TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • Brand tax financed projects – Government urged

    The government has been urged to brand development projects in the country such as hospitals, schools and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities financed with taxpayers’ money.

    Branding such facilities, Mr Benedict Doh, Finance Manager, Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII), said would make Ghanaians have ‘ready evidence’ of the essence of paying taxes.

    He explained that it would make Ghanaians repose confidence in the Tax and Revenue Administration system, and in so doing, pay willingly to support Government’s development agenda.

    In an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra, MrDoh said: “If the citizens are able to identify those projects, which the taxes are used to fund, it makes it easier for people to pay voluntary.”

    He also said: “That is what we want to encourage the Government to do; appropriately label projects that they use taxpayers’ money to fund as funded with taxpayers’ money.”

    It would help address the complaints many make about not seeing what the Government was doing with taxes paid.

     

    MrDoh who also is a tax analyst said: “We know the government uses revenues from taxes to fund some of the development projects. But several of them are even ‘labelled as GoG funded.’ That is great, but let’s go to the next level of labelling them specifically as being ‘funded with taxpayers’ money, if it is so.”

    “We know that the part of tax revenues that goes into capital expenditure is not that much. But as little as it might be, if people begin to see projects funded with taxpayers’ money, and labelled appropriately, it will have a positive impact on their willingness to contribute,” he emphasised.

    Apart from the labelling projects financed with taxes for easy identification by the citizenry, MrDoh called on the government to work towards making loans attractive to businesspeople.

    He said: “Beyond that, we should also see issues of corruption being tackled decisively by the Government, because most people think the resources are not being managed very well by the State, and that does not encourage them to pay.”

    The Finance Manager encouraged the Government to make its digitisation processes benefit people in rural communities by introducing payment and transactions platforms like SMS and educate them on the use of such platforms.

    He also asked the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to intensify its public education, especially in rural areas.

    Ghana is currently facing challenges to meet its revenue target despite the introduction of the Electronic Transactions Levy (E-Levy), which is to widen the tax net and add about GHS 6.9 billion (initial target) to the country’s 2022 revenue.

    A study by GII has shown that many Ghanaian businesses and other taxpayers were being forced to avoid the payment of taxes because of the current economic hardship on their productivity and profit.

    About 1.5 million out of the six million eligible Ghanaian taxpayers pay tax, making Ghana one of the lowest Tax to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio in Africa.

    Stakeholders have, therefore, called for collaborative efforts to change the situation to engender voluntary compliance among Ghanaians while urging the Government to have a robust and well-structured system to increase the tax contribution and compliance.

    Source:GhanaianTimes

  • Ghana coconut in high demand in export markets — GEPA

    The Director of Public Relations at the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Ruth Maafo, has outlined interventions the government of Ghana is currently rolling out to boost coconut production and export in Ghana.

    Speaking to journalists ahead of the 2nd International Coconut Festival, Ruth Maafo, stated that coconut from Ghana is in high demand globally and thus the country’s position as the world’s 9th leading producer can be further enhanced if programmes such as the Coconut Revitalization Programme and Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) are sustained across the country.

    “Every part of the coconut is beneficial. Through the International Coconut Festival Ghana, we are putting the spotlight on Ghanaian businesses in the coconut value chain while helping them to connect with the relevant stakeholders and investors.”

    She said GEPA has since 2017 provided a total of 600,000 disease-tolerant seedlings to coconut farmers to help boost the industry.

    The 3-day event, according to her, is also aimed at encouraging more Ghanaians to venture into the coconut sector to boost production and export.

    The 2022 edition was launched on Friday, August 12 at Alabokazo in the Ellembele District of the Western Region.

    In her address, the CEO of GEPA, Dr. Asabea Asare, assured stakeholders in the coconut industry of GEPA’s commitment to supporting the industry to achieve an expected annual revenue of USD2.8 billion in exports.

    This year’s event will take place from the 20th to the 23rd of September at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).

    Other activities include seminar, mentorship for young people and sessions with women in coconut.

    In 2019, GEPA, partnered ACG to hold the first ever International Coconut Festival in Ghana, which brought together exhibitors as well as major players to promote coconut business.

    The government of Ghana added coconut into the National Tree Crop Development Authority (NTCDA), which was established in 2019 and mandated to develop and regulate production, processing, marketing and export of coconut and other selected tree crops.

    According to data from the Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database for the year 2017, Ghana ranked 14th on the list of the world’s top coconut producers with 383,960 metric tonnes produced in 2017 alone.

    The country’s export of desiccated coconut alone amounted to 21.9 million dollars in 2021 from 6.3 million dollars in 2020 and 3.8 million dollars in 2019, making Ghana 9th in global export of dessicated coconut.

    Source:citinewsroom

  • Do not smuggle subsidised cocoa fertilizers- Director

    Director of Special Services at the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Mr Charles Amenyaglo, has cautioned cocoa farmers to desist from smuggling and selling of subsidised cocoa fertilizers. He said any farmer or buyer of such subsidised cocoa fertilizers would be arrested and prosecuted.

    Mr Amenyagio, who gave the waming in an interview with the media in Takoradi after four suspected cocoa fertilizer smugglers, were put before the Takoradi Port circuit court B, for allegedly smuggling 328 bags of subsidised cocoa fertilizers.

    He said Cocoa fertilizer smuggling was becoming a torn in the flesh of COCOBOD, stressing that more than 2,000 bags of cocoa fertilizers were retrieved from smugglers across the country last year alone.

    Mr Amenyaglo pointed out that if the practice was not nipped in the bud COCOBOD would not be able to achieve its aim of increased cocoa yield since nutrients on many cocoa farms were depleted.

    He said it was an offence punishable by law to be engaged in such a practice, noting that the fertilizers were highly subsidised.


    He said they procured the fertilizers at 560 cedis a bag and sold to the farmers at 80 cedis a bag, which they transport to the farming communities and hand over to the farmer cooperatives for distribution to their members.

    Mr Amenyaglo expressed worry that some unscrupulous people had been unlawfully purchasing cocoa fertilizers delivered to cocoa farmers at a highly subsidised rates, adding “some of them have made it their business to be going around buying cocoa fertilizers, which have been delivered to the farmers at their doorsteps.

    The four suspects, Amadu Combat 55, Kingsley Baah Wiredu, 32 driver, Issaka Mbawuni, 38 and Dawuda Yakubu 44 were arrested at Samenaboi in the Western Region around 0200hours on Sunday September 11, with trucks load of COCOBOD subsidised fertilizers.

    The court presided over by Her Honour, Mrs Abigail K. Asare, did not take their plea and discharged the suspects with the explanation that the charge of causing financial loss to the State leveled against the four did not tally with the facts.

    She, therefore, asked the prosecution to collaborate with COCOBOD officials to conduct thorough investigations into the case and come up with the appropriate charges against the four suspects.

    Source; GNA

  • Search team finds body of missing security guard after alleged serial killing

    The 58-year-old security guard who was thought to have been killed last Friday in Wa has had his remains located.

    On Sunday, a local search team discovered him buried in a little grave on the outskirts of Wa. They notified the police.

    “We reached a point where we were able to identify some objects that we believed to be human remains.

    We continued to an incomplete building, where we also discovered some odd stuff, according to a search team member.

    The search team then alerted the police of the discovery.

    “They [the police] came, and it was a very narrow grave that they buried one of the night security men we’ve been looking for.”

    The situation has sent shivers down the spines of residents in Wa, although calm has been restored.

    Residents last Friday staged a protest over the serial killing of the private security guards that has claimed 10 lives.

    The police administration has deployed a team of special purpose investigators to Wa the Upper West regional capital.

     

  • Sunyani Airport to begin domestic operations September 19

    Bono Regional Minister Ms Justina Owusu-Banahene, on Thursday, says domestic flight operations are set to resume at the Sunyani Airport on Monday, September 19, 2022. She said the re-opening of the service would open up the region for rapid economic growth.

    The Regional Minister announced this at the meet-the-press series in Accra. He said Passion Air would commence air transport services between Sunyani and Accra and that plans were made in advance to fly four times a week.

    The Sunyani airport was, on August 3, 2022, commissioned by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo after the completion of the first phase of rehabilitation after six years of closure.

    The operation, she stressed, would stimulate the economic growth potential of the region through increase in trade and investments and reduce road travel time from about eight hours to about an hour.

    On road infrastructure, she said the Government had constructed 13 road projects with a total length of 342.3km. Some of the projects are the upgrading of 30km menji-bui road, upgrading of 10 km Nkrankwanta-Krasse Road and 15 km Brekum-Drobo.

     

    She said the Government had constructed a new transport terminal, police post, ambulance bay, fire post, and supplied and installed electricity.

    On health, Ms Owusu-Banahene said the Government had made significant strides in the sector.

    She said the doctor to patient ratio improved to 1: 10395 in 2021 from 1:14898 in 2016.

    She said other health infrastructural projects completed were the Tain District Hospital, nurse’s bungalows at Koraso-Brekum West, physician assistant bungalows at Jinijini and Agubie CHPS at Wenchi. On education, the Minister said the region could boast of 12 unit classroom blocks, out of which five had been completed, six unit classroom blocks with ancillary facilities, out of which 21 had been completed, with six ongoing.

    Others are; three-unit classroom blocks with 20 completed and two ongoing; and two-unit classroom blocks, out of which two are completed and one ongoing. She said CHIRAA Senior High School had received a 32-seater bus, motor bikes were supplied to the Ghana Education staff, and a dormitory complex constructed for Our Lady of Province Girls’ SHS in Keasibourkrom.

    Source; GNA

  • ‘Fare thee well, Queen Elizabeth II’ – Mahama pays respect to the late British monarch

    Former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama added his name to a book of condolences for the late Queen Elizabeth II that was unveiled at the British High Commission in Accra.

    On September 19, Mahama paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, who ruled for seven decades, in a tweet.

    He praised her for being a great woman who promoted harmony and had a sense of humor and clarity.

    Mahama recounted when he and his wife, Lordina, met the British monarch in Buckingham Palace in 2014. He indicated that an encounter with her leaves one struck by her “dignity and grace”.

    “An era has come to an end. The world salutes a very great woman. She was the commonwealth; such a diplomat, who took it upon herself to bring diverse nations together. Her visits to Ghana in 1961 and 1999 are perfect examples. Fare thee well, Queen Elizabeth

    “I recall my visit to the Buckingham Palace in 2014 with my wife, Lordina, and our interaction. One is struck by her dignity and grace. She had a good sense of humour and clarity of thought. Fare thee well, Queen Elizabeth,” Mahama tweeted.

    Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8, 2022 at the age of 96 and has since been succeeded by King Charles III.

    World leaders are attending the funeral ceremony which takes place today in London.

  • Prof. Seidu Alhassan appointed VC of UDS

    A Professor of Agricultural Economics, Prof. Seidu Alhassan, has been appointed the new Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS).

    Prof. Alhassan takes over from Prof. Gabriel Ayum Teye as the fifth Vice-Chancellor of the university.
    He was appointed by the UDS Governing Council at a meeting held in June and would serve a four-year term beginning from September 1, this year.

    Prior to his appointment, Prof. Alhassan served in various capacities at the UDS, including as a Pro Vice-Chancellor from 2015-2019.

    Handover

    At a handover ceremony at the university in Tamale, the outgoing Vice-Chancellor, charged his successor to complete some stalled infrastructure projects to increase enrollment.

    He thanked all management and staff for their support and cooperation during his seven-year tenure as Vice-Chancellor and urged all to extend the same support to the new Vice-Chancellor to enable him to succeed.

    For his part, the new Vice-Chancellor called for the support of all stakeholders, pledging to run an open-door administration.

    “For me, this power is for people, it’s for ongoing projects, it’s to create wealth and in creating this wealth at this institute, we have to do it with efficiency and competence, and the result will show at the end of the day,” he noted.

     

    Brief Biography

    Professor Alhassan holds B.A in Economics, M.A in Economics, and PhD degree in Agricultural Economics.

    He was the Head of the Department of Food Security and Climate Change and once served as the Director of the Institute for Continuing Education and Interdisciplinary Research (ICEIR).

    He has 40 peer-reviewed journal publications to his credit and is also the author of two books (Writing a Thesis: A Guide for Social Science Students and also Ghana’s Shea Industry: Knowing the Fundamentals).

    The new Vice-Chancellor was appointed the Commissioner for the National Development Planning Commission from 2015-2017.

    Source: Graphiconline

  • 1,487km roads fully completed in Eastern Region since 2017 – Minister

    Eastern Regional Minister, Seth Kwame Acheampong has disclosed that a total of 1,487.62km of roads has been completed in the Region since 2017.

    A total of 5,404.79km of road, he said has been awarded to contractors since 2017.

    The Minister made these revelations during a press briefing in Accra on Sunday. Out of the number completed, 206km of road was done under the supervision of the Department of Urban roads, 440.38km and 246km of roads under the supervision of the Feeder roads department and 595.24km of road by the Ghana Highway Authority.

    1,487km roads fully completed in Eastern Region since 2017 – Minister

    He noted that under the Urban roads, a 101km road has been rehabilitated and asphalt laid over a 100km road.

    According to the Minister, these roads were financed with the road fund and funds from COCOBOD.

    The roads constructed are; Akropong town roads (3.8km), Nkawkaw town roads (11.25km), Atiwa East and West District town roads (16.10km), Birim Central in Akyem Oda (0.7km), New Juaben North (9.21km), New Juaben South (18.30km), Kyebi town roads (12.4km), Kade town roads (11.4km), Suhum town roads (2.6km), Apirede (1.7km), Atiwa West District town roads (5.5km), etc.

    1,487km roads fully completed in Eastern Region since 2017 – Minister

    Asphaltic overlay has also been completed on roads such as the Koforidua and Effiduase town roads, Abuakwa south roads, Akropong town roads, Peduase town roads, Suhum town roads, Birim Central town roads, Asamankese town roads, Atiwa West district town roads and Denkyembour town roads.

    Source:myjoyonline

     

  • Ghana is absent among the top 5 African nations that account for more than half of the continent’s wealth

    Three nations, led by South Africa, own more than half of the continent’s total wealth, according to the Africa Wealth Report 2022.

    These three nations are thought to control a combined total of $1.18 trillion in private wealth, with Egypt coming in second and Nigeria third.

    According to the research, the amount represents 56% of Africa’s $2.1 trillion in overall wealth.

    Morocco and Kenya were in fourth and fifth place, with private wealth totaling $125 billion and $91 billion, respectively.

     

    “In terms of the enquiries Henley & Partners received last year, South Africa, Nigeria, and Egypt were among the top 15 nationalities worldwide.
    Dominic Volek, group head of private clients at Henley & Partners, stated in the report that South Africa was in fifth place globally with growth of 38% in 2021, Nigeria was in seventh place with growth of 15%, and Egypt was in fourteenth place with growth of 25%.

    Ghana, on the other hand, ranked sixth with $59 billion in private wealth.

    The report also revealed that the highest wealth in Africa, $2.4 trillion, was recorded in 2012, while 148,000 people became millionaires in 2017, the largest number ever.

  • If the cedi continues to depreciate, fuel may retail for GHC 17 – IES

    According to Nana Amoasi III, executive director of the Institute of Energy Security, Ghana may not profit from the drop in petroleum costs due to the depreciation.

    He claims that until the cedi starts to appreciate, Ghana would continue to benefit little to nothing from the drop in fuel prices.

    According to him as quoted by citinewsroom.com, “Pricing on the global market have decreased, but our consumers may not profit from that because our local currency, the cedi, which is a crucial factor in determining local market prices, keeps weakening against the world currency, the dollar.

    “If the cedi keeps going in this direction, Ghanaian consumers might not benefit from any price decreases on the global market.
    If we’re unlucky and prices keep going up, we’ll notice a rise in our prices.
    We might begin selling a litre for 17 cedis,” said Nana Amoasi III.

    At several forex offices in Accra, the Ghana Cedi is now being offered for GH 10.51.

    Nevertheless, despite minor price decreases on the international market, gasoline and diesel continue to sell for more than GH11 and GH13 at various fuel stations.

  • FinTechs are pushed to create worldwide e-payment cards as a replacement for Visa and Mastercard – Ursula

    Ursula Owusu Ekuful, the minister for communication and digitization, has suggested that stakeholders in the financial technology (Fintech) sector create a standard electronic payment card for Africa that will facilitate payments and eliminate the use of foreign payment cards like Visa, Mastercard, etc.

    She argues that given that African Fintechs have demonstrated their capacity to produce these breakthroughs, Africans should not be required to pay service fees to these multinational corporations.

    According to norvanreports.com, she questioned, “Why can’t we design our own local and continental cards, cut the fees for our people, and also keep all of that money within the continent to fuel our growth.”

    “We have done it with mobile money, and I believe we can do it with e-payment and credit cards,” she said.

    The Minister made the call when she delivered a keynote address at the Ghana Canadian Diaspora Investment Summit in Toronto, Canada, organized by the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC) under the theme, “Grow in Ghana, grow with Ghana”.

    Ursula urged Africans to start exploring the digital world by pointing out that blockchain currencies may become quite ubiquitous in a few years, similar to how social media and the internet weren’t as widely used a few years ago.

    In a similar vein, she added, “cryptocurrencies, which are currently illegal, may very well become the norm many years from now.”

  • Huang should be held accountable for misleading Immigration with a “false” Ghanaian husband – Ablakwa

     

    Member of Parliament(MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has alleged the notorious galamsey queen, Aisha Huang illegally obtained a dubious male Ghanaian Passport which she used to mislead immigration officials to entrench her stay in Ghana.

    According to Ablakwa, the fiction about Aisha Huang being married to a Ghanaian is not the first time, as she’d made similar claims a decade ago when she deceived Ghanaian immigration authorities that she married a Ghanaian called Anthony Fabian at a 2007 wedding in China.

    The North Tongu lawmaker said he’s extremely disappointed in the prosecution that Huang has therefore not been charged with offences relating to her estranged husband, Anthony Fabian, describing it as a grand criminal enterprise.

    She used that alleged scheme to secure an indefinite permit from the Ghana Immigration Service, the MP said.

    ” It remains a mystery how she managed to obtain a Ghanaian male passport in the name of a ghostly Anthony Fabian with Passport Number: H2554456,” the lawmaker said in a Facebook post.

    He noted that court documents in his possession from her 2017 and 2018 aborted prosecution and other intercepted official records reveal that the Passport Office and the Foreign Ministry had absolutely no information about any application by the said Anthony Fabian for a Ghanaian passport. There was also no manual or biometric trace.

    Ghana’s Birth and Death Registry also has no record of anyone called Anthony Fabian

    Mr. Ablakwa claimed that when detectives insisted that she provide Anthony Fabian, Aisha claimed that her husband was a New York resident.
    PISCES (Personal Identification Secured Certified Evaluation System) system checks, however, produced a negative result.
    She gave security personnel a New York phone number, but it was never answered.
    She was also unable to give a legitimate New York address.

    The congressman further revealed that immigration records show that no Anthony Fabian has ever entered the country through the Kotoka International Airport or any other entry gateway that has been authorized by us.

    Pictures of Aisha’s Anthony Fabian (not the British film producer, writer, and director Anthony Fabian) don’t seem to exist, not even photos from their wedding.
    Since 2007, Anthony Fabian has remained a shrouded husband, according to the Facebook post.

     

  • Parents are urged to report incidences of rape and defilement

    In an effort to stop the practice from spreading throughout communities, parents have been urged to refuse any type of compensation or home settlement in defilement and rape cases.

    Before reporting the incident to the police or the hospital, they are also not to wash or clean the afflicted victim’s privacy.

    Such baths undermine prosecution evidence, according to Mrs. Eva Ankrah, Executive Director of the Human Rights Development Services (HURDS), who was speaking at a public awareness campaign in the Nkotompo and Essaman Communities.

    The outreach was part of efforts to address issues with reproductive health and the rising number of teenage pregnancies in the metropolis that made up the twin city for the Sustainable Partnership Project run by the STMA.

     Mrs. Eva Ankrah said defilement and rape resulting in teenage pregnancies only perpetuated the cycle of poverty in communities and among families and called for more parental and societal inclusiveness in addressing the problems.

    Mrs. Naomi Nsiaado, a Guidance and Counselling Officer of the Metropolitan Directorate of Education said interactions among school children revealed how parental neglect was driving many young people into child prostitution, gayism and drug abuse and the need for parents and society, in general, to stand up for these socially ill children.

    She reminded them of the consequences of teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and their toll on families.

    Mrs. Nsiaado urged parents to invest in prayers while stepping up disciplinary measures in the home.

    Some community members added to the call for more discipline and the need for parents to prevent their children from entering ghettos.

    Parents who willingly push their children into prostitution were also advised to find better alternative livelihoods for providing for the family.

    Others complained about the lack of decent jobs in their localities which have created avenues for spousal abuse, child prostitution and drug abuse as the antidote to their frustrations.

  • Spotify announces Ayra Starr as next RADAR Global Artist

    Ayra Starr is impossible to ignore. Born in Benin Republic, the 19-year-old was raised between its beach city, Cotonou and the cultural hub of Lagos, Nigeria.

    This mix of cultures inspires her global approach to music, art and life.

    She’s inspired by the regal earthiness of Angelique Kidjo, Rihanna’s feisty confidence, as well as 90s fashion icons, and the edgy aesthetic of emo-pop.

    Spotify announces Ayra Starr as next RADAR Global Artist

    Ayra describes her sound as Afrosoul, told in an intoxicating voice that evokes a Gen Z queen-in-waiting. Drawing from influences like classic Yoruba and Beninese music & artists like 2Face and Wande Coal, her music speaks for a generation of girls around the world who are finding themselves, united by angst and emojis.

    Her strength comes from a close-knit family of music lovers, including her brother with whom she often writes songs. This ingrained love of art also manifests in her interests; she enjoys risque television shows and has experience as a model.

    Spotify announces Ayra Starr as next RADAR Global Artist

    She announced herself to the world on January 22 with an eponymous 5-track EP, which produced the No.1 single, “Away” and spurred viral moments in the UK as well. But Ayra Starr’s moment will come months after releasing her debut studio album- 19 & Dangerous.

    The celestial being’s 2021 was replete with multiple number 1s, unprecedented cosigns, and organic virality- all crescendoing in a MOBO awards nomination in just under a year of unveiling.

    Spotify announces Ayra Starr as next RADAR Global Artist

    2022 has proceeded in similar style. Collaborating with multiple artists across the continent and featuring on two bestsellers with her label mates, Ayra continues on her upward trajectory.

    Already, Ayra Starr is the second most nominated artist at the Headies- Africa’s premier music awards, and has a BET nomination under her belt. With a strong opening statement and millions of fans waiting for her next move, Ayra Starr is giving black girls a new voice.

  • When I see Ghanaians here in UK, I falsely claim I don’t speak Twi – UK-based Ghanaian

    Ghanaian Nana Boadu Gyan, who lives in the UK, has admitted that he frequently poses as someone else when he meets other Ghanaians in England.

    According to Nana Gyan, who spoke on SVTV Africa, the Ghanaian community overseas is the “bedrock of many problems,” so he pretends.

    “Before coming here, you didn’t know anyone, but as soon as you arrive, people want to interject themselves in your business.
    When they learn something about you, it becomes a topic right away.

    I don’t think I’d want to be friends with a Ghanaian if I met them.
    I’ll help if you need it, but since I’ve been here, I haven’t visited a single Ghanaian,” said Mr. Gyan.

    Speaking about life in the UK, Mr. Gyan disclosed that he occasionally experiences depression, particularly when things don’t go as planned.
    In contrast to Ghana, he continued, they overwork themselves to pay their bills and rent.

    “There are moments when I feel upset because you’ve worked hard and may be hoping for a result in this amount of time, but it doesn’t happen that way.
    Although the competition here is tough, it helps you gain experience and strengthens your resolve, Nana continued.

  • It is astonishing that Mahama claims the Russia and Ukraine is not the root of Ghana’s difficulties – Majority leader

    Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the MP for Suame, expressed his confusion about former president John Dramani Mahama’s assertion that the country’s current problems are unrelated to the conflict in Russia and Ukraine.

    According to Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, Ghana was directly impacted by the Russia-Ukraine war by the drop in exports from Ukraine and indirectly by the war’s impact on the price of petroleum products.

    The conflict in Ukraine is having an impact on us since Ghana imports around 40% of its wheat and wheat flour from Ukraine.
    And the price of bread is costly because they are unable to export them to us.

    “The increase in the price of things we don’t export from Ukraine is because the price of petroleum products has increased due to the war. Because of the increase in the prices of petroleum products, the cost of transportation has also increased, which is affecting the prices of all other goods.

    “So, it is shocking to hear the former president say he does not see how the Russia-Ukraine war affects Ghana’s economy,” he said in Twi, in an interview with Hello FM, monitored by GhanaWeb.

    Former President Mahama recently berated the Director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, for attributing Ghana’s prevailing weak economic situation to the shocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.

    The remark made by the IMF chief, in Mr. Mahama’s opinion, ignores the fundamental truths underlying Ghana’s economic difficulties, which he attributes to poor management on the side of the Akufo-Addo-led administration.

    “While observing the custom in international diplomacy of speaking quietly is welcomed, statements made by high-ranking officials must be supported by evidence and take into account local circumstances and opinions.

    The former president stated, in a Facebook post seen by GhanaWeb, “The indisputable fact is that Ghana is in a shambles due to the terrible policies of this government, which have contributed immensely to the dire condition of affairs.”

  • There’s enough food – Association of Concerned Farmers

    The Association of Concerned Farmers has assured the general public that there is enough food in the country.

    This comes after the association embarked on an initiative dubbed; “identification of community challenges”, where they toured farming communities to engage farmers following complaints from the public about increasing prices of food in the country.

    “We want to assure the general public that there is enough food, they shouldn’t panic, there is more food and it is going to get cheap,” the president of the association, Nana Oboadea Boateng Bonsu II, said in a press conference in Accra.

    He also assured poultry farmers that there was enough grains such as maize and soya beans, which were key ingredients in poultry feed.

    “This very year, we had a bumper harvest and we are yet to get more. We even have plantains that are in the stage of getting rotten because when it gets to the market, people are not buying it in time so there is enough food in the system,” Nana Bonsu II added.

    Price hikes

    However, he said the current price hikes of food in the country was a result of middlemen and market women who wanted to make abnormal profits.

    “Even though the price of fuel is high, some of the prices, which some of our produce are being sold for in the market are shocking”, Nana Bonsu II added.

    He further explained that there were some individuals who deliberately purchased food from farmers with the ill intention of reselling it to market women for more money.
    Nana Bonsu II, however, stated that the association discovered that the transportation of foodstuffs from some areas of the country was difficult due to bad road networks.

    “The only challenge we are facing now is the transportation. There are some places that the road network is very bad, making conveying food from such places very hard.

    “But even with those areas, there are contractors working on it and all we’ll tell them is to do it quickly so that food will come to the cities for people to enjoy,” he added.

    Solution

    To remedy the situation, he called on the government, as a matter of urgency, to implement its truck system to eliminate middlemen in foodstuff trading.

    Nana Bonsu II explained that the system would be responsible for delivering food from the farm gates and farming communities directly to people in the cities and urban centres.

    Source: Graphiconline.com

  • Disney unveils first look at live-action ‘Little Mermaid’

    Look at this teaser, isn’t it neat?

    Disney’s “The Little Mermaid” is coming back to theaters next year, with Halle Bailey bringing a live-action Ariel to the big screen for the first time, and the studio unveiled a sneak peek at the new film at its D23 Expo.

    It’s short but oh so sweet, with a seconds-long glimpse at Ariel in action, singing some impressive notes from “Part of Your World.”

    &nbsp

    The film, directed by Rob Marshall, who has also helmed “Chicago” and “Mary Poppins Returns”, is being billed as a reimagining of the 1989 Oscar-winning animated musical classic.

    In addition to Bailey, a singer who has also appeared on Freeform’s “grown-ish,” the film features Daveed Diggs as the voice of Sebastian, Jacob Tremblay (“Luca,” “Room”) as the voice of Flounder and Awkwafina as the voice of Scuttle.

    “Little Mermaid” is set to hit theaters on May 26, 2023.

    Source: CNN

  • Sefwi Elubo: Chief and brother arrested for illegally mining under buildings

    A chief and his brother at Sefwi Elubo in the Western North Region have been arrested by the police for spearheading illegal mining in the area.

    They dug illegal mining pits one of which led to the bedroom of the chief’s brother.

    Nana Anini Baffour and his brother Kwadwo Affi were arrested on Friday, September 16, 2022.

    Six other suspects in connection with illegal mining in the town have been placed on the police wanted list.

    The arrest followed police investigations on a video shared on social media, depicting how illegal mining activities have affected some houses in the town.

    Four other deep dug-out pits have also been uncovered by the police in other houses in the same vicinity.

    Investigation has further revealed that the chief, his brother and the six other suspects who are on the run are the main people behind the illegal mining activities.

    “As investigation continues, we would like to assure the public that all those involved will be brought to face justice,” a police statement dated September 17, 2022, signed and issued by Police Director of Public Affairs, Chief Superintendent Grace Ansah-Akrofi said.


    Nana Anini Baffour and his brother Kwadwo Affi were arrested on Friday, September 16, 2022.

    Below is a copy of the police statement on the arrest

    SEFWI ELUBO CHIEF AND HIS BROTHER ARRESTED; SIX OTHERS BEING PURSUED IN CONNECTION WITH ILLEGAL MINING

    The Police, on September 16, 2022, arrested the chief of Sefwi Elubo and his brother and are pursuing six others in connection with illegal mining in Sefwi Elubo township in the Western North Region.

    The suspects, Nana Anini Baffour and his brother Kwadwo Affi were arrested following Police investigation of a video circulating on social media showing illegal mining activities in some compound houses of the town.

    Investigation has so far discovered dug-out pits from the compound leading to the bedroom of the chief’s brother.

    Four other deep dug-out pits have also been uncovered by the Police in other houses in the same vicinity. Investigation has further revealed that the chief, his brother and six other suspects who are on the run are the main people behind the illegal mining activities.

    As investigation continues, we would like to assure the public that all those involved will be brought to face justice.

  • Jumping castrated bulls in the Hamer ritual of marriage

    The Ethiopian Hamer tribe requires its eligible bachelors to succeed at a centuries-old custom of running over castrated bulls in order to find a bride.
    Each year, the bull jumping ceremony is observed from late September until the end of the grain harvest in October.

    The eldest child in the Hamer community must do this rite before any of his other siblings since it is expected that a successful candidate would be able to support the home and possess cattle.

    According to Aman Ethiopia, the initiation starts when a boy’s father gives him a piece of wood called a Boko.

    The young boy must find a girl who is supposed to kiss the Boko three times as a way of invoking blessings on him.

    The next assignment is for the young boy to pass by the house of relatives to invite them as spectators of his performance. Strips of bark are given to invited guests to countdown to the day of the ceremony.

    Among the cheering crowds on the day are young women who dress in traditional clothes, and adorn their hair with a special pomade made of butter and clay. The young boy’s hair is shaved and his body smeared with a kind of sand to cleanse him of his sins. The bulls are also smeared with substances to make them slippery.

    Guests at the passage ceremony are given locally brewed, sorghum-based alcoholic beverages.
    To win over the girl he chooses as his future wife, the young boy pays her a bride payment of 36 goats and 20 cows.

    If the youngster successfully jumps all the bulls, he will be introduced to the elders and single young men of both his family and the bride’s family.
    He receives a ring from each of the single men as a sign of their acceptance into their families and as a pledge of their allegiance.

    The youngster is then given a fair of a wild animal to wear around his neck as a symbol of his newly gained manhood to top it all off.

  • See the nationality with the most non-citizen Ghana cards (LIST)

    Of all the nationalities of foreigners permanently resident in Ghana, the Chinese are the nationality that possesses the highest number of non-citizen National Identity cards (Ghana card).

    In total, Chinese nationals have had 34,712 non-citizen Ghana cards issued to them, representing 22 per cent of the total 161,007 cards issued to citizens from 202 other foreign countries.

    The Executive Secretary of the National Identification Authority, Professor Kenneth Agyemang Attafuah, disclosed this last Friday at a press briefing in Accra to mark this year’s International Identity Day.

    The disclosure comes amid recent the controversy of Huang En, popularly known as, Aisha Huang, a Chinese citizen with a non-citizen Ghana card re-entering the country after her deportation in 2018 over alleged illegal mining.

    Nigerians constituted the second-largest group of foreign citizens with non-citizen Ghana cards with a total of 25,873 cards, while 20,110 bearers were citizens of India.

    Per the figures provided by NIA, the cards issued to Germans constituted 4,329; Lebanese, 4,324, United Kingdom (UK) nationals, 4,133; South Africans, 3,194; Ivorians, 2,150 and Gabonese, 1,958 cards.

    LIST

    Chinese – 34,712 cards
    Nigerians – 25,873 cards
    Indians – 20,110 cards
    Germans – 4,329 cards
    Lebanese – 4,324 cards
    British – 4,133 cards
    South Africans – 3,194 cards
    Ivorians – 2,150 cards
    Gabonese – 1,958 cards

    Providing an update on the number of cards issued in the country so far, Prof Attafuah said as of September 15, 2022, a total of 17,163,081 people had been enrolled on the NIA system, with 16,627,326 cards printed, and 15,869,026 cards issued.

    The Executive Secretary said the Authority had introduced a robust system to verify all cards of Ghanaians for the purpose of transacting businesses with banks and to verify non-citizens who would use the card to apply for or renew their residence permit, open or run a bank account in the country.

    He said the country would leave no chance in ensuring that the Ghana card became “the single source of proof,” noting that the Authority, since January 2021, introduced a verification system, which made banks authenticate individuals who used the card for various transactions.

    “With this verification system, if you go to the bank with or without your Ghana card, with your fingerprint, the bank is able to verify your identity as part of KYC (Know Your Customer) and give you a service,” Prof Attafuah noted.

    The Executive Secretary hinted that NIA would from November 2022 start the registration of Ghanaians abroad and embark on an exercise to register children in the country between the ages of four to 15 in December 2022.

    Meanwhile, registration for the card for refugees would start next week, Prof Attafuah said.

    He said continuous registration would also be carried out in all 16 designated regional and all 275 district offices of NIA.

    Source: Graphiconline.com

  • 212 female police officers pass out at Pwalugu Training School

    Some 212 female police recruits passed out at a colourful ceremony held at the Police Public Safety Training School (PPSTS) in Pwalugu in the Upper East Region.

    The all-female recruits, who formed the second batch of recruits from the school this year, were admitted to the Ghana Police Service as General Constables.

    The passing out parade coincided with the 70th-anniversary celebrations of Women Policing in the Ghana Police Service.

    During the six months of training, the recruits acquired skills in driving, riding, swimming, crowd control, incident and disaster.

    The rest were crime scene and traffic management, radio communication, intelligence gathering, and community-based patrols, among others.

    Dignitaries

    In attendance were the Director General, National Protection Directorate, Commissioner of Police (COP) Francis Ebenezer Doku and Director General, Research and Planning, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Dr Ernest Owusu.

    Also in attendance were the Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, Commanding Officer, 11 Mechanised Batallion of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF)in the region, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Mintah-Agyemang, Director of the PPSTS, Chief Superintendent Wilson Aniagyei as well as the Upper East Regional Police Commander, DCOP Daro Offei Lomotey.

    The recruits carried out drills in women in policing formation as well as adinkra symbols of loyalty and unity.

    Constable Jajing Emma Yenumah was adjudged as the best recruit in the nationwide Police recruits standardised examinations.

    For her prize, she received a baton of honour, cash worth GHC1,000 jointly sponsored by the Ghana Police Service and the State Insurance Company (SIC), Cover and an evidence decree book from the reviewing officer.

    Source: GNA

     

  • The Auditor General recovered disallowances worth GHC 2.2 billion out of GHC 4 billion

    According to the Auditor-General, GH2.2 billion of the GH4 billion in disallowances found in various governmental agencies have been recovered.

    Tax abnormalities accounted for GH1.6 billion of the entire amount recovered, followed by indebtedness (loans and advances) at GH420.31 million and cash irregularities at GH131.07 million.

    Contracts, payrolls, rent, and stores/procurement were used to recover the remaining funds, totaling GH13.60 million.

    According to sources on graphiconlin.com, the money was recovered after the Audit Service investigated expenditure irregularities at pre-university institutions, technical universities, public boards, ministries, departments, and agencies as well as the District Assemblies Common Fund.

    After holding a closed-door meeting with the Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in his office in Accra on Friday, Auditor-General Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu stated that a task force was established in May 2022 to follow up and ensure that all expenditures made in violation of the law and disallowed between 2017 and 2020 are recovered.

    He asserts that disallowed expenditures typically “lead to     the Auditor-General proposing recovery against persons, public authorities, and institutions that committed violations.”

    He claimed that this was distinct from surcharges, which required a different process and frequently ended up in court.

    Asiedu is quoted by graphiconline.com as saying, “An example is found under paragraph five of the Special Audit Report of the Auditor-General on Disallowance and Surcharge as of November 30, 2018, and issued on December 19, 2018. The service recovered GH67.32 million from public officers, people, and institutions who committed financial infractions while discharging their duties.

     

     

  • NPA locks three filling stations in Sunyani for cheating consumers

    The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has locked three filling stations for dispensing fuel less than the quantity the consumer pays for in Sunyani in the Bono Region.

    The stations are; Frimps oil at Penkwase, the Goil station near Eusbett hotel and Engen, all in the Sunyani township.

    In the case of Frimps, all the seven dispensing units functioning at the time of the visit were under-delivering whilst Goil and Engen had two and four of their nozzles under-delivering respectfully

    However, the NPA team observed that some of the nozzles at these filling stations were dispensing petroleum products more than what the consumer had paid for.

     

    The random exercise was undertaken after the team led by Kwadwo Odarno Appiah and Eunice Budu Nyarko, Bono Regional Manager and Consumer Services Manager respectively sensitized commercial drivers and traders at the Nana Bosoma market, popularly known as the Wednesday market in the Sunyani municipal area of the Bono Region.

    The Bono Regional Manager emphasized that the authority will continuously monitor the operations of fuel stations to ensure consumers have value for money and that the products sold are of good quality.

    He said the defaulting fuel stations are going to be sanctioned. The Authority will require a report on investigations carried out by the stations as to what caused the anomalies of the nozzles.

    He further cautioned fuel stations, after seizing two ramps to desist from the practice of using ramps and shaking vehicles during filling, adding that, is an unsafe practice that can cause unwarranted sparks and fire .”, The NPA will not hesitate to lock temporarily stations caught using ramps “, he hinted

    Source: citinewsroom

     

     

  • Let’s lessen the effect of COVID-19 on women-owned companies – BOG deputy Director

    Mrs. Clarrisa Kudowor, a Deputy Director at the Bank of Ghana (BoG), has urged business sector participants to work with the central bank to lessen the effects of COVID-19 on women-owned firms.

    The Bank supports an inclusive and robust financial system and economy since it benefits the entire country and encourages shared growth among all stakeholders.

    We must collaborate to create a more sustainable financial sector by empowering women to use their skills, she said.

    Mr Kuwodor made this call at a National Policy Dialogue organised by the Network for Women’s Rights in Ghana (NETRIGHT) in partnership with Graca Machel Trust in Accra.

    The event was on the theme, “Women’s Leadership for Financial inclusion and Economic Recovery.”

    The dialogue assessed the challenges women faced in the Micro Small Medium Enterprise (MSMEs) sector, which include difficulty in accessing loans and permits to set up businesses.

    Other challenges are that the Covid-19 pandemic slowed down progress and reinforced pre-existing gender inequalities.

    It also compounded structural and systemic barriers that made it difficult for women to easily access economic resources.

    These were because a higher percentage of women were in the informal sector and MSMEs, as compared to men, she said, adding that many women businesses had still not ‘resurrected’ from the effect of Covid-19.

    Mrs Kumawor observed that the Government’s Covid-19 Alleviation and Revitalisation of Entreprises programme introduced to support MSMEs affected by the Covid-19 benefitted more men than women, as it was not gender specific and created gaps in accessing loans.

    She advised women in business to leverage opportunities in the digital economy to grow their businesses.

    Mrs Patricia Blankson Akakpo, the Programme Manager,  NETRIGHT, said that the economic hardship hit by the pandemic were those where women were mostly found.

    She said Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals (Agenda 2030) prioritised gender equality and built inclusive economics.

    For the continents to realise these goals, she noted, women needed to be among the decision-makers and collective action from local to national, regional to global level.

    Ms Cyntia Sunu, Project Coordinator, NETRIGHT, said the three-year project was expected to support women’s leadership for digital financial inclusion in the various economic recovery strategies in Africa.

    It was designed to target the adoption by governments and multi-sectoral stakeholders in targeted African nations of a gender transformative financial inclusion and economic recovery framework.

    In addition to increasing political support, strengthening women’s leadership in financial inclusion, and enhancing the institutional capacity of GMT women’s networks in implementation countries, she claimed that the initiative would enable a greater representation of women in the COVID-19 economic recovery response task forces.

    According to Ms. Sunu, the project would also aid in the development and institutionalization of a group of African women leaders who would act as expert women leaders and network leaders, influencing policy decisions that supported women’s financial inclusion as a means of promoting inclusive economic recovery in Africa.

  • Tullow makes strides in first half of 2022

    The turnaround of Tullow has gained momentum in the first half of 2022, with solid production from our West African portfolio driving stronger financial performance, Rahul Dhir, Chief Executive Officer, Tullow Oil plc, has reported.

    Commenting on a half year report,Mr Dhir forecasted “Our drilling programme has been very efficient and at current performance levels, we will be able to deliver our planned programme of wells through next year with just one rig.”

    Dhir again said “We added material, un-hedged production in Ghana through the pre-emption of the Kosmos-Oxy deal and took over the Operations & Maintenance (O&M) of the Jubilee Floating, Production, Storage (FPSO) facility, to ensure that we can sustain the good operating performance and deliver further operating cost improvements.

    He said, gross production from the Jubilee field averaged 82,000 barrels of oil per day(kbopd) in the first half of the year, representing an increase of more than 15 percent, compared to the first half of 2021.

     

    This, he explained was due to good well and operational performance, which included the successful completion of the planned, biennial maintenance shutdown of the Jubilee FPSO in May.

    Dhir said “Full year net production guidance for Jubilee is 32 kbopd. Gross production from the TEN field averaged 24.3 kbopd in the first half of the year, in line with expectations.

    “Full year net production guidance for TEN is 13kbopd, with the expectation of an increase in production rates when the En21-P well comes on stream in the fourth quarter.”

    Giving details of the 2022 first half results summary, the Tullow Chief said, group working interest production for the first half of 2022 averaged 69,000 barrels of oil entitlement (kboepd), and that, Ghanaian drilling programme was ahead of schedule, having completed two previously drilled wells and drilled and completed another three wells.

    A further six wells are expected to be drilled and two of these completed by year-end, he added.

    Dhir said, operational delivery continued strong according FPSO uptime (Jubilee 95 percent and TEN 99 percent), gas export (averaging 90 million standard cubic feet per day ( mmscfd), and water injection (Jubilee about 170,000 barrels of water per day, (kbwpd) and TEN about 65 kbwpd).

    Reserves of 242 million barrels as of 30 June, was valued at $4.7 billion after hedging while revenue of $846 million was made with   realised oil price of $87 per barrel after hedging and gross profit of $620 million, he said, indicating that, profit after tax declared was $264 million, with underlying operating cash flow of $165 million.

    He reported that “Capital investment in the first half of 2022 was c.$156 million plus decommissioning costs of $29 million while net debt as of 30 June 2022 was $2.3 billion.

    Source; Ghanaian Times

  • In the past 25 years, Ghana’s exports to Canada have outweighed its imports – Yofi Grant

    Yofi Grant, the Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC), has stated that over the past 25 years, exports from Ghana to Canada have grown dramatically.

    He claims that from US$8.3 million in 1995 to US$72.2 million in 2020, Ghana’s exports to Canada, which include cocoa, rubber, processed fruits, nuts, and aluminum, rose at an annual rate of 9.51%.

    On the other side, significant imports into Ghana from Canada climbed by 8.97% during the same time period, including heat, automobiles, used clothing, excavators, and poultry.

    He called on Ghanaians in the diaspora to come back home and take advantage of the opportunities available.

    The GIPC boss was speaking at the opening of the Ghana Canada Investment Summit (GCIS) in Toronto Canada, on Thursday, September 15, 2022, according to norvanreports.com.

    “It is our belief that by the close of this summit all of you will feel attracted to the idea of coming back home not necessarily to stay but to help make Ghana stronger and better through strategic partnerships and long-term investments,” he is quoted by norvanreports.com.

    “Currently, the two-way merchandise statistics between Ghana and Canada has reached over US$475 million, representing a 71% increase over the figure recorded in 2020,” he said.

    Trade between the two nations is undoubtedly expanding, he continued.

    Regarding the reasons Ghana is a favorable place for business and investment, he pointed out that the nation is rich in resources like gold, manganese, bauxite, and even lithium, with agriculture serving as its backbone and fueling industrialization.

    He continued, “That is why we say come grow in Ghana – grow with Ghana.

  • I dropped out from UCC – Patoranking recounts hard times in Ghana

     Nigerian musician Patoranking has described his journey to Ghana in search of better opportunities.

    In an interview with Accra-based YFM, the ‘Abule’ singer disclosed that he travelled to Ghana at age of seventeen. Patoranking revealed that at that age he had to work to take care of himself, hence, he landed a job at Accra Mall.

    “I came to Ghana when I was 17 years and I used to be working at the Accra Mall,” he said without disclosing the exact job “. He added that “I also worked at a restaurant directly opposite Frankies at the time “.

    Detailing how tough life was for him at that time, the award-winning Nigerian artiste also disclosed that he gained admission to the University of Cape Coast (UCC). However, according to him, he dropped out because he couldn’t pay his school fees as an international student.

    Beyond this, Patoranking whose real name is Patrick Nnaemeka Okorie has become one of the young successful Nigerian musicians. He has churned out several hit songs and collaborated with top African acts like Sarkodie, Tiwa Savage, Timaya among others.

    His ‘Girlir O’ remix featuring Tiwa Savage remains one of his continental hit tracks. The song released in 2014 then debuted at No. 9 on MTV Base’s Official Naija Top 10 chart. Tiwa Savage told Ehiz of MTV Base that she admires Patoranking’s music and decided to reach out to him to do the remix.

    Source: myxyzonline

  • Civil Servants advised to support private sector to succeed

    The Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has advised civil servants to lend the required support to the private sector to grow.

    He, therefore, encouraged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to partner with the private sector to develop their local economy.

    “You need to create the enabling environment for the private sector to partner with local authorities to develop and sustain businesses,” he said.

    Mr Darko-Mensah was addressing public and civil servants in the Nzema-East and Ellembelle Districts as part of his three-day working tour of the Nzema area.

    The move, he noted, would help create jobs and reduce poverty through mobilisation of local, natural and human resources as well as value addition.

    The Western Regional Coordinating Director, Mr Frederick Agyemang, who accompanied the Regional Minister, advised Civil and Public Servants in the Western Region to maintain higher ethical standards in their work.

    He, therefore, warned civil servants who leak information to the public and the media to halt the practice.

    The Coordinating Director said the act was against the public service rule which every civil servant took an oath to protect and abide with.

    Mr Agyemang stated that the law would deal with those who flouted the civil service rule of confidentiality.

    He told them that as civil servants they were implementers of government flagship programmes, adding “so you do not have to deliberately fight against government policies and programmes”.

    He admonished the public servants to be punctual at work and ensure that they submitted their quarterly reports required of them to the Regional Coordinating Council on time.

    Source: GNA

  • PWDs call on government to expedite amendment of the Disability Act

    The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), has called on the Government to expedite the amendment of the Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715) to promote and protect the rights of PWDs in the country.

    According to the group, the law, in its current form, was fraught with inadequacies and did not conform to the dictates of the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), ratified by Ghana in 2012.

    The group is also unhappy about ill treatment meted out to persons with disabilities at various facilities in the country, hence, their call.

    Narrating the ordeals of these PWDs, Chairman of the group, Mr Alexander Bankole Williams, at a press conference held in Accra on Thursday said, “we have women with disability who go to seek sexual reproductive healthcare services when they are pregnant and are given wrong medications and the fetuses in their wombs are aborted simply because the doctors cannot communicate to them in accessible forms.”

    The Federation further argued that Act 715 did not have any provision on specific rights of children and women with disabilities or any relevant measures to deal with their issues.

    They said although Section 6 and 7 of the Act talked about accessibility to the built environment as well as goods and services, the law had no Legislative Instrument to spell out the details regarding how those rights ought to be accessed.

    “It has no detail on the specific right to life of persons with disability particularly in a country like Ghana where the lives of children are being taken away because they are born with certain categories of disabilities,” Mr Williams said.

    “Our lives are not worth living. It is too depressing to live as a person with Disability in Ghana,” he lamented.

    Act 715 was passed by Parliament on June 23, 2006 and received the assent of the President on August 9, 2006.

    The CRPD defines PWDs as people who have physical or sensory impairments that, when combined with other obstacles, prevent them from fully and effectively participating in society on an equal footing with others.

    In Ghana, PWDs form eight per cent translating to 2,098,138 of the population, according to the 2021 Population and Housing Census.

    The census data indicates that the percentage of the Ghanaian population over the age of 65 years is 3.14 per cent (approximately 967,000 people).

    Ms Mawunyo Yakor Dagbah, National President, GFD, said the Federation was available to provide technical support towards the re-enactment of Act 715.

    “The disability movement will not countenance any delays whatsoever so far as the process of the amendment is concerned as a simple review and subsequent amendment of Act 715 has taken over ten years to get to this point,” she said.

  • Richie reveals the main reason why Asem parted ways with Lynx Entertainment

    Music executive and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Lynx Entertainment, Richard Mensah, popularly known as Richie, has opened up on the actual reasons for which Ghanaian rapper Asem, parted ways with his outfit.

    In an exclusive interview with Caleb Nii Boye on 3FM, Richie explained that although initially, Lynx Entertainment had a healthy and productive relationship with Asem, Lynx Entertainment had to end their contract with the rapper because he had the intentions of establishing his own record label.

    Richie believes that this ambition by the rapper probably made him have divided attention.

    “Asem didn’t leave the label. We ended the contract because of where things had gotten to. I think it was evident he wanted to leave. He had started taking certain actions on his own. So, it was like so let’s just part ways,” he noted.

    Aside from Asem’s intention of starting his own record label, Richie revealed that, a financial misunderstanding between them and a rape allegation against the rapper hastened the end of their business journey.

    He said, “I remember when the news was about to break, somebody called me from the newspaper that was about to break it and said, guys, I just saw this article; it is too late to do anything about it but I am letting you guys know so that you would know how to handle it when it gets out tomorrow and everything, so we said okay, cool. So, we were waiting for the paper to come so we know how to respond. So, when the paper came, what shocked us was they had already interviewed him about it and he hadn’t told us anything about it. In his response, he said that he was going to leave it for his new management to handle.”

    Source: 3news

     

  • Photo of Shatta Bandle and his new bride takes over social media

    Shatta Bandle is officially off the single’s market,

    The dimunituve and social media star tied the knot with his baby mama whom he has two kids with, yesterday, September 17, 2022 in a grand ceremony.

     

    The couple who welcomed their second child last week, topped their celebration with the marriage celebration on a park in Tamale, in the Northern Region.

    Wearing a white Kaftan with gold designs, Shatta Bandle, who describes himself as billionaire, was seen with all smiles while sitting closely with his wife in a sofa at the ceremony.

    Some social media users and Ghanaian celebrities have since taken to social media to celebrate the newest couple Mr and Mrs Bandle.

    Source:Ghanaweb

  • 305 Police men arrive in Wa to beef up security

    Three hundred and five Policemen have arrived in Wa to beef up security in the municipality following the alleged killing or abduction of residents including private security personnel.

    Nine persons have allegedly been killed since February this year, with seven of them being private security men.

    On Friday, irate youth in Wa stormed the Wa Naa’s palace and later occupied the main Wa traffic light, blocking movement of vehicles for over an hour.

    Source;myjoyonline

    .

  • A retired BDR Officer calls for efficient registering of births and deaths

    A retired officer of the Birth and Death Registry (BDR) in the Bolgatanga Municipality of the Upper East Region says efficient registering of births and deaths is important for socio economic development of the country.

    Mr Somalia Mohammed said many people did not attach seriousness to registry of deaths until one required the certificate for the purpose of following up on benefits of a deceased family member.

    Mr Mohammed, speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga said there were instances when an orphan would have to proof the death of a parent before getting some assistance, and, therefore, families should not only start looking for one when such needs arise.

    He said the state was a key recipient of such data with regards to gathering information on some causes of deaths, adding, “Government needs to know the cause of certain ailments and deaths and that data can inform it to put in interventions to curb the incidents. The data would also help with timely statistics for planning purposes.”

    He suggested that populous municipalities and districts be sectionalised by the Births and Deaths Registry to help in the collation of such data especially in the case of Muslims who had to be buried immediately after death. The BDR officer or volunteer he said would be readily available in the community to help in accessing a burial permit.

    On birth registry, he stressed that births must first be registered even before death and all children zero to four years in Ghana should be registered.

    The BDR was established by Act 301 of 1965, and was replaced by Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 2020(Act 1027) within the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to handle and develop the births and deaths registration system in Ghana with core mandate to provide accurate timely and reliable information on all births and deaths accruing within Ghana through certification for socio economic development of the country.

    Mr Desmond Nana Amponsah, an Assistant Information Technology (IT) and Information Manager (IM) at the Bolgatanga Health Centre, said there had been improvement in the birth registry.

    The improvement achieved has been made possible through weekly sensitisation programmes at the ante-natal clinics.

    He noted that staff were always ready to make follow up to ensure the babies were registered and added that there were still challenges with deaths registration since communities in rural areas buried without permit.

    He said the Bolgatanga Municipal annual target for birth registration was 32,021 for 2022 and noted that 14,269 births had been registered by June.

    Among other challenges, the IT Officer mentioned rains disrupting operations especially when travelling to provide such services.

    A new app system he said had been developed in collating information on registered births, which he described as quicker and faster and urged families to register their babies when they are born.

    Source: GNA

  • Russia-Ukraine crisis and COVID-19 exacerbated Ghana’s economic problems – IMF

    Gerry Rice, the director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) communications department, has reiterated the devastating consequences of the worldwide pandemic COVID-19 and the crisis in Russia and Ukraine on Ghana’s economy and other economies across the world.

    He claims that many nations, like Ghana, have been put through more hardship because they were already at the mercy of the COVID-19 pandemic when the Russia-Ukraine crisis started.

    He is quoted by citinewsroom.com as saying, “I would say, as just to repeat, the war in Ukraine has triggered a global economic shock that’s hitting Ghana and, as I said, many other countries, and all at a time when, for many of these countries, their room for fiscal maneuver, if I could put it that way, is already extremely limited because they’ve used a lot of fiscal power already in the pandemic.”

    His remarks come after numerous Ghanaians, notably the former president John Mahama, disputed with claims made by the MD of the IMF that foreign causes were to blame for Ghana’s economic issues.

    Gerry Rice claims that the IMF has taken note of the difficulties that various nations are facing and is acting to hasten their recovery.

    And we’re well aware of it.
    And for that reason, as I stated at the outset, we are stepping up to assist nations where we can, and that includes Ghana,” he insisted.

    He said, “I don’t have a date for you, but [it will be] in the coming weeks.” When asked when Ghana should expect the anticipated $3 billion from the Bretton Woods organization, he stated, “I don’t have a date for you.”

     

  • Andre Ayew set to become Ghana’s most capped player

    Al Sadd star Andre Ayew is only three games away from becoming Ghana’s most capped player.

    The former Swansea City and West Ham midfielder is currently second, two behind current record holder Asamoah Gyan (109), and is set to catch his former teammate this month.

    Ghana will play pre-World Cup friendlies against Brazil and Nicaragua, and Ayew will play in both games as the Black Stars technical team approaches the game with seriousness.

    The two games will tie him with Gyan, but he will surpass the former Sunderland man before the World Cup starts, as the Black Stars have a friendly against Switzerland scheduled.

    Ayew made his 100th appearance for Ghana in November 2021, scoring the only goal against South Africa in a crucial World Cup qualifying match in Cape Coast.

     

     

     

    “It’s been an honour of a lifetime to play for my country and a blessing to be able to get 100 caps. Thanks to all players and coaches who have helped me all the way. Thanks also to the GFA and the Minister of Sports. God bless our homeland Ghana and make us Great and Strong,” said Ayew after the game.

    Ayew made his debut for Ghana as a teenager in 2007 and has worked his way up to captain the four-time African champions.

    Ayew has 23 goals to go along with his 106 appearances.

    With 10 goals, he is Ghana’s all-time leading scorer in the Africa Cup of Nations.

    Since his appointment as captain in 2019, Ayew has shown exemplary leadership that should be emulated.

    Source; Ghanasoccernet

  • We’ve put the plan to increase transportation costs by 30% on hold – Motorists

    The decision to increase transportation costs by 30% was made by the Concerned Drivers Association and was scheduled to take effect on September 21, 2022.

    This week, the Association and the True Drivers Union declared their intention to increase transportation costs by 30%.

    They asserted that the rise in fuel products, spare parts, and the government’s subpar economic management were the causes of the announced increase.

    The two groups further stated that “there is no choice but to raise our tickets in order to cover the rising costs of electricity, water, spare parts, meals, and pure water.”

    Because of the aforementioned problems, “we are unable to produce enough money to provide for our family and pay off our loans,” the unions claim.

    The anticipated increase has been put on hold, Paa Willie, the head of the Concerned Drivers, informed Nyankonton Mu Nsem.

  • 2022/23 Ghana Premier League: Week 2 Match Report- Accra Lions 2-1 Karela United

    Accra Lions secured their first win of the season after an impressive 2-1 victory over Karela United at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday.

    First half goals from Samuel Gyimah and Daniel Awuni and a second half consolation from Enock Agblenyo ensured the hosts grabbed all three points.

    Accra Lions after suffering defeat on the road against Kotoku Royals last week, started the game strongly and should have been up by two goals in the first ten minutes after Eric Okyere and Youssouf Simpara came close.

    Daniel Awuni pulled a save from Karela United goalkeeper Felix Kyei before Mohammed Shawkan fired from long range.

     

    Karela United troubled the defence of Accra Lions momentarily but just half way through the first half the home side will get the opener after Samuel Gyimah met a teasing cross from Baba Apiiga.

    Four minutes later, Accra Lions doubled their lead after a beautiful piece of play saw Daniel Awuni dummy a Karela defender and curl home for the second in the 27th minute.

    Salifu Baba Apiiga pulled a great save from Kyei from a neatly worked freekick before half time.

    After the break, Karela United coach Bismarck Kobby Mensah made three changes as he tried to get something out of the game.

    Second half substitute Enock Agblenyo pulled one back on the hour mark after moment of control from the visitors.

    Source: Ghanasoccernet

  • Users of MTN in the Eastern Region sometimes scale trees to make calls – Report

    Asuotwene, Asikesu, Mepom, and neighboring residents in the Upper West Akim District of the Eastern Region have voiced complaints about the subpar MTN network.

    Residents, the bulk of whom use MTN, reported to Nyankonton Mu Nsem Prince Collins Bening that the bad network prevents them from placing calls or sending messages.

    They assert that in order to make phone calls, they are need to climb trees or travel great distances.

    Salisu Ibrahim, a local assemblyman, claimed that the majority of Asikesu township inhabitants switched their sim cards to MTN in gratitude for the establishment of a school nearby.

    He stated that they chose to use the network to demonstrate their thanks because MTN saved them from a death trap in the old building.

    He has therefore requested that the government and network take action to resolve the network issue.

    While this is going on, inhabitants of Abore Township are unhappy with their network and the absence of electricity.

    The condition they bemoaned is having an impact on their living and academic achievement because they lack access to light for studying.

  • Police arrest chief of Sefwi Elubo and brother over ‘galamsey’ activities

    The Ghana Police Service says it has arrested the chief of Sefwi Elubo and his brother “in connection with illegal mining”.

    In a statement dated September 17, the Police said, the arrest was made on Friday, September 16, in the Sefwi Elubo township in the Western Region.

    According to the Police, it is also pursuing six other people in connection with illegal mining activities in the area.

    “The suspects, Nana Anini Baffour and his brother Kwadwo Affi were arrested following Police investigation of a video circulating on social media showing illegal mining activities in some compound houses of the town.

    Investigation has so far discovered dug-out pits from the compound leading to the bedroom of the chief’s brother”, the statement added.

    Police arrest chief of Sefwi Elubo and brother over 'galamsey' activities
    The statement from the Ghana Police Service on the arrest of the chief of Sefwi Elubo and his brother

    In the release, which was signed by Director of Public Affairs, Grace Ansah-Akrofi, the Police further indicated that, “Four other deep dug-out pits have also been uncovered by the Police in other houses in the same vicinity”.

    The arrest of the traditional leader comes at a time when there are widespread concerns about the involvement of chiefs in the illicit act.

    Following the re-emergence of galamsey kingpin, Aisha Huang, some citizens have accused traditional leaders of being complicit in the act.

    According to them, some traditional leaders conspire with illegal miners and give them lands to facilitate their mining activities.

    In the wake of these developments, government has reaffirmed its commitment to dealing with the menace,and bringing all perpetrators to book.

    Meanwhile, regarding the arrest of the chief of Sefwi Elubo, the Police said, “Investigation has further revealed that the chief, his brother and six other suspects who are on the run are the main people behind the illegal mining activities”

    “As investigation continues, we would like to assure the public that all those involved will be brought to face justice”, the statement concluded.

    Source:myjoyonline

     

  • Shops at the renovated Kumasi Central Market are now not for sale – Mayor

    Sam Pyne, the mayor of the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), has informed Ghanaians living abroad that the stores in the Kumasi Central Market’s ongoing reconstruction project are not now up for sale, according to Purefmonline.com.

    The Central Market’s construction is 45% complete, according to the mayor who is working with the USA to entice investors back to the “Garden City” while speaking to a group of Ghanaians in Dallas.

    The market would be turned over to the Assembly for further redistribution to its rightful owners after completion, the KMA Chief Executive said while explaining the current status of the market’s reconstruction to the assembled people.
    After the conclusion of, the surplus shops will only be offered for sale to interested parties and the general public.

    “No one should be deceived that the shops at the Kumasi Central Market which is at 45% completion stage are for sale.

    KMA has no price tag on any of the shops.

    Upon completion, the Assembly will take possession of it and duly deliver them back to the rightful owners. No figure will be allowed to take advantage of the outcome neither will rightful owners be cheated in the process. As your Mayor, I won’t sit back for that to happen.

    We will only begin to sell the excess shops when we are satisfied that every rightful owner who has been relocated for the purposes of this redevelopment exercise has duly been given back his or her shop.” The KMA Boss assured when a Ghanaian resident in Dallas posed a question to him, expressing concern on how traders who have been temporarily relocated will have access to their shops.

    He also charged the Ghanaian residents in the USA and other stakeholders at the gathering to cease the opportunity to return and invest home as the Government through its industrialization drive has made it possible for businesses to thrive by providing various incentives and reliefs packages.

    The KMA Boss talked about the numerous business opportunities associated to the Kumasi International Airport which is near completion and the Boankra Inland Port development.

    “More recreational facilities should be built to accommodate the numerous visitors that will throng into the city on the back of Government’s ongoing transformational agenda in the city.

    “The President Akufo-Addo Government despite the challenges Covid-19 virus and the Russia-Ukraine war brought has still been able to make the economy business friendly.

    “I urge you all to come on board because the Government has made it easier for investors to thrive and get returns on their investments. We need your contribution now more than ever as the Government continues to play its role efficiently.” He stated.

    In ending his engagement, Hon. Sam Pyne hinted to the Ghanaian diaspora that plans have been advanced to redevelop other satellite markets in the Metropolis beginning with the Krofrom Market soon.

    The KMA Chief Executive is in the United States on an official tour, among other things to look for support for the investigation of innovative methods and technologies to enhance the sanitation condition in the Kumasi Metropolis and draw in business investors.

    He recently had a meeting with the Mayor of Dallas, Eric Johnson, who assured him that Kumasi and Dallas would work together as sister cities to promote growth and the arts.

    Four different private companies in the USA have already expressed interest in transforming the Amakom Children Park into a suitable amusement area as a result of the KMA Mayor’s engagement in the USA.

  • Using military to fight galamsey will not solve the problem – US-based mining consultant

    A Ghanaian mining consultant residing in the US, Dr. Solomon Owusu has criticized the use of the military to stop illegal mining in Ghana.

    He claims that the strategy is rudimentary and fails to address the core issue of “galamsey.”

    Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, he told host, Samson Lardy Anyenini that the menace of ‘galamsey’ has become a challenge because of the absence of strict standard operating procedures to regulate the activities of miners.

    Dr. Owusu noted the lack of these procedures compel miners to use arbitrary means of mineral extraction, leading to to the associated damage to the environment.

    He therefore called on stakeholders within the industry to tighten the laws on illegal mining, instead of resorting to the use of the military to address the challenge.

    “Using the military approach will not solve the problem. They need technical inputs and after getting the technical inputs to ensure that right standard operating procedures have been developed for them to follow, then monitoring and law enforcement follows.

    But using the military to get rid of the illegal miners, what about the licensed small scale miners who are also polluting [the water bodies] and degrading it?”, he stressed.

    He nonetheless praised the Akufo-Addo regime for the enhanced efforts in eradicating ‘galamsey’ in Ghana.

    The comments by the mining consultant adds to the various recommendations from stakeholders on how to deal decisively with the menace.

    In a related development, the Managing Director of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Dr. Clifford Braimah, has also advocated the involvement of the Water Resources Commission in the fight against illegal mining in Ghana.

    According to him, this will strengthen the inter-agency efforts being employed to deal with the menace.

    Adding his voice on NewsFileon Saturday, he explained that, the Water Resources Commission is a critical agency, whose mandate cannot be ignored if the fight against ‘galamsey’ will succeed.

    He however noted that the Commission is currently under-resourced, hence the need for it to be retooled.

    Over the last couple of weeks, the menace of ‘galamsey’ has been on the front burner, following the re-arrest of galamsey kingpin, Aisha Huang.

    The Chinese lady, who was reportedly deported from Ghana in 2018, was rearrested in Kumasi on September 5.

    Subsequently, her latest arrest rekindled the conversation about illegal mining and the complicity of government officials in the act.

    But reacting to these rife allegations, government has consistently debunked them, insisting that it is committed to dealing with the menace.

    Meanwhile, the ‘galamsey’ queen, Aisha Huang, is currently in prison custody, after she and her accomplices were denied bail on Thursday, September 15.

    They will however appear again in court on September 27.

    Source: myjoyonline

     

  • Forty under 40 Awards: 137 nominees shortlisted for 2022 edition

    Xodus Communications Limited, the organizers of Forty Under 40 Awards and other prestigious Awards on the continent have officially shortlisted 137 finalists out of 265 entries that were submitted for the 6th edition slated for 1st October 2022 at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel in Accra.

    The nominees have been carefully scrutinized under the supervision of the Jury.

    The Awards scheme in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture seek to identify, honour and celebrate a cross-section of the nation’s most influential and accomplished young business leaders under the age of 40 from a wide range of industries.

    Addressing the media at the just-ended press conference, Chief Executive Officer of Xodus Communications Ltd, Richard Abbey Junior said, it is astonishing to see the great competition from the list of entries they received from different parts of the country

    According to him, the selection process requires some significant achievements with some degree of evidence from the nominator or the nominee in person.

    ” I am very surprised personally about the keen competition from the lists of entries we received this year. Our major focus is based on eligibility and I can confidently say that the 137 finalists are duly qualified “, he said.

    The Forty Under 40 Awards categories covers a wide range of all the various sectors you can think of, ranging from banking and finance, energy, family business, agriculture, theatre and arts, journalism, fashion, law, sports, event management, health, technology and innovation amongst others.


     

    These are the nominees for 2022.

    1. AGRICULTURE AND AGRO PROCESSING

    DENNIS ABABIO JNR – MODERN FAMILY COMPANY LIMITED
    KENNETH KOFI KUMAH – L&J FARMS
    TWENE EMMANUEL – QET ORGANIC FARMS AND CONSULT
    MAUDESTER SERWAAH ASUBONTENG – LINISE COMPANY
    ALICE FRIMPOMAA-BOATENG – AFB GOLDEN ENTERPRISE
    KINGSLEY ANSONG – ELEFANTE FARMS

    2. ARCHITECTURE/INTERIOR

    AMINU IDDRISU – ABUYA AND SONS CONSTRUCTIONS LTD
    EUNICE AGYEI YEBOAH – NELZ DECOR HOMES

    3. AUTHORSHIP AND CREATIVE WRITING
    DR. MATHIAS EDOR – MATHIAS EDOR MINISTRIES
    BERNARD KELVIN CLIVE – BKC CONSULT
    DELASSIE DOGBEY – AUTHOR/ GHOSTWRITER

    4. BEAUTY AND LIFESTYLE

    GRACELYN BEAUTY ASANTE – PERRONI BEAUTY ORGANICS
    VALERIE LAWSON MARFO – CVL BEAUTY
    GENEVIEVE DONKOR – LADY GEE KOSMETICS
    TRUDY BOATENG – STUDIO 7 BEAUTY LOUNGE
    SHULAMMITE OFORI-DANSO – LDSIGNATURE SPA AND BEAUTY CLINIC
    GLADYS COBBINA – SHEENAH NATURALS (GLENDYCOB ENTERPRISE)
    HILDA ELIKPLIM AKOSUA AKURA – ELIZMAKEOVER
    JOSEPH CLAUDER – JAYCLAUDBEAUTY
    SHARON ACHEAMPONG – EYA NATURALS LTD

    5. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

    MAMA DZIDOASI – DZIDOASI FOUNDATION
    ABDULLAI TANKO – SINKA GLOBAL ORGANIZATION
    JAMES BABA SALIFU – CONTEMPORARY RESEARCH BUREAU

    6. CONSULTANCY AND PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

    AJ WILLZ – AJ WILLZ MEDIA
    ISHMAEL KODZOKPO – JIK MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY
    KUUKUA ADAMS – CLAY GROUP
    BLESSED AGYEMANG – HERRADA LIMITED
    FELIX ATSRIM – FEDEMS LTD

    7. EDUCATION

    FELIX APPIAH – PMC MEDIA
    HANNAH BAIDOO- DEDZI – INTERNATINAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE
    LAURA ETEMAH – ANAMI MUSIC SCHOOL
    ZAINA ADAMU – GHANA GIRL RISING
    RALITSA DIANA DEBRAH – YOUNG DESIGNERS CIRCLE (YDC)
    FAITH AKU SENYO – THE REBRANDED LADY
    MARIAN MANSO – MANSOIMA
    NAOMI ADJEPONG – ALPHA BETA SCHOOL

    8. ENERGY/OIL AND GAS

    DAVID JONES MENSAH – DOMINION PETROLEUM
    SAMUEL DUBIK MAHAMA – ELECTRICITY COMPANY OF GHANA LIMITED

    9. EVENT MANAGEMENT / PLANNING

    ABDUL-LATIF ALHASSAN – CELEBRITIES CHARITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
    ESTHER BAIDOO – ESTARON BALLOONS
    BRYAN TACHIE-MENSON – WHITE CHALK
    ANN BOAKYE – ANNIETHEPLANNER
    RICHMOND AMOFA – SARPONG – CROSSMARK MARKETING
    PAULINE FLEMING ADJEI – PEF EVENTS AND TOURS
    CATHERINE SAKYI – CRYSTAL HAZE EVENTS AND DÉCOR

    10. ENVIRONMENTAL & CLIMATE SUSTAINABILITY

    SENAM TENGEY – ZOOMPAK GHANA LIMITED
    LOUISE CAROL SERWAA DONKOR – NATIONAL ALTERNATIVE EMPLOYMENT AND LIVELIHOOD FOR ILLEGAL MINERS
    BERNARD DANSO NTOW – DANSWORLD INTERNATIONAL SERVICES LIMITED
    KWAKU OSEI-SARPONG – RIFE INTERNATIONAL

    11. FOOD /CATERING AND BEVERAGE

    ABENA KORANTEMA SEKYIAMA – CLEANEATS COMPANY LIMITED
    RITA OSEI OWUSU – SAVOUR PARADISE
    MICHAEL NANDOMAH MENSAH – ROYAL GATE HOSPITALITY
    CHRISTIANA DANKWAH – KRIS FOODBANK
    PATRICK DAVORO – MENSCOOK CATERING & LOGISTICS LTD
    BRENDA MABEL KROFAH – COCKTAILS & ESSENTIALS GH
    SORAYA MENSAH – ZESUZA CATERING

    12. FASHION

    ABEL AKAGLA – REVE COUTURE
    DAVID ODEI – COLONY GHANA
    FRANCIS KOFI KORSAH – K.K. ULTIMATE CREATIONS
    PRINCE BOAMAH – FEAR NO MAN CLOTHING
    SELINA ASHIAGBOR – STEPLINE KLODIN LTD
    JOSEPH AGGREY COBBINA – SMULLY WEAR
    GIDEON DENDZO – GIDDINS INNOVE
    LESLEY AIDOO MENSAH – AFRA K FASHION SCHOOL, MEROS FASHION HOUSE AND TRUST BOX NANNY AGENCY
    EDZORDZINAM AGROSAH – BLOOM BY EDZI
    HILDA ELIKEM VEOGBORLO AMEEN – HILLY’S BRIDAL CLOSET & BOUTIQUE
    SELORM AFORLA – LAKOPUÉ
    FREDALINE ASIEDU – FASHION VAULT COMPANY LIMITED

    13. FAMILY BUSINESS

    AMINU IDDRISU – ABUYA AND SONS CONSTRUCTIONS LTD
    EMMANUELLA UKOHA – THE GELE CENTER
    KWAKU KORANTENG SASU – TRANS-SAS TRADING & MANUFACTURING CO. TD
    DEIDRE MAKIN-TETTEH – THE TETTEHS LITTLE BABY BOUTIQUE

    14. HEALTH AND WELLNESS

    ERIC MISIAME – MEDGLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED COMPANY
    MARCELLA TAY – PRISTINE HEALTH AND WELLNESS HUB LTD
    JASON NANA YAW MOHAN – UNICHEM GHANA GROUP
    VANESSA ASHUN SHAARANI – IMANI PHARMA LIMITED
    ELIKEM TAMAKLO – NYAHO HEALTHCARE LIMITED

    15. HUMAN RESOURCE AND DEVELOPMENT

    WILLIAM OKYERE-FREMPONG – LEKMA POLYCLINIC
    SHAMIM NSUBUGA – STRATEGIC AND AGILE LTD

    16. HOSPITALITY

    ROSALINE ABIGAIL KYERE NARTEY – SWISS EDUCATION GROUP
    EDMOND AHADOME – ADOMI GROUP
    ERIC EDUAM – CLEANGOOD SERVICES LIMITED

    17. INVESTMENT AND FINANCE

    JAMES KORSAH-BROWN – ASTUTE FINANCIAL ADVISORY LIMITED
    NANA AGYEI OPOKU-AGYEMANG – BLACKSTAR BROKERAGE LIMITED
    MICHAEL KWESI OFORI – INVESTOR HUB LTD

    18. INSURANCE

    JUSTICE PEPRAH AGYEI – NATIONAL INSURANCE COMMISSION
    SETSOAFIA-TUPKEYI GODWIN FAFALI – APEX HEALTH INSURANCE LIMITED

    19. JOURNALISM (RADIO / TV / NEWSPAPER)

    MAXBEL COLEMAN – MAXBEL CONSULT
    DR AMANKWAA AGYEMAN – ROYAL TV

    20. LOGISTICS AND SUPPLIES

    REBECCA OSEI BONSU – ROBA LOGISTICS/ADVANTAGE COMPANY
    HANNAH BOAHEMAA OTU – JOSPONG GROUP OF COMPANIES
    PETER KUNTU-BLANKSON – PORTMASTERS LIMITED

    21. MANUFACTURING

    RICHMOND FRIMPONG – DAWA INDUSTRIAL ZONE
    ROBERT OWUSU ANSAH – PRAK INDUSTRIES
    DAVID AZIAGO – DAVIDA ROOFING CO. LTD
    OHENE ASIEDU – GOLDPOT PRODUCTION ENTERPRISE
    PHILIPPA DARFOUR – DV UNLIMITED CO LTD

    22. MEDIA (DIGITAL AND SOCIAL)

    HASSANA AMELEY SAMPAH – OVERFLOW PRODUCTION
    BENJAMIN ARTHUR – LIME & HONEY
    PANKA ABUBAKARI SEDIQ – PANKA ARTSTUDIO
    FELIX OPPONG AMOAKO – ISEL MEDIA
    DELLASIE ANING – PANALOVE, LLC

    23. MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT

    BENJAMIN GARZY MENSAH – 2MG MUSIC
    JOE METTLE – REVERB STUDIOS
    DESMOND BLACKMORE (D-BLACK) – BLACK AVENUE MUZIK & LIVEWIRE EVENTS
    BISMARK KWAME BAAH – YVE DIGITAL

    24. MINING AND NATURAL RESOURCES

    NANA JUKWA SOMEAH-KWAW – HEXAGON MINING

    25. MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS

    PRINCE DANIELS – LUXXIS COMMUNICATIONS
    NANA YAA SERWAA SARPONG – ELOHAY GROUP
    MICHEAL NYANDE – UPSALES DIGITAL MARKETING COMPANY

    26. PRINTING / PRESS AND PUBLISHING

    MAAME YAA DUFIE – COLOUR DROP IMPRESSION

    27. PHILANTHROPY AND CHARITY

    ESTHER TIBILA – DISABILITY NOT INABILITY (DNI) FOUNDATION
    FAITH AKU SENYO – THE REBRANDED LADY
    NAA KUORKOR MAYNE-EGHAN – JAY FOUNDATION
    HENRITTA SOMUAH – TOUCHING LIVES OUTREACH INTERNATIONAL

    28. REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT / CONSTRUCTION

    IBRAHIM SANI -SANI GROUP
    CHRISTOPHER OHENE KWAME NUAMAH – HOME SAFETRUST GH
    CHARLES TETTEH QUAO – QUAO REALTY
    BEATRICE JASMIN KOTOKU – MAGNUSENS LIMITED

    29. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION

    YAW BEDIAKO – YEMAACHI BIOTECH
    RANSFORD MENSAH – CERTIFIED GHANA
    FOSTER AWINTITI AKUGRI – HACKLAB FOUNDATION

    30. SPORTS

    GIFTY OWARE-MENSAH – BERRY LADIES FOOTBALL CLUB
    YVONNE BRUCE TAGOE – GHANA TENNIS FEDERATION
    MOHAMMED OSMAN NKOSI – TITANS OF AFRICA

    31. SHIPPING AND MARITIME
    ALBERT DERRICK FIATUI – CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL MARITIME AFFAIRS, GHANA
    EDNA KESSE – CONTINENTAL AFRICAN LINE LTD

    32. SOCIAL ENTERPRISE

    KELVIN ATUGUBA – TEN GHANA FOUNDATION
    ENO QUAGRAINE – TALKATIVE MOM LTD
    KWABENA OFORI-NTOW – STANDARD WEAVE
    JACQUELINE OYIMER – STAR WOMEN

    33. THEATRE AND ARTS

    NANA FREDUA-AGYEMAN JNR – KILBURN LIMITED
    FREDRICK OWUSU NYARKO- ANCESTRAL FOUNDATION
    HABIBA SINARE – YASEEN FILMS

    34. TRANSPORT / AUTOMOBILE

    ADWOA FRIMPOMAA NIMAKO- BOATENG – JA PLANT POOL/SA XAUTOMOBILE
    MICHAEL OSEI – TSGDRIVE TRANSPORT AND LOGISTICS

    35. TELECOM AND MOBILE / SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT

    HENRY MENSAH-HEIRSMAC JNR – OFFICE DATA GHANA
    DELALI ANKU-ADIAMAH – WAYAMONEY
    EYRAM TAWIA – LETI ARTS

  • Burna Boy reveals the epic story behind his name

    Nigerian superstar and Afrobeat singer, Damini Ebunoluwa Ogulu, professionally known as Burna Boy has finally disclosed how he got his stage name, Burna Boy.

    Speaking with Jimmy Fallon on the Tonight Show in the United States of America, Burna Boy revealed that, as a child, he was a fan of comic books and comic characters, he used to draw superheroes from comic movies.

    However, he always fantasized about owning a superhero character of his own.

    According to him, after finally drawing a superhero character, he could not think of any other name for the character but Burna Boy.


     

     

    “This is weird but I used to draw comic books, I know I don’t look like it but I used to draw comic books and copy like different [characters] like Spiderman, Superman, and I would just draw it,” he went on adding, “And then at a point, I wanted my own,” he narrated.

    Burna boy continued to say, “I wanted to be my own superhero where I could draw me as a superhero, with a cape and all that, so I was trying to come up with a name and all I could think of was Burna Boy.”

    Talking about his journey as a musician, Burna Boy indicated that he began singing and composing songs when he was just two years old.

    According to him, the first song he wrote was called ‘jump’.

    “It’s like I could always make music and I could always find my way around music; I remember it was called Jump and I said jump a bunch of times,” he explained.

    Source;Ghanaweb

     

  • Joseph Paintsil to miss KRC Genk home clash with Gent

    Wouter Vrancken, the manager of KRC Genk, has stated that winger Joseph Paintsil won’t play in their home matchup versus Gent.

    Paintsil has been on impressive form for the Belgian club scoring four goals with two assists after eight matches played.

    However, Vrancken speaking ahead of the game on Sunday confirmed the former Tema Youth star will be out of the game due to an injury.

    “As far as Joseph Paintsil is concerned, he won’t be absent for very long,” Wouter Vrancken told Het Laatste Nieuws.

    “He indicates that it ions going well and the international break is coming. So that brings extra peace of mind.”

    Having missed out of the Black Stars squad for the pre-World Cup friendly games against Brazil and Nicaragua later this month, Paintsil is expected to fight to earn a call up for the Mundial scheduled to be hosted in Qatar from November 20 to December 18.

    Paintsil’s market value is estimated at 3.5 million euros.

    Source: FootballGhana

  • Inaki, Nico Williams score in same match after 42 games together

    The Williams brothers made history on Saturday, September 17, when they both found the back of the net for their club side, Atletico Bilbao in the Spanish La Liga.

    Inaki hit the back of the net on the 14th minute mark before Nico registered his goal on the three minutes after the half-hour mark.

    It is the first time both brothers have scored in a game despite having featured together in 42 La Liga games.


    Bilbao went on to win the fixture against Rayo Vallencano by three goals to two.

    Inaki Williams is in line to make his debut with the Black Stars during this international break whiles Nico Williams also got his first callup for the Spanish senior national side, the La Rojas.

    Watch the goals by the brothers below:

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Chief Imam cuts sod for construction of new foam manufacturing factory

    The National Chief Imam, Shiekh Nuhu Sharubutu, yesterday cut the sod for the construction of the Kabore Fire Aqeous Foam Compound Technologies, a foam concentrate manufacturing factory.

    The project, located at Nsawam, Eastern Region is the first of its kind in the West Africa sub-region.

    Expected to be completed in 14 months, the project would focus on the production of foam concentrates for the purpose of fire extinguishing.

    Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Kabore Group of Companies (KGC), Alhaji Bukari Hamidu Kabore said the factory, when completed would serve the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the country’s Oil and Gas industry, the marine and aviation sector and the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) amongst others.

    He said the country must not continue to solely rely on importation for important emergency substances like foam concentrates, adding that “upon the completion of this factory we can serve ourselves anytime anywhere.”

     

    Touching on the high global demand for foam, he indicated that the global firefighting foam industry was pegged at $856.3 million dollars as at 2019 and was projected to reach $1.14billion dollars in 2027 with a growth rate of 4 per cent for 2020 to 2027.

    He bemoaned that unfortunately, African countries had the lowest growth in the usage of foam with Asia and South America being the highest.

    The slow growth in Africa, he said, had been attributed to the unavailability of foam producing companies on the African market, adding that the factory, when finished would contribute immensely in bridging the continental foam deficit.

    Alhaji Kabore said, “We are very delighted because this factory coincides with government’s agenda of industrialisation.”

    On his part, the Chief Fire Officer, Julius Kuunuor, assured management of the KGC of his outfit’s preparedness to support in the training of fire wardens for the factory.

    He also commended the company for their immense contribution towards the reduction of unemployment among the youth in the country.

    He said the factory, when completed would go a long way in saving the country millions of dollars used for the importation of firefighting materials.

    Source; Ghanaian Times

  • The Youth lack relevant skills to land jobs – YEA

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), Mr. Kofi Agyepong, claims that the high rate of youth unemployment in Ghana is caused by a shortage of qualified workers who can fill open positions.

    To that effect, he said, the youth were losing out on jobs, especially in the artisanal sector to artisans from neighbouring countries.

    “You want the best of masons to put up a building for you, you want the best of P.O.P done for you in your house, you want the best of plumbers to fix your pipes, and even painting, and you are directed to artisans from Togo because they deliver the best of these services,” he said.

    Mr Agyepong has, therefore, called for a change in the pattern of investments to ensure that more resources go into enhancing the technical and vocational skills “that will stay with our youth forever.”

    Speaking at the 2022 Job Fair in Sunyani, he said the situation was so dire that he doubted the capacity of the YEA to find young competent technicians in large numbers to fill up job vacancies that may be available.

     

    “I have been asking myself since I took over the agency if Tullow Ghana Limited asks me to supply them with 200 trained and certified electricians today, will I be able to provide them? If AngloGold Ashanti requests YEA to provide them with 500 trained and certified industrial machine engineers, will I be able to provide them?

    “If the Ghana Water Company requests 100 trained and certified plumbers for employment today, can I provide them?” he said.

    MrAgyapong commended the Ghanaian-German Centre for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration (GCC) together with the GIZ, who through the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development has organised the fair.

    He further commended the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations for their continuous support in reducing the unemployment rate in the country.

    The CEO also urged young job seekers, while being relentless in their job hunt, to continuously upgrade their skills as they aspire to achieve their dreams.

    “Take every advantage of the fair and reach out to as many employers as you can. I entreat you to treat this event as just what it is: a job fair, not some sort of funfair,” he added.

    Source: Ghanaiantimes

  • CSA urges Ghanaians to be cybersecurity conscious

    The country’s cybersecurity regulator, the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), has urged Ghanaians to be aware of cybersecurity issues in light of recent worldwide cyber incidents that have had a severe impact on people, businesses, and other essential information infrastructure.

    Speaking at the media launch of the National Cybersecurity Awareness Month in Accra on Wednesday, September 14, 2022, the acting Director General of the Authority, Dr. Albert Antwi-Boasiako, said with the advancement in modern technology and the wide use of the internet, cybercriminals have leveraged the benefits of the internet to carry out their activities more covertly, thereby causing harm to individuals and businesses in the cruellest manner.

    “While digitalisation is bringing remarkable economic and societal benefits to majority of the global population, it is worth noting that these technologies, irrespective of the opportunities they create, have inherent risks such that when taken advantage of by cybercriminals, could have detrimental effects on individuals, enterprises, societies, and nations at large.

    “Studies have shown that, an increasing reliance on the Internet has created more risks and vulnerabilities and opened up new possibilities for criminal activity. The Global Risks Reports 2022 indicates that cybersecurity threats are growing; malware and ransomware attacks increased by 358% and 435% respectively in 2020. The report also ranked cyber-attacks as the seventh most likely and eighth most impactful risk facing businesses globally,” Dr. Antwi-Boasiako said.


    He said the rise in cybercrimes globally has led the Authority to intensify public awareness and enhance public-private sector understanding of cybersecurity regulations, hence, the reason behind its National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM).

    The NCSAM, institutionalized in October 2018 is the leading event within the cybersecurity space that seeks to educate children, the public, businesses, and government stakeholders on cyber hygiene best practices.

    This year’s celebration, under the theme; “Regulating Cybersecurity: A Public-Private Sector Collaborative Approach” will help build synergies among all relevant stakeholders to ensure compliance with cybersecurity regulations.

    On her part, Deputy Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ama Pomaa Boateng said though government has put in place appropriate measures for the attainment of a reliable and robust digital economy, the digital space is still prone to varying cyberattacks which must be a concern for all. She said fighting cybercrime is a collective responsibility and that is why government is leading an all-hands-on-deck approach to combating the menace.

    Touching on the need for the public and private sector to collaborate on the fight, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, Dr. Ing.  Kenneth Ashigbey, urged all stakeholders to participate fully in the month-long event. He said for the awareness programme to achieve its desired outcome, the public and private sector, faith-based organizations, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and the media should come on board and educate its members on cybersecurity.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • E/R: 171 new general police officers are sworn in

    On Friday, September 16, 2022, a colorful ceremony conducted in the regional capital of Koforidua saw the graduation of 171 general police recruits from the Koforidua Police Training School in the Eastern Region.

    The recruits had six months of training in various police training regimes including swimming and riding a motorbike.

    The passing out of the general recruits forms part of the total number 1, 372 that passed out last Friday nationwide.

    Awards were presented to deserving recruits while Mr Solomon Martey picked the overall best general recruit for the second batch of recruits passed out in 2022.

    Speaking as the review officer for the passing out ceremony, Commissioner Of Police(COP) Madam Habiba Akyere Twumasi Sarpong, the Director–General, Welfare at the Police Headquarters in Accra appealed to the recruits to be ambassadors of the modern police training modules to help deal with current crime trends in the country.

    She gave the assurance that the police administration under the leadership of Inspector-General of Police, Dr George Akufo-Dampare is ready to deal with any challenges likely to threaten the peace of the country.

    He called on the recruits to ensure the human rights of the members of the public.

    She reminded them to show some civility when dealing with the general public.

    She said this batch of recruits has been trained in disaster management, crowd control and high-risk operations.

    ‘As part of the training police regime, recruits were sent on attachments to experience practical simulation exercises, she revealed.

    She explained that these are all part of the measures by the IGP to revitalize the police and its visibility exercises.

    This is to prepare personnel to respond to the acts of terrorism adequately and to deal with any eventuality, she maintained.

    The current police hierarchy recognizes the role of the public and to foster a good relationship with the public is ensuring mater servant relationship,she told the recruits.

    The ceremony was supervised by the regional Commander DCOP Anderson Fosu -Ackaah

    Source: Classfmonline