TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • Supreme Court preserves key evidence against former SSNIT boss Ernest Thompson

    The Supreme Court has, in a unanimous decision, dismissed a case filed by former Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Ernest Thompson.

    The court turned down his request to set aside two Special Audit Reports into the operation of an Operational Business Suite acquired by SSNIT.

    Mr. Thompson is accused of causing a $14.8 million loss to the state through the acquisition and use of the suite.

    The former SSNIT boss had told an Accra High Court that the two audit reports which made damning and adverse findings against him were compiled by SSNIT without an opportunity for him to respond to it.

    This he insisted breached his right to a fair hearing. He, therefore, wanted the court to restrain the Attorney-General from presenting the said reports or using them.

    The High Court ruled in favor of the Attorney General. It noted that the rule on the need for a fair hearing only applies where a person is entitled to be heard because they have a right to be heard.

    The court said there cannot be a breach when such a right does not exist.

    The court noted that at the time the report was issued, Mr. Thompson was no longer an employee of SSNIT and that SSNIT could not impose sanctions on him.

    It described the two documents as opinions of experts which were not binding even on a judge in a criminal trial.

    Mr. Thompson then proceeded to the Court of Appeal to challenge the decision of the High Court. He insisted that once the court found that he was not given a fair hearing, it should have restrained the Attorney General from using the reports.

    The Court of Appeal however affirmed the High Court decision indicating that SSNIT had not taken any step against Mr. Thompson on the basis of the audit report. The former SSNIT Boss then took the matter to the Supreme Court. The Apex court said the audit report carried no decision-making weight.

    It additionally noted that Mr. Thompson had the opportunity to respond to the audit report through a letter written to him by the Economic and Organized Crime Office. The EOCO letter the court noted attached a document which was effectively an extract of the two reports in contention.

    The Court, therefore, dismissed the case filed by Mr. Thompson, awarding a cost of 5,000 cedis against him.

    See full decision below:

    Source:myjoyonline.com

  • Finance Minister to present mid-year budget July 27, 2022

    The Mid-Year Review of the Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government and Supplementary Estimate for the 2022 financial year in Parliament has been postponed to July 27, 2022.

    The review is in pursuance of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921).

    The Majority Leader and the Leader of Government Business in Parliament, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, last Thursday, July 7, 2022 announced that the review was expected in Parliament on Wednesday, July 13, 2022.

    He said this when he presented the Business Statement for the eighth week beginning Tuesday, July 12, 2022 and ending on Friday, July 15, 2022 to the House.

    But on Tuesday morning, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu explained that due to the meetings with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) currently ongoing, which involves the Minister of Finance and his team, the review has been postponed two weeks further.

    It cannot be held next week because the Speaker of Parliament has also indicated that he will not be available hence the postponement to July, 27, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs explained.

    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Suame, has therefore, urged his colleagues to make themselves available for the presentation.

    Expectations

    In view of the high cost of living, including food and transportation in the country, it is the expectation of the honourable members of the House that the Finance Minister will use the opportunity to announce some relief measures the government is putting in place to cushion Ghanaians.

    The public sector compensation/wage will take the centre stage of his presentation, given that workers are demanding a 20-per-cent Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) at a time when the government has initiated discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout.

    Mr Ofori-Atta is expected to give an update on the state of the economy with particular reference to what led to the decision to seek support from the IMF to help revitalise the economy.

    He will also give a sneak peek into the government’s Enhanced Economic Programme which is being used as a template to earn support from the IMF.

    This is to help provide direction on how the government on its own intended to address the high debt challenges, mounting expenditures and sluggish revenue growth.

    It will enable the public to appreciate that form of support that the government expects from the IMF, given the challenges the government will enumerate.

    Other business

    Aside from the presentation of the Mid-Year Review Budget, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu said the Business Committee had scheduled seven Ministers of State to respond to questions during the week.

    They are the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful; Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah; Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Dr Ibrahim Mohammed Awal; Minister of Railways Development, John-Peter Amewu; Minister for Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum; Minister of National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah and Minister of the Interior, Ambrose Dery.

    Some of the questions are national in character while others are constituency specifics.

    The Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Mrs Owusu-Ekuful, is to answer 10 questions related to rural telephony projects and mobile network connectivity to rural communities.

    The Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Amoako-Attah, will answer 20 questions which is the highest, followed by the Education Minister, Dr Adutwum who is to answer 15 questions.

    Briefing

    Aside from the Ministers of State who are to respond to the total of 55 questions for the week, three other Ministers have been scheduled to brief the House on matters of national importance.

    They are the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto; the Minister of National Security, Mr Kan-Dapaah, and the Minister for the Interior, Mr Dery.

    On Tuesday, July 12, the Minister for the Interior, Mr Dery, and officials of the National Identification Authority (NIA) will come to the House to brief members on the challenges the authority is facing with regard to the printing and issuance of Ghana cards to the citizenry.

    Dr Akoto is to brief the House on the compensation packages by the government to poultry farmers who were impacted by the outbreak of the highly pathogenic influenza in 2021, probably on Tuesday, July 12 while the Minister of National Security may also brief the House in a close-door meeting on the same day.

    Adjournment

    Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, who is also Chairman of the Business Committee of Parliament, announced that barring any unforeseen circumstances, the House was expected to adjourn sine die on Thursday, July 28, 2022.

    He explained that the early adjournment of the House was to enable the Speaker, Alban Bagbin, and some members of leadership of the House to participate in a statutory international meeting slated for between the last week of the month of July and first week of August 2022.

    Source: Daily graphic online

  • E-Levy, other taxes stifling growth potential of new businesses Terkper

    Former Finance Minister, Seth Terkper, has once again bemoaned the negative impact of the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) on ordinary Ghanaians.

    According to him, apart from being poorly designed and inequitable, the controversial tax policy adds to the operational costs of new and innovative businesses within the technology space.

    A member of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, recently stated that the e-levy introduced by the government to generate additional cash for the government is raking in only 10% of estimated revenue.

    This has led to calls for the levy to, among other things, be scrapped.

    Commenting on the E-levy ahead of the presentation of the mid-year budget review, Mr. Terkper urged the government to look for ways to provide new businesses with incentives to facilitate their growth.

    “They are the ones who should get tax concessions. They are not the ones who should suffer the tax.”

    But he complained that Ghana is currently “doing the reverse.”

    “You have old industries, and you keep renewing their incentives and when new industries come, we rather tax them instead of providing them with incentives,” Mr. Terkper said.

    Source: Citinews

     

  • IMF team to meet Dr. Bawumia, Finance Committee of Parliament

    The Mission team from the International Monetary Fund are expected to meet with the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, on July 12, Joy Business has reported.

    According to the portal, the team will also meet with the Finance Committee of Parliament as part of its data gathering and discussions with government officials and stakeholders.

    It is expected that the meeting with the Vice President, who also is the head of the Economic Management Team, and Parliament will be a high-level meeting which will entail discussions around an economic support programme for Ghana.

    Officials from the Fund arrived in Ghana on July 5 to commence talks with government officials for a possible economic support programme.

    The meetings are also expected to ensure stakeholder input and support ahead of an imminent financial bailout programme.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Government awards contract for commencement of Adwoa Safos legacy project

    The government of Ghana has awarded a contract for the Dome-Kitase road rehabilitation project in the Greater Accra Region to the First Sky Group.

    The $1.65 million project, which will cover 23 kilometers, will start from the Dome Roundabout in the Greater Accra Region and end at Kitase, near Peduase in the Eastern Region.

    The road project is a legacy of the Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo who lobbied and championed its approval when she was the Deputy Majority Leader in Parliament in 2019.

    It was also a campaign promise she made to the people of Dome-Kwabenya during her quest to be elected for a third term in 2020, amidst doubts by some constituency executives of the NPP.

    Earlier, there were concerns in the constituency about whether the cost-intensive project will come to fruition or not.

    These reservations were due to the numerous projects that government has already begun in the constituency.

    However, the project has been approved along with the expansion of the Atomic Roundabout to the Atomic Down road for which work has already commenced.

    Meanwhile, several other ongoing projects in the constituency are expected to be advanced despite her continuous absence from the country.

    The Dome-Kitase road project which is scheduled for completion in 24 months, is being sponsored by the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED) and the Government of Ghana.

    It will include a 16.3km two-lane single carriageway with asphaltic concrete surfacing, the provision of 2.8km asphaltic concrete surfacing dual carriageway arterial with auxiliary lanes on both sides for drop off/pick up and the provision of a one-km two-lane single carriageway for Ashesi University, also with asphaltic concrete surfacing.

    Source: Myjoyonline

  • Bring back Otiko to help us break the 8 – Fmr NPP MP

    Former Member of Parliament for Manhyia North, Collins Owusu Amankwah has asked the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to bring back Otiko Afisa Djaba, former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection.

    Otiko who was also a former National Women’s Organizer of the NPP resigned from active politics a few years ago, citing personal reasons.

    However, Collins speaking on Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, asked the party to bring back the once firebrand to help them break the 8 in 2024.

    He added that the former Minister is one of the strong personalities in the party who is needed to help the party to break the 8.

    “She has a strong personality and is very hardworking”, he said.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Wode Maya welcomed to Zimbabwe, his 25th African country he is visiting

    The man reputed as Africa’s biggest YouTuber, Wode Maya, is currently in Zimbabwe on an official visit.

    He was officially welcomed by the southern African country’s Information Minister on Monday, July 11, 2022 during a press conference in the capital Harare.

    The official Twitter handle of the ministry posted photos of Wode Maya, real name, Berthold Kobby Winkler Ackon, together with Minister Monica Mutsvangwa at the conference.

    It was captioned as follows: “Today @InfoMinZW Minister Hon Monica Mutsvangwa, welcomed Ghanaian blogger Berthold Kobby Winkler Ackon, popularly known as Wode Maya, to the country. Wode Maya is on a mission to change the negative narrative on Africa, with Zimbabwe being the 25th African country he is visiting.”

    It is not known what Wode Maya’s visit will entail but what is sure is, the details will be out sooner rather than later.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • 2024 is not a done deal, NPP may turn things around – Franklin Cudjoe cautions NDC

    Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has cautioned the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to be measured in their hope that the 2024 election year is a done deal and that they will by all means win power.

    According to him, it will take hard work and vigilance from the party to pull off the magic wand in the election year.

    In a post on his social media handle, Franklin Cudjoe said the government can turn things around before 2024 consequently giving the NDC a run for its money.

    His comment comes on the back of the recent rising cost of living and an economic downturn which has compelled the government to seek assistance from the International Monetary Fund.

    “Meanwhile the major opposition party, the NDC should not assume 2024 is a done deal. Harder work, a very different path to the current one and VIGILANCE. The NPP may turn things around by 2024,” Franklin Cudjoe tweeted.

    Ahead of the 2024 elections, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) has vowed to break the 8-year power cycle jinx under the Fourth Republic, where power changes hands every eight years between the NDC and NPP.

    The NDC is lacing its boots to upend the governing party in 2024 in the wake of an economic crunch.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Government commits to building a self-reliant and sustaining economy

    Government says it is committed to making Ghana entrepreneurial nation through initiatives and support schemes that will make the economy self-reliant and self-sustaining.

    The Ag. Coordinator of the YouStart Programme, Mr. Andrew Ameckson, explained that though effects of the COVID-19 were dire, it also presented the country with an opportunity to remodel, innovate and build a more sustainable economy that is self-reliant and self-sustaining, which government is committed to achieve.

    He therefore called on the business community to offer needed backing to the GH¢10billion YouStart entrepreneurship programme, which is aimed at supporting Ghanaian youth to develop commercially viable businesses.

    The plan is for government to collaborate with financial institutions and provide businesses of Ghanaian youth with the support needed for providing loans to the private sector at concessionary rates (below market rates).

    Through the support of banks and other private sector players, beneficiaries will also be provided with access to capital, training, technical skills and mentoring to enable them to launch and run their businesses.

    Speaking at a stakeholder engagement in Accra on Wednesday, Mr. Ameckson said that the programme requires broader support, especially from the business community.

    The stakeholders were the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Ghana Association of Bankers (GAB), Private Enterprises Association, Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) and Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications.

    He said: “A programme of this magnitude and scale cannot be implemented by government without full participation and acceptance by the Ghanaian business community”.

    He therefore urged the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) “to take advantage of the YouStart programme and provide other feasible solutions to enable government build a Wealthier, Inclusive, Sustainable, Empowered and Resilient Ghana (WISER Ghana)”.

    Mr. Ameckson noted that the YouStart programme will provide opportunity for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to innovate, expand and take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

    Adding to this, Ms. Patience Arko-Boham technical lead for the YouStart Programme said YouStart will create at least 1,000,000 jobs for youths over the next three years by building an entrepreneurial nation.

    She said sectors to be supported include agriculture, forestry and fishing, Manufacturing, construction, electricity/gas/water, and information, communication and technology.

    Other areas include personal and health care businesses, printing, publishing and allied products, business services (consulting/business supplies), event coordination and management, tourism and recreation, sanitation, local trading (non-import related), and export support.

    On behalf of the consortium of banks supporting the programme, Mr. Kwasi Ameko-Amewunoo said they are ready to provide collateral-free loans of up to GH¢500,000 for businesses and ensure success of the YouStart programme.

    The loans which will have a three-year repayment plan, he said will solve the access to capital challenge that most startups and youth-oriented businesses face in the country, and help create more sustainable jobs.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Disclose how much you earn to your wife Austin Gamey to men

    Labour expert, Austin Gamey, has entreated husbands to reveal how much they earn as salaries to their spouses.

    This, he said, will clear all doubts and dishonesty in the marriage to avoid collapse.

    Mr Gamey said this while calling for open and honest discussions among government officials and labour unions regarding the demand to pay the 20 per cent cost of living allowance (COLA).

    The full disclosure from government, the labour expert said, will build the trust of workers and labour unions in the country.

    Speaking on TV3’s Key Points programme on Saturday, July 9, 2022, he said, “at the end of the day, I will like [men] to disclose now whether their wives know how much they earn. You heard the Ghana Statistical Service release that about 520,000 people divorce in Ghana, about 420,000 are separated, it is all because of dishonesty and it is at the workplace also.”

    Mr Gamey however opined that granting of 20% COLA will put more pressure on the public purse amidst the economic challenges.

    On Monday, July 4, 2022, four unions; Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), TEWU and Coalition of Concerned Teachers, Ghana went on strike.

    The strike embarked on by both teaching and non-teaching staff is geared towards their demand of 20% cost of living allowance.

    The COLA, according to the unions, will serve as a shock absorber for workers in this hard times.

    Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has called on the Teacher Unions to go back to the classrooms while they continue with the negotiations.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Coffin sellers bemoan low sales, high cost of raw materials

    In recent times, businesses have bemoaned the high cost of raw materials to aid their work and coffin sellers are no exception.

    Coffin makers in Kumasi have said the scarcity of wood is having dire consequences on their business as they have to close their shops to search for wood at as early as 3am.

    Leader of Coffin Manufacturers in Kumasi Asafo, Akwasi Baafi, in an interview with Ambassador TV, pointed out that, the cost of coffin materials including nails have shot up to 50%.

    “Coffin materials such as nails, wood and others have increased by over 50 percent…Despite all the price increment, it is difficult to get some of the wood to manufacture the coffins. Sometimes we have to go to Kumasi wood village around 3 am just to fight for wood else you have no option than close your shop,” he said.

    He stated that coffin makers in Kumasi Asafo will demonstrate against government until their plea to them [government] to regulate coffin materials is heard.

    “It seems the government is not ready to address our grievances but we are tired of going through stress just to get our daily bread. Government should start regulating coffin materials because the price of the materials are not stable always,” Akwasi Baafi stated.

    “We will embark on a massive demonstration against the government and we will block some roads in Kumasi with coffins since what the government understands is demonstrations then we are ready to demonstrate till we achieve good results,” he added.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • SHS students will feed themselves after July 15 CHASS

    The Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS) on Saturday, July 9,2022, has said that students will be compelled to feed themselves if the government refuses to send money to schools by Friday, July 15, 2022.

    According to CHASS, the main food suppliers, Buffer Stock Company, are refusing to supply food to schools due to outstanding money owed them by the government.

    “This has led to serious food shortages in all schools in the region. In fact assessment of the situation indicated that most Senior High Schools (SHS) cannot go beyond one week if nothing urgent is done about it.”

    According to the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools, it will be most appropriate and healthier to ask students to go home to prevent students from fainting or collapsing while undertaking certain activities on an empty stomach.

    CHASS claims schools can only feed students with the only available food in stock while students are also coming to the dining hall with their provisions.

    The Upper West Regional CHASS further stated that, “If sufficient money and food are not received in the schools by Friday, July 15, 2022, we will be compelled to tell parents to either feed their wards or come for them since it will be impossible to continue to feed them.”

    According to the Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools, the outgoing students who have a few days to write their final examination will either feed themselves or come from home to write the examination due to the food shortage in schools.

    “All sporting activities and cultural activities at the school, District, Regional and National levels are hereby suspended with immediate effect until further notice since
    there is no money to carry out these activities.

    We have therefore held on with all activities that may require payment of money, since we may not be able to pay our stakeholders.

     

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • South Africa: Fifteen shot dead in Soweto township bar

    At least 15 people have been shot dead in a bar in the South African township of Soweto, police say.

    Police said gunmen entered the Orlando East tavern in the early hours of Sunday morning and started firing randomly at a group of young people.

    They then fled the scene in a white minibus. No motive for the attack has been established, police said.

    Several more people are in a critical condition in hospital, the BBC’s Nomsa Maseko reports.

    The victims are believed to be between 19 and 35 years old.

    “Bodies were on top of each other with blood all over. We were looking for our loved ones, we had to jump over bodies looking for our brothers,” said local resident Ntombikayise Meji.

    Gauteng province’s head of police, Lt-Gen Elias Mawela, told the BBC the shooting appears to have been “a cold-blooded attack on innocent tavern patrons”.

    A press statement released by his office said the gunmen had been armed with rifles and 9mm pistols when they entered the bar.

    Police are searching for the suspects, whose identities remain unknown, it said.

    Thaban Moloi, a community leader in Soweto, was angered by the amount of time it took police to arrive at the scene.

    “It’s terrible, I’m telling you. People don’t know what to do. If you were there you could see women and children crying,” he said.

    Mr Moloi said the attack happened at 23:00 local time (21:00 GMT) on Saturday but police didn’t arrive until 04:00 on Sunday.

    “It took five hours for them to come, honestly,” he said.

    A relative of one of the victims shot dead in a tavern in Soweto reacts next to the crime scene in SowetoRelatives of victims have been mourning outside the tavern

    Four other people were killed in a separate tavern shooting in the south-eastern province of KwaZulu-Natal, police said on Sunday.

    President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed his condolences to the relatives of victims of both shootings.

    “As a nation, we cannot allow violent criminals to terrorise us in this way, regardless of where such incidents may occur,” he added.

    Shootings are not uncommon in South Africa. They are often linked to gangs or alcohol.

    But this is an exceptionally high death toll and comes soon after the death of 21 teenagers thought to have been either gassed or poisoned at another bar in the city of East London.

    Source:bbc.com

  • Kenya, World Health Organization launch emergency hub

    The Kenyan government and World Health Organization on Saturday launched a medical emergency hub in Nairobi, the first in a network of African centres they say will hasten responses to regional emergencies.

    Source:reuters.com

  • Research shows that 93% of public sector workers take only GH¢2,007 as salary

    The government employee’s average income in Ghana ranges from GH¢1,720 thus minimum to GH¢2,007 maximum.

    93% of public sector workers in Ghana earn only up to GH¢2,007 at the end of every month, research conducted by the Centre for Socioeconomic Studies (CSS) has noted.

    In 2021, 61.86% of all public sector workers earned an average monthly net salary between GH¢1,720.75 and GH¢2,208.10; an average of GH¢1,964.42 and 30.74% of all public sector workers earned an average monthly net salary between GH¢2,257.94 and GH¢2,797.85; an average of GH¢2,527.89, the research data stated.

    It said 2.6% of all public sector workers earned an average monthly net salary between GH¢1,720.75 and GH¢2,797.85 in the year 2021.

    The lowest average public sector gross salary stands at GH¢2,294.33 ($284.48) as of the fiscal year 2021 adding that the highest average public sector gross salary stands at GH¢86,434.49 ($10,744.67).

    It added: “86% of all public sector workers, compromising mostly of the education sector and civil and local government sector workers earned an average gross salary between GH¢2,294.33 and GH¢2,944.13 as of the fiscal year 2021. That was an average gross salary of GH¢2,619.23 ($324.77).”

    The government made a 7% increment across the board for all public sector workers’ salaries for the year 2022.

    • The lowest average public sector gross salary stands at GH¢2,294.33 ($284.48) as of the fiscal year 2021.
    • The highest average public sector gross salary stands at GH¢86,434.49 ($10,744.67) as of the fiscal year 2021.
    • 86% of all public sector workers, compromising mostly the education sector and civil and local government sector workers earned an average gross salary between GH¢2,294.33 and GH¢2,944.13 as of the fiscal year 2021. That was an average gross salary of GH¢2,619.23 ($324.77).
    • 74% of all public sector workers, compromising mostly the health sector and some security services (Interior Ministry) workers earned an average gross salary between GH¢3,010.58 and GH¢3,730.46 as of the fiscal year 2021. An average gross salary of GH¢3,370.52 ($417.93).
    • 6% of all public sector workers earned an average gross salary between GH¢2,294.33 and GH¢3,730.46 as of the fiscal year 2021.
    • The contributing share of the 92.6% of all public sector workers that earned an average gross salary between GH¢2,294.33 and GH¢3,730.46 to the overall wage bill of GH¢32.1 billion in 2021 was 75.14%.
    • The remaining 7.4% who earned an average gross salary between GH¢4,167.38 and GH¢86,434.49, contributed a share of 24.86% to the total wage bill of GH¢32.1 billion in 2021.
    • Total deductions per Regulation 93 of PFM Regulations 2019; Payroll Deductions, stood at 25.05% for the fiscal year 2021.
    • This put the average net earnings of the 61.86% who earned between an average gross salary of GH¢2,294.33 and GH¢2,944.13 at GH¢1,964.42 ($243.58), for the fiscal year 2021. The lowest average is GH¢1,720.75 and the highest average is GH¢2,208.10.
    • It equally put the average net earnings of the 30.74% who earned between an average gross salary of GH¢3,010.58 and GH¢3,730.46 at GH¢2,527.89 ($313.44), for the 2021 fiscal year. The lowest average is GH¢2,257.94 and the highest average is GH¢2,797.85.
    • Factoring in the 7% wage increment across the board in 2022 for all public sector workers, those earning less than GH¢3,000 will stand at 60.99% of all public sector workers, while those earning between GH¢3,000 and GH¢3,900 will stand at 31.61% of all public sector workers. A percentage shift of 0.87% from the lower tier.

    Source:pulse.com.gh

  • “I am ready to excel”— Ghanas Evans Aryee on Extreme Strongman Championship

    Belgium-based Ghanaian strongman, Evans Aryee has expressed his readiness and preparedness to excel at the Extreme Strongman Competition to be held in Belgium on the 10th of July 2022.

    The Strongman championship organized annually in Belgium dubbed “EXTREME STRONGMAN” comprises different competitors stemming from the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Belgium.

    Evans after displaying the great skill of a strongman ship at the just-ended East Flanders championship where he came second said he looks forward to adding more laurels and gaining more experience and as such he is very prepared to excel at the competition.

    “The Extreme Strongman Competition is one of the Competitions that I look forward to every year, I must say this year, my preparation has been good and i really look forward to excel truth is I am ready to excel. I also want to improve on my performance ahead of this championship” he said.

    Evans is poised to add to his tally after a successful outing in his last competition.

    Amongst the events that will take place at the Extreme Strongman competition include Car deadlift, Sandbag loading, Truck pull, Overhead medley and Atlas stone run.

    Source: City sports

  • Tree uprooted by rainstorm mysteriously appears upright in Dambai

    Residents of Dambai Health Center, a farming community, in the Krachi East Municipality of the Oti Region are in shock as a teak tree that was uprooted during a rainstorm appeared upright to its former position without branches.

    The branches of the almost dried tree are left on the floor while some of the roots of the tree showed it was cut off from the rest firmly buried in the ground.

    Madam Mary Boama who interacted with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) about the mysterious incident said she was scared of the situation since the tree was closer to her house.

    She said her fear grew more since she was the one who cut off the branches of the tree when it was uprooted with plans to use them as firewood.

    Madam Boama said the re-erection of the tree caught her attention because the tree was uprooted a week before the mystery occurred.

    She narrated the teak tree stood upright “staring at everybody. This is a clear case of wonders shall never end situation”.

    She said she would consult a spiritualist on the occurrence adding that she was still in shock.

    Mr. Abraham Sapaku, a resident nearby explained that he was home when he heard a loud vibration sound after which the tree reverted to its former position, standing upright.

    The GNA has picked information that a similar incident happened recently in a traditional area within the region.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • A lot of NPP members are crying, this ‘wickedness’ must stop – Kate Gyamfua

    National Women Organizer aspirant of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kate Gyamfua has made a solemn call on the party to recognize the good works of the members who have contributed immensely to the party’s fortunes.

    Speaking in an interview with host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo”, Kate Gyamfua bemoaned the treatment meted out to some key people in the party after they have played an instrumental role in the successes of the NPP.

    According to her, this “wickedness” must stop and those people should be appreciated as she believed bringing all those people on board as the party gears up for the next elections will help the NPP to break their eight.

    “A lot of people are crying because they helped us but we haven’t appreciated them”, she stated and appealed for the leadership to change their behaviour stressing “we have to change our attitude and the wickedness and stop betraying those who have helped us. Those who have helped NPP with their resources but we haven’t recognized them”.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus praises new strike partner Eddie Nketiah Published

    New Arsenal forward Gabriel Jesus has extoled the qualities of Ghanaian attacker Eddie Nketiah.

    Nketiah looks to be building a strong partnership with the Brazilian after creating one of the goals for Jesus in the 5-3 win against Nurnberg.

    Jesus, who joined from Manchester City, seems to be enjoying the link up with the English-born Ghanaian.

    “Two strikers, it was a little bit different. It was so good to play with him [Nketiah],” he said in a post-match interview.

    Johan Geis opened the scoring in the 25th minute before English born Ghanaian Kwadwo Duah made it two four minutes later.

    However, two quick second half goals from Gabriel Jesus and Mohamed Al Neny saw Arsenal pull parity.

    Source: Ghanaweb.com

  • World Bank supported Ghana with $903m – Pierre Frank Laporte

    Pierre Frank Laporte, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, has stated that his outfit has approved a total of $903 million for Ghana to support public finance reforms.

    According to him, this is a huge sum of money any development institution has approved for a country for a period of one year.

    Speaking at an event in Accra, Pierre Frank Laporte said, “your excellency before I conclude, I would just like to take this opportunity quickly [to] recap the performance of our programme in Ghana over the last fiscal year that just ended on June 30.

    “Between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, the World Bank approved a total of $903 million for Ghana. Never in the history of Ghana has any development institution approved such a large amount of money in one single year.”

    Laporte further indicated that in the period of global economic crisis, it is the right time for development partners to take the right and strategic steps to review and grow economies that are struggling.

    “In this period of global economic crisis, it is the right time to take calculated steps to review and grow our economies. Indeed it is time for development partners to show good faith with struggling economies…,” he stressed.

    Ghana is currently in talks with the IMF for help as the country faces a dire economic crisis.

    The economy is in distress as it currently has a total public debt stock of GH¢391.9 billion, as of the end of the first quarter of 2022.

    The cedi is also the worst-performing African currency and has weakened 22 percent against the dollar this year.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Sammy Lazio gives hope to youth with ‘Tomorrow’

    Police cum musician Sammy Lazio last Friday released his latest single titled Tomorrow which seeks to tell the youth that all is not lost and that things will surely get better.

    Sammy Lazio released the song after the two-day demonstration last week which had mainly the youth in attendance.

    “I wrote the song for the youth of this country who are trying so hard to make ends meet and want to give up but all is not lost, they should keep striving because there is hope.

    “They should not relent in their effort, I wrote this song as a beckon of hope for the youth of this country. In these hard times, anybody who listens to Tomorrow will find inspiration because they may be going through some really tough times.

    “It will propel them not to give up but still do what is right, that is fight hard till they make it in life through hard work and sacrifice.

    “I want them to know that no matter the situation now, tomorrow will be a different story that is why the chorus goes like, Today e dey like this, tomorrow e no go dey like this.

     

    According to Sammy Lazio, born Samuel Nartey, he wants the youth to know that there will be smiles at the end of the day.

    He was, however, quick to add that he is inspired to write his songs from happenings around him and he does not blame hardships in the country on any political party.

    “What I have realised is that often times, people want to give up but what we should know is that even in the Bible, it is said that the hand that does not work does not eat so we must all strive to work hard and know that at the end of the day, we will smile.

    Sammy Lazio, a Corporal in the Ghana Police Service added that there is a remix of Tomorrow featuring rapper, Yaa Pono to be released in a couple of months.

    “Yaa Pono came by the studio when I was recording and he said to me that the song is very inspirational and he would like to feature on it so we arranged and did the remix,” he added.

    Tomorrow, produced by ItzCJ beatz is available on digital platforms such as Spotify, iTunes, amazon, AWA, Tidal, Deezer and Shazam.

    Source: Graphic online

  • Eid-Ul-Adha should not be about lawlessness – Scholar

    Executive Member of the Global Islamic Point, Sheikh Hussein Hassan Yeboah has encouraged Muslims to use Eid-ul-Adha to share what they have, especially with the poor.

    He said the tenets of Islam require Muslims who are well to do to divide the meat they use for the celebration into three and give one to the poor, one to the family, and the other to friends.

    He described that as true sacrifice and encouraged Muslims to do the same.

    Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, the scholar and preacher said, “Indeed times are hard and Muslims are encouraged by our practice to give to the poor. During every celebration, we will certainly give those who will be able to afford any type of cow, the ram or even goat”.

    “Some are unable to afford it and so will not be able to celebrate. That is why it is important that as Muslims, we are instructed to divide our meat into three and give each to the poor, family, and then our friends”.

    has encouraged Muslims to use Eid-ul-Adha to share what they have, especially with the poor.

    He said the tenets of Islam require Muslims who are well to do to divide the meat they use for the celebration into three and give one to the poor, one to the family, and the other to friends.

    He described that as true sacrifice and encouraged Muslims to do the same.

    Speaking on Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, the scholar and preacher said, “Indeed times are hard and Muslims are encouraged by our practice to give to the poor. During every celebration, we will certainly give those who will be able to afford any type of cow, the ram or even goat”.

    “Some are unable to afford it and so will not be able to celebrate. That is why it is important that as Muslims, we are instructed to divide our meat into three and give each to the poor, family, and then our friends”.

    Source: Ghanaweb.com

  • Dormaa-Ahenkro Circuit Court sentences ex-convict to 14 years imprisonment

    A Circuit Court at Dormaa-Ahenkro in the Dormaa Central Municipality of Bono Region has convicted and sentenced an ex-convict Kwabena Paterson, aged 28 to 14 years imprisonment for causing unlawful damage, unlawful entry, stealing and resisting arrest.

    Paterson, also an apprentice mason, pleaded not guilty and was consequently convicted on all four charges by the Court.

    Police Inspector (P/Inspt.) Emmanuel Asare, the prosecutor told the Court presided over by Mr Samuel Djanie Kotey that the complainant, a student at the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Dormaa Campus, resided at SS whilst the convict also lived at Nkyenkyenkye, suburbs at Dormaa-Ahenkro.

    The prosecutor said at 0700 hours on Thursday, April 21 this year, the complainant secured his door and left for school but received a telephone call from his landlady at 1100 hours asking why he left his door unlocked.

    P/Inspt. Asare said the complainant rushed back to the house and detected the room had been broken into and his seven-kilogram gas cylinder valued GhC150.00 and DH electrical standing fan worth GhC125.00 had been stolen.

    He said the complainant began his own investigation and was informed by a witness that he saw the convict carrying the aforementioned items.

    P/Inspt. Asare said the complainant reported the case to the Police at Dormaa-Ahenkro and further investigation led to the arrest of the convict.

    The prosecutor said the convict resisted arrest by engaging the Police in a fierce struggle but was overpowered and brought to the Police station.

    P/Inspt. Asare said during interrogations, the convict denied the offence but later admitted and led the Police to his abode, adding that the convict even though was handcuffed, fled when they reached his residence but was pursued and re-arrested.

    He said the fan was retrieved, but the convict sold the gas cylinder to one Charles at Brofoyedru, a farming community in the Municipality

  • Shinzo Abe: Japan ex-leader’s alleged killer held grudge against group – police

    Police investigating the assassination of Japan’s ex-prime minister Shinzo Abe have said the suspect held a grudge against a “specific organisation”.

    The alleged gunman, named as Tetsuya Yamagami, 41, believed Abe was part of the group and shot him for that reason, they said, without naming the group.

    Abe died in hospital on Friday morning after being shot while speaking at a political campaign event.

    Tetsuya Yamagami has admitted shooting him with a homemade gun, police said.

    Abe was Japan’s longest-serving prime minister and his death at the age of 67 has profoundly shocked a country where gun crime is very rare.

    Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he was “simply speechless” at the news of Abe’s death, vowing that Japan’s democracy would “never yield to violence”.

  • No Ghanaian scientist will develop poison for Ghanaians to eat – Dr Ampadu-Ameyaw on GMOs

    A Senior Research Scientist at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Science and Technology Policy Research Institute (STEPRI), Dr Richard Ampadu-Ameyaw, says no Ghanaian scientist will develop any crop that is poison for Ghanaians to eat.

    He said Ghanaian plant breeders are also Ghanaians and have families and will therefore not endanger the lives of others.

    He said all that Ghanaian plant breeders have been doing was to find solutions to agricultural problems that face Ghanaian farmers.

    Dr Ampadu-Ameyaw, who is also the National Coordinator of the Open Forum for Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), said this in an interview with Graphic Online on the sidelines of a training programme organised for some selected agric journalists in the country in Tamale in the Northern Region on July 7, 2022.

    The three-day training, organised by Alliance for Science in collaboration with CSIR-SARI, OFAB Ghana, and Ghana Agricultural and Rural Development Journalists Association (GARDJA) was to equip the participants with updates on Ghana’s efforts in the development of its Genetically Modified (GM) crops, particularly on the newly developed Pod Borer Resistant (PBR) cowpea (Bt Cowpea).

    Dr Ampadu-Ameyaw said it was worrying that people who do not understand the science behind GM technology peddle the falsehood that scientists were developing crops that could pose danger to people’s health.

    He said, “GMO is not a chemical, it is nothing scary but a technology that is used to develop food crops based on the best species.”

    He said although genetically modified technology had not been adopted in Ghana yet, it would serve as the best solution to food security.

    “GMO will save farmers money as they will not have to spray their crops against diseases and pests. Currently, we are polluting the environment with the spraying of chemicals to prevent crops from being attacked. With GMO, the production cost of farmers will go down and their yields will go up,” Dr Ampadu-Ameyaw observed.

    He said scientists who have worked on the newly developed Bt Cowpea are Ghanaians and that the crop was not developed by foreigners as others believe.

    He said scientists (plant breeders) go through rigorous processes before they are allowed to release newly developed crops to farmers and that the GM technology is a highly regulated technology.

    Source:graphic.com.gh

  • Plumber jailed 3 years for stealing ECG transformer parts

    The Nsawam Circuit Court has sentenced a 32-year-old plumber to three years in prison for stealing parts of a transformer belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

    The convict, Kwaku Ampomah was charged with strings of charges including intention to steal and causing damage to the ECG transformer.

    He was convicted on his own plea by the court, presided over by Ellen Vivian Amoah.

    Brief facts

    Per the facts of the case, the suspect, who is a plumber based in Tema, went with one Tupak, an electrician now at large to work for a client in Tema.

    After the work, the two, according to prosecutors, agreed to go and steal the ECG property.

    Consequently, the two decided to go to Nsawam to carry out the operation.

    Upon arrival, the prosecution said they sat somewhere and took some drinks after which they decided to go to Yawkro to commit the crime.

    Source:graphics.com.gh

  • Health alert! Marburg virus kills 2 in Ashanti region

    The Ghana Health Service has asked all health workers, especially Regional and Teaching Hospitals to be on the lookout for the outbreak of the Marburg virus disease following two fatal cases in the Ashanti Region.

    Health workers are to “exercise a high index of suspicion for persons who may present with bleeding tendencies”, a statement issued by the GHS, signed by its Director-General, Dr. Patrick Kuma-Aboagye counseled.

    The cases were said to have been recorded in the Adansi North District of Ashanti, and while preliminary investigations have yet to establish a link between the two cases, 34 contacts have been identified and are under quarantine being monitored for the maximum incubation period of 21 days.

    The statement said no new cases have been reported since the two samples were taken two weeks ago.

    The World Health Organization categorises the Marburg virus disease as a highly virulent disease that causes haemorrhagic fever, with a fatality ratio of up to 88%, and is in the same family as the virus that causes the Ebola virus disease.

    “Human infection with Marburg virus disease initially results from prolonged exposure to mines or caves inhabited by Rousettus bat colonies. Once an individual is infected with the virus, Marburg can spread through human-to-human transmission via direct contact (through broken skin or mucous membranes) with the blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected people, and with surfaces and materials (e.g. bedding, clothing) contaminated with these fluids,” according to the WHO.

    Below is the statement by the Ghana Health Service.

    Source:graphic.com.gh

     

  • New High Court opens at Sowutuom in Ga Central Municipality

    As part of efforts to make justice delivery accessible to the citizenry, His Lordship the Chief Justice Kwesi Anin-Yeboah has established a High Court at Sowutuom in the Ga Central Municipality.

    The Court located within the premises of the District Court commenced operations on Monday, July 4, 2022.

    The siting of the Court in that jurisdiction forms part of measures to ease the burden on Court Users who travel to the Central Business District to access justice.

    The general public especially those, within the environs of the Ga Central Municipality and adjoining areas are encouraged to make use of the facility.

    Source:3news.com

     

  • Ghanaian investors warming up to UK real estate investment – Baron CEO

    The Chief Executive and founder of Baron and Cabot, Mark Pearson, has stated that West African countries including Ghana are investing more in the UK real estate market.

    According to Mr Pearson, monthly transactions from Nigeria and Ghana are up to £5 million on an average.

    He noted that investors are attracted to the real estate market despite the impact of Covid-19 because of its safety as compared to other sectors.

    “While many sectors are still reeling from the impact of COVID-19, real estate has had a strong rebound and is back on the growth track. As such, when investors are looking for safer markets to invest their money amid looming uncertainty, they turn to real estate markets such as in the United Kingdom and United states of America which are considered safer markets.”

    “On an average basis, we record transactions of up to 5 million pounds in West Africa monthly with bulk coming from Nigeria and a fair share from Ghana”

    Mark Pearson also revealed that the performance of some currencies in the West African countries has resulted in citizens taking a key look at foreign investments while looking at the feasibility in acquiring houses.

    “The property demand is driven by the fact that investors can get mortgages in England at affordable rates with title deeds in their names. Further, depreciating currency is pushing people to seek alternative investment options to safeguard their money.”

    Per reports, some of the properties include apartments that go for £210,000 with conditions that enable investors to put down a deposit of £100,000 and take up a mortgage to offset the balance.

    So far, on an annual basis, investors are making returns of 13 percent, with last year investors making up to 15 percent return value on their investments, Mr Pearson said.

    The acquisition of properties such as lands in Ghana, is characterised by several challenges including falsification of documents and multiple sale of lands.

    This has encouraged Ghanaians to be wary when acquiring lands. However, many continue to fall prey to fraudsters.

    In view of this, the acting Executive Secretary of the Lands Commission, James E.K. Dadson has advised prospective land buyers to exhaust certain due diligence processes before acquiring land.

    “You must undertake ground validation checks, get a professional to prepare the site plan, and a search conducted at the Lands Commission to ascertain the true ownership and the eventual status of the land before making any determination for the acquisition of any land,” he said while speaking at an annual Royal Conference of the Church of Pentecost in the Central Region in June this year.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Traders at Agomanya market complain of rising criminal activities

    Traders at the Agormanya market, located in the Lower Manya Krobo district of the Eastern Region of Ghana, have lamented the spate of criminal activity in the market.

    According to the traders, some unidentified people go around the market and steal goods left behind by the traders.

    Describing the situation as worrying, a trader who sells footwear at the Agormanya market told Ghanaweb that her items have been stolen on six occasions.

    The situation, she said, made her stay out of business for a long time before being able to gather some capital to start all over again.

    Speaking in her local dialect, she said, “Most times my goods are left here at dawn, but by the time I get here, the thieves will pick her entire back full of footwear away.”

    Another trader who sells clothes while sharing her ordeal mentioned that her sack of materials worth thousands of Cedis was stolen by the unidentified men. She blamed the spate of criminal activities on the non-availability of security personnel at the market.

    The traders called on the executives in the community to act swiftly with security personnel and bring to book these perpetrators.

    They also called for the construction of a fence wall to prevent thieves from having easy access to the market during the night.

    Source: The Independent Ghana

  • Ideal College petitions IGP to investigate police supervision of brutalities against students

    The management of Ideal College has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, to investigate the violence that was unleashed on students and teachers of the school on Thursday, July 7, 2022.

    According to the management of the school, a group of land guards, accompanied by men in police uniforms claiming to be from the Counter-Terrorism Unit of the Ghana Police Service, entered the premises of the East Legon branch of the school on Thursday and started the demolition of an assembly hall under construction.

    “When the Director of the school sighted what was happening, he decided to confront them to know the authorisation under which the exercise was being carried. The land guards pounced on him and physically assaulted him. Some students who were witnessing what was happening rushed to the scene immediately to rescue their Director.

    “These land guards and the men in police uniforms physically assaulted the students as well. This caught the attention of most of the students who also rushed to the scene to defend their colleagues,” the school said in their petition to the IGP.

    The management noted that some 20 students suffered minor injuries due to the assault while three others sustained fatal wounds.

    The management of Ideal College noted that students and officials of the school have been under persistent attacks by the said land guards over the past three months.

    According to the management, this has affected the serenity enjoyed by students at the school, especially final year students who have a month barely to prepare for their West African Secondary School Certificate Examination.

    “It is in pursuance of this that we wish to petition your noble outfit to assist redress this issue with the exigency it deserves, by investigating the involvement of the police in this heinous attack and their continuous presence on the school property which poses insecurity and fear in the students” the management said.

    “We however wish to commend the Legon Police Station for their timely intervention. You may consult them for further and better particulars,” it added.

    Read the full statement below:

    Dear Sir,

    PETITION AGAINST POLICE SUPERVISION OF BRUTALITIES AGAINSTIDEAL COLLEGE STUDENTS

    On the 7th of July, 2022, at about 12.00pm, the school was plunged into a tumultuous season of brutality by some land guards and some suspected policemen.

    A group of hooligans suspected to be land guards came in the company of some menin police uniforms, who claim to have come from the Counter TerrorismUnit of the Ghana Police Service to demolish a structure belonging to Ideal College, Legon Branch.

    Land Guards assault Ideal College students 2

    0 seconds of 1 minute, 11 secondsVolume 90%

    They came in three vehicles with registration numbers GN 2982 – 20, GN773- 14 and the other which was not captured. The invaders started demolishing witha caterpillar the structure meant for an assembly hall. When the Director of the school sighted what was happening, he decided to confront them to know the authorisation under which the exercise was being carried.

    The landguards pounced on him and physically assaulted him. Some students who were witnessing what was happening rushed to the scene immediately to rescue their Director. These land guards and the men in police uniforms physically assaulted the students as well. This caught the attention of most of the students who also rushed to the scene to defend their colleagues.

    Over 20 students have suffered minor injuries whiles 3 students have been woundedfatally. We are currently dealing with the ghoulish situation. There have been consistent attacks by these land guards from the past three months, disturbing the serenity of the school.

    The students have barely one month to prepare for WASSCE and cannot enjoy any effective preparation as a result of the avalancheof fear. It is in pursuance of this that we wish to petition your noble outfit to assist redress this issue with the exigency it deserves, by investigating the involvement of the police inthis heinous attack and their continuous presence on the school property which poses insecurity and fear in the students.

    Whatsapp Video 2022-07-08 At 1.01.02 Am

    0 seconds of 18 secondsVolume 90%

    We however wish to commend the Legon Police Station for their timely intervention. You may consult them for further and better particulars.

    Kindly find attached to this petition picture evidences of scenes of the situation.

    …………………………

    MR. NAPHTHALI KYEI BAFFOUR
    (P.R.O).

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Dzifa Bampoh quits Media General after serving for 1 year

    Ghanaian media personality Dzifa Bampoh has resigned from Media General, operators of TV3, Onua TV, 3FM and the rest.

    According to a report by TheMirrorGH.com, the celebrated broadcaster is taking up a new position as the Communications Director in a reputable public institution.

    Dzifa served at the Kanda-based media outlet for some sixteen (16) months before calling it a quit.

    While at Media General, she hosted TV3’s Saturday news analysis program, The KeyPoints.

    She returned to the airwaves after leaving the media job in 2017 to join an oil firm, Tullow Oil as Head of Corporate Affairs, serving 3 years.

    Prior to joining Tullow Oil, Dzifa worked with the Multimedia Group (Joy FM)  for 12 years, delivering up-to-the-minute news and current affairs programmes with professionalism.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • ‘Missing’ Adwoa Safos conduct disrespectful Privileges Committee

    Sarah Adwoa Safo, Dome-Kwabenya Member of Parliament, has been declared a ‘missing person’ by the Privileges Committee of Parliament after she failed to appear before them.

    Kweku George Ricketts-Hagan, Ranking Member on the Committee, had stated in a 3news.com reportage that, the committee feels disrespected by the MP, who doubles as a Cabinet Minister’s decision to ignore their invitation.

    “We have tried everything. When you sign up to be a member here, we have every information on you and including how to find you, your email address, your phone number[s].

    “When you are travelling you also give additional information because your travelling address will not be on your data in Parliament so you provide where you are.

    “So this is the information that is available to us and that is what we have exhausted,” Ricketts-Hagan explained.

    Adwoa Safo, together with two other NPP MPs, Kennedy Agyapong, and Henry Quartey, were hauled before parliament’s privileges committee for failing to attend to the business of the house for over 15 consecutive sittings without proper permission. The two others have since appeared and explained that medical reasons kept them away from the House.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

     

  • Remove all billboards ahead of congress NPP leadership orders aspirants

    The New Patriotic Party has ordered the removal of all billboards of aspirants in the upcoming National Delegates elections.

    According to the party, the decision was arrived at after a meeting by the National Council of the Party.

    In the Greater Accra Region, for instance, billboards and posters of candidates have flooded streets ahead of the elections.

    The election is scheduled between 15th to 17th of July at the Accra Sports Stadium.

    In a communiqué signed by its Director of Communications, the party warned candidates against extravagant politicking.

    “In aid of moving internal party contests towards National Election standards, and given the fact that the Electoral College for the upcoming National Officers Elections is known to all the contestants, the NPP has fashioned additional rules of campaign conduct to govern the activities of candidates for the impending National Annual Delegates Conference.”

    The National Council of the Party, at its meeting on Thursday, July 7, 2022, gave the following directives;

    1) Immediate removal of all billboards and advertising in public places within the National and Regional capitals.

    2) A complete ban on excessive noise making and jamborees such as brass-band and other musical groups, at the conference venue, from 12 midday on Friday 15th July 2022 until after the Conference.

    3) No mobilization of supporters of Candidates to the Conference.

    4) No display of paraphernalia of Candidates within the Venue and its environs.

    5) There shall be strict enforcement of security protocols. To this end, ONLY delegates and accredited persons would be allowed access to the Venue.

    6) There shall be strict enforcement of all Covid-19 protocols. Vaccination cards would be inspected.

    7) There shall be no sharing of personal items of Candidates at the Conference.

    8) Transportation to the Conference Venue shall be made available to convey delegates from their hotels and hostels.

    9) Candidates shall be circumspect in their choice of slogans, messaging, and media use, including traditional and social media.

    ”It is the expectation that all Candidates, Supporters and Party Members would observe these additional Rules for a smooth and successful Conference,” it added.

    Source: Citinews 

  • Stop Twi voiceovers on telenovelas – Mike Oquaye laments

    Former Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, has tasked Ghanaian movie producers to put all their hands on deck in coming out with indigenous movies for the entertainment industry.

    Speaking at the inaugural memorial lecture of Okyenhene Ba Dr. Jones Akwasi Amoako Atta Ofori-Atta at the University of Ghana, Professor Mike Ocquaye bemoaned the recent trend in using Ghanaian language voiceovers in Europe and Asian movies such as telenovelas.

    According to him, the trend makes him sick adding that such practice of voice acting cannot happen in the countries the movies and telenovelas originate from.

    “I cannot help adding one matter. I beg our actors and scriptwriters to come out with Ghanaian films. I get sick anytime I hear Twi words or Ga words pushed through some European or Asian lips. The practice should be stopped if we should develop as a people.

    “These are the things that unmake a nation [sic]. It can never happen in Malaysia. It can never happen in India. It can never happen in any of the Asian tiger countries,” Professor Mike Ocquaye stressed.

    The Ghanaian television space has in recent times been inundated with foreign movies particularly telenovelas most of which have voiceovers in the local languages.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Akwidaa residents swim across river to access other communities as major bridge collapses

    The only bridge linking the Akwidaa New Town to the Old Town in the Western Region has collapsed.

    This has left locals with no choice but to swim in the Ezile River in order to access adjoining communities.

    According to residents, this is the second time the bridge has collapsed after a similar incident happened in 2020.

    After the previous incident, the bridge was reconstructed with wooden materials in lieu of a permanent one.

    The dream, however, never materialized, thus, causing the temporary structure to buckle around 6:00 am on Tuesday, July 5, 2022.

    Akwidaa residents swim across river to access other communities as major bridge collapses

    The Assembly member for the Akwidaa electoral area, Emmanuel Bonney said residents are finding it difficult to cross the river.

    The situation, he added has disrupted the lives of many in the community.

    “Those in the [Akwidaa] Old Town get their potable water from the [Akwidaa] New Town, so to cross to access good drinking water has become a problem.

    “And because of how important the bridge is, people with canoes are exploiting residents who want to commute between these two towns,” he told JoyNews in an interview on Wednesday.

    Akwidaa residents swim across river to access other communities as major bridge collapses

    As a result, Mr. Bonney has called on all and sundry to support the community to hasten the reconstruction of the bridge linking the two communities and other neighbouring towns.

    “If I get the support from the Assembly today, we will start something today because after pestering the Forestry Commission, they finally allowed us to cut some trees for the project.

    “However, because of rains we did not get much wood last week, but this week we are working earnestly to get more so that we can start something as soon as we get the light poles,” he told host JoyNews mid-day Kojo Brace on Wednesday.

    Source:myjoyonline.com

  • Samuel Boadu resigns

    Accra Hearts of Oak head coach, Samuel Boadu has reportedly resigned from his role as the assistant coach of the Ghana U-20 team.

    Samuel Boadu according to the report won’t be in the national team again while working with the Phobians as the Hearts of Oak hierarchy want him to focus on the Africa campaign.

    The former Medeama SC coach has reportedly notified the Ghana Football Association of his decision to step aside from his role with the national team.

    The GFA will now be looking at other options as it was reported that the association was looking forward to appointing Samuel Boadu as the head coach of the U-20 team after Karim Zito’s recent failures.

    Samuel Boadu is under pressure after finishing 6th in the 2021/2022 Ghana Premier League season despite winning the MTN FA Cup.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • 21-year-old who stole parts of astroturf has been jailed

    Gideon Asuako, one of two men accused of stealing parts of astroturf at Drobo Farman in the Bono Region, has been sentenced to seven years in prison.

    The 21-year-old was sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty in Berekum Circuit Court on Wednesday, July 6, 2022.

    According to a police report, the other alleged thief fled, and police are still looking for him.

    On July 4, 2022, Asuako was arrested after a ripped piece of artificial turf was discovered in his room.

    In his defence, he claimed he wanted to use it as a carpet to decorate his room.

    Sports Journalist, Saddick Adams, who broke the news of the theft provided an update in a Twitter post.

    “UPDATE: A 21-year-old man, Gideon Asuako, who stole parts of the artificial pitch at Drobo Faaman to use as carpet in his room, has been jailed 7 years.

    A prison officer friend at Sunyani confirms to me he has just been brought there to begin his sentence term.”

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Bananas donated to a Texas prison turn out to be $18 million of cocaine

    The department received 45 boxes of donated bananas from Ports of America in Freeport near the Gulf of Mexico. But it turns out the donation was a greater gift than either organization could have imagined, containing an additional 540 packages of cocaine, valued at nearly $18 million.

    “Sometimes, life gives you lemons. Sometimes, it gives you bananas,” the TDCJ post joked.

    According to the post, the discovery was made by two of its sergeants after they noticed “something not quite right” with the boxes after they were unloaded. Once they started pulling apart these suspicious boxes, they discovered a white powdery substance and notified port authorities.

    Sure enough, when life handed them bananas, it was actually a shit ton of cocaine.

    Not many other details are known about this bizarre turn of events. But the TDCJ assured its followers that the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Customs, and Border Protection were now investigating into the matter.

    I guess we’ll have to wait for the Season 6 of Breaking Bad that’s never happening to fully understand the plot twist of sending a massive cache of illegal drugs to a literal prison.

    Source:yahoo.com

  • University of Manitoba 2022 International Undergraduate Student Bursary

     The University of Manitoba is making available the International Undergraduate Student Bursary, for international students with good academic standing, and with demonstrated financial need, who are undertaking Bachelors degree programmes in both the fall and winter terms.

    About University of Manitoba

    Since 1877, the University of Manitoba has been driving discovery and inspiring minds through innovative teaching and research excellence. Proudly located in the heart of Canada, the U of M has a strong and engaged community of students, faculty, staff, alumni, donors and community partners. With more than 145,000 alumni living in 140 countries, our impact is global.

    International Undergraduate Student Bursary

     

    • Type- Undergraduate
    • Organization-University of Manitoba
    • Country to study- Canada
    • School to study- University of Manitoba
    • Course to study -Not specified
    • State of Origin
    • Gender- Men and Women
    • Application Deadline October 1, 2022

    Aim and Benefits of International Undergraduate Student Bursary

    The total amount of scholarships available each year is $240,000, which will be divided equally among the scholarship recipients.

    Requirements for International Undergraduate Student Bursary Qualification

    • For international students with good academic standing, registered in both the fall and winter terms, and demonstrated financial need
    • All students must complete courses in both the fall and winter terms to be eligible. In most cases, students must register for and complete at least 60 percent of a full course-load per term (i.e., a minimum of 9 credit hours per term). Graduate students do not have to adhere to credit hour minimums provided they are registered as full-time students over the fall and winter terms with the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
    • Applicants must meet minimum G.P.A. requirements. Continuing students must have a minimum degree G.P.A. of 2.0. New students (from high school) must have a grade 12 average of 70% or higher. Students admitted on Mature Student Status may also be eligible for bursary consideration. International students in their first year of post-secondary study in Canada are not eligible to apply to the general bursary program.

    Checkout: Scholarships for African students 2021/2022

    Application Deadline

    October 1, 2022

    How to Apply

    Financial need must be clearly documented on the application. Students who have applied for government students loans from other provinces must provide a copy of a current official government loan assessment to support their declaration of financial need.The University of Manitoba General Bursary Application is available from the beginning of August every year until 1 October.

    For more details, visit University of Manito

    Source:scholarshiptab.com

  • Boris Johnson resigns: Five things that led to the PM’s downfall

    The Chris Pincher affair

    The MP Chris Pincher – at the time, the Conservative deputy chief whip – went to a private members’ club in London. In his words, he “drank far too much” and “embarrassed himself”.

    He was accused of groping two men, which led to flurry of allegations, some dating back years. It set off a chain of events that ended with the prime minister’s downfall.

    First, Downing Street said Mr Johnson was not aware of “specific allegations” about Mr Pincher before appointing him as deputy chief whip in February. Ministers later reiterated this line – even though it turned out to be inaccurate.

    On 4 July, the BBC reported Mr Johnson had been aware of a formal complaint. The next day, a former civil servant – Lord McDonald – said the prime minister had been told of the complaint in person.

    Mr Johnson then admitted he had been told in 2019, and apologised for appointing Mr Pincher as deputy chief whip.

    Partygate

    Watch Boris Johnson admit to attending the No 10 party in May 2020

    In April this year, the prime minister was fined for breaking lockdown rules, after attending a gathering on his birthday in June 2020.

    He also apologised for going to a “bring your own booze” party in the Downing Street garden during the first lockdown.

    More widely, the Metropolitan Police issued 126 fines to 83 people for breaking lockdown rules in Downing Street and Whitehall.

    And a report by Sue Gray – a senior civil servant – described a series of social events by political staff that broke lockdown rules.

    “The senior leadership at the centre, both political and official, must bear responsibility for this culture,” she wrote.

    Last December, Mr Johnson told the Commons that “all guidance was followed completely in No 10”. He is now being investigated by a Commons committee over whether he knowingly misled Parliament.

    The cost of living crisis – and a tax rise

    Inflation has risen sharply in 2022, to the current rate of 9.1%.

    Many of the reasons were outside of Boris Johnson’s control. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, for example, has led to rises in oil prices and the cost of food.

    And, while the government has taken some steps – for example, by cutting fuel duty by 5p per litre – it also went ahead with a tax rise in April. National Insurance went up by 1.25 pence in the pound.

    The government said the tax rise would pay for health and social care, and changes that kicked in this week softened the blow – but anyone earning more than £34,000 a year will still pay more.

    “In the middle of the worst cost of living crisis for decades,” said Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in April, “the government chooses to increase taxes on working people”.

    Owen Paterson row

    In October 2021, a House of Commons committee recommended a 30-day suspension for then-Conservative MP Owen Paterson.

    The committee said he broke lobbying rules, to try to benefit companies who paid him.

    But the Conservatives – led by the prime minister – voted to pause his suspension, and set up a new committee to look at how investigations were carried out.

    After an outcry, Mr Paterson ended up resigning. Mr Johnson later admitted he had “crashed the car” in his handling of the case.

    Lack of focus – and ideas

    Watch: ‘Enough is enough,’ says Sajid Javid in his resignation speech

    Boris Johnson won his thumping majority on the back of a clear, easy-to-follow policy – Get Brexit Done.

    But since then, his critics said, there was a lack of focus and ideas in Downing Street.

    His ex-adviser turned chief critic, Dominic Cummings, repeatedly accused him of being an out-of-control shopping trolley, veering from position to position.

    Others questioned the prime minister’s philosophy – or, indeed, if he had one. In June, Conservative MP and former minister Jeremy Hunt accused Mr Johnson of lacking “integrity, competence, and vision”.

    Mr Hunt was speaking before a confidence vote, which Mr Johnson won – but the complaints were getting louder.

    The by-election defeats kept coming. After the latest, Mr Johnson said he would not undergo a “psychological transformation”.

    But that, now, is not the concern of Conservative MPs. They have spoken, and the prime minister is going.

    Source:bbc.com

  • Ignore any recruitment advertisements on social media platforms Ghana Armed Forces

    The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has urged the general public to ignore any recruitment advertisement on social media platforms.

    The GAF also advised members of the public not to pay attention to persons purporting to offer enlistment into the Armed Forces.

    “The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has monitored a fraudulent Facebook account created in the name of GAF with the name Asinyo Inno, advertising sale of protocol recruitment forms for interested applicants. The account bearing the name Mathias Sarpong with a contact number +233595577684, is one of such numerous fraudulent social media accounts being used for recruitment scams,” GAF said in a statement signed by Director of Public Relations, Naval Captain Michael Addo Larbi.

    The GAF press release dated Wednesday, July 6, 2022, said it “does not use intermediaries and has not contracted any institution or individuals to conduct recruitment or enlistment exercises on its behalf. Also, GAF does not advertise recruitment and enlistment processes on social media.”

    The Ghana Armed Forces noted that its original advertisement for recruitment exercises have been published in only two national daily newspapers the Daily Graphic and Ghanaian Times on May 14 and May 16 respectively.

    The GAF also said any relevant information and guidelines with respect to the eligibility of persons who can apply and the sale of scratch cards at designated Ghana Post offices could be found in the publication in the newspapers.

    “The public, especially interested applicants should accordingly comply with the laid down processes as advertised in the Ghanaian Times and Daily Graphic in order not to fall prey to the fraudsters.”

    The online application will however end on Sunday, July 10.

    The release also advised interested applicants to report persons who try to extort money from them under the pretense of offering them enlistment into the Armed Forces to the nearest Police station.

    “In the same vein, the interested applicants who choose to pay monies to agents for help are equally culpable in the fraudulent act,” the release said.

    Source: Myjoyonline 

  • We’ll not be bullied to call off teachers’ strike – Carbonu

    The President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), Angel Carbonu says the striking teacher unions will not fall for the use of pressure to get them to return to the classrooms.

    He said the teacher unions are poised to remain on strike until the government pays them the 20% cost of living allowance.

    Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Carbonu said should a court action be triggered against the teacher unions to compel them to rescind their strike decision, they will fight to set aside the injunction.

    “If they go to court to get an injunction, we will organize, go to court and set that injunction aside. When you go to court ex-parte, you have not given opportunity for the judge to listen to the other group. This time, if they go to court ex-parte, we will ask our legal people the next day to go to court to set that ex-parte injunction aside,” he said.

    NAGRAT, and three other teacher unions currently on strike went into a meeting with the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations and other stakeholders on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, over their demands for 20% COLA.

    But the meeting ended inconclusively.

    Carbonu said the teacher unions remain committed to engagement with government to resolve the issue.

    “They indicated that they will be inviting us [soon]. We told them if they invite us, we will be there but for now, the strike continues,” he said.

    The teachers are fighting for the payment of between 20% and 30% of their salaries as a Cost of Living Allowance.

    The allowance according to the teachers will cushion them from current economic conditions and the worsening plight of teachers.

    The National Labour Commission in a statement urged the teachers to rescind their decision to make way for negotiations.

    Source:citinewsroom.com

     

  • Meet Dr. Morgan Gilbert Charles, the Ghanaian who earned gold from a Russian medical school

    Before travelling to Russia to pursue his dream of medicine, Dr. Morgan Gilbert Charles attended school at the Ghana Armed Forces Senior High in Kumasi.

    Today, his name has gone down into the annals of history as one of the gold medal recipients from the leading medical school in Russia, I. M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University.

    Dr. Morgan Charles was given the highest achievement in Russia this year due to his excellent performance in his years of study in the school, an adomonline.com report has stated.

    Through his academic excellence, the 27-year-old has also become the only Ghanaian to win a prestigious gold award in Russia in 2022.

    From here, Dr. Morgan Gilbert Charles is making his way to the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health and Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, where he has gained admission to further his education.

    Below are some photos of him during his graduation:

    Source: Ghanaweb

     

  • FLASHBACK: I never had anything to do with Castro’s death – Asamoah Gyan

    “When things start going well for you, they’ll link it to rituals. Can’t Africans also thank God for his wonders in people’s lives? I never had anything to do with Castro’s death.”

    These were the words of footballer, Asamoah Gyan, in a 2017 interview on the Delay Show.

    The former Black Stars captain has for years been labelled as the man who sacrificed his friend, singer Castro for fame. An allegation he has strongly denied to date.

    Responding to rumours of his involvement in the disappearance and death of Hiplife musician, Castro who drowned at Ada on July 6, 2014, the celebrated footballer lamented how a section of the public had linked him to the unfortunate incident.

    According to the footballer, he can’t fathom why a section of Ghanaians have also linked his success to money rituals and ‘juju’.

    “I want to ask, do Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo also deal in black magic? These footballers have also made it. Can we say they also sacrificed people? That is the question I want to ask,” Gyan quizzed.

    Asamoah Gyan acknowledged Castro as the person who first introduced him to music. The two collaborated on a song titled ‘African Girls’ before the former’s demise.

    According to Gyan, he hasn’t fully recovered from the death of the award-winning singer.

    “Sometimes when his songs are being played, I think a lot. As human, you have to let some things go, but a lot of things bring back his memory…he introduced me to music, although I already had a talent for singing. I love his songs, but when it is being played brings back so much memories. I feel emotional,” he disclosed in the 2017 interview.

    Wednesday, July 6, 2022, marked eight years of Castro’s demise. He was declared legally dead in 2021 after seven years of his disappearance.

    Watch the video below:

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Hushpuppis sentencing postponed to September 21

    A Central District Court in California, United States of America (USA), presided over by Justice Otis Wright, has postponed the sentencing of a famous Nigerian cyber fraudster, Ramon Abass, popularly known as Hushpuppi, to September 21, 2022.

    Initially, the sentencing of Hushpuppi was scheduled for February 14 but was pushed to July 11, 2022, and now has been moved to September 21, at the request of the counsel for the famous fraudster.

    “At the request of counsel, the sentencing is continued to 9/21/2022 at 1:30 PM before Judge Otis D. Wright II, as to Defendant Ramon Olorunwa Abbas,” the court said.

    Detailing the role and contribution of Hushpuppi in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme against the US government, Tracy L. Wilkison, an Acting US Attorney, revealed that the Nigerian fraudster allegedly faked the financing of a Qatari school by playing the roles of bank officials and bribed a foreign official to support the fraud scheme as the victim was supposedly tipped off.

    Hushpuppi and some colleagues were arrested in Dubai, the United Arab Emirate (UAE), in June 2020 after a Dubai police squad raided his apartment.

    He was flown to the US to stand trial for defrauding the US government and its citizens.

    Court documents from the US Department of Justice reveal that Hushpuppi, in April 2021, pleaded guilty to the charges filed against him by the US government.

    He pleaded guilty to Count Two, which is “Conspiracy to Engage in Money Laundering,” an offence that attracts a maximum sentence of 20 years imprisonment among other punishments, including full restitution, his plea agreement with the U.S. government states in part.

    Source:ghanaweb.com

  • Nurses, midwives union threaten strike over COLA

    Union of Professional Nurses and Midwives, Ghana (UPNMG) has pleaded with the government to “pay all Public Sector Workers” a Cost Of Living Allowance (COLA) to prevent further industrial actions.

    The Union in a statement issued Tuesday said it expects “nothing short of a similar stop gap measure to encourage the many Nurses and Midwives in the country.”

    The Union says it is surprised at the way with which the account for welfare of nurses and midwives have been bundled within these hard economic crises and wants the government to intervene on their behalf by paying workers the “COLA” as was done in 2014 “in a similar economic situation”.

    They said this in relation to the ongoing indefinite strike by teacher unions (GNAT) over demands for a 20 per cent COLA, an action that has brought educational activities in pre-tertiary educational institutions across the country to a halt.

    “Yesterday, Unions in the education sector laid down their tools to drum home this request which was brought to the attention of the Employer during the May Day celebration and followed up with a formal letter by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) on the 24″‘ of June 2022.

    We, the members of the UNION OF PROFESSIONAL NURSES AND MIDWIVES, GHANA (UPNMG) are equally calling on the government to as a matter of urgency to introduce at least 20% of our basic salaries as COLA while we wait for the managers of the economy to turn things round. The strike called by teachers in their joint press release is a call in the right direction and deserves the full backing of all labour unions in the country,” said the nurses and midwives union.”

    “We have waited for the bearer of the Collective Bargaining Certificate for Nurses and Midwives to make a move in demanding for this COLA but little is heard from them.

    We have thus taken it upon ourselves as the second largest union within the Nursing and Midwifery profession to appeal to the government to as a matter of urgency take a critical look at the matter”.

    The earlier we begin to think about relooking at the conditions in which Nurses and Midwives work in Ghana the better it will be for our health system as Nurses and Midwives play a major role in the health delivery system,” the statement, signed by John Agbenyeavu, National PRO, said.

    Source:backend.theindependentghana.com

     

  • Former toll workers petition President over lost jobs

    Toll Booth workers of Ghana on July 5th patrolled to the parliament house to appeal to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo to pay members their six salary arrears and restore them to their previous jobs.

    The workers said returning to working as toll booth officers will help them generate income to fend for themselves and family members and also help restore the fundamental human rights they have.

    “It is our prayer that our supplication for job protection will find favour with you within the shortest possible time,” the Secretary of the association, Edward Duncan, stated when he presented their petition after their march .

    Petition

    The First Deputy Majority Whip, Lydia Seyram Alhassan, and the First Deputy Minority Whip, Ahmed Ibrahim received the petition on behalf of the speaker.

    Members of the association were joined by their executive, including its Chairman, Henry Dogbe; the First Vice Chairman, Richard Amati; the Second Vice Chairman, Mariam Kareem, and the Assistant Secretary, Nurata Jibreel.

    They marched peacefully to Parliament with placards, some of which read “My job, my life”, “Toll collection is not the cause of traffic”, “Pay us our arrears” and “Fulfil your promise to us Hon. Amoako-Atta.”

    Full promise

    Presenting the petition, Mr Duncan said the toll workers were members of the organised Professionals and Allied Workers Union, a reason an executive intervention would help them to regain their former jobs.

    He addresses the issues by saying  about 800 of workers of the association had their jobs curtailed and had been living in discomfort,pain and misery, following the suspension of road tolls during the presentation of the 2022 Budget and Economic Policy by the Minister of Finance to Parliament in November last year.

    “We were promised, Your Excellency, that our monthly salaries would continue to be paid until we were reassigned, but for the past six months, our salaries have been in arrears,” the petition which was addressed to the President said.

    They said instead of being reassigned, the appointments of members who were working with the Tolls and Routes Management Ltd had been terminated.

    They also said their salaries have been failed to be paid rendering them nothing to live on and has made them unemployed in the country resulting in shattered households and the loss of dignity

    Mr Duncan pointed out that the operation of the Tolls Workers of Ghana did not and had not been dependent on subventions of the state.

    “On the contrary, road toll collection is a major source of regular income for the state through the Ghana Road Fund,” he said.

    Tolls revenue

    Mr Duncan noted that averagely, the monthly revenue collected under Tolls and Routes Management Limited, the private company managing 20 of the major tolls in the country, was GH¢6.2 million.

    The tolls collected under Ghana Highway Authority worked out to a monthly average of GH¢900,000, he added.

    “In total, the monthly revenue generated from toll collections is GH¢7.1 million, which works out to a yearly average of GH¢85.2 million,” Mr Duncan said.

    In addition to the above, the secretary said an online survey conducted on whether to restore the road tolls or not had 5,952 respondents, with 99.6 percent of them in support of restoring the road tolls.

    “The results from this survey is indicative of the fact that a greater number of Ghanaians are in support of the restoration of the road tolls,” Mr Duncan added.

    Assurance

    Ms Alhassan assures the aggrieved members of the association that their petition would be acknowledged by the speaker to have their grievances solved after receiving the petition.

    Source:Theindependentghana.com

     

     

     

  • School feeding will continue despite strike by teacher unions Secretariat assures

    The School Feeding Secretariat has said that it will continue to feed pupils of public basic schools in spite of the strike action by teachers.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, the secretariat said that it took the decision to continue the School Feeding Programme after the order by the Ghana Education Service for schools to remain open.

    “Following the directive by the Ghana Education Service (GES) that Basic School Heads should keep schools open and closely supervise children who report to school in spite of the declaration of strike by the various Pre-Tertiary Teacher Unions, Management of the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP) therefore wishes to inform all caterers under the programme that, provision of meals for its beneficiary schools continuous until further directives from GSFP Management.

    “All caterers must take note and act accordingly,” the statement issued by the secretariat read.

    The Ghana National Association of Teachers, National Association of Graduate Teachers, Coalition of Concerned Teachers Ghana and the Teachers and Educational Workers Union commenced nationwide strike action on Monday, June 4, 2022.

    The strike according to the leadership of the teacher unions, is a result of the failure of the government to meet their demand for a 20% Cost of Living Allowance.

    “We have been compelled under the current circumstances to publicly communicate to Ghanaians on our intention to go on strike having gone passed the June 30, 2022 deadline we gave the government for the payment of Cost-of-Living-Allowance. Consequently, we have decided to embark on a Strike Action, effective today, Monday, July 4, 2022.

    “By this, we are informing the general public that, we are withdrawing all our services in all the Pre-tertiary educational space. (Teaching & Non-Teaching Staff),” the group stated in a press release.

    Meanwhile, the GES has ordered that all schools should remain open despite the announcement of an immediate strike by teaching and non-teaching staff in the public pre-tertiary sector.

    In a statement signed by its Public Relations head, Cassandra Twum Ampofi, the service indicated that the leadership of the teacher unions have been invited for talks with GES management but that heads of basic schools and Senior High Schools have been tasked to ensure the safety of all pupils and students.

    “Regional and District Directors have further been directed to ensure that Basic School Heads keep schools opened and closely supervise all children who report to school pending further directives from Management of GES,” parts of the statement read.

    Source: Ghanaweb

  • Teshie-Nungua bridge rendered impassable by Tuesdays rainstorm

    Vehicles commuting from Teshie to Nungua and vice versa were left stranded with the collapse of the bridge that connects the two suburbs of Accra.

    The Teshie-Nungua bridge became impassable after the heavy downpour on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, eroded portions of the bridge.

    A video shared on social media showed the area around the bridge heavily flooded.

    The concrete on the bridge had also been washed away with the iron rods of the bridge protruding.

    Aside from the Teshie-Nungua area, other parts of the capital, Accra, have been flooded following rains that started immediately after the dawn of Tuesday, July 5, 2022.

    Per videos shared on social media with the hashtag #AccraFloods, people are lamenting the manner in which parts of the capital are cut off when it rains.

    Movement – human and vehicular – has been seriously impacted in most areas per reports coming into GhanaWeb newsroom as well as in the videos posted on social media.

    Some of the areas heavily impacted include:

    a. Kaneshie First Light

    b. Fiesta Royal Junction

    c. Kwame Nkrumah Circle

    d. Area around Ecobank Headquarters at Ridge

    e. Accra – Nsawam road stretch

    f. 37 – Tetteh Quarshie stretch

    g. Spintex Road

    For most of the people posting videos on social media, they are concerned that a new round of complaints will be made, and in the end, little or nothing will be done.

    Others are asking when the government will take concrete action beyond the usual talk and promise of working to avert any future incidents.

    Watch videos of the impassable Teshie-Nungua bridge plus other floods in Accra:

    Source:  Ghanaweb