Credit Unions across the country have been called upon to help improve the financial health and wellbeing of members.
They could do that by working harder to create value for members of the credit unions and to provide financial services to members in the form of reduced interest rates and reward members with high dividends when realised.
Mr Dramani Natomah Adams, the Upper West Chapter Executive Committee Board Chairman of the Credit Unions Association, said this during the region’s celebrations to mark this year’s International Credit Union Day held in Wa.
He said credit unions were member-owned and not for the core objective of making profits and therefore, it was important for managers of credit unions to deliver the needed financial capital, which in effect would be geared towards poverty reduction and enhanced the livelihoods of all members.
“If credit unions are not able to contribute to member’s poverty reduction, financial independence, then, we as a credit union movement would have been failing in our core mandate”, he said.
The Day is set aside to reflect on the Credit Union Movement, Its achievements, recognised the board works and share experiences of members.
It was on the theme: “Empower your future financials with a credit union”.
In Africa, the first co-operative credit union was formed in Ghana precisely Jirapa in the Upper West Region in September 1955.
The Reverend John Mc Nulty, an Irish Canadian Priest of the Jirapa Diocese established the St. Joseph Cooperative Credit Union.
Former Ghana international, Michael Essien, has congratulated former team mate, Karim Benzema, after the latter was awarded the 2022 Ballon d’Or on Monday, October 17.
“You deserve the Ballon d’Or,” Essien tweeted with an accompanying photo of himself and the Real Madrid star during warmup session during Essien’s loan stint with Madrid.
Benzema was widely expected to win the gong that was won last year by Paris Saint Germain’s Lionel Messi.
Benzema was awarded the 2022 Ballon d’Or in a ceremony that took place in Paris, his victory came months after the Los Blancos won their 14th Champions League trophy in the French capital.
A Marca report satsted: Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, who is Benzema‘s most loyal supporter, was there to witness the moment. The two men met 14 years ago in Benzema’s living room in Lyon.
The Ballon d’Or awarded has been handed to Real Madrid players a total of twelve times, matching Barcelona’s figures. The former Los Blancos players who received the prize in the past were Alfredo Di Stefano, Raymond Kopa, Luis Figo, Ronaldo Nazario, Fabio Cannavaro, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luka Modric, the report added.
The President of the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, Rev. Prof. Paul Frimpong-Manso, has said the argument that people are actively engaged in illegal mining due to a lack of jobs should not be encouraged.
According to the council, the lack of jobs should not be the reason for perpetuating illegality and causing environmental degradation.
In an interview with Citi News, Rev. Frimpong Manso said “what you are saying [with this argument] is that the end justifies the means, and if we do this, somebody will go and sell drugs because there are no jobs.”
“When we bring these kinds of things into our national discourse, then we are not aiming for development and progress,” he added.
The government has in the past few years launched and implemented strategies to help deal with the illegal mining problem and its effects on the environment.
But illegal mining has remained on the ascendancy as river bodies, forest reserves and farmlands have all been destroyed.
Rev. Frimpong-Manso also lamented the failure of institutions to strictly enforce mining laws.
“The institutions are not working,” he complained.
Rev. Frimpong-Manso thus said a ban on all mining needed to be put in place “until processes and procedures have been put in place.”
Many who are fans of Ghanaian rapper Michael Owusu Addo popularly known in showbiz as Sarkodie will know that his better half, Tracy Sarkcess, has been in the picture since his journey to stardom began.
This is especially evident with some throwback photos of the love birds which occasionally surface from time to time on various social media platforms.
The duo have become models to look up to when one is looking for a great example of a long-lasting relationship.
Questions have over the years been asked about how the two started their blissful relationship which is the envy of many.
Speaking to media personality Berla Mundi on ‘The Day Show’ on Accra-based TV3, Tracy Sarkcess provided some insights into how it all began.
Tracy explained that she and Sarkodie grew up in the same neighbourhood in Tema, a suburb of Accra. During that period, she said Sarkodie liked her but could not tell her. The popular Ghanaian rapper instead told Tracy’s cousin to inform her about his affection.
An old photo of Tracy Sarkcess and Sarkodie
The unnamed cousin of Tracy informed her about Sarkodie’s ‘like’ for her but she remained undecided as she travelled to Germany at age 13.
After three years of being in Germany, Tracy Sarkcess returned to Ghana and reconnected with Sarkodie. She suggested that her return marked the starting point of their love story.
“To be honest I didn’t [see how big Sarkodie was going to become]. In my mind, I thought ‘oh maybe at some point I will be able to convince him to come along with me to Germany and he should a job, let’s work and have our kids’. I wasn’t sure about the music.
“We have known each other for quite a long time. Before I left for Germany, we lived in the same neighbourhood. So he’s a childhood friend and I know he liked me. He couldn’t tell me. He told my cousin who was living with us that she should come and tell me. It was towards the end when I was about to leave [for Germeany] that she told me.
“But at that point was like I don’t know. So I came back. It was actually on a holiday. I had been away for three years. That was the first time that I came back and weirdly enough we reconnected as friends and then ever since then,” Tracy Sarkcess said.
The Ghana Police Service today (October 17, 2022) arrested two suspects in the shooting of two fire officers at Offinso in the Ashanti Region.
The Police in a statement named the suspects as Banda Johnson and William Owusu.
The fire officers sustained gunshot wounds and are at the hospital responding to treatment.
A Land Rover vehicle belonging to the suspects has also been impounded.
The circumstances surrounding the shooting are being investigated and the suspects will be arraigned before the court to face justice. pic.twitter.com/GMbOaVJ0xo
The weapons used in the attack were two (2) pistols with four rounds of 9mm ammunition which have been retrieved by the police.
A Land Rover vehicle belonging to the suspects has also been impounded.
“The circumstances surrounding the shooting are being investigated and the suspects will be arraigned before the court to face justice,” the Police said in a statement.
The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) is building the capacities of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to help empower and strengthen them to increase production base to enter the international market.
Mr Francis Fosu Kwakye, Deputy Zonal Officer for Ashanti, Bono and Bono East regions, who stated this, said improvement of standards of products of SMEs and exporting more, would help the country achieve the National Export Development Strategy (NEDS) target of 25.3 billion dollars by 2029.
He was speaking at a day’s export school organised by GEPA in Ashanti region for registered SMES and prospective exporters in Kumasi aimed at equipping participants in the knowledge and skills needed for export.
They were taught on contract negotiations, social media marketing, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), trade agreements, skills in non-traditional exports (NTEs), among others.
Mr Kwakye said GEPA was building capacities of more exporters to expand production and add value to manufactured goods.
He said among the products that were being supported to help increase their export targets and improve the economy, were sugar, salt, cocoa products, pharmaceuticals and textiles.
Ms Diana Bosompem, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of 360 Naturals Cosmetics, said the export school was a refreshing course to equip them with skills to enhance their exports activities.
She encouraged all SMEs to register their businesses with GEPA, to acquire the knowledge needed to improve their businesses and be export worthy.
Hundreds of farmers in Asuboi, Ayensuano District, have benefited from the installation of a new cassava processing pavilion, housing three locally produced cassava processors, a pressing machine, a roasting area, and a storeroom.
The multi-purpose pavilion is intended to boost daily cassava processing productivity and improve working conditions for female cassava farmers in Asuboi and surrounding areas.
Ms Shlomit Sufa, the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, commissioned the pavilion during the World Rural Women’s Day celebration, which was themed “Rural Women Using Technology to Improve Food for All.”
She said the cassava processor technology had the potential to improve the work of women cassava farmers while adding value to cassava products.
Small-scale farmers in Ghana contribute significantly to the country’s overall agricultural output, with most of the small-scale farmers and fishers being women who grow vegetables, cereals, and other food crops.
In cash crop production like cocoa, which is owned by men, women contribute significantly by using their labour to support weeding, harvesting, and transporting the final product to marketing centres.
Also, in manufacturing and agro processing, women in rural communities contribute to fish processing and cassava processing into gari, (agblima) cassava dough and starch.
Thus, Ms. Sufa commended Ghanaian women for their role in enhancing agricultural and rural development and improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.
“It is therefore important to celebrate as well as acknowledge the innovation and technologies that these women deploy in their daily work, especially in the agricultural sector,” she added.
The Asuboi Chief, Nana Ahyia Boateng, praised Israel for assisting women farmers in the community with the gari processing pavilion and machines, but implored for a mechanised borehole and a senior high school.
While acknowledging the contribution of Israel, Ms. Emelia Larbi and Grace Armah, both farmers, outlined many emerging crop and fish production problems that are impeding women’s ability to ensure sustainable farming.
Both expressed concern about how women farmers, particularly those growing plantain and cassava, were suffering because of rising farm input prices and the scarcity of weedicides and fertilisers.
“The fertilizer is too expensive and scarce; we can’t find any, and when we do, it’s too expensive; we can’t afford it.” Ms Larbi said. “Weedicides have also become prohibitively expensive, and we want something done about it.”
Besides that, she noted that sand winning and lack of ready markets for farm produce were de-motivating many rural women farmers, forcing many young people to migrate to urban areas to look for work.
“Due to these challenges, our children do not want to stay with us in rural areas, but rather leave for urban centres because they do not want to go through these challenges,” Ms. Armah explained.
“The fear is that if nothing is done, it will lead to food shortages in the near future.”
The women also expressed concern about the exorbitant cost of premix fuel, which had become prohibitively expensive for women farmers and inaccessible to farmers.
The idea of designating a special day to honour rural women was first proposed in 1995 at the fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China.
In this regard, October 15 was designated as “World Rural Women’s Day,” coinciding with World Food Day, to highlight rural women’s role in food production and security.
In a speech read on his behalf, Mr. Seth Acheampong, Eastern Regional Minister, acknowledged challenges such as access to farmlands and financing rural women farmers, but encouraged them to continue working toward food security.
He also urged farmers to resist the temptation to sell their land for gold mining, stating that “agricultural farming is the real gold, and thus our lands should be protected.”
The Development Action Association, a network of farmer-based organisations, celebrated the 2022 World Rural Women’s Day in collaboration with the Israeli embassy, GIZ Agribiz, and Yara fertiliser.
Economist and Political Risk Analyst, Dr. Theo Acheampong is pushing for sweeping reforms at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and the Bulk Oil Transportation and Storage Company (BOST) as the country continues to face challenges in the production, importation and supply of petroleum products.
“Both TOR and BOST need reforms”, he said on Citi TV‘s The Point of View.
Contributing to discussions on the unending high cost of fuel, Dr. Acheampong said the inefficiencies at TOR need to be urgently tackled to enable the refinery to revamp its operations.
While arguing that, Ghana could be cutting down on the huge cost brought on by the importation of refined crude because TOR does not have the full capacity to respond to market demands, he called for an operational restructuring to revive the refinery.
“There could be some 10 to 20 percent cost savings if we have our domestic refinery meeting between 30 and 50 percent of market demand. That is not insignificant, looking at the amount of money we use in importing these products. What TOR needs is a new ownership module and fundamental restructuring to upgrade a lot of facilities and equipment. It currently has to realize cost efficiency.”
On BOST, the economist said; “Fundamentally, we need to go back to what BOST was set up for, which is to play an interventionist role in safeguarding the market-making mechanisms. Unfortunately, that is not happening.”
Currently, the price of fuel has recently increased to approximately GH¢16 per litre with players in the industry warning that a litre of the product could be sold at almost GH¢20 by the end of 2022.
For instance, the cost of diesel is currently at GH¢15.99 at a top oil marketing company, Total Energies, while the cost of gasoline is GH¢13.10.
This represents a significant increase over the GH¢11.06 per litre for gasoline and GH¢13.95 for diesel earlier in the month.
The country’s rapidly rising fuel prices, which began in January at roughly GHS6.5 per litre, have mostly been linked to the increase in the price of the good on international markets.
Crude oil was selling for about $75 per barrel in January of this year, but it is now selling for roughly $86 per barrel.
On the other side, the dollar, which cost GH¢6.5 at the beginning of the year, is now worth more than GH¢12.
Karim Benzema has been named Ballon d’Or winner for 2022, with the Real Madrid striker enjoying an incredible calendar year.
WHAT HAPPENED? The France international enjoyed a remarkable 2021-22 campaign at Santiago Bernabeu, with a stunning 44-goal haul helping Los Blancos to La Liga and Champions League titles. The 34-year-old found the target on 27 occasions in the Spanish top flight last season and 15 times in European competition.
THE BIGGER PICTURE: Benzema has been a revelation for Madrid, helping to fill the void created by Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure in 2018 while also taking on captaincy duties following Sergio Ramos’ move to Paris Saint-Germain. He has now been recognised as the world’s best by his peers, with competition from the likes of Mohamed Salah, Robert Lewandowski, Sadio Mane, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland seen off to land the prestigious Golden Ball.
PREVIOUS WINNERS: The Ballon d’Or vote has been dominated by Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in recent times, with the Argentine claiming a history-making seven awards, while the Portuguese superstar has five to his name. Other iconic performers to have taken the top prize on multiple occasions include Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Franz Beckenbauer, Ronaldo and Alfredo Di Stefano. Benzema has become the eighth Real Madrid player to land the award – enhancing their record-setting haul.
WHAT NEXT FOR BENZEMA? The experienced forward has been back among the goals this season, as Real seek to defend their domestic and continental crowns, while he will also be hoping to help France savour World Cup glory again at the 2022 finals in Qatar.
President Akufo-Addo has said that he is not threatened by calls for the New Patriotic Party (NPP) to be voted out of office in the 2024 election.
He said such threats do not frighten him.
The President made this comment in an interview on Kumasi-based OTEC FM on Monday.
His comment was in response to a question posed by host of the programme regarding what he made of threats by the people of Kwabre against the NPP in the 2024election due to poor road infrastructure in the area.
Reacting to the threats President Akufo-Addo replied, “no problem. I am saying people make those kinds of threats; me they don’t frighten me.”
According to him, although he understands the masses may support a party with an expectation, he, however, does not see the need to threaten the government if it fails to deliver.
“If you decide to vote for the NDC in the general election, it is your choice and that is not my problem. No one will force you to vote for someone,” he stated.
He, however, admitted that he has been mandated with a responsibility to construct roads and will definitely execute it.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has defended why Ken Ofori-Atta, the Finance Minister is still at post despite numerous calls for his dismissal from his government over abysmal performance.
According to him, Ken Ofori-Atta after the ruling party was sworn into office in 2017, was able to ensure that the economy which was on the verge of collapse grew at an average of 7 per cent.
He said he cannot turn his back on someone who was able to achieve that feat for the country.
He noted that he is keeping Ofori-Atta in office because his performance for the past six years has been excellent.\
“I came to office in 2017 when we were under an IMF programme. This same Ken Ofori-Atta was able to manage the economy for the first 3 to 4 years. We were then one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. We had an average growth rate of 7% a year.
“For someone who has been able to do all these, how do I turn my back on him? For me, his performance has been excellent. That is why I have great difficulty in understanding what is going on,” President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo said while speaking on Kumasi-based OTEC FM, Monday, October 17.
The calls for Ken Ofori-Atta’s dismissal intensified when Kwasi Kwarteng, his counterpart in the UK was dismissed by the Prime Minister following a fallout from the country’s mini-budget he [Kwarteng] presented.
One such individual who is of the view that the minister is relieved from his duties is Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, North Tongu MP.
To him, just as Kwasi Kwarteng has been dismissed by the Prime Minister Liz Truss as the UK Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta should also go.
In a tweet, Ablakwa said, “Kwasi Kwarteng hasn’t done a fraction of the damage Ken Ofori-Atta has caused the Ghanaian economy but he gets to be sacked and Ken is showered with praises from his family member, President Akufo-Addo as Ghanaians languish in more pain. Sad — no justice in the world.”
The Trinity Foundation School at Anwomaso, near Kumasi, has inaugurated ultramodern laboratories to support the teaching and learning of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
This is to encourage experimental teaching and learning and help provide practical training of STEM to the pupils at the primary and junior high school levels to deepen their understanding of the subjects.
The laboratories made up of biology, physics, chemistry and computing, are supported by a well-furnished library, stocked with research and reading books.
They were donated by the Global Servants, a not-for-profit organization, based in the United States of America.
The organisation had also built a contemporary laboratory for practical activities for Home Economics, a cafeteria and kitchen for the school.
Mr Yaw Adu, Head-Teacher of the School, at a ceremony to officially dedicate the facilities at the school’s premise at Anwomaso in the Oforikrom Municipality, said the facilities were going to help the children understand the practical teaching and learning of the sciences.
He said hitherto, teachers had to resort to the theoretical way of teaching the science subjects since they had little or no practical to prove to the pupils what they were teaching.
With the establishment of these modern facilities, the school would be in a better position to provide practical teaching and learning experience to the over 399 pupils in the school.
Mr Adu expressed appreciation to Global Servants for continually reaching out to the school with educational assistance to build the structures and providing equipment for learning.
Mr Tyler Ellis, Chief Operating Officer for Global Servants, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that the organization spent about $400,000 in the school’s outfitting – build the structures and installing the learning materials.
He said the humanitarian organization had always been motivated to invest in children, adding that, children had so much potential in them and it was important they were supplied with the needed tools to unleash talents.
The Office of the Upper West Regional Chief Iman has launched an educational endowment fund to bridge the financial gap of enthusiastic, brilliant but needy Muslim students in the region to enable them to attain higher academic laurels.
The Office of the Regional Chief Imam said the fund had become necessary due to several requests it received from students for financial support to access higher education amidst the endemic poverty level among the Muslim community in the region.
The fund was also to mobilise material and financial resources as well as undertake other activities toward the development of education in the region.
Mr Zakaria Abdul-Rahaman, a representative of the Office of the Regional Chief Imam, in a presentation on the fund in Wa during the launch, said the applicant’s request must be endorsed by the applicant’s District Chief Imam before she or he could access the support.
He said those eligible for the support were Muslim students from the region or whose parents or guardians reside and identified themselves with activities of the Islamic community in the Upper West Region.
Mr Abdul-Rahaman noted that the Chief Imam conceived the idea to establish the educational fund as a sustainable intervention to the financial needs of the Muslim students in the region.
“This will not only liberate the needy but brilliant youth from the shackles of financial constraints to realise their dreams of attaining higher academic levels but also bridge the widening educational gap between Muslim youth and their counterparts,” he explained.
The fund dubbed: “Upper West Regional Chief Imam Educational Endowment Fund” (IMAMFUND), is aimed to provide scholarships to at least 50 qualified students in the region at all levels of education every year.
Mr Abdul-Rahaman said it was also, to among other things, facilitate the acquisition of scholarships for at least 20 students to pursue various programmes outside the country, especially in Golf Cooperation Countries every year.
He explained that it was to mobilise funds from identified groups and institutions, business people, Non-governmental Organisations, and cooperate entities, among others.
Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, the Upper West Regional Minister, observed that the launch of the fund was in the right direction as it was in line with the government’s aim of bettering the human capital of the country for national development.
“Development is a shared responsibility and this initiative by the Regional Chief Imam is a critical step in the right direction since government alone cannot solve all our challenges”, he said.
Dr Salih, therefore, entreated the people of the region to emulate the intervention by the Chief Imam and to support the youth who, by no fault of theirs, were unable to support their education.
The minister also called on all well-meaning Ghanaians, particularly the Upper West Region, to support the course of the Chief Imam to make it a success.
Vice President Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia donated an amount of GHS20,000.00 to the fund, Alhaji Hanan Abdul-Wahab, Chief Executive of Ghana Buffer Stock Company donated GHS10,000.00; Mr Ambrose Dery, Minister of the Interior, GHS2,000; and Dr Hafiz Bin Salih, Upper Regional Minister donated GHS5,000.00 to the fund.
Over 700 heads of Senior High Schools (SHS) has convened for the 60th anniversary of the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) to examine secondary education in Ghana after more than three decades of existence.
The week-long event also brought together teachers and teacher association leaders, the Director-General of Ghana Education Service, the Eastern Regional Minister, the President of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, the Vice Chancellor of Koforidua Technical University, and other important stakeholders and dignitaries.
The attendees discussed numerous educational topics in keeping with the anniversary theme: “60 years of shaping second-cycle education in Ghana, the challenges and successes in contemporary times: The role of stakeholders.”
Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, Minister of Education, addressed the conference, which was interwoven with a workshop, and described the subject as the wheels on which the anniversary was rotating, adding that difficulties facing the education sector were being addressed.
He mentioned the issues and frustrations of second-cycle school heads, including delays in the distribution of “perishable and recurring” money, and stated that “these were being addressed.
“I spoke with the President that some money should be sent for the recurrent expenditure. Day schools, your recurrent expenditure is coming. I promise you that I will not disappoint you,” he said.
However, he urged the heads to support the government in its efforts to increase student enrolment in second-cycle schools as they wait for their money to arrive.
”The challenge you are going through is a sacrifice to make sure that this dream becomes possible,” he said. “With your help the schools have done better than I have seen since the days of four-year secondary school.”
Professor David Kofi Essumang, Vice Chancellor of Koforidua Technical University, advocated that the myriad obstacles encountered by secondary school heads be handled strategically.
“While striving for academic excellence for second-cycle schools, the Conference needs to seek ingenious ways of addressing all challenges confronting secondary cycle education,” he stated.
He stated that over the years, head teachers and teachers have made significant sacrifices to provide quality senior high school education and urged the Ministry of Education to develop adequate incentive mechanisms to motivate teachers to further achieve accessible and quality education for all in the 21st century.
As part of the solutions to challenges confronting school leaders, National CHASS President Alhaji Yakub A.N. Abubakar emphasised the importance of providing a Code of Conduct to all SHSs, explaining that the code of conduct was an important document that guided both students and staff for effective school administration.
Despite the necessity of driving discipline, he stated that efforts to develop a code of conduct had been unsuccessful over the years, and he urged the Ghana Education Service to expedite action on producing a code of conduct without further delay.
Reverend Dr Isaac Owusu, National President of the Ghana National Association of Teachers, also expressed worry that managers and head teachers of schools have been muzzled and were being intimidated for airing their views.
He said such hostile postures had a negative consequences on teacher productivity, stating, “We cannot have tamed head teachers and school managers who are supposed to train assertive students…the era of intimidation is over.”
Article 13 of the CHASS constitution requires members to meet at least once a year to discuss the organization’s actions for the year and the way forward.
Other events for the anniversary celebration included an in-house meeting, an excursion to many tourist spots in the Eastern Region, and a dinner dance night.
Last year, three centres in the Municipality recorded 21 absentees.
A total of 1,881 students in the Municipality are sitting for this year’s examination, which would be held at five centres.
Mr Daniel Noble Awume, Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), during a tour to some of the centres of the Municipality, urged the students to thrive hard to pass their examinations.
He noted that Free Senior High School would be available, hence, the importance for all to make good use of the opportunity.
He admonished the students to remain calm after their exams, adding that there was no need to mark events and engage in activities that could endanger their lives.
The MCE on behalf of Mr John-Peter Amewu, Hohoe Constituency Member of Parliament, presented about 2,000 branded Mathematical sets to the students as support.
He also made a presentation of snack packs to teachers and invigilators at the centres.
Madam Janet Valerie Datsa Agbotse, the Hohoe Municipal Education Director, on behalf of the students expressed gratitude to the MP for the donation.
She urged the students to learn and pass their exams successfully.
Mr Solomon Amankwah, in charge of the St. Francis College of Education Centre, disclosed to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that a male student was absent out of the 589 students writing at the centre.
He said he was informed that the student stopped going to school after registration for the exams.
Mr Kutanu Richard, in charge of the Hohoe E.P SHS Centre, said four students out of 466 were absent but was unaware of the reason for their absenteeism.
Mr Forster Asante, in charge of the Hohoe E.P Basic Schools Centre, told GNA that two out of 457 students were absent.
He said information he had indicated that one of the students was no longer in the Municipality while they could not reach out to the other absentee after several phone calls.
Mr Kafui Akorlie, in charge of the Alavanyo Wudidi M/A JHS, said one out of the 158 students at the Centre was absent.
He said information picked up was that the male student absentee was involved in an accident.
Ms Anna Adukwei Addo, Tema West Municipal Chief Executive gave the caution during a visit to some examination centres.
The MCE accompanied by Mr Isaac McCarthy, Tema West Education Director, and other officials visited the Tema Secondary School, Trinity Lutheran School, and Queensland International School centres.
She expressed optimism that the candidates would perform well in the BECE as per the results from the two mock examinations organised for them by the Assembly.
She added the Assembly was aware that the candidates had been taken through the necessary preparations by their teachers and therefore must do away with fear and concentrate on what they had learnt to excel in the examination.
The Tema West MCE also appealed to the invigilators to create a conducive environment for the candidate to relax and write the paper devoid of unnecessary fear and panic.
Meanwhile a total of 4,023 candidates made up of 2,133 girls and 1,890 boys are sitting for this year’s exam at 13 centres in the Municipality.
Mr McCarthy on his part reminded the candidates that the exams would cover a little bit of all the things they had learnt in their basic education and therefore encouraged them to write to the best of their ability.
Out of the total, 2,214 registered from the public basic schools, 1,809 were from private schools.
The one-week BECE commenced nationwide on Monday, October 17 at 0900 hours with Social Studies, and Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) as the first two papers for Day One.
Two lactating mothers and four visibly pregnant girls are writing the 2022 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Nabdam District of the Upper East Region.
Only two out of the 649 candidates expected to sit the examination were absent.
According to Mr Giba Abraham Adoctor, the Upper East Regional Examination Officer, Ghana Education Service, who revealed this to the Ghana News Agency, two candidates were also absent at the Bolgatanga East District.
He said the examination started on time and was moving smoothly across the 15 Municipal and Districts in the region.
He said over 20,000 candidates from 679 schools were expected to write the examination this year in the region and urged parents to desist from activities that would mar the peaceful conduct of the examination.
When GNA visited some examination centres in the Bolgatanga Municipality, it observed that the exercise was ongoing peacefully with full cooperation from both candidates and invigilators.
At the Bolgatanga Girls Senior High School, where there were three centres, five out of the 1,001 candidates who were expected to report for the examination failed to turn up.
Also, at the Bolgatanga Technical Institute (BOTECH), which had two centres expected to host 876 candidates for this year’s exercise, 11 were absent.
Madam Emelia Asigri, the Supervisor for BOTECH BECE Centre A, told GNA that the exercise was peaceful and there were no issues recorded.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has inaugurated a 410,000-litre borehole facility for the people of Hwidaa in the Ahafo Ano South District.
The facility forms part of the Pro-Poor Water Projects being carried out by the Commission in partnership with the Ghana Water Company, to support deprived communities with potable water.
Already, a total of 305 water projects have been inaugurated in some deprived communities across the country.
Mr Amidu Issahaku, Deputy Minister for Sanitation and Water Resources, speaking at the ceremony, said Ghana was living up to the global target of improving health and sustainable water supply and sanitation for all.
He said PURC was doing a lot in complimenting government’s efforts at providing potable water in every community in the country.
Mr Issahaku said water was one of the earth’s essential resources and so water bodies must be protected from environmental activities such as illegal mining.
This, he said was a collective responsibility, adding that “the future generation would curse us if we do not resolve water pollution in the country”.
Dr Ishmael Ackah, Executive Secretary of PURC, said the Commission would be providing additional 120 boreholes in other communities, which were also in need of water.
He said the key function of PURC was to provide guidelines for rates to be charged for the provision of utility services and also implementing pro-poor projects.
He advised the community to take good care of the facility and maintain it properly.
Mr Kwadwo Frimpong Bonsu, District Chief Executive (DCE) for the area said the Assembly, through its share of the Common Fund, had provided six boreholes in the district, while most of the roads in the area had been put to good shape.
He urged the community to support government in providing more infrastructure for them.
Madam Faustina Boakye, Chief Manager at the GWLC, said the company would continue to work with the PURC to help achieve the universal access to water supply and access to safe water was access to life and entreated the community to use water wisely.
Nana Asiedu Barima, Chief of Hwidaa, reiterated Madam Boakye’s call for the community members to use water wisely and called on other stakeholders to come on board to develop the community.
Madam Ama Pomaa Boateng, Deputy Minister of Communications and Digitalisation said this at the maiden edition of the National Cyber Security Challenge in Accra as part of activities to celebrate CyberSecurity Month.
CyberSecurity Month is instituted to raise awareness for the citizenry to develop a cybersecurity culture and stay safe whilst using digital technologies to develop and enhance their way of life.
Madam Boateng noted that awareness creation was identified as the most effective medium to address cybercrime issues worldwide.
Hence, she said Government through the CSA institutionalised the National Cybersecurity Awareness Month for Ghanaians.
“We have achieved some successes, especially in raising awareness of the online risks associated with contact with our children on the internet, the conduct of children and young people on the internet, which could harm other children as well as the contents which children access on the internet,” the Deputy Minister said.
Madam Boateng stated that Ghana’s internet penetration rate currently stood at 53 per cent of the total population, including children, who were susceptible to threats such as cyberbullying, exposure to indecent images and videos cyberstalking, phishing attacks and sextortion.
The protection of children, vulnerable among society, she said, was at the forefront of the Government’s national cybersecurity efforts.
The Deputy Minister said as part of the Government’s commitment to protecting children and the entire cyberspace from criminal activities, the Safer Digital Ghana Awareness Programme was launched in 2018, with a focus on Children, the Public, Businesses and Government.
In partnership with UNICEF-Ghana, Ghana currently has an agreement with the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) concerning reporting of child online cases and the IWF portal, linked to CSA’s Cybercrime/Cybersecurity Incident Reporting Points of Contact (PoC).
It was launched on October 1, 2019, to allow the public, including children to report abuse and cybercrime cases and to receive advisories.
Dr Abert Antwi- Boasiako, Acting Director General, CSA, said it was the collective responsibility of law enforcers, parents, guardians and teachers to protect and secure children from all forms of abuse, including those online.
He noted that the increasing access to the internet presented unparalleled opportunities for children and young people to communicate, connect, learn and access information from various parts of the world, however, it came with new security challenges.
Dr Antwi- Boasiako assured CSA’s commitment to protecting the interests of children online in line with its mandate to regulate and promote the development of cybersecurity in the country.
“The Cyber Security Authority is putting in place the required structures to create a safe digital ecosystem for the children of Ghana, but the greater responsibility lies on parents, teachers and the children themselves,” the Acting Director General stated.
The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) is building the capacities of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) to help empower and strengthen them to increase production base to enter the international market.
Mr Francis Fosu Kwakye, Deputy Zonal Officer for Ashanti, Bono and Bono East regions, who stated this, said improvement of standards of products of SMEs and exporting more, would help the country achieve the National Export Development Strategy (NEDS) target of 25.3 billion dollars by 2029.
He was speaking at a day’s export school organised by GEPA in Ashanti regionfor registered SMES and prospective exporters in Kumasi aimed at equipping participants in the knowledge and skills needed for export.
They were taught on contract negotiations, social media marketing, African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), trade agreements, skills in non-traditional exports (NTEs), among others.
Mr Kwakye said GEPA was building capacities of more exporters to expand production and add value to manufactured goods.
He said among the products that were being supported to help increase their export targets and improve the economy, were sugar, salt, cocoa products, pharmaceuticals and textiles.
Ms Diana Bosompem, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of 360 Naturals Cosmetics, said the export school was a refreshing course to equip them with skills to enhance their exports activities.
She encouraged all SMEs to register their businesses with GEPA, to acquire the knowledge needed to improve their businesses and be export worthy.
Hundreds of farmers in Asuboi, Ayensuano District, have benefited from the installation of a new cassava processing pavilion, housing three locally produced cassava processors, a pressing machine, a roasting area, and a storeroom.
The multi-purpose pavilion is intended to boost daily cassava processing productivity and improve working conditions for female cassava farmers in Asuboi and surrounding areas.
Ms Shlomit Sufa, the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, commissioned the pavilion during the international World Rural Women’s Day celebration, which was themed “Rural Women Using Technology to Improve Food for All.”
She said the cassava processor technology had the potential to improve the work of women cassava farmers while adding value to cassava products.
Small-scale farmers in Ghana contribute significantly to the country’s overall agricultural output, with most of the small-scale farmers and fishers being women who grow vegetables, cereals, and other food crops.
In cash crop production like cocoa, which is owned by men, women contribute significantly by using their labour to support weeding, harvesting, and transporting the final product to marketing centres.
Also, in manufacturing and agro processing, women in rural communities contribute to fish processing and cassava processing into gari, (agblima) cassava dough and starch.
Thus, Ms. Sufa commended Ghanaian women for their role in enhancing agricultural and rural development and improving food security and eradicating rural poverty.
“It is therefore important to celebrate as well as acknowledge the innovation and technologies that these women deploy in their daily work, especially in the agricultural sector,” she added.
The Asuboi Chief, Nana Ahyia Boateng, praised Israel for assisting women farmers in the community with the gari processing pavilion and machines, but implored for a mechanised borehole and a senior high school.
While acknowledging the contribution of Israel, Ms. Emelia Larbi and Grace Armah, both farmers, outlined many emerging crop and fish production problems that are impeding women’s ability to ensure sustainable farming.
Both expressed concern about how women farmers, particularly those growing plantain and cassava, were suffering because of rising farm input prices and the scarcity of weedicides and fertilisers.
“The fertilizer is too expensive and scarce; we can’t find any, and when we do, it’s too expensive; we can’t afford it.” Ms Larbi said. “Weedicides have also become prohibitively expensive, and we want something done about it.”
Besides that, she noted that sand winning and lack of ready markets for farm produce were de-motivating many rural women farmers, forcing many young people to migrate to urban areas to look for work.
“Due to these challenges, our children do not want to stay with us in rural areas, but rather leave for urban centres because they do not want to go through these challenges,” Ms. Armah explained.
“The fear is that if nothing is done, it will lead to food shortages in the near future.”
The women also expressed concern about the exorbitant cost of premix fuel, which had become prohibitively expensive for women farmers and inaccessible to farmers.
The idea of designating a special day to honour rural women was first proposed in 1995 at the fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China.
In this regard, October 15 was designated as “World Rural Women’s Day,” coinciding with World Food Day, to highlight rural women’s role in food production and security.
In a speech read on his behalf, Mr. Seth Acheampong, Eastern Regional Minister, acknowledged challenges such as access to farmlands and financing rural women farmers, but encouraged them to continue working toward food security.
He also urged farmers to resist the temptation to sell their land for gold mining, stating that “agricultural farming is the real gold, and thus our lands should be protected.”
The Development Action Association, a network of farmer-based organisations, celebrated the 2022 World Rural Women’s Day in collaboration with the Israeli embassy, GIZ Agribiz, and Yara fertiliser.
Rotary Club of Tema-Meridian in partnership with Rotary Club of Hannover-Ballhof, Germany have commissioned and handed over an oxygen generation system with other hospital equipment to the Catholic Hospital at Battor.
The other medical equipment included Patients monitor, examination light, ultrasound unit, wheelchairs and trolleys.
Ms Ethel Vandor-Odonkor, President for Rotary Club of Tema-Meridian, mentioned the project which cost about USD 85,000 took about three years to complete.
She said apart from the Oxygen Generation System, a list of other hospital equipment was also delivered to the hospital from Germany.
Ms Vandor-Odonkor speaking at the ceremony, said Covid – 19 pandemic was one of the major reasons for the delay of the project and acknowledged the support elicited from past presidents of the club for the completion of the project.
“I want to thank the Rotary Foundation, past presidents and members of the Rotary Club of Tema-Meridian and our partners in Germany, the Rotary club of Hannover-Ballhof for partnering our club in having a smooth execution of this project. We believe our co-operation will be a long lasting one,” she said.
Dr Bernard Hayford Atuguba, the medical superintendent of Battor Catholic Hospital, said the support of the Rotary Club came at the right time.
“The hospital has 76 cylinders, and we spend between Gh¢8,000 and GH¢10,000 every week on refilling of our oxygen cylinders, this excludes maintenance and fuel; the stress and difficulties in pulling and swapping empty cylinder being an issue of the past should be much joy to our nurses,” he said.
Dr Atuguba added the facility was a 100 cubic meter oxygen generation system, which had been designed to serve the entire hospital adding that “the hospital currently uses about 15 per cent of the oxygen generated and the rest of the facilities would be connected to it soon.
This he said would not only benefit people of the North Tongu District since the hospital had about 60 per cent of its clients coming from Accra and 40 per cent from the Volta Region and other districts including countries like Togo.
Mr Mumuni Haruna, the Assistant Governor for Rotary district 9102 who represented the District Governor explained that Rotary had been a service and voluntary organisation made up of different professionals who come together and help the community.
He said Rotary was divided into zones and districts which Ghana had been part of district 9102 which included Togo, Benin and Niger.
“Rotary has seven areas of focus and fighting disease under which this oxygen plant project falls as one of them”, he said.
Mr Mumuni Haruna appealed to the hospital to take good care of the Oxygen Generation System as well as other equipment.
“Sustainability is important, so, the machines need to be well maintained for the next generation,” he said.
The heads of the various units of the hospital applauded the gesture of the Rotary club of Tema-Meridian and Rotary Club of Hannover-Ballhof adding that, “they have brought life to Battor since Oxygen is life.”
The Oxygen Generation System currently serves three wards which include emergency unit, recovery ward and the theatre.
Rotary International has been in service for more than 110 years and has more than 1.2 million members globally. It’s made up of neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change across the globe.
The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA)says its investigation has revealed that 50 cartons of Pavo Frankfurt sausages with expiry date November 2022 were imported into the country.
It said 30 out to the 50 cartons of the substandard sausage said contain listeria bacteria were sent to Ho, 15 to Accra, with five cartoons consumed by the importers.
Mr Vigil Edward Prah-Ashun, Head of Intelligence at the FDAtold the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that officers of the Authority were able to intercepts only four cartons of the sausages sent to Ho.
“We found out the 26 out of the 30 cartoons sent to Ho were already sold out and consumed, we have been able to trace most people who consumed the product to check for any adverse effect,” he said.
Mr Prah-Ashun said so far no adverse effect had been reported among those who consumed the product, and that the FDA was working to trace the remaining 15 cartoons in Accra.
“We have alerted all regional officers to be on the lookout for the product,” he said.
The head of intelligence said the FDA found and detained some cartons of Pavo Frankfurt sausage in Ho on October 11 following the recall of the AIA Wudy and Pavo sausage brands in Europe and other countries.
So far, no AIA Wudy sausage had been found on the Ghanaian Market, he said.
Commenting on the fast-approaching Christmas festivities and the sale of expired products, Mr Prah-Ashun said the FDA had intensified its post market surveillance activities to rid the market of unsafe products.
He said the officers were already in the markets to look out for unregistered products, substandard products and those that had short shelve life.
Mr Prah-Eshun said the FDA would ensure that the law dealt with persons, who would take advantage of the Christmas festivities to sell expired confectionaries and frozen foods to the public.
He urged the public to check the expiry dates on all consumables, especially ‘Donkomi’ products.
Jackie Appiah has the best fashion sense and always eats up her styles.
She also plays a major role in Ghana’s fashion industry besides being a great actor and brand ambassador for numerous products.
The Ghanaian actress evidently knows how to choose and combine colors to make perfect outfits.
On her Instagram handle (Jackieappiah) are beautiful photos of the screen goddess.
Jackie always represents her designers in modest and elegant ways because she really rocks her styles accurately depending on the occasion.
Most women can attest to the fact that picking outfits for an occasion can be quite arduous because there must be matching makeup, bags, hairstyles, and footwear to go with the style.
But Miss Jackie manages to slay her looks each and every time.
Founder of Alordia Promotions, Mr. Alordia says one Ghanaian artiste who has the potential to fill the O2 Arena is Black Sherif.
Speaking in an interview with Andy Dosty on Daybreak Hitz, he mentioned that this is possible because he has managed to get his music to be accepted by millions of people worldwide.
The conversation about how far Ghanaian musicians can go on the international front just took a different turn after the CEO of Akwaaba UK, Mr. Denis Tawiah mentioned that no Ghanaian artists can fill the O2 Arena.
In an interview with Lexis Bill on Personality Profile on Joy FM, he said; “Which Ghanaian artiste, on record, as we speak, has even sold a 5,000-capacity venue in the UK?” he wondered.
The closest, he recalls, is Reggie Rockstone or Sarkodie, who might have drawn about 4,000 audiences to their shows some years ago.
Even though DJ Alordia agrees with him, he also mentioned that an artiste like Black Sherif can fill the O2 only if all arms in the entertainment sector come together to work as a unit.
“The only person that can fill the O2 arena is Black Sherif because his music is everywhere. Our artists go there and sit there alone. They do not involve indigenous promoters who will help them reach out to people to come for the events.
“We can do this but we have to come together and work,” he said on Hitz FM.
CEO of Alordia Promotions, Mr. Alordia
Alordia Promotions is the organizer of the Ghana Music Awards UK.
The Ghana Music Awards UK is largely a people’s choice awards scheme that seeks to champion and expand the development of the Ghanaian music industry both at home and abroad, into an international market for global recognition of Ghanaian creative works.
The scheme is established to create an open market for collaboration, sales, new music trends, cultural exchanges, marketing opportunities and several benefits to be accessed by Ghanaian musicians in the United Kingdom.
The organizers of the scheme expect to make the Ghana Music Awards UK brand the biggest music festival to be held yearly in the United Kingdom to award excellence and creativity and give an equal opportunity for Ghanaians in the diaspora to compete.
The final funeral rites and burial of late actor Ekow Blanksonwill be done on December 17, according to his family.
The decision was communicated at the one-week observation ceremony held at the Tema Community 11 Presec School on Saturday.
“The family has decided that final funeral rites for our beloved Ekow Blankson will happen on December 17 here in Tema”, the MC announced.
A family member of the actor said the funeral services will begin at the Full Gospel Church, Community 1, behind Obonu fm, followed by a reception at Community 11 Presec school park, all in Tema.
6 that when he dies, no one should wear black, so there will be a special cloth for the funeral, and all white for the Sunday service on December 18.”
The memorial service was attended by many including fellow actors Bill Asamoah, Kalybos, Fiifi Coleman, Fred Amugi, Michael Afranie, Prince David Osei, Anthony Woode, and Beverly Afaglo.
An entourage from The Multimedia Group Limited was present to mourn and extend condolences to the bereaved family.
The team was led by the Programs Manager of Hitz FM, Prince Tsegah, who is a schoolmate of the late actor.
With him were the Host of Hitz FM’s morning show, Andy Dosty, the host of The Overdrive on Joy FM, Kofi Hayford, Joy Prime TV hosts, Ibrahim Ben-Bako and Roselyn Felli, the latter of whom had close working relations with the late actor.
(L – R: Ibrahim Ben-Bako, Prince Tsegah, Andy Dosty, Kofi Hayford)
Atinka FM’s drive time show “Atinka Drive”, Kwabena Agyeman Appiah Kubi, affectionately called “Roman Fada,” tied the knot with his longtime girlfriend, Maame Akosua Serwaa Akoto, over the weekend.
Roman Fada is also the host of Atinka FM’s Saturday’s “Adadamu” where he speaks with music legends and celebrities.
The star-studded ceremony took place at the plush Dor-Events Center at North Kaneshie in Accra.
Some celebrities spotted at the event were Obaapa Christy, Nana Ama Mcbrown, Mercy Aseidu, Philipa Baafi, SP Kofi Sarpong, and Maame Korea.
The clergy was also represented by Mamalistic Mama, Prophet Emmanuel Badu Kobi, the Rev. Abiam Danso, and Pastor Mrs. Selina Baidoo.
The former MP for Manhyia North, Collins Amankwa, and renowned Fetish Priest, Kwaku Bonsam, were also present.
The President of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, also graced the occasion.
The Managing Director for Atinka Media Village, Aida Hamah, the News Editor for Atinka Media Village, Isaac Nuamah Yeboah, the Missing Children Documentary Anchor, Regina Asamoah, and the staff of Atinka also showed love to their colleague by gracing the occasion.
Social media has since been flooded with birthday messages from fans across the world, particularly from the Shatta Movement (SM).
Shatta’s closest rival, Stonebwoy, has also extended a birthday wish to him.
The ‘Therapy’ hitmaker penned down an interesting message for his colleague in a post on his Twitter wall.
“Life is the ultimate, Let’s celebrate each day with gratitude. Happy 55th birthday anniversary to Shatta Wale wiase Nyinaa DON# GOGAlbum let’s Go, where’s the party?” he captioned the post which was accompanied with a picture he took with Shatta Wale.
Life is the ultimate, Let’s Celebrate Each Day With Gratitude.
Happy 55th Bday Anniversary To @shattawalegh wiase Nyinaa DON🕊️😘🌎#GOGAlbum let’s Go, where’s the party? pic.twitter.com/6wxXySRw5x
Lamenting the high cost of living in Ghana, the actress took to Twitter to bitterly complain about the price of a certain eye drop she uses daily to prevent her from going blind.
Yvonne disclosed that she risks contracting glaucoma without that particular eye drop which now costs double its initial price.
“Mr. President, Nana Akufo-Addo,this eye drop ( xalacom) was 120ghc, its now 273ghc and even 300ghc in some pharmacies. I need to use this every evening, without it, the pressures on my eye will go up and will result in glaucoma. How many Ghanaians do you think can afford this?” She wrote on Twitter, on October 16, 2022.
The actress however believes that the president has been acting nonchalant while citizens suffer in these hard times.
“Are you still president? Are you still in this country? Do you hear the people crying? Are you this heartless? No more campaigns ahead so you are unbothered? You obviously feel nothing for Ghanaians. Such a disappointment. The country Is bleeding. it’s that bad! We cannot live this way! Are you able to sleep at night? People close to you aren’t telling you? You have failed every citizen!”
Read the posts below:
Mr President, @NAkufoAddo , this eye drop ( xalacom) was 120ghc , its now 273ghc and even 300ghc in some pharmacies. I need to use this every evening, without it, the pressures on my eye will go up and will result in glaucoma. How many Ghanaians do you… pic.twitter.com/RiVHTfokB2
Mr President, @NAkufoAddo , this eye drop ( xalacom) was 120ghc , its now 273ghc and even 300ghc in some pharmacies. I need to use this every evening, without it, the pressures on my eye will go up and will result in glaucoma. How many Ghanaians do you… pic.twitter.com/RiVHTfokB2
think can afford this? Are you still president? Are you still in this country? Do you hear the people crying? Are you this heartless? No more campaigns ahead so you are unbothered? You obviously feel nothing for Ghanaians. Such a disappointment. The country…
Residents of Nana-Krom near Ashaley Botwe old town, in the Adentan Municipality in the Greater Accra Region, have inaugurated an ultra-modern Police station and apartment donated by Chief Inspector Samuel Darko, an Officer with the Ghana Police Service.
Apart from the ultra-modern Police station at Nana-krom gate, Mr Darko has also constructed another two Police posts at Lakeside and Container, all suburbs under his territory, to maintain peace and order.
According to residents, Mr Darko used part of his monthly salary to commence the construction of the edifice until some individuals supported him.
Madam Adzara Ibrahim a resident narrated that, until Mr Darko was transferred to the area, there were lots of crimes, which made it almost impossible for people to go about their business during nighttime but due to the hard work of the officers, the crime rate in the area had drastically curtailed.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Mr Emmanuel Amuzu, the Contractor in charge of the projects, said an amount of Gh¢ 450, 000 had so far been spent on the undertakings by Mr Darko and another donor.
“For now, we have completed four rooms serving as accommodation for some officers and a charge office. Work on a seven-room storey building is also ongoing at the same premises. So, in all, about Gh¢450, 000 has been spent so far,” he told the GNA.
Mr James Mensah, a resident who had donated some bags of cement for the construction of the building, expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Mr Darko for his high level of commitment to duty.
He noted that residents were pleased with the great work being carried on by Mr Darko adding that, “I will soon write officially to the Inspector General of Police to inform him about the extraordinary performance and commitment shown by Chief Inspector Darko.”
Deputy Minister in Charge of Fishery, Mr Moses Anim, has expressed shock over claims from fishermen that there is a shortage of premix fuel in the country.
His surprise stems from the fact that, in spite of a whopping 101.6 million litres of premix fuel released to them (fisherfolks) on an annual basis, fisherfolks still complain of insufficient premix fuel.
Based on this, he concluded that some unscrupulous people within the fishing sector were stealing and selling premix fuel at the expense of the fisherfolk.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency(GNA) Mr
Anim who doubles as the MP for the Trobu Constituency, further disclosed that the government spends huge sums of money to subsidise premix fuel.
He asserted that the government spends “between GHC150 and GHC200 million” to subsidise premix fuel. Consequently, there should not be a reason for shortages in the country, he said. Touching on how the government intends to curb the unexplained shortages of premix fuel, he noted that the government would soon implement the automation system for premix fuel to regularise the usage and monitor how the premix fuel has been distributed to the over 300 landing beaches.
He noted that the automation system offers the best solution to the illegality associated with premixed fuel.
He further charged premix fuel committees at the various landing beaches to ensure that the right things were done to safeguard the interest of the players in the fishery industry.
On his part, Communications Officer, Volta Regional chapter of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council, Mr Vance Kweku Adedze, explained that the fisherfolk population has expanded which called for increase in resources allocation.
He said some resources including the premix fuel given by the government were inadequate to meet the demand of fishermen.
He said other fishermen thronged the Volta waters at night during the close season, stressing that marine officers have been duly informed, but no actions have been taken to safeguard the inshore boundaries in the Volta Region.
Mr Adedze also called for serious surveillance at some vantage points within the enclave to regulate and monitor people who invade the Volta shores illegally for fishing activities.
Ticket sales for the soccer World Cup are approaching the three-million mark ahead of the tournament kicking off in Qatar on November 20, Fifa’s president Gianni Infantino and event organisers said on Monday.
The top three purchasing countries of the 2.89 million tickets sold are Qatar, the United States and Saudi Arabia, World Cup Chief Operating Officer Colin Smith told a news conference in Doha.
Infantino, addressing the conference in a recorded video, said 240 000 hospitality packages had been sold for the month-long tournament, the first to be held in a Middle Eastern country.
Qatar, the smallest country to have hosted soccer’s global showpiece tournament, is preparing to receive an estimated 1.2 million visitors during the World Cup.
Thousands of fans are expected to stay in neighbouring countries like tourism hub the United Arab Emirates and fly in to Doha for matches due to limited accommodation in Qatar.
The director general of Qatar’s World Cup organising committee, Yasir Al Jamal, told the news conference that 2 million room nights have been sold and that Qatar has added an additional 30 000 rooms to accommodate last-minute ticket sales.
Many hotel rooms in Doha will be occupied by soccer teams, their support staff and World Cup officials.
Japan will be the first team to arrive for the tournament on 7 November, Smith said.
The Greater West Youth Ministry Director of the Assemblies of God, Ghana, Reverend Nana Kumi-Manu, has entreated the youth to pursue careers in artisanship and entrepreneurship.
He said the Government could not employ every individual in the country, hence the need for the youth to find some work to do on their own.
Rev Kumi-Manu made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency at the just ended 2022 youth camp for the Greater Accra West Youth Ministry of the Assemblies of God church in Kumasi.
He said: “The Bible says, the hand that does not work must not eat, and when you sit down and wait for the Government to employ you, the truth is, the Government cannot solve everyone’s problem.”
“I, therefore, encourage everybody to do something and as you work, God will bless your work because the Lord says, I will bless the work of your hands,” Rev Kumi-Manu said.
He encouraged the youth not to despise skilled jobs like fashion design, beads making, hairdressing and carpentry, and asked them to be professional in such fields, look for mentorship and always upgrade themselves.
“Find something to do; it may be little but it’s God who multiplies, so, start no matter how small, and God will multiply and make it fruitful,” the Youth Director encouraged.
He spoke on the involvement of the youth in the work of God and charged the Christian youth to live exemplary life by being pure in their daily lives, as God expected the youth to “be eager and enthusiastic to see His work revived.”
Rev Kumi-Manu said the works of God may not be admirable, alluring, classy, captivating and enticing, nonetheless, the Christian youth must focus on prayers, Bible studies, fasting, and evangelism to be able to impact their communities.
The weeklong programme was filled with moments of intense prayer, fasting, praises and worship and workshop in various fields, including music, marriage, academic excellence, skills development and entrepreneurship.
Other activities at the camp included Bible quiz competition (won by the Motorway District), football competition (won by Ngleshie Amanfrom District) and rep your jersey – which saw the youth wore the jerseys of their favourite football teams to church.
This year’s International Fish Festival slated for November 24 and 25 will be held at the Black Star Square in Accra, Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, has disclosed.
She said the event would be marked with a durbar of chiefs and chief fisher men, exhibition of fishing and aquaculture inputs, fish products as well as a panel discussion on topical issues in the sector.
Mrs Koomson made the disclosure in an address read for her during this year’s International Food Day at Sogakope in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region.
This year’s celebration was on the theme: “Leave No One Behind, Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment and Better Life.”
The Minister said the festival would provide an opportunity to show case the importance of the sector to national development, deliberate and explore solutions to the challenges confronting the sustainable management of the fisheries resources.
She said the Fisheries Ministry was working to sustain the fisheries and aquaculture sector for the current and future generations by ensuring production of quality fish for consumption and protection of the environment.
Mrs Koomson said the Ministry attached a worth of importance to the celebration of the World Food Day and had participated fully over the years and this demonstrated the Ministry’s pursuit of ameliorating poverty, malnutrition and hunger.
She said fisheries enforcement operations had been intensified to ensure compliance to fisheries laws and combat illegal fishing practices, emphasising that MoFAD had shown its unflinching stance to clump down on illegal operators and prosecute them for infractions through the law courts.
“However, we continue to engage fishers to voluntarily comply with relevant laws with the hope to achieve sustainable fisheries resource management and safeguard livelihoods of persons engaged in the value chain,” she added.
She said healthy diets and better nutrition was fundamental to ending poverty, achieving better quality of life, developing human capital and national development.
Mr Seth Kwasi Agbi, District Chief Executive for South Tongu called for adoption of better productive methods which would translate into produce with required nutrients for a healthy life.
He said government’s flagship projects including Planting for Food and Jobs, Planting for Export and Rural Development and distribution of subsidised fertilizers and high yielding vegetable seedlings to farmers were meant to increase productivity and drive the country’s development agenda.
The DCE said the district was ripe for investment and therefore urged business community to invest in the district, adding that the district had vast fertile arable land, and the people were also willing to venture into commercial farming.
SEND Ghana urges government to recycle waste for revenue SEND Ghana, a policy research and advocacy organisation, has urged the government to prioritise waste recycling as a means of generating revenue for development.
Mrs Harriet Nuamah-Agyemang, Programme Officer, SEND Ghana, made the suggestions in Accra at a stakeholder engagement on the development of the 2023 Budget statement and economic policy organised by the Ministry of Finance.
The engagement was to solicit input from the stakeholders for consideration in the 2023 annual budget preparation to be presented in November.
The forum brought together stakeholders, including the Trade Union Congress, the Association of Ghana Industries, the Accra Market Association, the Association of Road Contractors, and civil society organisations, among others.
In response to the nation’s economic woes, the organisation also urged the government to reinstate the collection of road tolls.
She urged the government to create a Health Emergency Fund to replace the COVID-19 Fund in order to sustain the nation’s healthcare system.
Touching on the education sector, she called for the provision of suitable infrastructure at the basic school level, including kindergarten, and the review of the free Senior High School policy. On his part, Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. John Kumah, stated that continuous monitoring of the government’s programmes would help shape the country’s development agenda.
” We believe in a culture of governance that promotes transparency and accountability. The Ministry has been exploring avenues to deepen citizen participation to advance the country’s democratic governance,” he said.
He said the country’s economic situation was still faced with internal and external factors and stated that the government was negotiating with the International Monetary Fund for a bailout.
The Deputy Minister urged the public to consume local products to boost the country’s revenue and pay taxes to maximize revenue mobilization to address the economic challenges.
He said the government intended to restore and sustain macroeconomic stability, ensure durable and inclusive growth, and promote social protection.
Head of Budget Development and Reforms, Ministry of Finance, Dr Alex Amankwa Poku, adding his voice, said the country’s budget cycle covered the formulation, approval, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation processes.
According to him, Ghana, in the latest Open Budget Survey in 2021, improved its transparency score from 54 out of 100 in 2019 to 56 in 2021.
The Criminal and Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has inaugurated the first interview room for Women and Children at the Kasoa Police Station to provide privacy to survivors of domestic violence, while they tell their stories.
The interview room was fixed with support from UNICEF and Global Affairs Canada.
Mr David Eklu, the Central East Regional Police Commander, commissioning the room said it would give protection and dignity to Children and Women, who survived domestic abuses.
“Policing is not only about protecting adults, but children are critical in performing our duties. when they suffer abuse, they need a place, where they can have a peace of mind to settle down for our officers to attend to them,” he said.
Chief Superintendent of Police Cecilia Arko, Deputy Director, DOVVSU at CID Headquarters said the Unit existed to safeguard the dignity and human rights of children, adults at risk in Ghana through the prevention of domestic violence.
She said they also engaged the public in sensitisation programmes, investigation, arrest and prosecuting the perpetrators of abuse within the domestic system.
She said DOVVSU had established an effective database for crime, detection, prevention, and prosecution, adding that the Unit referred survivors, who required medical attention and specialized health to the health facilities, clinical psychologist, social workers, and counsellors.
Chief Supt. Arko said, over the years, the Unit had investigated and prosecuted cases of abuse, adding that it had also taken part in awareness creation on human rights.
She said statistics from the DOVVSU unit indicated that most of the Unit had women and children reporting their cases and explained that Children, who reported to the Unit either as contact or in conflicts with the law, needed to be handled with extreme care.
“Information Children provide needs to be obtained with caution,” she said.
“Section 3 and 33 of the Juvenile Justice Act 653/203 and the Children’s Act 560/1998, stipulates that law enforcement agencies are to obtain credible information from Children,” she added.
Chie Supt. Arko said there was the need for DOVVSU to dedicate a safe and convenient place to Children for them to open during their narrations.
She thanked UNICEF and Global Affairs Canada, for their support to Ghanaian women and Children.
Madam Lucia Soleti, UNICEF Chief, Child Protection said in Ghana 34 per cent of women and girls aged 15 to 49 years, who had ever been in a relationship experienced physical or sexual violence by an intimated partner while 94 per cent of children experiencing violent discipline.
“Available data shows that less than 40 per cent of the women who experience violence seek help of any sort. Among those who do, most seek help from family and friends and only less than 10 per cent of those women seek help from the police,” she said.
She said since the outbreak of COVID-19, reports of violence against women, and particularly domestic violence, had increased in several countries as security, health, and financial strains created tensions among relationships.
Madam Soleti said the Police was the first point of contact for reporting any abuse but reporting and testifying about sexual and gender-based violence to the Police and subsequently in court could be daunting for Children and women.
“Many survivors stop following up on their cases due to going through many processes at Police stations or the court during investigations and prosecution. They either decide to stop following up the cases at the police station level or the court level,” she said.
Madam Soleti explained that improving the environment in which women and Children testify would help to improve the reporting and facilitate access to justice. “We must create conditions to support all children to realize this right without being additionally traumatized,” she added.
The UNICEF Chief said the choice of Kasoa was strategic because it served a large constituency and received a lot of cases of survivors.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA) will be back in Court later this week for the hearing of the case filed against it by Ashanti Gold SC.
The football governing body in the country has been dragged to court after its Disciplinary Committee ruled to demote Ashanti Gold SC from the Ghana Premier League to the Division Two League.
Ashanti Gold SC claims innocence of allegations of playing a fixed match with Inter Allies FC and wants the decision to demote the club to the lower-tier league to be overturned.
When the Ghana FA faced off with Ashgold in Court last Friday, the case was adjourned to October 20 with an order for the club to file a supplementary affidavit today, Monday, October 17.
For Ghana FA Vice President Mark Addo, the Ghana FA believes it has a good case and will come out victorious at the end of the hearing.
“If they (AshantiGold) feel they went to the Appeals process and were still found guilty on the basis of that, the next level was for them to have gone to CAS. Even the players that were banned went to CAS and were given a reprieve.”
“If they choose not to go through the process, and go to court, which is fine. Every dog will have his day in court. The FA will strongly present their case and I am very hopeful that we will be vindicated.” Mark Addo told Citi Sports in an interview.
A Vice Chairman Aspirant of the National Democratic Congress in the Ashanti region, Alhaji Nje Abdalah Umar, has admonished party faithful to strengthen their respective branches for the success of the party.
He believes the chances of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) winning the 2024 general election largely depends on strengthening the branches,
He said the branches were the base of the party, where actual mobilisation of members to vote on election’s day happened, hence the need to commit more resources to revitalise that important structure of the party.
Speaking to the media after successfully filling his nomination to contest in the forthcoming regional elections, he said supporting the branches to protect the ballots was critical to the party’s chances of winning the 2024 elections.
“Although I am contesting for a regional executive position, I will pay attention to activities at the branch level where every vote of the party would be counted when given the nod by the delegates,” he promised.
He said he had already been involved in the re-organisation and registration of members at the branch level ahead of the constituency elections, visiting seven constituencies.
“I have come to appreciate and understand the challenges facing our branches after visiting seven of them in the last few months, and that is why I intend to work closely with the entire regional executives and other relevant stakeholders in the party to make the branches vibrant,” he noted.
He implored the delegates to give him the nod to serve the party as a regional executive, having been actively involved in activities of the party at various levels since 1992.
As the Founder of Buffaloes for NDC, a youth group dedicated to supporting activities of the NDC in the Ashanti and Bono Regions, Alhaji Nje is known for championing youth activism within the party.
He was hopeful that his ambition to serve the party at the regional level would receive the backing of the delegates and pledged his commitment to contribute to the NDC’s quest to recapture power in 2024.
The Ministry of Financehas reacted to publications speculating that about 94% of Tier 2 pension contributions placed in government securities will be affected by debt restructuring policies by the government.
According to reports, the Debt Restructuring Programme may have an impact on the GH3.7 billion of the GH3.9 billion in Tier 2 pension payments invested in government securities.
The Ministry, in a statement dated October 14, 2022, stated that the publication is unfounded and is meant to undermine investor confidence in Ghana’s financial sector, which contributes to the cedi depreciation.
“These publications and “social media advisories” are without merit and are designed to undermine confidence in Ghana’s financial sector. They rather contribute to pressures on the currency and undermine investor confidence,” portions of the statement read.
Allaying fears about a possible effect on pension investment, the Finance Ministry pledged to protect investors’ interests, especially when the country seeks a financial bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The ministry headed by Ken Ofori-Atta further added that the Akufo- Addo government, “since 2017, has always protected investors’ interests in the financial sector.” “Government will continue with this objective and ensure that investors’ best interests are upheld at all times,” it added. Commenting on Ghana’s progress in securing support from the IMF, the Finance Ministry stated that the negotiations are progressing steadily.
The programme, it says, when implemented, will bring growth, stability, and relief to the country.
The Finance Ministry, therefore, encourages the public to disregard these publications, which are in no way reflective of the progress of work being done with the IMF.
The government has set up a 5-Member Consultative Committee to lead discussions with the financial services industry and other stakeholders to provide industry-wide inputs and transmit industry concerns on debt management strategy to the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana.
The committee is chaired by astute banker, Albert Essien.
What is Tier 2 pension investment?
Tier 2 pension investment is a mandatory contributory scheme
with monthly contributions of 5% on the basic salary of all employees. Tier 2 is a defined contribution scheme and contributions are fully tax-exempt and are privately managed by approved Trustees.
In the midst of Ghana’s deteriorating economy, the Finance Ministry has stated that it will not relent in its efforts to protect investors’ interests in the financial sector.
In a communiqué sighted by The Independent Ghana dated October 14, 2022, the ministry noted that the Akufo-Addo-led administration, keen on boosting the country’s fortunes, has implemented pragmatic policies to protect the interests of investors.
“For the avoidance of doubt, it must be recalled that the Government of Ghana, since 2017, has always protected investors’ interests in the financial sector. Government will continue with this objective and ensure that investors’ best interests are upheld at all times,” part of the statement read.
The Ministry’s communiqué comes at a time when the country’s economy has been faced with several fiscal challenges, such as ballooning debt and a surge in inflation.
The Ministry of Finance has reacted to publications speculating that about 94%
of Tier 2 pension contributions placed in government securities will be affected by debt restructuring policies by the government.
According to reports, the Debt Restructuring Programme may have an impact on the GH3.7 billion of the GH3.9 billion in Tier 2 pension payments invested in government securities.
The Ministry, in a statement dated October 14, 2022, stated that the publication is unfounded and is meant to undermine investor confidence in Ghana’s financial sector, which contributes to the cedi depreciation.
According to reports, the government will have to cut down on its expenditures by scrapping some policies.
Financial experts have projected that several government programmes, such as the Free Senior High School programme (free SHS programme), Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), and the YouStart programme, may be sacrificed.
In the same vein, some experts have projected that about 94% of Tier 2 pension contributions placed in government securities will be affected by debt restructuring moves by the government. However, the Finance Ministry has refuted such allegations.
Touching on the Tier 2 pension contributions publication, the ministry argued that the publication is without merit.
It says “the attention of the Ministry of Finance has been drawn to social media audiotapes and mainstream media publications speculating about a 94% discount of Tier 2 pension investments in government securities. Other publications also encourage a switch from securities to forex as a store of value.
“These publications and “social media advisories” are without merit and are designed to undermine confidence in Ghana’s financial sector. Indeed, they rather contribute to pressures on the currency and undermine investor confidence,” portions of the statement read.
The Ministry assured that the government’s engagements with the IMF, both in Accra and in Washington, D.C., on a programme to restore macroeconomic stability, are progressing steadily.
The Ministry of Finance, therefore, asked all Ghanaians to disregard these publications.
Black Sherif came in with a different energy at the Tidal Rave Festivalon October 15, 2022, when he started his performance with his new single ‘Soja’.
Before the artiste made it to the stage, his name was chanted by all who were present while his dancers paved way for him to take over the show.
Always trying to catch attention with his fashion style these days, he donned a yellow skin-tight pants and a t-shirt he coordinated with a pair of black boots.
Blackocame in with a breath of fresh air when he embedded some sleek dance moves into his craft for the first time.
With thousands of torch lights set in motion to capture the moment the ‘Kwaku The Traveler’ artiste stepped on stage until he ended his presentation, it was nothing short of love and support from the people.
Blacko joinsthe tall list of prominent artistes like Sarkodie, and R2Bees, among others who thrilled fans with their songs.
Apostle Dr. David Thomas Aboagye-Mensah, an evangelist has called on Christians throughout the country to offer prayers for the senior national soccer team, the Black Stars to succeed in this year’s World Cup Soccer Fiesta.
The competition is slated for Qatar from November 20 to December 18, 2022.
Apostle Dr Aboagye-Mensah who shared his sentiments on Black Stars participation in the global soccer fiesta with the Ghana News Agency in Accra said between April and July this year, he toured all the 16 regions of the country and with selected churches held prayer sessions for the Black Stars.
The evangelist who is the Founder of both the Christ Universal Network and Office of God’s Prayer Ambassador said, challenged the Catholic Bishops Council, the Christian Council of Ghana, the Ghana Pentecostal Christian Association and other affiliate Christian bodies to take up his call and mobilize their congregants to pray for the national team.
Explaining the significance e of 30 years after the promulgation of Ghana’s Fourth Republican Constitution in 1992, the evangelist said there was Biblical evidence that Saul, Joseph, David and Jesus Christ all attained the age 30 before they were ushered into their kingship, blessings and glory.
Elaborating, he said, even though Joseph was sold by his brothers, he was freed and became Prime Minister of Egypt at the age of 30.
Saul, the first King of Israel was enthroned at age 30, David ascended the throne in Israel also at the age of 30, while Jesus Christ began his ministry also at the same, age he said.
Then again, Apostle Dr. Aboagye-Mensah said if the Black Stars in the Fourth Republic were going to the World cup for the Fourth time, it was incumbent upon Christians to invoke the Presence, Spirit and Power of the Fourth Man, believed in the Holy Bible as Jesus Christ, who showed up in the burning furnace of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego thus saving them.
That done, he believed, the Black Stars would be victorious at the end of the tournament.
The national team, he asserted, possessed talented players, who when focused and dedicated, and got moral support and prayers from Ghanaians, could bring laurels to the nation
Apostle Dr Aboagye-Mensah appealed to the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ghana Football Association (GFA), the Christian community and the government for sponsorship in his prayers crusade for the victory of the Black Stars.
Religious leaders in the country want Government to ban all illegal small-scale mining popularly known as ‘galamsey’ until a comprehensive responsible mining strategy is instituted.
They said small-scale mining both legal and illegal had destroyed the biodiversity-plants, animal species and water bodies, which needed urgent restoration.
Most Reverend Philip Naameh, Archbishop of Tamale, briefing the media on Monday on observations after a field trip to some ‘galamsey’ sites, described ‘galamsey’ as an environmental “coup d’état” ever unleashed upon the country.
“We have visited a number of affected communities and have seen the level of devastation that the practice has caused our natural resources,” he said and asked government to swiftly arrest and prosecute all those involved without fear or favour.
“Those who desire to be rich at the expense of the future of our country should face the full rigors of the law,” he stressed.
Leaders of some religious groups last week made a field trip to some ‘galamsey’ sites in the Eastern region.
The tour was to enable them to assess the level of devastation caused by ‘galamsey’ activities in the communities to inform decision.
This was regardless of the team’s narrow 1-0 win over AS Real Bamako in the second leg of the tie in the second preliminary round of the competition.
Due to a 3-0 defeat from the first leg, Hearts of Oak crashed out of the CAF Confederation Cup on the back of a 3-1 aggregate defeat.
After the game, supporters of Hearts of Oak held board members Vincent Odotei Sowah and Alhaji Akambi hostage, accusing the duo of being the cause of the club’s woes.
Some fans yesterday went to the extreme by deflating the car tyres of Vicent Odotei Sowah.
Twelve hours later, fans are mounting pressure on the two board members to step aside for others to take charge of the running of the club.
A section of the fans also wants club board chairman Togbe Afede XIV to be blamed for the woes of the club.
Amid the bashing directed the way of Vincent Odotei Sowah and Alhaji Akambi, some fans are calling for the appointment of coach Samuel Boadu.
It is the belief that the club erred in sacking the gaffer who had led the club to five trophies in just 18 months.
After delivering a bundle of “Gotta Move On” remix, Diddy returned with the officially video for the Ashanti and Yung Miami-assisted version. The track, dubbed the “Queens Remix,” finds Ashanti addressing a past flame who simply can’t get over her. Many suspect the singer was referencing Irv Gotti, who was widely criticized for sharing intimate details about their alleged fling more than 20 years ago.
“It’s giving obsessed, it’s giving you stressed/It’s giving you pressed, it’s giving this n***a missing the best,” Ashanti sings. “But it’s been 20 years, please cry less/We can see you and your tears.”
Irv faced backlash this year after he made crass remarks about Ashanti and their brief romance. He claimed her 2002 hit “Happy” was conceived immediately after they had sex, and suggested she wasn’t special enough for him to miss. The comments drew criticism from fans as well as hip-hop figures like Fat Joe and Ja Rule.
“I think it was just perfect timing,” Ashanti said about the “Queens Remix” release. “There was a lot of stuff going on with me and a lot of controversy happening. Some people don’t know how to move on. So, I felt like this was an opportunity to tell people to move on.”
Ghana international Jonathan Mensah has celebrated 13 years of the Black Satellites FIFA World Cup glory in Egypt.
The defender who currently plies his trade for American side Columbus Crew played a huge role when Ghana defeated Brazil on penalties to lift the trophy on the African continent.
The Ghana’s U-20 national team became the first African country to win the FIFA World Cup title at the U-20 level, 13 years ago in Egypt against Brazil.
Ten-man Ghana beat Brazil 4-3 on penalties after there were no goals in 120 minutes of action to become the first African team to win the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Cairo, Egypt on Friday night.
“13 years ago, we were crowned champions of the U-20 youth World Cup. God has been more than good to all of us” the Columbus Crew captain posted on Facebook sighted by Footballghana.com.
Several players from that team have gone on to represent Ghana at the senior level.
Notable amongst them are Daniel Agyei, Emmanuel Agyemang Boadu, Jonathan Mensah, Samuel Inkoom and Dominic Adiyiah.
In an effort to increase people’s comprehension and awareness of the financial goods and investments accessible to them, there is a growing consensus around the world that financial education and literacy need to be improved.
It is also meant to help them leverage opportunities to be financially independent.
Individuals who have a better understanding of the financial market, concepts, and goods are also better able to avoid unfavourable scenarios brought on by excessive debt or unsuitable risk positions.
Over the years, the country has witnessed several financial education campaigns from the Ministry of Finance, financial sector regulators, market players and advocacy groups, among others, with the latest being the ‘Ring the Bell for Financial Literacy Campaign’, which was recently organised by the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE).
In giving the keynote address at the GSE’s Ring the Bell for Financial Literacy campaign, the Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Rev. Daniel Ogbarmey Tetteh, emphasised the need to sustain these financial literacy campaigns. While these campaigns have been commendable, they are often just for a period of time, after which little is heard about some of these campaigns.
But in order to make these campaigns effective and achieve the required results, they must be sustained and must not be seen as events. Financial literacy is not an end in itself, but a step- by-step process to help the public appreciate the need to invest.
In the last couple of years, the issue of financial literacy has become more topical than ever due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which affected businesses and livelihoods, thereby exposing individuals who had not adequately planned for their financial independence.
Rev. Ogbarmey Tetteh said building investor resilience was very relevant in view of the current economic challenges confronting the world and the uncertainties in the investment space.
“It’s nice to have this event, but beyond having events, we must have a sustained approach to achieving knowledge and awareness about the financial market and how it operates. We must also make sure the education is simplified so that the target audience can understand it, “he stated.
Quite recently, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has affected global supply chains and disrupted markets across the world, has also brought its own untold hardships to economies and businesses. Back in Ghana, these two global crises, coupled with the financial sector clean up, have also brought to the fore the need to properly educate people on their finances and help investors navigate the challenges and uncertainties surrounding investment options. At the occasion, the Director General also provided a list of objectives that should guide national initiatives to promote financial literacy and education. He said to create a pool of resilient investors, financial literacy campaigns must have an overarching goal of producing responsible and informed investors.
“People must be responsible for the decisions they take. We need to get to a point where we have investors that are responsible and informed and are responsible for planning their finances and investment decisions.
We need to educate people on the need to plan and the need to follow the plan and not the crowd,” he stated.
He said the campaigns must also have the goal of producing investors who were responsible for conducting some minimum due diligence about the products they were signing on to and the service providers.
“People, many a time, just follow the word of mouth and invest, but it is necessary to do your own checks to find out if the providers are even licensed,” he stated.
Rev. Ogbarmey Tetteh also pointed out that a good financial education campaign must be aimed at creating investors who were knowledgeable about the risk return characteristics of various products.
“We have people who do not appreciate this, and you sometimes get investors asking you what is the best return, forgetting that the returns were based on the risks,” he noted.
He also emphasised that investor education was a shared responsibility, which involved the financial sector regulators, the market operators and even the investors themselves.
“Market operators are also responsible, as well as the investing public, who also have a responsibility to access the sources of financial information available to bolster their awareness.
“This means that everyone should step up to the occasion in achieving financial literacy and driving illiteracy out of the sector,” he stated.
The uncertainties in people’s minds regarding investment have heightened because there are a lot of speculations around what action the government will take as part of efforts to restructure the country’s debts in a move to bring them to sustainable levels.
There is a widespread concern that the government may use a haircut as one of its alternatives, which will hurt people’s investments. They might lose their determination if it occurs.
The educational drive, however, should continue because now is the moment for people to understand the subject and continue to invest in the future. There is no need to make panic withdrawals, since that will bring about the collapse of an already fragile economy.
A Fiscal Policy expert at OXFAM Ghana, Dr. Alex Ampabeng, has asked the government to better account for designated taxes if tax compliance is to improve.
He argued that “government accountability around taxation is very weak, and that in itself does not enhance compliance.”
Dr. Ampabeng explained that these compliance challenges were a result of a lack of trust in the state.
He referenced the sanitation fee as an example of a tax for which the government has not properly accounted.
“Can we really sit down and ask ourselves what has the government done with that revenue? If you cannot account, compliance will suffer. We cannot talk about tax payment without saying what the taxes are used for” he quizzed.
Dr Ampabeng stressed that citizens would accept and comply with tax paying when “the taxes they are paying are not going down the drain”.
It was on the same tax compliance challenge that Ghana Revenue Authoritywas compelled to close 13 shopping centres on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, because their systems were not linked to an E-VAT Invoicing system that certified invoices and gave real-time sales reports.
The Authority engaged taxpayers concerning the issue and gave them two months grace period to hook onto the system, Mr Annan said.
Many traders in fast-moving goods, such as milk, gum, fruits, and vegetables, also closed their shops in Kumasi Metropolis in the Ashanti Region to protest government taxes they claim are exorbitant.
Efforts to dredge portions of the Volta River are underway.
This is according to the Ada East District Chief Executive, Ms Sarah Dugbakie Pobee, who disclosed that a contract has already been awarded to Lower Volta Dredging Contractors Limited, a solely owned Ghanaian company, to begin the process.
The activity, which is the first in about 20 years, according to her, is expected to curb the high rate of flooding associated with tidal waves.
Ms Sarah Dugbakie Pobee speaking at a meeting of the Ada East District Assembly, noted that the company has already moved to a site at Angornya to start the process and is currently undertaking a survey on the river to ascertain routes for the vessels to enter the district.
Additionally, she mentioned that the district assembly has completed the first phase of community engagement; however, a subsequent engagement will be held with traditional leaders, assembly members, and all communities involved.
“Our fishermen and other users of the river would also be engaged extensively in the activities, including the scope of work, area of coverage, and what they are expected to do and not to do, among other issues,” she said.
The dredging, if successfully executed, will be in fulfilment of a promise by President Akufo- Addo to forestall the ramifications of tidal waves on various communities along the banks of the River Volta.
Instances of Tidal waves and its impact on communities
Prior to the promise at the durbar, which was held in August 2022, tidal waves had destroyed homes in Ada and surrounding communities.
Over 400 homes were affected, leaving properties destroyed and many people displaced. Affected communities included Lolonya, Agblabanya, Anyamam, Azizanya, Kpoji and Otlorkpe both in the West and East of Ada.
Also, in 2021 over 3,000 homes were washed away at Keta. Following this, there were incessant calls for a sea defence wall to be constructed.
At a durbar held in commemoration of the 85th Ada Asafotufiami festival, President Akufo-Addo, through Presidential Advisor on Media and Strategic Communications, Oboshie Sai- Coffie, in August, hinted that efforts to dredge the entire Volta River and construct sea defence mechanisms will soon begin.
“The government has finalised the contractual agreement and permitted processes for the dredging of the entire Volta River, starting from the Volta estuary in Ada Foah, to stop the sea overflowing into homes and its danger to lives and properties,” the President said.
