TIG Post

Author: Persis

  • Akufo-Addo puts out voter registration details

    President Nana Akufo-Addo has dropped a screenshot of his voter registration details after texting his voter identity (ID) card number to the shortcode 1422.

    Posting this details on his official Facebook page, the president urged Ghanaians to try and send their voter ID card numbers to shortcode 1422 to confirm their voter ID details in addition to going to their respective registration centres to verify.

    He posted: “In addition to going to your respective registration centres to verify your voter registration details, you can also send your voter ID card number, just as I have done, to short code 1422 to confirm your voter ID details.”

    The Electoral Commission has introduced a Short Message Service platform to enable registered voters to access their registration details.

    The shortcode, 1422, was activated on Friday, September 18 and will be active up to Friday, September 25, 2020.

    To access registration details, voters would have to text their voter ID card number to the shortcode.

    Source: Happy 98.9FM


  • We welcome all political parties – GUTA President on alleged secret meeting with Mahama

    President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association of Ghana (GUTA), Dr Joseph Obeng, has said political parties who have outdoored their manifestos have only made known their intentions to the public but could be taken seriously only if their policies are implemented.

    According to him, the Association cannot be brainwashed by any political party who holds stakeholder meetings with GUTA for interactions.

    His comments come after it was reported earlier that flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, held a secret meeting with some executives of the Association on Wednesday, September 16.

    In an interview with GhanaWeb, Dr Obeng stated that “GUTA welcomes every political party and its manifesto if it is presented to us for us to be educated on but one thing I also want to say is that manifesto does not influence our thinking and that we see manifestos as a mere declaration of intentions…it is only when things in the manifesto have been implemented and real solutions have been found in them by the trading community, that is when manifestos become relevant to us and we want to make this point clear to all political parties so that they will take their own manifestoes serious and work on them”.

    He noted that “What will inform our mind is to compare previous manifestos that have been presented and have been actually delivered upon”.

    “All of them are welcome to GUTA to present their manifestos and this is not anything that anyone can deem as a secret meeting. Politicians of all shades are welcome to GUTA to present their manifestoes.”

    On Wednesday, September 16, 2020, it was reported that some GUTA executives allegedly sneaked out of the office to meet the flagbearer of the opposition NDC, John Dramani Mahama, at his office in Accra.

    Though the aim of the meeting was to explain the content of the NDC’s manifesto to the Association, the act, a source said, was against GUTA’s protocol.

    The source added that the meeting they had with John Dramani Mahama does not reflect the interest of the entire Association, therefore, whatever was discussed at that meeting with John Dramani Mahama was done in their own parochial interest.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Diplomatic Corps calls on Ga Mantse

    Members of the Diplomatic Corps in the country last Monday paid a courtesy call on the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, at the Ga Mantse Palace at North Kaneshie in Accra. 

    The visit was to strengthen the relationship between the diplomatic community in Ghana and the Ga Traditional Council for their mutual benefit.

    The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, Mrs. Claudia Turbay Quintero, led the group, which included representatives of some international organisations in Ghana, such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the African Union (AU).

    In the company of the visiting delegation were a Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr. Charles Owiredu, and the Founder and Leader of the Worldwide Miracle Outreach, Rev. Dr. Lawrence Tetteh.

    Also present were a member of the Council of State, Mr. Stanley Nii Adjiri Blankson; the Otublohum Mantse, Nii Dodoo Nsaki II; the Dzaasetse of the Ga Stool and Principal Kingmaker, Nii Dr. Tetteh Kwei II, and the Sempe Mantse, Nii Adote Otintor II.

    The visiting envoys were treated to a display of the rich Ga tradition and culture.

    Collaboration

    Mrs. Quintero, who is also the Colombian Ambassador to Ghana, said effective collaboration between traditional authorities and the Diplomatic Corps could become part of bilateral programmes of the diplomatic community.

    She thanked King Teiko Tsuru for hosting the delegation and said the invitation was an expression of his commitment to serve as an agent of development.

    “We acknowledge your influence and power within the traditional culture of Ghana where you preside over approximately four million people,” she said.

    She also said the visit offered a unique opportunity for the envoys and representatives of the international organisations to get closer to the traditional leadership, adding: “I am sure that those of us who find it possible to support some of the initiatives of the traditional authority will do so accordingly, and eventually we can create cooperation programmes to become part of the body of bilateral activities among our countries and Ghana.”

    Mrs. Quintero further said the visit marked the beginning of the establishment of a friendly dialogue between members of the Diplomatic Corps and the Ga Traditional Council.

    The visiting envoys made individual presentations to the traditional council.

    Girl-child education

    King Teiko Tsuru highlighted the importance of girl-child education to the development of the Ga State.

    “Our goal is basically to improve the transition of girl-child education from junior high school (JHS) to senior high school (SHS),” he said.

    According to him, the Ga Traditional Council, which he chairs, also intended to fund the training of girls in entrepreneurial skills in the area.
    He said there was the need to establish a technical committee to define a clear path on girl-child education.

    King Teiko Tsuru further called for support from the Diplomatic Corps to improve salt mining activities in Ada, cattle ranching in Sege, aquaculture and real estate development.

    Commitment

    For his part, Mr. Owiredu reaffirmed the commitment of the government to work together with traditional leaders for the accelerated development of the country.

    He thanked members of the Diplomatic Corps for extending courtesy to the traditional authority and described the move as a strategic partnership that would yield dividends for both the corps and the Ga State.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Institute policies to address sexual harassment – Corporate organisations urged

    The Head of Gender and International Desk at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR), Mrs Ruth Ferkah Kyere, has stressed the need for corporate organisations to institute workplace policies to deal with issues of sexual harassment.

    She said it was important that corporate organisations outlined clearly structures that would facilitate addressing such an issue.

    Speaking at a roundtable discussion organised by Gender Centre for Empowering Development (Gene), in Accra yesterday, Mrs Ferkah Kyere said there was the need for corporate organisations to have policies that spelt out appropriate sanctions and punishments for perpetrators of sexual harassment.

    The event brought together representatives from civil society organisations, corporate institutions and policy makers to assess the state of sexual harassment in the corporate world and discuss strategies to address it.

    Mrs Ferkah Kyere, who is also a Deputy Director of Human Recource at the ministry, said although both men and women fell victim to sexual harassment, most of the victims were women and girls.

    Needed attention

    She said the issue bordering on sexual harassment had not been given the needed attention.

    “It has been considered a norm, and this constitutes a danger at the workplace,” she said.

    Although the Labour Act (651), 2003, explained sexual harassment as “any unwelcome, offensive or sexual advances or request made by an employer or superior officer or co-worker to a worker, whether it was a man or woman”, Mrs Ferkah Kyere said most people did not even know that the laws did not condone it.

    She said sexual harassment did not only create a hostile, intimidating and offensive environment at the workplace, but also affected productivity.

    She also mentioned that sexual harassment undermined the dignity of the victims and violated their human rights.

    Policy Review

    Mrs Ferkah Kyere mentioned that the ministry was in the process of reviewing the law to include some emerging challenges with sexual harassment.

    She said the current Labour Act did not provide in-depth solutions to deal with sexual harassment challenges.

    She indicated that, for instance, “the Act states that, an employee could leave or terminate his or her appointment when they have repeatedly reported sexual harassment cases and the employer fails to address the issue.”

    This she said was vague, as it did not state what steps or actions would be taken afterwards.

    The review, she said, would provide a broader and definite approach in dealing with sexual harassment when completed.

    The Project Director at GenCED, Ms Elorm Doe-Atakli, said sexual harassment had emotional, physical and psychological effects on victims and also caused intangible damage to both the victim and the organisation’s reputation and credibility.

    She said support systems were needed to encourage more women to report cases of sexual harassment.

    “Most people did not report cases of sexual harassment while the few that reported them also did not follow up to ensure that justice was done, mostly because the issue was dealt with lightly and in most cases swept under the carpet,” she added.

    She said there was no strong punitive measure in place that would deter people from engaging in the act and said if corporate organisations put in place strong punitive measures, the issue of sexual harassment would soon be a thing of the past.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • Muslim community remodel cemetery, start library project

    The Muslim Community at Asamankese last Friday cut the sod for remodelling of the Asamankese Cemetery to enhance security and stop encroachment of the burial ground.

    The one-square kilometre cemetery would see fencing for the burial spaces for the Muslim Community, as well as for the other centres within the same area.

    The first phase of the project will be completed within 12 months before the second phase is initiated.

    The Asamankese Muslim Community has also cut the sod for the construction of a multi-purpose library for all students at Asamankese.

    Unite for development

    In an interview with the leader of the project, Mr. Gibrine Issah Tutu, who is also a personal security detail to President Akufo-Addo called on the youth of the community to unite and support the project.

    Mr. Tutu explained that although he was the initiator of the project, there were a lot of people from the community who had rallied their support financially for the project.

    He urged the youth to refrain from extreme politics that discouraged development. He added that they should not allow themselves to become puppets for violence during the general election.

    The Project Director of Agri-power, Mr. Mashud Mohammed, who was the initiator of the library project, told the Daily Graphic in an interview that the project was to promote education in the Zongo Community as well as the students within Asamankese to complement the free education policy initiated by the government.

    Appreciation

    The Dwafoakwahene of Asamankese, Nana Kwakye Agyakwa, lauded the project by the Muslim Community and called on the citizenry at Asamankese to support the project when called upon.

    He said the project when completed would ensure security against some unscrupulous persons who were fond of digging people’s graves for spiritual activities.

    The Asamankese Municipal Zongo Chief, Chief Mohammed Bala Shaibu, explained that the remodelling of the cemetery would help the Muslim Community to make judicious use of their burial space with new layouts which would prevent random selection of burial spaces.

    He demanded that the Muslim Community give attention to the project, treat it as theirs, and protect it from encroachers.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • People use wrong measuring rods to access MPs Majority Leader

    Majority Leader in Parliament Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu has noted that lawmakers are being measured with wrong yardsticks.

    He explained that if parts of the country lack development projects, the first person to blame is the Member of Parliament for the area. However, he said, it is not the duty of the legislator to provide these projects.

    The Member of Parliament for Suame constituency explained in an interview with Berla Mundi on the New Day on TV3 Wednesday, September 23 that MPs are not agents of development rather, facilitators.

    The Minister of Parliamentary Affairs said “I always want us to look at the functions of a Member of Parliament. What are the functions of a Member of Parliament, a representative of a constituency?

    “Matters come to parliament you deliberate on them, that is the deliberative functions of a Member of Parliament. Then, because you speak from an informed perspective you transmit information to the populace, so there is the information transmission of a Member of Parliament.

    “Then the power of purse function of a Member of Parliament that is interrogating agreement in particular budgets that come before us.

    “The financial control function of parliament are you able to do that? Are you able to perform your oversight functions as a Member of Parliament? And then business legislation. These are the core responsibilities of a member of parliament.”

    “People really apply the wrong measuring rod in judging the performance of Members of Parliament. Members of Parliament are not agents of development. They are facilitators and so now the focus is on development.”

    He, however, blamed some MPs and aspirants for this development saying that they create the wrong impression by promising to provide projects.

    Source: 3 News

  • Government has been good to you, resume work – Buaben Asamoa to striking Nurses, Midwives

    Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Yaw Buaben Asamoa, has appealed to the striking nurses and midwives to resume work.

    The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) comprising all public sector nurses, midwives, Physician Assistants (PAs) and Anesthetists (CRAs) have today, September 22 embarked on nationwide strike.

    The GRNMA is demanding better conditions of services from the government, hence refusing to comply with an interim injunction by the National Labour Commission (NLC) to restrain them.

    The NLC has called on them to pick up their tools but the members of the Association have paid deaf ears to the NLC as they remain on strike.

    The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has also asked the nurses to back down on the strike and go to the negotiation table to have their grievances resolved.

    Adding his voice to the calls on the nurses and midwives, Yaw Buaben Asamoa has asked them to be patient with the government and heed the appeals on them to call off the strike and return to the negotiation table.

    “It doesn’t mean someone hates you. It doesn’t mean you don’t have the right to go on strike. It doesn’t mean you don’t have grievances. All we’re saying is for you to abide by the Labour Commission’s instructions for peace to reign,” he stated on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’.

    Mr. Buaben Asamoa added that the government has been charitable to the nurses, midwives and all other health workers, particularly the frontline workers at the forefront of the COVID-19 fight and so expects them to cooperate with the government to arrive at a better decision.

    He reminded them of the government’s tax waivers and 50% salary increase to them which, to him, should tell the nurses and midwives that the government has their welfare at heart.

    “We have been good to you. We’ve been ably employed you…Be patient; I don’t believe that the government that’s created jobs for you and paid your allowances will turn to intimidate and sack you. It won’t honor the government in anyway,” he said.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Chamber of Bullion Traders, GNASSM pay over GH¢90m taxes to government

    The Chamber of Bullion Traders Ghana (CBTG), a representative body of Licensed Gold Exporters(LGE) and Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners(GNASSM) have honored their tax obligation to government from the month of May to August 2020 alone to the tune of Gh¢90 million in withholding taxes.

    In a press statement signed by the Chief Executive Officer(CEO) of the Chamber Mr. Daniel Krampah, he indicated that from the middle of May 2020, the Chamber in collaboration with the Ghana Revenue Authority(GRA) have been collecting withholding tax on gold exports from licensed gold traders and the small scale miners for the Government.

    From mid May to end of August 2020 about nine tons of gold was exported which brought in about $526.32 million dollars in foreign exchange into the country.

    The promotion of a sustainable mining industry in the country has been one of the cardinal points of the Chambers activities. Since its formation the Chamber and Ghana National Small Scale Miners Association(GNASSM) have been working hand in hand with the GRA to generate revenue for government.

    Mr. Krampah stated that given what they were able to achieve or realized between just May and August, the Chamber is projecting round about Gh¢200 million tax collection by the close of year 2020 at 3% withholding tax on gold exports by the LGEs and its agents as well as the Small Scale Miners in the country.

    He said, for the month of August 2020 alone, the Chamber in collaboration with GRA collected over GH¢12.96million as Withholding Tax on the export of gold.

    The CEO also stated that the Chamber is currently in talks with the local refineries and are very optimistic that their discussions to get them on board will yield positive results so that gold bought from small scale miners will be refined here to add value before it is exported.

    Again he hinted that by the first quarter of 2021 members of the Chamber and local refineries will formalise working relationship with overseas refineries for accreditation for the refining of gold in Ghana before it is exported.

    The CEO pointed out that currently private gold refineries in the country (which are lying idle) have the capacity to refine about twenty-two (22) tonnes of gold per month and this capacity will increase to about twenty-six(26) tonnes per month when the refinery being put up at the Precious Minerals Marketing Company(PMMC) becomes operational. With this capacity gold produced by small scale and large scale mines in the country and even gold from the West African sub-region can be refined in the country.

    The CBTG also supplies mining logistics and consumables as well as allied services to the mining sector in Ghana.

    Its members offer buying, exporting and related services to the mining sector whilst promoting sustainable mining industry in the country as has been one of the cardinal points in the Chambers activities.

    Source: The New Crusading Guide

  • Government has cheated you far too long but resume work – Kwesi Pratt pleads with striking Nurses

    Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has called on the striking health workers in the country to resume work in order to save lives.

    The Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) consisting of all public sector nurses, midwives, Physician Assistants (PAs), and Anesthetists (CRAs) have embarked on strike, therefore seeking better conditions of services from the Akufo-Addo government.

    The nurses and midwives have refused to return to work until their grievances are resolved but Kwesi Pratt is pleading with them to consider the innocent Ghanaian who may become a casualty due to the strike.

    “If His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo falls sick today and we have to take him for medical treatment for even a month, we will do it. If we have to charter an ambulance jet to fly him outside, we will take him. The people who will suffer are the poor people,” he said.

    Making his submissions on ‘Kokrokoo’ on Peace FM, Mr Pratt empathized with the health workers in the country saying, “I admit that you’re being cheated and in fact, it’s not only you who feel cheated but a lot of Ghanaians as well…So, we are all cheated and should we all decided to take an action, we shouldn’t think about ourselves only but have a plan that will help ease all of us. My dear nurses, you have a good case. You have been cheated for too long but we plead with you to resume work so that the innocent pregnant woman won’t lose her life”.

    Meanwhile, the National Labour Commission (NLC) has secured an interim injunction to restrain the nurses and midwives from the strike.

    The Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has also asked them to back down on the strike and return to the negotiation table.

    Source: Peace FM

  • Ghana Stock Exchange set for a rebound

    The Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) has gone through a lot of barren periods in recent years. Between 2015 to 2019, the only year it returned a positive was in 2017 when the market gained 52.73%.

    The rest of the years has been negative. -11.77% in 2015, -15.33 in 2016, -0.29 in 2018 and -12.25 in 2019. If 2020 ends in a negative (July figure is -16.81) it would be the second election year in a row the market has returned a negative; the last time was in 1992 when it returned -3.63.

    Beyond 2015, the biggest gain till date happened in 2013 when the market chalked more than 70% by year end.

    People have questioned the potential of the GSE to return good to investors. In the article; Accra Bourse: the highs and lows of 2018 the Young Investors Network showed readers how some investors earned more than 60% within a short period in 2018 on individual stocks, though the market as a whole returned -0.29%. The rational behind the writeup was to portray that short-term investors can also patronize the stock market.

    After a strong performance in 2017, investors took positions in expectation that the trend would continue in the following year, 2018.

    The first half of 2018 was generally good for investors as it recorded a year high of 35.62%.

    Within the period, some individual stocks such as Societe General, GOIL, CAL Bank and TOTAL also recorded year highs of 65.83%, 45%, 44.67% and 41.17% respectively.

    What this means is that when you purchase stocks and pay attention to it, you are likely to make some income within a short period then you can sell off.

    The troubles of the market coincided with the announcement by the Bank of Ghana in August 2018 of the consolidation of Unibank Ghana Ltd, The Royal Bank Ltd, Beige Bank Ltd, Sovereign Bank Ltd, and Construction Bank Ltd to form a new bank called Consolidated Bank Ltd. Around the same period, Menzgold too had been clamped down. Liquidity in the financial system became an issue.

    The GSE thrives on liquidity. Basically, because the GSE is a risky area and investors normally use dispensable funds to enter.

    Though the consolidated banks were not listed entities, pension fund managers, who are mainly the drivers of the Ghana Stock Exchange where hugely hit because of their exposure to the collapsed institutions.

    Most investors had to fall on the stock market to cater for short term obligations. Between August 2018 and present, pension fund managers have sold more equities than they have purchased.

    Individual investors have found no reason to commit funds into the market.

    This shows that the main reason why the stock market remained down in the last few years was because the financial sector crises remained unresolved.

    The financial sector cleanup was in fact very necessary. The five-year bond that was proposed for settlement however was going to compound matters. The decision therefore to pay cash has the potential to shore up public confidence in the financial system.

    Pension Fund Managers will have to revert to their statutory requirement of purchasing equities as part of their portfolios under management.

    Our article, The GSE: How the Banks Have Performed in the Last Five Years, showed how the banks have performed between 2015 and 2019.

    Shareholders are being rewarded with dividends for the sterling performance in 2019. The strong performance has continued in 2020. Strong financials have been produced. The share prices are very low.

    It is essential for investors to speak to their stock brokers and investment advisors to enable them take positions within the market especially within the banks as soon as possible. This is not the time to wait and see.

    Young Investors Network (YIN) is a financial education organization with a commitment to educating the youth in financial literacy, business skills and dedicated to preparing the next generation of investors.

    Its mission is to inspire youth to be outstanding investors investors in companies, investors in their communities, and investors in themselves. Please visit www.younginvestorsghana.org for more.

    Source: goldstreetbusiness.com

  • NDC will not accept any intimidation from security services – Minority Leader

    The Minority Leader in Parliament has cautioned that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) will not accept any form of intimidation or misconduct from the security services in the upcoming December elections.

    According to Haruna Iddrisu, any form of abuse or misuse of office by the security services will not be tolerated by the NDC.

    He made the comments at a gathering of chiefs, people and members of the Garage Associations in Sunyani Magazine just before the flagbearer of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama, disclosed the suspension of his tour in the Bono Region.

    Mr Iddrisu said the police and the military, according to their mandate, are expected to be neutral state institutions and must in turn act appropriately.

    The Minority Leader warned that the NDC will neither accept a repetition of the state-sponsored violence and intimidation that occurred during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election in 2019.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • If it is not an emergency, do not come Doctor to patients

    Medical Director for the Eastern Regional Hospital, Dr. Arko Akoto Ampaw, has cautioned patients whose ailment is not an emergency not to dare come to the hospital because they would not be attended to.

    The Medical Director said at this crucial time when all the over 400 nurses in that hospital are on strike, it would be difficult for the few Doctors and the other medical assistants to attend to non-emergency cases since there are already many emergency cases as well as some in-patients at the facility being attended to currently.

    “Because the numbers can be overwhelming, we plead with the general population that if it is not an emergency, do not come. Because if you come you will distract our attention because you will become many and we will not be able to pick the real emergencies.

    “So essentially we are focusing on emergencies and plead that they (cases) should be true emergencies. The general OPD is not running but if you come as an emergency, we are likely to attend to you to keep you alive which is the main thing. I mean this is the time that I would ask that the people of the society or the general population should be considerate to even themselves so that only true emergencies come so that we can keep them alive while the impasse is resolved, ” he stressed.

    Dr. Akoto Ampaw who was speaking to GhanaWeb in an interview in Koforidua on Tuesday expressed that his outfit had had to recall all key and other auxiliary staff members to fill the gap left by the striking nurses so that healthcare can duly and smoothly be delivered to patients.

    “They really are on strike and what management is doing is try to recall as many people as possible to redeploy them into the different departments to hold the fort while we try to get the nurses back to work. We have recalled all health aides, assistants, orderlies, we have recalled all house officers, all specialists, Doctors and interns and since yesterday we have asked them to take up the positions to be able to do the work that the nurses would have done. So far, we have done quite well,” he disclosed.

    Dr. Akoto Ampaw also disclosed that some of the recalled staff are being made to work for up to 12 hours while others too even spend 24 hours in order to fill the void of the striking nurses.

    He, however, appealed that the impasse between the nurses and their employers would quickly be resolved so that situation can come back to normalcy.

    “We appreciate that some of them have had to go for twelve hours, some are even running up to 24 hours just to mitigate the effect of the strike so that we will not have mortalities which is our main concern for now.

    “For that matter, we pray that if the impasse can be addressed as quickly as possible so that the nurses can come back to work and provide the care that we shall need for our patients,” he said.

    GhanaWeb also visited the Koforidua Policlinic where the OPD was virtually empty as only patients were seen in line going to see the doctors.

    Some of the patients who spoke to GhanaWeb expressed their concerns.

    “No, they did not attend to me. They said they are on strike. When you go they sack you to go home. Ah, there is no one sitting there. As soon as you get there and greet, they tell you, madam, go go go, we are not working!” Josephine, a mother with a baby said.

    Another man said, “in this Koforidua Hospital, what I came to see here. I plead with the government to ensure it pays the nurses on strike so they can come back to work. when I came I saw people lying in the emergency unit and it was not a joke.”

    “I brought my brother. We are at the casualty. They are taking very good care of him. Even in the strike, they are taking good care of him. We only appeal that the striking nurses return to work,” another woman told Ghanaweb at the Regional Hospital.

    A man who had his relative discharged expressed that it was “too bad” for the nurses to plan a strike in an election period and appealed to the government to conclude a negotiation with the nurses to return to work.

    “You are going on strike when we are about to go to the election? It is too bad. The government should talk to them and if there needs to be a negotiation, it should negotiate with them. See how people are suffering here,” he expressed.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Government has collapsed PBC, cheated cocoa farmers – NDC

    The Western North Regional youth organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Awudu Lamin has accused the ruling NPP of collapsing the cocoa sector.

    He claims that the Produce Buying Company (PBC) in that region has collapsed because the government has not managed the company well.

    He asserts that it was only under the NDC that Ghana managed to get 1 million metric tons of cocoa with its lowest being around 900,000.

    But under the NPP, their projections have reduced drastically hovering around 700,000. It shows that they have failed cocoa farmers in the region.

    He indicated that under the NDC, fertilizers were given out for free but under the NPP, the fertilizers are being sold at Ghc80 but sold in Ivory Coast at GHc40.

    Awudu Lamin told Nyankonton Mu Nsem on Rainbow Radio 87.5Fm that cocoa farmers have been cheated and denied what they deserve and until the NPP is voted out, cocoa farmers will continue to suffer.

    Source: rainbownradioonline.com

  • Akufo-Addo highlights his achievements as elections get closer

    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says after winning the 2016 general election overwhelmingly and his subsequent swearing-in into office on January 7, 2017, he and his government “have embraced the application of digital technology in the delivery of public services”.

    He added that the allowances of both trainee nurses and teachers which was scrapped by the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama administration had to be restored by his government.

    Akufo-Addo, in a post on his Facebook timeline on Monday, while gloating over some of his achievements so far, stated that the one constituency one ambulance initiative is a unique achievement by his government within the context of the history of Ghana.

    “We have reduced the benchmark values of import duties by as much as 50%, and, in the case of vehicles, by 30%; we have put an end to the Unemployed Graduates Association, which was such a sad feature of the Mahama years, by creating Nation Builders Corps (NABCO) and several other job creation initiatives targeted at the youth.

    We have systematically enhanced the capacity of the anti-corruption institutions of the State; and we have superintended over the successful reorganization of our regional governance structure, resulting in the creation of six (6) new regions, with strong popular support,” the post read.

    The Akufo-Addo led administration is very confident of victory in the polls whilst the opposition believes that the incumbent party had lied its way into government, Ghanaians are fed-up with the lies and heavy corruption of gargantuan proportions, and will consequently return the NDC to power so that they can correct their mistakes.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • Miss Health Ghana Queen donates to Accra Psychiatric Hospital

    Ohemaa Agyekum, the reigning Queen of Miss Health Ghana has donated medical supplies to the Accra Psychiatric Hospital to help equip them as they battle the Coronavirus pandemic.

    The items donated to the hospital included facemasks, gloves, liquid soaps, gun thermometers, among other items.

    Ohemaa Agyekum accompanied by the Miss Health Ghana team during the presentation emphasized the need to support health institutions with the necessary protective equipment to help safeguard lives.

    “As an ambassador for the promotion of good health, I consider it vital to provide these items to help provide a safe environment for our mental health workers and their patients.

    “Over the past months, myself and the Miss Health Ghana team have also embarked on a series of campaigns to help raise awareness of the Coronavirus,” she said.

    Madam Portia Teinor, a Health Assistant who received the items on behalf of the hospital, was grateful to Miss Agyekum for her kind gesture and assured her that the items would be used for its intended purpose.

    Madam Gladys Akyere Rockson, the Chief Executive Officer of Lamrock Agency, organisers of the annual beauty pageant in her remarks said the donation forms part of their overall vision in projecting good health amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

    She pledged immense support for the hospital in its quest to provide quality mental health care and promised to refurbish some deteriorated structures on the premises soon.

    Meanwhile, the second edition of the beauty pageant is billed for October 2020.

    Source: GNA

  • Hospitals in Takoradi record low OPD attendance

    Nurses and Midwives in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis and Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipality have joined the nationwide strike action embarked by nurses in demand for better working conditions.

    As a result, a number of government hospitals within the two Assemblies have recorded low Out Patient Department (OPD) turn out.

    A visit by the GNA to the European Hospital in Takoradi revealed the absence of nurses at the OPD with virtually empty seats.

    Reverend Osei Boateng, the administrator of the hospital, bemoaned the current situation saying, it was unfortunate that the nurses had embarked on the strike action during these abnormal times.

    He was, however, happy that doctors, laboratory technicians, Administrators, Accountants, and other support service providers were at post.

    Rev. Boateng appealed to the government to negotiate with the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) to chart a clear path in meeting their demands.

    He explained that workers within the health sector should be given all the allowances due them to prevent frequent strike actions since the strikes could lead to the loss of lives.

    Rev Boateng noted that apart from the nurses, other staff such as administrators, accountants, cleaners and caterers have also not received much attention from various governments, stressing that they all play critical roles in achieving holistic healthcare delivery.

    The situation was not different at the Kwesiminstim Hospital, where the Administrator, Mr Felix Osei Kesse, indicated that on a regular day, an average of 300 patients visit the OPD, however, the strike action had resulted in a decrease in attendance.

    Mr Kesse also said the doctors were now playing the roles of nurses pointing out that “Doctors are now taking the vital statistics of patients and attending to pregnant women at the Ante natal Care (ANC) unit”.

    This he noted would increase the workload of the Doctors.

    Mr Kesse explained that so far, only four critical cases were still on admission and being attended to while all other patients on admission had been discharged since nurses were not around.

    He said the hospital had some referral cases but that the patients were likely to meet the same situation at the hospital they would be referred to.

    Nana Owusu, a patient at the Essikado Hospital lamented that he had been at the facility for quite some time but had not been issued with a card because there were no nurses to attend to patients with general problems.

    He called on the government to attend to the demands of the nurses for them to call off their strike action.

    The strike action has been triggered by the poor conditions of service and unpaid allowances to nurses and midwives.

    Physician assistants and certified registered Aneastetics are also included in the strike.

    Source: GNA

  • Panpansokroke launches four-year development plan

    The chiefs and people of Panpansokrokese, a farming community in the Nsawam-Adoagyiri Municipality of the Eastern Region, has launched a four-year development plan to provide social amenities estimated at 40 million Ghana cedis.

    Projects earmarked in the plan are the construction of a police station, chieftaincy institution, a lorry park, a market, and a CHPS compound.

    Nii Ansah Mankata VI, the Chief of Panpansokrokese in an interview with the Ghana News Agency said the projects would be executed with financial support from the citizens during annual harvest at festivals such as; Homowo, Odwira, Ohum, Adae Butuw and Akwasidae.

    He said lands for the projects had been provided.

    Nii Mankata said the provision of the police station and the chieftaincy institution would help deal with land disputes, land guards and other issues which were retarding the progress of the area.

    He said the construction of the lorry park and the market would provide avenue for the inhabitants who are mostly farmers to transport and selling of their produce while the provision of the CHPS compound would alleviate the suffering of the people from travelling far for medical attention.

    The Chief appealed to the government to turn the Densu and Panpan Rivers in the area into a dam as part of the One Village One Dam project for the people of Panpankrokese to assist them in the irrigation of their farms during the harmattan.

    Nii Mankata pleaded with the government for the re-gravelling of the 24-kilometre road which links the community to the Nsawam – Kumasi trunk road to facilitate the transportation of farming produce to marketing centres.

    He called on Ghanaians to approach the forthcoming December elections with peace as they vote for their preferred choice without any monetary influence.

    Source: GNA

  • Selection of BECE candidates into SHSs begins

    The selection of junior high school candidates who just completed their Basic Education Certificate Exams (BECE) into senior high schools (SHSs) began yesterday.

    It will end on Saturday, October 31, 2020.

    A statement from the Ghana Education Service (GES) said the 2020 SHS register was available in all schools and education offices.

    The statement urged parents and guardians to take active interest in guiding their wards to choose schools based on their performance.

    It advised parents to seek for explanations and clarifications from the school management “if you do not know what to do”.

    Source: thefinderonline.com

  • Two arrested for attempting to swindle woman of GH¢12,000

    Two persons who allegedly attempted to swindle a woman of her GH¢12,000 have been arrested by the Kwabenya police in Accra yesterday.

    The suspects, Yaw Darko, 26, posed as an estate agent and Mohammed Suraj, 49, claimed to be a landlord and pretended to rent a house to the victim.

    They are in the custody of the Police assisting in investigations according to Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, DSP Efia Tenge.

    She said the complainant (name withheld) reported to the police that she saw a phone number on an online platform (Tonaton.com) and called the person who claimed to be a real estate agent with apartment pictures displayed for rent.

    DSP Tenge said the woman expressed interest and called for enquiries.

    The PRO said on September 18, 2020 the suspects who claimed to be landlord and agent respectively met the complainant and led her to East Legon and showed to her some apartments which was being rented for GH¢1,000 per month for a two-year period.

    She said the woman after negotiations gave a cheque for GH¢12,000 to them to cash.

    DSP Tenge said the suspects presented the cheque to the bank same day but they were told that the said amount could only be transferred to their account.

    She said the suspects then called the complainant and informed her that they owed their banks so they could not transfer the money into their bank accounts.

    The PRO stated that the suspects requested for physical cash instead, adding that the woman became suspicious and informed the police leading to their arrest.

    She said during interrogations the suspects admitted to the offence of attempting to defraud their victim.

    DSP Tenge appealed to the public who have fallen victims to such scam to report to the Kwabenya police in Accra.

    Source: Ghanaian Times

  • EC Filing Fee: Akua Donkor deposits GH¢100,000 to show readiness

    The Electoral Commission (EC) on Monday, September 14, 2020, opened online nominations for presidential and parliamentary aspirants for the December 7th general elections.

    The commission fixed the filing fee for presidential aspirants at GH¢100,000 and that for parliamentary aspirants at GH¢10,000.

    The figure for the presidential aspirants was a 100 per cent increase over the 2016 filing fee, while that of the parliamentary candidates remained unchanged.

    As a result, some political parties, civil society organisations and other individuals have raised concerns about the filing fees, describing it as exorbitant.

    Some smaller political parties also said the fees by the EC was a calculated attempt to prevent them from participating in the general election. They thus called on the EC to consider a downward review of the filing fee.

    Peanut comment

    The founder and leader of Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Madam Akua Donkor commended the Jean Mensa led EC, saying the 100k filing fees was just a peanut.

    According to her, the amount is not outrageous as others have suggested since the presidential race is not for jokers. She said candidates who aspire for it must be financially capable.

    To the farmer, those who cannot raise the amount are not serious, adding her political party is not a minor party as some have described it.

    Deposit of GH¢100,000

    Barely a week after her comment, the GFP founder has deposited an amount of GH¢100,000 into her bank account to spectacle her readiness in the December 7 polls.

    A cash deposit receipt sighted by Ghana Guardian revealed Madam Akua Donkor walked into the Nsawam branch of GBC herself on Friday, September 18, to pay the said amount.

    Unlike 2016, the unlettered politician is optimistic her candidacy will be sealed this year.

    She has since called on Ghanaians to vote massively for her in the December polls.

    Source: Ghana Guardian

  • Aviation Minister inspects expansion of airport facility in Takoradi

    The Minister of Aviation, Mr Kofi Adda has stated that the Western Region can not be overlooked when it comes to aviation since it houses the oil and gas industry and a training center for pilots.

    He disclosed that his Ministry also has “its eyes on a land it has acquired at Kajebil near Takoradi for the construction of an international airport which is now at the feasibility study stage pending approval from the Ministry of Finance”.

    He said the aviation sector has been recognised by the President as a very important element of economic development hence, the move to expand the sector by developing infrastructure and improving services to make sure that business development and tourism are supported to enhance the economic lives of the people.

    The Minister who was on a working visit to the Central and Western Regions to ascertain the potentials the two regions have in the aviation space indicated that the Takoradi Airport was so important because it serves the oil and gas industry as well as the mining industry.

    He further stated that his Ministry was in consultation with the Ministry of Finance to see how best local air travel fares could be reduced to make it affordable to enable more Ghanaians to do quick business.

    He hinted that many more airlines have shown interest and would soon take off to bring competition and to have airfares reduced so that more Ghanaians can afford.

    According to him, though the renovation work at the Takoradi airport was being done solely by the Ghana Airforce, the Ministry of Aviation has been able to identify the items that are needed to bring efficient gadgets to do civil works among others.

    He said the Aviation Ministry was liaising with the Ministry of Finance to raise some money to support them since the rehabilitation and reconfiguration for the arrival and departure halls would be expanded to bring comfort to passengers.

    Air Vice-Marshal Frank Hanson, Chief of Air Staff said the Takoradi Airport has been in existence for over sixty years and has since been the bedrock of aviation in Ghana.

    He noted that expanding its operations would enable it to take more domestic airlines to open the market for competition which would help beat down airfares for more patrons.

    The Western Regional Minister, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah noted with concern that the absence of a civilian airport hampers air transport business in the region, hence the expansion was necessary to position the Airforce Base to be able to give more room to civilian passengers till the Region gets an alternative airport.

    He explained that the Ghana Airforce was already on the Board of the Civil Aviation Authority and could therefore do a proper collaboration to augment the operations of the airport by giving the needed support to improve on its operations.

    The renovation which is being done by the TonyDollyken Construction Limited started in June this year and is expected to be completed in December this year.

    Renovation works include the renovation of the Airport Terminal building, expansion of Arrival/Departure Hall, and the oil and gas facility.

    Source: GNA

  • I will create NGO for responsible speech with defamation money Ashanti Regional Minister

    The Ashanti Regional Minister Simon Osei Mensah has indicated he will set up a foundation on peaceful and responsible language with proceeds he will make from a defamation suit he has filed against the Insight News Paper and Strategic Thinkers Network should the ruling go in his favour.

    The Minister is seeking 10 million cedis in damages at an Accra High Court for an August 28, 2020 publication of the Insight News Paper captioned Alleged Ethnocentric Comments: CSOs call for the dismissal of Minister.”

    Speaking at an event organized by the Ashanti Region chapter of the National Peace Council to mark the United Nations International Peace Day, Mr Osei Mensah denied ever uttering the divisive tribal comments attributed to him.

    He averred, “Someone has come out with a tape which the media even says did not come from me but some people still insist it was from me. I have wasted money to file a defamation suit against them.

    “If they are unable to provide evidence to that effect, I will take every penny of damages awarded to me to set up a foundation for peace to teach people to be responsible about making allegations against people from the figment of their thoughts,” he stated firmly.

    Mr Simon Osei Mensah pointed out that the foundation will be a source of reference to remind all persons who choose to make defamatory comments against people, to tread with caution.

    Mr Simon Osei Mensah however expressed worry political parties who were invited to the event did not turn up even though according to him, politicians are to blame for all acrimonies that characterize electoral activities in the country.

    He admitted: “The people disturbing us most in this country are me and my colleague politicians. Because of the quest for power, we will choose to spew all sorts of inflammatory statements to knock heads together and create chaos forgetting that peace comes from God.”

    The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the National Peace Council Rt. Rev Christopher Nyarko Andam told Ultimate News the council has had course to warn political parties against emerging political violence being perpetrated in pseudo vigilante manner.

    He told reporter Ivan Heathcote Fumador, “All the big political parties were found culpable so we called them and told them that once the president has spoken and parliament has passed the act, it is binding on them.”

    The event saw in attendance the regional chair and members of the National Peace Council, chiefs from the Zango Communities, the Ashanti regional Chief Imam and heads of the various Islamic sects in the region.

    Source: Kasapa FM

  • Highway robber killed in fierce gun battle with police at Yeji

    A suspected robber has been killed in a fierce gun battle with police officers on the Yeji-Prang highway in the Bono East Region.

    Police at the Yeji Division confirmed the incident to the media at a press briefing on Monday, September 21, 2020.

    The suspect was part of a group of four armed persons who emerged from the bush around the Kofi Baasare bridge on the highway and fired shots on a police vehicle on patrol duties Monday dawn.

    The Yeji Divisional Commander, Chief Superintendent Godfrey Tetteh Adjirakor, told the press that the suspects escaped after the police returned fire.

    “The police officers were on highway patrols along the Yeji highway and upon reaching a section of the road known as Kofi Baasare bridge, police saw two torchlights each emerging from both sides of the roads. The suspects upon seeing the police vehicle fired into the bumper. Police also fired towards their direction and killed one of them instantly,” he said.

    The commander said the police retrieved some weapons and mobile phones after an extensive search around the bush from which the suspects emerged.

    He added that the body of the deceased has been deposited at a mortuary for preservation.

    “A search was conducted in the bush and police found two single-barreled guns modified as shotguns, nine BB cartridges, and six mobile phones. Meanwhile, the body has been deposited at the Mathias Catholic Hospital mortuary for preservation and identification.”

    Chief Superintendent Adjirakor has since urged the public to volunteer information that can help arrest the three suspects currently on the run. He said health facilities in the area should also contact the police should any person visit their facility with bullet wounds.

    “If anyone comes with any wounds on the body for treatment, they should inform the police”, the police chief said.

    Source: Daily Mail

  • Meet Hannah, the young Ghanaian woman recycling used car tyres into furniture

    Her dreams and passion for education crashed along the way when she took seed as a young student of the Mpraeso Senior High School (SHS) in Kwahu in the Eastern Region.

    She could not continue pursuing her dream of becoming the ‘Barbara Gaisie’ of modern screens.

    “Hannah, you have disappointed us…,” her teachers who looked down upon her as she wandered the streets of her hometown, Kwahu Atibie with her pregnancy whispered in her ears anytime they chanced upon her.

    She could hardly face the realities of life and had to drop out of school as a result.

    “The beautiful lady who scored the highest grades in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Atibie township had brought disgrace upon her family,” many thought.

    In all these, one thing still remained, her creative abilities, the ability to bring into being that which never existed.

    “I decided to try something new when I wanted a table at the time. And that is when it dawned on me that I can use car tyres to manufacture the very thing I needed…I tried my hands on it and it worked…,” Hannah Hema Akomeah said in excitement as she recounted her journey to fame.

    Although the initial work which she did with brand new car tyre, did not meet her expectation, she never gave up.

    The sort of encouragement she had from colleagues after posting them on her Facebook wall was enough to cause her to explore her new field in search of more knowledge to improve her work.

    One work after the other, Hannah has bettered the art of recycling used vehicle tyres into beautiful furniture.

    As she sat on one of the neatly adorned handicraft from her base in Ofankor, a suburb of Accra, Hannah recounted with pride how people have started patronizing her discovery.

    “I just sent some of my ware to Kade. I am also manufacturing another for another person who ordered on my facebook…,” she said.

    Her passion for this job has led her into teaching at least nine (9) people how to manufacture tables and chairs with used tyres.

    Support

    Ms Akomeah who now applies her trade in an old building in the Accra suburb commenced her business with GH? 300. The lack of funds makes her sit on the floor to do her work on daily basis. “I have no shop, so all I do is to sit here on a daily basis recycling used tyres into furniture and you can imagine the pains involved…,” she narrated.

    The manual way of executing this task has also slowed her work as she spends more time before coming out with quality work. She hopes to take her skill a step further and teach more young girls to make a living out this business, but lacks the necessary funds. She has therefore appealed to Government and other investors to come to her aid so she can be of help to several others.

    “I need support to acquire a workshop and a money to be used as startup capital so I can expand the business and help other. I believe training people will be my way of helping reduce unemployment in the country…,” she appealed.

    Source: angelonline.com.gh

  • 2020 elections: NPP will win four more seats in Greater Accra – Youth Organizer

    The Greater Accra Regional Youth Organizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Moses Abor has hinted of plans by the party to maintain all their 21 seats in the region and win three more seats in the upcoming parliamentary election.

    The young politician says the NPP will leave no stone unturned in winning massively in the region and also ensure victory for the party.

    Mr. Abor said the NPP will be engaging in a house to house campaign and sell the message of the NPP so Ghanaians will vote them comer December 7, 2020.

    To him, the gains made under the NPP must be protected because a vote for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will destroy all the gains made under this current administration.

    ”Our vision is agenda maintain and increase. We are maintaining our 21 seats and increasing it by 3 or 4 seats in the upcoming parliamentary election. We want to win the 2020 elections and we will not relax in achieving that vision, he added.

    He was speaking on Frontline on Rainbow Radio 87.5 Fm.

    Source: rainbownradioonline.com

  • Striking nurses discredit FWSCs claims of illegal labour action

    The leadership of the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has debunked claims made by the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) that its members are being inconsiderate following their decision to embark on strike.

    According to the association, all efforts to get the government to address their concerns have proven futile contrary to what the FWSC has made to the public.

    GRNMA members on Monday, September 21, 2020, withdrew their services to demand improved conditions of service.

    The National Labour Commission (NLC) however secured an interim injunction to restrain members of the Association from laying down their tools, but the nurses defied the directive saying they were not served.

    Meanwhile, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission (FWSC) has asked the nurses to back down on their strike and return to the negotiation table to have their grievances resolved.

    According to the Commission, the government has shown enough commitment to have the concerns of the health staff resolved, hence the labour action is in serious breach of the rules of engagement between the two sides.

    But a statement issued by the association indicated that the strike continues unabated.

    “The employer invited us to a meeting on Friday, 18th September 2020 per an invitation letter dated the same day to continue with the negotiation of the conditions of service. In the said meeting, the employer only sought to understand why the GRNMA team had declared a strike from 21st September 2020 and therefore it was not a meeting to continue the negotiation contrary to the agenda.”

    “The said meeting turned into an informal discussion as the GRNMA labour consultant sought to mediate for the parties to find a common ground. However, the employer was not willing to make any compromise. In this regard, we urge all nurses, midwives, physician assistants and certified registered anaesthetists to join in the struggle for better conditions of service.”

    Meanwhile, the Africa Center for Health Policy Research and Analysis wants the government to immediately address the demand of the striking nurses and midwives.

    Here is the full statement from the striking nurses.

    Source: citinewsroom.com

  • Todays newspapers front pages

  • Cashew farmers will be prosperous under my government – Mahama

    The Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has announced that cashew farmers are going to receive special attention and support when the National Democratic Congress wins the December elections.

    He explained that the NDC’s focus on cashew farmers and cashew production forms part of the Party’s planned programme of ensuring value addition to agriculture produce in order to earn more income and improve the lot of farmers.

    Addressing a gathering of chiefs and cashew farmers of Brohani in the Tain District of the Bono Region, Mr Mahama said cashew, a crop widely cultivated in the region, will thrive under his administration.

    “This is the time for cashew farmers. If you’re not into cashew, get land and begin cultivating because it will be a prosperous venture under me,” he assured.

    The former President also announced that the NDC will introduce a number of interventions to make cashew farmers more productive and also profit from the trade.

    According to him, a Cashew Board will be established, similar to the structure of Cocobod, so that the interest of cashew farmers can be pursued while ensuring improved cashew production.

    He also mentioned that a cashew processing factory will be established to ensure value addition through the processing of the cashew for export, which would put more money into the pockets of farmers.

    Highlighting the importance of agri-business, the NDC leader said the Ministry of Food and Agriculture will be realigned into a Ministry of Agriculture and Agribusiness to coordinate the business aspect of agriculture for the benefit of farmers and also the nation.

    Mr Mahama also announced that the district will have a mechanisation centre to offer technical support and provide equipment like planters, harrows, ploughs and shellers to farmers to aid their work.

    He also promised the Islamic farming community that the NDC will introduce a Cashew Farmer’s Pension Scheme, as well as government support for Muslim farmers to observe the Hajj Pilgrimage.

    On the poor state of their roads, the NDC Presidential Candidate told the community “leave your roads to me, I will make sure they are worked on and tarred” adding that “we will also open a police post, so you can be safe from armed robbers and other vices”.

    The former President introduced the NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Tain, Sulemana Ramzy Adama. He reminded the people of Brohani to check their names at the registration centres to ensure that they are not disenfranchised.

    Source: Class FM

  • COPEC predicts fall in fuel prices by September ending

    The Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has predicted a decrease in the prices of fuel at the pump.

    According to COPEC, the marginal reduction should kick in by end of September.

    Executive Secretary of COPEC, Duncan Amoah, told Citi News that the fall will be 1% for petrol and 2% for diesel.

    “Our checks with the platt benchmark indicates petrol probably has lost about 4 pesewas per litre if you do just the international benchmark platt values. Again, diesel also seem to have recorded some 10 pesewas reduction. If all things are held equal, if the cedi whose performance has been quite stable over the past couple of weeks should be taken into account, Ghanaians should expect at least some marginal reduction in pump prices,” Duncan Amoah said.

    According to COPEC, it made the forecast based on world crude oil prices and as major oil-producing countries ramp up their production after the negative impact of COVID-19.

    Energy think tank, Institute of Energy Security had earlier indicated a likely increase in fuel prices for the first pricing window in September.

    Petrol is currently selling at GHS4.89 per litre while diesel is selling at GHS4.91 litre.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • John Mahama promises cashew development board

    The Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, has announced that cashew farmers are going to receive special attention and support when the NDC wins the December elections.

    He explained that the NDC’s focus on cashew farmers and cashew production forms part of the Party’s planned programme of ensuring value addition to agriculture produce to earn more income and improve the lot of farmers.

    Addressing a gathering of chiefs and cashew farmers of Brohani in the Tain District of the Bono Region, President Mahama said cashew, a crop widely cultivated in the region, will thrive under his administration.

    “This is the time for cashew farmers. If you’re not into cashew, get land and begin cultivating because it will be a prosperous venture under me” he assured.

    The former President also announced that the NDC will introduce several interventions to make cashew farmers more productive and also profit from the trade.

    According to him, a Cashew Board will be established, similar to the structure of Cocobod, so that the interest of cashew farmers can be pursued while ensuring improved cashew production.

    He also mentioned that a cashew processing factory will be established to ensure value addition through the processing of the cashew for export, which would put more money into the pockets of farmers.

    Highlighting the importance of agri-business, the NDC leader said the Ministry of Food and Agriculture will be realigned into a Ministry of Agriculture and Agribusiness to coordinate the business aspect of agriculture for the benefit of farmers and also the nation.

    Mr Mahama also announced that the district will have a mechanization centre to offer technical support and provide equipment like planters, harrows, ploughs and shellers to farmers to aid their work.

    He also promised the mainly Islamic farming community that the NDC will introduce a Cashew Farmer’s Pension Scheme, as well as government support for Muslim farmers to observe the Hajj Pilgrimage.

    On the poor state of their roads, the NDC Presidential Candidate told the community “leave your roads to me, I will make sure they are worked on and tarred” adding that “we will also open a police post, so you can be safe from armed robbers and other vices” he promised.

    The former President introduced the NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Tain, Sulemana Ramzy Adama. He reminded the people of Brohani to check their names at the registration centres to ensure that they are not disenfranchised.

    Source: The Herald

  • Government to cede 40% stake in troubled Neoplan

    Government is finalizing processes to give away 40% of its stake in Neoplan Ghana Limited after intervening early this year to stop the company from collapse.

    Neoplan, a coach manufacturing business, has been in operation since the 1970s and was expected to shut down on Friday, January 31, 2020, because it was no longer viable.

    However, the government subsequently pulled the breaks on the processes to get the company to close down.

    Providing updates about the status of the troubled company on Monday, September 21, 2020, Director-General of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), Stephen Asamoah Boateng, said the government intends to recapitalize the company by ceding 40% of its 55% stake in the automobile firm.

    SIGA is mandated to ensure that the investments made by the State in State-owned Enterprises (SOEs), Joint Venture Companies (JVCs) and Other State Entities (OSEs) yield positive returns.

    “We are looking at giving 20% to the Fadoul Group [which currently owns 45% stake in the company] and another 20% for to a new investor so that we [government] own 15%,” Mr Asamoah Boateng said.

    He said although Neoplan is still operating, it has not been engaged in production because it is yet to receive supplies.

    “No business has come to them. The MD has bid for businesses and looking for some support…I have written on their behalf to Ghana Revenue Authority and SSNIT to support them because there were few problems with the payments of taxes,” he said.

    Mr Asamoah Boateng also disclosed that there is a long-term plan to resuscitate the company.

    Source: www.ghanaweb.com

  • FULL TEXT: NDC press conference on exhibition of 2020 voters register

    Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen from the media and welcome to this all-important Press Conference. Your presence here gives us comfort that we can count on you in raising critical issues that affect our country and our democracy in the supreme interest of the people of Ghana.

    As you are aware, the Electoral Commission commenced an exhibition of the provisional voters register on 18th September 2020. Our observation of the exercise so far revealed grave anomalies that threaten the conduct of Peaceful, Free and Fair elections on December 7 this year. We, therefore, invited you here this morning to share our observations with you and the entirety of Ghanaians.

    The NDC wishes to emphatically state that since the inception of the fourth republic we have not seen our otherwise respected EC present to the good people of Ghana such a malformed and anaemic register going into a major election. While we will present you with impeccable evidence on the serious anomalies on the provisional voters’ register, we also encourage you our friends in the media and all well-meaning Ghanaians to make time and visit exhibition centres to see for yourselves the mess that the Jean Mensa and Bossman Asare led EC has created.

    LIMITED DURATION FOR THE EXHIBITION EXERCISE

    Ladies and Gentlemen, the exhibition of the voters’ register is a critical aspect of our electoral process. It is through the exhibition exercise that citizens who register get the opportunity to confirm that their names and other details are duly captured on the voters roll such that they will not be disenfranchised on voting day.

    In view of the importance of this exercise the duration for exhibition in the past was between 11 and 21 days. In 2012 when a new register was compiled, the duration for the exhibition exercise was 11 days (1st to 10th September, 2012). Even in 2016 where only limited registration was conducted in preparation for that year’s elections, the duration for the exhibition exercise was 21 good days (18th July to 7th August).

    Unfortunately, with the 2020 registration exercise that was characterized by various anomalies, chaos and also involves close to 17 million prospective voters, the EC rather strangely announced an 8-day exhibition exercise. We wish to also place on record that unlike in the past where the EC called an IPAC meeting to discuss such an important activity for the inputs from political parties and other stakeholders, as characteristic of Jean Mensa’s autocratic and ‘yentie obiaa’ leadership style, the EC failed to do so.

    COPIES OF PROVISIONAL VOTERS REGISTER

    Per regulation 22(2) of the Public Elections Regulations (Voters Registration) C.I.91 “At the end of the compilation of the provisional register as provided in sub-regulation (1), a copy of the provisional register shall be given to each registered political party in the form determined by the Commission.”

    Whereas the NDC complied with the request of the EC and duly submitted a hard drive to the EC as early as 7th September 2020, it was not until Wednesday 16th September 2020 at around 8:10 pm, barely 35 hours to the commencement to the exhibition exercise that we received the provisional register for the EC. In a sudden twist of events, the EC called us the following day 17th September to return the register as they had detected some anomalies with the register for a new one. We graciously returned the register to the EC on the same day.

    It was not until Friday 18th September at 8:46 pm that we finally got the register for the exhibition exercise. Take note, Ladies and Gentlemen, that the exhibition exercise commenced on Friday. This implies that we did not have the register for the exercise that day. What we political parties normally do is to receive the register in good time and print copies for all our agents to ensure that they monitor the exhibition process effectively.

    We are reliably informed that the EC had already dispatched copies of the register they asked us to return to its officials across the country for the exhibition exercise. Given that it was too late to replace the Provisional Register with the current one, the EC knowingly and willfully instructed its officials to use the wrong copies of the register on the first day of the exhibition exercise.

    Again, Regulation 23(3) of C.I. 91 states that “The Commission shall in addition to the publication provided in sub-regulation (1), post the provisional register on the website of the Commission”. It is important to note that our so-called competent EC is yet to fulfill this simple obligation imposed on them by the law they themselves drafted and sent to Parliament for enactment. Ladies and Gentlemen, you may check for yourselves now at www.ec.gov.gh to see if the EC has uploaded the register on the website as required by law.

    Ladies and Gentlemen, even with the copies of the register the EC is using for the exhibition exercise so far, our observations show widespread anomalies at various exhibition centres across the country. So far our officials and agents have reported anomalies from all regions except Asawase in the Ashanti Region. This has already given us cause to believe that the anomalies and distortions in the register may be deliberate as it is widespread only in our strongholds. We have come to the conclusion that the current Provisional Register cannot be relied on as the Provisional Register as the level of distortion is incredible.

    ADJUDICATION & DE-DUPLICATION

    The EC constituted an Adjudication Committee to look into issues regarding multiple registrations during the registration exercise. Ideally, this Committee is supposed to first complete its work before the exhibition exercise. The Committee last met on 27th August and scheduled to meet again on 3rd September but that meeting never came on. The Committee was supposed to complete its work before the provisional register could be finalized. It is therefore strange that the EC has gone ahead with the exhibition exercise. This therefore raises questions as to the register that is being exhibited.

    Secondly, we also have information that people outside the shores of Ghana are being flown down to be registered on 29th September, 2020. How true is this assertion and will the people be part of the Provisional Register?

    Ladies and Gentlemen of the media, before touching on some of the unpardonable issues that have come up so far at the various Exhibition Centres nationwide we wish to first draw your attention to something strange that happened at the EC’s district office in Ablekuma Central Constituency on Friday September 18, 2020. EC officials were caught on video late at night printing and laminating unspecified number of Voter ID Cards. Obviously, this is just one of the Modern Rigging Techniques the EC has employed going into this election. Our suspicion is that either the new ID cards were being printed for non-Ghanaians who are not legible to vote or persons who did not register at all. This confirms rumours that EC officials were still secretly registering people after the official registration exercise had ended. Once such cards are issued to people whose identities were not scrutinized, these persons will go to the exhibition centers and fill in the Inclusion Forms as if they were mistakenly taken out of the register. Obviously this is part of the grand plan between Jean Mensa and the failed NPP to subvert the sovereign will of Ghanaians on 7th December. But we are vigilant and under no circumstance shall we sit that for Jean Mensa to perpetrate such a treasonable act on Ghanaians.

    We condemn this shameful act of thievery vehemently. We therefore call for an independent investigation of this incident and demand an explanation from the EC as to how any group could be permitted to print such numbers of voter ID cards when exhibition is ongoing.

    We wish to use this opportunity to call on our officers and agents to ensure strict compliance with our earlier directive to compare the exhibition list with the daily print out obtained during the registration exercise and reject all new names that do not exist on the daily print outs.

    Now to the charade exhibition of Jean Mensa /Bossman Asare voters register. From evidence gathered so far by our hardworking monitoring teams across the nation, the anomalies that have characterized the register can best be described as a comedy of errors that we predicted during the shambolic voter registration exercise. Never in our electoral history have we witnessed the display of such expensive incompetence by one of the most internationally revered institutions.

    Key among the errors observed from the exercise include:

    1. outright omission or removal of registrants through duplication
    2. mismatch of Personal Identification Numbers
    3. multiple instances of same photograph on different ID Cards.

    Below are details of the anomalies we have been able to capture to share with you.

    SAME PIN NUMBER ISSUED TO MULTIPLE APPLICANTS

    Under no circumstance should any database, be it biometric or otherwise have multiple people issued with the same Personal Identification Numbers (PIN). In other words, the uniqueness of a PIN must be guaranteed at all times in any credible database. We wish to state categorically that this was NOT the case in the previous register which the EC has thrown away. It is therefore sad that after spending almost 1 Billion Ghana Cedis to compile a new register, we have ended up with a register which does not guarantee the uniqueness of the PINs which is the most fundamental principle in a database design.

    Indeed, the essence of Identity Management is to register, clean up the data and issue unique PINs to every single registrant. Having duplicated and triplicated PINs is akin to a bank issuing the same account number to multiple customers. That is how serious and fundamental a PIN is. It is therefore our position that the new voters register has failed a fundamental credibility test.

    Ladies and Gentlemen from the media we present to you some location specific anomalies:

    1. Many exhibition centres in the districts do not have Biometric Verification Devices (BVDs). For instance out of 1078 polling stations in the whole of the Western North region, only 400 had BVDs. This means that the BVDs are not been used to verify people on the register in this exhibition exercise even though the EC budgeted for these devises and was supposed to procure them for use at every polling station.
    2. There are several instances of disparities between details of printouts obtained during registration and the information on the provisional register being exhibited.
    3. There were missing names, replication of names, swapping of photographs and differences in ID Numbers at virtually all centres visited. In Asunafo South Constituency in the Ahafo Region for instance, male photos on the register were used for female registrants and vice versa and names are missing from the register. Some of those successfully challenged still have their names on the register. In Asunafo North, one photograph was used for several people on the register
    4. At some centres the EC’s presence was useless. For instance the exercise was halted at the Zawse primary school polling station in the Binduri Constituency when the residents realized that only 14 names were captured out of 413 registered at the centre
    5. In the New Edubiase constituency there was a case where voters got to the centres to check their names and instead they were issued with new cards with new ID Numbers.
    6. Many Ghanaians have described the short code (1422) announced by the EC as a scam. This is because the information returned by the system usually belonged to a different registrant.
    7. In some other cases those who out of curiosity visited their exhibition centres after verifying with the short code were shocked to find out that their names were missing from the register although the system had verified them via the short code.
    8. Some exhibition centres either started early or did not work on the first day of exhibition. This has a potential of putting those who trooped there on the first day off. Strangely this happened mostly in the strong holds of the NDC. For example, at Nkwanta south in the Oti Region, all polling stations but the Nkwanta township centre were unable to commence on the first day.
    9. Still in the Oti Region, as at 12:30pm on the first day the EC Officials had not reported, leaving many registrants stranded. Similar incident was reported from other NDC strongholds.
    10. People who were successfully challenged during the registration and whose names were expected to be deleted still had their names on the provisional register.
    11. At the M/A Primary School, Mbradan Exhibition Centre, the picture of one registered voter had replaced the pictures of almost all the registered voters at that polling station.

    Ladies and gentlemen of the media, these are only few instances time will allow us to mention. As stated supra a more comprehensive compilation would be available to relevant stakeholders in due course. Meanwhile the EC does not seem to disappoint when it comes to miraculously targeting the NDC strongholds to inflict their “errors” on them. Isn’t it curious that most of the Exhibition Centres affected with deletions were in the Zongos? What about the fact that in the Afram Plains South, the phenomenon was more pronounced on the Islands?

    SMS SHORT CODE VERIFICATION

    We have also take note of the announcement by the EC on the use of a short code to confirm the existence of their names on the voters register. We note that the EC has failed to inform Ghanaians in its publicity that the use of the short code attract charges. Since the EC’s budget has already been approved. We wonder who the money will be going to since the EC is not bothered when it comes to issues of transparency.

    From our observations so far, we have come to the conclusion that the use of the short code to verify the existence of their names on the register is not reliable. We therefore wish to caution our supporters and the electorate from relying on this method of confirming their details on the register. We wish to encourage everyone to find time and physically visit the exhibition centres to confirm their names to be sure that their names are on the register to accomplish the rescue mission come 7th December, 2020.

    COMMENDATION TO CSOS AND WELL-MEANING GHANAIANS

    We wish to use this opportunity to commend various civil society organisations and well-meaning Ghanaians who have been vigilant and critical of the electoral process so far that has helped to ensure that the EC does the right things for a credible, free and fair elections. We wish to encourage them to do more as the elections approach.

    MESSAGE TO EMINENT CITIZENS

    In previous elections, the nation relied on well respected eminent Ghanaians to intervene through quiet diplomacy when there were tensions. We were therefore concerned that the very people the nation will rely on as moral voices were co-opted into a so-called Eminent Advisory Committee by the Electoral Commission. We had cause to caution our eminent personalities that were invited to be part of this committee. Having been coopted as part of the EC, we have come to the conclusion that the Jean Mensa led Electoral Commission acts on the advice of the Eminent Advisory Committee and therefore the Committee endorses all their actions and inactions. With this development, we wish to ask members of the Eminent Advisory Committee whether we should hold them responsible for the mess and the chaos the EC is causing?

    To the rest of our moral voices religious leaders, statesmen and the media, there are a lot of things going wrong but unfortunately we don’t hear them comment on any of these things. There is a point in history that a country where the SILENCE of the responsible and Senior citizens in the society can no longer be golden.

    But we wish to remind everyone that God is watching all of us and if by their silence this country is plunged into chaos, all of us will suffer. But it is not too late for concerned citizens to speak out and condemn acts that have the potential to undermine our democracy. Such continuous silence in the Face of such blatant disregard for common sense abuse of office and incompetence is tantamount to a betrayal of their hallowed positions in society and the entire populace.

    MESSAGE TO GHANAIANS

    In a democracy, governments are changed or maintained through the ballot. The outcome of free fair and credible elections is the sovereign will of the people. Therefore any act that undermines this sacred exercise and denies people their free will is tantamount to treason. All Ghanaians must therefore rise up to protect their vote and resist any act that undermines their sovereign will.

    A CALL TO DUTY

    We acknowledge that these are difficult times in our democratic dispensation but we should be reminded that we are also dealing with an EC that is hell bent on doing the bidding of the failed NPP government. As a result, they ignored wise counsel that the registration period was too short to compile a credible register. With this in mind, we urge all our members, supporters and sympathizers to ensure that their names are on the register for the rescue mission. They should therefore come out in their numbers to check their names in the provisional register at all the exhibition centers.

    We know the exhibition exercises attract low turnout, sometimes in single digit percentage. However, we are not in normal times so we plead with all NDC sympathizers as well as all Ghanaians interested in upholding our constitution and democracy to endure all circumstances including possible long queues, potential intimidation and harsh weather in order to confirm their names on the register. This is how we would all guarantee victory on December 7, 2020 we can rescue our dear nation from this insensitive Akufo Addo’s government.

    Source: The Herald

  • Oti Landfill to be transformed into modern waste treatment facility

    Plans are far advanced by the government to turn the Oti landfill in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, into a modern waste treatment facility.

    In line with that, the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources (MSWR) has contracted a leading waste management company, Zoomlion Ghana Limited, through EAP Consult, to execute the project.

    This was made known by the Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Mrs Cecilia Abena Dapaah when she embarked on an inspection tour of the landfill site in Kumasi, Ashanti Region.

    During the tour, it was observed that work was progressing steadily, with the contractor working assiduously to meet the schedule.

    The contract, which spans over one year, involves the upgrading of the Oti landfill to meet engineering and environmental standards.

    Zoomlion is also expected to decommission and re-engineer the landfill site.

    Furthermore, the project activities include installing a final capping system and grassing.

    This will help close some of the waste cells that have reached their final height.

    There will also be the improvement of internal access roads and enhancement of traffic within the landfill for both trucks and motor tricycles.

    Other works that would be carried out on the site are the rehabilitation of Weigh Bridge, re-fencing the whole site and installing a new liquid waste treatment system.

    Also, a gas collection and flaring system to reduce the odours will be installed.

    The purpose of all of the above is to extend the lifespan of the landfill to be able to receive more waste daily.

    When completed, residents around the landfill area will be spared the foul and repugnant smell that characterises landfill sites in the country.

    It would be recalled that the MoSWR recently announced that the government had awarded the Oti Landfill to Zoomlion for upgrading.

    The Chief Director at the MoSWR, Mr Anthony Mensah, who made the announcement, indicated that the major works of the project would include reshaping of the slopes, improving all access roads together with the liquid waste treatment facilities at the site.

    He went on to disclose that the project was being funded by the central government.

    Source: Ghanaian Times

  • New Juaben South NPP launches campaign, manifesto; targets 70k votes – Starr Fm

    The New Juaben South Constituency of the ruling New Patriotic Party(NPP) in the Eastern Region has launched its 2020 Campaign and Manifesto.

    The Party is targeting at least 70,000 of total valid votes cast in both Presidential and Parliamentary election on December 7, 2020.

    In 2016, the NPP garnered 40,758 valid votes in the Presidential election representing 66.06% ,while in the Parliamentary election the party polled 40,447 votes representing 66,23%.

    Provisional Voters register by the Electoral Commission indicates a total of 90,627 eligible voters registered in New Juaben South Constituency during the compilation of the voters register for the 2020 general election.

    Speaking during the launching of the Campaign and manifesto, the Parliamentary Candidate for New Juaben South NPP, Michael Okyere Baafi who is the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Free Zones Authority said having forged unity among the party after the primaries, he is committed to entering every nook and cranny to campaign vigorously to ensure resounding victory in the Constituency.

    “In the history of Koforidua politics, there is absolute unity. We have brought everyone onboard from Yaw Barimah, BB Boateng, Ike Appaw Gyasi, Kwame Boamah Dwira and the MP Dr.Mark Asibbey Yeboah are all onboard supporting the campaign”.

    He added “We are promising you (Regional Chairman) that we are going to run unprecedented campaign in the history of Koforidua politics. We will enter every ghetto, we will enter every base, we will enter every Church, we will enter every school, every hotel, we will meet every voter,we will bring all the votes to President Nana Akufo Addo,” confident Michael Okyere Baafi said.

    Mr.Okyere Baafi assured the youth that he will continue to create and search for job opportunities for them.

    The National Organizer of the NPP Sammy Awuku urged supporters of the party to intensify campaign to ensure that President Akufo Addo is reelected to continue implementing policies that will bring transformation in the country.

    He said the opposition National Democratic Congress and its Flagbearer John Dramani Mahama have no superior policy rather engaging in populist campaign citing the legalization of Okada as an example.

    He said Okada business cannot be a sustainable job compared to planting for food and job, One District One Factory Policy among others being rolled out by Nana Akufo Addo led Government.

    The Eastern Regional Chairman of the NPP Kingston Okomeng Kissi who launched the New Juaben South Constituency version of the 2020 Manifesto said similar manifestoes have been developed in all 33 Constituencies in the region urging supporters of the party to use it to embark on house to house campaign hinting that the party will not organize mammoth campaign this year.

    Source: Starr FM

  • NCCE embarks on sensitization programme at Antwikrom

    The Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipal secretariat of the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) has organized a sensitization programme for residents of Antwikrom.

    Addressing the community at a durbar, Mr Peter Dyaka, Municipal Director of the NCCE said the objective of the programme was to ensure duty bearers were accountable for their stewardship within the confines of the law.

    He said the NCCE also intends to empower citizens to own developmental projects initiated by the Assembly in their respective communities.

    The NCCE Municipal Director indicated that the event was sponsored by the European Union (EU ) and was one of NCCE’s flagship programmes.

    Mr Dyaka added that NCCE would extend the education to more communities should they receive more funding.

    Mr Ernest Jarbeng, Director, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) Tarkwa, emphasized that corruption has deprived many communities of basic socio-economic infrastructure.

    “Because of corruption certain projects that communities must benefit are not forthcoming and even those who have the projects are not of the required quality” he explained.

    Mr Jarbeng urged the public to fight corruption by reporting suspected cases of corruption to the appropriate institutions for investigation.

    Madam Irene Anku Asare, Chief Environmental Health Officer, stressed the need to make handwashing with soap under running water a habit as it was one of the strongest protection against the COVID-19, and also advised the residents to keep their environment clean.

    Source: GNA

  • Museveni’s voice affected by mask worn in Tanzania

    Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni is recovering after a “strong” face mask he wore on his trip to Tanzania more than a week ago made him lose his voice.

    Mr Museveni said that while face masks protect people against the coronavirus, he “had to put on a very strong one” in Tanzania and “when I came back my voice was affected”.

    He did not elaborate, but it led to him calling off a trip to Jinja district in eastern Uganda on Saturday. He sent Vice-President Edward Ssekandi instead.

    Tanzania’s President John Magufuli has played down the threat posed by the disease, and has previously said that the country is “coronavirus-free” and God has “spared” it from the virus.

    When he welcomed Mr Museveni to the country, Mr Magufuli did not wear a face covering. He had guests laughing when he quoted the Ugandan president as telling him that he would be wearing a mask and he replied that “you can even come with a blanket”.

    The two leaders signed an agreement allowing for the construction of a 1,445 km (898 miles) crude oil pipeline.

    The $3.5bn (£2.7m) project will connect Uganda’s oil fields to Tanzania’s port of Tanga.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Nigeria bandits free 40 hostages

    Armed bandits have freed 40 people they had abducted from a village in north-western Nigeria’s Zamfara state on Saturday, police have said.

    The gunmen freed the villagers following the intervention of security agencies and a separate group of bandits who were involved in peace talks with the state government, police spokesman Muhamma Shehu told the BBC.

    No ransom was paid, he added.

    Bandits have stepped up attacks across north-western Nigeria in recent months, but Saturday’s abductions in Zamfara’s Mwaru area were on a scale rarely seen.

    In the last decade more than 8,000 people have been killed in the states of Kebbi, Sokoto, Niger and Zamfara, according to the International Crisis Group.

    The attacks are rooted in decades-long competition over resources between ethnic Fulani herders and farming communities.

    Source: bbc.com

  • About 500 pupils quarantined in South Africa

    About 500 pupils have been put into quarantine after a coronavirus outbreak at a school in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province.

    A total of 98 pupils tested positive at the secondary school in the town of Burgersdorp, and officials say they fear the virus may have spread more widely into the community.

    The authorities say the outbreak started when two students who had tested positive failed to inform the school, and blame a lack of mask wearing and social distancing.

    Source: bbc.com

  • Mali’s ex-defence minister named interim leader

    Mali’s former Defence Minister Bah Ndaw has been appointed interim president while coup leader Colonel Assimi Goita will serve as his deputy, state television has announced.

    Mali’s junta has been under intense pressure from West African leaders to return power to civilians following the coup that overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta more than a month ago.

    Mr Ndaw is a retired colonel-major who served as Mr Keïta’s defence minister.

    West African leaders insisted last week that a civilian be appointed interim president, while signalling that they would accept a soldier as deputy leader, during an 18-month-long transition that would end with elections.

    It is not yet clear if Mr Ndaw will be accept by Ecowas, or by the opposition parties.

    Source: bbc.com

  • GMA warns of heavy rains this weekend

    The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA) has warned of heavy rains in some parts of the country today, Saturday, September 19, 2020, and tomorrow, Sunday, September 20, 2020.

    It said  the Southern and Northern sectors will be the most affected. 

    The Head of Forecast and Analysis Department of the Agency, Felicity Ahafianyo therefore advised residents in low laying areas to relocate to avoid deaths and destructions.

    She gave the caution on GBC radio in Accra.

    “People should take precautions, we are not calling for them to panic. This is just the normal rain that we normally experience”, she said.

    She gave the assurance that the agency is monitoring the system to enable them to identify specific areas to be affected and issue a warning accordingly.

    She added that the heavy rains in the northern parts of the country will continue for some time before it subsides.

    Sources: graphic.com.gh

  • 57-year-old JHS leaver who walked 3 miles to school every day celebrated

    The determination by a 57-year-old ‘mother of four’ Elizabeth Yamoah, to get some basic education, drove her to walk three miles to school every day.

    Apart from the long trek, it was confirmed to CTV by Mrs Yamoah’s headteacher on Monday, 21 September 2020, that the 57-year-old also suffered lots of abuse and scorn during her three-year journey at school.

    Being the oldest JHS graduate in Ghana, Elizabeth was among hundreds of thousands of pupils who recently sat the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

    According to Mrs Yamoah, she nearly gave up at a point because she could no longer handle trolls from some women in her village.

    “They kept scorning and asking me what I was going to school for at my age. It nearly got to me at a point and I almost gave up. In fact, I stopped schooling for a while because of the scorn but the headteacher intervened and I resumed,” she said.

    Source: Class FM

  • Next NDC government will restore dignity of teachers – Dr. Apaak

    Deputy Ranking Member on the Education Committee of Parliament and MP for Builsa South Dr. Clement Abas Apaak has stated that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration will usher in a new dawn for teachers through restoring the dignity of teachers and make them integral partners in national policy reforms.

    The legislator said the era of intimidation and harassment of teachers would be a thing of the past under a new NDC government.

    Teaching and learning materials to enhance teaching hee noted would be pririotise under the NDC government.

    He reiterated that the automatic posting of teachers without National Service and licensure exams will be reversed under the John Mahama Administration in 2021.

    ”The intimidation and harassment of teachers who speak out will cease forthwith. Improved teacher conditions of service, incentives and all-round availability of Teaching and Learning Materials (TLMs) will be a priority. We will deepen engagement with all schools through the community, unions and Parent-Teacher Associations (PTA) for efficient running,” he said.

    He also outlined 10 take-aways for teachers as captured in the manifesto of the NDC and they are;

    The next NDC Government shall:

    1. increase teachers retention premium.

    2. reinstate the payment of responsibility allowances to teachers.

    3. fast track promotions and applications for academic progression.

    4. open special credit lines to facilitate access to loans for teachers

    5. collaborate with teacher unions to implement a special regime allowing teachers to own vehicles under affordable terms.

    6. abolish the mandatory national service and teacher licensure examinations for graduate teachers.

    7. restore automatic employment of newly trained teachers.

    8. provide teachers with free tablets to facilitate teaching and learning.

    9. Amend the National Pensions Act, to allow teachers who have contributed to SSNIT for 10 years and above to collateralize their contributions for mortgage loans.

    10. revisit and make functional the agenda of providing special incentives for teachers who accept postings to rural and deprived communities.

    Source: rainbowradioonline.com

  • Were not making money from filing fees — EC

    The Electoral Commission (EC) has debunked assertions by some persons that it is using exorbitant filing fees to raise money for its activities and also prevent smaller political parties from contesting elections.

    Rather, the commission said its budget for the current electoral process had been ready. Besides, the country’s electoral laws debarred the electoral body from using proceeds from the filing fee for its business.

    The Director of Electoral Services at the EC, Dr Serebour Quaicoo, who stated this in an interview with the Daily Graphic last Saturday, said the commission had only acted in compliance with the electoral laws, with the intention to protect the sanctity of the electoral process.

    “The EC cannot and does not use the filing fees of candidates for anything; so if some people are saying that the commission is using it as a means to raise funds for its activities, it is not true because the money is not for us; it belongs to the state and are paid into the Consolidated Fund,” he stressed.

    On Monday, September 14, this year, the EC opened online nominations for presidential and parliamentary aspirants for the December 7, 2020 elections.

    The commission fixed the filing fee for presidential aspirants at GH¢100,000 and that for parliamentary aspirants at GH¢10,000.

    The figure for the presidential aspirants was a 100 per cent increase over the 2016 filing fee, while that of the parliamentary candidates remained unchanged.

    However, some political parties, civil society organisations (CSOs) and individuals have raised concerns about the filing fees, describing it as exorbitant.

    Some smaller political parties also said the fees by the EC was a calculated attempt to prevent them from participating in the general election.

    Thus, they called on the EC to consider a downward review of the filing fee.

    Legitimate

    When the Daily Graphic contacted the EC for a response to the issue, Dr Quaicoo said the GH¢100,000 charged as filing fee for presidential candidates was reasonable, since it was only a deposit and would be refunded to candidates who polled 25 per cent of valid votes cast in the presidential election.

    He explained that the EC was acting on Regulations 8(1)(b) of Constitutional Instrument (C.I) 127 to ensure that all aspirants for presidential and parliamentary elections paid approved filing fees as a means of placing value on those offices they sought to occupy.

    Per regulations 8 (1b) of C.I 127, “a candidate for presidential and parliamentary elections shall, at the time of nomination of the candidate, deposit or cause to be deposited an amount of money determined by the EC”.

    Dr Quaicoo added that setting of filing fees by the EC, and in the current situation, the GH¢100,000 for presidential candidates, was to put a benchmark, “so that it does not happen that anybody at all can just rise up and say I want to be a candidate”.

    “There are some people who only file nominations and do not campaign or do anything; all that they want is that their names will appear on the ballot paper. If we go by the records, we have as the EC, 29 registered political parties; 10 independent candidates and six new parties, who applied to be registered. You can imagine the kind of ballot paper we will have if we say that no deposit is to be paid. The framers of the law knew this and that is why they put the payment of deposit there to be a benchmark for those who want to contest,” he said.

    Justification

    The Director of Electoral Services added that the EC was not using the filing fee as a barrier to candidates from contesting, but also stressed that the commission would maintain the benchmark at a level that would ensure that only candidates who meant business participated in the elections.

    He also said the ability of candidates to pay the filing fees was a test of their ability to mobilise resources.

    “If you are going to contest elections, it means that you are going to be a mobiliser; the money should not be coming from you but rather people who have confidence in you,” he added.

    Dr Quaicoo also justified that some political parties took about four times what the EC charged as filing fees during their internal elections, so the same parties could not turn around and blame the commission for fixing the filing fee far below what the parties charged.

    Refund

    Regulation 46 (1) of C.I 127 states that: “Subject to regulation 13, a deposit made by a candidate under this Regulations, shall as soon as practicable after the results of an election is declared, be:

    a) Returned to the candidate or the personal representative of the candidates, or b) forfeited to the state.
    Dr Quaicoo, however, explained that the electoral law, specifically Regulation 46 (3) of C.I 127, also stated explicitly on what should be done to the deposits filing of aspirants who failed to make the required mark in the election; “and that did not include the EC using such money for its activities.”

    Regulation 46(3) states that “when a poll is taken and after the completion of the counting of votes, including a recount, a candidate is found not to have polled:

    (a) in a parliamentary election, more than 12.5 per cent of the total value votes cast within the constituency, or (b) in a presidential election, more than 25 per cent of the total value votes cast in the election, the candidate shall forfeit a deposit made and the deposit shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.”

    Based on the provisions in Regulation 46 of C.I 127, Dr Quaicoo stressed that the EC had no interest in the filing fee of aspirants since the law did not even allow the commission to touch the money.

    Exhibition

    Touching on the exhibition exercise, he said the EC had taken note of the genuine challenges some registered voters encountered in finding their details and would take steps to address those lapses.

    “Once inclusion is one of the functions of the exhibition exercise, it means that some people’s names may not appear in the register; but such cases can be addressed by following the procedure for inclusion,” he said.

    He debunked claims by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashaiman, Mr Ernest Norgbey, that his name and those of 21,000 others could not be found in the register.

    Dr Quaicoo said facts available to the EC showed that the MP’s name was on the voters register and that the 21,000 missing names claim was unfounded.

    He urged all persons who had challenges with their records to use the opportunity offered by the exhibition exercise to correct those errors to be able to vote on December 7.

    Source: graphic.com.gh

  • GES begins selection of schools into SHSs, parents advised to guide wards

    The Ghana Education Service (GES) has stated that selection of Senior high schools for candidates who just completed their BECE begins today, Monday, September 21, 2020.

    The Computerized School Selection and Placement System (CSSPS) allows GES to place qualified candidates who sit for the BECE at the Junior High School level into any public senior high, technical or vocational school.

    For many, though the CSSPS is embattled with many challenges, it seems to have instilled some level of sanity, fairness and ease into the admission of students into the selection of schools.

    Parents and guardians have been strongly advised to take keen interest in the selection processes for a smooth placement of students.

    “Parents and guardians are encouraged to take active interest in guiding their wards to choose schools based on their performance.”

    According to the Service, parents and students should “seek for explanations and clarifications from the school management if [they] do not know what to do.”

    It added that the 2020 Senior High School register is available in all schools and Education Offices across the country for easy access.

    A statement signed by Cassandra Twum Ampofo, the Head of Public Relations of the GES, earlier in September, noted that “there will be an opportunity for candidates to text to shortcodes and confirm their school choices before actual placement is done.”

    Source: universnewsroom.com

  • IPSPJ calls for peaceful elections in December

    The International Parliament for Safety, Peace and Justice in Ghana has called on all political parties to make a strong statement of peace ahead of the 2020 general elections and stand by it.

    In a news release on the day of the international day of peace. The body reminded all Ghanaians to work towards building a peaceful coexistence and uphold peace before, during and after the 2020 general elections.

    “The 2020 Theme: Shaping Peace Together cannot be more relevant than a time when the nation is preparing for its general elections”
    Country Director Ambassador Alexander Obeng Boateng said.

    “Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.

    The day is also a great reminder to the election management body and the security service to uphold issues of safety in the conduct of the polls” he added.

    Background

    The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.

    The United Nations invites all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities during the Day, and to otherwise commemorate the Day through education and public awareness on issues related to peace.

    Source: Starr FM

  • Hospitals deserted as nurses, midwives strike over service conditions

    Some hospitals across the country have been deserted following the ongoing strike by Midwives and Nurses.

    Hospitals monitored by StarrFM.com.gh including the Ashaiman Polyclinic and the Komfo Anokye Hospital Triage area were visibly empty with skeletal staff moving around.

    Starr News sources say the Ghana Registered and Midwives Association has set up a task force to ensure compliance of the strike by members.

    Nurses and midwives across the country are beginning a strike today Monday, September 21,2020 over their service conditions.

    It comes after the failure of government to agree with the health workers on their demand for improved conditions of service.

    A press release by the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association noted “having reconvened in the meetings held on 15th and 16th September 2020 the posture of the Employer changed for the better but did not meet the expectation of the majority of Nurses, Midwives, Physician Assistants and Certified Registered Anaesthetists in Ghana.”

    The statement, therefore, directed its members to stay away from work until the outstanding issues are addressed with their employer.

    Meanwhile, an Accra High Court on Friday granted an interlocutory injunction application by the National Labour Commission against the strike.

    The move by the court presided by Justice Frank Aboagye Rockson is to stop the health workers from their industrial action.

    Source: Starr FM

  • We praise Mahama because of the development he brought to us Busunya chief

    The Chief of Busunya in the Nkoranza North District, Nana Okofo Nyarko Gyabaah II, on Sunday showered praises on the NDC Presidential Candidate John Dramani Mahama, explaining that this is because of his good works and the impact on his community.

    According to Nana Gyabaah II, the commendation and praises he and other chiefs in the Bono East Region continue to heap on the former President since he began his tour, is because they have come to appreciate him more after having the chance to compare his work with that of the current government.

    He made these remarks when he welcomed President Mahama to a mini durbar of chiefs, community leaders and the people of Busunya.

    “For us when you do good, we will say it and when you do bad, we will say it too. It is because of the good things he did that we are praising him today”, he explained.

    On their roads, which were being constructed by the NDC but abandoned by the NPP, President Mahama assured the Busunya community that the NDC will surely complete the project when it returns to office.

    He added that his government will build additional school blocks for their secondary school, establish a cashew processing factory as well as an agricultural mechanisation centre in the district to support the work of farmers.

    The NDC Presidential Candidate was later honoured by the Busunya community, installing him with the title Nana Kwame Dadieko Ababio I.

    Source: Class FM

  • ‘We’ll pay EC’s 100k filing fee’ – GCPP’s Henry Artery

    Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) has acclaimed Dr Herbert Henry Lartey as its flagbearer for the 2020 presidential polls.

    Ghana goes to the polls to elect next the president of the Republic on December 7. The Electoral Commission of Ghana has already fixed filling fee of each presidential candidate at GH¢100,000.

    The 100% increase of filing fee from GH¢500,000 in 2016 to a GH¢100,0000, has since received a backlash from the NDC, CPP, CDD-Ghana and many who are of the view that the phenomenon could be a potential breeding grounds for corruption and attempt to weaken minority parties.

    But, speaking on the sidelines of the 6th National Delegates Congress of GCPP in Accra, the third-time flagbearer Dr Henry Lartey said that his party is capable and ready to pay the filing fee of GH¢100,000.

    “I am not surprised, I knew that the EC was going to go up, I cannot force the EC to reduce it. If the EC says we should pay GH¢100,000, we’ll pay GH¢100,000, this is simple. The EC has been even generous to a point when it comes to the filing fee of a parliamentary candidate, so if they say we should pay GH¢100, 000, we’ll pay GH¢100,000”, he said.

    GCPP leader promised to “establish the University of Agriculture at Techiman in Bono East Region whilst going into solar power production in the area of energy”.

    Meanwhile, the GCPP has also endorsed the legalisation of ‘Okada’ but wants the motorbikes to be manufactured in Ghana.

    General Secretary of GCPP, Citizen Ato Dadzie, said “If we want to legalise Okada, then we must also manufacture motorbikes in Ghana aside our domestication policy to eat what we grow and grow what we eat. As for our industrialisation agenda, it is not only One District, One Factory but rather One Constituency, One Factory, we’ll establish 275 factories, if elected”.

    According to Mr Dadzie, GCPP will “introduce school farms and establish the Pan African University of Solar Energy to champion renewable energy agenda. We’ll make solar energy the cornerstone of the Ghanaian economy”.

    National Executives of the GCPP were also acclaimed and announced by the Electoral Commission.

    Source: Class FM

  • Emmanuel Toku on scoresheet for Fremad Amager in heavy Danish second-tier win

    Ghana youth international Emmanuel Toku scored his second league goal on Sunday as Fremad Amager clobbered Hvidovre 4-0 in the Danish second-tier.

    Toku struck in the 71st minute to give his side a three-zero lead.

    Fremad Amager got ahead as early as the 9th minute when Samson Iyede found the back of the net.

    On the nick of half time, Pierre Larsen doubled their lead and the last goal was registered by Kristoffer Munksgaard.

    Source: Ghana Soccernet

  • Accra Social Tennis Club inaugurated

    The Accra Social Tennis Club was officially inaugurated on Saturday at the National Tennis Centre.

    The Chairman of the Club is Mr. Eric Kyei will be assisted by Vice Chairperson Ms. Cathy Morton.

    Giving a brief background of the club, Mr. Kyei said the formation of the club is to ensure that members feel part of a community whose goals are to unite and have fun as well as improve the infrastructure of their home courts and the lives of its members.

    An executive committee was sworn in by guest of Honour; Tennis Foundation Ghana President, Roger Crawford.

    Mr. Crawford advised members to support their executives so the club will achieve its aims and objectives. He also reiterated the support of Tennis Foundation Ghana to the Accra Social Tennis Club. Mr. Prempeh Bannermann is Patron of the club.

    Source: Gabriel Amoakoh, Contributor