At midnight the frequent collaborators came through with Snofall, the latest installment in Drama’s Gangsta Grillz series. The hip-hop veterans announced the effort on social media this month, shortly after unleashing their joint record “I Ain’t Gon Hold Ya.”
Jeezy discussed Snofall during a Thursday appearance on the Breakfast Club, saying he approached it without any expectations. “If you’re doing it for the No. 1 record…it’s just different. You know what I mean?” he said. “But when you’re doing it for you and you’re just doing what you love, and you ain’t even looking at it like that, it’s just a different feeling, bro. It’s therapeutic for me because it just gives me a chance to just keep myself grounded, because I’ve been through so much. Sometimes we get so successful with other things, we forget the struggle.”
Hours before the release, Jeezy returned to Instagram to unveil its official tracklist, with titles like “Street Cred,” “Plug on Em,” and “Grammy” as well as credits for Lil Durk, 42 Dugg, and EST Gee.
Snofall marks Jeezy’s first full-length release since 2020’s The Recession 2. It also follows a handful of Jeezy x Drama projects, including Trap or Die, Tha Streetz Is Watchin, and Can’t Ban the Snowman.
As the Ghanaian cedi is now expected to fall by 43 percent and 30.1 percent against the US dollar in 2022 and 2023, respectively, according to Fitch’s assessment, “we expect weakness for the Ghanaian cedi to persist throughout the short term.”
Fitch Solutions is forecasting a 43 per cent depreciation of the cedi to the US dollar in 2022.
It is also projecting a 30.1 per cent fall in value of the cedi to the American currency in 2023, which means the woes of the local currency will not get better anytime soon.
Disclosing this in its latest report on the country dubbed “Ghana’s Private Infrastructure Investment Set for Medium-Term Recovery”, it said, the continuing investor concern over the country’s large fiscal deficits puts downward pressure on the cedi.
“We expect weakness for the Ghanaian cedi to persist throughout the near term, as we currently forecast the currency to depreciate by 43 per cent and 30.1 per cent against the US dollar in 2022 and 2023, respectively,” the report said.
“We expect that Ghana’s inflation rate will remain high in the near term in the face of spiking global food and fuel prices and as continuing investor concern over the country’s large fiscal deficits puts downward pressure on the cedi,” it added.
Again, it pointed out that the currency’s weakness would keep revenue risks elevated for foreign investors dependent on revenue streams in local currency.
This is despite an expected $2 billion inflows from the Afrexim Bank and COCOBOD syndicated loan.
Furthermore, it said in light of the reliance of Ghana’s construction industry on imports, the cedi’s weakness would add to upward pressures on prices of construction materials from existing supply chain disruptions.
This, in turn, it said would further contribute to increased project costs and potential investment delays in the near term.
“In 2021, Ghana’s trade deficit for iron and steel products is estimated to have exceeded $1.2 billion, up from an estimated deficit of over $780 million worth of iron and steel products in 2020. In light of the Ghanaian construction industry’s reliance on materials imports, we expect that the cedi’s weakness will add to upward pressures on construction materials prices from existing supply chain disruptions. This, in turn, will further contribute to increased project costs and potential investment delays in the near term,” it said.
The morning show host, Captain Smart, an ardent critic of the government, was arrested on Wednesday evening, October 19, after the close of work.
His arrest was because he recently tagged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as being actively involved in illegal mining due to his failure to call some of his officials to order.
According to reports by his media organizers and some eyewitnesses, the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) formerly BNI, picked him up for questioning. He was, however, released hours after his arrest.
Many termed the arrest as an attempt to silence him, others have posited that a culture of silence has resurrected under the leadership of Akufo-Addo.
Broadcaster, Kwasi Kyei Darkwah, in a lengthy Instagram post, called out the government for attempting to silence persons who dare to expose the rot and corruption under the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
He urged citizens to speak up and not be discouraged by the attempts to silence them.
He cited Captain Smart as an example of the government’s target.
Read KKD’s statement below:
Sometimes joyfully, other times painfully but if you claim you are in a democracy, let the people speak their minds, for without freedom of speech we will never hear the truth.
No citizen of ???????? must be silenced.
We may wish every person in power does only good and lawful things. Unfortunately, the reality isn’t so. The promises and practices are oft enemies.
This is why the governed, especially the fourth estate, must speak truth to power to nudge leadership, and citizens, to do the right thing and call public attention to clear and present danger for urgent redress.
No person can silence truth. You may try but you can never silence truth forever.
Take all the praise you want whilst in power.
Remember that praise will not show you the wrong you do to our nation nor your neighbour. Most praise-singers only humour you and lick your backside for their selfish ends. Listen to the good about you as well as the bad, and you will learn much to do better.
To harrass, silence or harm those who tell you the truth, disagree with you, tell the truth about you or are just not impressed with you has never made anyone greater, more popular nor more powerful. It rather empowers and elevates the teller of truth whether they dispense it from a bottle of sugar or salt, refined or raw.
Former President John Dramani Mahamahas encouraged Ghanaians currently battling a severe economic crisis not to lose hope of a better Ghana in the near future.
The country’s economic challenges have left citizens dissatisfied, with some reportedly contemplating suicide.
The former president was responding to news reports about a male adult who killed himself on Friday, October 14, 2022, in Accra.
Witnesses at the scene are heard in a viral video saying the young man chose death because he couldn’t bear the extreme economic hardships he was facing while alive.
The deceased, Kofi Kakra, a driver’s mate, climbed a high tension pole at Kasoa and got electrocuted. His death has got many citizens talking about how overbearing Ghana’s economic situation has become.
It is in view of this that former President John Dramani Mahamahas entreated all to keep a clear mind and brave the current crisis, which he says is the worst in the past three decades.
In a Twitter post on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, while mourning the death of Kakra, he asserted that “suicide is never an answer.”
“Even in the darkest night, there’ll come dawn. The sun will rise again,” he reminded Ghanaians.
To ensure all are able to weather the storm, the former statesman advised that “let’s be each other’s keeper and keep hope alive.”
With regards to suicide, the Mental Health Authority (MHA)is currently working to have it decriminalised. According to the Authority, suicide is a medical condition that needs health support rather than imprisonment.
Ghana’s economic challenges began deteriorating at the beginning of the year and measures put in place by the government and the Bank of Ghana have not yielded the needed results.
Inflation has consistently risen from 13.9% in January to 37.2% as of September 2022.
To check the inflation rate, the central bank has also reviewed the Monetary Policy Rate from 17% to 24.5%, thereby increasing the cost of credit exponentially.
From January to October this year, the MPR has been adjusted four times to slow inflation.
The exchange rate has also seen the local currency perform poorly against major trading currencies. Currently, a dollar is trading close to GH13 on the forex market.
Presently, the government of Ghana is seeking assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for an Economic Recovery Programme (ERP).
Ghana hopes to secure about 3 billion dollars in order to offset its debt and turn around its fortune.
The Baton Rouge rapper returned Thursday night with Ma I Got a Family, hosted by DJ Drama. The effort marks YoungBoy’s sixth full-length release of 2022, following Colors, The Last Slimeto, Better Than You, Realer 2, and 3800 Degrees, which arrived just two weeks ago.
Ma I Got a Family was confirmed on social media Sunday, shortly before YoungBoy announced his plans to release four more projects before 2023.
“Fun challenge ‘10 tapes 1 year ??’” he wrote on YouTube. “I’m finna be on 6 you think I can do it?”
Though it’s a lofty goal, YoungBoy can easily pull it off if he keeps up his current pace.
Ma I Got a Family also arrived on the rapper’s 23rd birthday, and mere weeks after he welcomed a second child with his fiancée Jazlyn Mychelle. The newborn is said to be YoungBoy’s 10th kid overall. He also reportedly shares children with Yaya Mayweather, Nisha, Starr Dejanee, Niya, Jania Bania, Kaylyn Marie Long, and Drea Symone.
The 19-track project includes songs like “Pop Out,” “McQueen,” “Kentrell Talk,” and “King of the Jungle,” and features guest appearances by Nicki Minaj (“I Admit”) and Yeat (“I Don’t Text Back.”)
Ghana’s ability to obtain an economic programme from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) now depends on evidence of the nation’s capacity to meet all of its present and future financial obligations without the need for extraordinary financial assistance or defaulting.
Director of the IMF’s African Department, Abebe Aemro Selassie, made this known during the 2022 IMF/World Bank annual meetings in Washington, D.C., that ended on October 16, 2022.
During a press conference, Mr Aemro Selassie said, “so much will depend on how quickly this reform plan can be fleshed out for implementation. There are also important initiatives that have to be taken in terms of how the programme will be financed so that we can move forward.”
Ghana’s debt stock peaked at GH¢402.4 billion in September, equivalent to 68 per cent of its GDP.
Ghana is a member of the IMF, and when a member country requests financing from the Fund, it assesses whether the country’s policies are consistent with debt sustainability.
This assessment is based on a Debt Sustainability Assessment (DSA), conducted jointly by the IMF and World Bank, to determine whether the government is able to meet all its current and future payment obligations.
In cases where a country’s debt is assessed as unsustainable, the IMF is precluded from providing financing unless the member takes steps to restore debt sustainability, including by seeking a debt restructuring from its creditors.
Per reports, Ghana has furnished the Fund with proof that it has a debt sustainability plan.
After the government of Ghana provided a debt situation plan, it was presented to the IMF’s Executive Board for consideration by the authorities’ programme request.
According to Mr Abebe Aemro Selassie, the IMF is awaiting the results of the debt sustainability analysis (DSA) exercise.
“So, part of the work ongoing now is to assess where the debt sustainability situation is right now and how the government would like to address that. We are waiting for the results of that assessment,” Mr Selassie said.
Ghana formally commenced negotiations with the Fund in September 2022, after reaching out in July this year.
An economic programme from the Fund is expected to help Ghana address the depreciation of the local currency, its high inflation, and undertake several developmental projects to resolve the current economic crisis.
There have been assurances from the IMF that a deal could be reached with Ghana by December, should all conditions be met.
According to Numbeo’s analysis, Accra outperformed a number of major global cities, including Hong Kong (Hong Kong), Shenzhen (China), Moscow (Russia), and Paris (France).
“To estimate household income, the average monthly pay is used.
The price per square meter is assumed to be the average price in the city center and outside of the city center for a 90 square meter home (or apartment) with a 100% mortgage taken out over 20 years “The survey gave details.
• Accra has the world’s highest Mortgage percentage income ratio
• A research survey conducted by Numbeo has revealed
The research conducted by Numbeo showed Accra was ahead of Hong Kong (Hong Kong), Shenzhen (China), Moscow (Russia), Paris (France) among other cities in the world.
The survey further revealed that Accra has the world’s highest Mortgage percentage income ratio. This was however followed by Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Tehran (Iran) in second and third place, respectively.
“Average monthly salary is used to estimate family income. It assumes 100% mortgage is taken on 20 years for the house (or apt) of 90 square meters which price per square meter is the average price in the city centre and outside of city centre,” the survey explained.
The Numbeo survey also ranked Accra as the city with the lowest loan affordability in the world.
“Loan Affordability Index is an inverse of mortgage as a percentage of income,” the survey pointed. This however means, access to loans in Accra is much costlier compared to other cities such as Lagos (Nigeria), Kabul (Afghanistan), Sao Paolo (Brazil) and Stockholm (Sweden).
The Numbeo survey calculated the ratio of median apartment prices to median familial disposable income, expressed as years of income.
Numbeo is a crowd-sourced global database of reported consumer prices, perceived crime rates, health care quality, and other statistics.
For 2021, it has thus far collected data from 482 cities across the world.
Roddy Ricch kicked off his birthday weekend with the release of new music.
A day before turning 24, the Compton artist came through with “AstonMartin Truck” and its official video. Fans got their first taste of the cut over the summer, but Roddy didn’t confirm its release until Thursday afternoon, when he provided a sneak peek at the visual.
The video shows the rapper living the high life as he flaunts his iced-out jewelry, takes a private helicopter ride, and hits the streets for some motorsport entertainment.
“Aston Martin Truck” comes less than a month after Roddy delivered the video for previous single “Stop Breathing.” The song is expected to land on the his much-anticipated Feed tha Streets III project, which could arrive in the coming months.
Last December, Roddy told fans FTS3 would be a proper studio album and arrive sometime in 2022. Those plans seemingly changed over the summer following some pushback from his label.
“The label don’t wanna count Feed tha Streets 3 as an album cuz it’s always been a mixtape series,” he wrote in a text message shared on Instagram, “but the fans need it, so let’s drop when I get off tour.”
Roddy is currently on the road for Post Malone’s Twelve Carat Tour. The trek kicked off last month and is scheduled to conclude Nov. 15.
While we wait for more details on FTS3, you can stream “Aston Martin Truck” below and watch its video up top.
Jada Pinkett Smith invited her husband Will Smith’s ex-wife, Sheree Zampino, as a special guest host for the latest edition of “Red Table Talk”.
As discussions were ongoing, Jada Pinkett revealed that Will takes trips with Zampino when she (Jada) is not around.
Country singer Jana Kramer, who was also this week’s celebrity guest on the Facebook Watch series, asked Jadda whether such arrangements bother her, and she said;
“Never. They take trips; I’m not there. They do their thing. Not together romantically, but if he’s going on a book tour and [Will’s] mom is going and his sister, it’s fun for me to watch them enjoy each other. It takes time, though. We’re not having trouble, everyone. Let’s make that clear because you know that’ll be the next rumor.
“You guys really enjoy each other,” Jada Pinkett turned to Will Smith’s ex-wife and spoke.
On her part, Zampino said she currently has a better relationship with Will Smith than when they were married.
“With Will, we’re better as co-parents than we were as husband and wife. We came together to have Trey. It took the two of us to make him, but then we shifted,” Zampino explained.
Will was married to Zampino from 1992 until 1995. During their three-year marriage, they welcomed a son, Trey Smith, who is now 29.
Will and Jada Pinkett got married in December of 1997, two years after their divorce. They have two children together, a son, Jaden Smith, 24, and a daughter, Willow Smith, 21.
Taylor Swift’s long-awaited album Midnights is out.
This time around, the singer worked with producer Jack Antonoff, Lana Del Rey, Zoë Kravitz, Sounwave, Sam Dew, Jahaan Sweet, Keanu Torres, William Bowery, and more.
Telling fans to expect “the stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout my life,” Swift wrote on social media, “This is a collection of music written in the middle of the night, a journey through terrors and sweet dreams. The floors we pace and the demons we face. For all of us who have tossed and turned and decided to keep the lanterns lit and go searching—hoping that just maybe, when the clock strikes twelve…we’ll meet ourselves.”
Taylor mapped out an elaborate rollout leading up to her 10th album’s arrival and past its release. On Thursday, she had a Midnights teaser trailer air during the third quarter of Thursday Night Football on Prime Video. The music video for “Anti-Hero” is set to Friday at 8 a.m. ET, and another visual is slated for an Oct. 25 debut, with fans speculating it’s for “Vigilante Shit.”
Swift is also gearing up for a couple late-night appearances, including the Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Oct. 24 and the UK’s Graham Norton Show on Oct. 28.
Additionally, in the days prior to the release of Midnights, Swift teamed up with Spotify to plaster new lyrics on various billboards across the world. The first, in Times Square, read, “I should not be left to my own devices.” Her campaign with Spotify will also include a clip where she’ll divulge five things that inspired the record.
It has been revealed that a group of scientists from Ghana and Germany are using some leguminous plant species to restore life to the country’s degraded soils, particularly in areas near mining sites.
This was experimented on an abandoned piece of land at Enumso, a farming community in the Asante Akim Central District of the Ashanti Region.
As per reports, the activities of illegal miners some six years ago rendered the land infertile.
A PhD student from the University of Hohenheim (Germany), Enoch Opoku, instead of allowing the piece of land to regain its fertility as time passed, thought of ways to accelerate the process.
“So we thought that there are some leguminous plant species that have the potential to increase soil fertility, so farmers can use the area again,” he said.
The first four leguminous plant species introduced were Pueraria phaseoloides, Gliricidia sepium, Leucaena leucocephala and Mucuna pruriens.
Mucuna, according to reports, was, however, dropped because of its annual life cycle.
Mr. Opoku told the media that “the plant species show considerable ability to fix nitrogen into the soil.”
As to how this happens, he explained that a “special soil bacterial species called Rhizobium helps the leguminous plant by extracting nitrogen from the air, while the plant helps the bacteria grow by supplying carbon.”
“It is like, the bacteria which is found in the soil invade the roots and construct rounded houses called nodules on them, through the houses, the bacteria bring nitrogen to the plant which the plant cannot ordinarily acquire on their own and the plant repays the bacteria with food which is carbon. It is a perfect interdependence,” said Mr Opoku.
A PhD student from University of Hohenheim, Nadine Sommer, preferred Acacia mangium and Leucaena leucocephala.
Though Leucaena leucocephala led in the volume of organic matter produced, Acacia mangium was superior in terms of mercury salvaging.
“Leucaena leucocephala produces much biomass, but Acacia mangium needs a bit more time to produce this biomass but it accumulates a very huge amount of mercury. It’s not a hyper accumulator but a good accumulator of mercury,” she said.
On the matter, project leader and agroecologist Prof. Dr. Frank Rasche of University of Hohenheim asserted that his team aims to develop sustainable and applicable plant-based technologies for soil fertility restoration and mercury reclamation of Ghanaian mining sites.
Under the programme “CLIENT II – International Partnerships for Sustainable Innovations” financed by the Federal Ministry of Research and Education of Germany, the Hans-Ruthenberg Institute of Agricultural Sciences in the Tropics of the University of Hohenheim and INOQ GmbH in Germany, are collaborating with the Crops Research Institute of Ghana in research and development.
Ghana’s water bodies and forest reserves are being destroyed due to the activities of illegal miners.
River Pra, Offin, Oti have all been polluted due to chemicals being used to mine illegally.
The government is currently working to nip the activities of illegal miners in the bud.
Emmanuel Barnnes, popularly known as Mr. Logic has asked Ghanaians to pay no heed to Captain Smart and what he described as his constant act of playing with the minds of Ghanaians.
Earlier, the Onua TV/FM morning host was picked up by operatives of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).
Although it is unclear the reason behind Captain Smart’s arrest, it can be recalled that he has been in the news for comments he made recently, accusing the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of being complicit in illegal mining in Ghana.
Not too long after his arrest on October 19, 2022, the Onua TV morning show host was released.
This isn’t the first time Captain Smart has been arrested by the BNI in similar fashion courting conversation on both traditional and social media with some describing the arrest as an attack on press freedom and freedom of speech.
Mr. Logic, however, thinks that Captain Smart is acting as though he has the interest of the citizens at heart when he really doesn’t.
According to Logic, Captain Smart usually tackles ‘corrupt’ politicians on air, only for him to dine with them and collect some cool cash from them after.
“The problem in Ghana is that the people who usually say these things are the same ones that go sneak behind and take some money from some leaders. Captain Smart should stop the hard guy, hard guy things for radio and TV. All the shouting and yelling are pure tricks and lies. Sometimes they think the ordinary Ghanaian does not have sense.
“You see those people who think they are smart enough to fool Ghanaians, we know them. They will come and be on TV and radio, talk plenty as though they are solving the problems and when they are done, they go and dine with the problem makers. So, who are you fooling?’, he established in a viral video.
The talent manager said Ghanaians shouldn’t trust Captain Smart’s fake ‘freedom fighting’ agenda adding that all he is doing is simply for his own interest.
“Don’t mind anyone. It’s all lies. Majority of people who are talking, it is for their own interests. Because they know after all the shouting, they will be sorted out. Stop liking and commenting on their posts too. That is what they use to collect their payola. When I sit behind and watch all these things, I think it is time for everyone to look for their own money,” he added.
Black Stars Otto Addo is set to name his provisional squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Each of the 32 participating countries must send a list of a minimum of 35 players up to a maximum of 55 by the end of the day, in the first step in the selection process.
Coaches then have until Nov. 14 to decide on their final list of 26 players by an 1800GMT deadline. FIFA will publish all the squads the next day.
The final squad must come from the preliminary list, with no allowance for any late changes of mind over the next three weeks, FIFA’s tournament rules and regulations stipulate.
Ghana secured qualification at the expense of their arch-rivals Nigeria in the final World Cup play-off.
Ghana will face Portugal, Uruguay, and South Korea in Group H of the global showpiece which takes place between November 21 and December 18, 2022.
Black Stars will take on Switzerland in another preparatory game on November 17, seven days before their opening game at the 2022 FIFA World Cup against Portugal.
Black Stars, who make a return to the tournament after missing out on the 2018 edition in Russia take on Portugal in their first game in Group H before facing South Korea and Uruguay in a repeat of the 2010 World Cup quarter-final.
A two-day training of trainers workshop on inclusive education dubbed, ‘Stories for Inclusion’, has been held at the Sowa Din Cluster of Schools at Ashaley Botwe in Accra.
The ‘Stories for Inclusion’ project, which focuses on making children with disabilities visible, is a partnership between the Niketan Foundation, Biblionef Nederland and Biblionef Ghana, three complementary Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), who are registered charities in the Netherlands and in Ghana.
The key project objectives are to provide access to inclusive storybooks to children and teachers to ensure disability awareness and understanding, and to advocate for disability inclusive classroom practices.
It also seeks to promote inclusive behaviour and understanding around disability through children’s books and storytelling, and to encourage children and teachers to talk openly about disability.
Els Heijnen-Maathuis, a Niketan team member with experience working with inclusivity, trained the educators on how to deliver inclusive instruction and encouraged writers, illustrators, and publishers to embrace diversity in their storybooks.
Mrs Patricia Arthur, Executive Director, Biblionef Ghana, spoke to educators on techniques of storytelling while Mr. Isaac Atta-Baah, Principal Programme officer, Early Childhood Division, at the Ministry of Education, Accra, outlined the Ministries policies regarding Inclusivity.
Participants were honoured to have Honourable Daniel Alexander Nii-Noi Adumuah, Municipal Chief Executive, Adentan Municipality, pay a visit to the workshop where he interacted with Educators.
According to Els Heijnen-Maathuis, since 2015,
Ghana has a rights-based comprehensive inclusive education policy. To make classrooms truly inclusive, teachers could start using storybooks as a tool to initiate meaningful conversation about human diversity and treating each other with respect.
“Let us promote and celebrate human diversity. All children are unique with their own talents as well as learning support needs. Acknowledging this and acting upon it, will make our education system and society at large, more just, and inclusive,” she noted.
In a speech read on his behalf by Chris Courtyard Fiawornu, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Adentan Constituency, Mohammed Adamu Ramadan, reiterated his commitment to supporting the reading development of learners with disabilities and special education needs in his community.
“I encourage the people with disabilities in Ghana, along with government officials, partners, all people of Ghana, to keep organising and advocating until each individual is supported to realise their full potential,” he added.
Mrs. Dinah Osam-Tewiah, the Deputy Director, Administration and Finance, who represented the Adentan Municipal Director of Education, thanked the three NGOs for donating books to the children, saying, they would make good use of them.
Niketan provides education and support to children and young people with disabilities at a school for children with special needs in Bangladesh, and was awarded the 2021 Impact Challenge Award, in recognition of its innovative and holistic approach to supporting vulnerable children.
Biblionef helps children worldwide to discover the joy of reading by providing access to inspiring and motivational books.
In the first phase of the project, copies of the children’s book, “My Name is Runa”, which is based on the true story of the challenges and triumphs of a young girl in Bangladesh with Cerebral Palsy (CP), will be made available to five schools along with four other titles depicting children with special needs as main characters.
According to the Fund, a total of GHC 3.4 billion has been raised by the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) through its loans and bonds programme as of June this year.
This was revealed by the Financial Controller at GETFund, Alexis K. Asuinura, during a conference on education financing organised by Africa Education Watch in Accra.
Giving a breakdown of the figure, Mr Asuinura indicated that GH¢1.567 billion was raised from syndicated loans; GH¢ 2.622 billion from bond proceeds; syndicated loans refinanced was GH¢ 1.214 billion; total net proceeds were GH¢ 2.975 billion while that of syndicated loans Debit Service Reserve Account (DSRA) was GH¢ 443 million.
Getting into how the fund was spent, GETFund indicated that it was used for the construction of classrooms and dormitories, the building of new model schools, the construction of a TVET centre of excellence, the purchase of buses, furniture, teaching and learning materials, and 2016 unpaid claims and certificates resulting from ongoing projects.
According to GETFund, it has initiated over 2259 projects across the country since 2017. Out of this, 1,131 fall under projects for basic school education, while secondary education, model schools, TVET Centres, and tertiary education had 1052, nine, five, and 54, respectively.
About the GETFund
The Ghana Education Trust (GET) Fund is a public trust set up by the Ghanaian Government to support the delivery of quality education to citizens from the basic to tertiary level through dynamic funding policies aimed at ensuring the equitable provision of essential resources for all levels of education to all segments of the Ghanaian population.
Created by Act 581 of 2000, the primary objective of the GETFund is to provide finance to supplement the provision of education still underground to leave the mine through the exit points where public security personnel are stationed.
The company also pleaded to work with authorities to ensure that activities at all levels.
The sources of funding of the GETFund is 2.5 per cent value added tax(VAT)or any other higher rate as Parliament may determine; investment income; Parliament allocations; grants, donations and gifts and vested property.
GETFund outstanding projects
Speaking on ongoing projects, Mr. Asuinura mentioned that the fund currently has about 3,609 active projects. Out of this, there are 1,805 continuing projects in basic education, there are 1,394 in senior high schools, nine in model schools, 65 in E-blocks, three in TVET Centres, and 333 in tertiary.
Also, between 2019 and 2021, vehicles distributed to the various agencies and institutions under the Ministry of Education summed up to 2,718. Regarding furniture, 677,470 items had been distributed to basic and secondary schools within the same period.
He disclosed that this year, the GH¢ 1.1 billion they had targeted to raise wouldn’t be possible to do so because investors were asking for more, and they wouldn’t be able to give that due to the current high inflation rate.
He said that the action was taken as part of the “Let’s Make Accra Work Agenda” to remove tricycle drivers from the highways.
“Tricycles cannot and will not be permitted to go on the freeway as of November 1.
They will therefore be confined to their respective assemblies over the 90 days rather than the main streets.
starting of November 1, they are unable to use the Tema Motorway, however they may still conduct business there, “added he.
The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Henry Quartey, has indicated that the ban on tricycles, widely known as ‘aboboyaa’ on Accra’s Highways, is expected to take effect from November 1, 2021.
The Minister was sparking at the official launch of ‘Operation Clean Your Frontage’ in Accra today, Friday, October 22, 2021.
He said the major place of concern for the exercise to begin is the Tema Motorway.
“So, effective November 1, tricycles cannot and will not be allowed to ride on the motorway. So, the 90 days, they will be restricted to their respective assemblies rather than on the principal streets… effective November 1 as for the Tema Motorway they cannot ride on it, they can continue their business in other areas,” he said.
The Minister further noted that a one-week grace period would be given after the creation of public awareness by the assemblies.
“But within the 90 days period there will be a lot of engagements, I have already engaged the leadership of the tricycle users and they have understood what we are saying that it is rather to their benefit.”
He said the ban of “aboboyaa” on the principal streets is to benefit the tricycle operators in the country.
He also stated that the ban of tricycle users from the highway is to ensure the compliance and enforcement of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (LI 2180).
The bye-law, according to the Regional Minister, will ensure road regulations for motorbike riders are enforced to address the issue of abandoned vehicles on the streets.
President Akufo-Addo has assured of government’s resolve to retrieve all public lands that have been encroached upon across the country.
He said government was prepared to take the necessary steps to reclaim the lands to be used for the intended developmentpurposes for which they were legally acquired.
The President issued the caution while responding to an appeal by the Management of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) when he addressed the 60th Anniversary grand durbaron Thursday.
In the case of the UCC, President Akufo-Addo observed that almost one third of the University’s lands had been lost to encroachers, describing it as unfortunate and unacceptable.
“I am saddened by this state of affairs, especially because it is happening in Cape Coast of all places, the cradle of Ghana’s education,” he said.
He, therefore, called on the chiefs and all stakeholders to immediately cease further sales of the university’s land to ensure its advancement through a raft of planned development projects.
“We must begin to see the university not only as a national asset and an asset for the Central Region but, most importantly, as an asset for the people of Cape Coast in particular.”
Established in October 1962, UCC launched its 60th Anniversary on Thursday, April 21, this year, on the theme: “60 Years of Quality Higher Education, Expanding the Frontiers.”
The university started with an initial intake of 165 with two programmes in Arts and Sciences in 1962.
It currently has more than 74,000 students pursuing 425 programmes of study including Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing and Midwifery, and Optometry.
The anniversary is to celebrate its achievements and impact on Ghana and the globe in its 60 years of existence and reflect on its setbacks to re-strategise for higher feat.
The six-month-long celebration was marked by a number of activities including professorial and memorial lectures, health walks, college days.
The rest were media engagements, Chancellor’s Day, games and sporting activities, alumni homecoming, and awards and dinner night.
The colourful durbar, which crowned the celebration, was attended by hundreds of stakeholders including, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament and delegations from partner universities.
Minutes before the durbar, the President commissioned selected projects in the university including the School of Graduate Studies building, a six-storey guesthouse, and the School of Medical Sciences Laboratory and its Administration Block.
President Akufo-Addo commended UCC for its impact oneducation, business, agriculture and medicine and for blessing Ghana with a good number of competent personalities across all fields.
He commended Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, the Vice-Chancellor, for providing leadership to produce entrepreneurs in the face of complaints that universities were not producing enough practical-oriented graduates fit for the world of work.
“I assure you that government will do everything possible to ensure that this vision is realised not only at the UCC but also within the broader spectrum of our tertiary educational landscape,” he said.
“Indeed, this is the way to go if our university education is to remain relevant and continue to contribute to our national development.”
He charged the institution to remain “pure and unadulterated” in the provision of quality academic and intellectual discourseto find solutions to the complex problems across borders and disciplines.
Touching on the hardships bedevilling the Ghanaian economy, the President urged citizens to be patriotic and determined in unison to enable the country to surmount the difficulties hindering its journey towards prosperity.
Dr Sir Sam Jonah, the Chancellor of the UCC, urged alluniversities in Ghana to take active steps to wean themselves off government subvention if they were to remain relevant.
He observed that with the proliferation of tertiary educational institutions in Ghana, it was unsustainable for universities to rely on government’s scarce resources.
To maintain academic excellence and remain relevant, universities must find creative and innovative strategies for accessing funding.
“We should think out of the box in designing our fundraising initiatives. In this regard, we should tap into the alumni we have across the world,” he said.
“We must actively pursue public private partnership not onlyto expand infrastructure but also to increase the numbers of faculty staff. This calls for us to be even more entrepreneurial.”
Touting the achievements of the UCC, Prof Boampongexpressed pride in the university being adjudged the ‘Best University in Ghana and West Africa and Fourth in the world in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings’ for the second consecutive time.
He described the feat as unprecedented in the history of any university in Ghana, which demonstrated its contribution to education and impact on research in Ghana.
He said the authorities had undertaken a raft of initiatives including the construction of edifices to improve teaching and learning and enhance the quality of graduates produced.
Prof Boampong appealed to the President to give the school clearance to recruit new academic staff to improve academic work.
He observed that government’s Free Senior High School policy had resulted in a significant increase in class sizes for which reason new lecturers were needed to lessen the burdened on the overstretched academic staff.
He commended successive governments for their contribution to the growth of the University and pledged its resolve to continue to contribute to national development.
Felix Afena-Gyan of Ghana has expressed his joy after scoring his first goal for U.S. Cremonese in their 4-2 Coppa Italia victory over Modena on Thursday.
To make his entrance in the match, the 19-year-old, who transferred to the team from AS Roma during the summer transfer window, climbed off the bench.
Afena-Gyan was introduced in the 68th-minute mark replacing Tommaso Milanese when his outfit defeated Modena 4-2 on home turf after extra time in the Coppa Italia Round 32 to progress.
Cremonese opened the scoring through David Okereke in the 77th minute before the Ghanaian attacker added the side second goal in the 84th minute mark.
But Davide Diaw hit a brace in the 89th and 90th minute to level pegging, forcing the game to extra-time.
Cremonese proved to be tough for Modena as Leonardo Sernicola scored brace in extra-time to make it 4-2 at the end of the game.
Afena-Gyan has scored one goal in four appearances for Cremonese this season.
Afena-Gyan is expected to be included in coach Otto Addo’s provisional squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Friday.
Afena-Gyan was introduced in the 68th minute mark replacing Tommaso Milanese when his outfit defeated Modena 4-2 on home turf after extra time in the Coppa Italia Round 32 to progress.
Cremonese opened the scoring through David Okereke in the 77th minute before the Ghanaian attacker added the side second goal in the 84th minute mark.
But Davide Diaw hit a brace in the 89th and 90th minute to level pegging, forcing the game to extra-time.
Cremonese proved to be tough for Modena as Leonardo Sernicola scored brace in extra-time to make it 4-2 at the end of the game.
Afena-Gyan has scored one goal in four appearances for Cremonese this season.
Afena-Gyan is expected to be included in coach Otto Addo‘s provisional squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar on Friday.
Agrihouse Foundation, a non-governmental agricultural capacity building, innovation and project management organisation, is set to hold the 12th edition of its annual Pre-harvest Agribusiness Conference and Exhibitions in the Northern Region.
The annual event, which brought together over 3,000 farmers of maize, rice, soyabean, sorghum, cowpea, groundnut, cashew, vegetables, livestock and value chain actors within the agricultural sector last year, is on the theme, “Connecting the Unconnected: the Farmer-the- Buyer and the Market.”
A statement issued by the Foundation said the three-day “Farmer to Buyer and Agribusiness” market linkage event would take place from Tuesday, October 25 to Thursday, October 27, at the Aliu Mamaha Sports Stadium, in Tamale.
It said the practical training and demonstration sessions, would also take place at the Agrihouse Agri-Village Training, Apprenticeship and Demonstration Centre, in Bamvim.
The statement said the event was an opportunity for them to discuss the production demands, pricing, innovative approaches to boosting farm yields and introduce new agricultural technologies for development.
The Pre-harvest platform, it said, also directly allowed over 70 per cent of participants to take decisive and influential roles in purchasing of products, inputs and equipment, through the exhibitions that run alongside the three day event.
Ms Alberta Nana Akyaa Akosa, Executive Director of the Foundation, said the platform generated an estimated five billion US dollars of businesses for agribusinesses and value chain actors in the last eleven years.
She said over 3000 participants were recorded last year, resulting in a 15 per cent increase in productivity among various farmer groups, and value chain actors, who patronised the event.
The Executive Director said between 2017 and 2021, the four key areas of the event; Exhibitions, Farmer-to-Buyer Matchmaking, Training and Capacity Building and Field Demonstrations, had seen about 25 to 75 per cent increase in growth and sales among equipment and machinery dealers.
The rest are financial institutions, Information Communication Technology and telecommunication companies.
Ms Akosa noted that farmer based organisations had established relationships with aggregators, while agro-processors purchased over 14,000 and 31,000 metric tonnes of soybean and maize respectively from farmers.
“In 2019, we recorded 70 business deals during the Exhibitions, which resulted in about GHS32, 420, 745, worth of sales, among input dealers, machinery and equipment dealers,” she said.
The Executive Director said amidst the current global challenges, the exhibitions were expected to record a marginable increase.
“Last year recorded 118 exhibitors consisting of farmer groups, inputs, seed dealers, agriculture marketing experts, and financial Institutions. Others included Aggregators, Brand Specialists, transporters, equipment and machinery companies, Processing and packaging companies, Development and Donor Partners, corporate institutions, Civil Society and Government Agencies, ’’ she said.
The Pre-harvest activity line-up include Farmer to Farmer Apprenticeship Session, specifically designed as a technical and practical further learning opportunity; where experienced field representatives run demonstrative training sessions for farmers, farmer groups, including Persons with Disabilities, and other women-led groups.
“Through this new module, we are anticipating that both local and commercial farmers will develop and strengthen their capacities to practically embrace and manage machines, equipment and agri-farm inputs that will enhance their productivity and market growth,” Ms. Akosa said.
Mr. Danquah Addo-Yobo, West Africa Regional Director of Yara International Solutions, said Yara had rolled out a number of digital tools and innovative systems to be shared with participants as part of the training and capacity building sessions.
Yara Ghana, lead sponsor for the event, called on more value chain actors and agribusiness in the country to support the upcoming event, while reiterating the need for more digitisation in the agricultural sector as the paramount way to achieve the theme for the event.
Mr Rueben Binpori, Inclusive Business Models Expert, GIZ-MOAP, reiterated their technical and financial support towards the event and outlined a number of agric-related projects through the funding of the European Union in Ghana, which they were implementing across the country to support value chain actors.
Other sponsors of the 12th Pre-harvest Agribusiness Exhibitions and Conference event include Demeter, Ecobank and ADB, with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and the Northern Regional Coordinating Council, as organising Partners.
One of Ghana’s leading mining companies, AngloGold Ashanti, has debunked claims that several individuals have fallen into one of its Obuasi gold mine pits, over a period of time.
On October 18, 2022, information about some illegal miners trappedin a mining pit owned by AngloGold Ashanti surfaced on social media.
According to reports, these people were trapped in the pit after trespassing on AngloGold concessions to prospect for gold.
Dismissing the reportage, AngloGold Ashanti, in a statement dated October 19, 2022, stated that no individual has been trapped in the said mining pit.
It disclosed that “authorities and mine security personnel have conducted a patrol of underground workings in the northern area of the mine and are not aware of anyone remaining underground.”
The mining company, however, admitted that some 11 illegal miners trespassed its concession and have so far been arrested.
It, thus, cautioned intruders to desist from such practises.
AngloGold Ashanti further urged unauthorized persons who may still be underground to leave the mine through the exit points where public security personnel are stationed.
The company also pleaded to work with authorities to ensure that only authorized mine personnel and contractors can access underground work areas.
Ms Ama Pomaa Boateng, the Deputy Minister for Communication and Digitalisation, says Ghana had come a long way in its efforts to digitalise the economy in line with the digital revolution of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
She said digitalisation efforts could not be sustained without the development of a strong cybersecurity infrastructure in the country.
Ms Boateng was speaking at the Civil Society Forum on Regulating Cybersecurity through Strategic partnership as part of the National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM) 2022.
The month-long celebration is on the theme: “Regulating Cybersecurity: A Public-Private Sector Collaborative Approach.”
The month is to enhance the public-private sector’s understanding of cybersecurity regulations and receive inputs from industry players and stakeholders on the implementation of the various regulatory activities currently being implemented by the Cyber Security Authority (CSA).
It is to build synergies among all relevant stakeholders to ensure compliance with cybersecurity regulations and create awareness of the Cybersecurity Act 2020 and promote the relevance of cybersecurity regulations among children, the Public, Businesses and the Government, whilst highlighting the need for public-private cooperation
She said digital technologies had increasingly become integral to the effective functioning of societies worldwide and these technologies provided the critical infrastructure necessary for work, play, education, health, business, and shopping as evidenced during the COVID-19 pandemic and the post-pandemic era.
She said the focus of this year’s NCSAM was essential in bringing all stakeholders together and ensuring alignment to issues that affect everyone in cyberspace.
She said the engagement with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) was thus an indication of the government’s appreciation of the role of CSOs in the socio-economic development of the country.
She said it was also because of the commitment to continue working with CSOs concerning cybersecurity development in the country.
Ms Boateng said CSOs were not left out of the digital experiences as they increasingly rely on digital technology and the internet for their operations and service delivery, however, they are increasingly at risk of cybersecurity incidents.
“Cybersecurity attacks on the civil society sector were on the rise,” she added.
The Deputy Minister said civil society groups were faced with sophisticated attacks such as ransomware and phishing, financially motivated cyberattacks which were hitherto mainly targeted at public and private sector organizations.
She said maintaining cyber resilience was, therefore, necessary for ensuring organizational resilience, the ability to prepare for, defend against and recover from cyber incidents when they occur.
She said the Government was committed to ensuring that the rights of citizens offline were equally protected online, and this could best be achieved if we work together.
Mr Benjamin Ofori, a Representative of CSA, said the Authority as part of activities marking Awareness Month sought to collaborate with organisations in the public and private sectors as well as civil society groups in ensuring the safety of Ghanaians in the digital space.
He said internet penetration in Ghana had increased exponentially from 2.31 million in 2012 to 17 million users in 2022, which was 53 per cent of the population; the average time spent per internet user on mobile phones alone was not less than five hours daily.
He said in recent years, several major cyber incidents had significantly impacted businesses, including financial institutions and other critical information infrastructure worldwide.
“As dependency on digital technologies surges, so does cybercrime. Cybercriminals are seizing every opportunity to exploit vulnerabilities against people, businesses and organisations, having a grave impact on the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems and networks, including critical information infrastructures,” he said.
He said the proliferation of cyber-attacks targeting individuals, businesses and critical infrastructure had led to the establishment of several mandatory cybersecurity regulations.
Mr Ofori said the implementation of cybersecurity regulations was imperative to deal with both existing and emerging cyber threats, which have the potential to undermine the digital dividends expected from our digital economy.
The Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038) provides the regulatory framework to promote cybersecurity development in the country.
The Authority has commenced some regulatory activities, including the protection of Critical Information Infrastructures, according to Sections 35 to 40 of Act 1038; licensing of Cybersecurity Service Providers under Sections 49 to 56 and regulations on cybersecurity incident reporting and response, under Sections 41 to 48 of the Cybersecurity Act, 2022.
He said there was also the National Child Online Protection Framework, which was aimed at tackling the incidents of Child Online Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, including child sexual abuse material, online harassment, and cyberbullying against children.
The Civil Society Organisations called on the Authority to intensify education on the issue of cybersecurity by using existing channels for education.
They said a lot of the populace was vulnerable on matters of cybersecurity.
Ibrahim Tanko, the coach of the Black Meteors, has selected 22 players for their match against Mozambique in a CAF U-23 Championship qualifying match on Sunday.
The addition of former U-20 AFCON champion and Rio Ave player in the Portuguese division Philemon Baffour has strengthened the team
The team departed Accra for Maputo on Thursday, October 20,2022 for the crucial qualifier.
A delegation made up of 22 players, technical staff and officials left Accra on Thursday evening for the game which is scheduled for Sunday, October 23 at the Estadio Nacional do Zimpeto.
The winner will move on to play the winner of the tie between Algeria and DR Congo.
The fourth edition of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations will take place in Morocco in June 2023.
Coach Tanko was in charge of the team which finished fourth at the 2019 tournament won by hosts Egypt, which ensured Ghana missed out on the 2020 Olympic Games.
Captain Smart, host of the morning show on Onua FM/TV, has commented on the devaluation of the cedi and demanded information regarding Mahamudu Bawumia, the vice president.
The journalist, who takes pride in belonging to the ruling New Patriotic Party, stated that although Bawumia’s silence was concerning, so was the rate at which the cedi was losing value.
“The dollar is almost hitting 14 cedis, where is our Bawumia? I am an NPP person and I won’t stop saying it. Where is our Bawumia?
“Very respectfully, even Amissah-Arthur who is dead is of more importance than him. What is his real importance to the extent that the dollar has hit 14 cedis?” he quizzed.
The Cedi has recently been classified by Bloomberg as the worst-performing currency against the US Dollar.
Currently, the Cedi is trading at around GH₵13 – 14 cedis to a dollar at some forex bureaus. The depreciation rate is a contributory factor for the ongoing shop closures ordered by the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA).
According to the group, the fast depreciation of the Cedi is eroding their profits and also increasing the cost of doing business.
Chief of Klagon, Nii Bortey Klan I, has expressed outrage over the demolition of structures at the Sakumono Ramsar site in Accra.
The exercise took place in the early hours of Wednesday, October 20, 2022.
“I’m not aware of the exercise, because we’ve been here a long time. If there’s anything, we’ll talk to the authorities. ” He adds that he “thinks some people are planning to go and share the land,” Nii Bortey Klan I told the media.
Klagon residents, he claims, are not encroaching on any of the biosphere reserve’s three zones, nor are they building on any waterways.
The disgruntled chief revealed that there was no form of engagement prior to the razing down of walls.
The regional minister and his officials never met with the traditional council as earlier purported by Henry Kortey,but the news of the demolition came to them two days before the said day.
“Nobody has met with anybody, no notice. Now, look at how Ghana has become and how people use their money to build houses. I mean, come and identify with what the people may know. Then you wake up…”We heard the news yesterday and then dawn you are here,” he noted.
However, the chief has therefore vowed to get to the bottom of the matter to ensure that “all affected persons would be maintained” as he was worried about the investment people had made in the purchase of the lands and the razed down fence walls.
Meanwhile, the Accra regional minister said that traditional authorities endorsed the move ahead of the exercise, adding that occupants of the land had been given enough notice to leave.
A few weeks ago, flooding occurred in Weija and nearby areas, so the team believes this will help avert a recurrence of a similar situation.
The 1,200 acres of the Sakumono Ramsar site hold thousands of gallons of water each year to prevent flooding in the surrounding communities.
A 2019 report by the Centre for Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Services (CERGIS), cautioned that if care is not taken, the Ramsar site may be lost.
A Kumasi high court on Thursday adjourned the alleged bribery case, involving Mr Alexander Sarfo Kantanka, former President’s nominee for the position of Chief Executive for the Juaben Municipal Assembly in the Ashanti region.
Mr Kantanka was alleged to have paid monies to some assembly members to influence them to confirm his nomination by the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
However, after the assembly members voted against his nomination, he was alleged to have openly called the assembly members to demand the refund of the monies.
Some of the affected assembly members reported his conduct to the Office of the Special Prosecutor and after investigations he was charged and brought before the court.
The court presided by Justice Priscilla Odikro Ofori adjourned the case to October 27, this year for the trial to continue.
Mr Amadu Emmanuel Basintale, who represented the Office of the Special Prosecutor, told journalists after the proceedings at the court that the prosecution intended to call five witnesses for the trial.
They would include three assembly members, a police officer and an officer from the Office of the Special Prosecutor.
He said the first prosecution witness, Mr Simon Akwasi Agyei, assembly member for Esaase electoral area, mounted the box and was cross-examined by the counsel for the accused person, Mr Denis Osei Antwi.
Mr. Basintale said the prosecution also pleaded with the court to fix the trial for a week to help reduce the risk and cost of traveling from Accra to Kumasi for the trials.
The Professor, who resides in the US, has been following and analyzing the Ghanaian economy for some time, making observations about how the local currency is losing value in relation to the US dollar.
On October 20, he tweeted that the cedi had dropped to position 4 on his weekly Hanke’s currency monitor after losing 43.98% of its value against the US dollar since January 2022.
“The Ghanaian cedi has depreciated against the USD by 43.98% since Jan 2022, which is why #Ghana takes the 4th place in this week Hanke’s #CurrencyWatchlist. To save the cedi, GHA must install a #CurrencyBoard, NOW,” Prof. Steve Hanke’s tweeted.
The Cedi has recently been classified by Bloomberg as the worst-performing currency against the US Dollar.
The Asante Bekwai Circuit Court has sentenced a 24-year-old mason to 120 penalty units for stealing 21 bags of cement.
Cephas Apoyagra, who admitted entering Mr Peter Osei, the complainant’s premise to steal the 21 bags of cement, was convicted on his own plea and sentenced accordingly.
Apoyagra’s failure to pay the GHS1,440.00 would result in his imprisonment for 24 months in hard labour.
Giving the account, Police Chief Inspector Christian Amartey told the Court presided over by Mr Mark Tair-ima Diboro that Mr Osei was constructing his building at Akwaduo New Site, where Apoyagra resided.
He said on October 02, 2022, after the complainant and his co-workers had closed from work, they packed the rest of the 21 bags of cement for safekeeping in one of the rooms of the uncompleted building in which they were working.
Chief Inspector Amartey said after the complainant and his co-workers left the place, the convict, Apoyagra hired a tricycle to the place, where he loaded the 21 bags of cement into the tricycle and sent them to his uncle’s residence.
The next day, at about 7 am hours the complainant and his co-workers reported for work and detected that the bags of cement had been stolen.
The prosecution said the Complainant made enquiries and was told by a witness in the case that he saw Apoyagra conveying the bags of cement from the uncompleted building.
The Complainant then lodged a formal complaint with the Police, the Courtheard.
Chief Inspector Amartey said on October 4, 2022, the Complainant arrested the suspect from his hideout and handed him over to the Police, where the convict admitted the crime in his cautioned statement.
He said Apoyagra then led the Police to retrieve the stolen items and after an investigation, he was arraigned.
A Supreme Court candidate, Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu, has urged Ghana’s leaders to invest in legal education to increase its availability.
He explained that significant investments in legal education would pave the way for the creation of competent, professional lawyers.
“If it is decentralisation, then it is already in place. We have Makola School of Law, and one in Kumasi and Madina as well,” Justice Asiedu mentioned.
Justice Adibu Asiedu said this on Wednesday when he appeared before Parliament’s Appointment Committee as part of the ongoing vetting of Supreme Court nominees.
“The Kumasi Makola that I referred to, doesn’t have a campus of its own, so we need investment in infrastructure if we want to make headway,” He also advised prospective law students not to give up on their first attempt at the Ghana Law School entrance exams, he added.
He also advised aspiring law students not to give up if they fail the Ghana Law School entrance exam on their first attempt, but to keep trying until they get in.
He used his brother as an example of a prospective law student who took the entrance exam three times before getting his chance.
“Mr Chairman, I will not ask any young man to change the profession he aspires to attain. My brother wrote the law school entrance exams, the first time he failed, he wanted to stop and I told him that he should write it as many times as will get him to pass.”
“He passed on the third count…So the advice I will give to the young ones is that they should learn and learn, write and continue to write till they pass the exams so that they can enter the Law School,” he said.
President Akufo-Addonominated four people in July to fill expected vacancies on the Supreme Court: three justices of the Court of Appeal and one justice of the High Court.
Justice Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu, Justice George Kingsley Koomson, and Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu are the nominees from the Court of Appeal.
The only nominee from the High Court is Justice Ernest Yao Gaewu.
The Appointments Committee of Parliament began vetting four Supreme Court justice nominees on Tuesday.
Justices Barbara Frances Ackah-Yensu, George Kingsley Koomson, and Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu are judges that have been vetted so far.
Their nominations are now subject to approval or rejection by Parliament.
Former Ghana Education Service (GES) Director-General, Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwah has responded to his removal from office in a statement.
Prof Opoku-Amankwa was relieved of his duties in a letter from the Presidency signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, on Monday, October 17.
According to the letter, the circumstances that required his skills at the GES no longer exist.
In a Facebook post addressing his dismissal, Prof Opoku-Amankwa expressed profound gratitude to the directors and staff of GES and all who supported him during his tenure.
He noted that: “I believe most of you have sighted/read the letter from HE the President terminating my Secondment from KNUST to GES and asking me to go back to KNUST. Some of you may also be waking up to the news this morning.
“I have and continue to receive your calls and numerous messages. I have not been able to pick your calls or reply to your messages due largely to the sheer volumes. What gladdens my heart is that the messages are not dirges but goodwills and prayers and very soothing and reassuring messages.
From the statement, it wasn’t clear whether he had accepted the decision in good faith or not, however, he was particularly grateful to his staff who supported him through thick and thin.
“I wish to take this opportunity to thank everyone of you for your dedication and the extremely good work relationship that existed between us. I highly appreciate your unfathomable love for me. We worked as a team and together we’ve changed the face of not only pre tertiary education but also GES.
“You supported me in many ways to enhance my resumé to bring it to a distinguished first class, world class CV. And I am highly grateful to you all. I leave you with a verse from my favourite and guiding hymn: MBH 602 by Anna Laetitia Waring: Father, I know that all my life is portioned out for me, And the changes that are sure to come I do not fear to see; But I ask Thee for a present mind intent on pleasing Thee. MAY YOU ALL STAY BLESSED,” he said.
Prof Amankwah’s appointment and termination of contract
Prof. Opoku-Amankwa was appointed in January 2021 on a secondment from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.
His contract was extended again in June 2021. However, on Monday, October 17, his appointment was terminated.
The Presidency, in a letter issued on Monday, explained that the extension was in “contravention of the Human Resource Policy Framework and manual of the Public Services Commission as it purports to extend your secondment beyond the 3-year maximum limit,” hence his dismissal.
Additionally, the letter from the Presidency announcing his dismissal said Mr Nkansah’s “skills are no longer required at the GES.”
That notwithstanding, the President wished him well in his future endeavours.
“The President thanks you for your service to the nation and wishes you the very best in your future endeavours”, the letter added.
He asserted that despite discussions with the organization to resolve differences amicably, the goal of the current strike is to isolate the Nana Addo-led government.
He continued, “Government has had a number of talks with them to address their issues. This is not the answer government is seeking to obtain, government is very disappointed with their behavior.”
“… at least even if you won’t applaud the government, you won’t do something like this to make the government look very unpopular, that to us is not fair,” he told host Kwesi Aboagye on NEAT FM’s morning show, ‘Ghana Montie’.
The group described the industrial action, which will end on Monday, October 24, as a “pinch” on the government to urgently address the depreciating cedi, high-interest rate and inflation.
GUTA announced its decision after engaging in a three-hour meeting with some members of the Council of State.
In a statement issued by Alpha A. Shaban, the general secretary of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), the organization announced that its strike action had been put on hold.
The King of the Ga State, Mantse Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, met with the press after which the decision was made. He promised to bring the issue before the proper authorities for an urgent resolution.
“He [the President] then called for setting up of a working committee made up of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, National Security and GUTA, to swiftly come out with pragmatic measures to solve the challenges,” parts of the statement read.
The statement added that shops are expected to open today, Friday, October 21, 2022.
“In view of all this goodwill from these great personalities, we wish to appeal to our teaming members and the entire trading community who participated in this strike action to reopen their shops from October 21, 2022, as we continue to pursue the process for immediate solution,” the statement concluded.
A Gender Based Court has rescinded a bench warrant issued for the arrest of Kofi Owusu Hene, aka Kofi Kapito, Chief Executive Officer of the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA).
“Sir, I have rescinded the bench warrant. Next time, you will not be lucky, ” the trial Judge, Mrs Christina Cann said when court sitting resumed today, Thursday, October 20, 2022.
The accused is said to have reported early to court Wednesday because of the pending bench warrant.
The Court last Tuesday, issued a warrant for the arrest of Kofi Kapito after he had failed to appear before it.
When the Court started hearing the matter, Madam Nana Yaa Ayewa Dwumfour, the first prosecution witness and the complainant, mounted the witness box.
She tendered her witness statement and was cross-examined by Kofi Kapito’s lawyers.
The CEO of CPA is being held on the charges of deprivation of the use property of deceased persons, engaging in domestic violence to wit Economic Abuse and causing unlawful damage.
The accused is alleged to have deprived his late brother’s wife a house the couple had jointly acquired allegedly at Ogbojo, near East Legon and said to have threatened to dispose off the property, which the deceased’s wife has interest in.
The man of God thinks Ken Ofori-Atta has failed horribly in carrying out his responsibilities as the finance minister but is still kept in his position.
In a popular video spotted by GhanaWeb, Prof. Oduro told his audience that he would have fired the under-fire minister and hired a different person who will produce results if Ghana were his own private company.
“Wrong is wrong. When you are wrong, I need to look into your eyes and tell you that you are wrong. It doesn’t matter [who you are]; that is what is killing this nation and it is killing churches…”
“This is the time, Your Excellency to make changes and that changes must be to the honour and glory of God…our finance minister, even though he is a Christian, has failed miserably and I am telling Your Excellency with all due respect, this is the time to make drastic changes. We cannot sit here when $1.00 is equal to GH¢12.00,” Prophet Kofi Oduro said.
“You can do whatever you like; I came with a fresh grace to tell you something. Look! What I have observed is that the current government hates being told the truth but I am telling you, you will take it. If Ghana is my private company and somebody is not delivering; I fire them; I replace them; I hire somebody else and then we are working…why can’t a nation do that?” he quizzed.
Ghana’s request for a financial bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team, led by Stéphane Roudet, has indicated that there has been considerable progress.
The IMF team leader said both teams had a constructive conversation in identifying concrete policies that will restore macroeconomic stability after meeting with Ghana’s Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, and Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr. Ernest Addison, in Washington, DC.
“The Ghanaian team and IMF officials had very fruitful discussions on the authorities’ post-COVID economic growth agenda and related laws and reforms that may be supported by a new IMF agreement.
“We made good progress in identifying specific policies that would restore macroeconomic stability and lay the foundation for stronger and more inclusive growth. The IMF team and the Ghanaian authorities remain fully committed to reaching an agreement on a framework and policies for an IMF-supported program as soon as feasible. Discussions will continue in the weeks ahead, with a follow-up mission to take place expeditiously,” Stéphane Roudet said in a statement after the meeting.
The Finance Minister had earlier assured Ghanaians that the economy is in good shape despite the continuous depreciation of the Cedi.
Speaking to a journalist of Accra-based Asaase Radio from Washington DC, Ken Ofori-Atta said, “It is a bit perplexing because as you know, typically we go to markets at the beginning of the year and get our two billion.
“But that we were not able to do, we were able to then get US$750 from AfriExim in the summer, August or so, to stabilize it. Then we moved on traditionally as we do, the ASL, the annual syndicated loan of COCOBOD, and that came in very strongly. So, it is quite perplexing to see where it is going.”
“The support we are getting from countries like Germany, France etc. we are confident that we will get the resources needed. So, we really would want people to know not to panic or be rushing to put pressure on the currency. I think it is unnecessary and we are in good shape.
“Of course, typically in October, people are importing for Christmas and maybe there is a rush for that. But my expectation is that once we also conclude the fund, that would lead to the Fund’s disbursement early next year.”
The Cedi has recently been classified by Bloomberg as the worst-performing currency against the US Dollar.
Currently, the Cedi is trading at around GH₵13 – GH₵14 to a dollar at some forex bureaus.
Ghana and Congo on Thursday decided to develop and create opportunities for trade and commerce between the two countries under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
This was the outcome of bilateral talks between President Akufo-Addoand his Congolese counterpart, Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, when the latter called at the Jubilee House, Accra as part of his three-day visit to Ghana.
The meeting which underscored the need for the two countries to deepen their trade relations and bonds of friendship noted that AfCFTA, which aim was to increase the volume of trade among countries on the continent, was a good opportunity for trade between Ghana and Congo.
Both leaders also discussed the growing threat of terrorism and violent extremism in West Africa and Central Africa and dwelt on the need to work together to fight the nuisance.
President Akufo-Addo said it was time the two countries Congo strengthened ties that dated back to when Congo achieved independence from Belgium in 1960.
“We know that relations between us go way back to Congolese Independence. The first serious foreign policy initiatives in Ghana had to do with the dispatch of Ghanaian troops by President Nkrumah to assist the then prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba, under the UN peacekeeping mandate and ever since then, Ghana has become a strong peacekeeping country sending troops.
So, these are strong relations, and we think that the time has come to enhance and build those relations even stronger than they have been in the past. We are very happy to have you here,” he said.
Touching on the security situation on the African continent, President Akufo-Addo noted that those were matters of common concern in both countries.
“We have a lot of security issues in West Africa, which I am sure you are fully abreast of. The Jihadist menace which we have here come from the Sahel which is next door to us in Burkina Faso to the North of our country is a major concern for us.
“In the same vein, you have these same kinds of people in the central part of the Continent, which is also a problem for you. I think that that provides us with an opportunity to be able to have some clear ideas of how we can all work together to rid our continent of this menace,” he pointed out.
President Tshilombo also noted that the volatile security situation in his country was largely due to the support being given to rebels fighting his country by neighbouring Rwanda.
He appealed to President Akufo-Addo to help fight the resurgence of violent extremists in Congo, requesting that Ghana leverages its position on the United Nations Security Council Security Council (UNSC) to get Rwanda sanctioned for supporting non-state actors disturbing the peace in that country.
The Congolese leader also urged President Akufo-Addo to press the UNSC to lift the arms purchase embargo placed on the DRC to enable the country to purchase arms and ammunition to defend its sovereignty.
Gospel musician Celestine Donkor has listed a few female gospel singers who have over the years improved the fraternity’s reputation by dressing nicely.
The “Agbebolo” hitmaker claims that the gospel music scene can now more than ever take pride in having artists that dress attractively while still managing to keep their appearance modest by not endorsing nudity or flashing their bodies.
In a Facebook post that celebrated the likes of Diana Hamilton, Piesie Esther, Obaapa Christy, Cecy Twum, Ohemaa Mercy, Lady Prempheh, and Mavis Asante, she noted that these women and others have cleared the notion that gospel singers wear “boring’ clothing adding that they will be able to win more souls should they keep at it.
“I think most of Ghana’s female gospel artistes are dressing well, decently and have a great sense of fashion > just compare and contrast. I am just happy the days of indecent, inappropriate and boring dressing are over. If we keep this up, plus exemplary lifestyle and utterances, we will attract the youthful generation into loving “EVERYTHING GOSPEL” more and more,” part of the post read.
Celestine acknowledged that there were some other stylish gospel singers she couldn’t include in her list. She added that her decent colleagues belong to the “Jesus geng”.
“Kudos my people, I couldn’t add everyone coz of collage limit….But Jesus geng we know “awasefs” let’s keep lifting the gospel flag high. WE ARE THE FUTURE OF THE “MUSIC INDUSTRY” AMEN #SelfExistingGod #brandNewSingle is out on all platforms. KEEP BLASTING FIRE IN THE HOLY GHOST,” the singer charged.
A three-day training exercise dubbed “Exercise Flaming Spears” has been carried out at Ejura in the Ashanti Region.
The exercise, which began on Tuesday, October 18, 2022, is designed to provide security personnelwith the knowledge they need to combat extremist attacks.
Personnel from the Police, Immigration, Prisons, National Ambulance Service, Fire Service, Customs, and the Army participated in the training, which ended on Thursday, October 20, 2022.
Major Evans Adu Danso, the officer in charge of the training exercise, told the media that the initiative was necessary because Ghana is not immune to terrorist attacks and thus the need to adequately prepare for any unforeseen occurrences.
Mr Adu Danso said “the exercise is based on internal security and counter-insurgency operations to take care of violent extremist and terrorist groups which are trying to come in from the Sahel region. The terrorist coming from the Sahara region could be coming from the northern part of the country, and there can be infiltration in the central part too. “
“This exercise is supposed to coil all activities of the violent extremists and terrorist groups who are trying to use our sector into Accra and coastal areas to go into other activities at the shore,” he added.
During the simulation exercise, officers of the Police Service were made to encounter a protesting extremist Islamic group.
The protesting group pelted sachets of water at the team of police officers who tried to disperse the group.
After some minutes, the military was called in to help deal with the situation.
The recent spate of terrorist attacks in Africa is threatening the peace and stability enjoyed by the continent.
During the first quarter of 2022, 346 terrorist attacks were reported to have occurred in various parts of Africa, according to National Security Minister Kan-Dapaah. Of the 346 attacks, 156 took place in West Africa.
He added that in the month of August alone, 76 terrorist attacks occurred, leading to the deaths of close to 200 people and over 20 others sustaining injuries.
Countries most impacted by terrorist attacks are Nigeria, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Togo, Burkina Faso, and Mali.
However, he insists that the economy is doing well despite the challenges it is currently facing.
While leading a delegation interacting with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, he termed the depreciation rate as “perplexing” in an interview with a journalist from Accra-based Asaase Radio.
“It is quite perplexing to see where it is going,” he said about the continued depreciation of the cedi.
He ascribed the thirst for dollars to the October season when people will be looking for dollars in order to undertake imports for Christmas. “Of course, typically in October, people are importing for Christmas and maybe there is a rush for that.
“The support we are getting from countries like Germany, France etc. we are confident that we will get the resources needed. So, we really would want people to know, not to panic or be rushing to put pressure on the currency. I think it is unnecessary and we are in good shape,” he added.
He said the government was upbeat that a deal will be reached with the International Monetary Fund, IMF later this year to allow for the disbursement of funds in early 2023. “My expectation is that once we also conclude the fund, that would lead to the Fund’s disbursement early next year.”
The Cedi has recently been classified by Bloomberg as the worst-performing currency against the US Dollar.
Currently, the Cedi is trading at around GH¢13 – GH¢14 to a dollar at some forex bureaus. The depreciation rate is a contributory factor for the ongoing shop closures ordered by the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA).
According to the group, the fast depreciation of the Cedi is eroding their profits and also increasing the cost of doing business.
Ghanaian music executive and musician Ricky ‘Bullet’ Nana Agyemang has accused radio presenters of having no love or respect for their fellow industry players.
He holds this is why any allegation with or without evidence is broadcast and discussed without any sensitivity to the person involved.
He had been invited at the end of an interview at Class Media Group to offer advice to media persons.
At this, Bullet bemoaned: “It’s like there’s no love” before saying: “I’ll use you [Nana Romeo] as an example.”
“The reason you struggled to get me to come for this interview is not because I didn’t want to come, but I was contemplating about [what possibly could happen during the interview because] I saw the question you asked Wendy when she was here,” the Rufftown Records founder revealed.
He argued that he’s “an industry person. I’ve been here over two decades,” and so Nana Romeo, being a fellow in the industry, should have been charitable not to bring up the rumoured affair between him and his Afropop artiste Wendy Shay.
“Not even if you have evidence,” he stressed and flashed his phone to make his point.
Bullet decried the uncontrolled thirst for “content” in the pursuit of social media popularity and for attracting “numbers.”
“It’s like they [media people] don’t care,” he lamented.
In response, the Ayekoo Ayekoo host, Nana Romeo noted that: “For the first time, after what you’ve said, being wise, I’ve accepted I did the wrong thing. I won’t beat about the bush.”
Nana Romeo said sorry profusely but added: “I’ve come to understand, it should not have been on the radio but maybe in a private conversation” maybe with Wendy.
For his part, Bullet accepted the apology with: “That’s it. We move” but also insisted: “You [don’t] do that, especially when there’s no evidence to that effect. Don’t do it,” Bullet charged again.
Mr Ricky ‘Bullet’ Nana Agyemang also stressed the symbiosis between media persons and other creative industry players like musicians.
“It’s about the industry [and not me per se]. I need you, bro, you need me,” he stated.
On the Accra 100.5 FM mid-morning show Ayekoo Ayekoo in 2020, Nana Romeo had alleged Wendy Shay was having an affair with her record label boss Bullet. She walked out in protest.
Niche Cocoa Industry, Ghana’s top privately owned cocoa processing firm, has fed pupils of Aponoapono M/A basic school with cocoa beverages to encourage local consumption of cocoa products.
The school feeding initiative, unveiled on Tuesday in the Eastern region town of Aponoapono in conjunction with Zotter and supported by Agro Eco and ABOCFA, will see the school’s 160 pupil population fed with cocoa drinks at least twice a week.
Mrs. Gladys Amoah, Managing Director, Niche Confectionery Ghana Limited, said the initiative was launched to increase cocoa intake by providing children with products made of pure Ghana cocoa enriched with vitamins and minerals.
She said the collaboration agreement was the outcome of a Memorandum of Understanding signed on April 19th between Niche and Ghana Education Service on working closely with schools and teachers to ensure children in cocoa-growing communities benefited from their parents’ products.
“Our focus has been on basic school children because we know that if a child gets a decent meal at an early age, they can concentrate and focus on school and get things going,” she said.
She said the school children would be fed twice a week, adding, “You can’t teach a hungry child, but we can help support drive nourishment and nutrition in schools and also promote school enrolment through feeding of children.”
The long-term goal of the programme is to potentially establish a sustainable cocoa ecosystem that motivates continued cultivation of the cocoa crop and sustain Ghana’s economy, which has been heavily reliant on cocoa over the years.
Mrs Martha Agyeiwaa Addo, Headmistress of Aponoapono M/A Primary School, expressed optimism that the cooperation would have a substantial influence on the lives and performance of the pupils since the initiative was expected to boost school enrolment.
“As of now, we have 160 [children] and you know that children like places where food is shared,” she explained. “This [cocoa drink] is very nutritious, and it will improve their academic lives as well as their health.”
Mrs Addo said that many of the children lacked the standard three-square meal a day, so the initiative would have a significant impact on enrolment and retention, hence the need to expand the programme.
“As our enrolment grows, we will require more so that the children will come to school, stay in school, and successfully complete the basic school,” she added.
She said that the school nurse at Aponoapono CHPS Compound would take frequent records of the children’s weight and height to track their ageing as they consumed the cocoa drinks.
“We’ll record it halfway and then at the end of the year.”
Niche produces high-quality semi-finished cocoa products and confectionery for the local and global consumers, chocolate, ice cream and baking industries.
The shifting waves frequently sweep this tangled garments along the shoreline.
These clothing appear to be deeply buried in the sand, much like a fresh geological formation, upon closer inspection.
Local fishermen remarked, “They go as deep as six feet.”
With the “choked landfills” and “limited control” over unwanted clothing exports into Ghana, Mr. Noi argues that managing discarded used clothing in Accra has become a “huge burden” for the city authorities.
“This is an area nobody is talking about; this is a real crisis,” he said.
A four-month investigation by Gideon Sarpong has shown that the negative impact of discarded used clothing on Ghana’s environment is fuelled by unscrupulous merchants and charities, unsuspecting donors and the global fast-fashion business. Inaction on the part of government officials in Ghana and the UK has also contributed to this crisis.
Kantamanto – A morgue for UK’s used clothing
Kantamanto, the largest used clothing market in West Africa, is its own market – distinct from many other markets in Ghana. On a typical day you can expect to hear the sound of sellers hustling to lure consumers, with many yelling things like “five cedis, four cedis, pants and trousers”.
The market looks like a maze, with many rows of vendors selling their wares. There is a covered indoor market that extends onto surrounding sidewalks. Like a typical department store in the west, the market also has sections and a general sense of order.
Over the years, Kantamanto – located in Accra’s business district – has been transformed into a morgue for the UK’s used clothing. It now performs the final retail rites before 40 percent of the 15 million pieces of used clothes it receives each week are sent to the graveyard — at choked landfills at Old Fadama and its surrounding areas in Accra
Landfill at Old Fadama. Old Fadama is a large slum on the outskirts of Accra, Ghana, with over 80,000 residents
Samuel Antwi Oteng is a researcher with The OR Foundation – an NGO that focuses on the intersection of environmental justice and fashion development. He explained how the overwhelming quantity of used clothing imported into Ghana every week is unsustainable for the population.
“Ghana has a population of about 31 million people, so thinking about the ratio between people living in the country and quantity (15 million pieces) of clothing that is coming in every week, it shows there is a great disconnect.”
The textile trash collected from Kantamanto is the “single-largest consolidated waste stream in the entire city of Accra”, according to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).
Nana Amo, a used clothing importer and trader at the Kantamanto market, admitted the negative impact of used clothing on the environment – describing clothing importation as a “risk-taking” business.
“The bale I import is sealed and I do not know what is inside. So if you are a buyer and you detect that there are unusable clothes in there, there is little you can do but discard them and make a loss,” he said. “Unfortunately, improper disposal of these clothes means all our gutters are choked… with very negative consequences for us all.”
Trade data as of 2020 have shown that Ghana has become the biggest dumping ground of used clothing in the last decade. The value of worn clothing shipped into the country has tripled during the last decade, from US$65m in 2010 to over US$180m in 2020.
The UK alone shipped over US$70m worth of used clothing to Ghana in 2020, accounting for close to 40 percent of the country’s imports and the UK’s biggest export product to Ghana.
Not everybody who donates their clothing to charities in the UK understands how charities like Oxfam sell donated clothes to merchants and retailers in nations like Ghana and Nigeria, many of which wind up in landfills, the ocean and drains, and harm the environment.
Ghana’s trade minister Alan Kyerematen did not respond to several requests for comment on the dumping of used clothes in the country and his ministry’s actions to end it.
The fashion industry and UK government’s failure to act
Samuel Antwi Oteng attributed a large part of the problem to commercial practices of the fashion industry, which promote excessive consumption and waste.
“All of those fashion brands like Boohoo, Asos, Nike, H&M and Adidas produce clothes in excess, more than people need; and so they build waste into their models. But there is a whole business built around donations and buyback programmes, where people and companies collect these clothes, sort them, bale them and ship them to countries like Ghana,” he explained.
In 2019, a UK House of Commons audit report on fast-fashion found that fast-fashion and its consumption in the UK leaves developing countries “with the bulk of its environmental and social costs”.
“There are too many UK fashion businesses which acknowledge the negative impacts of their operations on workers and the environment, but do little or nothing to mitigate the harm they are causing,” said Dr. Mark Sumner, a lecturer in sustainability and fashion at the University of Leeds in a statement to the UK parliament.
Despite the environmental harm facing many societies as a result of fast-fashion, the British government following release of the audit report on ‘Fixing Fashion’, rejected recommendations made by a cross-political party committee to regulate the supply chain. This included government saying it won’t consider improved clothing collection and sorting until 2025.
The report urged the British government to put more pressure on brands and retailers to take more responsibility for the global epidemic of throwaway clothing – including by imposing a tax on fashion manufacturers and requiring high-earning fashion stores to meet mandatory environmental standards.
Katharine Hamnett, a British activist and designer, described the government’s response as “tragic”, adding that the study “hadn’t been hard-hitting enough anyhow”.
Globally, the fashion industry is responsible for around 10 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions according to the United Nations, and it consumes more energy than the international aviation and shipping industries combined.
According to Madeleine Cobbing, a researcher at Greenpeace, most clothes are not designed for recycling.
According to her, most clothes are “blends of synthetic and natural fibres which are difficult to recycle; while the huge volumes of fashion being bought and thrown away prevent any meaningful attempt at circularity”.
Boohoo, and some other top UK fashion companies are currently under investigation by the UK competition watchdog, the Competition and Markets Authority, for potential “greenwashing” following concerns about the way the company’s products are being marketed as eco-friendly and sustainable when this is not the case.
However, Frank Egleton – corporate affairs manager of Boohoo, in an email insisted that: “10 percent of its cotton use is sourced from ‘Better Cotton’ farmers who produce cotton in a way that respects people and the environment, and improves livelihoods”.
Unemployment, used clothing trade and Ghana’s government inaction
Meanwhile in Ghana – where restrictions on the importation of used undergarments has been in place for over three decades – government has failed to significantly stem the flow of this used clothing. A recent Ghanaweb report showed traders openly selling the banned undergarments in Kantamanto, despite the potential harm to customers and cautions from health experts.
Facing one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the region at close to 40 percent, government “risks incurring the wrath of workers in the informal sector” if it imposes a complete ban on used clothing, said trader Nana Amo.
“What jobs have the state created and what job will government expect us to do if it bans the sale of used clothing?” he demanded. “After the state bans the sale and importation of used clothing, it should show us what we should do.”
The second-hand clothing industry directly employs over 35,000 people in Ghana.
Samuel Antwi Oteng argues that the problem of used clothing imports into Ghana – which dates back to the 1960s – is very complicated and needs to be addressed on a variety of levels, including cultural and socioeconomic.
He said: “Sometimes, when we discuss this issue we overly focus on a complete ban; but there are so many layers to it. We must look at past influences and how colonialism has influenced us. How politics affects it, and how neglect of the informal economy influences it.
“If you think about the Kantamanto market, it’s not as if the current president or previous ones created those jobs for the people there. The people that work there created those jobs for themselves,” he added.
Way Forward
In designing any lasting solution, Samuel recommends: “We must include the second-hand community itself in the conversation. Thinking about the unemployment situation in the country, what other opportunities are out there if people want to leave the trade?”
For Solomon Noi, whose responsibility it is to ensure that Accra always remains clean, the solution lies with producer tax and strict enforcement of textile standards.
“We must have external producer responsibility, so that right from the manufacturer I think there should some percentage of cost is to be slapped on the product for disposal at its final destination,” he said.
Ghana, he maintained, should “tighten” its laws so that we are forced to comply with ‘strict standards’.
“Below a certain minimum standard of quality, textiles should be rejected.
“If this cannot be achieved, then Europeans should rather dispose of worn-out clothing in their countries, they have the technology for it, rather than bringing it here [Ghana].”
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has met with stakeholders, including accredited health service providers under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), to discuss the rising trend of out-of-pocket payments required of members at health facilities.
Out-of-pocket expenses are payments made with your own money for medical care that are not reimbursed by insurance.
The unapproved charges, also known as co-payments, are a violation of the Act 852 statute and the NHIA’s contract with accredited healthcare service providers, according to the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA).
Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority, Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, who expressed his concerns while addressing the media in Accra, said the practice was seriously threatening to setback progress made by the scheme.
He was not happy with the fact that co-payment had assumed precedence in healthcare facilitiesacross the country, where it was becoming the norm.
He claimed that this undermined not only the government’s efforts to achieve universal health coverage as established by a law passed by Parliament in 2003, but also those of healthcare providers and consumers.
“We owe it as a duty to ourselves, our people, and posterity to ensure the success of the Scheme, a goal we have all fortunately committed to as stakeholders.
“There have been significant improvements in utilization and access to healthcare, with over 90 per cent of OPD attendance in public institutions and 70 per cent in credentialed private health institutions being members of the scheme”, Dr Okoe-Boye mentioned.
He pointed out once more that the scheme’s operational changes had allowed for monthly service and claim submissions in excess of GHC 120 million.
He said, however, it was disturbing to receive daily complaints from the members of the scheme that healthcare providers had unilaterally resorted to demanding out-of-pocket payments and extra charges for services and medicines covered by the scheme.
He observed that the phenomenon was making the National Health Insurance Scheme unpopular.
“The Authority receives several cases of co-payments on a daily basis through the call centre and from the districts, and regions across the country. Every 6 out of 10 calls received at our call centre are related to co-payments, including the very unpleasant cases of NHIS members detained by some providers over extra payment demands”, he disclosed.
He also disclosed that a survey on co-payments conducted by the research directorate of the Authority revealed that the menace was pervasive across the regions and healthcare provider types with no exceptions.
“At the tertiary and secondary care levels, NHIS members are made to pay for most services, including all laboratory investigations, and about 80 per cent of medications prescribed. Whereas at the primary care level, apart from blood film for malaria, all other laboratory investigations and about 50 per cent of medications prescribed are paid for by members in addition to other services”, he revealed.
He, however, expressed worry that the practice by the healthcare providers defeated the mandate of the Authority and the Scheme, thereby negatively impacting its operations and making it unattractive to the public.
Dr. Okoe-Boye further said that the stakeholders’ engagement was a step by the Authority to engage and allow for a dispassionate deliberation on the issue and proffer long-lasting binding solutions to the menace for the betterment of the scheme towards the attainment of the universal health coverage as envisioned by the government and the people of Ghana.
The National Health Insurance Schemewas established by the government of Ghana in 2003. The program was a form of national health insurance established to provide equitable access and financial coverage for basic health care services to Ghanaians.
The Scheme, in its 19-year journey, has undergone several policy and operational reforms through stakeholder engagement and consensus building to improve efficiency, enhance the quality of healthcare, and to ensure sustainability.
The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA) has between January and Augustthis year raised GHC9.345 million in Internally Generated funds.
The amount represented 62.8 per cent of a projected internally generated revenue of GHC14.874 million.
Mr Abdul Mumin Issah, Metropolitan Chief Executive, who made this known at the second ordinary meeting of the assembly in Sekondi, said the total budgeted revenue for the year was GHC34.564 million.
The MCE said the amount of GHC 23.797 million was realised as of August 2022, representing 68.8 per cent.
On expenditure, he said the total expenditure budgeted for the period was GHC34.564 million and that the Assembly spent GHC22.057 million, representing 63.8 per cent
Touching on development projects in the Metropolis, Mr Issah said more than 14 projects under the District Assemblies Common Fund, Districts Development Fund, GETFund and European Union were at various stages of completion.
The projects include the construction of a six-unit classroom block with ancillary facilities at Kansaworado, a community health planning and service compound at Kojokrom, teachers’ accommodation for Mberedane Basic school, construction of a six-seater WC with an overhead tank for Essikado STMA JHS and three mechanized boreholes for Ahanta Mampong, Ntaamakrom and Kwesikrom
Others are, a three-unit classroom block with ancillary facilities for Presby JHS in Sekondi, construction of a 40-footer container office with sorting out and changing room at the demonstration farm at Sekondi and the construction of a two-unit classroom blook with dinning hall, office, toilet /bath for the Poasi Methodist B KG at New Takoradi.
On the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty, he said, the assembly had provided financial support to 2,909 extremely poor individuals drawn from 499 communities within the Metropolis.
The MCE said from September 2021 to April 2022, the assembly had disbursed a total amount of 162,352.00 to the beneficiaries.
He said on the Ghana Employment and Social Protection programme, a total of 25 beneficiaries from various communities within STMA were trained in various trades, adding that 13 were trained in cosmetics and soap production, two in consumer electronics, two in leather works and one each in bio-digester, snail rearing, courier services, graphic design and solar.
Mr Issah said after the training the beneficiaries were given start-up equipment to begin their trade.
The MCE said though the Assembly had chalked several successes, it was overwhelmed with postings and transfers during the third quarter of the year.
According to him, a total of 14 staff made up of 10 males and four females were posted out of the assembly, eleven persons consisting of nine males and two females also retired from active service and two males passed on.
He, however, said eight new entrants comprising four males and four females in both the professional and sub-professional classes were posted to the assembly and lamented that conducive office accommodation for staff remained a major challenge.
Radio host at Accra 100.5 FM Nana Romeo has rendered an apology to Ricky ‘Bullet’ Nana Agyemang for broaching a conversation about his alleged affair with his Rufftown Records signee Wendy Shay during an interview on the said station.
After their exclusive interview on Thursday, October 20, 2022, Nana Romeo urged Bullet to give advice to journalists.
Bullet charged that media personalities show no love or sense of decorum when talking about people’s issues including their fellow media and creative industry players.
Everything is for “content” and for social media popularity and attracting numbers and often without evidence, Bullet bemoaned citing his alleged romantic involvement with his signee.
In response, Nana Romeo said: “I’ve learnt some sense from what you’ve said,” and explained he truly strayed from the core reason Wendy Shay had come to the Accra 100.5 FM studios for the controversial 2020 interview.
Bullet interjected saying, “You did not have any evidence [about my supposed affair with Wendy Shay]” but Nana Romeo in reaction maintained: “That may only be what you think, but let’s leave that bit aside.”
“You see, you still don’t want to admit, there is no evidence for the alleged affair,” Bullet chuckled.
Romeo pressed on: “[The thing is] Even if I had evidence, why should it be on radio?”
“I admit I did what was not right,” he touched his chest to signal earnestness. “I apologise for that.”
Bullet accepted the apology with the words: “That’s it. We move.”
“It’s about the industry [and not me per se]. I need you, bro, you need me,” Bullet added after recounting how people around him protested his coming for the Thursday, October 20, 2022 interview.
“We move together, and we win together,” he stressed while Nana Romeo came in with: “I’ve come to understand, it should not have been on the radio but maybe in a private conversation, I could have engaged Wendy Shay on the issue. Not on-air with thousands listening.”
“Yes, you don’t do that, especially when there’s no evidence to that effect. Don’t do it,” Bullet charged again.
Afropop star Wendy Shay walked out of the Accra FM studios when Nana Romeo intimated she had an unprofessional relationship with her boss. The 2020 interview caused a huge stir on social media that year and resurfaced in September 2022.
He claimed that the key to winning over the Fund and the required benefit there is for the economy is to provide a strong program.
The former finance minister stated in a media discussion that obtaining funding from the IMF is essential given the current economic difficulties; as a result, the program should be carefully thought out.
“The global economy is becoming increasingly hostile, and I believe that given all we have been talking about, let us aim for a solid and good programme – making it slowly and not necessarily a fast one. One that can cover the nuts and bolts, otherwise it will come to haunt us; we might win the IMF and go back to where we were. Getting the programme is a must, otherwise things will go downhill.
“I think the goal should be a thorough discussion of all issues, so that we have a good programme. A programme that will make us win over the Fund in a very substantive and more realistic manner. From my experience I think it has always taken us a minimum of six months, sometimes with lesser headaches, to negotiate the programme,” he said.
Speaking on concerns that government seems to be protecting its legacy and flagship programmes, he said that it will have to relent to allow for progress in the negotiations.
Mr. Terkper further advised that there is a need to bring back some buffers and stabilisers and implement them so the country can fall back on them during difficult times.
“We must stretch into the medium-term to bring back some of the buffers and stabilisers that have been ignored, like the Sinking Fund. We cannot continue borrowing without paying. We must look beyond austerity to build solid sector policies to boost job creation for growth,” he said.
He also urged government to be open on issues with the citizenry to carry them along.
“Even internally, there are things that are unknown to the Ghanaian populace. Do we know all the costs outside the budget? The Fund will want to know. Do we know things that are coming up,” he questioned.
Enhanced Domestic Programme
The Ministry of Finance and Bank of Ghana have commenced a comprehensive debt sustainability analysis with the IMF for a possible US$3billion support programme.
Having reversed a policy of not seeking aid from the International Monetary Fund, government requested a balance of payment package following a serious economic crisis characterised by record-high inflation, currency depreciation and rising food prices.
The proposed programme should span a minimum of three years and seek to achieve the following objectives: strengthen government’s efforts to restore investor confidence in the economy, thereby regaining market access, boosting development partner disbursements and unlocking other financing sources; restore debt sustainability and macroeconomic stability to support green growth, economic transformation and job creation while protecting social spending.
The Ho Municipal Assembly and the City of Gainesville, Florida US, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to foster cooperation and development.
Lauren Poe, Mayor of Gainesville, and Divine Bosson, Municipal Chief Executive of Ho, signed the agreement via virtual meeting platform, Zoom, in the presence of local stakeholders.
The MoU would lead to the exploration of common interests in education, economic, and cultural sectors of both cities.
Mayor Poe held up Gainesville’s renewable energy acclaim, being the fifth largest producer of solar power per capita in the world, and said a sustained partnership should benefit all.
He said Ho had become Gainesville 10th sister city in the world, and the first in Africa.
“We are looking forward to a long relationship with the city of Ho. We are excited to broaden our relationship and continue working for peace and security. We will work together and focus on what to do together,” he remarked.
The mayor was optimistic about common interests in healthcare and education, as well as opportunities for collaboration between related institutions and organisations.
The Ho MCE, on his part, called the event “an epoch-making signage between our two cities,” and declared, “we are the best in Africa today.”
He said almost 70 per cent of the city’s 200,000 population resided in the urban centres and that the twin city programme would help develop its economic and social prospects.
Mr Bosson said the MoU was the city’s second, noting also that one with Namibia was on the table.
The MCE tasked technocrats of the Assembly to begin processes on the partnership programme, while announcing a trip to Florida in November to physically cement the deal.
Mr Bosson seemed most excited about the educational component of the project, which would create opportunities for exchange programmes between the cities, and said Ho had eight tertiary institutions, which helped lay claim to the designation as an education hub.
The MOU expects to create sustainable environment to help meet basic and fundamental social needs, and facilitate economic strengthening and creating opportunities for businesses.
The MCE said the Municipality’s first sister city partnership, which was with Finland, would be reactivated.
Technocrats at the Assembly, including the Presiding Member, and the Municipal Engineer, all pledged support for the programme.
Gainsville is the principal city of the Gainesville metropolitan area and has a population of about 150,000.
It is home to the University of Florida -fourth largest by population in the US, and which is the main driver of the local economy.
The Ho Municipality has Ghana’s prime health University, the University of Health and Allied Sciences (UHAS), which is a decade old institution that ranks among the best in the subregion.
The regional capital is also said to be the oxygen city of Ghana, and the spirit and soul of tourism development in the endowed Volta Region.
The Office of the President has named Dr. Eric Nkansah as the new Director General of the Ghana Education Service (GES), to replace the just dismissed Prof Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa.
His appointment came barely 48 hours after Prof Amankwa was relieved of his duties.
A letter dated Wednesday, October 19, 2022, issued by the Presidency and signed by the Secretary to the President, Nana Bediatuo Asante, said Mr Nkansah’s appointment takes effect from October 19, 2022. However, he has fourteen days to either accept or reject the appointment.
“I am pleased to inform you that the President has appointed you to act as the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service (the Service) pending receipt of the constitutionally required advice of the Governing Council of the Service, given in consultation with the Public Service Commission,” the letter said.
The appointment is also “Pursuant to Section 19 (1), (2) (a) and (b) of the Pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1049),” the Presidency states.
About Prof Nkansah
Before his appointment, Dr Nkansahwho has worked fervently for the past 13 years as a banker, lecturer, researcher, and financial consultant, was a Technical Advisor/Director in charge of Tertiary Education at the Ministry of Education.
He was also a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Banking Technology and Finance of the Kumasi Technical University. In 2012, he joined the University and has since contributed immensely (in the areas of teaching, research, programme development, etc.) to the development of the University.
He holds a PhD in Financial Economics; University of Zululand, South Africa (2015-2018), Master of Business Administration (Finance); KNUST Business School, Ghana (2008-2010); B.A (Hons) Economics; the University of Cape Coast, Ghana (2002-2006).
In an interview with the media on October 18, the President of NAGRAT said: “this is very disappointing. We are surprised because we had someone who was able to build a very positive relationship and rapport with the union.”
His contract was extended again in June 2021. However, on Monday, October 17, his appointment was terminated.
The Presidency, in a letter issued on Monday, explained that the extension was in “contravention of the Human Resource Policy Framework and manual of the Public Services Commission as it purports to extend your secondment beyond the 3-year maximum limit,” hence his dismissal.
Additionally, the letter from the Presidency announcing his dismissal said Mr Nkansah’s “skills are no longer required at the GES.”
That notwithstanding, the President wished him well in his future endeavours.
“The President thanks you for your service to the nation and wishes you the very best in your future endeavours”, the letter added.
Prior to their CAF U-23 Championship qualifying match against Mozambique on Sunday, Black Meteors are anticipated to arrive in Maputo today following a brief transit in Johannesburg.
On ThurFoosday, October 20,2022, coach Ibrahim Tanko and his players left Accra for Maputo in preparation for the vital qualifying match.
A delegation made up of Twenty- two players, technical staff and officials left Accra on Thursday evening for the game which is scheduled for Sunday, October 23 at the Estadio Nacional do Zimpeto.
Kurt Okraku was at the airport to see off the team as they embark on a journey to ensure qualification to the U-23 Championship in Morocco.
Meanwhile, the squad has been boosted with the arrival of former U-20 AFCON winning defend Philemon Baffour who currently plays for Rio Ave in the Portuguese league.
The winner will move on to play the winner of the tie between Algeria and DR Congo.
The fourth edition of the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations will take place in Morocco in June 2023.
Tanko was in charge of the team which finished fourth at the 2019 tournament won by hosts Egypt, which ensured Ghana missed out on the 2020 Olympic Games.
Professor Joseph Shevel, the President of the Galilee International Management Institute, Israel, has urged Ghana to increase investment in education and training to spur sustainable growth in agriculture to ensure food security in the face of looming water crisis due to climate change.
He warned that the worsening situation of dwindling waterbodies owing to global warming could plunge the country into “civil war” if immediate actions were not taken to mitigate it, particularly in the area of agriculture.
He said 50 per cent of Ghana’s population was into agriculture but contributing only 20 per cent to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the midst of abundant rainfall and waterbodies, making the sector “inefficient.”
In contrast, he said with very little rainfall and only three per cent of the population doing agriculture in Israel, the sector was thriving and serving the entire country.
He attributed Israel’s success to high investment in education and training and challenged universities in Ghana to lead the change.
Prof Shevel was speaking on the topic: “Emerging higher education frontiers experiences from Israel, lessons for African Higher Education Institutions” at an International Symposium organised by the University of Cape Coast (UCC) as part of its 60th Anniversary celebration.
It was on the theme: “60 Years of Quality Education, Expanding Frontiers: Experiences and Lessons from International Partners,”
chaired by Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong, the Vice Chancellor.
Prof Shevel said: “Half of Israel is desert and experiences less than one hundredth of millimeters of rainfall per year while the southern part experiences 20 millimeters a year. But in Ghana, you can have 20 millimeters in one day.”
“In Israel, 90 per cent of the water is reused. It is not a secret and it is also not unholy because it is Israel. Most of our agriculture today use recycled water.”
Israel produces oranges, watermelon, lemons and grapes in the desert through the dripping system.
“And if we can do it there, we can do it here. It is only a matter of know-how and the universities can lead it,” he said.
In 2017 alone, Israel exported 60 million flowers to Europe on Valentine’s Day and Ghana could do same with the necessary training, Prof Shevel said.
Israel was the only country in the Middle East with no oil and mineral resources, including water, but it had a bigger GDP than all the other countries in the bloc due to education, he said.
While Ghana invested less than two per cent of GDP in education, Israel invested 7.3 per cent.
Prof Shevel said Israel was the number one in the world in research and development and had the biggest share in the technology industry with 63 different companies through education.
“Education generally is a problematic field for politics because we see the results of education usually in the next generation but politicians want to see the results before the next election,” he observed.
Ghana, he said, had also been successful in some areas in which Israel had failed, hence the need to share experiences and learn from each other for mutual growth.
Prof Boampong, on his part, emphasised the need for institutions of higher learning to establish global partnerships in order to create mutually beneficial relationships.
He noted that it was through such international collaborations that the UCC attained it current status as the topmost ranked university in Ghana and West Africa, and the fourth in Africa.
The event was attended by delegations from the Bucknell University, University of Cincinnati, University of Rhode Island, University of Limerick, Millersville University, and International Youth Fellowship of Korea.
They took turns to share their experiences and beneficial collaborations with the UCC and the areas they had thrived.
