep deprivation can also negatively impact fitness performance factors such as reaction time, submaximal strength, and endurance, research shows. “Sleep is always overlooked, but it’s integral to recovery if you’re sick or if you’re healthy,” adds Milton.
While working out while sick may be safe for you physically, you shouldn’t force yourself to train if you aren’t feeling it mentally. Your dumbbells and running sneakers can wait until you’re back to your completely healthy self.
Aduana Stars coach Samuel Paa Kwesi Fabin is focus about winning matches to boost their chances of winning the Ghana Premier League.
The fire boys currently sit summit of the league table after 11 matches into the campaign.
The Dormaa-based club held Bibiani Goldstars to a 0-0 draw at the Duns Park on Monday afternoon.
Speaking after the game, Paa Kwesi Fabin refused to talk about winning the domestic top-flight at the moment, saying there are more matches to be played.
“Like I said, we are taking a match at a time, we’ve just played 11 matches and there are so matches to go so we can’t talk about clinching the league title now’
“But then, we are going back home, on Thursday, we are playing Kotoku Royals and we hope to take three points and then stretch the lead” he said.
Oprah Winfrey, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and the entire community of Montecito was forced under mandatory evacuation orders by Santa Barbara County officials due to mudslides from a torrential storm.
Ellen DeGeneres shared a video on Instagram of an overflowing creek by her home as she prepared to evacuate from the affluent town roughly 90 miles north of Los Angeles.
“Montecito is under complete evacuation, the entire town,” she said. “This is the five-year anniversary from the fire and mudslides that killed so many people and people lost their homes, their lives. This is crazy … on the five-year anniversary. We are having unprecedented rain.”
The town is also home to Katy Perry, Chris Pratt, Ariana Grande and Jennifer Aniston. Montecito local, Rob Lowe, made his directorial debut with the 2020 movie “Madness in the Hills.” It delved into the devastating 2018 mudslides which killed 23 people after the Thomas Fire burned for more than one month in 2017.
PRINCE HARRY’S TOP 5 ‘60 MINUTE’ BOMBSHELLS
Montecito was ordered to evacuate due to heavy downpours and mudslides.
DeGeneres added, “This creek next to our house never flows – ever. This is probably about nine feet up, and it’s going to go another two feet.”
The Ghana Individual Bondholders Forum (IBF), a group of voluntary bondholders, has urged individual bondholders to reject and refrain from complying with the mandatory deadline imposed under the Domestic Debt Exchange (DDE) programme.
It rather wants them to join the efforts of the IBF.
In a statement signed by Senyo Hosi, the immediate past Chief Executive of the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distribution Companies , it also urged indirect bondholders (investors in mutual funds, cash trusts, balance funds) to inform their fund managers not to accept the DDE.
It advised government to open a channel of communication for immediate frank, transparent and sincere dialogue on the DDE with the IBF with the view to seeking an effective resolution to the developing impasse and the fast-depleting confidence in the Ghanaian economy.
It added that “the medium- to long-term prospect and outlook of the domestic investment culture in Ghana is going to be affected by this DDE initiative and we call on government to demonstrate the needed sensitivity to enable a constructive resolution in the best interest of all”.
It, therefore, called on labour unions to join them in the fight for the preservation of hard-earned savings invested by the Ghanaian public which also includes their members, adding “we also look forward to partnering like minded groups and organizations to achieve our joint goals”.
The Government of Ghana announced that under the DDE programme, individual bondholders are to submit to a “voluntary” arrangement to exchange their domestic bonds for new benchmark bonds.
IBF said “this arrangement irreversibly takes away the wealth and livelihoods of direct and indirect individual bondholders whose only crime has been to trust their government. Tied to this is a mandatory deadline which compels holders to either accept the government’s offer or risk the threat of prohibitive losses”.
The IBF investments is in Government of Ghana Local Cedi Bonds, Government of Ghana Local US Dollar Bonds, ESLA Bonds, Daakye Bonds, Ghana Eurobonds and Collective Investment Schemes.
Government will raise ¢1.13 billion this week to refinance upcoming Treasury bill maturities of ¢1.04 billion.
This will be higher than the ¢1.49 billion secured the previous week.
The government accepted ¢1.68 billion last week in the treasury auction out of total bids worth ¢1.72 billion.
The uptake exceeded the target after the under-subscription in the previous auction.
The 91-day yield closed slightly higher at 35.66%, while the 182-day yield retreated to 35.95%.
Meanwhile, analysts perceive that the implementation of the domestic debt exchange programme may delay due to a looming class action lawsuit.
The government presented amended terms for the programme on December, 24, 2022. The amended terms included an invitation of individual bondholders to participate in the domestic debt exchange and an extension of the deadline for participating in the programme.
However, some individual investors are seeking to file a class action lawsuit against the government over their inclusion in the programme.
This development may protract the successful implementation of the domestic debt exchange, which is critical for obtaining timely board-level approval from the International Monetary Fund.
Ghana’s Dancehall musician, Shatta Wale on November 1, 2017, paid a courtesy call to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo Addo at the Jubilee House.
According to Shatta, he was treated to a special “presidential tea” for breakfast.
“Ei then if u ppl see the Tea and Milo dem do for me for flagstaff house dierrrrr That one am sure some of you will say why did they give me all the president sugar …Cuz that’s a presidential Tea,” read his tweet dated January 9, 2023.
The ‘Gringo’ hitmaker made this revelation on the back of Meek Mill’s backlash from a section of Ghanaians.
The American rapper was called out for shooting a music video at the Jubilee House during his visit to the president in December 2022.
This attracted an apology from the rapper and the deletion of the said video from his social media platforms.
Shatta Wale is one of the few who has defended the rapper and stated that he made no mistakes despite accusations of disrespecting Ghana’s presidential palace and office.
Back in 2017, news of Shatta’s visit and meeting with Nana Addo topped social media trends and also made headlines.
Shatta Wale, dressed in a suit, stopped to pose for photos with government officials upon his arrival. The Second Lady, Samira Bawumia, and the Secretary to the President, Nana Asante Bediatuo, were present at the time of his arrival.
On the official Facebook page of the president, a video captioned: Visit by the “Dancehall King”, Shatta Wale, highlighted the warm reception the musician received from Nana Addo.
The Ashaiman Circuit Court has sentenced Enoch Ofori, a driver’s mate, to 10 years imprisonment in hard labour for robbery.
The court presided over by Mr Simon Gaga convicted the accused after he had pleaded guilty to the charges.
The prosecutor, Chief Inspector Samuel Aperweh, said the complainant, Gloria Asantewaa Kwabi, 35, is a trader who lives at Spintex, Accra, while the accused Ofori is a driver’s mate and lives in Washington a suburb of Ashaiman.
According to the prosecution, on December 28, 2022, at about 1530 hours, the complainant went to her husband one Daniel Kasereko at Ashaiman market, who then picked up the complainant on his motorbike with registration number M-13-AS3187 as a pillion rider home.
The Chief Inspector said on getting to a place called Janelex School at Gbetsile, they saw that the accused person also riding an unregistered black Royal motorbike with his accomplice as a pillion rider was speeding toward the complainant and the husband.
The prosecution told the court that on reaching the complainant and the husband, the accomplice pushed the complainant and she fell down from the motorbike.
The prosecution said in the process, the accomplice managed to overpower the complainant and snatched her Infinix Hot 10i mobile phone valued at GH₵870.00 and cash in the sum of GH₵601.00 which was kept inside the back cover of the phone, and they sped off.
The prosecution said the husband of the complaint gave the accused and his accomplice a hot chase, they abandoned their motorbike in the process and took to their heels.
The prosecution said with the help of other people, the accused person was arrested and brought together with the motorbike to the Police Station at Zenu Atadeka.
His accomplice, however, managed to escape with the phone and the cash, the said motorbike has been impounded at the Police Station.
The accused person admitted the offence in his investigation cautioned statement and gave the name of his accomplice as Amankwa.
The prosecution said police and other security operatives had intensified efforts to arrest the accomplice.
National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi, holds that the shooting of portions of a music video by American rapper Meek Mill at the Jubilee House is a manifestation of a breakdown in leadership at the presidency.
He is alarmed by what he views as the lack of leadership displayed by the president in the ongoing saga.
Sammy Gyamfi described the actions of Meek Mill as disgraceful and shameful and a desecration of the seat of governance.
He is mystified that the doors of a place of such significant value to the country would be opened to the American rapper for such content to be created.
He believes that the incident is a reflection of the widespread nepotism in the government, citing the president’s admission that Meek Mill was allowed to visit the presidency because of his daughter.
“It’s shame that we sat down as a country and allowed this disgusting thing to happen at the seat of presidency. It is difficult to brag as a Ghanaian because of some of these things. We allowed this concert at the seat of our sovereignty. Is Jubilee House now the entertainment hall of a secondary school? Is Jubilee House now a recording studio?
“The problem we have now is leadership paralysis. We have leaders who are careless and reckless. Leaders with no sense of decency. How do you allow this to happen at the seat of government. This is where major governmental issues are handled. How you dress to meet a person shows the respect you have for the person so for someone to dress like that meeting our president, tells you a lot.
“What wrong have Ghanaians done to President Akufo-Addo? Because of the widespread nepotism in his government, his daughter can bring in anyone and mess around in his office. We have turned the presidency into a playground. Which country allowed an American rapper to shoot a video clip at the presidency? What saddens me most is that he used the lectern for the president,” he said on Asempa FM.
Meek Mill has meanwhile apologised for the video which he says was taken on the blindside of authorities at Jubilee House. He took to Twitter with an apology, writing: “To the people of Ghana no video I drop is ever meant to disrespect the people of Ghana …. The fastest way to make connection is thru music and I wanted to do that with displaying art … im in my 30’s from America and didn’t know much about the lifestyle here.”
Assistant Registrar for the Public Affairs Directorate (ARPAD) of the University of Ghana, Pascaline Songsore, has indicated that the security of the students is paramount to the University. However, aggrieved students can seek redress on issues through appropriate institutions established by the institution.
Speaking on GTV’S Breakfast Show via Zoom in rebuttal to some allegations raised by some alumina of the school on the recent happenings at the University of Ghana, she explained that the University is governed by statutes, and they will not take any decision without going through the obligatory process.
Commenting on the recent actions by the students, she said the actions of the two Traditional Halls (Commonwealth and Mensah Sarbah Hall) of the University of Ghana in recent times have brought nothing, but chaos to the University and cost so far as the time and resources are concerned.
She explained that management has not refused anyone who follows the residency process correctly.
”The University only gives admission, and students are later allowed to go online to look for residency, even with that residential board is doing everything best to assist students in their endeavours”, she noted.
Going further, she stated that the University has the right to amend its constitution. And New Policies passed are to facilitate teaching and learning which is part if not the most important aspect of the University’s curriculum.
Therefore, aggrieved students must follow procedures for redress.
The Former Communications Director at the Presidency under John Evans Atta Mills has visited the tomb of the late Ghanaian leader with wreaths to wish him a happy new year.
Koku Anyidoho, in a video, could be heard saying that he will never wait till occasional anniversaries before visiting the burial site to obtain ocular proof of the situation there.
He described the late President as “a good man who deserves adoration in all of its manifestations.”
President Mills was the third leader in the present Fourth Republican democracy in Ghana but died five months before the end of his first term.
He also served as Vice President under Jerry John Rawlings between 1997 and 2001.
Professor Mills was a lawyer, a tax expert and a development economist.
The former Minister of Trade and Industry, Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen, has cautioned leaders against abusing the power they hold over their followers.
According to him, being given the responsibility to serve people is an opportunity for one to render services and not lord over their subordinates.
Addressing the nation on January 10, 2023, days after resigning from the government, he emphasized the need for humility in leadership and argued that being humble as a leader becomes an asset and not a weakness.
“Corruption and petty theft or thievery, particularly from the public purse, deny our country the benefit of utilizing its tax revenue and other resources for the development of our country.
“The arrogance of power has been a major obstruction to progress in our country. People in positions of authority must understand that leadership is an opportunity to serve the people, and not to lord over them. In servant leadership, humility is an asset and not a weakness,” he said.
Meanwhile, Alan Kyerematen has officially declared his intention to contest in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential primaries when nominations open.
Speaking in a press conference on January 10, 2023, he said “I wish to use this platform to formally announce my decision to contest the flagbearership of the New Patriotic Party when the party officially opens nominations for that purpose.”
Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has celebrated members of the clergy who he says are demanding accountability on the part of government with respect to the National Cathedral project.
In a January 10, 2023 post on his verified social media pages, the lawmaker wrote: I salute all Christian Leaders & Christian Organisations who have epitomized their teachings to us by publicly & courageously demanding accountability on President Akufo-Addo’s scandalous Cathedral project.
“I am also eternally grateful to all the Men of God who call & say special prayers with me, and the many others I am yet to meet including Christians of diverse denominations who pray for us and boldly encourage the pursuit of truth and transparency.
“Please keep inspiring us, for God and Country. Truth Stands.”
His post was accompanied by screenshots of website articles with respect to clergymen who are demanding accountability from government over the project.
Among the clergymen are Prophet Oduro, Rev. Owusu Bempah as well as concerns by the Christian Council and the Catholic Bishops’ Conference.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo recently donated GHC100,000 as part of his commitment to see to the completion of the project by the 2024 deadline.
So far, about GHC340 million of public funds has been pumped into the project with Parliament recently rejecting GHC80 million budgeted for the project in 2023.
The University of Ghana has notified its preparedness to defend a new residential policy being challenged by some Commonwealth Hall students who have filed a lawsuit against the university.
The management said that the court’s order compelling the University to change its accommodation policy decision would be contested by its lawyers.
In a press statement signed by the Registrar, the university argued that the order in which the injunction was obtained against the institution lacked the basis of inaccurate information. Therefore, management was ready to appeal the decision.
“Management of the University of Ghana has received a copy of an order for an injunction issued by the High Court, Commercial Division, Accra. This order was secured by eight (8) persons purporting to be residents of Commonwealth Hall. The order is valid for ten (10) days only as it was made without prior notice to the University. The order seeks to restrain the University from implementing a residential policy decision affecting continuing students of Commonwealth Hall.
“The University believes that the order was obtained on the basis of inaccurate information. Accordingly, the lawyers of the university have been instructed to vigorously defend the University in court,” part of the statement read.
An Accra High Court recently placed an interlocutory injunction on the residential policy decision by the management of the University.
This was after some frustrated students of the Commonwealth Hall on Friday, January 6, 2023, filed a lawsuit against the university for directing residing students to seek accommodation outside the campus.
The university’s administration issued an order intending to remove all continuing male students from the halls due to a violent confrontation that occurred on August 15, 2022, between Commonwealth and a rival hall.
Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has responded to former president John Dramani Mahama’s recent accusation of corruption on the part of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The said allegation was contained in a Facebook post Mahama authored in the wake of Akufo-Addo’s statement at an event in Koforidua that Akonta Mining Limited was not engaged in galamsey (illegal small-scale mining) anywhere in the country at the time he was speaking.
The comoany is owned by Ashanti Regional chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Chairman Wontumi, real name Bernard Antwi Boasiako.
“It is unacceptable that President Nana Akufo-Addo has consistently put pressure on state anti-corruption institutions by announcing clearance of appointees and companies that are under investigation for wrongdoing,” Mahama said.
Mahama added that the actions and words of Akufo-Addo were inimical to the fight against corruption in Ghana.
In his response to Mahama, Jinapor stressed that Akufo-Addo’s six-year record in fighting corruption was better that the eight years of the Mills / Mahama administration (2013 – 2017).
“Permit me to assert, without a shred of equivocation that the record of President Akufo-Addo’s Government in the past six years of fighting corruption far surpasses the NDC’s eight-year record.”
He defended his view by stressing thus: “Needless to point out that President Akufo-Addo’s extraordinary funding of anti-corruption institutions, the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, which as I speak, is investigating this matter…
“… the passage of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), rapid investigations of allegations of corruption, and many more are testament to his remarkable record in the fight against corruption.”
The minister also reiterated that the Akonta Mining probe was still ongoing with the Police Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) seized with the matter.
American economist, Steve Hanke, has restated challenges bedeviling Ghana‘s economy and reiterated a call for a currency board to combat galloping inflation.
In a tweet dated January 10, 2023, Hanke measured inflation (per his independent global tracker) at 77%, 27 percentage points above the official rate of 50%.
He stressed that the prevailing challenges pointed to an economy that was headed for failure using the terminology “going down the tubes.”
“Ghana is in 8th place in this week’s inflation table. On Jan 5, I measured Ghana’s #inflation at a stunning 77%/y. #Ghana’s economy is going down the tubes. To rein in inflation, GHA must install a currency board,” his tweet read.
It is not the first time he is calling for a currency board to be put in place to hep salvage the economy.
Hanke has also been very critical of government’s resort to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) amid an economic crunch that government has partly blamed on aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.
Ghana had a torrid 2022 amid an economic crisis that forced government to seek an IMF facility at a time the cedi was rapidly depreciating, inflation was galloping and government was faced with multiple downgrades by rating agencies.
Government has promised to turn around the economic fortunes of the country after sealing a Staff-Level agreement with the IMF with the hope that funds from the US$3 billion facility will be released early this year.
Former Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Alan Kyerematen says he will run a lean government should he be elected to lead the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and eventually become the President of Ghana.
He said he will ensure that some Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) are consolidated.
According to him, the current architecture of government will be overhauled during his presidency.
Speaking in an address to the nation on Tuesday, January 10, he said he will bring comfort to Ghanaians.
“The architecture of government to be overhauled by consolidating some existing Ministries and Departments and Agency (MDA), this will mean running a lean government structure that will ensure operational efficiency in the delivery of the government services,” he said.
This is amongst some 10 strategies he intends to implement dubbed “Great Transformational Plan.”
According to him, the successful implementation of this plan will help strengthen the macroeconomic fundamentals of the Ghanaian economy.
“The success of the GTP will depend primarily on strong macroeconomic fundamentals, which will include among other things, a stable currency, low inflation, sustainable debt levels, revenue optimization and tight expenditure control to guarantee fiscal balance, low competitive interest rates, strong external reserves backed by high levels of liquidity to support the financial sector.
“To a large extent, the IMF support programme when fully executed, will create the appropriate conditions that will underpin the Great Transformational Plan,” he said.
Ranking Member on Energy Committee in Parliament, John Jinapor has said government should stop deceiving Ghanaians with its ‘so-called’ procurement of affordable fuel for the Ghanaian market with Ghana’s gold.
According to him, the deal in its current form is inherent with losses, inefficiencies and will affect the country’s debt.
“Government should stop deceiving us. If Ghana is so broke, our reserves have been so depleted that we do not have dollars and so we want to do an arrangement in order to use these methods to buy fuel, fair enough, but who will sell fuel cheaper to you?” he told Evans Mensah on Newsnight on Tuesday.
He said the Parliamentary Select Committee on Mines and Energy has not been fully briefed on this Gold for Oil deal.
John Jinapor noted that government cannot be successful with its plans of buying cheaper fuel from the international market since there is no cheaper fuel on the market.
“Nobody in this world will sell his oil to you for a cheaper price than the normal price.”
He argued that whatever ounces of gold the government intends to use for oil must be converted to meet the price of a barrel of oil since Gold is a commodity and not currency.
He said the government should rather make a case that the deal is to make room for the inadequate foreign currencies and not for cheaper fuel.
“This issue of trying to confiscate the issue and deceive us, it will not work because if the oil has a price and gold has a price, all you ought to do is to do a matching order and determine the price of oil and say how much compared to the price of gold in terms of oil of barrels can I get? So where is that barter?” he explained.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Mireku Duker has said the first consignment of affordable fuel under the deal will arrive next week.
Mr. Duker said this after a meeting with the Chamber of Mines on Tuesday at which the Gold for oil deal was discussed.
Answering a question by journalists on when the first consignment is expected to arrive in the country, he said “we are thinking of next week if I’m not exaggerating .”
The volume of the low cost fuel he noted is yet to be determined.
After months of attempting to repatriate a Nigerian citizen through the Embassy in Ghana, the Commissioner and other officials don’t seem ready to help.
The Willingway Foundation took custody of Blessing Okoye from the streets of Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city, while she was seven months pregnant.
The 32-year-old woman has been in the charitable organization’s care and charge since August 2022.
Blessing was enticed to Ghana by some friends who promised her jobs and other exciting experiences, but she later developed a mental illness, which tragically crashed her dreams of living in Ghana.
Blessing, who is now in stable condition, wants to bring her lovely daughter back to Lagos, but she has been unable to obtain assistance from the Nigerian Embassy.
Lydia Abena Manu, the founder and executive director of the foundation, stated that despite sending numerous emails and visiting the Embassy with a letter requesting assistance, the officials appear uninterested.
“Two weeks after picking her, we went to the Embassy, we sent a letter, we drew their attention that there’s somebody like that in our facility but we haven’t heard from them. We keep sending them mails and we haven’t heard anything from them,” she said.
Mrs. Manu added that action is being taken to reunite some of the patients who are in stable condition with their families.
She stated that in addition to the Embassy, they also got in touch with the Nigerian Committee branch in Kumasi where the lady’s information was obtained, but there hasn’t been a reply yet.
Mrs. Manu pointed out that while mental health is a serious issue in Ghana, previous administrations and the general public have not given it much attention.
People’s misconceptions and other beliefs, according to her, have made the situation even worse because they think mental illness and spirituality are related.
“The perception about mental health in Ghana is so bad, and it’s so poor because many people don’t pay attention to mental illness. People have their own misconceptions about it. They believe it’s a spiritual disease, they believe those affected are paying back for some bad things they did in the past, so because of that people are not willing to support,” she explained.
Given the high cost of food and medical supplies, Mrs. Manu indicated that feeding and treating patients with mental health issues is very difficult and stressful.
She made an appeal to the general public, charitable organizations, and the government to help them rid the streets of mentally ill people.
The Ashanti Regional Mental Health Coordinator, Mrs. Faustina Nuako, stated that although her organization has made efforts to remove mental health patients from the streets, they are being hampered by financial issues.
According to her, despite numerous requests to the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) for support, none has been received.
“I have those proposals there, in fact we sat down and wrote it with them but at the end nothing came and this is not the first time, it’s because we love the job. Sometimes you will become frustrated and may even want to leave,” she said.
She cautioned people to treat mental issues seriously and not attribute it to witchcraft or other forms of spirituality.
Mrs. Nuako also urged the public to help the Regional Mental Health Directorate and the Willingway Foundation grow and treat a lot more mental health patients.
Some individual bondholders have vehemently rejected being included in the government’s debt exchange programme.
According to one such bondholder, Roberta Sittie, a mother of five, her inclusion into the government’s debt exchange programme will rob her and her family of their means of survival.
She explained that she had invested her entire severance pay into the bond and had been living on the coupons from the bond investment.
With the introduction of the debt exchange programme, the coupons, which she described as barely adequate, will be robbed from her and her family; putting them in a rather precarious financial situation.
“That is the money I’m surviving on. The coupon is what I’m surviving on now. Someone will ask, ‘but is she not married?’ Yes, I am married. And my husband also is into contracts, but unfortunately the contract is also not paying.
“We can’t survive if it is being held, if the bonds are being held or the bonds are being rolled into the debt exchange. So please the government should please think about this. 17 and a half years working and then coming home, no, nobody should include that into their debt exchange, they should think of getting another way,” she said on JoyNews’ PM Express.
According to her, the government should instead explore other avenues to restructure their debt for debt sustainability rather than including individual bondholders in the debt exchange programme.
“If it is about they cutting their expenditures, yes. But please on your platform we’re getting through to the Finance Minister, he shouldn’t in any way include our bonds into his debt exchange; we’re begging him because I can’t survive.
“How much am I even getting on the coupon? It’s even not up to 30,000 and look at the children I have, the number of children with the family I have. It is inadequate. So how do you include me into a debt exchange programme? It’s a no-no,” she said.
Meanwhile, some individual bondholders are filing a class action law suit against the government for including them in the debt exchange programme.
With the government’s 16th January deadline for the debt exchange programme looming close, individual bondholders who were just added to the programme are peeved.
Many have accused the government of treating them unfairly and also failing to provide enough information on the modalities of the exchange programme.
The government had introduced the exchange programme to restructure and stabilize its debts to sustainable levels in order to boost economic growth in the New Year.
However, individual bondholders, like Reverend Venunye Gbeblewu, a pensioner says the government’s proposed debt exchange programme will do more harm than good.
According to him, when government announced the debt restructuring programme, he had attempted withdrawing his funds only to find out he would lose 30% of his investment during the transaction.
“But the agreement is that you take my money for three years, you give me benefits for the three years. Then you revert my money back to me. And if you cannot continue, at least give me my money; give me my money so that I can use it for something else,” he said.
Reverend Venunye Gbeblewu who is currently sponsoring his daughter through her university education at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) says without the money, she might have to truncate her education.
He has called on the President and his Finance Minister to “sit down and ask themselves ‘if you were the one.’”
“They should sit down, maybe today they are having their money they don’t need anything so they can misbehave anyhow. They’re eating, they’re drinking, they’re flying, doing anything at all. They’re not reasoning. This is the citizens’ life. They live unconcerned. They should go on,” he said.
A witness in the trial involving Dr Ato Forson, a former Deputy Minister of Finance and two others, says the financing agreement between Stanbic Bank and the Government of Ghana was cancelled.
“I am unable to say why the financing agreement between Stanbic Bank and Government was not signed,” Mr Emmanuel Evan Mensah said.
Mr Mensah gave his evidence after which the defence cross examined him in Accra.
Dr Forson, a Former Deputy Minister of Finance, was granted a self-recognisance bail of GH¢3 million for allegedly willfully causing financial loss of 2,370,000 euros to the State.
He is also facing an additional charge of “intentionally misapplying public property contrary to section 1 (2) of the Public Property Protection Act, 1977 (SMCD 140).”
Dr Sylvester Anemana, a Former Chief Director at the Ministry of Health, was also granted a bail of GH¢1 million with three sureties one of whom shall be a public servant not below the rank of a director.
Mr Richard Dzakpa, a businessman, also in the trial, was granted a GH¢5 million bail with three sureties one of whom must be justified with documents of a landed property.
Asked that in his experience as a finance professional at the Ministry of Finance, could a Letter of Credit (LC) be lawfully established without approval from the Minister of Finance, he answered in the affirmative.
Dr Abdul Aziz Bamba, Counsel for Dr Forson asked the witness how the alleged authorisation was done by the then Former Deputy Minister of Finance and Mr Mensah said it was a written letter.
The witness confirmed the letter in open court and was given the opportunity to read in open court.
The Counsel said the letter indicated on the face value that it was written for the Minister of Finance, and the witness agreed.
Asked following the cancellation of the agreement, what other financing options were available to the government at that time, the witness said there were so many options.
The witness said one of the options was to look for replacement for the Stanbic agreement, while also consulting cabinet and approval from Parliament for other options.
Mr Mensah said another option was to postpone the whole agreement entirely, while looking at government coffers to finance the purchase of the ambulances.
The Counsel suggested to the witness that, the Minister of Finance could approve any other alternative financing options, but Mr Mensah disagreed.
He explained that because each option had processes, the Minister could not solely approve them, and stressed he had to follow due processes, including going to Parliament for approval.
Mr Alex Owureidu Dankwa, lawyer for Dr Anemana, in a cross examination, suggested to the witness that the agreement was never signed, and the witness agreed.
The case was adjourned to January 17, 2023, for continuation.
This must be the strangest book ever written by a royal.
Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare, is part confession, part rant and part love letter. In places it feels like the longest angry drunk text ever sent.
It’s the view from inside what he calls a “surreal fishbowl” and “unending Truman Show”.
It’s disarmingly frank and intimate – showing the sheer weirdness of his often isolated life. And it’s the small details, rather than the set-piece moments, that give a glimpse of how little we really knew.
There are glimpses of him as a royal stoner, smoking a joint after dinner and worrying the smoke was going to blow over to his elderly neighbour the Duke of Kent.
Prince Harry’s memoir hit the bookshelves on Tuesday
What other royal recollection would cover losing his virginity behind a pub, or go into such prolonged detail about a frost-bitten penis? This royal appendage gets more lines than many of his relatives. Maybe there should be a spoiler alert for the special cushion that’s made.
He was also keenly conscious of girls with “throne syndrome”, who would be “visibly fitting herself with a crown the moment she shook my hand”.
Or there’s the story about when he’s in Buckingham Palace during the Golden Jubilee concert and listening to Brian May playing on the roof – and notices his grandmother Queen Elizabeth is wearing earplugs.
His pre-Meghan life in London was ostensibly full of luxury, but it also feels as though he was undercover in his own life.
Harry suffered from appalling panic attacks, awful for anyone, but debilitating for someone expected to speak and appear in public.
He describes his lonely life at home, self-medicating with psychedelic drugs, drying his clothes on a radiator and planning shopping trips like military raids, to be carried out in disguise and at speed.
Princess Diana and Harry: The book describes the trauma he felt at her loss
He doesn’t have an Amazon account, but he hits TK Maxx for clothes, and carries out a weekly food shop in a supermarket, rehearsing exactly where to find his favourite salmon and yoghurts. When he’s in there one day he overhears shoppers debating whether he’s gay.
But it’s a profoundly odd life, moving suddenly between this lack of glamour to time with the international jet set.
Harry says he watches the TV show Friends on a loop, identifying with the funny guy character of Chandler. But then on a trip to the US he is at a party with Courtney Cox, the actress who plays Chandler’s on-screen wife, Monica.
And this really is a trip, because he ends up taking hallucinogenic drugs and watches a pedal-bin coming to life. It’s a long way from the commentary for Trooping the Colour.
The ghost-written work is a fast-paced, quickfire account, looking out from the inside, always scratchily aware of the bodyguards outside the door and the cameras waiting to catch him. As a schoolboy, smoking cannabis with his friends, he watches the police outside there to guard him.
Leaks of the book revealed the scale of the conflict between Prince William and Prince Harry
At the very centre of this story, permeating almost every page, is the huge trauma that seems to have distorted the rest of his life – the death of his mother Princess Diana.
He adored her unreservedly and an overwhelming sense of unresolved grief is at the hub of all his other anxieties, like spokes on a wheel.
He really, really hates the press, blaming them for chasing his mother so relentlessly, including in the events leading to her death in Paris, with Harry returning obsessively to the scene of the car accident.
His anger at the news media is wide ranging, but Rupert Murdoch is singled out in particular and one of his executives is only described in anagram form, so much is his allergic reaction.
The rows with his brother Prince William are often framed by references to the closeness they had previously had with their mother.
His paralysing anxiety and self-destructiveness also seem to be consequences of the loss of his mother, taking away an emotional anchor that, until meeting Meghan, he had never replaced.
King Charles tried to offer support to Harry after the death of his mother
Warning: Some strong language is used in the following paragraphs
There is also something of a death obsession. Going into Westminster Abbey for his brother’s wedding he cheerfully thinks about the 3,000 people buried in the church over the centuries.
What’s missing from the book is any sense of awareness of any wider context of the rest of the world outside. It’s as if he has been blinded by the paparazzi flashlights. No one worries about paying gas bills in this book. He’s back and forth to Africa like he was going a few stops on the Northern Line.
Although, that would have been more exotic for him because he says the only time he got on a Tube train was on a school trip.
While copiously indiscreet about the interior of royal life – yes, that’s his father doing physio exercises in his boxers – it remains strangely silent on any views about the outside world, even though he’s no longer a working royal.
There are some glimpses. Harry talks about Prince William making what he calls a “vaguely anti-Brexit speech” which seems to annoy the tabloids.
“Brexit was their bread and butter. How dare he suggest it was bullshit,” he writes.
The other royals are claimed by Prince Harry to be obsessing over the score sheets of how many visits they’ve carried out compared with other family members, looking over their shoulders in case anyone should question their purpose.
But he is also unmistakably a creature of his own upbringing, describing shooting a deer in a way that doesn’t feel like the new-age therapy version of Californian Harry.
So who will be most upset about all these revelations in his book?
Netflix mostly. They paid a prince’s ransom for six hours of TV waffle and the smug contents of an Instagram feed, whereas the book crackles like a burning log with something bizarre on almost every page.
Plenty of the book will get people irritated too, particularly its self-absorption. He talks about a row over people parking near his palace accommodation with more detail than you’d expect from a small war.
There are some off-the-wall claims too, such as comparing the Spice Girls’ “crusade against sexism” with “Mandela’s struggle against apartheid”.
The leaks of the book have focused on the family conflicts and Harry’s resentment at a lack of support for him and Meghan.
Camilla arrives in the story to become his stepmother, with the narrative exuding a mixture of suspicion and a determined effort to be polite. But mostly suspicion really. It feels a bit divorced dad telling everyone he’s not bitter, he doesn’t mind that he paid for everything, really, not bitter at all, just wishing them both well…
But taken as a whole, beyond the excerpts, a much warmer picture emerges of his father, King Charles, even when it seems that the narrator is giving him a hard time.
Charles is seen padding around in his slippers, listening to his audio-books, obsessed with Shakespeare, wearing Dior scent and falling asleep at his desk. He’s seen as having faced terrible school bullying, still keeping a teddy bear as a totem of a lonely childhood.
His father tries to provide some emotional support for Harry after Diana’s death, sitting up with him until he falls asleep at night, but it feels as though his good intentions had to navigate some tricky barriers.
Charles leaves notes for him trying to say nice things – but Harry questions why he couldn’t say them in person. He goes to see Harry in a school play and laughs uproariously and is then criticised by his son for laughing in the wrong places.
When the adult brothers are feuding, Charles begins to sound like something of a Shakespearean figure himself, King Lear in tweed, begging his sons not to make his old age a misery.
The King is presented as old fashioned and rather unworldly. But he might be learning a new bit of text speak. TMI. Too much information…
The World Bank is projecting a 2.7% expansion of the Ghanaian economy in 2023, lower than Sub-Saharan Africa average of 3.6%, its January 2023 Global Economic Prospects report has revealed.
It is however expecting the economy to grow by 3.5% in 2024, same as it projected for 2022.
The World Bank said the Ghanaian economy has been struggling with various setbacks, including rising public debt, elevated inflation (50.3% in November 2022) and a depreciating currency (38.8% in 2022), a reason it is seeking for an International Monetary Fund-support programme. This it said affected private sector growth in 2022 and will continue this year.
Again, rising input costs, on the back of high fuel and raw material prices impacted negatively on the private sector in 2022. Indeed, the economy slowdown in the third quarter of last year, growing by 2.9%, according to the Ghana Statistical Service.
“New orders and output have been trending down for many months. Rising input costs, on the back of high fuel and raw material prices, compelled businesses to cut workers for the first time in about a year”, it explained.
Therefore, it is not surprising that the government announced a growth rate target of 2.8% for this year.
Growth rate of 60% of countries in SSA revised downwards
Meanwhile, the World Bank has announced a downward revision for growth in Sub Sub-Saharan (SSA) for almost 60% of countries including Ghana.
It said this growth slowdown represents a formidable challenge for economic development in the region.
“Growth in SSA is expected at 3.6% in 2023 and 3.9% in 2024. Compared to the June [2022] forecast, growth was revised down for almost 60% of countries, including downward revisions for over 70% of metal exporters which are expected to be affected by the further easing of global metal prices. Even as cost of living pressures are anticipated to moderate, the negative impact of persistent poverty and food insecurity on growth, amplified by other vulnerabilities, such as unfavorable weather, high debt, policy uncertainty, and violence and conflict are anticipated to keep the pace of recoveries subdued in many countries”
Senegal is expected to be the fastest-growing economy in Sub Saharan Africa in 2023, with a growth rate target of 7.1%.
10 countries in SSA with high growth rates
COUNTRY
GDP
Senegal
8.0%
Niger
7.1%
Côte d’Ivoire
6.8%
Rwanda
6.7%
Congo, Dem. Rep.
6.4%
Benin
6.2%
Togo
5.6%
Uganda
5.5%
Mauritius
5.5%
Ethiopia
5.3%
Guinea
5.3%
Economy slows down in quarter 3, 2022 – GSS
Ghana’s economy grew at the slowest pace in two years in the third quarter of 2021, data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) has revealed.
According to the GSS, the country’s economy expanded at 2.9% in the third quarter of 2022.
This is lower than the 4.7% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) recorded in the second quarter of 2022.
Deputy Information Minister, Fatimatu Abubakar has described as false some comments made by former President John Dramani Mahama against President Akufo-Addo.
This was after Mr Mahama on his Facebook page asked President Nana Akufo-Addo to end his penchant for clearing his appointees and close associates alleged to be involved in illegal activities.
He said the behaviour of the President is untoward and thus advised him to desist from same.
According to him, President Akufo-Addo has assumed a dishonourable badge as “the clearing agent.”
This comment comes on the back of President Nana Akufo-Addo saying Akonta Mining is currently not involved in any form of illegal mining.
Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen on Tuesday, she maintained that the former President’s assertion is false.
“The reason I’m saying it is false is that the truth is brief, so a video that is less than a minute, he [Mr Mahama] will bring thesis as a reply. I understand him that for every statement, there is the potential to gain some political points,” she said.
The Deputy Information Minister stated that Mr Mahama statement is missing a critical point.
According to her, the response from Mr Mahama “should have stated that Akufo-Addo, you are a clearing agent because go to community A, B, C Akonta mining is engaged in illegal mining activities as you speak.”
She further stated that “if the former President does not have contrary information which points to the fact that as at the time the President was speaking there was an ongoing illegal activity – the former President is wrong for that and I say that the statement is vague and irrelevant.”
“President Akufo-Addo’s statement does not in any way contradict all the facts by the Ministry of Lands and Resources and the Forestry Commission,” she added.
I have read, Sir, with utmost dismay, your Facebook post regarding the comments made by the President of the Republic, H.E. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in Eastern Region, when he addressed the 28th National and 16th Biennial Congress of the National Union of Catholic Diocesan Priests’ Association (NUCDPA).
Ordinarily, I would have no need to respond to matters you post on your Facebook page. But, due to the gross misinformation and political spin contained in the said post, as well as the attempt to disparage my integrity and that of the President in respect of this matter, as Minister responsible for Lands and Natural Resources, I deem it necessary to set the records straight.
My response will, therefore, focus on the facts, and I will endeavour not to respond to the political spins contained in the said post. The unimpeachable facts relating to this matter are as follows:
sometime last year, there were allegations levelled against Akonta Mining Ltd that it was engaging in some mining activities in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve;
although the company had applied for a mining lease over a portion of the Forest Reserve, the application had not yet been determined. I, therefore, directed the Forestry Commission to investigate the matter, and ensure that the Company does not carry out mining activities in the Forest;
the Forestry Commission moved in quickly and cleared the forest of all alleged illegal activities;
President Akufo-Addo had been invited as a Special Guest of Honour at the NUCDPA Congress, where he spoke about strengthening State-Church collaboration;
at the said Congress, a specific question was asked by the Chairman of the occasion regarding illegal mining activities by Akonta Mining;
the President in response stated categorically that “Akonta Mining is not engaged in any illegal mining anywhere in Ghana AS WE SPEAK”;
the President was speaking about the state of affairs at the time he made the comment, and went ahead to add that Government, through the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission had, with the assistance of the military, cordoned off all Forest Reserves in the country, and rid them of illegal mining activities at the time he was speaking, and that Government was working to ensure that the situation remains permanent;
the comments by the President in no way relates to past or future activities of Akonta Mining, and cannot, by any shred of imagination, be deemed as exonerating the company from any past activities or interfering with any ongoing investigations;
as it is public knowledge, the allegations of illegal mining by Akonta Mining Ltd are being investigated by state institutions responsible for such investigations, the Ghana Police Service and the Office of the Special Prosecutor;
when I received the report from the investigations conducted by the Forestry Commission, pursuant to my directive, I forwarded the report to the Ghana Police Service, through the Minister for Interior, to assist them in their investigations;
the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) of the Police Service has subsequently written to me requesting some further information, which I have provided;
the Office of the Special Prosecutor, in its Half Yearly Report dated 31st December, 2022, also states that the Office is currently investigating activities of Akonta Mining and other companies in respect of the said allegations;
officials of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources are collaborating with these state institutions to conduct their investigations and take the necessary actions;
the President, mindful of these ongoing investigations, refrained from speaking on past activities of the company which are under investigations by the state agencies. Indeed, but for the specific question posed by the Chairman of the occasion, the President would not have mentioned Akonta Mining at all;
I, also, want to put on record that no one, and absolutely no one, compelled me to issue the Press Statement on Akonta Mining which was issued following the allegations of their activities in the Forest Reserve. Neither has the President called any official of Akonta Mining to “appease” them on the action taken by Government. These claims, if they were indeed made, as you suggest, are, obviously, false and a figment of peoples’ own imagination; and
as reiterated by President Akufo-Addo at the Congress where he spoke, “Government is determined to win the fight against galamsey, no matter the cost and effort.” Under his distinguished and outstanding leadership, we are committed to doing this with the highest standards of transparency, integrity and utmost good faith in the public interest. Sir, whilst I have the opportunity, permit me to assert, without a shred of equivocation that the record of President Akufo-Addo’s Government in the past six years of fighting corruption far surpasses the NDC’s eight-year record. Needless to point out that President Akufo-Addo’s extraordinary funding of anti-corruption institutions, the establishment of the Office of the Special Prosecutor, which as I speak, is investigating this matter, the passage of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), rapid investigations of allegations of corruption, and many more are testament to his remarkable record in the fight against corruption.
I have reluctantly come out to set these records straight due to the very unfair and unfortunate manner in which you have attacked the unblemished reputation and integrity of the President of the Republic, your successor. Good Day Sir,
Samuel A. Jinapor, MP. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources Ministries Accra
Multi-lingual Ghanaian female emcee Lousika has been crowned queen mother of Manso Nkwanta in the Ashanti Region.
News of her enstoolment went rife after photos from the ceremony hit the internet.
Lousika has been conferred with the stool name, Nana Nyarko Aboraa Sika, has been conferred on
The popular businesswoman and musician was conferred with the stool name, Nana Nyarko Aboraa Sika in a beautiful traditional ceremony.
Pictures from the event have been widely shared across social media and fans are reacting to them as many well-wishers have sent out their congratulatory messages.
Lousika, who is a mother of two, is the granddaughter of the late Omanhemaa of Manso Nkwanta, Nana Nyarko Aboraa II.
The Paris-born rapper who went on a long hiatus from the music is famed for songs like ‘Hands Up’ featuring hiplife artist Cabum and ‘Opampam’ featuring Shatta Wale.
In addition to her lyricism and versatility, she also happens to flow in four languages, French, Twi, English and Spanish, switching effortlessly from one to the other within the same track.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says he is carrying out his parliamentary duties by exposing the underhand dealing in the National cathedral project.
According to him, his role as an MP makes it mandatory for him to check the excesses of the Executive and therefore has no intention of getting the clergy to support him.
“This is not a popularity contest. I am not seeking to get church leaders on my side. That is not what this is about, I am carrying out my mandate, my parliamentary duties. I am required and all of us in Parliament are required to constitutionally carry out oversight duties to make sure there are checks and balances,” he said.
Mr. Okudzeto’s comments were in response to questions posed by the host of Top Story, Evans Mensah on whether he acknowledges that those representing Christians [the Clergy] were publicly not on his side in regard to halting the construction of the national cathedral.
Evans Mensah’s questions were informed by comments from the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Anglican Church, Rev Dr. Cyril Smith, earlier today (Tuesday) that the building of the national cathedral will happen no matter the objection by naysayers.
However, Mr. Ablakwa explained that as far as he was concerned it was not a popularity contest but it was his duty to expose wrongdoing.
“There is a reason why it’s said all over in literature that ‘Parliament, we are the custodians of the purse’. We must ensure that public funds are being utilised properly and judiciously. It’s not a popularity contest,” he said.
“If this project was so popular and the Christian community had been rallied, they shouldn’t be struggling to raise funds.”
In the past few days, Mr. Ablakwa has been one of the most outspoken parliamentarians on the unconstitutional processes the government had taken when it comes to the national cathedral project.
The former fiancée of Nollywood actor Alex Ekubo, Fancy Acholonu, has revealed more information about their first encounter.
The actor’s performance wasn’t what the model thought it would be, but she had to pretend it was so he wouldn’t feel guilty, the model admitted in the interview with Stella Dimoko Korkus.
However, following their meeting, Alex admitted to sleeping with her and told his friends and family about it. He also pleaded with her to tell her friends and family about their encounter.
Fancy Acholonu wrote:
“We broke up in August 2021 and I blocked him. In January 2022 his aunt contacted me and asked if I could see him before I leave Nigeria. I agreed and unblocked him and he begged to see me for closure, I was hesitant but agreed.
“When we met and Alexx confessed a lot of things to me and apologized for everything. Things got emotional so he attempted to be intimate with me for the first time. I was in shock, because he said his religion and journey had stopped him for these 9 years.
“But love was still there so we proceeded anyway. Before I could even land back in LA the next day he told me he told all his friends and family we had s#x. It seems like the part he left out to them was that it was the first time we tried. It was strange to me how important it was for him to tell everyone around him.
“He even encouraged me to share with my friends and family. I believe he was proud of himself, but embarrassed at the same time that he never slept with me before. He wouldn’t know how to explain that to his people.
“The big question for me was, if “religion” is what kept him from doing it in the first place? When everyone is assuming I left because he’s g#y (which I never said) Why is he trying to be intimate now? It was Manipulation.
“He kept asking me how it was and I had to lie that it was great… I will not go into the embarrassing details of what happened.”
Rapper, Kwesi Arthur has flaunted his new lover for the first time and social media users who have come across the lovely pictures can’t keep mute.
Amidst the joyful news, Efia Odo has suddenly become a subject of mockery because she was all over Kwesi Arthur sometime ago.
There have been a series of rumours that Kwesi Arthur and Efia Odo are dating due to their closeness.
The two have been spotted together in cozy positions on several occasions creating the perception that they have a thing together. However, the two have consistently denied dating.
Even if Kwesi Arthur was secretly dating Efia Odo as the never-ending reports suggested, it’s now clear that he has officially parted ways with her reason behind the posting of these fresh besotted pictures.
Apparently, Kwesi Arthur’s new girlfriend is celebrating her birthday today therefore he decided to post a picture of them looking magnificently cute together to wish her.
Take a look at the picture below to know more…
At the moment, not much is known about the beautiful lady Kwesi Arthur has fallen in love with.
But we trust social media detectives to dig deep to find more information about her very soon now that her affair with Kwesi has been made public.
Ghanaian socialite, Afia Schwarzenegger has announced to her over 2.8 million followers that she has lost her brother a week to her father’s first anniversary.
She implored netizens to provide her and her family the privacy they need to grieve in a post she shared on Instagram.
“My brother Richard Osei Bonsu is dead. Just exactly 1 week to my father’s 1 year. Please I beg everyone to give me and my family privacy in this difficult time. Thank you. It is well. Rest in peace Abban,” she shared on January 10, 2023.
She posted this caption along with a video of herself and her late brother enjoying some music at home while having fun.
Energy Minister Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh did not signed any contract with GENSER as being reported by some news outlet the The Independent Ghana can confirm.
Some workers of Ghana Gas Company Limited have called on the President of Ghana to overturn a contract purportedly signed by the Energy Minister.
The Ministry has even go ahead to denied the Minister’s involvement in any contract with GENSER.
According to the statement, the only contract between GENSER and GNGC was signed by the Chief Executive of GNGC Dr Ben Asante after which the Minister was duly informed.
The statement is shocked that the Minister in Charge of Energy is therefore being accused for signing a contract when the Chief Executive Officer was the one who signed the contract.
The Independent Ghana is reliably informed that Minister for Food and Agriculture Owusu Afriyie Akotohas resigned from his position.
Dr Afriyie Akoto reportedly tendered his resignation letter to the President later today, Tuesday, January 10.
The reasons for his resignation are not immediately known, but sources have revealed that the Minister wants to focus on his Presidential bid ahead of the 2024 elections.
The Minister according to source met President Akufo-Addo later today to hand over his resignation letter.
His decision comes days after Trade and Industry Minister, Alan Kyerematen resigned from his position to focus on his presidential ambitions.
Dr Afriyie Akoto served as a Member of Parliament for the Kwadaso Constituency in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region for two terms.
In Parliament, he held the position of Deputy Ranking Member and subsequently the substantive Ranking Member for the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs until 2017 when he was appointed the Minister for Food and Agriculture.
In November 2022, in the midst of economic challenges and rising food prices, Dr Afriyie Akoto implemented the controversial Planting for Food and Jobs policy at the premises of the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to sell cheaper foods to Ghanaians.
Profile of Hon. Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto
Honourable Dr. Owusu Afriyie Akoto graduated from the University of Ghana (Legon) with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. He obtained his M.Sc. and PhD degrees in Agricultural Economics from the University of Cambridge, England.
He worked as an Economist, Senior Economist, Principal Economist, and Chief Economic Advisor over a period of 18 years at the International Coffee Organization (ICO) in London, England. He has also worked as a consultant to the World Bank and the United Nations on Soft Commodities (Cocoa, Coffee, Sugar).
Between 1995 and 2007, he was the CEO of two international commodity companies, Goldcrest Commodities Limited and Plantation Resources Limited both based in Ghana.
In 2007 he was appointed the Chairman of the NPP manifesto committee and was the principal author of the Party’s Manifesto for the 2008 elections. He was subsequently elected as a member of parliament in 2008. He spent two terms as a Member of Parliament for Kwadaso Constituency in Kumasi, Ashanti Region. In Parliament, he held the position of Deputy Ranking Member and subsequently the substantive Ranking Member for the Committee on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs until 2017.
In 2017 he was appointed the Minister for Food and Agriculture.
In this role he has spearheaded the design and implementation of the Government of Ghana’s popular and transformational agricultural flagship programme, Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ). Under the leadership of Hon. Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto Ghana has been transformed into the breadbasket of the West.
In 2019, Ghana was ranked fourth on the African continent by the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) in its Global Food Security Index (GFSI). In that year (2019) the sector grew strongly by 4.7% followed by 7.4% at peak of the covid in 2020 and 8.4% in 2021 – the highest annual performance in the Fourth Republic. This sterling performance compares with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme’s (CAADP) benchmark target of 6% growth of agriculture for the attainment of national food security
Maize production reached 3.4 million tonnes in 2021 from 1.7 million tonnes in 2016; and rice production nearly doubled to 1.2 million metric tonnes from 665,000 metric tonnes in 2016 under the PFJ.
Under his leadership an Act of Parliament established the Tree Crop Development Authority in 2020, to coordinate and promote the development of six tree crops – cashew, rubber, oil palm, coconut, mango and shea. At full development, these selected crops have the combined potential of generating an additional USD12 billion per annum to supplement the annual USD2 billion from cocoa.
He has also initiated a Bill in parliament for the establishment of the Grains Development Authority and has already prepared a memorandum for cabinet consideration of the Bill which will substantially increase loanable funds to agriculture and its value chains. Also in the pipeline are draft Cabinet memoranda for the establishment of the Horticultural Development Authority and Poultry Development Authority
He oversaw the re-launch of the National Cocoa Rehabilitation Programme through which a total farm area of 56,343 hectares has been fully treated across the cocoa growing regions as of 30th September 2022. As a result of the success of the programme, thousands of farmers who had abandoned their cocoa farms due to the devastating effect of the Cocoa Swollen Shoot Virus Disease (CSSVD) have returned to their farms.
Since 2017, Hon. Dr. Akoto has directed substantial budgetary resources to the construction and rehabilitation of 12 irrigation schemes of which 6 are above 90% complete, five are between 45% to 70% level of completion and the Pwalugu dam is currently at a level of 5%. Together, these irrigation projects will make available 31,415 hectares of land for all year-round crop production when completed.
Through his initiative, measures taken by the Government to address major marketing problems in the agriculture sector include the construction of 80 warehouses of 1000 metric tonne capacity each for food storage and to reduce post-harvest losses.
In his bid to accelerate the process of agricultural modernization, he, instituted several bilateral arrangements that resulted in the importation of assorted agricultural machinery including tractors, power tillers, planters, threshers, combine harvesters and hand-held equipment for smallholder farmers at a total of over $100 million. These farm equipment and machinery are being sold at a subsidized rate of 40% to farmers and agro-processors.
Dr. Akoto has implemented the construction of three greenhouse training centres with an attached commercial unit at Dawhenya, Akumadan and Bawjiase for training youth in high-quality vegetable production. These vegetables are sold to high end shops such as Palace Mall, Shoprite, Starbites, KFC and Burger King in Tema, Accra and Kumasi.
For his transformational leadership, the Hon. Dr. Akoto has won several awards and appointments of recognition. In February 2019, AFRICAN SEEDS which is the intergovernmental Seed Agency of the African Union, conferred on him the title of SEED CHAMPION OF AFRICA.
In the same 2019, he was appointed Chairman of the Board of the Inter African Coffee Organisation (IACO), a pan-African organisation promoting the interest of coffee producers on the continent.
He is the immediate past Chairman of the ECOWAS Specialised Ministerial Technical Council for Agriculture (CTMS Agric) and, was unanimously appointed Chairman of the Steering Committee for the newly established Côte d’Ivoire-Ghana Cocoa Initiative.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s neighbourhood has been evacuated.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s neighbourhood of Montecito has been dramatically evacuated due to its high flood risk amid high waters. Where will the Sussexes relocate to with their children, Archie and Lilibet?
According to the County of Santa Barbara website has issued an evacuation order for certain areas and they’ve issued a list of various shelter points in schools and community centers.
While it’s possible that the family could head to one of the locations, it’s more likely that they’d want somewhere private to retreat to until the weather dies down.
Luckily, Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland resides a short distance away and could be an option for the Sussexes to spend some time
Doria’s home, which is two hours away, is located in the View Park-Windsor Hills neighbourhood of Los Angeles.
With only two bedrooms and two bathrooms it could be a bit of a squeeze, so perhaps Prince Harry and Meghan will seek a place to stay with one of their celebrity contacts stateside.
After all, they did stay at Tyler Perry’s idyllic mansion when they first moved over from Canada. The couple spent much of 2020 residing in the $15 million mega-mansion owned by Tyler in the Beverly Ridge Estate of LA, despite having never met him prior to his offer.
The risk of flooding isn’t the only regular weather issue witnessed at the Sussexes’ home. Water is a hot topic of debate in the couple’s area with the Montecito Water District website declaring it an “extreme drought” last summer, putting certain restrictions in place to avoid local shortage.
The types of rules that the royal couple are subject to include “no watering of lawns/landscapes in a manner that causes runoff and / or within 48 hours after measurable (1/4 inch) precipitation” and “exterior irrigation is allowed only between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m.”
