TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • Ho Municipal Assembly targets GHS4 million in property rate

    The Ho Municipal Assembly is embarking on an aggressive property rate collection campaign to raise GHS4 million.

    Divine Bosson, Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), said during a presentation of school furniture to a basic school in the Municipality, that all must contribute to ensure the needed development.

    He said about 5,000 of an estimated 30,000 notices to be served had been printed and were ready for distribution.

    The MCE said the Municipality was sticking to its tourism and investment potential, and that the Assembly would ensure the prized environment was maintained.

    Mr Bosson said bush burning would be restricted to farming activities only, and the Assembly would ensure the promotion of rainwater harvesting systems in homes.

    He said every new home would be required to plant at least five trees, and construct drainage designed and approved by the Assembly.

    “If we do all these, the development concept of the oxygen city will benefit all communities,” the MCE said.

    The Assembly had supported the Avee Community Development Association to provide furniture for the Avee MA Basic School.

    The MCE said the Government appreciated the support of communities towards education development, and that communities should also consider the free Senior High School initiative a worthy effort of the State.

    He said the Government’s effort to ensure equity in education was unmatched in the Fourth Republic and should be taken advantage of by all.

    A total of 80 dual and mono desks were presented, and Mr. Benjamin Kpodo, MP for the Ho Central Constituency, supported the school with GHS2,000, and together with the MCE, provided some streetlights for the community.

    Togbe, Korlikpo Tameklo, the Paramount Chief of Avee, who chaired the event, appealed for roads in the area to be constructed to help elevate the farming community, situated on the border with Togo.

    He appealed also to be considered for social interventions from the State, including water and poverty alleviation programmes.

    Source:GNA

  • Economic Hardship: Africa will bounce back- Faith Leaders

    Faith Leaders in Africa are confident the Continent will bounce back strongly from the current economic hardship caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.

    The Leaders, at the end of a three-day strategic meeting on Africa Inclusive Economic Recovery campaign in Accra, expressed optimism that the Continent would surmount the economic hardships, having endured similar ones in times past.

    They said improved governance and enhanced support to Finance Ministers by Heads of States, increased domestic revenue mobilsation and judicious use of Special Drawing Rights (SDR), would speed up the Continent’s recovery.

    Most Reverend Gabriel Justice Yaw Anokye, the President of Caritas Africa, at a press briefing at the end of the three-day meeting, said the Leaders were hopeful that, “Africa will succeed.”

    He said that would require strategic actions and policies to protect the most vulnerable and restore prosperity against budget shortfalls and unpayable debts.

    Rev Anokye said it had become urgent for the G7 to spearhead processes that would, “remove crushing burdens of unpayable debts, ” particularly through the G20 debt relief initiative.

    While at that, African Heads of States, he said, must implement policies for a lasting exit from debt crises by ensuring responsible lending and borrowing rules and standards, including debt contract disclosure and authorisation frameworks.

    He also said: “We join other voices in calling on rich countries to rechannel a significant portion of their stock of more than $400 billion in Special Drawing Rights to African countries.”

    “Recipients, on the other hand, should commit to transparent and participatory processes to determine the destination of received SDRs. ”

    He also asked African Heads of States to improve governance to enhance confidence of citizens in domestic revenue mobilisation and ensure transparency, inclusion and accountability for public and natural resources.

    Mr Samuel Zan Akologo, the Campaign Manager, Africa Inclusive Economic Recovery, Caritas Africa, told the Ghana News Agency that: “For us as people of faith, we’re always people of hope, and we’re retaining that hope.”

    He said: “Anybody who has been in Africa would attest that we’ve improved. We’ve seen the difficulties that Ghana has for example gone through, including the 83 hunger. The Continent has also witnessed military takeovers and dictatorial processes, but we’re making progress.”

    “The African Union (AU) has reformed and made a lot of international policies that would guide regional development, so, we remain positive and believe that Africa is rising, and we’ll overcome the challenges.” Mr Akologo said.

    Source:GNA

  • GRA launches revised Service Charter to improve customer delivery

    The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has launched its Revised Service Charter as part of this year’s Customer Service Week to help the Authority improve on its Customer Service delivery, while paying attention to the taxpayers.

    The launch was on the theme: “GRA Celebrates Service”.

    Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, the Minister of Finance, in a speech read on his behalf by Mrs Stella Williams, the Coordinating Director (Operations), said it was gratifying that GRA was rededicating itself to focus on ways to keep customers satisfied.

    He said there was the need to significantly improve revenue as Ghana’s Tax-to-GDP ratio of less than 14 per cent was significantly lower than the average for 30 African countries (which is 16.5 per cent), and much lower than some comparable lower middle-income countries.

    The Minister said Ghana’s tax gap was also significant with the total corporate tax gap being about 85.6 per cent, import tax gap was around 32.5 per cent and VAT compliance gap was around 39.3 per cent according to the last World Bank Tax Gap Analysis Report.

    He said a major source of the revenue underperformance was from low tax compliance while non-compliance and tax evasion were closely linked with perceptions of poor tax administration and a less than satisfactory customer experience.

    “We must always keep in mind that, naturally, paying taxes is never pleasant. Even the richest individuals and businesses are not immediately ready to part with a few notes in the name of tax. The average citizen of every country pays taxes only because he or she is required to do so,” he added.

    He called on GRA to continue to put the people first and try to understand and meet them more than halfway and urged staff of GRA to ensure that the customers were satisfied to enable pay taxes willingly and with a smile.

    He said competing needs and the current cost of living trends required that GRA makes customer convenience the watch word and it was imperative that the customer’s needs be attended to in a timely, courteous, and non-complicated manner.

    He commended the Authority for taking the bold initiative to develop a Service Charter and going ahead, after some years, to have it revised.

    GRA needs to continue to benchmark itself against international good practices and drive excellent service delivery.

    “In addition to revising the Customer Service Charter, and celebrating our customers this week, we must also continue to educate them. This education must focus on both the obligations of the citizens and the basic reliefs that tax laws grant to compliant taxpayers,” he added.

    Reverend Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, the Commissioner–General of GRA, said the launch formed part of the activities by the Authority to commemorate this year’s Customer Service Week.

    He said it portrayed their dual responsibility in ensuring that the revenue was mobilised for the development of the nation.

    He said the Charters would challenge them to do more in service to their customers, while creating awareness among staff and taxpayers on the importance of excellent service delivery and to encourage staff to adopt best practices in their dealings with both internal and external customers.

    The Commissioner-General said “we do admit that we have not attained perfection, but we certainly have made and continue to make strides towards attaining excellent service delivery.”

    He said in line with their desire to improve on their interaction with taxpayers thereby making it seamless to transact business with us, GRA has introduced several new initiatives in the recent past.

    These are the Cashless Policy which enables taxpayers to file their returns and pay their taxes online and the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS) which has drastically reduced the turnaround time at the ports.

    He said the Authority was still not resting on its oars, several new initiatives would be introduced in the coming weeks all aimed at simplifying our processes and procedures.

    These include Electronic Tax Clearance Certificate by the Domestic Tax Revenue Division for taxpayers, Electronic Invoicing of VAT and Electronic Auction.

    He said the Authority had in recent times made intentional efforts at improving on their service delivery and to carve a niche as one of the best public sector institutions when it comes to service delivery.

    Source:GNA 

     

  • Ghana Chamber of Commerce signs MOU with Ukraine

    The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) and the Exporters and Investors Council of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ukraine have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Accra to boost bilateral cooperation.

    Mr Clement Osei-Amoako, the President of GNCCI, signed for his organisation while the visiting Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Mr Dmytro Kuleba, signed for his country.

    The event was witnessed by Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.

    Mr Kuleba, who is on a 10-day African tour, delivered a special message on behalf of the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

    A Business Forum was also held by the Ghanaian business community and their Ukrainian counterparts, who were part of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister’s delegation.

    Madam Ayorkor Botchwey, who opened the forum, said it would enhance relations between Ghana and Ukriane though the relations had seen a rising type of friendly exchanges but remained much more on political basis.

    “A platform, such as this, that aims at boosting economic and commercial relations between our two countries is most welcome,” she said.

    Madam Botchwey said trade relations between the two countries had been relatively dormant until April 2018, when a Ukraine Trade Delegation, led by Mrs Nataliia Mykolska, the Deputy Minister for Economic Development and Trade, visited Ghana for a business forum.

    The visit aimed at enhancing the trade and economic relations, she said, and expressed the hope that those ties would be deepened.

    “It is worth noting that Ghana remains one the most attractive business distinctions on the continent for foreign direct investment and the commencement of trading activities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is expected to boost trade with Ghana being the access point to a population of more  than 1.3 billion,” she said.

    Madam Botchwey urged the Ukrainian business community to take advantage of the foundations Ghana had laid to do business here.

    In the past many Ghanaians benefitted in capacity building training in Ukraine through scholarships but such arrangements had reduced significantly in recent times.

    She said that notwithstanding there was an enabling environment for the Government to sponsor Ghanaian nationals to study medicine, civil engineering, architecture, agriculture and economics in Ukrain.

    She expressed the hope that there would be a much stronger partnership between Ghana and Ukraine, especially in trade and investment, while exploring other opportunities in oil and gas.

    Mr Kuleba, on his part, said Ukraine was committed to the MoU and that his team would do a follow-up on the agreements reached to make sure that businesses enjoyed maximum support from both governments.

    “We have to focus on adding business meat to the political bone of our relationship. This political bone is very strong, it is very reliable and unbreakable. We want to underpin it and to support businesses and people to people connection,” he said.

    Mr Kuleba said the two countries would establish a joint intergovernmental commission to make their cooperation more systemic.

    Source:gna

  • Thirty more factories under 1D1F coming up in Ashanti – Regional Minister

    About 30 more factories are at various stages of completion under the One District One Factory (1D1F) initiative in the Ashanti Region, Mr. Simon Osei-Mensah, the Regional Minister, has disclosed.

    The Minister, who was speaking at the 23rd Regional Annual General Meeting of the Ashanti, Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Branch of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) in Kumasi, said the region was a beneficiary of 21 out of the 125 factories, already in operation under the initiative.

    The meeting, which was on the theme: “Investing in Ghanaian Industries to Leverage Opportunities in the Single African Market,” was held to take stock of the activities of the Association and to chart the way forward by addressing pertinent issues affecting the growth of industries.

    It was attended by representatives of AGI from the four regions and other relevant industry players.

    Mr Osei-Mensah said the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government in its quest to change the nature of the economy from taxation to production, launched the 1D 1F initiate in 2017 to promote the manufacturing and service sectors through several policy initiatives.

    He said through the GhanaCARES ‘Obatanpa’ Programme, the Government supported many manufacturing and pharmaceutical industries to survive the COVID-19 impact.

    “One of the objectives of the GhanaCARES ‘Obatanpa’ Programme is to support the private sector particularly agribusiness, manufacturing, ICT and digitalisation,” he stated.

    The Minister urged the Association to strengthen and deepen collaboration with the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and take advantage of the Authority’s work to diversify its export base.

    The location of the Secretariat of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Ghana, according to the Minister, offered a perfect opportunity for the AGI to make deliberate attempt to create export-oriented companies to enhance the country’s industrialisation agenda.

    He said the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council had always collaborated with the private sector and that together with the AGI, his outfit was implementing projects that would grow the economy to promote businesses in the Ashanti region.

    Mr Akwasi Nyamekye, Regional AGI Chairperson for Ashanti, Ahafo, Bono and Bono East, called on the Government to take a second look at the current ECOWAS protocols on trade, saying in-spite of the protocols there was no free movement of goods within the sub-region.

    He said the association and its members had the capacity to support all government programmes that fell within their domain.

    Source:gna

  • Eight Cold Stores swiftly closes on noticing GRA Officials in Tema

    Managers of eight Cold Stores in the Tayi Yard in Community 1, Tema swiftly closed their shops and went into hiding when a team from the Ghana Revenue Authority Tax Enforcement Unit arrived for an Invigilation exercise.

    The owners of the stores fled, leaving their cars behind when the team arrived on the ongoing tax invigilation exercise.

    Before, the team got to these stores, they visited a number of other shops, who infringed on the tax laws, including non-registration of VAT and non-issuance of VAT receipts.

    These stores are Perez Frozen Foods, Isaac Glavi Trading Enterprise, Wanmafe Company Ltd, Jos Nartey Enterprise, and CU Nazareth Ventures.

    Meanwhile, GRA has locked up and sealed the Underbridge Event Centre located at East Legon.

    Mr Joseph Annan, Area Enforcement Manager of GRA in charge of Accra Central, told the Ghana News Agency that the place would be locked up until it met its obligations.

    He said some of the businesses were registered but were doing selective issuance of VAT, while others were not registered at all.

    He said he expected the Event Centre to do the VAT registration for the place to be opened up for the public, adding that the registration process was not a difficult one.

    On the stores that were closed, the Enforcement Manager said since the team was always on the field, they will catch with them.

    He said, “so if you run today, then you must run forever.”

    Mr Annan said it had been wonderful ever since the operation began, adding that all the places visited had zoomed into full compliance and they were putting together some assessments and had so far got GH200,000.

    He encouraged the public to volunteer information on tax infractions to the Authority, adding that information that leads to some good recovery will benefit from the reward scheme.

    The GRA expects that all suppliers of taxable items, goods or services, issue VAT invoice as required by law and in the same vein, the customer is required by law to obtain invoice if such transactions attract VAT.

    Source:gna

  • Reading boss Paul Ince provides positive injury update on Ghana defender Andy Yiadom ahead of QPR clash

    Ghana defender Andy Yiadom could make an injury return for Reading FC when they face Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

    Yiadom suffered an injury last Saturday when his outfit defeated Huddersfield Town in the Championship. He missed the side 1-1 draw against Norwich City on Tuesday.

    Speaking ahead of their clash, the former England captain disclosed his skipper might play against QPR.

    “He might, at a push, be okay for QPR,” the former England captain declared. “If not, it will be next week against West Brom.”

    Reading currently sit third in the Championship table heading into QPR clash this weekend.

  • Viral disease that affects okro, cucumber detected

    The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) says it has detected a viral disease that affects mostly okra, cucumber, and tomato crops in the Lawra Municipality.

    The disease is not peculiar to only Lawra, but also detected in other adjoining districts such as Lambussie.

    “A report has been sent to our regional office for proper investigation to be conducted to come up with an effective solution,” Mr Yer Simon, the Lawra Municipal Director of Agriculture, has disclosed.

    He said farmers in the affected districts had been advised to uproot and bury the affected plants to help stop their spread in the communities.

    Mr Simon made this known when he gave an overview of the agricultural activities at a farmer’s forum held in Lawra to usher in the “Kobine” Festival of the Chiefs and people of the Lawra Traditional Area.

    The forum was on the theme: “Crop cultivation in the era of climate change.”

    Mr Simon, who spoke on “Sustaining our agricultural productivity in post COVID-19 challenges and opportunities”, said the department over the years worked effectively with women in the Agricultural Platform (WAP) to improve their agricultural activities in the municipality.

    He announced that through the Modernisation of the Agriculture in Ghana (MAG) programme, one of the women groups had secured a rice milling destoner machine, to be used to improve the quality of locally milled rice.

    He said 24 simple hand sewing machines were supplied on subsidised bases to some women and other farmer groups by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) to help improve agricultural mechanisation and reduce drudgery in agricultural activities.

    The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) and the Ghana Rice Interoperability also gave 10 slashers to some groups for weeding and harvesting of rice in the municipality.

    On the food crops situation, the Agricultural Director said farmers who planted early at the commencement of the rains had to re-sow due to poor germination of seeds in some parts of the municipality.

    Mr Simon said input prices also recorded a marginal increase, and farmers who could not afford inorganic fertilizers for maize cultivation went into the growing of other crops such as soya beans, millet, sorghum, and groundnuts.

    He said under the Planting for Food and Jobs, 400 bags of NPK fertilizer were brought to the municipality and farmers could not buy fertilizers from the open market due to higher prices of the product.

    He said, the Fall Army Worm cases were recorded, and the situation was severe during the dry spell periods but that the department was able to secure some chemicals from the regional office and distributed to farmers free of charge to curtail the problem.

    Outlining some of the challenges facing the department, Mr Simon mentioned that inadequate extension officers and coordination support were hindering the smooth extension delivery in the municipality.

    Naa Dery Aatona , Chief of Zambo, who chaired the forum, urged farmers to diversify their farming activities especially in the areas of animal husbandry and livestock production in the wake of the climate change.

    He appealed to the government to continue with the provision of small-scale dams in the communities to help farmers to undertake all-year-round farming activities.

    Source:gna

  • 2022 World Cup: Ghana legend Asamoah Gyan undoubtedly confident Black Stars will progress from group stage

    Former Black Stars skipper Asamoah Gyan is optimistic the Black Stars will progress from the group stage at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

    The Black Stars is returning to the global showpiece after missing out in Russia 2018.

    Ghana has been housed in Group H against Portugal, Uruguay and South Korea.

    The West African powerhouse failed to impress during the international break, losing 3-0 to Brazil and recording a narrow win over Nicaragua.

    Despite the team’s uninspiring performance during the international break, Gyan believes the team can progress with ease at the mundial.

    “We can qualify from our group with ease,” he said on Kessben media.

    “In 2006, we were the underdogs and coming up against the Czech Republic and Italy, they did not give us the chance but we went there and we performed.

    “In 2010, the same things happened. We went there and lift the flag of Ghana high by playing in the quarterfinals which was an improvement.

    “Before you can win the World Cup, you need to qualify from your group which is possible so I believe that these players can do that.

    “The players must believe that they can do it and it is possible,” he concluded.

  • Injured midfielder Abdul Aziz Nurudeen sends best wishes to Hearts of Oak ahead of AS Bamako game

    Hearts of Oak’s injured midfielder, Nurudeen Abdul Aziz has extended best wishes to the club ahead of the crucial game against AS Real Bamako this weekend.

    The player is currently in South Africa where he underwent surgery on his thigh this week.

    Speaking in an interview after his surgery, Nurudeen Abdul Aziz said he wishes his teammates good luck for the crucial game against AS Real Bamako in the CAF Confederation Cup game.

    “I take this opportunity to wish my teammates good luck in their game against Real Bamako on Saturday,” the midfielder said.

    The match between AS Real Bamako and Hearts of Oak will be played tomorrow. The match will kick off at 16:00GMT.

    Hearts of Oak will fight for a positive result to make the reverse fixture a mere formality.

    Subsequently, the team will return to Ghana to prepare for the reverse fixture to be played at the Accra Sports Stadium.

  • Headmistress of Alajo “1” Basic School calls for infrastructure support 

    Madam Genevieve Adjei, the Headmistress, Alajo “1” Primary and Junior High School, has called for logistics support to help increase effective teaching and learning outcomes.

    She said though the school continued to provide training and development to the community, it was in dire need of some teaching and learning materials, chairs and tables for teachers and school cupboards.

    The Headmistress said this when Alhaji Ahmed Yakubu, Council Chairman, Alajo Traditional Council led a delegation of educationists and investors from San Francisco, California, USA, to visit Alajo “1”, “3” and “4” basic schools.

    The delegation, made of African Americans from the diaspora, had teamed up with Nii Armah Ajoor II, the Chief of Alajo to help provide some infrastructure and logistics for basic schools in his community.

    The visit was also in line with Ghana Tourism Authority’s “Give Back to Ghana,” one of the seven pillars of promoting tourism and diaspora contributions.

    Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Madam Adjei said one of the challenging issues the school had faced over the years was modern toilet facilities, which in a way had affected teaching and learning.

    She said some miscreants sometimes took advantage of the lack of security at the school and ransacked their offices.

    Speaking on behalf of Nii Armah Ajoor II, Alhaji Yakubu said, the collaboration was part of strategies to develop the community, particularly children’s education.

    “The state of educational facilities within Alajo is appalling bearing in mind how technology is changing the trend. This trend must change because the kids deserve better than this,” he said.

    Mr Jonathan M. Butler, Community Activist and Faith-Based Leader, San Francisco, told the GNA, they had come to observe the needs of the community and schools so they could invest in those areas.

    “We have noticed that they need books, desks, computers….and so we going to plan with our colleagues to help these children, we need to invest in them,” he said.

    He said: “We want to help the school because they are our future, and they would help us prepare our world to the next level. We would speed up this process where we will help build their computer labs, libraries and cafeteria.”

    The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, this year anticipates about one million visitors to the country by the end of the year with a projected revenue contribution of $2.3 billion.

    Source:ghanaiantimes.com

  • Iñaki Williams and Nico Williams part of Bilbao squad to face Sevilla

    Nico Williams and Inaki Williams during the match between RCD Espanyol and Athletic Club, corresponding to the week 11 of the Liga Santander, played at the RCDE Stadium, on 26th October 2021, in Barcelona, Spain.–

    Bilbao coach Ernesto Valverde has included Nico Williams and his brother Iñaki Williams in the 23 man squad to play Sevilla at the Ramón Sánchez – Pizjuán on Saturday.

    The entire entire squad is made up of the following players: Unai Simon, Agirrezabala, Morcillo, I. Martinez, Yeray, Vesga, Berenguer, O. Sancet, I. Williams, Muniain, N. Williams, Guruzeta, Dani García, I. Lekue, Vendor, De Marcos, Zarraga, Villalibre, Capa, Raúl Garcia, A. Herrera, Balenziaga and Paredes.

    Bilbao is chasing a fourth win in a row tomorrow. They lie third on the league table with 16 points after seven games.

  • Let’s work hard to break stereotypes of women in tourism – GTA CEO

    The Chief Executive Officer, Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), Mr Akwasi Agyeman, has urged women in tourism to work hand in hand to break the stereotypes that hold women down.

    He said, “we need more of our women to rise to positions  of authority that will enable them influence policies, especially those that will affect the fortunes of other women.”

    Mr Agyeman made the observation at the just ended biennial congress of the GTA Ladies Club.

    The congress brought members across the regions to discuss ways to help the organization achieve its goals, empower each other and to exchange views and ideas aimed at improving the welfare of female staff.

    He congratulated the Club for the commitment and efforts towards the successful operations of the GTA and urged them not to relent in their efforts to creating a more formidable force of the Authority.

    Mrs. Doreen Fianko, Founder of the Club, said there were many conscious and unconscious biases around women, which hindered their progressive forward movement.

    “This is the reason why women need to be empowered and allowed to redefine their gender roles and to make strategic life choices which will allow them more freedom to pursue their desired goals.”

    Mrs. Emma Rachael Akua Oduro, Outgoing President of the Club, urged women in the Tourism, Arts, Culture and Hospitality industry in Ghana, to mentor and coach one another through support groups to meet up with the growing demands within the industry.

    She said the club was formed over two decades ago to, among other things, improve the welfare of the female staff through the exchange of ideas, promote the image and advancement of members as well as to assist the management to achieve the basic objectives of the Authority and offer constructive suggestions and criticisms.

    The Ladies’ Club has a membership of about 200 drawn from all the 16 regions of Ghana.

    Some activities that took place during the congress include, leadership training programme, empowerment summit, a donation exercise, election and swearing in of new executives, tour and picnic.

    The newly sworn in executives include  Madam Francesca Quansah, President, Ms Abigail Kwayisi, Vice President, Madam Selase Tettevi, Organizer, Nana Yaa Boadu, Assistant Organizers, Madam Millicent Nweada, Public Relations Officer, Madam Ellen Gyeambea, Secretary, and Madam Dela Melchidek, Financial Secretary.

    Source:ghanaiantimes

  • Illegal mining very endemic in Bosome Freho district – Lands Ministry

    Deputy Lands Minister, Benito Owusu-Bio, has revealed that illegal mining is endemic in the Bosome Freho district of the Ashanti region, especially in the Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve.

    He said this when he led a team of officers from the Ministry – including the CEO of the Forestry Commission – on a visit to the Reserve on August 22, 2022.

    The visit followed an intervention by the military task force to flush out illegal miners who had destroyed several hectares of the forest.

    “Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve in the Bosome Freho district…this is the third time I am actually coming to this port and I think this place is very endemic with illegal [mining] activities,” he observed.

    The Reserve has become a hotbed for illegal mining activities in recent times as sections of it have been targeted by galamsey operators.

    Mr Owusu-Bio was unhappy there had been little support from the District Security Committee in the area, headed by Yaw Danso, to the illegal mining fight.

    Illegal mining very endemic in Bosome Freho district - Lands Ministry
    Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Benito Owusu-Bio

    “The district security, the district assembly must be up and doing because they are here. We in Accra cannot come here all the time. They must be up and doing, they must cooperate with district managers and that will help,” he added.

    This was the fourth time in a year the Forestry Commission had responded to the operations of illegal miners in the Bosome Freho District.

    Questions remain unanswered why the portion of the Bosomtwe Range Forest Reserve is a hotbed for illegal miners.

    DCE summoned

    The District Chief Executive (DCE) of Bosome Freho, Yaw Danso, has been summoned by the Local Government Minister over his alleged involvement in illegal mining.

    He is said to have been engaged in dealings and transactions linked to mining concessions in the district.

    Mr Danso, however, is yet to respond to the summon.

    President Akufo-Addo revealed this during a meeting with Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in Kumasi on Wednesday, October 5.

    “Your colleague in Bosome Freho has been summoned by the Minister for Local Government to come and answer [questions over the public accusations], and depending on the quality of his response we will decide what the future holds for him,” the President said.

    According to Mr Akufo-Addo, other claims involving leaked audio in which the DCE is heard claiming some percentage from a share of mining concession would be investigated thoroughly.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan tips Dreams FC coach Ignatius Osei-Fosu for greatness

    Former Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan believes Dreams FC trainer Ignatius Osei-Fosu has the potential to become a world-class coach.

    Speaking to Kumasi-based Pure FM, Gyan hailed Osei Fosu’s preparation towards games while tipping him to attain greater height of his coaching career.

    Osei Fosu began his career at Liberty Professionals, and has since coached Eleven Wonders, Medeama, and Dreams.

    “I know Ignatius Osei-Fosu very much and I watched him grow as a coach and I know he will become better and better,” Gyan told Pure FM.

    “I like his personality and his commitment and for me, he has the potential to become a top-class coach.

    “He knows how to prepare his team for games and he has everything to become a top coach in the future.”

    Osei-Fosu has a CAF License A certificate and previously worked as a scout for Asante Kotoko under Mas-Ud Didi Dramani who won the Ghana Premier League twice.

    Dreams have six points after three games this season.

  • 2020 NPP MP aspirant in Old Tafo supports BECE candidates

    Officials of the Ghana Education Service(GES) in the Old Tafo Municipality of the Ashanti Region have taken delivery of examination kits to support Junior High School (JHS) students who will sit for this year’s Basic Education Candidate Certificate (BECE).

    The items which included Two Thousand (2,000) pieces each of pens, pencils, and mathematical sets were handed over to the GES officials by a 2020 New Patriotic Party (NPP) Parliamentary aspirant in the Old Tafo Constituency, Dr. Louis Carol Serwaa Donkor.

    The initiative by Dr. Serwaa Donkor who is a native of the Old Tafo Municipality is to equip students sitting for the 2022 BECE to help them improve their performance.

    Dr. Serwaa Donkor before the gesture partnered with the Municipal Directorate of the GES and organized free extra classes for students from both public and private schools within the Municipality to academically equip them for the exams.

    The Communications Officer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), for the Old Tafo Constituency, Chief Anokye who handed over the items on behalf of the Coordinator for the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP) stressed Dr. Donkor’s commitment to helping improve the standards of education in the Municipality.

    Chief Anokye after handing over the items to officials of the GES said “Just recently, Dr. Serwaa Donkor assisted candidates who sat for this year’s WASCCE. Her contribution was organizing free weekend classes for the students writing the exams. She knows also that very soon it will be time for BECE and has decided to provide Two thousand pieces of Mathematical sets. She has come to donate equipment to our younger ones and the items also include two thousand each piece of pens and pencils, all in the name of supporting our younger ones as they sit for their BECE. It is her hope and prayer that the younger ones pass out with flying colours. Dr. Serwaa is doing all these to complement the effort of the NPP Government in the education sector”.

    The Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES) in the Old Tafo-Pankrono Municipality, Betty Drah commended Dr. Serwaa Donkor for the gesture and appealed for more support to equip schools in the area with computers to improve teaching and learning.

    She explained that her outfit has also intensified the sensitization of students to help curb examination malpractice and hooliganism after candidates are done with their exams.

    The gesture was also extended to the NPP office in the Old Tafo Constituency where 100 each of the Mathematical sets, pencils, and pens were distributed to the party polling station officers, coordinators, and constituency executives.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • Parents urged to avail children for polio vaccination

    The Ghana Red Cross Society (GRCS) has appealed to parents and caregivers to avail their children for the ongoing polio vaccination exercise.

    Mr Gershon Dzokoto, the Volta Regional Director of the GRCS, made the appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after a sensitisation programme at Hodzo, a farming community in the Ho Municipality.

    The Regional Directorate of the Society visited the community to educate the members on the second round of the polio vaccination and the need to make their children available to be immunised to ensure their protection against the virus.

    The Ghana Health Service and the Ghana Red Cross Society started the Round Two of the vaccination on October 6 and expected to end on October 9, 2022.

    Mr Dzokoto said the sensitisation formed part of their risk communication engagement and social mobilisation efforts to get citizens to comply with preventive and safety protocols to remain healthy.

    He said the Directorate had covered the entire Ho Municipality with the sensitisation and urged the citizens to join the campaign against polio and other public health emergencies.

    Mr Dzokoto said the vaccine, which was safe and effective, was the only way to prevent the spread of the virus, hence parents and caregivers must ensure their children were immunised.

    He urged traditional and religious leaders to support the campaign by sensitising their community members and congregation, respectively to embrace the exercise.

    Mr Ernest Akpo, a nurse at the Hodzo Community Health Facility, urged the community members to continue to observe good personal hygiene and sanitation practices to prevent transmission of the disease.

    The exercise is on the theme: “Keep Polio Out of Ghana. Vaccinate Your Child Now!”

    It is expected to help stem the transmission of poliovirus Type Two, maintain high population immunity, strengthen surveillance and prevent further outbreak.

    Source:ghanaiantimes.com

  • Hearts of Oak midfielder Abdul Aziz Nurudeen elated after undergoing successful surgery

    Hearts of Oak midfielder, Abdul Aziz Nurudeen has reacted to his successful surgery in South Africa.

    The hardworking midfielder went under the knife on Thursday as he aims to make full recovery.

    Speaking after the surgery, Abdul Aziz Nurudeen said he is happy. The midfielder further expressed appreciation to his club with special mention to the board chairman, Togbe Afede XIV.

    “It is a joy to live to see this day. It all went well and I thank the team of Doctors for that wonderful work. This will bring me back to the field. Allah has been great to me,” Abdul Aziz Nurudeen said as quoted on the website of Hearts of Oak.

    He continued, “I thank the club but especially the Board Chairman [Togbe Afede XIV] for making sure that this has happened to save my career. But for him, I wouldn’t have been here today. Now my return to the field is eminent. May Allah bless and grant him long life and prosperity. I will forever cherish this moment and remember him at all times. Surely I will be back stronger.”

    The player after his surgery is now undergoing rehabilitation in South Africa.

  • I’m the right person to become NDC National Organizer – Joseph Yamin

    A former Ashanti Regional Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and former Deputy Minister for the region, Joseph Yammin has expressed his intention to contest for the NDC National Organizer position.

    He believes that the party must have a formidable national executive team to win the 2024 elections, adding that, his input will be well felt when he becomes the party’s National Organizer ahead of the elections.

    Mr. Yammin will contest the incumbent National Organizer, Joshua Akamba in the race.

    Speaking to Citi News, the former regional secretary of the Ashanti Region said he stands a better chance to win the position.

    “In the NDC, whoever comes up for the position of National Organizer is qualified, but now I see myself as being able to convert a half chance into a goal. The others may be good, but I think that I am the right person to lead the party.”

    “In the NDC, whoever comes up for the position of National Organizer is qualified, but now I see myself as being able to convert a half chance into a goal. The others may be good, but I think that I am the right person to lead the party.”

    “In the NDC, whoever comes up for the position of National Organizer is qualified, but now I see myself as being able to convert a half chance into a goal. The others may be good, but I think that I am the right person to lead the party.”

    Source: Citinews

  • Vice President celebrates 59th birthday with cured lepers

    Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia Friday celebrated his 59th birthday with cured lepers from the Weija Leprosarium at his Cantonments residence in Accra.

    The guests were served food and drinks, joined the Vice President to cut the birthday cake, danced to good music and fraternised.

    Present at the celebration were ministers of state, members of Parliament, the clergy, family members and loved ones.

    Mr Francis Asenso Boakye, the Minister of Works and Housing, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr Ussif Mustapha, the Minister of Youth and Sports, and Mr Henry Quartey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, were among the guests present.

    The Vice President is the Patron of the Lepers Aid Ghana and has supported them over the years with food items and facilitated the construction of a multi-purpose hostel for them.

    In brief remarks, Vice President Bawumia thanked God for His continuous protection, grace and mercies over the years.

    “I’m overwhelmed by your presence and the love shown me…a year older, a year wiser,” Dr Bawumia added.

    He urged the public to always show compassion to the cured lepers and should not be afraid to touch them, adding; “Show them kindness and love”.

    Mr Henry Quartey, the Regional Minister, on behalf of the metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives, pledged to support the Vice President in his political ambition of transforming the nation and improving standards of living.

    Reverend Michael Boadu Nyamekye, the Head Pastor of the Makers Chapel International, in a word of exhortation, said: “A man should not be judged by his religion but his capabilities to transform lives and better the lots of the people”.

    He prayed for God’s favour, wisdom and understanding for the Vice President to fulfill his destiny.

    Mr John Ampao, a representative of the Weija Leprosarium, expressed gratitude to the Vice President for his compassion towards lepers and showing immense concern for their welfare and asked for God’s continuous protection and guidance over him in the ensuing years.

    Vice President Bawumia was born on October 7, 1963, in Tamale to the late Alhaji Mumuni Bawumia, a former Chairman of the Council of State, and Hajia Mariama Bawumia.

     

    Source:ghanaintimes

  • Ga Central MCE’s vehicle impounded for driving against traffic, using strobe lights

    The vehicle of the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ga Central, Bashiru Mohammed, has been impounded for driving against traffic and using strobe lights.

    He was driving along the airport bypass on Tuesday when he was intercepted by Citi TV’s War Against Indiscipline team.

    He was expected in court on Friday, October 7, 2022, together with other road traffic offenders, but has since failed to show up.

    The War Against Indiscipline team has impounded six more vehicles at the Community 18 Junction on the Accra-Tema motorway for wrong U-turns and posing danger to other motorists and their own lives.

    Source: Citinews

  • FDA concurs with WHO’s caution against four substandard paediatric medicines found in The Gambia

    The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has announced that the World Health Organization (WHO) has identified four substandard medicinal products in The Gambia.

    The four products are; Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup and Magrip N Cold Syrup.

    According to a statement from the FDA, laboratory analysis of the products confirms that they contain unacceptable amounts of diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol as contaminants.

    The FDA explained that diethylene glycol and ethylene glycol are toxic to humans when consumed and can prove fatal.

    Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury which may lead to death.

    The manufacturer of these products has been identified as Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited based in Haryana, India.

    The statement added that the manufacturers, Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited as of October 5 has still not provided safety and quality guarantee of these products to the WHO.

    Toxic effects can include abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to pass urine, headache, altered mental state, and acute kidney injury which may lead to death.

    The manufacturer of these products has been identified as Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited based in Haryana, India.

    The statement added that the manufacturers, Maiden Pharmaceuticals Limited as of October 5 has still not provided safety and quality guarantee of these products to the WHO.

    “The FDA would like to inform you that these products have not been registered by the Authority and are not expected on the Ghanaian market, however, they may have been distributed illegally,” the Authority said in a statement on October 6, 2022.

    The Authority has also advised all healthcare professionals to report suspected falsified medicinal products to the FDA using the link http://adr.fdaghana.gov.gh or call mobile number on 024431 0297.

    Meanwhile, the FDA has strengthened its post market surveillance activities at the borders and across the country with the view to identify and withdraw any unregistered products on the Ghanaian market.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • Charles Taylor predicts doom for Hearts of Oak Chief Togbe Afede XIV

    Hearts of Oak legend Charles Taylor is of the opinion that the Majority Shareholder of the club, Togbe Afede XIV will run at a lost if he does not get rid of board members, Vincent Odotei Sowah and Alhaji Akambi.

    Taylor speaking on Angel TV asserted both Odotei and Akambi have gotten a negative mind for the club and has therefore called on the club’s Chief to take the necessary actions against them.

    “His money will go waste if he does not take care of Hearts of Oak. He must be vigilant and take actions. I believe Odotei and Alhaji Akambi have negative minds for Hearts of Oak and it is about time we call spade a spade. Odotei and Akambi must know the club is not for them”

    “Hearts of Oak must get a CEO, it is worrying. We had great men during our time and helped the club a lot. Their presence at the stadium was a big motivation to the players but now, the players are working with the enemies of the club” he said.

    Hearts of Oak are currently in Mali for their clash against AS Real Bamako in the CAF Confederations Cup second round of the preliminary round.

  • UK schools hold exhibition in Accra

    The British High Commissioner in Accra, Harriet Thompson, has urged Ghanaians interested in sending their children to schools abroad to make the United Kingdom (UK) their preferred destination.

    She said apart from the world class education and opportunities British boarding schools offered their students, the visa approval rate for students was about 90 per cent so parents did not have to worry about visa challenges.

    She said this when she opened an exhibition held in Accra on Wednesday to link representatives of  UK boarding schools to prospective applicants and their parents or sponsors.

    Organised by Mark Brooks Education, a UK education consultancy, the High Commission, the participating schools included Culford School, Cardiff Sixth Form College, Earlscliffe College, Harrogate Ladies College, Lancing College, LVS Ascot, and Westonbirt School.

    Ms Thompson said the exhibition was a great platform because it had assembled some of the best UK schools who were well-paced to groom children for the future.

    “I know from being here how important education is to Ghanaians, for the future of their children. And came here and meet not just with one school from the UK but with a number of them to really explore the opportunities and what would be best for their child is a really super opportunity,” she said.

    According to Ms Thompson, there were lots of Ghanaians who have been to boarding school in the UK while many Ghanaians regarded the UK as a second home.

    “They either work there or they have studied there or they have family there. And so the schools can be a home away from home for their children in a familiar environment where they can get that wellbeing education,” she said.

    Asked about how easy it was to get to the UK for education, Ms Thompson said it was easier due to the high visa approval rates but parents would need to apply in good time to avoid challenges.

    An Education consultant, Mark Brooks said the schools were interested in West African students because when they come to the UK boarding schools they were hard working, multi-talented and fantastic ambassadors for their country.

    “And they bring a kind of positive work ethic to the UK schools as well and they are fantastic leaders. We find that a lot of them become heads boy, head girl or prefects,” he said

    He said about 60 prospective parents had shown interest in the schools and expressed the hope that the majority of them would be amongst the 60 students from Ghana and Nigeria who attend UK boarding schools annually.

    On school fees, he said it was relative, but spending about 50,000 pounds a year should be seen as an investment for life, adding that some schools offer scholarships to support expenses.

    A parent, Anderson Anastas, said he would invest in their children’s education abroad to expose them to different environments and a wide range of opportunities not because Ghana’s education system was substandard.

    Source:ghanaiantimes

  • Posterity will judge Akufo-Addo, other leaders meanly if galamsey fight is not won – Gabby Otchere-Darko

    The founder of the Danquah Institute says posterity will not be kind to President Akufo-Addo and other leaders should they fail to end illegal mining activities, popularly known as galamsey in the country.

    Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko said that judgement will be legitimately so.

    He said it is the duty of the current leaders to ensure future generations are not deprived of the natural resources.

    Posterity will judge Akufo-Addo, other leaders meanly if galamsey fight is not won - Gabby Otchere-Darko
    Gabby Asatr Otchere-Darko

    In a tweet on Thursday, he stated the fight against the menace should be ended.

    “I remember this tweet very well and the import of my post remains valid today as it was yesterday and for our President, our leaders, and our society.

    “Posterity will surely judge us meanly and legitimately so if we do not protect for future generations what was bequeathed to us,” he said.

    His comments were in a response to an earlier tweet of his in 2017 which has resurfaced due to the galamsey conversation currently ongoing.

    In the said tweet, Mr Otchere-Darko said, “Posterity shall not give Akufo-Addo and our generation if we don’t win the war against galamsey.

    Posterity will judge Akufo-Addo, other leaders meanly if galamsey fight is not won - Gabby Otchere-Darko
    Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko 2017 tweet

    Government has been fighting illegal mining for many years, but the efforts and investments have all proved futile.

    Five years ago, the Akufo-Addo government launched a joint Police and soldier taskforce named ‘Operation Vanguard’ to rid the country of illegal miners.

    It was during the launch that the President made his famous statement, “I am prepared to put my presidency on the line on this matter.”

    Posterity will judge Akufo-Addo, other leaders meanly if galamsey fight is not won - Gabby Otchere-Darko
    President Nana Akufo-Addo

    Despite the massive public support, the impact of the operation was minuscule.

    Fast forward to 2019, the government established ‘Operation Halt’ to end the illegal exploitation of another natural resource, timber, especially in the Brong-Ahafo and Western regions, and the unrestrained destruction of forest reserves because of illegal mining, farming and lumbering.

    The operation was relaunched in 2022.

    However, Ghanaians are skeptical about government’s commitment to the cause since a JoyNews investigative piece, Destruction for Gold, has uncovered that some NPP stalwarts are engaged in the act.

    Posterity will judge Akufo-Addo, other leaders meanly if galamsey fight is not won - Gabby Otchere-Darko

    But President Akufo-Addo says his government is committed to eradicating the canker root and stem.

    He stressed that traditional leaders should not relent in the fight adding that “we have to win the fight to save our environment.”

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • I’m grateful for your impact on my progress; I will miss you – Danlad Ibrahim mourns father

    Ghana shot-stopper, Danlad Ibrahim is mourning the demise of his father following his passing.

    The father of the Asante Kotoko goalkeeper joined his ancestors on Friday, October 7, 2022.

    Taking to his Facebook page to confirm the news, Danlad Ibrahim says he will miss his father.

    According to him, he will forever be grateful for the impact his father made in his life.

    “Lost my father this morning but am grateful for his impact on my progress. I will miss him 🙏🏾 yet that is how God structured the world.

     

    “We all have a place to go,” the player posted on Facebook.

    In a short statement from Asante Kotoko, the club has extended its condolences to Danlad Ibrahim and his family.

    “Asante Kotoko is saddened by the passing of Ibrahim Danlad’s father which occurred on Friday morning.

    “Our condolences to the entire family,” a club statement posted on Twitter said.

     

  • My vehicle was set ablaze on Samatex premises – Wontumi alleges

    The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Bosiako, has said his vehicle was set ablaze at the premises of Samatex company.
    The incident, according to him, occurred about five days ago at Samreboi in the Western Region.

    Chairman Wontumi, as he is popularly called, revealed this on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, claiming the attack is in connection with the tussle over the mining activities within the Nimri Forest Reserve.

    “The Takoradi Police Command is aware of this incident and you can call to verify,” he said.

    Akonta Mining Companyand Samatex, which is a timber company, have been in the news in the past few days over their operations in the Nimri Forest Reserve.

    This was after two persons sustained gunshot wounds at Samreboi when a section of the youth reportedly prevented personnel of Akonta Mining Limited from sending more mining equipment into the Tano Nimri Forest reserve.

    But Chairman Wontumi, who is the owner of Akonta Mining, has denied the reports that his company is mining in the Nimri Forest Reserve.

    He explained that his company went to the forest with the security to drive out some illegal miners who had invaded the area.

    Wontumi maintained that he is not engaged in galamsey and has all the needed documentation to engage in large-scale mining.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • ‘Galamsey’ got worse under Mahama – NPP tells NDC

    The New Patriotic Party (NPP) says the National Democratic Congress (NDC) should be the last political party to complain about the ‘galamsey’ menace.

    It said the NDC did little about the canker when it was in power.

    In a press statement issued on Friday, the Deputy Director of Communications of the party, Ernest Kofi Owusu Bempah said NDC’s “track record in the fight against the ‘galamsey’ menace is horrible.”

    According to him, the NDC is adding its voice to the ongoing conversation around the menace to score political points.

    As a result, Mr. Owusu Bempah asked Ghanaians to ignore them.

    “We are talking about a party that shamelessly launched the Youth in Small Scale Mining programme in the Eastern Region, which apparently opened the floodgates for ‘galamsey’.”

    “Of course, the ‘galamsey’ situation got so bad under Mahama in 2015, such that he had to hang his shame on the people of Kyebi, tagging the place as the headquarters of ‘galamsey’ in the country.”

    He further accused the NDC of enabling notorious ‘galamsey’ kingpin, Aisha Huang to thrive in Ghana.

    “For those that may have missed this; the erstwhile Mahama government issued an infinite resident permit to Aisha Huang.”

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • Asante Kotoko issues statement to console goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim after losing father

    Ghana Premier League side, Asante Kotoko has issued a short statement to offer support to grieving goalkeeper Danlad Ibrahim.

    The highly-rated goalkeeper lost his father on Friday, October 7, 2022. According to the information gathered, the father of the Black Stars asset passed early in the morning at Sunyani.

    In an official club statement from Asante Kotoko, the club has extended its condolences to the player and his family.

    “Asante Kotoko is saddened by the passing of Ibrahim Danlad’s father which occurred on Friday morning.

    “Our condolences to the entire family,” a club statement posted on Twitter has said.

  • Submit report on persons responsible for infractions in Auditor-General’s report – Akufo-Addo charges SIGA, A-G

    President Akufo-Addo has directed the Director-General of State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA) to work with the Auditor-General to look into the causes of the infractions cited in the latest Auditor-General’s report, identify persons responsible and make the necessary recommendations as prescribed by law.

    According to President Akufo-Addo, the 2021 Auditor-General’s report has reported an increase in the number of infractions committed by specified entities, and this demands answers from chairpersons of these entities.

    He made this known on Monday, October 3, 2022, when he held a meeting with the Director General of SIGA, and Chairpersons of specified entities at Jubilee House, the seat of the nation’s presidency.

    President Akufo-Addo explained that specified entities have been set up to provide efficient public services, promote public economic activities, contribute to our GDP, reduce imports, increase exports, and strengthen our economy whilst creating jobs for our people.

    In addition, he indicated that specified entities have a duty to create the economic superhighway.

    “However, the current trend of affairs neither portrays that picture, nor reflects positively on the managers of our specified entities, oversight institutions, and the government itself. It is a clear indication of poor supervision and management, as well as poor enforcement of implementation and sanctions of the needed measures,” President Akufo-Addo said.

    He continued, “I appointed you as leaders of these specified entities with the strong belief that you would ensure a positive change in the narrative of loss-making entities and build value for the people of Ghana. That has not happened, so I expect more from you.”

    The President thus urged heads of specified entities to drill down and agree on the causes and find solutions to address the infractions pointed out by the Auditor-General and the 2020 State Ownership Reports.

    “I want to see a marked improvement in these reports next year. Things must change. Your hard-earned reputation and honour are at stake if things crumble under your watch, and there are also serious sanctions in the SIGA Act and other laws for mismanagement, negligence and outright malfeasance,” he added.

    Whilst urging Chairpersons to help change the narrative of specified entities, the President charged that “the Director-General of SIGA to work with the Auditor-General, who is here with us, to drill down to the causes of the infractions, identify persons responsible and make the necessary recommendations as prescribed by law. I am giving them four (4) weeks from now to submit a report to the Chief of Staff.”

    He, thus, advocated for good corporate governance practices in specified entities, stressing that boards must desist from interfering in day-to-day management of their respective Specified Entities, and making unwarranted demands on their management.

    “You must remember that, in each of your entities, you have, apart from SIGA, an overall supervisor or monitor, which is the relevant sector Minister, and, ultimately, the Minister for Public Enterprises. If the hierarchy is rigorously maintained, we are guaranteed an enhanced performance and output of your various entities,” he stated.

    President Akufo-Addo encouraged heads of the specified entities to trade amongst themselves, increase production and patronage of domestic products and services, adding that “I pledge my full support to SIGA and other oversight institutions to exercise their authority, without any fear or favour.”

    Source: Myjoyonline

     

  • Halt PPP arrangement for a laboratory facility – Medical Laboratory Professionals tell government

    The Medical Laboratory Professional Workers Union (MELPWU) has urged the government to halt plans to go into a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement with a private laboratory.

    The private laboratory, under the arrangement, will be responsible for providing laboratory services that are not available in public facilities.

    But speaking at an Annual General Meeting in Kumasi, the General Secretary of the Union, Cephas Kofi Akortor, said the union is against the partnership.

    According to him, the Medical Laboratory Professionals “has not been not involved in any deliberations in the partnership.”

    “It will be very appropriate for the Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Health to engage in a broader stakeholder consultation to ensure that that this PPP arrangement is in the supreme interest of the nation before it is ever implemented,” added.

    Source: Myjoyonline

     

  • 1,500 drivers, motorcyclists to undergo defensive driving training

    High-risk commercial drivers and motorcyclists are to be given refresher training in defensive driving across the country to help reduce road accidents that result in the loss of lives and property.

    The training, which would cover 1,500 drivers and motorcycle riders is a collaboration between Vivo Energy Ghana and the National Road Safety Authority.

    It is scheduled to commence next week in Greater Accra, Ashanti, Bono East, Northern, Central and Western.

    The Managing Director of Vivo Energy Ghana (VEGH), Mr Kader Maiga announced these when he launched the company’s 2022 ‘Stop, Think and Drive’ Road Safety Campaign yesterday, at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange, popularly known as Circle Dubai.

    He said drivers would be monitored and evaluated to assess the impact of the campaign.

    Mr Maiga said provisional statistics from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and the Ghana Police Service, indicate that more than 2,924 people were killed in road traffic accidents in 2021.

    “This is an issue that must concern everyone and for that reason the energy company, with road transport safety as a key priority area is committed to support government curb this menace on the roads through its‘Stop, Think and Drive Programme,” he said.

    He noted that, although almost 90 per cent of all accidents were due to human errors, it could be prevented through better “driver training and continuous professional development on safe driving practices.”

    “We are happy to launch this campaign through a partnership with the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), the statutory regulatory body for road safety in Ghana to lead and supervise the project to ensure it meets all standards and requirements.

    “Other relevant stakeholder institutions in the campaign include the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Directorate (MTTD), and the various Transport Unions,” he added.

    Mr Maiga urged all drivers and motorcyclists to make the most out of these refresher trainings to better equip them to contribute towards making the roads safer.

    “Improving safety on our roads is a collective responsibility, let’s get involved,” he advised.

    On his part, the Head of Regulation, Inspection, and Compliance at NRSA, Mr Kwame Kodua Atuahene, encouraged drivers to get involved in such trainings because soon many drivers would not be allowed to operate commercial vehicles without any training.

    On behalf of all the transporters for VEGH, J. K. Horgle Transport Limited, J. K. Ahiadome Transport Limited and S.O Frimpong Transport Company Limited,a representative, Mr Randy Obeng-Frimpong pledged their support towards the impactful initiative as well as their continuous partnership with VEGH.

    As part of the celebration at the Neoplan Station in Circle, eye testing, licence renewal services, road worthy certificates and insurances were brought to the door steps of drivers

    Source:ghanaiantimes

  • Samsung warns of 32% hit to profits on chip slump

    Technology giant Samsung has warned of a 32% slide in its profits as demand for electronic devices and the memory chips that power them shrinks due to the global economic slowdown.

    The South Korean company estimates its quarterly operating profit was about 10.8tn won ($7.6bn; £6.9bn).

    On Thursday, US chip maker Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) also said it was hit by a fall in demand for computers.

    It comes as people cut back on purchases as the cost of living rises.

    Samsung’s profits from its microprocessor-making business suffered as the global price of memory chips plunged due to weakening demand for consumer electronics.

    The estimates, which are for the three months to the end of September, mark Samsung’s first year-on-year decline in quarterly profits in almost three years.

    Samsung is due to release its earnings on 27 October.

    Meanwhile, AMD’s revenue estimates for the third quarter were about a $1bn (£895.6m) less than previously forecast, signalling the slump in demand for chips could be much worse than expected.

    “The PC [personal computer] market weakened significantly in the quarter,” AMD’s chief executive Lisa Su said.

    Weak economic conditions had driven demand lower than expected, she added.

    AMD’s shares fell by 4.5% in after-hours trading in New York.

    “This is going to be a common theme for companies in the second half of 2022 due to weakening consumer demand,” Neil Shah from market analysis firm Counterpoint Research told the BBC.

    Sales of electronic devices have been hit as rising inflation, higher interest rates and the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine deter people from making purchases.

    This has led firms that buy memory chips, such as manufacturers of smartphones and personal computers, to cut their purchases as they use up their existing stocks.

    Technology industry analysts have forecast that memory chip prices will continue to plunge in the next three months as sales of smartphones continue to slide, with demand not expected to recover until early next year.

    Source: Myjoyonline

     

     

  • World Bank’s assessment of Ghana’s economy is true – Lord Mensah

    The World Bank’s claims about Ghana’s economy have the support of an economist named Lord Mensah.

    He claims that the World Bank, an external organization, provides an accurate assessment of the nation’s debts and growth prospects.

    He pointed out that in their accounting of the nation’s indebtedness, Ghana’s stakeholders do not accurately reflect the country’s predicament.

    As an external stakeholder in this economy, it is expected that they will occasionally visit and share their insights on the Ghanaian economy.
    Myjoyonline.com quotes him as saying, “Truly, what they said is a mirror of what is happening on the premises.

    He added that: “Looking at our debt, I think we’ve been calculating our debt without the contingent liabilities over the years, and if I say contingent liabilities, what I mean is the liabilities that have some inflows to them so we think it is not debt.”

    “And we should know that all those inflows that are tied to this debt operate under a certain umbrella which is the economy. So, if the economy is not doing well, obviously those inflows will also be impaired and it can affect your debt payment,” Lord Mensah explained.

    The World Bank in the latest report stated that Ghana is currently a high-debt-distressed country with a debt-to-GPD ratio of 104%.

    Meanwhile, data released by the Bank of Ghana suggested that Ghana’s public debt stands at GH¢402 billion representing 68% of GDP.

  • Akosua Agyapong eulogises mom

    Legendary musician and songwriter, Akosua Agyapong, has praised her late mother for her upbringing.

    Speaking on EVIBES with Becky on JoyNews, Akosua Agyapong stated that her mom was strict on her and her siblings thus making them who they are today.

    “She was such a hard woman. I loved my mummy. She died in 1994. We loved her because she was so hard on us. In the morning, no matter where you went to during the night, you have to wake up at 4:30 am and do your chores.

    “After our evening outings and we get tired, she won’t go to work early because that will give us the chance to sleep more. She will stay around and if you have to sweep, you sweep. If you have to cook too, you do it and so we all had something doing.”

    “We say thank you to her because it really helped us when we were growing. We never go wrong with cooking and housekeeping. My mom didn’t buy brown carpet. She bought cream carpet so when it’s dirty and she asks you to wash, you wash it well.

    “My mom really brought us up well. She didn’t allow us go to the club so we looked for invitation cards of parties and change the dates so that she can allow us go and she will tell us to be awake by 4:30 am.”

    Meanwhile, E Vibes is on JoyNews this and every Saturday at 8:30 am. Viewers will get the chance to catch playbacks on, Sundays at 10:30 am and Fridays at 6:30 pm. On Joy Prime, E Vibes airs on Saturday, at 4 pm.

    Source: Myjoyonline

     

     

  • GEPA committed to meeting US$4.2 billion NTE revenue target for 2022

    The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has pledged to work with producers and exporters to increase their capacity for exports under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area in order to meet the challenging US$4.2 billion revenue target for non-traditional export (NTE) commodities set for the year 2022. (AfCFTA).

    The NTE earnings of the nation climbed from US$2.8 billion in 2020 to US$3.3 billion in 2021, and the authority is determined to keep the NTEs expanding into new markets by utilizing AfCFTA in order to maintain a similar growth trajectory.

    Director of Projects-GEPA, Alexander Dadzawa – speaking on the sidelines of a capacity enhancement programme for the Ayawaso and Ablekuma municipalities in Accra, indicated that his outfit is working in tandem with all agencies and players in that sector to ensure the target is met.

    “The target for 2022 is about US$4.2 billion, and considering how well we did in 2021 we can make it with effective collaboration. There are a lot of opportunities for us under the AfCFTA, and if we are able to build the capacity of these producers and exporters with the three main pillars that we are working at – which are to improve supply capacity, ensure a conducive regulatory environment and build human resources capacity – then we can achieve it,” he said.

    The capacity-building and sensitisation programme was organised by the Authority in partnership with National Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Coordination Office (NCO), National Development Planning Committee (NDPC) and Sustainability Global (SG).

    According to organisers, observations and information gathered at the district level indicate that most medium and small-scale enterprises (MSMEs) in the agro-processing and cosmetics sector, especially, have developed an appetite for taking advantage of the AfCFTA to export to neighbouring countries – but certain technical challenges remain an impediment, hence the workshop that is to be held for all 261 districts to discuss challenges and proffer solutions.

    Mr. Dadzawa mentioned that the engagement’s focus is to ensure that district-level actors also understand the National Export Development Strategy’s (NEDS) importance and what role is expected of them to achieve the ultimate NTE goal of US$25billion in 10 years.

    He added that all 17 priority areas outlined in the National Export Development Strategy (NEDS) – which include cocoa, cashew, coconut, fish and fishery products, textiles and garments, sugar, industrial salt, shea, plastic products and petrol chemical products – will be given significant attention.

    “The district-level actors play a significant role in the agenda, and so we need to educate them and build their capacity in order to improve their activities to produce more for export. Our target is US$25billion within 10 years, and the local-level players provide the critical capacity base of the products that will be processed for exports,” he added.

  • I still feel young to play active football – Asamoah Gyan

    Ghana legend Asamoah Gyan is not thinking about retirement as he set sights to return to active football.

    Gyan, who is Ghana’s all-time top scorer was reported to have expressed his desire to play for the Black Stars at the upcoming FIFA World Cup to be staged in Qatar.

    But the former Sunderland star has denied such reports, claiming he was misquoted.

     

    Despite claiming he was misquoted, the former Sunderland star disclosed he still feel young to play active football.

    “I want to get back to the filed, age wise, I still feel young to play active football. But I have gain weight after two-year absence and that is what I am working. I have already said I want to come back to the field and I enjoy what I do best” he told Wontumi FM monitored by Footballghana.com.

    “I want to play active football; it can be any team and if I am ready physically, I can play for any team”

    Gyan has been out of action since leaving Ghana Premier League side Legon Cities two season ago.

  • Efficient background checks critical to Ghana’s recruitment efforts – MRB

    Emmanuel Kwame Morrison, a cybersecurity analyst, has emphasized the significance of effective background and data checks in hiring Ghana’s public and private sector labor force.

    He claims that in order to close all the gaps that manual background checks can leave open, these checks are essential, necessitating greater workforce investment in cybersecurity technology.

    The cybersecurity expert emphasized the significance of Ghana’s digitalization strategy and its impact on the economy and development while speaking at the opening of Morrison Records Bureau (MRB) operations in Accra.

    “We are in a new dawn and with Ghana leading the continent with its digitalization drive, more tech companies will set shop in Ghana and contribute to the country’s economic development,” he noted.

    “By using ultra-modern technology and software with minimal bugs, we will provide businesses and individuals with client-focused and result-driven services, meeting demands with a high level of integrity and professionalism,” Kwame Morrison explained.

    The Cybersecurity analyst further implored companies and businesses to take advantage of the first indigenous technology-driven background checking system.

    “We [MRB] aim to provide trusted technology-driven background check services to assist individuals and businesses. We have also followed all due processes and secured all prerequisite data protection clearance to run background check services in Ghana and other key markets on the continent.”

    Meanwhile, Dr. Jeff Bassey a Global HR practitioner and expert said the employment of deviant persons in any organisation must be critically checked else the institution will face the risk of being slapped with charges or questions of negligent hiring.

    “Normally, the perpetrator and the organisation are jointly liable in the evidence that the individual causes harm in any form. Many organisations have been slapped with liabilities in times past in decided cases both in Ghana and elsewhere.”

    “No organisation will want to pay huge compensations for negligent hiring and so it’s important that companies deploy the necessary background checks during recruitment,” Dr. Bassey added.

  • FLASHBACK: The market is flooded with cheap Asian buses – Neoplan Ghana

    The management of Neoplan Ghana Limited bemoaned the arrival of cheap Asian buses in Ghana as opposed to the stronger local buses.

    Neoplan produced 450 buses for metro mass, and every single one of them is still in fine functioning order.
    Due to their relatively low pricing, China buses were imported later, but those didn’t last, he stated in an interview in 2021.

    He said that the government and other interested parties must promote the purchase of goods made in Ghana.

    Workshop Manager for Neoplan Ghana Limited, Ernest Nyanful Boateng, has complained bitterly about the influx of low-quality Asian buses in Ghana as compared to the durable ones the company makes from scratch here in Ghana.

    He made this assertion on Happy Morning Show aired on e.TV Ghana and Happy 98.9FM with Samuel Eshun.

    “Neoplan made 450 buses for metro mass and all those buses are currently working and in good condition. China buses were imported later, due to their relatively cheap prices but those didn’t last”.

    He also compared the quality of products used in manufacturing Neoplan buses and the Asian versions.

    “Neoplan buses were built with a galvanized sheet and square pipes which made them durable. The manufacturers of the imported Asian and China buses use fiber, which makes them light in weight. The imported buses were not able to withstand the test of time that is why the number of buses around today is limited,” he said.

    He advised both state and private institutions to choose Neoplan buses over Asian ones as they are worth the money that will be spent on them. The concerned Neoplan staff believes the local patronage of their buses will revive their dying business.

    Background

    President Akufo-Addo during his just-ended four-day working visit of the Ashanti Region said the government was keen on reviving the once vibrant Neoplan Ghana Limited. The company according to the President will be absorbed into the one-district-one-factory (1D1F) industrialization initiative.

    Neoplan Ghana was established in 1974 as a bus manufacturing firm for Ghana’s transport fleet, but the company has in recent times been on the decline due to a number of challenges, that have resulted in the laying off of staff. Neoplan has also been unable to secure contracts from the government and the private sector to boost its operations, falling on repair and maintenance services, which have led to recurring losses.

  • GRA locks up popular event center ‘Underbridge’

    Popular event center ‘Underbridge’ at East Legon in the Greater Accra region has been locked up by enforcement team of the Ghana Revenue Authority.

    The action follows the inability of managers of the facility to register and issue Valued Added Tax (VAT) receipt to its customers.

    The GRA has for some time now been descending on businesses evading or under-declaring taxes.

    Accra Area Enforcement Manager at the Ghana Revenue Authority, Joseph Annan, interacting with Joy Business before the action explained that ‘Underbridge’ has not been complying with the tax law, hence the need for the distress action.

    GRA locks up popular event center ‘Underbridge’

    “They have not registered for VAT as a business and this is an offence. So we have no option than to lock up the place until they have register and pay the penalties that will be slapped on them”.

    “They know that as a business you must register with the GRA and pay your taxes accordingly”, he added.

    The team moved next to the Tema Industrial area where numerous cold store businesses have been operating with fake VAT invoices.

    About four coldstores were locked up, whilst the managers were arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department officials attached to the exercise.

    At Tema Community 9, Chief Executive of Joshnartey Ventures, Joseph Nartey was arrested for issuing fake VAT invoices.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • ECG payment system not being outsourced to Hubtel – ECG MD denies

    Samuel Dubik Mahama, the managing director of the Electricity Company of Ghana, has denied claims that his organization was outsourcing its payment system to a private third-party business.

    This comes after John Jinapor, the ranking member on the parliament’s mines and energy committee, claimed that Hubtel Company Limited had been offered the chance to take over the ECG’s payment system.

    The ECG app, which was created locally by ECG personnel, is being attempted to be transferred to a business called Hubtel.
    Officials from Hubtel are allegedly attempting to connect their system to the app at ECG right now, according to the legislator.

    “I’m even told that Hubtel is proposing to charge 4 percent commission. So, there is a lot of internal upheaval among some ECG staff,” he indicated.

    But Samuel Mahama speaking with journalists on the matter said, “ECG doesn’t have a contract with anybody called Hubtel. So, ECG has a proof of concept understanding with Hubtel and ECG hasn’t agreed on any percentages with Hubtel,”

    “It is quite sad that in this day when we have the Right to Information [Law], where you can get access to information when you hear gossip, you choose to run with gossip,” the ECG boss added.

    Meanwhile, the ECG has come under intense pressure over the inability of customers across the country to purchase pre-paid power from their various vending points.

    The situation which has been described as a technical glitch affected many businesses, households and institutions that rely on ECG’s power distribution system.

    In the wake of this, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) directed ECG to pay due compensation to customers who were significantly impacted by the recent glitch in its prepaid vending system.

    The compensation is expected to cover the period between October 1 to 7, 2022

     

  • FLASHBACK: Stop giving ‘money doublers’ your platforms – BoG to media houses

    The Bank of Ghana advised the media to refrain from giving unlicensed “money doublers” and credit card-loading scammers a platform.

    These fraudulent actions, which were visible on multiple media platforms, were not authorized, according to the Central Bank.

    The BoG stated in a statement that “The Bank of Ghana wants to let everyone know that they should not allow advertisements for “Money Doubling,” “Card Loading,” or “Credit Card Loading Systems” on their platforms. This goes for radio, television, and online channels.
    Before promoting these companies’ goods and services, the media is urged to check with the Bank of Ghana about their licensing status.”

    The Bank of Ghana has urged the media not to allow illegal money doublers and credit card-loading schemers on their platforms.

    The bank noted that no entity has been licensed to engage in such businesses in the country.

    The broadcast of the activities of money doublers and credit card loaders has been on the rise over the past year with many broadcasts on digital television platforms.

    The broadcasts usually operate in a similar format with a fetish priest or Mallam and an assistant offering the promise to double a sum while deposit numbers scroll on the screen.

    In a statement, the BoG explained that “the Bank of Ghana wishes to notify all media outlets including radio, television and online channels NOT to permit the advertisement of “Money Doubling” and “Card Loading” or “Credit Card Loading Systems” on their platforms. The media is encouraged to verify the licensing status of such entities with the Bank of Ghana, before advertising their products and services.”

    According to the central bank, individuals who engage in the act commit an offense and will be required to return all funds received.

    “By this notice, the Bank of Ghana informs the general public that the Bank has not licensed any entities or individuals engaged in “Money Doubling”, Card Loading” and “Credit Card Loading Systems”. The said individuals and entities in question, commit an offense and will be required to return all funds received.”

    “The general public is encouraged not to engage in such activities and to report such illegal activities to the Bank of Ghana…”

    The Bank of Ghana also warned the public against engaging the services of money doublers and credit card loading systems that advertise their services on traditional and social media platforms.

  • Amansie South: Assistance headmaster dies after falling into galamsey pit

    A 47-year-old assistant headmaster of Mpatasie DA JHS in the Amansie South District of the Ashanti region has died after he fell into a galamsey pit in the area on Tuesday night.

    The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) says the deceased, Kwasi Anane owned an illegal mining concession and employed the services of others to work over there.

    In his attempt to inspect activities on the said day, he slipped and fell into a pit, which led to his death.

    Following the latest incident, NADMO says urgent steps should be taken by various authorities to prevent similar deaths since many people in the district have died in recent times in the same manner.

    “This issue has been happening. Last three months, we had two people who drowned. Such incidents keep happening, and it’s becoming normal and we at NADMO have been doing our best by visiting the sites and giving them education, but they don’t listen to us.”

    Source: Citinews

  • Petroleum taxes: Petrosol paid GH¢475.9 million to GRA in 6 years

    According to a reconciliation audit, Petrosol Ghana Limited has collected and paid the state GH475.9 million (GH475,929,697.52) in petroleum taxes over the course of six years.

    The number corresponds to the volume of petroleum products that Petrosol hoisted between January 2015 and July 2020.

    To verify the petroleum taxes paid by Petrosol, the audit was conducted by the Revenue Assurance, Compliance and Enforcement Committee at the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MoFEP), in conjunction with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), and the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMCs).

    A letter dated August 1, 2022 and signed by Rev. Dr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, Commissioner General of GRA congratulated Petrosol and urged the company to continue in this same vein as a model corporate citizen.

    The primary purpose of a tax audit is to give the GRA reasonable assurance that the tax returns are accurate and complete, and that the correct amount of taxes have been declared and paid.

    Petrosol, a leading privately-owned Ghanaian Oil Marketing Company (OMC) received triple certification from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

    The certificates include ISO 9001:2015–Quality Management Systems, ISO 14001:201–Environmental Management System, and ISO 45001:2018–Occupational Health and Safety Management.

    Prior to receiving the triple certification, its internal systems and processes for procuring, storing, distributing and marketing fuel and lubricants were subjected to international audit by TUV HESSEN on behalf of ISO.

    Since 2014, Petrosol Ghana Ltd has made excellence its hallmark.

  • Today in History: Government always prioritizing short term political objectives – Prof Osei Assibey

    According to economist Eric Osei-Assibey, political business cycles have dominated in Ghana as a result of the government‘s preference for short-term political goals above long-term gains.

    He contends that rather than raising taxes and cutting spending, the government will choose to reduce taxes while increasing spending.

    He continued by saying that this behavior had long-term negative effects, such as inflation and cedi depreciation.

    Professor Eric Osei- Assibey, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Economics, University of Ghana, has said one of the reasons the political business cycle is dominant in the country is that government prioritizes short-term political objectives over long-term gain.

    The term political business cycle is used mainly to describe the stimulation of the economy just prior to an election in order to improve prospects of the incumbent government getting reelected.

    According to him, the government will rather opt to cut taxes and increase government spending rather than increase taxes and decrease government spending.

    This practice he added, has adverse consequences including inflation and cedi depreciation in the long term.

    Speaking at the Graphic/Stanbic Breakfast Meeting on the theme “Election cycles, democratic governance, and fiscal stability: lessons for Ghana” Prof. Osei-Assibey said government and electorate will support expansionary fiscal policy.

    “Prior to an election year, governments have options of pursuing policies either contractionary or expansionary policies. Now, given the fact that government wants to increase its chance of winning or reelection, they are more likely to go for expansionary monetary policies and fiscal policy because that is the policy that is popular with the people, and that would mean the government cutting taxes, pursuing expansionary monetary policies that will lower the interest rate …”

    “These policies are very popular with the people, so, it would mean that at the end of the day government is more likely to win the elections because it would have met its side of the bargain to the people”.

    He however added that this system has its effects.

    “This situation is likely to have very adverse consequences because of the expansionary nature of government policy and this is likely to throw the economy in instability which includes high microeconomic which is higher inflation.”

  • Researcher raises concern over diseases caused by heavy metals in polluted water

    There is an alarming increase in strange diseases and deformities in newborns, especially in mining areas in parts of the country, due to what experts say is the high concentration of heavy metallic substances found in polluted water bodies.

    A new study by a team of medical researchers led by the head of the Forensic Pathology Unit at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Dr. Paul Osei Sampene has revealed disturbing findings on how polluted water bodies are endangering lives.

    The study was conducted in three mining regions namely; Ashanti, Central, and Western regions.

    Researchers have warned the continuous pollution of water bodies with toxic chemicals like mercury and cyanide will have a long-term effect on the lives of inhabitants living in mining communities and others in urban centres.

    Dr. Osei Sampene wants the government to take urgent steps to stop illegal mining activities.

    “These heavy metals are insoluble. They have an affinity for the gastrointestinal tract. Once they get there, they are absorbed into your system, and they don’t get out so however small out, if you cumulatively get them over a long period of time then you are doomed.”

    He says there are currently rising cases of kidney diseases, especially in children and young people.

    “If you go to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital now, the sort of kidney-related conditions being recorded there are almost always on the increase,” Dr. Sampene said.

    Source: Citinews

  • Business confidence slowing due to uncertainty in the market – AGI

    Seth Twum Akwaboah, the chief executive officer of the Association of Ghana Industries, claimed that the economic environment was plagued by significant uncertainties that had an impact on company profits.

    This, he said, was due to the government’s failure to provide clear explanations for several of its recent policy moves, most notably the increase in the monetary policy rate.

    Myjoyonline.com quotes the CEO of AGI as saying that the business environment continues to be somewhat unpredictable, making it difficult for policy hikes to inspire investor confidence.

    His comments came after the Bank of Ghana announced a hike in the monetary policy rate by 250 basis points to 24.5% on October 7, 2022, the highest the country has ever experienced.

    “These are challenging times and indeed it’s a big dilemma that we find ourselves in. Do we continue doing business or do we pack and go? At this particular moment, you cannot pack and go, you must continue to do business but it’s a difficult situation for a lot of our businesses.

    “The challenge we have is the uncertainty that is surrounding this whole business environment now. if people are clear about what the horizon is, and what the pointers are getting to, then you can plan on the basis of that. Even if you have a consistent rise in policy rates and inflation and all that and you’re very sure how the endgame is going to be you can still plan around it. The difficulty we have is uncertainty,” he stated.

    Seth Akwaboah, however, bemoaned the negative trajectory of the macroeconomic indicators in the economy.

    “And when you look at the AGI business barometer survey the major driver of the barometer coming down, the confidence level coming down is the uncertainty and this is where we find ourselves. The continuous rising of the policy rate and all the other macroeconomic indicators pointing to a negative direction is not giving certainty at all in the business environment, and that is indeed tough for businesses,” he added.

  • We’re too broke to pay fine – ECG begs PURC

    William Boateng, the Electricity Business of Ghana’s (ECG) Director of Communications, has emphasized that the utility company is insolvent and would not be able to pay the present fine that the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission has levied on it (PURC).

    The PURC has ordered ECG to pay customers who were impacted by the prepaid vending and metering malfunction.

    The PURC claimed that this was consistent with the ECG’s violation of its legal obligations.

    However, Mr. Boateng highlighted that the latest system breakdown was inadvertent and had never occurred before in an interview with Daily Analyst.

    He maintained that the management of ECG was in the process of engaging the PURC to explain what caused the system failure of its prepaid vending and metering.

    The compensations, the PURC indicated will come in the form of one-time electricity credit commencing 1 October 2022, and ending October 7, 2022.

    Life consumers are to be given GH¢15 credit equivalent while those in the residential and non-residential were to receive GH¢120 and GH¢240 respectively.

    The loss suffered by commercial and industrial institutions is to be reimbursed with penalty units equivalent to GHS GHC480 and GHC1, 200 as a show of responsive customer service.

    Persons to benefit from the compensation include customers in Volta, Takoradi, Tema, Cape Coast, Kasoa, Winneba, Swedru, Koforidua, Nkwakaw and Tafo.

    But in a quick response, Mr. Boateng pointed out that his outfit could not fathom why the PURC did not actively engage them to listen to their side of the story before taking that decision.

    “We think that to ensure fairness in this matter, it would equally be good for PURC being the regulator to engage ECG on this matter to find out from the company what had happened before taking any decision in that regard.

    “…but the PURC has not done that. In fact, we are not saying that we will not pay the fine but the ECG is completely broke. We are not even making profit. We are operating at a loss. So where are we going to get the money to pay this fine? “Mr. Boateng quizzed.

    Mr. Boateng was of the view that “this vending failure in its prepayment system doesn’t amount to poor performance or inefficiency on their side, adding that the PURC should have considered this situation.”

    “It is not that the engineers or workers of the ECG are not doing their work well, explaining that “this is an unforeseen accident which had never happened in our system before,” he pointed out.

    “This is not the case that someone is not delivering good services to its customers and that this is the first time we have had such an accident of vending failure in our prepayment system. This is pure accident and the PURC should have taken its time to listen to us for it [PURC] to look into what had brought these challenges,” the ECG communications director stressed.

    Mr. Boateng argued that the move by the PURC to rule on this case without having time to get their side of the ECG was completely against the rights of the company.

    While sympathizing with the affected customers, he appealed to the PURC to rescind its decision to impose a fine on ECG.

  • NDC has no moral right to criticize our galamsey fight – NPP

    The governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken a swipe at the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) after the latter described its effort in fighting illegal mining in the country as a scam.

    The NPP Deputy Director of Communications, Ernest Kofi Owusu Bempah in a statement said the NDC’s conduct is “like the pot calling the kettle black because their track record in the galamsey menace is horrible.”

    Mr. Owusu Bempah accused the NDC of enabling and festering galamsey when they had the opportunity to pull the plug.

    “We are talking about a party that shamelessly launched the Youth in Small Scale Mining programme in the Eastern Region, which apparently opened the floodgate for galamsey.”

    “Of course, the galamsey situation got so bad under Mahama in 2015, such that he had to hang his shame on the people of Kyebi, tagging the place as the headquarters of Galamsay in the country.”

    He further accused the NDC of enabling galamsey kingpin, Aisha Huang to thrive in Ghana.

    “For those that may have missed this; the erstwhile Mahama government issued an infinite resident permit to Aisha Huang.”

    “Precisely on 28th March 2015, Aisha Huang was given an indefinite resident permit to live here in perpetuity and to engage in her illegal activities. This happened under the Mahama administration. Meanwhile, she was unsuccessful in getting the permit during the President Kufour era.”

    “So you see, any dastardly attempt by the NDC to rationalize the political economy of galamsay must be roundedly condemned. It is beyond dispute that under John Mahama-led government, the national record of the deleterious impact of galamsay left a lot to be desired. It was simply unprecedented.”

    He explained that all the Akufo-Addo administration has been doing is simply managing a very bad situation as well as it can by the deft and relatively constructive application of the statutory laws of the land.

    The National Communications Officer of the NDC, Sammy Gyamfi while addressing a press conference in Accra on Thursday, October 6, 2022, said the President is not backing his efforts with action.

    He described the measures and strategies put in place by government to win the war against the illegality as a clear deception, alleging that some members of the NPP and government are behind galamsey in the country.

    Source: Citinews

  • Ghana’s current account deficit to widen to 5.8% in 2022

    The current account deficit for Ghana is anticipated to increase to 5.8% this year before marginally decreasing to 5.2% in 2024.

    This exceeds every prediction made by worldwide scientific institutions.

    The decline in the current account balance is consistent with the combination of soaring import costs and the depreciation of the cedi, according to the October 2022 World Bank Africa Pulse Report.

    Once more, it predicted that nations who are members of the West African Monetary Union will see an increase in their deficit from 4.1% in 2021 to 6.3% in 2022 before falling down to 4.6% the following year.

    “Similarly, the current account deficit will widen for non-resource-rich countries due to rising import bills fuelled by soaring food and fuel prices, yet the size of the deficit is expected to narrow to 5 per cent in 2024, from 7 per cent in 2021. More than two-thirds of countries with double-digit current account deficits are non-resource-rich countries, and the remaining are mineral and metal resource-rich countries,” it added.

    Earlier in the year, Fitch Solutions said Ghana’s current account deficit would narrow to 2.8 per cent of Gross Domestic Product in 2022, from 3.2 per cent in 2021.

    It, therefore, said this marked a revision from its previous 2022 projection of a deficit of 3.1 per cent of GDP, reflecting weaker-than-anticipated merchandise import growth of 7.7 per cent year-on-year over the first four months of 2022, while exports grew by 17.1 per cent.