It’s proprietor – who goes by the same name – has thanked those who visit his channel for news.
He tweeted a photo celebrating the milestone:
In June, Tanzanian artist Diamond Platinumz became the first African musician to hit one billion views.
Source: bbc.com
The National Bank of Ethiopia says new banknotes worth 2.9bn Ethiopian birr ($80m; £62m) have been printed and are ready for distribution, according to Borkena website.
Those intending to change their old banknotes will be expected to appear in person and present their identity cards, the website reports.
The bank’s governor, Yinager Dessie, is quoted as saying that 3.7bn birr was spent on printing the new banknotes.
The new notes were unveiled on Monday and are meant to curb financing of illegal activities and corruption.
They have enhanced security features to combat the production of counterfeits.
Source: bbc.com
The Kenyan government has included neighbouring Tanzania on its list of countries whose travellers are exempted from mandatory quarantine upon arrival.
The move is considered controversial as Tanzania has not published figures of Covid-19 cases in months.
The two East African nations have been locked in a diplomatic standoff since May when Kenya blocked Tanzanian truck drivers from entering the country.
The Kenyan government had long feared that its neighbour was not transparent on how it dealt with the pandemic. In June, President Magufuli declared Tanzania was “coronavirus free” thanks to prayers by citizens.
But the tension seems to be cooling off now.
Other countries whose travellers Kenya has exempted from mandatory quarantine include South Africa, the US, India, Mexico and Spain – who are among countries with the highest Covid-19 cases in the world.
The Kenyan authorities will still require all arriving travellers to have a Covid-19-free certificate. Passengers with body temperatures above 37.5 degrees will be quarantined.
Kenya has more than 36,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and more than 600 deaths.
Source: bbc.com
The information minister for the breakaway state of Somaliland has tested positive for Covid-19 amid concerns of a second wave of infections.
The minister, Suleiman Ali, who was on a peace and mediation tour in Sool area said he was feeling okay.
Mr Ali said he would go into isolation and continue discharging his duties.
He warned that coronavirus was still a risk and that people should follow guidelines put in place to prevent its spread.
Somaliland is in dispute with the neighbouring semi-autonomous Somali region of Puntland over the Sanaag and Sool areas, some of whose inhabitants owe their allegiance to Puntland.
Source: bbc.com
Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo- Addo, says West African leaders hope to see a civilian-led government installed in Mali within days.
He spoke after talks between regional leaders and the military junta that seized power in Mali last month.
Mr Akufo- Addo said the regional bloc, Ecowas, would lift sanctions “the minute” civilians were in place to take over in Mali.
Ecowas leaders met in Ghanaian capital, Accra, for the talks on Mali’s political crisis.
The leader of Mali’s junta, Col Assimi Goita, as well as representatives from the United Nations and African Union also attended.
West African leaders fear that the security situation in Mali could deteriorate and undermine efforts made in defeating Islamist insurgents in the north.
On Saturday, the opposition M5-RFP rejected a proposal by the military for an 18-month transition process.
Source: bbc.com
Former Ghana international Nii Odartey Lamptey has commended coach Charles Kwablan Akonnor on his choice for leadership of the Black Stars.Â
C.K Akonnor retained Andre Ayew as captain of the Black Stars, with Atletico Madrid star Thomas Partey and goalkeeper Richard Ofori appointed as his deputies.
Public opinion has been divided especially with his selection of his vice captains, with fans of the Black Stars opting for Mubarak Wakaso.
However, Nii Odartey Lamptey believes the decision of the coach was the best and came at the right time.
“I think we’ve learnt as a Nation, and it’s the right decision and a right time for Coach CK Akonnor to choose his captains before tournament,” he told Ahomka FM.
“The three players chosen by Coach CK Akonnor are the best per their performances in their various clubs,”he added.
“I don’t think Coach CK Akonnor was doing this to retire Asamoah Gyan, unless he Asamoah Gyan retire himself from the National team.”
Source: Ghana Soccernet
FC Nordsjaelland head coach Flemming Steen Pedersen says he is confident the addition of Michael Essien to the coaching staff of the club will help improve the players.
Last week, the Danish Superliga outfit confirmed that the Chelsea legend has joined their coaching staff for the 2020/2021 football season.
Speaking on the arrival of the Ghana great after a few training sessions together, Coach Flemming Steen Pedersen has noted that Essien will be key for the team in the next year.
“Michael Essien is not educated yet, but he has a lot of ‘silent knowledge’, as we call it. When he plays with and moves on the field, he naturally directs with our players, and they get a lot of input. We cannot do that as coaches, so there is a big difference thereâ€, Pedersen said in an interview.
Explaining why adding a former player to the coaching staff of FC Nordsjaelland is important, the gaffer further noted that Michael Essien will help develop the players.
“We have always looked for a former professional player for the coaching staff because it is important that we have someone who has tried everything before.
“He will be able to go into training duels because it’s not just about being physically strong. There is also timing and technique in it, so there he will be of great benefit, and in general, he will contribute a lot of small improvements to the playersâ€, coach Pederson added.
Source: footballghana.com
Ghana forward Raphael Dwamena has expressed delight in his return to competitive football after almost a year when he was diagnosed with a heart condition.
The on-loan Levante attacker had not played competitively since October last year, while on loan at Spanish Segunda Division side Real Zaragoza.
But on Monday he featured in Danish side Vejle Boldklub’s first league game of the season, scoring his first goal of the campaign.
The devoted Christian reacted biblically, insisting his return to the sport is God’s testimony.
“Testimony, God Changes the Script. Just Believe,” he posted on Twitter.
Dwamena was given a starting role and he announced his presence in the league after netting his side’s first in the 4-2 defeat to AGF.
Patrick Mortensen and Frederik Tingager scored two quick goals for the host in the space of 20 first-half minutes.
AGF were too strong and added a third in the 58th minute, when Jon Dagur netted with a brilliant strike.
Raphael Dwamena began a mini redemption process for the visitors after pulling one back with 20 minutes left.
Juhani Ojala then added a second to make it 3-2 with six minutes left.
But AGF regain their two-goal lead after Benjamin Hvidt scored in injury time.
Dwamena is on a season-long loan from Spanish La Liga side Levante.
Source: Ghana Soccernet
Saudi Arabia top-flight club Al-Ahli has stepped up its pursuit to sign Al Fayha star man Samuel Owusu in the ongoing summer transfer window.
The Ghana winger enjoyed a stellar campaign with his club during the 2019/2020 football season in the Saudi Pro League.
Unfortunately, his efforts alone could not save the team from suffering relegation at the end of the campaign.
In the off-season, Samuel Owusu has become one of the most in-demand players in the Middle East country.
As reported by footballghana.com last weekend, Al Ahli is bent on strengthening its team and has set sight on recruiting the Ghana winger from Al Fayha ahead of the next football season.
According to sources, the club has intensified its pursuit tp sight the 24-year old forward and could in the coming days reach an agreement with his parent club.
Last season, Owusu excelled with 7 goals and 2 assist after featuring in 29 league games. With Al Fahya now relegated, a move before the transfer window shuts looks inevitable.
Source: footballghana.com
Trabzonspor striker Caleb Ekuban underwent a scan on Monday over a groin problem, GHANAsoccernet.com can report.
The 26-year-old has underwent the test to know the severity of the injury he picked up during a Turkish league match.
Ekuban, who is wanted by Scottish giants Celtic, will undergo a tailored training programme on the road to recovery.
He complained of pains in his groin, forcing the club to go for an MRI scan to know the severity of the situation.
It’s unclear if he will be available for their next league match this weekend.
The former Leeds United striker scored 17 goals in 64 games for the Turkish Super Lig side.
Source: Ghana Soccernet
Ghana forward, Raphael Dwamena scored his first competitive goal for Danish side Vejle Boldklub in their Super Liga defeat to AGF on Monday night.
Â
The on-loan Levante forward was given a starting role and he announced his presence in the league after netting his side’s first in the 4-2 defeat to AGF.
Patrick Mortensen and Frederik Tingager scored two quick goals for the host in the space of 20 first-half minutes.
AGF were too strong and added a third in the 58th minute, when Jon Dagur netted with a brilliant strike.
Raphael Dwamena began a mini redemption process for the visitors after pulling one back with 20 minutes left.
Juhani Ojala then added a second to make it 3-2 with six minutes left.
But AGF regain their two-goal lead after Benjamin Hvidt scored in injury time.
Dwamena is on a season long loan from Spanish La Liga side Levante.
Watch video below:
Source: Ghana Soccernet
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Experienced Ghanaian gaffer, Prince Koffie has given his support to coach Charles Akonnor for retaining Andre Dede Ayew as the skipper of the Black Stars.
Ayew was appointed as the skipper of the Black Stars by Kwasi Appiah ahead of the 2019 AFCON, taking over from Asamoah Gyan.
Reacting to the story on AGBOO 92.9 FM, coach Koffie stated that, he is ok with the decision taken by Akonnor as he believes that it is a step in the right direction.
“I think it is a step in the right direction by Coach CK Akonnor, we all know the pedigree of Dede as far as the Senior National Team is concerned.â€
“Additionally, Dede possesses a great deal of leadership acumen both on and off the pitch†he outlined.
Atletico Madrid star, Thomas Teye Partey was named as the deputy captain while Richard Ofori takes the second deputy captain position.
Source: footballmadeinghana.com
Spezia forward Emmanuel Gyasi is eager to make his debut in the Serie A after helping the side secure promotion to Italy’s elite division for the first time.
The 26-year-old had an enormous impact as the Black and Whites tied down their pass to the Italian first class last month.
Spezia reached Serie A for the first time in history, becoming the latest team to qualify after Benevento and Crotone.
And the Ghanaian-Italian football star is anticipating tough matches in his debut season in the Serie A where Spezia travel to Udinese.
“The coach was very important because he immediately gave me confidence and taught me a lot on an offensive level,” the Ghanaian said
“It was really fundamental for me and my teammates: the important thing for us is that we must always keep the group because it has helped us so much this year.
“We know that Serie A will be a tough and tough championship, plus for many of us it’s the first ever, so we can’t wait to play.”
Gyasi, registered 5 assists and plundered 8 goals in 33 matches in all competitions for the side last term.
Source: Ghana Soccernet
Oyerepa FM has reported that management of Asante Kotoko has directed head coach Maxwell Konadu to reduce his technical team as the club begins preparations ahead of next season.
The club is currently undergoing massive changes under newly appointed Chief Executive Officer Nana Yaw Amponsah with the focus being on the playing and technical body.
The former Black Stars B coach is currently assisted by three coaches, Johnson Smith, who joined the club from Ghana Premier League side Karela United, Akakpo Patron and Abdulai Gazale and has been told to pick one out of the three.
Konadu is likely to settle on Abdulai Gazale as he recommended him when he joined the club as head coach.
Asante Kotoko has confirmed their participation in next season’s CAF Champions League.
Source: Ghana Soccernet
Communication team member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Eric Sosu has charged the police to do their best to bring the perpetrators of the murder of Professor Emmanuel Yaw Benneh, a Senior Lecturer of the University of Ghana Law Faculty.
Describing the murder as wicked and evil, the NDC communicator commiserated with the family but charged the police to conduct a professional job in bringing the offenders to book.
The police have arrested four persons to assist in the investigation into the death of the lecturer.
The four, all workers at his residence, are Christian Pobee, 32, cleaner; Isaac Botchwey, 41, houseboy; James Nana Womba, 26, cleaner; and Adams Mensah Mansur, 52, gardener.
The body of the law lecturer was discovered in his residence on Saturday morning lying in a pool of blood, with his hands tied behind him and his body bearing cuts all over.
The crime scene investigations team from the Criminals Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has since launched investigations into the circumstances of his murder.
Reacting to this, Mr. Eric Sosu said the offenders had no right to kill the law professor and must be fished out from where ever they are hiding.
Source: rainbowradioonline.com
The Ministry of Education has denied ever engaging with the private schools to discuss the possibility of extending the Free Senior High programme (Free SHS) to the various private schools.
The Ministry has also denied meeting representatives of private schools after the launching of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto, as is been suggested on social media.
It has been reported on various social media platforms that the Education Ministry has met with private schools representatives to extend the free SHS programme to them soon after the launch of the NDC manifesto, which promised to do so if voted into power come December 7, 2020.
According to ministry, the Minister Education, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, in his engagements with the private schools’ representatives, never discussed the extension of Free SHS to private schools, adding that such publications should be disregarded.
In a letter dated 13th September 2020, signed by the Press Secretary to the Education Minister, Rodney Nkrumah-Boateng, and copied to otecfmghana.com, the meetings with the private schools were held on Wednesday and Thursday, September 3 and 4, 2020, respectively.
“On Wednesday 2nd and Thursday 3rd September 2020, the Minister, Matthew Opoku Prempeh received delegations from the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNAPS) and the Ghana National Association Private Schools (GNAPS) at the Ministry to discuss a number of issues….†the letter noted.
“It must be noted that both meetings were held before the launch of the NDC manifesto on Monday, September 7, 2020. In both instances, the discussions were around post-COVID-19 challenges in the education sector and the way forward, the reopening of schools, private schools and their livelihoods and the sustenance of their businesses,†it added.
The letter continued that, “the general public is hereby invited completely disregard the opportunistic and desperate attempts to paint a contrary picture.â€
“Government remains commitment to ensuring the success of the free SHS programme to improve both access and quality education for Ghanaian children, and will not be side tracked from this objective,†the letter concluded
Read statement below:
Source: otecfmghana.com
The Eastern Regional Treasurer of the NPP, Mr. Ben Kumi Larbi, who made the call said since the December 7, 2020, general election was crucial to the NPP, the committee should involve all functionaries of the party and intensify their house-to-house and door-to-door campaigns.
He also urged them to extend their campaign to lorry parks, markets, churches, and other places where people are found in their numbers.
Mr. Kumi Larbi said he was happy that all the four other contestants in the recent NPP primary had resolved to rally behind the parliamentary candidate, Mr. Charles Acheampong, to enhance his chances of retaining the parliamentary seat for the party come December 7, 2020.
Peace and unity
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for West Akyem, Mr. Seth Oduro-Boadu, said he was also elated about the prevailing peace and unity among party members in the constituency and urged them to translate the tranquility into votes in the upcoming general election in order to retain the President and the parliamentary seat.
He advised the campaign team and other functionaries to use the numerous achievements of the NPP in the constituency since January 7, 2017, to convince the people to vote massively for the party.
The Constituency Chairman, Mr. Michael Asante, who jointly chairs the election campaign committee with the MCE, Mr. Oduro-Boadu, assured the campaign team of all the needed resources for a successful campaign.
Support
The four other contestants who lost out during the parliamentary primaries —Mr. Kwabena Sintim Aboagye, Mr. Kwabena Asamoah, Mr. Kwadwo Odane Antwi, and Ms. Gifty Klenam—pledged their unflinching support for Mr. Charles Acheampong and promised to work hard not only to retain the parliamentary seat but to also increase the presidential votes.
Other speakers at the function included the Parliamentary Candidate, Mr. Charles Acheampong; the Eastern Regional Financial Secretary of the NPP, Nana Yaa Ofori-Atta, and the Regional Nasara Coordinator, Alhaji Fadilu Fafana.
Source: graphic.com.gh
Running mate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has said that his party set an enviable record of performance while in government so they don’t have the time to challenge those with a different view.
Prof Opoku-Agyemang, the first female running mate of a major political party, stressed that there is no need for unnecessary argument over performance since it is obvious for people to see and assess.
“We have our enviable performance record which is clear to all Ghanaians. It is not a matter of engaging in unnecessary argument. Showcase what we have done and plan to do, and let those who have a different view also show theirs,†she said.
The NDC and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) have been campaigning feverishly for the forthcoming general elections in December.
Both parties have been engaged in a comparison of records in government, with the NPP claiming to have done more for the country in less years in government than the NDC.
But Prof Opoku Agyemang has noted that there is no need for arguments since both parties can simply show evidence for the work they have done.
Source: My News GH
A drone pilot working under the Sustainable Land and Water Management Programme with the Ministry of Environment, Science Technology and Innovation in the Ashanti region has drowned in the Offin River.
Isaac Ofosu died while the anti-illegal small scale mining taskforce was chasing after illegal miners on the Offin River at Dunkwa in the Ashanti region.
Sources say he died in the process of saving a team member from drowning. Although he was successful in his attempt to save his colleague, Isaac himself was unable to make it out of the water.
The team has been fighting illegal mining under the watch of the Ministry for sometime now.
The incident has been reported to the Dunkwa police who are currently investigating the matter.
Meanwhile his body, which is reported to have been retrieved hours after the incident has been deposited at the morgue.
Source: otecfmghana.com
Law professor and activist, Professor Kwaku Asare, popularly known as Kwaku Azar has taken on the Electoral Commission (EC) over the cost of filing fee it announced for presidential aspirants and parliamentary aspirants.
The law professor says the cost is not only discriminatory but unlawful.
In a post on his Facebook page, Kwaku Azar said government agencies are fully funded to provide services to the public hence they cannot just charge the public whatever they want.
He asserts that the EC and other agencies must publish regulations, which must be brought before parliament for vetting.
Read his full post below
Government agencies are fully funded to provide services to the public. As such, they cannot just charge the public whatever they want for whatever reasons.
ACT 983 provides for the regulation of their fees and charges and for related matters.
Under the Act, to charge at all, first these agencies, including the EC, must publish regulations, which, of course, has to be placed in Parliament where it undergoes vetting.
CHRAJ cannot wake up and start asking us to pay ?50,000 per complaint to weed out non-serious complaints any more than the EC can ask general election candidates to pay ?100,000 to get on the ballot.
It has to publish regulations, which Parliament, under pressure from the people, will reject.
Some say the EC can charge whatever it wants to weed out non-serious candidates.
I say show me someone who voluntarily hands over his or her hard earned ?100,000 to the EC, without asking for the authority of the EC to impose that tax or penalty, and I will show you someone who will be a bad steward of the public purse.
By the same token, the EC cannot levy a registration tax on voters to weed out non-serious ones.
The EC is not a tax collector, a for profit-entity, a seriousness inspector or in any way set up to impose charges, let alone excessive ones, on general election candidates.
Rather, its task includes making sure political parties timely file their financial reports and making same available to the public for vetting.
Its task is to get dirty money out of our politics not exacerbate the problem.
In short, fiats to impose fees are not just corruption-enhancing and discriminatory against the poor, they are also unlawful.
Da Yie!
Source: rainbownradioonline.com
According to the PPP, it is a difficult decision coming at a difficult time, the National Secretary of the PPP, Papa Kow Ackon said.
“They have taken this decision without consulting IPAC [Inter Party Advisory Committee]…we find it a bit troubling that this decision has come at this time.”
In a radio interview with Accra based Joy FM on Monday evening [September 14, 2020] in a reaction to the announcement of the nomination filing fee and date, Papa Kow Ackon said, “we all know the fee for 2016, the EC charged about GH¢50,000 and so for this to be increased by over 100 percent, this is just not on.
He said the EC needs to be questioned whether it has the necessary statutory backing to fix the new fee.
He said on Wednesday [September 16] the PPP will have its national committee meeting and it would be discussed “but clearly it is a difficult decision, we are in a difficult moment in our history and it is important if the EC is making decisions, it must factor all the economic challenges people are going through in this country. We should not fix fees at that high level and say that becoming a president is a tough thing or a serious thing and so anyone who expresses interest must cough some high fees.”
The Convention Peoples Party (CPP) has also expressed concern about the fee.
The General Secretary, Nana Yaa Juantuah said in the Joy FM radio interview that the EC should not just set charges without explanation and without consulting IPAC.
“Whatever it is, we should know the reason for the increase. Why did they leave the parliamentary one at the same level [GH¢10,000]
Presidential and parliamentary aspirants for the December 7, 2020 Elections in Ghana are to file their nomination from October 5th to 9th, 2020, the Electoral Commission (EC) has announced.
The Chairperson of the EC, Mrs Jean Mensa made this known at a press briefing Monday evening, [September 14, 2020].
The nomination fee for presidential aspirants is GH¢100,000. This is a 100 percent increase from the GH¢50,000 fee which was paid in 2016.
That of parliamentary aspirants, is GH¢10,000, same as what was paid in 2016.
Per past practice, the filing fee or nomination fee that the aspirant pays is refunded after the election if he or she gets a certain percentage of the total valid votes cast in the election.
The percentage is 25 per cent in the case of the Presidential election and 12.5 in the case of the parliamentary election.
Unlike in the past where aspirants picked up the nomination forms from the office of the EC, this year the forms have been uploaded on the website of the EC.
Aspirants are therefore to download their forms from the EC website and submit it as part of measures to help prevent the spread of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
In the past, the EC used just two days for the filing of nominations but this year, it has been increased it to five days.
The Chairperson of the EC explained that to “ensure the security and integrity of the nomination process, each political party will be provided with a unique password to enable them access the password protected nomination forms…the passwords will be provided to the general secretaries of the political partieis.”
“It is important to note that independent candidates will also be issued with unique passwords. We entreat the general secretaries of political parties and representatives of independent candidates to kindly call and contact the Head of IT [at the EC] for to receive access to their passwords.”
Guidelines for filling nomination forms
The EC has provided a detailed guideline on its website for filling the nomination forms.
The EC will receive the filled out nomination forms for the presidential and parliamentary aspirants from Monday October 5 to Friday October 9, 2020.
The forms are to be submitted in quadruplicates.
That of the presidential aspirants are to submitted at the EC head office by the aspirants themselves or their supporters and to be received by the EC chairperson who is the Returning Officer.
In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the EC has limited the number of persons to submit the forms at the head office or at the district office to five persons.
Source: graphic.com.gh
Ghana electoral body has justified the 100 percent increment in the filing fee which is to be paid by political parties ahead of the 2020 elections.
The Electoral Commission on Monday, September 14, 2020 announced that it had increased the filing fees of presidential aspirants from GHC50,000 to GHC100,000.
It furthered that parliamentary aspirants are to pay ¢10,000.
The new figures have been widely condemned by particularly presidential aspirants of minority parties.
Explaining the increment of the filing fees in an interview on CitiNews, however, a Deputy Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Bossman Eric Asare insisted that the increment is in tandem with the value of the currency.
“In each particular year, it is important you look at the value of GHS50,000 in 2016, then compare it to GHS50,000 in 2020 then you will notice that the Commission has not increased it much. And even when you look at the [filing fee for] parliamentary [aspirants], the GHS10,000, you will realise that the Commission has reduced the price because we all know that GHS10,000 in 2016, is not the same as GHS10,000 in 2020. The Commission is doing this to promote multiparty democracy.â€
Chairperson of the EC, Jean Mensa during the press briefing on Monday, explained that candidates are expected to access their nomination forms online effective Monday, September 14, 2020 at 6:00pm.
The EC further declared a five-day period for candidates or representatives of political parties to present their nomination forms from October 5-9, 2020.
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
The Ghana International Trade and Finance Conference (GITFIC) in partnership with the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) will a host dialogue on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)on October 27, 2020.
The AfCFTA dialogue is also in collaboration with the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) to raise awareness, empower and encourage all Member States to take actions necessary to build the logistics and the infrastructure critical for the successful outcome of the Free Trade.
Mr Mohammed Adjei Sowah, AMA Chief Executive Officer speaking at a press conference to announce a new date for the 4th GITFIC event postponed from April 9-10, 2020 due to COVID-19 to October 27 and 28.
The dialogue is on the theme: “Optimizing AfCFTA for Africans: The Role of Logistics Infrastructure.â€
The event is intended to display the urban economic resilience of Accra in particular and Ghana as a whole in the face of a global pandemic that has ravaged most economies.
He said the event seeks to discuss the details of preparations being made by Members States of the African Union in building up the necessary logistics and infrastructure identified as the main challenge in implementing the Protocols of the AfCFTA.
Mr Adjei said through the medium of the conference: “we also hope to alert corporate Ghana in particular and Africa in general about the networking and investment opportunities the AfCFTA will create in Africa and to empower the private sector take advantage of those opportunities.â€
He said the City of Accra has deep historical roots in commerce and has always remained a major trading center in Africa; “Our City is well equipped with the infrastructure, governance framework and the markets required to provide the leadership in AfCFTA implementation.â€
The CEO said over the years, Accra has developed the right policies and enabling environment to represent both an investment destination and gateway to the African markets.
He said it would also enable participants to learn about the preparedness of sister African Countries for the commencement of trade in January 2021.
“We will learn about trade barriers and restrictions, which will be lifted through the commencement of the AfCFTA and market opportunities it can create for your businesses in an enhanced African supply chain,†he said.
Mr Tsonam Cleanse Akpeloo, the Association of Ghana Industries Accra Chairman and Head of Industries, said Ghana needs to position itself well enough to protect its local industries with the coming in force of the AfCFTA.
He said this was because “we will wake up one day and Ghana will be flooded with products that are cheap and we will be helpless.â€
He said the government needed to put in place measures to make the Ghanaian market competitive and suggested that the government looks to industries like textiles, salt, and pharmaceuticals as possible launching pads.
He called on businesses to get ready and take advantage of the implementation of the AfCFTA, indicating that they should leverage on technology infrastructure and e-commerce to expand.
On regulatory framework, Mr Akpeloo said all laws must be harmonized with international laws together with standardization.
Mr Selasi Koffi Ackom, Chief Executive Officer of GITFIC said the conference would be educative, be directive, be authoritative and most importantly, it would expose participants to all there is to know on the African Continental Free Trade Area.
He said speakers on the 4th Conference would be from diverse technical fields from more than five countries including Nigeria, Gambia, Sudan, Morocco, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.
The CEO said the conference would border on the important and delicate sub-themes including physical connectivity, digital connectivity, infrastructure deficits, tariff reforms, non-tariff reforms, port Harmonization, and a single continental payment harmonization system.
Other are a single continental digital platform, a harmonized trading platform for Member States, a harmonized continental cybersecurity system, and standardization of Member State trading protocols.
Source: GNA
The Director-General of the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI), Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, has revealed approval has been given for the disbursement of stimulus packages to over 1,000 private schools in Ghana to support them in the wake of the Coronavirus (COVID-19).
However, she said, not all the schools have yet received their packages.
She explained on the New Day on TV3, Monday September 13, that there are issues with the bank accounts of the others that are yet to receive theirs. This she said is being addressed by the schools to enable them receive the package.
Ms Yankey-Ayeh told host of the programme, Etornam Sey, that the government had budgeted GH?50million.
She said “In thinking about the pain of the private teachers or the people that work for them and the challenges they are going through at this time, government then thought it wise to commit about 50 million cedis of funds to support the schools and to also support the private teachers , so I think it is very commendable. We are doing all that we can to ensure that we get to them.
Private schools petitioned the government to support deal with the ravages of the Coronavirus pandemic.
In a petition to President Akufo-Addo, the Educational consultancy, Neogenics Education Group revealed that “80% of private school proprietors are unable to meet basic salaries of teachers and office staff (over 400,000).â€
The petition revealed that parents are unwilling to pay outstanding fees from the previous term in 67% of private schools as 85% of these institutions acquire virtual learning platforms and resources to continue educating children through distance learning.
Source: 3 News
The reduction of the Communications Services Tax (CST) to four per cent takes effect today Tuesday, September 15, 2020.
Government in 2018 increased the CST charge from 6% to 9% after the finance minister announced it in the Supplementary Budget.
However, almost a year after taking the decision, government under Akufo-Addo has backtracked on it. The Minister of Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta at the presentation of the 2020 mid-year budget review announced the reduction of the tax to parliament.
The Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications on Monday issued a statement that the adjustments in the 5% CST charge will apply through a tariff regulation on products and services.
Mobile Network Operators are also expected to inform their customers on the final changes made to ensure transparency on the new reduced tariffs for products and services as well as other important information.
The CST was passed into law in 2008 at a cost of 6% charge.
The government earned a total of GH¢420 million from the previous 6% charge rate in 2018 which was a 27.7% improvement from the previous ¢304 million accrued in 2017.
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
Police at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region have commenced investigations into the alleged attack on an estate developer by some individuals claiming to be operatives of the national security.
The attack was over a parcel of land at Dodowa.
The accused persons, numbering about 10, according to eyewitnesses attempted to kidnap the landowner who had gone to enquire what they were doing on his land.
“My contractor working on the land told me they had come there to ask him to leave the land. So, I went there in the company of two police officers to find out who they were. Suddenly, I saw a number of men with guns closing up on me and the police officers, then the scuffle began,†the landowner Alhaji Hajj narrated the incident to the media.
“While the police officers tried to ask who they were, one of them pulled his ID card and said there were operatives of the national security and their boss had asked them to bring me to Blue Gate (national security office) but the police officers resisted. The young men tried to drag me into their car but the officers fought them off and they leftâ€.
Alhaji Hajj said he was admitted at the hospital for treatment after he sustained injuries as a result of the melee.
Source: Class FM
At least ten(10) passengers are dead while over 80 others have sustained serious injuries in a fatal accident at Kyekyewere Community stretch of the Accra to Kumasi Highways in the Eastern Region.
The accident occurred Tuesday morning around 5:30 am.
According to witnesses, a DAF Cargo Truck believed to be heading towards Kumasi direction to Burkina Faso burst a tyre causing the driver to lose control of the steering wheel hence veered off its lane and crashed two buses fully loaded with passengers from Kumasi direction to Accra.
The buses crashed are an STC bus with registration number GE 8131-16 and another Bus with registration Number GT4997 -20.
Personnel from the Ghana Police Service, Ambulance, and National Disaster Management Organization were at the scene to rescue the victims to Nsawam and Suhum Government Hospitals. While dead bodies and pieces of body parts conveyed to the morgue.
“The articulated truck fully loaded with goods had a burst tyre. According to an eyewitness while descending a hill. The Truck veered off its lane turning left-right then hit one of the buses and hit another Bus so two buses crashed and have resulted in a lot of casualties. As I speak to you know I am unable to flow because of what I have seen. Very sad scene. So far I counted about ten dead bodies. Body parts such as hands, heads, legs, are littered all over the highway†one of the rescue officers Kwadwo Minta told Kasapa News.
Source: Kasapa FM
This year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) took off smoothly in the Sefwi-Waiwso Municipality with a total of 3,266 candidates from 67 public and 42 private schools writing the examination in 16 centers.
At the English and Arabic center at Sefwi-Asawinso, Mr kwabena musah, supervisor told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that all the COVID-19 pandemic protocols were being observed and that 205 candidates from five schools are writing at the center.
He indicated that all materials were received and the exams started on a good note.
At the Sefwi- Waiwso senior high school center, the supervisor Mr peter kyeremateng said a total of 132 candidates from five schools wrote the the exams at the center with one candidate each from Dwenase Presbyterian Junior high and Anglican Junior high schools absent.
At the time Ghana News Agency (GNA) visited Waiwso R/C center, Madam Georgina Amissah, supervisor said the center received all materials and that a total of 219 candidates from seven schools were sitting for the examination at the center with two candidates absent.
Mr Edmond Ababio, Sefwi- Waiwso Municipal examination coordinator expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the examination.
He said the necessary measures have been put in place to check leakages.
Source: GNA
Two pregnant girls including; a nursing mother are participating in the 2020 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Sissala East Municipality of the Upper West Region.
The nursing mother who delivered only a day to the examination displayed high level of determination when she managed to join her colleagues to write the English Language paper.
This was observed during a monitoring visit by Mr Amidu Chinnia Issahaku, the Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, Mr Karim Nanyua, the Sissala East Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) and Mr Cornelius Langsintuo, the Exams Officer for the Municipal Education Directorate.
According to the Exams Officer, a total of 1,101 candidates comprising 562 girls and 539 boys were writing the 2020 BECE in the Municipality.
He reported that so far the exam process was smooth as no incident was recorded.
Mr Issahaku who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) 2020 Parliamentary candidate for Sissala West constituency advised the candidates to concentrate on their books and eschew any exam malpractice.
The Deputy Regional Minister again advised the candidates to endeavour to observe all the COVID-19 protocols in order to stay safe throughout the exam period.
Mr Nanyua said government would provide them with all that was needed to comfortably write their papers safely and without any challenges.
Meanwhile, GNA observed that nosemasks and sanitizers were distributed to all the candidates who had them placed by their side as they sit for the exam.
Earlier, the Sissala Youth Forum, an umbrella body of the Sissala Union issued a statement wishing the candidates well in the examination.
“The Sissala Youth Forum further encouraged all stakeholders to play their respective roles more responsibly taking into account the rules and regulations of this important academic exerciseâ€, the statement said.
Source: GNA
The founder and leader of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Madam Akua Donkor launched her manifesto on Saturday, September 12 ahead of the December 7 elections.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) has promised to extend maternity leave for women to 4 months but Madam Akua Donkor says she will extend it to a year.
Other goodies in her manifesto include free Port, free education, free water, changing Ghana cedi to pounds, free cutlasses for farmers among things.
Source: Peace FM
The Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has said it is going to undertake major replacement of transmission pipelines in Accra.
The exercise will affect the whole of the capital city, a statement said.
The project, according to the company, will affect the flow of water for four consecutive days from Tuesday, September 15 to Saturday, September 19.
“Residents are by this circular served notice to store water against the shutdown.â€
Source: 3 News
Mr Ishmael Asamani MaCarthy, the former Ghana Fire Service Commander in-charge of the Daboase District in the Central Region has been enstooled as the chief of Panpansokrokese, near Nsawam in the Eastern Region.
Mr Macharthy, who has the stool name as Nii Ansah Mankata VI, succeeded his late elder brother, Barimah Ansah Mankata V.
Nii Mankata in an interview with the Ghana News Agency urged the people to support him to continue the good works of his brother to uplift the image of the community through the provision of development projects to enhance their living conditions.
He said he would ensure that children of Panpansokroke got good education to become responsible adults to help build the community and the nation at large.
Nii Mankata urged the citizenry to be law-abiding by adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocols of wearing nose masks, regular hand washing, the use of sanitizers and the social distancing to avoid the disease.
He called on the electorates, especially the youth to shun politicians who would like to influence them with money to cause mayhem during the December 7, 2020 general election.
“These politicians may lure you with some few cedis to create problems for their parochial interest and would flee when you are arrested. Please just go to your polling stations and vote and return peacefully to your homes,†he said.
Source: GNA
Mr James Twene, the Upper East Regional Director of Department of Gender (DoG) has called on members of Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) to use their platforms to campaign against dehumanising socio-cultural practices.
He said some of the practices and beliefs were unfavourable to women and did not support the fight against Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV).
Mr Twene made the call at a Faith Based Organization and Community Structure Leaders forum aimed at deliberating on teenage pregnancy and child marriage in the Nabdam district.
The meeting was organized by the Upper East Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) in collaboration with Department of Gender (DoG) and funding support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The DoG Director said although both boys and girls experienced Sexual and Gender-based Violence, girls were more affected and it was therefore necessary for stakeholders to put in measures to safeguard adolescents from exploitation.
He appealed to opinion leaders to desist from interfering in cases of abuse and allow perpetrators to be reported to the appropriate authorities for necessary sanctions to be taken.
Mr Dennis Asolmia, the Adolescent Focal Person at Nabdam District Health Directorate, in a presentation said Nabdam had a high rate of teenage pregnancy, although the district had three adolescent-friendly corners where issues of adolescent reproductive health were mostly discussed.
Mr Asolmia said the situation had led to the rise in some health complications such as, anaemia in pregnancy, low birth weight and still birth, among others in the district.
Mr Asolmia called on stakeholders to be comprehensive in their sex education by encouraging abstinence and also exploring the various options available for teenagers who could not abstain from sex.
Mr Maclean Abuntoo, a Mental Health Coordinator of the Nabdam District, said four girls had so far attempted to commit suicide, this year, over teenage pregnancy, but were rescued and brought to the mental health unit and attributed the cause to ill-treatment meted out to them by their families and society.
Mr Abuntoo said the trend of teenage pregnancy in the district was worrisome and urged parents to desist from forcing pregnant teenagers into marriage. “We all understand that it is difficult, but when we support them through that period it would help those who are brilliant and want to go back to school to make it,” he added.
Source: GNA
A 26-year-old trader, Enoch Ofori who is being held for allegedly raping an 18-year-old female Porter aka ‘Kayayei’ at a spot near the Korle Lagoon in Accra has prayed the Adjabeng District Court to admit him to bail.
Ofori who made his second appearance before the court claimed he wanted to go and see to the burial of his late father which would take place next week.
The court presided over by Ms Felicia Amane Antwi however asked Ofori to seek bail at the High Court.
Meanwhile prosecution informed the court the investigations into the matter was on-going.
The court remanded Ofori into Police custody to reappear on October 12. Charged with rape, Ofori has had his plea preserved.
The Prosecution led by Detective Inspector Simon Terkpor said the complainant (name withheld)was a porter at CMB Accra, but resided at Konkomba market also in Accra.
He said the suspect resided at Kwahu Praso in the Eastern Region, but came to CMB to trade.
Prosecution said on August 24, this year, the suspect saw the victim at about 0300 hours and sought her services to carry some belongings to where he sold the wares.
Prosecution said afterwards, the suspect lured the victim to the Korley Lagoon at Korle Gonno to carry some fish for him.
He said when they got there at about 0345 hours, the suspect had sex with her without her consent.
The prosecution said after the act, the victim in tears run away to CMB where the suspect does was trading and took his laptop away.
Prosecution said Ofori came back and when he realized that his laptop was missing, he traced her up, meanwhile some friends of the victim whom she narrated the incident, led her to report to the Railways Police, where the matter was transferred to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit, Accra.
Prosecution said a police medical report form was issued to the victim to attend hospital.
Source: GNA
Kofi Paul a father of seven and a seller of mice poison revealed on SVTV Africa that he stopped his former job and ventured into the sale of mouse poison because they chewed his precious cloth which he had bought from Abidjan.
The father of seven has been selling the said poison for 18 good years, something he does to fund his children’s Senior Secondary School education.
“I have 7 children, and they are all in Senior High now. This is the job I do to take care of them,” he said.
Adding that, his children will not help him sell his products because they are very beautiful.
“Because they are all beautiful they won’t help me in selling my products. You know fine girls can’t sell mice poison,” he narrated.
Talking on his products he said, “I manufacture some and I take some too from other manufacturers”.
He comes from Nsawam in the Eastern Region to Dome Market to sell his products to raise some income to cater for his family.
“Because of the nature of my work, l have not even had sex with my wife for the past 1 year,” he revealed.
Interestingly, he said this on the reaction of mice, “You will always find mice in the room of fair ladies as well as the fat ones.”
Source: SVTV Africa
A US-based Ghanaian Professor Kwaku Asare has called for a change in the way and manner in which contempt cases are handled in Ghana.
He said rather than judges summoning contemnors to appear before them the matter should be referred to the Attorney General (AG) for onward prosecution.
His comments come after Member of Parliament for Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong has been charged with contempt after allegedly insulting and threatening a judge.
He is expected to appear for the court on Monday September 14.
Sharing his views on this matter, Professor Asare in a Facebook post said “The judiciary is an arm of government and is not immune to criticisms and accountability”.
“This is not to say that judges should be insulted, threatened or otherwise abused for merely doing their work. There should be no room in our civic space for insulting anyone, let alone judges who are merely doing their work. Having said all that, I am also firm in my conviction that a person who is summoned by a court for insulting a judge meets the definition of an accused person as contemplated by the Constitution”.
“As such, he is entitled to all the procedural protections afforded to accused persons by the Constitution”.
“I cannot and have never supported any criminal process that allows the same person to serve as the investigator, prosecutor, witness and judge of such accused contemnors where the insults, threats and abuse occurred outside the court”.
“Whether it is the election petition contemnors, Montie 3, and now Kennedy Agyepong, I find such a process to be inquisitorial, unfair and unconstitutional”.
In my mind, the offended court or judge, in such instances, should refer the matter to the Attorney General for prosecution in a court other than the one abused.
“It is, therefore, some progress that in the Kennedy Agyepong case, the contempt proceedings are being handled by Judge Wuntah Wuni even though the insults were directed at Judge Rockson (thanks to TheSammy Darko for drawing this to my attention). But ultimately we must get to the point where the full panoply of constitutional protections are available to the accused”.
“For the avoidance of doubt, I am against the underlying insults, threats and abuse of judges or for that matter any human being. My plaint here is solely about the process by which justice is administered to these accused contemnors.â€
Source: 3 News
The Greater Accra Regional executives of the People’s National Convention (PNC), led by its chairman, Bala Maikankan have settled their scores with their flagbearer hopeful, Samson Asaki Awingobit.
The meeting which was held in Accra and engineered by Samson Asaki, as part of his plans to unify the Party’s front at the regional level, also had in attendance some executives of the Ashaiman constituency.
It would be recalled that, the Greater Accra Regional office of the PNC, last month issued a statement to disassociate themselves from the candidacy of Mr Asaki, following some statement he made during a campaign tour to the Upper West Region, which the executives deemed it insulting to their persona and the party.
Saturday’s meeting between the two parties, was aimed at ironing out all differences and presenting a united front ahead of the party’s regional and national congress which comes off later this month.
Regional chairman, Bala Maikankan admonished Mr Asaki to ensure his words are guarded by the tenets and virtues upon which the PNC built upon.
Samson Asaki Awingobit, who accepted his offence despite acknowledging his statement were taken out of context, also promised to abide by the virtues and vision of the PNC, moving forward.
He also called on the regional executives to support his candidature to win the ultimate prize and restore the party’s lost glory.
Source: Samson Asaki, Contributor
A total of 1,815 candidates are writing the 2020 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Ellembelle District of the Western Region.
The nationwide exams which commenced today, September 14, 2020, is expected to end on Friday, September 18, 2020.
In Ellembelle District, 927 boys and 883 girls are taking part in the exams.
Speaking exclusively to GhanaWeb’s Western Regional Correspondent, the Ellembelle District Exams Coordinator, Mr. Denis Bansah, he disclosed that six centers have been created for the exams.
“We have six centers, one is at Nkroful Agricultural Senior High School, another one at Esiama Technical and Senior High School and the rest are Atuabo Methodist Primary School, Aiyinasi Holy Child School, Aiyinasi Methodist Primary School, and Bonzo Kaku Senior High School.
“In all, we are having 1,815 candidates taking part in this year’s BECE. Nkroful for instance we have 16 invigilators, 2 assistant supervisors and one supervisor who are taking charge of the examination from Monday to Friday”, he told GhanaWeb.
He added that the examination will be in two sessions – morning and afternoon – in all centers across the country. The morning session begins from 9 am and ends somewhere 10:45 am and the second session starts from 1pm to 3 pm.
He, therefore, took the opportunity, to advise the candidates to report to the exams center at least 8am every morning and also go through all the Coronavirus safety protocols.
“So what we are telling our candidates I’d that by 8am since we are no more in normal times, we want them to be around 8 o’clock so that we can take them through COVID-19 protocols, checking of temperature, washing of hands and those things so we want them to report early to the center before the start of the exams,” he urged.
Security
Mr. Denis Bansah told GhanaWeb that the security is tight and emphasized that the security will deal with any teacher who will flout the rules and regulations governing the exams.
“Security too is tight, as we speak,..the police is taking charge, we have security vehicles that will be doing the distribution and also at the various centers we have security personnel.
“So what we are telling the teachers is that you come, you bring your students or candidates to the center, you register them, write your name and other details then they go away because we don’t want any teacher roaming around if you do that the security personnel will deal with you,” he stressed.
Examination malpractices
He said they have cautioned the candidates not to engage in any form of examination malpractices and cheating to prevent cancellation of their results.
“For examination malpractices, we have been telling them that they shouldn’t engage in any form of examination malpractice…And one thing that we are telling them is that bringing mobile phone into the examination hall is not allowed, it is never allowed, when you bring it and we get you, your entire result will be canceled for a while you will not be permitted to take any WAEC examination. So we are urging them that they should not come to the exams hall with any form of mobile phone even mathematical set we don’t want it, we will be allowed you to use the maths set when maths and science papers and apart from these two subjects we don’t want them to bring them to the exams hall”, he said.
Previous BECE performance
He revealed, “considering last two years results, I may say that last year’s one was encouraging and we are hoping that this year’s one will be better off than the two years we had so we hope that we the District have a target that is 100 per cent pass for the District so we are hoping to get there”.
Mock Exams
The Ellembelle District Exams Coordinator used the opportunity to commend the Member of Parliament MP for the area Mr. Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah and the Ellembelle District Assembly for sponsoring two Mock Exams to prepare the candidates adequately for this week examination.
“Yes the District organised Mock Exams for the candidates, we got the support from the MP for the area and then the District Assembly so the first we wrote was sponsored by the MP and then the second one was sponsored by the Ellembelle District Assembly so in all we wrote two mocks, he ended.
In all, seventy-nine (79) invigilators and supervisors have been engaged in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in the Ellembelle District.
However, 531,705 registered candidates are taking part in this year’s Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) across the country.
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony of the Vobsi medical drone delivery Centre, Mr Marfo said Zipline is using that facility to deliver essential medical supplies to health facilities in some of the Northern belt areas of Ghana.
“Several other communities such as Sakogu and Fumbisi, who during the rainy season have no access to medicines because of the state of their roads, for the first time in years, now have access to blood and medical products from our delivery site. As at 12 pm on Saturday, the Vobsi centre had already delivered 40 packages these cut-off areas, for that day only,†Mr Marfo said.
The Vobsi Centre, which is already in operation was officially commissioned by Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia on Saturday, September 12, 2020.
Movements in parts of the North East region have been restricted due to floods caused by weeks of torrential rains coupled with the spillage of the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso.
He also disclosed that Gbintiri and Zorko health centres are two examples of communities which without the services of the Zipline drone would not have access to medical supplies as they have been cut off.
Mr Marfo also stated that Zipline has delivered a total of 122,000 units of medical commodities, including blood to over 1,000 health facilities across all four distribution centres in the country using the technology.
The company, he noted, has also delivered COVID-19 samples, sanitizers and PPE to testing centres as well as some health centres in the country during the COVID-19 lockdown period.
Source: graphic.com.gh
The inauguration of the projects formed part of activities of the President’s two-day visit to the Ahafo Region.
At Bechem, President Akufo-Addo said the establishment of BRCs across the country would provide assistance to private businesses with information to improve their production.
He called on the chiefs and people in the area to ensure proper management of the various facilities to ensure that future generations benefited from them.
He encouraged businesses to seek information from the facility to improve their operations and to produce quality products to attract buyers.
As part of his two-day working visit to the region, President Akufo-Addo inspected ongoing construction of projects such as the 8.7km Techire-Adrobaa road, 3.9km town roads, an astroturf at Duayaw Nkwanta and the Ahafo Regional Education Directorate at Bechem.
He also cut the sod for the construction of the Bechem-Techimantia-Akomadan road at Techimantia, and paid a courtesy call on the Omanhene of Duayaw Nkwanta Traditional Area.
At Kenyase, the President said the construction of the health facilities was in response to appeals made by the chiefs and people in the area during campaign towards the 2016 general election.
He appealed to the chiefs and the people, especially the youth, to create an enabling environment for the operations of mining firm Newmount Gold Corp, saying it was playing a key role in the provision of developmental projects in the area.
Akufo-Addo inaugurates The BRC at Bechem is mandated to promote and support the national industrialisation drive and serve as a one-stop-shop for business development and investment in the area.
It is also expected to serve as information repository, which will provide a full range of world-class business development services to potential and existing entrepreneurs at Bechem and its surrounding communities.
The operations of the BRCs will be regulated by the National Board for Small-Scale Industries.
BRC projects
The Minister of Trade and Industries, Mr Alan Kyerematen, said a total of 67 BRCs were being constructed in different districts across the country.
He explained that 37 of them had been completed and were currently operating, while the remaining 30 were at various stages of completion.
Mr Kyerematen explained that the BRCs would offer support services to individuals who were interested in establishing businesses, and contribute to the one-district, one-factory (1D1F) initiative.
Benefits
He said the BRCs would also help to adopt more transformative approach to strategically integrate rural informal small-holder raw material supply base into corporate entities along various commodity value chains that had been identified to be relevant to the 1D1F projects.
Mr Kyerematen said the projects would also serve as the intermediaries to facilitate the organisation and establishment of the relationship between various actors in these value chains.
He said it was the vision of the government to establish factories and render support to private companies to expand their production or operations.
Mr Kyerematen explained that the government was aware that establishing factories was a major way of strengthening the country’s economy, creating jobs and bringing development into the country.
Mr Kyerematen appealed to the chiefs to release lands for the establishment of industrial estates or parks to create opportunities for individuals interested in establishing industries.
Source: graphic.com.gh
The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, has urged the public to continue hand hygiene practice and maintain a clean environment to ensure the country regains its polio-free status.
He was at the Jumapo Health Centre facility in the New Juaben North Municipality in the Eastern Region to monitor the ongoing polio vaccination.
The Service is undertaking the Oral polio immunization exercise in eight regions of the country.
Late last year, in August, to be precise, a polio case broke out in the Northern Region.
Fast forward, 30 cases have been recorded across the country, affecting the 2008 polio-free declaration status gains made.
The outbreak has been attributed to poor sanitation and gap in vaccination exercise coverage for children Under-five across the country.
Children Under-5 in the Northern Region and affected regions were vaccinated last year and early part of this year before the onset of COVID-19.
The oral polio vaccination would raise the immunity of children against the non-wild poliovirus.
Some 4.5 million children Under-five are being targeted with the Oral Polio Vaccine Two in the vaccination exercise ongoing in the eight regions of the country.
New Juaben North Municipality is targeting 15,000 children under five children to vaccinate.
“We have begun the exercise already, we have a wide catchment to reach,†Dr Kuma-Aboagye said.
“We began early and are targeting about 15,000 children under five. The only challenge is the ice packs that keep melting. We have to keep going to change and replacing.â€
The Director-General of the Service, who monitored the exercise at Jumapo with other health directors, pointed out that improved sanitation, improved access to latrine and hand hygiene practice were critical to ensuring a polio-free country.
“Personal hygiene, access to latrine, handwashing are critical to polio. We urge those building markets and other facilities to ensure latrine systems are improved.â€
He was confident of a paralysis free country after the vaccination exercise.
“We do not want any child to paralyse, reasons we are doing the vaccination in a very fast manner to bring to a halt the any possible outbreak. Regions that had initial cases have had their children under five been vaccinated for. We should be able to have a paralysis free county once the exercise has taken off.â€
He also urged caregivers to send children Under-five to nearby facilities for the vaccination exercise or grant access to health persons designated to homes for the exercise.
“We urge all caregivers to cooperate. They should bring the children for vaccination. Those at homes should also grant them access and not fear of Covid-19 infection.â€
Source: 3 News
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has paid tribute to the late Rev. Dr. Samuel Asante-Antwi. Dr. Bawumia commiserated with the bereaved family, and said the deceased “was fearless and was not cowed by arbitrary use of power.â€
The former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana passed away in the early hours of Sunday at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.
He served as the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the National Cathedral until his unfortunate demise. His death was confirmed in a statement by the Executive Director of the National Cathedral Secretariat, Paul Opoku-Mensah.
In a Facebook post, the Vice President said the late Rev. Dr. Asante-Antwi served Ghana diligently.
“I have learnt with shock the passing of Most Rev. Dr. Samuel Asante Antwi, a founding member of the New Patriotic Party, former Council of State member under President Kufuor, former Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church Ghana and until his death, the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees for the National Cathedral Project,†Dr. Bawumia wrote.
“He really played an integral role in the transition from military regime to democratic dispensation.
“My condolences to the immediate family, the Church and his loved ones. I will miss Papa. Rest in peace man of God until we meet again,†he added. The late man of God became the ninth President of the Conference of the Methodist Church of Ghana when he was inducted into office in 1997.
Source: Pulse Ghana
A Kumasi High Court presided over by His Lordship Justice Amedaher Senyo, has given hints of a possible custodial sentence of Ashanti Regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako alias Chairman Wontumi and Member of Parliament for Subin, Eugene Boakye Antwi, upon conviction.
The two together with Patrick Acheampong, Ashanti Regional Director of Research and Election, the Subin constituency chairman Michael Adusei Bonsu and his Secretary Akuamoah Boateng, are facing contempt of the honourable court brought against them by 51 disgruntled delegates of the Subin constituency led by Isaac Nimako, as the first applicant.
The 51 applicants are seeking a declaration that the June 20 NPP polls by which the sitting MP claims to have been re-elected by 485 votes, is illegal, unlawful and wrongful and should be declared null and void.
At a sitting of the court last Tuesday, September 8, 2020, amid tight security, the judge said having listened to the legal objection of counsel for Plaintiffs and the response by defence counsel, Justice Senyo indicated that the contempt case was quasi-criminal and could lead to imprisonment of the respondents and therefore it would be proper that they (respondents) should be heard by way of the affidavit in opposition filed before the court.
According to him, siding with the counsel for the plaintiff in his objection would mean condemning the third, fifth and sixth respondents before the state and determination of the case.
As a result, the court upheld that the respondents must be heard in full based on the said affidavit in opposition and overruled the legal objection considering the possible consequences of the contempt case at the next adjourned date.
Lawyer Annis Moghtar Mohayideen, counsel for applicants, objected to respondents affidavit in opposition on point of law citing Order 75, Rule 13 and section 26 of Act 32 regarding representation of Eugene Boakye Antwi, third respondent, Michael Adusei Bonsu and his Secretary Akuamoah Boateng.
He said parts of the affidavit in opposition by the third, fifth and sixth respondents were erroneous and must be struck out reminding the court of a breach that could not be redeemed since no judge could give immunity to the breach.
Lawyer Kwame Adom Appiah and Dennis Osei Antwi Esq. representing the second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth respondents, disagreed with counsel for applicants and contended that the objection be disregarded in the face of Order 50 stressing that technicalities must not be used to override individual liberty of respondents hence and pleaded that respondents must be heard based on their affidavit in opposition in full.
Ebenezer Donkor stood for the Electoral Commission (EC) as the first respondent in the case being represented in court by Lawyer Emanuel Addai.
Meanwhile, Lawyer Kwasi Africa of O & A Legal Consult, has since withdrawn from the case as counsel for Eugene Boakye Antwi, Michael Adusei Bonsu and Akuamoah Boateng on a matter of principle.
The hearing continues on Wednesday, September 16, 2020.
Source: kingdomfmonline.com
A total of 531, 705 final year Junior High School students from 16,000 schools across the country will begin writing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) today.
Leakages over the years have prompted the West African Examination Council (WAEC) to introduce measures to curb exam malpractices.
This year, one of the measures is to extend the ban on mobile phones and related gadgets to exam officials at various centres.
Data provided by the examination management body indicated that 269,419 of the candidates are males and 262,286, females.
The Ashanti Region presented the highest number of candidates 106,857 comprising 45,025 males and 52,832, Dailymailgh.com can confirm.
The Greater Accra Region had 94,443 candidates comprising of 45,172 males and 49,271 females.
According to the data, the Central Region also presented 58,105 candidates with 29,467 representing males while females were 28,638.
Western and Western North Regions had 54,432 candidates including 26,373 females.
The data has the Eastern Region presenting 49,993 candidates made up of 25,749 males and 24,244 females.
Bono, Anafi, and Bono East Regions also presented 49,725 candidates including 20,125 females.
Volta and Oti Regions also registered 38,192 candidates with 20, 015 males.
Upper East also registered 22,532 candidates including 11, 775 females.
In the case of Upper West, 13,926 candidates were registered with 7,000 males.
According to the data 17,440 schools were participating with 18,716 invigilators.
The data indicated that supervisors and assistant supervisors were 2,007 and 1,719 respectively.
The examination will end on Friday, September 18, 2020.
Candidates will write the English Language, Religious and Moral Education on Monday, Integrated Science, and Basic Design and Technology on Tuesday.
Information and Communication Technology, and French will be written on Wednesday with Mathematics, Ghanaian Language and Culture on Thursday, before ending with Social Studies on Friday.
An examination timetable issued to headteachers by WAEC confirmed that visually and hearing-impaired candidates would be given an extra one and half hour against the time allotted to other candidates.
The BECE is used by the GES to select qualified candidates for Senior High Schools and Technical Institutes across the country.
Source: Starr FM
The names of the suspects, picked up from separate locations in the Eastern, Central and Greater Accra regions, have been withheld as investigations are ongoing.
The first one was picked up at Akim Akoroso in the Eastern Region, while the second and third ones were picked up at Kasoa in the Central Region and the Palace Mall, Spintex, in the Greater Accra Region respectively.
The National Security has secured a court warrant to hold them in its custody pending further investigations and possible prosecution.
The West African Examination Council (WAEC) at the commencement of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in August this year submitted details of more than 21 such websites to the security agencies for tracking to bring those behind them to book.
Also included in the report to the security agencies was the harm those websites were causing to the generation and the nation as a whole.
Subsequent to that, on September 8 and 9, 2020, personnel of the National Security were able pick up the three and are on the heels of others and their accomplices.
Before and during the 2020 WASSCE, there were a number of reported cases of alleged examination papers circulating on social media, some of which were fake, while others were snapped at the commencement of the examination and uploaded on such websites and other social media.
Breakthrough
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the arrest conducted by the National Security operatives, the Head of Legal, WAEC, Rev. Victor Brew, said outfit viewed the move as a major breakthrough in the council’s effort to smoke out operators of such websites.
He advised the public, especially the candidates, who were on such WhatsApp platforms where examination materials were shared for cash to immediately exit from such groups because the security agencies were closing in on such operators.
He reminded the candidates that those WhatsApp groups had existed to serve the parochial interest of the operators, stressing that “they do not mean well for the candidates at allâ€.
BECE candidates
As the junior high school (JHS) final year students begin their Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) today, Rev. Brew advised the candidates to be wary of those WhatsApp groups to save themselves from the temptation of the operators.
He reminded the candidates that it was an offence to carry a mobile phone to the examination centre, particularly the examination hall, because it was against the WAEC Act and an infraction of the rules and regulation governing the examination.
Rev. Brew said any candidate caught with a mobile phone would have his or her entire results cancelled.
Section 6(b) of the WAEC Act 2006 (Act 719) states: “A candidate, who, during an examination is in possession of a textbook, an electronic device or material in the examination room without lawful authority, proof of which shall be on the candidate, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of not less than 50 penalty units and not more than 100 penalty units.
“Or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both, and the person shall in addition be disqualified from taking the examination and if the person has already taken a paper at the examination, the paper shall be cancelled by the council,†the Act states.
Source: graphic.com.gh
The Electoral Commission (EC) will today, Monday, September 14, 2020 hold a media briefing on the procedures for the filing of nominations and receipts for the 2020 General Election.
Already, the Commission has indicated that for the first time in the country’s electoral history, presidential and parliamentary aspirants would not physically pick nomination forms from the offices of the EC but would have to download the forms from its website for processing.
The guidelines for nominations would be available on the EC’s website for political parties and candidates to access.
The Commission said the move was part of the safety protocols for curbing the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
It said the initiative would also break down the bureaucratic nature of the filing of nominations and make it less cumbersome.
Per Ghana’s electoral laws, aspirants seeking to contest parliamentary and presidential elections are to file their nominations with the EC.
Over the years, aspirants or their representatives would visit the offices of the EC at the district, regional or national levels to pick the nomination forms, which were completed and filed at a later date.
The atmosphere on such occasions was usually dramatic, characterised by drumming, singing, dancing and sloganeering.
The latest move by the EC would thus end the funfair of picking and filing of forms.
Source: GNA
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will on Tuesday, September 15, hold a crunch meeting involving key stakeholders in the Malian political crisis at the Peduase Lodge, Aburi of the Eastern Region.
The extraordinary meeting is expected to dialogue on ways of returning Mali to constitutional rule.
It forms part of the mediation efforts to prevent further deterioration of the Malian political situation.
The meeting will bring together delegation from nine African countries including; Key stakeholders from the Malian military junta, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and relevant stakeholders who spearheaded the demonstrations prior to the coup d’etat on August 18, 2020, that ousted President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita’s government.
Addressing a news conference in Accra on Sunday, ahead of the consultative meeting, Mrs Shirley Oyorkor Botchwey, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, said at the 57th ECOWAS ordinary meeting held in Niamey, capital of Niger, on September 7, 2020, the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State demanded that the Malian National Council for the People’s Salvation present a roadmap for holding an election within 12 months in Mali.
Therefore, the meeting in Ghana will demand the roadmap towards organising an election in Mali.
The ECOWAS Authority also demanded that the Heads of Transitional Government and Prime Minister, both civilians should be appointed not later than September 15, 2020.
The meeting will be the first assignment for President Akufo-Addo since his election as ECOWAS Chair.
President Akufo-Addo’s election as ECOWAS Chair placed him in the same shoes as his predecessors towards resolving the enormous task of ensuring peace and harmony in Mali.
Meanwhile, Mali has been suspended from ECOWAS following the political uprising in that country, therefore no representative from Malian government would be in Ghana for the meeting.
Information Minister Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah noted that the Malian political crisis posed a serious security threat to the sub region, especially as the continent was about to operationalize the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) agreement, and it was imperative to find an amicable solution to the crisis.
In view of the upcoming ECOWAS extraordinary meeting in Ghana, traffic situation from Accra to Peduase Lodge in Aburi would be affected.
The Motor Transport and Traffic Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service would deploy traffic wardens to direct movements of vehicles.
Superintendent Dr Samuel Sasu Mensah in charge of Operations at the MTTD told the media that vehicular traffic on the N4 road to Peduase would be affected, therefore motorists are supposed to use alternative routes.
Some other principal roads that would be affected include; Airport By-pass road, VVIP Lounge road to Liberation Road, Independence Avenue road to Arko Adjei Interchange, Kempinski Hotel road to Independence Avenue, and National Theatre road to Independence Avenue.
Source: GNA
The Upper West Region Rice Parboilers Association has appealed to government, civil society organisations and international donor communities to come to its aid with the provision of de-stoner and dryer machines to improve on parboil rice production.
Presently, the association has only one de-stoner machine, which is inadequate to meet the production levels of members and consumer demands.
The weather condition is also affecting products, and therefore any support in the form of dryers, pavilion and tarpaulins would help improve the quality of parboil rice produce to access markets and better prices for members.
Madam Benedicta Naab, Chairperson of the Association, made the appeal at a two-day rice parboiling techniques training workshop organised for 35 women representatives from five rice parboiler groups in Wa.
The women were drawn from Wa Municipal, Wa East and Wa West Districts with facilitators coming from rice parboiling groups from Navrongo in the Upper East Region.
The European Union and German Government funded the programme with GIZ and the Market Oriented Agriculture Programme (MOAP) in North West in collaboration with the Regional Agriculture Department, organised the workshop to add value along the rice value chain development.
Madam Naab bemoaned the poor quality of parboiled rice products in the region and attributed it to the lack of modern machines and equipment and effective parboiling technique, which resulted in poor quality products.
She explained that with the provision of skills and techniques acquired from the workshop, the cost of production would still remain high and difficult for parboilers to increase profit levels due to the influx of foreign rice products in the market, without equipment.
The association urged government to consider providing free ferilizers to rice farmers to boost rice production and encourage local consumption, as it had become a staple food for many households in the communities.
Madam Naab also appealed to the government to provide soft loans to members of the association to expand their businesses, and provide means of transport for the association to haul paddy rice from the hinterlands and warehouses.
She indicated their willingness to go into large-scale rice production next year to complement the produce they buy from other farmers and pleaded with the government and other benevolent organisations to support them with tractors and other equipment to execute their plan.
Madam Henrietta Abaah, the lead facilitator, gave the assurance that the new technology provided members of the association would help them to produce quality products for the markets and urged the MOAP to supply the association with vessels and other equipment to parboil paddy rice to reduce cost on firewood, time and other unexpected challenges.
Source: GNA
Mr Bishop Mensah Aidoo, the Effia Kwesimintsim Municipal Assembly (EKMA) Coordinator of Nation Builders Corps (NABCO)has advised NABCO trainees to actively engage themselves in the NABCO online courses to upgrade themselves for the job market.
He said the online courses were aimed at providing extra training and equipping them with diverse ways of enhancing their skills.
Mr Aidoo who said this at a day’s career development training for NABCO trainees at Kwesiminstim in the Western Region, told the trainees to conduct themselves well at their various work places.
The training programme formed part of the exit plans for the NABCO trainees to equip them with the skills and mindset they needed for the job market.
He urged them to participate in all the activities at their work places and should be ready to learn new things to enhance their skills.
The Municipal Chief Executive of EKMA, Mr Kojo Acquah said though NABCO was a temporary initiative, it was in government’s plans to provide a lasting solution to unemployment in the country hinting that government was planning to make NABCO trainees permanent staff at their various work places next year when re-elected.
Mr Acquah however stressed that to be maintained at their work places permanently was not automatic, but only hardworking trainees would benefit.
He in this regard urged them to work hard, exhibit competence and uniqueness in their duties.
“Use this opportunity to learn, train and acquire skills and experience from your area of post in order not to be left out in the job opportunities”
Ms Josephina Abbah from the Business Advisory Centre educated the trainees on the Master Card Foundation, self-empowerment and how the youth could create their own businesses.
As part of government’s social intervention programmes, the Nation Builders Corps popularly known as NABCO was introduced to provide the youth with temporary employment and also to improve on their skills to meet the demands of the job market.
Source: GNA