Many people in China normally don’t pay much attention to these set-piece, long, predictable speeches from their leaders.
However this year they were looking for any indication that the country’s strict Covid amelioration measures might be eased after the Communist Party Congress.
The short answer from Chinese leader Xi Jinping: no.
He said that there would be no wavering on zero-Covid because of the need to prioritise saving people’s lives.
The lockdowns, the mass testing, the health code scanning, the quarantine, the travel restrictions are all here to stay for the foreseeable future.
There was not even the slightest acknowledgement of the social and economic pain being caused by the policy.
Other massive challenges being faced by the government but which didn’t get a mention include: soaring youth unemployment and the property crisis.
Instead, this nearly two-hour long speech was heavy on standard Party rhetoric and short on actual solutions to China’s problems.
If you are a university graduate who can’t find a job in the tech sector following government crackdowns on these companies, Xi Jinping urging you to “follow the Party’s guidance… striving to be the new generation, building a modern socialist county” is not going to be much comfort.
The largest applause, no doubt scripted, came when Mr Xi spoke about unification between the mainland and Taiwan.
He said Beijing would encourage economic cooperation with the island, that it would genuinely strive for peaceful unification but that the Party would “never promise to renounce the use of force as an option”.
He also defended the much-criticised state security law in Hong Kong which he said had restored order to the city.
Likewise, he justified the demolition and alterations to many mosques in the northern Chinese provinces of Ningxia and Xinjiang – home to a mostly Muslim population – by saying that religions here must be “Chinese in orientation”.
Structures seen as reflecting an Arab image of Islam have been replaced by those with a more Chinese aesthetic.
There were a few other elements that did not go unmissed.
Former leader Jiang Zemin was not present but he is now 96 and perhaps too frail to attend. Hu Jintao and Wen Jiabao from the former administration were on stage with Mr Xi.
Also in attendance, seated at the front row of the podium, was former Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli – his first public appearance since Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai accused him of sexual assault last year.
The 75-year-old has not publicly commented on the accusation.
Zhang Gaoli (C) was seated at the front row of the congress
However, Mr Xi’s administration does have a good story to tell in terms of climate change and other environmental initiatives.
The congress opened in Beijing under a clear blue sky. There was a time when this was unusual in the capital. Now it’s the other way around; the bad pollution days are the ones that stand out.
China’s leader said: “We’ll boost low carbon industries and promote low carbon ways of life. We’ll intensify pollution control. We’ll work to eliminate all serious pollution”.
But coal fired power won’t be phased out until the new sources of power are in place. “We’re building the new before discarding the old,” he said.
There may still be a massive income disparity here between the richest Chinese people and those less well-off but, in poverty alleviation, there have also been improvements and Xi Jinping referred to this.
Yet, if you watched this speech and had no idea what is actually going on in China right now, you would have a distorted picture of reality.
The overall message from the speech was that China is charging ahead in leaps and bounds under the Communist Party’s guidance – but the economic uncertainty swirling around here right now is of a kind not seen in the country for decades.
This is the first time ever that the Cape Coast school has failed to win a contest in the one eighth stage since 2014.
The defeat also means Wey Gey Hey will battle for a spot in next year’s tournament from the regional qualifiers, also for the first time ever.
It was always coming. The performance of the Central Region favourites has dipped in recent years—putting into question the tag of “favourites.”
When they were drawn against Mawuli School from Howho are looking to redeem their image after successive poor runs which followed strong campaigns, pundits predicted an all or nothing contest for both schools.
In the end, it was the Volta Region school which wanted it most.
Spanish side Valencia is working on a new contract for United States international of Ghanaian decent Yunus Musah.
The 19-year-old, who opted to represent the USA at the expense of Ghana has been in a rich vein of form since Gennaro Gattuso took over the managerial job at Valencia.
He has registered two assists in six appearances this season.
Musah is now a target for clubs in Europe as they seek to strengthen their squad in the next transfer window.
Footballghana.com understands that Arsenal, Liverpool and Juventus are keeping tabs on the enterprising winger following his explosive start to the campaign.
In the bid to ward off interest from clubs, the Spanish giants has set sights on awarding the player an improved contract.
Musah, who is valued at $27.5 million current contract with the Spanish outfit is expected to expire in the summer of 2026.
He is the fifth most expensive American player behind Christian Pulisic, Gio Reyna, Brenden Aaronson and Weston McKennie.
It was terrible to learn from fishermen that there was a lack of premix gasoline in the nation, said Mr. Anim, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Trobu Constituency, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tema.
He claimed that between GHC150 and GHC200 million is spent by the government to subsidize premix fuel, and that this should not be the cause of any shortages in the nation.
Mr. Anim noted that the government would soon implement the automation system for premix fuel to regularize the usage and monitor how the premix fuel had been distributed to the over 300 landing beaches.
He explained that some unscrupulous individuals within the fishing sector were behind the stealing and selling of premix fuel at the expense of the fisherfolk.
He said the automation system offers the best solution to the illegality associated with premix fuel.
Mr. Anim called on the 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.
Mr Vance Kweku Adedze, Communications Officer, Volta Regional chapter of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council explained that the fisherfolk population has expanded which called for an increase in resource allocation.
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.
He claims that three main methods he has used consistently throughout his career in business, rather than any specific business formula, are the key to his success.
Dr. McKorley listed treating everyone with the utmost fairness, respect, and honesty as one of his core strategies in an Instagram post that the businessman posted.
“Integrity involves honesty, consistency, reliability and a strong moral code. If you have integrity, people know what they can expect from you and (usually) appreciate both who you are and the certainty that gives them,” he wrote.
“Ideally, you want to work with clients who share your values and with whom you connect. But, when you become friends with a business partner, you must be aware of maintaining a sense of professionalism despite your connection,” McDan shared.
Lastly, Dr. Daniel McKorley pointed out discipline, which he believes has helped him remain consistent among his clients and peers through the years.
“It takes discipline in everything you do to get results. It doesn’t matter if it is personal or professional; you must discipline yourself to be consistent in what you do. Too much to do creates inconsistency and too little lack of motivation. Find balance!” he concluded.
Dr. Daniel McKorley is a renowned Ghanaian business magnate and the founder, chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of the McDan Group of Companies.
Zeepay Ghana has been adjudged the best company in Ghana at the 19th edition of the Ghana Club 100 Awards organised by the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC).
The fintech company topped a ranking of the best companies in Ghana, beating competition from Newmont Ghana Gold Limited and Multipro Limited, that came 2nd and 3rd respectively.
The GIPC ranked Zeepay as number one in its annual compilation of the top 100 companies in Ghana to give due recognition to successful enterprise building.
The rankings were based on vigorous exercise that focused on size, profitability and growth of companies in the year under review.
Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, Yofi Grant commended the private sector for its immense support in saving the Ghanaian economy in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine War.
“The private sector in Ghana has had to change significantly to accommodate the exigencies of the pandemic. Entrepreneurs and businesses were compelled to seek out and adopt new strategies to modify their business operations to remain productive and stable.”
“From the way, work was conducted to where work was conducted, it is safe to say that virtual work and other innovations have become the new normal”, he said
On his part, Senior Advisor to President Akufo-Addo, Yaw Osafo Marfo said the country will recover from the global shocks if there are more investments into the Ghanaian economy by the private sector.
“As a catalyst to the Ghanaian economy, the private sector has done very well and with more investments more can be done to fight any external shocks”.
Other companies were awarded for contributing to the success of the club 100 awards.
Multimedia Group Limited was presented with a certificate for its immense contribution and providing an extensive coverage for the annual awards.
The Ghana Club 100 is an annual compilation of 100 outstanding companies in Ghana’s business landscape, with the goal of honouring and rewarding businesses that are making remarkable accomplishments in their respective business fields.
This year’s event is on the theme “Ghana’s Private Sector, a catalyst for post-pandemic economic transformation”.
Below is the 100 companies
Company Overall Rank
Zeepay Ghana Limited 1
Newmont Ghana Gold Limited 2
Multipro Private Ltd 3
Gold Fields Ghana Limited 4
Scancom Plc 5
Maphlix Trust Ghana Limited 6
Amanex Co.Ltd 7
Express IDS Consult Consult Agency Limited 8
Newmont Golden Ridge Limited 9
GCB Bank PLc 10
ASA Savings and Loans Ltd. 11
EcoBank Ghana Plc 12
Nestle Ghana Limited 13
IT Consortium Limited 14
Polytank (Ghana) Limited 15
Sage Distribution Limited 16
Amenfiman Rural Bank Limited 17
Absa Bank 18
Abosso Goldfields Limited 19
Benso Oil Palm Plantation Plc 20
AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine 21
Access Bank (Bank) Plc 22
Tropical Cable and Conductor Limited 23
Forever Living Product (Ghana) Limited 24
Wilmar Africa Limited 25
Delta Paper Mill Company Limited 26
Enterprise Trustees Limited 27
Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Plc 28
Federated Commodities Limited 29
Guaranty Trust Bank (Ghana) Limited 30
Letshego Ghana Savings and Loans Plc 31
Fidelity Bank Ghana Limited 32
Zenith Bank (Ghana) Limited 33
Crop Doctor Ghana Limited 34
CAL Bank 35
First Atlantic Bank Limited 36
MiLife Insurance Company Limited 37
One of the most important socioeconomic issues facing many emerging nations is access to cheap housing.
Demand for housing continues to outpace availability of affordable housing units, which is made worse by rising home prices that are out of reach for workers’ salaries.
Many people find the road to homeownership to be long, difficult, and occasionally daunting, leading many to turn to creative means of getting homes.
Acquisition of land, hiring qualified contractors, and securing financing are frequently extremely difficult tasks.
The traditional home-buying process involves a wide range of actions that can be complex and opaque, often resulting in financial loss.
Many low- and middle-income individuals retire without realizing their dream of homeownership as a result of these challenges.
Financing Ghana’s Housing Deficit
Ghana’s 2021 population and housing census puts the national housing deficit at 1.8 million units. Estimates indicate that the annual housing demand is between 70,000 to 120,000 housing units with only about 30% of the annual demand supplied. With average cost of constructing a two-bedroom house in the urban areas estimated at about GHS 267,000, affordability remains at the core of the housing challenge, as majority of working-class Ghanaians would not be able to afford a home due to low-income levels.
With average interest rates on cedi-denominated mortgages from commercial banks ranging between 19.00% and 31.7%, majority of people within the low- and middle-income bracket would not qualify for a mortgage. This creates a situation where potential homeowners are left with the choice of building their homes incrementally which, in most cases, can take anywhere from 10 to 20 years or, in some cases, one’s entire working life.
The Ghanaian Worker’s Pathway to Homeownership
The average Ghanaian worker has three main pathway options in the homeownership journey: self-build, outright purchase, and mortgage acquisition. The homeownership journey for many starts when they receive their first pay cheques. Bank-financed options to achieve homeownership remain limited due to low incomes and high mortgage costs. Mortgages from commercial banks are sometimes priced in US Dollars, completely unaffordable for low- and middle-income workers earning Ghana Cedis. Similarly, houses offered by developers for outright purchase are often priced in US Dollars.
Therefore, for a segment of workers who cannot afford to access mortgage from the commercial banks, they start saving towards buying land to build their future homes as soon as they start to earn an income.
Many prospective homeowners make initial down payments for land and pay the outstanding balance over time, while some secure loans to pay for the land and repay the loan over time. Owing to the challenges associated with land acquisition especially in the urban areas with its attendant litigations and loss of investments, some would-be homeowners are forced to end their homeownership journey when they fail to acquire a piece of land.
For prospective homeowners who overcome the land acquisition challenges, the remaining journey can extend for many years characterized by difficulties with finding qualified artisans, raising needed financing, loss of building materials to theft, and long exposure of uncompleted buildings to adverse weather conditions resulting in compromised structural integrity, before they finally get to occupy the homes.
In many instances, people move into their uncompleted homes after retirement due to reduced income. In the interim, most live in rented accommodation and may pay rent for their entire working Lives.
The Rent-to-Own Model
In urban areas, data from the Ghana Statistical Service suggests that majority of occupants in residential properties are non-owners and are typically involved in some form of rental arrangement.
In most instances in Ghana, a first-time tenant is required to pay two- or three-years’ rent in advance, and subsequently one year’s rent advance upon each renewal of tenancy. The huge financial burden that rent payment places on tenants for many years in the traditional rental arrangement does not in any way provide for ownership opportunities, regardless of how long they rent the home.
A significant shift from the traditional rental arrangement is the concept of rent-to-own. Imagine a rental arrangement where the tenant can eventually own the home at the end of a defined period; a rent-to-own arrangement offers tenants this opportunity.
A rent-to-own arrangement allows tenants to rent a home with an option to buy the home at the end of a defined rental period. In the rent-to-own model, the tenant pays an additional deposit with each monthly rent payment which goes towards the purchase price of the home at the end of the rental period.
Types of Rent-to-Own Schemes
There are two main types of rent-to-own arrangements: the lease-option and lease-purchase arrangements. In lease-option arrangement, the tenant pays an upfront fee of about 5% of the value of the home. The upfront payment gives the tenant an option to buy the home at the end of the rental period at a value to be agreed on by the buyer and the seller.
The upfront fee paid by the tenant is applied to the final cost of the home. The tenant agrees to make monthly payments a little above the market rent rate for the property. The excess payments above market rent goes towards the down payment for the purchase of the property. On the option exercise date, the rent credit serves as down payment to enable the tenant purchase the home. The tenant retains the right to opt out of the agreement if s/he decides not to buy the property.
On the other hand, the lease-purchase is a type of rent-to-own arrangement where the tenant and property owner agree on the price of the property upfront. The tenant makes monthly payments above market rent rate and the excess goes towards down payment of the home.
In a lease-purchase agreement, the tenant is obliged to purchase the home at the end of the lease period and loses the down payment if tenant fails to provide funding to purchase the home. Furthermore, the property owner can sue for breach of contract if the tenant fails to purchase the home at the end of the lease period.
While the lease-option agreement gives the tenant more flexibility in the home acquisition process, this arrangement presents uncertainty in the final home price as the price is determined at the end of the lease period and may be above the tenant’s budget. The lease-purchase, on the other hand, lacks flexibility for the tenant in cases where tenants decide to change their mind, but the risk of property price increasing above tenant’s income is minimized.
Home Maintenance and Insurance
In a rent-to-own arrangement, the prospective homeowner is both a tenant and a buyer. Prospective homeowners therefore have more responsibilities in a rent-to-own scheme than they would in a traditional rental arrangement. Unless the agreement states otherwise, the tenant is responsible for some maintenance works in the home.
Some rent-to-own agreements make major maintenance such as changing of roofing and other structural works the responsibility of the seller. However, maintenance works such as house painting, replacement of sinks and landscaping are usually the responsibility of the prospective homeowner under rent-to-own arrangement.
There are different types of home insurance available to protect residential properties and contents. A renter’s insurance is meant to protect the personal belongings of the tenant; a landlord insurance offers homeowners protection for rented properties; and homeowners’ insurance which is taken by the owner of the property.
Since tenants build up equity in a home over a period of time albeit on paper, it is important to ensure that the property has an insurance cover to protect the tenant’s investment under a rent-to-own arrangement. Because the seller owns the property during the rent-to-own tenor, the seller usually carries homeowner’s insurance while the parties agree on how to share the insurance cost. The tenant on the other hand may acquire a renter’s insurance to protect belongings in the home.
The Ideal Rent-to-Own Candidate
Rent-to-own arrangements could offer an ideal solution for both tenants and landlords. Rent-to-own is a good choice for tenants who would like to buy a home but do not have the initial down payment or qualify for a mortgage. Tenants get the opportunity to move into a home and start enjoying the benefits of a homeowner while building up equity over time.
The Benefits
In addition to giving tenants the opportunity to build equity in the home over a period, tenants have the flexibility to walk away from the arrangement if their financial situations change or if they lose interest in purchasing the home.
The rent-to-own arrangements also increase the chances of property owners, who are experiencing difficulties in selling their properties, to find buyers while gaining rental income in the interim. Additionally, property owners enjoy long-term reliable tenants and lower home maintenance cost.
Increasing Homeownership Rate Through Rent-to-Own Scheme
As previously indicated, affordability remains a major hindrance to housing delivery in Ghana as a huge mismatch persists between the cost of houses and mortgages on the one hand, and the income levels of potential homeowners on the other hand.
Due to the relative flexibility offered, rent-to-own schemes have the potential to move many potential homeowners up the property ladder, thereby increasing the homeownership rate substantially.
Creating the Enabling Environment for Effective Rent-to-Own Schemes
A fundamental logic behind rent-to-own is to provide a cheaper, more affordable alternative path to homeownership for persons who cannot afford conventional mortgages from banks.
However, the high cost of housing units – even those labelled ‘affordable’ – presents a strong challenge to the rollout of rent-to-own schemes, as the property costs impact the rental charges. Higher house prices translate into high monthly rent-to-own payments, pricing out target candidates.
Currently, at the typical prices of ‘affordable’ houses, the difference between monthly rent-to-own rates and typical monthly mortgage obligations tends to be quite narrow. In effect, many low-income potential homeowners for whom the rent-to-own path should have been beneficial, i.e., a cheaper alternative to mortgages, end up unable to afford this alternative route as well.
For rent-to-own schemes to achieve the intended purpose of increasing the homeownership rate especially among low- and middle-income earners, a supportive cost and regulatory environment must exist, to underpin affordability and sustainability of house prices. Invariably, government intervention is necessary for the creation of this supportive environment.
The specific government interventions below are sine qua non to ensure stable, affordable house prices, and by extension, affordable rent-to-own rates:
provision of low-cost land banks, eliminating the excessive costs of private land acquisition and the associated costs of multiple payments for same piece of land, the menace of ‘land guards’, etc.;
provision of communal infrastructure (access roads, drainage, electricity, water), the costs of which are presently borne by private estate developers and thus built into house prices;
provision of construction financing at concessionary rates, as the burden of expensive bank loans also adds to the unsustainable cost build-up of even the houses that are intended to be affordable.
Additionally, rent laws and regulations must be updated to accommodate the rent-to-own concept. This is essential to protect both rent-to-own providers and subscribers.
The rights and responsibilities of parties under rent-to-own schemes must be duly covered in the regulations to prevent scheme providers from taking advantage of vulnerable subscribers and vice versa, as well as providing a regulatory framework for transfer of title and dispute resolution.
Beyond government intervention, estate developers also ought to explore lower cost construction technologies and materials, without compromising quality, of course.
Conclusion
With majority of residents in urban areas engaged in some form of rental arrangement, a scheme that will enable tenants transition into homeowners will have a positive impact on homeownership rates in Ghana.
The rent-to-own model presents a huge potential not only to increase homeownership but also the delivery of affordable housing to meet increasing demand as the scheme holds the potential to move people who would otherwise not qualify, onto the homeownership ladder. The resultant increased demand for affordable housing will spur developments to satisfy the demand.
Governments and non-governmental organizations have initiated several interventions to increase the delivery of housing and uptake of same especially among middle- and lower-income earners. For these interventions to achieve the intended impact, challenges surrounding housing affordability must be addressed critically, especially in the current environment where a huge disparity exists between income levels and home prices.
Successful implementation of rent-to-own schemes would hinge on supportive inputs of stakeholders, especially government. Government must facilitate the enabling environment through regulation, provision of affordable landbanks, provision of necessary infrastructure as well as funding for research into the use of local materials for development of high-quality low-cost affordable houses. Proper implementation of the rent-to-own model will fill a very critical gap in the housing market, facilitating ownership access for the segment of the market that cannot afford traditional mortgages
Agriculture and food production, according to Yaw Frimpong Addo, Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Responsible for Crops, remain a top priority for the nation.
Mr Frimpong Addo noted that food remained indispensable for the survival of humans and that science had established that there was limited time beyond which man cannot survive without food.
The Deputy Minister said investment in agriculture, with support from education and health, would guarantee sustainable food production and nutrition for citizens globally.
Mr Frimpong Addo said the strategic focus of the government on agriculture was informed by the natural endowment, comparative advantage and immense potential of the country’s agricultural sector.
The Deputy Minister noted that all 16 regions of the country were blessed with arable land for growing a variety of food and tree crops, supported by favourable weather conditions,
He said the Government was not relenting in its efforts to transform agriculture as the sector was the driving force behind the country’s economy; presenting the best opportunity for accelerated industrialisation, job creation and poverty reduction.
He commended the United Nations agencies, including Food and Agricultural Organisation, World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, as well as allied agencies both International and local, for sustaining the annual celebration of the World Food Day programme.
Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD), in an address read on her behalf, said the celebration called for a shared exploit, noting that the pursuit of development could best be achieved through collectiveness.
She said the Ministry was willing and ready to work with Ghanaians and the international community to ensure that the country met its fish requirements and achieve a nourished population and a better life for national development.
The Minister said the theme for the event reminded “us of the impact of our actions as government and citizens on sustaining national food security, conserving the environment and general wellbeing in the future.
“The theme further highlights the need for a collaborative effort by academia, private sector, key stakeholders and Government and the media in the agricultural (fisheries) value chain to develop and sustain our food systems,” she added.
Mrs Koomson said the Government had shown continued support to give the fishing industry the needed boost to improve productivity and performance within the agriculture sector of which fisheries is a component.
The Minister said the Ministry was currently undertaking a review of the fisheries legislation to strengthen the regulatory framework to address lapses in fisheries governance and meet international best practices.
Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, the Volta Regional Minister, said a concerted effort was required to deal with the issues of food insecurity across the globe and appealed to World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organisation to support countries such as Ghana to access fertilizer at cheaper costs on the global market.
This, he said, was one sure way to guarantee food availability, accessibility and affordability to all, thereby curbing global food insecurity.
He said the Volta Region was ready for any investment in agriculture and aquaculture towards enhancing the food security of the country on the premise that the Region has vast hectares of arable land and several water bodies.
Member of Parliament for Bortianor Ngleshie Amanfro in the Ga South Municipality of the Greater Accra Region, Sylvester Tetteh is advocating for the dredging of the Weija Dam to stem the annual flooding that in some instances result in the loss of lives and properties running into millions of cedis.
He says he is currently piecing up some facts to enable him raise the issue on the floor of parliament.
According to the MP, since the construction of the dam in 1978, there has not been any dredging works, with the situation worsened by land encroachment, leading to floods any time the Ghana Water Company spills the dam.
The MP was speaking when he toured parts of his constituency recently hit by floods.
Mr Sylvester Tetteh who was not in the country during the incident, visited some of the flood victims at Aplaku and Tetegu Down where he interacted with them and pledged his support for them.
He was accompanied by the MCE of Ga South, Mr Joseph Nyarni and Constituency Executives.
At Aplaku, he visited some severely affected houses where occupants had still not been able to return.
Though the MP was there to assess the situation to enable him plan his next move, he managed to support them with an undisclosed amount.
Some of the affected places had previously never flooded.
He said even though the National Disaster Management Organisation NADMO had already been to the community to assess the situation and to help address immediate challenges, he was duty-bound to learn at first hand, what exactly his constituents were faced with and to see what he could do to mitigate their suffering.
He was worried that some residents had put up houses in waterways.
The MP said he had lined up a number of activities for the community, including health screening programme to prevent any epidemic outbreak.
Richarlison’s only goals for Spurs so far came in the 2-0 Champions League win over Marseille
Tottenham striker Richarlison will miss next Wednesday’s visit to Manchester United because of a calf injury.
The Brazilian was substituted early on in the second half of Spurs’ 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday, and will sit out the midweek trip to Old Trafford.
The 29-year-old has yet to score in the Premier League since his move from Everton in the summer.
“For sure he’s out. He felt something in his calf and he won’t be available,” said Spurs manager Antonio Conte.
“I think he needs a bit of time to recover. It’s a pity because we are talking about a player who gives us a lot of quality but is also strong and improves our intensity.
“He will have an MRI to understand it tomorrow, we hope it is not serious.”
Dejan Kulusevski missed the win over Everton with a hamstring injury but Lucas Moura made his first Premier League appearance since August as a substitute, having suffered a tendon injury.
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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has assured that it will fast track processes with the Government of Ghana to provide support for the country through an economic programme.
The Head of the African Department, Abebe Selassie announced this during the release of the African Economic Outlook Report in Washington DC on the sidelines of the Annual IMF/World Bank meetings.
Reiterating IMF’s commitment to working with Ghana, Mr. Selassie stated that the Fund put together a mission immediately after Ghana made a request for support.
“I can tell that we are doing our best, and will do our utmost to ensure that we can provide support for Ghana as quickly as possible”, he said.
“We will do our best to avoid any delays when it comes to Ghana’s programme”, he added.
Ghana’s debt issues and possible restructuring
Mr. Selassie stated that an important part of the IMF engagement with Ghana will be providing funding to help the country.
He, however added that there are conditionalities which may require a country to restructure its debt if it reaches unsustainable levels.
Providing some details, Mr. Selassie explained that part of the work ongoing with Ghana is to assess Ghana’s debt situation through the Debt Sustainability Analysis.
He noted that the funding, will come with some very important reforms that should be undertaken by the government.
Possible conditions for Ghana
Mr. Selassie pointed out that Ghana will have to take the lead, to receive responses and support from the IMF.
“Government of Ghana has also shared its key reform plans with the IMF on the proposed economic programme for financial support”, Mr. Selassie disclosed
“We have now agreed on a road map on the Government of Ghana’s key reform plans on how things should happen going forward”, he added.
Mr. Selassie stated that both parties are making good progress on the Economic Programme for Ghana.
Ghana debt issues
On debt issues, he stated that it is very important to clarify that countries with unsustainable levels must be assisted to ultimately help its citizens.
“Much will however be dependent on how this economic plan from the government can be fleshed out and work on it for Ghana programmes”, he said.
Economic programme and timelines
Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta recently disclosed to Joy Business that Ghana is working hard to secure a programme with the IMF by November this year.
Government is hoping to enter a progamme with the IMF before the 2023 budget is presented in November 2022.
Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowsk will face each other for the first time in El Clasico
As Karim Benzema went on a goalscoring flurry that helped Real Madrid to a Champions League and La Liga double last season, rivals Barcelona were putting their own plans in place to fight firepower with firepower, prolific forward with prolific forward.
Benzema netted 44 times in 46 appearances in all competitions at a rate of 0.96 goals per game to make himself the frontrunner for this year’s Ballon d’Or.
So Barcelona moved for another of this generation’s most renowned number nines in Robert Lewandowski, a player who reached half a century of goals in a Bayern Munich shirt last term at a rate of 1.09 per game.
For the first time on Sunday, when Real Madrid host Barcelona at the Bernabeu, Benzema and Lewandowski look set to lead the line against each other in El Clasico.
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The unbeaten rivals sit level at the summit of La Liga, with Barcelona top on goal difference and 34-year-old Lewandowksi leading the scoring charts with nine goals in eight games.
“Robert Lewandowski has been very influential this season for Barcelona,” former Barcelona and Spain defender Albert Ferrer tells BBC Sport.
“Lewandowski just does something to the team that they didn’t have. Apart from scoring goals and being in the box most of the time, he is very important – his movement, how he talks to players, how he tells them what space to occupy.
“He is basically for 90 minutes helping players, moving and creating spaces and telling players where they have to be and what they have to do. His influence is massive, not only because of the goals.”
Barcelona may be on the verge of exiting the Champions League at the group stages, but in Spain’s top flight they have conceded only once and Poland international Lewandowski has benefited from manager Xavi’s more direct approach and the supply from wingers such as Ousmane Dembele and Raphinha.
“They are very good at the offensive transitions, the counter-attacks, putting crosses into the box. Now they have a real finisher with Lewandowksi,” says Ferrer, who leads La Liga TV’s tactical analysis and will be covering the game in Madrid.
“In midfield they don’t spend as much time as they did, so they are pretty direct. Direct doesn’t mean long balls, but Gavi and Pedri getting the ball and straight away looking forward instead of sideways. They have become more vertical, more direct.”
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Carlo Ancelotti’s Real were cantering towards the title when they lost 4-0 to a resurgent Barcelona in this fixture last season, without talisman Benzema.
“It was a disaster,” says Ferrer. “They changed their tactics and they changed everything. I don’t think that will happen this season.”
Two of Barcelona’s goals were scored by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during his brief stint at the club – before moving to Chelsea once he was effectively replaced by Lewandowski in the summer.
“Aubameyang is a great player in terms of finishing – he is always in the box,” says Ferrer. “But Lewandowski does more. He is able to drop to the midfield and create spaces, to link with players, hold the ball with his body.
“He can do more than just finish; he is more influential in more parts of the game than Aubameyang. He is in that sense more of a complete striker and he is perfect for Barcelona.”
Battle of the forwardsMinutes playedGoalsMinutes per goalChances createdTouches in opp. boxKarim Benzema45031501346Robert Lewandowski6299701248
Benzema returned after the rout by Barcelona last season, which was more a dent to Real’s pride than their position, to play a key role in their domestic and Champions League success.
This campaign also began with the Frenchman scoring in the Uefa Super Cup final win and become the club’s second highest all-time scorer, behind Cristiano Ronaldo, but things have since stalled for 34-year-old Benzema because of injury.
The captain missed two league games, including the Madrid derby against Atletico, with a thigh problem, then picked up a knock that ruled him out of Real’s victory over Getafe last week.
Benzema has scored three times in five La Liga games this term but, while his goalscoring exploits are the headline in the clamour for him to claim a maiden Ballon d’Or, he offers an all-round package.
Despite playing fewer games than Lewandowski, he has created more chances in La Liga (13 to 12) and is averaging 2.3 more touches in the opposition box per 90 minutes.
“Lewandowski has a lot of good things, mainly finishing, but all the other movements he does, he does without the ball,” says Ferrer.
“Benzema can score goals, but when he drops, when he links with midfielders, when he drops to the left to link with Vinicius Jr, he is very technical with the ball at his feet. He can create by himself.
“That is the main difference. With the ball, Benzema can do more things possibly than Lewandowski. Without the ball, Lewandowski is possibly better.”
Albert Ferrer (right) won five La Liga titles and a European Cup during his time at Barcelona
Benzema’s influence on the squad is vital and he has facilitated the progress of some of the club’s young stars, such as Vinicius, Rodrygo and Federico Valverde, as well as France midfielders Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni.
“Karim has something peculiar,” says Ferrer. “The past two or three seasons he was the best player on the pitch, but he showed two huge players how to grow – one before the other, which is Vinicius Jr and Rodrygo.
“This year he is possibly not as influential or important as Lewandowski is for Barcelona, but all the players grew alongside Benzema. They have hugely improved so they have made Benzema not as influential as last season.
“This season didn’t start as expected – everyone expected him to be fighting with Lewandowski in terms of the Pichichi (awarded to La Liga’s top goalscorer). At the moment he is too far from him.
“I am sure he will bounce back. The past few seasons Benzema has been possibly the best striker in Europe.”
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The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has extended its export school programme outside Accra to Kumasi.
The five-day intensive programme was sensitise the importers to become abreast with accepted norms and practices associated with importation.
Trade areas
About 40 participants, comprising mostly entrepreneurs would be trained on product certification, packaging and labelling, export market research, export quality management, product planning and adaption as well as online marketing.
The remaining training areas include branding and marketing, basic bookkeeping, introduction to legal contracts and negotiation, export financing, and export procedure.
Mandate
An autonomous body set up in 1969, the Ghana Export Promotion Authority gives impetus to exports from Ghana.
The Authority works under the Ministry of Trade and Industry and is the central institution that works towards the promotion and development of non-traditional exports from the country.
Its main objective is to identify products suitable for export and locate appropriate markets for them and provide Ghanaian exporters with all the required help, in order to enter competitive markets abroad.
Event
Speaking at the opening session of the Export School in Kumasi on Monday (October 10, 2022), the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Human Resource Administration at GEPA, Albert Kassim Diwura urged the participants to take a keen interest in the selected topics chosen for the week’s school.
According to him, the authority intended to hold a similar export school for the remaining regional capitals across the country, and that the next two editions would be held in Takoradi and Tamale.
Mr Diwura urged Ghanaian importers not to compete among themselves, but rather collaborate more effectively in order to become competitive in today’s global export market.
He urged the participants to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), which seeks to boost the continent’s manufacturing sector by facilitating access to new markets for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), increasing economies of scale and facilitating export diversification.
Export guidelines
On his part, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Commander, Assistant Commissioner Immigration (ACI) Constant Boateng urged exporters to always work closely with the Immigration Service in order to be abreast with the formalities associated with migration and export.
He reiterated the Authority’s mandate to advise on and ensure the effective implementation of all laws and regulations pertaining to immigration and related issues.
The Service, he said, would continue to regulate and monitor the entry, residence, employment and exit of all foreigners, as well as promote migration that contributes to the economic, social and developmental interests of the country.
He reiterated the Authority’s mandate to advise on and ensure the effective implementation of all laws and regulations pertaining to immigration and related issues.
The Service, he said, would continue to regulate and monitor the entry, residence, employment and exit of all foreigners, as well as promote migration that contributes to the economic, social and developmental interests of the country.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama Zakariah has assured young entrepreneurs of her outfit’s commitment to providing micro-credit and small loans to start-ups and small businesses in the country.
Madam Mahama Zakariah reiterated this commitment in her interactions with young entrepreneurs during this year’s edition of the Ekosiisen National dialogue series held at the Accra Digital Centre on Friday.
Hajia Abibata Shanni Mahama in her opening remarks said MASLOC was committed to supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups to grow their businesses in the country despite limited resources due to the high demand for financial assistance.
She pointed out key areas of focus for MASLOC including support for Youth in entrepreneurship, women empowerment, Agro-based industry assistance and support for the physically challenged.
The CEO of MASLOC stated that “many young entrepreneurs still find it difficult to get quick, simple and flexible financing to start or expand their businesses, however, with good business practices and viable business plans, the marginalized who cannot seek financial assistance from the mainstream financial institutions due to high commercial rates and more complex documentation, should reach out to the institution as it has been resourced to specifically assist the productive poor”.
She added that “small enterprises and startups can also benefit immensely from the capacity building and skill development packages which are conducted before loan disbursal by the institution, this will help provide them with the competencies to be properly positioned to use the funds advanced to them profitably”.
Madam Mahama Zakariah told the young business owners that MASLOC offers cash loans from GH₵5,000 to GH₵200,000 per her approval limit and even GH₵200,000 to GH₵500,000 at the Board level to help them grow their companies.
She disclosed that some of the various loans had a maximum tenure of 18 months with a one-month moratorium and an annual interest rate of 12%.
Madam Mahama Zakariah added that MASLOC exists to empower Ghanaians between the ages of 18 and 65 by providing support for their existing enterprises and start-ups without discrimination or any biases, stressing that she was committed to erasing the misconceptions that the institution is only favourable to people who are politically exposed.
She urged young business owners, particularly those in the agri-business industry working on animal house boundary, poultry, fish and crop farming projects with gestation periods of up to 18 months, to reach out to the company and solicit support for their initiatives through its cash loans, capacity building and training programs as well as the hire purchase scheme which enables the provision of items such as tricycles to enable them to transport their produce at fairly cheaper rates.
She also mentioned that the interest rate of six per cent per annum for agro-based loans was unbeatable, urging the youth to take advantage of the offer.
She mentioned that MASLOC had a Hire Purchase Scheme that provides items such as saloon cars, minibuses, tricycles, sewing machines and hair dryers at very affordable prices and payment schedules for entrepreneurs.
Dignitaries present at the event included the Deputy Finance Minister, Dr. John Kumah; the CEO of the National Youth Authority, Pius Enam Hadzide; the CEO of the NEIP, Mr. Kofi Ofosu Nkansah; the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Michael Okyere Baafi; the CEO of the Accra Digital Centers Limited, Kwadwo Baah Agyemang; and the chairman for the occasion Mr. Daniel Mckorley, the Executive Chairman, McDan Group of Companies.
The Ekosiisen Dialogue series is an initiative aimed at creating awareness of important national issues. This year’s dialogue series focused on entrepreneurship and its strategic importance to Ghana’s industrialization agenda.
Antoine Griezmann scored his third goal in nine league appearances for Atletico Madrid this season
Antoine Griezmann scored his 100th goal for Atletico Madrid to hand them victory at Athletic Bilbao in La Liga.
The France striker slid an Alvaro Morata cutback into the bottom corner two minutes after the break for his first league goal since re-signing permanently from Barcelona.
Athletic’s Raul Garcia had a late header saved and a shot blocked on the line during a frantic finish.
But Atletico held firm to move above the hosts into third place.
Diego Simeone’s visitors looked to be heading for a comfortable three points before goalkeeper Jan Oblak was forced off 20 minutes from time after suffering a heavy fall.
Athletic threw everything at his replacement, Ivo Grbic, who was forced into a full stretch diving save to keep out Garcia’s header a minute before time.
The hosts then had a penalty for a potential Reinildo Mandava handball ruled out following a VAR check at the start of 10 minutes of stoppage time.
A battling Atletico side had six players booked in total, including three of their substitutes, but held out as Griezmann’s landmark goal sealed a sixth league win of the season.
Second Lady, Samira Bawumia, says Ghana is developing a clean cooking strategy and an investment prospectus to open the industry for more business opportunities.
She said the strategy would also set up the framework for the promotion and development of effective clean cooking solutions.
The Second Lady said this during the Post-Conference Ghana Day of the Clean Cooking Forum 2022 dubbed: “Increasing Access to Clean Cooking Solutions.”
The forum sought to allow stakeholders and see whether Ghana was achieving the global target with regard to SDG 7, which calls for affordable and clean cooking.
Ghana is said to have made some significant progress in promoting clean cooking where about 37 per cent of the population uses Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and in the area of biomass cookstoves, Government through the Energy Commission had been distributing three million stoves.
Mrs Bawumia said: “Clean cooking is an urgent development issue which has significant benefits for public health, policy generation, local environment and climate.”
“Achieving clean cooking solution solutions require a behavioural change to build the current and next generation. We need to challenge ourselves to break attitudinal and social barriers to achieve them,” she added.
The Second Lady called not only for the adoption of technology in preparing indigenous Ghanaian dishes but the need to input energy technologies and solutions into the school curriculum.
She said the Sustainable Development Goal 7 and Universal Access to Clean Cooking were imperative for Ghana’s success stories of energy transmission.
She said it took Ghana 30 years to get 37 per cent of its population to use LPG and called for the collaboration of stakeholders to bring the needed strategy that would help achieve universal access to clean energy by 2030.
A statement from Mr Sameer Shukla, a Representative from the World Bank, said, several billions of dollars had been lost in terms of health, vegetation and forest due to people not having clean cooking.
He said Ghana had seen a significant reduction of 75 per cent of the population to 50 per cent, using biomass energy largely due to LPG usage.
He urged that prices and subsidies of LPG and other clean technologies be critically looked at as to get the entire population moving towards clean cooking solutions.
Mr Oscar Amonoo-Neiser, Executive Secretary, Energy Commission, said the indiscriminate cutting of trees for wood fuel, firewood and charcoal had led to air pollution, causing some deaths.
He said standards and regulations on biomass cookstoves had been developed and the regulations were in Parliament and would be passed when the lawmakers were back from recess.
Mr Amonoo-Neiser said the Commission was also developing regulations for the wood fuel sector to formalise the sector and maximise value along its value chain; notably production, transportation, packaging, sales and marketing.
That, he said, was all part of efforts geared towards achieving Universal Access to Clean Cooking by 2030.
The organisation also called on the government to re-introduce the road tolls as a means of mobilizing revenue in the face of the country’s economic difficulties.
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 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.
On the health sector, she called on the government to establish a Health Emergency Fund to replace the COVID-19 Fund to support the country’s health sector.
“We urged the government to establish and strengthen adolescent girls’ clubs for sex education in health and school facilities with subsidized sanitary pads,” she said.
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.
Dr. John Kumah, the Deputy Minister of Finance, 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.
Dr Alex Amankwa Poku, Head of Budget Development and Reforms, Ministry of Finance, said the country’s budget cycle covered the formulation, approval, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation processes.
He said Ghana in the latest Open Budget Survey in 2021, improved its transparency score from 54 out of 100 in 2019 to 56 in 2021.
A total of 2, 986 candidates are expected to write the 2022 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Agona West Municipality of the Central region.
The candidates are made up of 1, 526 girls and 1, 460 boys from 110 schools both public and private respectively.
The examination, which commences on Monday, October 17, 2022, has 11 centres in the Agona West Municipality.
This was in a statement signed by Mr Bismark Offei, the Agona West Municipal Director of Education and copied to the Ghana News Agency at Swedru.
In a good will message, Mr Offei wished all the 2022 candidates’ better luck while commending them for their hard work, perseverance and dedication throughout their study period.
He advised the candidates not to lose hope in the face of the expected challenges but should rather stay focused to achieve good results for their future endeavours.
The Director of Education entreated them to comply with all the laid down rules and regulations guiding the examination so as to avoid the cancellation of their papers and other unforeseen circumstances.
“All qualified candidates must ensure that they abstain from sending any foreign material into the examination hall to avoid cancellation of their results,” he stated.
Mr Offei urged parents, teachers and other stakeholders to offer best form of motivation to the candidates throughout the examination period.
He called supervisors and invigilators to be cautious of examination malpractices and thus strictly adhere to all rules and regulations guarding the conduct of the examination.
“The Agona West Municipal Directorate will not shield any teacher caught in engaging in practices that flout the rules and regulations pertaining to their work as supervisors,” he warned.
He expressed gratitude to all basic school teachers for their dedication, commitment and willingness in grooming the candidates for the examination.
Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Elsie Addo Awadzi, has urged Rural and Community Banks (RCBs) to take use of developing digital technology in order to stay relevant in the financial services industry.
She claimed that in order to gain more appeal among rural and local populations, commercial banks were utilizing digital technology and the government’s drive toward digitisation.
The Deputy Governor stated that the reach and acceptance of digital technology should motivate the RCB sector to re-strategize while speaking at the 21st Annual CEOs Conference of the ARB Apex Bank on Friday in Ho.
“Digital technology is redefining the financial landscape. Commercial banks now can reach communities cost-effectively using technology.
“That divide between what belongs to the RCB sector and the commercial banks are gone. There is no boundary in the financial market, and it’s a wake-up call for the RCB sector,” she stated.
Mrs Awadzi said customers would be forced to rethink the use of rural banks as commercial banks continued to break ground in a space that was considered exclusively for RCBs.
She said RCBs must consider digital technology an “enormous growth area,” and leverage their strengths in penetrating local communities, in seeking to revise strategies to add value to the products and services to suit customers.
“Repositioning RCBs means it’s essential to take stock of the strengths and weaknesses of the industry. Customers are driving innovation. They are asking for ways of banking that are more suitable and deliverable to their taste.
Any financial institution that has not adopted digital transformation technology is clearly behind the curve. RCBs should endear to reorganize their business modalities to remain relevant,” the Deputy Governor added.
She said the Government and its stakeholders recognised the place of RCBs within the nation’s financial security structure, and that the Ministry of Finance and the BoG would continue to support the sector to grow along the digital transformation path.
Mrs Awadzi said the Government and the World Bank would work together to strengthen the Apex Bank to scale up and revive RCBs and help enhance technology exposure for the sector.
She urged the management of the sector to “keep in mind the compliments and the risks,” and said with “strong governance, and strong risk management systems,” the risks should be mitigated.
Mrs Awadzi said RCBs would have to augment their capital base to be able to implement the appropriate systems and strategies.
She noted that several RCBs were yet to implement the BOGs 2018 cyber security strategy and that CEOs must ensure their institutions took the line.
She further said the BoG’s sustainable banking principles launched in 2019 should be embraced by RCBs, which are expected to use their lending power to promote clean and more environmentally sustainable ways of doing business.
The three-day conference was on the theme: “Positioning Rural Banking at the Center of Financial Services Delivery in Ghana- the Role of Stakeholders”, and brought together top management of the Apex Bank, the Bank of Ghana and other related financial institutions.
Alex Kwasi Awuah, Managing Director of the ARB Apex Bank, said the rural financing gap, which formed the rationale behind the establishment of the rural banking system in Ghana by the BoG, had not been addressed 50 years on.
He said it was because the sector had not embraced the tools available.
“Digitisation and growth in financial technology solutions would help fully embrace the digital revolution by delivering the right products and services to bridge this yawning gap in the rural and community banking sub-sector,” Mr Awuah said.
The Managing Director said the ARB remained confident that with its agency and digital banking systems, the sector’s needs would be met.
He said CEOs remained the guarantors of the successes of the banks and should focus on saving banks from deterioration.
He called to price products and services to help draw customers closer and to tighten controls to prevent fraudulent practices that had been rampant in the sector.
Dr Toni Aubynn, Board Chairman of the Apex Bank, challenged RCBs to “use turbulent times to seek innovative thoughts and skills to bear in withstanding global whirlwinds and be able to emerge stronger.”
The Kingdom of Morocco has taken various preemptive measures by building over 50 large and medium-scale dams to tackle the perennial water challenges faced by the Kingdom and make drinking water available to all.
King Mohammed VI, King of Morocco noted that “Since my accession to the throne, I have keenly sought to continue the policy of building dams.
More than 50 large and medium-sized dams have been built, and 20 more are under construction.
The King stated that regardless of the rainfall they may receive in the years ahead, he was keen to make sure they speed up the completion of the projects planned under the National Priority Program for Water in all regions and corners of the Kingdom.
Speaking at the first opening session of the second legislative year of the 11th legislature, the King noted that aside from the pressing challenges of water, investment promotion ought to be fast-forwarded.
He noted that the Kingdom was “counting on productive investment as a lever for boosting our economy and making sure our country engages in the promising sectors which provide job opportunities for young people as well as funding for various social and development programs.
“I expect the new investment charter to significantly enhance Morocco’s attractiveness as far as both domestic and foreign investment is concerned.”
Below is the full text:
Rabat, 14/10/2022 (MAP) – His Majesty King Mohammed VI, accompanied by HRH Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, delivered, on Friday, a speech to the Parliament on the occasion of the opening of the first session of the second legislative year of the 11th legislature.
Here follows the full text of the Royal Speech:
“Praise be to God,
May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet, His Kith and Kin
Honourable Members of Parliament,
The opening of Parliament, an occasion provided for in the Constitution, is not merely an opportunity to renew contact with the representatives of the nation. Rather, I see it as an important annual event to address the nation’s major issues, especially matters of priority.
Today, I have decided to focus on two important questions:
– The first one concerns the problem of water, the pressing challenges it poses today and others that could surface in the future.
– As for the second question, it relates to the qualitative leap forward that needs to be made in the promotion of investment.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Almighty God said: “We made from water every living thing”. True is the Word of God.
Water is the source of all life. It is an essential ingredient in the development process, and it is critical for all projects and productive sectors.
Hence, it has become urgent to address the water resource management issue, especially as Morocco is experiencing a period of severe drought – the most serious in more than three decades.
To face up to this situation, we have taken a series of preemptive measures, since last February, under the plan to combat the effects of drought. The aim is to make sure drinking water is available, to provide assistance to farmers and to safeguard the livestock.
Realizing the structural nature of this phenomenon in our country, I have always devoted my full attention to all aspects relating to water.
Thus, several working sessions have been devoted to this issue, leading to the formulation of the 2020-2027 National Priority Program for Water.
Since my accession to the throne, I have keenly sought to continue the policy of building dams. More than 50 large and medium-sized dams have been built, and 20 more are under construction.
Regardless of the rainfall we may receive in the years ahead, I am keen to make sure we speed up the completion of the projects planned under this program, in all regions and corners of the Kingdom.
I am referring, in particular, to the completion of the construction of planned dams, the development of hydraulic interconnections and the construction of sea water desalination plants, as well as the implementation of a stronger water efficiency policy, especially in the area of irrigation.
Morocco is not the only country facing the problem of drought and water scarcity. This issue has become a global phenomenon, one that is further compounded by climate change.
The current water resource situation challenges us all government, institutions and citizens. It requires us to be frank and responsible in dealing with the issue and in addressing whatever inadequacies there maybe.
Morocco is now in a situation of chronic water stress, and not all problems can be solved by simply building the water facilities planned, notwithstanding their great importance and of the need for them.
I therefore call for all aspects of the water issue to be addressed seriously, putting, in particular, an end to all forms of squandering and of irrational, irresponsible use of this vital resource.
Also, the water issue should not be exploited for political outbidding purposes, nor should it be used to stoke social tensions.
As Moroccans, we should all exert greater efforts to ensure rational, responsible use of water.
This requires a real change in our behavior regarding water. In this respect, public administrations and institutions should lead by example.
It is also necessary to ensure optimal management of the demand in light of the accomplishments made in mobilizing water resources.
In the medium term, we need to strengthen our proactive policies in the water sector and make up for lost time.
It is both our duty and our responsibility today to adopt sustainable, integrated policies, commit to the spirit of solidarity and ensure efficiency under the new national water plan, which should be implemented as soon as possible.
At this point, I should like to emphasize the following:
Firstly, we need to launch more ambitious programs and initiatives, and to leverage modern technology for water saving and wastewater reuse purposes.
Secondly, we must pay special attention to the rational use of groundwater and preserve the water table by tackling illegal pumping and the erratic drilling of wells.
Thirdly, we should keep in mind that the water policy is not just a sectoral policy; rather, it lies at the intersection of a great many sectors.
This means we need to update sectoral strategies on a continuous basis, in light of the pressure on water resources and the future development of those resources.
Fourthly, the real cost of water needs to be taken into account at each stage of the water mobilization process, keeping in mind the need to be transparent and to raise awareness about all aspects relating to water costs.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The second part of this address will concern the question of investment, a sector I care deeply about.
Today, we are counting on productive investment as a lever for boosting our economy and making sure our country engages in the promising sectors which provide job opportunities for young people as well as funding for various social and development programs.
I expect the new investment charter to significantly enhance Morocco’s attractiveness as far as both domestic and foreign investment is concerned.
This requires removing the obstacles that still prevent a real take-off of domestic investment at all levels.
Regional investment centers are expected to oversee the entire investment process; they should also improve the efficiency and quality of the services they provide in terms of accompanying and guiding project holders until the actual achievement of their projects.
In return, all the stakeholders concerned should provide regional investment centers with the support they need, both at the central and regional levels.
As regards the business environment, the structural reforms we have introduced have made it possible to improve Morocco’s image and standing in this respect.
Despite the results achieved, however, further efforts are still needed to unlock the nation’s full potential, encourage private initiative and attract greater foreign investment.
I should like, in this regard, to insist, once more, on the need to implement the administrative devolution charter in full, simplify and digitalize procedures, facilitate access to real estate as well as to green energies, and provide financial support to project holders.
To boost investor confidence in our country as a destination for profitable investment, I call for the rules of fair competition to be enhanced and for arbitration and mediation mechanisms to be resorted to in order to settle disputes in this area.
Since investment concerns all institutions as well as the private sector, I wish to insist on the need for everyone to be mobilized and commit to a keen sense of responsibility in order to promote this sector, which is of critical importance for our country’s development.
The strategic goal, in all this, is for the private sector to take its rightful place in the investment environment and be the real driving force behind our national economy.
Moroccan businesses and their national, regional and sectoral organizations are called upon to serve as a lever for the promotion of investment and entrepreneurship.
Similarly, the national banking and financial sector is expected to support and finance the new generation of investors and businesspeople, especially youths and small and medium enterprises.
In this regard, I invite you, once again, to pay particular attention to the investments made and the initiatives undertaken by the members of the Moroccan community abroad.
To achieve the desired goals, I have instructed the government to make sure, jointly with the private and banking sectors, that the commitments made by each party are fulfilled under a national investment contract scheme.
The latter aims to raise 550 billion dirhams for investment, and create 500,000 jobs between 2022 and 2026.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am sure you are aware of the role of Parliament in the areas of legislation, evaluation and oversight, be it with respect to the water and investment issues, or any question that is of concern to the nation and the citizens.
I pray that Almighty God assist you as you shoulder your tremendous national responsibility, especially in the current domestic circumstances and the global volatile environment.
I can think of no better way to conclude this address than the following words of the Almighty: “and (He) sent down rain from the heavens; and brought forth there with fruits for your sustenance”. True is the Word of God.
The Volta Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr James Gunu, has received an overwhelming endorsement from his Nudowukorpe Branch in the Akatsi North Constituency to retain him as the party’s Volta Regional Secretary.
Mr Yao Nudowu, Branch Chairman, on behalf of the community, presented a cash amount of GHC 1,000 to Mr Gunu during his visit to the community to officially inform his relatives, elders, and the branch executives of the party of his intention to seek re-election.
Mr Nudowu, during the presentation, revealed that the community, having benefited immensely from Mr Gunu, had long prepared to purchase his nomination forms once the time was due.
He noted that the NDC in Nudowukorpe would not only make financial donations to support his campaign but would also participate fully in activities that would secure him a second term as the Volta Regional Secretary of the party.
Mr Gunu, also a native from Nudowukorpe, and a former District Chief Executive for the area, was accorded a warm reception by the village folks who turned up in their numbers to welcome a man they revere and hold in high esteem for his contributions to the development of the community and the party at large.
Mr Gunu further engaged the Constituency Executives of the party at Ave-Dakpa with similar intention.
Mr Richard Awudza, Constituency Chairman, in his remarks noted that the party in Akatsi North was solidly behind Mr. Gunu, describing him as a selfless individual who served the party at all levels.
Mr Awudza announced an overwhelming endorsement from the party in Akatsi North for the second term bid of Mr. Gunu.
Mr James Gunu was elected in 2018 as the Volta Regional Secretary of the party.
He will in the coming days file his nominations for a second term bid as the party prepares itself ahead of the 2024 elections.
The regional delegates conference will be held in November.
Ghanaian-born striker Mohammed Muntari was on target for Qatar in their 2-1 win over Nicaragua in a friendly match in Marbella, Spain on Thursday night.
Qatar, who are training in Spain as they prepare for their World debut at home, are playing friendly matches against national teams and clubs ahead of the global showpiece.
Afif opened the scoring for Qatar with a stoppage-time penalty against Nicaragua, who are ranked 142nd in the world.
The Asian champions doubled the lead in the 70th minute with Muntari finding the net but the Central Americans halved the deficit five minutes later as Galeano struck to equalise.
While Qatar managed to see the game off, they could have increased the scoreline only for Afif to miss a penalty late in the game.
Felix Sanchez, who has taken a 27-player squad for the final phase of preparatory camp for the World Cup, named a strong line-up for the friendly match.
Qatar begin their World Cup against Ecuador at Al Bayt Stadium on November 20 before taking on African champions Senegal and the Netherlands in Group A.
Some members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Ketu South have backed the General Secretary bid of their former Member of Parliament (MP), Mr Fifi Fiavi Kwetey.
Mr Kwetey, a former Minister of Food and Agriculture and of Transport, declared his intention to contest the NDC General Secretary position following the decision by the incumbent, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah (known as General Mosquito), to exit the position to join the chairmanship race.
The members who spoke in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) touted the credentials of Mr Kwetey saying, there was no better and perfect replacement for General Mosquito, especially in a critical time when a trusted hand was needed to deliver victory for the party to rescue Ghanaians from the “misrule of the current Akufo-Addo’s rule.”
Mr Bright Dzila, Communication Officer, Ketu South Constituency, who is seeking re-election, said he would embark on a project in both Volta and Oti Regions after their Constituency Executives elections next weekend to campaign for Mr Kwetey whose competence he said was critical ahead of the 2024 elections.
Mr Dzila said: “He is a very competent man. His track record as a propaganda Secretary of the party is there for all of us to refer to and when he became an MP, he did a lot in Ketu South. He has what it takes to replace General Mosquito.
“We all know what he did in the strongroom in 2008. He is very firm, and I can assure you, he has everything it takes for the job.”
Mr Joseph Kwasi Nyavi, aspiring Chairman, NDC Ketu South said the former Deputy Minister of Finance could be trusted to be the Chief Executive Officer of the NDC believing, he would champion the cause of party and country.
Mr Daniel Sorokpo, Research Officer, Ketu South NDC said knowing the unforgettable role he played in the success of the NDC in both 2008 and 2012 elections, the “Nogokpo Lion” as NDC’s General Secretary was a sure bet for victory 2024.
“Some may mistake Nogokpo Lion’s passion for the NDC, fiery and confident posture as arrogance but the truth is that he is very down to earth, respectful, and humble. His rich experience in politics and his ability to listen to all and play well in a team are all very important going into the 2024 elections,” he added.
Mr Kwetey told the GNA that as a political economist/financial analyst with practical “understanding of the workings of the economy and financial markets,” becoming the General Secretary would make the campaign even easier for the NDC by breaking down the most complex economic issues to the understanding of the ordinary person.
“These days when the people are interested in how they can put food on the table for their families, not just any general talk and empty claims of being consultants on democratic issues are needed. The NDC needs a campaign that is going to hinge on economy, economy and economy and I am the man for that.
“I have done it before, and I can do it again and again,” Mr. Kwetey said.
Breast cancer survivors complain about being the subject of frequent questions whenever they meet new people.
“When people hear that you are a breast cancer survivor, the first question they just ask you [is] ‘did you cut your breast? What are you cutting? Are you cutting bread or meat?’”
They say these questions have been the subject of numerous inquiries from people from all walks of life.
Bernita Obonam, one of the survivors, says such questions are traumatic to survivors like herself.
“Every breast cancer patient has a scar, but the scar does not define who we are,” she explained.
She describes instances where friends would even end their relationship with them because they are survivors or patients.
Breast cancer survivor, Bernita Obonam
Bernita associates the mention of breast cancer with the first thought of death.
Her mother died of breast cancer at the age of 39, and the pain she endured inspired Bernita as part of adulthood plans to raise awareness about the disease.
Unfortunately, as Bernita grew older, she forgot about her decision to become a breast cancer advocate in her quest to save lives.
However, one day in the bathroom, she decided to examine her breast and discovered a lump underneath.
“The thoughts just flashed back to how my mother died, and I was like, is this how I’m going to die and leave my children?” she questioned herself.
She cried almost every day but eventually had to toughen up and live a better life.
Bernita was diagnosed with cancer and was advised to undergo the necessary treatments in order to survive the agony of cancer.
She believes that early detection and prompt action are critical to survival.
“Breast cancer isn’t a death sentence,” she explained.
“Be a friend to the breast and report any changes to the hospital,” said another survivor, Vivian Jessy Sarfo.
According to Vivian, if a patient is not comfortable at the hospital where she was diagnosed, she should seek a second opinion elsewhere.
Breast cancer is only curable and survivable if detected early.
Vivian discovered her breast cancer at an early stage and has now been cancer-free for 18 years.
“The tumor was removed because I reported it early and today I’m here to celebrate.”
She advises women to be cautious of their breasts and, if they are diagnosed, to allow themselves time for meaningful treatment.
“A woman would be diagnosed with breast cancer and decide to conceal the disease from her child. Why should this be the case?” she asked.
Breast cancer survivors are participating in advocacy programmes with Breast Care International (BCI) and sharing their stories with other women in order to remove the stigma and misconception that breast cancer is incurable.
They also assist newly diagnosed breast cancer patients at the Peace and Love Hospital in Kumasi with their navigation.
They appeal to the government to support them in their fight against breast cancer because assistance is needed to help the needy.
More than 2,000 women die of breast cancer each year in Ghana, according to Dr Beatrice Addai Wiafe, President of BCI, and there is a need to reverse the trend.
Stereotyping, she indicates, is one of the factors preventing many women from seeking treatment in health care facilities.
In light of this, she states that public education is critical in educating people about the importance of understanding that breast cancer is curable and survivable in order to overcome fears and stigma.
Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Mrs Elsie Addo Awadzi, has called on Rural and Community Banks (RCBs) to leverage growing digital technology to maintain relevance within the financial services sector.
She said commercial banks were riding on digital technology and the government’s digitisation drive to increase appeal among rural and local communities.
The Deputy Governor, who was addressing the 21st Annual CEOs Conference of the ARB Apex Bank in Ho on Friday, said the reach and acceptance of digital technology should encourage the RCB sector to re-strategise.
“Digital technology is redefining the financial landscape. Commercial banks now can reach communities cost-effectively using technology.
“That divide between what belongs to the RCB sector and the commercial banks are gone. There is no boundary in the financial market, and it’s a wake-up call for the RCB sector,” she stated.
Mrs Awadzi said customers would be forced to rethink the use of rural banks as commercial banks continued to break ground in a space that was considered exclusively for RCBs.
She said RCBs must consider digital technology an “enormous growth area,” and leverage their strengths in penetrating local communities, in seeking to revise strategies to add value to the products and services to suit customers.
“Repositioning RCBs means it’s essential to take stock of the strengths and weaknesses of the industry. Customers are driving innovation. They are asking for ways of banking that are more suitable and deliverable to their taste.
Any financial institution that has not adopted digital transformation technology is clearly behind the curve. RCBs should endear to reorganize their business modalities to remain relevant,” the Deputy Governor added.
She said the Government and its stakeholders recognised the place of RCBs within the nation’s financial security structure, and that the Ministry of Finance and the BoG would continue to support the sector to grow along the digital transformation path.
Mrs Awadzi said the Government and the World Bank would work together to strengthen the Apex Bank to scale up and revive RCBs and help enhance technology exposure for the sector.
She urged the management of the sector to “keep in mind the compliments and the risks,” and said with “strong governance, and strong risk management systems,” the risks should be mitigated.
Mrs Awadzi said RCBs would have to augment their capital base to be able to implement the appropriate systems and strategies.
She noted that several RCBs were yet to implement the BOGs 2018 cyber security strategy and that CEOs must ensure their institutions took the line.
She further said the BoG’s sustainable banking principles launched in 2019 should be embraced by RCBs, which are expected to use their lending power to promote clean and more environmentally sustainable ways of doing business.
The three-day conference was on the theme: “Positioning Rural Banking at the Center of Financial Services Delivery in Ghana- the Role of Stakeholders”, and brought together top management of the Apex Bank, the Bank of Ghana and other related financial institutions.
Alex Kwasi Awuah, Managing Director of the ARB Apex Bank, said the rural financing gap, which formed the rationale behind the establishment of the rural banking system in Ghana by the BoG, had not been addressed 50 years on.
He said it was because the sector had not embraced the tools available.
“Digitisation and growth in financial technology solutions would help fully embrace the digital revolution by delivering the right products and services to bridge this yawning gap in the rural and community banking sub-sector,” Mr Awuah said.
The Managing Director said the ARB remained confident that with its agency and digital banking systems, the sector’s needs would be met.
He said CEOs remained the guarantors of the successes of the banks and should focus on saving banks from deterioration.
He called to price products and services to help draw customers closer and to tighten controls to prevent fraudulent practices that had been rampant in the sector.
Dr Toni Aubynn, Board Chairman of the Apex Bank, challenged RCBs to “use turbulent times to seek innovative thoughts and skills to bear in withstanding global whirlwinds and be able to emerge stronger.”
Being jobless does not justify anybody engaging in illegal mining and putting the lives of the people in danger, the District Chief Executive (DCE) of Ellembelle, Kwasi Bonzoh, has admonished.
He says it would be pointless to justify the activities of illegal miners simply because they are unemployed.
“The fact that you are jobless doesn’t justify or guarantee that you should be mining illegally,” he told Samson Lardy Anyeninion Joy FM’s Newsfile programme.
There have been suggestions that providing employment to the youth in the country could help curb the menace, with some activists arguing that most of the illegal miners are merely people desperate for extra money and work amidst the present economic downturn.
Therefore, any proactive step by the government to get the educated and uneducated youth sustainable jobs, would go a long way to save lands and water bodies from destruction.
“Jobless, unemployment is one issue that government is tackling” but the youth should not use that as an excuse to trade in ‘galamsey’ businesses, Kwasi Bonzoh noted.
“Over here in Kokomlemle, there are jobless people; does that warrant that they should come in and attack and steal from Joy FM because Joy FM is prospering?” he quizzed.
“The fact that you are jobless doesn’t give you the permission to pollute our water bodies then we [the rest not into galamsey] would suffer.”
Meanwhile, he wants government to tighten its law enforcement mechanisms, observing that “without these laws, all the fights and talks will come to nought.”
GHANAIAN rapper Amerado is gearing up for the release of his maiden album God Is Never Asleep(G.I.N.A) on Tuesday, October 25.
The album release will be followed with a radio tour to give publicity to the new project.
Songs on the 10-track album recorded by sound engineers Two Bars, Tubhani, ItzJoeBeatz and ItzCJ Madeit are Nyame Dada, No Stress, Grace, Got You, Pay Me, 666, Back To Sender, Black Change, You Are The One and Hahaha.
Artistes featured on the album include Efya, Epixode, Fameye, Lasmid, Eno Barony, S1mba and Laioung.
Two songs from the album, Back To Sender and Grace released few weeks ago have over 1 million streams on Boomplay and Audiomack.
“Last year, I released an EP titled Patience which has songs such as Sika Dam and Abotre and after receiving positive feedback, I think I’m ready for an album.
“I took my time to write all the songs on the album and I am proud of myself,” he told Graphic Showbiz.
According to the 3Music Awards 2022 Best Rapper of the Year, he has had a good year with Grace featuring Lasmid and Back To Sender and he is very confident the album will increase his relevance in the music space.
Born Derrick Sarfo Kantanka, Amerado revealed he will also be introducing a new genre called Afrorap.
“As we acknowledge Afropop for setting the pace, I strongly ascertain that an introduction of an African rap genre dubbed Afrorap can perform massively well on the global market. Just like we have Afrobeats, Afrodance etc, Afrorap is just a fusing of rap with Afro,” he said.
Since breaking onto the music scene in 2018, Amerado has been adding up to his collections with good tunes such as Twa So, Box Of Memories, I Am, Format, Juju, Taxi Driver, Redemption, Don’t Call Me King, Best Rapper, Lockoff, Indelible Flow among others.
Yofi Grant, the chief executive officer of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, expresses his confidence in the economic managers’ ability to deal with the nation’s current problems.
He claims that other nations, besides Ghana, are also experiencing economic difficulties because the problem is evidently a global one.
On October 14, Yofi Grant said, “Even the more robust, stronger, and bigger economies are really suffering the heat of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine conflict, but in Ghana, we understand the impact of this but we are still confident in addressing them.” Yofi Grant was speaking on the sidelines of the Ghana Club 100 Awards night.
“People are going about their businesses without job losses, enough power supply and so we should be grateful for little mercies but we cannot rest because I believe that with partnerships from government, private sector and foreign partners, we will overcome,” he added.
He however pointed out that despite the economic challenges, Ghana remains an attractive destination for Foreign Direct Investment from investors.
“I am seeing a lot more people coming to Ghana to inquire about the possibilities of setting up businesses and investment in the country because they are finding their traditional markets tough and they realise that Africa and perhaps Ghana is a very good place to start a business,” Mr Grant declared.
Meanwhile, Zeepay Ghana Limited emerged as the overall best company of the year at the 19th edition of the Ghana Club 100 awards organised by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC).
The financial technology company earned the top spot after beating some ninety-nine (99) companies enlisted in the awards scheme.
The annual ceremony was attended by top personalities from various sectors of the country.
Senior Presidential Advisor, Yaw Osafo Maafo delivered the keynote address at the awards ceremony held at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel in Accra.
Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Mrs Elsie Addo Awadzi, has called on Rural and Community Banks (RCBs) to leverage growing digital technology to maintain relevance within the financial services sector.
She said commercial banks were riding on digital technology and the government’s digitisation drive to increase appeal among rural and local communities.
The Deputy Governor, who was addressing the 21st Annual CEOs Conference of the ARB Apex Bank in Ho on Friday, said the reach and acceptance of digital technology should encourage the RCB sector to re-strategise.
“Digital technology is redefining the financial landscape. Commercial banks now can reach communities cost-effectively using technology.
“That divide between what belongs to the RCB sector and the commercial banks are gone. There is no boundary in the financial market, and it’s a wake-up call for the RCB sector,” she stated.
Mrs Awadzi said customers would be forced to rethink the use of rural banks as commercial banks continued to break ground in a space that was considered exclusively for RCBs.
She said RCBs must consider digital technology an “enormous growth area,” and leverage their strengths in penetrating local communities, in seeking to revise strategies to add value to the products and services to suit customers.
“Repositioning RCBs means it’s essential to take stock of the strengths and weaknesses of the industry. Customers are driving innovation. They are asking for ways of banking that are more suitable and deliverable to their taste.
Any financial institution that has not adopted digital transformation technology is clearly behind the curve. RCBs should endear to reorganize their business modalities to remain relevant,” the Deputy Governor added.
She said the Government and its stakeholders recognised the place of RCBs within the nation’s financial security structure, and that the Ministry of Finance and the BoG would continue to support the sector to grow along the digital transformation path.
Mrs Awadzi said the Government and the World Bank would work together to strengthen the Apex Bank to scale up and revive RCBs and help enhance technology exposure for the sector.
She urged the management of the sector to “keep in mind the compliments and the risks,” and said with “strong governance, and strong risk management systems,” the risks should be mitigated.
Mrs Awadzi said RCBs would have to augment their capital base to be able to implement the appropriate systems and strategies.
She noted that several RCBs were yet to implement the BOGs 2018 cyber security strategy and that CEOs must ensure their institutions took the line.
She further said the BoG’s sustainable banking principles launched in 2019 should be embraced by RCBs, which are expected to use their lending power to promote clean and more environmentally sustainable ways of doing business.
The three-day conference was on the theme: “Positioning Rural Banking at the Center of Financial Services Delivery in Ghana- the Role of Stakeholders”, and brought together top management of the Apex Bank, the Bank of Ghana and other related financial institutions.
Alex Kwasi Awuah, Managing Director of the ARB Apex Bank, said the rural financing gap, which formed the rationale behind the establishment of the rural banking system in Ghana by the BoG, had not been addressed 50 years on.
He said it was because the sector had not embraced the tools available.
“Digitisation and growth in financial technology solutions would help fully embrace the digital revolution by delivering the right products and services to bridge this yawning gap in the rural and community banking sub-sector,” Mr Awuah said.
The Managing Director said the ARB remained confident that with its agency and digital banking systems, the sector’s needs would be met.
He said CEOs remained the guarantors of the successes of the banks and should focus on saving banks from deterioration.
He called to price products and services to help draw customers closer and to tighten controls to prevent fraudulent practices that had been rampant in the sector.
Dr Toni Aubynn, Board Chairman of the Apex Bank, challenged RCBs to “use turbulent times to seek innovative thoughts and skills to bear in withstanding global whirlwinds and be able to emerge stronger.”
The Ahafo Regional Council of State Representative, Nana Yaw Basoa, has called for unity among Ahafo residents to help promote development.
He explained that the region could develop as expected to improve residents’ standard of living when there is absolute unity, adding that educational background and location should not be a hindrance.
“If we are united as a people, regardless of our numbers, there is nothing we can’t achieve if we put our minds to it,” he said.
Nana Yaw Basoa, Ahafo Regional Council of State Representative
Nana Yaw Basoa made the call at Bechem in the Tano South District during the launch of the “Ahafo Home Coming Festival 2022 “.
The launch was attended by chiefs in the region, the Regional Minister, Municipal and District Chief Executives, and the Clergy, among other dignitaries.
The council of state member Nana Basoa also said the culture where people expect the government to provide all developmental projects should be reviewed.
“The government would do its part of development, but certainly not everything that we require as a region.”
Instead, he wants financially sound residents and those with the best lobbying skills to make good use of them to help bring development to the doorsteps of residents.
Nana Basoa believes that would help to achieve the aim of why the Ahafo Region was created.
He hinted that the introduction of the Ahafo Homecoming Festival scheduled for December 30, 2022, to January 1, 2023, and expected to happen every year, is to help promote development without waiting for the government.
He noted that the idea was muted after a thorough discussion with the chiefs and other opinion leaders in the region and, therefore, urges all citizens of Ahafo, both home and abroad, to play their part to ensure the success of the festival to the benefit of the region.
Ahafo Regional Minister, George Boakye, speaking to the media after the launch, mentioned that the festival would attract investors in and out of Ahafo and Ghana, an indication of the region’s potential for investment to help the region and the investors.
He expressed his delight for the festival, expected to influence the development of the region, and pledged the coordinating council’s support before, during, and after the festival.
He further hoped it would help to develop tourist sites in some areas, including Mim, Yamfo, Tanoso, Sankore, and Kyenkyensibourso in the region.
Nana Ofori, one of the brains behind the Ahafo Homecoming Festival initiative, told Adom News’ reporter Sammy Asare that the initiative is a self-help drive by the indigenes after their role in the creation of the region.
He said some investors and natives outside the region and the country have expressed their interest to be part of the three-day festival to ensure that the region sees a massive development trend.
Volta/Oti Regional Chief Cocoa Farmer, Nana Kwame Abass, says farmers in the two regions have accepted the new cocoa price announced by the government.
He said although farmers aimed to receive GHS1,000 per bag, they noted that interventions such as the supply of plantain suckers, nursery of cocoa, mass spraying, supply of wellington boots, fungicide and others by government reduced the price to the GHS800.
Addressing a meeting in Hohoe, Nana Abass said they were, however, looking forward to an increase in the ensuing years.
He noted that but for the incentives from government, the cocoa farmer would have received a higher amount than what was agreed on by government and other stakeholders.
He said they had not received an increment last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors hence were not expecting the GHS140 cedis increment from the old price of GHS660.
He appealed to farmers not to be discouraged with the new price but to continue to work hard to produce more.
Nana Abass said the smuggling of cocoa to neighbouring Togo and Ivory Coast was affecting production in the regions.
He called on government and the COCOBOD to ensure prompt payment to farmers to avert farmers handing over their produce to foreigners, who had cash-in-hand.
Nana Abass called on the COCOBOD to also monitor the people or company involved in the purchase of the cocoa from the farmers since the smuggling could also be orchestrated by them.
Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, Minister of Agriculture, this month announced that a bag of 64kg gross weight of cocoa was now being sold at GHS800.
Mr Wisdom Delali Amexame, Administrator and Intelligence Manager, COCOBOD, said the new cocoa price announced by the government was good.
He noted that all money taken from the syndicated loan had 89 per cent going to the farmers, while the rest would be used for the construction of cocoa roads, fertilisers, chemicals and staff welfare.
Mr Amexame said some farmers, despite the efforts from the government, were still smuggling cocoa into neighbouring countries.
He said although there were talks about the price of cocoa being higher in Togo, it was worth noting that there were no interventions in that country unlike the situation in Ghana.
He noted that electronic scales had been deployed to prevent unapproved adjustments from buyers of cocoa beans from farmers.
Mr Seth Kpabitey, Quality Control Officer, COCOBOD, said one of the initiatives by COCOBOD to ensure that the commodity met international standards and expectations of customers was to ensure that the beans were thoroughly dried, well fermented, free from mold and free from stored-product insects.
He said the value-chain in the export of cocoa was guaranteed and certified with easily traceable pathways with COCOBOD certifying all chemicals used.
Mr Kpabitey noted that farmers in the two regions must be commended for adhering to directives and producing quality cocoa for the nation.
Mr Linus Kofi Fiakeye, Regional Manager in charge of Cocoa Health and Extension Division, said they had formed farmer groups to educate and train them to ensure quality yields.
Mr Fiakeye said they also focused on the cutting off disease farms, overage farms, pruning and seedling distribution adding that they also engaged in mass spraying and crediting fertilisers to farmers and called on farmers to capitalise on available interventions to produce more and earn more.
Mr Samuel Fato, District Chief Cocoa Farmer, Papase, said farmers tend to smuggle their cocoa because they were being owed for more than months after purchasing the produce and pleaded for timely supply and enough chemicals.
Mr Emmanuel Senyo Agbenyo, on behalf of the Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, pledged the Assembly’s support in collaborating with the security agencies to curb the menace of cocoa smuggling in the Municipality and the region.
He said the government was committed to the welfare of the farmers despite challenges to ensure that farmers were taken care of as well as making interventions that would better their lot.
The Ghana Police Service, Ghana Immigration Service and the Customs Excise and Preventive Service pledged their support to liaising with COCOBOD and farmers to arrest cocoa smugglers.
Assistant Superintendent of Immigration (ASI) Seth Amoako Danquah, Wli Border Post, noted that despite the many unapproved routes in the Municipality, they would continue to liaise with other security agencies to intensify patrols on the routes to prevent cocoa smuggling.
He said the youth were mostly culprits and urged the farmers to be on the lookout for the activities of the youth in their communities.
Shatta Wale has admitted the heat emanating from industry players and pundits who constantly pitched him against other artists, particularly Black Sherif inspired his hit song, On God.
On Showbiz 360, the SM boss told Giovani Caleb that if he didn’t act, his opponents would win.
In order to save his face and disprove his critics, Shatta Wale says he challenged God. After saying a brief prayer, the song “On God,” which has been popular since its release, was gifted to him by God.
Shatta Wale said, “As I was in America, people were comparing me to a whole lot of people and stuff like that. For instance, when Black Sherif just dropped his single, everybody started saying a whole lot of things. So I was like, God, you can’t let these people get us like that. Let’s do something.”
Speaking about the recording procedure, Shatta Wale revealed that the entire song took 45 minutes to record.
He said Jupiter encouraged him to release it and even assisted with the video shoot.
“So I performed the rhythms and recorded everything in around 45 minutes. I then went to bed. It was then despatched to Jupiter.
For the currency, which has been steadily losing ground versus the dollar over the previous few weeks, this would be a new low.
The cedi is selling at a rate of GH12.50 to $1 as of October 15 according to checks done by GhanaWeb Business at various Accra-area forex bureaus, while the Bank of Ghana is selling at a rate of GH10.72 as of October 14.
As of October 15, 2022, the UK pound is valued at GH13.10 and the euro is at GH11.60, according to AfriSwap.
The development is likely to exert further pressure on the economy with many citizens already grappling with soaring inflation pressures, high cost of living, fuel price and tariff hikes among others.
Meanwhile, government has commenced negotiations with the International Monetary Fund in hopes of securing an economic support programme aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability.
Traders in Adum in the Ashanti Region have reopened their shops following a meeting with the government to discuss concerns with the implementation of tax policies.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah, after engagements with the leadership of the traders, said there would be a plan in place to address the grievances of the traders.
“In all, we have settled some of the issues. For others, we have drawn a road map, and we are going to address all of them.”
“It is not everything I can address at my level. Some will have to move to the ministerial level for consideration. Some might even have to be as far as Parliament if need be.”
The minister also said the protesting traders were receptive to the engagements from the government.
“They have accepted in good faith. It means that they meant well… it is their worry they were trying to pour out.”
The businesses closed down their shops this past week in protest of the uneven implementation of the VAT on goods sold and payment of the VAT Flat rate.
They also lamented the pressure to honour payment of income tax, the high cost of store rentals and charges from the metropolitan assembly is eroding their profits.
Some traders were also upset with the activities of some officials of the Ghana Revenue Authority posted to their shops.
Senior Technical Specialist, International Labour Organisation (ILO), Bureau for Worker Activities, Madam Inviolata Chinyangarara, has advised workers’ organisations to work with governments and employers to develop a conducive environment for social dialogue.
Madam Chinyangarara said working with governments and employers would ensure there was qualitative and meaningful social dialogue based on trust and respect for their rights and independence.
She gave the advice in a goodwill message at a two-day capacity-building organised by the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) in Tema with support from the ILO on the theme: “Innovative Strategies for Organising Workers in the New World of Work.”
She said for unions to contribute to building stronger, more sustainable, and equal economies and societies, they must continue to exercise leadership, demonstrate relevance, and provide quality services to current and new members.
She noted that a pre-requisite for any trade union’s success was the existence of an organisational socio-economic vision and strategic response for addressing the changes in the world of work, society, and the economy.
Madam Chinyangarara stated the world of work was changing at a very rapid pace, as there was the decline of jobs in manufacturing, the rise of non-standard and flexible work, persistence and growth of the informal economy, changes in employment regulations and the limitation and violation of trade union rights have caused unionisation rates to fall in most countries worldwide.
She said increased precarious work and other forms of non-standard employment as declining solidarity with vulnerable groups of workers such as migrants and workers in the informal economy were some of the challenges to work on with stakeholders.
She noted that the digital economy and the way it was transforming jobs and employment relationships and the social divide between workers with stable, paying jobs and workers with unstable, poorly paid, or precarious jobs, or no job at all, had its effect on trade unionisation.
She observed that the COVID-19 pandemic had added a new sense of urgency to the challenges facing workers’ organisations to respond to transformations in the world of work driven by globalisation and by demographic, environmental and technological changes, as well as to play a crucial role in crisis mitigation, response, and recovery.
She commended the GFL for developing a strategic plan for 2023-2026 which would serve as a guiding framework for responding to these and other challenges faced by workers and their organisations in the new world of work.
She said in that context, the ILO was collaborating with the GFL and its affiliates to place particular emphasis on strengthening the institutional capacity of the GFL to develop forward-looking solutions to sustain and improve operations.
She said it also seeks to reinforce its representative leadership, and advocacy roles, while renewing membership strategies, service provision and delivery mechanisms, as well as enhancing policy advocacy and influence.
Madam Chinyangarara indicated that the ILO focus in the 2022-23 biennium was anchored around supporting the efforts of organisations such as the GFL to bolster their capacity to analyse and understand the new realities in the world of work.
It is also to strengthen their own institutional and organisational processes and adopt innovative strategies for organising and servicing new and existing members, especially in the new context brought about by the crisis.
She said to propel discussions on trade union renewal and revitalisation, the ILO ACTRAV produced materials addressing the trade union challenges, opportunities and prospects for remaining relevant, effective, and influential organisations in the future.
Mr Abraham Koomson, GFL Secretary-General, said, “The labour movement had a responsibility to compel government to do the needful to create a congenial business environment for industries to thrive and be able to retain employees and expand.”
He said companies were faced with clear and pressing threats both globally and internally as a result of bad government economic policies and a lack of commitment to promote the growth of local industries.
On October 1, 2022, the Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority launched its certified electronic invoicing system to guarantee that all invoices generated by taxpayers are verified by the system of the Commissioner.
The deployment of compliance officers and the use of an app for authentication will verify that the electronic invoicing system’s compliance.
There are 50 taxpayers selected across and enrolled on the system. The selected 50 reflect all types of taxpayers registered with the Authority of which some are complying, and others are not.
In a brief meeting with the media on Tuesday, at the Head Office of the Ghana Revenue Authority Accra, Mr Kwesi Eghan, Deputy Commissioner for Operations at the GRA, said the exercise would continue until each taxpayer was fully compliant, 600 additional taxpayers will be enrolled by the end of the first quarter of 2023.
The whole exercise will see its conclusion by 2024 when all taxpayers will be using the Commissioner-General’s invoicing system.
“This closing down of shops is not the path the Authority is forging willingly; it is a last resort action. We will advise that you comply before we start this whole exercise,” he said.
He said the exercise was targeted at the initial selected 50 taxpayers, who are supposed to hook on to the system.
“It is not as if all other taxpayers are not compliant, quite a number are hooked on the system voluntarily as mandated by the Authority,” he added.
He said non-compliant taxpayers would be prevented from operating until hooked on to the system, “if you have six branches and one is closed, you will be prevented from operating from any branch across the country till all six shops are hooked on the system,” he said.
The Authority is embarking on several exercises, including invigilation by officers, electronic invoicing exercises, test-purchase exercises, and enforcement of taxpayers to register with the Authority.
SEND Ghana, a policy research and advocacy organisation, has urged the government to prioritise waste recycling as a means of generating revenue for development.
The organisation also called on the government to re-introduce the road tolls as a means of mobilizing revenue in the face of the country’s economic difficulties.
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.
On the health sector, she called on the government to establish a Health Emergency Fund to replace the COVID-19 Fund to support the country’s health sector.
“We urged the government to establish and strengthen adolescent girls’ clubs for sex education in health and school facilities with subsidized sanitary pads,” she said.
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.
Dr John Kumah, the Deputy Minister of Finance, 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.
Dr Alex Amankwa Poku, Head of Budget Development and Reforms, Ministry of Finance, said the country’s budget cycle covered the formulation, approval, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation processes.
He said Ghana in the latest Open BudgetSurvey in 2021, improved its transparency score from 54 out of 100 in 2019 to 56 in 2021.
Ace producer and occasional singer Appietus has said the structures in the Ghana music industry are so bad that he has not been able to make money from his intellectual properties.
Comparing his situation to America where the system is in full functionality, Appietus said the late Micahel Jackson is still making money from his music even years after his demise.
She shared this sentiment when he was interviewed recently on Class FM. He started by saying;
“On the continent in Africa, I’m one of the guys will large hits but the system in Africa does not help me, the system in Ghana does not help me, the royalty system, the music industry structures and when we were making the hits and having fun we didn’t think it will affect us in the future and it’s affecting us now.
Some time ago when Michael Jackson died, he made $ 4 million from royalties from people streaming his music, and he was dead,” he revealed in astonishment.
With a smile, he added, “The system is working so if you’re not there, your family will enjoy so I pray that our system will work”.
He then concluded by saying, “We don’t have to reinvent the wheel, people are already doing it, the question is how did they do it? We need the template and we do it, simple! It won’t change anything, it’s still music…”
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has been elected chairperson of the Gulf of Guinea Commission.
The commission is an organisation established to defend the common interests of Member States, and promote peace and socio-economic development based on the bases of dialogue, consensus, ties of friendship, solidarity and fraternity.
After his election as chairperson of the organisation on Thursday (October 13, 2022), President Akufo-Addo also held bilateral discussions with the French President, Emmanuel Macron.
The discussions were centered on strengthening the ties of co-operation between Ghana and France.
President Akufo-Addo also addressed a Session of Asia Society France; and held a meeting with Catherine Colonna, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
A Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, Responsible for Crops, Mr Yaw Frimpong Addo, says agriculture and food production remain a major priority of the country.
He said successive governments had made relentless efforts to make investments, guided by policies and strategies to ensure sustainable agriculture.
Mr Frimpong Addo was speaking at the commemoration of this year’s World Food Day celebration held at Sogakope in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region.
It was on the theme: “Leave No One Behind; Better Production, Better Nutrition, Better Environment and Better Life.”
World Food Day is an international day celebrated every year worldwide on October 16 to commemorate the date of the founding of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation in 1945.
Mr Frimpong Addo noted that food remained indispensable for the survival of humans and that science had established that there was limited time beyond which man cannot survive without food.
The Deputy Minister said investment in agriculture, with support from education and health, would guarantee sustainable food production and nutrition for citizens globally.
Mr Frimpong Addo said the strategic focus of the government on agriculture was informed by the natural endowment, comparative advantage and immense potential of the country’s agricultural sector.
The Deputy Minister noted that all 16 regions of the country were blessed with arable land for growing a variety of food and tree crops, supported by favourable weather conditions,
He said the Government was not relenting in its efforts to transform agriculture as the sector was the driving force behind the country’s economy; presenting the best opportunity for accelerated industrialisation, job creation and poverty reduction.
He commended the United Nations agencies, including Food and Agricultural Organisation, World Food Programme and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, as well as allied agencies both International and local, for sustaining the annual celebration of the World Food Day programme.
Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson, Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD), in an address read on her behalf, said the celebration called for a shared exploit, noting that the pursuit of development could best be achieved through collectiveness.
She said the Ministry was willing and ready to work with Ghanaians and the international community to ensure that the country met its fish requirements and achieve a nourished population and a better life for national development.
The Minister said the theme for the event reminded “us of the impact of our actions as government and citizens on sustaining national food security, conserving the environment and general wellbeing in the future.
“The theme further highlights the need for a collaborative effort by academia, private sector, key stakeholders and Government and the media in the agricultural (fisheries) value chain to develop and sustain our food systems,” she added.
Mrs Koomson said the Government had shown continued support to give the fishing industry the needed boost to improve productivity and performance within the agriculture sector of which fisheries is a component.
The Minister said the Ministry was currently undertaking a review of the fisheries legislation to strengthen the regulatory framework to address lapses in fisheries governance and meet international best practices.
Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, the Volta Regional Minister, said a concerted effort was required to deal with the issues of food insecurity across the globe and appealed to World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organisation to support countries such as Ghana to access fertilizer at cheaper costs on the global market.
This, he said, was one sure way to guarantee food availability, accessibility and affordability to all, thereby curbing global food insecurity.
He said the Volta Region was ready for any investment in agriculture and aquaculture towards enhancing the food security of the country on the premise that the Region has vast hectares of arable land and several water bodies.
On Monday, October 10, 2022, the traders, the majority of whom deal in fast-moving consumer items, closed their stores in protest of what they termed as an unfavorable tax system and the free decline of the Ghana cedi.
The closures left many traders who had traveled from near and far to Kumasi to acquire some of these things stranded and left the Pampaso and PZ sectors, thought to be the busiest enclave in the central business district, desolate.
Mr Charles Kusi, Executive Secretary to the Kumasi Business Community told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Friday that, they were opening the shops out of respect for the Asantehemaa.
“We are reopening our shops out of respect for the revered queen-mother, but we may be compelled to close the shops again if nothing good comes out of our engagement with the government”, he stated.
Mr Kusi said the Ashanti regional Minister had also invited their leadership to discuss their concerns and that he was looking forward to a fruitful deliberation.
Dancehall Artiste, Charles Nii Armah Mensah popularly known as Shatta Wale has disagreed with claims that no Ghanaian artiste can fill up the O2 Arena for a live performance.
The CEO of Akwaaba UK Group, Dennis Tawiah on Thursday during in an interview on Personality Profile on Joy FM contended that no Ghanaian artiste can sell out the O2 Arena’s 20,000 space.
Dennis Tawiah when questioned on the matter, kept it simple, “at present, No!”
“Which Ghanaian artiste, on record, as we speak, has even sold a 5,000 capacity venue in the UK?” he wondered.
However, Shatta Wale believes he can achieve this milestone. According to him, such a feat cannot be achieved by a one-man promotion of a show which he says is “because they (Dennis Tawiah) does one-man show.”
He explained that all artistes who have achieved such a feat does it through collaborations and with teamwork and not individual promotion.
“It is teamwork…It is a company that is working so if Dennis, Alodia and all those people cannot get themselves attach to those companies to work then this is the words that will come out of his mouth because me, Shatta Wale I believe if I get a Live Nation behind me I can sell O2 [hands down].”
He noted that such words brings down the Ghanaian music industry.
The Dancehall Artiste stressed that Black Sherif could even fill up O2 Arena.
“If you like let’s mark it. Let Empire say they will put up a show for Black Sherif in O2 Arena right now, the boy is going to fill 20,000 or even 30,000.”
President Akufo-Addo will on Sunday, October 16, commence a five-day working visit to the Ashanti Region to inspect development projects in the area.
These projects cover a wide spectrum of government’s initiatives meant to improve the living conditions of the people.
The President’s itinerary, copied to the Ghana News Agency by the Regional Coordinating Council on Saturday, said the projects included the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Maternal and Children’s Block, Kejetia/Central Market Phase Two, Obuasi Trauma and Accident Hospital, and Boankra Inland Port Project.
The rest are the Anwiankwanta-Obuasi and Santasi-Apire Road Projects, Oforikrom, Nsuta and Trede Agenda 111 Projects, as well as a sod-cutting ceremony for work to begin on the Suame Interchange.
While in the Region, President Akufo-Addo will also inaugurate some completed projects such as the Toase Magistrate’s Court, residential accommodation for the Appeals Court judges, the ECG KATH 33/11 kv Primary sub-Station, and Nsuta Maize Processing Factory under the ‘One District, One Factory’ programme.
He will interact with traditional authorities, including the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, as well as the leadership and activists of the New Patriotic Party.
A typical Shatta Wale threw his weight about when he appeared on the show Showbiz 360 hosted by regular face Giovani Caleb.
Shatta Wale bragged that he is probably the first Ghanaian artist whose performance earnings from gigs in Ghana brought in roughly $320,000 in a row.
The Dancehall/Reggae genre specialist disclosed that he received $100,000 in performance fees from Afro Nation and the group responsible for bringing Cardi B to Ghana, respectively.
He added that the organizers of Cardi B’s event in Ghana disregarded their agreement, which is why he did not perform there.
“I am the only artist in Ghana that has been able to charge shows $100,000 three times in a row. And I won’t lie.
The first Afro Nation show that they did in Ghana, the first time, they paid me $100,000 cash. Cardi B’s show that was held in Ghana, I was paid another $100,000. I took the money and didn’t go because they violated the contract. That’s what happened because it was a nice agreement.”
Shatta Wale also revealed that he did not perform after Sadiq Abu, formerly of 3Music, paid him $120,000 because they also breached their contract.
“Sadiq’s Wildaland, I got paid $120,000. If the other artsites want to know, I want to tell them. So if I tell somebody that I’ve been able to make $300,000 from shows in Ghana, they will think I’m bragging.”
According to Stan Dogbe, a former presidential employee, Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia “undoubtedly self-engineered” Ghana’s current economic problems.
He believes that the Vice President, who also serves as the Head of the Economic Management Team, is unqualified to address pressing economic issues.
Mr. Bawumia “lacks a practical understanding of the subtleties of political economics, which unjustly served him well because most accountability agents failed to ask him the essential questions,” the author claimed in a Facebook post.
He added: “As a lesson, in managing an economy, consensus is the key and any person who chooses to alienate an entire political group merely to achieve a narrow end, is never fit for purpose. Indeed, running a nation is really a serious business. Dr. Bawumia lacks the credibility, ideas, the wherewithal, the gravitas, and competence to build a consensual broad-based strategy.
“His approach to politics is severely divisive, pitching tribes against tribes, religion against religion, and alienating a whole group of professionals (who dared to disagree with him) through name-calling, insults, and ridicule.”
Mr. Dogbe stated, “Dr. Bawumia’s inability to understand the complex interplay of variables of political economy (as clearly displayed by his overly simplistic view of things) to move Ghana beyond any crisis is a major intellectual deficiency he must learn to overcome.”
He believes Ghana’s current economic abyss may linger for a while despite frantic efforts to get an IMF-supported programme to restore macroeconomic stability.
Chief of Akwamu Adumasa, Nana Ansah Kwao IV, has attributed the unending illegal mining—’galamsey’—activity to the continuous growth in the population size of the country.
According to him, it was driving unemployment rate in the country high with the desire for survival fueling the situation.
He said this while contributing to discussions on the ‘galamsey’ menace on an Accra-based radio station monitored by the Ghana News Agency, on Saturday.
“The fundamental issue of all the menace confronting to this issue is the speed with which the population is growing, but some how as a country, it is a taboo subject for us. If you look at our economy and the number of new babies we put in a year, there is absolutely no way we can give them good roads, sanitation, education before December; before we put in another 900,000 new babies for, which a great percentage is coming from the lower end of the spectrum where the financial muscle is not too strong,” he noted.
Nana Kwao IV, therefore, called for drastic measures to be put in place and family planning encouraged to check the rapid growth of the population.
“What we the traditional rulers are refusing to understand is that the principles have not changed, but the times have changed and so the reasons for, which our forefathers did certain things, the thing is still valid but maybe the reason you can change it, the purpose you cannot change it. And so that’s why we have arrived here, greed and survival,” he stated.
Dr Henry Kokofu, Executive Director, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), noted that inadequate staff was hampering the Agency’s efforts to regularly monitor activities of mining companies to ensure that they adhered to the law.
He, however, revealed that the Agency was in the process of procuring some 45 vehicles to help in monitoring activities of mining companies, especially ‘galamsey’ in the country.
He said that would enable the Agency to identify and arrest mining companies and persons who flouted the mining laws of the country by engaging in illegal activities.
“The first time in the history of EPA, we are procuring 45 vehicles, of which 25 are robust mining Land Cruisers size that the large scale miners use and it’s being equipped with all the necessary accouterments, including GPS, siren and all that we need to work with… So, we will be able to march up boot for boot with illegal operators,” he said.
The EPA Boss noted that the Agency had taken numerous actions, including sanctioning and revoking the mining licences of companies and individuals who perpetuated illegalities, in an effort to curb the galamsey menace.
He said the EPA was currently working with the Minerals Commission to activate the reclamation bond to ensure that all mined lands were returned to their original states.
Regulation 23 of the Environmental Assessment Regulations, 1999 (L.I 1652) mandates the EPA to ensure that prospective small-scale miners post reclamation bonds in the form of cash into an escrow account based on approved reclamation plans before they are issued permits to mine.
Mr Francis Kwasi Bonzoh, the District Chief Executive for Elembelle District, rejected calls by a section of the public for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives to be sacked for failing to deal with the ‘galamasey’ menace.
He described that as “quiet simplicity,” explaining that, actors of ‘galamsey’ business were powerful and highly connected, making the fight against the canker very difficult.
Dr Tony Aubynn, President, Africa Institute of Extractive Industries, urged the Minerals Commission to monitor concessions given out to mining firms to ensure the right thing was done.
The National Insurance Commission (NIC) has made steps to fortify its collaboration with important parties in order to increase awareness about all importers’ purchase of local insurance.
According to a statement forwarded to the Ghana News Agency, the organizations include the Ghana Shippers Authority (GSA), the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (ICS), and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
At a meeting of the Cargo Insurance Committee in Accra, Mr. Michael Kofi Andoh, Deputy Commissioner of Insurance at the NIC, stated that the Commission will also work with insurance brokers and other pertinent parties to speed up the training workshop’s completion and award of certificates.
Mr Fred Asiedu Dartey, Head of the Freight and Logistics Department of the GSA, explained that although the Authority had already concluded a nationwide sensitisation of shippers on local insurance, there was the need to repeat the exercise to focus on some operational areas.
“It is appropriate that we undertake another round of training, this time setting out all the elements, including the issue of claims and its procedures and what to do if the figures provided by an importer are rejected by Customs.
“These are very important elements that will be included in the sanitisation for a second round,” he added.
The statement said the engagement had become imperative following the challenges faced by the NIC with the initial rollout of the programme on September 1, 2022, even though a sensitisationon marine cargo insurance had been done nationwide.
At the committee meeting, it was agreed that a sensitisation workshop be held for members of the Ghana Insurers Association and insurance brokers as well as importers across the country to engender compliance, the statement said.
It said per the Marine Insurance Act 2006 (Act 724), Section 37(1) (c), unless authorised by the National Insurance Commission, a person shall not enter into a contract of insurance with an offshore insurer in respect of goods, other than personal effects, being imported into the country.
Crystal Palace boss Patrick Vieira has showered praises on Ghana forward Jordan Ayew for versatility this season.
Ayew has been deployed in a number positions including a central role for the Eagles so far this term, having made nine league appearances and provided one assist.
The 31-year-old has been one of the standout players for Palace this season and was instrumental in their goalless draw at Leicester City on Sunday.
“Jordan is the type of player that is happy to be on the field regardless of his position,” the former Arsenal midfielder said as quoted by club website. “He is going to be giving 100 percent to the team.
“He is one of those players that you call a team player. On the pre-season tour, we tried him for around 15-20 minutes in central midfield and he did really well.
“We had a bit of a conversation on that and he liked to be around those positions as well, so that gave us a bit more tactical flexibility – but I like to have players in their best positions and his best position is on the right-hand side.”
The World Bank’s Africa Pulse Report estimates Ghana’s debt to be at a frighteningly high percentage.
Ghana’s debt will increase to 104.6 percent of GDP by the end of this year 2022, up from 76.6 percent in the World Bank’s October 2022 estimate.
Speaking about IMF issues on Starr FM’s Weekly Review Segment, Mr. Jantuah predicted that the Fund would be hesitant in part due to things like the World Bank’s disclosures.
“If the World Bank finds in their calculation that our debt is not sustainable, because there are other debts that we are not adding to the national debt and the IMF is working with data. If they add those other international debts and it goes way above this over 400 billion we are not going to get a pesewa from the IMF.
“But remember the IMF is in a dilemma. I don’t think the Finance Minister should have led this negotiation. The Finance Minister tells us that he is hurrying the process so that we will get a result by November. But this cannot be hurried if the IMF does not have the requisite data they are looking for they will not hurry it. So he shouldn’t be telling us that,” Mr. Jantuah advised.
He continued: “He shouldn’t be raising our hopes because some people will go by what he is saying and it doesn’t help. At this point let’s all come down home and take this thing together step by step. It will be egg on the Finance Minister’s face if by November which he is predicting the IMF doesn’t come through.”
The CPP member further advised that the government must give itself some time for a good package for the nation with the IMF.
“Because this is the 18th time we are going to the IMF and look at all the 17 we have been there and look at what happens anytime we come out of the program. We’ve always gone back to get it again,” Mr. Jantuah added.
