TIG Post

Author: Chris Kodo

  • Non-adherence to mask wearing worrying – GHS

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has expressed worry over the growing number of persons failing to adhere to the directive of facemask wearing in public.

    According to the service, its studies reveal more than fifty percent of the populace do not wear mask at all, with the remaining percentage also failing to properly wear protective gear.

    Director-General of GHS, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye revealing findings from the survey noted “if you realize, three or four weeks we have been conducting the mask-wearing research. The first one that was conducted we had the intention to use 80, but 44 percent were using the mask appropriately.”

    He went on “and the next survey that was done, this number dropped to fifteen percent and that means that people are dropping their guards. So, if people start dropping their guards of using the masks and about fifty-four percent of the people are not wearing masks, that is a major worry.”

    Source: Starr FM

  • Ghanas total cement sales decline by 3.9%

    The total cement sales as measured by the volume of the product decreased by 3.9% during the first quarter of 2020.

    The volume of cement sales during first quarter of this year amounted to 814,979.29 tonnes as compared to 848,258.76 tonnes sold during 4th quarter of 2019.

    Year on year, economic activities in the construction sub-sector as measured by the volume of cement sales declined by 12.0 percent as 925,612.99 tonnes of the product was recorded on 1st quarter of 2019.

    This is contained in a recent quarterly bulletin released by the Bank of Ghana (BoG).

    According to the report, the relative dip in total cement sales was due to a slowdown in construction activities during the review period.

    The slowdown of economic activities early this year could largely be attributed to anticipation of the arrival of the novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

    The pandemic has impacted global business activities whereas recovery in the business space remains dim as re- infections of the disease rages on.

    Multiple factors are changing the dynamics in Ghana, including the ongoing fiscal and energy crises confronting the country. Cement prices have been adversely impacted by the rather sharp fluctuations of the Ghanaian cedi in comparison to the US dollar.

    Though limestone reserves exist in Ghana, volumes are limited; hence the cement industry continues to rely largely on clinker imports. Furthermore, investments in capacity have capped compared to the previous three years, although two new cement manufacturers are preparing to enter the market.

    Source: goldstreetbusiness.com

  • Act quickly to address early signs of bank distress BoG to shareholders, bank boards

    The Second Deputy Governor of the central bank, Elsie Addo Awadzi, has charged shareholders, boards of banks and other deposit-taking institutions to quickly in addressing early signs of distress to mitigate the risk of failure.

    According to Elsie Addo Awadzi, such early prompting has ramifications not only for depositors but also for the stability of the entire financial system and the economy as a whole.

    Speaking at a webinar for the Ghana Association of Restructuring and Insolvency Advisors (GRIA), the second deputy governor said: “the Basel Core Principles require bank supervisory authorities to have adequate legal powers to impose prompt corrective action on weak institutions to give them a chance of recovery within a reasonable timeframe which they are required to take steps to resolve these institutions under a special resolution regime.”

    As part of its efforts to restore confidence in the banking and specialized deposit-taking sectors, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) embarked on a clean-up exercise in August 2017 to resolve insolvent financial institutions whose continued existence posed risks to the interest of depositors.

    The clean-up saw the revocation of licenses of 9 universal banks, 347 microfinance companies, 39 microcredit companies or money lenders, 15 savings and loans companies, 8 finance house companies, and two non-bank financial institutions.

    The move by the central bank was a comprehensive assessment of the savings and loans and finance house sub-sectors carried out by the BoG in the last few years after it identified serious breaches.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Police gun down two carjackers in shootout at Asamankese

    The Greater Accra Regional Command of the Ghana Police Service has gunned down two carjackers at Asamankese.

    According to a press statement issued on Thursday, August 27, 2020, the two died from a dawn shootout with the police

    “The two, whose actual identities are yet to be established, died from gunshot wounds they sustained in a dawn shootout with the police.”

    The statement further added that the two had “earlier snatched a Nissan Murano vehicle at gunpoint earlier this week in Accra.”

    The car has however been retrieved by police.

    Meanwhile, another accomplice, Erasmus Somuah Sekyie, was arrested during the operation and is currently in police custody assisting in the investigation.

    The bodies of the two have been deposited at the Police hospital mortuary awaiting pathological examination.

    Below is the press statement from the police

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Building Interchanges without critical thinking could worsen traffic congestion – Minister

    Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah has given excuses as to why the four interchanges promised the people in the region by the government almost three years ago have not been fulfilled.

    “Assessing the situation, we realize that if we start the construction of an interchange at Angloga Junction and one at Suame Roundabout, the traffic situation will worsen,” the Minister explained in an interview monitored by MyNewsGh.com.

    According to Hon. Simon Osei-Mensah, all promises to build the four interchanges and to fix deteriorating roads in the Kumasi metropolis will be honoured however, critical thinking must be put in play. If you do a good thing at a bad time, it becomes bad thing”, Ashanti Regional Minister pointed out.

    The Minister of Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako Atta, more than a year ago said the government is set to build four new standard interchanges in Kumasi to drastically reduce vehicular traffic in the Ashanti regional capital.

    The project according to the minister will take place at Suame Roundabout, Anloga junction (Oforikrom), Bekwai roundabout and airport roundabout.

    He disclosed that the government has 156 different road projects currently ongoing in the Region.

    Adding that ring road will be constructed to ease movement for people travelling from Accra to the North and vice versa, who do not have anything to do in Kumasi.

    Source: My News GH

  • Election 2020: Don’t underrate NDC — Baafi

    THE New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary candidate for New Juaben South, Mr. Michael Okyere Baafi, has urged members of the party not to underrate the chances of the opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC) in the December general election.

    He said the NDC was capable of using every means to recapture power.

    Mr. Baafi gave the caution when the Eastern Regional First Vice-Chairman of the NPP, Alhaji Umar Baba Bodinga, inaugurated the constituency’s campaign team in Koforidua last Tuesday.

    He, therefore, urged the constituency campaign team to work very hard and reach out to the electorate especially first-time voters to win more votes for the party at the polls.

    Campaign team

    Under the chairmanship of Mr. Baafi, other members of the campaign team include the incumbent MP, Dr. Mark Assibey Yeboah; the Municipal Chief Executive for New Juaben South, Mr. Isaac Appaw-Gyasi; the party’s constituency chairman, Mr. Kwame Boamah Dwira; a former MP for the area, Mr. Yaw Barima; the constituency Organiser, Alhaji Hassan Abubakari, and the constituency secretary, Mr. Isaac Adjabeng, among other party members.

    Work together

    Addressing the party faithful, Mr. Baafi stated that the party had projected to garner 70, 000 votes in the constituency and urged the team members to work together and maintain the unity of the party.

    Mr. Baafi indicated that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the campaign team would not be organising large rallies but would be visiting voters in churches, mosques, market places, offices, rooms and workplaces to canvass for votes.

    Zongo communities

    The Eastern Regional First Vice-Chairman of the NPP, Alhaji Umar Bodinga, urged the campaign team to explain government policies and programmes to the electorate to convince them to vote for the party.

    A former Eastern Regional Minister and advisor to the campaign team, Mr. Yaw Barima, said he was confident that the NPP would emerge victorious in the upcoming elections.

    He appealed to the campaign team to continue to work hard to ensure that the good works of the government were propagated and accepted by the electorate.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Traditional leaders, G/R Minister to devise roadmap for resolving Dome Faase land dispute

    Traditional leaders in Dome Faase, where a clash over a land boundary dispute occurred, are expected to meet the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Ishmael Ashitey, to devise a roadmap towards restoring calm in the area.

    The Omankrado for the Obom Domeabra community, Nii Addo made this known on Eyewitness News on Thursday, August 27, 2020.

    He said the meeting will be held today, Friday, August 28, 2020.

    “We are meeting with our Greater Accra Regional Minister and others to find a way forward. We are planning what to tell them on Friday,” Nii Addo said.

    He pointed out that the military personnel deployed to the town had left after retrieving their rifles that were seized by residents.

    “As I spoke, everybody listened to me and by the grace of God, they retrieved all their rifles.”

    The coalition of Ga communities had alleged that the Mponuahene of Akyem Apadwa and the Akyem Traditional Council in the Eastern Region were taking their farmlands from them hence the resistance that led to the chaos on Tuesday, August 25, 2020.

    Hundreds of fear-stricken residents fled after claiming they were being harassed by military officers.

    Some residents told Citi News that military personnel deployed to the area moved from one house to the other, demanding to see the men in the house.

    They also claimed that the military personnel ransacked their rooms.

    The residents say they will only return if the military personnel are withdrawn.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • 30-year-old man stabbed to death at Gomoa Budumburam

    Thirty-year-old Kwabena Sekyere, a resident of Gomoa Budumburam has been stabbed to death.

    The dastardly act was allegedly perpetrated by a Cameroonian national after an argument ensued between the two.

    The suspect, who is currently on the run, allegedly inflicted cutlass wounds on another person nearby.

    Citi News sources said the suspect accused the deceased of volunteering information leading to the arrest of some criminals in the Budumburam township, thus triggering an altercation between the two.

    An eyewitness told Citi News that during the heated argument: “I thought they were just joking but it became very serious. He took a knife and stabbed the boy. The boy was running away, but he was still running behind the boy stabbing him. The boy fell down and he was still stabbing him.”

    After about an hour, they rushed the victim to the hospital “and we heard the boy had passed away,” the eyewitness added.

    The body of the deceased has been deposited at the St. Gregory Catholic hospital in Budumburam while police are yet to comment on the incident.

    Ghanaians in Gomoa Budumburam were left in shock after the stabbing.

    They called on the police to act swiftly to arrest the suspect said to be on the run.

    They also complained bitterly about the insecurity in the area.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Police wives embark on demonstration

    Police Wives at the Cocoa Marketing Board (CMB) Barracks in Accra on Thursday embarked on a demonstration over the pulling down of trees at the compound by a private building contractor.

    Madam Joyce Amponsah, who spoke on behalf of the Police wives, told the media that they heard an excavator pulling down trees on their compound around 0300 hours on Thursday.

    “We started screaming at the operators to stop,” adding that their husbands who were not on night duty at the time confronted the contractor.

    Madam Amponsah said the people who were pulling down the trees were reluctant to stop because they were authorized by one Mr Kwame Owusu, a building contractor, to do the job so they could not disobey his orders.

    She said the operators later left but they were afraid their children who play around the compound could be injured.

    The Police wives called on the Government to intervene to stop the contractor from the demolition of the houses.

    Nana Agyarko II, who spoke on behalf of Mr Kwame Owusu, the building contractor, told the Ghana News Agency that the allegations levelled against the contractor were not true.

    He said the property did not belong to Mr Kwame Owusu as the Police wives said rather it belonged to the Police.

    He was giving an order by the CMB Police Commander to pull down the trees for a proper assessment and measurement for the new building project.

    Nana Agyarko said the Police administration had offered Mr Owusu a contract to build new houses on the land.

    He said the CMB Police Commander and some Officers from the Police Headquarters engaged in a conversation with the Officers occupying the place three days ago before they started pulling down the trees.

    Source: GNA

  • Mobile Phone usage in schools to be reviewed GES

    Stakeholders in the education sector are considering reviewing the ban on mobile phone usage in schools.

    Mrs Esther Jones Safo, Ga North Municipal Director of Education, who disclosed this in Accra on Thursday, said the review would be done so that mobile phones could be used strictly for academic purposes.

    She said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after the inauguration and swearing-in of Executive Members of the Ga North Municipality Conference of Heads of Basic Schools (COHBS) at Pokuase in the Greater Accra Region.

    The inauguration was on the theme: “Providing Quality Education amid COVID-19 Pandemic, the Role of the Head Teacher.”

    COHBS seeks to bring together headteachers within the various directorates to share experiences, ideas, concerns and successes in the running of schools.

    Mrs Safo entreated students to desist from visiting restricted websites on phones and computers and rather take advantage of the Ghana Education Learning programmes on various television channels.

    She noted that in the era of COVID-19 headteachers must adopt strategies to help provide quality education.

    “Headteachers play a major role in the school management system and they are expected to come up with efficient and cost-effective strategies to improve on teaching and learning,” Mrs Safo said.

    “In these challenging times, headteachers are expected to explore various options for distance learning tools including online virtual lessons and downloadable lessons”.

    She said currently, schools around the world were being encouraged to reduce the rate of contact teaching and resort to the remote learning system to curb the spread of the pandemic.

    She, therefore, advised the headteachers to encourage their students to patronise radio and television programmes as well and appreciate distance learning.

    Mrs Safo drew their attention to the launch of the Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes Project (GALOP) by the Government in June, this year, which aimed at improving the quality of low performing basic schools and strengthening education sector accountability.

    “The project would also employ the phased approach to accommodate the gradual rollout of the new curriculum by government, which would begin with early grade (KG to primary six),” she said.

    It would be expanded to other levels of basic education as the new curriculum is rolled out.

    “The learning interventions are expected to reach approximately 10,000 poorly performing public schools (KG, primary and Junior High Schools),” Mrs Safo said.

    She entreated members of the Ga North COHBS to remain united to propel growth.

    Nii Tettey Okpe II, Amamole Mantse and Chairman of the occasion urged members of the newly constituted Ga North COHBS to double up their efforts to catch up with their counterparts who were inaugurated some time ago and called for teamwork among teachers and headteachers.

    Mr Edward Obeng Anim Pabi, COHBS Chairman for Ga North, explained that the Ga North Municipality was created in 2019 out of the Ga Central Municipality.

    He said that resulted in headteachers not belonging to any of the groups, hence the need to mobilise them under one umbrella.

    Mr Addo Nicholas Nii Kpakpoe, Greater Accra Regional Chairman, COHBS, urged members to set out and share their visions and missions with teachers to spur excellence in teaching and learning.

    There were solidarity messages from the La Nkwantanang, Ga Central, and Weija/Gbawe COHBS.

    Source: GNA

  • Man arrested for possessing an AK-47 rifle loaded with 52 rounds of ammunition

    The Police in Techiman Municipality of the Bono East Region has arrested a 40-year-old man, Martin Agyei for possessing an AK 47 assault rifle loaded with 52 rounds of ammunition.

    According to the Police who confirmed the incident to MyNewsGH.com, Martin Agyei was arrested while they were on a snap check duty at Kodie in his attempt to enter the Ashanti Region with the weapons on suspicion of using them to engage in armed robbery

    The suspect who was driving a Daewoo Matiz with registration number AS 880-16 to Kumasi was thoroughly searched.

    it was in the process that the discovered the items found in his car which included one AK 47 assault rifle No. 74369511, two magazines loaded with 26 ammunition each, one butcher knife, one locally manufactured pistol, three mobile phones, two pullovers, a pair of white glove, one power bank, two pairs of sandals, cash of GHC 1050.00, two Chinese Yuan and one US dollar.

    Martin Adjei has since been detained and his car impounded by the Ghana Police Service to help the Police in its investigation.

    Source: My News GH

  • Security Expert, Adib Saani condemns attack on Soldiers

    A security expert, Adib Saani, has condemned the attack on soldiers at Dome Faase, near Obom Domeabra.

    He said whether the victims were military men or landguards, there was no justification for the attack.

    He described what happened at Dome Faase as a “backward, retrogressive mob mentality”.

    He also condemned the actions of some military men, who went to retaliate after the two soldiers were brutalised at Dome Faase, saying that the issue could have been handled in a better way, especially when women had to run away from their homes to seek refuge elsewhere.

    He made the statement while speaking on Atinka 104.7 AM Drive, hosted by Ekourba Gyasi.

    After the incident, the Deputy Defence Minister came out to say those army personnel were sent by their authorities and did not go there on their own as speculated by the public.

    Source: Atinka Online

  • President says military deployment in Volta Region, not an invasion

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has condemned allegations of ill-faith over the deployment of security personnel in the Volta Region.

    He said the deployment of 1,000 security personnel nationwide, of which 163 were in the Volta Region, helped in neutralising the threat of terrorism and imported COVID-19 cases.

    It was not to intimidate the people of any Region, he said.

    President Akufo-Addo said these at a durbar of Chiefs of the Anlo State during a day’s working visit.

    “The Volta Region was not singled out for any political operation and there was certainly no political or ethnic agenda.

    “We live in a difficult neighbourhood where terrorist activities have become every day matters for many countries in the region especially and regrettably in our immediate northern neighbour Burkina Faso.

    “That we have so far been spared the ravages of the terrorists, it is the result of the hard work and constant vigilance of our security services and the grace of the Almighty but we have to be on constant alert and if and when we have to tighten our security along our borders. It is my responsibility to do so and I will do so,” he stated.

    President Akufo-Addo said the Volta Region remained an “integral part of the Republic of Ghana and military deployments in the region cannot be described as an invasion” and condemned the “frenzy” with which some social media users resorted to falsifying the situation using false media material.

    “These have been escalated into accusations of ethnic cleansing, and the government that I lead has been labelled as tribalist,” he said, and asked Ghanaians to be circumspect, and not to ruin the unity the Nation was blessed with.

    The President noted the relevance the NPP attached to the people of the Region, having appointed natives into “critical roles” in government, and suggested that the measure for discrimination be considered in the distribution of national resources.

    “I have been forced to look deep inside me as a result of the virulent language that has been directed at me and at the government I have”, he said, and added that the NPP in its “darkest days” drew its “biggest strength” from the Region.

    “Even if there was a little tribal brittle bone within my makeup – which there is not, I will not choose the Volta Region as my target. History will not allow me.”

    “My commitment to the Ghana project is total. The enemy we face is bad governance and poverty and that is what I expend my energy trying to defeat. It is a battle we can only win if we pull in the same direction even if we have different perceptions,” he said.

    President Akufo-Addo said the nation was on the right path, and asked for the support of all in delivering a transformed nation, and promised to ensure a “free, fair, peaceful and transparent” general elections.

    He said the NPP government had delivered “exceptionally” in the “equitable” sharing of the National cake, affecting the lives of many that had been denied.

    The President said the Keta harbour project was much on the horizon and revealed that feasibility studies on the project were about concluding, whiles a Legislative Instrument was appended to secure land for its commencement.

    President Akufo-Addo commissioned a 12-unit classroom block for the Keta Senior High school under the Senior High School Intervention Project.

    He also cut the sod for work to begin on the Keta Water Expansion project.

    Source: GNA

  • Dome-Faase Military ‘shutdown’: Mankrado in hiding, pleads for protection

    Nii Addo, Mankrado (traditional leader) of Obuom traditional area (Dome-Faase) is asking for protection.

    The Mankrado who is currently at a hideout in Accra says if his safety is assured, he will come out to assist the military look for their missing weapons.

    “If I am given the assurance that I will be safe, I will assist the soldiers to find the weapons,” he said.

    Two military officers who were reportedly on an operation in Dome-Faase were assaulted by residents and their guns seized. The vicinity was subsequently taken over by soldiers causing indigenes to flee.

    According to reports, Dome-Faase is now a ‘ghost town’.

    Nii Addo narrated what ensued to Kwami Sefa Kayi in an interview on Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, and apologized to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the Ghana Armed Forces for the unfortunate incident.

    “When we realized the soldiers were on the land we reported it to the police but they (police) said there is nothing they can do because according to the soldiers, they are obeying an order from above. What happened is indeed a condemnable act so I apologize to the President, the soldiers,” he stated.

    Residents flee after armed soldiers stormed community

    Hundreds of residents of Dome-Faase in the Ga South Municipality have deserted their homes after armed soldiers stormed the community.

    The personnel numbering over 300 besieged the town in search of some civilians who assaulted two soldiers during a land conflict.

    The two soldiers were severely injured when they were attacked by the irate residents over land ownership.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Government delegation interacts with inmates of alleged witches

    A government delegation visited some alleged witches’ camps in the Northern Region to interact with inmates to ascertain their conditions of living.

    The move was to help seek the inputs of inmates in terms of what they wanted government to do for them to improve their lot.

    The delegation comprised Madam Cynthia Mamle Morrison, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, and Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Gender, Children and Social Protection.

    The delegation visited the Gnani Witches Camp in the Yendi Municipality, where there were 133 female inmates, 88 male inmates and dozens of children, and the Kpatinga Witches Camp in Gushegu Municipality where there were 32 alleged witches and seven of their children.

    Some of the inmates told members of the delegation that they were wrongfully accused of witchcraft, tortured and sent away from their communities, where some of them had remained at the camps for more than a decade now.

    The ages of inmates at the camps ranged from 40 years to about 70 years.

    Mr Shei Alhassan, Tindana (Landlord) of the Gnani Witches Camp, who spoke on behalf of inmates, said they were engaged in farming activities but they usually ran out of food from June to July, every year, when their stocks ran dry.

    Mr Alhassan added that “They lie on the floor because they do not have mats. They do not have clothes to wear. They were on LEAP but their names were deleted from the programme in 2017. Many of them have had their NHIS subscriptions expired. There is only one private school from class one to six in the area and many of their children do not attend the school because they cannot pay the fees. Some inmates are very old and do not have relatives to take care of them.”

    He, therefore, appealed to government to put the inmates back on the LEAP, renew their NHIS subscriptions, absorb the private school in the area amongst other support packages to improve the conditions of the inmates.

    He spoke on whether or not to reintegrate the inmates to their original communities, saying while some inmates would be willing to be reintegrated, the challenge had been the fact that members of their original communities did not want them back.

    At the Kpatinga Witches Camp, similar challenges including the lack of toilet facilities and electricity at the camp were enumerated.

    Madam Morrison described the inmates as vulnerable, saying, government was looking at putting them into groups to engage in shea butter processing as well as support others with inputs to support their food production activities.

    She encouraged them to remain strong and have the assurance that the state was interested in creating safe haven for them.

    Dr Kojo Appiah-Kubi, Member of Parliament for Atwima-Kwanwoma and Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Gender, Children and Social Protection, said the Committee would submit a report on the state of the camps to Parliament for action to be taken regarding issues identified during the visit.

    Dr Appiah-Kubi spoke against human rights abuses meted out to people, especially vulnerable elderly women, who were wrongfully accused of witchcraft, advising communities noted for such acts to desist from the practice.

    The delegation presented some food packages to the inmates to support them.

    The Ghana News Agency also understands that the delegation will visit other alleged witches’ camps in the north before returning to Accra.

    Source: GNA

  • Expect your postings by close of August – Prospective NSS personnel told

    The National Service Scheme (NSS) has asked prospective National Service Personnel (NSP)) to expect their postings at the end of August.

    This was contained in a statement from the Scheme which was copied to MyNewsGh.com.

    The National Service Scheme blamed the delays in the release of the list on the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic and the closure of some agencies across the country.

    Also, the scheme has ordered that all personnel who are bringing their service to an end across the country should submit online request only for their certificates.

    “This year, the scheme mandates all completing personnel to submit online requests ONLY for their certificate request and they would get a digital copy, and a hard copy delivered to their address. The service can be accessed on https://www.nsscertificate.com.”

    This according to the scheme is part of its digitization drive and also to ensure that the scheme can serve personnel with ease across the country.

    Read the statement here:

    NSS CERTIFICATE COLLECTION GOES FULLY DIGITAL

    The Ghana National Service Scheme has introduced a digital certificate collection service, in line with its continual drive to digitize key processes in how it serves its personnel.

    With global concerns on COVID-19 and its protocols, the central web-based certification platform allows for request submission, and generation of a secured and verifiable digital copy of the NSS certificate, without the need for physical contact. The NSS Digital Certificate is distributed as a password-protected document to a valid email address of the personnel and secured with encrypted information about its origin, owner, issuance date, and authenticity.

    This solution is an upgrade of the NSS Certificate Delivery system first introduced in 2018, to solve the challenge age-old challenge of stockpiling old uncollected certificates in NSS regional offices making it increasingly difficult to serve new personnel. It provided a comprehensive inventory system to ensure proper filing of certificates and also improve the management of certificates by a central web system. This is to ensure full accountability for every certificate.

    In partnership with major courier companies in the country, the scheme has been able to fulfil over 40,000 certificate delivery requests to date, reducing operational overhead for the regional offices by 15% Year-on-Year.

    This year, the scheme mandates all completing personnel to submit online requests ONLY for their certificate request and they would get a digital copy, and a hard copy delivered to their address. The service can be accessed on https://www.nsscertificate.com.

    The Scheme under the leadership of Hon. Mustapha Ussif has introduced advance IT systems such as the Certificate Delivery system and the online appointment system during registration to reduce the inconveniences personnel go through during and after their service.

    Speaking on this, he explains that “we are in times where we have to be able to serve more people with less resources. Thus, service delivery has to be the beacon of our engagement with NSS personnel, and we would continue to innovate aggressively around the changing needs of our personnel and the peculiar challenges of our environment.”

    Hon. Ussif also spoke about the delay in the release of the 2020/21 service posting and assured personnel to anticipate it by the end of the month. He attributed the delay as a result of COVID-19 and closure of agencies.

    Source: My News GH

  • Ashaiman assembly to construct Middle East roads to ease traffic jam

    The Ashaiman Municipal Assembly (ASHMA) yesterday commenced an exercise to construct access roads in one of its suburbs known as Middle East.

    The project is aimed at decongesting the area and providing an avenue for automobile owners to access the services of the more than 1,000 artisans who operate in the area.

    At the site yesterday, the Municipal Chief Executive of ASHMA, Mr Albert Okyere, told pressmen that the more than 2.7km road would be covered with bitumen and chippings.

    He noted that the assembly would erect street lights along the road to illuminate the area at night.

    Mr Okyere explained that when the assembly met with members of the High Tension Middle East Artisans Association and Middle East Landlords Association over the implementation of the project, all the stakeholders pledged to support it.

    He expressed the hope that the project would dovetail into the motorway slipway when it was completed.

    Chairman of High Tension Middle East Artisans Association, Francis Asun, commended ASHMA for undertaking the project which, he said, had the potential to boost business in the enclave.

    For his part, Chairman of the Middle East Landlords Association, George Nana Boadi, said the improvement in the road network would ease traffic congestion and save time for economic activity.

    Source: Ghanaian Times

  • Tenants protest against NADMOs order to vacate from dilapidated building at Adum

    A two-week order by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to tenants and some family members to vacate a building at Adum in Kumasi to pave way for its demolition has sparked commotion between the two.

    Wearing black and red clothes and armbands, in the early hours of Wednesday, the tenants (store owners) and family members, demonstrated in front of the building in protest against the stance of NADMO.

    The one-story building, located on the Guggisberg Road at Adum, the hub of business in the Kumasi Metropolis, has 21 stores under it, with some family members, some octogenarians, as occupants.

    At a press briefing after the demonstration, the spokesperson of the group, Mr Osei Kwadwo, called on the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to step in to avert the demolition especially in this era of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), that has seen the government easing the plight of the vulnerable in the country.

    He wondered why the NADMO has proceeded to evict them for the building to be demolished when the case was still pending at the Human Rights Court, in Kumasi.

    The spokesperson accused NADMO of conniving with Mr Alfred Obeng Boateng, owner of the Approachers Series, and describing him as owning the building, which in fact, he said, is owned by the Budukuma Estates.

    Throwing some light, he indicated that some years back, Budukuma Estates met the tenants and discussed with them the renewal of the lease of the property and other renovation works.

    He said they made contributions towardS that, but the owners later asked them to stop as the project would be given out to a contractor, which happened to be Approachers Series.

    According to Mr Kwadwo, a misunderstanding ensued between them and the owners and the case, to which Approachers Series was a party, went to court.

    In the course of event, he said, the owners decided to cancel the contract with the Approachers Series.

    And, in view of that, the tenants and owners of the property decided to withdraw the case for settlement at home, but interestingly Approachers Series would not budge.

    Four years ago, he said, Approacbers Series dumped sand and other materials in front of the building in an attempt to pull it down, but did not.

    He said the case was last called at the court, presided by Justice George Kroffah Addai, on July 7, 2020, and adjourned to November 30, 2020.

    But, while the case is still pending at the court, NADMO has served notice on the tenants to quit the premises within two weeks.

    The letter dated August18, 2020, and signed by the Ashanti Regional Director of NADMO, Kwabena Nsenkyire, noted there had been an inspection of the building and summary findings revealed deep cracks on its walls showing signs of collapse.

    According to the letter, the building had become a death trap to occupants, traders and unsuspecting bystanders.

    It urged the occupants to, as a matter of urgency, evacuate the building and that the owner, Approachers Series, should demolish it.

    The letter was copied to the Ashanti Regional Minister, Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly, Fourth Battalion of Infantry, Electricity Company of Ghana, Ghana National Fire Service, Ashanti Regional Police Command and Alfred Obeng Boateng (Approachers Series).

    Source: Peace FM

  • Spare parts dealers, others call off demo against ban on salvaged car imports

    The Coalition of Car and spare parts dealers and its allied associations have called off their demonstration against the implementation of the Customs Amendment Act 2020.

    The protest had been scheduled to take place in Tema today, Thursday, August 27, 2020.

    The group earlier contended that the Act which will take effect in November 2020 will adversely impact their businesses and cause several local artisans within the vehicle importation value chain to go out of business should government implements the Act.

    Secretary of the Association, Kofi Asamoah, in a Citi News interview explained that government had assured them of attending to their grievances, compelling them to call off the demonstration.

    “The Ministry responsible for our trade business called us three days, and we had a fruitful discussion. They promised to address all our concerns. So there was no need for us to continue our demonstration.”

    “When we were complaining about the ban on imported cars, and there were no proper definitions on it, now they have promised to give clear definitions of salvage vehicles. So, in essence, they have promised to settle all our issues for us and we are okay.”

    The Customs Amendment Act 2020 among other things, provides incentives for automobile manufacturers and assemblers registered under the Ghana Automotive Manufacturers Programme and prohibits the importation of salvaged motor vehicles and cars over ten years of age into the country.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • 2 children whipped for stealing GH¢150, poisoning soup of victim

    Two children have been caught for stealing GH¢150 and also poisoning the soup and water of one Godwin Martey at Sekyere-Krobo in Wassa East of the Western Region.

    This incident was reported on the Omanba-pa morning show on Connect FM Wednesday morning.

    The Unit Committee Chairman for Sekyere-Krobo, Jewel K. Ameyaw, who narrated the incident, said the two children, aged 10 and 12, managed to enter the residence of Godwin Martey and made away with a cash of ¢150 and poisoned his water and soup with Cocoa Akatse, which is used for cocoa farms.

    “These children stole ¢150 cash and managed to put Cocoa Akatse into the soup and water of Martey,” Ameyaw narrated.

    But the victim was smart to realise his water had been poisoned as an unusual scent emanated from the water as well as the soup.

    Upon several examinations from his experience as a farmer, Godwin Martey realised it was the smell of Cocoa Akatse.

    He again realized that cash he saved in the room was nowhere to be found.

    A tip-off led to the arrest of the two children.

    They were, consequently, summoned before opinion leaders and were whipped as punishment.

    Jewel K. Ameyaw again said all the families involved will have a roundtable discussion to settle the issue amicably.

    Source: 3 News

  • Request for your certificates to be given to you online – NSS to completing personnel

    The Management of the National Service Scheme has asked that personnel under the scheme who will end their service to the nation should request for their certificates to be given to them online.

    “This year, the scheme mandates all completing personnel to submit online requests ONLY for their certificate request and they would get a digital copy, and a hard copy delivered to their address. The service can be accessed on https://www.nsscertificate.com.”

    According to the Scheme, the move is part of its digitization drive at the National Service Secretariat and also a move to address the age-old challenge stockpiling old uncollected certificates in NSS regional offices making it increasingly difficult to serve new personnel.

    “With global concerns on COVID-19 and its protocols, the central web-based certification platform allows for request submission, and generation of a secured and verifiable digital copy of the NSS certificate, without the need for physical contact. The NSS Digital Certificate is distributed as a password-protected document to a valid email address of the personnel and secured with encrypted information about its origin, owner, issuance date, and authenticity.

    “This solution is an upgrade of the NSS Certificate Delivery system first introduced in 2018, to solve the challenge age-old challenge of stockpiling old uncollected certificates in NSS regional offices making it increasingly difficult to serve new personnel. It provided a comprehensive inventory system to ensure proper filing of certificates and also improve the management of certificates by a central web system. This is to ensure full accountability for every certificate.”

    The National Service Scheme started its digitization drive under the leadership of Hon. Mustapha Ussif where Certificate Delivery system and the online appointment system during registration were introduced to reduce the inconveniences personnel go through during and after their service.

    With the introduction of the Certificate Delivery system, the NSS has in partnership with major courier companies in the country to be able to fulfill over 40,000 certificate delivery requests to date, reducing operational overhead for the regional offices by 15% Year-on-Year.

    Read Statement From NSS Here:

    NSS CERTIFICATE COLLECTION GOES FULLY DIGITAL

    The Ghana National Service Scheme has introduced a digital certificate collection service, in line with its continual drive to digitize key processes in how it serves its personnel.

    With global concerns on COVID-19 and its protocols, the central web-based certification platform allows for request submission, and generation of a secured and verifiable digital copy of the NSS certificate, without the need for physical contact. The NSS Digital Certificate is distributed as a password-protected document to a valid email address of the personnel, and secured with encrypted information about its origin, owner, issuance date, and authenticity.

    This solution is an upgrade of the NSS Certificate Delivery system first introduced in 2018, to solve the challenge age-old challenge of stockpiling old uncollected certificates in NSS regional offices making it increasingly difficult to serve new personnel. It provided a comprehensive inventory system to ensure proper filing of certificates and also improve the management of certificates by a central web system. This is to ensure full accountability for every certificate.

    In partnership with major courier companies in the country, the scheme has been able to fulfill over 40,000 certificate delivery requests to date, reducing operational overhead for the regional offices by 15% Year-on-Year.

    This year, the scheme mandates all completing personnel to submit online requests ONLY for their certificate request and they would get a digital copy, and a hard copy delivered to their address. The service can be accessed on https://www.nsscertificate.com.

    The Scheme under the leadership of Hon. Mustapha Ussif has introduced advance IT systems such as the Certificate Delivery system and the online appointment system during registration to reduce the inconveniences personnel go through during and after their service.

    Speaking on this, he explains that “we are in times were we have to be able to serve more people with less resources. Thus, service delivery has to be the beacon of our engagement with NSS personnel, and we would continue to innovate aggressively around the changing needs of our personnel and the peculiar challenges of our environment.”

    Hon. Ussif also spoke about the delay in the release of the 2020/21 service posting and assured personnel to anticipate it by the end of the month. He attributed the delay as a result of Coronavirus and closure of agencies.

    Source: My News GH

  • Forget about profits, treat students like your own – Providers of hot meals told

    The National School Feeding (NSF) Coordinator, Dr Gertrude Quashigah, has charged caterers providing hot meals to students to ensure that they are fed with nutritious meals.

    This comes after some students raised criticisms about the food being provided.

    “It is very important that you treat these children as your own and to forget about the profit you would make today. Rather, look up to God for blessings. You are all mothers and I expect you to give these children, food that you will give to your children at home”, she said during her interaction with the caterers.

    She reiterated that because the health of beneficiary students is paramount and should not be compromised, the caterers should always endeavour that wholesome meals are prepared and served under hygienic conditions for the students.

    Dr Quashigah embarked on a visit to some schools in the Volta region where final year students will be receiving one hot meal each day until they complete their exit exams.

    She was accompanied by the Volta Regional Minister, his deputy, as well as the Regional Coordinator for the School Feeding Program.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Obom: 26 health workers traumatised after military raid

    26 health workers of the Obom Health Centre are traumatised after military men raided the entire community to search for perpetrators who allegedly inflicted cutlass wounds on two soldiers during a clash over a disputed land.

    The Administrator of the facility, Adam Dramani alleged that the Military officers fired gunshots indiscriminately during the arrest of the civilians.

    Adam Addramani also alleged that some of his workers also “received several slaps.”

    He also said the military mistakenly arrested his worker thinking that they were part of the perpetrators.

    Due to the unfortunate incident, he complained that workers are refusing to go to work adding that two are on admission.

    Adams Dramani appealed to the military men to temper justice with mercy because many workers are leaving in fear.

    Meanwhile, a source close the Military high command indicates that one of the military guns used by the two soldiers has been found.

    Source: Atinka Online

  • New Births and Deaths Registration Act to help improve collation of vital information for Ghana’s development

    The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama says the new Births and Deaths Registration Act which has been passed by Parliament will help improve collation of vital information for national development.

    At a Meet the Press engagement Wednesday [August 26, 2020], Hajia Alima Mahama said in 2019, the Registry registered 707,064 infant births (359,532 males and 347,532 females) out of a targeted 879,483 representing 80.40%.

    On deaths, the minister said the Registry registered 51,159 deaths (27,480 males and 23,679 females) out of 309,955 as its target representing 17%.

    “The new Births and Deaths Registration Act, 2020, seeks to integrate the registration system into the local administration setup. MMDAs will be responsible for the provision of registration facilities at the district level. This will ensure the decentralization of the registration machinery and make registration of vital events accessible to the populace with pronounced functionality at the community level (urban, zonal and town councils”.

    The minster said under this protocol, there will be a digital interface between the Births and Deaths Registry and institutions like the National Identification Authority (NIA), the National Health Insurance Agency (NHIA), The Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).

    Hajia Alima Mahama added that the new Birth and Death Registration Act will provide for the generation of Community Population registers, which will breed demographic data for the purposes of development planning at the district level. She said this will address the issue of the registration of children born under surrogacy arrangement and address the requirement for the registration of all morgues, funeral homes, burial grounds and crematoriums by the District Assembly.

    “The Act introduces enforcement of registration system by mandating Registration Officers to inspect registration records at the household level within the electoral areas of the district. It also introduces the concept of notification and identifies primary notifiers of vital events to include persons in charge of health facilities where births/deaths occur; Traditional Birth Attendants and managers of educational institutions (pre-school and basic schools)”, she said.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Kofi Gane identifies five major reasons why Okada business still thrives

    Independent presidential candidate, Marricke Kofi Gane has reacted to the debate on the legislation of Okada business saying the increasing rate of the business is due to the weak centralised intracity transport networks.

    He blamed the situation on several causes indicating that “the economic gaps within our main cosmopolitan capitals that drive their continuing demand they are a triage source of rent, income and enabling inexpensive logistics.”

    “The lack of enforcement of traffic regulations within especially our metropolitan areas.”

    Mr Kofi Gane said to solve the problem, we have to tackle the fundamental cause and stop the usual politicisation of issues in the country.

    “It has to be about solving the fundamental problems that gave rise to their prominence in the first place efficient central transport, effective city road networks, traffic enforcement and monetization of Indiscipline, reducing unemployment, regional decentralization (not just political and administrative) and local manufacturing or assembling of same for domestic value retention.

    This, is where we seem to always miss it the persistent attempt to proffer short term “politically emotional” solutions, instead of holistic longer-term ones. It may even be useful to a limited extent, to bring some formality to niches of their service delivery, i.e. deliveries/logistics and tourism.”

    Read his opinion below;

    THE DEBATE ABOUT OKADAS, should also necessarily be about:

    1) The lack of or weak centralised intracity transport networks;

    2) The huge unemployment bulge among the 17-38-year-olds;

    3) The surging (+50%) rural-urban migration and the lack of decentralized development across other non-cosmopolitan regions;

    4) The economic gaps within our main cosmopolitan capitals that drive their continuing demand they are a triage source of rent, income and enabling inexpensive logistics.

    5) The lack of enforcement of traffic regulations within especially our metropolitan areas.

    Solving the problem cannot be reduced to the usual political banter of either simply banning or regulating them. It has to be about solving the fundamental problems that gave rise to their prominence in the first place efficient central transport, effective city road networks, traffic enforcement and monetization of Indiscipline, reducing unemployment, regional decentralization (not just political and administrative) and local manufacturing or assembling of same for domestic value retention.

    This is where we seem to always miss it the persistent attempt to proffer short term “politically emotional” solutions, instead of holistic longer-term ones. It may even be useful to a limited extent, to bring some formality to niches of their service delivery, i.e. deliveries/logistics and tourism.

    These are the only ways we can kill three birds with one stone bring order/sanity to our city traffic long term, improve earnings for riders and Government and improve productivity for city workers. The bigger question will also be what is the vision we have for our cities, their economy, convenience, modernity and efficiency and WHAT do we need to do, to get it? What is the vision for our cities?

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • I will not appoint relatives into my government Kofi Akpaloo

    Mr Percival Kofi Akpaloo, the Flagbearer of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) says he will not appoint any relative into his government if voted into power in the December 2020 General Election.

    The decision is part of a broader measure of the Party to “significantly reduce corruption from the top to the grassroots.”

    Mr Akpaloo, who said this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency said: “The LPG intends to build proper control mechanisms to punish everyone involved in corruption.

    “The question is, are people ready to make people close to them or in their government pay for corruption they are involved in? But I am ready to make sure right things are done all the time. That is why I have promised that we are not going to put my relatives and family members in my government.”

    To ensure the welfare of the needy, he said the LPG intended to put money directly into the pockets of children and younger adults under its “Child Benefits Intervention” programme.

    Every child below the age of 18 would receive a monthly allowance of GH¢200.00, and twins would receive GH¢300.00 while those above 18 and unemployed would receive GH¢300.00.

    The LPG, he said, was also working at setting up a 10-billion dollar job fund to offer students from universities and polytechnics loans to startup businesses.

    The loans, which will come with little interest could be as high as GH¢250,000.00.

    The Flagbearer said his government would also lead the nation to build her own “Cocoa Processing Facility” to produce chocolate for export to stop the exportation of cocoa for finished products.

    This, he said could create about 250,000 direct jobs to add value to the cocoa base.

    Mr Akpaloo said his government would also encourage joint-ventures to boost rice and poultry production to reduce imports.

    The boosting of poultry products could lead to the production of 550 million birds per annum to feed the West African sub-region, he observed. Mr Akpaloo said the LPG would also introduce the “Affordable Housing Plan” especially for the needy.

    The nation under the LPG-led administration would also build a complete city within the “Bono-Ahafo” enclave to serve as the “Administrative Capital” of the country, while Accra remained the “Commercial Capital”.

    The Flagbearer said Ghana needed fast trains to improve commercial activities, adding that people should be able to move from Accra and get to Tamale within an hour and from Aflao to Elubo within the same time frame to open up the country for rapid growth.

    In the area of sanitation, Sanitary Inspectors would be employed and deployed to work across the country to cause the arrest of people who litter the environment indiscriminately.

    “CCTV cameras would also be fixed across the country, especially in the populated areas to record and help trace people who flout the rule. This will even make it difficult for the sanitary inspectors to collect bribes. People will also be held accountable if they allow for people to litter around their houses and work places,” he said.

    Mr Akpaloo said: “The LPG believes monies can be generated from borrowing from the Bank of Ghana and paying back with interest to prosecute the agenda.

    “As a country, we have borrowed but wasted the money by using it for unnecessary stuff. We are going to borrow the money to invest in our people and good projects to grow this economy and pay back.”

    Source: GNA

  • Kweku Baako expresses his displeasure with Martin Amidu’s work

    Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, has expressed disappointment in the work of the Special Prosecutor, Martin Amidu.

    Kweku Baako slammed Mr Amidu for failing to pull off his best because he expects him (Amidu) to work hard on the cases before his office.

    Citing the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) scandal which was forwarded to Mr. Amidu office to probe the case, Mr. Baako asserted that the seeming delay in executing the case cast doubts over the significance of the office.

    He added that, the integrity of the parties involved in the PPA scandal, thus the Chief Executive Officer Mr. Adjenim Boateng Adjei remain hanging so far as nothing is done to establish the truth in the matter.

    Mr. Adjenim Boateng Adjei was suspended following a documentary dubbed ”Contracts For Sale” by investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni.

    He was alleged to have contravened procurement practices and President Akufo-Addo suspended him with immediate effect after the exposé was published.

    The President further referred the case to the Special Prosecutor, Mr Martin Amidu to probe the allegations of corruption levelled against the embattled CEO but there has since been no communication of the findings by the Special Prosecutor.

    Other critics have also lambasted Mr. Amidu saying his office is irrelevant because there has not been even one particular corruption scandal that he’s been able to pursue, let alone help to prosecute the culprits.

    Speaking on ‘Kokrokoo’ on Peace FM, Kweku Baako told host Kwami Sefa Kayi that although he is an ardent supporter of the Special Prosecutor office and the appointment of the former Attorney General, Martin Amidu, he is however utterly unhappy with Mr. Amidu’s work.

    “The inertia and it is so obvious and lack of results doesn’t help anybody. Indeed, it only helps to enhance that subculture of cynicism that people are using against such an important creation of law and I’m very worried about that, especially because I’m a very ardent [1] of the creation of the office and [2] of the appointment of Martin Amidu . . . I’m not just playing mischief; I’m geniunely expressing concern that out there, the perception is that nothing really is happening,” he stressed.

    He urged Mr. Amidu to accelerate his investigations and make public his work on the corruption scandals, if he’s already conducted his findings, in order to whip up confidence in the Special Prosecutor outfit.

    ”Some of us were ardent supporters of that office – the creation of that office – but I’m not too sure that we can all say that on the balanced sheet, when you do a very fair analysis, they have produced the results that we expected. And I believe that, going forward, both the NPP as a ruling party now, and all anti-corruption advocates, should try hard to ensure that this office is producing the results. They need to provide a list of the investigations they’re doing.”

    Source: Peace FM

  • Ghanaians want Political Parties Act enforced to fight corruption GACC Report

    A survey conducted by the Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) reveals that some Ghanaians are in support of strict enforcement of the Political Parties Act, 2000 (Act 574) to aid in the fight against corruption.

    The Act states that political parties must disclose their sources of funding in their political activities.

    GACC in its report dubbed: “Anti-Corruption Manifesto” said political parties must consider the implementation of the Act in their manifestos to augment the fight against corruption.

    Jacob Tetteh Ahuno, Programmes Officer of the Ghana Integrity Initiative, highlighted some parts of the report during a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, August 26, 2020:

    “Citizens proposed that they want the next government to ensure the enforcement of the Political Parties Act which stipulates under Section 21 that political parties should disclose their funding sources. If you check with the Electoral Commission, for the past 15 years not even one political party has submitted its financial report in full. When we say in full, we mean, for every year…This tells you that the law is not fully enforced.”

    “Citizens are also asking for Act 574 which is again a Political Parties Act, to be amended to include disclosure of funding sources for candidates contesting presidential, parliamentary and local level elections, so we need to know who is funding the political parties. As of now, it is not included in the law and citizens are calling for its inclusion,” he added.

    Part of the Anti-Corruption Manifesto also indicated that many Ghanaians demand continuity in projects and programmes by successive governments.

    “Citizens are of the view that the disinterest to continue projects of the former administration stems from a desire to re-award contracts to service providers that they [ruling government] favour. Citizens are now proposing that the Presidential Transition Act 845 should be amended to include ongoing infrastructure. The law should give time limits for the new government to review and publish their plans for continuing the project. Should the government decide to change the service provider or make any other significant changes, it must be done within a time limit with explanations and it must be published, so we can know why they have decided to change the service provider and query them if need be.”

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Over 700,000 births, 51,000 deaths registered in 2019 Local Government Minister

    The year 2019 saw a total of 707,064 infant births registered, although the target was 879,483.

    The number was made up of 359,532 males and 347,532 females.

    Despite a projection of 309,955 deaths, the Birth and Death registry registered only 51,159 deaths; 27,480 males and 23,679 females for the entire year.

    This was revealed by the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Hajia Alima Mahama.

    Addressing the press in Accra, the Minister said the new Births and Deaths Registration Act, which has been passed by Parliament, will help improve the collation of vital information for national development.

    “The new Births and Deaths Registration Act, 2020, seeks to integrate the registration system into the local administration setup. MMDAs will be responsible for the provision of registration facilities at the district level. This will ensure the decentralization of the registration machinery and make registration of vital events accessible to the populace with pronounced functionality at the community level (urban, zonal and town councils”.

    The Minister said under this protocol, there will be a digital interface between the Births and Deaths Registry and institutions like the National Identification Authority (NIA), the National Health Insurance Agency (NHIA), the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS).

    Hajia Alima added that the new Birth and Death Registration Act will provide for the generation of Community Population registers, which will breed demographic data for the purposes of development planning at the district level.

    She said this will address the issue of the registration of children born under surrogacy arrangements and address the requirements for the registration of all morgues, funeral homes, burial grounds and crematoriums by the District Assembly.https://www.youtube.com/embed/Q8yz5qtgZ_A

    “The Act introduces enforcement of registration system by mandating Registration Officers to inspect registration records at the household level within the electoral areas of the district. It also introduces the concept of notification and identifies primary notifiers of vital events to include persons in charge of health facilities where births/deaths occur; traditional birth attendants and managers of educational institutions (pre-school and basic schools)”, she said.

    Source: citinewsroom

  • Correct your mistakes, clearly explain your vision to Ghanaians Otumfuo to Mahama

    Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has advised the flagbearer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Mahama, to clearly explain to Ghanaians what he did in office as President and what he intends to do when given the nod again.

    The Asante monarch said President Akufo-Addo has been touring the country explaining to Ghanaians what he has done and why they should give him another term and, therefore, wants the former President to do the same.

    Otumfuo Osei Tutu II also urged Mr Mahama to explain well to Ghanaians what has been alleged he could not do when he was in office but knows he did.

    This, the Asantehene said, will help Ghanaians make a choice between him and the President in the upcoming general elections.

    The Asantehene made the comments when Mr Mahama introduced his running mate, Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang to him at the Manhyia palace today, Wednesday, 26 August 2020.

    Otumfuo also reminded the former president to rectify some mistakes that made him lose the 2016 general elections “as he was angrily and hungrily voted out by Ghanaians.”

    He, therefore, called on the former President to correct those mistakes if given the nod again.

    Source: Class FM

  • Sammy Gyamfi’s data confirms 99.9% of NPP’s infrastructure data is accurate – Bawumia

    Following Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia’s presentation of the Akufo-Addo government’s infrastructure delivery record, the opposition National Democratic Congress, led by its National Communication Officer, Sammy Gyamfi rubbished Bawumia’s claim and promised to expose him for lying.

    Dr. Bawumia revealed that the Akufo-Addo government has delivered 17,600 infrastructure projects in different sectors which were at different stages of completion across all districts in the country.

    For easier independent verification, Dr. Bawumia announced a government website which has listed all the infrastructure projects, sectors, locations and their current state of completion – completed and ongoing.

    But soon after the Vice President’s presentation, the NDC National Communication Officer promised to offer rebuttals to Dr. Bawumia in 48 hours, that’s two days after the presentation.

    However, Sammy Gyamfi pushed his date to criticize Dr. Bawumia forward by four more days.

    On Monday, August 24, 2020, Sammy Gyamfi listed 26 projects, which he said were “ghost projects”.

    The governing NPP has since questioned the authenticity of the 26 “ghost” projects the NDC has questioned.

    However, the party has said if even it was to admit iti, it will represent an “insignificant percentage” to render Dr. Bawumia’s infrastructure presentation as “compendium of lies,” as Sammy Gyamfi described it.

    By Sammy Gyamfi’s data of 26 “ghost”, projects out of 18,025 currently captured on the tracker which Dr. Bawumia presented, the NDC’s National Communication Officer has arithmetically conceded that 99.9% of Bawumia’s infrastructure exist, as the 26 “ghost” projects represent 0.1% of the 18,025 infrastructure projects the NPP has listed on its infrastructure delivery tracker www.deliverytracker.gov.gh 

    Meanwhile various actors on social media have on their own provided various evidences to dispute some of the claims by Sammy Gyamfi.

    Evidence coming out indicates that the projects are actually existing however, misplacement of some of them in terms of where they are actually located abound. These include inadvertent swapping of districts with similar names during the inputting of data, but suggested the NDC is being mischievous with minor errors, which are being amended.

    “For example, Sammy Gyamfi talked about projects in Adeifua, Beikyema Nkwanta on it, which is on going but they say it doesn’t exist. Also Derma Asuoso road, that road is ongoing and the contractor is on sight but they say it doesn’t exist.”

    The Kanda water for instance, was one that was recorded as an ongoing project. People pointed out that it seems to have been abandoned so we checked from the municipality. And in fact they said that they did dig the borehole, but they found out that the water was bad so they decided to cap it and not continue with the project. So in their entries, they did not recognise it as an abandoned project. But those are very easy to amend.

    The Vice President stressed government has demonstrated transparency by presenting its infrastructure achievements claims on a public website for scrutiny, and challenged the NDC to also present their records in every district for similar scrutiny.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • You don’t have to visit me only when you are in government – Otumfuo to NDC delegation

    A delegation from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) led by former President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday visited the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi to introduce Professor Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman, running mate of the NDC for Election 2020 to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and Asanteman.

    Welcoming them, the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, minced no words in telling the former President and his delegation how they paid frequent visits to the Palace when they were in power but ceased after they were voted out of office.

    “Today I have seen all my grand children that I haven’t seen in a while,” the Asantehene said.

    “You have brought all of them here today to come and see me. But you don’t have to only visit me when you are in government. You also have to visit me when you are out of government.”

    After the running mate was introduced, the Asantehene advised the NDC flagbearer, former President Mahama to assess why he was voted out of office by Ghanaians and tell Ghanaians the lessons he has learnt.

    “Tell Ghanaians the wrongs of the past and how you will correct those wrongs,” the Asantehene told the former President.

    He also called for an issue-based campaign to enable Ghanaians make an informed decision come December 2020.

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • COVID-19: Our present situation

    Ghana currently has 1,604 active cases of the coronavirus disease, including 95 new cases, according to the Ghana Health Service.

    That brings the total confirmed cases nationwide to 43,717, with 270 recorded deaths 41,843 patients either recovered or discharged from treatment.

    The global picture still looks grim, albeit with a subdued spread. The global count has 24,083,507 confirmed cases, 823,917 deaths while 16,626,444 have recovered. Current active cases stand at 6,633,146.

    The Table below represents the topmost 10 countries that have recorded the highest deaths.

    CountryNo. of Deaths
    USA 182,412
    Brazil 116,666
    Mexico 61,450
    India 59,645
    UK 41,449
    Italy 35,445
    France 30,544
    Spain 28,924
    Peru 28,001
    Iran 20,901

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Tell Ghanaians the wrongs of the past and how you will correct them – Asantehene to Mahama

    The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has asked former President John Dramani Mahama to conduct a deep introspection on why he was voted out as President and tell Ghanaians what new he is bringing on board.

    Mr Mahama, who is seeking a comeback nearly four years after he was voted out of office, introduced his running mate, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku Agyeman to the Asantehene and Asanteman earlier Wednesday at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

    Addressing the former President, the Asantehene said, he is reiterating his advice to former President Mahama that as he seeks a comeback, it is important for him to tell Ghanaians the mistakes of the past and how he has corrected those mistakes to warrant a second chance.

    You have been a President before and you want to return again as President. I have spoken to you a lot and I have said that if you want to come back, let Ghanaians know what went wrong yesterday. Also let Ghanaians know that the mistakes won’t be repeated, the Asantehene said in twi.

    When you lost the election, I said that Ghanaians voted against you out of disappointment and anger, Otumfuo added

    And when you were re-elected as flagbearer and you informed me, I asked you whether you have looked at your mistakes in the past and how you can convince Ghanaians how you will correct those mistakes, the Asantehene said.

    Otumfuo Osei Tutu said that just as he former President Mahama wants to make a comback, so does the sitting President Nana Akufo-Addo also wants to be re-elected for four more years, hence his tour around the country to account for what he has done so far in the past three years.

    The sitting President, Nana Akufo-Addo wants to be re elected for another 4 years and he has been going round explaining to Ghanaians what he has done.

    You have just told me what you did when you were President, and what you want to do if you get another chance.

    What you have to do is to tell Ghanaians the wrongs of the past and how you will correct those wongs, Otumfuo said.

    Campaign of issues

    The Asantehene urged the two leading contenders to focus on campaign of issues to Ghanaians and leave the people to be the best judges.

    The current President is telling Ghanaians what he has done in the past three and half years. That they have done better than you and they should be given another term of office.

    Everybody should talk about what they have done and what they will do. What you did in the past and what you will do in the future should be told, and the Ghanaian people will be the best judges.

    The Asantehene called for a peaceful campaign and election process and adviced against acts of violence.

    “We want a peaceful election and nobody should initiate violence. Just make your points well and Ghanaians will be the best judges. It’s all about issues.”

    Source: Graphic.com.gh

  • Government terminates contract of Engineers & Planners in Savannah Region

    The Roads and Highways Ministry has terminated the road contract between the government of Ghana and Messrs Engineers and Planners contractors.

    The contract, which had the contractors working on the Tamale-Salaga-Makango road in the Savannah Region, according to the Ministry, was ended based on what they described as unnecessary delays in its completion.

    In a letter dated August 17, 2020, the Ministry directed the Savannah Regional Highways Engineer to terminate the contract.

    Fast forward August 25, 2020, a letter from the Savannah Regional Highways Engineer confirmed the termination of the contract.

    Work on the 59.12-kilometre road was awarded to Messrs Engineers and Planners in 2016 by the erstwhile government.

    The contract was abandoned by the contractor in 2017, when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) came to power.

    “The contractor, Messrs Engineers and Planners contractors from all indications have failed to perform under the above contract,” the letter stated.

    The contractors, Engineers and Planners, refused to comment on the termination when contacted.

    Meanwhile, some staff of the contractors on Saturday, August 22 were seen working on a portion of the road.

    They say they are back to execute the contract.

    But the Savannah Regional Minister, Adam Salifu Braimah, has directed the contractors to move from the area as a new contractor is coming.

    Source: 3 News

  • PLAYBACK: Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang visits Otumfuo Osei Tutu II

    The running mate of the opposition National Democratic Congress Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang pays a visit to Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Breastfeeding boosts babies immune system – Health promoter

    A health promoter, Madam Augustina Akrasi, has advised nursing mothers that proper breastfeeding boosts the immune system of babies and makes them very strong to fight not only infantile diseases but even the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    Madam Akrasi who works at the Public Health Unit (PHU) of the Sunyani Regional Hospital, gave the advice when she was educating nursing mothers on the importance of breastfeeding and personal hygiene at the weighing centre of the PHU on Tuesday.

    She stressed that breast milk was very nutritious and made babies healthier and free from diseases and therefore urged nursing mothers to religiously follow ante-natal rules to breastfeed their babies well.

    Touching on preventive measures against the COVID-19, Madam Akrasi said besides the adherence to and compliance with directives and protocols, observing personal hygiene remains an effective primary preventive measure against the virus disease for the health and safety of nursing mothers and babies.

    In addition, eating a well-balanced diet with much intake of fruits and vegetables also helps to boost the immune system well, she said.

    Source: GNA

  • About 984 students benefit from free meals for JHS students

    About 984 final year JHS students are benefiting from the free meal a day in the Okere District.

    In addition about 200 teachers are also being served the meals in the District as directed by government in the President’s 15th edition of the COVID-19 address to the nation.

    Briefing the GNA on the second day of the free meal program, Mr Daniel Kenneth, Okere District Chief Executive said they included both private and public schools.

    He indicated that the beneficiaries were the first batch of candidates to take part in the BECE since the district was carved out of Akropong.

    He said in order to achieve the best results, four new examination centres had been created in the District and a simulation mock examination has been held for them to get used to the centres.

    Until this year, students in the area took part in the BECE in examination centres at Akropong, Adawso and other parts of the Akuapem North Municipality.

    The DCE therefore urged teachers in the area to give off their best to complement the several measures to ensure good results.

    Source: GNA

  • 53% of adolescent girls cannot afford sanitary pads – Report

    A research from the University of Education, Winneba proves that 53% of adolescent girls cannot afford themselves sanitary pads thereby lacking access to adequate menstrual protection.

    The study sought to assess the knowledge and practices of menstrual hygiene among adolescent schools in the Mampong municipality of Ghana.

    According to the lead investigator, Mr Huda Abdallah Kusi, the survey was used to assess how abreast adolescent girls are with menstrual hygiene and its practices.

    “The descriptive cross-sectional study was used to assess the knowledge and practices of menstrual hygiene among adolescent school girls with at least 4 months of menstrual experiences,” he stated.

    The report also contained that seventy per cent of adolescent school girls believe menstruation is a disease.

    However, the researchers concluded that menstrual hygiene practices for adolescent school girls in Mampong municipality were largely influenced by socioeconomic capacities of their parents.

    For that matter, they recommend knowledge about menstrual hygiene practices among girls for additional education and enlightenment.

    84 participants within the ages of 14 to 18 were interviewed face-to-face using questionnaires.

    59 of them representing 70.2 per cent indicated menstruation is a disease.

    Sociodemographic characteristics, economic factors, menstrual hygiene practices were captured.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Dumelo woos Ayawaso West Wuogon students with 4,000 laptops

    Actor, John Dumelo is set to distribute 4000 laptops to students in his constituency as part of efforts to ensure quality education.

    The distribution is expected to start in September and will be handled by the John Dumelo foundation.

    According to the Ayawaso West Wuogon Parliamentary Candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), in these times when online learning has become very imperative, he believes distributing the laptops will have a great impact on learning.

    The actor turned politician, however, did not tell his source of funding for this all important donation to students but indicated that through the help of the public, more students can be reached with this donation.

    Source: My News GH

  • Police investigate final year student of St. Louis SHS reportedly raped by an unknown man

    Police in the Ashanti Region have begun investigations into the alleged rape of a final year student of St. Louis Senior High School in Kumasi is by an unknown man on campus over the weekend.
    Reports stated that the sexual assault occurred Saturday night when the victim was studying at about 10:30 pm in one of the classrooms.

    The Ashanti Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Godwin Ahianyo confirmed the incident and said the police have launched an investigation into the matter.

    He said the rapist might have scaled the wall of the school to commit the crime adding that the rapist might have dragged the victim from the classroom to the bush where he raped her and bolted.

    According to him, the victim was found with severe bruises and bloodstains and has been admitted at the KNUST Hospital for treatment.

    Authorities and students have called on the police for maximum protection.

    Source: Pulse Ghana

  • We will make Ghana a financial hub – Akufo-Addo

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Tuesday said the government is keen on making Ghana a regional hub for financial services.

    Thus, it is committed to supporting the country’s financial market to enable it to contribute to that vision of making Ghana a capital market destination.

    Speaking on the floor of Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), he said the Exchange had a critical role to play in building a robust market economy.

    “A strong Exchange is a reflection of a strong economy,” he said.

    The President’s visit is the first of a sitting leader on the floor of the exchange. He was on the GSE to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on its operations and the assistance needed from the government.

    President Akufo-Addo emphasised collaboration with other Stock Exchanges in growing the performance of the country’s capital market and made reference to the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between GSE and the London Stock Exchange last year aimed at transforming the GSE from a frontier market to an emerging one.

    He said the partnership was indicative of the government’s interest in improving the GSE for economic growth.

    The President also urged the Exchange to take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to expand its activities to unleash the continent’s vast wealth.

    He said the GSE should leverage its reputation as one of the best performing and innovative financial markets on the continent to increase the quantity and quality of investment.

    He gave the assurance that the government would provide GSE the needed assistance to see to its proper functioning.

    Mr Ekow Afedzie, the Managing Director of the GSE said the COVID-19 pandemic did not impact so much on the performance of the exchange.

    He told the President that the market had done very well with some Gh¢59 billion worth of bonds trade by the end of July this year.

    Mr Afedzie said the GSE would make the objective of the MoU signed with the London Stock Exchange to become an emerging market.

    He urged the Government to provide incentives and policies to attract companies onto the capital market.

    Source: GNA

  • 50 Ghanaian Entrepreneurs to benefit from €450k German support

    A total of 50 Ghanaian entrepreneurs of primarily small businesses, are expected to benefit from both technical and financial support of up to €9,000 each.

    This is through a German Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) named enpact e.V, which has set up a COVID-19 Relief Programme aimed at assisting Ghanaian businesses to contribute to an economic upswing, as well as preserve and create jobs in the wake of the pandemic.

    The programme dubbed: “Empowering Entrepreneurship Initiative” has begun calling for applications from the Ghanaian business community as it seeks to invite young and innovative business entrepreneurs from all sectors to apply for funding under its COVID-19 Relief Programme.

    Any business in its early stages that had a functioning and promising business model before the COVID-19 crisis erupted is eligible to apply.

    The move aims at dealing with the negative effects the novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) has impacted in the business space that has forced a number of businesses to either lay off workers or shut down completely.

    The project aims to support applicants in coping with the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis.

    “With this initiative, we are able to go above and beyond for young, innovative Ghanaian [business] founders and support them in these challenging times, not only financially, but also network and mentoring for each business”. says Ernest Armah, Project Lead for Ghana.

    In a release from the GIZ and copied to Goldstreet Business, it noted that the “Empowering Entrepreneurship Initiative” will provide in total nearly €3million to 330 founding teams across six countries namely; Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, and Mexico.

    The GIZ Country Director to Ghana, Ms. Regina Bauerochse Barbosa, stated that her outfit recognizes the extent of impact the COVID-19 has had on businesses and this largely accounts for the reason GIZ is supporting this initiative to help empower young businesses and position them firmly amid the virus.

    “One thing the pandemic has taught us is to look beyond the norm and picture how things could be. Therefore, I urge all beneficiaries of this initiative to not just rely on the support we can give, but to continue to look for innovative and creative ways to grow and scale”, she stressed.

    Background

    The COVID-19 Relief Programme is being supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The Strategic Partnership Technology in Africa (SPTA) is working in cooperation with enpact e.V to implement the programme.

    Enpact e.V. launched its activities in West Africa in 2017 and has since implemented several international and national mentoring programmes for entrepreneurs, along with the launch of a physical hub in Accra to host programmes for ecosystem enablers and support organisations to build the Ghanaian startup ecosystem.

    Source: goldstreetbusiness.com

  • It didn’t make sense to continue supporting the collapsed banks – Bawumia

    Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia says government had no option than to shut down some banks and financial institutions in the country.

    He said even though the situation is sad it didn’t make sense to continue supporting these banks that are suffering.

    “It was bad . . . when I saw the numbers at the time it was quite frightening,” he said.

    He said the banks were using the Central Bank’s liquidity support for other purposes.

    This follows claims that government could have used other means to save the banks and prevent the loss of jobs.

    The Vice President who was speaking in a one-on-one interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s morning show ‘kokrokoo’ said the then NDC administration was aware of the situation but did nothing about it and rather kept offering liquidity support.

    “The NDC was aware there was a problem . . . these were bad practices of government but we had to step in,” he stated.

    “By the time we got into office things were unraveling; we were on the brink of the collapse of the system so the BoG had to rescue the situation. This is one of the most important acts that have been done to save the economy.”

    Source: Peace FM

  • Armed robber who attempted to rob police-driven bus in Wa shot dead

    Police in Wa on 24 August 2020 shot and killed an alleged armed robber who attempted to rob a number of vehicles at Sawla in the Savannah Region.

    According to the Police, the deceased aged about 23, emerged from a nearby bush with a locally manufactured shotgun and signalled a Hyundai bus with registration number AE 6036-12 to stop with a flashlight.

    Unknowing to the deceased, the Hyundai bus was driven by a Police Officer called Mahama Ahmed who was escorting a number of vehicles from Axil base at Sawla to Wa on a routine duty core.

    The deceased attempted robbing passengers in the bus of their belongings and in the process “he was fired, fell unconscious and was rushed to the Wa Municipal Hospital but was pronounced dead,” the Police said in a statement.

    The body has since been deposited at the same hospital mortuary for preservation, identification and autopsy.

    Source: Class FM

  • Chainsaw operator reportedly rapes 13-year-old niece

    A chainsaw operator, Akwasi Yeboah popularly known as “Osebor” has been arrested by Nyankomase Ahenkro Police Command for repeatedly raping his niece who is a 16-year-old JHS 3 Pupil in the Assin South District of the central region.

    The victim was staying with the suspect after she claimed her parents had neglected her.

    The uncle was said to be the one who was taking care of her needs took advantage of that to sexually assault her on several occasions.

    The victim indicated that the uncle used her as a sexual object under the guise of buying her pad and providing money for food.

    “He smooches my breast and kisses me at night, the sad aspect is that he usually gives me soft drink mixed with a drug suspected to be Blue-blue(sleeping tablet) and have sex with me after it has rendered me unconscious,” she disclosed.

    She stressed that she reported the incident to her mother but she subjected her to severe beatings because she claimed the daughter was disgracing her brother.

    The Assin South District Police Commander ASP Okyere Andam has confirmed that the suspect is in Police custody assisting them with investigation.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Teachers and pupils in Kumasi commend government for free meal

    Some teachers and final year pupils in junior high schools in the Kumasi metropolis have praised the government for the decision to support them with one hot meal every day.

    They say the intervention would not only help them to stay focused on their studies, but would also prevent them from going outside the school compound frequently to look for food.

    The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in his 15th address to the nation on the measures taken against the spread of COVID-19 stated that all final year Junior High School (JHS) pupils, teachers and staff were going to be given one hot meal per day starting from Monday, August 24.

    This decision, according to the President, was informed by the reported cases that some final year pupils who became hungry during school hours, often went out to buy food outside the school campus in contravention of the COVID-19 protocols.

    A visit by the Ghana News Agency to some Junior High Schools (JHS) in Kumasi metropolis indicated that the free hot meals had actually started as had been instructed by the President.

    Mr Owusu Boateng, a teacher at Bantama Presby Junior High School speaking to the GNA thanked the President for fulfilling his promise.

    He said most pupils came to school without food and the intervention would help ease their minds to enable them to concentrate on their studies to pass the examinations.

    Ms Grace Manu, a final-year pupil of the school said the meal would help some of them to stay in school for extra hours to study and prepare themselves well for the upcoming examination.

    At the Maakro Methodist JHS, Mr Yaw Sarfo, a teacher, commended the government for the initiative and said many pupils reported to school on Monday because of the free hot meal.

    Master Gideon Yeboah, a final-year pupil, expressed his gratitude to the government for the meal.

    “This free hot meal will help me save money for my books”, he indicated.

    Mrs Adwoa Adjei Boahen, Headmistress of Ohwimase M.A Basic School said the government intervention was beneficial for the pupils since that would help them prepare well for their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

    Again, it would help pupils from poor backgrounds to get full concentration for their examination.

    Mrs. Boahen however, said the government would have given the teachers some small allowances instead of the meals.

    Master Michael Appiah Kubi, a student of the Kwadaso Bethel Methodist School told the GNA that he was extremely happy when he heard the President announcing the initiative.

    This is because he was going to school every morning without food and the gesture had come as a great relief to him and others like him.

    Ms Francisca Boakyewaa, also a pupil of the school, said the gesture would help her to save some money to buy books and other learning materials to prepare adequately towards her examination.

    Source: GNA

  • Furnace explosion in Tema injures nine

    A furnace explosion at the United Steel Company Limited on Monday, August 24 at the Freezone Enclave in Tema has injured nine persons and destroyed property belonging to MND Metals Company Limited.

    The nine injured included; six Ghanaians and three Indians working in the company (United Steel Company); the impact also put workers in the neighboring company at risk.

    Mr Mahmoud El Kurdi, Manager, MND Metals Company Limited, told the Ghana News Agency in an interview with the Company after the explosion.

    He explained THAT one of the furnaces used by United Steel to melt scrap metals for its production exploded, at about 1810 hours and caused damage to the changing room of their workers among other property.

    MND Metals Company Limited is situated just behind United Steel Company Limited.

    The Manager said the fumes released from the explosion and that released daily from the company contained carbon, harmful to the health, adding that most of his workers were diagnosed of respiratory infections and some coughed blood.

    He said the consistent pollution of the air by United Steel Company Limited had affected his business because most expatriates he brought to work for the company had left due to the unhealthy air quality.

    Mr El Kurdi said he approached management of United Steel personally to resolve the inconvenience, but to no avail and he had also written several letters with videos on pen drives holding the evidence of the pollution to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Ministry for Environment Science Technology and Innovation (MESTI).

    He said about 200 workers in his company; 50 expatriates and 150 Ghanaians were being exposed daily to the poisonous gases and the company was investing a lot to see that the right thing was done.

    “The situation is bad and this had been going on for so long; decline in business, losing staff and our health are all in danger,” he said.

    He called on the government and stakeholders to ensure United Steel Company Limited followed laid down guidelines given by EPA to prevent all forms of air pollution in the Free Zone Area to avert future dangers.

    Mr Adams Aikens, Foreman, MND Metals Company Limited, said they as workers had also reported the inconvenience to the Kpone Police Station and the Environmental Health Safety Office at Kpone.

    He said a worker, George Amoah died out of the air pollution, two years ago adding that his doctor also advised him after a health checkup that his life was at stake due to the poor air quality caused by the pollution from United Steel Company Limited.

    Daniel Adraku, 33, folk lift operator of MND Metals Company Limited, said the smoke clouded his vision during work and had to wait for over an hour to continue working which delayed his output.

    “One of our guys called John Tetteh is suffering from Asthma as a result of the pollution,” he said.

    Mrs Cynthia Asare Bediako, Chief Director of MESTI when contacted said the Ministry had little information about the incident and needed to conduct further investigations.

    The Ghana News Agency was unable to gather information from United Steel Company Limited as those contacted were unwilling to volunteer information.

    Source: GNA

  • NPP manifesto: Concentrating on Airport means there’s nothing else to talk about – Bawumia tells critics

    Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia says the fact that critics are concentrating on only the construction of an airport in Cape Coast means their manifesto is so great that there is nothing else to talk about.

    The NPP, in its 2020 manifesto, has promised to construct an airport in the Central Region.

    However, this promise has been criticized with some describing it as not viable.

    In an exclusive interview with Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM’s morning show ‘Kokrokoo’, Dr Bawumia said: “concentrating on the airport means there is nothing else to talk about . . . after everything that was said in the manifesto, you will expect the policies to be interrogated by your opponent and other people alike but the issues being interrogated is the airport”.

    Cape Coast Airport

    The Vice President also refuted claims the construction of the airport is not a necessity and will not be helpful to the region.

    He said, “it will be a good thing for Cape Coast; the amount of traffic going to Cape Coast is quite significant and when you are looking at infrastructure, you have to look at it from the long term. The airport will provide a long convenience for tourists coming in and it will boost other industries.”

    Airport not for votes

    As the country is in an election year, one would think the promise to construct an airport in the Central Region is to gain votes; however, the Vice President says ‘that’s not the case’.

    “Indeed the idea has been around for a long time but the time has come for us to put that as a key policy of infrastructure to get it done. The people of the Central Region deserve an airport,” he added.

    Source: Peace FM

  • ‘Trotro’ passengers will soon pay fares through mobile money – Bawumia

    Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, has disclosed that ”trotro” passengers will soon be able to pay their transport fares from their mobile money accounts.

    The Mobile Money Payment Interoperability allows for the transfer of funds from mobile money accounts to bank accounts and vice versa as well as providing a link mobile or bank accounts to biometric payment card accounts (ezwich).

    This means every Ghanaian can now make payments and receive money without having to go to the banking hall.

    Speaking in an interview on ‘Kokrokoo’ on Peace FM on Tuesday, August 25, 2020, the Vice President noted that Ghana is the only country in Africa doing a Mobile Money Interoperability in the fashion that it has been developed under the Akufo-Addo administration.

    Dr. Bawumia revealed that the government is also initiating a universal Quick Response (QR) code to amalgamate all the telecom networks to ensure transactions are done universally across the nation.

    In so doing, it will be possible for transport bus passengers to pay from the accounts to promote a cashless system.

    Source: Peace FM